Sanctuary to the Lost and Damned

Chapter 16: The Monster Awakens

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AN:

To answer a question about hair color and infants: many babies born with light colored hair experience a darkening of the hair before their first birthday; sometimes before their first month of life. The hair color that a child is born with, depending on their genetics, may or may not be permanent. This is most common in children of European decent; particularly for those born with blond and sometimes red hair. This had been called 'baby-blond' hair.

The best indication of permanent hair color is simply by looking at the family of the child. If everyone has dark hair, expect the same from the child. If there (are/is a) blond parent(s) or grandparent(s), then the likelihood that it is permanent is greater. This is just a basic explanation.

The same is true with eye color. Many children are born with very blue eyes, but not all will keep that color. Sometimes they will change to a darker color, brown even. This is where the phrase 'baby-blues' comes from; these are usually referring to the blue eyes that stay blue. The song 'Centerfold' by J. Geils Band, (I think that is the band...) makes a reference to 'baby blues'.

Depending on your background, you may notice this as you look at any old baby photos at home and compare them to the grown person.

Please review.

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Arthur Hellsing descended the staircase into the basement.

While reading his father's journal, Arthur discovered a passage explaining that the vampire, Alucard had been imprisoned in a secure cell. He had been told this by his father, but the entry was more specific with more details on how this was done and where it was located.

Arthur had dedicated some of his free time to reading about the vampire, Alucard's past as Dracula, and his history as the impaler of the crusades. Although Arthur had been made to learn the history of Christianity, he had never truly cared as much about the past as he should have. He had gone back to his text book, to learn about the historical character known as Vlad the impaler. Alucard's identity as Dracula from Bram Stoker's novel shocked him. He had read the novel, a gift given to him by Mr. Islands, but never would have ever expected to meet the creature.

Arthur's mind had been plagued by what Mr. Islands had regarded as some minor issues in Germany. Arthur was worried about the change of political power and a growing military force in Germany; he was concerned that these topics in his mind might somehow affect Great Britain. He thought that even if Hugh was right and he was just being paranoid, he would have rather have the 'big guns' ready. He had decided to wake up his father's 'special servant'.

He came to a cell door which had on it an odd circle extending around the door. He did not know the purpose of the marking, but recalled the instructions which his father left in the passage. His father said that if it was ever necessary to wake the beast, to enforce the seal and to announce one self's as the head of the family.

He unlocked the door and gazed at the dried up corpse/ figure sitting in a corner. It had white hair and did not resemble the vampire that he had known in his younger days.

"Are you really Alucard?" he thought aloud. He observed the bindings which held the vampire in the corner.

Arthur performed the seal re-enforcement ritual as outline in his father's notes. He then drew out a sac containing some of his own blood.

He poured it into the vampire's mouth. He saw a sudden movement of the vampire before stumbling backwards.

For a moment the vampire and Arthur looked each other in the eye.

The vampire seemed to be confused. "Master...?" Then he seemed to be afraid.

"Yes," Arthur said standing up, "I am your Master. I am Arthur Hellsing head of the Hellsing family and Hellsing organization."

"Young, master Arthur." the vampire acknowledged.

"Yes, it is me. It seems that you have been down here for many years; 9 as far as I can tell."(1)

"Yes," The vampire mused, "That sounds about right." The vampire took in Arthur's more mature features. He looked a lot like his father, Abraham. But as Alucard looked at the grown man, he noticed two very important physical differences; Arthur had blond hair and pale blue eyes. When the vampire first open his eyes he thought that perhaps the scientist had found what human had sometimes referred to as the fountain of youth. The vampire was relieved to learn that this man was not Abraham, but then... "What of your father, Master Abraham?"

"Oh," Arthur starched his neck. "My father died about three months ago."

"Please except my condolences on your loss, young master." the vampire did not truly feel sorry for the man's demise, only that the human had died without the vampire being able to exact some sort of revenge. Worse yet, that he had not had a hand in the event.

"Thank you Alucard. Since I am the head of house how about you just call me Arthur when we are alone, but when there are others you must call me Master. How does that sound. "

Alucard heard the entire idea, but his mind lingered on the 'alone' part. He had been 'alone' with the man's father and he knew very well how things turned out from then. Alucard quickly searched the man's fingers and discovered that the man was not displayed any signs of being married. His fear that the son would use him as the father did was starting to take root in his mind. It had been painful enough for him.

A frightening thought occurred to him: 'What if I were to get pregnant again?' Alucard knew that Arthur was different from his father; assuming of course that he had not changed too much since he had been a boy. The man also knew that he could change his shape into a feminine form. The vampire considered that Arthur might want to keep the child in such a situation. Abraham had been a scientist; Arthur had never given any leaning toward that field of study. He supposed that the largest problem would be the politics of it all. The vampire's mind started to play out such a scene in his mind. He supposed that it would mean that his first child would have a brother or sister. But as he remembered that the father of his first one was Abraham...so that would mean that any child that Alucard bore from Arthur would have both a brother and an uncle in his first born...Alucard knew that the situation was messed up but then again a near immortal corpse, a male one at that, bearing and giving birth to a living human child was even more messed up.

It was true that he would be able to identify another pregnancy earlier. If Arthur didn't want it, in such a situation He could find a way to abort it or he could run the same road as the last time. This sounded very logical when he thought about these things as he was now without such a concern, but parting with one child was difficult enough he did not think that he could do it again.

