Naming Souls

Sequel to those who are hunted

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 Adrian . . . then he’d be mine.

Warning: this fic contains YAOI (GuyXGuy), Bloodplay and a lemon; if this offends or upsets you do not read this, it that simple.

Rating: NC-17

Pairing: Richter/Adrian, Adrian/Richter

Setting: post CastleVania symphony of the night

Dedications: this is dedicated to all CastleVania fans, there could never be to many.

Summery: The trials that must be endured while Adrian tries to adapt to what he has always wanted, a normal life.

Authoress note: Those who are hunted was probably the first long-ish fic I ever wrote; I have written this to commemorate that fact. For those who asked please forgive me that this has taken so long to come out.

Italics mean either flashbacks or thoughts

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Chapter Two

“Are you coming tomorrow?” Maria asked, the girl next to her smiled and nodded.

The two were sitting in the area set aside in the village for travellers to leave horses and carriages, waiting for Richter. The village was busy this morning and Maria was in all honesty a little nervous, it had taken a large mental debate on her part to decide whether or not to bring Samantha along today; she knew how Adrian was around people but then if she had lived through four hundred years of Mortals chasing her with pitch forks and torches she would be jumpy to.

“I’ve never been to one of the Belmont’s harvest festivals.” Samantha squeaked, the girl was a little younger than Maria and rather excitable, Maria wondered again how Adrian would react.

“It’s not a festival Sam,” Maria smirked “it’s just a barbeque and truthfully I’m surprised he’s having one at all,” she admitted “his friend Adrian is a little uncomfortable around people,” she explained hoping that Samantha would take the hint and calm down a little, the hint went ignored.

“Adrian,” Samantha mused “he’s the one who lives with him now?” Maria nodded, Samantha grinned widely, fiddling with the ends of her little pink dress. Samantha was considered by many the definition of femininity, she was tiny and delicate along with cute, obedient and down right adorable at times but she was in no way practical. Many men loved her but Samantha had accepted none, she simply enjoyed the attention she got now and knew that attention would dwindle when she married.

“Look there they are,” Maria smiled as she watched Richter’s cart come through the gates of the village.

“RICHTER!” Samantha yelled, standing up and waving, her hand encased in a tiny white lace glove. Richter smiled and waved back Adrian looked as if he were about to be hung but to Maria’s memory he looked better than he had last time.

Maria felt a pang of sympathy for the dunpeal, she understood why he was nervous in such a place, after all this was the village that had killed his mother, the village that had nearly killed him and the village that had killed a great many of his friends. She offered the dunpeal a sympathetic smile as Richter lead the horse into the hold and stopped the carriage.

“Well don’t you look spiffy,” Maria smiled as Adrian jumped down, the dunpeal blushed a little at the comment and moved behind the cart to unload the furs.

“Maria!” Samantha snapped before Maria could continue her teasing, “That’s not proper!” Samantha was often embarrassed at her friends out going behaviour which was very strange in a woman of breeding. It was difficult to imagine how to people who were as different as Maria and Samantha could be so close.

“Oh Samantha relax,” Maria smiled to her friend, “Adrian knows I’m only playing.”

“You’re saying he doesn’t look good then?” Richter demanded smirking as he lifted her clean off the ground in a crushing hug. Maria squeaked as the air was almost crushed out of her, she always forgot just how strong that damn man was.

“No Richter,” Maria glared as he put her down, glancing to the cart which Adrian was unloading she whistled “someone’s been busy.”

“Not all the time,” Richter smirked raising an eyebrow, Maria glared again, that man had a filthy mind, briefly Maria wondered how much a lump of soap was for Richter’s mouth really could use a good clean as well.

