Chapter 4

The lizardman named Marcell rarely traveled by himself through Dracula's castle. As he walked towards the center of the castle, he was joined by two other lizard creatures, two male and one female. All four were aware of their surroundings and armed with light chestplates, and a helmet that covered the top of their heads and length of their scaly muzzles. Instead of carrying long spears like his three companions, Marcell chose a saber to hang by his right side.

It was silent as they walked through the castle, until a pack of six cerberus hounds dashed out to attack them. They took out the hounds without much trouble or scratches. Marcell grimaced sadly as he looked at the defeated hounds, wiping his sword.

"I really wish they hadn't done that...."

The lizard creatures were surprised when more packs of cerberus hounds came out and started to surround them. All four troope members pulled in together and prepared themselves for battle. Bats came down from the ceiling and glided over them, then began to twist together in a wide, black cyclone. The leader of the lizardmen started to tense, gripping his saber in front of him.

"Get out of here." He commanded.

The lizard troope looked over to Marcell.

"We're staying..."

"He's only after me. He'll kill the rest of you..."

The other lizard creatures hesitated. One of them finally spoke up.

"We can't turn back now... We're staying with you, Marcell."

No one in the lizard troope budged. Their leader finally realized their commitment, sighing to himself with relief and deep appreciation. They were ready to face any danger... Snapping their jaws, the cerberus hounds waited. The bats came in together and formed into a very tall figure.

Count Dracula had finally arrived.

The vampire extended one of his arms and released a storm of flames at the lizard warriors. Everyone in the group recoiled with fear. Everyone, except Marcell.

His saber reflected the fire to defend his shaken comrades. He ducked under the flames and charged forward. Count Dracula took his other free hand, created a ring of fire with it, and caught the rogue lizard creature by the neck like a disobedient little puppy.

His three companions forced themselves ahead at Dracula, but the vampire finished them off easily with a tidal wave of roaring fire, all at once.

Marcell couldn't see through his stinging eyes, and he felt the scorching flames flail against his scaled body. Still, he whipped his long tail around, sprung his feet up, and swung around Dracula's arm, letting the impact of his dagger pierce through the vampire's side.

Dracula drew back quickly, but still didn't let him go. Hanging there, the lizardman clenched his teeth, fighting to breathe. With his other hand, Dracula made a sword of flames and skewered Marcell with it twice, then tossed him away.

"You will fight for your life!"

Instantly, the waiting cerberus hounds leapt at Marcell. The lizard creature reluctantly obeyed, fighting with all he had left---a life or death melee against the vicious cerberus creatures.

There must be a score of these things... Marcell gasped to himself as he fought off the biting claws and fangs from his neck, and slashed fiercely with his saber and dagger.

By the end, the lone lizardman was entirely spent. His survival left him feeling like a horrible monster... He gasped for air, and unable to stand on his own anymore, he collapsed. The poor creature was badly wounded. The Count stayed where he was, apparently self-satisfied in Marcell's victory and punishment.

"Anathema."

"The name's Marcell." The lizardman replied stubbornly.

Dracula swept out his hand once more, and a dazzling fire dragon came forth and charged towards Marcell. He was knocked flat again.

The Count walked over to the now motionless creature. Reaching down, he stretched out his fingers and removed the lizardman's overheated head gear. Marcell's long, sweat-drenched hair flopped out from under it, along his unstirring face.

"You are dissimilar to the rest of your kind. You detest killing and scavenging... Instead, you're still soft-hearted... Caring for the weak, saving human lives at your own expense." Count Dracula's eyes were cold with the thought of it, "But...you are still useful to me."

The vampire walked away, tossing the helmet to the floor lightly. "Tell me, do you still remember your son...?"

Though Marcell's body appeared lifeless, his claws twitched. He was glad he couldn't open his eyes. He wouldn't be able to stare at Dracula, who bore an older, more wicked and macabre resemblance of the son he lost ten years ago. The son who Dracula cruelly took hostage of...

His mind flashed back to the last day he saw his precious boy, before he himself had been cursed as a lizardman... How Malus' eyes had changed... His smile....

The lizardman scrunched his eyes tighter.

"I promised that you would never see him again... Persuade me to change my mind."

Bats started swarming the Count as he started to disappear.

"Show me chaos, Marcell..."