Okay, so I might skip a few months here and there if I need to. I've got a plan, don't worry. (I'm crazy, but it's a good plan, I promise) Sooo, I'm going to have this be mostly Zara for a while, purely because… just because. Mostly because anything anyone else will be saying/doing would be just filler. She's where the important stuff is right now! I may have longer spaces between my chapters, because I need to focus on my schoolwork because I've been neglecting it in favor of this story. (I can't wait for summer vacation) June sixth and I'm all free! Free until high school starts! *Gulp* Oh that's going to be fun. I hate middle school, so how much will I hate high school, where the grades will actually matter in your future? I'm just barely scraping the bottom with math as it is!

Zara's POV:

I stared at my newest medicine supply. Now, I knew I shouldn't be injecting that into myself. But, every day, for about two weeks after that first one, I had been. Sometimes it was a sludgy brown liquid, sometimes it was a neon yellow, or the plain old clear. This one was a bright and shiny red. I peered at it closely, and shook the needle a little. Is it blood? I asked Schrö, who would know better than me. I felt his little cat-self rise to the surface of my mind, then sink again. Nein. I don't know what it is. I've never seen anything like it in Doc's stores. Now Schrö, despite his many, many annoying traits, usually knew exactly what they were making me take. When he didn't, he could usually tell me what it did. Him not knowing or seeing it work before made me nervous.

I winced, and pushed it into my arm, which was dotted with tiny red pinpricks, like a swarm of mosquitoes had attacked me. I felt a slight throb in my arm, then nothing. Any difference? I felt a queasy sensation as Schrö moved around. Nein...I don't think so. Vith you, it's rather hard to tell, but your reproductively level may have spurted a little. I sighed, rummaging around in the pantry for some Fruit Loops. I munched on them silently, then headed over to my bedroom. I stood in front of the mirror, peering at my reflection critically. I had bags under my eyes from my irregular schedule, which made me think I may have switched several time zones. I was skinny, and rather bony, because for the first few weeks I didn't use the needles, and they had to starve me into doing it.

My arms, as I said, were covered with puncture marks. I sighed and took a shower, scrubbing at my hands and arms repeatedly. Roll call. I said, feeling for my familiars, both borrowed and owned. Mark is here. I felt him stir in my mind, attracted by the running water. Snap is here. My little bat familiar snapped at me. He was named both for the sound of his wings and his temper. I had a hunch he belonged to that really mean light orb. Hiss is here. My cobra uncoiled within my mind, waving its head before retreating. I smirked to myself. If anyone so much as set foot in my room, they would be dead as dodos. My canines suddenly shot foreword, and I felt a drop of poison dangling at their tips. I mentally shooed the snake away, and felt my fangs withdraw. The poison fell to the enamel floor, burning a tiny hole in it.

Ray is here. I felt a burst of spastic energy as my hummingbird flickered to and fro in my mind. I really didn't see his use, but I supposed he would make a good getaway form. So it went, I had a whole bunch of familiars, some useful, some not, but all helpful in their own way. That was kinda the whole problem. If anyone, and I mean anyone, stepped foot in this room, I would be out in a flash. But no one ever did. My room had tiny vents, and those were the only outlets to the world. No windows or doors, locked or otherwise, hidden or in plain sight. It was like I was the only person in the world.

I staggered over to my bed, and fell on it, exhausted. I felt a tiny flicker in my mind, then darkness closed in around me. I woke up on a cliff, of all stupid places. It was a pretty nice cliff, as cliffs go. Pretty flowers, soft grass, nice view of the moon. But it was still a bloody cliff. I walked over to the edge, intending to jump off and go to a different dream, when a voice stopped me. "Zara? What are you doing?" I turned, seeing Alucard reclining a little bit away on the grass, apparently completely at ease. I frowned. He seemed different. More…oh, crap. He looked up at the moon, red eyes sparkling. "Beautiful night, isn't it?" I nodded, edging back towards the cliff so I could exit Stage Now.

He looked at me suddenly. "Come. Sit with me." He said, patting the ground beside him. I froze, wanting to get away, but not sure how to distract him so I could. He grinned invitingly, and I actually stepped forward a pace. No, no, no, no, no! Schrö screamed in my mind. Get away from there! I tried to go the way I wanted, but it was like I was set in reverse. Every time I tried to step back, I stepped forward, until I was a few meters away from Alucard. I'm trying! What should I do!? Schrö shook his head violently. I don't know! Try to move towards him or something! If you're really stuck in reverse it might work. I stepped forward, but that didn't work the way I wanted it to.

"Come lover." He purred, yanking me down on top of him. I squirmed, feeling myself blush hotly when he called me that. Now what!? Do something! Schrö paused, and I could feel his hesitation. I can't! This isn't you mind! He said finally, and I felt confused. What? He struggled against something, I could feel him doing it. I don't know! I can't do anything if it's not in your mind! This is some sort of implanted hallucination or something! My mind raced. This was probably what was in the syringe, wasn't it? But why would they want me to dream something like this?! He stopped, and I felt his exhaustion. I don't know. Vait… you said that you vould have strong kids, right? Maybe this is their way of inducing you to breed. Seems stupid, but you are female.

