Chapter 8: Half And Half

  They walk back to the entrance and up the left set of stairs and are met with a large, empty throne room with one statue on each side and a red carpet down the middle. They walk down the red carpet to the empty, wood throne.

  Melody: Looks like we found the first dead end.

  Al: It appears so. There must be another set of stairs. Although, there are not many places to put more steps. Perhaps there is a hidden lever somewhere?

  ? *Laughs* Perhaps you are too Human.

  ? Only the eyes of a true Demon can see past our illusion.

  They turn around and see the statues gaining color and animation. The statue on their left is now a Minotaur with a club that's on fire and the one on the right is a Centaur with an ice spear.

  Melody: Finally! A little something for the ladies!

  Centaur: You both shall be punished for your crimes against Demon kind.

  Minotaur: With the highest of magnitudes.

  Al: What of your crimes against humanity? Do you not have Human souls swimming within you?

  Minotaur: Silence! Our souls are of no concern to you.

  Centaur: I find the both of you guilty of the slaughter of countless Demons.

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  Minotaur: The punishment is Death!

  Melody: Got any tips for these two?

  Al: The Centaur is half horse and the Minotaur is half man.

  Melody: Heh. Alright, I'll get the fire guy.

  Al: Understood!

  Melody shoots water out of the trident, putting out the fire as Alucard rushes toward the Centaur. The Minotaur reignites his club with his fire breath as Melody throws the trident into his leg and Alucard deflects a spear attack with his sword. The blade quickly freezes as Melody starts climbing the back of the Minotaur.

  Centaur: Strong, yet a fool. Your blade is done for.

  Alucard dodges the spear and shoots the Centaur in the head, stunning it.

  Al: Melody! Swap Weapons!

  Melody: Aye!

  They throw their weapons to each-other and Melody starts heating the sword on the club as she shoots the Minotaur in the head. It flails wildly, making Melody drop the weapons in order to hold on as Alucard slices off the front-right leg of the Centaur, making it collapse. He then dodges a sweeping spear attack, climbs on the Centaur, and stabs it through the chest.

  Centaur: Agh! You r-really are the son of Dracula. I shall serve thee well, prince.

  Melody summons the trident and shoves it through the skull of the Minotaur. Its corpse falls to the ground with a loud thud.

  Al: Our kind is not meant to infest this world.

  Centaur: Wait!

  Alucard swiftly slices up through the Centaur, splitting it in two.

  Melody: Whoa! Bloody brutal, mate!

  Al: T'was a good fight.

  They swap weapons again and Alucard picks up the massive ice spear.

  Melody: Good luck throwing that thing.

  He cuts the spear in two, taking the icy end.

  Al: I wonder...

  Alucard throws the spear and it sticks into an invisible object.

  Melody: How'd you know that was there?

  Al: I didn't.

  Alucard tries to recall the spear, but can't. He then walks up to the spear and takes it. The illusion of the throne then disappears and is replaced with a spiral staircase.

  Melody: I'm getting sick of all these stairs.

  Al: There shall not be many more, I'm sure.

  They start making their way up the stairs.