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A Moment of Stupidity Book 4: The Legend Begins Chapter 1
It's only been ten months or so...
Title: A Moment of Stupidity Part 4: 1476 - 1535
Rating: R for language, and mentions of RAPE and M/M SLASH. Don’t like, then don’t read.
Disclaimer: Castlevania and its characters and situations are the sole property of Konami. I am making no money or profit off of this fanfiction and no copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: AU. What if Joachim Armster had lived through his fight with Leon Belmont? What might have been different? Well hang on, because Joachim is going to tell you all about it. From his kidnapping and forced turning to his rescue from the ruins of Walter’s castle, and from Trevor's birth and to Richter's death of old age, he tells all - and blames it all on Leon while he's at it.
Section Summary: Part 4 covers Dracula's Curse to Trevor's death.
A/N: Thank you, Lords of Shadow 2, for reminding me why Castlevania is my favorite video game series, and for getting me back into the CV fanfic mood.
Trevor was gone for 20 long, dark days.
I stayed on the Belmont lands during his absence, as I was the best protection the family had without him. Few monsters are willing to face a 700 year old vampire, and those that are usually end up on the losing end. I didn't sleep, and I left the area only to feed. The rest of the time, I paced restlessly along the borders of the property, almost hoping that something would attack, so I would have something other than worrying to do to pass the time.
No monsters came, but Kerwin showed up late one night as I walked along the tree line, worried, and more than a little frantic. He came out of the woods as I walked along the property line, and the fear was rolling off of him in waves.
He walked up to me, and his eyes flicked from side to side for a moment. “Is it safe to talk?” he whispered.
I nodded. “What is it?”
“Walter's castle is gone.”
I choked for a second. “Gone!” I hissed “How could it be gone!”
“I don't know. It's as if something..... teleported parts of it away. Parts of it still remain. The lower floors are intact, and to my relief the crypts are still there. I wasn't looking forward to telling Silvanus that someone made off with his family's ashes, so I'm glad they were not touched.”
“So do you think Mathias...?”
“Used parts of it to build that monstrosity that we've been hearing about? It's possible. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the council's castle is in a similar state.”
“How is that possible? How does one magically move parts of a castle and use them to build another castle?”
“Magic, I guess. Silvanus might have an idea, but I'm reluctant to ask him. That castle was his family's home for over a thousand years, and he was fairly upset when it collapsed, so I don't want to imagine how he'll react upon hearing that most of it is simply gone.”
“I'd let him know soon. He may want to move his family's remains to a safer place. With most of the castle gone, people can get to them now.”
Kerwin nodded. “That is true. I'll let him know after I leave here.” He paused. “Have you heard from Trevor yet?”
I shook my head slightly. “No, I haven't heard a thing since he left four days ago. I hope he's alright.”
“I'm sure he's fine.” Kerwin gave me a reassuring smile. “He knows how to take care of himself.”
“I know, but that doesn't make me worry any less.”
“He refused to learn how to use his vampiric powers, didn't he?”
“Well..” I couldn't help the sly smile that appeared on my face then. “For the most part, he did, but he uses them more than he thinks.”
“Oh?”
“When's the last time you saw a human dive across the room without touching the floor?”
“Clever.”
“I think so.”
Kerwin sighed. “I'd best be going. I want to speak to Silvanus quickly and then get home. I really didn't want to come here, but I figured that you needed to know what happened.”
“Are you worried?”
“About whatever scheme that Mathias is working on? Aren't you?”
“More than I'm willing to admit.”
Kerwin smiled darkly, and then he stepped into the trees so he wouldn't be seen by anyone else. I turned away just as he morphed into a bat and flew off.
Fear seemed to hang over the land like a sickening fog. The Belmonts were under orders from Trevor to not leave the property and to not go out at night. They were also told to stick together in groups at all times, even during the day. I stuck to the shadows during the daylight hours, to lessen the chance of sometime outside the family seeing me, but I still kept watch.
Kerwin had told Silvanus the fate of his castle not long after he and I had spoken. Like we expected Silvanus had been quite upset at the news, and he had quickly moved his family's remains to a safe location. While he was doing so, he had been attacked just before sunset by a werewolf and minotaur. He had easily destroyed them both, but the attack only worried us even more. If Mathias' army of monsters were brazen enough to attack a 4,000 year old vampire while it was still light out, then there was nothing that they feared. Who would they go after next?
On my advice, Jonathon ordered everyone to remain in their homes at all times and to keep their shutters and doors locked tight. It wouldn't stop a werewolf, but it would hopefully slow them enough for me to get there in time. During this time, word of more attacks came pouring in, along with a chilling rumor.
“You don't know if it's true, Uncle Joachim.” Jonathon told me firmly as I paced frantically in his living room.
“I don't know if it isn't!” I snapped at him. “What if it's true? What it Trevor is lying dead out there somewhere? What if that bastard Mathias is feeding on him as we speak! What then, Jonathon!” I felt tears scald my eyes, and I angrily wiped them away. I couldn't bear the though of Trevor being gone.
Such was my state that Jonathon was able to push me down into a chair and shove a glass of strong mead in my hand. “Calm down, Joachim! It's just a rumor being passed around by ignorant, frightened peasants. I'm sure that Trevor is fine!”
The alcohol wouldn't do anything for my nerves, but I downed it anyway. “Maybe I should go look for him.” I mused.
Jonathon sat back down with his own glass of mead. “We need you here, Uncle Joachim. Trevor has our most powerful weapon, and I am too old to protect the family.”
“The same family that was ready to throw Trevor out simply because of who is grandfather is?”
He bowed his head for a second, conceded the point. “Not everyone here is guilty of that, however.”
“No, just most of them.”
“Trevor would never forgive you.”
I sighed; he had me there. “No, he wouldn't, would he? Despite everything, he still considers them family, which is more than I could have done.”
“He's an amazing young man; you did a wonderful job raising him. Now it's time to set back and let him be a man. Have faith in him, and believe that he'll come home safe.”
“I don't know if I can.”
“What would he think if he knew that you were doubting him right now? After the way he was treated by his own flesh and blood?”
I winced. “He's likely see it as a betrayal, that I don't trust him.”
“Let him do what he was trained for.”
I nodded faintly and stood up. “All right. I'll go watch the property line then.” I headed towards the door, and I expected for Jonathon to warn me again against searching for Trevor, but he said nothing. I walked out into the warm night and looked up at the stars.
“Come home, child.” I whispered, and my words were carried away by the breeze.
Fifteen days after Trevor's departure, early in the morning, a messenger from town appeared. He rang his hand bell to get everyone's attention and then announced the news that many had been waiting for.
