Chapter 2: Through the Marble Corridors

Disclaimer: I don't own AOS characters, but fan characters for DMS I do own. I wish I did own Soma, though...me love alot!

AN: All I can say is that the first part will show Soma's fighting and Damien fighting (alittle), then both meet afterwards. Enjoy! Chapter has been refixed. ^_^

Warning: Maybe gory.

~* ~

While running through the castle corridors, Soma encounters some unforgotten enemies and slashes them with his sword as he proceeded to the next area. Dead warriors charged at him and the spaniard moved out of the way as he uses the Black Panther and charges right back at them. Souls came out from the enemies' bodies as they entered Soma who continued without stopping, to the spot where a resting point was at.

Unharmed and still active, Soma jumps down to the bottom of the area as he went to his right. But when he entered, what he found was shocking yet amazing. Instead of entering the area with killer fishes and a path leading to the Floating Garden including the Underwater Reservior; Soma found himself in a catacomb, with the smell of corpses covering everywhere and light glowing torches leading a direct path before him.

"Looks like the castle had undergoed some changes. Well, I guess its okay to check it out. Wha-?" His eyes went wide as he felt traces of dark power trailing from the ground and sought out footprints. He knelt down and place a hand on one of the prints as he brought it back up from the damp surface. "These footprints are still fresh and more resembled tire tracks than mines. That means, he was here."

Resolved, Soma heads onward through the well lit path, following the footprints that might help him find who he's looking for, but kept his gaurd up for any more enemies that might attack him from below.

~*~

***Marble Corridors***

Sounds of footsteps echoed through the hallway as they hit the marble pavement with one step after another. Damien continued to find his way to escape this weird place, so he can be home again and forget this ever happen. Though after he defeated the undead monster, he managed to find a statue glowing with an orb and steps leading to the top. So Damien moved up to the next floor, with the orb he now posessed, and continues his search from there.

Along the way, he encountered some new enemies as he killed them off before obtaining more of the orbs. He growled at the longer path before him. "Crap! I thought this would be the exit, but from the looks of it..this is like a goddamn maze and I'm getting farther away from my destination.......Damn!" He scowled at himself before throwing a spear at the wall as it soon disappears.

~*~

***Catacombs***

Meanwhile, Soma was busy fighting some more enemies that came from the ground and taken their souls. He shooked his head and smiled. "Whoa, I'm surprise I hadn't became a blimp, with all those souls in my body...thats enough to last me forever...Wait! I have the Chaos Ring, that's why.." He gazed upon the Chaos Ring on his finger with the onyx gem showing the symbol of Chaos in blood red. Everytime he looks at it, the youth would go in a trance and sometimes seduced by its features. But everytime he snaps out of the trance, he loathe how much it got him sucked in and if he wasn't strong enough to overcome the ring's power; he'd be in the throne room sipping on some fresh warm blood, watching chaos casting its destruction on the world from an open portal. Hearing the cries of innocence in fear, seeing the blood of many men who died of struggling and hell bringing forth it's minions to--

Soma was strucked back to his current state by his conscience and the trail of dark power he forgotten about, as he ran toward the next area where he stop by his tracks to find the body of the decapitated Zombie Dragon. Blood was still oozing from the headless body as he came closer. Soma smears some of its blood on his finger as he licks it. Bitter and rather rotten, Soma didn't think it tasted awful...more like ketchup. He was glad he posessed the Flesh Golem's soul or he'd be vomiting all over the place. "Fresh....there was a battle going on and it was more likely the one who faced this creature, succeeded with interesting slashes." He looks toward the open path before him. "Afterwards, he went in there."

As he moved to the other room, Soma came across a shattered statue and steps leading up. "So there are more of these abilty souls scattered about. Hm. I wonder where that leads to." He jumped twice on the shelves as he came to the next floor. This was yet another area he never been before, as he felt the same dark power filling the whole area. "I think I found my guy." He said, before changing into a white bat and flew to his left, looking for the other dark power he sensed. (AN: Not that way! Its an expression, people!)

~*~

Damien slumps against the wall where the spear had vanished as he hugged his knees and stared forward. He decided to stay there so he could figure out his next move, but while thinking, he began to doze off until his eyelids were closing and soon fell asleep without any second thought.

Suddenly, he was awoken by the sound of footsteps as he got up and stood back from what he saw infront of him. A Minotaur and a Werehyena appeared snickering, as they came near the boy with murderous, yet ravenous eyes.

The Minotaur was humanoid, but posessed very sharp horns that could pierce through anything, including flesh. Old animal hides were tied around his waist like a skirt and a stained ax which looked as if it took more than one stroke, hunged on his shoulder. The Werehyena was a female and she wield no weapons, except her claws. She was covered in old tiger skin which formed as a prehistoric dress and her skin was light gray with spots all over her body.

