~o~O~o~
Part Thirty-Two
Adrian followed Trevor into the house, immediately hit with the strong scent of herbs and the lingering remnants of the incense.
He was still floating in a pleasant haze, weightless and subdued by the delicious combination of Trevor's blood running through him while his body ached deeply.
He gracefully slipped out of his boots, bending to place them with the heels neatly against the wall beneath his coat. Beside him, Trevor was tugging his own feet free. His hair still dripped, and the damp strands stuck to the side of his face. Together, they parted the beaded curtain and entered the main room of the house.
Sypha was in the rocking chair with her knees curled up and had a thick book spread open over them. She tucked a feather into the book to keep her place and closed it, setting it on the small, cluttered table next to her. Her hair was mussed and sticking out on the side where her fingers toyed with the short curls. She often did that when she read – played with her hair.
Her face softened as she took in the sight of the men – Trevor's arm around Adrian's waist, his lack of a shirt, and the hunter's wet hair and damp clothing. Adrian was sure his expression was giving away his present mood – muted and thoroughly satiated. He blushed under her gaze and inched closer to Trevor, whose fingers tightened on his waist. He leaned to plant a kiss on the blonde's cheek before releasing him and striding purposefully to the fire to defrost his hands.
Sypha's gaze followed Trevor, lingering on his back for several seconds. She turned back to Adrian. Her lip twitched.
"Where did you two get off to? You've been gone so long I was beginning to think you weren't coming back. Oh, and try not to disturb Hana, she really needs to rest."
Her attention diverted to the very still figure on the small couch, almost unnoticeable until she was pointed out.
"Is she alright?" Adrian asked, brows rising in concern as he surveyed the old woman, who had two thick quilts pulled all the way up to her chin.
Her braid had been unraveled, long black hair streaked with grey fanned out over the colourful pillow she was propped against. He was struck immediately by how frail she seemed now that her eyes were closed and her formidable personality was absent. She was so tiny, the high cheekbones jutting, the soft tissue beneath them sunken and more wrinkled than he had realized. Her lips were thin and lined, and she had dark circles beneath her eyes. She hardly moved at all – had Adrian been unable to hear her heart and her breaths, he may have thought her dead.
Sypha's expression was transparent, showing all of her fondness and worry. "I think she's okay," she said, rising and going to the small couch to sit at the edge of it. She smoothed one hand over the sweep of dark hair. "The spell took a heavy toll on her. It was probably a combination of exertion and her reaction to your experience, Adrian. She calmed down after you left. I helped her to lay down and brought her some ale. She fell asleep soon after that and she hasn't stirred at all. I really hope she's better in the morning."
Adrian approached the couch and peered over the back of it at the small figure. Her mouth was open slightly and she breathed slowly in sleep. She appeared thin and fragile, and he felt a pang of sadness for her as he tried to imagine what it must be like to live with her gifts, and to be unable to turn them off, even in sleep. He hoped Sypha's presence was a comfort to her.
If he could have, he would have stayed by her side to watch over her, but even as he took a few tentative steps closer, he saw her brows draw together, and he knew she was uncomfortable near him.
Was he really composed of such chaotic, dark elements? So much so, that it pained someone like Hana to be close to him? The idea of that was disconcerting, but he could not change his nature anymore than she could stop feeling things from the world around her, so they would both have to live with their lots in life, for better or worse.
"It's good that you were here for her Sypha," he said softly, not wanting to disturb the sleeping woman.
Trevor, who was crouched in front of the hearth, turned his back to the flames and settled to a more comfortable position. "Don't worry so much about her," he said gruffly. "She's tough. She'll be fine. I'm willing to bet she'd prefer if we just left her alone."
Adrian watched her for a moment longer before turning away, sweeping his eyes around the room. The surface of the table was clean save the large beeswax candle, and a few feathers and stones. The dark wood had several rather dramatic gouges left by his claws; some of them were nearly an inch deep. A long hairline crack split the wood where he'd been seated.
The Belmont Vampire Book was there as well. He eyed it trepidatiously, thinking back to the hazy minutes before Hana and Sypha had cast the spell to make him see visions. They had been perusing it side by side. Sypha had said something-
"We looked in the book together, and found some pretty important stuff about the castle and your father. I hadn't read that part before tonight."
So, there was new information. Adrian was irritated that he could not touch or approach that book, because he was one of the only people who might be capable of determining what was true and what was utter nonsense. He needed to know what Sypha and Hana had uncovered. With all of it together, they might be able to come up with a reasonable plan of action.
Adrian had wanted to forget the vivid, overwhelming visions, and for a time, he had. Between feeding from Trevor, then all the rest, he'd been granted a more than fair reprieve. Now, however, he'd spent enough time avoiding the issue, and he knew his companions were curious. He had to tell them what he'd seen; it was only fair that they choose a course of action together.
But where to start, when his body was still supremely relaxed, and he was sated, spent, and veritably fantasizing about gathering Sypha against him and kissing her breathless?
He hoped she'd notice his bite on Trevor's throat. It seemed silly, but he wanted her to know that he'd done it. And he still felt sensual and affectionate, and wished to be close with her. He blushed when he thought of her knowing what Trevor had done to him. He was still reliving the different sensations himself. Every time he moved, he felt how Trevor had stretched him and filled him, and it was delicious.
He wished that they were alone. He wanted to gather Sypha up and peel off her dress so he could touch her bare skin. He would relish burying himself in her heat right now, rather than talking about the dismal future.
"Adrian?" Sypha said his name, pulling him from his thoughts.
His gaze played over her red mouth, the curve of her shoulder in the black dress, the way her eyes reflected little flickers of the light from the hearth.
"I'll be just a moment," he explained, and strode through the room to the small darkened kitchen to collect his thoughts and find something for Trevor to drink and eat. The beaded curtain clacked and swayed when he passed through it.
In the relative dimness of the room, Adrian braced himself against the counter and inhaled the homey scents of ale and herbs, hands smoothing over the worn wood. It was warm under his touch. He poured an ale for Trevor, then searched out something for him to eat. There wasn't much, and Adrian realized that Hana had almost no food save some grains, a few preserves, and a lot of herbs. There was very little in the way of protein, and the vegetables she had stored would obviously run out before the warm weather returned.
He took the last bit of bread from the counter and spread some sweetened raspberry preserve on it, then brought it out to Trevor with the ale.
"Here," he said, pressing the food and drink into his hands, their fingers brushing together.
Trevor accepted the cup and drank deeply, then stuffed a wad of bread into his mouth and chewed. Satisfied by this, Adrian sank down beside him with his back to the fire, allowing the intense heat to soak into his bare skin.
He was stalling, but Sypha's expression was growing expectant and he knew he would have to say something.
