To say Terence Harker was not happy would be an understatement. Not only did he have to find out from his ex-wife that his only daughter was in the hospital but his truck picked today of all days to die. So as he slowly made his way towards the multi storied building in his little girl's car the salt and pepper haired man grit his teeth. Pulling into a parking spot he shut off the 1999 Mustang trying to keep himself under control. He loved his daughter and knowing she was hurt drove him crazy. Pausing in front of her room door he knocked easing in open. Spotting Susan lounging in a chair focused solely on her phone he frowned. Looking at the bed he grinned catching the silver gaze of his daughter. "What are you doing here dad?" Closing the door the 49 year old walked to the bedside taking in how his child looked. Between the splints on her hand, the slowly reddening bandages on her side and the dark circles under her eyes the teen had also lost all of her golden color.
"Your wonderful mother called me." Flipping her ex the bird the blond marched into the hall slamming the door behind her. Sliding a chair over Terence sit down taking Ari's uninjured hand. "You're okay right? I mean really okay?" Squeezing his hand she gave him a weak smile.
"Yea I just wanna go home and sleep a while. I'll be better when I get outta here." Nodding in understanding he slid a bag from his shoulder sitting it in her lap.
"Susan thinks that staying with me a while will help you, so she brought all your stuff over last night." Unzipping the bag the teen sighed. In other words her mother wanted her out of her house in case something else caught wind of Alucard's scent on her. "I already changed the sheets on the bed so you can rest when you get there." Frowning she looked up at her father.
"I don't wanna take your bed. I can sleep on the couch." Patting her knee awkwardly, neither one of them was very open, he smiled.
"Artemis you're hurt. Besides I bought an air mattress." Terence lived in a small one bedroom apartment in the nearby city. Having decided to be a forever bachelor it was all he needed. Her IVs had been disconnected earlier; Ari tested her legs before sluggishly making her way to the bathroom to change.
Admittedly the first 3 days of staying with her father were awkward especially with a baby serpent and hellhound lurking around. The final straw was when Terence emerged from the bathroom after a shower only to freeze and gape as a giant overly affectionate 6 eyed dog licked his daughter's face. "What the hell is that?" Jumping Ari hissed still a bit sore.
"Dad stay calm. Baskerville isn't going to hurt you." Inching towards his child the man reached out touching the black hindquarter of the familiar.
"I'm not imagining this? What is it?" Wrinkling her nose something she did that Alucard both hated and found oddly adorable she rubbed the hound's ear wishing Vladimir could have come with her. But the land lord of the building had a strict no pets rule, thankfully Baskerville could melt into her shadow when need be.
"He's a hellhound and his name is Baskerville." Seeing a mental wall going up she grabbed his arm making him look at her. "You remember all the stories Gramps used to tell about his mom? Mina was her name, right?" Fitting all the pieces together he shook his head.
"That was just a story. Grandma Mina had mental issues up until she disappeared."
"The stories are true dad. I work with the vampire she talked about every day." Seeing the uncertainty in her father's brown eyes she deflated. "Just come back to London with me for a few days so I can at least prove to you I'm not crazy." Sighing the graying male rubbed a hand over his face.
"If you really believe it'll help. Just know that I love you no matter what, okay."
"I know dad."
After calling Integra to make sure she could bring her father over to meet Alucard Ari thanked the knight at least a dozen times when she reluctantly gave in. The Hellsing couldn't really say no after the teen explained that her family would most likely admit her to an asylum soon if supernatural things kept popping out of nowhere around her. And if Ari was put away the knight would have to deal with a very irate vampire king.
Five days stuck inside a 3 room apartment would drive anyone crazy. On the morning of the 6th day of being in the city Ari carefully slid into loose sweat pants and a 3 sizes to big t-shirt before pulling on a jacket and shoes. Leaving a note for her dad Ari, her baby dragon which she hadn't named yet, and Baskerville set out into the city. Having gotten everyone's but Alucard's gift before the gargoyle attack the teen headed for the antique stores thinking maybe she would happen upon something the vampire might find interesting. Entering a shop with green paint chipping off the door she looked around at all the creepy trinkets. Giving a shrunken head a weary glance she shushed the dragon when it peeped, it having snuggled into her jacket before they exited the apartment building. Thankful that Baskerville was beside her she moved further into the darkly lit building eyeing some of the weirder items in the store. Who actually had bat wings for sale? Seeing something shiny the little reptile uncurled itself and leapt spreading its underdeveloped wings to glide to the back of the store landing with a small crash. Following after the feathered serpent with a sigh, Ari scooped the tiny dragon up letting him perch on her shoulder to eye the jewelry behind the glass counter.
"Can I help you?" Yelping the silver eyed teen spun around pushing the wire framed sunglasses back into place. Seeing a brown haired girl around her age step out of the back she slumped resting a hand over her frantic heart. The only thing off about the girl was her eyes, they were black. Ari couldn't tell where her pupils began the orbs were so dark. Spotting the tiny silver and black dragon the girl giggled skipping over in a flurry of dark green skirts and beads. "Where ever did you get a um…. Oh what are they?" Raising an eyebrow Ari grinned.
