Chapter 5 – Lotus Corniculatus

The night was clear. The moon rose to its peak. Jude stared at the calm moon, standing on the hill of the open fields. It's soon. A little more. They're going to get there. It won't be long…

Jude and his two cousins escaped the local shelter after Seras left them there. They didn't know how to escape but Theodore was able to hypnotize the guards and the one in charge. They also took their records that they registered there in the local shelter after Theodore dazed them. They escaped and returned to their shack, not leaving a single trace behind. Sherwin forgot about them and didn't get the chance to help them because of work piled up in his office and in the military communications center.

Jude, Theodore, and Natasha devised a plan after escaping the shelter– from the eyes that would imprison them, after knowing that Alucard still exists. They decided to become stronger– slowly embracing their demons and bringing havoc to cities that they stumble on. They were aware of the activities of Seras and possibly Alucard being deployed that's why they made their devastations during the day, hiding in the shadows, and release the ghouls under their command at night which gave them the benefits of total obfuscation and concealment.

They endured waiting for three years for them to gain strength, to gain power, to be a force able to kill the one thing they despised: The monster who gave birth to monsters. They carried the same hatred of a certain man they could have known if given the right circumstance…

"Tasha, Theo, it's soon. Time is at hand. Let's do this." Jude says without looking back. The two look at the same direction he's looking. It's time….

The three separated, bringing havoc to three towns. They individually caused chaos by creating a group of ghouls after another group, drinking their blood, getting stronger in every ounce of blood and every life they take.

Hours later, Penwood received a report from Seras who was informed of the situation. She quickly reported and called Alucard. Alucard manifested himself, wearing his Cheshire grin, indicating that he's excited for he feels like tonight will be the night when he'll finally meet up with his enemy.

They went their way. Seras headed to the two towns nearer to each other while Alucard took the farthest one, thinking it was most likely to find the very troublesome vampire that's been causing the same chaos for 3 years and the two other towns were just distractions. The small town where he's headed is but a small village where some local villagers were living in peace but not anymore. They were reanimated into horrible creatures– ghouls. Alucard finds the ghouls very boring. He just fired at them until they were all annihilated.

Police Girl, you keep things busy there and I'll have fun here, you got that? I am THRILLED to finally meet our friend. He laughs darkly. Seras didn't need to reply and just did her work.

"Come out, come out wherever you are… Let's play since I know you've been itching to die for 3 years…" He wears his grin.

Jude came out to face him. Alucard gave him a welcoming death gaze with a mocking smile. "Good evening. It seems that you are very skilled. Your abilities, in my opinion, are very unique. 3 years of never giving us rest to destroy those ghouls. I'm very impressed but get ready to die."

"I should be the one telling you that after all what you did to us..." Jude says gravely.

"So you're not the only one then? Where are your… friends then?" He asks casually, smiling.

"They'll be here. They can't miss your death. And we WILL get revenge."

"Revenge? I wonder what I did. But alright then, I accept your offer. Show me what you've got!" Alucard grins.

Jude glares at him, his emerald green eyes gleamed then burned red. His eyes formed vertical-slit pupils, just like Alucard's as he prepares himself for their fight.

Alucard was a bit surprised. He felt Jude's presence like he's a powerful vampire. He's not an artificial vampire. He's something different. He can feel it and he paused.

"You're a vampire. You're human as well…" Alucard says, analyzing the situation. How can that happen? He wondered. "You're a dhampir but you're strong." He was in the middle of being excited and being bothered but he realizes that this can be a challenge to him which thrilled him.

Jude smirks. "I know... We know that. How? We don't know either. It's weird. All our parents are humans after all… But that doesn't matter. I'll kill you. Now. And I'll kill you again. And again. And again!" He charged in anger. He grabbed his Kukri knife to attack him. Alucard charged as well, getting his 454 Casull. He grew serious than to be excited. He shoots some bullets into Jude before they crossed ways and Jude slashes his Kukri knife. They stood, facing the opposite directions, their backs facing each other.

Jude didn't even got hit but Alucard got his arms slashed which made Jude smirk. Alucard's skin was burning where Jude left cuts, realizing that Jude got his knife blessed.

