Dracula X

Chapter 1

Author's Note: Whew, again a new story ;-) I had this idea because at the moment I'm really obsessed with vampires and Dracula. So I thought: Why not retell the story with our favorite X characters? Anyway, there it is. I don't know if it's good or not, but it was quite fun to write. So, if you liked it, please leave a positive review. I'd really be happy about that! Thank you very much! Look forward to Subaru, Hokuto, Daisuke, Sorata and many more!

Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to CLAMP. The story is based on Bram Stoker's "Dracula".

Transylvania, 1897.

A sole carriage made its way through the snow covered forests of Romania. In the dark of the night, the traces of the wooden wheels were hardly visible on the fluffy fresh snow. The cold was piercing. The few passengers were all wrapped up in thick clothes and blankets, which made it hard to even recognize their faces.

From time to time, the howls of wolves interrupted the clatter of the jolting carriage and made the people shudder and look at each other in fear. One of them was a young woman. Her head was covered by a grey headscarf. In her arms was a small pack which could have easily been her baby. All the way until now she had been whimpering quietly, her arms folded closely around what was most important to her.

The carriage stopped. Again, howls of wolves, but this time closer than ever before.

One of the men leaned out of the window, blinking against the icy snow flakes that touched his face now. "Coachman, why have you stopped?! The people are afraid, it's dangerous here!"

The coachman, an old, crooked man, wearing a black cloak, turned around and under his head, one could see flickering dark eyes. "One of you wanted to stay here. We're near Bran Castle."

The man who was talking to the coachman turned around to face the other people. "Is there someone who really intends to get out here?"

"If it's near Bran Castle, then the one to get out would be me", a young man suddenly said and stood up, so that his face was no longer covered in the shadow of the corner he was sitting in.

The others turned around. No one had properly noticed the foreign looking boy before, but now, they eyeballed him curiously. He was wearing a black suit, on his head a fitting black top hat. His face was young, violet eyes revealing both self-confidence and reservation.

"Well, then, young man. If you really think you need to go to the castle, we certainly won't hinder you", one man said. "But please hurry. We want to get away from this place."

The trembling woman with the baby nodded.

"Sure", the young man said, took his case and opened the door. "Goodbye and Godspeed." Seconds later, his shoes sunk into the shallow snow cover. He closed the door and looked at the coachman.

The man only drove the horses on again. "Good luck, Mr. Harker", he grinned and waved at him.

Slowly, the carriage rumbled away and finally disappeared between the dark, gnarled trees.

Kamui Harker pulled his collar up. His breath was like white welling fog against the cold air.

Finally, he shuddered, as he turned around and realized the large, sinister castle which stood out against the black trees. "Uh…", he whispered and started to tramp towards the repelling walls of the huge building. 'Who would like to live in a place like that?! No wonder he wants to move to London…', Kamui thought and quickened his pace as the wolves started howling again dangerously near.

The moon broke through the thick clouds like a pale disk and illuminated the castle with dismal light.

The young man felt an icy chill at his neck and he started running. The wolves… Were they just behind him?! He didn't dare to turn around. Forcefully, he pushed the metallic gates open and made his way towards the gothic entrance. "Hello?!", he shouted and knocked. "Hello! It's Kamui Harker."

Cumbersomely, the large door opened, revealing a gloomy, candle-lit hall.

Kamui swallowed and entered. "Hello?", he whispered, this time a lot lower than before.

The door shut behind him noisily and he scared up.

"Good evening", a quiet voice said next to him.

"Who?!" Alarmed, Kamui turned around.

"I'm sorry, my young friend. I didn't mean to scare you." On the stairway, there was a man. The candleholder in his hands illuminated his face eerily. Around his neck was an exclusive dark cloak with sharp, high collar. His hair was a deep black, which formed a strange contrast against his unnaturally white skin.

Kamui relaxed. "You are… Count Seishiro?"

The man came towards him. "Indeed. And you must be…"

"My name is Kamui Harker. I'm the lawyer from London you wanted to see", Kamui explained.

"I've been awaiting you", Seishiro said and shook hands with Kamui. "It's late, so the servants are not available anymore. But I'll help you with your baggage."

"Thank you very much", Kamui answered and observed the Count intensely. 'His teeth… They look so… sharp… An illness?' Silently, he followed the Count through the hallways of the building until they finally stopped in front of a wooden door.

"This is your room, Mr. Harker", Seishiro explained. "I hope you'll find it comfortable. There's a small meal prepared for you as well."

"Thank you, again, Count."

"Please make yourself at home. I've got business to do tomorrow, so I won't be able to see you until evening. Get some rest now. You must be tired."

"Yes, thank you", Kamui said again, bowed slightly and entered the room.

"Ah, one more thing I need to tell you." The Count looked at him. "Please don't leave your room at night, no matter what."

Kamui felt strange. "Why is that?", he asked and raised one eyebrow suspiciously.

The Count smiled meaningfully. "We're in Transylvania here, Sir."

When Kamui finally woke up, it was already past noon. The sun was hidden behind a thick cover of grey clouds.

Clumsily, he crawled out of the old-fashioned bed and dressed. Then he opened the door to the corridor carefully.

