Thank you so much for the reviews! they are the best! i snuggle up with each one of them at night. it might be a little longer for the next update as i need to add a chapter for The Moth and The Flame but i will get back to this asap! i promise. I hope you enjoy and as always please please review. they really do make my day! - dd

Sonia looked at her reflection in the mirror. She supposed there was some slight improvement in her appearance. The dresses certainly were fitting better. Especially since she now had someone to assist with lacing them properly. Sonia turned from the mirror to look at the young girl who now sat in the corner, working a thread and needle deftly through Sonia's clothes.

That had been somewhat of a surprise. She had woken up one morning to find the girl who looked all of about fourteen to fifteen years standing at the foot of her bed. Sonia had almost jumped out of her skin when she saw her. She was a tiny thing. Her long dark hair was pulled back in a thick braid and she had big grey eyes that darted around the room nervously. She had apologized profusely for startling Sonia and said that Master Alucard had insisted that her very first task was to see to her clothing. She was not very talkative either. Something Sonia had discovered during their numerous fitting sessions. But she did manage to pry a few details from her.

Her name was Ada. And she, her older brother Cornel, and a younger brother Henry had recently been employed to tend to the castle and the occupants within. Ada was tasked specifically with seeing to Sonia's needs. She was to have rooms adjacent to Sonia's. She would see to her clothing, washing, meals, and any other requests she may have.

Sonia had scoffed at this at first, insisting that she did not need a maid. Much less, forced child labor. She had gone looking for Alucard to find him and tell him. Of course, that led nowhere.

In truth though, Sonia had been rather excited to see another face in the castle aside from her own. The only other friend she had was her four legged one and he only came around at night. That had proved to be quite the scare. When Ada walked into the room and saw him laying next to Sonia in the bed, she had almost fell over. Sonia had tried to reassure her that he was harmless but Ada had only looked at her like she had sprouted a second head. And when Sonia told her that he slept in her room every night, Ada looked as if she were going to run out of the room. The girl seemed to have gotten a little better about him, but her eyes would dart nervously to where ever he was sitting. Sonia supposed she could not blame her. He was a bit large.

Sonia had not been able to meet and of Ada's family yet. Ada had mentioned briefly about them taking care of the grounds and various repairs to the castle. But that was about all she could get out of her before the girl would clam up again.

Sonia turned from the mirror and walked over to where Ada sat by the window. She would offer to help her but Ada would only give her one of those shocked and dumbfounded looks like she did with most of what Sonia said.

Sonia sat down next to Ada and looked out the window. The widow was several floors up from the ground but not so far that Sonia could not make out the figures moving down below. There were two. One seemed to be smaller, more child like that the other figure.

"Are they your family," Sonia asked.

Ada glanced out the window briefly before returning to her sewing. "Yes ma'am."

Sonia frowned slightly as she continued to look out the window. She had repeatedly asked Ada not to call her ma'am but it never seemed to sink in. She supposed there was no use in asking again now. She looked at the two figures below. They both had dark hair, though the younger one's hair was cut cropped short while the older one pulled his back at the nape of his neck.

"How old is your younger brother?"

"Don't know ma'am," Ada shrugged.

Sonia looked over at Ada. "You don't know when he was born?"

Ada shook her head. "He's not my blood relation ma'am. We took him in after his parents died."

Sonia looked back out the window to the smaller figure below. "That's awful. How did they die?"

"They were killed ma'am."

Sonia looked back at Ada who was steadily moving her needle and thread. "Then it's good that he had you and your family to look after him. Does anyone know who did it."

Ada gave a little start at the question, causing her to prick her finger with the needle. Sonia got up to look at her hand but Ada pulled away nervously as her eyes darted quickly around the room.

"Forgive me ma'am. I was careless. If you don't mind I will clean this up and finish in my quarters."

Sonia did not protest as the girl gathered up her sewing and several dresses and flew out of the room. She knew that it would not help and that it would only make the poor girl even more jittery. It could not be easy to talk about that type of thing and Sonia felt guilty for even bringing it up. She would have to find a way to make it up to her tonight.

