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It had been several weeks since Orm tried to take destroy the world using ancient Atlantean weaponry to melt the ice caps and the discovery of Castlevaina at the bottom of the ocean. Naturally when Flash had heard that there was a real live vampire he had wanted to meet him, however the rest of the League was hesitant to go down there and Superman in particular had no desire to go back.
So Flash had borrowed (without permission) Superman's sliver pendent that Arthur had let him keep so he could inform Alucard of and Atlantis on what the League decided to do with their new vampiric neighbour. Flash had also taken breathing mask and a high pressure suit so he could survive the ocean depths and get to the hidden Castle.
When he arrived he was very surprised by what he saw, he could definitely see why Superman would be hesitant to come back down here as he felt the dark atmosphere and evil of Castlevaina.
"Whoa…it really is scary," Flash said to himself.
He was so engrossed in the castle he did not notice or hear its sole occupant approach behind him.
"Can I help you?" a voice asked.
Flash jumped and dashed away from the voice to the other side of the courtyard, he looked behind him to see Alucard standing there. Alucard raised an eyebrow and eyed Flash; he was intrigued by the man's speed as not even he could go that fast.
"Uh…Hi," Flash greeted, he wasn't sure how to greet a vampire.
"What are you wearing?" Alucard asked.
"Huh…oh this," Flash asked and gestured to his high pressure suit "It's a high pressure suit…so I can withstand the enormous pressure at the bottom of the ocean,"
"You don't need it in here," Alucard assured "there is a breathable atmosphere and the pressure is the same as it is on the surface,"
"R…Really?" Flash asked.
Alucard nodded.
Flash looked around and he quickly took his high pressure suit off and breathing mask, he put it to one side and walked up to Alucard. He examined the vampire closely by walking around him in a circle inspecting him.
"I do not mean to be rude but who are you?" Alucard asked, he did not seem to care that Flash was curious about him.
"Me? I'm the Flash," Flash answered stopping in front of Alucard.
Alucard gave him a blank look.
"Seriously the Flash…The Flash, fastest man alive…you must have herd of me?"
"I have not," Alucard responded.
"Well you have now, I work with Superman in the Justice League," Flash said proudly.
This peeked Alucards interest.
"Oh, have you decided on the conditions of my continued presence?" he asked.
"Um….not exactly," Flash said sheepishly
"Then why have you come down here?" Alucard asked.
"Well….you see several weeks ago…" Flash started.
Flashback
The Watch tower, three weeks ago,
The Justice League had just returned from their dinner in Atlantis as thanks for stopping Orm. Upon their return Superman informed the others on what had happened when he and Aquaman had taken off into the ocean, he told them about the evil castle and its vampiric owner.
"A Vampire?" Flash gasped "You met an actual Vampire?"
"Yes," Superman responded.
"That's impossible, vampires don't exist," Batman claimed.
"He had fangs in his mouth, he didn't have a reflection and his castle is creeper than the bat cave," Superman claimed.
"Hph I doubt it," Batman huffed.
"He didn't have a reflection…cool," Flash said.
"How do you know he didn't have one?" Green Lantern asked.
"Because I was right in front of him and I didn't see his reflation in my glass," Superman claimed.
"That doesn't make him a vampire," Batman said.
"What's a vampire?" Wonder woman whispered to John.
The Martin shrugged in response; he did not know what a vampire was either. Both Wonder Woman and J'onn looked at Hawkgirl for an explanation.
"Don't look at me; I've only been on earth for a short time. I've never herd of a Vampire before," Hawkgirl claimed.
The three turned there attention back to the conversation hoping to learn more about Vampires.
"Well how do you explain it then?" Superman asked Batman.
"Perhaps he is merely an Atlantean outcast and you were not aiming the glass at the correct angle to see his reflection," Batman answered.
"Aquaman didn't know he was there, I'm sure if he was an Atlantean the King of Atlantis would have known about him,"
"Perhaps he left before Arthur took the throne," Batman reasoned.
"Then how do you explain the fangs?" Superman asked.
"A lot of people have pointed teeth, it's not that uncommon," Batman reasoned.
"Besides even if he was a vampire, why would he choose to take up resident at the bottom of the ocean?" Batman asked "Vampires are weak to salt and water,"
"You're thinking of holy water," Green Lantern supplied.
"No he's right. Most incarnations of vampires are weak to running or flowing water," Flash agreed.
The League looked at him in confusion.
"What? I've seen horror movies," Flash defended.
"Alucard said it was to prevent his Castle from infecting the hearts of men," Superman claimed. Ignoring Flashes last comment.
"What does that mean?" Green Lantern asked.
