Castlevania: Darkness Never Dies

Fan Fiction

Continued...

Part 1: Quest of the Vampire Killer

Part 2: Legacy of Sorrow

Take Me to Part 2

Part 1: Gathering darkness.

"On that days, many shall say "Lord, Lord! In your name we have done many great things, healed the sick and destroyed unholy spirits." But I shall step away from them and not know them."

Mathew: 7. 22.

Chapter 18: Theme of Simon.
Barnsdall mine, Warak1iya. The 15th of December 2098 A.D.
Torches lit with blue flames was the only source of light inside the chamber. Even dough the entire complex was crafted out of solid ice, his body was dripping with sweat. "Try to relax my lord." The white witch said as she continued to massage his acing back. "Of course." He said. She quickly moved her head down and kissed him. "Do not try to impress me." He calmly said, she quickly withdrew. "As you wish my lord." He felt a knot of anger rise at the back of his mind. He traked it down and crushed it without murcy. A Dark Lord candidate should be calm and bid his time as his plot transpired. "My lord Frost, my lady Bernhardt, forgive me but I have some urgent information." Bael stood at the door at attention, her eyes fixed on the far wall. Vera Bernhardt did not like her servants to see her in situations where she demonstrated her state as an underling. "Report to the communication centre." She commanded. "I will be with you shortly." "As you wish my lady. Hail deer Graf." The were-lioness whirled around on a complete military manner and left them. She went over to where she had left her belongings and started redressing in her formal cloutings. He had commanded her to remove them in favour for her less formal dressing. Her pointed-nosed boots, bagy black trousers, cloth-belt and tight-sitting vest where clothings from her human lifetime and he did like them. The jewelleries around her wrists and neck where perhaps a little overdone, but the giant ruby between her eyes and the golden treads which helped to tie her long somewhat heavy pony-tail was just luxurious. Her white robe and cloak did conceal that but he did not mind telling her that as he started redressing himself. Not that he had much to bring on either. His simple black boots and shirt fitted well to his white stocking and trousers and the simple cloak and stola with the crimson dragons marching up was nothing to her style. Then again, clothings where just meaningless considering the greater goal. "Do you wish to join me?" Her somewhat reluctant voice broke into his thoughts. "No." He calmly said. "This is your domain. I will not further involve myself with your doings. Heild deer Graf." She nodded and returned the salute. Then she became mist who drifted down the corridor. He smiled. He knew, like she did, that their enemies would have to kill her and her "sister" in order to break the seal of the valley. And he would be here, waiting for them. "She turely is a remarkable little beauty." He lifted his hand to summon his power of dominance, a ring of frost gathered at his palm, then he recognised the presence an merely nodded as he let go of his power. "I know what you must intend. But she belong to me. And so does her sister." "We are equal in ranks of power." The being said. "Indeed." Now his face was completely blank. "So when I am finished with them, you are free to do whatever you desire with them." He smiled. "You know, there is still not known if the scientists mad plan is to work." He waved his hand dismissingly. "You have allways bean rash. Untypical for you Russians I might say. But this time we are to wait and bid our time." "Of course." The answer came.

Barnsdall forest, Warakiya. The 15th of December 2098 A.D.
Torah did fight her way forward. Red energy blasted from her hands. Homing trios of energy-balls appeared before her and froze those who stood in her way. Rings of spiritual energy blasted toward where she commanded them to be and even dough the thought her power was growing she did not pay it any attention. Alicia, now with Edward's sword in her hands blasted flames before her and made fire wave along the ground or dug the blade into enemies. Adrian was by her side manifesting bats to guard her back. While Edward slashed the chain-whip so pillars of earth rouse before him or made green energy burn around the weapon. She could only hope her half-sister was still alive. Werewolves and Minotaurs where powerful enemies and aided by other lesser enemies this was no easy task. They'd managed to escape the train, only to march right into this clever ambush. But she didn't care. Saria had gone in front of them to scout and now a group of Minotaurs and werevolves was tearing her to shreds or so her screams and other strange sounds could conclude to. Marcia made the living fall asleep so that Adrian's demon-familiar, sword-familiar and bat-familiar could destroy them. She didn't like that, but they didn't have any choice in the matter. This was war and that was that. The bone-soldiers before her withdrew and she smiled. Then she noticed the bone-archers and goat-men behind them and felt a sinking feeling inside her as the fired a rain of arrows at her. "Not today." Alicia plunged the blade into the ground so golden flames rocketed forward and she also made holy water rain to take out what arrows the flames didn't take. Then the bone-soldiers returned, hammering into them with what weight they could muster. Alicia fell but was even so able to make freezing rings whirl around her. She combined all the magical energies inside her and blasted away three balls of homing energy which made the bone-soldiers shatter into pices. She couldn't help but smile as she continued the onslaught by generating new waves of red energy. The element of wind had come to her from the crystal-ball which the Ninjotaur had left behind. Again the bone-soldiers withdrew so that the bone-archers and goat-men came in the front.

