Note: Well, May is here and it means ... a lot! For the first week, my hometown had a fair, which meant eating fair food and watching a parade. Other than that, a new month means new chapters for each story that is currently open. There might be a new story for this month as well, though it depends on what happens. Getting a job and a license are two priorities of mine, so I might be busier than I have ever been. Hopefully, that doesn't keep any of you from reading each new chapter that comes out. It might take longer to finish each, so I hope everyone understands.
Before we move on, I want to say something to a reviewer.
Big Bossk Man 92: Well, it seems more likely that Wolf/Volk would use such a line when he's so far into his plan. His vampirism would likely distort his viewpoints on everyone, including his own soldiers and teammates. Needless to say, Panther and Miyu might be horrified when they see what their leader is up to. Question is: Will they simply side with our heroes or try to kill the one-eyed lupine? Stay tuned for what happens next.
Now that I've done that, it's time for chapter twenty-seven.
Chapter 27: A Bloodthirsty Killer
Volk staggered through the castle, intent on getting back to the throne room. He seethed as he tried to understand what happened during his fight with Fox and Krystal. The one-eyed lupine thought that he had those two right where he wanted them, until Fox suddenly conjured an energy blade out of thin air. From there, both him and Krystal were able to turn the tide of battle in their favor. Just as the Venomian vampire was ready to put an end to them, his enemies had doubled their efforts against him, dishing out as much punishment as he did. It seemed like the undead foxes had only been distracting him so that he didn't know what they had been planning.
As he went to the third floor, Volk could not help but wonder just how Fox was able to bring out such a powerful ability. Back when he was known as Wolf O'Donnell, he knew that his archenemy had no special abilities outside of being trained in combat and having flight experience. Whatever had been done to the orange tod, it was clear that he was capable of using abilities that could rival even the strongest soldier in the army. Krystal was with him, which meant that fighting them would be harder than the last time. Their abilities would keep increasing as they went through the castle, even when there was nothing left for them to fight. Volk craved a good fight, but hoped that Fox and Krystal wouldn't become too powerful.
The moment he reached the throne room, Volk remembered that Fara Phoenix and the Helsing family was in the castle as well. While he could handle any mortal foolish enough to challenge him to a fight, a vampire hunter was not a foe to be trifled with. For all the one-eyed lupine knew, the trio could have all sorts of tools that could take down a vampire with little effort. If that was so, then there would be nothing stopping them from wiping out his army and killing him next. With Panther, Leon, Fay and Miyu nowhere near him, this meant that the space pirate-turned-vampire couldn't stall his enemies for much longer. It wouldn't be long until they slaughter the monsters that were awaiting them and arrive in the throne room, intent on putting an end to this whole affair.
Pushing the doors open, Volk was greeted by a leopard and an opossum, being two of the individuals Miyu had turned into vampires. By sensing their aura, the one-eyed lupine could see that they were still vampires, meaning that Miyu was still around. However, she and Panther were not waiting on him in the throne room. They had not arrived back from their task of eliminating the vampire hunters, which annoyed the undead Venomian. If they hadn't killed Fara and the Helsings, then where were they? They could have either gotten distracted or incapacitated by their mortal enemies.
"Lord Volk, are you alright?!" The Opossum Vampire spoke.
"Do you need medical attention, sir?!" The Leopard Vampire asked.
"I'm fine, you two." Volk said. "Help me over to the throne, will you?"
Unable to disobey their master, the Opossum and the Leopard took Volk to his throne. Once he was seated, he let out a groan, the pain from Fox and Krystal's combined might surging through his body. The one-eyed lupine hadn't been stabbed or bludgeoned, but it felt like he had been beaten to an inch of his life while also being stabbed in vital areas. His healing factor was going to kick in at some point, so he hoped that it would be quick enough so that he could make a full recovery. It wasn't a good idea to fight his enemies while injured, even though it wouldn't have stopped the Venomian vampire in any other situation. This time, however, he had to let his body heal up before he fought again.
"Have either of you heard from Panther or Miyu?" Volk asked.
"We haven't, sir." The Leopard Vampire spoke. "In the meantime, we were able to determine that Fara Phoenix, Orlando Helsing and Owen Helsing escaped from them!"
