[And so Hector sets off. He finds the stream, thanks to the intricately detailed map, and forges well past sunset. When he finally finishes, he falls on the supplies Adrian gave him, devouring the dried meat and praying to whatever powers that be that Adrian doesn't see him do it, the smug bastard.
His new creations are amphibious, and Hector does his best to keep them concealed in streams and rivers as he makes his way to Braila. Alucard's coin sees him passage on a small vessel. Hector isn't sure if he actually senses eyes on him as they sail or if it's all in his imagination. Adrian is definitely watching, and Isaac is probably keeping tabs on him as well, in his own way.
The island outside of Rhodes is largely unchanged from when Hector left it. The rumor of a necromancer living there, coupled with the occasional sighting of dead animals walking in the wilds there, has kept the locals from coming here. It's just how Hector prefers it.
He secrets away his innocent devils, returns to his abandoned cabin, and waits for Isaac to take the bait.
And somehow, their carefully drawn-out plan goes to hell. Hector and his friends had gone out to the island's only dock to meet Isaac's boat upon arrival. Isaac, as expected, had brought with him several hulking, flying monstrosities. More unexpectedly, he had also come with a small army of zombies, marching up from the water unphased by their journey.
The innocent devils perform admirably, taking down two of the night creatures and countless zombies, but Hector hadn't accounted for the sheer rage at seeing Isaac's face again. The forged creatures depend on him for instruction, and he can't think of anything but killing Isaac. Isaac's army flanks them and hurl themselves onto Hector, pinning him down.
So, traitor, you've reawakened your powers? [Isaac croons, stepping finally off of his ship.] Good. You will atone for your sins.
[He approaches a thrashing Hector with a length of rope and begins to coil it around him. The cord sizzles with enchantment.]
If you're going to kill me, just do it! [Hector cries, impotent and furious and just wanting it to be over.
Isaac clucks his tongue.] Hector, Hector, what did you think to do with those ashes you stole? A spirit of such power as Lord Dracula cannot be resurrected with pieces cobbled together like some common wight.
[He seizes Hector's chin and forces him to meet Isaac's gaze. Dracula's loyal general smiles.] Oh Hector, where else could I find a vessel such as yours, so in tune with the darkness, yet still purely human? It is fitting. Your betrayal cost our lord his life. Your sacrifice shall restore him.
[Trevor and Sypha arrive home a week after Hector's departure. It is at that moment that Alucard explains the situation to them, and their reactions are not surprising. They both don't care for it, Trevor's far louder about that fact, Sypha's not the happiest about being thrown into a high stakes job like this without her prior knowledge or consent, but with the far greater threat of Isaac and what he represents, things settle. They're not traveling for the summer, lest something awful happen while they're away.
Alucard varies the times he checks in on Hector, but it is almost always between three to four times a day, and never for longer than five minutes. It is satisfying enough to know the man is alive, is working, and doesn't seem to be contemplating the wisdom of stabbing Alucard in the back. (It's something Trevor is planning for. And intending to respond to at full force should it happen.) For Alucard, that's more than enough.
Summer slips by. There's so much damned ocean travel that Alucard almost feels seasick by proxy at a few points, but nothing comes of it. Sometimes he moves the viewing mirror beyond Hector to the boat and what's around it, intending to check for signs of being followed but almost always feeling calmed by the sight of the gently rocking sea.
Rhodes goes by. Alucard increases his attention to the viewing mirror when that happens, although he is not present at the outset of Isaac's grand entrance. He catches only the end part, where the word vessel gets used.
What sounds next in the castle is something that can only be described as pure dad. It catches the attention of the other two inhabitants, who know that even if it isn't go time on their weird and possibly a bad life choice of an alliance, something bad has happened to the dhampir.
There's quick utterances of what to do in the next few minutes once Trevor and Sypha are present and Alucard's managed to explain what's been said. The rest of the plan they know. He and Sypha go in through the viewing mirror, Trevor watches and goes through only if need be. Returning from someplace that far away will be a nightmare and someone has to watch the castle and the Hold.
(Alucard still mutters all the right spells for protecting the place before he leaves though. At this point, they'll probably need all hands on deck.)
He and Sypha barrel out of the viewing mirror, ice shards firing at Isaac and Alucard's sword extended for the same target. It isn't the time for snappy lines or words at all. Action is the only thing that matters, putting an end to the concept of dragging Dracula back from a death he truly needed at the end.]
[Isaac's creatures drag Hector back towards the boat, and Hector sees now that the deck has runes carved into it. Some sort of summoning circle? He renews his struggling.]
No, I won't let you! Damn you, Isaac! [He fights against his bindings to try to reach the knife at his belt. If Isaac needs him whole for whatever dark ritual he intends, then Hector will rob him of his prize and go laughing into hell.
Isaac takes a step forward, balling a fist to strike him.] Our lord can deal with a few broken ribs. [He punches Hector in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
Alucard and his Speaker might as well be angels, so fortuitous is their timing. Hector struggles to gasp in a breath to shout to them.]
Destroy the boat! [Isaac needs to be killed, but with his winged beasts and undead zombies beneath the waves, Hector can't risk being taken to the boat and spirited away to be used as a host body for Dracula.
His fingers brush against the hilt of his knife and he begins to work it free of the sheath, the motion agonizingly slow.]
[Destroy the boat Hector calls out, and there's no questioning who's best equipped to take care of that. Sypha is the one with the fire power and the range, and so that means Alucard must serve as her guard. He moves only a few feet forward to allow Sypha a safe radius to operate in, and the first blast of fire goes right for the boat.
