Castlevania: Darkness Never Dies

Fan Fiction

Continued...

Part 1: Gathering darkness.

"Man live of more than bread." He answered. "Man live at each word who comes from the mouth of God"

Mathew: 4, 4.

Chapter 16: Déjà Vu.
Winter's woodland, Warakiya. The 16th of December 2098 A.D.
"So this is the truth." John said as He, Thomas, Ruth and Anna stood at the centre of the gathering. "The poltergeist King is the horn-playing druid. The hron-playing druid is the harp-playing druid who is St. Germain who is Gilldrim, one of the last true wizards God sent to battle the Dark Lord in ancient time?" St. Germain, no, he could just as well begin to call him by his true name, Gilldrim, nodded. Radagast, the other wizard, dressed in brown and with a staff of the same colour in his hand did as well. He took a deep breath. When Marina said she would take them to where "they" where gathering, he'd expected to see many strange people, but this was nearly overwhelming. Dryads and Naiads he'd half-way suspected, and so went for the unicorns, wyverns and dragons Marina had told about. The fairies and the Ents where surprising but not all that frightening. Even the fauns, pixies and phoenixes he should have thought would come. But the druids, not to mention two of the ancient wizards, the dwarves, the pegasis, Hypogriphs and griffins where creatures he'd thought where mere legends. And the centaurs, sphinx, harpies and elves where those he would suspect to serve Dracula. Then again, Mathew, his eminence, had told him time and time again never to suspect anything. All was in the hands of God and no other was to disturb His will. He did the sign of the cross. "But now," Radagast said, breaking into his line of thoughts. "is to deside what to do." Thomas shrugged. "Isn't that obvious? We must gather all the troops we might gather and march toward the demon castle." One of the dwarves, Tholin if he hadn't forgotten his name, shook his head. "There is to few of us." He said. "Most of our worriers where killed in the first demon castle war." He nodded. "Thomas, I might only try fighting my way to Dracula, I cant fight a war against all the powers of darkness." "Wise said human." One of the elves said. Then one of the fauns broke in. "But we must help. If what we suspect is true the Dark Lord is massing his troops his eyes fixed on The Vatican, then we must help them." Gilldrim spread his hands in a wish of silence. "Then would it not be wise to rather gather at the holy city? If we might hinder the dark army for turning out the last light in this world, then the Belmonts might have time to put the dark spirits to rest." Elledhell, the spoeke-woman of the elves did nod. "The brown wizard is right. Those who wish for it should send aid to the human's city to aid them like we once did." Now many of the leaders where nodding. Then one of the dragons moved to speak. "It will take time for our people to gather. Will the humans be able to stand fast that long?" A harpy was the one to answer the dragon's question. "I don't think they have too. The dark forces are still being massed. It will take them considerable time to even get to begin their march." Thomas looked frustrated, but he nodded. What they said was the truth. He'd not heard about any treat against the Vatican before they spoke it, but it sounded the most likely. "Then will you at least come with us Marina." Thomas grunted toward their friend and guide. She smiled at him. She'd not spoken before the elders, he thought she wasn't important or noble enough to be on the council, but now she did. "I will continue to serve and guide you." Then her smile deepened. "And I will come with my friends." He nodded and they began to departure. Then it happened. "In the name of the Dark Lord Dracula, you are all under arrest." The words came from the leader of a group of beast-riders who came dashing into the clearing. "Yukuri?" He blinked his eyes. He'd thought she'd perished when the tower fell. But here she was, along with more vampires and blue-fured were-foxes. Arrows became shot from the beast-riders as soon they could fire. "Watchers of the world," Radagast shouted. "stand together in the name of God!" Then they went into battle. The beast-riders where few but they refused to retreat. On the end, it was near clean out slaughter. But he didn't have strength to watch it, as a beast-rider sent him flying with an arrow in his breast.

