-RESIDENT EVIL IS IN THE PROPERTY OF CAPCOM-

Hi guys! Since we made up to the second progress of the game which is, SALAZAR'S CASTLE! Weeheee! It's also time for change cover! :)

So which cover do you like more?

PS: I OWN NOTHING! BUT I OWN TIFFANY THOUGH AND HER STORYLINE. AND A DIE HARD FAN OF LEON SCOTT KENNEDY ❤

The picture is the entrance to Salazar's Castle. I don't own the pictures too.

VI.

There was a shack on the courtyard and the merchant was inside. Leon upgraded, I mean bought new guns.

"Hey, me too!" I reminded and crossed my arms.

Leon rolled his eyes, chuckling to himself. "What kind of gun do you prefer?" He asked.

"Anything that'll come in handy." I smiled innocently at him.

Leon pondered for a while. "Anything that'll come in handy..." he repeated then came back to the merchant.

It took a few moments then I shrugged off and joined Ashley who was at the back side of the shack. "Here," Ashley handed me some gold.

"Where did you get this?" I asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"In that chest." She said nonchalantly then checked the wooden boxes on the corner.

"You know, you need to be careful every time you open anything." I reminded her as she was trying to open the wooden boxes.

"Yeah, I know that. I am careful--" Ashley screamed and ran behind my back. "Snake!"

I pulled out my gun and shot the snake on the head. "That's what I've been telling you." I chuckled.

Ashley pouted and walked out, must've been to join Leon. I followed. "What's with the gun shot?" Leon asked as he held out a Semi Auto Rifle.

"I shot a snake, that's all." I informed nonchalantly.

Leon just shrugged it off, handing me the rifle. "Something that'll come in handy." He smirked at me.

I looked at the rifle in awe, like light shined through my eyes. "Thank you," I grinned at him.

Leon traded his Handgun for a Blacktail; his Shotgun for a Riot Gun, but he still had that Rifle though.

With all the guns upgraded, I feel like this journey will get tougher. Like the village was child's play.

That was about time when we had to move on. Stairs ascended ahead and a door waiting to be opened.

Behind the door was an elegant entrance to the castle which were patrolled by robed men.

Leon gave me some hand signs, commanding me to shoot the two robed men patrollers from afar.

I nodded, pulling out my new weapon and peeking through the scope to aim at the hostiles.

And me, back to my destroyed city, I used sniper rifles all the time. Holding a sniper rifle makes me reminisce the events that happened six years ago.

When the robed men faced each other, I fired. The bullet went through the both of them, making a solid head shot.

Leon looked at me with a smile and nodded, quitely impressed. We moved forward, ascended the stairs until a fireball was thrown at a distance.

"What the..." I mumbled, shocked. I didn't see that coming.

Leon faced us, seemingly a crazy idea running through his mind. Well, he always had crazy ideas.

"Okay, when the last fireball hits the ground, we'll run like hell to the other side. Got it?" Leon said quickly but he didn't give us time to complain. "Go!"

We ran like it's the end of the world. Ashley screamed like a little girl as the fireball went behind us and crashed throught the wall. I screamed as well, Ashley's scream was contagious as hell. We turned left underneath the catapults for cover. We found a cannon inside.

"Do you think this thing still works?" I asked as I brush my hand on the dusty cannon.

"I hope so." Leon mutter. He went through the other side of the circle to smash the barrels only to find treasures and a grenade. A grenade? "There must be a mechanism to lift this up." He said as he play with the grenade on his hand.

I chuckled nervously and walked closer to him. "Uhm, Leon, would you mind giving me that grenade?" I said, trying to sound innocent as possible. I slowly reach out my hand to him.

Leon raised an eyebrow at me, confused. "Why would I do that?"

I didn't answer. I couldn't answer. You know the last time he held a grenade, we almost got killed.

Leon let out an amused smile, knowing what was running through my mind. "Don't worry, this grenade is not explosive. It's just incendiary." He stared at me, his smile not leaving. "Besides, you said that you trust me, right?"

I put my hands on my hips. "I trust you, yeah. But with grenades? Nah-uh!" Leon let out a short, amused laugh and I sighed loudly. "Just don't do the same mistake you did last time." I pleaded.

Leon rolled his eyes, chuckling to himself. "It was not a mistake."

I was about to retort when Ashley so rudely interrupted us. I forgot for a moment that she is with us though. "Guys, is this the time for a chit chat? We have to go now." Ashley joined impatiently, crossing her arms.

I smell jealousy.

"Right," I agreed as we prepare to leave.

We left the cannon, I shot the red robed man protruding above beside the catapult. We met a huge door like gate. We've got to ruin it somehow.

A robed man with a metal, more like golden mask was holding a scythe is inside a room. The gold mask had the design of a skull and he was holding a scythe. He was like a grim reaper. And I know headshots won't work on him.

