BLOOD BOUNDED - THE SHADE - English - Castlevania Lords of Shadow (fanfic) PII

Chapter 25

"And that's how we made the network of mirrors on the patio."

"Wow! It's still impressive that you guys did it on your own."

Alucard watched the little girl swallow another spoonful of cereal. A chocolate flake had remained in one of her cheeks.

"We weren't alone," she pointed out with his ladle. "We all did it."

And she pursed her lips, to let the vampire clean her with the napkin.

"Well, more incredible to me."

He tried in vain not to smile with the grimaces she made as he rubbed the fabric with her chin.

"What do I have?" She touched her face. "Is it funny?"

"Oh, it's nothing." He settled back into the chair. "I only remembered my son."

"Simon, the red bear!"

For a moment, he was silent, blinking in surprise.

"You also know about him."

"That's how they call him in the stories." She took another bite. "I know he was huge and redheaded." She frowned. "Do I remind you of him? How?"

Alucard chuckled.

"Well, he was your size, once. A little bit higher. The red of your hair is lighter and wavy. And instead of eating and getting a little dirty, he devoured his breakfast and left a trace even on the table."

The girl had to hold her mouth so that the laughter would not release what she was chewing.

"Oh really?"

"His mother was enraged and I scolded her. Until one day, I gave him a good lesson."

"Oh yeah? What did you do? Did you pat him?"

He thought about it for a moment.

"No, I never hit him in any way. But I knew what bothered him the most. I think it's better that you don't know, I promised to keep it a secret. I'll just tell you, that as soon as he had intentions of some mischief, it was enough for me to raise an eyebrow for him to think about it. And he was rarely afraid of anything!"

"Mmm," she swallowed to speak "I can't imagine it. In the drawings he looks so big and rude, with scars and a cruel face. Sounds like you're telling me about someone different."

"We were all children once," he told her confidentially. "Do you think that my father and I always had this appearance?"

"Well no. But it's still weird. I would like to see it."

"Maybe I'll show you, sometime." He could not contain the nostalgia on his face. "Someday, you will grow up too. Tall and beautiful. But don't be in too much of a hurry. Many of us did not have the opportunity to enjoy childhood."

"I'm not in a hurry!" she exclaimed. "I just want to get stronger to beat the monsters."

"Well, well, that sounds familiar."

"Of Simon?"

"Not only from him. But, yes, he was the type to turn a branch into a sword, climb trees and chase animals. Even the chickens became opponents."

She laughed.

"I also know how to climb. And I jump very high!"

"I've already seen you. You are an unusual little lady."

"Why?"

"In all ages, girls your age dream of being refined damsels, like princesses."

Patricia was silent as she finished her cereal.