Chapter Text
The woods were a beautiful array of colors. The trees had hues of reds and oranges. Vibrant colors that indicated the start of autumn was right around the corner. You had been traveling so long that the days and weeks melded together. For all you knew, it was the middle of your favorite season. All of it flew over your nose because of the bloody bastards that ruled the night.
Night creatures had been dwindling over the past weeks. While journeying, there were smaller and smaller groups that you stumbled upon. But thankfully, you had managed to venture into territory that lacked tons of the horrific beasts. The woods had been quiet save for the buzzing of insects and singing birds that sent a smile spreading upon your face. It was a decent change from the blood and shrieking you were accustomed to.
Now, crouching next to a sparkling stream, you cupped water into your palms and scrubbed your face free of the muck that covered you. Then, after gulping a few handfuls down, you filled your canteen and started anew in the forest.
Night would fall soon, which meant you would need to set up camp. However, as the thick of the woods cleared, you tipped your head back in awe at Dracula’s abandoned castle sitting in a field just beyond what looked to be the ruins of the Belmont Keep.
A roof above your head sounded delightful. And perhaps there would be some forgotten food lying around. That would be a wonderful feeling. To have a full belly, even if it was just for a night.
So, you hurried through the field. Your leather armor rustled, and swords clanked against your thigh as you made it across and to the base of the steps. The welcoming sign wasn’t inviting, given there were several corpses spiked through their mouths on either side of the castle. Decayed to nothing but bones. You hesitated for a long moment. Your head tipped backward while you truly considered entering despite the angry signs out front.
Perhaps stepping foot into Dracula's castle wasn’t a fantastic idea. Not if someone or something was lurking about inside with the same idea you had dreamt up. And if it were a hungry vampire inside, your odds of survival weren’t exactly high.
But it was a blood moon tonight. Which meant creatures would be crawling everywhere once sundown arose. And the idea of fighting off double the amount of Night Creatures and sacrificing sleep in a potential down bed made the hungry vampire option look pleasant.
So, with a low curse, you placed your hand to the hilt of your broad sword and started up the steps to the looming wooden door ahead. When you placed your gloved hand to the handle of the door, you slowly pushed, and the hinges creaked loudly as you opened it. You bit down on your cringe and slid through the small entryway you created before shutting and locking it behind you.
The castle was enormous. The first room consisted of giant pillars spanning down a long hallway that blossomed into a staircase leading toward the next level. Cautiously, you carried onward. Looking over your shoulder at the slightest sound and tightening your grip on the hilt of your blade when the torches of the halls flickered.
It wasn’t until you reached another main floor that you saw what looked to be a kitchen. The table held a bowl of fruit, and a pot of boiling water on the stove. Someone was cooking. Which meant they were fully aware of your location inside the castle given their absense. Your eyes widened before whirling behind you once you felt that warm breath brush against your neck. You didn’t draw your sword fast enough, not as the person before you slapped it out of your hand and grabbed you by your neck.
You hadn’t ever moved so fast in your life. One moment you were standing at the kitchen entryway, and the next, the hard wood of the kitchen table dug into your back while a pale-skinned, blonde vampire bared his fangs in your face.
“Normally thieves head for the library. Not raid my kitchen like a starving animal,” he growled lowly. The fingers around your neck tightened and threatened to choke you completely. You gripped his wrist; lean muscle greeted you even while you dug your nails into his skin to send a message.
I can’t breathe.
The vampire’s golden eyes narrowed upon your face before he loosened his grasp. Not releasing you but allowing for you to breathe and answer his incoming question.
“Why are you in my castle? And why do you smell like…” he furrowed his brows. “Is that night creature blood?”
Lying on the table, you answered, “I came for a roof above my head and a full belly during the blood moon.”
His claws dug into the base of your throat. “Liar,” he hissed and lowered himself farther. “No human enters this castle without ill intent.”
You grunted and said, “That would be an assumption. Besides, this castle belonged to Dracula, so I could argue that you have come to rob his libraries and machinery.”
The vampire’s lip pulled back. “Given my father is dead, it is customary that his belongings are passed down.”
So this was the infamous Adrien or Alucard Tepes. Son to Dacula and Lisa Tepes. Half human and vampire. You assumed he would be a bit more ruthless and a bit less…blonde?
