Castlevania: Awakening

Chapter 13

Darkness ...

Empty blackness surrounded her as it seemed she was viewing this endless night with eyes wide open - even though they were tightly shut.
It had lasted all of an eternity, and yet only a fraction of a moment.

Her mind began to return to the present as her senses were slowly reawakened.
Frail daylight tried to pry open her resistant eyelids.
She felt a cold hand on her forehead, another gently grasping her own.
She heard a voice. At first it sounded faint and distant, but then became more intense and full.

“Laeleth …”
“Laeleth … Laeleth …”
She recognized it as Gabriel’s voice.

Her eyes fluttered open and she gazed up into his face, etched with fear and agony.
She had never quite seen him like this before.

“Laeleth!” his voice faltered as he held her up to him.
She smiled faintly to herself as her body relaxed into his.
He was alive! He was not harmed as she had thought.

He smelled of blood and sulfur and his robe was heavily stained in it. The strong scent stung her nose, but she was too weak to care.
There were dark stains around his mouth and beard as well. She knew without a doubt it was not from any injury. He would have appeared a frightful monster to anyone except for Laeleth.
But she could clearly see the fearful look in his blazing eyes and knew that he had been terribly afraid for her.

After what seemed like only a moment, Gabriel eased away from her; his protective grip loosening only slightly.
“Laeleth, forgive me,” he spoke regretfully, “I should not have left you alone.”
His expression was tragic and her heart went out to him.

Laeleth lifted her hand weakly and caressed his cheek gently, “Don’t,” she whispered, “I do not blame you.”
Her heart was so full she could hardly speak or remember all that it had meant.
She could only recall everything up until the point of collapsing from the overwhelming force.

Laeleth closed her eyes again in reflection as she tried to understand once more the power that had so strangely possessed her.

Gabriel did not stir as he held her gently and allowed her this respite.
He had been rather concerned when he found her and he was now simply relieved to know that she was unharmed.

“What happened, Gabriel?” Laeleth asked after awhile as she reopened her eyes. She attempted to sit up as she clung to the lapel of Gabriel’s coat.
He eased her up and helped her rest against one of the trees in the clearing.

Once she was settled more comfortably Laeleth glanced around and saw the devastation surrounding her.
The ground was scorched and a large, dark halo surrounded them where the earth had been blackened.
The entire area was still as the frightful shrieks and howls she had heard were all silenced.

Gabriel knelt beside her as he watched her closely. He was not entirely sure himself of all that had transpired when he had departed.

“It was midnight,” he began to explain in a low tone as he recalled it.
“There was a roaming group of vampire-like creatures - at least eleven in number including their leader.
I know not where they came from as there were no traces of them when we made our camp. They appeared suddenly and surrounded the clearing.”

He paused here as though he were remembering something that surprised or upset him.
“They had no fear of me,” he spoke more quietly as if to himself.
There had never been a creature of darkness he had encountered that did not respect or fear his dreadful and commanding power.

He began again in a heavier tone as the recollection became more difficult.
“When they attacked, Fantoma fled immediately. I was unable to stop him. Their gruesome leader had terrorized him beyond consoling.”