CastleVania: Senshi For HIRE!!!!
By: YingGirl. (yinggirl_the_sephiroth_hunter@hotmail.com)

Notes: Although I do not owe the rights of CastleVania SoTN I do owe the rights of these following characters:

Vanessa Alexandra—A young teenager who’s now entering collage. She is very shy and humble but she holds a secret.
Matthew Brodwick—A computer expert who befriends Vanessa because of her interest in the Internet.
Cother Mackenzie—An exchange student from the land down-under. She may seem rough but has a kind heart towards others.
Pumpkin Jr.—A visitor from another realm. He has appeared in this world to save his life. He acts more as a sidekick than a well-mannered brother. He always calls YingGirl “Yingy”.
YingGirl—The young mysterious fighter who solves Montreal’s crimes. No one knows who she is or why she appears; yet she has a strong connection with Vanessa Alexandra.
Caramel—Vanessa’s cat and guardian. Just because she can talk and warn Vanessa about the new dangers that threaten Montreal, doesn’t mean she must constantly boss her around.
Akiral—A pestering imp who taunts Pumpkin Jr. and YingGirl away from his and her work. He is more than a nuisance when he decides to join on a much darker side.
Xia—A ninja assassin hired who is sent to kill the “mysterious warrior”. She is very clever and resourceful and will continue her job when she decides to work for a dark priest.

  All other characters are based and owned by Konami. The story takes place in the modern time. Please enjoy.

Prologue 1

  The Darkness. How does it make us act out our own death?

  CastleVania stood where it always stands…every 100 years. This was the time when people already forgot of their heritage. New vampire lore, such as the devious pimp known as Lestat, has crushed the legends that surrounded the castle.
  No one wanted to believe in Dracula: “The King Of Vampires”. No one wanted to believe in the family that stood against Dracula when he tried to take over Europe. Or a young damphile who befriended a member of this clan of vampire hunters to put an end to his father. No one believed in those legends anymore.
  But the castle was standing. It looked brand new, as the castle was never brought down. It stood on its sacred ground, never moving. Bats swirled around the castle while a crackle of thunder roared into the nightly sky.
  It could only mean one thing; the owner of the castle has awakened from his cursed slumber. And even worse…without a member from the vampire hunting family to stop him, nothing will stop this owner to fulfill his task.
  This was the time for a new clan of vampire hunters to be born. Those who known the knowledge and have the gentle heart as one of the legendary hunters such as Simon Belmont, Trevor C. Belmont, or Richter Belmont may have the power to defeat this owner.
  But who will it be? Who will be able to bring the vicious count on his knees once again?
  If there was someone who still believed in those legends, this was a sign for….
  Trouble.

Prologue 2

  “Soon child,” a father like figure said as he shown his only child a chain whip, “you may use this whip to bring down the Great Count Vlad Tepes Dracula.”
  “Me?” the small child asked curiously, “You think so daddy?”
  “Of course. Even thou you are not from my line, you are from one of the greatest lines of vampire hunting…the Belmonts.”
  “Belmonts?”
  A woman came between the two and snatched away the whip.
  “How dare you try to give her family heirloom?!!!” the woman scolded, holding the whip, “She won’t fight Dracula!!! We came with this orphan to escape this nightmare of even thinking of fighting the dreaded count!!! Her parents didn’t make it…let’s just be glad that he’s at peace and there won’t be time for fighting.”
  “There won’t be any peace,” the man replied, “Dracula is a restless man and he won’t rest till all the Lecardes, Morris, and especially the Belmonts are dead.”
  “Please don’t tell this in front of our adopted child!!! I don’t want her to grow up to know that she is nothing but the next in line to slay down Dracula! I want her to live a normal peaceful life like any child. Please, can we make Vanessa just live a normal life? I don’t want to hope that she is slain down by one of his henchmen.”
  “Even thou she is our last hope if Dracula does appear. I hope your decision is right.”
  “It will be.” The woman placed the whip in a wooden chest and locked it.
  She was certain that evil will never appear….
  She was wrong.

