Chapter Four
Saint Castile Train Station, 5:25 PM Saturday
Enrico Maxwell stepped out of the train and took a deep breath, he had made it. After six hours of travel from Rome to Paris and then the train to here, he had finally reached his destination. According to his travel book Saint Castile started out as a nameless sea port used by pirates and criminals, it was a place only the brave or fool hearty visited. It was that way for 20 years until 1765, when King Louis XVI ordered it to be taken over and converted into a sea fort. In the winter of 1766 the Fort of Saint Castile was officially put into commission. The Fort and the small town around it quickly flourished turning into a bustling city and trading port. When the French Revolution broke out the troops stationed there revolted against the king and the military higher command and on September 10th 1790 the city of Saint Castile officially became separate from the Royal Government of France.
Attempts to recapture the city were made with some success but ultimately the people and the troops fought them off. After Napoleon I came to power Saint Castile became one of his holiday destinations, and on his first visit Napoleon insisted that he spend the night in the fort itself instead of the villa prepared for him. The next morning he ordered that a section of the fort should be converted to be his privet living area for when he visited. Thus for the next 200 years or so the City of Saint Castile was a favorite vacation spot for many people, and one that Maxwell hoped would melt the stress that had collected from the past few days back in Italy.
Maxwell weaved through the tourists and stations workers to the Cab Terminal and jumped into the first taxi he saw. The driver in the front seat turned slowly and raised his sandwich, "Sorry, I'm on Lunch." he said. Maxwell blinked then pulled out a few Euros and handed them to the driver, "Can you lunch later?" he asked. The driver took the bills, slipped them into his vest pocket, and turned around, "Nope, but you can wait." he bit into his sandwich and started to chew rhythmical. Maxwell groaned and slipped out of the cab, walking over to the next one he peeked into the passenger side window. This driver was sipping a cup of coffee, Maxwell knocked on the window and gestured to the driver to open it. When he did Enrico asked if he was on break, the driver said he was but could cut it short for the right price. Enrico payed 10 Euros and jumped in.
20 minuets later, after a long twisty ride through the city, Enrico Maxwell finally arrived to the catholic church where he was going to stay. Horribly car sick Enrico slowly climbed out of the cab and tried to keep himself from loosing his footing. "Hey!" the driver called after him, Enrico turned and saw the driver holding his bag. He thanked the driver as he approached the car and tried to grab the bag, the driver pulled it away. "What about a tip?" he asked "For finding your bag." the driver smiled. Scowling Enrico pulled out five more Euros and slapped them into the drivers hand. "There, now give me my bag." he demanded. "Sure thing." said the driver, he dropped the bag onto the ground and sped off. "Stupido autista." grumbled Maxwell as he picked up the bag, brushing it off he walked to the front door of the church and entered.
The church was well lit, with tapestries and golden fixtures hanging from the walls, the pews were made of the finest materials, on the back wall hung a large golden crucifix illuminated by candles and spot lights. "Hello?" called Maxwell in Latin, "Is anyone home?" he looked around but saw no one. Just then a door in the back left wall of the church opened and a middle aged, plump. and balding priest entered. "Brother Maxwell." he exclaimed when he saw Enrico "Welcome, Welcome, It's a pleasure for have you here." He gave Maxwell a friendly embrace. Maxwell smiled, "The pleasure is all mine. Brother Clemintine" he said then out of his bag he pulled out a bottle of wine and a box of smoked fish. "I bring gifts." Maxwell said handing over the bottle and the fish to Father Clemintine who accepted them gratefully. "Wonderful, we can add them to our supper. I'm sure your quite hungry after your trip." " Starving" Enrico answered.
Biting into the fish Enrico Maxwell told Father Clemintine about his trip and his meeting with Jean Val Renoke. When Father Clemintine heard Val Renoke's name he shook his head, "He's a strange man." he said, "A very strange man indeed." Maxwell was intrigued "Do you know him?" he asked. Father Clemintine shook his head "No not personally, but the city is filled with rumors about him. Mostly about his strange nocturnal habits and how he avoids the sun's rays as much as possible." Maxwell thought back to the curtains on the train, "He doesn't do anything bad does he?" he asked the priest. Father Clemintine shrugged "There's no proof that he does but people say he has kidnapped women in the city. Again these are all rumors nothing concrete." Maxwell took a sip of his wine. "Kidnapped?" Father Clemintine nodded "Yes, There have been reports of women who just disappeared. Most of them were last seen with Renoke or at one of his gathering. The Police found nothing and there's no proof he had anything to do with it, but still people talk." Father Clemintine sighed. Enrico Maxwell frowned, "Strange happenings indeed." He thought.
After finishing his supper Enrico Maxwell decided to take a walk around the block and get himself familiar with the area where he would stay. Father Clemintine offered to accompany him or send one of his staff but Enrico refused stating that he wished to just stretch his legs and think. After a short time of argument the priest finally agreed but asked Maxwell to be very careful and not to wander off too far. After promising that he would be on his utmost care Enrico Maxwell stepped out into the night of the city and the golden lamps that lit the streets.
Streets of Saint Castile, 7:50 PM Saturday
Seras Victoria gripped the steering wheel of the rental car and squinted. After arriving to the city with little problems, She insisted that they rent a car so as to not rely on cabs to get around. This she said, would give them more freedom to find Jean Val Renoke, find out if he was in fact the vampire from London and destroy him. It was a good plan except for the little fact that there was no GPS or map in the car so now they were lost. Alucard himself wasn't much help, after they got off the train he immediately insisted that he get something to drink or he would attack the next random person that walked by.
Luckily for everyone, Seras Victoria had packed blood into her suit case. Disguised as Tomato Juice it passed through security checks with out much problem although she did notice that one bottle was missing, So some worker some where will be having a nasty surprise sooner or later. Right now though Seras was trying to find the La Rébellion hotel without much luck. A loud slurping sound interrupted her thoughts, Seras glanced at Alucard who was drinking his fifth bottle of blood. Surprisingly he seemed actually happy but did regain his composure when he noticed Seras looking at him.
"What is it Police Girl?" he asked, Seras forced a smile "Oh nothing, it's just that I'm lost in an unfamiliar city in the dark." She sighed frustrated, "And I feel very foolish for letting it happen. I don't think Integra would have let this happen to her." she added under her breath. Alucard chuckled "You're trying too hard." he said taking a sip sluuuuurrp. "Could you not do that?" Seras asked, "What this?" Alucard slurped some more blood loudly. "Yes, that." Seras Victoria growled. "Sure thing." Alucard said with a grin. He sat noiselessly for about ten seconds then leaned close to her ear, sluuuuuuuurp!
Seras lunged at Alucard trying to remove the bottle from his hand, In doing so she also accidental pressed her foot down on the gas causing the car to speed up. By the time she noticed this fact and twisted back into her seat it was too late. The person in the middle of the street didn't seem to see the car or just didn't have enough time to react, as the car hit him he rolled over the hood and fell on the left side. Seras slammed the breaks and looked back, "You think he's alive?" she asked. Alucard shrugged "I don't know, you'll have to check." he answered. "Me?" Seras cried out "Why me?" she looked paler then usual. "Cause you hit the guy." Alucard said "And you spilled my drink." he pointed to the blood on his shirt and jacket. Seras clenched her teeth, "Fine, I'll check." she relented. Climbing out of the car she walked over to the man on the ground and gasped. "Master...." she whimpered "Come here." Alucard sighed "What?" he said climbing out of the car. Then he saw the body, "Oh shit!" he exclaimed. Laying there on the ground was Enrico Maxwell.