Storming through an unlit hallway, ceasing all movement when his feet faced a tall and dark door.
His right hand formed into a fist, pounding the door with his knuckles, creating a loud bang.
After a short stretch of silence, he did it again, receiving the exact same results as before.
Clicking his tongue, pulling the door handle downwards, and not even a moment later a large room was revealed.
Entering it, red, slitted eyes scanning every nook or cranny, from the coffin all away to the closed curtains.
His eyes narrowed.
Rushing out of the room, charging down the corridor, again. His eyes spotted a figure, a figure who was practically the spitting image of himself.
A momentary smirk arrived, though, it quickly returned back to the firm line.
His feet stuck to the ground the moment they faced each other.
''Father, is there something I can do for you today?'' The boy asks, his body straight as a ruler.
''Your sister, where is she?''
The moment he asked this the boy's face grew into something sour, like a lemon, only with the positive traits peeled off.
''No.'' The boy's voice was no less sour than his face, perhaps more so.
His eyes stuck to the boy. ''Very well.'' That was the last thing he said to the boy before spinning around, walking back into her room.
His eyes swept across the room for the second time, eventually landing on the closed curtains, a thought, an unsavoury thought jumped up.
Stepping towards the curtains, brushing them apart, darkness leaking into the room.
Most importantly, there was a window, or at least there should've been one.
On the windowsill there was cracked glass, his eyes flicked below him, it was in the same state.
Baring a set of pointy teeth. Wrenching his shaky eyes to where the window used to sit.
An animalistic snarl shook the entire castle.
Valerie could be spotted under his bed, the only time she ever slid out was when he had some blood on hand.
A heavy huff came out. Her robotic fashion, short sentences, and what Shalltear told him before painted a very clear picture.
For the few days that Valerie had been staying he hadn't really pushed for any more information, the only times they've spoken was him starting up small talk which hardly lasted a minute.
Naruto sighed, maybe it was time for him to stretch his legs, he hasn't left the castle for a few days now.
Sitting on a dark throne, eyes directed to a letter in his right hand, pasty pale, wielding a smirk that was simmering between triumph and worry.
Dear King Dracula the fourth, Monarch of Bloodwing.
As much as I desire to not write this down, I am simply obligated to do so.
I have been informed that a member of your family has gained entrance into Bludhaven.
I would like to know why a member of the Tepes family has gained entrance into my kingdom without permission beforehand.
I hope to see your response soon, otherwise, we may have a situation similar to your uncle on our hands.
Queen Shalltear, Monarch of Romania.
Sitting on a chair, looking at the letter that was resting on her desk.
Dear Queen Shalltear, Monarch of Romania.
My sincerest apologies, I wasn't aware that a member of my family was currently in your kingdom.
If it is not too much to ask, am I allowed to send my guards to collect her? Of course, only if you accept my proposition.
King Dracula The Fourth, Monarch Of Bloodwing.
Her fingers connected with each other, situated right under her chin as a pensive expression grew.
The howling wind was fiddling with his cloak, the sun was out, shining like an exploding star.
His eyes sharpened, staring at a couple of figures, their features were hidden thanks to the cloaks they were wearing.
Sidestepping as far to the side as he could without hitting the wall, and right as he was about to walk by them his eyes picked up on something.
''We've been looking for ages, we even almost got burnt alive.'' The cloaked man said, his accent thick.
''I'm sure we'll find the little princess soon enough, and please watch your tongue, Lord Dracula would wring your neck if he heard.'' The other man responded, his accent was still quite thick, just less so than the other one.
He walked by the two men who were now on the other side of the road as if nothing else had changed.
His legs froze — and his neck twisted, eyes meeting the two hooded figures, they stayed on the men until they left his sight.
Naruto looked up to the top of the tall wall, and without a second thought, he leapt up, his feet landing on the wall, the top.
Letting his eyes fall to the floor, spotting the two hooded figures walking ahead.
His knees bend, stepping forwards at impressive speeds.
Perched just above them, in a way that was similar to an owl.
