Well. Apparently Dracul left some things going on automatic in his castle, because he'd made it difficult to safely get at some of his things when he went on vacation. Or whatever the heck happened to him.

The thought scared me a bit. Dracul apparently had immense power. The rapid number of gains I'd made since I woke up in my grave seemed to indicate that, but something had happened to force him to give up his power. Or he was killed and it went to me, for some reason or another. So what could do that to him?

"How does one kill a god?" I had asked Death.

"It's difficult, but easier than you might imagine."

A reminder to myself. As strong as I might become, the right circumstances could kill me. I needed to be aware. I needed knowledge. And I couldn't rely on only what my powers were giving me. I knew I had a number of strengths, but I needed to see where my weaknesses were. And if possible, find a way to counter them.

Lacking better options, I went to see if I could follow that wolf. I also took my sweet time about it. Death had said I was here in spirit, but I didn't want to know what would happen if I got myself killed in my dreaming-not-dreaming state. I seemed to carry over my actual strengths, and they translated to reality easily enough.

Soon as I woke up, I'd see if I could summon the Void Sword. I'm...not actually sure what it'd mean if I could, but until I know for sure, assume dreaming-me is exactly as regular-me. That seems to be how it's been since I came back.

I lost the wolf's trail. Apparently, despite being a vampire, I did not become a tracking expert overnight. Good to know. Probably doesn't help that it turned immaterial. How does one track something that doesn't have any substance?

Still, the corridors twisted around until I reached a landing. The air was chilly, whipping through the halls in a powerful breeze. It slowed me down as I moved.

Eventually, I came outside. I was near the apex of the castle, a set of stairs going upward to the tower at the top. The view from here was spectacular. I felt like a queen of the world. I could see...darkness and shadow out around everywhere, surrounding the castle, but it somehow had form, substance. It wasn't the lack of light, it had form of its own.

I looked up at the tower. I knew that up there was the throne room, and somehow, answers would be there. When I moved to the base of the stairs, though, I couldn't move any further. There wasn't a wall or anything preventing me, but I simply would not move forward. I even tried teleporting up onto the stairs, but that just plunked me right where I was already standing.

Well fine. I don't want to go up your stupid stairs anyway.

...

Reverse psychology doesn't work either.

Well then. I turned around. And stopped.

There's another set of doors. Either I didn't notice when I came up here, or Castlevania's shifting around me. Or both.

There seemed to be a faint, feminine giggle in my mind. Playing with me. Okay. Fine. Whatever. The Castle didn't seem to be malicious, at least toward me. I began to wonder if I wanted it, I'd find a room completely full of cotton candy.

That wasn't a request, by the way!

I waited a moment, listening for a response. Then I shrugged and headed through the new set of doors.

Ah. This was familiar. The hallway, that first hallway where I thought I would freeze to death. That first dream of Castlevania. I followed the hall, reaching the baths that I thought would be my refuge.

I pulled the doors open, and I breathed in as the crimson mist boiled out. I looked to see the bath filled with blood. It was...alluring, in a way that would have horrified me such a short time ago. I moved forward, taking a sample from the bath with my finger and licked it.

It was warm, welcoming, but I knew in an instant that even if I were here in flesh, it wouldn't sustain me. It was already part of me, in some way, and thus even if I managed to take in every drop it wouldn't help my hunger. It would, however, feel really good. To bathe in this blood would be to bask in my own power.

I closed my eyes and let out a breath. I was tempted to head in, really tempted, but I didn't want to indulge myself just now. I had something more important in mind. I needed to find a way to get here in the real world, not just in my dreams.

So I turned, walked out of the bath, and retraced my steps from where I remembered my first moment here in Castlevania. The corridor was filling with mist the further forward I went, and I felt a sense of foreboding as I went into it.

Then...no. Nonono. Not here. Anywhere but here.

I turned around, dreading what I would see. I knew what it would be.

