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Chapter 7: Victor

As I walk through the Valley of Death I shall fear no evil.

Those were the words Victor Belmont had lived his entire life by. From the day he could walk and talk to the day he offered up his life to save humanity. It had been a painful road to walk but he hadn't regretted it.

Victor was once again sitting before one of the make-shift mosaics they'd been able to erect underground. Ever since the world had started going crazy many people had been flocking to it daily to pray. Victor didn't mind it at all since it gave people hope but sometimes he just wanted to be alone. From his childhood he remembered his parents and elders telling him all Belmonts are prone to at least one "brooding" moment in their life time.

'I suppose that's something else you passed down to the family.' Victor chuckled bowing his head low in prayer. It was the first time during the week he'd come down the spot given all the insanity he'd had to deal with in the past three weeks.

Life's never easy for a Belmont Victor but don't ever let that get you down.

Taking out a photo Victor held it in his hands up to the light. It was one of the last pictures he had of his family; his brother, sister, parents, grandparents, and his cousins. They were the people Victor whose memory he had vowed to honor.

Placing the photo in front of the alter Victor began to speak well aware no one could hear him. "Everyone it's me again. I'm sorry I haven't had time to talk to any of you but lately the world's been going to hell, literally." Staring down at his gloved hands Victor allowed his tensed body to ease up. "Mother…Father….I've done as you both have requested, I've tried my best. All I can do is hope it's enough to stop Satan's return."

Growing up Victor learned a lot was expected from him being a Belmont. His father, Levi Belmont was the previous leader of the Brotherhood of Light as well as the one who'd taught Victor a vast majority of his combat skills. Levi never left Victor much time to be a normal kid but when Victor turned fifteen and finally called his father out he learned he really did love him, he just had a hard time showing.

He'd tried to run away from his legacy as a Belmont and his father had almost died because of that. In doing so he'd alerted a horde of demons to his location and quickly they descended on him with every intention of making him pay for centuries of crimes against creatures of darkness.

Victor rubbed his the horizontal scar over his right upper arm. If his father hadn't arrived when he did Victor knew he would have lost his right arm that day. After that their relationship saw major improvement. He still wished he could take back some of the awful things he'd said about his but he couldn't so instead he'd due his memory proud by carrying the Belmont name with honor.

After saying a prayer for his father he faced a beautiful brunette with warm green eyes, his mother Casandra Belmont. Victor's hands trembled slightly at the thought of his mother's smiling face and voice. Some nights Victor thought if it weren't for her and his siblings he would have gone crazy under the pressure passed down on to him. Everyone said Victor got all his tactical skills and keen marksmanship from her since in her life time Casandra was a famous sharp-shooter. Victor enjoyed listening to his elders tell him war stories about his mother from World War III which he and his siblings were born shortly after. For a woman whose name brought fear and terror to man and monster she was one of the gentlest and humble people Victor had ever known. Truly she was the one who had given him his moral compass and Victor could never be more thankful for that.

Next was Oliver Belmont, Victor's brother. Being raised to slay demons together Victor had developed a well-managed rivalry with his brother. They'd fought together and laughed together. Oliver was much more light-hearted than other members of his family save for maybe his grandfather and often he'd play playful jokes in everyone to make sure they kept a sense of humor.

Come Victor just take the night off! You've got to enjoy your life while you've got it brother.

Victor had promised him if he did live past judgment day he would do just that the night he saw his brother's scorched corpse on a news report. He had died in India on a mission to stop one of Satan's acolytes from pitting the Middle East and Asia against each other again. Against the elders wishes he ran away to retrieve Oliver's body so he could give it a proper burial. He hunted the demon who ended his life, a fire demon called Aguni and finished his brother's work.

His death had nearly driven Victor insane with grief before his remaining loved ones were able to calm him down.

