The night was calm and clear under the light of the full moon. The faintest breeze blew against what little grass had dared poke through the dry earth. The blades danced lazily to and fro in the shadows of the night. In the distance a grand castle loomed silently in the night. It was enveloped strangely both by the darkness and the pale moonlight. The castle had seemly appeared out of thin air. None of the local villagers or constant travelers of the land had seen such a sight before. Stranger still, no one had witnessed the castle being built.

Night after night the castle lay dormant; silent and dark, as if the castle itself was nothing more than an illusion. This night, however, was different from the nights past. This night a man brought the castle to life. He had entered the castle on a whim looking for any sighs of disturbance. The man had made a promise to himself as well as to someone very special to him to seek out and stop the demon plaguing the land with destruction and death. His long blonde hair shone almost white in the moonlight. What little wind there was blew long strands across his face and over his dark cape which was also fluttering lightly behind him. The man's name was Adrian Tepes. He was journeying to put an end to the lord of darkness, the man he called father, Lord Dracula.

Alucard as he calls himself had fought against his father for most of his ageless life. After the murder of his wife Dracula went mad with fury and sorrow. He vowed endless revenge on mankind for taking away the only thing that ever brought joy to his life. Alucard understood all too well why his father felt such hatred towards humans. He too had felt the same rush of anger and sadness at the loss of his mother. His mother, however, had told him not to punish man for what would befall her. Humans are indeed imperfect creatures, and their lives are filled with enough misery to last several lifetimes. Alucard had tried reasoning with his father many times, but the rage he still felt was too great even for his own son to tame.

Now here he stood once more at the entrance to his father's castle. Steeling himself he unsheathed his family's sword from his side and stepped forward. A lone Warg greeted him as he took his first steps into the castle. He dispatched it swiftly and continued on his way. As the moon slowly made its way across the sky Alucard traveled deeper and deeper into the castle. Hordes of demons and monsters fell before his sword. Each creature he slayed gave him more strength to aid in the battle that was to come. He felt a twinge of pain thinking about facing his immortal father in combat once again, but the pain was only a drop in an ocean of painful memories.

"Why have you come here, young master?" a cool voice called out from the shadows breaking Alucard from his focus.

He stopped but made no reply. He knew the owner of that voice very well. Narrowing his eyes he turned in the direction the voice had called and waited. His patience was well rewarded as the owner of the voice emerged from the inky blackness. The being before him wore a long cloak of purple and black and carried an enormous scythe in its boney hand.

"You should know by now that you cannot defeat the master," Death chuckled, "Kill him a thousand times and he will still come back as strong as he once was. Even the hand of his own son does not keep him away for long."

"Be that as it may," Alucard replied coldly, "the suffering he causes stops when he is gone."

Death laughed at this, "What does it matter? This world and its inhabitants are destined to burn either way. What good comes from extending their time by a century or two?"

"It brings them hope," Alucard replied without thinking.

Again Death laughed, "Indeed, hopes that in the end they will be saved."

Death began fading without saying another word. His laughter echoed off the walls of the castle for a few seconds after he had vanished. Looking down Alucard hesitated for a moment before continuing. It was true that no matter what he or any other hunter did Dracula always returned to the world. As Alucard neared the throne room he questioned to himself if what he was doing was really worth it in the end. If mankind was really destined to be extinguished why prolong their suffering? Taking a breath to steady himself he pushed the door to the throne open slowly.

Sitting lifeless in the throne was Lord Dracula. He held a golden goblet absently in his hand and had his eyes closed with his chin resting ever so slightly on his chest. Alucard knew his father sensed him, but closed the door behind him without a sound. He walked equally as silent into the throne room and stood before his father. Dracula did not move an inch during this time. His son eyed him both defensively and with careful curiosity. He had never experienced being in his father's throne room and not being met with dangerous hostility. Had he been anyone else Dracula would have looked like a tired and heartbroken man dozing in his chair. Alucard knew he was not sleeping but dared not say a word.

Finally the silence was broken by the softest voice Alucard had ever heard from his father, "Son…"

Alucard's heart skipped a beat. The question formed in his mind if this was indeed his father or an imposter. Sensing his son's confusion Dracula opened his eyes slowly and raised his head. The crimson orbs saw the uneasiness in Alucard as he took a single step away from the throne. Cracking the smallest of smiles he let the goblet he was holding fall from his hand. It landed on the floor with a loud echoing clang. A small amount of blood dripped from its interior as it lay on its side. Dracula leaned back and stretched his fingers over the arms of the throne as he rested his arms upon them.

"How long it has been," Dracula said just as softly as before.

"I know not the game you are playing," Alucard replied taking his sword from its sheath, "but I have come to put an end to this."

Now Dracula spoke with more authority, "A game is exactly what we are playing, an endless game of death and rebirth."

