Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Flint: The Time Detective, or the Helloween song Forever and One (Neverland). I also do not own the borrowed dialogue excerpts from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Some of Dracula's lines actually fit for this final reckoning. Now, so I won't get sued, lines from this cool game will be indicated by a **. I do own Ezekeil, Madeline, and the monsters. Yes, the final chapter is here, but it is not the end yet. The epilogue comes after this. Enjoy the final battle and the final secret of Merlock Holmes' past.
Chapter 7
Master of Destiny, Merlock's Choice
~ The Castle of Count Ezekeil ~
~ Master Throne Room Door ~
Merlock stared hatefully at hid former friend Bindi. He was shattered she'd go to such terrible lengths to win him over. He was enraged by it as well, it was the audacity of the deal she'd made with the vile count, keeping Merlock out of the room while dear Sara was being tortured, or worse by that madman. They had been friends once, but now that could never be ever again. Bindi had betrayed him for her petty jealousy, endangering the true love of his life for her own selfish and hollow desires, her own impossible desires. Bindi and Bindi-Master did nothing for him romantically, he didn't care about long blonde hair or how she looked, she had been merely a friend. A time shifter he had saved from wolves and even Dracula himself and this was how she repaid him, a knife in the back, twisting it slowly.
Merlock was simply hurt by all this, he'd been hurt less to hear Bindi snitched on Sara to the monsters, but it was steadily climbing to pure hatred for her horrible deal. He simply drew his blade. Sara was still screaming inside, off and on with shattering noises. He couldn't waste his time with Bindi and her hollow crush on him gone psychotic. He had to save his true love from Ezekeil
What can I do?
Will I be getting through?
Now that I must try to leave it all behind.
Did you see what you have done to me?
"Bindi, get out of my way or I will slice you in half. I do not, I repeat, DO NOT love you! Nor do I like you anymore as a friend. You've been nothing but a traitor to our friendship….all for your hollow feelings! How could you do this Sara and me!" he shouted at her, but she didn't move, only pouted. "I had to save you from that bratty girl's wiles somehow. You think none of us in the Land of Time didn't see you….well mostly moi? I saw you at night, sneaking out to be with that Goodman brat. She had you under her wicked spell still, even after Jillian forbid you to go near that place….I was only thinking of your career self-destructing over a silly human bimbo. Not to mention she was leading you on….had to be an act cause she was hard up or something. Ich!" Bindi sassed, floating upwards a bit to avoid an anger field swipe from Merlock.
"How dare you say that, you psychotic, neon-assed floating snail! You utter bitch, you don't deserve to be a Time Shifter with such a horrible and callous heart. I will never love you, I will only love Sara. You can't make me be yours! EVER! Hssssss!" he hissed out, jumping at her and swiping again.
Yet again, he missed, landing neatly on the floor near Flint and the others. Pterri flapped madly as Flint stepped forward to make a go at her. "No, no! If you kill her, the Tapestry of Time will go insane, we may cease to exist! We have to stop her another way." Pterri squawked.
Merlock looked at him tersely, then back at Bindi, who was floating back down with a haughty smirk, her little pink, bud-like arms crossed over her chin. He looked back to Pterri a bit, knowing the mechanized bird was correct. If they killed Bindi, Sara might die anyway, and so would they, no heaven or hell, just oblivion of destroyed time. "Then what do we do?" he asked quietly. Pterri smiled a bit, and gave a little wink, landing on Flint's shoulder.
"Flint, just do as I say, ok? Merlock, distract her any way possible. I have a sneaky little plan to get Miss Lonely Hearts down and out without damaging time itself." The bird said with a knowing smile. Merlock blinked a little, but finally just shrugged and nodded.
He looked back to Bindi, and took a few steps to keep him two feet away, his most charming smile on his vampire lips. She reddened a bit, and he grinned mentally at how easily she was to trick. For Sara, he'd distract the little snotty gumball, with charm or violence. He didn't really care how, as long as he reached Sara.
"Now Bindi, kindly move please, or we can't be anything anymore." He tried gently. She frowned and shook her little pink body. "No, you'll just drool all over her and pay no attention to me. I'm staying right here…."
