I took far longer than I would have liked on this chapter and I'm sorry about that but I lack time due to other projects. I hope the word count and the content makeup for my absence.

I'll let you all get right into it, enjoy! :)

Every Full Moon

Chapter 25: Arrival

Year: October 1930

"I'll return when everything has settled," She felt something caress the side of her cheek. "My dearest." She opened her eyes languidly, her vision still blurry, all she could make out were a deep shade of red orbs looking at her.

Evangeline closed her eyes again and took a deep breath, something didn't sit well with her and in came the understanding that she had fallen asleep. She awoke with a start, bolting into a seated position and blinking multiple times, trying to take in her surroundings. What startled her the most was that it was no longer dark out; the sun was barely breaching through the horizon but the glow given was ominous. Instead of it being a warm radiance of orange hues it was red, blood red.

In what moment did she feel safe enough to drift into slumber? Had enough time passed for it to become sunrise?

"Alucard?" Her eyes traced over every nook of the room but no sign of him. "Vlad?" She called out aloud but there was no response. She had felt icy as she had awoken and she closed her eyes and tried to feel him, to see if she could sense him. In her concentration, she traversed the landscape: feeling the breeze move the nearby trees, the birds chirping, the various automobiles crunch the ground but there was zero trace. Nothing to indicate he was around or remotely near, her mind was only hers.

Noting his disappearance her posture became tense, she scrunched the edge of the covers with her hands. The Huntress went over the happenings of last night and as she did she couldn't help but bring her hand to the bridge of her nose, rubbing the area; trying to pacify her irritation.

She got out of bed frustrated, she had a hunch that Alucard had left her to find Varrick and his followers by himself and he had the audacity to leave without saying anything. "You selfish vampire…" Hadn't she already expressed that they would both stop Varrick? Though, he hadn't voiced his agreement to her will. "Yet, I'm not surprised." She had known him most of her life and yet she could never get an accurate reading on him. Alucard would decide things on the fly, a brusque mindset and ever the mystery. Something made him take this decision without consulting her, a strong motive drove him into going alone but she was concerned. "You better come back."

A single tear fell from her eye but other than that nothing halted her from getting ready to return home.

A full year and some had gone by since then…

Year: June 1932

"How long do you expect me to wait?" Evangeline grumbled to herself as she paced around her private study room. Another month and day added since Alucard disappeared from her side without so much as a goodbye to her.

During this waiting period she had managed to keep very busy. Since the incident of the razed village, she had been preoccupied with the way she worked, feeling as though being alone wouldn't be enough. Although she was against involving anyone in these dangerous affairs she thought it best for now, as they wouldn't be protecting her but whoever needed them, like a private taskforce.

She had been training a small team of ten men, each learning all the skills that were drilled into her core, very rarely these men would see any action besides their daily training regimen. Not once had they been needed as things had been very tranquil during this period of time. Though Evangeline either from the lack of missions or the uncertainty that her enemies had been eliminated; she liked to believe anything could happen at any moment. So she kept in shape and so did her force.

"At some point I hoped we would get along with vampires. A silly fantasy I now see…" There would be no vampire like Alucard, not ever. One who would forsake his nature to help humans with nothing in return, he was truly one of a kind.

She was speaking to herself when she realized, that her father was seated in the room, looking at her. "I see your senses have dulled." He murmured.

"I sensed no danger in the vicinity…" She countered, trying to play off her surprise at his sudden appearance. He was quiet for a moment and she was afraid he had heard all she had said. "What brings you here father?" She said trying to interrupt his thoughts.

"You-" He looked at her but hesitated in his response. "You're grandfather thought and hoped as much as you do. But I don't share the sentiment, not anymore, especially after everything..." She gritted her teeth but made sure her face didn't contort into her hidden sadness, she was glad he hadn't heard her first comment. "How is the training going?" He said coming to stand next to her. They were both now standing in front of the window overlooking the vast plain extension the estate had. Off in the distance you could see people moving, it was evident by the uniform they wore that they were Evangeline's men hence, why he asked what he did.

