A/N: Another addition to the growing collection.
Trail of Answers
Seras slowly opened her eyes to the waking world as she groaned in annoyance. She felt as if her sleep had been nothing, but as she sat up on her bed she knew her thoughts to be untrue. The light outside was fading into night as she slowly slid off the furniture, her arms stretching above her head as her feet hit the wooden floor. She staggered to the wash basin and peered into the mirror, glimpsing a tired girl with dark circles around her eyes.
"Have I truly become such a night owl?" she asked herself aloud as she dipped her hands into the cold water.
With a deep breath Seras tilted her head downward and splashed the water upon her face, sending cold chills through her body as she was jolted to full consciousness. Quickly she grabbed the towel at the side of the vanity and wiped the cool liquid from her skin, her mind awakened with her body.
With her senses alive and the night rising with the setting sun, the young woman quickly dressed for the evening and had only finished when a knock was heard upon her door. Curious as to who her visitor could be, she opened the door to be greeted by the sight of Alucard standing upon the threshold. With a deep bow and a solemn face he gestured his welcome, wish she returned with a small smile.
"Please come in" she invited as she stepped aside and allowed him entrance into her room.
Without a word Alucard entered and waited while she shut the door behind himself, the air about him one of urgency mixed with calm determination. She could sense the emotions from his form and did not look forward to the coming conversation. The previous night's adventure was to no doubt be brought forth, and she wished not to remember the look upon the dead man's face as he fell to his demise.
"I see you have remembered the finer details of the scene" Alucard suddenly spoke, jolting her from her thoughts. She turned away and nodded her head in affirmation. "Then perhaps we need only broach the subject" he mentioned as he placed his hand upon the small of her back and led her to the couches. "I believe there are more important matters to attend to at the moment."
"More important matters?" she questioned, raising a brow in curiosity as she seated herself down upon a couch. "Do you not think a madman trying to kill us is so mundane?"
"No" he bluntly replied as he seated himself in a chair opposite where she sat. His tone was a clear indication she would be the listener this evening, and he the orchestrator of the conversation. "The man had meant to attack us, but I have been wondering for what reason he would do so."
"Has any idea come to mind?" Seras asked, though her voice was hesitant as she was unsure whether to speak or remain silent.
"Your past" he answered, earning both a hopeful and doubtful look from his companion. "I see you do not believe me" he noted, one of his hands moving to hold out his palm. "May I see the list of cities you found?"
"Oh, of course" she spoke as she stood and walked into her bedroom, grabbing the bag in which the list was held. "Here you are" she said as she pulled forth the paper and placed it into the waiting hand of the gentleman. She watched him broach over the names in some interest, though he appeared to have already known the locations as he soon returned the names. "What have you found through them?" she questioned, seating herself once more opposite her guest.
"The next destination you should travel" he announced, leaning back as his hands intertwined within his lap. "Your answers lie in the trail which those cities will lead you."
"But how can you be so certain?" she asked, the doubt overriding any lingering hope. "They are merely cities. There may be nothing in them which could help me find my memories."
"Then you have already given up?" he mused, his tone serious but a smirk upon his face. "You will allow yourself to live without a past?"
"No, that isn't what I mean" she objected, scowling at her guest. "What I mean is..."
The young woman trailed off as she could think of no answer which would not bring about ridicule from her companion. His words rang true as she shuddered at the memories of the past few nights, where her perseverance had been tried and found poorly suited to the horrors she had witnessed. But perhaps Alucard now held in his hand the answer to her problem, one which she knew she must solve or she would not truly be able to live.
"All right" she announced, standing to her feet with determination as Alucard also rose. "I shall travel to the cities and find what I may of my past. Perhaps luck will be with me and there will be a familiar face amidst the crowds."
"Excellent" Alucard spoke as he clapped his hands, his eyes shining upon his young charge. "Then I shall travel further on your journey, if you will have me" he announced, flashing his half grin as she smiled broadly with joy.
"Of course!" she exclaimed, clasping his hands in her own. However, she quickly snatched her hands away as she felt his cold skin against her own, the effect one of fright. "I..I shall be delighted to have you as a companion" she quietly added, looking at his frigid fingers in concern.
"Then tonight we leave" he informed as he quickly stood and placed his hands in the pockets of his fashionable pants. "I have already bought us both tickets for the train, and we need only make the arrangements for our luggage."
"Good" she replied as she slowly stood, her arms clasped tightly to her chest. Her mind was still entranced by the feel of his cold skin, and she bit her tongue before hesitantly opening her mouth. "Um, is...is there anything I can do for you?" she asked, turning her eyes away as he gave her a questioning look. "I mean, about your hands..."
For a moment he merely looked at his young traveling companion, his eyes as cold as his skin. Then he sighed and shook his head, catching her attention as her gaze shifted back to his face.
