Chapter 10
The sound of stone scrapping against stone announced that the room was to turn again. Everyone hardened their grip either around their whip or their partner. Only Trevor hung by himself, Ricther carried Henry and Juste carried the girl named Mina. Trevor glanced at the open archway that was their only exit from this chamber. Unfortunately it was directly across from them. The surrounding walls of the chamber were all lined with spikes, making it impossible to walk to the exit. Their only chance of escape was that the chamber periodically spun around in a clockwise fashion. If they could wait for room to spin the archway into position below them, they could just drop down. However there were other obstacles.
Small square breaks were littered throughout the spiked walls. A bell chimed three times and they all knew what that meant. Their eyes watched as the square slits opened. From the opening emerged a series of small figures. They glided eerily through the air, propelled by an unknown force. Trevor had always wondered if they were offspring, or if they were just extensions of her malevolent will. Medusa Heads traveled the castle endlessly as if searching for prey to fill their master's stone menagerie. The floating heads seeped endlessly through the slits in the walls. Each the men did their best to swing from side to side to avoid the merest touch of the creatures. For only the slightest contact might mean instant petrification.
Once more the bell chimed three times and the ghastly things disappeared into the walls. The chamber began to shake as it turned slowly. At last, the archway moved into a position directly beneath them.
"Juste, you go first!" Trevor ordered.
The young man nodded and gave a signal to Mina. The girl switched gazes between the archway and Juste.
"Just go!" Trevor bellowed.
Fearfully, she let go of Juste and fell into abyss. Juste then proceeded to unhook his whip from the hoop which it had been fastened to and followed suit. As the chamber rushed past him, Juste was surrounded by darkness. For a moment he became disorientated as he was unsure if he was falling downwards, upwards, or even forward. Finally there was a light. Before he could tell what was going on, he felt himself fall face down on a hard marble floor.
"Juste!" he heard Mina's voice call out. Turning to face up, he glanced Mina kneeling at his side. Another figure stood behind her.
"Guess who I just found!"
Juste's eyes came back into focus. The figure standing behind her was strangely attired yet he seemed to match Mina's garb in workmanship and design. As he gazed into the stranger's face, he at last gripped that Mina was right. The young man, Soma, was indeed similar to him in his features. However as he looked into his eyes, there was something truly unnerving about him.
Shortly, the others appeared through the archway and landed in similarly uncomfortable positions. After exchanging greetings, Juste noted that both Trevor and Richter seemed wary around Soma. However each of them hid it well as the group became distracted by exploring their current location.
The chamber, they stood in was a mammoth sized chapel. Exquisite stained glass windows adorned the walls. Each of them was alight with a magical aura that showcased their delicate imagery. Long winded steps on either side led to turrets which housed church bells and also broke off into other chambers. There was a quiet peaceful atmosphere which seemed to subdue everyone except the Belmonts who were not at ease.
While the others studied their surroundings, Mina took a seat beside Soma who had in turn sat himself at the foot of a stairway.
"So," Mina started. "What do you think of my friends?" she chided.
Soma smiled sheepishly. "Great. Its just like you to make friends fast."
"You don't have to be the loner type, you know. I mean look at Trevor. You can tell that he is a total loner. And what's he like?" Mina leaned forward and spoke whispering, "he's like a total jerk half the time. You don't want to be like him, do you?"
"I suppose not."
Mina slapped his arm," Suppose?"
Soma laughed for a moment, but then became serious. "What if I were to change, Mina? Would you…"
"Be your friend? Of course! We all change a little. Most times it's for the better. But that's why you have friends…like me…to make sure you don't change for the worse."
Soma turned away. "This is different," he muttered under his breath.
From atop the stairway the Belmonts had grouped together and now stood watching the two. They had separated themselves under the guise of checking the chapel for enemies. They were in turn surprised to find the area devoid of life.
"What do you think?" Richter asked openly.
"Something is troubling about the boy," Juste answered.
"The question is what? Does he pose a danger to the rest of us?" Trevor continued. "It is without a doubt the boy has been touched by evil. Whether he is in the grips of it, or whether it is in his, remains to be seen. However we shall not prod it. We will keep on our guard, the three of us. If it rears its power against us, we must be ready to strike it down without a moment's hesitation." He looked toward Juste. "That may mean alienating the girl. Do you understand? No hesitation."
