Hello everyone and once again welcome to Chapter 4! Yay I can't believe that I made it this far! I'm so happy! squeal :3 Well anyways, I would like to first thank all of my loyal fans and for all my new ones to who read and reviewed this. Your comments were so nice and so sweet. For this new chapter it will be very out of character on Alucard's and Walter's part. I just wanted to make something that would be funny (even though I suck at it). Its also just supposed to be a filler chapter to get to know Amelia a little bit. Also something that's just sweet. But don't worry the next chapter will have more drama and action! Wild Geese here they come! Duh tadadadada! I don't want to spoil it at all so sorry if I am just a little bit. I hope you all enjoy it. Please read and review!
Fields of Innocence
Yeah - Yeah - Yeah-ya - Yeah-ya
Why do you look so familiar
I could swear that I
Have seen your face before
I think I like that you seem sincere
I think I'd like to get
To know you a little bit more
I think there's something more
Life's worth living for
Who knows what could happen
Do what you do
Just keep on laughing
One thing's true
There's always a brand new day
I'm gonna live today like it's my last day
Yeah - Yeah - Yeah-ya - Yeah-ya
How do you always have an opinion
And how do you always find
The best way to compromise
We don't need to have a reason
We don't need anything
We're just wasting time
- From "Who Knows" By Avril Lavigne
Chapter 4:
Shopping
The clouds lolled by and Amelia was feeling more and more excited as she rode in the back of the luxurious town car. Her anticipation was heightened as she saw the first of the city lights. Yay! I can't believe I get to go shopping! I am so happy! She mentally squealed.
But being the sweet girl she was she still couldn't help but feel a little of the overwhelming embracement of the whole thing. I'm sitting in a huge care being driven to a shopping mall. I can't just go spending money left and right here. Heck, I don't even know what we're doing anyways! Hmm…maybe I should pick something up for master Alucard as well…With that thought in mind she wondered what vampires needed much less wanted.
Can't be food, unless there's blood flavored lollipops or something. Clothes, I don't know his size, hmm…I wonder. Maybe I should ask Walter? But the feelings of embarrassment overwhelmed again as she looked at her newfound friend.
"Ms. Mia…Ms. Mia…?" came Walter's voice. Bringing her back to her senses she nearly jumped at his voice.
"Hunh? What? What's going on? I'm here!" she said frantically remembering how often she had spaced out in school to remember the teacher's cruel scolding.
Walter chuckled, "Its alright Ms. Mia I was just wondering where you would like to go first."
"Oh…" she gave a nervous laugh. "Sorry."
"Quite alright." He said giving her a reassuring smile. "So where to?"
"Um, ah, well…I don't really know the area all to well…so, um, could you pick for me Walter?" she said her voice not just a little desperate.
"Of course I can." And he was thoughtful for a moment, "I know of a mall nearby in downtown we could go to. Its open late and they have many different shops to choose from. Would that be alright?"
"Oh that would be wonderful!" she said excitedly, her eyes practically stars just imagining it.
"To the mall it is!' said Walter as he turned. She felt herself leaning with the car. The rest of the ride there was a happy one. Walter turned on the radio for them, it was a classical station. Amelia immediately fell in love when a classic piano piece came on.
"Oh! Oh! Walter turn it up! Turn it up! I love this piece!" she said and he smiled and obliged.
"Hmm, I've heard this somewhere I just can't figure it out." he muttered and then realized something. She was far too young to know a sophisticated piece such as this one. "Ms. Mia might I inquire on how you know this song?"
"Mama and papa liked to play French music around the house. I grew up listening to this song, its my favorite."
"Oh really? Your French?"
"Oui." She said her accent perfect. "Je suis Française, je suis anglaise."
"And you speak it perfectly as well." she beamed. "So what's the name of it? I can't quite place it."
"Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy. It means 'moonlight' in French." And she swayed to the music. How beautiful it was. In the middle her favorite part came up and she felt like dancing to it. Swaying and closing her eyes she felt a wave of calm wash over her. When the song ended in the next five minutes Walter asked:
"So you like classical music?"
"Very much so, the piano and the violin are my favorite. I like the cello to. But I'm not that big of fan of wind instruments like the clarinet or the flute." She said thoughtfully, "What type of music do you like Walter?"
"Oh anything really, mainly music from the war. Old stuff, but I'll listen to anything as long as it has a good tune to it." he said a little surprised at her question. Being a butler no matter how close you are to the family meant that not a lot of personal questions were asked.
She nodded and looked out the window they were now in the nightlife of London. Street lights and the lights of signs were brilliant as they whipped past them. Her eyes grew bigger and bigger with each store they passed. She wished she could see everything at once as she pressed her nose against the window.
Wow, its so pretty. She thought in a daze until finally they pulled into a mall parking lot. The structure from where they were seemed almost normal for she could not see it clearly enough. Walter stepped out and opened up the door for her and helped her out. Once she was free of her restraints she seemed to begun smaller than usual as she looked up at the gigantic fortress of society before her.
It was a huge concrete structure made up of various shops and boutiques. She looked on at the all the people who were coming in and out. Landed with shopping bags and various packages. She seemed to shrink away before Walter's eyes. The impending sense of a large crowded building and one small girl did not seem appealing to her. She felt self conscious about herself and suddenly wished she was as tall as Alucard. At least he wasn't intimidated all that easily.
