Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Trevor woke with sunlight attacking his eyes. He groaned at the harsh light, rolling over to turn his back to the window. 

His head hurt. And his eyes. And his stomach. Maybe he shouldn’t have drank so much. 

Pulling a large pillow over his head and trying to ignore the pounding headache, he almost didn’t hear the insistent knocking. 

But he did and he ignored it. 

Nope. They made me go through yesterday and can at least let me sleep in today. 

Mind made up, he threw the covers over himself and settled in. 

Those few glorious minutes were the best ever he’d had. 

“What?” He groaned as his covers were yanked off. Taking a peek over the pillow, he stilled for a moment, drinking in his surroundings. This wasn’t—

Oh, that’s right. This was his room, technically. He vaguely remembered stumbling into it after the night was over. 

A sharp tug made him start. “The fuck, Adrian?”

The Dhampir —his husband — stood at the foot of the bed, arms crossed and unforgiving. His position was shadowed by the curtains, lucky bastard. 

“Your family has requested your presence.” 

“I’m sleeping.” He fumbled for the blanket but as he turned the sunlight hit his vulnerable eyes and he gave up, turning back to his pillow.

“It is midday, you heathen.” 

Of course. He probably wakes up with the fucking sun, as unnatural as it is. 

His lack of response earned him another sharp tug with the cover. “Hurry up. I’m no errand boy.”

“Then leave.” 

“I will not face your family alone.”

That made him freeze. If his family were attacking already– “What do you mean?” 

“They have invited us both for lunch.” 

Oh. 

Well, of course, they did. 

He wondered if it was Sypha, Ann, his mother or Henry who came up with the scheme. Other than the stark reason to see whether he was unarmed, it was an obvious tactic to interrogate them both, moreso Adrian, on what the rest of their lives would be like. He’d seen them exact the same tactic on his other siblings. 

Well, shit. 

“Fine.” With difficulty he was ignoring, he dragged himself into a sitting position, throwing up an arm to shield himself from the bright rays. 

“Close the curtains.” 

“And I thought I was supposed to be the vampire.”

“Fuck off.” 

But surprisingly, Adrian still closed them. The darkness made him sigh in relief and he began his slow shuffle off the bed. 

“You shouldn’t have drank so much.” Adrian was leaning against the wall,  watching him closely. He looked all prim and proper as he did yesterday but this time with ridiculous leather pants that Trevor had to pull his eyes away from. 

He scoffed. “How do you think we would've had that heart-to-heart otherwise?” 

He paused. “You actually remember that?” 

“Unfortunately, I always remember my worst decisions.” He stopped with his feet touching the cold stone floor. His head swam. “It was probably the best way to tell you.” 

“You need to be in a drunken state to tell me the truth?” He raised a brow. 

“You’re annoying. Go away.” 

He didn’t move. Trevor met his eyes accusingly. 

He shrugged. “I might as well make sure you don’t crack your head open on your way to the bath. That wouldn’t be a good way to start off this marriage at all.” 

“Don’t act like you wouldn’t like it,” he mumbled, finally getting off the bed and taking unsteady steps past the Dhampir. He refused to show further weakness in front of the man and he felt pettily victorious as he swung the bath door closed behind him. 

— —

I still don’t know my way around. 

Taking the same route they did last night, he ended up near the ceremony hall, poking his head into a random room uselessly. 

Quick footsteps rounded the corner and Trevor relaxed as a smiling face greeted him.

“Trevor.” Doctor Tepes was talking towards him with a glass full of green liquid. “I was looking for you.” 

“Here I am.” 

“Indeed. Here you go.” She handed him the glass. “Adrian told me of your condition today.” 

He spluttered but she waved him off. “Oh, I don’t say that with judgement. It was your wedding day. Even I indulged in a few cups.” 

And yet she didn’t have a hair out of place. Was this a family trait? She steered him through the hallways, a gentle hand on his shoulder. “I had told Adrian to bring you the kitchen once you were ready?” 

“He left.” At first, he had been relieved because he didn’t want to spend another second with him since he was dragged from his bed, but after roaming around aimlessly… he needed a guide. 

Lisa at least seemed peeved. “I will speak to him about that. He should be showing you around,” as your husband was left unsaid but heavily implied.

“When does he wake up anyway?”

“Ah, usually at sunrise though he does have his days where he sleeps in. Such as today.” 

Today? That lying dick. He slept in too and just ripped on me for it!

They reached the kitchens and though they were as big and grand as the rest of the castle, it was still different to any kitchen he’d ever seen. Rich, dark cupboards and countertops ran along the space and Trevor noticed large sinks composed of metal, but there were also strange objects scattered about that he couldn’t place. 

Adrian was leaning over the — was that some sort of open hearth?— flipping an omelette in relative silence. He glanced up as they came in, only to look back at the pan silently.

Lisa had other ideas. “Adrian Tepes, I told you to bring Trevor down for breakfast, not let him wander the halls lost.” 

