Muttering to herself the very pissed off teen shoved another shirt into her duffle bag. Spring break was next week and instead of enjoying it by hanging out with all her normal friends Ari was being dragged to a castle in Romania to attend a vampire council meeting. Because she was the unofficial Vampire Queen being courted by the official Vampire King Alucard hadn't given her a choice telling her she had better be packed and ready when he came for her or she was going as she was. So reluctantly she packed hoping she could at least sneak away while he slept to explore the surrounding towns. Her Romanian was a little chopping having wanted to know what the people in her dreams were saying so she had tried her damnedest to learn on her own. Since they were only staying for the week she really didn't need to pack that much just the bare necessities. And she figured she could buy dog food when they got there. Checking to make sure Salim was still curled up next to Vladimir on the couch she zipped her bag tossing it beside the off white furniture. Sitting down beside the mutt she ran a hand over his soft midnight fur, thinking. Alucard had said they would have to take a boat once they reached Dover, but after the hour and a half boat ride to Calais they could practically shadow travel all the way to where they needed to be. Feeling the temperature drop she tilted her head back grinning up at the ever smirking undead.
"Are you packed, my dear?" Sighing she pushed to her feet setting Salim on her shoulder, grabbing her bag she looped a finger under Vladimir's harness nodding. Cupping her cheek Alucard ran a thumb over the scar there phasing them to Integra's office. Bowing to the blond behind the desk the No-Life-King cackled. He was going home. "My master we depart shortly. Lower level Nosferatu will arrive shortly to act in my steed while I'm away." Nodding the knight looked up from her papers.
"Very well my servant. I expect you back at the end of the week Alucard."
"Very well." Blinking Ari remembered something.
"Um… How are you going to get your coffin to where we're going?" Snapping his fingers he grinned as his Mate jumped when the black box melted up through the floor, shadow legs already emerging.
"My Kingdom is perfectly capable of following." The silver eyed girl had never seen the thing do that before.
"You and Ryan have fun Integra. Take full advantage of Batty being gone." Tugging his female to his side the Nosferatu nodded once before they disappeared. Ari wasn't sure but she could almost swear the Hellsing's cheeks colored.
Watching the waves roll the teen sighed, not that she didn't enjoy being with Alucard, but there was nothing to do and she was bored. Vladimir had curled up beside her seat being a little seasick and her dragon was cheeping from inside her coat being as it was too cold for the little reptile to be out. The bloodsucker had taken a seat against the ship as far away from the water as possible with her still in his sights. With his coffin safely in the cargo hold the nightwalker was by no means weak but he wasn't at 100% either. The pair would reach Poenari castle by day break as long as they traveled by shadow, she would let Alucard sleep while she explored a little. "Hey Red isn't Poenari castle in ruins?" Cracking an eye open he peeked over his shades.
"Yes the above ground structure is but I've had nearly an entire citadel built underneath. The Romani that care for it keep the true entrance hidden; interestingly enough the family has a daughter around your age." Humming she eyed a chess table nearby before pulling it over.
"Would you care for a game?" Grinning he motioned for her to make the first move.
Humans were not built for extended shadow travel, half way across the country Ari had had to make Alucard stop for a while so her stomach would settle, or he risked being the target of projectile vomit. After 5 minutes of nibbling on crackers she had woozily bought she was ready to again at a much more reasonable pace. It seemed that the vampire was happy to be going home if only for a week. When the pair did finally stop moving Ari gripped the vampire's red duster trying to steady herself. Easing her down on the giant bed inside his personal rooms within the castle he laughed. "Really, my dear, you should be used to this by now." Glaring she tried to make her vision focus in on the flickering red mass in front of her.
"Well pardon the hell outta me." Mumbling to herself she waited for the dizziness to subside before standing and walking around the stone room. It looked just like the rooms she had seen in her dreams only without the windows for obvious reasons. A giant bed rested in the middle of the room at least twice as big as a king with surrounding stairs leading up to it. The torches had been replaced with lights but the furniture was centuries old. A desk and high backed chair were close to a fire place and a pair of double doors led out into the hallway while a second door led to the washroom. The bed was covered in dark crimson sheets as the wooden chairs were almost black. All in all it felt very Alucardy.
