We Won't

"There are no innocents! Not anymore! Any one of them could have stood up and said 'No, we won't behave like animals anymore!'"

In one reality, these words prefaced an apocalyptic doom upon the country of Wallachia, heralding monstrous horrors and rains of blood that threatened to drown the world.

But this is not a story of that reality. Because in this reality, the monster who would be a man for the sake of his love, who walked across the earth for her, had decided to make a short stop on his travels...

Lisa Tepes, doctor, apothecary and medicine woman, had long since grown hoarse.

She had pleaded, begged, appealed to their kindness, their intelligence, their good nature, their mercy, their reason and more besides.

None of that had mattered. Not even slightly. The best she had received was fearful looks, either at her or at the bishop that had invaded her home. And now, days later, after a trial where she had done it all over again with the clergy and councilmen before her, she was being led through the streets.

A crowd had gathered. They looked at her with eyes that were sad, hateful, gleeful, angry, or worst, just empty.

And Lisa knew, just knew, that if she didn't get out of this, if she didn't survive, every single one of these people would know horrific, painful vengeance at the hands of a true master of the art.

"Please, you can't, he'll come, and if I'm dead-" she started before one of the porters, a thug in church livery, backhanded her across the face.

"Shut it already, witch! Yer burnin' today, one way or t'other!" he sneered, unshaven and unkempt.

"M-my husband, he'll kill you all! Don't you understand, if I'm not alive to stop him he'll-"

"I said shut it!"

Her cheek exploded in agony, and moments later she felt her head strike the cobblestones. Darkeness tinged her vision and she felt her blood running down her brow.

"Now now, guardsmen, your enthusiasm for the edicts of our Lord is admirable… but mercy is a virtue of His as well." came the cold, aloof tone she'd come to loathe.

The guard grumbled but hauled Lisa to her feet; blearily she looked up, into the countenance of the Bishop.

As she struggled to regain her bearings, she saw him unfurl an ornate scroll; "Miss Tepes, as witnessed in the eyes of the Wallachian Church and our Lord God, for the crime of witchcraft, black magic, heresy, blasphemy, and the perversion of healing, you are hereby sentenced to death by burning." he recited, and Lisa shivered at the cold glee carefully hidden in his voice.

She felt herself being tugged towards the immense pile of wood, the crowd watching passively. This couldn't happen, he would kill them all if it happened, there had-

"Oi, you! Clear out already!" the guard shouted.

Looking up, she spotted a scruffy man in a traveler's greatcoat standing on the path to the pyre. Brown haired with a wiry beard, he could be called 'handsome' in a ruffled sort of way. He spoke up a moment later.

"Bishop, got a question 'bout her." The man said, not moving an inch.

The bishop stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "Young man, there is a time and place for such things…"

"S'about her and she's 'bout to burn; won't have time after this, y'see?" the man pointed out, earning a few chuckles from the crowd. The bishop clearly did not approve, but sighed. "Very well, ask."

"It's quite simple, bishop; what'd she do? To be punished, I mean?"

"...well, as I read from the scroll, she's been charged with witchcraft-"

"Nah, not tha'." the man said and more than a few people gasped. You did not interrupt a bishop. "I mean, what'd she do? Did she kill someone? Rape someone? Spread a plague?"

"I investigated her home on rumors of black magic. I found books, diagrams, toys of the sciences and the devil…"

"How's that matter? If'n I pick up a turd and bring it home it don't mean nuffin but that I've a turd in my house. Granted, folks'll look at me funny for doing such and they likely won't visit, but they'll not burn me at the stake fer it." More laughs, though a few folks were backing away as they saw the Bishop's darkening look.

"Are you questioning my results, vagabond?" he hissed.

"'Ere now, no need ta be insultin'! Just tryin' ta understand's all. See, I wander about a fair bit. Seen some proper witches, women that'd love to chop ya ta pieces and use yer cock for a stew. But this'n? She's not much like them witches. I hear tell she's a doctor too."

The bishop growled. "She uses strange and wicked alchemy for her 'curatives' that go against church edict-"

"Well if'n they work, why not? S'not like you can get drunk on wine or high off mushrooms if'n you go to her instead of a 'church' doctor. Doctor like her saved m'life y'see, got the fever somethin' bad and the local elder only made it worse. Travelling doc patched me up right as rain and I was up and wandering easily!"

"What does that have to do wi-"

"Oh yeah, should prob'ly get ta my point. Tend to ramble a bit, sorry." The man said airly, not noticing the bishop's twitch at being interrupted again. "See, there's na' a lot o' people that do good like tha'. Perishin' few, in fact. So I wanted ta make sure ya had good reason ta put her on tha pile o' wood there before setting it all aglowin'."

