Contains: MxM (yaoi), smut, violence/blood, (probably) nonconsensual, various other deviant things.

Summary: An AU after the end of Castlevania: Lament of Innocence, where Joachim beats Leon and ends up killing Walter. However, as the new master of the castle, Joachim decides to let the blond ex-knight live - and takes him in as his new servant. Leon reluctantly consents to the agreement for the chance to find Matthias with Joachim's help, but he steadily begins to fall under the vampire's spell.

Chapter One

Joachim released a deep breath.

It was over. Finally, it was all over.

He stood alone in the throne room of the giant castle - a room he hadn't seen for what felt like an eternity. It was deathly silent, or perhaps it was the silence of death; a circular burn mark on the carpet was all that remained of Joachim's fallen foe.

After that fool of a human had made the mistake of fighting him earlier, Joachim not only easily beat him into submission, but also drained him practically dry. The taste of his sweet, untainted blood had been so intoxicating that Joachim took his time, savoring every drop, and only managed to stop himself with the mortal was at death's door. The only reason why he hadn't completely exsanguinated him? His logic was simple: he needed a food source while he recovered after defeating Walter. The idiotic man wasn't going anywhere after the number Joachim did on him, so the vampire had just dragged him back to the castle's main hall and dumped him there temporarily.

Joachim felt exhausted even as he lowered himself into the throne that was now his. Despite his tiredness, however, a smile curled on his pale lips the moment he felt the touch of cold metal against his back. That smile cracked into a grin, and then… a long, cold, gleeful laugh. The vampire leaned against the armrest and tilted his head back, the sound of his ecstatic voice echoing around the throne room like the frantic ringing of a bell.

Finally, he caught his breath. As much as he wanted to sit here and bask in the glory of finally killing that horrible, vile Walter, there was a lot left for Joachim to do.

In fact, his work had hardly begun.

It was hard to describe what being run over by a pack of elephants was like, but as he rolled over and tried to force his eyes open, Leon imagined that the current state of his body felt similar to just that.

"Ngh…" He let out a lengthy groan, eventually managing to push himself up into a sitting position. Every muscle in his body screamed in protest. His head, too, was immediately wracked by so much dizziness that he could barely keep from collapsing again.

The blond ex-knight couldn't remember much at first. After finishing his fight with the giant golem in the Anti-Souls Mystery Lab, he'd found his way to the Dark Palace of Waterfalls without too much difficulty. It took him quite a while to find a path through the labyrinthine dungeon, but after he finally opened the door to the final chamber…

"Jo- Joachim!"

Leon cried out a single name as he jumped up to his feet. He immediately wobbled from side to side, but grabbed a lamp pedestal nearby to steady himself. The sight of his torn tunic and scratched, wounded skin brought to him the unpleasant realization of what had happened.

That man - that vampire - had defeated him. He'd fought with all the strength he had, but eventually, the haughty creature had forced him to his knees. Although Leon was expecting death, what he got was something very different. Joachim had suddenly pulled him into his arms, and a second later, the sharp press of fangs burying themselves into his neck caused Leon to whimper in pain. But a few moments after that, the excruciating sensation had faded to something far more pleasant. It was a delightful warmth that spread throughout his whole body, working its way down between his legs, until eventually -

He tightly shut his eyes and shook his head to rid it of the memory. All that mattered was that he was here now, and still alive. With any luck, he hadn't been turned, either, which meant there was a chance for him to rescue Sara. He'd have to go back to Rinaldo's house to rest and recover, and hopefully he would soon be strong enough again to defeat Walter.

However, as Leon started to stagger towards the castle exit, he suddenly noticed something. The five orbs that were supposed to be sealing the path to Walter… they were all lit.

Leon had only found two, and Joachim's would have been the third. Did that mean… no, that was impossible, surely!

The rational part of his mind pleaded with him to quickly leave the castle and return to Rinaldo. Regardless of who was past that door, there was no way Leon would be able to fight them. But at the same time, if the path wasn't blocked any longer, maybe he could rush in and grab Sara. Maybe there was no need for him to fight anyone.

Yet it was curiosity that drove him the most strongly up the stairs and through the newly unlocked door. His bloodied legs had barely any strength to them, but it was enough to bring him over the threshold of the Pagoda's entrance.

As Leon dragged himself through the towering hallways, he realized with a shock that the place was entirely devoid of monsters. Telltale piles of bones and impaled corpses made it clear that Walter's minions were once roaming everywhere, but now there was not a single living thing in sight. The blood was fresh, too.

His heart started to beat steadily faster. There was no sign of Sara, nor of whoever had done all this. Leon had to recite prayers in the back of his mind to keep from panicking as he broke into a run, ignoring the cries of his exhausted body. The huge flight of stairs leading up to the pinnacle of the throne room was like torment, but Leon eventually managed to reach the top. The moment he pressed against the heavy stone door and found it unlocked, a feeling of apprehension sharply weighed down his stomach.