Once CastleVania had fallen Richter had started hunting the local woods for monsters claiming bounties on them in the local villages, it had been how all the Belmont’s had earned a living once their task had been completed. There were always at least five or so monster bounties every month and the bounties were high as the monster hunter population was low, it was in Richter’s words a lot of money for some really easy work he probably would have done anyway. However since he’d been joined by Adrian his already easy work had become a lot easier. Adrian enjoyed the hunt; it was in his nature to. The dunpeal often reminded Richter of a feline in that respect, as when they had hunted out all the bounties Adrian would often hunt game, catching enough so that Maria had stopped buying any meat from markets and lived completely off Adrian’s ‘gifts’. Richter had once offered the dunpeal a crossbow to use when hunting small game but the immortal had refused; Richter at first had been confused by this for how could someone catch rabbits which were small and fast without a crossbow, Adrian had given a demonstration and Richter had stopped offering him weapons and developed a new respect for Adrian’s claws when they were trailing down his stomach or thighs; knowing how dangerous those little claws were often gave him thrills.

Adrian liked the woods and it unnerved Richter a little that the dunpeal was more at home surrounded by monsters than people but he understood why. At first it had worried Richter that Adrian spoke to the sentient monsters in the wood but when the dunpeal explained that most of them hunted game and just wanted to be left in peace the hunter relaxed a little; but it still upset him when the dunpeal would come home with cuts and bruises gained from his ‘conversations’.

“Wow you’re strong!” Samantha muttered drawing everyone’s attention. Adrian was holding three of the four boxes used to carry the furs of their kills; Adrian glanced at Richter who looked to make sure the dunpeal wasn’t carrying too much to be obviously odd, he wasn’t the hunter smiled

“That he is lass,” Richter beamed “you should see him lying down!”

“RICHTER,” Maria snapped, Adrian nearly dropped the boxes he was holding before using them to cover the blush. He ‘accidentally’ kicked Richter a moment later before smirking at him as the mortal was having problems lifting one of the boxes.

“Just sit there and smirk smart guy,” Richter snapped after a moment, Adrian did just that watching Richter struggle until it just wasn’t funny any more.

“Give it to me,” he sighed after a few moments of Richter struggling. Richter glared hard at the immortal who was still smirking and decided to save his pride. He struggled over to the town hall with his box, absently wondering if he was going to give himself a hernia.

They stopped out side the town hall and Adrian put his boxes down causing Richter to stare at him strangely. The dunpeal swallowed loudly trying not to choke on his own words hoping his voice wasn’t shaking as badly as he feared it might.

“I’ll wait here,” Adrian spoke; he had memories of this place terrible memories, ones he would give almost anything to forget.

“Are you sure?” Maria asked “you don’t want to come inside?” her expression was one of confused worry. Samantha nudged the dunpeal,

“You won’t get any credit sir unless you claim the bounty,” her grin widened “you are noble to let your friend here take all the credit.” She seemed almost smitten, Richter glared.

“I care not for credit,” Adrian shrugged, “I . . . I would simply prefer to remain outside. You go on Richter, and Lady Maria if you would be so kind to make sure he does not get cheated this time I would owe you a great debt.”

“I did not get cheated!” Richter snapped knowing full well that he had “I was being charitable,” he muttered, allowing Maria to drag him inside the building.

“I’ll wait outside with Adrian,” Samantha called “don’t worry now I’ll take good care of him.” Richter felt his blood boil, he knew that Samantha couldn’t do anything really and he trusted Adrian but it angered him almost to the point where he lost control that she would insinuate something such as that and with an angry grunt, Richter grabbed Adrian’s arm and dragged the protesting dunpeal into the hall.

“Richter! No! you don’t . . .,” Adrian froze inside at the looks the men of the council gave him, Richter felt the tension in his lover and blinked at him, the dunpeal was visibly shaking. Worried Richter turned and had to force him into a seat afraid his legs would give out, then turning with a worried glance at his lover he went to collect another box of furs.