Flashback.

Haunted train of fools, Warakiya. The 14th of December 2098 A.D. They ran out into the open wagon just in time to see Adrian and Edward swing their blades to channel energy to counter the dark hole or whatever it was the Minotaur dressed in black Ninja-costume had opened. "Close the door!" Edward shouted at them. "It is a Ninjotaur!" Adrian said as he exposed his fangs in a snarl as he made bats flew forward to close the rift in reality. "We don't leave you." Alicia said as she swung her whip and made red energy wave forward. She merely nodded as she brought out her razor-rings and dashed at their enemy with a body-swing attack. "Bat-familiar come to my aid!" She heard Adrian shout as the Ninjotaur did a cracking motion with its hand and another hole opened. The strange bat-like creature Adrian did manifest grabed at her with its claws and felw back to the others just as another swarm of bats flew forward to close the gap. "Tripple!" Adrian shouted as the familiar broke into three and and fired a spread-shot of sonic-rings. The Ninjotaur did however looked like it expected it as it threw a counter-shot of Shuriken. Edward and Alicia came up with their own counter-strike and made the Ninjotaur stagger backward and then Adrian, who had quickly turned into mist, changed back into human form and pierced its hearth with his blade and the twisted creature screamed and then exploded.

End of Flashback.

Alicia again covered her back as she made golden flames enshroud the bone-archers who exploded. The goat-men did a rash at them and Alicia made green rocks rise from the ground to stop their dash. How the element of earth could have two colours. Bought brown and green. Then again, when the power was used, it was brown but when somebody summoned it, they did call for the power of the crest of emeralds. She shook her head. There was really strange thoughts who went through your mind when you was in danger of getting killed. She made freezing orbs explode and spread energy all round her. A whistle came from somewhere and the soldiers started withdrew for good it looked like. But if it was only to regroup or if they where going to gather more troops she didn't knew but she hoped for the last one.

Barnsdall forest, Warakiya. The 15th of December 2098 A.D.
As the dark servants withdrew Alicia was the first to reach Saria with Torah close behind. She was completely covered in wounds and her clouting torne to shreds and blood dripping from her mouth and nose. "I don't have any skills in healing." Torah said in a reluctant voice. Marcia nodded. "I'm not strong enough to help her either. I must form a connection with some of you." Adrian nodded and brought out one of his card. "Fairy familiar, come to my aid." The fairy-familiar appeared with a somewhat reluctant glow around her. "I cannot command this of you. But if you will aid me, then form a connection with Marcia here?" Torah stepped forward. "I'll be a part of the circle too." Marcia smiled and even dough she couldn't see anything, her slight skills where not like anything against the fairies and Torah's arts, but it looked like the trio tried to drill holes in Saria with their eyes. She gasped as she noticed how the blood stopped running and then the wounds started closing and then healed completely. She knew very little about these things to be sure. She'd once heard that healing needed water, wind and spirit. If the ball the Ninjotaur had left behind had contained the element of water then it hadn't come to her. Not that that the element of fire that had come to where made her felt treated unfairly or anything like that or… She shook her head. She was merely ranting. It had bean a little strange dough. That the Ninjotaur had managed to harvest the third of the elements in that crystal and used it to resurrect itself but then again, she knew little about magic and that little knowledge went down to nothing when it came to necromancy. "There." Marcia said in a tired tone. "That is the best I can do. Thank you for adding the force of the laurels. Without them the healing-spell might not have worked." Saria slowly opened her eyes and Torah quickly knelt to fill her inn on what had happened. "Alicia," Edward was still touching the stopwatch from time to time, seemingly not knowing what he was doing. "we must talk." She nodded as they and Adrian walked a little bit away from the other, leaving the familiars and Marcia to take hand of things if they should be attacked again.

