Castlevania: Darkness Never Dies

Fan Fiction

Continued...

Part 1: Gathering darkness.

"Let justice rain down upon us, let justice be as an everlasting spring."

Amos: 5, 24.

Chapter 21: Dungeon.
Britza lower roak, Warakiya. The 16th of December 2098 A.D.
He gathered his powers inside his spirit and then started chanting the needed spell. The dead one rouse from the earth and then bowed before him. He again started chanting as he bond the curse of the cave to it. Then he smiled as he retook his falce form as he prepared to return to the others.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 16th of December 2098 A.D.
The cracking of bones and the clinking of armour hitting armour was making him feel proud. He knew it wasn't his doing these soldiers where good in training. The dead obeyed him and the more power he put into them, the more intelligence seemed to be resurrected. But the crimson guards he'd been detailed with where commanded to him by lady Rage's most trusted recruiters and they really looked as they knew their work well. The goat-bowmen and boar-snipers did also look as if they could take the brunt of an attack and live to speak about it, but he didn't by far like the look of Father Wolfgang. Their former friendship was rubbish he had rid himself off of for many years ago. Now he could look the man as the person he really was. A pompous jackass with grandiose ideas about his own importance. He possessed the needed power to break the holy man's seals on their path, but beside that power, he was useless. He knew he'd had no training in actual combat or warfare. He on the other side possessed such training and was prepared to use it. "Christ!" Someone before him cried. "Into your hands I surrender my spirit!" A boy dressed in simple tunic and boots stood before his troops, then he exploded into motion as he brought out a silvery whip he crashed into his foremost bone-soldiers. Someone shouted something in a language he didn't understand and a raven-haired girl tossed herself in front of the arrows shot by the bowmen and generated a shield of flames right in front of herself, taking out most of the projectiles. "Dead worriers forward!" He cried as the back of the group came running to cover the goat and boar-men as they reloaded their weapons. The boom of shotguns caught his attention. He had been informed that the enemy did not possessed advanced hand-weapons. Then he had no more time to think as he stood face to face with the boy armed with the whip. He noticed father Wolfgang sitting cross-legged in the middle of the air, generating fireballs which he tossed at the priest they had come to arrest. The boy cracked his whip and he teleported to begin the attack.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 16th of December 2098 A.D.
Trusting George, Noriko and Iori to take care of the other enemies, Christian took it upon himself to battle the darkside, the most dangerous of the lot. The dark wizard had just about teleported and he was looking about for the crystal just as three parallel bolts of black lightning shot at him. He grasped his crucifix and made a barrier of crosses rise around him to take the brunt of the attack. Now he got the glimpse of the crystal, but again he was a little to late. He prepared for the bolts but screamed as the darkside whipped at him with another dark bolt of lightning. Quickly he get to his feet and sprinkles holy water all around himself with holy water. He knew it wouldn't damage him, but it would make him back off a little. His enemy teleport again and a group of bone-soldiers seemed like they came from nowhere with dead in their eye-less openings. He brandishes the Vampire Killer just in time to counter the sword-blows. Then he made them explode by dousing them with more holy water. Then he again was hit by the black whip of a lightning bolt. But this time he manage to get a clear shot on the crystal with the throwing-cross. The darkside stumbled backward but managed to fire down three new black lightning. Blueis flames became spread all over. He danced, or so it felt, to avoid the fire and then roused a wall of crosses around himself to take out the rest. His enemy laughed of him as he again made bolts of black lightning struck down and made bluish flames arise. "Domini arde, aculus dai!" Father Joshua came running with his robe floving around him as he sprinkled the Blood of Christ all over the darkside. Then another cloaked being came up beside him and cracked at him with his fists. The priest lifted his staff to defend himself. But that gave him time to recover his ground. He tossed the throwing-cross and the darkside teleported. The crystal shattered as he doused him with holy water. The enemy shattered, or so it looked like. Its face, its personality, seamed to break into pieces and fell away. He made black lightning strike from the ceiling but it wasn't a him anymore. He wondered if it ever had have a real personality. He felt sorry for the man he'd once bean and then tossed more holy water on it. He whipped at it as it teleported and then finished it off with the bommerang-cross, by splitting the holy emblem into many, and the crystal many, and it burned into nothingness. "Christian!" George's voice tore him out of his reverie. "We have to get away. The enemies are regrouping for attack." He regained the throwing-cross and then ran afther the former salesman.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
The boiling sounds was the only sound in the empty cave as the raven-haired maiden rouse out of the earth, her long slender hands rouse above her head. A pale bluish-grey face with dark red eyes stared at him as full crimson lips parted to extend long pale-white fangs. She was shaped like a statue of pale bluish-grey marble, with perfect modelled body shrouded in clear blue silk. She was beautiful now as he knew her. "Lenore Von Brahenmark," He softly whispered. "What are you doing here?" The shadowy priestess smiled such that more of her fangs became expanded. "I am ordered to go here to arrest some seatrain agitators." She said in her sweet Austrian accent. "His aura are concealed by the powers of dominance. But I need new blood and you are the only human down here. And I need you." She glided toward him, rising her hands, he could see the blood running from her wrist already. "I need you, father Wolfgang. I really need you." He couldn't help but scream as he rouse his hand and summoned one of his blue flames. "Now I summon ancient power." She smiled as she lifted her own hands and a strange crimson crystal appeared in her hands from out of nowhere. "Unsealed darkness." She smiled as the dark powers gathered around her like thick smoke and she crushed the crystal to pieces and the flames vanished from his hands. "Now," Lenore said. " Your soul are mine." As her lips touched his neck, he once again screamed. Then the bleeding wrist became pressed against his lips. "Satan, help me." Was the last thing he said as a man, then a crimson darkness shrouded his sight and a humming sound rang in his ears. Then he collapsed to the ground.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
