Castlevania: Dark side of the moon

A taste of the past

Sleeping next to Sypha was incredibly comforting. Of course, she didn't come to the tent until after dinner, but when she lay down next to me, I closed my eyes with a peace I hadn't felt since losing my family. The smell of her hair and her mere presence. Well, of course I loved my father deeply, but I was completely in love with my mother.

I idolized her, she was God in heaven and me on earth. It was always hard for me to be away from her, but I knew she liked to travel with Dad and I didn't want to stop her going in the past.

So being with her now, even if it's not really her, is wonderful and for the first time I slept without nightmares because I didn't wake up with tears in my eyes. Whenever it was Dad who traveled to hunt monsters and it was her turn to look after me, we would sleep together in their double bed as we do now and I would snuggle up to her.

I noticed that I hugged her like before only when I woke up, and thank God I woke up first, she would have found that strange. Sypha was still asleep, so no problem. She shouldn't have thought I was strange because I was out too.

So I managed to wake up early and in some kind of mood and decided to prepare breakfast. When I came out of the tent, I noticed that a fire had already been lit, the cooking utensils separated on a huge stone that looked like a round table and Alucard was awake to prepare something for us to eat. Fish skewers again? Trevor is robust, he needs broth and more substance. During the day and at sunrise, I noticed the pieces of monster bodies scattered around us that were Dante's work yesterday.

"I can make breakfast. " I commented to Alucard and rolled up the sleeves of my simple dress. "Trevor brought some rabbits yesterday. We still have carrots and some dried herbs and two tomatoes. I could make a stew for a change.

Adrian arched a golden eyebrow at me and studied the two rabbits Trevor had brought.

"I'll clean them and skin them for you. " Adrian only said that.

"You don't have to. " I said calmly. "I'll do it. You can go and rest.

Adrian just nodded and went over to a long fallen tree trunk that was almost like a bench on the ground.

I walked over to the stone on which he had sorted his things. I grabbed a kitchen knife and headed for Trevor's rabbits. He had gone hunting last night because he probably wanted rabbit stew, but when he arrived, Alucard had already made the fish skewers and I think Trevor was embarrassed to ask for stew.

I took one of the rabbits tied by its hind legs and placed it upside down on a tree branch and started skinning it. After removing their fluffy skins and separating them because they could be useful later. I opened the cut from its private part to the sternum. It's a small animal, it's not that difficult and with my hand I pulled out the viscera and the intestine, taking care not to damage the intestine or contaminate the meat.

I noticed that I was being watched by eyes other than Alucard. I saw Trevor studying me, looking horrified.

"How did you learn to clean rabbits so well, brat?

"My father taught me. " I replied, bragging and smiling. I can still smile, it seems. "I'm going to make a stew. I suppose I should have asked you first, since the rabbits are yours... but I got tired of eating fish. I wanted something hot and greasier, you know?

Trevor looked at me and just nodded.

"You can use it then. " Dad replied. "Do you want me to clean them for you?

"No, I'll do it myself," I managed to say. "I won't damage the meat, I promise.

"I see you do have the experience, I'll leave it to you then." Trevor said, unfathomable, but in his own way, kind.

"The stew will be good. My father always liked to eat fatty foods and broth, he drank a lot so it helped with his hangover. I'm a good cook, modesty aside. But after I've finished, I'll let you draw your own conclusions. You can go and rest."

Trevor nodded his head yes. A little treat of mine has always been cooking for my mom and dad. How nice that I can do it again. It makes me happy and my heart feels like it's going to jump out of my chest. I thought I'd never feel like this again in my life.

...

By the time I'd finished the stew, Sypha had gotten up and so had Dante. Everyone was staring at me in horror and I noticed that it was because of the blood spatter on my dress. Oh, what the hell. It's just a bit of blood.

I just ignored it and took the clay bowls and served the stew to them all.

Dad ate two bowls. I was happy. He never paid compliments, but eating a lot was a good sign.

"Who would have thought that a noble lady could cook so well?" Sypha said, studying me and nodding approvingly. "It's very good. Adrian, apparently you have competition.

My heart felt like it had been stabbed, but at the same time it felt like a wound had also healed. Yes, just like in the past. My father only ate a lot and it was my mother who praised me. Even though they're not even together yet and they're not the versions I knew... It's funny that it repeats itself and somehow the young ones still have the characteristics of the older ones I knew.

"Do you want to take a bath ?" Dante offered.

"No." I managed to say, a few tears streaming down my face at the sight of my parents eating my food again, but I wiped them away quickly. "Unless you think I need it. But I feel as clean as ever. I don't need to shower. " I managed to say.

"Good. " he said. "The stew was also delicious and very well seasoned.

"Thank you, Dante. " I thanked him for everything. For saving me from Cain, for introducing me to the mirror and for helping me, even when I didn't deserve it. The price of my worthless soul is small compared to what he did for me.

I need to wash the objects I've used. Yes, I need to take care of my parents like this. I may not be the warrior or Belmont they need, but at least I can make their lives a little better.

"I'll wash the utensils when you've finished eating." I said again.

I felt everyone's surprised gaze on me and even Dante's. Of course, he knew me as Cain's wife and the queen of monsters. But even though I was very spoiled by my parents, I helped them as much as I could at home. And well, hunting, cleaning game and cooking for my family was something I had as an obligation before, but now it's my only happiness.

...

While I was washing the clay bowls and spoons in the pond, Adrian knelt down next to me and took the heavy cauldron from the bucket I had used to bring the cooking utensils, he poured some sand into it and started scrubbing the cauldron where I had made the stew. The sand helped a lot to remove the remnants of dirt and then it was just a matter of rinsing with water.

"I told you I'd wash it... " I protested.

"That's heavy for you. " he replied, unfathomable. "You don't have to do any of this to prove your worth. Even if you can't fight, your protector can, and he's already a great help on the road to Dracula.

"I like it. " I managed to say. "It's been a long time since I felt this useful and happy."

Adrian assessed me for several minutes.

"I'll leave the meals up to you. " He said after a while, still looking me in the eye. "If it makes you so happy, then do it. But if you need help, ask."

I nodded my head yes.