Chapter 9: Symponthy of the Night Part 5
This is getting tiresome...Gabriel effortlessly leaped to the side away from the mad vampire's greatsword, which she swung with reckless abandonment. Her gargoyle-shaped helmet giving the impression of a flaming daemon from hell! With a annoyed yelp, Gabriel brought up the Void Sword to block another barrage of furious strike against him, the black blade drenched in shadowy flame, as if she possessed the inferno of the Averus in her sword, deflecting Victoria's erratic attacks with the glowing bastard sword, sparks flashing, as the two blades clashed with one another. Gabriel held his void sword outstretched deflecting blow after blow, holding the sword in a reverse grip. Even in her frenzied state, Victoria's skills were highly impressive. Not quite Alucard's level of finesse, but certainly her savagery had it's advantages, in terms of pure, brute strength. The blood of the Nosferatu was strong, as it was damning to its owner. Truthfully, she did remind the Vampire Prince of a Servant of Cornwell, first of the Lycans.
Her power had grown over the centuries in her madness,
"Just give up already, you cannot beat me, cease this wanton destruction! You are no Lord of Shadow!" Dracul said dryly, as he rolled his eyes. I'm loosing the faint entertainment this conflict once possessed.
Victoria screeched, "Wanton destruction? You are the one who sicked his bloody hounds on his daughter-in-law and your infant grandson, my lord! After you murdered, and corrupted your'e eldest son!" Her voice practically oozed mockery, as Gabriel's insides began to boil with hatred.
He seethed, clenching his teeth, annoyance brewing inside him. Dracul's centuries long sleep has...made him rather rusty in the use of the blade. He was still quite the swordsman, but was no doubt eclipsed by his son, The White Wolf of Wygnol. Stubbornness should have had its limits. She keeps fighting, knowing the end is night...a paladin of the Brotherhood to the end. Still, that only effected his ability to fight one on one. He could lay waste to the entire castle with a divine ordinated spell from the heavens, or unleash a torrent of unholy magic from the darkest pits of hell. Such was Draculs's true, horrible danger. He wielded holy and unholy magic in perfect synergy. Which he could use to fell thousands of innocents. Such was his gift, as the Prince of Darkness! Alas, he didn't want such a large body count tonight, or any night to be honest. No need to get innocents involved anymore. Gabriel could satisfy his infinite, horrid blood lust on ripping apart his foes.
In response, the black armour clad women screeched like a banshee, lifting her blade once more. the blackened steel sword itself howling as it was once more, alit with black flame. The armour itself seemed to be made from some odd metal, as it appeared strangely stone-like, as if she actually was a snarling, stone gargoyle, perched above a dark cathedral, gazing down upon the ants in the rainy streets below it, predator intent in its unholy eyes. To a human, it would seem like she was moving in a horrifying, supernatural way. As if her limbs were constantly having spasms, and jerking in disturbing ways. But Gabriel could see through her aura of glamour magic. Pity welled up inside him. Underneath that horrible black armour, she was nothing more then a frightened child lashing out against the world for taking her beloved away from her. Just like him. How many monsters have I created...the vampire Prince lamented, as he ducked, avoiding one of Victoria's sideways slashes. How many of God's creations have I corrupted and twisted to my dark thrall? Too many. I am beyond redemption, it seems, in the eyes of both humanity and heaven
Whatever she was, Gabriel needed to fell her.
"You claim God turned you into what you are...tell me, my Prince, how many others would say the same about you, to justify their venial sins, and damnation?" The damnable whisper entered his mind. Gabriel's teeth clenched in rage, but he choose to ignore the one who lurked within him.
Victoria pushed forward, slashing at Gabriel diagonally, sprinting as if to push him back to the edge of the room and pin him in place, the black fire trailing fast behind her sword. Gabriel counter-slashed, catching her lightning fast blade with his own Void Sword, the ice cold white light countering the hateful black fire. Flame clashes with frost. Darkness clashed with light. Evil light, but light nonetheless. In the span of a second, Victoria attacked again, making a stabbing motion to impale Dracul on her black greatsword, Gabriel deflected her attack with the edge of his crimson bracers, going to the right to strike with an overhead swing intent on cutting her from the top of the her helmet. Victoria placed her blade to her side holding it upward, blocking the Prince's advance, but Gabriel weathered another flurry of blows, to launch a kick into her gut with his leather boots, knocking the wind out of the frenzied monster, and throwing her backward. Doing a flip, in the area she landed on her feet, placing her hands on the ground, crouching, roaring in primal fury, "You shall taste defeat, Belmont. By the morning light, your unlife shall end!" Victoria was fast becoming consumed by the dark red light surrounding her in an unholy aura of shadow, emanating off her where wisps of darkened fire. She was drawing too much Shadow Magic into herself.
How is she channeling so much Shadow Magic?! I dont see any kind of amulet or device to draw such dark power...
Shadow Magic was not inherently evil. As Light magic was not inherently good. Both of them were nothing more then tools. One of the most proficient Light Magic wielders Gabriel had encountered over the centuries was, ironically, Satan, King of Hell. Case in point, many members of the Brotherhood had employed Shadow Magic against him, including his own son, Trevor Belmont, when he was a human warrior.
But it's influence was quite corrupting. And very dangerous to the wielders mind, if abused, even more so then Light Magic. Gabriel could practically see the black tendrils of dark magic flowing through Victoria, and warping her mind even further.
It didn't seem like she cared.
Gabriel clenched his fangs, "Your arrogance shall be your undoing, girl. You'll loose control over yourself if you keep pouring shadow magic into you're body!" A smug grin appeared on the Vampire Prince's face, "Last chance, surrender now, fool!" In response Victoria roared like a monster, going onto all fours for a moment, bestially charging towards the stunned Gabriel, fangs barred underneath her blackened helmet wielding her greatsword in her teeth. "Enough! The Vampire Prince screamed a macabre battle cry, showing off his own fangs, as he counter charged her, kicking off his right foot in a burst of speed, trailing his fist behind him to gather monument in the punch he was preparing. Slick, red mist falling from his longcoat, The Dragon barred its teeth, and unleashed its horrid furry. The two would appear as blazing blurs to moral eyes, and it was a simple breath until they collided with one another.