“The vampire is no more!” he cried as people peeked out of windows and cracked open doors. “The dark castle has fallen!”
There was a pause, and then people ran out of their homes, cheering, laughing, and screaming in joy. Jonathon stepped forward to confirm that yes, the castle was indeed gone, and then he joined in the cheering. It was still barely after sunrise, but within a few moments, the womenfolk had rushed back inside to begin preparing a feast, while the children ran around in circles, finally able to be outside after being cooped up for so long.
I did not join them. Instead I stayed on the property line, watching the road.
Celebrations broke out everywhere over the next handful of days, and the Belmonts once again found themselves welcomed wherever they went. They cheerfully went about their business, with only a few, mostly children, wondering where Trevor was and if he was all right. I stayed by the gates, watching as the hours ticked by and the sun sank on the horizon, and it was the biggest relief of my life when I heard a familiar heartbeat approaching my position. Seconds later, I picked up hoofbeats, followed closely by Trevor's scent. I just barely managed to resist the urge to run out and greet him, especially when I picked up two more heartbeats as well as two more scents that were close to him. So I waited, and after a few minutes, I was rewarded when Trevor's silhouette appeared in the deepening gloom, on the back of his horse. I saw a pair of hands resting on his upper arms, as well as a pair of legs that hung down behind his, but I couldn't see the person they belonged to. Behind them was a second horse, this time carrying a small man in short pants and a vest, with a bandanna around his head. I wondered who the other two were for a moment, before I decided that they weren't as important and turned my attention to Trevor. As they came closer, I was frightened when I saw a bandage wrapped around his head and covering his left eye. A second bandage seemed to be covering part of his chest under his jacket. I could smell dead blood and infection coming from them, which worried me even more and made the urge to go to him even harder to fight.
A cheer from behind me made me jump, and I looked over my shoulder to see that most of the Belmonts had turned out to greet Trevor. I hadn't even noticed them. Trevor for his part waved at them, but he said nothing as he rode through the gate, which allowed me to see that it was a woman riding double behind him. The third person on the other horse came in right behind them, and the Belmonts cleared to make a path for them. All three looked exhausted, but Trevor still halted his horse, and slipped down from the saddle before assisting the lady in getting down. A few of the womenfolk surged forward to lead her off, and a few minutes later, a few of the men did the same with the other man once he got down from the second horse. One of the older boys then led the horses away, and only then did Trevor head for his own home, with Jonathon and myself following close behind.
Once inside with the door safely closed behind us, Trevor trudged into the living room and slumped down into the nearest chair, looking so tired that I felt surprised that he had managed to make it inside the house.
He didn't say a word in protest when I peeled the bandages away to check on his wounds, he simply leaned back in the chair and let me look. I was relieved to find that the infection that I had been smelling had been coming from a large gash on his chest, and not from the wound over his eye. Whatever had caused the deep cut on his face had nearly cost him his eye, but it seemed to be uninjured. A few drops of blood in each cleared out any infection and sealed the injury, though the process as the infection was burned out made Trevor groan in pain. Two noticeable scars were left behind, but I don't think Trevor cared about scarring.
“Is it done?” Jonathon asked, once that had been taken care of. “Was it Mathias like he thought?”
Trevor nodded and rubbed his face. “It was, though he calls himself Dracula now.”
“The son of the devil?” I said, “Yes, that fits him.”
Jonathon frowned for a moment before he spoke. “Well, no matter. It's done now. Go get cleaned up, Trevor, while I have the cook prepare you a light meal.”
Trevor nodded and his entire body seemed almost too heavy for him to move as he dragged himself up and out of the chair and towards the back of the house. He returned a half hour later, scrubbed clean, with his hair combed, and wearing a billowy linen shirt and soft leather pants. He sat down at the table, and held his head in his hands, while I watched him in concern. A servant put a plate down in front of him, but he ignored it.
“Trevor?” I asked quietly. “Aren't you going to eat something? You must be hungry. Eat, so you can go to bed and sleep.”
Trevor sighed heavily, and then he slowly picked up his fork and ate about half of what was on his plate. He then stood up from the table and went to his bedroom without a word, while Jonathon and I shared a look of concern. When I went to check on him a few minutes later, I found him in bed under the covers, sprawled out on his stomach, sleeping soundly. I tucked the blankets around his shoulders, brushed his hair out of his face, and then left him to sleep.
I stayed over night, as I wanted to be nearby when Trevor woke. Jonathon went to bed not long after Trevor did, so it was just me in the main room. The lamps and candles were out, and the fireplace wasn't needed during the warmer weather, so I had only starlight to see by, which was more than enough for me. I kept a careful listen on Trevor's heartbeat, and a few hours after midnight, I felt it accelerate as he woke up. Shortly thereafter I heard his feet on the wood floor as he came out into the main room.
“Trevor?” I called softly.
“Uncle Joachim?” he answered, and his voice trembled slightly.
I frowned in worry, glad that he couldn't see me in the dark. “What is wrong, child?”
I heard him exhale, but he said nothing. I stood up, walked over to him, and gently took him by the shoulders. I then began to walk him back to the couch that I had been sitting on under the window. “Come sit with me, and tell me what is bothering you.”
The two of us sat down, and I could feel the same heartbreak coming from him that I had the day his mother had rejected him.
“While I was gone...” he whispered in the otherwise silent room, “I met... I met my father.”
That I had not been expecting. “You met Adrian?” I asked quietly.
“Yes. He was waiting for me in the catacombs under the castle. As soon as I approached him, I felt it.”
“The bond?”
Trevor closed his eyes and nodded, and I saw a single tear run down his face. “He never acknowledged me, Uncle Joachim. I even asked him about the bond, but he refused to answer me.”
I really wanted to go hurt Adrian then.
Trevor continued. “He was polite, but distant. He only spoke to me about our quest, though there were times I caught him watching me. He knew who I was to him, and he refused to say a word about it! Why? Why did he not want me? Why did he ignore me? Why!”
I reached out to Trevor as he hung his head, and this grown man, the one who had taken down his family's worst enemy, began to cry like a heartbroken child. I held him in my arms and stroked his hair and let him cry himself out, and once he had begun to quiet down, I willed him into a deep sleep. I then gathered him up into my arms and carried him to bed. Once he was tucked in, I morphed into my wolf form and laid down across the foot of the bed. I watched over him the rest of the night.
In the morning, before Trevor woke, I went to Kerwin's house. He had just had his own breakfast when I dragged him into his study, locked the doors, and proceeded to rant about Adrian's refusal to acknowledge the child that he had fathered. Kerwin was sympathetic, but informed me that it was probably for the best that Adrian had never acknowledged Trevor.
