Let the Symphony Last for Eternity
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
Beta: … Just me... lonely me.
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Maria walked into the Alchemy lab just as grumpy now as she had when her Lord told her to find his son. Sure there was a deep curiosity about finding the prince, after all she never saw him before. But she wanted to 'hunt', the wild thrill of tearing and slaying the weaker driven to the ground before her. Instead she was forced to sulk through the Castle and hope she could find a lone prince. How was she supposed to do 'that' when there were multiple ways to leave and enter an area to start with?! She was supposed to keep the Forgemaster with her, to ensure his sincerity so she couldn't just dump him off at one end after all!
While Isaac found himself in his own bit of a conundrum as he took in the tables and the skeletons carrying boxes towards them. As he watched the skeletons began to remove small glass like objects and placing them on the table he finally opted to voice his current question. "Maria, what do you think we should do if we come across one of these time displaced Vampire Hunters?"
"We kill them Isaac, its not hard." Maria snarked out as she joined the skeletons on the ground floor and moved along. Meaning she missed Isaacs' eye roll visual retort.
"Well 'yes' that would be the easiest response however, I was more concerned about what will happen to you and whatever else has changed so far." He pointed out brushing his bangs out from his face with a careless gesture of his fingers. Noting Maria turning to look up at him in confusion at his reply. Allowing him to preen under the attention, "after all, if just sealing off that one hunter caused time to change as it has. What if we run across a hunter from before him? How many exist before the sealed hunter was sealed since the change would wipe you lot from the Castle as well?"
Maria found herself surprised at the vain peacock before her, mostly from his surprisingly concern for her well being thought process. Well, possibly not about 'her' and he was putting the thought in a way that would make her actually put thought to his words. But his wording worked, so she paused in her steps and began trying to think of the answer to that question.
She knew of only three Hunters one of whom was now in the 'care' of their lord and master, so if sealing this hunter resulted in the vast number of changes as Isaac spoke of. Then removing any of the other two would have a larger effect on the time line. If the previous hunters were part of the reason why her parents were able to survive as long as they did to have her. Removing them would mean removing herself from the time line.
Though it would mean that putting her lord and master back to power for longer than he had been as she knew it. Yet the fact that Isaac brought it up was incredibly short sighted as she saw it, after all, they both knew he was defeated by previous Belmonts, why ask what was to be done with any others. His only focus should have been slaying all others, sure it would mean wiping Maria out of the time stream. But that was a price that any 'loyal' follower of Dracula would want, wasn't it?
"That is a bold point, one could question your loyalty with such words," Maria pointed out turning to face the Forgemaster fully.
"Perhaps, perhaps not, if I can stay in this period with our lord in charge, it would be all I need to make me happy. For this is how I recall the Castle was before the murder of our Lords' Lady Wife. Once she was killed, our Lord no longer knew happiness, his rage was so terrible I would have been slayed out of hand just at the suggestion of treason. Now he can be spoken to, reasoned with and see beyond his anger. I just think that perhaps," he let the unspoken suggestion hang in the air between them.
After he explained himself Maria could see his point of view quite clearly and found some empathy for it. Living under the authority of Count Dracula in the height of his rage at the loss of his wife must have been frightening. So now that he had this chance to live the peaceful life he must have had before, why not go for it? It wasn't as though he was talking about destroying their Lord, just ensuring that the previous hunters got home safe. So long as the captured Belmont was destroyed Dracula was safe to continue his reign over the world.
While allowing the other hunters to ensure that Maria and the others survived to find protection from their Lord as well. She frowned as she resumed walking with the Forgemaster at her side, her thoughts churning over the topic. "I see your point, but in honesty, how can we convince the hunters to just go 'home'? These aren't 'just' hunters these would be the ancestors of the hunter we already have in our possession. What would stop them from wanting to rescue their kin?" Maria inquired, since he said she was originally also a huntress herself.
Since he recalled the way things were before the hunter was sealed, it was possible that the other remaining hunters also recalled how it was before the sealing. Which meant that they could possibly be trying to find out what caused the change. But there would only be three Belmonts in the Castle, and Maria recalled that Trevor Belmont had received aid from others. If she was brought into the Castle because of the traitors before, it was possible the Castle also brought in the aid.