"Clever… It seems that I've underestimated you a bit. A dhampir with equal power as a true vampire… Who are you?" His arms regenerate back to normal, his excitement fading for this might be the rise of a new problem… or war… He hides a smirk in the thought of war.

"I'm your worst nightmare." Jude starts to fight him in close combat, his knife as his only weapon. Alucard tried to pierce Jude's arm with his hand but Jude's reflexes were top-notch. Every time Alucard strikes, Jude dodges and strikes back with greater strength, pushing Alucard backwards, to his side, and gets slices by Jude's knife most of the time, burning his skin as the aftermath of the slashes.

Jude was pretty damn good. He trained in learning how to fight with his cousins. They collected some weapons from their victims and studied how to use them– the reason why the ghouls weren't armed with weapons. Alucard fought back the same way how Jude fights him but Jude was better when it comes to fighting with bare hands or just using a knife. No matter what Alucard did, Jude did better, making Alucard grow serious because of the mystery of this creature, this dhampir he's facing.

Alucard punches him and Jude evades, sending the same punch back at him. Jude's anger and determination led him to fight the monster in front of him. He needed to kill Alucard to get their revenge. As they continued their hand-to-hand combat, Alucard was being sent backwards to the middle of the village. Alucard couldn't believe what's happening and he can't process anything straight. The likes of Jude is very mysterious and he questions his origins.

Jude continues to punch him then with his extreme speed, he steps on Alucard's foot then punches his abdomen, making Alucard cough blood and fall onto his back. Without a second wasted, he lunged at him sending his knife to pierce his chest while he was open and vulnerable. His speed, allowing him to waste no second, let him pierce his chest. Alucard coughed more blood but smiled. Jude realized that Alucard was still able and due to shock, he stepped backwards.

"H-how can that be? I pierced your heart!" He kept his guard as he leaped backwards to gain distance from Alucard. Does that mean…? We need to kill him. He thought, thinking that he must continue his plan.

Alucard laughs. "I haven't had this kind of fun ever since I came back!" He rolls to his side, rises, and takes a step to turn to Jude, holding his Casull. "Is that all you've got? Show me more!"

Jude took a step back… His cousins haven't arrived yet. He needs to distract Alucard. With that, he gets his revolver from his holster and fires at him. With his inhuman sight and speed, he jumps backwards and shoots him while he lands every after jump backwards. Alucard follows him, shooting him with his Casull but to no avail. This reminded him of his fight with Luke Valentine. Jude's reflexes and speed were truly astonishing. It was then when Jude leaped into a higher jump, somersaulting farther away from him. He landed, stood, and waited for Alucard to run towards him, where he set up a trap. And when Alucard took a step closer, he fell into the trap. He fell into a deep pit. Jude came to see if his trap worked but again, it failed. He was shocked to find Alucard gone and he felt a presence behind him.

Alucard smirks, chuckling darkly. "What a fool you made yourself. You're fun but it's time for you to die." He points his gun to the back of Jude's head and was about to pull the trigger when someone shoots him in the head. Alucard's head got blown off and his body fell to the ground. Just in time, Theodore and Natasha came. The both of them were wearing hoodie jackets, covering their eyes and shadowing their facial features, to hide their identities.

"Jude!" The both of them called out for him and ran to him. Jude releases a long sigh of relief.

"Thanks… I thought I'd die." They turned to look at Alucard's body that was twitching.

"We should do what needs to done for him to stay dead." Theodore says.

"We shouldn't underestimate him. He can't be killed by just piercing his heart…" Jude says.

While the three were talking for a very short while, Alucard willed himself away. The three felt the sudden disappearance of his presence and when the three came to look at him, he was gone. In shock, the three felt tense.

"I shot his head…! H-how?!" Theodore exclaimed, fear enveloping his thoughts.

"Don't think you can kill me so easily. The three of you are just nothing but weak." Alucard states, appearing behind Theodore and piercing his body with his gloved hand.

Jude and Natasha froze. When Natasha was about to take a step and take a chance on Alucard, Jude grabbed her wrist and pulled her away with him to a distance. Theodore coughed blood and choked. It was unfortunate for Alucard because he missed Theodore's heart but was satisfied enough that Theodore wouldn't be able to move… He took his hand from Theodore's body, causing Theodore's body to fall to the ground with a loud thud.

