I own Nothing
So this chapter was supposed to be up for Christmas. But I got swamped with work and wrapped up in a few family dramas that left little time to write. Better late than never I suppose.
As always, Please Review
Dracula paced back and forth along the dimly lit corridor outside the transport room. Worry etched deep lines across his ageless face. Alucard, his son, had not returned to the castle after his shift in the watchtower. At first, Dracula had dismissed it, thinking Alucard might have been delayed or found some intriguing diversion. But as the hours ticked by, and day turned to evening, the gnawing anxiety in Dracula's undead heart had intensified.
Seated in the corridor, a single chair provided minimal comfort, the Librarian skimmed through one of the advanced mathematics books that Alucard had borrowed from Michael Holt to aid in his studies, he was more engrossed in the book than worried about Alucard being overdue.
"Where is he... why hasn't he come home yet?" Dracula mumbled to himself, his voice tinged with worry.
"I do not know," The librarian responded without looking up from his own book, his tone indifferent.
Dracula continued his pacing, his regal attire rustling softly with each step. "I do not understand... his Sentinel duty should have ended over twelve hours ago. Why hasn't he returned?"
The librarian remained impassive; his eyes locked onto the text. "Lord Adrian returned exactly one minute after his required duty was complete. He returned and left immediately. It is not uncommon behaviour for the lord to come back only to immediately go out again,"
"But has he ever been gone this long before?" Dracula inquired; his voice more insistent.
The librarian pondered, flipping a page before responding. "A few times, yes,"
The uncertainty in the castle weighed heavily on Dracula. "Where does he go during these times?"
The librarian's answer came with a hint of speculation. "The library or the Belmonts', I would assume,"
"Yet you do not know?" Dracula pressed, seeking clarity.
"It is not my place to question the lord of the castle or dictate where they go," the librarian replied, as he turned another page.
Dracula nodded, acknowledging the librarian's wisdom. "Of course," he conceded, before resuming his restless pacing. After several moments of silence, he halted abruptly. "Perhaps we should contact him. Check-in and make sure he is safe,"
The librarian finally looked up from his book, his spectacles reflecting a hint of annoyance. "And how, pray tell, do you intend to manage that? You have no physical form. You cannot use your magic while you reside in the soul stone, and the spirit weave does not extend outside the castle walls," he pointed out. "I can count the number of things you can interact with in this castle on one hand,"
Dracula's frustration was palpable but suddenly he got an idea. "You could use the Mirror of Shadows to find him,"
"The Mirror of Shadows only obeys the lord of the castle," the librarian reminded him.
"Then one of the transmission mirrors, surely there must be a few of those in the castle," Dracula suggested. "You can use those,"
The librarian inclined his head in agreement. "Yes, I can,"
"Excellent," Dracula said with a sense of urgency as he strode down the hall. Surprisingly, the librarian did not follow and instead returned to his book. Dracula, after taking a few steps, noticed the librarian's absence and looked back with a quizzical expression. "Are you coming?"
The librarian remained seated, uninterested in joining the pursuit. "Where?"
"To use a transmission mirror," Dracula replied.
The librarian looked up with a detached air. "Oh, no,"
Dracula's patience was waning. "Why not? You mentioned that you would use one to check on my son,"
"I did not,"
"But you—" Dracula began, taken aback.
"You assumed I could use those types of mirrors, and I agreed that I can," the librarian clarified.
Dracula sighed in frustration, rubbing his temples with his bony fingers. "Will you come with me and use the mirror to check on my son? He could be in danger... what if he's hurt?"
The librarian glanced at the spirit "My lord can return to the castle at any time, and he will. He always returns. If he is hurt he will heal and I pity the one who hurt him as they will be on borrowed time,"
"I was under the impression my son did not kill humans in this world," Dracula said.
"He doesn't," the librarian agreed, "however at least one of his caped friends is not above breaking a few bones or tormenting the guilty party by stalking them at night,"
Dracula opened his mouth to respond however looked up at the roof and snapped the book he was reading shut. "My lord has returned," the Librarian announced as he stood up and moved to stand in front of the transport room door.
Finally," Dracula sighed in relief, his anxiety giving way to the anticipation of his son's return. He swiftly walked back to the transport room, standing poised, just as the door opened, revealing Alucard's dishevelled appearance.
Where once Alucard's face had been pallid and regal, now, several parts of his complexion were marred with gruesome burns. These burns weren't merely discoloured skin; the affected areas were raw, angry red, with charred black edges and ashy grey portions in between. His skin appeared cracked and desiccated, giving it the appearance of being on the verge of flaking away. Beads of sweat mingled with the salt of his exhaustion, rolled off his brow. Dracula, heart heavy with concern, knew these droplets would sting when they landed upon his damaged skin.
Alucard's usually upright posture had been replaced with a slouched, almost defeated stance. His once-pristine hair, now in disarray, clung to his forehead with an oily and greasy sheen, a stark contrast to its typical immaculate state.
"Adrian?" Dracula's voice wavered with deep worry as he approached his son, who, in his worn state, shuffled past him and the librarian. His movements were sluggish and unsteady, a display of profound exhaustion. He panted heavily, each breath a laborious effort, and used the walls of the castle's hallway for support.
Reaching the closest door, Alucard's trembling hand rested upon it. With a murmur under his breath, he mumbled, "Bedroom... furnished, don't care which one," The ancient castle, sensitive to his command, obligingly shifted its architecture. Alucard pushed the door open, entering a large and lavish guest room dimly lit by a combination of a flickering hearth and a few candles.
Unsteadily, he traversed the room to the bed, his movements resembling that of a man drained by unseen burdens. His slump into the bed could only be described as a collapse.
