Chapter 7
-Loki
Hours had past. The moon and stars slowly faded in wake of the approaching dawn. Much to her irritation and Alucard's mildly concerned amusement, Integra slipped out of consciousness less than an hour after they had started from the cavern. Alucard kept a steady pace, but the deep snow drifts and windy mountain roads were difficult even for him, so encumbered by his master, to traverse quickly. Katrina walked behind them with her head down. Every so often her thoughts would drift to concern for the human, but only briefly before returning to her own problems at hand.
Professor van Helsing had once claimed that Dracula had a child mind, a singular way of thinking that could easily be predicted. Of the six who had hunted the vampire, van Helsing was the only one still alive. Avoiding the occasional exception in regards to his bizarre relationships with his three brides, the Dutchman's claim was dead-on. Alucard Nosferatu had bought time for his master's escape by toying with Dracula until ultimately humiliating the native vampire in defeat, however temporary. One of Dracula's brides had rebelled against him, the very bride who now trailed behind the one who shamed him. Dracula would appear sooner or later to try for revenge, whether or not his odds were favourable. Dawn was the only obstacle which would stop him.
Katrina feared her master, regardless of the coming dawn. Sunlight could do him no harm, and this new vampire who appeared in all ways almost identical to Dracula could hardly be trusted to protect her as she sensed he would the mortal he carried. And why should she be protected? After all, she was a rebellious servant deserving of her fate. Katrina's dull blue eyes were so fixated on the snow beneath her bare feet that she did not see Alucard slow his pace just enough for her to catch up.
'Why betray your Master, little bride?' Alucard asked, almost the voice of her own doubt. Integra stirred in his arms, raising towards consciousness in the broken silence.
Katrina remained quiet, both unable and unwilling to voice her frustrations to the tall vampire. For too long she had been bound in servitude to her chosen Master. There had been a time, long past, when they had existed together as equals, but that time was no more. In a way, longing for that history to return to life, Katrina wanted to be with him still, but centuries of existing without control were taking their toll on her.
'You can't have everything,' Alucard commented, turning his head to glance back at the familiar set of eyes behind him, his sunglasses falling lower on the bridge of his nose. 'I can show you how to gain the right to your freedom, Katrina.'
Katrina looked up sharply, realizing that the vampire had invaded her thoughts. But her anger was short lived, for what he offered her was far too precious.
Alucard's attention was momentarily shifted from Dracula's child-bride to his newly awakened Master fussing about wanting to be set down. The vampire gave in to her demands and set her down to walk on her own strength, not caring to listen to her ravings again.
'A No Life King - never to hold back or bow in servitude to another.'
Unnerved by the vampires' silence, Integra glanced behind Alucard at the female and saw her close her eyes as her lips trembled.
'He can't harm you once you choose. He doesn't have the power to defeat my protection.'
Katrina looked up to see Integra cast a quick suspicious glance between herself and Alucard before blinking away a flash of dizziness. What is that damn vampire up to? Integra wondered, wary of the heavy silence.
Alucard noted his master's suspicion with amusement and chuckled softly. His guard was on full alert as the colours of the sky softened to a dark sapphire. What was left of the celestial lights glinted off the white of his fangs as his smirk broadened.
'Make your choice, little bride,' Alucard ordered aloud, prompting a sidelong glare from Integra. 'Choose to remain a coward or seek your freedom.' With his back still towards Katrina, Alucard stopped and reached inside of his coat, running his finger over the barrel of the Jackal. Integra spun, her fever-dulled senses alerted by Alucard's actions.
Standing a few paces behind Alucard, Integra found Dracula keeping a tight grip on the female's shoulder. Fear stood out most in Katrina's eyes, but they remained focused on Alucard's back.
'For her, cowardice is not a choice,' Dracula shot in a low voice, 'it is her nature.'
Katrina ignored her master's words, ignoring her master completely until he forced himself into her mind. She cringed and looked down, her confused thoughts scattering farther. She made a futile effort to pull away from Dracula, but succeeded only in making him readjust his grip to hold her closer to him, his arm now tightly around her waist and arms.
'You're mine. I'll deal with you later,' Dracula threatened.
'She stood up to you, and you have to beat her down,' Integra noted dryly, shooting her blank stare at the new arrival. 'You're nothing more than a thug.'
'You would be wise to watch your words, young one,' Dracula growled, his fangs flashing briefly as he spoke.
At this Alucard turned, the weapon he wielded stopping less than a foot away from Dracula's face once he extend his arm fully. Giving his counterpart no chance to disappear or speak, Alucard shot a single round that struck just above Katrina's head. The tall vampire fell without a sound.
Her lips parted in shock, Katrina stared blankly ahead as her master's abusive voice screamed inside of her skull, even after his body tumbled backwards off of a small ledge. Her own body threatened to give out beneath her, and she closed her eyes to steady herself. Alucard caught her before she fell and stared down at her through the orange tint of his glasses.
'Your choice, little bride,' he prompted.
Integra's eyes widened as she realized what her servant was up to.
Without hesitation Katrina forced into silence the nagging voice in her head and ignored her master's indignant threats. She nodded and whispered, 'Take me with you.'
'Oh no you don't!' Integra protested as the paling sky turned black again.
The air around the two vampires stirred a blood red and it almost seemed as if Alucard had not heard his master, though he was choosing to ignore her. His lips barely moved though his voice rose from an inaudible whisper to a thunderous roar as the contrast deepened and the vampires bodies began to shift through dimensions.
'Apertus porta ex tenebrae.'
'Alucard, I order you to...'
'Caligo in ater et letum ad pereo.' Alucard grinned as he finished off his chanting, and he and the smaller female vanished from that plane to appear on another.
'...stop right now,' Integra finished with an irritated glare. 'Damn him.'
