Chapter 3: In The Chapel of Sorrow

Disclaimer: If you read the last three chapters, you should have got the idea by now. ^_^

Warnings: Maybe disturbing in a scene. ~*~

***Forbidden Area***

Yoko had been walking for quite sometime, as she just went through the Underground Reserviour to the Forbidden Area and still couldn't find what she and Arikado were going after. But preventing herself from getting bored, the blonde had some fun by fighting alot of monsters, using her magic and a whip sword she founded in the Study room.

As she leaps on the ancient boat with a wooden skull figurehead, a gargoyle swoops down to grab her when Yoko casted the ice spell and the creature became a frozen statue as it fell to the ground, cracking into tiny pieces. She made a smirk before a pale hand touched her shoulder and she screamed as she grab the stranger's arm, flipping him over her shoulder. The dark man managed to land on his feet as he stood staring at Yoko who panted while glaring at him. "Arikado, what's the big idea of scaring me like that?!"

"Nothing, I figure I would find you here. I see you handle yourself pretty well, Belnades. Have you found anything?"

"Nada, everything's still quiet except for this area's residences of course. How about you?"

"....Look out!" He grabs Yoko and leaps off the ground, dodging an attack made from the Demon Lord who appeared from the shadows and attacks again. While holding Yoko with one arm in midair, Arikado outstretches his free arm and casts his special attack, Hell Fire on the creature as it disappears in flames. The dark man landed on the ground as he lets go of Yoko who hugs him. "Aw, I didn't know you cared! That's so sweet!" She exclaimed as Arikado struggled to break free from her embrace. "Let go of me! I don't need your gratitude! Ah!" That was when Yoko gave him a kiss on the cheek as she finally lets go of Arikado who was now blushing furiously while glaring at his blonde haired partner. Yoko giggled as Arikado strengthen himself up and spoked, "As I was saying, I'm in the same state as you are in. However, I've sent my imp to look for anything suspicious and he came back telling me that there is another boy in the castle."

"You mean like Soma?"

"Yes, and he posesses the same power as we do. I'm not sure how, but all I know is, that he & Soma met and are somewhere in the castle fighting many enemies. Both powers are not that far."

"That can only mean one thing...they're in the Chapel. Well let's go there and meet with them. I want to see what this boy looks like. Now won't this be a family reunion? ^_^" asked Yoko. Arikado went silent as the witch descendant looks at him with puzzle eyes. "Arikado?"

"......."

"Look, I know how you feel protecting Soma from getting harm, even what's going to happen tonight, but-"

"You don't know how I feel!" Snapped Arikado as his fangs appeared. That didn't scare Yoko as her expression changed. "I do. I can tell from that pain look in your eyes. Whoever is planning to resurrect Dracula, will find out about Soma and they'll do anything to get him in their grasps. If it does happen...Soma will nolonger exist, thus Dracula is arisen in full form and there will be no way to reverse the process. They need to know about this too, Arikado and that includes the other boy. He might be important for this scenerio since he has the same dark power as you and Soma."

"......"

"...?"

"Very well then. We will take the shortcut that leads to the Study and head to the chapel."

"Now you're talking. Arikado, you're not the only one who Soma is your responsiblity, he's got himself, everyone and me as well."

Arikado didn't said anything as both walked to the left and reentered the beginning of the Forbidden Area, then took the upward path leading to the study room.

~*~

***The Chapel***

"You been to this area before Soma?" Asked Damien as both boys walked through the chapel's corridors and moved up to the stairways before them. "Yeah, in fact, it was the second area of the castle I've came across. Though, it definitely undergo some changes." Said Soma. "What do you mean?" Asked Damien curiously. "It's not exactly the same as before. I've could have sworn there were two bell towers in this chapel." He said, referring to the one they entered as they came across its residences. Damien killed a Durga as he absorbed it's soul and Soma uses a spear at the three Skull Pillars from a distance. A trio of witches flew down to attack, when the duo uses one of their souls to kill them off, as Damien managed to possess a soul. The american glances at his surroundings as he asked, "And this suppose to be a Holy chapel?"

"Its a unholy Chapel to be precised. In this castle, the word 'Holy' is not even part of it's vocabulary and its more likely the sanctuary of Bane. But no need to worry Damien. There's a closest resting point that isn't far from here."

