Greetings! Here I bring you Chapter 08! I thank you all who are acompainign this story and I would also like to thanks who reviewed. As a writer, your opinion surely means a lot to me!
Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 08 – Death
The next morning Mina, wishing to distract a little her friend's mind, who had become somewhat depressed after the events of the previous night, proposed to go to the nearby village with the excuse of seeing more of Europe, since it was the first time the young priestess visited that region of the world. Even without great encouragement or will, the silver-haired man agreed to his friend's request and both left the Belmont mansion a short time later after breakfast.
The nearest town was located just beyond the edge of the forest that surrounded and concealed the mansion. It was a small and a remote village, but it drew attention to the beautiful architecture of the houses and buildings as well as the hospitality of its residents.
They walked together through the streets during the morning, visiting some places and talking to some people who told them a few things about the history of the area and some legends that had survived the centuries and were inherited, being passed down to each new generation.
They had lunch in a cozy and comfortable restaurant, taking their time for they were not in a hurry. They talked about light subjects and Mina laughed when she saw that she managed to bring a faint smile in her friend's lips, who shook his head and said again that she was impossible.
Soma paid the bill and both left the small establishment. As they stepped on the sidewalk, their countenance acquired great surprise, especially Mina who exclaimed.
"Wow, how much fog here! How strange, it was a beautiful and clear sunny day just some minutes ago!"
"It's something common here, young lady!" A woman who passed by them smiled gently. "At this time of year the days often oscillate this way every hour."
"Thank you so much!" Mina thanked, smiling back.
Soma frowned beside her, remaining silent.
Both friends, a few minutes later, discovered that the small town had an interesting tourist spot located a few meters inside the forest, a small cavern that sprouted the water for the nearby stream that supplied the village, and that soon a group of tourists led by a guide would leave to visit the place that was considered sacred by the inhabitants, and being free for the afternoon, Soma and Mina decided to go with them.
Within a few minutes of walking after the group had left the small town, all the forest surrounding them also began to be filled with the thick fog that seemed to have followed them inside. The guide who led the tourists had been forced to slow down a little to be able to see the marks of the trail he knew so well, and thus, through his experience, managed to take the group along the tortuous path between the trees.
They were moving at a slow pace, feeling a little nervous with the absolute silence that the forest around them had been immerged. There was not a single sound of birds singing or anything from animals that lurked around. A strange sensation came over the group, but they went on.
Mina at that point of the course had approached Soma and was already holding him by the arm as if afraid to lose sight of him. The silver-haired man followed the guide in silence, staring into the intense mist around him with a deeply thoughtful countenance.
Then suddenly he stopped.
"Soma?" The young priestess whispered, watching him confused.
"I know what's going on here..." He murmured, then, looking at her, he smiled slightly. "Don't worry, it's nothing you need to fear."
"If you say so... I trust you." The woman nodded.
"I need to leave you for a few minutes." At his friend's apprehensive look, the man stroked her hair gently and said. "I'll be back sooner than you think."
"Alright..." Mina agreed slowly, careful to not to lose sight of the main group as she worried watched Soma plunge completely, disappearing into the dense mist.
The man walked for a few minutes in the fog and stopped at one point. He closed his eyes and stayed that way for a brief moment, then suddenly felt that he was no longer alone in the clearing, and opening again his eyes, Soma encountered a large creature wearing a black cloak and with a skeletal appearance that floated above the ground and held in his hands a large menacing sickle.
Undeterred by the scene, his blue eyes stared at the creature with the same intensity, austerity, and command of many centuries past. While five years ago it had been something hidden by a shadow, it was now undeniable for the creature the true identity of the one standing there.
"It's been a long time... Death."
"Lord Mathias..." The servant pronounced and reverently knelt before the silver-haired man. "It's good to see you finally awake."
"How long have you noticed my awakening?" Soma asked.
"I and your other servants in the castle perceived it a few weeks ago, my lord... But we did not approach; for we believed it was not the right moment, because your mind had not yet fully remembered us..."
"I see..." The man nodded slowly. "But I know you... You're not here just to greet me... Why did you come?"
