Alucard came to slowly, his eyes cracking open in much the same delayed manner before closing them against the light that hurt them. His first thought went to the comfortable plush surface he was laying on but he was unable to place what it was. As he became more cognitive he immediately became painfully aware of a severe throbbing that was pulsing in his shoulder. Groaning at the pain he tried to move his limbs but found them sluggish and unwilling to respond and instead settled on lying there for the moment.
The discomfort in his shoulder became more pronounced as he became more awake and when he finally reached complete awareness everything that had happened before came back to him, the final memory being of being abducted by Satan and then the part Satan and his minion had forced him to play in torturing his father who was trapped in his own death sleep. Alucard knew he had not awoken before now and how freely Satan was able to influence him while he slept was a disturbing thought.
Alucard winced as he remembered his wholly debased actions before being ripped out of his father's dream and pushed them to the side, unwilling to think of them now or the repercussions it may well have caused between father and son. He dare not consider the reprimands he would receive for them. The only thing that mattered now was that Dracula lived. How he had been placed in that sleep he did not know but it must have happened when he and Julius had faced him the final time on the night of an eclipse. But at least he now knew for certain that the man could not be killed, there truly was only one thing that could kill his father and it was long gone, for better or worse. If Dracula lived there was a chance, albeit small, that his father could awake and challenge Satan once more. That gave Alucard hope that he desperately needed in this hour of need.
At the hopeful thought Alucard opened his eyes and had renewed vigor to move himself but the action only caused him to cry out and fall back onto the menagerie of soft pillows of all shapes that lie beneath him, a distinct clinking reaching his ears. Alucard craned his head to the side to see the source of the sound, finding a perfectly formed gold shackle now adorning his left wrist, the chain slack disappearing elsewhere into the room out of his immediate sight.
The vampire gave his hand a testing yank and found the chain's slack was very loose and gave him plenty of wriggle room. Glowering at his bond Alucard turned his head away from it and instead focused on the arduous task of lifting himself up, something that his stiff and very painful dislocated shoulder was making very hard, stinging with every move he made. Finally he was able to prop himself up into a sitting position to get a look at his 'prison'.
The room was fairly small but what it lacked in space it made up for in being lavishly decorated in varying hues of reds, golds, and blues. There were expansive Persian blue curtains that were draped around the room to hide the gold flaked wall and the mosaic floor was crafted with varied shades of gold and bronze that depicted different pictures of Satan's fall from grace. The canopy bed on which he had awoke was littered with pillows of deep red and blue and the elaborate headboard and posts were engraved with gilded decorations that was entirely gaudy. Actually the whole room was entirely too gaudy in Alucard's opinion.
All manner of art and gold relics lined the walls and occupied table space. But perhaps the most grandeur thing in the room was the large onyx mirror that lay against the wall across from the bed, it's massive frame taking up the wall with twin sculptures of fallen angels flanking it, their wings arching up to close the frame off at the top. The globe of the mirror that was seated in the frame was oddly stained a shade of crimson and didn't seem to be reflecting anything in its surface, merely glimmering red in the light of the lamps and candles.
Jingling his shackle lightly, Alucard couldn't help but think that he was being treated like some Persian concubine, left in a pretty lavish room to await her master's return. Alucard became soured by the thought, huffing indignantly at it. At least Satan hadn't saw fit to relieve him of his clothing and further shame him by the undesired situation. This little privilege that was granted to him he appreciated in the very least.
Easing himself from the bed's comfort and pushing past the blue drape that hung from the canopy Alucard took to exploring his confining space with his injured arm supported best as he could, putting off the pain of resetting it for the moment. He did find the chain he wore gave him slack enough to explore the entirety of the room without being held back. He went straight for the only door in the room and found it to be locked as he expected and further sealed with a barrier to bar him from tearing it from the wall. He would be a fool to think escape to be that easy.
Next course of action was following his chain to the bracket that it was secured beside the mirror. He gave an experimental yank from a distance away to see if he could budge the shackle or break the chain but found the deceptively delicate looking metal was strong enough to withstand his attempts. He was sure the metal had been fortified with something else, some manor of magic very likely, to increase its ability to withstand a break out attempt, much to his annoyance. Satan, for all his unending gloating, was not a stupid man.