Unsurprisingly, that gets the attention of the winged creatures that were already drawn to Alucard and Sypha's arrival. One swoops down, horrid talons extended and aimed for Sypha's shoulders. Alucard wordlessly sends his sword in the thing's direction, and it pierces through the wings before he recalls it back to himself.
There is the ever so satisfying sound of it crashing onto the ground, and Alucard runs to dispatch it. A second blast of fire goes right over his head, catching the boat this time.]
[Isaac growls out a curse in a language Hector can't understand. He draws one of his daggers and lifts it to Hector's throat. Then he thinks better of Hector's worth as a potential hostage, and shoves him back into the waiting arms of his zombie horde. The glare he directs at Hector before disappearing from his sight promises pain for siccing the hunters upon his ship.
Hector, for his part, kicks at the zombies, managing to dislodge several limbs from their shambling bodies. They are restraining, not attacking. With an effort of will, he calls his aquatic creations to come and begin to tear at the corpses.
Isaac's eyes flick between Sypha and Alucard, and in the moment Alucard moves toward the downed Gaibon, he dashes forward and leaps, both daggers drawn.]
[The zombies are....new. To Alucard at least, Sypha seems unphased by their presence and is instead focused on the task at hand. Tiny powerhouse she is, the moment Isaac turns his attention to Alucard is the moment she starts moving forward in order to get the thing destroyed.
There's a grunt as Alucard moves his whole body just in time to avoid the worst of Isaac's daggers. They still scrape through the fabric of his coat, but that's all the damage they do. The dhampir's feet instead trample over the Gaibon with precious little grace, and the noise it makes is just as unearthly as Alucard remembers the night creatures from before.
But no, this is good. Isaac can have his attention focused on Alucard. Sypha can take care of the physical destruction. Hector need only endure through the worst of it and make sure that the aquatic creations are able to do what they must.
Trevor's still watching and available, if it all goes to shit.
Alucard doesn't waste time in lunging at Isaac. If he's understood the man correctly, taunts would be better.]
How foolish are you to believe that disturbing my father's well earned peace is a wise idea?
[Dark eyes narrow at Alucard with pure, cold rage.]
What right have you to call him 'father'?
[His eyes flash red, and the Gaibon's corpse bursts into flames. Isaac lunges forward for another attack.]
You put a stake in his heart. He needs no son like you!
[It seems Alucard isn't the only one ready with taunts.
With Isaac out of his direct line of sight, Hector's boiling anger cools to the familiar simmer. He can work with that. Finally clear-headed, he gives his creatures their orders. Where before the struck clumsily at the walking corpses, they now take quick, precise slices at the necks and hearts, taking back the cursed life Isaac had infused in them. The ranks thin.]
[As intended. It is absolutely going to chafe at Alucard when all is settled that he's had to rely on the actual worst moment of his life as a taunt to distract a man, but in this moment, he doesn't care. Anything Isaac says is a fraction of what he's lived with and brooded over for years. Alucard's used to being a thing of ice.
Its that thing of ice that parries Isaac's attack, then abuses his dhampir abilities to seemingly disappear, then be at Isaac's side to slam into him but hard. It'll have a path perpendicular in landing to the burning corpse, but that's for the better. The less burning flesh the better.]
As surely as you could have helped him through his grief, but instead took advantage of a man to advance your own dislike of humanity. What a good friend you were, using him like that.
[That's a taunt but also one of the thoughts Alucard has spent many nights ruminating on. Hector's already heard it, but this version will doubtlessly garner a different reaction. One that ought to encourage some sloppy stabbing.
Sypha's left Alucard entirely. It's nothing for her swift feet to carry her through the rising threats of Isaac's forged creatures, because her own magical abilities have grown in strength over the years. There is a final blast of flames aimed at the boat, and that fire finally takes.]
[Isaac gets more fierce with his anger, but not stupid. As Alucard shoves, he rolls, and takes a swipe with his knife as he does.]
I stood by his side.... I never betrayed him....
[He strikes between statements.]
Everyone else turned their backs on him...is it any wonder he wanted to end everything, with friends like that [He doesn't even bother looking in Hector's direction] and a son like you?
[With that, Isaac goes in close, a reckless attack to try to bury a blade into Alucard's heart. The remaining forged creatures abandon Sypha and converge into the dhampir, and the zombies begin to claw at Hector with killing intent. Still bound with the enchanted rope, he curls himself into a ball to ward off the blows while his friends tear at the attackers. Hector sends a call out to the fairy construct, who whizzes in and begins to tug at the rope to free him.]
[The words aren't having the exact effect Alucard wants, so he abandons them. Anger is enough for now, just like it's enough to allow Isaac to leave a few marks on Alucard. The knife finds it's way into his hip, but it only truly finds bone.
The pain is precious little in Alucard's mind. An easy thing to shrug off, but the lunge towards his heart requires a very quick manuver indeed. He blocks it only because of his own superhuman speed, and the clang of metal against metal is satisfying. But more than that, Alucard presses the advantage, putting his weight forward against the much smaller blade to force Isaac back entirely. Back and over the corpse of his own creature, which some god willing, might cause a mistep.
Alucard picks his head up as he realizes that they are being converged upon. Sypha's made it up to the now on fire boat, but getting through to Hector is going to be it's own challenge. He won't yell to her and grab her attention, lest it bring harm, but he doesn't like it.