With a sigh Sonia walked out to the hallway as she was left on her own once again. She made her way to, what she now called the planetarium. She was not certain if it could actually be called one, but there were giant glass orbs suspended from the ceiling in a pattern that reminded her of the planets so that was what she had settled on. Sometimes, if she were lucky, she would find Alucard in here, combing through the endless shelves of books for answers in regards to her being here. It seemed to Sonia that he was not making much headway judging from the level of his frustration.

Things had become somewhat ... different between them over the last few days after his illness. Her impression of him seemed to change every time she would come across him. One of those impressions she had was that he was never very pleased when she happened to run into him. He became very still and continuously kept his head turned slightly away. He was never rude. He was always quite courteous and polite. Even charming at times. But there was a coldness there, a careful distance that was meticulously maintained. Although, she could not help but think that there were times when it would slip.

She had stumbled across him one night in the library. Her friend had not shown that night and she had been feeling restless, so she got up to walk the seemingly endless halls of the castle when she had seen a dim light from a door. She went into the room to find Alucard looking over a stack of books that almost covered the entire length of the table he sat at, reading by candlelight. She wondered how anyone could see by this light but it did not seem to bother him. She did not say anything and hesitated to enter the room, not wishing to disturb him. She had finally resolved to go when he surprised her by speaking.

"Would you be so kind to retrieve a book for me," he said softly, never looking up.

Sonia had been so stunned she had stood there blinking for several seconds before looking around to see if he were talking to someone else. If he noticed her surprise he did not let on.

"It is on the shelf next to you, fourth row down ... it has red binding."

Sonia started as she realized he was talking to her and she was just standing there with her mouth agape. She turned quickly to the shelf and scanned the books, finding a large one with red binding near the far side. She hefted the large book onto the table next to him.

"Thank you," he mumbled absently, still not looking up.

Sonia leaned against the large chair next to where he sat and looked at the stacks of books on the table. "A little late night reading," she asked a little to blithely. She immediately felt foolish but Alucard had simply given a little smile.

"A little," he replied still not looking up from his book.

Sonia felt as if she should leave, she did not wish to disturb him, but she also did not wish to be alone and her fear outweighed her need to be respectful at the moment. "Do you mind if I join you?" She regretted the question as soon as she spoke as she realized her could tell her no. But she was surprised a second time that night instead.

"Not at all. In fact, would you mind getting another book for me. It is at the far end of the table, with the bronze lettering."

That was how most of the evening went. Alucard would need a book and Sonia would find them. Or, she would do her best to find them at least. She helped him the following night as well, and the one after that. He must have been becoming used to her because during the times she would have trouble finding a certain volume he requested, he would join her in her perusal of books. The shelves were very close together, making the isle a bit tight for two people to navigate. Sonia could not help but notice how he would stand close next to her or how he would place a hand at the small of her back with an almost comfortable familiarity when he would maneuver around her in the narrow isle. But then, it was also quite possible she was simply reading into banal gestures. There were days when she felt as if it were a struggle to maintain some semblance of sanity. She could not help but feel lost at times, a constant feeling, as if she were waiting to wake from a dream. She supposed that from a psychological point of view, it would make sense that she would begin to imagine things.

One night, Sonia had fallen asleep in the large chair at the end of the table. Her internal clock seemed to constantly be askew and waves of exhaustion would come over her at times. She had curled up in the chair, pulling her knees up to her chest and tugging her gown down below her feet for warmth. She was awakened by gentle touch to her shoulder.

"Sonia, we are done here for the night. Go to your room, I will be along shortly."

Sonia lurched out of the chair, her head still thick with sleep only to stop at the door, suddenly startled awake. What did he say? But when she turned around Alucard was not there and she wondered if she had dreamed the whole thing. When she got to her room her friend was there, curled up on the bed as usual, but sleep came fitfully that night. She must have fallen asleep eventually though because she woke up the next morning to find a very nervous Ada waiting for her to wake at the foot of her bed.

