Castlevania: Learn to Love (Castlevania © Konami)
"Do forgive my forthrightness, my liege, but I sense that you are somewhat distracted tonight." The mysterious hooded entity commented curiously, noticing his master's unusual optimum as he gradually emerged from the looming shadows trailing across the darkened throne room floor. The castle lord glanced over to the shrouded being dreamily, vacant eyes glazed with glee. He sighed contently, lifting his chin from the palm of his hand as his elbow slipped leisurely off the arm of his extravagant throne. He'd been thinking intently, lost deep in thought.
"My dear friend, it has been centuries since I have felt such…jubilance."
Death halted before his distant master, honouring his attention with a dutiful bow. "It doesn't by chance have anything to do with the unorthodox choice of guest you have residing within the western wing of the castle?"
"She's awake?" Dracula beamed brightly, eagerly pushing himself up from the throne.
Death lowered his head respectively, his tone moderately reserved. "Not anymore, my lord."
Dracula paused, his brow creasing, clearly un-amused by what he'd heard. Regaining his previously seated position as he reclined back against the throne's velvet cushions, Vlad's voice expressed heightened annoyance as he urged his undead associate to divulge events. Death drifted closer, removing the substantial scythe from across his shoulders; tossing the heavy blade down against the polished floor, where it remained independently lodged as he relinquished his supportive hold.
"I sensed a hostile abnormality wandering within the castle walls. Assuming that it was one of those vexing hunters intruding on your privacy again, I followed it to further investigate its purpose here. I found a human amongst the havoc. It was attacking one of your zombie servants, using an ornamental vase as means of assault."
"Ah, how resourceful." Vlad exhaled with a smirk, brushing back a fallen strand of silken hair from his now elated eyes.
"Indeed." Death groaned, wearily rising to his full height as he hovered with disapproval above the ground. He continued, choosing his words wisely as not to offend the Count.
"Unbeknown to myself that you were entertaining, my unexpected presence may have caused slight distress to your visitor. Humans do not react well to my attendance. It's associated with only one thing amongst the living."
"Where is she now?" Vlad abruptly interrupted, thoughtfully stroking at his bearded chin as he searched the glowing orbs smouldering within the hollows of Death's fear-provoking features. Distancing himself from the throne, Death swept back his flowing robes, calling forth his stationed scythe which swiftly swiped towards his withered hand. He politely replied to his master's query, returning the colossal weapon to his shoulders once his skeletal fingers had firmly seized the staff.
"I placed her back behind the secured door she managed to escape from. The magic seal should keep her contained. I thought it best to enquire of your intentions for her before I acted on my own initiative. I did think it odd that your lesser minions refused to retaliate to her aggression, so I too, refrained from attack."
"No harm must come to her!" Vlad demanded, immediately standing from his seat and descending the mass of stairs the magnificent throne was mounted upon, his dark lengthy cloak trailing behind. "Even if she does manage to somehow advance forth from that room again, I want you to treat her favourably. She is our guest, after all."
"So be it." Death replied with complete understanding, following his master's desires without dispute. Turning sharply, submersing in shadows, his skeletal body dispersed back within the immersing darkness, leaving his Lordship alone to reflect. The Count was desperate to greet his newly abducted arrival, having had her brought to him unconscious to ease the bewildering trauma. He'd been waiting all night for her to awaken, allowing her to naturally regain her bearings and settle before they were formally introduced. Now she had been put back to sleep again, and he wasn't prepared to wait. His yearning for her was growing strong. He'd just have to bring her around himself now and hope that she could pardon the previous unpleasant encounter. Hopefully, no lasting damage had incurred and their uninterrupted integration could proceed as planned.
Flickering candles illuminated her tranquil expression with each gentle breath she exhaled, oblivious to the advancing presence in her educed state of slumber. Dracula observed with interest from the now open entrance, only restoring the powerful seal with a wave of his fingers once he'd entered through the closing chamber doors. He approached with caution, looking down to the young woman laid peacefully out on the sheets. She was exquisite. A figure of refined beauty, dressed only in the satin embroidered nightgown she was wearing when she was snatched from her bed. Vlad's eyes shimmered with excitement as he assessed her sleeping splendour; her head of thick wavy tresses cascaded down to her long luscious legs. From the moment her unique radiance had graced his sights, she had to be his solely to enjoy. He'd dreamt of her elegant appearance, her gentle nature, her tender voice of compassion- rare qualities amongst her primitive kind. She would succumb to him willingly, or by force if the need be. No mere mortal was worthy of his attention, but for her, he'd make the exception.