"They're heading down towards the thirteenth floor as we speak!" The Opossum Vampire spoke. "Not only that, but your former apprentice and McCloud are heading up to the thirteenth floor as well! If one of the two groups reaches that floor, they'll free your special prisoner!"
Volk was about to yell at the two for standing there and doing nothing. That was until he remembered that there were still monsters residing on certain floors of the castle, with the thirteenth floor sandwiched between all of them. One monster was someone the one-eyed lupine had recruited into the army shortly after the castle had finished construction. Leon was the one to locate this individual, while Panther was the one to convince him to join in exchange for immortality and the freedom to do what he wanted. When he became a vampire, he was given a special job by Volk and the army: to kill anyone who dared to break into the castle and feast on their remains. It was something that would be satisfying to someone like him, considering that he had no other opportunity to do this in his days as a mortal.
Thinking about Lucy and the individual, Volk knew they had something in common: they were prisoners. In the case of the latter, he had been in prison for a serious crime. However, it wasn't a one-time thing, but rather something he had done multiple times. This person was not a petty thief, but rather a serial killer. To be exact, he was one of the most dangerous serial killers on Corneria, let alone the Lylat System. With that in mind, being turned into a vampire allowed the murderer to be an immortal being who had the freedom to do whatever he wanted.
"Sir, what are we going to do?" The Opossum Vampire asked.
"Don't worry," Volk spoke, his mouth forming into a smirk, "I have someone who can deal with our enemies. He'll give Fox and Krystal a hard time. If he deals with the vampire hunters, however, then it won't take him long to destroy them! You two, go check and see if any of them encounter him."
Nodding their heads, the Leopard and the Opossum walked out of the throne room. However, they were still in disbelief as to who Volk was talking about. While they wanted their enemies to die, they were shocked that Volk would have the gusto to include him into the army. Given the murders he had been linked to, it seemed like a bad idea to turn someone as dangerous as him into a vampire. It was a necessity to recruit anyone who would be willing to help the army in Volk's plans against the universe, so neither the Leopard or Opossum argued against their master. They only hoped that the murderous recruit wouldn't turn against him, let alone the entire army.
As they went down floor after floor, Fara and the Helsings felt that they were getting close to rescuing Lucy. Having gone down several floors, it seemed like the next one would be the thirteenth floor. Orlando kept a count of how many floors were in the castle by the ones he had went down with his grandson and their colleague. From what he could tell, they had gone down three floors, but each seemed longer than the last. If they were ever going to get to Lucy, they needed to be quicker. Without Fox and Krystal, the three were at a considerable disadvantage against their supernatural enemies.
Upon entering a new floor, Orlando put his arm up, signaling for Fara and Owen to stop. Looking ahead, the three saw that the entire area was shrouded in darkness, with not even a post for a torch. Whatever the purpose for this floor, it seemed like it was made to trap anyone who arrived on it. If not, then it was possibly something that Volk did not include in the castle's design, but had been added in its construction, regardless of what had been on the blueprints. Either way, Fara and the Helsings agreed to keep their guard up, as anything could have been lurking in the shadows. Given the monsters they had already encountered, the one on this floor would be far more difficult to defeat, considering how it could attack them when they least expect it.
The moment he took a step forward, Orlando heard a creaking noise, as if he was standing on weakened lumber. Fara and Owen were right behind the coyote, so that they could aid him before a monster got an advantage. None of them had a light, so they couldn't tell what was near them, nor could they tell what kind of state the floor itself was in. With that in mind, trying to fight against the evil residing in the area would be difficult. It would only take one wrong step, and all three of them would be dead. Orlando did not want for that to happen, but how would he be able to defend those around him in a situation where he couldn't even see?
A few steps forward and Fara and the Helsings were greeted by a bright flash of light. They covered their eyes, even bracing themselves for an incoming attack. However, no harm came to the vampire hunters, not even a punch or kick. Slowly, the three opened their eyes, finding that the floor itself had been brightened by a single chandelier hanging from the ceiling. It was the only source of light, though it was enough for anyone who walked through to see their surroundings. While it was helpful to them, Fara, Orlando and Owen did not consider it a blessing, as it could've been part of a trap set up by Volk's army.
