As soon as the large figure on horseback came into view, Trevor stood up and drew a sword, pointing it up towards the vampire who sat very still, passively staring at Trevor.
"I don't have time for this, Vampire. State your purpose or prepare to die." Trevor said in a strong voice as he stood in a braced stance before the white horse and its blonde rider. The man atop the horse tilted his head over to look past Trevor to where Aria was lay, and with a swift movement, the vampire was gone from the horse and knelt beside Aria, and thus Trevor quickly turned and cracked his whip in the direction of the creature, and without even turning around the vampire raised his arm and let the whip wrap around it. The vampire looked over his shoulder and hissed loudly at Trevor before gripping the whip and pulling it from his hands.
"Who do you think you-…"
"I am Alucard Tepes," The vampire spoke as he pressed the back of his hand against Aria's forehead. "And I've been watching both you and this woman for some time. I was hoping you and her would make it to Targovishte without a wound of this matter, I knew my father wouldn't let you two get to the city," He looked back to Trevor who had his arms crossed and was staring at Alucard – if looks could kill, Alucard would be long dead by now. "I was planning to ask of the assistance of you two to help me defeat my father to stop his reign of terror over Wallachia, but as it seems it looks like you will be the only one coming with me, Belmont." Alucard stated as Trevor's arms fell away from his chest, coming to his side as he stared in anger.
"What do you mean 'only one'?" Trevor snapped at Alucard, who only looked at him with a sigh.
"There is an infection coursing through Aria's body at an alarming rate. I can see you've made an effort to help," Alucard touched down on the herbs on her leg. "But, her lack of movement and the fact that she's ice cold tells me she won't be able to live for many more days, and also, we cannot risk everything by taking a child with us, it will only slow us down. I expect you to join me in this task to destroy my father, that is your goal, yes?" Alucard asked as Trevor rolled his eyes and re-crossed his arms over his body.
"I'm not leaving Aria behind, I'm sure we can get her back to health. It might not look like it, but she's fighting. I'm taking Lidia too, she's Aria's child now – I'm taking them both." He said as Alucard stood from where he stood and pushed past Trevor, going to his white horse and petting its snout.
"Fine, take her, but do not expect her to live. Come now, if we expect to get to Targovishte by tomorrow them we must begin out travel. How do you expect to take them both?" Alucard asked as he hauled himself up onto his horse's back, and Trevor gruffed at him, he didn't like being challenged, especially by the dead.
He took a still unconscious Aria into his arms and walked to Ramona who was grazing in the grass of the forest, and he placed her onto the back of the animal gently so she was lying over the back. He steadied her then took Lidia up into his arms and then mounted Ramona, and with a frown he tilted his head at Alucard as if to say 'This is how', and with a shrug, Alucard pulled the reigns of his horse to turn it in the direction of Targovishte and Trevor slowly followed behind.
He had no way of truly knowing if this vampire who was he said he was, but it was at this point where anyone he could find to perhaps help in the takedown of Vlad Tepes could be helpful, he was willing to take the risk at this point, and a new city meant to possibility of actual doctors. Although it was unlikely, especially in Targovishte, it was worth it.
Lidia turned her head back to look up at Trevor as Ramona walked along slowly and Trevor pet her head gently as if to comfort her. He wasn't sure why he did it, but he did.
"Tell me Belmont," The vampire began in a strong voice as he glanced back to Trevor. "Why take something that can slow you down?" He asked in a confused tone as Trevor once again rolled his eyes at the vampire.
"That 'something' is someone who has shown me how to survive and keep motivated even in the most distressing situations. As for Lidia, she's here for Aria, not me." He said as the vampire made a 'tsk' noise, obviously confused about why he was so caring for other Humans, especially those who were useless in his opinion.
†
As they entered the next city Trevor rode Ramona into the next open building which clearly once had double doors, but as they were broken off it was easy enough for the animal to get through, Trevor ducking as they passed through the doorway. He let himself down from Ramona as he placed Lidia down before he took Aria back into his arms, kneeling down and placing her against one of the walls as he removed his cape and placed it over her body.
"Do you truly intend to try to get her back to health when the odds are so against you?" Came the voice of Alucard as Lidia ran around to Trevor and hid behind his crouched figure and he sighed and finally stood tall, Lidia proceeding to take a grasp of his leg.
"I'm sure I will find someone who knows how to heal her somewhere," Trevor uttered. "The world may be quiet right now but that doesn't mean that absolutely everyone is dead." He finished as Alucard crossed his arms over his body.
"I've been here much longer than you, and I can tell you that the only doctor left was my mother, and as I'm sure you're aware, she is very much so dead," Alucard slowly brought his hand up to his mouth, revealing his teeth as he pressed his finger into one. "If you'd like, I could-"
"No," Trevor cut him off. "I refuse to let Aria become one of your kind, if I was to do that then there would be no point in healing her as I'd have to kill her in the future anyway, it's the Belmont code, I can leave no vampire un-staked." He said in a strong voice as Alucard brought his arms down, shrugging at Trevor. Alucard stood back, letting Trevor have his space at this time as he went back to his horse, pulling it away from the area to take him to safety as Trevor gazed down at Aria. Maybe he was right.
All of a sudden, Aria's breathing became much heavier, and in a moment, her eyes opened up as she looked around hazily. There was sweat running down her face as she blinked hard, adjusting to the light as Trevor quickly knelt down once more to be by her side. He put his hand to her forehead, she was freezing, but she was weakly trying to push the cape off her body as if she was sweating because she was too hot, but he didn't let her and pulled it up further.
"You're confused Aria, you need to keep warm, you're freezing," He muttered as Aria breathed a silent 'no'. "No, no listen to me – you're confused. You're very injured but I'm going to get you help alright?" He said as Aria looked to him with misty eyes before suddenly falling back unconscious once more, hitting her head perhaps a bit too hard on the ground below, and with haste Trevor quickly sat her asleep body upright again so her airways wouldn't be blocked.
"You seriously think she's going to last long enough for you to seek some kind of mystical doctor you speak of?" Came Alucard's voice once more to the dismay of Trevor.
"I thought I already told you that I-…"
"I didn't even mention vampirism. I'm merely trying to get it into your head that she's going to die very soon, and the longer we wait here stalling the more time my father has to destroy more and more of Wallachia, and I also fear, the world. Leave her here for some time," Alucard looked past Trevor. "And leave the child too. If she's now the child of that women then she should stay here, I feel a supernatural presence from her anyway. Come, Belmont. Let me show you around Targovishte so you may better understand the nature of this attack." Alucard offered Trevor as he outreached his pale hand to him. Trevor looked back for a moment to the passed out Aria and the teary eyed Lidia just behind him. He knew it was wrong to leave them here, but he wouldn't be gone for long, or at least that's what he told himself. The creature had a point although, Lidia should be able to protect Aria if push comes to shove and it's also daytime, so the prospect of her being hurt by the creatures of the night was unlikely. But still, he ignored the outstretched hand and just moved past the vampire, a frown on his face as he moved.
"Let us go, vampire. No more than an hour, you better make this worth my time."
