Fic title: Darkness Collides

Characters: Alucard x Richter, Solomon x Richter
Rating: R to NC-17
Warning: angst, heavy m/m scenes (yaoi), violence, mind-play, non-con.
Beta: xvenal
Disclaimers: All characters belong to Konami (except Solomon). This writing is purely fictional and no profit is intended
nor obtained for this fanfiction piece.

Author's Note: This has been already posted on my lj site but anyway this is my first try in writing a multi-chapter fic with angst as its theme and some Richter-bashing *blushes*. If this fic doesn't goes well, I may just have to remove it here. :(

Feedback and comments are most welcome. Thanks.

Summary: Richter is discovered missing just hours before his execution by the town council. Alucard, who seeks to rescue him, discovers a painful truth – Richter is in the hands of a nobleman named Solomon Noir, who bought the disgraced Belmont and has imprisoned him at his majestic estate. Alucard now faces a formidable enemy in his quest to save Richter.

Chapter One – Richter faces his town mates. Accusations arise and he is sentenced to die, abandoned by family and friends. As Richter bravely awaits his impending doom, a frantic Maria seeks Alucard's help in rescuing him from the villagers' fury.

Chapter One

It was neither a happy nor a peaceful life that awaited Richter after his rescue from Castlevania – he came back to find his house in disarray, Annette afraid of him and refusing to see him. A few of his town mates who had long envied and hated him, took their chance and accused him of siding with Dracula's forces. With wealth and influence on their side, they successfully persuaded the town council to vote in eliminating Richter, whom they called the 'Harbinger of Darkness'.

None of his few friends protested the injustice done to him. As he stood trial, the townsfolk remained silent. No one except Maria rose to defend him, they feared the people behind his persecution, people of power and influence, whom no one dared to cross.

Despite his ordeal, Richter stood proud, his head unbowed as the charges against him were read. He didn't flinch when, after three days, it was decided that he was to die by firing squad. A collective gasp whispered through the town's Magistrate Court; Maria couldn't believe what she had heard.

'No, this can't be… This isn't fair.'

Her whole being trembled, she couldn't accept that he'd received such an unfair sentence. Maria looked upon Richter's unbent form, still clad in his white shirt, his hands tied behind his back, unbound silky chestnut hair flowing over his shoulders. He bore everything silently, not once did he wince, nor did sweat dampen his skin.

After the sentence was read, the town guards grasped Richter by both arms, dragging him back to his confinement cell.

"Richter!"

Richter was stunned, he knew that voice. Amidst the crowd around him, Richter sought to find its owner. "Maria?"

Maria barreled her way towards Richter, pushing aside the town guard in front of her, who had tried to stop her from getting closer to the vampire hunter.

"Richter, please, they can't do this to you. I won't let you die like this, it's so unfair!" she cried, as she finally took hold of him. Tearfully, she hugged Richter, burying her face in his chest.

It took a moment for Richter to compose himself. Drawing a deep breath, he found his voice again. "Maria, I–"

But before Richter could utter another word, another town guard came and forced Maria from him. The other two guards dragged Richter away from her, back towards his holding cell inside the Magistrate's building.

"No, please! Don't do this to him. Richter!" Maria called out.

Just before the door closed between them, Richter offered Maria a sad smile as if to say, "Don't worry yourself over my welfare Maria. Farewell..."

That was her last glimpse of him, and it remains forever embedded in her mind.

A few miles away in the deep forests of Wallachia, the sun slipped beneath the horizon, bringing gloom to an old cabin hidden from villagers and hunters alike. Its lone occupant sat forlornly in the study; the cabin had belonged to his late mother and despite its age, it stood well-preserved. Here, Alucard found sanctuary.

Burdened by the curse of his bloodline, he refused to mingle with people, preferring the solitude offered by his deep sleep. But something was amiss, and had been ever since he had saved the Belmont from Shaft's evil spell.

'Why can't I take my mind from him?' Alucard wondered sadly. Since his battle with Richter and Richter's eventual rescue, the vampire hunter had stayed on his thoughts.

He could still remember the heat of battle – the crack of Richter's whip, the power of the Belmont legacy so strong in him, his eyes dark and glazed under Shaft's spell. He could vividly recall how effortlessly Richter dodged his blows, how his muscles strained as he blocked his sword, how beautifully his chestnut hair flowed around his shoulders and back.

'You're losing your mind, Alucard.'