Flames flickered from the lava and orbs of magma erupted upward before they fell back into the boiling liquid. Noriko couldn't help but be amazed by the continued play of the fleeting rock. She absent-mindedly wondered why she felt such strong connection to the boiling liquid. "Do you feel it?" She asked Iori in hope of he knowing what was going on. "I think so." He answered. "I feel a darkness, that is the nearest I come to describe it, from the lava." She poundered his remark. "Strange," She said. "I feel it like a flame." "It's your power of dominance." Christian said from where he was watching for enemies. "All who possess such power have different treads to the power to manipulate the elements. The flame you feel and the connection with the lava lead me to think you might have that connection. Such as Dario had." Christian smiled, but it wasn't from the hearth. "But your power is the most powerful, but also the most dangerous one." She nodded and shivered. She remembered the stories her grandfather had told her and felt thankfull for that whatever power who was inside her was not as strong as Grandfather Soma's powers. "But when the power of dominance is born into a family it will wait in that clan until somebody use it for its true dark purpose." She couldn't help but shiver again as his words sunk into her. "I like you Noriko, you too Iori, but if you or any of your kind turn to the other side, I'll have no choice but to, to free your souls and restory you as a holy and not an unholy memory." She nodded and understood. She knew he was completely honoust about this and by what she'd seen of the other dark spellcasters she feared about her soul. "Watch out!" George shot out over the river of lava and something caught fire, but then the sickly blue flame reappeared somewhere else. She screamed as a winged Hell-spawned with red flesh and muscular body flew toward them. George shot again as father Joshua chanted in a high voice, but nothing seamed to work, as it flapped its wings and sent three homing flames toward them. Christian was bringing out his holy water but the priest ended his chanting and a burning cross of golden flames shot forward. As the flame-demon burst into just that, flames, she reached forward and absorbed the orb coming out of it. But now the Onis where really heating up. New flame-demons manifested out of nowhere and they had no choice but to run to not become burned by the demons.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
Refreshed after eating and drinking some of the wine the goat-men had brought with them he watched his little band of servants. After they had done quick work of the flame-demons he still had more than two dozen battle-hardened troopers at his disposial. He smiled. At least now they where battle-hardened. The two battles had made them turn their training to the test and they had proven to do their tasks well. Von Brahenmark had almost drained him entirely of blood, but with the aid of his shadowy powers he had bean able to fight back Death and was now almost restored. If she hadn't forced him to drink of her blood too he was rather sure he would not have bean able to regenerate his powers. He was no vampire, at least not yet if that held any importance, but it didn't. And even if he would become one eventually, it was not important in the greater scale. "Forward." He commanded.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
"George," The kiddo asked. "have you ever bean to the castle?" He shrugged. "It's only bean up for some three weeks." He pointed out and had the pleasure to see him blush. "But to answer your question," He quickly continued. "I've never bean actually inside it. But I have bean to Ondol, the nearest town outside the castle." Christian surprised him by smiling. "That village I know about." He begun, then Noriko and Iori came running back. Just then the priest began to chant in a near frantic tone. They rushed forward as Christian recoiled the whip as he drew his guns. As they came forward he saw what they where up against. From the magma the human-like faces of the man-snakes he'd last seen in Brahms manor. "Don't look them in the eyes." Christian said as he took some defensive steps backward. He fired a quick shot forward and one of the man-snakes lost its head. "Good shot George." The boy grinned before he tossed his boomerang-like cross at yet another snake and cut it to pices. "I just hate shushi." He mumbled as the thing just about exploded. "What's wrong with that?" Noriko asked him as she was sure to generate a burning shield aboce them so that none of the poison the beasts spat should hit them. "Just forget about that little bit of facism." He laughed. "Flame-demons coming in!" Iori who'd stayed to watch the back shouted as the flame-demons they'd ran from now had caught up to them. "George, Noriko and you good father, continue to concentrate on the man-snakes. Iori, you come with me." The boys nodded at each other before they lined up behind him. He was finished reloading his guns and again started firing at the snakes. "Let's take them folks!" He shouted as he removed another couple of heads.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
He felt them before they came. Even the flame demons and the man-snakes withdrew as they came out of the darkness. Themselves looking like they where products of the darkness itself. It was only three of them, but one had bean more than enough and this time he hadn't enough of the Host to throw it away if he didn't have to. "I don't think you might help me with this." He said to Iori who stood shivering at his side. "I don't intend to… " Iori began as the soldiers they'd faced before also showed up upon one of the catwalks going across the lava-river. They looked just as comfused as they was when they noticed the three dark wanderers, who, by now, had drawn out their swords. "Father Wolfgang." One of the wanderers said in a tone which made him shiver with fear even dough he did manage to withstand it. "you know who we are. Obey me. Kill the Belmont and arrest the traitor." The shadowy priest didn't even stop to consider as he and the other enemies sprinted toward them. "Gather at the corner." He commanded as they sought shealter at the beginning of one of the stairs behind him and Iori who brough out a blade he'd held hidden in his cloak. "Good Iori." He smiled. He'd drilled many times in how to meet an overwhelming force with only a handful soldiers behind him and was ready. "Noriko, you take out the archers. You'll help her George. And father Joshua. If father Wolfgang should try any spells pray for help from the Saints to help us counter it." They all did as he said as he turned to Iori. "For God, Iori?" The boy shook his head but never the less took up his pose. Then the bone-soldiers and dead worriers came running toward them. A few crimson guards and boar-men formed the back but he hadn't time to count them before he cracked the Vampire Killer toward them and drew the short-sword in his left. It was just long enough to work for an ordinary sword for him, like the Iori's blade did for him. Father Joshua's chanting voice rang in his ears as George's shot boom after boom from his shotguns and hopefully took out the boar and goat-men archers among them. Then the shadowy priest came toward him with a lance in his hands, cursing them with dark magic. "I hope your priest is as good he boost he is." Iori mumbled as the others slowly withdrew up the steps to give themselves more space to take out the archers and to hopefully get more time when the enemies brake through. He would die happy if his friends got away, but he would rather try take out the cruel joke of a priest first. "Curse of Hatred!" Father Wolfgang shouted as he shot a bluish bolt from the tip of his lance. "I believe in that Christ, our Lord, will save those who have faith in Him and all good people upon the world." He calmly stated as he dropped the sword and rouse the throwing-cross in front of himself and pressed it against his hearth. The cross gloved with a clear silvery light and the bolt hit him. Iori ran up the stairs behind them as he became tossed far back. Blue and silvery light flashed hither and dither as he pushed back with all his force to regain his composure as father Wolfgang pushed just as hard to break through the shield. "Michael the Archangel!" He shouted. "Please aid the clan who battle in the name of Christ!" Golden light pressed forward from the cross and now it was Wolfgang who became tossed backward. "Belmont bastard." The dark priest spat at him. "Did you think a mere child could defeat me?" "If God grant me His power." He calmly answered as he cracked the whip at him so burns erupted on his skin. Wolfgang screamed and lost the lance and then made blue flames burn around his hand as he pushed them against him. Near owerwelmed with pain he tore out his crucifix and pressed it against Wolfgang's hearth. Screaming nearly just as much as Wolfgang, he fell into darkness.

