Okay, this is the last chapter to a rather lengthy introduction.
Personally, I think this gets more interesting from here. Keep sending
reviews!
"You do realize how easily I can execute you for your insubordination right now." Olrox stated, happy to once again have the upper hand. Stoladark swallowed, "Not without permission from Dracula you can't." he countered with a lot more confidence than he felt. Olrox nodded, "I'll get it. In the meantime, allow me to explain something to you." The healer remained silent, debating on whether to argue or not, Olrox took this as a cue to continue, "Stoladark, it's essential that Karasuman be retrained to properly guard the Clock Tower. Otherwise, a significant portion of the castle will be vulnerable to attack." Stoladark raised an eyebrow, "Perhaps someone else would like to do it?" Olrox kept a tight rein on his temper, "And who do you suggest?" "Shaft?" he shrugged, merely saying the first name that came to mind. "No." Olrox stated, offering no further clarification, "and the last thing we need is to get ravaged by another Belmont!" Stoladark thought for a moment, "It wasn't a Belmont last time if I recall correctly." "Anyway, I'd like to see Karasuman back in my quarters by this time tomorrow or there will be dire consequences!"
Stoladark placatingly bowed and muttered the one word that would alter his life for the next two centuries at least, "No." after which he transformed into a bat and made a hasty retreat to the Alchemy Laboratory. Olrox chose to let him go, he would inform Dracula of the healer's activities before making any rash decisions. Everything would be dealt with properly. He stood in his courtyard a few moments longer, suddenly realizing why they were defeated by humans and their allies so often- internal dissent.
After reverting back to his vampire form, Stoladark reentered his room and leaned against a wall, racking his brain for a way to reverse his unofficial death sentence. He had attempted to save the life of a friend- and failed, quite possibly losing his own in the process. "What happened?" Karasuman prompted sheepishly, after noticing that the vampire hadn't spoken since his return. Stoladark sighed heavily, refusing to look at him, "Nothing." He mumbled. "Oh." The demon replied, not wanting to push the subject. He had assumed, correctly, that Stoladark was unable to sway Olrox in any particular direction, but had no desire to hear it said. There were times when ignorance was favored to knowledge.
Despite Stoladark's taciturn behavior, both would shortly learn their fates. They exchanged worried glances when someone was heard pounding at the door, Karasuman climbed under the chair he had been sitting in and, somehow, did a marvelous job of concealing himself while Stoladark placed a rawboned hand on the doorknob and rolled his eyes. He was hardly eager to discover the bombshell that awaited him. The vampire was slightly taken aback to find Slogra standing before him, impatiently tapping his foot and shaking his head in a way that suggested he was ruffling some nonexistent feathers before speaking, "I've been sent to tell you that because of your disobedience to Lord Olrox, you're to be banished from this castle."
"I'm not getting executed?" Stoladark interrupted, but just as miserable with this sentence. "You will be if you don't leave within the hour!" Slogra squawked back while pounding the butt of his spear on the marble floor. "So I can be impaled here," Stoladark mused, guessing Dracula's favorite execution method "or be burned at the stake by a mob of angry villagers outside." Slogra cocked his head, "A macabre way of saying it, but yes, those are your options." The vampire thought for a moment, concluding that he at least had some chance of survival outside the castle walls. Even though it would be difficult, villages could be avoided, and food and water were plentiful in the surrounding area. Perhaps if he could grow accustomed to sunlight, Stoladark might try to pass for a human. Any other problems could be sorted out as they arose, "I'll leave."
Slogra cackled, "I'm glad you see it our way, goodbye Stoladark." The vampire didn't even wait for the emaciated bird to leave before closing the door on him and preparing to depart. Part of him was very happy to finally be free of Dracula's control, even if it meant the possibility of a fiery death at the hands of mortals. Once Karasuman felt safe enough, he emerged trembling from his hiding place, deducing that with Stoladark gone, he would once again be delivered into Olrox's hands. "So you are coming?"
Karasuman lifted his head to look at his friend, clearly not understanding. "Do you want to leave with me or not?" Stoladark clarified. The demon didn't answer right away, escaping was the obvious choice. He had found nothing but pain in Dracula's rotting castle, first receiving a humiliating defeat at the hands of a vampire hunter, then being nearly beaten to death by Olrox, but change was always difficult. However, his life hadn't been stable as of late and wasn't likely to be in the near future, and a new setting might prove pleasant. "Don't go without me." He definitively replied. Stoladark smiled, clearly pleased with his choice. The two friends managed to leave the castle in a fairly inconspicuous manner, questioned only by Slogra and Gaibon, who were suspicious of Karasuman. Stoladark explained that the demon was acting as an escort, which he thought was a fairly unconvincing lie, but the pair were, sadly, gullible enough to believe him.
