OK so this is a next chapter!
Thank you all for your reviews/follows/favorites!
Look! I'm updating this! And I'm going to try to update again cause I kinda know what I want to do for the next chapter!
Also...See if you can catch a bit of foreshadowing in there. It doesn't outright say what it will be foreshadowing but it is a start to the hints I'll probably be dropping.
I'm also sorry if this chapter seems short. I just liked how it ended.
Onto the chapter!
Soft feet patted quickly across the castle's floors as the owner of the limbs searched room after room. Golden eyes darted back and forth from each room, a small fang coming out to worry against their bottom lip. Eventually, they came to a familiar room, their father's study, and they poked their head inside only to dart back out at the flames that flickered in the fireplace, a soft whimper leaving their lips.
"Adrian?" Their father called from inside the room at the sounds his advanced hearing was easily able to pick up. "Adrian, come back, what is it my dear boy?"
Adrian took a deep breath and opened his eyes from their clenched position. Clenching his fists, the boy glanced into the room once more only to find that his father was blocking all view of the fireplace from his gaze, letting the blonde relax and step further into view of his father in the doorway.
Dracula let his red eyes drift over his son, his heart clenching at the tense posture of his boy. That night he lost his wife to those cursed humans had not left his son unscarred. Physically, scars left by the holy water that had been splashed continuously onto his son had left their marks. Small streaks and speckles from the water decorated Adrian's body, most prominently on his arms and hands, no doubt due to the boy attempting to block the spray. There was one noticeable scar on his left cheek, a large spot right beneath his eye and a streak then falling from it from where the water dripped down from its original place. The appearance reminded Dracula of a tear, an appropriate appearance due to the atrocities that had been committed that day.
Outside of the physical scars left, Adrian developed a fear of fire, something Dracula was not surprised by. If he was by his father's side, Adrian was less fearful of the flames, feeling safer with his father near him. However, if he ever comes into contact with fire without knowing his father is nearby or is alone, Adrian will either flee or freeze up in terror. Sometimes, such as with the torches in the halls, as long as he didn't see them he was ok. However, there were times the sound of the fire triggered Adrian just as much as the sight, and Dracula was never more thankful that vampires could see in the dark at those times.
Using his power, Dracula made sure no sound or sight of the fireplace behind him was able to show itself to his son. Kneeling down, he tilted his head and offered a smile to the thirteen-year-old. "What would you like, Adrian?"
The blonde twisted his fingers together and a small fang once again worried at his lip. "Um….I wanted to see...if you wanted...to do anything...together?" He asked nervously, knowing that his father tended to be rather busy.
Dracula let out a sigh, his eyes falling sadly. "I wish I could, but I have a council meeting in an hour to go over our strategies for the war. We can do something afterwards, though."
The fang bit further into the lip. "...Ok…"
"I'm sorry, Adrian." Dracula said.
Adrian shook his head, golden locks falling in front of his face. "It's ok...I'll just go do something else."
"Adrian-"
"Really, it's fine!" Adrian said giving his father a hollow smile. "Good luck with the meeting!" With that he turned around and scurried away from the room.
Dracula stared after his son's retreating figure and his heart hurt past the never ending hollowness within. He made his way back to his chair and stared once more into the fireplace. Ever since the humans had taken his love from him, he felt empty inside, even with his son still around. He wanted to be there for him, truly, but the only thing he was truly aiming for was the destruction of mankind. Beyond that, he couldn't see much hope for anything. He tried, really he did to be there for Adrian but he couldn't help the black hole within him that kept him from seeing the joy of having his son still with him.
With a sigh, he turned to look at a picture of his wife. "Lisa, my love, what do I do?"
Adrian's eyes trailed along the floor as he walked away from his father's study. He didn't know why he was sad at the response he was given. After all, that's all that really happened now a days. He rarely saw his father, the man's time taken up by the war he was raging on the humans. And even when he did get to spend time with his father, it seemed like Dracula wasn't completely there with him, as though something had broken within him. He felt like he's lost both his father and his mother.
He just wanted his father back.
"Mom…" Adrian called out sadly, his gaze falling up a curtain in the hallway. Walking over to it, Adrian pushed the heavy cloth aside to see the outside world. It was currently sunset and Adrian couldn't help but relax at the peaceful landscape before him. A quiet, green field stretched out around the castle and a tree-line to a large forest was in the distance. The place was so peaceful, Adrian would have believed that there was no such war happening at the time.
