Part 12
Alucard had left the church grounds, not wanting to stay any longer. He did not think he would see eye to eye with Father Maxwell, but being summoned by him was a good reason to get a feel for the man out and who he was. Many people within the town, including the Lord's wife, believe he has something to do with everything that has happened so far, even though he did not arrive a few years after the first recorded killings happened. It was a mystery, one that Alucard knew had an answer, but he could not figure it out, it plagued his mind, nourishing it at every moment.
He could always trust his instinct in the past, but this was different. He was not sure what to believe, everything he finds just leaves more questions.
Maxwell said he was from a small village from Sacrifices he thought to himself, and from my studies I know that Sacrifices was one of the few countries that could create the endless night, he also got very defensive when asked about that poison. He definitely knew it, but does he know how to create such a deadly poison, if so why has he not used it on the ones to get in his way. Such as the cities watch captain Markus, or even Lord Davos, or Brok’s brother. But why was it only in the young elf girl, she has no connection to anyone apart from the rumour of her being in a relationship with Davos son.
The streets were quiet, the sun hung low in the sky, the beautiful orange and yellow colours blending made a site to behold, casting a warm glow though the clouds onto the stone streets, Alucard walked alone with his thoughts. Every so often he would stop and watch the people live their lives. Everyone was so happy, news of the ghouls that had inhabited the mine, the heart and soul of the town was clear.
Everyone was getting excited, hoping for work to come back to the town. If the mine was to reopen the miners and their families could get back to work, it would mean families would not have to worry about food or money. He could overhear some people talking about the event.
“Did you hear? The city watch captain, Markus fellow and a few of his men went into the mine a few days ago and cleared the whole lot of, they say he killed a 100 ghouls all by himself.” said one of the men.
“I heard it was that hunter fellow, err what's his name again Alu, Alucad or something like that, he went down there with markus and that Dwarf who owns the black smith, you know the one, hes always drunk around the middle of the after nood.”
“You fool, that’s brok, he is the one who lost his brother to that monster not long ago.”
“Oh, shit I forgot, I guess that would explain why he was always so drunk early in the morning trying to drown out the pain.
“I hear you man, I know the feeling one can have at the end of a bottle.”
“Do you think they will reopen the mine any time soon? I need to find some work, I am no good at the docks, just looking at the water makes me feel a bit sick.”
“No idea, I heard that Markus and his men still have some cleaning up to do down there, possible strangers down there.”
“Oh, that makes sense. I guess they don't want anyone to get attacked or killed down there, it would make things even worse.”
Aluacrd laughed to himself hearing how people talked about their adventure into the mine, if only they knew the truth down there. Markus keeped a lot of what happened down there a secret to the public, it is unknown if he will add everything into his report but Alucard did not worry nor care on the matter, it changed nothing.
As Alucard continued his stroll through the town, he couldn't help but appreciate the resilience of its people. The hope for the mine's reopening hung in the air, infusing the atmosphere with a newfound optimism. The town was buzzing with life, and the prospect of a brighter future seemed more tangible than ever.
The sun dipped lower on the horizon, casting elongated shadows across the streets. As Alucard passed by the market square, the various stalls displayed fresh produce and goods. Merchants were engaged in lively banter with customers, and the aroma of street food wafted through the air.
As he wandered, Alucard's thoughts shifted between the immediate concerns of the town and the looming mysteries that still eluded him. The encounter with Father Maxwell had left a sour taste in his mouth, and the priest's enigmatic motives only fueled Alucard's determination.
The day was transitioning into evening, and Iron Harbour's vibrancy persisted. Families enjoyed their meals in the warmth of their homes, and laughter echoed through the narrow alleyways. Alucard found himself enjoying the peace, he normally travels alone, moving from one camp site to another, the only company he has is his horse, and she was not one for much of a conversation.
Whenever he walked into any place people would keep their distance, a lot of people are afraid of outsiders, standers, vagabonds, to them it was the unknown, someone who could bring harm to their loved ones.