"Morons." Stoladark spat back at the castle and its inhabitants while digging his foot into the soft soil under him. Even if Karasuman heard the comment, he paid no attention to it. He was far too engrossed in his first excursion off of the castle grounds, becoming especially interested in crickets and the harmonies they generated. "They're going to look for you." Stoladark eventually said, gently snapping the demon from his reverie. This, however, gained Karasuman's full interest, "What do you think I should do?"
"Find somewhere to hide. There are some rather.unpleasant tasks I must accomplish around here before leaving and I'd like to not get you recaptured." Karasuman didn't question him, although this time it was from something more than an ingrained response to follow orders, he was eager to explore and this gave him a fantastic excuse to do so. With that, the demon offered his friend a polite goodbye and ambled off into the night, seamlessly being absorbed into the darkness. Stoladark watched him go. He knew how foolish it was to allow the naïve demon to wander around the mortal world by himself, but lingering around the castle would have been just as dangerous if not more so. He grinned as he listened to one of the wargs growling at him from the other side of the gate and sighed, leaning against a wall just out of range of the creature's snapping maw. Stoladark didn't take his banishment lightly and wanted to take the opportunity of showing Dracula his gratitude. It was only a matter of deciding how.
Karasuman turned around to face the rotting fortress that had once been his home. Although still the prominent landmark on the horizon, it seemed small and insignificant. Somewhere in the vast expanse of Romania, the demon heard the howl of a wolf. Even though it wasn't a creature of evil, the familiar echo reminded him that his newfound freedom could be snatched away at any given moment. Whimpering slightly, fearing an impending capture, he pressed forward, feeling his mood heighten when he caught sight of a large stone wall through the shadows. The demon spread his wings and effortlessly ascended, perching atop of the surprisingly flimsy defense. He scanned the scene laid before him- a series of cottages, many of them very still and quiet as the residents slept through the night, blissfully unaware of the unholy intruder. It was astonishing how the humans so willingly left themselves open for attack, not that Karasuman had any plans to take advantage of that, he may have possessed little knowledge of the outside world, but he was cognizant of the aversion humans had for his kind and the fate he would suffer is discovered.
Even armed with this information, curiosity superseded any potential logic the demon chose to utilize. Only when he noticed a cathedral uncomfortably close to him did he feel the need to flee. Granted Stoladark's Bible hadn't harmed him for some currently indecipherable reason, going near such a church most certainly would. Still balancing on the town's defense barrier, the demon slowly backed away, doing his best to check the solidity of each stone before shifting any weight onto it. Even with the taken precautions, Karasuman still ended up falling to the ground due to a loose rock, and on the wrong side of the wall. He stifled a cry as he landed on his left arm. If nothing else, his experience with Olrox had helped him develop a high tolerance for pain. Careful not to further aggravate the injured appendage, Karasuman kneeled in a bare spot of an otherwise well-tended garden, at least confident that with a church so nearby, he could rest and neutralize Dracula's threat temporarily. No one in that God-forsaken castle would ever think to look for him in a town either!
The demon jumped to his feet and prepared to dart to the opposite side of the wall after a short consideration, realizing his grievous error a few seconds too late. Before he could make that critical move, a figure had crept up behind him and pressed a razor-sharp hunting knife to his throat, already making a thin cut. "Don't move demon!" a smooth feminine voice commanded. Even though his instincts told him to either flee or attempt to disarm his assailant, Karasuman knew he was currently incapable of either and held perfectly still. The woman let out a slight laugh, clearly enjoying her task, "Now turn around, I'd like to see your face before I kill you."
The demon didn't fully understand why he hadn't attempted to fight back, even if he was no match for this obviously skilled fighter. Possibly, he had already consigned himself to the bloody fate. He stole a glance upward of his potential killer, she was a tall, strong woman with finely carved features and flowing blonde hair. Karasuman then fixed his eyes on a particularly beautiful bed of tulips that would likely be his grave and made the sign of the Cross, hoping this Jesus he had recently read about would grant a demon some of His divine mercy.
