A/N- Thanks everyone for being so patient with this story. I don't know why this continues to amaze me. You were, after all, patient with the last story's unfolding plot as well. Anyhow, I'm hoping to get some action in this chapter. I've finished the Harry Potter fic I spoke of in my last chapter. And, my Star Wars sequel is doing better in reviews than I thought it would. Anyway, enough with this. Here's the next chapter!

Chapter 7

"It hasn't changed," Sage observed as she and her group entered the Alchemy Laboratory. "I thought it was supposed to change every time it was awakened."

"Not every time. Just most of the time," Adrian replied, inching slowly toward her.

Iris was trying to suppress a laugh. The first time she remembered seeing Sage and Adrian together, she thought theirs a perfect love story. Now, she thought of them as an old married couple who couldn't agree on what type of vegetable to serve with supper. Terence seemed to share her amusement. Their eyes met behind Sage's and Adrian's. Iris let out the beginning of a giggle, stifling it by clamping a hand over her mouth. The young Belmont smiled a dashing smile and put a finger to his lips.

"Is everything all right?" Sage asked over her shoulder.

Iris didn't trust herself to speak. So, instead, Terence answered.

"Just fine," he said.

Looking up at Adrian, the two youngest could see a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Did he find the same thing they did funny? Somehow, Iris doubted that.

Suddenly, Sage stopped in her tracks. All smiles disappeared.

"What's wrong?" Adrian asked.

"Ssshhh! Don't you hear that?" she whispered.

The group fell silent. Then, like a dog smelling a rabbit, Adrian seemed to pick up on the sound. Holding one hand behind him, to signal that the two women and Terence were stay put, he advanced slowly forward. He stopped at the corner and drew out his sword.

"What…?" Iris whispered, but Sage put a gentle hand over her sister's mouth.

Terence was now unfurling the Vampire Killer. Sage now stepped forward, removing a dagger from the folds of her dress.

"Iris, get down and hide somewhere," Sage said.

"No. I came here to help," Iris protested quietly.

"You came here to heal. Terence, stay close to her."

The Belmont nodded and moved so close to the young girl that she could feel the cloth of his shirt against her arm. Suddenly, from around the corner on which Adrian stood, there came a loud, unbearable screeching noise. Iris, Sage, and Terence clamped their hands over their ears while Adrian just seemed to ignore this ungodly sound. Then, there was a light on Adrian's face…and it was getting increasingly brighter.

"Adrian, watch out!" Sage cried.

Adrian dove out of the way just as a huge fireball hit the ground that he had once stood upon.

"Oh my God!" Iris cried as the dhampire quickly put out a small flame on his coat before leaping back to his feet. "What is it?"

"A gaibon," Adrian said simply.

Sure enough, no sooner had the words left his lips, a large, thick-skinned creature screeched around the corner, firing yet another ball of fire at them. This time, the whole group had to move out of the way. Sage and Iris jumped to the right as Adrian and Terence jumped to the left. The men and Sage were on their feet again, lunging at the demon. It let out another foul screech. This time, it was only Iris that covered her ears.

The demon dove at Sage, but she caught its leg with her dagger. Discolored demon blood fell down upon her.

"Sage!" Adrian called, leaping up to run the demon through.

But it had changed its method of attack. Instead, it dove away from its attackers…and snatched Iris up in its claws.

"Iris! Iris!" Terence yelled, running as the demon started to fly away.

But Sage, in this moment, was faster than anything the demons of Castlevania had seen. She propelled herself off a bit of rubble that was in the floor and caught the gaibon around its shoulders. She drove her dagger into its shoulder. It screeched again and dropped Iris. Terence leapt into the air, catching the girl around the waist and twisting so that his back hit the ground with her on top of him.

"Sage! Let go!" Adrian yelled to her, running to attack the escaping demon. It was heading toward a window along the top of the wall.

Sage did as she was told, but the demon had regained its speed. As she passed the demons clawed feet, it caught her arm. She stabbed and stabbed at its leg, but it seemed to just shake it off.

"Sage, no!" Adrian yelled.

"Sage!" Iris cried as she and Terence sat up, the young girl in the protective arms of the Belmont.

But it was too late. The demon flew the window…and was gone.

"Noooooo!" Adrian yelled as he fell to his knees.

Iris and Terence seemed to be in shock. As Adrian wept bitterly, the two just sat in shock.

End Notes: Was the weeping too much? Gee, poor Alucard just can't seem to hold on to a girl, can he? Next chapter is Sage's point of view and I have a few things planned for the rest of this story. I hope you liked this chapter. Please R & R! Thanks!