A/N: Second chapter of a (roughly) sixteen chapter series. Thanks for all the great reviews!
City of Light
Seras looked out the window for the longest time, her thoughts never wandering far from her trouble. She repeatedly tried to recall any memories, regardless of importance, but her efforts came to naught. With a deep, tortured sigh she turned her attention back to her dark companion, his own bright eyes staring out into the vast expanse of farm land. Though she had noticed the countryside was slowly giving way to more urban centers.
"Um, where did you say the train was heading?" she sheepishly asked, ashamed of her forgetfulness. She seemed unable to recollect any matters of importance lately, as if a cloud hung heavily over her mind. "I am afraid I've forgotten already."
"Paris, the capital of France" Alucard answered, though his head did not turn from the window. "We will arrive shortly."
"Oh" the young woman softly replied, wondering if the city were as grand as the emotions the mention of the name had arisen within her mind. Perhaps she would be disappointed. "Have you ever been to Paris?" she hesitantly questioned, the feeling emanating from her companion one of wanted solitude.
"Yes, though now it has been a few years since my eyes have beheld the tower" he slowly, carefully answered, his gaze looking out of the corner of his eyes toward the young woman.
"The tower?" she asked, a look of puzzlement upon her face.
"Look" he replied, nodding his head out the window.
The young woman turned her eyes toward the scene outward the train, her mouth open in a gasp at the view which presented itself to her gaze.
The scene of Paris suddenly loomed ahead, the city twinkling against the night sky with the lights of the installed electric lamps. Their train sped into the outer residential districts and through the illuminated business area, the structures flashing by and barely revealing their Victorian and mid-nineteenth century architecture. The River Seine could be seen through the marble buildings which covered its shore line, the slow water reflecting the great lights of the city.
The most magnificent display of the city's decadence stood towering over the landscape, the Eiffel Tower with its pointed top a beacon to newly arrived travelers. The structure loomed above the landscape beside the great river, its iron works a mere shadow against the dark sky. Many people walked the wide avenues in fashionable dresses and top hats, their aim to see the theaters and gaily enter the night life of the grand city.
"Did man truly create such a city?" she whispered to herself in amazement, blinking furiously at the many sights which passed by the window.
"The City of Lights" Alucard responded, grinning at her obvious astonishment to the city. "The lights are placed upon all the streets while the businesses remain lit to welcome customers."
"Then the name suits the city quite well" she said as she nodded with happy approval, her eyes catching glimpses of official buildings and large aristocratic homes as the train slowly began to decrease in speed.
"We have arrived" her companion announced as the sound of the conductor's voice reached their ears, his words foreign but his tone sharp as movement on the train was heard. He stood and held out his hand to the young woman. "Shall I be your guide to your hotel?" he spoke with amusement, receiving a strained smile from his fellow passenger.
"But I do not know where it is" she answered with a regretful tone, looking out the window even as the train pulled into the station. "I do not know if I even have a hotel to go to."
"Then might I recommend my own?" he inquired, bowing deeply in a gallant manner. "The nights are relatively quiet and the beds are comfortable."
"Then I have no choice but to accept" the young woman replied with a laugh, standing to her feet with a flare as she grasped tightly her purse. She had no other possessions of which she knew, and wondered whether she could inquire in the luggage compartment. "Do you know where the luggage compartment is?" she asked, stepping toward the door and pulling aside the curtains on one of the windows as she looked out into the busy hall. "Perhaps I have a case somewhere with my name written upon the container."
"I shall check for you" Alucard quickly offered, stepping past her and striding out into the hall amidst the crowd.
He was gone before the young traveler could protest his kindness, her arm still slightly raised in protest at his offer. She sighed and slumped back onto the seat, her eyes wandering to the myriad of people walking on the platform. She felt so detached from their joyous family reunions and the wonderment on their faces as they met old acquaintances. No one seemed to be waiting for her arrival, nor did she expect anyone to appear on her account and whisk her away and their words filled with the memories she so desperately wished to recall.
"Perhaps I should leave you here on your own with such a depressed expression?" a voice suddenly asked in a teasing manner, startling her from her thoughts as she turned toward the door.
"Alucard!" she scolded, holding her breast as her rapid breathing from the fright began to slow down. "Do you find enjoyment in surprising me?" she questioned, more in a rhetorical than realistic sense.
"We shall see" he answered enigmatically, causing a look of puzzlement to appear on her face. "But for now I believe I have found your luggage. The only piece left which held women's clothing I have ordered sent to my hotel."
"But you shouldn't have!" the female traveler objected, standing to her feet in slight anger. "You have already gone to too much trouble on my account! And what if the trunk isn't mine?" she questioned, folding her arms over her chest.
"Perhaps it is not" Alucard half-heartedly agreed, shrugging his shoulders with a strange grin upon his face. "But for now we shall travel across Paris on foot, so spare your energy for the walk."
