Alucard, Skylar, Tara, Tanya, Dracule, and Elizabeth led the residents of Denesti through the woods, heading for the castle Alucard and the others had been living in for the last few months. Skylar and her closest friends kept a close eye on Saing Germain for most of the trip. Skylar stayed close to Alucard, like a protector. The day creatures gathered around the children, the elderly, and the sick who couldn't fight.
"Skylar!" a voice came from above as a person came flying down to the group as they walked.
"Sarah," Skylar called up as she kept walking. "Walk with us and talk, we need to keep moving."
"The vampires and night creatures," the vampire Skylar called Sarah said as she landed beside Skylar and walked with the group. "They are looking to resurrect Dracula. Best guess, they are looking for the very spot on the floor where he died."
"Alucard's childhood room," Skylar said quietly, her eyes locked onto Saint Germain a distance away. "Sarah, stick close and keep an eye on him."
"Gladly, he and I still have business to get through," Sarah said. "I still want to bite his throat out."
"Fair," Skylar said. Sarah fazed in the air to the other side of the group. Skylar could hear Sara growl at Saint Germain. Skylar let out a sigh, running her hand through her hair.
"What is it?" Alucard asked.
"Huh?" Skylar looked up at him.
"You were upset with Saint Germain," Alucard pointed out. "What exactly happened?"
"It's a long story," Skylar said.
"We have time," Alucard said.
"Fine, don't blame me when you get mad," Skylar said. "To put it lightly, we put faith in him. Because of that, he got past us and dragged us into trouble with my former clan. He was going to use me to open a place called the Infinite Corridor. The only way to control it is with mass kill count. Sadly, I have one of the highest if there was a set record."
"Well, that is something I wasn't expecting," Alucard said.
"Hehe," Skylar rubbed the back of her neck, laughing awkwardly. "Yeah, I don't know what to say when I have to explain this, so I just be blunt like that."
"I can see why," Alucard said, his arm slipping around Skylar's waist. Skylar smiled and leaned into his contact. Alucard walked with her, holding her against his side. Skylar was smiling, her eyes closed, completely trusting Alucard.
"Alucard," Greta began to ask. "What are our chances of making it to your castle before fresh orders are given and we're spotted by those night creatures?"
"Oh, somewhere between slim and none, I would imagine," Saing Germain said. Then Tanya and Sarah both hissed at him.
"When I want to hear from you, I'll throw a coin in your begging bowl," Greta said, sending Saint Germain a glare over her shoulder. "All this and a magical tramp."
"'Magical?'" Alucard quoted her. Skylar opened her eyes and side-eyed Greta.
"I've lived out here my whole life," Greta explained. "We live next to the spirits of the wood and the stream, the things that come with the storm and the smell of magic. You two smell of it. Your sister and the others, too. He reeks of it. Worse than that forge master friend of yours."
"Hm," Alucard hummed, his grip on Skylar tightened, as if he were trying to ground her. "What does it smell like to you?"
"On you, your sister, and your vampire friends here, it's sweet like spices," Greta told Alucard. "On Skylar, it's pure, like perfume or flora. That forge master, it's a bitter smell, but not bad. And on him, it's rotten."
"Yes, it's— it's rendered me quite deaf." Saint Germain said. Alucard chuckled, his hand rubbed Skylar's hip. "I am but a scholar, madam. Then scents you detect are entirely down to Alucard having recently used soap."
"Oy!" Skylar went to strike Saing Germain, and Alucard picked her up at the hips and held her against his chest. Saint Germain almost ran to hide from Skylar. "Alucard, put me down."
"I can't do that, beloved," Alucard said, holding Skylar in the same way while walking. "You can't go murdering someone when we are trying to help them."
"Not him, he isn't worth the effort," Skylar said, not fighting to get down. Dracule let out a short laugh. She was almost willing to give Skylar a chance if only her laugh had been heard. But her expression made it clear she wasn't trusting Skylar yet, again.
"Dracule," Alucard sighed. "Be kind to my partner. Please."