Barnsdall forest, Warakiya. The 15th of December 2098 A.D.
Edward sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree. So did Adrian and Alicia too. "What do you think of this Adrian?" Alicia said. "The train will not bring us to Ondol and after what you said earlier the valley is under some sort of curse." He reminded before Adrian could answer her question. "Torah said she was able to feel the flow of power, like I did." Adrian said. "To turn the flow the source of the curse have to be "closed"." Alicia shook her head. "That's like the situation in 1499 when the forger-master Issac was the source of Dracula's curse of darkness. What if the past repeat itself?" Adrian shook his head. "That is not possible. The eclipse-powered seal still contain the dark powers so my father cannot take physical form. Aldough I am the first to agree that his spirit has lost none of its potency." "But how do it actually work?" He asked. Adrian's face grew grim. "We do have to put the two sources off in the exact the same time. If not, this valley may be burned to ashes by the counterforce." Alicia grimaced. "So then we have to split up again." Adrian nodded. "Do you have any suggestions I would very much like to hear them." She shook his head and he got to his feet. "Then if you and Torah is the only of us to feel the whereabouts of the spell-casters then you must leave each other behind." "So it seem." Adrian said as he dusted off his cloak where the snow had made it durty. "In that case," Alicia said as she too got to her feet. "I'll go with you Adrian." "As you please my lady." Adrian said with a courteous bow. "Do you want your whip back then?" HE asked her. Alicia shook her head. "Just keep it. You're better off with that whip than I do. Beside," A quick smile went over her face. "it looks good on you." He removed his had to let his hand go through his hair, then merely shrugged. "Let's tell the sisters about our conclution then." Adrian said. As they explained the situation Torah and Saria agreed on continue on with him and he couldn't help but blush as Saria smiled toward him. "But how do we know when the time is right?" Torah asked. That was a very good question. One he hadn't had the courage to ask. But Alicia was already ahead of him. "Marcia, do you have any skills in telepathy?" "Of course." The little creature answered. "In that case," She turned to Adrian. "Give them the fairy-familiar card." Adrian gave her a somewhat reluctant look before he did as she told. "Fairy-familiar come to my aid." He said as he held up the card and the little shining fey appeared before him. "The feries keep in contact and then we'll be able to time our banishments of the magicans." Alica told. "Do this ferie and you are forgiven of your crimes." Adrian said in his usual cold somewhat divine voice. "Yes master." The familiar said before she vanished. "Well then," He said somewhat awkwardly. "good luck to you bought." Alicia shook his hand and Adrian saluted him before they went away.

Barnsdall mine, Warakiya. The 15th of December 2098 A.D.
The command-centre was buzzing with activity. Buers and Baels went back and forth to deliver orders or to speak via the many magical images from crystalline balls. Frozen shades, her personal guards, flouted at her as soon she approached them. The deputy-advicors, sent by the Dark Lord Dracula himself, stood in the distance, their hoods and cloaks hiding their every features, abserving her every move with calm detached looks on their deathly-pale faces. "We have bean able to establish contact with the lost general Reinhardt Reigh Van Deer Hawk. He and his followers are somewhere in the Fisher marshland. Do you wish to speak with him my lady?" "Wait a moment." She said as she went over to where lord Frost and his ghostly attaché stood watching her. "Have you reported this to the Dark Lord?" She asked them. "Indeed we have." Was Frost's only reply. "In that case, let me speak with him." The were-lioness brought her over to where her throne stood and as she sat down, the crystal before it lit up. "Again you come before me general Reich." She said as his pale clean-shaven face appeared over the crystalline ball. "Ganch recht my lady." He answered. The spiked helmet of black and gold made parts of his face in shadows, but she noticed the smile on his thin lips. "Why have you avoided reporting this long?" "Because this is the first time I have come to a place with connection to a higher command." She slightly nodded. She and her "sister" had spread out crystal connection-posts all across the uncharted Fisher marshland of morbid morrons. Not that it was the least strange. The marsh occupied an area consistant of ¼ of the Foggy lake. Not that the Draco woodland of monsters was that more charted, but that held little interest for the moment. "Where do you think you are by now?" She knew it was a meaningless question to ask, but it neither the less slipped out of her mouth. "The same place we where some three days before. At a rotting old river-boat. Ach so, my second-in-command informs that there is a rather open murky area around this boat. Does any of this hear familiar to you?" She considered it. The legend told that 300 years ago pirates attacked the river-boat and plundered it for a treasure that rightfully belonged to the Dark Lord Dracula. The crew on the boat became cursed to forewer search the marsh for the lost pirates and the treasure. Even dough rumours that the sunken ship in the foggy lake was the pirate-ship of the brutes and that they had become punished, but there was little true lore on these grounds. "I am afraid I do not know the place. My only advice is for you to continue onward and report at every crystal-point you find." The vampire nodded. "That I shall. And thank you, white witch. Hail deer Graf." She returned the salute and the crystal once again became just that, a crystal. "Do you intend to send a rescue-mission into the swamp?" Frost asked in a near serine voice. "No my lord. But I intend to make someone do that." She again turned to the crystal. "Sister." It was a mere whisper, but it was instantly answered. "I hear you, sister. What is your tidings?" An image of a pale-skinned and golden-locked vampire, shrouded completely in black, appeared before her. Her sapphire-blue eyes fixed upon her and she again thought how like lady Krohnquist she looked. "General Reich have become lost in the Fisher marshland of morbid morons. You know which importance the Dark Lord place in this matter. The castle on which you have made your residence lay in that marsh. And I wonder if you would not send a rescue-force into that area?" Anita Fortner, which was the name of her sister in witchcraft, calmly looked back at her. "You know what I know. Brad castle lies on the outskirts of the marsh, on an island in the foggy lake which is free of ice thank to the marsh, and that not even I knew this area. Never the less, I shall send my topmost experts on the marsh to see what they might find." "Thank you sister." The black witch's smile held no happiness. "I will send them in, but by the Master, I do not think I will ever see them again." "In that chase," Lord Frost came over to stand beside her. "we should not refuse to help. I will send my personal attaché to you. He possess the power of dominance, like I do, and might penetrate the curse of the marsh." The black witch slightly bowed. "I thank you lord Damien Frost, we are awaiting your aid's arrival." The image of the black witch vanished and so did the ghostly image of lord Frost's attaché. "If you manage to arrange this quest to its conclution," Frost said. "I am sure the Dark Lord will show his gratitude against you." She waved her hand in dismissal. "I exist to serve the Dark Lord Dracula." Frost nodded. "Of course you do, as we all do." He did also vanish and to be true, she felt grateful for it. Frost was one of the possible successors of the Dark Lord, not that it mattered now, but she was afraid he and other of the candidates might might felt treated unfairly because of the current events. Then again, it was like he said, they all existed to serve the Dark Lord Dracula. Nothing more, nothing less.