His cousin and grandparents had all died before he turned twenty. His cousin Quinn, assassinated in the middle of a "mass shooting" in Winchester and the media made it all look like an accident. Quinn was always quiet but supportive of everyone he cared about, Victor especially. Beyond fighting monsters he had a dream of becoming a photographer, a dream that would never come true. His grandparents...poisoned

The last person in the photo made Victor's eyes shut in tight pain and a few tears race down his cheeks. The girl had wheat-yellow hair and bright blue eyes that held nothing joy even in their last few moments. She was Liana Belmont, if she'd died a month later she would have been Liana Gusnell . A mother.

First they lost her fiancée, Victor's soon to be brother-in-law Flann in a raid none of them had seen coming. Victor was heart-broken to lose Flann but he remembered Liana was even more since she'd been in loved with him, accepted his proposal, and carried his child up until the last moments of her life.

Victor knew revenge never really solved anything for anyone but the day she sacrificed herself to make sure the Brotherhood survived another attack he began second-guessing the notion.

Looking at his hands he still remembered holding her bleeding hands, begging her not to go through with the spell that would cause what would be called the Istanbul Bombing. The life of his last remaining relatives ended in a single flash of bright red light. Time didn't heal the wounds but it did teach him to channel his grief into fighting strength, a skill he'd made sure to pass on to his fellow warriors.

He took out his Combat Cross and held it to the light. In the years since his forefathers Trevor Belmont and Simon Belmont the holy weapon had become the symbol of the Belmont family. It was Simon Belmont's son, Austin Belmont who first claimed the weapon as the family crest and it had been that way since.

Foolish human. For your cursed lineage there is only one end awaiting you; death in the slowest and most painful way possible.

Victor's first vampire kill had muttered those words to him right before he drove a stake into its heart. His words weren't entirely false as a far more Belmonts died in battle (mostly in their old age though) than dying of old age naturally. It didn't become a trend until the time of Victor's great-great grandparents that the forces of darkness began taking an active interest in hunting down the Belmont clan. It wasn't noticeable at first but by the late twentieth-century hit it had become obvious someone powerful had ordered the destruction of the whole bloodline.

The Brotherhood of Light didn't have to look far to know Satan was behind it all.

Footsteps made Victor grab the photo and put it back in his pocket. Standing up he saw an Asian man in combat fatigues running toward him. His face was covered with dust and he had a bandage wrapped around his forehead but most of all his eyes held a panic Victor knew all too well.

"Boqin we've been found haven't we?" Victor asked walking over to his best friend.

"Yeah but not in the way you think Victor." He paused a moment to catch his breathe. "The city's bad but like you said Drac….Dracula's been running around capturing all the acolytes, making things easier for us. The thing is Vic he's…he' right outside the gates to HQ."

The feeling inside of Victor wasn't fear or anger at his ancestor it was more like curiosity. The story of Gabriel Belmont, the first Belmont and the clan's mortal enemy had been passed down through generations to Victor yet for all the things that had been said about him he wasn't completely sold on him being as evil as legends made him out to be. He knew there was probably no light left in his heart but Victor could understand how the pain of loss and betrayal could drive one to extreme lengths.

"Victor…what do we do? We still have enough troops for battle but getting everyone out of here into the countryside bunker is going to take time." Boqin asked bringing Victor from his thoughts. "I don't think we can beat Dracula, he'd suck us draw before we even scratched him."

"I know Boqin that's why you, John, Yelena, and Otto are going to hold off the acolytes' forces while I hold off Dracula." Victor said pulling up his hood.

All the way down into the armory Boqin protested but Victor remained firm in his convictions. As the story went only a Belmont could defeat Dracula and Victor was the only one left. Besides he wielded almost exact replicas of the very weapons Dracula had used when he was human.

"You know he's not going to go easy on you just because you're family right?" Clint Morris warned him holstering all his guns.

"Didn't stop him from trying to kill his son and grandson when they confronted him. I'm expecting the worst." he calmly replied checking all his weapons.

After a majority of the Brotherhood Forces were on their way to their positions Victor was approached by Boqin and an elderly dark skinned man using a walking stick. Taking a moment Victor bowed to the man who he had come to respect as a warrior and a parental figure.