Or so it would seem. Victoria's punch missed by an inch, as Gabiriel avoided it, planting his own barred fist straight into her face. The punch rippling the air around it with force, shattering bits of her metal mask, planting a massive dent into it, and into her face. Gabriel pushed even harder, gripping the female vampires face with his dark claws, as he dove her into the stone wall, the small circular room shaking at his monstrous strength. She struggled to little avail, as the two of them went flying through the air With a crunch, dust and chips of stone were thrown into the air, as the heavily armored vampire collided straight into it. Shoving her head into the wall, the bricks crumbled away, as Victoria's face was planted into the wall. The dark Knight recovered in a mere instant, flashing her blade as she ripped her damaged helmet from the crumbling stone wall, ramming her blade into Dracul's stomach in a flash of speed. Or so she thought.
With a flash of red, Gabriel's form disappeared into a flock of bats, before reforming as the vampire warrior could barely lift her sword, the impact of ramming into the wall, still dulling her senses, and causing a veil of vertigo around her blazing red eyes. She slashed at his side, with, Gabriel in response, blocking the strike with his hardened blood wristguards, before pushing her back with a slight shove. With an intense, draining sound, he dispelled his Void Sword, lifting his left hand, and crushing it into his right hand's palm, in a display of anger. Truly, he was done playing around. Gabriels face twisted from the savage snarl, to pure melancholy, the power of the void filling within him. "This ends now", he whispered.
Advancing a few steps slowly, in contrast to Victoria charging forward in a burst of speed, Gabriel swiftly sidestepped away from Victoria's first strike, delivering a blow to her armoured stomach with his fist, the strikes force breaking through the metal, and impacting on her bones, a brutal gut punch, phasing towards her in a burst of black shadows. Coughing, Victoria quickly recovered from the attack, bringing her claymore down upon the dark Prince's head, frantically trying to fell the Prince of Darkness. Instead, Gabriel caught the blade with his right hand, the edge sinking into the pale flesh of the Dragon, drawing a ripple of blood to flow from the wound, he slammed his knee into her unprotected groin, causing her to stutter in pain, and to drop her weapon. Pressing the attack, Gabriel threw his fist into her helmet's jaw, before bending her over, and dropping his elbow into her back, finishing it off with a hard kick to the gut, throwing her backwards. Limp with pain, Victoria rolled for a good few seconds, before snarling, and getting back up once more.
Reaching to her back, she drew a rusted dirk, wielding it in a reverse grip. The blade was black, corroded steel, quite plain otherwise, besides the faded dragon insignia drawn into it's pommel. The dagger's edge itself was jagged, and soaked in poison. She circled around, looking for the best moment to attack the Prince, limply looking for an opening in his defences, her eyes trailing around like a panther's.
The Gargoyle mask, its once motionless face, curling into a hateful snarl, roared out in agony, as Victoria ran at impossible fast speeds, wielding the short blade in two hands, bringing the dagger down upon Gabriel it an attempt to shank him with the small blade. As Victoria charged towards him, Gabriel had already conjured a shadow dagger, parrying the strike with his own dagger, and thrusting it into her shoulder. The crystallised blood blade broke through her armor, embedding itself into her dead flesh, causing her to cry out in pain. Gabriel, not wasting the opening, quickly punched her in the stomach, saying as he delivered another beat down; "Valiant as you are in your attempt to slay me girl, you should have known you had no chance against the Dragon, endowed in knowledge as you are in the ways of the Nosferatu. I am the Prince of Darkness. There is a reason the almighty favors me as his champion! Only I can keep the forces of light, and darkness in balance. Do you not remember why the legions of shadow hailed me as there Prince in the first place?" His teeth clenched, "Because they all feared my wrath!"
Gabriel launched a kick into her leg, causing the limb to snap and bend to his leather boot. Victoria futility attempted to block his strike with a blow of her own, but missed once more, just giving a Gabirel another opportunity to attack her in the gut. The heavy, black plate-armour the vampire wore did little to stop the Dragon's might. The girl brought up her arms to her face to shield them from the vampire raining blow after blow upon her, desperately trying to put up a defence. Dracul just snorted. "You want to beat me, servant?! Not like this!" He put all of his possible force into this single blow, thrusting his clawed hand forward, and pushing it towards her armoured mask. With a crunch, and snap of magical energy, Victoria's metal gargoyle mask broke into pieces, falling off her face in shards, throwing her, once more, to the stonewall, and shattering the helmet so fully the remaining pieces just collapsed and fell of her head. Her impact was heavy, and she was thrown to the ground in a daze.
An ocean of red hair fell from her head, as it was now free to flow downward. Long, and lustrous, she had kept the same hairstyle for centuries, growing it out every since she became a spawn of the night, the crimson colour suiting her well in this state, complimenting her deathly pale skin. She placed a hand to her knee, helping to stabilise her shaky form, as she pulled herself back up from the pile of rubble, metal armour clanging, only to fail, as she fell to the floor. Her unnatural stamina had its limits. Blazing, red eyes starred at Gabriel, piercing the darkness within the chamber. For becoming a demon of the night, Victoria's transformation hadn't effected her that much, physically at the least. While her skin was a deathly white parlour, and her face had become much narrower, she looked relatively unscathed. Her face, lovely, but marred with hatred. Her small lips were black, hiding razor sharp fangs underneath. "And so, it now ends, monster. Finish it, then." She seethed. Without her helmet, her voice lacked the echo of power it once held, but was no less angry.
"If I wanted you dead, you would already be a pile of ripped up body parts, and rotten flesh, child. I'm disappointed in you, I would expect a knight of Dracul to conduct herself in a more appropriate manner." Dracul muttered. "Not so base, no better than a common beast. Killing innocent maids, tsk tsk." His snarl turned to a mocking grin. He did enjoy making his defeated opponents even more humiliated. Old habits die hard.
"Indeed." A cold voice emerged from behind the duo. A grin formed on Gabriel's lips. He had heard there footsteps echoing down into the chamber minutes ago during the fight, but they seemingly waited for Gabriel to incapacitate Victoria before making themselves known. Knights of Tristan.
