OK so this is a next chapter!

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Look! I'm updating this! Again! I'm on a roll with updates. Which is bad because I'm really just procrastinating on final papers but eh.

Also because I have now incorporated this into this story:

"Talking"

'Thoughts'

Onto the chapter!

Dracula watched his son draw in the soft grass from his shaded place in the castle. Things had been tense since Carmilla arrived in the castle and he had no doubt she had been keeping an eye on his child. While it was true that she had good advice for the war, she also had to trouble with poking at sensitive subjects or straddling lines. If anything, Dracula tried to keep Adrian in his sight even more since she came along, not trusting her with his boy. He would try to spend time with him, train him even more and just keep his boy in his sight, but it was also hard to do with the council tense as well. The war was taking him away from Adrian and while it always hurt to see his dejected look, Dracula couldn't bring it in himself to take time away from the war and spend some actual bonding time with his son. He could never just join Adrian out for a walk at night or read a book in one of the many lounges. All his time was spent either making sure his son would be safe or dealing with the war.

Any other time was spent staring into the fire.

He couldn't help it, but he just felt so distant from everything but his anger. Even the love he felt for Adrian paled in comparison to the grief and hatred that bubbled within his body.

"My lord," Isaac's voice come from the doorway. "There is something of importance that needs to be discussed with the council."

"Summon them, then." Dracula drawled, his gaze not leaving Adrian. "I will be there shortly."

"Yes master." Isaac replied before Dracula heard his footsteps leave the room. Letting his eyes trail to the picture his son was scratching, he caught sight of the face of his wife staring up from the paper. Grief welled up within his throat once again and he clenched his fists at the resulting feeling. Of course, this was why he was doing this. For his wife and so that his son may live in a world where he did not have to fear for his life from the heathens that currently populated Wallachia and all of the world before them. They were wicked beings who had no place upon this earth.

Turning away from the window, Dracula made his way through the stone halls to the council room. There he found his council speaking quietly with each other and his eyes lingered on Carmilla for a moment before looking away. There was something he didn't trust about her and it may have something to do with the fact that Adrian seemed to be so uneasy around her.

He settled down within his throne, his cheek resting upon his fist as he awaited for the meeting to begin. He heard Isaac stand off to his side before walking towards the center of the room, drawing the gazes of all the vampires present.

"As always, there were attacks prepared against Gresit which have destroyed its population significantly. However, recently there has been a revolt against the attack. One of my scouts had been watching over the progress of the war and reported back to me about just who exactly had helped lead this revolt which promoted the citizens to also force the horde away from the city."

Dracula raised an eyebrow at the report, eyes glinting at the news of his armies being pushed back. "And who was it that lead the revolt?"

"While the exact party members are unknown," Isaac continued. "It is believed that a Belmont was present at the battle."

"A Belmont? I thought they were all extinct?" Carmilla spoke up, disbelief coloring her voice.

"No, we believe that it was a Belmont and another who aided in repelling our forces from Gresit."

"Then, if there is a Belmont left alive then should we not observe the ancestral Belmont home?" Carilla asked, stepping forward.

"Why?" Godbrand asked, raising an eyebrow at the female vampire before jerking back as she appeared in his face suddenly.

"Perhaps on the general notion that the Belmonts hunted the likes of us for fucking centeries! And if there's one left alive then it might have access to the trove of weapons and magical materials talked of across generations but never found, which they used to hunt us through fucking centeries-!" She took a breath before continuing to glare at Godbrand. "Am I making myself clear now?" Then she whipped around to face Dracula upon his throne. "This is your war council my lord? I understand that taking out as many cities as possible is important but the fact that none of them are worried about a Belmont being alive worries me! Surely it should worry you as well, for what if they somehow make it here?! What if they make it to your son!"

"Enough!" Dracula growled, launching up from his seat as his heart dropped at the thought of his son at the hands of one of the most dangerous vampire hunters. "We will deal with the Belmont. Have our hordes keep an eye on the roads to the Belmont home as well as the home itself and any towns they may stop in on the way. Then, while the Belmont is being taken care of we must decide on the town to attack next." He narrowed his eyes as he glared into the icy gaze of Carmilla. "No Belmont will touch my child."

Adrian looked up at the window he knew his father had been standing in only to feel his heart drop at the empty window. Even if he had not been exactly with him, Adrian didn't mind that he had been watching over him, even risking standing in the window during the day time just so he could keep an eye on his son. Adrian looked down at the picture in his hands, the smiling face of his mother staring up at him. He let one of his hands trace the outer layer of the picture before letting it fall and close the sketch book.

