Chapter 2
Adrian Farenhieghts Tepes. As he scribbled the name onto a check, he couldn't help but think back to his past. Back to his disgusting, tainted past of darkness. That man had given him that name, and he hadn't begun using it again until recently. For a long time he had used another name. A name of legend. One that most creatures of night fear to speak.
"That's 253 dollars and eighty-seven cents," the man said.
This man was just another mortal. A mortal like most humans, living their lives without a care in the world. This one was a cashier and bagger for the local food store. He begun to place Adrian's items in yellow plastic bags, and then into the cart while Alucard scribbled the amount due onto the check and placed it on the conveyer belt for the man to pick up. Ah, how he wished he could be like them. Hell, like this man even, a simple store boy. With a life. But no...no, that wouldn't happen. He would never feel what they felt. See what they saw. Heard what they hear. For Adrian had been cursed with immortality.
He pushed the shopping cart out to his car, an SUV. It was rather average looking. Silver. Nothing really noteworthy. He placed most of the bags in the trunk and closed it, tossing the bags with bread and other light items in the backseat. Climbing into the driver's seat, he placed the key in the ignition and turned it. The calming hum of the car soon filled his ears. He sighed.
He had to stop pretending.
++++
"Good, you bought the groceries," a voice said to him. It was a withered voice, that of an aged man. Adrian continued walking, holding four bags in his hands. He was in the kitchen, bringing the last of the bags of food in from the porch, where he had dropped them off. The man was in the archway that connected the kitchen and the dining room. Bald, wrinkled, and hunched, the old man smiled warmly towards Adrian. "Thank you."
"The potentials need to eat sometime," Adrian said, removing items from the bags. He walked to the refrigerator, disappearing behind the large steel door. He appeared from it seconds later, and his hand pushed the door closed. "I made sure not to get junk food, like Adianna did last time."
"Yes, she spoils the boys, doesn't she?" The old man let out a hearty laugh. Behind it was all of his wisdom, as well as his age. Adrian came to the conclusion long ago that he was dying slowly. But he clung to life, and still managed to have enough energy to run about his daily business.
"Is there anything you need, Doctor Thier?"
"No, no, my good boy. I was checking to see if you needed assistance." Dr. Thier walked forward, leaning his weight against a cane with each step of his left foot. He was old indeed, and it showed.
"I don't believe you're in any condition to help me," Adrian said, continuing with his duty of putting the groceries where they belonged. "You should be resting."
"I don't need rest," Thier said, his voiced laced with a stubborn attitude. "I can do things fine on my own. After all, with you-know-what approaching, there's no time for anyone to rest. We must prepare." Adrian, who was putting away cans of soup, stopped for a moment. He sighed slowly, then spoke.
"Do you really believe it is happening now? Of all times?"
"I do believe so. I can feel it. It is weak now, but it will have grown enough by Christmas."
"I see." Alucard continued to place the cans in the cabinet, pushing those thoughts to the back of his head.
He couldn't help but wonder though...
Adrian Farenhieghts Tepes. As he scribbled the name onto a check, he couldn't help but think back to his past. Back to his disgusting, tainted past of darkness. That man had given him that name, and he hadn't begun using it again until recently. For a long time he had used another name. A name of legend. One that most creatures of night fear to speak.
"That's 253 dollars and eighty-seven cents," the man said.
This man was just another mortal. A mortal like most humans, living their lives without a care in the world. This one was a cashier and bagger for the local food store. He begun to place Adrian's items in yellow plastic bags, and then into the cart while Alucard scribbled the amount due onto the check and placed it on the conveyer belt for the man to pick up. Ah, how he wished he could be like them. Hell, like this man even, a simple store boy. With a life. But no...no, that wouldn't happen. He would never feel what they felt. See what they saw. Heard what they hear. For Adrian had been cursed with immortality.
He pushed the shopping cart out to his car, an SUV. It was rather average looking. Silver. Nothing really noteworthy. He placed most of the bags in the trunk and closed it, tossing the bags with bread and other light items in the backseat. Climbing into the driver's seat, he placed the key in the ignition and turned it. The calming hum of the car soon filled his ears. He sighed.
He had to stop pretending.
++++
"Good, you bought the groceries," a voice said to him. It was a withered voice, that of an aged man. Adrian continued walking, holding four bags in his hands. He was in the kitchen, bringing the last of the bags of food in from the porch, where he had dropped them off. The man was in the archway that connected the kitchen and the dining room. Bald, wrinkled, and hunched, the old man smiled warmly towards Adrian. "Thank you."
"The potentials need to eat sometime," Adrian said, removing items from the bags. He walked to the refrigerator, disappearing behind the large steel door. He appeared from it seconds later, and his hand pushed the door closed. "I made sure not to get junk food, like Adianna did last time."
"Yes, she spoils the boys, doesn't she?" The old man let out a hearty laugh. Behind it was all of his wisdom, as well as his age. Adrian came to the conclusion long ago that he was dying slowly. But he clung to life, and still managed to have enough energy to run about his daily business.
"Is there anything you need, Doctor Thier?"
"No, no, my good boy. I was checking to see if you needed assistance." Dr. Thier walked forward, leaning his weight against a cane with each step of his left foot. He was old indeed, and it showed.
"I don't believe you're in any condition to help me," Adrian said, continuing with his duty of putting the groceries where they belonged. "You should be resting."
"I don't need rest," Thier said, his voiced laced with a stubborn attitude. "I can do things fine on my own. After all, with you-know-what approaching, there's no time for anyone to rest. We must prepare." Adrian, who was putting away cans of soup, stopped for a moment. He sighed slowly, then spoke.
"Do you really believe it is happening now? Of all times?"
"I do believe so. I can feel it. It is weak now, but it will have grown enough by Christmas."
"I see." Alucard continued to place the cans in the cabinet, pushing those thoughts to the back of his head.
He couldn't help but wonder though...