Castlevania: Awakening

Chapter 16

The entire area was drenched in a cleansing light. It was as though the dark shades of the forest had been washed in white radiance.
The clearing was now entirely still. There were no sounds of battle, metal clashing against steel. No shouts or hideous screams could be heard.
There was not a whisper, not a breath; the air itself seemed dead and non-existent.

Laeleth stood in the center of the stone circle; tall and straight as a statue.
A gentle glow illuminated her skin as she continued to hold the sapphire gem heavenwards.
Her eyes opened slowly as the effect dissipated and she lowered her arm. She gazed at the amulet in her open palm as one who is in a dream.
The gem was undeniably alive with an ethereal light. The sapphire appeared as a burning star; the blue of the stone fluid and pulsating like a flame.
Its heat clearly radiated throughout her hand.

Her breathing was slow and deep as she recovered from the intense force that had possessed her.
Once again Laeleth felt as though it was entirely natural when it happened, but now that it was over she could not recall any thought or feeling when it had consumed her. All she knew was that she had withstood its power this time.
Was she beginning to understand it? Could it be mastered?

But there was no time to consider this any longer as she realized that Laevon and Gabriel were not in sight. Reality hit her like a resounding blow to the chest as a feeling of panic and dread crept over her.
Tucking the gem back into the lacings of her shirt she hurriedly surveyed the empty glade.
Once more the ground was scorched around her in a halo of black char.
Zobek had disappeared as quickly as he had come. It was as though he had only been a phantom.
Laevon was also nowhere to be seen and this alarmed her greatly.
Had Zobek taken him? Had the effect of the Heaven’s Flame harmed him in any way?

Laeleth was now distraught and gazed over at where the recent struggle had taken place with Gabriel and the brutish creatures.  It was no surprise that Gabriel was no longer there, but the evidence of the fight remained.
Mangled corpses were piled upon each other in an indiscernible number. Their bodies were covered in gaping wounds. Rancid blood seeped from the cuts and stained the ground in a revolting pool. The stench that rose from their oozing flesh made Laeleth’s head reel and she covered her mouth.

She turned away hastily and began to walk around the glade.
As she passed Ezareth’s tomb she was tempted to reenter it. Perhaps there was something she had missed besides the stone? She knew that Zobek had the relic and it was impossible to get it from him.
But Father Nicholas had sent her here. Had it only been for the gem of Fate?
Had the old priest desired her to use it to defeat the evil that Zobek presented?

Laeleth cautiously began to venture into the darkened crypt when she felt a change in the air around her. Her skin prickled as the odd sensation of being watched rushed over her.
She spun around quickly and nearly collided with Gabriel.
She inhaled sharply as she attempted to suppress a startled cry. Laeleth was shocked yet relieved that it was not Zobek as she had just now feared.

Gabriel could see how his presence had surprised her and his grave expression softened.
“Forgive me, Laeleth. I did not mean to alarm you.” His voice was low and reassuring and she suddenly felt her cares dissipating.
His eyes had resumed the new shade of violet now that he was no longer enraged.

In this moment of relief she embraced him earnestly and without a word.
Gabriel held her closely, but then drew back. He seemed anxious as he studied her face, recalling the last time she had been possessed by that light.
“Are you all right, Laeleth? Have you been harmed in any way?” he asked with a look of concern.

She shook her head and smiled slightly up at him. “I am fine, Gabriel.”

He kissed her forehead briefly and Laeleth could see that her words had encouraged him.
She noticed something different about him, something that surprised her.
There were no blood stains about his mouth and beard.
He had chosen not to drink from those unsightly monsters. The change she had witnessed in him only that morning had remained.