"I know you still don't like the idea of this, even after all this time." Evangeline's eyes narrowed trying to see what they were doing and from the way they moved and the sound coming as confirmation to her ears; they were practicing their shooting on the open range. She sighed at her father's stern expression, "I want you all to be protected if I'm not here, we have to have a capable force an organized group if you will. Men with experience, who can come close to mirroring me." She placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. "They are sworn into secrecy and live on the premise to be solicited when needed." Each man wore a uniform with the family insignia, a small group but nevertheless they composed what she deemed the Hellsing Organization.

"It's not that I don't approve of this but, the feeling of you going through all this trouble…I have a sensation that-" He couldn't finish the words as the thought was too painful. He couldn't bear to lose anyone else from his family. After Alexandria's loss, the pain he lived through, he never wanted to feel that again.

Evangeline smiled his way, "haven't I proven to be unbreakable?" Again she had survived many ordeals and even the few times she had gotten hurt the doctors praised her resilience.

He shook his head remembering the way she looked, the way her body moved when it was bruised or hurt. "Not the phrasing I would use, but if this keeps you content then continue." Things were a contradiction to him: he would rather take care of these threats himself and not involve anyone but having his daughter do this, the light of his eyes… he wished someone else would take care of things. He sighed again but this time he met her smile with one of his own. "Things have proven far more peaceful than any other time..." He reached out to embrace her; knowing she was about to leave to the training grounds before he entered.

"It will be alright." She kissed his cheek and left the room to get her things. She ran down the stairs and headed straight for the shed where she hid most of her gear and weapons. When she was ready she walked out and noticed the men were assembled waiting for her.

She gestured with her hand for them to follow her back to the shooting range. Once they reached the designated place Evangeline disappeared back into another shed and when she came back she brought a crate with her. The men noticed she had a slight difficulty pushing it and they offered to help but she dismissed them. The Huntress stopped a ways away from them deeming it the best spot to stop, she looked at the crate how it shook violently and it seemed like some of them soldiers noticed too.

She signaled them to gather around her and the box, "you've all managed to improve greatly on your aiming and shooting," She looked back at the targets and noticed most of the bullet holes were near or on the heart, "but you must anticipate, your shot is only as good as your ability to forerun, especially when the subject is moving at speeds sometimes exceeding your own sight. In those situations it's best you find yourself accompanied by a comrade, assist each other and be aware."

"That seems a little unbelievable, you facing them alone and all." A soldier murmured to another male nearest to him. "Vampires and ghouls sound like such sturdy monsters." He finished saying under his breath.

"Believe it Fargason. I have experience with them." She said, her golden eyes narrowing on the dark haired male. He gawked at her, his words had been a mere whisper but apparently not to her. She turned her focus back to all her unit. "Fortunately I can't show you what a vampire looks like up close but I can show you this." She knocked her fist three times on the box and a screech could be heard from within. "I found this ghoul roaming around. Careful, one bite could lead you into his madness." She signaled them to take several steps back, she took out her gun and aimed for the lock atop the box. "Let's try an exercise, I'll set him lose and you try to capture the creature without killing it."

"How did you catch him?" Fargason shuddered, he noticed Evangeline was carefully aiming at the lock.

"You tell me." She hesitated in her fire, "Philip Fargason since you were so vocal today, why don't you and Gale Henderson try the exercise first." She would obviously intervene should anything go south but she had to make them believe that they were alone in this exercise.

"Are you serious?" The other soldiers stepped farther back leaving Henderson and Fargason much closer to the box.

"Quite so. One, two, three." She shot the lock and the ghoul struggled at first to leave the box, stumbling out, landing face first into the grass but once it got to its feet, the ghoul began to search for prey. The decaying creature let out a snarl and drool began to pour from its fanged mouth.

