Get up early, so early that no one could tell that she was there, examine the bodies, get the flowers, leave a peace offering, get out and back to the house by breakfast.

That was the plan that Crina had going on in her head as she made her way from her home out to the forest and the Belmont Ruins. However, she didn't count on the fact that she was too excited to sleep, so she ended up deciding that three in the morning was early enough to get things started.

'If you can't sleep, find something to do' she told herself while leaving the forest.

After an hour of riding, she managed to make her way past the cliff she was at yesterday and down the road to where both the ruins and the castle were. Slowing her horse down to a walk, Crina moved her lantern to see if any other eyes were on her and her horse, staying alert as a deer in a meadow. Once the pair were a good 30 meters from the entrance to the castle, Crina moved her horse to the shadows to keep her out of sight of anything strange, leaving herself to walk the rest of the way in silence.

As she crept closer to the castle, she took in the sight of the magnificent structure. Crina recalled the many stories she was told about how the castle looked and how it was inspired by the gothic cathedrals of faraway lands. It was a marvel to look at from a distance, but up close, being able to see the detail and care that was put into the structure, was a completely different story. Looming arches, perching gargoyles, beautifully designed windows, Crina could only imagine what the building looked like on the inside, so much so that she almost forgot what she came to do. But thankfully, the stench of rotting flesh and the sound of flies brought her back to reality.

"Oh, right. I forgot about the bodies" she said.

Slowly, Crina made her way to the first stake. The body appeared to still be fresh, but the dark crimson indicated that it's been out here for quite a while. Long flowing dark brown or black locks graced the face of the poor individual, but it was the freckles upon the victim's face that gave Crina a clear indication of who these two corpses were.

The sibling vampire hunters, Sumi and Taka.

Crina stood there speechless as she looked at the corpse of Taka, recalling the last time she saw him and his sister, as much as she wanted to forget it.

"Oh my god…..I can't believe it…." She quietly said as she thought back to the last words she said to the siblings.

'The next time you double cross anyone, it will be your last as you will pay with your lives for your betrayal!'

"My curse on them worked….this….may not be a good sign" Crina said to herself out loud as she looked over Sumi's body next.

Just then flashes of that time came back to her. From first meeting the siblings, to the mischief they had while training. From the flirts she got from Taka to the looks on their faces as they were tossed out. All the memories came back in painful bright flashes that caused Crina to cringe and hold her head in pain. She slowly took deep breaths to try and calm herself as the pain started to subside.

As the memory that should not be recalled ended, Crina sighed and looked back at Taka's corpse. Curiously, she went to him and lifted the nightgown a little, only to frown at the sight.

"Should've castrated him for that night, the fucking bastard" she said with a bitter tone as she took a deep breath. "Oh well, what's done is done….but….." she then looked up at the doors before her. "I wonder if these two had an effect on the owner…." She said with concern in her voice, thinking what could've happened to Adrian, if he was indeed there. And it was then that she remembered her 'peace offering'. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out three ripe apples and set them in a triangle right in front of the door. Once she was satisfied with how they looked, she pulled out a small olive branch from one of several olive plants her family had in their garden. She sent a silent prayer that this peace offering would show that she was not a threat, but she wasn't too sure about it as she looked at the bodies behind her. While she was caught in her thoughts, a low growl snapped her out of it as she lifted her head with a jerk to the forest ahead of her.

Coming out from the trees were a few night creatures, some flying, some crafted from mud, with at least three or four large fish monster staying in the back.

"Oh great….why here? Why now?" Crina whined as she looked to the castle, "Welp, all I can do now is hope that whoever is within the castle is indeed a heavy sleeper. Don't know when I'm gonna use those bombs of mine" she said as she grabbed her weapons.

From her hips, she grabbed two small daggers, each with a simple alchemy circle consisting of a four way cross within holding the four main elements of the world on each end of the cross. Mentally calling on her gloves to activate the circles on the gloves and her blades, she brought both daggers together and they started to glow. From the glow, two became one and molded to form a halberd, one of four different forms that her daggers could take. Preparing for the battle that was bound to come, Crina takes a deep breath and calms herself before charging at the monsters with all she has.

_*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*_

Up in the castle, in one of the more lavish rooms, lay a single figure lying on his side. Once again, sleep eluded the poor broken soul hidden within this former home of Dracula. Blonde hair usually straight and clean now messy and unkempt, eyes forming black circles below from exhaustion, clearly indicating that this has gone on for a while.

Unable to get comfortable, the man turned on to his back and sighed, "Come on you idiot, just fall asleep…" he said to himself, voice cracked a little from both pain and tiredness.

The reason for this lack of sleep? Memories from his night with the two vampire hunters who tried to kill him. The sensation he felt when they seduced him in intercourse, the pain from the silver when it wrapped around his body, the sight of the two young ones dead and bleeding before him after his defensive call, all of these memories came back in painful flashes of light. Clutching his head, Alucard groaned and gave a soft sob at the feeling of wanting to sleep but his brain wouldn't let him.