Sypha, quite frankly, could care less. The zombies, at least the ones in the back and furthest from Hector, are the easiest to deal with. That ice wall trick she invented on the fly back at the castle comes into play again, cleaving a row of them at the back cleanly in two. To Hector, she calls out only one word:]
[The fight turns silent and feral. Alucard’s taunts have a very real effect- Isaac should retreat and come back with greater force, but he stays, taking damage in order to deal out punishment to Dracula’s son. One of his knifes goes flying and clatters in the burning wreckage as he stumbles back and over the corpse. He kicks out at Alucard as he tumbles, trying to push him back to gain the precious seconds he’ll need to right himself.
Hector renews his struggles, but at Sypha’s barked order, he drops. He’s always been inclined to take orders from people who sound more sure of themselves than he is. He’s frankly surprised the Speaker bothered. Hector and Alucard have an understanding, but to her, he doubts he is anything other than ‘the less dangerous necromancer”.
His constructs are within blasting range, but he orders them to keep attacking. Moving them to safety might disrupt the attack or lure the zombies out of the Speaker’s range. His creatures can’t ‘die’ so long as he lives, although the energy their destruction will drain from him is going to hurt. He curls his body around the fairy, shielding her as she unties him, and braces himself.]
[The ice plane tricks works both vertically and horizontially. It's useful, especially in moments like these. With just a few movements of her wrist, Sypha sends another plane of ice at the zombies. They're all about the same height, and so their heads are cleaved from their necks with a disturbing ease. Doubtlessly a few heads will land a little too close to Hector, but that is simply the side effect of an all too useful method.]
You can look up!
[If there is to be a second wave of the zombies, Sypha's prepared and not moving from her current spot.
As for Alucard, he's gone ferral in the most literal way possible. A wolf is what Isaac kicks, and a wolf is what lands a little sloppily a few feet back. Which is more than fine, because the sword is abandoned for barred teeth that lung at Isaac yet again. He'll have to bend down to get a good attack, and if that happens, well, there are options available to Alucard to respond in kind.]
[The rain of heads around Hector doesn’t phase him; he’s long since lost any aversion to dead parts. The energy displacement as his forged creatures dissolve back into spirit sends him staggering, though. That’s the drawback to using constructs tethered to his own life force.
He forces himself to stand, and he surveys the damage, blinking. Holy shit. Forget the Belmont. The Speaker girl is terrifying.
The zombies are summarily handled, so now all attention can turn to Isaac and the wolf. Isaac is a master of necromancy, but he’s still a human, and his stamina has limits. He has to end this quickly or the dhampir will wear him down.
Isaac spreads the fingers of his empty hand and sends glowing red power into the headless bodies of his zombies. They rise like slack puppets on strings, no longer able to move except by Isaac’s express order. He waves them toward Sypha.
He kicks out at the wolf again, a plot to sacrifice his leg to occupy the wolf’s teeth so he can drive his dagger into its neck.]
Isaac!
[Hector, finally unraveled from the bindings, calls out as he staggers forward, hoping to distract his rival long enough for Adrian to finish it.]
[When all of this is said and done, Alucard is going to stand next to Sypha all but beaming for that swift execution alone. Sypha is the tiniest, most terrifying powerhouse that no one ever anticipates, and they all take satisfaction in the unnerved reactions she tends to provoke.
But now is not that time. Sypha instead rushes over to Hector, mostly to assess his state. There's precious little in even distracting Isaac unless there's a real plan that can be had. But no. That's too late, and the zombies are moving again. There is an unsatisfied ugh! from Sypha about the particulars, and she resolves to disect them further.
The wolf does, indeed, sink it's teeth into Isaac's leg. It aims high, aware of the inner thigh being home to a major artery and intending to take full advantage of that fact. Isaac probably didn't intend that, and oh it's a greater risk, but the surprise of the angle might be to Alucard's benefit.
There's a cracking of bone under teeth. Pressure applied, and then a yank to rend flesh away from flesh.]
[With Sypha approaching on one side and the puppet zombies on the other, Hector tempted to step toward the zombies. It's the safer of the two options, although Hector realizes being between the Speaker and her targets is a big mistake.
He's scratched up, but it's nothing that needs attention at the moment. Looking around, he spots his hammer and dives for it. Blue light flashes. He can't control what Isaac already has under his thrall...but the zombies aren't the only undead on the island. The animals Hector experimented on are not beholden to his will, but they still might remember him and come when he calls them.
Isaac grunts as the wolf teeth maul him, but he still slams down the knife blade. The aim is disrupted by the shooting pain, but it still finds purchase, if lower than intended. With a wound like the one on this thigh, Isaac isn't walking away from this. His goal now it to cause as much damage as he can before the end. He gives the knife a twist as he stumbles.
From the treeline, creatures with glowing blue eyes appear. Rats, hawks, wild cats, a large fox. They rush in and launch themselves at the zombies, scratching and biting.]
[The knife finds purchase in what are shoulders on the wolf. The wolf dart around Isaac, and it takes the knife with it. Disarming the man is just as helpful as biting through his leg, and when Alucard takes his human form, it's clear that the damage is bloody. The wound in the upper portion of his shoulder, where it connects with his neck, is bleeding badly, and all Alucard does is remove the knife.
Three cheers for dhampir healing, because Alucard is quick to go back to Isaac, sword extended. It is a full lunge, aimed at the stomach. He already has an unstable leg. A gut wound works to end most of the madness.
