Let the Symphony Last for Eternity
Written By: Lady Lunar Phoenix
Beta: Just me, lonely little me.
A/N: Sometimes what I write and posts makes no sense to me, so going back over is a BIG help... despite the issue of being mind numbing at times. Oh well..
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"Greetings Young Master!" the Master Librarian greeted Alucard, standing up despite his great age and waving an inviting hand for the Prince.
"Hello Old One," Alucard replied, stepping down further into the Master Librarian's office space. There was something about this place, the scent of the age old books, the leather that bound them together and the fresh ink well that the Master Librarian kept on his desk. He had memories of this place, from his childhood, visiting with his mother. Falling asleep when he was supposed to be reading some boring tome ages old yet. The whole wings reserved for the Great Libraries of the world, protecting the knowledge that was cast into flame. "I need your help."
"Now Young Master, you know I can not aid one who defies the Master," the Master Librarian pointed out as he resettled himself down into his comfortable plush chair.
"Tell me about the Master," Alucard replied in answer as he approached a comfortable chair near the desk. Though he took a moment to resettle the Claymore due to its size and settled down in a comfortable slouch. Though his hand never released the hilt of the large sword and he could see the Master Librarian look at the sword in a speculative gaze.
"Young Master, you couldn't have forgotten the Master," the Master Librarian chided gently his aged brown eyes following the Vampire Princes' movements.
"Indeed and that is currently forming my conundrum, as it is my Lord Father who bequeathed this blade unto myself and now he has disappeared." Alucard agreed patiently as he sat there feeling the warmth of the sword through the leather of his glove.
"Oh?" The Master Librarian asked as his eyes slipped to the aforementioned blade and gave a slight nod. "I suppose it can be a problem yes."
"So you are aware of his presence in the Castle," Alucard inquired as the old man nodded slowly.
"Indeed, he came from a future time, protected from the Vampire Hunters by retaining his human soul." The Master Librarian explained patiently, and when he saw Alucard's interest start peaking opted to explain. After all information was always free, purchasing weapons to use against the Lord of the Castle on the other hand.
"And what of his situation now?" Alucard asked automatically, wanting to see if the Master Librarian was aware that Soma was gone.
"History changed and the events that brought him into existence was erased, though one could say he has never left. After all he 'is' the Master, though I suppose your extended absence from the Castle means you have not seen how he has changed over the centuries. Despite, it not, exactly having happened at all." The Master Librarian explained, realizing the complexity of explaining two different time lines at the same time.
"How did he come to be in that form then? What is the difference between resurrection and this 'reincarnation'?" Alucard asked, allowing his gaze to drift to the multitude of books around him. Regardless of what idle theories he or the other Hunters came up with, there was bound to be, a definitive definition of the two terms somewhere or somewhen.
"Ah well, 'resurrection' is when a body comes back to life, as your Lord Father has done multiple times before. 'Reincarnation' is different in that the 'soul' is what comes back, the body stays dead. I'm sure you saw that when you saw your Lord Father, the form was different, but the soul?" The Master Librarian explained, waiting patiently for an answer from the Vampire Prince.
Recalling those lessons ages ago when the Prince would sit with his mother and be taught his letters. Or fall asleep amid lesson and get scolded for it. Or the time he forgot the spells that Death had taught him. Yet the boy had not aged after a point, showing that there was more vampire in him than just his fangs and affinity for the Dark Arts. For now centuries later he had lost those boyish antics and charm and was now as cold and distant as the stars above.
Yet the Master Librarian was privy to knowledge that those of the outside world were often denied. And that the Prince was sitting here inquiring about a fragment of his fathers' soul that hadn't been seen since the Prince was a child? No matter how much of an Ice Prince he may have wished to present himself to the world as. It was pretty clear to the Master Librarian that the Prince of Darkness still loved his father.
"So something happened and now he along with every Belmont who would have been born after the event have disappeared. However; how can the Castle not be affected by this change? In the memories that are trying to manifest within my own mind, I recall the Castle looking different than it does now." Alucard asked next, glad that the other hunters had the awareness not to enter the room and disrupt the discussion.
"You should expect to see changes once this reality becomes the normal reality. Right now the original time line is still tethered to reality by a few threads. Should those become snipped the new reality will assume control. With that you will find the Castle and everything will have a sharp readjustment in form or function," the Master Librarian explained patiently.
