Something about this chapter didn't set with me right. I don't know why. It's actually necessary to the story. Maybe because the biggest part of this chapter was the flashback even though the flashback is the necessary part is what bothers me. I tried to expand it more. I do like those movies where you find out more about the beginning as you go through which is why I love doing these flashbacks. K, first flash back Seras is seventeen and in the second one she is eighteen and it is January.

Author: Okay! Lets read and-

The sky suddenly had a bright blue hole in it and a car falls out.

Author: WTF?

Old man with white hair gets out of the car looks around. The author gets the distinct 'mad scientist' impression from him.

Old man: GREAT SCOTT! This is the wrong place! It looks like there is not enough reviews to get back to the future at all I will have to find another place to fuel the flux capacitor.

Old man jumps back into the car and goes back into the portal which closes while the author stares with her mouth open.

Author: ... what the fuck was that?

xxxxxXxxxxXxxxIlovethemovie"truegrit"xxxxX

Her eyes slowly opened. She resisted yawning and instead settled on blinking balefully at the dark surroundings. She knew where she was and what was going on. She huffed angrily. She also knew that if she turned around she would see his glowing red eyes and that self-satisfied smug smirk of his. She felt his arms around her and felt so warm inside. Happy. She loathed herself for it. He was so possessive and yet somehow she felt happy because it seemed like it was his version of affection. She grits her teeth at his notion. She was supposed to be escaping not accepting. Yet she knew that it would do no good to squirm or struggle because his arms were like irons when he had a hold on something. So she lay limp ignoring him and doing anything she could to snub him.

She couldn't believe the nerve of him using the port town the way he had to make sure she didn't escape. Se'te to the south of Montpellier was the closer and better port town yet he purposely used Montpellier knowing she wouldn't dare try to escape in that place because of the danger to herself. He knew of what she had done there and used it to his advantage. She silently raged at him for it.

She stared. She licked her lips nervously. The market stall was four feet from her and crowded by a line of people all crowded the area screaming their bargains creation chaos and confusion. Perfect for her plans. Just four feet. She pulled the cloak tighter around herself. The rose pin she fastened tighter so that it would not slip off. So hungry. All HIS fault. She had lost her first bag with all her money in it because of HIM. She saw a wave of people coming and the town guards were looking the other ways. Now!

Pulling the hood farther down she darted forward and slipped an arm under a middle aged mans armpit. She wrinkled her nose in disgust at the smell and feel of his sweat. Her hand found a fishhook and she pulled. She tucked the strung fish line it in her bag under her cloak and walked away just as the crowd came up to her and she mingled to the side should she be seen so she could run. Already her eyes were darting back and forth studying the guards and she resisted the urge to look behind her to see if anyone had noticed yet.

She couldn't wait to get back to Alviss to get this cooked! Let him call her and her horse a waste of space now! She heard it then. Not more than twenty feet behind her. She could hear the market keeper shrieking in outrage and she quickened her steps a little. He was calling for the guards and cursing in French. The market stall owners all around her were closing up their stores quickly at the news of a thief in the crowd. She bit her lip and desperately wanted to go faster. She saw the corner to turn on and smiled slightly. Her heart pounded nervously. Her fingers trembled. She was not used to doing this but she was desperate.

She turned the corner to a less populated street. The alley street. The street rat lane as some people called it. Too say it was a street was a very generous thing to call it. It was more of a dusty dirt road that led to the slums of the town. Anyone found on this part of town was labeled either a gypsy or a robber or a whore. Her arm flew to her dagger under her cloak as she warily eyes everyone else. She nodded to Valens who waved back kindly. She didn't know what to make of him. Con artist or kindly old man? She walked in the middle of the street avoiding the tight alley corners. She had learned her lesson about that months and months ago.

Finally as she could smell smoke and oil the farther down she went the street and so she sped up. If she was too slow the garrison would see her colorful cloak and assume she was a gypsy. And to them no gypsy was honest. To them all gypsies were devils with godless ways and dishonest fingers. They would stop her to search her person for the fish line she had taken. Those were expensive in the height of summer. The waters were too warm to go fishing so even in the market town fish was an expensive commodity. Yet she needed that bundle of fish to take back to the others. If they found her valuable they would let her stay until she had to leave.

