Castlevania: Symphony of the Night Chapter 3
By Aujang Abadi
Trevor watched Simon sleep, his ethereal form flickering slightly. Simon's closed eyelids shuddered, and his body shook with the memories that were undoubtedly flooding back to him. He would not understand immediately, Trevor reflected. Speech would still not come to him easily, and he would have many questions.
"My dear descendent... would that I had all the answers. I know nothing but what I am to show you..." He stroked Simon's feverish forehead gently. "How much like me you've become, Simon... if Belladeux could see you now, she'd cry with joy." He sat upon the nearest wooden chair, only to drift slowly to the floor. The door creaked open behind him. He did not turn, but kept his eyes on Simon. "Hello, Sarah... any luck?"
"I'm afraid not, Trevor... all I could find was this tattered old whip." She held it up for inspection. It was worn almost completely through, and although the browned leather spoke once of high quality, it was now but a useless shell of a weapon, and not at all suitable for a Belmont. "Trevor, maybe a whip isn't the weapon he needs... not all Belmonts preferred them, anyway."
"No ... not Simon. His weapon is the whip, it always has been." He turned his head back to the sleeping, shattered man. "Look at him, Sarah... look at his body. I can't even begin to imagine what Dracula did to him. He may never recover from it. The poison runs so thickly in his veins now, breaking his mind to pieces, destroying his very being." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I couldn't protect my own, Sarah."
"Trevor, there was nothing you could have even hoped to do!" She kneeled before him, to look him in the eye. "You died long before any of this happened! You can't expect to be able to guard us every waking moment!" She sat heavily on the bed, knowing that Simon's slumber would not be easily broken. "This was our fault, Trevor… we never listened to him, when we should have. All we can do is try and prepare him, for when Vlad reappears." She peeled the blankets off of his sweat-soaked form. He cried out, shaking violently as his eyes squeezed together. "Shh, Simon... its ok..." She took his hand and gently rubbed it, holding it to her smooth cheek. He gradually began to relax, and the regular, deep breaths of peaceful sleep finally took hold. "Come on, Trevor, let's leave him be... he'll wake up when he's ready." Trevor assented silently, nodding as he stood up and walked out of the room. Sarah put fresh covers on Simon's body, and kissed his forehead. "If you can hear me, Simon, please be well." She bundled up the sullied linens and left in silence, closing the door behind her.
* * * * *
Simon sat up in his bed, blinking back the sluggishness that swam in his mind. The candles had burned themselves to their last inch of wax; they were the first things he noticed. He brought his knees up and wrapped his arms around them, exhaling. He was beginning to remember: who he had been, and what had happened to him. But there was a large, blank spot, between then and now... how he'd ended up here was beyond him. It seemed so surreal; how long had the corruption taken hold? Strangely enough, the answers did not press him, although a part of his mind felt perhaps they should have. He ran a hand through his hair and set his chin down onto his left kneecap, watching the door as it creaked open again. Sarah stepped through, smiling.
"I thought I heard you wake up. Need anything?" She walked to the bed, dressed in a simple white dress with a floral print along the waist. He shook his head, speaking quietly.
"I didn't think… I'd see you… again." His words were slurred and slow to exit, but the emotion behind them was more than clear. "What are you doing here?"
"I was called, just like Trevor." She smiled at him. Her lips were exquisite… she was exquisite. "We have to train you, Simon. Dracula will return soon. You need to be ready." She sat down on the bed, next to his naked form, and played her fingers along his glistening shoulder. "Do you feel alright?"
"Please... don't touch me." He drew away, his eyes closing. "Not when I'm like this. I can… still feel them inside of me; what they left… behind to finish the job. Poisoned... so poisoned." Against his own will, he shuddered, memories rushing back in a horrible torrent. He pressed his hands against his head, trying to will them out, but it did no good. In the end, nothing served to protect him.
"Simon... shh... come." She gently unfolded his body and let him lie back on the bed, his body still shaking from the lurid recollections. Her dress fell to the floor and she climbed into the bed beside him, leaning over to press her lips against his.
"No." He could barely croak the refusal, but it echoed in the room, a hollow shadow of rejection. A gaunt hand rose to press again her stomach, holding her back. "No… Sarah, please... leave me. I want to be alone." He managed to turn his back, staring at the far wall with empty gray eyes. Her reaction swung quickly between fury and heartbreak. Sarah's lips trembled and she gathered her dress, fleeing the room.
As the door closed, Simon pressed his face into the sheets and tried so hard to forget how much he'd loved her.
.