She watched him closely from her perch on the edge of the couch. Once he was settled near the fire she rose and padded softly towards him. She stood between his legs and he looked up at her along the length of her body. She threaded her fingers into his hair, and in answer he closed his eyes and put his hands on the backs of her legs, pulling her against him. He rested his face against her thighs, breathing her in.
They spent a moment that way before he pulled her down into his lap. She went willingly, letting him arrange her so she was sitting with her back cradled in his arm, her legs stretched straight out and onto Trevor's lap beside him. She rested her head against his shoulder.
"You're cold," she remarked, touching the skin of his chest.
"I'll warm up if I sit here awhile," he answered, touching his lips to the crown of her head. Her curls tickled his face.
Beside them, Trevor finished his snack and ale, setting the cup out of the way. He played with Sypha's feet in his lap.
Sypha extended an arm towards him and traced the bite on his neck, which was finally beginning to scab.
"You did it," she observed, looking between them. "So that's what you were up to all this time," she added with a little smile, leaning up to press a kiss to the angle of Adrian's jaw. "I'm glad you worked that out. I'd like to hear about it, but right now I think we should talk. Adrian, will you tell us what you saw?"
He had just been on the verge of pushing it from his mind entirely, and he could not help a sigh of resignation.
"I suppose I must," he said to her, his hand on her thigh over her dress. "But I am first interested in knowing what you and Hana learned from the Belmont Book. What did you find?"
"Oh, that," Sypha said offhandedly. "The book is extremely old. There are pages in it which are copies of an even older text. Much, much older. The section we were reading has been translated multiple times; the word order is archaic and strange. There are no dates, so it's impossible to tell specifically when the information is from, but there are some clues in the text itself.
"There is a passage," Sypha said, clearing her throat and shifting her voice into what Adrian imagined was her 'Speaker' voice – her storytelling voice. "It's hard to determine the meaning in some sections, but I've read it over twice, and I think I have a grasp on it now."
Trevor scooted a little, leaning in so he could hear properly. Sypha adjusted herself in Adrian's lap, straightening in order to better project her voice.
Adrian listened, a strange feeling in his stomach.
"A long, long time ago – that is, close to two thousand years ago – there was a company of scholars, wise men, and magicians. They studied the stars, the elements, and the supernatural, casting aside prejudice and preconceived notions in favour of evidence and fact. Some of them were alchemists, or sorcerers, and some were ordinary men. All of them were highly educated. They came from many different nations, brought together by their singular desire to learn. All were heavily vested in the pursuit of truth.
"One of their number was Vlad Dracula Tepes, a brilliant philosopher and scientist who was also an accomplished magician. He was deeply motivated by his search for knowledge, and was one of the founding members of their collaboration, perhaps the founding member. They had no specific leader, but the others looked up to him and respected him. He was more than willing to accept men from all walks of life into the company, as long as they shared in the desire to find the absolute truths.
"He worked for a long time on discerning the specifics between magic and science, and was especially skilled in alchemy, which incorporates both together. His inventions and ideas were responsible for countless technological advancements, but he was never satisfied by his achievements, and always felt that there was more to be uncovered. He was tireless in his efforts to learn the inner workings of magic, and life."
Sypha adjusted her position in Adrian's lap, glancing at him. He was entirely focused on her, listening intently to her story and trying to imagine his father as he may have been then, as a human man. It was hard to picture; he had only ever known his father as a vampire.
"Dracula's research indicated that some regions of the Earth harboured concentrated power. He wanted to find one of these so he could study it, conduct experiments, and prove his various hypotheses. He gathered rumors and stories everywhere he went in effort to track down such a place. He began by placing focus on areas which were known to have a high concentration of supernatural activity. Eventually, he was led to a tiny village in Dacia, which we know today as Wallachia. The local people spoke of something terrifying and powerful buried deep within a system of caves beneath the mountains. They were superstitious, and took great care to avoid the area for fear they would be cursed by darkness and evil."
"He told the other scholars about his findings – that he believed he had discovered a source of magic strong enough to test his theories. He spoke of miraculous healing, and even immortality. Many of the others were skeptical, as it was in all of their natures to question things and seek proof. He summoned the entire company to come and bear witness as he attempted to tap into the magic he'd found so it could be used to advance their scientific endeavours. He had already been working on a series of talismans – precious stones which might be able to harness the magic in the caves. He was adamant that this discovery would change many lives.
"Some of their number cautioned him that it was too dangerous, and that he should leave it alone. He ignored them. This was what they had been searching out for decades, he argued. It was risky, but it was necessary.
"Eventually, they all gathered together and followed him into the caves which led down into the earth. They had many supplies, and were prepared for a long and dangerous journey into the unknown, led by a local man who had grown up in the area and knew the caves well, despite the general wariness his people had for them. He was initially reluctant, but became more willing once he was plied with a handsome sum of gold.
"They set off, making their way deeper and deeper beneath the surface. It took several days to reach their goal, and they were forced to make camp in tight quarters, sleeping side by side in the narrow passages, each man tied to the one beside him to prevent any of them from getting lost. They left markers along their path as they went to guide them back on their return. The air became stifling, thick with dangerous gasses and heat. The darkness was so absolute that only magical torches which would not react with the gasses in the air could permeate it, and many in their group struggled to tolerate the conditions. Their guide became nervous as they got further in, and started to caution that they should not continue any further. It took considerably more gold to persuade him this time. Some of the men turned back anyway, but they became lost in the confusing, intertwined caves and perished.
"Those who continued began to feel a 'pull' as they moved deeper into the winding passages. They traveled faster, guided less by their hired man, and more by the flutter of excitement in their guts. It drew them along despite themselves. When they next made camp the men were plagued with vivid dreams and wild visions, and some of their number tried to sneak ahead without the rest. When the company woke, they found their guide had deserted them and taken their gold, and that several others were missing as well. Two of them were discovered only a few hundred paces further in. They were dead. Their daggers were buried in one another's guts. By now only a little over half of the original party remained, but all of them were adamant that they continue, Vlad Dracula most of all.
"The overwhelming silence of the caves had persisted for days, but it was slowly overshadowed by a rhythmic pulsing beat. It was hypnotic, drawing the group in towards it against their better judgment. Those who were sensitive to magic were able to feel the power which grew stronger as they got closer to the source. Soon, all of them could feel it, magical abilities or not.
"They had come, finally, to their destination.
"The cramped path opened into a large cavern. It was stifling hot, and humid, and reeked of blood. The men were sweating profusely, and quarreled over the remaining water provisions, bickering and greedily drinking up their fill, heedless of the long journey they still had to make to get back to the surface. In the center of the cavern was a crack in the earth, a crevice that pulsed with nearly intolerable magic. It was filled with a red liquid which smelled like blood. Everyone was affected once they got close to it. It drew them in and clouded their minds with fantasies of power and domination. It made them greedy and violent. Their arguments escalated, the men beginning to fight among themselves as the irrational suspicion grew.
