Change has always been a vocal point of Earth. Whether it is politically, physically, or socially.
Change has always happened every few decades or over millions of years.
However, this change was made... In an instant.
Our story begins in 1475, a time when the Church's power had grown throughout Europe.
In a home near the city of Targoviste. A blonde woman with ocean blue eyes was tending to an elderly woman.
"Adrian, can you hand me the bottle of leaves?" Lisa asked, opening a book that contained pictures of different internal organs and their insides. She looked directly before putting it down.
Adrian, a late teenage boy with long blonde hair and pale skin walking towards her mother with said bottle. "Here, Mother."
Lisa smiled and took the bottle before walking towards the elderly lady, "Ok, Mrs. Eldritch. Put these leaves into your water or tea and it should start clearing your throat up."
"This will help? Thank you, Mrs. Tepes. Thank you, young man." The elderly woman smiled before standing up from the table.
"I'll lead you outside, madam." Adrian smiled as he put a hand on her shoulder and began walking her towards the door. He opened the door and looked outside to reveal four priests and a Bishop.
Adrian frowned and asked, "Can I help you?"
The Bishop walked forward, "We are looking for the Physician of this village, Lisa Tepes, I believe her name is."
The elderly woman began walking away while looking at the priests in a tinge of fear.
Lisa walked towards the door, "Adrian, is someone at the door?"
"It's the Bishop, Mother." Adrian stepped aside for his mother.
She looked at the five people and asked, "Hello, how can I help you?"
"I certainly hope so. We've been told by an elderly physician about a witch hiding amongst the villagers. She spoke about one in this very house." Bishop said.
Adrian tensed up as his hand slowly went for his short sword hidden within his coat.
Lisa looked at his son and put a hand on his arm as she looked at him, "I've not heard anything about a witch. I'm just a doctor, wanting to help people."
The Bishop smirked, "Then perhaps we can simply look around inside, just to be sure."
Adrian was about to say something when Lisa spoke up. "Of course, come in. Are any of you feeling unwell?"
"No no, we're quite alright." The Bishop said before walking through the door. The others walked through, throwing smug smirks at Adrian who glared back at them.
Adrian was still watching as he whispered to his mother, "If they attempt anything, I will kill them." He said as a matter of fact and not so much as a question of whether or not Lisa's son would defend her should things turn violent.
"Adrian, please don't do this. This could be our chance to show them what science is truly about." Lisa said to her son.
Adrian loved his mother deeply, but sometimes he feared her hopeful attitude would get her killed. "I know Mother, but I won't let them take you away from me or Father, I will not let them break up our family." He knew his father was coming back but hoped he would come back faster.
The priests began looking at the tools and bottles with glasses in strange shapes.
"If she is a witch, she must be a powerful one." One of them said to which the other snorted.
"Yeah right. What do you know of power? What do you know of witches in any case?"
"Certainly a lot more than you." The priest said before opening a book to reveal pictures of various body parts and the anatomy of said body parts. "Good Lord! What is all this!?"
Adrian while outside was calm, on the inside he was like an animal pushed into a corner, ready to kill that which is threatening him and the thing he cares about. In this case being his mother. 'Knowledge for which you idiots tried to suppress because you couldn't control those who were smarter or more open minded than you.' the Prince of all Vampires snarked within his thoughts.
The Bishop looked at the book and gasped, before looking at Lisa with widened eyes, "What is this devilry!? Detailed drawings of your murders!?"
"What!? No no! It's anatomy! It's how I can learn to treat people better, if I know what part is what and how it functions. This is all a part of science. Think of it as a natural part of the Earth that is undiscovered." Lisa explained.
"Science?! You call this science?" The Bishop turned towards a mechanical device which sparked and moved to which the priests back away. One of them pointed at Lisa and shouted, "You're a witch! A whore of Satan!"
Adrian finally had enough as he quickly pulled out his short sword and declared loudly. "ENOUGH! I have had enough of this farce! Putting up with your ignorance is one thing, but insulting my mother is enough for me to challenge you to a duel of HONOR! Good Bishop! So which shall it be? A dual for the honor for which you have dared to tarnish by insulting my mother. Or leaving a coward with your tail between your legs!"
While he did his best to keep his fangs hidden, the cold deadly tone of his voice was not as it was clear to the thugs of the Bishop that even if they beat this man, not all would make it out alive or without injury.
Bishop's eyes went wide with outrage, "You dare threaten us!? We are the Servants of God! We will see you both burned in Hell!"
