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.

* /\\/ * /\\/ * /\\/ *

Chapter Six

Adrian sat on the ledge of his balcony his legs swinging slightly in the breeze, he enjoyed it up here especially on clear nights such as this one, but this night he was not happy.

“You look cheerful”

Adrian smiled slightly and turned to see Samuel approach from behind,

“In fact you radiate happiness better stop grinning like that Adrian or the top of your head will fall off”

Adrian sniggered at that, Samuel promptly sat himself on the balcony beside him, the two sat in silence for a moment before

“Father wishes me to join him on the next incursion”

“Ah” Samuel muttered knowingly “trying to get a bit of the old killer instinct to come out”

“He can try all he wants” Adrian mumbled “I will defend myself if I have to but I will not kill just for the sake of it”

“I don’t think he wants you to, he just doesn’t want you to end up like your mother and he wants you to eat something” Samuel sighed

“I don’t need to, not as often as he does anyway and . . .” but he was interrupted

“Do we really have to go through all this again” Samuel asked, “I did not come up here to discus human understanding and the right to life, such moral conversations are best reserved for the Liberian”

“He told me he didn’t want to hear me angst any more and I had to cheer up or he wouldn’t let me back in” Adrian smirked

“So where did you get that from” Samuel pointed to a thick tome that rested on the nightstand

“I gave him a zircon from down in the caverns” Adrian explained causing Samuel to snigger

“Ah yes” Samuel smirked “distract him with something shiny”

“Yes” Adrian rolled his eyes “come on this balcony is getting dull”

With that Adrian stood on the ledge and turned as if he were going inside before allowing himself to fall backward from the balcony. Samuel winced.

Adrian slid through the air, dropping gracefully and twisting his body around before landing silently on his feet in the garden, he smirked looking up, the balcony was situated on one of the high towers and even Adrian had to squint to see the tiny form of Samuel.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that” Vladimir said from behind Adrian causing him to jump “it makes my stomach turn to watch you do that”

“Why” Adrian shrugged turning to face his father, who was at least a head taller than him so Adrian had to tip his head slightly

“It just does so if you must do it wait until I’m not around”

“I didn’t know you were down here” Adrian replied honestly “I wasn’t looking”

“Well look before you throw yourself from balconies in future ok”

Adrian shrugged and lowered his eyes momentarily before raising them again to peer at his father.

Vladimir smiled to himself as he noticed the dominant and most occurring colour in his son’s eyes was purple, a relaxed colour, his son was happy and comfortable, you can tell much about a vampires emotions by the colour of there eyes, only the very old have the power to wilfully change there eye colour every one else’s was done by emotional reaction.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that!!” Samuel hollered running up to the pair Vladimir made a sort of ‘humm’ sound showing he wasn’t the only one who disliked Adrian acrobatics; Adrian just rolled his eyes before putting his hands up in a subservient gesture

“Alright”

* * * *

As time wore on and the night began to ripen Adrian and Samuel found themselves under one of the night blossoming trees, well Samuel was under while Adrian lounged on a branch occasionally dropping leaves on his wolfish companion.

“You still haven’t seen the catacombs yet have you” Samuel asked

“Why would I want to” Adrian asked lazily letting his arm flop

“Just thought it was better than being board around here” Samuel tilted his head to look up at his pail acquaintance who shrugged

“Wow the excitement never ends around here” a voice from a little way down the gardens called

Adrian and Samuel turned to see Orlox the only other Vampire resident. Orlox was a young fledgling, younger than Adrian, taken in by Vladimir when the village had made to execute him. Samuel claimed that Orlox gave him the creeps but he fascinated Adrian, he was completely opposite to him, dark hair where his was light, coffee coloured skin and he held necromantic powers where Adrian seemed more alive than anything in the castle.

“We were thinking of exploring the catacombs” Samuel muttered giving Orlox an unpleasant glare

“like I said excitement never ends” Orlox smiled before clawing up the tree to perch on a small branch above Adrian, “you seem extra cheerful moonbeam” Orlox dropped a petal on Adrian who blew it away.

“I’m supposed to go on the next raid” Adrian answered

“Why is that a bad thing Moonbeam? Human’s are mindless animals” Orlox shrugged

“It’s easier for you, you hate them, and you have a good reason to hate them” Adrian snapped

“Last time I looked so did you” Orlox pointed out

“I can’t hate them for something I don’t remember, all the memories I have of humans were quiet good, my friends were human, I grew up with humans, my mother was human and incase you haven’t noticed I am half human” with those words Adrian rolled from the tree and stalked away towards the castle entrance.

* * * *

Vladimir found his son in the chapel, sitting among the marble statues. His son looked discontented Vladimir knew why.

