#stayed up late to do my short animation but alucard

[aimasart]

"sarcasm still runs in the belmont blood... trevor would be proud"

i dropped everything so fast just to quickly draw this shot because he's so pretty here, i can't-

[antihero-writings]

Slight prompt/AU. Vlad arriving to the village earlier than in canon. Though is it early enough to save Lisa?

Ahhhhh I’m so sorry this took so long!!

I was thinking this would be a short like 1000/2000 word fic

...And here we are, 5000 words later...

Thank you so much for this prompt!! I honestly really like how it turned out!!

*

What is a man?

If there are stupid questions in the classroom of life, that must qualify as one. Too simple, too crass. For…surely we must know by now. Even those of us who aren’t human are around them enough—(and ‘enough’ is too much)—to come up with some sort of answer.

Despite all this, this question, perhaps the single question whose answer must come easiest to our lips—muscle memory instead of something to think about—is one even those who are human find difficulty in answering. So simple it’s complicated, like saying the the answer to a another question: “I’m not okay.” Too many facets, too many reflections cast on the wall by a single gemstone.

Vlad finds himself asking that question more often than he should.

Dracula was a man once. And maybe that means he ought to know the answer. But when you live long enough as something slightly to the left of human—not far, but removed enough to scorn humanity and their faults as something other—you tend to forget that fact. You tend to forget that you were one of them once. You tend to forget the answer to that question.

He tried to. Remember, that is. He actively tried to remember the answer. Or come up with a new one.

Because of her. Because Lisa wanted him to.

She told him she would teach him how to be human again. Love a woman. Raise a child. Travel the world. She’d take this thing, dark, and monstrous, and extraordinary, and make him mortal. Make him see the answer in the faceless mirrors. She would change that label into conversation, until that question, its answer, rested comfortably in his quiet mind.

That’s what he’s been doing. Loving her. As a man. Putting her picture upon his castle’s walls. Staying in a little cottage by the creek. Raising a child. As a man. Bouncing him on his knee. Teaching him all he knows. Traveling the world. As a man. Asking to be invited. Wearing simple cloaks instead of royal robes. Curbing a thirst, a disdain, that once drove his every action into refined honor.

As a man. That phrase was once so soft, now rumbles low in the back of his mind, an incessant humming that increased in volume until it was loud enough, constant enough to make anyone mad.

That question, the answer, was clearing, pond stagnance into a river’s clear tones, slowly—(everything was slow with them, wasn’t it?)—and he could almost see the answer on the river floor.

But when he walks into the village of Lupu, expecting to return home, like a soldier from his own personal war, to a quaint cottage, a beautiful wife, whose face he hasn’t seen in far too long, and a son who has grown far too much in the time he was away…and finds a few drops of blood and a pile of charcoal—

A rock is thrown into the water, making those years of clarity murky again, and he forgets there was ever anything human in him.

...Either that, or he remembers far too well.

And everything that clouded his eyes before flares up with a vengeance, turning his gaze red once again.

“Where happened?” his voice burns in his throat, this question, and the other, rotting his lungs, his heart, “Where is my wife?”

“Ohh.” The woman’s voice is feeble, like a wisp of the smoke surrounding them, “The Bishop took her. Witchcraft, he said. They’re burning her at the stake.” He doesn’t like how she says it like it’s already done, already too late. “She was good to me, your wife. A good doctor. It’s not right what happened.”

“Where are they holding her?” his hair falls across his eyes, “The Cathedral?”

“Oh. Oh, no, sir. They’ll be burning her now.” The woman’s voice is far too gentle to say a truth so violent.

“What?” The word is thrown onto the ground.

“I couldn’t be there. I don’t care what they say. I wont take joy in that woman being killed by the Church. I’m here remembering her instead.”

What is a man?

So long Dracula has spent trying to understand them, to live like them, be like them, for her. He traveled, and didn’t use magic to move or communicate, because she didn’t want him to go into this halfheartedly.

And now he returns to her, and finds that they, the people she loved, who she tried to heal and save, they took her, like interrupting him before the end of a sentence.

Dracula isn’t one for wanton emotion, but the sorrow and anger burns in his eyes, and red clouds his vision.

“She said to me, if you would love me as a man, then live as a man. Travel as a man.”

“She said you were traveling.”

“I was.” He looked at his hands, at the ring she gave him, “The way men do. Slowly.” He says the word like the idea is an insult to him, the next two words his defense, his battle against it, digging his nails into his palm. “No more.”

What is a man?

What is this woman? What is she to him but a quavering voice that he could all-too-easily break? What is she to him that he should deem her life worth something?

No. She is someone who is kind, says something in the back of his brain. She is someone who didn’t stand and watch. Who protested in the only way she knew how. She is someone who knew Lisa, and honored Lisa, and for that she ought not be punished. As the rest of his mind, the rest of his body, burns in an undead fire of kill, kill, kill them, kill them all, that other part of him says She is someone worth saving.

So he does. One last kindness in her name.

And, as he teleports in a flash of flames, with little regard for the flowers she left, he is a vampire again. After all those years of walking he does not walk those last steps to his castle. He trades the clothing of kind words for the garb of contempt again. After all those years of fasting from murder’s nectar, he is ready to raid their skins and pillage their blood.

“What the fu—! Father!” There’s someone else here, a man—well, not fully, he is half-vampire too, on his father’s side—who was previously reading in the chair.

Dracula motions for the mirror shards on the floor to raise themselves, giving no sign that he even noticed his son.

“You’ve returned!” Alucard stands, a little haphazardly, pushing back his hair, muttering, “I would have appreciated some warning…But I’m—!”

He stops himself, his eyes flashing, gold tinted with fear.

This is no ordinary mirror; its image is not the room in reverse. It is a cracked, silver lens, and Alucard sees within its glass a crowd of humans, all around a sort of altar, shouting, raising bitter fists around a pile of wood—one piece higher than the rest, like another hand lifted in a plea for mercy—and is this what hell looks like?—worshipping a single word, the color orange, and the smell of smoke.

And in the center of it all, tied to that drifted piece of wood, is a woman, a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, like a gold piece glinting amongst the river sludge. A woman who is different from them—and perhaps they are killing for it.

And they are killing her.

They are tossing wood onto those flames, egging it to reach up and grab her.

The same woman who held Adrian when he scraped his knees, and kissed him goodnight, and told him of the world out there, and how it wasn’t so bad, in fact it was quite good, and the people were the best part.

They are killing his mother.

“That isn’t—?!” The words are little more than a gasp for air.

His father doesn’t answer, as if there are none left in him anymore, but when he steps into the mirror the look in his eyes—like a soldier going back into war—is enough to make Adrian follow.

With a single step the atmosphere shifts; the cozy warmth of the tame fire becoming a fetid heat that could suffocate you if you sat in it in long enough, the smell of smoke and something…cooking enough to make anyone with a sense of right and wrong feel sick, the quiet air of the study shredded with a single word:

“Witch.”

Like that word—that name, that truth, that lie— is enough to damn her.

The fire is not the creature it was in the study, curled up quietly behind bars, providing warmth to the space. They let it loose for the beast it is when allowed to gorge itself, and that warmth, once so inviting, has become something hot enough to bite. To kill.