Two of the priests pulled out a knife and stood in front of the Bishop.
All of that stopped when there was some thumping approaching them. Lisa's eyes widened as she knew who that was.
A tall man walked through the door. He was nearly eight feet tall with pale skin and long jet black hair. He had a mustache and pointed chin beard with blood red eyes, he stared at the priests with anger.
Lisa ran towards him, "Vlad, please don't hurt them!"
"What is going on here?" Vlad asked with a hint of anger.
Adrian with his sword still out and pointed at the group spoke, "They attempted to arrest mother on charges of her being a witch, the cowards even dared to insult our noble family by denying a dual of honor when he called mother a whore."
He hoped his father would pick up on what he was trying to say, 'Please use the nobleman persona, they don't need to know who we truly are.' Adrian pleaded within his head.
Vlad wrapped his arms around his wife as he glared at them, "You dare insult my wife? You barge into our home and offend us by your presence. I will give you all one chance to leave this house with your lives."
The Bishop glared at them before speaking, "I will not have a witch threaten our very way of life! I will see you all bur-"
He couldn't speak anymore when he felt blood leak from his throat. He noticed that Vlad was gone. Until he heard a yell and saw his arm through one of the priest's chest, holding his heart.
The Bishop gargled as he held his hand to his throat to try and stop the blood.
Adrian commanded, "LEAVE NOW OR YOUR LIVES ARE FORFEIT!" As if they finally had brains, the rest of the muscle the bishop brought rushed past the three and left with their lives as Lisa had her back turned so as to not to see the bloody sight before her.
The Bishop coughed as his skin grew paler before collapsing on the floor, blood pooling all over his body. Vlad dropped the body and looked at the Bishop with no expression before looking at his son, "Are you alright, son?"
Adrian nodded as he sheathed his sword, "Yes Father." He answered swiftly while Lisa just said with a soft concerned voice. "He didn't have to die..."
Vlad's eyes softened as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "He would've hunted you down, Lisa. He would not have stopped until you were dead. We have to leave."
Adrian agreed as he sped off up stairs before coming back down, "It's clear, if we leave now we can make it back to the castle before the Church tries again."
Lisa however only asked, "What then? Do we keep running and hiding like animals?"
Vlad, or as he's commonly known as Dracula, thought. "Lisa, it's clear our level of technology is not ready for these humans. They will never accept it, and you know that."
Lisa wanted to fight her husband, but instead just sighs as she slowly nods, "You're right." She turns and starts walking, "I'll meet you both upstairs."
Adrian just watches as his mother leaves before turning to his father. as if asking, 'When will you turn her?' With the way he was looking at his father. Because he had a feeling he knew what his father had planned, but he feared his mother would never be considered.
He looked at his son and could see his question. It was one he had considered many times, but never did, because she was perfect. She was making him feel more human.
But because of his idea, he needed her. She needed him. They needed each other as did their son.
Vlad began packing whatever items they needed.
Once everything was packed, which was mostly books, notes, and information. Adrian began loading up as Lisa asked, "What are you planning?" She looked at her husband. "You do not do anything without reason so I must ask what you're planning."
"I will tell it once we're back at the castle. I need you to trust me, Lisa. Do you?" Dracula said before looking into her eyes. They weren't blood red, they were simply a dull red, but filled with life as he looked at her.
Lisa sighed as she nodded before taking his hand firmly in hers, Adrian spoke up as he looked to his parents. "Everything is ready, Father, Mother." He motioned to the mass of books loaded into the boxes.
"Excellent. Let's go home." Dracula held his wife and son's hand before they were teleported back into the castle along with all the boxes.
Dracula took a deep breath and walked towards the laboratory and spoke, "This is my plan, our technology is too advanced for these people. So I propose we sleep. Sleep for a specific amount of time and we will wake up in a different time period. Then we can present our ideas to these humans."
Adrian was silent as he saw the pros and cons of such a plan, one of the major cons, being his mother who spoke up. "What of me? I know that you and our son will survive. However, me being human, I will not." She was silent before looking into her husband's eyes as she said in an almost questioning tone. "Unless you wish to turn me so I can survive the deep sleep?"
Dracula looked into her eyes, "I've... I've thought about it. But, I didn't want to, considering... You made me more human. I don't want to subject you to the same cursed fate as me."
He held her hands as he looked at her, "But I cannot do this without you, Lisa."
Lisa held her husband's hands as she presented him with a question he knew would only have one answer to. "If you put me to sleep as a human and you and Adrian awake but I do not, will the technology be able to bring me back in the time period for which you and our son awaken?"