Sypha's focus remains on the zombies, but it's crucial now to figure out the ones not being mauled by reanimated woodland creatures hector what are you snow white. The end result is a path for Hector to follow, should dealing with the last of Isaac be the real goal.]
hector's a dirty rotten kill-stealer and i'm so sorry
[Shhhh, let hector LIIIIIVE. With Isaac bleeding out and being eviscerated on Adrian's sword, the zombies he puppets begin to go slack again. It shouldn't matter who strikes the killing blow to Isaac, but Hector's feet propel him forward without conscious thoughts.]
Isaac, die!
[He doesn't do it in Rosaly's name. She would hate for any blood to be shed on her account, deserving though it is. He brings his hammer down hard on Isaac's head for his sake and no one else's.
It's messy, and there's no honor in it. There's no sudden weigh lifted from his shoulders, no ease from the pain in his chest. It just...it just is.]
Damn it! [His bloody hammer slips from his hands, and Hector collapses beside Isaac's crumpled body, shaking with adrenaline and frustration. This was supposed to help, supposed to make this gnawing emptiness subside. He balls a fist and punches the ground. The pain of the impact doesn't even register.
Behind him, the zombies drop, no longer being held up by Isaac's necromancy. Hector's creatures, less loyal than his kept pets, slink into shadow without their creator enticing them to stay.
He should...he should stand, check on Adrian and the terrifying Speaker. He should surrender himself to whatever judgment the Speaker and the Belmont will pass upon him. He blinks away tears. It's over. Everything is over. There's nothing left for him to do now, except live with the emptiness.]
DO NOT BE alucard's 200% fine with not having to do another murder
[Alucard doesn't have any words for Isaac as he withdraws the sword again. It'd be a mercy to end it here and now but--
--Hector.
No part of Alucard is surprised by the sudden burst of energy. Anger. Whatever it is. The ancient Greeks called it catharsis and that is very well earned. The most Alucard does is step back and look away, because the use of a hammer is likely to be gross and he has no desire to see the aftermath.
Hector can have his catharsis. Alucard goes to Sypha's side instead, far more concerned with her well being than his own. The forged wildlife don't have their attention as they conference quietly. There's a wave that puts out the fire on the boat (it's salvageable, they can get off the island), and then there's Sypha fussing at the dhampir's now healed shoulder.
Satisfied, the two let awkward silence settle instead. They're surrounded by corpses yet again, which shouldn't be their definition of normal, and yet.]
[Hector's breath comes in ragged sobs, and he's maybe crying and he wishes the earth would just open beneath him and swallow him up. It doesn't. He's still got a mountain of corpses and two vampire hunters to deal with.
The worst of the tremors pass and his heartbeat eventually slows to its normal beat. He drags his sleeve across his eyes, smearing blood and dirt across his face as he dries them, and stands. He leaves the hammer where it fell.]
I... [His throat feels like he's been screaming.] ...I have a boat, if that one isn't seaworthy. It's small, but it'll get you to one of the islands with people. You can book passage on a fishing boat from there.
[Focus on the mundane to ward off the looming existential crisis. This is fine. Hector can do this.]
There's a well near the cottage, if you need water. I have...something to eat, probably. Do you eat? I'll send you what I have. [He offers, not waiting for the response. His mind is already jumping to the next item on the checklist, eerily calm. Body clean-up. That's nothing new. He'll see to it when the others have left.]
[Alucard and Sypha's focus has been pointedly away from Hector. The ship can manage the seas, based on their inspection of the vessel, but the issue of food is another matter all together. (Water is never a problem with Sypha.) It's not ideal, especially with Alucard having little practical nautical knowledge. Sypha's people do, and it has been passed down, but there is still a gulf between that knowledge and true experience.
They exchange wary looks when Hector approaches. The underlying question of what are we supposed to do with Hector? has gone undiscussed in their little trio, in part because it was unclear how this confrontation was going to play out. There was a good chance of the man walking away but...
Sypha's always been the one with emotional intelligence. She's the one that takes the lead.]
I think that we can all use something in our stomachs. But perhaps--
[Alucard nods in agreement.]
For safety's sake, we need to destroy the body before we let it out of sight.
Right. That’s fair. [Emotionally, Hector is stripped bare, like the surviving trees in the wake of a hurricane whose leaves have been violently wrenched away. There’s nothing left to feel when he looks at Isaac’s body.]
It’s going to take a while to build a pyre large enough to incinerate the corpse.
[Bodies don’t burn easily. It takes effort to make it happen. Don’t think about that, his mind cautions through the numbness.
He turns to Sypha.]
Unless you can... [He wiggles his fingers to convey, ‘use your awesome and terrible fire magic to speed the process along’. Otherwise, they’ll likely not be able to set sail for another day, if they’re truly committed to seeing Isaac destroyed beyond recall.]
[Alucard and Sypha exchange a wordless glance at the wiggle of Hector's fingers. They understand, yes, but there's also a slight laugh that comes out of them both simply because the tension has to break somehow and...here it is.
The solemnity of the moment returns though, and Alucard follows after Sypha in order to make sure that all is said and done as properly as possible. There's precious little respect to give for a man like this, but Alucard's careful to roll Isaac's remains onto his back, and make sure that there's a little neatness before all is turned to ash.
He stands back after that though, at Sypha's side which is considerably away and downwind. There is no warning when the flames come either - only scorching heat. Alucard's eyes remain on the body, and even with Sypha's abilities, it takes a few awful minutes for all to be rendered to naught but dust. The smell is as disgusting as burnt human flesh always is, and that's all there is left. Ash.
Just as Dracula before him.
Tension goes out of Sypha all at once. Alucard takes her arm in his, the mindnfulness he's had about even mentioning relationships around Hector gone for a few moments. Alucard only lets out a long, tired breath.]