"You two, stay here." Leon commanded and we just nodded. He pursued the man with the scythe and of course, fireballs followed.

I pulled out my rifle and shot the robed men reloading the catapults until I heard Ashley's scream behind me and someone tackled me from behind. I squirmed and resisted to get out from his iron grasp. I elbowed him on the face and quickly turned on my heels to knee him on the crotch just to stun him. I went back to look for Ashley who was being carried away like a sack of rice by the robed man.

"Tiffany, help!" Ashley's defeaning voice alarmed me and I quickly pulled my gun to shoot the man on the knee, making him drop Ashley.

I heard gun shots from behind, Leon must have noticed our absence. His voice was calling us from behind. "Tiffa!" Leon called out.

"Over here!" Ashley called back.

I didn't wait for the man to stand up, I shot him on the spot. And he died right away.

"Sorry, I was careless." I apologized while reloading my gun.

"It's okay," Ashley smiled. "Come on, let's go back."

I sighed then nodded.

"What happened?" Leon asked quickly.

"Nothing to be worried about." Ashley said smiling.

Leon turned his gaze at me, searching for an explanation. I shrugged. "Just had to kill two insects that tried to sting us."

Leon seemed satisfied by my answer, just nodded. "Anyway, I've cleared most of the area and I found a crank."

We nodded. "Let's see what it does."

We walk forward to the left passage where we can see the clear view of the gate. Leon operated the crank where the cannon from before lifted up in front of us.

"I don't think this thing still works though." I commented.

"Well, it's not gonna hurt if we try, right?" Leon commented back and tried to make the cannon work.

After a while of making the cannon work, it suddenly exploded a cannonball and went straight through the gate. The gate was ruined, revealing the entrance to the castle.

Ashley and I stared at each other then to Leon who was dumbfounded to what happened. When everything seem to finally process in our brains, I noticed that I stopped breathing. Leon blinked again. "Okay..." He finally managed to utter a word after a while. "Let's go."

That escalated quickly.

We followed him and found the merchant standing on a corner before the only door to the entrance. Leon took his time to sell treasures or upgrade his guns a little more.

When we entered the door, Leon's radio made a noise and he pulled it out from his belt. It's been a while since Leon last talked to his comrades until now.

"We decided to lay low in a castle but it looks like it was a bad move." Leon started explaining. "Well it appears that this castle's also connected with the Los Illuminados. They must not get many visitors here cuz they're giving me one hell of a welcome."

After a while of just Leon standing there communicating to whoever is on the other line, Ashley and I played with the Platinum Sword we found mounted on a golden plate. The blade is not that sharp so I can playfully stab her but something played through my mind. My inner senses tell me to stab her for real. I have such a brutal mind sometimes.

As Ashley and I just played there like idiots, Leon's voice started to sound different than usual, which caught our attention. "What? Repeat Hunnigan." After a while of just standing there, waiting for an answer, he seemed to give up. "Great. Just my luck." He mutter before putting his radio back to his belt.

Ashley and I joined Leon, who was looking frustrated. I held my gun with my right hand and the sword on my left. "What happened?" I asked worried.

"I lost contact with Hunnigan." He informed us with a sigh.

I don't know why but that made me nervous. "Maybe it's just a signal malfunction." I suggested with a shrug.

"Or maybe they've jacked the line." Ashley added after a while.

I stared at her like she had dirt on her face. That made me even more uneasy. "Don't be ridiculous."

"What? It's possible."

"Yeah," Leon agreed. "But there are more things to worry about than the line being jacked."

"Yeah? Things like what?" I let the tip of the sword touch the floor because it's making my arms tired. It's pretty heavy for a girl to carry it if you ask me.

"Things like how are we going to get out of this castle?" Ashley suggested a little sarcastically.

I raised an eyebrow. "But we just arrived."

God, I hate arguing with this girl. She just won't stop until she wins.

"But if we start moving now instead of arguing, we might make a progress."

Now I feel like stabbing this girl right now but I hate to admit that she had a point.

I turned my gaze back at the door, which I'm sure where Leon was. But it surprised me that he wasn't there.

I peered over my shoulder to see Leon halfway of the stairs. "Leon?" I called out to him.

He put a finger on his lips, gesturing us to quiet down. We nodded and he pulled his gun out.

Leon walked out further and fired.

Leon talked in his radio; Ashley and I played with the Platinum Sword and we argued but the men upstairs didn't hear a single noise?

"Tiffa!" Leon called out.

"What is it?" I asked as Ashley and I make our way to the flight of stairs.

"The sword!" Leon gestured towards a Golden Sword mounted on a platinum plate.

Leon covered us and we make a run towards the Golden Sword.

My hands were full and I think Ashley got what I mean. She pulled the Golden Sword out from the wall. "Got it!" She exclaimed.

