BLOOD BOUNDED - THE SHADE - English - Castlevania Lords of Shadow (fanfic) PII

Chapter 49

"I've found it!" The toymaker came hopping out from behind some shelves, juggling a huge chest. "Here they are, my teacher's notes!"

Marie put the book she was leafing through in the corner of the library next to the window curtain, and watched the excited little man place the chest in front of her on the table.

"The notes of the craftsman Gandolfi?"

"Everything we need, right here!" He checked everywhere "If only I could find the keys to the lock..."

Marie smiled at the old man's disappointed face.

"Don't worry, let's find a way."

"Although, if I remember correctly, it wasn't a common key... Wait, let me check something!"

A scream was heard in the distance and she flinched as the little man cringed.

"Wh-what... what was that?" he trembled.

"It can't be" she exhaled "this area is supposed to be safe.

"W-We must go, to the theater, quickly!"

There was a crash nearby.

"Come on, quick!" Marie held her dress and began to run, next to the Toymaker and his precious chest.

But she couldn't get through the exit without first taking a look at this place, suddenly precious to her, and wondering if it would be destroyed as well.

No more regrets.

They took the nearest corridor, promising to return, and continued down the alternative corridor to the theater. The rumble returned, and the next one was even closer.

"Oh, heavens, oh, heavens, what nerves of steel one must have to inhabit this place!"

Marie agreed, and she could only think what was going through Gabriel's mind, his son and the rest of their descendants who ventured through these enclosures with the intention of destroying evil.

The walls fell behind them, making them jump.

A pair of grotesque creatures, made of a dark mass that didn't look like hair, whose heads were huge, fleshless skulls. Their empty eye sockets alternately rested on them as they scrambled to shake off dust and debris.

Paralyzed, and with the old man gasping in panic, they watched the things snarl at them.

"Pretty puppies" he raised both hands as they both backed off "pretty puppies..."

Then, red dots of corrupted blood landed right on Marie.

"It's her" she heard a distorted voice "take her, now".

She recognized that voice, so she took the little man by the shoulders:

"We must run, now!"

"Good idea!"

They turned, the things chasing them, snarling and yelling. Although she considered herself quite agile, she couldn't outrun the old man, who could barely breathe after the first run, and with the extra weight of the chest, they would catch up shortly.

Daggers plunged into the creatures, and some of the puppets that had been in the theater before descended.

"My friends!" he sobbed "they have come to help us!"

"Let's take advantage now!"

The wooden creatures stopped one of the monsters, but the other broke free and went after them.

"Oh no, oh no!"

"Mr. Toymaker, it's me what they want, please, be safe!"

"No way!"

"Watch out!"

In a fleeting movement, one of the claws tore into Marie's back, and she felt hot blood emerge from the fabric of her dress.

"Milady!" cried the old man, and looked furiously at the creatures "You will pay for hurting a lady!" He raised his arms "Come, come, my friends!"

Dragon puppets, a horseman and a lion-headed chimera, descended to attack the creature, before it came close again.

Kneeling on the ground, the pain sharp, the little man protecting her, she could only remember how vulnerable she was...has always been.

Gabriel...

He would not come, she had to protect herself.

From her dress, she began to pull out the silver mask.

I have to call her.

"The angel?" The Toymaker looked at her "But, it is very dangerous to do it in this castle."

I do not have any other option!

The monster had already destroyed the knight and the chimera, and was fighting with the dragon.

She made the gesture of raising the mask.

"Mother!"

She put it away immediately to turn around at the moment her son drew his scabbard.

And right next to him, was a Gabriel, surrounded by a demonic halo.

Oh god no!

She knew the moment the Lord of the Castle understood what was happening, by the shadow of anger and despair on his face, that she knew so well, his eyes burning red and his aura consuming the very light around him.

All the candles went out, leaving only crimson smoke billowing through the room.

She heard the thrusts of his son's sword and the creature screaming in pain.

"Mother!" He held her carefully so as not to hurt her "don't worry, it's superficial, we'll heal it right away."

"Take your mother and get away, Trevor" he turned to see the figure of his father taking shape.

"Father..."

"GET AWAY!" His roar thundered between those walls and fire emerged from his fists.

Trevor preferred to nod, supporting his mother while one of the puppets grabbed the Toymaker, and another, the precious box.

Marie took one last look at her husband. The fire from his fists had spread to cover his entire armor and in a scream, his silhouette distorted and spread.

The last thing she saw was the huge dragon's wings and the roar that shook the castle to its foundations.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Ok, ok, don't leave yet, there is more.

Peace~