Hellsing Fan Fiction ❯ Truth Lies Within A Scarlet Rose ❯ The Truth is Revealed ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Hellsing.

 

I forgot to tell you that Seras lives in Transylvania; I fixed that small detail in the second chapter, I wanted to tell you just so you're not confused. Anyway, the long wait was because it's a really long chapter. I hope you enjoy it as much as I LOVED writing it and can't wait to hear what you think.

 

Warning: From here on in, the story will contain material that may be disturbing to some views. This includes rape, abuse, suicide, etc. Read at your own discretion.

 

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Chapter 3: The Truth is Revealed

 

Seras heard the faint sounds of rustling in the distance she could not quite distinguish. Listening intently, she tried to pick up where the noises were coming from. `Who's here with me?' Her thoughts were running wild, she attempted to stand but found her body frozen. `Ugh! Not this again! Why are my eyes so heavy?' Panic began to consume her thoughts as she struggled to move. Seras was having quite the internal battle and losing miserably.

 

“Relax, little one,” a voice spoke to her soothingly. `Who was that?' Whoever it was, they were right. All the struggling was exhausting, and reluctantly she let herself relax.

 

Within a few minutes, her body began to move again. Sitting up, she took in her surroundings. The room she was in was relatively bare; the aged stone walls were cold and worn from centuries of use. There were no windows, only candles attached to Celtic cross holders along the walls. The only warmth emitted came from a lone fire place located in the middle of the room, adjacent to her right. On the opposite wall, a large wooden door, with close resemblance to that of a dungeon, stood proud. Continuing on, Seras's eyes set on a simple table with two chairs on both ends, positioned in the corner of the room and a smaller door behind it.

 

“These sketches are most interesting, little one. Do you always draw such bizarre images?”

 

Startled, she whipped her head to the left and saw the same man from the park sitting on an extravagant parlour chair, fit for a king. “Who are you, where am I, and what do you want with me?”

 

Without even glancing away from the sketchbook, the man replied. “My name is Alucard, you are in my castle, and I want nothing from a pathetic human such as yourself. Does that satisfy all your questions?”

 

Realizing that Alucard was looking through her drawings, Seras switched from curious to defensive. “Hey, you're not allowed to look through those! They're mine; give them back!” Jumping up to take back the art book, she tripped over the border of the bed and face planted upon the cold floor.

 

Alucard burst out laughing as he watched the hilarious scene in front of him. Groaning in pain, she glared at the offending object.

 

“Why the heck do you have a border around your--” She stopped immediately when she realized what she had been laying in. It was not a bed.

 

“Yes Seras, it is indeed a coffin in which I sleep my days away in.” Snapping her gaze back towards Alucard, she found herself transfixed by the man before her. He was wearing a charcoal suit with a crimson cravat, leather riding boots, and a long burgundy Victorian overcoat. A wide-brimmed fedora of the same colour rested perfectly on his head. But nothing compared to the scarlet orbs that scrutinized her every move. Even at such a young age, she had to admit this man was very beautiful.

 

“I prefer handsome myself; beautiful sounds far too feminine.” He was perplexed with her reaction to him. Most humans cowered in fear, but for some strange reason, this girl did not.

 

“Okay, listen here, weirdo. I don't know what you are or how you know my name, but where I come from people don't go around reading other people's personal thoughts, just the same they don't go through a person's private property! You're not allowed to look at that; now give it back!” Stomping her way over to Alucard, she tried to snatch the sketchbook from his hands. Grinning vehemently, he showed off his sharp fangs, refusing to let go of the book. He was enjoying how she struggled to release it from his grip.

 

“Well, well; aren't you a feisty one. Where are all your manners, little one? You have to say the magic word.” He mocked her in a tone that a parent would use while teaching their child.

 

Seras placed her hands on her hips and retorted with an aggravated look. “I wasn't taught any; now give me back my book!”

 

Cocking a brow, he waited; his smirk grew even wider, if that was possible. Knowing full well his silence was getting on her nerves, he added, “Well?”

 

Giving him an overly dramatic huff, the words scraped off of her tongue. “Can I have my book back…please?”

 

“Oh yes, I'm sure you can have it back, but may you?” Fire burned in her eyes as rage pulsated from her body. Shutting her eyes she let out an irritated cry.

 

“Alucard, do stop torturing the poor girl, she has had enough of that for one night,” a man called from the doorway; he was an elderly gentlemen, well dressed, with his hair tied neatly into a ponytail. Walking over, he snatched the book out of Alucard's hand, giving it back to Seras. “Come now child, sit down; I want to check that head of yours. That fall you had earlier gave you a pretty nasty bump.”