The vampire's eyes opened at the sound of the door shifting.

He had fallen into a doze while mulling over his plans while still sitting on the throne. Joachim's head was still a little bleary, but the moment he saw who was standing before him, he immediately jolted to his senses.

"You… You're already awake?" His violet eyes blinked wide in disbelief. Although the human stumbling towards him looked incredibly disheveled and weak, he'd still managed to crawl up here when, by all accounts, he should still be lying unconscious on the floor. Had Joachim underestimated him?

Leon came to a stop at a safe distance away, glancing around the room with eyes that looked like they were struggling to stay open. "Walter… he… did you…?" His voice was hoarse and dry, and he could barely manage to get the words out.

Joachim soon recovered from his surprise. A soft smirk gradually formed on his ethereally beautiful features, proud and haughty. "Are you blind, or just a fool? I wouldn't be sitting here on this throne if Walter was still alive," the vampire snorted contemptuously. "While you were enjoying a nice rest, I retrieved the remaining orbs and challenged Walter. It turns out he wasn't so formidable after all."

That news made Leon's knees tremble, and he looked like he was about to buckle on the spot from relief, even though Joachim was technically still his enemy. "Then… Sara…?"

The white-haired man tilted his head to one side in momentary puzzlement. He realized, then, that Leon was probably referring to the dead girl he'd found on his path to Walter earlier. Presumably, the other vampire had seen that it was Joachim and not Leon who was coming for him, and decided Sara was just going to act as a needless burden - or worse, a weapon that could later be used against him.

"She's no more for this world," Joachim stated simply. He felt no sympathy whatsoever for Leon. Even though he, too, had been a victim of Walter, Joachim had shed no tears and never asked for anyone to rescue him.

"Kh… You're lying! That's not…" Leon gritted his teeth and hissed out an accusation at Joachim. But when the only answer he got was an unamused stare, he started to tremble, and soon sank to the ground. "Sara… No, it's not possible… Sara… Sara!"

As the ex-knight balled his hands into fists and cried out in despair, Joachim rose from his throne with a heavy sigh. This was not the way he'd envisioned his first hour sitting upon the castle's throne. The last thing he wanted was this blubbering fool crying himself to sleep on the ground while Joachim was trying to think. Really, his dedication and strength would be almost admirable, if not for how pathetically emotional he apparently was.

"Stop blubbering. This 'Sara' is gone, dead, and no amount of wailing is going to bring her back." Striding up to Leon, Joachim reached down to grab one of the blond's arms and haul him up. But Leon was so lost in misery that he was practically as limp as a ragdoll, sinking back down immediately, and the vampire pinched at the bridge of his nose with a thumb and forefinger. Maybe he'd be better off just killing this one and looking for another source of sustenance, instead…

But as he stared down at Leon's radiantly blue eyes, overflowing with tears, Joachim remembered the exquisitely sweet taste that was still lingering on his tongue. The taste that came from this man and his pure, untainted heart - it was unlike anything he'd ever had before, and he doubted it would be so easy to find again. Moreover, it made the vampire wonder what kind of taste Leon would have if Joachim started to corrupt him… or even better, turned him. Would it be filled with rage? Sorrow? Or perhaps something even sweeter still?

The thought was enough to make Joachim lick his lips. He leaned down again, this time to pick Leon up in his arms, since it was obvious the ex-knight wasn't going to be walking anytime soon. Even though he was being held in a bridal carry, Leon didn't even seem to notice or care, instead continuing to sob heavily with his head falling against Joachim's chest. It was endearing in a pitiful sort of way, Joachim had to admit.

The vampire carried Leon from the throne room out into the Pagoda. He vaguely remembered where the bedrooms were located back from his time as Walter's servant, so it didn't take him long to figure out where he was going. The huge master bedroom was marked with a large and conspicuous door, which Joachim kicked in vehemently before making his way inside. The lavish decor reeked of Walter's tastes for fine silks, exotic furniture, and the omnipresent color red. Joachim could still detect his old master's despicable scent in the air as he tossed Leon onto the bed, and reminded himself to change the sheets as soon as possible.

By now, Leon had apparently recovered some of his composure. He stared up at Joachim with a look of shock and confusion, his cheeks streaked with tears. "What are you doing? I thought - I thought you'd kill me, surely…"

Joachim rolled his eyes. "If I was going to kill you, wouldn't I have done you in back at the Palace? Are you really that bereft of common sense?" He propped his hands on his hips with a little toss of his head. "If you haven't noticed, I'm not in the best shape, either. I've been starving in that damned prison for an eternity, and - as hard as this may be for you to comprehend - a creature like me needs regular prey to stay in good health."

At the vampire's contemptuous words, Leon shrank back a little against the covers. One of his hands started to drift towards the whip that still hung from his belt. "I won't sit around and be your meal, monster," he growled, narrowing his reddened eyes. The act of resistance was so unthreatening that Joachim couldn't help but snicker a little.