Barnsdall forest, Warakiya. The 15th of December 2098 A.D.
Edward put his hat to the back of his head and threw his coat backward as he recoiled the chain-whip and ripped out Quincy Morris's Bowie-knife. Saria and Torah stopped right behind him, they too bringing out their weapons. "What is…" Torah began, he waved at her and she fell silence. "I thought I saw something." He whispered as he looked around. The trees stood so close to each other that it was hard to see things at some distance. Suddenly Saria fired the arrow from her bow and something of great size caught fire. "A tree?" He said as he'd managed to close his mouth. "No tree." Saria said. "A wakwak tree, the grown vertion of the dendroids. They could be really difficult to see if you don't know what to look for." Just then something black, as if the night itself had become alive, fell from one of the trees and tackled Torah to the ground. Before any of them could help her, more strange creature fell from the trees but now they saw who they where. "Were-panthers and were-jaguars." He said as they came toward him. "Not let their female shapeliness fool you." Saria said as she put back her bow and arrows and instead drew her short-bladed sword. For him it would've bean a knige, but for her it was long enough to function as a true sword. The shield was made out of wood and would most likely not withstand the flames and other magical attacks some monsters used, but he figured it was better than no shield at all. Then he didn't have time to think as a were-tiger dashed into him. He back-flipped as best he could and cracked the whip into her. Blood oozed from the hit-mark and this time it was she who did the back-flip. Then she gathered her hands before her and suddenly her claws and arms became put ablaze with blue fire. He made golden flames enshroud the whip, Alicia said it was from the element of life, and countered her first strike. But this time she came in so fast he had not time to swing it. As it was about to tore into him with its claws he amanged to slice her trout with the Bowie-knife. He threw himself backward as the bleeding corpse fell toward him. He'd heard that the blood of the were-beasts could be like acid. He'd killed some were-foxes but they where no real were-beasts, rather, they where man-beasts. They looked like they looked and did what they did just from their own nature. His thought where cut short as a were-jaguar did dash at him. Its claws scratched at his jacket but thant to the mail and breast-plate underneath he didn't became hurt. HE tried to strike it but the agile beast had already jumped out of reach. That was until it dashed forward and tried to tore off his own trout. Her hands came into contact with his cross and they became burned with silvery flames. "Go to Hell!" She screamed at him as it back-flipped and prepared for another attack. He dashed forward but before he could do anything an arrow shining with whitish gold pierce her chest and may her fall onto the snow, dead before she reached the ground. "Star bow! Blue bow!" A spread-shot of magical-empowered arrows became shot from Saria's bow and took out the remaining were-cats. But they didn't exactly have time for rest and pice as the flesh of the were-cats burned away and their skeletons rouse to face them. "Come out, come out from wherever you are. You cursed necromancer." Torah challenged as she stood with blood-stained razor-rings and orange, blue and yellowish golden energy shined in her eyes. They didn't have to wait long as a long-legged owl came walking toward them. "Fight the were-skeletons and wakwak trees," She told them. "this is a battle neither of you are prepared for." "But what is that thing?" He asked as he looked over at the owl. "Don't look it in the eyes." She warned. "Then it might turn you into stone." He tore away his eyes and moved into a defensive-stance. "A stolas is an wise aged owl from Hell. It possess more of the forgotten lore of Earth than any else beside the Naga and the ones who watch the worlds. I do not know why they turned to darkness, but now they serve the Dark One and Dracula." He nodded. He didn't knew where she have gotten all this knowledge, but it was paying off a great deal. One of the wakwak trees grabbed at him and he did a back-flip just as were-skeletons hammered their heads toward him. He cracked the whip at them and they became thrown far back. Then they rouse yet again and still marched toward him. "Blue bow!" The frozen arrow shut into the wakwak tree and it became frozen in mere seconds. "Star bow!" The arrows, given power by the element of spirit, shot at the were-skeletons and made them shatter into pices. "Watch out!" Torah shouted at them. "It's sending its own crew." "Portal of Servants." The ancient owl commanded as two portals opened and a crew of Minotaurs and Valkyries appared before them. "Ouch time." He mumbled as he prepared to face them. "Tell me about it." Saria said from where she now stood back to back with him, sword and shield in hand, seemingly prepared for anything. "For Jesus, Saria?" She smiled. "For Jesus, Edward." The Minotaurs ripped out axes or ball-and-chains before they prepared to attack. Edward cracked the whip into the ground and flames of whitish gold spread all around them. The Valkyries screamed as they flew at them with their lances outstretched and ready to face them. Saria pointed her sword outward and frozen beams and rings became spread all across the landscape, freezing all which they came into contact with. But it wasn't enough and soon they had no other choice then facing them in hand-to-hand combat. Still standing back to back, he swung the whip and tossed the boomerang-cross at them and made it split into four or possibly five and cut some Minotaurs to pices but it still wasn't enough. A Minotaur swung its axe at him and he managed to catch it whit the whip and tore it from its hands and then tossed it right back at it. It pierced its skull and the Minotaur was dead before it could even fall. Saria channelled magical energy into her sword as she sung to lull the enemies to sleep. He could see the pain on her face but she continued on singing as the enemies came storming at them.

