Let the Symphony last for Eternity
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
Beta: Me.
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Paintings were not her thing.
They were static images of a scene or a person seemingly captured on a canvas that, as a nature lover, she couldn't stomach. It was like being caged, the spirit, no matter how well captured, was still frozen on a leash. The irony that she was now trying to find a good place to put this painting was not lost on Maria. Her bats hovered in the air hoisting the painting up while she pondered if the entrance hall of the castle was a good place for it.
Granted the room was a bit drafty with the window latches not working properly, occasionally being blown open only to slam shut again. In a way the painting would be good here, the strangely empowered painting of a hunter wielding the only weapon that could defeat Lord Dracula. Mounted in the Entrance hall of the Castle as a last warning of sorts. As though to say, 'for all your might you are nothing but a moment that too shall pass'.
Yet, there was something about that painting that just made her want to keep staring at it. A mesmerizing power that shouldn't exist in a painting save maybe one housing a spirit. She gave a long, cat like stretch and yawn as she gave up her pondering for a second. Her fingers sliding easily through the fur of the warg she was resting upon like a giant bear skin rug. Well a bear skin that was still 'alive' so there was that. The warg merely snorted and sighed in its own slumber while Maria continued to stare thoughtfully at the painting.
The metaphorical hackles on the back of her neck rose up like a cat, causing her to push herself up to her knees.
"Well well, now what do we have here boys?" A sultry voice coyly called out from above while two swirls of darkness came to life before Maria.
Camillas' coy voice came from above before she floated herself to the ground while positioned between her two protectors as she studied the scene before her. There was a strange sense that she 'should' know the exquisite young maid before her. But for the unlife of herself she couldn't remember ever seeing the blond around the Castle. Which seemed to be a crime with this vision of seductive beauty with her long hair the color of a sun Camilla had long abandoned. Clear as crystal blue eyes that showed a huntress and the body type that pleased the Vampire. Not brawny or squishy save the pleasantly shaped chest this stranger held.
"I could ask the same thing," Maria replied as she noted the two hunters with a more appraising eye than on Camilla. Both cut well of flesh and, given the weapons on them, more than just wood cutters or blacksmiths.
The focus of her gaze telling Camilla where the lovely blonds tastes 'started' at, but she was confident she could bring said blond over. She always did.
"This is Lady Camilla," the short, silver haired man said with restraint.
"The niece of our Lord Dracula," the long, black haired man replied in the same restrained tone, since neither were sure if they were speaking out of turn. Yet at the same time didn't want their lady to wear her throat out on needless introductions.
Camilla gave a subtle purr as she brought up both hands and gently stroked the jaw lines of both her new toys. "Such good boys, mindful of a lady."
"So you're his niece, my name is 'Maria' and I tend to the living beasts of the Castle." Maria commented watching the boys petting session.
But the title gave Camilla something to work with now that she had context of why this lovely girl was in the Castle. The wargs were not known to tolerate being used as a rug to be laid upon, but if she was a Lady of Beasts then it would explain the behavior.
"What is that thing behind you, if I may?" the raven haired toy commented from the right hand side of Camilla.
Maria straightened up her posture a bit before shrugging, "a painting I found with the lizard that our Lord keeps for his son. I've been trying to find a good place for the portrait, thought I would start at the beginning of the Castle, first."
Without a word the bats began towing the large portrait to the front of them so that the new comers could see what it was. Granting Maria the ability to sit where she was and continue watching as Camilla started as though she just saw something vile. "Something amiss Lady Camilla?"
"Camilla, as we both serve my Lord Uncle," Camilla commented distracted by the sudden appearance of such a strange painting. She 'knew' this human, the last Belmont to ever defeat Lord Dracula. But how could there be a painting of him, one that radiated power no less, in the Castle and in the hands of the Princes' toy? "You say this was in the hands of the Princes' toy?"
"Yes, curious is it not?" Maria noted sending her bats to carry the portrait away just enough so all four of them could see it.
"This worries me, as we have a traitor in the Castle and 'this' particular Belmont I well remember. For not only was he the 'last' who could defeat our Lord, he was powerful enough to do it while under a curse that was turning him undead." Camilla explained, eyeing the warrior with a great deal of distaste in her eyes. He had slayed her in fact, and she was brought back by her Lord Uncle a century later. But why have a painting of such a warrior, a painting that was clearly holding power, in the first place? As far as Camilla was aware, there 'was' no artists in the Castle who could paint these, the Castle tended to produce art on its own.
But this?