"She is a witch! We are doing the work of our Lord! Who are you to believe yourself above the word of God!?" the bishop frothed.

"Oh! Wher're my manners, forgot to introduce meself! M'name's Dimmen Hare. An' ta answer yer question, ain't one of them rules of the Church 'Thou shalt not kill'? Seems a bit counterproductive."

"And another says 'Thou shalt not worship false idols!'" The bishop seethed. "We punish her for her sins!"

"An' wasn't another one in tha' book of yers 'Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord'? God's the one tha' does the judgin', don't think he'd take too kindly to ya burnin' his children tryin' ta make folks healthy."

"ENOUGH, you bumpkin! Guards, remove this fool."

The guards who'd been dragging Lisa released her, and she dropped to the ground, gasping as she snapped her head up, two of the burley men pressing close-

-only to be casually thrown aside as the man easily snatched their grabbing hands and heaved them away! The guards tumbled with shocked yells and landed in the crowd, who quickly scattered to avoid the upcoming scuffle.

"Temper temper there, bishop! Settin' yer dogs on me like that, bloody rude." the man chirped gaily.

The loathsome clergyman grit his teeth. "Dimmen Hare, you will stand aside or be declared heretic by-"

"Oh one man's heresy is another man's gospel, an' I reckon-"

"SILENCE YOU UTTER DOLT! YOU DARE TO-" the bishop roared, before Dimmen let out a piercing whistle.

"Oi, bloody rude of you to interrupt! Did they teach ya any manners in that fancy church of yours?"

The bishop stared coldly. "You will pay for your insolence, knave."

"'Blessed're the meek, fer they'll inherit the earth.' Or summat like that, dunno, ain't been to a proper mass for a while. But, see, I've been around, seen some messed up shit and some proper virtue, an' while this here don't top the list, it gets right close, burnin' a woman o' healin'."

"She is a WITCH!" the bishops snarled, eyes ablaze with hate.

"And a damn good person, a sight better'n you for sure!"

The bishop glared. "You will remove yourself, now, or you will join her on the pyre!"

The crowd, and Lisa, gasped at that. And guards began to surround him, she looked to the scruffy man. "Please, don't, he will do it!"

The traveler eyed the men around him and then looked at Lisa. What struck her in that moment was how absolutely fearless he looked. He smiled, a wide grin that had an edge that she'd only seen on her husband's face was about to teach someone a painful lesson.

"Oh I know, my lady. I've seen plenty fools like him. But he got somethin' wrong."

The vagabond reached into his great cloak and withdrew a dented, battered buckler and a wooden cudgel studded with iron. The crowd gaped as he looked the bishop dead in the eyes and took a ready stance.

"The only way he's burnin' you, is if he burns me first. Because right here and now, I ain't lettin' a good woman die cuz some poncy git who's never gotten laid thinks he knows God's will better'n than the man himself!"

Utter silence. The bishop opened his mouth-

"Oh right, forgot one thing."

The traveling withdrew something from the cloak and hurled it headlong at the bishop, catching the man off guard; no one had dared attack a clergyman in Wallachia-

Splat.

-and he was struck square in the face with an overripe tomato.

"See, you were looking a bit peaky. Figure you needed a bit more… color."

The bishop reached a shaking hand up and slowly brought it down, wiping the disgusting remnants from his face. And Lisa nearly quailed at the sheer black RAGE in the man's eyes.

"Seize him. Now. Tie him to the post and BURN HIM TO ASHES!" he screamed, frothing mad. The guards quickly rushed in, and Dimmen cackled before leaping at them.

Miles away, outside a burned-out house, a monster traveling as a man learned what was happening and moved.

Lisa wished she could describe the fight as a glorious heroic battle against the forces of corruption. She wished she could describe it as a grim stand against injustice. She even wished she could describe it as a bloody brawl leaving all who entered battered and beaten.

But in truth, it was decidedly short, and one-sided. Dimmen had fought like a berserker, but he was clearly a brawler more than a soldier, and while he did lay out no less than five men before he was wrestled to the ground, that was all he managed.

Then came the beating. For a good ten minutes they battered him, broke his bones and made a wreck of him before finally dumping him next to her.

The bishop had looked down on him with a cruel, small smile. "It did not have to be this way. You could have simply accepted the word of the church and-"

Dimmen had responded by throwing up blood. Directly onto the bishop's shoes. Lisa couldn't help but smile very slightly as he somehow interrupted the bishop again.

The bishop merely sighed and gestured. "Tie him to the stake. We shall burn her after… let all see what happens to those who defy the justice of the Lord."

