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

Prodigal Son

Emma and the priest watched the eclipse with dread. It had already gone past the normal duration of totality, though they already  presumed dark forces were at work.

"It's Erzsebet." Emma snarled, gritting her fangs. "She's finally blocked the sun."

"God help us all." Peter gasped.

Upstairs, Vance observed the eclipse with scrutinizing eyes. Vampires are flocking from all over the region, rejoicing in the eternal night!

And my family at their mercy. Emma shivered from the cold of the eclipse, and the thought of her those who she loved entering the fray beneath the darkness. Her own mother who lay imprisoned.

There's nothing you can do Emma.

I know. Emma huffed. I wish it were otherwise. Damn this wound!  Emma told Peter to wait in the living room and alert her when the carriage arrived. "Don't open the door for anyone."

Peter nodded, sitting on the couch. "I will continue to pray."

"Not a bad idea." Emma agreed and went upstairs to do her final packing. " I hate this." She cried to Vance. "It feels like I'm abandoning them."

"You're not abandoning anyone." Vance comforted her, helping her. "You're staying safe so you can fight another day, and giving your family that peace of mind."

"I know." Emma sighed, clutching her abdomen. "Can you help me get the luggage downstairs?"

"Of course." Vance blinked, nuzzling Emma's forehead. "I'm here for you Em, whatever happens."

"Thank you Vance." Emma thrummed despite the pain it gave. She hoped Lyudmil  was fine, wherever he was. Presumably at Erzsebet's side, acting the role of a loyal servant. Oh my son......

                                                                                     ........

Lyudmil lost his pursuers in the woods.

He knew better than to lead a slew of vampires to his wounded mother. He diverted off the road and lured them through the forest on horseback, quietly stalking through the trees. Lyudmil recognized the signs now. As the vampires gained on him, he led them to clearings smelling faintly of blood, and trees with telltale shimmer in their branches. One by one Erzsebet's cronies fell to snares and pitfalls. Screaming and thrashing to their gristly deaths. Lyudmil evaded them with wily pride.

Lyudmil patted  Snowball's neck. The horse snorted, turning her head towards the hill of stones.  He returned to the road, trotting under the eclipse. His neck throbbed and bruised from the bite.

All this time, she kept me around only for the moment she needed me. Afterwards, he meant nothing to her. Over two centuries of loyalty only to be discarded like chewed bones.

"I'll make her pay." Lyudmil swore angrily.

Lyudmil came upon the road leading to Amalie and Tera's houses. Snowball tossed her head nervously, Lyudmil sensed it too. Divine magic protected these lands, intensifying  each step forward. "The angel's wards." He remembered them from the castle far away, meant to repel dark forces like vampires and demons.  "It's not entirely fullproof." His grandmother had told him. "If an enemy's desperate enough, they can barrel  right through, but it'll hurt like a bitch."

He braced himself for more pain.

Lyudmil entered the field marking the edge of the barrier. Snowball refused to move closer in fear for her rider.If Lyudmil stepped further, it would repel him. He gripped the reins, backing her up several lengths. Snowball whinnied nervously.