Fandom In Endless Night ;; 1 x 1 Castlevania RP ;; malfortuna & lucyfer

[malfortuna]

Jillian could try and appreciate her companions’ efforts to assuage her worries about the village though she was sharing the thought that it was highly likely that the leader of the wolf pack and some of its numbers had opted to pick off more of the village despite promises of safety. There was the inner spark of frustration that flickered briefly inside of her, making her chest feel heavy and her insides feel hot. She would have loved nothing more than to return to the pack she had escaped and tear Mihal’s throat out but there were more pressing matters that she knew she should prioritize before her own personal plight. It would also be unfair to further ask the others to go out of their way and spend time securing the village from the wolves when they had already been so accommodating.

She appeared to look down to her bowl in heavy contemplation. Trevor paused with a spoonful of stew near his lips, having listened to the conversation continue while eating. Blue eyes looked among their party before he slowly slipped his spoon back into the bowl. “Crosses are nice and all but if its werewolves you are protecting yourselves from, tell your watchmen to equip themselves with weapons of silver. You may also wish to grow wolfsbane around your village perimeter. It should dissuade them from approaching too easily.” He glanced briefly towards Johann who’s expertise would probably be more valued and accurate here.

“Oh…” Tally turned her head to her son and he nodded, motioning his empty spoon in their direction and elected to speak for the two of them, “I’ll make sure to spread the word. We certainly appreciate anything that would even the odds against those…” He trailed off, realizing that his adoptive sister was watching him, daring him to choose his next words very carefully, “...Well, we will try to even the odds.”

Jillian managed a soft sigh and just took another bite of her stew, certain that Matthew would at least get one quip in before they left her childhood home.Trevor ate a couple more bites until he found himself scraping at the bottom of the bowl, having eaten his portion. After some more catching up and idle chatter, he stood to assist in gathering the dishes as he was sure to never hear the end of his rude manners from Alucard if he did not offer some polite assistance. Jillian could take the hint and she stood from her seat as well, her smile rueful as she spoke again, “Well, it would be best for us to be on our way. But I am glad to have finally seen you again.” Tally took her cane and used it to stand slowly once more, stepping close to her daughter and giving her a hug.

“And you better make a habit of it,” Tally answered. Jillian was glad in the moment that Tally could not see the brief falling of her expression over her shoulder. When she pulled away she was smiling once again, hands upon her mother’s shoulders. She leaned upwards and pressed their foreheads together, a brief moment of affection she shared with her before she turned to face the others.

“Shall we return to the cart…?”

 

[Lucyfer]

It was clear Jillian was lost in thought over the situation, but it was not one she was willing to attend to. It seemed she really did intend to journey with them to deal with Dracula. Perhaps, after the fact, this Mihal could be dealt with; there would be plenty of monsters to deal with after the fact, what was one more?

Or perhaps they’d find Mihal among Dracula’s guard. Alucard didn’t know him, but things changed rapidly in one year.

Trevor broke the silence by rising to start gathering the bowls, and telling them how best to defend themselves against werewolves – looking to Johann to confirm the information. Johann hummed agreeably, “The smell of wolfsbane will help, but you’ll want to make oils of it. It’s good to coat weapons with, and good as a poison, assuming you can hide the smell well enough. Depending on what you’re using, garlic, cinnamon, and citrus fruits work.”

He cleared his throat, “Though you shouldn’t stop using the other things with Dracula on the march. All of those are effective against the night creatures. You just have to hold out till daylight with them.” Thankfully. Werewolves didn’t quite have that issue, obviously.

Soon enough, they were all done, the chatter shifting from preparations to other thoughts. Dreams of a future, wherein Jillian could visit her family again. Alucard did see the way her expression fell but he would not comment on that as they all prepared to return to the cart, “Yes, let’s,” he agreed, and allowed Johann to lead the way back to the cart, all of them cautious moving through the village lest they spot anyone who would recognize them from last night.

Thankfully, they managed to return without trouble and found Danica tending to the regular horses at the cart alongside the carriage. “We’re back!” Johann called out.

Sulla pawed the ground in agitation, and Marius knocked his head against him. Johann stopped short of drawing too close and Danica chuckled, turning back to the others, “I hope you don’t mind I was giving these horses some extra treats. I think watching Sulla tear into a steak unnerved them,” she chuckled.

“It unnerves me,” Johann muttered.

Alucard shook his head, “Not at all, we haven’t had…opportunity to spoil our horses.” He wasn’t even sure they had names. The Speakers had lent them, and he hadn’t bothered to consider much of their plight beyond being tools that would get them where they needed to go. “I take it you found plenty of supplies?”