"Its okay." Said Walter reassuringly. She looked up at him with bug eyes.
"I know." She said in a small voice.
"Shall we?" and she nodded as she squared her shoulders. It seemed vampires and the Iron Maiden she could handle. Crowded shopping malls was a whole other story.
Walter led her in through the store wondering how he was going to keep her from getting lost without putting a leash on her. She was so small and so tiny compared to all the people flowing past he knew she would get easily lost. Dammit, I don't know how to do this. I could always keep her on a thread but it might hurt her. Dammit! Where's Alucard when you need him?
Is a crowded mall too much for the Angel of Death? Chided Alucard mentally and Walter felt a wave of relief.
Alucard!
The one and only.
Where are you?
I just gave my report to master. I'm on my way to you right now.
Oh should we wait for you then?
Not necessary, I have some other business I must attend to first. I'll find you. And before Walter could respond he was cut off by the severance of the mental link.
As they walk to the door Walter was about to get it for her when she was nearly swept away by a group of chattering woman.
"Ms. Mia!" cried the old butler frantically looking everywhere for his young charge.
"Eep!" came her voice as she dodged in and out of them Coming up to Walter she was doubled over in a pant. Her eyes wide.
"Ms. Mia! Are you alright?" asked Walter nearly having a heart attack.
"I'm…I'm okay…so many socks…so many socks." She thought with a shudder. He raised an eyebrow but thought it better not to ask.
"Well, we should, er, get going before another round." He said looking around. Walter had faced war, disease, ghouls, vampires, and nobles alike but never had he faced such rambunctious crowds of chattering woman, old ladies, fat men, and screaming children. I have a bad feeling about this…with that in mind he could feel the back ache coming on.
"Your right Walter." And she held onto his sleeve nervously. Walking into the mall her eyes grew wide again.
It was a beautiful sight with all the lights and the decorations. It was almost Halloween, her favorite time a year next to Christmas. Pumpkin and Jack - O - Lantern's shared spaces with ghosts. Cobwebs were all around the place along with fake spiders and to her surprise vampire accessories. She wanted to laugh as she thought, if they only knew! Hmm, I wonder if the legends are true. I'll have to ask master Alucard.
Walking along with Walter they looked for a good place for clothes. She admired the decorations and her eyes became bright with the lights and the sounds, the people's smiles seemed to fuel her own as it seem to grow bigger with each passing store.
Hmm, maybe this place isn't so bad. I just wish master Alucard was here. I wonder where he is. He thoughts were interrupted by Walter when he pointed to a store.
"Ah ha! I see, here's a good store. Maybe we can find something good in there. What do you say?"
"Sounds great!" and she resisted the urge to skip along in fear of getting lost. Instead she merely skipped along Walter's side as he smiled down at her.
XXX
"What in the blazes is this?" asked Walter picking up a pair of little girl's pajama's. It was a tank top and a pair of short shorts. "How can parent's let their children where these things? There ten years old for God's sake!"
Amelia giggled. "Walter your so old fashioned."
"Well at least I don't go parading around in little girl's knickers." He said with a huff. "Have you found anything you want?"
"Well I found a nice cotton gown." She said holding it up for him. Made of a thin and breathable piece of soft white cotton was a the night gown. It would come down just past her knees and it had thick straps with a straight a cut cross neck. A strip of silk hung just below the breast bone.
"That would be nice." He said taking it from her. "Do you know your size?"
"Petite small." And he noticed she pronounced the French word precisely.
"Good, good." And he held it for her. "Alright what else?" and they went in search of the store.
Going through first skirts and shorts. She felt self conscious once more as she noticed the prices but Walter merely chuckled.
"Price is not an option Ms. Mia. Feel free to get whatever you want." She smiled weakly at this as she began to pick through it. Choosing the cheapest ones. She ended up picking out three black skirts all knee length, a long red skirt, a long blue skirt, a long black skirt, and a pair of shorts, and a pair of jeans.
"Well now that we've gotten that out of the way." Said Walter as he held her bags as they walked out of the store.
"Walter please let me carrying them." she protested trying to take the bags.
"Its quite alright Ms. Mia. You just pick out the clothes, I'll carry them."
"But Walter-" he cut her off.
"No." he said firmly but then his tone softened. "Now be a good little girl and let the butler do his job." She let out a defeated sigh.
"Fine." He chuckled.
"That's a good girl."
"Just one bag?" she tried to plead again. "The little one? Its not even heavy." He let out a defeated sigh as she gave him the puppy dog look.
"Oh don't give me that look I said no." she looked down and stuck her bottom lip out just slightly making it tremble. Looking back up at him with a full on puppy dog eyes. It was no use, that look was just too cute to resist. You'd have to be dead not to submit to that look. It was his turn to let out a defeated sigh.
"Oh alright, but just one." and she let out a happy cry.
"Yay!" and she took the littlest bag. "Thank you Walter."
"Your welcome." He sighed once more, she now had a weapon over him.
