Title: No Regrets
Pairing: Carrie/Malus
Rating: R-M
Summary: Carrie is reminded of a promise she made long ago after she is driven from her home village.
Disclaimer: I do not own Castlevania N64. All characters associated with the game belong to Konami and Nintendo and whoever else has rights to them, and I make no money off of this. The OC's however are mine, and I'll thank you not to use them without my permission.

Chapter 1

Carrie smoothed the material across her hips and brushed the front of her dress off. She still hadn't managed to get the smell out of her clothes, but she didn't want to change into her nice dress until she had a chance to clean up. She bit her lips, and her hands tangled in the strap of her pack. She had a few coins in her bag, enough for a few nights at the tavern, but she'd have to find work quickly if she was planning on staying in town.

This was ridiculous, she narrowed her eyes. She was just going to drop in and visit Malus, if he was even willing to speak with her at this point, apologize and then head out to see what kind of jobs the village had available for a… vampire slaying witch. Right. She winced knowing that there really was so little that she was actually able to do. Perhaps there was an opening as a tavern wench, or as a seamstress assistant. She could sew, and serving table surely couldn't be too difficult to pick up. Still there was no reason to be so nervous. She defeated Dracula when she was still a girl, she could handle begging for work. The worst they can do is refuse, and if she was shamed by the experience, so be it.

Carrie's straightened her shoulders and with as much dignity as she could muster walked into the town. She stared around taking in the children running through the streets. There were a few shops lining the street to the sides and the tavern was at the very end of the street. Women in plain dresses with aprons happily bartered with the shop keeps and several men were tending horses, and loading wagons. She marveled at the cheerful villagers moving up and down the streets with purpose. She stopped to let some squawking chickens run in front of her. A couple of kids ran after them shouting happily.

She felt her lips part in wonder. This was amazing. She couldn't remember the last time she had been in a town that felt so… alive. It was true though. There was a sense of life here that had been lacking in the village she had been driven from. These people did not live in constant fear. She could feel her face settling into more relaxed lines, a tightness she wasn't even aware seeping from her shoulders. She could do this.

Carrie strolled into the tavern and paused for a second to take it in. It was much the same as the small inn of her village except the wooden tables were scattered around were different heights as some of the tables along the wall held couches instead of wooden chairs. There were several patrons scattered about, mostly men in drab tunics or white shirts with vests. The serving girl and barkeep both wore chemises with bodices and colored skirts that reminded her strongly of her childhood and the bright colors the gypsies favored. A couple of obviously moneyed patrons occupied one of the low couches to the right of the door. Carrie navigated through the tables and made her way to the bar, smiling back at the blonde serving girl who flashed her a quick grin before bustling into the kitchen.

The bar keep was a small woman who moved with quick jerky movements but offered an easy smile when she noticed the young woman making her way to the counter. Dark eyes studied long green dress that was covered with a simple cowl like jacket that was held in place with a red stoned brooch that matched her striking eyes. Certainly this girl looked nothing like a common villager for all that her clothes weren't those of the gentry. Wiping slender bony hands on a towel she gave a hearty greeting to the stranger.

"Well, there's a lovely lass. Now what can we be helping you with?"

Rowana's smile became amused when she noticed the blush on the pale cheeks of the blue haired girl before her. Such an innocent one, she realized. This town would likely chew her up and spit her out given half a chance. She felt a wave of maternal something or other try to spring to life, but strangled the urge to become a protective wing for the girl. She had neither the power nor the daring to get involved, especially for one who was like to be leaving the next day.

"Hello. I was wondering if there was an extra room available that I could possibly rent until tomorrow?" the young woman held her gaze steady despite the blush and she spoke in a very confident manner. Perhaps the girl wasn't going to be in nearly the danger she had first assumed. Rowana nodded thoughtfully.

"Rooms are five gold a night and I'll be requiring the pay in advance, mind," the barkeep announced.

Carrie cringed at the amount, but she dug in her pack until she was able to reach the small inside pocket that held some of her money. She pulled the required amount from her bag and placed it on the smoothed wood of the counter. That was another difference from the small inn back in her old village. The wood was rough instead sanded smooth as this was. It was such a subtle difference but it bespoke of an attention to detail that most taverns she had been to would never have bothered with. Slender fingers snatched up the gold and dumped it into a little black pouch that went back down her blouse. With that the woman ducked beneath her counter before popping back up.

"Come along then," Rowana flourished the key and walked up the stairs beside her bar fully expecting the girl to follow her. "Supper is free with the room, in case you were wondering. Breakfast you'll have to scrounge up for yourself."

"That sounds fair enough," the girl agreed easily.

"Here's your room." The woman slipped the key into the lock and held the door open. She watched the girl slip inside and study the room. There was a bed with clean linens and a quilt a small bedside dresser. There was a table against the far wall with a wash basin and a vase of flowers that little Margie picked from the field out back just that morning. It wasn't anything to write home about, but it was a sight better than most dumps that people tried to pawn off as rooms for the night. That and the free meal made it worth every piece of gold.

"It's wonderful. Thank you," the girl smiled shyly at her and Rowana quirked an eyebrow at her.

"It's glad I am you think so. Name's Rowana by the way."

"I'm Carrie. Oh that reminds me! Can you tell me how I would get to the Sângeazil Manor?"

"Sâng- Why on earth do you want to go there child?" Rowana asked in amazement.

"Oh, I had a friend who was supposed to be staying there. Why? Is something the matter?"

"No, nothing. I'm just surprised."

"Surprised why?" Carrie asked. Her brows furrowed as she took in the far off look in the barkeep's face.