"So the three of you are dhampirs with human parents…" His features became serious. Alucard's anger was obvious. He was angry because he's frustrated.

Jude holds Natasha's arm in a grip, grasping her arm tight for her not to get away. He fears that if he lets her go, she'll attack Alucard and only get killed. They both trembled in the mix of anger and fear. Natasha's eyes became similar with Jude's. She growls. "You monster!"

Alucard doesn't fail to notice that even when her features were well hidden. Her eyes shone in the shadows of her features. He felt her power– the power that her anger brought. He grew serious. "You're not answering my question. I'm very impatient." He scowls.

Jude pushes his fingers on Natasha's wrist, giving her a signal. Natasha calms and prepares herself. They know Theodore is still alive. Jude positions himself in front of Natasha…

"Why should we? We don't need to explain ourselves to you… Besides… I've measured your abilities already. We've prepared for this so don't think you'll easy kill us as well…" Jude closes his eyes.

Alucard glares at them… They're not planning on telling him anything. All he can do is kill them. He was about to dash to them when Jude speaks…

"We should be living in peace if it weren't for you. But now… It's time… Theo!" He shouts Theodore's name and Theodore gets it. He regenerates his wound then came to attack Alucard. He grabs Alucard's ankle from his position of laying on the ground, and with his inhuman strength, he propels Alucard to where Jude is. Jude leaps above Alucard's body and cuts his head off with his Kukri knife then kicks his body down, crashing to the ground from the impact. Natasha was holding a long wooden stake she got where Jude hid it. When Alucard's decapitated body crashed to the ground, Natasha drives the stake through his heart. Jude lands in the middle of Natasha and Theodore who just completely recovered, got a gallon of gas and bathed Alucard's body with it. Jude picks up Alucard's decapitated head and lights his lighter, throwing it into the body. The fire quickly spreads, burning Alucard's body. It was then when Jude tosses Alucard's head into the growing flames and the three of them watched Alucard's body burn and turn into ashes.

"Are you alright, Theo?" Natasha couldn't hold her tears back and embraces him. Theodore was surprised and strokes her back.

"I'm fine… It hurt though…" He chuckles then looks at Jude who was watching the flames burn and cackle closely.

"Once we see that this monster's body is nothing but ashes left, we'll return to our place and restart our lives." His hands clench into fists, trembling a bit. "I'm still angry. Burning his body, killing him… It's not enough. I want to kill him again and again with my bare hands until not a piece of his skin nor his meat is left." He watches the flames get blurred as his tears started to fall. Natasha came to hug him sideways.

"It's over, Jude… Living like this… It may be difficult but it'll be alright. We have each other and we'll be restarting anew." Natasha gives a small smile which made him a bit better. He looks at the burning corpse…

"We got our revenge… That's what you get, Alucard. No… Dracula. You were a monster ever since. You tormented a lot of people. You made families and friends miserable. And the three of us, forever haunted. What you are and what you did made us embrace what we are against our will. You made us kill our own families; our loved ones. You're a monster who has the curse that can damn its victims into the same monster such as you. We can't even say that the half of us is still human because we're not… We were born with your blood deep within us, making us as powerful as you…" Jude glares at the flames as it simmer down, leaving Alucard's ashes behind. The three gathered Alucard's ashes and threw it at the nearest crossroad.

"We accomplished our goal. Let's return home…" Jude says and turns back.

His two cousins follow behind him as he leads their way back to their cabin. Jude was walking ahead of them and the two were growing worried…

Theodore paused.

"What's the matter, Theo?" Asks Natasha. Theodore looked shocked and afraid. He felt a presence… Theodore grabs Natasha's arm and throws her to Jude…

"Jude!" Theodore shouts. Jude quickly caught Natasha and held her. All of them were surprised. When the two came to look at Theodore, Alucard manifested himself behind him…

"Run! Get away!" Theodore starts to take a step forward when Alucard pierces his body. This time, he didn't miss his heart and crushed it in his palms.

