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Alucard was hurting. He drew in heavy breaths as he flew through the night sky, trying to get to the safety of the house that he lived in with Maria. As he flapped his thin bat wings, he told himself to just focus on breathing. Darkness clouded his vision, but he couldn’t allow himself to pass out. Not now.
The dhampir had been out hunting monsters in the woods, and he came across a Cloaked Knight. The knights were skilled swordsmen, and Alucard had defeated them before, but tonight was different. He had lost his focus for a split second, which allowed the knight to slash him across the stomach. The cut was deep, and blood poured from the wound. Alucard managed to kill the Cloaked Knight with a final swing of his sword, before he turned into a bat to escape.
As Alucard flew over the small town of his residence, he worried that he wouldn’t make it to the house. Maria’s house was on the outskirts of the town, but in his current state, Alucard couldn’t clearly discern how far away it was. He just had to keep flying. The wind was strong, and it kept blowing Alucard off course. It took everything he had to resist the force of the gusts, but shapeshifting took a lot of energy, and it was quickly draining.
With closing eyes, Alucard barely managed to spot Maria’s house. It was so close. He just had to go a little farther…
***
“Should we wait for him?” Maria asked Richter as she set the table for dinner.
“He said that he wouldn’t be back until late at night,” the hunter replied. “I think it’ll be okay if we eat without him.”
Maria sighed. “I’ll set a place for him. Just in case.”
Maria had prepared a meal of beef and vegetables. She ate with Alucard on most nights, and she insisted that she cook for him. Maria really enjoyed his company, and she loved to sit and dine with him, but he wasn’t very talkative. Most evenings resulted in Maria rambling about her day, while Alucard simply sat and listened. The dhampir claimed that he didn’t mind listening, but Maria wished that she could be the one to listen once in a while. Alucard didn’t like to talk about himself or his past, which made for very difficult conversation, as Maria felt that she didn’t know the dhampir as well as she ought to. She hoped that one day she would get him to open up.
Richter would occasionally check in on Maria and Alucard, and on those days, he would eat with them and spend the night. Richter was like family to Maria, and she cherished those evenings with him. Of course dinner those nights was louder and more lively with the addition of a Belmont, but Alucard still remained silent. Maria also noticed that it was usually on those nights when Alucard was even more reserved than if it was just him and her. Maybe he thought that since there was another louder person, he could let them do all the talking and have them forget about him in his silence. But Maria never forgot about him. She would always look at him and smile, to make sure he knew that he was cared for.
The huntress set the food on the table, and she sat down to join Richter. They began to eat, but the atmosphere was different than usual. With Alucard gone, it just didn’t feel the same. An uncomfortable silence fell over the room as the two ate their meal.
“The food tastes good,” Richter said to break the silence.
“Thanks,” Maria said. “It’s a recipe I’ve been working on. I hope Alucard will enjoy it.
“I’m sure he will...”
Silence filled the room again, and Maria sighed as she cut into her meat. Suddenly, a loud crash rang out through the house, followed by a thud onto what sounded like the wood floor. Maria and Richter were on their feet in an instant, and they looked at each other in confusion.
“My bedroom,” Maria said. “It came from my bedroom.”
The two ran in the direction of Maria’s bedroom, and Richter flung the door open. He froze in his tracks when he saw what had made the noise.
“Maria...” he said slowly.
She moved past him and her eyes widened at the sight. She gasped, covering her mouth in shock. The sight made her sick. There was broken glass everywhere, from the broken window. On the floor below the window was Alucard. He was lying on his side, and he looked disheveled. His cloak was covering most of his body, and Maria couldn’t see his face through his long pale-blonde hair. He wasn’t moving.
“Alucard!” Richter exclaimed as he knelt down beside the dhampir.
There was no response.
The hunter slowly turned Alucard over onto his back, and Maria gasped. His face was marred with small cuts and bruises, and it was contorted in pain. The hunter moved Alucard’s cloak out of the way, and when he brought his hand back, he found that it was covered in blood.
“Maria, something’s wrong...” Richter said, holding up his hand.
