"This is a waste of time." Gabriel grimaced.

"No, this is a safety measure," the Forgotten One responded for the fourth time. "Understand, abusing the Maelstrom in your current condition would be foolish."

"Why do you care about my condition?" The vampire rested his back against the slab that once was a pillar. "You were the one to nearly turn me into a burnt crisp."

"In my defense, I didn't know you'd be desperate enough to tail me across a river of lava. You're the one who's sculpting dimensions at the moment. And domain crafting requires a clear-thinking mind. Heed my advice and get some rest while you still can."

"Are you trying to intimidate me?"

"And here I imagined you would – at least! – stop seeing everything associated with me as a threat. Yet, evidently, acquiring the first piece of the Trumpet was not enough." The archfiend sighed. "The Castle is shaping an army to stop us, Gabriel. Our time of so-called peace is nearing its end. Best savor it." The Forgotten One rose shakily to his feet – his right shin was still missing a chunk of that wiry tissue – and slogged through the debris toward the eastern entrance of the galleries.

"Where are you going?" Alucard sat down beside the former knight.

"I will erect a protective barrier around our current position," the demon replied without turning his head. "It will impede the Castle and buy us enough time to conclude our business with the Trumpet."

"The longer we dawdle, the less time we'll have," Dracul called, staring after the archfiend.

The Forgotten One slammed his hands against the sides of his helmet and kept walking.

"I'm with the demon on this one." The white-haired warrior netted himself a squint-eyed look from his sire. "I mean, if choosing between making out of the Maelstrom alive or becoming trapped within it, I would choose the former. We can allow ourselves some time off." Alucard cleared his throat. "Anyway, while you were blacked out, the Forgotten One had elaborated more on how the whirlpool works."

"Befriending an enemy now?" The elder vampire scoffed and picked up a piece of shattered marble.

"Wouldn't be the first time, either. I had made a deal with you of all people, Father. Not bad, all things considered." A smile creased Alucard's mouth. "Back to the relic. He had told me that the Castle's influence cannot spread inside the Maelstrom. We're plane-hopping, and the Castle's shackled to this one. Thus, it would still be able to feed on your anger, but it won't know what to do with its soldiers."

"We cannot stay in the Maelstrom for too long as evidenced by our previous plunge."

"Yes, and, ah- seeing as the Castle's power is what heals your wounds..." Trevor trailed off.

Gabriel glanced at his son, twirling the stone in his bony fingers.

Alucard frowned. "Our last encounter went swimmingly enough, but something tells me our luck is about to run out."

"I will not let anyone – anything, – claim my life before my mission is completed." Dracul lobbed the shard away. "I will see to it."

Elsewhere...

Marie fidgeted with the embroidered sleeves of her dress. She snuffled. She skittered about the two-storied house. The other resident glared after her, a spoon of oatmeal in hand. His sullen gaze traced her every move. It made her flesh crawl. The woman threw a glance at him and frowned – his right forearm, wrapped in gray, mottled webbing of veins. And he pretended not to take notice, the stubborn lout.

"I'm fine, Marie." He pushed the bowl with the porridge aside. "Stop it."

"Stop what exactly?" She came to a halt, hands clasped loosely behind her back. "This is not going to vanish. It's going to spread. It's going to fester, don't you see?"

"I need to last long enough for him to recover the Trumpet. Then everything will end." His jaw clenched. "Don't make a fuss. I've been through worse."

"No, you haven't," Marie retorted quietly. "You're unwell."

"I'm fine, really."

Marie cast her eyes downward. This was happening faster than anyone could have anticipated and she – blast! – could only sit and watch, without the right to step in. Again! Her hands balled into fists. "It's just- Sorry." She bit her lip, and a single bead of blood ran down her chin. "I lost you once. I don't want to lose you once more."

He tented his fingers together, elbows resting on the varnished surface of the table. "You fear for me, my love, I understand, but at present all we can do is wait."

"Wait? Wait for what? Absolution?" She wiped her mouth.

He got up. "I'll go visit the Knower. If she tells me the plans have changed, you'll be the first to know, alright? I'll ask her about-" he held his mutilated arm, "this too, while I'm at it."

A meek smile pulled at the corners of the Keeper's mouth. "Godspeed."

The Maelstrom's ghostly fingers molded stone and flesh akin to clay. Sky, buildings, people rose from its depths, primed to serve their purpose.

A gravid moon hung in the starless night, its light caressing all the skyscrapers, all the rooftops of this Neo-Gothic city, like a mother would tend to her young. Pockets of air escaped the vents in the ground with a hiss. Unfamiliar music rumbled from the nearest open window. Cars drove by and carefree chatter could be heard from the streets. The two vampires stood in an alleyway, a garbage container shielding them from the ignorant inhabitants of the city. Paper rustled against their feet.