Barasa Kone was one of the Victor's most trusted advisors not just for the fact he was a skilled military man but for the fact he always considered doing the right thing over the wise thing. Ever since Dracula defeated the Brotherhood of Light nearly eight-hundred years ago leaders of that caliber had been hard to find.

The African looked Victor hard in the eye knowing this was going to possible be the last time they saw each other. "Victor I can give you a long-winded speech about remembering your training but it wouldn't matter, you're going up against the man who managed to defeat Satan when he was still human. Everything you've face up until now…this is going to be the fight of your life. All I can ask of you is to make it back here alive, for all our sakes."

"Anything else I need to know of?"

"Yes if you live through this then we're launching a full-scale attack on the acolytes' stronghold." Barasa answered pressing a switch that transformed his walking stick into an axe."

"You should do that even if I don't survive." Victor said tightening the hold on his Combat Cross. "Hammer was able to get us those tanks right?"

"Yeah, they're a little ways outside of the city but we can get to them." Boqin's eyes began to feel with sadness as he met Victor's gaze. "Y-You're coming back right? I mean seriously if…something happens to you what am I going to tell Marlene?"

Victor stepped forward and hugged his friend tightly knowing a few tears were falling from Boqin's eyes. Their friendship had gotten off to an odd start, an unsuccessful mission to Beijing to kill Abaddon ending with half the city being destroyed and Boqin losing his entire family. On the boat back Victor found him in mourning and after a few words and bottles of beer they became friends. They both had felt the pain of loss and both wanted to ensure others wouldn't feel that pain even if it meant laying down their lives.

Victor knew somewhere in his heart he was about to do just that. "Tell her…tell her I'm sorry we couldn't spend more time together." he opened his palm to see a sparkling green pendant wrapped around his right hand.

Letting him go he gave a small hug to Barasa who himself looked on the verge of tears. Leaving the armory he began to make his way to were reports of Dracula were. On the way he formed a little bit if a plan, lead him back to the one of the makeshift alter and maybe in the worst case die doing the duty he'd devoted his life to.

"You…are the last Belmont now." Victor managed to wheeze out before he felt the cold darkness swallow him.

He had to admit his ancestor had been slightly different from what legend had painted him to be. Yes he was fierce and vengeful but he wasn't as completely evil as he'd been raised to believe. He'd helped humanity even though it wasn't for the right reasons. Now all Victor could do was put his faith in not Dracula, but in his forefather Gabriel Belmont.

In some ways when the sword pierced Victor's chest he felt relief, he could finally see his family again. Still a part of him felt…saddened. He'd done all he could yet why did he feel like there was still something missing? He hadn't fathered any children so he knew if the Belmont names continued it would have to be carried on by Gabriel.

'Maybe this is it. Maybe with the defeat of Satan the Belmont clan will no longer be needed.' He thought in the darkness.

Victor felt like he was drifting through a sea of darkness, unable to truly hear or see, just feel. His first thoughts were with Satan's resurrection drawing closer the passages to the afterlife were being messed with. He wanted to sleep, to rest not drift along with the rest of the dead until a winner was declared in the battle for earth.

'Have we not given enough?'

Do you think you've given enough Victor? A cascade of familiar voices called to him.

'Wonderful, now I'm hearing the voices of the deceased.' Victor mused looking around for the shadows of his family. 'Are you asking me to give more?'

That's not the question Victor. The question is do you believe you don't have anything left to live for?

'Of course I have other things I want to live for! I want have a family not for the sake of carrying on the family name but for…I want to be happy.' he almost laughed at himself for arguing with a bunch of disembodied voices that were or weren't the spirits of his loved ones. 'Why are you asking me this? It's over for me.'

As soon as the words left his lips Victor felt something sharp and cold pierce his chest again. At first he felt like bellowing in pain but before long he started to feel something rush into his limp form. It was oddly warm and invigorating like water clenching a dry throat.

…work isn't done yet Victor. You're a….maybe…loves…like our lineage. Regardless you are a Belmont! From….darkness…people like you…to protect… The voice wasn't like the others, it was powerful and familiar to Victor.

