Metamorphosis 1

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Metamorphosis 1

Characters: Alucard and you!
Setting: Room 2-16, then the open halls of the Tower
Format: Prose
Summary: Woken from his long sleep Alucard finds himself in an unfamiliar setting. Curious, he decides to explore the area around him.
Warnings: N/A

The long, dark sleep of the undead could seem like a limitless stretch of time to those that slept it. How the all enveloping pitch blackness of the night worked as a comforter to Alucard, the beautiful, hideous, half-cast son of the Vampire King. Neither dead nor alive, existing entombed in an ageless, cursed body for all eternity. The sins of the past haunted his dreams as he relived the final moments of his mother's life spliced together with the finishing blow he had dealt his bloodthirsty father. He had designed the remainder of his days to be lived out in his coffin, sealed away from the world where Dracula's cursed bloodline could too slumber, keeping the innocents safe from the unholy desires of the undead.

But now he finds himself woken, no longer surrounded by the confining security of his coffin walls but outstretched on a very human bed. Pale sunlight filters in through dirty windows and he feels the familiar sting of light on his skin. A soft groan eases past the dhampir's lips and he finally moves to sit up, blankly staring down at his gloved palms, tensing his hands and then relaxing them. His limbs feel tired and strained, as if he'd been torn apart and then haphazardly put back together again, his joints ached and it took the dhampir some time to summon the strength to stand and even that was with some difficulty. Alucard's eyes begin to adjust to the dim light in the room and as his pupils dilated and focused until he spots a letter on the tattered bedside-table next to him. Feeling his bones flex and crack as he steps closer he picks up the small paper envelope and unfolds the parchment inside to skim its contents.

And then he reads it a second time.

The dhampir's head throbs all of a sudden, aching a piercing, penetrating pain. "Ce înseamnă acest lucru..."* Alucard murmurs in his mother tongue (Romanian), his voice low and solemn. These printed words could not possibly be true, he knew he had extinguished the last, true evil in the world. He was the only one who could have done it. So how it is that his homeland is now destroyed. No, the dhampir would not believe it, and proceeded to convince himself that this was some illusion, black magic devilry that was designed to plant the seed of doubt in his mind.

The confines of this small room held no answers for Alucard and so, after delving deep into a hidden reserve of energy, he decided to step out into the corridor and upon doing so he saw what appeared to be an endless line of closed doors mimicking the one he had just stepped through. Turning back he noted the number he had stepped out through and, feeling his senses overwhelmed with a variety of scents, sights and feelings, he had no choice but to simply choose a direction to walk in (which happened to be left) and begin walking until he came across someone or something that could explain this madness to him.

* "What does this mean..."
[ooc: For any characters with a particularly strong sense of smell or who can pick up the "scent" of blood Alucard has a very distinct odour. Any character who recognises the scent of a vampire will definitely be able to smell that undead blood in him. For those who don't know what a vampire smells like then he will give off a general aura of death and foreboding...!]

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Laughter rang through the gloomy hall as the elven duo said their farewells to each other. Despite how much trouble the two nearly gotten themselves into during their hunt, Haldir believed it was well worth it to see the grand smile that lingered on Legolas' lips. The both of them enjoyed themselves so much that they nearly forgotten the severity of their plight. While the Tower of Animus seemed to be nothing more than a glided cage to house them all, some joys were better spent being enjoyed than questioned. Not feeling the need to scrutinize his purpose here, at least for now, Haldir marched up the corridors with a little pep in his steps.

He was tired, exhausted even. Spending an entire day hunting beasts and game alike was quite productive but rather exhausting as well. The marchwarden was pleased that he managed to showcase his skill with the bow to Legolas, letting the younger elf know that Lothlorien Elves are deadly shots. While the Prince of Mirkwood was definitely a little more skilled than him, Haldir couldn't help but feel proud to know he impressed the younger elf. About to retire to his room, Haldir suddenly came to a halt once he spotted a silhouette nearby.

"Who goes there?" He called out into the shadows in hopes of an answer. Haldir knew that fiends didn't prowl this floor, so he suspected that silhouette to be of a man and not a beast. Turning away from the door of his room, Haldir began to approach.

Alucard thrived in dark, enveloped in its cool serenity and all-encompassing blackness. It was ironic, that as much as the dhampir felt at ease in the night, he so longed to exist in the blinding beauty of the light (just as his mother once had). At a distance his figure, standing at an above average six feet in height, may have seemed somewhat intimidating. His attire and posture emanating a sense of foreboding, the scent of death hung around him like perfume.

A solitary voice called out to him in the dim twilight of the hallway, a clear and strong tone in the common tongue that, after some moments of processing, Alucard came to understand.

Now he stepped into the light and into view, that shadow of evil that clung to him now seemed to evaporate off of him now that he stood fully illuminated. Alucard was, without a doubt, a graceful and truly beautiful man. Finely chiseled features and pale, long hair contrasted with perfectly fitting leather and silk clothes. But as beautiful as he may have seemed at a glance it was only when one looked closer, past that preternatural, initial, beauty could one see something deeper. This 'deeper' side of Alucard could be noticed in many of his features, in the tenderness of his lips or even the slant of his brows but it was in his eyes that it was most visible. Golden orbs that may at first hold an innocence, proceed to capture a strange and almost alienating mix of emotions; sadness or a crippling sorrow perhaps being the strongest of these feelings, but looking deeper still one might see flickers of pain and possibly anger.