'There's no need to worry, Damien...First, Taro and now Soma. Why the hell should I be worrying??' He thought bitterly. 'I wonder how big this castle is anyway? There's somany things I've encounter before I met Soma and they just keep getting weirder every second. This pisses me off! Everytime I tried to get out of this ratrap, there's always something that takes me farther away from home. Maybe what Soma said was true. Whatever the reason I was 'summoned' to this place maybe important. But what? What do I know about this castle? Well, Dracula for one thing and those monsters...This dark power...Wait! The dreams I've been having, could they be connected to this?' Damien glances at Soma who said nothing, but kept looking forward at his path as Damien thought mentally. 'There was another place I've seen him...Its wasn't only at school or the concert. Now I remember, he was the one facing Death in some clocktower in my dream...But why did I dreamt that? Shit, this is getting so confusing...'

"Damien? Are you alright?" Asked Soma as he noticed his friend was acting abit strange when Damien snaps out his thoughts and looked at Soma. "Huh? Sorry, just been thinking alot on something."

"Like what?"

"Like why was I brought here to this castle and this dark power I have, you know. It just came up to my mind right now."

"You'll find out soon enough. Let's just say, the more battles you win and the souls you catch, the better you understand almost everything in this castle, including your powers." Said Soma as Damien smiled. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Look, there's another one of those rooms!"

"Good, let's go in and rest for awhile--"

"Go!"

"Hey! Come back!"

Both ran forward, killing more enemies as the sounds of bells ringing, echoed throughout the chapel and the duo leaped from one peak to another. They came in the resting point panting, as they looked at eachother before clinging to the other boy and touched the light in Mary's hands. As the warmness embrace them both, Damien yawns and slumps down beside the statue as Soma sat beside him. "Wake me up when its morning.."

"There's never a morning here, Damien."

"Boy, are you ever reassuring..." He said lastly before falling asleep beside the statue as Soma watches Damien's chest slowly moving up and down. The spaniard wasn't actually tired, but besides seeing Damien's strength increasing including his fighting spirit, he saw through the american's eyes in the pools of tiredness; probably from his performance on stage and his experience through the castle's first areas he went through. 'It wouldn't hurt to rest for awhile.' Thought Soma, as he smiled at the sleeping american. Using his pale hand, Soma gently pushes the brown locks away from the boy's closed eyes, which twitched slightly as the taller youth removed his hand and he too, began to fall asleep. 'At least, for awhile.'

~*~

***Studyroom***

A Minotaur swunged his ax at Yoko who jumps out of the way as she casts the spell lightening and flashes strucked the creature down to ashes. More enemies appeared every second, as Arikado summons the Sword of Dawn and all six spirits appear, using their attacks on the number of enemies as they disappeared one by one. They were about to continued upward to meet with Soma and the other boy, but with more enemies appearing, including the energy they felt in the Study; it was taking them farther away from their destination and they figured since they were close to the spot where the boss was waiting, the duo decided to take care of it. As they began to run through the area and destroying some poltergeist that were attacking them with chairs and tables; the blue door opened. As they entered, it closes behind them as both teammates heard a growl and looking forward, a Manticore roared in fury as it charges at them.

Yoko & Arikado spilt up, as the creature reached them, lashing his scorpion tail on the ground and shot fire from his mouth. Yoko uses the Whipsword as she lashes it out at the Manticore, only causing it to become more angry as it leaped from the ground and at her, before she cast fire on him. He lands on the ground when Arikado summons the Sword familer and with a circular slash; kills the creature as he disappears in flames. A blue soul appeared and enter Arikado's body as Yoko walk toward him. "That was quick. Still, at least it wasn't a difficult opponent." She said. Arikado turned and glances at the room ahead of them. "There isn't any ability souls in that room, so it would be pointless for them to come here."

"Well, since that's taken care of, we should be on our way now...without any interruptions." Said Yoko as she awaited for Arikado to follow. "Yes, let's not keep Soma waiting."

The witch descendant smiled, as both teammates lefted the empty room, going back to the path which lead to their destination.

~*~

***Resting Spot***

' "Where am I?" Asked Damien as he kept walking through the endless path. The light before him, lead to an opening as he entered and everything went white. Everything came to full color as Damien found himself in another weird looking realm. Above him, was a purple sky as he continued to walk through the now ruined city before him. There were no sign of cars, streetlight or even people as if they all were completely erased from this planet.

