*blows a trumpet and strolls in* 2020 happened two months ago and this is my first update for this fic. Good thing I managed it before s3 drops, at least.
Lisa shivered. Bright sunlight had warmed the air during the day, yet once the sun disappeared behind the snow covered mountains, the world fell into a severe chill. Even the blood red sunlight barely peeking over the mountaintops cast deep blue shadows across the landscape.
Luckily, she had a wonderful, caring partner traveling alongside her. Vlad moved in closer and draped his outer cloak around Lisa, trapping extra warmth around the two of them.
While she knew he didn't exude much heat of his own, he was skilled in magic, and she was grateful for it. Not as much as she was for his heart though, slowly warming in its own way.
Lisa smiled and snuggled into his side as he wrapped an arm around her side. They spent time together, in quiet travel, until they finally came upon the castle. Its imposing structure no longer bothered Lisa after so many years, and in fact, the many impossible towers brought her a familiar comfort. Vlad had not lived with her in the house in Lupu, not really. He spent much of his time traveling then, and much of the rest of his time was spent at the castle, leaving little for the village of Lupu.
She was glad now that she could spend more time wrapped in her husband's arms, even if her house did have to burn down in the process.
Adrian was also around more often than he had been for a few years. They of course had gone their separate ways in order to warn people in Wallachia of the Church's grabs for more power, but the time before it was lovely, and she looked forward to spending more with him.
It was actually only a few hours after she and Vlad arrived-hours which were spent with him in both simple embraces and more passionate ones-when Vlad perked up.
"They've arrived," he said. It was all he needed to.
Greeting their son and guest went fairly smoothly. They did both look worn from travel, so Lisa didn't wish to keep them long. She bade Adrian to follow her, as she had picked up a few useful objects during her journey. She was actually quite excited to show him some of the rarer things the Speakers had traded or gifted her for her medical help and knowledge.
Trevor came along also, perhaps from feeling uncomfortable being alone with her husband-something to work on-or because he wasn't quite ready to leave Adrian's side. Either way, Lisa grinned to herself.
While Trevor sprawled over a finely cushioned chair, Adrian showed interest in the various things Lisa presented. As she was showing him some of the cleansing soap made with parts of tropical palm trees, she finally remembered herself.
"Oh, forgive me, I got too excited." She shook her head, feeling embarrassment creep into her smile. "You both must be tired. Why don't you take a proper bath?"
"That would be lovely," Adrian said, the relief in his voice immediately telling her of the lack of facilities they had come across. "Though I think Trevor needs it most."
Trevor lifted his head to meet the smirk directed at him. "Piss off," he murmured.
"Boys. You both smell." Lisa shook her head at them. She took joy in the differing levels of embarrassment she coaxed out of them before saying, "And you both deserve to do something relaxing and cleansing. Here, you can take these."
She handed her son some of the new soaps, scented oils, and a small pumice stone. His expression grew softer as he took them in hand.
"Let me know which ones you like."
"Of course mother, thank you."
"You too Trevor."
The man jolted from where he sat; Apparently he'd been about to doze. It had been a long trip-Lisa couldn't blame him.
Still, she cajoled him into compliance, along with her son, and promised them a filling meal afterwards. Trevor made a joke about drinking good alcohol which Lisa wasn't sure was truly a joke. Still, she made sure he'd have at least a couple glasses worth when she informed the servants. He did deserve a break after what was likely a strenuous journey.
After the boys left, Lisa spent some time organizing her new supplies and gifts into various rooms where they belonged. The new dried herbs, fungi, and other concoctions she was excited to test out, and she hummed to herself as she worked.
Vlad would be spending some time resting and catching up on any news from while he was away, so she was alone for the moment. Or so she'd assumed.
Adrian must have taken a quick bath, for Lisa soon found him standing at the door to her reading room, casually clothed and hair still damp, though not dripping. Hesitance was writ on his face.
"My son," she greeted.
