Don't own Hellboy. There is no way I'm going to make money off of this. I don't own Hellboy.

Nuada woke to find that Wink and Alexandria were already awake. He sat up and glared at the two of them.

"Why did you not wake me?" he asked as he pulled on his shoes.

Alex shrugged. "You looked like you'd stab one of us if we woke you up," she said as she bit into a blood red root that looked similar like a heart. She spotted his looking at it. Or maybe, she thought, he's looking at my breasts, seeing as how they are level with one another. She held up the root. "It's called bloodroot. It's not as good as real blood, but it works well enough." She grabbed a fruit from her bag that looked like a red eggplant and tossed it to Nuada, who caught it.

"Are these vampireic plants?" he asked weighing the fruit.

"No," she said as she finished the bloodroot.

"Are they human?" Nuada held the plant away from him, as though it was poisonous.

"No," she said as she packed up her bag.

Nuada stared at the fruit some more. "Are they fey?"

Alex stopped putting her cloak on and looked at the fruit in Nuada's hand. "Sort of, but not really."

Nuada frowned. "What do you mean?"

Alex shook her head and looked around, as though afraid of being overheard. "Not here, and not this close to open season."

Nuada looked at Wink, who just shrugged his shoulders. "You are afraid of these beings?"

Alex looked at Nuada. "I am not afraid of them. I'm afraid of what they could do to me." She turned away and put on her cloak the rest of the way.

Nuada looked at the fruit in his hand to his friend. "Wink, did you have one of these?" Nuada asked in troll.

The troll shook his head. "I had something called 'Coupnettle Bread'. It was not that bad."

Nuada looked down at the fruit. He hesitated then took a bight. He blinked twice in surprise. Along with a rich flavor came a sudden burst of energy, all of his hunger disappeared, and for a few seconds he thought he was a god. He swallowed his mouth full of fruit, and handed the fruit back to Alex. She smiled as she took it back, rapped it with a cloth, and put it back in her bag. She looked at his face, looked him up and down, and then smiled a little more.

"Ummm…" she said.

"What is it this time," he asked.

The vampire motioned around her face with her hands. "You got a little… umm… everywhere actually. Here," she said as she knelt before him. He moved away from her, but she simple moved forward. Using her hand she wiped the juice away from the prince's mouth. He blinked in surprise again. Then he brought his hand up and shoved her away. Quickly he stood and tried to look above what just happened, even though he still had leaves in his hair from sleeping.

"What are you doing?" he asked and at the same time the she asked: "What was that for?"

They looked at each other for a moment. "I was helping. You had stuff on your face," she tried to explain.

Nuada narrowed his eyes at her. "If I want your help, I will ask for it."

Alex shrugged. "Okay." She looked at the juices on her hand. Without even glancing at Nuada she brought her hand to her mouth. One by one she popped her fingers in her mouth, sucking off the juice. Nuada looked at this woman with disbelief. Does she know what it looks like she's doing? He thought. Nuada looked at Wink, who shook his head, not believing either. When he turned back she was done and putting on her gloves. She looked at the two off them, opened her mouth to say something, but them stopped and shook her head. She shrugged then poked at the fire with her foot. Nuada watched her for a minute while he put the rest of his clothes back on. This female didn't seem like the kind that broke easily. But there was something different from when they met the first time. And he would find out what.

They walked for at least half a day. Wink watched his master and the female ovoid each other. He knew what was wrong. The prince was not aware of how much this girl could take, so he was going to test her. The girl was the kind who spoke out right when she didn't like someone or something. Wink was a very good judge of character, but this one was something different, and the prince knew that. That's why his head was bowed for most of the journey, he was thinking. But the girl walked as though she didn't have a care in the world. But her hands were balled up. And every few seconds she would look and the prince. Nothing really happened for most of the journey, but half way through something happened.

She started to run.

Nuada say her dash out of the corner of his eyes. She was trying to get away! In raged his ran too. Alex was very fast, but so was Nuada, plus the effect of the fruit that Alex had given him was still effecting him. When they were level she turned her head and saw him. And she started to laugh! He started to run over to her. Alex saw him next to her, and suddenly she wasn't angry with him anymore. Even though he looked livid she was having the time of her life. He started to get closer to her. She pretended not to take any notice. If he was going to play with her, then she was going to play with him. Suddenly Nuada jumped. They found themselves rolling over one another, until one of them pined the other down. Alex smiled as she felt Nuada grab her shoulders and slam her to the ground.

Nuada saw her smile. "Why are you smiling?" he said as he shook her. Wink came up from behind them.

Alex then tilted her head, still smiling. "You are such an egomaniac elf that you don't know anything about vampires." She raised her curled fist right where his head would have been if it wasn't for Wink. At the last minute Wink grabbed his prince and pulled him back. Alex swung full force, using her momentum to end up on her feet. The vampire stared at the elf.

"Why are you such an asshole?" she asked as she crossed her arms.

Nuada frowned. "I do not understand."

