(Julia & raven) Duet for Darkness

[Ravenwoodwitch]

He pulled back from her, and Sarah felt herself grow disappointed. Something in her skin had grown accustomed to feel that broad palm on her shoulder, and she felt something inside her sulk when it was removed. She was, however, a lady, and refused to act like some simpering girl. She kept her composer about her, giving only a soft smile.

The sudden shift in his mood made her tense up, putting her hands in front of her face. Did McFarllen finally catch her sneaking off on his property? Had something vicious followed Alucard back home? It turned out to just be a small boy, one that she had seen around the farmlands a few time.

"Oh Lucas, you scared me." Sarah sighed, stepping forward. "Shouldn't you be off on your chores?"

~~~~~~~~~~~

Richter felt his grip tighten on Vampire Killer's hilt.

Maria caught the fire in Richter's eye, and quickly put a hand on his arm. They needed to work together of they were going to do this, and starting a family war here was not in their best interests. Richter turned to eye Maria, a question and accusation blazing, before he calmed down, his muscles visibly relaxing. She was right, as per usual.

"Ricther, why don't you rest for awhile." Maria suggested, "You didn't sleep well. Bella and I can go get supplies."

That said, Maria released the now brooding vampire hunter, and gently ushered Bella out the door.

"You are a formidable fighter, " Maria noted, "But I beg you be careful in judging Richter. That whip is more than an enchanted weapon to the Belmont Clan."

[julia]

"Oh Sarah, Papa said that I can come down here to play in the barn so long as I don't get caught by poopy face," Lucas laughed then ran and jumped onto the ladder. "This place is so fun to play pirates and adventurers in!" the boy giggled then jumped down from the ladder.

Alucard gave a bit of a grin and then gave a bit of a wink to Sarah. Stepping towards the boy, Alucard bent down and the boy gave a proud smile.

"You know... I'm kind of an adventurer," Alucard told him then watched Lucas's eyes get big and wide with wonder. Alucard stood once more and looked at Sarah. "Adventurers are always kind to women." he said then bowed to Sarah and brought her hand to his lips.

"Whoa! And what else do adventurers do?" Lucas asked, watching Alucard with great curiosity. He smiled then looked to Sarah.

"May I show him?" he asked, looking at her with a bit of a smirk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bella nodded then sighed a bit.

"I simply want Richter to have a more realistic view on the path that his heritage chose for him. It is an eternal battle, which cannot be ended by a blessed bloodline nor a whip, no matter what that whip may contain within. There is good in his heart, but I've heard the stories of how he was controlled by Shaft. Although I don't want to believe that it still influences him, I don't want to rule it out. Like I told him, evil cannot be killed, only embodied and purged from place to place," Bella explained and sighed. She then started towards the merchant.

"Come, follow me. I have connections to how we can get a lot of supplies for very little money. We will need plenty, and if we are lucky, perhaps there is a merchant there within the dungeon. And it doesn't matter if they are demon, vampire, or muse. Any man will sell what he has to a paying customer." she explained then opened the door to a small store.

[Ravenwoodwitch]

Sarah giggled at the small boy, clasping her hands together in front of her pinafore. "Your father has the right idea Lucas, but I dare you you are a far-cry smarter than he gives you credit for."

Indeed the boy was a cleaver lad, as she had seeen plenty of times. He was highly creative individual, with much more energy than she would ever have ever had at his age. She watched him climb too and fro, and clasped her hands together on her chest. Hopefully he wouldn't hurt himself..

It was Alucard who surprised her now, in more ways than one. He seemed to either take to Louis quite quickly, or be eager to impress him...or maybe her. She felt her breath catch when he took her hand again, a strange electrifying sensation in her system. Despite his heritage, those lips were warm on her skin, sending minature explosion up her arm. It was when he asked his next question that she fet the blood rush to her cheeks, turning them a very bright shade of red, almost matching her hair.

"Oh...I'm...sure I don't know what you mean..." she whispered, putting a hand to her face. "I...don't entertain adventurers that much.."