Winter's woodland, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
Bronze did walk slowly back and forth. It had bean an disasters move to attack the gathered servants of the light. But she'd bean so frightened when she saw them that all she could think about was to scatter their lines. She looked around herself, upon the few riders she had left. A mere dozen was all there was now. Crystal and Amber did finish of their wounded Raptor. That was another problem. They didn't have any steeds left to ride on. All the ones who where left was now packed with the rations and few personal belongings they'd managed to claim, and with some blood, contained through Kreo-technology, for her and Yukuri. That was another mysterious thing, how the Japanese vampire had managed to hold her ground. She would like to know her better, she'd seen her use her sword and vampire powers with good skills in the battle, but that would have to wait for another time. She'd lost her holo-ring in the battle and now was cut off from reporting to her superior command. Then there was Rahila of course. She was a pompous fool who denied to see what was clear to everyone. She was from Turkey and had a big black wavy hair with large black eyes with aristocratic eye-brows and long delicately shaped eye-lashes in a ivory-pale hearth-shaped face with high cheek-bones and round chin. She was taler than she was, with aristocratic long limbs and a luxurius bossom, and seemed to be taller through her insisting on using her powers to stay elevated a few feets into the air. In contrast to her own simple black baggy-sleeved black jaket and bagy black trousers, down-went knee-high boots and tunic and other simple battle-gear, she dressed in a black ang yellow short-sleeved top who didn't conceal her belly as she was always prepared for her favorite habit of belly-dancing and the foot-long silk-cloth in the same colours did little to conceal her round forms. How she could hide all those daggers inside them was a dark miracle but she wasn't jealous. She'd had more males to bed then that bleak slut. She was smaller, true, but she knew how her skin shone like iron and that her own body was much more firm and "tight" than she was and… She heard what she thought and cut it off then and there. She was in command and just because she didn't like the vampire she didn't have to act like this. She gathered herself and went over to where Yukuri was changing out of her cloak and dress into a pair of grey military-trousers, black boots, leather-jacket and a long white woollen scarf. "Only half ration to vampires." She said. Yukuri who just was finished with taking a simple white T-shirt over her head threw her long heair backward. "If you say so." She said as she brought on some long under-whear. "Look, Titus said there where only 20 rations left. That would last for over a week if I gave you normal dose. As I get it now, it'll last for less then three weeks. Before that we should've get to any camp I might think of." Rahila came drifting over to them. "Your calculation would be for noth if the Belmonts destroy that camp too." "Might Satan swallow you and your depressions." Yukuri began as she brought on her trousers, stockings and boots. "Strong words for someone who don't have bean vampirized by one of the members in the circle of blood." She said as she slowly let a small pinkish thong went across her cute little mouth. She had to restrain herself from not giving her a punch to the jaw. She could more than just belly-dancing and knife-tossing, she could sustain gravity and fire quick bursts of energy too. She knew she was good with the sword at her side, but that wouldn't help very much against this kind of enemy. "Cut it off you two." She said as she gathered a ball of fire inside her mouth and breathed it just between them. "Lady Von Karhnstein take the girls she want and let the other choose later. Not that many of the other members do much in the vain of the pleasures of the flesh. I have no interest in hearing about your experience with her. Prepare yourself for departure. And you Yukuri, get dressed now." She merely grunted but Rahila bowed her head. She went over to where the others where lining up. Justin, her second-in-command did salute her as he reported they where all prepared. "Is all who can be speared gathered?" She asked him. "All which we don't have any use for is left behind. All food, water, blood, extra strings for our bows, arrows-reserves, oil to our lamps and to polish our weapons. Medicines, paper, ink, your seal as commanding officer and different kind of repair tools. I don't like leaving our banner behind, but you said all who could be speared." She nodded. "Dig it down so they don't know it is us if they sould pass here." Justin nodded and sent Titus, Crystal and Chrisphin to exeute her orders and also to clean away the latrines. She and the other vampires didn't use them, but that wasn't the chase with the were-foxes. She shrugged. Her troops where running short but she did still intend to do this. And this time she should not do the same mistake as last time.

Rivendale forest, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
Dressed in his armour in blue and green, boyar Ludwig Von Bork felt almost as his good old self. With his sword at his side and his shield on his back and with his familiar-cards in the purce on his belt, this was how it should be. He fastened his cloak with a pin shaped like a pack of snakes crawling this and that way. The forces he'd picked to join him, Minotaurs with long-hilted battle-axes, bone-soldiers with sword and shields, bone-archers with bow and arrows, crossbow-zombies and dead worriers armed with crossbows, swords and shields and even some traitors and servants dressed in uniforms of the SS. Further away, Malus stood with his arm around Malpheffa. The boy's blank face and empty eyes did make even him feel uneasy. He did look forward to leave him behind. Not that he had ever liked either Von Strassburg or Von Lutmarch, it had made chills go down his spine when he had said he had killed them bought in that same soft charming little voice. They had tried to kill him, why he did not know or want to think about. There where to many who plottet against each other. To many who wanted to get close to the members of the circle of blood, to many who wanted to become one among that body for him to like it. Lord Dracula did right in trusting as few as possible. He knew captain Stern to be trustworthy, as was droid-general Tyrannos, lord Oikawa and Death too of course, but there where so few. He'd heard that the Dark Lord seemed to trust lady Von Karhnstein and knight Rowdain too, why was the reason he had made them some of his closest servants. The boy Malus was of course to trust and so was Malpheffa. Then again, he was in no position of power to ask their loyalty to the Dark Lord. He sat up upon his black steed and as another servant gave him his lance he did also bring out his shield with the crawling snakes and as he kicked it he gave the command to move forward.