"What's this? The Angel of Death being so submissive?" came the drawling deep voice in a chuckle. Spinning around Walter looked over at Alucard with a death glare and a welcoming smile.
"Master Alucard!" cried Amelia nearly knocking him over as her arms wrapped around his waist and hugged him hard. "Your okay!" he smiled down at her and hugged her back.
"Its nice to see you too." She pulled back and looked up at him with a huge smile on her face. He smiled and patted her head. "I missed you, were you being a good girl for Walter?" she bobbed her head up and down her eyes a light with happiness.
"I missed you too!" and she smiled at him he smiled back, his eyes softening, "Yes, yes! I was!" and Alucard turned to Walter.
"Having fun?" he mocked.
"You certainly picked an interesting little girl there Alucard." Said Walter in defeat with a smirk. "She's almost as manipulative as you." Alucard gave a boom of laughter.
"That's my girl." And he took her hand and with Walter they walked through the shops. Alucard of course sticking out like a sore thumb as they went along. Amelia didn't mind or care as her small hand clutched his. She felt safe, she felt as if nothing could ever touch her while he was with her.
"So where to now Ms. Mia?" and she looked thoughtful for a moment.
"Well um, I don't know…" she looked around until her eye's came to rest on a store. From the window displays she could see a few shirt she liked. "Ooh! Can we go there?"
"Of course we can." Replied Walter. They walked over to the store and entered it. A friendly saleswoman in her early twenties came to greet them. Only to find her eyes looking up in horror at Alucard.
"Ah, um…" she began at lost for words but her perkiness didn't fail her. "So, um. How can I help you today gentlemen?" she said not taking her eyes off Alucard who smirked.
"We wanted to find some clothes for this little girl here." Said Walter indicating to Amelia who was so dwarfed by Alucard she hadn't been noticed. "Preferably shirts."
"Right, right!" and she turned to Amelia. "Come along with me now sweetie. We'll get you all fixed up now." Amelia looked up at Alucard who nodded to her.
"Go on."
"What about you?" she asked not wanting to part.
"I'll be here, don't worry." He patted her head and let go of her hand. "Go have fun and pick out some clothes.
"Can you come with me?" and he looked up at the young woman.
"Is that alright?" he asked and she nearly fainted, she had hoped t be missed by Alucard.
"Uh, yeah, sure." She said with a stiff voice.
"Excellent!" and he left Walter to wait outside. The store was just a little to frilly for his taste but he would pay when the time came for them to leave. "Come along little one."
"Okay!" said Amelia happily as she bounced along him as he took her hand once more.
"Right this way." Said the young woman nervously. She then led them to an array of kids shirts. The colors were vibrant shades of yellow, lavender, and pink. Amelia merely shook her head.
"Excuse me Miss? But do you have any shirts in black?" the woman nodded as she began to gain confidence.
"We sure do." And she led her over to more grown up clothes. Amelia looked around for shirts like the one she was wearing. She liked the Victorian style of it and she finally found what she was looking for.
Picking up a shirt she looked at it. It was made of the same light material as the one she wore. With the top being a little form fitting and coming up to her neck with a small frill and was tied by a small bow of string. The sleeves were baggy and came together at her wrist in an elastic band with a cotton strip underneath to protect her skin. The frill from the wrist down was for decoration and was elegant. She liked the shirt a lot. Picking out a black one and a white one she picked out two more in a similar style. Then she picked out a couple more that were dress shirts.
Meanwhile Alucard had wanderer over to the woman's sections and was pawing through the clothes.
"Style's sure have changed." He said a little disgusted as he picked up a mini leather skirt. "What the hell is this supposed to be? A skirt?" and he went off to examine a pair of sequined tops. "Just what is this supposed to be? I understood brooches but this? You humans are weird…" he trailed off shaking his head.
Amelia was still picking out her shirts. She had picked the black one that she decided on beforehand. Three crisp white dress shirts, three black dress shirts, three red ones, one midnight blue one, along with two black vests, and one blood red vest. When she was done she turned around and nearly dropped her new clothes.
Alucard was standing there looking at a woman's bra wondering just what the hell it was. He remembered corsets in his time but he had no idea what it was.
"Hmm…maybe you should put it on your head like a hat?" he swapped his hat and tied it on. He looked like he had two ears sticking out of his head. He turned to the sale's woman.
"Say what's this thingy supposed to be anyways?" she nearly fainted from the sigh of him as he took it off and tried to put it on his chest. "Is it some kind of armor perhaps?" he now had a pair of padded breasts sticking out from his chest. Amelia suppressed the urge to laugh her head off at him.
"Hey! Why are you laughing? I demand to know why are you laughing!" said Alucard angrily and confused as he saw Amelia practically on the floor in giggles. "Stop that!"
"S-sorry…master…Alucard…" she panted. "But that's a…ladies' bra." She said the last in a stage whisper. Alucard had heard the term once before.
"Hunh? Really? Then how's it supposed to go on?" he said more to the sale's woman.
"Give me that!" said the woman taking it from him. "Please refrain from touching the woman's lingerie." She said trying to get them out. "If your finished you may pay for your purchases up front."
"Sheesh don't get your panties in a bunch." Pouted Alucard. "Come on little one, let's go pay before the bra Nazis kick us out." Amelia suppressed more giggles at his pouting face.
