CHAPTER 77: BROKEN CHAINS

BROKEN CHAINS

EDGE OF THE UNDERWORLD

The clouds grow larger and their spiral form become even more visible while their tears of snow fall on the grounds, making the blackness of the land almost disappear into the unending white. The air flows in a sharp breeze carrying strange whispers of malicious intent; words like "Kill," "Fail," and "Die," slowly speak to Amanda as her lips become cold and dry.

Blood trickles down her nose and the sides of her mouth but she still holds on to her life. Hans big feet keep him well stamped to the ground as he pushes the spike forward, toward Amanda's chest.

She tightens her grip on her end of the spike and looks into the winged vampire's eyes. Their glowing eyes meet and hold as the battle of life and death ensues.

The spike gets closer and she feels the vampire's strength increase against hers; she smiles as black veins appear on his face. Black veins appear underneath his eyes, on his forehead and his pale jaw.

He begins to grunt and twitch his neck, "You, you are trying to compel me. You are trying to hypnotize me? How dare you?" Hans complains as he uses all his strength to push the spike against Amanda's chest.

She groans as the tip tears her skin and blood stains it; she roars and Hans' hands begin to shake, his wings flap and he jumps backwards, releasing the spike and falling to the ground.

He turns and screams in agony, "This isn't real, this isn't real" he screams and punches the ground, "No it isn't but this is," Amanda says and stabs him in the back with the spike.

Hans scream in pain as he tries to move but the spike holds him in place. Amanda steps on his back and grabs his wings, "Don't," he screams as he feels the sphinx grip hard and pull them.

He struggles and screams, gnashing his teeth and hitting the floor till his hands bleed as Amanda tears his wings from his back.

"I just needed you to be close enough for me penetrate your mind," Amanda says.

He screams out loud and turns to bats for a brief second before returning to his normal state. He tries to change to his bat form but cannot, he keeps returning back to his 7 foot body stuck to the spike against the ground.

"There is nothing you can do. Your mind is strong but mine is stronger. I blocked out your ability to transform," Amanda says.

"No fully grown sphinx will lose to a vampire in a one on one battle but you old vampires never agree. Now learn a lesson that you will never recover from," Amanda says and her arms light up with flames.

She puts her hands on Hans' bleeding back and his screams fill the atmosphere, "Burn," she commands and the flames engulf them till nothing is seen but fire and shadow.

INSIDE THE CASTLE

Rachael breathes heavily as she crawls to a table. She uses it to support herself to her feet. A drop of blood drops on the table and she traces it to her nose, it hurts but what is pain when you are fighting for the one you love.

She wipes her nose and looks over at Elma who is on one knee.

Alucard slams Samuel against a table and its legs give out on receiving the force of the clash.

"Enough," Alucard roars.

He looks from left to right, from Rachael to Elma; "We don't need these distractions. Get out," he raises his voice.

Rachael tastes sand on her lips as wind blows through her hair. It feels gentle on her skin at first but it gets heavier, fast and relentless.

She struggles to plant her feet on the ground as the wind pushes her backwards.

Thunder grips the background of the night as the wind throws Rachael and Elma out of the castle, crashing their bodies through the window.

"Don't you just love this castle?" Alucard kicks Samuel in the belly as he grovels on the floor.

"How does it feel to know that you will die?" Alucard asks coldly but Samuel ignores him. Alucard grabs Samuel by the leg and drags him on the floor.

"Don't worry. The pain you are feeling now will soon be over. As soon as I'm done with you," he says.

Alucard throws Samuel against a shelf and he breaks through it, landing on the wooden floor and a ton of old looking books.

"Sammy..." Gabriel's voice resonates in his ears, low and weak it is.

Samuel spits out blood and pushes himself off the floor. He struggles to his feet and wipes the blood dripping from the sides of his mouth.

The excruciating pain coursing through his body makes it hard to see. So he closes his eyes and turns the world around him to a dark void.

His heartbeat totters at every sound and his legs shake trying to get a firm stance.

With the link causing him pain he knows he can't fight on equal levels with Alucard but that doesn't mean he can't win.

But he has other gifts apart from his strength, other gifts that can be used more effectively if he concentrates; something McAllister reminded him.

The world becomes silent and Samuel stands still until he hears it. The sound of fast footwork, the sound of elevated heartbeat and the sound of the wind giving way as a force moves towards him.

Samuel moves to one side and dodges Alucard's fist.

He stays calm and refuses to attack; he has to get his bearings before he makes a move.

In this battle, his anger will do him no good. Alucard charges again and Samuel dodges him twice before taking a deep breath.

Calm and steady.

"What is this? Blind martial arts?" Alucard laughs, "You are not going to win," he says.

He attacks again but this time Samuel redirects his attack and retaliates with an attack of his own, landing an uppercut under his chin.

Alucard finds himself midair, his feet detached from the ground and his body connects hard against the floor.

Taunt him.

"Ding ding, this round goes to blind martial arts. I'm tired of playing your game, so I'm giving you a handicap. No eyes but I bet you will still lose. You and your father have that in common," Samuel says.

Alucard snarls as he stands up from the floor, "I will paint these walls with your blood," he threatens.

"Sorry, you are too weak to do it. Try again, maybe next year?" Samuel mocks him and Alucard roars, charging towards the black man as he falls prey to Samuel's plan.

He dodges Alucard and redirects him into a shelf, slamming his face against the hard wood.

"Score," Samuel jubilates with a short dance but loses himself and stumbles against a vase.

Alucard rearranges a broken nose and wipes blood from his nostrils. Alucard sees him struggling to stand up and dashes toward him, raising his sword high and ready to swing down on Samuel's head.

"You fell for it again," Samuel says and rolls the vase at Alucard's feet, the blond sphinx falls and Samuel quickly gets behind him and snaps his neck; Alucard's body falls to the ground.

Samuel staggers backwards and breathes hard, "There is no time, I have to wake Gabriel" he thinks and begins to stand. He gets to his feet and runs up the stairs to locate the room where Gabriel's body lies.

He rushes to Gabriel's side and holds his hand, "Wake up," he slaps his face but nothing happens. Samuel's eyes glow and he screams, "Wake up," but nothing happens.

"You are going to join him soon enough, Samuel" Alucard's voice echoes through the halls, "Damn it," Samuel curses as he realizes that he has no time at all.

"Wake up," he roars into Gabriel's face and his brother's eyes flicker to life. They open and reveal a blue glow; Gabriel hold Samuel's hand and a chain appears around the both of them, "I am sorry Sammy," Gabriel says and the chain chatters.

With its metal noises ringing against the floor, Gabriel's eyes close shut and his heart falls into a deep sleep.

"No," Samuel screams as he feel the bond with his brother break and the pains flee from his body. Tears fall down his cheeks and he screams for his brother to rise but fate will not have it so.

"Now he dies in your presence for good. The time has come to join him, Samuel" Alucard says as he stands with his sword at the door.

Samuel's eyes glow brightly and the room begins to grow darker than it already is, "Come, let us end this".