"Vlad Dracula, who had initially brought them all here to study and harness what lay in the cave, was instead overcome by the power of it. He accused the other scholars of attempting to steal it for themselves, and he turned on them quite suddenly. He physically blocked the path to the center of the cave, allowing nobody to pass him. He was an imposing man, nearly seven feet tall, and he was skilled in swordsmanship and hand to hand combat. Most of the other scholars were not nearly so capable, and all of them were exhausted from the days of tense underground travel, and not expecting a physical altercation. He attacked them.
"It is not entirely clear what happened next. Before long, the floor of the cave was decorated by the unconscious figures of his company, and Dracula's hands were stained in their blood, his huge shoulders heaving with effort as he turned on them one by one, knocking them down. His eyes glowed an inhuman shade of red as he felled the last man, sinking to the dirt to catch his breath.
"Once he regained his strength, he dragged the first man closer to the pool and drew a dagger from his robes. He cut the man's throat, painting them both in a macabre wash of crimson that dripped and sprayed onto everything.
"One of the group avoided the fate of the others. A Gallian sorcerer who had been able to cast a protective spell around himself which negated the magic that overpowered all the rest. He hid near the entrance of the room, watching in disbelief as Dracula methodically destroyed his own men, dragging each of them to the pool at the center and spilling their blood. He was terrified, and knew he needed to escape lest he share the same fate. He reinforced the protective spell, cloaking himself from detection as he slipped carefully away, back through the maze of the caverns. Though he was nearly paralyzed by fear, he did not allow himself to lose his head, and paid careful attention to each turn he took, backtracking as far as he could, putting as much distance between himself and the cavern as was possible before he collapsed from exhaustion.
"It took him days, but he managed to regain the surface intact, emerging exhausted and nearly delirious, but alive. He fled to the nearby village, where he was given safe haven and food, and a chance to rest. The villagers told him stories of the evil in the caves, that it could transform men to beasts, and that they stayed away from it at all costs. He didn't tell them the details, but he did say that his whole party had perished. The villagers went together to the mouth of the cave and filled it with stone to prevent anyone else from trying to enter.
"The sorcerer left the village. He fled back to his homeland as soon as he could. Once he returned, he began to research beasts and evil magic, attempting to find proof of such things. He recorded his experiences with Vlad Dracula and their company of scholars, and spent the rest of his life devoted to research, but he never returned to Dacia. It is possible that he eventually became the progenitor of the Belmonts, seeing as his account has shown up in their book, but there is no proof of that.
"After the incident in the caves, Vlad Dracula Tepes was not seen again. He was presumed dead along with the others who'd followed him beneath the mountains. The knowledge he'd collected with his group of scholars was lost to time, and other civilizations rose and fell. Hundreds of years passed. The world changed, humans changed, but the mountains were eternal; cold and silent, buried in snow.
"Eventually, a castle materialized in what had become known as the Southern Carpathian mountains sometime around the year 600. There were some rough diagrams in the book. It was much smaller than the one you grew up in, Adrian, and the architecture was very different, but it just appeared there, out of nothing. It was inhabited by a single man, who introduced himself in the closest villages as Vlad Dracula Tepes. He claimed to be a scientist – a scholar in pursuit of knowledge, and was eager to find those of like mind, with whom he could discuss the truths of the world and the technological accomplishments of man.
"He was a strange, unnerving individual, despite his charismatic personality. His presence and unshakable confidence made people uncomfortable, but he was a perfect gentleman, overpaying for food and drink which he rarely finished, and moving more gracefully than his imposing figure would suggest. His eyes were a strange colour. He only visited the villages at night, or on the snowiest, cloudiest days. He kept himself wrapped tightly in his hooded cloak, and came with no carriage, seemingly appearing on the edge of the village, materializing out of the darkened forest beyond. He spoke in a long-dead dialect, but after the first months it faded and his speech shifted to match that of the villagers around him. He attracted women and men alike, and invited people to visit his castle in the mountains to partake of his collections of books, and to eat fine food and keep him company.
"The people, however, were suspicious, and soon anything which went wrong was attributed to the ominous castle which nobody recalled being built, inhabited by the strange man who had endless wealth and an inhuman grey pallor to his flesh. Finally, they declared him a demon, and refused him entry to their taverns and bookstores, casting him out and brandishing religious artifacts in effort to protect themselves. It was discovered that holy water and silver burned his flesh, and this provided them with the confirmation they were searching for.
"He made no overt effort to deny his nature or to stop them from testing him. He admitted what he was – a vampire, but also an educated man, and a scientist. He insisted that was his only interest – knowledge. Truth. He assured them he would not harm them so long as they left him in peace, but the people were wild with terror and his calm declarations fell on deaf ears.
"The nearby villages gathered together and plotted to destroy the castle. They laid siege to it by daylight, but they couldn't penetrate its defenses. It was protected by Vlad Dracula's considerable magic, and a small army of night creatures. As they approached, the light was swallowed by an impenetrable darkness. The siege failed, resulting in the deaths of many men. Dracula's formidable temper was roused, and he openly feasted on their blood, his eyes blazing red with indignant ire at being attacked when he had done nothing in provocation. He made an example of those who dared to try and harm him, dispatching them violently with his claws and teeth. The survivors fled back to their homes, where the people set themselves to devising protections from the vampire's evil, such as holy magic, wards, and spells. They covered their homes with holy sigils, consecrated their weapons, and didn't venture outside at night."
"In the months that followed, they attempted twice more to destroy the castle, but each time they were met with the same result. Then, it vanished. It moved, actually, disappearing and reappearing many miles away. The castle could teleport through magical means. It retreated deeper into the mountains, where Dracula would reshape and rebuild the damaged portions, updating it at times, or changing the exterior appearance. Myths and stories grew and warped surrounding the nature of the castle, but it was little more than hearsay until several hundred years later when the Belmonts came to Wallachia and began to methodically hunt the creatures of the night, and to record the hard facts of what they uncovered. That was also when the castle was rebuilt into what it looks like today."
Sypha stopped speaking. The only sound in the room was the fire crackling behind them. She was a good storyteller, and Adrian was completely wrapped up in the imagery of her tale, the details easy for him to picture. When she looked at him he blinked, the spell broken by her pause.