 

Once the sketchbook was placed in her hands, she mockingly stuck her tongue out at the dark haired male.

 

Alucard gave Seras a warning look. “I suggest you put that back in your mouth before I rip it out.”

 

With a loud gasp, she heatedly plopped on one of the chairs and forcibly glared at him. Ignoring it, he looked back at the older man. “You know, Walter, you always ruin my fun; I may just have to kill you now. Have you forgotten who you are dealing with?”

 

“Oh please; quit being such a drama queen. If you did not have me, you would be dead by now. If I do recall correctly, I was the one that sheltered your incredibly temper mental ass after you sold your soul. I helped you learn and control your abilities. But do enlighten me, how are you going to kill me this time?”

 

“Well, I was thinking of something along the lines of disembowelment or dismemberment.”

 

Looking between the two men, Seras was beyond confused. `He sold his soul… to what? Who the heck are these people?'

 

Throughout their bizarre bantering, she finally gained enough courage to speak after Walter was done checking her head. “Okay, can someone please tell me what's going on here?”

 

“See Walter, before you rudely interrupted the two of us by barging in here, I was teaching young Seras here how to say please. Look, she's learning! Next, I'm going to teach her to play dead, then possibly rolling over,” Alucard declared victoriously.

 

Rolling his eyes, Walter turned his attention to Seras. “I am sorry dear; how rude of me; this must be very confusing for you. I am Walter, Alucard's trusted associate. And you are?”

 

“Seras Victoria,” she answered timidly.

 

“Well, Miss Victoria, earlier on in the evening, you were brought here to make sure you were all right. After you were attacked, you fainted and hit your head, but you seem to be fine; there are no serious injuries. That bump should go down in a couple of days; no need to worry.”

 

Looking over at Alucard, she saw a goblet she had not noticed before, filled with some sort of red liquid. “I saw what came out of your stomach. I know you're not human, so what are you?”

 

“A vampire, my dear,” he smiled at her cynical disposition, “I suggest you start believing in monsters Seras Victoria,” he leaned forward, “They are very much real.” With a single gulp, he downed the contents of the goblet.

 

“So if he's a vampire, than what he's drinking is…” She did not need to finish the statement. Walter already knew what she was referring to and replied with a nod.

 

She scrunched her nose in disgust. “Okay that's really gross.” Shifting in her seat she faced Walter, “So I'm guessing that you're a vampire, too?”

 

He gave a small chuckle, “No, my dear, I am not. I am a wizard, very different from a vampire and very much alive.”

 

“So, you're like a witch that casts spells and stuff, right?” she asked with slight curiosity.

 

“Yes, you could say that. However, witches are female and wizards are male. Anyway, I would love to sit and chat with you but I have things that need to be attended too. I may be a wizard but some how or other I have ended up as Alucard's personal butler,” he shot his friend a harmless glare and continued. “I see nothing wrong with you, Miss Victoria, just a bit of a bump, nothing that can not heal in a day or two. Now I must be off; if you need me you know where to find me.”

 

Walking towards the door, he turned around seeming to have remembered something, “Oh, and Alucard, try not to drive the poor child insane; she does not deserve to be a victim of your twisted and perverted mind games.” With that, he gave Seras a warm smile and to his master, a polite bow.

 

Silence filled the room and Seras was the first to break it. “Are you going to eat me?”

 

“I don't know what kind of vampire stories you may have heard but, I don't eat humans, unless it's a willing woman.” Alucard gave a wicked smirk, only to be rewarded with a puzzled look from the eight year old. “I suppose you are too young to understand; vampires only drain humans of their blood, not physically eat them. Now, are you done playing twenty questions?”

 

“No, you're the one that brought me here, Mr. Vampiro, so you're going to sit there and answer them until I'm done.” Seras retorted heatedly. He found himself unable to believe the sheer audacity this girl had. There were not many full grown men brave enough to whisper, let alone insult, him; and yet, this little girl stood brazen to her words, ready for anything he would throw at her. It fascinated him, and he had to admit, he found her nicknames for him rather amusing.

 

“Very well, proceed.”

 

“Are we still in Transylvania? I mean there are not many castles around here and I think someone would have figured out if people were living in it.”

 

“Yes, the castle is invisible to all humans. There are very strong barriers and spells around it that prevent people from seeing or even penetrating it. My castle is located in the Transylvanian Alps; we are still close to your home.”

 

Relief washed over her; she was getting worried about how far she was from her home, “If you could call that trash pile a home.” “You can read people's minds, huh?”

