Author's Note: Well, this is it—the final chapter, there shall never be another one…maybe. Of the Castlevania stories that I have written over the years, this is the one that I enjoyed the most. Although someone nagged me about how I ended chapter 17. I was trying to create something of a Bram Stoker's Dracula ending, because I didn't want to send Wadim to Hell. Anyway, hopefully, this will be a good ending chapter. I guess the masses—or the few—will let me know.
Now at the journey's end,
we've traveled far,
and all we have to show,
are battle scars.
But in the love we shared,
we will transcend.
And in that love,
our journey never ends—
"Village Lantern"—Blackmore's Night
Lost Story
Chapter XVIII
The death of Wadim brought changes to the village of Warakiya. Obviously, the villagers removed the many crosses, crucifixes, and icons from their doors and windows—although the town council decided to maintain the large crosses at the entrances and exits to the village. However, the biggest change to Warakiya was the weather. Finally it appeared as though the long winter was coming to a close and spring had arrived. The concept of Easter was truly taking place—people were dying from an old life and rising to a new one. And on one of these warm days, in the early afternoon, Adrian—dressed in lighter clothes—found himself at Vasile's. However, he was not alone. Joining him were his sons, Lysander and Alcander—also dressed in lighter clothes.
"Do you have a good grip on that cup, Cander?" Adrian said to the toddler on his lap.
The two-year-old nodded, and used both hands to put the cup of juice to his lips.
"I believe you're suppose to say something to Vasile," Adrian added, while gesturing to the bartender.
"Thank you," Alcander said with a smile, after he removed the cup from his lips.
Adrian chuckled.
So did Vasile. "He's a charming boy, Adrian."
"Yes, he gets that from his mother—along with her temper," Adrian said, looking down at Alcander. "The same goes for big brother over there," Adrian added, gesturing to Lysander.
Lysander sat on a stool next to his father and brother, drinking a cup of juice as well. However, he was enjoying his juice so much that he did not acknowledge his father's gesture.
Vasile, however, did smile at Lysander, before he returned to Adrian. "Speaking of your wife, where is she?"
Adrian smirked. "Shopping," he said, while he laid his elbow on the bar, and rested his hand against his head. "Spending my money, as usual. I hate shopping, and so do the boys, so I told Maria that I was going to take them here. It's actually a good idea, because it makes her shop faster." Removing his head from his hand, he ran his fingers along Alcander's back. "Someone has to change Cander's diapers, whenever he needs it. Obviously she doesn't see me doing it—and for good reason," he said with a gesture. "She won't be gone for too long."
Vasile chuckled. "Would you like a glass of wine, Adrian, while you wait?"
"…One should be all right, and you can give another cup of juice to the boys—although, I don't know how often it is that you serve juice without alcohol."
"Only when there are young children, or people wanting to sober up." Vasile paused, and turned to a window. "Such as the individual who's about to come through the door."
"Who?" asked Adrian, turning to the door.
In response to Adrian's question was Edward, who blessed the entrance to the tavern, before he entered.
"Oh, Christ!" Adrian said in a sighing-whisper, while he placed his hand to his forehead. "God, I hope you can perform another miracle soon."
Edward crept to his usual spot at the bar, and Adrian could tell that his 'creeping' was not due to old age. Rather, it was due to Edward having a few drinks already. "Hello, little ones," Edward said waving to Lysander and Alcander, after he took his seat at the bar.
Lysander and Alcander looked at Edward, but they did not respond.
"Are these your children, Adrian?" Edward asked with a gesture.
Adrian nodded. "Yes, these are my boys, Edward, but I believe that you have seen them at church before."
"Could I give them my blessing?"
Adrian rapped his fingers on the bar. "I suppose so."
Leaving his usual place at the bar, Edward walked over to Lysander, placed a hand on his head, and said, "God loves you."
Lysander presented Edward with a confused look. One that seemed to say, 'What the hell are you doing?' Assuming that the four-year-old knew such language.
