Disclaimer: Castlevania © Konami. "Sympathy for the Devil" and all original characters and places © Christine J. Burke.

Sympathy for the Devil

Chapter 3: Illusionary Diversions

The clear, deadly ring of metal on metal splits the early morning air, while all of nature holds its breath waiting for the life-giving sun to part the clouds and reach its fingers down to grant much-desired warmth to the dark, cold mountainside. No other sound can be heard in the frigid air until the first tentative rays of light strikes the empty ground between the house and forge. Only then can the world release its held breath, taking its cue from the soft clucks of hens and the snorts of impatient horses, eager to be out for the day.

Where the night might have provided some horror to suggest a fierce battle was being waged between two equally skilled combatants, the morning reveals the sounds of creation instead. The clear ringing in the yard is coming from the forge in a steady, strong rhythm. The Master of the Forge is already hard at work.

After having given up at the prospect of sleep the night before, Isaac decided that he would feel more comfortable with his unwanted guests gone. Once that thought took root in his exhausted mind and body it wasn't that long before he designed a plan to be rid of his guests. Hector was here because his sword was broken. The others were here because of Hector. Thus, to get rid of them all, all he must do is repair the damaged blade. That is precisely what he's hard at work at now.

In spite of Isaac's exhaustion and tired mind he finds solace in his forge. Here he is master. Here the steady rhythm of his hand on the hammer, striking the steel and the movements of his arms on the bellows creates something new and exquisite. Here he can take raw material and create something valuable and wanted. Here he can take something broken and ill-used and give it new life. Here he is powerful. Here he is wanted and respected.

Isaac has been working for hours now. He lifts his careful work to examine it with discerning eyes. He searches the smoothed metal for any trace of flaw. His eyes study the metal with a critical gaze. He will tolerate no defect in his work. Though it crosses his mind briefly to return the blade to Hector sabotaged he quickly discards that idea. This blade will be used to defend Julia from her enemies. As bitter as he is about her betrayal, blood still remains thicker than water.

Isaac nods once, finally content with the workmanship of the blade. He proceeds to spend the next hour cleaning and polishing the blade to a fine hone. He reapplies the hilt, expertly wrapping the grip in tight leather to keep the blade from slipping from its master's hand. When the medium-length sword is finally prepared he lifts the blade to test the balance.

Finally, he gives the blade a few test swings before testing the edge on a bundle of straw. Satisfied with the regular use of the sword he then tests the blade on a large stone outside his forge. The blade cleaves into the granite as cleanly as the straw.

He will have to inform Hector about the extra materials he forged into the blade. The broken bits of minotaur thighbone seem to have strengthened the blade considerably and the diamonds in the blade leave the sheer edge as keen as if newly sharpened. No ordinary blade would tolerate such abuse as to attempt to cleave through rock.

Isaac glances up at the sky to find a startling view. Where he had started his work in the dead of night, the sun now graced the sky in all its glory. Though certainly not past Noon the late hour only emphasizes his stomach's unrest at having skipped breakfast. Once again he narrows his eyes at having his daily routines interrupted by his unwanted guests.

As Isaac watches the sky he notices that smoke is drifting softly from his kitchen chimney, mixing with the cold mountain air. He turns back to his forge, his concentration on his work long since broken and leaving his mostly exposed skin to the mercy of the cold without the distraction of his intense focus on other, more important matters. Isaac has never liked the cold. His constitution has always left him vulnerable to the ravages of winter, a season he's keenly aware is fast approaching, made even worse by the cold mountain air.

Shaking off his musings he sheathes Hector's repaired sword and once again dons his fir-lined coat. Having been warmed in the heat of the forge he waits for a moment to enjoy the comfortable, soft material. Isaac smiles at his own love of comfort. One might be persuaded to believe he is some pampered dandy simply visiting the real forge master.

Isaac contemplates bringing the sword with him to the house but quickly discards that idea. He won't re-arm Hector until he's certain the other Devil Forge Master is about to leave. Last night's confrontation with Trevor Belmont only emphasized the recklessness of his decision last evening. He knew from the moment he said it that allowing his former enemies to remain in his house with him was a foolish idea. However, having his sister and his former friend stay the night let him remember a time when he was happier, when he felt more alive.