With the floor finally lit up, the vampire hunters looked ahead and saw something that was out of place. It was a horse standing in the middle of the room. The equine creature did not appear to have an owner, but it had to be livestock for the army of the undead. For whatever purpose, it didn't matter, as Orlando and Owen had stakes out. As for Fara, she slowly approached the horse, having her gilded cross out in order to repel any monsters waiting to attack. She was being careful, although she did not have a stake out.
"Why, hello there, fella!" Fara spoke. "What are you doing in this castle? Did Volk bring you here against your will?"
All of a sudden, the horse let out a gurgling noise and began to violently shake. Its head soon expanded, causing Fara, Orlando and Owen to cover their faces. There was the sound of an explosion, which was accompanied by flesh tearing, bones cracking and a squish. When that was out of the way, the vampire hunters took their hands off their faces and were greeted by a disturbing sight. The horse had been decapitated in a bloody mess, with blood, bone shards and brain matter all around the room. Despite that, the equine was still standing, as if it were a toy horse that would be intact regardless if it had a head or not.
"I-I didn't even touch it!" Fara spoke.
"Was it supposed to do that?!" Owen asked, horrified by what he saw. "Grandpa, you saw that, right?!"
"Listen to me, both of you, step away from the horse!" Orlando spoke, having sensed something bad.
The dead horse began to move, as if it had transformed into a zombie. Blood spurted out of the stump that had once been its neck, meaning that there was something -or someone- inside of it. An ear poked out of the stump, followed by an identical one. Soon after a snout with a jaw lined with fangs and teeth shot out of the horse's corpse, the creature inside only a few steps away from climbing out. The creature soon stuck its entire head out, revealing itself to be a male jackal with devilish yellow eyes. Owen was petrified, thinking that he was looking at a demon. Fara and Orlando were a bit more composed, but they were shocked, having seen this jackal before.
"What the?!" Owen spoke. "That crazy monster's inside that dead horse! God, this one's crazier than a loon! Volk and his army are evil, sure, but we haven't seen any of them inside a corpse!"
"And the worst part is that he's Bloodscourge, one of Corneria's biggest serial killers!" Fara spoke.
"Volk must've been one crazy bastard to find this monster!" Orlando said.
Retreating his head into the dead horse for a moment, Bloodscourge let out a primal scream as he stuck a knife out of the bloody stump. He then leapt out of the equine's corpse, landing on his feet, covered in blood. Fara and Orlando kept their guard up, primarily to protect Owen from one of the Lylat System's deadliest murderers. Even before vampires began to plague Corneria, Bloodscourge was someone who no one wanted out of jail, and few were willing to be around such an infamous criminal. The jackal's aura was massive, meaning that he had been turned into a vampire as well. He was already dangerous, but he now he was far more of a threat.
Now that he was on the floor, Bloodscourge turned his head, apparently scanning the perimeter for any threats. He looked at Fara and the Helsings, a wicked grin forming on his face. The jackal knew the fennec well, as she was a member of one of the most well-known families in the Lylat System. As for Orlando, he had only heard about him through word-of-mouth from some of the fellow inmates during his stay in prison. Both of them were not only enemies to Volk's army, but they were on the crazed canine's list. However, the younger coyote was not a priority, considering how he didn't target children when he committed a murder.
"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" Bloodscourge spoke. "Not only is the famous Fara Phoenix here, but so is the local detective Orlando Helsing. It's my lucky day!"
"How did Volk find you?" Orlando asked. "Did he bail you out?"
"It doesn't matter how I joined the army." The jackal said. "What DOES matter is that Lord Volk has tasked me with eliminating the both of you. Once you're dead, not only will I be rewarded, but the army will spread throughout the galaxy in order to dominate it! As for the boy, it's up to Lord Volk on what happens to him."
"That's not gonna happen!" Fara spoke. "We're going to stop you, find a way to free our friends and take on Volk!"
Pulling out a knife, it seemed like Bloodscourge was going to either charge at them with it or throw it. However, he stabbed one side of his face with it, essentially sheathing it into his skin. After that, the jackal flexed his muscles, causing a few blades to pop out of his body. Clearly, one of his abilities was concealing knives and daggers within his body, if not weaponizing his bone marrow. The sight nearly made Owen gag, as if he had seen something nauseating. Fara and Orlando stood their ground, even though the sight of knives popping out of Bloodscourge's body wasn't easy to look at.