The same captain from before lead the armoured lance from the front, her longspear's tip still dancing with red lightning. Her scale armour hide her feminine form, and her great helmet her female face, but even if Gabriel hadn't seen her before, it was easy to tell she was a woman by the way she walked. Sly like a cat. With halberds outstretched, her men warily advanced behind her, forming a wall of pikes, as they blocked the entrance. She lazily lifted her great spear and pointed it at the duo of vampires, before speaking in her monotoned voice, "I presume this is the murderer..."
"Yes." The Vampire Prince said casually, his features sharpening, his sanguine eyes glowing a dark shade of red. I know were this is going...He added in a deadpan voice, "Of course, you would have known it wasn't me and Louise if you'd had listened to be me earlier, all this death could have avoided..." He strode ahead, turning away from Victoria, and towards the growing crowd of soldiers, summoning forth his crimson shadow sword, pointing the blade forward, with a sinister smile forming "No matter. Humans are like cattle. They multiply fast. The ones you lost will no doubt be replaced in due time."
"How quaint of you." The captain responded. Her men began to circle around, forming a wall of steel pikes, around the trio. Victoria wheezed as she tried to lift herself up from the rubble of the wall, only to once more fall. Wordlessly, the female soldier advanced, wielding the lightning spear in one hand, and a glowing spell in the other, her gauntleted hand bearing red runes on its surface, the red light from bother her spear, and gauntlet, illuminating the shadows with crimson light. A proficient mage then. Despite being a master in the magical arts himself, Gabriel still knew a few mage hunter techniques that allowed him to easily incapacitate magic users. which the Brotherhood has used against him extensively.
Another shade of hypocrisy to the foul Brotherhood of light, he may add. All those witch pyres, and yet they willingly practised shadow magic, a black art, against him.
The Captain advanced further, closing the distance between them. Without even hearing her speak, the Vampire knew her intention. She was going to execute Victoria.
A small grin played on Dracul's lips, as he pointed his shadow blade towards her, putting himself between Victoria and the Captain. He spoke with a mocking tone, "It's a shame I cant let you go further. She is a fool certainly, but my servant. I will discipline her myself, but you will not lay a finger on her, human." His voice grew to a low growl, as his feral eyes starred at the Tristian's soldiers own. He couldn't smell fear emanating off her. The sound of metal boots hitting the floor stopped, as the Captain herself paused, just a few steps away from the Dragon. She snorted, "I have orders to exterminate that filth from the Count, step aside, Dracul. You will not get in between me and my prey."
Gabriel laughed, a hollow, bitter laugh, "Have I not already showed you my dark power, wench?" A dark smile forming on his lips, Gabriel lifted his clawed hand into the sky, and shouted, "I will drown you all in a darkness that you cannot escape from!"
A sickening sound echoed across the halls, as a spiralling wave of Shadow emerged around Gabriel, blanketing the entire area in a impenetrable layer of pure darkness, as his longcoat's whipped upward at the discharge of his power. The group of Knights, startled by the encroaching shadows, sheepishly raised their weapons. Captain Fumeki raised her rune covered hand into the air, and conjured a mage light spell, which illuminated the area once more. For a split second, anyway, as the shadows encroached around the light like a swirling vortex of darkness, and just consumed the magical light as if itself only existed to devour any kind of light. In the mere instant, she could see the Vampire-Lord throwing one of her knights across the room, lifting the heavily armoured man like a sack of wheat. "Darkness consumes light." A deep voiced echoed around. A grin visible on his face. Human screams echoed, as the sound of metal being crunched, and battered surrounded her. And then, after ten seconds, nothing. The sickening darkness evaporated, and the torch light found its flame once more, the room light up. The Captain's vision had returned.
All of her Knights lay battered, and broken across the floor. Though going by their rising chests, the Captain knew were merely unconscious.
"Pathetic." A cold voice emerged from the side. The Vampire leaned on the side of the shattered wall looking no different than before, "Here I am, expecting a decent fight against disciplined knights of the realm, and all I get are some frightened children. You're knights are almost as much a disappointment as this whelp here." His pointed one of his bony fingers towards the incapacitated woman on the ground. "If this is all the Knights of Tristian can offer I worry-"
A flash of steel interrupted Dracul's mocking words. Captain Fumkei stepped forward, her eyes filling with predatory intent, and in a burst of speed, charged forward with her spear outstretched. "You talk too much." As if a blur the captain embedded her spear into the wall. Even for her sharp eyes, the Vampire Prince was too fast, and he had moved his head an inch to avoid the weapons sting. Gabriel launched his fist into her gut, which knocked the wind right out of her, and threw her backwards. Smirking, Gabriel summoned forth his shadow blade, and, crossing the distant, slashed at the Captain's midsection, the dark blade rippling as it took form.
"I talk just enough!" The captain barely had time to bring up her spear in response, to block the Vampire Prince's attack. Sweat began to form around her brow, as it took all her might to hold back the Dragon's shadowy blade. The two weapons were locked. In contrast Gabriel's face was unfazed, "Unlike with that noble brat from before, I won't hold back. Broken bones don't concern me, as does human suffering. Last chance girl, back down now." I've been saying that a lot tonight. Maybe I should skewer these rats on pikes. Make the humans show me a little bit of respect.
"You don't frighten me, vampire!" The Captain retorted, her teeth underneath her helmet clenching in anger.
"That defiance! Good, I like it! It will make you're defeat all the more savouring..." Gabriel smirked, as the two angrily glared at each other, preparing to engage the other in combat...
Not noticing the rising figure behind them. Maniacal, insane laughter, caused the two of them to break eye contact with each other, and turn to face its source.
Villainous laughter is my scthick...the Vampire Prince, annoyed at having to briefly cease his duel with the knightess, deadpanly said, "Does our dramatic tension amuse you, for some reason servant?" Gabriel already knew who the laughter belonged too, only glancing to see its source instinctively.
Victoria had risen from the rumble of the wall, battered and bruised but looking not worse for wear, the insane laughter echoing like a symphony. On closer inspection, the Vampire Prince noticed details he had not seen before. Her long, crimson hair was unkempt, and wild. Her pale, disgusting skin had visible, black veins intermingled amongst cold, blue one's. Large, dark bags hid underneath her eyelids, reflecting sanguine light which glowed in the darkness.
She looked even worse than Gabriel.
The centuries of undeath clearly hadn't been kind to her.