They were both dragged next to the pyre and left bound as they made the final preparations. She glanced aside. "Why? Why would you do this? I don't even know you!"

He chuckled, though it was more of a wheeze. "Ya don't… deserve it… besides… owed… that doctor one… figured this… was as good… a time as any…"

"I… I don't understand…" Lisa admitted, tears filming over her eyes.

"Now don't you… cry… over a… dim hare like me… just… keep on doing… what you were…"

She shook her head. "I would, Dimmen… but i don't think we're getting out of this."

"Heh… I ain't lost yet… and neither… are you. Don't… give up… now, lass." he snickered, "Who knows? I might get… reincarnated. Death's… just another… step to… living again, I reckon." He winked a swollen eye before wincing as a guard roughly hauled him up.

She had prayed. For the first time in quite a long time she had prayed for a rescue, a sign of divine intervention as she watched the flames begin. She wanted someone from the eerily silent crowd to take up his banner, rally against the church, to save them.

But instead she watched as the man writhed on the pyre, gritting his teeth and occasionally gasping in agony as his flesh charred and burned and the stench of flaming meat filled the air.

And then she saw one of his legs give out, the broken bone snapping through his weakened skin and he screamed.

And beside her the bishop only smiled.

"How can you do this!? How can you bear to smile at this!?" she demanded, angry tears in her eyes as Dimmen howled.

"Because I know that a sinner such as he will receive his just punishment when he arrives in the arms of the Devil."

"No. No you enjoy this!" Lisa accused.

The bishop turned towards her and arched an eyebrow. "Of course I do. Doing the Lord's work is to be celebrated after all."

She gaped at him in horror, about to answer when Dimmen's screams petered out. She whirled around to see him slumped against the stake, head down, unmoving.

"No… NO!" she wailed, tears pricking at her eyes.

"And so justice is done-" the bishop began… when a powerful wind ripped down the street. The crowd bayed in confusion as torches and lanterns were blown out, leaving only the setting sun and the pyre itself as any source of light.

And as realization dawned on Lisa, she looked at the pyre and saw Dimmen's head tilt up, and the blazing grin on his bloodied face.

And while she couldn't hear him over the crowd, the wind, and the roaring flames, she could easily see him mouth the words "We win."

And as the wind turned into a howling gale, fanning the flames, Lisa called out; "Husband! I am here! I am alright! But please, save the man on the pyre!"

The bishop turned to her, eyes wide in shock, only for her to be borne aloft by the wind and raised above the rooftops! Moments later, the stake was ripped from the blazing woodpile along with Dimmen, and soon joined her in the sky as the men and women below looked up in fearful surprise.

Suddenly, her bonds were ripped apart, and she was gazing into the concerned eyes of her husband.

And in a flash of fire that lit the sky of Wallachia, all three vanished.

"Are you sure you are alright?"

Lisa gave her son a patient, calming smile. "I am fine, Alucard."

"When I think of what almost happened…" her son whispered, fear still in his eyes. "...when I think of what father might have done…"

Lisa shivered. She loved her husband, but she knew that her death would… well, there was quite the chance he would once again become the legend he had set aside for her.

"But it didn't happen." Lisa consoled him, one hand coming up to touch his cheek.

He placed his against it and sighed. "All because of that man…"

Lisa's cheer faded at that. Her husband had been at work for the last three days trying to save the man's life. "I hope he will pull through… I should be in there, helping-"

"You should be out here, recovering." Alucard insisted firmly. "Father has centuries of medical experience, and magic besides. If anyone can save him…"

As Lisa opened her mouth to answer, there was a soft knock on the door before Vlad Dracula Tepes, the most powerful vampire in existence and loving father and husband walked in. Tiredly, he sat at the table his wife and son were occupying.

"Is he…?" Alucard asked, ever eager to know things. Dracula sighed, and Lisa felt her heart sink.

"He is unconscious, but stable." Dracula said, and both his family members perked up, only to deflate as he continued; "But he will die by tomorrow morning."

"Wha- but I thought…" Alucard stammered in shock, his normal cultured tones fleeing as his father admitted there was nothing he could do.

"I repaired him as best I could, and did a fine job if I do say so, but with his condition…"

"Condition? What condition?" Lisa asked.

"His heart. It's in the late stages of a ventricular schism. Put simply-"

"His heart is tearing itself apart!?" Alucard completed in shock.

"Indeed. From the looks of it, he has had it his whole life. It's a bit of a marvel he lived this long. Had I been able to get him to the castle earlier, I may have been able to mend the schism, or even replace the heart, but there's too little time and he's too weak to attempt the procedure anyway…" Dracula sighed. "It's a pity, I had hoped to speak with him again…"

"Again? You know him?" Lisa queried, somewhat bewildered.