"I see, well that explains who the warrior is, so perhaps the traitor brought this Belmont from the past in some fashion here?" Maria asked, as she slid down the back of the warg she had been resting upon. "After all how hard can it be for someone with strong magics to animate a corpse with the powers of a hunter?" Maria asked as she began to idly twirl some warg fur around her index finger.
Camilla nodded slowly as the thought took hold in her mind, impressed by the blonds' insight and thoughts. Perhaps sealing the power of the Belmont inside the painting in an effort to bring it to a particular hunter, and there 'was' that one corpse hanging out just past the outer wall of the castle. "So where did you think the lizard came across such a painting?"
"I have no idea, he can't leave his area, he's grown far too large at this point to leave on a whim. Though how that lizard be able to attract an artist of any caliber, though he 'did' show subtle signs of alarm and outrage at my obtaining of this piece." Maria recalled, as her posture shifted into one of thoughtful scrutiny.
"So perhaps the traitor is Garamoth?" Nathan suggested, his voice bearing a bit of roughness due to a growing lack of use since being turned. As he spoke he turned his a gold eyed gaze towards Hugh to see if the dark haired hunter had suggestions. Yet Hugh was focused on Camilla, as their lady was sending the rich woodland brown locks of her hair trembling with a light shake of the head.
"You boys wouldn't know about Garamoth, he's a toy that my Lord Uncle created for his son, the prince. Just a lizard that was found in the garden that our Lord infused with some power so that the Prince could hunt something." Camilla explained with a half glance behind her towards Nathan. "A stupid beast with no true intelligence, what you suggest is beyond such a simple mind. He's gotten rather large though as the years have gone by, what with the prince not trimming the lizard down."
"Oh? A 'prince'? I was unaware that our Lord had a child," Maria commented as her eyes drifted to the ceiling as her inner eye went to thinking about how Dracula looked. Then deaging him down and trying to figure out what a 'prince' of such blood would look like. The possibilities were enticing enough that Maria began to lick her lips in anticipation of one day meeting this prince.
Thus not seeing Camilla, as the vampire stiffened and fixated on the moist tongue as it poked out and coated those lovely lips in a wet sheen. While Maria brought up her left hand to tap at her chin in thought before letting her hand drift down her swan white neck towards her breasts. Such a lovely girl.
"So the question, I guess, is 'do we destroy the painting or try to find out what exactly is inside it?'." Maria shook herself free of any thoughts of a prince to focus back on this particular prey. Noting the look on Camilla's face, informing her that, despite to two handsome hunters by herself. Camilla was clearly a woman's lady.
"True," Camilla answered in a voice dripping in regret as she was forced out of her fantasies and back into the 'thrill' of business. "We should bring this to my Lord Uncle though, for the sake of proof. After all Garamoth is a toy created by our Lord, he may not believe us if we just 'say' that the lizard is acting against the Lords' wishes."
"Well then, no point in staying in a chilly hall," Maria replied before pushing herself away from her furry rug. Her bats brought the painting closer to her once more as she began calling the necessary portal to take her to the Master Chambers. Waiting for Camilla to show that she was also about to take their leave as well. After all turned hunters didn't get instant teleportation spells.
As the Vampire and her pets disappeared, Maria was away as well, letting darkness consume her vision. Though what was revealed before her when she arrived was enough to give her pause. Lord Dracula sitting upon his grand throne with Maria's sister Annette by his side. The Dark Priest, Shaft, was at the Major Domo position, while before them was a lone Dark Child with Final Guards posted around him. Maria visited this room often because of Annette, yet the feeling of eternal death never seemed to leave the room. Even when Death itself was absent, but she accepted the unpleasant feeling since the undead was not a realm she took pleasure entering. The Undead always carried a sense of slight ethereal uniqueness that she found captivating all the same. Meanwhile the whole air of the Chamber felt of a trial going on and Maria was a bit confused by it.
"Lord Uncle?" Camilla called out, her voice a mirror of the confusion that Maria felt as the Vampire walked towards her Uncle.
"Ah my dear niece and Huntress, it would seem that we have found the traitor that has been running wild in my domain." Dracula called out to the quartet as they approached. "My dear Annette found him in the Clock tower and he foolishly came here on his own."
The news surprised the ladies, Maria turning to get a good look at this Dark Child even as her bats carried the portrait along after her. The Dark Child had vivid red hair that was brushed down to cover part of his face. His armor was clearly damaged in battles and his face was drawn and pale with distress. His visible eye begging to be understood, and there was something that just nagged at Maria to listen to the stranger.