Hardening his stance Alucard stated firmly, "Then perhaps it is time to end the game."

Dracula's long nails scraped against the arms of the chair as he moved his arms back. Alucard was prepared for his father, but it seemed the lord of darkness was not ready to fight as he relaxed in his throne once more.

"I have lost count of how many times I've been brought back," Dracula said almost to himself, "It is always the same. Hunters come and go but I…I am constant…"

Alucard saw the timeless sorrow in his father's face. It pained him to see him so, but he could not let his emotions get the better of him. For all he knew his father could be playing a trick on him. Alucard did not know if Dracula would kill his own son, but he was not about to throw down his sword and find out. One thing he knew for certain was that his father was no fool when it came to playing with emotions.

"Perhaps I can change that," Alucard said at last when Dracula remained still.

Now the anger Alucard knew all too well surfaced on the face of his father. His glowing red eyes met the golden disks of his son's as he rose slowly from his seat. Alucard could see white fangs emerge as his father drew his upper lip up in a snarl. Without a word Dracula yelled in anger and summoned three fireballs to fly directly at Alucard. He dodged them with ease and swung his sword around in a large arch. The father and the son stood motionless staring at one another for what seemed like eternity before they both launched themselves into battle.

Dracula teleported himself away from his throne and appeared again several feet across from Alucard laughing all the while. He no longer looked like the tired man feigning off sleep nor the grief stricken wretch some of the hunters mused him to be. Standing before Alucard was Count Vlad Tepes Dracula, the lord of darkness in all his glory ready for a war. Alucard could not help damning the smile he saw on his father's lips. It was always like this no matter who he fought. It was the mad smile that showed he was not afraid of death, for he would forever return to the world of man.

"Come Alucard," Dracula mocked offering his son a deep bow, "let us see how much you have improved over the centuries!"

Setting his jaw firmly Alucard rushed his father. Rising from his bow Dracula teleported himself away just as the tip of Alucard's blade pierced into his cold flesh. The battle went on, as these battles do, with the two exchanging blows. Alucard could not always move away from his father fast enough to avoid all of his attacks while Dracula could not always avoid his son's sword. As the battle grew in intensity a small blue orb had appeared by the throne. Unnoticed by either the orb grew slowly in size until it was about four times the size it had been when it first appeared. It lingered by the throne pulsing brighter every other minute and then diming back to its original brilliance.

The battle between Alucard and his father had been equal in terms of damage taken and damage received before Alucard paused in his attack. His eyes had caught sight of the blue orb that had materialized by his father's throne. Dracula, having not noticed nor perhaps cared why his son's focus had shifted away from him, appeared behind Alucard and drove his hand deep into the right side of his back. Alucard cried out in both pain and surprise as Dracula's fingers burst through his chest. The orb began floating back and forth in front of the throne as if in concern, its pulses went in and out like flickering candlelight.

Dracula removed his hand from Alucard and stepped back laughing, "You dropped your guard. I thought I taught you better than that."

Alucard put a hand to his chest and turned away from the orb. Blood dripped from his wound and his mouth as he stared hard at his father. He had only been wounded seriously by Dracula once. This was now threatening for a second time. Alucard did not respond with words, but instead motioned to the blue orb. Dracula humored his son and cast a glance at his throne. When his eyes met the orb his smile faded. The blood of his son was dripping from his hand as he took a step forward.

"What is this?" Dracula demanded looking from the orb to Alucard, "Your tricks won't work on me boy."

Struggling to keep his voice steady Alucard replied, "It is no trick of mine, I assure you of that."

In response to their confusion the orb floated away from the throne and approached the two. It seemed to hesitate for a moment before dipping to the floor. A white light emerged from it so brilliantly that both Dracula and Alucard had to shield their eyes. When they looked back the orb was gone, and in its place was a vision of a beautiful woman. She was transparent, but her features were all too clear for the men who saw her.

"M…mother…?" Alucard stammered taking a step back and dropping his sword.

The woman smiled gently at Alucard and said in the calmest of voices, "Yes son…"

"Lisa?" Dracula questioned with a look of mistrust.

The woman drew her eyes to Dracula and her smile widened, "My love…how I've longed to see you again."

Dracula held her gaze yet remained still, "Is it really you, or a dream?"

"I cannot say for certain," she replied advancing toward them, "I have tried so many times to return to you."

Here she paused and looked at the blood on Dracula's hand. He could see the pain on her face and wished he had the presence of mind to wipe the blood away.

"How have you come back mother?" Alucard asked reaching a hand out toward her.

Lisa moved away from her son's reaching hand, "I do not have much time. It pains me to see you fight amongst each other," she paused to look at Dracula, "There has been so much needless bloodshed."

Taking a moment to collect herself Lisa floated to Alucard and placed a hand to his wound. It passed right through him and appeared on the other side of his body. When she drew it back his wound had healed. The slight pain he felt there was now gone as well. Then she moved to Dracula's side.