"Travel on foot?" she asked with a dubious air, clutching her purse in worry. "But what if someone should attack us? Or we should get lost?"
"I assure you, neither will happen" he answered with such certainty she wondered what he held to protect and lead them.
Without any more fuss the two left the train, almost at the insistence of their old friend the conductor, as the rest of the passengers had left the station. The young woman could not argue against following her new companion, as she knew no other option with which to guide her next movements. Rather, she now sought to enjoy the sights around her as they exited the station and walked out upon the streets of Paris, the night lively with gay parties and laughing citizens.
The young stranger shyly smiled at the revelers they passed, their fashionable clothing intimidating as they walked with an air of experience while traveling through the streets. She wondered if Paris was always filled with such extravagance and if the nights were often so consumed with people. The scene presented the image of a sleepless city crowded with every imaginable sin and desire satisfied. Her face must have betrayed her thoughts as her tall companion suddenly seemed to answer her questions.
"Paris is often busier than what we see here" he explained, his strange eyes almost glowing red as the lamps shined upon them. "The night's enjoyments must have already passed."
The young woman wished not to ask him what his words meant, as she thought they would lead to a conversation of an embarrassing nature. She instead watched the way they were traveling, bearing in mind she may have to return to the station to further her travels. The other names on the list would be worth exploring if she could find no answers to her questions in the city of Paris.
To her satisfaction they soon arrived at a stately hotel, its front entrance covered with an elegant cloth. She hesitantly followed Alucard into the lobby, the large plants and comfortable benches scattered about the room showing the expense the hotel paid for its customers. They walked up to the desk and for one horrified moment she expected her male friend to ask for a single room, an arrangement which would be highly embarrassing to her considering their limited relationship.
"I have a reservation under the name of Alucard" he explained to the clerk, his lips showing a smile as the woman beside him nervously shifted. "And I wish to acquire another room, preferably close to my own."
"For ze young mademoiselle?" the clerk asked with a knowing smile, the look not at all innocent as he wrote the request in the guest book.
The said woman blushed a bright red and looked down at her feet, wishing the employee had not assumed such an intimate idea was occurring between Alucard and herself. Thankfully her companion swiftly signed the book and paid for the room, against the wishes of her plea to use her own money. The two travelers, with luggage having arrived at the hotel, went to inspect their rooms and found the accommodations to be comfortable and elegant.
The young woman, now separated from her companion for the first time since leaving the train, yawned and realized the sun would soon rise over the buildings. She walked toward a pair of french doors and opened them to reveal a small balcony overlooking the city, the sight dazzling as she could see the River Seine beginning to fill with boats. The visitor decided a trip to the edge would be delightful, as the vessels were numerous and of different nationalities, making for a kind of parade of national architecture.
However, the young woman slowly turned and looked upon the bed in the room she had just left, her purse lying upon the covers. The trunk from the train was at the foot of the bed, its contents containing clothing which did indeed fit her size, but which held no identifying features to assist in finding her identity. She would need to travel about the city to find any clues, since the paper merely held the name of the capital, but the vast expanse of the metropolis gave her little hope of success.
"Tired?" a voice suddenly asked, once more startling her as Alucard stepped out from behind one of the balcony doors' curtains. "The sun will be rising soon, and I am afraid my habits are...odd" he confessed, walking out onto the balcony. "I will rarely see you before the sun sets, as my business and sleeping habits keep me from entertaining during the day hours."
"I understand" she said with a smile, unwilling to intrude upon his favors much more for the day. "I may find something on my own which could help in my search, and do not wish to trouble you any further."
"You have not troubled me" Alucard slowly revealed, one of his hands settling upon the white marble rail. He looked out onto the grand city, the lights of the street dimming as the first rays of the sun shone above the horizon. "Perhaps I am living a dream" he mysteriously professed, though his eyes quickly grew sharper for a moment as he looked down upon the street. The young woman was surprise when his face twisted into a look of both absolute hatred and respect, two emotions she could not understand together. "But the evening is gone and I am tired. I assume you also wish to rest" he announced, stepping back from the edge and bowing deeply to her before his steps took him out of her room and into the hall.
The young woman shook her head at his odd behavior, her curiosity peeked as she looked over the edge of the balcony herself. She could see people milling about the street as the day's activities began, the scene crowded and interesting as the French language wafted up to her balcony. Stifling a yawn and shrugging her shoulders, she returned to her room and shut the doors, intent on a deep nap of a few hours.
The young woman awoke some time in the afternoon, her mind still groggy as she rubbed her tired eyes. Regardless of the sleep, she could barely focus as she washed and dressed for her trip into the city. The traveler stepped out into the hallway, her eyes for a moment flitting to Alucard's door across from her own, before she walked down the stairs and into the hotel lobby. The area was much busier than before as people wandered about, some seated on the cushions reading papers, some soliciting business, and others merely talking to one another.