Britza lower roak, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
Dead and re-dead enemies where pilled all about the area as the remaining enemies withdrew to regroup. It was still at least seven soldiers left, not to mention the three dark wanderers who hadn't even fought yet. George was busy removing the burned corpse of Wolfgang from Christian as she ran over to see how he was going. Twisting as she noticed the condition of the dark priest she feared the worst. Christian was nearly concealed within the crimson cloth of the priest and in some strange way that seemed to have saved him. "Thank you Kamis. And thank you, Christian's God." She whispered as George forced a healing potion into him. The clear liquid seemed to heal the massive burns on him, but he didn't open his eyes. "Be gone you who stand outside of the Law of God!" Father Joshua shouted and she saw the soldiers was attacking. Iori snarled as he made a burning flame of dark none-light toward them and some fell while other ran backward. "Why are you just standing there?" One of the boar-men asked the wanderers. "They will not save you." Iori said as he spread his cape and unleashed three orbs of dark energy. The surviving enemies ran away as the boar-man fell to the ground with three smoking holes within him. "I see you have learned an important lesson about us." One of the wanderers said with a near honny-sweet voice. "I have." He merely answered. She shook her head. She didn't understood what they where speaking about. She instead went forward and spew one of her webs and threw it above them. Or rather, tried to. They vanished like shadows and when they reappeared they where all around her with their swords at the ready. She gathered the spirit of the vampire and teleported away as she didn't possessed any weapons. But now the dark wanderers themselves had thrown back their hoods and cloaks and showed their real frightening presence. From hood to foot they where clad in red or black armour. Red tunics with the silver and grey crest of the warlock-lord upon their breast. That sign was a thing she would remember to the last day of her life. Black hip-high boots and chain-like belts completed their outfits. But it was the heavy horned helmets and spiked shouler and shell-protection who made her step backward. "Who are they?" George whispered like someone was about to strangle him. "They where knights of Armengar." Christian suddenly sat up and spoke to them. "As I told you before the dark wanderers where worriers, noblemen among the men og the middle-ages. But as the leader became a wizard of great power he founded his own kingdom and kalled it Armengar. This great king and warlock summoned three of his knights to join in his order. And in that time he was not cruel or dark. I have told you how Death gave them power and they, blinded by greed, took without question. But one thing I have not told you is that there originally was many more than 13. Only the greatest onces became of their power what you now see. Living wraiths, creature neither living nor death." She summoned the power of the spider-women this time and tossed a web across the three dark wanderers. They screamed at her with such horrific voices she lost her concentration and they broke free of her trap. They tore it to shreds with their dark blades and she covered in fear as they came toward her. "No!" Before they could reach her, George fired from his shotguns and continued to fire until he'd emptied them bought. One of the wanderers lifted its hand with the palm righted outward. "Watch out!" Christian warned but the sphere created of sickly green flames hammered into George and tossed him right into the stairs. Father Joshua ran over to inspect his wounds as Christian alone prepared to challenge the wanderers. She looked around to see where Iori was, but he was running across the bridge and didn't even look back. She knew she should have thought bad of him. But by hearth she actually wanted nothing else but to follow him to safety. "Father," Christian said. "Create a protective barrier around George and Noriko. This I must do myself." She half-way wanted to scream for him to run, but couldn't bring herself to speak the word. This boy was the bravest person she'd ever faced. "Great Kamis of this region," She prayed in her mind. "please help Christian defeat these Onis." She clapped her hand three times into the floor, just like grandmother Mina had told her.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
So the so-called "Dark Lord" had sent the wanderers to take him. He was a fool. To protective and to patience to strike down his enemy when he had the chance. Well. He would show them. He would show them all. Drawing upon his powers he summoned the creature Dracula originally had placed in command of this area. That would give the wistle another tone. Of that he was sure. Then he regained his fake form once more.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
Just as he was about to begin their combat, rocks fell from the ceiling and nearly buried bought him and the three dark wanderers. Their horrified presence disturbed they had no other choice but to retreat. But that didn't worry him as he ran to not get hit by the next fall of earth. Just then Iori came running back with a giant roaring creature molded out of earth in his heels. "An big golem." Noriko whispered. "Grandfather Soma many times told me about it." He nodded. He'd read Julius Belmont's story about what he, Genya, Yoko Hammer, Mina and Soma experienced in 2035. But that wouldn't help them now. Or did it? He tried to remember how to defeat them but didn't get time to think further about it. The big golem picked some of the rocks and tossed three of them toward them. Noriko screamed as she fired flames to take down the rock coming at her as he swung the Vampire Killer so his rock exploded. Iori blocked his rock by rising a black pillar of dark energy. "Noriko!" He shouted. "Protect George and the father. Iori, prepare to take out the rocks." Iori nodded and just then tossed a trio of daggers at the golem's next wave of bricks. He smiled toward him, but Iori didn't returned it. Just then the big golem cropped down and grabbed at him with its giant hands. He did a back-flip and then made the bommerang-cross cly forward and into the hands of the big golem who cried and the cry made more bricks fall from the ceiling. Some bricks made the bridge across the lava shatter into mere pillars or sections of the former formation. Smoke and flames splattered all about as the rock fell into the boiling river far below them. George, Noriko and father Joshua stood at the bottom of the stairs leading up here so they where at least safe. Iori was teleporting from place to place as he continued to try wound the big golem with his three-way daggers. He had jumped just in time and now stood on a three-meter broad section of the bridge with the golem on the other side of the mess it had created. He summoned the power of earth and started creating blocks of rocks beneath him as he jumped toward the big golem. He brought out his holy water and summoned his own form of magic and made it rain down with holy water all about. Behind him somebody screamed. He didn't have time to look back as the big golem stomped on the grounds so the shallow bridge he'd created fell into the lava and he jumped back to the solid segment of the bridge as quickly he could. Then the big golem again grabbed at him and he had no other choice than to jump backward. Iori appeared to catch him just before he fell into the lava and brought him back to solid ground. "God bless you." He said before he cracked the Vampire Killer at the big golem and this time he scored his mark. Flames rouse from its hands and it staggered backward