As they looked at him, the female Werehyena spoked, "Well, well. What have we got here?"

"More like a trespasser if you ask me!" Remarked the Minotaur.

"Yet a very tender morsel of a trespasser.." Damien was puzzled, "Trespasser? Look, I didn't mean to come in your territory. I'm trying to find a way out of this place and if you be so kind to let me through, I'll spare you your lives."

The two demons looked at eachother, then bursted into huge chunks of laughter as Damien was confused. "Wh-what's so funny?" The female werecreature remarked, "You, that's what! Ha! You really think that we would let you go, so easily?? Think again! When we find prey, we bring prey over to dinner and have them leave with their remains!

"Don't come near me or I'll--" He was about to pull out his sword when the Minotaur asked, "What will you do, boy?! That sword on your back won't effect us if you're thinking the old fashion slashing routine. As you can see, our skin is thicker as armor and it'll take more than one slash to go through."

".........!"

The Minotaur was the first to slash his ax at the boy, though not before Damien caught it and struggled to hold it back. With all his might, the youth pushed the ax with the Minotaur onto the ground and as he was about to fight back, the Werehyena clawed his right arm. She landed on the ground where she turned and shows the boy her bloody claws. Chunks of flesh were on them as she licks up the blood. She smirked when she saw Damien crouch like a defenseless creature, checking his wound. Unlike before, his upper arm was slashed opened, dripping his blood as Damien covered it to prevent anything from going inside.

"That was only half of what I'll do to you and I'll make sure the next will be more painful than that!" She said as she leapt at the boy who closed his eyes, waiting for this to end. '..........'

Just then, light entered the area as the Werehyena was pushed on the ground and slowly got up glaring at the one who appeared right before her. Another youth, like Damien, stood in a white coat, holding a sparkling blade in his hand as he had on a calm, but cold stare on his face. The wounded american just looked at the two face to face as he then look at the boy. 'Funny...why does he looks so familier??"

"You shall pay dearly for interrupting, boy. I was almost close at tearing him apart!"

"Well you should have done it before I came here. Now...Its too late."

The Werewoman charged at the spaniard who just stood as Damien watched in horror. "Damn it! Move out of the way!" He shouted. Everything turned white at the moment before a clash was heard. The Werehyena land on the ground as she turned smirking to see him fall, but suddenly her vision of the boy began to split into two and blood oozes down her face.

The creature was splited right down the middle, her left fell across her other half and a red soul appeared as it entered Soma's body. Damien gasped when he saw the remains completely vanished before his eyes and looked at the other boy. "........"

Just then, the Minotaur got up, finally freeing his neck from the ax's rod as he glared at Damien then at Soma. "I don't know what the hell is going on here, but all I know is that one of you is going to die! Starting with you!" He motioned to Soma as he charged toward him before the youth outstretched his arm and a cloud of smoke appeared, covering the Minotaur.

The cloud lifted and the Minotaur appear as a lifesize statue. The spanish youth wasn't surprised as the statue fell on the ground and crashed into tiny pieces. Then he glanced at Damien who was speechless as he slowly got up while covering his arm. He smiled at the taller youth, but grunted, due the intense pain he had on his arm. "That..was impressive..never thought there was another with the same power as I have...Ah! He fell to his knees, just before seeing the spaniard running toward him and holding him firmly. "Damn, twice this happened...Guess I need to work on my tactics, eh?"

Soma didn't say anything as he began to examine the other boy's wound. This was a severe slash and neither of his souls could heal it. "I know a spot that can heal this kind of injury. We must hurry." He said. Damien was slightly confused, but understood what he meant as the taller youth put the boy's good arm over his neck and both headed toward the next area.

They managed to find a small room where items of sorts were scattered in the background as the statue of the Virgin Mary stood while holding a small light in her hands. As they can near the statue, Soma takes Damien's good arm off his neck and put his hand on Mary's, keeping the other boy still, by wrapping an arm around his waist. When his hand touched the glow, light filled the room as sparkles of warmness covered them both and Damien closed his eyes, feeling tranquility and energized as it soon faded. The light vanished from the statue's hands as Damien open his eyes to find himself in good condition. The severe wound in his arm completely disappeared, leaving nothing behind as Soma lets go of Damien who turned to face the spaniard and spoked. "Thank you. But I'm afraid we haven't met before, have we?" Asked Damien as he saw Soma's expression. "Well, at the concert."

"Concert? Oh yeah! Now I remember! I seen you and that girl,standing in the center of the crowd right?" Asked Damien.

"Yeah. And in one of my classes, but we never have spoken before at school. My name is Soma Cruz. I'm a exchange student from Spain studying aboard in Japan."

