Scene 6
Like the tolls of bells upon a tower high came the clomps upon the cobblestone street. T'was the only sound in the courtyard, that of the horse and its silent rider. The wind picked up the rider's hair, as fine threads of golden gossamar, and partially obscured his view as his eyes drifted up toward the temple, face shadowed by a wide-brimmed hat.
"Why are we here?" Demon inquired. He was anxious. Unusually anxious. "There must be another way."
His voice as cold as the wind, Alucard said, "There is no other way."
It was a marble marvel, full of ebony pillars and scupulted statues. Moonlight flashed along the massive stone steps leading up to the double doors. Numerous monsters hung around the glassless windows and cracks like cavaties in blackened teeth. The eye could not count them all and neither could the dhampire.
Glancing around, Alucard then urged his mount on over the steps, which, under his skillful hand, she did gracefully. He halted her before the doors, and Demon perched on his shoulder as the half-blood said, without an ounce of fear in his voice, "My name is Alucard. I have business within."
As if the sound of a great mountain tearing apart, the doors spilt open. The starlight slid in ever so slightly, seemingly afraid of the darkness inside. The smell of death and decay irritated the dhampire's nose, but he clucked his tongue, and the horse was through the doorway. Having lived in Castlevania for the majority of his childhood, Alucard had long been accustomed to the smell.
He did not need to look down to know what the crunching sound beneath the horse's hooves was.
It was utterly dark as a tomb, barely lit by the feeble starlight and nothing else. With a bang and the doors shut behind him. He didn't so much as bat an eye. Suddenly a thousand colored lamps lit up, momentarily blinding Alucard. He did not start even as his golden-eyed gaze took in what surrounded him.
Zombies. Skeletons. Wights and wraiths. Demons and dragons. Every manner of vicious, vile and unnatural creatures encircled him. The dhampire was a legend of a man, skill unsurpassed by anyone or anything in this land. But even the most talented of hunters (which he was) cannot prevail against a number of foes such as this.
His horse neighed nervously and Demon cast his eyes about. Still Alucard's sword did not depart its sheath. Demon jumped off as Alucard dismounted and then arms crossed impassionately.
"I see you had the decency not to draw your weapon. That is very considerate of you, very considerate indeed!"
The half-blood stiffened slightly. He knew that voice.
Stepping out of the many myraid shadows, Shaft stood before him. The dark priest was a good two feet shorter than the dhampire but that diminished the smirk about his face none at all. Expensive and expansive multi-colored robes hung around his frail fame. Still garbbed in that clergy cloth, though he'd long since passed their jursidication or concern.
Tilting his head ever so slightly, hat's shadow concealing his eyes, Alucard glimsped the ebony carriage in the hallway beyond, waiting in the wings of rotted curtains. Two creatures that were familiar to him were sitting on the roof. One was a mess of bones, wrapped in ruined robes, bearing a scythe. The other was sinfully-beautiful in a spiked corset that did nothing to cover the luscious breasts, her wings curled in.
Death and the Succubus.
His father was taking no chances in protecting his stolen maiden.
Whoever she was.
When the dhampire turned his gaze back to Shaft he noted the old priest staring intently at him. Alucard gave no outward sign of ill-ease. "I have questions. I will have my answers and then I will leave." Not waiting for an answer, his wind-chilled volice lifted even to the dark rafters. "First, I will have you tell me--did you bring my father back into the world? Second, I will have you relinquish the carriage to me immediately."
Hacking, phelm-filled laughter cut through the temple. "You always were a demanding one, Master Alucard." Sarcasm fairly bled through the tone. "You know you make me laugh. Bring your father back? No, it was not I. As for giving him up..."
More laughter. Darker this time. "I have served the Master for about eighty years and I don't think I'll be changing my robes anytime soon...although if I were to do it for anyone I would for you."