"I know I cannot stop you from seeking revenge," she said lowering her eyes, "We are indeed foolish creatures…I can't even ease your suffering," she brought her eyes back to his, "but I want you to know that I still love you. I will always love you, my dearest."

The agony Alucard saw on his father's face was almost unbearable. He imagined he must have had that very look upon his face when his mother was killed, however he never saw it for himself. Then something even more shocking took hold of him. For the first time in all of his life Alucard saw his father cry. The pain in his chest had returned except this time it was not caused by a physical wound. Blood spilled from his father's eyes as he reached towards Lisa.

"Forgive me," he whispered, "I was not there…to save you."

Tears formed in Lisa's eyes as she replied, "It was something that could not be helped."

Her tears spilled over as Dracula's hand passed through her face. Breathing heavily Lisa regained composure of herself. She looked a moment longer at Dracula then back to Alucard forcing a smile to her face.

"Do not mourn me any longer," she stated, "Remember me as I was, not what I am now."

Alucard nodded at once to her and stepped forward to join his parents. Dracula wiped the bloody tears from his own eyes and straightened himself.

"I must apologize to the both of you," he said with his head bowed slightly, "I let my own grief and anger dominate my actions. So much so that I neglected to see the damage it caused our son, as well as the sorrow it must have brought you, my love."

Alucard looked from his father, to his mother. He saw the humility from his father and the instant forgiveness of his mother. They seemed almost like a family again, but Lisa's time was short. They all knew she would have to leave them soon.

"If I am able I would come back to see you both again," Lisa said as she began to fade, "Adrian, you have become a man in your own right. Know that you have made your mother proud."

Alucard smiled at her and stated, "Yes mother. Thank you."

Before she faded completely she turned to Dracula and placed a gentle touchless kiss upon his lips and began, "I love you with all of my being my love. Never forget that."

Lisa reached out and touched the hand her son had offered her earlier as well as the bloodstained hand of Dracula. She smiled gently at them before vanishing. Alucard and Dracula remained still for several moments letting the image of Lisa burn into their minds. Neither knew why she was able to show herself to them but neither cared. All that mattered to them was that they had seen her.

Alucard was the first to move. He took a step back before turning to pick up his sword. He gazed at it for a second before returning it to its rightful place by his side. Looking upon his still motionless father he lowered his head slightly and began to exit the throne room. He was almost to the door when Dracula called to him. It was gentle as it had been when Alucard first entered the room.

"Adrian," he said.

Alucard turned and looked back in question. His own name sounded foreign coming from his father's lips. He had half an idea that Dracula would come after him. That he would forget the meeting with Lisa and finish the job he had started when he had impaled him with his hand. When he saw the look on his father's face the thought was quickly erased.

"Forgive me," Dracula stated, "I have not been the father you were meant to have."

Alucard considered his statement then half smiled, "No. It was not meant to be like this, but I would not ask for a replacement."

Alucard turned and left without seeing his father's reaction. He was not sure he would be able to hold his composure after experiencing his father's grief and after seeing his mother. As he exited the castle his thoughts turned to when he first fought against his father alongside Trevor Belmont. He was sure his father would have killed him right then and there if he was given the chance. As they fought he sensed the slightest bit of hesitation from Dracula, but he soon dismissed the idea. Thinking back on it now he was more than certain his father had been holding back when they fought. He may have evil intent for humans, but Alucard was still his son.

The sun was just beginning to rise in the distance as Alucard left the castle behind him. Pulling in a deep breath of the fading night he thanked whomever it was that was responsible for allowing his mother to manifest herself. His father surely needed to see her, and Alucard knew he needed to see her again as well. Smiling lightly to himself he walked off to the west.

Back in the throne room Dracula watched his son leave. He could have stopped him if he wanted. Could have quite possibly ended his son's suffering if he so chose. They had both suffered greatly at the loss of Lisa all those ages ago. Without his son Dracula would be truly alone in the world. He was not sure his cold heart could bear the burden of being alone again. When he was still human the loss of his wife had been painful. So much so that he sought eternal life in the darkness just to try to return her to his side. Even if he could not bring her back becoming a creature of the night would at least ease his suffering.

As a vampire the pain of losing Lisa had been even more unbearable. He had loved her with all of his being as did she in return. She had given him a son which he still loved to this day even though he was not sure Alucard loved him in return. Blood began forming in Dracula's eyes again but he refused to let them fall this time. He moved away from the advancing sunlight pooling in from outside the castle.

The lord of darkness would never fully be at peace with mankind; however he was less ruthless with the villages and hunters that crossed his path. The soul of a loved one is a powerful thing. It is powerful enough to calm the deepest darkness of a person, and sometimes even a vampire lord.