Well I apologize for the long wait, I know my updates have been slower these last few occasions and thank you all for your patience.

So I've been quite busy, being able to sit down has just been impossible, I'm hoping updates will become regular after the holiday season. That being said enjoy this chapter! :D

Every Full Moon

Chapter 14: Daunting

Year: January, 1928

Still observing his surrounding, Alucard watched the entire show unfold. Her sweet presence left the air and was replaced by one like him.

Scintilla gave a bow as the crowd cheered him, how he enjoyed the praise. The people wouldn't stop cheering as he exited the stage, they even wanted an encore. He grinned in triumph, he didn't care if the inspectors and their people remained. The situation had fallen beyond their capable reach, simple mortals. Alucard knew that humans were not to be belittled, the way he had once before and in doing so, it nearly cost him his existence.

"What a meager imitation of her but it was good enough to fool anyone." He turned his attention away from Evangeline's doppelganger to look at the inspectors and the officers, all but one held a serious expression.

Inspector Axel looked ready to pop in irritation, he wanted to act but no one let him, he was held back by the others opinion and that made him slightly doubt his own. "it appears you and I are the exception Inspector but I will act, are you willing to go to the lengths I do for her?" He wondered and as the thought integrated into his mind, his current mood began to shift into something more sardonic.

He slithered back into his darkness, his time to act would come soon enough, he need only wait for the theater to clear and for the officials to stop bickering among themselves. Nonetheless, he was entertained on the way they had decided to deal with the case.

Axel's temper began to sooth, his suggestions were finally being heeded. "I want you three to follow her, I want to know if she's home or wherever she goes tonight." He knew that this plan had failed once before but that's all he could think of doing at this point, he knew Inspector Whitaker might dismiss this suggestion.

Whitaker could tell, Axel knew something more and he didn't want to share. The young inspector had insisted he would stay and had given them no reason besides further investigation of the place by himself, which was odd enough. He had pushed the young man for answers but he led on nothing, and he didn't want to contradict him any longer. Besides Axel was the main inspector on the case should he fail it would all fall on him, he wouldn't take any of the blame. "Let him be lads, we should continue as Inspector Axel suggested, be on your guard Axel."

"I will be, if last night taught me anything it was not to even trust my own shadow, for it also disappears into the night." Axel knew the consequence of being alone in the dead of night in a place that was anything but safe, especially considering last night's occurrences happened around the circus area.

Whitaker had set his mind into following orders and nothing more, Axel had already confirmed that he would shoulder everything. "We'll be in touch then. I shall send messengers within every hour just to make sure nothing befell us." He said leading the other officers to the door entrance.

"Wise thinking." Axel nodded.

After the men left, all was quiet. The empty room already dreary from the lack of presence. Axel paced slowly around, wondering where to even begin looking. He was startled as a strong breeze opened the flap doors of the tent wide up, he stood still feeling that something entered but he couldn't see what it was.

Alucard couldn't help but frown as it had taken the men much longer than it should have to devise a plan, how they spoke of urgency yet, they had nothing pre-established, sloppy… He was losing precious time in being careful, Evangeline was far too merciful with them, with men that would evidently fail her.

Slowly his shadow crept on the epicenter of the disappearances. The silver box used for the vanishing illusion was harmless on the outside but on the inside, it bore the power of a vampire, it used to transfer the victims to their territory.

He was about to tap into the power of the case when he noticed Axel quizzically staring at it, he was oblivious to the fact that Alucard's phantom was standing just before him. Alucard couldn't help feel thrilled with the opportunity of having this mortal all to himself but his priorities lay elsewhere currently.

Perhaps he might be of use, if not, well it's not as if I lose something. His laugh echoed in the theater, Axel jumped, startled in response. "Who's there?" He noticed the box open slowly, gradually letting him see the emptiness inside.

Axel looked at his surroundings before turning his attention back to the box. He felt uneasy, especially since the box was no longer empty, laying on the flat dark surface was a revolver. All his instincts warning against this sign but his inspector's curiosity won him over in the end.