Her bit back the urge to bite her beak off and swallowed deeply, getting his resolve back. "But Bindi, I can't let an innocent person die. It's against regulations of the Time Police to ignore distress of any kind." He said smoothly, but all that came was her annoying body shaking.
"I'M IN DISTRESS HERE! DISTRESSED WITH LOVE FOR YOU, MERLIE!" she wailed in his face, his hair blowing a bit up at the force behind it," With Sara gone, no more competition! You'll….giggle….be all mine. Mine! Mine! Mine! You'll have to love with me without little Miss Whiney Brat Shoes around…he, he, heh. Yeah, without Sara Dorkman, you'll be mine forever! Now, yeah now, I'll get you back with me…."
She was shaking like crazy. Bindi was crazy with love for him, love he didn't feel in the least for her. He almost pitied her, but she was obviously crazed. She needed to be helped, made to forget him. He lifted his garnet eyes up to her giggling face, her eyes tightly shut with tears. He saw Flint behind her, shaking his small head sadly. Bindi was truly something to pity, she was pathetic in her hollow dreams. "Bindi….you can't get something back…..that you never had to begin with." He said softly, angry and pitying the poor Shifter all at once, in voice and sight. She blinked a bit, shaking even worse as her face grew enraged.
She glowed a bit, and Merlock doubled over slightly. She was draining him of his life, weakness overcoming him all at once. "Then if I can't have you….. YOU WON'T HAVE ANYONE! I'd rather you die than be in her claws!!" she screamed, and he felt a sharp tug and she drained more.
So hard to justify.
Slowly it's passing by….
He shut his eyes tightly, trying to move away, then the feeling lifted, a loud thudding filling his ears and vibrating through his boots. He strength slowly returned and as he opened his eyes, he saw a petrified Bindi before him, her little petrified form lolling from side to side. He looked up at Flint, his father aimed right at where Bindi had been floating. Flint smiled brightly and blew on his father's stone head.
"No killing, not even Time Shifters are allowed to kill people for any reason." Flint said with a pout. Merlock nodded, standing up slowly. He stared a few moments longest at the stone form, and gave it a small kick. "We never were anything but friends, Bindi, now, we're not anything. You killed the friendship we used to have…..forever." he said to the form, and it shed a few tears.
"Too late….too little, too late, Bindi. It's over…." He said, picking her up and giving her to Flint. "Now….let's stop this madman….for everyone who has suffered, and for my beloved Sara's pain as the Count's captive. We will stop him for all this, once and for all, and find out the truth behind the madness he's unleashed on our lives." Merlock said softly, then stopped.
"Merlock…." Flint said, but Merlock shushed him, listening to something.
Flint waited a moment, then whispered. "What do you hear?"
Merlock paled a bit, shaking his head violently with wide garnet eyes. "That's just it….I don't hear anything! SARA!" he yelled and grabbed the door handles, yanking them open so fast the gust nearly blew his friends over. He ran inside so fast and frantic, he never noticed the doors slammed behind him, blocking him off from the others, setting him alone against the master of the castle.
~ Throne Room ~
- The Court of the Dead -
Merlock rushed in, wand and sword out and his face determined and angry, only to find….
"SARA!" he shouted, his anger turning to joy at the sight of his beautiful love, standing at the edge of the shadows in a sparkling and angelic bridal gown. He took a few steps before his love struck eyes met her throat, a dagger to it, and a white-gloved hand holding it. He looked up slightly, and had to growl. The silhouette of the count was holding his beloved hostage.
Now that his eyes were returning to the defense, he saw his beloved's eyes were vacant, just as pale blue as his skin, hypnotized. "How dare you do that to her!? This is between us….for some reason, Ezekeil. You leave my beloved out of this!" Merlock shouted, slashing his sword in the air.
Ezekeil merely chuckled, taking a step. Merlock could only see his black decked legs, leather he had to guess, a black and silver cloak dancing at his black booted heels. "I recall that you once tried this method for a kiss…little Merlock. How the worm has turned. You do so honestly love this frail and weak human creature, don't you?" the man chuckled deeply.
Merlock just growled, his fangs pinching his mouth a bit. "I never got the kiss, you pervert….but that was a long time ago. I've grown past that….not just tonight either. Give me back my girlfriend….and we'll settle you game once and for all." Merlock spat back.