Odd, but not unwelcome.

"Wygol." Alucard quirked his eyebrow. "An interesting choice."

"I can't control the Maelstrom, Trevor." Dracul looked about, fascinated. Then he snorted. "Interesting! The city looks different from our last visit. It's full of life."

The neon signboards and sparkling lampposts were the first things to draw the elder vampire's attention. During Lucifer's invasion the disease-ridden streets wallowed in waste and monsters walked the earth unimpaired. That legion of demons had forced people into hiding, spread chaos and destruction whenever they went. Now, the distant bustle of men and women cheering reminded him why the human race was the most adaptive of all. Even centuries under his tyrannical rule could not crush their ancestors' spirit. Then again, according to the books in the Wygol library – he nabbed a few after everything was said and done – Dracul had been reduced to nothing more than a legend, a fairytale parents told to keep their disobedient children in line.

"Probably because the Acolytes were still making preparations." The younger vampire glanced from around the garbage container. "I heard they were on the prowl in 2037, you know. Couldn't quite engage them as all three hung out together. Plus, I had a full-time job."

"You had a job?"

"Yes." Alucard smiled and rapped a bent finger against his chestplate. "Spying on Zobek's lackey."

"Hah, fair enough. Speaking of Zobek, what did he do in my absence?"

"Scavenged what scraps of power he could, the usual. Either way, he didn't bother me." He picked up a weather-stained newspaper off the ground. The font was faded, but legible. "I was right. This dates March 15th, 2021."

Dracul rubbed the nape of his neck. "We still need to acquire the fragments of the Horn. Any suggestions?"

"Well, if I remember correctly, the Castle's foundations are yet to be unearthed completely. I mean, it was a daunting task on its own – archaeologists from all over the world had lent a helping hand. I'd search for answer there."

"You think the Demon will be passive?" Gabriel asked.

"In the Maelstrom, I hope so."

The elder vampire borrowed a second to think. "Wait, I might have something. The Throne Room, was it dug up by 2021?"

"What was left of it? Hmm." Alucard crossed his arms. "I don't think so. Some speculated you might be hiding there, waiting for them to come to you."

"Unsurprising. I imagine this belief was quite widespread." He clicked his tongue. "Anyway, the Throne Room. Do you remember that secret alcove behind the throne itself? Where the Travel Book is held? It got me out of a tight spot yesterday, so I thought it might help us again."

"It might!" His son beamed. "Let's give it a go."

As they walked down the narrow street, away from the nighttime hubbub, Dracul let his thoughts wander. He stroked the dull brickwork of a wall. It didn't add up. Why would someone found a colony here, in the heart of barrens, encircled by a mountain range? The memorials portrayed him as a ruthless, vicious despot, looking down on everyone, including his own subordinates. Though, it was oddly refreshing to know some had banished him to myth and legend.

On the other hand, to be disregarded completely... that was the most gruesome fate of all. Some had managed to die a hero, others ascended as a villain, but not to be recognized at all? Could it have happened to the Forgotten One? Clearly, that wasn't his name, if he even possessed one. The demon must have deserved his unflattering alias for a reason.

"That would be none of your business." The archfiend's voice thundered around them, making the elder lose footing for a second.

"You're reading my thoughts?" Dracul growled as he recovered.

"Guilty as charged. You wouldn't blame me for being a tad cautious."

"Oh? Are you afraid that I might deceive you? How uncanny." The vampire guffawed.

"I'm hedging my investment, nothing more," the demon replied. "But, yes, I can read minds. Can appraise souls, too. And yours is – as before, – highly unusual."

"Corrupted by the Castle's Demon, I know."

"No. That's not it."

Gabriel blinked. "What do you mean?"

The Forgotten One breathed in. "Your soul resembles a patchwork of many, many contrasting parts, coated with, you are correct, Bernhard's influence. That influence acts as an adhesive agent, of sorts. Remove it, and your soul splits up, killing you."

His lips crimped, and he decided to change the topic. "Care to answer my earlier question? What is your name?"

"You can call me Ikay."

"Ikay? That's your true name?"

"My true name, in your human dialect, is thirty-eight syllables long. Ikay is just two of them."

"All right, Ikay it is," Dracul said. "Now go away."

"Fine." Ikay's voice started to fade. "I'll leave you to your quest then."