“Oh yes!” she agreed, “I even picked up a few special things for after our victory,” she winked, “it ought to last.”

“Oh?” Alucard arched a brow, but she wagged her finger.

“You’ll see!” Danica promised, “but we should get on our way. You know the way to the Belmont manor, so you can take the lead.”

“Sulla’s gonna hate that….” Johann murmured again.

“Does Sulla like anything?” Alucard noted Johann’s constant distress about that one.

“Oh, plenty! He loves hot showers!”

Sypha blinked, surprised, as she took in the information. “Wait, wait, he likes to get wet? He’s…on fire.”

Danica buried her hand in the smokey mane and pressed her face against his neck, “Oh, he’s not on fire! He can be, though,” she grinned, and patted his neck, as he snorted, clearly ready to get moving, as Danica walked around to the bench, “Are we needing to do anything before we head off?”

 

[malfortuna]

The least that they could do in order to return the kindness that the small family had offered their traveling troupe was to part with some tips on fending off the wolves and monsters that made up Dracula’s army. Trevor made a small sound of affirmation as Johann continued to list off what to use though he found that he did not have the heart to state that it may not do them a whole lot of good if waves of night creatures broke through the village’s defensive walls and laid waste to everything in sight. Peace of mind was a kindness in itself sometimes. Once they had finished, they exchanged their farewells and stepped away from the warm little home with full bellies and in a mixture of emotions that left the group in a rather bittersweet stillness up until they reached their transportation.

“Ha…” Trevor quirked an eyebrow as the two steads tied to the darker carriage seemed at the ready to get some of their energy out. Head no idea what the Hell these things were but he knew he wasn’t about to put his hands, nose, feet or… other parts… anywhere near the pair. Instead of trying to exchange glances with Sulla or Marius and instead found himself looking towards the back of the wagon in which a long box rested, well covered from the light of day. He briefly wondered if waking up for vampires was similar to that of humans; some sleeping in while others were “early risers”. In which case, he also wondered when Lucia would start to stir for the evening.

Hoping before anyone would notice, he tore his gaze away and instead looked over to Danica before with a roll of his shoulders, he approached the cart that he and his companions had acquired and figuring they had been attended to, he hoisted himself up into the driver’s spot. “Let’s just hope that he won’t choose to set the carts ablaze,” he commented, which earned a careful look from Sypha before she joined his side at the front. “But we should be fine. If it is really a problem, I can direct while you go on ahead of us. We should be there by nightfall if we don’t have any more… interruptions.”

—

Jillian had also known that it was best to keep the grim reality of it all to herself even as they said their goodbyes. Her mother had given her a kiss on the cheek which she returned before they parted ways. It seemed now that her plans would drastically change thanks to the news of the pack she had been with coming around to terrorize the people she had grown up with. She tried not to allow her growing frustration to show as they journeyed back to the stables where the carts awaited them, electing to move to the cart that the peculiar trio had picked up so that Lucia could have her familiar company when it was time to wake up for the night.

The conversation about there being a surprise awaiting them should they succeed in their endeavors and a beast enjoying getting wet ever so often would have been welcomed if not for the fact that Jillian found herself preoccupied with a multitude of concerns, piling one on top of the next. If they took physical form, surely they would have broken the back of the cart as she lifted a leg and hoisted herself up into the back where she shifted her body and sat down with her back against the side and canvas roofing. She pressed her head back against the somewhat softer material, shutting her eyes as if that should alleviate some of the pressure building behind them. “Damn idiot…” she muttered under her breath. The worst part about this was that she had already figured that something like this would happen and she still allowed it to.

 

[Lucyfer]

The groups divided up as anticipated. Alucard, Sypha, Trevor, and Jillian stayed to the cart, avoiding the carriage with the sleeping vampire. Danica and Johann rode up front on the bench, and kept Sulla in line as they followed the cart. Sulla wasn’t happy – but he didn’t make a fuss of it, steady under Danica’s guidance.

It was as night fell that they had to pause, if only for Lucia to step out of the cart. Likely to Trevor’s surprise, she didn’t come from the box – that was where supplies were kept. She just stepped out the door, complaining of how difficult it was to sleep in the carriage, before relieving Danica and Johann of their duty to guide the carriage by taking over for the night journey.

Something it seemed Alucard’s party wasn’t all that used to, as it was fairly obvious they took breaks for sleep, rather than sleep in the cart, and so she was willing to pause when the others at least needed a break to eat. Not to mention, their horses need to rest, compared to the nightmares.

