Three weeks of exploring the relationship between Alucard and Skylar have gone by, and things have become complicated due to Dracule. She still refused to accept Skylar dating Alucard. Skylar had begun preparing for more friends to arrive. She hadn't explained to Alucard who was coming yet. She had been busy talking to Tara and getting things set up with the day creatures building homes.
"Skylar," Elizabeth came and found her instead of being around Dracule like most of the time since Skylar met her.
"Elizabeth?" Skylar turned from her papers with lists of to-dos. "I thought you were with Dracule."
"I was, but I needed a word with you," Elizabeth told her.
"Alright, let's hear it then," Skylar said.
"Dracule thinks you want to use Alucard's soul," Elizabeth told her honestly. "I want to hear you say he isn't a target of yours."
"He isn't," Skylar snapped, her eyes darkening. "He is the partner I've always wanted, even before I knew what having one felt like, and I'll fight tooth and nail to keep him safe."
"..." Elizabeth was silent for a moment, just watching Skylar. Her expression was a mix of shock and sharp caution.
"Now, I have to prepare for some friends to come here," Skylar said and turned back to her papers. "So, unless you have more to say-"
"What are you hiding from, Alucard?" Elizabeth interrupted her. "We saw what you did to Sumi and Taka the night Alucard's room had bright beams of daylight spewing out. He hasn't mentioned it, and when Dracule asked about it, he didn't know what we were talking about, so you clearly used a spell to keep him from knowing. So why?"
Skylar's hands froze mid-motion while sorting her papers. Her back was still to Elizabeth. Skylar was stiff, just standing there. Skylar turned to Elizabeth, her bangs hiding her eyes.
"I didn't lie to him," Skylar said, her voice cold but controlled. "I told him the truth, but not in-depth detail. That isn't lying."
Elizabeth stayed there, staring at Skylar. Elizabeth knew in that moment she wasn't going to get far in trying to reason with Skylar. So she left Skylar there, leaving the building.
Another three weeks went by, and about forty or fifty beings came in from overhead at sunrise, their shadows trailed over every inch of the settlement and the castle. Tara was nearly jumping with joy when she saw the many beings flying overhead.
One in particular flew directly to her—a young woman, about twenty years old. Her skin was dark, seeming to absorb the sunlight's glow. The vampire's eyes were almost glowing pink with a slit in the center, like a cat's eyes. The woman wore her black hair in dreadlocks that ended in green bead fascinators at the ends—a scar on her right brow at a slanted angle. There was a burned brand on her cheek, one like what Tara had on her staff. She wore a fabric necklace that sat against her skin, a porcelain loop tied to the front with a green gem dangling from the bottom of the loop. She wore no shoes or gloves. The shirt and pants she wore were white and yellow.
"Tanya!" Tara smiled as she ran over to the vampire who flew in the sunlight.
"Tara!" The vampire she called Tanya reached her hands out and caught her in the air, spinning the two together. "Ugh! It felt too long apart!"
"I know," Tara laughed as Tanya floated down to solid ground.
"Did you miss me?" Tanya asked, kissing Tara's cheek. "Because I missed the hell out of you."
"I did miss you," Tara smiled. Skylar watched from a distance, smiling as she saw other vampires in sunlight smiling with their respective partners. Aside from Tanya, the other vampires had a charm on them. All with the same brand mark.
"The marks are still a little much," Skylar said aloud, mostly to herself. Then she felt a pair of arms snake around her waist. She turned her head and saw Alucard resting his chin on her shoulder.
"You know them?" Alucard asked.
"Yeah, they're old friends of mine," Skylar said, leaning into Alucard. Alucard buried his face in her neck.