Life

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.

Warning: this fic contains really Light YAOI (GuyXGuy), blood play and vampires (is this a necessary warning for a Castlevania fic?). However although the first few chapters are very easy going the later chapters include, Heavy Yaoi, Violence and discussing of sensitive subjects.

Rating: NC-17

Authoress note: I have changed aspects. I am aware Alucard’s eyes are a soft grey-ish colour, I was however inspired to change this as I have been before in my other fics.

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Chapter One

All stories have a beginning, middle and an end, this one began over four hundred years ago and it has still not yet ended, it will end some day of course . . . but not today.

We are going to tell you what can be remembered, there are parts that cannot be remembered that we wish could be and parts that are remembered that we wish were not, but that’s just the way things are.

We are going to tell you of Adrian Feinhight Tepes, son of Dracula.

He is responsible for both good and bad things, unintentional and intentional and things he is ashamed of but which happened any way. We hope at the very least that you will listen and perhaps learn something from this, but after all it’s only a story . . .

And like all good stories it begins at night

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The moon has risen some time ago, it sits defiantly in a deep blue sky, a white sun surrounded by tiny minions each one preying silently for the moon to fall so they might be able to rise and take its place. Under the moon, buried deep in the forest, a small cottage is about to play host to one of life’s most amazing moments. As two women desperately struggle to bring another life into the room.

The shrieks continue through the night, echoing out into the forest making every creature turn, many take refuge in burrows and nests, Other simply curl closer to each other. Anticipation is evident as the entire forest seems to hold its breath, until eventually, after what seems an eternity, the woman’s shrieks stop and are replaced by the quiet cry of a newborn.

The calm light of dawn finds both mother and newborn resting watched over by a trusted midwife, they sleep through to late afternoon. When the midwife leaves both are well, it was an easy if long delivery, although something about the child isn’t quiet right, the midwife is unable to put her finger on exactly what it is, there are no signs of ill health other than an extremely pail complexion, no injury in the birth, but something is wrong.

As the sun tumbles from the sky, mother brings newborn and sits in front of a dead hearth, waiting. She does not wait long, a tall darkly clad figure enters, the mother does not turn but her smile widens, the man removes a cloak revealing extremely rich, fine clothing, he stands awkward for a moment looking out of place in the simple, cheerful cottage.

“Are you well” his deep baritone echoing off the walls

The woman turns still smiling and nods, the man appears relieved as he moves towards her side, she holds the newborn out to him like an offering. He holds the child as if it were made of paper, pride evident in his eyes.

“What are we naming him” he asks smiling

“Adrian”

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The first few years of life are always a blur many forget their entire infancy, but we remember. He lived the double life, spending time at both mother and fathers, however the first clear memory come from mother.

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A cloaked figure obviously female walks calmly into town, a small child clutching her hand. The woman is very beautiful, golden curls fall down her back; her face is slim lined and delicate matching the rest of her.

It has rained heavily the previous night leaving the road muddy with puddles every few paces, those walking are sodden, unhappy and dirty. The woman is also sodden and has mud covering the bottom of her cloak the child however has managed to stay dry and relatively free of dirt, this attracts unwanted attention.

“Adrian”

The woman stops walking and bends to talk to her son, the boy blinks wide copper eyes his face devoid of expression other than faint curiosity to why his mother has stopped,

“Sweet heart, the road is muddy” Adrian looks to the road and blinks as if only just noticing this “you should be to” the boy nods.

The pair continues walking the boy now getting muddy, once or twice deliberately stepping in the deeper puddles, copying the actions of the other children on the road. The town they enter is simple as are many things here, a few shops selling basic goods people need and wears people have made to sell. The pair approaches the local butcher, but instead of entering the front like all the other villagers they turn and head to the back door.

“Lisa” a man nods to her a very faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, Lisa smiles back. “You can come in today, if you wish . . . it’s very quiet” at Lisa’s nod the man’s smile widens slightly as he leads her into the shop.

“Thank you Franz” Lisa nods, she is well aware of her reputation and understands the risk Franz takes to serve her, he is a good friend.

