Reversed

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

Authoress note: I am still unsure why I wrote this, but it started as a small idea and then took on a life of its own. I apologize for any OOC, this was wrote to show the slightly more humane side of Dracula, it is also meant to be quiet light hearted although there are meaningful points raised.

NOT part of the Renaissance series

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Chapter One

Maria, now a woman of sixty two, smiled as the group of avid listeners gathered around her. She had told this tale many a time and it had become a favorite among the children, of course she tried to leave out the goriest parts but occasionally they could work their way in somehow.

“Now then” she began “this is a tale of truth, justice and how things are not always what they seem”

Her smile widened as the group leaned closer eager smiles on their faces silently begging her to continue.

“It started a few months after the great Richter Belmont was freed from the evil priest shaft by the brave dunpeal Alucard. When Castlevania rose once again but this time with a new master”

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It was a cold, wet and altogether an unpleasant day when Maria awoke, little did she know it was about to get a whole lot worse quickly.

“Good morning” she greeted Richter when she wandered sleepily into the kitchen

“Not really” Richter replied handing her a letter he had received that morning

Maria sighed and made tea before sitting down to read the letter. The paper was crumpled and had obviously been read several times by Richter, there was a small rip in the right corner.

“Oh heaven above” she whispered once she had finished reading “it can’t be, not now, not so soon”

“It is” Richter looked with sad frustration into his tea and sighed “we have no choice”

“have . . . have you told Annett” Maria asked Richter shook his head and glared at his cup before draining it, “there must have been a mistake” Maria said firmly

“There isn’t” Richter snapped quietly “I felt it when I woke this morning, can’t you, the air is full of it”

“I admit its foggy Richter but aren’t you reading into this a bit much” Maria was desperate and using any excuse

“Maria, I rode out this morning after receiving this news and I have seen it” Richter put his cup down and stood, making his way to the stairs “I am going to tell Annett” he excused himself.

Maria spent the rest of the morning, what was left of it, gathering what she thought would be needed. She raided the medicines leaving a little encase Annett or the servants should need anything, she also raided the larder for any dry meet, bread anything that could be carried and would last. Finally searching out materials such as, cloth to act as bandages, leather straps to repair any damage done to Richter’s whip and small items of armor or what she thought could act as armor.

Richter reemerged in mid afternoon after spending three hours with Annett trying to convince her that this had to be done. By that time Maria had saddled horses and was waiting to leave.

“You are coming?” Richter asked

“Of course, can’t expect you to handle this alone now can I” she forced a smile and mounted her mare

“Thank you Maria” Richter said a few minuets after they had departed “you know you don’t have to do this” Maria just smiled and nodded. It had only been a few months how strong could the count possibly be in that time.

Half an hours ride later saw them at the foot of the cliff castlevania resided on, dismounting in silence they made there way on foot.

“It is good to see you again, although I would have preferred different circumstances” a deep voice spoke behind them they both spun weapons drawn.

Alucard stood proudly behind them, he appeared different to what they remembered however, he seemed tired and worn this time, thinner than Maria recalled.

“Alucard” Maria felt her heart leap at the sight of the dunpeal; Richter just nodded with a slight smile.

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“Once inside the small trio made there way forwards” Maria paused to sip from her cup her winkled hands shaking

“How did Mr. Alucard know the castle was awake again” a girl asked

“Mr. Alucard has a special sense, which tells him everything” a young boy snapped

“Stop it you two” Maria scolded lightly “once inside it did not take long for the group to tell something was wrong” she continued

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“This is different” Alucard muttered

“Different?” Richter asked Alucard shrugged

The few monsters they had encountered so far were manageable but something stood out from before, they were stronger than they should be, Zombies that usually fell easily, now were taking time to be dealt with. Alucard was right it was different.

They emerged in the courtyard that was the usual setting for Deaths first appearance, Maria noticed the dunpeal tense himself while Richter lashed his whip against the ground, the tension in the two male members of the trio was undeniable. When nothing happened they continued on, more tense than before.