"Y-yes sir!" she said still trying to clear the image of Alucard in a bra from her mind. Silly master Alucard! She thought as she found Walter. Together they went up front to go pay for her shirts.
XXX
"That lady was mean. She shouldn't have snapped at me like that." commented Alucard once they were safely outside the store. "Can we go home now?"
"No, we still have some more stuff to pick up for Ms. Mia here." Alucard huffed at Walter's reply and groaned like a four year old.
"Fine! Stupid butler boy." He muttered and Amelia shook her head. Taking his hand she was beginning to enjoy herself. She finally led them through a shoe shop. She wanted to purchase a good pair of sturdy shoes and socks seeing as her's now pinched her feet.
"Welcome! How may I help you?" came the perky salesman as he came to greet them. Alucard gave a maniacal smirk at him and the salesman backed off a little.
"We're looking for a pair of shoes for me!" piped up Amelia. "A sturdy pair and some socks."
"Er, right." He said looking down at her. "Um, right this way, do you know your size?"
"Nuh uh." She said and he led her to a mat. Taking her size they found she was a six.
"Alright, a size six and what type of shoe did you want?" he asked her politely as he could.
"Something black and that will last a long time, nothing fancy."
"Alrighty then…" he said as he went to scan the shelves. Taking one of the shelf he showed it to her. A classic black number with a thick sole, just a normal sturdy shoe for the era. "How's this?"
"Perfect…" and she sat down to try them on and just as she was fitting the second shoe she heard a crash and a cry of pain. Jumping up in surprise she spun around.
The salesman was trying to hold back a ton of shoeboxes from falling with Walter's help. Shoes went flying, laces strewn all over the place, and boxes were being smashed and crammed in vain efforts. And in the middle of it all stood Alucard with a small box looking amused and worried at the same time.
When it seemed as if there wasn't a single shoe on the shelves anymore the salesman stood panting along side Walter who was now suffering from back ache once more.
"Oops." Said Alucard, Walter glared daggers at him. Alucard backed away wisely and scratched his head. Giving a nervous laugh. "Ah hehe - hehe, my bad."
"Alucard…" began Walter livid. His shirt was un - tucked slightly and his hair was messy. "Alucard…" Alucard laughed nervously, darting his eyes around.
"Well you see the thing is, I didn't mean to make it fall. It just sort of happened that way." And he looked at Walter now nervous as the old butler took out his gloves. "Come on Walter, were old friends, don't be such a tight ass." And he made a show of looking at the clock. "Well if you'll excuse me, I'll just be going now…"
"Oh no you don't!" said Walter lunging at him.
"Oh yes I do! Your crazy Walter!" and as Alucard dodged through Walter the old butler fell into a stack of boxes that had been salvaged. Amelia meanwhile, had discreetly went over to the cashier and had paid for the shoes herself. Walking over with a shoe box to the door she watched the battle.
Walter was chasing Alucard around the store while the salesman was looking on wearingly.
"Be reasonable Walter!" called Alucard.
"You destroyed an entire shoe store!" he called back. The salesman had had enough as they ended up smashing through everything. Socks went flying everywhere as Alucard accidentally smashed into a barrel of them. It was like a snow storm of every color sock and stocking imaginable. A socks hung from Alucard's hat and jacket but he didn't notice as he dodged Walter. As Amelia watched she absentmindedly took a sock off her head.
The register went flying and the desks toppled over along with chairs until finally with a stiff arm the salesman had yelled.
"Alright! Everyone! Get the hell out of my store!" his fury greater than Walter's made Alucard feel almost ashamed of himself. Almost.
"Wait, here let me help-" began Alucard.
"Help?!" said the salesman with an eye twitch. "You just destroyed my store…get out!" he called once more coming after them with a shoe box. Throwing whatever he could to get them out.
"Oh shit!" cried Alucard with a peel of laughter. "Run for your lives!" Picking up Amelia in his haste he had her thrown over his shoulder as he yanked Walter by his collar. "Move it old man!"
"Out! Get out! Out! Out! Out!" said the salesman as Alucard ran out of the store with Amelia and Walter. Shoes and socks flew at them as the store clerk ran after them with a shoe-full vengeance.
"Shit, shit, shit!" came Alucard's voice. Amelia just lay, draped over Alucard's shoulder with a bored amused expression on her face. Poor master Alucard, it really wasn't his fault.
"ARGH!" came the final cry of the twitching clerk. But then again, he didn't have to take it from the bottom shelf…she let out a defeated sigh, its going to be a long night alright. Oh well, might as well enjoy the free ride! She said as she suppressed the urge to laugh at the situation.
"Alright, I think we lost him." panted Alucard as he let go of Walter who still looked livid. But he mostly looked tired as he smoothed himself out.
"Good going Alucard, now we can't buy her shoes!" said Walter angrily as Amelia was set down. They began to bicker and squabble as Amelia put a finger to her lips and sighed. Biting her index finger slightly she looked on and smiled. They are such children…she thought shaking her head. She collected the bags and put everything away properly just as she heard Alucard say:
"…That guy was crazy! He was twitching like he had the plague with him! It wasn't my fault the guy was a freakazoid!"