The evening air was cool, carrying with it the scent of the sea. As Alucard continued his stroll, he noticed the flickering glow of lanterns illuminating the town's streets. The rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore provided a soothing backdrop to the town's evening activities.
Alucard's attention was drawn to a small tavern nestled in a corner. The warm light spilled onto the cobbled pathway, and the lively chatter of patrons seeped through the slightly ajar door. He contemplated whether to enter; the allure of a momentary respite from his thoughts was tempting.
Alucard had been walking around the town for quite some time now, he enjoyed this moment, it reminded him of his younger days at his own home growing up. The Morgraine family estate was so vaste, it was unknown how much land or money had gathered over all the years. The Morgraine lived in a large castle-like structure, that was built by dwarfs of the highest order, their skills were unmatched even to this very day, no one has even come close to the type of buildings and weapons they could forge.
The dwarfs even helped fortify it with magical runic power to help protect everyone who lived on the grounds, shielding them from the horrors of the world. Over the years monsters and army’s tried to break the sanctum of House Morgraine, but each time they all failed.
Alucard would often take walks in the gardens and fields that surrounded his home, the house was covered and hidden away in the mountains, only the most trustworthy people were ever allowed on the grounds. He would walk the grounds with his beloved sister Elice, they would run off and play make believe adventures, or just having a normal life.
Alucard looked up at the sky and saw the sun was setting, seeing it had only minutes left of its final moments of daylight. That argent prick gave me sundown before my life ended. He thought to himself. He was not worried about anything that Maxwell said said, many men have come after me in the past and they are all dead and buried, but he was a bit curious as to how he would try and kill Alucard, surely he would not send his follows after him, he would know that they could not take me? Anyway it does not matter.
Alucard started to walk off once more. Many shops started to shut their doors, and close up for the night, others were meeting up with friends to talk about the mine and how everything is changing for the better. Alucard found a seat by the side of the road and sat down, he closed his eyes and let his mind rest for a moment.
Suddenly Alucard woke up, he looked around, the hour had grown late, without even realising it he had fallen asleep, he was unsure how much time had passed. He looked up at the night sky and saw a full moon, it was very late he thought. He is best on making his way back and resting for the night.
As Alucard walked down the streets at night, he was losing his way, he does not normally walk the streets at night and many of the alley ways looped back around, they started to infuriate him. After he came from one of the alley ways he thought was the right one, he found himself back toa street he was formally with. Suddenly he heard a man's voice. “Hey Alucard, we've been looking for you.”
He turned around to see who it was, by his surprise, it was Markus and he was with two of his soldiers, Alucard recognized the other two as the soldiers who followed them into the mine’s and helped clear it out. He walked over to them, happy to see a friendly face, and he also could ask them for directions.
“I almost got lost, those damn alleyways, they all look alike.”
“Don’t worry Alucard, I have lived here for 15 years, I still get lost in them.” said one of the soldiers.
“I still don't know how you know where you're going Markus, they really should make signs for them.”
“It's my job to remember them. Don’t worry Rick, you will learn them soon enough.”
“How's the arm?” asked Alucard, as Rick almost lost his arm back in the mine’s, it was only because of Alucard healing potion he used, he did not bleed out right then and there.
“Much better thank’s, still a bit sore, but we did a lot of fighting down there, I am shocked we lost no one.”
“No one dying on my watch, it's my job to train you to the best of your abilities. Ed you will need to brush up on some of the basics, you are one of my best but I saw a few mistakes down there as well.”
“Yea I know captain, sorry about that. I would have been killed if it was not for Brok, I swear he had the strength of 10 men down there, a ghoul had me pinned down and I thought I was a goner and with one swing he crushed it skull, saved my bacon.”
Markus nodded with a hint of pride in his eyes. "Brok is one of the strongest dwarfs I know, and he's got a heart to match. We owe a lot to each other after what happened down there. It was good to see him back to his old self again.
Everyone agreed, the men started to share stories, people within their lives,and events that had happened within their past. It was a good bounding moment for Alucard, he tended not to get close to anyone anymore, no matter how hard to push people away, they always flowed back to him.
