Life
Life
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Life
S'>
Disclaimerstyle='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>:
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
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 notestyle='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>: I h
cha
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
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>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 . . .
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style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>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.
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style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>We are
going to tell you of Adrian Feinhight Tepes, son of Dracula.
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style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>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 . . .
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style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>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
“
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style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>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.
“
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”
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.
font-family:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>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
“better behaved than most though”
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style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>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.
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style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>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,
did not know why at the time but now he believes it was because she felt
obligated to help those who went to them.
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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.
smiled widely; the man dipped his head to Lisa and smiled across the garden at
before kneeling down as
bolted to him. Scooping the small child up
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
holding his son by the ankles, his hair inches above the ground, while
fought madly trying to get upright.
“Be careful you don’t drop him” she called smiling
“You think I would”
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,
seemed to notice this and lower his child to the floor gently
“Go play with Samuel”
gave
a slight push and
ran off to find his friend.
“The village is going to try me” Lisa muttered quietly
“Try you”
repeated
“Yes, they wish to test my Christianity, I will go
speak to the council tomorrow but could
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.
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“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.
“
you’re cheating, you’re not meant to leave the garden” he whines loudly before
hurling a small pebble into the foun in 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
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
in the fountain and attempting to soak him more so.
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“I think I should go now, I have much to do” Lisa
mumbled against
shirt
“Adrian” Vladimir called his voice not loud but some
how it echoed thought the castle.
mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>
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”
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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style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:Verdana;mso-ansi-language:EN-US'>Samuel was
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 thaad aad 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,
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
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.
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”
“
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”
nodded sending lose blond hair flying into his face. He mumbled something
quietly, all the elderly gentleman heard was
“…father…”
&np>
“Oh do you know where you’re going” he asked the child
nodded “you want me to take you there”
“No”
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”
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.
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
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.
against his father,
around his child, and he had to admit he did enjoy it when
* * * *
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.