"There was more in the book. Instances of the castle appearing in different places, and how it affected the world around it. Dracula tried again to connect with human society. Several times, actually, in numerous countries all over Europe and beyond. For over two centuries, when people came to the castle he received them as guests, and treated them well. He wanted to educate people, and help them, but they always feared him. Over and over they tried to kill him, and called him a demon when they could not. Eventually, he stopped trying, and began mounting people on pikes when they got too close. He changed, and so did the effect of the castle's presence.
"Wherever it manifested after that turning point, darkness and storms came with it. The seasons shifted of their own accord. Plagues and sickness ravaged the nearby villages. Night creatures – which had always existed, but were few in number and not very powerful – appeared in droves, and with more aggression than before. They attacked towns and fed on the flesh of the living. And vampires began to show up in greater numbers. They were organized, when prior to this they had been mostly disjointed clans and nests. They had always been intelligent, but previously, their violent nature prevented them from maintaining order among their own kind. Their hunger for power and control over human populations led them to war with one another frequently, and as a result they never maintained their hold for very long before they were unseated by rival factions.
"Shunned by humanity, Dracula sought out the vampires and slowly won their allegiance, building himself an empire. His power was immense, and they respected and feared him. He united them and implemented rulers for each area of Europe and beyond. They obeyed him, and found great success under him. He proved himself a patient and capable leader, but punished disobedience severely. None would cross him, lest they end up mounted on a pike in front of the castle. That has persisted for nearly 700 years.
"There were a few exceptions to Dracula's hatred of humans in that time. A handful of friendships or romantic pursuits, but typically they ended in bloodshed through one avenue or another. Leon Belmont was one such example – he was close with Dracula at one point. Whatever happened between them, it resulted in Leon dedicating the rest of his life to the destruction of vampires, night creatures, and the castle, and that goal has been passed down for the last 400 years, as you both already know. There are references here to Leon's personal writings, which are sealed within the Belmont Hold. We could find them if we wanted to know more about that."
Sypha grew quiet, letting the rest of the story sink in. She relaxed against Adrian's chest, indicating that she was finished speaking.
He sighed heavily, thinking of all the war and death and blood on his father's hands.
He was well aware of his father's accomplishments. He knew he was responsible for lifting the vampires to power and that he'd personally implemented the structure they adhered to, personally written the(few) laws they abided. He'd organized them and given them the means to control human populations, and it had worked extremely well.
His father was a conqueror. He was a war chieftain. He was a king with a reign that had gone largely uncontested for seven centuries. Adrian knew what he was. He'd seen some of it firsthand, and he had been groomed his entire life to follow in this footsteps. He knew why people feared him. He had earned that fear through bloodshed and brutality.
It was still hard for him to reconcile that with the father who had patiently taught him his lessons as a child, or with the tender, loving husband filled with adoration for his wife. How Lisa had managed to get under his skin and touch his cold heart Adrian didn't know, but she had, and there was no question that she held it, even in death. She was the only thing that had power over him; his love for her transcended all of his monstrosity and made him seem human.
Adrian wanted to leave, suddenly. He wanted time to process and absorb. He didn't want to hear more, and he didn't want to speak about the visions. It was his first instinct to simply escape all of it by running, but he forced it down.
He wilted, closing his eyes and leaning against Sypha's cheek as he recalled the first vision, of the strange room within the castle that contained the pool of blood. It was obviously the same place described in Sypha's story.
Had he really constructed the whole castle around it? Had it somehow made him a vampire? And far more importantly – how was he controlling it? Obviously something major transpired in the countless centuries that were not recorded by the book. There were important details missing.
"Sypha, was there anything else? Anything about how he might be controlling the castle, or where it came from?"
Sypha shook her head. "No, the entry ended there. I will keep looking though, when I can. Hana will ask us all to help her with some things tomorrow. She needs food, meat. She might ask you to hunt for her, Adrian, and I think you should. Maybe while you are out doing that I can look again, see what I've missed. It's a very large book. Every time I open it it seems like there is something new."
"What did you see in the visions?" Trevor asked abruptly. He'd been listening to Sypha speak, his eyes trained attentively on her face, but now he adjusted his focus to Adrian, pinning him with his shrewd stare.
Adrian held his gaze, watching the firelight flicker in his eyes. Eventually he looked to the side, recalling. "The thing from Sypha's story – the thing they found in the caves – it's in the castle," he said in a low tone, shivering at the memory. "It felt- it was pure Chaos. Wild. Untamed. It was impossible to resist, and even in the vision it was overwhelming to me. It made me thirst, made me feel like my magic was bubbling up, overflowing. It-
Adrian cut off abruptly, breathing, trying to find the words to describe the way it made him feel. "It twisted my thoughts. It drew me in, and there was nothing I could do to resist. I saw Father in the vision as well, and when he came close to it the feeling disappeared as though he had something to shield it or counter its effect. The madness vanished, and returned again when he left the room. It's deep in the castle where I've never been before. He may have actually constructed the whole thing around the crevice itself. It was filled with blood and had vessels branching out of it, feeding into the walls. It had a pulse, like you described in the cave, Sypha. A heartbeat."
"For God's sake," Trevor muttered, raking his hand back through his spiky hair. "How are we supposed to fight a- what do we even call it? An evil blood pool?"
"Not fight," Sypha interjected. "I doubt it can be destroyed. Perhaps it could be bound, or returned deep into the Earth where it originated. But we can't fight it."
"Well, I'm out of ideas," Trevor groused, looking irritated and tired. He rubbed at his neck, picking at the tentative scabbing there and frowning when he reopened the wound by accident. Adrian's eyes lingered helplessly on it for a long moment.
"Sypha is probably right," he agreed finally, shifting her in his lap so he could reach Trevor, gently pulling his hand away from his neck to keep him from worrying at the bite. Trevor's fingers relaxed in his. "We cannot look at this like an opponent on a battlefield. This isn't something we can defeat in a traditional sense. This kind of magic is ancient, as old as the Earth itself. It is exponentially greater than we are. It's dangerous."
Trevor scoffed, pulling his hand back to himself. "Dracula's controlling it. It's possible. We're just missing something."
"Trevor, it's not that simple," Sypha argued.
The hunter snorted. "Sure it is, or it will be once we know what to do. You should read that whole book from cover to cover. There's got to be more in there, something we can use. I don't know shit about magic, or any of this, really, but we are here for a reason. Hana knew we were coming. She knows more than she's telling us. Tomorrow we are going to sit her down and get some answers."
Sypha's brows drew together and she glared at him. "She's a fragile old woman Trevor, why would she hide anything? You can't force her to tell us something she doesn't know."
Trevor was focused intently on the woman in question, who still lay deeply asleep beneath the quilts. He was glowering at her suspiciously, but his shoulders sagged after a moment and when he turned his attention back to Adrian and Sypha he looked deflated. "I don't know how to beat an enemy I can't fight head-on, or at least outsmart. I can't even use the books in my own stupid library. I hate being useless. This sucks."