All the soldiers were equally startled at seeing the being for the first time. That must have been her expression once as well. She looked toward Fargason and Henderson who spoke quickly, deciding what to do. She then looked back at the ghoul who was unmoving and watching her. "Evangeline why submit them to a futile game?" The ghoul took a few steps toward her, not limping the way they usually did but walking up straight. "Do you really think they will be able to defeat me, us?" He hissed at her unit, they were too distracted to notice the exchange the monster and her were having. Evangeline closed her eyes for just a moment, squeezing them together and then opening her eyes but the creature was still directing itself to her. "This is no illusion my sweet." His red eyes studied her and the monster licked its lips. His voice and attitude much too familiar it had her gasp in recognition.

"Varrick?" Her voice a shaky whisper. The ghoul took another step and let out a distorted laugh and nodded.

"You look so alone, why is that?" He continued to chuckle. "Do you know where he is?" Her eyebrows knitted together at his words.

"Alucard?" She hadn't allowed herself to speak his name in such a long span of time. He smiled, exposing all his sharpened teeth. That grin was a trademark of his, in all her battles with him it was a look that meant something more, a deed of malice had been committed. "Where is he?" She wanted her voice not to convey the anguish she truly felt but her feelings betrayed her.

"Wouldn't you like to know my sweet or better put my dearest?" He snickered at seeing her uneasiness, relished the look on her face and Evangeline knew it. His laugh was a shrilly noise and that was enough to make her snap. Swiftly pulling her gun from her side holster she fired at the ghoul, the bullet landing in-between the monster's brow but that wasn't enough for the Huntress. She continued to unload the gun clip on the ghoul littering it with holes, each bullet that pierced its body releasing life blood onto the ground.

She yelled in anger and continued to fire unbeknownst that there were no bullets left and that the monster had long since breathed its last, it was now just a pile of pieces. She fell to her knees still hearing Varrick taunt, his words and ominous telling of what had kept Alucard from returning to her, she refused to believe his insinuation.

"Sir Hellsing, are you alright?" Her soldiers crowded her in an instant offering help and hands to her.

"Fine," She waved them off and rose, "lessons over." She refused any hand that wished to help her. "Clean this up please." Her gaze softened as she noticed them looking concerned toward her but she could say no more to them and decided to head back to the manor.

Walter had watched his mother leave from the window in her room and once she had been completely out of sight he headed down stairs and tried to leave the house but was intercepted by Richard who had a grin of utter delight when he spotted the young boy. "Walter wanna play a game?" He offered, he was fiddling with something in his pocket.

"Mhm, what?" Walter was hesitant to the offer as Richard hardly ever paid attention to him but if it was a game it should be okay.

"Let's go an adventure." He gestured him to follow. They were in the main hall and Richard had opened the door for him to the library, it was a room he hardly ever visited because the door was under lock most of the time but he did notice Richard was carrying a key on him.

"Okay but," Walter looked around the large room and noted that there were many books. He was startled when the door closed harshly. "Where's Arthur?" He asked knowing that Arthur was usually around his brother not playing but watching him.

"It's a game for just us two." Richard said bringing a small ladder over to one of the shelves. "Besides Arthur is studying." He looked a little sad but recuperated his smile almost immediately.

"I don't know…" Walter had observed Richard enough to know when things looked like trouble. Out of the three of them he was the one that got scolded the most from mischievous doings. Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to play with him after all…

"It will be fun." Richard assured and he pulled on one of the books and as he did a shelf removed itself showing a dark hallway in its place.

Walter stared at it in amazement, it scared him a bit to see how dark it was down there but his curiosity was eating at him. "Where's it go?" He turned to look at Richard who was just as amazed as he was, the boy turned to look at him with a grin of triumph.

"Treasure." The older boy murmured. Richard went to peer over the edge and shivered slightly. "Since you're the bravest, why don't you check it?" His eyes sparkled as he looked at the young boy.

"I'm bravest?" His cousin nodded, with that confirmation how could he let Richard down, he looked at the hallway and let a breath out and began his descent but he was pulled back by the older boy.

"Don't forget the flashlight." He said and handed the small boy the tool to pierce the pitch darkness.

Walter once again began to head down but on the third step he turned to look back at the boy who had brought him into this situation. "What about you?" He noticed Richard was standing still, watching him, he shrugged at the question.

