Castlevania Nocturne: A Guardian's Tale (Part 2)

A New Plan

Emma paced like a caged lioness in her mother's kitchen, her family and friend gathered to discuss their next plan of action.

"If this Forgemaster is in the Abbey, the Abbot must be his prisoner." Tera assumed.

"Or the Abbot invited him in." Maria suggested.

"That's impossible!" Tera denied. "He's a good man. When I first came to Machecoul, it was the Abbot who helped me."

"He might have had a change of heart since first meeting you, revolution changes people. People start taking sides." Emma stopped and flexed her claws on the windowsill. "He may have chosen his."

"No, he wouldn't have sided with a Forgemaster."

"I doubt it." Emma continued pacing. "The last time I met him he stunk of alchemy, it was the  rotten eggs 'Hell Smell' my mother described as a Forgemaster's scent. We need to take in consideration he may be in league with a Forgemaster."  If he isn't a Forgemaster himself Emma thought to herself but didn't say aloud, not wanting to distress Tera further.

" It makes sense. Though when you think about it, the Church in alliance with evil, we were stupid not to think of it before."

"But vampires, Maria?"

"If you look at the history of the Church, it'd be hardly surprising. Well, maybe a bit surprising."

Emma continued pacing. She felt comfortable enough in her mother's home to express her anxiety and pent up energy . Amalie herself sat beside Tera fiddling with her staff, her attention nevertheless attuned to the urgent energy in the room. "Annette, are you all right dear?" The angel noticed Annette sitting at  the window looking out. The free revolutionary was unusually quiet.

Emma paused her pacing and stood beside Annette. "We're going to find him whatever happens."

" You can't be sure that was him." Richter said. "When someone dies, someone you love, for a long time you think you see them everywhere."

"They were his eyes."

"I saw them too." Emma supported. "They looked familiar, almost human, and the way it begged for mercy was unlike anything I've seen with these beasts so far."

"It is possible..." The three turned their heads to Amalie. "I knew a night creature long ago who remembered things from his mortal life. He was a Librarian, and a fine chap. Sometimes when they are given reminders of their old lives, the books he tended to in our old home." Amalie smiled knowingly at Annette. "Or the appearance of an old friend, they remember who they were and regain a bit of their humanity."

"If he remembers me, he must hate me." Annette said bitterly. "I abandoned him, and they killed him. I cannot abandon him now."

"So, what do you want to do? Rescue him?"Asked Richter. "Even if it is Edouard, maybe he doesn't want to be rescued, Annette. Or maybe he can't be. Maybe the only way to save him would be to kill him. And face it, he's already dead."

Emma continued her pacing as the room stood in silence, letting open a wide nervous yawn.

"If the Abbot is the Forgemaster's prisoner, can you abandon him?" Annette directed at Tera.

"We can't just charge into the Abbey hoping to defeat a fսcking powerful sorcerer and liberate all our friends! I don't want a repeat of what happened at the chateau." Richter snapped.

"So you're afraid." Annette glared.

"I'm not afraid."Richter denied. " I'm saying we need a plan."

"We have magic. Or five of us do. If I can't save Edouard, yes, I will kill him. It would be a mercy." Annette said.