A chill encapsulated him, he heard a familiar female voice plead him to help her and without another thought he entered. Acknowledging he was fully inside, the door clasped shut and a strong, roaring wind engulfed him before he could second question his decision.

Evangeline felt herself being pressed tightly once again and lacking air. Moments of claustrophobia were over almost as quick as they had begun. The strange sensation paralleled the method of travel Alucard had used when taking them to the circus grounds unseen, to travel as darkness itself he had called it. She landed on a hard cold, surface, she extended her hands trying to make sense of where she was for it was too obscure to see anything.

Her senses were soon clouded by all sorts of auras especially those pertaining to vampires and ghouls, they were in proximity. She could try and face them but she felt vulnerable presently and she needed him, "Alucard?" she murmured. "Alucard?" She called out a little stronger but there was no response, I can't sense him. He wouldn't be silent either, this was no occasion for him to tease her either, they were disconnected somehow.

"Vlad?!" She let his true name slip, perhaps it would reach him. There was no reaction to her call, and she hated to admit that a sense of anxiety was coming over her but decided that the sentiment combined with staying put wouldn't resolve anything. She slowly got up and began to walk, as far as she could tell she was in some sort of cave due to the musty current of air. The slight breeze reaching her was a good sign that she too deep inside the cave or that she was headed in the wrong direction, this atmosphere had an all to similar vibe to it and how she wished she had a match to be able to see.

The moments of silence were prolonged as she walked.

Her pace began to slow when the eerie silence was interrupted by a faint bark. The beast was far along from where she was but it could reach her in a matter of seconds when it caught on to her scent. As silently as she could, she started reaching for the hidden gun inside her boot and fired it directly ahead of herself where she knew the creature could be. She heard no sound other than the echo of the gunshot, she figured she had missed and with that came the confirmation, the beast grabbed onto her with full force and pinned her down.

She breathed heavily, she could now smell the scent of decay over her. She began to struggle against the creature, her best bet was to find a way to knock it off her so she could reach for her gun that was lost in the squabble. Even if the creature was losing pieces of itself it had not lost its strength and desire to feast.

Amidst the struggle something caught her ear, what felt like just a turn ahead, she could hear cries, they were very much human. The missing women were also in this cave, her determination was fueled and even if she was a bit incapacitated there was still a way to fend off the ghoul.

The creature held steadfast to her arms though, it hadn't thought to put any of its force to keep her body or legs down. She started by bringing one leg up and wrapping it around the creature's body to reverse the positions of superiority. The ghoul swiftly loss its balance and hits the ground with force producing a crunch noise. Swiftly Evangeline extends her hands on the ground in search for a nearby rock and uses it to bash the monster's skull in repeatedly.

It lets out a grueling cry until it turned into nothing but dust. Evangeline took a moment to even her breathing, the women were crying out louder in fear, no doubt in response to the unknowing outcome of her battle.

"It's alright ladies, I'm here to help you." Evangeline called out as calmly as she could. Most of the female cries subsided at the sound of her serene voice but they were aware that there were more monsters out there and most likely that wouldn't be the last attack.

"Really?" Evangeline could hear the subtle noise of grovel being pushed aside, one of them was cautiously crawling to where she believed Evangeline was, on her way to her she stumbled over a hard metal and recognized it as the gun their savior had lost.

"Yes, follow my voice." Evangeline felt the female nearing her, "that's it, I'm right next to you." She bumped into Evangeline and automatically handed the gun over to her.

"Thank you for saving us." She said, her relief shining through to her voice.

"My task isn't finished; we need to get out of here." Evangeline had spent those few moments feeling over the ground until she found the stones that could produce a spark and eventually a fire. Using a few shrubs, she had also located she was able to produce a dim light.