With a smile at the lively scene she walked out into the bustling city of Paris, the citizens living their lives around her as she walked amongst them. The young woman saw shops filled with a wide assortment of items, from sweets to shoes and even some film houses showing the newest release of Georges Melies. She found her feet pointing toward the river as the marble buildings passed by and the people went in and out the grand doors, forcing her to wonder if anyone would recognize her amidst such a vast crowd.
Soon the young woman saw the great river, revealing the barges being towed up the slow current by the experienced boatmen. She spotted a bench not far from the water and seated herself atop the wooden planks, her eyes watching the numerous colors of the vessels with interest. Eventually she was joined on her seat by a young man, one of his hands resting upon the back of the open furniture as he leaned against the wooden seat. He appeared to watch the crowds with a different interest than herself, and the reason was soon made apparent.
"Salute" he suddenly spoke, apparently addressing the young woman.
"Oh, greetings" she stumbled in reply, wondering why he would be interested in speaking to her.
"Ah, English as I assumed" he nearly shouted, forcing the woman to blink in confusion. "The English, they are a good people" he explained, though his words left her with even more befuddlement. "Oui?"
"I...I do not know how to reply" she admitted, shaking her head. "Our people have been less than friendly toward one another."
"Oui, but the English bring their pounds" the young gentleman responded, eagerly seating himself beside the woman. "Zay are good customers for mon tour" the man replied, smiling widely.
"Tour?" the young woman repeated in question, her attention trapped by his word.
"Oui" the man replied, his face turning to a grin of opportunity. "I offer rare sights to the curious traveler" he pitched, stepping closer to the prospective customer and lowering his voice. "Perhaps there is some sight you wish to see, mademoiselle?"
"I do not know the area well" she quietly admitted, quite unsure if she wished to participate in such a venture. "Is there a place where your clients often ask to be led?"
"There iz one" he slowly spoke, eying her somewhat suspiciously. "Perhaps you have heard of ze catacombs of Paris?" he asked, his hands gesturing to increase his dramatic words.
"I have heard something, but I cannot recall what" she admitted, finally realizing the man was enticing her to support his enterprise.
"Oh, zey are magnificent!" he exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. "Zey wind and wrap around the very roots of Paris! My customers like ze tunnels so much, some refuse to leave!" He coughed, taking control over his emotions. "If ze mademoiselle wishes, I have a tour tonight through ze catacombs. Perhaps you would like to join, oui?"
"I would be delighted" the young woman agreed, smiling warmly at her new guide.
"Ah, you shall not regret your decision, mademoiselle" the man said as he stood and bowed to his customer. He turned as if to leave, then hesitated and his eyes turned toward the young woman. "Ze authorities do not know of my, well, enterprise" the guide admitted, winking toward the woman with a familiar air. "Perhaps we should keep this secret of moi to ourselves, oui?"
"Of course" she agreed, nodding her head as she thought of the strange adventure which awaited her the coming evening.
After a short discussion of the time and place to meet, the two then parted ways and the young woman was left alone to enjoy the sights. After a few more minutes of watching the river she stood and once more wound her way through the streets, both enjoying and disappointed by the city. She had not found any clues to her identity, and it appeared she would have no good fortune today. As the day grew old she returned to the hotel and ate in the restaurant, happily paying for her own meal as she went to her room and prepared for the night's excursion.
The young woman thought about telling her evening plan to Alucard, but since the tour would start before the sun set she assumed he would not be available. Having prepared herself for the damp and cramped areas of the dusty catacombs, she set off for the place of meeting. The streets were less crowded than during the day, but the area was lively as people moved from one café to another. Passing by a strange relic of a store which held strange symbols and even stranger items for sale, she accidentally bumped into another person.
"Oh, pardon me" she quickly apologized, turning around with embarrassment.
However, the young woman froze in her tracks at the pair of icy blue eyes of the woman she had accidently brushed against met her own. The woman was tall and blond, her clothes impeccable, though she was shocked to see the stranger wore pants and a shirt. To the side and behind the woman apparently stood her elderly servant, his gray streaked hair pulled back in a tail and a monocle over one eye. The traveler curtsied a repeat pardon and scampered away, the chill of the young woman's stare still felt over her skin.
The traveler reached the area of rendezvous and with some relief, for she had doubted his intentions to be pure, she noticed several other customers awaiting their guide by the fountain. The guide had instructed her to meet him at a small, local square, possibly to avoid the authorities for its innocent appearance. She shyly stood behind the large group already gathered there, apparently comprised of friends, and did not have long to wait when the young gentleman appeared.
