Castlevania: Aria of the Ascending Soul
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
Beta By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
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Juste rushed forward as an elderly nun sank to the ground in the hallway he had just turned down to. From even his distance he could hear her wheezing breath. Upon closer inspection he could see that she was one of the truly elderly, fearing that whatever was affecting her might outright kill her.
As he reached her he planted his front paws on her knee, regretting he didn't get a voice box so he could ask or even just bark. Watching from her side he could see her lips turning a slight shade of blue. Resigned to his situation he gave her a small rub on the knee with his paw before he turned back down the way he had come. 'Is she having a heart attack? A stroke? Where would be the closest person I could find to help? Or at least hear me,' he pondered as he moved, painfully aware that a soft plush body made no noise. Even when it was flung at a door, which he would probably need Simon for that.
In fact Simon 'did' have an assortment of tools to help him navigate the church. Only a lifetime of Vampire Killer and his books caused that fact to slip his mind. Juste reached the end of the hallway and scanned for anyone who might be of some help. The hallways were long, empty passages, 'if the priests have seen outside they'll probably be sequestered in their suites in prayer. Yet she was out so there has to be some who are undisturbed...' he thought as he rushed through the hallway.
While Juste sought help for the nun, Christopher was located in the second floor hallway. Standing on a small side table so he could see far below at a small group of people. They were huddled together, their pale hands cast towards the sky and staring up at something. 'Clearly the moon, and they're outside, I can only pray that its safe outside. I can't imagine Soma raising the de-...' the thought caught Christopher off guard as he hopped down to the ground. This 'was' the Vatican after all, and for a moment he had forgotten that there was corpses on the grounds.
Both the blessed saints of ages past as well as the Belmonts themselves were interred on the Vatican grounds. The idea of saints being brought back as the undead was enough to light a fire under Christopher. 'We need to make sure everything is safe, too.'
While Simon made a b line straight to Alexanders' private quarters. 'If something happens to the Pope... Well I don't see how this is going to end well for our clan. Yoko's not on site and Julius isn't near by.' He thought as he carried his plastic hammer tucked under his arm as he ran down the hallway. All along the hallway he could hear voices in prayer, the fear and worry evident even through the doors. Which as thick as those doors were... There were two men standing in the hallway, bracketing one doorway out of all the others that Simon had passed by.
The private quarters of the Pope normally didn't have them either, so the presence of the guards only reinforced Simons' concern. Alexander had to be aware of something for the guards to be out. But being a toy bear wasn't even a thought in Simon's head as he made his way directly to the door. The guards watching him with wary and conflicted eyes.
'Try and punt me, I'll show you why I killed Dracula twice,' Simon thought as he walked down the hall.
"The Belnades bear? Why is he here?"
"Well he does look after the children, so I suppose he's also checking on His Holiness?" the fellow guard suggested. Both men towered over Simon as only grown human men could, both had black hair and despite them being 'personal guards'... Well they were nothing compared to Simon in his own body... and if Dracula brought said body back from the grave, a depraved soulless abomination of decayed flesh. It would be more intimidating a force against these two book loving guys.
"Think we should alert His Holiness?" the one further from Simon asked.
"Yes, you should and thank you," Alexander calmly called out from the other side of the door, before he opened said door. The two guards stiffened in reaction before they moved out of the way, allowing Simon to finish his trek. Right into the Popes' private quarters without even having to knock, regardless of if it was just a stuffed toy.
The lights were on and the spacious abode of the Pope, or perhaps, hollow was the better the word for Simon to use. There was a clear sign of extravagance with the thick rich woods panels, marble inlays for around a fireplace. The carpet was a thick weave with a pattern that... Well, for someone of Simons' time screamed of wealth and taste. Something he would easily see in Dracula's own castle in any given room. Yet modern machines made such rugs cheap...
Despite all the space within, it was decidedly devoid of personal extravagance. The carpets were thick and probably warm, the walls were lined with bookshelves loaded with books. Sharing its space only with bright, cheery, crayon artwork made by children and framed for Alexander to preserve. Despite the man having an official office, this room was set up more as a receiving room and... Well Simon was no expert but there was a feeling of a type of recovery room as well. There was a reclining couch that was incredibly comfortable looking pushed up to the side of the wall, with thick pillows and a chair next to it.
Yet the couch and table that the Pope turned his steps towards was on the other side of the room. "I remember when I was a mere Cardinal and how you would help the children in the Vatican. I've always appreciated that, and now that you seem to have fellows I hope you can lend me your strength at this time."