"He said his castle is evil and that the only way it would not hurt anyone was if it remained at the bottom of the ocean…I'm honestly not sure what he meant by it," Superman answered.
"There's nothing in vampire lore about cursed Castles," Batman said thoughtfully.
"Guys these are all good points but you aren't asking the right question," Flash said.
"And what is the right question?" Batman asked irritably.
"Simple, when can we meet him?" Flash asked.
"What?" Superman asked.
"Count Dracula….when can we meet him?" Flash repeated.
"First off it's not Dracula, his name is Alucard and secondly never," Superman answered.
"Aww….why not?" Flash whined.
"Because he will drain your blood leaving you a shrivelled up corpse," Batman claimed.
"You know what on second thoughts let him go, at least then we'll get some peace and quiet around here," Hawkgirl joked.
"Okay first Alucard is Dracula spelt backwards so it has to be him. Secondly he'd never catch me, I'm too fast," Flash claimed.
"Plus he may not like Junk food," Green Lantern added.
"Hey," Flash whined.
"Be that as it may I agree with Superman, no one should go down there," Batman claimed.
"Pleeeeeeaaaasssseeeeeee," Flash begged.
"No it's too dangerous….and why would you want to go to a vampire's castle in the first place?" Superman asked.
"Because I've never been to a vampire's castle before…come to think of it I haven't met a vampire before either," Flash answered.
"That's probably a good thing," Green Lantern said.
"Look even if I did give you permission to go…" Superman started.
Flash looked at him with a big happy smile.
"Which I'm not by the way,"
Flash instantly frowned.
"You can't just enter his castle, it's at the bottom of the ocean and according to Alucard it's cursed, you need a special pendant to enter," Superman claimed.
"I don't suppose he gave you one?" Batman asked.
"Arthur gave me one, it's in my room," Superman claimed.
"So if you've got a pendent…can I go?" Flash asked.
"NO!" batman and Superman yelled together.
End Flashback.
"So you stole the protective pendent, came down here knowing exactly what I am and that this place is cursed and you did so without informing anyone what you were doing," Alucard stated in a disbelieving tone
"Yep, that pretty much sums it up," Flash said.
"You were not concerned that I would drink your blood?" Alucard asked.
"Nah, Supes said you don't drink human blood so I'm safe," Flash smiled.
"Perhaps that was a convenient lie I told him and the king,"
"I doubt it; Supes can tell when a person is lying. I'm getting a good vibe from you and I am an excellent judge of character,"
Alucard sighed.
"Why are you really down here?" Alucard asked "If what you say is true then the League has not yet decided on my conditions for staying here,"
"Well…I've never met a vampire before. So I was curious," Flash said sheepishly "I got to say, you're not what I expected,"
"And what did you expect?" Alucard asked.
"I don't know…Dracula maybe," Flash shrugged.
Alucards eyes narrowed at that.
"Still this place is impressive," Flash said turning back to the castle "can I have a look inside?"
"No," Alucard answered.
"Why not?" Flash asked.
"I don't like visitors," Alucard said flatly.
"Aww…but I came all this way," Flash whined.
"Then you can leave the way you came," Alucard claimed.
"Actually I can't," Flash said.
Alucard gave him a sceptical look.
"You see the heat from the Lava on the cliffs has made the oxygen I brought with me…well unbreathable," Flash claimed "I know you have a way to send me off inside your creepy Castle so you can give me a tour and then I'll be on my why,"
Alucard groaned.
"Very well…if it will get you to leave quicker I can show some of the castle," Alucard supposed.
Flashes face brightened.
"I promise I won't even stop by the gift shop," Flash joked.
Alucard stared at Flash blankly once again.
"What's a gift shop?" he asked.
"Never mind, let's go," Flash said eagerly and walked towards the castle.
Alucard sighed and reluctantly followed. Once inside Alucard showed Flash some of the Castle, he showed him the dining room, the parlour a few bedrooms and the library while also informing him of the Castles dark powers.
He also explained the history behind it and how the castles dark powers affected man kind and its curse. Though he left out the fact that Dracula lived here and Alucard was his son.
"So, you can rearrange the rooms with a single thought?" Flash asked.
"Yes, Castlevaina is one giant labyrinth that I can control at will. It is rather handy for when I have uninvited guests," Alucard explained.
"Sweet….so what's this room?" Flash asked when they stopped in front of a door.
"The transport room, it's time for you to leave," Alucard said.
"Transport room?" Flash asked and he walked inside and looked around "seems kind of dusty,"
"This room is filled with a specific kind of Magic that once activated will allow the person in that circle to travel anywhere they wish," Alucard explained.
"That sounds really amazing…but how would you get back?" Flash asked.
"There is a return spell, once cast you return to this room," Alucard claimed.