Should he jump down? His fingers twitched. Unlikely, and even if was able to Kill them, more men would be sent out, probably more than just two.
And it wasn't necessary, the likelihood of them searching his room is almost zero.
And even by some impossible chance, they find out Valerie was still staying in his room, being who he is, the supposed ''son'' of Shalltear basically deflects anything.
Sprawled across a bed, hands, both of them, resting on the back of his head.
''Valerie… you're trying to find a place far away, yeah?'' His eyes flicked to the edge of the room, where she was standing… still, like a robot.
Her unblinking gaze focused on him. ''Am I getting kicked out?''
His forehead creased. ''What? No, I never said that. I'm just guessing that you're gonna be leaving soon, you did kinda run away.''
Her eyes seemed to inspect him for a few moments, though, finally, her mouth shaped into an O. ''Oh.'' She whispered, closing her mouth afterwards.
He raises an eyebrow. ''Why are you o'ing for?'' He asks.
''They're here.'' She states, even so, her voice doesn't crack.
His lips purse tightly.
Sharp Girl.
After not saying anything for some time his lips finally depart from each other. ''They are.'' He admits.
If Valerie heard him she certainly didn't show it, her usual blank stare still on full display.
Red eyes, so similar to hers, his heart ached, but his face remained the same, smile and all.
''Shall I leave?'' Another question runs at him, full speed.
''I never said anything of the sort.'' He tells her, his voice softer than usual, even as his brain was screaming at him to take the other option.
Her eyes moved just in front of him, landing to the side of his bed — a red patch of wall.
He slips off his bed, standing on his two feet. ''I have to leave now... for my lesson.''
As Naruto walked forwards, so did she and before he knew it they passed each other.
Finishing the lesson for the day, unknown to him at the time it would've saved his life.
Sauntering back into his room, and right as he entered his eyes hardened.
His bed was flipped on its back, multiple feet away from where it was when he left, but that wasn't what grabbed his attention.
Where the bed once leaned on -- a wall, well... that section of wall was no more, with the fragmented pieces laying just in front of him.
Gritting his teeth. A couple of months ago he forged an escape route.
He did this by attacking a section of the wall, even then, it took a whole month for it to finally break.
But, it was protected from sight. He tore a bit of blood out of him, creating a few red bricks, though they were infinitely weaker than they were originally.
''Fuck.''
Ripping a small amount of blood out of his arm, shaping it into a crimson cloak, swiftly wrapping it around his lithe frame.
Eyes leaning out of the window. It was as if darkness hugged the night sky, in the same way, a mother hugged her child.
A few curses came out, ones that he hasn't used in years. He huffed, it didn't matter, his decision had already been made.
But, fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fucking fuck. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK.
Sweeping through the crowd, not even pausing at the slitted glares, eyes bouncing around in every direction.
After clicking his tongue he pushed his body even further. His body came to a sudden halt as a voice hits his pointed ears.
Staring down the gloomy alleyway that almost seemed stretched out. The voices becoming less and less vivid the further down he sprints.
His heels scrape on the floor with a screech. Backing his back up to the wall before he could run Right into danger.
While his back was still touching the wall he slides his head to the right, a figure, a man could be seen.
Even if the man wasn't facing him it was clear that he was heavy set, his stomach almost seemed to pop out of his clothes.
Hell, he only had a few pieces of hair on his head.
''C'mere Princess, y'know we've been searching for ya for a bit, so let us get ya home.'' The fat man said with an accent that he's certain he's heard before.
A few beads of blood jump out of his arm.
''No.'' Valerie almost shouted… with such emotion he didn't think was possible for her. ''I will… I will not be used as his tool!''
A crimson kunai materialised into his hands, both of them.
Popping out of the corner, pouncing ahead. But before he could even get close to the fat man a kick hit his cheek.
He flies backwards, stabbing his kunai into the ground, they scrape along the floor and as Naruto can't to a stop he unplugs them from the ground.
Swiping his cheek with a hand.
A stench of perfume entered his nostrils, pulling his head back up, standing there… it certainly wasn't the fat man.