There are other reasons why he didn't turn the others away. For one thing, he has to obey the laws of living at this residence. It may seem like his own home but that's because he has never seen his gracious host. The townspeople are quiet about who actually owns the premises but they are adamant about following the rules. Isaac couldn't turn Hector and his companions away so late at night. It would have complicated matters considerably. Besides, with all of them under his own roof he could keep an eye on them better. He's far from defenseless.

As Isaac opens the back door of his borrowed home, the one leading directly to his kitchen, he is met with quite a humorous sight. Before him is a young woman threatening Trevor Belmont with a kitchen knife. While the vampire hunter tries futilely to disarm the tenacious girl Isaac can't help but let out a soft chuckle.

Dressed in a simple blue dress with long, brown hair pulled back from a pale, round face with soft brown eyes adorning her features with a shrewd insight, the young woman seems a strange combination of naïve innocence and cunning insight. She's strangely stubborn in her complete unwillingness to be disarmed.

Isaac speaks clearly throughout the room, allowing his voice to carry. "I suspect you allowed yourself in unannounced again, Lillianna? I believe you were warned against such behavior."

The girl glances at Isaac quickly. She can't be much older than sixteen or seventeen but she's a cunning warrior. She makes absolutely certain that there is more than enough distance between herself and the vampire hunter to keep the scarred man at bay. Her voice is quiet yet full of steel when she speaks. "Your guests seem to be quite lacking in manners, Master Isaac. I wasn't expecting to be harried by so rough a man as I merely cooked breakfast."

Isaac flat-out laughs at the situation before quieting and looking at the scene before him with calm eyes. "Trevor Belmont, you have nothing to fear from Miss Pazorilli. She is the daughter of the headman of the village and serves as the innkeeper of Targo. Each day she brings up fresh bread for my larders. You might say she is my liaison to the town down the mountain."

Trevor backs up a step and lowers his hands, watching both the girl and Isaac carefully. Behind him Hector hovers near Julia and Sypha lingers in the back, near the hallway door, ready to cast some spell or another.

Trevor growls, "You didn't mention you had a servant."

Isaac shakes his head lightly. "Lillianna is not my servant. She performs a service for me out of courtesy, nothing more."

Lillianna slowly lowers her knife and returns back to the wood-burning stove to continue frying eggs for simple egg and cheese omelets. She speaks over her shoulder, "You seemed quite busy at the forge this morning, Master Isaac. I thought that I might surprise you with breakfast while I waited. My father wishes to know if his plow-sheer is done yet."

Isaac hangs up his coat behind the now-closed door and nods as he moves to lean back against a cupboard. "Yes, I completed it last evening. Your father can send his team to collect it at any time."

Lillianna pauses, glancing at the others who are finally settling down themselves. "Might I ask what you were working on for so long this morning?"

Isaac shrugs and crosses his arms. "I've been working on a special commission that came in last night." He has enough control not to look at Hector or the others. He doesn't really want them to know that Hector's sword is finished already. Changing the subject he asks, "How did things go in town last night?"

Lillianna smiles and expertly flips her omelets to a set of plates she's set aside for herself and Isaac. Noticing that there aren't enough plates for the others, Isaac moves to take out four more plates from the cupboard. Lillianna speaks as he stacks the plates on the others. "All went well. There were no incidents last night. You? I'm sure you were out before dawn. Did you have any trouble?"

Isaac frowns and pauses as he starts to serve his guests, who are paying rapt attention, trying to glean any information they can. Isaac shakes his head, his red hair falling over his eyes. "Not a sight nor sound. Though I'm not usually disturbed out here. Perhaps that's due to mutual respect. Either way, it matters little."

Lillianna finishes two more omelets and goes to get more eggs and cheese. "Justinian said he would handle it. I don't suspect we'll get any more trouble."

Isaac watches silently while Hector clearly has questions. However, Trevor is not content to remain silent. As Lillianna serves each of them a warm breakfast he asks, "Seeing as you haven't slept all night and returned to your forge, did you do anything about Hector's sword?"

Isaac smirks. "You'll find that battling gargoyles and golems will be much easier now. Hector's sword is complete. I expect you to take the sword and depart this place forth-with. However, I will ask one more time. Whatever trouble you have found, is it any threat to this town?"

Hector's mood lightens at the mention of his sword but darkens considerably at the mention of their current hunt. "I don't see how our troubles would concern you."

