Disclaimer: Castlevania is the sole property of Konami. Therefore I own none of its characters and etc. So don't sue me, please! ^_^
LDN: Hey all you lovely folks reading my story, here is the 3rd chapter. I hope you enjoy it. Well please read and review, thanks! ^_^
Chapter 3- Out of Retirement
If Maxim had really returned as a vampire, where would he go? Who would be in danger? Lydie! Her name instantly rose in my mind. In a mad sprint, I headed back to my house. All the while as I ran there I thought to myself. If Lydie was hurt I would never forgive myself. I had promised Maxim, before he died that I would protect her and that included protection from Maxim himself. I quickly arrived at my destination and threw open the door.
"Lydie! Lydie!" I called out frantically. I ran right into our bedroom. "Lydie!" She wasn't anywhere in the house. I sank down to my knees with the realization that she was gone. I stayed on the ground panting. How could I have been so stupid? Why did I leave her alone? This was completely my fault, I had no one to blame. I rose to my feet and collapsed on the bed. I reached out and caressed the last spot on the bed where she had laid. The sheets still held her scent, wild flowers, but they were cold. She must have been taken a long time ago. Probably right after I left the house.
My heart ached because of my carelessness. I should have never left the house. As I still caressed the bed, my hand felt someone hard. I lifted the covers and revealed a bracelet lying there and beside it was a map. The bracelet was silver with a blue sapphire in its center. My heart seemed to stop as I stared at it. I picked up the bracelet very tentatively and it was solid in my hand. It was Maxim's bracelet, but the weird part was he was buried with it. So he had risen after all and he had come for Lydie. The bracelet had been a gift from me. It was a sign of the friendship we shared. I wore one as well. He had given it to me but mine was gold with a ruby jewel in its center.
I felt bile rise in my throat, I was angry. Beyond angry, but I knew what I had to do. I needed to save my wife Lydie, and Maxim had provided me with my only clues. Could it be the castle where we had fought the last time? The last time I saw that castle it was crumbling down into nothingness. Could the castle somehow be back? Well there was only one way of finding out. With renewed determination I rose to my feet off the bed. I went to my closet. I needed to change into some more practical for battle.
I kept my white trousers on and my black shirt, but I laced it up, covering most of my chest up. I added some thick black leather boots that reached to my knees to protect my legs. I clasped on a silver body plate to protect my upper body. I also threw on a long crimson coat with double collars trimmed in silver. The coat clasps just below my waist, leaving my body plate showing. I added a pair of heavy, silver colored gloves to protect my hands. They barely went past my wrists. Then I went to get what would really protect me; my weapons.
I grabbed a cross chain and placed it around my neck, hiding it under my shirt. I grabbed two long daggers and sheathed them into my boots. I grabbed a few small vials of holy water and placed them in a brown sack. I tied the sack to my waist. Then I went to grab the blessed whip. The whip that had destroyed evil for countless years and that would continue even after I was gone. I held the long black leather whip in my hand and I gave the handle a tight squeeze. It felt so good to have it back in my hand. I snapped it quickly and it cracked loudly in the quiet house. What can I say, I missed that sound greatly.
I was ready to go and I grabbed the bracelet and the map. I placed Maxim's bracelet on my other wrist. I glanced at the map and looked at my location. I didn't think I really needed it. I still knew how to get to the castle. You never forget how to get to the place where you were forced to kill your best friend. It stays with you, forever imprinted in your brain. So now that I was truly ready to confront whatever awaited me, I was ready to leave the house. I said one quick prayer in my head. I prayed that I would find Lydie safe. I prayed that I would have the strength and courage to defy the challenges that lay ahead of me. With that I headed out the door.
I walked through the moonlit woods. They were deadly silent, but then what was I expecting. As I walked through the woods, the trees became old and dead looking. Also a thick fog seeped everywhere covering the ground and making it hard to see. Suddenly there in the moonlight loomed the enormous castle. The last time I had seen it, it was crumpling into the sea. Now in all its mysterious glory, it was completely intact. I stood at the drawbridge, looking at it intently. Well here we go again. I thought wryly. Looks like I'm out of retirement.
LDN: Sorry that there wasn't must action in this chapter, but the next one should have some. So what did you think? Drop me a review! Thanks! ^_^