[Adrian and Sypha's stressed laughter doesn't touch him. Hector watches the cremation, feeling oddly removed from the situation now. He will not think about how Rosaly had been alive for this. He won't think about how Isaac is spared the agony she felt.
He's always been much stronger in biology than physics, but he concentrates in the mental conversions of heat and force as Sypha burns the other Forgemaster. He knows how long it should take, the relative temperature needed, if not the exact degrees. It confirms his suspicion that everyone in the night world has the threat level absolutely wrong. They fear the Belmont, when they should be running in terror from the tiny Speaker.
Well, if she decides to turn her power on him, he's got nothing to lose now.
He doesn't answer Adrian, but starts walking in the direction of his cottage, giving them a quick jerk of his head to bid them to follow.
The cottage suffers from several years of neglect, but it's a roof and four walls that are still mostly keeping the elements out, so it'll do. The last visitor this place has seen was Dracula. It had been a humble but decently maintained home and workshop back then. Now, he's pretty sure a family of squirrels have taken over the small bedroom off of the main room, and he's had not the energy nor the inclination to chase them off.
He's got a bedroll in one corner of the main room, and Adrian's travel satchel still partially full with the rations he bought on the last leg of his journey. He only had two chairs- the hazards of being a hermit- so he drags in a log from his woodpile to use as a stool.]
I suppose there's no point in saying 'make yourselves at home'...
[The two follow quietly, saying nothing at all. What comes next is a terribly long road home, and neither of them are excited for that journey. It's the curse of the viewing mirror in so many ways - it allows for rapid passage to point A, but good luck traveling from there.
Walking into the cottage, neither of them is particularly disturbed by the state of it. Sypha's fingers brush over the doorframe. It's a tiny gesture, but one that seems to be reaching out to the shelter itself in a form of greeting.
Alucard stands only just inside the door. They're years on. His father's presence has long since faded from this place, but it is still important. Coming here was one of the last acts of traveling hat he did in his life before plunging Wallachia into darkness. It is only appropriate to take a moment to acknowledge it.
It's Sypha who replies to Hector's statement about making themselves at home, it's a Thank you, before she goes about examining what is even available in terms of glasses or some kind of bucket and a ladle for drinking water.
[A bucket shouldn't be too hard for Sypha to find. Hector's fetched water since his arrival, and everything is just sort of out, no longer having a place to be properly stowed away.
Hector looks at Adrian.] You can come in [he murmurs. He doesn't think Alucard really needs an invitation, but sometimes it's the strangest old wives' tales that turn out to be true. Better safe than sorry.
He shrugs.]
Back to fetch Cesar and his brothers, then...I don't know. There's nothing to keep me here or there. Maybe I'll go across the ocean, see if things are any different there.
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His new creations are amphibious, and Hector does his best to keep them concealed in streams and rivers as he makes his way to Braila. Alucard's coin sees him passage on a small vessel. Hector isn't sure if he actually senses eyes on him as they sail or if it's all in his imagination. Adrian is definitely watching, and Isaac is probably keeping tabs on him as well, in his own way.
The island outside of Rhodes is largely unchanged from when Hector left it. The rumor of a necromancer living there, coupled with the occasional sighting of dead animals walking in the wilds there, has kept the locals from coming here. It's just how Hector prefers it.
He secrets away his innocent devils, returns to his abandoned cabin, and waits for Isaac to take the bait.
And somehow, their carefully drawn-out plan goes to hell. Hector and his friends had gone out to the island's only dock to meet Isaac's boat upon arrival. Isaac, as expected, had brought with him several hulking, flying monstrosities. More unexpectedly, he had also come with a small army of zombies, marching up from the water unphased by their journey.
The innocent devils perform admirably, taking down two of the night creatures and countless zombies, but Hector hadn't accounted for the sheer rage at seeing Isaac's face again. The forged creatures depend on him for instruction, and he can't think of anything but killing Isaac. Isaac's army flanks them and hurl themselves onto Hector, pinning him down.
So, traitor, you've reawakened your powers? [Isaac croons, stepping finally off of his ship.] Good. You will atone for your sins.
[He approaches a thrashing Hector with a length of rope and begins to coil it around him. The cord sizzles with enchantment.]
If you're going to kill me, just do it! [Hector cries, impotent and furious and just wanting it to be over.
Isaac clucks his tongue.] Hector, Hector, what did you think to do with those ashes you stole? A spirit of such power as Lord Dracula cannot be resurrected with pieces cobbled together like some common wight.
[He seizes Hector's chin and forces him to meet Isaac's gaze. Dracula's loyal general smiles.] Oh Hector, where else could I find a vessel such as yours, so in tune with the darkness, yet still purely human? It is fitting. Your betrayal cost our lord his life. Your sacrifice shall restore him.
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Alucard varies the times he checks in on Hector, but it is almost always between three to four times a day, and never for longer than five minutes. It is satisfying enough to know the man is alive, is working, and doesn't seem to be contemplating the wisdom of stabbing Alucard in the back. (It's something Trevor is planning for. And intending to respond to at full force should it happen.) For Alucard, that's more than enough.
Summer slips by. There's so much damned ocean travel that Alucard almost feels seasick by proxy at a few points, but nothing comes of it. Sometimes he moves the viewing mirror beyond Hector to the boat and what's around it, intending to check for signs of being followed but almost always feeling calmed by the sight of the gently rocking sea.
Rhodes goes by. Alucard increases his attention to the viewing mirror when that happens, although he is not present at the outset of Isaac's grand entrance. He catches only the end part, where the word vessel gets used.
