Beyond the Old Ones

Disclaimer: I own nothing, this is purely a fanfic for enjoyment.

Cross-over from various games, books, anime, manga, and movies.

The familiar characters you see here belong to their respected authors and owners.

"Speech"

Time*

Chapter 32: This Is My Choice

An hour later*

"I must commend your audacity in requesting me to feign affection as your paramour. Truly, it takes a bold spirit to make such a proposition, especially when it extends to asking me to adopt a more... seasoned appearance." Alucard smirks with a mischievous glint. Her form alters subtly; though still unmistakably herself, she now stands taller, her silhouette enhanced with a refined allure, her presence exuding a magnetic charm in all the right proportions.

"I blame the Divinations..." I mutter, feeling my right eyebrow twitch madly.

Still, this is a much better option than the rest I could have gone with. Plus, I would rather deal with this than be treated as a lolicon. Besides, this route isn't going into a relationship with Alucard but just an act to continue opening the specific one I need tonight.

"Also, I don't see you saying no to my request for help."

"If it piques my interest, then I shall entertain the notion. Otherwise, no amount of pleading or attempted bribery, however impassioned, could possibly sway my resolve." Alucard's lips curve into a knowing smile, her crimson eyes narrowing as she exudes an air of devilish seduction—enticing yet utterly unyielding.

"In other words." I said dully. "You won't betray me because anything and anywhere I am is interesting enough for you alone."

"Precisely." Alucard concurs with a sly smile; her amusement is obvious. "Now then, why not demonstrate how you would treat your so-called lover? Convince me, if you can, of the intriguing evening you have in store for us."

However, before I can say anything, Alucard and I simultaneously turn our attention toward the antique clock on the writing desk. Its hands, which had been ticking steadily earlier in the evening, have suddenly stopped—frozen at 11:57 PM. The silence that follows is perceptible and heavy. Then, without warning, the hands begin to move backward. Slowly, at first, their motion becomes faster and more frantic, as though the clock itself is rewinding time. The faint ticking sound deepens into something louder and mechanical, its rhythm resonating unnervingly throughout the room.

Our gazes shift next to the tapestry hanging above the bed. At first glance, it appears unchanged, displaying a twilight forest static and serene. But as we glance again, the scene begins to shift subtly. The once-still forest now glows faintly, bathed in a silvery, otherworldly light. The trees sway gently, their leaves rustling—a sound impossible in the windless room. Then, from the depths of the woven forest, a shadow begins to emerge. The figure is indistinct, its features obscured, but it is undeniably human in shape. With each passing moment, it steps closer, drawing nearer to the tapestry's edge.

The most unnerving sign, however, comes from the fireplace. Cold and dormant all evening, it now flickers with the faintest hint of flame. But this is no ordinary fire. The flame is not a warm orange but an eerie, pale blue, casting erratic, elongated shadows across the walls. The flicker grows brighter, the light more intense, and then comes the sound. At first, it is a faint whisper, unintelligible—a soft mumble like the sigh of the wind. But as the moments stretch on, one word emerges, clear and unmistakable.

"Leave." It says, in a voice that defies description—neither male nor female, neither young nor old. It reverberates in the space, cutting through the oppressive silence like a blade, leaving a chill in its wake.

The intuition granted to me as a Seer at Sequence 9 begins to stir—a faint sense of the presence behind this ominous display. But as I focus, the sensation remains frustratingly vague, like a shadow slipping through my grasp.

Pinpointing the culprit's exact location seems impossible in my current state. If only I were in the Sefirah Castle—its influence would amplify my abilities as a Seer, elevating them far beyond Sequence 9. There, I might stand a chance of unraveling this mystery. Unfortunately, the culprit's clear intent to disrupt us makes it highly unlikely they would permit me the time or focus necessary to perform the ritual needed to ascend to the Sefirah Castle.

"Alucard." I turned to the No-Life Queen, her crimson eyes reflecting the pale blue flames flickering in the fireplace. "Do you happen to know where... whatever is telling us to leave could be?"

For a moment, Alucard's expression remains inscrutable, her gaze drifting from the clock to the tapestry and finally settling on the crackling fire. A faint smirk graces her lips as she speaks with mock politeness. "Naturally. But tell me—do you truly wish for me to resolve this issue, or would you prefer to handle it yourself, Master?"

"Would it make any difference if I were to let you deal with this?" I ask with mild irritation.

Moments like these remind me that having a contract with Alucard doesn't equate to an easier life. Then again, reflecting on Hellsing, the series that serves as her origin, Alucard wasn't particularly useful outside of combat. And I'm not yet at the point where I need to rely on her for everything. For now, it's still manageable.

"Fewer deaths, perhaps..." Alucard replies, her wicked smile growing wider. "Though the destruction of this entire hotel might just be an unfortunate consequence."

"Wonderful." I mutter under my breath, pinching the bridge of my nose. "As much as I'd love to test the durability of this building, I think I'll handle it. Try not to level the place unless absolutely necessary."

"Your restraint is admirable, Master." Alucard remarks, her voice dripping with amusement. "But do remember, chaos does have its own… charm."

"Noted." I deadpan, my attention shifting back to the ominous signs filling the room. Despite my irritation, I can't help but feel a small measure of comfort in Alucard's presence, even if her methods are far from ideal.

I switch out the Card of Fool for the Card of Wheel of Fortune, feeling the subtle yet immediate shift in perception as the Card of Blasphemy takes effect. This change allows me to see and hear more than others normally could, a sensory enhancement that is further amplified by the Sefirot: Key of Light. As the Card of Wheel of Fortune spins rapidly, it projects the Sefirot outward, forming a luminous, ever-rotating sphere.

