Alexander wasn't much for possessions, but the way that Alucard's obtained Gravity Boots functioned made Alexander quite envies of the Dhampir's new-found ability. They traveled through Olrox's Quarters once more and wandered through the passages until they soon found themselves entering through a golden-encrusted door and somewhat regretting it as the wall closed behind him and dropped them down to a table before a slow clap filled the chamber. "Wonderful, guests to the table, I had wished that I had procured some more tea beforehand, but your coming was highly unexpected." All looked up to a armored individual as he simply seat in the chair like it was a throne to him. "And there appears to be four before me, how upsetting, I only have the extra one."
"Olrox..." Alucard said as they all stood up and dusted themselves off. "We are not here for idle pleasures."
"Speak for yourself." Alexander mused to everyone's surprise. "I find that some idle talk really eases the nerves, not everything must go to violence." Olrox smiled, baring his vampire teeth, as Alexander took a seat and was a gentleman about it. "We may be foes here, but let us talk like civil folk, we can be at ease, can we not?"
"Ah... wonderful..." The vampire sipped some tea and motioned to a cup before Alexander before the man lifted it and sipped from it, nodding as the vampire spoke. "Quite the form you have there, not a true gentleman, but you have potential."
"I take that as it is, a tip of civil behavior, though I think your tea may have gone cold, this room is dreadfully chilled, it is not often that you have guests, is it?"
"Ah, true..." Olrox sighed as he set his cup down and stood up. "I would continue this little chat we have had, but I must fight to ensure that I have the time for others, you understand."
"That I do, Olrox." One last sip and the cup was set on the dish before Alexander stood up as well. "We are, however, not below the gentleman standard to fight on uneven terms so let us battle one-on-one, does that appease your mind."
"Very..." Without warning, the two clashed, their speed great and exact as the party was swiftly forced back by the shock waves of the clash, Alucard wanting to yelling, but soon both dropped to the ground, both injured in some degree as Olrox rasped. "Good word, you are no normal human, you have the branding of Elmendan about you, even possess the Reaper's Mark upon your vessel."
"Listen... I don't know fully who Elmendan is, but Death did touch my soul, just he had not met me quite yet if it tells you enough."
"Indeed, it has told me much." Olrox stood up as his true form ripped through the human appearance and towered over them. "Now, brave blood of Elmendan, finish the fight that you have started!"
"Gladly..." Alexander reared a hand back and, before both the Dhampir and warrior's eyes, conjured forth a mighty, armored fist the size of boulders before he swung, the fist flying forward as Olrox attempted to bat it away, but the power was too much as the very skin was blew off his body and he fell to the ground, dissolving to fragments to signal his defeat. "And thus falls the Vampire Olrox, perhaps he will find peace in his death."
"He must, we have given him something worth note." Alucard said as he shared in a light mood. "Come, we have much more to do." They headed up and obtained another power of Alucard's before they continued on through the corridors and ways before they soon entered the Underground Caverns, the 'underbelly' of the castle itself as they fought through several more Spear Guards before coming to an unusual site, the powerful devices that encased Alucard and restored him to full were golden with magical protective runes, the one before them was violent, its marking dangerous and corrupting that Alexander spoke.
"We need to keep moving, Alucard, let's..." But the Dhampir was not hearing it as he stepped toward it, Alexander getting the notion as his eyes widened. "Shanoa, Kenmur, gather around me..."
"Wha...!?"
"NOW!" Alexander jumped in the center and empowered them to sleep as Alucard was soon encased in a blacken coffin, all fading into sleep as they followed Alucard into the trap he had just sprung upon himself...
The haze lifted and Alucard found himself... that day, his heart racing as he rushed forward, it was the same day and the same face on the cross, hanging by her hands. "Mother!"
"That voice! Alucard, it's you!"
"I'm coming, Mother! I'll save you!" Alucard made to run, but she beckoned him not to.
"No, Alucard! Don't come here!"
"But Mother!"
"It's all right! If my death can save others, I gladly surrender my life."
"Mother! No!... Please! No!..."
"Yes, Alucard! Watch me die and remember always my last words to you..." Before the words could be said, the sound of glass shattered across the landscape and Alucard gripped his head as he looked again, the trio of allies standing before him as Alexander had a hand raised.
"You will not try to cause this one to doubt, Lisa... No, you are not her, you are someone else!" Energy blasted from his hand and pierced Lisa's chest, causing the image to change as it straightened up and wore a seductive armor as bat wings emerged from its back and the bindings disappeared as the blonde hair changed to a dark-red as the figure straightened up and smiled.
"A mortal that knows far more than simple magic tricks, what type of human do you think you are, mortal, to break my spell so easily...?"
"A powerful one, but still mortal." The teal-blue glow filled his eyes once more as he stared the demoness down. "Death is unwarranted for your charms are to drive men insane and shattering you here would forever end you, better that I take care of you myself than let you suffer a judgement that yields no further punishment for you."