"I'll wait here and make sure the door doesn't close and then I'll catch up." He smiled again and waved him to keep moving, "good luck." He murmured but the way he said it struck Walter as strange. He continued on his trek down, taking in the old rustic detail of the walls and the strange smell in the air. He walked down the stairs feeling that they went on forever, he almost gave up but then he reached the solid ground and another hallway presented itself.

The walkway area was lit by a few candles, if not for his flashlight he would not be able to continue as this place was very scary. His steps slowed as he shined the light around and noticed there were many rooms adorning the way. He pulled on most of the door handles but they didn't open, he suddenly heard a creaking noise and shined his light ahead of him and noted that the last room of the hall swayed open.

"Richie?!" Walter called out, wanting to let his cousin know of his findings.

"I'm right behind you, go on!" He called out.

As he approached the semi-open door, there was a glow. "Hello? Hello?" He said announcing his entrance into the room. He pushed the door gradually, he didn't appreciate the sound of the squeaking as it made him second guess what he was doing at the moment. The room was also lit slightly by candles and it was mostly empty all except for a strange box in the center of the room, the real name of the box escaped his mind at the moment as the glow had him mesmerized. "Shiny box! It's treasure Richie!" He called out, and then touched it, his reality morphed.

He was sitting in the middle of something that could have been once considered a forest except it was all dry. He was sitting on the dirt floor and the air was freezing and a wave of fear began to creep into the child. His blue eyes looked around for anything familiar, a smile surfaced as his vision caught sight of the man he called shadow but just as quick as that smile came it left. There was something wrong with the shadow man, Walter thought, there was no air of kindness to him. The child hid as he watched him come closer, he refrained from calling out to him.

Alucard had done nothing but search for the vexatious coven, root of all his and Evangeline's trouble throughout the years. It had been difficult as they hid well but finally, he had concentrated on an unnatural amount of vampires in this area and from the welcoming they gave him, he knew it was them and he would not permit them to keep running any longer.

There was a woman waiting for him in the center of the barren field, her long blonde hair reaching the floor and even as she looked at him, her lips curved up not of happiness but of distaste. While she had waited and baited him, the memories he brought back were nothing joyous. "Vlad, you finally decided to face us." From her shadow other cloaked vampires spanned out just a step behind her, they all hissed in unison.

"You finally made a false move tonight." He snarled as his eyes focused on them. "You decided to try and hurt what's mine. I will not condone it." He saw through all of them, all were females he had a run in – in the past but one who he wished to be here wasn't present. "Andreea couldn't have been the leader of you all, she was much too weak; Evangeline ended her quickly." One of the cloaked vampiress was enraged by his comment and lunged at him but was immediately clawed down by his obscure powers. The sisters behind the blonde Vampiress cried in agony as their fallen sister was eviscerated but the leader held steady. "Only someone sinister could control someone as feeble as our missing guest Varrick. That would be you Daciana." He was scanning the area and it weighed on him that he didn't immediately see his true nemesis but he could feel him in the area.

Walter let out a scream and looked the other way desperately looking for an exit but, he could still hear the argument transpire.

"You hurt us first Vlad, we were nothing to you but a source of food. You did not care who you injured to quench your bloodlust, why should we care?" Daciana's feet were rooted to the ground in a defying pose, ready to pounce at any moment.

"You refused to let me live with my wife those many ages ago and when I made you mine you were content but at first sign of trouble you fled and now you reappear. You have no right to demand anything!" Daciana had been one of the first brides he had taken in, the only one to survive the ordeal with Van Hellsing only because when she felt him threatened she didn't want to take any chances and hid well enough to buy her time. It wasn't love that she felt for him anymore it was envy of the deepest kind.

"You're the one with no excuses, that human girl is nothing. I will turn her into nothing, you won't even find her ashes when I'm finished with her!" She barred her fangs at him, letting out a roar – a deafening battle cry, soon more vampires and ghouls came to her call and it was a multitude against him.