“Did you hear what you just said, Kerwin?” I snapped. “How could that possibly be for the best?”
He shook his head. “If Adrian is the type to not even acknowledge his child with them right next to each other with a wide open bond, imagine what kind of parent he would have been. Trevor had you as a parent, and Jonathon as a mentor, and I think that worked out for the best in the end, don't you?”
My anger just died then, because I knew he was right. I flopped down into a nearby chair. “I know, Kerwin, but you weren't there when Trevor was a boy, listening to him ask why his father wasn't around and having no answers to give. You weren't there when he was crying believing that since his mother didn't want him, then that meant that his father didn't either. I thought he had moved on from all of that, now to find out that he hadn't? How would you feel if it was Matatias feeling this?”
Kerwin nodded slowly. “I'd probably be every bit as furious as you are.”
“Well at least, Mathias or Dracula or whatever he's calling himself now has been taken care of, and we won't have to worry about him anymore.”
Kerwin looked surprised. “Was Trevor able to destroy the Crimson Stone?”
I hadn't even thought of that. “I don't know. I would think so.”
Kerwin frowned at me. “You need to ask him, Joachim. It is very important. Ask him today, as soon as you can.”
“If he did destroy the stone...?”
“Then it is done, and we have nothing to worry about. The Crimson Stone is very powerful and very coveted. If it survived, then it is too dangerous to be left lying about.”
“I will ask him then, but perhaps it was destroyed along Mathias and his castle?”
“I doubt it. From what I read in Father's books, that stone is much harder to destroy than the Ebony Stone. If Trevor did not destroy it, we need to find it and find a way to secure it, quickly. I will speak to Silvanus about it, and I'll meet you here tonight.”
I allowed myself to be shuffled out of Kerwin's house, while he went off to speak to Silvanus. Worried, and more than a little confused, I returned to Trevor's home.
When I returned to the Belmont lands, Trevor was just starting to wake up for the day. The rest of the family was in the mood to celebrate, and he allowed himself to be swept up in it. He made certain to check on his two companions and introduce them to the rest of the family, and I was surprised to learn the name of the woman.
Sypha Belnades.
“Are you perchance any relation to Sara and Marion Belnades?” I asked her as we enjoyed a celebratory feast in the hall. She, myself, Jonathon, Trevor, and Trevor's other guest, Grant DeNasty, were all seated together, but it was still difficult to hear, even for me, over the merriment going on around us.
In the seat next to her, Trevor started like something had just occurred to him, then he smiled. So did Jonathon.
Sypha gave me a pretty smile. “Yes,” she said pleasantly, “I am their descendant. Why do you ask?”
Trevor nodded at me, so I answered her question. “Trevor's ancestor, Elias Belmont, had a younger sister, named Sara. She married a Marion Belnades in 1120, and they had two children together.”
Sypha noticeably brightened. “Really?”
I nodded. “Indeed.”
“So I suppose that makes the two of you distant cousins then.” Jonathon said as he looked at them.
Was that a blush appearing on Trevor's face? “I can live with that.” he said quietly, so much so that I was likely the only one that heard him. He then turned to look at her and spoke loudly enough so she could hear. “I can show you the family tree, if you like? We lost track of Sara and Marion's grandchildren after the two of them passed. Perhaps you can fill in the missing gaps for us?”
Sypha smiled widely at him. “I'd love to.” and Jonathon and I shared a knowing look.
Trevor was kept busy the rest of the day, though I was quick to note that Sypha and Grant quickly noticed Trevor's less than familial attitude towards the rest of the clan and worked to shield him to some degree. Trevor had been far more forgiving than I would have been in his situation, but he still kept himself distant from many of his older relatives, especially his mother. His cousins, though, that were similar age or younger, he was friendly with, citing that they had just been children following their parents' example, which I couldn't argue with.
Sonia's one attempt to get close with Trevor, not long after he had become head of the family, had been soundly rebuffed, with him pointedly reminding her that she had severed all ties with him by surrendering him to me. He had told her quite firmly that she had wasted any chance of being his mother before he had walked away, leaving her in tears. He refused to acknowledge his stepfather's presence at all, something that I whole heartedly approved of. Trevor had never told me just how badly the man had treated him, but the hints he dropped in his behavior had been enough to make me wish I had killed the man when I had the chance.
Trevor was finally able to tear himself away from the crowd in the early evening, citing work that had to be done. It was true; he was Baron Belmont in all but name, (Jonathon still held the title, and would do so until he passed away, as was tradition.) but he had barely sat down at his desk when I sat down in the chair in front of him and looked at him seriously.
“What is it, Uncle Joachim?” he asked without looking up. As a quarter breed, his senses were very acute, and though I moved very quietly, his hearing was enough to detect me unless I really did not wish him to. He could also smell me as well as any other vampire, once we were close enough. “I have a lot to do.”
“I know you do.” I said quietly. “But there is something I need to know.”
“What is it?”
“What happened to the Crimson Stone?”
He stopped writing, and he held completely still for a moment. “I saw it,” he said after a minute or so, “I remember that striking him around the stone seemed to be the only way to hurt him. Landing a blow with the Vampire Killer anywhere else didn't seem to phase him at all. I don't think I was able to actually damage the stone though. I never saw any cracks or anything appear on it.”
“What happened when Mathias died? Did the stone fall off of him or anything?”
He looked up at me. “No, I don't think so. It just seemed to vanish along with him. Of course, Sypha and I were more worried about getting out before the castle collapsed on our heads, but I'm certain I didn't see him drop it. Why?”
“I'm not sure. Kerwin seemed pretty concerned about it.”
“That makes sense. Can you imagine any other vampire getting their hands on it? The next one might not stop at killing the ones he can gather in a group.”
I winced; I hadn't through of that. “True. At any rate, he went to talk to Silvanus about it. There seemed to be something that he wasn't telling me.”
“I take it then that you'll be going to let him know of what I just told you later?”
“Yes,”
“Hmmm, maybe I'll go with you. If it's serious enough to bring Silvanus into the conversation, it's something that I'm sure I'll need to know.”
“No time like the present then.”
Trevor nodded and stood up from his chair. He grabbed his traveling coat from the wall, and the two of us walked outside to the stables. Thankfully, the party was still going strong at the hall, so we were able to slip out unnoticed. I could have flown us there, carrying Trevor in my arms, quite easily, but Trevor found being carried in such a way uncomfortable, and there was something I wanted to talk to him about anyway.
I waited until we were a good distance away from the Belmont lands, and far out of the hearing range of any peasant settlements, before I asked my question.
