Castlevania: Let the Symphony Last for Eternity
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
Beta By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
A/N: If you're new to the fic for a good chunk of this story I picked character placement off a roll of dice I have in my room. It was so randomized I didn't have any idea what type of ending this would cause. So there literally are different endings that could have been unlocked?
Did you know: The originally planned 'worst' ending for this story was for Soma to encounter anyone else other than Leon, Jonathan, or Alucard first? Since the Hunters would just sense 'Dracula' and outright kill Soma without ever learning what was going on.
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Large chilled mugs, multiple scoops of ice cream, dark fizzy soda drink, whip cream, bright seedless cherry on top. A small bottle with colored sprinkles, white soft pillow snacks in a bag, bottle of melted chocolate, finally three long handled spoons for scooping ice cream rested on a few napkins, and the maid could only hope that she had brought enough stuff and potential add ons that Lord Soma would be pleased. Given the whole 'Virgin Bloody Mary' fiasco the maid was not as confident as she would have liked to have been about 'this' drink set up.
She rose up from the floor outside the Master Chambers and made a steady walk through the large doors. Grateful that she was undead and therefore not burdened by the labor found in carrying the three large mugs and assortment of add ons. Stepping back into the Master Chambers, she found Lord Soma laid out on a couch, while more furniture apparently was brought into the room while she was gone.
There was a small ornate table that rested near the couch where Lord Soma was resting, the table came with two elegant chairs. For which one was being currently occupied by the Young Master, while the Devil Forgemaster was aimless in his wanderings of the room. Though it wasn't as though the Young Master would ever allow a lowly commoner the right to sit with him at a table.
"Darlings, the maid is back..." The Lady of the Castle spoke up alerting her son to her left and her husband on the right, as she also directed the maid to approach with a simple wave of the hand. "Lord Husband?"
Elizabetha looked down at her Lord Husband who didn't stir from his couch, and upon closer inspection realize he had fallen asleep! "Um, Beloved, ice cream..." She tried, wondering what this 'ice cream' tasted like. She had seen various items over the years in the castle that manifested and sometimes, to pass the time, wondered about them.
It was the turkey in the walls. She wondered about the turkeys in the wall and the ability for anyone to eat something that literally was just found embedded in the stonework of a castle. Most random items that were found for the Hunters were gifts from the spirits in the Castle who, like herself, became prisoners of the Castle due to how they died. Using their energy to craft weapons and items to help the Hunters had ever been a gift of gratitude from those souls. A shattered Candle was a soul released to the afterlife for numerous souls, the hearts or items a thank you. Maybe when her Lord Husband woke up she could ask him finally.
While the Castle seemed to have decided to attempt its own version of 'help', like a dog trying to please its master. Such a shame really, the Castle had ever so much potential, a well spring of knowledge that could be learned, wasted by her Lord Husbands rage.
Until now.
"Lord Husband?"
Just the presence of this version of her Lord Husband was reawakening the potential that this castle had.
"Father, Mother is speaking to you," Alucard finally grumbled as he lifted his head up from his thoughts and looked over at the couch. He couldn't see much of his father save the fluff and the sleeve of the man's coat. But he couldn't have the ice cream if his father didn't wake up, given that his father knew what he ordered to start with. Alucard knew what ice cream was, but he wasn't trusting anything else his father came up with.
So said his pride.
While that annoying child that he kept trying to silence was busy squealing about being able to eat with mama and papa again. 'I was a young man when she died, stop being an idiot.' was his current thought process over the matter. His father stirred finally on the couch, pushing himself up into a sitting position and taking note of the table near by first. At a glance though, Alucard was taken aback how his father's eyes had changed color to a paler shade of blue, worrying the dhampire as to why he would seem to make such a strange change while sleeping.
"Oh good, bring them over, come on Isaac let me introduce you to a snack drink from the future," Soma sleepily called out. Waving the Devil Forgemaster to get closer to the trio while the maid quickly went about placing the mugs down on the table.
"Have you not been resting, beloved?" Elizabetha inquired as she noted her husbands' sleepy nature.
Isaac approached the table with trepidation as the maid laid out the mugs and placed the added items into the center of the table. Noting that Lord Soma's eyes were getting wider and happier in the way they had when the servants brought him these sweets. Meaning she didn't mess up and wasn't going to end up torn to shreds along the floor as many other failed maids had in ages passed.
"Oh, not really, I spent a good chunk of time reading in the library," Soma confessed when he noticed the 'come any closer and I'll hurt you' glare that Alucard was giving Isaac. He frowned and gave a sharp "Stop that", to the Dhampire while resuming his gesture for Isaac to approach. His mind was muddled with sleep with only the promise of his ice cream float keeping him awake. While the maid finished laying out the items and discreetly backed away from the table to await further orders.