"He told me..." She said quietly, the laughter dying down, replaced by cold melancholy. The Dragon eyebrows raised in confusion, as he dispelled his shadow blade, turning his back on the Captain, whom still was pointing her spear at the Vampire. It's not like she could damage him in any permanent way, after all. She repeated, and then continued, "He told me, I wouldn't be able to beat you as I was...I didn't believe him. I thought this gaping hole of vengeance, for what you did to me, would be enough to carry me to victory against you, the Dragon..."
Dracul's smile vanished, and Gabriel Belmont spoke, "I had a hand in you're fall, no doubt." His eyes trailed to the ground, "I gave you the blood gift. And inducted you into my legion's ranks." He closed his eyes, "Yes, part of the fault is with me." His opened his sanguine eyes, as they trailed across the ground, looking at the black ashes, "All you're victims are just more lives i'm ultimately responsible for taking. However." He glared at her, "You choose to walk down the path offered to you, of which I warned would consume you in the end. The blood of the people you killed, are on you're hands as well, Victoria. Ultimately, when we stand before the golden gates of paradise, man or monster like us, we must accept responsibility for our actions, and whatever punishment that entails." Gabriel's eyes had taken a blue hue, which was suddenly consumed by sanguine red, as his voice filled with cruelty, "In other words, the hell that awaits you're dark soul is of you're own make, girl. Only a child blames others, for there mistakes. Fess up to your sins." His eyes narrowed, and a smile of pure malice, and evil formed on his lips, "And then be reunited with you're cloister whore in hell."
Victoria glared back, her eyes filling with fury, until..she just sighed, and let her crimson hair fall over her face. "No choice, then...i'll see you in that hell, Gabriel Belmont." Her face filled with despair, as she raised her hand, and opened up her gauntleted palm, revealing a small, black pearl-like object.
Which held Akkadian carvings scratched on the glossy surface.
At the sight of it, Dracul preparing to charge forward, and skewer the girl on his summoned blade,
The crimson haired woman crushed the circular object underneath her fist. At that very second, an enormous amount of magical energy entered the room, made manifest in the form of a wave of sickly green light. Like the strongest ocean wave, it came crashing forward, and towards the duo, its edges rippling with unstable power, as it emitted a sound akin to thunder, deafening the two. The Captain eyes opened in surprise, and too shocked to react properly, only managed to feebly raise her spear. A useless gesture. A split second away from colliding into the Captain, her previous foe came forth, putting himself between her and the shock wave of power, his clenched fist, glowing pale white. A wall of blueish light formed around the two of them, moments before the wall of force collided into the duo. The wave of power smashed into the faint wall of light, which held back the overwhelming might of whatever spell Victoria had unleashed. The Captain's helmet had been thrown off her face, and now her ebony hair flew wildly around, as she screamed, "By the Pentagrams of power, what infernal sorcery is this?!"
"Magic from Ancient Assyria!" The Vampire Prince yelled back in response, his own messy hair blowing wildly back. Such...power. Gabriel's wall of protection magic was gradually eroding to the pure, overwhelming might of whatever spell Victoria has cast. Dracul was slowly being pushed back by the wave of magic. Damnation. I cant hold much longer...
"Accursed abomination, if this continues the entire school will be consumed, including everyone inside!" Gabriel felt a small sense of relief fill him, as he turned his head to see the Captain, whom hands were raised, as she too had conjured a spell of protection, reinforcing Gabriel's own protection ward. It was almost amusing how quickly humans were able to forget past aggression when faced with common adversity or a goal.
"Indeed!" Gabriel faced the massive wall of energy. By now, Dracul's magical wall had formed around the entire room, surrounding the green exploding wave of dark power, preventing it from ripping apart the Tristian academy. "Don't you idiotic humans have magical wards in place?"
The Captain, whose face was drenched in sweat, and had a perpetual look of fatigue, nodded her head, yelling over the thunderous discharge of pure energy "Of course, but this spell...its-"
"Powerful yes. This is beyond you're worlds sorcery!" But not mine! A tired grin formed on Dracul's face. Clearly, this spell wasn't going to cut it. Gabriel called out, "Girl, pour all you're magic reserves into my ritual!"
"I'm already-" Gabriel screamed, cutting her off, "Pour everything in, even if you face oblivion! If we let this get out of control, this place will be wiped off the map!"
Cursing, she nodded, the glowing pentagram on her hand growing even brighter, causing even more sweat to form on her brow, and her face to grow paler and paler as the seconds passed. Gabriel turned around, and conjured forth his own, titanic might, bringing in the power of Chaos, and the Void, into his spell, which caused the wall to be alit with bright flames, and a lingering wave of frost. His eyes blazed crimson, as he brought into the swirling magical mix, the power of his blood, and vampiric magic, the wall of magic becoming hardened with the solidified sanguine liquid, and began to be wrapped by disgusting, pale tentacles. You face the power of the Dragon! As if Gabriel's magic was consuming it, the glowing green wave of energy began to subdue, and shrink Darkness consumes darkness! I am more evil and terrible then thou! Dracul's suspicions were confirmed as the light began to fade, and die. As it shrunk in power, Gabriel felt relief, as he had to pour less and less magic to maintain his protection spell. His unlikely ally, whom moments before looked like she was going to collapse onto the ground, had a renewed sense of strength, with colour returning to her naturally pale face. With a cry of surprising happiness, the normally stoic Captain smiled in triumph, "By the gods, we did it!"
The wave was completely consumed by Dracul's horrid display of power.
You spoke too soon...Gabriel relaxed face suddenly hardened. He...sensed something else in the room. Something powerful. Besides the trio. Despite the wave of energy collapsing. a perpetual green mist had taken form in the circular chamber, clouding him and the Captain's sight. She covered her eyes, saying, "What trickery is this...more fog" She turned, "Are you-"
"Nay, it is not me. Prepare thy self, knight. This accursed night isn't over!"
Gabriel summoned forth his Void sword, bringing the blade into a two handed fighting pose, the bitter chill of the unholy blade emanating off the trio. Standing beside him, the Captain lifted her crackling energy spear, going into a two handed stance The duo cautiously moved forward, slowly advancing, as they tactically walked forward together. The Captain's eyes sharpened, "If that god forsaken spell's main purpose wasn't to bring annihilation to the school, what was it?"
