Castlevania: Let the Symphony Last for Eternity
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
Beta By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
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The Colosseum was 'not' the most attractive place for her to visit, the stone work was barbarically blunt. Course stones barely shaped to keep the sharp edges down, blood was smeared against various walls and floors. Revealing that even the Undead had a point where they even recognized the futility of their effort. The rough hew stonework was occasionally covered by banners or stabbed with metal hooks that hoisted up weapons or torch scones. The flames danced on their small stages casting their gold and amber hued light as far as they could.
Yet this was the one place that the servants reported seeing the Dark Priest, so here she was.
"Well I find myself most intrigued by why that one girl seems enamored with her little spellbook the moment she sees you." Camilla thought aloud as she stood looking at the red coated pet at her left side, the sun kissed warrior on her right. "I don't suppose you know yet, what spell she might perchance be trying to cast?"
"I recognize the first few words of the spell she's attempting, yes, my lady. It would appear that she is attempting to cast a spell I was attempting to create. One that reverses vampirism," Juste dutifully answered.
She turned just enough to look at him askance and amazed all at once given what he said. A spell that would turn a vampire back into a human? Well he 'was' a Belmont, it would make sense that if he had the ability to do so he would. Yet, 'attempting'...? "So you are still in the process of researching the spell I take it?" She inquired slowing her steps as she asked.
"No my Lady, the spell is complete I merely lack the magical strength to cast it is all."
"Impressive..." a new voice noted casually from the shadows.
Camilla had put a full stop to her steps upon hearing the answer, yet the voice that spoke was not her own. The unannounced male voice was enough to rouse Juste and Maxim to take up defensive positions. Placing themselves before the possible threat that spoke from the darkness that crept on the edges of the torches' light.
From the shadows, seemingly to melt out of the wall itself was the rich violet robes of the Dark Priest that Camilla had come seeking. The Spirit floated forward as the light from the torches glinted off his ever present crystal orb. "... it appears that the Belmont I enspelleds' grandsire was a man of some note after all... But tell me more of this girl."
"She is but a mere slip, however; were you taken over by a sudden terrifying feeling a while a go? Say, the sensation of our Lord in a particular state of anger?" Camilla asked as the Dark Priest floated over. As much as she loathed to have to actually 'work' with humans or any part of them, spirit or flesh. This was clearly something she was going to need help on given the circumstances.
"Indeed I had, and I take you bringing it up means you know what brought that about," Shaft answered as he hovered there, while Richter could be seen in the inner glow of the orb.
"Well it seems we both have been working under a false assumption," she explained with a slight suffering sigh. "It would appear that my esteemed uncle 'is' in fact in the Castle, albeit he's been reincarnated."
"I see, and those fool hunters awoke him, I see," Shaft finished, only to see the slight shake of Camilla's head.
"Actually, no, he was here awake already and has been relearning his Dark Powers on his own. Yet I would speak with you in a more private setting," Camilla stated, her mind still unable to think of a single place that would both be safe for a private discussion, and worthy of one of her station. What with the way her Uncles' servants readily appeared anywhere at his whim she dared not say anything that could be reported back.
"I know of one place... Come," Shaft turned down towards the hallway so the three vampires could follow him. It wouldn't be that far really, with the doors working properly the path to the inner sanctum of the Castle was once more open to ones such as themselves. With their Lord having reincarnated, that he was relearning his Dark Powers was good. Yet the fact that Lady Camilla, who had refused to work with 'humans' before, was now willing to talk? It did not bode well for whatever it was that she had observed.
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"Very well, this is about as private as one can get in this castle," Shaft finally announced as the platform finished rising into position carrying the two vampire thralls with it. Camilla and himself had merely floated up into the room. Another odd thing Shaft took note of was how Camilla seemed invested in keeping her Belmont thrall by her side. He had expected that thralls would be kept out of the room and discussion, yet here they were.
The room was spacious, with strong, thick stonework against the wall that was crafted into the shape of polished stone. Three talon digits gripped the stone and seemingly held it in place as though frozen in the act of pulling the jewel into the wall before all of it was turned to stone.
"Sleep," Camilla ordered her pair once they stepped off the platform and watched as both men dropped into slumber on command. Such good little thralls. "It would appear that the accursed hunters did not awaken our reincarnated Lord. Instead he is their... and I can not believe I am saying this; their ally. You need only to look upon the painting he has hanging above his throne in the Master Chambers to see the confirmation."
