Fantasmic Castlevania

[Briar Rose]

Marcova, Transylvania. 1591.

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Aurora humbly sat with her legs under her rump on the church's floor, before the large cross on the altar. The sun was sinking in the horizon, expected to be gone for the night within a half hour. The orange light from outside cast a warm glow through the stained glass windows, all of which spread reflected designs along the floor and benches. The young woman of 18 prayed for a safe and untainted night, because she knew this approaching night would have a very serious association.

After murmuring the rest of her prayer, she heard the door open behind her. The orange flared in the room, and Aurora's silhouette fused with that of another. She got up on her feet and casually looked behind her.

[Alice]

"There you are, Aurora!" the child exclaimed. She had a small grin as she closed the door behind her and approached her platonic big sister.

The child was very pretty, at the vulnerable age of nine. Her eyes were like sapphires, brimming with carefree innocence. She was in a simple green dress with the skirt hugging her hips and legs, but loose enough to allow mobility.

"You've been in here most of the day. Are you all right?" Being such a short girl, she had to look up to the considerably taller (5'8") just to properly address her.

[Briar Rose]

Aurora was in a humble peasant's wardrobe despite her status in the village. She preferred the comfortable, loose attire rather than tight 'formal' wear. Her dress was purple, definitely not as lavish as Alice's.

The young woman smiled at her delicate friend, but her smile didn't last. "I am, thank you. But I have a bad feeling that something awful is going to happen tonight." She crossed her arms on her chest and shifted her weight a little. "A hundred years ago, my Great-Grandfather Stefan and other brave men slayed Count Dracula. A century later and tonight is the anniversary. I prayed for a safe night, but..."

Aurora looked away and lowered her arms. "I don't have proof, and no one else believes me, but I really have a bad feeling about tonight. I've dreamed about it for years. They say that if you dream about something more than once it's sure to come true... and I dreamed about this so many times."

Being a sorceress, Aurora had magical talents, such as the ability to control flame. She saw unlit candles, aimed an index finger at them, and flicked a tiny spark of fire on the wicks, igniting them with ease. She needed this holy room lit for the night.

"Alice, listen to me." She lowered to a knee and gripped the girl's arms tightly, her face serious. "I want you to go back home and stay with your parents at all times. Don't go anywhere!"

[Alice]

Alice's smile also dropped, but for a reason a bit rude. Aurora would not stop with all that talk about the past coming back, all because she had recurring dreams. Alice was skeptic, despite Aurora being a sorceress. The child wasn't convinced her friend had soothsaying powers. She had never seen a vampire before. She had never seen Death, either. As far as she was concerned, they were more fiction than fact.

The girl casually watched Aurora ignite some candles, then frowned gently when she was instructed to go back home and not leave until further notice. "Well, I'm sorry, Aurora, but I'm just not convinced you're right. What if Count Dracula is just a myth? I've never seen Death before, or Medusa. They sound like adventure stories!" She realized she was sounding very harsh, especially to deny the ostensible importance of Aurora's ancestor. "If you really believe this, then I'll go home. But only if you walk with me. I can't waste my night alone!" She playfully nudged Aurora's shoulder and smirked.

[Quasimodo]

A sudden crash at the back of the room shattered the stillness.

Quasimodo, the hideous hunchback who lived in the church tower, squeezed himself further back into the shadowy apse, trembling with fright.

He hadn't meant to eavesdrop, only to wait until the girls vacated the sanctuary before entering to perform his menial duties. And now, a careless movement had upset an iron candlestick, revealing his presence.

With a dexterity that belied his ungainly form, Quasi lunged back through the door without even pausing to pull it shut behind him, lumbering up the narrow staircase that led to the bell tower and safety.