“We can make it before sunrise, right?” Sypha asked, yawning, as they paused to make up a bit of food. Lucia was unhooking Sulla and Marius, as Danica groggily exited the carriage to help with cooking.

“That’s what the Belmont seems to think,” Alucard said, not seeming anymore tired than before; then again, his single-minded determination kept his focus sharp, while obscuring plenty of other things.

Things he might have otherwise picked up on, like the way Marius violently pulled out of Lucia’s grip to march towards the edge of the camp. Lucia noticed it, however, and opted not to worry the others, “The nightmares need to hunt,” she said, patting Sulla’s side, “I’ll join them.”

Alucard arched a brow at that, “Do you need additional company?” he wasn’t keen to drink any blood, but hunting with Lucia could allow him to bring back some fresh meat.

Lucia shook her head, “It’s a bit gruesome,” she chuckled, “but I will see if I can grab anything fresh that these two don’t get their teeth into.”

“Thank you,” Sypha inclined her head, “we’ll scrounge up what we can, catch a couple hours of sleep, and get back on our way!” Ever optimistic, Sypha clapped her hands together in obvious good cheer, before turning and using her magic to set their little bundle of sticks on fire.

Johann was not prepared for it and let out a yelp as he jumped back from the flames.

 

[malfortuna]

For the most part it seemed like the journey was unobstructed by anything unsavory until night came about and Lucia finally stirred. Trevor looked from the carriage to the back of the cart, briefly curious as to how she comfortably had slept in the carriage the whole day. Perhaps vampires did not have to worry about such trivial matters such as back stiffness and otherwise. At the very least he now had his answer as to how a vampire woke up from their daylight sleep. He buried these thoughts towards the back of his mind as they didn’t matter for the task at hand and he slowed the pair of horses that drew their cart to a halt and stepped down from the driver’s seat in order to go around back and unpack what essentials they needed for their pitstop.

“I am thinking as much…” Trevor told Sypha in response to the question, though the further along the trail they went, the more Trevor had to question if this was the correct way or not. He was fairly certain but he assumed that their troupe would forgive him for not recalling every detail about the way to a place that he had not so much as thought of for years.

Jillian had stepped from the back of the cart as well and turned to assist Belmont though she gave him a cautious look as the tone of his voice suggested a hint of uncertainty. She elected not to question him however as she had no idea where this place was either and so after setting a pack down by the fire Sypha had ignited, she looked over to Lucia. “Are you sure you do not need the extra hands? I was going to take a look around to see what I could find as well,” she politely offered. She had kept to her own devices during a majority of the ride to their stop, mulling about her thoughts and emotions until eventually she found herself dozing. She had only pulled herself out of her lull when she felt the cart slowing to a stop.

“Sorry, she does that,” Trevor muttered a quick apology to Johann after he seemed startled by Sypha igniting the firewood with a flick of her hands. “Those things won’t make too much noise when they hunt?” He questioned as he glanced back over to Lucia. He didn’t think that he needed to ask her of all people to be careful during nighttime hours to not draw unneeded attention close to camp.

“Hm,” Jillian set a pack down beside the supplies that Trevor had settled beside their fire and crossed her arms loosely over her chest. “I think I will take a look around close by to us as well. If anyone would like to try and sleep first, I do not mind taking a first watch,” she volunteered, looking slowly out to the dense forestry in one direction to them, opposite of where the main traveling path was. There were a plethora of scents that she was able to perceive in their surroundings but she believed it might be pertinent to secure their perimeter before they got too comfortable.

 

[Lucyfer]

Lucia chuckled but shook her head at Jillian’s offer, “As useful as I am sure you would be, I do not think you want to see what the nightmares can get up to in a hunt,” she was a werewolf so she wouldn’t be unaccustomed to the gore, but she still felt it might be better. Not to mention, Marius and Sulla weren’t used to loping around with anyone but her. Johann and Danica didn’t exactly go out hunting with them.

At Trevor’s question, Lucia shook her head, while Johann recomposed himself, “No. They can, but – well, they shouldn’t get that excited in a hunt.” She had no qualms taking it down first. “If we find night creatures they may be noisy, but we’ll deal with it.” She wasn’t worried about it. And if they drew noise to their area, that was less for Trevor and Alucard to deal with.

Alucard still frowned at it. “You shouldn’t go alone.”

“I’ve been going alone long before I encountered you three. I will be quite fine,” Lucia reassured, “Marius and Sulla cause more harm than you give them credit for.” Then, to Jillian, “and I do not need to sleep at night if you all want to rest once I return. That will allow us to travel sooner.”