Adrian looked around the room with wide terrified eyes, unsure why this was effecting him so badly, he was no longer that small, he was no longer helpless, if a group of men came at him now he could easily slaughter all of them before they could even get a finger on him. Yet the fear inside him made him feel as if he was about to be ill, his eyes unwillingly strayed to a corner; carpet had been put down but he knew that under it were blood stains. The walls had been painted over a few times but again he knew that under that paint would be more blood stains. He turned away shaking his head, then looking up he gasped as suddenly the walls ran with blood, a small terrified sound escaped him. Maria’s hand suddenly grabbed his and he yelped, almost screeching before he could stop himself.

“Adrian! . . . are you alright you look . . .” Maria whispered but was interrupted by Richter who was once again being cheated, “ooohhh . . . I’ll be back in a minuet.” She excused herself and went to Richter Adrian’s eyes went back to that same corner, the bolt was still there, they hadn’t taken away the bolts.

He’d watched his mother burn, and while she remained silent he had screamed, screamed until his throat had bled only then had he fallen silent and watched the flames that had eaten his mother. As the flames began to slowly die down and the crowd around them began to dissipate Adrian had been dragged into the town hall. The sounds of men surrounded him but he did not truly hear them. The heat from the sun had made him ill, his already dizzy frame created by the ‘rough’ way he had been captured had been made much worse by the sickening heat he’d been in to watch his mother burn.

His left eye was swollen completely shut, a sharp strike from the handle of an axe had done that, his entire face felt like a bruise and he knew he was bleeding. His body felt aflame and heavy cuffs around his throat, wrists and ankles kept him bound, the cuffs were all linked to a chain and that chain was in the grip of a man, preventing him from running. Strange that a village full of large strong men would fear a tiny vampire child so much as to bind him so securely.

“What do we do with this,” the man holding his chain spoke jerking him forwards hard enough to knock his feet out from under him, his head was jerked up by a strong grip in his hair and the mortal men, chiefs of the village stared at him.

“Public execution would not stand well with me,” the eldest gentleman spoke,

“We should take care of him ourselves,” the one holding him snapped, there were sounds of agreement.

When he’d started screaming they laughed.

His chain was linked to a bolt in the wall, tying him into a corner, a strike across his jaw made him gyrate backwards slamming him into the wall, before he fell to the ground, a kick to his side and he heard but did not feel a rib snap for feeling was almost gone, the only thing left was a deep numbness and a knowledge that this would kill him eventually. Another blow across his back was not made with fists or booted feet but with a bar of some kind and he screamed louder as feeling came rushing back bringing mind destroying pain. He was struck again, the blow would have knocked a normal child into unconsciousness but it only cause Adrian to scream louder, more broken.

“He is of the devil!!” was the cry that rose when Adrian tried to stumble to his feet, hands clasping his head. Another kick to his jaw and more laughter drowned out his screams; but suddenly there was another voice, a woman’s and she to was screaming, terrified. The men stopped striking him and began to shout in anger at one another before a deafening roar drowned out everything and the smell of mortal blood touched him.

“Adrian,” a male voice spoke softly, a bare hand touched his bleeding head gently, “my son,” the voice whispered grief beyond Adrian’s knowledge in those words. He heard the snap of chains breaking and felt himself being lifted, panic flooded him, Adrian screeched wildly struggling and snapping at the man’s hands with small fangs while trying to claw at him with bound wrists. He was held close to the man’s chest until he calmed, his mind resurfacing through the pain.

“Father,” he breathed clinging to his father desperately tight, as consciousness left him.

Looking around now at the magistrates and council men in the halls now Adrian could see their predecessors, could see each of their sneering faces, smell them, hear them and he felt fear slip away and anger boil in his veins, mere mortals had dared to lay hand on the son of Dracula. He had been young then, small and defenceless, he was not so now, his hands twitched involuntarily itching to bury his claws in soft mortal flesh; his vision swam for a moment and turned blood red, his fangs slipped from their sheaths lengthening, before he knew what he was doing Adrian was getting to his feet. How dare these cattle claim to be above him, he was the son of the king of vampires how dare these pathetic mortals stand in his way? His upper lip drew back and his hands tensed ready to rip all of them apart.