"I... Intended on turning you into a vampire." Dracula said.
Lisa just smiled as Adrian looked away a bit conflicted as he said, "I shall check on the Forgemaster's to see if they have the chambers ready." He says before leaving his mother and father to do what must be done.
Dracula looked at his son as he walked away before looking at her, "I don't know if I should do it now or... When we awake."
She smiled as she presented her neck to her husband. "I'd rather before as I'm afraid that death will take me while I sleep as a human, so please, my love. I want to sleep knowing that I shall be with you and our son when we awaken." She looked at him in the eyes before closing them as if preparing for any possible pain which could come from the bite.
He saw her neck and held her in his arms as he growled when he opened his mouth, revealing his fangs. He bit down on her neck and began drinking her blood. Her blood was always delicious to him, compared to every other human he had bitten.
As the process was happening between Lisa and her husband, their son Adrian, was with the two Forgemasters, one being a man of slight light skin with platinum blonde hair cut short. "Hector, are you sure that everything is as it should be? I do not want us to be awake too early."
He was honestly worried about such a prospect as he looks at a black bald man with tribal features on his face and wears a mask of no emotions. "What of you, Isaac? You double check everything?"
"We triple checked everything, sir. Everything is as it should be." Hector said.
"You worry too much, Prince Alucard." Isaac said, whipping his back with a belt with spikes. Blood seeping out his back from the wounds.
Adrian cringed a bit at Isaac's 'ritual' as he sighed after. "I am just cautious, I know my father has planned this in case the Church tried anything, but I'm still very uneasy with the idea of being put into a deep sleep with the rest of my family and leaving the affairs to Father's most trusted followers while you two are expected to watch over us."
Adrian began pacing a bit, "There are too many things that could go wrong, one of you could have their lines destroyed, one could betray the other, worse yet a possible insurrection and civil war could start should those seeking power learn of our condition."
"I would never betray Lord Dracula. I would snuff out all who threaten your lives." Isaac said, whipping himself once more.
"Just trust us sir. We'll do everything in our power to make sure nothing happens." Hector said, making sure the last few checks on the coffins have been met. "Everything is ready, Master Alucard."
Adrian sighed, "Very well, I can only hope your descendants know to be here once we awaken." One thing he learned from his lessons with his Father was that those of their kind would sleep and be forgotten much like the popular myths of old. Adrian feared that they would be forgotten as well, to be nothing more than myths and folklore to tell children to either entertain them or scare them to behave.
Before he could think anymore, Dracula walked through the room, carrying Lisa in his arms. Her skin was pale with two puncture holes on the side of her neck. She was sleeping peacefully in his arms.
Adrian along with Hector and Isaac looked to the King of all Vampires as his son commented, "So, it's done. She's chosen to be like us."
He nodded as he walked towards the first coffin and put her inside. He stepped back before looking at his Devil Forgemasters. "Hector. Isaac. This will be the last time we will meet. I simply want to say... Live your lives. Do not live in hatred."
Hector nodded. "Your castle shall not be left unattended, my lord, my prince. Our lines shall be here for when you awake once more." Isaac just bowed his head a bit as Adrian turned to his father with a hint of worry. "Perhaps I should stay awake and make sure everything is alright."
"Son, I know you're worried, but I need you to trust them." He put his hands on his shoulder before kissing his son's forehead. "Come, we must sleep."
He nods before stepping Into his own coffin which closes with a soft hiss. "I wish you a pleasant sleep, your highness." Stated Isaac simply.
Dracula smiled slightly at his Forgemaster before stepping into the coffin beside Lisa. He wrapped his arms around her with her head on his chest.
Once the coffin was closed, a soft hiss was heard signaling that the long slumber began. However for the Tepes family, their sleep seemed like a short one, but for the world around them. It was ever changing fast, progress, advancements, even science once thought of as witchcraft now became fact.
Of course the room which was once stone now was replaced with new technology and the best biomedical technology that money could buy as a woman's voice spoke clear and commanding. "Begin the defrost process, we're cracking the coffins."
A hiss was the first thing heard by the Tepes Family. Dracula's eyes opened, seeing... A collage of black metallic walls with glowing red wines. And floating screens of text and pictures of their bodies.
Adrian groaned as he sat up a bit before a muffled woman's voice was heard as figures in all white robes… With masks and even something covering their eyes started to come into view. "Please, don't push your bodies. You have been asleep for a very long time." Some said to Adrian as they did the same to Dracula.