“When you faced Mathias,” I began, which caused him to look at me, “were you able to feel him? Through the bond with Adrian?”
Trevor sighed. “Faintly,” he said after a long moment of silence, “I could only feel him when I was standing in the throne room in front of him. I remember wondering if he could feel me. He didn't seem to though.”
“Oh, he could. If you could feel him, then he could definitely feel you.”
“Then he must not have cared, because he never made any sign that he knew I was a relation to him.”
“Your mother told me once that your father would never acknowledge you because he didn't wish his own father to find out you existed. I never did learn what he was afraid of exactly. Did he think that Mathias would claim you as his own and hold you prisoner?”
Trevor sighed again. “I do not know. I know that the day he attacked the council, I couldn't feel him, so I assume any bonds between us are too weak to function without my father close by.”
“Likely. Losing one member of a family will weaken the bonds with the rest, and since quarter breeds and half breeds have weaker bonds to begin with, with Adrian not around, you couldn't feel each other.”
“I resemble him a great deal, don't I? His is my grandfather, after all.”
“You do. You have his hair, and I can see some of his facial features in you as well, but you also closely resemble your grandmother. She seems to be where you get most of your appearance from.”
“Lisa?”
“Yes, Lisa. I didn't get to know her well, but she was always charming and intelligent. It was no wonder that Mathias fell for her. It's amazing, considering that Mathias and his first wife were bonded, and the destruction of those bonds makes it nearly impossible for the survivor to fall in love again.”
“She must have been very special then.”
“I'd say so. I wonder what would have happened if she had lived to die of natural causes, or if Mathias had turned her to begin with.”
“We may never know.” Trevor stepped his horse over to walk closer to mine. “Could you tell me more about her?”
I laughed lightly. “I met her for the first time after Mathias had invited me to his home...”
I told Trevor then of all the times I had been around Lisa, which led to me telling me what I knew of Mathias' past, before the loss of his first wife drove him mad. Trevor listened intently, fascinated by the stories, most of which I knew second hand from Leon. He laughed when I told him how Leon had accidentally knocked Mathias into the well, and he seemed a little choked up when I described Mathias' descent into grief and madness after Elisabetha's death.
“Leon admitted to me that he always regretted being unable to help Mathias more after that.” I said. “He really wanted to stay, but the Church kept dragging him off to fight, leaving Mathias alone with no one to comfort him.”
“If he had,” Trevor asked, “Do you think it would have prevented things?”
“Possibly. Silvanus explained that having someone to anchor you will help keep you stable and allow you to move on past the grief, but it's not a guarantee. Leon might have been able to help, or he might have only slowed the inevitable. We will never know.”
Trevor nodded in understanding, and we spent the rest of the ride in silence.
At Kerwin's house, we met him and Silvanus in the study, and after confirming that the stone was not destroyed, Silvanus leaned back in his chair, looking worried.
“What is it?” Trevor asked.
Silvanus looked at each of us in turn, his expression serious. “Bear in mind,” he began, “no one knows exactly how the Crimson Stone works, save perhaps Mathias himself. We do know however, that the stone uses the souls of other vampires as a power source. We know that the stone is much harder to destroy than the Ebony Stone, as shown by Trevor's inability to inflict any visible damage upon it, using the same weapon that destroyed the Ebony Stone in one blow. We know that Mathias has at least thirteen souls trapped in the stone, several of which are very old and very powerful.”
Kerwin looked at Trevor. “How was he in battle, by the way? I expected him nearly impossible for you to defeat, seeing as how much power that stone has to be feeding him.”
“Surprisingly easy.” Trevor replied with a shrug. “I don't know if he was overconfident or just not thinking straight, but he was no real challenge at all, even when he changed forms twice. I knew he was in the castle as soon as I arrived, but he never attacked me. He waited for me to reach him.”
“With his knowledge of alchemy,” I added, “he had to have know what that whip could do. Hell, Sara getting bitten and being used to create it was all his plan to begin with. Leon always said that Mathias was a genius tactician, yet he has shown no signs of that since Walter's death.”
“That could be explained by the loss of his marriage bonds affecting his sanity.” Silvanus said. “To return to the original point..”
Kerwin mumbled, “Sorry.” and nodded at Silvanus.
“You said he changed forms?” Silvanus asked Trevor, who nodded. “And this was after you striking him around the stone?”
“Hitting him anywhere else seemed to do nothing.” Trevor replied.
“What does that tell you?” I asked.
“That tells me,” Silvanus said, “that while damaging the stone itself may not be possible with the Vampire Killer, it IS possible to make it unstable. Attacking the stone interrupts the flow of power, enough that either Mathias loses control of it, causing the form shift, or -”
“Or he IS in control of it, but the interruption of power makes him pull more to deal with what he was then seeing as a real threat.” Trevor finished.
“Exactly.”
“And interrupting the power flow enough allowed me to do enough damage to kill him.”
“Yes,”
“Then what's the problem?” Kerwin asked. “He's dead, so let's celebrate!”
“Kerwin,” Silvanus said patiently, “The stone in not destroyed. The souls within it are still trapped and still providing power.”
“Yeah, and? We find the stone, destroy it, let the souls go, and then we'll celebrate.”
“Trevor, the stone vanished with Mathias correct?”
“It did, yes.”
“Where, then, is that power going?”
Silvanus' question made us all go silent for a long moment, and I finally realized what he was getting at.
“Back to Mathias.” I said quietly. “The stone is bonded to him, and even with his body destroyed, it's still feeding him power.”
Trevor closed his eyes as he reached the same conclusion that I had. “That means he's going to come back, isn't it?”
Silvanus nodded. “I'm afraid so. I don't know when, but I believe he will.”
“How is that possible?” Kerwin demanded. “His body is destroyed. How can he still be getting power?”
“Because the stone isn't feeding power to his body.” Trevor replied. “It's feeding it to his soul. If it had been feeding it to his body, it would have hurt him no matter where I hit him, but it didn't.”
Kerwin slumped down in his chair. “And once he's been given enough power, he'll be able to create a new body and manifest in the physical world again.”
Silvanus nodded.
“What about the castle though?” Trevor asked as he opened his eyes and looked at Silvanus. “How did that come about?”
“I have only guesswork there, Trevor.” Silvanus replied.
“I'm listening.”
“When I collected my family's ashes, I felt fragments of Chaos clinging to the ruins. I can only assume that the stone gathers Chaos, and it was that Chaos, manifesting in the physical world, that formed the castle. I believe it's also Chaos that will allow Mathias to revive once he has enough of it fed to him.”
We fell silent then; there was nothing more that could be said.
