Chapter Text
Three young adults laid side by side in a large field of blue wildflowers. The morning air was crisp, and the raven haired man watched as his breath steamed in front of him. Days like these were hard to come by now. A famine had swept through their small town. Most had died already, but a few were still holding on. One such person being Levi's mother, Kuchel. She'd always been strong, Levi had collected his looks, along with that attribute, from her, but this disease had ruined her. He thought of his mother now. How her once perfect pale skin was now gray, how her doll-like features had sunken into her bones, and how her raven hair was now brittle and dull.
"How's your mother?" The redhead of the group asked, pulling him from his thoughts.
"She's...about the same. I can't see her getting better soon. I've called every doctor to the house, and the medicine makes it worse." He explained, keeping his eyes up on the blue sky. He'd stopped crying a long time ago, but thinking of his mother lying in bed tore open his heart in a way he hadn't experienced before.
"Well, I wonder if there is a cure." Isabel commented, sitting up. Some of her hair had fallen from the pigtails she kept them in. Her green eyes were serious as she turned to Levi. At nineteen and the youngest of the group, she often goofed around, but this instance was different.
Levi sat up as well, noting the serious tone she had taken, something she did quite rarely. "What do you mean?" He asked in curiosity.
"Levi, don't listen to her. It's some story she heard school children talk about the other day." Farlan, the second oldest of the group sighed, "I told you not to repeat the story."
"Let her speak." Levi stopped Farlan, earning himself an eye roll.
Isabel shot a glare at Farlan's direction for the interruption and then continued. "Well, I heard a rumor in town. Levi, have you ever heard of vampires? Specifically, local ones"
Levi wasn't exactly sure where Isabel was going with this. "I mean, in books. They're not real, and if we had local ones wouldn't they come feed on us?"
"No, Levi, they are real. Listen, apparently, there's a castle that's a three days journey west from here. In that castle is five vampires. One of them is a scientist that might just have the medicine your mother would need." Isabel held Levi's gaze, offering him a hopeful smile. "It would be very dangerous, but they could save her."
Levi hadn't put much thought into Isabel's story this morning, but now, as he sat by his mother's bedside, he was seriously considering it. She was sleeping, her lungs making a wheezing sound every time she breathed. The scene in front of him tore him up inside. Before he could get too lost in his thoughts, the door to their cottage opened. In stepped a tall and lanky figure.
"Kenny." Levi greeted, standing as his uncle took off his coat and hat. "I need to talk to you."
"Can't even get a drink first?" The older man muttered as he rummaged through a cabinet. He pulled out a bottle of cheap liquor and popped off the cap before taking a giant swig. The action made Levi roll his eyes. Kenny was not a caretaker. Levi was almost afraid of the favor he was about to ask.
"I need to leave. Tonight. There's a castle three days west from here. I think there might be a cure for mom there." The younger of the two spoke plainly. While neither would admit it, they were very like minded. There was no need to sugar-coat any issues.
At the statement, Kenny stilled. "You're not going there."
"I am." Levi glared, sensing Kenny's apprehensiveness. "If it's going to save mom, then I am."
Kenny slammed his bottle onto the counter. Immediately, they both looked to Kuchel, who was still fast asleep. "You're going to die if you go there, Levi. I know the stories, too. I don't know who told you, but you'd best not listen to them."
"You think I don't know how reckless this is? I'm not an idiot." Levi hissed, moving to stand in front of his uncle. "She's going to die, Kenny. Your sister, my mother, is going to die and you're just going to let it happen? You're just going to drink and pretend she'll get better? Not me! I'm actually going to fucking do something, so you'd better stay here and take care of her!" As he spoke, his voice had gotten louder. This time, Kuchel stirred in the worn bed.
"L-Levi?" She whispered, and her son automatically came to her side.
"It's okay, Ma. It's okay..." Levi watched sadly as she drifted off to sleep before turning back to Kenny.
"Please."
Kenny watched them for a moment longer and took another swig from his bottle. "Go pack a bag. I'll be here when you get back."
Levi couldn't believe Kenny had agreed to take care of his mother, but he wasn't about to let him change his mind. After he was packed, Kenny headed to his trench coat and pulled out a holster and a silver pistol. The sides had intricate floral carvings, and in tiny letters on the bottom the name "Ackerman." Kenny handed it to Levi and gave him a hard stare. "Take care of this and it'll take care of you. Just come back in one piece, kid."
Levi studied the gun before adjusting the holster around his waist and placing the gun in its place. He adjusted the bag around his shoulders and took one last glance to his mom. "Keep her alive for me. I'll be back in a week." With that, he was out the door.
The sound of the large grandfather clock chiming filled the large study. A tall figure stood at a large window, his crimson eyes observing the world outside. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale blue glow across his flawless skin. Something was about to change.