He shrugged. “He was taking too long. I was going to finish this and come back up.” He scooped the omelette out, placing it delicately on a ceramic plate. 

Trevor scoffed. Adrian really was a terrible liar. 

Adrian looked up at the sound, narrowing his eyes at him before pushing the plate unceremoniously across the counter. 

Trevor blinked at it. “Is that for me?” 

“No. It’s for the cat.” 

“You have a cat?” 

“No.” 

He shrugged. Grabbing a fork, he shovelled into the food, beginning to take a long sip of the green juice before he winced. 

“Doctor Tepes, what is in this?” He stared at the juice in offence, catching Adrian’s amused glance as he did. 

“I know it has a strong taste but it really does work wonders, Trevor.” 

“I don’t doubt that but… what did you put in it?”

She patted his shoulder. “Best that I don’t tell you.” 

Adrian snickered at his expression and out of sheer spite alone, Trevor downed the rest of it, flipping his middle finger up as he held the glass. 

Adrian frowned and just as he was about to speak, probably to call him a vile rat, Lisa spoke up. 

“We’ve been invited to sup with your family, Trevor.” 

“Adrian said. I was going to see them anyway before they left.” 

“Of course. You should spend the days with them.” She smiled understandingly, and Trevor wondered if it was obvious that he was slightly panicking since he wasn’t going to see his family for God knows how long after the end of the week. 

“Well,” he cleared his throat. He was trying to find something to say, to fill up the silence but another presence coming into the kitchen saved him. 

It was Dracula. 

Maybe save wasn’t the right word.

The vampire's red eyes landed on him immediately and Trevor wiped his mouth, hoping no green juice was smeared around it. The kitchen was silent as they both stared at one another and as both golden-haired Tepes’ looked between them.

The pact wouldn’t allow Dracula to hurt him, he knew that. But this was still the ancestral enemy of his family. How many Belmont’s had he killed? Was he remembering them as he looked at him?

Angel on earth, Doctor Tepes cut in. “We will be leaving soon to see the Belmonts.”

“Of course,” red eyes never left him. Dracula’s voice was deceptively soft and honestly seemed to echo. “They missed you at the feast.” His eyes flickered between him and Adrian, and Trevor thought he felt the room grow colder. 

In long strides, he opened a silver door and pulled out an ornate jug. Was everything here over the top? He inspected his fork. Yeah. It was. 

Pulling out two cups, he poured a deep red liquid into both, watching Trevor closely as he placed one in front of Adrian. 

Adrian hesitated, tracing the edge of his cup but Dracula took a long sip from his, eyes never leaving his. 

“I won’t keep you all,” he said as he finished. “I just wanted to come and see the Belmont. I don’t believe we had much time to talk last night, did we?” 

They didn’t talk at all except for a muttered greeting at the feast. “No,” he said steadily, “we didn’t.” 

He hummed. “Tell me, Belmont.” Trevor saw Lisa frown at his refusal to use his given name. “What will you do now, with your family away?”

“Whatever I can,” he answered truthfully. He hadn’t allowed himself to think about anything relating to this marriage as the weeks sped up and had thrown himself into hunting with his family. He’d honestly been expecting to be locked away but if that wasn’t the case… yeah he’d do anything he could.

“I see. But as your family leaves, so does your chance to hunt with them…Unless you’re thinking of hunting something else?”

“Vlad,” Lisa interjected but Trevor spoke over her. Fuck this guy. 

“If you mean you and your family, then no. I’m not.”

“Oh? Why not? Here you have the perfect opportunity your family have been looking for for centuries. Some would call you simple for not taking it.” 

He clasped his hands in his lap, gripping them tightly. “Well, if you remember we do have a pact. I wouldn’t break it.” 

“Ah, so honourable. And so different from your family.” 

“You don’t know shit about my family.” He spat. 

He raised a brow. “Don’t I? I have been followed and hunted by them for centuries. I dare say that I know them better than you ever will.” 

He exhaled hard. As much as he hated to admit it, there was some truth in what Dracula said. His family had secrets, layers of history buried deep. Literally. All of which had revolved around Dracula himself. But the thought of their immortal enemy claiming to know more about his own blood than he did pissed him off. 

His anger flared. "You might know their past," he snapped, "but you know nothing about who they are now . About who I am."

To his surprise, Dracula nodded. “You’re right. I will admit you are an outlier and therein lies the crux of this issue.” He rose to his full height, and holy fuck was he tall. He wondered if Adrian could still grow and whether that was a good idea. 

“You saved my wife. You, a Belmont. That is the only reason I have a speck of trust in this ridiculous pact and that is the only reason why you were chosen to marry my son. But know this…” He hissed and this time he definitely felt the room grow colder. “If you think to plot, if you think to gain our trust and betray us, if you think to give the Fates the death they should have received, I will destroy you. And I will not stop there. You Belmont’s have been an annoying though somewhat amusing nuisance over the centuries but I would have no quarrel to finish what the Church started.” 

