Chapter Text
The cold breeze whistled in their ears and tugged at their cloaks, playing with the mist that lingered in the cemetery. The large trees loomed menacingly over both of them, their gnarly branches â void of leaves and color â twisting this way and that in their attempt to reach for the sun that was hidden by thick gray curtains made of clouds. Snow crunched under their leather boots, littering the muddy soil and the old mausoleum. All in all, it made for a mildly disturbing scenery, Maud noted after her dulled eyes swept the area. She made it a point to push the heavy stone doors open with very little difficulty, flashing Trevor a smug, fanged grin over her shoulder. The man let out a huff and rolled his eyes before stepping into the building.Â
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Stepping into a mausoleum, although long since abandoned, felt odd for someone like her, if not wrong. It was supposed to be a place where humans buried their loved ones under the protection of their Lord in hopes of reuniting in the afterlife. Which is why Maudâs brow furrowed when her eyes fell upon the demons carved intricately onto the walls, their gaping mouths spread into wicked grins filled sharp teeth resembling daggers and their hands curled into dangerous talons. Why the hell would they put such things inside of the building made for the children of God? Maud pursed her lips. The church made no bloody senseâ
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âSmell anything?â Trevorâs question dragged her away from her thoughts, his deep voice echoing in the empty church. He was looking at her expectantly with an arched eyebrow. Heat crawled up her neck, some of it settling on her cheeks and the tips of her ears in her embarrassment. She cleared her throat awkwardly.
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âAh, right. Give me a moment, my nose isnât what it used to be.â Maud admitted quietly, wetting her lips with the nervous swipe of her tongue. She let her eyes fall closed as she took a deep breath through her nose, filling her lungs to their maximum capacity.
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She held it there for a moment before exhaling slowly, prying apart the myriad of smells from one another. There was Trevorâs scent â musky and manly with a hint of stale booze and old blood â and the mausoleumâs dusty, humid smell. But, there was also the soft, feminine scent of lavender and roses, still relatively fresh in comparison to the rest. Maud turned her head in its direction, breathing it in once more, and opened her eyes. Relief melted the tension from her shoulders with the knowledge that her senses were not completely gone.
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Trevor followed her stare to the hidden entrance, disguised as another wall besides the statues. His lips lifted into a soft smirk, and Maud wasnât sure if he was silently praising her or just mocking her nervousness. Perhaps both. That fucker. She blew a white curl from her face, unamused. The hybrid crossed the room and reached the passage in a few strides, getting a good grip with her calloused hands to hoist herself up. Sheâd already lifted herself halfway, her feet already set on the demonâs head to go through the passage when Trevorâs hand wrapped around her ankle, her cold skin greedily absorbing the warmth of a packmate even through the layers of clothing. Maud stopped in her actions, suppressing a shudder, and stared at him in question.Â
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âCareful.â He murmured and those warm fingers tightened just barely before he let go altogether. She nodded, ignoring the longing in her chest and the cold ache in her joints. Maud peered into the darkness and saw an inclined path rather than stairs. The air within it was still, the cold drafts of air replaced by a constant warmth. Maud slowly slid her feet in and took a deep breath before pushing off the entrance. She slid down the smooth stone, her cloak whipping around behind her as warm air caressed her cold cheeks. It took a handful of seconds before her feet made contact with even ground, the long garment fluttering around her as she delved deeper into the dark halls. Trevor fell into step behind her, the sound of their footfalls bouncing off the stone walls.
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The second pair of footsteps halted, making Maud turn around to see that Trevor had stopped to look at the third torch on the left side of the hallway. It was misaligned and damp at the stop, Maudâs nose wrinkling at the smell ofâ âFresh oil.â Trevor voiced, taking it into his hand. He took out a small knife from his belt and struck the wall, the sparks causing the top of the torch to ignite. Maud squinted her eyes at the sudden light and turned her head away. She vaguely heard Trevor mutter a small apology over the pounding in her temples.
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Maud waved her hand dismissively, âItâsââ Dull silver eyes fell upon the pipe traveling up the wall and into the ceiling. âFineâŚâ She trailed off with the tilt of her head, eyebrows pulled together in confusion as she approached the pipes. She placed a chilled hand on its surface, no signs of rusting in sight, and momentarily relished in its warmth despite her surprise. âItâs warm.â Maud pointed out while placing her other hand on the pipe. She tried not to sigh in relief as the constant ache of her joints alleviated and turned her head to look at her equally confused companion, âWhy is there a piping systemââ
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Something rustled a short distance away, and Maud jumped back just as Trevor unsheathed his sword. The hybrid swiped her tongue over her lips and flexed her fingers in a vain attempt to keep the blood flowing properly. She threw one last glance at the strange pipe before cautiously following after the Belmont. âI can hear you,â Trevor called out as they slowly went down the steps, âIâm armed, and a lot less happy than you are⌠so you best stay well out of our way.âÂ
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Maud stopped in her tracks when the Speakerâs scent grew dangerously thin, and hesitated. She grabbed Trevorâs shoulder, her fingers curling into the soft white fur on his cloak to stop him. âWait, the Speakerâs scent is faint here. We need to go the other way.â Maud spoke in a hush, worried that sheâd lose track of the Elderâs grandchild and mildly afraid sheâd alert whatever creature was lurking around in the shadows.Â
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Trevor stared into the darkness while adjusting his hold on his sword, the fingers of his other hand tightening around the torch until his knuckles became the color of untainted snow. âAlright.â He finally spoke while turning on his heels. A thunderous crack sounded from somewhere under their feet and the stone steps shuddered. Maud met his wide eyes and grimaced.
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âShit.âÂ
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The floor cracked and crumbled, sending them plunging into the room below. Her breath got caught in her throat as her world tilted, that godawful squirming feeling in her organs back with vengeance. Amidst the flailing and the falling debris, Trevorâs arm had looped around her waist, mindful of the sharp weapon in his hand. Their boots slammed into the ground, and Maud let out a small breath at the stability, but didnât straighten her spine from their hunched position.Â
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âHa! See that?â Trevor grinned smugly, the arm looped around her waist squeezing pointedly, âReflexes like a cat.â He pointed out with the arrogant jut of his chin, the flames of the torch casting a rather charming glow to his face.