She turned the corner and balked. Quickly she doubled back and hid at the edge. Oh god. Why me she wailed in her head. Not him. Just her luck. The captain of the town garrison had found where she was sleeping these nights. And he seemed to be waiting for her. He was a beastly filthy man. He had a full head of black heard and stubble of a beard to match. It made him look like a half molted deer. He was around twenty. She was nearing her eighteenth birthday and would be so in two months. He had been finding her all over town no matter where she went. Once again it was her hair that was the source of trouble. She had let her hood down to see more of the town while she was riding in.

He had seen her golden hair and that she was traveling alone. She had run across his obnoxious path upon entering town and had had to listen to him offer her a place to sleep in his room! Her blood burned at the very idea of what he had suggested. The nerve… the… the complete lack of respect and insinuation he had given her… She was not some whore or prostitute! He had actually thought she wanted what he wanted and grabbed her arm with his grubby hands. She had kicked him when he grabbed her arm and she had taken a woman's chamber pot a passerby had been carrying and slammed it on his head. Let him be a man of pride now. Then she rode off on nightshade before he could retaliate.

She looked above her and saw the wood support beams for the pathetic terra cotta house she leaned against. Two feet above. She curses her tiny height and winced at the knowledge of what she would have to do to reach those beams. She would need to get on the roof to deposit the fish and then go face the horrid captain.

She broke off her musings wincing as she heard Alviss raise his voice insisting that no such person slept here. Gritting her teeth she raised herself on her toes until she was on the tips. It was all she could do to not cry out in pain from her feet. She raised her arms and her hands closed around the beam. She quickly pulled her body up and rolled on the roof. Seras curled up to nurse her poor toes. She hadn't done that for years and it hurt just as much as it used to.

Hunched down she ran to the corner of the roof and put the bag with the fish in the notch and laid down to wait for the captain to leave. If Alviss said she wasn't there and now she could not dare come down. He would be arrested for lying to an officer and be put to the wooden irons in the square, if not hung. She hated that vile man.

She could see from her vantage point poor Caldhut hiding in the barrel from the captain behind the tent. Oh it must be so cold in there. He had been spotted recently stealing the cloak she was wearing now. It had been a gift he said. So she could dance and earn money for the group. Now he had to hide or it was the noose he was getting from the captain. If he was discovered…

"Is she here?" he questioned heatedly. His silver armor glinted off of the dying daylight sun.

Alviss's red head shook back and forth and his ragged white shirt flap slightly. "If I say it unce I say agan. There be no woman with gold hair in my compiny 'cept for Haless here and she have no golden hairs far is I can sees. Idnt' tha right Haless?"

She saw the black hair woman nod vigorously and then looks back down to the fire she was stoking. The sun would be setting soon. They would need a good fire. Seras felt guilty she wasn't able to find any flint to steal as well but that stall had less people and it would have been noticed; she would have to actually run for it.

Her eyes spotted Nightshade in the alley behind the tent with rags tied around his iron hoofs. She felt relief that they wouldn't be given away like that. Her horse seemed to be dozing quietly. The dirt plot they were squatting on was free and a common feature for this part of town. Most of the people here who couldn't get houses camped outside on the fields or slept in the streets. She was a single woman and the hotel keepers assumed she was an un-virtuous one for traveling alone. Also she had lost all her money,

The roof she lay on was so warm. She shifted to spread her arms and get more warmth when it happened. The roof cricked dangerously and she froze. No… not now. Alviss had said the roofing was dreadfully poor…

She looked down and saw the captain look up and meet eyes with her. The roof made a horrible cracking noise. She eyed the food stash and knew there would be no way to hide it. The house groaned and she felt the horrible sensation of the roof beginning to curve inward. They all would have their hands cut off for being thieves. She looked at Alviss and before she fell through, screamed.

"WE'VE BEEN OUSTED! TAKE FLIGHT!"