In the hallway, Dracula and the librarian watched with increasing unease. Alucard, who usually wouldn't rest in a bed but rather in a coffin to recharge his strength, had been compelled to seek out the comfort of a bed today. Something was dreadfully amiss.
"My son... are you alright?" Dracula asked, hovering at the doorway.
"Go away," Alucard moaned, his voice raspy and filled with exhaustion.
Dracula persisted, "Are you ill?"
Alcuard didn't respond. Instead, he kicked off his boots and started to take off his cape and coat without sitting up and tossed them aside. He also pulled his sword out and tossed it away. The blade didn't hover or float, instead, it clattered the ground. The librarian moved to pick it up and stand it in the corner, gathered Alucards clothes and started to hang them up in the wardrobe.
Dracula walked over to the bed and sat on its edge next to Alucard.
"Adrain what is wrong? What happened to your face?" Dracula questioned, his voice tinged with anxiety and fear.
"Just a minor sunburn," Alucard claimed. Refusing to look at his father.
Dracula's eyes trailed down and noticed that it wasn't just Alucard's face that was burnt and off colour but the rest of his skin was as well. His hands and neck were ashy grey, while they were not covered with burns they maintained the same flaky texture.
"This is not a minor…Oh…oh dear, you have Sunburn," Dracula released.
Alucard let out a sigh and rolled over to look at the spirit of his father. Dracula took in his son's burns, and he reached out. He wanted to hold his son, comfort him, or offer some kind of pain relief, but he couldn't. As a spirit, he could only interact verbally with Alucard. Yes, he could interact with the furniture and a few other things in the castle, but he could not physically touch Alucard.
"This is not a minor sunburn," Dracula stated.
"It's not bad... I just need rest," Alucard claimed and pulled the bed covers over him. "And someone blow out those candles... they are too bright."
The candles and hearth instantly snuffed out. Warmth and comfort were not what Alucard wanted or needed at the moment.
"How on earth did you get Sunburn?" Dracula asked.
"He was in the sun," the librarian stated as if it were obvious. Dracula sent the old man a glare.
"The Justice League decided we were overdue for some teamwork training... Green Lantern set up a training area in the desert,"
"You were in the desert for how long?"
"Since my monitor duty ended until I returned just now," Alucard admitted.
"And you didn't think to leave when the sun got too high?" Dracula stated.
"Green Lantern was overzealous that we practice working together... I was not the only one frustrated with his insistence and never-ending exercises," Alucard stated. "I requested multiple times to leave but was denied... I stayed in what little shade there was when I could,"
Dracula let out a sigh. "Did you not tell them about what would happen if you were exposed to intense sunlight?"
"I told them that I would feel exhausted and weak for a period of time afterwards," Alucard claimed.
"But not about Sunburn?"
"No,"
"Why not?"
"I did not think it relevant at the time," Alucard claimed. "I did not believe I would be in a situation where I would be in such extreme sunlight for long periods of time,"
"Adrian," Dracula sighed.
Alucard rolled back over. "Father, I am tired, I will tell them when I see them next," Alucard assured. "They will likely ask anyway,"
"Very well, I will leave you to rest, but you will not be going out tomorrow," Dracula said firmly.
"But the League…"
"I don't care; you are in no condition to even walk around the castle. So you are certainly not going out to perform any Hero Duties while you are in this condition,"
Alucard was too tired to argue and just let out a moan in agreement.
"I am sure your friends will understand," Dracula said.
Alucard slept in the bed for the rest of the day. Every so often, he would sit up, have some water, or wander to the nearby sink in the bathroom and splash some cold water on his face in an attempt to relieve the burning sensation he felt on his face. But he spent most of his time in bed sleeping
In the dark room, Alucard lay still, enveloped by the embrace of sleep and rest. His deep, even breaths were a testament to his body's desperate need for recuperation. Every so often, he would stir, rousing himself from his slumber just enough to quench his parched throat with water from a nearby pitcher and goblet the cool liquid offered a temporary respite from the parching sensation on his sunburnt face. Other times, Alucard would stagger out of bed, his movements slow and uneven. Making his way to the bathroom, he'd fill up the basin and once full and the taps turned securely off, he splashed cold water onto his face, hoping to alleviate the burning torment etched onto his skin. It provided temporary relief for a short time.
As the night passed, Dracula remained sitting on the bed, as the librarian came in and out to swap out the pitcher of water every hour as Alucard would drink it quickly. Dracula was deeply concerned for his son's well-being and wished he could do more but his spectral form prevented him from offering any real comfort or help. The room remained in peaceful darkness, the only sound being the quiet, rhythmic breathing of the vampire resting in the bed. By the time Morning came around Alucard remained asleep. Dracula knew that his son would likely stay asleep and in bed for the whole day, if Alucard was a full vampire he would have been turned to dust. While his human half protected him from burning in the sun it came with its own set of consequences for prolonged exposure. Everyday sunlight was fine, intense sunlight...that was dangerous.
It was around mid-morning when the librarian materialized in the room. Dracula paid him no mind, thinking the librarian was just replacing the water again. However, this was not the case, his wrinkled face etched with concern, .
"We have a problem," he uttered in hushed tones, his voice carrying a sense of foreboding.
The spirit snapped his eyes to look at the librarian, and the librarian made a follow gesture. They couldn't afford to talk about this issue within earshot of Alucard's room, for the vampire needed his rest, and both were aware of the fragility of that slumber. Dracula followed the librarian out into the hall, walking through the door as if it wasn't there.