"I take it you approve then?" Blinking she turned to the grinning nightwalker where he set in the high backed chair in his normal position of lounging.
"Why would it matter what I think this is your room not mine." Laughing he sipped from the wine glass she just realized was there, come to think of it a little table was beside the chair too with a bottle of Dracula's Delight on it.
"This is our room. Actually the whole side of the castle is ours. The other elders all reside in the different Wings. Elizabeth has the East, Viktor and Mosi have the North, Klaus and Mihnea have the West leaving the South Wing to me or rather us." The teen frowned.
"There are that many elder vampires?" Nodding the No-Life-King waited for her to pull the desk chair out and turn it around to face him before explaining.
"Yes because I cannot be on all the continents at all times the oldest and most reliable Nosferatu are appointed a different Nation at monitor, stepping in only when needed. Elizabeth watches North America; she needed a place to hide after the locals found out about her less than noble activities involving young girls. Viktor monitors South America along with Mexico. Mosi governs Africa, and Klaus resides over Australia. Mihnea observes Asia and I, myself protect Europe." Rubbing her head Ari groaned.
"I'm never going to remember all that. Wait did you say Mihnea as in your son?" The bloodsucker cackled hoping she would catch on.
"Yes my son is a Vampire, not only that the second oldest." Scratching her head she drew a blank.
"But I thought only virgins of the opposite sex could be turned. How'd he become one?" Yawning the Vampire lord set his glass down having finished his blood wine.
"I was still a very young vampire, only a few days old. Smaranda happened upon me before I was able to feed. She was still a maiden; Mihnea was due to be wed the next day. The night of their wedding was the night my son became a vampire. Sadly she was not strong enough to fight off the hunger and began attacking nearby villages shortly after turning her husband; she had to be dealt with." From the sadistic grin spreading across his face the teen knew he wasn't the least bit sad about it." Standing he beckoned her to him running a thumb over her scars before kissing her and pulling her towards the bed. "Come, my love we shall retire for the day." Squeaking Ari tried to pull away as her face flamed red.
"But d-don't you have to sleep in your coffin?!" Laughing he messed her hair.
"This is my home; we are surrounded by my native soil. I will only require my coffin if I sustain massive damage." Seeing she was dragging her feet the count swept her into his arms chortling when she went limp pretending to be dead. Nosing her hair aside he racked his lengthened fangs over the soft skin of her neck. "Your heartbeat sound delicious, pet." Walking up the steps to the bed he released her grinning as the yelped bouncing having not expected to fall that far. Grabbing a pillow she tossed it at him missing horribly. Watching his grin widen she scowled crossing her arms.
"Shut up Alucard."
"I didn't say anything." Kicking her shoes off she crawled to the head of the bed wiggling under the covers, it was kind of cold in here anyway. Freezing when the bed shifted beside her she blinked when the vampire rolled her over on her side before pulling her back against him. Looking over her shoulder she shivered at how close he was. Burying his face in her midnight tresses he inhaled making her giggle.
"Who would've ever thought Dracula would be a snuggler…" Nipping her neck a hand snaked inside her shirt making her try to jerk away.
"I am being patient as you have asked me. Do not take my allowance as a weakness." The silver eyed girl rolled over poking him in the chest.
"That's shit and you know it. You snuggle me all the time. You're always touching me somewhere I don't think it really matters where as long as you do." Worming her way closer to him she sighed using his shoulder as a pillow. "I don't mind really I kinda like it. No one ever wanted to be close to me in high school." Eyes widening at the fact she had moved closer he stared down at her head as she drifted off. Wrapping his arms around her he stroked her back rubbing little circles here and there. Maybe the Shadow traveling was still affecting her? Feeling the sun rise he yawned nuzzling his face into her hair again. Okay maybe she was right he was a snuggler.
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