The man seemed to not hear him, taking another step, showing off his fine dark suit and fluffy blouse shirt under it all, a red and gold sash on his hips. The dagger still held at Sara's neck, nipping her jugular just barely. Merlock's eye quivered at the sight of her blood briefly trickling down her lovely throat. His eyes narrowed after that on the drop and his senses were driven wild, as they were each time he saw and smelled her blood.
"I see you're almost to the time of transformation. That is good to see, I'd expect nothing less from a Holmes….sigh….you do so look so much like your dear mother Madeline Bellemonte. It's nearly uncanny how you inherited her immortal beauty."
Merlock's trance to the blood broke slightly, his garnet eyes look at the shadow covered face of the count, puzzled. "You….knew my mother? Bellemonte? She was a Holmes…." Merlock stuttered, then the count stepped out fully, his face in fully view for all.
Merlock's jaw fell a bit. The main had long white hair, down to just above his knees, long, shimmering and silken looking. That wasn't what was making his heart hammer with fear, it was the man's face, his pale, blue face and red as blood eyes.
"Madeline was indeed your mother, but she was born a Bellemonte. She became a Holmes when she married me….secretly of course. I, Ezekeil Holmes, am your father….son." the man said quite easily, his fanged and smug lips smirking quite easily.
Forever and one, I will miss you
However, I kiss you….
Yet again,
Way down in Neverland.
Merlock bit his own tongue to ensure it wasn't a dream, and from the pain and taste of his own slick blood, he found it was reality. The man had a less angelic face than Merlock did, the man's face a bit longer and aged to a 30-year-old at best and a thin mustache above his pale lips.
He was watching Merlock like a proud lion, and Merlock felt a bit annoyed. As a child, he'd thought his father was dead, not undead. True, if he'd thought otherwise, undead would have applied to explain his vampire nature. No wonder his mother always looked outside the window at seemingly nothing, weeping softly. The castle had been what she was looking at, longing for this man, the man that held them all hostage.
"But….if I'm your son, why are you doing this to my friends!?" Merlock yelped, still startled.
Ezekeil gave a slight toss of his hair and chuckled. "I had to see if you'd grown up strong as we had hoped. What else could I hope for my half….human son. Now that you've passed through the tests, sadly without killing any of your friends, we can talk. You're so much like your dear mother, Merlock," he said fondly, smiling thoughtfully," She loved everyone. She was never too busy to help simpering and fearful humans, the same humans that burned her alive as a witch. I see you inherited her pure heart….sadly enough. Her heart got her killed by those ticks, all for helping a vagabond pregnant woman….one accused of witchcraft herself. Humans are too frail and easily hate others. Such a petty and jealous race, like that foolish and loud woman I threw in the dungeons."
Merlock sneered a bit, not liking all humans being set in the same category as the vile Petra Fina, his eyes subtly resting protectively on Sara. "Was my mother included in that assumption!? Not all humans are weak and jealous….my Sara is perfection. You have no right to judge humans as you wish just because you have power. That's just terribly wrong and vain!" Merlock retaliated, trying for another step forward, but had to stop as his father pressed the dagger against Sara's neck again.
"Oh please, do you remember what they did to your mother** ….to my wife? She was burned alive, kicking and screaming as they drowned her in holy items before ramming a stake into her. That's humanity….fear, superstition and jealousy….they never gave her a chance to defend herself. All she did was help some stranger….it wasn't the fact she was hiding a dhampire son or had secretly married the patron count of the town, no, it was a stupid woman in labor. They judged her for being a good person and no other reason! They deserved what I gave them all….eternal damnation as my servants. I do believe you've met some of them." Ezekeil said darkly, grinding his teeth a bit at the bitter memories.
"You….were the darkness….the death cloud that chased me to the woods!" Merlock said as the realization crashed into his mind. Ezekeil nodded sadly. "I did not even know you were born until I saw your form running away from town. I killed the entire village after I took what was left of your mother out of the flames, then I went to find you. If I could not have Madeline, I'd find you and raise you in her honor, but then you simply vanished with that odd woman, like a dream. I buried your mother on the cliff behind this castle, where we loved to stand under the moonlight. I believe you were conceived there. It was her favorite place….before she left." Ezekeil replied, his tone sad and soft.