Trevor’s breath hitched, blood and adrenaline surging through him as he stood. The threat, the promise , and the reminder of grief and loss tightened his chest, but the bloodlust radiating from Dracula had him instinctively reaching for his whip.

“That’s enough.” 

At another time, Trevor had once wondered how a human like Lisa Tepes was able to hold her ground against Dracula. Though, he could now see that the real question was how Dracula had been able to stand his ground against Lisa Tepes. 

Lisa stood tall, her blue eyes hard as she stared furiously at her husband. There was an aura of unyielding strength in the way she held herself, as she went to stand beside Trevor and place a firm hand on his shoulder. 

“I will not tolerate this behaviour. Trevor is now a part of this family. He is your son by law.”

“He–”

“Will soon leave his family to stay with us and we should support him through that process, you’re right.” She watched him with narrowed eyes. “Really, Vlad. You’ve had problems with his ancestors, I understand, but Trevor does not deserve your ire. In fact, it’s his gratitude for saving me that you should be giving. A fact that for some reason, you only bring up to make a point against him.” 

“Lisa–” 

“Apologise to him.”

Dracula stopped, his mouth in a hard line. He stared at Trevor with loathing but another glance at his wife had him sighing. He looked as though he was chewing rocks as he spoke. “I do not mean to offend. Your family has shown honesty and… I will return it.” Another look had him adding, “gracefully.” 

Trevor was still. He looked between Dracula and Lisa, the latter of which was smiling brightly and slowly lowered himself back onto his stool. He didn’t loosen his grip on his whip. “No worries?” He was still wrapping his head around the domestic spat. 

Dracula nodded. “I will leave you to finish your meal.” He left in a dramatic whirl of his black and red cape. 

Lisa sighed, “I will speak with him.” She gave his hair a light caress. “I hope you did not take his words to heart. No harm will befall you here. He’s simply protective.” 

“I know, don’t worry,” he gave her a reassuring smile. “I don’t mind what he says.” That was the truth. If Doctor Tepes was always around then he had an effective shield against Dracula. 

She offered him a soft smile before turning to Adrian. “Fetch me before you leave. I’ll be with your father,” she said, pausing briefly. “And behave .” With that, she left the kitchen, her peaceful demeanour a sharp contrast to her husband’s.

Trevor looked over to see Adrian staring at him and scowled. “You could’ve jumped in at any point.”

He nodded. “I could have. But he was going to threaten you eventually, it’s best that he did it in front of my mother.”

“Whatever,” he muttered, narrowing his eyes at his still-full cup. “You’re not gonna drink that?”

“Oh.” He looked down at the cup as if he had forgotten it was there. But his eyes narrowed. “Is this some sort of test?”

“Should it be?”

“I am a vampire, Trevor. If you thought this diet was something I could abstain from, you are wrong.” He scoffed. “And if you try to make me change—”

“I wouldn’t. It’s not possible.” 

“Then you’d be perfectly alright with me drinking blood? You wouldn't try to attack me for it?”

He gave him a look. “If you’re trying to ask me if you being a bloodsucker disgusts me— It does. But don’t try to coddle me.” He pointed. “You wanna fucking drink, then drink. Don’t worry about me.” 

“I was not coddling you.” 

“Then drink it.”

Adrian snarled, his fangs visible and gleaming. “Do you think I’m a fool? The moment I do, you’re going to attack me as if I tried to bite you from here—”

“Oh, please,” he rolled his eyes. “If I was going to cry wolf I would’ve done it when I was in a hall full of vampires.” 

“As if you don’t hold a grudge against me personally—”

He couldn’t handle it anymore. “You asked me about our roles in our marriage. You’re a vampire. You drink blood. We’ll start from there.” 

Adrian watched him, his mouth agape at Trevor’s sudden reminder of last night. I did say we’d talk when I was sober. “And you?”

“ I will let you drink in peace. No need to fear my whip in the middle of a refreshing beverage.” 

“I wouldn’t fear it either way,” but he was already raising his glass, eyes locked onto Trevor’s as it touched his lips and he drank slowly. 

Trevor watched him back steadily, hands clenched as Adrian finished in long gulps, his tongue sweeping over red-tinted lips. 

He held his gaze for another long moment before he shovelled the rest of his forgotten omelette. “Not that I think Doctor Tepes would ever allow you all to drink blood that isn’t ethically sustained but,” he shrugged. “Where’d you get it from?” 

“It’s a mix, really. This is animal blood.” He gauged Trevor’s expression, but he just was mostly relieved it wasn’t human. 

“Is there a difference between that and human blood?”

“A few things.” But he didn’t explain further. “My father gets his blood from here… or either from my mother.” He was watching him again. “What do you think of that?”

“Honestly? I was expecting it.” He said truthfully. 

“And you’ve no problem with it?” 