The house groaned and she shrieked as it gave out under her. She could hear everyone cursing and people pounding on the cobblestones as they fled the area. For one dizzying moment she thought she was floating until she hit the ground with a dull thud. Dust flew up and the table she landed on was soft. The stolen fish, apples, bread, flint, gun powder bag reigned down into the house around her splattering everywhere. She cursed through her coughs as the expensive gun powder Haless has so riskily filched split and ruined the fish.

She jumped up and ran out the door feeling sick but uninjured. She turned the alley way and jumped up on Nightshade. Her cloak fell off her head. Nightshade felt her heels dig in his side and the mare trotted forwards gaining speed. She trampled the tent to find the captain ignoring everyone else. She felt relieved and vexed. Her friends would be safe but he was dead set on her. She would have to leave town. Now. Quickly she tore off her cloak and threw it at his face. The cloak settled over him and his arrow missed. She turned the corner. She would have to get to the gate before orders went through to have it closed.

She saw the people scattering in her path as she screamed for them to move lest they be trampled by a wild horse. She saw a soldier run out in run to stop her. "Faster Nightshade!" he horse huffed in more air and the soldier dove out of the way. Soon she reached the west gate and she could hear that horrid beast of a man screaming out orders as the men heaved for the gate to be closed. She urged for more speed.

She eyed the pike they raised while the rest continued to try to close the gate. She knew this trick. She repositioned herself on the horse to be sidesaddle and shot her feet out. The pike dropped out his hands and her horse wouldn't be killed. Unfortunately he was trampled. She shot free of the walls, the people, and everything behind her and the gate closed behind her with a large thud. She could hear the uproar behind her as she road through the fields for the safety for the woods. There would be reward posters for this.

She flinched as she felt him nose her neck. He musings were interrupted as he laved her neck in small kisses. She tried to raise her leg to kick him but he only took it as an opportunity to slide his own between her legs. Her eyes widened and her face heated in embarrassment. He chuckled before licking her neck like a dog would. She turned red and was furious that she was enjoying the feel of his tongue. He stopped and laughed hearing this thought.

"Very contrary dear. Do you like me touching you or not?"

She kept silent. Not merely out of anger but more out of necessity. She wasn't used to boats and she felt slightly ill. Her hand clapped to her mouth as the boot gave another violent rock. Seasickness… oooh…. She didn't feel so well… she could feel her stomach churning and her throat pushed up and down. She felt hungry but refused to eat. She wouldn't keep it down this time. Her body felt like an echo as it snapped and circled on the inside. Oh she was going to be sick if this continued, empty stomach be damned!

He purposely made it so the blasted ship was twenty miles out. She could possibly swim eight if she was careful… but ten? She might make it. Twenty? Impossible, she would drown for sure. She felt trapped and she sulked at it. Did he have to think of everything? She was trying to come up with ways to escape and each was less likely than the last. He was hearing her thoughts regardless of how she tried to hide them and laughed every now and then when she came up with what she thought was a 'good one'.

There was no way off this boat except with him. He laughed again at this thought and she felt his thumb stroking her cheek. She ignored this too. He was being oddly gentle. Up until the game had begun he had always been gentle but now he was being very protective. Like he was holding a sick person. She wasn't frail. She felt annoyed.

His baritone reached her ears. He sounded like he was scolding her. "Now Seras. There is no reason to be upset. You are nearly recovered. Need I remind you that you were sick for several days?" she felt him kiss her head and refused to admit this made her feel happy. Her heart was singing. "Besides, I am merely enjoying holding my bride."

Finally she spoke. "I am not your bride. I am no ones." He just laughed. Laughed! She was furious.

"You are adorable when your stubborn kitten. You are mine. Do not deny it. You want me as well."

She opened her mouth to deny this but closed it. She had no response. It was like all desperation had gone from her. All desire to resist. Gone. What was going on? She was supposed to run from him. But why? A small voice in her head asked her. Why would she want to run? She felt so confused. She knew this was no hypnosis on her part. She honestly didn't know what she would run for.

Finally she found one. Love. He said bride. How many other brides were there? How many did Vlad have waiting for him at home? She did not want that. She didn't want to be just an addition to a harem. Just a body. Just a replaceable amusement. Just a toy.

