Sands of Time (Hellsing•AU)

Tour Guide Under Protest Deux (16)

Lilly drove into the parking lot, for the British museum and found a spot to park, as it was only 7:30 a.m. She grabbed her briefcase, which contained a small laptop and some papers. As usual, her Indy Jones bag was on her side.

"Lily Uncas Steiger! What is with your hair!" John was yelling, as the woman was sure it was a bit of a mess but was this one of John's risque jokes?

"Soooo.." John cooed seductively. "Do tell, who is lucky to have teased your hair so?"

"Well, let's see...."Lilly paused. "Which part, the Moddey Dhoo, mud in my bed, sleeping on the couch, your phone call or David taking care of a morning problem, men have?"

John looked blankly and questioned, "What is a Moddey Dhoo?'

"It's the Scottish version of the Baskerville hound," Lilly said with a snort. " It got in the house and put mud all over, in my bed. I had to give it a bath then I slept on the couch."

John shook his head in a slow "Ahhh" motion, "So my phone message didn't upset you?"

Lilly gave him the female death stare, all women (called the look) and flatly stated, "You are a grande cochon! Dress nice and attractive? Since when did the British museum need employees to look like call girls?"

A huge sigh came from John's mouth, "That was not what I meant and you know it! I just got the call last night, that a Romanian Count was flying to England. He is doing Heraldry research and wished to have a personal tour. He asked who had the most knowledge to give him the tour. His name is Vladislav Dra...."

John looked past Lilly, to see the Romanian Count standing outside the doors to the museum. "Ahhh, hold still and let me fix your hair! He's here!"

Lilly slapped his hands away and pulled two hair sticks out. She bent over far enough, all the hair hung even enough to grab and twist. She brought her head up and placed the hair in a bun and stuck the two hair sticks though. John stopped at the door and looked over his shoulder. He gave Lilly a nod of approval on her method of fixing her hair. He swung the door in a grand gesture and did a slight bow.

"Welcome Count Vladislav Drago, to the well renowned British Museum of Antiquities!"

Count Drago shook John's hand and said, "Thank you John Carter, for allowing me to have a private tour. Time is precious for me, so I do appreciate your hospitality."

"It is an honor and please call me John"...but Count Drago had shifted his eyes to Lilly.

Vlad tried not to smirk, Lillia was trying not to roll her eyes. In the "old" days, he would have had the woman flogged with a whip that had steel barbs on it. Most didn't live through the experience. He strolled over, as if gliding across the floor and stopped in front of Lillia.

"Are you Lillia Steiger? I am flattered you will be my tour guide today. I am Count Vlad Drago." The Count held his right hand out to the woman.

Lilly blinked and silently pondered what to do, shake his hand or did he kiss it? How old tradition is he?

She decided to slowly extend her hand and let him take the lead. He grasped it gently and raised her hand to plant a faint kiss. She could feel his mustache tickle the top of her hand. The young looking woman started to blush. As his head raised back up, Lilly saw that he had the most intense blue eyes, just like her one true love.

Wait a minute, Lillia thought.

Is this Alucard?

Lilly gently started to push into his mind. She was breaking her one rule about reading minds. The woman had to make sure, it wasn't Alucard trying to get back into her life. David had asked Lilly, why she had not run this time, when she knew the No Life King resided in London. She had said about her promise, to be there when David died.

"No living creature should have to die alone," was Lillia's reply.

She almost gasped aloud, when her mind slipped into his without resistance. Lilly just skimmed through his mind quickly and then left his mind. He was human as there had been no resistance or mental shield noticed.

"Shall we get started?" said Lilly in a gentle, low voice.

The Count nodded his head in approval. Alucard knew she was fooled and believed he was human. She was beyond powerful in the dealings of reading minds. He almost thought he couldn't trick her. That was an exciting prospect in itself. Had she read his mind when he was human?

That would be a question to ask down the road.

~Love me when I least deserve it because that is when I really need it.~ Swedish proverb