The young girl winced upon the sight of the light flame, but she smiled in response to the warm flame. She then introduced herself as Denise Montgomery daughter of a banker in Oxford, her face was framed by tainted long black hair, her green eyes gleamed with hope as she looked at Evangeline. Of course, Evangeline couldn't really say anything about herself but smiled to her in reassurance that she would help them all.

Evangeline ripped a piece of her shirt to wrap it around a stick she had found on the floor so she could light it as a torch. She got up and walked to where Denise had indicated the rest of them were. Most of the women like Denise shied away from the torch, so accustomed to the darkness that the light was foreign.

Most of them were leaning against the wall as if it were some source of support. Evangeline couldn't help but be wide-eyed and disgusted by the poor conditions these women had endured, she had to get them out now before any of them contracted an illness or worse. Not to mention she counted fifteen females, the report had mentioned there were thirty missing. Her jawline tightened as she wondered where the other fifteen were and her thoughts didn't place the missing fifteen in a haven. "Weren't there more of you?"

"Yes, but we don't know where they were taken." Denise whispered.

"They sound as if they are across from us…the night screams." One of the other woman spoke up, her voice quivered. She was covered in sweat and dirt just as most of them were.

"I know but we hear them every night, maybe they're just as scared as us." Another one responded, she had her eyes closed and didn't look to have enough strength to move from her slouched position.

"Night screams…" Evangeline shook her head; the situation was far worse than she had first presumed. Things didn't seem to be going her way since she arrived but, "it will be okay." Evangeline ensured, she had to fulfill this mission, she had to save everyone. She was still on edge considering she couldn't feel Alucard but he would come. A low sigh escaped her, she was so surprised at how dependent she was of him after she promised herself she needn't be. She was confident she would pull through without him, if it came to that.

She rose from the ground and shined the torch towards the dark path. "We need to leave now." There was a chance that whoever was responsible for the care of these woman would return as the ghoul she had attacked must have the simple duty of watching over them, they were at least capable of that.

"Are we leaving the cave?" One of them asked, she stared at Evangeline in horror. "Is that safe?" She said beginning to sob.

"If you all listen to what I say it should be." Evangeline looked at every single face and all she saw were woman overcome with horror except for Denise who agreed with what she had suggested. She had to consider how all of them felt but she had to be quick and decisive. Perhaps she was just in a hurry to get them to safety that she was willing to risk leading them ahead even if she hadn't secured a path. "Maybe you're right, I'll go ahead and return when I deem things safer." She gave them all a nod, Denise seemed a little hesitant to stay behind but she did stay even though a frown crossed her features as Evangeline turned to leave.

She began to walk in the opposite path, it was less tricky than before considering she didn't have the impediment of sight. The cave was almost in a serpentine shape but she felt she was close to the exit, feeling the air was becoming less stale. She was just a turn or two away from the exit of the cave when she finally decided to address the presence that had been following her since she decided to leave the group of women behind. "Stop and go back." She turned and shined a light on the path left behind, a few seconds after Denise came into view.

"How'd you know I was tailing you? I didn't make any noise." She walked closer to stand where Evangeline was, her eyes lowered.

"We always make sounds, be it unintentionally-" Evangeline didn't finish her response, she stood still and felt someone approaching at lightning speed. She only had a split second to react, all she could do was shove Denise out of harm's way and brace herself for the impact.

She was grabbed and thrown out of the cave landing under the glare of the full moon although, the area wasn't only lit by the moon, there were lantern post settled around the area. "Did you really think you would escape huntress? With them included? You really are delusional." The voice spat from above her. She recognized the voice as the Illusionist Scintilla.

She had shouldered most of the fall and wasn't as hurt as she could be, just a few tears to her garments. "No, I'm hopeful and realistic." There was something different about Scintilla, the aura he cast wasn't quite vampiric nor human. He couldn't be both, unless…

"You can't win against me," He seemed to have read her thoughts, he smiled at her shocked expression. "It's true, I've drank from the holy blood as well." He was so proud of his new strength, how was this possible, which vampire would take the time to nurture a human this way?