Like too many things, something calm has become mad at the sound of a human’s voice; something tender a weapon in human hands.

They’re burning her.

Oh God—and it is God they’re doing this for, or at least they think they are—they’re burning her. They’re burning her. They’re burning his wife. They’re burning my wife!

Bloodthirst is an all-too familiar friend to the vampire king, but this is different. Different in them. Different in him.

In them it is a sick thing. Some sort of red lunacy. That word “witch” is laced; a drug that makes them less sane the more they shout it, turning them from intelligent beings with some sense of propriety into things that would eat their own children if given the chance. Severing their tongues, sharpening their teeth, infesting their mouths, rotting their eyes, wriggling in and out of their ears, corroding their faces into the form of beasts, ghouls and demons. They are far more undead than the king of vampires ever was.

In him, before, it was hunger, instinct. A single string in an undead thing. This is alive. This is not some out-of-his-control link, tying a lifeless toy to its animator. This comes from within. It rushes through him like a well-timed-lightning strike; like love, like rage. This is hurt-them-like-they-hurt-me, like-they’re-hurting-her. This is more than just wanting to drink blood; he wants to see them bleed. He wants to stain their oh-so-holy ground with the sins that would send them to beneath it. To dye their pious sky the color of heresy.

What is a man?

It’s been a long time. A long time since he’s killed. Killing was an exotic pet—admirable to own, but formidable to control—which he gave up for adoption, for someone who could better care for, tame it. A cause he no longer believed in. A game he hit quit on.

It’s been a long time, a long time since he viewed men and women as merely blood to be spilled.

It’s been a long time since that field of skeletons choking on stakes.

The Vlad of today—or, at least, a few hours ago—was different. He knew that those bones were people, once. That they had souls, and only the most bloodthirsty of humans deserved to have those souls stolen by a stake. Now that he had a family, he knew what he had taken those bloody bones away from.

He gave up the malice for her. Because of her the word ‘massacre’ didn’t flutter so dulcetly upon his ears. She cleared the red from his eyes. She’s the one who taught him to walk again—as she did with their son. She’s the one who told him that peasants with knowledge would be something more; not a lost cause, a beast to be put down, but something that could do some good. That there was something deep beneath their skin worth saving…just like him.

The other vampires may view them as livestock, but they’re not animals. They have dreams and brains, and hearts, and they are capable of being better than this.

And that’s what makes this so damn sick.

Now…now she is not by his side. She is up there, with her hands behind her back, and the color orange desecrating all the other hues on the canvas that is her life, and they’re all sitting there watching like some macabre stage show…not a single one of them standing up to say “No. No we won’t behave like animals anymore.” And the things he did with and for and because of her he can’t remember, blocked off by the barrier of blood between her and him.

Well, if they are going to act like animals—

if they are going to stand and watchhis wife—the woman who he lie in the grass and counted the stars with, who made them cookies, and who he could never beat at chess—burn—

If they’re going to sit here and shout to the Lord while her hands, which wrapped around him so gently, turn red, then black, char—

Her lips, which kissed his cheek, crack and bleed and break—

Her voice, which raised at him, then fell quietly that on his ears, which spoke so passionately about medicine, rip until it didn’t work anymore—

Her heart, which was always for this creatures, which was bigger than all their evil, melt—

Her soul—she has one too, you know, she didn’t sell it or anything—get devoured by their insolence, like she isn’t one of them—

Then he’s going to treat them like animals.

“Father—!” Adrian’s voice is dull in the back of his mind, like his own conscience and all its foolish wisdom.

Alucard probably thinks they can do this quietly. They can talk it out with the beasts. They can explain that she isn’t a witch, and there’s no need for burning. That they will be able to untie her and take her home safely, and no one has to die. That he can unfork their tongues. That he can unravel the thirst from their mouths, the insanity from their brains.

What is a man?

But Dracula, Dracula knows what they are. They are mongrels. They are demons. And what’s the use trying to talk to a thing that can only grunt back? What’s the use speaking of heaven to a thing with hell woven behind its eyes?

He forgot how sweet death tasted.

And the moon, once a quiet guide of their stargazing, is a fuming guard on his side. He takes their royal blue night in his grasp and wrings its neck—with nothing more than a thought—its blood poured out until their sky, their earth, their eyes fill with the color he sees everything in.

It doesn’t take long before screams cut that ignorant word from the air. Until they fall like dominoes, one after the other in this game of life with no winners or losers, only destined to come crashing down.

Dracula doesn’t catch sight of their faces, doesn’t remember that they are individuals, and have souls. He forsakes the part of him that says worth saving, worth saving, worth saving for the thing on his shoulder chanting kill, kill, kill. He knows only the taste of iron, the sound of their hearts breaking, the smell of meat and charcoal, the feeling of flesh breaking beneath his nails, hearts still beating in his dripping fingers, the warmth of blood on his skin, his tongue.

“NO!”

Then there is another voice. And this voice does not belong to the faceless horde. This voice that sounds like sunlight feels, but which is weathering beneath the elements.

“No! Please…don’t do this! Don’t hurt them! Don’t kill them!”

And something, something comes rushing back to him. Decorating the castle for Christmas. Her head on his shoulder as she sat with him by fire, hiding out from the cold. Her laying in bed, draped in light, a boy with her golden hair, and his features laying his head on her shoulder as she read to him. Her kissing Adrian goodnight with a smile and a lullaby—

Don’t say goodnight just yet.

And the sound of that voice makes the blood taste sour. Makes the flesh feel too soft, the bones harder to break. Makes the cries sink teeth into his ears. Slices the moment, turning the sky-light blue again. Makes him freeze, not with the cold; but with the warmth the blood made him feel. And her name is barely a breath in his mouth, more like the beat of his heart…more like every breath.

No. Not this. Not here. Not now, when Lisa—when his sun and stars and to-the-moon-and-back—is watching.

“Mother!” their son has strength, virtue enough to speak in the face of her voice, and in a flash of red he is on the altar near her.

Her husband follows, a growl and a blink and he is beside their reason for coming here.

As Adrian goes to cut his mother down. Dracula turns to the surrounding humans, looking like vultures surrounding a corpse, waiting to feast on death.

“I am Vlad Dracula Tepes,” he magically magnifies his voice, “and you will tell me why this thing is happening to my wife.”

“Oh no! Oh God, Dracula! He was supposed to be a myth!” The mayor says like this was some grand cat’s-out-of-the-bag moment, “A story made up by heretics!

“She…she’s a witch.” The man, the one who started this all, speaks.

He is old and balding, wearing the red and gold that said he presided over holy things, his features set like he judged people so much it changed the shape of his face, making it impossible for him to smile without it looking like a twisted thing.

What is a man?

Well, the vampire king knows what this man is. He doesn’t need a second’s consideration to know what kind of demon he is dealing with. That he’s the kind of creature who condemns virtuous men, twists the minds of children, and burns women, for fun, and thinks that his ego and his God are the same thing.

“Lisa Tepes is a woman of science, and the one thing that justifies humanity’s stench upon this planet.”

