Chapter Two
"Alucard?"
The sheets twitched, slim fingers poking out, pushing them back. The man managed a smile, frayed, worn out on the edges, clearly disingenuous.
"Everything okay?"
Dishonesty thrown aside, Alucard coughed, tears threatening to plague him, umpteenth occurrence. He cursed Aline's uncanny knack of bringing him both immense joy and unfathomable sorrow...
"No," he sighed, "no, it is not."
Aline's thinning grey hair popped from under the duvet, fresh Spring grass eyes taking held breath away from her love.
"I heard you speaking to your Father. I know and have thought about the possibility of becoming a vampire. Now," she 'shushed' Alucard with index finger, knowing he would protest, "please, hear me out?"
He nodded.
"Thank you." She took a breath, heaving nature of it drawing forth drips on the vampire's chest.
"I lay dying, and, whilst it didn't bother me at first, I can't accept it now, not after I met you. I know you care, you couldn't hurt me if you tried. I know you wouldn't. I knew what I wanted after I met you, fought alongside you, learned what a beautiful person you are, and I am not just talking about looks."
Her wink went answered with lopsided grin, warming her chest.
"Inside? You are a paragon of virtue, kind beyond measure, tranquil, yet firm, earnest, brilliant. I do not ask this of you to torture, tax you, only for my end not to be so. Selfish, it may be, but all I want is to be by your side, knowing you want that too. Its okay, if you don't. I don't feel any pain, I can move, talk, walk."
She stood on her own, frail, lithe form now emaciated. Alucard was at her side in seconds, hands out to steady her, if she needed.
"See?" She laughed, her love's laughter quieter, sombre. "Forgive me. My request is heavy, troublesome."
She glanced at the entrance.
"And, Dracula? I know you are there..."
Three chuckles resounded through the space.
"Please, don't hate me. I ask for a chance. When I met your son, I knew I had to live."
Gaze returning to Alucard, Aline's shaky hand swept away stray streaks of blood.
"My blood, my heart, my mind? You had them the moment I met you. An old fool, I am, I wish to be your fool."
Alucard swallowed.
"How would you feed? Killing innocents I cannot do, I won't allow myself."
"I saw how badly you needed to feed, practically tore at your Father's wrist. Lose yourself, if need be. Rather me than some poor, innocent citizen."
Ivory swished, head bowed low next to her neck, hands steadying her waist. They hadn't been this close since the pair watched Victor sacrifice himself, so Dracula could locate Satan's second acolyte. Aline cried against his shoulder, stolen armour shielding from physical, but also emotional distress. Awkwardly, not wanting to draw attention to the two of them, Alucard put an arm around her shoulder, sharp gauntlets reason enough not to hold the hand that glued itself over his breastplate...
Over his heart. He wasn't sure if she expected it to beat or not.
Aline whispered, hoarse, harsh coughing taking her, throwing her against the vampire. His hold tightened, throat bobbing anxiously, fingers drum beat along her spine keeping her as calm as possible, given what was about to happen.
"I'd rather it be you than your Father. Have the feeling he'd enjoy it..."
Alucard frowned, shivering at the mere thought that, he knew, Aline was correct. Dracula would enjoy killing her, that was his nature, his calling. Death and destruction incarnate, following him wherever he went.
"Of course." Mentally preparing himself, Alucard had the woman sit on her bed, lest she crumple to the floor, rag doll, drained of vital signs, life essence. "Father? Could you come in here, please?"
Dracula strolled in, minding haste, putting that aside for veneration for his son, taking on the mantle of what he truly was, a vampire, and yet, using those abilities for saving, relinquishing his power, using it to breathe new life into this woman.
He rolled up his sleeve, biting his wrist as he approached. He offered it to Aline, who bowed, grimaced and quivered. Through fear of him and his son, it was not. It was fear of agony, death being agonising, relentless as her blood was drained from her, warmth of skin replaced with ice, pallor palest Winter rose, barely holding on to existence, petals threatening to shrivel, fly away.
She drew sharp inhale, scent metal dizzying, and took the wrist, willing herself to pretend it was water, precious, soothing.
Whilst Dracula's blood was precious, it certainly lacked soothing qualities. Alucard's presence was her balm, her saviour.
Before her knelt a bloody angel, looking upon her in devotion, intensity frightening.
Before Alucard closed his eyes, they glimmered gold.
When he opened them, they were shimmering rubies.
Four needles pricked her neck, driving deep as the passive vampire gave in, stupor vanishing, in lieu of need, all encompassing, driving him into haste, liquid dripping down his throat the sweetest nectar, wine of the Gods.
Aline tried to keep quiet, focus on supping, though she let out wails she thought were muffled by flesh. Alucard's fingers found her heart, frenzied beat eliciting gasps. Falling forward, Aline found herself in the arms of Dracula as he picked her up, body limp, vision blurry. He pulled her away from his son, who remained on his knees, wiping his lover's blood from his mouth, guilt smearing it, shame blurring his eyes.
His Father nodded and left the room. Aline would be weak when she awoke, the light flooding in from windows would surely desecrate her further.
The Prince placed her in Alucard's coffin, the room pitch black, save for decades-old candelabras, rusted in places. Whilst his illustrious son and he stayed within the castle, Aline would be safe, the outside would need not know there was another vampire in Castlevania City.
Not until the time came when she awoke, though, even in his wisdom, Dracula could not say when that would be.
He knew this, however. Neither he, nor his son would let Aline become a menace, she would not terrorise the city, its inhabitants.
Aline would be free to do as she pleased, within reason. Dracula smiled as he lay her down, knowing full well she would wish to stay with Alucard. The Prince mattered little here.
He placed the lid over the coffin, but did not seal it, bidding her 'goodnight', his son's shadow lingering ignored, for now. He needed peace, solitude.
The Dragon knew these well, seeking them his entire unlife. He did not get the luxury of either. He would make sure his son and Aline did, by any means necessary.