Alex took a step forward. "First you attack me for no reason," she took a step forward. "Second you hold one of my greatest friend's daughter hostage," she took another step. "Third you insult my family," another step. "Forth, you go tackle me for no reason," one last step. They were chest to chest. Alex could feel her heart speed up. She took a deep breath through her nose. She could smell him, his wonderful, beautiful, strong sent. He had no idea how good he smelled. A vampire's noise was better than anything that was supposed to be on this world. He had no idea how hard it was just standing next to him, but all vampires were used to the pain. Not that it was really painful; she felt hunger or thirst just like anyone, but it was just harder to resist. I have no idea what I just said. Plus I don't think I represented myself right. It was a vampires' sense of smell and there hearing that made it hard. They could always smell blood, whether it is animal or human or their Dieaci. They could always hear a heartbeat. It, honestly, got old really fast.

"If I treat you so bad then why don't you leave?" he asked her.

She looked up at him. She was less than half an inch shorter than him. "I don't break promises," she said to him. She turned back and walked forward. Nuada watched and groaned.

"This woman is imposable," he said to Wink. They continued to walk forward. Three hours later Alex stopped.

"What is it?" Wink asked.

Alex turned to him. "What did he say?"

"He asked 'what is it?'"

"We're here," she said pointing to a small farm. They walked forward until the saw a small house with a barn next to it. They walked to the front door.

Alex rubbed her chin. "Do you think we should nock or just burst in?" Both men just looked at her. "Fine. I'll knock," she said. She nocked. Nuada couldn't help but look around. The place was filthy; the grass was either dead or nonexistent. The chickens that walked around looked healthy enough, but the cow was almost dead. The door opened to see a teen aged girl with skin like varnished wood and beetle black hair.

The girl watched them for a few moments through her purple eyes. "Mom," she said shakily.

A woman with black hair the same shade as the teenager came to the door. Her brown eyes widened in surprise. "Alex!" The woman looked behind the vampire to the elf and the troll. Then she looked around outside, making sure that no one was there. "Come inside, quickly!" She moved aside to let them. "Ivy! Go and get some proper clothes on," she said gesturing to the girl's pink nightclothes. The girl, Ivy, blushed a color that almost looked like sap, and raced up the stairs.

The girl's mother grabbed Alexandria's arm, and for some reason the vampire let herself be dragged along by this woman. She grabbed a boiling kettle and poured a dark liquid into a cup.

"It's so nice of you to drop by," she said as she handed Alex the cup. "I never get visitors."

"I wonder why?" Alex asked sarcastically as she took a sip of the dark liquid.

The mother picked up a wooden spoon off the table and hit her on top of the head with it. "Hush, remember what you learned about respecting your elders," the mother looked up at Nuada and Wink. "Are going to introduce me to your friends?"

"Oh, right. Sorry." Alex took another sip of the tea. It wasn't that bad. "This is Nuada, and his friend is…" she blinked and looked at Wink. "I am so sorry, but I never asked your name."

"His name is Wink," he said sternly.

The mother gestured to the two remaining chairs. "Please, help yourself."

Nuada said nothing, but he did sit down. Wink, on the other hand, remand standing.

"It's so nice that you can to visit me, Alex. Especially with your friend. I always said that you need to settle down and now that you have-"

She was cut off by Alex choking on her tea. "Lia, Nuada and I aren't…" she stopped and looked at Nuada. "I mean that were not…"

Nuada looked from Lia to Alex. "She is not my mate," he said firmly. Lia visibly hardened.

"Well, it's about time you should," Lia said shaking the wooden spoon. "A young girl like you should have her pick of a husband."

Alex snorted. "We both know that no man would have me."

Lia softened again. "Well, there is hope yet. Know, what do you need?"

"Train Tickets," answered Alex with a smile.

Lia gave a small snicker. "You haven't heard about the new law then."

Alex and Nuada looked at each other. "What new law?" Nuada asked while glaring at Alex.

Lia smiled. "It has become law that women wear skirts while on the rails." She smiled at Alex.

Alex shook her head. "No. No, no, no, no, no, no," she walked towards the door.

"Alex!" Alex turned to the mother. "You forgot your cloak." Alex reached for her cloak. Nuada snatched it up.

"Give it!" she yelled at him. He didn't let go. She shrugged and walked out the door. He looked the cloak in his hand and groaned. Quickly he walked after her. She was half way to the barn when Nuada grabbed her shoulder and turned her around. After seeing all of her exposed skin was starting to peel off he wrapped the cloak around her. She clung to the cloak, bring it closer.

"I am very glad that I don't burn instantly," she commented. She continued to walk to the barn. Nuada was about to follow her when he felt a familiar hand on his shoulder.

"She needs to be left along for a while, sire," his fateful friend said.

"I do not understand."

"The vampire is a warrior. She would want to wear a dress about as much as you."

Nuada frowned. "There is a difference."

"She does not see one."

Nuada sneered. "How could she not. Women wear dresses. That are how it is. That is how it has always been, and always will be. Who is she to change that?"