Barnsdall forest, Warakiya. The 15th of December 2098 A.D.
Alicia and Adrian stood on a hill overlooking the land before them. "Barnsdall forest and Draco forest of monsters are two very similar. In reality they are one huge forest. The only reason it have bean parted into two different domains is cause to two boyars who allways faught about the right to gowern this forest. Then the grand voivode parted the forest into two equal pices who still exist within their names." She put her arm on his shoulder. She'd knewn him long enough to know when Adrian felt down. Then the earth cracked and seven knights, headless knights, rouse from the ground, armour-clad and armed with battle-swords and with their decapitated heads in their left hands. "For God, Warakiya and Basraq!" Adrian sounded his war-cry as he drew his sword and prepared his shield. She was close behind as she drew Edward's sword and started to channel energy into it. Red for wind, blue for ice, orange for fire and whisish gold for life she remembered and then let it all loose in a solid wave, taking out some of the knights before she opposed them at point blank range. Her sword hit metal as she and two of the headless knights faced each other, their skulls tried to cry some strange waves at her. She summoned the crest of sapphires so they froze and then she destroyed the skulls themselves. No good idea she quickly discovered as the two knights drew out yet another blade. She took a twin-hand stance and prayed the practise master Corder and Adrian had hammered into her would be enough. It was strange, she'd bean trained to use the whip as her main-weapon but had diligently bean trained in how to use a sword as well. The cold made her glasses feel like ice-bars around her eyes and nose but she didn't pay attention as she struck aside blow after blow from the headless knights. If she'd only had time to bring out her holy water or throwing-daggers she knew she would've crushed them, or so she thought consider how her control of these weapons had grown during the time out here, but she had to use all her concentration just to keep herself alive. "You do not stand alone." Marcia flew around them, searching for an opening to cast her spells through. She managed to get in a strike on the side of one of the knights and as he knelt over she turned around and cut off the hand of the other knight's so his right armoured-clad arm burst into fire and the headless knight fell burning to the ground. Marcia cast her spell on the other knight and she turned around, discovering that Adrian played tag with three of the knights by shape-shifting spells. She tossed some of her daggers into the back of one knight so it exploded into flames and then she again stood face to face with another offensive-minded knight. Before she could move however, Adrian spread his cape and sent three homing balls of bat-inhabited blue fire and the knight just about exploded. The last knight turned around and quickly vanished into the forest. "Quckly now." Adrian adviced. "We have to find a path leading down into the Draco forest before it return with more of the Dark Lord's servants." She brought back her blade and picked up the daggers before they started walking along the hillside. The slope down to the lowland was not high, but still to much for any sane person to try climbing it.

Barnsdall forest, Warakiya. The 15th of December 2098 A.D.
Torah spread her arms into a nere dancing pose, her body moving along, as she channelled bought fire, ice and spirit tinto three powerful balls of energy. The blast pounded into the stolas, who didn't even flinch. Instead it unleaches another wave of were-skeletons, Minotaurs and Valkyries. Wakwak threes was coming walking out from the forest. Edward and Saria had so far done pretty well against these monsters but they couldn't keep it up forever. She knew that if she opened herself to the dark side of her power she could overwhelm this beast without even getting tired. But she didn't even consider giving in to them. She knew they would destroy her and that even if she was to give herself as a sacrifice it wouldn't help them the next time a stolas showed up. "Winter's hearth! Sunburst of the First Dawn! Wings of Spirit!" The three powerful attacks hammered into the stolas and this time it actually stumbled some steps backward, then it started manifesting harpies and ape-skeletons instead. She ducked as the stolas also fired a laser at her and then continued to run as the ancient old continued its attack. She should've remembered that. When a stolas became weaker, its power started growing more destructive. "Shield of Vollor!" She screamed as a shield of spirit rouse before her and deflected the blast. "Gate of Glory!" She'd heard the spell needed pure spirit to work but she'd never expected the outcome. A gate of shining gold, pearl and silver opened to a realm of pure silvery light with totally consumed the stolas. Then the gate closed and she collapsed on the snow. "Torah!" Saria came running over to her with Edward close behind. "I'm all right." She said as her half-sister helped her to sit. "What was that?" She asked as Saria gave her to drink from her bottle. "That was the gate of glory. The gate to the plane of the Heavens. You're lucky to still be alive. The watchers don't like it when those alive try to open the gate to their realm. God gave the spell to us in the name of Christ, we are not to open it at random." Edward picked on his cross. "That was what Victor's father told us. I never asked where he got that sort of knowledge but that dosen't matter. That spell would summon the dark wanderers here and I don't think they will be exactly friendly." She nodded. "Then we must be off." Edward grinned. "That was my plan Torah." He knelt so she could climb onto his back and then they where off. She hoped he was wrong about the dark wanderers, she didn't want to meet them again if she could do anything about it.