"What's amiss?" Dracula inquired as they stood a few doors away from the room Alucard had chosen to rest in. The Spirits eyes, bore into the librarian, demanding an explanation.
"The device... it's buzzing," the librarian replied with a gesture of unease, his eyes shifting to a small earpiece resting on a round hall table nearby.
Alucard, knowing well that he couldn't sleep with the peculiar device in his ear, had removed it and placed it on his bedside table before going to sleep. The librarian, bewildered by this unfamiliar piece of technology, had deemed it best to keep it out of Alucard's room, fearing it might disrupt his much-needed rest. Throughout the night, it remained dormant, an unremarkable object abandoned on the hall table. However, with the arrival of the morning, it came to life, its vibrations and intermittent buzzing creating a disturbance in the otherwise tranquil halls.
"Should we be concerned?" Dracula inquired, his eyes deepening with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
"I am not sure," the librarian admitted with slight embarrassment. "What even is it?"
"Why are you asking me?" Dracula responded equally baffled. "I've never seen such a thing before. You're the one with access to all knowledge and secrets the castle has to offer,"
"But this thing isn't part of that knowledge, nor is there anything like it," the librarian defended. "You're the former lord of the castle; shouldn't you know?"
"I was never lord of this castle," Dracula pointed out. "Nothing like this existed when I was lord of my worlds Castlevania either,"
Their gaze remained locked upon the enigmatic earpiece, a foreign entity that appeared increasingly out of place within the ancient castle's walls. It pulsed and hummed, a modern enigma amidst medieval architecture.
"I am hesitant to propose this," the librarian began, his words hesitant, "but perhaps we should wake the Lord?" the librarian suggested.
Dracula, ever conscious of his son's need for rest and recovery, nodded in agreement. "My son requires undisturbed slumber for a swift recovery,"
The librarian, with a supportive nod, regarded the earpiece. "Then what do we do?" he asked.
"If we do nothing... maybe it will stop," Dracula suggested, with no other ideas.
The librarian nodded, and the two stared at the earpiece. After a few more seconds, it ceased its agitation, and for a moment, the tension within the corridor seemed to dissipate. Both Dracula and the librarian let out a sigh of relief.
"That appears to have settled it," Dracula nodded in satisfaction.
"Indeed," the librarian concurred, the lines of worry on his face slowly relaxing.
Yet, their shared relief was short-lived, for the enigmatic device once again sprang to life, its buzzing and vibrations resuming with a relentless urgency that demanded their attention. The two instantly frowned as the problem was back.
"Perhaps we should attempt to silence it," Dracula suggested, leaning down to get a better look at the object. His polymath mind working to examine the object and taking in its details. "there may be a way to turn it off...pick it up,"
"I refuse to touch it," the librarian huffed, his reluctance evident in the stern lines of his face and folded arms.
"Well, I can't touch it; I'm a ghost," Dracula pointed out.
The librarian, after a begrudging huff, picked up the small device between two long, bony fingers and held it out for Dracula to examine. The spirit's keen eye swiftly discerned a peculiar feature—an inconspicuous pressure pad at its centre.
"Curious. It seems to have a pressure sensor. Press it," Dracula instructed with a commanding tone. The librarian, despite their initial hesitation, nodded and complied. With a gentle but firm press of the pad, the earpiece abruptly ceased its agitated buzzing and vibrations.
"Ah, that did the trick," the librarian exclaimed in mild surprise.
"The simplest solutions are often the most effective," Dracula acknowledged with a knowing nod.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," Superman's voice moaned in evident frustration, projecting from the unassuming earpiece. Startling both Dracula and the librarian. The librarian nearly dropped the earpiece in astonishment, and Dracula's spectral eyes widened as the sound of Superman's voice echoed within the tiny device.
Justice League Training Grounds, a few minutes ago
The Justice League stood in the centre of the training ground, a palpable air of irritation enveloping them. Each member had their arms crossed and wore expressions ranging from annoyance to anger. The atmosphere was far from the usual camaraderie they shared during training sessions. Flash impatiently tapped his foot, Wonder Woman shot a hostile glare at Hawkgirl, who remained determinedly aloof, refusing to acknowledge the Amazon warrior's anger. The only absentees were Superman and Alucard.
"Where the hell are they? Both Alucard and Superman are already 20 minutes late," Green Lantern grumbled, his patience wearing thin.
"Superman has an emergency to deal with," Wonder Woman offered in defence.
"Well, he's taking too long," Green Lantern retorted, his frustration evident.
After another agonizing few minutes, a red and blue figure appeared on the horizon. In a matter of seconds, Superman descended among the group.
"I'm here," he announced as he landed.
"Took you long enough," Hawkgirl sighed with a dismissive tone.
"There was a fire, and a tanker was sinking off the west coast. I handled the situation as fast as I could," Superman responded tersely. He glanced around the group and noticed the conspicuous absence of Alucard. "Where's Alucard?"
"Hasn't shown up yet," Flash replied with an impatient and annoyed tone. "Probably living it up in his castle or somewhere, sucking on someone's neck,"
"And nobody thought to call him?" Superman asked with a tinge of annoyance.
"We were waiting for you," Green Lantern replied. "I'll call him," He tapped his earpiece and waited for it to connect to Alucard's communicator. However, the vampire didn't respond. "He's not responding,"
"That's not fair. If we have to do another day of pointless training, so does he," Hawkgirl declared.
"Agreed," J'onn added, nodding in assent.
"Let me try," Superman suggested, tapping his own earpiece. He waited for the call to connect, and this time it did. However, it was not Alucard's voice that responded.
"Ah, that did the trick," the librarian's voice came through.