Toy.

Again her heart felt like it was breaking from that word. Why did it hurt so much? She didn't think he was able to love. She knew him well but never had he talked of any wives or mates he had waiting for him. There had to be someone. She felt angry at this thought. Someone with him. Holding him. She felt surprised at herself. She was jealous! She knew she shouldn't be but she was. Why? She didn't know why she was jealous.

She frowned. Now that she thought about it… what did she feel for him? She felt so bewildered. It was a mess of tangled feelings. She couldn't even remember ever having thought about her own feelings of her childhood friend. She felt happy with him but easily felt just as happy with a good friend. Yet he seemed special to her. Special in a way that just couldn't be given to a friend. Being here in his arms felt right. What was this feeling? Why did she feel this way? She felt so safe and warm with him. So happy. She was safe.

She shook off her thoughts. No, no, no. I do not feel that way she told herself. To feel safe or happy with her captor was ridiculous. Those thoughts were dangerous. She was getting out of here. But her heart just wasn't in it. As much as she tried to convince herself she knew that she didn't want to leave. Alucard was back. It wasn't Vlad with her despite what she called him. It was the kind person she knew. He was a mixture of both people yet his kindness and laughter was so warm and bright in comparison to his anger and rage. The way he held her it was as if he thought nothing had changed.

Like the deck wasn't rocking back and forth. Like she could simply stand up and walk through the door at night and run into her gardens. Like mother would call her name to introduce her to the next set of suitors who she would have to withstand drearily even though she was engaged in case mother no longer approved of James.

It wasn't fair… couldn't she have someone to love her back? She could feel him frown. "Is it really so terrible a thing to you, to be my bride?"

Yes. No. Yes. No. she could feel herself beginning to red, red eyes and her tears wanted to fall. She didn't know. But she did. No… It wasn't. Yet she was confused. It was like she had no idea of which way to turn or how to react. She didn't know her own feelings. She didn't know if he even HAD feelings or if she was just beautiful to him. Worse of all was the unfairness. He did realize that she would age? She would age and die. He laughed before holding her tenderly.

"Surely you wouldn't think I would settle with just a decade or two with you?" he sounded very pleased with something and very amused. She had a sinking feeling from that. What did he mean by that? She frowned trying to understand his words. He wouldn't want just a decade or two with her yet he wanted her. Surely he knew she would die? She was mortal and-

Her eyes widened. She whimpered fearfully at the feel of his lips against her neck and she frightfully pressed her lips together tighter to avoid getting anything in them. She clamped her hand over her mouth tighter as well. No… he wouldn't…He couldn't mean to do that…

He laughed a deep throaty one that rumbled slightly in his chest and she could feel his amused smirk against her neck. His hand came up to her shoulder and he forced her to turn around to face his. She cringed at his amused smile as his eyes settled on her hands that were protecting her mouth. Her heart raced a dreadful song of fright as she realized what he meant to do. She could see the glow of his red eyes that were the color of the lycoris spider lilly. She could barely make out the shape of his face and she was not allowed more than six inches from him despite how much she tried to pull away. The small space in the coffin did not allow for much room.

"Calm down Seras. I would not change you here. It is not… suitable." She made a strangled noise of panic and shook her head quickly. She kept her hand at her mouth and her lips pr closed. No… no… he wouldn't… she wouldn't. She refused. She didn't and would never give him permission. She wouldn't be able to live with herself anyways. She felt him pull her closer and she started shaking in terror. She couldn't see but she knew he was frowning.

He rubbed her back and held her close, making noises that were supposed to sooth small children. She knew she should have felt insulted but somehow it abated her fears. She had not had any sort of kindness or comfort for a year and a half now. Slowly she felt her body relax but she kept her hand over her mouth. She couldn't let anything of him in her mouth; especially his blood. His hand came up and pried it away from her lips. She shook her head and tried to pull back uselessly. No…

She bit her lip and grits her jaw. Keep her mouth shut and he couldn't change her. He wouldn't do such a thing without her say would he? She could feel herself wanting to cry and she squeezed her eyes shut to force them back. Why her? Out of the millions of women he could have picked why did he pick her? Why? She wasn't particularly beautiful or clever. In fact she was certain she was opposite. She felt stupid and slow. How had she not known his intentions?