The war. Adrian frowned at the thought of it. Honestly, he was very conflicted about the war, because not only was it taking his father away from him, but he couldn't help but feel there was something wrong with it. Distantly, he could recall his mother crying out during her execution, crying something about sparing the humans but when he tried to think further on it, more details and unpleasant parts of the death came forth making him clench his eyes shut and start trembling. His mind was being threatened with the old traumas he tried to keep buried, the memories wanting to drag him down into torment.
"Young master?" A voice called to him, breaking him out of his terror and making his eyes snap open. With a gasp, Adrian turned around to find Hector staring down at him with concerned eyes. "Are you alright?"
Adrian blinked up at the pale haired man before he looked down and out of the window once again. "...Yes."
Hector paused for a moment before he leaned against the wall besides the boy. "Young master...if anything is wrong, you can tell me if you wish."
Adrain shook his head, blonde locks shielding his eyes from the other. "No, nothing is wrong. I'm alright, Hector." He could hear the other still hesitating behind him and sighed. "Isn't there a meeting going on?"
Hector watched the young prince for a few moments before answering "...There is...but I don't think the master would be too upset should I be late or miss the meeting if it was due to me looking after his son. Besides, Issac will also be in attendance so one forgemaster will be there."
Once again Adrian shook his head. "No, it's alright Hector. I wouldn't want to disturb my father by taking you away from the meeting. Besides, things may go by easier if you're there, and then father might get a break." Allowing his gaze to leave the veil of hair, the young teen offered a smile. "Thank you for the offer though."
"You are sure you'll be alright?"
"Yeah. I'll...I'll find something to do. I can always practice magic or my swordsmanship or I could even...explore the woods or something." Adrian gave a shrug. "I don't know but I'm sure I'll find something."
Hector seemed to hesitate a few more seconds before conceding. "Alright. Of course, if you wish, you can always let Cezar tag along with you."
Adrian's smile seemed slightly less forced at the offer of the revived pug. "Thank you, Hector."
"Well, I'll be off then." Hector replied as he gave a small bow to the younger male. "Good day, young master."
"Good day, Hector."
Adrian watched the other walk away before letting out another sigh, the smile slipping off his face. He turned his gaze back out to the beautiful landscape before him, taking in the peaceful sight for a short moment before pushing away from the window. He made his way through the quiet and sullen hallways, the air always tense no matter where he was in the castle. He made his way further into the building until he came to a wide, open room with a high ceiling. It was the room he and his father (and his mother back when she was alive) would practice their combat, whether it be through spells, shifting, or sword fighting.
The blonde's hand fell to the sword fastened in its sheath upon his hip. The sword was originally his mother's, ready to be passed down to him when he was older and more trained, but now that she was gone, his father had given it to him so that he would have another way to protect himself should he ever be attacked once again. Of course, with how paranoid Dracula was now due to the loss of his wife and the torture of his child, the sword was enchanted. Should Adrian need to, he could use his mind to wield the blade as an extension of himself and, should it ever come to it, Dracula made it so that the sword would protect his boy even without the teen actively making the sword fight. It was a special enchantment, one that Adrian could not yet comprehend, that would activate in dire situations but only once Adrian called upon the sword, be it by touch or mind. Then, if he was overwhelmed mentally or physically, the sword would act until deactivated by Adrian.
The teen both appreciated the protectiveness and thought it was not needed. After all, for the moment he would not be stepping so close to human towns where such situations would happen. And if humans somehow ever made it here, well, Adrian doubted his father would let them get even a step closer to him.
Pulling the blade from its sheath, Adrian was quick to allow it to hover in the air facing him. Then, he went to a weapons rack off to the side and drew a similar longsword to battle with, his left arm swiftly settling behind his back as he took up his dueling stance. Letting out a quiet breath, the dhampir quickly fell into step as he dueled with his invisible opponent. From there, time passed him by unknowingly as he focused his attention on improving his skills.
At one point as his was finishing striking down a multitude of moving dummies controlled by some of the many gears within this castle, a soft clapping reached his ears. Pausing in his training, Adrian shifted his stance and lowered his sword (which he had returned to his hands as he changed simulations) as he turned to look in the direction of the sound. There, off to the side of the entrance of the room, was a tall, pale woman with a thin and pointed face.
"Can I help you?" He asked, his golden eyes looking into her own piercing blue despite the uneasy feeling he was receiving from her.
"Oh, no, don't mind me." She replied with a thin smile. "I was merely taking a stroll through the castle when I heard you in here. I must say, you are a very skilled young man."
Adrian refused to respond, his eyes continuing to watch this unknown vampire.