What sounds next in the castle is something that can only be described as pure dad. It catches the attention of the other two inhabitants, who know that even if it isn't go time on their weird and possibly a bad life choice of an alliance, something bad has happened to the dhampir.
There's quick utterances of what to do in the next few minutes once Trevor and Sypha are present and Alucard's managed to explain what's been said. The rest of the plan they know. He and Sypha go in through the viewing mirror, Trevor watches and goes through only if need be. Returning from someplace that far away will be a nightmare and someone has to watch the castle and the Hold.
(Alucard still mutters all the right spells for protecting the place before he leaves though. At this point, they'll probably need all hands on deck.)
He and Sypha barrel out of the viewing mirror, ice shards firing at Isaac and Alucard's sword extended for the same target. It isn't the time for snappy lines or words at all. Action is the only thing that matters, putting an end to the concept of dragging Dracula back from a death he truly needed at the end.]
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No, I won't let you! Damn you, Isaac! [He fights against his bindings to try to reach the knife at his belt. If Isaac needs him whole for whatever dark ritual he intends, then Hector will rob him of his prize and go laughing into hell.
Isaac takes a step forward, balling a fist to strike him.] Our lord can deal with a few broken ribs. [He punches Hector in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him.
Alucard and his Speaker might as well be angels, so fortuitous is their timing. Hector struggles to gasp in a breath to shout to them.]
Destroy the boat! [Isaac needs to be killed, but with his winged beasts and undead zombies beneath the waves, Hector can't risk being taken to the boat and spirited away to be used as a host body for Dracula.
His fingers brush against the hilt of his knife and he begins to work it free of the sheath, the motion agonizingly slow.]
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Unsurprisingly, that gets the attention of the winged creatures that were already drawn to Alucard and Sypha's arrival. One swoops down, horrid talons extended and aimed for Sypha's shoulders. Alucard wordlessly sends his sword in the thing's direction, and it pierces through the wings before he recalls it back to himself.
There is the ever so satisfying sound of it crashing onto the ground, and Alucard runs to dispatch it. A second blast of fire goes right over his head, catching the boat this time.]
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Hector, for his part, kicks at the zombies, managing to dislodge several limbs from their shambling bodies. They are restraining, not attacking. With an effort of will, he calls his aquatic creations to come and begin to tear at the corpses.
Isaac's eyes flick between Sypha and Alucard, and in the moment Alucard moves toward the downed Gaibon, he dashes forward and leaps, both daggers drawn.]
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There's a grunt as Alucard moves his whole body just in time to avoid the worst of Isaac's daggers. They still scrape through the fabric of his coat, but that's all the damage they do. The dhampir's feet instead trample over the Gaibon with precious little grace, and the noise it makes is just as unearthly as Alucard remembers the night creatures from before.
But no, this is good. Isaac can have his attention focused on Alucard. Sypha can take care of the physical destruction. Hector need only endure through the worst of it and make sure that the aquatic creations are able to do what they must.
Trevor's still watching and available, if it all goes to shit.
Alucard doesn't waste time in lunging at Isaac. If he's understood the man correctly, taunts would be better.]
How foolish are you to believe that disturbing my father's well earned peace is a wise idea?
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What right have you to call him 'father'?
[His eyes flash red, and the Gaibon's corpse bursts into flames. Isaac lunges forward for another attack.]
You put a stake in his heart. He needs no son like you!
[It seems Alucard isn't the only one ready with taunts.
With Isaac out of his direct line of sight, Hector's boiling anger cools to the familiar simmer. He can work with that. Finally clear-headed, he gives his creatures their orders. Where before the struck clumsily at the walking corpses, they now take quick, precise slices at the necks and hearts, taking back the cursed life Isaac had infused in them. The ranks thin.]
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Its that thing of ice that parries Isaac's attack, then abuses his dhampir abilities to seemingly disappear, then be at Isaac's side to slam into him but hard. It'll have a path perpendicular in landing to the burning corpse, but that's for the better. The less burning flesh the better.]
As surely as you could have helped him through his grief, but instead took advantage of a man to advance your own dislike of humanity. What a good friend you were, using him like that.
[That's a taunt but also one of the thoughts Alucard has spent many nights ruminating on. Hector's already heard it, but this version will doubtlessly garner a different reaction. One that ought to encourage some sloppy stabbing.
Sypha's left Alucard entirely. It's nothing for her swift feet to carry her through the rising threats of Isaac's forged creatures, because her own magical abilities have grown in strength over the years. There is a final blast of flames aimed at the boat, and that fire finally takes.]
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I stood by his side.... I never betrayed him....
[He strikes between statements.]
Everyone else turned their backs on him...is it any wonder he wanted to end everything, with friends like that [He doesn't even bother looking in Hector's direction] and a son like you?
[With that, Isaac goes in close, a reckless attack to try to bury a blade into Alucard's heart. The remaining forged creatures abandon Sypha and converge into the dhampir, and the zombies begin to claw at Hector with killing intent. Still bound with the enchanted rope, he curls himself into a ball to ward off the blows while his friends tear at the attackers. Hector sends a call out to the fairy construct, who whizzes in and begins to tug at the rope to free him.]
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The pain is precious little in Alucard's mind. An easy thing to shrug off, but the lunge towards his heart requires a very quick manuver indeed. He blocks it only because of his own superhuman speed, and the clang of metal against metal is satisfying. But more than that, Alucard presses the advantage, putting his weight forward against the much smaller blade to force Isaac back entirely. Back and over the corpse of his own creature, which some god willing, might cause a mistep.