Chapter 3-8 -- Chapter 4-2
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Title: A Moment of Stupidity Part 4: 1476 - 1535
Rating: R for language, and mentions of RAPE and M/M SLASH. Don’t like, then don’t read.
Disclaimer: Castlevania and its characters and situations are the sole property of Konami. I am making no money or profit off of this fanfiction and no copyright infringement is intended.
Summary: AU. What if Joachim Armster had lived through his fight with Leon Belmont? What might have been different? Well hang on, because Joachim is going to tell you all about it. From his kidnapping and forced turning to his rescue from the ruins of Walter’s castle, and from Trevor's birth and to Richter's death of old age, he tells all - and blames it all on Leon while he's at it.
Section Summary: Part 4 covers Dracula's Curse to Trevor's death.
A/N: Thank you, Lords of Shadow 2, for reminding me why Castlevania is my favorite video game series, and for getting me back into the CV fanfic mood.
1.
It Begins
It Begins
Trevor was gone for 20 long, dark days.
I stayed on the Belmont lands during his absence, as I was the best protection the family had without him. Few monsters are willing to face a 700 year old vampire, and those that are usually end up on the losing end. I didn't sleep, and I left the area only to feed. The rest of the time, I paced restlessly along the borders of the property, almost hoping that something would attack, so I would have something other than worrying to do to pass the time.
No monsters came, but Kerwin showed up late one night as I walked along the tree line, worried, and more than a little frantic. He came out of the woods as I walked along the property line, and the fear was rolling off of him in waves.
He walked up to me, and his eyes flicked from side to side for a moment. “Is it safe to talk?” he whispered.
I nodded. “What is it?”
“Walter's castle is gone.”
I choked for a second. “Gone!” I hissed “How could it be gone!”
“I don't know. It's as if something..... teleported parts of it away. Parts of it still remain. The lower floors are intact, and to my relief the crypts are still there. I wasn't looking forward to telling Silvanus that someone made off with his family's ashes, so I'm glad they were not touched.”
“So do you think Mathias...?”
“Used parts of it to build that monstrosity that we've been hearing about? It's possible. I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the council's castle is in a similar state.”
“How is that possible? How does one magically move parts of a castle and use them to build another castle?”
“Magic, I guess. Silvanus might have an idea, but I'm reluctant to ask him. That castle was his family's home for over a thousand years, and he was fairly upset when it collapsed, so I don't want to imagine how he'll react upon hearing that most of it is simply gone.”
“I'd let him know soon. He may want to move his family's remains to a safer place. With most of the castle gone, people can get to them now.”
Kerwin nodded. “That is true. I'll let him know after I leave here.” He paused. “Have you heard from Trevor yet?”
I shook my head slightly. “No, I haven't heard a thing since he left four days ago. I hope he's alright.”
“I'm sure he's fine.” Kerwin gave me a reassuring smile. “He knows how to take care of himself.”
“I know, but that doesn't make me worry any less.”
“He refused to learn how to use his vampiric powers, didn't he?”
“Well..” I couldn't help the sly smile that appeared on my face then. “For the most part, he did, but he uses them more than he thinks.”
“Oh?”
“When's the last time you saw a human dive across the room without touching the floor?”
“Clever.”
“I think so.”
Kerwin sighed. “I'd best be going. I want to speak to Silvanus quickly and then get home. I really didn't want to come here, but I figured that you needed to know what happened.”
“Are you worried?”
“About whatever scheme that Mathias is working on? Aren't you?”
“More than I'm willing to admit.”
Kerwin smiled darkly, and then he stepped into the trees so he wouldn't be seen by anyone else. I turned away just as he morphed into a bat and flew off.
******
Fear seemed to hang over the land like a sickening fog. The Belmonts were under orders from Trevor to not leave the property and to not go out at night. They were also told to stick together in groups at all times, even during the day. I stuck to the shadows during the daylight hours, to lessen the chance of sometime outside the family seeing me, but I still kept watch.
Kerwin had told Silvanus the fate of his castle not long after he and I had spoken. Like we expected Silvanus had been quite upset at the news, and he had quickly moved his family's remains to a safe location. While he was doing so, he had been attacked just before sunset by a werewolf and minotaur. He had easily destroyed them both, but the attack only worried us even more. If Mathias' army of monsters were brazen enough to attack a 4,000 year old vampire while it was still light out, then there was nothing that they feared. Who would they go after next?
On my advice, Jonathon ordered everyone to remain in their homes at all times and to keep their shutters and doors locked tight. It wouldn't stop a werewolf, but it would hopefully slow them enough for me to get there in time. During this time, word of more attacks came pouring in, along with a chilling rumor.
“You don't know if it's true, Uncle Joachim.” Jonathon told me firmly as I paced frantically in his living room.
“I don't know if it isn't!” I snapped at him. “What if it's true? What it Trevor is lying dead out there somewhere? What if that bastard Mathias is feeding on him as we speak! What then, Jonathon!” I felt tears scald my eyes, and I angrily wiped them away. I couldn't bear the though of Trevor being gone.
Such was my state that Jonathon was able to push me down into a chair and shove a glass of strong mead in my hand. “Calm down, Joachim! It's just a rumor being passed around by ignorant, frightened peasants. I'm sure that Trevor is fine!”
The alcohol wouldn't do anything for my nerves, but I downed it anyway. “Maybe I should go look for him.” I mused.
Jonathon sat back down with his own glass of mead. “We need you here, Uncle Joachim. Trevor has our most powerful weapon, and I am too old to protect the family.”
“The same family that was ready to throw Trevor out simply because of who is grandfather is?”
He bowed his head for a second, conceded the point. “Not everyone here is guilty of that, however.”
“No, just most of them.”
“Trevor would never forgive you.”
I sighed; he had me there. “No, he wouldn't, would he? Despite everything, he still considers them family, which is more than I could have done.”
“He's an amazing young man; you did a wonderful job raising him. Now it's time to set back and let him be a man. Have faith in him, and believe that he'll come home safe.”
“I don't know if I can.”
“What would he think if he knew that you were doubting him right now? After the way he was treated by his own flesh and blood?”
I winced. “He's likely see it as a betrayal, that I don't trust him.”
“Let him do what he was trained for.”
I nodded faintly and stood up. “All right. I'll go watch the property line then.” I headed towards the door, and I expected for Jonathon to warn me again against searching for Trevor, but he said nothing. I walked out into the warm night and looked up at the stars.
“Come home, child.” I whispered, and my words were carried away by the breeze.
******
Fifteen days after Trevor's departure, early in the morning, a messenger from town appeared. He rang his hand bell to get everyone's attention and then announced the news that many had been waiting for.