Wink shook his head. "You do not understand where she grew up. In Vampire women wear pants as much as they wear dresses. Some, like Alex, do not wear dresses at all. And they are accepted in society. They are who they are, and in their world they are allowed to be who they are. They can be no one else. But that is not how we do it here. And she does not understand. And will never understand. She is very much the feminist."

Nuada looked at Wink. "How do you know this?"

Wink gave a small chuckle. "I've been around for a long time, my prince. And I have met many people. And all have learned much from these travels."

"Then do you know whom Alexandria was talking about earlier? She said that she would not speak them so close to open season. What did she mean?"

Wink itched his chin. "I am not sure. I have never heard anything like what she said this morning."

Nuada frowned.

Later that evening Alex sat on the roof of the barn, staring up at the stars. She could hear three people snoring, but one was still awake, and he was trying to decide whether to come up and talk to her or not. She smelled him getting closer, she heard him starting to climb the later to the hayloft, and then climb through the large hole in the roof.

"Alexandria," he said as he pulled himself out of the hole.

She turned to him. "Nuada." And she laid down on the roof, looking at the stars. She could hear him getting closer. When he was right next to her she looked up. He looked down on her with confusion, he was almost studying her. Trying to figure out what made her her. She couldn't help but smile.

"You can't just look at me and figure me out. You're going to have to try harder," she said as she watched the stars.

"Who are you?" he asked shaking his head.

She didn't even have to turn to him. She had heard the question a million times before. "I am Alexandria Josefina Victorsin. I am a vampire. I am me," and she said no more.

He shook his head. She looked up at him and smiled. She patted the roof next to her. Slowly he sat down. "Who were you talking about before?"

Alex bit her lip and sat up. "It's not good to talk about them, but oh well." She put her arms around her legs. "I am not going to say their names, but I can tell you what little I know."

"Why did you say that you aren't going to speak about them this close to open season? What is open season?" he asked crossing his legs.

Alex took a deep breath. "Open season is when they let their haunts out to play. It's called open season because that when they can play with anyone, well almost anyone. Open season is also called Fall." Alex looked off. "The season of fear."

"Why do they scare people?"

Alex shrugged and leaned on her hand. "Sometimes people are too proud and need to be scared. Others aren't scared of the haunts' masters so them they scare them. Some scare to stop what happened to them from happening to other people. Some scare for fun, others for treats. Others are just doing what their told." She stopped and pointed. Nuada followed her hand to see the young girl. She was looking around franticly, as though something was about to jump out and eat her. "The haunts are more common in human lands then in fey, but sometimes they cross over. Everyone has had contact with a haunt at least once in their lives. Mostly you see them when you're a child, when you believe everything, but sometimes the person is just too head strong, or proud, or brave to admit that their afraid. Ivy is probably to head strong, and that's why they'll come and scare her this year. And the next year. And the nest year. Until she learns her place."

"You talk as though being head strong or brave are bad things."

Alex shook her head and closed her eyes. "I am a very head strong girl. That's part of the reason I can't find a man. I have a bad habit of pushing the envelope. But I know my place when it comes to minor gods."

Nuada stared at Alex. "The haunts work for minor gods?"

Alex looked at him with weary eyes. "Yep."

Nuada looked closely at her. "You have seen one before."

She nodded. "Not a haunt, but just as scary."

"When did this happen?"

"A few months after my mother did, about a week and a half after the Great War ended."

Nuada thought carefully before going on. He was going into hallowed ground. "What happened?"

She shook her head again and looked away. "I don't like to talk about it."

But Nuada thought up another question. "If they only get Autumn to scare people then why was Ivy scared now?"

"They have people living here year round. They spread rumors, tell tales, and even kill to keep people scared. They get everything ready for the haunts arrival. These I have met many of."

Nuada frowned a little. "Why don't they just keep the haunts here year round?"

"They don't need people scared all of the time. The ones that stay here year round aren't usually as powerful as the ones that only come out at Fall, but you can't define a species by only a few individuals."

"What happened to the ones that tried to scare you?"

Alex gave Nuada a meaningful look. "I kill them. Most try to stay away from me as soon as they know my reputation."

"Why do they usually stay in human lands?"

Alex smiled. "Are we playing 'twenty questions'? The humans have a bad problem of forgetting their place when it comes to the gods. And when that happens the gods let the minor gods know, and the minor gods send out their minions. Sometimes they break their words or insult one of the gods or minor gods. At those times the haunts are called to."

"Just like a human," he commented.

Alex looked at him and frowned a little. Then she laid back and looked at the stars. He just looked at her.

"Are you going to come with us?" he asked suddenly.

She smiled. "You mean 'are you going to wear a dress?'" she shrugged. "I guess so. I want to go, you need me to go, and also it might be fun. I haven't worn a dress since the new queen came to power."

"How long ago was that?"

"About two years, maybe more."

Nuada shook his head. "How can you ignore tradition?"

She shook her head, got up, and walked over to the hole. "Just because you like to wear skirts doesn't mean I like to."

She started to laugh when Nuada chased after her.