Another chapter of the story. Jinx learns a little bit about what's been going on since she was gone, and Dracul returns to his mysterious sanctuary.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans, however I do own the plot.
A Haunting Memory Returns...
Chapter 15: Corvopadre's Return
"Jinx?" Beast Boy asked, his eyes blank.
She had to savor his look of surprise. After being gone so long, she needed contact with someone who could show emotion. However, Beast Boy seemed so, different. He was wearing rags over his purple and black uniform. He had a hood on as to not grab attention, in fact, had he not been facing her, she wouldn't have known he was there at all.
"So... care to tell me what's all this about?" she gestures to the cavern/tavern around them.
"You must have seen what it was like when you came in." he replies.
"Yeah, and what was that about?"
"That psycho-dude Dracul."
"What about him?"
"He bombed the mall. Whoever survived was never the same. Deranged, wild, a few of them rabid."
"Like you?"
Beast Boy smirks. It's nice to see him growing slightly more normal.
"And beyond." he says.
"So why'd everyone change?"
"No one knows. Some say that Dracul sneaked something nasty in his bomb."
"Where are the others?" Jinx asks.
Beast Boy looks down at his tofu and shakes his head. He sighed as if he wanted to avoid this question. It immediately became apparent to her why.
"Well... Robin, Star, Cy, and Raven are stationed at other taverns. As for Kid, I doubt you want to go there..."
"And if I do?" Jinx asks in defiance.
"Then you're not thinking straight."
How was this possible?! He was the one who couldn't think straight. Now he was accusing her of it? He's the immature one, not her.
"Where is he?"
Beast Boy stood up and pushed his chair in.
"It was nice seeing you again." he said, signifying that the conversation was over.
He walked away, not even turning to look back at her. How dare he?! Jinx got up and stopped him by grabbing him at the shoulder, she turned him to look at her.
"The truth, now."
"This is for your own good Jinx. He's not the Kid Flash you fell in love with. Now let me go." Beast Boy demanded.
"Give me details."
Beast Boy sighed again, and directed her back to the table. Everyone around them were still tending to their own lives. He sat back down and looked at her straight in the eyes.
"Have you heard of those Golden Dudes?"
"The Midas Gang?"
"Yeah, them. Well, that's what this whole resistance is about. People went crazy."
"I know that."
"Yeah? Well some of them went off to become the jerkweeds known as the Midas Gang. All of them led by a man named Angelo."
"Angelo? How does that fit in to anything?" Jinx asked.
"Y'see, Kid Flash had been looking all over for you for a while now. And," Beast Boy paced uncomfortably, "he was infected..."
Jinx's world began to crumble around her as she tried to process what Beast Boy just said. Her boyfriend was now crazy? Was that even possible? How could her seemingly invincible boyfriend go crazy? Her stomach started to ache. Everything around her was in circles. Would he even recognize her? All of a sudden it seemed as if the tavern had Dracul's presence. Beast Boy snapped in front of her face, and she held her hand to her head.
"How is it possible?" she moaned.
Beast Boy sighed before saying, "I told you you didn't want to go there." he paused, as if wondering if it was right to say what he was about to, then said, "He now goes by his real name, Wally West, though I'm sure you already know that. And there's more, he's fled to the Midas Gang. He thinks he's one of them."
"Where can I find him?"
"Not now Jinx." he got up and gestured for her to do the same.
"We're going to have you adapt to this new life." Beast Boy said.
Jinx glared at him. This adult-like tone didn't fit him. Nothing did. How could such a young and restless soul turn into some hopeless slob?
…
Dracul felt somewhat at home as he walked the dimly lit corridors, with nothing but torches illuminating them. As soon as he reached the hidden sanctuary, he was greeted by the keeper, Camillo. Camillo wore red robes that covered everything but his hands and his face. He was an old man, with a bald head and a small white goatee and bushy eyebrows covering his amber eyes. It was like meeting an old friend when he spoke with Camillo, and that was perfectly understandable. Camillo was the man who'd act as his advisor, so it was good to see him again.