As Malpheffa saw them ride off, she felt a sudden loneliness. Ludwig had bean her only trusted servant in this region and now he and his troops where commanded to Aliba where captain Stern was gathering the troops who had became spread after the fall of lord Wold. The vampire had bean a fool to not execute the Belmont worriers as he had the posibilety. Now Malus was here and he commanded her to do his bidding. Boys his age was nobody she would willingly have invited to bed. They gave her no pleasure. But the child had given his biddings and given his rank of power she had no choice but to obey his commands. He did bring with him reinforcement to the manor-guard and she knew she could then trust their fealty to the Dark Lord, but she would rather have chosen her minions herself. Malus did drag her arm as if he was an impatince boy and she followed. It was a new storm coming and it would be colder than it had in a few days. She could look forward to the warm fire in her room and the comfortly lit lamps and a sip of warm blood in her facorite chair before that fire. But even dough their was a fire-place in her bed-chamber as well, she did not look forward to the nights "actions". The guards and hand-maidens who had followed her outside joined her as she did return to the house. The snow was falling heavier and the wind blew with a chill which made her long for the fire-place even more.

Winter's woodland, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
Slowly John opened his eyes. He lay on the woollen robe Anna did use. He shook his head. He'd just had the most strangest dream he'd ever had. "I see you are awake young Belmont." He looked at the voice. At the other side of a fire on which some rabbits where being fried, a man dressed in brown cloaks. "Radagast?" He slowly said and the old man nodded as he used his simple wooden rod to stand. "He did help to heal you." Anna who did somewhat shiver in only tunic, shirt and trousers. "He learn me how to use my skills and together we did heal you." Marina cleared her voice and Anna blushed. "Well, Radagast, I and Marina did work together to heal you." The naiad nodded as if she was satisfied and leaned back on her feels as she kept an eye on the meat. "I thought I was dead." HE said. "That arrow did penetrate my breast-plate." Radagast did crack an humourless grimace. "It was close. The dwarves gave you a new one." His hands went down over his body and found that the wizard was right. "Do you intend to come with us then?" "Yes and no. I shall stay until your other friends return. When they return, I will join the allies and aid help them to gather their soldiers." He nodded and got to his feet and gave his "bed" back to Anna who thankfully brought it on. "Radagast," It still felt strange to call him that. "have you seen some of the others?" He took a deep breath as he asked what he really wanted to know. "Have you seen a boy, a bou named Christian Belmont?" The old man's smile came from his hearth this time. "Do not worry. I have seen him. Some days ago I did tell him how to use his own powers to summon the ancient ones." He felt relived as he did place his weapons back in his belt and on his clothings. The throwing-daggers, bought the golden ones and the "ordinary" ones, his sword and gun, now that nobody else needed it and the throwing-axe he put into his backpack as he brought on that too. He'd hoped he did have some grenades left but with a shrug he discovered that he didn't have. "They are here." Marina was the last to stand as Ruth and Thomas, bought dressed in their own suits of armour, Thomas with his spear and shot-gun and Ruth with her battle-axe and throwing-axe. The last was a surprise, but he guessed she'd found one inside those candles. As he looked back at where Radagast had bean, he was gone. "He's truly a strange fellow." Ruth said from within her helmet. He nodded, Thomas merely shrugged. "I don't care if he is really just a character from a book or not, but he did refused to help us." "Now you're just unfear!" Anna snapped at him. "Just because he didn't agree on your suicide plan to bring those few in pitch battle against all the followers of Dracula." Ruth nodded. "I told you, beside these Millits idiots and SS, Lord Dracula's army consist of 13 different brigades with 60.000 men in each. Our only hope is that we do manage to sneak inside the castle and put the Dark Lord to rest." "The Dark Lord?" Thomas snarled. "You sound like the followers of that "lord" Dracula yourself. Who know it isn't you who is behind all our problems?" Now John desided it was time to stop it before it went too far. "Stop it you two. Thomas, you saw how she did battle against that droid and Wold. She's a little formalistic from being in Dracula's army, that's all." Ruth snorthed. "As I need you to defend me. I can defend myself." Then Marina splashed some water on them. "Get a hold. You fight like the dark spirits had possessed you. We have enough enemies chasing us for us to fight each other." That did cool them down of course. The fire helped to warm them, but that was beside the point. "Marina have cut directly to the point." Anna silently pointed. "Or do any of you want to turn yourselves in to the beast-riders?" "No." He silently whispered. Ruth slightly shivered as Thomas nodded. Then they sat down to finish their meal. Even dough it was merely meat, bread and water gathered from melted snow, it did feel replenishing. As they did eat in silence, Anna looked him in the eyes. He nodded as he did finish his meal and rouse to his feet. "I'll take some rounds around the camp. I give you four hours sleep before I want join you." Thomas absent-mindedly nodded. "I'll take the next watch." He nodded as he drew his sword and went outside the camp as the others brought out their blankets and robes to withstand the cold. They'd gathered a nice pile of wood who would most likely last the night through, or so he thought. He heard steps behind him and whirled around with his blade at the ready. Anna brought up her staff in the right time to turn aside his blow. "Sorry." She said as she stepped backward and placed the rod down. He brought his blade back at his side as he did also take some steps backward. "I thought you might come." He said, his eyes still wandering in case any real danger would appear. "It's about Thomas." She said. "Thomas?" He said as he let his eyes glide over her. "Haven't you noticed how strange he have acted these last days?" He slowly nodded. As he thought about it, Thomas had bean angrier and more hot-headed than he'd ever seen him. "You're right. It's like the darkness all around us is feeding on his mind. Then, he did was forced to kill his own lover and discovered his new girlfriend was bi-file." Anna's blushed deeper than he'd ever seen her do, but even so she did retain control. "I know you don't like it either. But you don't make that much out of it as he does." He shrugged but couldn't help a weak smile crossing his face. "Well, one thing I don't like you in that way. Another thing is that I respect people for who they are as long they haven't sold their souls to the Devil that is." Anna answered his smile with one of her own. "I know how you look at that naiad, but I think she don't like you "that way" either." "So be it. I won't give up just because of that. Christian told me once that he don't care if he get to live his own life if God needs it. I think he's right. And If I'm to die on this quest then I hope I make it worth an end you'll all talk and writhe about in my family's chronicles." She nodded and then slowly turned. "Would you take the third watch?" He softly asked her. She nodded before she returned to the camp. As soon she was gone, Thomas stepped out from where he'd bean standing. "You heard it all." It was no question and Thomas merely shrugged. "What does it matter? You and that slut plots to kill me so I don't think I need to hear anything more." He noticed how his hands hardened around his spear. "Don't make me do anything rash." He said as he brought out his own weapon. "I and Anna is merely worried about you." "You're a minion of Dracula." Thomas just spat as he took some steps forward, bringing himself into a battle-position. "Your own words prove you're sick." He said as he too brought himself into a battle-stance. One from which he could protect himself. "If you're not with me, then you're against me." As Thomas rushed at him with his spear at the ready, water rained down around him. He used his power as a Belmont to see beyond the obvious. What he saw made him scream.

