Chapter 10: Dracula

(In this chapter I am using a crossover for appearance. Dracula appears as he does in Van Helsing because that appearance aligns more closely with an actual description of Vlad III Dracula by Pope Pius II)

Alucard stood just inside the doorway of the plane as he waited for his new master. She was outside on the tarmac speaking with his former master, Andrew. The bright sunlight hurt his vampiric eyes but he desperately wanted to see what was going on. Lex, he was pretty sure that was his new master's name, was speaking to Andrew. Her other two friends were standing just a little behind her on either side and leaned into the conversation as though they were involved in it as well. Alesha and Jacob seemed a little preoccupied and disinterested but gave an occasional glance at Alucard.

Alucard was scared... the way Lex had looked at him... through him, with those cold, cruel, dead eyes scared him. Andrew and his friends were mean and sadistic but Lex's eyes, despite her otherwise non-threatening appearance, screamed ruthless and implacable. He shuddered at the visual memory.

His master had finished talking, she and her friends approached the plane. As they did so, Alucard shrank back against the black sink. They continued their approach and Alucard became more desperate to get away. He slid left, back still pressed against the sink and now the cabinets behind him. Suddenly, with very little grace, the vampire crashed backwards without the support of the cabinets against his back to support him, and landed on the floor in the small space between the cabinet area and the first dining seat. He felt safe there, boxed in tightly on 3 sides and less visible to the quickly approaching humans. The sunlight glowed warmly on the burgundy carpeting. It touched Alucard but didn't burn him. His new master had assured him it wouldn't, she said it was "completely UV free inside" and that the sunlight wouldn't harm him. He had been skeptical but now he could see that she had been telling the truth. He curiously reached his hand into the light, marveling at the warmth of it. He felt the rich burgundy carpeting beneath him. It felt soft and clean against his bare, grimy body. The sheet had landed on top of him when he fell. It covered his shoulders down to his feet. All that stuck out was his left hand that was still enjoying the sunlight, his head, and his taloned toes. The nails or actually claws now, on his hands and feet were badly in need of trimming. Unfortunately there were many things the vampire needed. Food, a bath, clothes, and medical attention. The first of the humans walked by. A male. He was taller than the vampire and had a muscular build. Unlike his former master, this male had the figure of a man. He stopped to look at Alucard who immediately began to hiss. Ben went to put his laptop in the dining table and then walked back past Alucard into the cockpit. Next came a female. Alucard's hissing culminated in a hysterical keening as she took the seat he was hiding beside. She was looking down at him from around the chair and he was not having it. Finally his master boarded and closed the stairway. She casually regarded the keening vampire and looked at Heather who was unintentionally provoking the behavior.

Lex addressed Heather, "Heather, can you please go and prepare one of the couches in the back for our vampire here? He must rest."

Heather nodded and got up, moving towards the end of the plane. Lex stepped directly in front of the vampire and looked down at him. "Hush vampire, this is unnecessary... none of us are going to harm you" she told him.

Alucard quieted down and looked up at his master. She was looking at him with those piercing eyes. He averted his gaze and looked back at his knees under the sheet. "Vampire" his master spoke "I need you to get up and get in a seat. We are going to take off and I need you in a seat with a seatbelt on... Heather will get you after it is safe to get up and take you back to the bed she has set up for you. I'll come visit you shortly." With that, Lex reached towards the Alucard with her hand extended palm up. He regarded her hand fearfully but eventually took it. She pulled him to his feet and guided him into the chair Heather had been sitting in. Lex fixed the sheet around the dirty, trembling vampire and hooked his seatbelt into place. "I'll be back to see you soon, when Heather comes to get you, I want you to be nice. She's not going to hurt you."

Lex left the very surprised vampire where he was and joined Ben in the cockpit. Ben sat in the copilot's chair. "Hey Ben, would you mind piloting? Heather will copilot and navigate once we get it in the air. I'm going to get our vamp settled in for the trip home." Lex waited for Ben's response though she already knew he would accept. "Of course, don't mind at all!" He said, and got up to move into the pilot's seat.

