CHAPTER ONE

3 Months Later

"You know, you really shouldn't be doing that." Trevor Belmont leans forward taking a crate filled with thick leathered books away from Sypha. She sighs, clearly she's annoyed, but doesn't bother to resist taking back the crate from Trevor.

"I didn't say anything when you insisted I shouldn't help with the construction of the town-"

Trevor raises an eyebrow and gives her one of those looks that indicates he's about to contradict her "You did." Sypha pushes past him showing him where she was taking the books, ignoring his comment and stare.

"Then, you forbade me from going out with you on hunts, when you know perfectly well I could kill more creatures of hell than you." She points at an unoccupied table in the library, her eyes closed and a smirk of content as he passes by her, doing as she commands.

"I suggested!" Trevor sets down the crate.

He looks at her just now processing what she had said. "You do kill more hell creatures and yet there is always a bigger mess to clean-"

She begins taking the books out of the crate and slamming them onto the table. "Now you tell me I can't help with the school. I'm pregnant, not disabled Trevor Belmont!"

Trevor smiles at her. He's been happier than ever watching her take charge of the town, helping with everything she can, and for keeping their child safe. She's just about four months pregnant by now, or no perhaps closer to five he thought. God, she'd be well into her fifth month and nearing sixth soon. The small bump was becoming more noticeable, but she seemed more swollen than she was last week. And it was definitely not hard to notice how she was swelling in all the right places. He watched her carefully, taking his time to admire her at this exact moment.

"I said you shouldn't, and I meant, shouldn't be carrying heavy things. You know this town needs you just as much as Junior there does." He bobs his head towards her growing womb, and she places an instinctive hand caressing the curve of her bump.

"Surely that poor child deserves a better name than Junior," a soothing voice speaks from a distant slowly creeping closer as Alucard strolls in. He steps between the two, greeting Sypha.

"Aa-ha! Alucard agrees with me, Junior is a terrible name."

Trevor scoffs and rolls his eyes at Alucard. "And he agrees with me that Treffor is a hideous name."

Sypha glares at Alucard and scoffs at the betrayal. Alucard looks innocently from Trevor to Sypha, "I think this is between the two of you."

Sypha hands the books to a woman who has approached the table. "You mean between the three of us, clearly my child likes it when I call him Treffor," Sypha places a hand on her womb again, feeling her child wiggle about at the name and smiles.

Trevor crosses his arms across his chest and inclines himself towards Alucard. "Oh, so now it's her child. But when she's hurling her guts out in the mornings it's my child."

Sypha glares at Trevor, handing another book to the woman who approached them.

She's been helping with educating the children of the town and had requested new books. Sypha waves her hands about, getting the attention back towards her. "All I'm saying is I need to keep occupied. I refuse to become nothing but a wife who bares children."

Alucard and Trevor exchange awkward glances. Alucard composes himself as Trevor keeps his brows raised obviously very aware of her mention of children.

The woman clears her throat, obviously embarrassed to interrupt their conversation. "If it is work you seek, my Lady, we can always use your expertise in arrangements of the town. No hard labor involved, simply planning and such. I heard that outhouses shouldn't be so near the wells."

Sypha picks the last of the books up herself and nods contently. "You most certainly do not want to place outhouses anywhere near where people drink water, eat or sleep."

Alucard gives her a soft smile. "This is your calling Sypha, this town does need your expertise, for now."

Sypha sighs as the woman carries her stack of books out the door. "Oh, perfect! I get to decide where this town will be shitting for the foreseeable future of Belmont," she adds sarcastically.

Holding her stack of books, she follows the woman out the library.

Trevor holds his smile until he sees the last of Sypha. It isn't until he's certain she's out of reach that he turns to Alucard. "Was there another attack?"

Alucard's feathery blond eyebrows remain still, his features serious and grim. "10 miles west of here. It was only two but that's still two more than I would have hoped to encounter." His voice flowed like silk. Trevor turned heading back into the depths of the castle. He could feel his own face turning old with the seriousness of the topic. Even more so that he had begun to keep this information from Sypha.

"We knew this would happen."

"And yet we hoped it wouldn't," Alucard pauses. He turns in the direction they came from, at the now vanished image of Sypha and turns back to Trevor.

"She should know, you know?"

Trevor turns his head, surprised and confused by Alucard's sudden opinion.

"And she will." He opens the door to an unoccupied room of the castle.

It had been decided amongst the three that this would be a room where they could train, talk and keep for themselves. After vanquishing Death and the events of the Dracula-and-Lisa's-almost vessel, Trevor and Alucard had decided it best to always be prepared. Sypha still had the adrenaline of a win, and for now was content with how things were. She was no fool and knew that there were still monsters to vanquish but for now, she should enjoy the win. Trevor grabs a few daggers large enough for damage and small enough to hide along his body.

"Sypha thought we were finished. She truly believes we won, who am I to take that away from her?"

Alucard watches him. He stays at the entrance of the room, quietly observing. He could see the hurt in Trevor's eyes if not for Sypha's lost dream then for an uncertain future of the child and or children he may bring into the world.

"Trevor, you can't keep lying. And you certainly can't go disappearing more and more often. She has noticed. It won't be long until she starts suspecting and then she'll be the one hunting you."

Trevor laughs moving past Alucard, heading back out of the castle. Alucard unexpectedly takes hold of Trevor's shoulder, keeping him back. "How long until you tire of bloodshed? Stay with the people, with your family. I can deal with the rest."

Trevor yanks his arm free, shaking his head softly as he stares at the floor. "I'm doing this for them, until my last breath. I need you here, to protect home." He heads out the castle, leaving Alucard standing alone.

"Home..." Alucard repeats softly, enjoying the sound of it.