Shaft retracted one hand from the orb he had before him, while the second one he used with it was summoned forth. Normally he only used one for viewing, but he didn't want to risk losing the Belmont he had ensnared. Under the second ones' clear exterior he willed the image of the Master Chambers into its center, so he could see what Camilla was speaking of.
The Chamber was mostly empty, save the Young Master, Isaac and a stranger unfamiliar to Shaft. White hair, white coat, but Camilla mentioned a painting above the throne so he shifted the focus there. There hanging above the throne was the stranger, sitting upon the throne of their Lord bound to said throne by the hated Vampire Killer and looking to be asleep.
How was this possible? How could the Lord of Darkness be surrounded by Vampire Hunters, seemingly 'protected' by them? Their Lord appeared young, a young man with white hair and pale skin, yet even with the slight alterations to his form. It was clear who this person 'was', the power he exuded was subtle but present.
"I... do not know what to make of this."
"From what I can tell, he originally traveled the castle letting his identity be liken to just another Dark Child. Hence how Isaac first encountered him, only now that we know who he is, Isaac refuses to leave our Lords' side. The interesting thing is that, from what I can gather, he had a near established view liken to that of what the Hunters have. The Forgemaster seems to have softened that outlook, my Lord Uncle is more inclined to view the Dark Children as people once again. However; my Lord Uncle is now a human and that needs to be fixed." Camilla explained, she already had a history with the Hunters in the room and had a Belmont as a thrall.
She wasn't interested or willing to give him up, especially now that she knew what made him so unique among his clansmen. But obviously her Uncle, under the guidance of the Hunters, would expect her to do just that. It was probably the reason why the room was now empty of hunters, they were undoubtedly on the move to find said thrall. Turning her Uncle would allow her incredible power without having to be burdened with the responsibility of actually 'ruling'.
Yet what good was that if that slip of a girl could undo the bite with a mere spell? All of Camilla's power and influence would be wiped away.
"He is mostly alone, and unlike myself you have no presence in his current identity," Camilla pointed out, revealing finally just 'why' she was willing to talk to Shaft now.
"And what of the Young Master, does our Lord know who currently stands in his presence?" Shaft asked, he knew that one girl was in the Castle. More than that he knew she remembered 'him'.
"He has been made aware, yes, though their 'relationship' is decidedly... vocal..." she recalled, amused at how the two reacted in each others' company. "Though his encounter with the Forgemaster has done us a favor."
"I see..." Shaft watched the Master Chambers while pondering what to do about the Belmont under his control. He dared not bring the one hunter against his kin, though the Belmont was not a vampire the rest of the clan was bound to seek his liberation. Bowing to his Lords current state could result in possibly Isaac revealing that the Belmont was under Shaft's control. He doubted the Forgemaster would do so out of ill intent, his devotion was impeccable, yet... if he let it slip...
If the Belmonts got to Lord Dracula it was their duty to restore him to his true self.
But the question was 'how'?
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Alucard was taken aback as his nose took in the harsh scent of smoke, while he was used to the scent from all the torches and candles in the Castle. The notes of human flesh called up memories that he detested greatly. Enough that he instantly turned to walk out the door without a glance back, deciding that the Forgemaster would be fine where he was.
"Wow," Soma's voice caught his attention, but not anywhere as strongly...
"My Lady, as I promised, your Lord Husband is here."
Wait what?
"'Lord Husband'? I'm married to a Ghost Hottie?"
"Hottie?" the Maid inquired a bit confused at her masters' words as she stood to the side of the Spirit of the Lords' Wife.
"Well she 'is' smoking, but it..." Soma began before groaning, "damn it I punned myself."
Alucard didn't really want to do it, yet it was a force he could not deny as he turned to see what was going on. He could see his fathers' back, yet before him was a maid of no importance, her head bowed and in a curtsy. While his mother stood there, her presence as ethereal as a spirit or ghost, but she looked every bit as alive and whole and not the burned charred up corpse that was his last memory of her. How was his mother here? "Mother?"