"I see," Alucard's gaze lowered to the solid oak desk that rested between the two of them. The Master Librarian didn't always appear, indeed he hadn't seen the office itself after the death of his mother. Though when he was growing up he was more active, now he would have preferred that the office remained. It was closed off and gave him a sense of privacy that the other open space reading sections denied.
"And what of my Lord Father now that history has changed? The Castle lacks the rage that he had when my Lady Mother died." Alucard inquired as he lifted up his gaze to face the Master Librarian.
The Master Librarian sat there and quietly reached up and began stroking his long white beard, unsure of how he should handle the answer to this question. After all the Young Master was devoted to his mother and being informed that his father had remarried. Though it was never made 'unknown' that the Lord had taken a new bride. So if the Young Master wasn't already aware of it, he may have intentionally ignored the information or just didn't allow it to process into his mind.
Regardless, such an answer would have to be handled with absolute care and respect. No matter how self contained or in control the Prince behaved, the fact of the matter was. The Prince of Vampires, half blood he may be, had a wrath that matched his Lord Father.
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"I'm not going to lie, this whole thing sounds horrible," Grant commented as he looked about at the rows of books. "Sure we're going home to a time where Dracula is trapped in his seal, but knowing this could be the future if we don't find whoever?" The pirate shook his head and pulled out one of his many sharp daggers and began flipping it into the air.
"Indeed, generations lost to the forces of Darkness and there is a nagging worry in my head. That the women Alucard and I met before are 'not' supposed to be here, they showed the same worry as someone who's life is in danger. Regardless if Dracula has settled down any or not at all, there is still a class system in effect in the Castle leaving the humans vulnerable." Trevor noted as he leaned against the book shelf. "And now I am confident that somewhere in this castle is Sophia, though 'where' remains the question."
"Aye, think she might have attacked any of the monsters in the Castle?" Grant asked, recalling their previous conversation.
"Hopefully not," Trevor answered with uncertainty. After all she had been the most resistant towards Alucards' inclusion in their group originally. Now she seemed to have settled down with the idea that he had been their ally. Of course that had been when the trio had returned to civilization with others humans and NOT surrounded by monsters.
"Think the world will be fine if we can't get this missing Belmont free?" Grant asked quietly, a thought that danced about in his brain as he thought about the situation. "We don't know what's going on in this point of time outside of the Castle. And you've said that the Castles' more out of sorts behavior was tied to this 'future Dracula'. Think it be, as far fetched as it is, that Dracula might refrain from his murderous rage?" Grant asked thoughtfully mid toss of a dagger.
Trevor was quiet for a time, his eyes scaling up the wall across from him, taking in the numerous books. It wasn't an easy question to answer, or even think about for that matter. On the one hand he had saved everyone in his time from the terror of Count Dracula. But now because of one of his kin being sealed away future generations were now whisked right out of existence. There was a strong compulsion within himself to fight again, to find a way to these future times. Facing Dracula over and over again for the clansmen who would never be given the chance.
But that was over doing it really, because all he 'really' needed to do was find and rescue this one missing Belmont. Restore him from where ever he was sent to and time would mend itself. Reality pointing out that there was no way he could just keep defeating Dracula every century that he would be reborn. While it was true that Soma was not in any way a threat to him, it was 'also' true that he was a benign force in the Castle. A better measure of power actually came from Alucard himself, for he was now much stronger than what Trevor recalled.
And while it might have been argued that Alucard might be turning fully into a vampire or was merely losing control due to the change of the timelines. It could 'not' be contested that he was much stronger now. While he reunited with Alucard after the change in the time line, it was possible that this strength was present before the change. It might not have been purely because Alucard was turning into a possible full vampire.
It was a false hope to believe that it was the human in Alucard that allowed for growth, that Dracula would never grow in strength. How many generations could they collectively face before Dracula overpowered them? Should they bring Alucard with them or leave him in the current time line and allow him to meet them in each future? No, it was inhumane to ask that of Alucard, insane for them to even consider that.
"Our only options are to return home and abandon the future, or risk even our own time and try to rescue this missing Belmont," Trevor finally voiced.
Grant looked up at Trevor, at the finality of the Wood Cutters' verdict on the matter and let his eyes drop to the floor in his own contemplation. He hadn't met this Soma person, and if the Castle's general neutral behavior was thanks to him. Grant 'really' wasn't sure what to think, for somewhere in some distant future Dracula was going to end up in a different body? Give up being a threat to the world? What type of future were they heading for that allowed for this to happen?
"Think we can rescue this missing Belmont?" he finally asked looking up at Trevor. "Dracula isn't going to give up the right to rule, is he?"