[Captain Eo]

The clip-clop of a horses' hooves on the cobblestone streets sounded through the emptying town, towards the church. A grayish-white stallion pranced down the street. The man sitting astride the horse wore the distinctive dark blue-and-gold trimmed uniform of a captain of the guard. This was Captain Eo, and and he was on his way to the guard station. Since having recently been appointed captain, Eo found that a lot of his time was consumed by overseeing the duties of keeping law and order in the area.

As the horse snorted softly, Eo affectionately patted the animal's neck. "Don't worry, Sleet. The day's almost gone. You'll be back in your stall soon enough and get your oats for the day."

[Briar Rose]

If Aurora had a thin skin, she may have been offended when Alice questioned the past. She may have been enraged by the child's dismissal of Great-Grandfather Stefan and the other heroes who defeated Count Dracula. While it was true that there was no credible proof that what happened a century ago was true, in her heart, Aurora knew it really happened that way.

But Aurora couldn't blame the child for being skeptical, as so many other Transylvanians were. She offered a weak smile. "Then just indulge me, please." The girl requested Aurora take her home, and she grinned when she was nudged. She was about to respond, when a very loud crash in the back of the room grabbed her attention. She didn't waste a moment. With caution on her face, she gently pushed Alice. "Get out! Go home! I can't take you right now." The sorceress was already hurrying to where the noise came from even before she finished talking.

The noise was caused by a toppled iron candlestick. Whether by compulsion or goodwill, she rose her hand quickly and levitated the candlestick back to place. She looked ahead and thought she saw a shadow through the door, but she couldn't have made out the shape. She had never been through that particular door before, but there was a first time for everything. She quietly entered and briskly climbed the stairs.

"Hello?" she asked, polite yet cautious. "Is there anyone in here? I heard the accident; are you all right?" As she ascended the narrow staircase, she realized she was actually inside the bell tower of the church. To think she had visited this church for years, and she'd never even ventured inside the tower. She felt unentitled and rude to be in there, but she had to find whoever caused the racket.

Her deepest fear was that it was someone, or something, related to the anniversary.

[Alice]

Alice smirked at Aurora's polite request, but her eyes widened and she gasped when a loud crash was heard. She looked at the direction. "Who's there?! What happened?" Before she could question it further, Aurora ordered her to leave and go home. No, Alice didn't think the so-called prophecy was coming true, but she was glad to oblige. She turned and ran through the church's entrance.

Once outside, Alice quickly noticed a sight for sore eyes: the incoming captain of the guard, Eo. Alice didn't know too much about this man, outside of his noble and goodly position. He seemed friendly and gentlemanly enough, so she jumped a few times and waved her hands frantically to get his attention. "Yoohoo! Captain Eo!" She hurried after him but slowed herself when she was close enough. "We heard a loud crash inside the church." She shifted her weight to gesture to it. "Aurora is looking into it--oh, she's my friend. But, yes, Aurora's investigating it right now. I... don't know if that was worth telling you, but. Sorry if I wasted your time." She smiled nervously, fearing she had overreacted.

[Quasimodo]

The hunchback dashed up the stairs with hardly a sound; he could've moved even more silently, had he not been in such a hurry to escape.

Is there anyone in here?

No! The girls were coming up...up to his room...this was terrible! They'd get him in trouble for venturing into the church when it was occupied. Worse yet, they'd scream when they got a look at him. The screaming was the part Quasi hated most.

He had to hide; maybe if they thought the room was empty, they'd go away.

Out on the roof was Quasimodo's first choice; they'd never think to look for him there. But the door was too far, and he feared he woldn't make it in time. Likewise the ladder that lead up to the belfry. No, he had no time for anything but the nearest sanctuary.

Slipping behind a couple of gargoyle statues, the hunchback made himself as small as possible. It was a poor hiding place, but maybe, just maybe, he'd be overlooked in the shadows.

[Captain Eo]

Ordering his steed to increase his pace, Eo (well technically, Sleet) cantered up to where the young girl who had hailed him was standing. He had seen her around the village a few times before, but didn't know what her name was. Noting the child's anxious appearance, the paladin wondered if everything was alright.