“She’s a slave driver,” Johann murmured, but it was an affectionate tease. He would usually be sleeping already in the carriage, but if they were paused, he preferred to sleep on the ground. It wasn’t a huge improvement, but it was one. “But securing the perimeter is probably good,” he noticed the way Jillian looked around.

“I can come along,” Alucard wasn’t great at the camp thing, but he could help investigate things.

Lucia wouldn’t linger any longer. She clicked her tongue to draw the attention of the nightmares, before bursting off, shadow-stepping. Marius and Sulla galloped after immediately, earning startled noises from the regular horses left behind.

Danica chuckled and patted one of those horses, “Easy, easy, they won’t bother you,” she cooed, “there’s plenty enough food from the village, we don’t need to hunt around much to get started, but if you two want to go around and make sure everything is fine, I'm sure that would be all right. ”

It would be a bit to prepare the food in the fire, and get settled in. In truth, Johann expected Lucia back once they'd started tucking into the meal, but he didn't speak to that. They didn't hear or notice anything, after all, so he tried to relax.

Until that was ruined by a squeal of, "Adrian!" with a coquettish giggle, as a woman with gorgeous green eyes upon dark skin stepped into the light of the fire, smiling, “We’ve been looking all over for you!”

Alucard tensed immediately. “Akanke,” he greeted coolly, not at all happy to see her, alone, when Lucia was gone. Akanke never traveled alone.

Johann glanced to Danica, and she shook her head, not recognizing the vampire. Johann began to load his crossbow.

“Did my father send you?” Alucard asked.

“No,” she shifted her weight, “Carmilla did, for his sake, though,” she placed a hand over her heart, “we’re all seeing just how torn up Dracula is,” she leaned a bit forward and extended that hand out, “come home, Adrian.”

He didn’t answer, “Where’s Kayen?”

Akanke’s gaze darkened. She straightened and drew her offered hand back, “Carmilla wanted the traitor dealt with, as well.” A crossbow bolt flew and Akanke caught it in her hand, and broke the shaft in half as Johann reloaded. “I don’t need Kayen to deal with these mortals. And you, if you don’t come.”

The yellow eyes of night creatures appeared at her back.

 

[malfortuna]

Although a majority of them agreed that it would be wiser for Lucia to have someone else accompany her as the Nightmares hunted, she seemed content to set forth on her own and once there seemed to be an inch of relent, she was off, leaving traces of darkness and spooked horses behind. Trevor managed a sigh as he stepped over to the unease beasts, reaching forth to pet at the nose of one before turning to the other to give it the same attention, calming them in place before turning to see to the supplies they had set aside, figuring it was time that they were fed as well.

“Slave driver? It at least makes sense that she would be willing to watch during the evening hours. Though I am unsure if many of us would be able to sleep an entire night’s worth of rest.” Trevor’s slumber was almost always aided by heavy drink, lest he wished to have none at all. “Shame Lucia won’t be able to partake in that left over stew Mrs. Tally practically shoved onto us…” Not that it was an important worry, merely an observation. He raised a thick eyebrow as he found a wrapped sack of various vegetables and withdrew two apples, going round to the horses once again so he might feed them for putting up with their peculiar arrangement so far.

“Very well. We will go and do that quickly, then,” Jillian on the other hand did not seem to mind the company as she turned to make a quick round of the outside to camp. The night was still, the sounds of crickets and other forest animals making their presence known.

With time, it seemed that their group had finally settled amongst the campfire. Jillian had made it around the perimeter of the camp with Alucard, noting aloud that while she could not place the source, it did feel as if there could be something outside of their camp that was making its way closer. She had yet to tell if it was simply a curious animal or otherwise. It was Belmont who noticed the horses shifting in place uneasily at first, ears pointing backwards in a growing alarm which made Trevor stand as well. It was only when the green-eyed woman made her presence known that their attention focused upon her, greeting Alucard by his old name and as greeting an old friend.

While she had sensed a presence drawing closer, Jillian could not help but to curse under her breath that she had not determined that she was that close. Trevor watched the woman carefully as she and Alucard exchanged words. “And what would you do to him once he *was* home?” Trevor asked, hand reaching for the handle of the Morning star at his hip while Johann took the initiative to let a bolt fly towards the vampiress who caught it with ease. Oh, she certainly had made no friends here. Gaze looked outwards only to find that the dots of yellow curved around half of their little camp. Just how many of those night creatures were there? Did this Kayen individual have the same numbers with them?