"Just leave me alone…." He pleaded to no one in particular as he tried to get over the pain. However, just as he felt like he was starting to relax, two loud explosions were heard outside his window, snapping him out of his trance and making him jump up and out of bed on high alert, giving a small hiss out of habit. He felt his heart thumping hard against his chest as he calmed down from the situation.

"What the fuck just happened?!" he said as he turned around and looked out the window, at first seeing nothing but then suddenly seeing a glow from down on the ground below.

"A fire?" he asked himself, and it was then that he realized the direction of where the fire was, right in front of the castle, close to where his other home is. "No, the hold!" he said as he rushed to put his pants and boots on, leaving his nightgown on one of the chairs as he grabbed his heirloom sword and rushed from his room to the entrance. "Is it a Thunderstorm?" Alucard thought to himself, "No, I don't hear rain. It must be something else" he said as he made his way down.

Once he got there and opened the doors, he was presented with a sight that he would not have expected at 4 in the morning.

There among a scene of burnt grass, steam and fog, were three mudmen, frozen in place because of the fire from earlier hardening their forms and making it impossible to move.

But then from above came a figure holding what looked like a spear and tossed a small round object, a bomb, which exploded and destroyed the men. The figure came into view, but within the steam, Alucard couldn't make out the details, but it was clear that it was a female.

"What the fuck is going on?" he asked himself as he looked out, seeing the damage that was already done. But his attention was directed then to a sound in the distance where a group of fishmen started running toward the figure in the steam. Just as this happened, a jolt of exhaustion got the better of Alucard and immediately a sense of tired annoyance and anger surged through his body.

"Argh, I'm already tired from lack of sleep. The last thing I need is a fight involving bombs keeping me up at this hour" he said through his teeth as he ran a hand over his face and through his hair. With an exhausted sigh, gripping his sword, he then rushed at the beasts in the steam and slashed at each of them in the throat, practically killing them on the spot, leaving the lone female figure to cover herself from the sudden burst of wind.

Once he was sure the beasts were dead, Alucard, now feeling cranky from both lack of sleep and the unappreciated alarm clock, slowly turned to the figure he saw before, giving her a glare that could easily kill any beast of the night if possible, hissing at her in annoyance.

_*v*v*v*v*v*v*v*_

Crina recovered from the sudden blast of air and moved some loose strands of hair from her face before looking at a floating figure before her, giving her a glare that made her jolt a little in fear but then freeze in her boots.

'Oh fuck, I'm so dead now' she said in her mind as she watched with wide eyes, seeing the figure approach her.

Unable to stand her ground, she started to back away, holding her hand out to the figure.

"W-Wait….I…I can explain…please….don't strike me…" she said as she walked her way back from the figure. Just as she reached the entrance stairs, she tripped and fell on them, groaning as she felt her back connect with the structure.

Once she fell, she felt herself being pinned down by a sword to her neck as the figure rushed to her and looked at her dead in the eye. Golden orbs surrounded by black circles glaring into her soul, mouth open and showing full fangs of anger, giving a hiss of disapproval.

"Who are you, and what the fuck are you doing causing a ruckus at this hour of the morning?" he asked in a low threatening voice, hissing a little at the end.

Crina felt scared at the sight before her as she knew that she was in deep shit for waking the owner of the castle.

"I….I can explain….." she squeaked out in fright.

Just then, she felt the blade of the owner's sword press harder against her neck.

"Speak. Now" the owner threatened again, a growl in his throat.

"C-Crina….Crina Lupo….a….an Alchemist from further north from here…..I've been coming to the ….B-Belmont Ruins for years to p-pick the flowers that grow on the p-property…..I…I came…..to get permission for ha-harvesting the flowers…." She croaked out as she tried to keep her composure.

"At four in the morning?" the man asked, clearly annoyed.

"It w-was to b-be later, b-but….your lawn ornaments attracted me" she said as she pointed to the stakes.

The man went quiet for a moment. "Are you an accomplice?" he asked.

"N-No….never…." Crina said as she felt the blade ease a little on her neck, "But…I'm the one who cursed them to hell…" she said as she tried regain her breath.

"You what?" the man asked, less annoyed but confused.

"Story for another day, but since you're up. I'd like to ask a few questions" Crina said as she sat up and coughed a bit.

The man was silent for a moment but sighed irritably. "Make it quick, I'm not in the mood for long conversations" he said, clearly confused and disturbed by what just happened.

Crina cleared her throat and sighed, "First, I would like permission to harvest the flowers at the Belmont manner from here on out. They have special properties that I want to use for others" she started.

Alucard raised an eyebrow at that but he kept silent as he gave her a look to continue.

"Second, I'd like to know if you are Adrian Fahrenheit Tepes, son of Vlad Dracula Tepes and if not, if you could tell me where I would find him, if he is alive" she said as she noticed the man look at her with a glare.

"What do you want with Adrian? And what do you mean 'if he is alive?'" he asked, his tone cranky as he asks irritably.