"And you can go anywhere in the world from here?" Flash asked impressed.
"Yes, though there are limitations," Alucard responded.
"Like what?" Flash asked.
"The spell will only work if the place you're thinking of exists," Alucard claimed "let's say you visited a vast city once and then left and while you were gone its name changed, if you are thinking of the name you cannot go there because that city no longer exists,"
"So if a place burnt down or was destroyed…could you still go there?" Flash asked.
Alucard shook his head.
"No, if the place you wish to visit is destroyed than this room can't take you there," Alucard claimed.
"Makes sense I suppose any other limitations?"
"The room cannot send you into danger nor to places that would end your life," Alucard answered "for instance because you cannot breathe underwater the room would be unable to send you to the middle of the ocean or underwater…unless there was a structure there that would guarantee your safety,"
"Could it send one person to another?" Flash asked.
"If the person you are seeking is alive and you know what they look like than yes," Alucard answered.
"Hey let's use it," Flash said happily.
"I plan too, step into the circle and I will send you on your way," Alucard instructed.
"No I don't mean on me, why don't we use it to go somewhere," Flash suggested.
"I cannot leave," Alucard said sadly.
"Why not?" Flash asked.
"Because I am evil…if I leave who knows what my presence would do to the world," Alucard claimed.
"Well I don't think your evil," Flash said.
Alucard looked at him in shock.
"I mean this castle defiantly gives me the creeps but you don't, that has to count for something," Flash said.
Alucard started at his visitor for a moment but then looked down and turned away from him.
"It is kind of you to say but you know nothing about me," Alucard said sadly.
"Nope, that's why you're going to use this circle to take us somewhere," Flash said.
"But…"
"You said the castle can't leave the ocean or something bad will happen to mankind. That's fine, but what about you? Don't you want to leave? Surly there is somewhere you want to visit," Flash tried.
Alucard turned to face Flash again.
"Well….there is one place….but no, I can't." Alucard said.
Flash sighed and walked over to the vampire.
"Look you said I know nothing about you and your right I don't, but neither dose the League. Hell we don't know what to do about you or your situation," Flash claimed "so let's go somewhere,"
"How will me leaving and going somewhere with you help my situation?" Alucard asked.
"It will let me get to know you a little bit and then I can report back and tell the others. It might help us figure out what to do with you," Flash reasoned "Besides it's not like if you leave the castle will follow you or disappear right?"
"No the castle will only move if I command it and I have to be inside a certain room for that to happen," Alucard claimed.
"So that means you can leave without worry," Flash said.
"I suppose," Alucard agreed "and there is someplace I want to visit…at least once,"
"Great, so where are we going then?"
"Europe," Alucard answered.
Flash and Alucard reappeared in a crackle of energy in an alleyway, no one was around or noticed that the two had appeared out of nowhere. They walked out of the alleyway and into the street; Alucard looked around in awe at the tall buildings and the cars on the road.
It was far different than what he remembered from 500yrs ago.
Flash looked up at the sky and noticed the sun was out and it was the middle of the day.
"The suns out…shit the sun…."Flash panicked and quickly turned to Alucard but much to his surprise the vampire was not burning due to the sunlight.
"Uhh are you going to be okay?" Flash asked.
"Yes why?" Alucard asked.
"It's the middle of the day; don't vampires burn in the sunlight?" Flash asked in concern.
"Do not worry, the sun does not affect me as it would the rest of my kind," Alucard claimed.
"So you're not going to spontaneously combust?" Flash asked.
"No, I merely become weaker," Alucard answered.
"How much weaker?" Flash asked.
"Not much, the sun makes me feel like I have had a very long and tiering day, that's all," Alucard claimed "It's just an annoying inconvenience,"
"So…where's this place you wanted to go?" Flash asked.
"I'm not sure…it's all so different than what I remember," Alucard said.
"Well things change in 500yrs," Flash stated "why don't you tell me what you're looking for and we can get directions," Flash asked.
"It's not place… it's my friends grave. I want to know where he was buried so I may pay my respects," Alucard claimed.
"Your friend?" Flash asked confused.
"Yes, he was a vampire hunter," Alucard said.
"You were friends with a vampire hunter?" Flash asked in a disbelieving voice.
"I was, he will be dead by now. I would like to find out where he is buried or if he has any living descendants so I may pay my respects," Alucard said.
"You want to pay your respects to a vampire hunter?" Flash asked in disbelief.
"Yes…he was a good man," Alucard claimed "and a good friend,"
"I suppose we can't use your magic room to just go to his grave," Flash said.
"No, since he is dead the magic of the castle cannot locate him and since I don't know where he was buried nor do I know if he has any descendants. Thus the castle can't send me to them," Alucard explained.