"Daciana, you and yours won't win, I am no longer restrained." A red aura encapsulated Alucard, his being consumed by a fire like substance and from that hellish fire different fiends began to emerge, all ravenous and awaiting the single words from their master to begin the assault.

"In your frantic attempt to end us all you left her so unprotected." Daciana licked her lips and summoned her own beasts to complete her army.

With that the order was given to advance on both fronts.

Walter screamed for his mother, he tried to run in different directions but everywhere he saw, the stuff of nightmares blocked his path, that and his way was stained by a pristine red sea – he couldn't escape.

Evangeline had finally entered the main estate and saw Richard playing at the entrance with one of his many train models, he greeted his aunt but continued on his business.

"Richard," She began to say out of breath, "have you seen Walter?" She looked around frantically.

Richard ever so faintly had a smirk on his face but shrugged, "I haven't." Though he did notice she was paler than usual.

"What was that noise?" She froze and strained to listen and in that moment she noticed the library door was open and as she concentrated on the sound she realized it was a scream, below them – it was a child's.

She ran past Richard and noticed there were a lot of books toppled over, next to the one leading to the secret passage. The screams became louder and then she heard banging from the other side. "Walter?!" She pulled on the book and Walter fell over, his eyes blinded to his reality and he continued to let out an ear piercing scream. "What's happening to you?" She shook him and then his eyes focused but he became silent and fell backwards in her arms.

"ERIN, MARGARET, FATHER, ANYONE! CALL THE DOCTOR!" She screamed for aid, meanwhile she looked Walter over making sure he was physically unharmed and when she found no such injury, she began to shake him again. "Walter! Wake up! HELP!" Her screams becoming more desperate than the last.

Erin was the first to hear his sister's frantic call. "Evangeline! What-"

"Phone the doctor, hurry!" She ordered and Erin scurried away and she heard the familiar clacking of the phone and his voice when he called for help. "Walter, my love, wake up please!" She pleaded with him as she held the small boy to her chest, her eyes began to water as the boy made no sign of moving in her arms.

The doctor arrived minutes after and Walter was moved into Evangeline's room. The doctor fashioned an aromatic and put it to Walter's nose, waking him but as soon as the child opened his eyes he began to act hysterical: not wanting to be touched nor reasoned with. They had to hold the small boy down in his attack and when the doctor saw this level of hysterics he had no choice but to inject Walter with a clear substance immediately plunging the boy into slumber. "Something caused him to enter a high level of stress then shock, this is what I can assess from his symptoms." The doctor didn't want to admit that he had only ever seen this level of frenzy attack in a psychiatric hospital. He turned back to look at Evangeline, "The root of hysterics is a defense mechanism to battle something traumatic, what happened?" He looked at all the people in the room and then back at Evangeline once again, he wanted to know if any one of the people in the room had caused the child's suffering.

"I can't say doctor, only that when I found him he was locked inside of a supply closet." She sighed deeply at the end of her explanation.

"It looks like it doesn't sit well with him to be left alone." He nodded, convinced by her explanation and the extent of her concern for the child. "Well, all I can recommend is to watch over him, spoil him when he wakes. I'd hate to see him in-" The doctor bit his tongue and offered her a smile, "if you need anything just call. I'll leave these tablets here, administrate them if he begins to panic." He placed the medication on the night table.

"Thank you doctor. We'll make sure to." Evangeline thanked him. He excused himself and was accompanied out by Margaret.

The other maids were dismissed from the room as Evangeline wanted to be alone with Walter.

She sat at the bedside and reached for his tiny hand, holding it in both of hers. Soon a knock came to her door; Erin asking to come in, to which she conceded. "How's he doing?" Her brother came to kneel beside her, she shook her head in response. From the looks of it he seemed okay as his sleep appeared peaceful but then what had caused his frenzy? "Evangeline have you any clue as to why this happened?"

Again she shook her head, a few tears escaping her eyes, "I haven't the slightest idea how he found the lever device in the shelf. There's nothing down there that could harm him, I've been careful enough to hide any trace of weapons, studies and other things." Then again there was one thing but it couldn't… No, there was more to it, she would check later.