Giving up on breaking the chain for the time being Alucard instead decided to investigate the curious mirror. As he stepped within a few feet of the object it suddenly flared to life to do its intended purpose, the glass became unclouded and reflective again. Alucard was bewildered to find that where no other mirror would cast his reflection back at him this one did not abide by those same rules. For the first time in thousands of years Alucard saw his own eyes looking back at him.
Slowly he walked up to the reflective globe and stopped just a few inches from it to observe his reflection in detail. Alucard reached his good hand slowly up and gingerly touched at his reflection's inhuman eyes. He had heard others refer to them as golden before but he'd never seen them for himself. How ghastly they looked glowing among a globe of darkness… Unable to hold his own gaze Alucard let his eyes drift over the rest of his visage noting the odd array of cracks on his flesh which clung to his muscles in such a bizarre way that looked more animalistic than human. Even Dracula still looked entirely human albeit with small differences in coloration that was characteristic of vampires.
But Dracula still fed on humans something Alucard had never done or would willingly do if he could help it. His appearance was because of that was it not? Now he realized what Dracula had meant when he'd referred to Alucard as too 'sickly looking' all those times. He looked a living corpse to his own eyes. Tightening too black lips and pushing far too pale hair from his face Alucard turned from the mirror to spare himself the unwelcome sight of his state of being that was nothing like the reflection he barely remembered casting as a man. He now wished he'd not laid eyes on himself. He knew Satan had probably put him in this specific place for that reason alone. His misery was that demon's joy.
The low sound of the prison's heavy wooden door being unlocked reached Alucard's ears and he turned in time to see a man who he did not recognize enter his unorthodox cell. He regarded the arrival of the man warily, observing the long fur trimmed black cloak that was fastened around his neck to drape off his shoulders to bunch slightly on the floor at his feet. His skin was pale like he had not seen the light of day for years and his hair was lengthy and raven black, his long bangs falling into clear blue eyes that were observing him just as obviously as he was him.
After moments of this silent exchange it was Alucard who spoke first. "Where is Satan?" The man smiled as he brushed his hair from his eyes and to the side. "He is around, I assure you."
Alucard narrowed his eyes at the elusive phrasing. "That, I have no doubts of. Tell me, who are you? Some petty leech that Satan has tasked with being a guard dog to his prisoner?" The vampire snarled at the strange man. Alucard had expected to see Satan not some prison guard, though he had to admit some relief in not seeing the demon himself. If he did he knew the encounter would not be a pleasant one for him alone.
The man chuckled at his words and unclasped his cloak to carefully lay on a nearby aged Chippendale style chair to reveal a black robe beneath. It was entirely embroidered with gentle swirls and trimmed with hunter green around its edges and along the center, The robe was clasped just to the chest where it was folded to reveal a black inner side stripped in green and adorned with gilded embellishments. The sleeves of the robe were decorated in much the same manor. Alucard assumed he was some noble from his style of dress. "No, I am no such thing. So long as you are in my sights you can travel freely here." The man informed him.
"Sounds like a guard to me." Alucard said coolly, pulling his injured arm closer to his body as he glared at the other. The man sighed and approached him causing Alucard to back away from him, the links of his chain clinking gently as he did. "Stay back." He warned the man, baring his fangs at him menacingly.
The man smirked good naturedly at him and crossed his arms across his chest. "Caged animals always bare their teeth and back themselves into corners when confronted with others, even if they're just trying to help."
Alucard barked a laugh at that. "Help? I hardly doubt you want to help me."
The other man was undeterred by his biting words. Alucard's eyes widened as the man disappeared in a surge of darkness and reappeared beside him, catching his good arm in a firm unbreakable grasp. He tried to pull away but the other man refused to release him. "My name is Mathias and I am to be your guardian, Trevor. I have been tasked with looking after your well being until Lucifer returns from Hell. Now stop fighting and let me set your arm, I can tell it is causing you pain."
"Don't call me by that name." Alucard warned venomously but gave up on fighting for the moment. "And I can set the arm myself without your help." It was true, he could have. But since awaking he had been putting it off knowing how… unpleasant it was going to be. Broken bones and dislocations still hurt whether one was living or not. Vampires were no exclusion.
"Very well, Alucard." Mathias conceded, "But I must insist you let me handle your arm. If a person isn't careful they can injure themselves further." Mathias wisely ascertained but Alucard wasn't going to have any of it.