Juste studied Trevor's gaze. The scar going down the side of his face awarded him a truly fearsome stare. It never ceased to surprise him that they were related. The coldness of his gaze and the detachment of his persona were alien to him.
"I understand," Juste responded simply.
"Everyone! Come see!" cried a voice.
Richter looked towards Mina and Soma and then turned to his brethren. "The boy, Henry!" Together they rushed down the steps leaping over the couple sitting at the base. They too followed in quick succession as the Belmont's led them through the chapel. Richter proved to be the quickest and ran ahead of them all. The voice cried again and Richter sense that it came from beyond a veiled section of the chapel. As he passed through it, he saw Henry standing in the center of the small room beyond.
The room was barren except for two confessional built into the wall. Henry pointed at the right hand seat which was obscured by a curtain. A set of clothed legs were clearly visible sticking out from underneath the curtain. As the other arrived, Richter called out.
"Who goes there?"
There was no answer. Richter unfurled his whip and struck against the confessional. The figure within stirred. A gloved hand pushed the curtain to one side and emerged. The figure was a well dressed man attired in a white suit and red vest. In his hand he carried a tall top hat. The man's expression was one of exhaustion.
"I…I…beg your pardon. I seemed to have dozed off," he said weakly.
"Who are you?" Trevor insisted.
Seemingly gathering his strength, the stranger answered. "I am Saint Germain. I've come to help you all."
"How?" Trevor continued.
"In the future, there will be a great battle here in this castle, as there has always been. However because of a mistake of an outsider, the walls which separate the past and future have fallen. That is how all of you are now able to meet. But this is having a destructive effect on the world outside. Time must be restored to it proper course."
"Trevor shot a glance towards Mina. "A time distortion?"
"Yes."
"I see. And what can you do to help us correct it?"
"I can…travel…through time and space."
"So you can prevent this from happening?"
"Unfortunately not. Due to the nature of the distortion, as you put it, I have now become part of the event. I can however travel through space."
"How does this help us?" queried Juste.
"The source of the distortion is from a device belonging to a demon. The device has been broken and needs to be repaired in order to restore everything."
"Then can you not find the device and repair it?"
Saint Germain shook his head. "I know where it can be found, however I can get it alone. Dracula holds it."
"That's no problem. With three of us we can defeat him," Richter proclaim confidently.
"Do not be so rash. Just as there are many of you, there are many of him as well."
Trevor took a few steps towards Saint Germain. "How many?"
"At least half a dozen."
The group remained in silence, awestruck.
"I care not if there are 20 Dracula's. If that is what must be done, then we shall do it." Trevor turned to face Richter and Juste. "Agreed?"
"Agreed, but we will need help." Richter gestured towards Saint Germain. "What can you do?"
"Aside from the element of surprise, which I can provide by dropping you in the throne room? I can provide allies. While I fear that they have already used their numbers to defeat other Belmonts, there may be others in this castle that can help."
"Good," Trevor said. "Then bring them to us. Everyone you can. Bring them here."
Saint Germain smiled. "Consider it done." He then doffed his hat and disappeared in a flash. He had felt somewhat embarrassed by his entrance. It had not been his intention to appear so weak before them. However the experience of being pulled out of his body during his discourse with Julius had been a trying one. Nevertheless, he had to set aside his own condition and focus on the task ahead. Immediately he began to scan the various mirrors which showed him the different sections of the castle. He caught glimpses of many beings which he felt could add strength to the Belmont's plight. Thus, he leapt into one of the time zones and began his work.
His first catch was Sypha, the vampire hunter and sorceress. Convincing her that he could reunite her with Trevor was not an easy task, but it was the first of many that he managed to accomplish. Through the dungeons, mines, and caverns of the castle, Saint Germain found many adventurers scattered. After convincing each one that he was friend and not foe he would quickly transport them to the chapel where the group of allies began to grow.