"A Amphitere?" Nodding the girl reached a hand out to run a finger over the thing's soft down feathers only for it to squeak and bury itself in the raven's hair peeking out with a glowing purple eye. Frowning the girl's lip trembled a moment.
"I don't guess he likes me." Turning a smile to the silver eyed female the brunette laughed. "I'm sorry that was rude of me. My name is Wanda, my family owns this shop." Rubbing a hand over the hellhound's fur Ari shook her head.
"It's fine, I'm surprised you didn't freak out. I've had one hell of a week with these two. I'm Ari by the way." Skipping behind the glass Wanda grinned spreading her arms out.
"When you come from a line of gypsies and witches nothing scares you much. So what can I help you with?" Casting another look around the shop she did a double take. Moving over to the corner display she gasped knowing she had found the perfect present for Alucard. Following after her the young witch smiled. "That medallion has been in my family for generations. My father can tell you more about it than I can. I think it's from some society of dragons or something." Tracing the dragon image over the glass Ari blinked automatically correcting her.
"The Order of the Dragons. I believe the Order was founded in 1408. Vlad Dracul III was a well know member or so I've heard." Searching some of the oldest memories she had of the Impaling Prince she was positive this was the same kind of medal he wore with his cape before he was imprisoned and it was taken from him. "This is made of gold right?" No one knew it but she had a very acute allergy to silver she had inherited from her father, it burned her skin but the pain was tolerable for short amounts of time. Nodding slowly Wanda edged her way closer to the hound eyeing eying the canine. Wondering why the hyper girl was being quiet the raven turned before laughing. The witch obviously wanted to pet Baskerville but with the way he was staring unblinkingly at her she wouldn't come any closer. "Baskerville stop it, she isn't going to hurt me." Turning his head slightly the dog woofed giving a tail wag, taking it as an invitation Wanda tweaked his ear.
"Yes it is, which is part of the reason it's still here. My father doesn't want to part with the ugly thing un-lease someone practically sells their soul for it." Hearing how much they wanted for it liquid silver eyes widened drastically before she slumped.
"That's nearly two months of work for me." Clinching her teeth she resigned herself to Ramen and TV dinners for a while, or taking Cole up on his offers of lunch… TV dinners it was, she didn't want to lead the guy on she was happy with her royal pain in the neck. "Alucard better like this or his pale ass is in the bat house." Fetching the keys from the back Wanda opened the glass case gently lifting the dark wooded box out. Seeing the shiny golden medallion moving closer the serpent peeped slithering his way towards the box when the brunette set it down beside the old register. Giggling at the little reptiles antics the witch smiled as it curled around the cool metal. Giving a yawn the baby dragon was asleep instantly.
"What's the little guy's name?" Blinking at the question Ari tipped her head looking over the red sunglasses.
"How do you know it's a boy?" The cheery girl skipped over to a book shelf pulling an old dusty tome from a stack. Setting it down on the counter she flipped to a marked page before turning it so Ari could see the illustration showing the difference between male and female Amphiteres.
"Females are bright colors like orange and yellow. Males are dark so they can hunt without being seen." Tapping a spot on the drawing Wanda pointed to the same place on the actual dragon. "Males have claws on the bend of their wings. If you look closely you can see the beginning of clear claws." Leaning down the teen squinted.
"I'll have to check that out when I have my glasses can't see up close very well without um." Shutting the book the witch rang her up. Staring at the price Ari frowned. "That's not what you said earlier." Shrugging the dark eyed girl shut the box after the teen scooped the serpent up and she put a certificate of authenticity inside.
"I got to pet your hellhound and he didn't eat me. I'd say you deserve a discount. Plus I don't see many people my age in here; I'd say I made a new friend." Raising an eyebrow the teen laughed.
"You've lived a very sheltered life haven't you?" Blinking Wanda frowned.
"Yes, why?" Smiling Ari's fangs were in full view for the first time since she left London. Yes she'd said they were going to be very good friends.
Freezing as her mother hugged her bye Ari hissed as she was squeezed. "Sorry." Stepping back Susan dabbed at her eyes. "I'll miss you sweetie." Frowning at Terence the blond waved goodbye to Ryan as well. Having said farewell to Ben already the silver eyed female waved before making her way onto the plane for the long flight back to London. Taking her seat beside her favorite redhead she sighed feeling lighter than she had in weeks. Nudging her shoulder the ginger grinned.
"I bet you're happy to see your lover bat again." Rolling her eyes she snuggled down into the window seat, watching her father two rows up.
"I'm sure Integra misses you too. You guys do spend a lot of time together, leaving me to do all the work you ass." He shrugged a small smile on his face.
"Maybe. Did you tell Alucard you were coming back today?"
"Nope I'm gonna surprise him." Shaking his head the red head wondered how the vampire was going to take that.
And I'm back from my break! I hope everyone likes Wanda! Not really much to say about this chapter just filler again to set up later plot. And yay only 6 months until the actual story plot can start! Thanks again Jenn for the awesome gift idea!