as it made new rocks fell all about. "I think you struck a nerve." Iori smiled as he made a pillar of dark energy rise up to protect them. "You bet." Christian returned the smile. Then he grew serious. He tossed the boomerang-cross and this time gathered his magic and made it split into many crosses who made flames roar all about the big golem. How it did it he didn't understand. But it looked like the big golem's rain of bricks and soil hadn't melted all up since it now came marching toward them as it picked up rocks and tossed them out in threes. "Fire in the halls!" Iori shouted as he teleported away. Then an axe came down and pierced the head of the magically-created creature. But since it didn't had any organs or skeleton that didn't kill it. The axe returned back to its owner. And George appeared beside him. "Let's take him on together." The former salesman said as he tossed his own boomerang-cross at the big golem. He grasped at his crucifix and made a barrier of crosses rise all about him and then made it fly at the big golem like a rotating circle. The projectile struck into the big golem and made it burst into a million burning pieces. He fell to his knees and breathed heavily as he let go of the holy symbol. "That was really impressive." Iori stood glaring on him as he slowly shook his head. "Now I understand why they fear you so much." He shrugged as he got to his feet and then George regained his throwing-cross. "Let's get across while we still can." He suggested and they quickly followed his advice. No sooner had they jumped and crawled across the sinking piles of rocks they plummeted back into the lava. "That was a close one." George said. "Let's continue onward." He recoiled his whip and just then something jumped right from the lava and landed in front of them. "What in the world is that?" George asked as he reloaded his guns. "Don't shoot." He warned. "And don't use flame-magic either. That would just make her more powerful." He brought forth the Vampire Killer but waited for her to make the first move. While he did so, he told the other what little he knew about this creature. "That is called a flear-dancer." He began. "And don't let her beauty fool you. Lizard-men is not to be trusted. She'll belly-dance to throw you off guard and then… " Before he could finish his meaning the already dancing lizard-womean stopped and spread a flare of flames. They all ran or blocked as best they could. Then Noriko try to caught it in one of her webs. But the flare-dancer danced away and again tossed her roaring flames at them. It was now Iori who blocked the flames as there was only room enough for two to go side by side on the gallery. Then father Joshua again tossed his cross-projectile and the flare-dancer became shot to pices. He turned to congratulate him but instead had to take out a swarm of burning bats who came toward them. "Mimics!" He shouted as he doused them in holy water. "Wat's a mimic?" Noriko asked. "It's a bat-like demon who mimics the element most powerful in their region and later use it for an attack." "I think it would be best if we got away from this place." Father Joshua advised. "I can agree on that." He said. And they quickly started moving along the gallery as more mimics attacked them.

Dora wood, Warakiya. The 28th of December 2098 A.D.
The Dark Lord Dracula looked out over his audience. There was humans, baor-men, were-foxes, goat-men, Cyclops, werewolves, vampires, dragons and undead of all kinds stood on the meadow. All they where military commanders, leading politicians, aristocrats or representatives from all the rueling bodies of those who had come to pledge support to his New Order. "Fellow beings," The Dark Lord began. "we are standing on a crossroad. The world are altering and you are among those who will share in its new prosperity." Not only leaders where gathered here. The people also had the most spaze of all who had come here and that was the best point of success. It was them he had gathered here to speak to. "For thousands of years we have all bean overlooked by humanity who ruled the world. They have misused you, taken your land, your homes, your freedom. Traitors from our own ranks have taken their opportunities to triple their own power and glory in favour of all of us. Only the Master have come to us. He have helped us, given us shealter to fight against thouse who have pushed us under their boots. The Master have dissolved to those with the gifts of magic how to overthrow human and the traitors. By dissolving those who overthrow you, you now might rise and claim your part in this New Order of the world." He noticed there was mumbling and turned to them. "I not blame the humans among you. They where those who spoke for you and which where thrown out in the cold to die. I and the ancient will allways help you and give you land and technology to live your lives in. New nations will be founded where we all might live in peace. But we have a great journey before us." He looked over them from his elevated podium on the old church ruins in the forest. "The descendants of your enemies will not stand by to watch their power slip through their fingers. All of them who have disposed you or haunted you will stand together to bring you all down and make you their slaves. Or perhaps worse. They will kill all they do not might use. We are all standing on a crossroad. Are we to be ever disposed of our glory, our way of life? I say no. I will never stop fighting for the Master who gave me the power I needed to become the one I am today. I stand here for you." He pointed out to all at them as he made a blue fireball appear in his grasp. "I have been appointed the Dark Lord. But instead of ruling you, I have been chosen to lead you. To lead you all back to the glory of each and every of all the servants and friends of the Master who stand before me now. And I promise you, I will never stop, never give up, before not my or the Master's goals are completed. I will do all this, for you. The races of the world that for so long has been misused and haunted by the other side." Now his red-fured were-fox royal guards and vampire shock-troopers wander in from behind the chapel. Joined by all the other races who already had pledged loyalty to his dark army. Among them there was already many of those who stood before him now. "Join us!" He shouted. "The Master give us the same power as our enemy. Walk with us and prespeair from the New Order of the world! It is not our resolve, it is our destiny!" "Sieg hail!" Sieg hail!" His army saluted him and that did now the gathering before him. "Do not thank me!" He shouted toward them as the darksides, witches, warlocks and shadowy priests walked out from the army. "Thank the Master who have made it all come together! Satan give you power!" He had them now and soon they where all repeating his words as he lead them in the oat they swore to serve and obey the Master and him as his viceroy. He thanked Hitler. It was he who had told him how to control the masses. His only sorrow was that he had never met the man in person. "Forward march!" He shouted. "The liberation of the old world and the world of the New Order have begun!" The forces marched forward. They would follow his commands and he had let them be good trained for this assignment. Finally, the war had begun. Or to be more exact. It was soon about to begin. They would have to be put into the army and have a ground-course in his training-program and the machines where to be finally produced, then it would all begin anew. He would have his revenge.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