Shaft shifted that mess of robes so that he could stare up at the dhampire, a disturbing twinkle in his eyes. "I have seen many a dhampire but the likes of you I haven't seen ever. That beauty....that strength...Does it disgust you to have an old man such as me admire you so?"
A bony hand reached out toward Alucard's chest. One swift movement and he batted the hand away, unblinking.
"Who brought my father back?" The dhampire didn't move as his familiar rested on his shoulder.
Again, that biting laughter. He ignored the question completely. "You are a warrior, Alucard, and you survived Castlevania. But can you survive all of Castlevania's might all at once? You will kill many of us, but in the end we will prevail. I have sworn to protect your father and his bride so now you must die!"
As soon as the word "die" was uttered, monsters attacked in swarms. Like the deliverer of death, the dhampire slayed scores within minutes. Blood colored in gory innards misted about his pristine form. Monsters too horrible to speak of climbed over the bodies of their fallen comrades, each eager to be the one to carry of the title of killing the traitor half-vampire.
Alucard kept his familiar in check, figuring he'd need all the help he could get later on. While he was still fresh and uninjuried he could make, and did make, short work of the creatures. Right now it was child's play to dispose of them. Heads rolled. Blood spilt. Legs. Arms. Eyes. And other unnamed appendages flew in many directions.
Yes, now it was as simple as knocking down flies, but even the greatest hunter must take a blow, weaken, tire...
...and then what?
"Surrender, Alucard and serve your father---what the devil is that?!"
The sudden shift in Shaft's voice prompted the beautiful hunter to glance up from his bloody handiwork. His lips parted every so slightly as the light blasted down the hall. Like a spirit-wrath, a glowing Richter Belmont soared past the pillars, feet not even touching the stone floor. So bright was the light, that none could see him at the center.
Like the cry of an avenging angel, he hollered, "Holy Water!"
Shutting his eyes and throwing up an arm, Alucard weathered the excruiating light and heard the screams of the monsters perishing who either were too stupid, too slow or just too unlucky to escape the path of the deadly and shimmering waters. The stench of this fouled place was already hideous enough and now became retch-worthy. The hunter suppressed the urge and cut a path through the monsters.
The carriage...
No point in letting this distraction go to waste.
Evidently Death and the Succubus realized how vulnerable the carriage was too, for they slapped their whips on the horses' flanks, sending them galloping into the darkness of the far hall. In a swift motion, Alucard rushed up onto his horse and bade it to follow, full speed. Monsters were crushed beneath his steed's hooves. Those that weren't met death (for the second time) by fireballs or the swing of a sword.
Nothing would get in the way of his hunt for his father.
Not even a Belmont.
Or more precisely, Richter Belmont.
Still sheathed in the holy shimmer, the vampire hunter shouted and raised his arms at Alucard. Considering how his horse didn't slow, much less stop, and that his blade was posed for a strike at everything in his path, Richter must have thought the dhampire insane.
At the very last moment before Richter would have been trampled, Alucard swirled the sword in his hand and swung the flat of it at his shoulder. The Belmont was thrown to the right and landed on his ass. There was not a single break in the steed's stride as the dhampire continued the chase out the back doors of the temple after the fleeing carriage.
In the background, he faintly heard, "I must admit, I admire that young hunter's spirit. Although he dosen't have a chance against his father. Still it's a pity I'll miss the show."
Cold night air slapped into Alucard's face, sending his sunlight-shaded hair askew. On and on he rode, keeping the carriage in sight. Upon its roof Death and the Succubus exchanged words. Then the Succubus stood up, exposing every inch of her womanly curves. In her hands was a sickly green susbtance and cast it out.
"Master, watch out!"
But Demon's warning came too late.
Like a thousand steel chains, the green goo wrapped around his body, constricting the flow of blood in his body. Alucard bit back a scream as pain exploded in every cell. His both was lifted high upon a rockface, twisted like a fly in a spider's web. Though he fought valiantly to even remain concious he soon found his mind fading into the darkness...