She tried to recall any stories about the hunters and those who had lent their hands to the battle against Dracula. Only to be distracted when a demon emerged out of nothingness to land by Isaacs' side. Flesh toned silver, with thick horns from its brow curling behind its head like a ram, and reptile style ears that flared out from the sides of its head like bat wings. While large scale like plates rested along the shoulders and down the back to wrap around the legs. Reaching the feet that were tipped with bird like talons which felt right with the large bat wings feathery edges. Coupled with a single large talon that grew out of the wings as another weapon. While a pair of amethyst stones, one that jutted out of the center of its torso in the shape of a glacier, the other over its heart shone. The light from those stones beat with a pulse of life.
The demon looked down at her in contempt while Maria switched her gaze from the hovering demon and to Isaac. Raising an eyebrow as her method of asking the obvious question. For which he answered with a slight smirk tilting his head towards the demon, "I 'am' a Devil Forgemaster, Huntress. This is Abel, my most treasured creation," he explained, gesturing with a black gloved hand up at the cross armed demon.
Well it 'did' explain what and where it came from, and she could only reason the name as being symbolic to his devotion to their Lord. Though she had to confess a touch of interest in its existence since she had never seen the work of a 'Forgemaster' to start with. "So you created Abel.. That is impressive, as I've never beheld the work of a Forgemaster until now." She commented as she began to walk around said Devil, appraising it with with a keen eye.
"I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if you hadn't," Isaac preened as he looked upon his grandest creation. "When our Lord opened the Castle gates to the Dark Children, we were all that resided in it, the demons as we would see in your time that travel are in part thanks to us. As we can create an army upon command when given the right tools. Which is why we began working to create so many demons as of late. Once the Lady Wife was killed, there really wasn't enough forces to validate an 'army' save what we Forgemasters could create. It takes time to drag demons directly from hell after all. Though given what I've seen as I traveled through the Castle it has become clear that he has mastered the art of demon summoning quite well. "
Maria nodded, taking in his words politely, impressed with the fact that he could create demons with his magic. Her reservations about speaking up for Isaac were slipping away bit by bit as they developed more time to talk. Sure he was a vain peacock if ever she saw one, but he was thoughtful and passionate. "You miss the days when the original Lady Wife of our Lord lived don't you?" She asked finally, glancing through her own pale locks from the side at the red head.
He glanced at her in surprise, before a thoughtful look crossed his face followed up by a quiet nod. "I suppose so, now that I have time to think on it. Back in those days, anyone not weak enough could easily become the victim of a mob. Lord Draculas' Castle was the only safe domain any of us had. So long as no human disturbed him, he left the humans to their own devices. Though I suppose their unawareness of the Lady's identity resulted in their fate, had they known? I can't see anyone with the sheer gall to slay the wife of a Vampire Lord." He recalled, and for a moment his thoughtful tones confirmed Maria's thoughts on Isaac.
He spoke of being a Dark Child and being around when the war against humanity began, yet he never spoke of his rank or title. Preening peacock that he was, she couldn't imagine him 'not' bragging about his position in the Castle had he one. But his description of the safety found in the Castle painted a picture that explained his panic. Without doubt he must have been without position or at least one that afforded him the right to enter the Master Chambers of Lord Dracula without just cause.
It was no different than a commoner who had been trying to defend his Lords' domain only to be accused of being a traitor.
But regardless, they had no clue what the Prince looked like or what to look 'for' and had to decide if they would opt to kill the Belmonts they found or just sending them home. Though, how would they send 'anyone' home, as it was the Will of the Castle itself, supposedly, that brought them to the Castle in the first place. Should she risk allowing the Belmonts to know how to get to the Master Chambers? If they rescued their kin, then time would return to what it was, she would be with her beloved animal friends. Annette would be human, and who knew who else would be saved by allowing her Lord to be defeated.
She looked at the skeletons around her and finally opted to ask one who was busy placing more delicate glasses on the table. With a gesture for Isaac to wait for her she approached the skeleton in a white coat, "Have you seen the Lord Prince of the Castle?"
The skeletons in the room all jumped in surprise at the question, which was odd, as they turned to look at her. Lacking muscles there was no way to tell what their facial expressions would be, only the wringing of their hands told her anything. The skeleton in question turned to point up a series of platforms that led to the next floor above them. While a chattering type of whisper clattered in her ears, "the young prince just went that way..."
"You seem pretty anxious, you didn't do anything to warrant this behavior, have you?" She asked, her tone firm like dealing with an errant pup.
"No, no, of course not. The young prince seemed unwell is all and what with his type of hobby," The skeleton chattered the hand wringing getting worse as it shuffled itself back against the table and away from Maria.
