Castlevania Nocturne: A Sneak Peak

Sneak Peak: Conclave

Emma and Jocasta followed the crowd of angels into the great chapel. Where once the king and his court worshiped and celebrated was now host to the true divine forces in this mortal realm. Angels took seats among the pews, while others stood on the second floor overlooking the balcony.

"Fitting that a church is the gathering place of an angelic conclave." Emma remarked to Jocasta, looking up mesmerized at the chapel ceiling; a brilliantly painted with heavenly angels watching them below. With the painted angels above and their living counterparts occupying the church's sacred space, Emma felt as if she were in a dream.

"Fitting indeed." Jocasta waved her fan. "It's the largest room that can accommodate everyone. Over fifty delegates in person. Usually conclaves have some attending  remotely using distant mirrors. Not this one, attendance is mandatory for all members in France. The situation is dire."

Emma took a deep breath, discreetly scanning for Enoch among the gathering mal'akh.

"Sit here Emma." Jocasta ushered her to the front pew, the altar and pipe organ a few feet in front of her. " We need you up front. You are the representative of Machecoul in your mother's stead. Emile will call on you during the council. He's going to ask you to describe everything you've seen with Erzsebet."

Emma nodded. "Thanks for letting me know. I'll tell them everything." Next to her on the right, Evie sat with Ardeth. She greeted Emma again and introduced her partner. "Pleasure to meet you Emma." Ardeth happily shook her hand. "I worked with your father a few months ago in Egypt. You're the spitting image of him."

"I get that a lot." Emma smirked with a blush. "At least from those who've met my father." She didn't mention she technically met Ardeth through Alucard's eyes. It wasn't important and she felt no need to point out her vampiric traits.

"Is he here now?" asked Ardeth in his accented voice.

"No, he's in Paris garnering allies." Emma responded.

" I see." remarked Ardeth. "Hopefully we'll meet again soon."

I doubt he feels the same way about you. Emma thought sardonically. "What brings you here all the way from Egypt?"

"A mission to find Bastet." Ardeth revealed, much to Emma's shock.

"The cat goddess." Emma blinked. " Sekhmet's sister. Isn't she dead?

"Dead in body, yes." said Ardeth. "But her spirit lives. Are you familiar with the nature of Egyptian gods? Their souls are divided."

"Yes." replied Emma. "The ba and ka. The blood, and the heart that remain within the mummy.

"There is another." Ardeth pointed out .

"What?" Emma's glyphs prickled sharply. " I thought there were only two."

"No." confirmed Ardeth. "It is the akh,the third soul that returns to the celestial realm after death. Usually it is composed of the ka or ba, but it can live independently from both. Bastet's akh is combined with her ka. A few months ago it spoke to Evie and I through our dreams to seek out her first soul; her ba, which remains in the living world."

Emma's glyphs prickled sharply. "How is that possible? Surely she didn't preserve her blood like her sister did?"

"No." Ardeth dismissed. "She allowed her blood to be drunk by a chosen vessel centuries ago. She never told anyone who it was. Evie and I doubt it still survives, but it is possible that the essence of her soul passed on through the vessel's children if it bred. Perhaps its descendants carry it, and they are in France."