[Hector’s pets, unfortunately for Alucard, remain at his home, in the care of a hastily-constructed golem. A mission of revenge is no place for such gentle souls.

Hector looks Adrian over. The sight of him, almost entirely unchanged, brings back memories of the times of his life better left forgotten. He looks away.]

After I left, I gave up forging. I ran until I was certain I’d buried any trail the demons of my past could follow, and I slunk away to a backwater village no one had ever heard of to spend the rest of my life in seclusion.

Then I met Rosaly. [Speaking her name twists the dagger in his gut another turn. He feels her absence viscerally, as if he’s been carved up and every vital part of him removed.

His voice comes out in a growl.] I don’t know...if Isaac took this long to find me...or if he knew all along, and was just waiting...letting me find true happiness just so he could rip it away.

[His voice breaks. His anger is the only pillar left within him, keeping him from total collapse. He has to hold on to it.]

He told the villagers she was a witch. Rosaly spent every day of her life caring for their wounds, curing their fevers, loving them beyond what any person could deserve...and they burned her.

[There had been nothing left but ash. Isaac has seen to it. No flesh or bones left that Hector could have revived even at the height of his power.]