“You are not real.” He says like he can bend existence to his will, like if he just says it enough the demons will suddenly disappear. “You are a fiction that justified the practice of black magic!”

“A fiction?!” the words blazed on his tongue, “You take my wife and deny I even exist!” he digs his nails into his palm, breaking the skin, his pain the only thing keeping from disobeying his wife and digging those nails straight through this man’s chest—(it will all be okay when they return home, he tells himself)—“Tell me, do I seem so fictional now?” He grabs his cloak, holding it up, shooting a wall of fireballs towards them, the orange beast changing allegiance, turning from his wife’s side to gorge itself on the one who set it.

Many bystanders scream, leap out of the way. Windows of nearby buildings shatter, the flames scooping up their innards. The mayor grabs the priest and pulls him away just in time, just; the fire snatches his robes, and he indignantly stamps it out.

Vlad now returns his gaze to his family and sees Adrian talking to Lisa….talking not acting, just talking, like she isn’t going to burn if she remains there.

With teeth bared slightly he raises his claw to cut her rope.

“No…don’t…” Lisa interrupts him, coughing, “If my death can save others…”

His eyes widen. “I’m not leaving you.” His voice is low and irrefutable.

“And I’m not letting you—kill any more of these people.”

“Well?!” The bishop stands, looking at the mayor as if he ought to be doing something, then at Dracula like his existence is more of a great offense to him than an actual threat.

The mayor looks at him, then at Dracula in the way he should: knowing full well what sort of threat a thing with a taste for human blood poses to those who tried to kill his wife.

The bishop closes his eyes, taking out a cross, holding it in front of him “In nomine Patris et Filii…God—”

Vlad teleports before the man-of-something-other-than-God, his cloak dancing in the wind, his eyes red sparks as he stalks his praying prey.

“‘God…’? You say your God is one of love, then proceed burn an innocent woman in His name? Either you have a very poor God, or you are a very poor follower. Regardless, I’d like to see what He thinks of you.” He raises a claw, forgetting for a moment his wife’s command in the face of all this red, about to send it slashing through this man’s chest.

But someone grabs his arm. He’s about to rip the hand off when he realizes it’s not one of the priest’s dogs, but that of his own son. The look in Adrian’s eyes is far too similar to those Lisa gave him when she chastised him…he never understood how something so gentle could be so hard to oppose.

“Father.”

Dracula slowly begins to lower his hand.

But the clergyman does not fall on his knees in a heap of thank-yous and I’m-sorrys; does not look upon the vampire’s son as someone he owes a great debt for deeming his life worth sparing. His lips aren’t capable of admitting such things anymore. His eyes are as beastly as the fire reflected within them, gorging themselves on every scrap of sin they can find. That arrogant gaze falls again upon his wife—Alucard has to keep his father from ripping them out just for looking at her—and his words are, low, horrified, laced with the same drug he put in everyone else’s mouths;

“You...You lie with the devil?!” Then question becomes condemnation, and he says like Dracula, and not he, is the simpering worm, “How utterly vile.”

Alucard’s eye twitches.

“The situation is far worse than we thought,” his knuckles turn white around the cross, “This woman is more than a mere witch. She is the wife of a devil and the mother of a demonspawn!” he jerks his head to the mayor, indignance fused into his irises, “What are you waiting for?!”

Dracula tries to raise his talon again but his son steps in front of him and grabs his other arm, digging his boots into the dirt as he struggles to hold him back, every indication in his eye demanding let me talk to them.

Dracula loses the staring contest.

The fire reflected in the Mayor’s gaze has gotten out of hand. He vaguely motions to the men around him—who look like they’re about to piss in their pants—to do something.

“Don’t worry, I won’t kill you.” The vampire king brings his hand to his face, letting the blood drip down it and drain onto his tongue, “I’ll make sure you live to tell the tale.”

They stare it him, then at each other, the fire, the red, covering their eyes, and they run.

“Cowards.” The priest’s closed fists mutter.

“Please!” Adrian finally makes his move, and his father can tell he’s trying to temper his own rage, “We can talk about this! Like people! Not one sent us, hell or otherwise! The only thing that sent us here was you! Your ignorance, your lunacy! My mother is not a witch! And we are not devils! Just because she had a few beakers and flasks in her house doesn’t mean she’s a witch. And just because my father has a nasty temper”—he gave Dracula a reproving look—“doesn’t mean we’re demons. If you just let her go we will leave in peace!”

The bishop turns to what’s left of the crowd, which now consists of mostly his own followers, no longer waiting for another to act, for the mayor too is nowhere to be found. “Let a pack of rabid mongrels go wild, he says.” He pauses. “What do you say to that?”

“Put them down!” Someone shouts.

The others cry in agreement.

If only they knew how much they looked like mongrels.

The priest gives that gnarled old smile.

“Well fuck you too,” Adrian mutters as they return to Lisa’s side, and his parents, for once, don’t scold him for his foul language.

He’s about to raise his voice again when Lisa breathes,

“It’s okay, Son…they don’t know what they’re doing…”

He stares at her, his mouth slightly open.

No, that can’t be what she’s saying. She can’t be telling him to give up. He can’t go home with well, you tried. He blinks at her, then at his father, and he looks so much like he did when he was a child confronted with a difficult choice that he wants to scoop him up and tell him everything’s going to be okay.

“Yes, I’m inclined to agree with you. Let’s put them down, shall we?” the priest’s mouth is even fouler, and it’s as if he thinks he’s a war commander, not a man who is supposed to sit in quiet places and pray.

Someone comes up the steps behind Alucard, and his floating sword is at his throat before the man even raises his own. “I think we can all agree backing away would be best, yes?”

When one of them touches Dracula’s arm his hand burns. Another comes up behind the first and Dracula wraps his hand around his throat with barely a change in expression.

“Stop!” Lisa cries. “Don’t hurt them!”

He stares her way like he’s a dog with something in his mouth he’s not supposed to. His arm shakes, ever so slightly, caught between two instincts; follow her voice, and kill those who dared hurt her.

“I know it’s cruel, and it’s not your fault, and I wish there was another way too, but you have to let me go. I don’t want you killing anyone else!”

His grip tightens on the man’s throat, and Dracula doesn’t even notice how much the man is grappling at him, trying to scratch his skin, to get him to release him. “If you think I’m letting you go, after everything we’ve been through—”

Something slams into his back, not enough to make him fall over, but enough to cause him to drop the man, who gasps for air pitifully on the ground. The vampire king whirls around to face his attacker and once again sees his son rubbing his shoulder.

He doesn’t have time to demand why he stopped him, for he must block a priest’s sword—“That’s a funny weapon for a priest to be carrying.” he quips aloud—the blade not even piercing his skin. Then he reaches over and grabs his teammate by the collar, sending him flying into a wall nearby before returning to the first, twisting the man’s arm, breaking it.

“Vlad, please!”

One of the holy men pick up a rather large rock, resorting to the other method the church is known for using to judge women of ill-repute.

If Dracula had seen it, he would have been able to stop it.

But it was Alucard who saw it, and the only method he had of stopping it was getting in its way.