"Ah, yes, I must apologize for you most likely do not recognize me." The woman exclaimed when he had refused to answer. "My name is Carmilla of Styria, one of your father's generals. I have only just arrived today to aid your father in his quest and before that I had never entered your home in the time that you dwelled here. I apologize if my new presence unnerved the you in any way, young master." With those words she took a step forward and gave a small bow to him.
"I see." Adrian replied. "But why did you stay and watch. I'm sure I'm not that impressive, especially to a general's skills."
"You underestimate yourself." She replied with a small shake of her head. "You are but only 13 summers and yet you are quite skilled in your combat. In fact, I think it would be a great honor to see you in a real duel, as I do believe you'd be able to hold your own quite well."
"Ah," Adrian sighed as he slipped his sword into the sheath on his side before moving to the control panel off to the side to reset the room. "Thank you, but you'd have to ask my father if I could duel as well as tell him who it would be. To do so without his permission…" Adrian shook his head. "No, he wouldn't be too happy."
"Oh? But surely you are capable enough to do so."
"No, I could risk getting hurt and I don't even want to think what would happen to the one I dueled if that were the case."
"But you'd be practicing and getting stronger. Surely that would show that even if you should be defeated, it would be alright."
"No, it wouldn't." Adrian sighed as he finished moving the levers he needed to in order to fix the room. "My father must be there when I train with another. If he can't be, it is someone who he trusts completely." Then he turned to face her once again. "But you have to understand, he still trains me, very well. He just...he's just worried about me, that's all."
"It's understandable." Carmilla said, moving to stand before the young dhampir, her gaze taking on a soft look. "After all, you are his only child. His only child who had gone through something so...horrible."
At her worlds, a chill went down Adrian's spine at the reminder of the horrifying death of his mother. His eyes fell closed as he tried to shake the memories from his thoughts. His hands clenched at his sides and a cold sweat seemed to break out upon his pale skin. Distantly, it felt like Carmilla had taken a step closer to him and her hand was placed upon his shoulder as if attempting to comfort him. Her words seemed to echo into around his ears.
"He already lost his wife to the flames. What would happen if he were to lose you too?" A touch to the tear like scar upon his cheek seemed so far away and Adrian's breath stilled within his chest. Those horrid memories tried to resurface, tried to hook their claws into Adrian and drag him down into their thick, burning depths.
"But I'm sure your father would never lose you to those beasts." Carmilla's words yanked Adrian from his thoughts and his eyes flickered open to look up into her icy gaze. "After all, he saved you the first time, right? I know he would stop at nothing to keep you safe."
Breath seemed to flood his lungs. Right, his father did save him. His father was doing all of this to protect him, to punish those who had harmed his mother. He had no reason to worry.
"I'm sorry if I caused you any stress with my words." Carmilla spoke up as she took a step away from Adrian. For some reason, he found he could breathe easier with her at a distance.
"No...it's alright." The dhampir replied with a shake of his head. "I...I should get going." As he moved away from her and towards the exit, the vampire spoke up once more.
"I don't mean to keep you long, but I don't suppose you can answer a question for me, if you wish to that is."
Adrian paused at her words, hesitating at the door before turning around to look once more at the female. A short nod of his head was enough permission for her to continue.
"If you don't mind me asking," She continued, a glint in her eye. "Do you know why your father never turned your mother? I asked him earlier, but I was never given a response. If you don't mind answering, I would like to know."
Adrian took in a small breath, not knowing if he should answer the woman. He understood the curiosity as it was one he occasionally heard one of the other vampires mutter back when this had all began-before this really, back when he was able to understand what was being said. A small fang nibbled at his lip as he thought before answering.
"I don't really know." He replied and he caught a shine of dissatisfaction from the other before he continued. "If I were to guess...it was because she didn't want to change and...and dad respected that."
"I see."
"I really have to go now.' Adrian cut in quickly, wanting to get away before she had a chance to drag him back into a conversation. "I...It was nice meeting you."
With that he scurried away. He allowed his feet to take him away, to carry him to where he felt safe. Soon, he found himself in his room and pulling himself up onto his bed. His left hand reached out and found the stuffed wolf his parents made for him and pulled it to his chest. He took a few breaths to calm himself down from that encounter and allowed the warmth of the sun shining in through his window to comfort him.
Unbeknownst to him, blue eyes had gleaned alongside a smirk as he left the training room.
So that was that. Yeah, Carmilla is a bitch. Also...did you catch the foreshadowing? I'm not gonna say it, that would be too nice of me. Also, with how outright she asked the thing in Dracula's court when she showed up I figured she wouldn't mind trying to get some sort of reaction from his son as well.
Anywho, feel free to comment, ask questions, etc.
Until next time! :D