Superman raised an eyebrow in confusion. Why did the librarian have Alucard's communicator?
"The simplest solutions are often the most effective," Dracula's voice followed, the two voices striking an eerie contrast.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," Superman moaned and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. This was turning into one of those days.
"What is it?" J'onn asked his Martian features reflecting concern.
Superman sighed, trying to keep his patience. "Dracula and the Librarian have Alucard's communicator. I'm guessing they don't know how it works,"
"Why would those two have his communicator? He should have it on him at all times," Wonder Woman inquired, with a disappointed tone.
"Dracula? Librarian? What's going on here? Why do you have Alucard's communicator, and where is he?" Superman demanded irritably.
There was a pause before the Librarian's voice came through the device.
"Is that Superman?" Dracula's voice asked.
"I believe it is," the Librarian confirmed.
"Oh my… are they trapped in such a tiny device?" Dracula asked, concerned.
"That may be. This technology is truly a terrifying kind of new magic," the Librarian agreed.
"My son will be saddened that such a fate has befallen his friends... Worry not, Superman. I will alert my son, and as soon as he is able, he will come to your aid," Dracula assured.
Superman's eye twitched. Why couldn't the vampires and their nonexistent servants just stay in their own timelines/universe? Taking a deep breath and trying to calm down but failing, Superman responded.
"Dracula, I am not trapped in the device," Superman started, trying to keep a calm tone, but his irritation was seeping through. "What you are or likely the librarian is holding is a long-range communication device. The League gave Alucard one when he joined the other day so we could keep in touch."
"Oh, I am relieved that you are not in danger," Dracula said, his relief evident in his voice.
"Now that we have established what the device is. Where is Alucard?" Superman repeated impatiently.
"My Lord is currently resting, and we have his… communicator, was it?" the Librarian answered.
"Yes," Superman responded, gritting through his teeth.
"We have his device because I deemed it a potential disturbance to my lord's rest and removed it from his vicinity," the Librarian finished.
Superman's frustration grew even more evident, and he could hardly believe the series of events that had unfolded. He spoke into the communicator with a sense of exasperation. "You did what... Ugh... whatever. Wake Alucard up; he's late."
This development left Dracula puzzled. "Late for what?" he inquired, revealing his lack of awareness about Alucard's commitments with the Justice League.
"Teamwork training," Superman responded with a touch of exasperation. "As a member of the Justice League, Alucard is required to attend."
"Oh, I thought that was yesterday," Dracula responded lightly.
"It was. However, we're doing it again today because some people are not getting it," Superman said, sending a sidelong glare in Flash and Hawkgirl's direction. The two scoffed at his accusation, muttering under their breath.
"It wouldn't happen if the rest of you weren't so slow," Flash muttered, the words dripping with sarcasm.
"Ah, I see... and would I be right to assume that this training is in the desert?" Dracula continued.
"It is," Superman agreed, assuming Alucard had informed the spirit about their location.
"Then I regret to inform you that my son will not be able to attend... he is unwell," Dracula said apologetically.
Superman was taken aback by this revelation. As far as he was aware, Alucard couldn't get sick due to his vampiric nature; his supernatural side should eliminate any illness or disease. Additionally, he possessed hyper-regeneration, ensuring that nothing would stick or become infected. Seeing the confused and shocked expression on Superman's face, Green Lantern decided to investigate what had left the Man of Steel so bewildered.
"Something wrong?" Green Lantern asked.
"Dracula says Alucard is sick," Superman informed, momentarily suspending his conversation with Dracula.
"But he can't get sick; he said so himself," Wonder Woman pointed out. "He's probably just making it up to get out of training."
"Dracula, Alucard told us he couldn't get sick," Superman repeated.
"My lord cannot contract human-related illnesses; that is true," the librarian chimed in. "However, this is a vampire-related illness."
"What did he get, blood poisoning?" Superman teased.
"Sunburn, actually," the librarian corrected.
"Sunburn, really?" Superman asked skeptically. "Now I know you two are lying; Alucard can go out in the sun just fine; we've all seen it."
"My lord's human side protects him from the fatal effects of the sun; that is true. However, prolonged exposure to intense sunlight results in a condition that has been dubbed 'Sunburn,'" the librarian explained.
"It is a condition that half-vampires get when they are exposed to intense sunlight for long periods of time. Symptoms include a fever that doesn't drop, exhaustion, the inability to regain strength in a coffin, intolerance for food or blood, and the cessation of all vampiric powers," Dracula detailed. "Additionally, the skin turns ashy grey, and severe blisters and patches of burns appear on the more exposed areas. The longer the exposure, the more severe the condition, and the longer it takes to recover."
Superman groaned, realizing that the League had noticed Alucard's weakness after the first couple of exercises yesterday. Alucard had also spent time seeking shelter from the sun when he wasn't participating in the training. Still, none of them thought much of it or the scrapes and patches appearing on his discoloured skin, assuming he would heal them on his own.
"How is it treated?" Superman asked with a frustrated sigh. This was the last thing they needed.
"Simply. He must rest as a human would. Sleep in a bed in total darkness, avoiding light sources, and forgoing any vampiric activities while drinking lots of water," Dracula explained.
"And you're sure there is no way he can join us?" Superman asked.
"Hmm... well, he could join you... if I woke him up," Dracula admitted. "But I won't,"
"Why not? His duty is to the Justice League," Superman demanded.
"And mine is to my son. I failed my version of Adrian, and I will not fail this one. Adrian will not rejoin you until he has recovered. If you want him back by your side, I suggest you not hinder his recovery by disturbing him further and dragging him out into an environment that is detrimental to his health," Dracula scolded.
