Title: Darkness Collides

Characters: Alucard x Richter, Solomon x Richter
Rating: R to NC-17
Warning: angst, heavy m/m scenes (yaoi), violence, mind-play, non-con.
Beta: xvenal

Disclaimers: All characters belong to Konami (except Solomon and Oswald). This writing is purely fictional and no profit is intended nor obtained for this fanfiction piece.

Summary: Richter is discovered missing just hours before his execution by the town council. Alucard, who seeks to rescue him, discovers a painful truth - Richter is in the hands of a nobleman named Solomon Noir, who bought the disgraced Belmont and has imprisoned him at his majestic estate. Alucard now faces a formidable enemy in his quest to save Richter.

Chapter Two

In his detention cell, just two hours before his scheduled execution at the coming dawn, Richter silently pondered his fate.

'So this is how it will all end...' he thought sadly. 'Such is the fate of our clan. If the darkness doesn't defeat us, then the people who fear and hate us the most will'.

Richter sighed tiredly he as leaned his back on the cell wall. Thankfully, despite his situation, the guards had been cordial to him and didn't treat him cruelly. He could sense their pity and sadness at his plight, but, like the others, they were powerless to speak against his sentence.

His cell was better than the others, but it was of little comfort. Still, what bothered Richter was not the fact that he would die in a few hours time, but the future that would befall his clan after his death. His short-lived marriage with Annette had not produced any offspring, and, although he had a few cousins who also carried the Belmont surname, he doubted that they could bear the heavy burden of their lineage.

'Fighting the evil doesn't mean you're free of it. As long there is darkness, there will be light to fight it.'

Richter tiredly rubbed his eyes; he could vividly remember how his father had taught him the ways of battling evil, of carrying on the family legacy as a vampire killer. Yet, Juste had also wisely invested a considerable sum for his son's future, leaving not only a trust fund but the estate and two farmlands in Richter's name.

Juste had taken Richter's education seriously and, if not for his untimely death, he would have sent Richter off to Paris for his college education. As Richter could recall fondly, Juste had told his uncle Morrison that he'd wanted a better future for his son, like any father would. He hadn't minded that it would be expensive, knowing also how Richter had wanted to study abroad.

But that had all changed when his father died. He could feel a pang of loneliness lingering within him; if Juste was still alive, it wouldn't end like this, alone in a cold detention cell.

His uncle had forbidden him to leave the estate after his marriage to Annette, but she had fervently wished to live in the village where she had grown up. She hadn't wanted the isolation that his former childhood home had offered. He'd loved Annette, so he'd given in to her wishes.

He had dreamed of having a large family with her, having grown up alone with only some of his cousins as companions. Sadly, during the course of their marriage, he and Annette had argued frequently. Aside from her fears of him dying during his excursions to rid Wallachia of evil, he later found out that she had bouts of possessiveness and temper.

Every time a comely, or even not-so-comely, lady had greeted Richter, she'd flown into a tantrum, refusing to speak with Richter or even sleep beside him. Despite reassuring her that she was the only one in his heart, Annette had persisted in making accusations. It had become so bad that Annette had even argued with Maria, because, like Richter, Maria was unable to abide the way that her sister treated him.

It had escalated until Richter's abduction by Shaft. Following his rescue from Castlevania, Richter hadn't wanted to return home, knowing what was waiting for him. But, a part of him had hoped that a new and reformed Annette would greet him with open arms.

He wasn't surprised to find a quiet but furious Annette at home. As expected, she had accused him of loving another and of leaving her for good. Again they'd argued, and it was at that time that Richter had decided enough was enough. He and his wife should part ways.

He had planned to go back to his former childhood home, but was stopped by the town guards, who detained him on charges of conspiring with the Count during his one year disappearance. His accusers blamed him for the infestation of their crops, the ill health of their livestock, and the death of others who succumbed to the darkness that plagued their forest.

They made a hasty and hurried trial, fearing that if some of Richter's relatives were to know his plight they would come to rescue him. Now, it was only a matter of time before he faced his destiny.

