Zabaniya - I do understand that my story is confusing, but that is partially because I'm rather new to all this. As to the third person thing... when? I never switched over to third person. Last chapter had the perspective of Ghira in it as well as dialogue between two characters, but neither were third person. It's still set from Dracula's perspective, primarily.
Now, to address other the complaint, mainly regarding the plot. After this chapter is uploaded expect me to take a break. I am going to rewrite the other chapters, fixing grammar, making more vague statements clear and adding a couple chapters to clear up lose plot points I kinda forget about. That, and I have another story in the works. One featuring my favorite villain in all of fiction as the protagonist.
You might be wondering why I am going to start a new story when this one is already taking so long to post chapters for. Well, it's simple: I love Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, but after a while it begins to feel more like a chore then anything to write. So I want more variety to keep myself interested and determined to write more. Anyway, that's enough out of old man Requiem, it's time to focus on the story at hand.
As to why this chapter is short... well, it's like I said above. After a while this story begins to feel boring, same-y, a chore. So I am going to start a new one. And, no, I am not abandoning this story. I WILL return, just not anytime soon.
"Father, I... I have need of your wise council." My voice echoed throughout the empty cathedral, and I held tightly onto my cross. I have need of His guidance, His wisdom and love once more. I raised my head to look upon the wooden altar before me, gazing into the lifeless eyes of the statue of Jesus Christ, God's one and only son.
"I have been... suffering, Father. I know not whether it's a monster or some insidious curse... all I ask is your guidance. Please, give me a sign..." The darkness is overwhelming. It's difficult to breathe... my head feels light as a feather, yet heavy as a stone. My stomach twists into knots... how could I have failed her?
"I have done... questionable things in my service to you, Lord Almighty. Things I... I wish I hadn't done. It is not my place to question you, but... is this truly your plan? Do you desire us - me - to suffer like this? I have served you since first I could speak. I glorified you, worshiped you, slain many evils in my crusade to appease you... and yet you let me suffer like this? Why? Is... is her d-death my... my punishment for not being faithful enough to you?" No answer. I did not feel that comforting warmth that the pastors, priests and clerics described. The warmth had touched my beloved. It had guided my brothers-in-arms... but why not me? What have I done to be abandoned like this?
"I beg of you... please... just this once! I'll do anything. Anything! Just... just tell me what I must do, Father..." why isn't He here? Why does He leave me to suffer alone? Was I not His loyal servant? Was I not His holy and righteous blade that struck down the wicked? Why has He...
"Why did you let her die? She was innocent... pure... devoted to you... everything I was not. Why let such something so beautiful and so pure die? Why? Why!?" I stood now, why is it he choses me to be abandoned? My mother... my father... my family abandoned me on the doorstep or a monastery of the Brotherhood. I was raised to be His soldier on Earth. I was even named after one of His Angels... Gabriel, the Angel of Mercy. Am I to be abandoned? Thrown aside like garbage once my usefulness is at a end?
"Then go to Hell! She was the best of all of us! And you let her die... I failed her..." My knees lost what strength I had summoned earlier. Ii fell, my vision growing blurry as tears managed to break free of their prison. Why me? Why do I have to suffer why so many others do not? All my life I seeked to help people. To save them from evil... from the very darkness that now surrounds me. Without her, the world has no meaning. What point is there in living when everything is grey? Grey, bland, tasteless... nothing matters without her! Nothing! I cannot... I don't even feel human. Its as though my very soul died alongside her. On that stump... the blood on the axe was fresh when I got home. Our cabin was burning. Her angelic white dress stained red from her... her..
"Poor, poor, Gabriel." I couldn't fathom the strength to even move my head as his voice echoed into the cathedral as mine had mere moments ago. His strange accent had alerted me to his identity. Pope Clement the Second. A man from Germany, or so I've heard. I'd met him once before a month ago, when I saved him from a poisoning. Why is he here? My throat feels so dry, my mouth so heavy. I dare not speak for fear of what might come out.
"I understand this is a... difficult time for all of us, Gabriel. No one is unscathed by the Curse of the Fallen One. But that does not mean good men should turn their fury upon the Lord! The Almighty works in mysterious ways, Gabriel. If Marie died, then it is part of His grand plan. All that remains to be known is how will you figure into it?" Plans... one moment they say it's His plan, the next they say He has no plan. How can destiny and freewill exist at once? They can't. Only one or the other.
"Do not waste your tears, Gabriel. There is hope... have you heard of the Old God Pan?" I turned my gaze onto him, his white robes seemingly pushing back against the darkness, "Old God? Is that not blasphemous, Holy One?" He smiled sagely, his grey hair and wrinkled face doing well to hide the youth in his eyes.
"Under normal circumstances, yes. But not this one, young Gabriel. The Old God Pan and your order have long been in cahoots. He accepts the one true God like us. You must seek him out in Romania, in the deep north, on the edge of Lycan territory. Go there, find him, and you quest will begin, my boy." What's even the point? It matters not... but what would Marie say? I must... I must if I am to honor her memory. To make things right... and maybe find the one who killed her...