Chapter 6

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The next early morning, Alucard passed by the same manor with Cecilion standing next door.

CECILION
"Good morning, Count Alucard. I humbly apologize for what I had planned the last time we faced our queen."

ALUCARD
"No need to say such a thing. I've been better now. I did not expect that this cursed hand that I have used her blood to heal me..."

CECILION
"But don't let that curse become a habit. I knew a demon from the Abyss who mutilated your arm and gave it a lasting curse during your battle long ago. I killed that demon on its way back in our realm during my renouncement and betrayal. Your cursed hand spreads its taint to the rest of your body if left without anything to protect the rest of your arm. If you wish to remove that gauntlet of yours, you will become an unstoppable monster that drains the life-force of your unsuspecting prey. Will you give in to your hatred, or will you control it for your righteous justice?"

ALUCARD
"I know nothing more than to be a demon hunter, a soldier blessed by the Lord of the Light. But I would have been worthy to be called a Lightborn if my father is at least given honor."

CECILION
"You need not remind me, Count Alucard, for I myself see the same visage you have as that of my lover. Once a kind human, but turned into a monster due to what humans did against her will. Are you trying to share the same fate that we both have, in exchange of rekindling the glory of your father?"

Cecilion grabbed Alucard's cursed gauntlet, which glowed red right before his eyes.

CECILION
"Your arm glowed when there is a demonic presence around you. Now with the blood of my queen on its veins, when you receive so much pain, you will have a thirst for more blood and bring you into a state of bloodlust."

ALUCARD
"What will happen if I try to drain Alice's blood from my body?"

CECILION
"It cannot be. For lots of demon blood spilled on the battlefield, your cursed hand will absorb all of them and heal you. If you take this glove off, this curse will make you a bloodthirsty monster."

This revelation made Alucard speechless at that moment, but he remained true to his oath after all.

ALUCARD
"And I'm not going to be one, even if I have to kill myself facing the demon inside me."

CECILION
"Who knows?"

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In a castle from the Abyss, the sitting evil prince from the shadows was visited by Alice.

ALICE
"I want you to be wary, my son. This demon hunter is now a hindrance to our plans. Have you forgotten that you both faced each other once?"

EVIL PRINCE
"I am aware of this hunter's power, mother, and we finally met again. This time, I will take him all by himself. A legion will suffice, for he will first face his traumatic memories before coming head-to-head with me. If the elves are a nuisance to you I will bring another legion in your stead. I'll take the battle against the hunter personally, given that we had a history together. What do you say?"

As Alice said the prince's name and gave her opinion, she informed him about her experience going up against three of her adversaries at the moment.

ALICE
"Well, Dyrroth, it seemed that the demon hunter is your much-needed target of odium, but take note; I faced him earlier. An elf saved him from his recklessness after meeting up with that traitor in our race."

Dyrroth, the evil prince, showed his menacing crimson-eyed visage with horns protruding his head.

DYRROTH (evil prince)
"Wait. You went up against Alucard? He's the same hunter I faced long ago. Has he remained a knight in shining armor?"

ALICE
"Not anymore, for he now became a vampire."

Dyrroth now stood up and walked on the aisle, while Alice willingly stood aside in honor of her adopted son.

DYRROTH
"A vampire? Now THIS is hard for us to detect! He is no longer who he once was when I faced him and his comrades! He has now put up an improvised masquerade with the blood demons and stands up for his name! Now that he has only himself who will help cover up his inferiority, and I will surely bring him the same fate his fallen parent had."

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While Miya searched for the same manor the second time after facing Alice, a trail of blood was seen steps away. A maiden with a red dress was also who she had a glimpse.

As the archer launched an arrow on the maiden, thinking that it was the same blood demon she faced with Alucard...

The maiden casually threw a crimson flower to block the arrow and directed it towards Miya, stunning the elven archer for a moment.

RED-DRESSED MAIDEN
"So you thought I'm just like Alice? I want you to look at me closely. Do I have horns on my head? Do I have wings that can flap? Do I have any authority to rule somewhere I was not born from? Oh yes... I smell some elven blood... the blood of Alice's favorable prey. If I were you I would have killed her at an instant."

As Miya tried to regain her consciousness...

MIYA
"And who are you? You are a blood demon and all of you are the same, including Cecilion!!"

The maiden glared with her blood-red eyes and proceeded to pursue Miya up close. Seeing this, the archer responded by turning herself invisible, keeping at a distance, and shooting a falling arrow above the lady in red to immobilize.

Miya gasped upon realizing that she indeed was not Alice to begin with.

RED-DRESSED MAIDEN
"I have no elven blood flowing in my veins, archer. If you try to talk back to me about Cecilion, let me remind you that he is with a vampire that I never know."

MIYA
"Alucard??"

RED-DRESSED MAIDEN
"Yes... that vampire who risked his life protecting you and my lover from Alice. Also, I'm never a mere servant of his queen. Cecilion turned me into a blood demon, never the Dark Lord of the Abyss."

MIYA
"And is it you whose name is what Cecilion often mentioned? The name of Carmilla?"

CARMILLA (red-dressed maiden)
"I am."

Miya dropped her bow in shock. However, Carmilla was asking her another question.

CARMILLA
"Are you looking for Alucard? Don't worry; he's not going to take his blood. But I know that he's a demon hunter, for my lover told me all this. If he tries to kill Cecilion just to fulfill his role, I will not hesitate to take your elven blood for the first time. We're both inseparable and I'm sure... so are both of you."

MIYA (becoming more terrified)
"How did you know that I'm looking for Alucard? Let me remind you, Carmilla... Alucard saved our race for so many times that I alone cannot count. The orcs... the blood demons... they are responsible for the corruption of our forest, and I will not hesitate to bring down any blood demon that intends to eradicate our race! This is why I also look for him!"

CARMILLA
"And do you think I am one of the blood demons who brought your forest to the brink of destruction long ago? Am I one of them who intend to eradicate you elves? Again, the blood demons were still here in this land even when I was once a human like Alucard. If I were to tell Cecilion about your tale, I'm sure that will give us another reason to kill Alice, for he himself betrayed his own kind before I became like him. We also despise her if you ask me!"

The elf was perplexed after Carmilla revealed that she also wanted Alice dead.

MIYA
"Why do you intend to kill Alice, even if you're both in the same race? Why are your motivations against her more personal than ours?"

CARMILLA
"Tell my lover. But since you asked me, we want freedom and solitude together. Freedom from spiteful humans and freedom from abyssal demons. He wants to stay in a place where he can live alone with me. If you are not convinced, ask him, and ask Alucard. They both know and represent opposing mentalities, not us. There is much of what we don't understand that they both do. Now, come with me. I know where my lover is. But do me a favor, elf. Do not kill me, and do not kill Cecilion. Is it clear, elf?"

Miya remained speechless and still terrified upon seeing Carmilla, reluctantly nodding in agreement as a response and slowly walking towards her.

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