Chapter Nine
"Gesundheit!"
Sneezing, soft sniffles, masked partially by velvet cushioned coffin interior shot Alucard up, stupor whisked away, head directed at his coffin.
"Dad," Aline's voice was cracked, unused for long period, "why are you speaking to me in German?"
Her first, proper intake of breath resulted in coughing fit. Dracula held back his child, approaching casket handles slowly.
"Alucard?"
"Oh dear," Prince of Darkness mused, "it would seem Aline prefers the company of my son to her own Father..."
Constantine chortled.
"Insinuation? No," he strolled up to his daughter's revered partner, offering hand, "Aline told me all I needed to know that, were that truly the case, I wouldn't hold qualm. Therein lies only unequivocal intent, Alucard, I assure you. My daughter is wise, she doesn't allude to anyone in that way, unless she cares deeply, truly."
Alucard shook the hand, letting out breath he'd held since Constantine's arrival, hours ago. He visited often, face scrunching, sight of his daughter, motionless troubling. He reassured the younger vampire that what he had done the right thing. Aline wanted that, knowing what it would entail. He had talked her through transformation, and what came after.
Still, reserve was held, trepidation, thought Aline may never wake up plaguing him, consistent fiend.
"And it would seem that you are neither Alucard, nor my Father..."
Dracula's jaw worked, processing her level of 'wit.' Constantine and Alucard laughed.
"There's my daughter..."
If Lord of France beamed any wider, his teeth would shatter all windows in the near vicinity...
"Shield your eyes, they'll be irritated by any, all light." Dracula pointed to candelabras. "Alucard, snuff them out, would you?"
He did so, room bathed in darkness, the three men's eyes adjusting rapidly. Dracula cautiously lifted coffin lid.
"All of me is irritated, but, I digress."
Constantine was behind coffin head, daughter's pallid appearance distressing, but he put that aside, Father rushing through him, wanting to provide for his only child, safety, shelter, an arm, whatever she needed.
Aline sat up, one hand covering her eyes, the other fishing around, wondering who was there.
"Guten abend, mein kind. And how are we feeling?"
She groaned.
"Furchtbar."
He laughed.
"Are we speaking in German, so," she pointed at the other two people in the room, "they don't understand? I'll be fine, rather dusty though."
She was covered in thin layers of grey dust, sweeping it away too much for newly awoken body.
"No, merely to see if I still recall any of it. It isn't my mother-tongue anymore."
"It isn't mine, either." Yawning, the woman peeked from behind hand, single eye cracked open. "How long was I out? And Dieu, do I need to use the bathroom. Dad?"
Familiar dirty blond locks greeted her, wide smile working its way across her mouth, having her Dad there forced negativity out, casting it far away.
"Hello!"
Chipper won out, signs of lethargy gone.
"Hello."
Alucard waved, Dracula gave quick nod, Constantine took her hands, helping her sit, propped up by his chest.
"Eight months, seventeen days, four hours."
Aline opened both eyes, surprisingly finding task easy, given she'd slept for that long. Plainly, she stared at her sire, grimacing at the phrase.
"Specific." She snorted. "You were right, Father, dearest."
She flattered his ego, exaggerated appreciation. Constantine ate that up.
"Of course I was."
"Always been lazy. Could probably have been up sooner, but, beauty sleep called, and I sorely needed that. Speaking of..." she gestured for mirror, then squinted, pulling befuddled face, "I wouldn't be able to see myself. Um, how do I look?"
Glancing up, Aline noted her Father pointing at his eyes, than hers.
"You have my eyes now, pale green."
Crystal, clearest mint irises scanned the room, locating each item, sighing when she saw Alucard, skin muted pink. Her Father noticed that, choosing to speak on other things.
"You can see us already. Quick learner, Aline. Sofia and I fostered that, gave her many options, see which she liked, disliked. She rather liked falling over, eating sweets and seeing how far she could push out her bottom lip, when we told her that her sweet bag was empty..."
Aline palmed her face, woven flesh twisting around bones of her forehand, fingers worrying.
"I'm sorry. Obligatory parent shtick. While waxing lyrical is charmant, I really ought to get up, use the bathroom before my bladder decides to burst. I simply do not care if that is too much information. Need a shower too."
Constantine helped the woman up, her rucksack beside her feet as she was carried, swaddled like a baby...
"I brought clothes, toiletries, snacks no longer applicable. Ought to avoid asking your opinion on that fact."
"You sound like you are enjoying that fact..."
Accusatory glance given, Aline was carried past her two 'guardians,' word making her snort.
"Thank you, for everything. I don't think there are enough words in any of the three languages I speak to express how grateful I am."
Constantine nodded humbly, forever indebted to the pair, doing more than saving his daughter. In doing so, they gave him optimism, possibility that he didn't need to be alone for the rest of his existence.