Although concerning, he didn’t wish to be seen faltering. He withdrew the Morning Star and held it up at torso level, at the ready for whoever would dare make a move against him or his allies. “No one is going anywhere with you today. You and your companion, however, will be seeing Hell shortly if you don’t call off your monsters.”

“Best be careful. Not everyone here can be considered mortal. Not ordinary ones, at least,” Jillian was unsure of Alucard's relationship with this person but if she meant anyone here harm, they’d have to respond in kind.

Akanke’s lips parted with what looked to be almost a sneer at such threats, chuckling lightly to herself before speaking once again, “So, you abandoned your father and got yourself a few nice pets instead. But are they just going to stand there and look pretty?” She lifted a hand and with a snap of her fingers, those eyes began to move, growing bigger as soon shapes took form around those glowing orbs, drawing into the firelight to reveal their nightmarish forms, growling and crying out in hunger and ferocity as they lunged at their designated prey. An explosion cracked through the air as the end of the Morning star whipped through the air and made contact with one of the night creature’s. With a pained shriek, its skin split and form was scattered, embers falling through the air from where it once stood, causing a moment’s hesitation among the gruesome band.

“Sypha, you and the others see to the creatures here! Someone needs to go after Lucia and see if her companion has already intercepted her or not!” Trevor tried to quickly explain to the Speaker before he was turning on his heels, gathering the Morning Star back into his grip and taking off as fast as his human legs could push him. It was nowhere near as fast as Lucia’s shadows could carry her but he had to believe that she could at least hold her own if needed until he was able to find her.

 

[Lucyfer]

Akanke hissed in frustration at the Belmont’s move, “GO!” she all but shrieked at the creatures who paused, and go they did, lunging again at their prey. This was…perhaps preferred. News of Alucard’s death would break Dracula more, especially at the hands of his own monsters. He’d never need to know they were behind it. He had the damned creatures going everywhere, heedless! It was only Carmilla giving them any direction.

But Alucard wasn’t with just pretty little pets.

Icicles flew into the night creatures, pinning them to the ground or to trees. Silver bolts skewered others, and Alucard, of course, fought.

His blade was not wielded in a hand, but alongside him. The sword wound around the night creatures in ways they couldn’t predict, unable to see a hand directing it, while Alucard himself had shifted into the form of a wolf to take bites and claw through the masses. Alucard was in the zone, cutting his way to Akanke, as Sypha and Johann made sure to avoid him in the fray.

Akanke opted not to go for Alucard directly. She had the numbers on her side for one, and two, she saw someone fleeing towards the carriage, an older woman who apparently didn’t fight.

If she was going to get an opening, that was her way, and so she pulled four daggers from the confines of her clothes and threw three towards the fleeing woman.

Alucard took note of the daggers and threw his sword to get in the way and deflect them – earning a dagger to the back for the move. He quickly had to dodge out of the way of a night creature’s attempt to bite him, and in the distraction, Akanke sprinted to catch the fleeing woman and use as a shield.

~***~

Hunting hadn’t gone as planned. Lucia had to venture further out than she would have liked to find a decent meal, and she couldn’t figure why. Not until she was on her way back, and the glowing eyes of the night creatures appeared. She reached for her gladius, but a voice interrupted, “Now, now, Doll. You wouldn’t want to kill your allies.”

Lucia bared her fangs as her eyes fixed on Keyan amongst the crowd, a dark man with inhumanly black eyes. “We are allies, are we not?”

“You’re with Dracula, so, no,” she drew the gladius, fully planning on ending the conversation when she noted, “Where’s Akanke?”

“Busy, I’m sure. I’m not here by Dracula’s command. I’m here at Carmilla’s behest. She doesn’t want the world run by idiots.”

“Aah, she’s already started her coup. How quaint,” Lucia didn’t bother continuing the conversation at that point, vanishing into shadow. Carmilla was no ally of hers; she’d not forgiven the woman for attempting to take her lands centuries ago.

Lucia materialized in Keyan’s shadow and thrust her gladius at his back, but he managed to get out of range. His fingernails clawed his own arm open and blood dripped to the ground as the night creatures came forward. Sulla let out a rather demented neigh, before galloping into the fray to rend and tear, and crush beneath his hooves, though Marius danced about, clearly uncertain if he should engage the vampire alongside Lucia and let Sulla deal with the creatures.

Lucia pressed Keyan, stepping into the shadows and getting in her swipes. More blood flowed – but that was so much the problem and she knew it.

As the blood fell, the soil drank.

And Keyan gained manipulation over the vegetation.

Vines shot up to impede Lucia’s path, trees and their roots acted as stakes, as Keyan tried to dance her into danger, either by vegetation or night creatures.

