Servant To A Zealous Master

CHAPTER 10

Silently, we depart camp. Our next stop, Dracula's castle. It's situated on top of a treacherous mountain, which means we have to climb to reach it. It's a tricky ascent, made more so by the many tiny goblin things, with big butcher blades. But they mostly prove only to be a nuisance, as we make our way to the top.

It isn't long before we stand in front of the monolithic fortress and enter within. It seems Dracula doesn't bar his door, as he lets those foolish enough to step into the lion's den to do just that and we're just such fools.

The interior is mostly sparse, with bits of décor, scattered about. Many different styles, from many different eras. Dracula, it would seem, is an avid lover of art. It's just the people who made it, that he doesn't care for.

More important though, are the two rows of armor, also from various time periods, that line either side of the entryway. So, it's no surprise when they start walking on their own. My master takes the front, Alucard directly behind him, I'm just to the side along with Sypha.

Alucard dashes forward taking on the metallic menace. He knows his sword will be of little use against the armor, but he has another trick up his sleeve. He summons a suit of armor and brandishes a mean looking ax, which he uses to crack and crush the bits of metallic outerwear, yet there's no blood. And I soon find out why.

Using the armor breaking ax I'm able to open the tin can before me. It's empty, save for a spirit which departs once it's freed. Thus we go about defeating our current foes, after which Alucard dismisses his summons and is no longer encased in metal. As such, we continue on.

I'm not certain what happens next exactly, but I do know that the room we entered had a solid floor to stand upon. But it vanished once we're all gathered inside. And we fall into the dark recess of the castle. That is myself and my master, as both Sypha and Alucard can fly and thus are able to bring us gently to the floor, since the way up is cut off.

We're now in a dungeon, complete with torture devices and cells for holding people. But all of this is only visible during the brief moment before the floor above us materializes and blocks out all the light.

"Alucard?," a voice in the surrounding darkness speaks. "Sypha? Is that really you?"

The sorceress uses her magic to create a flame, which allows us just enough light to see, but not clearly. Though it does reveal a man who looks a bit beleaguered.

"Grant, is that you?" Sypha asks of the man now uncovered.

He nods weakly.

"How are you still alive?" Sypha queries.

"I could ask the same of you," Grant returns. "It's been just as long for me as it has for you."

"Yes, but I am a descendant from immortals," Sypha explains. "Or so they say; but what about you?"

"You're looking at a failed thief who earned Dracula's ire," Grant educates us. "And was cursed with immortality."

"That doesn't sound so bad," Sypha points out.

"It is when you live in a perpetual cycle of death and rebirth," Grant corrects her assumption.

Sypha looks at her old companion, and his face starts wrinkling before her eyes. It seems that the cycle is already in full swing.

"Don't worry," she assures him. "We'll get you out." She looks to me and I know what she wants without her even having to act.

I raise the ax and bring it down on the antiquated, yet strong, lock. But since it had been manifested by the dark forces, the edge slices right through it, like it's made of paper.