The air outside was rough and threatening, smelling of oncoming stormy weather. Alucard blinked, his eyes adjusting to the harsh morning light as he peered through his dark glasses. The streets were, for the most part, empty and uncrowned.
"Damn," he muttered, sticking his gloved hands into the pockets of the dress pants he had chosen to wear. "Why is the sun always so damn bright." The rays were beating mercilessly upon his pale face, steering clear of the surly frown etched on his features. The glares he gave those who looked at him ensured he never got looked at again by the same person. With a sigh, he stopped at what he assumed was a decent place.
"The 'Indian Store'," he read off the sign, peering up at the sign in slight confusion, yet he pushed the door open none-the-less. Inside, twenty almost identical dark faces peered at him with quizzical looks. Black, darks locks flowed from the heads of all of them.
Alucard took a step back, his pale face standing out like a beacon. "My apologies," he muttered, exiting back onto the street. He shook his head in slight annoyance, moving down the street to the next store. The signs on these were all equally as odd.
He observed signs for 'The Pet Store', 'The Sandwich Store', 'The Kitchen Appliance Store', 'The Clothing Store', 'The Show Store', then…
"The Catholic Book Store!?" he exclaimed, stopping a few feet away. In front of the door stood a small child, her expression fixed and hard. She resembled a small, fragile porcelain doll with flowing red hair that complimented her dark blue dress. In her held, a small chain dangled, flashing a silverfish color in the light.
Alucard walked cautiously in front of the store, his curiosity piqued. The little girl stared at the tall vampire with wide, frightened eyes. Slowly, she lifted up the rosary.
"F..fa…fa…fa."
"Boo," Alucard snapped with a smirk, relishing her loud cries of terror as she tore into the store.
"Excuse me my good fellow!"
Alucard blinked. He knew that voice….that voice of…
"I'm Father Anderson, can I assist you in finding God?"
"I'm afraid not," Alucard replied, adjusting his glasses and peering in the door or the store. "I must be going."
"Are you sure I could not interest you in a bible? A rosary? Holy water? How about-?" the man persisted, swinging around to face the creature.
"Look, I-"
"You!" the father hissed, narrowing his dark eyes into slits. His expression switched to revulsion as he felt around in his pockets. "Give me a moment, I am sure I have a bayonet in here somewhere."
"I wouldn't be surprised," Alucard moaned, peering around the father in hopes of an escape that did not involve getting himself stabbed and drawing attention, which would make him later than he was sure he already was.
"One second, I swear," Anderson assured him, fishing around in the pocket of his coats.
"Look, I really-" Alucard protested, clenching his fist in anger.
"Prepare to die, demon!" the father cried, brandishing a bayonet as he recited prayers.
"Shut up, dammit!" the creature screeched, his canines flashing. "I have no time for you!!"
"There is always time for God," the man chuckled.
"You aren't God, dammit! You're a priest who works at a catholic bookstore on the weekends earning money to hire prostitutes or other sick mess!"
Anderson hesitated for a second, taking a step back, "Look, I need money for coats and bayonets, not…not prostitutes," he explained, waving to the people who were peering at them.
"Yeah, well, why you're playing you sick little games," he hissed, grabbing the surprised man by his throat and jerking him to him, "I am out on and an errand I was supposed to have completed two minutes ago, but because you and your damn bayonet, I'm late." Throwing the man down, he pressed his boot into the father's chest. "So if you're going make me stand here and play, then you are going to buy Integra chocolate with blasted almonds, you are going to arrive at the mansion late, you are going to listen to her rants, and I am going to dress up in your damn oversized jacket and sell Holy water to all who pass by."
Emitting a roar of unadulterated fury, the raven haired being tossed his mussed hair with a dark smile.
"Any questions?"
"Here's five pounds," the father gasped, producing a crumpled bit of many into the vampire's hand. "Um, we'll finish this some other time. I have to sell Holy water."
Alucard sighed, stuffing the bill into his pocket, turning to peer across the street. A delighted smile lit up his face as he saw a large display for chocolate across the street.
"Wonderful! And what store can I thank for this," he muttered, looking up to glance at the side that simply read 'Convenient Store'. "How, um, convenient."
Crossing the street with a new found spring in his step, he threw open the door. He was greeted with a sound of jangling bells tied to the handle of the door.
However, within a matter of seconds, his delight was replaced with dread. Across the store was a large sign reading "Chocolate! With almonds!" Up under this was a large selection of brands and types.
"How hard can it be, it's just got to have almonds, right?" he reassured himself, picking through the mess. "But this one has caramel, but this one is dark chocolate. And Milk? And what difference is lite chocolate!?"
Alucard dumped his large selection on the counter, ignoring the surprised look of the Sales Clerk.
"Hello, um," he paused a moment, reading her glittering nametag, "Jami. Look, just…this."
"Will that be all sir?"
"No, I want the whole container, these are just for samples…I have a truck out back…." He paused a moment, frowning.
"Um, ok," she said quizzically. "That'll be…um…" She paused, counting the mass out on the counter.
Alucard glanced up at the clock ticking over the register. "Look, how about I just give you…shit!"
"Excuse me!? We don't take…that…here. Cash only."
"I can't find my cash," he growled, his anger seething. Why was he the one doing this? Why wasn't Walter doing this? And had this even happened before?
Slamming his fist down on the counter, he muttered. "I…I can't pay."
"Well I'm sorry, but I can't-"
"Hey, look!! It's the Beatles!"
"Um, they're dead."
"Dangit," he snapped in exasperation. Desperate, he struggled to pull something else up. 'Isn't one still alive?"
"Well, yeah, but-"
"Look, a Beatle!"
"Oh my gosh, a beetle! I hate bugs!' she screeched, diving somewhere behind the counter.
"Yeah, um, stay hidden, it'll be gone soon," Alucard muttered, sweeping all the chocolate into a bag he snatched up. Spinning on his heel, he clattered out into the street, clutching the bag to his chest.