As soon he was out of sight of the ruins of Castlevania, Alucard was
hit by a familiar, consuming wave of confusion and anguish.
Stepping off the pathway, he took a seat on a large rock and placed his head in his hands. A multitude of questions assaulted his mind, tearing away the front of calm confidence he had displayed before Richter and Maria. In front of them, he had pretended to know exactly what he was doing. He had pretended that he was unshaken by the events that had just taken place, pretended that his own father's death at his hand was only his duty. As he had left the two, he had pretended to know exactly where he was going to go.
All this was completely false. Alucard had absolutely no idea what he should do now that Castlevania was gone, now that he had destroyed the impending threat. He only knew that he wanted to get away. Far away from Castlevania and everything it represented.
To Alucard, the death of Dracula had been far more than just a routine purge of evil. It was emotionally devastating parricide. Alucard had had no chance to exchange more than a few words with his father before the battle began. He wished he could have had longer, wished they could have discussed things that most fathers discussed with their sons. What was that, even? Alucard didn't even know, because Dracula had never been an active father to him...But he couldn't think of him as his father, no...If he had considered that fact before the battle for any length of time, he would almost certainly have faltered once the fight had arrived. Similarly, Alucard was sure that Dracula had not thought of his opponent as a son deserving of attention, just as a threat that needed to be eliminated.
Did he feel what I did? wondered Alucard. Did every blow against me make him want to fall down and die? Alucard had not been close to his father, but he had never had any desire to kill him. Every strike of his sword against the vampire had felt as if an equally strong blow had been reflected back, except instead of targeting Alucard's strong, conditioned body, it cut deep into his feelings and soul. It ravaged the hidden place that was vulnerable and weak behind Alucard's uncaring, emotionless attitude. It hurt. That was the easiest way for him to describe it. When Dracula had died...Alucard shuddered at the still fresh memory. He too had fallen, even if he was the victor physically. He was still in shock from everything that had happened, and he had no idea what to do now. He had no idea where to go. He just wanted to go to sleep and forget everything. Forget that he was a monster to have killed his father, forget that he carried his blood, forget that he too could devolve into the evil he had just shattered himself to eliminate...
"Alucard!"
Alucard's head snapped up, instantly reforming his lost expression into the cool, emotionless mask he always portrayed in front of others. Who was this, and why couldn't they just leave him alone?
Maria.
"What do you require of me?" he asked reluctantly, not wanting to talk to anyone right now.
"I...I can't leave you..." she gasped. She had evidently run to catch up with him, because she was sweaty and breathing hard. Brushing her hair out of her face, she joined him on the rock. Alucard wished she would go away.
"I am not planning to go anywhere in particular."
"That's fine..." Maria replied, smiling. "I'll go anywhere if I'm with you."
She wants to come with me? Alucard groaned inwardly. He just wanted to be left alone, to be given time to recover from the devastating events that had just occurred. He wanted to sleep..But he needed to do as she asked of him. She was a lady, and he was obligated to protect her.
"I suppose you may accompany me, if you wish," he replied with a slight sigh. "I warn you, however, that I may not make the best of company." Alucard needed something to fidget with, and he found himself drawing the cards containing his five familiars out of one of his pockets. None of the familiars were currently active, and Alucard nervously shuffled the cards around as he tried to decide which one to summon. The familiar would be able to sense his emotions and might be able to bring him a measure of comfort.
"I already told you it's fine!" replied Maria brightly.
Alucard began to make a stack of the cards next to him. Sword, Ghost, Fairy, Devil...He still held the card containing the Bat. The Bat had always been his favorite familiar, and also his favorite transformation. He never would admit to anyone that he enjoyed the feeling of freedom that flying gave him. He decided to summon the bat, but as he tapped the card twice with his finger nobody was prepared for what happened next.
One moment Alucard was sitting on the rock with Maria next to him. An instant later, he was seated in the same position with a rather large girl sprawled in his lap.
Alucard was too surprised to do anything except blink. The girl did the same, but then suddenly, as if recognizing him, squealed happily and threw her arms around his neck. Maria made a gurgling sound.