"Beyond the obvious fact of you not having a choice in the matter, you should also remember that you're doubly in my debt. Not only did I spare your life, but I even took out your enemy for you - don't you think you owe me a little more gratitude?" He shook his angelic head, watching Leon with a disapproving look.

That reply seemed to catch Leon off guard. It wasn't surprising, considering his innocence and gentle heart, that he paused and contemplated Joachim's words so seriously. His brow soon furrowed again in mistrust, however, and although he lifted his hand from his whip, he continued to scowl at Joachim. "You're an evil creature of the night, just like the one who stole my… my betrothed." It was probably taking all of his willpower not to break down again. "There's no way in God's name I could ever be indebted to you. Nor will I ever help you."

Joachim's patience was starting to wear thin. He realized the blond wasn't going to acknowledge anything he said if they continued like this, so maybe he had to put things more bluntly. Normally, he would've just smacked Leon around a bit to knock some sense into him, but in the other man's current state, Joachim would probably just end up striking him unconscious.

"Fine. Here's a choice for you, then. You can sit chained in the bottom of a dungeon as my personal bloodbag for the rest of your days, never seeing the light of day again. Or... " As he paused for dramatic effect, Joachim grinned faintly. He had neglected to mention the individual he'd met after encountering Walter.

"...You can become my servant, and I'll consider helping you enact revenge on the one who helped Walter kidnap your 'Sara.' Matthias, was it?" The moment the name left Joachim's lips, Leon immediately stiffened, staring at the white-haired man with his jaw agape.

"Matthias…? What? That can't be right. He would never do something so foul."

Joachim lifted his elegant shoulders in a shrug. "Well, he didn't seem the least bit remorseful about stealing Walter's soul to turn himself into a vampire. A very cowardly act, in my opinion. He was also expecting you to be the one to kill Walter, which is why he lured you here through Sara." He paused, curling his lips with a look of disgust. "Something about taking revenge on God for letting his wife die. You mortals and your lack of emotional control…"

The vampire's nonchalant statement soon had the desired effect. After he got over his initial disbelief, including a few long moments of intensely staring at Joachim to make sure he wasn't lying, Leon bit his lip and bowed his head slightly. "I'd think you were lying, but if you were truly locked up in the Palace this whole time, there's no way you could know about Matthias and his Elisabetha without meeting him." He still seemed to doubt Joachim, but Leon was starting to waver, and the perceptive vampire intended to seize the opportunity before him.

"Why would I lie to you? And if I was lying, don't you think I'd put more effort into it?" Joachim started to lean in towards Leon, who pressed back against the pillows defensively when the vampire's face grew closer, leering down at him. "I'm just repeating what he said... and it sounds like talking to him is the only way you'll ever find a resolution to all this, don't you think?"

His cold palm suddenly reached for the blond's cheek, those long, slender fingers tracing along the other male's warm skin. Leon instinctively shivered, but his blue eyes betrayed a mixture of uncertainty and fascination. It was hard to blame him, Joachim thought; he himself had been bewitched like this by Walter, so very long ago.

Finally, Leon took a deep breath, visibly steeling himself as much as possible. "Then... if you'll help me find Matthias, I'll lend my services to you. Even though you're a -"

There was no time for Leon to finish his sentence. Joachim was abruptly pulling him in, cupping his cheeks with his cool palms, in order to press a sharp kiss against his lips. The vampire couldn't help himself. The mixture of innocence and resolution in Leon's features was just too tantalizing, and it took every ounce of Joachim's willpower not to sink his fangs into that milky skin. But in the ex-knight's current state, he would probably expire from just the blood loss, and the last thing Joachim wanted was to lose his newly acquired toy - or was it 'servant'?

When the vampire pulled back, Leon's flushed, speechless face proved to be an incredibly satisfying sight. Although Joachim rarely cared about anything remotely romantic or sexual, for whatever reason, this blond would-be paladin completely sparked his desires. Plenty of other virtuous adventures had met their end at Joachim's hands over the years, but Leon... he didn't know why, but Leon felt different. He was unspoiled, and just waiting to be nurtured into something perfect.

"Rest for a while, then. I'm going to go hunt. When I get back, we'll start making plans... and oh, what plans I have in store for us, little mortal." Joachim grinned, tapping a long fingernail against his lower lip, before turning to stride towards the door.

"W-Wait! Don't just -"

Leon called out in a flustered protest, angrily starting to rise to his feet, but the vampire was already stepping over the threshold. He closed the bedroom door and flipped the lock, before using his telekinetic power to yank a nearby curtain rod off the wall. It neatly fit over the door as a barrier, and there was no way the exhausted Leon could barge his way through. For all intents and purposes, he was a pretty, innocent bird trapped in Joachim's cage, and the vampire had no intention of letting him out anytime soon.

With that, Joachim started to walk back to where he'd left his swords - humming a melancholy tune under his breath even as he smiled contentedly.