Her husband snorted. "Oh yes, during my travels I came across him after he had been trying to defend a farmer's daughter from an unwanted suitor. Said suitor had many friends, however, and they did him great harm, but not before he managed to beat them back long enough for the girl's family to arrive and have the ruffians arrested."

He sighed, laying a hand on his wife's shoulder and taking comfort from her before continuing. "However, they had no doctor, just a village elder, and when his wound became infected he only made the situation worse." Dracula scoffed. Honestly, who rubbed dirt onto an open wound?

"I saw to his infection and injuries and he was back on his feet soon enough that he traveled with me for a short time." Dracula replied, a slight smile raiding the corner of his mouth. "He was… annoying, had a tendency to interrupt people who got on his nerves, but also quite perceptive in his own way. A good enough companion on the road."

Lisa's jaw dropped open. "He mentioned you." she breathed. "He said a traveling doctor had helped him, and that he was stepping up to repay that doctor. He stepped up because you saved his life."

Dracula looked taken aback by this, but shook his head. "Unfortunately I'll not be able to reintroduce myself. I don't dare wake him and his heart will likely fracture fatally within the next eight hours."

Lisa and Alucard both looked down at this. It wasn't right that this was the end… no one else had stood up, but this foolish, irreverent, brave man had put himself on the line with the church of all things and now he lay dying…

Lisa blinked. And her eyes widened. "'Death's just another step to living again…'"

"What?" Alucard asked in confusion.

Lisa stood, hands flat on the table as she looked Dracula in the eyes. "Turn him."

That got her husbands attention. "I beg your pardon?"

"Turn him. Make him a vampire."

"...Lisa…" Dracula sighed, taking her hand. "...you don't know what you're asking."

"I'm asking you to save him." Lisa responded.

"You do not understand. To sire another is… difficult. It can be done obviously, but there is a great chance that he will perish during the attempt and I cannot make preparations to increase the chances."

"Better a slim chance than none!"

"Lisa, I am the greatest of my kind!" Dracula insisted, squeezing her hand so she would attend. "If I sire another, they will have great power in time… and they will be a target for every enemy I have made. And I have made so many, many enemies, ones that make that damnable church look like puppies playfighting in mud. Once they discover him, his existence will be difficult at best, hunted at worst."

"We owe him husband!" Lisa replied sternly. "Were it not for him, I would be gone forever!"

Dracula's grip tightened almost painfully and his lips curled back in a snarl. "Do not remind me. I already have plans to visit that church…"

"Don't you dare!"

"They almost killed you! The humans nearly killed you out of spite and ignorance and stupidity!"

"And fear of the unknown! I saw their faces, I saw their glances-"

"Glances, empty gestures!" Dracula snarled. "Their inaction does not excuse them-"

"But one did act. One stood up and said 'no', husband. And he did so because you, as a man, helped a fellow man." Lisa stated calmly.

Dracula went still and Alucard had to stifle a smirk; he'd seen this look many times before, when his father and mother argued and she outmaneuvered him so thoroughly he had no words.

In a flash it occurred to him that, because of the man in his father's infirmary, it wouldn't be the last time Alucard saw this scene…

"Father." Both adults turned to look at their son. "He saved mother. In the end, that's what matters. What are you going to do about it?"

Dracula's dark eyes focused on his son that looked so much like his mother. "...I am surrounded by idealists…" he muttered after a long moment, sighing. "Very well. I shall try. More than that I will not promise."

Lisa smiled and kissed her husband's cheek. "As long as people keep trying things will get better, husband."

"Yes yes, beat me over the head with it why don't you. Damnable woman." the lordly vampire grumbled, but the fondness in his voice took any bite from the words as he embraced them both briefly, then left to prepare.

Watching him go, Alucard smiled. "I do hope it works out. Repaying of debts aside, I've always wanted an uncle." His brow wrinkled. "...Or would he be a big brother? I suppose I win either way."

His mother's peals of laughter brightened the castle halls.

A/N: Just a funny little fix-it one-shot. Sort of. If I were to write this out, Dimmen Hare would be an uneducated rover; a bit of a layabout with a military past and an overdeveloped sense of justice

He'd be a little bewildered at being a vampire, but offers a more grounded perspective to the castle; He's more jovial than Dracula, more practical than Lisa, and more worldly than Alucard, and not nearly as educated as all three, helping to ground the group. Don't know how Sypha and Trevor would get in there, maybe Lisa would try to bring the Speakers in and Trevor would help... only to realize that he'd helped the wife of Dracula? Could be funny!