“The vampire is no more!” he cried as people peeked out of windows and cracked open doors. “The dark castle has fallen!”
There was a pause, and then people ran out of their homes, cheering, laughing, and screaming in joy. Jonathon stepped forward to confirm that yes, the castle was indeed gone, and then he joined in the cheering. It was still barely after sunrise, but within a few moments, the womenfolk had rushed back inside to begin preparing a feast, while the children ran around in circles, finally able to be outside after being cooped up for so long.
I did not join them. Instead I stayed on the property line, watching the road.
Celebrations broke out everywhere over the next handful of days, and the Belmonts once again found themselves welcomed wherever they went. They cheerfully went about their business, with only a few, mostly children, wondering where Trevor was and if he was all right. I stayed by the gates, watching as the hours ticked by and the sun sank on the horizon, and it was the biggest relief of my life when I heard a familiar heartbeat approaching my position. Seconds later, I picked up hoofbeats, followed closely by Trevor's scent. I just barely managed to resist the urge to run out and greet him, especially when I picked up two more heartbeats as well as two more scents that were close to him. So I waited, and after a few minutes, I was rewarded when Trevor's silhouette appeared in the deepening gloom, on the back of his horse. I saw a pair of hands resting on his upper arms, as well as a pair of legs that hung down behind his, but I couldn't see the person they belonged to. Behind them was a second horse, this time carrying a small man in short pants and a vest, with a bandanna around his head. I wondered who the other two were for a moment, before I decided that they weren't as important and turned my attention to Trevor. As they came closer, I was frightened when I saw a bandage wrapped around his head and covering his left eye. A second bandage seemed to be covering part of his chest under his jacket. I could smell dead blood and infection coming from them, which worried me even more and made the urge to go to him even harder to fight.
A cheer from behind me made me jump, and I looked over my shoulder to see that most of the Belmonts had turned out to greet Trevor. I hadn't even noticed them. Trevor for his part waved at them, but he said nothing as he rode through the gate, which allowed me to see that it was a woman riding double behind him. The third person on the other horse came in right behind them, and the Belmonts cleared to make a path for them. All three looked exhausted, but Trevor still halted his horse, and slipped down from the saddle before assisting the lady in getting down. A few of the womenfolk surged forward to lead her off, and a few minutes later, a few of the men did the same with the other man once he got down from the second horse. One of the older boys then led the horses away, and only then did Trevor head for his own home, with Jonathon and myself following close behind.
Once inside with the door safely closed behind us, Trevor trudged into the living room and slumped down into the nearest chair, looking so tired that I felt surprised that he had managed to make it inside the house.
He didn't say a word in protest when I peeled the bandages away to check on his wounds, he simply leaned back in the chair and let me look. I was relieved to find that the infection that I had been smelling had been coming from a large gash on his chest, and not from the wound over his eye. Whatever had caused the deep cut on his face had nearly cost him his eye, but it seemed to be uninjured. A few drops of blood in each cleared out any infection and sealed the injury, though the process as the infection was burned out made Trevor groan in pain. Two noticeable scars were left behind, but I don't think Trevor cared about scarring.
“Is it done?” Jonathon asked, once that had been taken care of. “Was it Mathias like he thought?”
Trevor nodded and rubbed his face. “It was, though he calls himself Dracula now.”
“The son of the devil?” I said, “Yes, that fits him.”
Jonathon frowned for a moment before he spoke. “Well, no matter. It's done now. Go get cleaned up, Trevor, while I have the cook prepare you a light meal.”
Trevor nodded and his entire body seemed almost too heavy for him to move as he dragged himself up and out of the chair and towards the back of the house. He returned a half hour later, scrubbed clean, with his hair combed, and wearing a billowy linen shirt and soft leather pants. He sat down at the table, and held his head in his hands, while I watched him in concern. A servant put a plate down in front of him, but he ignored it.
“Trevor?” I asked quietly. “Aren't you going to eat something? You must be hungry. Eat, so you can go to bed and sleep.”
Trevor sighed heavily, and then he slowly picked up his fork and ate about half of what was on his plate. He then stood up from the table and went to his bedroom without a word, while Jonathon and I shared a look of concern. When I went to check on him a few minutes later, I found him in bed under the covers, sprawled out on his stomach, sleeping soundly. I tucked the blankets around his shoulders, brushed his hair out of his face, and then left him to sleep.
******
I stayed over night, as I wanted to be nearby when Trevor woke. Jonathon went to bed not long after Trevor did, so it was just me in the main room. The lamps and candles were out, and the fireplace wasn't needed during the warmer weather, so I had only starlight to see by, which was more than enough for me. I kept a careful listen on Trevor's heartbeat, and a few hours after midnight, I felt it accelerate as he woke up. Shortly thereafter I heard his feet on the wood floor as he came out into the main room.
“Trevor?” I called softly.
“Uncle Joachim?” he answered, and his voice trembled slightly.
I frowned in worry, glad that he couldn't see me in the dark. “What is wrong, child?”
I heard him exhale, but he said nothing. I stood up, walked over to him, and gently took him by the shoulders. I then began to walk him back to the couch that I had been sitting on under the window. “Come sit with me, and tell me what is bothering you.”
The two of us sat down, and I could feel the same heartbreak coming from him that I had the day his mother had rejected him.
“While I was gone...” he whispered in the otherwise silent room, “I met... I met my father.”
That I had not been expecting. “You met Adrian?” I asked quietly.
“Yes. He was waiting for me in the catacombs under the castle. As soon as I approached him, I felt it.”
“The bond?”
Trevor closed his eyes and nodded, and I saw a single tear run down his face. “He never acknowledged me, Uncle Joachim. I even asked him about the bond, but he refused to answer me.”
I really wanted to go hurt Adrian then.
Trevor continued. “He was polite, but distant. He only spoke to me about our quest, though there were times I caught him watching me. He knew who I was to him, and he refused to say a word about it! Why? Why did he not want me? Why did he ignore me? Why!”
I reached out to Trevor as he hung his head, and this grown man, the one who had taken down his family's worst enemy, began to cry like a heartbroken child. I held him in my arms and stroked his hair and let him cry himself out, and once he had begun to quiet down, I willed him into a deep sleep. I then gathered him up into my arms and carried him to bed. Once he was tucked in, I morphed into my wolf form and laid down across the foot of the bed. I watched over him the rest of the night.
******
In the morning, before Trevor woke, I went to Kerwin's house. He had just had his own breakfast when I dragged him into his study, locked the doors, and proceeded to rant about Adrian's refusal to acknowledge the child that he had fathered. Kerwin was sympathetic, but informed me that it was probably for the best that Adrian had never acknowledged Trevor.