Crina stood up and looked at the man, "I was told by my Grandfather that on the day Dracula lost his wife, he went on a rampage to plan his demon armies to attack Wallachia. But then his son entered and tried to stop him. Some conversation took place, but the Dracula lashed out at his son and stuck him down in the chest, making him bleed to death. Out of regret, Dracula fed on his son and continued to plan his attack" she explained, looking at the man, who gave her a weird look in return.

"Where the fuck did you get that idea? And your grandfather sounds crazy" he said, clearly not amused.

Crina gave a small annoyed huff. "Look, are you Adrian or no? Answer me that first" she said, wanting to get to the point.

The man, not liking her tone, sighed and decided that she would go away faster if he answered her. "Yes, I am Adrian Tepes, son of Dracula" he said, introducing himself to her.

Crinas eyes widened a bit but then she relaxed, "Then you would know my Grandfather. Dracula's former Librarian. Edmund Hunyadi" she said to him, eyes not leaving his while she witnessed his eyes widening a little.

"Edmund….. Hunyadi?" Alucard asked, as that name sounded familiar to him.

"Yes. He was the one who saw Dracula attack you from his distance mirror. I believed the story that you were killed in the castle, but it wasn't until I was stopped by a pair of strangers, Sypha Belnades and Trevor Belmont, who told me your story that I decided to investigate" Crina explained, making sure to include as much detail as possible.

Alucard was silent for a moment, taking in the information in. He lowered his sword as he looked at her, searching for any sign of lies or something that says untrustworthiness. But when he found none from her, at least from what he could see, he sighed.

"You sound honest, but I don't trust you yet" he said, still sounding a bit cranky. He then turned to make his way to the entrance. "I do appreciate you dealing with those night creatures though" he said, wanting to make sure to keep his manners.

Crina saw him make his way up the stairs when she realized she didn't get her first answer.

"Wait" she said, hoping to make him stop.

Alucard groaned, "What is it now?" he asked irritably.

"What about the flowers? Do I have your permission?" she asked, trying to be as polite as possible.

Alucard stared at her and then sighed, "Fine. Harvest as many as you need. Just don't bother me while you do so" he said as he made his way back inside.

"Very well. Thank you, Lord Tepes" Crina said with a smile. She then rushed off to the forest to get her horse, leaving Alucard at the stairs.

Alucard stopped and watched her leave as he took in her last words, unsure if he should feel irritated or flattered by being called a 'Lord' instead of a vampire. Once the woman was out of sight, he started to go back in, only for his foot to hit something and make it roll. He looked down and noticed the apples and the small olive branch that appeared to be untouched despite the ruckus that occurred outside. Picking up the fruit, he then moved his eyes in the direction of the woman before taking one in his hands and breaking it in half. He gently sniffed the apple for any poison or such within, but when he found none, he gently moved the white flesh of the fruit to his mouth and gave it a lick, tasting nothing but the sweet, sweet juices from within. He had many apples in the past, but there was something about this apple that appeared to be sweeter from the rest. Feeling a little suspicious and curious, he gently took a bite of the fruit and chewed slowly, allowing the flavor of the apple to fill his mouth, giving him a sense of an awakened spirit from sleep despite the lack of it he got that night. Sighing a little less irritably, he made his way inside to start his day, thinking a little about what the woman said to him.

'What a way to start the morning' Alucard thought sarcastically to himself as the doors closed behind him, taking another bite of the apple.

I felt nervous about the first chapter, but I'm glad to see that people are starting to like it. Hopefully this chapter will be better than the first as I worked hard to make sure it made sense. If possible, please let me know what you think, as it helps my confidence.

-For those of you who are familiar with the story of the real Dracula, Vlad Tepes, you would probably recognize the name of Hunyadi. For those who don't who don't know, the summary is that the fathers of Vlad and Matthias Corvinus Hunyadi were enemies, but the sons, Vlad and Matthias, were not so. Though not friends, they were uneasy allies. Might wanna keep tabs on this
-Crina is an alchemist, yes. While not many alchemists were in the Castlevania games, Alchemy did exist by the time of the 15th century. However, it was still in an experimental phase from what I read, so as of now, Crina is an alchemist who only uses the basic 4 elements. No human transmutation here, Full Metal fans. As for the blades, that will come into play later.
- If you remember in Symphony of the Night, Alucard comes across a Master Librarian who aids him in getting items. Might wanna keep tabs on this too. Won't spoil details though. ;)
-I've been questioning if Alucard is indeed a morning person. Yes, in the first season, he slept for a year, but it didn't indicate if he was a morning person or not. In the second season, he didn't sleep, that he slept for long enough, so no help there. Since the only other time we saw him sleeping, or attempting to sleep, was before the infamous scene with him and the two vampire hunters, there's no way to tell what type of sleeper he is. With that in mind, I'm gonna take a gamble and say that he is not a morning person. Hope it works.
-I never played the Castlevania games, so the enemies are kinda sad in details. I'm trying to look up enemies, but the Castlevania wiki site doesn't help much in telling which enemies are in the animated series. But I'm gonna keep trying to find a list. However, if anyone knows of a website that has a list of the enemies in Castlevania, please let me know as that would be a big help.

That's all for now. I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can. Let me know what you think