Maria knelt down beside the dhampir and moved her hands over his torso.
“Oh my God...” she gasped. “Richter, look.”
There was a huge gash on Alucard’s stomach, and it was bleeding terribly. Blood was already pooling around Alucard’s body, and it was showing no signs of stopping.
“Alucard!” Richter tried again, shaking the dhampir’s shoulder. “Alucard, can you hear me?”
Alucard opened his eyes halfway and stared up at the Belmont.
“Richter...?” he asked deliriously.
“Yeah, it’s me. What happened to you?”
“I...I was foolish. I lost my focus...”
“No, Alucard,” Maria reassured. “It’s not your fault. What did this to you?”
“A Cloaked Knight, of all things,” Alucard almost laughed in disbelief, tears brimming his eyes.
“Hey, those guys are pretty tough,” Richter said, trying to make the dhampir feel better.
“What do we do about this?” Maria asked, gesturing at the wound.
“It will heal, in time,” Alucard replied. “Th-This is a more severe wound, so it will take longer, but I just need to rest...”
A cold gust of wind filled the room from the broken window, and Maria shivered. Alucard glanced up at the window, and he frowned.
“I apologize for your window, lady,” he said. “I-I will be sure to repair it for you...”
“You’re worried about that?” Maria asked incredulously. “Alucard, you are bleeding out!”
The dhampir didn’t respond as his eyelids began to fall closed. His head lulled to the side as he fell unconscious.
“Hey, Alucard!” Richter said, as he shook the dhampir again. “Alucard, you need to stay awake! You’ve lost too much blood. It will take more than ‘resting’ for you to heal.”
Alucard managed to open his eyes again to a fit of coughing. He groaned in pain as the muscles in his stomach shifted with each cough.
“All right, we need to stop the bleeding,” Maria said as she stood up. “I’m going to go get some bandages. Stay here with him, Richter.”
Richter nodded and Maria left the room. The Belmont picked up Alucard’s gloved hand and placed two fingers on his wrist. He felt a pulse, but it was slow and weak. Alucard’s breaths were shallow, and he kept his eyes closed. Richter then removed Alucard’s belt, undid the brooches on his vest, and took off the white cravat that was around his neck. The Belmont’s hands hovered over Alucard’s torso before he carefully unbuttoned the dhampir’s white shirt to get a better look at the wound. Alucard let out a small whimper at the contact.
“I’m sorry!” Richter exclaimed hastily. “I didn’t mean to hurt you!”
“I...I know...”
“We’re going to tend to the wound, okay? You’re going to be fine.”
Alucard nodded weakly as he took in a shuddering breath. Maria returned with bandages, towels, and a bowl of water. The floor of the bedroom was nearly covered with Alucard’s blood, and she felt terrible for the dhampir.
“We should get him up on the bed,” Maria said. “I know we probably shouldn’t move him, but it will definitely be more comfortable for him.”
Alucard wanted to protest, but he didn’t have the energy. It probably wouldn’t have deterred Maria anyway. Once she makes up her mind about something, there is little that can be done to change it.
“Good idea,” Richter said.
The hunter lifted Alucard up from under his arms, and Maria supported his legs. Alucard tried to suppress a cry of pain, but it escaped him nonetheless. It hurt so badly. Maria wore a worried expression as she helped Richter set Alucard down on the bed. The dhampir was breathing heavily, and his hands were shaking.
“I’m so sorry, Alucard,” Maria said.
She placed her hand on the dhampir’s forehead. His skin was too cold, and his face was too pale. His bottom lip quivered slightly, and Maria knew that he was in serious pain. Blood dripped down Alucard’s cloak and added to the large puddle on the floor. There was too much blood loss. Maria grabbed his hand and squeezed it tightly.
“You’re going to be okay...” she said to Alucard, but also to herself.
She couldn’t lose him.
Richter began to clean the blood around the wound, but to little avail, as the blood wouldn’t stop. He sighed as he grabbed a towel, and he hesitated before pressing it down on the gash to stop the bleeding. Alucard moaned in agony, and he squeezed Maria’s hand with his own shaking one.