Dracula blinked slightly when he looked at his wife. Seeing her beginning to wake up for the first time in who knows how long. She moaned slightly as she blinked rapidly and looked around in confusion.
One of the white robed figures looked at Adrian as they seem to be doing a test, as they do the same with Dracula and now the awoken Lisa. "My lady, lord. Can you hear us? Have you had any blurry vision or trouble seeing since the defrost?" Asked one of the figures who was holding a tablet made of what looks like clear glass which has text going through it.
"Who are you?" Dracula asked, holding Lisa who held onto her husband as well as she regained her vision. "Is this… the castle?"
The figure looked at him before bringing her hand to her head which confused Lisa, "They seem to be nurses, but what of everything else? The red lights, lines, how long have we been asleep?" She whispered to her husband.
"What is the year of your Lord?" Dracula asked the nurses and doctors.
They each looked at each other before they could answer, a commanding female voice was heard as it moved towards the three. "The year is 2016 in the month of march, Count Dracula, King of Wallachia, King of all Vampires."
Coming into the light was a dark skinned woman with the same platinum blonde hair as one of Dracula's Forgemasters, however unlike his which was cut short, hers was in a ponytail and she wore such strange clothes and her body seemed to have metal attached to it.
Dracula looked at the woman and was rather shocked at the large time skip. "Six hundred years…"
Adrian's face was in his hands before looking up at her. "Who are you? Who are they? What the hell has happened to the world? And what is all this!?" He motioned to the room they were in which was so different then the stone and torches they fell asleep to.
"My name is Heather. I am the descendant of your Forgemaster Hector. Also a co-retainer of House Tepes and currently acting CEO of Tepes industries." She said to which Lisa moved out of the coffin but wobbled a bit only not falling thanks to the nurses and doctors present.
"What of Isaac's family line? And what is Tepes Industries? Also what is all this technology?" She motions to the red screens floating about.
Adrian added, "And why do so many of you smell of metal?"
Heather looked at them and said, "Please follow me, my Lords and Lady. I will explain everything." She turned around and walked away from the room, to which the trio followed her.
Once past the door, it was more or less a shock as the stone walls seem to be replaced with ones that were metal, a polished metal at that. Along the walls were painted signs and arrows as they were leaving what was labeled as "Cryo Chamber" which only caused more questions that the trio hoped they would have the answers to.
"So much has happened since your sleep. Wars, politics, disease, expansions, and technological advances. While you slept, our ancestors kept with the times. Replacing the castle with modern day building materials, but kept the same structure. Your original scientific supplies have been preserved." Heather explained as she led the trio to a balcony. It revealed a scene of gigantic buildings that touched the clouds. Machines flying from building to building.
Dracula looked with widened eyes at everything.
Lisa was speechless while Adrian only had one word to say, "Incredible..."
Heather smiled as a new voice spoke. "Our families started Tepes Industries as a means to keep your riches growing and have a hand in as many fields as possible." Turning around, they came to the sight of a rather large African woman with long straight hair and a rather revealing dress. "I am Julia, the current head of Forgemaster Isaac's bloodline and fellow retainer of the Tepes Family." She bowed to them.
Dracula looked at the two before speaking, "Julia, Heather, show us what has happened."
The two smiled before bowing as well. "As you command." They said in unison.
Soon the three were brought to a large room where chairs are seen along with what looks to be the same things the nurses and doctors were wearing, "These are known as BD goggles or Braindance. It's the latest model of information processing for those who are not augmented to be able to connect to the Net." Heather says as she holds out two of the devices towards Dracula and Lisa while Adrian takes one from Julia.
Of course hearing these new terms caused Lisa to ask, "Braindance?" With her son following short. "Augments?"
"Think of Braindances as being able to glance into a person's life. Being able to feel what they feel. Emotions and everything. Not just that, but you can watch news and other different content with these." Julia explained.
"Now for augmented, as I'm sure you've noticed several of our staff have metal instead of flesh. We've achieved being able to change your body at any point in time by surgically replacing body parts with cybernetics components." Heather also explained.
Lisa was taking in all this information with a fury and almost fainted if not for her husband holding her. "What… What about other fields? Like medicine and healing people?"
Julia smiled, "Put on the BDs, and you'll learn everything."
Adrian asked, "Everything?"
Heather nodded, "Everything, my Prince." Adrian nodded as he was the first to step into the chair. "Now we will warn you that everything you're going to see and feel will be a bit much for the first brain dance. However, we will be here in case we need to pull you out of the brain dance." Julia says as she steps towards a console.