The sun streamed in through the stained glass windows, giving the room a sort of warm orange glow. Light reflected from something that resembled a large prism, causing little rainbows to move along the walls. Sonia ran her hand along the line of books on the shelves as she walked. There had to be an answer somewhere within all these books about those mirrors. There had to be someway to get her back written in here. There were just so many. How could one person ever cover all of this within one lifetime? The outlook was discouraging to say the least.

If only she could just will it into being. Sonia smiled to herself. It was something her aunt would say to her when she was young. She closed her eyes and remembered Maria's voice in her head. Just close your eyes tight Sonia and think, concentrate, focus all of your energy into what you desire, will it into being. If only it were that simple. Sonia squeezed her eyes shut and ... and what she wondered. Should she pray? Should she wish? In the end she wanted. She just simply wanted. She wanted the answers she needed. She wanted to no longer feel that she was going insane. She wanted to wear some damn deodorant again. But more than anything, she wanted to be home. It was a desire that came from the very center of her being. She no longer wished to feel lost or weak, dependent on the kindness of strangers. Her hands balled into tight fists at her side. Why her? Why did this happen to her? It was not fair. She did not ask for this. She wanted it to end.

The desire that seemed to spark from her center, began to build into flame as her frustration intensified. She could feel herself start to shake and could hear a low thrumming in her ears as her anger builds. She was getting so mad it began to feel as if the room was rumbling as well.

No wait ... the room was rumbling.

A loud booming sound echoed through the room and Sonia's eyes popped open. The shelves she was standing between were swaying slightly and the rainbows from the prism danced wildly across the walls.

What the hell, she thought. An earthquake maybe? She walked to were she thought the loud boom came from and froze. She was not alone and it was not Alucard.

A tall, slender man stood with his back to her scratching at a head of dark shaggy hair that was cropped short. He seemed to be looking down rather confused at the floor to the large pile of books that scattered there. That must have been the loud noise Sonia had heard. They must have been stacked on the table next to him that was strewn with books as well. The thin man muttered to himself as he crouched down and began to pick them up.

"Hello," she called softly. The figure hunched over the pile of books looked up and two large blue eyes magnified by thick round glasses blinked at her curiously, making Sonia think of an owl. She only had that thought for a moment though before he jumped up excitedly.

"Ah yes," he exclaimed, eagerly gesturing for her to approach, "yes, you must be our time traveler. Come, come, please sit, sit." He began shoving books and papers away before grabbing more and setting it in front him. "Yes, yes. This is, ah, this is most fortuitous coincidence indeed. I was hoping to meet you and here you are. Please."

Sonia could not help but be amused at the flurry of activity that surrounded him as he cleared the table and at the enthusiasm with which he did it. It was easily the most emotion she had seen from anyone within the castle. She settled herself in the chair as he smiled widely at her from across the table, studying her intently.

"Fascinating."

Sonia blinked. "Pardon?"

"Well it's, erm, I just did not expect you to look so normal. I mean, you could pass for any young lady of this age."

"I'm sorry if I disappoint," Sonia said.

"No, no, not at all. I just, ah, well I ... I guess I am not sure what I expected. It is not often something like this happens ... well, not ever I suppose, when one thinks about it. So," the little owl took some of the parchment and grabbed a quill setting it in front of him and looked at Sonia expectantly, "tell me about yourself."

Sonia just looked at him. "What?"

"Tell me about yourself," he repeated patiently, "about where you are from. What are things you can do? Your daily life and so on." Those wide eyes peered at her from behind his glasses.

"Um well," Sonia began, "I'm from New Orleans-"

"New Orleans," bird man interrupted, "there is a new Orleans? What happened to old one?"

"Nothing, I don't think."

"Then why the new one?"

"Ah, maybe because it is in America?"

"America," the little bird man's quill scratched feverishly against the parchment, "what is America?"

"It's a country. The United States of America."

"A new country with a new Orleans? Where? Was it conquered or created? Who reigns? What -"

"Whoa whoa, wait a minuted," Sonia now interrupted. "Okay so, this may take a bit. Let me start over ..."