Pushing himself up from the grass, Adrian made his way into the castle to head to his father's main library. It wasn't the largest area of books that had been collected, but it was were many of the magic spells were stored. Dracula had told him that he would be teaching Adrian some new spells later in the day and Adrian figured he could wait there until his father was finished with whatever it was that had dragged him away from the window in the first place.

However as he made his way to one of the staircases that would lead him to the upper levels of the castle, he paused. Maybe he could just stop by the council room to see how long the meeting was going to be. It should be easy to see how much longer it would be due to whatever conversation was happening at the time. Plus, he might catch word of something interesting. His father wanted to keep him out of the war as possible but in truth Adrian wanted to know at least some of what was going on. After all, it was his mother that was killed.

He was grieving just as much as his father even if his father was too busy to see so.

Mind made up, Adrian allowed himself to shift into his bat form, a small, white bat that would hopefully allow him to go unnoticed in the council room. Flapping his wings, Adrian swiftly made his way to the room and settled himself by the door, allowing his enhanced hearing to make up for what he couldn't see. Carmilla's voice reached him first, her voice ranting about the war council before he caught what exactly she was ranting about.

"A Belmont being alive-!"

'A Belmont?' Adrian couldn't help but think, his eyes widening at the words. Of course he knew about the Belmonts, it was one of the first things that his father had taught him about when he began learning about their history. Of course, they both thought that there would be nothing to worry about as Dracula had told him that the Belmonts had been hunted down a few years before he had been born and eradicated. But now he was hearing that one was alive?

A cold flash of fear went down his spine, only this fear was not just for himself this time. Of course he was worried about coming across the Belmont, of being hunted down and hurt just as he had gone through last year, but this time he was also worried for his father as well. Villagers and every day humans were no match for his father and his armies, that was true, but a Belmont? That was different. Not only would he be in danger, but his father would be as well, perhaps even more so than Adrian. His human half allowed holy items to not have as much of an effect against him, but against his father? Yes he was powerful but Belmonts trained to hunt down powerful vampires!

Terror was the only thing Adrian felt as he allowed himself to transform back into his human form and push open the doors of the council room. Heads turned as he rushed in but he didn't pay attention to any of them as he made his way before his father.

"Adria-?"

"Are you in danger?!" Adrian cut his father off as he stood before him panting. "Is the Belmont coming to kill you?!"

"Adrian, what are you doing here?" Dracula asked as he moved forward to grab his child only for Adrian to shake his head and step back.

"Is the Belmont coming to hunt you down? To hunt us all down?"

"No, no Adrian we will be fine. No Belmont will be able to reach me let alone kill me. I will be alright, Adrian." Dracula soothed as he stepped forward to his boy once again. This time Adrian allowed the touch and Dracula pulled him to his side before addressing the council. "I will return once I have him settled. In the meantime, discuss the next steps in our attack. I will hear the plans when I return."

With those words, he led the dhampir out of the room, not seeing the look Carmilla had in her eyes as she watched them leave. The doors closed with a bang behind them as they continued through the hallways. Dracula glanced down at his son and saw he was keeping his gaze on the floor as they walked.

"Adrian, this is why I do not wish for you to be at the meetings. What were you doing there anyway?"

Adrian bit his lip. "I wanted to see how long it would be until you were finished. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to act out like that, I was just...afraid."

"Yes, I'm sure it wasn't the most comforting thing to hear." Dracula sighed before looking down at Adrian once more. "But you need not worry. We are safe within our home. No Belmont will reach us here."

"Of course." Adrian sighed but he felt a small wave of relief at his father's words. Of course they were safe. He was foolish to think otherwise.

"Now," Dracula spoke up, grabbing his attention. "Why don't you head to the magical library like we planned and I will meet you there."

"But-"

"Adrian, I mean it. I do not want you at these meetings, especially now when obviously it has upset you so much."

"But it was just the fact there is a Belmont alive!" Adrian argued back. "I would be fine in the meetings. I want to know what it going on."

"No." Dracula growled, narrowing his eyes at the blonde. "I do not want you to be in any part of this war. You are to let me and my generals deal with it."

"But-"

"No!" Dracula growled, the volume making Adrian flinch at the tone. At the boy's response, Dracula sighed and repeated in a lower voice. "No. I do not want you to do anything of the sort. Do you understand?" A nod. "Good. Now, go and wait for me. I should be there soon."

