Alucard sipped the wine from the back of the confessional and stared at his rough, scribbled map. The fallen Belmont was in the throne room at the top of the keep; it would be a simple matter to end this entire charade right now. But...
It was not that he believed it was impossible for Trevor's line to fall so far. In many ways it was easier to believe that than that every single man for the past three centuries had been happy to stand alone as a bulwark against Dracula's evil. He knew not the reason why this Belmont had lost his way, and it was not his job to care. He was simply here to destroy the castle.
It was the castle that was the problem. It lavished gifts upon him: swords perfectly fitted to his hand, armour that required no adjustment to his frame, more food than he could eat, precious magics that always let him progress. It was if he was expected.
There was but one law to the chaos: the castle answered only to its master.
The Belmont had neither knowledge nor motive to give Alucard this surfeit of gifts.
To add to the mystery, there were places the castle clearly did not want him to reach. Though it granted him passage eventually, it was reluctant, the methods obscure and hidden past dark corridors he had already explored. He'd made the map in desperation, in a bid to recall all the places barred to him until he had some extra trick or spell.
He'd uncovered many of them, but was no closer to unraveling the mystery. He tapped at the map, trying to learn where he could go next. He'd raked the catacombs and caverns thoroughly, bribed the old librarian until the man acquiesced to correct the map of his domain, and circled the clock tower for hours. Nothing.
A note caught his eye. 'Spikes - blue door' It marked a passage near him, and at last he had armor strong enough to withstand spikes. He'd had a way through the enchanted doors for ages. But anything hidden so thoroughly must be valuable indeed.
Alucard did not smile as he tucked away his map and prepared to leave, but he considered it.
The spikes were easily turned away. The door opened to his touch. Beyond there were more spikes, followed by a grate only mist could pass, and it was hard to tamp down a feeling like eagerness as Alucard opened the final door. The castle /did not want/ him here. Therefore, what was here must be the key.
Inside there was but a table, two chairs, and...the hunter girl? Mary - no, Maria - was looking out a window at the grey skies, tapping one foot and humming. There was no other way into the room but the way Alucard had came. He looked behind him, just in case. Spikes, a grate, more spikes. The girl had no armor. How...?
"It's you again," she said, and Alucard had to jerk his attention back. It seemed she'd noticed his presence. "Did you-"
"How did you get here?" he interrupted.
"How...?" Maria looked confused, then amused. "With my legs, of course. You might be strong, but you're not skilled at navigating the castle, are you?" She kept going while Alucard resisted snapping at her that he had grown up in the castle and certainly knew more than some human child. "You have to be quick, and notice all the details. But that's not important right now. Did you find anything about Richter?"
He told her, and of course she didn't believe him. She shoved past him in her haste to leave, as if mere will would bring the Belmont back to the path of righteousness.
It was after she left that it occurred to Alucard to turn around. The grate was right behind him, surely she could not pass it...?
The hunter girl was gone as if she had never been.
Alucard stared after her for five minutes before he thought to search the room for something - anything - more useful.
There was only a small golden ring with a ruined inscription.
He cursed and sat down at the table to look at his map again.