"That is not your call to make," Superman shouted.
"Then we agree to disagree. Good day, Superman," Dracula said, and the line went dead.
"Dracula wait… Aghh… bloody vampires," Superman swore.
"So is Al coming?" Flash asked. Not bothered that Superman just cursed.
"No, Dracula says he got sunburnt yesterday and now he's incapacitated," Superman huffed.
"Sunburn…. really?" Hawkgirl asked skeptically.
"Apparently, Alucard can get sick if he is exposed to intense sunlight for too long," Superman claimed.
"Well, that would have been nice to know sooner," Green Lantern shot. "So much for being immune to sunlight."
Castlevania
"I think that went rather well, don't you?" Dracula said proudly.
"Indeed, what should we do with this device?" the librarian asked. "It may start buzzing again,"
"Hmm... oh, I have an idea," Dracula said. "Follow me,"
The librarian followed Dracula into the kitchen. Once there, Dracula had the librarian get down a pot and dropped the device inside before closing the lid.
"There, problem solved," Dracula said.
"What if the Lord wants it back?" the librarian asked.
"Adrian can have it back once he's feeling better," Dracula huffed. He then turned and walked out of the kitchen, heading back to Alucard's room.
Alucard slept for the rest of the day. Dracula and the librarian ignored the communicator every time it buzzed, choosing to focus on keeping Alucard company instead. Around 8 pm, Alucard staggered out of bed and had a cool bath. He was feeling better after spending an extended time in bed. Once he was done, he headed to the kitchen with plans to make some tea. However, when he opened a pot that was left out on the counter, he stared at the small communicator within.
"Why is my communicator in a pot?" Alucard asked, looking at the device.
"The League was trying to contact you when you needed rest, so we dealt with it," the librarian informed.
"I see...,"
"We spoke to Superman, told him you were ill... so to speak, and you wouldn't be back until you were better," Dracula summarized. "We gave him a brief explanation of what being sunburnt meant for half-vampires,"
"Would I be correct in assuming he didn't take it well?" Alucard asked as he picked up the communicator and put it back in his ear.
"His tone indicated as such," the librarian agreed.
"To be honest, it surprised me. Superman is normally calm and understanding," Dracula stated.
"They have all been on edge lately," Alucard admitted. "They cannot stop lashing out at each other... and I don't know why,"
"Oh? When did this start?"
"A few days ago... I thought it might be some kind of mental attack, but J'onn has scanned the League's minds multiple times. He didn't detect anything," Alucard explained.
"And this bothers you?"
"It does. It is very out of character for them," Alucard said. "And I fear what will happen if the cause is not brought to light,"
Suddenly, Alucard's communicator buzzed in his ear. Alucard tapped it to answer.
"Alucard," he responded.
"Come to Gotham Clock Tower, one hour. I have your results," Batman's voice came through.
"Very well," Alucard responded, and Batman ended the connection.
"Adrian?" Dracula asked.
"A call from Batman... he wants to see me in an hour," Alucard claimed.
"And you're going?"
"Yes, he has my results from Princeton's test that I took," Alucard answered.
"Are you sure you are up to it, my lord?" the librarian asked.
"It's night in Gotham, and I won't be long," Alucard answered. "The cool night air will do me good,"
"I think you should stay here and go back to bed," Dracula advised.
"Father, I am fine. I feel a lot better... really," Alucard claimed.
Dracula gave him a look, clearly the spirit didn't believe him.
"I will come right back," Alucard promised. "Conversations with Batman rarely last very long,"
Gotham City
Batman stood in the shadows on a large tower overlooking the streets of Gotham. Once he passed his message onto Alucard, he walked over the edge and perched on it. His eyes spotted a police car in pursuit of someone driving dangerously.
"Are you going to come out or not?" Batman said without looking away.
"How did you know I was here?" Cornell asked as he leapt down from the upper part of the tower, hanging off it with a single arm.
"You took a bath earlier; you reek of the wet dog smell," Batman stated.
"I do not," Cornell huffed as he dropped down behind Batman. "I am in my human form, and werewolf scents can't be detected by mortals when in human form,"
"It's on your clothes," Batman stated.
Cornell lifted his arm to smell his shirt, there was a trace of the wet dog on it.
"I will endeavour to keep my clothes in a different room when bathing from now on," Cornell stated.
"Do you have actual business with me, or are you just wasting my time?" Batman demanded irritably.
"I was just out for a walk, but then I heard your message," Cornell said. "Why are you arranging a meeting with Alucard?"
"None of your concern," Batman shot back.
"You're right, but it will be my concern when Carmilla finds out,"
Batman turned away from the edge. "Are you threatening me?" he asked dangerously.
"No, but she will do more than threaten you if she discovers you've been conversing with our mutual enemy," Cornell stated. "Carmilla was known for many things, but forgiveness is not one of them,"
"It's not important nor will it hinder our plans," Batman assured.
"Then you won't mind telling me," Cornell challenged.
Batman glared at the werewolf.
"I set something up with him before I quit the League; it would be suspicious if I didn't follow through with it," Batman explained.
"And what did you set up with the vampire prince?"
"He took a test to gain entry to a school; I have the results he needs," Batman claimed.
"Is that all?"
"Yes,"
"I see... and why would you even consider helping Alucard with this?"
"Simple, the school is in Europe; we are in America. It is the other side of the world, and he can't be in two places at once," Batman stated like it was obvious.
"So while pursuing academic hobbies...Alucard will be blind to our movements," Cornell realized.
"It will keep him busy for the time being, at least," Batman agreed.
The werewolf nodded in approval.