They hadn't came long before more flare-dancers attacked. But now they at least had come to another bridghe leading back to the original side of the lava-river. He fired his shotgun at one of them but only made her flames grew larger. "I told you not to do that." Christian calmly said from behind his back as he cracked the flames with that whip of his. "No wrong in trying." He joked. Then one of the flames came flying just at him and he tossed his throwing-axe on it. This time it was she who burst into fire and exploded as he watched. "Flame-demons coming in!" Noriko shouted as she made balls of fire fly at them or summoned large waves of fire toward them. "Your power is growing stronger." The kid said. As this was the best time to speak about magic. "It just felt so strange before I came here." Noriko said as she harvested the spirit of the flame-demon she'd just killed. "It was so, since your power didn't knew what it was meant for." He shook his head. Sometimes the boy just spoke rubbish. But that was his opinion and nothing else. Some pillar of bones standing on the gallery across the bridge now noticed what was going on and started firing at them. "More good knes." He grunted as he again fired his shotgun. At least the candles set on the wall afforded him enough rounds of ammunition. Christian ran across the bridge and started whipping on the pillars and Noriko or Iori harvested their spirits. He'd bought heard and seen what they did but he still didn't like it. Then they started running as he, Noriko or Iori took down the mimics and the real bats who came flying at them. "Come and see this!" Father Joshua shouted as he'd gone to scout before them. Just as they ended the corner they found that the gallery ended in a ditch right before their feet. The only way across was a few shaky pillars who still stood in the middle of the flowing magma. Pillars of bones stood at the other side and he could've swore they where grinning at him. "Noriko, Iori," Christian said as he prepared to jump. "Take out the pillar of bones if possible. I'll take care of the rest." Then he just jumped. He gasped as the boy landed upon the thing and looked like he was about to fall in. But he managed it and the other kids started blasting projectiles to take out the flames the pillar shot. But now another threath made itself known as some strange red snake-haired heads came flying at them. "Red Medusa heads." He heard the boy mumble for himself before he began pilling them down. When he finally was across it was his turn to jump. Praying not to fall he brought out his guns and saw to that they where all fully loaded. Then he jumped the first platform. A red Medusa head came flying just as he reached the solid ground. He blasted it out of existence with a bullet from his gun. Then jumped the next pillar. Then the third and the fourth. Taking out two more red Medusa heads as he went along. Then he jumped another pillar and the abyss was crossed. Then it was father Joshua's turn and now it was his turn to take out moving targets as the old priest jumped. He could thank his God for that he didn't have acing legs or something. Then the children jumped and they could just very well take care of themselves. They even harvested some new spirits as they went along. Then they continued down the gallery. It was like they'd bean down here for an eternity already when he felt the first breath of fresh air. But now they faced a new danger. First it looked like it was just a new abyss to jump with more red Medusa heads and pillar of bones. But no way. Now the statues who where lining the stairs and galleries started to come alive. "Gargoyles," Christian called them. "are statues possessed by spirits created by once holy magic. They once was created by the holy men who built the first churches. In effort to protect them these creatures became created." The statues started breathing successive fireballs at them who exploded when they hit anything. "What happened?" Father Joshua asked as he made one of his burning projectiles hammer into the gargoyles. "They first did their work well. But later they began to kill all who came near and the statues where destroyed and the scrolls became hidden. But then servants of the Dark Lord came across them and recreated them to serve the evil One." "Very interesting kid." He broke in. "But I think you should follow Noriko's example and just blow them all to Hell." The Japanese girl was actually using her powers to tear some of the gargoyles to shreds and did actually harvest some of their spirits. As did Iori who looked more interested in protecting himself against their flames. He'd learned an important lesion by watching that boy. Beyond his power and seeming charm, he was a coward. "This is to no use." Christian said after his third attempt to create platforms for them to ride on between the gaps. "Then what might we do?" He asked. He began to worry they would be forever trapped in here. Or worse. Perhaps they would have to battle all the way back to the over-world again. "We must of course find out who is granting them power." The boy said. "There." Iori said, poiting to a tunnel leading deeper into the rock-face. He grunted. That would take them away from the rout out of here. "Let's go then." Christian said as he did the sign of the cross.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
"Stop!" He shouted as he saw something flicker before them. Then a women dressed in a gown from queen Ann's area in Great Britain appeared. Before he could even blink, the heat shade had made three massive spheres of fire blast toward them. Now he had the power to defeat these poor souls and was quick to summon it. "What 're you doing?" George asked. He didn't answered as he now made the power from the crest of rubies gather around the Vampire Killer. He swung it at her before she could whisp away. With a terrible scream she shattered into pieses and they could continue onward. Then the wall shattered, or so it looked like. And none less then three gorgons appeared. Two of them just came at them with sword and shield at the ready. The last one prepared a rather powerful-looking crossbow. He noticed they where armoured in rather promoting breast and shoulder-plates. Then he'd just enough time to bring out his short-sword to counter their blades. Somewhere George had found a sword and did his best to counter the other gorgon's blade. "Be careful with that." Iori said from the back of the group. "It's my only family hairloom." He gave it a quick look. It looked like it came from the West and… But there was something wrong here. He'd got many a good look on Iori. And even dough he walked around in robes to big for him, he was sure he couldn't hide a blade in them. But then the bolt of the crossbow came flying at him. He could thank God and his years of hard training he managed to snip it out of the air with a quck snap of the Vampire Killer. The gorgons then kicked at him with their tailes and knocked him to the ground. Then Noriko stepped forward and made a rising wave of flames shoot forward. Then George and father Joshua dashed forward with sword and sceptre in hands. The gorgons soon was overwhelmed and became forced to withdraw. He quickly got to his feet as a pack of corpses came limping out of the hidden cave. He replaced the short-sword and started flailing his whip. But more corpses came linking toward them. "We got to find the one spewing these bastards!" George shouted across the noice of the battle. "So you want to meet me little man?" A cold blue flame suddenly lip up as the dead wanished back into the hidden cave. "Follow the spring of lava in your tunnel." The voice said. "I look forward to learn you all to kneel before my throne. And to pledge your fealty to the Dark Lord Dracula and the Master of darkness." Then the voice silenced and again they where alone, except for the bats and the mimics of course. "We have no choice." He said. "Come on."