 

“Yes, every vampire can. Humans are the easiest to read; they are like open books.” A mischievous smirk formed on Alucard's face that made Seras's heart quicken in panic. `Does he know about father?'

 

“No, I do not know about him. I can read your thoughts when you think them easily. Looking at memories is different; that requires more skill and is far more complex. Why Seras? Are you afraid I will find something you don't want to share? It's not nice to keep secrets, you know.” The teasing was making Seras uncomfortable, and he relished in her unease.

 

Seras was quick to stutter. “N-no, just forget about it. It's nothing. Um- so- ah, what was that thing in the park?” Looking at her questionably, he let her obvious nervousness slide he could find out anything he wanted to know later.

 

“What you saw in the park was a Barghest. They actually look like large goblins, but they can change into lupine form, which is what you saw.” She gave him a confused look and he sighed with great irritation.

 

“Lupus is the Latin word for wolf. Look, I know you don't follow this type of shit, but seriously, haven't you ever watched werewolf movies before?”

 

“Well, sorry! Whatever; so it didn't click. Cut me some slack; this is a lot to take in right now, gosh!” Seras folded her arms and gave an immature pout.

 

Rolling his eyes, he continued. “I find it quite odd that one would choose to show itself in such a way. Not that I am complaining; it was a pleasant battle, but it is not in a Barghest's nature to attack its prey straight on, and alone, for that matter,” Alucard thought aloud more to himself than Seras.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“They usually hunt in packs and ambush their prey. I have never seen one attempt a frontal assault alone.”

 

“Why couldn't I move my body?”

 

“They charm their victims so they can not escape. By doing so, it is much easier for them to feast on the blood and soul of the prey and become stronger.”

 

A familiar sensation flooded Alucard's senses, indicating that the sun was beginning to rise. “That's enough of your silly questions. Morning is approaching and I must sleep. I will take you home when I awake. Now, get out,” he ordered with a wave of his hand.

 

“Hey! I'm not one of you're slaves you can boss around. What am I supposed to do until then, anyway? You can't just leave me here!” She said, with a stomp of her foot.

 

“Stop acting like such a brat; go find something to amuse yourself for the time being. Just get out of my sight; you're starting to give me a headache with all your whining.”

 

“Fine, I'll leave and I'll make a mess of your castle while I'm doing it, too! Why do you have to be so mean?” With that, she stormed out of the room, completely forgetting her sketchbook.

 

She could not believe the nerve of that man! Her blood was boiling and her frustration did nothing to help her as she wandered aimlessly through the enormous stone maze.

 

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Alucard lay down in his coffin and closed the lid. Submerged in darkness, he let is thoughts wander. He could not fathom why such a young girl was walking around so late at night. The girl was definitely strange, though he enjoyed toying with her. He resolved to delve into her memories later. Her nervousness to his earlier question caught his interest. There were also the multiple pictures of the woman in that book of hers. Sighing heavily, he pushed the thoughts from his mind and let sleep engulf him. He would not let his curiosity ruin his beloved rest. There was plenty of time for prying later.

 

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Seras found herself in front of the same portrait she saw only ten minutes ago. `Arr! I can't believe this; I'm running around in circles! How do people get around this place?' Continuing down the dark corridor, she reached a split path with only two options; left, heading up a staircase, or right, which followed down one.

 

It was common sense to go up; up meant light, day, and maybe something to eat, while down…Curiosity got the best of Seras as she descended the winding staircase. Any normal person, especially one so young, might have been detoured from such a daunting atmosphere; but then again, there were not many people who would call Seras normal. The further she continued down the dank steps, the cooler the air got. A chill ran down her spine when she reached the bottom. She was in a long corridor that branched out in to several small rooms with barred doors. Seras shuddered as if there were people watching her; this was not a corridor, it was a dungeon.

It was as if thousands of tortured, forgotten souls were trapped down here, just wandering these passageways, trying to find a way out.

“This place gives me the creeps,” she walked past the first cell, “but, it does look pretty cool down here.” Walking along, she saw multiple shackles hanging from the walls and scattered bones on the floor. There were many smaller corridors attached to the one she was currently in. Within those, other corridors branched out from them. Not wanting to get lost she choice to ignore them. At the end of the main passageway was a door, which she decided to enter. Seras looked around in utter amazement; there was a vast array of torture devices located all around the room. She could only recognize a few from pictures in books; being the wheel, the Iron Maiden, and the rack, from the countless others.