"Greetings, mademoiselles and messieurs" the man she had met earlier that day greeted in a booming voice, breaking over the chatter of the companions. "Please follow moi closely and do not lose your way" he commanded as waved his arm and the group was off to their explorations.
The customers and their guide followed the winding streets for quite a few minutes, the sun slowly sinking below the buildings and leaving them with the street lamps for light. Then they arrived at a large gate which beyond could be seen several tall and imposing tombstones, signifying they had reached their destination. A man met the group at the imposing gates.
"A big group today, don't ya think?" the guard quietly grumbled in an English voice, peering over the people with some disgust. "The guards will charge more if they find out."
"Then zey will not find out, oui?" their guide hissed in a dangerous tone, alerting the young woman to the trouble she had allowed herself to enter. "Just open ze gates and look away."
The other man grumbled but did as he was told, producing a large bundle of keys and unlocking the gate. He opened the barrier and the group quietly followed their guide into the graveyard, all hushed by the previous conversation and the area they had just entered. Their leader led them quickly through the headstones and markers filled with crosses and toward a small stone building, the appearance one of a mausoleum. Stopping before the heavy wooden door, he turned and smiled at the apprehensive faces of his customers.
"Be strong, English" he encouraged, the words having little effect on the group. "We are about to enter the catacombs. Please to not touch ze corpses and do not lag behind" he warned, opening the door behind him and walking down a steep flight of stairs.
The group hesitantly followed the man into a tiny lit pathway, all unwilling to be left amidst the dead. The young woman was the last to enter, her face pale as she regretted her rash decision to follow such a foolish adventure. Her thoughts were distracted, however, when the first of the bodies appeared beside her, their eyeless sockets staring imperiously at her intrusion into the sanctity of the tombs.
The young woman looked about and realized they had entered another, foreign, world. Bodies were piled along the walls, some standing but most seated on the ground. Their clothes were tattered, revealing their low birth status, and many appeared to be small children. She coughed on the smells which arose from the corpses and held her hand over her mouth, as did most of the travelers. Their guide seemed not to notice the scent of decay as he led them through winding tunnels filled endlessly with the reminders of mortality.
The lone traveler stopped looking at the faces of the dead and instead turned to look at the ceiling and numerous tunnels they passed. Something caught her attention at the end of one darkened passage, a small shining light which flickered as she passed. She stopped and watched the strange light, which for a few moments seemed to grow stronger before slowly fading into the darkness.
"Hello?" she called, placing a hand on the corner and stepping one foot into the tunnel. "Is anyone there?"
Then she was suddenly grabbed from behind and dragged into the tunnel, her mouth gagged with a hand as she tried to scream out in terror. She struggled fruitlessly as the person pushed her forward away from the safety of the group and into the pitch black passage, her eyes wide open as a breath of alcohol blew over her neck and across her face.
"'Hello, miss" a man's voice spoke, the young woman recognizing the accent of the stranger at the gate. "We'll have some fun tonight, won't we?" he asked with a wicked laugh, his words revealing his intentions as they struggled further into the tunnel.
The young woman frantically squirmed in his grasp even as he cursed her efforts, forced to stop and adjust his grip. The chance was taken as she broke from his arms and ran down the passage, her breathing hard as she heard and felt his steps not far behind. Her efforts were slower than usual as her hand was against the wall, the only way to lead herself down the dark passage. Suddenly she slammed into a hard barrier blocking the path which knocked her backward and into the waiting arms of her captor.
"I got you now, pretty" the man said, though his breath suddenly inhaled as something was heard ahead of the pair. "Stephen, is that you?" he called, chuckling lightly. "Come to get some of yer own?" he asked, his hands clamping over the young woman's shoulders. However, at the lack of answer she could feel his fingers tremble over the cloth of her shirt. "'ey, what's goin' on 'ere?" he spoke, his voice slightly quivering. "Stephen, that's you, ain't it?"
The young woman suddenly felt a breeze blow past her as the man's grip was torn from her shoulders and he screamed. His garbled cries echoed off the walls as she stepped forward and turned to look back, seeing nothing but darkness. However, something inside her ordered the woman to focus and she obeyed, revealing a torturous scene slowly unfolded before her terrified vision.
The man squirmed in the grasp of moving tentacles, his body slowly being swallowed as his wild eyes pled for her help. She was unable to move from fright and could merely watch as the last of him disappeared, his thrashing arm vanishing within the complete darkness. The young woman backed away, her arms pressed against her chest as she shivered with fear and looked wildly about for danger to herself as the strange thin shadows seemed to float in place.
A strange haze seemed to suddenly cloud her vision as she felt a slumber brush over her mind, causing her eye lids to grow weary. Try as she might she could not resist the force and felt her knees buckle as she fell to the ground, her body caught before she hit the hard rock floor. She remembered seeing gloved hands grasp her waist before the nightmare ended and she lost consciousness.