"I can ta-" Alucard cut off with a animalistic cry as Mathias smoothly and faster than he could follow grabbed him and shoved forcefully on his arm until it cracked back into its socket. Alucard's body trembled terribly in the aftermath of the relocation that was far more painful than he thought it would be. It felt as if his arm had been broken then reset.
Alucard glared daggers at Mathias who only smiled cockily back. "It works best if the person doesn't suspect when it happens." The man released Alucard at that point so that he could move away which he did as quickly as he could to seat himself in a chair away from him to recover from the trauma. Mathias followed him over despite the annoyed looks he was receiving from the vampire.
"How long was I asleep?" Alucard muttered, realizing he wasn't going to be escaping the company of the man so he mind as well get some information from him. "I'd say almost five weeks now." Mathias responded evenly causing Alucard to startle. "Almost five weeks?!" He cried, his eyes widening considerably before they narrowed angrily. "So Satan decided to let me lie for damn near a month with a dislocated shoulder?"
"Lucifer thought it would be sufficient punishment for your disobedience to suffer the pain of it being relocated after healing." Mathias informed him simply, "You should be thankful he didn't decide on something worse and trust me there are other far worse things. I'd consider this a mere slap on the wrist considering you were the one that was behind the events that led to his second fall. Treachery of that magnitude typically winds up in the person desperately wishing for death."
"How thoughtful of him." Alucard hissed back, but his thoughts immediately turned to his comrades and even those he considered something akin to friends and family that lay outside his gilded cage. What became of Yoko or Julius? Had they perished at the hands of Satan already? Was it too late to save the world already? "I suppose the world is currently burning at Satan's feet then." The very idea made Alucard sick and he had caused it. All of it. Any deaths were on his hand and his blood alone. Alucard slumped in the chair as visions of a world engulfed in destruction flashed before his eyes.
"The world is not burning and your friends outside of here are living yet so worry not. Little has changed beyond these walls and no one is even aware of their immanent doom." Mathias countered as he fingered some of the gold pieces on his collar, looking completely uncaring.
Alucard straightened at his words and gave the man an incredulous look. "If that is true… why has Satan not acted? He was always in a hurry to murder the masses before why change his tactics now?" Mathias stopped his mundane actions with his collar and fixed Alucard with a harsh look, something dark glowing in their blue depths. "Lucifer has grown much since his encounters with you and Gabriel. Patience is key. Patience brought him you and it will bring this world to its knees. Lucifer plans to take his time and enjoy every minute of enacting his revenge as he works up to utter chaos. After all, what is better than revenge served cold? Besides he had other matters to attend to first back in Hell."
"What could possibly be so pressing to sway Satan's attention elsewhere but on his revenge?" Alucard asked, genuinely puzzled.
"Revenge, of course." Mathias shrugged. "There are many demons in Hell that desire nothing more than to usurp Lucifer and I'm sure another of the keepers of Hell has taken his throne for themselves and will need to be put in their place, but there is another reason for his return there." Mathias began to pace a short line in front of Alucard as he explained the reason of Satan's absence in detail.
"After his miserable defeat at the hands of the human Gabriel Belmont he was weakened tremendously so that the other Keepers of Hell's rings saw a chance and seized upon it. With their collective might that seized Lucifer and viciously tormented and tortured him so that he was maimed utterly. Of course he eventually grew strong enough to escape them and fight his way back to his rightful throne but the damage was done. The result of their attack was what you faced atop the Leviathan, I'm sure you remember that well."
Alucard huffed at Mathias' words, crossing his legs. "All too well… why doesn't he still bare that same "maimed", as you call it, visage any longer then?"
"When Lucifer was bested by Dracula again the only thing he managed to do was kill his body. Once the body of Lucifer dies his spirit can reform again into whatever he wishes to. Apparently my master liked his original form much better than the one the other demons of hell had forced on him." Mathias finished, as he came to a stop in front of Alucard again so that his robes swayed gently around him.
"So Satan has gone to put the demons back in their place." Alucard finished, crossing his arms and leaning his head back in thought, wondering how long it would take him to finish that revenge before coming back to earth to start his planning here. Hopefully it would take long enough for him to find a way to escape and rejoin the others so that they could figure out a way to defeat Satan once and for all... and the only way would be to find his father and revive him.
