The first blood // And he awakens

[nolifecount]

[The vampire had already explored the castle thoroughly and nothing really impresses him. He wasn’t in the mood, especially when he is hungry and didn’t have a drink of even the slightest drop for many years since the Second World War. Arthur, his previous master, sealed him in his coffin and put him to sleep. What troubles him is that he can’t sense Arthur anymore.

Alucard is not quick to rejoice at seemingly opportune moment of his freedom. He never forgets Abraham's instructions to him when he was asleep and that doctor experimented magic and alchemy to enslave him to the Helsing's line forever. He needed to make sure and explore the dimensions of the castle thoroughly before rejoicing his liberation from his long slumber.

The castle is beautiful, yes, down to every detail. Everything is picturesque perfect – the weather, the facilities, the interior decorations, the furniture, and even his personal room. The place is surreal like a heaven and a dream. Is this dream a reality? . Paradisa isn’t like Earth even though Paradisa is a total mimicry with Earth-like aspects.

He picked up his journal and inscribed in the following ink.]

“Bird of Hermes is my name.
Eating my Wings makes me tame.”

[He wrote in some more. It seems people used the journals to communicate with each. What are the odds that someone would talk to him?]

“Hello, and good-evening. My name is Alucard. So, this is how you people communicate?”

[His question came off casual. He didn't what to reveal too much of himself. Of course, anyone smart enough to see his moniker name is DRACULA spelled backwards. He didn't feel the need to feed himself for now. The castle provided him a blood bag in the fridge to protect this undead arrival from pestering the citizens with his lust for blood.]

Comments

dictated

[kalinda]

[Here, have a woman idle by the journal. She may be perusing said journal before going to bed or something. Who even knows?]

It's one way, yes.

[nolifecount]

[Which is quite the late hour for the lady to answer his question. Since she is the first to response, he was surprise to get answer as the text magically appears on the paper. He reply back.]

How curious. Thank you for replying.

[kalinda]

No problem. Need any other questions answered while I'm here?

[nolifecount]

I wonder how I got here? I read that people loss a piece of their memory in order to cross here from their homeworld. Is that true?

[kalinda]

A memory for some, an ability for others. Regardless of which, it is always something important to each individual person.

[commandsthewind]

[Well luckily for him perhaps, she has no idea what Dracula or Vampires are. So have her neat handwriting right back.]

Apparently it is. A little odd, if you ask me, to hear someone's voice, or to watch their words appear like this.

Fascinating, in a way.

[nolifecount]

[It was a very neat and fancy writing as it appears to him on paper. It seems like a noble is writing behind it.]

Why it would be odd to you? You're not use to magical journals?

[The tone behind the word sound amused.]

[commandsthewind]

Not in the least, such a thing would get you burned where I come from. [She's talked too many people here that aren't from Earth, let alone England.] Magic in general, is nothing at all common. This all seems too much like a story to be quite believable.

[nolifecount]

It's common for people to get burned at the stake where you're from? You sound like an old soul~.

[commandsthewind]

Not as common as it was. The end of my sisters reign changed that.

Perhaps... many here say I am from well into their pasts. I still do not know what to make of such a thing.

Dictated

[the_effect_she_has]

[The hell is a Dracula?]

Yes. Be careful, though. Others are always reading, unless you filter.

[nolifecount]

[Or an Alucard or a vampire in that sense.]

Thank you. I don't mean to be so public, but it is a curious question. I am merely curious.

Written

[kidwiththeleash]

[The convoy is moving that next morning, heading back to the castle but not yet across the Dead Zone. Integra had started riding out with Cloud but had eventually retreated back to the wagon, curled up in the corner with her journal pulled out, to check though the day, to continue where she had left off with others.

She has to double take when she sees the first line, read over the whole of the short post twice before Integra feels her breath back again. Is it, could it be...

Integra can't risk sounding upset, with the other people in the wagon. Her pen is dug out fast, and even as shaky as she is, the handwriting is neat.]

Prove it.

[A long pause, and Integra knows it is not enough to go on, just those words and just her own two. She can't get her hopes up, but she also can't bark an order over text.]

Prove you are Alucard.

[She feels like her heart is in her throat.]

[nolifecount]

[Alucard found an interesting message that is unlike the others. This one demands proof of his identity. What kind of person who wanted such information? He knew there isn't many.]

And who is this, to demand such of me? Do I know you?

[The tone may sound arrogant, but also a valid question.]

[kidwiththeleash]

[He can't feel her out here as much as she cannot feel him, the Dead Zone blocking their bond, the link that kept Hellsing blood firmly in control of the vampire, the leash that held him back.

For months, she had worried what kind of chaos might of been unleashed without her there, the last of the bloodline. And now that he was possibly here...

Integra takes her time, thinks of a way that would catch his attention more than her name, because like her own arrival, those who said they knew her had found someone else at the end of the line, and she did not want to make that same mistake again.

And it hits her, the Seal of Hellsing.]

"Hell's Gate Arrested
Gott Mit Uns
And Shine Heaven Now"

I am Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing.