“Shh, it’s okay, sweetheart,” Maria soothed. “I know it hurts, but he has to stop the bleeding.”
She brushed his hair back with her free hand as she tried to keep her composure. The sight of Alucard in pain was heartbreaking. He looked so scared and helpless.
“The cut is really deep,” Richter said. “There’s nothing much that I can do about it besides letting his vampiric nature heal the wound on its own. I managed to stop the bleeding a little bit, but...” the Belmont sighed. “We’re just going to have to bandage it and hope that’s enough.”
“That doesn’t sound very reassuring,” Maria said.
“It w-will be enough,” Alucard whispered.
“Do you think you’ll be able to sit up, Alucard?” Richter asked. “I need to wrap the bandages. If you can’t, then I’ll figure something else out...”
“No, it...it is fine. I can sit up.”
Maria placed her hand on Alucard’s back and helped him sit up. He gasped, but then quieted down. He didn’t want to make his companions feel bad. Maria noticed this and shook her head.
“Alucard, it’s okay to express your pain,” Maria said. “You don’t have to hide it from us. We know it hurts. You know it hurts. Let it go.”
Alucard nodded and looked down, whimpering slightly. “Forgive me, lady.”
“Always such a gentleman. You have been, ever since I met you...”
Richter looked at Maria curiously. He then turned his attention back to Alucard. Richter carefully wrapped the bandages around Alucard’s torso. The dhampir’s skin was cold, and he was trembling.
“How are you holding up?” Richter asked as he finished dressing the wound.
“Tired...” Alucard muttered.
“I would think so. I’ve treated the wound, so you can get some rest now.”
“Thank you, Richter.”
The hunter nodded. Maria guided Alucard’s head onto the pillow, trying to be as gentle as possible. The dhampir suddenly jerked and cried out. His breath hitched and he choked on blood.
“Alucard!” Maria exclaimed.
The dhampir was trembling uncontrollably. There was fear in his eyes, and blood dripping from his lips. He tried to wipe it away with his sleeve, but he didn’t have the strength to lift his arm.
“Hey, calm down,” Richter said. “Just relax. We’re going to take care of you, okay? Don’t worry.”
Maria grabbed a clean towel and dipped it in the bowl of water. She cradled his head as she wiped his face. She cleaned the blood, and ran the cool towel over his face to comfort him. Maria moved her hand to Alucard’s chest and felt his heartbeat. It was weak, but it was there, and that was all that mattered.
The huntress buttoned his shirt back up over the bandages, and fastened the silver brooches of his vest back in place. Maria knew that Alucard didn’t like to expose himself. He was very modest and reserved. Perhaps that was why he wore so many layers...
“Maria,” Alucard said quietly. “You do n-not have to do that...”
Maria gave him a small smile. “But it makes you comfortable, and that’s all the more reason that I should.”
“You are too kind to me, lady.”
His golden eyes closed once again, and he sighed. Maria didn’t say anything after that. Despite his pain, Alucard was still the kindhearted man that she knew and loved. Richter put his hand on her shoulder and gestured to the door.
“Come on, Maria,” he said. “We should go. He needs to get some rest.”
“I want to stay with him,” the huntress said.
“Does he want you to?”
Alucard hummed quietly, indicating that it was all right.
“Thank you, Alucard,” Maria said. “I just want to make sure you’re all right.”
“Take care of him,” Richter said as he left the room, and closed the door behind him.
Maria extinguished the lantern that was in the room, so that the only light came from the moon outside. The moonlight illuminated Alucard’s pale, sleeping face—he was beautiful. Maria pulled a stool up next to the bed, and she sat down beside the dhampir. His chest rose and fell with weak breaths, and Maria rested her hand upon it. The continuous beating of his heart comforted the huntress. She didn’t know why, but it did. There was a supernatural power in every beat that represented Alucard’s life force.
