Chapter Three
30 years ago
Aline strolled past Castle Dracula, graffiti on its desolate frame saddening, heart perking up upon seeing the stars through gaps in the foundation, glitter scattered across the night sky, illuminating the road, streetlights long since gone out. Rusted iron gate opened, degree of squealing loud enough to wake the dead, Aline made her way into the courtyard, cobblestone paths worn down.
She was pulled, unseen force yanking her into a corridor. She sprawled, arms braced against something hard, imposing, stone alien smack, cheek colliding with breath-taking cold. She thought she'd hit a wall, being spun around to face a man, sword brandished, hand letting go, prompting the woman to quiet. Verdant scanned him over, paramount emotion surprisingly not concern.
A lycan smacked the wall beside the pair, bones cracking loud, silence exacerbating snaps. The man rammed his sword through the creature. This woman had made an error, would have been fatal, had he failed to see the creature. She flinched, blood slipping onto the floor, near her boots, seeping near pant leg. She was entirely nonchalant, straying through pitch ruins, fraying Alucard's nerves. He had two jobs to do, neither of which were rescuing whoever it was who stood in front of him, exalted wonder smoothing over his anxiety.
"Thought that was for me, then." Aline pointed to the sword, emerald eyes searching for means of escape. "I mean, yes, I was snooping, but I thought the place deserted. Wasn't planning on stealing, just curious, is all. It's dark, but tranquil. Wanted to get away from hunting creatures."
She blurted out, "I'm sorry," afterwards.
Alucard shook his head, letting the Crissaegrim clean itself, holding it pommel down.
"I advise caution. I wish the castle wasn't burdened by creatures. It isn't safe here. Sorry isn't necessary, but I suppose it is applicable."
Aline closed her eyes.
"I'll go..."
Alucard looked at her as if her skin were purple.
"Did you not hear me? Caution..."
Aline returned the look, lacking the ability to keep it longer than a few seconds. She snorted, much to her male counterpart's chagrin.
"Didn't you also say that it isn't safe here? It isn't on the streets, nor here, so...tell me, where should I go?"
"You'll be safer here, with me."
"With that." Index finger returned to the blade. "Looks lethal. I'd better introduce myself, in case you get dagger-happy."
Morose forehead lines filled, Alucard's eyebrows shot up.
"I would not do that."
"I didn't mean it." Putting her hands up, Aline backed off, beginning traipse down randomly selected corridor. "Tend to get ahead of myself." She swivelled, lightly clearing her throat. "Aline, and thank you for saving me. I owe you one."
She winked, Alucard missing it, sheathing his sword.
"Alucard."
Aline halted abruptly.
"There's only one Alucard I have heard of, Dracula's son. Wow! Should I be flattered? Honoured?"
Bewildered, the male's eyes flashed, honey melting, liquefying her resolve.
Forcing herself to look away, Aline offered a hand, her nerve amusing.
"I'll go with kinda terrified, honestly. That sword is as long as me lying down. However, I feel I ought to recompense you, for saving my blind derrière. May I take a look around?"
She, again strolled off down a random hallway, Alucard running beside, hoping the recalcitrant energy inside the castle did not thrum to unlife...
Alucard, after placing the Chaos Claws on their pedestal, and having placed the Void Sword at opposite ends of the castle found the woman sitting in the theatre, twiddling blade she pulled out from under her clothing. At some point, Aline had wandered off.
Fortunately, luckily for her, the vampire had scoped out the area prior, making sure it was clear of enemies. Otherwise, he'd have kept hold of her arm, hawk eyed, wary, ears pricked, slightest sound investigated.
"Really shouldn't place these under my clothing. Got thrown once...," she mused, "dagger slipped, slid across my skin, hurt like Enfer. Wasn't deep, but stung. Limped home that night. Near the subway. Noted more creatures around, lately."
Leaning against the bar, her companion mused.
"Comment es-tu arrivé là?"
"Hmm? Should something have happened on the way? I simply pulled a cord, a bell rang and the door opened. Why?"
"I was almost sliced into morsels for the rats..."
Aline squeaked.
"Mon Dieu! Glad you are okay, or I'd be cleaning bits of you off my boots for weeks! Weeks, I tell you..."
"Charming. I, too am glad you did not end up caught in one of the castle's many traps."
"Traps?! Why on Earth would you need traps? Who would even make it this far? And, don't say me. I wandered here by accident. I am useless with maps."
Putting on her best 'acting face,' Aline swooned.
"I'd be ever so lost without you, mon cher."
Sitting beside her, Alucard made a mental note to ignore his cheeks, burning flare. His nose and ears joined in, soon after.
Perimeter scanned, he grunted.
"Thieves, pillages. Many have tried and failed to penetrate the castle's inner sanctum. If they had, all of this would have been taken, sold, memories lost."
The woman gave the room the once over, dusty props, stage missing several boards, frayed strings holding up scenery, velvet curtains hiding, she was certain, more theatrical treasures.
"That would be a grave shame. I can only imagine the performances here, vivid, wild, stunning costumes, operas, music reverberating throughout the space. Adore music, my Mother played the piano, my Grandfather the flute. They thrilled me, I would try to play both myself, little hands on the keys, over the holes, trying to puff hard enough to make sounds other than sputters."
She sighed, recollection a tad morose, bringing her to apt quiet.
"Beau," Aline glanced over her shoulder, slipping off the stool, wry grin painted on her lips, "the castle is too..."
She paused, victorious strut ceasing, grin flat-lining.