A creak came from above her. Looking up, she saw a cage and in it was a person; well, the remains of a person, to be exact. `Oh my god, this is for real. I'm in a real dungeon with real dead people! This is so cool! Nobody at school is going to believe this.' Taking a moment to register that thought, her excitement died quickly. `Right, of course they wouldn't believe me, it'll just give them another reason to tease me.'

Turning to leave, something flickered from the corner of her eye. To the far left, in the corner of the room, large spikes protruded from the ground. Above them was a balcony. However, what caught her eye were not necessarily the spikes, but the individual that was impaled by them. A man, bloody and broken, had several stakes jutting from his body. His head was snapped back to reveal his mouth open wide with unheard shrieks. His eyes were staring straight at her, watching, penetrating into her very soul. Skeletons were one thing, but a fresh corpse dripping blood was completely and utterly another.

Terrified, Seras sprinted out of the torture chamber, passing the several corridors, and hurried up the whining staircase. In her urgency to leave, she lost her footing and scraped her leg against the step's edge. Blood gushed from the cut; ignoring it, she picked herself up and carried on. The adrenaline pumping through her veins numbed the pain. Her breathing was heavy when she reached the top. Nevertheless she sprinted up the stairs before her, into a grand hall. Quickly picking one of the many routes to take, she dashed down it. Not paying attention to where she was going, she colliding with a solid figure and was propelled backward. Seras looked up from the cold floor to see Walter gawking down at her.

Helping her to her feet, he brushed some dust off her. “Good heavens, child! What on earth are you doing running through the castle at top speed? If you are practicing for a one-man stampede you are well on your way!”

Pointing to the direction, she came from she puffed out the most audible words she could muster. “There's- man- down- a room- spikes- dead!”

“Please, slow down, Miss Victoria. Compose yourself; take a few moments to catch your breath.” Leaning against a wall, she tried to relax her wheezing coughs. “Now, start from the beginning.”

“I got lost trying to find my way around this place when I saw stairs leading down somewhere. I wanted to see what was down there, so I followed them. I found the dungeon and another room with weird looking machines. And then I saw a dead guy; his body had spikes through him! Who the hell are you people?”

“Relax, Miss Victoria. I understand you are frightened, but there is nothing to fear. No harm will come to you.”

“Nothing to fear? I've been attacked by a mutant wolf, kidnapped by a crazy blood-sucking vampire that can shoot dogs out of his body, and you have a dead guy in your house with spikes coming out of him! Tell me; why shouldn't I be scared!” Tears started to form in Seras's eyes. She slid to the floor, curled into a ball, and rocked herself.

“Sh, sh, sh, shhhhh. Don't cry. I did not mean to upset you. That man you saw in the dungeon was a very, very bad man. He was a murderer who raped children. That man would kidnap, torture, and then, kill them. Alucard found the bad man and killed him so he could harm no more children.”

Lifting her head up, she peeked through her arms to look attentively at Walter. “Is that true? Did he really do that?

“Yes, he did all those hurtful, awful things.”

“Oh, okay. In that case, yeah; I'm glad he's dead.” Wiping her eyes, she jumped up off the ground excitedly. “So what is there to do around here--Ouch!”

Walter was taken aback by her extreme lightness of the situation. Blinking a few times, he allowed her bizarre shift in attitude to register in his brain. He noticed the bottoms of her jeans were ripped and bloody and upon kneeling to get a closer look, he discovered a rather deep wound. Placing his hand over it, she started to feel the cut warm up and the pain fade away.

“There, all better.” Walter removed his hands from her leg and she inspected it. To her amazement, the cut was completely healed.

“Wow! That was so cool; how did you learn how to do that? Dude, you have to teach me this! I get hurt all the time, so this would be so awesome to have.” Shaking his head, he gave a small smile. `I must say, this child is it one of a kind. No wonder Alucard has interest in this peculiar girl. Maybe she'll do him some good. Lately, he has been moping around this castle like a thorn in my side. I can't get anything done around here. When Alucard gets bored, nothing good comes out of it, just complete and utter chaos.'

Reaching out, he took her hand in his. “Miss Victoria, I have a special place I want to show you. I think you will like it very much.”

Hand in hand, Walter navigated through them through the castle.

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Seras's eyes lit up when they entered into the most magnificent glass dome. It was covered in all sorts of flowers and varieties of tree and plants. The colours meshed together beautifully, like a painting. Different scents mixed together to create to most intoxicating blend of smells; she could almost taste the sweet nectar in the air. Walking further into the greenhouse, her skin was warmed instantly as the sun's heat shone through the glass panels.

“Oh wow, Walter; this is so beautiful.” She said as they casually strolled down one of the marked paths.

