"We didn't know!" Sumi was almost desperate to get Skylar to stop thinking that she and Taka were threats to her and Alucard. "We thought it was a forge master for Dracula, to slaughter during the day!"
"Well, they aren't!" Skylar yelled at them both. Alucard placed his hand on Skylar's shoulder, making her stop for a moment, then turn to look at him over her shoulder.
"Skylar," Alucard spoke carefully with her, trying to calm her. "Breathe, take a moment to calm down."
"I..." Skylar gave up and sighed. "Alright, Alucard."
"Now, explain what you two intend to do here."
"There are more vampires in Japan; we need more knowledge than we have," Sumi explained. "It's why we came here looking for you."
"We were looking for the castle," Taka said, staying beside Sumi. "We had no idea how to find you. This is a good day for us, all things considered."
"Alucard," Sumi began again. "Will you and Skylar teach us?"
"Teach you?" Alucard asked. Skylar almost glared at Sumi and Taka.
"We are alone in this world," Sumi said, keeping a safe distance from Skylar's blade. "And we do not have enough power or knowledge to free our people from the vampires. You know things."
Alucard began to walk away, and Skylar followed him, still guarding Alucard. Sumi and Taka followed behind.
"And you have knowledge famously contained within Dracula's castle. Will you teach us to fight for the freedom of others?"
"Alone," Alucard said, almost as if he were realizing something. Skylar knew Alucard couldn't ignore someone being alone.
"That's right," Taka said, but Skylar half turned to Sumi and Taka, keeping them at a distance from Alucard. The two of them could only look between Skylar and Alucard.
"Follow me," Alucard told the new hunters. Skylar followed Alucard closely, watching Sumi and Taka as they followed behind. Alucard walked with Skylar to the Belmont hold. Skylar was on edge. She had experienced enough manipulation and deception to recognize when something felt wrong about a person. And every instinct in her body was on high alert with the two new individuals.
"Do you know where we are?" Alucard asked the two newcomers.
"Not really," Taka said. Skylar rolled her eyes, still not fully convinced that the two were looking for help in learning to fight vampires.
"Of course you don't," Skylar scoffed. Alucard let out a breath, smiling.
"W-well, that is Dracula's castle," Taka said. trying not to seem incompetent with Skylar.
"Wrong," Skylar said, turning to the two at the same time as Alucard. Both Sumi and Taka were confused. Skylar looked almost smug to say what she was about to say. "This is Alucard and Dracule's Castle. Dracula is dead."