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She found amusement replacing the nausea and she didnât dare fight off the grin that curled at her lips. Their little moment was short lived, however, when the floor gave out under them once more. A scream was ripped from their throats this time, the plunge being much deeper than their previous fall. Trevorâs torch was lost somewhere when they hit one of the pipes, only to continue their descent at an alarming speed. Something in the back of her head screamed at her, and Maud found herself tucking Trevor into her chest and taking the brunt of the fall.
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It hurt less than she thought it would, but the air left her lungs in a rush nonetheless. She couldnât help the grimace that twisted her lips and furrowed her brow, her eyes squeezed shut as she lay waiting for the stars to disappear from when she hit the back of her head against a slab of stone. Blood had begun trickling from the cut, a little thing that would sluggishly knit back together soon enough. The sound of Trevorâs groaning ensured that he was indeed alright, and it made her discomfort less of a problem. The Belmont also confirmed the fact that he was too fucking good for this shithole of a world when he immediately rolled to the side to avoid crushing her down with his weight and started checking her over like a fretting mother. A laugh that was more like a wheeze left her lips.Â
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Trevor set his hand at the base of her neck, warm fingers ghosting over her pulse, âAre you alright?â She found his voice extremely soothing as the stars dissipated and she could open her eyes. God, did he even know what he was doing?
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âMâfine,â There was a nasty little rasp to her voice that indicated that no, she is not fine and something is definitely broken. Trevorâs expression twisted further, concern clear in those icy blues of his. Maud let out another small huff and waved him away as she heaved herself up, joints popping noisily as she went. She rubbed the back of her head with careful fingers, mindful of the knot holding back her dark brown tresses, grateful her human companion â Belmont hunter or not â hadnât taken the brunt of the fall. While he probably would have walked it off, it would definitely present to be a problem in the future. Her healing, even as sluggish as it was now, was still better than his.
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Her head tilted at the sound of buzzing and she flinched when the oddly shaped torches on the walls flickered to life. Maud blinked slowly as her eyes adjusted to the brightness and allowed herself to gaze upon the source of light. Recognition blazed in her mind, bringing forth the villageâs tales of vampiric technology. The electricity hummed, travelling through hidden wires woven within the walls to power up the lightbulbs and illuminate the corridor. Her momentary awe was snuffed the second her eyes fell upon the numerous human sized statues littering their surroundings, one of them smelling strongly of lavender.Â
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âWhat the hellâŚâ She found herself muttering, her upper lip curling back at the strange sight of bits and pieces of human anatomy turned to stone. The Elderâs grandchild stood right in the middle, robes frozen in their billowing state and hands held up protectively in front of a shocked expression.Â
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Trevor marched forwards and tapped the top of the Speakerâs head with the tip of his sword, the sound of steel scraping against stone filling her ears. âEither someone left the statue of a Speaker down here, orâŚâ The Belmont trailed off as heavy footfalls slowly approached, making the ground tremble under their boots.Â
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Goosebumps rose on every inch of flesh in her body, and her dull senses sharpened considerably in alarm. Maud turned to face the creature stomping towards them in large strides with its bulky limbs, its mouth falling open to reveal jagged fangs while its single eye glared down at them. âMight be the cyclops, I think.â The hybrid breathed.
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Another layer of the cyclopsâ eye slid open with a disturbingly wet sound and a mesmerizing kaleidoscope of pinks, blues and greens swirled in its sclera. Maud would have taken a moment to admire the dangerously beautiful spectacle if not for the fact that it would literally turn her to stone. She dove out of the way despite the protests of her joints, her cloak whipping around at the speed of which she moved to hide behind a column.Â
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âStone-eye cyclops. Right out of the family bestiary.â Trevor spoke breathlessly in something like disgruntled awe from a few yards away, taking shelter behind another column. âGod shits in my dinner once again.â Fuck, in any other circumstance that wouldâve been hilarious, but now was not the time.
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Maud inhaled deeply, clenching her jaw and rolling her shoulders. Sheâd fought witches, demons and werewolvesâ never a cyclops, but there was always a first time for everything. The cyclops prowled closer, and all air left her in a sharp hiss as she rolled out of its way, a stony hand slamming down on her previous spot. It was like a game of hide and seek, she thought humorlessly as she took another place to hide, albeit one to the death. Movement from her right made her turn her head to look at Trevor, who pointed at the Speaker before gesturing at her. Ah, he wanted her to take the Elderâs grandchild out of the way. But what of the cyclops?Â
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Seeing her expression, he lifted his sword and gave a firm nod. All right then. Maud steeled herself and slowly slid around the column, muscles tense at the odd, maddening silence. Fuck, she grimaced; feeling like prey was disturbing. With that thought, she sprinted across the corridor and hefted the statue into her arms as she went. There was a grunt and the sound of something soaring through the air before embedding itself into tough skin, Trevor attacking the creature most likely. Maud skid to a stop in the safest corner she could find without leaving her companion by himself in the corridor.
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âCome on! Come on! Youâre dead! Stop and notice youâre deadâŚ!â Trevorâs frustrated shout reached her ears, and Maud turned, only to groan at the sight. Trevor scurried out of the way like a measly mouse as the cyclops fired another beam of colorful light in his direction, the sword stuck in its chest. Muttering a string of curses, Maud set the Speaker against a wall and rushed back to the middle of the room.
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âBelmont!â Maud barked, successfully gaining the cyclopsâ attention and dodging its stocky limbs as she distracted it. Trevor jumped out of his hiding place, alarmed. âGo for the fucking head, you eejit! Why the hell would you go for the chest?!â She damn near screamed at him in disbelief and irritation, ducking out of a giant handâs way.Â
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Trevorâs whip lashed out with the flick of his wrist, wrapping around the hilt of his sword and tugging it free with a small spray of blood. The cyclops stumbled, but made no noise other than a low growl from deep within its throat. Maud found herself baring her teeth on instinct at the sound, snarling in response. âMaud, lift!â Trevor called as he flung his sword up and broke into a sprint.Â
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Maud bent at the knees and laced her fingers together to act as a stepping stone, heaving the man up as soon as his foot fell on her palms. Trevor flipped in the air with surprising grace and kicked the hilt of his sword, sending it flying with enough force to bury its blade more than halfway into the cyclopsâ eyeball. The tall creature collapsed just as Trevor landed on his feet with the gentle flutter of his cloak. Maud cracked her knuckles and flexed her fingers while Trevor coiled his whip to place it back on his belt.Â
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âWe make a good team.â Trevor said after a moment of silence, dusting off his cloak.Â
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The hybrid tied her hair into a knot again after most of it had fallen during the struggle, leaving the mostly white section to frame her face. She glanced at him, mirroring his little grin, âMm, not too bad, I think.â The sound of gagging and chunky liquid splashing on to the ground made them pause. The Speakerâs hood had fallen off, revealing short strawberry blonde hair and soft, feminine features. Sheâd been right, Maud noted to herself, letting her cloak fall closed over her front.
