I haven't published on this site since 2005, but this idea creeped into my head and I just had to share it. I've never done a characterxreader style story before, but I thought it lent itself well to the kind of story I wanted to tell. I hope you enjoy it, and I'll hopefully get the next chapter out shortly.

I neither own Castlevania nor its characters.

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You stumble in, disheveled and panicked, tripping over your own two feet, wide eyes searching the darkness for the savior who let you in.

It was an encounter too close for comfort, three lecherous men whose lack of morals dictated that they each be allowed a turn with you. You were only just trying to get home, the journey from the convent had taken longer than you had originally planned for, and as the darkness settled over the road you knew this would only end poorly.

As you passed the tavern that marked the end of the town you were passing through, you picked up your pace, not only in the hopes of quickening your journey through the uninhabited forest that lay between you and your hometown, but also in the hopes of going unnoticed by any tavern patrons. Your plan had been unsuccessful, and now here you were, stumbling into a darkened castle after being relentlessly pursued through the woods by those lecherous perverts.

"I a-apologize for intr—uding," you gasp as you get ahold of yourself, "but I'm being p-pursued by three gentlemen of ill intent, and I was hoping I c-could perhaps wait here a moment until they leave." Your plea is met with silence.

Your eyes roam the darkness some more, and you notice that the towering wooden double doors you entered through are now shut. Such large doors, at least 20 feet tall and wrought from thick oak, should not have closed without a sound, let alone without assistance. How could this be? Your eyes finally begin to adjust, allowing you to take in your immediate surroundings. You stood in the front of a tremendous room, one whose ceiling reached so high you couldn't make out where it ended, and whose walls were adorned with gorgeous tapestries at least 30 feet in height and of varying widths. In front of these tapestries, flanking both walls to your left and right, was an endless row of unlit candelabras. In front of you sat a grand stone staircase, whose two stairwells cascaded down its left and right sides, and whose center bore a portrait of a noble family. The portrait was at least 10 feet high, and depicted the figures of a proud husband, his beautiful wife, and their angelic son. You're taken aback by its beauty, and decide to venture closer. Cautiously, you make your way toward the staircase, toward the portrait, stepping lightly on the rich red rug beneath you.

*WHAM WHAM WHAM* You nearly jump out of your skin, whirling around to face the front doors that someone has just hammered their fist on. From behind the door you hear a muffled voice yell, "Thought you could get away, did ya? We saw you! Now come out before we drag ya out!"

You begin to back up, petrified, your mouth agape and your left hand slowly rising to cover it, hoping to stop the scream that's threatening to escape. What should you do? Could they get in if they wanted to? Where is the master of this castle? What if all of this disturbance drives the castle's master to throw you out? Then what will you do? In your panic you don't notice that you are no longer alone in this grand entryway. A pair of golden eyes peer at you from the top of the darkened stairway, assessing you and your predicament.

Without a sound the golden eyed figure descends the staircase, coming to stand two feet behind you, "step ba—" but before the figure can finish, you've spun around and lashed your right arm out in front of you, in a feeble attempt at self defense. You strike the figure square in their chest with a thump. The figure stares at you, mouth agape, golden eyes wide, switching between your face and the fist you have planted on their chest. You quickly retract your arm in horror, grasping it to your chest with your left hand, the look on your own face mirroring that of the one on golden eyes'.

"Oh gosh!" You exclaim, "I'm so sorry! I thought one of those terrible men had found a way in and had snuck up behind me! I didn't mean to strike you!" Golden eyes seems to process your confession, and his face softens. Smirking, he replies, "Well then it's a good thing I'm not one of those men, because that strike wouldn't have done much in the way of stopping me."

You feel the blood rise to your cheeks, embarrassment and frustration mingling, "well what would you have me do, then? Lay down and let them take me? I won't be conquered without a fight, not as I live and breathe!" His eyebrows raise, his smirk widens, and he bows, a fluid motion that sends his hair cascading over his face, "then allow me to fight this battle for you. It seems your army could use some assistance." With that he picks his face up to stare directly into your eyes, the smirk replaced with an honest smile. Your blush grows deeper, and you sheepishly bow your own head in gratitude, "thank you. I greatly appreciate this act of kindness." He stands once more to his full height, and proceeds towards the doors.

Almost as if by magic, the towering doors slowly slide open as he approaches them, causing the pounding fists and shouting to momentarily cease. The figure disappears through the doors and out of sight. You're rooted in place, curious to see the exchange taking place, but terrified of seeing those men again, or rather of them seeing you, so you stay put. You listen intently, but you hear nothing, not a whisper. Five long minutes pass, and finally the figure re-enters, the doors slide shut behind him, and he proceeds to walk back towards you, his face unreadable in the darkness from this distance. "I implore you to spend the night," his raspy alto carries through the dark, "This castle has many rooms, you can have your pick of them. It's not safe out there, I'd much rather you continue your journey in the daylight."