“I think if Doctor Tepes didn’t want to do it, she wouldn’t. And that if she wanted to stop, your father wouldn’t pressure her.” 

His brows raised. “That’s true. You can tell that already?” 

He snorted. “I don’t know how much your mother told you about our time together after I helped her but she is the most stubborn woman I’ve ever met.” 

Adrian smiled softly. “She mentioned something along those lines. But what about my father?” 

He pointed a thumb at the door. “She’s got him wrapped around his finger. Don’t tell him I said that.” 

He grinned and Trevor focused on his fangs again. They gleaned white behind his red lips. “You know,” he started. “You still need to show me around this fucking place. I can’t go walking blind this whole time.”

“Alright,” he stood up. “I’ll show you the library. My mother is probably there or in father’s study, anyway.” He met his eyes and smirked. “Or would you rather stay here while I fetch her?”

“I’m not scared of your father,” he rolled his eyes, shoving past Adrian’s shoulder as they left the room.

— —

While the wedding was on, Dracula had transported his castle to an agreed-upon location for guests to enter. His family had wanted the wedding at home but the thought of others knowing the exact location of the property, especially after the near brush with the Church, made it impossible.

And so Dracula had offered his own castle to hold the festivities in and Trevor and his family had travelled to it, declining Lisa’s invitation to stay in the castle and instead setting up their own camp.

And they weren’t the only ones. 

He could see the line of large tents, now just both of his families and the Speakers across the field. A figure was waiting for them and Trevor recognised the familiar impatient stance.  She crossed the field hurriedly and Trevor grinned, embracing his mother as she reached them. 

“Trevor.” Her voice was hushed and her grip tight. “How are you?” 

“Fine, mother. I promise.” He moved back but still held his mother’s hand as they separated. 

Adrian and Lisa stood aside, politely looking at the tents and not them. He rolled his eyes but still fucking appreciated it. 

His mother looked between them furtively, addressing them after releasing Trevor’s hand. “I hope you’re hungry. We have quite a spread prepared for the Speakers. They’re leaving in the evening.” 

“Oh, I can eat.” Lisa laughed, approaching them smoothly as they began to cross the field. “I’m afraid it’s something that hasn’t lessened with age.” 

“I can relate to that.” His mother smiled. She looked more relaxed with Lisa than Adrian, but then again she had met her several times before the wedding. If it wasn’t their humanity, the fact that they both wanted to protect their sons bonded them in a way pacts couldn’t. 

That, and his mother had always been the most rational in the family. Well, recently. 

They reached the tents, leading Adrian and Lisa to the largest. They had to stop at times to greet a few relatives who cast curious glances or entirely ignored the two beside them.

Well, it’s better than them trying to kill them.

Throwing aside the tent cover, he grinned at the sight of the food. “Can we start eating now?” 

“No. This is for the Speakers.” She pinched his arm. She paused, hands on her hips as she surveyed the room in displeasure. “I told the children to be here as soon as I called. Go find them, Trev.”

“Why me?” He groaned.

“Because I said so.” He saw the amused looks on Lisa and Adrian’s faces and scowled.

“Maybe you should come with me,” he directed at the Dhampir. “Meet some more of the family while we do.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea,” Lisa spoke and his mother hesitated but nodded her agreement. “Go with him, Adrian.”

Adrian shot him a foul look and Trevor bit down on his smirk.

“That’s what you get for laughing at me,” he quipped as they left the tent.

“And my mother gets away unscathed?”

“Yes.”

He glared but Trevor ignored him, scanning the area for his siblings. 

“Can you see them?”

“No, but if I hear any shouts or a fire, I’ll have a good idea.”

“So they’re like you?”

“No. I’m worse.” He saw a head of short flaming hair. “Let’s ask Sypha.”

They crossed the throng, still being pestered by his relatives along the way. Some had, either purposefully or accidentally, pushed Adrian outside their small bubble as they spoke and Trevor looked back several times to see the vampire looking more uncomfortable than ever before, a tongue running over his fangs self-consciously.

Trevor hesitated. What else did Adrian think was gonna happen? He shouldn’t be so bothered. 

He shouldn’t. 

But he remembered Adrian’s outburst last night, the uncertainty as he tried to figure out how to co-exist with Trevor. 

What are our roles in this marriage?

Fuck.

Reaching back, he grabbed Adrian’s hand, dragging him through the crowd with him and ignoring every double take and side eye his relatives gave him. He didn’t turn to see Adrian’s reaction but soon after he was blank-faced, politely answering questions thrown to him, even though some of them were outrageous.

“No. I do not have a secret lair filled with sacrificial lambs.”

“Seriously,” he groaned, facing his Uncle Mupp. “You can’t just ask that. And if anything, the castle is a lair in its own right.”

“Oh.” Mupp nodded understandingly. “So you’ve got the lambs in the castle then?”

He dragged Adrian away, ignoring the confused shouts of his uncle.

“I’m sorry about him.”