“Son!” Dracula teleports catching his wounded son before he hit the ground, his head falling against his father’s shoulder.

What is a man?

Even the cruelest of animals only kill out of instinct. They don’t hit children because they want to send their mothers to hell.

“Vlad! Take Adrian and go!”

The vampire king looks from the two patches of light in his life, then to the humans who want to snuff them out.

How could he ever choose them over her? How could he ever choose the dark over the light?

“You won’t be able to save us both!”

She’s right…it will be difficult to protect them both…impossible without killing or hurting the humans.

So he has a choice; kill, or otherwise harm, most, if not all, the humans here, desecrating his wife’s wishes in order to save her life. Or let his wife die for the sake of these—these—these…

What is a man?

Mongrels? Demons? Blood to be spilled? Maybe.

Someone comes at him, sword raised, and he throws Adrian high into the air, knocking the man down the steps, catching his son before he hits the ground.

“Vlad…please…” her voice is weak but her eyes are strong.

What is a man?

He looks into the twisted faces of these creatures, rushing at him with consecrated blades and blasphemous gaze.

A thing she loves.

That is what they are. No matter what else they are, dogs, ghouls, and hellish things, men, woman, children…she loves humanity. From the day he met her it was clear just how much she cared for them; enough that she wanted to dedicate her own brief existence to saving their equally short, worthless lives. Enough she wanted to remind him how they were capable of more than the pitchforks and the flames, that there was flavor in more than just their blood. Enough that she made him promise to live like his life was as short as hers, and every moment counted.

His time with her was short…But that doesn’t mean that time, that her life was worthless. That every second he spent with her wasn’t a little pocket of eternity.

…And he’s not going to throw away everything she worked for for a few human lives.

He flickers to an alleyway some distance away and sets Adrian down against the wall.

Then he returns, fixes his gaze on the pyre, attempting to wipe the blood off his lips before floating up beside her, out of the clutches of the flames and the fools.

“Vlad…” she tries to look at him out of the corner of her eye, question, reproach there.

He wants to run his hand along her cheek, but his fingers are covered in blood, and he dares not mar her pristine features.

“I said—” Lisa chokes out.

He kisses her hair, and cuts her ropes with one swipe of his claw, catching her before she falls into the fire like a dip in this dance.

“I heard you.”

He sets her down at the wall beside Adrian—gently as if she were a precious vase he ought not break. His son’s eyes blink open, (being the son of Dracula had its perks).

“Father…?” he asks, his voice so small, glancing then at his mother.

He bends down and kisses Adrian on the forehead as if trying to make a booboo feel better.

“Did I ever tell you what a wonderful young man you’ve become?” he’s about to reach his hand to his cheek but thinks better of the blood. “You’ve… grown so much since I last saw you.”

“What—?”

Next to Lisa, “Did I ever tell you you’re as beautiful as the sun on the morning dew?”

“What tavern did you steal that line from?” she coughs, trying to smile.

“Do you have the strength to get out of here?”

They glance at each other.

“What are you going to do?”

Vlad stands up, lets the wind pass them by. “The sun will be up before long.”

“Vlad…I told you—!”

He shakes his head ever so slightly.

Her brow furrows, then upon realizing, her eyes widen.

“But you…no…you can’t!”

It takes Alucard a second, his expression going through a similar metamorphosis. “Wha—Father, you—?! Don’t be a hero!”

“Better than being the villain, don’t you think?”

Adrian grits his teeth.

“As long as I know you two are alright, it will all have been worth it.”

“But…you’re Dracula!” Lisa coughs again, standing shakily, holding on to Adrian for support, “You can’t possibly think my life is worth—!”

“If you think the immortal existence of Dracula is worth more to the world than the mortal life of Lisa and then I suggest you do more research, Doctor.” He smiles wryly.

They stare his way, that fire now twinkling monstrous and wild in their eyes too, their mouths opening and closing, pleas dying on their tongues.

He glances at the shadows of the oncoming attackers on the walls.

He pulls them into a hug, squeezing them tighter than he ever has.

“I love you both so very much,” he whispers into their ears, trying not to let red tears stain their perfect images.

And before they can reply he shoves them back with all the strength he can muster, giving them the best chance of escape he can.

He takes one last look at them, his sun-struck secret, as the sound of holy footsteps rush to him like water.

What is a man?

He turns to the distorted faces of those who will drive stakes, and forks, and blades, and flames into him, and just might succeed if he can’t hurt them in return, all rage and hate and mindless obedience. Twisted, ugly little devils.

But they have families somewhere. Parents. Children. Wives of their own. They have their reasons, their gods, their demons, hidden beneath their skin. Draining their blood won’t show you what they’re made of, not really.

But they forget. They forget that others are the same. That our faces, that our actions, our words today, never show all our yesterdays, the value of leaving us to our tomorrows.

“Have at me.” He mutters sardonically.

He stares up at the moon, the fury of red fading to tranquil blue, blood into water, heresy into holy.

He thinks of his wife and son—who were classified information to the rest of the world—returning safely to his castle tonight, sitting together beneath a blanket before the tame fire.

And that is enough.

What is a man?

He gives a crooked little smile, thinking of himself; looking at him, you’d never know that a loving husband and father was behind those bloody fangs.

A miserable little pile of secrets.

[darthstitch]

about the netflix castlevania series...

I know, I’ve been busy.  I’ve been raving over this series for the past week but I couldn’t get to a proper keyboard so I can a Proper Rave(tm) complete with gifs and sparklies.  

Seriously, WHERE IS THE REST OF CASTLEVANIA, NETFLIX?  YOU CAN’T LEAVE US HANGING WITH JUST FOUR BLOODY EPISODES, OKAY??!!!!  I NEED THE NEXT SET OF EPISODES AND I NEED THEM NOW. 

Fine, fine.  I’ll be a proper grown up.  I’ll stop sulking and wait patiently. 

Let’s get on with the List of Things That I Really Love About Netflix’s Castlevania animated series:

a.  Dracula - First off, Dracula is not a precious misunderstood Woobie Destroyer of Worlds.  He’s evil.  He’s got a dangerous labyrinth of a castle sitting smack dab in the middle of a forest of skeletons that are impaled on very long sharp stakes, his victims from years ago.  Dracula is bored, mean and absolutely disgusted with humanity.  Apparently, the only reason he doesn’t seem to be concocting some sort of Evil Plan to Cover the World in Eternal Night(tm) in the first few minutes we see him is because he can’t be arsed to anymore.  

But he is a lot more complex than your average moustache-twirling baddie and in less than five minutes we get the idea that there’s still some ounce of humanity left in everyone’s favorite Evil King Vampire.  He basically gets this OH NO SHE’S ADORABLE AND I LIKE HER SEND HELP look on his face once he gets properly acquainted with one Dr. Lisa Fahrenheights.  

b.  Lisa Fahrenheights - People who’ve played Castlevania:  Symphony of the Night will know who she is and in the game, she’s pretty much portrayed as some sort of sanctified figure in a Certain Person’s memories.  In this series, Lisa Fahrenheights is smart, sassy and willing to tell off the most dangerous vampire in the world for his bad manners.  And while our acquaintance with her is painfully short, it gets pretty clear why Dracula would fall arse over cape for her.  