The next several hours consisted of Sonia stumbling clumsily through what she could remember from her eighth grade civics lessons. She knew it was not very accurate and cringed through most of the conversation. He bombarded her with questions, barely allowing her to get in some of her own. She was able to discover that he was here to help find a solution to her returning home. He was knowledgable with books and with the mirrors but had never heard of one allowing time travel. This had left Sonia feeling rather discouraged. But she also laughed, which she felt was quite encouraging for her mental state. She had laughed and talked more during her conversation with this skinny little man than she had with any other human she had come across in the castle since she has been here. It was refreshing, and for a brief moment, Sonia almost felt normal again.

"And I really miss my phone. Oh I miss my phone so much," Sonia cried in response to a question he had asked.

"Phone? Ah, yes, that is Greek is it not? For voice ... or perhaps sound ..."

"Is it? I don't know. All I know is I miss it. I didn't realize how dependent on it I was. I even still look for it at times."

"And it was for ..."

"For anything really. Telling time, looking things up, but I guess mainly for talking to people. That was what it was made for originally anyway. Oh! I miss toilet paper too."

"For talking to people, how ... ah toilet paper? Ah, why? Is there a need for paper in a toilet? Does it allow you to do several things as well?"

"Not really. It kind of has one purpose," Sonia laughed. "I even miss work."

"And what was your work," the little owl asked as he scratched away at his parchment.

"I was ... I am studying to be a doctor."

"A doctor? Ah, well that's, hmm interesting," owl mumbled, "like Alucard's mother."

Sonia sat up in her chair. "Alucard's mother was a doctor?"

"Mmm, yes," little bird affirmed, "and very knowledgeable in the true science too. Her passing was tragic."

"How did she die?"

"Hmm? Oh ah, she was burned at the stake."

Sonia almost fell out of her chair. "What," she said slowly.

"Ah yes, she was ah, charged with heresy and burned as a witch. A complete load of rubbish of course. But then the church is known for that at times. Quite tragic ... are you alright?"

She sat that there stunned. Sonia had thought he would say illness or plague or perhaps even childbirth, but burning at the stake? And the almost casual way he mentioned it was particularly unnerving. Any kind of normalcy that Sonia had found in their conversation went away rapidly.

Her shock must have registered plainly on her face because the scratching of quill on parchment came to an abrupt stop. Two watery blue eyes blinked at her over the rims of the thick glasses with concern.

"Oh my, erm, forgive me. Of course such barbaric practices would be obsolete by your time, ah for certain. Yes, yes. Unfortunately, it can be a ah, common occurrence in this day and age. Disgusting thing that. A most foul business. Please ah, please forgive my thoughtlessness. I should not have spoken about it at all. Rest assured you have nothing to fear. None would dare to ah, to come into the castle. Most are too frightened of it, what with it once being Dracula's castle and all. And Alucard would never allow it. You are quite safe here."

Sonia leaned back in her chair. The owl continued to chirp on about how safe she was but Sonia was no longer really listening. All she could think about was how horrible it must have been to have seen your mother taken away and murdered. She could barely fathom it. What must that do to a person? Sonia thought of the men in forest and how they screamed she was a witch. Had she not escaped would the same thing have happened to her as well?She never got the chance to really consider it though due to the strange little man mentioning something that grabbed her attention.

"Wait," she interrupted, "what was that? Who's castle?"

The little man blinked in surprise. "Dracula's."

Sonia could not stop her mouth from dropping open even if she had tried. "Dracula. You mean like, Vlad The Impaler, vampire, only comes out at night Dracula."

"So he is known in the future as well. I suppose it is good the stories endured as warning. Well now, I ah, yes I suppose he did impale a few people yes. But you must understand, Alucard's father was quite mad with grief. He would have destroyed Wallachia and everyone in it. He had already wiped out several towns with his need for revenge. Alucard truly had no choice but to end him."

"Oh my God ..." Sonia looked at the little man in disbelief as she sank back in her chair. Alucard had seen his mother murdered and his father gone mad and then had to stop his father by patricide. And to top it all off, his father was a man named Dracula, like from the stories. Sonia knew he was not a real vampire of course. It was simply old legends and superstitions that were later turned into a novel. And yet here she was, bearing witness to the birth of those superstitions and legends. When she thought about it, it seemed quite easy for a myth like this to begin. He was a man living in a castle with a wolf after all that apparently had magic mirrors laying around. Still, the trauma of living through what he had. Not just him either. Ada and her family as well. A horrible death seemed to be the only way to go around here. "How can a person live through something like that," she mused.