"You won't mind if I watch your exchange when you give Alucard the results, that is," Cornell said. Batman once more glared at him. "Just to make sure that is all you are doing,"
"Do what you want, just don't get in my way," Batman huffed before he jumped off the building.
Batman headed to the meeting point, stopping a robbery in progress along the way. Once he arrived, he noted that Cornell had chosen a building opposite the street and downwind. So Alucard would not be able to see or smell him, but the wolf's keen ears would be able to overhear them.
Batman waited, and at the appointed time, a pillar of black flames appeared, and Alucard stepped out of them. Batman raised an eyebrow at how sickly and worn down Alucard looked.
"What happened to you?" Batman asked.
"Sunburn," Alucard responded, as if it answered all of Batman's questions.
Batman raised an eyebrow at Alucard's response and made a mental note to ask Cornell what sunburn meant. Alucard looked over the cityscape below, his eyes passing over the building where Cornell was hiding.
"You wished to see me?" Alucard returned his focus to Batman, his tone polite but distant.
"Here, this came today," Batman said and held out an envelope by the base, leaving plenty of room for Alucard to take it. "It's your results,"
Alucard reached for the envelope, but Batman purposely dropped it. It fell to the ground, and Alucard was quick to use his vampire reactions to snatch it out of the air before it landed.
"Thank you, do you know what they are?" Alucard said as he carefully put the envelope inside his coat.
"Thank you, do you know what they are?" Alucard said as he carefully put the envelope inside his coat.
"No, I haven't looked. I don't really have time," Batman said impatiently.
"Did something happen?" Alucard asked, sensing Batman's agitation.
"Grodd paid me a visit last night and while we were talking there was a break out at Arkham. Clayface escaped," Batman said, his voice tense than usal.
"Grodd…as in Gorilla Grodd? He paid you a visit?" Alucard asked warily. Hoping that whatever Grodd had done to the rest of the Leuage to make them act out had not affected Batman.
"Yes," Batman said curtly.
"Batman, do you feel…any different?" Alucard inquired, genuine concern etched in his voice.
Batman's response was a curt, "No,"
"Are you sure?" Alucard pressed, his concern deepening.
"I said I don't feel different," Batman snapped, irritation simmering beneath his words. "What is it with you always asking questions? Don't you know how annoying it is? You have your results now; get out of my city. I have a shapeshifter to track down,"
"A shapeshifter? Would you like some help? I could…" Alucard offered, attempting to ease the palpable tension.
"No, I don't need help. Not from you or the League," Batman snarled, "And even if I did, I wouldn't come to either of you unless I was desperate,"
Alucard tensed, Grodd had indeed left his mark on Batman; it was unusual for the Dark Knight to reveal such emotion. Normally Batman was calm and collected and always kept a level head.
"Batman, listen, the League has had encounters with Grodd; they all started acting strangely almost immediately afterwards and now so are you," Alucard tried to bridge the gap of understanding.
"I don't care what the League does or how they act. I'm not a member anymore, remember? And I am certainly not their therapist or babysitter," Batman's bitterness sliced through his words.
"But surely there must be some connection between how you and the League are acting and Grodd," Alucard reasoned, attempting to connect the dots.
"Grodd did nothing but confirm that I had quit. Our conversation lasted less than a minute. He was unarmed and Flash got rid of his mental powers last time we had to deal with him," Batman informed rather forcibly.
"Still…something is defiantly off and Grodd is the only thing that everyone has in common," Alucard reasoned.
"Even if that monkey did do something, why should I care? The League replaced me with you the first chance they got, after all," Batman's resentment reverberated in his response.
"What about saving your friend… the one who is in trouble. The reason you left?" Alucard probed, hoping to strike a chord.
"As if I didn't have enough on my plate," Batman sighed, burdened by the weight of his responsibilities.
"Batman, please, you are the most level-headed human I know, and… I need your help," Alucard implored, a note of desperation entering his tone.
"You need my help? The League has done nothing but help you all this time, and you still ask for more?" Batman seethed. "Have you ever considered that it's your own fault?"
"What is?" Alucard asked, bewildered.
"Everything," Batman's shout echoed in the tense space between them.
"I…I do not understand?" Alucard confessed, feeling the chasm widen.
"Of course, you don't, you never do. So I'll put it in a way that you do. If you hadn't woken up, I wouldn't have had to quit the League; if you hadn't woken, the lives of tens of thousands of innocent people wouldn't be at stake; if you hadn't woken up, neither of us would be in the impossible situation that we are," Batman's anger and pain painted a vivid picture of his internal struggle.
"What… what lives? What are you talking about?" Alucard asked, alarmed.
"It doesn't matter. All that matters is I have to clean up the mess you made. I'm busy trying to keep the city with the worst crime rate in the world safe, and you've made it worse. You make everything worse," Batman's contempt filled the air.
"That's not true," Alucard argued, stung by Batman's harsh words.
"Alucard, you should have stayed asleep or better yet you should have let Trevor kill you 500 years ago like your father did," Batman's final words hung heavy, a bitter conclusion to their exchange.
Batman's final words resonated in the air, a bitter and unexpected conclusion to their exchange. Alucard, his usually composed demeanour shattered, could only look at Batman in shock. The encounter with Grodd had evidently left a more profound impact on the Dark Knight than Alucard had anticipated.
The weight of Batman's accusation lingered, casting a dense fog over the camaraderie they had once shared. The bond that tethered them in the nightly pursuit of justice now felt strained and fragile. Alucard found himself at a loss for words, the city's usual cacophony now an intrusive backdrop to the tense silence—car horns, distant sirens, and the hum of urban life.