Even before the fog dissipated, Gabriel knew the answer, to her question "Summon something from the Abyss."
All of a sudden, the Captain was thrown backwards, as a giant puddle of sludge came roaring into the woman, knocking her square in the chest, propelling her into a wall. Gabriel duck to the left, dodging one aimed for him, cutting it in mid air as he did, the frost freezing the sludge as it was thrown forward, causing it to shatter as it fell to the floor.
A infernal roar echoed, as the green fog dissipated, revealing a sight of horror.
A massive, pile of black sludge stood we're his former servant had. The blob horror was slug-like, taking about half the room with its disgusting obesity. What appeared to be a mouth stood in the front, and by a mouth, Gabriel meant the massive opening in its center, filled with thousands of jagged teeth, that emitted sounds of unadulterated horror, and agony, which the creature seemed to be eternally stuck in. It vaguely reminded him of that daughter of Satan he had fought all those years ago. The twisted mockery of a human face sat on the front, forever frozen in eternal pain. Human bones, animal bones, and even what the vampire could assume were monster bones lingered in the black, tar like substance, as if the monstrous before him simply consumed whatever had the misfortune of ending up stuck inside its jelly stomach. Black, inky hands jutted out all over the things body, which moved around constantly, trying to grab anything that came into its range and devour it. Or whatever horrid fate awaited them on the darkness of its sludge like ooze. Gabriel's nostrils inhaled a decay-filled smell, of such repugnant horror it caused the Vampire's insides to fill with disgust.
As if it was thousand year old shit, as his son would probably say.
At last! A real foe! Grinning, and revealing his barred fangs, the Vampire swung his Void Sword into the air, causing the blades edge to trail a deep blue color into the air. He called out, raising his blade, "Unholy abomination, wherever you be a spawn of Satan, or a nameless horror of the old world, know that the Prince of Darkness feasts on your cadavers tonight!" He threw himself forward, lifting the glowing great sword high into the air, and charged forward.
The sludge-like substance that formed most of its body, reshaped into a large, greataxe, which it wielded with one of its dark hands. Lifting it above, the monster smashed it down into the ground, intent on flattening the advancing vampire. Dracula dodged the attack, skillfully flipping to the side, as he brought his Void Sword into a slash, severing the monsters shadowy arm, causing it to loose its newly formed weapon, which simply dissolved as it hit the floor. Gabriel landed to the side, a snarl forming on his lips. Right as he did, the sludge like surface of the horror erupted, as dozens of smiley, black tentacles erupted from its skin, straight towards Gabriel's position. Snarling, Gabriel slashed at the tentacles, as he rolled out of the way, severing a handful of them, and avoiding the rest.
A sliver of red hair caught his eye, as he focused in on the abomination. A gasp, and scowl of anger presented itself onto his face.
Victoria's unconscious face had manifested on the creatures black, inky skin, before slipping back into it.
She was still alive.
Damn that girl. I should just let her rot in that things gut...True, back in the good old days, Gabriel would skin servants alive, and leave them like that for days, before extinguishing their pathetic existence, for the crime of treason. And attacking ones sworn Prince seemed to be pretty treasonous.
But...he knew Alucard would disapprove of leaving her to die, when he himself was partial at fault for her mindless actions. "Gotta fix your screw ups, father" he would say.
Yes she would pay for her earlier actions, and Gabriel would discipline her, but he couldn't just let her die.
Especially with all that effort I had expended to capture her alive...he pragmatically thought. Damnation, fine. But I must make this quick!
Interrupting Gabriel's thoughts, the slime demon summoned another battleaxe, the black smiley substance forming once more, and was in position to strike at him once more. Gabriel brought up his Void Sword, as he prepared to go back on the offensive, but his stance slightly relaxed, when a crimson flash entered into his vision. Screaming out guttural cries of pain, the demons slime axe was cut in half by a spear thrust. The Captain had recovered. Making her way to Gabriel, she got into position to beside him, as she dodged several half-hearted attempts by the roaring demon to ensnare her with slime tentacles.
Gabriel brought up his Void Sword, and summoned forth a bubble of protection magic, the faint blue light surrounding the duo, who had their backs to each other, wielding their respected weapons in stances that complimented each other. The Captain's voice had regained its cold, stoicness, as she asked, with an emotionless voice, "What is our attack plan?"
A small grin formed on his lips, "If we had maybe a day or two, we could simply cut it piece by piece until none of its disgusting sludge remained. Alas, that doesn't seem really fun."
"Any other options?" She asked
"I could extinguish it in a blast of black magic. That...would probably level the entire school, and kill thousands." A dark smile played on his lips, "Again, I don't think that sounds very pleasant."
Impatiently she shouted, her tone becoming angry "You think this is some kind of joke?! Any options that wont fucking kill anyone else besides that abomination?"
"I could banish the demon with a rite of exorcism." Dracula's face became dark, as he muttered, "But to do that, i'll need you to cover me."
The Captain's face filled with confusion, before a grin appeared on her lips "An exorcism? No offence, but that doesn't seem to fit you at all."
"You wound me." The vampire said, his ever-present grin reforming, mirroring her own "Whether it be a spawn of Lucifer, or some abyssal remnant of the days before creation, it will fall to His wraith. I'm actually very proficient in holy rites. Not to any of you're gods though. So, shall we begin?"
"Like I can argue..." She said, nervously glancing to the side as the black tentacles struck the glowing blue aura. She gulped, even more sweat forming on her brow, the icy cold stare now gone, replaced by determination. "Let's us expel this abomination then! I'll stop it from moving!"
As she uttered those words, the circular blue light that surrounded them faded. The captain lifted her spear, as Gabriel brought up his sword, the two clanking each others weapon in a brief salute, the duo charging forward to face the horror before them.