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The pretty Speaker straightened her spine, wiping her lips with the back of her sleeve and staring at the two of them with wide, vivid blue eyes framed by thick lashes. Trevor grunted in the back of his throat, turning to remove his sword from the cyclopsâ dim eyeball. âI wish Speakers wouldnât do that.â He voiced, not at anyone in particular as he inspected the bloodied blade and flicked the offending liquid off with the twist of his wrist.
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The young womanâs brow furrowed, âWhat?â
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âDress the girls like boys.â Trevor elaborated slowly, sliding the weapon into its sheath. Maud pressed her lips together and absentmindedly thumbed at the hem of her trousers.Â
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âItâs safer when we travelâŚâ The Speaker trailed off as she moved closer to them, looking around the room with a confused expression on her face. âWhat happened?â She questioned.Â
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Maud nodded in the direction of the corpse behind herself and looked down at her petite form with dull silver eyes. âYou came across a cyclops.â She said in reply, mindful of her fangs.Â
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âTurns you into stone with its eyeball and feeds on your terror while youâre trapped in your own body.â Trevor added in a low voice, looking as uninterested as one could be.Â
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âWe moved you out of the way so you wouldnât be used as a glorified stepping stone.â Maud continued in a small attempt to lighten the mood, shrugging her shoulders.
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 The smaller woman, a little spitfire it seemed, crossed her arms over her chest. âThat wouldâve been very rude.â She pointed out in her thick accent, and Maud didnât even attempt to hide her amusement while Trevor started at that with an indignant mutter of excuse me? âWho are you two anyways?â Oh yes, she would fit in quite nicely.Â
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Trevor sighed deeply through his nose, âWe met your grandfather. We came down here to recover your remains so the Speakers would go to safety.â He vaguely explained.
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Her face fell and she uncrossed her arms to point to the path behind her with a slender hand, âBut the Sleeping Warrior is still down here.â The Speaker interjected.Â
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âThere is no Sleeping Warrior,â Trevor began as he spread his arms, annoyance seeping into his voice. âJust a cyclops waiting for people stupid enough to go looking.â He turned to stare at her, eyes hard. âItâs a trap for gullible Speakers. Youâre not popular around here.â With that, he turned on his heel and started walking away.Â
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The Speakerâs expression hardened, stubbornness written all over her face. Maudâs instincts screamed at her to calm the girl. âThe old wisdom says the tomb is guardedââ
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âYeah, yeah,â Trevor waved a hand through the air as if fiscally batting her words away and turned his head to look at her from over his shoulder. âCome on. Time to go home. Your people think youâre dead, the least you could do is set that old manâs mind to rest.âÂ
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Maudâs eyes darted between them, watching as the Speakerâs expression softened at his words. âHe thinks Iâm deadâŚ?â She asked softly, finally coming to understand the severity of the situation she was in.
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The hybrid pursed her lips, âTechnically, until a few moments ago, you were.â Maud reminded her, kicking a small pebble with the tip of her boot.Â
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âKilling a cyclops is the only way to restore a victim. Didnât think weâd manage it.â Trevor added, rather unhelpfully, and eyed his companion from the corner of his eye. Maud let out a small grunt.Â
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The Speaker wrinkled her nose, âWho are you?âÂ
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âTrevor. Belmont.â He said his last name like an afterthought, looking anything but pleased as he basically spat the word out with venom. Maud shifted her weight and crossed her arms under her cloak, nibbling on the inside of her cheek as she waited for the inevitable.Â
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âBut the Belmonts fight monsters.â
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There it was, Maud closed her eyes.Â
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Trevor clenched his jaw and turned his icy blues to the Speaker. âIâm out of practice.â He shot back, temper slowly rising. âLetâs show you to your grandfather, and then you can come down here and get killed again. Deal?â It sounded more like a statement than a question, but he asked nevertheless.Â
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âVery well.â The Speaker spoke in a clipped tone, closing her eyes for a moment before signing and opening them as she placed her hand over her heart. âI am Sypha Belnades.â
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âI donât care.â
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âI do.â Maud interjected, stepping closer to Sypha. The hunter was already hers, and the little Speaker felt just as important. Trevor shook his head and kept walking, rubbing the side of his head. âAfter all, itâs not every day I come across a Speaker magician.â She added in a quiet voice, giving the younger woman a small smile.Â
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Sypha gasped softly at the sight of her fangs, awed but not fearful. Maud could smell it clearly; the magic coursing through her veins, simmering just under the surface of her skin. She was young and inexperienced, her magic wild and unrefined, but it had great potential. âYou⌠didnât tell me your name,â Sypha breathed, blinking her eyes a few times in a row as if to make sure what she was seeing was true.
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Maud found herself chuckling, âCall me Maud.â She requested and set a hand on Syphaâs shoulder to guide her after Trevor just as the smell of fresh blood reached her nostrils. âAnd, please, donât look back if you wish to leave without an upset belly.â
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Sypha didnât dare, following instructions without protest, and the beast inside her purred in delight. A fine addition she would make.Â
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 And, in the end, despite the occasional harsh coughing fit and the worried yet stern glares from Trevor, Maud found the trip worth it when Sypha dove into her grandfatherâs open arms and buried her face into his chest like a child. She even felt a tinge of homesickness when the elderly man lifted his head to give them a grateful smile and thanked them both genuinely. His scent was no longer ridden with sadness, replaced instead with joy that made his aged heart beat just a bit stronger.Â
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âYouâre welcome.â Both she and Trevor spoke at different times, but they meant it all the same.Â
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âI failed to find the Sleeper.â Sypha spoke up, closing her eyes as she pressed her cheek against the Elderâs chest, âIâm sorry!â
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That tender smile never left her grandfatherâs face as he pulled away from her and set his hands on her shoulders, âHush now, my angel.âÂ
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âI very much doubt thereâs anyone down there.â Trevor spoke up, interrupting the soft moment. âItâs probably a booby-trapped legend. Thereâs someone wriggling with pleasure in his coffin right now thinking of people like your girl walking into the cyclops he left down there.â He continued, and Maud reached up to rub the bridge of her nose, sighing softly. For all the chemistry the two had, they had a shit way to deal with it.