I placed the Platinum Sword on the platinum plate and we made our way downstairs.

The door opened and there revealed a horde of robed men holding flails. I'm sure as hell that's gonna hurt if they swing that in our faces.

They swing their weapons at us and Ashley squealed and hid behind my back. I pulled out my gun and shot one on the head, making it drop his flail and decapitating it.

I thought for a second that I killed him but a long, fat parasite protruded from its headless body, it has a mouth with fangs on the tip which disgusted me.

I fired the parasite several times when I felt it spit its nasty slime or saliva on my arm, sending me goosebumps.

My eyes squinted shut for a moment and groaned. I'm pissed off now.

"Tiffa!" Leon called, holding out a flash grenade. "Move!"

I nodded and literally shoved Ashley behind Leon and he threw the flash grenade at the horde of the robed men. We automatically covered our eyes to prevent being blinded by the grenade.

We heard the robed men whine and covered their eyes, temporarily blind.

"Tiffa, the sword! Now!" Leon commanded quickly.

"Roger!" I replied and Ashley handed me the Golden Sword. I made a run right pass at the blind hostiles. The parasite man was gone. Is flash grenade somehow the parasites' weakness? Pushing that thought away, I placed the Golden Sword on the golden plate and I heard something operate.

I quickly turned on my heels to only see the leader Zealot charging towards me with his flail.

I pulled out my gun and shot him on the face, making him whine in pain and I took the opportunity to escape being cornered and regroup with Leon.

Leon and Ashley were waiting for me by the door that opened because of the sword puzzle. The door from downstairs opened again, a new batch of Zealots coming towards us.

We ignored the Zealots and opened the door and slamming it shut behind us.

I breathed a sigh of relief and I wiped the sweat on my forehead and neck. It's getting a little hot in here.

We walked right ahead until I heard running footsteps from behind.

"Leon!" Luis' voice called out from behind.

"Luis," Leon called back.

Luis started searching his pockets. "I've got something for you, guys." He informed us as he continued to search. "Wait, what?" He mumbled and didn't seem to find what he was fishing out in his pockets. "Oh shit! I must have dropped it when I was running away from them!" He bursted out, frustrated while looking back at the way he passed.

"Dropped what?" Ashley asked.

"A drug that'll stop your compulsions." Luis informed and stared right back at us. He let out a sigh. "Look, I know you're carriers. You've been coughing out blood, right?" He asked, looking at Leon.

I suddenly remembered the time Leon coughed blood and collapsed, making me worry again.

Leon thought for a while. "Yeah," He agreed.

"And you?" Luis faced Ashley.

"Yes," Ashley agreed as well.

"How about you Angel?"

I shook my head. "I was not injected." I informed him. "And my name is not Angel."

"Are you sure?" Luis asked again, not considering the last words I said.

"I didn't experienced the symptoms and Saddler said I wasn't injected so yeah, I'm sure."

Luis turned on his heels and started to walk away. "Wait." Leon and I stopped him in unison. And he stopped on his tracks.

"Where do you think you're going?" I asked him.

"The eggs have hatched. I don't have much time." Luis mutter.

"What are you talkin' about?" Leon asked with a slight tilt of his head.

"I have to go back and get it."

Ashley walked closer to him. "Let me come with you."

"No, you stay here with Leon and Angel. Leon's better with the ladies." He declined. "I'm sure."

I turned my gaze back at Leon who had a creased forehead, his eyebrows almost touching with confusion.
"Why are you--"

"It makes me feel better. Let's just leave it at that." Luis cut Leon off and he waved his hand at us, taking in the opposite way.

"Okay, what was that all about?" I asked after a few moments of silence.

"Let's just go." Leon said but never leaving his gaze at the way Luis passed.

I know Leon's worried about him but he was not the only one. I was worried about him too. Somehow, I could guess that Luis' worried about them being infected with the parasite. I know that he wanted to help us, but he was risking his life. He should know that.

We walked towards a gate. When Leon turned the handle of the door but it didn't budge. "Locked." He stated.

Leon started to check out the surroundings, seeing a metal door on the corner. "Stay here." He commanded.

"I'm coming with you." I pushed in.

"I'm going to secure that area. It could be dangerous if you two tag along with me." He explained with a half smile.

I sighed and relaxed my shoulders. Ashley put a hand on my shoulder. "He's right. We should just wait here for him." She added with a smile.

Leon nodded and prepared to leave. "Just hurry back, okay? We don't have all day, you know." I just said to him as I watch him walk away and counting the steps he take.

"I know that." I could guess Leon rolling his eyes as he opened the door and there followed silence.

I run my fingers on my sweaty hair and examined my figure. "God, I look terrible." I groaned and took off my blazer to wrap it around my hips.