Simon decided against trying to climb up the chair since Alexander sounded more like he was giving a prelude to a mission. Instead the bear stood beside the small coffee table and waited to hear what the man had to say.
"I fear we may be about to face Dracula once more, the world is showing signs that he has come to power again. Even here in the Vatican, the tools we used to seal Soma's power have all developed deep cracks. Before I officially took my position as Pope, my predecessor gave me a small bit of advice. Regarding situations such as this, and knowing that you were enchanted by the Belnades I believe you might be able to carry out my wish."
'Don't let him project his voice,' Simon thought instantly as he resumed walking and opted to stand at Alexanders' feet. Allowing the man to pick him up as though he were a mere bear, regardless of the hunters' pride. There were so many flags that Alexander spoke that he could supply a rugby season.
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\Along yet another hallway \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
'Oh of all the people,' Richter thought, the corners of his mouth dipped down as he peeked down the hallway. Elmo was alone, wandering around, clearly the child was lost again. If Richter was in the body of any other animal, or if Christopher was here, Richter could have just entrusted the boy's rescue to his ancestor.
Only Richter was both on his own, and in the body of the very animal that Elmo was utterly terrified by. 'I can't just follow him, he's got a lead and if he starts running...'
The mental map that Richter thought of regarding the hallway was problematic, it was sectioned but straight ahead would lead to the vaults. Here there were meeting rooms in the block on the man's right, but the doors weren't locked so... 'I could run around the block and hopefully cut him off from going further... I can maybe herd him into a room and lead someone to help him...'
With the plan in mind, Richter turned around and dashed down the path, his fake fur making no sound on the carpet as he tore down the hallway. The still fresh memories of several clergy members being aided by their fellows out of the hallways to their quarters played back. While a passing concern grew inside the man's heart. The memories of Maria's recounting of his disappearance spurred him to quicker action. Would Dracula kidnap the children? Soma was tolerant of Elmo and Richter didn't want to believe that Soma would steal them. 'Soma wouldn't just lash out, something would have had to push his buttons. But even if he just lashed out it shouldn't be this far reaching or target children. Could this be a fall out?'
Richter's thoughts were put on hold as he finally pounced fully into the hallway. So that Elmo clearly saw him and would therefore stop his trek towards what would lead to the Vatican Vaults. Richter landed in a pounce posture showing that he was preparing to chase...
A completely empty hallway.
Confused, Richters' ears dropped in confusion as he scanned the hallway over and over again. Before he walked a lone circle as his thoughts fueled his worry. No signs of a small boy, which motivated Richter into rushing forward down the hallway where he had spotted the child. Checking each door, he pressed up against it, seeking to see if it opened or if he could hear a small boy shuffling around inside.
Each door held solid against the pressure of Richter push, the interior silent as any tomb. 'I may not have ever seen the vault, but... could something have grabbed Elmo?' Richter pondered as he continued racing from one door to the other. The power of the Castle had never been this far reaching, and the possibility of the Castle activating something already in the Vatican was worrisome to boot. 'Soma may not know how to control his powers well enough, or the seal cause his powers to lash out in unexpectant ways... Would it take a child though?'
Vanity would suggest the Vatican alone, though regrettable, was the victim of possible abductions. Yet that the castle could reach 'this' far felt off. Expanding only one direction felt rational, as the ring that sealed Soma's power was founded here. Logic would dictate that the castle may attempt to find the one thing blocking its connection.
And destroy it.
'The castle is a creature of chaos,' words that Maria had quoted when she spoke of her journey through the castle. So logic being discarded, he feared first what direction the Castle was even working from. Did it shatter the seal in Japan and was manifesting over the shrine where the seal was sustained? People lived there too, none of whom were warriors that could face the monsters of the castle. Or was the wave coming from the motherland where the Castle originated from?
Why even stop there, as the idea of the power issuing forth as a wave in all directions...
'Richter, stop it, stop it, stop it. Don't give Dracula a thread of doubt to exploit you with.' Richter thought to himself in annoyance, disdain for his victimization coloring his mental voice. Irritation also caused his ears to go down and it wasn't an ideal expression he would need if he found Elmo. 'Maybe Simon will discover something when he checks on His Holiness,' Richter thought as he finally stepped back from the last door in that section of the hallway. For once Richter found himself regretting that his pup nose wasn't real.
A child suddenly disappearing was a grave sign for where else could a child disappear to?
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Under a Blood Moon \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
The blood trickled down into Alucards' mouth, a hot liquid when compared to the cold that surrounded them.