"It was too your fault you stupid vampire!" said Walter and Amelia gave a small cough and they turned to her.
"What?!" they barked and she shuffled her feet.
"I, um, got everything together…I already bought the shoes to…and um, here's your wallet." She said in a small voice holding out Walter's wallet. He pocketed it.
"Sorry to snap at you Ms. Mia just a certain someone is irritating me." he said pointedly taking the bags from her.
"Its, um, its okay." She said and Alucard gave a huff.
"Can it old man."
"You shut it you blithering idiot."
"Stupid butler boy!"
"Better than being an ass!"
"At least I'm not old."
"At least I'm not a vampire!"
"Dummy!"
"Twit!"
"Bring it on old man!"
"Come on then!" they proceeded to stick there tongues out at each other when Amelia rolled her eyes and let out a sigh.
"How about this?" she said loosing her patience as her eye began to twitch. "Your both acting like children!"
"He started it!" they said in unison as they pointed at each other. She rolled her eyes again. Realized how right she was they sighed in defeat.
"Ugh, I can't believe I just stuck my tongue out." said Walter as he straightened himself up. "Regardless." He looked at Alucard. "Try not to destroy the whole mall Alucard."
"I'll behave if they behave." Walter rolled his eyes.
"Well then, come along Ms. Mia we have more shopping to do." She nodded as she was picked up by Alucard. Giving a squeak of surprise her chocolate eyes met his.
"M-master Alucard!" she said and he smiled.
"I'm sorry for being so disruptive little one. Do you forgive me?" he said softly for only her to hear. He would be damned if he let the butler hear him being so tamed. "I didn't mean to snap at you or ruin your time here."
"Oh no! Its alright, please don't worry about it!" she said hastily. "It wasn't your fault." He chuckled and walked with her in his arms.
"Your too sweet little one." she smiled and rested her head on his chest. "What else do you need?"
"I don't think I need that much anymore. Just some soap and stuff and that should be it."
"Well then, soaps and stuff it is!" and she smiled as he began to run.
"Hey where are you two going!" called Walter.
"Soaps and stuff!" called Alucard as he began to weave through people. "Catch us if you can old man!"
"Don't think I won't find you!" he called back having no intention whatsoever to go chasing after them. He merely walked a little faster as Amelia and Alucard rushed to the stand.
"I'm gonna beat you!" he called as he had set her down and was running along side her.
"Oh no you don't!" she said running as fast as she could. Surprising him, she was actually quite fast but being a vampire he would always be faster. Laughing as they collapsed in front of the store Amelia was panting but Alucard was merely laughing.
"HA! Beat you!" she said pocking him in the side playfully
"Nuh uh! I beat you first!" he said pocking her back and she giggled.
"Hey don't poke there!" she said giggling.
"Where?" he mocked. "Here?" and he began to tickle her. She hardly cared at the stares they were getting from the passing people. As she was being tickled furiously by Alucard.
"N-no…s-s-stop!' she cried laughing and finally he stopped and held her in his arms. She was breathing hard and smiling. He was swaying with her in front of the store. Breathing in her scent something stirred inside him. Such emotion was new to him, he didn't know what to do about it. Stroking her hair in a fatherly fashion he pulled away to look into her flushed face.
"Now who won?" she let out a defeated sigh.
"You won master Alucard." And he smirked.
"That's right, god girl." Taking her inside the store they began to look around. This time no friendly clerk was there to greet them as they looked around. They didn't mind as they sniffed the different smells.
"Ooh! Look sweat pea!" she said happily sniffing the light fragrance.
"Hmm, should we get this one?" he asked her and she nodded.
"Yes!" and his attention turned to a small machine. Walking over to it with Amelia trailing behind him he began to wonder what it was.
"What's this?" he asked picking it up and examining it with long fingers.
"It's a bubble machine!" piped Amelia.
"Bubble…machine?" he asked incredulous, "What's it do?"
"It makes bubbles of course! Silly!" she said as he began to push buttons. "Um, master Alucard I don't think that's how it goes…"
"Don't worry, I just want to see how it works…" and as he began to push buttons bubbles popped out. Thinking if he pushed enough buttons different types of bubbles would come out for him to see he pushed them all at once.
The machine began to vibrate and move around. Bubbles and soap spewed forward and soon it was spinning out of control.
"Uh oh." Said Alucard, "I have a bad feeling about this…"
XXX
"Why me?" came Walter's exasperated cry. The mall security had come right after the entire store had been washed with bubbles and soap. The expensive soaps were ruined and everything was in a chaotic disarray. Walter was now being escorted to a cell where Alucard and Amelia were being held.
Sitting in the cold cell Alucard was looking bored and annoyed. Drenched in bubbles Amelia's eyes were wide with worry.
"Oh my God! We're criminals! We're going to jail!" she said frantically.
"We are not going to jail…" said Alucard as he pulled Amelia into his lap. "Maybe." He joked and she gave a squeak of fright.
"Master Alucard!"
"Joking, joking!" she scowled at him. "Sorry little one." she sighed.