Barnsdall forest, Warakiya. The 15th of December 2098 A.D.
This had most likely bean an old dryad or naiad village Alicia thought. Hollowed-out trunks in still-living gaint-trees and with a frozen river and small ponds littered the land like blue jewels where all beautiful but left alone by living creatures. "This village was once the home of the houses of oak and pond." Adrian said. "Then the dark servants came from the ruined castle of my father and they left for the Old forest where I heard they intend to stand tall against the evil spirits." She cast him a look. "Then why are they doing here?" From one of the ponds she heard jiggling voices coming. "I do not think…" Adrian began and then fell silent, and started walking toward the pond like a sleep-walker. "Adrian!" She called as she ran after him, then she stopped, dead in her track. In the clear crystalline pond of the water, two petite light-skinned naked individuals played like children in the water, giggling and making fun of each other in a teeny fashion. Never the less, their innocent look didn't fool her. She felt dark power drift from them like foul smoke. "Adrian, no!" She said with determination. "That is nymphs, seductive servants of the Dark Lord. They will consume your spirit if not disposed." Adrian merely stood there, watching how the two nymphs laughed and played in the pond. "Christ," She whispered as she picked forth her crucifix. "please help me." Then orange fire blazed around her blade and she felt how courage and determination welled up inside her hearth. "By the crest of opals." She smiled. "Don't fear us." One of the nymphs said. "We don't want to harm you." The other one said. She felt how their hypnotic presence embraced her mind. Summoning as much fire into her hearth she could she pressed aside their power and saw beyond the obvious. She gasped, they where still petite, still looking like tiny teens, but teens didn't have horn or tails like that of a goat, neither they had eyes like fire or fanged teeth. But she knew it wasn't their fangs or nails who was their weapon. It was their beauty who was their gratest asset and they knew that. If she became overwhelmed by their spell she knew she would loose her soul and in time become like them. Living bodies, without fear, without remorse or the feeling of pitty towards other, but a hearthless demon, existing only to steal the soul of other living people. That knowledge gave the treats of the element of fire burn even higher in her hearth. "Your rule of illusion and deception is over. God give me strength, may your sins be forgiven." She trusted herself forward and tossed vials of holy water at the left one and then pierced the hearth of the other one. Adrian blinked, then looked on her like somenone just awakening from a dream. "I must prey for your forgiveness." He said as he knelt down on one knee. "I am a man with all the weakness that masculinity. Forgive me." She grabbed his hand and helped him to stand. "To be a man is no sin as it is to be a women. The Devil knew all our weaknesses and tells Dracula about them, giving him knowledge about how to use that knowledge against us." Adrian nodded. "I know that. But I feared you might not know it." She smiled. "I know. It's allways somebody else's fault, isn't it." She said with disdain in her voice. Adrian nodded. "That was why Hitler could get such a strong hold on the German's hearths. When you place blame on somebody you grant the hope of those who wish to believe it is true." They slowly started walking and noticed the slope wasn't nearly as high here as it had bean before. "I think we might make it this time." She said as she looked down. "You are right." Adrian said. "We only must be…" Just then something big flew from the sky and landed just some metres away. "Watch out!" Adrian shouted as he drew his blade. "A harpy." She gasped as the creature parted its wings so it head and human body became exposed. This time they didn't felt under the curse of temptation. She was beautiful, yes, but it was such a exotic beauty that they didn't felt attracted to her. She drew her sword as well and they prepared for battle.