“Indeed it is. This garden is my sanctuary; I created it for times when I need to think, or simply get away from the absurdities of life. I am hardly ever bothered here, so for the most part I have it all to myself.”

“I can't believe you made this. I mean there's real grass here; nothing's in a pot. It looks like an actual garden.” Seras's eyebrows rose in bewilderment.

“Yes, well, you will soon come to realize, Miss Victoria, that nothing here is as it seems. This dome is surrounded by magic. The only reason they can grow is because of the spells I have casted. It is impossible for these types of plants to grow in the mountains; the conditions are much too harsh. Extraordinary, isn't it? Alucard rarely comes here, so that makes it all the more peaceful.” Walter words were laced with humour.

“Yeah, I can't see Alucard coming here to enjoy the flowers unless it's to feed his demon dog thingies. Do all vampires have those?”

“In response to your first statement, he only comes here for the pool or the hot tub, as odd as that sounds. Water does not kill vampires like the stories say, unless it is blessed, of course. It's unusual, but I enjoy them myself, so I guess it was a good idea to incorporate them into the garden; to answer your initial question, no.” Walking over to sit on a nearby bench, he continued.

“What you saw come from Alucard's body were hellhounds. He is the only vampire who has them; they were sort of a gift to him when he was made. He has many secrets to his abilities; however, I am not allowed to discuss them with you. All you need to know is that no other vampire is like him, I have seen no other surpass his power.

“What do you mean `when he was made'? Does that have to do with that thing you said about him selling his soul?” She asked, trying to piece things together.

“My, aren't you full of questions. I see this is going to be longer than expected so sit back and pay attention. I will tell you his past but no interruptions; I am getting old and I may lose my train of thought.” Seras nodded in response, and he began.

“Alucard's real name is Vlad III. He was born in Transylvania, but was the Prince of Wallachia. When the Ottoman Empire was trying to take over Romania, he was known for resisting them. Before him, his father, Vlad II, ruled. However, when he was kicked off the throne and became a vassal to the sultan and had to give them his sons, Radu and Vlad, as hostages to ensure that he did what he was supposed to. During Vlad's imprisonment, he was tortured repeatedly for his rebellion and refusal to cooperate. Radu did not receive punishment due to the fact he became Pro-Ottoman to escape his prison, and put his loyalties towards their empire. When Vlad escaped, he regained his throne back and ruled once again. Though he was seen as a hero for driving the Ottomans out of Romania, he ruled with an iron fist. It did not matter if you were a man, women, elderly, sickly or a child; there were no exceptions. The usual method of punishment was impalement. He earned names such as Vlad the Impaler, and Dracula. Dracula derives from the name Dracul. In Romanian, it means—“

“Devil, Drucul means devil. I remember reading that in a history book once.” Walter smiled in astonishment; he had not expected she would know such a thing.

“Yes, it does, and I thought I told you no interruptions,” he scolded her playfully. She quickly put her hand over her mouth, giving him a silent apology and a plea to carry on.

Amused by her antics, he proceeded on. “Upon going into another war with the Ottoman, he was killed during battle. The night before he died, a Catholic priest came to the Turkish camp. The priest had received a message from God saying he would be a cursed man for all eternity. That even in death, he shall walk the earth as a monstrous, tormented soul. The devil would grant him life in exchange for his soul if he was not blessed before death. The Turks were Islamic which is a different type of religion, and did not believe the priest's words. They prevented him from blessing Vlad and shooed him away. He was decapitated and his head was put on a stake for all to see as proof that The Impaler was forever dead. His body was buried someplace unknown. There have been rumours as to where his body was laid to rest but it was never found.” Standing up to stretch his back, he told Seras to walk with him. Obliging, she followed him down the stone pathway. Walter was silent as he recollected his thoughts; it had been a while and he needed to recall what Alucard had told him. Seras stayed quiet, waiting patiently for him to go on.

“That night Alucard was born; he was to be king of all creatures and rule them as such. The priest was right; Satan did come to him in death and offered him life again if he carried out the devil's work on earth. When morning came, Vlad's head was gone; and in its place was that of the priest's. The Turks were fearful because the priest warned them if he were not blessed, a monster would be birthed into the world. That, and the fact that only a few knew of the whereabouts of his body, made the chances of someone finding his remains nearly impossible. This is where I came into the picture. Alucard left the life he once had behind; his wife, his children, his throne, everything. It was of no use to him anymore. He traveled to England while trying to master his new powers, where he stumbled upon me. I was quite young at the time, living in the forests when I found myself being attacked. Apparently, I was to be his next meal. I could tell he was an extremely dangerous individual; his prevailing aura was pouring off of him.”