"Its alright." And she sighed once more. "Its my fault too, I pressed a button." She admitted truthfully. In an attempt to silence the machine she had tried to push another button. Thus making it spark into flames. The store now smelled like charred plastic and expensive soap.
"Don't worry, we'll just wait till Walter comes and bails us out." said Alucard more to himself than anyone else.
Ten minutes later they heard the click of the opening door. Walter stood before them with a weary look and they guard.
"Well?" he said expectantly. "What do you two have to say for yourselves?"
"The thing was cheap anyways?" offered Alucard hiding a smirk in vain. Amelia nudged him in the ribs.
"Alucard!" he nodded and sat up a little straighter.
"Right! Right! What I meant to say was that it was very wrong of us indeed, very, very wrong." He said bobbing his head up and down trying not to laugh. "And the soap was smelled bad to."
"Oh never mind! Just get out of this thing already!" came Walter's voice which was beyond annoyed. "Be lucky Sir Integra doesn't know about this."
"Thanks Walter!" said Amelia as she trailed after Alucard.
"Yeah thanks!" added Alucard. Walter rolled his eyes.
"Don't think you two are off the hook for this one."
"I'm sorry Walter, but it was the machines fault!" protested Amelia.
"Oh don't worry I'm not mad at you Ms. Mia." Said Walter smiling. "Its just the idiot over here I'm worried about."
"Okay!" she said happily.
"Hey!" said Alucard indignant. "Stupid old man." he muttered.
"What was that Alucard?" said Walter putting on his gloves with a snap.
"Nothing!" said Alucard whistling and looking around. "Hey look over there!" Whipping around Walter looked and saw nothing. Damn vampire! he growled mentally.
"Sorry Walter!" called Amelia's soft voice as he turned and saw her draped over his shoulder again as Alucard dashed away.
"Eat dust old man!" called Alucard laughing his head off. "Can't catch me!" he saw just as they faded away Amelia shaking her head and trying not to laugh.
I'll take her home so don't worry about it. You can go home without us, we'll be back soon. Came Alucard's mental voice in Walter's head. Walter merely nodded and headed to the car with Amelia's bags.
That idiot. Thought Walter, poor Ms. Mia I hope she'll be okay.
She'll be safe with me you worry to much old man. said Alucard.
From everything else! And he heard Alucard chuckle before breaking the link. Walter sighed. It was going to be a long night for poor Amelia.
XXX
Outside of the mall the air was crisp and cool. Amelia had now been set down by Alucard and they were walking through the outside strip mall of the full on building. Hand in hand Amelia began to shiver.
"Your cold little one?" asked Alucard looking down in concern at her.
"Just a little." She admitted. And he picked her up and wrapped her up in his trench coat. It was surprisingly warm against his cold body. "Thanks."
"No problem." He said as they walked around. The night was beautiful as it was around ten o'clock.
"Master Alucard?" asked Amelia and he looked down at her.
"Hmm?"
"Do you think Walter will be mad at us?" she said a little fearfully.
"He'll be mad at me above anything else." Said Alucard and he gave a soft laugh. "Not to worry little one, all's well."
"If you say so." And she leaned against his chest. "Can we get something hot to drink?"
"Of course we can." And he looked around until he saw a vender selling hot coco on the street. "How does some hot chocolate sound?"
"It sounds wonderful." And he walked them over to the vender.
"How can I help you?" asked the man looking up at Alucard.
"One hot chocolate." Said Alucard and then he added for Amelia's benefit. "Please."
"Sure thing." Said the vender shrugging off Alucard's appearance as he tended to the chocolate. He took a Styrofoam cup and poured a generous amount inside it. "Whip crème?" he asked, "Or marshmallows?"
"Little one?"
"Whipped crème please." She said smiling slightly and he nodded. It seems Alucard wasn't the only one to be taken back by her sweetness.
"Here you are. That'll be three pounds." He said and Alucard handed him a ten pound note.
"Keep the change." He said, having no use for human money or frivolities he didn't need it in the least bit. "Come on little one." said Alucard as she smiled and took her coco in hand.
"Thank you!" she piped from his shoulder. The man nodded mutely. She took a sip of it just as they walked to an isolated park near the strip mall. Setting down on a bench Alucard sat with the bench seat between his legs and Amelia in between him. He wrapped her up in the trench coat and held her.
"Drink your chocolate little one, it will warm you."
"Okay." She said taking a sip. She leaned back against him, content and warmth spreading throughout her. "Thank you master Alucard."
"It's not a problem." And they both looked up at the moon.
"Its so pretty." She said and he smiled.
"That it is little one, that it is." A silence fell between them as she drank her chocolate and they watched the moon.
Nearby strolling through the more people filled portion of the park where all the lights and decorations were was a woman and her screaming son. He was no more than four and in his stroller.
He was yelling and screaming about not winning the right toy. Clutched in his hand as snot and tears mixed together down his ruddy face was a large pink bunny.
"I don't wanna bunny!" he whined and cried as his mother tried to appease him. "I don't wanna bunny! I don't wanna! I don't wanna!" and with all his might he threw the bunny just as they passed the shrub separating Amelia and Alucard from the rest of the group. He threw it with all his strength as it hit the tree.
"Bunny go bye - bye!" he cried, "I wanna candy!"