"That's cool! Me too! Well, I'm Damien, Damien Chambers. I'm an Exchange Student from America." Said Damien.

"How did you end up here?"

"Dude, you are not going to believe this. I was walking alone, just minding my own business, suddenly I came across the Hakuba Shrine and entered. That was when I seen this gray sphere. I touched it and bang! ended up in the shrine's catacombs."

"The Hakuba Shrine doesn't have a catacomb."

"What? How can you say that?"

"I know. My friend's family owns it, this shrine nor others have catacombs."

"Okay, so where the heck are we then?!"

"....We're in Dracula's castle."

"Whoa, back up abit. You mean to tell me we're in Europe?"

"No. It might sound strange, but we're really inside the eclipse which holds Dracula's Castle. Those creatures you faced, including the undead dragon you killed in the catacombs, were actually demons. There's many of them all over the castle and they aren't friendly." He said.

"I can see that. But in Dracula's Castle? That's crazy!"

"But its true!"

"Okay then, what about those orbs I'm getting from those creatures?!"

Soma was quiet for a moment, then answered. "Those are not just orbs. You have the same ability as I do. Meaning, you posessed the power to absorb the souls of monsters you've kill. That is called a 'dark power'. They are use to increase your strength and will help you whenever needed."

"Souls?? Why was I given this power?"

"You were not given this power, you gained it by experience. Whatever the reason had summoned you to the castle, may be important. Its not really that big of a worry, Damien."

"And why not?!"

"I was alot like you back then, and I still am. But I realized, that there was a way to use this power..to protect my loved ones from harm and make sure darkness never consumes the light. That includes defending myself. It may be a dark power, but it doesn't mean its evil." Explained Soma.

"Is there anyone else with this power?"

"Yes, a friend of mine is very much the expert to all of this. Though often cold, he's quite a decent guy, once you get to know him." Said Soma, reassurring.

"I see. So where is this friend of yours now?" Asked Damien.

"I'm not sure, but all I could think of, is that he's somewhere in this castle and I'm trying to look for him. At first, I thought that the dark power I sensed could be his, but it was really you whose energy I felt when I touched the sphere and luckily, you left footprints plus traces of your power for me to find. If I didn't come here in time, you be already eaten by those creatures."

"Gah, don't remind me. I probably won't eat anything that's beef ever again."

"Oh really?"

"Hey, I said 'probably'! Who knows, it could happen."

Soma smiled. "Perhaps...But we shouldn't kid alot. Our presence here have caused more monsters to go on a riot and if we stay in this castle too long, our sanity will be lost. We must go through the castle to find our destination. Hopefully, there will be more recovery spots like this one in other areas." Said Soma. Damien just looked at the albino as he asked, "You mean 'we'?"

"Why, you don't want me to join you?"

"No, its not that! Its just that, you look like the guy who handle situations on his own."

"Maybe, but not always."

"I would like that, though. Us, teaming together. Afterall, we both have the same 'dark power'."

"Well then, allies?" He outstretched his hand to Damien who said nothing but placed his hand on Soma's. "No, friends." Said Damien as both boys smiled at eachother before the duo exited out of the resting point, to face whatever's waiting for them in the castle.

~*~

***Marble Corridors II***

Soma and Damien entered the second area of the Marble Corridors as they came across some hard to reach spots, plus many stairways leading up. Winged skeletons flew out from nowhere and began to attack the boys with spears as they killed them off, one by one. The boys continued upward, as they went to their right when a harpy appeared and shot her talons at them. Before she swoop down to grab them, Soma uses Lightenng Doll on her and she screamed in agony as she fell into flames. A soul appears and Soma gave it to Damien who absorbs it and glanced at spaniard.

"You need it more than I do." Said Soma.

"Thanks, next time, let me get my own souls." He said smirking. Soma did the same. "Alright, then. But once in awhile...Look out!"

Another harpy appeared and swoops down at Damien, succeeded in capturing the american and flying away with him. It screeches in fury as it shot more talons at Soma who turned into a bat and flew after her while she held Damien by the shoulders. "Let me go, you big bird!"

(Damien! Hang on, I'm coming! 'I can't use the Flame Demon not when he's held like that. But...there is another way.' You asked for it!) Shouted Soma as he hovered in midair and screeches out, using a supersonic wave that shooked the whole area as Damien's kidnapper lets go of him and he fell onto the ground. He looks up at the bat who shot flames from its mouth, killing the harpy in an instant.

The white bat reverts to human form as Soma lands on the ground when he saw Damien running toward him and helps him on his feet. "Are you alright?" Asked Damien.

"Fine. I'm just glad you weren't injured, again."

"How did you do that?"

