A/N- Thank you ever so much for everyone's kind reviews! I hope to get this story moving along a bit. Here's the next chapter!
Chapter 4
The four of them were seated now, all with warm tea in their hands. Terence wasn't drinking his, simply staring down into it, and Iris was greedily gulping hers down. When she had finished, Sage chose to speak.
"Terence, what brings you to our doorstep?" she asked.
He swirled the tea in his cup for a moment before answering. "I am ashamed to ask for help in a duty that should just be my own. However, I am still young in my blood, and my father was injured last fall."
"How old are you?" Iris inquired. Adrian raised an eyebrow at her, but said nothing.
Terence seemed put off by this random question. However, he answered it kindly.
"I'm sixteen. And how old are you, dear child?"
Iris scoffed at the term he had used to address her, but also answered politely, "I have just recently come upon my twelfth year."
"Excuse me, but…what seems to be the problem?" Adrian interrupted.
"Oh, sorry, sir. Well, you see, it appears that there are those who are trying to resurrect Dracula before it is his time," Terence explained.
"The Dark Priest Order?" the dhampire inquired. Terence shook his head.
"No. Dracula's vampire lord, Orlox. No one knows why, but Orlox wants Dracula resurrected. He's already brought back Castlevania."
Iris gave a theatrical gasp. Sage sighed.
"How can we help?" she questioned.
"Please, I ask for the two of you--the heroes who vanquished Dracula last year in the place of my father--to accompany me, train me, guide me, and help me defeat Orlox before Dracula is brought back," Terence said, standing and bowing.
Sage and Adrian exchanged quick glances.
"We'll help," Adrian said.
"But, what about Iris?" Sage said. "We can't take her with us, and we can't leave her here."
"But, Sage, I want to go. I can help. I've been practicing magic while you were away. I'm not very good at using it for an offensive means, but I can heal real good with it! Please, let me come!" Iris pleaded.
"We absolutely cannot leave her here by herself. However, if she comes with us, she'll be protected at all times," Adrian reasoned.
"No. She's not coming. It's too dangerous. We can't guarantee her safety," Sage argued.
"Please, Sage and Alucard, I know the dangers of Castlevania, although I have never experienced them. I am in desperate need of both your help. Allow Miss Iris to come, and I will be her protector," Terence said.
Iris raised her nose at this. Sage found herself sighing again.
"We don't have a choice, do we?" Sage said.
"No," Adrian replied.
"Can I go?" Iris said, clasping her hands in a pleading, hopeful way.
"Yes," Adrian and Sage said in unison.
Iris let out a gleeful shout. Sage rested her forehead in her hand.
"When do we depart?" Terence asked.
"Immediately. The ladies can sleep in the cabin of the carriage. We'll start gathering supplies. We'll camp in the morning," Adrian said, standing.
"Adrian, I'll go gather some supplies too," Sage said.
"No, go with your sister and rest in the cabin. You've both had a rough night of it," he said considerately.
Sage was not pleased with this, however. She took hold of Iris by her shoulders and led her out to the carriage in a huff. When the front door had shut, Terence turned to Adrian.
"I hope that I'm not the cause of your lady's anger?" he asked.
"No, Terence. I think I am."
End Notes: Okay, short, I know, but I like where I ended it. I've got big things planned to happen in this fic. I've just got to sort them out first. Anyhow, please R & R! Thanks!