Let the Symphony Last for Eternity
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
Beta: No one I just go over it again some time later.
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Maria pushed the door fully open and stepped into the hallway that linked the two areas of the Castle together. Her ears could have been used to cook food at that point they burned, "so the supposed 'Lord' of the Castle, that seemed to have reconciled with the Prince, was actually from a no longer existing future?"
She turned to see if Isaac was in agreement with her assessment, only to see the pale Forgemaster even more pale. He gripped the side of the door as though he would fall the second it was taken from him, with an expression of pure disbelief. "Isaac?"
The red heads' eyes couldn't be torn away from the group ahead of them as he recalled his encounter with 'Soma'. His stomach rolled as a heavy sickening feeling consumed him as the memory of how his Lord and Master had beheld him in his weakened state. Found him wounded and offered aid, and Isaac couldn't even recognize the generosity of his Lord and Master. Even more he had the audacity to look 'down' on his Lord as a 'weak' Dark Child!
The absolute utter shame he felt froze his joints as he leaned against the door frame, leaving him frozen. The first time his Lord had noticed him, and he had acted so? It couldn't be, how could he have possibly made so many errors in a single day? He had rejected aid, and thought poorly of his Lord from the future, had insulted the wife of his Lord of the present time. Was this why he had never risen in the ranks of service to his lord? Why was he so flawed?!
Trevor recognized Isaac the moment the Devil Forgemaster appeared, causing the hunters' hand to twitch towards grabbing Vampire Killer. However the situation didn't really afford him that kind of instant response, despite there now being four servants of Dracula in the room. Four who were as baffled and confused as Alucard and himself. It was that confusion that got him, that stilled his hand as the blond who arrived with Isaac turned to face the Forgemaster as well.
This Isaac was different after all, he looked younger, more sane and was wearing more armor than what Trevor recalled. Yet though he considered this version 'more sane' he was unsure if he should consider it so for much longer. Realizing that Draculas' Castle and pulled the Forgemaster from a point in time as well. In fact, this version of the Forgemaster looked as though his sanity just might be slipping. His eyes flickered from one to another in the room and for all his loyalty to Dracula, Trevor felt some pity for this version he was confronted with.
"I think I understand a bit better what happened. The Castle has, seemingly, brought those most loyal to Dracula to defend it for a purpose, but given the White Coat Dracula... I'll just call him 'Soma' for simplicity sake. If it brought Soma here, which makes some sense because it would need a Lord to command it. Yet for it to decide we hunters would be good protectors for the one we hunted?" Trevor theorized out loud, though his gaze was more on Alucard, as the Dhampire undoubtedly would know the best regarding the Castle.
Alucard stood there, his expression thoughtful, his manner was one of composure save for the death grip he maintained on the claymore that he wore at his side. But now knowing 'who' bestowed the claymore to him made the weapon all more important. It explained why his memories were inconsistent suddenly, and why the claymore held such weight with him now. Somehow Soma was seemingly protecting Alucard from the changes of the timeline, to the best of his ability.
"It would depend on why the Castle felt 'threatened' to begin with. It is a creature of Chaos, in its own way the Castle is alive, but without knowing what gave it the feeling that it needed to go above and beyond its normal means of self defense?" Alucards' words came out almost gruffly as he tried to remember while trying to figure out what was his 'original' memories and keep them. For it was in those original memories that he met Soma and he wanted, needed, to remember.
"Well that explains the 'traitor'... Isaac, you would know best on this I believe, after all you're the only one to retain a perfect memory of the events involving our Lord." Maria causally commented, before tossing an indifferent, "after all the Hunter would not defend our Lord. So clearly he wouldn't be informed of such important information."
Isaac blinked as he heard his name, Abel hovering lower at his back in a show of loyalty that comforted the Forgemaster some. Somehow, speaking again felt like an invitation to trouble, as though what he would say would bring down the wrath of his Lord and Master. Only, at the same time he had been shown his Lords kindness through Soma...
He pushed himself from the door frame and on instinct, sauntered his way towards Maria and the group. Regardless of the situation he couldn't afford to look weak, especially when he was serving as the center of attention. Even if his mind was reeling from what he had heard, he was still in the presence of three other loyal servants of Dracula. If nothing else they needed to maintain a unified front of strength.
And if he could get the hunters to ferret out and destroy the traitor?
Only there was a small issue that hissed at the back of his thoughts. Right at that moment, his Lord was in control of the Castle, and while he wanted the traitor gone, aiding this hunter 'could' be counter productive. What was stopping them from trying to defeat his Lord now, and allow for his presence to fade for a time from the world? Giving the Hunters time to regroup and weaken Lord Dracula's influence on the world?