The captain, a blaze of red lightning, and black scale armour, blitzed forward, almost a blur, as she deftly avoided several incoming tentacles, dexterously flipping to the side. Her hair flew to the side, as she screamed, "Unholy horror, feel the bite of Dragvandil!" Gripping the long spear with her two, chainmail clad hands, Kanenki shouted a battlecry, as the lighting on her spear exploded in a flurry of red sparks. She thrusted the great spear, using the forward momentum in her stab to jam the spear's obsidian blade into the pile of black sludge. As the weapon slide into the muddy substance, she screeched, "Dragvandil, imprison this abomination!" The great spear's dancing lighting grew stronger, as waves of lighting formed around the daemonic blob monster, like a pair of massive electric chains, crushing it, causing it to scream inhuman cries of pure pair. Gabriel could hear...laughter, among the sparkling lightning. Victoria left the obsidian spear fall from her hand, and be completely consumed by the crimson electricity forming around it, right as she lifted her hand, red runes forming around them. Sweat began to form around her brow, as she called out, her tired voice being drowned out by the lightning;
"Dracul, finish this! My magical prison won't last long! Especially against a thing with this much power!"
The Vampire Prince dispelled the Void Sword, as he went onto one knee, his black leather pants bending, his sanguine eyes filled with fury. He let his long, black hair fall downward, as he muttered, in a low tone of voice, making the sign of the cross with his bony, sinister fingers. The words of his training echoed in his mind
"In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti."
As if nothing else mattered, Dracul could only hear the beat of his heart, and the sound of his breath. He made a small insesion into his palm, and from it, drew forth a large, crimson cross, made from his crystallised blood, adorned with blood red rubies, and both holy, and unholy runes. A blood red skull stood in the middle, with circular disks circling around it. Wielding the cross, Dracul got up from his knees, and began to slowly advance forward, as he began his prayer,"Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in proelio; contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium." Dracul spoke with utter conviction, as his walking pace maintained its steady stride, holding the crimson cross outstretched. He lifted to holy object, as he made another sign of the cross, this time tracing the symbol of the Christian Faith with the cross itself. The edges of the blood cross, began to glow bright, white light, as the vampire's form took the hue as well.
Thousands of multi coloured eyes suddenly opened up among the monstrosities skin, all glaring at the Vampire Prince., or in this case, priest Dozens of black tentacles formed around it, trying to pierce through the chains of lightning, every strike causing the Captain to cry out in pain, and more sweat to form on her brow. Dracul raised his voice, speaking in the common tongue, the venom in his voice present "Kneel worm! You have preyed on His chosen for too long. Only I, Dracul, Prince of Darkness, is ordained to commit such vile sins. Wherever it be, hell, or some ancient plane of primal darkness in the name of the All mighty, I cast you back unclean one!"
As the blob demon continued to screech and flail around helplessly in it cage of electricity, the Vampire continued his rite of exorcism,
"Imperat illi Deus; supplices deprecamur: tuque." For every holy world spoken, the pure white light around Dracul and his blood cross grew brighter, and more powerful. The blob daemons eyes shut, and opened at random intervals, as its tentacles began to lash out stronger and harder, like it was having a temper tantrum. Dracul slowly crept his way to the struggling, raven haired soldier.
When he reached her, and without warning, his hands wrapped around her bringing her into strong a headlock. Her first instinct was too struggle, and turn around in complete shock and surprise at this apparent betrayal, but relaxed when a familiar voice entered her head, "Do not struggle, captain. This is for you're protection. The rite i'm about to unleash isn't meant for human eyes. Let the Void comfort you..." A dark feeling of...cold entered her, as all emotion, and feeling left her body. She soon ceased her resistance, and let the Vampire Prince shield her. The vampire princes resumed his rite,
"Princeps militiae coelestis." The black sludge screamed, and screamed, until the Dragon could barely hear his own voice because of the noise. Begging for mercy, daemon? Nay, I shall smite thee.
Gabriel's blood cross was now emitting bright white fog from the crystallised material, the holy lights screening the room "Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo, divina virtute in infernum detrude!" A swirling vortex of sacred light filled the room, burning and torching the daemons skin, as Gabriel pushed the knightess's face into her chest. He closed his own, sanguine eyes, as he at last, whispered,
"Amen."
The white light flared out of control, and filled the entire room. Nothing but the sound of the abomination screaming guttural cries of agonising pain.
As soon as the bright light was summoned forth it disappeared. Gabriel's sanguine eyes opened wide, as a small smile formed on his lips. Everything was still here. He hadn't destroyed the school. Just as a wanted...
The abomination, had endured the blast of holy magic. It lay, the filthy sludge blackened even more, charred from the exposure to holy flame. All of its tentacles, damning eyes, and shadowy hands, had disappeared. It was nothing more then a pile of black goo, gently rising up and down, as it still shallowly breathed. Perhaps endured wasn't the right word. More like "barely survived"
The Captain wrestled from Gabriel's grip, escaping, as her eyes widened in shock. "After all that, the beasts still breathes?!" The crimson lightning around the monster had dissipated, and her obsidian spear had reformed in her hands.
"Do not worry. It won't for long. To be truthful, I wasn't aiming for the exorcism to purge it completely. It still has something of mine, within in it."
Gabriel dispelled his crimson cross, as flourished the Void Sword. Without wasting any time, he jammed the blade into the giant pile of black ooze, causing it to scream in pain. The vampire's voice filled with the wrath, and hate that defined his life for centuries, but it was almost as low as a whisper "Give me back my servant daemon." His face betrayed no emotion, but otherwise trembled in fury. He dug his sword further, before he put his own hand into the dark, pus. He pushed through its substance with his clawed hand, deeper and deeper into the dark sludge. Until he found what he was searching for.
Dispelling his blade, the Vampire Prince grabbed Victoria's encased body with both of his hands, as he started to pull with his colossal strength. The creature resisted trying to keep the source of his life from leaving his already ruined body, but in its state, it was no match for the Dragon's strength. With a final pull, Gabriel ripped the red headed vampire from her imprisonment in the abominable monstrosity. As Victoria's armoured form slithery left the mound of slime, her entire body encased in the goo, the beast let out its final death throes, as the burnt goo slowly turned to grey ash, until it was nothing more than a large gathering of ashes. The Vampire Prince carried the girl gently, but firmly, hefting her over his shoulders with a grunt.
The Daemon had been slain.
The Captain breathed hard, her entire face drenched in sweat, as she tiredly leaned on her long spear for support. She breathed out a massive sigh of relief, before she turned to face Gabriel and his "prisoner" "What power was that?"
"You refer to the exorcism?"
She nodded,
"The power of God." He said simply, "It didn't come from me. I was only channelling it through that cross."