The girl, Alucard realized, was not a normal human by any means. Her ears were very pointy and she had very long, almost vampiric, canines. The strangest thing was the wings. Growing out of her back behind her arms, the bat-style wings flipped and stretched, as if the girl was enjoying her first freedom in a long time.
"Erm..." For once, Alucard was lost for words. Who was this girl and what was she doing on his lap?
The girl gazed around and, seeing Maria, squeaked and slid backwards off Alucard's lap, landing in a crouch and settling into a sitting position. "Sorry...Did I interrupt anything?" she asked, sounding almost apologetic.
Alucard tried to hide his surprise. "Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?" he finally asked.
"My name's Mori," responded the girl, a slight smile on her face. "And you set me free!"
"..Eh?"
"It's a long story."
"Tell me," Alucard insisted.
"If you want, but I'm warning you, it's strange."
"Please, go ahead."
"I wandered into Castlevania a long time ago," she began. "How long ago, I have no idea...All trace of consciousness was suspended. I went in there as a dare, my own need to prove myself stronger than my logic. The magic of Castlevania affected me strangely. I don't know if it was a backfired spell on my part, Dracula, or just Castlevania, but somehow, while shapeshifting I was trapped in the form of a bat. I couldn't turn back..." She trailed off slightly, her eyes unfocused as if remembering. "I didn't really mind being a bat, because I could fly, which is something I had always wanted to do as a girl but never could...once I learned magic I could shapeshift for a short while, but I always had to turn back soon because my powers were so limited."
She sighed slightly, then continued. "But I'm rambling. Anyway...I didn't really mind the transformation, until..." She paused again, as if not sure how to explain. "Until I was somehow trapped...I don't know what happened, or who did it, but suddenly I found myself in a very unpleasant state of being." Yet again she stopped, gathered her thoughts, and continued. "It was like being forever trapped in a state between sleep and awakening. I was dimly aware of what was going on, but I was unable to see anything but blackness. And I could never fully comprehend anything, because I couldn't really think. It was just...Haze...I hope the afterlife isn't like that, because it certainly wasn't something to look forward to. I don't know how long I was like that. Weeks? Months? Years?"
Mori's speech trailed off again. It appeared to Alucard as if she was carefully measuring everything she said, as if she was desperately trying to avoid phrasing things wrong.
"Then, suddenly...Everything came rushing back. I don't know how it happened, or why, but I found myself still in Castlevania, with all my senses working perfectly, and still in the form of a bat. I looked around and the first thing I saw was you!" She pointed at Alucard.
"My name is Adrian Farenheights Tepes, but you may call me Alucard."
"I don't know what happened. I must've imprinted or something. Because from that point on I felt compelled to follow you everywhere that you went, to try to defend you...I still want to..." She looked down at the ground, blushing slightly, obviously embarrassed in Maria's presence.
"Are you saying you were my familiar?" asked Alucard, now genuinely curious.
"I guess so," Mori answered. "I don't know what the terms for things like this are...And it appears that I was in that form so long that I've retained parts of it," she added, stretching her wings. "I don't mind, though. I've wanted wings all my life...It seems like whatever was holding me in that form disappeared as soon as I left Castlevania, though. I got returned to that strange state of consciousness every now and then while I was in the castle...I was worried I would still have to deal with it after I left Castlevania, and I'm really glad it all seems to be over.."
She stood up and, gazing at Maria, murmured "I guess you don't want me around anymore...But, I just want you to know that, even when I was trapped in my bat form, being with you was the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me..."
"I never said I wanted you to go."
"That's good, because....Well...I can't. My entire state of being, my entire consciousness, revolves around you...It has ever since you first set me free from that prison. And as long as you're still alive, I'm entitled to protect you the best that I can...Changing forms doesn't stop that any."
She turned and looked him straight in the eyes. "Alucard, we're soulbound."
Maria, who had been silent for the entire discussion, made a squeaking sound. Alucard sighed inwardly. He still just wanted to rest, but that was beginning to seem like an impossibility. Life was becoming more complicated by the minute. And he had a feeling it wasn't going to get any better.