"You mean you've cursed yourself." She answered repulsed, Evangeline rose to her feet taking a stance that made her light on her feet. He caught her by surprise before but she could deal with him, he was fast but if she could just anticipate him and avoid his fists, she would come out alright. Besides as far as she knew the vampiric blood he consumed only enhanced his strength and speed, he was powerful but not unbeatable.

"It's a blessing and I see you haven't embraced it." He said closing the distance between each other in seconds, a dagger in his hand. She was able to avoid the blow and as she did she swiped the gun that was hidden in the back of her boot. During the same breath, she fired at Scintilla, the bullet hitting his right shoulder. He flinched but continued to pursue her, "I know you have one of your own." She couldn't help but narrow her eyes at the knowledge he had of her connection with Alucard.

At least the silver bullet was effective, causing him to become much slower now and she would have no problem dispatching him except for the sudden appearance of a icy fog that wrapped around her. "Did he abandon you?" The female voice asked with the upmost glee.

"He's just late." Evangeline couldn't move, the fog was intoxicating, draining her of strength. She fell to her knees, the gun in her hand fell, it's now prominent weight causing pain to her fragile hand.

"Are you in denial, child?" The soft voice purred. Her figure was now becoming more noticeable within the fog she was casting. "You do look rather delicious but there are other's I'd rather taste first." As the vampiress came into view, Evangeline recognized her as Scintilla's assistant Mara.

Evangeline was still weakened, her eyes were stinging and tears had accumulated in her eyes from the suffocation of the overcast Mara was spreading, all she could do was hazily look on as she ordered Scintilla to go to the cave.

Scintilla came back with Denise, she struggled against his steely grip to no avail. "No, let me go!" Her screams full of anguish upon hearing her fate revealed by Mara.

"You're both insane." Evangeline choked, she composed whatever was left of her physical strength and rose. "Leave her, all of them alone, I swear-" she had lifted her arm, with gun in hand and fired at Scintilla, the bullet crossed his other arm, enabling Denise to free herself from his hold. Scintilla fell to his knees, letting out a groan before becoming unconscious.

"Miss!" Denise screamed as she hesitated in her run. Mara was headed towards Denise, eyes fixed on her next meal but Evangeline intercepted and fired a shot as centered as her hazy vision would allow. The bullet pierced near her heart and incapacitated Mara for a moment, unfortunately Evangeline had no more bullets left to finish her off.

"Run back to the others, hurry." Evangeline urged. Denise quickly ran toward the cave, it wasn't any safer but she could at least keep safe a while longer and perhaps pacify the others that could probably hear the conflict occurring.

Mara recuperated from the blow and brought her full force onto Evangeline knocking her down. "Swear what exactly? Haven't you noticed who holds the real power here?" She pulled Evangeline from her hair to look up at her. "I'll give you a demonstration." Besides draining her physical strength, she would pay homage to Circus Ilusionaire by messing with her mind.

"Stay out of my head!" Evangeline struggled to say. She resisted, trying to keep her mind closed off, by only having her objective in thought even if her vision distorts from reality. "I won't…let you…" she murmured out of breath.

Mara was surprised at the resilience Evangeline showed, ultimately her irritation takes over. She grabbed Evangeline and smacked her into a nearby tree. Evangeline let out a groan and Mara releases her, she falls onto a pile of dried up leaves. She's unable to get up, the pain in her bones and the lack of air consuming every fiber of her body. She has little strength left and she tries desperately to get up but only manages to turn a look up at Mara who is looming over her.

"All words, you are full of empty threats. You should have taken advantage of your vampire when you had the chance." Evangeline manages to glare at her. Mara leans in and wipes a trail of blood from her hair line, she brings the maroon painted finger to her mouth and lets out a laugh as she consumes the blood.

"I know what you are afraid of…" Mara leans in and whispers in her ear. She's delighted with the fate she has prepared for the famed Huntress. "A befitting end indeed." Her fingers trace over Evangeline's eyes, her outlook became clouded. Mara smiled knowing the spell has immersed her victim.