“Would your mother approve of this treatment towards a poor, defenseless human?” you teased and pouted your lower lip despite knowing he could rip out your throat instantly.
“My mother isn’t here, is she?” he snapped.
You looked around the kitchen in feigned search. “No. But given you haven’t already killed me, I think it’s safe to say her morals now live within you.”
He glared harder and bared his fangs again. “You’re playing with your life,” he warned.
“A life where I’ve known nothing but betrayal and heartache. I think it'd be an honor to be killed by the Sleeping Soldier himself. Don’t you?” you elaborated even while straining against his immortal strength.
His golden eyes darted around your face before his snarl faded, and he released your throat. Adrien stood to his full height, but you didn’t dare move from where you lay on the table. He wore a white shirt that showed a horrific scar across his body and leather pants with his hair pulled back into a bun. He nearly looked human if it weren’t for the paleness of his skin and glowing gold eyes.
He sighed and rubbed his temple. “Is the blood moon really tonight?”
You sat up and looked out the window in the kitchen. “Given the moon is the color of freshly spilled blood, I think it is safe to say that. Yes,” you snarked.
“Don’t patronize me,” he growled.
“Don’t attack me and we might have a deal,” you answered with equal annoyance as you looked back at him.
He looked you over from head to toe. His nose crinkled when he looked to your boots. Covered in mud and blood. “How long have you been traveling?” he asked.
You shrugged even while your stomach growled and hunger gnawed at you. “Long enough for the weeks to meld into months.” Damn, you were really fucking hungry.
Adrien looked to the pot of boiling water and then to the pasta on the side before his gaze settled on you once again. “Take an apple and sit down. The least I can do is make you a fucking meal.”
You watched as the vampire walked over to the water and poured in the pasta. Doing as he ordered, you swiped an apple, bit into it, and watched as he cooked dinner. The two of you didn’t converse while he worked. It was heavy, angst-riddled silence that had you gnawing on your thumbnail.
“So how long have—”
He raised a hand and interrupted you. “Please, don’t make small talk.” He stirred the pasta before checking on the other pot, where he threw in a few more spices and herbs to taste.
You took another bite of your succulent apple and waited until Adrien served you a steaming bowl of spaghetti and a piece of garlic bread. He set down the same thing for himself at the other end of the table and started with the garlic bread. It was almost comical to see a vampire bite into garlic bread when everyone had grown up on stories saying garlic would repel them.
Picking up your fork, you started with the pasta. It had been years since you were given a home-cooked meal. Years since you had known a proper roof over your head and eaten food that didn’t taste like ash and shit.
The dish was so flavorful it was an effort to keep from groaning. You must have let a little one slip because Adrien glanced up at you as if he would launch himself across the table and choke you again.
You cleared your throat and apologized. “Sorry, it’s been a while since I’ve had a home-cooked meal. It is very good, thank you.” You took a bite of the garlic bread.
He watched as you dug into the meal. Paying him little attention as you devoured the food, even soaking up the sauce with the remaining piece of bread you had. Not letting a single crumb go to waste. “How long have you been on your own?”
You lifted your gaze from the empty plate to him. “Since I was fourteen, maybe thirteen. Time sort of warps when you're forced to fight for your life all the time.”
He stood and rounded the table to pick up your plate. He walked back towards the stove, plated more pasta and sauce, then bread before placing it back down before you and returning to his chair. “Eat,” he demanded yet gave you a look that ventured on pity. “I hate having leftovers.”
There was no sadness in his voice or appearance. No further questioning why you were on your own so young or even how you managed to find his castle. He only silently watched you between bites of his food while you devoured yours. It wasn’t until you were truly stuffed that you broke the silence.
“I can leave if you’d like. I’d hate to intrude.”
Adrien shook his head while staring at you. “My mother would scold me if I sent a poor, defenseless human out on a blood moon. I have a spare room down the hall from my quarters you can stay in for as long as you need.”
You raised a brow. “As long as I need?” you repeated in disbelief.
He eyed you for a few long seconds. “So long as you earn your keep and help me sort the library. It’s been lonely in the castle, and I could use a fiery sense of humor.”
Sitting back in your chair, you flashed him a mischievous smile. “A vampire with a heart. Who would have thought?”
He snarled softly. “Mind that tongue. Or I’ll let you sleep in the catacombs.” A low chuckle followed after, and despite wanting to snap back, you laughed with him.