Sypha patted his knee. "I know, honey. I know you want to rush in and slay the monster and ride home with it's head as a trophy, but this isn't that kind of enemy. We can talk to Hana more tomorrow, and I think you should at least take a look in your family's book as well. I know you aren't magical, Trevor, but you are a Belmont. It's your book. At least look at it."
Trevor gave Sypha a cynical expression, crossing his arms. "Sure, I can look at the pictures," he snarked, pouting.
Adrian found himself working not to smile at the petulant expression on the grizzled hunter's face. This was hardly the time for humour. He refocused on the matter at hand, taking Sypha's fingers in his own.
"I suspect the only way to uncover the information we seek is from Father's personal memoirs. We won't be able to access those while he lives. I'm not confident that any of us would stand much of a chance against this without employing whatever he has developed to counter it. The other things I saw, the possible future that we face is- it's dismal."
Adrian proceeded to explain – in as much detail as he possibly could – everything else he'd seen during the vision spell. He told them of their successful battle with Dracula, and of the frightening future that had unfolded afterwards. He tried to communicate the things he'd felt, they way the castle itself had radiated an aura that drew humans and vampires alike to try and take control of it. He told them of their future selves, of their scars and the dead look in all of their eyes. He explained the sense of possessiveness and domination that had pervaded all else, and the unnatural darkness which shrouded the whole area.
"I was not myself," Adrian whispered, his fingers tightening around Sypha's. "None of us were. In truth, I think that killing Father may actually cause more harm than good. Perhaps we are meant to persuade him to stop his war somehow, rather than destroying him. He may be the only one capable of controlling the castle properly. Whatever power resides within it, Father is able to negate its effect totally, and he is still doing so, or it would be affecting everyone like it did in the visions."
He looked down at his hand in Sypha's. His eyes darkened. "I was not prepared for this – an enemy we can't simply defeat in battle. Our actions will affect more than only ourselves. It looked as though we'd been fighting for decades in the vision, and there was no sign of it ending. I can't live that way. I would not ask it of you, either. And I would not sentence all of Wallachia to endless war."
Trevor shook his head. "We have to kill him. He's murdering the entire human race. Or did that slip your mind? Maybe we need to go back to the Hold. The story said that there was a sorcerer who resisted the- uh- whatever the thing was in the cave. He was able to escape. What kind of magic did he use? Maybe we can try that."
Sypha pondered. "I don't know, Trev. Adrian, do you know?"
"No!" Adrian snapped before he could temper his growing agitation. He hated feeling helpless just as much as Trevor did. He grit his teeth and swallowed the sudden desire to snarl. "Chaos comes naturally to me, where its antithesis is beyond my skill or teaching. As I already told you before, Father is extremely secretive. He would never teach me anything that could be a threat to him."
"It's okay," Sypha soothed, trying to calm him with a hand on the side of his face. His jaw was set hard, and he was stiff against her, barely feeling her touch.
"It's not," he hissed angrily, eyes flashing. "Until now, our plan has always been to simply gain the castle and defeat Father. Now we have no plan."
"We're pretty much fucked," Trevor added helpfully.
There was a small noise from the couch and they all looked over to Hana, who was stiff and appeared to be in some distress, her face pinched and drawn.
Sypha rubbed Adrian's chest in attempt to pacify him. "Try to calm down, I think you're upsetting Hana."
He closed his eyes and nodded, the anger evaporating quickly. "I'm sorry. I'm- I don't know what to do. People are dying."
Sypha nodded. "I know, sweetheart, but we can't solve this tonight. It's late. Hana is recovering, and we're all tired. We should sleep, and come back with fresh eyes in the morning."
Trevor yawned, as if for emphasis. "You're right. I've had enough excitement for one day. I'm beat."
They agreed that it was time to call it a night, and everyone rose, spending a few minutes putting out the lanterns and topping up the fire for Hana. Sypha checked on her, finding her still deeply asleep. She adjusted the blankets for her and together the trio made their way as quietly as possible out of the house and back to the barn. Adrian jaunted ahead, remembering what state he and Trevor had left things in.
When Sypha and Trevor climbed the vertical ladder into the loft, they found a nest of clean, dry blankets already laid out for them in the hay mow. Adrian was sitting atop them, combing his fingers through his hair.
"God I am tired," Trevor proclaimed when he reached the top of the ladder. He removed his boots and crawled into the bedding, flopping down in the center of it and pulling Adrian down against him. "C'mon Syph, we need you to keep us warm."
Sypha smiled at the pair of them in the darkness and laid down on Trevor's other side, letting him be in the middle, which was a bit of a change from usual. She curled herself against Trevor's side, resting one hand on his broad chest. Adrian laid his fingers over hers, melding himself against Trevor's other side and soaking in his heat.
"Mmmm, I could get used to this," the hunter said with a smile in his voice, shifting until he was comfortably nestled between them. He scratched his neck again and Adrian caught his hand and pulled it away.
"Stop doing that. You keep reopening the wound. Let it heal or it will get infected."
"Infected?"
"Yes. Uhm- it will fester. You need to keep it clean."
"Oh."
Adrian studied the mark, returning his hand over Sypha's. She leaned up on her elbow so she could see him, though it was quite dark in the barn and Adrian suspected he was little more than a light-coloured blur to her.
"If you think for one minute that you're going to keep him from picking at that you're dreaming," she snickered, leaning over Trevor to get closer.
Adrian met her halfway, their noses bumping together. They kissed slowly. Adrian made himself relax, trying to leave behind his anxiety over everything that loomed ahead. He was here with them now, and he had to be thankful for that, at the very least. Every minute together was precious.
Sypha yawned when they pulled apart, settling back into her place beside Trevor. She gave him a kiss as well before she laid down, her head on his bicep. By the sound of it, the he was already drifting off, his eyes closed, his breath deepening and slowing. Adrian pulled the blankets higher around all of them then returned his hand to the broad chest, finding Sypha's fingers once more. He nestled into the crook of Trevor's neck, his nose and lips just over his bite. He cleaned it gently, licking it methodically.
It was a strangely self-soothing activity, and he found his eyes drooping as he tended the bite, the tug of sleep finally pulling him down.
He closed his eyes. Behind his lids he saw visions.
He saw the things from the story Sypha had recounted, imagining them as if he'd witnessed them firsthand. He saw pools of blood and awful futures where his lovers were battered by fighting. He saw a world shredded and warring, and he started awake after only a minute, jolting up and panting, gripping Sypha's hand too hard in the darkness, his shoulders shuddering as he fought back the images.
He lowered himself back into the same position, laying his lips over Trevor's skin and breathing in the reassuring scent of him, and of Sypha beside him.