Jude tugs Natasha's arm and runs with her. They dashed into the woods as Natasha summoned a thick mist to cover the woods. When Alucard made sure that Theodore was nothing but a corpse, he followed the two. He willed himself in the woods only to find himself in the midst of a very thick fog. Meanwhile, Natasha and Jude reached the cabin, Natasha crying and curling to hug her knees in a corner. Jude quickly gathered their things in frustration.

"We gotta leave! Quick! It wouldn't be long until he finds us!"

Natasha stayed there, unable to bear the loss of another family member; a loved one. She was so angry…

"Natasha!" He pulls her up. "Listen to me! We've come this far and failure is not an option! We need to get away and think of another way on to kill him!" He shakes her a bit, giving her a severe glare.

"I know that! But… Theo…!" She shouts at him, glaring back as she sobs and whimpers. All the pain they experienced three years ago were coming back.

"Listen to me. Theodore saved us. And now, we must do what we can to not waste his sacrifice! I know how it hurts but for now, we gotta go!"

Jude carries their bags on his arm and tugs Natasha's arm to the door. When he opens the door, Alucard was there, wearing his Cheshire grin.

"Not. A. Chance." Alucard steps forward and Jude steps back with Natasha. "It seems that the three of you are aware about the ways on how to kill a vampire. But that is not applicable to me… I am everywhere and always nowhere. Good bye, dhampir…" Alucard tries to pierce Jude's heart.

Jude quickly pushes Natasha away as he evades. He punches Alucard's abdomen and Alucard coughs blood. Again, Jude strikes Alucard, kicking his jaw then gives a finishing blow, piercing Alucard's heart with his bare hand. There was a pause. Jude glares at Alucard but Alucard gives him a mischievous smirk.

"Nothing can ever kill me with the way I am now, boy." Alucard grabs his wrist pulling it away from his pierced chest. Jude stood there, frozen in shock. Alucard's blood was traveling on his arm, dripping from it.

"How can you…?!" Jude shouts. Alucard's grip on his wrist tightens. There was no way he can escape now. Jude then thought of Natasha. He looks over to her.

"Natasha! Run away from here! Promise me… You'll be alri–" With that, Alucard pierces Jude's heart and throws his dead body to the side.

"JUDE!" Natasha screams in sorrow. She's gonna die… The monster is in front of her… There's no where she can run nor hide… She sits into a curl, covering her ears, crying in whimpers and denial. She became afraid again. Afraid of dying.

She stepped back and punched the wall of the wooden shack open, got the bags and ran away with her inhuman speed. She made the thick fog cover her tracks. Alucard saw what she did and he smiles in amusement. The dhampirs have talents. He follows her, walking into the thick fog. She vanished. There was no sight, sound, smell and presence of her. Alucard continues to walk. He realizes that the fog was so thick that he lost his sense of direction. When he got bored of it, he willed himself out of the woods to the exit of it. There, he saw Natasha running away in great speed. He decided to chase her with his inhuman speed as well. Natasha felt his presence and ran faster, huffing her breaths. She was getting tired. She ran and ran but then stopped because Alucard was already blocking her way. She took a step back and was planning to run away in a different direction when Alucard brings out his Casull and shoots her leg. She screams in pain, falling to the rocky ground.

"Don't think you can runaway now, dhampir." He grins. Natasha regenerates her leg and stands up. Alucard frowns. They were really something... Regeneration, speed, strength and the thick fog… They were real adversaries. Alucard points his gun towards her…

"If you still wanna live longer, I'd suggest you stay still." Alucard threatens her. Natasha only glares at him. She knows that if he shoots her through her heart, it's all over. But what more can she do? Both her beloved cousins are dead; killed by the vampire in front of her. Her hope was falling.

Alucard walks to her. "None of you clearly explained to me what all of you are so maybe I should just drink your blood…" He grabs her arm and she struggles. She tries to break free…

"Let me go! You demon! You monster!" She screams, trying to get his grip off her, holding the gloved hand that's holding her arm, when she unconsciously sends him visions of the three of them. Because of that, Alucard pauses, a bit surprised about what he saw. He wasn't reading her mind but instead, she was the one who gave him the picture.

