"What did you call me for?" Alucard's voice was flat.
"Now you act oblivious?" Balthazar's eyes darkened. Silence settled between them until Alucard exhaled sharply.
"Father, if you would just.."
"You've let a month go by with no results! What have you been doing?"
"We were planning the war.."
"That is not an excuse. You weren't meant to stay there that long!"
Alucard pushed to his feet, fingers raking through his hair. This was already more complicated than his father could imagine, but judging by that glare, the old man didn't give a damn about complications.
"If you'd just give me more time…"
"Time is running out. Every day I get reports of my people dying. We are dying!"
"I know that."
"You already have her, yet you've kept her away from here for no reason. Your only duty is to break this curse!"
"It's not as easy as you make it sound.."
"I don't care how bloody easy it is! I don't know where this sudden change in you comes from, but the boy I raised wouldn't hesitate. Keep dragging your feet and you'll rule a dead man's land."
He dropped back into his seat, restless. Even he didn't know why he was hesitating. All he wanted now was for the old man to give him some damn time.
"She doesn't know what we are."
Balthazar sneered. "And what does that have to do with anything?"
"Just listen, old man." His tone dropped, quieter now. "I've married her, and whatever I've done since has been my decision. I know what I'm doing. All I ask is for more time."
The air thickened. His father's gaze locked on him for a long, tense stretch before the man rose and strode to a shadowed corner. A hidden door swung open.
"Four months," Balthazar said. "Do your part or else, I will make you.." And then he was gone.
Alucard leaned back with a weary sigh, a dull ache already building behind his eyes. The people were dying every day, that truth gnawed at him.
When they first heard about Kaitlyn, he gave himself a month or less to complete his duty. But after that day, at the wedding, when he saw the pain and hate in her eyes as she cried on the altar, it was like a second voice grew in his head.
Now there was a deadline.
"Four months…" he muttered. Or else.
"Fuck!."
He left the chamber, walking down the spiral stairs he ordered a maid to fetch Salvador. He waited in the living room until a voice he'd been hoping to avoid spoke,
"I can't believe you planned to sneak out without a word."
Alucard turned to find Luther walking towards him.
Luther, Alucard's older brother, was the complete opposite of him. In contrast to his cold exterior, Luther looked rather calm and quiet, tall, with golden blonde hair and clear grey eyes.
"Luther." He smiled faintly as they exchanged a brief side hug before dropping onto the couch.
"Where's Rameses?"
"Spending his youth with whores, as always," Luther said, eyes glinting with amusement.
Alucard snorted. "At this rate he'll have more bastard children than Father."
That earned a quiet laugh from Luther, the kind that faded into a faint smirk.
Rameses was the definition of the last Rebel child, a more professional way of saying 'man whore', but his story was for another day.
They shared a brief pause before Luther studied him. "You don't look so good. Talk to the old man?"
"Yeah." He sighed "He's as difficult as ever."
" He's always difficult. What'd you want from him?"
"Patience. I need more time with her. I managed to convince him but I only got limited time."
"A month's already passed, how much did you get?"
"Four months."
That drew a surprised look from Luther. "Four months? The Alucard I know doesn't need that long to get in bed with a woman… unless you've lost your grip."
"I never lose my grip," Alucard said, lips curling faintly. "She's just… she's exactly as they said. She's delicate and human, not to mention stubborn and hates me."
Luther chuckled low. "Well, any girl would be upset about marrying a stranger. I just didn't think it'd slow you down."
"I'm more surprised at myself than you are."
Salvador entered then, greeted them with a faint smile.
"How've you been keeping up with this man?" Luther asked.
"I've had worse days," Salvador replied with a smirk before heading out.
Alucard called after him, "We'll talk about this on the way back!"
"He's already had enough of your problems," Luther teased, his tone soft but amused.
"I know." Alucard's voice dipped. "What's your take on this?"
" I believe you can handle the matter at your own pace. Just remember, you have limited time. When your fate is already set in front of you, it's normal to be frustrated and panicked, but you have to face it either way. One stupid thing about fate is.. it doesn't give a shit about your feelings. You either bend it to your tunes or it bends you to your misery." Luther gave a small smile and clapped his brother's shoulder.
"You should get going, It's getting dark."
Alucard smiled faintly. "Thank you, brother."
"Of course. I'll walk you out."
They left the citadel together, trading small talk.
"How's Luna?"
"She's fine. Out with friends again, I've been alone all day."
"You should go out more."Alucard smirked earning a scoff from the latter,
"I'm too old for that."
The carriage waited outside with Salvador,
"I'll see you again soon," Alucard said.
"Make it soon enough so I'll have my first child" Luther replied with a wistful smile.
"I will. I promise."
They embraced once more before parting. Alucard sank into the seat, resting his head back, guilt curling tight in his chest. Luther had been married for so long and yet… This curse had stopped him from having his own family.
They say brotherhood is sacred… yet all he felt was that he'd failed his brother. And his people.