  “Daddy…” I said as I was resting my head on my books.
  “Earth to Vanessa,” Cother chuckled, “bout time you woke up. Is anything wrong with you, girlfriend?”
  “Uh…Cother!!! What are you doing here?!!”
  “Just came to inform you that English class just finished ten minutes ago. You have to stop going on the net. It’s not good for your health. And it’s the third time this week. Are you sure you’re alright?”
  “Yeah. I’m fine. I’m just having this bad feeling. I’m supposed to do something, something really important to stop a new evil from spreading.”
  “Maybe it’s to become YingGirl and take down this new threat.”
  “Cother!! X-nay on my secret!!!”
  “Well you should become her. It’s been…two or three years since you fought some real bad guys than those small time crooks. Where is a good blood sucking demon when you need one?!!”
  “I’m glad we have this peace. At least Caramel is not around me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. By the way, if you’re interested in bloodsuckers, we can watch Vampire Hunter D. They’re showing it in the Anime room at universal break.”
  “Ah. Vampire Hunter D. One of the new folklore I’m sticking with.”
  “Me too.” I quickly picked up my books.
  “Too bad there isn’t a Prince of Vampires,” Cother sighed as she looked at watch, “that would be…AHHHHHH!!!”
  “Cother!!!” I cried out, “What is it?”
  “WE ONLY GOT TEN MINUTES TILL THEY SHOW THE MOVIE!!!”
  “Why didn’t you say so? Quick! Let’s make a break for it before a guard comes along!!”
  “Right!!!”
  We both grabbed our books and dashed out of the classroom, running dearly to the stairway.
  “Last one there misses the movie,” Cother giggled as she was running, “and that won’t be me!!”
  “No fair!!!” I cried helplessly, “I want to see D too!!! Wait up!!!”
   Then the unexpected happened. As I ran towards the stairway, someone walked out of his classroom. He was calm in his steps, and when he stepped out…I almost ran over him.

  CRASH!!!!

  I let out a cry as I slammed face first onto the floor; my books went flying across the hallway. On the other hand, the stranger I bumped into wasn’t angry. He kneeled next to me.
  “Oh my gosh,” Cother said as she turned around, “Vanessa!!!”
  “Are you alright?” he replied as he pushed aside some hair away from my face.
  I looked up to him.
  “I’m fine,” I replied calmly, “are you…an angel?”
  “No. I’m as real as anything. Here. Let me help you up.”
  “Uh…thanks.”
  Strange. I never meet this guy but I know his presence!! But how? Who is he? At least his was kind to help me, even thou it was my fault. I got a look at his features more clearly. His hair was a shimmering golden blonde color; his face had almost feminine features, his skin color is almost a fainted shade of peach, and his eyes…I almost feel like I was in a trance staring at his tinted golden eyes. He must been wearing contacts. My friend Cother saw another story.
  “Mmm,” Cother slyly complemented as she look up at the stranger, “tall mysterious blonde. So Vanessa, when are going to ask him for a date?”
  “Cother!!!” I cried, turning instantly red.
  The stranger laughed calmly.
  “Well I always had looks to kill,” he said as he turned to Cother, yet having his attention on lil old me, “guess I should tell you my name since I already know yours. The name’s Adrian. It’s been a pleasure to meet such interesting people.”
Adrian!!!! That name just gave me an instantly stab in the back. I know where I saw it! I know about it! But I can’t place my finger on it!! I was still turning red.
  “So Adrian…” Cother questioned, “what brings you to Vainer?”
  “Just visiting,” Adrian grinned, “I’m looking for someone.”
  “A girlfriend?”
  “You could say that.”
  “Well don’t worry, if you don’t find the girl you desire, there’s always Vanessa over here. She’s been single for…”
  “This guy doesn’t know HAVE to know about my personal life Cother,” I replied in an angry tone.
  “Sorry,” Cother mumbled, “but a guy would keep you off the net, wouldn’t you agree Adrian…”
  She glanced around. Adrian was gone.
  “Strange,” Cother pondered, “where could he have gone?
  “Maybe to avoid us and our talks of boys,” I snickered softly.

***

  The castle held many rooms; many of them were cloaked with the ghouls and demons that nest in the shadows. A traveler may enter the castle, but will never come out the same again. Yet whenever there was darkness, there was light, and there was still darkness in the light. In the midst of the night, in the highest tower, was candlelight.
  Although it was shining dimly, one could see it. Candlelight was excellent for this room, this room of cursed death. The felt of death covered the kingdom of shadows. This was a tragic kingdom that has fallen into a curse…and their ruler was sitting on his throne, embroider with his fashion threads of different eras. He wasn’t alone… a humble servant was right beside his throne: The Angel Of Death.
  “So,” the count asks, “This is what mankind had evolve themselves into?”
  “Yes,” Death replied, “they have driven themselves to their own grave.”
  “Perfect chaos. Almost as she predicted.” The count laughed, holding his glass.
  “So…it would be easy to take over mankind right now…right?”
  The count growled as he tightens the grip on his glass, shattering it to pieces.
  “If only that were true,” the count replied, wiping off the glass.
  “What do you mean, my master?”
  “Even after 200 years I’ve vowed revenge on those Belmonts. And now that each and every vampire hunters known to the world have passed on…ONE BELMONT STILL EXISTS IN THIS WORLD!!!”
  “Impossible!!! My men made sure the Belmonts were exterminated.”
  “Then your men are idiots. The Belmonts escaped to the new world, but one still lives. Even if it’s weak and pathetic…it will have the power to bring me back to my slumber!!!”
  “That won’t happen. You’re strong enough to kill 15 men in one shot.”
  “True, it won’t happen because the Belmont has forgotten his birthright. Bring me the Belmont; bring him back to his heritage. And when he returns…his blood will satisfy centuries I had endured from that reached family ruining my plans.”
  “Of course. I shall let out the finest beastery into the new world. The young Belmont won’t know what hit him.”
  “And keep an eye for my bastard son. He may want to train the Belmont…make sure he doesn’t succeed.”
  “As you wish.”
  Soon it was going to happen again…the legendary battle between good and evil was about to begin once again. Yet will evil triumph??