Dracula watched Adrian walked to the staircase he had led him to and waited until his son was out of sight before sighing and turning back to the council room.

Adrian frowned as he made his way up the staircase, pausing only a moment to look back before continuing onwards. He knew his father wanted to protect him, but he really wanted to be a part of this with his father. He wanted to help, to support his father just as much as Dracula was try to protect him. He knew this was one way his father was showing his grief and he wanted to be able to help his father with it, even if that meant partaking a war that he did not fully understand.

Yet at the same time, there was something inside of him that was relieved at the fact that he didn't have to take part in this war. He had been raised by his mother to care for everyone, human or otherwise. Before a year ago, he had never been afraid of people and what they could do. Sure he knew about things that could happen, but he had never experienced more than just a few angry people. Nothing was every as dangerous or as horrible as what he had gone through with his mother. He had seen the good in people and even now there was some doubt as to the whole point of continuing this war. He knew his mother would have something to say about this war, he knew she had said something about it.

Pain shot through his head and his breath hitched at the memories of last year before he shook off the thought process. With a shaky breath he continued on his way but instead of waiting for his father, he made his way to one of the history books that his father kept, one he knew that held a history of the Belmonts.

Opening the book, he skimmed through the words, wanting to know exactly what things this living Belmont could use to attack his father. He knew there wouldn't be much in terms of what it was exactly the Belmonts had, but at the least past encounters could shed some light upon what it was this Belmont could use.

He knew he didn't have to do this, but if a Belmont had survived the destruction of their home, then who's to say they won't try to stay loyal to their family? He knew his father said they would stay safe but Adrian couldn't help but worry. He had faith in his father keeping him safe, but if he wouldn't let him take part in the war, then he could at least be prepared to support his father against a Belmont.

Time passed as Adrian devoted himself to understanding his potential enemy, diving through the books he had been taught about many years ago. There were times he had to pause and take breaths as some of the encounters recalled methods similar to those used against him and his mother, forcing Adrian to skip over that part should he not wish to be dragged into his memories. It wasn't until he heard the door open to the room once more that he looked up to find his father standing there. Quickly, Adrian shut the book he was reading and stood from where he had been sitting against the book cases.

Dracula noticed the books that his son had been reading and sighed as he moved forward. "Adrian-."

"I know what you said." Adrian cut in with a frown. "I know and I trust you to keep us safe, it's just...I want to be able to help. I can't let you take all of the attacks with me just cowering behind you. You're training me to be able to defend myself and because of that I want to be able to help you should something ever happen! I…" he breathed in deeply. "I couldn't help mom when the attack came...and you won't let me take part in the war, but...but please let me help if you ever get hurt. Please...I..I can't lose you! I can't be helpless again! I...I can't...I-" His voice hitched with his tears as he tried to keep himself from falling to pieces.

"Oh...Oh Adrian. Shhhh." Dracula cooed as he pulled the dhampir into his arms. "You aren't helpless."

"But...But I couldn't help mom and she-!...She….please don't leave me! Dad-!"

"Hush, I won't leave you. It's alright. But Adrian," Dracula tilted his son's head up as he whipped away the tears spilling from golden eyes. "I will do everything I have to in order to keep you safe, do you understand. It is not that you are helpless, Quite the opposite if you ask me. It is just a father's duty to protect his child, surely you understand that."

"I-I do...I just...I can't…" Adrian choked on his words, his emotions and fears bubbling over into his voice. He understood what his father was saying. He understood this when he knew his mother was trying to protect him last year, but at the same time he should be able to do something in return. He was a dhampir damnit! He should be able to help them in some way. He didn't know what he would do if he were to watch his father fall in the same way his mother had.

"I know, I understand." Dracula soothed, giving his son a weak smile. "How about this. We will keep up your training and, if for some reason, we are ever attacked here in the castle, then you may aid in the battle unless I say otherwise. At my words, you will flee, do you understand?"

Adrian frowned, turning his watery gaze to the floor before replying. "Alright."

Dracula sighed. "My you are so stubborn. You must get that from your mother." His words got a sad smile from his son. "Now, let's do what we were here to do and practice magic. Alright?"

"Yes father."

So that was that! Lookie! Also, there is more foreshadowing in there than just Carmilla stuff but I'm not gonna say what.

Feel free to comment, ask questions, etc.

Until next time! :D