It was midnight. The half moon was high up on the clear sky, surrounded by stars. Yet, it was dark.
A few bats flew over the roofs. Silence surrounded the red-clothed wizard, who walked across the town. He had to be ready, just in case...
He sighed. Nothing. He had been patrolling the town area nighttime for a week now, ever since his sister had left.
Celia had left, saying she needed to prepare for something... She was probably going to central Europe again. But, he was here because of what she had said before she had left.
"Damn with you, seer," the mage muttered.
She had said 'Y diw'ecu zaran.' Translated, 'The cold fire is burning.' Simon Blackwood knew what that meant. When a wizard said that, it meant... One of the vampires of Castlevania would steal someone's blood. It had to be Eclipse; there were no others awake.
But he would not let the vampire touch anyone in this town. He had also sent a word to a few trusted friends in surrounding towns. He wished no one was outside. He had warned the townspeople, but it was difficult while he couldn't tell them why, trying to avoid panic.
At least Christopher would believe him. The mage knew Sypha was home. So was her father, unless there was an emergency in the middle of the night. In that case, the healer would leave his house. And there might still be those who wouldn't listen, not to mention travelers and such, sleeping outside. But he had to try to protect everyone, no matter the cost.
It was peaceful. Too quiet... The mage glanced around.
Suddenly he turned and drew his sword, prepared to fight. Something had just transformed into a human form right behind him. He raised the sword to the newcomer's throat.
It was a dark-cloaked man, who appeared to be younger than the mage.
"Red wizard," he said calmly.
The old man gave the newcomer an angry look. "Don't scare me like that! I could've killed you."
"I doubt it."
"Believe me. With this sword, I could do it. You're only half vampire. One hit from this holy sword. That, and of course, cutting your head off. And then I'd have to let you bleed until your blood dries, and burn your body."
The younger-looking man smiled dryly. "I only wish you would do me that favor. But you won't."
"No, Alucard, I will not do that." The mage paused, then asked, "So, what is it? You shouldn't come here. The people are suspicious. If someone sees you..."
"I'm not here for small talk. I had to find you right away."
"Why?"
"The cold fire is burning."
"What!!"
"I was too late. The victim was already dead. A middle-aged man. I think he was from the town of Jova, although I can't be sure."
"Where was it?"
"Near southern edge of the Mad Forest."
"Eclipse?"
"There are only few vampires left in Castlevania. My father, Eclipse, his wife Marie and their son."
"I know that."
"Well. Apparently, Marie's father is back from the dead. Or should I say..."
The mage sheathed his sword, shaking his head. "But I thought he was killed by Sonya Belmont."
"So did I."
"I need to talk to the townspeople..."
"You'd better. You should also inform your friends in the area."
The mage looked down. "I'll do it in the morning. There's one thing to do before that."
"And that is?" Alucard asked, knowing the answer.
"Take me there. We need to see that there won't be any more vampires. We need to... do what's necessary."
"Follow me." The half-vampire led the red mage out of the town, into the Mad Forest.
Town of Warakiya, next day
Sypha was washing the dishes, when someone came in and talked with her father briefly. She couldn't hear them, but when Christopher took his bag and prepared to leave, she stopped working and went to him.
"Father? Where are you going?"
"There's a meeting in the inn. Check that father is alright, he was a little warm earlier."
"But... alright, I will."
Sypha went to her grandfather's room. Jonathan was sleeping. Sypha touched his forehead softly; it was a little warm. He had drunken half of the herbal tea his son had brought him.
"Sypha?" Someone called.
Sypha left the room and closed the door. Sara was standing by the front door. "Hey, listen..." she started.
"Hush. Grandfather is sleeping. I don't want to wake him... What is it?"
"They are having a meeting in the inn."
"I know, father just left."
"Aren't you curious? I heard they were talking about a vampire..."
Sypha looked at her friend. "Vampire?"
"Yeah. Peter said he was going to spy them. Let's go, too."
"Well... okay." Sypha grabbed her cloak, and the girls headed for the inn.
Simon Blackwood was standing next to the counter, talking to the men
sitting in the room. He looked somewhat angry, or worried. Sypha and Sara
sneaked in quietly and crawled behind a few barrels. Peter and some of the other
boys were already hiding there.
The mage continued his speech. "So, do you now understand why I wanted you to be careful, and stay inside during the night?"
"You could've told us why," someone replied.
"Yes, but how many of you would have believed me?"
"We trust you, Simon. You should have..."
"Let him finish," Michael Gray said to the others.
"Thank you. Now. I can take care of this, but not alone. We need guards during the nights, and…"
The mage started talking about things that needed to be done. When he had finished, Bruce Stone got up. "And the animals?"
"Keep them sheltered until... this is taken care of."
"Is it the vampire who lives in the castle?" One of the men asked.
"No."
Christopher shook his head. "It's not Eclipse? But isn't he the only one left?"
"He is. In Castlevania, that is."
"Eclipse is careful. He never comes near the town, nor attacks people around here."
"He doesn't?" William Edwards interrupted. "So, Christopher, you don't remember when our daughters and some other children were in the cave north from here. When Richard broke his leg? They told us there were actually two vampires in there."
"That was Eclipse," Mr. Mage agreed. "He is bold enough to go to the caves... the children were an easy target. But..."
"The other one?"
"Sypha said... it was like he was trying to protect them from Eclipse..." Christopher replied, looking a bit thoughtful.
"Protect?" William asked.
"I don't know. Maybe they were just fighting. Sypha was the only one who told me this. The other children do not remember."
"That's right. So, think it was this one? This vampire?"
Mr. Mage shrugged. "It could be. But..."
The mage closed his eyes. He knew it was not. The one in the caves had been Alucard, but he couldn't tell it to the people here.
One of the older men looked at him. "You know something about this, am I correct?"
The mage sighed. "Yes. But it's irrelevant. What you need to do is stay alert, and leave the rest to me."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know yet. But that's why you trust me. I know how to handle these situations."
One of the other older men of the town got up. "Settled then. We need guards. Remember to put torches outside the houses… and things like that. No one but those on watch is allowed outside when it's dark. Keep the animals sheltered, and if you don't have shelter for them, someone will take care of them for a while. We shall pray to God that this evil being will not hurt our town."
The men continued talking about the arrangements. Sypha and Sara glanced at each other and left the inn quietly.