Winter's woodland, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
As she made it rain all around Thomas Marina heard how John screamed and as she reached him she saw him gaze at the Lecarde as if he'd seen a ghost. "What is it?" She asked. "What's wrong?" "Don't you see?" He whispered as he started generating green, orange and blue energy into his blade. "Thomas have become a very great threat." "Don't listen to him!" Thomas shouted as he did try to dust of the freezing water. "He just try to turn you against me too." John shook his head. "It isn't his fault. He have become possessed by the dark spirit of the prison-camp and later by others in the tower. His soul is in danger." Thomas snarled. "My soul is perfectly safe thank you." John shook his head. "Continue to resist them just a little longer and they cannot resist you." Thomas again dashed at him. He lifted his sword and the combined force made the spear be shut from Thomas's hands. "You want trap me ever again!" He screamed as he ripped out his gun and fired at John. He brought up his arm and the silver-bullet rammed into his forearm. Blood oozed from the wound as he became tossed far backward. "Ruth, Anna! Help me!" She shouted as she made the water freeze in an effort to trap the berserk human. "Don't listen to her!" Thomas shouted as the two women came running from the camp. "They tried to kill me." Ruth shook her head. "John would never try do that. He's your friend. I saw him save your life before and…" She was cut short as Thomas brought out the crossbow he'd borrowed from John and fired an crossbow-bolt at her. Cursing the Van Helsing did a rather clumsy side-dash. But it did save her life. "Marina!" She turned her head as Anna knelt beside John. "This time I must lead the spell." She nodded and did channel her power outward so Anna could make a connection with her. "I think he hit a main-wain." She said as Anna did make the two flows form into one. They where one, she felt how Anna pinpointed the imbalance in John's health and then executed the spell. John gasped as he no doubt could feel the pain the bullet had made once again surged through him. Then. But that quickly subsided as the healing-spell tiik full force. John then looked up at them with comfusion, most likely wondering why he wasn't dead by loss of blood. Then she saw a look of new-found respect in his eyes. "Let it be." He said as he did the sign of the cross and got to his feet. Then he drew his blade. "This is not for us." Anna softly said as she did move to follow him. "This is between him and Thomas, and Ruth. They must sort it out themselves." She nodded before she sat down on the snow. She didn't like this, but Anna was right. This was their battle, not hers. She would heal them, but she wouldn't do anything if she didn't have to.