Yet... there was the other Lord, Soma who had been brought into the Castle as well, was he to be ignored? Soma, now that his identity was known, in essence was personifying the generosity that Lord Dracula originally showed. Would he be betraying his Lord by siding with Soma and trying to bring him back? Or was he fulfilling Soma's wish by aiding his Lord and Master in keeping the time line as it was?
"Stop stalling Forgemaster," Alucard hissed in annoyance as the pounding in his head was now going in time with Isaacs' foot falls. His eyes were glinting red amid their gold causing the two ladies nearest him to back away a step. While the blond ahead of him smirked and licked her lips as though she saw a challenge she liked.
"Alucard, if you need aid..." Trevor gruffly asked, realizing that Alucard really was having a difficult time of the shift in timelines.
"I shall be fine," Alucard replied as he rolled his shoulders in an effort to take the tension off his head.
Isaac, startled, grew a bit wary of approaching the group at the order, after all this was the son of his Lord. Yet he was a 'Dhampire', and given the color of his eyes it was clear that the Prince could be 'hungry'.
"When I arrived in the Castle, there were two Vampires who had turned traitor against Lord Dracula. Proclaiming his inability to eradicate humanity they sought to over take the Castle itself, I was brought to assist the Dark Priest Shaft in its protection as was Lady Camilla. Yet we found the Castle seemed to have brought a number of Hunters as well. When this seeming shift of timelines happened, and while Shaft is still here, he no longer knew of one of the two Vampires, an artist by trade." Isaac explained as calmly as he could while his thoughts buzzed. "For that matter the doors were treacherous, every door took a person to a random location. And you see how things are now," Isaac finished with a flourishing gesture towards their surroundings.
Two vampires who had turned traitor, while a Dark Priest and a Devil Forgemaster and a lone vampire had been summoned to protect the Castle? Yet was the expectation that the Hunters would settle for weaker Vampires rather than hunting down Dracula? Or even 'believe' that it was an issue, after all what was to stop them from siding with the supposed traitors?
"And Father?" Alucard asked, as something didn't sit right in his hazy mind. That being that his father would sit idly by while supposed traitors would run amok in the Castle?
"He was not here, the Lord had been defeated by another of the Belmonts and was once more resting... Which I suppose could be why the Castle would have brought Lord Soma, so it would have a Lord in charge of it. Yet..." Isaac shrugged, since he didn't know what made Soma so unique that the Castle would opt to bring him into Its presence.
In fact, by voicing his existence, Alucard brought another snag into the situation. As all four of Draculas' devoted servants had been ordered to escort Alucard to the Master Chambers. But it was under the misinformed belief that Alucard was now on good terms with his father. While in reality he was still a Vampire Hunter, one who had come to 'slay' said Vampire Lord, and the one he was on 'good terms with'? Was some future version of Lord Dracula, not the current one and with them having no clue as to what was special about this particular Dracula.
What were they supposed to do 'now'? Subdue the Prince and tow him back before his father? There was no way the Hunter would tolerate that, he spoke to the Prince as allies if not friends, and if this was one of 'the' Hunters that had defeated their lord before? Bring the Prince before his Lord Father and have them argue?
Tera started to sway where she stood as the implications started to hit her, facing her Lord having spoken of the Prince. How would she explain that the Prince had, unknowingly, been acting cordial towards a future version of the Lord? How was she supposed to explain the reality of time having shifted and or anything else? More over she had inadvertently dragged Iris with her on this task. Regardless of what the situation was now, she could see no way to avoid offending their Lord and costing herself and her friend their very lives.
While Iris herself watched as Tera fainted with a Vampire Hunter and their Lord Prince in audience. The Necromancer removed her mask so she could rub her eyes a bit at the lack of internal resilience her friend had. This situation was now officially absurd with a future version of their Lord roaming around the Castle. The Prince only on good terms with 'that' version of his Father and even then, had no clue he 'had' been acting cordial with said father.
"We can assume that Lord Soma is no longer in the Castle, for whatever happened to bring him about was clearly after our point in time." Iris noted allowed as she took a critical analysis of their current situation. "Our Lord is here now, what reason would there be for an alternate version of him from the future. Indeed, all we need is our Lord Prince here and hope that it appeases Lord Dracula given the situation."
"So you 'are' a blond." Trevor quipped quietly while walking towards Tera and nudging the woman with the toe of his boot. Granted she was a servant of Dracula and therefore evil, still..
"I beg your pardon, what does my hair have to do with anything?" Iris asked stiffly as she brushed him aside to check on her erstwhile friend.