“Mr Adrian?” the voice of Samantha cut through everything and Adrian snapped backwards as the reality of what he was about to do hit him like a physical blow. The dunpeal slammed back into the chair he’d been sitting in.

He had to get out of here.

Glancing around he stood and with as much poise as possible considering his trembling and he marched from that building directly into the tavern. Samantha watched him go, her mind gently ticking over the strange man wondering what could have been wrong. The young girl waited for Richter and Maria to be done claiming bounties and handing over furs, before she approached them and told them that Adrian had left a few moments ago and was in a tavern. Richter’s face fell and Samantha watched as his colour faded, briefly wondering what it would be like to have a friend who cared so much as Richter obviously did for Adrian.

The trio entered the tavern; it was not difficult to spot Adrian who had found the table furthest from the door in a small dark corner. Samantha watched as Richter berated the other man for wandering off, she smiled it was like they were an old married couple.

“Samantha,” Maria called “isn’t that Jock up at the bar wouldn’t you like to thank him for the flowers he sent you last week.” Samantha smiled, she knew a hint when she heard one and nodded, Maria smiled gratefully. While Samantha was distracted and would be for some time Richter took the opportunity to lean across to Adrian.

“Are you alright?” he asked and was glared at with fierce yellow eyes which slowly intensified to orange then red. Richter was almost about to tell Adrian to do something about his eyes when the dunpeal hissed at him and jerked his hand away.

“I’m fine,” Adrian hissed,

“Adrian,” Maria pressed “you were not fine a moment ago, please, what happened.”

“I . . . I merely do not like the hall,” Adrian mumbled lamely “hence why I insisted to be left outside,” those words were growled at Richter who was starting to look ashamed as well as worried

“I am sorry Adrian . . . I didn’t know you would panic like that,” Richter tried to apologise

“Nor did you ask Richter,” Adrian snapped “there are events in life which no matter how long ago still echo today, I do not wish to go into detail but there is a lot of blood on the floor of that place.”

“I do not understand,” Maria swallowed “did you . . . did you kill someone in there,” Adrian looked at her for a moment before a strangled laugh escaped him

“No lady, I did not kill anyone here, the blood I referred to was my own.” Adrian shook his head still trying to force the memory from him; he hated how weak he must seem to have let something so old affect him this badly.

“Adrian why wont you tell me, nothing could possibly be as bad as you are . . .” Richter began but a kick under the table from a more understanding Maria stopped him, Adrian just looked at him incredulous for a few moment before he spoke

“You have no idea mortal, in you’re lifetime you have not witnessed half of the amount of bloodshed I was made to in a single day,” the immortal growled, claws digging into the soft wood of the table “it would take forty of your lifetimes for you to even begin to comprehend what I went through on that day or what I almost did in that place today.” his anger suddenly melted as recognition dawned “I . . . I should not have come here.”

“Adrian,” Richter swallowed “come home, please, we’re nearly finished here now, Maria and I will finish up and we’ll all go home.” The mortal was shaking “don’t leave.” He breathed. The sheer desperation in his words made Adrian give pause,

“Very well.” He said firmly to stop his voice from shaking.

He preformed the rest of the trip as if in a trance, following the mortal from peddler to grocer, to blacksmith to sword smith and finally back to the cart. All the while watching those around him, half the time imagining them if they knew who he truly was, what he had done in his lifetime, the atrocities he had preformed, they would scream for his blood once again. Other times he imagined what would happen if they remained ignorant of him and he continued to live with Richter, one day the hunger would wake him, despite feeding from Richter the beast inside of him still writhed against his bonds still fought him, one day it would win and he would descend on this village a perfect replica of his father.