Winter's woodland, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
Thomas had become completely rigid. He could feel the dark powers burn inside him. Then it didn't surprise him as his friend fired a burst of dark energy at him. He gathered the power of life around his blade and cut right through the load. Ruth tried to tackle him from one side. He tossed the crossbow at her legs and made her trip. "That," He said as he spat at his crossbow. "that is what I mean about you. We should never have trusted you in the first place. God is just as evil as you say Dracula is. So why then just join Dracula then? Or perhaps all you told us was a lie!" He did dropp to the ground as the spear went right past where his chest should've bean. "Just because God created the evil that is not the same He approve it. For the balance to eccist you need bought light and darkness." He got to his feet just as Thomas tried to kick him in the head. "Then your "God" isn't perfect if evil needs to eccist. We shall smight down the "Dark Lord" and "God" too. Then you can all laugh in Hell." "God is God. He did create the way of righteousness for us to follow it. To be a living thing means to make a choice. To do the good or bad things. Christ said if you couldn't belive in Him or He who sent Him, then we should at least belive in what He did. And just now I believe you is doing something beyond your sentiments." Ruth had come to her feet and now was covering him by taking out the dark energies Thomas did throw at them. "You are you. You are no we. If there is anybody else you should rethink its advice. I wouldn't kill you. I promised Edward and Victor to protect your back if we ever get parted. I won't let them done. I wan't let you down. If it comes to die, I will rather let you kill me than doing you any harm. Christian have Alicia and Eward to take care of him. I have you to help. Our families have fought side by side for centuries. I did risk my life getting you out of that prison-camp and do you know why?" With a swing of his blade he struck the spear from his hands. Ruth jumped at him but now he fired a bullet at her and made her fall to the ground. The bullet had hit her in the chest and he feared she was dead. He lunged forward and tossed Thomas to the ground. Before he could grasp his gun, he was on it and threw it aside. "Come on then!" Thomas challenged. "Kill us, kill us or we'll kill you." He shook his head. "I told you no. I will never strike you down. I didn't told you why I saved you. Well, I thought you was smart enough to figure it out by yourself." He presented him his hand. "Yous saved… You saved me…" It was like he couldn't speek it. He did it for him as he helped him to his feet. "I did it, because I'm your friend. If you would like to kill me, then just do it. But if you do it. I don't want to be killed by whatever demon who possess you. I want to be killed by my friend. I want Thomas Oldrey-Lecarde to be the one to finish me. And if he do, it will be because I did betray his friendship." Then he just stood there, awaiting everything. "I…" Thomas began. "I don't want to kill you. You're right. It isn't you who have betrayed anyone. It's I who have betrayed you. It's I who have failed you." Then the man, just as ice-blonde as he was, fell to his knees and started crying. "Don't do this." To his uttermost surprise he saw Ruth at his side. He'd thought the bullet to pierce her hearth. Then he just shook it off as he knelt down to embrace the totally broken Thomas. "I tried to kill you." He pressed out through his chattering teeth. He shook his head. "It wasn't you who did that. The dark spirits in you did try to do so. You didn't do anything." Thomas shuddered as he shook his head. "But my bitterness, my rage against Dracula, that made them possess me." He smiled. "I hate Dracula too. But the key is to control your anger. Try to remember why you became part of this war. Remember what you fight for if you don't belive in God like I do. Try to remember there is still some good in this world." To his uttermost surprise, Thomas started laughing as something dark glazed over his eyes. When he did spoke again it was with a complete different voice and tone. "Good try your human fool. But you cannot defeat us. How could you ever have tried to do so? You are just a mortal while we live everlasting." He smiled. "Believe or not believe. I don't try anything. I know Thomas is still inside you somewhere. I feel the goodness, the conflict. I know you cannot convert him. Not as long his friends is alive and themselves believe in him as the good man Thomas Oldrey-Lecarde. And if it need to be, I will myself destroy you. I know what do you weak." Without turning away his gaze he brought out the envelope containing the pieces of the Host. "Either I will destroy you, and perhaps make Thomas a cripple. Or, we could settle it in the old fassion. With a match. Just you and me in a fight. Man vs demon in one final battle. What do you think?" Thomas, no, the demon who had possessed him, smiled. "A challenge you say. I accept." Suddenly darkness broke free and started to harden into one being. Then he gasped as he saw long slender limbs, rich round curves, rich sun-coloured fur, silky raven hair and black dimond-hard feline eyes all became the form of a cat-like woman with sharp claws extending from its fingers and toes as a petite red toung licked a thick red lip. A black belt created by the spiked remains of whips held together a sleeveless black dress who did let the feets free for martial arts. But it didn't end there. The ground began to rumble and the earth and snow under his feet rouse into a pillar who seemingly had no other support than air itself. Two more pillars did also rise and soon they where all atop even the highest trees. The wind started blowing and soon three more pillars, created by the wind itself, was created. The clear night sky and the shining moon was all around them as the feline demon spoke. "John Belmont, meet my rage. Now you face the power of Kha'lar, the goddess of wind." She spread her arms as she split into threes and he nodded and started generating the element of life around his blade. Just then the demons threw their separate tornadoes. One right upward from underneath the platforms and the others in crisscross from aboce him. He jumped just as he threw his axe and made lightning strike. The crest of purplestone burned in his hearth and gave him the strength to make this battle.