Alucard picks his head up as he realizes that they are being converged upon. Sypha's made it up to the now on fire boat, but getting through to Hector is going to be it's own challenge. He won't yell to her and grab her attention, lest it bring harm, but he doesn't like it.
Sypha, quite frankly, could care less. The zombies, at least the ones in the back and furthest from Hector, are the easiest to deal with. That ice wall trick she invented on the fly back at the castle comes into play again, cleaving a row of them at the back cleanly in two. To Hector, she calls out only one word:]
Duck!
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Hector renews his struggles, but at Sypha’s barked order, he drops. He’s always been inclined to take orders from people who sound more sure of themselves than he is. He’s frankly surprised the Speaker bothered. Hector and Alucard have an understanding, but to her, he doubts he is anything other than ‘the less dangerous necromancer”.
His constructs are within blasting range, but he orders them to keep attacking. Moving them to safety might disrupt the attack or lure the zombies out of the Speaker’s range. His creatures can’t ‘die’ so long as he lives, although the energy their destruction will drain from him is going to hurt. He curls his body around the fairy, shielding her as she unties him, and braces himself.]
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You can look up!
[If there is to be a second wave of the zombies, Sypha's prepared and not moving from her current spot.
As for Alucard, he's gone ferral in the most literal way possible. A wolf is what Isaac kicks, and a wolf is what lands a little sloppily a few feet back. Which is more than fine, because the sword is abandoned for barred teeth that lung at Isaac yet again. He'll have to bend down to get a good attack, and if that happens, well, there are options available to Alucard to respond in kind.]
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He forces himself to stand, and he surveys the damage, blinking. Holy shit. Forget the Belmont. The Speaker girl is terrifying.
The zombies are summarily handled, so now all attention can turn to Isaac and the wolf. Isaac is a master of necromancy, but he’s still a human, and his stamina has limits. He has to end this quickly or the dhampir will wear him down.
Isaac spreads the fingers of his empty hand and sends glowing red power into the headless bodies of his zombies. They rise like slack puppets on strings, no longer able to move except by Isaac’s express order. He waves them toward Sypha.
He kicks out at the wolf again, a plot to sacrifice his leg to occupy the wolf’s teeth so he can drive his dagger into its neck.]
Isaac!
[Hector, finally unraveled from the bindings, calls out as he staggers forward, hoping to distract his rival long enough for Adrian to finish it.]
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But now is not that time. Sypha instead rushes over to Hector, mostly to assess his state. There's precious little in even distracting Isaac unless there's a real plan that can be had. But no. That's too late, and the zombies are moving again. There is an unsatisfied ugh! from Sypha about the particulars, and she resolves to disect them further.
The wolf does, indeed, sink it's teeth into Isaac's leg. It aims high, aware of the inner thigh being home to a major artery and intending to take full advantage of that fact. Isaac probably didn't intend that, and oh it's a greater risk, but the surprise of the angle might be to Alucard's benefit.
There's a cracking of bone under teeth. Pressure applied, and then a yank to rend flesh away from flesh.]
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He's scratched up, but it's nothing that needs attention at the moment. Looking around, he spots his hammer and dives for it. Blue light flashes. He can't control what Isaac already has under his thrall...but the zombies aren't the only undead on the island. The animals Hector experimented on are not beholden to his will, but they still might remember him and come when he calls them.
Isaac grunts as the wolf teeth maul him, but he still slams down the knife blade. The aim is disrupted by the shooting pain, but it still finds purchase, if lower than intended. With a wound like the one on this thigh, Isaac isn't walking away from this. His goal now it to cause as much damage as he can before the end. He gives the knife a twist as he stumbles.
From the treeline, creatures with glowing blue eyes appear. Rats, hawks, wild cats, a large fox. They rush in and launch themselves at the zombies, scratching and biting.]
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Three cheers for dhampir healing, because Alucard is quick to go back to Isaac, sword extended. It is a full lunge, aimed at the stomach. He already has an unstable leg. A gut wound works to end most of the madness.
Sypha's focus remains on the zombies, but it's crucial now to figure out the ones not being mauled by reanimated woodland creatures
hector what are you snow white. The end result is a path for Hector to follow, should dealing with the last of Isaac be the real goal.]hector's a dirty rotten kill-stealer and i'm so sorry
Shhhh, let hector LIIIIIVE. With Isaac bleeding out and being eviscerated on Adrian's sword, the zombies he puppets begin to go slack again. It shouldn't matter who strikes the killing blow to Isaac, but Hector's feet propel him forward without conscious thoughts.]Isaac, die!
[He doesn't do it in Rosaly's name. She would hate for any blood to be shed on her account, deserving though it is. He brings his hammer down hard on Isaac's head for his sake and no one else's.
It's messy, and there's no honor in it. There's no sudden weigh lifted from his shoulders, no ease from the pain in his chest. It just...it just is.]
Damn it! [His bloody hammer slips from his hands, and Hector collapses beside Isaac's crumpled body, shaking with adrenaline and frustration. This was supposed to help, supposed to make this gnawing emptiness subside. He balls a fist and punches the ground. The pain of the impact doesn't even register.
Behind him, the zombies drop, no longer being held up by Isaac's necromancy. Hector's creatures, less loyal than his kept pets, slink into shadow without their creator enticing them to stay.
He should...he should stand, check on Adrian and the terrifying Speaker. He should surrender himself to whatever judgment the Speaker and the Belmont will pass upon him. He blinks away tears. It's over. Everything is over. There's nothing left for him to do now, except live with the emptiness.]