~~~~~~~~

Maria bit her lip again. "This feud runs deeper than you think my lady, but it isn't my place to explain why."

Richter was fresh from Shaft's control, and had been for awhile. But, once again, this was a battle for the Belmont ton defend himself. So, the lady of the wood sprits simple followed behind the rapacious huntress, and nodded her head every so often.

"Not much a problem," Maria grinned. "He isn't Lord Belmont for just a title."

~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, back at the inn, Richter was still attempting to blow off some form of steam. He'd already gotten himself ready ages ago, and was now just taken to throwing his daggers at the wall, trying to get his aim correct. Something in him had been highly angered by her comments, like she had stabbed something in his pride...or maybe in his 'companion' of sorts.

He sighed, looking almost sadly at the leather weapon now laying on the bed. Grandfather had been so protective of that weapon, he'd barely let Richter touch it as a kid. It felt almost personal to have it treated as so...bland.

"Sarah...Sarah the Martyr...Sarah the angel..." He always said, looking over the leather bound, alchemical weapon.

[julia]

"Oh, but you do," he told her and stepped towards her, placing a hand on her hip. "Lucas, adventurers always find a way to have a bit of rest and relaxation with a beautiful woman. But, if you're a true adventurer, you have only one woman whom you are always willing to go out your way for," Alucard explained and stepped closer to Sarah, clearing his throat.

"And you must know how to dance. All true adventurers can dance," he said then took a step to the left. He looked over at a disappointed Lucas. The boy seemed to be bored and had been expecting something a bit more that what Alucard was saying.

"You're not an adventurer! Adventurers are heroes! Like the Belmonts and Venators!" he said, crossing his arms. Alucard raised an eyebrow and looked into Sarah's eyes, turning his neck without changing his expression. It was only mechanical. Alucard then let an amused smile curl on his lips.

"I am friends with the Belmonts, and did you know that I helped them stop the greatest evil on the earth?" he asked, then spun Sarah around and brought her back close to him. Lucas seemed shocked and stunned.
~~~~~~~~
Bella smiled as a set of twins, a red headed guy and red headed female walked into the room. Bella stopped and whispered to Maria, as warning. "These two are always at one another's throats and they finish each other's sentences. They are a little confusing," she warned then brought her fingers to her forehead in a scout's salute.

"Mornin' Phil and Phoebe," she told them, looking that them and smiling at their synced but opposite movements. Phil used his left hand, Phoebe used her right.

"Mornin' Bella,"
"How are"
"Ya?"

Bella turned to Maria, raised her eyebrows, then laughed a bit and pulled a bag of gold coins from her pocket.

[Ravenwoodwitch]

This wasn't what the good lady was expecting, but took it in stride all the same. He was as elegant as he looked, hair rippling behind him like liquid silver as he danced. He was the soul of a gentlemen, being as gentle with her as possible, yet somehow managed to sweep her off her feet all the same. She was feeling practically mesmerized by him now, and couldn't take her pale pink eyes off him. His eyes...gold and warm...how could someone have such eyes?

"It's been so long since I have tarried in dance..." she said softly. "You flatter me, really. I am naught but a peasent girl from the village. The last time I danced was the harvest festival. Then I was just hopping Billy wouldn't step on my toes..."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Maria chuckled, crossing her arms over her chest. She had a pair of cousins very similar to this, who got into just as much trouble. She pushed some blond hair behind her ear, and waved to the two of them.

"Hello," she grinned sweetly at them, "what brings you here today?"

(sorry it's short ><)

[julia]

"Whatever Alucard. You probably haven't even seen the Belmonts. I'm going back home," Lucas said, walking out of the barn. However, Alucard did not release Sarah from the dance. He smiled softly at her and cleared his throat a bit.

"Well, rest assured I will not be stepping on your feet," Alucard said calmly and watched Sarah. "You are very elegant on your feet," he told her and continued to dance with her in time to the music that was not there. He took his breaths slow and calm, curious of her a bit. He looked into her eyes and licked his lips.

"Miss Sarah, if I may ask a question of you," he started. "How did you acquire such a unique iris color?"
~~~~~~~~
"We own the whole store. How can we help you?" the twins said and smiled at Maria. Phoebe walked behind the counter and Phil walked in front of it. Bella laughed and bit her finger.