Town of Aliba, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
"Aufsteilnung!" The feltwebel's order made the troops stay at attention. Gustav Weber, die erste feltwebel aus wafen SS, and Dietrich Gunther, die erste feltwebel aus de gehemliche politize, the second-in-command to Rudolf Adolf Stern, die stuhrmbandfurher die SS, went down along the lines. Ludwid felt considrable small among these high-ranking officers of the Dark Lord's most trusted agency. Expesually since the individual beside him, feltwebel Oldrey aus die libestandsarte SS, represented the shadowy lieder of the red-robed royal guard, the personal guard of Lord Dracula himself. His own armour looked nearly shabby in contrast to these men in correct grey, brown, black and golden uniforms. Here, all conversation was spoken in German our not spoken whatsoever. He had seen stern before, but now he looked taller, biger and more powerful than ever. Pazuzu, die erste feltwebel aus die zauberarte SS, in its gold-plated armour was the only present of the SS-dignitaries who did not dress in their uniforms. But outside of that, all and every soldier, human, vampire, dead one, werewolf or were-fox, where all suited in the same uniform and helmet. Eccept for the few members of the royal guard of corse. They where all suited in armours of gold and crimson, even the possessed armours in that group carried that colour, of course. But his place was not among them of course. His place was among the village Millits. And even dough his men did line up and march just as good as the SS, he knew they where far superior fighters. HE shook his head, he would do his duty. But he could not suppress the feeling of being done smaller than he really was. "Look forward." A lizard-dancer at his back whispered in her somewhat slippery accent. "He would take you dear if he catch you." He did as she said as captain Stern continued his instruction on how to march to the castle as quickly as possible. The feltwebels saluted hom and then they, brigade by brigade, started marching out the gate. "Why do you think he and his brigade remain here?" One of the beast-riders asked his comrade. She merely shook her head. He would like to know too. The SS had bean dispatched by the Dark Lord to inspect the local boyar's fealty and now it looked like their work was finished. Or perhaps Lord Dracula had summoned them for another unknown purpose. "Pazuzu haven't left either." One of his vampires commented. Now that he mentioned it, he noticed the goat-demon leader of the magical branch of SS still stood speaking with Stern and his second-in-command. "Dismised." He barked at them and after a short salute they left him, eccept for one of the vampires, a petite little blonde by the name of Fredericka Reich, and a werewolf by the name of August Sharp. They where meant as his personal guards, but he treated them more like aids then guards when it came down to practial use. He could take care of himself. "If not the captain need us, and it not look like it, I sugest we go inspect the guards. And Fredericka, no blowjobs this time. If anyone want you, instruct them to report to your quarters after watch." She saluted me before she went to execute the command. ""Sharp, tell one of those brilliants at the gate to close it." "Yes sir. Hail der Graff!" He returned the salute and then went to try find out what was really going on in this village.