Maria sighed as she gazed at the dhampir. She took his hand in hers and held it. Even in sleep, there was a sadness in his features. Maria knew that he felt detached from the world. That he didn’t belong. Maria wanted so badly to show him that he didn’t have to be sad. She had tried countless times to speak to him about his emotions, but he always told her that everything was okay. Maybe there was something that she didn’t understand. Besides, she would never fully understand what he had been through. She knew that he believed his immortality was a curse. He resented himself, and he wanted to hide himself away from the world. She couldn’t change his mind in that regard, but she could at least try to show him that he wasn’t a monster. That he was loved...
***
It was around midnight when Maria felt Alucard’s heartbeat quicken. He stirred in bed, and his breathing became slightly panicked. He whined quietly and squeezed Maria’s hand.
“Alucard?” Maria called. “Alucard, wake up!”
The dhampir’s eyes flew open and he gasped. He lay there for a moment, trying to catch his breath. Maria moved her hand from his chest to his forehead, and she brushed his hair back soothingly.
“Are you all right?” she asked. “What happened?”
“It...it was nothing,” Alucard said, avoiding eye contact. “Just a nightmare. Nothing more.”
“You don’t get many peaceful nights, do you?”
Alucard sighed and shook his head.
“I’m sorry...” Maria said quietly.
Alucard kept quiet.
“How do you feel now?” the huntress asked.
“A little better,” Alucard replied. “It still hurts, but not as bad as before.”
“Would you like me to take a look at the wound?”
“There is no need. It is healing.”
“All right...Is there anything I can get you? Do you want something to drink?”
“I am fine, lady. Do not worry about me.”
“Oh...okay then,” Maria said, her expression downcast as she stood. “I’ll leave you to rest.”
Alucard noticed that Maria looked rejected, and he felt guilty. He didn’t want to trouble her any further by asking for anything more, but she looked disappointed that he didn’t want her help.
“You can stay with me, if you wish,” he said softly. “I do not mind the company.”
Maria’s face immediately lit up. “Really?”
Alucard nodded, and Maria sat back down by the bedside.
She hesitated before speaking. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Are you always in pain?”
Alucard was taken aback by the question. “W-What?”
“You always look so sad,” Maria said simply.
“O-Oh...”
“Why are you so sad?”
“I would rather not talk about it.”
“But I want to help you, and I can only do that if you speak to me. Please. It’s not good for you to keep everything inside all the time.”
“That is what I have always done, and I am fine.”
“But you’re not.”
“Maria, please—” Alucard said, his voice wavering as he was on the verge of tears.
“Tell me.”
Alucard shook his head and turned away, trying to hide the tears that slipped down his cheeks. Maria leaned over and wiped the tears away. She felt terrible for making him cry, especially when he was already wounded.
Alucard took a shaky breath. “I...I have lost so much, and I will continue to lose that which I hold dear for as long as I live. That is all there is to it. Now please do not ask me again. I beg of you...”
“I’m sorry,” Maria said. “I understand.”
But really, she did not understand. She had hoped to get the dhampir to open up, but it was evident that he wasn’t ready yet. Just the mention of his internal pain made him tense and tearful. She figured that she would have to wait until a later time, when Alucard was ready.
“I didn’t mean to upset you,” she said. “I only wish to help.”
“I know, lady,” he whispered from the bed. “You have already done so much. I do not want you to be burdened by how I feel.”
“But I can lift some of the burden off of you. You only need to speak to me. Whenever you’re ready.”
“I shall keep that in mind, lady.”
Maria smiled.
The two sat in silence for a moment, but Alucard was suddenly starting to feel nauseated. He felt dizzy and faint from the blood loss. He curled in on himself slightly and took in deep breaths to ease the nausea.
“Are you all right?” Maria asked, a concerned look on her face.
“Just...dizzy,” Alucard exhaled. “Nausea...”
“The blood loss?”
The dhampir nodded as he tried to fight the dizzy spells.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Maria asked. “Shall I get Richter?”
“No, no...H-He is resting. There is no need to bother him.”
Alucard let out a quiet moan as he lay in discomfort. He was freezing, trembling, and miserable. The dhampir squeezed his eyes shut as he turned over and curled further into himself. Maria wanted to help him, and she decided the best thing to do was to just provide comfort as best as she could.
“Here, lie back for me, okay?” Maria asked.