"Much has changed since you've last been here." he said in a heavy accent.
Dracul smirked before asking, "Speaking English now are we?"
"The States have become a power and English is being recognized everywhere. It is now mandatory that Suoli (Soils) learn how to speak it. It's invaluable."
Dracul nodded. They past a room with Suoli training in combat.
"They're eager to meet you."
"I can imagine." Dracul said sarcastically.
"Now, don't think like that. They really look up to you." Camillo scolded.
"Speaking of which, how is Allegria?" Dracul asks.
"My, my, when she heard of your return, she was absolutely ecstatic."
"Perhaps I should take my leave."
"No need to be so negative."
"Why must she pester me so much?"
"Why are you so surprised?" Camillo asks, "You are the first person she ever saw."
"That should have been her mother, not me." Dracul stated in an as-a-matter-of-fact tone.
"You are Corvopadre (Crowfather), of course you were going to be the first thing she saw."
"I've heard it all before Camillo."
They soon came to an area unknown to Dracul. Several different modern gadgets were around them. The narrow corriders became wide hallways with several different paths to take to several rooms. It was all white, with linoleum tiles lining the floor.
"What is this place?" Dracul asked in disgust.
"Two years ago, some of Cattedrale Nascosta (Hidden Cathedral) collapsed." Camillo stated in a depressed tone.
Dracul stopped and turned to him.
"You don't say?"
Camillo nodded before continuing with, "We lost a few good men and women, and we had to replace this area."
"Did you have to do it with all this technology?"
"The world's changing Corvopadre. I'd like to think that you, the most recent Corvopadre would be used to technology from your time."
"My time?"
"Indeed."
A few minutes pass by in silence as they continue down the hallway to the main chamber, which has gone back to the darker, more ancient scheme. The area is more open, yet few people were around. Perhaps later. Dracul took notice of the waterfall in the background, he always liked that waterfall. It gave the feeling that new things were coming is way.
"I'd be careful if I were you." Camillo warned.
"Why is that?"
"Marzio has been boasting about how he'd challenge you to Battaglia dei Titoli (Battle of the Titles)."
"What is it with this Battaglia dei Titoli nonsense? I'm done fighting with people over their own greed."
"Likewise, I'm afraid that one of these days they'll end up killing you."
"No faith in me, eh?" Dracul asks.
"Marzio is strong, restless, and persistent. Your perfect bane."
"When do you think he'll challenge me?"
"In public. He's sure to want an audience to be there when he kills you."
"If he kills me." Dracul corrects.
They enter a large room holding various statues of Corvopadres before Dracul. The first one displayed a menacing man, larger than life. He was dressed exactly like Dracul, with his plague doctor mask glowering down at them with a strange sense of intensity. The plaque at the base of the statue read, "Corvopadre I: 1472-1521"
"What is it like, to know that the blood that flowed in his veins is now flowing in yours?" Camillo asked.
Dracul nearly snickers.
"There is so much about my bloodline that you don't know Camillo."
"I suppose you're right."
They walk on past more statues until they stop at the one right before Dracul's. This one depicts a well-dressed, Hispanic man staring down at them. Dracul didn't even bother reading this one's plaque. Camillo salutes to it.
"Your father, Atilio Garcia, such a great man."
"He's no father of mine." Dracul snarls.
"I don't understand why you're so bitter towards him." Camillo groaned.
"As far as I'm concerned, Atilio Garcia does not exist." Dracul said.
With that he turned around and walked back to the main chamber. Camillo followed at a slower pace. When Dracul entered, several people dressed in red were now in the sanctum, but his presence made all their conversation end.
"Saluti Corvopadre. (Greetings Crowfather)" they all said obediently.
One of them immediately ran up to him, a teenage girl with brown hair and a cheery face.
"Corvopadre! Corvopadre! We've all missed you!"