***

  “Sorry guys,” one student said, “we can’t let you in. The movie already started and we wished not to be disturbed.”
   He closed the down towards us, locking it to make sure no one bother to knock.
  “Awww man…” Cother whined, “that is the third time this week I miss the movie.”
  “Relax Cother,” I replied, patting my friend on the back, “at least we can try to find something else to do.”
   “Like what? Your next class starts at 4:00 pm and mine’s starts at 4:30.”
   “Well…we can go after that guy we bumped into.”
   “Now you’re talking!! Vanessa, maybe you’ll find yourself a man after all!!”
   “Shut up Cother.”
   “Oh well. Sooner or later you’ll thank me for finding your dream hunk.”
   “Great…”
   “Maybe it’s destiny. Maybe you and Adrian should belong together.”
   “I don’t know. I have this funny feeling that we’ve meet.”
   “How? Adrian is a first semester student at Vainer…that would make us older than him.”
   “I doubt it…he seems older than us.”
   “What?!!!!”
   We both continued our walk in the hallway, still wondering about our visitor. Who was he? Why did he introduce himself to us? Whatever the answer was, my senses were telling me it didn’t look or sound good.

***

  The year was 1797 as a young damphile watched upon the cliffs. He was wearing clothing of the ending era of revolution which almost blood swept all of Europe He stood there watching, watching the aftermath of his cursed father’s dream crumbling into pieces. He stood on his group coldly for he has committed a sin he wishes to forget…killing your own father.
  He didn’t notice the rustle in the bushes that came right behind him. So when the noise came louder, he only turned around to notice his old friend…
   Richter Belmont.
   “Why do you bother me once again Belmont?” the damphile asked, “I have aid you Belmonts for centuries…yet why can’t you leave me in peace?”
   “I know you have Alucard,” Richter replied, “I’m thankful that you did, very thankful.”
   “Well glad to here your thanks. Now if you excuse me…”
   “Alucard!! I don’t get you!! Why do you help humans yet wish not to live among us?”
   “You’re driving my patience, Belmont.”
   “My name is Richter by the way, and I want you to reconsider what you are doing. You’re almost giving up your own humanity to live in the shallow world you once grew up in! Maria is worried sick about you.”
  “I’m sorry. I don’t want to be caught in this mess any longer.”
  “Is that what you’re going to do? Are you just going to hide from these problems? Just go and sleep for a hundred or more years? You know you are human as well as a vampire.”   The young damphile glared at his friend. Within a quick reflex he pulled out his sword and pointed at the Belmont’s neck.
   “Answer my question,” Alucard replied in a serious tone, “will there ever be a time that humans and vampires can understand each other? Can there be a time that a creature such of myself can feel love like humans can?”
  “Alucard,” Richter cried out, “please don’t…”
  “The answer is no. Because of my bloodline raging in my veins, I can neither live with my kind or yours. I am forever cursed.”
  “Then…would you reconsider to be a watcher?”
  “A watcher?”
  “Someone to take care of the young Belmont for he may need retraining if he has forgotten the skill.”
  “Sounds intriguing,” Alucard said as he lowered his sword, “why do you address me to take this role?”
  “Because,” Richter replied as he wiped his face, “there will be a time that the Belmont story is lost and Dracula has risen to destroy this world…”
  How right Richter was.

***

  “YingGirl this!!!” Xia hissed, “YingGirl that!!! Why not me for a change?!! I had this town down on its knees until that pretty suited fuku soldier came along!!! Who is she?!!!”
  “Now calm down,” Akiral cried, “we can’t afford you to go into wild outbursts such as that. We can get the cops on our ass!!!”
  “Damn this town!!! Once I get my hands on YingGirl…she will pay dearly!!!”
  “Do you want me to possess someone for your enjoyment?”   “I don’t think that would be necessary,” a voice howled at the two’s bickering.
  “WHO SAID THAT?!!” Akiral and Xia cried out in unison.
  A figure appeared in front of the two. As he is clocked in a hooded cape, he also holds a sickle. He heads towards the two misguided misfits while the essence of death trails right behind him. He looked like a grim reaper, the markings of the angel of death.
  “Tell me,” asked the ghastly grim reaper, “tell me about this YingGirl.”

TO BE CONTINUED.