"The church, you say? I'll go check it out and make sure that Aurora is okay." He flashed her a reassuring smile. Aurora probably was okay, he thought. After all, she was a competent sorceress, decided from the likes of Stefan Belmont, who, along with several other brave heroes, had reportedly slew the evil Count Dracula all that time ago. Or so he had heard anyways.

Eo started to leave, but then his brow creased into a mild frown as he took note of the decreasing daylight. He looked down at Alice again. "The day is late. Maybe you should be getting home now, Miss...?"

[Alice]

Alice smiled in relief when the chivalric paladin not only acknowledged her concern, but decided to act upon it. Alice loved horses, so she of course waved daintily to it as the captain of the guard had started for the church. But he stopped and expressed concern for the girl being out and about.

Alice smirked playfully. "My name is Alice, sir. And, yes, I ought to go home. After all, Count Dracula might be on the prowl!" She giggled and shook her head. "I don't mean to be rude, but I don't believe Aurora. I don't think the so-called legend really happened. But..." A realization crossed her face. "Oh, I'm sorry for wasting your time. All right! If you see Aurora, please tell her I'm back home, just as she asked. Goodbye, Captain!"

She turned and swiftly ran off, back to the home where her parents were waiting.

[Briar Rose]

Despite her fragile appearance, Aurora was fit, and wasn't too out of breath by running up the stairs so quickly. She entered through the only door available, which led to a room. She hastily looked about. She regretted not having the time to browse around leisurely, as she was fascinated by this place. She would also have loved to check out the belfry sometime, but her target was here. It had to have been, at least.

"Hello?" she repeated, again cautious yet polite. "I'm not here to hurt you. I won't harm you unless you harm me. I promise." Her purple eyes scanned the room slowly, but stopped on the stone gargoyle statues. She could see the figure, but not well. What she could see didn't look... normal.

It must have been terrified if it ran away to hide the way it did. Sympathy crossed her face, as she very slowly stepped closer to the statues, then locked her hands together and placed them on her chest. "Please, come out. You're not in trouble. You just surprised me, that's all. I won't hurt you. I promise I won't. My name is Aurora. Who are you?"

She smiled, hoping this would prompt the poor, scared person out of his hiding place. She had a hunch the figure had something to hide, appearance-wise, but his hiding place obscured a clear answer.

[Quasimodo]

Quasimodo held his breath, staying as still as he could manage, but it was no use, she'd seen him.

A beautiful young girl entered his dim garrett, a girl the hunchback easily recognized. In fact, he'd seen her many times, watching in secret from the window. He even carved a little wooden figure of her for his collection.

But this familiarity did nothing to lessen his dread.

Please, come out. You're not in trouble.

Quasimodo partly rose from his crouched position, though even were he to stretch to his full height, his body would still be crooked. He kept his face covered as well as he could behind his hands, peeking out between the fingers. Even his hands were ugly, Quasi knew, but nothing so terrible as his face.

"I'm...I'm sorry...I didn't mean to...I'm sorry..." His youthful voice belied the hideousness of his countenance as one blue eye pleaded wordlessly for forgiveness.

[Captain Eo]

"It's very nice to meet you, Alice." Eo still maintained his friendly demeanor in the face of Alice's open disregard about Count Dracula. "Well, some legends do have a grain of truth at their heart." Personally, he didn't quite know what to think about the legend of Dracula. On one hand, the idea of such a fiend prowling the countryside and contaminating it with his very presence was horrific, but there was just something larger-then-life, something awe-inspiring, about mortal men vanquishing the evil count. he waved Alice off when she apologized.

"It's fine. I'll tell Aurora just that. Good bye!" He waved at the youth as she took off for home. He then encouraged Sleet into a swift trot that brought him to the church. Disembarking from his mount, Eo walked up to the doors and pushed them open.