The trip to the Throne Room was... exciting, to say the least. They wound up doing something Dracul did not expect – walking. Not sneaking, but walking. Without a disguise. Alucard had explained that they've 'arrived' at an opportune time; it was a city-wide anniversary festival of the Chupacabra. Kids and adults like were running about, dressed in rags and wearing outlandish masks. The streets were abuzz with singing in spite of late hour. No one paid attention to the passing vampires. Well, maybe a few did – Gabriel could have sworn he heard words "an amazing cosplay" aimed at him. When he had inquired Trevor about it, his son merely laughed.

The belfry's giant resident knelled eleven times when the vampires reached their destination. The area was lined by a fence, but it proved to be a minor inconvenience for them and their mist forms. Tents, excavators and innumerable footprints in the earth, all told that this site was being steadily, systematically studied.

When the pair stopped by the collapsed section of a balcony, Dracul couldn't help but glance over the stirring city.

If asked a day before Satan's second coming, when he had holed himself up in one of the city's many churches, he would have said that redemption couldn't have been achieved. A monster, who stopped behaving like one, is still a monster. And the city, built on the remnants of his Castle, reflected his statement wholeheartedly. Dirty and cloaked in gloom, like the building's owner.

Now, the bright colors and merry singing, coupled with the first shard of the Celestial Trumpet hidden beneath his coat, made him review his earlier statement. He would find a way to save both his beloved and mankind. Humanity, despite all its flaws and past mistakes, would live on.

And, despite their hurry, one question bloomed in the elder vampire's mind.

"Trevor," he said, eyes not leaving the picturesque cityscape. "Had Volpe told me the truth about you? That the Brotherhood had nothing to do with your crusade against me?"

Alucard hesitated. "Yes. That's true." A wrinkle crossed his brow. "I felt... as if it was my obligation. That I must be the one the destroy you. Because of Mother and her death at your hands."

"I seek neither forgiveness, nor sympathy for that atrocity, yet I feel the need to tell you that I had not done so voluntarily. You know me well enough by now to understand – I'd never allow any harm to come to Marie, let alone hurt her myself."

"I do realize that." Alucard nodded. "Still why did you do it?"

"The deceased Lord of the Dead had used an artifact to control me. To use me as a meat puppet to further his own goal. And to set his plan in motion, I needed, as he had so eloquently put, a nudge." Gabriel pursed his lips. "Well, at least now you know why he needed to die."

"Indeed. From the years I had spent spying on both Zobek and his elusive Lieutenant, I gathered they were not the most pleasant lot. What was that artifact?"

"It's called the Devil Mask. It grants the possessor great power, but subjects them to Satan's will. I recovered it in the Necromancer's Abyss all those centuries ago, but after all that happened I couldn't just leave it laying there. I threw it away in disgust and hadn't seen it ever since. But enough dwelling on the past. Better concentrate on the present."

"It's okay," the Wolf said. "Even the wisest of us makes mistakes."

"But my weakness had robbed Marie of her life." The former knight sighed.

"Mother has found a way to reunite with us. You cannot underestimate her determination." Alucard's words rang with sincerity, yet were poisoned with concealed envy. Trevor's own loving wife – a redhead by the name of Sypha who had died on the same night as the Brotherhood Champion – could not find them as Marie did.

Gabriel's voice cracked. "I- I am aware of the part I had played in your Sypha's passing. And I wish to make amends for that. I cannot offer anything substantial... but would you accept my apology?"

"What? Ughm, yes, thank you." A smile quirked Trevor's blackened lips.

The elder grinned in response.

The inside of the Throne Room antechamber appeared exactly as he remembered. Well, save for the non-existent ceiling and curtains of lacelike spiderweb hanging off the walls. A steel sheet was thrown over the gap in the floor and the Brotherhood's battering ram had been wheeled to the side. The siege machine might not have drawn the vampires' attention, but an opening, cut in the decorated door, sure did. It was large enough for a human to fit through.

They glanced at each other. Alucard, with his hand on Crissaegrim's hilt, led the way. Dracul, on the other hand, refrained from drawing any weapons. He preferred not to spill any blood and nourish the only thing he wanted to stay away from. Even if that meant fueling his own being. A vampire lived off the existence of others, killing and butchering in order to survive. He was no exception.

A serene calm ushered them through the Throne Room, interrupted only by the occasional chirp from the rafters. Bats or some vermin. Footprints marked the floor – a group of several people must have been here. The trespassers had spent some time examining his throne and the glass window behind it. Now it lay shattered. Gabriel frowned and misted into the room where the Book was.

"It's gone?" He glowered at the empty base.