But now Alucard finds himself looking at the first living man he had seen in years, maybe even decades, and what a parody it was. He, the prince of darkness, the son of evil, could now feel himself faced with a creature who in his aura held such life and beauty that it could have overwhelmed the halfbreed.

A few moments past, but for Alucard they felt timeless, as he took in the sight of the pointed-eared human.

He was unworthy to pale next to such life.

At last the dhampir spoke, and despite appearances, Alucard had a surprisingly gentle voice. Deep as it may have been it was soft and quite slow, tinged with hints of his Romanian accent (having difficulty with some of the longer vowels as well as the more alien consonants).

"Forgive my intrusion," he began "I think I may be lost. I awoke in a place most unfamiliar to me."

But beware Haldir, as gentle and beautiful as this dhampir may seem, underneath his image is a raging torrent of bloodthirst and destruction.

A terror as overwhelming as anything Haldir had ever felt suddenly washed over him as the shadows departed. Never in his years had he felt an aura so strong, so malevolent in design. It was almost as if looking into the eyes of Sauron himself. Great evil lurked within this ghostly being, an evil that the elf had never known until now. As the dhampir approached, Haldir found himself struggling with both the urge to flee or stay. He hadn't expected the creature that emerged from the shadows to be in the form of a human man. Judging by the foul aura he sensed earlier, Haldir almost expected this newcomer to be in the shape of a beast instead. It was a welcoming sight to be graced by this ethereal beauty rather than by the ugliness of a foul monster. Yet, despite the loveliness of this man's pale curled hair and finely sculpted features, Haldir found himself a tad taken back by the harsh gaze that lingered within those inhuman amber eyes. With his voice caught in his throat by overwhelming fear, Haldir was about to attempt to speak when the wayfarer's odd accent reached his elven ears.

"Lost?" The elf repeated dumbly as he gazed back at Alucard with a look that was mixed with fright and awe. "I...I wish not tell you the truth of your arrival here, but you're certainly not lost." He whispered softly in reply. "You, this place, none of it is what it seems. They, the ones who've trapped us here, claim that our worlds have been...destroyed." Lowering his gaze from the dhampir in an almost shy manner, a deep sigh escaped Haldir's lips as he tried to regain his composure. Now that the dread was finally washing over him, the elf was finally regaining his courage to speak.

"We know not if such is true but I suspect these claims of destruction are merely lies shrouded in mystery."

Alucard was not well versed in the art of reading other's emotions, but even still, he saw hints of fear in this pointed-eared man that were all too familiar. Many had come to know him as the son of Dracula and his father's reputation brought with it great dread and loathing. Had this stigma followed him here into this new world too?

The dhampir's expression softened at the words of this gentle stranger, as if he was trying to sympathise with his terror. Yes, he thought to himself you are right to fear me, but as true as he felt those words were, he longed to not cause such dread in men.

"All worlds have been destroyed?" Alucard finally echoed, keeping that tender tone in his voice, like a captor lulling it's prey into a false sense of security he seemed so gentle now he stood before the Elf in the light. Alucard believed himself to be evil and he made an effort not to get too close to others, but whether he had taken on the hatred of his father or the compassion of his mother was yet to be seen. "Then you received the same letter as I? I tend to think that these letters are to cause panic in the fairer of the people here." By 'fair' Alucard meant 'weak', but unlike many he saw no error in being weaker than others. ~~In truth he had a strange desire to covet the weak.~~

A long pause, and he stood there statuesque, unblinking in deep thought. His skin carved marble, unchanging, beautiful but altogether eerie. Then, quite suddenly, he smiled (a very closed mouth smile) and added -as if just remembering his manners- "Ah! Forgive me," now that Romanian accent was at its strongest as he begins to speak a little more freely "I have yet to give you my name, or thank you for speaking with me. I am Alucard."

Fearful blue eyes soften as Alucard spoke. While that fearsome aura still surrounded the dhampir's very essence, there was something quite intriguing about this ethereal being. Alucard may have been as pale as a corpse and seemed as if he was sculpted from the chilliest ice, but there's something oddly warm and inviting about him that made Haldir smile. The Elf found himself staring at the strangely dressed man, his eyes no longer filled with fear or dread. He was actually smiling now unlike earlier. While the conversation itself was rather grim at best, Haldir found the dhampir's accent to be oddly soothing.

"Indeed." He replied with a faint sigh. "They claim that everything was destroyed but there's proof that they're lying." Briefly remembering the conversation he had with Gandalf, the marchwarden's mood began to sour. Just why are these "Administrators" so quick to lie to them? Just what do they want from them? What could they possibly want from them? So many questions but barely any answers.

After a lengthy pause, Haldir blinked several times once the statuesque man introduced himself. "Al-lu-card?" The Elf pronounced awkwardly due to his slight Sindarin accent. Chuckling lightly due to embarrassment, a soft kiss of a smile toyed at his lips as he stated his name. "There's nothing to forgive. I should've remembered my manners as well, friend. I'm Haldir."

Alucard saw how the pale-haired man's expression began to soften, how the fear in his eyes subsided and as much as he knew how dangerous this was for the other, the dhampir couldn't help but revel in it.

Someone who did not fear him, just for a moment. What bliss.

"I believe we would do well to be cautious of what we are told here, we can judge if it is true or no." Alucard said with the hint of a self-assured nod. He had never been a hugely trusting creature, his past had set that quirk in place many, many years ago.