[nolifecount]

[No, the monster is not leashed, though if the vampire check his seals, it would answer to Arthur's commands if the man would be alive to bark orders at him.

A small chuckle escape his thin, white lips as he read the verse, the seal of the Hellsing family. He wrote back:]

And are you of Abraham's kin? My current master is Sir Arthur Hellsing. Is he related to you...?

[kidwiththeleash]

[That response confuses her briefly- It all sounds right, as it should be, but why doesn't he recognize her? Even with the link between them interrupted...]

He is my father.

[nolifecount]

[The vampire's expression soften. So his next Master is to be a female? She would grow up to be a fine woman, but perhaps after she used him, she might sealed him up for a long slumber as well, just like what Arthur did to him. Therefore, the vampire isn't optimistic.

He's mildly confused as to why he couldn't sense Arthur anywhere. It's not that he care about the man, but Alucard always sense him as somewhat fragile. Perhaps it would make sense if he keeps asking her.]

So, you're his heir. [A pause, a beat.] Is your father with you?

[kidwiththeleash]

[What to say to him? Well, she can tell him some of it, at least. The rest... It will have to be learned when she gets out of the Dead Zone.]

He did not come to this place, I have been on my own.

[Another brief pause, before she continues.] I will be at the castle within the next day or so, that I can promise you.

[She needs to see him, establish the bond again... Even if it had been only a few months in being without him or Walter, it has felt like a lifetime, on occasions.]

[nolifecount]

I see, that's why I can't find him or sense him. How long you've been here? Your father wouldn't be happy if he knows you're here. If I can find you, I'll do my best to return you home.

[And then get sealed up in his coffin again. Or so he thought, even if his intended action toward her is a good deed. The way he wrote, he assumed Arthur is alive.]

[kidwiththeleash]

It has been three months, just about. As for Father...

[Again, she falters, and Integra hasn't really thought of it before- what kind of relationship did he have with her father?]

We can discuss him when we meet.

[And she takes a few moments to find that page she bookmarked in the journal, so that she could lead him to it as well.]

Read this, it has a map on it as well, and you can see where the Dead Zone is. If things go well tonight, perhaps I can borrow a mount and meet you at the edge of it before the rest of the expedition follows.

[Okay, forming a plan, this is good- Integra knows she has to switch back into that kind of mode now, nothing else would be acceptable.]

[nolifecount]

[He read and scanned the map and entry of the curious expedition. It's really a lot of material to cover. He bookmarked it for his reference to read the rest later.]

You are in the middle of an adventure? I need to know how long this expedition would take you and if you're with a group of people?

[A pause. She needs to hear his reasoning.]

I can be away from my own coffin for a month. And if there are people who possess a natural inclination of being hateful toward vampire kind, I can shapeshift in a disguise as a dog.

[These are his mere suggestions and he wants her to consider.]

[kidwiththeleash]

I will be back, at the very latest, three days time. You arrived as we were heading back.

[Integra is surprised how different this meeting is as opposed to their own first one. Then again, there was no immediate danger, she was not under the threat of torture from her own uncle...

She pushes those thoughts away.] Alucard, I will take up my duty to you. You were my father's, and his father's as well, and while we are here you are mine.

[This is a promise she has already made, but will make again. The hardest part is going to be getting his coffin here, but there was a conversation that was had before that might show her the right way.]

[nolifecount]

In that case, then none of my previous suggestions are not needed. Disregard them.

[Those are mere suggestions after all, and he can be as fluid as the shadows that swirled around him.]

If it's your desire, I can meet you in person shortly and should there be a circumstance that needs me to be immediately cloaked, I can be mist or shadow and no one would suspect.

[She need not worry about the coffin. He can just leave it in his room and he'll figure out what to do it once the expedition is over.

A small smile formed his thin lips. Such a commanding little Master he has.]

Understood. I am your most humble servant.

[Even without drinking a drop of her blood to form the pact of their bond, he is already showing his promise that his powers are her's to command, even in a strange land.]

[kidwiththeleash]

I do not think having you go though the Dead Zone would be a good idea- it takes your powers, I am not sure how that would affect you. But having you meet me outside of it is a good idea.

[Even smaller than you might have an image of, Alucard. The well spoken lady you are about to meet, knighthood and all, is only twelve.]

Keep your journal close, and I will be in contact with you if I can get ahead of the group. And stay out of trouble for me... Please.

[They aren't yet bonded, so she can't make him follow that order just yet. It will have to be on good faith.]

[nolifecount]

I wouldn't know about that. I haven't step foot on the land yet and test for myself.

[Now Alucard is starting to get bad ideas. Being ever reckless, he might seek out the challenge when he's at full strength. While the blood bags the castle have given him is enough to whet his appetite, the blood-thirsty vampire may seek a fresh kill by hunting and feeding on the wild animals and game, if he finds any. Why? Because they taste better. And at her warning, as long no humans are harmed, he has no problem keeping himself out of trouble.]

As you wish. Keep me post if there is any changes.

[Good faith it is then. He may need it. Her faith in him.]