The weight of the questions burdened them both, causing them to occasionally cast their eyes towards the office where Alucard had disappeared to. If the father and son were not that estranged from each other there was a chance. Perhaps that Alucard could know what his father would do with this information, or predict his father's actions.
But at the moment, there was no clue to what the future would hold. Any confidence that they would win was overshadowed by the mere fact that Dracula already won. Any careless attempt to change things back could result in sacrificing even 'more' of the time line to Dracula.
"If the Castle brought everyone who has faced Dracula, there should still be some who remain lost in the Castle, besides Sophia. We 'must' gather them together first, even if they hang back from the final battle they need to be aware of the situation." Trevor decided, before quietly sighing, "I pray we meet Juste once more."
"Your great and then some grandson? Aye, would like to meet the lad myself," Grant agreed with a faint smile.
"Ha! I think he would take offense at being called a 'lad' Grant!" Trevor chuckled his head bobbing a bit in amusement. After all Juste was a hunter in his own right, though still, Trevor should have rights to tease his younger kin. Right?
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Alucard stepped out of the Master Librarian's office with a step quicker than what most normal humans could do. Alucard moved with a purpose and intensity that left the Woodcutter turned Vampire Hunter and Pirate scrambling. He didn't even acknowledge he had people waiting for him, instead he appeared completely focused on something ahead of them. His expression was stone cold, yet his eyes were an autumn blend of gold and red.
A barely restrained rage was radiating like a physical heat off of Alucard, as the pair chased after the dhampire. Both men were left fairly jogging as they called out Alucards' name as they bracketed him between themselves. It was disconcerting to have the dhampire act so coldly to them, his hand clenched tightly on the hilt of the blade that Soma had bestowed upon him.
"Alucard, speak to us!" Trevor insisted with Grant backing him up calling the Dhampires' name out.
"What happened man, what's upset you so?" Grant asked his shorter stature making him have to run an extra bit harder than before.
Alucard put a halt to his steps so suddenly that Trevor and Grant both tripped over their own feet as they stopped. With Alucard now standing terrifyingly still they could see that the mixing of gold and red was a continuing process with more red. Somewhere in the pit of Trevors' stomach he realized that Alucard was quite possibly going into a vampiric frenzy. Which didn't seem possible with the fact that Alucard was still holding the hilt of the Claymore. It 'should' have been holding back current timelines influence over him.
"Talk to us friend, what did the Master Librarian reveal to you that makes you act so angrily?" Trevor asked even as every instinct in his mind screamed for him to grab Vampire Killer. Even the whip itself seemed to want to grab his arm and was trying to make him draw the Vampires' bane. Only this was Alucard, and as a 'friend' Trevor didn't want to attack the Dhampire. But it was hard when that friend was a dhampire who looked a little more Vampire than Human at the moment.
"If this is not corrected, and the original timeline reinstated, I will be a vampire." Alucard fairly bit each order out before resuming his swift walk. The signs of extended fangs that peeked out as Alucard spoke showing more of the rage that Dhampire was trying to stifle.
"Well good enough reason for me, however; can you 'not' rush along so quickly?" Grant answered easily as he leaned back on his heels in an effort to try and get the Dhampire to calm down.
For which his easy going manner and the fact that Trevor had yet to lash out 'did' get the desired effect as Alucard tried to settle down. His eyes stayed their vampiric colors, but he made a clear attempt at walking at a brisk, human, pace. Leaving the pair in his dust again, though at least this time they didn't have to run after the man.
While Trevor tried to think of a diplomatic way to ask what happened, Grant jumped into questioning blindly. "So how did you get turned? Did the old man tell you?"
Trevor blinked and worried that it would encourage the rage in the Dhampire as said vampire's eyes narrowed. Thus he gave the Pirate a warning look, though it was too late because Grant already realized that he probably asked the dumb question.
"If you don't want to talk about it," Trevor offered quickly in an attempt to settle down the dhampire. Not really looking forward towards Alucard just snapping and slaughtering anything around him on his path to the Master Chambers after all.
Alucard didn't answer verbally beyond a sharp pronounced hiss without even looking to either side. Cementing Trevor's decision to not even bring up the idea that there was a ghost version of a lady who could be Alucards' mother in the Castle. No, not when Alucard clearly was not emotionally stable, thank you very much. As cold and distant as she was towards him, he could only fear what would happen if he was wrong and brought her up in front of Alucard.