Placing her book down, to indicate she was free to listen, she gestured at the chair near her. Adrian looked at her for a moment more before moving into the room, shoulders pulled slightly up and fingers twitching for something to do. He even looked down at the floor as he sat, ever the picture of her shy boy. She knew he'd grown so fast and learned so quickly how to talk with people when he first planned to go explore the world like his father. Still, she remembered how he had been when only a few years old, moving between excited and outgoing with family to introverted and averse with company. A slow breath settled Lisa's own nerves, bringing with it the calm she used to help people feel at ease.
Rather than ask immediately what was on her son's mind, she said, "Hold still, I'll take care of your hair, alright?"
Adrian blinked and looked up, but nodded, his shoulders settling down.
Lisa spent several moments running her hands through her son's hair, so similar to her own in its lighter blonde tone and long waves. Muscle memory told her how to best blot the tresses with a clean cloth she had at her desk, and she followed with careful untangling.
Throughout, her son stared ahead, looking at the bookshelves but-judging by his far away expression-not seeing them.
Lisa moved on to forming a side braid when Adrian spoke up.
"Mother?"
"Yes, what is on your mind?"
The quiet conversation trailed off before he said, "I- We ran into a hell boar on our journey."
Lisa frowned, but made a noise of acknowledgement.
"It... was trying to kill a child."
Lisa kept her hands steady. "...What happened?"
"The child is fine," Adrian assured her first. "Trevor and I took him to his mother. But... We had to fight the hell boar. It... It was broad daylight out. And he didn't retreat, even after we pulled weapons."
Frowning deeply, Lisa paused to brush one hand over her son's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I'm sorry. That sounds terrible. And I don't suppose he- well, came out of it alive."
"No." The word sounded as though it weighed on Adrian, even as his head tilted down. "But it's not that which bothers me. Not completely," he corrected.
"What is it then?"
"It was the way he reacted to me." Adrian's voice trailed even quieter.
A fury swept through Lisa, one she'd never been able to rid herself of, and one she was sure she didn't want to. She was not blind, and she knew what many of the other night creatures thought of herself, and her son. Only purposeful control kept her from jumping up and screaming-her son needed her now, and he needed her to listen. Lisa pressed a kiss to his temple.
Adrian leaned into it and sat still as Lisa tied off the braid with a small black ribbon.
"It was nothing new," Adrian said, "I'd heard much the same before."
Lisa took his hands, hearing the heat in her own words as she said, "That does not make it acceptable or true."
"...No. You're right." The same hesitance was in Adrian's eyes as he looked up at her, even though he also tried for a sweet smile.
Lisa cupped his cheek and kissed his forehead, noticing the sweet flower smell of one of the new soaps. "Of course I am. And I am also very proud of you."
A small blush made its way across his cheeks, even as his smile grew. "Thank you." A thought seemed to occur to him then, and so when he held his arms out in silent request for a hug, Lisa easily pulled them together to reciprocate.
"I'm so glad," Adrian whispered. "I know I said it before but, but I really am grateful to Trevor. More than he knows, probably."
His arms tightened around her; As his shoulders shook, Lisa rubbed his back and gently held his head to her. "Oh, my boy. I'm here."
"I know," he said, but clung tighter, voice thick with emotion. "I know, and I'm glad."
As Lisa held her son, once again shaken by her near death experience, her own throat constricted in sympathy. Vlad had come to the conclusion some time ago that Adrian would live for as long as other vampires, nearly unlimited in years. While she knew her husband and son would have each other, she knew... she knew she likely wouldn't join them. Vlad had offered, of course he had, but Lisa hadn't changed her mind.
She tried not to think about it too much; Considering her son crying over her eventual death made her heart twist painfully in her chest. She could only hope her husband would come to terms with it before then, so they could grieve and move on together.
She held her boy tight, wanting to stay silent and simply enjoy his affection, but knowing he had meant to tell her something important.
"What about the hell boar, Adrian?" She patted his head, listening carefully. "What was it that bothered you so?"
Adrian took a deep breath and pulled back before speaking. "His reaction to me wasn't... unexpected. But I'd never- I'd never heard someone speak so brazenly about father."