"I'm sure their rightful master is dealing out his punishments to them even as we speak. Lucifer is not one to either forgive or forget and his tortures can be quite cruel and long." Mathias smiled quite wickedly at the vampire; clearly enjoying the fact the minions of Satan were getting their just deserts for their actions. "You should hope you yourself never have to endure them."
"I'm pretty sure whatever he intends for me is far worse than that." Alucard flatly responded as he shied his gaze from the other. Mathias chuckled at his response and put one hand under the vampires chin and lifted it to stare Alucard in the face. "You don't have much of an imagination about his cruelty if you think that. You should ask all the satisfied people he has so graciously bedded throughout history. My mother didn't seem to mind. You should feel honored to be chosen by the glorious Lucifer to lie with him." Alucard stared at Mathias, processing what he just heard him say before forming his realization into words.
"You're an acolyte." It was not a question but a declaration. How he hadn't seen it earlier he had no idea and he couldn't believe he had over looked that possibility especially now that it was glaringly obvious. This 'Mathias' character shared far more physical characteristics with the lord of Hell than he had first realized, something his siblings had also featured, though by far Mathias looked physically closer to their father than any of them. He could have been a dead-ringer for the demon if not for the absence of those frightful wings, veil of darkness and absolute pride that was so typical of Satan. Alucard felt exceedingly foolish for not seeing the similarities when the man first entered his room.
"Lucifer has spread his seed far and wide, Alucard. He has many children." Mathias chuckled at Alucard and pulled his and away from him to sooth some wrinkles from the front of his robe. "But yes, putting it plainly Lucifer is my father."
Alucard gave an unclear sound in his throat at the admission. "I suppose I should have known more of Satan's ilk would creep out of the filth of this world. You're a fool to help someone who is cruel enough to kill his own children on a whim. He'll just end up killing you too." Alucard warned him harshly, remembering all too well watching Satan rip Guido's face from his skull without a care in the world. Dracula, for all his sinful ways, was not that callous. Alucard's own existence as a vampire, for better or worse, was a sign of that. Dracula gave his child life where as Satan took his children's life without consideration.
Mathias only shrugged at his warning knowing who the vampire referred to. "Guido was a weak and annoying fool who basked in the idea of being Lucifer's chosen child and he was put in his place by our father, as should have been done long before he did. Raisa and Nergal, while powerful were too cocky and their overconfidence led them to fall by your father's hands. The world is a better one without their existence and far more deserving children of Lucifer have a chance to atone for their failures." Mathias' words were like ice as he talked about the fates of his siblings, showing how little he thought of their lives. Alucard had a feeling he should tread lightly around this man knowing he was likely just as strong as the acolytes his father dispatched, perhaps stronger.
Alucard turned his eyes away from the newly revealed acolyte and began to gently chew on his bottom lip, his hand sliding to the length of his hair that was lying against his chest to pull and twist a finger in as he mulled this new information in his mind. Alucard quickly pulled his hand away and reseated it beneath his crossed arm finding that old habits do apparently die hard. Perhaps he could use this revealed information and put it to use somehow.
Alucard wasn't going to do something as foolish as challenge Mathias in combat knowing he would very likely lose. Alucard was strong but the children of Satan, while not as strong as the demon himself, had proven the immense power at their disposal. Alucard would not soon forget the strength of Raisa or Nergal who only Dracula could put down on that eternal night so long ago. This was going to require strategy and planning. Alucard squinted as he looked at the wall as he thought. Perhaps he could win the man over to his side somehow…
"I can see why my father fancies you. You do look quite charming when you think. If he wasn't so intent on having you for himself I would be trying to woo you over. But I suppose to oppose my father's word would be an ill choice." Mathias' sultry voice broke Alucard's concentration and he shot the man a complete look of annoyance.
First Satan and now this sufferable acolyte too? Did vampires go through some bizarre stage where their scent could draw demons from the world over to try and rut them? Alucard was beginning to think so. The vampire started to snap a biting reply out but bit it off before he could throw the insult, an idea surely born of his desperation to escape happening upon him. …Perhaps he could use this acolyte's obvious "interest" in him to sway the man out of Satan's graces and maybe lead him to releasing him.