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
It was truly amazing. The cave they now entered was domed ceiling with galleries filled with bone-men and zombies watching upon them. At the emperor's seat a were-lioness, luxurious and glorious, a perfect temptress in all its meanings. Her claws shone with gems and diamonds, as it did in her hair and around her neck and wrists. But none of them could compete with the glow of her eyes and her bossom was… He cut himself off. "Have you finally come to kneel before my throne?" The lioness said in a sweet seductive tone. "Not before you, whore of Satan." Christian said. It was the first time he'd heard something like a curse from the kid. "So that I am?" He could've swore he saw tears like jewels on her elegant cheeks. "Then I have no choice." The gates underneath the throne opened and out came the sort of enemies he'd expected should hang ournd here. It was possessed knights, forged together from the armours of Roman gladiators. Then came a Minotaur and a werewolf. Then skeletons rouse out of the ground. Some was ordinary bone-men, while other where soaked in crimson blood. "Crimson-bones and gladiators." Christian said as he cracked his whip. "That's a deadly combination." He did the sign of the cross and he was quick to join as even father Jsohua did the motion. "I'll try take down the werewolf and Minotaur." He then told them. "Good luck kid." He mumbled as he did empty his guns on the approaching gladiators. "You are not alone my son." Joshua said as he joined up beside him. "Thank's Josh." He said as the priest started sprinkling holy water on the gladiators he'd missed. As he reloaded his guns he noticed the two Japanese children was using their powers to defend them against the bones tossed by the different skeletons. Then the gladiators brought out their own weapons, pitchforks, nets or swords of bronce or iron. His gun didn't look like it did any impression on them. Don't knowing what else to do, he grasped for the sword. But it was gone. But how… He didn't have time and instead brasped for the spiked-club he'd used outside the lighthouse and crashed it into the helmet of a gladiator. The helmet shattered and a terrible scream nearly made him collapse. He managed to withstand the onslaught and felt a little better.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
The Minotaur cracked its axe into the ground and he countered with a backflip and then sent his throwing-cross flying at it. Just then the werewolf came up behind him. It tried to dive him but he again did the back-flip and cracked the Vampire Killer at it. It jumped high into the ceiling as he had to duck as the Minotaur tried cut him in two. He again tossed the boomerang-cross at it and then tossed a vial of holy water right up and into the face of the werewolf. The werewolf fell to the ground but quickly got to its feet and started generating a flamed dish. He dashed righ under the Minotaur just as it tried to spear him on its horns. He whipped it in the back so its armour-protected tunic became torne and blood became spilled on the floor. Just then he was knocked into the floor by the werewolf. As it prepared to tear him to shreds, its hands came close to the crucifix. The werewolf screamed and dropped him as its hands became set ablaze. It staggered backward and fell into the spring of lava who went all across the arena. But that didn't end the battle. The Minotaur picked him right up and tossed him far across the room, right up on the spectator's rows. And soon he was under attack by the bone-men and zombies who dwelled up there. He made it rain holy water to clear the area again and again, but it was like they never stopped coming. Then he suddenly stood face to face with a sword lord.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
She made a rotating shield of flames block the axe of the now enraged Minotaur. It knelt down to breath heavy steam at her. It felt like she couldn't breath. Just before she was about to collapse she gathered all her force and sent it outward like a giant burning flare. She could again breath, but for another moment she just stood glaring. The Minotaur was a giant screaming torch who ran madly about seting other enemies on fire. As it fell over and burned to pices, she harvested its soul. But for the first time in a long while, she didn't want to have it. "It was you or it." Iori said as he lay a comfortive hand on her shoulder. "You had no choice. The Dark Lord want to kill you. You must kill all his servants and even him if you want to live in peace." She shook her head. "I just don't have to like it." She didn't told anyone about it, but even with all of them around her, she often felt alone. She looked around and noticed the battle was nearly over. Except for the crimson-bones and the never-ending line of skeletons, the gladiators where all dead, again. Then she looked up and noticed Christian was fighting up in the spectator's area. The giant armour was on the offense with its giant two-handed blade as Christian was being forced backward as he continued to attack it as he withdrew. She gathered her powers to teleport up and help him. When Christian went on the offensive. Then the statues lining the spectator's row sprung to life and the gargoyles came flying at them. Just then the two smaller gates beneath the throne opened and spider-women armed with lances and shields came out. And again she had to stand back to back with Iori as she moved into battle against the spiders. As she looked up toward the lioness she noticed an amused smile on her mouth. That made her shake in fare as she knew this wouldn't end before they'd killed her. She then gathered all her force and teleported to the left side of the spectator's stand. But there she only met another sword lord.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
Sword lords where really though enemies. No doubt why Richter Belmont and John Morris had warned their descendants about them in their journals. He tossed holy water on it and it again withdrew backward, beofere executing another sword-dash at him. But this time he saw it coming. He dashed right underneath its legs and just then made it rain holy water on it. The sword lord nearly fell over him as it staggered backward. He swung the Vampire Killer at it and managed to score some hit before the sword lord got back on its feet. He tossed the crystal on it and this time it just about exploded. But not even that finished it all. He knew what was coming, Richter Belmont had told him that in his chronicle. The sword rouse into the air, and aldough he knew it was the dark spirit of the sword lord, he couldn't see it. But now he had the upper hand. A few whip-slashes later the sword lay burning on the solid stone-floor. He'd earlier noticed that Noriko was in trouble on the other side of the gallery, but now was the first time he actually got sight of her. She was battling zombies and bone-men at the other side, while crimson-bones and spider-women was hammering louse on George, father Joshua and Iori. Then he looked toward the throne. The Buer sat there, smiling while she played with her well-proportioned body. He saw she was close to climax by her red cheeks and havy breathing. She made him sick. He'd learned that some people got exited by watching pain and misery. He did the sign of the cross before he went toward her. But he was to far away to hinder her from experiencing her climax as it was to far away. But he'd heard that people get drowsy after the climax, but that hope was soon crushed. She jumped high out of her throne and then faced him at the middle of the spectator's area. He quickly brought