“He’s quite a character.” He side-eyed him. “Reminds me of you.”

“Me?” He snorted. “I’ve got some class.”

“You haven’t even brushed your hair.”

He looked at him confusedly. “Yes, I have.”

That made him blink. “Really? But it’s so…”

“There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just frizzy” he snapped.

“Frizz does not cause that.”

“Haven't I said I’m special?” He pointed. “There she is.”

Adrian cleared his throat. “It’s considered impolite to point. For you to build up some class,” he responded to Trevor’s questioning look.

He snorted. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Sypha grinned at their approach, eyes lingering between them. Trevor realised their hands were still clasped together and quickly let go. 

“We expected you earlier.” 

“We slept in.” He shot an accusing glance at Adrian who avoided his gaze. Coward. “Where’s Ann and the rest?”

She pointed across the camp to the large field beyond. “Henry’s trying to show Zach how to use the whip. He was waiting for you but got too impatient.”

Zach’s here. “And… how is he?” Was he harmed?

“He’s having fun.” He’s safe.

He sighed, relieved. “Guess we’ll have to get them.” 

“Don’t you like training?” Adrian questioned.

“It’s not that.” He snorted. “Getting Zach away from his training is like trying to take gold from a dragon. Hard as fuck.” Adrian’s lip twitched at the comparison. “You’ll see.”

— —

“I thought I’d met all your siblings present yesterday?” They were crossing the small hills leisurely but Trevor sped up once Adrian began to speak. 

He shuffled. “Zach didn’t come with us. He… it was considered safer for him to arrive later once most of the guests left.” Once the vampires left. 

“I see. He’s young?” 

“Seven.” He could hear the echo of shouts and clashes and jogged up the field to see three figures below.

“I understand why you’d be wary—”

“Hey!” Ann shouted, abandoning her sword to run to him across the field. She was close when she launched herself at him and Trevor barely had time to blink before she was clinging onto him.

“ How are you? Did you miss me? What's the rest of the castle like? Did you speak to Dracula?” She paused for a second, directing her attention at Adrian, hesitating only for a moment. “Hello again. Do you like Trevor? Is he annoying? Do you—“

She squawked as he covered her mouth with a palm, quickly moving away from Adrian as he did.

“Seriously?” He hissed.

Her response was muffled behind his palm. He smirked but then hissed as he felt a sharp pain in his palm. 

“The fuck?!” He pulled his palm away to see the red mark. 

She gnashed her teeth at him threateningly, and Trevor, because he did not have the energy to deal with this, went straight to his brothers. Zach’s target, a tree branch, was littered with cuts and blows but his little brother was still hitting it ferociously.

“What did the poor branch do to you?”  

He looked over at him in surprise, running over the same way Ann had. “Trevor!” He hugged his legs tightly and Trevor laughed, a warm feeling settling in his chest. 

Ruffling his hair, he looked over at Adrian, still standing with Sypha and Ann. Ann was speaking to him excitedly but he was staring at Trevor as he replied. 

Looking away, he hefted Zach up, throwing him over a shoulder.

He squealed. “What!” 

“We have to sup with the Speaker’s and Adrian’s mother. Did you forget?” 

“No!” He began to struggle, hitting Trevor’s back with small fists. “I need to practise. The target–” 

“You’ve hit it multiple times. You’re fine.” 

“It’s still standing! I need to cut through it!”

It reminded him of when he first started training with the whip himself. He was less uncoordinated than Zach but had tried hour after hour, day after day until he surpassed even his father. 

“You’ll need to be a bit bigger to do that.” Henry approached them, discarded whip in hand. He grinned at Trevor, looking over him quickly and assessing for injuries. “I was about to do that myself if you hadn’t. The gremlin doesn't listen to me.”

Zach struggled harder in his arms, wiggling like a worm to try to get out.

He sighed. Time to bring out the big guns. “Don’t you want to meet Adrian? He’s a Dhampir, you know.”

“I know!” He stopped struggling and went silent for a few seconds. “What if he tries to bite me? I need the whip.”

“He’s not gonna bite you.”

“But he’s a vampire!”

Henry looked over nervously but Adrian had turned away from them. But Trevor knew he was listening.

“Zach,” he sighed. “Do you remember when we told you about the plan?”

“You’re gonna get married and live with vampires until everything gets better?”

Ah, the sweet simplicity of children. “Yes. Well for this plan to work me and Adrian have to be nice to each other. And that means you have to be nice too.”

“Why?”

“Because,” he shifted uncomfortably, remembering Lisa’s words from the kitchen. “He’s your brother now by law. Don’t you want to get along with him?”

“But Auntie Elle says all vampires are evil.”

He wasn’t wrong but Trevor needed them to get a move on.

“Why don’t you find out yourself?” Suddenly an idea struck him and he gently placed Zach back onto his feet. “You know, this is the hardest sort of training, isn’t it?” He directed at Henry who quickly caught on and nodded vigorously.

