Castle of evil

They wake at dawn and break down the camp. It took an hour to scatter the ashes of their fire and erase the traces they made. When they were done she looked back at the place of peace and places a spell of finding on it so she can return any time. Then they set off.

As they leave the place gregorio returns and his scouting report was scattered disorganized monsters ahead but there was a nest nearby that was gathering strength to go hunting that night. Samuel looked at her and she sighs. "If we must" and he smiles and clicks his tongue to male the horses speed up a little.

He was asking permission to go after rehearsal nest and she granted it so that's what they were going to do. Gregorio told them that it was not small but not too big. The nest had many plant and beast creatures all of them dangerous in their own way but not more powerful than a vampire or a werewolf. "And they will be sleeping two sentries to warn of an attack and that's all take them out and the nest is vunerable" He said and Samuel liked a clean easy report like this.

He was used to things getting worse not better

That didn't sound fun but she knew it had to be something if it had these. She only sighed just looking ahead but wonders of the nest. But know Samuel, he will just figure things to be fine but she was nervous of the plants and the other things that might linger around here. For now, she kept it to herself and remains silent right after.

He stopped the wagon and un hitched the horses before she got out and covered it in brush to hide it. They climbed on the horses and followed the gametrailes gregorio whispered to her.

He was resting hiding from the sun in her pouch in bat form. As they follow the path they watch the wild brush slowly seem alive and aware.

She didn't say much but only looks around while following him as they walk.

The horses started to grow wary so they dismounted and walked on she told the horses to return to the wagon and placed a spell on them that would keep them safe from harm. It only worked on animals. She followed him not liking this. He stopped her soon and she saw why he did. The nest was close and there were werewolves guarding it. The stench of sulfer was heavy in the air meaning there was indeed a powerful creature nearby. One from hell itself.

The wolves lost their heads as he lashed his whip and they sluml to the ground as the blood pools and rolls downhill. He stepped over the bodies ready for anything and she followed. She was ready to use a spell at any time and he walked slow and quiet listening more than anything. The den had several wolves werewolves and many plant monsters. He stopped seeing them all sleeping except the plants.

He signaled to her to burn or freeze the plants and that he would take care of the beasts. Then the stench got worse. A low rumbling growl rolled from the darkness and 6 eyes look out at them as more growls roll.

A huge hulking form stepped out of the shadows. A wolf with 3 heads. The cerberus. He gulped. She froze in terror. This was a creature with a tie to Dracula himself a leader of beasts. All 6 eyes were focused in the two of them as it stands and leaves the shadows towering over them.

It let put a deafening bark waking everythingup and she reacted. She froze the floor and walls killing the plants down to the roots and wounding the pack as they woke up. The cerberus struggled to freeze its paws as the ice slowly creeps up its leg.

It belched black fire and melted some of the ice seeing g it melting she changed what remained into spikes wounding all four paws. It broke free but was much slower. The morning star cracked against its heads barly doing anything to it. It flinched but couldn't leap or pounce or bounce. Even standing was hard for it thanks to her spells he lashed the middle head again and again unt it went limp then he started on another.

She burned the plants and froze the wolves in place as he held the cerberus off her. The morning star whip was not exploding like it normally did against demons and night creatures. And the power of this beast was immense. They got lucky to hurt it so well early

Or maybe she was just that brilliant at using her magic efficiently to hinder the enemy.

Though in her mind, she was scared even being here. Why did it have to be this way anyway!? Rachel only sighed but was hoping to get through this and move on or at least head back home.

The surging power through her left her as soona sshe gathered it fighting the decreasing numbers of beasts. The plants burned away to ashes and she had finished the last wolf as Samuel started on the left head.

He lashed it repeatedly like the middle head and she ducked and dodged the debris and flames as her love and the cerberus keep fighting. Samuel was leaping away and sliding under the creature to dodge and he lashed every chance he got.

The mighty creature was wounded all over as she was manipulating the flames it cast against it. She was shielding him from the forest that got too close to him moving them away from him. Her ice cut the flesh of the beast and the morning star whip cut chunks put of it.

Weakened and wounded the cerberus was slowing down but becoming more dangerous. It's flames became impossible for her to control as they became raw hellfire. Pillars of hellfire erupt as the heads howl. And they dive and dodge getting a moments warning before the pillars bloom. Cerberus was focused on Samuel. Her ice couldn't save her love her flames were useless and lightening took too long to build up.

She was being pushed further away from him as the pillars burst up between her and Samuel. Samuel and the cerberus circle eachother Samuel spinning both whips. The vampire killer and the morning star were lashing harder and faster as his power rose to match the challenge.