Then, suddenly, Richter heard a hard turn of the lock to his cell door. There stood the Chief town guard, along with four of his subordinates, their faces grim as they looked upon him.

"Richter Belmont, it's time."

On the outskirts of town, two figures raced against time to get to Richter. Unfortunately, as if sensing their purpose, various monstrous creatures blocked their way.

Ghouls and goblins were no match for them, but still their progress was slowed as these creatures attacked them in large numbers. Without warning, a large werewolf lunged for Alucard, its sinewy claws slashing at the dhampyr, who expertly dodged its reach.

Maria rushed forward, summoning her familiars; she just had defeated the other werewolf and its carcass lay in a smoldering heap on the ground. She gasped as Alucard narrowly avoided the large talons aiming for his neck. He addressed her in a firm voice, with no trace of fear. "Maria, go on, you must go to Richter at once. I'll be right behind you."

Maria thought it better not to argue, but nodded and, with a whistle, called on her trusty stead, Hylas. The white stallion heard Maria's call and, with a great leap over the dead creatures strewn about, it came to her side.

With expert grace, Maria took hold of the reins and gently leaped onto the horse's back. She looked once at Alucard, before taking off towards the direction of the village, her golden curls sweeping behind her, as she raced against time to save Richter.

"Oh, please, don't let it be too late. Don't die on us, Richter."

Finally, with one great swipe of his sword, Alucard separated the werewolf's head from its neck. Without a glance, he immediately shape-shifted into a large, white wolf, his eyes blazing as he sped away, following the tracks that Maria's horse had left behind.

'Hold on Richter, I'm coming.'


The cold air of dawn chilled the town guards standing around the firing squad area where the execution was about to take place. In front of them stood Richter. Just like his trial, he remained unbowed, his countenance straight and his eyes showing no fear. His silky cinnamon hair was swept away from his face; his hands remained bound behind his back. At his request, he stood facing his executioners, their guns aimed in front of him.

To his left stood his accusers, eying him warily, their tension palpable in their posture. One of them, named Oswald, a middle-aged lord who owned half of the farmland in the village, felt no remorse. Finally, after so long, he could proudly say that no one, not even a Belmont, now stood in his way. It was a shame seeing a good and spirited young man go to waste, but Richter had been bothersome.

Oswald had once been the most famous, feared and respected man in town. But, when Richter came into the village, that had changed. Almost everyone adored and respected Richter, and, despite being married, he was quite popular with the ladies, though he'd stayed true to his wife. The admiration that Richter received for his deeds and, painfully, his looks, of which Oswald had none, was a constant torment to the other man.

Now, after this, he hoped that thing would return to how they were. He could feel his blood burned, even at the face of death Richter was still unbowed. 'Sorry lad but you crossed the wrong people. You should have stayed away from this town, but you didn't listen.'

The Chief Officer looked gloomily at the scene presented to him. Drawing a deep breath, he signaled the men to prepare their guns, and, with one last wary look, he glanced at Richter's face. The lad's blue eyes were not clouded with fear but only acceptance of his fate.

The Chief Officer raised his hand; expertly the men aimed their guns of Richter. Just before he could deliver the command to fire, a loud, firm voice echoed through the air. "STOP! Don't shoot, lower your guns."

Astonished, the town guards did so.

'What the...?' Oswald was frantic. Who on earth would have the gall to stop the execution?

An answer to his question came; a town magistrate secretary rushed and gave a letter to the Chief Officer. With a confused glare, the chief read the note aloud. "Let it be known that the accused, Richter Belmont, is to be set free at once."

Richter himself couldn't believe what he'd heard.

"What?!" Oswald cried. "I don't believe this! Just who thinks he can stop the execution of a convicted man?!"

A firm, dulcet voice came from behind him. "I do."

When Oswald turned his head, he nearly choked both in fear and surprise. 'No it can't be... It's Solomon Noir.'