But now the dhampir truly forgot himself as he chuckled at Haldir's pronunciation of his name as he did not move to cover his open mouth as he did so. Whether the Elf would notice those elongated, diamond-sharp canines was all down to how much attention he was paying. And the dhampir, unaware and quite how much he may have just revealed about himself, continued to speak. "You give my handle more grace than it deserves, it is a pleasure to meet you Haldir." And now how inviting those once fierce golden eyes appeared and how that warm smile played on the half-breed's lips.

Alucard's chuckle invoked a nervous, if not, shy smile from Haldir. He could tell that he may have butchered the nobleman's name and that somewhat shamed him. The marchwarden prized himself in being quite elegant and fluent in the common tongue but pronouncing Alucard's name certainly seemed rather difficult. His wounded pride made a slight blush rise to his cheeks, a rosy hue that was typically uncommon with him. He looked away in slight humiliation, his watchful gaze missing sight of the pearly white fangs. While he could tell there's something quite strange about this immaculate stranger, Haldir didn't have the time nor patience to dwell on it.

From what he's learned so far, everyone in this godforsaken tower is more stranger than the next. A common truth that the Elf was beginning to understand with every passing day.

"Yes, well-" The marchwarden let out a slight huff. "You're name is quite peculiar, you see. Never heard of such a name in all my life." A quick retort that was, one to save some of his dignity. No longer scorned with embarrassment, Haldir's blue gaze rested on the dhampir again.

"Tell me, mithaer, where is it that you hail from?" The Elf curiosity is sparked.

Edited 2012-07-26 13:06 (UTC)

Alucard noticed Haldir's reaction and kept a tender, warm smile on his face. "Forgive me, I have made you feel self-conscious when that wasn't anywhere near my intent. You pronounced my name beautifully, more than I myself do." And this was not idle flattery but the truth, Haldir's voice was clear and soft, Alucard couldn't quite pinpoint his accent but it was similar to some of the British travellers he had eavesdropped in his homeland.

Haldir's observation, in regards to Alucard's name, was more astute than he may have realised for 'Alucard' was not in fact his birth name but it was an alias. The opposite of his father's to show how bitterly he had resented what Vlad had done with his power. A small part of Alucard wanted to tell Haldir the truth, to admit to his true name, but now it was time for the dhampir to feel shy. He did not have the courage to be honest with the Elf.

"I suppose it is a little strange." Alucard finally said after a moment's pause before quickly changing the subject "I am from a small village by the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, Romania. Perhaps you have heard of it? Beautiful countryside, even if I do say so myself."

"Myth-ai-r? Is that what I am?

In truth, the compliment did feel like flattery to Haldir but he couldn't help but feel humbled by such a comment. It was silly, yes, but for some reason the Elf felt pleased to know he hadn't butchered the pronunciation of Alucard's unusual name. Uncertain whether this was his true name or not, Haldir was just glad he hasn't offended his newly made friend. Eying him with wonder, the Elf began to inquire more about Alucard's distant homeland. "Transylvania?" Haldir arched his brow at that. "I'm unfamiliar with such names, I'm afraid." While he certainly hasn't traveled outside of Lothlórien much, the marchwarden would've at least known those regions had they existed on Middle-earth.

Nearly captivated with this otherworldly stranger, Haldir couldn't help but chuckle once he heard Alucard repeat his earlier words. "Mithaer, friend." He replied with a small smile. "It means 'Silver One' in my native tongue and if I do say, the name fits you well." Considering that Alucard's pale locks look almost silver within the dim lights, the name certainly does fit well.

"It is my homeland, so naturally I feel relatively protective of it. I have travelled little in my life but the vast mountains and forests of Transylvania will always be home to me." He says this with the hint of a smile, although not affected by any sort of homesickness Alucard clearly thought fondly of his home.

Alucard seemed fascinated by talk of another language and his eyes could've even glowed as Haldir explained the nature of that foreign word. "Ah! You have a local tongue? As do I! How terribly interesting! I should like to learn another language some day, perhaps this is to be the one I am to study. My first language is Romanian, but over the years I've picked up a little of the common tongue, but I still have much to learn." That said, Alucard's English was practically perfect (bar his pronunciation).

Then it dawned on the dhampir, was Haldir giving him a nickname? A carefree, affectionate, nickname? The half-breed's heart could have flown at the very thought of someone giving him his own unique handle.

But wait, was this dangerous? Was he already getting too close? Was he putting this fair man in danger by loitering with him? Alucard's expression seemed torn now. He wanted to tarry, to stay with Haldir, but he knew that to do so would put him in harm's way, and reluctantly he asked "I-- have I kept you from something of great importance? Perhaps I am distracting you? Do you need to leave?"

That small smile from earlier made its whimsical appearance once more when Alucard spoke so passionately about his homeland. The same feeling Alucard held for Transylvania mirrored that of Haldir's own feelings for Lothlórien. He has always been protective of Lórien's borders, Haldir himself leading a battalion of marchwardens to guard her safe. While Alucard may not have been homesick, yet, Haldir certainly was. He missed the tall trees of the Golden Woods, missing the golden hues of the autumn leaves as Summer departs at Winter's call. The Elf especially messed the sweet fragrance of the flowers that would nest within the boughs of ethereal gray trees. Everything about his native home he missed, even down to its people.

A gentle sigh escaped Haldir's lips as thought of the home he'll never see again. He must've looked so distant now to Alucard, almost as if he was in another all together but the Elf could still hear him. "I would love to learn your language, mithaer." Haldir replied once the distant gaze faded from his sapphire eyes. "I was always told I was quite smart as an elfling and I mastered the common tongue in less than a few years during my youth." Chuckling softly as he remembered his rambunctious childhood days, Haldir's chuckles eventually quietened once Alucard spoke.