They would find a way to change what he'd seen. There was no possible way he would allow those awful things to come to fruition as long as he lived. Together they were strong, and they would succeed.
They had to.
~o~O~o~
The following morning came too soon. It had been a late night, and all of them were tired still, but Sypha had to get up to pee, and when she came back she woke up Adrian, and Trevor had managed to splay himself obnoxiously out in a manner that left her no place to lie down. So she crawled in between the men, and Trevor veritably growled at her, complaining that her feet were freezing before he slipped off again, turning his back to them.
They nestled together face to face, Adrian's arm around her, and Sypha's back pressed against the heat of Trevor's body.
"It's snowing today," she said, playing with his hair and chest, her eyes lidded as she sank back into the warmth between them with a contented smile.
Her feet were freezing, even Adrian could feel how cold they were against his legs.
"I love the snow. When I was little I would play in it with the other Speaker kids. There weren't many of us, but our tribe would band together with others during the colder months to share resources. Then there were more kids to play with."
"You don't often talk about your childhood," Adrian said, enjoying her fingertips on his skin. "Will you tell me about your family?"
She nodded, smiling at him. "I was born in the caravan, in winter. My mother died in childbirth, and my father died of illness the following spring. I stayed in the care of my grandfather. I never knew my parents, so I don't miss them, and I've always had family around me. My tribe is my family, even though most of us are not related by blood. It is one of our customs, that we don't stay too long in the same group. Usually we move around every few years. It allows us to share our oral histories with each other, and find a partner if we wish to have children. I would have gone to another tribe this year if I had not left to travel with you and Trevor, I stayed longer than most because of the war. I wanted to protect my grandfather. He works so hard to help others, but sometimes he forgets to look after himself. I hope he's alright," Sypha grew quiet, obviously thinking of her family.
Adrian gave her the chance to reflect, knowing he had spent plenty of time brooding on his own family, and lamenting the things he'd lost. He kissed Sypha's forehead tenderly, carding his fingers through her short curls.
"Hopefully we can find him again soon, and you can tell all of them about our adventures," he said to her.
"I'd like that, Adrian. Sometimes it feels surreal to be away from them. I've always been around a lot of people. These past months with you and Trevor have taught me more about being alone than I expected it would. I'm not used to it. It's so quiet, especially at night. Sometimes it's hard to sleep without the feeling of others all around me. I'm actually glad that Trev snores, just so I know he's there."
Adrian chuckled at that. "It's the opposite for me. Being with you both has taught me more about being close to people than I'd even known before. It was very much an exercise in patience and trust at the beginning, especially trying to sleep. I suppose I was a bit spoiled, being an only child, being doted on by my parents and having everything I wanted. I'm still not used to sleeping on the ground, or having to wear the same clothes every day. I miss the comforts of home. But it was good that I met both of you. It forced me to learn new things. I've never had to share anything, or compromise. As a child, I didn't have peers. I would imagine that is the opposite of your own experiences. You must have had others around your age?"
"Yes, there were always a few, even in the summer. We would play together, and take our lessons together. Learning is a lifelong undertaking for my people. It is very important that we speak many languages, and read them also. Communication is essential for us. So those things are taught in structured lessons from as early as possible. When we understand something, we are expected to be able to teach it to someone else. Each of us is both student and teacher. I-uhm, I was a little stubborn. When I was much younger I had a hard time paying attention in the lessons. I'm sure that seems funny, since I love to read so much, but it was hard to concentrate. My magic was a lot stronger than any of the others', and it was more fun to set things on fire and freeze them solid than it was to learn to read six different languages, then teach my brothers and sisters to read too."
"So you could perform magic from a young age?"
Sypha laughed, sliding against Adrian, curling her leg around his thigh. He felt her center press against him, warm and welcoming through their clothes. He tightened his hold on her.
"Oh yes, from the time I was barely four. I could always feel magic, and it was so easy to play with. Ice was the first element I could manipulate. Fire came soon after. Grandfather was overjoyed – he thought it was a wonderful gift. Only a handful of Speaker children have the gift of magic, and fewer still can work more than one element, but for me it was easy. And it was fun. The first thing I learned to do was to freeze water, but soon I figured out how to conjure ice from thin air. I even made it snow."
Adrian tightened his arm around Sypha's pinched waist, splaying his hand over her back and gently crushing her body closer. He smiled as her words brought up some of his own happy memories. "When I was really little, I had a lot of fun with my abilities too. Mother could never catch me or contain me. And Father seemed amused when I used my gifts, so he wasn't terribly motivated to discipline me at that point. Actually, he encouraged me."
"I'm sure your mom was thrilled," Sypha said with a laugh.
"She eventually persuaded Father that I needed to behave myself, but she was rarely angry with me, even if I got into trouble, which I did quite a lot at that time. She never yelled. She would reason with me, explain why she didn't want me floating to the ceiling or running around faster than she could see, or turning into a wolf when we were out at the market. She cautioned that I needed to be careful around humans, because they might be scared or I could accidentally hurt them. I didn't really understand people yet. I was kind of afraid of human kids, actually. I used to hide in Mother's skirts so they couldn't see me, but by the time I was six I was already as tall as her, and she said I was too big to do that any longer. So I just stayed close to her, and tried not to let anyone see me."
"Oh sweetheart," Sypha said, her eyes soft. "Didn't you have any friends?"
Adrian shook his head. "No, I didn't. I already looked as I do now when I was ten. In many ways I was an adult then, but in so many others I was still very much a child. It was difficult for me to socialize with human children, no matter what age I was. I was very quiet. I didn't know how to talk to people at all, and they were so loud and overwhelming anyhow. If they spoke to me I would respond in as few words as possible. Mother would make me introduce myself to people to be polite, but past that I did everything I could to avoid them. I… was curious sometimes. About human children, I mean. I would watch them, follow them, but I didn't engage with them or let them see me. It was for the best. Father didn't trust them anyhow, and he told me about how humans treated vampires, and what they would do to me if they found me out. So I behaved."
Sypha trailed her hand over the angles of Adrian's face, following the line of his nose and lips. "It must have been lonely. I've always had so many people around, I was never by myself."
He closed his eyes, letting her fingers slide over the skin of his eyelids and brush his lashes. "I suppose it was, but I had my parents, and my studies. Endless books to read, toys to play with. And I spent a lot of time in the forest, running or hunting. I made a game of following the wolves and sometimes playing with them. They're very curious, though they don't trust easily. Of course, they're only animals, but I had fun anyhow. It seemed normal. I never thought I was missing out on anything, except maybe once I was in my teens and I went to live in Targoviste with mother. Then, I realized how poorly equipped I was to interact with people. I was interested in women, but I was too shy to talk to any of them."