“However, his form was much too impulsive and reckless. So I decided I would make him a deal; if he did not kill me, I'd help him control his abilities. It did not take him long to master them. When he finally did become the true nosferatu he was, I thought I was a dead man for sure. I knew his power surpassed mine and the carnage that he was capable of, but when he came for me, he did not try to kill me. Instead, he asked me to accompany him to his new home, which I stupidly accepted. That was about five hundred years ago and here I am today, stuck with the bloody psychopath,” he finished dryly.

“So you don't like him; I thought you did? You two act like friends.”

Walter's shoulders shook with his cheerful laugher. “Yes, I suppose we are. I just like to tease him when I say those things. I must admit that back in England, it got very boring. Alucard does put excitement into my life, that's for sure. There is never a dull moment when he's around.” Happiness twinkled in his eyes as he reminisced about the old times. “We have had some amazing adventures within the last five hundred years.”

“Walter, how are you still alive? If you're five hundred, shouldn't you be dead… No offence?”

He let out a hearty laugh, “No, no, it's a valid question. You see, true wizards and witches live for a very long time. I am aging, as you can see by my wrinkling face, but I think I have a couple of centuries left in me before I keel over.” Standing up, he adjusted his clothing. “It was wonderful talking with you, Miss Victoria, but I really must finish off a couple of things before I retire for the day. I would suggest staying in the gardens instead of exploring. It is easy to get lost in this castle if you do not know your way around. I am convinced Alucard intentionally did that so he could watch his victims go insane trying to find a way out.”

Bowing a goodbye, he turned to leave, “Wait!” Seras called out before he reached the door, “If he likes to kill people so much, even kids, then how am I safe?”

“I'm more then positive he will do nothing to harm you, Miss Victoria. I like to believe I know Alucard better then he knows himself. He has changed greatly over these many years and he never destroys something he is interested in. He is quite possessive in that sense. Good day to you; I will inform him to find you here when he has awoken.”

She was unsure of Walter's assessment of Alucard; he most certainly seemed knowledgeable, and Seras did not feel as though he would lie to her, so she decided to explore as he had instructed her to do. She would worry about that bridge when she had to cross it.

“I guess I'll look around until Alucard wakes up. I have nothing better to do, and I'm not walking through that castle again.”

The garden was breathtaking; she loved walking through the seemingly infinite rows of flowers, searching curiously for her favourite one. Passing the honeysuckle, snapdragons, bleeding hearts and multiple others; she discovered a cherry tree. Her mouth watered at the sight of the sweet fruits hanging above. Her drooling daze was interrupted when a rude growl rumbled from her stomach. `Man, those look so good! I didn't even notice how hungry I was.' Getting a firm grip, she started to climb, finding a perfect branch to sit on while she devoured the sweets.

While she was munching away, she saw what looked like a giant bush covered with red blotches in the distance. Her interest piqued, she climbed down the tree and padded over to where they were. Her favourite flower had elegantly wrapped itself around a beautiful wooden arch. They were the reddest roses she had ever seen. She debated if it was because of the magic.

Her mother had loved roses too; Seras remembered what her mother had said to her about them. It was something she had never been able to forget.

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A woman sat in a rocking chair starring out a window,“Seras my lovecome here.”The six year old promptly walkedover to her mother's loving arms,and nestled herself in her lap. The women reached over to a vase and pulled out a single scarletrose.

“I want to tell you something, dear. It is something my mother told me when I was a little girl and now I'm passing it on to you.” Seras lookedup at her mother expectantly.

“Do you know why roses are so special?” The blonde girl shook her head. “They are the flower of love.” The girl's eyes widened, “If a boy were to ever give you such a gift, always treasure it. It is a piece of their heart they wish for you to have and care for. Even if you do not share the same feelings, always take it, for love isfrail. It is as delicate as a rose, my love; it is brittle and can be broken just as easily. When love is destroyed, it leaves a person very empty and cold, like a hollowed out shell. And remember, the truest love is found in a single rose, never more.”

“But whycan it only be oneMommy?”The inquisitive child asked.

“Because it means that you are their onlyone and there are no others. A singlerose means onelove, for only oneperson. Always remember that and you will find someone with a truelove, just for you.”She playfully nuzzled the little girl, and heard her giggle carelessly.

“I promise, Mommy, I promise to never forget. Did Daddy ever give you a rose?” Her daughter's words brought pain to her heart; a profound sadness that was buried inside, escaped the depths, within the capsule of its vulnerablehost.