So hard I was trying.
Tomorrow I'll still be crying.
How could you hide your lies….
Your lies….
Merlock just nodded, taking small steps closer. Ezekeil seemed lost in his memories, so it was a good time to move as much as he could. "Tell me….," Merlock asked, half curious and half hoping it'd keep his father distracted," how did you meet my mother?"
Ezekeil smiles a bit, his fangs shimmering in the pale and colored moonlight that filtered through the gothic stain glass windows. "Madeline was a healer, a midwife by profession, but she could have been a priestess….yet, she wanted children. She helped women bare their young with little pain, gave homeless children medicines and food, she was a saint to the town. She was never too busy or tired to heal wounds or attend a birth. She was only thirteen when I settled in the castle. An adulterous king, a man who's own wife murdered him, had abandoned it and the mistress murdered her. As you know, murder begets murder and soon it was labeled a palace of death and abandoned, perfect for myself to take precedence over." He explained, his hold on Sara never wavering.
"I met her quite ironically….in the forest where I lost you to that odd woman. She was gathering herbs for her practice one night, and I was looking for a meal. When I saw her, I was ready to feed on her milky throat, until she turned about to my presence and I was in awe of her enchanting face and innocent blue eyes. I was younger looking then, just as strong as ever, but I was helpless to her eyes. Her hair I found unusually hypnotic, so bizarre a color for a common human….and instead of harming her, we talked. She was not afraid of me….she even laughed with me. We'd meet there every night, to talk and over the course of a year, we fell madly in love with each other. I wished to see her in the sunlight, but being a full breed Azure vampire, it would kill me to have seen such beauty."
He paused a moment, smiling at the dear memory. Merlock almost felt bad for him, almost. He had loved his mother dearly, but without her, he'd become….terribly different. "Garlic and rose petals are no matter against me. Crosses and holy items perhaps….," he said subtly, eyeing Merlock's blade," Just like your newly acquired silver Damascus of that long undead holy knight….quite damaging to a vampire, but not to you. You, son, were the product of a human woman and a vampire lord, you'll never be touched by the items of blessed bane I have to deal with."
He sighed, smirking a little. "Your mother…..I wanted to make her like me once, so her beauty would never fade and we would never be apart, but alas, she loved the sunlight and wanted children….and I did not dare wish to take any slight bit of happiness from her. You are my envy in a way, my son. You can have children, having human blood swirling in the infinite pathways of your blood. Your blood does not bear the curse of mine….I never thought it could happen, me getting her pregnant at all, but if she'd been a vampire like me, you would never have existed. I suppose…I am glad that I refrained from such things….I loved your mother for who and what she was, but….she told me once she bore children, she would join me forever, as a vampire, someday. Then tensions grew in the town, towards outsiders and myself. Your mother said she had to leave me for a while…." Ezekeil went on, stroking Sara's hair with his free hand.
Merlock did nothing to antagonize the dagger hand, only keeping his hands on his weapons and eyes on Sara's milky throat. "I had no idea she was pregnant with you….not until the night of her death. For so many years, I never knew why Madeline had left, why she'd never mentioned being with child. Perhaps…..deep down she feared for you more than her own soul. I always kept my feedings to myself. She didn't seem to mind it much. Madeline knew I couldn't help what I was. She did feel poorly towards my victims, my meals, but she knew there was no other way for a vampire to survive. I suppose she wanted to spare you becoming a creature of the night, one that needed blood every so often to survive, to stay young and strong. Then, I lost you both in one night. So I sealed myself deep inside my castle. There I could mourn both wife and son for eternity in my damned resting place," Ezekeil sighed, smirking slightly again," Then that loud woman woke me up and got her life spared for knowing where you were. After a bit of torture, the controls of her device were explained, and you know the rest, really. This was all for you, Merlock, my son. The time of transformation is at hand."
Merlock shook his head a bit, blinking. "What transformation….?"