Lisa frowned, a mirror of her son. "Brazen?"
"He called father weak. Spoke ill of him, and you, and the way father ruled."
Lisa saw a mix of emotions cross Adrian's face, many of which she felt herself: the still simmering anger, a confusion swirling through her mind, and a flutter of fear in her heart. Vlad had changed things when he married Lisa, and changed more once they'd had Adrian. Of course many monsters were upset, to say the least, but no one had dared to call him out. Vlad was truly powerful, and those in his domain-plus many besides-respected and feared him.
To say such things to his son, regardless of what they thought of Adrian, it didn't bode well.
"I see. I will mention it to your father." Lisa ran her hands absently up and down her son's forearms.
"Do you think he knows?" Adrian asked, looking pleadingly at her.
"...I don't know," she said, sighing. "He hasn't mentioned anything of the sort, but you know he prefers to take care of certain business on his own."
Adrian nodded.
"Still, if he doesn't, I'm sure he will be glad to know of it now. And that they are bold enough to attack you."
That issue, specifically, was one which worried Lisa. She had no illusions that night creatures still attacked humans-it was in the nature of many of them, and if they weren't caught, they would continue. However, Vlad had made two things clear above all else: No one was to attack Lisa, nor Adrian. Such a rule being broken... well, lucky for the hell boar that he was already dead.
What could have changed? And so quickly she never noticed? Lisa would have many questions for Vlad come next evening. For now, when her son slipped his hands into hers, giving her a grateful look and a tired smile, she simply poured all the love she could into her returning squeeze.
The soft sound of footsteps alerted her and her son of the visitor right before he appeared.
Barefooted, in only a simple shirt and trousers, hair still dripping, Trevor Belmont stood in the doorway. He looked more flabbergasted than she had expected for someone who had likely come looking for them-or Adrian, at least. Instead of speaking, his eyes darted back and forth between them, and he made a confused sounding grunt.
Lisa turned her eyes to look at Adrian, hoping for answers, and found him doing the same. The idea seemed to hit them both at the same time, as they eyed each other's braids and smiled.
Lisa laughed brightly, a contrast to the more restrained chuckles of her son. Trevor crossed his arms, lips pushing out in a pout, which only made them laugh harder.
"Right, okay, are we getting a meal or... or what?" he asked, a yawn interrupting him mid-sentence.
"Of course Trevor," Adrian said. He'd managed to compose himself to merely a smile and stood.
Lisa huffed a few more laughs, shooing Adrian off with a hand and a grin. "It's prepared."
"Thank you." Lisa was sure he meant it for more than the meal and nodded with all the sincerity she could.
Then her son walked over to the Belmont with a provoking smile, saying, "If you are so jealous of our hair, you can grow yours out."
Shaking her head, Lisa tuned out the rest of their bickering. As they made their way further down the hall, she shuffled supplies at her desk, mind whirling. Perhaps the Church wasn't the only force moving in Wallachia. If it wasn't, there was more trouble brewing than her family could handle alone.
Lisa picked up a pen, dipped it in fresh ink, and began writing.
God I love Lisa. Everyone needs some time with her, and I think, just- just hugs. Some reassurance they're all still together. Also, braiding! °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°
I do actually have another chapter ready, but I had to write this one up first cause I realized some of the chapters I pre-wrote reference things that happened only in my head? So I had to actually write them down. Whoops. And here I thought I was ahead of things, haha. Soooo... Maybe I can get another out this week, if s3 doesn't piledrive me into the ground. 。。゛(ノ)ノ
(o_ _)o
Speaking of s3, this is a good time to remind everyone that this is absolutely an AU fic (if Lisa being alive didn't do it for ya, haha). I wrote the first part before s2 dropped, even. So yeah, no spoilers from this, even if I'm sure there will be lore I will love to death and scramble to incorporate at some point in the future. ^^;
Anyway, thank you all so much for your patience! I still get such nice comments, and they make my heart melt. It's a problem. I have a hole there now.