How had she not realized what he meant whenever he called her 'his' or declared 'mine' so forcefully? Or when he looked at her in that way that made her face turn red and made her nervous? Or the reason he stayed with her so long? The reason he trusted her with secrets of nightwalkers and vampires? Or when sometimes mother's suitors went missing. She knew that he had to eat but not so often that she would suspect him of being the cause of the missing men. She had thought that they decided she wasn't interested and actually realized she found them to be boorish louts that would never give her the time of day.

And Dawson… that must have been what happened to him. She had liked him. He is-… was sweet… he had given her flowers and asked if she would want him to come calling. She honestly could have seen herself with him holding a brown headed child with blue eyes or a flaxen hair girl with green eyes of the most vivid bottle green. His hands reminded her of Vlad when he held her. So gentle… gone. Because she got to close to them. Again.

It was her fault again. This time she couldn't hold back and great hot tears came down in heartbroken rivers.

Her hand was already on hr dagger as she walked through the streets. She should have never come out in the dark this night. She could feel eyes on her yet she knew there was no one else on the streets. Her heart screamed in her chest to go and flee. She felt chills and shivers that were not from the cold. Someone or something was here. She could feel it and they were watching her. Her heels clicked and she tried to hurry back to her hotel. That sense of unease was growing stronger the longer stay on the darken streets.

Once more her thoughts strayed to HIM and she shuddered in fear of being captured. She had been careful to leave no trace but it was no guarantee she pulled her black cloak around her tighter. She wore it now to conceal her hair. She had learned her lesson and kept it on at all times. It went far past her forehead and nearly reached her nose. Not enough to cover her eyes and hinder vision but just enough that no one could see her face.

She could see her hotel when she heard it. A low snarling and she stopped. Slowly she turned and looked through the gloom only to see him. A great black shaggy dog with red eyes and snarling fangs looking like the church grim himself. She could have called him a black shuck he was too large to be called a dog or a wolf.

"Vlad…" she whispered. He slowly advanced and for every pad of his paw he took she slid back. He stopped and lowered his shoulders in a pose she recognized well. Panicking she turned and ran but didn't get far. She felt his weight on her back and she fell on the ground with him on top of her. She felt the air go out of her with a great oof! and she wheezed in pain. Her vision went slightly black and dazedly she tried to collect herself to be braced for the pain.

It never came, suddenly he was off of her and she heard him snarling and someone else giving yells and shouts. She felt to disoriented and the shadows she saw dancing with the light ahead of her told her that she should have know what was happening but she couldn't place it. Finally she manages to sit up and turn around to look. Vlad was grinning and playfully snapping at the heels of a man as he brandished a torch at him like it would frighten him off. She wanted to scream for the man who so kindly tried to save her but nothing came out.

She looked at the sword at her hip and stood up determined. She grew it and the sound of the rasping it made as she drew it from the sheath gave her curage. She ran forward to pierce his hide and he leapt back. He jumped forward and she raised her sword at his stomach so that he would be run through. Somehow he twisted in air and landed two feet from her. He made to lunge at her once more and the man with the torch gave a great cry. She tried to slide her feet back but tripped on a sharp edge of cobblestone and feel back. Stars burst in her eyes as her head his the hard rock. She felt giddy with sickness. She could hear vlad barking at him like he was a household pet and the man to her relief was still alive.

She didn't understand why he was playing with the man when he could just simply kill him. Her vision began to clear and the swimming feeling disappeared slowly. Her head hurt. She gripped it and when she looked up Vlad was gone and only the man with the torch remained. What? How was he still alive? Vlad feared nothing and no fire would stop him. The man stood there bare foot in only black pants an a thin white shirt grinning with the torch held high like it was a staff of victory and she got the distinct impression that he was more child than man.

He stepped forward and proffered her a hand to help her up. She accepted and stumbled to her feet slightly. She looked into his face and he smiled boyishly. Finally he spoke.