Helpless to help him she watched terrified as he got hit by a massive paw and hit the ceiling and dropped to the floor. The paw clapped down on him and a head bore down to bite his head off.

"NOOOO" She screams as her heart breaks and fear took over.

There was a flash as the vampire killer and morning star glow with his power. Flooding with his raw life force and something deeper immutable eternal.

The head exploded into a gush of gore cuaterizing unlike the middle head. Full of fear she watches as he u leased his full power to preserve his life he was shortening it. The glowing whips lash and the flesh explodes where they make contact her eyes couldn't belive it but her heart knew.

Samuel was in the state he was in when his power was killing him bit this was different he was stable in control. Th3 beast was being burned by fire unlike hellfire the power of creation was pure and untainted and it flowed through the whips empowering them to smite evil creatures and turn their power against them.

Mor leashes more explosions rain as his arms move faster. Then he crossed them and lashed the final head detonating the entire beast. When she woke up the cave was gone. The chaotic powers gather into a single shimmering orb. She sat up and saw Samuel standing under the orb and it drops o. His head and was absorbed I to his body. Chaos magic surged out of him but it changed from. Force of destruction to a force of creation. He reaches out and the energy coalesce into a scroll of magic and the collar that the middle head was wearing.

The collar was samuels size. The destructive energies were canceled and balance returned to a portion of the world. The very powers of darkness cracked and hope returned to the world. She couldn't say anything. She was thankful it was over. She saw the scroll and he was holding it out to her.

As she reads it she gasps. It was instructions to use hellfire pillars, summon the 3 heads to belch fire or devour her foe, and summon the entire creature and manifest its chaos powers the same way Dracula did. The final spell was too dangerous to ever use and if she used it she would be possessed by the evil chaos and become the cerberus forever until she was slain by a Belmont.

She said nothing still scared. It was over but it was too close and she was separated from him showing the creature was far more intelligent than most humans.

"......." She slowly closes the scroll but this magic scared her. Rachel felt her hands shaking, her heart beating like crazy in her chest. Even creatures like that one was seriously dangerous. She really didn't want to end up dying by anything like that or worse. She only looks away not sure on how to respond to this.

Samuel was panting hard and trying to recover some of his stamina. The fight wore him out and she seemed fine. She out her scrolls away and went to help him. As she got to his side she saw he wasn't badly hurt at all. He was just tired. She hugged him and he hugged her. She felt him shaking and realized that he was fighting terror the whole fight. He did all of that scared out of his wits.

For a while, the two said nothing but she just held him close, hoping to help him stay calm after this. Rachel sighed seeing him hold her with his face hidden.

"Too close" was all he said and she agreed. He had cut it too close and nearly got hurt bad. She held him stroking his head and patting his back swaying gently in the ruin of the fight.

A few hours later they return to the wagon and she whistles putting her will behind it to call the horses. Within 10 minutes they could be heard galloping towards them. They were glad to return and stayed still while they were hitched to the wagon. Gregorio was still sleeping since it was the middle of the day and they resumed their journey.

It was evening with the trees parted and the forest came to an end. Before them stretched the land and some streams or rivers depending on how far away they were. Distance was different put on the open compared to the forest and she was a bit taken aback by how used to the closeness of the trees she had gotten.

The path they took was not a well traveled one and looked like wagon and horse tracks in the waving grass. The wind was blowing and he cut across to the eaves of the forest to set up the next camp. The shadows grew longer and the area he picked was surrounded by boulders. They set up camp again and she cast a spell on him to see how he was doing.

She as shocked to discover he was hurting and badly beaten from the fight and several of his bones were cracked. She hud her worry and made him rest whole putting Gregorio to work setting up the camp while she tended Samuel. She used her healing magic first on his bones then on his joints and ligaments. As her magic spread she focused on what she was doing hiding her fear and worry that he was doing tok much.

Slowly saying nothing she fu used and he was quiet too. He just watched her the pain she showed on her face when he could see it the strain the magic put on her mind and the effort it cost to feel the spells. Her love for him provided the fuel but the strain was alot for her and she leaned on him tired and hungry.

Gregorio appeared then and handed her and Samuel freshly cooked venison. He explained he went hinting for blood and brought the meat back for them. Samuel thanked him and eats ravenously. She ate slowly more tired than hungry. It was quiet and peaceful night insects chirp somewhere frogs were croaking. The noise meant that no night creatures were about and she watched as he finished his meal and went to sleep.