"Hello? Miss Aurora?" His voice echoed through the vestibule, and the sounds of his booted foot reverberated on the floorboards as he walked into the atrium in search of Aurora.

[Briar Rose]

Aurora's lips parted slightly and her eyebrows lifted when the anxious figure stood up. It was confirmed that he couldn't stand up straight; he was malformed. At first, the sorceress had feared that this hunchback was somehow related to Count Dracula, but she recalled how scared it was, and she could see it herself, plain as day, how scared he was then. He covered his face, as if completely ashamed and fearful to show it. He apologized, his voice fragile and young. That tone...

Aurora bit her bottom lip, and her eyes and brows offered the most sympathetic look ever seen from the girl.

The sorceress stepped closer tot he man, knelt to the floor, and very gently touched his arms. "It's all right," she said kindly. "You didn't do anything wrong. I was startled, that's all. I'm sorry for overreacting."

She looked to the one blue eye that was exposed, and she offered a tender smile. "You can put your hands down. I'm not scared of you." She was about to speak further, but she gasped softly and looked to the door when she heard a voice echo from below. Judging by the voice, it sounded like Eo, a cute (she thought) and nice man who happened to be the captain of the guard. She had respected the man, but didn't know a lot about him; she always acted a little shy in front of him, but not rudely so.

She thought quickly. She already decided to protect the deformed man, but would Eo feel the same? Maybe if she explained the situation... except she didn't know the church dweller's situation. She looked to the blue eye again and spoke quietly yet somewhat hurriedly. "Please, trust me. I'm not here to hurt you. But do you live here? What's your name?"

[Quasimodo]

The girl spoke so gently and seemingly without fear, touching his arm softly. The hunchback had rarely experienced such sentiments in his lifetime, and they had the desired effect, for he shyly lowered his hands, leaving his hideous face exposed to view.

"My name is...Quasimodo," he stammered. Even that was something to be ashamed of. "I live in the belltower. It's my job to ring the bells."

Clearly, she was not afraid, but Quasi couldn't, for the life of him, divine why.

Suddenly there came a shout from below. Someone else was coming upstairs, a man, by the voice. Or, more probably, a youth. Still, it was more than the bellringer wanted to meet.

He hadn't been fast enough to avoid this girl, but there was plenty of time to escape from the newcomer.

Without another word, Quasi leaped over the statues he'd thought to hide behind, and dashed across the garrett to a window that overlooked the square. It took but an instant to squeeze his bulky form through the pane, where Quasimodo vaulted onto the relative safety of the church roof.

[Captain Eo]

As he stepped further the inside the sanctuary, Eo thought he could hear Aurora as well as another speaker, a young men, coming from upstairs. She didn't sound like she was in trouble (not many people were foolish enough to tangle with a sorceress, after all), but all the same, he headed up the stairs anyways to see what was going on. Why would they be here so late?

Locating the room, Eo entered, his expression curious. "Hello, Miss Aurora. Your friend Alice asked me to come by and check on you. I thought I heard someone else in here with you." He saw no one here but Aurora... but he had heard someone else, he was certain of it.

[Briar Rose]

Aurora's lips pursed. "Quasimodo?" she repeated, almost a whisper. But when she had looked back upon hearing Eo, the bell ringer had taken off. She looked back only to find him escape. "W-wait!" she called. She even reached for the window, as if she could pull him back gently. But she knew there was no sense in chasing him. It seemed like she scared him half to death, and that he was horribly ashamed. She didn't want to hurt him. Maybe Eo knew of him?

Aurora stood up and faced the door to greet Eo as he entered. "Hello, Captain," she replied with a graceful bow, humble as always. "Yes, there was, but he didn't do anything wrong." She was a little shy around him, but not awkwardly so. "Captain?" She locked her hands behind her back. "Do you know the bell-ringer here? I've never met him before." She decided not to describe him just yet, in case Eo knew the subject. She wanted to hear it from him, if he did know.