A/N- Thanks for all the reviews! I'm glad everyone likes this story. About Alucard not being able to go into water, in Symphony of the Night he had a Holy Symbol that allowed him to go into water, which I have always pictured as a necklace although I'm pretty sure it isn't. He has this relic with him. I knew I should've written that in. Sorry!

Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Chapter 6

Night had fallen as it always did, and Sage was back in the Library, which seemed to be her lot in this castle. She had a pink little cotton dress on. The servants had brought her this and her undergarments and had taken Alucard's cloak back with them.

She had volumes of books opened before her…some in languages she didn't understand. She was running her finger down the index of one particularly dusty volume when Alucard entered the Library. He seemed to blush when he saw her. His voice, however, showed no sign of embarrassment.

"Good evening, Sage. Did you sleep well?" he asked.

"How did you know I had been sleeping?" she replied.

"The servants that brought me back my cloak mentioned it. What assignment has my father given you now?"

"I have to choose a spell to perform for him when he arrives here in a few moments. It's to show him that I'm on the right track."

Sage tapped a spot on the index and muttered, "Page 423." She began to flip through the large textbook and eventually found the page she wanted.

"What spell did you choose?" Alucard asked with mild interest.

"Hellfire," she replied. "It—"

"Teleports and allows the user to shoot two different types of fireballs. I know. I can do it very easily, which leads me to say that I disappointed in you," Alucard cut in.

"Why's that?"

"It's such an easy spell."

"I'm not easy! Uh, I mean…" Sage blushed a crimson red.

Alucard gave a sort, suppressed laugh. "I'm sure you're not, Sage."

Before Sage could say anything further to embarrass herself, Dracula walked up behind them.

"Are you ready, my dear?" he asked. He added, noticing Alucard there, "Don't you have something to be doing?"

Alucard nodded and turned to a nearby bookshelf. Sage still found herself staring at him. Dracula cleared his throat, and Sage turned quickly around.

"What? Oh, yes, I'm ready," she said, standing. She took a deep breath, summoning all the magic prowess that she could. Finally, she cried, "Hellfire!"

Sage disappeared. Alucard looked over his shoulder and searched the room for a spot she might reappear at. She reappeared a foot away from Dracula, her back to both father and son. Three fireballs emitted from her cupped hands. Dracula and Alucard applauded. Sage bowed.

"Very well done, Sage!" Dracula boomed. "I'm impressed."

"Thank you," she said. Alucard caught her eye and smiled at her. Dracula noticed this small gesture.

"Perhaps you have earned the night off," the Prince of Darkness said, smiling. He turned to Alucard. "Take her to the lookout point in the Outer Wall."

Alucard nodded. He held out his arm to her, which she took gladly, and led her out of the library.

…………………

Sage sat across from Alucard at the small table that was in the Lookout Point.

"Why would your father let us both go like that?" she asked.

Alucard shrugged in reply. He then stood and walked over to the telescope he'd shown Sage a few days back. He gestured for Sage to join him. She walked over to him.

"Let us just be glad that he did let us off," Alucard said. He moved to put Sage in front of the telescope. "Look up. It's a full moon tonight, and the stars are also shinning brightly."

Sage bent to look through the telescope. She'd always been interested in the stars, moon, and such. Remembering this, she suddenly found herself longing for home, longing for her mother, sister, and father, and longing just to feel safe. Safe was something she never felt here at Castlevania…except when she was with Alucard. Sage sighed and stood.

"They're beautiful," She said, turning to face the dhampire.

But she hadn't realized that he had been standing so close behind her. When she had turned, she had landed in his arms. She found herself blushing again.

Damn it, Sage thought unpleasantly. Why must I always blush?

Sage found herself waiting for the moment when Alucard would release her from his grasp. But that moment never came. Alucard was staring down at her. He seemed to have a confused look on his face. Sage was sure she had the same look on hers. Suddenly, he began to move closer to her. He was going to kiss her! Sage began to move toward him as well, wanting to kiss him. She wanted to feel his lips against hers.

Their lips met, and her eyes closed. Sage wrapped her arms around his neck. He wrapped his around her waist. The kiss— which had started out light and unsure, but quickly turned into a deep, hard kiss of passion and wanting— lasted only for a few moments, but to Sage, it seemed to last for forever. When they parted their lips, Sage smiled. Her eyes were still closed. She could feel Alucard stroking her face with a single finger.

She opened her eyes. He wasn't smiling at her. Instead, it seemed as though he were studying her. When she gave him a questioning look, he gave a small laugh. He released her from his hold around her waist. She did likewise from her hold on his neck.

Why had he looked at her in that way? Why wasn't he smiling as she had been? Was there something wrong?

"Alucard…?" she began uncertainly.

He smiled now, but it quickly went away. "Sage, I'm…"

She cut him off. "Don't apologize. You have nothing to apologize for."

"Sage, I shouldn't have kissed you," he said. He seemed to be in a daze, as though he were trying to think of too many things at once.

"And why not? In case you didn't notice, Alucard, I wanted that kiss just as well!"

Now he was searching her again. His arms found her waist again as her arms found his neck. Their lips met once again, but the kiss didn't gradually change from one type to another, as their first had. This started off, and stayed, as a kiss of complete desire. When they parted once again, both let out a sigh.

"I should take you back to your room," Alucard said. Sage nodded disappointedly.

She took his arm, and they left the Lookout Point.

End Notes: Okay, how was that? Any thoughts, my readers? Please R & R!