Alucard peeked over his father's shoulder. "Whoever is here with us, it's clear they're after the book, too. I'd advise cau- What the-"

The elder swiveled on his heels. A dozen of disfigured, lesser vampires littered the corridor to the outdoors, their grisly faces staring into nothingness. Some were disemboweled across the abdomen, others had multiple gunshots. The one leaning against the farthest wall had ragged wounds spread all over its body.

Bloody lacerations inflicted by a whip or a spiked chain.

Beside him, Alucard snorted. "There's a Belmont in the Castle."

Their stay within the dilapidated Throne Room had been a brief one and, far sooner than either of them had anticipated, they emerged back into the streets of Wygol. Or rather back into the archeological site, their mist forms muffling their steps. Several voices echoed around them, allowing for Dracul to pinpoint their source. Right in front of them, but walking away. They were oblivious to the vampires around the corner.

The prospect of meeting another Belmont had left a sour aftertaste in his mouth. The last survivor of the bloodline – Victor – had forfeited his own life to allow Gabriel to go on with his mission. Did he have to die? Did the family tree deserved to be cut down after so many generations? Or – perhaps, just perhaps – there was a way to save him, lure out the second acolyte in some other way? What past is past, Gabriel knew it far better than anyone else, but he couldn't help but brood, imagine alternative paths and scenarios where the last Belmont would have lived to tell the tale of Satan's return.

"-are you following him?" A squeaky tone made him jerk.

"Somewhat." An accented voice reached out for Dracul's ears. "That sonuvabitch's being a sonuvabitch, though." A low thudding sound. "His spectral trail's messing with my instruments. One second there's a clear signal, and the other it's as if something's fiddling with my tracker from inside."

"No one said hunting a demon is gonna be easy," a gruff voice followed. "And back there? Did you find everything you needed, Eve?"

"Yup." The woman – Eve? – seemed distraught. "Ugh, let's get out of here. If Azazel pounces on us here, we ain't gonna have the home field advantage."

A gentle hum. "You heard the lass."

"Albeit, guys – and gals! – let's face it! Slaying vampires is fun."

"You've a warped definition of fun, Nicolas."

"Really? Those savages were pushovers in my opinion. I expected more from them."

"Those were measly underlings, Hammer, the lowest caste of vampires. The first ones to go mad."

"Save this discussion for later. Now, we need to get to the HQ and study this book."

Gabriel glimpsed from around the corner. A party of five was headed toward the throng in the distance. Their leader had the crimson-bound Travel Book clutched in her hands. Her friends bracketed her from each side.

"Do you see it?" Alucard's lips moved, yet barely a whisper escaped.

"Yes." Dracul gave a brief nod. "The woman in the lead, she has it. Do you know her?"

The white-haired warrior shook his head. "No, I did not wrangle with the Brotherhood all that much. But, if she's a Belmont, maybe we should consider a non-violent approach. Could we tail her and retrieve the book in this manner?"

"They're attempting to cover up their tracks and we can't let them blend in with that crowd." The elder scrutinized the withdrawing party. There was something odd about it, and not because of the Belmont. Unease swept over him, and Gabriel startled.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he replied. "Let's go, before we lose them-"

The high-pitched whirr of a dagger cut him off, and he sprang back just in time. Sure, he might have shoved Alucard in the armor-clad stomach – hurting himself – but at least he avoided a knife to his throat. The bejeweled dagger zipped past and lodged itself in the stone. Dracul watched it for a few seconds, stunned, before an imperious voice reached him.

"Come out! We've been trained to find out when we're being spied on!"

"They're giving us a chance to give up," Alucard said, mouth curling into a small smile.

"This is perfect!" Dracul beamed. "Now we can talk."

The vampires emerged from their little hideout, placing themselves in the forefront. He could hear their hearts skip a beat in perfect unison. Without a doubt, these Brotherhood soldiers knew who he was. The leader's – Eve, he reminded himself – posture stiffened.

"Oh, what the shi-" she cursed.

"Yes," he uttered, giving Eve a lopsided smile. "Now we can talk."

The oppressive silence gave way to click and snap of gun barrels being leveled at him.

"Just talk!" Dracul's smile vanished. "I'm not here to fight you or your friends."

Eve. Tall – oh, she seemed to be a tad taller than the vampire himself, – dressed in a crimson leather jacket, trimmed with silver, and a pair of jet-black pants with its legs tucked into iron-bound boots. A dark undercut framed her face and brown eyes twinkled from under the fringe. A rifle was slung over her shoulder, and a sheath with the combat cross wrapped her around the waist. An amulet with intricate insignia hung from her neck. From the looks alone, Gabriel could safely say that she was, indeed, related to him.

"Hmph!" Her jaw set. "And we're expected to believe that."

