Chapter 10
Your kind words never cease to bring me the utmost joy. Thank you, as usual, for the fantastic comments.
I'm sorry to say that this chapter has actually been completed for about three days, in its handwritten form that is (I hand write every chapter first before typing it up) but an extremely busy weekend kept me from being able to type it up. I hope it is worth the wait! This chapter offers a little bit of action, a new character introduction (I'm looking at you, LadyAstralofBlueRose!) and ends on a quite melancholic note. But never fear! Melancholy never lasts long in the Saviors story universe, ha! As usual, please enjoy.
I own neither Castlevania nor its characters.
You had never felt more at peace in your entire life.
Four more days passed you by effortlessly, each one full of learning, cooperation, joy, comfortability, and an undeniable permeation of blossoming romance. True to his word, Adrian was reserved, but it was a strained resistance. You both ached for the other's touch, and the only thing keeping those feelings at bay was Adrian's behest: take this slowly. You knew it was a sound request, but that didn't help to quell your need. Adrian's confession a few days ago was a shared sentiment, even if you didn't explicitly state it at the time. You craved, you yearned, you pined for this man, this angelic, gentle, kind, cocky, funny, perfect man. This mysterious angel who had saved you, not only from your would-be attackers that fateful evening, but from the loneliness and rejection you had grown to accept. You could wait for eternity if he wished, this bliss was worth every second of it.
You were so lost in your own head that you didn't notice Adrian enter the kitchen behind you. You were in the midst of cracking eggs, sighing dreamily as you did, swaying your hips to a little melody you hummed softly, fantasizing about the man who, unbeknownst to you, stood not five feet behind you, watching your little display with keen interest, an honest smile on his lips and golden eyes full of adoration. There before him stood his salvation, swaying her hips to the song her heart produced for him, and it beckoned him with the promise of homecoming should he embrace it.
So he did.
He stepped up until his chest was a breath apart from you, reached forward, took your hands in his own, and lifted them, spinning you to face him. In your surprise your song was forgotten, replaced with the giggles his proximity coaxed. He assumed the position of a dance partner, one hand on your hip, the other clasping your slightly yolky hand. Tentatively you placed your other hand on his shoulder, and he began to lead you around the kitchen, humming a song of his own. You had danced before, but not like this, so you did your best to keep up, following his lead. His movements were inhumanly graceful. A few times you stepped on his foot, issuing forth an, "oo!" and a blush punctuated by another giggle, and at those moments he couldn't help letting a giggle of his own interrupt his song.
Finally, he dipped you, and as your head fell back he placed a sumptuous kiss on your neck, savoring the feel of your soft, warm skin against his lips, feeling your pulse quicken with want. Reluctantly he released you, taking a step back and bowing, "Thank you, my lady. T'was an honor to have a dance with you."
You curtsied, giggling, "The pleasure was all mine, my lord. Except I fear in the heat of the moment I've covered you in egg yolk."
"It was undoubtedly worth it," he replied, his warm smile coaxing your blush.
"Now then," he began, walking up to the counter space you had been occupying to prepare breakfast, "let's prepare our meal. For our History lesson today I would like to discuss the Ottoman Empire and Vlad the Impaler, which means we will need all of the time we can get. I know I can be quite long-winded on this subject, and sadly time is not on our side."
You were reminded then that this daydream, this fantasy, would soon end. It was already Friday, the thirteenth day of your stay, and in only two days you would be returning to your hometown. Adrian felt you deflate, his own smile slipping as he too ruminated over what was to come.
"When I return," you began, but Adrian cut you off, "When you return we will discuss our new meeting schedule. So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today."
Your eyes widen, "Matthew, chapter six, verse thirty-four. I didn't know you were familiar with The Bible."
He smirks, "My father was very religious when he was a young man. A few remnants of that time carried over."
You mull over the implication of what he's said, "Did he lose his faith?"
"Yes," he replied, turning away.
"I'm sorry to hear that," you say softly as you approach him, placing a tentative hand on his arm. He reaches up, laying his hand over yours, and glances over his shoulder at you, "Why do you believe?"