"We need lots of supplies, and I figure you guys owe me for expelling the vampire bats from the store attic." She told them and the twins looked at each other and nodded.

[Ravenwoodwitch]

"Thank you," she said softly, locked in his gaze. She couldn't help herself but be utterly fascinated by the gold hues that danced around them. His whole frame was done in colors that reminded her of deep moonlight, and his vampiresque appearance melded with his human features near perfectly. How could such an ethereal creature take any interest in little old her?

But he did take an interest. He noticed her staring at him after all, and took notice of her most defining feature besides her hair. Just knowing he had been studying her so intently made her cheeks grow pink tinted.

"Tis not an easy answer, as it marks me something...unwanted, really.." she said sadly, lowering her head. "Thought I suppose I could be so open., since you have held nothing back from me."

She gently pulled back from the dance, a grin on her face. "But methinks you have been cooped up here long enough, Sir Alucard. Would you escort me for a short walk?"

~~~~~~~~

"Well, sounds like she owes you quite a bit." Maria said, crossing her arms. She put a hand to her lips, tapping them softly. "Let me think..."

Well, firstly, they needed something to heal wounds and such. Richter had a tendency to take most most of the damage, and she would have to play part of the bandage brigade. Perhaps some food too, as there was no telling how long this would take.

"Food and medical supplies," Maria said, dropping her arms. "And I'll take a spare backpack just in case; how much would that be?"

[julia]

"A leisurely stroll would be lovely, and escorting a woman such as yourself would be an honor," he told her, detecting that she was trying to pull from the question a bit. It wasn't surprising, given the answer that would lead to the answer. But whom on earth would make a woman like Sarah unwanted? The question pulled at his mind, and as he offered his arm to Sarah, regained his almost emotionless appearance.

"Shall we?" he asked and kept his other arm against his side. It was simply because he wasn't ready to believe that his father's dark reign was lifted from the earth.
~~~~~~~
"It won't be anything, because we are so in debt to Bella." They told Maria and started to gather the supplies needed. Isabella turned to Maria and raised an eyebrow.

"So, Maria, mind telling me a little bit more on the whole subject with you and Richter? Or just about Richter? He doesn't seem like the kind of guy to be a 'settle down and have little vampire slayers' type. And you were... just a girl when he went missing, correct?" Bella asked, crossing her arms and smirking.

[Ravenwoodwitch]

He seemed still so tense somehow, like he was afraid of losing control. Still, he was willing to walk about with her, and that made her smile happily. She laced her arm over his strong, muscular arm and helped lead him out. She peeked just around the barn, spotting that the farmer was nowhere to be seen. Grinning, she helped him out the door and started down the hills. As they left, she couldn't help but giggle to herself; they looked like two nobles leaving their home!

But she had a question to answer, one with not so nice of a response. She let out a sight, staring at the ground and fingering the silver crucifix.

"I have...this color because of a witch's curse..." she said slowly. "By my own aunt, to be specific. It was a curse laid on my mother that...slows the rest of us down in time. My eyes lack human features...because I became less human by her magic."

She bit her lip. "I still live and breath as normal...but I do not age like the others. I feel..semi-frozen in time."

~~~~~~~~~~

"I was, yes.." She grinned. "Richter had married my older sister Annette. But...she couldn't handle Richter's lifestyle. He does like to come back to his home every once and while, but he's always off."

She shrugged her small shoulders. "He can't sit still. He feels his family stands for good; so much so that standinga round when the night creatures plague citizens wasn't right."

[julia]

(Completely stumped here! Care to jump forward just a bit?)