Castlevania Nocturne: A Sneak Peak

Sneak Peak: Grenadye Alaso

Richer and Alucard watched transfixed at Annette levitating in their midst.

"My three souls must be rejoined and the cosmic balance restored." Annette proclaimed with another's intent. She radiated an unearthly light, and a divine power resonated from her body.

"You're Sekhmet." Richter froze.

"That I am." said the goddess with Annette's voice. Sekhmet's presence had transformed the body of her host. Annette wore a regal red ceremonial dress with elongated braids and golden jewelry. She looked like an Egyptian queen returned to the world. "Though this mortal vessel might be too fragile for the souls of a god."

Richter suppressed the knot in his stomach as he followed Alucard and Sekhmet into the street. "She's strong. Annette is strong. Stronger than anyone." He kept telling himself. The sky glowed blood red as the eclipse blackened the sun. Soldiers rushed to their positions. A military drumbeat played in the distance.

"It's changed, this Earth. Grown noisy and cold." observed Sekhmet. Unlike her sister, she hadn't watched the world change through the eyes of a living vessel. The change was jarring to her, though she wouldn't admit it.

They passed Robespierre ordering his volunteer soldiers. "You men, over there behind the barricades. You men, with me. And remember, above all, hold the lines." He gave a quick look at Alucard and nodded. Alucard nodded back with a blink.

"She'll be more powerful than ever, won't she? Erzsebet. With two ancient Egyptian god souls." Richter asked Alucard when they moved on.

"Let's hope this third one is their match." Alucard said.

"What if I can't bring her back?"

Alucard patted Richter's shoulder with a sympathetic look before departing. His regained sword swished at his side and floated along with its master.

                                                                                   .......

In the Duat, Annette bore her shield and machete facing the snarling beast. Ammit crouched baring her slavering jaws. None had ever escaped her wrath. The Devourer charged Annette in a savage roar.

                                                                                   ....

The horn blared across the Palace of Versailles. Emma's heart shuddered at its intensity; her blood stirred in a restless fury. "The horn of war." said Jocasta as they stood in the Hall of Mirrors. "It hasn't been blown in millennia. It calls us to battle." She touched Emma's shoulder. "Are you ready for this?"

Emma looked at the angel full of certainty. "I am."

The horn blew again, rallying the angels to the royal courtyard. Jocasta headed outside, leaving Emma alone in the hall. The blood red sky reflected an eerie gleam on the mirror. Emma felt she stood in a twisted parallel world.

"This is it." She sighed, looking at herself in the mirror. Armor from Heaven glinted beneath her cloak, comfortable but protective. The color returned to her face, and her golden eyes held the intensity of a lioness on the hunt. She wasn't fibbing to Jocasta, she was ready in heart and soul.

Though it wasn't only her soul.

Her vision shifted grey as Emma called upon Bastet within her.

"I need you."

A small golden light flickered in her chest; a dying ember grew into a flame at her call. A warm motherly presence enveloped Emma like her mother's hugs. I am here.

"Let's do this together. As one." Her symbiosis with Bastet would be a partnership, not an exploitation of one soul over another's like Erzsebet. They would fight together with Emma taking the helm and Bastet giving her extra strength when needed.

Aktinos gleamed the light. The Eye of Ra shone in Emma's right eye.

Emma joined the angels in the courtyard, finding herself among a sea of dazzling wings. Enoch bellowed at the head, raising his divine Glave. Though he spoke in the angelic language, Emma knew a mustering speech when she heard one. The angels raised their weapons and voices in a rallying cry. Emma held up her sword and screamed with them.

Jocasta raised her musket. "Today we will discover what our God in Heaven has in store! Rise my angels! Fly together for the Dawn and the Light! Out of many, we are one!!" She shot Emma a wink.

Emma smiled back.

"Enoch wants you at his side." Enoch nudged. Emma nodded and moved towards the commander. Their founder did not conceal his armor beneath human clothes like the others but shone like an archangel of yore. He blew the horn the final time, making Emma cover her ears. Even with the foam stuffed in her ears, the horn was loud at close range. Canons are quieter. Emma thought reassured.

At Enoch's signal, the angels of France took to the sky . Enoch held the lead as their founder and commander. Emma flanked his right head, Eli on his left. Jocasta, Emile, and the Egyptians soared directly behind them

Emma glanced behind her at the massive shimmering choir. Out of many, one. There was hope. 

                                                                        ........

Erzsebet Bathory marched into Paris riding golden chariot, leading a massive army of devout vampires, cultists, and night creatures. She no longer appeared like a vampire, but a leonine monster resembling a humanoid shape. Drolta soared above like a carrion drawn to death. The night creatures marched at the rear.

Eduoard stepped alongside his fellows; Jacques, Toothy, Captain Darcy and her army. The multi-armed night creature shambled at the edge, like a sheep-dog herding its flock, keeping everyone in line.

Eduoard knew his kindred were anything but sheep to be goaded.

"I remember a song we sang in Saint-Domingue when we burned the plantations. A song in the language of the slaves." He spoke to Capt. Darcy. "Grenadye alaso. Sa ki mouri zafè a yo. Soldiers, attack. Those who die, so what?" Without fear, he sang the Song of Rebellion.