Alucard was about to respond when his communicator interrupted. He turned away not only to answer it but also to hide the hurt that was in his eyes that Batman's words had caused. Upon answering, the urgency in Hawkgirl's voice cut through the lingering tension.
"Alucard," he responded.
"Finally, get your undead ass out of your coffin and give us a hand!" Hawkgirl's voice blared through the communicator.
"What is happening?" Alucard asked.
"It's Grodd; he and his cronies ambushed us. Where the hell are you?" Hawkgirl demanded. "If we lose, it will be your fault,"
The communication abruptly cut off, and Alucard turned to face Batman, a conflict of duty and lingering tension on his face.
"I have to go; the League has engaged Grodd," Alucard said.
"Good. Get out of my city and don't ever come back," Batman warned, his words a final decree, before disappearing into the night once more.
Earlier with the Justice League
The Justice League had been busy; their second training day had gone about as well as the first. The League, of course, had heard about the breakout in Arkham, but since it was in Gotham, they had decided to let Batman deal with it and didn't pay it any mind. However, after getting back to the Watchtower after the second day of training, they had been told someone was trying to break into Morgan Industries.
The League knew that Clayface wanted to be returned back to normal, thanks to Batman providing in-depth files and dossiers on most of the world's largest criminals. Additionally, Morgan Industries had recently announced it was working on a formula to destabilize and stabilize different types of matter for aid in construction and rescue efforts. The League didn't need Batman to point out the obvious coincidence.
So, since Clayface was beyond Gotham limits, the League tracked down the clay man to the company that had a prototype of the one substance capable of restoring him to normal.
The League headed down to the factory that held the formula that Clayface needed and found him just as he was approaching the formula.
"Hold it right there, Clayface," Superman announced.
Clayface's head twisted around his neck with his body still facing the opposite direction.
"Well, if it isn't the Justice League," Clayface started. "I see you're missing a couple of members?"
"We don't need Batman on the team to know you're always trying to find a cure," Green Lantern shot back.
"Can you blame me?" asked Clayface as his body finally twisted around so it was proportionate with his head.
"No," J'onn stated, "But it's made you predictable,"
"You think you have me all figured out, don't you," Clayface smirked, morphing his hand to point to his right. "But did you predict them?"
Suddenly, a thick cloud of dark mist that came from an exhaust pipe filled the room. The League got into defensive stances as Shade came strolling out of it, along with Killer Frost, Parasite, Giganta, Sinestro, and Grodd. The League tensed at the sight of all the villains; this was not going to be an easy battle.
"You're right; I was becoming predictable, which is why I thought: Why not make some new friends?" Clayface smiled.
Sinestro made the first move; he flew directly at Green Lantern, forming and swinging a spiked mace at him. Green Lantern countered the attack with an energy shield. Giganta grew in size, ready to fight.
"I'll take the big one," informed Diana as she flew straight towards the giant woman. However, before the Amazon could reach her, Hawkgirl flew up from underneath.
"Not if I take her down first!" Interrupted Hawkgirl as she flew into Wonder Woman's path, her mace prepared for the first blow. Wonder Woman nearly collided with the Thanagarian, and this momentarily distracted both female Leaguers, giving Giganta the opportunity to bat them away, sending them crashing into the ground.
"What the hell are you doing? I said I had her!" Wonder Woman shouted at Hawkgirl.
"It's first come, first serve, princess," Hawkgirl shot back before she once more flew up towards Giganta. However, Wonder Woman was having none of it; she pulled out her Lasso of Truth and threw it over Hawkgirl, catching her ankle. Wonder Woman tied it to a nearby pillar as Hawkgirl was now tethered to a pillar.
"What are you doing?!" Hawkgirl demanded angrily.
"First come, first serve," Wonder Woman responded as she flew past, heading to Giganta.
Elsewhere, Superman was squaring off against Parasite. Parasite didn't have any feelings about the League one way or the other, but he had an infectious love for his power and the powers of others. Parasite tried to tackle Superman but was batted away when Superman ripped a steel column out from the ground and used it to bash away Parasite. It wouldn't stop Parasite for long; all he needed to do was get close enough to Superman to drain his power, and the tables would turn.
Shade was currently fighting against Flash, using his cane to project a thick cloud of shadows to catch him. But Flash dodged the attack and ran up the side of a wall, the shadows following behind. Once he reached a good height, Flash jumped off the wall and proceeded to slide down the shadows to a surprised Shade and punched the villain right in the face.
J'onn was facing off against Killer Frost, who created a balcony of ice for herself to launch into the air and send a barrage of icicles down at J'onn. The Martian only became intangible to avoid the projectiles as he flew towards her.
Clayface wasn't fighting anyone at the moment. Instead of engaging in the battle, he chose to collect the formula. He molded his hands into a spiked mace and swung his weapons at the secured storage that held the formula. It broke apart after a few swings, crumbling under the might of Clayface's strikes. With careful hands, he picked the vial up, holding the precious prototype in his hands. Finally, after all these years, he had what he needed. He glanced back over the battle to see how his teammates were faring.
Green Lantern and Sinestro were battling each other. The hero projected a triangular shield while the villain created a long sword. The impacts of the weapons caused a shower of sparks as the constructs brushed against each other. Despite Sinestro's best efforts, Green Lantern was starting to get the upper hand.
