Alucard Emery

Alucard Emery is a noble from the House of Emery and the former captain of the Night Spire. He is currently the guard of Rhy Maresh and his consort.
==Physical description==
Alucard is a tall man with sea-tanned skin and tawny brown hair which he often pins back in a ponytail. He has dark grey-blue eyes which can appear both bright or nearly black, and faint laugh lines at the corners of his eyes.
Alucard usually wears a sapphire piercing in his left eyebrow. In addition, he wears multiple rings, including his House of Emery ring which resembles a silver feather curled into a band. His wrists are scarred with the marks of manacles, silvered on his tan skin, caused by being tortured for the crime of being a pirate. Alucard rubs his scars when he thinks.
After surviving Osaron's curse, Alucard's skin is marked by silver lines that trace his veins.
Furthermore, Alucard is said to smell of the sea, honey, silver, and spiced wine.
==Personality==
Alucard has shown himself to be witty, charming and clever, if not on the vain side (possibly due to his power as a magician). He is described by Lila Bard as being intentionally noisy, going about his life with the goal of making a scene of himself and the others around him. Much like Rhy, it is common for him to take temporary sexual partners. He was not afraid of Lila and either feels little fear or hides it extraordinarily well.
Despite his outward flamboyant nature, Alucard is haunted by his past and his family. Strong ties to them drove him back to rescue his younger sister, and he nearly died protecting her. Alucard also showed deep regret for abandoning Rhy and seems to truly love him.
His time in Hasinar scarred him; years later, Alucard still flinches when he sees others being shackled.
==Biography==
===Secret courtship===
When Alucard was almost twenty-one, he began a relationship with Rhy Maresh whom he has known his entire life. One day, when he returned home after visiting Rhy, Berras intimidated Alucard into breaking up with Rhy.
Not long afterward, Alucard and Berras headed to Soner Rast for the Summer Feast. They did not stay long; they returned home right after Alucard ended his affair with Rhy, telling him they were only friends and nothing else. That night, Alucard came to regret his action though and went back to the palace where he was caught by Kell Maresh. He told him to either leave and never come back, or properly make his intentions known to the king and queen in the morning.
Alucard sneaked back into his room, but Berras and their father were already awaiting him there. They beat him up and paid the captain of a ship to "break" him. Shortly after Alucard woke up on the ship though, it was captured by pirates. For three days, Alucard sailed with the crew of the Moonless until they were caught by Arnesian soldiers and brought to Hasinar where they were tortured.
A month later, Alucard was freed and brought back to Red London. His father had died while he was away, and Berras—now family head—told the king and queen that Alucard wanted to sail. Thus, when Maxim Maresh pardoned Alucard for his crime of piracy, he also appointed him as a privateer and made him captain of the Night Spire. That day, Alucard boarded the ship, and Anisa gifted him a cat before he left.
===New thief===
In October 1819, some of Alucard's crew members bring Lila Bard to him after she killed Bels. When Alucard realizes that Lila does not speak Arnesian, he tries out several other languages before returning to Arnesian. He speaks slowly and gestures to make her understand that she murdered his best thief. Lila then declares that she is his best thief. Amused by her, Alucard allows her to join his crew.
Sometime later, Alucard catches Lila curse in English and invites her to his room. Alucard asks her who she is; after all, it is unusual for someone who is not a noble to speak English with such fluency. Lila deflects his questions, however. He then tells her that he is a privateer, not a pirate, and that he would like her to keep him company as he does not want his High Royal to become rusty. In return, he will teach her Arnesian. Lila is willing, but only if he also teaches her magic; Alucard agrees.
Four months afterward, Lila seizes the Copper Thief all on her own and then triumphantly returns to the Night Spire. Lenos and Stross made a bet with her that she could not do this; now that she proved them wrong, they are reluctant to part with their knife and money, respectively. After Alucard makes them hand over their possessions to Lila, he and Lila head to his cabin where they toast "to the best thief."
===Return to Red London===
The Night Spire then heads to Sasenroche. There, the crew splits up, agreeing to meet at the Inroads in the evening. Alucard goes to its black market to sell some items they acquired in their raids, and Lila follows him. Although she tries to be sneaky, he notices her, and after he finishes his business, he seeks her out. Together, they walk to the tavern, and Alucard admits to Lila that he can see threads of magic. She wants to know what he sees when he looks at her, but he refuses to tell her.
At the Inroads, the crew comes together, and Alucard announces to everyone that they will return to Red London because he has entered the upcoming Essen Tasch. Afterward, he finds Lila on the Night Spire trying to command the ocean, and they talk for a while.
On the way back to Red London, Alucard and Lila have a magic lesson. However, because Lila's attention is waning, they cut the lesson short, and Lila asks Alucard about Faro, Vesk, and the Essen Tasch. While they talk, Alucard suddenly kisses Lila, though only to throw her off enough that she might tell him what she is running away from. When she realizes this, Lila pushes him away and storms out of the cabin.
Later, when the Night Spire is sailing on the Isle, Alucard joins Lila on deck and tells her about his past as a pirate. A moment later, they arrive in Red London where they meet Jasta Felis. The Night Spire crew then checks into the Wandering Road; because he is the captain, Alucard gets his own room unlike the others who have to share. That night, Alucard goes to visit Anisa and Berras at the Emery Estate. While he is happy to see his sister, an argument with his brother makes him leave early. Outside, he reveals to Lila that he knows she was tailing him. They then return to the inn together.