It was my locker, filled with filth, crawling with insects, and the horrid stench of it filled the entire hall.

The school shattered around me, and I woke up screaming.

Dad came barrelling into my room, and he hugged me. "Taylor, Taylor! It's okay, it's okay!"

I clung to him and cried.

"I'm sorry I woke you." I murmured as dad made his breakfast. He looked terrible, still. He'd been eating a bit more, but he was still thin. It would take months to restore him to something like the father I knew.

He gave me a gentle smile as he sat down next to me with his toast and orange juice. "It's all right, Taylor." He put his arm around my shoulder. "You've been through hell. Frankly, I'm glad. You waking me up? Means I've got my daughter back."

I leaned on his side, still feeling wretched. I tried to ignore the smell of his blood, running under his skin.

I'd have to drop by the hospital, pick up the packs they'd prepared. I didn't want to hurt my dad.

He spoke quietly after finishing his first piece of toast. "I know I haven't been a very good father, Taylor. I failed you, in a way that broke me." He gently tilted my chin up, and I gave him a small smile. "To have you back is a miracle. I know I haven't done anything to deserve it, but it's a miracle all the same. I don't care if you wake me up in the middle of the night, or even if you've changed in ways I can't grasp. You're my daughter. I am going to treasure every second." He made a wry smile. "Even the ones when I've had three hours sleep."

I nodded at that, feeling uncomfortable. "So...what's the plan for today?"

Dad looked thoughtful. "I'm making arrangements to get us a lawyer. I can't afford one for too long, but if it means your future, it's worth it. Probably only need one for a day or two."

I breathed out, considering. "I need to head back to the hospital. Feeling hungry." I shrugged. "Then I'll try and relax. I have...well, a lot to work through, dad."

He gently squeezed my shoulder. "Will you be home at six, Taylor?"

I nodded. "Yeah." I smiled slightly. "We can have a movie night."

His smile was faint, but very welcome.

Updraft flee flee bright there wall look for red can't see bright ping buzzing warmth and I reformed on the top level of the hospital's parking garage. I thought about just appearing at the front doors out of a cloud of bats, but that's a good way to freak people out. Bats? Not exactly the cuddliest creature out there.

Though I kinda wanted to cuddle one right now. My instincts are weird.

I made a small laugh to myself at the thought of a vampire using a cuddly form to get around, though. Watch out for that pack of kittens? Pride of kittens? Group? What do you call a group of kittens, anyway?

I shook my head. My mind? Weird place, apparently, and that was before I got a bunch of instincts and urges out of a horror movie.

I felt like I was forgetting something...

Oh. Right.

I concentrated on the icy rage, and I felt the response. The Void Sword flashed into existence in my hand. I carefully turned the blade, this way and that. As in my dreams of the Castle, it looked and acted impossibly for an ordinary object. You do not get to forge a piece of nothing into a sword. Unless, apparently, you had the power of a god and an excellent demon for a smith.

And...how did I know that?

These snippets of knowledge from Dracul were pissing me off. Just enough to get me interested, but not enough to actually tell me anything useful.

Like with my burning claws, the blade's presence seemed to mess with my emotions. There was no emotion other than that cold, deadly focus, powered by methodical rage.

I dismissed the blade, taking a deep breath as my emotions came rushing back in. It didn't seem to stop me from feeling other things, just set it aside for a bit. Still, that side-effect could be useful.

I made my way to the hospital's reception, giving a smile to the receptionist. This one was not the same one from last night. She was older, gray, and looked like she hadn't had a good day since the seventies. "Hi. Um. I'm Scarlet Knight, here to pick up some blood packs." Even saying that as my cape name sounded weird.

Part of me wanted 'I am the Dragon,' but I was very firmly telling that part of myself to shut up. It felt like it was something he'd ranted a few thousand times. Dragon was already taken and I am not Dracul, dammit!

I didn't usually get whole thoughts from whatever he left me, more half-remembered memories and habits, but I did get enough to know one thing.