Marius and Sulla helped thin the numbers of the night creatures, but Keyan soon turned his attention to them, as well.

A banshee-like cry from Sulla turned Lucia’s attention and she slipped into shadow away from Keyan to materialize at Sulla’s side and hack the head off the night creature that had gripped his throat. Sulla staggered on his feet and Marius butted into him, stabilizing him. “Go,” Lucia commanded, sensing the oncoming attack and turning to hack the wooden roots that were aimed at her.

Marius nudged Sulla, and both took off running, fading out of the material realm and into the dreamscape in the gallop, as two of the roots impaled Lucia’s arm, finally drawing her blood. She dropped the gladius, only to catch it in her other hand and hack the roots from their source so she could move her arm again.

There were still six night creatures.

And one vampire with a wall of thorns around himself.

She drew in a ragged breath as she took the makeshift stakes out of her arm and tossed them aside, before going right for Keyan again, fully planning to get one of the night creatures to crash into his thorny barrier and break it down.

 

[malfortuna]

Jillian at first made work of whatever night creatures she could engage with her dual blades, ripping a tearing with sharp edges as the monsters lunged in order to tear down Alucard’s allies once they had been ordered again by Akanke. Her smaller form danced in intricate circles among the surface of the ground, taking on a creature with a long maw opened with rows of sharp teeth. The tip of one of her blades stabbed into the chest below this dangerous mouth, keeping the night creature from snapping teeth down upon her or one of her limbs, followed by the blonde girl turning her second blade inward and running it through the foe at the side of its head. The creature went limp and Jillian used a foot to kick away the body of the night creature in time to see from the corner of her eye poor Danica attempting to make her retreat to the safety of the cart.

She noticed Alucard at first attempting to shield the older woman from an onslaught of daggers which were tossed in her direction but Akanke was also attempting to make quick work of the distraction in order to close the distance between Danica and herself. Jillian did not bother with cleaning her blades as she sheathed them to either side of her hips and broke out into a sprint towards the pursuit. Her feet carried her at an incredible speed, a blur of blonde hair and the dark shades of clothes she wore before she landed one foot against the ground with such a force that it dug deeper into the soil’s surface. She used the force of that step to propel herself forward in a lunge, gray eyes practically glowing an intense white beneath the evening’s light and in that instant before she landed once more, her form twisted and changed.

A very large canine form landed on the ground upon all fours, gray and white pelt covering what was once a human girl. Jillian did not stop, however, a bright gaze focused on Akanke and intercepted her. She caught up to the vampiress with ease and opened her mouth before she took off again, slamming the entirety of her form into Akanke, trying to latch onto the girl anywhere she was able to, if not to just keep her from harming Danica. Her nearly all white eyes flicked towards Alucard across the way, a silent signal that she wished to try and buy as much time as possible in order to ensure he could try and get to Akanke as well, though how much time she could buy, she did not know if it would be mere seconds or minutes.

—
Trevor at least knew his company was more than capable of handling a group of night creatures, though he had no intentions of entirely abandoning them if he could help it. However, Lucia, although capable as well, did not have the numbers on her side and it would do well to try and even the odds more so, so long as he was able to find her. They were in a hurry, though. If she was fully engaged in a fight just as they were, time was not his friend. His feet carried him as fast as he was able to. He already fought off a stray night creature which attempted to follow him. He was alone for what felt like a long while until he caught glimpse of the two nightmares barrelling towards him in such ferocity which almost blew him backwards off the ground when they passed him by. It was a good sign. He was on the right path, getting closer.

Eventually, Trevor heard the telltale signs of combat. He followed the sounds until they grew louder and finally the trees and brush parted to Lucia and Keyan along with a group of night creatures surrounded by the peculiar and gnarled twists and turns of vines that were out of place from the rest of the forest. As vines continued to sprout in order to limit Lucia’s ability to move around and to harm, Trevor quickly pieced together a plan of action, noting how across the way a barrier had formed among the numerous vines, curving inward in order to ensure Keyan’s safety as it could. Looking over to Lucia, she seemed to be struggling as well, blood descending in streaks from arm down to elbow, leaving droplets to the ground below. Blue eyes narrowed in intensity as he withdrew his family’s weapon and reared back. “You’re not on your own, Lucia!” He called over to her as he began to lash out.