Ezekeil chuckled, nipping Sara's neck slightly again. Merlock's garnet eyes met with the blood flow, again, the gentle and short-lived trickle making his heartbeat hammer out of control. "It is time for you to feed for the first time, as I did at your tender age. You must have felt strange each time that you saw blood shed. Your heart beats madly, you feel thirsty for some odd reason, your fangs grow and pinch your little mouth, and you can't see or smell anything but warm, powerful….blood," Ezekeil said smoothly," You've been lusting for it probably for some time now, a year or so. You're coming of age as a vampire in a way. And all you have to do to calm it is….drink this young lady to death."
Merlock froze slightly, his eyes meeting with his father slowly. "You….brought me here….cause I'm in vampire puberty and to make me kill my only love?! Why don't you just dip me in boiling oil and say it's a hot bath while you're at it?! Are you insane?" Merlock growled.
Ezekeil nodded. "If you put it that way, no. I wanted to see if you were strong enough to rule by my side, son. You're human side is such a bore and I lost my mind when I lost you and your mother to mankind, to time. Yes, I brought you here to see how strong your mind, body, and soul were, now is a test of the heart to see if you are truly worthy to rule here with me over the miserable humans. You either drink her or you'll drink someone else. In time, you won't be able to resist the urges, you may hurt Sara worse than you could even dream occurring. Abandon the man blood inside and join me, then we will rule together as we were meant to, to avenge your mother's memory."
"NO! I won't murder my Sara! She's the only woman I've ever loved in my life! You can't make me do this! I'd rather die that hurt Sara. I won't let you hurt anyone anymore, for anything, not even against the men that murdered my mother. It's all gone, Father! It's gone, mother is dead, her killers are dead, why can't you bury it?!" Merlock shouted, tensing up as his father moved his hands.
Here I am,
Seeing you once again.
My mind's so far away,
My heart's so close to stay.
Candles hidden in the cover of shadow sprung to life behind Ezekeil and Sara, blue flames swirling from each dark wick. Then Ezekeil moved again, stepping back to the throne, sitting Sara down. Merlock's eyes looked above it for what was brief curiosity, yet his eyes stayed. There, above the throne, hung a gorgeous tapestry with a crest, a red eye with blue cat-like pupil, the eye itself surround by sharp, black points. It was exactly like his pendant. Merlock really was born in the past, this was his family crest, the pendant wasn't his mother's truly. It had been a gift from his father's family legacy.
Then he saw a flash of metallic light, and his eyes jerked to see the dagger at Sara's tender through moving. Merlock took a step too late Ezekeil lifting his hand off the blade, the thing floating in mid-air as it gentle pierced Sara's jugular. The blood leaking out gently, Merlock's urges combating terribly with his rage and fear. "NO! You…bastard! Oh Sara!" Merlock yelled and ran for her, but with a lift of Ezekeil's hand, he was knocked back a few feet.
Ezekeil took out a blade of his own, just a broad sword, ancient and shimmering. "You have maybe a few minutes before that dagger cuts her open full and she bleeds out completely and dies. If you want your precious simpering human girlfriend, you go through me. We'll see how much of you is a vampire, and how much is a weak little man." Ezekeil growled, readying his body for combat.
"Merlock hissed ready and willing to fight for his love. "You'll regret ever touching her. It was mankind that brought you back to find me, and you repay me with treachery!" Merlock howled, slashing down, the move blocked and forced back.
"Mankind…peh! What is a man….a miserable pile of secrets!** Mankind is our prey, son, you'll realize this soon enough, mankind is the lesser species, even lesser than that annoying, egomaniacal little snob snail creature. Now, the time for talk is over, for Sara's blood will soon run cold! HAH!" Ezekeil shouted, dodging yet another thrust from his son.
Steel met steel, sparks flying from the blades as they met in the heavy metal symphony of father and son. Merlock put his wand quickly back on his hip, devoting both hands to balance and poise in the battle. He didn't want it to come to this, this….creature was still his father, his only relative left and now he was forced to fight through him save his only love. His sense were going crazy with bloodlust, the smell of Sara's life slipping away driving him to the brink of madness, but he fought it every step of the way.
Merlock countered his father's blade hard, the fight against his thirst driving him harder to succeed. His father was bigger and stronger, but not as swift. Merlock was more agile and swift, easily dodging attacks that could not be held back. His father took a mighty swing at his chest, to which Merlock leapt over him and made a quick slash along the vampire's shoulder blade. He heard the flesh sizzle on contact, a feral growl erupting from his towering body. Ezekeil turned about, his free hand clutching his holy poisoned wound, teeth bared at his son's hardened face.