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Sypha turned to him with a mild glare. âOr perhaps there is something down there so important that it must be guarded by monsters.â She pointed out, moving closer in quick, determined strides.Â
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Trevor stared back at her, unamused, âYour Messiah isnât down there.â
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âAnd what makes you so sure?â Sypha questioned.Â
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âYou Speakers carry information down through the generations. We Belmonts pass things down as well.â Trevor revealed, his voice loud enough to be heard by all of the roomâs occupants. âDo you remember what we saw down there?â He asked Sypha, who averted her eyes in silence. The hunter walked around her, looking over the Speakers, âMetal veins pumping hot liquid? Torches that light by themselvesâ that exactly fits descriptions written by my great-grandfather. Descriptions of the inside of Draculaâs castle.âÂ
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Maud scratched her cheek and stared at their astonished expressions. âThe whole underground of the mausoleum is filled with vampiric technology, so unless you are searching for one, then there is probably nothing for you there.â She said in agreement, mildly apologetic as she sensed their disappointment. It was etched on every single one of their faces, clear as day. The Sleeping Soldier had been their last hope. âNow you may focus on packing your things and moving on, like we agreed.â
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âOh, yes, of course.â The Elder stammered as he regained his composure. âWill you join us until then? To give me the chance to repay what I owe you.âÂ
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She opened her mouth to refuse, but the words were stuck on the tip of her tongue. Leaving that girl behindâ leaving pack behind was never an easy thing. Instead of saying anything, she dragged a hand down her face and rubbed the back of her neck, shooting Trevor a small grimace. The man frowned back and went to speak, only for Sypha to beat him to it. âAt least stay so I can make something for your cough.â She offered, slender fingers curling around the edge of Maudâs cloak to gently coax her further into the room.Â
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âI suppose I could stay for that.â Maud murmured, letting herself get pushed down on a stool by warm, careful hands and resisting the urge to scent them.
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âIâll come back later.â Trevor muttered, sighing tiredly as he turned to the door. âSee if you can find some beer for our trip.â He called out over his shoulder, but Maudâs attention had already been stolen by one of the male Speakers placing a warm hand on her cold cheek.
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âMm, thatâs nice,â Maud grinned, eyes fluttering shut as she basically melted into his touch, purring in delight.
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Trevor rolled his eyes and closed the door behind himself.
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Maud felt much better after a massage and the tea Sypha had brewed for her, sitting in a corner while watching the Speakers pack their few belongings and answering their curious questions. Can you walk under the sun without protection? Yes. Do you drink human blood? No. Where do you come from? The mountains on the border of Moldav. Are there more like you? Probably not, no⌠The hands running through her hair to inspect the discoloration in the front were pleasant, making her eyelids flutter as sleep threatened to take her in its grasp. She must have dozed off for a moment because when she opened her eyes, she saw that the Speakers were sitting in a circle around her.
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She was rubbing her eyes when Trevor marched into the building, looking anything but pleased. The Elder obviously didnât notice since he smiled at the man, âTrevor, join us!â
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Trevor gave them a terribly unenthusiastic smile, âSure.â He agreed and added, in the same tone as he walked into the room, âBy the way, youâre all going to die.âÂ
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Maud rose from her seat, alert, âWhat happened?â She asked firmly.Â
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The Belmont crossed his arms over his chest and leaned his back against the stone wall. âThe current bishop of this place is⌠Well,â Trevor pinched the bridge of his nose. âHeâs beyond insane. Over the top and into new lands of snake-fuckingly crazy, and convinced that the salvation of Gresit lays in you people being torn to pieces by a mob.â He ranted, frustration clear in his voice.Â
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âOh, for fuckâs sake.â Maud exclaimed with a scowl, racking a hand through her long bangs. âAnd theyâre on their way, I take it.â She stated rather than asked and hissed at Trevorâs nod. âDamn. You need to get you out of here. Now.â The hybrid said sternly, turning to look at the Speakers with a piercing gaze.Â
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âBy the bishopâs logic, you have to die before the night creatures conduct their next raid.â Trevor pointed out bluntly when no one made a move to stand.Â
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The Elder glanced down at his granddaughter with a thoughtful expression before looking up at them again. âWhat happens if we stay and survive?â He queried.