As the hour grew later the air started to chill, the wind howled in the night sky, it was like screams through the alleyways.
“Shit, it’s cold” said Rick as he started to move up and down trying to stay warm.” “Yes you're right, I know it gets old at night, but it’s summer, why is it so damn cold.”
A neutral fog started to appear around the streets, covering up the lamp posts, blocking out the small light they had.
“What the hell is going on here?” interrupted Markus as he walked past Alucard and scanned the surrounding area. “Where the hell is this fog coming from?”
Alucard observed the encroaching fog with a sense of unease. The unnatural thickness of it raised the hairs on the back of his neck. The mist seemed to swallow all sound.
Markus, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, squinted into the fog. "Stay close, everyone. This isn't right."
“Wait, stop!”
“What is it, Alucard?”
Alucard was on highest alert, he was not taking any chances, Alucard grabbed his whip and sword, lowered them slowly, he stepped forwards ever so slowly, his sword at the ready, the leather strap of the whip guard held tightly in his hand. Alucard could hear something, something was coming, what it was he did not know, but definitely not human.
The small sounds of foot sets on tiles it sounded like, but he could not be surtain, he looked behind to check on the others, Markus, Ed and Rick all had their weapons at the ready, they held their ground. Suddenly all sound vanished, there was nothing, the air felt so cold, like ice in the lungs, it burned with pain just to breath. Then he heard it, the sound that terrified him to his core. A song, echoed in the distance, a whistling song. It was just as Brok described it, death’s song.
Alucard had heard this sound before, for one brief moment within the mine’s, but that is not what scared him, he also heard it once before a long time ago, back when he lost his family. The day he ran, and never looked back.
“What is that? A song, it's terrifying ” said Rick.
Suddenly a sound rushed through the air, Alucard had no time to think, just moved on instinct, dashed around and grabbed Markus and Ed, just missing Rick pushing them to the ground. There was a loud crash and a rip.
“What the hell was that for Alucard? I think you cracked my back.” Markus looked up and saw a pool of blood covering the floor; it was splattered all over his face and Alucard’s back.
“Shit, Alucard you hurt.” “Not my blood”
Markus looked up and saw Rick still standing there, after a moment he realised what he was looking at, Rick still in shock turned around and looked at them on the floor.
“Captain...”
Markus looked at Rick half of his side and chest had been ripped open, blood and organs were spilling out, he was dead, his mind just had not courted yet.
“Captain... I don't feel so...”
Rick fell to the ground with a crash. The fog seemed to thicken around them, carrying an otherworldly chill. The whistling song grew louder, now an eerie melody that filled the air, wrapping itself around the senses like a shroud.
Alucard rose to his feet, Markus still on the ground beside him, the blood-soaked cobblestones reflecting the dim light that struggled through the fog. Ed, his face pale, clutched his sword tightly, his eyes darting in all directions.
"What the hell is happening?" Markus muttered, his eyes fixed on Rick's lifeless form.
Alucard's gaze was sharp, scanning the mist for any movement. His heart was pounding, he had not been this sacred for a long time, he hated it, all he wanted to do was run, run as fast as he could just like last time and never look back, but he knew he could not do that, people were counting on him. "We're not alone. Keep your guard up."
The whistling melody continued, now accompanied by a soft laughter that seemed to dance on the edge of sanity. Shadows flickered in the fog, indistinct and haunting.
"Show yourself!" demanded Markus, rising to his feet, his sword now unsheathed.
Ed was frozen in shire terror, he had seen nothing like this before, what he saw and did in the mine’s where nothing compared to this, he screamed at his body to move, but nothing happened.
Alucard scrambled to his feet grabbing his sword, but he had lost his whip in all of the composition, he cursed at loud, he grabbed Ed shoulder and shook him to his senses, “You stay still you die move!” he yellowed.
Markus was in a state of rage at this point. Markus had lost soldiers and friends before in the past, but never like this, most moved away or passed away because of an illness or was lost at sea, but never in such a way, to be torn apart in an instant. There was nothing he could have done.
