The Future is Today

Disclaimer: Castlevania belongs to Konami, not me. I am making £0.00 out of this fic; it is written purely because I have a burning need to create. Although I would like to own Alucard… then he'd be mine.

Rating: PG-13

Part: one of three

Setting: Post the animated series

Authoress note: Daddy's home.

Italics = thoughts and flashbacks

Chapter Four

The village was ready.

It wasn't entirely happy, but it was ready. They had taken it better than Greta had thought they would; they were concerned and rightly so, but apparently after living with Dracula anything else was small potatoes.

There were rules established, what would and would not be tolerated. A contract that all who wished to remain at the castle would agree to, including the villagers. Should someone break, then it there would be consequences. Most of which involved ejection from the community, depending on the severity of the breach.

A small committee was put together. Their job was to patrol the land around the outskirts of the village to meet any approaching creatures prior to their arrival.

The goal was to stop anyone, regardless of species, simply barrelling into the village. Adrian had said at the time of its forming that he hoped soon to expand the committee to include non-humans.

With all the precautions and preparations in place, there was nothing to do but wait. Trevor had joked that after all the work they'd done, nothing would turn up. He was wrong.

It was three weeks before the first non-human inhabitant arrived.

It was a small creature, and it came from the river. Greta didn't know what to make of the thing. It walked on two legs, much like a man, but it was green, its skin scaled. A shell, a tortoise shell, covered its body. Its head looked similar to that of a duck, save that its eyes were forward facing, and it had teeth. It also had a dish on its head.

"It's a kappa." Adrian sounded delighted when the creature was escorted to the castle.

"A what?"

"A creature from the far east. They live in lakes and rivers. I wonder how it came to be here?"

"Is it dangerous?" Greta had to ask.

"They can be," Adrian looked at her. "But find me something that isn't. They're reasonably intelligent and can be reasoned with. I hear they like cucumbers."

"Cucumbers, the vegetable?" Greta laughed. "Well, that doesn't sound too bad, and I have wanted to improve the geography lessons in the school. It would be interesting to see if it would speak with the children, perhaps tell them about where it came from."

"There's the girl I love." Adrian grinned and wrapped his arms around her. "There's so much potential."

"I always knew that." Greta pushed herself out of his arms. "I just worry."

"I know you do. Try not to though. Father will keep any fresh additions in line."

"You realise I'm not just worried that the non-human additions will be violent? Did you see the way Derek watched it as they brought it in? Unlike your father, I cannot control the villagers. What if they…"

"You're worrying about something that hasn't happened yet."

"And you're ignoring a genuine possibility." Greta frowned hard at him. She didn't want to mention what had happened to his mother, but she'd have thought he'd be all too aware of how dangerously scared humans could be. Yet he seemed oblivious.

"It'll be fine," he pulled her close again. "You'll see."

After the kappa the influx began. Each day, at least one non-human creature arrived at the castle. Some were small, the size of children or less. Other's, not so small. Much like when Dracula had arrived, the villagers were wary, though the children were curious. Each creature would arrive and disappear into the castle, none had emerged. Adrian said they were onerous too, but the villagers did not see it that way. There was talk in the pub that the creatures were banding together with a mind to take over the village and run the villagers out. Trevor was a remarkable help in this situation. Greta was impressed, both at his ability to understand the monster's fear of the mob of villagers and his diplomacy skills. Then Adrian reminded her that his entire family had been lost to a mob. If anyone knew what it was like to fear the mob, it was Trevor.

But every evening, it grew harder for Trevor to placate the people. Greta grew more and more concerned as the villagers grew quieter and more distrustful of the castle. But still none inside would come out. The fear inside grew as much as the fear outside did.

Then the werewolves arrived.

The pack turned up on a frosty night and Greta flinched when Adrian let out a shout of joy before bolting over to the pack. Apparently, he knew them. Greta walked over at a more sedate pace. The werewolves, for it was impossible for them to be anything else, walked upright like men, but their bodies were covered in fur of varying colours. Their clothing, what little of it they bothered with, was tattered and filthy. Their heads were entirely wolf. They almost looked like a man if he had put a wolfs decapitated head over his own like a mask.

Several of the younger members of the pack were already running, which they did awkwardly on all fours, around the group making a lot of noise. She walked between them and sided up to Adrian.

"Ahh, there you are," Adrian put an arm around her. "Horolf, this is Greta, she is my… well Mate."

"Your what?" Greta raised an eyebrow. Adrian blushed.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," the man who took her hand and licked it was tall, not Dracula tall but tall and furry enough to be incredibly intimidating. Yet the more she looked at him, the more she saw dog than wolf.

After all, if you mix a wolf and a man, what else could you get but a dog?

His eyes danced, and he practically vibrated with energy and excitement. Greta couldn't help but smile at him.

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

"We were very pleased that our Lord has returned. We have come to resubmit to his rule."

"I'm sure he'll be very pleased." Greta wasn't keen on the language used, but she understood the meaning.

"Bugger that." Adrian said. "Come, you must meet my friends." He turned and headed straight for the pub. Reta felt her heart skip.

"What are you doing?"

"This is exactly what we need." Adrian was grinning. "Horolf was a pup when I was a boy. We played together. I know him and his family very well. We need this."

"Typical vampire," Horolf grunted behind them. "Always manipulating someone."

"Quiet you." Adrian said, but he stopped and turned to face the man. "Hold a moment. You're right, I will be fair to you. We are having an issue."

"Vampires always make drama."

"Again, quiet you." Adrian rolled his eyes. "We've got a good thing going here, but things are getting tense. Everyone is afraid of everyone else. It was alright when it was just father and me, but the more of our kind we bring in, the worse it gets."

"I see pup," Horolf snorted. "You want us to break your tension?"

"I wouldn't ask if I didn't think it was safe. None here will harm you or your family. They just need to know you."

"I'll hold you to that." Horolf nodded. Adrian nodded and continued towards the pub.

"Come in, I'll buy you a beer, or six," he said, then turned to face the bar from the door. "Barkeep, bring up six kegs if you would be so kind."

"Six!" Trevor's voice came from the back of the pub. "Did someone die?"

"Not yet." Great muttered. Adrian squeezed her close.

"Not at all." He breathed, then turned back to the bar. "Warm the spit too. We'll be feasting here."

"Since bloody when?" Trevor, now through the crowd, stood in front of Adrian.

"Since one of my oldest friends came to visit." Adrian stepped aside, pulling Greta with him, and let the pack descend into the pub.

Three hours later, Greta was rethinking her opinion of Adrian.

He was just as manipulative as any vampire. Horolf was right.

The pack had descended into the pub, the youngest members already starting a game of rough and tumble that somehow incorporated several of the village's children. The older members commandeered tables and floor space and began loudly recounting tales of their journey. Several pulled musical instruments from somewhere and before half an hour had passed, it was a party. As loud and rambunctious as any Greta had seen.

It didn't take long for Horolf to work his 'I'm a big adorable dog' magic on almost every woman in the pub. And relinquished himself to endless questions and requests to pet his fur.

It was like magic. The silence and fear in the village were gone. In one fell swoop, Horolfs pack of rambunctious, smelly hounds had brought warmth back to the people.

Greta knew it was a success when she went to the bar to retrieve yet another round and found herself waiting behind the Kappa for service.

Perhaps now she would ask him if he'd come and talk with the children about his homeland.

End

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