Dracula laid onto the chair and Heather put the BD goggles on the King.
Lisa soon followed as Julia spoke, "Now there will be a flash. that's normal." And true to her word, all three were hit with a huge flash before all three were seen in a darkened space surrounded by jewels, Lisa was looking around before Adrian looked down and shouted. "WOAH!"
Lisa followed her son's gaze only to be stunned, for down below was a blue jewel in a sea of diamonds.
Dracula looked down at it all, "What are we looking at? Diamonds?"
Heather's voice spoke in a sort of echo as she said. "What you're looking at is the view of Earth, our planet from space."
Adrian and Lisa both had their jaws open as Lisa says. "It's… It's so beautiful." was all she could say as the planet slowly spins around, the land masses seen along with the vast oceans which covers their home.
"It's... Beautiful." Dracula looked on in wonder. Before he looked at his wife and gripped her hand.
Soon Julia's voice spoke, "When you were put into your deep sleep, your kingdom stayed peaceful for a time, until the cracks slowly began to show as those loyal to House Tepes wished to wait for your return. However those of Carmilla's faction did not, as she wished to push for change." Soon all three were brought down to earth as the scene of Carmila arguing with Dracula's loyal generals, advisors, even his Forgemasters was seen.
"I knew it… I knew that if one of us was not awake-" Adrian hung his head in shame as he should have pushed harder to be the one to stay awake.
"Hush, son." Dracula said, not sternly, but he wanted to learn more.
"This culminated in Isaac calling Carmilla a traitor to you, my Lord. Then... The Civil War happened. Carmilla's faction in Styria wanted to control your territory and take over Europe, while you pushed back, simply wanting to keep your lands. But regardless, death ensued." Heather continued from there.
The scene changed to reveal a large full scale battle between the white armored knights of Styria and the blackened robed knights of Dracula's army. Several giant creatures battled as well, including a giant Devil-like monster. And a huge pale skinned monster with only legs and its face free of skin. Firing a beam of fire from its mouth.
"At some point though... Carmilla began to become reckless. She was losing her mind. She started attacking villages, cities, not even taking the innocent people for blood, just... Killing them without reason." Heather said in a somber tone.
The scene was absolute madness as Julia spoke. "As the war progressed, Isaac decided that in order for there to be peace. Carmilla was to die, so he sent out scouts to find the last of the Belmont line. Here they found Trevor Belmont." Travor met with the armored scouts as the scene changed to him now wearing the Tepes colors.
"He agreed on the condition that his line would be protected and not die out. This was agreed. So now the Belmonts fought under the banner of Clan Tepes which changed the tide towards the loyalists side. During the war, the nomadic Speakers also joined in aiding all who were injured in the war."
Scenes played out as Trevor was seen helping win battles, even going as far as to raise his hand into the air and cheering alongside the victorious Tepes forces. Even showing a brief clip of Trevor meeting one specific Speaker who had short strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Of course the real change did not happen until one of Carmilla's followers decided to defect, the reason you may ask? Love." Soon they see Hector waiting out in the snow covered forest at night.
Dracula watched with shock. A Belmont… fighting for him. Leon would have either been proud or saddened to have his lineage fight beside his former best friend's family.
"My many great grandmother, Lenore, the more diplomatic of Carmilla's order, met Hector in a chance of fate. At first there was hostility, but then a friendship bloomed. It soon turned to love and Lenore and Hector thought about leaving the Civil War. But fate it seems, would be in the Tepes Clan's favor." Heather said, having a small smile on her face at the sight of her ancestors.
It showed the faces of Isaac, Trevor, Sypha Belnades, the Speaker Magician that Trevor met, and Hector as they made a final push onto Carmilla's castle.
"Lenore made several gateways into the castle for their army to barge in. Carmilla was caught off guard." Heather explained.
It showed Carmilla's knights poorly defending the castle, being cut down bit by bit.
Far off in the distance, a tall and muscular pale woman stood next to a brown skinned vampiress and watched the castle be attacked before turning around with their army. "Striga and Morana, the muscle and the brains of Carmilla's order abandoned Carmilla and disappeared into the night. Leaving Carmilla alone to face Isaac, Trevor Belmont, and Sypha Belnades."
Adrian was in awe of what he was seeing, "Our people… united as one to fight a common foe." was a whisper as Julia spoke.
"The final blow was struck when our family and Belmont fought Carmilla alone, the fight was a long and hard one. However they did win in the end, signaling the end of the Civil War." Hector pierced Carmilla's heart with the pike end of his hammer, while Trevor, bleeding from his chest from long scratch marks, cut off her head.
