It does me great joy to finally be able to do this chapter. I hope you all enjoy it!

I do not own Castlevania.


Chapter 7: Rocky Road

"I don't know what's more frustrating. Knowing that we were THIS close to getting into Dracula's Castle or that we now have no other clear route to take. " Trevor grumbled as they stumbled out of the passageway at last.

"At least we didn't have to deal with any of the monsters or swamp water." Replied Sypha as she rushed to his side.

The Belmont gave her that, looking back at his remaining two companions, the newest of the two being responsible for Sypha sticking close to him thus far.

'She's trying her best but... I'll need to talk to her soon. ' He thought sympathetically.

Perhaps he'd let her know that she could open up to him.

Even if it was only a few words.


Alucard did not miss the unease and,sometimes blatant, anger that she expressed through her eyes.

It was expected but not fully it would seem for it still stung him greatly. He didn't know what he was hoping to find... No, that in itself was a lie.

Companionship. A sense of belonging to this rather odd group of misfits: The last son of the Belmont Clan, a magician from the Church, and an ex pirate-turned-thief. It sounded like the start to a very horrible joke! He would've laughed if their goal didn't rob him of any mirth he might've drawn from it.

'Why must I do this...? He's my father... The only parent I have left! Should I not be by his side, comforting him..?' He had thought as they fled from Death and his advancing forces.

Adrian had been plagued by such thoughts since he entered his enchanted sleep to recover from the wounds dealt to him by the same hands that had once rocked him to sleep.

It was in remembering this that his heart hardened.

No...this..monster was not his father. He was not the one his mother loved. He had died just as irrevocably as his mother had.

Mourning would have to wait.


The four made their way to the hill located in the vicinity of the destroyed clock tower to make camp.

"Alright Alucard... What is the quickest way to Dracula's Castle?" Trevor asked, turning over the fish currently being cooked in the fire.

The Dhampir looked deep in thought. "Well I could fly there but I'd just be defeated all over again... and the route you took is out of the question. Therefore there's only one route: The lake."

Grant looked at the massive expanse of water before looking back at the halfblood. "We'd either drown from exhaustion or get torn apart by water monsters." He said dryly.

"Agreed but not if we board a ship." Alucard replied with a quirk of his lips.

The other three looked at each other before looking back at the smirking Dhampir. "A ship?" They asked in unified confusion.

Truly Trevor didn't know what he expected but a giant pirate ship in the middle of a lake wasn't one of them.

"So... Shot in the dark but this isn't going to be a pleasant ride is it?" Grant asked.

"No. I wouldn't put it past my father to have guarded this place as well. Aside from bats, which are useful for relaying messages to the other troops, there's likely Fleaman as well."

Grant groaned. "I freaking hate those little bastards!"

"They are quite... Agile. Father had me practice with a few of them for combat proposes."

"Was this before or after your mother burned- Oh shit I'm so-"

The Dhampir had turned and boarded the ship but anyone could feel the raw anger radiating from him.

"Smooth DaNasty. Smooth." Trevor said dryly before following after.

Sypha gave him a pitying glance before heading inside.

'And once again I've put my foot inside me mouth.'


Death, for once in its existence, was hesitant.

He hovered outside his master's door, debating on whether or not to tell him the news about his son.

"Death. Enter."

'Well it's better he hears it from me instead of those gossiping Lamia.' He mused before heading into the throne room and bowing. "My Lord... I bring grave news. Firstly, the Belmont and his party escaped my ambush."

"What..? How? They should've been box in, no? Surrounded on all sides."

"They had... Help sire. From your son."

Silence reigned before the vampire lord stood up and looked into the two dark pits that were the eyes of his most trusted ally. "Death... You are certain...?"

"Yes. I saw him aiding the humans by showing them a secret passage. They'll likely take the lake or some other long winded route but... Yes my lord. Does this..change anything?"

"No. It does not. Let them come."

No one heard the heart of Vlad screaming as a metaphorical stake was jammed into it.


It would seem that even the presence of the only son of Dracula would not hinder the various monsters from rushing right towards the four with whatever weapons they had at their disposal.

Trevor had to admit that it was a bit amazing seeing how the halfblood managed to chain his attacks almost seamlessly. Alucard had been engaged in battle with two zombies clad in purple and who's rapiers lashed out with blinding speed, yet he dodged and ducked with ease. Sypha actually joined him as the two blasted them with fire before said witch quickly ran back to the others.

Grant and the Belmont shared a look before they went over to the approaching Belnades. "I think me and Fangs oughta go scope out the boat. Why not try and find some sort of shelter that we can rest in for a spell?" The pirate said with a grin.

"Please refrain from addressing me by a part of my anatomy." The Dhampir stated with a slight edge to his voice.

"Does it annoy you your Highness?" He asked innocently.

"Yes."

