[The little thin crack in his mother's facade really had just been a fraction of what was being witnessed. There's the familiar pang of anger again at the words their actions. And his father did't see that horrid cell, the chains, the rope, any of it. Alucard gets it. Why his mother won't say anything, why this part of his father's rage feels right. Because they're both understandable actions.]

She may not be ready to speak of it to herself yet.

[They're words said very softly. Not out of fear, but out of a quieter reflection. There's never been a higher emotional tension in the castle, but neither himself or his father get to make this about them either. That's pure selfishness.

And there's no surprise that his mother wants to return to work. It would be a far greater surprise if she didn't, because if there was one thing Alucard's mother did not do, it was stew or wallow in what happened. Moving ever forward, that was what brought her to the castle doorsteps twenty some years ago anyway.]

A different place then. Not a village. Perhaps not even Wallachia anymore. [Wait. Vampire politics.] If that's possible.