“I only wish for you to see the brutal nature of humans that they shielded you from, I want you to recognize them for what they are, mindless killers who destroy all that apposes them” Vladimir tried to explain

“All creatures kill what frightens them, hell look at the vampiric beast if that isn’t mindless brutality . . .” Adrian was interrupted

“we have no control over the beast, humans are always in control, those who say otherwise are stupid or lying” Vladimir snapped but his expression softened quickly “I just don’t want to you die like your mother did, she to thought humanity had a hidden goodness that just doesn’t exist, her naivety got her killed”

Adrian stood, and dropped down from the statue he was sat atop before standing in front of his father.

“I am aware of how humans will attack us, I will not fall prey to them and if it helps you to know I am prepared to kill to defend myself, I just don’t wish to kill needlessly” Adrian shrugged Vladimir smiled

“How about I make you a deal” he offered “if I can make you shift your form then you will accompany me”

Adrian smirked he had visited the library often and had read many books, the first ones about his breed. While a full vampire may have the power to change form Dunpeals rarely have. He also researched the different types of vampires, Lycan-vampires who can shift there form, Necro-vampires who have dominion over the dead and black-vampires who control the magic’s. Just because his father could shift form didn’t mean he could, after all the beast manifests differently in all.

Put basically he doubted his ability to shift his form.

“Alright then I take your offer” Adrian nodded with certainty

* /\\/ * /\\/ * /\\/ *

They hadn’t explored Adrian’s powers yet and so they had no idea which way they might turn.

The father was used to getting his way; smaller daemons knew what happened to them when he didn’t get his way. Adrian’s belief that he would not be able to change form, the father viewed as a challenge and set to the task with vast enthusiasm. For over a fortnight he tried to get Adrian to shift form, with no such luck, which he believed was because Adrian didn’t really believe he could change form.

So he set about getting him to change on instinct, sneaking around the castle, jumping out of paintings and the like.

Unfortunately he found a way to make his tactics work

* /\\/ * /\\/ * /\\/ *

Adrian was tired, for nights now he had been walking around the castle his guard raised like a wolf’s hackles. Being constantly alert took it out of him so he was retiring early tonight, an hour before the dawn.

His father had seemed almost worried about his son’s fatigue and so Adrian assumed he would lay off with his constant attempts and let him sleep.

Almost crawling into his bathroom Adrian glanced at his faded refection in the mirror and groaned he looked three centuries old. A small sound came from behind him and he groaned loudly.

“Nice try but I heard you, please just let me sleep tonight, I’ll try again tomorrow” he shouted at the door hoping his father would take the hint

The small sound stopped and Adrian smirked and opened the door ready to crawl into his bed and sleep for about three or four weeks. Removing his coat he opened the closet finding a man, wrapped in bandages groaning loudly.

“Oh for crying out loud” Adrian snorted and dropped his coat over the mummy

He walked over to his bed dropping cloths on and around his chair and muttering about pathetic attempts to make him jump. Curling up contentedly among the sheets of his bed he quickly lost consciousness.

* * * *

Adrian woke later than usual the next evening finding his father sat beside his bed.

“What time is it” Adrian asked his voice groggy

“About half past ten” Vladimir smiled “I let you rest”

“Thank you” Adrian nodded, he stretched, and he did indeed feel better than he had since this whole shifting experiment started.

“I think” Vladimir began “that I have found away for you to shift

“I swear I felt something when you feel out of that French painting” Adrian yawned “hysteria” he sniggered, remembering how his father had timed his assault badly and had ended up falling head first from a lady’s bosom.

“Yes, yes ha, ha it was very amusing, laughs all round” Vladimir snapped before continuing “I have found this” he held out a pendant, a small, silver wolf's head. “Made from alchemy, as are many of my other trinkets, I think this will help you”

“What is it” Adrian asked sitting up, covers pooling around him as he leaned forward to get a better look.

“It is a locket, it contains the soul of a wolf” Vladimir smirked “you absorb it into yourself and bind it to you, thus you gain the wolfs form, it is how vampires who do not have the ability to become other creatures force themselves to change”

“Oh” Adrian blinked fingering the locket

“Get yourself dressed and we’ll see what we can do” Vladimir’s smile widened “I’ll wait for you in the northern courtyard”

* * * *

The northern courtyard was just outside of Orlox’s main chamber and Adrian was not surprised to find the dark haired individual waiting with his father. He noticed Orlox watch him as he entered the courtyard, Orlox watched him an awful lot, but then turnabout is fair play, his eyes constantly wondered to the dark haired immortal. It was one of the reasons Samuel disliked Orlox, ‘I don’t hate him’ Samuel had tried to explain ‘I hate the way he watches you, the way he looks at you’. Adrian shrugged the thoughts away and stood before his father.