Alucard almost laughed at the thought though. Him? Seduce? Mentally he rolled his eyes at the thought. Skilled warrior he was; send him into combat and would easily leave his enemies in pools of their own blood. Seducer of women or men? Far from it. He was no damned succubus but now he wished he'd actually paid attention to the fawning creatures that tried to visit his chambers back in his father's ruined castle. Perhaps he could have picked up on some of their wiles if he had and turned it into a special skill, albeit a demeaning one, for later use. For the moment he wouldn't act on this idea, first he needed to see if there was any other ways of escape. This would be his tentative backup plan.
"What are you thinking so hard about, Alucard?" This time Mathias' voice was all of purring at him. Alucard shook his head and snapped his attention back to the other man, thinking quickly to offer an excuse for his long silence. "Satan's face when Leviathan's head was severed and he realized he was defeated." He calmly replied with a shrug and a smirk. "It's the only face I ever want to see that man wear and I will find a way to put it on his face."
"Careful what you say, little vampire." Mathias warned with a wag of his finger. "My father may be away but he has ears all around you and if you're not careful you might earn yourself another punishment."
"I told you already, there is nothing worse than the thought of that monster touching me for his sick pleasures." Alucard sneered, uncrossing his arms and laying them on the chair's arm rests.
Mathias sighed at Alucard's venomous reaction but he surprised the vampire when he waved his hand at the manacled on his hand and the golden band split from his wrist. The acolyte then walked back to the exit and waited beside it as he stared at Alucard. "You'll come to terms with your fate eventually, Alucard. But enough of this talk, I came here with a purpose besides resetting that arm of yours. I figured after such a long sleep you would be quite stiff and could use the exercise. Come."
Alucard frowned at Mathias for a moment, gently rubbing the chaffed skin on his wrist. He wondered if perhaps this was some form of trap. One could never be too wary. However he decided being allowed outside was too good of a chance to pass up and it was a far better alternative than being locked up in this tiny room. Perhaps he could find something that could help him with escaping his cruel captor. He shakily got up from his seat, careful to not jostle his fixed but very sore arm, and walked over to his apparent keeper. Mathias led him outside and grabbed a nearby torch from a bracket and began to lead him into the dark halls lit only by more flickering torches.
Mathias led Alucard to several areas of the building that held his cell where the vampire tried discretely to look for anything that could help him escape but could find nothing of use. Most doors were locked and enchanted and the rooms were littered with books or useless trinkets much like what was held within his cage. Eventually Mathias ushered him out into a great courtyard, revealing the moon hovering in the night sky. Mathias seated the torch he'd been carrying in another bracket and approached a great oak that grew at the garden's center, the boughs of it stretching far and wide and shielded a great length of this open area, and sat on a bench protected by the leaves overhead and retrieved a book from his robes and began to read. He didn't seem to be giving Alucard a care in the world here but the vampire knew that was hardly the truth. He came off as a very calculating person and likely not prone to mistakes. Mathias had a lot to lose if Alucard escaped, the man was no fool.
As the man sat and "read" Alucard ignored his desire to leave the flesh and try to escape and instead took the chance to stalk the beautiful area and weave through the exotic plants and trees that were scattered about. Alucard moved his eyes all around this new area to try and spy anything that could aid him but so far saw nothing other than greenery that, while beautiful, could offer him little help. After walking the perimeter a few more times Alucard decided to take a break from the increasingly infuriating quest that was turning up nothing. He approached Mathias, casting a look up at the towering structure around them that showed itself to be a cathedral of the gothic era.
"Mathias, where are we?" He asked as he observed a giant rose window at the top of a large tower that was so characteristic of this style of structure. Its multi-colored glass was shimmering in the moonlight and Alucard faintly wished he could see it up close, being a rather long time secret appreciator of the art and architecture of such buildings.
Mathias looked up from his tome and tilted his head at him as if he were a fool for having to ask. "You are at the Light of the Morning Star's cathedral. I'm sure you've heard of us?"
Alucard snorted. Of course he knew of this cult. Beyond being a seedy secretive sort that liked to manipulate others to their will, they were a great conglomerate of satanic worshipers that had spawned a great many dangerous fanatics, who had done great harm to many innocent people. Then again many religions, no matter what God they worshiped, spawned the same thing so that wasn't saying much. Religion had the power to cause great good and great evil; it was the nature of the beast. Alucard was wise enough to know being a worshiper of Satan didn't make a person inherently evil just… foolish. Very very foolish.