He saw a kindred spirit in her- a resemblance so strikingly similar to how she once was.
Slowly he knelt against the mattress, declining slightly under his weight. Tensely reaching out a gloved hand towards her delicate features, he softly stroked down her cheek. Her large olive eyes would open soon, he'd finally get the chance to meet his adored, to show her how he felt. His endless nights of waiting for her, watching from afar, would finally be fulfilled. The woman beside him stirred suddenly, releasing a subtle moan as she turned her face from Vlad's touch. Her eyelids began to part, roused from the unexpectedly contact which caused the Count's fingers to apprehensively retract. Before she could get a look at her admirer, having now awakened, a sudden gust extinguished the surrounding candles, plunging the scene into darkness and triggered her heart rate to race. She sat up, startled, shuffling back against the headboard of the bed as she distraughtly searched the shadows. She was panting in confusion, clutching at the covers she was lay upon tightly and dragging them closer against her fluctuating chest; not understanding or recognising her obscured location. The Count watched her with delight, relishing the distress she displayed as his hand disappeared back beneath his heavy cloak. He wanted nothing more than to take her trembling body in his arms, caress her quivering skin and inhale the alluring scent of her blood as he kissed her delectable throat. But he resisted the urge… barely.
She was cold, highly nervous; the fine hairs on the base of her neck were standing on end. The sight of her so helpless was divine to his eyes. To him, she was the purest perfection.
Stepping swiftly from the mattress and stealthily gliding around to the adjacent side of the four poster's frame, Vlad loomed over his unsuspecting victim, his red eyes glowing intensely as the young woman edgily peered over her shoulder to the unexplained presence behind. She shrieked from the sudden manifestation, backing away down the length of the bed before tumbling ungracefully over the edge. Scrambling to her feet, she felt around in the darkness, screaming as her back clumsily collided with the castle lord's torso having mysteriously emerged to intercept. He caught her effortlessly, hands securing her waist. His entrancing voice, deep and captivating, sent petrified shudders racing down her spine as he breathed softly against her ear.
"Do not be frightened." He exhaled sincerely, nuzzling her face with his cold cheek, appreciating the warmth of her youthful skin. The woman's trembling body soon became rigid, unable to move from fright.
"I mean no harm to you." Vlad sympathetically spoke, understanding her apprehension and disorientation from waking up suddenly into the unknown. Pulling away from the Count and turning back to assess her captor, she was unable to see his face, only the lustrous glimmer from his ruby irises piercing through the shadows. She hugged her arms around herself, backing away from his fascinated gaze. Dracula found her behaviour rather charming, such anxious innocence. It was an unusual display to him. She looked away as she heard him approach, setting her sights to her barely visible feet, timidly curling her toes against the coarse fibres of the carpet. The Count took her chin within his fingers, tilting her head upwards and bringing her frightened face to meet with his. Tears of uncertainty ran reluctantly down her cheeks, dripping down to the leather of Vlad's gloved hand. His thumb passed effortlessly over her wet skin, stroking away the moisture. The prospect of her so scared by just his presence was simply adorable to him.
"You are a guest in my home." He whispered softly, releasing her jaw to brush away the stands of fair hair attached to her reddened cheeks, dampened by her tears. "Whatever you desire, my dear, I will do my utmost to provide it for you, all you need do is ask."
The Count's young captive remained unspoken, continuing to silently weep, unable to control her fretful emotions.
"It is understandable that you need time to adjust." Vlad stated with compassion, noticing her unease as she began to loudly whimper in relation to his words. Reaching down to take her wrist, he guided her hand up to his lips, smirking as he spoke.
"I shall leave you now, to allow time for composure. It will not be for long. I will return to you shortly." He smiled smugly, delicately kissing her fingers. She yanked her hand away from his mouth when his lips met her skin, hiding her arm behind her back as she turned to run the darkened distance towards the bolted door. The discourteous gesture caused Vlad's eyes to narrow, slightly insulted by her actions as she called out for aid when the door fixtures wouldn't release. He wasn't accustomed to rejection and certainly wouldn't accept it from her. He would overlook her ill-mannered conduct on this occasion, due to the circumstances. Next time, however, he wouldn't be so lenient.
Following her to the chamber entrance, Vlad's previous tone turned stern. Her longing cries became subdued when she acknowledged his hostile remark.