"You distract me from nothing, my friend. I have no errands to run, so perhaps I could humor you with a tour of this tower?

Alucard could see that distant, forlorn look in Haldir's eyes and, although on most occasions the dhampir couldn't guess one emotion from the next, he had a feeling that in that moment Haldir was thinking of his own homeland. That sort of nostalgic look said much and he quietly sympathised with his new friend.

New friend? Had he made a friend? Wasn't that a terrible thing for a killer like him to do?

The dhampir struggled to push those negative thoughts out of his mind as he listened to Haldir speak, one word piquing his interest "Elf-ling?" he echoed curiously "Is that another word in your tongue?" Alucard asked, subconsciously stepping closer to his new companion.

And now he was offered a tour? God, how he knew he should have said no, how in his heart-of-hearts Alucard realised that accepting this would only put his new friend in more danger... but he was unable to decline. He wanted a tour, and he wanted to spent more time with Haldir.

"You would do more than humour me, I would be delighted to go with you, if you are quite sure?"

A gentle chuckle escaped Haldir as he signaled for the other to follow. Despite the fact he was hoping to spend the remainder of the day indoors, Haldir was more than content with the idea of acting as Alucard's guide in order to kill the time. His right shoulder may have ached terribly but he wasn't about to send this exotic man away to fend for himself. Remembering how difficult it was to stomach life here at the tower, Haldir couldn't imagine how horrific such an experience would've been if he was here on his lonesome.

"I'm a Elf as your people call us." He relied with a gentle laugh. "One of the Firstborn Sons of Eru. My people have existed in Middle-earth nearly as long as the earth itself stirred." Offering him another smile, Haldir's gaze rested briefly on the dhampir as he spoke.

"Did I not already confess that you keep me from nothing, mithaer?" His smile grew a little wider. "Come, I shall show all that I know about this tower."

"Then-" he pauses a moment, trying to understand "you are not a man? No son of Adam?" Alucard was not disappointed, no, in fact he found himself doubly intrigued. Another species of men stood before him, kind and gentle and quite different to anyone he had ever met before. The dhampir's smile seemed to grow more intense with each passing second.

"How fascinating! Ah! Is that why you look different to most men? Forgive me, but I did notice your ears and thought them unusual for a man." It explained quite a bit really, Haldir's aura had seemed quite atypical for a human man. There wasn't the same sort of fragility or aggression that Alucard was used to sensing in men. "I have much to learn, it seems!" The poor half-breed, he was forgetting himself. Forgetting the act of coldness and separation he strived so hard to maintain for the sake of others.

Another chuckle escaped Haldir as he turned to face his new friend. A look of mischief settled in his gaze once Alucard mentioned how unusual his appearance was. It tickled him somewhat this strange being, despite how otherworldly he may have seemed, looked so surprised to meet an Elf. Alucard's fascination with him borderlines on childish intrigue at this moment. "No, I am no son of Adam." A brief pause. "Whoever that 'Adam' is..." A snicker was probably heard by Alucard since the Elf was finding all of this to be too amusing for words. "It seems as if you certainly do have much to learn, my friend. There are various realms that exist beyond your Transylvania. Some perhaps more beautiful than you could ever imagine."

Falling into step with Alucard now, Haldir's cheerful gaze settled on him fully. "Tell me," He began with a smile. "What are you? You look like a Maia but you seem quite different from them in some regards. They are lesser Ainur who entered Eä in the beginning of time, some would claim them to be the Hands of Ilúvatar, the All-Knowing Father."

How terribly cheerful Haldir was, poor Alucard had no idea that the Elf was chuckling at his blatant naivety, rather he simply thought that he had come across an incredibly happy ~~man~~ Elf. There were few of them about and it was such a refreshing change to meet someone so upbeat. How he was enjoying Haldir's company.

Until he asked the question.

Everything up until now had seemed so innocent, how Alucard had wanted to avoid the details of his being, but he felt unable to ignore Haldir. As much as he wanted to dodge the question he could not, and there was a blatant, familiar look of sorrow back on his features as he spoke (he had seemed so happy only moments earlier). "I do not know what a Maia is, but I can confidently say I am not one. No, rather I am..." he paused, this was more difficult than it should have been "I am a mix, a muddied gene pool of man and..." more quietly now "monster."

The doom and gloom that settled over those regal and fair features shocked Haldir into silence. What did he say that pained poor Alucard so? It had been a simple question, one that gave thirst to the Elf's intrigue. He hadn't expected to upset his friend over such a simple question but once he realized that Alucard was a "half-breed", an knowing frown settled on his lips. So this man was half-human and half-something else? Whatever that else might be, Haldir didn't dare ask. Instead, he gave a gentle pat on Alucard's shoulder and looked at him with a wan smile.

"Aye, say no more. I once knew another who was born of both human and elven blood. He and his brother grew to become great kings but the blood they share with men shames them still." Now gazing into Alucard's oddly beautiful eyes, Haldir couldn't help but wonder if the nobleman was half wolf by any chance. Only wolves could have such clear golden eyes.

"Forget I asked and let us continue on our way."

What pain those solemn eyes held, such a deep root of suffering within them, secrets and a dark history that would probably never come to light. But it was there, pleading for comfort, clear as day.

"The... blood of man is the purer part of me." Alucard whispered with an excruciating beautiful agony. Concerned that if Haldir considered men to be the pollutant of his friend's blood then what was he to be?

