Disclaimer: I don't own Alucard or Maria or... The other things that I obviously don't own, but I do own Wolf and the rest of the Children of the Forest. They are mine. MINE! Thank you and have a nice day.

WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING
Chapter one: Searches and Lockets

Maria had been in the demon castle for a few days now, poking around, fighting the occasional monster, though Dracula's minions didn't seem to bother her as much as they did that other man she'd met-- what was his name?-- Alucard. In fact the monsters were so preoccupied with the fact that Alucard was in the castle that they scarcely noticed she was there at all. A little confusing, but it helped her greatly in her search for Richter.
She wasn't positive yet that Richter was even in the castle, as she hadn't yet seen him, but why else would Castlevania appear out of nowhere ninety-five years early? He had to be here-- where else would he be?
With a sigh, Maria pushed open another creaky, dusty door. Inside was the usual pile of gore and bones that she had actually gotten used to in the past few days. She was about to leave when something sparkling in the corner caught her eye.
"What is this?" She murmured softly as she made her way to it and picked it up. It was a silver locket, round, with the image of a howling wolf engraved in the lid. Curious, she flipped it open with her thumbnail. It was empty.
"Hmph," Maria shrugged, tossing the locket back where she had found it. It landed on the stone floor with a clink. "I wonder who would leave a little locket like that in the middle of Dracula's castle? Maybe a concubine, or something. I'd better leave it be, anyway." Flipping her hair carelessly over her shoulder, Maria turned and left, not noticing that the sliver locket had begun to vibrate softly...
As Maria closed the door and continued down the hall, the locket in the darkened room glowed suddenly, then flipped open of its own accord. There was a flash of light, then silence. Someone stood up in the darkness. "Looks like I've been asleep for a while... I guess I should go and thank whoever was dumb enough to let me out."


A few hours after she had found the little locket in the abandoned room, Maria found another room that she deemed safe enough to sleep in. Inside the castle, the night pulled at her and drained her energy. She wasn't sure whether it was the stress of losing Richter, or the magic of the castle itself. Probably both.
She felt a little nervous this night. Though it seemed she was alone, Maria could not shake the uneasy feeling that someone was following her. Watching her. She wondered if it was Alucard. Dismissing this rather interesting thought, Maria curled up in a corner of the ancient room and tried to relax enough to fall asleep. Silence descended like a thick blanket, and she dozed.
Some time passed in comfortable silence before Maria was aware of someone singing or talking quietly outside the door. The voice, low and definitely male, was muffled by the heavy wooden door, but seemed to be getting closer. "Little girls... Hiding in closets... What is a little girl doing.....? Hm.... In over her head..."
Maria sat up, eyes wide, and pressed her back to the wall as something rattled the doorknob slightly. She fumbled in the dark for her dagger as the latch clicked and the door opened a crack, spilling candlelight into the little room. A figure was silouhetted in the space that showed. Maria blinked, unable to make out any details. "A... Alucard?"
The figure responded in a soft, deep voice that was faintly musical. "Alucard...? No, little girl, I'm not him, can't you... Oh, you can't see me when I'm standing like this. A moment, then, and I'll get a light."
Maria pressed herself harder against the wall, her heart pounding. The figure in the doorway twisted around a bit, then a light flared. The terrible darkened figure turned into a young man holding a candle. He was shorter than Alucard, in fact not much taller than herself, but thin and well-built. In the candlelight his eyes were wide and a friendly shade of brown, like a doe's hide. His hair was short and mussed, sticking up in some places, also brown with hints of blonde. As she stared at him, the man reached up and ran a hand through his hair, smiling, and it settled into a slightly neater position. He was darker than Alucard as well-- much darker. Tanned, even. Did that mean he wasn't a vampire?
"Who are you?" Maria managed, her voice shaking as badly as the rest of her. "What are you?"
The man ventured further into the room, illuminating it slightly with the light of his candle. His smile faded. "Little girl, you look and act as if you're petrified of me! No need for that, really, I've been told I'm very friendly and I like to believe it. My name is Wolf. I'm a Child of the Forest. And friendly. I'm not going to hurt you."
"A-- a what?" Maria stammered, willing herself to stand up in case he attacked. "N-not a vampire?"
"No." Wolf leaned forward a little bit. "I can see why you wouldn't trust me. And it is a good reason. But don't you think wandering alone in the castle of a centuries-old vampire is a bit dangerous for a little girl like you?"
Maria pushed herself off the ground and stood up, leaning against the wall. "I-I'm not a little girl."
"Maybe not." Wolf looked at her for a moment. "But I wouldn't say you're an old woman, either. Come a little closer, I won't bite you. Tell me why you're here, and maybe I can help you. Do you have a name?"
"Maria," She replied without thinking, then cursed under her breath. Smooth move. Suddenly what he'd said registered in her mind. "Help me...?"
Wolf nodded, smiling. "Yes. Come on, let's go somewhere where there's a bit more light, shall we? Then you can tell me why you're here." He went to the door, and looked back when Maria had not moved. "Coming?"
Maria swallowed hard, her mind racing. She hadn't yet met a friendly monster, and hadn't thought they were capable of such things. And the promise of help finding Richter was too good to pass up. And... Protection... She longed to feel safe again, and he...
"Yes, I'm coming. Where are we going?"


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Well, uh, that's it for chapter one... You like? This was kindof on a whim, so I dunno if I'm gonna continue it... See you next time! Ja ne!

--Samalander