Fisher marshland of morbid morons, Warakiya. The 15th of December 2098 A.D.
Richter Von Krohnsteen, unther-feltwebel in deer Grafs laibstansarte SS, boyar of a lesser estate in Warakiya stood at attention as two of his commandoes shot with their MPs to depose the flock of two-headed beasts before them. Their golden spikes at the top of their crimson-painted helmets caught sunlight as the moved forward and shot the last remaining beasts. The decree of his task-force was that none, set aside by the Millits high-commanders, where to know about his mission. "y lord Von Krohnsteen?" He turned around to face Ninjara, his second-in-command. "Yes my lady Redfox, was is it?" She was of the red were-foxes royal family and her blood was even purer then his was, but the Dark Lord Dracula had given him the command of this force, not that it mattered in this connection. Her short, slim yet muscular built body was attractive and if she had not bean who and what she was he would have flirted with her. Then again, she would rather have kicked him in the head and then cut him to pieces with her short Japanese swords. "The renegade group have bean taken hand of, our task-group are free to move on with our misson." He nodded. "Then gather your troops Ninjara Redfox, Hail deer Graf." He saluted her. "As you wish lord Von Krohnsteen. Hail deer Graf." She whirled around on a perfect military manner and stepped a few steps before she went to execute his command. It was truly a strange assembly of troops he had to his disposal. The SS-soldiers in ther crimson helmets, breast and shoulder-plates, black trousers, boots and side-buttoned jackets with the dragon in crimson and gold on the front and back of their jackets and the royal guards, red-fured were-foxes in red and black Japanese armours and short-bladed one-handed Japanes Katana swords. Not to mention the axe lords and spear guards, all delivered to him from the crimson guard, the castle guard. They where all brave battlers an organized troops but he had hoped for Millits soldiers, seasoned and battle-hardened soldiers. But what was, was. He was commanded to find general Reich and bring him and the eggs he had managed to secure and bring him and them back to the castle and the Dark Lord. Wathever the cost may be and whatever time he might use on it.

Barnsdall forest, Warakiya. The 15th of December 2098 A.D.
Edward looked through the trees of the forest and not seeing any enemies he sneaked back to where Torah and Saria stood. Torah still looked a little tired around her eyes and that wasn't difficult to understand. He was no mastermind when it came to magic but the way she'd explained it to him, he understood her meanings. He shook his head, he only hoped she would be ready if the dark servants where to attack again. He blushed with shame, thinking so coldly about a friend. "The forest is ending just half a kilometre beyond this clearing." He informed them. "And I didn't see any enemies there either." Saria nodded. He looked at Torah and so did she. Their little sorceress stared into the distance and almost didn't pay attention to what he said. "There is something wrong here." She merely whispered. "Something feels…" He stopped paying attention as the most beautiful song he'd ever heard came to him from the forest. He started walking. He just had to see who this person was who could sing like this. "Edward!" Saria called behind him. There was something in her voice. Something he should know if he only could remember it… Then it clicked and he froze in place and then noticed he couldn't move at all. Then somebody came walking toward him, out from the trees before him. He felt like a trap was closing about him.

Barnsdall forest, Warakiya. The 15th of December 2098 A.D.
The harpy flapped her wings. Adrian stood to her side, sword and shield at the ready and with his familiars around him. She held her, well, Edward's blade, in a twin-handed stance and prepared to attack. Then suddenly two more harpies dashed right into the first one. She tried to look away but couldn't. The harpies where soon involved in what her parents had called a "cat-fight" and she could understand why. They tugged at each others hair, clawed and bite or even kicked their opponents. "Come, quickly." She whirled around to see even another harpy. "There will soon be other harpies here, harpies who side with lord Dracula. They will bring with them soldiers of the forest monsters." "Who are you?" She asked. "And who is your friends there?" Adrian asked as he summoned the familiars back into their cards. "Anicka." She answered. "And this is my sister Natalie." The other harpy nodded, cracking a quick smile. "But we have not much time. Those other two are loyal to the Dark Lord, but have a personal vendetta against her. Now come." Without further delay they bought got onto the harpies and the two, aldough looking frail, where off in a matter of seconds. "Where are you taking us?" Adrian asked when they where well away from the squabbling harpies. "To the Draco forest of monsters." Anicka said. "But then we'll be just back where we started." She protested. Natalie, who was carrying her, shook her head. "No, young human. There is no other way to go." She didn't understand. Anicka noticed and explained. "We heard you plan to destroy the witches. Your other friends should be way underway on their journey to the mines. But you where about to walk right into the arms of the soldiers. Since words are spread that God might forgive us, I and my sister agreed to help you." She shook her head, that would be incredible if it was true. But whatever the truth was, she was grateful for whatever help they might get.