out his short-sword to face her left-handed attach and then waited. She smiled. "Brave of you, boy." She actually giggled as she spoke. He struggled to remain calm. He knew it was all a ruse to make him angry. "You really think you can defeat me?" The voice still possessed the honny-sweet tone, but now a cold iron-hard string had sneaked into it. Before he could answer, she lifted her hand and a massive wall of flames roared before him. But just as quick he'd brought out his holy water and made the flame explode and sent her backward. She quickly got to her feet and fiercely ordened her cloth, before unleashing a quick shot of fireballs. As he walked forward it was like a wind of the lost summer blew around him and he felt the smell of flowers. But then Buer jumped toward him and knocked the Host from his hand. "Now," She said with a voice who told him about ahis own death. "where is your God?" "With me." He said just as he cracked the Vampire Killer at her. She made a wall of flames appear but he summoned the power of the crest of wind and shattered it to pieces. The Buer made a short-range rain of fireballs shoot toward him. He used the whip to take them out of the air as he threw the boomerang-cross at her. Gathering his own magic he made it split into fours and quickly beheaded her and the others hit her hearth. Blood splattered all about as flames roared up from her like from a chimney and a foul wind blew all about him. She truly was a witch. That he understood. Then he just collapsed to the floor. To tired to even think.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
The boy thought he was clever did he? Well, then it was time to show him the true power of darkness. He gathered his powers around him like a black shroud and then summoned the one he had resurrected. That fool of a priest and that little slut and the Belmont should get something to laugh about now.

They where back in the main-tunnel again. Noriko looked around herself. After Christian had taken out the Buer, no more zombies or gargoyles had appeared to fight them. The mimics and the pillar of bones was naturally not taken out, but they where no big problem. She felt amazed by how her power had developed. Drolta had bean all so right. She built her own power instead of just absorbing and using other's spirits. Just then a pack of flame-demon rouse from the molten river. Christian sat her and Iori to take them down and sent George forward to scout. She'd not only harvested the spirit of the sword lord, but also of the Buer. She made a shield of flames protect her from their three-way fireballs and then countered with a solid beam of flames. "You're so powerful." Iori said. "You have received control." He gave her a weak smile. "I hope you'll learn me the trick. My power are just feeling… I don't know what." He gathered it all around him and shot it out like tiny orbs of dark energy. "Keep to the daggers then." Christian advised. "Or that sword of yours. Until you learn how to control them you shouldn't use them." Iori shook his head. "You saw how that dark explosion tore the spider-women and bone-men to shreds?" Christian nodded. "I knew it had to be done. But be mindful. I don't have your form of power, but I know what untamed power might do to you." Their conversation was cut short as George came running back. "Something is amiss over here." He told them. They quickly followed and came to a place where the galleries and stairs ended in a near harbour-like fashion. "What are we to do now?" Iori said. She screamed with frustration as she came up behind them. "Is this what we have fought and suffered for?" She shouted. "Calm now." Christian told them. Iori gathered his powers around himself as he tossed it outward like a black explosion. "If this is the reward of your God I don't want anything to do with Him." Then many things happened at the same time. "This is the source of the curse." Christian said as he looked outward. "Shut up!" Iori snapped at him just as something rouse from the river of lava. "Good Lord in Heaven!" Father Joshua crossed himself and George did a clumsy copy of it. "A Wyvern-zombie." Christian cracked the Vampire Killer at it just as it spew a splashing burst of poison from his long beak-like head. It hit the ground and the earth melted away like the blast had bean acid. "Oni!" She shouted as she made a flurry of six or eight-prolonged fireballs fly at it. The dead Wyvern flew out of reach and she created a shield of fire as it again spew that acid blood-burst at them. Christian made it rain with holy water and the Wyvern fell to the floor. But it quickly got back up and this time spewed a series of bloody blobs right forward. Christian and George used their whip and shotgun to destroy them. But now the Wyvern-zombie was back on its wings and was again spewing acid blood on them. George threw his axe on it and fire rouse from the hit-mark. Then the Wyvern knocked its head into the ceiling so rocks fall down. She was hit by one and fell on the floor. Then all became black.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
"Take care of her." He shouted to his friends as he again made it rain holy water. He did take out the remaining bricks but the dead Wyvern seemed like it didn't became hurt that much. He grimased as he summoned the power of the crest of emeralds and began creating floating earth-platforms. The Wyvern-zombie tried to pget him with bought the tail-spike and its long beak, but missed with bought. He tossed the boomerang-cross and made it split into three. But even dough they dug into the rotting felsh and made fire rise, it didn't killed it. Wyvern was related to dragons somehow but he didn't know how close that connection was. Then it started spewing that acid blood again and he got other things to think about. He grasped the crucifix and made a circling projectile of crosses and the dead Wyvern fell to the ground. He jumped back down but now the Wyvern also looked like it was ready for battle again. As he came close, it began spitting those acid blobs again. He wondered how Richter Belmont could possibly defeated one of these enemies. Then he remembered something about Sonia's battle with the dead dragon and gathered power from the crest of opals around the Vampire Killer. Clear orange flames roared around the ancient whip and he cracked the whip at the dead Wyvern. Flames roared up all around it, but even that didn't defeat it. But now he had a strategy and if God permited, a path to victory. He again made it rain holy water so the Wyvern fell to the floor. He used the throwing-cross to take out the blobs and then again slashed it with the flame-whip. He heard someone throw up as large pieces of rotten flesh started falling off of the dead being and nearly did the same. But now the Wyvern knocked its head into the ceiling again so rocks fell all over the place. He rouse a barrier of crosses around himself and prayed the others where in safety. Then he sprinkled holy water onto the Vampire Killer and jumped at the Wyvern-zombie. This time all the rotten flesh caught fire and burned all away. The Wyvern-skeleton cried at him before it started spewing those same rare blobs at him. He dropped to the floor and rolled aside as the blobs hit the ground. He made it rain holy water and the Wyvern screamed and collapsed to the floor. This time it shattered into pieces and burned away. "Thank You Lord." He prayed with gratitude. Even more so when he noticed that Noriko was awake again, healed by one of their healing potions. Then something truly miraculous happened. In a blink of pure white light the lava just vanished. Before them run a river of crystal-blue water.

