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

Prisoners

Shaft dreaded returning to the Chateau again. He bathed Snowball in the stables, making her coat sleek like onyx, and brushing out her mane, tail, and feathers. Drolta debated him before to seek Erzsebet immediately. Shaft countered if he was partaking in the grand arrival of their Messiah to Machecoul, his steed needed to look well kept and groomed. Besides, Snowball wouldn't let any of the stablehands near her.

"The rider better appear well kept and groomed as his steed." Drolta sneered. "Go find your mother and then take a bath. You reek." She didn't bother him more, and he was glad of it; grooming Snowball gave him more time to collect his thoughts and steel himself for the punishment he knew awaited him. Twice he let the Nephilim escape, and twice he allowed her friends mercy.

If Erzsebet knew, she would maim him herself.

"You're fumbling, Shaft." he muttered to himself, stabling Snowball who gently nosed his cheek. "I'll be back. Don't roll and dirty yourself or Drolta will have both our hides." Snowball whinnied as if in agreement.

Despite the dread in his heart, Shaft entered the lavish bedroom in bravery and dignity, head held high steadying his breath. He found Erszebet standing on the balcony admiring the moon.

"You've returned, my son." She had his back to him, so Shaft couldn't determine if she was angry at him.

"Soon we will force our father, Amun-Ra, the Sun,down on his knees to grovel in the mud for mercy." Erzsebet bared her teeth in a leonine growl. "But there will be no fucking mercy. I will cut off his head and suck out his brains and spit them into the dust. They've always worshiped him.My father. The fucking Sun. Since they crawled out of caves, mortals have adored him, because they are afraid of the dark. Soon there will be only darkness. And terror will be all they know."

"For now though, Mother,the nights are short this far north. We still have time." Shaft mentioned. When Erzsebet turned around to meet him no anger or disgust showed in her eyes, only her usual complacent. "My son, you are troubled." Erzsebet noticed. "What worries you?"

"I failed you once more." Shaft knelt to her feet. "I didn't capture the Nephilim."

"I see."

"Forgive me." He closed his eyes, waiting for claws to burn his face. Instead, he felt a gentle brush on his cheek.

"Rise, my son. All is well"

Shaft rose, blinking startled.

"I do not need the Nephilim to fulfill my plans. I will drink her blood when all is finished. You are more important to me than she is."

"Oh." Shaft murmured.

"Tonight you will ride with me into Machecoul, those human rats will grovel at our feet!"

"They will." Shaft was about to leave when Erzsebet turned to the moon again. "Mother?"

"Yes, my son?"

"I am troubled." Shaft admitted. "There's a reason the Nephilim escaped the second time."

Erzsebet's hackles rose with a suspicious flicker in her eyes. "Pray tell."

"I had her by my claws, and I was about to subdue her, when she revealed something unthinkable." His heart raced and he looked down. "She claimed she was my mother."

"I am your mother." Erzsebet stated with an edge in her voice.

"Of course!"Shaft exclaimed. "Of course, I meant it as..." He cautiously chose his words. "She's the mother who gave me my first life."

"What a ridiculous notion." Erzsebet said flippantly.

"That's what I thought too." Shaft tensed. "But then I noticed....there's a resemblance between us. She has my eyes, and others have noticed-."