“No, my love, he never did.” Hugging her child close, she let the tears fall.

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Seras stood still, staring at the scarlet rose in her hand, not noticing she was crying until a waterfall of tears crashed down on the flowers fragile petals. `Why did you have to go awayMommy? I miss you so much. I'm scared Mommy, I'm so scared; I can hardly remember what you look like. The memories, they're disappearing; they're going away and I'm afraid I will forget you.”

Wiping her eyes, she moved lethargically away from the rose covered arch. Locating a bench farther up the path, she wearily walked over to it and rested upon her side against its cool surface. The heat from the sun hugged her body. Closing her eyes, she willed the pain in her heart to stop. She was so confused; confused about her mother leaving her, about having no friends, and her father's hatred. Was she such a burden on everyone that they all just wanted to get away from her? Was she that much of a freak? Not realizing how exhausted she truly was, Seras hardly noticed as she drifted off into a much needed sleep.

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The night was calling. Gently lifting the lid, Alucard stepped out. Rather then wearing his usually Victorian garments, he changed into something different. His current attire disappeared from his body as he phased into black dress pants, a dark red button up dress shirt and a black tie. He finished his look with a long black overcoat and combat boots. Looking over at the table, he saw Seras's sketchbook. Picking it up, he vanished from the room.

Walter was usually awake at this time and located in the tower, working on peculiar concoctions. Reappearing at his destination, he arrived unnoticed. Walter was hunched over, rambling on about something incoherently to himself. A sinister smile stretched across his face as a mischievous idea popped into his head. Softly stepping right behind him, he leaned in his ear and whispered, “Walter.”

Startled, the wizard jerked in surprise and dropped what he was holding into the bubbling substance. The result left the poor man covered in mustard like goo. Alucard erupted into hysterical laughter.

“For heaven's sake, Alucard; look at what you've done! You're worse than a child. At least they only destroy things they touch; you, on the other hand, can destroy anything by just opening that hole in your face!”

Walter glared angrily at the vampire, waiting for him to sober up. “Come on, I was just having some fun. It's not often I catch you off guard; you're usually on your toes. It was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

Sighing, he told himself he should be used to this stuff. Eyeing Alucard, he watched him look around.

“Where is the girl?” Alucard asked nonchalantly.

“Miss Victoria is in the garden. I bumped into her, literally, in the halls. She was wandering around in the dungeons and was quite startled when she came upon the aftermath of your favourite pastime.” The vampire merely grinned.

Walter mirrored his action. “You are going to be the death of me you know that?”

“I have high hopes.”

“I'm going to clean up here and take a shower.” With that, Alucard nodded and was gone. He phased his way through the bottom of the floor and searched the dome, finding Seras asleep on the bench.

Looking down at the girl, he could not help but think how perfectly adorable she looked curled up in a ball. It was hard to believe he enjoyed her company, though he would never admit it. Her feisty attitude and light bantering was somewhat refreshing to him. He was accustomed to being stood up to; most thought him a monster. He did not blame them, though; he wholeheartedly agreed. Gently placing the sketchbook on her chest, he lifted her up and disappeared through a portal.

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“Seeeeeraaaaaaas,” a voice sweetly sang while she lay on the cool grass relaxing. Sitting up, she saw her mother running towards her, a loving smile brightening her face. She jumped up and started to run towards her mother, “Mommy!”

“Seeeeeraaaas,” she sang again. Reaching her mother, she jumped into her awaiting arms as they laughed happily together. She felt like she was floating.

“Seras, wake up.”

The young girl looked at her mother in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“Wake up, Seras.” Her mother's voice was different this time. It started to change into a deeper, roughertone. `This is not Mommy; who is this?” She tried ripping herself from the imposter's arms, but they were too strong.

Shaking the small child, she continued to shout, “Seraswake up! Wake up, Seras!”

“Stop, why you are doing this? Stop-” The whole field was suddenly submerged into a cloud of darkness.

Jolting awake she tried to calm her breathing. “Relax, Seras; I'm taking you home. Where do you live?”

Looking up, her face met Alucard's. She saw that she was back in the park. Alucard stopped walking once he got to the street and waited patiently for her to come to her senses. Sheepishly giving him directions, she was surprised at how safe she felt laying in his arms. Snuggling closer, she rested her head against his chest; wanting to hold on to this feeling as long possible for, reflecting bitterly, she knew it would end soon. The silence was welcome; she had no desire to ruin the moment.