Sypha kissed his nose. "I'm sure they were not very shy about talking to you," she teased, and Adrian blushed.
"They weren't. There was a seemingly endless string of young women who developed all manner of ailments and injuries once they learned I was living at the cottage with mother. They were always conveniently dressed in their good clothes and freshly bathed when they just happened to be injured and require the doctor. I could hear their heartbeats pick up when they spoke to me, and smell their excitement… I knew what they were doing, but there were too many reasons to stay away. Father had essentially convinced me that no human would ever tolerate me if they knew what I was, but Mother disagreed, for obvious reasons. She encouraged me to get to know them, even to try courting a few of them once I was older. Still, she was no less insistent that I be very careful never to reveal my nature. That was hardly a risk, since I was so shy that I never did work up the courage to have more than a brief conversation with most people."
"Never?"
"It was terrifying, Sypha. Even something as simple as smiling or speaking might reveal my fangs. Surely you understand – you had to keep your magic a secret as well, didn't you?"
"From outsiders, yes, but not within my tribe. Sort of like you with your parents, I think. You could be yourself with your family. So could I. It just happened to be a really big family."
They grew quiet for a moment, each of them thinking, and enjoying their closeness. Sypha suddenly grinned. "Adrian I would have eaten you alive," she said with a glitter in her eyes.
He snorted. "I think you have that reversed," he pointed out, but she shook her head.
"Nope. I was never shy at all; I was fearless. Speakers are very social, of course, but we usually stick to our own people. I talked to everybody, Speaker or not. You wouldn't have been able to keep me away," she insisted, punctuating that with a kiss. When she spoke again her tone was a little more serious, gentler. "I think we would have become friends if we'd met. I wish I'd known you sooner. You wouldn't have had to be alone."
He considered that, studying her large, expressive eyes. "I didn't mind being alone. It was fine."
Sypha's face fell and she stroked his chest, leaning into him. "But it's better now, isn't it? With us?"
He put his nose into her hair and nodded against her. "Of course it is, Sypha. I feel more… human when I am with you. You've both helped me with that; I'm more at ease than I used to be, especially in busy places, like pubs and markets. It would have made Mother happy, I think."
Sypha tilted her head up so she could kiss him. "I'm sure she was already very happy with you Adrian. I doubt you gave her half as much grief as I gave my grandfather and the other Speakers. I was a lot of trouble. They were always bailing me out when I got in over my head. I was never afraid of getting hurt because I knew I could easily defend myself, so I wasn't very cautious about where I went or who I spoke to. But I tended to forget that people hated us, and were always looking for excuses to target us. I forgot to be careful of my magic sometimes, because it was so natural to use it. I was seen, more than once, and our whole caravan was driven out of cities or villages, often by an angry mob waving torches and pitchforks. The other Speakers were frustrated with me, but Grandfather was always patient. He explained to me over and over how I needed to use my gifts carefully, so that outsiders didn't see. They would fear what they didn't understand."
Adrian sighed wistfully, his eyes growing glassy. "Yes, they definitely fear what they don't understand. If they had just been more tolerant, Mother would be alive, and we wouldn't be in this situation."
Sypha shook her head, her fingers curled against his chest. "No Adrian. You can't know what might have happened. All we can do is accept what we're given and do out best. I asked grandfather once why it was me who had so much magic. People were nervous of me, even in our own tribe. Especially once I learned to work fire. It scared them. One time I had a nightmare about something – just a silly dream – but I set our wagon on fire by accident. It caught a nearby field and it was a huge inferno. I was able to dispel the flames once I woke up properly and realized what I'd done, but after that nobody would sleep near me for months. I was so upset, and I asked my grandfather why it had to be me with so much magic. That's what he told me – that I had to accept what I was given, and do my best. Eventually the others got over their fear, and they were very glad of my abilities when the night creatures started to attack people. I was able to defend everyone and keep us all safe."
"Is that why they chose you to go into the catacombs and look for me in Gresit?"
Sypha blushed, which Adrian hadn't expected. He could feel her skin flushing hotly, her cheeks darkening to scarlet.
"Oh… no. They- um- they didn't send me at all. The prophecy wasn't fulfilled – there was no hunter. I was told in no uncertain terms to stay with the others and wait. Grandfather was always so patient… but I'm not. I wanted to see what was down there. I wanted to know if you were real. Every day I saw people dying. There were so many awful things happening that it felt as though we had no time to wait around. I fought with them all. I yelled at grandfather. And when the rest of them were sleeping in the early morning, I snuck out and went down into the catacombs."
"And got turned to stone by the cyclops."
Sypha blushed harder, squirming. Adrian's mouth tugged into a smile at her embarrassment. "Yes."
"And Trevor rescued you."
The man himself rolled over at that moment, wrapping a burly arm around Sypha and pulling her against his body indulgently, planting sloppy kisses on her neck. "Oh I rescued her alright."
"You climbed on me," she said, sounding incredibly offended.
"And you puked on me, so we're even."
Adrian watched them with amusement, Sypha protesting Trevor's hold, but succumbing quickly to his hands on her as he kneaded her breasts through her dress and crushed her in his arms. He growled "Good Morning," into her ear then bit her clavicle hard enough to leave an impression of his teeth on her skin. She squawked and twisted in his grasp, trying to kick hid shins.
"Trevor Belmont you let me go right now or you will be sorry," she threatened in a dangerous tone.
"Hmm," Trevor said playfully, as though contemplating his options. He rolled onto her and Adrian heard a wheeze as the air was forced from her lungs under his weight. "No, I think I have you right where I want you," he drawled, glancing at Adrian deviously. Sypha looked at him too, either incredulous or furious that he hadn't already pried Trevor off of her.
It wasn't fair to take sides, he knew it wasn't. And he should be on Sypha's side, probably, but it was good to see them playful and happy. He showed his teeth and rolled closer, trapping Sypha's kicking leg under his own and pinning one of her arms effortlessly with his hand. He ran a light fingertip up her side, tickling her ribs.
"Ah! NOT FAIR! Let me GO!" she shrieked, squirming and wiggling and trying to get herself free from the pair's unfair entrapment. Trevor's mouth found her neck again once he had her more securely pinned and he teased her with the tip of his tongue, dragging it along, up to her ear. He jammed it into her ear and she screamed and tried to buck him off, her voice cracking with a mixture of laughter and fury.
Trevor gave her a crooked smile. "Sorry Syph, I couldn't resist," he said sweetly, stroking her cheek. She tried to bite him, but he snatched his hand away before she could, and her teeth clicked together, empty.
"Hey now, I think Adrian already did enough of that last night. But if you'd like something in your mouth you could blow me," he suggested lewdly, grinding himself against her hip.