"Oh he almost didn't," the owl had gone back to scratching at the parchment with his quill, unaware that Sonia had meant the question more for herself than him. "His father almost killed him."

"Jesus. So is he all alone?"

"What do you mean?"

"Does ... he have a wife or girlfriend or ... you know, long lost love or something," Sonia sped through the last part of her question, suddenly feeling very foolish.

"Oh goodness no," the owl answered without looking up from his parchment. "He has been alone for ah, quite some time now. If not for your arrival I do not believe I would even have had the opportunity to be here. So ah, it would appear I am in your debt," he looked at her from over his thick glasses and smiled.

Sonia grinned back. "Is there anything else I should know?"

The little man seemed to seriously consider her question. "Well ah ... I suppose that depends ..."

"No. You know what? Never mind. I don't want to know," Sonia laughed. She hoped she did not sound manic. "No wait! There is one more thing and then I should probably go."

"Oh?"

"Yes. What is your name?"

The little owl's eyes blinked. "Oh my, yes. Ah, forgive me, that's right. Introductions are in order." He stood up, walked around the table and bowed deeply before Sonia. "I am Giovanni Rinaldo Gandolfi."

"You're Italian?"

"Ah no. I was born here in Wallachia. But I am named after an ancestor who hailed from Florence."

"Ok then," Sonia smiled and stood up as well. She did her best impression of a curtsy. "It's a pleasure to meet you my lord Gandolfi. I am Sonia Belmont." She straightened from her curtsy to find the little - no, not a bird man, Giovanni - she found Giovanni blinking at her in surprise. Sonia could not help but notice that he had that surprised look a lot.

"Belmont?" he asked.

Sonia grinned. "Yeah. It's actually Belnades-Belmont but I dropped the hyphen when I started med school. Sonia Renard Belnades-Belmont is a bit of a mouthful."

"I see ... um, Alucard knows this of course?"

"Of course," Sonia laughed. She thought that a strange question to ask. Although, now that she began to think on it, she could not remember ever giving Alucard her name even though he knew it. But she must have. How else could he know it?

"Of course, of course. It would be silly if he did not. Ah Sonia, forgive me, just one more question before you go. Ah, have you ever heard of blood born magic?"

"No ... but," Sonia smiled as the image of her Aunt came to her mind "... it reminds me of something my aunt used to say. She said that the women of our family were irresistible because we're born with magic in our blood. She was always saying funny things like that. I used to think it was embarrassing but now ... well, now I kind of miss it. I wish she were here ... will you be here tomorrow Giovanni?"

Giovanni gave one of his signature surprised blinks. "Ah well, yes, um I will. I ah, I am here to help Alucard solve the mirror so, yes."

"Would it be alright if I join you again? Maybe I could help and you could tell me more about the mirrors?"

"Oh well certainly! Of course! I would be honored. I will make some tea."

"That would be great," Sonia grinned. Without thinking she hugged the lanky man, which sent him into another flurry of stutters and stammers and began to clean his glasses furiously. Sonia did not care. This was the first time she had actually felt comfortable with someone since she had come here. With Giovanni she did not feel lost or like a burden. He talked to her and that was enough.

Giovanni continued to wipe his glasses as Alucard moved up beside him once Sonia was out of the room.

"I ah, suppose you heard our conversation," he asked as he held his glasses up to inspect them in the light.

"Yes," Alucard answered softly.

"You failed to mention her sire was a Belmont."

"I did not know," Alucard sighed.

"How could you not know?" Giovanni asked more curiously than incredulously. He was just making sure he had all the variables.

"She never told me," Alucard replied.

That answer only left Giovanni with more questions. He inspected his glasses once more. "Then how do you know her first name?"

Alucard gave a slight shake of his head as he pinched at the space between his eyes. "She talks in her sleep."

That left Giovanni with too many questions so he decided to abandon it all together. He slid his glasses back onto his face and sat down at the table. Alucard took the seat across from him.

