A few weeks later…

Alucard had disappeared without a word. The castle was empty and filled with the sound of wind from the outside. The snow had begun to fall and winter was just getting started. I stayed in my room. It didn't feel right to wander the castle hallways and rooms without Alucard giving me direction. I had finished several books over the weeks, reading only what was available to me in my room. I guess you could say Alucard and I were getting along, but then again he never told me he was leaving.

I looked out the window to see a lone horse standing firmly in the deep snow. A black cloak tugged at the shadows, moving quickly across the grounds towards the castle doors. Fear overcame me when I heard the castle door creek open and then slam shut. I had been living in Alucard's home for roughly three months, I felt safe. So to have someone who I couldn't see clearly from my window enter the castle, I had no idea what to do. I rushed towards the bathroom and locked the door behind me. Why on earth was I hiding? I knew how to defend myself and I could do it well. But it had been months since I had fought anything, let alone something that barged into a home that wasn't my own.

I heard loud footsteps clamoring towards my door, followed by a loud knock that flowed through my room.

"Iona… It's me. I'm sorry if I startled you." Alucard's voice made my heart flutter. He said my name, for the first time ever. In the past, he would just look at me to address me. It's not like there was anybody else in the castle for him to talk to anyway. I walked towards my door with quiet footsteps and opened the door to find Alucard covered in a light covering of snowflakes. His light skin glittered from being out in the elements.

"Where have you been? Honestly… I've been worried." I gave him a slight smile followed by a frown of sadness.

"I know and I'm sorry. I had to go help a couple of old friends who got in a pinch and needed an extra set of hands. Please forgive me for not telling you about my whereabouts." He looked at me with those gentle gold eyes. Not that I wanted to but I breathed a sigh of relief. The fact that he felt open enough to tell me where he was meant a lot.

"You haven't left this room much have you?" He asked with a concerned tone. I looked up at him,

"It didn't feel like my place to wander about your home while you were out," I said quietly. He studied my face as he usually did before he took my hand into his,

"Come on. I want to show you something." He started pulling me along behind him, excitement brimming within him. It was a strange sight I'll have to say, but it was also a nice one to see. He always seemed so stern and hardheaded, to see a genuine smile from him was a nice change.

We came upon a large open room. It was dark and I had to squint my eyes to find my footing. I could barely make out the outlines of large floor-to-ceiling windows covered by large, thick curtains. There was some furniture, but not enough to call it a room that was even worth visiting. Alucard gleefully clapped his hands together and almost instantly all the curtains in the room flung open revealing the gorgeous landscape that surrounded the castle. I looked at him, smiling.

I strutted to a window, admiring the falling snow on the trees in the distance. I felt grateful to be inside during this harsh winter. It had been a long time since this part of the Wallachia region had seen this much snow.

"It's beautiful here. But it's so empty." I sat down on the large window ledge facing Alucard. He nodded in agreement,

"I know. A lot of the furniture that used to occupy this room was destroyed in the war. I haven't felt the need to redo this room… Until now." He looked down at me, grinning. I gave him a confused look, trying to find the meaning behind his words.

"You agreed, a while back, that you wouldn't be leaving for quite some time. So I figured, while you're here, you would maybe like to decorate this space. While I was out helping my friends I gathered some village carpenter's furniture catalogs," He stopped for a moment, "I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'd like someone who has better tastes than I to decorate this space. Make it feel like your own."

I laughed. His awkwardness cut through the room like a knife. "I can do that for you if that's what you'd like." I put my hand out, waiting for him to place the catalogs in the palm of my hand. He promptly handed me a neat stack of papers covered in drawings and neat handwriting.

"Just circle what you'd like and the quantity and I'll make it happen. I'll be back, I need to put my horse in the stable." He turned away from me and exited the room. I stood up, holding the papers tightly in my hands while surveying the room carefully. There was so much I could do to this room, but making a cozy living room felt like the only logical thing. A large fireplace on the far wall with soft couches surrounding it. Take away the curtains and there would be a constant flow of natural light, something the castle desperately needed.

I spent the next couple of weeks flipping through the catalogs, taking my time to pick the furniture I saw fit. Alucard spent most of his time in a private study, I barely saw him. We both seemed to be working hard, but I knew little of what his work entailed. On a late Friday afternoon, I knocked on his study door.

"I think I got everything picked out. You seem busy, so please do not rush on getting the order out to whoever needs it." I turned to walk away from him, feeling disheartened by the grim look on his face. He didn't stop me. He just quietly closed the door behind me as I walked back to my room. I spent a couple of hours in my room before heading to the kitchen to cook a meal. I had yet to cook for Alucard. As cold and distant as he seemed right now, cooking felt like the right thing to do at the time.

I prepped a chicken, skinning it and all. I made fresh bread and cooked some of the vegetables that were in the kitchen. I made a simple stir fry, tossed in a slightly spicy sauce. I plated the dishes and dropped one off at Alucard's study door before trotting off to my room for the evening. I didn't knock, I knew he could hear me outside the door. That man's hearing was crazy good, but I figured all her senses were heightened.

I spent the evening reading a book about simple alchemy, a lot of which I forgot since I was a child. I sighed, staring out the window into the cold. I felt lonely. Why did I feel lonely? I had spent most of my life alone. Why now, all of a sudden, did I feel as if someone actually cared about me? Why now did I enjoy his company? Even though we spent most of our days in the castle in separate rooms. Alucard and I had lived two very different lives. I continued staring into space. Letting the thoughts race around my mind.

I was startled by a knock on my door. But before I could even answer, I heard the door open,

"Did you make this?" He asked sharply, his hand still tightly gripping the door handle. I nodded in his direction, never letting our eyes meet.

"Just know I don't like spicy food." He left as quickly as he entered, letting the door slam shut on his way out. I slumped over in my chair, letting the tears fall from my eyes like waterfalls. I sobbed. Was this really all he had to say? I turned back towards the window before making one last, final decision.

I slowly rose to my feet and got dressed in the warmest clothes I could find. I tucked the jeweled book into my old cloak and began the descent towards the front castle doors. I thought quickly before turning towards the hall with the horse stables. It was far quieter to leave through there than out the front doors. If I wanted to leave, I needed to do it without Alucard following my every move.

I snuck out silently, taking my first steps into the cold depth of the snow. It was the middle of winter, probably one of the worst times I could've chosen to leave. But I continued to walk until I could just barely make out the top of the castle from the trees.