Castlevania: Lisa's Last Words
Chapter 3: Wandering Once More
Death's mouth opened, but words failed him. Before he could gather his thoughts, Dracula turned and strode away, leaving the throne room and disappearing into the moonlit night. His body transformed into a bat, and he vanished into the darkness, without even a farewell.
Death watched him go, perplexed by his master's uncharacteristic behavior. Yet, he would follow Dracula's orders as always. Perhaps his master was right; he had been waging war for centuries, facing defeat after defeat. Death himself didn't share Dracula's passion for destroying humanity; his loyalty to the Prince of Darkness drove him to aid in the crusade. Maybe a break from the endless struggle would do Dracula some good.
"Watch yourself, Master," Death whispered to himself as he patrolled the castle grounds. He knew the pattern all too well: amateur vampire hunters would soon arrive, followed by a Belmont or some other skilled warrior who could challenge the castle's defenses. Death looked forward to those battles, despite his frequent losses; they added a spark of excitement to the eternal cycle of life and death.
The night sky whispered Lisa's haunting words, 'Find me... find me... find me...' as Dracula soared through the darkness as a bat. He knew she was gone, a victim of the cruelty of humanity, and that the Void had likely conjured this cruel taunt. Yet, he couldn't shake the longing to find her, to reconnect with the one who had briefly brought light to his eternal darkness.
Without destination or purpose, Dracula flew, his speed carrying him far from Castlevania's imposing spires. Hours passed, and he slowed, realizing he was hundreds of miles away, lost in the vast expanse of the night. The voice in his head urged him to find Lisa, but how? The mysteries of the afterlife were unknown even to the Lord of Evil, and reincarnation's cycles were long and unpredictable.
Centuries might pass before Lisa's soul returned, and even then, she would be a stranger, reborn in a new body. How could he find her? Dracula's stamina was boundless, but the weariness that had been plaguing him returned, and he landed on a rooftop, his thoughts a jumble. Only then did he take in his surroundings - a small village, its stone and wood houses a familiar sight in the moonlight.
Deciding to replenish his strength, Dracula descended to the ground, transforming back into his human form. With a thought, he applied his glamor magic, disguising his appearance. His hair turned black, his skin took on a pale, human hue, and his eyes became a pale blue, almost silver. His clothes changed to simple black pants and a red shirt, and he stood, once more, as Mathias Cronqvist, the man he once was, before the curse of immortality claimed him.
With centuries of practice, Dracula effortlessly slipped into the village, his mist form allowing him to bypass the protections on the doors and windows. He entered a maiden's chamber, his presence as silent as the night itself. The deed was done in less than a minute, a life extinguished, just as countless times before. Dracula didn't linger, leaving the woman's corpse to the mercy of the worms and rot. It was a necessity, not a pleasure, only a reminder of his eternal curse.
Assuming his false human form once more, Dracula wandered the village, his footsteps quiet on the deserted streets. The night guards were few and easily evaded, and the village was free of cutpurses and brigands. He moved undisturbed, taking in the village's sights before being drawn outside the village by a lake's gentle lapping. The wind-churned water mesmerized him, and he let his glamor fall, his exhaustion and thoughts of Lisa consuming him.
Lost in his reverie, Dracula didn't notice the child's approach until her humming broke the silence. He turned to see a young girl approaching the lake from the opposite shore, her features illuminated by the moon's gentle glow. His inhuman vision bore into her, taking in every detail, as if trying to grasp a fleeting memory.
The girl's innocence and purity seemed to stir something within him, a pang of longing, a reminder of the life he once knew, the love he once had. Dracula's gaze remained fixed on the girl, his thoughts a jumble of conflicting emotions, as the night wore on, and the moon continued its gentle dance across the lake's surface.
The young girl, no more than seven years of age, captivated Dracula's attention with her tattered garments and the visible bruises beneath. Her platinum blond locks shimmered in the moon's gentle light, while her sapphire eyes conveyed a haunting sense of desolation. As Dracula drew near, she recoiled as she saw him, as if anticipating Dracula would strike her, but instead, he offered a gentle salutation. The girl flinched, then spoke in a tone devoid of emotion, "Hello, sir."
Her gaze scrutinized him, and she inquired, "Are you hungry?" Dracula, taken aback by the question, replied, "Yes, child, I suppose so." The girl's response was swift and unexpected - she dove into the lake, swimming with grace and agility. Dracula watched, intrigued, as she surfaced with a fish clenched between her teeth, her smile the first glimmer of vitality in her eyes.
As she offered him the fish, Dracula hesitated, about to explain that he didn't require such sustenance, but the girl moving closer to him silenced him. Her eyes held a profound sorrow, a plea for connection, and he found himself unable to refuse her kindness. The girl's smile, though fleeting, hinted at a resilience that defied her circumstances. Dracula, the Lord of Darkness, stood there, entranced by this tiny, battered creature, and her unwavering generosity.
Author's Note: And there's the first three chapters of Castlevania: Lisa's Last Words. After this I'll be releasing a new chapter every Monday.