Chapter 26:
All was black inside the coffin like bed. Alucard found himself stirring inside, but unable to move, or just not wanting to. His vampiric sense told him that the sun was setting, but nothing more about the night itself.
Why am I so restless? He wondered, staring at the inside of his coffin lid. Many thoughts of this matter ran through his mind, but the most popular one seemed to be an image of Seras running from the Hellsing manor; running from him.
Alucard stared down at his hands and realized that the day had healed his wounds from the previous battle, but that was not the reason he looked. He suddenly became aware of a glowing red light, which he found to come from the signals on his gloves. This sign was his restriction to Hellsing, and a warning all the same.
A light rapping noise was made on the outside of Alucard's coffin. He opened it to find, unsurprisingly, the face of Wilhemina, with eyes of wonderment.
"Are you all right in here? A faint glow poured from your coffin." Wilhemina remarked, and her eyes instantly traveled to the marks on the back of his hands.
Alucard looked at her in an amused way, remembering that she has never seen this before. He shrugged it off and replied, "Fine. Any other reason you would come rapping on my coffin lid?" He smirked, realizing that his statement sounded much like a certain poem with a chamber and a rapping raven.
Wilhemina looked at him rather shrewdly, obviously not amused at his little pun. "None besides the fact that the moon has risen." She said, honestly and continued, " I thought that you would like to leave as soon as possible."
"Hmm…sounds well enough. I am going to speak with Lawret once more before we leave. Maybe we can get some blood on the run. He he." He laughed lightly, but soon stopped as Wilhemina's eyes poured on him. He did want to see Lawret, though, there was no lying about that.
Alucard sat up from his coffin bed and moved the rest of the lid off before proceeding to exit the coffin. Alucard wondered what side of the coffin Wilhemina woke up on, but decided that now was not the time to ask as she already looked like she would slap him without a moments hesitation
Alucard lead the way back up the staris, Wilhemina following in his wake. Alucard reached the top of the stairs and found the door to be locked, either for the vampires safety or Lawret himself, he did not know. Alucard pounded his hand against the wood door, making a thud sound as he did so. He was not about to bust down Lawrte's door if he did not need to, the last thing he wanted was to have the cousin of a shigami, angel of death, on him..
After a moment or two more, the door creaked open and the familiar face of Lawret was behind the door. He appeared tired, but otherwise, just as Alucard and Wilhemina had last seen him.
"I trust you slept well, Alucard-san, Wilhemina-sama?" He asked as he opened the door fully for them to exit the room and slid back on the other side of the bar top.
"Well enough, Lawret. Thanks for the coffins." He said, gracefully, as he soon continued, "Hmm…could I ask a favor of you, old friend?"
"Anything, Alucard-san. It is not every night that I see a familiar face, or a new face as pretty as hers." Lawret said, with a butler like fashion.
Wilhemina replied this time, knowing where Alucard was taking it. "It was a sweet compliment, and find it a little odd for a human to say that of a vampire, but am happy all the same. We were wondering if it would be all right for us to take some blood for the trip, as hunting would be rather wasteful with our time."
Lawret gave another butler like gesture and bowed to excuse himself. After a good five minuet, he returned with a dozen blood bags. All were wrapped tightly in a brown pouch like nap sack that he handed to them, showing them the blood bags first..
"This is the least I can do. I have not seen a battle like that since my missionary days with Hellsing. It brought back many memories, some I am glade to have, and also some bad ones, but that is how it goes. Here you go, and you are welcome here any time, both of you." He added the last part as he glanced at Wilhemina and nodded kindly.
"This is more than I would have expected, Lawret. I am glade to see you still around. Your cousin has not mentioned you for quiet some time now, but you are still missed at the mansion." Alucard said, remembering past times as well.
"I am sure you are right, and that I am missed there, but I am old now, Alucard-san, and there is nothing more I can do. I was not going to turn into a butler for Integra-sama, as my cousin was all ready on hand for that, and I had no real connection to anyone there besides for my cousin, and you possibly." Lawret replied sincerely, knowing that Alucard knew this as well.
"True enough, Lawret, but it still was nice to see you again, even if it was on such an odd condition. Thanks again." Alucard said and turned to leave.
