Chapter 6: Traveling to the Graves of the Forgotten

Pelleas looked like a broken doll on the blood stained floors of Judas' Fortress. His complexion began to return, though he still looked like he had been out in the cold. His lip was quivering. Christiano was glaring at Carnicus, who seemed to have his teeth sunken into a rat that had been crawling around. He drained the rat of its life and tossed it away, spitting at the ground.

"Disgusting!" Carnicus said.

"You did not have to do this," Christiano suddenly spoke up.

"I cannot drink of the River Styx, Belmont. I need my strength for the Burning Land," Carnicus replied apathetically.

"You keep on speaking of this!" Christiano said, standing up. "How am I to trust you?! Curse me for trusting you at all!" he said, rolling his head back.

"I'm not sure. Is it because I'm irresistible? That you were taken in by my drunken kiss?" Carnicus teased. Christiano blushed. "If you're so angry about it, why don't you punish me?" Carnicus said, smiling seductively now.

Christiano charged at him, swinging his whip. Carnicus dodged in a blur of color, getting behind Christiano. He then put his arms under Christiano's arms and bent them, locking him with his elbows.

"Not so good when you're angry, hm?" Carnicus then released him. Christiano turned around and whipped Carnicus right in the face. Carnicus stumbled back. His hands were covering his face, as blood dripped between his fingers. Christiano's eyes widened.

"Oh, God! What have I done?! Carnicus!" Christiano cried. Carnicus moved his hands away, revealing a cut going down his cheek to his upper lip. Carnicus then looked up at Christiano, enraged.

"What have you done to my FACE?!" Carnicus pounced onto Christiano, pinning him, and bit into his neck. Christiano flailed. Carnicus gripped Christiano's hands, digging his pointed nails into his wrists, drawing blood. Christiano wondered if Carnicus was going to kill him. Virgil did nothing, watching. Carnicus pulled away, the cut on his face slowly healing. Christiano watched, feeling drained. Carnicus got off of him, and went to sit on a step. He was panting.

"You… demon…" Christiano said in a strained voice.

"Shut up and rest. Both of you." Carnicus said, still looking angry. Christiano wanted to yell at him, but he passed out.

…Hours passed and Pelleas was waking up Christiano.

"Please…" Pelleas said over and over again.

"Let him sleep," Carnicus said. Pelleas looked over at him, glaring. He then used a spell to stop him in place.

"Christiano?" Pelleas put his hand on his forehead. Christiano woke up.

"Pelleas?"

"Yes, Christiano? Are you okay? God's sake, you still look so pale…"

"It does not matter. We must get going. Dracula's castle will rise…" Christiano sat up stiffly. Pelleas stood up, helping him to his feet. Suddenly, Pelleas stumbled into Christiano's arms. "Looks like we both aren't well. Thanks to you, Carnicus." Carnicus' eyes moved to stare at the two of them.

"Should I release him?" Pelleas asked, smirking.

"Yes."

"Yes?!"

"Yes. I still believe that he's telling the truth. He is just demented," Christiano said, smiling. Pelleas growled and freed Carnicus.

"Oh! I hate spells like that!" Carnicus cried. He then appeared in front of him. He is fast.

"So, to the 'Graves of the Forgotten,' correct?" Pelleas said.

"Yes. Doesn't sound very inviting," Christiano replied. "Let us leave this cursed place." Just when they turned around, a giant, headless silver knight jumped down from the ceiling, right in front of the door. It let out a roar, the sound echoing throughout the empty fortress. Virgil growled back.

"Ah, how fortunate. We've met the fortress' guard," Carnicus said, teasing.

"Fortunate indeed," Christiano said, sighing. The knight then took out a silver sword that had spaces between sections of the blade, making it resemble a whip. "Very fortunate…"

The armor let out a roar and whipped his sword at Christiano. Christiano dodged to the side and ran towards the creature; he was lucky that it was slow. Christiano wildly cracked his whip at the armor, each hit bouncing off.

"What?!" Christiano cried, frustrated. "What am I to do?!"

The creature then turned to face him and used its blade to wrap around Christiano's feet. Its arm rose, dangling Christiano upside-down. His soft, light blonde hair fell into his eyes. Christiano struggled as he felt the blade digging into his ankles through his armored boots. He then peered into the darkness of the headless armor, seeing a ball of purple "souls" spinning around inside. The creature bent forward and slowly began to lower him, aiming to put Christiano inside of him. Christiano then flung his wrist, hitting inside the armor at one of the souls he saw. The soul broke free and flew out of the armor into the ceiling, disappearing. The creature dropped his weapon, wrapping his arms around his body in pain. Christiano was freed.

"Well, this is going to be difficult!" Christiano cried.

