Chapter VI: Underground Gallery

Nathan and Serenity ran to try to catch up to Hugh, but when they were out of the Chapel Tower only Lighting Armor met them. Nathan killed them all as thoughts ran through Serenity's mind.

"Hugh…" she whispered.

She could feel tears forming in her eyes again, but she managed to keep them from spilling over. The feeling of dread was growing inside her, and she was doing all she could to keep from screaming. Motioning to his sister Nathan began running back towards the Eternal Corridor.

"Nathan wait." Serenity called after him.

Turning Nathan questioned, "What is it? If we don't hurry Hugh will escape us again."

"Can't you hear that?" she asked as he ran back to her.

Pausing Nathan could just make out the faint sound of wind blowing. Looking down he noticed a small break in the floor. It was just large enough for a body to slip through.

"What would I do without you?" Nathan asked Serenity with a smile. She replied with a smile as he stated, "Let's go get Hugh Serenity."

"Right." she replied.

Nathan slid through the hole first, followed closely by Serenity. As Nathan opened the door to the new area his mind allowed him to think of his sister. It was strange that she was coming along with him so casually now. She was still withdrawn, but she was starting to relax within the castle walls. Nathan and Serenity paused briefly to marvel at the Underground Gallery.

"I had no idea the castle could be so beautiful." Serenity said absently.

Nathan turned to look at her, and was shocked back into memories of his time in Dracula's Castle.

Shaking his head to clear it Nathan said, "Come on Serenity, we better get moving."

Nodding slightly Serenity ran after her brother. They ran for what seemed like hours. Climbing and fighting all the way to yet another black door, but they did not run across Hugh.

"I don't think he's here anymore. We'll deal with this, and continue on." Nathan stated steeling himself.

"Then we'll save master, and get out of this castle." Serenity finished.

The two entered the room with caution. Both gasped in surprise as two enormous dragons lifted their heads, and glared at them.

"What's wrong with them?" Serenity asked in disgust.

Purple pus oozed from the dragons' skin, and their wings were rotted and limp behind them. Their scaly skin was dim in color, as were their eyes.

"They're Zombie Dragons. Dragons brought back to life by black magic. Their dead bodies can't heal themselves, and this is the result." Nathan replied easing himself down to the ground slowly.

Serenity followed him just as slow to avoid an attack. They looked at the dragons, and the dragons looked back at them without movement.

"Serenity, do you see that ledge above us?" Nathan asked quietly.

"Yes." Serenity replied in a whisper.

Nathan shifted his stance slightly and ordered, "I'm going to attack the dragon in front of us. When I do I want you to jump up to the ledge, and wait there. Can you do that?"

After a moment of hesitation Serenity answered, "Yes."

Nathan was a little concerned about her pause, but he nodded and prepared for his attack. Once he lashed out Serenity put all of her energy into a jump, and landed hard on the ledge. She fell to her knees with pain, but kept quiet as Nathan began the battle. Something was wrong with her; she could sense something she hadn't for a long time. Serenity's heart began to pound. She did not know what it was, but her thoughts returned to her as one of the dragon's slashed into Nathan.

"Nathan!" she screamed.

Immediately the second dragon turned it's head around, and saw her. She could see her reflection in the dragon's dead eye, and she had a look of horror.

"Serenity run!" Nathan yelled as the first dragon pinned him under its massive claw.

Serenity trembled as she stepped back to the edge of the ledge. There was nowhere to run. Even with the dragon's body decapitating it was still fast enough to catch her if she jumped to the floor, or to any of the other ledges. The door was closed tight behind her. If she jumped to it, and tried escaping the dragon would move and catch her there. The door across was the same way. Plus she could not leave Nathan here to die even if the doors would open for her.

"Serenity!" Nathan yelled as the dragon lunged at her.

Serenity screamed as she pulled out her sword. The dragon hit the cold steel, and Serenity went flying to the ground. She hit the wall first, and then slid the rest of the way to the ground. She was afraid she was going to black out as she got to her feet. The dragon was already on the move towards her. The first dragon pushed harder on Nathan making him choke and breath hard.

"Nathan!" Serenity called out.

Nathan looked at her, and almost told her that he was sorry for getting her involved with this, and that he loved her. Before he could open his mouth Serenity ran at the dragon.

"No Serenity! Stay away!" he yelled.

Ignoring her brother's pleas Serenity slashed at the dragon. Blood sprayed from its mouth and wound as it swung its neck back. Jumping to avoid a claw she jammed her sword into the dragon's neck. It lifted its head high, and roared in a sickening tone filled with blood, and Serenity went with it.

"Serenity!" Nathan called.

Gripping her sword hard, and using the momentum of the dragon's waves of pain, she pulled on her sword and slashed a deep gash in the skin. The dragon roared louder, and with it came a wave of blood from the wound in its neck. Serenity kicked against the dragon, and landed back on the ledge breathing hard. The dragon had a few more moments of thrashing before it fell to the ground dead. The first dragon released Nathan, and glared at her. It slowly bent, and began eating the corpse of the second dragon.

"No you don't!" Nathan yelled, and began attacking it.

Serenity's eyes hardened as the dragon kept eating its dead partner. She could see its energy returning, but Nathan's attacks alone were not going to be enough to stop it from regenerating to full strength.

Taking a deep breath Serenity yelled, "Nathan, move!"

Looking up Nathan saw his sister launch herself from the ledge. He jumped back just when she landed on the dragon's back. She drove her sword into the base of its neck, and began running up to the head. Her hands burned, but she kept her sword buried in the dragon's flesh until it divided its head. Blood pooled around the two dead dragons staining everything it touched. Serenity was breathing hard as she dropped her sword, and backed away to the wall.

"Wow Serenity. That was amazing." Nathan said with a smile, but his smile vanished when he saw the look on his sister's face.

She was shaking more than before staring at the corpses as she said in a shaky voice, "Nathan, we have to go. Something's not right. I think Hugh is in trouble."

"Then let's go." Nathan replied picking up Serenity's sword, "There are only a few places left to check."

Serenity did not take her sword back at first, but as they reached the Audience Room she sheathed it once more.

Hugh had run all the way to the Underground Gallery when the woman met him.

"Hello dear boy." she cooed to him from a landing.

"You, wench, where is my father?" Hugh demanded.

Before he could do or say anything more she teleported down to him, took him by the arm, and teleported them back to the entrance to the Ceremonial Room where Dracula was waiting for them.

"Monster!" Hugh yelled, and took out his sword.

Dracula laughed at him and replied, "Monster, child? Hardly."

"I will kill you both, and save my father!" Hugh stated boldly and lunged at Dracula.

Without any effort Dracula dodged his attack, and caught him by the shoulder.

He smiled and stated, "You can not kill me, child. If your father couldn't kill me what makes you think you can?" he moved in front of Hugh and continued, "I can help you with that."

"What are you talking about?" Hugh demanded as he tried to back away from Dracula.

Their eyes connected and Dracula stated, "I can make you more powerful than Nathan. You have a greater potential than he."

Hugh struggled for a moment more before he answered, "Yes. I am stronger and more worthy than he is."

A dark aura began to form around Dracula's hand, and soon it surrounded Hugh's whole body.

"Now go. Make him see why you are the better student." Dracula demanded, and sent him on his way.

Dracula and the woman shared a laugh as he walked out of the room.