"Unwell?" Isaac echoed with a frown, he couldn't imagine their Lord being fine with signs of illness from his only son. He approached the skeleton, noting from the side the others who seemed just as anxious.
"If that is the case we should find him quickly. He should be easy to find and escort to our Lord now," Maria thought aloud for Isaac as she looked up the platforms they were heading towards.
"Indeed, I need nothing else to give our Lord reason to doubt my intentions," Isaac agreed readily moving towards the platforms on his own. Abel gliding behind Isaac with the focus of a demonic bird of prey.
Maria followed the pair while she continued to internally debate on the merits of letting the Belmonts learn about their kins' imprisonment. Yet it was the Castle that was proving to be the biggest problem in her mind, as she lacked control over the being. She couldn't just 'tell it' to send the Belmonts back to their own times, she would probably require the blessing of Lord Dracula. Which was not something she could see happening, after all how could she explain the benefits of sending the hunters home safely?
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The room rose up like a tower, narrow in shape and going up instead of forward, there were platforms that jutted out of the wall to help those with the leg strength to leap. The area was an extension of the previous room and bore a great deal of blue tones in the paint and color choices. On the ground floor of this area was Alucard. Sitting on the ground, his eyes a dull gold in color and his fangs were easily visible when he parted his lips to gasp.
His head hurt something ungodly.
Trying to get his mind to form a coherent thought seemed harder than it should have. He couldn't understand why he woke up 'now' when his father had been in power for over a century. The balance of power had long been undone so why was he awake 'now'? Where had he been all this time? Sleeping? No, the spell would have forced him awake much sooner than now. So how was he awake now?
Where was his armor? He wouldn't return to his fathers' castle unarmed, yet only a blade that was not his own was strapped to his side. He had a distant memory of Death approaching him and stripping him of all his armor. Yet he also had memories of his solitude as he lived in the remains of the town where his mother died. Living his days in his coffin and stepping out to fight the Undead that served his father and tormented the few remaining humans in the area. The one's he could reach at any rate.
The Castle had become tame? There was a maid that was escorting him when he got distracted by, by a... Who was it that he ran into? Another hunter, dying on the ground? No. The dead were impaled up in the distance. This person fell from the sky, clad in a white coat with a white fur collar, black top and light blue pants. But it was the guys' eyes that still stuck with Alucard, no matter how many possibilities that Alucard had in his head for what must have happened before or after. It was this guy that he remembered the most.
Those blue eyes with their odd slight slant seemed to serve as a grounding point in his mind, if he just thought on them he could just... remember. The stranger gave Alucard the sword at his side, as casual as though he owned the Castle and could do whatever he wanted when ever he wanted. Those thoughts bringing back the memory of that stranger saying those thoughts.
Sleeping, he had been sleeping for a long time and something had happened to validate waking up. Even if he couldn't remember exactly what it 'was' that woke him from his slumber. However; the moment he took that one door he... Where did he end up?
Alucard knew that he had been moved to another part of the Castle far from where the door he took should have taken him. So when he turned and took the door back to return to the front of the Castle... He had been relieved to find himself closer to where his senses felt he should have been the first time. The Castle had been acting profoundly odd, even as a creature of Chaos it should have had more structure and control once it manifested in the real world.
But now it was normal once more, the darkness and chaos wove its way like the veins in a body through out the Castle. If only the Chaos in Alucards' mind could be settled down enough so that he could think straight. So long as he focused on that guy from before he could almost think clearly, but he couldn't think too far from those eyes.
A soft angry hiss escaped his lips as he gripped his head in pain, he felt like he was trying to hold his splitting head together. Opening his eyes only reinforced his pain as everything seemed to explode in bright vivid white light. Unless he walked out in broad daylight and decided to stare directly at the sun. Something he hadn't done since he was a small, stupid, boy.
The world had spots of white light, orbs that floated through out the air moving in time with the beat of his rarely moving heart. His senses felt like they were sharpen beyond normal beyond his half blood nature. Every sound was caught by his ears, every speck of movement by his eyes as well. While an insidious memory was worming its way into his mind. Whispering of being bitten, of no longer being a 'half' vampire. Even if he was still slaying his own kind there was a change in him that was taking over and he resented it with every pained fiber of his being.
Thus when he heard the faint sound of foot steps approaching the entryway that he had stumbled through he grew wary. Pushing himself to his feet he began taking the jumps necessary to reach each platform that existed before him. Until he knew who he was approaching he couldn't afford to allow himself to be taken unaware.