Hey guys, sorry for the huge wait, but real life caught up with me and i had to finish my degree. Anyway, here is the next chapter, it's a bit slow but the next one is definitely more interesting...
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the clothes on my back (being a student is hard) so you get the idea...
Chapter 10. Planning is not an easy task.
"Okay, we know that Mercer is holed up in Meridian Castle. It's a remainder from the old wars, and was originally part of my family's heritage." Tarja said as she placed a large map on the desk that they were all sat at. After having been made to rest for several more hours, Van Helsing had insisted that they at least begin planning how to attack the castle and take back the cross. Now, Van Helsing, Carl, Tarja and Cecaise were all sat in the main conference room in the upper levels of the Coven, around the large round table that dominated the room.
"If the castle is part of your heritage, then why don't you live there instead of your house in the woods?" Carl asked, fearing that this may in fact turn out similar to the Valerious Castle.
"Before I was born, Mercer's father came conquering, while my father was travelling in distant lands, where he met my mother, and took the castle by force. My father returned to find that the castle had been taken and anyone openly loyal had been slain by Mercer. Knowing that there was no way to regain the castle, my father built the house in which I live now, and became a local law enforcer." Tarja replied, a far away look in her eyes. "My father died when I was a small child, just before my mother did. No one would ever tell me what had happened to him, although I have a feeling that Mercer's father was behind it."
"So that is how you have a map of the castle," Van Helsing surmised, scrutinising the map carefully. "Looking at this, the best place for entry is this small side gate. There appears to be very little in the way of physical defences and it leads almost directly to the main chambers where the cross might be held."
Glancing at the map Tarja nodded. "Yes, it would make a good point of attack. It was originally used as an escape route for the lord of the castle and I generally overlooked upon all the published maps made of the castle. This is one of the few copies that it would have ever been left on."
"You said, 'physical defences', what else will we be looking at?" Van Helsing asked, looking up from the map.
Cecaise, who had been silent up until then spoke up, "I recall Tarja mentioning that she had told you of Hunter spirits?" At the look of comprehension on their faces he continued, "We will most likely be facing similar guarding the castle walls and if Mercer's powers have become as strong as Tarja says, there will also be demons and masses of zombies. Not to mention his lackey's to deal with." Leaning back in his chair, he sighed. "This poses quite a problem."
"A problem?" Carl asked, voice slightly higher than normal. "You call this a problem, its closer to a catastrophe! There's no way we can fight off a whole hoarde of demons and zombies as well as human guards. And as for the ghosts, I don't have anything that could possibly withstand them. Unless you have something that can stop these hunter spirits, there's no way we can even get into the main chamber, never mind getting hold of the cross!" His eyes were beginning to bulge as he continued, "The last time we faced a demon and zombies we barely managed to escape with our lives, and that was only a small number!"
"Carl, this is hardly the time for panicking. We will figure something out," Van Helsing soothed. He knew full well that this was just the friar's method of venting stress, but it was unhelpful and was getting them nowhere, even if he did have a slight point. "Is there anyway that we can defeat a force as large as you are predicting may be thrown at us?"
Tarja closed her eyes, giving the answer some serious thought. Both her and Cecaise seemed to be deep in thought, mulling over possibilities when the doors to the conference room opened to reveal both Kellan and Tyris.
"How goes the rebuilding of the Coven defences?" Tarja asked, pushing her wayward dark curls away from her face.
"We have repaired the physical damage to the walls where Mercer's men had burned through, but the metaphysical walls are taking a little more time. I have my best student working on them as we speak." Tyris moved to occupy one of the empty chairs at the table as she continued. "We're using all the elements in their construction and are tying them into the energy lines the Coven lies on, which is why they are taking time to complete."
"As for the wounded, all that could be saved have been. The rest we have buried with full rights, except for Calvell." Kellan spoke as he took a second seat next to Tyris. "We thought that you would like to handle his ceremony personally."
"Yes, I would," she replied, eyes shining. "We need to discuss plans for getting into Meridian and forge some sort of weapon for destroying the cross." She sighed leaning back in her chair, running a hand over her face. "And we need to do this within the next two days."
A look of confusion passed over the face of everyone present, but it was Gabriel who asked, "Why two days?"
"Ever since my 'power upgrade' I've been able to sense the power of the cross, and the ceremony. I can feel the circle of power being used to unlock the cross is closing and that the ceremony will be complete in two days." At the stunned look on everyone's faces she smiled. "That, and Hecate told me that the ceremony would be complete in two days."
"So you can really sense the ceremony and the cross?" Carl asked, fascinated by this development.
"I can sense the growing power of the cross, and the strength of the binding circle of power. Once we get into the castle it will be easy for me to locate the cross. It's power calls to me."
"Well, that has solved one problem, but we still need to address the issue of the significant metaphysical barriers in our way of getting in to the castle." Cecaise interjected.
"We could use anyone trained in defence against hunter spirits and who's handy with at least a blade, if not a pistol or bow and arrow." Kellan offered.
"I will not allow more of our Coven to go needlessly into danger, especially those who have only the basic training. We have lost enough innocent blood, I will not be responsible for more, and neither would Nico." Tarja said, feeling the weight of responsibility and guilt press heavily on her.
"Perhaps, if we take only the best of the advanced class who volunteer, and train them if they require?" Tyris proffered. Usually being the mediator in such discussions, this came as no surprise from her.
"That would make sense, we still have to make a weapon to destroy the cross. We can use that time to train the most advanced and take them with us. The others can be left in charge of the Coven defences and tend to the rest of the wounded." Kellan continued. "I can finish any training in defence of spirits that they may lack, however physical self defence is probably best left to someone who is more adept at swinging a sword and firing weapons."
"I would be glad to offer any assistance that I can," Van Helsing said, leaning further forward in his chair to ease the ache of his side. Throughout the conversation it had been steadily growing stiffer from the lack of movement. He turned to the blonde male elite with a look of confusion on his face. "Although, you strike me as being extremely proficient in weapons training and self defence."
"I may look like a guy who could flatten almost anything thrown at me, but I am not very proficient at any form of self defence. I was raised to not cause harm, and usually my appearance means I rarely if ever have to use force." He smiled sheepishly, "I mastered metaphysical forms of self defence better than almost anyone in the Coven, the exceptions being Tarja and Andala. I never really saw the point in learning physical self-defence."
"It's true, even someone as slight as me can take him down in a fight, which is why I usually get my way," Tyris said with a smile, placing her hand in his.
"In that case; Kellan, ask whoever of the advanced students who wish to volunteer. We will begin training tomorrow, after we have waked everyone who has died over the past few days and have had time to rest for the night. Van Helsing, I trust that you will cover both hand to hand as well as blade and projectile work?" Tarja asked.
"I can cover pretty much every form of weapon at hand." Gabriel confirmed.
"We still need to address the plans for the castle and how we are going to get in. having extra man power is a good idea, but I doubt that that will get us past everything that Mercer throws at us." Cecaise added.
"For now, that is all we have. Everyone should think on it and we'll see if we can come up with a better plan. Other wise it looks like we're going for the full frontal side door attack and hoping that our numbers are enough to get through and reach the cross. And take Mercer down once and for all." Tarja surmised, stress making itself evident in the lines of tension visible in her stature.
Carl, who had been letting most of the conversation wash over him, decided that it would be an idea to bring up a key question. "You keep saying we need to forge a weapon of power in order to destroy the cross, and forgive me for being ignorant, but what type of weapon exactly do you have in mind?"
That's it for this chapter, so let me know what you think by pressing the review button. I already have the next chapter ready so the more reviews mean the quicker it gets uploaded!
Fen.