“What?” Zach’s small head swivelled between them. “Training? How?” He demanded.

“Fighting isn’t just what Belmonts do,” Henry crossed his arms, his face poised in his ‘serious’ expression. “We also need to collect information.”

“For the—“

“Yes!” Henry shouted over him, eyes narrowed. “Yes. And here is Adrian. Think of him as a practice for when you deal with other creatures.”

He looked back at the vampire with wide eyes. “But what do I ask him?”

“His favourite colour.” Trevor supplied.

“That’s it?”

“Oh, Adrian’s very secretive.” He said knowingly. “Even I don’t know his favourite colour.”

“But you’re married.” Zach gasped.

“Exactly.”

Determined, they watched Zach stride over to Adrian, little hands clenched and swinging. Henry was tense, uncurling the whip slowly as they watched him. 

“He won’t hurt him,” he reassured. 

His brother looked at him steadily. “Did you figure that out in a single night?”

“He’s surrounded by a camp of hunters and Speakers. He’s signing his own death warrant if he does and he knows it.” 

“Dracula is in the castle.” He gritted out. 

“And he wouldn’t make it in time if the worst happened. Adrian knows that.” 

Henry looked over, watching Adrian turn at Zach’s approach. “We’ll see.” He paused. “That was good.”

Trevor shrugged. “It’s what would’ve worked on me.” Zach reminded Trevor of himself, in appearance and attitude. “Let’s go. I wanna hear whatever bullshit he says.”

“How was the night?” Henry questioned.

“Fine,” he looked at his brother’s hand, still lightly touching the whip and remembered Dracula’s threat. “I’ll tell you later.” 

They made it just as introductions were being finished. Adrian had kneeled to be at eye level with Zach, though he maintained a safe distance. 

“So you’re my brother now.”

Adrian’s eyes widened. “Technically, yes.”

Zach nodded knowingly. “And as a family, we must help and trust each other. That’s what mother says.”

“Your mother is very wise.”

“Yeah. So as your brother… what is your favourite colour?”

“Oh?” Adrian blinked and met Trevor’s amused gaze. He was probably expecting to be asked if the castle had any secret entrances. “I don’t have one.”

“What?! Why?”

“I’ve never found any one colour to be particularly appealing.”

Zach was silent for a moment. “But— that doesn’t make any sense.” With the sageness of a monk, he began to explain the importance of having a favourite colour, adding in examples from their own family while Adrian nodded along.

Shoving them, because if they weren’t back soon his mother would give them that look, they made their way back to the tents, Zach keeping up a constant stream of chatter all the while.

There was still a large round of suspicious looks as they walked, but Zach held Adrian’s attention well enough for him to not notice.

Before they entered the tent, Trevor could see the roast being twisted in front of it and inhaled the rich smell.  Thank fuck. This day had been too much.

“Ah, you’re here.” His mother exclaimed. She placed down the book she was showing Lisa and narrowed her eyes. “Though much later than I said.”

“It’s Zach’s fault.” Ann piped up.

“No!”

“Yes.”

“No!”

“Enough you two. Go set the table.” Her tone brokered no argument. She smiled at Adrian. “I hope they weren’t too difficult.”

“Not at all. They were very expressive.”

Trevor cut in. “Adrian now knows the eight central reasons why having a favourite colour is critical to his personality.” 

“Yes. It was enlightening.”

— —

Sypha’s grandfather sat at the head of the makeshift table, which was covered with a long line of cushions and plates, each dish carefully arranged between them. His family had sat near him, chattering about everything and nothing while Adrian watched them. The scent of freshly baked bread mingled in the air, carried by a gentle breeze that offered a brief respite from the midday heat.

Trevor had later moved away to seat himself right into an empty space by the elder Speaker when it was safe to do so. The high sun had people treating back into their tents and caravans after they’d eaten. Adrian included. 

“Sypha said you wanted to speak to me?”

“Ah, yes. I hope I did not pull you away from anything.”

“Nothing important. What’s up?”

“I wanted to speak to you personally about the situation.” His tone was matter-of-fact and devoid of the usual foreboding Trevor usually heard on the marriage topic. 

He supposed it was that that made him care to listen. 

“What’s going on?” 

“I won’t do you the dishonour of lying to you. We’ve put you in a difficult position but I hope you understand the importance of it.”

Considering they’d all drilled it into his fucking mind for the past few weeks, yes. “I do.”

“Yes. I just… I only hope this will not cloud your judgement when it comes to the Tepes’.”

Trevor blinked. “What about them?”

“They’re an unusual family. A vampire married to a human and a child between them. Some would find their position unnatural but I hope that it does not make you harbour animosity towards them.” 

He couldn’t help it. He laughed. “You think their family dynamic is what puts me off? I think it’s more the fact that it’s Dracula, who hasn’t exactly been the most welcoming to my family. And Adrian— well I don’t know him yet.” 

For some reason, the Speaker relaxed. “No. I supposed you don’t.”

