Avenging Father

(This jumping back and forth will end soon don't worry I apologise, I'm nearly done I promise.)

You... felt strange. something was happening? but you weren't sure what... it was like being stirred, slowly twisting and turning into a vortex, You felt weak, felt tired, lost in a haze as You were swept into shadow, dragged deep into the abyssal blackness of the eye of the Beast.

It was like being pulled into the heart of a storm, batted between bolts of red and wisps of black, deeper and deeper as You screamed, confused and lost at what was happening, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?

"I'M GETTING SICK OF ALL OF THIS WEIRD SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!!!!" Your voice drowned out as you were swallowed in dark, devoured into the belly of something that quaked and shook and then spat him out again into somewhere that definitely wasn't Vulcan's office.

You collided with a cold, cobblestone floor, it smelt of strange spices, of incense and of woodsmoke.

"What the fuck...?" You whispered looking around. High banners of red and Black hung from the hard stone walls, many great tables were laid out, filled with exotic fruits and ten dozen supply of roasted chickens, boars and turkeys all being feasted on by hundreds of men, bearded, they looked Arabian maybe? or some kind of middle eastern, but they dined happily as the 30 or so hearths blazed light into the huge decorated Hall.

This place was not real, you knew this by the way the air shimmered and because of the strange blood-red hue on everything "This is like the red sea? but... this looks like the inside of a castle, where the hell am I?"

You got to your feet wobbly, staring about the room as you moved over to one of the large, finely robed Sikh-looking men and trying to tap him on the shoulder...

Your hand was swallowed into a mist, it was like trying to touch air like everyone was ghosts, they didn't even acknowledge you "Is this a memory? Beast... Beast!?" No answer...

"E un ospăț frumos!" One of the Men spoke, his voice echoed and made your head writhe.

"Graţierea?" Another asked the first who spoke. You eye twitched and you grasped your forehead, feeling something snap in place.

"I Said, this is a Nice feast! The Prince's kitchen must be skilled?" What? You understood him that time?"

"Yes indeed, my brother, Who would have thought that the Prince was so forgiving, we really must send out regards to the servants!" The man who spoke, black of beard and dark of eyes, suddenly jolted as a hand touched his shoulder.

"Our feasts are a thing of legend, Lord Agraba." That voice... You knew that voice. You turned to the woman who spoke, hissing as You prepared for a fight. Just as you thought, the Woman standing over the men feasting on the bench wore a long intricate Scarlet gown, that glistened in the low light, the crimson locks of her long hair gathered in a perfect braided bun, Her Amber eyes flashed as she smiled maliciously.

"VALERICA." You growled, going to snatch at the woman's throat... but just like the other's they passed through as if you had tried to snatch up smoke.

"Ah, Princess Dracul, we are honoured to taste this feast, please give our regards to the servants!" The Bearded man said.

Valerica grinned her dark grin "Oh They will know of your thanks. and please, try the blood sausage, it's to die for." Valerica giggled gently, carrying herself away from the packed feasting benches while walking in a noble's gate.

You raised an eyebrow "This must be a Memory" You decided to follow her, through the Hall as she stepped gently up towards The Hall's high terrace. It was strange, she looked... younger wasn't the word, Upir did not age? no, she looked healthier, fuller of cheeks and though her smile was malicious as ever, You could tell that it was real joy behind those eyes.

Up above the others feasting bellow, was a High table filled beyond recognition with food of antiquity and subtle beauty, a great hog decorated with blood-red roses, golden bowls of steaming stew, fruits and vegetables of all shapes and sizes on engraved silver platters.

Men dined on this great table, robed like the others, but with great jewels hanging from their necks, beautiful chains hung from their turbans and golden rings curled around their every finger as they supped gratefully.

But that was only one side of the table, for at its head was a man, sat upon a high chair, He had no food in front of him, only a black chalice, filled with a smooth red liquid that he sipped from with a smile.

You followed Valerica in awe, as she took her place beside him, this man... He had this crazy reverence about him, and of course, peering at him as you were, it was akin to looking at Your reflection.

He wore a fine tunic of black silk, hemmed with a black fur mantle, he was deathly pale, but his face was gentle and joyous, His eyes were focused and of molten gold, and long pitch-black curls of onyx hair fell down on his shoulder. He was crowned in a beautiful scarlet turban, swirled in silver with the biggest ruby that You had ever seen, gleaming like a third eye on the front.