"With that end of the war, technology prospered. Your plans and inventions, Lord Dracula, paved the way for a unified Europe. Several hundred years later, technology improved. It was the Age of Cyberpunk as several call it. Men and women began to transform themselves. Making themselves stronger and faster. Even changing their genders to truly become their best selves. But like all ages, it had its fair share of war. Corporations began fighting one another over their technology. The Corpo Wars. There have been two so far. We're in the middle of the third Corpo War."
Lisa was honestly shocked as she exclaimed, "WHAT!?"
However Adrian asked, "Did you do anything to us? What of our people?" Julia smiled as she said, "Yes, with the innovation of bio research, vampires now can walk in the light and not fear of being burned alive." The next scene was of a Tepes Industries lab which had a test subject, a young vampire who nodded, closing their eyes as they waited for death, only to be shocked when the sun shined down upon them and they did not burst into flames. They laughed with tears as the teams cheered at their success.
Dracula watched with widened eyes, "Incredible…"
Soon the images of both Lisa and Draculas bodies were seen as it showed the doctors injecting blood into their sleeping bodies. "We did the same for you, my Lord and Lady. Now you both shall never fear the sun." Lisa now had tears of joy as she leaned onto her husband.
He leaned into his wife as well. "What else has happened since our rest?"
"A lot, my Lord" Heather answered "A lot has happened in the years since you and your family's slumber"
Julia spoke, as it shows a map of Europe, "After the war, a council was formed to govern until you awoke, the Speakers became House Tepes historians, while Belmont and his children became your protectors, enforcers, and soldiers when the time called for them. As for the outside world, My ancestor created Tepes Industries as a means to keep control over your kingdom while advancing medicine, technology, and most of all… Improving the vampiric condition."
Adrian nods as he asks, "I can guess that seeing the logo of Tepes industries everywhere we have been, I can only assume that we are rather large."
"Is that everything we must know about this century?" Dracula asked.
"There are the Corporate wars that ended both ten and six years ago as well as the current war that has just started." Heather said.
"Have we joined either one?" Lisa asked.
"We've been neutral through them all. We have no business getting our people killed for the egos of others." Heather said.
Julia spoke. "However that doesn't mean that we haven't had those try and pull us in, but for now with you back. We shall return the reigns of power to you, my Lord." Another flash hit as the three were back in the real world with Adrian rubbing his head showing the effects of the brain dance which was a major headache for first time users.
Dracula groaned as well as he rubbed his head slightly from the headache. He rolled his neck and shoulders before looking at his son and wife.
Adrian looked at the two women as he asked, "So what happens now? It will be a while before we can properly adjust to this era we have awoken in." Julia nodded, "Do not worry, we will take our time to get you all adjusted to the technology of the 21st century."
"Oh please! I'm going back in! I want to learn everything!" Lisa exclaimed, putting the goggles back on.
Heather looked on in minor amusement at her Lady's enthusiasm, it seemed the tales of her love of learning were true.
"Uh Mother, perhaps you should-" Adrian began saying until Lisa exclaimed.
"I am learning everything about this world! Put me back in!"
Julia chuckled as she began the Odyssey of Lisa's deep dive into knowledge as Adrian looked at his father and asked, "Is she… Is she going to be alright?"
"She'll be alright. When I introduced her to the library, she did not come out for a whole week until I dragged her away." Dracula said nonchalantly.
"Come this way, my Lords" Heather said as Lisa began her deep dive into the BD, "We shall head to my office and we shall begin your learning."
Adrian nodded, as he followed his father and Heather out of the room down a hallway, however as they began to go into larger rooms, he started to notice the men and woman dressed in all black with red accents, even having the Tepes clans symbol on their chest and shoulders, the armor was strange as it wasn't like the armor he has seen before and even the glasses they wore kept their eyes hidden, and wore red hats on their heads which seem to slouch to the right side of their heads with a symbol which is perfectly symmetrical with what would be their left eyes.
"If I may, who are they?" He motioned to the people who seemed to guard every entrance and even began walking with them forming a sort of protective formation.
"They would be Tepes Industries Security Services, they are our Security Forces, and thanks to the wars, our Military Force." Heather said as they passed many of them standing guard and many were patrolling as well.
Dracula watched as they bowed before the King of all Vampires.