Franz takes them into the back of the shop, and talks with Lisa. Adrian has moved away slightly and is staring around with apt interest, animal carcasses hang on hooks from the walls, a bloodstained meat cleaver sits on a work surface.

“This lot should last you through the month” Franz looks outside “where’s your cart?”

“The roads are flooded I couldn’t get it through! Lisa replies “one will come by later, maybe tomorrow; I just came to take what I could now and to pay you for your kind service”

“It’s always a pleasure Lisa after what you did for Dorothy it’s the least I can do for you” Franz nods his head “how are you holding up in this weather?”

The idle but polite conversation continues for a short time, Adrian seems to lose interest in the shop and moves to stand at his mother side, slipping his pale little hand into his mothers, Franz dips down to talk to him.

“I hope your taking good care of your mother” Adrian nods “behaving well” again a nod “stormy weather not getting you down or afraid” Adrian shakes his head sending a little muddy water splattering about and Franz looks back to Lisa

“He’s a very quiet kid” he glances at Adrian “better behaved than most though”

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The mother was a healer, relentlessly taking ancient herbal remedies to people, remedies that were quickly labeled as witchcraft but still they worked and the mother made them, causing those with power to hate them. Rumor spread fast then as it does now and the villagers were easily unsettled by their presence.

But like what was said earlier the younger days were divided between both of his lives, the life of a peasant child and the life of a young prince. The mother often took him to see the father, we remember the father asking her to live with him in the castle to leave the small damp cottage but the mother refused, Adrian did not know why at the time but now he believes it was because she felt obligated to help those who went to them.

* * * *

The sun had once again tumbled from the sky when the carriage pulled up outside the cottage. Lisa had been watching for it and smiled when it came into view before walking with her son outside to meet it.

The carriage was a dark polished wood, drawn by black horses which seemed to shimmer as if they were only an illusion, hiding something beneath. The coachman called down

“Greetings Lady Lisa” his voice was strange like a person impersonating someone else’s accent.

“A good evening to you good sir” Lisa called back to the short heavily draped man before entering the carriage.

The ride should have lasted a while but it seemed the carriage moved faster than time, not bound by the laws of physics, no sooner had they sat but they were standing and exiting.

“Pleasant stay to you mam” the coach man called down

“My thanks, but I’m not staying this time, would you mind waiting a moment?” Lisa smiled up to him as the coachman nodded, then she looked around spotting her quarry a few paces into the garden. Adrian smiled widely; the man dipped his head to Lisa and smiled across the garden at Adrian before kneeling down as Adrian bolted to him. Scooping the small child up Vladimir laughed quietly.

“You seem to have grown every time I see you; you’ll soon be as big as me” he laughed as the small child tried to use him as a climbing frame.

“He does seem to grow over night” Lisa muttered approaching the two “I need to speak with you about . . .”

Her serious tone dissolved however when she lifted her head to see Vladimir holding his son by the ankles, his hair inches above the ground, while Adrian fought madly trying to get upright.

“Be careful you don’t drop him” she called smiling

“You think I would” Vladimir looked up at his wife “I don’t think he’d mind” he glanced at his son who had given up fighting and was now hanging limp.

“He’s his father’s son no doubt” Lisa’s serious tone was trying to work its way back into the conversation, Vladimir seemed to notice this and lower his child to the floor gently

“Go play with Samuel” Vladimir gave Adrian a slight push and Adrian ran off to find his friend.

“The village is going to try me” Lisa muttered quietly

“Try you” Vladimir repeated

“Yes, they wish to test my Christianity, I will go speak to the council tomorrow but could Adrian stay here, incase anything happens” Lisa seemed worried

“Of course by why do you not wait until tomorrow night, my people can wait in the shadows to protect you should you need it” he held his arms out to his wife, who stepped into the embrace

“No, this is something I must do alone” she spoke against her husband’s chest, her voice quiet and muffled.

* * * *

“Nine . . . ten . . . I’m coming”

A small boy with cropped brown hair, wolfish ears, a brush tail and claws, pads quietly around the garden searching, his nose tips occasionally trying to sniff at the air, his search is fruitless however and it’s not long before he becomes frustrated.