"Take a spoon because it will help scoop out the ice cream, are those sprinkles?" Soma asked distracted by the candies and grabbed the bottle. "The drink itself is really fizzy so don't be surprised if it tingles, that's normal."
It was the last piece of 'advice' that Soma provided before he sprinkled those vivid bright colors on his 'drink'. Alucard needing only a moment to study what his father was doing and taking up his own mug. The chill of glass didn't touch him through his leather gloves, but the scent was unique, a mixture he was unprepared for despite his knowledge of ice cream.
While Isaac showed more hesitancy, though he did eventually approach the table and take up his own mug. Said mug was frosted over but there was still a dark liquid at the bottom of the mug that he didn't recognize. Like his Lord and Young Master, he gathered up the spoon and sampled the froth that gathered up at the top of the mug. The taste was a bit sharp, not like the local Ale's he had tried before but not off putting really. As he took another spoonful of the foam he found himself pondering what else the future had in foods that his Lord had tried.
"Do you have those things with everything?" Alucard asked as he pointed with his spoon at the stash of marshmallows that had been placed with the mugs. He hadn't forgotten his father's snack run at the front of the Castle when they had first met. Seeing them again, albeit smaller in form made the man now curious about them. What did 'they' taste like?
'Marshmallow sushi... ewwww...' Soma thought as he mentally went over the inventory of his more regular foods. "Get caught making smores once in your life and suddenly you're a marshmallow lover," Soma snorted in reply.
"Well it 'does' look like you with its white color and soft, pillow like substance," Alucard snarked back earning him an unamused look from his father.
"Oh I look like a 'marshmallow' do I?!" Soma demanded in a huff, "Then don't have any when you get introduced to hot coco!" He turned his attention back to Isaac and found the man curiously digging into his float. But the Forgemaster didn't look displeased with what he was drinking, in fact his eyes were a bit wide, almost child like.
Feeling the eyes of his Lord upon him, Isaac lifted his gaze to meet that of his Master, his tongue bearing the slight tingle of this strange sweet drink. The ice cream helped take the sharp bite of the drink creating this strangely delightful mixture of pain and flavor. Soma's gaze compelled Isaac into holding the mug out a bit to help express his feelings about this item. "Its strange, sweet yet sharp, I am grateful that you have given me the chance to try this new drink."
"Of course, though if you hadn't told me that people lived here. Well its not like Julius or Yoko ever told me anything good that came out of the Castle. Its only right that I share some of this with you," Soma noted, not seeing Alucards' eyes shift to look at him suddenly.
'Julius' and 'Yoko'... 'I just need to look out for those names so that I know when to expect you to be around.' Alucard thought to himself glancing up at the painting at the Belmont and Belnades who shared the canvas space with him. Given the ages he saw on display it would be this 'Julius' person he would have to look out for, to herald the arrival of the Witch and next his father's rebirth.
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"This... this is going to be impossible..." Maria realized as they split themselves into the two groups, eyeing all the hunters who could easily bridge the gap to the Master Chambers. "Everyone who 'can' at least float over the gap to the Master Chambers are in the party to find Juste..."
Jonathan looked ready to say something, then smartly shut his own mouth as he looked over the groups as well. "Lord Fluffy, Lord Fluffy, send down a stair extension."
Charlotte gave Jonathan a sharp elbow jab into the ribs for that one, and regretted that her elbows couldn't reach Grant who burst out laughing.
The room itself was half lit with torches and the faint scent of burning wood, with the distant ticking of the clock tower near by keeping time. Although Maria had literally realized a snag right before they were about to break off into their own respective duties. The large group had finally divided itself into two parties, one to seek out Juste the other to safe guard Soma.
"That shouldn't be a problem," Hector spoke up from where he had been standing, observing the dark energies of the Castle. "Isaac is still up there with Abel and I have my bird familiars that can carry us all up there. Granted one by one, but that would be far better than merely shouting at the bottom of the broken stairwell."
"Great, well we might as well get started," Sophia exclaimed relieved that they didn't have to deal with all this nonsense about getting to the chambers. Out of her little trio, she had volunteered to go with the group hunting Juste. Already the numbers were uneven, and the group going up to the Master Chambers would receive added aid from those up there. Lower numbers and her ability to bite to make more followers making Camilla the bigger threat. Making a team of mostly women hunters more reasonable can't beguile women into serving her. At least that was Sophia's 'hope'.
"We'll rejoin you back at the Master Chambers once we recover Juste and Maxim," Jonathan informed Leon, who nodded in answer.
"Very well, good hunting," Leon replied, grateful that they were taking Simon with them. Charlottes' little exposition on each of the noted Belmonts' strengths had placed Simon as the peak physical warrior. There was no allowing Camilla to have her chance to bewitch Simon into aiding her when he could easily overpower the other hunters. But Leon couldn't shake the sense of trepidation that came with the fact that they were sending Jonathan.