DO NOT BE alucard's 200% fine with not having to do another murder
--Hector.
No part of Alucard is surprised by the sudden burst of energy. Anger. Whatever it is. The ancient Greeks called it catharsis and that is very well earned. The most Alucard does is step back and look away, because the use of a hammer is likely to be gross and he has no desire to see the aftermath.
Hector can have his catharsis. Alucard goes to Sypha's side instead, far more concerned with her well being than his own. The forged wildlife don't have their attention as they conference quietly. There's a wave that puts out the fire on the boat (it's salvageable, they can get off the island), and then there's Sypha fussing at the dhampir's now healed shoulder.
Satisfied, the two let awkward silence settle instead. They're surrounded by corpses yet again, which shouldn't be their definition of normal, and yet.]
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The worst of the tremors pass and his heartbeat eventually slows to its normal beat. He drags his sleeve across his eyes, smearing blood and dirt across his face as he dries them, and stands. He leaves the hammer where it fell.]
I... [His throat feels like he's been screaming.] ...I have a boat, if that one isn't seaworthy. It's small, but it'll get you to one of the islands with people. You can book passage on a fishing boat from there.
[Focus on the mundane to ward off the looming existential crisis. This is fine. Hector can do this.]
There's a well near the cottage, if you need water. I have...something to eat, probably. Do you eat? I'll send you what I have. [He offers, not waiting for the response. His mind is already jumping to the next item on the checklist, eerily calm. Body clean-up. That's nothing new. He'll see to it when the others have left.]
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They exchange wary looks when Hector approaches. The underlying question of what are we supposed to do with Hector? has gone undiscussed in their little trio, in part because it was unclear how this confrontation was going to play out. There was a good chance of the man walking away but...
Sypha's always been the one with emotional intelligence. She's the one that takes the lead.]
I think that we can all use something in our stomachs. But perhaps--
[Alucard nods in agreement.]
For safety's sake, we need to destroy the body before we let it out of sight.
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It’s going to take a while to build a pyre large enough to incinerate the corpse.
[Bodies don’t burn easily. It takes effort to make it happen. Don’t think about that, his mind cautions through the numbness.
He turns to Sypha.]
Unless you can... [He wiggles his fingers to convey, ‘use your awesome and terrible fire magic to speed the process along’. Otherwise, they’ll likely not be able to set sail for another day, if they’re truly committed to seeing Isaac destroyed beyond recall.]
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The solemnity of the moment returns though, and Alucard follows after Sypha in order to make sure that all is said and done as properly as possible. There's precious little respect to give for a man like this, but Alucard's careful to roll Isaac's remains onto his back, and make sure that there's a little neatness before all is turned to ash.
He stands back after that though, at Sypha's side which is considerably away and downwind. There is no warning when the flames come either - only scorching heat. Alucard's eyes remain on the body, and even with Sypha's abilities, it takes a few awful minutes for all to be rendered to naught but dust. The smell is as disgusting as burnt human flesh always is, and that's all there is left. Ash.
Just as Dracula before him.
Tension goes out of Sypha all at once. Alucard takes her arm in his, the mindnfulness he's had about even mentioning relationships around Hector gone for a few moments. Alucard only lets out a long, tired breath.]
Your home is which way, Hector?
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He's always been much stronger in biology than physics, but he concentrates in the mental conversions of heat and force as Sypha burns the other Forgemaster. He knows how long it should take, the relative temperature needed, if not the exact degrees. It confirms his suspicion that everyone in the night world has the threat level absolutely wrong. They fear the Belmont, when they should be running in terror from the tiny Speaker.
Well, if she decides to turn her power on him, he's got nothing to lose now.
He doesn't answer Adrian, but starts walking in the direction of his cottage, giving them a quick jerk of his head to bid them to follow.
The cottage suffers from several years of neglect, but it's a roof and four walls that are still mostly keeping the elements out, so it'll do. The last visitor this place has seen was Dracula. It had been a humble but decently maintained home and workshop back then. Now, he's pretty sure a family of squirrels have taken over the small bedroom off of the main room, and he's had not the energy nor the inclination to chase them off.
He's got a bedroll in one corner of the main room, and Adrian's travel satchel still partially full with the rations he bought on the last leg of his journey. He only had two chairs- the hazards of being a hermit- so he drags in a log from his woodpile to use as a stool.]
I suppose there's no point in saying 'make yourselves at home'...
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Walking into the cottage, neither of them is particularly disturbed by the state of it. Sypha's fingers brush over the doorframe. It's a tiny gesture, but one that seems to be reaching out to the shelter itself in a form of greeting.
Alucard stands only just inside the door. They're years on. His father's presence has long since faded from this place, but it is still important. Coming here was one of the last acts of traveling hat he did in his life before plunging Wallachia into darkness. It is only appropriate to take a moment to acknowledge it.
It's Sypha who replies to Hector's statement about making themselves at home, it's a Thank you, before she goes about examining what is even available in terms of glasses or some kind of bucket and a ladle for drinking water.
Alucard is still in the doorway.]
Where shall you got next, Hector?
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Hector looks at Adrian.] You can come in [he murmurs. He doesn't think Alucard really needs an invitation, but sometimes it's the strangest old wives' tales that turn out to be true. Better safe than sorry.
He shrugs.]
Back to fetch Cesar and his brothers, then...I don't know. There's nothing to keep me here or there. Maybe I'll go across the ocean, see if things are any different there.
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