“This is ridiculous” Alucard snapped when they reached their first safe room “we have barley made it inside and we appear as if we have endured three times what we have”

“Forgive us mere humans” Richter snapped

“I was not trying to insult you Richter” Alucard spoke calmly “I was merely pointing out the ferocity of those we have encountered”

Richter ‘humped’ before slumping down, Maria shook her head

“Not that I am upset but where was Death” she asked the dunpeal looked confused

“I have no idea, the castle is always different every time but the soul feeling of it remains the same, but that’s also different this time” he sighed and fought to explain “think of this place like a living creature with emotions, usually the castle is mildly amused but this time its in a rage”

“Nice way to put it” Richter snapped Alucard rolled his eyes excusing the humans bad mood

“We had best move on” Maria spoke up trying to ease the tension somewhat.

The group continued onwards encountering more and more daemons, every one seeming stronger than the last. They paused momentarily before entering the marble galleries,

“I’ll go on ahead but follow me closely” Alucard said solidly Richter and Maria nodded and watched as the blonde dunpeal entered the chamber.

Alucard silently padded ahead of the other two, ears, nose and eyes alert for danger. He froze suddenly and drew his weapon. Richter stepped up next to him Maria stood behind the pair.

“What is it?” Richter whispered

“There are two main presences here one is big and loud, the other is shielding itself extremely well I cannot tell how big it is” Alucard answered

“Can you . . .” Richter began but was cut of when a large blue Venus weed sprang up from the marbled ground.

The blue Venus weed laughed, a sound like wood hitting stone. The weed lifted her whip like vines and lashed threateningly; Alucard and Richter held weapons and tensed to strike. But before any one could do anything red lightening wrapped around the Blue Venus weed causing it to shriek in pain, the lightening tightened like rope and the smell of burnt flesh filled the chamber. After a few more seconds the Weed collapsed and sank back into the marble not leaving a mark.

It took Maria a few minuets to recognize the man behind the weed. His long bone white hair fell mostly down his back, save from a few strands that fell over his face, his face was clean shaven unlike last time, he seemed slightly younger than last time as well, not much older looking than Alucard and he seemed slightly smaller than she remembered. She put it down to the fact his clothing was drastically different, his gothic finery reduced somewhat, no cape, a pair of tight black trousers she assumed to be leather and a torn white dress shirt with blood stains, the remains of a coat were now being picked from his shoulders.

Dracula Vladimir Tepes.

He looked up, only just noticing them, bright emerald eyes changing to deep blood red; he hissed like a scolded cat exposing long delicate fangs and took a few steps backwards.

“Father” Alucard snapped Vladimir looked to Alucard straightening his pose to one less aggressive. “What are you doing down here?” Alucard demanded

“I might ask you the same question” Vladimir spoke,

Maria lifted a golden eyebrow in surprise, his voice was serene, soft and well composed, he sounded like he should be dressed in all his finery surrounded by other Lords and Nobles rather than here in the ransacked chamber, dressed in what was rapidly becoming bloody rags, his voice was to elegant to match his current situation.

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“There stood Dracula, lord of castlevania” Maria spoke

“Did he try to eat you up” a young girl asked, Maria smiled

“No he didn’t Sarah” she said “you see he was fighting the monsters as well”

“Why” Sarah asked

“Listen and I’ll tell you” Maria nodded to Sarah and continued

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“I could ask you the same question” Vladimir spoke

“Well I asked first” Alucard snapped in a way that was altogether far to childish to match his usual tone

“We can’t talk here” Maria snapped stalking back the way they had come “we’ll go back to the safe room”

“Him to?” Alucard sounded disgusted as he jerked his head at his father

“Yes him to” Maria snapped and to her surprise the blonde dunpeal relented easily, dipping his head and taking place behind her.

Once inside the shouting began

“WHAT THE HELLS GOING ON?” Richter bellowed Alucard blinked a few times at the volume of the yell and Vladimir took a step backwards

“Calm yourself, Richter” Maria snapped Richter took a few deep breaths and Alucard spoke

“What is happening?” he asked sharply but not yelling

“You look at me as though I should know” Dracula smirked “I know a little more than you, I am also at a bit of a disadvantage here”

“Well what do you know?” Maria asked calmly or as calmly as she could manage talking to the king of the undead

“The castle was . . . ambushed for want of a better word” he explained

“But we destroyed this place” Richter snapped Vladimir snorted

“Fine then Belmont have it your way” he muttered “the castle was forced to rise once again, it was attacked by a foreign body and forced to rise”.