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âThen the night creatures will tear through this place and kill everything in sight. Whoever is left will blame you and, well,â Maud trailed off with a frustrated sigh, rubbing her temples. âItâll start all over again.âÂ
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âThis feels wrong.â The Elder spoke, sounding awfully tired, and let his eyes fall closed for a moment. âTo be driven out by a lie that will doom these people, it is not a Speaker thing.â His voice trembled with emotion, but it was still strong.Â
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Trevor bristled, jaw clenching and eyes turning into icy daggers. âWe had an agreement.â He bit out through grit teeth. Maud shifted her weight from one foot to another, silent as she stared at the Elder with dull silver eyes.Â
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âI donât think itâs a Belmont thing, either.â The old man continued softly, as if he had not been interrupted. Trevorâs expression twisted in silent fury, his heart hammering away in the confines of his chest.Â
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 âI donât care,â The hunter spat, waving a dismissive hand through the air as he stepped closer to the circle of Speakers. âYou need to leave, and leave now.â
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Sypha rose to her feet, raising an arm to point out the window with a determined expression painted over her delicate features. âI donât think we can leave these people, not in their time of need!â
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Trevor moved closer to her, glaring heatedly, âThese people believe youâre causing their time of need!â
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âOnly because they are being misled by the Church.â The Elder interjected, his soft voice serving to calm them, if not mildly. The old man stood and looked at them with his wise blue eyes, still so gentle and filled with kindness despite how heâd been treated by the very people he wanted to protect. âDoes one run away when someone tells lies about them? What has the Church said about the Belmonts? That you have been corrupted by dealings with the supernatural, that you mock God, that you are a threat to the common good, and that evil follows you wherever you go.â He listed off, his voice unwavering and stern. âAnd what did you do in the face of that?â
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The Belmont hunter looked at him with his icy hues, his dark eyebrows knitted together. âI didnât run away.âÂ
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âReally?â The Elder asked softly, a hint of mocking in his voice. âSo, what are you running to? Did you have a destination in mind?â
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Maud turned her head to look at Trevor, only to find him already staring at her with a conflicted look in his eyes. Her eyes darted to the window, pupils constricting at the orange rays of the setting sun, and she hesitated. She probed at her fangs with the tip of her tongue and scuffed the toe of her boot against the floorboards, scratching at her cheek. She thought of agreeing with Trevor, of leaving this damned city behind and moving on before it was too late and she was too weak to go against Crowley, but guilt coiled around her heart like barbed wire and tightened with each thought. Finally, she let out a soft growl that was soon followed by a small, resigned huff.Â
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âI apologize in advance,â Maud spoke as she turned her head away from the window to face the Speakers, and stared directly at the Elder. âBut we have no time to waste on life lessons. The sun is setting and you have to find some place to hide while we and your magician take care of the problem.â She cast Sypha a brief glance, before Trevorâs furious expression came into view.Â
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âWe donât have time to deal with mobs and hordesâ you donât have time! We go. Now.â He said sternly, jaw clenched tightly and icy blue eyes hard.Â
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He meant well, she knew that, but the darkest parts of her mind bristled at his tone. âI wonât let them fight alone. I refuse to move on with my life knowing I could have done something.â She said strongly, unwavering.Â
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âYouâll die fighting Draculaâs armies then.âÂ
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âI could die either way, you know that. If not at the hand of my father then youâll watch me wither away at the end of the damn week.â She shot back, tired of skirting around the fact that she might not even come close to finding her sire in time. Trevor said nothing, but she saw the way the corners of his mouth quivered and his eyes softened almost imperceptibly. Maud spoke again after a moment, her voice much softer, âIâd rather go down fighting for what is right than curled up in a corner, thinking of what couldâve been as my blood seeps from my pores.âÂ
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They stared at each other for what seemed to be an eternity, and she watched the myriad of emotions that flashed across his gaze. She was a stranger to him, no one significant, but she knew there was something about her that reminded him of someone. Maud wasnât so sure this was about repaying a debt to the lycaon species, to the man that had saved him all those years ago. This was something far deeper than that. This was about packâ about a bond that ran deeper than blood.
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Trevorâs hand went to his belt and gripped his sword, calloused fingers curling around the hilt.Â
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âI swear, I just saw it move.âÂ
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Maud rolled her eyes as she swept the room and halls of the catacombs one last time. âItâs been dead for a while now. Whatever you think you saw is either a figment of your imagination or a postmortem spasm.â She called out over her shoulder, eyeing one of the many trails that led further into the labyrinth.Â
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Sheâd managed to make a deal with Trevor, but at a price. She would have to take the Speakers to a safe place while Trevor and the Speaker Magician took care of the mobs and hordes. Once she was sure that the Speakers were out of danger, she would join them. Most of them had found spots where they could huddle together, but the rest were jittery, warily eyeing the corpse of the cyclops as if it would jump up and devour them at any moment.
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The Elder came to her side with a gentle smile on his aged face, the corners of his eyes crinkling, and placed a hand on her shoulder. âThank you, my friend, but I believe it is time for you to go.â He hummed lightly.Â
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A loose smile tugged at her mouth, and Maud glanced at the Speaker from the corner of her eye. âWill everything be alright with you here?â She queried softly.
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The elderly man nodded his head, tucking his hands into his long sleeves, âYouâve done more than enough.â He reckoned.Â
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A small laugh, a tad more bitter than she intended, slipped past her lips. âThereâs no such thing as enough.â Maud murmured while thumbing the grey fur on her cloak. âYou know where to head if anything were to go sour. We will meet again.â She gave her farewells with the small nod of her head before adding as an afterthought, âHopefully.â There was a little smirk on her face, darkly humorous.Â
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He didnât seem to find it as funny as she did, though.
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Not in the least, judging by the disapproving shake of his head that reminded her of dear Aunt Ena whenever she caught Maud terrorizing the livestock back when she was just a pup. How nostalgic.
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Maud moved quickly, steps silent as she followed the trail sheâd been eyeing earlier. She knew she should be going the other way, heading up instead of further into the catacombs, but there was something nagging at her. Like a constant pressure in the back of her mind, insistent and impatient. It had to do with that monstrous side of hers, she knew. If that side was fighting so desperately to find whatever is hiding within these catacombs, despite the illness weighing them down, she might as well comply. They gifted her Trevor and Sypha, after all.
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There was nothing out of the ordinaryâ nothing she could sense aside from that feeling, anyways. The air was still and stale, warmer than outside. All scents she couldâve tracked before were terribly old, mixing with the smell of dust and thus making them impossible to follow. Following the supernatural counterpart of a gut feeling seemed nonsensical, but here she was.Â
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Disappointing Mother even when she was not near.
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Steady fingers pulled the thread through the skin, expertly knitting the flesh together while also dabbing up the blood with a disinfected cloth. Maud grunted softly at the sting and Aunt Ena uttered a quiet apology, not looking up from her work. The hybrid pressed another cloth against the cut on her brow, avoiding her motherâs glare by fixing her gaze on the carpet.Â
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âYou promised me.â
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âI know.â Maud replied tersely and pressed the cloth harder against the cut, both to stem the bleeding and to obscure her motherâs view of her face.