"You are very welcome. Lord Constantine? I must speak with you, after Aline has finished in the washroom. Sixth door on the left."
Both Belustrade's snickered. Other than being on the slender side, Aline looked, for all intents and purposes exactly how she had prior to becoming a vampire. Tad pasty, greenish-blue veins raised. Nevertheless, well.
Profuse thank you's becoming platitudes, Constantine took rucksack and headed for the washroom. Aline, after undressing, grabbing bottle of bright orange shower gel, hoped water wouldn't vanquish her, less than an hour after waking...
Her Father, reliably, whilst also laughing informed her that no, she would not melt, Aline finding remaining dimness hilarious.
Washed, dried, hair wrapped in fluffy towel and feeling better than she had in years, Aline dressed, with help from her Dad, fussing as clothing was loose. In time, Father logic came to her rescue, she would regain weight, strength.
For this, she needed blood. She sat on haunches, good, solid two hours, before Constantine returned, glass full of haemoglobin.
"Its mine. After conversing, the three of us decided that my blood would be best for you to drink first, as you are used to it, so to speak. I asked Alucard to bring bucket, on off chance it doesn't go down."
"Thank you and all, but, did you just sit there, wrist above glass, bleeding?" He nodded. "Hang on. If I am to live off the stuff, shouldn't it go down? Stay down?"
Constantine's face became sheepish.
"It doesn't always. I found out the hard way. It takes time to adjust, like new diet and such."
"Fair enough."
Alucard knocked, politeness winning him yet more points, (this time, with two Belustrade's) indeed, bringing with him bucket. Aline raised brow, looking at that, then him.
"You don't need to thank me."
Waving her off, Aline went to reply, mouth sprouting nothing, retorts dancing off tongue.
"Rather you not watch this."
Arms folded on table, the woman placed her head on them, following grains of wood.
"And there was me, concerned with you, seeing me feed from something living..."
Aline sighed, crossing fingers behind back.
Glass in hand, she closed her eyes.
"Bottom's up..."
Stomach growling, euphoric fervour took the woman, nails dug into wood as she drank, two men in the chamber's thoughts shifting from worry to relief.
In one sitting, Aline drank the fluid, slipping down like her favourite bourbon. There was a kick, thoroughly pleasant. Distant as one could get away from vile, the experience was decent, something she could get used to.
She had to get used to.
Constantine slipped from the room, destination Dracula's chamber. He wanted to know of their next move, where Aline would reside, sleep, etc.
He wished to learn more about his son, finding him warm, cordial, sincere.
He also wished to learn how he balanced out the Dragon, how he managed to elicit feelings in Aline neither believed she would feel afresh.
Placing glass down, Aline wiped mouth, complexion coruscating, irises ringed red.
"Hnnh?"
Alucard laughed. That mixed with desire to compensate for extended period of time he was without her, insides turning, eyes raw, emotion full swing, force of bat winding him, thoroughly miserable.
He despised that his Father pitied him. He couldn't help how he felt. Whenever he fell, he fell wholly, passionately, driven to care for his beloved, sacrificing own happiness for theirs.
Dracula was right. In doing that, he merely succeeded in harming himself, the object of his affection likely didn't know the extent of his devotion...
Heading over, Alucard ceased step, right side of Aline's chair. She handed him the glass. He took it, but placed it down immediately.
He lowered his head, Aline wondering if she was still asleep, likelihood high, considering how she felt about him.
Likelihood that, he liked her, yes, but didn't like her, idea swarming, buzz incessant.
He stayed where he was, gauging her movement. She moved, upwards, swallowing pleased rumble, sitting on hands, want to pinch herself huge.
Kissing him, she was kissing Alucard, and he kissed back. Thorough, controlled, whisking away nerves, setting them alight.
Slow, meaningful, kindred souls finding peace, her hand weaving its way into his hair, pulling him closer.
This, this was superior to mind, that failed to conjure up anything like how it felt.
Natural, nothing halted presses of mouths, pitched gasps, quickened breaths. Neither needed to breathe, making the two laugh as they pulled apart.
"Oh my!" Aline remarked, beet red, affectionate reaction obvious. "Is that my motivation to get better, because, if it is, I still feel rather frail..."
Alucard weeping alarmed her, rolling her eyes at chosen moment of humour.
"I've missed you."
Hands palmed her cheeks, thumb tracing invisible lines above, under her eye. Tears made dolorous carmine patterns, cheeks blotchy.
"Oh, darling. I'm here, I'm here as long as you want me."
He sniffled.
"I never stopped wanting you..."
Aline sobbed, lip trembling. She kissed him with all she had, precious time she'd spent with him poured into each, every second.