"I'm surprised that you would know anyone who lives there is all. Our lord resides at the manor and he conducts most of his business through his servants, people who live in this town. The servants who work for him don't stay at the manor they always come home for the day. And none of the townspeople venture there except in rare cases of emergency. It's difficult to imagine that there's anyone else living there that you could know."

"Is he a bad lord then?" the pack landed on the floor next to the bed and Carrie tested the spring of the bed with her hands.

"No, good heavens child, no! We are kept safe by him. Not even the vampires and weres that roam the hillsides are brave enough to stand up to our lord. Here there have been so few disappearances compared to the other villages. We have prospered as long as that family has been here."

Carrie smiled at that. It was good to know that Malus was part of something that carried such weight and had such a positive impact on the village. She suddenly wondered if that was why Dracula had gone after his family when he was young. A family with enough influence to stand against the evil creature who plagued the land; that certainly explained why the village lacked the oppressed feeling of the other ones she had passed through these past few days. Suddenly she was quite eager to see what kind of man Malus had become.

"How do I find the Manor?" Carrie asked, but then faltered. "Do you think I should send a message to ask if he's available? I don't even know if he's still there, the letter was from so long ago…"

"Tell you what; I have some paper that you can use to write a message on. You can have the letter sent over, and if you want to while you're waiting you can freshen up and have a bit of a rest before you get started making plans. There's even a bathing barrel in the next room there if you don't mind bringing the water buckets up yourself."

"A bath?" she asked hopefully. "With hot water and everything? What do I do?"

Rowana laughed at that and patted Carrie's hand.

"If you come with me I'll show you where you can get some heated water and I'll grab that paper for you. Come along."

##

"There's a message for you sir."

"Leave it."

The sound of a platter being left on a table was followed by the sound of retreating footsteps. One pale hand reached out to raise the envelope. Dark eyes skimmed the missive impassively. Then he let his head fall back as laughter burst from his throat in joyous peals. Oh she was here. She was here at last. Stealing glimpses of her from a distance over the years and seeing her sleep those few days ago hadn't been nearly enough. Now she was here, and he would keep her in place. As for the fools of the village… well they had served their purpose. It had taken months of senseless slaughter to get them to turn on her. With nothing to keep her in place she was finally turning to him as she should have long since. But that was not important now. All that was important was that she was coming home, his blushing bride to be.

He threw himself out of his chair started to pace before the fire as he began to make plans. A bedroom would have to be prepared. Preferably one in the same wing as his own so he would have… easier access during the courtship, and he was by no means stupid enough to believe that there wouldn't be a courtship period simply because she was bound in a contract to marry him. A carriage also. He would send a footman with the carriage to collect her and her belongings. It wouldn't do to make the poor girl walk farther than she already had the past few days. There should be flowers waiting for her in her room. Rosa had some lovely white roses that could be dedicated to the cause. He would have to send orders down to the cook to prepare a nice meal before he went home for the evening. A grey head nudged against his leg and he absently pet the wolf as he strode past. What else? Mmm, clothes, yes she would be in need of more clothes, but that could wait until she was settled in.

He caught sight of himself in the mirror and paused. Oh that wouldn't do at all. His clothes became brighter in place of the deep almost black purple he returned to the royal purple his child body had preferred. He shook his head. His deep violet-black hair shortened to his shoulders, and as with his clothes the violet grew more pronounced. His face lost the sharp angles, becoming rounder, smoothing into younger lines. There was a slight grinding crunch as his shoulders realigned to a narrower size. Slowly, slowly his body began to morph and his features melt until in the place of the twenty seven year old was a seventeen year old. Yes this was much closer to what Carrie would expect. He tried for an innocent smile but snickered at the effect. That definitely would not do at all. He'd have to go for restrained rather than innocent. Perhaps the two would be confused.

"Dragos! Attend!"

Dragos had always been a pale man, and death had not improved his color. His hair such a blond as to be near white, with ice crystal eyes he was very nearly an albino since his transformation. It was effect that was amplified by his favor for black clothes. Long of limb and slender, he moved with all the liquid grace of a deadly predator. Watching him move you would never mistake him for human. Faithful and discreet, the man also held an incredible affinity for slinking through shadows without drawing attention to his self despite his striking appearance.

When he arrived at his master's side his only response to the change in his appearance was a slight raise of his brows.

"You summoned me, Master?"

"I have business to attend elsewhere, but there is much to be done in the next couple of hours," the now youthful lord murmured. The wolf whined softly at his side. Dark eyes flicked down to meet molten gold

"Of course I am taking you Hecatomb, be at ease."

The wolf settled down on his haunches, apparently satisfied that his master would not forget to take him this time. The lord turned his attention back to his pale shadow.

"I want you to see to preparations for a much honored guest. Prepare a suite and arrange for a carriage to be sent to the inn. You must make sure the rooms are in the west wing. With flowers, there should be flowers, and any other indulgence that you can think to gather for a young woman. Have dinner prepared in case she is hungry."

The young man tapped his fingers against his chin in thought.

"Also you should hide all evidence of any less than savory past times. Keep the dungeons locked up so that the screams aren't audible elsewhere in the manor. We'll have to make sure any dead bodies we have are thrown to the werewolves in the forest, I can't have zombies or skeletons running about the place."

"No zombies or-- Might I be so bold as to ask what the occasion is?"

"You might. I will even allow it this once. Drago, our Queen is coming home."

Drago's eyes widened in understanding.

"The Lady…? I shall see to it personally, Sire."

"Yes, I know you will."