His question surprises you, but you already know your answer, "Finding your home in my hour of need was nothing short of a miracle. Only God could have brought me here, to you."
His hand tightly squeezes yours before lifting it to his lips for a kiss, "And we are both blessed for it."
A loud knock at the front door shook you both.
"Were you expecting visitors?" you ask.
"No, I don't get many of those," Adrian replied, immediately on guard. Swiftly Adrian exited the room and made his way to the front door with you hot on his heels.
"Stay back," he commanded, but you remained close, standing just behind him.
With a wave of his hand the large doors slowly swung open, revealing two men. They appeared to be in their thirties, one had shoulder length blonde hair, and the other…
You gasp.
"Back for more, Morris? Or have you finally come to your senses?" Adrian entreated the tall brunette.
"You're the one who's lost your senses, demon! And this time I brought backup to help me stop you!" John Morris brandished a chain-link whip, determination in his eyes.
In your shock at his reappearance you made your presence known, Morris spotting you behind Adrian.
"See!" Morris exclaimed to his companion, pointing at you, "Do you see now, Eric? Do you finally believe?"
The man's blonde companion, brandishing a large and ornate spear, stares at you disbelievingly before turning his attention to Adrian, "I would not believe it had I not seen it for myself. How could you, Alucard? After all you'd done to stop Dracula, you turn around and become him?"
This enrages Adrian, his golden eyes glowing red, "How dare you say such a thing! You invade my home, accuse and threaten me, endanger my guest, and all over an unfounded claim! You came to me looking for a fight? Then I will give you one!"
At this, Adrian leaps towards the two men, nails and fangs extended. Eric swings his spear, catching Adrian in his shoulder and knocking him off of his course. John cracks his whip, aiming for Adrian's trajectory, but Adrian ducks, landing on all fours. He holds out his hand and his sword flies to meet it, just in time too, it allows him to block the downward strike Eric's spear had aimed for him. Pushing the spear up and away, Adrian lunges forward, trying to catch Eric off-kilter, but John's whip cracks, catching the sword's blade. With a pull of the whip the sword has been wrenched from Adrian's hand. Eric punches Adrian in the face, causing him to stumble, and then uses the handle of the spear to knock him on his ass. He holds the spear in both hands and raises it above his head, ready to plunge it into Adrian's chest.
You scream, "NOOO!" clutching the sides of your face, tears forming.
Your outburst is enough to stay Eric's hand; he looks at you curiously, "Something isn't right here," he ponders aloud, "If she were his victim, why would she cry for him?"
John growls, "Because he has obviously enchanted her! And it seems he's enchanted YOU as well!" He cracks his whip, but Adrian has had just enough time to recover, and this time when the whip curls around his sword it is John who gets pulled, right into Adrian's fist. John flies backward, releasing the whip, which Adrian quickly flings across the room.
"Tell me, Alucard," Eric asks, his face sincere, "Is this human your victim, or your lover?"
His voice unwavering, he replies, "She is more than my lover, she is my world."
His words ring in your ears, sending a shiver down your spine, the mutuality of his sentiment is enough to push the tears past their brim.
Eric's eyes soften, he smiles, "It seems we have been quite mistaken. You have become Dracula, just not in the way we feared."
Adrian smiled at this, his gaze shifting to you, to his salvation.
But this revelation had come too late.
With a loud crack Adrian was sent flying forward, the whip had caught him across his back. He landed with a thud, blood spurting from the wound.
An ear-piercing scream rips from your throat and you run to him, throwing yourself on top of him, protecting him, and you turn to face John who stands proud and smug, ready to deliver the final blow.
"Please!" you scream, you beg, tears streaming freely, "Please I beg of you, don't kill him!" You know your attempt to shield him is in vain, but you would rather die trying to protect him than just stand by and watch as he's mercilessly slaughtered.
Eric steps into John's path, shielding you both, spear aimed at him, "Enough, John! You have misunderstood the situation. The woman is not his victim, they are lovers! See for yourself how she cries for him!"