Isaac turns to Hector. "Perhaps it doesn't, perhaps it does. I have a debt to repay to certain members of this village. I merely wish to know if I should be expecting trouble."

Trevor watches the silent Lillianna for a moment before glancing at Julia and Sypha. Sypha is quiet, as always, a complete enigma to anyone who doesn't know her. Trevor does know her though and he's well aware that she's gathering as much information as she can. Her eyes turn to catch Trevor's and she nods silently, almost imperceptibly. Trevor immediately gets to the point and finally speaks.

Isaac turns to Trevor when the man says, "Trouble is making its way across Europe once again. The witch-hunts have resumed with fervor. Both the Church and the creatures of darkness are searching for something. I had intended to find out what that might be on my own yet Hector claimed hearing rumors from the West. Those rumors have lead us here. We intend to travel North. I won't say anything more than that. Do not interfere."

Isaac chuckles softly. "Why should I interfere? It's no concern to me if you both wish to go traipsing about the countryside in search of rumors. If you're looking for information from me, I have nothing to offer you."

Lillianna finally seats herself next to Isaac as she sets herself to eating her own plate of eggs. Julia watches her with unconcealed curiosity. Lillianna's quick glances to Isaac haven't gone unnoticed. Neither has the fact that Isaac is clearly keeping Lillianna from being noticed by Trevor Belmont and Hector.

Julia asks quietly, "How long have you two known each other? You both seem quite comfortable here. I can't help but believe such a breakfast isn't all that uncommon."

Lillianna smiles. "Master Isaac has been lending us his services coming up on two years in the spring. My father found him in the woods near here in pretty bad shape. We didn't think he would last that winter but…Master Isaac made it through, as you can see."

Isaac says, "As I mentioned, I have debts to repay here. I have no intention of leaving. Don't bring any trouble to Targo, Trevor Belmont. Some of my debts I'd rather not repay."

Julia asks quietly, "Are you happy here, Isaac?"

Isaac shrugs. "I am content, Julia. I have no desire to be any other place. My past is finished, more or less. I will leave it at that."

"You don't want us to stay."

"No. I don't." Isaac's eyes harden to liquid steel. "I could wish you would go home, Julia, but I know you too well for that."

Julia smiles with a bittersweet expression. "I can say one favorable fact for this journey. I have discovered my brother is alive and well. If for nothing else this journey has been worth much to me."

Isaac watches his guests for a moment before asking, "Why are you on this journey? I understand Belmont's involvement. I can see why Hector would be determined to go. I even see the necessity for Lady Belnades. Why are you traveling with them? I see no reason for you to abandon your home for this."

Julia glances at Hector. "Something evil is coming, Isaac. I cannot say what else may compel me. I feel that it is important for me to travel with them. They may need my help."

Hector speaks from across the table, watching carefully for any reaction from Isaac. "I agreed to allow her to travel with us for several reasons, Isaac. Her own powers make her a valuable ally for one. For another, I felt ill at ease leaving her at her hut. The witch-hunts have taken a turn for the worse. The persecution spreads as the Church relentlessly kills all the witches they find in their hunt. They are no longer concerned with reform…"

Isaac shrugs. "I am well-aware. We have not been entirely unaffected here."

Lillianna smirks. "We had one wandering monk try to tell us that old Gertrude was a witch and we had to remove her stain from our good God-fearing town." Her eyes dance with impish delight. "We threw him in the river and told him to cool off. Gertrude's on her last legs. She's not hurting anyone. Besides, we all like listening to her old stories."

Hector blinks at her, astounded. "You threw a member of God's Church in the river?"

Lillianna pouts and crosses her arms. "He was being rude. He deserved it."

Isaac chuckles softly, clearly amused. "You'll have to forgive Lillianna. She's rather headstrong. She has lived in Targo all her life so she's not tainted by the foolishness of outside dogma."

Trevor narrows his eyes but it's Sypha who speaks with a calm, gentle voice. "The Church is not out to harm the innocent, Isaac."

Isaac looks at her with a shuttered expression. "No, they seek to destroy anyone who doesn't bow to their whims. Gertrude is a witch. Many of the villagers here seek her advice when they grow ill. Her knowledge as an herbalist is second to none. Her prices are reasonable and her manner is relaxing. I, myself, owe her a debt for her knowledge of the healing craft; a craft the Church has declared vile sorcery. Forgive me, Lady Belnades, but sometimes prayer is not enough."