An image formed above him; his Combat Cross. A little after his twenty-seventh birthday Victor (against everyone's warnings) had searched Dracula's Castle for anything he thought we would aid him in battle. He'd ended up losing an eye but the rewards were worth it. Out of all the weapons he'd been able to forge from the relics he found the Combat Cross was the one Victor treasured the most.

Some of the shades made a bee-line for the weapon but Victor moving with inhuman speed grabbed it first.

Fresh air filled his lungs as his eye sprung up to see the light of the morning sky. He nearly choked on the air before calming himself down to realize he was on top of a cluster of rumble that looked eerily similar to a cross. His hands traveled to his chest were he noticed the spot the sword had pierce was now healed although it felt slightly cold compared to the rest of his body.

"I'm…I'm alive?" he questioned sitting up to observe his surroundings. The city looked like a complete disaster zone with bodies both human and demon strung out everywhere. Finding his Combat Cross by his side he grabbed it and began moving through the stable structures towards a roof top overlooking the city.

Once he reached the top he saw the sun's rays rising over the horizon. IN the middle of the sky was a hole with clouds vanishing at the edges of it. It could have been his imagination but Victor was sure he saw orbs of light flashing in the sky. Taking a breath of fresh air he realized not while it smelled of blood and dust it carried none of the foul chemicals or taint it did the night before.

"He…won." Victor whispered falling to his knees in joy. He'd put his faith in the Prince of Darkness and it had worked. 'I don't think prayer or good-will did it…could it have been you?' Victor pondered thinking back to the armored warrior that had fought beside him and Dracula. Throughout the fight he sensed there was something different about him and the sword he wielded looked a lot like one Victor had studied in history.

All the questions were pushed aside when Victor realized he had to find anyone still alive, even with day breaking that was going to stop some demons still hidden in the shadows. Once he was back on the ground he grabbed a usable smart phone lying inside a car and dialed Boqin's number. It took two tries but when the he did answer and heard Victor's voice he knew Satan had been defeated.

"Where are you now?"

"Kind of hard to tell given the fact the whole city looks like a warzone. Listen Boqin you know the Janus Industries building? Yes it's still standing and that's where I'm heading. I'll see you there."

On foot Victor began making his way through the ruins marveling on how quiet everything was. Every shadow he passed sent a slight chill down his spine but somehow he felt everyone was too exhausted to fight. Once he reached the Janus Building he used his Combat Cross and climbing skills to reach the top. Walking close to the ledge he marveled at the sight before him, peace and harmony in the aftermath of total devastation.

"I nearly forgot how beautiful the sunrise looked." a voice called from the shadows.

Turing around Victor saw two figures hiding in the shade of the stairway, he recognized both of them. Against years of training and instinct he didn't prepare for instant battle, all he did was let his shoulders relax. "It's been centuries since you've seen one this nice hasn't it?"

The taller figure stepped out into the light letting the sun's light hit his face. Vampires weren't as weak against sunlight as legend stated but if they stayed in it too long they would burn until not only a skeleton would be left. Against his face Victor could tell the pain was rejuvenating.

"Father." The other figure called moving a little closer.

Victor reached into one of his pouches for any magic stones he had left over. Luckily he still had one which he held up. Quietly he muttered the chant causing thin wasps of indigo-colored mist to wrap around the figures. "That'll help until we can get some sunscreen on the two of you."

"Sunscreen?"

"It's not as bad as it sounds." the second figure chuckled. He turned towards Victor with calm yellow eyes and a faint smile. "I see Sypha's abilities with magic are still going strong even after eight centuries."

Victor smiled in return then faced the other figure. Where did he start? What could he do? He was no longer an enemy but Victor still wondered where they would go from there. "So what do we do now?"

Facing him with red eyes his ancestor spoke, "We wait and see who comes next Victor. We're Belmonts aren't we?"

DraculBelmont: Thanks for the idea, expect a mini-story about it after the next chapter.