Adrian nodded, "I see, I can only guess this is one of many things that we will be learning of our legacy your family has helped keep going." He said as they arrived at a set of massive doors which seemed to be keeping muffled voices from the otherside, one of the guards raised her hand to her ear as she said in a low voice, but thanks to vampiric hearing they could hear her clearly. "The Dragons have landed." Which caused Adrian and Dracula to raise an eyebrow as to what this 'guard' meant.
Dracula looked at his son before looking at the massive doors. He opened the doors and stepped out into the sunlight to reveal... A massive amount of people. Nearly a million people gathered at the cybernetic castle. He could see them. Nearly half of them were humans and vampires, or mixed breeds.
Adrian just stood there shocked as Heather said with her voice amplified at a stand, "People of Wallachia! Today is a joyous day! For today our lord! Dracula! HAS RETURNED!" She waved her hand towards Dracula as the entire area erupts into pandemonium as cheers, shouts, even flags of Romania, Clan Tepes, and their company waves from below. "Father… this… this." Adrian is trying to put his emotions into words but failing as how overwhelmed he is.
He held his son by his shoulder to stop his from falling. He looked at the people who are now his own. It was almost overwhelming but he kept his calm.
With a deep breath Dracula spoke "When I went to sleep I was simply the King of Wallachia, but now thanks to all of you I am now the undisputed leader if all Vampires, and of all of Romania, you have all stand by protecting my precious family and myself, I humbly thank you all. You all have proven yourself to be loyal true followers, and thanks to you all we have lasted for nearly six hundred years. It is all thanks to you and your ancestors, so once again my family and I thank you all." He paused for a second before he cried out in a loud voice, "Trăiască Castlevania, Trăiască România!!"
The crowd went wild as they repeated, "Trăiască Castlevania, Trăiască România!!"
The celebrations wouldn't stop as now Dracula and Adrian were seen in a massive ball room with a band playing classical music, however aside from Lisa now joining them, all we're wearing more 'modern' clothes, among them was Adrian wearing a suit and him tugging at his tie. "I curse the bastard who created this fancy noose."
Dracula's clothes felt way too tight for him as he asked, "Are we sure they acquired my measurements correctly?"
Julia nodded, "Yes my Lord, however they were taken about ten years ago, so you may have grown a bit after awakening." She said as she wore a tasteful dress.
"Oh I don't know, I rather like my clothes." Lisa spoke as she was seen wearing a dress made for a queen as it hugged her body, almost enhancing her curves and other 'areas' while her son just grunted as he finally just ripped off the tie. "I'm fine with my clothes, but I shall never wear these blasted ties."
"Son, look and act more professional, these people have several expectations about us." Dracula reprimanded him lightly before taking a deep breath as he held his wife's hand in his arm.
She smiled as many guests came and pay respects, of course the majority of them were trying to set up possible suitors for Adrian, a major culture shock for the three was how same sex relations with so causal and open. However the biggest shock was the sight of a familiar redhead.
"My lord, it's so good to see you and your family back with the land of the living." Bowing slightly was none other than Lenore who was dressed in a bit of a suit top, with dress pants and black high heels.
Dracula looked at her with surprised eyes, "Lenore. It's wonderful to meet you. I've heard about your defection."
"It's wonderful to meet you as well." Lisa said, gently shaking Lenore's hand. "It was a very brave thing you did."
Lenore nodded as she joined them with a glass of bloodwine in hand. "Yes, it was a hard choice at the time." She was silent before speaking again as she looked at Heather with a soft smile. "But looking back now, it was the best thing I ever did." Heather was seen with other execs laughing as she spoke with them.
"So my Lord, how are you and the others adjusting to the 21st?" Lenore asked while taking a sip.
"It is most certainly a lot, but I see this being a perfect world for us." Dracula said with a bit of hope.
Lisa nodded, "The fashion, the fact religion is not as fanatical as it was in our time. Science is growing beyond anything I could have ever imagined." She said with stars in her eyes.
He smiled at his wife's enjoyment of the technology. He looked back at Lenore. "Hector... How was he when he was with you?"
Lenore adopted a sad smile as she rubbed a ring on her finger, "He was so happy, even when I offered him to be turned. He declined and told me to find happiness within our family… but my heart belongs only to him and him alone."
Dracula nodded sadly before placing a hand on her shoulder. "My condolences, Lenore."
She nodded, "It's alright, I've come to terms with his passing long ago. Besides," She smiled and looked around at the many other platinum blondes and some red headed people. "I have been blessed with a loving family."
He looked around at the others. "Have you heard from the others in Carmilla's council? Morana and Striga, I believe?"