Yoko held her wrist right to Alucards' lips. She had hoped that just a few drops would wake him up, since she really didn't want to be doing this. Dracula's hammy use of glasses to drink blood was preferable to this.. It was only through his spells that the Dhampire would partake of blood, and Soma... just Soma.
Only for mere drops of blood to become a slender dark stream and still Alucard didn't stir. Elevating her worry as she mentally tried to map out all the ways they could have kept him sedated. 'Oh stop that Yoko, you're not trying to wake him up, it would be a nice bonus sure. But the reality is you need him healed...' The thread of thoughts that concerned Soma directly began tugging at her nose. Trying hard to pull her attention back to the twisted ring Soma wore. "How's your hand?" She finally asked, directing her focus onto Soma.
His predatory, ruby gaze on her own face shifted down to the accursed injury. He didn't answer at first, but when he suddenly took a breath to answer, "It's a damned bother. I can feel my powers returning to me, but it won't let me do anything about that," Soma answered casting a casual glance above his head.
He had stopped breathing.
A trait that Alucard shared.
"Vampires do not breath save to vibrate their vocal cords to speak."
Alucard had explained, once, long ago in answer to her childish question.
"It won't let you? You mean the castle is just going to stay there hovering in space?" She asked incredulously, as her ears strained for sounds beyond her voice. 'As if all of this wasn't an already huge 'yeah Dark Children exist' sign hanging over everyone's heads.'
Soma blinked once, his head cocked slightly to the remark as he pondered her reply for a moment. "You think the castle would land when I'm literally directly under it? The castle isn't a Kansas farm house Yoko. It's going to wait until I move out from below it," Soma's was equal measures of casual and weary.
"Soma..." Yoko began when a bone cold hand grabbed her wrist, pulling it away suddenly. Startled by the grab she gave a high pitched squeak as she looked down to see what had grabbed onto her. Only barely keeping herself from casting in self defense out of fear of Soma's response.
Revealing to her Alucards' pale hand, his slender fingers wrapped around her wrist with the wound gone and flesh smooth and unblemished. His eyes were ice blue in color, likely it would have gone gold in his own anger, had he not sealed his powers. Eyes that were locked, not on Yoko whose blood he had been ingesting, rather on Soma. Even saying the man's name came out low, dangerous and angry from the dhampire.
"Yes, son..." Soma patiently replied. It was a tone he was dully aware of, from his current life where it was the sound of an angry protector. But also from the past, when his son was just being so stubborn, such as his insistence on remaining a dhampire. Yet for all that he was such a good, dutiful son to his parents. Never pushing his father to rage despite their disagreements on the human situation.
Despite the physical wounds having closed up, Soma could sense that Alucard was still weak. He didn't ingest enough blood to restore him fully back to strength or perhaps that was due to him using his own power to seal his father away. Yet the boy had more than enough strength to start up with his outrage.
"What have you done?" Alucard demanded, his fury fanning him to react with more strength than he had. Yoko's blood was a thin smeared along his lips and just the act of licking it off ignited his blood lust. Reminding him of his own vampiric nature, while alerting him just 'how' he managed to heal so quickly. With Soma's red eyed presence backed by the castle floating high above them, an entity that he readily recognized as awake and active.
"Well I woke up this morning and had a delightful breakfast, well I guess it would have been delightful. But food has been slowly sliding into the bland for a while now, though Yoko smells positively delicious. I got my grade back on my philosophy test, which you'll be pleased to know I scored a 98." Soma began, his tone carrying his exhaustion and attempt at condescending levity.
Ice felt that it should have been forming against the ground and their, well 'Yokos' breath. Going along nicely with how cold Alucard's expression went as Soma ignored him and reached for Yoko's hand. Blithely ignoring his child, Soma pulled Yoko's wrist, with the blood pooling on the pale surface towards him.
"Soma?" Yoko began confused when she suddenly repeated his name as a high pitched squeak.
She felt his tongue lap across her wrist firmly and waited for the twin bee sting bites to signal that he bit her. Yet when he pulled back the blood was mostly gone, the edges of a wet trail were all that remained and the cut he had made along with the pool.
"Do you expect me to let you bleed? Of course the cut won't kill you, but it would still be rude to let you stay like that," Soma noted to Yoko before turning his attention back to Alucard. "Are you going to say something? You might as well."
"Fighting the urge for a drink?" Alucard coldly suggested.
"She's less inviting if she doesn't have open wounds," Soma pointed out calmly.
