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

The Spellbook

Richter nearly burned Vance alive.

The vampire came running at them, fangs bared and eyes glowing red. Emma had to wrench Richter's arm to keep him from incinerating her old guardian with his newfound power.

"What's happened!? Are you hurt!? Did they harm you!?" Vance checked over Emma like a brooding hen, seething  from her torn clothes. "Where are they? Tell me where the bastards are and I'll shred them to a bloody pulp!!"

"It's all right Vance. I took care of them." Richter smirked, igniting a blue fireball in his palm.

Vance relaxed, the glowing in his eyes replaced by stark wonder. "You've got your magic back."

"He did." Emma smiled proudly. "I always knew he would."

Richter blushed. Vance worried over Emma. "Are you all right? I sprung wide awake from the stark terror and rage from you."

"We were ambushed." Amalie said. "The vampires know the nature of their enemies." She explained all that happened on their return to her house. Vance growled guilt stricken. "Again I failed to protect you." He grimaced. "I'm so sorry Emma."

"It's not your fault." Amalie assured him. "Nobody expected vampires would get as close to the house as they did. With the ward up you'd think they'd be more inclined to stay far away."

"When it comes to these fanatics they'll take their chances." Vance flashed his fangs. "They're lucky Emma was outside of the ward and I wasn't there. If I was, they'd be dead before even laying an eye on her." He growled with a sharp huff. "If they did it once, they'll do it again. They know they can get close now. We need to strike a  blow to our enemies before they attack again."

"You're absolutely right." Amalie agreed. Once everyone returned she would figure a plan.

Emma paused and snarled. "More vampires. In the woods ahead. I see them moving."

"Go home with Vance." Amalie struck her glowing staff. "Richter and I will handle 'em." She winked at the Belmont, who readied his whip.

"Don't get cocky Richter." Emma raised a brow at her adopted son. "You just got your magic back, doesn't make you an expert."

"No worries Mum. I'll be careful." Richter smiled with a wink. Emma blushed, he was joking but also not.

                                       .....

Not far from Amalie's house, Tera gathered clotting moss for Amalie' pharmacy. Maria refused to speak to her mother.

"You'll have to speak to me sooner or later."

Maria summoned her turtle familiar and hopped on its shell as it carried her across the stream.

"You know there are stepping stones right over there."
Maria ignored her.

"I know this is hard for you." Tera continued, struggling. "But if I would have told you, everything would have changed.People would have found out. You would have been the whore's daughter.I knew if he and I kept it secret, we would keep you safe."

Maria turned to her mother, hurt.

"Maria, I loved him. Perhaps if I had insisted he stayed with us and been a father,he wouldn't have betrayed himself like this.........I don't know. I'm sorry, Maria."

They headed to Amalie's, mere feet from the ward when they were attacked. The Marquis's widow, hellbent on avenging her husband, shot at Tera and another slashed its claws.

Tera deflected their attacks with ice shards and fire, Maria jumped to her mother's aid summoning her birds and cat. The feline tore through the neck of one, others were impaled by ice and talons.