Winter's woodland, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
His breath drifted before him like mist as he jumped to avoid the tornadoes Kha'lar and her two duplicates shot at him. He took a deep breath, the cold breeze did rasp in his throat as he summoned the power of the crest of purple-stone and bolts of lightning struck down into two of the Kha'lar candidates and they vanished into smoke. The last of them smiled as if she'd bean a cat feeding on rich milk and fired one single pinpointed bolt of lightning at him. He made a wall of fire appear before him but exploded as the lightning bolt hit it. However he was already on the offensive. He jumped right across the centre abyss and sliced the throat of Kha'lar before he reached the other platform and fell to his knees to glide further forward. Qukly he got to his feet and noticed two other Kha'lar candidates smile at him. Twin tornadoes became tossed at him and he jumped upon one of the wind-platform wich gave him enough strength to jump clear across the tornadoes as he made a wave of fire consume one of the Kha'lar candidate as he tossed his axe at the other one. That one split into three new ones but this time he was prepared. He threw his gold-daggers and Kha'lar screamed as she clawed at the daggers and then her duplicates glided into her and the daggers was sent flying as the wounds became healed. "Now I get it." He said for himself as he jumped to avoid the short-range lightning currents who was fired at him. "She weaken herself when she duplicates herself." If he'd only had the stopwatch this would've bean an easy battle, but since he didn't it wasn't that way. He opened a secret pocket in his tunic and brought out a hidden Kishine family-treasure. "For you Maxim!" He shouted as he tossed the Shuriken and made it split into a massive spread-shot in an attempt to weaken all the Kha'lar dummies. Blood spilled all over the battle-field as he made wounds open on all the duplicates and once again they became one. "Got you!" HE shouted as he threw the gold-daggers right at her. She screamed in pain as gold-decorated magic-crafted steel flowered between her breasts. Then it was like she turned to mist before she reformed at the centre of the platforms. "You have done well." She said. He calmly nodded as he moved in for a good spot to continue the attack. "But you cannot hope on defeating me. However many times you destroy me my soul will allways remanifest." "Perhaps." He said. "But if I find a way to destroy your manifestation and then destroy your spirit, you'll be done for." "And how do you intend on doing that little human? You are no wizard." He actually smiled this time. "I'm a Belmont, and a Christian, that will have to be enough. And beside, I'm not fightning you for myself. I'm fightning you to free the soul of my friend. God is with me, or so I pray and He, in his great mercy, let his pope give me this." Another weapon he'd stored inside his pocket, was a tiny vial with the Blood of Christ. "I've never told them about it." He said as he removed his collard so a qhite scarf and a simple silver crucifix came into view. "You are a priest?!" Kha'lar said in raged disbelief. "That I am." He said. "I know I don't look like it or anything, but I was permited to be one just before we left the Vatican." HE did the sign of the cross before he again tossed the gold-daggers. She again split into three. But this time she didn't play around. She knew he had the power to destroy her and was prepared to fight for her foul life. She fired three successive bolts right at him. He swung his sword and this time made a dozen duplicates of his own swarm at her. Then he again tossed a spread-shot of Shuriken all over the battle-field before he sprinkled his blade with the Blood of Christ and jumped at her with one powerful thud. She tossed a tornado at him so he became blewn far back, but he didn't give up. Not even that he this time was blown all off the battle-field. God permit him to grab onto a solid branch in one of the trees and Kha'lar came flouting at him with a twisted cruel smile around her lips and with the eyes of Death. He could see how she playfully manifested energy into her hands, preparing to blast him into oblivion. Taking a deep breath, he tossed the blade right at her. She gasped when the blade pierced her hearth and then simply exploded. "Thank you Lord." He said. He hoped the blade hadn't hit any of his friends below. Then he heard the sounds of combat from below and looked down. Marina and Ruth fought back to back as three were-foxes tried to bring them of balance. Depending on the corpses around, the battle had lasted some time. Then he saw Thomas and Anna fightning against two vampires and a were-fox. They stood with their back to the tree from which he hung. At least his blade had done some good. A third vampire lay burning on the snow wit his blade right through her hearth. He thought about driping the Blood of Christ down at the other vampires, then he noticed two other were-foxes who was about to fire their bows. Praying for God to help him he dropped himself to the ground. The arrows went right through the air and fastened in the tree just where his head and chest had bean. He riped his blade from the vampire and gazed as the former dead creature rouse with a diabolical smile on her face. Then he remembered that to fully destroy a vampire you had to not only pierce its hearth, but would also have to behead it. Bringing the blade back to where it was, the vampire collapsed as he did so, and used a gold-dagger to finish the job. Then, with bought his blade and dagger at the read, he prepared for battle. What he wasn't prepared for was the arrow who hammered into him and sent him flying. He hit the tree, hard, and slowly fell to the ground, leaving tracks of blood from the backside of his head as he went along. Then he just collapsed and the darkness took him.

Castlevania, Warakiya. The 20th of December 2098 A.D.
With a wave of his gloved hand, the Dark Lord commanded him to go forward. "Feltwebel James Henry Arthur Oldrey, called "Jeremiah" by those who know him, I Dracula, Lord of Darkness, prince of destruction, lord of the night, king of the vampires and viceroy for the Master, Lucifer Sataniel, Lord of Darkness, King of Destruction, Lord of Hell and Source of all evil, remove you from all your former ranks, titles or other positions of power in the dark army of the New Order or the SturhmStadt aiftailnung or in my administration of the domain." He nodded and without emotions he did remove his uniform. Greta Kaufman did look upon him with shock in her eyes. What had she expected? He had knew this to happen when he was first commanded to return to the castle. Her shocked expression vanished as Lord Dracula summoned her to step forward and gave her the rank he had once claimed. He did then dress into the simple dressing all vampires had. Black trousers, boots and plain white shirts with a black hooded cloak to wear above it. He tied the belt aaround his waists before he brought on the cloak and brought up his hood. "Do not mind it." Gilles De Reis, one of his oldest friends said as he came to his side as he walked outside the audience hall. He merely shrugged. A bad habit, he knew, but that was less important. "I wonder where they will send me." He said as they entered into the inner quarters of the castle where he had used to "live". Moniqe De Quardez and Anna Wold, two of his mistresses of his former rank did come to meet them, bowing respectfully before De Reis. "I thank you for still being loyal to me." He greeted as they continued walking down the corridor. He intended to gather his belongings and then see if he could claim a grave in the underground graveyard. Then Anna Wold spoke. "Luminara told us to inform you that we, forgive me my lordship, I of course mean Herr Oldrey, me and my friend here, is to report to Dyruahan as fast as possible." He nodded, not permiting the smile to cross his lips. "Tell the were-cat I intend to gather my possessions and then do as she command." They nodded and quickly left him. "The Dark Lord still held trust in you." De Reis said. "Even dough Heidrich is dead, his brother still insist on blaiming me for his brother's fall." A faint smiled appeared on De Reis's thin lips. "Dietrich Heidrich is a high-standing officer in his personal guard. Of course Lord Dracula had to do something." He nodded. "Dyruahan would not have called me in unless he is close to resolving his task." De Reis nodded. "I hope I will see you soon again. But if you are among the commandoes to go there, may Satan give you power." "He give you power too." He said as they parted company. If he was quick, his steed would still be ready to bring him to the town of Ondol where Dyruahan awaited him.