Solomon Noir stood, impassive. His black heavy turncoat failed to hide his broad frame and, standing at the height of six feet, he could make almost any man feel small. His dark eyes and shoulder-length ebony hair gave him a bit of sinister appearance. He surveyed the scene in front of him with detachment. Then, his gaze found Richter, who stood unmoving. Silent like a panther, he walked towards the convicted vampire hunter, his men following behind him, all dressed same as him, resplendent in black and with rifles in their hands.

"Solomon Noir, he's here in Wallachia... This can't be true. What on earth is he doing here?" Oswald bitterly demanded of his accomplice beside him.

Everyone froze as they saw Solomon; it was widely known how influential he was, not only for his wealth, but also for his ties with the region's royalty. He was rumored to be in second-in-command in the royal army, but in secret. No one knew his true age, but it was common knowledge that he was old, although his face showed no signs of the ravages of age.

Without glancing at Oswald and his cronies, he walked towards Richter, every step conveying an air of authority, never taking his gaze from the vampire hunter's surprised face. While the others seemed to cower under his gaze, Richter met his stare head on.

'Solomon Noir, I've heard of him before but what's he doing here? Shouldn't he be in Paris?'

As Solomon approached Richter, he frowned on seeing his arms bound. With a subtle nod of his head, he ordered his men to undo Richter's bindings.

Oswald, seeing that Richter was being freed from his bindings, reacted harshly. "What are you doing?!" he shouted angrily at Solomon. "You're letting a convicted man go free?"

"I have no business with you," he replied, his cold stare unnerving Oswald. "I need not explain why I'm freeing him and you, as well as the others, should not interfere."

Just before Oswald could retort, Richter's voice got his attention. "What do you want from me, Solomon?"

Solomon smiled to himself; feisty and spirited even though facing his death, the lad was truly worthy of his time. "I need your services, vampire hunter. With your skills, you'll be able to terminate the darkness that plagues my estates."

Oswald gasped in surprise at the nerve of the fool, yet, before he could retort, Richter's firm voice came again. "Why me? Surely you can get the others do the job for you?"

'Why indeed.' Noir couldn't contain his pleasure; instead of thanking him for saving his life, Richter asked his intention, defiant and unbroken despite what had happened to him.

But he would change that.

"I believe we can conduct our business later, Belmont. You still have "uses" for me; it would be such a waste to let a brave and strong hunter like you meet such disgraceful end."

With a subtle gesture, he ordered his men to surrounded Richter. The vampire hunter froze, his instincts telling him to run away.

"Meet me at my estate at dusk, my men will see that you get there." With that statement, Noir left the crowd, his black coat billowing behind him.

Richter gritted his teeth; when he felt Noir's men take hold of him, he struggled. "Let me go!" he shouted angrily.

Oswald was again about to voice his objection when, suddenly, he came face-to-face with a gun pointed directly at him by one of Noir's men.

"Not a word."

Oswald closed his mouth shut.

Richter struggled against Noir's men; they were having difficulty manhandling him, as he was strong and agile. Then, one took his rifle and slammed the butt against Richter's head.

Richter froze. He felt the pain in his temple, then everything went black around him.

As Richter fell to the ground, the man pointing his gun at Oswald commanded the others to take Richter's limp body to the carriage. They took Richter by the shoulders and dragged his unconscious form out of the execution grounds.

Alucard and Maria arrived at the scene just a few hours after Richter was carried away by Noir's men. Maria noticed an eerie silence throughout the camp; cautiously, she approached one of the town guards on duty, the dhampyr standing behind her at a safe distance.

'Something is not right...' Alucard thought. 'It's in the air, I can feel it.'

"Alucard..."

"Maria, where's Richter?"

"How? How do you know he's not dead?"

"I can feel it. He's still alive, something must have happened. Maria?"

"Oh, Alucard, someone took Richter away. He stopped the execution and then took Richter..." Maria didn't know what to think, Richter was safe but gone.

"What?! Who? Who took Richter?"

"They were apprehensive in telling me, but, according to one of the guards, a man named Solomon Noir took Richter."

'Solomon Noir....'

'I think I heard of him before.... No, it can't be him.'

"Alucard?"

"Maria. Listen to me. We must find Richter, he's in danger."

TBC