Alucard himself did not put much stock in the overly silent 'One God'. He was no atheist by any means and he was certain the One God existed, along with the Old Gods, but his faith in religion had waned considerably since he died mortally and had been reborn as a vampire. Yoko had used the term 'Theistic' or 'Deistic' to describe his religious views if he remembered correctly. How right or wrong she was he didn't know. All he knew was that the powers that may be were too silent in the face of Satan's continual rises to power.
"I guess I don't have to ask if you're a Satan worshiper then do I." Alucard muttered his voice dry and laced with sarcasm as he turned back to Mathias. The other only smiled discretely at him, his eyes narrowing slightly at Alucard's words. "Actually I'm their current high priest. The idiots before me were doing the worship of my father no justice."
"Well at least you're keeping satanic worship in the family." Alucard quipped back, finding it too ironic that Mathias would take the place of Guido. "Guido was a failure to my father and I'm already far surpassing his pathetic attempts to spread the wings of my father's worship. In my short time as high priest I've already stretched his teachings and gathered more members and influence than he ever thought possible." Mathias placed the silken book marker between the pages of his book and closed the leather bound tome before setting it to the side. "All it takes is a charismatic leader and all nations will fall."
"I won't refute that." Alucard acknowledged. "But what of the previous high priest, Shaft? Last I'd heard about your order he was the one in your seat. Shall I assume Satan had something to do with your placement on your coveted throne?" Alucard's words were cold and accusatory. Mathias only laughed at his accusation, lifting a hand to throw the hair that had fallen forward to lay over his shoulder behind his ear. "Don't be simple. I don't need my daddy to do my dirty work. I am more than capable of overthrowing a single weak necromancer. Let us just say Shaft now has a new appreciation for the phrase 'comfortable within your own skin'."
The hair on the back of Alucard's neck rose at the equivocal words of the other man and he couldn't help but take a step back from him. He did not know what happened to the dark priest Shaft but Alucard was sure it was not pleasant and if the man was living he likely no longer wished to be. Mathias might be a lot more like Satan than he thought if he were to read the hidden message in his words. He had to wonder what horrors the other could possibly unleash on him if he so desired.
Mathias apparently sensed his discomfort and leaned forward to give Alucard a piercing look. "Don't worry. You will receive no harm from me, Alucard. My father was very clear he wanted you alive, well, and untouched for when he returns." Alucard snorted at the man's words, finding no comfort in them in the least. Growing uneasy under the man's penetrating eyes Alucard began to make slow circles around the tree, each revolution behind the tree slower than the last since Mathias seemed to make a game of staring him down. He didn't like the man's eyes; the man's stare disturbed him almost as much as being stared down by Satan himself.
Alucard frowned as his lame leg began to give him a fit as he rounded the tree once more, something he was used to as it occasionally happened. It didn't impede him terribly but he knew that if it ever happened in the wrong scenario it could turn the sway of a battle out of his favor. Ignoring his leg he started his loop again but was stunned when Mathias reached out and grabbed his arm, his already sporadic leg giving out at the unexpected disturbance. The result was a rather ungraceful tumble to the plush grass below him and a small cry as he did.
Alucard scowled at the other man, feeling some amount of shame for showing any weakness to him. It was one thing he did not wish to show at a time like this when his position was the sheep rather than the wolf. He started to fling an insult at the man but cut off when Mathias kneeled down beside him and began to run a hand along the hip of his bad leg, pushing on different areas as he did. He tried to jerk away but Mathias was persistent.
"Forgive me; I did not intend to make you fall. I only noticed you have a gimp to your walk. I didn't think vampires could suffer long term injury." Mathias apologized, continuing to prod along Alucard's hip much to his disapproval. "Any creature can become maimed permanently, Acolyte, even vampires if their foe is strong enough." Alucard muttered, not sure why he bothered to explain that to this man.
Mathias 'hmm'd' thoughtfully as he continued his ministrations, "From your father?" Alucard cast a searing glare at Mathias, his lip curling in distaste. "It would be more accurate to say it was because of your father that I am this way. If he hadn't possessed me this never would have happened." His words were cold and cutting but the man they were directed at was not affected by them, instead he only laughed. "I won't deny that. But let me offer some apology of sorts. I know some about easing the stings of pain from old wounds."