Alucard obeyed. His head was spinning, and there was a ringing in his ears. He could feel the blood draining from his face, which left his visage paler than usual. He suddenly felt a warm hand on his forehead, and he opened his eyes slightly. Maria was stroking his hair back to comfort him. Alucard leaned into the touch and sighed.
“What is it like to fly?” Maria asked suddenly, to distract Alucard from the nausea.
He understood her intent, and closed his eyes. “It is wonderful. Just imagine being completely free, and able to go anywhere you desire. The wind blows in your face as you let it carry you through the sky. The landscape below is breathtaking. You can see the hills and rivers below you, and the quaint little towns. If you fly high enough, you can glide through the clouds, and feel the water drops on your face. I believe that the night sky is the best to fly through. The moonlight basks the countryside in a brilliant white light, and the stars above are a magnificent sight.”
Maria was fixated on the dhampir’s voice as he spoke. He had a lovely accent, and the way he articulated his experiences made Maria feel like she was actually flying.
“Wow...” Maria sighed, speechless.
Alucard opened his eyes again and looked at her. The huntress removed her hand from his hair and smiled at him.
“That was beautiful, Alucard,” she said.
The dhampir gave a shy smile and quickly looked away. He realized that he no longer felt faint and nauseated.
“How do you feel?” Maria asked.
“I feel much better now,” he replied. “Thank you.”
Maria smiled. “You look tired.”
Alucard nodded.
“Get some sleep. I’ll be right here if you need me.”
“Thank you, lady...”
The huntress leaned forward hesitantly, before she rested her arm and her head on the dhampir’s chest while she sat on the stool by the bed. Alucard stiffened at the contact, but he slowly relaxed and let her stay. Maria smiled as the dhampir drifted off to sleep. Her own drowsiness caught up with her, and she fell asleep to the sound of Alucard’s gentle heartbeat.
***
“Maria. Maria!”
The huntress jerked awake and sat up on her stool. She looked around her bedroom and saw that Richter was leaning in the doorway with his arms crossed, and a sly smile on his face.
“Sleep well last night?” he teased.
Maria’s face reddened. “Ah, yes. Yes, in fact, I did.”
“I would think so, considering that you used Alucard as a pillow.”
“O-Oh. About that...”
Richter laughed. “You don’t need to explain. I know how much you admire him.”
Maria blushed even more as she felt her face heat up. Richter continued to laugh at her reaction.
“Quiet, you’ll wake him up!” Maria whispered loudly.
“Too late...” came a voice from the bed. It was Alucard.
“How long have you been awake?!” Maria asked, worried that he might have heard Richter’s teasing.
“Long enough,” Alucard said.
He gave the slightest smile, and he looked so innocent in that moment. It was infuriatingly adorable, and Maria blushed again.
Richter winked at the dhampir as he walked over to the bed to help Alucard sit up.
“Can I take a look at the wound?” the Belmont asked.
Alucard nodded, and he undid the fastenings on his vest and shirt. Richter sat at the foot of the bed and gently unwrapped the bandages. Maria stood nearby and observed. Once the bandages were removed, the huntress gasped.
“That’s amazing...” Richter breathed.
The wound on Alucard’s stomach was almost completely healed. The only evidence that he was ever injured was a light scar on marble skin. Maria touched the scar, and Alucard flinched.
“Sorry!” she exclaimed. “Does it still hurt?”
“A little bit,” he said. “It should be all right within the next few days.”
“That’s good. I wish I could heal that fast.”
“Do not wish that. You do not want to be like me.”
“...I’m sorry.”
Alucard shrugged. The room fell into uncomfortable silence. Everybody’s attention was on the dhampir. He shifted on the bed and kept his gaze down, until Richter cleared his throat.
“I think you should eat something, Alucard,” he said.
The dhampir looked up. “Pardon?”
“You need to eat. When was the last time you ate anything, anyway?”
“I cannot recall...”
“Have you seen yourself? You’re too thin.”
Alucard was suddenly very self-conscious at the mention of his appearance, and he quickly buttoned his shirt back up.