"I could feel the magic all the way down in the hold," he said.

Giovanni nodded grimly. "It was quite potent in here as well. She ah, has no idea what she is capable of?"

"No."

"Fascinating ... and perhaps a little dangerous."

"I am aware Giovanni. That is why we must find how to send her back as quickly as possible. Does her name change things?"

"Ah yes. Well, I am not certain," Giovanni shrugged. "We would have to determine whether or not she is truly related to the Belmonts of this time ... and I have to admit, I believe the chances to be good. But then it also raises more questions as well. One that keeps coming back is whether she was sent here on purpose. What are the chances that a person with the same surname returns to one of the most volatile times in her ancestors history? Seems to ah be a bit more than coincidence, don't you think?"

"I am beginning to think that way yes," Alucard agreed.

"And she was quite interested in you."

Alucard looked at Giovanni. "You are not to tell her what I am Giovanni. I do not think she is in a condition to handle that yet, do you understand ... you haven't told her anything have you ... Giovanni?"

"Ah no, well not entirely, and nothing relating to the nature of who you are" Giovanni went on rather hurriedly as Alucard became visibly tense.

"You mean she does not know I am a vampire."

"Not from me, no," Giovanni said, trying to sound as confident as he could while simultaneously going over the conversation he had with Sonia in his head. He kept his head down and scratched away at his parchment. "She is quite pretty isn't she?" When Alucard did not answer Giovanni looked up to find him staring at him. "You ah, don't think so? I mean I um, well, I found her to be quite pleasant to look at. Her face is very evenly proportioned I must say. And she is very easy to talk too. And the things she told me about the future! Did you know that they have a device that allows you talk to anyone in any location and look up information on it and see images?"

"We have that as well Giovanni, it's called a distance mirror."

"Oh ah well, yes you can do that with a mirror. But can the mirror the knowledge of all of these books and help you find specific information with just a question? And they have horseless iron carriages that can take you to any destination you wish to go to as well."

If Alucard was impressed he did not show it. Giovanni wondered if anything could really impress him. He simply stood up and began to walk towards the door.

"Do not let her distract you from the task at hand Giovanni. Remember why you are here," Alucard called over his shoulder, only to pause upon reaching the door. "Oh and Giovanni, I will see to the tea for the two of you tomorrow."

Giovanni blinked. "Oh ah, why thank you Alucard. Ah yes, that would be nice."

Alucard made his way down the hall and towards the main entrance to the castle. He was becoming too familiar with this girl damn it! Spending every night in her room was clouding his judgement and distracting. Sleeping there every night, he knew every part of her body. It was difficult not too, what with the way she enjoyed walking around with no clothes on. This familiarity was carrying over to his human form as well. He would find himself unconsciously touching her in a way one would when intimate with another. One night he had even slipped up so far as to tell her he would be in her room shortly. He was acting a fool with this girl. It was her blood that was muddling his brain. The magic that flowed within her veins called to the vampire in him in an almost primal way. Had he not been half human he wondered if he would have been able to restrain himself at all. And now there was the serving girl to contend with. When she saw him in Sonia's room, she knew him for what he was almost immediately. he did not think she had said anything, but who knew how long that would last. He had to get Sonia back to her own time and soon.

He walked outside to find the sun was getting low in the sky. It would be dark soon. He instantly thought that he would have to finish up in the hold quickly if he were to make it back to the castle before Sonia went to bed.

God damn it, he was doing it again.

Alucard stalked down the main stairs into the castle and was about to make his way to the hold when he stopped. Along the far side of the castle stood Sonia who was not alone. She was talking to the mongrel, Cornell. In fact she was smiling at the mongrel.

Alucard's jaw clenched involuntarily as his hands balled in tight fists. He should be working, not loitering about the yard. And she should be inside, where it was safe. He would rectify this immediately.

But he did not get the chance to, for at that moment he found himself distracted once more by the sound of horses and a wagon approaching. Alucard turned around as a familiar voice called out.

"Allo you sulky vampire bastard!"

For a brief moment Alucard forgot his anger and smiled.