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âYou told me you would never set foot outside this mountain again.â
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The next time the needle broke through the skin, she grit her teeth and hissed out a sigh. âI had to do it.â
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Alba let out a scoff, casting a sideways glance at the dark skinned witch watching them warily from her seat, and shook her head. âYou lied to me, Matilda. You told me you were going hunting when you were actually running off because of some hunch!â She spat the word, eyes lighting up gold with her anger. âYou owe this outsider nothing! And yet you go, fighting without thinking. You couldâve gotten killedââ
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Her motherâs words ignited flames of rage within her, because Greta wasnât an outsider, not anymore, she was pack. But no amount of rage would ever justify what she was about to say. âIâm dying anyway! Why the hell does it matter if I just speed up the process?!â It slipped out, loud and angry and she didnât actually mean it, but even Aunt Ena had gone still and Maud knew her words could never be taken back no matter how much she wished for it.
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The look on her motherâs face would haunt her forever.
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Her train of thought was cut off by a ruckus up ahead. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and her fingers curled into claws, her next steps slow even when her heart picked up the pace. She couldnât smell anything over the cloud dust and dirt the rubble had kicked up. Maud evened her breathing and, finally, stepped out of the hallway with bared claws and a growl.
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Wide icy blue eyes stared back at her in shock.
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âOh.â Maud cleared her throat, tucking her hands into her sides to let her cloak hide them as it fell closed. âI thought you were taking care of the mob, what are you doing down here?â She looked between Trevor and Sypha, who was dusting off her robes.Â
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The Belmont gave her an even stare and slowly pointed up. She followed his finger and found herself staring at a rather large hole in the ceiling that revealed that the hunter and the Speaker had fallen down several stories, not unlike Maud and Trevorâs first time in the catacombs.Â
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âAgain?â Maud found herself saying, torn between amusement and concern. Her eyes swept over their forms quickly and found them relatively unharmed aside from the lovely bruises that would surely bloom over their skin by morn. âIs this a Belmont curse I should know of?â She asked lightly, only half joking, and continued walking when the insistent tug at her brain became too much to handle.
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âHa. Ha.â Ah, so he got it then. Trevor didnât seem amused in the slightest, with that painfully short and sarcastic laugh, but heâd heard the humor in her voice. That counted for something, right? Sypha was trying, and failing, not to smile even with that amused twinkle in her eyes.Â
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The chuckle building in her throat died suddenly at the sight of blood red carpets and golden accents leading to a coffin located in the back of the room, bathed in artificial light. Thin, golden pipes stretched across the black tile and connected to both the coffin and the crystal containers filled halfway with blood. That feeling, that little tug, was more insistent than ever now.Â
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There was a loud clunk and the sudden whirring of machinery coming from behind her, causing Maud to turn her head in surprise. She met Trevorâs wide eyes and looked down to find that his foot had sunken in, undoubtedly activating whatever this machinery was. âI didnât do that.â He said quickly despite his alarmed expression, his eyes darting between her and Sypha.
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âYou really need to watch where youâre stepping.â Maud muttered as the lid of the coffin let out a loud hiss of steam. The lid slid ever so slowly to the side before falling with a heavy thump. Her heart started beating faster. There was a pause of two, maybe three seconds. She didnât even breathe.Â
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Finally, a figure floated up from the coffin. It was a slow, effortlessly graceful action. With skin like porcelain and hair of spun gold that shone under the artificial light, he looked like an angel. However, the gnarly scar crossing his torso and the containers behind him proved he was anything but.Â
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He bowed his head and his hair fell over his shoulders to obscure his face like a golden curtain. One of his hands was placed over his heart, right on the thickest part of the scar. Whoever had stricken him had aimed to kill him.
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Her insides twisted into knots at the thought.
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âWhy are you here?â Heâd asked this softly, but it seemed terribly loud in the silence of the room as his fingers curled into his palm.Â
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A smile curled at Syphaâs lips, adding to her awed expression. âThe storyâ the Messiah sleeps under Gresit! The man who will save us from Dracula.â She recited from her heart, nearly breathless.
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Maud didnât miss the hunching of the so called Messiahâs shoulders and the twitch of his knuckles against his scar. His head tilted, and if not for the small movement of his hair, she wouldnât have noticed, âAnd you? Are you in search of a mythical savior?â His voice grew mocking.
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âI fell down a hole and she,â Trevor gave Maud a brief glance, the sudden nervousness in his scent so alarming that she found herself stepping closer, âcanât follow instructions.â There was a forced smirk on his lips even as little beads of sweat collected on his temple.
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âHa.â Maud let out, a heavily sarcastic thing even as her eyes never strayed from the blond. Trevor could complain all he liked, but their sense of humor was one and the same, bad timing included.
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Sypha shot both of them a look before schooling her features and facing her Messiah. âDracula is abroad in the land. He has an army of monsters.â She began, her voice taking a desperate lilt. âHeâs determined to wipe out all human life wherever he finds it.âÂ
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âIs that what you believe?â He questioned.
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Trevor scoffed quietly. âThat Draculaâs released his horde in Wallachia? Thatâs a fact. Thereâs no belief involved.â He pointed out, a quiet sort of anger in his words. âBut thatâs not what youâre asking.âÂ
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âNo.â
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The hunterâs heart started beating faster, and Maud slowly adjusted her footing. âYouâre asking if I believe youâre some sleeping messiah whoâll save us, and no,â Trevorâs twisted into a scowl, âI donât.â
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âBelmont!â Sypha exclaimed, shocked.
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âI know what you are.â Trevor practically hissed the words out, his fingers curled around Vampire Killerâs handle.Â
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The manâs lips curled into a dangerous smile that exposed his long fangs. âAnd what am I?â He asked softly, tauntingly.
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A drop of sweat slid down the side of Trevorâs face, his heart erratic in the confines of his chest and loud as a drum. Maud almost mistook it for her own. âYouâre a vampire.â Somehow, his whisper felt like a shout.
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 Smiling still, the man raised his head and opened his eyes to reveal a pair of striking golden irises. Sypha gasped, and Maud instinctively moved to hide her, shielding her from whatever would occur in the next moment.
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âSo, I have to ask myself,â Trevor continued, this time louder and colder than Maud had ever heard him in their short time, âHave we come down here to wake up the man whoâll kill Dracula, or did we come here to wake Dracula?â
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That was definitely wrong, Maud knew that for a fact. This one was too young, a wean next to the knowledgeable man that was Vlad Dracula Tepes.