Still staring into those uniquely gold pools, Haldir found it difficult to speak as he gazed at Alucard. "The Blood of Men is rarely pure, mithaer. However, there are some exceptions that I'm more than willing to note." Letting his hand drop from the dhampir's shoulder, a playful smile returned to the Elf's lips as he continued to lead them deeper through the tower.

"Don't dwell on the makings of your past or lineage, for all of that matters not here."

Haldir was, in time, warming Alucard to the Elf's more open-minded ideals. There was the smallest hint of a smile and he nodded in response. "You're quite right, forgive me for dwelling on something that must seem quite foreign to you. Now, lead the way Haldir, you know this place better than I."

Haldir couldn't help but try to match Alucard's smile with one of his own. The mild mannered nobleman was rubbing off on him. The Elf was already starting to admire Alucard quite a bit. Maybe it was his folorn beauty that attracts him or perhaps the way Alucard rolls his words in that strangely exotic accent that adds such excitement in his blood. Whatever the reason, Haldir felt strangely blessed to meet such a unique individual here. Individuality amongst his elven kind was always lacking, one of the reasons why Haldir seemed rather fond of outsiders. "Now that's settled," Haldir began with a smile. "Let's take a visit to the meadow upstairs. I can assure you that you'll love it there."

He wasn't happy. Generally when Sho wasn't happy, he would go grouse about it in his brother's bar or take Hana to the park, or maybe find a smaller gang to exchange bullets with. But he couldn't do any of that. For one, he had woken up in a strange place wearing a strange outfit and finding a note that said everything he knew was gone. For another, well, he had been on a suicidal quest to end Chan and Son and everyone associated with them.

After a few minutes of angrily tearing through his trunk and arming himself up, Sho stuck a cigarette in his mouth and headed out the door. What greeted him was even more doors and a long corridor, something that had him cursing in three language and blowing smoke. He took a direction and stomped off in search of something to either explain things or to shoot.

After a minute of child-like stomping, he fell back into the slight stride he developed from years living with Kei, his mutterings growing silent as well. He was in a strange territory. It would be stupid of him to give himself away so easily.

The perfume of death hung in the air, but quite unlike his own odour this bouquet was quite different. Gunpowder and incense, smoke and leather. No, this 'stench of death' was from another. Another not so different from himself.

But not quite a vampire, no.

Alucard could not quite determine the nature of this dark aura and -being a curious creature by nature- he felt compelled to follow its trail. His gait was full of grace, almost soundless, as he walked through the seemingly endless corridors scattered with identical doors. This place felt akin to a labyrinth and the longer the dhampir spent here the more suspicious he became. It felt like some twisted trick of his father's, some legacy Vlad had left him in his passing... But as that thought crossed Alucard's mind he spotted him, the source of that scent, a lithe, slip of a man smoking without a care for those around him.

This man had been touched by the undead, Alucard was certain of it, but rather than feel companionship in this he loathing for it. For him vampirism and the undead were a curse, in later years his kind would be romanticised but in his lifetime Alucard had been hated for what he was and had grown to hate himself with the common-folk.

"You bring the stench of death with you." Alucard spoke, not shouting, not scolding, simply stating the truth. He stood some distance from the solitary figure, his expression unchanging, gold eyes piercing and without the hint of movement. He almost seemed lonely.

He had felt something stalking him. He didn't fear it though, one of the things that had always set him apart from other humans had been his lack of fear against the terrors that others found. Kei had been the first sign of this lack, Sho still a child and yet not fearing the vampire despite the blood on his mouth, the sharp points of his teeth. He could feel fear, but the dark aura of death growing closer was too close to what he knew and cherished for him to cower in a corner.

It wasn't Kei though. Sho knew his friend, knew the way he felt more than any other being in all the world. It was close, so more likely another person like Kei. There was a danger in that. Sho was marked too deeply for a few years to erase it completely. Vampires were territorial and there was danger to being almost vampire but still being able to live in the sunlight.

They might actually try to kill him.

So he waited, walking through the halls, pretending to not notice the strong aura following him. He was armed, but he knew that bullets only shocked, only made them bleed a little before getting them mad. Sho thought about finding sunlight - and the idea of hiding made him bite down on his cigarette - but then the person spoke, and Sho realized that being so long-lived made those predators so lonely.

"Can't help how I was raised," he said, turning around. His white coat flared out a little, showing the guns in their holsters, making the beads in his hair rattle against each other. A show to counteract his stealth and his lack of fear.

Alucard took in the sight of this quasi vampire, the almond-shaped eyes and skin tone somewhat unfamiliar to him, but it was clear that this man was mortal and indeed, a somewhat beautiful mortal. Alucard knew his kin, demons and vampires and other frightful undead, he could understand their desire for mortal company because he too longed for the fragility and adoration that man could bring, but there was something about this young man that set him ill-at-ease. As human as he was he seemed more vampire than man and Alucard wondered to himself:

Why would a man associate himself with the undead?

But he chose against voicing his curiosity, it was hardly his place to make assumptions and ask such personal questions.

"The dead, or rather, undead, raised you?" He paused, a sincere look of pity in his expression (subtle as it was, it was definitely there). Alucard had had no joy from his so-called father, especially after his human mother had died. "But your blood does not hold the curse." That last comment was more-or-less Alucard voicing his own confusion, it was rare for vampires to adopt human children and keep them mortal. "What do you here, mortal child of an immortal? Are you lost as I am." As cold as Alucard may seem at first there were definite hints of detachment, perhaps even sadness, in him.