"You are no physician, Mathias. Please unhand me and leave me to bear this as I always have." Alucard attempted to stand but the other man refused to let him do so. "Actually there are several healers and medically inclined members within the Cronqvist family, Alucard, myself included."
Alucard's ears perked up at the mention of the 'Cronqvist' bloodline, he recognized the affluent noble family name most notarized as being skilled alchemists. Apparently he was in the presence of one of their blood which now explained the man's noble style of dress. "You are of the Cronqvist family? I had no clue that family had thrown their lot in with evil." Alucard dryly said, giving up on trying to move away from Mathias.
"You'd be surprised what something as simple as a massage can do for these types of old wounds." The man clearly ignored Alucard's previous statement. "Normally I'd request my patient remove their clothing for a deeper massage but I have a feeling you'd refuse quite vehemently if I did." The narrowed dark eyes were all the response Mathias needed, earning a chuckle from him. "Case and point. Just lie on your side and let me give it a try, I swear I'll treat you like a gentlemen." The man gave him a smirk that revealed a pointed incisor that was a hint of his demonic heritage.
Alucard gave a tired sigh but offered no fight as Mathias gently pushed him back and onto his side, his attempts to fight would only be futile he knew. The vampire couldn't believe he was allowing this odd situation to happen; allowing his most bitter of enemies' son to give him a massage, no matter the reasoning. He frowned as Mathias reached around and pulled his coat to lay behind him, finding he felt slightly naked without it lying in front of him. The self proclaimed healer began to prod and feel his hip before he finally began to apply more pressure as he gently but forcefully rubbed the inflamed area with both his hands rubbing in circular motions in a repetitive manor. He slowly increased the pressure of his hands and the direction of the rubbing as he went along. After several minutes of this, though Alucard hated to admit it, the ministrations did ease his pain somewhat and even felt pleasant.
"My family has a long history with alchemy; they've been practitioners of the field since antiquity. They were of the first to found it and further its research into creating the fabled philosopher's stone, transmuting of metals into gold and silver, and even trying to develop an elixir of life." Mathias smoothly informed Alucard as his hands moved to a different area; perhaps he thought the silence awkward. Alucard found the situation very awkward and he welcomed anything to try and make it less so.
"Modern science and medicine has its roots in alchemy. I'm not surprised to learn there are medical specialists in the Cronqvist family." Alucard replied, relaxing more and more under Mathias' skilled hands.
Alucard could not see it but Mathias smiled at his response, clearly pleased with it. "You are as knowledgeable as you are beautiful Alucard." Alucard did not react to his compliment, instead choosing to focus on the pleasant feel of his muscles becoming less stiff by the man's hands. "Alchemy is the protoscience of all sciences. Without it we would still have people dying from the flu or the minutest of diseases." Mathias' hands moved to another area and changed directions again.
Alucard gave a sound of agreement but his attention was more focused on the ease of the man's actions. The pain had receded almost completely. He frowned slightly but said nothing as Mathias' hands moved to the front of his leg and were moving dangerously close to his groin. He was ashamed to admit that the ridiculously soothing ministrations were doing a bit more than simply easing the pains of his leg. He attempted to hide the shameful reaction of his body but it was a lost cause, the other seemed to notice as evident by the way his hands kept straying closer and closer to the area.
After suffering through the annoying teasing for an amount of time, Alucard gave an annoyed sound in the back of his throat as he wriggled under the man's grasp. This seemed to amuse the acolyte from the way he chuckled at his actions. Not wishing to suffer Mathias' sly words Alucard decided to try and appeal to the man again about refusing Satan and spoke to silence any embarrassing taunts the other may have had on his lips. "Mathias, are you not the least bit worried that Satan will turn on you and murder you as he did your sibling? Surely that has to weigh on you in some way." He asked, turning to set his glowing orbs on the man behind him. "I don't see how anyone, be they a child of him or not, would serve someone so uncaring of life."
Mathias' hands stilled in their ministrations at the question and Alucard was positive he saw something, some sort of fear and conflict rise in his brilliant blue eyes. Perhaps there may be a way to appeal to this man if he tried after all. Mathias quickly shook his head the flicker of dissonance leaving his eyes. "My father would not turn so easily on me. I am too useful and have a singular role within his plans."
