Chapter 1  Visit from Death  He stared in wonder and fear though
he didn't show it to the strange visitor who stood before him in
the throne room of the Dark Castle Auguste. The strange visitor
was paler than anything he had ever seen yet he could tell that
he wasn't a vampire, his hair was so much whiter than snow it
couldn't be seen against his skin and his eyes were as black as
the hooded cloak he wore, which was darker than night.  "Are you
the Duke Dumas? The one who defeated Ratatosk?" the stranger
asked "I am." The vampire replied "I'm Akira, though you would
probably know me better as Death, the Grim Reaper." His guest
said "You came to take my life then?" Dumas asked. Akira shook
his head "You think wrong at hearing the name I give. The way I
work is the one who is to die sees me while in the midst of a
crisis and is killed or is dying of natural reason." He
explained.  The Duke stood from his seat and went to the being
"Then why have you come?" he asked in a demanding tone "I was
sent by the Creator