In an enjoyably companionable way Alucard made his way to the Queen's Courtyard where nearly everyone stood (or floated for some of them) around as if waiting for something. D nodded gravely as Alucard walked up. Sword and Demon, still in their costumes, floated off to one side, the basic accord between Alucard's familiars seemingly restored, despite their silly Wonderland names. Ghost floated more or less at D's shoulder, clacking his teeth far more than usual. Left Hand, evidently enjoying the freedom of not being attached to D's arm, ran around on his fingertips underfoot and occasionally running up the trunk of a tree to get to eye level trying to get D's attention. D studiously ignored him and seemed to be paying close attention to Ghost instead.
"Well then, here we are," Fairy murmured before standing up on his shoulder.
"What are you doing with her?!"
Alucard flinched as a furious storm contained in the person of the Queen rushed up right into his face to bellow at him.
"Uhm -- she was -- guiding me -- here?" Alucard ventured.
"She's a wanted criminal," Val, the Queen, screeched. "For stealing my tarts!"
"Oh, please! I didn't touch the silly things!" Fairy retorted. "I want nothing to do with anything you made."
Alucard blinked at that. He vaguely recalled that the Queen was difficult, but he didn't recall the Duchess going toe to toe with her, even though the Duchess was the one accused of stealing the tarts.
"Do not worry. I have no intention of ever making anything for you, ridiculous fairy!" Val bellowed.
"Wait a minute!" Alucard thought. "This is getting personal!"
"That's okay, I'd never do anything to help you either!" Fairy shouted back. "For all I care you can just curl up and die -- the sooner, the better!"
Alucard didn't quite gasp, but his eyes widened in alarm and he stepped forward. D's hand on his arm checked him.
"Don't," D suggested in a low voice. "It's never a good idea to get involved when women argue."
"But -- this isn't part of the story. I might not have recalled Ghost's character's name, but I know there was nothing like this," Alucard pointed toward where Val and Fairy were squaring off in earnest.
"Hey, hey," Demon spoke up, floating up toward Val and Fairy, "Isn't this supposed to be about what happened to the Queen's tarts?"
"What are you going on about?!" Val demanded before realizing. The disillusioned gaze she tried to transfix Fairy with became more scheming as her eyes narrowed.
"That's right. Thank you, subject, for reminding me." Val waved her hand airily, dismissing Demon again.
She turned toward Fairy. You've been found guilty of stealing my tarts. For that, the punishment is beheading. OFF WITH HER ...!"
A sudden sense of real menace darkened the courtyard and Alucard's alarm increased.
"Val, uhm, Queen, surely there is no need to go that far. Isn't the punishment a bit extreme?" he hurriedly interrupted and tried to reason. "Perhaps she could make you tarts to replace the ones she stole."
"I didn't steal her tarts!" Fairy shrieked. "I'm not making anything for her, mean, odious...!"
"THAT does it! I'm serious this time! OFF WITH HER...!"
Val couldn't complete the command as Alucard's hand suddenly covered her mouth.
"Come on, Val. This is getting out of hand. Wonderland is supposed to be a bit frightening, but not dangerous," Alucard reminded her in a low tone, holding her loosely in his arms.
Val spun from his hold. She stood in the center of the Courtyard, gasping from the powerful emotions tearing at her. There was scant pretense to be following the story of Wonderland when she spoke.
"I should have realized you would take her side. Very well, then. Since you wish so badly to champion her, I will permit it."
Val pointed a steady arm, with one finger outstretched, directly at Alucard.
"For championing the sneaky, thieving, evil Fairy, Alucard, you bring this on yourself. OFF WITH HIS HEAD!"
The menace in the Courtyard suddenly coalesced behind Alucard. Before he could react; before Fairy, Ghost, Demon, Sword or Left Hand could even gasp; before D could do more than draw his sword partway, the slicing arc of Death's scythe bit through Alucard's neck, cleanly severing his head.
Alucard barely felt the pain, as Death's scythe was very sharp, but the thrill of a fatal injury shot through him. Darkness approached far more rapidly than he ever suspected it would, dimming his vision of the initial, horrified reactions of those around him. The darkness claimed him so fast he didn't even have time to remember anything of his life, or regret anything, other than the fact that it wasn't his father who killed him. He always thought he'd fall to Dracula. Before the darkness closed over him completely, he wondered where his father was. He had promised he would be here. It seemed -- wrong to slip into the darkness and not even see his father one last time as he did so...
Death grinned at all assembled, and, his deed done, disappeared.
D, a shade too late to complete the defensive action he wanted to, still reacted faster than anyone, diving forward to catch Alucard's slumping body with his left arm and snagging Alucard's head with his right hand before his brother could fall.
"What did you do?!" he demanded of Val in a dangerously low voice.
"I didn't know...it was -- this was -- just a game -- just a story!" Val cried out, horrified at the blood drenching D and the Courtyard, and Alucard's still, ominously still, form.
"Just a story!" she repeated, slumping to her knees.
- end? -
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Author's Notes -
Oh...dear. I do like killing poor Alucard off, don't I? What is this, the third time I've offed the poor dhampir?
Next chapter teaser - there is none. This is the last chapter of the story. No, really, move along, nothing to see here...
::grin!::
Of course, there could always be an epilogue...
Oh? I should write one? Okay!
Reviews, comments and constructive criticisms are always welcome! Please feel free to email me also if you see something awkward that needs to be clarified or fixed. I need all the help I can get!
stargarde (at) stargarde (dot) com