"So you can do that as well?" Alucard looks more amused. She could use a level of clairvoyance. Natasha glares at him with her teary burning red eyes then spat at his face. Alucard got mad and slammed her to the ground, letting her hood fall.

What he saw made him shocked beyond belief… How was it possible? She's dead! She should've ceased to exist! And then it hit him… He realized how and why they were dhampirs. His features fell into a frown… There was only one way on how to clarify it…

"You… girl… Listen to me." Alucard says and Natasha just glares at him.

"Good." Alucard says and he began to hypnotize her. Natasha fell into his will. Alucard began his interrogation.

"You will tell me everything about what happened and everything you know." Alucard commands and Natasha completely told him everything.

When Alucard finished knowing everything, he took every belonging from what Natasha was carrying, taking all of it in his shadows. He then grabs her head, decapitating her in the instant then pierced her heart, crushing her body to the ground with much force than he expected to exert. He then gets her body, willing himself back to the cabin and put her body next to Jude's. He went to get Theodore and put his body next to Natasha's. He walked out the cabin and set fire to the cabin, making everything burned to dust; to ashes. He made sure to incinerate everything until nothing was left. He willed himself to where Seras is afterwards…

Seras was waiting for him in their rendezvous point with Pip, taking full material, standing beside her. Alucard came to her.

"Already done? I thought there were more ghouls than before?" Asks Alucard.

"Yes, there were plenty but it's well-taken care of. The ghouls are easy and boring." Seras smiles wide which made Alucard smirk.

"Did you kill the vampire, Mr. Alucard? Let's report back to Sir. Sherwin." Pip looks at him, holding his cigarette between his teeth.

"Yes." Alucard nodded and went ahead, appearing in the office where Sherwin was waiting for them. Alucard didn't waste a second and told him…

"The vampire was strong. He drank so much blood over the years that he became a rather difficult adversary. His speed was incredible that's why he got away so fast in the nick of time. I caught him in the small town village and I exterminated him already." Alucard states and waits for his reply…

"Very good, Alucard. Thank you. You are dismissed for a good job well done. Was the vampire what you call a class-A?" Sherwin asks him.

"Yes but he's nothing but shit. He's taken care of. Seras is on her way here to give her report on the ghouls. I shall take my leave." Alucard fades away.

Not before long, Seras came and gave her full report…

"Thank you, Seras. You may also get some rest. Did your master tell you about the vampire?" Sherwin asks, he felt that Alucard was in a hurry to leave…

"Yes, Sir but he only told me that he already destroyed it."

"Very well. You may take your leave." Sherwin dismisses her. And Seras saluted and went ahead, resting in her quarters.

Alucard was in his chambers, sitting on his throne, drinking wine and medical blood… He lied about his report. He didn't tell Sherwin about the dhampirs and their abilities. He kept it only to himself. Why does Sherwin even need to know? All that matters is that he killed the ones causing the trouble. All that matters is that he's doing his job. But after the mission, he remembers what happened during those times. He felt like it was only yesterday that he was the one bringing havoc. It's best if no one knows about his encounter with the dhampirs. It's best if he just kept it to himself.

A/N: Hello, everyone! Thank you for the reviews! More if you please! Haha! I'm in my Christmas vacation! Yay! I'll have more free time to write! But to tell the truth, I'm having a severe case of writer's block. And it's been a week that I've been rearranging my thoughts to the current chapter I'm typing. Now, I'm sad to say that I'm only one chapter ahead of this. I'm currently typing chapter 7 and I got myself stuck. But I promise that I'll do my best to update next week. *grins wide* For those who want to talk about this with me, feel free to PM me and review (and I will definitely reply because I check reviews everyday because reviews are so very fun to read. Hahaha!).

For now, I ask of you, readers, to stay patient with me. I know that what I've done left a LOT of mysteries, questions, and some restless thoughts. But I promise you that I have my reasons. All the answers you are looking for are in the future chapters which is not far from this one. Hehehe. So please be patient with me. I'm eccentric to finish my chapter 7 because it will be my present to all of you. What happens in Chapter 6? I don't know... Maybe another mystery. Hehehe.

So! Wait for me, everyone! Stay tuned for more because there'll definitely, absolutely, spectacularly be MORE!
Tscüß und Auf Wiederhören!