She stayed up and gazed at the moon before settinling down to make some potions. She needed to have some healing potions on hand in case he got hurt again and as a witch she could make them easily.

She used her magic to do just that, making plenty slowly and carefully for him. Rachel looked quiet while doing so but she wanted to be sure at least he'll be protected from the things trying to harm him. She had the freshly made potions set down in a box but keeps brewing more for later use.

She used animal skins to hold them because they held up to the strain of long distance travel. She labeled them all a d as she worked she noticed he was watching her.

He can see the magic flowing around Rachel as she worked but she seems to be busy within her mind either way. The flow was strong but that didn't stop her from working. Samuel was curious about it but he sees her still brewing potions.

She made as many as they could carry and made sure the seals were intact after filling the skins. She rested and was Valery tired when she was done and she looked liem she had been running all day long.

She was aware of his gaze on her and hiw it neve rleft he rthe whole time and she wouldn't look t him hiding her face. She knew where he was looking now that her work was done and she also knew he was making sure she was okay while enjoying the sweat rolling down her neck and chest.

She did have some water in the bag to drink in hopes of cooling down after all that. It did help to still avoid looking at Belmont. With this all going on, she was closing her eyes relaxing now to hold the water bottle there. Even if she was wiping the sweat off her body of course.

You don't seem to have changed much." He said slowly thinking outloud. She smiles a bit. The power of the chaos stone that gave her the new spells was immense but his power nullified it. And here he was saying she didn't change from it.

"Thats because you purified the magic. While it still carries risks and I won't use the cerberus I haven't been corrupted by the chaos magic." She said softly to him hiding how his gaze makes her feel. She dries her sweat and stood up to sit near him. She couldn't believe he was so strong on his own and she had questions. "How does your family possess the strength to destroy monsters so utterly?"

She had asked once before but his answer was evasive this time however he took a deep breath. "We don't really know... we being the family... I'm the only one left and the question has been on my mind. The least common idea is that our family was given power to counter chaos itself from up on high. The most common and this lead to our ruin... we are born from a direct line all the way to the savior or an angel. " He said and while it gave her an idea she wasn't satisfied.

"What do you think?" She asks him trying to pin his words down. He looked at her eyes directly into them and she felt her heat bubble deep inside for him. Then without looking away he spoke.

"I think we used magic... the original magic. Our bloodline was tied directly to the source of life and our power comes from the light source itself. In spite of that angel..." he stopped and looked away remembering the fallen angel that assaulted them. The one that claimed it possessed his morning star whip. She remembered and looked away as well.

"Don't talk about it... just continue" She said wanting him to finish.

"When my ancestors made the deal it was for power to fight monsters and bring order and light to a dark chaotic world of the supernatural. Where humans are concerned we are relatively powerless. This is recorded in our oldest books I haven't shown you yet." She nodded eager to hear more and she even turns to face him a little. He continued and was trying hard not to look too hard at her while he was answering. He didn't want to be distracted. "The chaos chooses one vessel and the one who claims it becomes similar to the prince of darkness. The king of all vampires and night creatures. On this plane of existence that is. All evil is at its beck and call. Myfamily was forged in the first times where hope was an alien Concept and our power comes from the opposite side. I don't know if it's an angel, the Almighty, or some demon looking to gain power. But our treasures and weapons we either forged or purified to use against the chaos. The morning star whip was said to be forged in heaven for the morning star and we know what that became..."

She gulped. She did know that particular angel was one all good witches avoid. And there it was sealed under his home. The fallen... the deciever..deceiver... she shook her head finally understanding how they were fooled and also know knowing his power wasn't evil or magic. But it was more than that. It was a gift to battle chaos itself. She blushed hotly as she turned away

"So the risk remains if I use the spell but... you use that whip and the combat cross is another whip..." she said thinking and hiding her feelings under her voice.

"Aye... the morning star whip cannot be corrupted or destroyed its presence is absolute the combat cross... has another name... it was made from alchemy... the sacrifice of a creature of chaos the mother of us Belmont and wife of the first belont in this land. Who was turned into a vampire and sacrificed her life to empower the whip against chaos. Only my family fan use it to its full power. Anyone else and it's a bit of leather tied onto cords. It our hands the hands of a Belmont it becomes the combat cross... the vampire killer."

"So the peice we have left to collect is the final piece... why was it scattered like that?" She asks getting excited to have her questions answered. Her heart was beating hard and her controlled voice slipped as she sounded happy.