Reaching behind him, Orlando took out a jug of water and a wine glass. Using his pinkie fingernail, the coyote pricked the bottom of the jug, causing water to start pouring out of it. The water began to rapidly fill the glass, to the point where it looked like it would overflow and spill to the floor. However, the water filled to the top, with not a single drop spilling out of it.
"Fara, Owen, stand aside!" Orlando spoke. "I'll handle this!"
"By getting a drink?" Fara asked.
"It might seem like I am pouring a drink," the coyote said, "but I am actually using the water as a conductor for the Helsing family spirit. Before I fight, Owen, do tell me, can you make a guess as to what the enemy is about to do?"
"I think he's going to charge at us." Owen said. "Be careful, grandpa!"
With the glass of water still in hand, Orlando waited for Bloodscourge to attack. The jackal flexed his muscles, causing several knives to launch out of his skin. Each one came in Orlando's direction, but he stood his ground. Fara and Owen watched as this happened, worried that he would die in the encounter. The coyote didn't even move, not even flinching when a knife was a few inches away from his face. If the Helsing family spirit was going to defend him, then it would be arriving too late.
All of a sudden, Bloodscourge's knives zoomed past Orlando, only managing to stick into the wall behind him. It seemed like he would've been killed, but he managed to repel the knives without even moving. Fara, Owen and Bloodscourge were surprised when this happened, despite the impossible odds that were against the coyote. However, when she took a closer look, Fara saw that the water was rippling, with a faint glow in it. This wasn't some parlor trick that anyone could pull off, it was the Helsing family spirit. It managed to save Orlando at the last moment by redirecting the flying knives to go around him.
"You'll have to try harder than that." Orlando said, acting as though nothing happened.
Letting out a growl, Bloodscourge flexed his muscles again, causing more blades to stick out of his skin. He flexed some more, which made the knives shoot out of him again. Fara and Owen watched as this happened, seeing as Orlando was standing still like last time. They noticed as his mouth curled into a smirk, showing that he had something planned. If the Helsing family spirit was going to be used again, then it would have to be quicker this time. Bloodscourge's knives were flying towards him at a faster rate this time.
"Prepare yourself!" Orlando shouted.
All of a sudden, the water in the wine glass rippled violently. It splashed, with each droplet going up into the air. Some knocked the knives out of flight, while the rest broke some of the knives in half. The remains of each one dropped to the floor, all while Orlando stood ground. As that happened, there was a glowing aura around him, which had traveled all the way to the glass. Not only was the Helsing family spirit surging through the coyote's veins, but it was able to travel to water and weaponize it.
"Sorry, Bloodscourge, but your knives are no match for the Helsing family's secret power." Orlando spoke. "It is the power to defeat any supernatural threat in the world, and it grows as long as we train to control it. The power goes back to the 1500s, meaning that it has been around longer than you have!"
"You think that ancient technique can stop me?!" Bloodscourge said. "I've got powers beyond comprehension!"
"Pay attention now, Owen, because there's something I should tell you." The coyote said. "Living creatures breathe as they go about their daily lives, while those who are dead do not breathe. The undead can breathe, but it is not like how the living breathe. Theirs is otherworldly, unable to be linked between life and death. Breathing is connected to the spirit, and this blighter has no spirit! Even before he was turned into a vampire, his spirit was that of a monster's, and his breath patterns were those of a coward's: quick, haggard and uneven!"
Fueled by the Helsing family spirit, Orlando was launched towards Bloodscourge. His knee collided with the serial killer-turned-vampire's face, the aura quickly surging towards the flesh. Once he felt it, the jackal was thrown to the floor, causing him to scream in pain. When he got back up, he clutched his face, Orlando's attack having done some damage to it. Fara and Owen braced themselves, thinking that the depraved canine's next move was to rush towards them. Orlando, on the other hand, held the water closer to him, trying to keep it from spilling.
Now that he was back on his feet, Bloodscourge cracked his knuckles, intent on continuing the fight. Orlando merely walked over to Owen, carefully handing him the glass of water. Fara noticed that the coyote was going to have his grandson fight next, despite their enemy being a dangerous serial killer who became a vampire. While she had seen both of her associates use the Helsing family spirit, the fennec hoped that Orlando knew what he was doing.