“I do not have to eat as much as you do,” he said, as he redid the brooches on his vest.
“That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t,” Maria said. “Come on, Alucard. I’ll make you some breakfast.”
“Do not trouble yourself, lady. I will be fine.”
“I’m sure you will be, after you have something to eat.”
Maria took Alucard’s hand, and he sighed. He knew he had no choice but to obey the huntress. He slowly stood from the bed and let Maria lead him out of the bedroom, with Richter following close behind. As they entered the kitchen, Alucard noticed plates of food on the table. There were three places set, but only two of the plates had beef and vegetables. Alucard could tell from the scent that they were uneaten meals from the previous night. He remembered that he had crashed through the window when it was night, perhaps around dinner time. The dhampir soon realized that he had interrupted his companions’ dinner. Alucard knew how much Maria enjoyed dining with Richter, and he was suddenly struck with a pang of guilt. It must have been evident in his features, because Maria squeezed his hand and moved in front of him to look at his face.
“What’s wrong, Alucard?” she asked, worried. She followed the dhampir’s gaze and frowned. “Don’t worry about it, Alucard. That batch probably didn’t taste right, anyway. If anything, you saved Richter from having to eat the rest of it.”
The huntress smiled to lighten the mood, and Richter let out a small laugh. Alucard didn’t know how to respond, so he just kept quiet. He didn’t deserve the kindness that he received from the two humans.
“Here, sit down,” Maria said. “Richter, go keep him company.”
“Will do, my lady,” the Belmont said.
Alucard sat down at the table as directed, and Richter sat across from him. Maria gathered some ingredients and stood by the stove as she began to cook.
“You know, you don’t have to be so formal all the time,” Richter said.
Alucard looked at him shyly. What was he supposed to say to that?
“You should lighten up a bit,” the Belmont continued. “It feels good to laugh, you know? Well, maybe you don’t know. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you laughing before. Do you even know how to laugh?”
“Richter!” Maria scolded.
Alucard was overwhelmed. He didn’t like this. However, he didn’t want to be rude in not answering the Belmont’s questions.
“I...Yes, I do know how to...laugh,” he started. “It has just...been a while.”
“I’m sure there’s something out there that you find funny,” Richter said. “Or maybe just something that makes you happy. What do you like to do?”
“What do you mean...?”
“Well, you know. What do you like to do in your free time? For example, I like going into town and hanging out in the tavern—”
“Richter...” Maria said from the kitchen.
“Right,” he said. “Anyway, Maria likes to cook, though she’s not very good at it if you ask me.”
“I’m trying my best!”
Richter caught Alucard’s gaze. “So, what makes you happy, Alucard?”
Alucard immediately thought of his parents. He had lived a very happy childhood, despite his father being Dracula—rather, Vlad Tepes. His mother was alive back then, so there was no reason for Vlad to release his hatred on humanity. The vampire had been a very kind father and a caring husband. Lisa was a wonderful mother, and together the two practically spoiled Alucard—Adrian, as they had named him. They lived in the castle then, and the family would have meals and evening walks together. Vlad would give Adrian exotic gifts from his travels, and Lisa would cook him his favorite meals. They both taught Adrian all about science and history, and at the end of every day, they would kiss him goodnight. Lisa would sing him lullabies, and Vlad would read him bedtime stories. There was never any conflict or violence—only the peace of a happy family, living a happy life...
Alucard’s vision blurred as tears welled up in his eyes. They fell down his face as he tried to blink them away. Richter noticed, and a worried, guilty expression showed on his face.
“Alucard...” he said slowly.
“No, no, it is nothing,” Alucard said quickly, as he sniffed and wiped the tears away. “I...I like to read. And sketch.”
“Oh?”
Alucard nodded. By now Maria had turned her attention to the two men at the table. She had seen the dhampir’s tears.
“What’s on your mind, Alucard?” she asked.
He was silent for a while before he finally answered. “My parents. My parents made me happy.”
“Is there anything specific that they did? What did you enjoy about them?”
A familiar scent filled the air as Alucard thought about how to answer. It reminded him of his mother’s cooking.
