Castlevania: Aria of the Ascending Soul

Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix

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By evening Alucard finally found the time to make his way back to Rome.

Leon was a prowling weighed soul at his side. Washed of the blood by the maids he smelled of rose shampoos and lavenders. The Belmont turned towards the Vatican only for his ears to flicker to the sound of the clipped shoes fading away.

"Where are you going?" He asked before turning his steps after Alucard. The dhampire was tall like his father, and yet didn't carry himself much like his father. Mathias was one to talk with those who he trusted, yet Alucard seemed to trust no one. 'Which is fair, he sides with humanity and we age and die so quickly in his eyes. Though now that my kin are in the Castle mayhap he'll warm up to the idea of interacting with them.'

"I have a duty to ensure Elmo is safe." Alucard answered, he neither slowed his steps or raised his voice. Were Leon in his human body he would have been hard pressed to know what Alucard had uttered. Though even if he had been at the man's side it might not have been easy. The city was still in a state of chaos, the emergency vehicles were still shrieking in the air, voices were calling for loved ones... There were officers shouting orders, bodies being collected, a part of Leon wanted to step in and render help. Amid the odd things he had discovered in Japan, Lady Mina had shown him these things she called 'ear muffs' and explained they protected ones ears... If there was one that drowned out sound... Leon would have fancied a pair of 'those'.

Another able body to help those who were moving bodies, or trying to console their fellows as he glimpsed off to the side of one building. 'But I'm a lion now, not a human, my efforts would alarm people I suspect.' He mused to himself as he sped his steps up a bit, after all, being by Alucards' side might assuage potential alarm at the sight of a full grown lion walking around!

Then there was Elmo, the small boy that Alucard had strangely enough taken in.

The pair walked down the streets of Rome, Alucard aristocratically aloof to the surprise and amazement of the peasants who saw the pair. While Leon was both amused and reassured that they took his presence less as alarming and more comforting. Alucard was certainly no child, but to have a lion casually walking along side a person unfettered appeared to be comforting. Though they certainly lacked Japans' desire to pet Leon.

'I need to send a message to Lady Mina, the poor maiden must be getting worried. Despite what I am she is sweet enough to worry over even I.' Leon noted as they walked over a river, the clouds blocked any true sign of its presence, the city street lights were not functioning at the moment. Yet Leon could still hear the running water, the gentle lapping of it against the banks of the man made river... The fact that Alucard was crossing water without any issue.

'I suppose he has enough holy artifacts on him that maybe it doesn't bother him... or its a myth with no foundation.' Leon mused, "So why did you take the boy in? Even if such a distant manner what is he to you?"

Alucard was silent for a time, so much time in fact that Leon would have thought that Alucard didn't hear him. But the man was a dhampire and had all the senses of one.

"I met him when I was a child, I thought nothing of it other than having a friend when I was little. Now I find myself curious how a boy from this time ended up in my childhood." Alucard finally replied, he could sense magics of the Belmonts at play and if Elmo was anywhere. It would be there. 'I only wished to see proof that you could use magic Yoko. Though it would appear your determination to exceed my expectations have given us an incredible boon.'

Sealing souls within inanimate objects, an off shot of his fathers' power of dominance. As if his father needed yet 'another' display of his elevated status as to have those of the Belnades lineage develop talents that would benefit him.

'Yet it doesn't really benefit him, Yoko 'takes' souls 'from' him, not the other way around. Its less that she developed a magic that aided him and more that she developed a magic that helped mitigate him.' This voice noted in the back of his mind. He didn't recognize it, or know who exactly spoke or why his 'devil advocate' would sound in such a way. But it did and it had a point. His father once expressed regret over not knowing his wife's final words. Soma seemed to be that regret manifesting as the dominant force of his personality now.

"Perhaps its not a wise decision to see the child first," Leon suddenly voiced as he looked about. No one was really close or paying attention as they walked so he decided to take a chance. "We know not where Brauner is, however; he knows of 'you'. Clearly he's in the Vatican, he has access to a great deal of information as well as your connection to the child. Right now the young ones are safe and protected, but to extract him now..."

Leon left the sentence hanging given how the Thrall died when he was willing to reveal how he got turned. Brauner 'had' to be close, and there were so many threads.

The prince paused at the point as there was a great deal of insight from Leon's suggestion. Protected by the Belmonts own holy magic would keep the child safe, where as, now that he was out of the castle Alucards' own powers had been reduced back to what it was before. So long as the seal was up, he...

"I see your point, I at least know the child is safe very well let us return to the Vatican." Alucard turned and began to retrace their steps back to the Vatican with Leon in tow.