“Is this foreign body stronger than you?” Alucard asked

“I doubt it” Vladimir answered arrogantly

“Then why haven’t you killed it?” Maria asked

“I was about to” Vladimir snapped

“You look pretty rough” Alucard pointed out Vladimir growled low in his throat Alucard growled back

“Why are the monsters different” Maria asked quickly trying to evade a collision between father and son. The count looked to her and answered although his eyes flickered to Alucard twice as if expecting an attack

“When I raise castlevania it is . . .” he paused trying to find the correct words “an entertainment”

“Entertainment!” Maria screeched and ultimately began ranting loudly about how disgusting she found his bloodlust to be, the count calmly waited for her to stop.

“If you please” he continued “haven’t you found it strange that Belmont’s have always been able to find and destroy me when none others have, true your skill is more so than many but . . .” he grinned showing a mouth full of demonic fangs “I could have crushed you easily, this . . . creature here now means business not play or entertainment he is out to kill as many as he can and he is strong”

“So the monsters are being used to their full potential now” Alucard summarized “where as before they weren’t” Vladimir nodded

“you will all perish here” Vladimir smirked then looked to Alucard “even you” he looked quiet saddened for a moment Maria thought she saw affection before the cool calmness clouded his eyes once more blocking visible emotion.

“then we stay together” Maria snapped saying what they were all thinking “we stay together for now but when we destroy this creature things will be as they were before understand”

Everyone nodded, not wanting to say anything, to frightened of damaging their pride but Alucard and Vladimir shared a brief glance before quickly turning away. Maria felt a pang of grief for Alucard, it must be agony to know you should hate your father, knowing what he does is wrong but deep inside he is your father no matter what he does.

“Why are you here?” Richter asked “if this foreign creature raise the castle what raised you?”

“The loyal daemons” Alucard answered before Vladimir could

“Excuse me?” Richter asked

“most of the daemons here are mindless beyond a point, their thoughts include alive better than dead they do not care why they are alive and are only just considered sentient” Alucard looked smug

“Some of the daemons however are fully sentient” Vladimir continued “Death, Succubus, Medusa and my shape shifter to name a few. The surviving sentient daemons sought to rid the castle of its invader and raised me, so I could combat it”

“That makes sense” Maria said “but you keep saying it and creature you don’t know what it is do you”

“I have an idea but No my lady I do not know for sure” Vladimir answered

“Then how do you know you are stronger than it?” Maria asked Vladimir just chuckled quietly and didn’t answer.

Eventually the group decided they should move on, sitting here wouldn’t liberate the castle so they could destroy it.

“We should head for the library” Alucard motioned Vladimir nodded as did Richter but Maria was confused

“Forgive me Alucard but why there?” she asked

“it is big, separate from the rest of the castle, easy to defend and it has all the castle records, books from around the world we need to understand this creature before we an destroy it” Alucard summarized for her and she nodded.

So the group headed toward the library Alucard leading followed closely by his father while Maria and Richter stayed behind them. They made their way forward until when opening the door that should lead to the castle wall they found themselves walking into the coliseum.

“Bugger” Vladimir muttered quietly Alucard sighed before closing the door and turning to face the others

“What now?” Richter snapped “we wander around looking for the library until we die?” and idea struck him he turned to Vladimir “where’s the library vampire?”

Vladimir shrugged gracefully

“What do you mean shrug?” Richter said sharply

“I do not know Belmont I do not understand all of my homes movements” Vladimir answered simply

“You don’t understand your own castle!” Richter snapped suddenly breaking under the pressure.

Maria winced but readied herself for a violent reaction from Vladimir, however none came, the counts shoulders sagged visibly and he turned, the expression on his face frustration but patience as if dealing with a difficult child, Maria reminded herself that was what they were to this ancient creature, children. The count sighed before answering

“You say MY castle as if I owned it” he sneered “you are mistaken, it is a creature, one made from chaos, I have control over it, but incase you haven’t noticed my control of this creature has been removed” it seemed his loss of control dented his pride slightly.

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“So you were lost” the young girl asked shocked, as if she hadn’t heard this tale twenty times before

“We were lost” Maria confirmed

“Ha!” the boy snorted “stupid Dracula got lost in his own house”

“Yes but the castle is chaos and moves of its own free will” Maria reminded him

“So what did you do” the girl asked

“We continued on” Maria smiled

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Authoress note: so how was that for a first chapter, hope it wasn’t to . . . long, short, boring, informative, weird etc

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