He was a jerk.

She glared at me, then rifled through her paperwork. Finally she found the form, and was seemingly disappointed at the destruction of the possible excuse to yell at someone. "Wait here." She picked up her phone, dialled a few numbers, then waited. All the while glaring at me.

What? What did I do?

Then she spoke into the phone. "Package to be delivered to SK? Yeah, bring it down."

I shifted uncomfortably while she turned back to her paperwork, steadfastly ignoring me.

Fine, be that way.

An intern came from a hall at the side, carrying a cooler. He saw me and smiled. "Scarlet Knight, I presume."

I gave him a smile. "Yeah."

He handed me the cooler. "We've got ten packs in there for you. Most are fresh, two are expired. Just bring the cooler back when you're done and we'll get you a new one, long as supplies are coming in."

Makes sense. Just keep swapping two coolers. Miss Militia must have thought of this. Or I'm not the only cape who's got an issue kinda like this. Probably insulin or something, rather than blood, but hey, I'm not complaining.

I went out the door and to the hospital's side. I found a spot on a small terrace, overlooking the sidewalk by the water. And even nicer, it was in the shade, at least in the mornings.

I opened the cooler, taking out one of the expired packs. If this was going to work, hopefully the old ones will do. I turned the pack this way and that, trying to figure out how I could open it without it ripping. Or exploding. Exploding would be bad. Finally, I figured 'screw it,' lengthened my fangs, and carefully bit the plastic. Then I suckled on the holes.

Coolness. Bitter. It tasted horrible. Oh it was drinkable, but only just. I could feel it helping with my hunger somewhat, but barely. I'd need three of these to get a full meal, and I could barely handle one. It seemed to be lacking that vitality that slaked my thirst so easily with the ABB members. And Lung. His blood was potent, indeed.

"Ack! God!" I exclaimed, dropping the pack into the cooler. The leaking blood made a mess at the bottom of it, but I didn't care. I shuddered and coughed, trying to clear the taste.

I picked up a fresher pack, and bracing myself, popped it with my fangs. This was far, far better, but not exactly tasty. It utterly lacked the feelings that came with it when I fed previously, like having a meal entirely made of bland noodles. I could subsist on this, but not thrive, I instinctively knew.

Something hit the ground behind me, I turned, and winced.

Panacea was there, with a bag at her feet, a wrapped sandwich falling out. And so was Glory Girl. And Glory Girl was bouncing on her feet.

"See! Told you he was a vampire. Told ya so!" Glory Girl said, grinning. "So glad I decided to pop by for lunch, Ames. We got it right here!"

Oh god. This is so horrible.

Wait. He?

Panacea smacked Glory Girl on the shoulder. "Vicky, come on, stop it. You're embarrassing." She gave me a wry smile. "Though you seem to be making a pretty good impression of one."

I grimaced. And flushed, managing to mutter. "Don't like it when someone sees me do this." Though I was a bit dubious about having any blood from the packs now. I poked the freshest one in the cooler.

I'll try it later. After rinsing out the cooler. The older blood was already making me less enthusiastic about the rest. I shut the cooler.

"Oh, he's embarrassed about it! That's so romantic." Glory Girl moved right up to me and poked me in the chest. "Can you eat regular food?"

I nodded. Didn't help me, but yeah, technically true.

She beamed. "Great! Ames and I'll take you to dinner, we can get to know the new cape in town. I'll set all this up! Meet you at Fugly Bob's at five!"

I...what?

Glory Girl gave Panacea a wave. "See you then, Ames!" Then she rocketed off into the sky, making me stumble back. I blinked a few times.

What the hell just happened?

Panacea let out a sigh, shaking her head. "She does this every time." She gave me a wry smile. "Vicky means well, but, well, she's a bulldozer. Nothing stops her. Especially once she has an idea."