"There is nothing you may do for me" he replied, taking one hand out of its pocket and peering at the white skin. "It is merely a...condition I have" he explained, dropping the hand with some disgust. "You needn't worry."
"Then I won't worry further" she agreed as she made ready to pack.
Soon the companions found themselves at the station, their train arriving on time as the conductor called out "Cologne!" to the people on the platform. Thus the two joined a throng of others as they found an empty compartment and settled in with a small bit of luggage, the rest having arrived earlier by Alucard's instructions.
The young woman eagerly looked out the window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the great city and her interesting nightlife once more before departure, but to her disappointment the glass was tinted to hide the passengers from curious onlookers. Alucard noticed her glum look and grinned widely as he leaned over across the short distance of the cabin.
"After the train has moved, you may walk the halls and perhaps find a better view" he suggested, his words bringing a little hope to her heart as she nodded her head in agreement.
Soon the locomotive drifted out of the station and the young woman took her companion's advice of wandering the train. He declined her offer to join her in her search for a better view, citing fatigue. Though he did not appear to be tired, she did not argue with him and instead walked around on her own.
To the traveler's further disappointment she could not find any place to catch a glimpse of the countryside she now knew them to be moving through on their travel. However, undeterred she found herself moving farther to the back of the station, through the baggage car and to the back door of the car. She could see nothing which would block her way, not even a sign warning against going through, so she dared to be adventurous once more.
With a strong push the door opened of her hands and the young woman was able to step out upon the back of the car. Her short hair was swept about her face as the wind from the train blew past her and into the darkness stretching out behind them. With a sigh she realized the view was no more different outside than through a window, but she was determined to catch a glimpse of the famous vineyards which spotted the French countryside.
She stood out upon the small deck, her eyes squinting into the darkness to see the landscape passing by without thought to her eager vision. Fruitlessly the seconds passed without any clear view, defeating her optimism as she took a step back and turned around only to come into contact with a gentleman's black vest. Turning her eyes upward, she blinked in surprise to find her orbs meeting the unusual gaze of Alucard, an amused smirk upon his face.
"Enjoying the scenery?" he teased, nodding his head toward the darkness beyond the railing of the platform.
"I'm afraid I can't see the scenery enough to say yes or no" she replied, sighing deeply. "Perhaps another trip will lead me this way."
Alucard turned his eyes toward her sorrowful face, his eyes glowing red for a moment before he grinned widely.
"Perhaps concentration is what you need" he suggested, stepped up beside her as they both leaned against the railing. "Focus your eyes upon the rails below, and force yourself to view the world around them."
"All right, but I doubt such a trick will work" she answered, shrugging her shoulders and agreeing with his suggestion.
The young woman focused her eyes on the barely visible tracks which disappeared as quickly as they came into her sight, leading to some frustration as she narrowed her blue orbs. Then, slowly and to her astonishment, the world seemed to open up before her. The ground appeared beneath the moving rails while the rocks and pebbles which made up the ground support came to view. Then her vision branched out as the passing trees became alive with color and the vineyards beyond were seen.
With a joyful cry the young woman viewed the new world with wonder and excitement as Alucard beside her watched her every movement. She did not notice as his teeth seemed to lengthen with her rapture, nor did she view anything as she turned to him with a bright smile upon his face.
"Thank you so much for your advice!" she cried out, throwing her arms impetuously about his waist and giving him a hearty hug.
Alucard blinked in surprise and waited stiffly as she released her grasp upon his form, his grin still eternally in place. Then the young woman took his cold hand in her own and led him from the deck and back into the warm train, her mood joyful as she led him back into their compartment.
"For your help, I will treat you to food" she announced as she seated him upon a seat cushion. "What would you like from the dining car?"
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to refuse your kind offer" he revealed, shaking his head. "My appetite is small, and I already have plans for a meal."
"Oh" the young woman spoke, her voice revealing her sadness at the ruin of her treat. "Where will you be eating?" she asked, curious as to this sudden arrangement.
"With an acquaintance I met while you were wandering about" Alucard replied, standing to his feet. "And I am afraid our meeting time is coming upon us quickly." He took a step toward the door and paused with his hand upon the handle, his face looking over his shoulder with a wide grin upon his lips. "It has some business mixed with the pleasure, so I probably shall not return until sunset later today. Will you be able to entertain yourself until I return."
"I think so, with such interesting people and view" she answered, nodding her head as she watched her companion leave.
With a sigh the young woman plopped herself down upon the seat, her face a bit perturbed but still full of the joy she had just experienced.
"Maybe tomorrow he will want to eat with me" she encouraged herself, smiling at the thought as she leant back to enjoy the new scenery out her window.