Markus swung his sword at the mist yelling screaming, hoping to hit something, Alucard guard was up leaving no opening, Ed had snapped to his senses but still terrified he was shaking not from the cold, but out of fear, he did not want to die.
The sound came acme again this time faster, but everyone was ready they moved as fast as they could jumping out the way, but the creature was faster much faster, there was a loud scream “AHHHHHHHHH'' Ed had been hit, part of his side was slashed deep, blood was pouring out at great speed. His body was still intact, there was a chance he could still make it.
“Drink this!!” Alucard tossed one of the poisons he used on Rick's arm before, which stopped and sealed up his wound. Ed's hand was shaking uncontrollable, covered in blood. The drink kept slipping out of his cold wet hand, he finally grabbed it and splashing a bit on his large wound and screamed in pain, he drank the rest and the wound started to close in on itself. Alucard could not say for certain if Ed would live; he was unsure how much blood he had lost, those drinks are not designed for normal humans.
Alucard looked around for Markus; he had lost sight of him in all of the chaos, he looked around frantically, not seeing him at all. “Fuck this” he yelled and Alucard started to learn down on one knee and muttered something in a strange langue, suddenly he hand glowed him a light blue glow, he slams the ground with great speed and a shockwave of wind blows in all directions phishing the fog completely away revealing the streets once more.
Markus looked around and saw both Ed and Alucard next to one another, Ed had fullen unconscious by the wall, Alucard was a few feet from him, looked at Markus and yelled “behind you!”
Markus turned around and there they saw it, the creature, a towering tall skeleton like features, covering its body, so thin you could see its skeleton like structure, its face was torn and twisted, his eyes were a pure shade of glossy white.
Alucard looked at the creature, this is not what the monster he saw all those years ago. This is something else. Alucard had heard of these creatures before. This was a summoned spectral demon, rare creatures, very deadly, but what made this monster completely different from most mindless monsters that kill only for food or pleasure.
This one had a master, they are summoned by a sort of retrule offering, Alucard had never seen one before but he recanases the design of the monster from his many hours of studies he had done in his youth. Normally there are always two, a master and a loyal servant. The master would perform the right, and only if the host is willing can the transformation take hold, it turns the user into an unholy creature, its purpose to do only one thing, its master command.
Alucard's mind raced as he pieced together the nature of the creature before them. The beast-like creature was a manifestation of dark magic, bound to a master's will. If his suspicions were correct, the master was likely somewhere nearby, hidden in the shadows.
No time to find the master, he thought, his best chance was to kill here and now. If he could kill it the master would be without a puppet to do his bidding. The beast stood tall on its hine legs, razor shaped teeth covered its mouth, blood and spit dripping uncontrollably. Talons so sharp they could rip through the strongest steel in an instant.
Alucard tightened his grip on his sword. Markus, too, understood the urgency of their situation.
The beast lunged forward, its movements agile and unpredictable. Alucard dodged its initial strike, the creature's claws slicing through the air where he had stood moments before. Markus engaged the creature, his sword clashing against the razor-sharp claws. The clash echoed through the night. The sound of shattering steel filled the night sky, Markus sword was shattered into pieces. The beast grabbed Markus by his armour and raised him off the ground to eye level, it was huge, at least 8 foot tall and tossed him around like a ragdoll.
Markus screamed in pain and the beast tossed him at a building and he crashed right through a window, glass shattered all around them. Alucard had no time to check on Markus; his full attention was on the beast.
Alucard circled the creature, seeking an opening. He knew the importance of precision; this was not a foe to be underestimated. The beast's allegiance to its master meant that defeating it would strike a significant blow against the one who had summoned it.
He scanned the area looking for his whip, he knew the beast had the advantage in close combat, he needed to be smart to keep him at a distance. Alucard's whip, now lying a few feet away, caught the dim light from a nearby streetlamp.
Alucard moved swiftly to retrieve his whip, keeping a keen eye on the monstrous creature. The beast, having dealt with Markus, turned its attention back to Alucard. Its movements were sinuous, its skeletal form agile despite its size.
