Alchemy Laboratory
He was sitting in a chair. A rough weave covered it, but extra stuffing padded it out to make it comfortable. In a sleepy haze, Adrian leaned his head forward and started to drift off to sleep again. His head still hurt and it had been a long day in the fields. But then a bony hand pushed his shoulder back, a cold feel with a lingering smell of a mausoleum. Grumbling softly, he brought his head up and back to look at who disturbed him.
Immediately, he regretted doing so. It was a skull within a black hood; instead of eyes, it had a dim red glow, like coals just after a flame had died. It was the dark creature that had stolen his mother.
Before his mind could stir up to a proper reaction, the bony creature touched his eyelids and gently caused them to shut. Adrian felt like his energy was being drained somehow… getting sleepier. But he couldn't seem to cross fully into sleep. On the edge of waking and dreaming, he heard the being speak. "I knew you had been pushing the limits of your being, Matthias, but I was not aware that you had gone far enough to create life." He spoke the last words in distaste.
"That name is dead to me," his father said. There were sounds being made near his voice, things that reminded Adrian of times his mother was at work creating medicinal potions.
Adrian tried to open his eyes, managing bare slits. He noticed that he was dressed differently now, much nicer than he was accustomed to. There was a neat white shirt, with buttons even, as well as a black jacket with twirling silver decorations that fascinated him for a moment. He had black pants and even new shoes (although his half-asleep mind wouldn't read his vision that far). However, he still wore his wooden cross, under the shirt. It was almost like being a lord's son, or even a prince.
The eerie voice spoke up again. "What are you trying to prove? Calling me to bring that woman here, then finding this child…"
"I am proving the apathy of God. His power is not absolute and He doesn't care when we break the rules. He doesn't care if we follow the rules either. My son proves my power."
"Are you sure that it's not some lingering sentimentality left from before you took the stone?"
"No," he said sharply, stopping one task to do another. Some strange words came from him, while the creature stayed by Adrian's side. The boy tried to look again, but couldn't stir himself enough. "You are going to assist me with this, right Death?"
"As you wish," the skeleton creature said. This was Death itself? "But why not turn him right away?"
"It should be obvious," his father said, picking something up and bringing it over to the chair Adrian was in. There was a shuffle of another chair being moved closer.
"Humor me with an answer, then," Death replied.
"He's still a child. If I go ahead with the full power, he'll be a child from now on. I want to allow him to become a man, but he needs a few more years. This should allow for that maturity."
"Very well. That is suitable." Death then put his fingers under Adrian's chin and lifted his head. "Stir yourself now."
Feeling himself awaken, Adrian knew he didn't want to look at Death again, so he looked to his father. Vlad, or Matthias, or Dracula, whatever his real name was, was sitting in a chair right next to his. There was something odd to him. He looked partly normal, with thick peppered black hair and a kind-looking smile. But on another look, he couldn't be human, with streaked faintly glowing red eyes and pallid too-smooth skin. When he placed his hand on the boy's, his skin felt so cold. His other hand held onto a black stone goblet.
He brought the goblet to Adrian's hand. "Drink this; it will help you recover from your injury."
He wasn't sure what to do. He knew that his mother's potions could heal, but this? It had a smell like an herbal infusion, with a bit of wood and… something that he couldn't quite identify. What was it? And if… there was some protest to trusting them, but his mind was in a haze. When his father guided his hand, he didn't resist and drank the potion. It was warm and smooth, but still something unidentifiable.
As he finished it, he felt relaxed yet tingly. Something was changing; something had been stirred and he wasn't sure what. His head was indeed feeling better. It was… it was like some kind of power inside him, awakening.
And burning. Something felt much too hot, like holding his hands too close to a fire, or over a steaming pot. Adrian's chest clenched up and he was forced to gasp for breath. Whatever power it was began lashing out at something, causing strange ripples inside his body. He felt like he wanted to scream, but his throat was much too tight.
"What's happening?" his father asked, concerned and alarmed at the reaction.
Death clenched the cord on Adrian's neck. "I believe this is the problem." He pulled the cross necklace over his head and tossed it aside. There was a clatter as it hit a stone wall. "He should be fine with more rest, provided that stays off him."
"Right."
And they were right; his body was cooling off and calming down. But why had his cross reacted that way?