Castlevania Nocturne: A Guardian's Tale (Part 2)

Le Héros des Deux Mondes

Emma shattered her captive's chains with a wrench of her claws. "I cannot believe this." She muttered.

"Neither can I." The former prisoner chuckled in good humor. "Twice you've saved me from a vampire's fangs, and I am all the better for it. I can't thank you enough."

"Save it when we are away from this cursed island." Emma murmured, checking over her old friend she hadn't seen in over a decade. She couldn't help but smile.

Marquis de Lafayette, history may have known him as the hero of two worlds, but to Emma he was one of her dearest human friends, one she could be herself around and show vulnerability.  An invaluable comrade from her Revolution years ago. She wished she kept in contact with him over the years, perhaps it would've averted the current situation he found himself in.

Nevertheless, he was here now, spared from Erzsebet's torture and the wrath of the masquerade vampires.

" How did you of all people become Erszebet Bathory's prisoner? Aren't you the Commander of the National Guard?" Emma asked.

The spirit in his eyes faded. "No longer. I was forced to resign and surrender when Bathory's forces attacked my estate. My children escaped, thank God, but she captured my wife and threatened to torture  her if I did not stand down. I had no choice."

Emma's eyes widened. "You surrendered everything to save your wife."

"Yes, and they beat me, chained me, and carted me to this godforsaken chateau like a bear to be baited for their sick pleasure. Those undead heathens." He turned to Vance. "No offense."

"None taken." Vance clicked his teeth. " We need to leave Em, before the vampires regain their wits and chase us down."

"You're right." Emma nodded. "We can catch up later. Lafayette, can you walk?"

Lafayette kicked the chains away. "As sure as I can stand. Lead the way Emma. Ah I wish I had my saber! I am as useful as a newborn baby among these fiends!"

"You can take the one you gifted me when we get home." Emma promised. "But don't worry, between my sword and Vance's teeth, those provincial vampires will rue the day they made Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette their sacrificial lamb!"

.....

They couldn't leave the way they came. The bridge connecting to the mainland was heavily patrolled by vampires and now toothy night creatures, and there were no other path off the island. Normally that wouldn't have posed a problem, Vance and Emma could have taken wing under the cover of the clouded night but with Lafayette, that option wasn't feasible.

We'll have to make our own crossing. Emma suggested telepathically to Vance. On the other end of the island is a swift current, vampires can't cross it but I can make a land-bridge Lafayette can walk .

Vance agreed with a nod and shifted into mist, blending into the fog now blanketing the chateau grounds.

Vance took Lafayette's hand and let him through, skirting around the chateau grounds. Her Seraphim Sight proved an advantage as she avoided the black souls of vampires weaving out of the grey moving in the opposite direction like a pack.

My little stunt inside the chateau flustered them. Hmm, looks as if they're pursuing something. Whatever new caught their attention she was thankful for it, it gave them a better chance of escaping unnoticed.

Emma jolted to a halt when she passed the chateau, bearing her teeth in a hiss.

"Emmaline, what is wrong?" Lafayette asked concerned.