"Eve-!" one of the men peeped. "It's the Dragon! And the Wolf! They're real! The ones who-"

"I know very well who they are," the woman returned. "I don't need a history lesson, Linus."

Next to Eve, a giant of a man huffed, unconvinced. "Dracul is a dead legend. What makes you think it's not some bloodsucker disguised as him? To throw us off guard?" The safety on his engraved shotgun was off. "He must be the one who sicced all those freaks on us."

"Out of the question," said the slender, hooded person in the back, the only one unarmed. "On the disguise part, more or less. No one would dare to impersonate the Prince. But- is that really Alucard? With him?" He tilted his head. "Eve, can you ask Hammer to lower the gun? Shooting is just gonna provoke him."

"Do as he asks, Hammer. He's immortal. There's nothing we can do."

Linus cleared his throat. "Plus, I have a sneaking feeling that if he wanted us dead, we'd be six feet under already."

"I thought, well, the Dragon was a personification of rage and hate," a woman with ash-blonde hair added. "And that, like all vampires, he had crimson eyes, not grayish-blue. Aulm, are you sure that's him?"

The man named Aulm nodded. "I'm sure."

"I'm sorry to chime in," Gabriel said, "but I can assure you all. I am quite real. So is Alucard."

Eve frowned. "What do you want, Prince of Darkness?"

"I want you to hear me out."

"Okay, we'll listen. If you answer one question."

"What is it?" He smiled.

Eve gaped at him, incredulous. Then she shrugged. "Did you command the vampires we fought off in the ruins?"

"No."

"He's lying." Hammer bared his teeth. "He's their Lord!"

"Hammer's got a point," the blonde said with a grim twist to her mouth. "He'd created them, hadn't he?"

"Not those ones," Aulm rebuked to Dracul's amazement. "Those mongrels reproduce among themselves, therefore the Prince has no sway over them. Only four known vampires were sired directly by the Dark Lord, and one of them is standing right beside him."

The corners of Eve's lips quirked. "All right then. Your feedback appreciated, Aulm. As always."

Gabriel waved his surprise aside. "Long story short: I'm rebelling. We need the book you're carrying."

"I kinda figured as much," the woman hummed as she neared. "My name's Eve, by the way. And these are my friends: Linus, Bogomir 'the Hammer', the blonde's Olga. She and Hammer are family. And that's Aulm, our informant on all things supernatural. Together we call ourselves the Innocent Devils, an elite group of demon hunters."

"And my reputation precedes me." The elder cracked a smirk. "Pleased to meet practical folk at last."

"Practical? Is that because I did not attack you on sight?" She handed the tome to its owner.

"Perhaps." Dracul accepted the offering. "You're a Belmont, are you not?"

Eve's hand traveled to the iron crucifix strapped to her hip. "Yup. Current Commander of Brotherhood of Light, Eve Belmont." She curtsied. "I, of course, knew you were still at large, very much alive. Still, excuse me if I sound flustered. To be talking with the mortal enemy of your clan is unsettling."

"You have no reason to fear us," Alucard was quick to reassure her.

"Thanks, Wolf. Me, and this city, would like to thank you for everything you've done over the years."

"What can I say? I love my job." The younger vampire grinned.

"Why did you take the book?" The elder put the volume away.

"Ain't gonna lie," Eve responded after a pause. "I thought your memories might help me deal with a little problem of mine. A demon is harassing mankind and we don't know how to defeat him."

"A demon?"

"Yup, he calls himself Azazel."

Dracul folded his arms. "Azazel? Isn't that one of the angels who was banished from Heaven together with Lucifer?"

"It would seem. Now he's an arrogant fiend who revels in pain and suffering he inflicts." Eve's voice turned raw. "Slimy bastard."

"Indeed," added Olga. "We've lost so many to that monster."

"Don't fret." Hammer rested his gloved hand on his sister's shoulder. "We'll get that beast sooner or later."

"Father." Alucard tapped the elder vampire on the shoulder, drawing his attention. "You know how to deal with demons. Satan, the Forgotten One, Abaddon. We should help her."

"What about the Trumpet?" Dracul hissed in response.

"It hasn't found us yet, so we've got some time. Best entertain ourselves while we wait."

"All right." He nodded after some thought. He faced Eve. "We will help you."

"Just like that? Without anything in return?" She smirked. "Thanks."

"I take great pleasure in bringing former angels to justice." The elder vampire shrugged.

"You'll have an opportunity to prove that, Gabriel, but now- duck!" the commander screamed as a semitransparent wave of green fire washed over them.