It was impossible perceive how much time it took Saint Germain to collect everyone, but it seemed like many hours passed. Ultimately though, Saint Germain scanned and saw that there was no one else. He returned to the chapel's main chamber where they had moved to for lack of space. A large crowd had formed there. As Saint Germain waded through it, he felt like a stranger at party he was not invited to. Old friends were reunited, and distant family met for the first time. It was quite emotional, he thought. A shame it was all a huge blunder that these generations of warriors were not meant to meet. Even Trevor, who was normally morose, seemed to have softened up. He greeted him warmly. To one side was a cloaked figure whose hood concealed all but a set of pursed lips. At his other was a disheveled man whose torn and ragged clothes gave the appearance of being a beggar.
"I must thank you, Saint Germain. You have returned to me my comrades, Sypha and Grant."
Saint Germain bowed his head. "It was nothing. Only a little convincing had to be done."
Grant then grunted loudly. Saint Germain was unsure if it was to remind him that there was no 'little' in the act of convincing him or if to apologize for nearly slitting his throat with a knife. Saint Germain merely gave him a cursory glance and smiled.
Trevor's demeanor instantly switched to it usual mood. "While it is excellent that we have a large group of warrior with which to attack Dracula, we also have a number of non-combatants." He turned to the direction of the young boy, Henry. "I admire the boy's courage, but he has no business in this battle to come. Neither does the girl Mina."
"I totally agree."
"I've met with everyone and decided that some will stay behind. Henry, Mina, Juste's friend, and the three young women from Richter's town will stay. Additionally that old man carrying all the crosses…he stays. They will be protected in part by the young girl, Carrie, who Sypha tells me can be very powerful. The young woman, Yoko, she will also stay behind. Her wound will make her a hinderance." Trevor then signaled to Richter and Juste who both promptly joined them.
"Our plan of action is simple. Dracula is most vulnerable to the vampire killer whip. Richter, Juste and I will focus on defeating on one Dracula at a time. The others will distract his other forms until we get to them. With luck, our combined power will make quick work of each form."
It was true that the plan was simple, but it was daring Saint Germain thought. He saw what the various Dracula's had done to just one Belmont. Did these three truly stand a chance?
"What about your friend Alucard," Juste asked.
Trevor looked to Saint Germain.
"Unfortunately he is…incapacitated. The younger Alucard which Trevor is familiar with ran afoul of his older self. Age and wisdom vanquished youth and thus, he no longer exists in any reachable form."
Trevor became sullen at this news. "Alucard had many inner demons to exorcise. We had hoped we could help him extinguish some."
Saint Germain smiled. "If time returns to its proper path, you may still get a chance."
Trevor nodded but visibly removed any evidence of what emotions the loss of his comrade had dealt him. Saint Germain had always admired this quartet. Such a mixed group. One would think they would be unable to work together, and yet somehow they managed to accomplish an almost impossible feat, defeating Dracula.
Now he prepared to engage in an even greater feat, defeating Dracula a dozen times over. Trevor gathered his team of warriors. He stood side by side with his fellow Belmonts, Juste and Richter. His old allies Sypha and Grant stood nearby.
Towering behind them was another hooded figure. Locks of blonde hair breached through it sides. The large figure stood poised with a large multi-bladed spear. Eric Lecarde looked grim, but in his eyes one could see the desire to avenge his fallen friend John Morris.
Dwarven when stood against Lecarde, the man-wolf Cornell looked back one last time at his sister, Ada. She had begged him to stay, but he knew that the only way he would ever get her out of the castle was to help them.
Looking out of place amongst the crowd of warriors, Soma felt even more awkward. His palms were filled with sweat as he gripped the Ascalon sword which Hammer had sold him. He sensed that he was not trusted. These Belmont's looked at him with distrust. Perhaps they right to do so. If they knew the truth, they would kill him on the spot. So far it seems if they did not suspect the truth. This gave him a small ray of hope. Maybe if he kills one of Dracula's forms, he might prove himself, in more ways than one. Mina gave him one of her famous encouraging smiles. Normally he found them comforting, but in his current state, there was nothing that could allay his anxiety.
Trevor stepped forward and took a moment to look each one of them in the eye, seemingly gauging their strength and resolve. Finally he gave them a firm nod and faced Saint Germain.
"We are ready."