Chapter Eleven
Aline closed her eyes, breaths methodical, keeping head at her love's side, her hands in his, palming his chest. Her's twisted pleasantly, butterflies dancing throughout, grazes of wings prickling hairs, feet drum beat heartening, the moment magnificent, man before her resplendent, white light stars behind her eyelids.
She'd worked on composing herself, charmed amusement at innocence, stifling earnest smiles, fingers on ridges of spine, palms massaging muscles. Mouth worked its way upwards as Alucard sagged against her, humming, something she felt, fingertips tingling.
Digits found scar tissue, knobbly, wishing to bring up the reason for such an injury, crevasse laceration long. Wincing, she wondered how tortuous the moment would have been.
"My own cross. Father rammed it through my chest." Alucard knew she Aline would be curious. "I was sent to destroy Dracula. I battled my way through his castle, hoards of magical, non-magical creatures alike, finding him in the throne room. He defeated me, using my holy weapon to strike final blow, mocking everything I stood for. When he smelt my blood, he realised who I was. He didn't know I existed, but he said it reminded him of my Mother. He just knew. He couldn't let me die, he'd lost everything, so he forced me to imbibe his blood as he bit me. The scarring was caused as I drank, holy nature scorched my skin as I swallowed tainted blood."
"Lovely of him." Aline quipped. "Do you get residual pain?"
He nodded.
"I do."
Aline moved away from that spot, the male vampire whining, wriggling.
"Hmm"? The woman twigged. "Ah! This makes you feel better? Less self-conscious? Good. Trust me, none of that bothers me. Well, the circumstances do. But, they do not, in any way blemish you. You were, are incredibly strong. I admire that, quite a bit."
She beamed as he blushed.
"Prime tickling position. If I were that way inclined..."
Alucard burst her bubble, neon 'pink' scented pop.
"I am not ticklish."
"I am."
Chuckling broadly, ivory tipped, grazing cheeks, jawline tingling.
Adding onto that, he kissed her forehead, the woman's knees trembling as a result...
Wire cuts weaved their way down Alucard's arms, working their way onto backs of his hands. Tracing those, following veins, rough patches of skin stark contrast to smooth.
"Chaos Claws. Scratched every inch of my body. I was too slow, cumbersome, compared to incredible speed of the Dragon. I hadn't a chance, I convinced myself I did."
"Umm..." Aline twirled her hair, dearest prompting her to speak, kissing her nose. "You look like I got a hold of you..."
Effervescent green's opened, keeping them fixed on her dinner table.
"I took it way too far. I hate thinking I hurt you, undermined you, decided not to heed signs you were unsure. I swear I didn't mean too. Pardonne-moi, I beg of you."
"I didn't exactly fight you off."
His confusion alluded to her aversion of the topic, though it needed to be broached. The vampire attempted to turn her head to face him, Aline resisting.
"Said I wouldn't look. You didn't fight, no. That doesn't give me right to throw myself at you." She sighed. "Dad taught me better than that. Too much, too soon. I will keep myself to myself unless you say I can touch you, kiss you, hold you."
"Look at me, if you wish. Please?"
"S'il vous plaît?"
Alucard smiled.
"S'il vous plaît."
Aline's cheeks darkened whenever Alucard spoke her native language...
"I haven't forgotten what you said, before I left."
"I half-said it. Chickened out, wasn't the right time."
Guiding her gaze, meeting irises, Aline felt anxious, wide pupils sign, twisting face, biting gum. Readjusting, she fully opened up, face bare.
"I have done nought but think on that line, those words. I feel fully confident in my response."
"Methodical as always, ever so eloquent. Makes me look positively common..."
"Non, mon coeur. Je t'aime. This long deceased heart, you gave it want to thrum."
Aline sniffled, all breath removed from lungs.
"Okay, I'm going..."
She bawled hands, laughing at her folly, tears copper. Partaking in reserved breaths, lest she squeak in elation, Aline wished to say something, anything witty, keep him on his toes.
"Ich liebe dich, mein schatz."
Alucard candidly grinned.
"Clever. Sneaky..."
Glided whispers sung, souls entwining, pulling each other out of time's weighty gloom, true love won out, lovers affection shone.
Mollifying, assuaging increasing hunger held Alucard in state of flux, going further year without sensation, type of which hadn't made an appearance in hundreds of years (wanting to enjoy, not feel terribly sad), the man knew Aline respected his space, personal bubble shield, for him to pierce, not her...
But, reflex tightened focus on her. Whatever she did, aurelian eyes would follow, spiking inquisitiveness, caution thrown away.
Fingers would curl, skin palest it could get, knuckles clicking, recalling Aline's skin was warmer than his, hearth, one he wished to be near, pacify himself, heat soothing, reminiscing of nights by the fire, with his son and wife.
Memorising, he had a knack for recollection, often keeping him on sane side of tightrope when wrathful intent raged, battle waged, both parties injured.
Trevor sought warmth, arduously.
Alucard sought passion, fervently.
Aline travelled same path, perched alongside him, paths converging?
He badly wanted them to converge, whether lasting seconds, or trying too much, something betraying fear, it failed to dampen his spirit.
Broaching her, Belustrade Manor's visage stunning the moonlight, sturdy fixture on Parisian outskirts, Aline's reverie, glinting swords swung, curved blade slicing through air, sweat-laden haze keeping her attention on training meant Alucard approached with ease, swift, soundless steps spoke honed effort, cobblestones traditionally noisy underfoot...
Ceasing battle, sheathing weaponry, Aline's head tilted upward, galaxies pervading pupils.
"Hmm. Should I praise myself for acting as if I were alone, fully knowing it was you, or should I be reprimanded, since even so, you could have struck me down..."
Inhale spoke precursor to Alucard, offering hand, exhale harsh, hissing through the night, offshoot of her taking it ringed russet irises, gold tainted.
Immediately, Aline wished to give him everything, pent up anguish, longing, fortitude higher than she gave herself credit.
He always replied verbally, something she'd come to expect.
For him to go to her voluntarily, gladly, she praised all Gods, error committed, due to what she was ignored.
What they were...
Speaking purely through body language, Aline needed to establish that this was alright, Alucard was alright. She promised she wouldn't push, let him guide her, as they had done multiple times, all holding promise.
Tonight held weight, cumbersome, strength ignited rolling it aside.
There was reason Aline had her bedroom windows covered, black sheets pinned into frame...
Putting aside doubt, flitting away, slipping, sleeping beneath heap of clothing, the two quickly came to realise that for what they wanted to occur, both had to descend steps into territory unknown, knowing others, but not each other.
Ascending had wails masquerade as growls, gasps as breaths. Neither was fooling the other.
Rushing considered, dismissed. They were alone, they had nights to themselves, days to rest.
Everything came to a halt, time stood stock still, the two discovering untold devotion, grip on anything to keep hold of reality, lest they float away.
It had been millennia since Alucard had slept in a bed, plushness inviting, castle's mild temperature forgone for pliant mattress, silken sheets dipping into each, every part of their forms. Aline basked, aglow, unabashed, breast swelling, easiest smile she'd mustered in years on her lips.
With hours until sunrise, Aline led Alucard through the manor, guided tour, two forgoing, forgetting clothing, deeming it unnecessary.
What was vital, necessary was the time they spent together, finding harmony in discord...