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The smile on the blondâs face disappeared as he straightened his spine to stare down at Trevor. âYou call me Dracula.â He stated rather than asked, descending just enough to stare straight at the hunter.
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Trevor narrowed his eyes, and sneered, âIâll call you anything you like if youâre gonna show me your teeth.âÂ
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The vampire gestured at Sypha, who stuck close to Maudâs side, âShe called you Belmont.â He raised an eyebrow, âHouse of Belmont?â
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âTrevor Belmont.â The hunter grit out. âLast son of the House of Belmont.âÂ
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âThe Belmonts fought creatures of the night, did they not? For generations.â It was more of a statement than a question, a sort of taunting observation.Â
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He was looking for a fight and, Maud was sure, he was going to get one.
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Trevorâs expression tightened. âSay what you mean.â He spoke, marching forwards despite Maudâs pointed glance.Â
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The blond levelled him with an unreadable stare. âThe Belmonts killed vampires.â
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The last of the Belmonts gave a cold smile, slowly circling like a predator cornering its prey. The vampireâs eyes never left him. âUntil the good people decided they didnât want us around.â Trevor shot back, lips curling into a cruel smirk. âAnd now Dracula is carrying out an execution order on the human race.â
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âDo you care?â The vampire asked, raising a hand in a half hearted questioning gesture before letting it fall to his side again.
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âHonestly?â Trevor tilted his head, âI didnât, no. But now⌠yes, itâs time to stop it.â He turned to the blonde, heartbeat steady and eyes determined. A smile tugged at Maudâs lips, undaunted.
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The blond stared down at him. âDo you think you can?â
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âWhat I think⌠is that Iâm going to have to kill you.â Trevor said in reply, his hand returning to the whip at his hip.
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âBelmont, no!â Sypha cried out, âHeâs the one weâve been waiting for.â She pointed out.
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The hunter was circling the vampire again, âNo, heâs not. Heâs a vampire.â He came to a stop and turned to the blond. âAnd heâs not been waiting here for hundreds of years, have you?âÂ
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The vampireâs stone cold expression revealed nothing, âI donât like your tone, Belmont.â
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âThis place is old, but itâs not been abandoned. Itâs alive and working.â Trevor pointed out before gesturing at the blond with his hand, âSo, go on, vampire, tell her how long youâve been waiting down here.âÂ
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He glanced at Sypha, as per instructed. âWhat is the year of your Lord?âÂ
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â1476.â Sypha replied, now weary.Â
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âHmm,â The blond hummed and turned his eyes to Trevor, âPerhaps a year, then.âÂ
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Trevor shot Sypha a look. âThere. And on top of that, what kind of messiah creates mechanical death traps to buy himself an uninterrupted nap in a stone coffin?â He asked, pointing at the blonde without lifting his left hand from his whip.
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âMy defenses were not for you.â The vampire corrected.
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âYou couldâve told your defenses that.â Trevor shot back.
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âThey are machines, nothing more. They were not intended to protect me from you.â The blond elaborated, actually sounding a tad annoyed, before fully turning to Trevor. âI asked you a question. Do you care?â He demanded, louder.
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Trevor froze for a moment, visibility startled, before answering. âI care about doing my familyâs work. I care about saving human lives.â He replied before his expression became one of annoyance, âAm I going to have to kill you?âÂ
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âDo you think you can?â The blond demanded. âIf youâre really a Belmont and not some runt running around with a family crest, you might be able to.â His fingers moved, and Maud felt the thrum of magic in the air.
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âTrevor.â She warned just as a long, thin sword twirled through the air before falling in the vampireâs grasp.
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âStay there.â Trevor ordered without looking at her, reaching for his own sword.
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âLetâs find out.â The vampire smirked down at him.
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âBelmont, you canât do this!â Sypha exclaimed and Maud grabbed her arm to stop her from doing anything brash.
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Trevor pointed his sword at him, âTell that to your floating vampire Jesus here.â
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The vampire scowled at him, pale fingers tight around the handle of his sword, âYouâve got nothing but insults, have you? A tired littleââ
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Vampire Killer lashed out, cracking through the air with enough force to send the blond flying through the air before he managed to catch himself in a crouch. Trevor smirked, coiling his whip, while the vampire hissed at him. âStone the fuck up.â He remarked, unimpressed, and cracked his whip again.
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It was a dangerous dance of blocking and dodging from both parts. The magic of the sword clashed with the blessed whip, often causing sparks to fly when the two collided. Syphaâs expression twisted into something like horror and desperation, and she turned to Maud.Â
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âMaud, you canât let this happen.â Sypha pleaded, fingers curling around Maudâs cloak. But what was she to do, when she didnât know who to stop?
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âHeâs not your messiah!â Trevor called out. âDraculaâs castle can appear anywhere, Sypha. And I told you, this is what it looks like on the inside.âÂ
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âAnd you know what Dracula looks like?â The vampire taunted, blocking another strike with his sword.
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No, he did not. Maud thought that perhaps the Belmonts had at least passed down a portrait of their so-called nemesis. They did not, it seemed.
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 âNobody knows what Dracula looks like.â Trevor panted, cracking his whip again and again, âYouâve got fangs, and you sleep in a coffin.âÂ
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They definitely did not.
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The vampire dodged again, by a hairâs width, and jumped into the air with effortless grace. Trevor smirked and used his other hand to change the whipâs direction. It cracked, catching the blond across the chest with enough force to make him cry out as it drew blood. His back slammed against one of the columns on the way down, and it took him a moment to get to his knees, open wounds on his abdomen.
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He caught the next hit with his sword, Vampire Killer coiling around the blade. Trevor grit his teeth and pulled at it with both hands in a futile attempt to disarm the vampire. The blond gave a harsh tug, disarming Trevor in return, to which the hunter responded by sprinting forwards and drawing out his sword.
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The vampire discarded the whip and met Trevorâs blade with his own. Their swords clashed, and Maud came to the realization that Trevor was vastly outmatched in swordplay. The blond was quick to use his speed to his advantage to knock Trevor against the steps leading to the coffin with a painful thump. Trevor got up quickly and was more than ready for the next attack, but the vampire was at an advantage with the length of his sword and his superior strength.