"My wife is just as serious," Trevor answered while he took note of the false confidence that Isaac's posture took. Given what he now knew there was a feeling of being strange bedfellows with the followers of Dracula. That through misinformation these four had been tasked to find and bring Alucard back and seemingly recover Soma. None of which was going to happen without a fight now, and yet somehow instead of realizing that and bracing for battle. These four were left floundering and trying to figure out what to do.
Of course it could have been because of what the black haired woman had vocalized and in doing so Trevor could see their plight. They were alive due to Dracula, but they were clearly afraid of making him angry or being caught in a lie. Yet he knew that Alucard would not go willingly with them with the intention of just socializing with his father.
"Well then I suggest you find a safe place to figure out what you're going to do to make up for the blunder you seem to have wandered into. I haven't disappeared and therefore I know there are others who are in the same boat as I." Trevor finally stated gesturing with a hand for Alucard to move towards the door behind his back.
"What makes you think we're letting you leave?" Iris asked in annoyance, as Trevor took hold of one of his many small vials of holy water.
"Oh let them, we have enough on our plate and there isn't enough of them to get their imprisoned relative out of that portrait anyway," Maria replied as she shook her head. "First he tells me I can go on a hunt, then he tells me to make sure his son is escorted to him first. This is beyond foolishness at this point if you ask me."
Alucard couldn't fathom why he was being asked to allow these followers of Dracula to live, though given his headache. Well was he going to be of any use in combat at the moment, seeing that this pain had been going on for quite some time now. Though for the first time in his life, Alucard had been forced to try to think of 'Time' itself as an entity, not just the Castle. Now he understood though, time had been damaged heavily and probably had yet to settle down properly. While the world itself may have remolded itself instantly in response to this sudden change. The Castle followed its own rules as it was connected outside of time in the primordial chaos. Thus it was possible that the presence of the Castle was stopping time from finalizing its transformation.
Which meant, being a half breed and therefore with both rivers of blood in him, Alucard was going to be stuck with this massive headache. Yet despite the fact that his fathers' future self had disappeared, the claymore he had gifted to Alucard remained. A reminder of his fathers' blessing that he continue to 'do what he wished'. Defying the change in history and the future, or perhaps the final linchpin keeping that future from completely being erased.
The weight of the blade became one of importance, a keepsake while the family sword that Death had stolen from him was temporarily lost to him. However; even if he got his sword back in the next minute, Alucard didn't feel safe relinquishing his grip on the claymore. Despite the pain, what peace he could find was coming from that blade and he didn't want to give it up for anyone.
Taking his cue from Trevor, he stepped away towards the door that lead them further into the Castle. The other three didn't look as invested in advancing towards the Dhampire, though how 'could' they? Iris was busy trying to revive Tera while processing that another time line had existed before the one she knew. It seemed implausible, insane even, yet she had seen humans shift into werebeasts, served under one who was dead yet was alive. The Chaos Principle ruled all their lives in the very nature of the Castle. So there was no reason to 'not' believe that even Time could be corrupted or changed beyond recognition.
"Come on Tera, wake up."
Alucard paused and cast his glance once more on the Forgemaster as he realized they both had met this 'Lord Soma'. "Forgemaster, how did you come across my Father in the first place."
Isaac started as he was directly addressed by the prince, watching as the Hunter, though he had returned the vial of Holy Water, stilled his retreating footsteps. The reason 'why' the prince was curious was beyond him for a moment, but then Isaac figured it was because it 'was' Dracula. That Lord Soma was decidedly close to the way their Lord had been before the death of his Lady wife, so, "I was wounded. I had faced off against Orlox, another of the traitors. But the door took me to the front of the Castle gates. I found him there, having finished eating some treat or another, and he offered aid and accompanied me. He walked with me for a bit before we went out own separate ways."
Alucard blinked, faintly recalling how Soma had tumbled from the sky with snacks in hand and realized that the doors had allowed for the Forgemaster to meet Soma after Alucard had.
"I must say, and I hope you forgive this, but he reminded me much of our Lord before the death of his Lady Wife, your mother."
Alucards' eyes flashed red at the mention of his mother, that someone so low would bring her up, but... "Indeed."
He turned abruptly, following Trevor to the door while Isaacs' words planted that painful thought once more in his head. Perhaps in time, his father still could be saved from his dark path...
Trevor watched over Alucard and when they reached the door they left the group of Dracula's minions.
While Maria kept a facade of indifference, content how the situation gave her a chance to plant that little seed. If the Hunter was worthy of his status of a 'legendary hero' then he would have picked up that his kin was trapped in a painting. If the fool was able to go and rescue that hunter, then history would revert back and she would have her life free of this darkness restored, and who knew of her other two friends here. Maybe they would all be happy, if not? Well then she was safe at least with nothing tracing back to her. All in all it would be a good hunt to watch, even if she couldn't take part in it.