"Are you that eager to fight for a human….this frail girl who couldn't even put up a fight?" Ezekeil growled and lifted his sword high, slamming it down towards Merlock's body. Merlock merely jumped away before it struck, his leg getting cut open slightly. It hurt, but it did not burn. His blood flowed gently as well, making the smell of coppery, crimson bliss make his fangs and drive grow all the more. He jumped forward again, wincing on his injured leg, an double slashed at his father's chest.
The first cut was blocked, but the second went through, sliding deep across Ezekeil's ribcage. His skin sizzled, no blood coming. The man had been bloodless since he became a vampire probably. It was only the damnation of the undead spirit keeping Ezekeil up and running that was being poisoned slowly.
"I'd do anything for Sara! Where the hell did your heart go, or was it there to begin with. How could my mother love a man such as you? How could you stain her memory by taking the one woman that means everything to me away just so I can damn rule by your heartless side!? What kind of a husband were you….giving up on humanity so easily for a group of fearful bigots!" Merlock yelled, hitting against his father's blade, knocking him back a bit.
"You….saw her die?" he questioned, the puzzlement in his voice true. Merlock almost laughed. His own father really didn't know much about that night other than what he lost.
"I got my memories back….when I saw the house….her pendant, the statuette! I watched her dying….she never thought of herself, never! She told me to run….love was in her eyes even when she was dying! And she knew she was going to die….she took time she could have used to escape to hide me under the floorboards, to give me the pendant of the Holmes family, the fire cane….no thought for herself. She only thought of me….a scared little freak of nature! She was beautiful….and you didn't even know. All this pain and death wraiths of your design that you've thrown at me and never did you even considered that I was in as much pain as you were. You didn't see her dying there, you didn't see me trapped in that house, with only her. I had no one but her and they took her away right before my eyes!" Merlock screamed, slashing hard again, Ezekeil nearly faltering with his hold," And you come here to tell me about being strong and worthy when you're the weakest creature in this room! Where were you when we needed you!? Where were you when they took her away!? Your revenge is as empty as your heart….you've spit on my mother's grave!"
Too proud to fight,
I'm walking back into night.
Will I ever find someone to believe?
Ezekeil growled loudly, his eyes flaring up like unholy flames. "I DIDN'T KNOW!!!! SHE SIMPLY LEFT ME WITHOUT TELLING ME! How could I have known anything? That she was pregnant, that the villagers would do such a thing? If I dared to go into the village, they'd know all the sooner and you'd both be dead. How can you be so ungrateful….I'm your father! You'll learn some respect, I never damned your mother's memory in any way, this is all for her….!" Ezekeil screamed, rushing forth.
Merlock's blade went up, blocking it as he heard a soft gasp of pain and the clatter of metal on marble. He held against his father's crushing blow, turning his head to Sara. His eyes were horrified to see the dagger had fall, stained with blood, Sara's innocent, virgin blood. Sara herself was breathing shallowly, the trance gone and she was holding her bleeding jugular as it spilled her lift out.
"SARA! NO!" he screamed, moving swiftly in a whirl to her left, slamming the blade into his father's gut. The vampire reeled back with more sizzling flesh, the slash not deep enough to do damage. Ezekeil was enraged nonetheless, and raised his blade high, looking past Merlock….to Sara's dying body. "I will end this foolishness….if you will not give in and take her….I will destroy her! YAHHH!!" his father raged and charge for the throne. Merlock jumped for the throne, pulling out his wand. "FATHER! STOP THIS NOW!" Merlock shouted, but his father wouldn't stop.
Merlock begged his mother's forgiveness deep down, even though his father's mind was twisted with insane grief, and let the flames loose upon the vampire lord. The flaming form stopped a moment, still several feet away, but shook off the ash of his ruined clothing and kept coming, his eyes of crimson bliss maddening. Merlock closed his eyes, waiting till the scent of his father was closer and quickly lifted his silver blade to where his father's heart would be.
He felt the blade jerk a bit, the loud clatter of a blade sounding to his side. He let his garnet eyes open, looking dead into his father's startled red gaze, then to his own blade. It was dead through his father's heart, sizzling rapidly, all the way up to the hilt.