His eyes sharpened. The new figure was tall, easily over 6 feet. He was slim, extremely so, although not to an unhealthy degree.
''Ahhhhh! Brother! I could've dealt him!'' The sluggish voice behind the slim man moaned.
''Now, now, brother, it wouldn't have been polite of me if I didn't introduce myself to our guest.'' Slim responds, his voice sounding a tad elegant.
The slug stepped a few steps ahead, but Slim put his hand up in his brother's direction. ''I shall deal with him, there's no need for your hands to get dirty, brother.''
''Fine! You get to have ya fun, brother!'' The slug eyed Valerie in the corner. ''Let's have some fun princess! I haven't seen brother fight in years!''
It seemed like Valerie wanted to say something but her lips remained closed.
''Now, I believe it's only right to introduce myself. It is I, Alaric at your service.''
Without responding to Alaric he zoomed ahead, cracking the speed barrier.
As he was about to slash his gut Alaric disappeared from his line of sight.
Fuck!
His head twists and turns, turning left, then turning right.
His body spins around. His kunai, both in a reverse grip, held just above his head.
Clang!
Alaric, now with a sword resting in his right hand, swung down, quickly meeting with his kunai.
''Impressive.'' Alaric compliments with a smile.
The slim man's foot moved so fast that it left an afterimage, smacking directly into his gut.
His body flew around ten feet backwards, head landing on the floor with a crash, and right as that happened his hood fell, revealing a pale face.
''Cassius!'' Valerie's voice bounced out, sounding a tad worried.
Alaric's head flicked in the direction of Valerie. ''A friend of yours, princess?''
Naruto jumped onto his feet.
''You can't… his mother is-''
But before Valerie could say any more Naruto cuts her off
''You know, my mother is probably gonna be pissed.'' Staring at Valerie in the corner of his eye. ''She might just kill the four of us.''
A tennis ball could be spotted in Valerie's throat.
''Your mommy is gonna kill us?'' The slug bursted with laughter.
Naruto didn't even flick an eye.
''I don't wish to kill a child.'' Alaric's sword covered his face. ''But it seems like I have no other choice.''
Bringing his kunai up to chin level.
They both moved like the wind itself. A slash was carved into Naruto's leg — which he returned with a kick to the gut,
But… no matter what, every time they entered a scuffle Alaraic always got more hits in. When he landed one blow Alaric landed two.
Should I? A whisper entered his mind.
Spitting out a few balls of blood.
The little nics that all surrounded his body slowly closed, one by one, until there was only a handful remaining.
Not that it was an issue, there was only a single way to kill a vampire. Thinking back to what Shalltear said earlier.
''There is only a singular way to put down a vampire for good, no matter what you do, no matter how much damage you put them through, the only possible way to put a vampire down for good is their heart, if a vampires heart is destroyed… they won't be able to stand up again.''
If his eyebrows weren't so thin they would've brushed into each other.
If things kept going on like this… he'll lose, it's simple as that, even he knows it
Throwing his kunai behind his shoulders.
His body turned into a blur. Bouncing from wall to wall, creating a few cracks as he went.
Faster...Faster...Faster…
Even as he moved at speeds he hasn't reached for some time… his eyes remain glued on Alaric.
Alaric remained still, his eyes sticking onto him even as he bounces around.
But… suddenly, Alaric moved, Alaric moved faster than before, his hand clawed towards him, and he barely bounced off to the other section of wall.
Naruto didn't stop, he continued bouncing, he continued to gain greater and greater speed.
But, one thing was clear to Naruto now. Alaric was just playing around. He expected this to make him mad, but it didn't. He could certainly use it to his advantage.
After all, Alaric merely thought of him as a child.
He moved, he ran, he bounced. Alaric just seconds behind him, blade almost slicing his back.
It was time for his plan to be set in action.
He wasn't a bad person, really.
As he was chasing the child. His gut turned. He had no choice in the matter!
The boy was trying to stop them from protecting the Princess, and even if he was a child… that just wasn't acceptable!