"The ruin of the Belmont family. A Belmont betrayed us a d became the dragon long ago. His weapon was split our family cast out and hunted. He was slain but the slayer became the next vessel. The catholic church which unknowingly serves the fallen orchestrated it to undermine peace and knowledge for power. Burning us as witches and sorcerors." That explained alot but now she understood why completing it was so important. If it turned chaos power against itself the power would not transfer to a new vessel and the morning star would be a powerful weapon being of divine origin.

"You really do need to do this... while I don't like the fighting and all I wish js to read practice magic and.... in any case I'll keep helping you. " She almost said she wished to mate with him as well and stopped herself. She didn't want him to be distracted by her and get himself killed. But they had loved eachother and it was somethings wouldn't ever forget.

"I love you." He said letting g out a weak chuckle and a heavy sigh. That hit her feelings hard and bubbled more heat out of her. He almost never said it but he always meant it. Her face flushed

"Wh-why are you saying such a thing now?" She asks shaking alittle to contain herself.

"Because I love you." He did it again but this time his hand held hers and squeezed. Her heart was pounding and she couldn't say it or anything. She loved him too and wanted him badly. He didn't let go of her hand and she held his tight.

"You know what saying that does to me..." she said her voice hiding a purr. Her heat was getting worse

"I know. But that's not why I say it. " He said then let her hand go. He guessed she needed him to give her space and he stood up. As he did his knees popped and he walked like his legs were asleep back to the wagon. With his gaze off her she let her heat flow freely for a moment and controlled it.

"I'm going to check on gregorio. I don't think he has fed in 3 days." She said and went to her servant to check 9n him.

The vampire was keeping watch for any creatures night creatures to kill or regular ones to feed off. Then he smelled her heated scent and turned she was panting and her heat was out of control it made his fangs lengthen to smell her scent. "Mistress what are..." she fell into him leaning g hard.

"Bite me... feed a little and quick before I change my mind" She said and the vampire was surprised.

"Mistress i..."

"Do it! If you don't ill do something to the Belmont... " she said and the vampire knowing hiw she felt for Samuel did as he was commanded to. He took her chin in his fingers and lifted her n3ck to his fangs and bites down hard on her neck. She let out a whimper and the bite made her heat explode between her legs as he fed off her blood. Slow sucking noises were heard as the vampire fed off her desires and feelings. He had his own for her and knew he would lose control if he fed too much and try to claim her for his own. For her feelings h3 always controlled himself.

When he finished she was weak but she pushed away. "Mistres as always your blood is potent. Why then feeling so strongly for him do you not act on your feelings and claim him as often as you want? "

Panting and gulping down air she said "because I'm not that kind of girl even if it's hard to control myself around him. These feelings make my spells maximum strength and can sustain you when you need blood. And I don't want to hurt him by asking him to do th8ngs he might not like. "

"Mistress... he would do those things for you. If you ask him he would do anything for you and your love." The vampire was right and she knew it "go to him tell him what you want him to do with your body and he will be nervous at first and not deny you. You already gave him your heart."

Those words she took in and pondered as she return3d to the campsite. Her neck was healed before she got back and her feelings were under control. But she still wanted him. She still thought of him giving b3r every desire she has.

Samuel waited for her to return but his gaze was looking out wondering if she was alright. He did sense Rachel there and looks at her seeing she sits down again. She didn't say anything but was quiet.

"Are you alright?" he asked seeing her nod.

"I'm alright.." she mutters quietly. They remain sitting near each other but didn't do too much.

Is something on your mind?" Samuel asks and she doesn't look at him.

"As always I'm fine." She said trying to dodge the question.

"Not an answer" He said and she sighs a little and still doesn't look at him.

"As always I have alot on my mind I don't want to bother you with it." She said.

"You aren't a bother I can help." He said and she still didn't look at him.

"I... sigh I'm just thinking about how dangerous things are and how I don't want you to get hurt and I don't want to fight anymore." She said and this was half of her mind.

"I see... but I have to fight and I can't do it without you." He said and she buries her head in her knees.

"I know... I just... want to go home. Read that wonderful collection of books and practice magic in peace there." She said wishing for a home life not a life on the road.

"I... I see..." he said and now he was feeling like he was torturing her.

"Samuel... am I a bad person?" She asks him not wanting to hear the answer.

"No...? Why do you ask something like that?" He looked at her and saw how tight she was gripping her clothes.

"Because I want things... and things that aren't normally good." She said referring in her mind to her feelings for him but he couldn't know about her doubts of their love.

"Hmmm...." he made a noise as the considered her reason. "Well I don't know. You almost never say what your thinking or what you want and it makes it hard to tell if I'm good eno7gh or not. Then when you do you almost feel guilty... hard to say really. I don't think you're a bad person I just don't really know what I can do to make you happy." He said at length and she listened.