The decision to allow him to hunt Camilla had been met with no vocal objections, yet Leon had seen Charlotte and the sisters. Instantly the three had stiffened, Charlottes' expression flashed a wince of displeasure. The twins exchanged glances and looked at Jonathan's back, and if Leon could read expressions it seemed to be pleas that Jonathan 'not' go with them.
"What are you talking about? Its barely a walk back to the Chambers, we grab the gang there and we'll meet up with you." Grant called out in amusement though the sisters shrugged at the statement.
"Like we need the help!" Charlotte tossed back with a good natured grin on her face though it made Shanoa give a faint smile as she turned towards to exit near them.
The group split into two, with the sisters gliding along just above the ground after Shanoa with their father between them. Sophia pulled away from her husband and old friend to make her way after the twins, leaving Jonathan and Charlotte to take up the rear.
"You guys be careful, if Richter shows up and all," Jonathan gave as a friendly reminder before he shouldered the Alucarde Spear and walked away.
"Yeah! Don't kill him Simon!" Charlotte added as she joined the group and walked away.
"No promises," Simon retorted, though he didn't raise his voice for the pair to hear him from where he stood closer to the Master Chamber.
"Simon!"
Trevor sighed as he shook his head, "Clearly you are the grumpy one." He shifted the weight in his legs towards Maria before asking in a not so quiet voice. "How are you with bears?"
Maria rolled her eyes and planted both hands firmly on Trevor's back before giving him a small shove towards the door.
"Finally, I can fight something, I just hope it lasts longer than what was in the painting," Simon growled as he fairly stomped his way to the door ahead of them.
"Simon, the goal is to 'not' end up in a battle if possible," Grant groaned. Simon sounded like a man who loved his drink, only with Simon replace 'drink' with 'battle'.
"Oh there's going to be a battle, you just can't feel whats on the other side of that door is all," Simon smirked with a glint in his eye. Coupled with the vision of the very slight signs he had learned to tell when entering an area with monsters.
Grant rolled his eyes, stopping half way as he saw the change in Simons' expression, expecting the irritated roaming of eyes seeking a target to something far more fixed. 'This' was a Belmont on the hunt, and it was enough to make Grant elbow Trevor for the other Belmonts' attention. A tilt of the head showed Trevor where to look and he silently agreed with Grants' take on the situation. Though he wondered if he would be allowed to take part in a battle or if Simon would bite his hand off at the intrusion.
The sight of Trevor pulling Vampire Killer loose was enough to put Leon and Maria on alert, as they moved forward. Their eyes peeled for any threat and ears straining for the sound of movement beyond what the group of them were making. Hector reached forward to open the door, giving what was intended to be a basic glance at the group only to stop short. Realizing that he had clearly missed something for everyone looked ready for battle.
"Is something amiss?" he asked, almost wary that they were planning to bring harm to 'him'.
"Be careful with the door Forgemaster, Simon seems to sense something," Trevor answered softly, hoping not to alert anyone to their presence.
Hector cast a glance towards Simon's barely restrained eager expression before pulling open the door that led to the room with the magically floating platform. The room still had its proud lion faced candle holders. Yet each flame was now glowed with a malevolence, bringing a false light to the room making one prefer natural darkness. With things 'moving' amid the darkness, one could see the ripple of muscles barely shone on the edges of the those candles lights.
"Alucard would not allow for this," Trevor noted as he and Hector stood in the doorway, a means to keep Simon from rushing in.
"You saw how he behaved when Soma got angry," Simon pointed out while his eyes sought the ever important weak spots of these new targets for his attention.
"Aye, but you saw how Fluffy acts towards his kin, he wouldn't do something that would upset Alucard that greatly and this would..." Grant pointed out as he pulled out a pair of daggers.
"Meaning that our concern was valid, someone 'has' made a move for Soma, we need to reach the chamber!" Maria added, "but can we make it up there on the platform? There seems little room for multiple weapons to be used without knocking people off. Even to clear the way."
"Is there a way to get Lady Elizabetha's attention? So that I may speak with her?" Leon inquired looking among his kin and friends.
"Might not need to wait," Maria answered as her birds took to the air with distressed sounds being warbled out. Which made sense as the smell of burned flesh began to seep into the air about them. The way it did when Elizabetha first appeared in the Master Chambers.
"Lord Leon! Please, my baby will not awaken to my words and my Lord Husband has been taken away!" Elizabethas' words manifested like smoke on the breeze, hard to hear as she began to collect her being so she could visually manifest. The more she appeared the more her voice gained strength, but the panic and worry was not lost on anyone as the Lady of the Castle appeared. Wide eyed and utterly distraught.