He had expected devastation, but nothing such as this. He made his way through the rubble of the once great fortress, the remains of his kin scattered across the grounds like so much chattel. He stopped before the remnants of what seemed to be the corpses of two parents and their child. The bodies had been so mutilated that it was nearly impossible to tell that they were bodies at all, much less a family. But he knew.
It took most of the remaining day, but he managed to locate most of the skulls of the deceased and give them proper funeral rites. He wanted to find the complete remains of all of them, but with the amount of rubble and desolation it would have taken weeks to accomplish. He waited for sundown before finishing the ceremony; he knew the King would wish to be present. The rustle of bat's wings broke the otherwise silent night, an announcement of sorts; an indication of HIS arrival. The rustling grew louder, almost reaching a crescendo, then changed to the sound of footsteps upon the bloodstained cobblestones. The King gazed out over the grounds, taking in the destruction of his people; his children. "My son...I am sorry," was all he said. "They were outnumbered", the younger said, " They had no chance ." The King could only nod in agreement. For a time, he was silent, allowing the younger to finish the funeral rites of his fallen kin. When he finished, the elder spoke. " I have decided that you are no longer safe here in this land. Histrackers are closing in...this time was too close. You are being sent off, for protection. " "For me or mine kin ?" , the younger thought. Either way, he could not help but agree: Russia, his home these long centuries, was no longer safe; for him or his ilk. "Am I to join my sister then?". " She has already dealt with much this past year. I would rather we not get her involved in this matter." The younger was slightly confused. " If not the monster school, then where...?" "There are other schools for the children of greatness, my son. I have long held alliances with many of the nobles of this land. You will not be welcomed with open arms...but you will be safe." "I understand, Father", stated the younger and turned to leave. " Alucard," shouted the King. He turned around. "Try to behave..." Alucard only nodded curtly, walked away.