Ashley shrugged, seemingly to agree. "I feel the same though." She leaned her back on the gate and slowly slid her back to sit down on the cold dark floor.

"This castle's not bad at all, is it?" I asked as I examine the area, trying to enlighten the mood.

"For all I know, something even worse is waiting for us deeper inside here." Ashley mutter and hugged her knees.

"That too." I agreed and sat beside her.

Gun shots were heard from the inside of the door that Leon passed and I closed my eyes as I listened to that blasting sound.

"Tiffany," Ashley mumbled.

"Yeah?"

"I just noticed how tired I am. We've been through a lot, actually." Ashley started weakly, her voice soft and sounded exhausted. "Will you lend me your shoulder?"

My forehead creased and after a few moments, I nodded, unsure. "Uh, sure." I moved closer to her. "But don't sleep, okay?"

"Okay," She agreed.

With that said, she rested her head on my shoulder and closed her eyes. I sighed as I stare at the wall, waiting for Leon to emerge.

My eyelids started to become heavy and I succumbed.

"Tiffa," A familiar voice called my name and I felt someone shaking my shoulder.

I opened my eyes to see Leon's eyes staring back at me. I blinked several times, trying to adjust my eyes. "Leon? What happened?" I asked and held my head. Ashley was right beside me sleeping, using my shoulder as her pillow.

"You two fell asleep." Leon informed me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Listen, I know you're tired. Me too. But once we finish this, we can have all the rest we want."

I nodded. "Yeah, sorry," I mutter timidly.

He smiled. "It's okay. Come on, let's wake her up." Leon said, referring to Ashley.

"Ashley," I called out and wiggled my shoulder she was leaning on, making her groan softly. "Wake up, we need to go."

"Huh...?" She opened her eyes slowly. She rose her head and rubbed on her eye. "Did I fall asleep?" She asked in a sleepy voice and yawned.

I stood up. "Yeah, I told you not to fall asleep though." I smiled at her and offered a hand.

She accepted my hand and I helped her up. "I didn't expect to fall asleep in this position." She mutter, her voice now normal. "Sorry,"

"It's okay."

Leon pulled out a key. "I guess this is it."

Ashley and I nodded. Leon nodded back. He placed the Castle Gate Key to the keyhole and it unlocked.

Behind that door was a luxurious hall. A balcony with blue curtains was above. A long blue carpet going to the other side. Expensive looking vases, portraits and decorations were also there.

As we continue to walk on ahead, we heard an amused laugh of a man. It sounded like a laugh of a witch to me. A short man wearing royal clothes appeared on the balcony, with two robed bodyguards behind him. The one was wearing black and the other one red. The man had white hair, yellow eyes and wrinkled pale skin.

The man continued to laugh and our gaze was fixated at him, waiting for his speech. "I was starting to wonder when you might notice us." He started.

Leon took a step. "Who're you?"

"Me llamo Ramón Salazar. The 8th Castellan of this magnificent architecture." He said with those hand gestures and looked at us for reaction. "I have been honored by the prodigious power from the Great Lord Saddler. I have been expecting you, my brethrens." He bowed and smiled, more like a smirk.

"No thanks, bro," Leon declined.

"My, my, we've got a feisty one." Salazar said while shaking his head in disbelief. "If you care for your own well-being, I suggest you surrender yourself and simply... become our hostage. Or Mr. Scott, you can give us the girls because you're not worth a penny, I'm afraid. You can die." With that said, Salazar exit the balcony, leaving us pondering about the words he just said.

They also wanted me too. Are they also planning to infect me with their parasites? Or am I just going to be another human sacrifice?

Ashley faced us. "I'm never turning into one of them. Never!" She declared with a shaky voice.

"Got that right. We'll find a cure." Leon agreed.

"They wanted me too." I mutter.

"You were not infected with the parasite." Leon filled in and I nodded. "They wanted to attach you with something that could link you to them."

"In short, they wanted to infect me with the parasite." I clarified.

"We won't let that happen, of course." Ashley joined.

Leon nodded and we continued to move on with the castle.

Just as we were about to go through the other side, a decoration lifted up, creating a wall that will block access through the other side.

"Great." I said sarcastically. "Now what do we do?" I asked as I face Leon.

Leon examined the wall decoration. "A beautiful decoration. But something's missing."

That was when I looked at the wall decoration. It was a human riding on a horse and held a spear, charging towards a missing lion. It had an indentation that a lion or something similar was there. It had two heads though.

"How are we going to find the missing pieces? It could be anywhere in this God forsaken castle!" I complained with a frustrated sigh.

"Calm down. We'll find them one at a time." Leon said calmly and went to find another route.

And that was when I noticed that I lost my patience and composure. I scratched the back of my head. "Yeah, sure."

Just then, we went to the right side corner and opened the door to make our progress.