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Trevor struggled visibly to push him back, his arms shaking with effort as their swords scrapped against one another. The vampire placed his other hand on his blade to push the hunter back and Trevorâ
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Trevor Belmont, the last son of the infamous family of hunters, kicked him in the balls.
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Maud pinched the bridge of her nose.
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If this was her last hope, she might as well pick out that tree now.
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âPlease. This isnât a bar fight.â The vampire spat, annoyed and unperturbed, âHave some class.â
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Then, Trevor rammed his skull against the blondâs nose. The vampire grunted and stumbled back, shaking his head before baring his fangs at the hunter.Â
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Alright, so perhaps there was some hope.
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Of course, Maud had to be proven wrong, and Trevor was launched back with the flick of the blondâs wrist before the vampire was upon him.
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Make that a bit of hope, then.Â
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Trevorâs sword finally snapped under the pressure, but not before he made a cut across the vampireâs chest to finish the X. The stupid smirk on his lips meant it was a joke, but, judging by the furious look on the blondâs face, he didnât find it nearly as amusing. Finally, he decided to forgo the sword and simply punched Trevor with enough force to send him falling on his back as blood ran down his nostrils.Â
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He was on top of Trevor in a second, gripping those dark locks in a tight fist to bare his throat for sharp fangs bared in a mocking grin. âDo you have a god to put a last prayer to, Belmont?â The blond questioned. Maud moved closer, silent and quick, as her claws lengthened into dangerous points.
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 It was time to end this.Â
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âYeah.â Trevor grunted, his lips stretching into a bloody grin, âDear God, please donât let the vampireâs guts ruin my good tunic.âÂ
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The vampireâs expression twisted in confusion. âWhat?â Trevorâs dagger dug into his flesh, and the blond grunted in pain. He hissed and tugged at Trevorâs hair again, âI can still rip your throat out.âÂ
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Maud caught him by his own hair and curled her fingers around his throat, claws pressing into his pale skin. He went very still, and Trevor grinned up at her. âThink you can do that before I rip yours out?â Maud asked lowly, tightening her fingers just enough to make it uncomfortable and his heartbeat raced under the tips of her claws.
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âI thought I was your legendary savior.â The vampire spoke, swallowing thickly at the feeling of the dangerous points threatening to break his skin.
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The hybrid let out a small chuckle, leaning down to put her face next to his, forcing him to arch his back by tugging harder at his hair and making him grunt in discomfort. âMy savior? No, darling, her so-called savior.â She glanced at Sypha and grinned viciously, his eyes falling to her mouth as he caught sight of her fangs. âAnd she is just about ready to burn you alive for threatening the life of her real savior.âÂ
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The blond eyes met the ball of fire held between Syphaâs fingers. âA Speaker magician.â He realized.
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âYes.â Sypha replied, âAnd their goal is mine. To stand up for the people.â The stern furrow in her brow softened, her blue eyes darting between Maud and Trevor.
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Maud felt the vibrations of the blondâs chuckle against her fingers. âGood. Very good.â He voiced, closing his eyes as if contemplating his current position. âA vampire hunter, a magician, and the fabled amalgam.âÂ
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...What?
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She let go of him as if sheâd been burned, taking a step back and eyeing him warily. The blond got to his feet, his wounds knitting together in seconds, and turned to face all of them. âI am Adrian Tepes. Known to the Wallachians as AlucardâŚâ He said, glancing at each and every one of them before continuing in a quieter voice, âSon of Vlad Dracula Tepes.âÂ
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Wait.
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âIâve been asleep here in my private keep under Gresit for a year,â Alucard placed a hand over the scar crossing his chest, âTo heal the wounds dealt by my father, when I attempted to stop him unleashing his demon armies.â
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The dhampir.Â
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Her son.
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The precious son of Lisa Tepes.
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âYou are the Sleeping Soldier.â Sypha said in relief, lowering her hands to her sides.
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He turned to her, âIâm aware of the stories. Iâm also aware that the Speakers consider the story to be information from the future.â Alucard said before tilting his head. âDo you know the whole story?âÂ
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Sypha flushed, her cheeks turning a pretty pink, âYes.â She replied reluctantly, avoiding their eyes.
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Alucard turned to Trevor, âThe Sleeping Soldier will be met by a hunter, a scholar, and a hybrid.â He recited, and Maud felt like she was going to throw up, gooseflesh spreading over her body.
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Trevor glanced at Sypha, âNo one told us that.â He remarked.Â
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âWhy do you think my grandfather tried everything to make you stay?â Sypha shot back.
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He stared at her for a moment before letting out a long, tired sigh as he got to his feet. âI hate Speakers.â Trevor uttered.Â
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Alucard was already tugging on his coat over a white shirt, followed by a pair of gloves. Sypha turned to him, âSo, what happens now?âÂ
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âI need a hunter, a scholar, and a hybrid.âÂ
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Maud bit down on her tongue until she tasted blood and curled her toes inside her boots.
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âI need help to save Wallachia.â Alucard continued, his sword cutting through the air to sheath itself at his hip. âPerhaps the world,â He added as an afterthought, âand defeat my father.â
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Trevor narrowed his eyes at him. âWhy?â
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Alucardâs head lowered as he went down the steps. âBecause it is what my mother would have wanted.â He replied quietly, brushing past them. âAnd we are all, in the end, slaves to our familiesâ wishesâŚâ Alucard trailed off, glancing down at the Vampire Killer as Trevor picked it up.
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âYouâll help us kill Dracula and save Wallachia?âÂ
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âMy father has to die.â Alucard told him sternly before looking at the three of them. âWe four⌠we can destroy him.âÂ
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Maud stared at their backs for a moment, silent as sheâd been for the past few minutes. Her heart felt like it was going to burst from her chest, and she felt more nauseous than before. She looked down and gone were the claws, replaced by fingernails that were turning a concerning purple.
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But her mind was on Alucardâs words, her body tense as she resisted the urge to flee.
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Trevor turned his head, icy blues narrowed in concern, âYou alright?âÂ
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She looked up from her hands.
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âIf anyone knows what you are before you tell them, run. Run and donât look back, Maud.â
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âWhy?âÂ
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âBecause people like you donât exist.âÂ
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Maud gave him a small, forced grin. âNever better.â