Lillianna interjects, "God helps those who help themselves right? We pray. We go to church. We do all the things God asks of us but the winters are still hard. Children still get sick. Men still break their legs in the snow. What's wrong with using our own two hands to fix things and make them better?"

Isaac moves his hand to rest it on Lillianna's shoulder, calming her. "Lillianna's mother thought that going to an herbalist to do something about her cough would go against God's teachings. She died of pneumonia when Lillianna was young. Gertrude could have saved her."

Sypha frowns lightly but says nothing more.

Lillianna picks at her omelet, having mostly finished it but now having difficulty swallowing around the lump in her throat. She says softly, "The Church isn't always right. I was raised to listen to what God is telling me in my heart. Gertrude is a good, kind old grandmother. I grew up with her great grandson and she's never treated me poorly. I can't see her as evil. She's never asked me to do all that stuff they say witches do."

Isaac smirks. "The Church and its members wouldn't know a real witch from a spinster with a broom."

Julia lifts her hand to try to muffle her chuckle.

Lillianna looks at Isaac, questions brimming in her eyes. Isaac forestalls her endless questioning with a quick, "No, I won't tell you how I know that."

Lillianna pouts again. "You're worse than Father. He won't tell me anything interesting either."

Isaac shakes his head. "I thought Master Grey was filling your head with enough stories to keep you satisfied."

Lillianna smiles like an imp. "Master Grey was busy last night so I'll have to get my daily story from you."

Isaac rolls his eyes and gives a long-suffering sigh. With Lillianna there he is clearly more relaxed. Hector can't help but feel that he's intruding on something that should be private. He also can't help but notice that the girl is clearly smitten with Isaac.

Isaac notices the protective glare from Hector and he immediately draws up his defenses again. For a moment he had forgotten that these people were supposed to be his enemies.

Isaac doesn't take his eyes from Hector, and Trevor, when he says, "I'm sure your father needs you to carry out other duties, Lillianna. I believe it's time for you to go back home. I have other matters to attend to in the forge as well."

Lillianna frowns but consents. "As you wish, Master Isaac." She stands and bows to them all with a light dip of her head and shoulders. "It was a pleasure to meet all of you. Should you find yourselves needing a room in town, do not hesitate to visit me at the Wayfarer Inn."

Lillianna is quick to depart soon afterwards. Isaac stands and begins to clear his table of dishes. The others watch him for a moment before Julia gets up to help.

Julia looks up at her brother as he sets the dishes to water and begins to clean them. "Why did you send her away?"

Isaac looks at Julia. He's positioned himself so that he can keep an eye on his three other guests as well. "I have no interest in deluding myself with the thought that your intentions are strictly friendly. Should any of you decide to finish what was started two years ago, Lillianna would be an unwelcome distraction."

Trevor stands and growls, "So enough of this charade, Isaac. You may have pulled the wool over the eyes of the villagers but I am not fooled by this seeming complacency."

Isaac's hand is immediately wrapped around the hilt of his kitchen knife. He hesitates to attack though. "I have repaired Hector's sword. Hitch your horses and proceed to the North, Belmont. I have no desire to battle you a second time."

Hector reaches to stay Trevor's hand, much as he did the night before. "Nothing has changed, Belmont. We will take the sword and continue as planned. There's no need for this."

Trevor hisses, clearly not willing to be so easily appeased. "I don't trust him at my back, Hector, and neither should you." His shrewd, scarred eyes carefully examine Isaac. "I want to see your sword before we go. His treachery is boundless."

Isaac frowns. "Are you suggesting that I sabotaged the blade?"

Trevor glares at him. "I want to see the sword."

Isaac stands back as he begins to dry his dishes with a dry cloth. He forestalls Julia's protest when he says, "Very well, test the sword before you leave but after that you will leave you will not look back."

Isaac dries the last of his dishes and leaves them on the table, ready to be put away. He steps back and motions for his guests to precede him out the door. He's not surprised when Trevor refuses to exit before him. Hiding the kitchen knife along his arm as he leaves the room for the cold outdoors, he says over his shoulder, "Make sure you close the door on your way out."