Chapter 20

Much to Cornell's liking, luck brought him out alive again. The next part of the castle was not a tower. It was a room filled with clocks. The walls were made with them. There was nothing more to the room but clocks. Cornell seemed to like the quiet ticking sounds of the numerous clocks that surrounded him. It was much more soothing than the sounds of buzz saws grinding, cleaving guillotines, tassers crackling, lava boiling, and a couple of other unsettling things...

There were three exits in the room: The one behind him (which was locked now anyway) lead back to the Tower Of Sorcery; The one on his left, also locked; And the one on his far right was a hallway, free of any gates. Cornell went down the hallway and up the elevator it lead to. The elevator arrived on top of the roof. From the looks of it, there was a lot more room than Cornell had thought. It was nigh time and a blood-red moon hung in the sky. The cool open air was wonderful after the crowded towers. Cornell was alone in the quiet of the night. Or was he...? He glanced back at the empty elevator. Something was coming closer with blinding speed.

"What the...?"

Ortega appeared behind him.

"Too late, Cornell. Why, you've lost before the fight has even begun."

"Where is Ada?"

Ortega ignored him. "Still, you've kept your promises, so I knew you would come. Now we settle this business once and for all!'

Surges of power started to overcome Ortega. Cornell could feel its impact vibrating in his own form. It was a mighty power by man-wolf standards... Ortega backed away from Cornell, allowing him time to turn around and face his opponent.

"Ooh, it feels like my head's been laid open. I can't restrain my power..."

Ortega knelt on the ground, holding his head. Cornell was getting a migrane just by the vibrations! Ortega's form looked to be shifting. What was going on?

"Ortega?"

Ortega shot his reply back venomously. "Oh, yes. You used to be a step quicker than I at one time. You, the only man-beast who can manipulate the seal. A year ago when we went head-to-head, your eyes were as cold as the moon. They were eyes that saw a weaker opponent. You did not respect me... But the man you see before you today has changed. Changed from that time. Changed I say!!"

Ortega's face began to look more of a lion's. Cornell was silenced with confusion. What did all of this have to do with now? Why did he have to burn the village and kidnap Ada? What was happening to him? Ortega's feline eyes shone in the night. Cornell saw the powerful jaws of the lion as Ortega panted to catch his breath.

"Cornell, are you really so worried about Ada's well-being?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Ortega continued to hold his throbbing head. "Why do you go to such lengths? Why, you and Ada are virtually strangers. You aren't blood relatives."

"That is none of your business..."

Cornell's comment only stoked Ortega's fire. He got up and faced the warrior, his lion face grinning maliciously.

"The sacrificial rites should already have begun by now."

"What did you say?!"

"If you plan on rescuing Ada, you'd better hurry or you'll be too late! However, first we've got a score to settle between ourselves!"

Ortega had poked at Cornell enough. He could sense him finally getting angry... Cornell abandoned his calm demeanor. Man-wolf rage took him over.

"You worthless..! I won't let you get away with it!"

"At last you show me your true colors. But do you think this is all I've got? Ha ha ha ha!! What a great feeling! Now I'm ready for battle!"

Cornell stepped away as electricity swarmed Ortega's figure. His form was definitely shifting...

"Are...you...ready..." Lighting struck to reveal Ortega's new form. He roared the last word of his sentence with a loud timbre that echoed around the castle.

COoorrnEEEeelll!!!

Cornell had never seen such a beast, but had heard of one similar to it in mythology. It was called a chimera. The one Ortega transformed into had the head and body of a lion, and two other heads. One of some type of serpent, and another of a hideous bird. Great black wings came from its back and its legs, paws, and chest were armored. Cornell's eyes locked with the lion's as it stalked towards him. The serpent and bird heads screeched in unison.

Cornell was unsure of how to tackle the beast. The lion head grinned and cornered his opponent. If only Matthew could see his son now... Cornell finally came to his senses and dodged out of the way.

The chimera was quick; Its claws caught Cornell in mid-jump.

Cornell tumbled onto his side with a large gash on his other. The chimera took the opportunity and lashed out again.

Cornell was thrown on his stomach with a fresh gash across his left shoulder. The pain in his side was crippling. Before Cornell could attempt to get on his feet, one of the beast's paws landed on his back, holding the man-wolf down. He heard the serpent and bird heads hovering over him, cackling at his defeat. The lion spoke with a deep but hoarse growl.

"Now what does the great Cornell have to say? Where is all of your mighty sarcasm, eh?"

Its claws dug hard into Cornell's back. The man-wolf gritted his teeth from the pain overtaking him. The chimera threw him to the side.

"Get up and fight!"

It was apparent to Cornell that he would die if he stayed in his human form. He transformed and staggered upward. His wolf form could tolerate pain much easier.

The chimera took off into the air. Cornell kept his eyes on the chimera incase he needed to dodge. The beast circled, eyeing him as well.

The bird head let out a loud wailing screech. Cornell's wolf ears were especially sensitive to the high pitched sound. He growled angrily and tried to shake the sound out of his head. The noise took him, filling his ears with a ringing sound.