"I came to warn you..." Death answered him and Soma frowned. "You and your friends are in danger."
"Why are you sure of that?"
"On the night that you were defeated and the castle sealed inside the Eclipse, your control over the souls of your servants weakened, and one of those who was imprisoned by your power escaped, and like you, also reincarnated among men. He was an enemy of yours in the past and has recently been able to recover his memories... he found and stole for himself the Ebony Stone while the Crimson Stone we managed to hide and keep it safe. And now... He wants to find you out of revenge..."
Soma remained silent for a moment, his expression grave and thoughtful.
"Castlevania?" He asked.
"It's still sealed inside the Eclipse. It can only resurface on earth if the witch who sealed it use the blood of a Belmont and perform the cancellation ritual. The others remain inside the castle; I am the only one who can temporarily cross the dimensional barrier."
He stared at the creature with eyes filled with a shadow.
"Who is he...?" Soma finally asked.
Death bowed one last time before his master.
"Lord Mathias... Look within yourself... You already know..."
The creature suddenly disappeared and the mist slowly began to dissipate.
A few minutes later Soma had returned to Mina's side and the woman stared at him questioning, but smiling gently, the silver-haired man made her drop her worries, but without revealing anything to her.
The group reached the sacred cavern as the sun became more present and strong again. The day became beautiful, though the shadows of that dense fog were still present in Soma's heart, who was secretly thinking about his servant's words.
...
That night after saying goodbye to Yoko and Mina, Soma entered his own room but did not lie down straight away. His mind relived the encounter he had with Death earlier that day and as he allowed his mind to wander, the silver-haired man felt himself being drawn into another distant memory...
"Anything else, my lord?" The creature questioned respectfully. The black robe falling flat on his shoulders to the floor, the blade of his inseparable sickle glowing brightly.
"No, Death, that's all. You may go." The vampire gestured, dismissing his most trusted servant as he stood, observing the papers in his hands.
"I'll make sure everything's ready by the end of next evening as you wish, Lord Mathias."
"Bring me the reports as soon as I wake." The man ordered and Death nodded in agreement, and after bowing one last time, the creature disappeared to another part of the castle.
Mathias sighed and ran his hands through his dark hair thoughtfully. It was when his extremely sensitive ear heard a weak and soft cry echoing through the corridors of his castle. Frowning, the vampire left the papers above the throne and immediately teleported to the room located beside his and his wife's chamber.
The room featured rich furniture that consisted of a large double bed in the center, several shelves, a desk and a fireplace that lit up and warmed the place. Next to this was a golden cradle from which came the soft infantile cry, and the vampire slowly approached until he were standing next to it.
Mathias stared at the baby of few weeks who moved uneasily in the crib with his little face slightly flushed with tears. The man, feeling uncomfortable, searched the room for his wife's figure but he didn't find her, and uncertain of what to do at first, he continued to stare at the boy for a moment.
He didn't know what made him reach out and touch the baby's little face. The soft skin contrasted with the cold touch of the vampire who marveled allowed himself to enjoy that moment. It was the first time he had had such a direct contact with the boy, for since his birth he had avoided approaching the child, fearing to injure him in his fragility. But looking at him now, he made a sudden decision.
Mathias bent down and carefully took the child in his arms.
With his superhuman strength the baby weighed less than a feather. The vampire after comfortably placing the boy in his arms remained motionless so as not to scare or hurt him. He looked at his son with admiration, seeing his small face more closely how much the child remind in some small things him and his wife. The soft cry subsided, and when the quietness returned completely into the room, the boy also looked back at him with innocent curiosity, and the man noticed himself falling for the small pair of eyes as golden as his own.
"Oh my… For who had said he had no way with children, you surely managed to calm him down." A angelic amused voice sounded behind him accompanied by a soft laugh. "My love... You will be a great father, Mathias."
Soma turned abruptly towards the door, but saw no one. It was closed and he was again immersed in the solitude of his own room in the Belmont mansion. Breathing heavily, his heart racing, the silver-haired man still listened to that beautiful, harmonious and familiar woman's voice echoing deep in his soul.
