Chapter 5: Want

Present day:

"This is good enough. Fill the whole thing." Alucards voice said firmly to Pip. A long silence went by as Alucard then turned around and faced Pip. "Did you not hear me correctly frenchman?" Pip could not help himself before he tok the shovel in front of him.

So this was why he had to come with them? To literally do the their dirty work? As he began sinking the shovel into the ground, Seras came up closer. "Do you need help?" She asked in a kind tone. Pip stopped and looked at her. "No thats fine, thank you." She smiled and he returned the favour. Well, it was definitely worth going anyway.

Seras then turned around and looked at the figure that had crunched down to the ground looking at a gravestone. It was black with engraved letters of white marble. Quite an exquisite gravestone for a mere poor village in the green fields of Ireland. The names was washed out by time, but Seras could still see the dates.

1796-1843

1797-1843

1824-1843

1827-1843

Here rests thy humble servants.

As heaven cannot hold them,

then neither shall hell.

Seras only crouched to the ground beside him. She looked at how muted the place had changed. The smell was so familiar, and the ground felt so comforting.

"The worst things about being in a leash, is that the leash forbids you from leaving by free will." He said quietly, not for the working french dog to hear. He sighed.

Seras only folded her hands as she sat down completely on the ground. "I always understood that. I´ll never blame you." she said in a bitter tone, so that it hurt her throat. She looked over to her side, and he had already left her. She returned her gaze once more at the gravestone and touched it with her hands. No matter what you say, I never did. she whispered to the wind.

Pip dried the sweat of his forehead as he was finished. "Well, thats 10 kg of dirt." He said, not sure to who. He looked around to only spot Seras on the ground, kneeling infant of what looked to be and old gravestone. He looked around some more, but Alucard had completely left the stage. He considered walking up to her, but saw that she was having a moment. He still felt the urge to go talk to her, and gave in. "Blame it on my french blood, Seras, but I can't help my curiosity." He said while walking over holding a friendly smile on his face. He looked at the gravestone, but could not make out the engraved letters. "I used to…" She started, but she was somehow unable to finish her sentence. Pip only sighed. He understood. "You used to know the people lying here, right?" he said in a low tone.

Somewhere not so far away, behind a tree, Alucard listened to the conversation as he sat completely still. Seras only sighed and her head looked down into the ground. "You know, after 50 years they remove the coffins of the people lying underneath the ground." She said. Pip looked up to the sky. "Really?" He asked her. Shifting his head in her direction he saw that she was smiling. "Yes, because there is no need to keep them there. There is no-one who will look after the grave. No-one who will visit anymore." She said with a sad tone. It was obvious to Pip that the people who had once upon a time lied underneath this gravestone, was someone close to her.

"Its kind of sad to think you will just be forgotten after you are dead. And after 50 years, no one will even remember your very existence." Seras spoke like she was singing a very sad song. Melancholy was not even worthy her being.

"But then again, they will live on in the memories of the ones who loved them. And those memories. They will never die." Pip said as Seras turned and looked him straight in his eyes. A breeze touched her hair and, time suddenly stood still. Her surprised expression softened and she silently thanked him for his comfort, in a gesture of a smile.

She was happy that Pip didn't ask. She was so happy that he just understood and said the exact words that she had wanted to hear.

No they won't.

Behind the tree, red glasses reflexed the moon as no one witnesses the single red streak that trailed down his cheek.

London, 1843:

When she arrived at the library she felt eyes on her neck. Like someone was watching her as she slid out of the carriage. She turned around, but all the townspeople buzzed around, so she scoffed it off. Stop with the paranoia, Seras. Don't let that madman get to your head. She told herself as she walked up the steps to the entrance.

"Miss Victoria." Seras mouth went dry as she turned her head towards the musky voice. Could it be? It was him, in all his grace before her. The Prince she had danced with at the ball. It was truly him.

"Fancy meeting you here, at the library. Of all places." The alarming grin that sent shivers down her spine, had returned with all its power. It was just like in her dreams. But in the dreams Seras never ran from him, even though her senses told her otherwise, she always ran toward him. It was not the man himself that terrified her, she had realised. No, it was his overwhelming power, that would make any man tremble. What a powerful man, that confused her with emotions that didn't seem to conclude if they where of fear or amazement.

She cleared her voice a little before smiling. "Why so? The library is the only place you would encounter me, if not at my residence…" She started, but unsure on how she should continue. "Count?…." The mans grin only widened as he stepped infant of her holding the door open. "Thats right, where are my manners? I never introduced myself. You see, I was in a bit of a… Hurry. Yes, indeed." He smiled as she walked past him entering the library but never taking her eyes of him.

"The name is Vlad III of Wallachia. Even though I am entitled as Prince, it feels rather strange, so you may refer to my as Count Dracul." He whispered only for them to hear. Seemed appropriate since they where in a library after all. "Well, it is my pleasure Count." Seras smiled and politely bowed in a lady-like manner. "As to what you mentioned earlier. I take it that you enjoy the library then?" The Count said as he walked in front, making her follow him like a little lam.

"Yes, I do actually. I find the atmosphere relaxing and I love literature." She said, as the Count in front of her stopped and turned around quickly. Seras had to pull herself from almost crashing into him after his sudden stop of movement. "But then again, Miss Victoria you said that the library is the only place I´ll find you, except your home?" He asked as he quietly bent forward so close to her face, like he was whispering a secret.

"How come our first meeting happened at a ball, and not in the library then?" He smiled. Still the Count wore his red glasses, even though the day was as cloudy as it could get. Seras tried to not swallow, but her body seemed to have its own will and acted on its own accord in the presence of the count. "I don't go to them voluntarily." She said in a shaky voice. The Count bent back to his stand and turned around. He continued further into the library. Seras feet started moving the moment his did. "Is that so? You don't enjoy social events then I take it? Or at least not as much as you enjoy going to the library." He asked as they had finally reached his destination with a quick stroll, that Seras had felt like more of a manner of flying than walking.

"I guess you can say that. I am not interested in sharing the latest news and gossip over other meaningless smalltalk, like most girls my age do." Seras said. She was surprised over the easy flow of the conversation, and how he spoke politely yet rather bold questions for someone who had only met her once. She was intrigued by this odd persona. "What about the Count? Does he enjoy such activities?" The Count sat down slowly in a grand chair seated in the more abandoned rooms in the library. "Do I strike you as a person who would, Miss Victoria?" He smiled, while looking at her standing figure in front of him. Seras shook her head in a childish way. What was wrong with her? She must seem like a small child in his eyes, why could she not hold her strong and proud stance in front of him? She once again cleared her voice and sat down in the opposite chair. "But enough about me." The Count said as he leant forward on the right armrest of the chair. "I wish to know more about you, Miss Victoria." He said while his grin widened showing crystal white, sharp teeth. "I wish to know everything."