And surprisingly, she genuinely seems to love him back and is apparently willing to believe he can be better than his Evil self without forgetting that he IS a terrifying Evil Dark Lord With Fangs(tm).  We only get like 10 minutes to have her around and I’m actually willing to buy into the Dracula/Lisa love story far more than I did with Twilight or the Star Wars Anakin/Padme romance.  

She’s genuinely a good person without being insufferably saintly and I hope we get to see more of her in flashbacks as this series progresses because LISA FAHRENHEIGHTS DESERVED BETTER GDI.  

Seriously, in the Great List of Incredibly Stupid and Boneheaded Ideas(tm), accusing Dr. Lisa Fahrenheights Tepes (somehow, I get the feeling she and Vlad had a long and lively discussion about being his Princess/Lady/Countess and she stuck to her guns about being a Doctor) of witchcraft and then burning her alive at the stake is probably in the Top Three.  Right beside the one that says, “Do not kill the Cinnabon Roll Son of the Dark Lord of the Sith while Darth Papa is actually there to see everything.”  

Unfortunately, since this is the Middle Ages and we have all that bullshit about wise women being falsely accused and the Church being corrupt, so this clusterfuckery happens and of course, Vlad eventually comes home to find the house he built for his beloved destroyed and that he’s too late to save her.  He can’t even get the chance to possibly turn her into a vampire.  

Of course he’s pissed off. 

c.  TREVOR MOTHERFUCKING BELMONT

Friendly reminder that Trevor Belmont is also THIS TOUCAN BEAKED ASSHOLE:

Okay, so with Lisa dead and Dracula basically rampaging because he’s Extra by nature, we pretty much need a hero to step up for the innocents who don’t deserve to be caught in the crossfire.

Except Trevor’s also been persecuted by the Church, catches a lot of shit from ignorant peasants who blame the Belmonts for Dracula’s monster horde and he really, really just wants a good meal and several tankards of ale because he’s been having the Worst of Bad Days for like a good solid several years. His life is in the shitter, okay? 

  But he’s a fucking Belmont.  He’s never lost a fight to man nor fucking beast.  He can’t stay quiet if innocent people are getting hurt.  So he crawls out of his tankard, takes up the Vampire Killer whip and kicks ass again.  

Just make sure he can get to the beer afterwards.  He’s a little shit.  I love him. 

c.  Sypha Belnades 

So this is what I love about the women characters in this series so far.  They’re not dressed in improbable skimpy outfits for eye candy purposes, they’re smart, they’re brave, they’re sassy and they don’t put up with any bullshit. 

Sypha’s got that covered and while our first acquaintance with her is her getting rescued by Trevor Belmont, the idea is that she was simply taken by surprise by the monstrous critter that originally got her and not because she was a reckless idiot.  She’s innocent and while she’s got the kind of faith that Trevor’s lost long ago, she’s not completely naive either.  She’s a badass and I love her. 

c.  Alucard/Adrian Fahrenheights Tepes - How do I love thee? Let me count the ways, my dhampir prince....

Alucard in the Symphony of the Night game was really the reason why I fell in love with the Castlevania video game series.  He’s ridiculously pretty, an absolute badass, the tragic son of Lisa and Dracula and in this animated show, THANK GOD HE’S FINALLY SHOWING SOME PERSONALITY AND IS VERY MUCH THE LITTLE SHIT HIMSELF.  

He’s understandably bitter at humanity but he’s trying to honor his mother’s wishes and her memory.  He knows little babies getting eaten by demons isn’t the kind of justice or vengeance that his mother’s death demands.  He’s not as strong as his father - he’s only twenty or possibly younger and he’s yet to grow into his full power.  

Alucard is a mystery because there’s so many questions I want to ask.  Where was he when Lisa was being burnt alive?  Couldn’t he have stormed in to rescue his mother or did he make it just to hear her last words, too late to do anything more?  Does Dracula hate him because he knows this? Blame him for failing to protect his mama?  

Alucard and his Daddy Dearest is one of the most compelling storylines for this game and I really need to know the rest of that once this series gets going to Season 2.  

And yes, I’m perfectly aware that the Trevor/Alucard ship has launched: 

(Yes, I know perfectly well Trevor is supposed to end up marrying Sypha eventually.  Leave us in our fan fiction heaven and trash can hell, okay?  Also, OT3′s are wonderful things.  Just putting it out there, folks.)

So yeah,  Netflix has pretty much nailed Castlevania.  This is a good, epic start.  Keep going.  I need more.  

In the meantime, I’m gonna be stuck writing more tales of Bucky’s Grampy and the epic adventures of Trevor, Alucard and Sypha, right? 

[sweetsandloveforall]

Redemption: Hellsing fanfic

WARNING: Explicit content. I do not own anything from the creators/producers of the Hellsing or Hellsing Ultimate manga/anime. Alucard x femOC. Enjoy! 

Previous chapter summary:

Integra nodded in understanding and debriefed Seras and Alucard on their next mission, "Alucard and Seras, we need information on rumors of a boat being deployed by Millennium. No killing unless absolutely necessary, just scout for information. You both have three days to figure out what is going on. Starting tomorrow, understand? There are rumors of some men from Millennium going through London, doing who knows what, find them and figure it out. Alucard, I want you to take my sister this time. Both of you together is less conspicuous on the streets of London, especially since she blends right in and knows that city like the back of her hand. And she is a great conversationalist to strangers when she needs to be. If you could debrief her on that, I would appreciate it. Seras, take Pip with you as well, since you two get along famously. if you need any help with knowing special spots where gossip happens, just text Jane on your cell." 