The magics of the Belmonts, another thing he hadn't noticed until this whole unraveling experience. The bear and dog he knew that they were ensouled but to believe these were the Belmonts? A young innocent child casting such a spell would capture a soul or two, that felt reasonable. So did the notion that Yoko grew strong enough to grab the others... 'They have their magics, and that would be an incredible boon to wherever the children are. Yet why did they not sense anything in the Vatican? My powers are weakened so my awareness being crippled is unsurprising yet they...'

Strange and unsettling, moreso that Alucard was being pushed harder and harder into being his fathers' protector. As Soma alone was one thing, but the return of those memories the fall out of Fortners stunt... 'Bringing the Pope to the Castle would not be possible due to its nature to turn people. Yet to bring Soma back to the Vatican when I can not say with certainty where Brauner is...' However; in the company of Belmonts it might not be so difficult.

After all, they had their magics they could help ensure Soma's safety as he was brought from the Castle. Though would it be safer now amid the continued chaos or when things had calmed down? 'Alexander is old by mortal standards, likely when we arrive he will be asleep. I wonder if the castle would even permit Father from leaving. With the ring he's been forced to use the Castle a great deal to travel about... It very well may not want him to have his freedom of that cursed ring.'

Ahead of them the Vatican was starting to form a crowd of its own, even if Alucard was still a bit away he could hear them. The people were scared, demanding succor and information on what was going on. Such chaos of voices, fear, anxiety, sprinkled with the bold brash confidence of those who would insight panic and fear with words borne of ignorance. 'And still no way of knowing if they are merely serving... Though if Sir Leon's voice is enough to shatter the walls of deception in the Vatican. He could certainly reveal the wolves among the sheep both justified and foolish,' the Dhampire mused to himself.

There were flashlights instead of torches, phones held up to do much the same, but as they walked more he could hear the distinct sound of the local police. A blockade then...

"What is going on? Are they being denied access to the church?" Leon asked, his voice so low it sounded akin to the curious rumblings of a lion. Fair though given the increased number of civilians who had seen the pair.

"Its not unheard of, there are been those who use times of chaos or even celebration to attempt an assassination on anyone mass viewed through the public eye."

"I wonder how they will take my presence," Leon mused his whiskers swishing as an unrealized expression of amusement. The Japanese wanted nothing more than to pet him for blessings and pictures for their personal shrines. So said Lady Mina and her father. Yet when Leon had been here just scant hours ago, he had also been covered in a great deal of blood and chaos had been the order of the night.

Even now the people who 'saw' him just backed away, they didn't run or scream yet there was a tenseness to their forms that suggested they wanted to. Perhaps they feared attracting his attention, yet he was rather placidly walking next to Alucard so...

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"Alu-Arikado-san!" Yoko cried out with such relief that she nearly did it again and let his name slip. She worked her way past several priests and nuns and fairly flung herself at the ever cool and detached Dhampire. For the unaware, she just threw herself at a man who didn't bother to deal with her. While Leon who knew Alucard 'could' side step her before contact, despite being aloof and disinterested, willing tolerated her sudden hug, A brooding silent sign of his tolerance and acceptance of her personality.

"Yoko."

The dhampires' presence was such a relief to Yoko, a black suited island fortress sanctuary that would shield her from all this horrible mess. His hair was a lighter shade of brown, enough so that she noticed it thus reinforcing how much power he reabsorbed by being in the castle at this point. But he was immaculately clean, not a hair out of place and she could be a scared little girl for a moment. Hiding her face in his chest as she fought the tears.

Right or wrong the Vatican had been her home, her duty to look after, but the Vatican had been violated on her watch. Many of the sweet nuns and kind priests who had shown her kindness despite being a 'satan spawned witch' were gone. "I'm sorry Al... I let you down haven't I?"

Leon's ears flickered in offense at that remark before he lifted up his massive paw and lightly swatted at her leg. 'Given he's the older, more powerful Dhampire if anyone would have failed it was him. But he sacrificed so much of his own power to hold his father back that blaming Alucard would be a gross misdirection of blame.' The Belmont thought as Yoko glanced down at him.

"Oh... Oh Leon..."

"It is hard to 'let me down' given the circumstances. However; if we are to talk on such matters I insist it be within the walls of the Castle." Alucard informed her as he observed the Vatican courtyard. Behind him was the irritating noise of the masses, but it took only a small bit of his power to subdue them enough to let him enter. The police may have taken issue with his presence but certainly not the priests and nuns who hovered behind the line trying to offer comfort despite the instruction to go inside.

"Mr. Arikado, it is a blessing that you have been returned to us," Cardinal Rocco exclaimed as he moved closer to the trio. Positioning himself to hide Yoko as much as he could, his heart bled as he saw the young woman flinch. 'Dear child...'