Twirling his curled moustache, He smiled at Valerica and then back to the fine men at his table. "This is truly a divine meal, Prince Vlad." The head of the men, who you knew to be rivals... somehow.

Vlad chuckled as He spoke in his deep tone "You must forgive me... for not sharing it with you, but I have dined already." The way he spoke, the way he stared with them with delight, it was like watching yourself if you were the devil.

"Castle Dracul is even more beautiful than I suspected, Your majesty, but not as Beautiful as Your lovely Grandaughter." The man took Valerica's fair hand and kissed her ring, Valerica flushed as she smiled at him like a hungry wolf, the man raised an eyebrow "Are you alright, milady, you are cold as ice?"

Valerica pouted "I am the blood of Wallacia, My lord Ardu, and our blood runs cold. I thank you for your concern." She put simply. The Leader, lord Ardu, nodded bitting into the flesh of some chicken before looking at the empty chairs on Vlad's end of the table.

"May I ask where the rest of your house is, Your Majesty, I know that Your brother is still with the ottomans, but I would have hoped to meat Your dear son, or your other granddaughters?" Lord Ardu asked

Vlad's nails were sharpened to the tips which drummed on the blackened chalice "I am afraid that My Son and my other Grandaughters have taken ill, a horrible bout of flu has taken them... I fear that it has... a ravenous hunger. I hope My dear Valerica and my servants suffice as hosts for the feast?"

Ardu nodded a little off-handedly "Yes of course, although I must... apologise again, about your father, He did throw the greatest of feasts. I was foolish to have killed him." He dined as though He hadn't just said that, and you could have sworn that Vlad's golden eyes twitched, though he eventually resumed his smile and waved it off

"Water under the bridge my friend, the future is only stable in times of peace, and if the ottoman's attack, then I will need your support."

Lord Ardu shrugged "Ah well... we can talk of alliances later. In the meantime, here, a Toast!" Ardu and his men got to their feet, as did the men bellow, raising their goblet's "To Prince Vlad, and Peace!" He called.

"TO PRINCE VLAD, AND PEACE!" They all called, slamming their drinks down in praise. Vlad did not stand, nor did his smile falter, He simply sipped his drink and grinned.

Ardu and his fellows raised an eyebrow "Hmmm, I heard that those of the Holy order of the Dragon did not drink, Your Majesty?" He asked.

Vlad sipped from his chalice, lapping the red from his top lip and wiping his moustache "I do not drink... wine."

Valerica giggled like a coyote... it was obvious that Ardu and his men were slightly uncomfortable, Vlad had this sinister air about him, and Valerica was ever the femme fetal, she looked like she wanted to rip them apart.

"You know, Lord Ardu, you remind me of My brother: Prince Radu, you may remember him." Vlad lent forward slightly, hatred beginning to burn in his eyes "You know while I was a prisoner of the Ottoman, I wanted nothing more than to return to my dear home, which of course I did when I heard that You had murdered my father. but Radu loves those... people, and so he remains there, he settles among enemies."

Ardu and his men looked among each other, the tension was palpable "Right... I... I thank you for your hospitality, Prince Vlad, but I fear that the ride home will be long, and I and my men should go..."

Vlad relaxed back into his chair, and waved a taloned hand at them "Very well." He muttered, "I wish You fortune in the time to come."

"R-Right... I am truly honoured, Your Majesty, g-goodbye." Vlad said nothing, He only smiled, watching keenly as the men stood from the table, Lord Ardu calling for his men to leave.

Many groaned and complained, but all heeded their Lord's call, standing and heading towards the door.

Vlad finally arose from his chair, resting his hand on his Grandaughter's shoulder, where He leant down and whispered: "Close the doors."

Valerica exploded from her chair, bolting at blinding speed to the great chamber's double doors which slammed shut as a hideous wind swept through the Hall, killing the fires of the Hearths and snuffing out the candlelight, leaving the Hall black, save for the gentle moonbeams that pierced through the scarlet of the stain glass windows, bathing his guests in a hue of red.