Alucard and Amelia heard a soft rustling in the bushes. Immediately on his feet with the Calsull drawn Alucard had Amelia behind him. His hat and glasses gone as he looked at the bushes.
"Whose there?" he demanded. "Show yourself." When the pink bunny gave no response Alucard growled angrily. "I said show yourself!"
Silence escaped the inanimate plaything. Its face wasn't all that pleasant as it held a sadistic look to it. With eyes to small and held a look that was that of a crazy animal. Its mouth was open wide revealing buck teeth and a lopsided smile. It's sickly Pepto-Bismol pink and matted fur was disgusting to look upon. It was oddly stuffed and misshapen giving it a small torso, small arms, large hands, and crinkled feet.
Not a pretty picture.
Walking forward Alucard motioned for Amelia to stay put. She obeyed with curiosity as he walked over to the bushes. He didn't make a sound as he pulled them apart. The animatronic bunny was looking up at him and Alucard looked weirded out.
"What the…?" he said as he moved forward he stepped on the string and pulled it with his foot.
"I wuv you." Came the icky animated voice of the bunny.
"What the fuck?!" shouted Alucard as he began to shoot it to pieces. "Demon!" he said pumping it full of silver.
"I…wuv…you…" came the bunny's voice as it grew deeper and sicklier. Sparks shot out of it and Alucard hastily stepped on it to put it out. The bunny was now smoking and smelling of charred plastic and fake fur. Alucard was breathing heavy and giving it a death glare.
"Take that demon!" he said thinking the doll possessed.
"You killed it." came Amelia's sad and pathetic sounding voice. She was now behind Alucard with her eyes full of vaguely amused disgusted disbelief. "You didn't just kill it." she said holding her hands out and shaking her head. "You pulverized it! What the heck did it do to you in the past life?"
"Oopsies." And she gave him a look that said what - the - hell - is - the - matter with - you?
"I have to say in my defense it put up a pretty good fight." He said as he holstered the Calsull.
"You tortured it!"
"It was possessed! The thing talked! Dolls aren't supposed to talk!" he protested, she shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"I'm going to go drink my coco." She said laughing under her breath. "Want to shoot that too?"
"Maybe." He said grinning a fanged grin at her. She laughed outright.
"Just make it quick, wouldn't want it to suffer." Alucard let out a small peel of laughter.
"Of course." And he scooped Amelia up in his arms. "Are your ready to go home yet little one?"
"That depends." She said as they sat down on the bench again her coco almost gone. "You aren't going to shoot anything are you?" she said suspiciously he chuckled darkly.
"Not tonight little one, do not worry." And patted her head and smoothed out her hair. "I promise not to shoot anything anymore tonight." I'll just bash it to pieces with my fist instead. He silently promised with glee.
"Goody." She said taking a final pull from her coco she threw the empty cup away.
"Ready to go?" he said standing up she nodded.
"Yup!"
"Good." And he picked her up and set her own her shoulders, luckily there were shorts underneath the skirt jumper. "Now little one, you are about to learn how a true Nosferatu travels."
"Hunh? What are you-?" she was cut off as the stepped into a portal.
"Trust in me little one."
"I always will." She whispered in his ear. He smiled as they descended through the darkness.
XXX
After some talk with Walter about there adventures in the park. Walter prepared a small lunch for Amelia who ate it gratefully. Alucard complained about the smell which earned him a smack on the head by Walter. They bickered playfully while Amelia watched with laughter in her eyes. A few games of cards were to be had in which Amelia had begun to learn the basics of poker.
"Argh! That was such a cheap move!" said Alucard angrily as Walter once again won the third round in a row.
"Was not, your just a lousy player." Said Walter calmly as he smiled to himself.
"The hell I am!" Alucard glared at Walter as he took out his wallet. "Twenty pounds says I win the next round."
"Now is this any way to show an example for the child in the room?" said Walter as he shuffled them once more.
"Scared angel?" taunted Walter.
"Make it fifty." He said looking Alucard in the eye who grinned.
"Now your talking!" hey slammed their money down and both played viciously.
"Ha! Read 'em and weep." Said Alucard as he laid his cards down.
"Not a chance my friend, it looks like you'll be weeping." And he laid his down as well. Walter turned to Amelia. "Ms. Mia your cards?" they had almost forgotten about her.
"Um, I don't really know if this is worth anything I don't have any pairs. Only one of each kind." And she laid it down. Alucard's jaw dropped and Walter smiled to himself.
There on the table lay a royal flush.
"Um, is it that bad?" said Amelia miserably upon seeing Alucard's expression.
"R-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r…" he couldn't even say it.
"Amelia that's the best hand you can have its called a royal flush." Said Walter and her face lit up.
"Really?" and he nodded and helped her pile in the money.
"R-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r…" Alucard still could not speak properly as he watched her happily make out with one hundred pounds.
After the game, Amelia now walked in her room after a quick goodnight or rather good morning to Walter to find that all of her possessions had been put away neatly. She smiled at the thought of the kind man and silently thanked him. She proceeded to go into her large bathroom and draw a bath for herself. It was almost four o'clock in the morning and she was feeling sleepy.