"Maybe it was just full on panic at being locked out in the dark." Erin seemed to agree with what the doctor had suggested, she nodded slightly.

Another knock came to the door, this time her father entered and approached them. "How is he?" Lysander took Erin's place beside her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Stable father…" She responded mindlessly.

He could see the fresh trail of tears on her face, "he'll be alright my little doll." He knew how much Walter meant to her and he too was hurt by this situation as he also saw Walter as a grandson. He came to face Evangeline giving her a small smile, "he's strong and he will overcome this."

Her father then referred to Erin and even though they spoke in whisper she could still hear their conversation clearly. Axel had come to see her about something and even as he spoke to Erin, she interrupted. She sucked in a sharp breath. "Tell him that we'll speak later." Both men looked at her, "I don't wish for Walter to wake and not find me here." She leaned over Walter to brush his dark strands from his face. "Tell Axel this, I know he will wait." She knew this would halt Axel from believing that she simply didn't want to see him, this was a fair excuse.

"Very well." Both Erin and her father left the room leaving her and the child in silence.

The day went by and all she could do was look over the sleeping child. She lay next to him, holding him in her arms for a while when she began to feel him stir. She held him tighter fearing another panic attack wash over him but instead his movement was slow and his face sought hers.

He looked at her with half-lidded eyes and lips pulled into a fine line. "My little one, you're okay." She pulled him even closer to her, his head resting on her chest.

He was too weak to move and even though he was being held snugly he spoke, "Mama, the red shadow that saved us… he's fighting…" His voice was devoid of emotion but he welcomed her comfort.

At his words her eyes shot wide open, "Walter? My love you're okay, I love you. There's nothing to be scared of." How did he know this? She found herself in the brink of tears again; she placed many kisses on the top of his head.

"Mama? Shadow, box…shiny…red…" His coffin she realized, Alucard had always taken special care of it considering part of his power was stored there. He must have touched it and in doing so he was given an insight of her beloved vampire's situation.

She lulled him, "It's alright and when you get better we'll play." She didn't want him to think about what happened and perhaps she didn't either, she was afraid to know exactly what had transpired.

"Play…" Walter scooted closer to her, resting his head in the crook of her neck. "That sounds nice…" His words slurred at the end and once again his breathing evened.

Even though her son was alright she couldn't help but contain a pained gasp pounding in her chest. Her mind circled in wonderment of what Alucard's situation could be.

Another two months had gone by… (22 months since she last saw Alucard.)

Year: August 1932

The Huntress had hanged her coat for nearly two years now, especially since Walter needed her, there was no way she would forsake him in his time of need. Instead, her small unit would do rounds but more often than not they would report nothing out of the ordinary. She always stressed vigilance sometimes she didn't rest just to make sure the surrounding areas were free of threat as she didn't trust things to be this peaceful for too long, especially since she didn't know the outcome of Alucard's fight. Try as she might to touch his coffin, nothing emitted from it, no light like Walter had described.

For now things were dormant and she enjoyed every moment with her son. "How are you feeling today?" She placed kisses all over his face.

He giggled in response, "I'm good! Can we play outside today again?" His big blue eyes intensified as he pleaded.

"Of course we can!" She jumped into bed and began to kiss him and tickle him. He struggled against her but he could do nothing but laugh and his happiness was so contagious that she was giggling as well.

They were enjoying the moment so much they failed to hear Margaret knocking on the door until she entered knowing they wouldn't acknowledge her presence unless she entered. She beamed at the duo and Evangeline looked at her curiously. "Walter you have a guest." She smiled.

The guest poked his head in and hauling a few boxes with him he entered the room fully. "Axel!" Walter jumped out of bed and went to greet him with an embrace to which Axel responded to gladly.

"Walt I'm glad you're much better now." He looked at Evangeline for just a moment but his attention was then kept on her child. Quickly, she jumped off the bed and smoothed her hands on her skirt and ran a hand through her lose hair and observed the exchange between the two. "I hope you like presents." Axel presented Walter with many gifts, each box was bigger than the last.