===The Essen Tasch===
Two nights before the Essen Tasch, Alucard attends a customary party at the Setting Sun for the local competitors and their entourages; Alucard's entourage is made up of Stross, Vasry, Tav, and Lila. There, Alucard catches up with Kisimyr Vasrin and Jinnar. When he sees Lila leaving early, he follows her and finds her with Stasion Elsor; she knocked him unconscious and now wants to hide him on a boat.
Although Alucard is furious and scolds her for her action, he helps her by persuading the crew of a criminal transport to ship Stasion to Delonar. In return, Alucard makes Lila admit that she is not from Red, but from another London. After they steal Stasion's belongings and send him away, Alucard and Lila part ways.
==Relationships==
===Romances===
<tabber>
Rhy Maresh=
Alucard and Rhy are romantic partners, and have quite a history together. Rhy fell for him when he was merely seventeen, and they seemed to have a period of courtship before Alucard was forced away from London- and his lover. Rhy was, according to Kell, devastated, and Alucard "broke his heart".
Despite that, Alucard returned to Rhy when he came to London once more, and apparently missed him greatly. He seems to honestly have a great deal of affection and attraction to the prince.
</tabber>
===Family===
<tabber>
Reson Emery=
Very little is known about Alucard's relationship with his father, but it was shown to be quite poor, as Reson contributed to Alucard's punishment. Alucard showed no love for him whatsoever.
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Berras Emery=
Alucard hates his brother, a feeling which is mutual for both sides. Berras was disgusted with Alucard for loving the prince, and nearly killed him for it, getting him banished from London and inadvertently breaking Rhy's heart. Later, Berras finally got his comeuppance, and he is now the only remaining Emery after his disownment by Alucard. 
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Anisa Emery=
Anisa was the only member of his family who Alucard really loved. His cat Esa was apparently a gift from her, and Alucard risked his life to attempt to save her. Although he failed, Anisa and Alucard seemed to share a tight bond to the end.
</tabber>
===Others===
<tabber>
Lila Bard=
Lila Bard was picked up by Alucard outside a tavern after she murdered his best thief. Since she was clearly the superior thief, as well as her latent magical abilities and a now-empty spot in his crew, Alucard decided to not only bring her aboard but personally take her under his wing, teaching her the basics of magic. After a period of mistrust, the two eventually formed an odd friendship. Alucard holds her in nothing more than a respected platonic light, although he did once ‘attempt’ to seduce her so he could gain more information on her past.
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Kell Maresh=
Kell Maresh and Alucard have a bitter rivalry, and Kell considers him at least non-trustworthy, if not an enemy outright. After Alucard broke Rhy's heart by leaving London, Kell was enraged and banished him from the city, threatening him several times. After his return, Kell threatens him on his brother's behalf once more, although it appears to be mostly fruitless, as he continues his romantic intentions with Rhy.
</tabber>
==Skills and abilities==
* Magic: Alucard is a powerful magic user. He is a triad, meaning he is able to control three elements: earth, water, and air. In addition, Alucard is able to see magic in the world, including being able to differentiate between Antari magic and normal magic.
==Possessions==
* Esa: Esa is a cat and a gift from his sister, Anisa.
==Appearances==
* A Royal Affair
* A Gathering of Shadows 
* A Conjuring of Light
* The Fragile Threads of Power
==Gallery==
Full Body - Alucard Emery.png
AGOS Alucard Card.png
TFTOP Rhy and Alucard by Lasq.png|Alucard and Rhy, seven years later.
==Trivia==
<tabber>
General=
* Alucard is homosexual."Alucard is canon Gay"
** He only kissed Lila to make a point and knock her off guard, not because he is attracted to her."He only kisses Lila to make a point/knock her off guard. And women swoon over him, but he doesn't reciprocate. Also important to keep in mind his family. He's less ostentatious in his attractions to men in part because of his father."
* He speaks several languages.
===Out of Universe===
* Alucard's silver ring is a ring Schwab owns herself."Several of you have noticed my newest ring. It is Alucard Emery's from A GATHERING OF SHADOWS.""I had the ring first!"
* Alucard would not order anything from Starbucks himself. Instead, he would "steal sips from Rhy's drink.""Alucard would just steal sips from Rhy's drink." He would also flirt a lot."Alucard: Flirts"
* If Alucard had to live through lockdown, he would work on a puzzle with Rhy."I've found myself wondering how my characters would handle [lockdown]. [...] Authors, what you got?" — "Rhy and Alucard would work on a puzzle"
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Etymology=
* "Alucard" is "Dracula" spelled backward; thus, the name is often used in vampire-related fiction.Wiktionary — Alucard However, V. E. Schwab chose the name unintentionally as she did not realize that "Alucard" was "Dracula" backward during the naming process."TRUE STORY: I had no idea it was Dracula backwards when [I] named him that.""YOU GUYS ALUCARD EMERY IS NOT A VAMPIRE. I DIDN'T REALIZE HIS NAME WAS DRACULA SPELLED BACKWARDS I JUST LIKED IT.""I DIDN'T KNOW 'ALUCARD' WAS 'DRACULA' BACKWARD I JUST LIKED THE NAME.""No, I really didn't know Alucard was Dracula backwards."
* "Alucard" is pronounced "A-luc-ar.""A-luc-ar."
* "Emery" is the Norman form of the Germanic medieval name "Emmerich."Behind the Name — Emery "Emmerich" was either composed of ermen ("whole, universal"), amal ("work, labour"), or heim ("home") and ric ("power").Behind the Name — Emmerich
</tabber>
==References and notes==
Category:Characters
Category:Male characters
Category:House of Emery
Category:Night Spire
Category:Red London inhabitants
Category:A Gathering of Shadows characters
Category:A Conjuring of Light characters
Category:The Fragile Threads of Power characters