Chapter 7

A Nightmare re-awoken

Cassandra woke up to the scream of her sister. She got out of her tent to see what's wrong, when she saw it herself. Siegfried's tent had fallen down and he was no where to be seen, his sword the Requiem was laid against a nearby tree, but his bag was gone. Cassandra ran to her sister "What's happened here?" Sophitia just shook her head "I-I don't know… he's not here? Where is he?" Suddenly they hear a rustling in the bushes, Siegfried emerges from them. "I just went to get breakfast…" Cassandra and Sophitia just started at him. "Oh, the tent!" He scratched his head "I-erm- had a bad dream… ended up knocking it down myself…" Cassandra started to shout at him "Don't do that again! You had me –er- us worried!" Sophitia looked at her sister… she now started to regret sleeping with Siegfried last night… 'How could I do that to my own sister… she really likes this guy! I've been selfish…'

Cassandra looked at her sister "Soph? Is something wrong?" Sophitia looked at her sister and then Siegfried "Excuse me…" she ran off into the woods, Cassandra went to run after her, but Siegfried stopped her, he dropped his bag near his tent "Cassandra… let me talk to her…" He picked up his Requiem and walked off after her… Cassandra noticed his bag, laying there next to his fallen tent and begun to wonder…

"Sophitia!" Siegfried walked through the woods and found her sitting on a log. "Hey… what's wrong?" She looked up at him, then turned away quickly "I'm sorry about last night Siegfried… I was being selfish… that's not me… forgive me" Siegfried looked at her and said "I'm sorry too… we shouldn't have…" Sophitia looked behind her and saw Cassandra holding Siegfried's bag. "Shouldn't have WHAT?" Cassandra asked angrily. Siegfried looked over at her, and saw his bag. "Cassandra… I'll explain it all... just hand me my bag…" He walked up to her cautiously, "What's so important about this thing anyway? And why is it so god damn heavy?" She dropped in on the floor, the knot came undone, though nothing came out.

Siegfried begun to panic… he had no choice but to tell her now "I slept with your sister!" Cassandra looked at him sharply "You WHAT?" She slapped Siegfried, then looked at her sister "How could you sis!" They then noticed Siegfried attending to his bag… he wants at all interested in this situation anymore! Sophitia just remained silent, Cassandra marched over to him "What is your problem anyways, huh?" She pushed him down, his bag flew across to his side "Look! I'm sorry! She-I… urr! It's all a mess!" He ran over to his bag and grabbed it, Cassandra just fell to her knees. "Why… why did you have…" she noticed a strange hilt poking out of the bag. "What is that?" she pointed at his bag, Sophitia looked over to see it. "Siegfried… what's going on?"

Trapped… They where going to find out... the sword began to speak to him "I warned you this would happen… you do not need my to create atrocities, you do well at that yourself!" Siegfried looked over at them… "Please… don't ask… I have to go…" He tried to leave, when Cassandra blocked his way "Not until I get an answer mister!" She pushed him down one more time and that's when the sisters saw it… Soul Edge!

Sophitia went into shock, "YOU! It's your fault... It's your fault they… they!" she then burst into tears. Cassandra realised what she was talking about "It's your fault they are dead Siegfried! Or should I say… Nightmare!" Siegfried shot up "No! I am not that monster!" Cassandra just shouted at him again "I'm gonna kill you!" He picks up his Requiem and Soul Edge and runs away. Cassandra goes to console her sister.

Siegfried sat onto of a large stone column, looking at the crimson sunset… he just ran all day to get as far away from the two sisters as he could, he sat there with tears running down his eyes… he could not believe what had just happened then Soul Edge started to talk to him in his head again. "It is time…" Siegfried looked up at the sword, its eye was fixated on him, "Take me by the hilt, and get revenge on those who have caused you this pain…" He tried to resist, but he couldn't hold out to the will of the sword for long. "I… I will…" The young knight slowly stood up, the sword constantly saying "Yes… Yes!" to him. He grabbed the sword by the hilt… suddenly he felt the control of his body, his mind leave him, he started to grunt in anguish, he was transforming.

His right arm started to swell, the pieces of armour shot off and fell the long distance from the pillar. His arm continued to swell, his hand turned into a claw, two spikes shot up out of his shoulder. His whole body was changing… his armour started to glow a familiar colour. He picked up the Requiem, the sword he used to help himself to atone for all he had done I the past… it was everything Siegfried was… he then tossed it as far has he could. He looked towards Soul Edge and picked it up again to continue his transformation. In a flash of dark light… he became the one thing he tried to avoid… he was a tool for the sword… he was now a merciless killer… the azure knight… Nightmare had returned. He started to breathe heavily, then let out a huge, inhuman scream.

He became engulfed in the swords power once more. "I… we… we need… souls…" he narrowed his crimson eyes… "I shall feast on Astaroth's soul… and anyone else in the way…" He held the sword in both hands "Sword… give me strength!" He aimed his sword at the ground and plunged it into the stone column he stood on, the whole earth started to shake, all the rocks fell… The dust started to settle, out of it though, walked the demonic knight, sword in hand… unscathed by the disaster he had just created and he murmured "My pain… shall be felt throughout the world…"