He smiled. It wasn't every day you meet a child of that calibre, even if he wasn't going all out.
Being able to fight him at all was an achievement.
It was disheartening that he had to kill the child. The child held great promise.
Then, the child did something unexpected, the child leapt into the air.
In fact, the child jumped so high up he couldn't see the child any longer.
He smiled once again.
Well played, well played.
His body stopped, and he fell to the ground.
Standing on his two feet. He waited for some time, eventually, the child could be spotted falling down.
He closed his eyes, but when they opened sadness could be spotted in them.
Don't worry, child. It'll only hurt for a moment.
Taking a few steps back, his arm lunging behind him.
''Cassius! Watch out!'' The princess screamed.
Oh… oh, Princess, he's your friend, isn't he?
The boy landed on his two feet, almost perfectly, eyes looking up at his own.
I'm sorry, child.
His arm moved forwards, blade entering the boy's chest. Blood trickled down the boy's lip, eyes bloated. The heart, he felt it, he felt his sword cutting through it.
''CASSIUS!'' The princess screamed, his brother had to pull her back.
The boy dropped to the ground with a thud, he went down onto one knee.
''Don't worry, child, it won't hurt for long.'' He says in a soothing voice.
Then.. something unexpected happened, the boy's lips grew into a smirk, and something loud pounded behind him.
The boy's body exploded into a puddle of blood, his eyes widened, but then his voice picked up on a whisper.
''Checkmate.'' It was a cold whisper...no, it couldn't be!
His previously warm body suddenly went cold, and his body crashed into the ground.
W-What?
He tried to get up but his body wouldn't listen to his demands!
''BROTHER!'' His brother screamed in what seemed like panic… but that couldn't be it… right?''
Footsteps snapped him out of his haze, his eyes flicked up and they widened.
It was him! The boy! Looking perfectly alive! And there was something in his hand? A heart…. touching his chest. His?
The boy's face… it sent a shiver down on his spine. Before it was that of a child, a mature child, but a child.
But… now, it was empty, there was nothing he could spot on it. He was simply holding his heart as if it was worth nothing.
The boy's eyes moved to HIS heart. ''I'm certain that you won't be needing this any longer.'' He spoke, his voice as cold as his face.
And just like that, his heart was crushed.
His confusion changed into realisation.
The boy was a vampire, yes, he was, but not a true one.
He was a human once, and so was his brother. They only had each other.
Before Dracula came they were worth nothing, they had no other family, they had no one else!
Dracula came and saved them! He told them they could become something greater! That they held potential!
And he believed him! But, he was a fool, he was never a vampire, not a true one
One last thought crossed his mind before everything went dark.
Oh, brother, little brother, I'm so sorry
After Alaric's eyes had closed he fell onto one knee, breathing heavily.
Well, that was risky.
When he jumped into the sky he created a clone. And how did he create one?
He tore a lot of blood out of his body, and he means a lot, if he's being honest he's surprised that it actually worked.
That's probably why he can't stand on his two feet.
Anyways, after he made his clone, he chucked it down, expecting Alaric to think he won after his clone died.
And when Alaric was distracted he would sweep down and kill him.
If he's being honest, the idea just came to him a few minutes ago, it could've ended very badly.
''Cassius!'' Oh yeah, Valerie was here.
His head moved with a slight crack.
Oh fuck.
His eyes weren't directed towards Valerie.
The slug was still there, but that wasn't even the worst of it.
The slug's appearance… had changed, to say the least.
Instead of being the fat midget, he was now a tall midget.
He was easily ten feet tall, with multiple sets of arms. Each freakishly large.
Truly, his face didn't even look human anymore. His body, including his face, was completely red.
''I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!'' A monstrous roar came out of the transformed vampire.
''Oh.''
Author Notes.
Shalltear knew that someone from the Tepes family was in her Kingdom because the guards told her. The guards knew that Valerie was a part of the Tepes family because she told them. She told them because you had to be at least semi-important to enter Bludhaven.
Like, if you're just a random Vampire you aren't allowed in Bludhaven.