The infernal heat brushed against Gabriel's back. Normally, it would not bother him – the Dragon feared nothing he could not command and fire was his protege – but these flames reeked of Hell itself. The heat set the very oxygen in their lungs ablaze. Whilst neither of the vampires could suffocate, the same couldn't be said about Eve and her companions. A quick, agonizing death was waiting for them.

Dracul whirled on his heels, fingers curling around the hilt of his bound blade. Its empty chill crooned its symphony as it battled the horrid inferno. The blizzard spawned by the weapon chased the fires away, freeing the group and leaving a blackened circle in the soil. It took everyone a few moments to catch their breaths.

"Is everyone alright?" The elder looked over the group in question.

Eve pushed the singed hair out of her eyes. "Azazel and his tricks. He's here." She stepped out of the circle, combat cross ready. "Dammit, angel, come and face us!"

"I'm not hiding, you insufferable little Belmont." A chattering noise, roughly resembling human speech, echoed above them.

A goat-like creature was hunched down on the pile of debris some distance away from the group. The demon had an emaciated humanoid body and a skinless equine head. His arms were bifurcated at the elbow into two, shoulders were lined with spikes, and one of his eyes was lime-green with a misshapen pupil. A milky-white cataract covered his other. He could not boast of the same brawny physique as his deceased kin – the creature's limbs were scrawny at best, and a short, segmented tail flicked from side to side. He did have the same gleaming bladder as other soldiers of Satan.

The fiend jumped down from his perch and took several steps in their direction, jet-black hooves scraping against the gravel path. Again, unlike other greater demons, Azazel appeared only a few inches taller than the former knight. His mismatched eyes lingered on Gabriel's face a bit longer than the rest of the group.

"Bah," the demon chirped, "why, isn't this the archrival of my Overlord! Gabriel, was it not? Since when does the Dragon hobnob with such... a questionable company?"

"Azazel," the elder growled through clenched teeth.

The creature snorted. "I'm delighted to make your acquaintance."

"Careful around him," Eve muttered. "He's a crafty bastard. One I've been waiting to waste with bated breath."

"Oh, please!" Azazel placed all of his arms on his hips. "As much as I adored toying with you, I'm afraid you're no longer my priority, harlot. I've been dispatched to find and eliminate the Dragon in case those thickheaded Acolytes couldn't."

Gabriel's eyebrows rose. How could the demon know of the Acolytes' failure?

"Don't look so cross, Gabriel. I know we're all stuck in the Maelstrom," the beast continued, "did that colossal buffoon not tell you? We firstborn angels are aware of this wonderful device of his. I likewise know Lucifer's offspring will die trying to destroy you. Good riddance, I never liked them. Now this falls to me." Azazel's toothy smile stretched wider. "I will snuff your unlife out like a candle."

"You can try." He leaned forward, digging the tip of his sword into the soil.

"Rest assured, vampire, I will. I'm not like those brain-dead cretins you've fought before. I'm something much more polished. So, if you're curious about the Trumpet, follow me!"

"What do you know of the Trumpet?" Alucard demanded.

"Oh, you mean this, Wolf?" Azazel opened one of his three-fingered palms. A single piece of brass lay in the center of it. "Just a part of the much larger trinket." The demon guffawed and the fragment vanished in a swarm of green sparks. "You want it? Come. Defeat me, if you can." The former angel let out a shrill laugh and scuttled away, heading deeper into the holds of the collapsed Throne Room tower.

Dracul's lips pulled back. He would've leaped after the demon, but a light hand seizing his shoulder stopped him. Just as he lost Azazel's trail, the earth began to quake. Acid bubbled into view, forming puddles which ate away everything it came into contact with. The elder – fortunately – was fast enough to leap backwards and avoid the noxious matter.

He turned around, expecting Alucard to be standing behind, but instead saw a hood. Aulm's runty figure. Dracul glowered, but Eve's companion remained adamant, his hand resting against the vampire's shoulder. The informant was almost two heads shorter than him, but his bravery was admi- Wait. Humans could not possess reddish eyes! Reddish? A memory clicked in his brain.

"Krait?!"

The man startled at the exclamation, an odd flush creeping across his cheeks. After a pause, he pulled his hood down. 'Aulm' was of obvious Eastern ancestry, his skin a washed-out gold. He had medium-long black hair, pulled into a bun, save for a few strands with gaudy baubles woven in. Piercings beaded his ears, brows and nose. Reddish-orange irises glittered in the darkness. A child of night. Moreover, a child of night he himself had created!

Dracul stared back. "But... How?"

Eve's companion gave a sheepish smile, revealing two rows of pearly-white, shark-like teeth. "I can explain, my Prince."