His sanguine eyes trailed down to the girl he was carrying, "Just to be sure, I hope you aren't planning for a repeat of before-"
The captain interrupted him, "I think it's safe to say I owe you a favour, as does everyone in this academy." She said, her monotoned voice returning. The captain stopped leaning on the spear for support, straightening her back, and returning to normal. Her violet eyes fell downward, as she glanced at the unconscious vampire. Right now, it was hard to tell she was such a monster, whom had kill over a dozen of her soldiers. She closed them, as she turned away from the duo, "Do what you wan't with her, nobody will stop you. I trust she will be punished In return, I must ask you to come with me, and help explain this entire mess to the head master, and the duke."
The vampire grinned, "Lead the way."
The blood red portal reappeared, in the centre of the Throne Room, startling Louise, who was just a few steps away. The pink haired girl had finally had enough of that madman, so she had used pieces of her sleeping wear as makeshift ear plugs. Anything to block out that infernal voice coming from her "babysitter". As expected, the Vampire she knew as Dracul reentered his throne room, his dark black hair more messy then before, as was his tired expression. Strangely, he was heaving an armoured figure over his shoulders He was being followed by that Tristian Army Captain from earlier, who had her long spear outstretched, as she glanced around her surroundings nervously, surprise clearly on her face, "By the Pentagrams, what on earth..."
"Dracul!" Louise called out eagerly. Her long, pink hair trailed behind her, as she ran to them. She looked...almost happy for a moment, "You came back for me!"
"Of course. I gave my word I would protect you, did I not?" A small smile, one of genuine warmth formed on his mouth, as he pat Louise on the head. For a moment...she could have sworn she saw his eyes turn blue.
Right after, Louise smile vanished, replaced by a look of annoyance. She crossed her arms, yelling, "Hmpth, what we're you thinking! Leaving me with this lunatic!" She pointed to the small dwarf laughing madly beside her. Chupacabra waved at the vampire,
"Welcome back, my Prince! How was you're adventure!"
"Lovely." Dracul said, a frown appearing on his face. "May I speak with you for a moment?" He glanced at the two women, before speaking once more, "Alone."
The vampire prince, and the trickster went to the other side of the room, as they began to whisper among themselves. Louise felt offended.
Did they not trust her?
"Milady?" A quiet voice interrupted Louise's internal ranting.
"Huh? What?!" Louise managed to stutter out, before the locks of raven hair entered her vision. Her breath had been taken away, as the Knight from before stood right in front of her. She could only now see the features on her face. Her lovely pale skin. Her gorgeous violent eyes. And her perfect lips. Louise's face became scarlet as she blushed at the close proximity. Gods, is she fucking hot. The knightess, got onto one knee, as she placed her hand to her heart. With the other, she reached for Louise's own, holding her tiny hand within her black, scale gauntlet. Contacting the black material would have made her cold, but right now, she was hot all over.
The captain, guided Louise's pale hand to her crimson lips, right before she planted a small kiss onto her hand's skin. Louise's face became as red a a ripe tomato, as she moved to speak, but couldn't, paralysed by the kiss. Instead, the Captain uttered, sorrow tinging her face,
"I must beg thy forgiveness, my lady Vallierre. I was wrong, and my accusations have despoiled thy honour."
Louise would have yelled angrily in another situation, but the pinkette was feeling awfully generous right now. Smiling as best as she could, Louise somehow found her voice, "Thank you, dear knight. There is nothing to forgive, you we're simply doing your duty. And that is commendable, good sir."
"But milady."
"No please. I meant what I said before."
The captain looked downcast, as she nodded, "If you say so." She remained in her kneeling position, though "But I must insist that you request a boom from me."
"No" Louise shook her head, "That is not necessary-"
"I must insist! Anything!" The captain barked. Clearly, she wasn't going to take no for an answer.
Louise sheepishly asked, "...anything?"
"Anything!" The captain retorted. Whether it was to restore her honour as a knight, or to genuinely make amends, the Captain was dead set on it. Louise gulped. No way could she let Dracul hear her ask this. She leaned in, and whispered into the Captain's ear. The normally stoic captain's face blushed, as her eyes twitched, and her eyebrows raised in surprise, "What?! My lady...i'm sure there's more qualified...people you can take with you."
Louise placed her hands to her hip, yelling, annoyed, "Well you said anything!"
"Indeed I did." The captain gulped nervously, as she smiled, a genuine smile even if she was embarrassed to be asked such a thing. She was honestly flattered, in her own way, "Well then, my lady Valliere...you flatter me. I accept you're invitation wholeheartedly. It would be my honour to be you're..." She made sure to phrase it properly, "knightly escort...for that evening. Every lovely lady such as yourself deserves on. You said two weeks from now?"
Louise nodded.
"Then it is settled!" The Captain yelled, her face still flushing with embarrassment "I, royal Stallion Knight of Tristian-"
The two were interrupted by a scream of happiness. Louise turned around, greatly annoyed her "plan" was being delayed by her vampiric servant, and the clown he called a friend. The cheer was from the small, dwarf, "Chamberlain?! CHAMBERLAIN!? YESSSSSSSSSSS! THANK YOU MY PRINCE!" The small dwarf rushed to hug the vampire's leg, which only resulted in him being thrown backwards by Dracul's leather boot,
"Away from me fiend!" The vampire shouted, "Just shut up! And-dont make me regret my decision! You have you're orders, make sure you follow them!" He angrily pointed to the small dwarf with one of his bony claws. He turned around, and headed to the portal still carrying the darkly armoured girl over his shoulders, he muttered underneath his breath, "We can return to Tristian after I arrange..."quarters" for our friend over her. I shall return in a few minutes to take you two home."
Louise entered into her room, yawning loudly as she did, the dark bugs underneath her eyes growing. All the adrenaline that had been keeping her up this late had run out, leaving the girl a tired mess. She was just glad this whole mess was over. In her drowsy state, she didn't think much when she yelled, "Familiar! Go grab me fresh sleeping ware!"
Gabriel entered into the ruined...room. It seems the headmaster had ordered Louise's room tidied up. It was was a huge mess, but better then how it was. Her windows had been replaced as well. Not in the mood to argue, as he himself was pretty worn out from using so much of his void magic, grunted in acknowledgement, as he went over to the nearest drawer, and began to look for the pinkette's pyjamas.