"You are unable to past through those doors. Know that it is for your own protection. You now have the opportunity to become acquainted with your new residence. I suggest that you make yourself comfortable, as I have no intention of allowing you to leave." Dracula scowled as the young woman fled from him, stumbling back to elude his reach. Vlad melted the seal momentarily when she was a safe distance away from the entrance, displeased by her lack of courtesy as he swiftly departed the room. The door slammed closed behind him, trapping the young woman inside. She ran back to the secured obstruction, pulling futilely on the gold-plated handle, desperately screaming as she hammered her palms against the decorative wooden veneer. Sinking to her knees in defeat, her face buried in her hands and the once smothered candles flickered back into life. Slowly weaving her shaking fingers together as she timidly lifted her head, she prayed that she would wake up soon and that this was only a nightmare- that she'd return back to her own familiar bed if she wished hard enough.
She was scared and alone now, wondering what wrongs she had committed to deserve this callous treatment, how she'd ended up a prisoner to the monster with the cruel crimson glare.
"She won't eat, she won't speak. She won't even look at me!" Vlad snarled, furiously pacing the throne room floor and enforcing his wrath upon any obstruction hindering his path. He struck a row of freestanding sconces, propelling the burning embers down to the ground. Death groaned with agitation, not understanding his master's dismay as he drifted devotedly to his side. Using the broad blade of his scythe, Death distanced the flickering flames from the charred carpet, scraping away the ashes from the fibres and returning the holders to their upright positions before the fitted fabric could catch alight. He then turned to Dracula, voicing his concern.
"Humans are pathetic creatures. Your attention is wasted on her inadequacy. I implore you, end her pitiful suffering and explore alternative means. It angers me to see you in such disgruntlement when the answer to your angst is so straightforward. Others would be honoured at a chance to please you, my lord. Cease this fantasy of coexistence with her. It can never prevail!" Death stated firmly, watching as the Count ascended the stairs and collapsed wearily into his throne.
Bringing his fingers to his brow, Vlad held his head in his hand, massaging his throbbing temples whilst replying harshly through gritted teeth.
"Usually, I would agree with your sentiments." Dracula stated dryly, turning his irritated attention towards his servant. "But there is something special about this one."
"There isn't." Death argued, trying to make his master see sense. "You're just allowing your fascination with her to influence your judgement. You need to deal with her the same way you deal with the rest of her kind, with fear and assertion. It's the only approach these uncouth creatures are acquainted with!"
Vlad refused to listen, combing his fingers roughly through his loose lengthy hair, brushing it back from his face. "It is not by fear that I desire her cooperation. I want her to provide it willingly. I tire of using force, it doesn't work. The dread, the hatred she has for me in her eyes… it's not what I want."
Death shook his head despairingly in response to the remark, the weighed cowl he wore slipping further over his skull. "If you insist on this travesty, my liege, then may I suggest that you remove her from her current quarters? A change of scenery might lessen her reluctance."
"I have already tried this. She will not renounce from that forsaken room!" Vlad yelled, clenching his fingers into a tight fist and bashing his hand angrily against the arm of the throne; destroying part of its ornate frame with the force of his fury as he continued to recklessly rant. "She grows weaker by the day, yet she refuses to eat. She'd rather die than accept sustenance from me. She cowers on the floor whenever I approach, crying for her freedom. The sight drives me to despair. I can't bear witness to her tears anymore!"
Death's humourless reply was delivered with consideration; his master was under a lot of strain.
"She will comply, if you allow her the opportunity to venture forth on her own accord. Curiosity is a common trait amongst her breed. It may just require slight patience on your part. The prospect of freedom should evoke her interest, so you mustn't interfere when it does. Remove the seal from her chamber and allow her the chance to explore by herself. You must remember that she has been locked away without the sun's exposure for some time now, and by your command, the castle's adversity can be reduced throughout the early hours of day. It is uncommon for humans to exist solely in darkness. The lack of natural luminosity may also be a factor towards her discontent."
Dracula considered the strategy, closing his eyes as he exhaled a sigh. "I suppose my conduct has been selfish, expecting her to automatically adapt overnight."
Death nodded in accordance to his master's comment, caution residing in his response. "Your expectations for her are high, my lord, perhaps too high. She is but a wretched human after all. It would be wise to consider this when your continued efforts end in vain- which I'm quite certain they will. I can only advise and offer my opinion. It is by your own discretion if you choose to take heed."
Vlad smiled, looking up with amusement to his loyal dependant, his tone somewhat teasing. "I value your honesty, my friend… however trying it may be at times."