Pity wasn't exactly something he expected from anyone, especially when it came to Kei. Sho's mouth twisted and he spent a moment to actually force the temper down. He removed his cigarette and ground it out on the bottom of his shoe, the dog-end tucked back into the pack in his pocket. All the while he kept his eyes on this strange vampire, the way he stood and the way he talked.

He figured it was obvious that he had been raised by a vampire; there was too many markers that pointed that way. Sho shrugged, ignoring just how strange this was and how this youthful person could have anyone in Mallepa by just a smile - if he could smile. Sho sort of doubted that.

"He refuses to bring anyone else into the life of a monster," he replied, not saying anymore. Sho had asked him to turn Yi-Che, to save his wife, but Kei refused. Sho figured that he would refuse anyone of changing them and would rather he went into the light once all his mortal friends were gone.

"Lost and getting annoyed. Guess that's sort of normal considering where we are."

How those words wounded Alucard. Here stood a man who had had the chance to remain innocent and pure, mortal and free in contrast to himself; a bastard mix of the living and the dead, his brow furrowed, and the dhampir looked genuinely pained (and how that pain echoed on such beautiful features).

"Quite right, there are enough monsters in the world." he said with suffering laced in his accented words. "I would know."

And there was a moment's silence as Alucard contemplated this, feeling a pitiable envy for the man opposite him. How he had longed to be as he. An impossible dream.

"You need not feel annoyed, there are many here who are able to assist you I'm sure. I am unfamiliar with these hallways, but if you wish to explore them together then we could." Then it occurred to Alucard what he was doing and he almost winced. Was he luring this man away? Pulling him from safety? To walk with him would only put him in danger, surely, Alucard knew he was capable of terrible things in an instant "Ah, or... perhaps not, you may wish to be alone."

What was with being a vampire and being so hurt by the implications of it? Kei often brought it up - usually more so as Sho got older and started to grow some independence from his friend - and Sho would often yell at him for it. He could understand how it might seem that way having to stalk and kill and drink what was once just a human, but how was it different? Sho stalked and killed for something less than food, so what makes a natural instinct so wrong?

He had been keeping his distance because he was unsure what to make of this strange unbelievably beautiful half-mortal, but this was just too much of a conversation. In three strides, Sho was right in Alucard's space, eyes narrowed and stance loose. There wasn't a hint of fear in his eyes or features, the unearthly aura of the dhampir not even touching him as it would others.

"I'm not afraid of you," he said, stating what was obvious, before continuing. "And the worse monsters have always been humans."

He knew now what it would have been like if he hadn't found Kei and hadn't taken the vampire into his hideout. The streets were not safe, especially for the waif-thin child he had been.

"Let's find out where these halls go to. I'm starving."

How tender the expression on Alucard's face was now, a mix of heartbreak and affection. No one had ever been quite so bold or so open with him before. But for this man to be so devil-may-care caused the dhampir to worry, and that adoration in his eyes grew ten fold.

"You should be afraid. I am no father figure to you, nor am I a carer. You would do better to keep your distance from me, agile and strong as I am sure you are, if I desired it, I would hurt you. And, perhaps, even if I did not desire it." He continued, unable to stop himself, this may have been the longest he had spoken with another person with in years and as much as he knew he shouldn't stay around the living he so longed to. "And you should not speak so lowly of your kin, humans are the innocents in this world, misguided and savage at times but also loving and merciful. You are not the cruel monsters you think you are."

How ironic. A half-vampire damning his own kind whilst a man condemned humans.

Sho wasn't one to hide who he was to anyone. Chan always dismissed it, but he remained true to himself and did not lay lip service like the others did. He made his own path, he made things his way and he might give some concessions to what was needed but he refused to back down from his feelings. Maybe it marked him differently, but he didn't care.

"Then you'll hurt me." He shrugged off the warnings with a sigh. More and more, his memories were turning towards Kei and those conversations. "Or you won't. That's what happens with people of all kinds. It doesn't matter what's in your veins, all that matters is what's in your heart."

Sho scowled, anger at how stupid people were lacing in his words. "The only differences between human and vampires is that vampires had ages to perfect their humanity. Their cruelness and their strength comes from what remains human in them, just like their compassion."

"Your words are too good for me." Alucard whispers, turning his gaze away from the bold man, finding himself unable to look him in the eye.

After this there was a long pause, as if Alucard was mustering the courage to speak again, what Sho had said had perhaps cut a little deeper than he may have realised. Eventually though, the dhampir managed to speak, trying to put a firmness back in his voice.

"What you don't seem to understand is that if I hurt you by accident you will not recover, you could die. How can you so flippantly cast this danger aside? I can only assume that the one who raised you was a far gentler man--vampire than I. But you would do well to realise that we are not all like that. Some kill for sport, some torture and plunder mens' souls. No man can claim to bring about such horror as the undead." Alucard's brow furrows for just a moment before continuing, as if holding back a great pain.

"Your kind words wound me, you would be kind enough to even suggest that I have a warm, beating heart like you --"

A warm, fleshy, BLOODY beating heart.

"-- but I do not."

"I could die tomorrow from a bullet wound. I could die ten minutes from now by making a wrong turn in these halls. I'm mortal. Dying is part of the job description."

Sho shook his head sadly. Just like Kei, this one cannot seem to grasp the very nature of being mortal meant that death could happen any time. Why should he distance himself from anything just because it might kill him? He might as well give up alcohol and cigarettes while he was at it. They will kill him eventually, just like a vampire would if his mouth got him in extreme trouble. As usual.

