Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't updated for a while. I do try to keep these chapters coming at least one per two weeks.

Someone asked me if I was going to follow Coppola's movie with this fic. I know Kouta Hirano mentioned it to be one of his inspiration, but I personally think Coppola's film is one of the less successful Dracula adaptations. Sorry for all fans of that film, but nothing overly romantic will happen between Dracula and Mina when we get there. What will happen, you will find out in time.

Thank you for reviews: BigKwell, Lord Makura, BlackTiger6953, KURRYdaJIGGAmonkey and Irena! You guys are simply the great!

Disclaimers: see previous chapters.

CHAPTER 6: ESCAPE

Stefan had apparently hit his head rather hard when he fell. He had no recollection of what had happened to him that night. He didn't even remember going to town with Vlad, much less about strange cannibals with red eyes. And maybe that was for the best. Stefan was able to go on the next week just as happy as he'd always been. Bur for Vlad there was no return. He had seen what mortal eyes were not supposed to see and the image had been forever carved to his mind.

Bogdan II had advised Vlad to forget what had happened that night, to think of it as nothing more than a nightmare. But try as he might Vlad couldn't delude himself with such fantasies. He knew his own nightmares and that had been nothing like them. He couldn't forget how one of the creatures hand had been chopped off and yet it had been unaffected by it. He also remembered how his horse had in an instant exploded to little pieces. The amazing power the man…creature had presented both frightened and excited Vlad. He was frightened that creatures of such power truly existed but he was excited by the idea of harvesting that power. To possess such abilities, what possible chances would Danestis and Turks have against him? Possibilities would be endless.

Vlad was eager to know more about these strange creatures that looked like humans but possibly could not be. However, Bogdan II had severely forbidden Vlad to ever speak of the subject again, simply saying that he would be greatly displeased if his late sister's dearest son would continue to pursue this nightmare. Vlad, living out of his uncle's good heart and charity, could not possibly go against his will. So Vlad did his best to keep his ears and eyes open. He tried to look for the horsemen who had come to rescue them, with the strange XIII pendant. But it was like they had come from the thin air and went back. Vlad would have probably had the courage to go find these creatures again during the nights, but both he and Stefan were under strict orders not to leave the castle by night.

Vlad put on a façade. He pretended not to be interested of the subject, that he had pushed it in the darkest corners of his mind. But even Stefan, who had been bless with ignorance, could see sometimes that Vlad did not pay much attention to the happenings of the world, but retreated inside to his head. At first Stefan had thought Vlad yearned to return to Wallachia and get rid of all Danestis he could find. But Stefan had seen Vlad talk about this before and during that time there was fire in Vlad's eyes. Now there was silent darkness in them.

Who knows how long this might have gone on and what the end results had been, if fate had arranged things differently?

--

In the winter of 1451 Vlad's life faced yet another tremendous change. Both Prince Bogdan and Stefan had left castle that day. They had both went to attend a wedding of one of Bogdan's most trusted boyars. Vlad had stayed in castle for he was not expected to appear nor did he feel like attending the ceremony. He watched the snowy landscape from inside the castle, enjoying the moment of peace he felt. It was rare for him to relax so completely ever since the incident that night.

As he watched down to the court yard of the castle, he suddenly saw how gates opened and Stefan rode to the yard with his horse. Vlad was startled for he neither had expected Stefan to come back this early nor that he would return alone. Sensing that something was terribly wrong, Vlad ran down the stairs to the yard to his cousin and only friend.

As Vlad came closer he could see that Stefan had bruises and his fine clothes had been torn. "What has happened?" Vlad nearly yelled though he was close to Stefan already.

Stefan spoke with a dry throat and breathing hard. "It was…a setup. The boyar…bastard betrayed my father! It was plot. Petru Aron was there…"

Vlad's eyes winded. Petru Aron was Bogdan's bastard half-brother whose desire for the throne of Moldavia was well known. Though Vlad had never met the man he hated him, thinking him very same like Danestis.

"And your father? Stefan, where is your father?"

Stefan clenched his teeth in fury. "Dead! That bastard killed him! Petru Aron had come there to kill him. He smiled when he did! And I could not do a thing! I barely escaped myself!"

