Castlevania Nocturne: A Sneak Peak

Sneak Peak: Know Thyself

Lyudmil hated feeling useless.

He wished he could do more to comfort both his grandmother and Maria, who brooded together in the shed, mourning Tera's loss. He knew the young vampire made the right choice in leaving Maria. Tera was too dangerous to be around her daughter during this period of her immortal life, but there would be a time where she'd find herself and it would be safe for both of them.

And Tera was not alone . Vance would guide and protect her. Lyudmil already saw the budding affection between the two. Tera would be fine. Yet, when he tried to tell that to Amalie and Maria, it didn't lighten their mood.

"Best to leave them be for right now." advised Juste.

Lyudmil merely grumbled and summoned Snowball.

"Where are you going?" Juste watched him saddle up.

"I need time to think." Lyudmil held the reins. And perhaps hunt, though he didn't tell Juste that.

"Be careful Lydumil." Juste advised.

Lyudmil nodded and spurred off.

It felt liberating to gallop under the moonlight again, with the wind on his face and the starlight under his skin. Snowball's hooves thundered over the land as Lyudmil searched for prey. He'd grown tired of drinking bottled blood and yearned for something fresh. Something with a beating heart.

A song caught on in the wind. A mournful requiem. Lyudmil turned his horse towards the island on the lake, the chateau's lights flickered and the night creatures stood among the gardens. From this distance Lyudmil could see and hear Eduoard keening among his night creature brethren. The surrounding beasts groaned and howled, their cries punctuated Eduoard's lament.

"Morning their forgemaster no doubt." Lyudmil bared his teeth, catching sight of Erszebet watching them disgusted on the chateau balcony. As much as he detested her for taking everything from him, Lyudmil wanted to get a closer look. At least gauge what she was doing. He crept to the bank of the lake, concealing himself and Snowball behind the brush. Lyudmil summoned a small snake that coiled around him, flicking its tongue at him.

"Protect me if anything." Lyudmil patted Snowball's muzzle. Through the eyes and mind of the snake, he slithered down the bank and and swam across the water, creeping through the brush until he grew close to the pack of night creatures. There were so many of them! Much more than the last time! Erzsebet had amassed a true army of demons, and at a single command they would march onto Paris.

An army of demons and vampires led by a mad goddess. He feared for his mother and grandfather above all else.

The snake's senses gave him an enhanced perspective. He could taste the sulfur of the night creatures and smell their grief. Their heat blazed golden in his serpent' vision as he snuck through the bushes, creeping close to being near Eduoard's feet. The Frozen Shade stood near him, and the snake avoided her, deterred by her frost and the dim light of her cold. Yet, from the flicker of his tongue, Lyudmil sensed she was crying.

"Why do you sing?"Capt. Darcy asked after Eduoard finished. The other night the creature walked at the edge of the gardens, brushing his claws through the shrubs as he passed. Lyudmil coiled beneath his shadow, cautiously flicking his tongue.

"Because then I am free. And so is everyone who wishes to listen."

" But we're not free. And if you keep singing, they will cut out your tongue." Capt.Darcy warned

Eduoard glinted at her with a knowing smile. "Then we should all sing together and cut off their heads." The snake watched the two night creatures gaze at each other with a spark of rebellion in their eyes.

"Soon, my friend." Eduoard said quietly, seemingly to no one. "We will march, but there is more than one snake in our ranks." He locked an eye on the tiny serpent hiding by the roots.

Lyudmil flicked his tongue. How the bloody hell does he keep finding me!? He slithered away, crossing the water back to his body.

"Thank you." Lyudmil pet the snake as it coiled around his wrist like a bracelet. He set the creature down and sent it back to its realm. "It seems our renegade night creature has turned some of the night creatures against her." But would it be enough?