Castlevania Nocturne: A Sneak Peak

Sneak Peak: A Short Homecoming

Machecoul was a ghost town. The streets were empty, the windows shattered, and an eerie quiet hung over the town like a layer of dust. I held my staff close as I accompanied Maria and Mizrak through the streets. Cutting through town was the quickest way of getting to our houses for supplies.

Erzsebet's eclipse brand marked various houses throughout town, and whoever remained outside glared us down when we passed. The sooner we left, the better.

"Cheerful mood." I murmured, passing the butcher's stand. "Louise! How's little Toulouse doing with his cough?" Louise gave me a scornful look before chopping a hunk of meat.

I sighed and kept moving."Fourteen years down the drain ." I shook my head.
It wasn't just me getting the stink eye; the townspeople darted looks at Maria and Mizrak too. Erzsebet and her boot-licking abbot successfully turned them against us. Soon, I feared it wouldn't be just night creatures and vampires we'd have to worry about.

"I can't believe it. I've known these people all my life." Maria observed, hanging close to me.

"Humans are like that sometimes." I shrugged. A man raised his pitchfork, nearly setting us both on him with our magic, but Mizrak stayed our hands. "God bless you brother." He waved at the man, who lowered his pitchfork.

"You don't still believe in your God?" Maria asked skeptically.

"Of course I still do." said Mizrak. "And why else would she be here?" He gestured to me.

"He does have a point." I shrugged my shoulders. A couple with their toddler walked down the street, and the little one happily bolted for me only to be scooped up by his mother. "Witch." She muttered under her breath glaring daggers at me.

I sighed and kept moving. At least children saw the truth.

"Forgive them, your Grace. They do not know." Mizrak sympathized.

"It wouldn't make a difference if they did." I said. "I'm a Watcher. And my name's Amalie, remember?" Tiny claws pricked my skin "Stop moving in there." I warned the bat wriggling in my pocket.

This is humiliating. Lyudmil grumbled. Why do I have to hide in here?

"Because people already recognize you, and we're getting enough stink eyes . If they see you with us, we'll get more than just bad looks."

If they attack, I'll kill them. my pocket chatted. I'm famished.

"That's why we're stopping at the house." I whispered. "To stock up on bottled blood."

What about the knight? I can eat him. Nice and fresh."

"No." I scolded.

Fine.

I inhaled watching an angry mob making its way down the street, pitchforks and all. They were heading toward the National Guard's camp.

What's going on out there?

"The townsfolk are none to happy about the Revolutionary Army camping out on their
doorstep." I observed.

They'll get themselves killed.

"Maybe." I wondered.

Maria was just as enthusiastic about helping them as I was. "I tried to warn them, but the captain of the National Guard is an insufferable, ignorant sow."

Mizrak chuckled and asked if I would go to the soldiers' aid. "After they mistreated my daughter? Hell no." I turned my head seeing a lady whispering to a pair of armed guards, pointing to us. Mizrak caught it too. "If you want the supplies from your houses, we need to move fast."