New Generation
Chapter XII
Glory be to the Father,
to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning is now
and ever shall be
world without end. Amen-
The Doxology (ancient Christian prayer)
"Prepare yourselves," Christian informed the members of his party, as he grasped the blessed whip. The other members of the party unsheathed their swords while Brian pulled back on the large iron door to the third level of the Castle. Fortunately there was no opposition on the other side, only the broken remains of a sanctuary. What was once a church was left desecrated. Pews were broken, with the torn pages of prayer books and hymnals scattered along their remains. A smashed altar, with a crucifix placed on its rubble that had the head of Christ removed from its shoulders. And finally, an icon with a dagger inserted into the throat of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
"This must be the royal chapel," Lysander said, as he entered the chapel.
"Or what at one time was a chapel," replied Christian.
"Hey!" exclaimed Alcander. "Isn't this the place where Dad fought Shaft?"
"Who's Shaft?" asked Brian.
"He was a former priest who turned his back on the Church to serve Dracula. Uncle Adrian fought and defeated Shaft inside the Tepes family chapel twelve years ago."
"Quite right!" exclaimed an unseen masculine voice.
"Who's there?!" exclaimed Christian, cracking his whip.
"No one to be concerned with."
"Everyone in this castle is someone to be concerned with!" Lysander exclaimed.
The voice chuckled. "You certainly are a wise one young Lysander Tepes. I can see that you inherited some of the traits of your ancestors."
"Maybe it's Vlad the Impaler?" whispered Brian.
Again the voice chuckled. "No, this is not Vlad Tepes, but he is at home waiting to see you…if you make it that far that is."
"Where's Jessica?!" Alcander demanded.
"Jessica?" the voice replied. "Jessica? Jessica? I'm sorry my young Alcander Tepes, but I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."
"You know exactly what I'm talking about you bloody bastard!"
"Now, now, Mr. Tepes. Talking like that never got anyone anywhere with me."
"Who are you?" again demanded Alcander. "Show yourself!"
The voice chuckled for the third time. "Well, I really had no desire to expose my identity, but since you're so determined to see me I suppose that I shall grant your request." After the voice finished his sentence the party noticed the quiet sound of feet rapping on broken stones at the far-left corner of the church. Emerging from the shadows was a man dressed all in black. No one in the party recognized him, all but one.
"That's him!" exclaimed Brian. "That's the man who tricked me!"
The man laughed. "Yes, I certainly did, and you were stupid enough to fall for it."
Alcander slowly approached the man with drawn sword. "Once again, tell me where Jessica is or I'll cut your bloody throat!"
The man now roared in laughter. "All right Alcander, I'll give you the opportunity to cut my throat, but before you do would you at least wait until I really show myself?"
"What the hell does that mean?" thought the party.
The man responded to the party's question by placing his palms over one another. His flesh started to peal away, revealing nothing more than bones and the foul stench of death. His black clothes turned into long dark robes, with a hood covering his face. Only he had no face, at least not one with flesh. Then the monster gestured his arm, and large scythe descended into in his hand. "This is my true form!" he declared, and returning his gaze to Alcander, whose right leg twitched with fear, "and now, Mr. Tepes I grant you permission to cut my throat." Sweat dripped along Alcander's cheeks, and his leg continued to twitch. He was terrified, but was not about to give into that fear. Still, Death was able to sense the fear in Alcander's eyes. "Such a pity," he chuckled, "your father never displayed such fear when he faced me."
"I'm not afraid of you!"
Death only laughed. "Then why are you sweating? Why won't your leg stop shaking? Face it Alcander, you're just a pathetic little boy who longs for his mother's touch. But don't feel too bad, your companions aren't much better."
Alcander did not even bother to face his companions. He was terrified of the monster, yes, but he was not about to let him defeat him. He swallowed a heavy lump in his throat and stepped forward, a move that frightened his companions. "Alcander, what are you doing?!" they shouted. But Alcander did not respond to their calls. Instead he tightly gripped his sword, sweat dripping from his palms, and continued to march forward. "Cander!" shouted Lysander.
"Don't bother me, Sander! I know what I'm doing!" he exclaimed with a voice full of determination.
Death chuckled at the prospect of whatever ideas Alcander had.
Lysander, not convinced by his brother's words, prepared to leap forward and pull him back, but Christian stopped him. "Christian! What are you doing?!" Lysander screeched, very upset that his older cousin stopped him from rescuing his brother.
"Lysander, trust your brother," he declared, while maintaining a tight grip on his whip, just in case.
Alcander slowly lowered his sword, with sweat dripping from his brow, and raised the crucifix from around his neck. Death was immediately repelled by the image. He screeched at Alcander, and attempted to swat him away with his scythe, which Alcander was quick to dodge. Christian tried a counterattack against Death, but the monster levitated itself away from the cracking whip; turning itself into a cloud of black smoke and disappearing from the chapel altogether.
"Did he ascend to the next floor?" asked Brian.
"I don't think so," replied Christian. "The next floor I believe is the Castle's courtyard, and with the sun's still shinning it's doubtful that he would fight us there. He's probably on the fifth floor."
"The floor right before Dracula's lair?" asked Brian again.
"Yes, he'll probably guard it. Brian?"
"Yes?"
"When we eventually fight Death we'll be fighting the most dangerous of Dracula's servants. I must ask you again, is your faith strong?"
"Yes."
"Then that will be your most important weapon against Death."