It was obvious she was taking a lot of effort trying not to hug him.
"Thank you Allegria, but I believe the other Suoli can speak for themselves."
She beams up at him, but her happy face doesn't last. It slowly turns into a deflated frown.
"You're not staying are you?"
"I have important business to attend to Allegria."
"If I was Corvopadre I'd actually take charge and run this place instead of constantly running off." a voice called out from the crowd.
A strong looking teenager struts out of the crowd.
"It's good to see you too Marzio." Dracul says sarcastically.
Marzio looks around to make sure that he has everyone's attention.
"I challenge you to a-" Marzio begins
"Battaglia dei Titoli?" Dracul interrupts, "I'd love to, would now be a suitable time for you?"
Marzio smirks before saying, "Perfect timing old man."
He cracks his knuckles, and everyone around them backs up. Camillo paces uncomfortably as Dracul removes his weapons.
"Bene, allora, cerchiamo di finire in fretta. (Well then, let's finish this quickly.)" Dracul says.
Marzio charges at him fists raised. He throws a punch that Dracul easily deflects with his palm. He steps outside with his left foot and punches Marzio in the chest with his right fist, before throwing a punch to Marzio's face with his left fist. Marzio scowls and punches Dracul to the face.
"Crescita lenta nella vostra età, vecchio? (Growing slow in your age, old man?)" Marzio taunts.
He grabs Dracul and and uppercuts him, letting Dracul fall to the floor. He walks towards him and brings his foot back to kick him. He forces it forward, but Dracul catches Marzio's foot. Dracul pulls Marzio's foot backwards, then forwards, causing Marzio himself to fall. Dracul hops up and stomps on Marzio's stomach, resulting in a groan. Marzio then gets up and throws another kick at Dracul, who blocks it with his right palm before side kicking poor Marzio in the chest. The wind is knocked out of him, but he gets up again.
"Non sto andando verso il basso con le mani. (I am not going down by your hands.)" Marzio snarls.
"Avrete un cambiamento di cuore quando si è a terra annegando nel sangue, Marzio. (You'll have a change in heart when you're on the ground drowning in your own blood, Marzio.)" Dracul replies coldly.
Marzio looks to one of his cronies, who in turn hands him a sword.
"That's cheating!" Camillo yells.
No one's listening though, it's just Marzio and Dracul in their own little fighting ground. He slashes, but his blade meets nothing but air as Dracul hinges to the left to avoid the attack. Marzio slashes again, this time getting Dracul in the shoulder. He winces and places his right hand on his left shoulder. Marzio plunges the sword forward, straight toward Dracul's heart, but he side steps and kicks Marzio's sword arm in the elbow. There's a sickening crack, and he's holloring in pain. Dracul goes behind Marzio and places his hands on Marzio's shoulders. He then kicks the left leg causing Marzio's knees to buckle from underneath him. Marzio falls to the ground and looks up at Dracul, who then walks over to pick up the sword that had fallen on the ground. He picks it up and points the blade to Marzio's neck.
"Tu sei il mio parente, quindi permettono di vivere. Prestare attenzione a mio avviso, io non forniscono possibilità in più a quelli meritevoli di loro. (You are of my kin, so I allow you to live. Heed my warning, I do not deliver extra chances to those undeserving of them.)" Dracul states coldly before dropping the sword to the ground.
He walked away with everyone gawking at him. It had been interesting enough coming here, but it was time to get to Maine and meet up with Levi. Preferably without being challenged by someone else. So he walks out, taking care to hide his injury. He was going to patch it up himself when the appropriate moment came, he did not require someone to do it for him. As he stepped out into a world morphed by the technology it had itself created, Dracul felt that he was finally at his true home. On the move.
End of Chapter...
Tell me, what did you think of the fight scene? I feel rather proud of it. Sometimes some action really is in order. Anyhow, what could Dracul be possibly planning in Maine? Find out in future chapters! Cheers!