"I will bite your cock off if you put it anywhere near me you filthy beast," Sypha spat, seething.
Despite her venomous protests, Adrian could hear her heart thundering, and he could smell her becoming excited. He'd never seen Trevor work her up quite like this before, but he had to admit they both seemed familiar enough with the game. It couldn't hurt to let it go on a little longer…
"Hmm, then maybe we'll keep your mouth occupied while I fuck you instead," the hunter answered without missing a beat, kissing her and pulling quickly away when she tried to snap her teeth at him again. Adrian smelled Trevor's blood and realized that she'd managed to re-open the wound on his tongue. She struggled beneath them, cursing. Trevor shifted his weight, grinning at Adrian, his teeth pink. "You keep her mouth busy. If she bites you, you can just bite her back," he said smugly as he leaned against the dhampir so they were shoulder to shoulder atop Sypha.
Trevor seemed to be enjoying himself immensely. He ignored Sypha's threats in favour of kissing Adrian in front of her, plundering his mouth indulgently and making sure that Sypha had a clear view of them. Her protestations eased. Adrian found himself completely pulled into the kiss, which was sweetened by the hint of blood in it. He was thinking of the night before and soon his cheeks stained with blush as he let Trevor claim his lips, leaving him flustered and warm all over.
When they parted Adrian was breathless, his body tingling. He gave Sypha a guilty, flushed look, unable to conceal how much he'd enjoyed Trevor's kiss. He studied her mouth, looking for evidence that she might let him kiss her now as well. He dipped towards her.
Trevor left Adrian to that as he moved between her legs. He pushed up her dress, spreading her knees open and avoiding her when she aimed a wayward kick at him.
Her scent grew much stronger when it wasn't covered by the wool dress any longer. It curled through Adrian's head and slowed down his thoughts, bringing his focus to the feel of their bodies and his own. He blinked at her. She looked like an angry cat, trying to escape Trevor's hands, which were now roughly grasping her hips, his thumbs digging against her skin. She was beautiful.
"Uhm, Sypha, should we stop?" he asked her, trying not to rub his growing firmness against her, but failing miserably.
Sypha tugged Adrian onto her by his hair and kissed him rather roughly. He braced himself with one hand beside her head, leaning over her and studying her face. "I like it when Trevor is rough with me. Just play along. Or watch. Whatever you like," she whispered against him before releasing him so she could see where she was trying to kick.
Trevor caught her heel and forced her leg up and her eyes widened, realizing that he'd pinned her and was settled between her legs already. He glanced at Adrian, grinned absolutely lecherously, and deftly unlaced his breeches, freeing himself.
Adrian opted to watch, sinking against Sypha and listening to her ragged breaths hitch when Trevor pushed into her in a single, unforgiving movement. Her body tensed against him and then she groaned in enjoyment, her hips jerking up to meet Trevor's. Adrian found himself more than content to simply absorb their sounds and the feel of them both, watching the way their bodies moved together and enjoying the scent of their sex.
Afterwards, When Trevor lay atop her panting for breath and Adrian lay beside her, still hard in his pants, Sypha put an arm around each of them and kissed their foreheads and told them she loved them.
Adrian relaxed against her, running his fingers along her damp skin, appreciating her and urging himself to ignore his own excitement. He didn't need to find release every time he was aroused. It would dissipate on its own. He closed his eyes, but they shot open when he saw a flash of light through his closed lids and felt the tingle of magic in the air.
"What-
"Sypha!"
"There, now I can enjoy you without him getting in the way," she said sweetly, the cold smell of her ice magic hovering around her. Adrian gulped, peering over her at Trevor, who was struggling fruitlessly in the hay. His hands were frozen together over his head by thick icy manacles. His ankles were frozen similarly.
"Sypha! Goddammit, undo this! It's cold! Hey! Are you listening to me!?" he protested, sounding indignant, but still a little pathetic.
"That's mean," Adrian said, feeling sorry for him.
"You can let him out when we're done," she answered, her hand making contact with the front of his pants, rubbing his erection and effectively distracting him away from Trevor's plight.
A few minutes later Adrian was the one trying to catch his breath, his face slack with pleasure, and Sypha was standing beside both men, smoothing wrinkles from her dress and wiping the corner of her mouth. She reached for her boots and glanced back at them. "See you at breakfast boys," she said, before disappearing down the ladder.
"I'm going to kill her," Trevor growled.
Adrian was still a little dazed, laying on his back where Sypha had left him, his breeches still unlaced. She was really good at that. He felt like jelly. He looked at Trevor sleepily, offering him a dumb smile.
"For God's sake shut up," Trevor grouched, glaring at him. "And help me," he added, struggling. The ice on his arms and legs was too thick for him to break, and by now it must certainly be burning his skin painfully.
Adrian raised a brow, sitting up slowly and tucking himself back into place. "I didn't say anything," he pointed out, tracing the line of Trevor's thigh with his fingertip.
"I will strangle you with the Morning Star," the hunter threatened, glaring reproachfully.
"I'm willing to risk it," he said, rising and donning his boots, lacing them slowly so he could watch Trevor squirm and listen to him hurl insults and threats. "I wonder what Hana's got for breakfast, I'm starved," he said, patting his stomach and making for the ladder.
"Adrian! Don't leave me here… come ooonnnnn" Trevor whined, wiggling like a wounded caterpillar, the muscles in his arms flexing as he strained against his bonds.
The dhampir sauntered back to his side, staring down at him. "You'll melt free eventually," he teased, poking Trevor with his boot.
The hunter gave the blonde a flat look. "You do know she was into that, right? She came twice. You were there."
Adrian considered that, deliberating. Trevor wasn't wrong. Finally his soft heart caved, and he put his hands around the ice on his wrists and crushed it, then repeated the action on his ankle bindings. Trevor rubbed his frozen skin, trying to get feeling back into the flesh.
"What the hell have I got myself into," he muttered, and Adrian hauled him to his feet and kissed him.
~o~O~o~
A/N: So I'm really going off on my own path with this. Why would you want to read the same story you already know anyway? Bo-ring! Hopefully my take on Dracula's past is interesting. Did you like it? Hate it? Fall asleep halfway through?
I am no expert on historical geography, but I did my best! Thanks Wikipedia!
Some really serious stuff in this chapter and then fluff because I could not make a whole chapter of doom and gloom. Really, I could write sooooo much just about Adrian growing up and being this extremely awkward and painfully shy boi who looks like a man but still wants to hide behind his mom. Maybe that will be my next project.
I'm working hard on trying to incorporate more dialogue and less random introspection in an effort to grow as a writer. Is it working?
Please REVIEW! Thank you for looking!