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Alucard's POV again

He looked up at his master after she shushed him. He knew punishment was coming, she would likely hit him. But she said none of them would harm him??? Was it true or was it just a cheap lie to build his trust only to tear it down in a humiliating and painful confrontation later on. Masters loved to do that. It made him sick. He didn't know what to expect from her. She was telling him to get up but he was still so weak he didn't know if he could. Did she just say Heather was fixing a bed? For him? Not to rape him on but for him to rest on? No, surely she hadn't. Past master's had made it quite clear that the vampire would rest on the floor and would be grateful if provided his coffin, but never a bed... she must have meant something else... a hand... her hand... master's hand. It was reached for him. He flattened himself against the wall and tried not to cry out, stress building inside him to the point he thought he would explode. Bloody tears threatened to stain his pale skin. He knew what was expected now and afraid of punishment, he timidly took his master's hand. He squeezed his eyes closed expecting pain but he was instead, gently lifted to his feet and guided to a sitting position. Then, master readjusted his sheet and strapped him into the chair. He panicked, an unnecessary breath hitching in his throat and raw terror in his eyes as he desperately looked up at master for an explanation. All he got was "be nice to Heather" and his master disappeared into the cockpit. Within a minute or two, the plane engine roared to life and he quaked with fear of what could and would happen to him. He wasn't sure how long exactly but soon Heather came through the curtain and unclipped his seatbelt. She helped him across the plane to the back where she had prepared a makeshift bed for him on the right couch. She sat him down on it and told him to make himself comfortable. Then she left and he was just sitting there puzzled. She hadn't hurt him... hadn't tried to rape him... she hadn't even touched or looked at him inappropriately. He was thankful for it, yes, but scared what it might mean. This had to be some kind of trick or game.

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Heather came back to trade places with Lex. Lex thanked her and got up to go check on the vampire.

He was sitting on the bed hugging his knees when she saw him. She knew very little about Vlad the Impaler and even less about vampires. This would be a lengthy and tedious learning experience. She was exhausted, having piloted during most of the flight to Gatwick, she really didn't feel like diving head first into the, very obviously abused and broken vampire's/man's psyche. She stood there regarding him for a few minutes. He squirmed a little uncomfortably under her gaze and she was again aware that her gaze was scaring him. She looked over to the couch adjacent to his, strode over to it, and dropped onto it. Then she rolled over facing away from him and fell asleep.

Heather left the cockpit to go get a bathroom break. With the bathroom set behind the couches she had to pass Lex and the vampire. She walked in cautiously and silently not wanting to disturb anything. The vampire was still huddled on top of the blankets watching Lex nervously. "Has She spoken to you yet?" She asked the vampire. He shook his head no.

"Lex! Lex, get up! Your vampire needs attention. He's stressed out and waiting for you to finish talking to him" Heather demanded as she kneed Lex.

"Hhhhhhhhh, I was taking a very quick nap because unlike you, I didn't get any sleep on the trip over here!" Lex growled.

"I'll speak with him privately after you get back from the bathroom" Lex said, sitting up. She was listening to her music. It was a Disturbed song, Haunted. Alucard could hear the song and it only scared him more...how could master sleep to songs like that?!

...My blood is cold as ice

Or so I have been told

Show no emotion, and it can destroy your soul

Another sacrifice

To a tormentor your world wouldn't understand

Turn away again

You're angered, so am I

A thousand fires burn

A land of darkness from which I cannot return...

It was terrible. He shivered again and hugged his knees tighter. Heather returned from the bathroom. As she passed she gave the vampire a comforting smile.

Lex leaned forward with her elbows resting on her knees.

"What is your name, vampire?" She asked.

What should he say? Whatever you wish to call me master? Alucard? Or Dracula, Vlad III? He quickly decided to answer with, "my former masters called me Alucard". "I did not ask what your previous masters called you, I asked for your name... what is your name, vampire?" Lex asked again. Fear crept in... he'd given the wrong answer...what would she do to him?! What was the punishment?!

"M... ma... ster... my name... my name is Vlad III Drăculea..." he stammered fearfully.