Stepping off the pathway, he took a seat on a large rock and placed his head in his hands. A multitude of questions assaulted his mind, tearing away the front of calm confidence he had displayed before Richter and Maria. In front of them, he had pretended to know exactly what he was doing. He had pretended that he was unshaken by the events that had just taken place, pretended that his own father's death at his hand was only his duty. As he had left the two, he had pretended to know exactly where he was going to go.
All this was completely false. Alucard had absolutely no idea what he should do now that Castlevania was gone, now that he had destroyed the impending threat. He only knew that he wanted to get away. Far away from Castlevania and everything it represented.
To Alucard, the death of Dracula had been far more than just a routine purge of evil. It was emotionally devastating parricide. Alucard had had no chance to exchange more than a few words with his father before the battle began. He wished he could have had longer, wished they could have discussed things that most fathers discussed with their sons. What was that, even? Alucard didn't even know, because Dracula had never been an active father to him...But he couldn't think of him as his father, no...If he had considered that fact before the battle for any length of time, he would almost certainly have faltered once the fight had arrived. Similarly, Alucard was sure that Dracula had not thought of his opponent as a son deserving of attention, just as a threat that needed to be eliminated.
Did he feel what I did? wondered Alucard. Did every blow against me make him want to fall down and die? Alucard had not been close to his father, but he had never had any desire to kill him. Every strike of his sword against the vampire had felt as if an equally strong blow had been reflected back, except instead of targeting Alucard's strong, conditioned body, it cut deep into his feelings and soul. It ravaged the hidden place that was vulnerable and weak behind Alucard's uncaring, emotionless attitude. It hurt. That was the easiest way for him to describe it. When Dracula had died...Alucard shuddered at the still fresh memory. He too had fallen, even if he was the victor physically. He was still in shock from everything that had happened, and he had no idea what to do now. He had no idea where to go. He just wanted to go to sleep and forget everything. Forget that he was a monster to have killed his father, forget that he carried his blood, forget that he too could devolve into the evil he had just shattered himself to eliminate...
"Alucard!"
Alucard's head snapped up, instantly reforming his lost expression into the cool, emotionless mask he always portrayed in front of others. Who was this, and why couldn't they just leave him alone?
Maria.
"What do you require of me?" he asked reluctantly, not wanting to talk to anyone right now.
"I...I can't leave you..." she gasped. She had evidently run to catch up with him, because she was sweaty and breathing hard. Brushing her hair out of her face, she joined him on the rock. Alucard wished she would go away.
"I am not planning to go anywhere in particular."
"That's fine..." Maria replied, smiling. "I'll go anywhere if I'm with you."
She wants to come with me? Alucard groaned inwardly. He just wanted to be left alone, to be given time to recover from the devastating events that had just occurred. He wanted to sleep..But he needed to do as she asked of him. She was a lady, and he was obligated to protect her.
"I suppose you may accompany me, if you wish," he replied with a slight sigh. "I warn you, however, that I may not make the best of company." Alucard needed something to fidget with, and he found himself drawing the cards containing his five familiars out of one of his pockets. None of the familiars were currently active, and Alucard nervously shuffled the cards around as he tried to decide which one to summon. The familiar would be able to sense his emotions and might be able to bring him a measure of comfort.
"I already told you it's fine!" replied Maria brightly.
Alucard began to make a stack of the cards next to him. Sword, Ghost, Fairy, Devil...He still held the card containing the Bat. The Bat had always been his favorite familiar, and also his favorite transformation. He never would admit to anyone that he enjoyed the feeling of freedom that flying gave him. He decided to summon the bat, but as he tapped the card twice with his finger nobody was prepared for what happened next.
One moment Alucard was sitting on the rock with Maria next to him. An instant later, he was seated in the same position with a rather large girl sprawled in his lap.
Alucard was too surprised to do anything except blink. The girl did the same, but then suddenly, as if recognizing him, squealed happily and threw her arms around his neck. Maria made a gurgling sound.