"Azazel's fireworks would have attracted a whole lot of attention." Linus looked over his shoulder at Wygol's crowded streets. "We need to go. Before the riot police comes to investigate."

"Linus is right. Gabriel, no offense, but any reunions will have to wait till later." Eve patted Aulm- Krait on the arm. "We can't let Azazel escape. Not again."

"I will explain- later," the youngest of the three vampires righted himself. "Eve!"

"You heard the woman, let's go, let's go!"

Dracul nodded, solemn. An explanation was in order, but he had to put Azazel and the Trumpet first. The tale of how one of his most trusted lieutenants survived the Great Explosion and ended up with the Brotherhood and the Belmonts could wait.

Once the path had been cleared, the Innocent Devils and the vampires alike re-entered the vaults. While trudging through the halls and following the faint spectral trail left by the demon, Alucard allowed himself to take a closer look at the group. The remainder of the one time glorious Brotherhood of Light.

The Wolf shifted his gaze from the Brotherhood commander to the roguish vampire. He wasn't entirely sure what to think. A Belmont, a zealous monster hunter, befriending a creature of the night? A vampire that once had been his father's accomplice? Ludicrous. And yet Eve seemed at ease around her undead friend. And if he remembered correctly, something like this had already happened. Gabriel had referenced siding with Carmilla's adopted daughter on the Church's roof.

Alucard could see why Krait would fit in with the Brotherhood. Unlike those he had slain during his many-century campaign against his father, this vampire lacked the same bloodthirsty glint in his eyes. No hatred, no malice. Quite the opposite, Krait conveyed an impression to have subdued his bestial nature. Or that he had it buried. Deep enough to hide from its pain.

"I thought I had memorized the entire Castle and its inhabitants," Alucard said, "but I don't recall your face. Who are you?"

Krait hummed. "I'm one of your father's second-in-command. The crème de la crème of the vampiric society, so to speak. The Knaves of Darkness, he'd call us. We oversaw things while you were away."

"We?" The white-haired warrior frowned. "Ah, yes, I remember you mentioning there were others."

"Uh huh." The other vampire nodded. "I was the one in charge of surveillance and reconnaissance." He trailed off. "Oh! Ah, hello, my Prince. It's good to see you in person."

Alucard looked over his shoulder to see his father catch up with them, arms folded across his chest. "I believe you owe me an explanation, Krait."

"I believe I can give you one," Eve offered. "After that two-faced paladin 'defeated' you, the forces of darkness began to die out. So, Krait got in touch with the what was left of the Brotherhood and pledged his life to the Belmont clan. He's been our adviser ever since and his knowledge on vampires had proved priceless."

"Fine, but how did you survive the Great Explosion?"

"Just before the Castle was overran, you ordered your troops to hold their ground. You said, 'we shouldn't concern ourselves with the Brotherhood.' So we hid. Don't you remember, my Lord?"

"Right. I did say that, didn't I?" The elder kneaded his chin. "That would justify it."

"If I'm being honest, I feared the moment of our impending reunion." The Knave avoided eye contact. "I remember how you punished those guilty of disloyalty and treason, my Liege. But when you said you were rebelling, I thought-"

"Pay no mind to it." Dracul gave a throaty laugh. "I have no interest in disciplining you. I'm on a mission and can't let such trivialities bother me. Not that they do. You've always been the most kindhearted of the Knaves."

"Th-thank you." A slow smile crept across the rogue's mouth. "May I ask what business are you attending to? Perhaps I can help."

"Yup, let's hear it." Eve drummed her fingers against her leg. "What's so special about some brass? And what is this Maelstrom Azazel prattled about? It must be important. Cuz, and I'm sure you noticed, the guy's leading us into a trap."

"That piece is what we seek. It's a part of a fractured artifact," Dracul returned.

"What, like the God Mask?"

The vampire made a face. "I hope not."

Eve must have noticed his discomfort. "Oh, sorry. That was exceptionally insensitive of me."

"It's fine." He looked her in the eye. "If Azazel wants to fight us on his own terms, then so be it. That won't save his hide. Still, if I were in your shoes, I'd send your friends off. Krait included."

"Afraid they'll get in your way? My friends are more than capable of-"

"No," was the solemn answer. "I don't want to see him turn them against us."

Alucard pressed his lips together. It wasn't hard to guess which incident did Dracul just refer to. "Father, I would really rather not-"

"I'm not blaming you, son. I'm citing a fact."

"Are you sure of this, my Prince?" Krait argued. "I can be of service to you yet."

"No offense, lad, but you're no fighter. I've seen you collapse in the field."