It was difficult to determine what he should aim at first but it was clear that the night creatures had the intention of overwhelming her as she had to divide her attention between the vines and the monsters. The Morningstar snapped against flesh and muscle, bursting through the creatures in bursts of intense light until there was nothing but the shrieks of surprise or pain and embers and smoke among the grass. As he cut himself a way between the night creatures, he inched himself closer and closer towards Lucia until he was beside her, raising a food and slamming it down against the base of some of the vines which attempted to curl back, preparing to strike into Lucia once more. “You’re missing quite the party back at camp,” he told her, noting the wound on her arm. At least she seemed to be able to move. He looked back over to the towering vines which separated them from Keyan and the rest, the remaining night creatures turning predatory gazes to the pair. “Let’s see if we can get through all of that. Shouldn’t be too bad, right?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Alucard finished off the night creature that came at him in haste, though it wouldn’t have been fast enough to get turned around to save Danica. Thankfully, Jillian had noticed Danica’s flight, and he heard the satisfying thud as Akanke was taken off-balance by Jillian’s interception, and then a strangled cry as her arm was caught in arms.

The night creatures flooded towards her, but Danica made it into the carriage with a slam.

Johann began to unload crossbow bolts into the creatures rapidly, and Sypha spread out a wave of lightning, catching several in the arc that went to help Akanke. Alucard let his form shift back to that of a human, just missing the arcing electricity as Akanke surrendered her arm to Jillian.

“You—!”

Alucard’s hand pierced her from behind, plunging through her back, and out her chest. She gaped in surprise, a small, “Oh….” escaping as her head tilted down to see the evidence of her own demise on Alucard’s bleeding fingertips.

Her impaled heart shuddered once around his arm, before failing. She crumbled to ash around him, leaving the remaining night creatures backing away. Their leadership was gone, and now, they weren’t so sure about remaining in the fight.

“No quarter,” Alucard said lowly, not that he needed to.

Sypha and Johann certainly weren’t going to let any of them leave to go reporting back to Dracula – or Carmilla – about their location.

~***~

Lucia didn’t anticipate help in the fight with Marius and Sulla gone. She was already planning just how to deal with the night creatures, when Trevor’s voice cut through the night, followed by his whip. She made sure to stay out of its path, but she took the surprise it caused to her advantage, and beheaded one of the night creatures.

Two were remaining by the time Trevor came close, with Keyan hiding behind his thorns, and plenty of woody vines at his beck and call from all the blood he’d spilt. The two night creatures had drawn back to regroup. “A Belmont?” Keyan sneered from behind his fortress, “How like you. First aligning with the Abeiss, now the Belmonts. Dracula should have ended you long ago.”

Lucia shifted her posture, relaxing just a bit, “As he should do with you, but at least I do not hide in the dark,” as Keyan was, quite literally. All these shadows…Lucia knew what she could do, now that she wasn’t focused on surviving. The shadows let her move, but she could also move others through them with a bit more focus, and she pulled on all those shadows that Keyan had encased himself in when he created his dome of thorns.

The startled scream was enough warning for the night creatures. Both lunged forward at Lucia as Keyan appeared to her left. She didn’t waste time with the startled vampire, and instead pushed ahead to cut through the night creatures.

Keyan would take a moment to regroup, and then he was quick to try and move his already-manifested vines to push out against both Trevor and Lucia, rather than make the mistake of creating a fortress again.

The vast majority went for Trevor, given the Belmont was closer.

 

[malfortuna]

Jillian did not relinquish her grasp upon Akanke’s appendage until muscle and bone gave way. Finally, the limb broke from the rest of her body and Jillian slung her head off to the side in order to toss the arm away only to turn, preparing herself to meet the onslaught of night creatures head on as they attempted to reach their master before she could be completely undone. Alucard could be counted on, however, as he ensured that Akanke would not utter another order again, or anything else for that matter, her form dissipating around the outstretched arm which had impaled her until she was nothing but dust slowly drifting away into the atmosphere. Although the leader was gone, the night creatures still had a fight left in them, a need to survive and also avenge their fallen master driving them forward after the brief moment of hesitation. Even if they were to be torn apart here, they knew that they’d find a similar fate awaiting them should they retreat. No doubt they would be asked what information they had gathered about the group and then sent back to Hell, especially under the watch of Camilla who would not risk Dracula knowing of her ulterior motives.

Sypha did not waste another second in conjuring her sharp ice to stop the night creatures in their places, a row of cold spikes splitting the ground and impaling many of them only to follow up in a fluid motion of her hands to burn the rest. Jillian launched herself forward with a powerful kick off of her hind legs, jumping forward and grabbing with fangs and clawing her way through the remaining masses, her thick pelt becoming stained in red as she continued to quickly make work of any creature who dared to find itself within her path. There were the few Hellish creatures who opted for retreat, trying to take advantage of the group eliminating the numbers that stayed to fight to turn and run away. Jillian took note of this and jumped onto one of the creature’s, maw opening and clamping down to tear the throat out of the creature before using its form to push up and over it as it fell down to close the distance between her and the others who tried to run, catching one in her claws.