Winter's woodland, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
Marina did claimb down from the tree and slowly shook her head. "I'm not sure but it look like the guards let anyone who want to enter the town." John nodded, casting a look on his friends. "You're ready?" Thomas nodded, his helmet did conceal his face but that didn't matter. This was the only way to cross the Warakiyan Alps and that they knew. But the tricks they'd used in that inn was what they'd agreed on, but he was far from sure that it would work. Thomas and Ruth in their armours did look like an spear guard and an axe-lord, as he and Marina looked like renegades and Anna like a witch with her rod and cloak. But he was unsure if the dark servants would be fooled by the same tricks twice. "Very well gays," He sais as he brought on his armoured gloves. "let's go." They nodded and lined up behind him and they started walking.

Winter's woodland, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
Amber did toss fire-wood on their camp-fire. She, Falion, one of the archers, and Megrim was the only survivors of their group. Outside of her and Yukuri of course. That last attack had bean a catastrophe and she was prepare to surrender herself to the Dark Lord's justice. Not that he had that much of the quality. "Do you think on turning over command to Amber?" Yukuri sat down in front of her with one of the blood-rations in her hand. "No." She said. "Not that it is anything wrong with any of them, they are no commoe-material." She thanked the Chinese vampire as she gave her the vial and she activated the warmth-system of the bottle so the blood became warm and suitable for her taste. "Then what's riding you?" "If only someone had done that." Yukuri didn't even smile by her joke. Shaking her head she told her. "The Belmonts are most likely heading for Aliba and if we go there, I'll most likely end up being deposed and delivered to one of the maiden's houses in the town and you'll be lucky if you don't go with me." She cast a look on the trio who was busy feeding their only left Raptor with some animals they'd caught in the forest. "Save the wood." She shot at Amber who simply saluted her and went to join her friends. "But we cannot stay out here forever either." Yukuri said. "Sooner or later the Dark Lord is going to send somebody here to take the place of lord Wold and the late Heidrich." "I know." She said as she still thought about what to do. "I am in command of this…" She stopped for a loss of words on how to describe her shabby survivors and then took a deep breath. "I'm in command and take full responsibility of loosing the Belmonts and nearly all my troops." Yukuri placed a hand on her shoulder and kissed her as softly nobody had ever kissed her. "You don't stand alone in this. I was in Wold's administration you know. Some of the responsibility is rightfully mine. I'll stand at your side." She did slightly squeeze her breasts and then let go of them. "Amber, we make camp here for the day. Make sure to stand guard and send them out to scout the land for usable meat." Amber gave her a tired look, they where just as done for as she and Yukuri was. "I'll take first guard. See to that you get some sleep." Amber smiled. "Thank you Bronze." She then, a little faster this time, went over to speak with the other were-foxes. "Get some sleep you too Yukuri. I'll make love with you later if you want to." "Sure." Yukuri gave her a naughty look. Then a smile crossed her face. "Have a nice guard." "I'll try." She said with dry humour as she went off.

With a smile on her face she saw Bronze go. Never before she'd felt this way about anybody. She'd bean dead for nearly 100 years and was almost sure she would never fall in love with anyone. But Bronze's leadership, courage and kindness had struck a corde in her who'd bean an unknown part of herself for all this time. She did bring on the amulet with the sand of Chinese earth who would permit her to regain her power as she lay down on the blanket the were-foxes had given her. She hoped that Bronze never discovered she'd ran from Wold because he'd blamed treason on her. She was one, to Wold that was, but not to Bronze and not to the Dark Lord. Her eyes closed. She hoped there would be not long until she came back to her.

(A.N: I know this chapter might be a little splintered, but this is meant as yet another build-up chapter so I hope you'll excuse the little shattered build up. Until next chapter, have a nice time.)

Chapter 17: The Story Continues | Back to Chapter 15