"Alucard?" Evangeline opens her eyes leisurely, she bats her eyes a couple of times in disbelief as she notices she's back at home and seems to have fallen asleep on the living room seat.

"Who's Alucard? Don't tell me he was an old suitor of yours?" She hadn't noticed Axel was in the room with her. He was wearing a coat and had his briefcase in hand, he looked ready to depart.

"Mr. Beresford?" She quickly scrambled to get up and was surprised that she didn't feel as heavy and tired as just a moment ago.

"Come now darling, why so formal?" He said walking toward her, she stepped back and ended up knocking into the couch she was just on. He caught her before she fell back and held onto her, smiled warmly at her and then kissed her forehead. Evangeline had no idea how to cope with his gesture, she just gawked up at him, a blush becoming prominent on her pale face.

"Are you feeling alright?" Axel brought his hand to her face but she shied away from him, breaking their physical contact.

"No I… I'm alright…" She was unable to face him. She decided to turn her focus on the pattern on one of the cushions, not one detail as far as she could tell was out of place.

"You're positive? I could stay." Axel placed his hands over her shoulders and stroked them softly.

"No, you have work to do." She voiced softly and as naturally as she could muster.

She was unable to do anything as he whirled her around to face him. "Well if you insist, send for me and I will come." His silver eyes beamed as he stared at her, his smile so serene, he was so in love. "I'm off." He let go of her unwillingly, grabbed his briefcase and left.

Evangeline fell back seated in her chair, her hand smoothing over the fabric and tears threatened her eyes. She knew this wasn't real yet her heart leaped and yearned for the opportunity of a moment like that someday. She had no idea how to escape such a charming reality but decided to refrain from going to explore for she didn't know if her wandering would cause something to go wrong in her realm of reality.

She sat put for a long while trying to mind herself but she heard the faintest cry. As she focused on the sound, she identified it as a baby's cry and it was very distressed almost as if it was in some sort of trouble. She reminded herself that all of this was a hoax, but hearing a child's cry in her supposed house reminded her of Walter.

As much as she tried to ignore it there was no escaping her maternal instinct, "Walter?" She leaves the room and begins to climbs the stairs as quickly as she can, her balance was shaky as she climbed each step. She finally reached the door to the nursery and even if her conscious begged her not to continue she couldn't help but open the door and find out what was wrong.

She entered the room and ran towards the crib but there was no child. She felt a stream of relief as the crying stopped but then again it brought up the question what was the sound she had heard. She turned to look at the window but as she did the wind blew it open with a strong breeze, it shook her and made her balance waver again. She tried to regain her steadiness before approaching the window, trying to close it but instead an incredible force yanked her outwards.

The day that had started off so bright and clear began to fade into a creepy counterpart. The force that had pulled her so aggressively was covered in a crimson shawl. "Do you think I would stand idle to your happiness? You betrayed me!" He growled.

She had always thought his ruby eyes were beautiful but in his infuriated state they just further fueled the nightmarish monster he was. "Alu-no Vlad?" She asked in disbelief.

"You had promised to stand by me forever." He lowered his gaze, there was so much pain residing in his expression, loss and a lifetime of suffering was all evident. He shook her violently, his brow furrowing with hatred, "what should be mine is now his, you are his!" He hissed.

She grabbed onto his forearms trying to pacify his aggression, "Vlad, we could never be." It's true she had thought about this many times but there simply was no way. The answer was much more complicated than she had voiced but this was all she found able to say.

"There were moments you didn't believe this dearest, you love me." His lips crashed onto hers, his lips covering every inch of hers. Evangeline kicked and flailed trying to escape his demonstration of love but it wasn't until he decided to release her. "Don't turn a blind eye to what you feel for me." He begged, his touch froze her and she soon found herself unable to move. His breath was at the nape of her neck, his lips caressing the sensitive flesh.

"Let me go!" She tried to push away from him but his hold on her was too powerful. Tears began to rush down, he was scaring her.