“Won’t you come back with us?” Richter’s voice snapped the immortal out of his trance and he realised they were back at the cart, Richter trying to convince Maria to return with them “I could use the help, and you’re more than welcome to spend the night.” Mara seemed to consider this for a few moments as if trying to remember if she had a prior engagement this night.

“Alright,” she answered after a moment “I don’t think Adrian’s going to be talking to you for the rest of the night as it is now anyway, you’ll need a mediator.” She offered a strange smile to the dunpeal who just blinked at her, part in confusion part in mild insult, this mortal child thought herself above . . . he stopped himself before the part of him that was made up of vampire arrogance could truly begin its rant again and cause him to . . . he stopped his thoughts again and stared at the road.

The journey was filed with the tedious small talk of Richter and Maria and the dunpeal felt himself wonder angrily if they were purposely trying to irritate him; why did these people feel the need to natter constantly. He almost leapt for joy when the house came into view excusing himself to retreat as soon as it was ‘polite’ to do so. The dunpeal almost ran up the stairs desperate for the peace that came with being alone, he slipped into the bedroom he shared with Richter and stared at torn bed sheets. One day it wouldn’t be torn cotton he was looking at, one day he would wake and find Richter torn to pieces in the bed next to him.

He was a monster how could he have allowed himself to fall into the illusion of happiness.

The door closed behind him and Adrian turned to see Richter with his back against the door as if blocking the escape route. It didn’t bother the immortal; the window was wide enough for him to bolt that way if he had to.

“I love you,” Richter hissed “I don’t care what I have to do to prove this to you, I don’t care how many times you panic, I wouldn’t even care if you went on a murderous rampage, slaughtered half the village and beat me to a bloody pulp,; I would still love you.”

“You cannot possibly mean that.” Adrian breathed his heart hammering inside his chest for he knew Richter’s words as truth

“You dare tell me what I do and do not mean!” Richter snapped “you might have three hundred and sixty something years on me but I am my own person Adrian Feinheight Tepes and not you, not Maria not anyone has the right to tell me my own mind.” Richter looked angry, but sadness and fear were more powerful than the anger just under the mortal’s surface. The dunpeal swallowed loudly

“What if it was the whole village?” Adrian managed a small smile “miniature genocide, would you love me then.”

“As long as you got the magistrates as well,” Richter grinned stepping up to his lover “I really hate those people.” With that said he pushed their mouths together. Mortal hands reached up slowly pulling the tie from moonlit hair and immersing themselves in white silk, Adrian groaned almost silently when blunt mortal nails scrapped over his scalp. His own clawed hands gripping the mortal’s arms moved one to circle Richter’s waist and jolt the two of them together and the other gripping the mortal’s head holding him in place.

Groaning Richter ground his pelvis forward, into his lovers, rubbing together hard. He heard a deep growl from the immortal and the kiss intensified, Richter’s lips parted and his tongue slid into his companions mouth. It wasn't long before he tasted a little blood in the kiss, Adrian’s evil little teeth were deadly sharp, just a feather light touch was enough to make him bleed, but a little blood was well worth the reactions he got. Adrian groaned harshly and brought both hands up to Richter’s face, holding him there, while almost frantically sucking on his lover’s tongue. The kiss finally broke as Adrian pulled back, his lips smeared with scarlet and his now red eyes desperate.

“Adrian,” Richter whispered, grinding the two of them together softer now, smoother, making his wants perfectly clear.

“I could tell Maria I was teaching you a lesson, one I have taught you before,” Adrian whispered back teeth grazed Richter’s throat “but you just never learn.”

“Yesssss,” Richter all out groaned when one of the dunpeal’s hands moved down to touch him through his pants.

“But,” Adrian stopped “it would be awfully rude, Maria cannot prepare for this little party of yours alone.” Adrian smirked as he walked away leaving his lover desperate and hungry. Richter opened his mouth to speak before groaning in frustration, Adrian was pure evil sometimes.

End Chapter

Authoress note: I’m tired, really tired. *goes to bed*