"So do dictators. So do serial killers and rapists. Vampires are not the only ones that have a monopoly on death and destruction; they've only had the time to perfect it."

He was starting to feel like he could be arguing this forever. That whenever he found a vampire, he would end up having this same conversation over and over again. It was easier to have with Kei since they knew each other that well, but this one was a little hard to read.

"It could be a lump of coal in your chest. Your heart is where your actions come from, not what pumps your blood."

Whether he realised it or not, this man was finally beginning wear down Alucard's defences. The dhampir had little experience dealing with people and his arguments of self-deprecation were starting to sound flawed. Perhaps this man was right? Maybe mortal men were just as capable of causing damage as he was. But that still left him wondering:

"Why are you so keen for me to see myself as something more than I am?" He was not scolding, he was not lecturing, Alucard was merely confused and perhaps a little curious, "Do you give your affection to everyone quite so freely?"

"People are people to me," Sho replied. He knew this answer already and didn't have to think about it. Kei used to say something similar to him and he had always followed up with the reasoning behind his views.

"I don't care if someone's black or white or Japanese or German or even a vampire. It doesn't matter. We all bleed and we all can die. Everything else is just superficial."

There was a long pause before Alucard spoke, a distant look in his eyes as he did so. "It's a pity that that was not the consensus in my homeland." Perhaps he may have been a more open-minded dhampir if it had been, perhaps he could have had friends, or perhaps his mother would have lived past her thirties.

"Most homelands are like that."

Maybe his parents would still be alive if it wasn't for the riots. Maybe he would have had a normal life and never would have met Kei. So many maybes. Sho didn't live for the maybes, he lived for the nows.

"C'mon. Let's see if we can find a way out of this maze."

Although Alucard did not choose to openly thank this man for his level-headed, kind words Sho should have been able to notice the hint of a smile on the dhampir's features as he moved to stand beside him.

"You're quite right, come, perhaps we can find our way together." He turns to look at his new companion briefly "By the way, I'm Alucard."

There. That was a little better. Sho nodded to himself at the change in the man's features, the slight smile and warmth in his words and started walking in the direction he had been going in. It didn't look like it, but he was scanning the area, making sure nothing was too out of place for a simple seeming hall.

"I'm Sho."

It's been a couple of days since the scuffle she got into with her friend, not that she blamed him. The both of them were having a moment of identity crisis, and it happened to be in the middle of a monster infested room. She didn't want to try that again. There were a couple of injuries on her that she didn't bother to heal, leaving them wrapped neatly in bandages, as she strolled down the hallway. Ever since her exploration with Elian and Jade, she made it a habit to learn a little more about tower.

A few of the floors she had been on gave off rather strange feelings, but this particular floor seemed rather empty, and chilling all at the same time. It was as if she was getting a bad feeling, but that bad feeling wasn't limited.

She was getting a rather strange chill the moment she stepped into this hallway. It wasn't the kind of chill that she would usually expect from this hallway, when days before, it was quite peaceful. Her hand rested on the weapon that was at her side while she walked into the depths of the hallway, wondering who was there. She might not have been the smartest person here, but knew better than to start a fight with someone out of her range.

Instead of trying to do anything stupid, she decided to call out, in hopes that the person that responded would not be a twisted villain, "Is...someone there?"

Standing in the cover of a dark shadow around the corner was Alucard. The bastard, half-vampire son of the King of the Undead: Vlad Tepes. He was the one giving this unsuspecting woman chills, he was giving out that aura of death, years of suffering had so ingrained it in him that it was a scent that would never be washed clean of him. His dark figure was foreboding, the reflection of the retina in his eyes a blood red colour staring out at her unmoving, unblinking. This image alone may have been enough to scare most away, and just as Alucard suspected her to leave, she spoke.

Her pure, clear voice echoing down the hallway Alucard felt compelled to step out of the shadows and answer her. In his heart of hearts he knew it would have been safer for her if he simply walked away but he supposed that revealing himself now would be easier for her in the long run. At least then she would know to keep away from this floor in the future...

That eerie silhouette stepped into the light and as dark and terrifying as he may have seemed when he stood in view and fully illuminated Alucard looked much less intimidating. He was, without a doubt, a beautiful creature. Pale skin and fine features coupled with golden, curled hair and an impressive physic. He was alluring, yes, but perhaps he was meant to be alluring simply to lull others into a false sense of security, or even lust?

Finally he responded to her, his voice deceptively gentle, coloured with a thick Romanian accent. "Forgive me, I did not mean to startle you."

Her own green hues were focused on the dark hallways, trying to make out figures, or silhouettes of someone, but instead of meeting a figure, or an outline of a person, she caught a glimpse of eyes. Those red eyes that stared back at her unblinking, and chilling all at the same time. The man's eyes reminded her of Duzell's, red and sharp, as if they were staring right through her, and that familiar feeling that it gave off, should have alarmed her that she was in danger. It was almost like warning, a silent alarm telling her not to approach, but it didn't bother her. She was used to this feeling, and used to staring at blood red eyes.

Then, she started to make out a faint outline of someone, and she was almost taken back by how strangely beautiful he was. His appearance reminded her of Duzell tall and somewhat intimidating, and his physics up to his hair made her think of her fragile cousin, but this man was hardly anything but fragile in appearance. He appeared delicate, but it seemed like he was too fit to be fragile or weak. She certainly was not in the presence of a normal human being. At least, that was what she deducted from meeting men that were abnormally beautiful. If she wasn't used to seeing this kind of beauty, she might have been drawn in by it. Even Seiliez's beauty was pale in comparison to this man's. She let out a small breath, and decided to cover her sudden surprise with a small, yet nervous smile.