"You think you can best me, come now." The demoness smiled as it stretched out its arms. "Here, I am powerful and your powers will not save you from what is to come."
"That is to be seen, Orvyra." Suddenly, the demoness leap back in fear as Alucard was completely shocked.
"My name!? How did a mere mortal...!?" Suddenly, the succubus dropped to the ground as the whole party watched as a red aura ripped itself from her chest, flying to Alexander as he gripped it, strands remaining between both as the red changed to blue. "Wait, wait, we can make a deal, I can fight for you, I can service you with great heart, just don't kill me, please!" A swift squeeze caused the succubus to shouted in pain as Alexander approached her. "Please... please, I don't want to die...!"
"Then apologize, you had made to impersonate the young Dhampir's human family who had died for her love, he only bares those wounds because he has not forgotten that she was the first to accept the true lord of vampires and went as far as to yield a child; stand, Orvyra, and ask for forgiveness from Alucard, that will be your saving moment between losing yourself completely or living as a thrall alongside others in my heart." The succubus panted as she slowly stood up and approached Alucard, dropping to her knees as she spoke.
"I... am sorry, I had never believed that you would have returned, but the castle has changed, now that I feel it, let me offer my strengths to help unravel the truth, Dracula has also been my master, but if I could..."
"Stop..." Alucard stood up and Orvyra stood as well as both stared at each other. "Death here would leave your soul to wander in this domain, but... you are just lost, without a true purpose, a real meaning, I can relate that feeling all too well, I do not forgive you for trying to confuse me with my own mother, but you are just lost, I have sins that wander with me, especially my involvement with my father... Dracula's death alongside Trevor Belmont." Alucard sheathed his sword that was drawn to fight and spoke to Alex. "Conjurer, I leave her behavior and power to you."
"She will not be mistreated, Alucard." The grip gripped the aura, but pain was not coming as she instead moaned in pleasure before fading away and the illusion started to shatter around them...
They all stirred to the waking world as Alucard shook his head and soon found a golden ring laying beside his spot, picking it up as Kenmur asked. "Wait, you can command monsters!?"
"Command is such a harsh word, Kenmur." Alexander waved as he smiled. "I give them freedom within my soul, but because I have yielded nothing less than good will to them and their kind, their power is mine to use, it is also up to me to restrict myself for they're are living creatures as well, even if they are souls now." Alexander stood up and looked at Alucard. "Look... I know, I shouldn't have followed you into..."
"No... you are right... I would have killed her for her actions, the memory... hurts when I dream of it, when I think about it, a faithful son of Dracula who lost a mother then turned his back to his own kind to protect humans... may seem like nonsense, but I know... she cared too deeply to let her image be used as some... trick." Alucard breathed as he pulled out a card and a faerie suddenly appeared on his shoulder as she yawned and laid on it. "I hope we can work on each other's strengths and weaknesses before this is all over."
"I understand, Alucard." Alexander gave a short bow as Shanoa and Kenmur sobered up. "Let Faerydae guide you as best as she can."
"Really?!" The faerie quickly sat up and gestured her hands at Alexander. "Where is this guy getting his names?!"
"That is an excellent question, but we need to move, no sense in doodling in the caverns of the castle while there is a mystery going on here." They all nodded and Alucard lead the way, obtaining more items that would save them in the long run before they entered another chamber the walls closing shut before a serpent surged from the ceiling, parts of its body bony and white as Alucard shouted. "A Scylla wyrm!" They quickly killed it and headed further in. "If that creature is here, then it is fair to believe that Scylla itself is here as well, the monster will not stay for too long."
"Another monster, another fight to go through!" Kenmur shouted as they headed through, jumping onto pillars and reaching the top to find the monster itself, trying to kill them as Shanoa, Alexander, and Alucard fought the wyrms, disrupting the monster and opening it up to Kenmur to attack, his weapon suddenly burning hot as he slashed down and the wound ignited in of itself, the monster trying in vain to put it out, but it took its toll and destroyed the beast from the inside as Kenmur stood up and looked at his weapon, surprised to still feel the heat emitting from it. He flailed the weapon about as he tried to see what caused it, but both Alucard and Alexander shook their heads as Shanoa gave a good-nature laugh. "How did my blade do that!?"
"Enchantments, learn more than enough and you can easily aid others in the process." Alexander spoke as he conjured forth a book and its pages turned to a chapter called 'Weapon & Armor Enchantments'. "It was a short-term thing that I was meaning to try, but testing it further will be much later, let us be on our way." They all agreed, though Kenmur was really interested in developing his own skills and finding out if he could do something crazy like the magical attacks of Shanoa, Alexander's apparent ability of monsters, and Alucard's vampire powers...