I wasn't certain, in the beginning, that this was the correct course for me. I had a good feeling, but I couldn't be sure. I needed to see the entire picture... And I've done that. I'll fight for these people, for Lady Nadia, for Master Grey and Master de'Dannan (even if they do not want my help), and for the rest of the people out there who have no idea who or what I am, but can be saved by my power. This blood, this power, it is mine to use, no matter where it came from.
I went for a walk in the woods...
He moved through the treeline quietly, blending in with nature. He sniffed the air again, trying to process the scent. The source was near. This wasn't quite the same, though... The taint he'd sensed in Carthage was more concentrated than this. This, whatever it was, felt... broken.
The scent grew stronger as he moved deeper into the forest. He knew that he should consider alerting the others before he made his move, but he also knew that they would be less than eager to help him in any endeavors. No matter, for he was more gifted as a lone hunter anyway. He promised her that he'd help, however, so that's exactly what he planned to do.
Suddenly, a clearing came into view, and he crouched low and padded over to the edge of the trees. The area reeked of blood, hot metal, and sulfur. He knew that smell all too well. He could see the mouth of a cave at the far side of the clearing. With a mental nudge, his form shifted, and he flew quickly into the cave, hoping to blend in with any other bats inside. The lichen on the walls casted an eerie light through the rooms, and he could sense that whatever he was tracking was deeper inside. The bat disguise would do him no good, for he realized that wildlife avoided this place.
Humanoid feet dropped silently to the ground, and he crouched and moved stealthily deeper into the cave. One part of the cave seemed to contain an underground river, but the entity was not there. He followed the other side of the fork and came across a hall lined in crystal. At the far end of the hall, a huge, winged demon was busying itself with a meal. He smirked. This was not the thing that had attacked his charge, but it felt connected.
He strolled noiselessly into the room, and when the thing didn't notice him, he cleared his throat audibly. The hulking monster turned, face stained with the blood of his meal. It studied him, seeming confused. It could probably smell the true nature of his Blood.
Alucard smiled, hand on his longsword. This would be fun.
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Kelvar's mind attempted to process this newcomer, but he just couldn't quite understand it. Clearly, whatever this pale man was, he was dangerous. Kelvar could smell equal parts of darkness and light inside of it; humanity, and something else... something far more sinister than even Kelvar could comprehend. He knew, however, that the man needed to die. With a snarl, he lunged.
A fiery claw swung through the air, and Kelvar was certain that he would shred the man apart, for he didn't even react to Kelvar's superhuman speed. Just as Kelvar's claws would have hit the man, however, he shifted faster than Kelvar could even see, and was suddenly... somewhere else. That question was answered when several stinging pains erupted in Kelvar's back. He swept a foot around, but once again hit only air. More pain exploded in his back and wings. With a snarl, his rage boiled over.
Fire erupted in every direction, scouring the crystal walls of the cavern. The inferno raged for several seconds, and when it cleared, there was no trace left of the pale intruder. Kelvar could feel the blood trickling down his back, and he knew that he needed to rest and heal. He turned, hoping to limp back to his crystal throne, but the man was standing in his path, with that infuriating smirk on his face again. Kelvar swung again, but the loss of blood and energy was already starting to slow him down. This time, the man didn't move, only continued to smirk as Kelvar's hand smashed into a glowing shield that appeared around his enemy. Kelvar snarled again, but was met with a kick to the face, which hurt a lot more than a kick from any normal man.
Kelvar fell back, dazed, and could feel the man poising for the final strike. He waited, hoping he could catch the man unawares with a desperate swing. He felt the man tense above him, preparing to strike, and Kelvar swung, gripping the man's chest in a huge claw. In a second, he smashed the man against the wall and grinned down at him. That smirk! The man seemed to blur, and Kelvar suddenly realized that he was gripping nothing, and where the man had been, a cloud of mist coiled around Kelvar's arm. The intruder resolidified and rammed his longsword hilt-deep into Kelvar's throat.
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Alucard was startled, momentarily, when the beast got ahold of him, and getting smashed against the wall definitely broke a rib or two. He would see to that later. Now, however, standing over the dying creature, he felt confident that he'd made a slight dent in the enemy's plans. The creature tried to hiss something at him, but dark blood frothed from it's mouth. Alucard shook his head.
'Immortality is wasted on you,' he said, with a sad smile. He stepped over to the fiend and gripped one of it's great horns. With a mighty pull, he heard a loud snap, and he had what he needed. He held his hand out and called upon his dark center... Hellfire burst from his hand and consumed the fallen monster. It writhed in agony, but soon, was consumed by the fire.
Alucard stepped out of the cave, and could feel the dark energies that were shrouding the area begin to lift. He smiled, knowing that his interesting comrades would just love to hear this story.
My family... you have led me to this decision. I am abandoning you, my world, in the hope that I can spare you the pain that stems from my bloodline. This new world, if it reflects any of the light that I saw in her eyes... holds much promise.