I would have punched him, but since he was a ghost, and a regenerating one at that, it wouldn't have done me much good. Shut up. I realized that Alucard was talking, but I only paid attention for half a second before I knew I should be waking up right about now. He seemed to notice my inattention, and said "Are you alright?" The voice was right, the behavior was right, the image was right, but I knew this was all a lie. "I'm worried about Alucard." I said, looking at the huge moon. "I'm right here." He said, pulling me closer and nibbling on my ear. I blushed red, glad Schrö had hightailed it. "Y-yeah I know. I'm just worried about him." He looked confused. "I'm right here." He repeated, sounding slightly angry. "I know. You said that already, and I never said you were wrong. I was talking about Alucard."

He growled. "Stop talking about me like I'm not here. I'm Alucard." I jerked away, managing to sit up. "No, you're not. Falls down on three counts. One, this is all a dream. Two, Alucard respects my personal space. But most importantly-" I bent down and whispered in the copy's ear. "-I'm not his lover, and he knows it." I stabbed it with one of my silver daggers, but I felt a churning in my gut when I saw him dissolve. Even dying, it still maintained Alucard's face and form. Schrö rose in my mind. Vell done. I thought he had you. I shuddered, rubbing my upper arms. Perish the thought. I'm not having kids, at least until I'm old. Even if they somehow force a child on me, I still won't accept it.

I was suddenly catapulted awake, like someone had thrown me out of my dream. I staggered over to the screen, and said spitefully. "Your stupid hallucination failed. I spotted the fake as soon as it opened its mouth." The screen suddenly lit up. "What makes you think we failed? We know he is your one big weakness." I rolled my eyes. "The only weakness I ever had is dead and buried. A weakness is usually weak, and I have yet to see anyone down Alucard for more than a few hours." The screen changed. "You care for him. He is a weakness." I must admit, these people didn't take a hint. "No, he isn't. What is this leading up to? What do you WANT!? This is stupid and pointless!"

I certainly didn't expect an answer. In all truth, I expected to be collar-zapped. What I got was completely different. "You are the descendant of powerful ancestors. We can use your children for the power and righteousness of God and His crusades." I glared at the tiny flickering screen. "You people just admitted you were from the Vatican. Also, I'm not getting pregnant anytime soon, you can bet on that." The screen flickered out. I snorted at this and went to watch some TV. Five hours later, I was getting sleepy, but didn't dare to fall asleep. Hiss, guard duty please. He slid out of my arm and draped himself in an out-of-the-way corner, where he could see me and the whole room so it was impossible for them to try anything. Tell me if you feel sleepy, or there are people , or if anything changes.

I felt his agreement, and drifted off into a dreamless black slumber. I woke up the next morning, feeling completely rested. I rolled over, seeing Hiss was back in my body. I sat up, making sure nothing had changed. Hiss assured me nothing was wrong, and I took him at his word. I slid out of bed, stumbling over to the kitchen, hoping that I would be spared the next dose of whatever they were giving me. No such luck, there was a vial of blackish-reddish liquid. "The heck?" I said, turning it over in my hands. Schrö, what is this? No answer. Schrö? Schrödinger? SCHRÖ! Still nothing. Warrant Officer Schrödinger, you better say something this instant or I will kill you repeatedly and painfully.

I waited hopefully, but he didn't say anything. I slammed the vial down, turning to the screen. "What did you do?" I growled through clenched teeth. It flickered to life. "Nothing. What on earth are you talking about?" I waved the needle with its blackish colored red stuff around so the hidden cameras I knew were there could see it. "What is this stuff?" The screen went dead. I grabbed a bread-roller and held it above the screen carefully. "Tell me this instant or I smash the screen." It hurriedly flickered to life. "A cleansing agent. We need to start over, or the accumulated injections will build up in your system and kill you." I glared at it suspiciously. "And why couldn't you just say that, I wonder?" I said musingly, looking closely at the liquid. The screen went dead again.

I wondered just what this stuff was. One thing I did know, I really, really, really did not want it inside me. But what choice did I have? I didn't want to die. I started to move the needle towards my skin… then stopped. I couldn't do it. I knew something bad was in that syringe. If I didn't know what, why should I assume I would rather live than have it in me? So I did something very stupid. First, I need you. What is this stuff? I waited, half-hoping he wouldn't show up, then sighed. No answer. I was alone. None of my animals could place the liquid, only that it had a bad smell. Schrö wasn't answering me, and I couldn't feel his presence at all.

What should I do? I ran my hands through my hair, thinking. The liquid on the counter sloshed uninvitingly. What would Schrö want me to do? He'd probably say to try it. Integra? Nope, she'd leave it alone. Techno and the others? They'd grab it themselves. Alucard? He'd say it wouldn't matter if he drank it. Seras? She'd squeak and run, avoiding it altogether. Roger? Also a big no-no. So, basically, most of the people I knew wouldn't have touched the needle at all, and thrown it in the garbage can instead. My hand crept out, reaching for the syringe. I shouldn't do this, I shouldn't do this, I shouldn't do this, I shouldn't do this. In one movement I grabbed the needle and plunged it into my arm. I felt a wave of shock as I watched the liquid drain into my arm. WHAT HAVE I DONE!?

That's it. Cliffhanger! Two chapters in one day, I'm impressed with myself. Das is gut. The blacky-red stuff is bad, very bad, no matter how you look at it. You won't be told what it is until later. No hints either. I'm being stubborn. NONE SHALL KNOW WHAT THE ICKY BLACK STUFF IS! Thank you. Review, Request, Rcomment. Auf Wedersien!