CHAPTER 6: REUNION

The quartet were making themselves acquainted with the luxurious rooms, Seras was so happy to be sharing her room with Jane. Jane made sure everything was neat and in its place before changing into another set of clothes. Alucard and Pip were staying in the next room, they had their own separate bedrooms of course but Alucard was less than pleased to share a room with the mortal. Pip was also hoping to share a room with someone else but free room and food was nice enough for him to shrug the feeling off. Jane knew that this trip was for business only so with that in mind, she slipped her trench coat on and a scarf. Seras handed Jane a cozy slouch beanie for her to wear due to the cold winter weather in England, "Thank you, it matches perfectly." Seras was going in cute, sweats and a long sweater with a pink beanie, "No problem, master!"   "Just call me, Jane...I don't like the name "master", just sounds wrong," Jane scrunched up her nose and slipped her mittens on. Seras gave her an enthusiatic thumbs up then left with her to meet Alucard and Pip in the lobby. Pip was sitting on a lounge chair, smoking his cigarette and whined, "What is taking them so long? Just put on a jacket and walk out." Alucard peeked at Pip in the corner of his eye, not entertaining him then saw Jane and Seras walking down from the stairs. Pip stared at Seras's outfit, it ws adorable and made him flustered. He quickly stood up and chuckled with embarrassment, "You two ladies look quite cozy!" Jane and Seras looked at each other in mutual thought, thinking about what he said in distaste. Alucard rolled his eyes at Pip, kissing Jane's soft mitten covered hand, "Jane, you look wonderful. Very womanly, if I might be so bold." Jane smiled cutely, all flustered over his smooth talk and hooked her arm around his when he offered, "Thank you, Alucard." Pip squinted at Alucard, knowing what he just did and scoffed, "Come on, Seras. Before we get forgotten by those two." Jane felt so happy to be out of the manor and back into the city she loved, London. It has been so long since he last visited and couldn't help but take advantage of the time being spent here. While walking around London, Jane gave directions to a favorite coffee place and tourist spot for Seras and Pip to go informational hunting then proceeded with Alucard down towards Westminster Abbey. The two looked so natural with each other as if they were meant to be close, meant to know each other in every universe. Although they were walking in silence, it was a comforting silence. Just the company they were sharing was enough to fuel their desire for one another at the moment. It was peaceful....almost normal. Alucard quickly pulled Jane towards hm by her waist gently when someone was about to bump into her, "Careful now, Jane." Jane glanced up at the tall vampire and saw normality, he also seemed peaceful and content with just walking. She smiled and kept close to him the whole time after he pulled her close. Alucard examined Jane's behavior, she was such a curious creature, wanting to experience everything and enjoy life. It was obvious that she wanted to spend some quality time in London but Integra gave orders...the vampire made a decision. He was loyal to Integra, there was no doubt but some things are more powerful, more justified than loyalty. Jane pulled his sleeve towards a bench in a grassy area near the abbey then made her way towards a food stand and bought them both Hot Toddies. She handed him is Toddy then sat down next to the vampire, leaning back and sipping her drink. With the benefits of being a vampire, Alucard had amazing hearing and was able to just sit while listening for information about Millennium or something related.    Seras and Pip finally made it into this huge coffee shop and sat down at a table for two, drinking their ordered beverages, "Jane knows her stuff." Seras shrugged at Pip's comment, sipping her coffee and saw a suspicious man then subtly jerked her chin in that direction. Without Pip turning his head, he knew what she meant. The two calmly talked about random stuff and finished their drinks, Seras heard some key words muttered out of that man's mouth while talking to his colleague and nodded to Pip, "He knows something alright." Pip cleared his throat, quickly messaging Jane then slipped his phone back into his pocket, "Right. Here is what we are going to do, you ready?" Seras smiled with confidence and nodded, "Yes, I am ready."    "We are going to follow this guy until we can grab him alone somewhere and take him to the hotel. You can use your super vampire speed to just run in the hotel quickly with him over your shoulder so no one can see. Sounds good?" Pip put out his cigarette in the ash tray and normally stood up with Seras, placing his arm around her shoulder to seem more normal. Seras tripped over a small piece of trash and quicly looked up to find the man they were stalking to have seen them. The man in the dark coat began to run, Pip let go of Seras and pointed towards the side, "Flank him! I'll run after him straight on!" The two had to make their move fast, Seras risked the chance of being seen and ran as fast as she could. The man pulled out his semi-automatic, aiming towards Seras but that didn't matter for her. She tackled the middle aged man and Pip cuffed him, acting as if he was a policeman to have folks around them not freak out as much. The man grunted, trying to wiggle free of Seras's strong hold, "We got him!" Pip smiled and nodded, lighting his cigarette while signalling for a cab, "Yes we did. Nice work, police girl."        Jane took out her phone and saw Pip's text, "They caught someone." The vampire looked over at the text and smirked, "As expected. Well done, Jane. It seems as if you do know where the meeting places are. Let's rendezvous at the hotel in a few hours. I am going to go off on my own for scouting," Alucard stood up from the wooden bench and discreetly tapped the left side of his ribs, "I placed a weapon in your coat just in case something happens. I will be checking on you from time to time but this is just a precaution." Jane furrowed her brows and abruptly felt the tiny pistol in her coat, "....you know how I feel about violence and weapons."   "And you know what its like to be in danger. We cannot risk your safety for your own morality. You will have this weapon on you, do you understand?" Alucard's tone became more firm and harsh but Jane knew it was from a place of caring so she complied with his order.    "Very well. I shall see you in a few hours...don't be late," Jane exhaled deeply, knowing that he will be leaving her-despite being a short amount of time-it made her heart sick. Alucard stroked her pale cheek as if he was examining her then left in the opposite direction, disappearing in the crowd of tourists. One man in a huge black trench coat sat right next to Jane with his hands in his pockets. Jane took a peak from her peripheral vision and recognized the man's facial features, that silver hair. It was the Captain!! Her heart began to pound, feeling her muscles tense greatly and finished the rest of her toddy like a shot. This man almost killed her, without her happening to find a phone to call her sister, she would have been dead or worse.   "You misunderstand me..." a low whispered voice came to her ear and she squinted at the Captain, his red eyes piercing her soul. His eyes were so intense, it reminded her of Alucard somewhat but he wasn't Alucard. Not at all. If it was Alucard hunting her, she wouldn't live one minute more. Knowing that he was not too far away, she felt a little more relaxed and cleared her throat, "How can I misunderstand you? You almost killed me. You're a murderer." The Captain frowned, seeing that she was not backing away from his dead eye stare, "You are safer with us." Jane suddenly started laughing loudly and shook her head, "As thick as you are, you should pay attention to what I am about to say. I was tortured, force-fed, sexually harassed, chained up like a piece of livestock and almost drowned by your hand, I might add. And you say that I am safer with you nazis?" The Captain stood up, she was right but he still persevered, "You think you are safe with that monster that has you wrapped around his conniving finger? Have you ever stopped to think that you will be his next meal? You are a Hellsing. Part of a family that has him tamed like a dog rather than being free. They almost killed him as well. You think a monster like him doesn't have a sense of vengeance left? Think about how many times he probably wanted to drink your blood...he is a vampire, Miss Hellsing. Call him tame if you will, but all wild animals are never truly chained." Before the Captain could walk away, Jane got up on her feet, feeling anger in her heart, "You're wrong. He is a vampire, yes. But he has saved my life a number of times to count and has had patience with me. He took care of me when I was sick, he kept me company when I had no one during my young years of living. He might be a monster but I still have hope in his humanity." The silver haired man turned to face Jane with a look of pity, "I see that there is no sense in trying. You're deeply in love that monster, deny it if you will but it is the truth. He will kill you eventually. You have a lot of potential and I hate to see a life be wasted like so. If you cannot wiggle out of that vampire's grasp then I shall be the one to silence you instead of him. Remember that. I will kill you, Jane Hellsing." Jane felt panic and terror surge within her, this man is insane. To save Jane, he will kill her? Just out of spite?    