Chapter Text
The silver bat flew through the night, further and further from the catacombs that had been its home for the past year. For you see, this was no ordinary bat, this was the vampire Carmilla, who had been tasked to keep watch over Dracula’s son. She flew west towards Dracula’s castle and, as dawn approached, she dove through a small opening in the highest tower, materializing as a tall, lithe woman as she knocked on a sturdy wood door.
”Come in,” A cold voice called, and Carmilla couldn’t help but shiver as she let herself into Dracula’s office.
“I bring news, my lord,” Carmilla simpered, eyes flashing red and a sneer curling her lips as the older Vampire stood from his ornate chair by the fire. He said nothing, inclining his head in her direction.
She took that as her cue, saying, “There are mortals in the catacombs, trying to find your son.”
A flash of red across his face, but no perceptible movement at her news let her continue, “A Speaker Magician and a Vampire Hunter, who carried the Morning Star.”
Carmilla didn’t see him move, black flickering across her vision as Dracula pinned her to the wall with a snarl, claws extended and drawing blood.
”What.” It wasn’t a question, nor a demand for an explanation, and yet she supplied both.
”The Hunter carried The Morning Star, and was able to use it. He carries himself like a Belmont.”
Black eyes stared into her own as Dracula tightened his grip on her neck. Finally, she thought, maybe now we’ll get some shit done.
The pressure on Carmilla’s windpipe let up suddenly, and she gasped and coughed for a moment, almost dizzy with relief (or perhaps with oxygen deprivation, she thought hysterically with a bitten off laugh) as Dracula stepped away, staring into his shattered mirror.
”In the dark of the night, I find myself here,” Dracula mused, and Carmilla didn’t dare interrupt him, “I see my wife as she burns, and the corpses of Belmonts joining her in the fire. I open my eyes and think it is still a nightmare.”
After a moment of silence, Dracula stalks out, Carmilla trailing a step behind him.
“I once had peace, you know,” Dracula said conversationally, “But the Belmonts made a grave mistake when they put my wife to the stake.”
Carmilla nodded, having heard this story before, though the retelling was slightly different each time.
”I cursed them with my rage, but the people of Wallachia got to them first. Though my personal revenge was cut short, I was satisfied. But the little boy got away, in the dark of the night.”
Two grand doors flew open with a wave of Dracula’s hand, revealing the three occupants inside; two humans, one pale with grey hair, one bald with deep brown eyes, and a vampire wearing a kilt.
”My generals,” Dracula intoned into the foreboding silence, “In killing my wife, humanity proved to me that they do not deserve my protection, my mercy. I left the Night Creatures to do as they please, but now one who got away returns to the light, the Belmont boy. He and a Speaker magician seek to ally with Alucard, to destroy me.”
”Hector, Isaac,” Dracula continued over shocked exclamations, “I will be recalling the night hoard shortly, I expect to be presented with plans for our next steps to deal with this problem.”
”The only two humans in your inner court,” The red haired Viking vampire scorned, “and they are the ones who will plan our next attack?”
”The only two generals in my court, Godbrand,” the vampire in question shrank back at the older man’s tone, “who are not driven by thirst. The only two who are bound by loyalty and intellect.”
The two humans beamed as Dracula continued, “The pieces are falling into place, and my revenge will be complete in the dark of the night, we will say a final rǎmas bun to the Belmonts tonight. My forgemasters, attend me.”
”What the hell was that?” Godbrand grumbled after Dracula left the room, “We come to support him from every corner of the world, and… nothing? Turning over the whole thing to a couple of humans?!”
”I don’t understand why our lord doesn’t tie you up outside with the rest of the animals,” Isaac complained as Hector rolled his eyes.
”Godbrand, you’ve never met anything you didn’t immediately kill, fuck, or make a boat out of.”
The two forgemasters let the doors swing shut behind them as the Viking vampire sputtered incoherently.,
“Master,” Hector greeted as the two humans stepped into their forge where Dracula was waiting, arms folded behind his back.
”You may approach,” Dracula uncrossed his arms, bringing one hand up to stroke his chin, “Hector, Isaac, I am in need of your forgemaster skills. I need a pack of your most destructive and intelligent Night Creatures to hunt down and kill the Belmont boy, and anyone that stands in their way.”
”We are honoured by your faith in us,” Isaac bowed his head, placing a hand over his heart as he spoke, “But to serve you correctly, we have to ask.”
”Why us?” Hector asked, coming to stand beside Isaac beside their work bench, a dead night creature laying between them.
”You are human,” Dracula answered softly, deep voice echoing around the chamber, “You understand how they think, how they scheme. You have a focus and clarity the others lack. You have also lived as mortals, been among the people of Wallachia, and know more about the Belmonts as royalty than my kind.”
“Yes,” Isaac spoke, distant horrors reflecting in his eyes, “We do.”
”Thank you for clarifying, Master,” Hector said, “We will do our best to see to the Belmont’s death.”
“The night creatures must be made stronger, faster,” Dracula said, stalking towards the door, “they must be able to kill a vampire if they have any hope to defeat a Belmont. If Godbrand and Carmilla give you any trouble, use them to test your creations' strengths.”
”It’s going to be alright,” Isaac comforted, walking over to place a hand on Dracula’s arm, “We’re going to kill him for you.”
”He will suffer,” Hector affirmed, turning to begin his work.
”The suffering doesn’t really matter to me anymore,” Dracula paused in the door frame, “Only the death.”