Chapter 15: Of Wolf and Man

Disclaimer: I do not, in any way shape or form, own the rights to Castlevania or the characters of the franchise.

The howl echoed throughout the dimly lit marble staircase like the cry of a dead man, bouncing off the stone and into the fears of men. The air smelt like the creature's breath or what the creatures breath should smell like, the reeking odor of all the men who had been eaten alive by the thing born of man and wolf. Its every pressing of pawed feet onto the marble stairs had left an impression, both in the marble itself and in the silence as the echo of claws scraping against marble and the heavy thud of its feet mixed together. Despite the foul stench of the staircase it was relatively clean with the absence of blood splatters or bodies littering the walls and steps of it, almost as if the creature took its time to clean up after itself. This castle is relatively new though so it wouldn't have had time to devour a human, thought Simon as he walked farther up the corridor of the staircase and he started to notice how it seemed to get wider instead of narrower. Normally space would become more enclosed to funnel a large force into a singular entity. They must be very confident to leave themselves open to such a large force, even they must have their weakness when it comes to summoning. Then again, what army would dare march against Dracula's castle, even if the master isn't in.

When he got to the widest part of the marble staircase he was able to notice how much it had changed when compared to the other parts of the staircase. It had platforms that were there to have connecting jumps for the gaps between staircases and was made of different type of stone than the stairs. It was a greenish color instead of the usual pearl white of the marble and when Simon jumped on one it felt like something was pushing back at him, just as the bridge had been back at the castle, and as the Belmont walked further onto the platforms he noticed that there were no paw marks imprinted into the platform even though there were paw marks on the steps in front and back of each platform. They were made so that the creature who resides here does not break, almost as if it is by the creature's will. But why is it that this place is given to one creature and not a great many more? Did the other creature take over this domain or does this lead to some place else? He was drawn out of his thought when his ears began to realize that his steps had gone alone a few steps ago and turned around to see his two allies staring at him with a bit of concern.

"Is there something the matter," asked Simon as he touched his face and any other vital parts, wondering if he had been harmed in some way that he didn't know.

"You seem to have this concentrated look on your face, as if you are thinking on something," replied Alucard as he took a few steps forward. "You should let us know what you are saying?"

"Sorry I just have a habit of thinking internally and keeping my thoughts to myself," said Simon as he waited until the loud thumping of the creature's movements stopped.

"Well you are not alone, like it or not you have two other companions who wish to know your thoughts," said Sonia as she put her sword to rest.

"I was wondering why this place is only inhabited by one creature," said Simon as he pointed at the claw platform. "It seems like these were set up with a stone that couldn't be marred by the impression of the creature and everything else is made wider as if for the creature to move freely in. Dracula would have never given so much of the castle to one creature because he knows that it can be overcome and such a creature would have been better at the front gates."

"Well when Dracula was here, he had an ability to call on many devils and monsters in his own right," said Alucard as he jumped to the next platform and brushed a hand over it. "The last time one thing got so much of the castle was when a golem was created out of metal and the very stone of the castle. That was the power of Dracula, but I doubt that even two devil forges could do anything of that magnitude. Even if they summoned Carmilla, there is nothing left in the castle of that size and if it were of such caliber it would have larger tracks."

"Which means that they have been using too much of their own power to cope with such a thing," realized Sonia as she smacked her fist into her own hand. "Right now all they can use are the monsters that are still here and what monsters they can summon. The only one not weakened is Iscariot, but he must have refused."

"Why would he refuse," asked Simon as he jumped to the next staircase as he pulled out a dagger with his left hand. "Oh wait, he would be wary of his partner after the incident back at the LeCarde manor so he wouldn't want to help his partner and make himself weaker in the process."

"She is quite a mind of her, she reminds me of one of your ancestors long ago," said Alucard as he began to turn himself into a bat, but stopped as the thudding seemed to draw closer than before. "It would seem like this creature is able to sense such things or has finally grown bored of waiting and is coming to attack us."

"Why are you so calm about that fact," asked Sonia with a raised voice of alarm as she quickly pulled her sword out and then shifted her hands to the silver dagger that she kept. "This may be something of a mystery to you but we can't exactly avoid it by turning into a bat!"

"Oh yes, I forgot about that, it's just that I don't usually worry because half of these monsters can be easily defeated," said Alucard, a bit embarrassed at his assumption.

"I doubt that this one is one of those weaklings if it was given its own part of the castle," said Simon as he pulled out Vampire Killer and his sword to prepare for the fight. "Besides, Vampire Killer is telling me that it was here before but it was hidden deep into the earth to wait for the time when it was needed and now Leto has unleashed this monstrosity from his earthly cage to kill us. I can't quite explain it, but this creature seems to be calling out to me as if it wants something from me."

"What does it ask for," asked Alucard as he looked curiously at the Belmont and felt a bit of curiosity well up in his stomach as he realized that this Belmont was somehow special from all the others that had come before him and would be even more powerful then the Belmont's to come.

"I can barely hear it and even now I question my hearing, but…it's as if this creature is telling me to kill it. Maybe it is the whip asking for me to kill it and erase a bit of darkness from this world, but its barking and howls all seem to form words to me."

"This is most strange," muttered Alucard as he went on ahead to scout for how close the creature was and was nearly hit by one of its monstrous paws, but managed to back up from the attack. "I won't bother telling you it's here so come up and help me!"

Simon didn't need another word or a repeat of what was just said as he leapt into the air and brought his whip down on the back of the large were-wolf that howled in pain as he did this, but all the while he kept hearing it. Those words kept circulating through his head and distracted him so much that before he knew it, the creature had him pinned down to the ground. Luckily, Sonia was there to throw her silver dagger into the throat of the beast, but it was still able to move. Cursing himself for spacing out, Simon stabbed his sword into the foot of the creature to impale it to the floor, but it managed to pull the sword out of its foot with one of its massive arms.

The whole sight of the wolf was something that was straight out of a tale of Norse mythology, when one talked about Fenric, the son of Loki. Even as blood was pouring from its wounds it still managed the strength to move around so quickly. The trio was beginning to see why this thing had gotten its own room, but they were also beginning to see signs of it tiring as the movements of the beast began to diminish and it was so weak that Simon managed to slam it down to the ground with his whip.

"I saw what you showed me, Magnus," said Simon as he walked towards the creature that lay exhausted on the ground, his voice now very soft. "You were once a man who had a wife and children, four boys and three girls, but each of them was murdered by Mobius. I saw him make you into what you are and I'm here to end it now, right here will be the time when you can rest."

The beast turned its head to look at the Belmont and it seemed like it was smiling at him, finally happy that it could die after going through the centuries waiting for a death that would never come for him. Over the years days had run together because his dreams kept him from sleeping and each year was one long day to him. For the first time in a long time, Magnus had been given a taste at the bitterest of illusions and the greatest of drugs, hope.

"Thank you," was all he said before he felt the sting of the whip against his skin and the sensation of it slipping inside of him, bringing with it an all welcoming and fulfilling darkness that Magnus embraced with open arms. Laurel…I'm coming back to you, was the last words that Magnus thought before he departed for the afterlife, the only place where he and his family could be reunited.