“My mother...” he began. “She would cook my favorite meals. My father would read me stories. They taught me about the world, and...we were happy. I was happy.”
“What did you mother cook for you?” Maria asked.
“Pancakes were my favorite. She made them often for breakfast, because she knew how much I liked them.”
“Really?” Maria’s face lit up.
Alucard nodded. “It has been so long since I have had them...I have almost forgotten what they taste like.”
“Well then I hope I don’t disappoint.”
“What?”
“Well, it just so happens that I made pancakes this morning,” Maria beamed. “I had no idea that you liked them.”
Alucard’s eyes widened. “O-Oh...”
Maria smiled as she placed a plate of pancakes on the dining table. They were thick and fluffy, and steam rose from the stack.
“It smells really good,” Richter said.
The hunter reached for the stack, but Maria slapped his hand away.
“Let Alucard have some first,” she said.
“Please, do not make a big deal out of it—” the dhampir said shyly, before he was cut off by Maria’s finger to his lips.
The huntress grabbed a plate and stacked two pancakes on it. Then she promptly set the plate down in front of Alucard and gave him a fork. He was absolutely flustered, but he took the fork as Maria sat next to him.
“Well go on,” she said. “Try them.”
Alucard hesitantly poked his fork into the fluffy pancakes, tore off a small amount, and put it into his mouth. He stared at the tabletop as he ate, savoring the flavors on his tongue. It didn’t taste exactly like his mother’s pancakes, but it tasted similar, which was close enough. It was all he could get anyway, now that his mother was gone, but he was grateful for it.
“What do you think?” Maria asked in anticipation.
“It tastes wonderful,” Alucard replied, looking up at the huntress. “Thank you, lady.”
Maria smiled and patted his hand. He continued to eat as Maria served Richter, and then herself.
“Not bad, Maria,” the Belmont said, already working through his fourth pancake. “Not bad at all.”
“I’m glad you both like it,” she said. “I’ll be sure to make some more for you.”
With that, she stole a glance at Alucard, who had finished his breakfast and was sitting quietly at the table. He was looking out the window thoughtfully, but his hand hovered over his torso where the scar was.
“Are you okay?” Maria asked.
Alucard realized that she was speaking to him, and he broke out of his daze.
“Yes, lady,” he said quietly.
“Is the wound bothering you?”
“It is just sore, that is all.”
“Would you like to get some more rest? You don’t have to stay at the table. I know we can be quite loud sometimes.”
Richter laughed and shook his head. “What an understatement...”
Maria smirked. “As I was saying, do you want to lie down on the sofa for a while?”
Alucard hesitated. “...Yes, please. If you do not mind, of course.”
“It’s no problem. I would let you sleep on the bed, but the sheets and the floor are covered in blood, so I wouldn’t want you sleeping in there again until it’s cleaned.”
“My apologies...”
“Don’t be sorry for bleeding!” Maria said with an astonished laugh. “You’re so anxious about everything!”
“I—” he stammered.
“Never mind that. Come, let’s get you settled.”
Maria helped him stand, and Alucard let out a stifled groan. The huntress patted his back and led him to the sofa, where he lay across the cushions. He was more exhausted than he thought, and his eyes began to close. The wound had taken a lot out of him.
“You’ll be all right, Alucard,” Richter said as he cleared the table. “Just give it some time.”
The dhampir nodded tiredly and closed his eyes. Maria started the fire before joining Richter in the kitchen. The two joked at each other and laughed, but rather than disturbing Alucard, it was surprisingly comforting. It reminded him of his old life with his parents, when he would fall asleep in the library to their quiet conversations.
Alucard felt Maria place a blanket over him, as he lay on the sofa with his right hand on his chest and his left knee pointed upwards. The huntress placed a tender kiss on his forehead, to Alucard’s surprise. The action reminded him of his parents carrying him to bed on late nights. They would tuck him into bed with a kiss and bid him a quiet goodnight...
The memories became dreams as Alucard fell asleep to his companions’ cheerful laughter. He knew that he was in good hands, and for the first time in a long time, Alucard was happy.