Castlevania Nocturne: A Sneak Peak

Sneak Peak: Three Generations

Ammit's jaws caught Annette's shield. Her fangs locked onto the divine metal as Annette swung it round, knocking the beast asunder with a crash. The Devourer rose onto her claws unwinded and undaunted, bellowing an angry roar. She charged against the shield again, nearly knocking Annette down. Ammit's claws scrabbled against the iron, her teeth gripping the frame. Annette held her ground firm and unyielding like the earth beneath her feet, but even earth gave way under pressure.

Annette felt her own spirit tiring. She could only hold up against the beast for so long. She mustered her strength striking Ammit's snapping jaws and swiping paws. Annette would hold firm. She would not give in.

                                                                     ......

Emma never imagined she'd be fighting alongside her son. Yet here she was, slicing down vampires blasting her enemies apart with holy light beside the cleave and strike of Lyudmil's Damascus sword. Her heart nearly stopped when his blade gleamed with divine runes and he disintegrated a vampire cleaving its body in half.

"I'm so happy you can do Arcane magic. When did you figure that out?"

"I discovered it soon after you left." Lyudmil cleaned the blade. "It's a long story."

More vampires attacked. Mother and son stood their ground, baring their gleaming swords with fire in their eyes.

"We could use some backup." Emma snarled, hoping a few angels would come their way.

"I'm on it." Lyudmil drew a circle with his index and pointer finger before drawing them to his mouth in a whistle. An enormous mastiff lunged from the portal, ripping apart the vampires with his fangs.

Lydumil opened another circle and whistled again. Out charged a great ram trampling enemies and tossing them in the air for Aktinos to slice asunder. The animals heeled to their master's side. The dog snarled in a thunderous growl, and the ram pawed his bloodied hoof.

Emma couldn't help the tears as she smiled at her son. "Whistling helps me command them better." Lyudmil informed modestly. A small blush crept on his cheeks.

A sharp cry drew their attention away. Down another street, cultist vampires cornered a group of humans against a small barricade.

Emma and Lyudmil cut them down from behind while the humans shot from the windows above. Emma's body shuddered, but again Bastet's soul calmed her, and she finished off the remaining vampires. She looked up at Robespierre on top of the barricade. For a moment the French commander mistook Emma for her father, then he saw the silver glimmer in her eyes, and the badges on her cloak. An American! An ally!

"Vive la Révolution!" Robespierre raised his fist.

"Vive la Révolution!"Emma bellowed, the intensity of her divine voice roused the soldiers' spirits.

The dog familiar tore a vampire's throat out. The ram trampled another flat. "Vive la Révolution." Lyudmil shrugged his shoulders just happy to be part of it.

A black shape darted across the sky, followed by a bolt of red lightning. Far above the city streets, Alucard dueled Drolta. Emma caught their battle with the sharpness of her eyes. "Father!" Even from this distance she saw he struggled to hold up against her.

"We need to help him!" Lyudmil snarled bearing his sword. Emma gritted her fangs trying to spread her wings. She couldn't fly to him, the gunshot injury hurt raw. Rage filled her heart and Bastet's soul. The goddess nudged her in the opposite direction where a red and orange light burned.

"We must find Erzsebet first." Emma grimaced reluctantly. "Sekhmet needs us." Lyudmil detected the subtle change in Emma's tone in the latter statement

"Bastet." Lyudmil growled. "She isn't controlling you is she?"

"No. More like guiding me and lending a helping hand." Emma clutched Lyudmil's hands. "Not to worry dear, I'm always in control."

Lyudmil nodded and followed her.