"Bloody hell you are good with a sword my lady. That demon never knew what hit him. It's a good thing I got to you in time because when's I looked out my window and saw that specter following I had to get out here and wouldn't you know me luck the only thing I had be a torch with some pitch on it."

"Thank you for helping." She said gratefully. Her voice shook slightly. He noticed.

"Why don't you stay with me my lady? I got have a second room that it no longer in use so there be no improper meaning to my words I assure my lady of that."

She felt relieved and torn at the same time. To stay with another human being would be of great comfort but she couldn't stay another second in town. She had to get going.

"No thank you. I can't stay in town. I have to leave." His eyes narrowed.

"That beastie is following you ininte he?" his voice was laced with suspicion and she knew she was caught. He was very astute.

She looked down and spoke her answer quietly. "Yes."

His voice next was loud and sure. "Then the answer is clear. Till you reach you destination I shall accompany you." Her head shot up in alarm. No! he couldn't. Vlad would kill him just because he was a man. He may have been just trying to protect her in this moment but just for being male he would be killed. Vlad was a very jealous person who protected her like he would a rooster to baby chicks. He wouldn't allow any man to touch her and live.

"You can't! No! Go home!" she pulled from his grasp and tried to walk away. He held fast to her shoulder.

"I cannot ij good conscience allow a lady to be left alone while being stalked by a dangerous creature. I will accompany you come hell or high water." She bit her lip. It couldn't hurt… he was just trying to do the right thing. Surely Vlad would not begrudge a man for wanting to protect her like he did. A common interest.

"My name is Seras Victoria." She responded and his eyes lit up with such joyous boyish grace you would have thought him to be peter of childhood dreams.

"My name is Francis. No last name though. I'm an orphan. So do we have an agreement?"

She hesitated. She couldn't. No. she shook her head. "I can't let you come with. No, don't follow me. You will be killed."

He grew mad again. "But the beastie following yous my lady... He will come again."

She grew angry at this. Did he wish to die? He would if he came with. "You don't understand do you? As long as you're with me he is always coming! He will always be coming and he will never stop!"

"Which is precisely why I will be there to keep you safe!" she stopped. He spoke again. His eyes seemed so pleadingly. So wanting to protect her. To keep her safe.

"But…" no, no don't follow. You can't. You'll die. You'll die and it will all be my fault. That was what she wanted to say. Yet she couldn't. Those horrible, wonderful eyes. This brave stupid, stupid person. It was enough to make her cry.

"Please my ladyship. Would you honor me by allowing me to company you?" He asked so gently and softly.

No! Run from me please! You must listen. Flee now! I'm like a disease. I'm a poisonous flower. Don't be fooled my brilliant gold petals. Please. Please. I'm the pox. The Black Death. Put some posies in your pocket to protect yourself. I'm a plague. I'm a swarm of vile locusts. Find mosses' staff to protect yourself. Please. Please don't ask this of me. Don't look at me like that. So tenderly and softly. Please don't look at me like that. Please don't ask me like that. So sweetly and kindly promising to keep me safe. Stop it. Please! Stop it! You'll die and it will be my fault. He will kill you and it will be my fault. I am a horrid malady. Run from me now. A shrew. Save yourself. Everything I touch shrivels to dead and dust.

She was a ghastly person. Greedy and selfish. Those eyes that promised safety and comfort. She wanted them. She was a dreadful person. Positively horrid and her selfish greed knew no bounds by this. She felt horrible for doing this. She was worse than Vlad. She wanted to sob her tears dry and tear at her hair wailing. Don't look at me like that. How will I have the strength to resist you? Please stop it. I'm an atrocious, awful person. He fingered her hand gently and she trembled before whispering her answer in shame.

"Yes…"

Vlad stroked her hair as she wept and she didn't understand. She didn't understand how she didn't hate him. She didn't hate him for her family. She didn't hate him for Dawson. She didn't hate him for Francis. Even now for capturing her and telling her he would turn her into something else she didn't hate him. She couldn't hate him or feel angry in the slightest. In fact she felt happy in his arms. She was horrible. She felt safe and happy. No hatred. No anger. No bitterness. Just pure, blissful happiness.

What is wrong with me?