Vlad tried to calm Stefan. "Take it easy. We need to think now. Who can we trust?"

"There is no one we can trust, Vlad! I heard how he smugly told my father that nearly everyone was already working for him. I do not know how many of our nobles support him but that boyar was one of my father's most trusted men and he turned against us!"

Vlad's mind was racing. This was exactly like what had happened to his family.

"Stefan, listen to me. If Moldavia is not safe for us anymore then we need to leave and hide. Find a place were we are safe till an opportunity to take back what is rightfully ours comes" Vlad said, with a cold, commanding voice.

It was that voice that pulled Stefan out of his dark, raging thoughts. For the past three years he had looked up to Vlad, as his older cousin and a friend he could trust. He now understood what Vlad had felt when his family was killed. And he understood that Vlad already knew what to do in this situation better than him. Staying or fighting would only lead to his death.

Stefan took deep breaths, trying to calm himself. "Then where should we go?" he asked.

"When I came here it was because I knew Danestis have no power in Moldavia and that your father would help me. Think now, Stefan. Is there a place where Petru Aron has no power but that could still offer a sanctuary?" Vlad asked.

Stefan thought for a moment. "Yes, there might be. But it's not sure. And you will not like it" he said.

"If there is even a chance we must take it. Where?"

Stefan told him. Vlad didn't like it.

--

Buda, Hungary 1451

When the 20 year old son of late Vlad II and the 18 year old son of late Bogdan II arrived to the city of Buda, it was a cold winter night and neither knew how they would be welcomed. They had travelled long and hard to get here, but now they were sitting in a room with a warm fire and some wine and food was served for them.

Stefan probably didn't have much to worry, but Vlad wasn't sure how to take the situation. On the other hand he still needed protection, but he was reluctant to look for it here. The King of Hungary had been part of the assassination of his father and brother, after many years of claiming to be a friend.

Finally the doors opened, and the King himself, Janos Hunyadi, entered the room. He walked quickly to Stefan and put his hands to younger man's shoulders.

"Stefan. I am sorry to hear about your father. Rest assured that Petru Aron's power does not reach here and you are safe" he said, with warm eyes and fatherly gentle voice.

"Thank you, sir" Stefan said.

The King turned to Vlad. "Vlad. I know this must be hard for you to believe, but I truly regret for what happened to your father. Vlad Dracul was a great man and a long time alley, but for him to become the Sultan's vassal risked too much. The very safety of our countries could have been jeopardized. I did what had to be done" King spoke softly but with a firm voice.

Vlad had long time ago then in Thrace realised that his father did indeed fear the Sultan. He was more worried about his own destiny now than what had happened years ago then.

"What becomes of me, sir?" Vlad asked.

"You shall stay here for now. I do not care for Danestis anymore than you do and I have no intentions of giving you to them on a silver plate. Instead your knowledge of the Ottoman Empire can become useful. Sultan Murad has died and his son Mehmed has taken the throne. My sources let me believe he is even worse than his late father. It is on times like these we need to work together and defend our countries and the entire Christendom" Janos Hunyadi spoke firmly and passionately.

"You will help, won't you? Help me and I can help you" he then said to them both.

"Of course, sir!" Stefan said confidently.

Vlad was relieved that his well being for now was reassured. "Yes, sir" he said humbly.

As Vlad spoke, he politely bowed his head a little to the older man. As his long black hair fell to his face, his eyes travelled to King Hunyadi's robes. He confirmed with his eyes what he had thought he'd seen when the king had entered the room.

King Hunyadi had a pendant that had a Roman number XIII in it.

Yes, sir, I shall help you and you shall help me to satisfy my curiosity, Vlad thought.

To be continued…

Historical changes: well, I don't know details of Vlad and Stefan's escape from Moldavia to Hungary and I don't know how well King Hunyadi and Bogdan II came together, so let's pretend it all happened this easily, okay? Because those two did get protection there, in the end. Also Sultan Murad II died earlier in the year of 1451 but I saw no need to mention it earlier. What with all the vampires occupying Vlad and all.

Okay, till next time! Remember to review. They make me happy.