"Ah...it's alright. I probably shouldn't be running around in the dark myself. I'm sorry, I almost mistook you for something else," she finished. He had a heavy accent, and it wasn't any accent that she was familiar with in Pheliosta.

Edited 2012-07-26 08:34 (UTC)

"Something indeed." Alucard whispered with a hint of pain. "You were right to suspect something malevolent in the dark," the dhampir began stepping a single pace closer to the young girl, a look of serenity mixed with longing in his eyes. Everything about Alucard's appearance had been engineered to lure in the innocent, the unsuspecting, and how he hated that about himself. He had no desire to trick others into thinking him to be just another harmless beauty. "for I am something looming in the dark, the dark is where I feel most at ease."

A pause as his unblinking golden eyes focused on her, their tender stare completely still. "A beautiful woman, such as yourself, ought to be careful in this labyrinth of corridors and traps. I am sure there are many here who would be eager to take advantage of you." the dhampir's gazed turned away from the ebony-haired childe for a moment before turning back to look upon her once more "Tell me, what is your name? Why is it that you wander this place?"

Ishtar covered her mouth, realizing what she just said, "Oh...I'm sorry...it was just your eyes threw me off," she replied with an apologetic look, "I didn't mean to imply anything."

Maybe it was best if she kept her mouth shut. She always had to say the wrong things at the wrong times didn't she? Ishtar didn't think he was different from most people. He seemed normal enough, minus the abnormal beauty though. She was still curious if he was really human or not, seeing she wasn't good at telling these things apart. She didn't move away, only watched quietly as he approached her. He didn't feel dangerous, and he didn't seem like he wanted to hurt her.

"...You mean like the dark?" seeing how she wasn't good at putting things together easily, "I see...mm I'm still sorry for saying that. I just got a little overly cautious..."

Weirdly enough, his stare was starting to make her nervous. Why was he staring at her like that? Did she have something on her? Other than her sword, she didn't carry much else, but the sword wasn't exactly free of the smell of death, "Ah...now you're just flattering me, seeing you're a lot more beautiful than I am," she replied laughing nervously. She wasn't one to lie about that either, "It's nothing new if someone tried," she mused looking off, seeing how she was always a target for something. If it wasn't to kill, it was to poison.

"Er...It's Ishtar....and well, I was trying to get use the surroundings here. I take strolls when I need to clear my head. There's no special reason to it or anything. What about you?"

Such innocence, Alucard did not want to sully it with his presence. His expression grew sweet, almost loving, as he listened to the child's responses. How demonic he felt next to this girl and what tender eyes gazed upon her now, like a teacher looks upon a beloved pupil.

"Please, do not apologise, you said nothing to offend me." he said gently, slowly, his accent stressing certain words by accident.

A smile graced his flawless features at her comment in regards to his beauty and he shook his head in response "What nonsense, whatever superficial beauty you may see in me is nothing more than a mask. True beauty lies in the amalgamation of the physical and the mental. It is clear that an innocent beauty, such as your own, surpasses me in every way." No, this was not idle flattery or hollow compliments, Alucard meant every word he said.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Ishtar" and what a lovely name that was, he thought to himself "I am Alucard and, I suppose much like yourself, I am attempting to become familiar with my new surroundings. Perhaps you can tell me anything I ought to know?"

The princess was uncertain how to take his sudden change of expression. It was a strangely kind expression, something that she didn't often get from people. She scratched the side of her face briefly as she listened to his words. It was true, she didn't really mean it, but she still felt bad about saying it the way she did.

"Ah, well I'm still apologizing since I was kind of rude..." seeing she learned better than to step on toes. He didn't seem mad at her, so she relaxed a little as he became quiet again. What a strange man she met. She spoke to so many people before, but not many talked the way he did, and his accent was hard for her to understand, but she tried her best to make of the words. It didn't seem like this specific language was something he spoke usually.

"...For right now, your personality seems to match your appearance though," she admitted. Ishtar might have stared at him a little too much for that comment. She was used to people trying to flatter her on a daily basis, but this guy....well let's just say she didn't exactly know how to respond to that one.

"Er...Thanks I guess?" seeing it didn't seem like this was up for arguments, "Alucard huh? That's a pretty interesting name you have there too," she replied chuckling. It was strange and foreign like a lot of name she was used to hearing, "I don't know much about this place but I can give you what I do know...would that be okay?"

Yes, Alucard was a strange name, especially as it wasn't really his name at all. Alucard had in fact been named Adrian by his mother, and had used that name for many years, but when his father had changed Adrian had changed too. Taking the reverse of his fathers name, to symbolise all that he stood against, he had become so accustomed to responding to Alucard that he had almost forgotten his true name.

"That would be more than perfect, Ishtar, my only regret is that I can offer you little in return."

She would have been fascinated by his name, if she learned about its origin, but the girl already thought that he had a rather interesting name. It was out there, and definitely something she had never heard of before. It wasn't too hard to pronounce and it almost strangely...flowed.

"You don't really have to offer me anything. I don't mind helping people. It's kind of fun sometimes," she replied with a small laugh.

"As far as I know, we're in a tower and some 'people' saved us from our destroyed worlds. In return they do things to us. I'm not sure what, but Hei told me about what they did to him, and it was disturbing. There are monsters around some of the floors, and we have to eat oatmeal before we actually eat real food...I'm not sure of the reason why though."

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Metamorphosis 1

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