The mechanics of the Sefirot remain elusive to me, their full potential shrouded in mystery. But by now, I understand at least one thing: they possess the capacity to enhance all Pathways tied to them, much like how the Sefirah Castle amplifies the Pathways of Door, Error, and Fool. This synergy offers immense power.

I focus, channeling the heightened perception of Sequence 9: Monster. The ability to perceive the unnatural, grotesque, and unseen flows through me effortlessly.

What I discover makes me blanch.

The entire room is laced with sickly green veins, pulsating faintly with a nauseating rhythm. They spread across the walls, the furniture, and even the floor beneath our feet, weaving a macabre web of decay and corruption. The sound of someone gasping, as though dying of thirst, emanates from the furniture itself. The noise is faint but persistent, adding an oppressive weight to the already tense atmosphere.

The veins seem to be growing—twisting and curling more intensely near Aya. Her severed head, still resting in its place, appears completely oblivious to the grotesque infestation. Even Alucard, with all her heightened senses and immortal prowess as a vampire, remains unaware of the disturbing sight and sound enveloping the room.

I swallow hard, forcing myself to remain composed. This is no ordinary phenomenon—it's deliberate, calculated, and undoubtedly tied to the entity behind the earlier warning. The Sefirot's amplification ensures I can see the truth hidden from others, but the weight of that truth presses down on me like a leaden shroud.

"Of course, it has to be something like this." I mutter under my breath, keeping my voice low. The veins pulse faintly in response as though mocking my acknowledgment of them.

"Pardon my curiosity, Master, but could you elucidate your previous remark?" Alucard lifted a single eyebrow, her piercing gaze probing for answers.

I sighed, deciding it was better to verify her awareness rather than make assumptions. "Just a quick question to confirm something." I began, my tone careful. "Do you see anything unusual in this room?"

I gave Alucard the benefit of the doubt. Someone with her history and powers might either be unaware of what I was perceiving or, more likely, so accustomed to such horrors that they barely registered to her anymore.

"Oh, nothing out of the ordinary." Alucard replied, her smile dripping with nonchalance. Then, with a casual wave of her hand, she added. "Aside from the furniture being crafted from human skin and housing a multitude of trapped souls, of course."

I froze, staring at her with a deadpan expression. Slowly, my gaze shifted to the furniture around us—the chairs, the table, and even the antique clock on the desk. Her words sank in like lead.

"Are they alive?" I asked with reluctant curiosity.

Alucard nodded, her smile unfaltering, as though discussing the weather.

"Right." I muttered, pinching the bridge of my nose.

This night was going from unsettling to outright nightmarish. I knew I should've gone deeper with the Computational Divinations, even if most information are blocked due to my Sequence not being high enough.

The green veins, the thirsting cries, and now this revelation of sentient furniture—it was becoming increasingly clear that whatever was haunting this room was not just an ominous presence but something deeply malicious and sadistic. And the fact that Alucard found it all so amusing only added to the weight of the situation.

"Well, that certainly complicates things." I muttered, glancing back at the veins writhing over the walls, now pulsating with an almost eager rhythm.

I walk over to Aya, lifting her carefully as she stares at me—though, of course, it's not her choice. Given her current form as just a severed head, she can't exactly look away. But, for the moment, I make it seem like she's intently fixed on me, the only gaze she can manage in her state.

"Right, if anyone asks." I begin, my voice firm. "Just change their memory or whatever you need to do to make it seem like you were always in this form, Alucard." I gently place Aya back into her box, the disturbing weight of the situation settling in as I secure her inside.

"Certainly." Alucard replies, her tone teasing yet pointed. "But do enlighten me—what, pray tell, was so inadequate about my previous appearance?" Her grin widens, clearly pushing my buttons.

"You know full well why." I narrow my eyes at Alucard, my frustration bubbling just beneath the surface.

"Of course I don't." Alucard retorts smoothly, her smile laced with sarcasm. "That's precisely why I'm asking you."

I feel the twitch in my right eyebrow again, a subtle but clear sign that my patience is wearing thin.

"I am not into little girls... or petite girls, as one would say." I say, rubbing my forehead in frustration, feeling the weight of this absurd situation piling up. "Anyway, let's go."

Alucard's laughter echoes slightly, almost playful, but there's a certain wicked edge to it. She follows my lead, her steps almost silent as ever, while I try to ignore the sense of foreboding that continues to cling to this place.

It doesn't help that the faint, gasping sounds are growing more pronounced as I step out of the room, my every movement seemingly accompanied by the unsettling noise. The soft wheezing emanating from the furniture in the hallway only heightens my growing sense of dread. It's not just that the room feels haunted—no, the entire hotel is alive with it. The air itself seems to pulse with something dark and insidious, as though the very walls are aware of our presence.

The veins... The sickly green veins, thicker now and stretching through the hallway, seem to mark their way toward us, an ominous trail leading from one room to the next. Their presence is both grotesque and too purposeful to ignore.

As I pass through the corridor, I can't help but notice how the veins in the hallway mirror the grotesque display in the room Alucard and I occupy. The others are lesser, thinner, and fewer in number, but the ones here—they're unnervingly thick and frequent, almost like an infection spreading deeper into the hotel's very foundation.

This isn't just a coincidence. This is something orchestrated. The hotel isn't simply cursed—it's actively alive, actively aware.

I glance at Alucard. She's walking behind me, her usual calm demeanor unshaken by the disturbing atmosphere. She's either indifferent or more accustomed to such things, but for me, it's hard to ignore the growing sense of danger that comes with each passing step.

But the choice is made. I didn't just leave Aya lying on the street for someone else to find among the Computation Divinations. Aya would help me in the long run.

I hold the box containing Aya. I made this decision. This is my choice, despite everything this hotel is showing me.

A nearby door was blown to pieces, causing some screams.

Yup... this is my choice...