"Are you so sure?" Alucard pressed, hoping to find the conflict in the man's eyes return. He was thrilled when it did with a greater obviousness. This could very well be his chance. He needed to seize it and draw it out as far as he could. "I know you think Satan loves you but he is lying. He loves no one but himself and he will make an example of you just as he did Guido. Not even you are safe from that." Mathias' mouth pulled into a deep twitching frown at his words, the inner struggle now marring his face.
Before Mathias could offer any rebuttal Alucard turned and leaned up, grabbing acolyte's shoulders gently. "You know I'm telling you the truth, Mathias." The acolyte seemed to genuinely consider his words for a time before he finally made a movement that surprised Alucard. Mathias raised his hand and ghosted his fingers over the vampire's cheek and stroked his hair. "I suppose you are right… and it is a terrible tragedy that Lucifer is so loveless or that he keeps all the pleasures he receives to himself." Mathias was clearly showing a fracture in thought, caught between wanting to play dutiful or disobedient son, and in that moment Alucard made a decision. If he wanted any possible way of gaining freedom it was through Mathias disobeying Satan. If he could push the man's buttons into disobeying one command maybe he could eventually sway him into turning on Satan and freeing him from his golden laced cage. It was as good of a plan as any at the moment and Alucard wasn't going to let it go without at least trying.
Tangling his fingers in Mathias' hair Alucard drew him close and brought their mouths together in a timid kiss. Alucard expected some resistance from the acolyte for his sudden act but he was surprised when Mathias returned it with a passion, grabbing his face and forcing them closer as he pushed the vampire roughly to the ground, deepening the kiss to a point that if Alucard still needed breath to live he would have found himself sorely lacking it in that moment.
To Alucard this was a good sign. A very obvious sign of Mathias disobeying his father's rule.
Alucard found himself surprisingly able to go with the flow of the situation, his latent sexuality seeming to bubble to the surface from a long repression and taking control of the heated moment. His movements were somewhat awkward but they did the job all the same. He pulled at Mathias' robes and undershirt clumsily until they parted to reveal the man's flesh and pulled away from Mathias' demanding mouth to nuzzle and bite at the man's neck but not enough to draw blood. His vampiric nature begged him to bury his fangs deep into the flesh and lap the blood that would surely come but he, with some effort, ignored it.
Alucard gave a gasp when Mathias shoved his coat off his shoulders and began to fumble with the strings that tied his pants together as he returned Alucard's attentions by biting Alucard harshly on his neck but whereas Alucard had refrained from drawing blood he had no such desire to hold back. As he lapped it up greedily Alucard couldn't help but wonder if this child of Satan shared the vampire's bloodlust. It was not so farfetched. Alucard did his best to play the part of wanton plaything, offering growls and cries of approval as he scratched at Mathias' back and sought his mouth out for more attention. Alucard ignored the fact that his cries were becoming less of an act and more of a genuine reaction, not wishing to entertain the idea that he might actually be enjoying this.
Mathias finally unlaced his pants enough to start to slide his hand down beneath the hem as the other encircled his neck to fall upon the rosary around his neck but suddenly the man became rigid and tore himself away from Alucard. He stared wide eyed at Alucard, his breathing harsh and his face flaring with his obvious lust. The acolyte cast his eyes aside and pulled his robe back together as he all of flew to his feet. "G-Get up. I think you've had enough exercise for the night."
Alucard stared evenly up at Mathias for a moment realizing he likely looked a mess with his hair tangled, coat hanging around his shoulders unevenly and his trousers undone as they were. Calmly Alucard righted his clothing and ran a hand through his hair to tame it somewhat before rising to his feet. Mathias quickly led him back to his lavish cell and locked him back within, not bothering to reset the chain around his wrist.
Long after Mathias' footsteps had retreated Alucard stared at the door before he finally let a small smile pull at his black lips knowing he had succeeded in what he had strove for and now he need only continue to needle at him until he gave in.
Mathias had broken what was likely rule number one; don't touch daddy's toy.
The know the Mirror of Fate could show people their past or even their future but I'm going to assume for the purpose of this AU that the Mirror of Fate never showed Alucard what he looked like as a vampire. It's highly possible in canon-verse that when the mirror showed Alucard his past it didn't show him as a vampire only the events that lead up to his transformation. That's sort of how I interpreted the game anyways. But just in case AU! AU! Remember it's an AU!
Alucard you cur! Seducing the enemy? *sigh* I know OOC OOC, I get it. Let's move on, shall we?