Flash sighed. It looked like they would have to do a bit of searching before finding the place Alucard wanted to visit.
'At least it's a grave and not a blood bank he wanted to visit,' Flash thought.
"Alright whatever….it's going to be hard but I'm sure we can find something,"
"We?" Alucard asked.
"Yes we, I'm going to help you," Flash smiled.
"Why?" Alucard asked.
"Because I'm a nice guy and I'd probably get chewed out by Bats if I let you run around on your own. But we need something to start with," Flash claimed.
"Why would you be eaten by bats…wait are these vampire bats?" Alcuard asked in concern.
"Uh…no Bats is my nickname for Batman," Flash claimed "He's a member of the Justice League,"
"Oh…I see," Alucard said "Do you give everyone in the League a nickname?"
"Yep. So your friend…do you at least remember their name?" Flash asked getting back on topic.
"Trevor Belmont, last son of House Belmont. They were a noble family," Alucard answered.
"Well if he was a noble than it shouldn't be too hard to find him, the English are big on family history so there should defiantly be some records on him and where he was buried," Flash said.
"That's a relief, I would have thought the church would have erased all manner of the Belmont clan's existence and he would be buried in an unmarked grave somewhere in the country side," Alucard said relived.
"Why would the church do that?" Flash asked.
"The Belmont's were a family of hunters, they hunted and killed all manner of creatures of the night; Vampires were there specialty. Until the Catholic Church had them branded as heretics, burned down their ancestral home, exiled them, forced them to be poor homeless beggars and hunted them down as devil worshippers," Alucard supplied.
Flash stared at him in shock.
"And here I thought this was going to be easy," Flash commented sarcastically "You had weird friends,"
"Says the man who is friends with a person who wears his underclothes on the outside," Alucard shot back.
"Okay fair point, so if we want to find your friends family we should start…" Flash started, he was interrupted when his communicator went off "Ah…hold that thought,"
Flash turned around and activated his ear piece.
"Hey Supes what's up….she's what...Where?" Flash asked in shock.
Flash tuned to look at Alucard before turning back.
"No no I can meet…okay I'll be there in five minutes….why so long, because I'm in Europe…I wanted to see some sights…of course I have a passport…no it's not with me…hey give me a break I don't have any pockets in my costume and it's likely to fall out if I did….I know it's against international law but….ugh fine I'm coming back," Flash said.
Flash deactivated his communicator and turned to Alucard, he noticed the vampire giving him a strange look.
"So something's come up and I have to go, apparently Wonder Woman has been breaking into a museum and tearing up the exhibits," Flash said.
"Wonder Woman?" Alucard asked.
"Another member of the League, look I know I said I'd help you find your friend but it'll have to wait," Flash claimed.
"It's fine," Alucard claimed "I should return to my castle,"
"Well…seeing as your out…why don't you come with me?" Flash invited "you could meet the rest of the League and once we sort out Wonder Woman's sudden urge to break into museums at night we can get back to finding your friends,"
"I do not believe that is a good idea," Alucard said "I fear that my presence will do more harm than good,"
"You'll have to meet the League eventually, might as well get it over with now. Plus it would show them that you're not some horrible monster,"
"I am a monster and they are right to fear me," Alucard said seriously.
"I doubt a monster would want to find the grave of his friend who died over 500yrs ago just to say goodbye," Flash pointed out.
"My reasons for that are my own," Alucard said.
"Still, if we want to get to know you, than you have to be willing to get to know us," Flash tried.
Alucard pondered Flashes words for a moment.
"I suppose it would not hurt to know the names and faces of my wardens," Alucard said.
"Wardens…you sound like you're our prisoner or something," Flash joked.
"Aren't I? You fear me; you wake me up and demand I submit to your will in exchange for staying somewhere where no one should be bothering me. You refuse to accept my story and insist on watching every move I make," Alucard pointed out "I am the very definition of a prisoner and you and your League are my wardens,"
"That's one way of looking at it," Flash said.
"It is the only way of looking at it. Not a few minutes ago you said that you would be in trouble if you let me wonder on my own" Alucard said.
"What did you expect? You've been asleep for over 500yrs, the world has changed and you might get into some trouble because you don't understand it. You could think of yourself as a prisoner or you could think it as having a group of really amazing friends watching your back," Flash said.
Alucard gave Flash an annoyed look.
"You're a real downer you know that," Flash stated "Look I have to run, do you want to come or not,"
Alucard sighed.
"Fine but I do not know how much help I can be nor can I guarantee how well your Justice League will take to my presence," Alucard said.
"They'll get over it. You'll thank me for it later," Flash assured.
"I sincerely doubt it," Alucard disagreed flatly.