Alucard was deep in thought. He could not understand why he felt such a strong pull towards her. He was becoming strangely attached to this young girl, more than he would have liked to admit. Brushing the feeling off, he reached her street. Arriving at her house, he gazed upon it with dismay. `This is the shithole she lives in? No wonder sheis always out so late.' He rested her on her feet and she thanked him. Reluctantly, she started for the front door.

She had not gone far when she turned back, “You're Dracula, aren't you?” His face was emotionless.

“Why do you say that?”

“Walter said people used to call you Dracula when you were human. Your name is Dracula backwards. You're him, aren't you; you're the guy from the stories.” It was then that Alucard let a grin play upon his face. This was too rich. It took people years to figure out that little fact, yet this eight year old girl managed to unravel it in less than a day.

“Very clever of you to notice, little one; I changed it because it carried too many ridiculous stereotypes and drew unnecessary attention to me. Regardless, I happened to like Alucard; it has a nice ring to it.”

“Walter says you're a different vampire, so does that mean sunlight can't kill you?”

“Sunlight can not kill vampires, Seras. That is a myth; it simply weakens them. The longer they stay in it, the weaker they get and that leaves them vulnerable to attackers.” Understanding, she nodded but did not move.

Taking that as an opportunity to ask, he did. “Who is the woman you keep drawing in that book of yours?”

“My mom; I draw her to remember, but for some reason the more I draw, the more I forget what she's like.” Seras's tone never betrayed her but her eyes did; they showed the sorrow she felt within them.

“What happened to her?”

A single tear escaped and rolled down her pale cheek, “She hung herself in the attic.”

Grabbing the key to her front door from under a secret rock, she unlocked the door. “Will I ever see you-” Looking back, Alucard was gone.

Opening the door and firmly locking it behind her, an intense loneliness settled in the pit of her stomach. How could she expect to forget everything that had happened? She did not want to; the truth was, since her mother, she had not felt so protected then when she was with Alucard. Hugging the rose close to her, she attempted to reach her room without being detected by her father. She succeeded in reaching the top of the stairs, but one creak from the floorboard gave her away. When the TV shut off; stricken with fear, Seras bolted to her room and closed the door. In only a few moments, he would walk through it and she would be punished. Listening to the furious stamping as her father ascended the stairs, she prepared herself for the beating she knew would come.

Her father burst through the door. “Where the fuck have you been you little shit?”

Seras said nothing; she did not know what to say considering he would not believe her anyway. Smacking her across the face, he bellowed, “Answer me!”

Tears formed in her eyes as she stuttered, “I- I was- um- I was with Mrs. Florea.” Grabbing a fistful of her hair, Claudiu slammed her against the wall, causing her to drop the contents in her hands. She hoped he would not see them, but that was wishful thinking.

He kicked the sketchbook to the side, ripping a couple of pages, and picked up the rose. “I went to that old hags dump and she said she hadn't seen you. So where the fuck did you get this?” When she said nothing, he grabbed her by the throat and lifted her in the air. Seras frantically tried to pry his hand off her neck. Her lungs burned to the point where she thought they would burst from her chest. Oxygen flooded through her wind pipe as she dropped to the ground gasping for air.

“You see this?” Showing her the rose, he threw it onto the floor and crushed it with his foot. “This is that same shit your mother brought into this fucking house. I will not allow it!”

“No!” Devastated, she did not try to hold back the tears. Crawling over to the broken flower, she wept while trying to retrieve the remains.

Spitting on her, he unbuckled his belt. “You disgust me.” Lifting his arm, he began to whip Seras in long, ruthless strokes. With every snap of the belt buckle, she let out agonizing cries.

Seconds turned into minutes when her father finally stopped. Breathing heavily, he put on his belt and adjusted it. “If you ever try to pull that stunt again, the punishment will be worse. I don't need fucking police at my door, you understand me, you little bitch?” Not waiting for a response, he stormed out the door, slamming it shut.

Seras weakly dragged herself towards her bed as best she could. Her body stung with immense pain. With rose petals still in hand, she coiled herself into a ball and fell asleep, never noticing a pair of red eyes staring down at her from above.

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He had witnessed the whole thing; watched it all, but had not interfered. It was not his problem, so why should he care; he tried to convince himself of this as he melted from the ceiling. For a while, he just stood there, studying her as she slept. `So this is why she was so nervous to talk about her father.' Kneeling beside her bed hetucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. He could not help but feel pity for the small child laying broken before him. Straightening up, he forced those feelings away; vanishing from her room. Seras would not realize until morning, that the petals in her hand had been replaced by a single scarlet rose that lay atop her pillow.

 

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I would like to thank Anime WarriorSkye and my good friend Cecilia for being so patient and editing my work! ♥