After giving his blessing to Lysander, Edward turned to Alcander. Edward performed the same gesture and said the same words. However, Alcander's reaction was different from his brother. While Lysander became confused, Alcander became afraid. He turned his head, and placed it against his father's chest.
Adrian smiled, took the cup from Alcander, and motioned him to a more upright position his lap. "You don't need to be afraid, Alcander. It's never a bad thing, when someone older gives you his blessing." And Adrian perked Alcander up by tickling his tummy.
A few minutes later, Maria did indeed appear, which resulted in Lysander climbing off his stool, and Alcander climbing off his father's lap, before charging to their mother.
"It's about time you arrived," Adrian said with a smile.
"I tried not to be too long," Maria said, while she ran her fingers through her sons' hair. "I wanted to keep all three of my men from getting drunk," she added with a smile.
Adrian chuckled. "Would you like to have one drink before we leave?"
Maria shook her head. "No, we should probably get going. I need to get the house prepared."
Adrian nodded. "All right."
"What are you having to prepare for, Adrian?" asked Vasile.
"The Belmont family. They've been catering us, so now it's time that we return the favor."
At dusk, Adrian built a fire. While it was warm during the day, it was still chilly at night—and that resulted in the Tepes and Belmont children wearing warmer clothes, while they played in the master room with their mothers. Keeping an eye on their wives and children, Adrian and Richter stood near the doorway between the kitchen and the master room, drinking a glass of wine.
"You know," Richter began—while he took a sip, "I looked into something the other day."
"What's that?" asked Adrian, also taking a sip.
"The Acts of Peter. Do you remember asking me, after we defeated Wadim, about what seemed to happen to him? How you thought it looked like he was wrestling with something?"
"Yes, I do."
"Well, I looked up where St. Peter had his final encounter with Simon Magnus in Rome, and Simon Magnus was flying around—showing the people his power. But St. Peter prayed, and Christ responded. Christ took away Simon Magnus' power of flight, and he fell to the earth—breaking his leg in the process. Simon was never able to recover after that fall and died shortly after that." Richter took another sip. "I believe that when I asked St. Peter to pray for us that day, he did, and Christ answered."
Adrian nodded. "I can't dispute that. I'm just glad that Wadim's dead, and my wife and children can live in peace for a while."
"I'll drink to that!"
"You'll drink to what?" asked Annette, while she scooped Sidra from the floor, and carried her over to Richter.
"Yes, do tell!" Maria added, as she carried Alcander with a pacifier in his mouth.
"Richter and I thought we would have a toast of wine to celebrate our victory, and to celebrate that you and the children are safe."
"Well, actually, Adrian," began Richter, "when I said, 'I'll drink to that,' I wasn't talking about wine. I meant that I'll have a shot of your brandy. Remember that brandy that you had that night we first encountered Wadim?"
Adrian chuckled. "You want a shot of that? Are you cold?"
Richter laughed. "No, no. But this is a day of celebration, so why not?"
Adrian paused, before he chuckled. "Eh, sure! Why the hell not? I think I'll take a shot with you."
"Aren't you forgetting someone, Adrian?" asked Maria.
"Yes, I think you are," added Annette.
"Umm," responded Adrian, while he gestured to Alcander and Sidra.
Maria laughed. "Don't worry. We're going to take the babies to Cander's room. They've been antsy to go for a ride on his rocking horse; haven't you, baby?" Maria said, with a tickle for Alcander's tummy.
Alcander giggled, and placed his hands against his mother's shoulders.
"So we'll be back in a moment," Maria added, as she adjusted Alcander, before walking upstairs to the nursery with Annette behind her.
Once the two sisters returned, Adrian entered his liquor cabinet, removed the pint of brandy, and poured a small amount into four unused wine glasses. "God bless!" Adrian said, while he, Richter, Maria, and Annette toasted. And after the four gulped the brandy, Adrian turned to Richter and added, "May the adventure we just had be our last."
The End
Cody