"Your sire's right, pal." Hammer nodded, shotgun thrown over his shoulder. "You just ain't got the guts for bloodshed."

The Knave pouted. "You keep belittling me, Bogomir, and I'm centuries older than you!"

"Krait, I'm serious," Dracul murmured, "I appreciate your enthusiasm, but this isn't your fight. Go with them. That's an order."

"But-!" The youth's shoulders sagged. "Aye-aye, sir."

Eve rewarded the vampire lord with a steadfast stare. After some seconds, she leaned in and whispered something into Krait's ear. The informant's amber eyes darted towards his sire and he gave the woman an affirmative nod. Another question – another brief bow of the head.

"Okay." Eve straightened her back. "Aulm- Krait says that all the stories were not exaggerated. That you indeed are as powerful as people described you in the books. And you know what? I believe him." Her lips twitched into a smirk.

"I saved your life back there," Gabriel said. "I thought that effort would be enough to prove my worth as a soldier."

"And can you truly turn into a dragon? Or is it gossip?"

The Dragon turned to look daggers at his distant relative. Trevor masqueraded his laugh as a barking cough, netting himself a squint-eyed glance from his father. Eventually, a cocky smile found its way onto his face. "No," he jeered, "people hallucinate when they're afraid."

"What? Hey, sarcasm ain't nice! Consider my point of view. Not every day you get to meet with your so-called dead ancestor who's a bloody dragon." Eve waved her hand. "Roar! Expect him to terrorize innocent men, women and children, but discover he's a nice guy underneath all that skin. Preposterous."

It took around five minutes for Eve to coax the Innocent Devils into leaving her. At first, her associates resisted, but their objections were cut short. She had to confront Azazel one last time.

Dracul did not dissuade her. He knew well enough how determined the members of his bloodline could be. If Eve wanted to settle a score the demon, she would have it no other way. Nonetheless, he could relate to her. From what he gathered, Azazel had done something to Eve's husband, Dominique. He turned him into a vegetable, Krait clarified, and now he spent his days in the care of the Brotherhood. Within the walls of the church named after his lineage where others could pray for his wellness. That would never be.

"Don't worry about me." The woman said as her hand closed around the hilt of her combat cross. "I've got a beast to slay."

The elder sighed. This was such a case of deja vu.

The Mirror of Fate chamber.

He didn't know why he kept referencing it thus – the Mirror shattered when Simon administered the death blow all those centuries ago. Pulverized by the Great Explosion, its enchanted remains became Dracul's symbol of sorrow. The accursed thing had been one of the reasons behind Marie's death, the room in which it had been mounted had become Trevor's tomb-

And this was the place where Azazel had chosen to face them. But just like with that Mirror, he would not let the monster deter him.

As the trio entered the chamber, rimmed with statues of angelic warriors, they saw him. Azazel had his back turned on them. The creature's bony fingers ran along the edges of a stone casket in a slow, almost adoring, manner. Out of the corner of his eye Dracul could see Alucard shiver.

"At last, you're here," Azazel drawled, pivoting. "I was beginning to think you got lost in your own Castle, Gabriel." His lips quirked in a smug smile. "Oh, I see you brought the girl with you. Guess you did not learn your lesson, huh, Prince of Darkness? Marie, Claudia, Laura. How many more must die before you understand? None of them would shed a tear should you pass away."

"Return the piece," the elder vampire declared.

The fiend clasped his hands behind his back. "Can't. So sorry. I sent the piece to Satan."

"He's lying through his goddamn teeth," Eve growled. "He has it."

"I guess. Low stakes aren't fun. You should know this, Belmont."

"Shut your mouth, you self-conceited swine!" the commander yelled, spit flying.

Azazel guffawed. "Did I touch a raw nerve? Tsk-tsk. Know this, human. Your beloved's sanity won't come back to him. It is my magic. It lingers, it builds, it worms into your mind. A waking nightmare. That is all you, curs, deserve for opposing my Lord." He turned his seeing eye to Dracul. "You in particular."

He clicked his fingers, and a strange, wafer-thin object materialized in his hand. It was gray, jagged, holes gaped where eyes should have been. Breath caught up in Gabriel's throat and, despite his immense willpower, he took a small step backwards. Both Trevor and Eve looked back at him, eyes wide and distressed.

The demon flourished his prize, chest thrust-out. "Good to see you still remember this special item. The Devil Mask. The very thing that made you commit that terrible murder. You shouldn't litter with relics like this, vampire. Someone might find it, you know, someone might use it against you. Again."

Then he lunged forward without warning.

No one defies the rightful Prince of Darkness and lives!