~***~

Trevor could care less about who was tied to whatever house or whatever sort of relationship she once had with this other vampire or Dracula. What did matter was that Lucia was supposedly on their side now and with her being in danger, they could not afford losing such an able fighter to a simple tactic of dividing and conquering. Keyan would find that Trevor did not waste time in speaking to him or Lucia but instead readied himself for another attack, seeing how Keyan repositioned himself off to the side of Lucia while the two night creatures opted to go for Lucia as Keyan readied himself to also attack at a different angle. It seemed that Keyan was focusing his vines on him due to proximity. The Belmont wondered if there was something to that but he didn’t delay in responding to Keyan’s advances, snapping back the end of the Morningstar and with another explosive crackling, the vines crumbling in a blaze with the embers floating past Trevor, who lifted an arm to shield his eyes from the light and the heat.

The hand which held his family’s heirloom continued to move quickly and near gracefully, tearing through the vines that would do them harm. Trevor knew that he couldn’t very well burn the whole forest down in an effort to ensure that Keyan had nothing more to work with. However, he knew Keyan could continue to attack so long as he himself was not distracted with defending himself. Trevor was considering his next movements carefully. Blue eyes focused on Keyan among the fire and vines, bringing Morningstar back again and lashing out in front of him at first and then he broke out into a sprint. One might call him careless but standing in one place would eventually prove itself to be a weakness. As he ran and closed the distance between the two of them, he yelled aloud as he worked at lashing out with the whip this way and that, a flurry of heat and fire surrounding him as he ensured the vines could not come up from behind him without meeting the flames he had created first. Eventually he believed himself close enough to aim for Keyan this time, rearing his arm back and lashing forward with all the strength he could muster in order to try and break past what barriers he might try to create. If anything, he aimed to make it difficult for Keyan to have the time to concentrate long enough to form a coordinated attack with his vines.

 

[Lucyfer]

The numbers dwindled fast. Johann made sure to aim for any retreating foes, as Sypha, Jillian, and Alucard made quick work of those who fought on. Though, Jillian had to break to deal with some of those running, Alucard let his attention stay on those who tried to get closer to Johann.

He was fighting at a range and they needed that, after all.

Alucard pulled his sword back into his hand to finish the job, beheading one who attempted to snap at Johann, before three others went up in flames.

It wasn't long before the ground was littered with corpses. Johann let out a sigh, “No offense, but I think I preferred traveling with Lucia alone,” he chuckled. They hadn't had many encounters, considering they could feign being on Dracula’s side.

Alucard flicked dark blood off his blade, the hint of a smile on his lips, “You don't enjoy the hunt, Johann?”

“I'm not a demon hunter,” he answered, “and werewolves smell better when they die. Er–not that–I mean I guess that's not a bad thing to say but–sorry.”

“Don't worry! I'll get rid of the smell,” Sypha said as she clapped her hands together, a flame beginning to push out and burn through the bodies, ridding them of the appearance of them, as well as the sulfuric smell of their decaying forms.

~***~

Lucia kept a wary eye on the Morningstar, only too aware of how dangerous a mistake could be. That weapon could destroy her, if she wasn't careful in proximity, if Trevor wasn't aware of her location.

Or, if he was.

There remained the chance of the Belmont being true to his name, and taking advantage of the situation, after all.

She hoped not as her gladius cut into the neck of one creature, and sliced through its neck. The head fell as Lucia stepped away from the other's lunge, only to dance right back in as the snapping jaws shut, and thrust the blade into their skull.

It reeled back, pulling off the blade as it lashed out with a spiked tail. Lucia cut it off and pushed forward, always preferring the offensive. She stepped into shadow and appeared at the creature's side, rather than front.

It's head fell just like it's companion, neck outstretched to bite at an opponent no longer ahead.

She turned back to Trevor’s situation, the heat finally registering, definitely making an attempt to get close a terrible idea. However, she could aid.

Shadows devoured what vines came at his back and side, in case any wanted to press their luck through the flames. Keyan soon realized Lucia was back in the game, and did indeed try to throw up another barrier, just before acknowledgement of the futility set in.

There was an attempt to push all the vines off the barrier out at Trevor, but he'd made his play. The vines still moved forward, but in doing so, condemned Kayen by opening the path.

Morningstar struck true, and Keyan dissolved to ash with a shriek.