"Alright, Owen, it's your turn to fight." Orlando spoke. "Just remember what I taught you. Keep this in mind as well: the water has the Helsing family spirit in it, conducted through my aura. If a drop of water leaves that glass, the spirit will fade and you will be at a considerable disadvantage."
"Don't worry, Grandpa, I won't let the water spill!" Owen said, walking up to Bloodscourge.
As Owen walked up to Bloodscourge, Fara feared for the boy's safety. Sure enough, the jackal took out a knife and waved it towards the young coyote. He licked the blade, clearly intent on slicing his opponent to pieces. Orlando stood next to Fara, acting as a spectator to the fight alongside her. They could see the aura Orlando left in the water glowing brighter, meaning that it was about to surge up to Owen. If he absorbed it, then the boy would gain a stronger link to the Helsing family spirit.
Running towards Owen, Bloodscourge swung his knife towards him. The coyote took a step back, causing the blade of the knife to miss him by an inch. He then dodged another attack from the jackal, ducking in time to avoid his knife again. Orlando nodded his head, knowing that his grandson was doing well in the fight. Fara, on the other hand, worried that Bloodscourge would gain an advantage against him. While they watched, Owen noticed that the water stayed intact, no drop escaping from the glass.
"C'mon, kid, throw a punch!" Bloodscourge taunted.
"Oh, I'll throw a punch alright." Owen spoke. "But, before I do, I'm going to say this: Nothing will stop me from helping my friends and family fight those who hurt the innocent. With the Helsing family spirit surging through me and my grandfather, Orlando Helsing, we won't rest until Volk is slain and the world is saved! This resolve allows me to have a better link to our family's secret power, which I will use against you! Now, feel the wrath of my Energy Charge Fist!"
Before Bloodscourge knew it, he found himself launched towards a wall. Owen had managed to draw the aura from the glass of water into his free hand, which had been clenched into a fist. Knowing that his enemy wasn't finished, the coyote walked towards the jackal and kicked the knife out of his hand. The serial killer-turned-vampire threw a punch, only to receive one to the face. As that happened, the water in the glass rippled violently, and a bright aura surrounded Owen. Orlando and Fara knew that the boy could use the Helsing family spirit, but now he had a better link to it.
Taking out a stake, Owen thrusted his arm forward, managing to hit Bloodscourge in the chest. Upon being staked in the heart, the jackal let out a death cry as he felt his body begin to evaporate. He exploded, surrounding the room in a bright light. In the process, something was thrown at Fara, which caused her to catch it. Once the light dissipated, she was able to see that she was holding a key. Clearly, Bloodscourge had it on him, but it was unharmed when he was killed.
"Could this be the dungeon key?" Fara asked herself.
Orlando and Fara walked towards Owen, who was still standing near the ash that was once Bloodscourge. The aura around him had faded, but the young coyote was different now. Not only was his body slightly more muscular, but he seemed to be two inches taller. Not only did the Helsing family spirit empower him, it appeared to age him by a bit. The canine was still holding the glass in his hand, which was still full of water. Despite all the movement that happened around it, not a single drop escaped the glass.
"I managed to transfer some of my power to the stake." Owen spoke. "It was enough for it to destroy him."
"Owen, all this time, I figured that your mother and father would have a strong link to the Helsing family spirit, but I was wrong." Orlando said. "You, my dearest grandson, managed to gain a greater link to it than either of them. Good job, my boy. Perhaps you could succeed me as a master of it one day."
"In the meantime, we have to get this key to Fox and Krystal." Fara spoke, waving the key in her hand. "It might be the dungeon key that can free the others."
Nodding their heads in agreement, Orlando and Owen walked out of the room with Fara. They took the stairway that led down, intent on meeting up with Fox and Krystal. If neither of them was on the floor below the vampire hunters, then they would eventually catch up with them. The undead vulpines were likely dealing with a monster on the floor that they were on, and the Helsings had a feeling that they would encounter another monster next. Despite that, they didn't let that bother them. After all, it would be an excellent opportunity for both Orlando and Owen to demonstrate the Helsing family spirit again.
Note: Owen now has a stronger link to the fighting spirit of his ancestors. Will he get to use it the next time he fights? How about Orlando? What evils will the vampire hunters, Fox and Krystal face off against next? Who will be the first to get to Lucy? Is she still alive, or are our heroes too late to save her?
Until next time, guys, this is Newcomer24, signing off. Peace!