The girl, Alucard realized, was not a normal human by any means. Her ears were very pointy and she had very long, almost vampiric, canines. The strangest thing was the wings. Growing out of her back behind her arms, the bat-style wings flipped and stretched, as if the girl was enjoying her first freedom in a long time.
"Erm..." For once, Alucard was lost for words. Who was this girl and what was she doing on his lap?
The girl gazed around and, seeing Maria, squeaked and slid backwards off Alucard's lap, landing in a crouch and settling into a sitting position. "Sorry...Did I interrupt anything?" she asked, sounding almost apologetic.
Alucard tried to hide his surprise. "Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?" he finally asked.
"My name's Mori," responded the girl, a slight smile on her face. "And you set me free!"
"..Eh?"
"It's a long story."
"Tell me," Alucard insisted.
"If you want, but I'm warning you, it's strange."
"Please, go ahead."
"I wandered into Castlevania a long time ago," she began. "How long ago, I have no idea...All trace of consciousness was suspended. I went in there as a dare, my own need to prove myself stronger than my logic. The magic of Castlevania affected me strangely. I don't know if it was a backfired spell on my part, Dracula, or just Castlevania, but somehow, while shapeshifting I was trapped in the form of a bat. I couldn't turn back..." She trailed off slightly, her eyes unfocused as if remembering. "I didn't really mind being a bat, because I could fly, which is something I had always wanted to do as a girl but never could...once I learned magic I could shapeshift for a short while, but I always had to turn back soon because my powers were so limited."
She sighed slightly, then continued. "But I'm rambling. Anyway...I didn't really mind the transformation, until..." She paused again, as if not sure how to explain. "Until I was somehow trapped...I don't know what happened, or who did it, but suddenly I found myself in a very unpleasant state of being." Yet again she stopped, gathered her thoughts, and continued. "It was like being forever trapped in a state between sleep and awakening. I was dimly aware of what was going on, but I was unable to see anything but blackness. And I could never fully comprehend anything, because I couldn't really think. It was just...Haze...I hope the afterlife isn't like that, because it certainly wasn't something to look forward to. I don't know how long I was like that. Weeks? Months? Years?"
Mori's speech trailed off again. It appeared to Alucard as if she was carefully measuring everything she said, as if she was desperately trying to avoid phrasing things wrong.
"Then, suddenly...Everything came rushing back. I don't know how it happened, or why, but I found myself still in Castlevania, with all my senses working perfectly, and still in the form of a bat. I looked around and the first thing I saw was you!" She pointed at Alucard.
"My name is Adrian Farenheights Tepes, but you may call me Alucard."
"I don't know what happened. I must've imprinted or something. Because from that point on I felt compelled to follow you everywhere that you went, to try to defend you...I still want to..." She looked down at the ground, blushing slightly, obviously embarrassed in Maria's presence.
"Are you saying you were my familiar?" asked Alucard, now genuinely curious.
"I guess so," Mori answered. "I don't know what the terms for things like this are...And it appears that I was in that form so long that I've retained parts of it," she added, stretching her wings. "I don't mind, though. I've wanted wings all my life...It seems like whatever was holding me in that form disappeared as soon as I left Castlevania, though. I got returned to that strange state of consciousness every now and then while I was in the castle...I was worried I would still have to deal with it after I left Castlevania, and I'm really glad it all seems to be over.."
She stood up and, gazing at Maria, murmured "I guess you don't want me around anymore...But, I just want you to know that, even when I was trapped in my bat form, being with you was the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me..."
"I never said I wanted you to go."
"That's good, because....Well...I can't. My entire state of being, my entire consciousness, revolves around you...It has ever since you first set me free from that prison. And as long as you're still alive, I'm entitled to protect you the best that I can...Changing forms doesn't stop that any."
She turned and looked him straight in the eyes. "Alucard, we're soulbound."
Maria, who had been silent for the entire discussion, made a squeaking sound. Alucard sighed inwardly. He still just wanted to rest, but that was beginning to seem like an impossibility. Life was becoming more complicated by the minute. And he had a feeling it wasn't going to get any better.