For Elizabetha, the moment she materialized in the room at the near pleading behest of the maid who had reappeared, she had been taken by the presence of the white coat stranger. He didn't look like her Lord Husband physically, yet it was in his stance, posture, the way he expressed emotions that she could see him. Not only see 'him' but see the 'him' that she met back when they first met and he was still human.
"Mother?"
And there was her baby, standing off in the distance, his eyes wide with disbelief, yet he looked at her, spoke to her! For the first time in centuries her beloved family could 'see' her! "Yes, my dear baby?"
Soma slowly turned to look at Alucard, his eyes half lidded and a slow smile creeping on his face, "awww dear wittle baby?"
"You be quiet," Alucard all but growled as he barely controlled himself not to run to his mother.
"Mathias, don't tease our baby..." Elizabetha admonished gently, causing a look of realization dawn on Soma's face.
"Wait... 'our' baby? So you're," he began only to have Alucard actually growl.
"No, now stop saying such idiotic things!"
"You want to go to your room? Coffin? Where ever it is that you slink off to when your parents are talking?" Soma retorted, turning to face Alucard.
Elizabetha 'stood' there, as much as any ghost really could, looking between her husband and son being typical. The poor forgotten maid still in a low curtsy, that Elizabetha immediately gestured for the zombie to rise up from. With the poor lone Devil Forgemaster, Isaac was it, looking decidedly like he was unsure if he should be in the room to start with.
For the first time in centuries, Elizabetha felt like she was 'home'.
"You have no idea how glorious it feels to have you both be able to see me, for the first time in centuries," she began. Intentionally distracting her Lord Husband and adorable baby from their glaring contest.
"... wait, mother are you saying you've 'been' here? This whole time?" Alucard inquired, barely suppressing the disbelief in his voice as he spoke. His heart sank as he was left wondering if she had seen his part in his father's death in Trevor's time. The worry made all the worse as her lips slipped into a mournful little smile.
"There is no way we're not in trouble is there," Soma asked glancing at Alucard and taking in the stoic prince's expression as a confirmation.
"I never knew there 'was' a way to become visible, until you arrived I had accepted that I would eternally be the unseen Ghost," Elizabetha confessed. Yet here she was, joyfully able to see her beloved family once more!
"This is all your fault," Alucard finally grumbled glaring at the back of Soma's head needing someone to take his anger out on.
"How is it 'my' fault? And why aren't you in your room yet?" Soma shot back turning to look at his past life child.
"Its possible, your father isn't the least bit angry and the Castle has reached a state of such calm that its possibly the reason I can appear. But for this chance to see you both, I gladly welcome it," she answered drifting closer to Soma as she did so. So much white, so much fluff, it had been positively ages since he had been human and wore his fluffy collars. It was amusing to see that he had been reborn with the same interest in clothes.
As she moved forward her eyes caught sight of that poor Forgemaster, looking ever the lost and alone standing by himself over to the side. "Ohh, poor... Isaac, that is your name correct? I apologize my Lord Husband and son can be a bit of a handful, so do not feel pressured to stay in here and watch such antics..."
Isaac immediately straightened up before bowing to the waist, "yes, that is my name, you need not worry about a lowly Forgemaster like myself. It is an honor to be in the presence and service of my Liege and Lady." She knew his 'name', that the human lady that his Lord married could be bothered to recall him. How could any Child of Darkness 'not' understand their Lords' outrage at her murder? Such an angelic soul she had!
"Why can't you be that nice?" Soma asked looking at Alucard only to get the Dhampire to retort with.
"Why can't you stay quiet?"
Soma began to say retort with another 'go to your tomb' comment when his eyes caught sight of the maid standing off to the side. He 'was' getting a little thirsty... "You... maid."
"Yes, my Lord?" The maid step forward before curtsying before Soma.
"I want you to get me a Virgin Bloody Mary, I could use a drink." Soma ordered, 'though I don't think I can afford being any bit tipsy... With my luck I get even a slight tipsy and I'll say the wrong thing.'
The maid was a bit taken aback by such a request, after Lord Soma made the original order about anything with Blood... "As you wish..." She sank down into the ground as quietly as she arrived.
Alucard on the other hand was fully mortified, "I thought you human!"
"I am." Soma replied turning at the strangely offended tone that Alucard spoke with...
What was wrong with a Bloody Mary? It wasn't even going to be alcoholic so... Wait... oh... OH!
CURSE YOU MODERN DRINK NAMES!