Suddenly, the american recognized the Hakuba shrine as it now look destroyed, with graffitti and the once Sacred Tree of the White Horse was discovered on the ground; chopped from its roots and blood on it's trunk. "How could someone do such a heinous act on a Shrine? That's just terrible..." Then he look before him and was suprise to see a black castle standing higher than any other building as Damien's vision began to grow weary. The youth tried to hold onto something, but stumbled backwards as he began to fall into a black hole.

Damien awoke from the light glowing and the smell of wax coming from a red candle. He slowly moved his head when he opened his eyes and gazed upon a blood coated skull sitting on a table, looking back at him through black depths. The american looks at his suroundings; candles well-lit and scattered throughout the dark room, while a few encircled his body. Bones of long forgotten victims, were scattered as well and skulls walled up like the ones in the Catacombs, gazing at the boy who wasn't sure what the hell is going on! But the most creepist of them all, was a big black gothic cross hunged on the wall with a skull in the center.

The youth noticed he was held bondage on the dark floor with a symbol painted under him as his arms and legs were binded by chains, which were nailed by strong, wooden pegs. As he struggled to break free, footsteps were heard and a figure came in. Damien looked up and gasped as he sought this being. This being was a man, with long plantinum hair and a pale face like moonlight, but different from the one he dreamt before. He wore old century clothing as a black cape covered him and a long blade sword was strapped on his waist.

"Who are you?"

"........."

"Help me..."

But then, the room itself shifted and the pale man, was nowhere to be found. Still Damien couldn't move, he was now tied on a stake that formed a cross and found himself outside in some village. Glares and shouts echoed through his mind as villagers held torches while a man in a minister's outfit was praying from a black book. With a signal, the executor was given a torch and lited the haystack underneath Damien as flames encircled the whole stake. They risen to the boy's body, burning through his clothing as the american was being executed!

Damien cried out as the flames burn their way to his skin, everything went blurry and soon turned to blackness. SOMA!!" '

"Ah!" Damien awoke from the twinkling sound of the light on the statue as Soma got up and touches the boy's shoulder. "Damien? What happen?"

Breathing heavily, Damien spoke, "....I had a dream." He began to shake alittle and before Soma was about to say something, the american said, "I'm fine, Soma. Let's get going before we end up having some encounters."

"Okay."

Both exited the resting point as they continued downward and went toward their left. A blue door opened and they went in as the door closes behind them. Both heard a howl from a huge creature that crashed into a Stain Glass and landed on the ground. It was a big wolf with two heads and had dark brown fur covering it's body. Red eyes glared at the duo as it growled and lunges at them before they moved out of the way. Soma summons his sword as he began to slash the creature, but the twoheaded wolf shot it's laser from it's mouth as Soma fell back and it lunged at him.

"Soma!" Cried Damien as he casts the Earth Demon's attack, slamming a fist on the ground, as rock peaks began to form and hit the creature twice before it came off of Soma. It lands on the ground, glaring at the american as it charges at him when he moves out the way and uses the Witch's Soul; only to discover it was just a broomstick as he cursed under his breath. "Damn!"

"Damien, here!" Soma uses the Flame Demon and fireballs hit the brush part as it lit up like a torch. "Thanks, Soma. I think." Said Damien as he held it firmly when the creature was about charge into him before he swunged the burning broom and the fire covered the creature. The wolf fell on the ground before Soma and Damien did a twin lightening soul attack, striking a stronger blow at the creature as it soon dies.

Two souls appear out of the creature's heads as they entered both Soma and Damien. "You okay?" Asked Damien as he noticed Soma panting and replied, "I'm fine, just glad its been dealt with."

"What do you suppose was that thing?"

"That was a Cerberus you two have just defeated. I wasn't surprise, that there be another in the castle after all these centuries." Said a voice from within the shadows as Soma and Damien turned around.

TO BE CONTINUED....

AN: Ah, so who do you think it is? You just have to wait and see, but you might already know anyway. I would have continued on with this chapter, but I have few things to take care of for Christmas, for that matter and well, I wanted to upload it as soon I finished, so I hope you like this chapter. Also, I fixed the minor errors at the end of Ch. 2. You know, this is my first ever chapter that has two boss battles. While Soma and Damien were taking a nap, Yoko and Arikado were busy fighting a boss. Afterwards, its the other duo's turn to fight a boss. Isn't it cool? You also might be wondering about the dream Damien had, well let's just say it might be connected to who he really is...I just say 'might'. Another reason was that I was envisioning something like that while typing this chapter. Anywho, I'll try to update the next chapter as soon as I'm not busy or interrupted. Please Review ^_^.