"Then you're stuck with it." Laughed the man.

Trevor shook his head but nodded. "Fine but both of you be careful. No unnecessary risks Grant!"

"I give ye a sailor's vow!"

With that the two disappeared down the many corridors of the battered ship.

"Well then... Shall we?" Asked the hunter.

Sypha merely nodded, a lot more relaxed.


"You've surprised me." Came the cold but honest voice of the vampire prince.

Grant had just finished smacking a ghost out of the air with his dagger. "Oh? What manner of deed did I do ta deserve that?"

"It's blatantly apparent that Mrs Sypha is not happy with me joining your party."

The pirate sighed, sheathing the blade. "Look Fangs, I'll give it to you straight. I don't care what you are, neither does Trevor but there are those that your..erm.. Well...half of your kind.. Has hurt one too many times. Surely you know this yes?"

"All too well." Came the terse reply.

"And it sucks don't it? Ya didn't do anything wrong... You just came inta the world as innocent as the rest of us yet because half of you is a blood sucking demon you're judged before you have the chance. I don't get the full picture but I know the feeling. Told Trev this after he rescued me from that damned clock tower but me and me dad weren't on good terms either."

"Really?" He asked, curiosity gleaming in his golden eyes.

"Buddy let me tell you something: We all got problems. Doesn't matter if you're a lowly thief or a powerful prince. I don't blame ya for not thinking along these lines, given that essentially we're going to hunt down yer old man but... Just know that we're here for ye. I'm sure Trevor will be able to convince Sypha to come around."

Alucard merely clapped the man on the shoulder before resuming his march down the haunted halls.

But that's all the pirate needed to know just how thankful the prince was to hear those words.


"So... I have the feeling.. You already know what I'm going to ask." The Belmont began as he removed some debris from the entrance to the only room in the ship that didn't have some sort of creepy monster in it.

She sighed. "Yes. I'm not happy to have him in our group but he's a valuable asset for our quest."

Blue eyes narrowed. "Sypha he's a person."

"Half a monster too."

"Sypha for God's sake he's lost his mother and his father's next!" He shouted.

"Just like I lost my whole family to demons like him!" She yelled right back before marching to the other side of the room shaking.

Trevor let out a low, controlled breathe. He let her be and continued clearing the room.

It took a full five minutes before she spoke to him. "Trevor I'm..." She began but he waved it off.

"Look I get it. My family's hunted monsters for generations, not for profit but because we knew that when push came to shove that many would flee from the task before them. Yet we were hunted and driven from these lands just like the monsters we hunted. Because one person spread a rumor that we were practitioners of dark magic. So I get it."

The witch leaned against the walls, looking out of a small window. "My family... Well.. The woman in the family were blessed with magic. We channeled the good spirits of nature to do so. No incantations or blood offerings, just meditation and pure will. We did hunt monsters on occasion to bring in some coin for our family." She looked back at him, as if hesitant to continue.

"Go on. I'm all ears." He gently urged.

"Well.. One day my parents and my mother's five sisters went into the woods to gather herbs. A mob was waiting for us. Mother and father... Didn't make it out alive. It didn't stop there either. It was like... Something had been targeting us. It wasn't until there were only two of us left that we found out who." Her eyes darkened in rage. "It was a vampiress known as Carmilla. Apparently we had slain one of her favorite thralls. So in retaliation she manipulated the townsfolk and started the witch trials."

"Jesus... Sypha I don't know what to say."

"It still hurts Trevor but..I'm alive. I somehow escaped... And wound up at a monestary of all places. They took me in and granted me sanctuary. The elder was very kind to me. He gave me a chance. " She said with a small smile.

"Do you think... You could possibly do that for Alucard? You both have something in common and, stoic as he tries to be, I know your obvious rejection of him cuts deep."

"... I make no promises but... I will try to see the man." She said softly but looking none the less determined.

He couldn't help hugging her, but he quickly broke it when he heard Grant snickering from the doorway.

Sypha had made her way to the window and was suddenly very interested in looking at nothing but fog.

"... How long?" Trevor growled lowly, though the menace was lost due to his cheeks being crimson.

"We got here just as she promised to give Fangs a chance." Replied Grant between laughs.

"Yes. I'm willing to give you a chance Alucard but! If you so much as hurt an innocent human life without indisputable proof that you are in the right I WILL hunt you down!" Said the witch with slightly more menace then Trevor.

The halfling smirked. "As you wish."

It seemed like the air had cleared a bit, making it easier for everyone to breathe.


I'm so sorry for how long it took to get this chapter up and running everyone. I've recently switched jobs and thus my schedule is completely wonky.

It's been so hectic that my motivation to actually write-fan fiction or my own original work- has been placed on the back burner because I get home exhausted.

I'm not sure when the next chapter will be out but I hope you all are looking forward to it. :)