“No offence but why do you care?” He asked bluntly. 

But the Elder didn’t seem to take offence, only smiling lightly at him. “You are Sypha’s truest friend. I hope to look out for you.”  But he sighed, a heaviness entering his eyes. “And I am a reason for your predicament. After all, I am the one who suggested a truce between us all.”

Oh, so that was the reason for this. “You know I don’t blame you. No, I don’t!” He repeated at the Speaker’s twisted expression. “This is the best solution and we all know it. Besides, it won’t be long before we crush the Church and this’ll be over before it even starts.” 

“You seem sure about that.” 

“Belmont’s have faced worse odds and won.” 

“I suppose you’re right. Though if you ever need to speak to someone, I am here.” His smile was kind and Trevor remembered him when the lines on his face weren’t as severe. When he chased him and Sypha around when they were children and laughed when they fell. 

“I’ll keep that in mind.” 

— — 

The Speaker’s left that evening. He stood with Sypha as they watched the line of caravans pass through the fields, disappearing into the tree line beyond. 

“You okay?”

Sypha smiled. “Honestly? Yes. I’ve had time to prepare myself for this separation. Besides, it’s not as if staying with your family is some punishment.” She smirked. “I’ll be doing lots of learning soon.” 

“Try not to blow up the manor.” 

“I won’t make any promises.” 

— — —

The rest of the week continued in a similar manner. Other than the night of the wedding, Trevor stayed in the tents with his family, rising and falling each day with them. 

Lisa didn’t say anything nor did Adrian although he was rarely around for Trevor to ask him regardless. 

As Trevor helped his cousins prepare the final feast before they finally left in the morning, he wondered what Adrian was doing now. 

The morning had passed so making breakfast already happened. He wondered if he made an omelette again. 

“Mother’s looking for you.” 

“I’ll be right there.” He flapped the tablecloth irritatingly. “Help me with this.” 

Zach hurried over, flapping the large cloth smooth and draping it over the table’s surface. 

“Not training today?”

“Mother said no. I have to help set up,” he sighed, a pout on his lips. “But once we leave, I’ll begin again.”

Trevor snorted. “With or without her permission, I’m sure.”

“Maybe,” he grinned. But as he waited for Trevor to finish what remained stupid table places, Zach shuffled on his feet and came closer, grasping Trevor’s pant leg in a small fist. 

“Trev?” His voice was small.

He looked down, frowning. “What’s wrong?”

“We’re gonna see you again, right? You’ll come to visit?” Zach stared up at him with hopeless, pleading eyes. 

“Oh, buddy.” Trevor kneeled down, grasping Zach firmly by the shoulders. “Of course I am. I’m always going to be coming back.” 

“But… I heard Aunt Elle say that they— they were going to make you…” He breathed harshly, hands tightening on his pant and Trevor embraced him tightly. 

“Hey,” he spoke softly, hushing Zach’s panicked breaths and rubbing a soothing hand over his back. “It’s okay. I’m gonna be fine. No one can harm me.” 

“She said they would.” His voice was muffled, head tucked into the crook of his neck. “That you would d-die or you would become a v—”

He couldn’t even get the word out but Trevor didn’t need to hear it. He knew.

He wondered if everyone else was thinking it. If everyone saw them exchange their vows but heard a death sentence instead. 

He wondered if it would become true. 

But right now, it didn’t matter. Zacharias was always dear to him. He toddled after him as a babe and as he grew and became prone to the whip, he spent more training and time with him. 

And he wouldn’t leave him like this.

“Listen to me. Listen . There is a pact, do you remember? They cannot harm me or every other supernatural person would turn against them.” Maybe that wouldn’t phase Dracula with his travelling castle but that sure as shit would put every other vampire in a ditch. 

“And they don’t want to. You’ve met Adrian and Doctor Tepes. Do you think they would want to harm me?” 

“Not Doctor Tepes, but…”

“I thought you,” ‘like’ wasn’t the right word, “thought Adrian was fine. You explained your favourite colours.”

“Yeah but… Henry said he’s still a vampire. And that it was all a trick.” 

Fuck. He sighed. “Zach, Adrian is a vampire but did you know he’s also a doctor?”

“Really? But how? He’s a vampire?”

“He is but he’s half human, remember? And humans can be doctors.” 

“I guess.”

“Also, if any vampire tries to get close to me, I’ll say hello with my whip!” But Zach still didn’t look convinced and Trevor frowned.  Rising from their kneeling position, he quickly jostled Zach in his arms and threw him into the air.

Zach shouted, laughter in his voice and let out an ‘oomph’ as Trevor caught him. He laughed again, smiling widely. “You haven’t done that in ages!”

“Well, you’ve gotten a bit big but I’m super strong. Still don’t think I can use my whip against them?” In demonstration he threw Zach again, watching as he fumbled in the air, trying to make a—Trevor actually wasn’t sure. 

