Vlad Dracula can transform into the bat, the wolf and mist. Damien (the devil, Satan) has revealed that in Dracula's journey to eliminate the existence of humans he would need allies.

Chapter 7

Vlad Dracula, with the power to take the form a bat, a wolf and mist in his possession, is taken into the depths of Castlevania by Damien. Damien had told Dracula he is to rule the earth, but he would not succeed without the help of allies. "Damien," said Dracula "If I am to rule mankind and create a new establishment who will come to my aide? Will you?"

"No I will not," said Damien. "What I can do is show you how to live your new life."

"But who else shall I turn to? Should I place my faith in the weakness of the human race?"

"Who said you are to do so? The human is not worthy to do the vampire's bidding. Since I have taken you this far have you not learned anything?"

"Please forgive me of my ignorance."

"Say no more. We must look ahead to meet those have come to your service."

Damien, with a torch in his hand, took Dracula to a huge door. They both stopped and upon their stop the door opened to reveal what appeared to be a prison. "We have prisoners?" said Dracula.

"No," said Damien. "This is where you meet your first servants." They approached the prison cell and stood there experiencing nothing but silence. They looked into the dark cell and out of the darkness a giant creature jumped into view barking through the bars. It had the head and legs of a wolf and the arms and torso of a man. Another creature of the same kind appeared; and another followed and another and another. In all eight of them appeared. One was chewing on what appeared to be a human bone and the others crawled like dogs. "They, my friend," said Damien "are called lyncanthropes. They are half man, half wolf. If a human is bitten by one of these creatures he becomes one of them. Look." Damien pointed to a woman lying at the corner of the cell. She was naked and holding herself screaming in pain. Dracula saw hair growing on her back and when she laid on her side he saw her hands forming claws and her teeth forming fangs. The young woman began to go upon her hands and knees and her screams grew deeper and deeper. Her body formed the wolf's ears, eyes and hair, thus becoming what Damien called a lyncant. The she wolf got up and jumped upon another lyncant engaging in a fight. "At day she and the others will become human again," said Damien. "You and only you have the power to exert your command upon them and they will serve you well in your quest to recreate this world. When they hear your voice they will not turn away." Dracula looked into the cell and the creatures made noise as they fought amongst each other and made their best efforts to grab hold of Dracula and Damien. Dracula raised both of his hands. "Be still!" he said and with those words all noise made from the lyncants ceased and they all looked at him. "The lyncants will obey any command you give them. They are man's weakness." Damien reached in his cloak and pulled out fresh beef and threw into the cell. The lyncants rushed to it and fought their way into eating piece by piece of it. "We must leave," said Damien. "Others have come to your calling." They both left the prison with the lycants still feeding upon the beef given to them.

Dracula and Damien journeyed through the castle to the Mystic Hall. "Why have we returned here?" said Dracula.

"To meet those who have given life to Vlad Dracula," said Damien. The great white hall suddenly turned black. It was totally dark, not one piece of furniture was seen. As Dracula looked on into the darkness, ten men, old and dressed in priestly garments approached them. "These are the men that have resurrected you," said Damien. "Unlike those who preach gross lies to man of God's greatness, they sought the truth and by allowing me to reside within them they now possess the gift of eternity on earth. They come to your aide in opening the eyes of the pathetic humans and to bringing forth others to serve you." Dracula looked at the priests and nodded, as if to say "Thank you for all that you have done for me," and the ten priests disappeared from his sight. "Where have they gone?" said Dracula turning to Damien.

"Don't fret," said Damien. "When you call upon them they will offer you their service in an instant. Their absence, however, is to give way to them."

In an instant a huge crowd of people appeared in their presence. They had serious faces, carried weapons and had white, transparent bodies. They walked around aimlessly, unaware of Dracula and Damien's presence. "They are lost souls," said Damien. "In life they endured hardship and pain and most of their lives ended violently. In death I was able to move along them allowing their spirits to leave their bodies and move among the earth once more. They were angry, for they wanted the earth to endure the same suffering they endured. I granted their wish because I always reside in those who want power. They will serve you because of their vengeful campaign against the living. Humans are unable to see them, therefore with arms in hand they slay the living in brutal fashion striking fear in the heart of their love ones. Their mindset is the same as yours. They also seek to end God's establishment, for they feel that their Lord and Savior had failed them miserably in life as well. Their service is yours to take." With those words the lost souls disappeared from view.

Dracula looked on and heard distant cackling within the dark, then something sprang and landed in his sight. It was a creature with the front teeth of a rat, malnourished and with two small horns on its head. Behind the creature came others, medium and large built, same walked on human feet, others walked on hooves, some even walked on four feet. Some of these creatures carried weapons and others had the faces of humans and animals. "These beings are my servants on this earth," said Damien. "Man knows them as demons. I know them as my host who bravely stood up to God's establishment in Heaven. Those who are in my service in my kingdom are as numerous as the grain of sand upon the earth. Over the years they have grown due to the persecution they have suffered from God and His servants in Heaven and on earth. I share their service to you my friend, for they reside in the weak hearted in this world, draw many from God's side to yours and tear off the existence of man piece by piece." Dracula smiled and the demons vanished from view and the darkness of the Mystic Hall slowly disappeared, thus becoming light once more.

"This is very intriguing," said Dracula turning around. "Yet, I still don't understand."

"A war is brewing upon this world," said Damien. "A physical and spiritual war. God seeks to destroy man's body and soul with the assistance of his servants in Heaven and on earth. He seeks to enslave this world and those who are against it cannot fend for themselves. They want to become new, different beyond God's dreams and I arrived and showed them the way. I have longed ordained to have someone share my cause and I have found it in you. Come, I must have you reunite with friends long gone."

"With whom?"

"Those to whom you have considered brothers in your past life."

Damien took Dracula further into Castlevania, into the depths of a dungeon. "Why am I here?" said Dracula.

"To meet those whose memories were lost in the wind," said Damien. Within the emptiness of the dungeon multiple footsteps were heard. It was the sound of marching. The door of the dungeon opened with a loud creak and lines of men marched in. They wore fine silver armored breastplates, helmets and shields. They carried swords, spears, axes and bow and arrow. They all formed columns and faced the balcony where Dracula and Damien were standing. "This is the new mighty army of Wallachia," said Damien. "The army you thought was destroyed by Turkey has now returned to your service." Dracula looked over the vast army. He looked at the faces carefully and was certain this was his ragtag army that fought in the name of their country and in their faith against the army of Turkey. Dracula saw one particular face he was familiar with. In one great battle Dracula was stabbed and mortally wounded in the abdomen. One soldier came to his assistance and carried him off the battlefield while being shot with five arrows. This face he looked at was the face of the soldier who laid down his life for him that day, Dracula's eyes then filled with tears. "Damien," said Dracula "I cannot thank you enough for all that you have done for me. You have opened my eyes to the truth and you came into my life when I was uncertain and you provided a path for me to walk on."

"You are most welcomed," said Damien. "This task that you are to take will last for generations. Man is not a creature that will allow his life to be taken easily. He will develop methods to defend himself against your crusade on this earth. This is a fight that will be most difficult and you must gain the upper hand. You must call upon others to follow and you must lead them to find their place just as I have done the same for you, Count Dracula."

The End.

(MAIN LESSON: The Devil always reside in the weak and insecure.)