Merlock was stunned he'd hit his mark, but sad in a way. He'd killed his own father, his flesh and blood, but….it had to be done. He couldn't let an innocent die for a mad revenge that was over years ago.
"I'm sorry, Father, but you got what you wanted a long time ago. It's over. Mother's gone….the townspeople are gone….your time is up, forever." Merlock said softly, letting go of the blade. Her picked his Sara up in his arms, her paling skin frightening him more than his urges for blood. His father fell to his knees, a small smile playing on his paling lips.
"Born in the month of December….you were, the month of death…and rebirth. It is….almost ironic….the Holmes family….reborn through you…and dies in me. Its almost funny….you know, my son. –cough- Well met, child….you are truly, ungh, worthy of the Holmes name…and worthy of your heart. You did as I hoped."
Merlock blinked, his lips quivering with fear. "What are you saying? You wanted me to….kill you?"
Ezekeil nodded, panting heavily as his skin started to flake off. "For a long time, I hoped I would die…and go to your mother. Now, that day is here….I am sorry…to have deceived you to do so….but it was….partially in truth. I despise….all humans now, save for your mother. I needed to die to end the hatred….or my vampire blood would have gone wild with bloodlust for humans, to end them all. When I discovered when and where you were, perfectly alive, I hoped….it would help us both. It has….though….my hatred will never die….my empty soul will trouble humans no more with it. 'Tis a hollow victory, my boy, but this was your destiny until my end. Now….I leave you to decide her fate….to die….in which I surely know you will kill yourself after wards or to turn her into what you are….and continue the legacy of the Holmes family. You are all that remains…." The elder man coughed, his hands flaking off into dust.
"Father….it didn't have to be like this. The murderers were punished….why did you have to make it this way? Why did you force me to kill you?" Merlock pleaded.
Ezekeil merely chuckled lightly, more of him becoming pale ashes about his crumbling body. "I died, not when became this vampire you see before you crumbling in agony, but when I saw your mother dead in the flames. My heart, my mind, my hidden soul….gave out on me. I've been dead these 16 long years….no one can change that, not even your heartfelt words. Now choose, my son….for I can't choose for you. As you said, my time…ah…is up." The vampire lord said softly, then jerked his head up in pain as his form become nothing but a pile of pale black ashes, the sword nestled inside it like a brilliant headstone.
The ashes sifted a bit, a whisper echoing in his mind. Perhaps from beyond the grave, or something he had hope his father would have said, something to ease the pain as he watched his father die, his love near death as her blood wet his arm. "I'm going to be with your mother now, I hope and pray I will. Farewell, my son, never forget….who and what you are, you are a Holmes, always will be. The last of the Azure Vampire Clan, be proud of that….as I was and your mother longed to be. Never forget….that we love you, Merlock….son." his father's voice echoed softly, like a feather on the wind, lost in a second after it was over to each passing moment.
His garnet eyes went to his Sara, his true love and the woman he'd die for. She had only a little blood left, so sweet smelling and chaste. They were alone now, the battle was won, and the truth was revealed, secrets best left unsaid brought to light. He was happy to know who his parents were, but he was unhappy he had been brought to slay his own father or kill his only love.
Merlock sighs a bit, watching his Sara. The longer he stared, the slower her breathing was, his pale lips forming a sad smile. "Know this, my love, dearest Sara. I will love you forever, no matter what happens. I will love you until the end of time….an beyond." He said sadly, pressing his lips to her cool mouth in an innocent, petal soft kiss.
And then, Merlock made his choice.
Forever and one, I will miss you.
However, I kiss you.
Yet again,
Way down in Neverland
So hard I was trying.
Tomorrow, I'll still be crying.
How could you hide your lies….
Your lies….
Your….liesssss….
To Be Continued….
Teaser: Heh, cliffhanger huh? You'll all see soon enough what their fate is. It will be out next week, filled with explanations of the song used in the chapter, why I chose Castlevania as a basis for this tale, and the aftermath of Merlock's ultimate choice, along with Lara Fabian's The Dream Within to set the tone:
"Be the dream within,
The light is shining.
A flame on the wind,
Salvation begins."