Britza lower road, Warakiya. The 17th of December 2098 A.D.
It was just clean out impossible. George slowly put down his hand, expecting to get it burned right away, but instead he felt cold clean water run around his hand. He formed them into a cup and shakily lifted them to his mouth and drank greedily from the pure liquid. Then he laughed. "It really is water. And what else, it's the best water I've tasted since I don't know how long." Christian smiled. "Of course the water is pure. When we disposed the demons of this place, the curse became lifted. Isn't that right father Joshua?" The old priest smiled and nodded as he to knelt to drink. As did Noriko and the kid himself. Iori merely shrugged. "Who know if the water isn't cursed too? Don't you all feel it? The darkness is still all around us." Christian looked up at him. "You fear to muh Iori. As long God is with us, we should never feal fear." Iori became silent and turned away his head. "It's easy for you to say." He said. "You've never experienced the full power of the other side. You've never felt how it is to see your own friends turn against you and kill your mother. You've never felt how it is when your own mother try to rape you and drain your blood. I killed her. Don't you understand that!" The boy shouted at him. "I killed my own mother with my own two hands." He felt onto his knees and started weeping like the child he was. Noriko looked away as Joshua looked like he didn't knew what to say. "It is in our darkest times your faith shall be put to the test." Christian said as he put his hands around the other boy. "Never give up your faith." He softly said. "Dracula might take away your home, your safety and even your family. He might take away your dignity and humanity, with one word, the Dark Lord might take away your very soul. But there is something he cannot take away. Even if he should turn you to vampirism, you still have your faith. You shall not take your life. But I think the Great Ones might forgive a vampire if he or she take their lifes in hope of forgiveness. He might resurrect your body, but it will not be you. Because you would be free forever. It would just be a puppet moved by the dark forces, like that darkside I defeated yesterday." "Forgive me Christian." Iori said. "My rosary has broken long ago. I have no faith left. My mother forced me to drink of her blood. I sometime feel a thirst I know I shouldn't feel. If I should turn to vampirism, promise you will kill me." Christian smiled. "By the Holy Ghost who give me God's and the Son's Holy faith, I shall keep your request." "Look." George said. He'd stood watching out over the river now noticed the mist was drifting in. "there is someone in the mist." The sound of a rowing oar came toward them and out from the mist, the ferryman came rowing. "What are you doing here?" Christian said in a defensive tone as he stepped forward to speak with the shrouded bag of bones. "I have come to take you to your destiny young master. You have the lantern?" The kid nodded as he brought out that strange relic they'd found upstairs. "Then step aboard. The lake is waiting." Christian and father Joshua bought crossed themselves before going aboard and Noriko mumbled a prayer in Japanese, at least he thought so, about keeping the Onis away. He clumsily copied their signs and then stepped onto the ferry. "Come along dark one." The ferryman waved his bony hand at Iori. "Don't call me that." He weakly said before getting aboard. Then the ferryman started rowing into the mist. Christian stood in the front with the lantern spreading a pale none-light out onto the cave. Then a chilling wind swept over him and he understood he was out of the cave and onto the lake. "This explain the mist." Christian said. "A curse keeps the lake open and the eerie warmth is smoking as the winter try to re-establish the order of nature." He shrugged. As long the ferryman would take them the shortest way across the lake that was all he needed. Then he noticed the ferryman was gone and that the ferry was rowing forward on its own accord. "Prepare for anything." Christian warned as he recoiled the whip. He nodded and brought out his guns. It would become a long day and a long night.

Bodley, Uta lake. The 18th of December 2098 A.D.
The water waved in and nearly reached the steairs leading up to the hilltop on which the temple resisted. Behind them three larger hilltops rouse into the clouds. The isle wasn't that very large but that was insignificant for the time being. She put the lake-map upon the alter as she calmly smiled. "They can break the curse you know." Remises calmly said as he watched above her shoulder. "That is the beauty of it." She said. "When the last Dark Lord, Mathias Krohnquist waged war upon the Belmont clan he once cursed this lake to be forever open and to be forever enshrouded in mist. The trio of Dario, Damien and Oikawa have added even greater power to the curse by making it so that any servant of light coming here will be forever trapped. Unless he break the curse of course." She rolled the map-scroll together and started chanting. From the river two blond humans, naked and with eyes like the deep blue sea, emerged. "Come with me." She instructed the liches as she walked down the steps and through the forest and down the the little strand. "Caribdis, my dear friend, I am so glad you could come." The man nearly looked at her and she smiled. He was so perfect she could gladly have taken him if it had not bean for that he was a sea-dweller. "Could you go south to make some noice to where the Belmont are?" The creature just vanished in a wave of water. "My dear, if it should all come to pass, go all up to the north and see to that they never set foot on dry land ever again." When she too was gone she once more turned to the two liches. "Knight Rowdain spoke highly of you. Now it is time to see your true power. To break the curse they will need three tokens of the elemental powers who created the spell. You Remises will go to the Redrock isle. While I shall take up residence on the Skull-reef." Remises went down to where a bone-man stood with a boat and went aboard. Then he was slowly rowed away. "What about the two other objectives?" Akmodan asked. "No worry." She smiled. "I want you to stay on the isle and watch this place if they really should get here." He slightly bowed and then went back through the grow. He worried too much. The creatures on the Isle of Rocs was more than prepared to take care of themselves. And the note-piece and ocarina to play the "Minuet of Dawn" was well placed aboard the old ship right outside of this island. "Very well Actrise," She thought to herself. "this will be one of the most exiting plays ever." She then teleported away.

(A.N: This is the way I like it. I have great respect for the living Wyverns, so I instead threw in a dead one. Hope you liked the chapter dough. Have a nice time.)

Chapter 22: The Story Continues | Back to Chapter 20