“Adrian you’re cheating, you’re not meant to leave the garden” he whines loudly before hurling a small pebble into the fountain in frustration.

Seconds later the small pebble fly’s back out at him, the small werewolf leans over the fountain and a moment later a soaked Adrian bursts forth

“Ha! Scared you, Samuel”

“I wasn’t scared”

“Were to”

“Was not”

“Were to”

“NO I WASN’T!!!”

The last cry was accompanied with Samuel joining Adrian in the fountain and attempting to soak him more so.

* * * *

“I think I should go now, I have much to do” Lisa mumbled against Vladimir’s shirt

“Adrian” Vladimir called his voice not loud but some how it echoed thought the castle.

Moments later two extremely wet boys padded into the court yard, when they stopped Samuel shook himself causing a mini shower and his fur to stand up on edge. Neither Adult says a thing they merely stared and blinked.

“Are we going already” Adrian asks seeing his mother ready to leave

“I thought it might be fun for you to stay here for a day . . . or so” Lisa smiles her expression betraying nothing of her sadness, Adrian smiles wrapping small, wet arms around his mother and watching as she leaves in the carriage they arrived in.

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Samuel was Adrian’s first real friend, a lot of his time at the castle was spent with him, and Samuel was constantly showing him a secret door he had found or a new room that had appeared. They chased each other through the never ending corridors, and they watched fights in the coliseum, Samuel’s father often took part in these, Adrian’s father would watch at times. His time at the castle when not with Samuel was spent with his father.

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It was mid-afternoon, roughly three pm, almost everything in Castlevania slept; only a few guards still patrolled the castle walls. A pair of large oak doors creaked as they opened just enough so a pail child could slip through them. Adrian was barefoot and dressed in a long, white shirt that obviously belonged to his father, his pail blond hair was matted from restless sleep.

He padded down the corridor not feeling the coldness from the floor or in the air, small arms wrapped around himself, jumping at every sound. He glanced around nervously and walked directly into one of the few inhabitants who were awake.

“Oh . . . Excuse me” an elderly gentleman greeted him, slightly off guard at finding a small child running barefoot in one of Lord Dracula’s shirts. “And you are young man”

“Adrian” was the quiet reply as the child tried to hide himself behind his long hair

“Adrian” the elderly gentleman was sure he’d heard the name before, somewhere . . . . Of course! The masters child “Young master shouldn’t one like you be resting now” Adrian nodded sending lose blond hair flying into his face. He mumbled something quietly, all the elderly gentleman heard was

“…father…”

“Oh do you know where you’re going” he asked the child nodded “you want me to take you there”

“No” Adrian looked up at the Liberian with bleary but frightened orange eyes

“Well then it was nice to meet you young master, please drop into my library and we will talk more”

Adrian smiled a bit and nodded before continuing his run down the corridor. He ran up a stone spiral staircase quickly and silently, until he approached a ornate dark oak door. He pushed against it and it did not move he pushed harder, still it did not move, he sniveled a little before giving the door one last shove and nothing happened. Giving up he turned to pad back to his room and try and sleep.

Vladimir yawned as he opened the door expecting one of the lower servants to have some trivial problem, instead he saw nothing but was suddenly hit with a small clinging weight around his legs, looking down he saw Adrian, clinging desperately to him.

“Wha . . .” was all he could manage a brief muffled answer was all he got in return and he instantly gave up to tired to argue “alright, alright” he lifted his child and walking back into the room, kicking the door closed, he moved them over to the far end of his room towards a casket and laid them both down.

Thankfully the casket was made larger on account of comfort and easily fitted them both. Adrian yawned delicately and snuggled closer against his father, Vladimir smiled slightly and wrapped an arm around his child, and he had to admit he did enjoy it when Adrian had nightmares.

* * * *

Vladimir woke the next evening and thought for a few moments about going back to sleep when he realised he was not alone, the sound of quiet breathing alerted him to the second presence Adrian was tucked neatly against him, curled as close as physically possible, small hands clutching his shirt. He smiled some when he heard the quiet throaty purring sound his child was making and allowed his own to reverberate at the back of his throat. Now this was most defiantly the way to wake up.