Instead of following him secretly, she slowly took a seat back on the wooden bench with silence. Time seemed to have slowed down, staring at her ankle boots in deep thought. She sighed heavily into her hands and leaned on her knees with her elbows, "God help us." Forgetting to notify Alucard, she hopped onto a bus towards St. Paul's Cathedral, she needed the advice of a priest.    "Master, we got the man in your room, tied up onto a chair. What shall we do with him?" Seras was on her phone, sitting on the table while Pip puffed his cigarette. Alucard shook his head in annoyance, on a random rooftop, still searching for clues, "What do you think, you foolish police girl? Interrogate him. Get him on record." Seras hung up on Alucard when he started to lecture and shoved her phone back into her pocket, " Let's interrogate him, Pip. I got master's approval to do so." Alucard grit his teeth when realizing that Seras hung up and slipped his phone into his pocket, "Stupid police girl. Better check up on Jane."    "Father, thank you for taking the time to help me with my burdens," Jane curtsied and followed the priest to his office. The priest gestured to the chair for her to sit on then smiled kindly, "No matter, my child. When I heard that one of the Hellsings was here for advice, I admit, I could not believe it. I always thought that your family belonged to the protestant church." Jane chuckled softly and shrugged, "They are just not me. My allegiance is to God and the Holy Roman Catholic Church." The priest nodded and sat into his chair, "What can I do for you, my child?" Jane bit her bottom lip, not sure how to phrase what happened but took a risk, "Well, father, I am in love with this man but...he is not the most holy man. Someone just told me that I was safer to not be around him and I think he may be right.." The priest locked his hands together and furrowed his brows, thinking, "My child, we do not choose who we love. Maybe it is doubt that is plaguing your soul. Maybe this doubt is a sign for you to be on your guard. Or..maybe you're afraid of something else entirely? Pardon me for saying so but, you are keeping information from me, correct?" Jane felt anxiety punch her swiftly, her thumbs twiddled and she averted her gaze but then decided to be honest, "Father...I am afraid that...that..he--" The priest called over to Jane and held her hands in his kindly while sitting on the corner of the table, "Miss Hellsing...have you lost your faith?" Jane looked up at the priest as if he uncovered everything in her life and broke down, sobbing into their entwined hands, "Father...I am not a bad woman...I have tried to keep true and tried to be the best person I can be for our Lord but all I got in return were horrible situations that I was put in. Father, how can I believe when there are horrible things happening to innocent people?" The priest inhaled deeply through his nose and let out a heavy sigh, "Miss Hellsing, everyone who follows God has thought about that very question. We are curious, knowledge seeking hunters, we crave to know more. No, we need to know more. Everyone wants a sense or purpose in life, why am I still here? What was I meant to be? Will my life be so flat forever? What is missing? These questions, we cannot answer. Too little is known. God...likes to test us. Far more than the Devil. God likes to see us push through obstacles and get stronger in body and mind so we don't be overcome by the Devil and his forces. We need to be strong to prepare for the next life. Strong in heart. He wants us to be perfect and we will never achieve that in this life. He knows that. But we can achieve perfection in the next and when we do, we will all be wholesomely happy. This is a test, Jane. Whether you stay by this man you speak of is entirely up to you. Do you choose love or fear? God will not help you when it comes to life changing situations, he only nudges us towards the big tests but lets us decide. He loves us so much that he lets us decide whether to believe in Him or not, gives us the will to choose to grow. Which is the most powerful thing in this world. To grow, to change. Do you understand, Jane?" Jane was astonished at this wise man's lecture and felt a warmth hugging her heart, a warm hug. As if God himself was comforting her soul with a gentle touch. She smiled, drying her tears with her tissues and sighed in relief, "Father, I was right to come here. You have restored my confidence. I have chosen."   The priest smiled, patting her hands and saw her out of the cathedral, "I am happy as well that you have came. Earlier today, I had a feeling that I was going to needed sorely. God prepared me for you, young lady. I am delighted that you took my words with such trust. God be with you, Miss Jane." Jane smiled and gave the priest a warm hug, "And God be with you, Father." The priest happily waved to the blonde woman before she jumped onto the bus back to Westminster Abbey. Alucard was pacing madly in front of the bench he left her in, calling her number on the phone, "Damn woman. Answer the phone."The buzzing eluded Jane's hearing as she was helping a child find their mother on the bus, "Come, child. We will find your mother. Is she at Westminster Abbey?" The child was sobbing and nodded, "Last time I thought I saw my mama was when it looked like she got on the bus..." Jane smiled kindly and helped the child get off of the bus, "Your mother is probably here somewhere." After a few minutes of walking, the mother rushed to her child and thanked Jane. Alucard spotted Jane talking to another woman, he was furious but kept calm and made his way up to Jane after her conversation, "Where were you, Jane? I called." Jane jolted and exhaled, "Alucard! I didn't even hear my phone buzz. I am so sorry to have worried you." Despite the vampire's best attempts to stay angry, he felt nostalgic of the times where Jane would always end up lost in the manor then huffed, "Just. Notify me when you are walking somewhere else. Even, if it's close by, got it? Let's head back to the room now." Because of the insane traffic of people coming back from work, Jane and Alucard decided to walk back since it would be faster. Nighttime was beginning to rule the sky, the clouds turned a magnificent pink and the sun's rays lit through the alleyways. Lights began to flicker on and shops closing, it was peaceful. Jane couldn't help but feel the need to tell Alucard what happened between her and the Captain. She lanced over at Alucard, clearly thinking then back on the road.    "....is there something on your mind, Jane?" Alucard stopped in his tracks, staring at the fidgety woman. Jane exhaled deeply, she has been caught but nonetheless, she grabbed Alucard's sleeve and pulled him along with her, "We shall talk when we get to the room, I promise." Deciding not to go against her wishes, he kept along her side until they reached Alucard's and Pip's room where the hostage was tied up on a wooden chair. The man was grunting, trying to unravel himself then stopped when Alucard stood right in front of him, "You already interrogated him, Seras?" Seras made a disappointing face and nodded, "We tried but he won't speak." The vampire made a gesture for Seras to take Jane out of the room, "No matter. His blood will do the talking." Seras gently pushed Jane into Alucard's bedroom and had her listen to music while her master was sucking the man dry.  Jane, despite being censored off from the bloody scene, knew what was happening and couldn't help but feel terror of Alucard once more. The Captain was right. He is a monster. But...    "Jane, it's over. We got the information luckily. This stupid dog needed to pass along a message and stupidly wrote his plans down on a paper hidden in his shoe. What a foolish human.." Jane remained silent, knowing that the man died but refused to give Alucard a hard time about it due to the fact that Integra probably issued it out. She sighed deeply, twiddling her thumbs and cleared her throat, looking to Seras, "Seras, can you give us a moment?" Seras eyes widened slightly then bowed, "Yes! Of course, Master!"    After she left the room, closing the door behind her, it was time. Alucard knelled down in front of the distraught woman, waiting for her to be ready to speak. Jane gulped in her nervous accumulation of saliva and exhaled deeply, "I saw a chief officer of Millennium today. While you were gone." The vampire frowned deeply and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Why didn't you tell me?"    "It's not like I didn't want to, Alucard. He decided to sit right next to me, I couldn't exactly reach my phone since he would have killed me," Jane pleaded innocence but Alucard wasn't mad at her, he felt disappointed in himself. He let the enemy get close to Jane again, luckily she was around people. If she wasn't he probably--no, he would've kidnapped her. Damn, he is making mistakes. Jane leaned over and took Alucard's gloved hand into her hands, stroking the symbol curiously, "Dear, sweet Count, I only have one question. Should I be cautious and fearful of you?" Jane was clearly conflicted, should she be more careful? The vampire gave her the kindest smile and kissed the back of her hand softly, "No, my dearest Jane. I have saved your life numerous times and i shall continue to do so. I keep making mistakes with you, Jane. It infuriates me to no bounds." The vampire gazed up at the concerned woman and chuckled with amusement, "Jane." Jane averted her gaze, knowing her cheeks were a bright red with embarrassment. The way he said her name felt like she had the shivers running up and down her spine, her stomach was in knots and her heart pounding, "Count...I--" Alucard was fascinated by Jane's reaction to being flustered, her emotion was overwhelmingly intoxicating. Hearing her heart pound, blood pumping vigorously, and smelling the scent of her sweet rosemary aroma was orgasmic to his senses. They both influenced each other's emotions greatly, heightening their sense of closeness. Jane rested her hands on the sides of his neck and gently rubbed relaxing pressure points, smiling fondly, "Despite how long I was gone, I have never stopped caring for you. I apologize if you have thought that." The gentle massaging she was giving was heaven, it was intimate and loving.    "Jane, you have never offended me. As you know, it is quite hard to," Alucard playfully jested, feeling himself sink into her touch. Jane laughed lightly at his remark, still admiring the vampire. Her expression could sway anyone if she willed it, "I've got a better idea. Come on, Alucard." Alucard followed Jane to a cushioned chair and sat him down, "What is this, Jane?" The blonde woman pulled bac whatever hair she could into a tiny ponytail and shook her head with a smile, "Nothing sexual, let's put it at that. You have saved my life a lot of times, I shall relieve as much tension from your back and shoulders as I can as something I can do for saving me." The vampire smiled and shrugged, "I will not argue. The tension of my back has been killing me, I miss being given massages for free." Jane smiled, she was happy he accepted. While rolling down her sleeves, Alucard also slipped his coast and vest off, leaving his dress shirt on, "How does dinner at 7 sound?" Jane noticed his sarcastic tone and laughed joyously, knowing he was making fun of Walter, "Don't be unkindly, now! He was a gentleman." Jane began to massage his shoulders slowly but firmly, he was very tense and Jane couldn't help but notice he has a sculpted back. Her cheeks became hot once more and muttered to herself angrily, saying the Lord's prayer. Alucard smirked and looked over smugly, "Everything alri-?"    "Y-you hush now! Just think of how funny Walter is or something! I am praying, do not bother me," Jane's face was red mixed with embarrassment and annoyance but it was rather ironic her muttering prayer while she was fully interested in his back. Seras barged in with tears in her eyes, "MASTER! KILL IT! SPI--" Jane intentionally fell onto her back as soon as she heard the door open, hoping Seras didn't see her but it was too late. Alucard grit his teeth and threw his gun at her, "Kill it with that and do not bother me until I say so." Seras's face turned into an ugly smug expression, "Ooooookkaaayy, master. I'll leave you two alone." Jane hissed, still on the ground, "It's not like that!" Seras giggled with smug slowly closing the door to cause more emphasis on the fact that she caught them having a moment until Alucard shot the door closed. Seras yelped when the door smashed into her nose and rubbed her face, "That hurt!" Jane got up slowly, checking to see if the door was shut then grabbed her lower back, "Agh! Ohh, my back...this is what signals the first signs of old age." Alucard laughed at Jane, she was so adorable, he got up and examined her lower back, "Allow me." Jane was slightly starled when he touched her waist and slowly made her stand up straight with pressured applied to her back, "Better?"    "Yea, a lot better. Thank you, Alucard," Jane inhaled a huge puff of air through her nose and cleared her throat.   "I should go to bed, now," Jane chuckled awkwardly but was stopped by Alucard gripping onto her arm lustfully. The woman gazed up at the vampire with rosy cheeks and mumbled, "Yes?" He held her shoulders gingerly while leaning closer to her, seeing how close he could get, "Jane, I will be shamelessly blunt. I wish to have your whole being. Your heart and body. What say you?" Can this be happening? The man she has loved for nearly a decade has confessed, she had a blank stare of bewilderment and couldn't speak for the life of her. The vampire lifted her chin up, making her look into his eyes, "Jane, you strange and fragile little thing. I have never known more kindness in this world. We morally are very different and always will be. I cannot promise a normal relationship. We will not be walking down the streets, window shopping or having random dates in restaurants. But I can give you my commitment and care." Jane gulped, her bottom lip quivering, she was nervous. She couldn't help but think that this was a lie for him to gain something from her. She couldn't move either, she was frozen in her thoughts, "Let me go, Alucard." The vampire snapped, she kept denying him and it drove him mad that all these years, he had let her get away, "No, Jane. Not anymore. You can lie straight to my face if you will but you know that I know how you feel. I can sense it everytime you get close. Your heart flutters, your breathing becomes heavier, your skin warmer, you get nervous as a mouse. Jane, I love you as my own flesh and blood. What more do you want from me?" Tears began to stream down Jane's cheeks, these words full of power and affection struck her like an arrow to the heart, "I'm so sorry, my sweet Count. I should have never trailed you on as I did...you're right. I love you just as much, I just never had the courage to say so, ple--" A most passionate kiss given from Alucard interrupted Jane's plead for forgiveness. This was surreal but beautiful, Jane rested her arms on Alucard's shoulders, still deep into their kiss full of longing and deprivation. This moment was perfect and unforgettable, but as soon as they were about to go further, the landline rang furiously, "This is for the best. I will answer, Jane. Get some rest, we will head back to Hellsing manor in the morning. You will need your strength. As much as I would love to join you in slumber, my want for you is too overreaching. Have pleasant dreams, my dear." Jane stroked his cheek tenderly before taking her leave, "You as well, Count." "Master?" Alucard answered he phone call and indeed, it was Integra. Ready with her notepad and a pen in hand, she began to ask Alucard questions, "Did you find anything?" The vampire made sure the door was closed after Jane left and turned his attention back to Integra, "Yes. There is a boat going to London very soon with one of Millennium's chief officers just like the rumors we have heard. I have also gained information that there will be an attack on London but when is unknown. I will give you the location of the boat when we arrive tomorrow."  Integra put out her cigar, written everything down and cleared her throat, "Good work, Alucard. We will meet the Queen tomorrow as well, in the late afternoon then you will seek that boat a day after that. So two days time before you leave Hellsing manor once more." Alucard frowned, placing his hand on his hip in thought, "Can we send Jane somewhere else when that happens? Maybe back to New Zealand just until this foolish war is done?" Integra squinted at the phone and leaned back into her chair, "There will be no need. Seras will be behind to make sure this place is stationary. She will be safe with Seras. I got to get back to work now. See you all tomorrow." Before the vampire could argue, Integra hung up, now that he made a move with Jane, she will be in even more danger. He cannot bring her with him to seize the battleship nor is he alright with her being so far away...thinking about a solution for this would have to wait till morning.

[eva105]

Aaaaaaaawwww🥹🥰 He looks very cute

"sarcasm still runs in the belmont blood... trevor would be proud"

i dropped everything so fast just to quickly draw this shot because he's so pretty here, i can't-