Castlevania Nocturne: A Sneak Peak

The Last Sneak Peak: The Next Adventure

Emma's story soon comes to a close, and a new journey begins

      ....

The morning sun rose over the port of Le Havre and under its warming light, Emmaline Țepeș waited at the docks.

She wore a dark coat over a cerulean dress. Her rich golden hair flowed freely in the morning breeze, sunlight caught the white strands.Anyone looking upon her would believe her most beautiful woman alive, even dressed as modestly as she could, but in this moment she was the only person around. The sun crept over the horizon changing the dawn into day. A good time as ever to begin an adventure.

Emma lifted the pocket watch to her face, examining it beneath the lantern light. "Where are you?" she murmured under her breath. "The captain and his crew can only wait for so long." They were all supposed to meet here at 7 am on the dot! Surely they hadn't slept in? She kept a sharp eye out with vision that pierced the dawn ( courtesy of her father's side) only to encounter a dark swirling mist accumulate next to her, forming the shape of a shadowy cloaked vampire.

"At least you're on time." Emma sighed.

"A vampire is never late." boasted Lyudmil. "We always arrive exactly when we're supposed to."

"Tell that to your grandfather." chuffed Emma.

"Grandfather's not entirely vampire." remarked Lyudmil. "Hence, he is late."he nudged his mother. " Don't worry, they'll be here."

"They'd better, or else they'll have to catch up to us on the ship." Emma huffed.

"It's only been 10 minutes."

"Doesn't matter. Late is late." Emma crossed her arms looking up at the ship. "They used to harp on me whenever I didn't arrive on time. God forbid I showed up even two minutes late to your grandfather's lectures , I'd never hear the end of it from him."

"It seems as if they've forgotten to practice what they preach." Lyudmil noted.

"Yes." agreed Emma. "Lost is their own romance. You'll never see more an enamored pair of lovebirds than your own grandparents, Lyudmil. The world and time itself seem to fall away when they're together , especially after being separated for so long."

"How romantic." snickered Lyudmil. Mother and son waited at the docks, watching the crew working about the ship. One man standing high up in the crow's nest waved down at Emma. Emma looked up and waved at the man smiling. "That's Seamus." she explained to her son. "We became good friends on my last voyage. This is the same ship and crew that brought Richter and me to France years ago."

"So I've heard." said Lyudmil. The lift in his mother's spirits today was palpable. "Are you better now, Mother? he wanted to smack himself seeing the smile fade from her face.

"I am." Emma responded quietly. "Yesterday was hard. Saying goodbye to everyone. Especially Vance, he's been with me for as long as I can remember and this is the first time in all my years alive that I'm truly without him."

Lyudmil couldn't shake away the memory of him and his grandparents finding Emma crying in her hotel room in Paris. Vance had given her a private, heartfelt goodbye, promising Emma they would always be together through their familial bond and would see each other again. The rest of the farewells were just as tender. Emma and Amalie smiled through tears as they bid goodbye to Juste, Jocasta, and Maria. At the strike of Notre Dame's bells, the four of them flew off into the sunrise, leaving Paris and closing that chapter of their lives. (Emma's wing had fully healed. Bastet's parting gift.)

The rest of yesterday had been quiet, subdued. They arrived at Le Havre before noon and checked into the hotel. Emma decided to take a walk through town to enjoy the shore beneath her legs before the few months at sea. Lydumil accompanied her. He kept the hood over his eyes so as not to rouse suspicion of a vampire walking unhindered in the sunlight. She was quieter than usual, occasionally remarking about the smell of the sea air or how the docks reminded her of Boston. She wasn't her usual, perky self, but the best thing Lyudmil could do for Emma was to be with her. Emma took tremendous comfort in that

"You'll see him again, Mother." Lyudmil reassured kindly. "Bonded vampires are never truly apart."

At that Emma smiled, holding Lyudmil's hand. She clutched her heart and turned toward the docks.

Alucard and Amalie walked together on the docks, holding hands and basking in each other's company like the old married couple they were. Alucard wore his usual black and white coat and cape while Amalie wore a simple, but pretty white and silver dress under her Glaring Cloak. To Lyudmil they appeared as a proper Lord and Lady. He took immense pride knowing he came from such a regal brood.

"Unbelievable." Emma's smile flattened.

"What?" Alucard asked with a soft pitch in his voice.

"Timeliness is the greatest courtesy, Emmaline Lisa. Tardiness is a disrespect." Emma repeated the words Alucard often spoke to her when she was late for childhood lessons. "You're late."

"We are not." denied Alucard.

Emma held her pocket watch. "It's 7:12." she observed. "We were supposed to meet here and embark at 7:00."

"Oh." Amalie gasped. "It seems as if we lost track of time, Alucard. Don't worry Bee, the ship isn't going to sail off if we're late by a few minutes."

"We might even be too early." Alucard looked at the crew working onboard. "They're still preparing."

"They'll be preparing until they're ready to cast off." shrugged Emma. "I can't believe you two. If the roles were reversed you'd be nagging me until dusk. What were you doing?"

"Admiring our last sunrise in Europe." replied Alucard sentimentally. "It truly was beautiful ,my dear. Worth our morning stroll." He smiled at Amalie.

"Well you could've admired the last sunrise while strolling your way here." Emma crossed her arms.

"We were." said Amalie. "We just lost track of time."

"I was on time, Mom." Lyudmil grinned smugly.

"Yes you were, Lyudmil." Emma patted his shoulder. "Thank you." Lyudmil wanted to laugh at his grandfather's irritated stare. He was going to enjoy catching up on lost time with his family.