You're surprised into silence, contemplating the offer you've just been made. This stranger has just offered you a room for the night. Is this wise? Is it any more wise to go back out into the night after the ordeal you've just been through? But what if he's worse than what's waiting for me outside? You decide that your odds against one man are better than your odds against three, but before you can answer, your stomach grumbles loudly. Embarrassed, your hands fly to cover your stomach. From the darkness you hear a faint snickering, which slowly grows into a raucous laughter. As your host comes into view, you see he's holding his own stomach in an effort to control his hysterical fit, "I suppose that settles it then!" He gets himself under control and offers you his arm, "come, I'll show you to your room." Sheepishly you take his arm, attempting to glance up at him as he continues, "After you've freshened up it would be my pleasure to serve you dinner. Would you like something to change into? It seems you must've taken a tumble while on your journey here." At this you glance down at yourself. He's right, your forest green wool cloak is completely covered in mud that has almost dried. The bottom of your navy blue dress, which comes out just below the cloak, is equally as caked in mud. Your brown leather boots are now completely gray. In your flight from the leches you did stumble and fall a few times, after all it isn't easy to run blindly through a pitch black forest. I guess the rain earlier that day hadn't fully dried by nightfall. "That would be very much appreciated, thank you," you manage to say, although you're still feeling quite flustered from the whole ordeal. After you've traversed what seems like the third endless hallway, your host finally stops at a door, and swinging it open, reveals a bedroom so ornate it was better suited for royalty. You gasp, taking in the beauty. He leads you inside, and your eyes can't stop roaming every inch of it. It's completely lit up with golden candelabras, the first room you've been in since entering this castle that wasn't practically pitch black. The candle light causes the golden candelabras, along with the golden four post bed planted in the center of the room, to glisten. The room is decorated in red and black velvets with golden accents, the bed is draped in red velvet curtains, parted to reveal red bedding and pillows as well. On the right side of the room is another door, on the left wall is a large golden wardrobe along side a golden dressing table and a golden vanity.

You don't notice your host amusedly admiring you while your head whips to and fro, taking it all in, "Will this suffice?" He steps back from you, releasing your arm, causing you to rest your wandering eyes on him, and suddenly you realize you're now able to see him clearly. He's gorgeous. Long golden hair, holding the slightest wave, rests below his chest. He's tall, at least 6'7", and lean, but broad shouldered. His skin looks like it's made of porcelain, his patrician nose, high cheek bones and slender face portray the masque of an angel. He's wearing a white shirt and tight black pants under a long black coat adorned with golden accents. His golden eyes are boring holes into you, he's waiting for an answer, so you collect yourself enough to give one. "More than sufficient, it's magnificent!" You manage to squeak. He smiles, "good. That door to the right is the washroom, feel free to use it. A clean dress will be waiting for you on the bed. I'll come back to get you when you've finished." With that he bowed, and proceeded to the golden wardrobe, opening it, and eyeing the dresses inside. You take that as your cue to exit, and scurry over to the washroom.

You shut the door behind you, taking a moment to lean against it as you take in the room. A porcelain claw foot tub sits adjacent a porcelain vanity. The walls are the same blood red as those in the adjoining bedroom, and the floor is white tile. A golden candelabra mounted above the vanity's mirror is what illuminates the room, and you approach it, taking in your sight in the mirror. You're a wreck. Your hair is disheveled, your clothes muddy, your face streaked with dirt and sweat. You quickly undress, letting everything pile on the ground, and you turn on the tub's faucet. You soaked for what seemed like forever, but not for too long, because more than anything you wanted to see your host again. Once you were finished, drying off with a luxurious black towel, you appraised yourself in the mirror once more. Much better this time. You braid your wet hair, sweeping it back from your face. Wrapping the towel around yourself, you cautiously open the door, peeking into the bedroom. Your host was gone, but just as he had said, a dress waited for you on the bed. It was red velvet, just like everything else in the room, with long fitted sleeves that tapered to triangular points on the backs of your hands, and an a-line hem that practically reached the floor. The boat-cut neckline was trimmed in black, as was the lacing that cinched it together in the back. The dress fits you like a glove, but you struggle a bit with cinching the back laces.

As if on cue, there's a knock at the door, "My surprise guest, are you ready for dinner?" You stutter a bit, "u-uh yes! I just.. I could use a hand, if you don't mind?" The door slowly opens and your host steps in, his face amused. He takes in the sight of you, you're holding onto the two laces, pulling them over your shoulders as almost mock suspenders. He appraises the situation and approaches you. "If it isn't too much trouble, would you mind tying these for me?" You shyly ask. He chuckles lightly before stepping behind you and taking the laces from your hands, "of course, m'lady." A moment later the laces are tied and you move to face each other. "Thank you," you say earnestly. "You look beautiful," he replies, his golden eyes drinking you in, "certainly better than you did when you first broke in." Your flattered flush quickly becomes outrage as he proceeds to laugh at you. Indignant, you reply, "I didn't break in, the door opened for me! And I don't normally go around looking like a-a mud ball! I was chased through the woods in the pitch black darkness! It wasn't easy to navigate, so of course I fell a few times!" You cross your arms over your chest, ready to continue, but he stops you, "You're very fun to tease. But for now, let us go enjoy a meal, I suspect it's the hunger making you extra volatile." With that you gasp and swing at him, attempting to swat his arm, but he just laughs and dodges, before he offers you his arm. You swat a second time, this time landing it, before taking the offered arm with a huff. He holds in a final laugh before leading you from the room.