Meanwhile...
"Truly? The games are becoming boring if they fall 'this' easily into your hands my Lord Uncle. Though perhaps he is not the only one then? For Lady Maria found this portrait of that hated Belmont in the hands of Garamoth in his room." Camilla noted as she gestured with her well manicured hand towards the painting the bats carried.
"Oh?" Dracula leaned forward from his throne, one thick eyebrow rising up in interest as he turned his head towards the painting. Indeed it 'was' a Belmont, the power that the painting gave off was strong enough to remind Dracula of those days. In fact he could still recall this particular Belmont for they had faced each other twice.
But why was there a painting with the power of that Belmont here in the Castle? He found himself wondering as his eyes slid to his Huntress and her focus on the traitor Forgemaster. "He tried to convince me that there were other vampires who are traitors in the Castle. However, while Orlox is here, the other he spoke of never existed and while he tried to call witnesses. Well, Shaft here knows not who he is, and the other is that traitor Hector."
Perhaps for others Draculas' willingness to update the girl may have seemed odd. But animals were great judges of character and his huntress would be no less. Indeed he watched as she walked towards the Forgemaster in the way of a stalking panther. Though he couldn't see her face the black outline of her attire made every move of her muscles visible to his eye.
"So 'you' are the traitor?" She asked, her voice soft, like the softest of snakes in its danger, which humans wouldn't have heard from such a distance. Then again three of the people currently in the room 'were' vampires.
"I have not betrayed our Lord, I swear! I have fought the vampire Brauner who undoubtedly made that painting! He is a vampire with the demonic painting skills! I swear to you!"
The Forgemaster sounded nearly in tears in his desperation, as he should considering his treachery as far as Dracula was concerned. Yet despite how open and shut the situation 'seemed' on the outside, Dracula couldn't help but recall what he had been told. That his son was here and seemed to be on 'good' terms with another version of the Vampire Lord himself. Another version that Dracula had not found or heard about again, and he lacked the confidence that maybe...
Besides, he knew the Forgemaster was innocent of such charges. At least during the part of the past that Dracula remembered the Forgemaster to be from. Of course that didn't mean he couldn't be corrupted by, or enticed into treachery by some other being. Mental weakness was something Dracula detested in any of his 'intelligent' followers. Yet, as a Lord, it was his responsibility to uphold law in his domain and if that was the case he wanted a second opinion.
"Lord Dracula? If I might be so bold as suggest a stay of execution?" Maria called out, her hand lifting from her right side up opening to let the palm face the sky.
"Maria are you mad? You think this traitor is telling the 'truth'?" Annette demanded in disbelief, taking a step from the throne in her shock. As though she may go forth and drag her adopted little sister away from a threat. Despite knowing that Maria was capable of taking care of herself in face of a threat.
"Well, yes, or at least in part. I don't doubt his honesty, though what facts he gives, well the senses could always be beguiled..."
Talk about throwing a fox in with the hens, Dracula found himself intrigued by her suggestion and could hear the startled comments from his court. He found himself pondering if that was possible, since he never trained the Forgemasters to use illusions so it 'was' possible if there was someone willing to turn traitor that they got to the Forgemaster. So despite all the twittering of his court, he kept his focus on the Huntress as she turned to look at up at him.
"I find it odd that Garamoth had this painting in the first place, since he lacks any great magical skill to begin with. A forgemaster can only create minions and this painting is alive with the power of a Belmont, a seal that a Forgemaster can't do." She announced firmly, as any lead wolf in a pack would do if they could speak to humans.
Her opinion was pretty sharp, Dracula couldn't find much fault with her thoughts and he could see her point of view quite clearly. If the Forgemaster had been tricked or deceived into taking the fall for the traitor his death would serve no purpose. "A Forgemaster 'can' seal things, but only in reaction to another spell. They can't just create a seal but must actively be seeking to restrain an already existing force my Lady of Beasts," he corrected gently. But nodded all the same, "as sharp as a wolfs' fang your insight though. Very well, until we have found the painting creator I will leave the Forgemaster under your charge."
Maria bowed to the waist, revealing Isaac behind her his face pale with relief and gratitude while the two Final Guards retreated a step back. The unspoken instruction to go on the Hunt was not lost on Maria, and the thrill of another Wild Hunt caused her to spin on her heel and face the Forgemaster. "You're mine, now come, lets see what can be driven to the ground before me." She ordered before wrapping her powers around Isaac and the painting and whisking themselves away.