Barnsdall forest, Warakiya. The 15th of December 2098 A.D.
She ran up to where she'd used air to keep Edward from running. Then she nearly froze herself as she noticed what was coming toward them. It was shaped like a human, with long banks of brown hair hung down, framing a face, a face… The shining green eyes, burning with a thirst for something which she didn't want to think about. She could understand why Edward and Saria looked her over and then turned away their faces with shameful looks. Her slender yet rounded shapeliness made her feel, she didn't knew, uncomfortable. But it was her eyes who really frightened her. "A Siren." Saria said in a disdainful tone. "She and her people are those responsible for the dryads bad reputation." She nodded, again having to tore her eyes away from the Siren's shining green orbs. As Edward brought out the chain-whip and Saria her bow, the Siren spread her arms and three green flames became released. Edward tried to jump it and was nearly hit as the flame changed direction and rocketed toward him. "Star bow!" Saria's arrow made the flame explode. "Winter's hearth!" Her spell made the remaining flames freeze into frozen pieces. Edward tossed the throwing-cross, blazing with bought green and golden energy. Just them, the green light flowed from her eyes and bathed her in light and the boomerang-cross became repelled and the Siren dashed at them. They all managed to avoid her but ground-going green energy became spread all over the area from where she landed. She screamed as one of the beams hit her. It felt like being whipped by a giant. She blinked and opened her eyes. The tree behind her had supported her from being tossed even further back. "Blue bow! Lightning arrow!" Where had Saria found the element of lightning? Then she heard a scream. Edward had made the golden spread-shot of rings, beams and other projectiles go and now the Siren was wounded. She could see blood running from wounds on her body. She got to her feet and charged as much energy she could muster into three powerful orbs of magical power. Just then the Siren spread her arms and the trio of heat-seeking flames hit her magic and exploded. "Star bow! Blue bow!" Saria fired two magical arrows which pierced her hearth and sent her flying. Edward helped her to stand and Saria made the faire-familiar heal her. "You there!" A strange voice shouted. "Stay where you are!" From behind the trees bone-soldiers and goat-men came running at them. Harpies littered the sky. "Run!" Edward again made her climb on his back before they started running again.

"Do not just stand there!" Grond, the leader of the goat-men, shouted to his soldiers. "Not a chance." Crash snarled back. "And why is that?" He asked them after he'd sliced the throat of the other goat-man. "Because," One of the bone-soldiers said. "they are heading for the lonely hills of poltergeists." He nodded. "I get your point. Hi gays!" He shouted at the other soldiers. "We'll go around and search the Blight for them." Some of the soldiers grunted in dismay but after he'd removed some heads they did as he ordered. He didn't like the Blight much either. But they where at least somewhat better then those maze of hills.

Draco forest of monsters, Warakiya. The 15th of December 2098 A.D.
They came out of nowhere. One Monticore and one Chimera. Anica and Natalie tried their best to get away but the two monsters where far more powerful. "Brace yourself and pray for God to aid us." He told Alicia before they bought tumbled to the ground.

Brad castle, Warakiya. The 15th of December 2098 A.D.
The black witch smiled. "You where right about all you said." The ghost flouting beside her merely smiled. "The Belmont and the lost one must be destroyed." Was his only remark. She absentmindedly nodded as the crystal on the little podium lit up. "Sister." She said as the black face of the white witch appeared flouting over the crystal. "I salute you in the name of the Dark Lord and the New Order." "Shed your plesentries." The with witch said. "I assume he is with you now. I expect to hear that he and your best troopers are out searching for general Reich." She slightly bowed her head. "But of course, sister. I was about to grant the order as you contacted me." She turned around. "Move out. I do not expect you to be back before the general is found." The ghostly presence bowed and then vanished. "Good." Now her sister was actually smiling. "With the refinding of the general and the Belmonts at our grasp, we will likely be granted supreme rank in the New Order." "Of course." She said before she ended the transmission. She was sure someone would gain that rank, but who was of yet an open question. There was only one Dark Lord and there where few who where faithful or powerful enough to stand by him. She would see that that she became one of them.

River-boat of wandering ghosts, Warakiya. The 16th of December 2098 A.D.
The door became tore open without any warning. Penny Armstrong and Lucy Strangway had already dressed for sleep and was kneeling in prayer. The two fishmen grabbed her arms and dragged her outside. "Penny!" Lucy screamed, frightened as she saw her friend be dragged away. She tried to give her an encouraging smile but was afraid it didn't helped. They had bean through so much since she and the other children had run away from the town of Ondol when the dead came there and now they where captives aboard this abandoned river-boat in the middle of the swam without any hope of ever getting away. Tears welled up in her eyes as they brought her to the old dance hall. There, before that giant organ of his, the hooded and cloaked ghost who had brought them there sat, as he always did. "Yes master Blinov," She said as gentle she could. She would be punished if she wasn't. "why did you summon me?" Dimitri's ghost smiled, before he started playing and she started singing. She had a good little voice. It sounded sad, like she felt it in her hearth. And she felt sadder still as the strange song seemed to drain her of all hope and good feelings in her soul. Before the ghost was finished, she was kneeling on the floor with tears running down her cheeks. Dimitri seemed to shine with his own light. And again she thought he looked more alive then she had ever before seen him. "Bring her back to her room." He commanded the fishmen. "Bring the other girl to me." They dragged her with them. The last thing she saw was the ghost of Dimitri opening a black book as he started chanting in some old none-understandable language.

(A.N: This chapter is incredibly long and there is more to come. I'm going to stay with the first group for a while now. God be with you everyone.)

Chapter 19: The Story Continues | Back to Chapter 17