As Alucard regained his weapon, he felt a surge of energy coursing through his veins. The whip crackled with an otherworldly power, and he knew he had to make the most of this advantage.
The creature advanced, its predatory instincts keen. Alucard readied himself, his whip swirling through the air like a living thing. He lashed out, the enchanted leather striking the creature's form. A burst of ethereal energy accompanied each strike, searing the creature's skeletal flesh. What little skin the beast had the whip would tear it apart, blood covered the streets, the beats yelled in pain.
Every Step the creature took forward Alucard moved to steps back, always making sure to keep as much distance has he could, Alucard did not have the advantage, most of his gear he needed was at his place of rest, he needed his morning star whip, but he had left it with his belongings.
The morning star whip, was Alucard most deadliest weapon he has, what made this weapon so deadly, it had a large range of around 20 feet, reaching most monster long before they get in range, it had a a large metal spile like design that bent and curved its from, with smaller spikes on its side. The strap was leather so as to not let it slip or lose control when using.
It was empowered by unknow magic that for all monsters and demons alike, as soon as the metal would tuch there flesh, the weapon would corse great pain, the area that was hit would glow with a red and orange colour and the wound would fester with raped speed, and seconds later the area with exploded from great force winding if not killing most monsters.
Alucard had something on his side that the monster did not have. Time, time was on his side, the screams and roars the beast had been making since the very start
echoed all over the town, he could hear the sound of people screaming in fear and the city watch guards scrambling searching frantically.
He could see torch lights shining in the distance, they were getting closer, Alucard only had to servire for a few moments longer, he could do that, he must, he will not let this creature win, or its unknown master.
The dance contunited every time the beast rushed him, he would move back slashing his whip with great speed, the sound cracking the air itself, but bit by bit Alucard was running out of space, the beast jumped at him with great speed and high. He jumped into one of the alleyways, the beast just missing his head by moments, its large talons breaking the stone wall behind him.
Shit, this is not good, this area is too small I don't have anywhere to move around, he was trapped, the beast was so tall it was around the height of the roof tops, he waited for the beast to strike again. The beast yellow and unholy roared and jumped at him, Alucard rolled under his tall legs missing the beats attack once again. With great speed it rammed into the side of the building head first, it screamed in pain.
Alucard turned around with great speed and slashed at its exposed back with his sword, cutting it deep, it yelled, it spun around lashing at him, Alucard aimed for its eyes next, cutting them and blinding the beast.
"It yelled once more, blood dripping from its face. He used it as an opening and jumped at the beast, sword piercing its chest, cutting right into the heart of the monster. It yelled; the sound was unearthly. With all his strength, he pulled down on his sword, cutting even deeper into the flesh. Its chest and stomach ripped open, its internal organs hung out, tossed around like wind chimes.
Suddenly, the beast grabbed Alucard's chest, tearing into his flesh. He yelled in pain. 'Stubborn bastard, aren't you?' Alucard said, gritting his teeth. He stopped once more, and the beast let out another scream.
'Over here, this way!! I hear the beast.'
Alucard could hear the sound of soldiers coming. He did it; he managed to survive long enough for help to arrive. Alucard looked at the monster's face; it opened its eyes once more, healing from his attack. He was shocked; he did not know it could heal so fast.
'Oh, fuck.'
The beast's scream reverberated in Alucard's face, its foul odour overwhelming his senses. With savage ferocity, it tore at his flesh, rending into his side as he screamed in agony. The creature flung him around, crashing him to the floor, blood seeping from his gaping wound.
Then, with another chilling cry, the beast leaped to the rooftops and vanished into the darkness, as torchlights approached the scene. Alucard struggled to rise but found himself immobilised by excruciating pain. Consciousness slipped from his grasp, the world fading into shadow.
Coldness enveloped him, his fingers growing numb as darkness encroached. He fought to remain awake, but his efforts faltered. No one approached; he was alone in his struggle, his life slipping away. Words failed him as he gazed upward, catching a fleeting glimpse of a shadowy figure before succumbing to unconsciousness.
Stay with Bayside to read the next chapter of Luke Franklin's riveting online novel. Coming soon!
