Morning heralded by a fine baby-pink mist that clung low to the uneven earth, the jagged granite teeth that surrounded the ruined hovel seemed almost royal purple at the core. Mauve tinting the mint leaves in the watercolor dawn, the deep sienna wood took on a rosy light and the stone came alive with rich hues of jade, puce, and bruised berries. Although a handful of shadows shifted with the orbiting movements of the slice of lemon-lime in the sky, there was nothing stirring beneath the lush underbrush.

Further fueling the surreal sensation that this expressive expanse was a painting seen to by the masters themselves, the one cloud hanging overhead was a dingy ivory brushed by maidenly blushes and the promise of a well-kept lake at springtime. Despite the air smelling vaguely damp, there was no sign that the quote-unquote 'coverage' was enough to hold the level of moisture necessary for rain.

Elderberry spilling from the gaping door of the hut and elongating across the barren earth, the impromptu shelter was already on the verge of being abandoned once more.

Quickly nibbling on a few slices of thin crust and drinking only a couple swigs of water from her canteen, the huntress ate in pensive silence. Dwelling on the story that Gabriel had told her of his son being unwittingly turned into a creature of the night, she couldn't not take the side of this Alucard. Trevor. From everything his father had said, he had seemed like a good vampire - a good man. Whatever the circumstances were, her father shouldn't have killed him, simple as that.

"..."

All morning long, the only thing Arianna had wanted to say to her companion was that he had every right to want to see her dead for her father's crime, yet every time she opened her mouth nothing would come out. Before she would have been too angry to see that things should be settled in an even match, but now it was the only solution that made any sense. So why couldn't she tell him that?

Dracul was equally as silent as his human counterpart, though he didn't have the distraction of a meal to occupy his mind. On the outside, this would have seemed like normal behavior to anyone.

"..."

Fangs scratching the side of his tongue as he stole a brief side-long glance at the huntress, the vampire was troubled by more than his thirst - he was vexed by a single moment that never should have been. Easier to be stuck on the miserable truth that their blood would stain the other's hand by the time that this was all said and done, it was getting more complicated than that. Memories of Marie were coming much more frequently than they had in a century, and though it was only a fleeting thought, Gabriel was reminded that he was a man.

Guilt perhaps the best word that the Lord of Blood and Darkness could find, he hated that he should be faced with this fact on the heels of his son's memory. Rage simmering just shy of a boil, there was a worse thought - a worse implication - that followed. Their son was his wife's final and greatest gift, just as he was also her biggest betrayal, and somehow a few short breaths after mourning his loss, Dracul's crimson gaze had wandered. Momentary as the dip into the cool waters of insanity was, it couldn't be denied that there was a certain weight to it.

Doomed in all possible aspects, the little huntress had finally lowered her guard completely; though she was technically asleep for it, there was something in her vulnerability...

Guilty the best possible word for it, the cursed undead made himself stare at the wall in self-loathing penitence. Stare, and ponder when it was exactly that he had reawakened the ability to feel these kinds of emotions. Sulk and repeat.

Misreading his behavior - how could she have possibly realized the truth behind his standoffish reaction towards her? - the slayer put her breakfast away in short order. Brain too full to really focus on any one thing, she knew that this fight could be the death of her if she didn't get at least some of her ducks in a neat little row, so Artemis decided to act. Mind made up, once their gear was ready to go the woman made a show of casually sitting on the alter that had served as a bed the previous night.

Carefully considering her partner for a moment more through the corner of her eye, the woman took out her primary weapon to inspect it for the battle to come. Knowing that it was primed for combat, and that the vampire would have no problem seeing her every movement even if he seemed a million miles away, instead of dull the edges by touching them to anything, the slayer spun the silver through the air. Juggling was never likely to be a hobby, however she had fast enough reflexes to catch even a botched throw.

Blade spinning, once, twice, three times through the air, by the fourth time she geared up to toss the instrument of death, she finally had mustered the gumption to break through the sodden silence that shrouded them, "Three out of three, not too bad. I'd say I'm just about ready to face a Gorgon."

No response, only a minimal twitch of the head to show her that he had heard.

Concerned that that wasn't a great sign, Arianna sheathed her weapon. Straightening up with purpose in her emerald eyes, the huntress brushed aside her hair to expose nearly the entirety of her neck to the vampire, "If you want..."

More fragile than humanity, a wounded heart that was willing to give again, supple curves that almost ached to be explored by more than the light, he was instantly returned to his moment of weakness. In that moment, 'want' was a very apt word of curse.

Practical as the offer was on the surface, the truth was deeper than that, as she meant it as a peace offering. Losing a loved one the hardest thing the young human could imagine, there was no forgiving what had transpired between their families, at least not any time soon. But this at least was a start, right? "We both need our strength today, so you should have a little."

Dour and rigid as his body was, Gabriel must have seen that, because he gave a hesitant nod prior to approaching, as if he'd come to some sort of agreement with himself. "If you insist, little Aria."

Hardly even phased by the nickname anymore, the huntress seemed flustered by something else as he closed the distance between them. Cold as his skin was on her throat, she didn't flinch away or even shut her eyes in regret as he ignored every mortal boundary to take what was offered him. Space a diminishing concept, as the limited area between their bodies was whittled away, he could hear her heart flutter in her chest, could see the pale flush lighting her cheeks. Terror had a distinct rhythm to it - something to dance to - and this was far more steady, and yet fainter. It was what he would have imagined Marie's heart would have sounded like.

Neither willing to break this comely new silence, she nodded just before his lips touched the surface of her neck, encouraging him to continue. Obviously it was a needless gesture as a vampire of his stature was going to heed the initial offer, yet for her own sake it was something that had to be done. Elsewise, she had no clue how to acknowledge the sudden burst of heat that filled her entire chest cavity when he took her into his arms for feeding.

Yep.