Threads of Healing ||Alucard X Fem Reader||

The wagon came to a halt at the base of the hill, where the remains of the Belmont estate stood shrouded in eerie silence. The house was a wreck of blackened timbers and scattered stones, reduced to ruin. Trevor dismounted first, his sharp eyes scanning the rubble.

"Welcome to what's left of my ancestral home," he said bitterly.

Y/N stepped down, her gaze sweeping over the scene. "This is... grim," she admitted, her tone quiet.

Sypha joined her. "It's not much to look at, but the Hold must be underneath all this. Right, Trevor?"

He nodded, already moving toward the wreckage. "Somewhere below. The entrance was hidden, so with any luck, it survived."

Alucard stepped up beside Y/N, his golden eyes following Trevor's movements. "Shall we?"

They began searching the ruins, pulling aside beams and stones. Trevor's familiarity with the estate helped guide their efforts.

Hours seemed to pass before Trevor's voice rang out. "I've got something!"

The group gathered around him. Trevor crouched near what appeared to be an old hearth, brushing away debris to reveal a solid gold slab. Faint carvings adorned its surface.

"This is it," he said triumphantly.

Alucard stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "Allow me."

With ease that belied his slender frame, he grabbed all of the heavy rock and debris, lifting and throwing them to the side, muscles straining. Y/N couldn't help but notice the way his golden hair caught the light, his strength impressive.

"Show-off," Trevor muttered, though his tone lacked venom.

Alucard set the debris aside and gestured to the revealed door. "It's still sealed. A good sign."

He tried to open the hatch, but it didn't budge. Y/N stepped forward. "Let me help."

Together, they pushed and pulled at the entrance, but it refused to give. Y/N's arms trembled with effort as she caught Alucard's eyes, both sharing a frustrated sigh.

"It's enchanted," Sypha observed, stepping closer. "Hold on." She twirled her hands, murmuring incantations. The slab glowed faintly before the lock clicked open.

The hatch creaked as it swung open, revealing a dark staircase descending into the earth. Trevor lit a torch and led the way down, Sypha close behind. Y/N and Alucard exchanged a glance before following.

The group descended the spiral staircase into the depths of the Belmont Hold, the air growing cooler and more still with every step. Trevor led the way, holding a torch that illuminated the rough stone walls. Behind him, Sypha's sharp intake of breath echoed softly as her eyes darted around, taking in the ancient carvings and faint remnants of Belmont history.

"This is it," Trevor muttered, the torchlight catching on a large iron door at the bottom of the staircase. He pushed it open with a creak, and the group stepped into a vast chamber.

The Belmont Hold stretched endlessly before them. Towering shelves of books lined the walls, filled with texts bound in cracked leather and crumbling paper. Ancient weapons, relics, and artifacts were displayed in glass cases and propped against stone columns. Chandeliers, long since unlit, hung high above, and the faint scent of dust and age hung in the air.

Sypha gasped audibly, her voice filled with awe. "This... This is magnificent."

Alucard's golden eyes scanned the room, his expression unreadable but tinged with wonder. "A treasure trove of knowledge," he said softly. "Your family was thorough, Belmont."