Lenore nodded, "Last I heard from them, they were in America, that was back in 1969." She smiled as she waved at a family who had a small child. "It was good speaking with you my lord, lady, prince. However, I must go speak with my grandchildren." She bowed a bit. "Have a good time with the rest of the party."
He bowed back, "Thank you Lenore."
The couple watched her walk away before Dracula looked at his wife with a smile. "Is it strange that the world somehow turned out for the better because of us sleeping?"
Lisa looks at him with a raised eyebrow, "Oh? Are you suggesting we go back to sleep, my Lord?"
He chuckled, "I've had over six hundred years worth of sleep. I think I can afford to stay awake for at least a hundred years in a row."
Lisa chuckled as she kissed her husband on the lips before offering her hand. "Shall you take your Queen to dance, oh King of Vampires?" she asked in a teasing tone.
He kissed her back before taking her hand and walked towards the middle of the room and began to dance elegantly in front of the others, including their son.
Adrian smiled before he started trying to get away from the mobs of leeches, I mean, suitors while Lisa smiled looking at her husband. "Is this the life you promised me when I agreed to marry you?" She asked as she twirled before combing back into her husband's embrace.
"Not quite what I had in mind, but it will have to do." He switched hands as they moved around, before several other people and their wives or husbands joined in.
Lisa smiled as she laid her head on his chest. "Doesn't matter, it's perfect." She added with a small chuckle, "Minus the conflicts of course."
He brushed his fingers through her blonde hair before kissing her forehead. "Always must have a bit of conflict or life would be too boring."
Lisa just giggled as she continued to dance the night away with her king, of course the night did continue as Dracula was introduced to the many members of his council, the board of directors, and the final cherry on top was the introduction to his office. "Through here my lord is your official office. I shall be outside should you need anything." Informed a guard who stood by the door at attention.
Dracula nodded at the guard, "Thank you." He looked at his office in wonder.
It was nothing short of luxurious. A bookshelf containing various books that he was told were very rare nowadays. A plaque containing a Great Sword with runes carved into the blade and glowed blue with a whisk of blue smoke. Dracula heard squeaks from up above, shown to be bats. Bats of all kinds. All sensing the presence of their master.
His desk had a picture frame containing a smaller version of a painting of him, his wife and Adrian when he was a baby. It all felt different and yet... Familiar.
It was perfect, almost to perfect as the sound of slow clapping could be heard from the shadows as an elderly cultured voice was heard, "My, my. Look who has gone up in the world, my dear Count Dracula."
Dracula turned around to look at the shadows and narrowed his eyes. "Who are you?"
Out from the shadow step a man who looked to be in his 50s-60s, with abit of facial hair, his hair cut short but comb back and wearing a black suit. "Why, my dear Count. Surely you recognize an old friend?"
"Death. It's been a long time." He walked towards the elderly man before holding his hand out to him.
The old man smiled as he shook the offered hand. "I must say that I have been very entertained by the mortals as of late, but it's rather boring without you around to spice things up."
"You've been keeping watch on my people?" He asked before sitting down at one of the chairs and pointed out to the other one.
Death accepted the chair as he still had his smile, "Oh yes, and I must say, your people have done more than I have ever expected. Of course now that you're here, well I look forward to what you shall bring to the table."
Dracula chuckled, "I thought nothing could surprise me anymore. Not me being married to a human. But this most certainly is in the number one spot."
Death nodded, "Oh yes, King of Romania, the shadow ruler of all Europe, and now your new economic kingdom is in the crosshairs of every mega corp known to man." He leaned forward with a slight smirk, "How will you handle this new world, King of all Vampires?"
He looked at his friend with a smirk. "I intend to show the world why our species is feared so much. Specifically these corporations everyone has told me about."
Death look at Dracula before bursting out into laughter, "That's what I was looking for! Pure entertainment that only you can bring!" He stands up and starts walking. "I would stay and chat but I have a job to do, souls to reap. However be forewarned, oh King of Vampires. That the winds of the east shall bring great woes and even greater death." He said before vanishing into the shadows once more.
He watched his friend walk away and disappear before thinking about his words. He decided he'd mule on them later.
Dracula stood up from the chair and walked towards the desk where he looked out the window, towards the city below. Seeing how much it's changed and how peaceful it looks. Dracula looked up at the sky to see the sun slowly setting. Night was upon them and Dracula couldn't help but smirk.
"Time to see what this world has in store for me."
Castle-Punk: A Legacy Remembered