His eyes were once again fixed on hers and this time they were completely unsympathetic. She knew that no matter how irritated he could be with her, there was always a possibility that he would let the matter go but not this time. He did long for her but in a different way. "If I must-"

"What are you doing?" He dragged her towards the railing of the balcony, she began to scream for help but no one would come and no one could stop this. She could feel the rails leave her feet as he pushed her closer to the edge, "this isn't you!" She tried to reason with him, her final argument to convince him.

"If I can't have you then, no one else shall." There was no one holding onto her anymore, she felt weightless. The harsh breeze encased her, the balcony was no longer within her reach yet she felt a harsh pressure act upon her body, the air felt as if it was being squeezed out of her. There was also a voice too, distant and demanding, oddly familiar. The voice screamed her surname a few times before switching to her given name.

Then there was something stroking her face roughly, "Evangeline snap out of it!" The male voice urged. The clatter of crashing waves also found its way into the surrounding noises and once again she felt the ache in her body return.

"Don't touch me, don't you dare…" Her voice was but a whisper and hardly a threat, not as she intended it to sound.

Her vision began to morph from a total darkness to a now starry night. Sluggishly, her eyes moved from one point to the next, the scenery had changed entirely and now she began to recall all the nights' event. Before she entered that realm of illusion she hadn't been remotely close to the edge of a cliff, the illusion had the intent of leading her to a gruesome end, no hands involved.

"Evangeline!" Blinking a couple of times, she noticed that Axel had a light grip of her forearms. How did he manage to arrive here? Now there were many other things to worry about.

Though before she could voice any other questions, the exhaustion from the past battle returned and she was no longer able to stand. With quick reflexes Axel dove to catch her, "Axel? What about-" She winced and was unable to say anything more for a moment.

He gave her a faint smile, "easy now." Before continuing his gaze shifted over their surroundings and once he was convinced that the area was clear he spoke again. "What happened?" She could tell by just looking at him that he was relieved to find her but had no idea to what she had truly been up to.

She wonders how she managed to walk to where she was. "I'm not sure." Besides fighting the female vampire from before, she had been put under an illusion and she didn't know how long the trance had lasted before he had awakened her. It worried her for she didn't know what happened to the females that Mara and Scintilla had captive.

Axel's arms were a firm support around her, he dare not let her go in her current state she really seemed to need him. Her hazel eyes were tired but still captivating in the moonlight. Whatever had happened he dare not insist on details, he didn't think it just. Evangeline was relaxed in his arms, taking the first breather she had all night. Axel brought her that peace she so desperately needed and his current gaze reminded her of the one he held in the vision.

"I shall take her from here." Alucard's unmistakable voice echoed in her mind. Once again and overwhelming need to sleep sought her, so she eased back into a strange, yet comforting darkness.

The cliffhangers, I'm sure most of you will wonder about the reaction all characters are going to have to each in the upcoming chapter. I'm happy to announce the story is still going strong and some of you have expressed you don't want the story to end (that is so sweet of you guys)! Good thing is I still have a couple of good ideas!

Anyways I ended up dividing this chapter into another part, feeling it was a little lengthy but don't worry as I posted this one, I'm already working on the next chapter.

A huge thanks to my reviewers Dragonmaster789, NightlyRowenTree, speedfanatic05 and Kurayami KR for your words, they always keep me going. Also a big hug to those of you who have favorited and followed. I take each comment to mind when I write so like I've said before if you have any questions, I'll be sure to answer them. :D

Also it was brought to my attention that I don't mention Evangeline's age quite as often as I should so I'm going to address this now. Evangeline was born in the year 1910 and this chapter takes place in 1928 making her 18 this year but since she was born in August that still makes her 17 at this point in the story. Let me know if you guys would also like me to place her age beside the year the chapter takes place, just so you know. Bonus fact Erin is 10 years older than Eva.

Thank you all for the continued support and you all have a safe holiday season and new year!

Till next update :)

-roseimagine