The creature rose and began to charge at Christiano, who had gotten some distance from him since he had been released. Christiano used his whip to grab the thing's ankle. He tugged as hard as he could as the creature approached him, when the creature suddenly tripped—which was what he wanted to happen. Christiano rushed over and began to whip the inside of the armor again; three souls escaped. The creature roared and picked Christiano up, throwing him across the room. Pelleas watched, looking nervous. Carnicus just shook his head. The creature began to charge at Christiano once more and went to whip him when Pelleas suddenly used a spell to try to stop it in its tracks; instead, it slowed him down. Christiano ran on this bladed-whip up to the armor and attacked him again; five souls left it this time. Christiano jumped back. The creature broke free from Pelleas' spell and let out a roar. The silver armor now turned red.

"Oh dear…" Christiano whispered. The armor was faster now, chasing him around the room. Carnicus let out a laugh.

"Hey! Whose side are you on anyway?!" Pelleas cried, looking annoyed. Carnicus just smiled and petted Virgil's head.

Just then, Christiano had an idea. He took a vial of holy water out of his bag as he was running and ran up a grand staircase. When he reached the top, he jumped onto a dilapidated chandelier hanging from the ceiling. As soon as the creature got under him, he dropped the vial inside the armor and then jumped off the chandelier, which was on its way to the floor thanks to his weight. Before the chandelier could hit the floor and shatter, the armor fell over, the last three spirits escaping. The armor then fell apart. Christiano landed on the floor, panting. Carnicus clapped while Pelleas let out a sigh of relief. Suddenly, out from the armor came a floating, glowing white cross. Carnicus' lip raised and he turned his back to it. Christiano hesitated and then went over to it, taking it into his hands. He instantly felt its power. He then put it into his bag.

"What was that all about?" Pelleas asked.

"I will call this monster, 'Judas' Armor.' It attacked me once I tried to leave Judas' Fortress. It uses some kind of snake-like sword that can crack like a whip! The headless armor contained twelve souls within, like the twelve disciples of Christ. After its defeat, I received a powerful white cross, glowing with His Holiness. Perhaps it was His grace for the pitiful thing…"

"I'm not sure, Pelleas, but I think it's time we leave…" Christiano said, panting still. Virgil ran ahead of him, pushing the door to the fortress open with his head. Carnicus followed, smirking as if he knew something none of them knew. This infuriated Pelleas, but he didn't feel like arguing.

Pelleas spotted a marsh up ahead.

"Do you think it's that way?" Pelleas asked.

"I have a feeling that we must continue north…" Christiano replied. "So, yes."

"I can smell it from here! It's horrid!" Pelleas complained.

"'Tis the smell of death," Carnicus answered.

Before they could reach the marsh, three creatures flew by. The four of them spun around to watch them. They suddenly stopped. The three creatures were actually three naked women; one had black eyes and fire for hair, with red scales going up her arms and down her legs; the second had a more petite frame and was made of what looked like ice and had no facial features whatsoever; and the third had brown eyes and was all white with scales all over, and her long hair stood up, possibly because of all the small lightning bolts that traveled around her. The one made of ice landed and stepped forward.

"We are the Three Furies! How dare you gaze upon us!" she cried. Christiano raised a brow.

"We were not gazing at you. Please understand this: There is no perversion here," Christiano replied. The one made of electricity landed.

"You are wrong!" she cried. "That demon's lips are wet with lust!" Christiano, Pelleas, and Virgil all looked over at Carnicus, who quickly turned away. Pelleas sighed.

"Guilty by association. You should all burn in Hell for this!" the one made of fire cried.

"Aren't we already in Hell?" Carnicus said, snickering.

"I will strike you down for your insolence!" the one made of electricity said, pointing at him.

"The Three Furies are three wrathful female, elemental demons. I have heard of these beings once from a teacher of Greek literature. One is made of ice, and I shall name her Megaera, for she stepped forward first; the one made of fire, I will name Tisiphone, for her condemnation; and the one made of lightning I shall call Alecto, due to her temper. I suppose not all Greek literature is mere literature—after all, I have met Charon and Plutus… I will choose to fight Tisiphone, for I have Holy Water that might put out that raging fire! Perhaps it is best that Pelleas fight Megaera, who may become consumed with his lightning and be destroyed... As for Carnicus, he has no choice but to fight Alecto, as she has specifically set her eyes on him. I wonder how a vampire could defeat something he cannot touch… Serves him right."

Christiano ran over to Tisiphone, whose arms became engulfed in flames. She began to throw punches, but Christiano was able to dodge them; she wasn't as fast as he thought. Just then, without any warning, her legs caught on fire and she kicked Christiano, sending him flying. He made sure not to touch his armor as he got up, as it was hot now. She ran towards him and resumed throwing punches, but Christiano used his whip to beat her back.