He chucked darkly. Being smitten by a Belmont – Richter of all people.

'This is much worse than defeating my father; he'd surely have a fit if he knew.'

Just then, a large, white owl knocked innocently on his window, jolting him from his brooding.

'What...? Isn't this Maria's owl familiar?'

Alucard stood from his seat and opened the window; the owl flew straight onto his outstretched arm, skillfully landing on his gloved right wrist.

"What is it, little one?"

The owl bobbed its head towards the window, flapping its wings gingerly as it made odd sounds.

"Maria, is it? All right, I'll see to her then."

The owl respectfully bobbed its head in response to his reply, and Alucard released it with a great sweep of his arm, the creature flying out through the open window.

'Maria, I'm coming...'

Maria stood by the great lake bordering the forest; it was already past midnight but she was unafraid as she patiently waited on Alucard. Her owl familiar had returned to her earlier.

She had no one to depend on; most of the townspeople were fearful and so, despite knowing that Richter had been treated unjustly, offered no help, only sympathy. Maria could only hope that Alucard would be willing to help her in her plan to save Richter. She would accept Richter being a wanted man, but she couldn't allow him to die after being unjustly accused and tried.

The cold wind shook the trees, but Maria took no notice of it, her mind occupied with how to go about Richter's rescue. Then, a firm voice shook her from her thoughts.

"Maria."

Maria gasped and whirled around. The moonlight shone brightly that night and it illuminated Alucard perfectly. He stood, majestic, in his rich and heavy coat, his long, silver hair swept by the chill breeze. His gaze was cold, but Maria could see compassion beneath, rather than the malice that clouded the Count's eyes.

"Oh, Alucard," Maria cried as she rushed into the dhampyr's arms, oblivious to his surprise.

"My lady, what seems to be the matter?" he gently asked, noticing how the girl looked to tremble with cold, her golden curls whipping about her petite shoulders. Seemingly fragile, Maria was a fighter in her own right and no creature of the dark could shake her into submission. To see her weeping boded ill.

Remembering her manners, Maria composed herself, letting go of Alucard. She looked up into his eyes. "It's Richter, he's in trouble," she sniffed.

"Richter? Why? What happened to him?"

"The town leaders put him on trial for being an accomplice of the Count. He was found guilty and sentenced to die by firing squad two days from now."

Alucard froze.

'Richter… Sentenced to die…'

'No…'

'Not again… Not him…'

Images of his mother's death flooded his vision; the flames, her agonized screams…. Alucard could no longer see Maria or the stunning lake view behind her, all he could see was fire, death, his mother's charred remains…

'No! No, Mother!'

"Alucard?!" Maria frantically called him. Yet, he seemed to be frozen, his eyes were troubled and his strong, lithe frame seemed to shake with despair.

Alucard couldn't shake the vision – he saw Richter, lying in a pool of blood, unmoving…

"Alucard, please."

Maria's worried voice snapped him from his reverie. Taking control of himself, Alucard shook his head and gazed sadly at Maria. "Maria, why did this happen to Richter? Did no one other than you defend him from this injustice?"

Maria bowed her head, "No, Alucard, none of the others were able to help him. His enemies are influential and they took false witnesses against him. Annette, my sister and his wife, had been estranged from him since his return from Castlevania. It took only three days for them to sentence him. He's being held in the town Magistrate's Court until the scheduled execution."

Alucard's jaw tightened. Just like his mother, Richter was facing unjust persecution and would likely suffer her fate if he and Maria did not act fast.

"How's Richter faring?" he asked, trying to hide the worry mirrored on his face. That Richter's life hung in balance excused his emotion, yet he feared that Maria would see his feelings for the vampire hunter.

"He took everything bravely; he never raised any objection nor defended himself against the charges. I think his separation from my sister hurt him beyond caring what might happen to him."

Alucard took a deep breath; trapped in the hands of his enemies, Richter had already forsaken his life. He vowed to seek revenge against the corrupt souls later. They would pay for hurting Richter.

Maria watched Alucard's chiseled features dim with emotion, and knew in her heart what he was feeling at that moment – the two of them shared the same affection for the vampire hunter. Still, Maria felt compelled to ask, "Will you help me, Alucard, in saving Richter?"

When he turned his gaze upon her, she sucked in a breath; she could see the fury in his eyes, a promise of retribution and of resolve.

"Yes, Maria, I'll help you. We'll save Richter."

TBC