"The souls remember? They are very useful when it comes to tough situations. It may be a while for you to understand your powers, I know I did." He said as the other youth nodded. They continued onward as Damien and Soma faces more enemies, posessing their souls and found another blue door with markings. Without another word, they entered the door as it closes behind them. Soma stood as he stared forward while Damien took out his sword and stood beside his new friend. "What?" Asked Damien.

"Look."

"Huh?"

Standing a few inches away from them was a robot size armor, holding a sword and shield with a golden angel on it. It was dark blue and resembled a samurai, due to its helmet and there were no sign of the eyes, just blank. It didn't move as the duo were surprised and began to walk cautiously toward it when suddenly, the giant armor raised its head up and began to walk toward them. Both boys didn't stepped forward nor stepped back, but looked at eachother. "A very strong armor." Said Damien. "But not as strong as the two of us." Said Soma smirking at his friend. Damien smirked back at the spaniard as he said, "I wouldn't say that. This is my first time fighting this guy."

"Spilt up!"

Soma & Damien seperated, as the Great Armor struck his sword on the ground and while the american distracted him; the albino maneuvered himself to the Great Armor's side as he summons ALASTOR the familiar to aid him. That was when the armor's sword sent electrical surges on the ground where it knocked Soma backwards and ALASTOR vanishes.

When he got up, Soma saw the Armor using the attack again on Damien, who shield himself with his sword and was surprised to see it consume the attack. Electrical energy surges around it, as Damien held it up before the Armor was about to strike again when Soma shouted, "Use his attack against him before it goes out! Now!"

"Right!"

As the armor hit his sword on the ground, Damien dodges the blow and leaps in midair, before raising his blade at the monster. "Here's a taste of your own medicine!! Hhyyahhh!!!" The surge of energy formed a Sonic Wave attack as it hit the Great Armor with a huge slash and his parts piled ontop of eachother. A blue soul came out and entered Damien who stumbled back as he was panting heavily. With a sigh, he fell on his bottom and watched, as the Armor's outershell pile disintegrated into flames. Soma ran toward him and brought him onto his feet as he said, "Once again, you manage to defeat another enemy without getting injured this time."

"That's for sure, but if you hadn't shouted, I'd be squashed like a bug right now. How did you know that his own attack could kill him?"

"His attack has an Wind Element, meaning, it was lightening his sword posessed. He can use it on his opponents, but can't use it on himself. Others like him are affected by lightening as well."

"So not only the red souls are just attacks, they each have an element that affects another enemy, right?"

"Yes. But there are some that aren't affected by elements and are usaully known as tactical souls. It takes alot of hits than one or five to retrieve them. Even some with elements can be difficult to catch, depending on their strength. If its weak, a soul is easy to obtain."

"But if its strong, it'd be harder to posess. Now I understand. But those souls in the statues can be obtain, right?"

"Yeah, they're ability souls. Those are very important to use around the castle, to get to certain places."

"Oh."

Just then, his sword began to glow as electrical surges covered its blade and faded. "What just happened?"

"The attack the Armor used, is now yours. It sensed your power and will help you whenever needed."

"Sweet."

"Let's go, Damien."

"Sure."

Before proceeding, another green orb appeared and touches both boys as Damien was surprised. "What?" Asked Soma as he caught Damien's expression. "That's the orb that saved my life when I fought the creature in the catacombs."

"I see."

As they entered, they found another statue and a door leading to the next area as Damien destroys it. A silver soul appeared and enters his body as Soma asked, "I wonder what ability it is now?"

"Dunno, let's see."

They entered the door and found another path leading up without any steps, though. Curious, Damien leapt onto a wall, then jumps on the one across him. As he did it again, Damien discovered what it was. "You know what Soma? This soul allows me to jump from one wall to another!"

"Well that's good! At least, I don't have to carry you to the top, there's your ticket!"

"Yeah....O.O??What's THAT supposed to mean?"

"Oh nothing." Said Soma, as he did a high jump before catching up to Damien. "Meet you at the top!"

"What? Hey! No fair! Just because you have all your abilities, you don't have to leave me hanging!" Exclaimed Damien as he pick up the pace to catch up with the spaniard who laughed, waiting for his partner to arrive. The american managed to get to the top and stood glaring at Soma, while panting. "....You're such a punk, Cruz."

"Look who's talking." He said, before both their expressions changed to smirks as Damien wrapped a arm around Soma's neck and the boys continued to the next path where they found an opening to the Castle Corridors. They took the stairs leading up as they went pass a resting point above them and continued foward. The area was big, but empty, as both Soma and Damien walked toward the next door which lead to the Chapel.

To Be Continued...

AN: *Sighs* Talk about character's interactions. Although, it was quite interesting to see Damien and Soma getting along, well almost. And doesn't Soma sound alike Arikado? Explaining a few things to one who's new to this power? I just notice that. ^_^ Please Review.