"That whip is blessed with that Hebrew god!" she cried out in pain.

"I'm afraid you're wrong. Twas made of alchemy. I merely added my own touch," Christiano said, smiling. She growled.

"I will turn you to ashes!" she yelled. She twirled herself around until she was spinning up a wild tornado made of fire. Christiano stepped back, not knowing what to do. Pelleas, who was fighting Megaera, quickly used a spell to stop her, freezing the tornado; he wasn't sure as to how long. Christiano used his whip to whip through the frozen fire and hit her in the face. He then jumped back and threw a vial of holy water at her breast. As it shattered, the fire tornado resumed its spinning, but slowly, it petered out and turned to steam, Tisiphone gone.

Pelleas had begun his fight with Megaera, but he was mostly being defensive. Megaera rushed up to Pelleas.

"Such a beautiful face!" she cried. Pelleas got low, kneeling, and slammed his hand onto the ground, creating a shield of electricity around him. Megaera was hit and bounced back.

"That hurts!" she cried. Pelleas then took out a brown book, it leaving his hand and floating in front of him. The book opened and began to shoot beams of lightning at her. Megaera was actually able to dodge this, which made Pelleas nervous. He took his book back and got close to the ground again. When she was near, he made another shield of electricity, hitting her again.

"Enough!" she yelled after recovering from the blow. She stood still and summoned red icicles from the ground, rising into the air. She then waved her arm and threw them at him. He was able to dodge some, but one cut him straight across the face. When Christiano noticed this, he took out his cross and flung it at her, it cutting her in the back and returning to him like a boomerang. She let out a scream. She rushed at him and then Pelleas used his most powerful lightning-related move, which was the one he had used earlier—the lightning bolt. It struck her and she fell to the ground, right before Pelleas' boots. She reached up as if she could touch his face.

"Beautiful…" she whispered, her cold breath kissing his cheek, which flushed. He put his warm hand to his cold face. She then exploded into powdered snow.

Carnicus and Alecto were glaring at each other, almost as if they were studying each other. Alecto then spoke up.

"You can't even touch me, demon! I will make your undead heart explode!" she said cockily.

"As beautiful as you are, whoever said I needed to touch you?" Carnicus replied. Suddenly, a scythe appeared in his hand in a flash of light. Christiano had been using holy water to heal the cut on Pelleas' cheek when they both gasped. Alecto's glare intensified and she began to throw bolts of lightning at Carnicus. Carnicus dodged, his movement blurring. Alecto was unable to detect where he was going. When he got close, without a moment's hesitation, he swung his scythe, cutting her in half. She disappeared in a flash of lightning with a clap of thunder. Christiano and Pelleas stood there, watching him in awe.

"One hit…" Pelleas whispered.

"Carnicus, where did you get that scythe?" Christiano asked, genuinely curious. Carnicus turned around to face them, the scythe disappearing.

"It was a parting gift from Dracula himself," he replied. Christiano and Pelleas looked at each other and then back at Carnicus. Carnicus suddenly appeared in front of Christiano, running his thumb along his chin. "Pretty sexy, huh?" Christiano flushed.

"There is nothing 'sexy' about killing!" Pelleas cried, looking annoyed.

"So jealous, raven-haired one." Carnicus said, shaking his head with a smile. Pelleas growled under his breath.

"I'm growing tired of these… monsters… I hope the marsh up ahead will be a little more 'quiet,'" Christiano said.

"I hope so," Pelleas said. Carnicus bent down to rub underneath Virgil's chin.

"What do you think, Virgil? Did I do a good job?" Carnicus asked in a sing-songy voice. Virgil gently head-butted his hand. Virgil, why do you like him so much?

As they approached the marsh, they noticed that they had to cross River Styx again.

"Now what?" Pelleas asked, sighing. Suddenly, the white, featureless demon in the boat appeared, making his way to the shore.

"I suppose you would like to go to the Graves of the Forgotten now?" the demon said.

"Yes. You seem to appear whenever we need you. What is your name, demon?" Christiano asked.

"I am Charon—just another extension of him is all," he replied.

"Astounding..." Christiano said softly.

"The blood of River Styx and marsh of the Graves of the Forgotten do not mix, so we will once again be parting ways," Charon said.

"I see… Well, let us depart," Christiano said, walking forward into the boat.

The four of them traveled down the river again.

"You know… I was not born with red eyes and red hair… I think it all changed when Dracula made me his… That day, I forgot so much… Once again, like I had mentioned earlier, I even forgot my own name…" Carnicus said, eyes rolled up in thought. "If I see Dracula again, I wonder if I'll get answers with his dying breath," he said, smiling now. "That would be nice. You better be ready, Belmont."