The first drawer he opened, however, held something else. Something entirely else. Something he had never expected to find here. Gabriel rubbed his eyes to see if his broken mind was playing tricks on him, but nay, it was reality.A...blush formed on his face. This is some fucked up stuff. Gabriel grabbed the objects from Louise's drawer, and turned around to confront the young noble about them. "Really Louise?"
Dracul gave an expression as if he was saying "Come on..." as he lifted his hand, revealing a black leather riding crop, and a primitive leather gag. Gabriel's eyes widened in disgust, as he examined the...unusual, body wear, "I don't think the school allows these..."
He could barely hold in the laughter forming in his throat,
The pinkette's face became red as a hot cherry, an unholy combination of anger as well as embarrassment, and her face filled with ardours wrath. Her previous sleepiness left her, as the girl screamed in pure rage, "GIVE ME THOSE!" Louise rushed forward, shoving the Vampire Prince as she rudely ripped the presumed "punishment" gear from Dracul's hands.
A grin formed on the Vampire's face, as he let her retrieve her property without much of a hassle, "My, my, you want to use those on a beast like me?"
Louise's face filled with venom, as she shouted, her face still steaming red, " Do not flatter yourself, Dracul. Besides, I think you're missing something." She dramatically placed her hands to her tiny breasts, and yelled, her face steaming, "YOU'RE MISSING THESE BAT-BRAIN, NOW DON'T TOUCH MY SPECIAL THINGS!" Louise snarled. She then realised what she had uttered, as she screamed, "NEVER MIND JUST IGNORE WHAT I SAID." as she stood up, tall and proud, and began tapping her feet impatiently, "Now, familiar, fetch me my fresh sleeping wear! I can dress myself!"
Rolling his eyes, Gabriel went further into the drawer. His eyes twitched nervously, as he closely examined its contents. Angels above. I can only imagine what her parents would think if they found out what her underwear selection was. Just a pile of black, and red lingerie, quite ornate, and rather naughty. He could have sworn he saw some black thongs, and fancy pantyhose among the pile. "Impressive collection." His eyes trailed around, until he saw something different that peaked his interest.
A single piece of underwear, lapiz lazuli in colour, which clashed with the entire drawer of ladies lingerie, in both colour, and style.
Clearly, it didn't belong to Louise.
He held back the laugh, as he picked it up with his bony fingers, as he snickered.
"Whose the lucky young lady Louise?"
"Tis not my business what she does in her spare time. I will admit. And I also profess, that indeed, that slap was deserved. I should not have teased her so." Gabriel gently rubbed the bright red slap mark on his face, with a frown. He didn't expect her to launch so a viscous assault on him. Pain still lingered when he touched it. The enraged duchess had slapped him so hard it drew blood, and kicked him right in the privates, before throwing him outside. He had to give her credit, she was pretty fearless.
Louise was, truthfully, pretty scary when significantly angered.
An annoying laugh erupted beside his head, as his small bat officer, Aborash, hoovered above the ground, gently flapping his wings, "So she kicked you out for that? You took it awfully...restrained, my prince."
"Bah. She's just a little girl." A girl into some kinky shit. Was that a fucking corset? Nothing to get worked up over. She will come to respect me in time." He sanguine eyes blared, as he glanced at the dark hallway, which he walked down.
"You could have feasted on her blood!"
"What's the point." He snickered, "She clearly isn't a virgin, I doubt it'll taste that good." He laughed at his own joke, while the bat just looked at him oddly. How is that funny?
While all the students had returned to their rooms, he doubted many of them we're sleeping soundly. After the events of tonight. Class had been cancelled tomorrow, for everyone, or so the pinkette had told Dracul. He would imagine many would be sleeping in, Louise doubly so. He wouldn't be surprised if she slept through the entire day. The body of a regular human was a weak thing, and after the night she had lived through He doubted their would be much mourning though, for the deceased. Just a bunch of common soldiers, and a maid.
The spoiled brats of the nobility wouldn't care if some commoners died. Oh yes, they would mourn the tin can loser knights, or whatever they called themselves.
"What a horrible night..." The vampire laughed bitterly,
The vampire bat's small, eyes narrowed as his voice became deeper, and darker,
"So that foolish vampire summoned a daemon then, to fell you. The Prince of Darkness. Miserable traitor..."
"Indeed." Dracul said, with a tired voice, "Despair can drive you to do irrational things, but that...monster, I faced was not the knight I remember in my broken memories." The pale moon was still high in the sky, shining its rays of unwholesome pale light upon the forlorn Dracul, and his minion. "Something must have changed her. Perhaps someone..." She did mention a man. Must have given her that infernal summoning stone. That spell she conjured was beyond her power...for what reason would he have though. Regardless, i'll need to talk to her once she wakes up, and regains her senses.
He paused, closing his eye. The small bat must have sensed his uneasiness, as he barked, "My Prince does something bother you?"
Dracul ignored him. Nobody, would target Louise. She's not worth this trouble. And if they did, a regular assassin would have been enough for the job. I've lived long enough to know pride isn't the reason why I know this was an attempt on my...unlife. Though that raises another illusive question: Who. Who dares, challenge the wrath of the dragon. I have many enemies yes, but all my arch foes are slain. Satan and Zobek are no more.
Who else wants my head? Powerful enough to craft a demon summoning stone that brings forth abominations like that sludge horror, and strong enough to recruit an ancient vampire like Victoria. Bah. This and the demons gathering in Wyngol are no coincidence. The portal could have been a trap to drag me here... Gabriel smiled darkly, There's a new player in the game. And before long, he shall come to fear the wrath of the Dragon.
He repeated his mantra, All shall come to fear me.
"My Prince?"
Interrupting the vampire princes contemplation, Aborash's voice rose. Dracul shook his head, "Nothing, just thinking."
The vampire's melancholy remained present, as his sanguine eyes changed to different shades of red, all the while his dark smile stood on his face. "I thought this world was going to be different. I was wrong. Nothings changed. Nothing at all. Humans are all the same. Miserable piles of secrets."
He laughed at the futility of fate, "That was indeed a long day. Nothing more to do tonight, then wait for what tomorrows light bring. Come Aborash..."