"I do!" His blue eyes widened as he observed the wrapped boxes trying to decipher what each one was and he was also deciding which one to give his attention to first. "Thank you." He hugged Axel again and after he let go he turned to his mother. She simply nodded.

"Well go ahead and open them, I need to know if you like them." Walter didn't think twice about ripping off the colorful wrapping paper. The gifts varied from toy cars, trains, airplane models and a three wheeled bicycle. "Can I play outside with them?" He pulled his mother closer to where the toys and consequently Axel was.

She smiled and smoothed his hair back. "Yes, anything for you my little one."

The afternoon was spent outside watching Walter play with everything he was given, trying to give every toy his attention but ultimately settling on the bicycle as he liked how the wind felt around him as he pedaled faster. Though after many games and just as many laughs, Walter ended up exhausted in the early evening. She tucked him into bed and went downstairs knowing she could no longer prolong speaking with Axel.

She walked back down stairs to the living room area where he was seated, patiently waiting for her. Their exchanges during the day were only due because of Walter questioning or expressing his thought but on her behalf she didn't wish to speak with him. She took a seat across from him unwillingly but her eyes met his.

"It's been a while since we've spoken." He said placing his drink on the table, his attention solely on her. It had been far too long since his eyes were graced with her appearance.

"Why did you come?" Her voice still harsh when she spoke to him as if her dismissal would get him to stop liking her.

He knew that even though they were holding gazes she preferred to be looking anywhere else, her discomfort left evident but other than that she was still as proper as ever. He didn't let it bother him, "I care about your son very much and unfortunately, due to recent events and a certain request I couldn't come sooner."

Her eyes widened in surprise for just a moment and his comment seemed to have soften her, if only a little. The grip she had on the fabric of her skirt releasing. "Thank you." She tried to convey her appreciation in those words ranging from the privacy he had given her over those months with Walter and his gifts to her small child.

"No need for that." He smiled, his silver eyes sparkled.

She awaited his next words eagerly, knowing he had come here for a specific reason. "You seem more relaxed now, I've rarely received a report from you in months." He tried to ease into his main concern, what he had meant to talk to her about the last time he came.

"He's gone, the day after the attack to the rural he left to find them." That was as best as she could sum up the answer to his question.

Alucard had set out alone to find all of their enemies. "He's not here…?" He puzzled his chin and leaned back into the cushion of the sofa. He clenched his jaw at the thought of her feeling alone these past two years and she only felt this way because she had chosen him. His eyes narrowed on her once his gaze came back into focus.

"There was also something a few months ago, I didn't say anything in regards to it since it wasn't an official threat." She rubbed the bridge of her nose, the simple thought of it made her queasy. "Maybe I'm just hallucinating but, I spoke to Varrick…" The way his sickly laugh echoed in her mind made her shiver.

"What?!" Axel couldn't believe it.

"He spoke to me and implied that Alucard had met his... his end…" She finished in whisper.

"How dare he!?" Axel shot up from his seat, outraged. Evangeline was startled by the inspector's sudden aggressive state. His outburst was directed more toward Alucard than his lost cousin. While part of him wished Alucard had vanquished all her enemies, he wished he vanished as well but there was a small side of him that knew it was unfair of him to feel this way; that he did hope for the return of the vampire as it would ease Evangeline. He sighed and sat back down massaging the side of his head and in a softer voice he asked, "do you sense something now? Are we in danger?"

"No, not now." She always made an effort to stay attuned to her surroundings, nothing would get by her senses, at least she hoped.

"Be at ease then." He smiled gently toward her, that same affectionate smile that she knew was only for her and that made her uncomfortable.

She got up hastily, "Axel not this again." She didn't even excuse herself but rose and ran out of the room but her hand was caught by the able inspector.