“Did you hear what you just said, Kerwin?” I snapped. “How could that possibly be for the best?”
He shook his head. “If Adrian is the type to not even acknowledge his child with them right next to each other with a wide open bond, imagine what kind of parent he would have been. Trevor had you as a parent, and Jonathon as a mentor, and I think that worked out for the best in the end, don't you?”
My anger just died then, because I knew he was right. I flopped down into a nearby chair. “I know, Kerwin, but you weren't there when Trevor was a boy, listening to him ask why his father wasn't around and having no answers to give. You weren't there when he was crying believing that since his mother didn't want him, then that meant that his father didn't either. I thought he had moved on from all of that, now to find out that he hadn't? How would you feel if it was Matatias feeling this?”
Kerwin nodded slowly. “I'd probably be every bit as furious as you are.”
“Well at least, Mathias or Dracula or whatever he's calling himself now has been taken care of, and we won't have to worry about him anymore.”
Kerwin looked surprised. “Was Trevor able to destroy the Crimson Stone?”
I hadn't even thought of that. “I don't know. I would think so.”
Kerwin frowned at me. “You need to ask him, Joachim. It is very important. Ask him today, as soon as you can.”
“If he did destroy the stone...?”
“Then it is done, and we have nothing to worry about. The Crimson Stone is very powerful and very coveted. If it survived, then it is too dangerous to be left lying about.”
“I will ask him then, but perhaps it was destroyed along Mathias and his castle?”
“I doubt it. From what I read in Father's books, that stone is much harder to destroy than the Ebony Stone. If Trevor did not destroy it, we need to find it and find a way to secure it, quickly. I will speak to Silvanus about it, and I'll meet you here tonight.”
I allowed myself to be shuffled out of Kerwin's house, while he went off to speak to Silvanus. Worried, and more than a little confused, I returned to Trevor's home.
******
When I returned to the Belmont lands, Trevor was just starting to wake up for the day. The rest of the family was in the mood to celebrate, and he allowed himself to be swept up in it. He made certain to check on his two companions and introduce them to the rest of the family, and I was surprised to learn the name of the woman.
Sypha Belnades.
“Are you perchance any relation to Sara and Marion Belnades?” I asked her as we enjoyed a celebratory feast in the hall. She, myself, Jonathon, Trevor, and Trevor's other guest, Grant DeNasty, were all seated together, but it was still difficult to hear, even for me, over the merriment going on around us.
In the seat next to her, Trevor started like something had just occurred to him, then he smiled. So did Jonathon.
Sypha gave me a pretty smile. “Yes,” she said pleasantly, “I am their descendant. Why do you ask?”
Trevor nodded at me, so I answered her question. “Trevor's ancestor, Elias Belmont, had a younger sister, named Sara. She married a Marion Belnades in 1120, and they had two children together.”
Sypha noticeably brightened. “Really?”
I nodded. “Indeed.”
“So I suppose that makes the two of you distant cousins then.” Jonathon said as he looked at them.
Was that a blush appearing on Trevor's face? “I can live with that.” he said quietly, so much so that I was likely the only one that heard him. He then turned to look at her and spoke loudly enough so she could hear. “I can show you the family tree, if you like? We lost track of Sara and Marion's grandchildren after the two of them passed. Perhaps you can fill in the missing gaps for us?”
Sypha smiled widely at him. “I'd love to.” and Jonathon and I shared a knowing look.
Trevor was kept busy the rest of the day, though I was quick to note that Sypha and Grant quickly noticed Trevor's less than familial attitude towards the rest of the clan and worked to shield him to some degree. Trevor had been far more forgiving than I would have been in his situation, but he still kept himself distant from many of his older relatives, especially his mother. His cousins, though, that were similar age or younger, he was friendly with, citing that they had just been children following their parents' example, which I couldn't argue with.
Sonia's one attempt to get close with Trevor, not long after he had become head of the family, had been soundly rebuffed, with him pointedly reminding her that she had severed all ties with him by surrendering him to me. He had told her quite firmly that she had wasted any chance of being his mother before he had walked away, leaving her in tears. He refused to acknowledge his stepfather's presence at all, something that I whole heartedly approved of. Trevor had never told me just how badly the man had treated him, but the hints he dropped in his behavior had been enough to make me wish I had killed the man when I had the chance.
Trevor was finally able to tear himself away from the crowd in the early evening, citing work that had to be done. It was true; he was Baron Belmont in all but name, (Jonathon still held the title, and would do so until he passed away, as was tradition.) but he had barely sat down at his desk when I sat down in the chair in front of him and looked at him seriously.
“What is it, Uncle Joachim?” he asked without looking up. As a quarter breed, his senses were very acute, and though I moved very quietly, his hearing was enough to detect me unless I really did not wish him to. He could also smell me as well as any other vampire, once we were close enough. “I have a lot to do.”
“I know you do.” I said quietly. “But there is something I need to know.”
“What is it?”
“What happened to the Crimson Stone?”
He stopped writing, and he held completely still for a moment. “I saw it,” he said after a minute or so, “I remember that striking him around the stone seemed to be the only way to hurt him. Landing a blow with the Vampire Killer anywhere else didn't seem to phase him at all. I don't think I was able to actually damage the stone though. I never saw any cracks or anything appear on it.”
“What happened when Mathias died? Did the stone fall off of him or anything?”
He looked up at me. “No, I don't think so. It just seemed to vanish along with him. Of course, Sypha and I were more worried about getting out before the castle collapsed on our heads, but I'm certain I didn't see him drop it. Why?”
“I'm not sure. Kerwin seemed pretty concerned about it.”
“That makes sense. Can you imagine any other vampire getting their hands on it? The next one might not stop at killing the ones he can gather in a group.”
I winced; I hadn't through of that. “True. At any rate, he went to talk to Silvanus about it. There seemed to be something that he wasn't telling me.”
“I take it then that you'll be going to let him know of what I just told you later?”
“Yes,”
“Hmmm, maybe I'll go with you. If it's serious enough to bring Silvanus into the conversation, it's something that I'm sure I'll need to know.”
“No time like the present then.”
Trevor nodded and stood up from his chair. He grabbed his traveling coat from the wall, and the two of us walked outside to the stables. Thankfully, the party was still going strong at the hall, so we were able to slip out unnoticed. I could have flown us there, carrying Trevor in my arms, quite easily, but Trevor found being carried in such a way uncomfortable, and there was something I wanted to talk to him about anyway.
I waited until we were a good distance away from the Belmont lands, and far out of the hearing range of any peasant settlements, before I asked my question.