He became temporarily deaf and confused. Cornell tried to come back to his senses... Where was he again? He staggered backwards. His ears were ringing. What was happening? Where was he going? He swayed and tumbled back and forth until he tripped and fell.

His ears were ringing... Where was the young boy? Where was Ada? Where was he?

The chimera came down and circled him. "What are you now, a blind dog? Get up! Fight!"

As Cornell slowly came to his senses, he began to hear the insults. He realized that what he must have done to Ortega, because Ortega was doing the same to him. He had wounded his pride. Ortega had already lost tribe leadership to Cornell and tried to make up for it; Though Cornell had always come out better and put Ortega down. How could he have been so cold and not see it? Perhaps Ortega was right... Was he really worried about Ada?

The dizzy spell wore off. Cornell came back on his feet. As wounded as he was, he had renewed hope.

Cornell and the chimera charged headlong.

A few feet before the crash, Cornell leapt up and over the chimera. It turned around and was met with a slash in the lion's face from Cornell's wolf form.

The serpent head ambushed the warrior and sprayed a hefty amount of poison at him. Cornell was drenched in the deadly spray. His open wounds stung terribly, but he held firm. With a strong lash of his claws, Cornell took the serpent head off with a single swipe. The chimera's other heads shrieked. Cornell dodged the mess off blood as the serpent head fell to the ground and disintegrated. When the chimera took off into the sky once more, Cornell prepared himself. Before it was out of his reach, the man-wolf leapt as high as his wounded side would allow him. His knife-like claws struck again and the bird's head was swept off.

Due to the wound in his side, Cornell's landing wasn't as graceful as he would have liked.

The remaining part of the chimera folded its wings into a dive, aiming towards Cornell. The man-wolf rolled out of the way, still very close to his opponent's foot claws. He was slashed in the back before he could move away. The man-wolf struggled to his feet, and moved in time before the lion head torched him with fire. That was it. How was Cornell suppose to defeat that? He didn't care. He would fight to his last, even if it killed himself.

"RRrrrAAAGAAAGH!" The man-wolf roared. If his wolf form could have spoke as well as the human, his shout would have meant "For Ada!". Cornell stormed towards the chimera. He swerved out of the way as it blasted fire at him. He kept low on all fours, weaving back in towards the chimera. He picked up speed.

Upon impact, both beasts were on their hind legs, paws and claws locked in a tackle standstill. Both sets of jaws were clenched, and their fangs were fully visible. Strength and endurance became the only test now...

Cornell was slipping. The chimera's force was starting to push him backwards.

The red full moon loomed over the tense battle scene, reflecting fury and blood that was spilt. There wasn't any calmness that the moon could provide for Cornell now. It was violent. The warrior beast was shedding sweat and blood, but found his stronghold. The pendant of his forbearers appeared in his mind: Sparkling sapphire, carved into the shape of a crescent moon. The encirclement and chain was made of shimmering silver. A man-wolf's merit. His family were born leaders of the man-wolf tribe. So was Cornell! Such a feeling from the magnificent pendant washed over him like a rushing flow of cool water and a breath of fresh air. Cornell was a warrior of the Crescent bloodline!

The man-wolf threw down his opponent. It started to disintegrate and Ortega appeared in its place. He was almost as badly wounded as Cornell. Ortega panted and gasped for air. He looked up at Cornell.

"It appears that I'm still not the match for you, Cornell. I thought that I could surpass your strength with Dracula's powers..."

Cornell had become human once again. Having learned a lesson, his voice was more compassionate.

"Ortega..."

"Ada is being held in the castle's keep; Dracula's sanctuary. She has not been sacrificed yet... I wanted to settle this score even if it meant disobeying Dracula. So I have no regrets now that I have fought the true you. I only regret what I did to the villagers, but its too late for that now..."

"You don't need to go on, Ortega...I understand."

Ortega sighed and looked towards the red moon. "At the very least, if you could...Save that girl, Ada."

"Of course."

Electricity once again started to surround Ortega's form. He winced. From what Cornell could tell, Ortega was struggling against himself. He started to stagger over towards the ledge of the tower.

"Get away, Cornell. My power is going out of control...I can't stop it..."

"Ortega!" By the time Cornell had gotten to the ledge, Ortega had already fallen. The drop was fatal. Cornell's voice echoed throughout the tower.

"Ortega!"

It was no use. Ortega was gone. Cornell sighed heavily and sat by the ledge to treat his wounds. The poison still stung badly. He drank a small portion of water and used the last of it to wash his wounds. After applying antidote and bandaging them, Cornell stayed to rest a moment. It was much cooler out here than inside the castle; And this time he was alone. Cold winds whistled across the now quiet roof. Cornell's hair was blown askew. It was too quiet and eerie...

He must have been more tired and distressed than he thought, because it only took him a minute to fall asleep. Cornell's dreams were full of swirled scenery. One minute he was in one of the forests that his tribe lived in, the next minute he was at the villa. Chainsaw and cleaving sounds still repeated in his head. There were also a few glimpses of Ada, Ortega, and the strange boy. When Cornell awoke, it was still dark and the tower roof was still deserted. When he got up and stretched, he was reminded of his wounds. That was the best and only sleep he had had in days.