"Y..you... want me happy?" She asks slowly and he nodded then remembered she wasn't looking at him.

"Yes I do. I want you happy and safe. Free to do and say as you please without fear." He said and reaches out to touch her shoulder.

"....I really don't know if I can even say it...or them. It's so many in my mind and it's already making me think other wise." Rachel wanted to but she wasn't sure how to start or say it. This confusion leaves her muttering to herself but it also questions her self to what she should do.

Samuel was looking at her but hopes she was really alright even if her mind was lost in it's own distractions.

"The secret is one at a time." Samuel says hoping to encourage her he understood her and did his best to let her have her own time to think things through. He reached put to touch her and she jumped. Looking around she saw it was just him and relaxed.

"I'm sorry.. I don't mean to do that..." she said and he held her hand.

"Don't feel bad. It's okay." He said and he squeezes he randomly with his to show he cared. To him it didn't matter what she wanted different he could give it to her. Giving it to her was enough for him.

"I just...my head has weird and normal ideals of what makes me happy but..at times I wonder if that same feeling is driving me crazy" she rubs her arms at the thought but Samuel looks to her wondering what that could be.

"What do you mean? Like ideals? Thoughts? Something for your mind??" he mutters seeing her looking down at her lap once more. Was Rachel really having a hard time thinking or was she just lost in her own ideal thoughts now? He sees her looking down but she didn't look at him.

"It's just..the ideal thoughts in my head...they just get worse and worse. Knowing deep down they will just get stronger and stronger till I can't control it. I know i have my own reasons of desires but they scare me. I'm afraid I'll do something stupid and hurt you...." she hugs herself but Samuel looks at her then sighs.

"I see.....then it's a possible worried jester then...are you worried of hurting me or something worse......that your nervous of reacting to your feelings?" he sees her not answer but a light nod was seen.

"..................."

"Trust me, I don't want to hurt you..I rather keep you happy. I want you to stay happy for me and only me. The feelings I have ache Samuel.....just wanting to stay with you even if it's risking me fighting somethings that can kill us later on down the road....." she looks down but was trying to keep herself calm.

"My secrets are weird..their confusing and they make me feel weird....or hot for some reason. I wanna try to control them but my head wont' let me..it's edging me to do what I want...even if it's risky...I don't wanna seem like I'm a monster or anything for wanting that..."

"And if I offer for you ri be that way... wouldn't that be a release from the fear? I'm tough you know." He said hoping to assure her he was fine with her desires. "I mean I love you for you... all of you. No matter what I will always love you " He said squeezing her hand a bit tighter. He wasn't trying to get her to confess anymore. He was trying to encourage and support her.

He wasn't very good at this in his head but he was doing his best. And he wasn't going to provoke her into triggering her. He would let he take her time. He k ew of her dark desires having seen them back at the Belmont house. He wouldn't ever forget and there was nothing to forgive. She did t do anything wrong by him.

"B..but that's the thing. I..these desires and heat..I can't really can't control them as much...." she mutters but looks to her lap even if she wonders if he can tell. Would he be able to tell this for himself or was this another lost thing for her to figure out on her own?

"...I know even if you offer, I might..I might lose it..I might be able to stop...." she whispered this next that she feels him holding her hand tighter trying to help calm her down. She was tense and worried and yet he was already trying to give her support and encouragement. She was everything to him so helping her wasn't the issue.

"..................."

"I'm always here for you Rachel. I don't like seeing you this down but I'm hoping things will change for you. I'm always going to be here for you. Nothing will change that.." He sees her blushing worse that she was squirming where she sat, feeling her heated desires burning her from the inside out. She did want him and ease into her cravings but it was hard to hold back once she goes it. Breathing softly, she was trying to calm down.

Seeing her like this was hard and he knew what he had to do. He sat close making her jump a little and as she slides away he held her close. She wasn't sure what he was doing then she felt his lips on hers. She was burning up and he knew if she went by herself she would use her magic to satisfy her urges making them more intense. She makes a small marring noise as he kisses her. He was still holding her hand but hjs arms were around her now. His embrace was tight like he was trying to give her all his love with all his strength behind it. Except she knew it wasn't all his strength. His embrace was tight and his kiss was slow and steady.

"Maybe just maybe" He thought "She needs me to start things so she can let loose" She was burning worse wanting more but he was going slow to feel out her reactions and pressed closer as she leans into him. It was an awkward position sitting like that and she fell back pulling him on top of her for his own comfort as she embraced him and kisses him in return.