"You do realize how easily I can execute you for your insubordination right now." Olrox stated, happy to once again have the upper hand. Stoladark swallowed, "Not without permission from Dracula you can't." he countered with a lot more confidence than he felt. Olrox nodded, "I'll get it. In the meantime, allow me to explain something to you." The healer remained silent, debating on whether to argue or not, Olrox took this as a cue to continue, "Stoladark, it's essential that Karasuman be retrained to properly guard the Clock Tower. Otherwise, a significant portion of the castle will be vulnerable to attack." Stoladark raised an eyebrow, "Perhaps someone else would like to do it?" Olrox kept a tight rein on his temper, "And who do you suggest?" "Shaft?" he shrugged, merely saying the first name that came to mind. "No." Olrox stated, offering no further clarification, "and the last thing we need is to get ravaged by another Belmont!" Stoladark thought for a moment, "It wasn't a Belmont last time if I recall correctly." "Anyway, I'd like to see Karasuman back in my quarters by this time tomorrow or there will be dire consequences!"
Stoladark placatingly bowed and muttered the one word that would alter his life for the next two centuries at least, "No." after which he transformed into a bat and made a hasty retreat to the Alchemy Laboratory. Olrox chose to let him go, he would inform Dracula of the healer's activities before making any rash decisions. Everything would be dealt with properly. He stood in his courtyard a few moments longer, suddenly realizing why they were defeated by humans and their allies so often- internal dissent.
After reverting back to his vampire form, Stoladark reentered his room and leaned against a wall, racking his brain for a way to reverse his unofficial death sentence. He had attempted to save the life of a friend- and failed, quite possibly losing his own in the process. "What happened?" Karasuman prompted sheepishly, after noticing that the vampire hadn't spoken since his return. Stoladark sighed heavily, refusing to look at him, "Nothing." He mumbled. "Oh." The demon replied, not wanting to push the subject. He had assumed, correctly, that Stoladark was unable to sway Olrox in any particular direction, but had no desire to hear it said. There were times when ignorance was favored to knowledge.
Despite Stoladark's taciturn behavior, both would shortly learn their fates. They exchanged worried glances when someone was heard pounding at the door, Karasuman climbed under the chair he had been sitting in and, somehow, did a marvelous job of concealing himself while Stoladark placed a rawboned hand on the doorknob and rolled his eyes. He was hardly eager to discover the bombshell that awaited him. The vampire was slightly taken aback to find Slogra standing before him, impatiently tapping his foot and shaking his head in a way that suggested he was ruffling some nonexistent feathers before speaking, "I've been sent to tell you that because of your disobedience to Lord Olrox, you're to be banished from this castle."
"I'm not getting executed?" Stoladark interrupted, but just as miserable with this sentence. "You will be if you don't leave within the hour!" Slogra squawked back while pounding the butt of his spear on the marble floor. "So I can be impaled here," Stoladark mused, guessing Dracula's favorite execution method "or be burned at the stake by a mob of angry villagers outside." Slogra cocked his head, "A macabre way of saying it, but yes, those are your options." The vampire thought for a moment, concluding that he at least had some chance of survival outside the castle walls. Even though it would be difficult, villages could be avoided, and food and water were plentiful in the surrounding area. Perhaps if he could grow accustomed to sunlight, Stoladark might try to pass for a human. Any other problems could be sorted out as they arose, "I'll leave."
Slogra cackled, "I'm glad you see it our way, goodbye Stoladark." The vampire didn't even wait for the emaciated bird to leave before closing the door on him and preparing to depart. Part of him was very happy to finally be free of Dracula's control, even if it meant the possibility of a fiery death at the hands of mortals. Once Karasuman felt safe enough, he emerged trembling from his hiding place, deducing that with Stoladark gone, he would once again be delivered into Olrox's hands. "So you are coming?"
Karasuman lifted his head to look at his friend, clearly not understanding. "Do you want to leave with me or not?" Stoladark clarified. The demon didn't answer right away, escaping was the obvious choice. He had found nothing but pain in Dracula's rotting castle, first receiving a humiliating defeat at the hands of a vampire hunter, then being nearly beaten to death by Olrox, but change was always difficult. However, his life hadn't been stable as of late and wasn't likely to be in the near future, and a new setting might prove pleasant. "Don't go without me." He definitively replied. Stoladark smiled, clearly pleased with his choice. The two friends managed to leave the castle in a fairly inconspicuous manner, questioned only by Slogra and Gaibon, who were suspicious of Karasuman. Stoladark explained that the demon was acting as an escort, which he thought was a fairly unconvincing lie, but the pair were, sadly, gullible enough to believe him.