“Absorbing the soul will be simple” Vladimir explained “changing will be simple, a unique feeling but not difficult, however changing back for the first few times will be . . . a bit of a challenge. The wolf takes over” he struggled momentarily with his words “your mind must override its instincts, it will do it automatically after the first few times, but to begin with you will have to work at it”

Adrian nodded understanding what his father was saying. He watched as the locket was opened and a bright glow emitted from it. He leaned over to get a better look and gasped in shock as the glowing ball shot towards him, disappearing inside him.

“See simple” Vladimir smirked “now you simply will the change, imagine yourself as a wolf, the majik will do the rest”

Adrian couldn’t help but feel awkward and embarrassed as he closed his eyes and stood perfectly still trying to imagine himself as wolf. He’d gotten this part down to a fine art now with all the practice he’d been getting over the past fortnight. But it was different this time.

The skin at his joints was beginning to tingle and it quickly intensified fast into burning. The burning increases and rushed through his muscles, following his blood. His blood boiled in his veins and the heat intensified more so. He flexes his muscles to try and work the burning out of him the way he would when the bloodlust started.

He winces as the burning makes its way to his heart. His breath, that he didn’t realize he was holding, escapes him in one loud cry as the burning hits his heart and he falls to his knees.

His skin stretches but too slowly it splits in places and he bleeds, it re-knits fast though, he feels his clothing tear and parts of it fall from him. His muscles tense and knot themselves. He cries out as he feels his bones break, falling on his face he lays there gasping. This is painful but it is not the agony that one would expect, it is possible to live through it. The burning is beginning to ease and now he is left with sharp snaps of pain as his bones break and reform, plus itchiness as his naked flesh sprouts fur at an alarming rate. When all the sensations stop he just lies there breathing.

He can hear sounds above him but he can’t quiet make out what they are saying, he finally recognizes them as voices, but they are strange, deep and slow. He has to really concentrate to make out the words.

“. . . first time” the voice sounds pleased

“Wasn’t it a little slow, for a minuet there I thought I would lose my breakfast” this voice is higher than the other but still quiet deep.

“He will get fast soon, he’ll get fast enough so you won’t really be able to see the change” the first deep voice explains.

The conversation is boring and Adrian ignores it. He rises up enough to put his hands out to support himself but it is white paws that catch him. Almost the moment he realizes he’s done it the wolf wells up inside him drowning him in raw instinct.

* * * *

“Adrian Feinhight Tepes!” the deep voice cuts through the fog and touches the part of him that is not wolf. As if gaining power from the voice that little part grows and remembers, he is not a wolf, he is a dunpeal, and it is his father that is rubbing his ears slowly, making him whine pleasantly.

There is blood in his mouth and he can feel the flesh of some creature between his teeth but that doesn’t really matter anymore.

His dunpeal senses have raised, smell has intensified, hearing remains pretty much the same but sight is totally different now. Things that were once grey and brown are now vibrant red, blue patches litter the ground swallowed by green and orange.

He looks up at his father, who seems to know exactly what is confusing the pail wolf that is his son.

“You’re seeing through your nose, if you calm your sense of smell, things will revert to a less bright tone”

Adrian obeys and things shift into black and white. He uses his nose slightly to identify Orlox, who sniggers as Adrian’s cold nose nuzzles his leg

“Hello moonbeam” he sniggers

Adrian yips in response and shifts his vision to his nose again he can see exactly the path Orlox took to reach where he is now; this is most defiantly something he could get used to.

* * * *

Samuel walks dejectedly down the corridor, occasionally kicking stray edges of the carpet. Golden eyes watch from the shadows. The creature follows; this is fun. Nails click on the hard marble but are muffled on the carpet. The creature picks up speed as the werewolf in front doesn’t seem to hear him, darting behind short pillars holding busts and vases.

The werewolf hears the steady clicking and turns the creature darts behind a pillar and waits a moment before peering around the side and sees nothing, the werewolf is gone.

“I smelt you a mile away Adrian” Samuel reaches over from behind the wolf and rubs its ears, running fingers up its long muzzle.

Concentrating Adrian flourishes upwards and becomes himself. The change is much smoother and faster now and he barley feels the change in his body.

“I was looking for you” the now slightly shorter Samuel pokes Adrian “the night raid will start soon and your father wants to make sure you’re there”

Adrian sighs dejectedly but nods knowing resistance is pointless and impossible.

“Where have you been lately anyway” Samuel asks “I haven’t seen you since yesterday morning”

“Father wanted to make sure I could shift smoothly, I’m starting to feel more natural like a wolf than I am now” Adrian rubs his hands together trying to get the tingling to stop

“Oh” Samuel smiles

“Where did you think I was” Adrian smirks

“Wasn’t sure, I was following your trail towards Orlox’s rooms” the werewolf sounded gloomy “oh well, they’ll be waiting for us, come on”