The vampire heard the snapping of fingers. "Alucard!" Alucard look up to meet eyes with the man. "Good you came back. As I was saying, I need you to do what you did for my father." Arthur explained having no idea of how Alucard's mind might misinterpret the words.

Alucard recoiled a little. He then reminded himself about Arthur's ignorance.

The human gave a small look of confusion before he undid his inhuman slave, as he did the new master asked the creature to follow him. He took Alucard to the room which he had discovered long ago belonged to the vampire.

"I had it cleaned for your return." Arthur said motioning to the coffin and then to the room in general. Arthur remembers going to the room after reading the passage about Alucard's imprisonment. He had gone down to that room more out of curiosity than anything else. He had found a great many items of curiosity there. Among these items included baby bottles and mountains of book each having been bookmarked on pages regarding pregnancy and childcare. As Arthur understood, vampires reproduced asexually, meaning that to make another a vampire they did not need another vampire. Arthur, ignorant to Alucard's past pregnancy, concluded that Alucard must have simply been curious about the differences in how vampire's and humans reproduce themselves.

Alucard could smell human sweat, it was something which he had always hated, but after nine years of smelling next to nothing, he took the scent into his nostrils with pleasure. To Alucard it seemed like freedom. It was ironic, that the scent of humans had at that time resembled freedom to the captured vampire, as if was humans who had enslaved him.

"There were some books in here; they were returned to my father's library...my library." As Arthur thought about the fact that everything which had been his father's was now his; the vampire's own mind was moving in circles wondering if Arthur might have noticed the common link between all of the books.

"Since you like to read," Arthur began pulling a black leather book from his pocket, "I thought that this book would be most fitting." He handed it to Alucard. "In fact, I order you to read the entire book."

Alucard looked down at the book. To discover with fascination that it's title was in fact his old identity.

Dracula

by Bram Stoker

His fascination started to grow as he wondered why his name was here. 'Was this sort of biography on his life?' He wondered.

"Are you not going to ask why you must read this?" Arthur asked sounding somewhat disappointed.

"I must read it because that is what you wish of me." Alucard answered blandly.

"This book was written by a man named Bram stoker. He was commissioned by my father to write a novel to give events of the time which you arrived in England a fictitious account to provide to the masses; to cause anyone who dug into the matter to be ridiculed. The topic of the supernatural, vampires in particular, are to be kept a secret from the public. It is filled with many half-truths so do not be surprised if you find some information to be inaccurate."

"Someone wrote a book...about what happened?" The vampire felt shame radiating throughout his whole body. Did the world know of his downfall, his loss of everything to the point at which he had been reduced to Abraham's bred bitch?

Arthur looked at the vampires with some concern. "Alucard, I am not my father. I know what he did to you. He wrote everything in his journal." the man said trying to comfort the vampire.

Alucard fought back a snort. He knew that Arthur did not know of his rape, as even Abraham had not been able to recall that. (2)

"Well I am still trying to sort through my father's affairs, so I will send someone for you if I need you." the man said turning to leave.

"That is not needed. I will know."

"What?" Arthur said turning to the vampire. "What was that?"

"Perhaps the old master did not record this, or perhaps he was not aware of it, but when I was bound to your family, there was a mental link made between Hellsing head of family and myself." Arthur listened intently. "You see, master, it is not necessary to sent someone, for if you call out to me I will come to you, my master." The vampire said as he bowed.

Arthur said nothing but simply left not sure if this mental bond was a good thing or not.

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In Germany...

A young woman of 22, wearing her dark hair in two long braided pigtails, hid watching her father and his 'friends' draped in black cloaks forming a circle. Her farsighted eyes examined the scene below her.

Those eyes came to rest on a center piece rug bearing a cross with its edges curved inward forming a circular pattern.

She put her left hand on her chest, where the same symbol could be found underneath her clothes; tattooed on her skin next to her heart.

The men started to chant in some language which she did not understand. This was usual as in addition to having a good command of her native tongue, she fluently spoke French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and was able to recognize many other languages.

She readjusted her round-rimmed glasses which had migrated down too far over the freckled portions of her face.

As she watched an odd ritual she noticed that she was being watched by a very tall, very strong male werewolf, whom she had watched for many years. She blushed with excitement when she thought about the blond werewolf. But then he made a gesture, he was sure that only she would understand, for her to leave.

She knew that she was not allowed to be there. She had never been allowed to be there, ever since she was a child she had been told that it was forbidden to her. Of course that had not stopped the young sniper from achieving her aim: to understand why it was that these men would gather on a monthly basis.

After see that the pretty black haired aristocrat did not leave, He glared at her more intensely.

She knew that he could not do anymore than that without giving her presence away. She knew that he did not want to do that. She knew that she didn't want him to get into trouble over her either; so she left for bed, planning to practice her shot in the range tomorrow morning.

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END of Ch 15

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AN:

(1) – Arthur is using his father's journal entry to date this. The man has not seen Alucard since he was a young child in chapter 6: Seal Torture

(2) – As revealed in earlier chapters, Abraham does have some memories of that night, but he has only ever recalled this in his dreams. Abraham attributes this to some unconscious dark dominating fantasy. He doesn't know that it actually happened. It was rape as Alucard had refused, but Abraham had said in other words: 'too bad, slave.'

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Preview of the next chapter: Ghost

Walter jumped off the furniture. "What the hell!"

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