John seems to appraise the situation, "This woman… his lover? And the Vampire Killer didn't kill him… perhaps I have been mistaken…"
Adrian attempts to stand, at first faltering. You move off of him to instead crouch beside him, clutching his arm. Weakly he turns his head to face you and smiles, "Your t-tears are wasted, dearest, I'm f-fine. Luckily for us he is n-not a B-Belmont."
You don't understand what he means, but his forced bravado is not fooling you, you know he is gravely injured, but you cannot stop him. On hands and knees he trembles before slowly rising, turning to face John and Eric. He wraps his arm around your waist, holding you tightly to him. His voice is firm, commanding, albeit wavering, "If you are both quite s-satisfied, I would ask you to take your leave."
Realizing the full weight of his transgressions and of what they could lead to in the future, John's face is full of regret, "My apologies, Alucard, I've made a terrible mistake."
Adrian nods, you feel him begin to shake.
Eric bows, but while his countenance is sincere, he smirks, "I too apologize, Alucard. But allow me to congratulate you, she is quite beautiful. Perhaps you both can join my wife and I for dinner in the near future. She is always bugging me about how she wants to go on double dates, as I'm sure your beloved does as well. Women!"
Eric rolls his eyes playfully, and gives you a wink. You blush and Adrian lets out a weak laugh, "I will be in touch, Eric. Farewell."
As the large doors shut behind them Adrian goes limp, falling to the floor.
"Adrian!" you shout as you fall to your knees, using all of your strength to turn him onto his back, propping his head up on your thighs. Weakly he opens his eyes to look at you, and slowly, painfully his hand comes up to caress your cheek, "I will be okay dearest. The whip is powerful, but it will only kill those who are evil, and only when wielded by a Belmont. I just need some time to recover, that's all."
You remembered your conversation from before, that blood could heal, "Drink my blood!" you exclaim, "You said blood could heal you, so please, drink my blood!"
His eyes turned serious, "No. That is out of the question."
"You, you stubborn mule!" You exclaim in frustration. Now is not the time for formalities! You look around, for anything that might suffice, and fortunately lying next to Adrian is his sword. You reach over him, grabbing the hilt, and running your palm along the blade. Immediately your blood begins to flow down your hand, the cut is quite deep. Adrian's eyes go wide, but before he can react you clamp your bleeding hand over his mouth.
His hands fly up to wrap around your wrist, feebly attempting to pull your hand away, but it isn't long before his bloodlust takes hold. You feel his tongue slowly lapping at the wound, and a moment later your positions have swapped, red eyes now loomed over you, his hands firmly holding your palm to his mouth as he continued to drink. His legs straddled your hips, his long wavy locks tickled your cheeks. He leaned closer, until your nose was just barely touching his. His forearms rested lightly on your breasts, and his hips began to grind against yours, his arousal becoming evident.
Overwhelmed, your brain barely processed what was transpiring, it all happened too fast to comprehend. One minute he was on the floor, barely conscious and bleeding out, the next he was on top of you, eyes full of lust, seeking to take all that you had to give. Your free hand reached for his face, wanting to caress his cheek, wanting to quell the hunger in his features, but he grabbed your wrist and pinned it above your head. You gasped and sighed, your feelings conflicted, both lusting after and frightened by that hunger. His grinding increased in speed, the friction and your own arousal causing immense warmth to grow where your hips met, all while he continued to lap and suck feverishly at your blood. Your eyelids began to flutter, finally overwhelmed by both the loss of blood and the fervor with which he assaulted your senses.
His blood red eyes widened, seeming to snap back to reality at the feeling of your dulling senses, and quickly he released your hands, removing himself from your lap and instead pulling you into his arms, cradling you. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, this is exactly what I feared. Please dearest, look at me, open your eyes my love, please look at me!" Adrian's voice was desperate.
Slowly, with much effort, you opened your heavy eyelids to gaze at your beloved. I'm fine, you tried to say, but nothing came out, and the last thing you remember seeing are his devastated red eyes before you slipped off into peaceful oblivion.