Vlad's eyes glowed like unholy gates to the Fires of hell, raising his clawed hand in the air and hissing out in a terrifying call "RAT'GAST FIDTHRU! (COME MY CHILDREN!)" He screamed in the tongue of the dead. rolling in like terrifying mist, one by one, the Upir appeared, armed to the teeth in armour plate of Black and crimson, their hissing echoed in their helms as their claws extended into razor-sharp weapons.

The Rivals all drew their swords, terror, in their eyes as the Upir stood around them on all sides, jaws extending like snakes to reveal hideous Fangs. The Men quivered in fear of the Upir, terrified of their crimson eyes and monstrous visages.

"P-Prince Vlad! w-what is the meaning of this!? w-what are these things... w-what are You!?" Lord Ardu cried from bellow, looking above to Vlad, who's body began to become unsolid, his shoulders waving into black smoke, his feet leaving the ground as he floated above the Men bellow, who stared up in horror.

"What am I?" Vlad snarled, his voice sounding from every corner of the room, his darkness spreading everywhere. "I am Beast and Breaker, Killer and Taker, I am the Darkness, the hunger that saps at the flesh of the living, Not Radu who settles and snivels at the ankles of filthy human vermin like you, I am vengeance and wrath, Did you think that I would allow the **** of my dearest friend?" He growled like a great Black god.

Ardu and his men shook like children "Y-Your friend? w-we killed your father?"

Vlad's laugh snatched away all other sounds "The Upir of the original blood has no mortal father, the man you killed was a friend of times past, a man that agreed to pose to preserve our mortal visage! And you killed him, you murdered him. The Time of pandering to Mortality in my kingdom is DONE." Vlad cried, growing larger and thicker and darker. "You want to know who I am, You Danesti scum. I am not the prince of the living, but King of the dead, Majesty over the Monsters that creep and crawl in the darkness, My name... Is... Dracula, and I am your end."

The Rivals began to scream, and cry in fear of this King of Beasts and the Monsters that stood waiting at his command, and boy did He command "Present Arms!" Dracula called, and the Upir did his bidding, drawing out great and huge logs of wood, carved with blood runes that glowed all the way up to their semi-sharp tip.

"What the fuck are those!?" A few of the men called in fear, Dracula's sinister chuckled boomed like an exploding star then

"These... are Your doom. oh but let me explain my dear 'friends!' I am going to shove these up your ass, and watch you peel down their shafts, and my family of the dead will dine on your blood as I watch from the battlements of my 'beautiful' castle, that is the peace that I plan for my dear Wallacia, this is how Dracula settles... Goodbye, My dear friends, please enjoy your meal in hell, I know that we will enjoy ours."

You watched, it was all you could do, watched as The Upir whizzed around like mosquitos, stabbing and mounting the men who screamed as their bodies fell deeper unto the poles of ****, sharpened tips emerging from their cracking and warped jaws, as blood squirted like a fountain from their insides, the Upir drinking the delight of the red ichor, all the while, Dracula laughed, He laughed, and laughed and laughed... and all you wanted then, was for whatever this was, to end.

"HAIL OUR KING IMPALER, HAIL OUR KING IMPALER!" The Upir screamed, Dracula's ever-present smile, widening widely and unaturally as the screams of man and Upir began to fade into black.

"Master... Master! Please You have to wake up-- STOP TRYING TO EAT HIM, RUDY!" That voice god you were happy to hear that voice, Belle's sweet and caring tone was like heaven when compared to those screams.

You opened your eyes, Belle was above you, looking worriedly at You as she batted Vulcan away, the latter gritting her sharp teeth at Your flesh.

Standing suddenly, you looked around in panic "What the fuck, where am I!? Belle where am I!?" You cried, grabbing her as your eyes blazed. Belle touched your arms

"Calm, down, i-it's okay, Master. It's rudy's office, see?" She reassured. You looked around, it was Rudy's office, You were behind the desk still... You must have nodded off, it had been a while since you slept properly, so... it was just a dream? "You were screaming in your sleep, I heard it from the studio-came rushing as soon as I did... Hail the Impaler you were saying, babbling nonsense... I was really worried!" Belle pulled you into a tight hug as You tried to calm your heavily beating heart

"It's fine... I'm fine, It was just... a Nightmare."