Grodd, who had hidden himself behind a pillar at the start of the battle, watched the events unfold and smirked. As Green Lantern was pushing Sinestro back, Grodd focused on him and used his telepathy to invade Green Lantern's mind. The hero let out a cry of pain from the mental attack, and not only did Green Lantern lose concentration, but he also fell from the sky to the ground. Grodd looked at Sinestro, giving the Yellow Lantern a nod, and Sinestro landed next to Green Lantern. He looked down at the other Corps member who was writhing on the ground in pain from Grodd's mental assault. Sinestro raised a massive spiked mace over his head, prepared to strike.
While Wonder Woman was fighting against Giganta, Hawkgirl had got the Lasso of Truth off her ankle and was about to join Wonder Woman's attack when she saw Green Lantern's predicament.
"John!" cried out Hawkgirl as she flew over to her friend and blocked Sinestro's blow with her own mace. The deflection caught Sinestro off guard, and Hawkgirl was able to follow up with a second attack, this one sending Sinestro back into the air. Though he caught himself and hovered. He wasn't happy that he hadn't been able to kill Green Lantern, but Giganta's fight with Wonder Woman caught his eye. Wonder Woman was busy trying to fight Giganta but was punched into the ground by her giant fist. Sinestro decided to change targets; he generated a large axe, smiling sadistically as he flew towards the downed Wonder Woman.
"Giganta, hold her there," Sinestro instructed.
With Sinestro gone, Hawkgirl focused on Green Lantern. "John, are you alright, what's wrong?!" Hawkgirl demanded urgently. However, Green Lantern still cried out in pain and gripped his head tightly.
"Damn it," she swore and activated her coms unit.
"Alucard," Alucard's voice responded.
"Finally, get your undead ass out of your coffin and give us a hand!" Hawkgirl shouted through the communicator.
"What is happening?" Alucard asked.
"It's Grodd; he and his cronies ambushed us. Where the hell are you?" Hawkgirl demanded. "If we lose, it will be your fault," she cut off the communicator and flew after Sinestro.
Superman, who was finishing up welding a piece of metal against Parasite to pin him to a wall, noticed what Sinestro was about to do. He looked away and fired his heat vision right at the ex-Lantern, stopping him just in the nick of time as he swung his ax down. The lasers sent him flying into a steel construct, causing it to crumple like tin foil.
Unfortunately, Parasite, seeing Superman take down his teammate, mustered enough strength to break free from his bonds and tackle Superman. Superman screamed in pain as Parasite's hands wrapped tightly around Superman's neck, progressively draining his powers.
Flash saw Superman's predicament and sped over to where the Lasso of Truth was; he grabbed it and threw it out. The weapon wrapped around Parasite's shoulders, and the villain looked back at Flash in surprise. Flash yanked the Lasso as hard as he could, pulling Parasite off Superman and right towards him. Flash sped into Parasite's path and hit him in the jaw with a punch powered by the Speed Force, sending Parasite cascading across the room and into a wall. Flash raced back to Superman to check on him.
"Supes, you okay?" Flash asked urgently.
Superman's only response was to groan and struggle to stay standing. Despite Flash's intervention, the damage was already done, and Parasite had taken a lot of Superman's power and strength, leaving him temporarily weakened and unable to continue.
Meanwhile, Sinestro was battling with Hawkgirl, having followed him after he'd left Green Lantern alone and allowing Wonder Woman to continue her battle with Giganta. The hero blocked the Yellow Lantern's strikes and energy bolts with her mace. Sinestro, annoyed that he wasn't getting anywhere, suddenly had an idea. He shot out another beam, just above her, collapsing part of the ceiling on top of her. Naturally, Hawkgirl batted away the debris with her mace, but that was what Sinestro wanted. While she was distracted, he formed another mace and slammed it onto her, making the heroine crash into the floor.
Wonder Woman was able to push Giganta's fist off her and she flew upwards, intending to land an uppercut under Giganta's jaw, but the giant woman clasped her hands around the Amazon princess and held her there, trapped like a fly. Wonder Woman struggled, but without any leverage, she couldn't break free, and Giganta once more brutally slammed her into the ground.
Seeing the damage that had been done, Grodd smirked as he calculated his team's next move. Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and Hawkgirl were down, leaving Flash and the Martian as the only two leaguers left. On his own side, he'd lost Shade.
J'onn was fighting Killer Frost, and with some aid from Flash, as Parasite was making his way over to the Martian, Grodd knew it wouldn't take long for all of them to take the last two out. But Hawkgirl's call for backup hadn't gone unnoticed. He doubted it would take long for whoever she called to arrive, and he had what they came here for.
"Everyone, it's time we left," Grodd said through a telepathic message.
J'onn's eyes widened, and he whipped around to face Grodd, having picked up on the message. Parasite, too, took the opportunity to latch onto the Martian.
"What, but we're winning!" Parasite shot back out loud.
"Hawkgirl has called for backup; we should leave before they arrive," Grodd advised. "We have what we came here for, and there will be other opportunities to finish the League off,"
"There had better be," Killer Frost shot back irritably.
Giganta moved over and picked up Shade, who was just coming around from being punched out by Flash earlier in the fight, before smashing a nearby wall, giving the villains their exit.
"COME ON!" she shouted, prompting the villains to escape. Parasite, who had been about to start draining J'onn of his power, scowled; his fun being cut short. But he nonetheless let the Martian go and ran from the battle.
Flash wasn't about to let them get away and sped after them, but Killer Frost turned the floor into a thick layer of ice, causing the speedster to slip and land on his face. The villains escaped through the open wall, and Killer Frost created a large wall of ice that sealed their escape route. J'onn followed after them, phasing through the ice, and when J'onn passed through, he became solid once more, only to receive a face full of Shade's shadows that sent him crashing into the ground.
The Secret Society, all gathered around Sinestro as he created a yellow dome, and flew the Secret Society away from the battle.