"I don't want things to be odd between us, just because I misread your affections." He let her hand go, "first and foremost I am your friend so, please." He gestured her to go back to the room to which she slowly agreed because he was being completely sincere with his words and it would be a lie if she said she didn't miss him. He took the liberty of sitting next to her on the sofa, "someone had mentioned that your birthday was a few days ago." He reached into his jacket pocket and took out a small box and placed it between them.

"You didn't have to." She pouted slightly. "but then again, I do appreciate the gesture." She added. He pushed the box closer to her and she took it and unlidded the box. "Axel, now I really think you shouldn't have-"

"It makes me happy that you like it, I saw it and thought of you." It was a silver necklace with the letter E engraved on it with cursive handwriting and three small diamonds took a place at the sides of the circular pendant.

She smiled, "I can't make excuses around you, can I?" He smiled at her comment and offered to put the necklace on her to which she said she could do herself. He noticed she struggled to put it on as her array of golden hair was in the way but she managed. He also noticed that she was already wearing another necklace but he couldn't exactly read what it said only that it somehow it resembled the one he just gave her.

They sat in an awkward silence, the only other sound being that of a classical song being played on the phonograph. "Do you like this song?"

"This waltz, yes." She said absentmindedly.

"May I?" He got up and offered his hand to her.

"Just so you know I don't have much experience so if I step on you don't cry." She warned, he kept his hand extended to her even with those words spoken. She had no other choice but to take ahold of his hand.

"I assume responsibility as I'm the one who asked you." He said placing his hand at her waist and a firm hold of her right hand. "Slow." He suggested. They began with the basic box step and then added a twirl, gradually the dance became more graceful until she lost her footing and knocked into his chest. "How does a Huntress loose her footing against something so trivial?" He teased.

"How can you still act this way with me, doesn't it hurt?" She knew very well that each interaction she had with him gave him some hope. She could hear the quick drumming of his heart when she was near.

"No," He held her to him. "Genuine love comes at the cost of seeing your loved one happy even if it isn't with you." They swayed side to side and she felt safe in his arms.

How she didn't deserve him, she relaxed for a moment closing her eyes but then something hit her, a strong and ominous sensation consumed the air, she slipped from his hold. "Evangeline?!"

She fell to her knees as the root of her trouble had manifested at her doorstep. "Varrick is here…" A breathless whisper. She had no more time and rose to her feet, the initial pang of darkness leaving her body, being replaced by her strength and resolve to end this. "Alert my brother and the guards, he's alone for now." She left the room with Axel still calling after her.

"Wait, you can't go alone." He shook his head at her words and tried to grab her but she easily escaped his hold, there was no option around this.

"He's already in the house and he's waiting for me. If I can prevent everyone else from being hurt-"

"Eva, wait for me or Erin." Axel pleaded, he showed Evangeline the gun he carried but she continuously shook her as she headed for the library. "Eva?" She left him. She could not spend another word or moment on him for now.

She went to the library and activated the mechanism and stood at the entrance of the hallway. It was lit and the stench of death consumed her senses. He was in the room at the end of the corridor; in the room reserved for Alucard's coffin. "Go on, get your things. I at least want this to last for more than a minute." A freezing wind accompanied his echoing, twisted words.

Without hesitating she visited her armory and first put on her coat. She then pulled out all her weapons including one of the two dual guns Alucard tended to handle. She tied the sword handle to her belt and fitted any spare inventions into her pockets just for safe measure.

She left that room and walked slowly toward the final room and pushed the door open and there he was. All she saw was a dark shadow standing on Alucard's coffin, his glowing ruby eyes focused on her, his lips curling into a grin of utmost joy. "A good night to breath your last, is it not my sweet?"

"Yes it is." She clenched her jaw, "you've done far too many despicable things to merit any more time on this plain." Evangeline swore she was going to end him tonight.

Okay so I can verify that the next chapter is the climax of the story which means this story has 3 or 4 chapters left depending on how I layout the chapters.

A special thank you to all of you who have favorited and followed this story and a big thanks to my faithful reviewers Dragonmaster 789 and NightlyRowenTree for your kind words.

The journey with this story is almost over so I hope you continue to read it! :)

Until Next update!

-roseimagine