Dracula thought about the answer for a very, very long time. But instead of replying, he suddenly asked something else.
"I'll answer that question after I figure something out… Alucard, what is your relationship with the Sinners? How many do of us do you know, and how do you know of our existence in the first place?"
I mean, I could tell him the truth, but something about it felt… wrong. I didn't know why. So I tried to play my knowledge off as surface-level.
"Huh? Wasn't it well-known in your time?"
Dracula stared at me for a few moments before answering.
"No. And that's why it's strange how you know about us — and how you're involved in this at all. You share no connection to me or any other Sinner… except one. And I want to know how deep that connection goes."
Huh? What was he talking about? If anything, he should be my biggest connection. I literally possessed his son's body for a while. If my connection isn't with him… then who is it with?
My thoughts were cut short by Dracula's next question, a question that rang in my skull like a verdict — the type of question that decided whether I lived or died.
"Who are you truly, Alucard? And how do you know about me and the others, what is your connection with us?"
He said it casually, but his voice carried weight — crushing weight. I guessed I had no choice but to tell the truth. It was my best chance at survival after all.
"Ugh… I'm Alucard, as you know. My true name is Monarch of Crimson, if you wanted that information too."
Dracula raised an eyebrow at the mention of a true name.
"You… still have a true name?"
What was with everyone expecting me not to have one? But whatever — that wasn't the point. He clearly wanted the rest of his questions answered, and I wasn't in any position to argue. Compared to his power, I was a speck of dust trying to argue with a nuke.
"Yes. So uhh… as for my connection to the Sinners, it's a very long story, but basically I met you first because I reincarnated into the body of your son. Or possessed it. I'm not really sure. And I met Feltan not too long ago. He was trapped in some dungeon. I made a deal with him: in exchange for destroying a castle and a few other things, he'd tell me how to become a Sinner and give me his heart and sin lineage."
Dracula's face twisted from anger at the mention of possessing his future son to confusion at me mentioning feltan and finally utter disbelief at the mention of our deal
"Wait. Let me get this straight. You somehow survived an encounter with Feltan? And he was trapped? And he told you his name? And he was willing to tell you how to become a Sinner? …Wait. You also said he'd give you a sin lineage?"
Dracula held his head like he felt a migraine coming. Then suddenly he grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me.
"Wait. I think I understand now. Yes — it makes sense why I gave you that necklace… and why Feltan offered you the knowledge about becoming a Sinner. Okay. All right. I have to think — what was I planning on doing? What was I supposed to tell you…? Yes, yes… all right."
He let go of me. I could feel my connection to him breaking, little by little. He didn't have much time. My vision was starting to crack, the world distorting like a broken mirror.
"Listen. IT is always listening. IT can always see you.
"The more you know about IT, the more IT knows about you.
"IT will try to corrupt you. Do not listen.
"And whatever you do — no matter what — do not utter ITS name.
"You must reach the Garden of Resurrection. That is where salvation rest's. No matter what… reach the garden."
My vision shattered further. I could barely see him now. I didn't hear his last words, but I saw his lips move:
"Remember the garden… and when the time comes, remember salvation."
I didn't know what to think.
Then everything broke.
---
I woke up in a house I vaguely recognized — Effie's. She looked like a mess. Her armor was damaged, her hair no longer tied in a ponytail but hanging loose, and she looked like she'd eaten herself half to death judging by all the bones scattered around her.
I opened my eyes wider and heard her voice.
"Good morning, sleepyhead."
I rubbed my eyes as I sat up and really looked at her.
"Are you good?"
I was genuinely curious. I hadn't seen her since the whole ordeal with the Lord of the Dead.
"Well… about as good as someone can be after they pretty much lost everything. What about you? You were yelling in your sleep about some garden."
I raised an eyebrow. She clearly tried to change the subject but that wasn't the weird part she said I was yelling? about a garden of all things?
"What? Really? I don't remember anything about a garden."
A vague idea brushed my mind — the Garden of Resurrection. After all, my Aspect Legacy was named after that garden… or rather, its gate.
"Yeah, you were," she said. "Must've been one hell of a nightmare."
But that didn't make sense.
Sleepers don't have dreams.
Let alone nightmares.
Honestly… I don't remember anything after entering the Dark City to start a massacre so maybe I did have a nightmare and I forgot about it but that wouldn't answer the big question.
How the hell did I end up in Effie's house?