"I do not know about him, but these have been weird events. I assume that this happens often?" Wilhemina asked, taking the pouch from Lawret.
"More often than not, Wilhemina-sama. I'm happy to have made your acquaintance and wish you a safe journey." Lawret said, bowing again like a butler would when taking a command.
Wilhemina smiled at him, and turned to walk out the door, where Alucard was waiting for her. "Hm…how long do you think that will last us?" He mused, staring at the pouch that Wilhemina now carried over her back.
"It will last as long as it lasts. Now, which way should we go? That is the real question at the moment." Wilhemina said, turning her head back and forth to see which looked like the better way to go.
Alucard glanced around, and then stared at the stars for a moment. The moon was a waning crescent, and he stared at it for a moment more and smelt the orders carried by the wind.
"Hmmm…A foul wind tonight. Something is stirring to the South East…:"Alucard trailed, trying to pick up a sent, one of any kind, but could smell something.
"There is a waterway that way, Alucard. We would have to take a boat or something across." She remarked, obviously knowing the area a little better than Alucard.
"Why not fly? It would be much quicker, and I know how much you would enjoy to get rid of me sooner…" Alucard trailed, with a raised eye brow.
Wilhemina glared at him for a moment, and then turned in the other direction so that she could resist the urge to say something foul to him. "We shall not fly because we could be spotted easily doing so. And.." Wilhemina turned around to look at him, "I do not want to get rid of you that soon. You are easy to get used to being around, even when I have an impulse to do some bodily harm to you for stupid remarks."
Alucard looked at her in amusement and half grinned. It was a half compliment to him, and he would run with it if he could; knowing that she had something to do with his past.
"Hmm…he he he..I think that was the most nice thing you could say to me indirectly." He said with an evil grin, and then turning serious again, "Fine, we shall find away to go through the water instead of over it, but it will be much longer and colder that way."
'I am used to the cold, it has never hurt me before, but if it becomes too cold." Wilhemina swiftly walked to Alucard and wrapped her hands around him, under the coat, "I could always just do this and steal your coat from behind."
Alucard half grinned, but was even more amused with this gesture. Hmm…I guess she still thinks of me as how I was, but this is just awkward for me now. Alucard thought as he took her arms from around his waste.
"We have to get going, or it will be much longer before we do. We shall travel southwest, and find a transport across, but if we do not, I will fly with or without you." Alucard said bluntly.
Wilhemina nodded and they started to walk in the direction of his choosing. The road was easy soil until they reached the edge of the forest, and beyond that was the water way he spoke of. The trees of the forest jutted out of the ground like rocks, and their roots scrapped the ground. Every once in awhile, Wilhemina would trip over one, and almost fall, but regain her balance fast enough, which is partly due to the fact that she is a vampire.
They walked for along while, tree after tree of a similar root. Both of them were silent as well, as if contemplating each other with a sense of being. It was boring walking, but even worse was the denseness of the forest that seemed to be sucking the life out of them. They slowed, and slowed, but trudged on with a steady pass.
After what seemed like an eternity, the sun's pink rays ran along the horizon line. They had just reached the end, where the water met the land.
Alucard turned to Wilhemina and said, "The canopy of trees will have to do for the day, there is no other way. There is more of a hanging in the side patch, but that is all."
"Then that will have to do, if there is nothing else." Wilhemina said, unfeeling.
"Hmmm…I wonder, if we do go on a boat tomorrow, and it is more than a nights trip, we shall be goners." He said to her, as they went and sat down under the little room they had under the best cover of the canopy.
"Our eyes travel far and wide, and our estimation is great. I think we shall know by tomorrow. Now, it is time to rest." Wilhemina said as she leaned back and turned over.
Alucard remained silent and half grinned. He turned away from her as he thought unfitting to turn her way. His mind raced and he closed his eyes, just as he normally did, just as he always did. It was a cold morn, and bound to get colder.
HELLO! Wow, two this week. I had to make up for last week and not having time to do one.^^ Well, I would like to say thank you to TigerRain04 and Miss B. You both know who you are, and your motivation is of great value to me, so this chapter is for you guys and the rest of my fans.^^ Enjoy!