“When you faced Mathias,” I began, which caused him to look at me, “were you able to feel him? Through the bond with Adrian?”
Trevor sighed. “Faintly,” he said after a long moment of silence, “I could only feel him when I was standing in the throne room in front of him. I remember wondering if he could feel me. He didn't seem to though.”
“Oh, he could. If you could feel him, then he could definitely feel you.”
“Then he must not have cared, because he never made any sign that he knew I was a relation to him.”
“Your mother told me once that your father would never acknowledge you because he didn't wish his own father to find out you existed. I never did learn what he was afraid of exactly. Did he think that Mathias would claim you as his own and hold you prisoner?”
Trevor sighed again. “I do not know. I know that the day he attacked the council, I couldn't feel him, so I assume any bonds between us are too weak to function without my father close by.”
“Likely. Losing one member of a family will weaken the bonds with the rest, and since quarter breeds and half breeds have weaker bonds to begin with, with Adrian not around, you couldn't feel each other.”
“I resemble him a great deal, don't I? His is my grandfather, after all.”
“You do. You have his hair, and I can see some of his facial features in you as well, but you also closely resemble your grandmother. She seems to be where you get most of your appearance from.”
“Lisa?”
“Yes, Lisa. I didn't get to know her well, but she was always charming and intelligent. It was no wonder that Mathias fell for her. It's amazing, considering that Mathias and his first wife were bonded, and the destruction of those bonds makes it nearly impossible for the survivor to fall in love again.”
“She must have been very special then.”
“I'd say so. I wonder what would have happened if she had lived to die of natural causes, or if Mathias had turned her to begin with.”
“We may never know.” Trevor stepped his horse over to walk closer to mine. “Could you tell me more about her?”
I laughed lightly. “I met her for the first time after Mathias had invited me to his home...”
I told Trevor then of all the times I had been around Lisa, which led to me telling me what I knew of Mathias' past, before the loss of his first wife drove him mad. Trevor listened intently, fascinated by the stories, most of which I knew second hand from Leon. He laughed when I told him how Leon had accidentally knocked Mathias into the well, and he seemed a little choked up when I described Mathias' descent into grief and madness after Elisabetha's death.
“Leon admitted to me that he always regretted being unable to help Mathias more after that.” I said. “He really wanted to stay, but the Church kept dragging him off to fight, leaving Mathias alone with no one to comfort him.”
“If he had,” Trevor asked, “Do you think it would have prevented things?”
“Possibly. Silvanus explained that having someone to anchor you will help keep you stable and allow you to move on past the grief, but it's not a guarantee. Leon might have been able to help, or he might have only slowed the inevitable. We will never know.”
Trevor nodded in understanding, and we spent the rest of the ride in silence.
******
At Kerwin's house, we met him and Silvanus in the study, and after confirming that the stone was not destroyed, Silvanus leaned back in his chair, looking worried.
“What is it?” Trevor asked.
Silvanus looked at each of us in turn, his expression serious. “Bear in mind,” he began, “no one knows exactly how the Crimson Stone works, save perhaps Mathias himself. We do know however, that the stone uses the souls of other vampires as a power source. We know that the stone is much harder to destroy than the Ebony Stone, as shown by Trevor's inability to inflict any visible damage upon it, using the same weapon that destroyed the Ebony Stone in one blow. We know that Mathias has at least thirteen souls trapped in the stone, several of which are very old and very powerful.”
Kerwin looked at Trevor. “How was he in battle, by the way? I expected him nearly impossible for you to defeat, seeing as how much power that stone has to be feeding him.”
“Surprisingly easy.” Trevor replied with a shrug. “I don't know if he was overconfident or just not thinking straight, but he was no real challenge at all, even when he changed forms twice. I knew he was in the castle as soon as I arrived, but he never attacked me. He waited for me to reach him.”
“With his knowledge of alchemy,” I added, “he had to have know what that whip could do. Hell, Sara getting bitten and being used to create it was all his plan to begin with. Leon always said that Mathias was a genius tactician, yet he has shown no signs of that since Walter's death.”
“That could be explained by the loss of his marriage bonds affecting his sanity.” Silvanus said. “To return to the original point..”
Kerwin mumbled, “Sorry.” and nodded at Silvanus.
“You said he changed forms?” Silvanus asked Trevor, who nodded. “And this was after you striking him around the stone?”
“Hitting him anywhere else seemed to do nothing.” Trevor replied.
“What does that tell you?” I asked.
“That tells me,” Silvanus said, “that while damaging the stone itself may not be possible with the Vampire Killer, it IS possible to make it unstable. Attacking the stone interrupts the flow of power, enough that either Mathias loses control of it, causing the form shift, or -”
“Or he IS in control of it, but the interruption of power makes him pull more to deal with what he was then seeing as a real threat.” Trevor finished.
“Exactly.”
“And interrupting the power flow enough allowed me to do enough damage to kill him.”
“Yes,”
“Then what's the problem?” Kerwin asked. “He's dead, so let's celebrate!”
“Kerwin,” Silvanus said patiently, “The stone in not destroyed. The souls within it are still trapped and still providing power.”
“Yeah, and? We find the stone, destroy it, let the souls go, and then we'll celebrate.”
“Trevor, the stone vanished with Mathias correct?”
“It did, yes.”
“Where, then, is that power going?”
Silvanus' question made us all go silent for a long moment, and I finally realized what he was getting at.
“Back to Mathias.” I said quietly. “The stone is bonded to him, and even with his body destroyed, it's still feeding him power.”
Trevor closed his eyes as he reached the same conclusion that I had. “That means he's going to come back, isn't it?”
Silvanus nodded. “I'm afraid so. I don't know when, but I believe he will.”
“How is that possible?” Kerwin demanded. “His body is destroyed. How can he still be getting power?”
“Because the stone isn't feeding power to his body.” Trevor replied. “It's feeding it to his soul. If it had been feeding it to his body, it would have hurt him no matter where I hit him, but it didn't.”
Kerwin slumped down in his chair. “And once he's been given enough power, he'll be able to create a new body and manifest in the physical world again.”
Silvanus nodded.
“What about the castle though?” Trevor asked as he opened his eyes and looked at Silvanus. “How did that come about?”
“I have only guesswork there, Trevor.” Silvanus replied.
“I'm listening.”
“When I collected my family's ashes, I felt fragments of Chaos clinging to the ruins. I can only assume that the stone gathers Chaos, and it was that Chaos, manifesting in the physical world, that formed the castle. I believe it's also Chaos that will allow Mathias to revive once he has enough of it fed to him.”
We fell silent then; there was nothing more that could be said.
Chapter 3-8 -- Chapter 4-2
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