She noticed that sweet pea soaps lay along with a lily scented bubble bath lay ready and waiting for her. Amelia smiled at this as it sat next to a tooth brush, tooth paste, deodorant, hair brush, and a plush white terry cloth robe. She drew the bath full of hot water and added the bubble bath. Inhaling deeply she sighed to herself and said.
"Bless you Walter." Giving herself a good soak for the next half hour and washing herself in the sweet smelling soaps she clambered out.
Drying off and cleaning up her mess she slipped into the bathrobe and headed for her closet. There she slipped into the neatly hung pajama gown she had bought with Walter earlier that evening. The material was light and felt soft the touch. She dried off her hair till it was just slightly damp and proceeded to her bed.
Spread out luxuriously like a doll was Alucard as he was looking out and up at the moon with his hands behind his head. His shoes were gone and all he wore was grey slacks and a vest with a crisp dress shirt underneath that was missing his ascot. His hair was a messy disarray around his face. He looked up at Amelia who was standing there happily surprised.
"All squeaky clean?" he asked her grinning.
"Yup!" she replied walking over towards him, standing at the foot of the bed. "What are you doing in here?" she asked cocking her head to the side slightly.
"What? Can't I pay my new little human fledgling a visit?" he mocked and she giggled.
"Of course you can. But I thought you'd be asleep already though."
"I didn't want to waste the last of the night hours before I have to go to bed." And she nodded. "Come here little one." she did as she was told and allowed herself to be taken up in his arms. She sat down next to his laying form. Her legs were in a crisscross form but the gown was long enough to hide her well.
"Are you alright?" she asked him noting his brooding expression.
"I'm fine, just noticing your smell." He commented and she looked curious as she took a lock of hair and smelled it.
"Must be the soaps Walter got me."
"Do you like them?" and she nodded with a smile.
"Very much so." And he smiled slightly.
"Good I'm glad." And he pulled her down next to him. Her head resting on his chest, he wrapped an arm around her. She was cuddled in next to him and looked cute with him. Like a father and daughter who similar hair and pale skin were so alike it was startling.
"Alucard can I ask you something?" and she could feel him nod.
"Depends, but you may ask anyways."
"Are the legends about vampires true?" and he was thoughtful for a moment before answering.
"In a sense yes. For normal ones that is." And he felt her curiosity. "For you see, I was one of the first and the last true immortals and because of that damn scientist I am now the true No - Life King."
"Okay No - Life King Alucard." And he chuckled slightly.
"That's right and don't you forget it."
"So what about normal vampires?"
"Well you see they now fall in different sections. The first are deflowered humans whose blood has been drained. They are known as ghouls who are basically mindless zombies with a cannibalistic blood lust. They are controlled by the vampire who created them. They can be killed with a shot of blessed silver or holy water to the heart or the head. Same goes for their creator. The second rank is the creator vampire…" and he went into deep detail concerning them. She listened with earnest at his words and did her best to memorize it all. Knowing in her heart she would one day need it.
"Am I boring you little one?" and she shook her head frantically.
"No of course not! I'm very interested in what your saying, I'm sorry if I don't seem like it."
"Its okay." And he sighed as he brought her closer to him. "You smell nice."
"Thank you." And she suddenly felt very happy. She liked Alucard, he was like such a father to her for the short span of time they had known each other. She was looking forward to spending all the time she could with him.
"I'm afraid now little one its time for sleep." And he made to stand but she held on tighter.
"Please don't go." She said holding on as tight as she could. "Please don't leave me."
"But little one sun will be up soon, you need your rest."
"Please, I don't want to be alone. Not on my first night here, its scary." She added by way of further explanation. "Please master." She had taken now to calling him master, after all he did say she was now his human fledgling.
"Alright then." He said giving a defeated sigh as he laid back down with her. "I'll stay."
"Yay!"
"But I want you underneath the covers."
"Of course." She said as she let herself be tucked in. He laid down on his side and wrapped his arms around her. Humming the same lullaby he did when they met last night.
"Goodnight little one."
"Goodnight." She said sleepily and within minutes she was fast asleep. He contemplated on whether or not to leave. He knew he could sleep without his coffin but he preferred to sleep within it. Instead he sighed and thought. I can sleep one night without it. stroking her hair he looked down at his sleeping child. For you I'll stay, but only for you.
Kissing her hair he laid his head down just on the pillow before her head. Closed his eyes and started to slip off into a blissful slumber. For the one who breathed into me. He thought. Who brought me to life again. I don't know what will happen. But all I want you to do is smile. Just smile because honestly. He silently chuckled to himself.
Who knows what could happen?
Yippy I'm done with chapter 4! So happy! I hope you all enjoyed my lame sense of humor. I just wanted to give something a little funny. Kind of like a filler arch because I needed to do something quickly. Next chapter should be up and running by tomorrow or even tonight if I don't plan on sleeping again. Yeah I know I'm an insomniac, get over it ; p. Anyways, stick around for chapter 5! And if anyone has any suggestions for how they want characters to act or if they want me to introduce a made up character or anything at all I will gladly take it into consideration and work with it from there. All flames are welcome of course I always want to know how I can improve. Thanks for reading and please review! Later!