"I was summoned here at the request of Pope Alexander and wish to see him now." Alucard announced evenly causing the Cardinal to nod.

"Certainly understandable and he has returned to his chambers," he gave a deep sigh as he turned to glance back at the church he so loved. "However; I'm sure you are aware by now the interior has been..."

"It will be far less than what I have experienced in my Lord Fathers' castle I assure you," Alucard answered as Leon took that as a reason to stand back up.

"Ahh and you brought back the Holy Lion... Pray forgive my brothers and sisters should they seek to pray with him," Lodovico good naturedly warned as he stepped aside and held out his hand in guiding welcome.

Leon gave a slight nod of thanks, Alucard being above such things while Yoko trailed behind. The other Cardinals were huddled together, more focused on their distraught brothers and sisters to give much notice to the Dhampire and his entourage. So they continued on to the opened doors of the Vatican and its fractured lights that tumbled out. It just... refracted in a way that made Leon wonder if the lights of the Vatican had 'always' been like this, or if it was because of his roar.

'Not now Leon, away from prying ears and speak with the others.'

"You look better than before," Yoko noted quietly as she looked down at the top of Leon's regal head. Gone was the raised hackles that defied the congealed blood that had stained his whole golden coat. He felt calmer and that scent of lavender was a Godsend with how everything else reeked of blood. So much so she just wanted to flomp onto him, shove her face into his mane and take a massive whiff.

"Well, the maids of the castle fell upon me almost instantly. More over the bubble bath made it very hard to retain my anger." Leon explained, the memory of all those large bubbles coming back to him and it 'was' strange. Sitting in the tub and realizing how demeaning a life cats had when it was bath time. No dignity or respect. So Leon had been stuck sitting in an oversized tub in the middle of a hallway and just... bubble watch...

"Oh," Yoko agreed as they reached the center of the hallway. "Julius took Pope Dionysus somewhere, and Pope Alexander is in his office, I don't know how you want to play this..."

"Alucard needs to speak with Pope Alexander, how would a walk around the Vatican sound? This time paired up we can check to make sure there isn't any extra Thralls or help any still scared priests in the building." Leon offered turning his head so he could fix his gaze up on Yoko properly.

"Well.. he's going to meet 'them' since they're with His Holiness so I should stay with... I need to explain huh?" Yoko asked only for Leon to pull back his lips in a bit of a smile.

"Oh about my kin..." Leon mused fondly at the group.

"I understand the first two, but I distinctly recall you chose to make the 'Stuffy Patrol' for entertainment." Alucard noted as he turned right and approached the stairs that would lead to the next floor.

"Well... they were, I didn't realize they had souls I thought they just had personalities. Like my own little robots only with magic," she argued before giving a sad, quiet sigh. "I had no idea and Uncle Julius looks rather put out with me and I'm sure that's why."

"Oh he can be quiet unless he gets stuffed in one of these bodies," Leon mused with a sway of his tail. "You meant well, and had you not this idea, the forces that allowed my presence wouldn't have gotten it either. More over, complain all he likes, my kin are the reason those children that escaped are safe." Leon's voice rumbled his approval, "I confess I had no idea my roar would have such an effect. But think of the good it has done, the evil it has exposed..."

Tears welled up into Yoko's eyes with such force she had to dig out her hankie, only for Alucard to thrust his own into her hand. Her lips quivered into a watery line as the sobs began to fight past her lips. Gratitude was something she wanted to express, but if she opened her mouth she was confident she would start bawling instead.

"You did the right thing, and if you are concerned about my clan, I may be in the body of a stuffed lion but I am still the founder of the Belmonts. You will have my support regardless," Leon soothed as he walked. The Vatican was quiet on the inside, his ears heard mostly Yoko's sniffles and their footsteps. Alucard might as well not even been with them, but Leon was used to that, the statues and paintings appeared normal. No irrational displays of independent thought or out of place person or items.

"It just feels like I failed on so many levels, I had no idea that the oils were contaminated. It makes me worry about what it did to Arikado and Soma when cut off the D'Arists' hand. Then there's the kids and..." Yoko began her words tumbling in such a way but it allowed Alucard a momentary thought.

"The... oils have been tampered? How, is it not your clan that has been producing these oils?" He turned to glance down at Yoko, while still ascending the stairs with easy confidence.

"I thought so, its what I was told... But I've never crafted a potion... not after … Valentines..." Yoko's cheeks went red and she shrank in on herself.

Of course Valentines. It was the first time in his life that Alucard actually just settled down in a chair and watched as chaos consumed Rome in an ill timed 'exploration of love'.