"Morons." Stoladark spat back at the castle and its inhabitants while digging his foot into the soft soil under him. Even if Karasuman heard the comment, he paid no attention to it. He was far too engrossed in his first excursion off of the castle grounds, becoming especially interested in crickets and the harmonies they generated. "They're going to look for you." Stoladark eventually said, gently snapping the demon from his reverie. This, however, gained Karasuman's full interest, "What do you think I should do?"
"Find somewhere to hide. There are some rather.unpleasant tasks I must accomplish around here before leaving and I'd like to not get you recaptured." Karasuman didn't question him, although this time it was from something more than an ingrained response to follow orders, he was eager to explore and this gave him a fantastic excuse to do so. With that, the demon offered his friend a polite goodbye and ambled off into the night, seamlessly being absorbed into the darkness. Stoladark watched him go. He knew how foolish it was to allow the naïve demon to wander around the mortal world by himself, but lingering around the castle would have been just as dangerous if not more so. He grinned as he listened to one of the wargs growling at him from the other side of the gate and sighed, leaning against a wall just out of range of the creature's snapping maw. Stoladark didn't take his banishment lightly and wanted to take the opportunity of showing Dracula his gratitude. It was only a matter of deciding how.
Karasuman turned around to face the rotting fortress that had once been his home. Although still the prominent landmark on the horizon, it seemed small and insignificant. Somewhere in the vast expanse of Romania, the demon heard the howl of a wolf. Even though it wasn't a creature of evil, the familiar echo reminded him that his newfound freedom could be snatched away at any given moment. Whimpering slightly, fearing an impending capture, he pressed forward, feeling his mood heighten when he caught sight of a large stone wall through the shadows. The demon spread his wings and effortlessly ascended, perching atop of the surprisingly flimsy defense. He scanned the scene laid before him- a series of cottages, many of them very still and quiet as the residents slept through the night, blissfully unaware of the unholy intruder. It was astonishing how the humans so willingly left themselves open for attack, not that Karasuman had any plans to take advantage of that, he may have possessed little knowledge of the outside world, but he was cognizant of the aversion humans had for his kind and the fate he would suffer is discovered.
Even armed with this information, curiosity superseded any potential logic the demon chose to utilize. Only when he noticed a cathedral uncomfortably close to him did he feel the need to flee. Granted Stoladark's Bible hadn't harmed him for some currently indecipherable reason, going near such a church most certainly would. Still balancing on the town's defense barrier, the demon slowly backed away, doing his best to check the solidity of each stone before shifting any weight onto it. Even with the taken precautions, Karasuman still ended up falling to the ground due to a loose rock, and on the wrong side of the wall. He stifled a cry as he landed on his left arm. If nothing else, his experience with Olrox had helped him develop a high tolerance for pain. Careful not to further aggravate the injured appendage, Karasuman kneeled in a bare spot of an otherwise well-tended garden, at least confident that with a church so nearby, he could rest and neutralize Dracula's threat temporarily. No one in that God-forsaken castle would ever think to look for him in a town either!
The demon jumped to his feet and prepared to dart to the opposite side of the wall after a short consideration, realizing his grievous error a few seconds too late. Before he could make that critical move, a figure had crept up behind him and pressed a razor-sharp hunting knife to his throat, already making a thin cut. "Don't move demon!" a smooth feminine voice commanded. Even though his instincts told him to either flee or attempt to disarm his assailant, Karasuman knew he was currently incapable of either and held perfectly still. The woman let out a slight laugh, clearly enjoying her task, "Now turn around, I'd like to see your face before I kill you."
The demon didn't fully understand why he hadn't attempted to fight back, even if he was no match for this obviously skilled fighter. Possibly, he had already consigned himself to the bloody fate. He stole a glance upward of his potential killer, she was a tall, strong woman with finely carved features and flowing blonde hair. Karasuman then fixed his eyes on a particularly beautiful bed of tulips that would likely be his grave and made the sign of the Cross, hoping this Jesus he had recently read about would grant a demon some of His divine mercy.