'The kitchen… Maybe I could get some breakfast there', he thought and started to explore the huge castle, which somehow looked a lot less dangerous at day than at night. But soon he realized that there was something wrong there. Every door, no matter which one he tried, was either locked or barricaded. He couldn't find any other people in the castle either. No servants. No one. The castle seemed entirely abandoned.

"This is weird…", Kamui whispered and shook his head. "I can't possibly be the only one here…"

His further investigations didn't get him to any other result and, as the sky started to darken again, Kamui hurried to return ti his room, since the Count's warnings suddenly crossed his mind.

'He said he wanted to see me tonight. I'll get my answers for sure then', Kamui hoped having closed the door behind him. Quickly, he lit one candle, and sat down at the wooden desk. An empty sheet of paper lay in front of him. Sighing, he started to write.

My beloved Subaru,

One day has already passed since I arrived safely at the old castle in the snow-covered forests of Transylvania. Tonight, I'm supposed to meet the Count again and get the business done with him. I'm sure it won't take long, so I'll be back soon. I just wanted you to know that I'm alright.

Hopefully, you are fine as well. Send my best regards to your sister Hokuto-san.

I'm longing to see your smile again.

Love, Kamui

Having finished, he read the letter once again, then put the pen away.

He stood up, took out his suit again and changed. 'I'll have to make a good impression on our client.' He took out the small hand mirror and placed it on the commode next to his bed. Carefully, he combed his dark hair, then prepared to shave.

It was a cold, icy chill that entered the room suddenly and blew out the candle.

Kamui stopped and swallowed. The feeling he had was scaring him. As fast as possible he reached for a match and lit the candle again. The darkness gave way and the young man relaxed again. He turned to the mirror again and continued shaving.

"Good evening, Mr. Harker."

Kamui yelled, as he heard a voice and felt warm breath right next to his ear, and fell on the floor. Scared, he turned around to face the man standing next to him. It was the Count.

'Impossible!' Kamui's heart was racing. 'I should have seen him in the mirror! But I swear there'd been no one there!'

"Oh, I'm very sorry. Did I scare you that much?" Seishiro reached out to help Kamui back to his feet again.

Kamui found himself unable to talk. "No, I…" He took a quick glance at the razor blade in his hand. It was red. Instinctively, Kamui touched his face and indeed, there was a fine cut at his cheek.

Right at this moment, the Count seemed to notice the injury as well. For a split second his eyes were filled with lust, similar to an animal being about to be fed. But then he blinked and turned away. "The blood!", he shouted and his voice was filled with anger and tension. "Wipe off the blood, Harker!"

Kamui looked at him, startled. Still trembling, he took out his handkerchief.

Seishiro walked towards the window and looked out at the night. Tensed, he breathed out and shook his head.

"I'm sorry", he heard Harker's voice. "I didn't see you coming."

"Yeah, yeah, it's alright", Seishiro growled and turned around. The blood on Harker's face was gone. 'Good.' "So let's talk about the house."

"The house?" Kamui asked confusedly but then he remembered. "The house, of course. Sorry, I'm still a bit…", he laughed embarrassedly and opened his case. "I've brought you some pictures. It's a beautiful, quiet mansion, a few miles away from the city."

Seishiro took the pictures and looked at them concentrated.

"I have to admit, it looks a bit obscure and dismal, but…"

"No", Seishiro interrupted him. "No, that's just after my fancy. Thank you, Mr. Harker."

Kamui nodded. "Alright then, I'm glad you like it."

"I do." Seishiro returned the pictures to Kamui. "I guess I'll move to London soon then. You have to help me a bit with my English."

"Pardon, Sir, but your English is excellent."

Seishiro chuckled. "Oh thanks. But I want it to be perfect. I don't like being looked at as a stranger." He turned around to leave, but suddenly stopped, as his glance fell on the sheet of paper, and he took the letter from the desk. "What's that?" His eyes narrowed as he skimmed over the lines.

"It's a letter", Kamui answered quickly, a bit annoyed that the Count nosed into his private affairs.

"To whom?"
Kamui didn't understand. "What?"

"Who is Subaru Murray?", Seishiro wanted to know.

"My fiancé." Kamui's voice was cold.

"Hm, alright. You may send that letter." Seishiro put the paper down again.

"I will." Kamui found it hard to control his voice. 'Why shouldn't I be allowed to send that letter?!' He growled.

"Well then." The Count opened the door and left. "Good night, Mr. Harker."

"Good night, Count Seishiro", Kamui replied, but the Count had already shut the door again.

Kamui sighed and as he turned around to pack his case again, he noticed a scratching sound coming from his door.

Irritated, he focused the wooden door. "Count Seishiro? Are you still there?"

No answer.

Kamui felt strange. Slowly, he approached the door and touched the knob. He pushed, but nothing happened. He pushed again, with force. Nothing. Kamui's eyes widened. 'It's locked…!'

Alarmed, he rushed towards the window and stared down into the depths of a rough cliff underneath his room. Slowly, he breathed out, as a strong, icy breeze came rushing against him. His gaze wandered up, where he could see the other wing of the castle piercing black against the large, bright full moon.

His heart almost stopped, as he realized a flying silhouette, which was standing out against the moon's light. A dark cloak, large black wings. Eyes like fire... 'The Count…'

Kamui stumbled back. 'This is no castle.' He breathed hard. 'This is a prison.'