I made a small laugh. "Well, I guess I can respect her enthusiasm, if not her approach." I held out my hand. "Scarlet Knight, I guess."

She took my hand, smiling. "Pana..." A shock went through my hand, suffusing my body. I felt something in the back of my mind twitch. Mutability.

She paled. "What. The. Hell..."

I frowned. Both at her reaction and my own. "What?"

Her mouth worked for a few moments as she kept a hold on my hand. "You're...frozen, somehow. Your cells aren't dividing. Your heart isn't beating, but your veins are thrumming, your blood flowing, as if it was. When you breathe out, you're sending out just as much oxygen as you breathed in. It's like you're... locked on everything but the blood. And...is your armor made of your blood? How is that working?"

...

Well, that's confirmation. I suspected it was the case, but to know I'm undead, as opposed to sort of alive, is...

I got nothing. I have nothing like it. There is nothing like it to compare it to. And yet, I felt okay with it, somehow. I still felt like me. Mostly. Just with a lot more added on my already large pile of issues.

"Well..um...my power lets me manipulate my blood. I can make it into weapons, armor, clothing, whatever. It sounds horrible, I know, but I didn't ask for them. It's too useful for me to just set aside." I said, wincing. I pulled my hand away. Panacea just looked...distant. "Are you all right?" I asked, worried about what the answer might be.

She swallowed, then cleared her throat. "Y-yeah. I've seen some odd effects some powers have on people, but yours takes the cake. Yeesh, your power must have read some bad novels or something."

I guess. Or something. I suddenly had a mental image of a pale man, sitting on a throne, leafing through a bad teen romance novel with one hand and gouging clawmarks into his throne with the other.

I repressed a smile. If I ever had to get my revenge on Dracul, I knew how.

"Well, I feel fine. I don't feel much pain, and when I do get hurt, I heal quickly. I don't think there's much you could do for me. It'd be nice not needing blood, but considering everything else..." I made a small shrug.

Panacea nodded, then she made a small smile. "It's all right. It's unusual, but...okay, it's just weird. Not bad, just weird. It's hard to figure." Her smile widened. "I was sure you were a girl, though. Vicky thought you were a guy."

That explained a lot. "Oh. Well, I'm not." I just have the impulses of one in my head, mixed up with my own. Maybe. I hoped that was all it was.

A slow smile spread across my face. Vengeance would be mine. "Of course you realize, we need to get her back for that?"

Panacea blinked, then her grin matched mine. "Oh, yeah. Let's try this again." She held out her hand. "Amy."

I giggled. Why not? I clasped her hand. "Taylor."

So I arrived at Fugly Bob's. I'd taken a moment on the way to duck into an alley and shift my armor into clothes. I now wore a long red jacket, a black shirt, and black jeans. I had tried for blue, but apparently, I could have my clothes in any color I wanted as long as it was red or black.

Well, at least I wouldn't have to worry about color-matching. And changing the form of the armor didn't seem to strain my reserves. I didn't feel any hungrier afterward, anyway.

Not sure how that worked, but hey. I'm not going to complain. As for the feeding...I was somewhat concerned. I wasn't looking forward to an eternity of blandness. It wasn't like I could go and eat Lung every day.

Well, maybe...

No. No. No. Bad, bad, badbadbadBAD idea, Taylor.

Even if his blood was tasty.

Bad! Badbadbad!

I took a deep breath and headed inside. I spotted Victoria, Amy, and a boy I didn't know sitting at a booth at the back. I grinned, walked over, and plunked myself down next to Amy.

Victoria blinked at me. "Uh..."

I smiled innocently. "Expecting someone else?"

Amy fought to keep a grin off her face. And failed, bursting into giggles.

Victoria looked scandalized, then laughed. "Ames! You sneak!"

A/N:

Powers unlocked:

Fleshcrafting: Permits the vampire to alter their own flesh permanently at some cost to their blood. Does not permit changing of bone structure. Cannot be used on others.