"Um, how do I get out of here? Following you is fun and all, I should be getting back home...should visit my Father too."
That came out an afterthought. She pulled an amulet from under her blouse, silver lion, eyes garnets, showing it to her companion. Recognition hit him, her surname on the tip of his tongue, title making him bow his head. Aline waved a hand.
"I suppose I should have told you sooner. Aline, Aline Belustrade." She made her way back, impishness depleted, charmed by Alucard's mannerisms.
"That's kind, bowing, however, considering who you are, I feel I should."
She tipped her head, more nod of reassurance.
"How are you alive? I could not smell vampiric influence in your blood. Vampires cannot have children."
Aline thought on the topic at hand, both being adults, she quickly decided not to act like a dolt, with zero knowledge of intimacy.
"They can't. However, my Mother is somewhat of a white witch. After some years together, they wanted to try, knowing it would be fruitless." Wryness showed up again. "Get it? Fruitless?"
Alucard shook his head, moonlight cast from broken window pane casting shadow from her features, bronze shimmering strands of hair revealing themselves.
"Seedless? Firing blanks? Dad's dead, basically." She motioned the conversation on with her hand, Alucard getting the joke, choosing not to comment on it, unsure on whether or not to laugh at her chutzpah, or laugh at how terrible the joke was.
The former was friendly, the latter poking fun, the vampire deciding not to burst her bubble...
"Spells, reanimation over four months. That's how I was created. Mum would have been delighted, had she not had her head in a bucket. Dad gave her small amounts of blood, as he did with me, meals, drinks. Mum is one-hundred and eight, and I am seventy-four. Ought to ask you for some beauty tips, don't look a day over a hundred!"
That being the second time she had called him 'attractive' threw him for a loop.
"Ought to 'feed' too, wouldn't want to drop dead. Been reluctant to go." She sighed, hand skimming through locks. "Mum is dying, doesn't have much longer left. I have to be strong, not just for me but for him, you know? Can't afford to get emotional, I get sloppy when I do. Earlier tonight? I would be dead already, were it not for you. I'm really sorry, for everything."
Alucard's stomach dropped, gulp uncontrollable after effect. Sludge rising from the floorboards had him groan, malice on it way, corrupting the theatre and all its machinations. The Puppeteer began moving, twitching, eyes opening, usually friendly face now twisted into one of pain, loathing. He ushered Aline to the exit, ignoring her bewildered face.
She followed his head, seeing tar on the ground?
"Alucard? Why is there tar on the, wait, coming from the floor? What?"
"Ancient magic, malicious, indignant. It wants to take over the castle, as its Master isn't here to stop it. Go now."
She was pushed, ever so gently through the door, the last thing the vampire seeing the tip of her dagger...
"Will this help?"
Despite himself, he chuckled.
"No, but thank you, anyway. Please, go."
She did so, heading where, she did not know...
"Well," Aline exclaimed as they strolled outside a few hours later, midnight chill refreshing, "I wouldn't call it a 'guided tour,' more perusing, with some danger thrown into the mix. Thank you, mon amie."
Alucard smirked, slim fangs making Aline shiver, whether from the nippy turn in weather conditions or unease, neither were sure.
"Friends? Presumptuous, considering I caught you, red handed, trespassing."
Aline's laughter crackled sparks in the vampire's chest.
"Adversaire? I'd rather you not be. From tales told, some from my Father, others in books, you are fierce, robust, worthy opponent." She paused, finger to her mouth. "Huh. Did I mention you are considerably older than me? Add to that, is it trespassing when the owner is no longer there, and it lies in ruin? Where is Dracula, by the way?"
"He is there, resting."
He pointed to the highest spire of the castle. Telling her the whole truth wouldn't be appropriate, he deemed it prudent to, somewhat lie.
He decided, vied to quiz her, Aline having none of it...
"Caveat? Promise it doesn't matter." Nature within her eyes sprouted buds of contentment. "If I may add to that description? I would add compelling, gracious, altruistic. Getting ahead of myself again, aren't I?"
Aline dropped gallant, going with frank.
"Whatever happens, whatever you needed to do here, I hope you find solace. You are humble, wonderful, good. Others may say otherwise, words detriment, they do you a disservice, let me tell you."
She removed her necklace, pendant in hand, chain swaying in the breeze.
"Take this. I treasure it, though I do not know how much longer I, myself have. I came here because I wanted to do something with my life. I'd heard there were outbreaks every now and then, creatures, natural and unnatural. Couldn't stand by and let people be killed. When Dracula was around, people feared walking the streets alone at night, but they could, safely, during the day. I hunted during the day, he did at night."
"There, was a siege. That is why the castle is decrepit."
Alucard hung his head, Aline locating his hands, stuffing the chain into it as she walked past.
"Take care, Alucard. I am sorry that some refuse to understand that just because myth, legend dictates that you are a monster, like your Father," she looked puzzled by the rumours, "I refuse to believe any of it. I know my opinion doesn't matter, in the grand scheme of everything, but I mean it, every word. Goodbye, dear one."
She stopped, halting herself, leaning against the wall of abandoned bakers shop.
"Did I really just call you what Dad calls Mum?"
She laughed, cut by Alucard laughing, on her heels. She went off, at a sprint, into secluded alleyway and into the night, leaving Alucard with the gravest task yet. He left this one until last for a reason.
Reawakening his Father. Aline eased the burden somewhat, lightening his mood, jovial, cordiality fuelled steps to his Father's chamber. He hoped the Dragon would not be too upset with him when he saw him next.
The Dragon would rise again...