Catching him again, Trevor held him by his armpits, watching him with a mocking serious expression. “Another?”

“Yes!”

He laughed, walking back a few steps and doing it again, and again. And again, though that last time was more for Trevor’s sake than his. 

Just as he was contemplating putting Zach down, someone called his name. 

Trevor looked over to see Henry marching toward them, irritated, his mother and Adrian behind him. 

Adrian watched him closely, hair bright and blinding. 

Oh shit, he forgot about his mother’s summon.

But she didn’t look mad. His mother was grinning as she pushed past Henry, reaching to take Zach from his arms. She kissed his forehead before settling him onto the floor gently, but Zach still stumbled,  reminding him of a newborn calf.

“Did you have fun?”

He nodded vigorously. “Trevor threw me so high!”

“We saw,” she laughed, cupping Trevor’s face gently. A softness settled in his chest. “I was wondering why it was taking you both so long to come back.” 

“Needs must.” 

“Yes, well you set the tables at least.” 

“I helped!” Zach piped up. 

“Good job,” his mother took them by their arms, steering him back the way they came. “But the work is not over!”

They groaned.

— — — 

The afternoon came and went, Trevor setting up the spread, helping his family pack and generally making sure he was seen and visible so everyone relaxed and that he had enough time to spend with everyone before they left. 

Adrian had stayed since he’d stumbled upon him with his mother and Henry, helping with the cooking after Trevor mentioned the omelette he made to his mother. 

He’d stared at him and Trevor had shrugged. “What? It was good.” 

He didn’t see him until the evening, everyone sitting down and settling in, a similar experience to the day the Speaker’s left. He and Doctor Tepes sat between him and his mother, the latter conversing animatedly with his mother and anyone else who didn’t hate her enough to listen. 

Adrian was quieter. Only speaking when prompted and fiddling with his food though he did eat it all but only after Trevor had commented on his lack of hunger. 

“Don’t like your own cooking?” Trevor did. He’d eaten everything.

“That’s not it.” But he hadn’t given any other explanation and Trevor didn’t push for one. 

It was nightfall now, the spread demolished but a few unfortunate souls still lingered about, tasked with cleaning up before they left. Trevor, used to the tradition, had run off as soon as he was finished, hiding in a tent. 

But like everything in his life, nothing went his way. 

“Okay. We’ve given you time. Now spill.” 

Ann and Sypha had poked her their heads in, a flame flickering in Sypha’s hand as they glanced about. Finding him, Ann snorted and called him a coward but joined him so who else was the coward?

They were sitting in the corner of the large tent, desserts strewn between them. Zach had run in with his own pilfering and after some extensive bribes which involved Sypha doing small tricks with her magic, they were allowed a generous amount. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

They gave unimpressed looks. “What was the castle like? Dracula? Adrian?” 

At his silence, Ann pursed her lips. “You do remember we’ll be leaving tomorrow? We just want to make sure you’re safe.”

The guilt gnawed at him. He knew that. He knew they were worried, that their questions came from a place of concern, He did but…

He told them about the experience with Dracula, watching their wide eyes and winces. But telling them about Dracula wasn’t hard for him. Telling them about Adrian was.

“He’s not as bad as I thought he’d be,” he admitted. “We talked during the wedding night.” He paused. “He thinks I’m strange.”

“You are.” 

He scowled but Sypha quickly distracted him. “Why would he say that?”

He said he’s never met anyone like me.

His throat clogged. For some reason, he didn’t want to tell them that. “I guess it’s since I’m a Belmont.” He shrugged.

“But you’re at least trying to get along with him?” 

That’s the thing. Since their petty arguments during the wedding, he hadn’t butted heads like they thought.  Sure Adrian was still a bit frosty and rolled his eyes at whatever opinion he gave or sighed when he did something stupid, but it wasn’t as bad as he thought it’d be . 

The thought made his head ache. He was a Belmont. Despite whatever pacts they made, Adrian was a vampire and vampires were the enemy.

“I haven’t really spoken to him since after the wedding.” He spoke up at their disapproving looks. “It’s not as if I won’t have weeks to do that.” 

Their expressions tightened and Trevor remembered how Sypha had smiled as her family left, as she had been the one to reassure him. 

He understood it now. He hated seeing the miserable expression on their faces. 

“It’s not gonna be that bad. Doctor Tepes is great and Dracula is probably gonna fuck off most of the time. He won’t want to anger her. And Adrian… well it’ll be fun to annoy him.” 

That at least made them smile. 

“And besides,” he shrugged. “They’ll probably let me visit after a bit.” 

“Do you think so?” Ann said hopefully, hand tightly clasping a crushed dessert. 

“I think Dracula would take any excuse to get me out of the castle.”

They laughed and Trevor snorted, untangling the crushed dessert from Ann’s fingers. He’d remember this. And he’d visit. He would. 

For them. 

— — —                   — — — 

“I hope I’m not interrupting.”

Adrian didn’t start. He’d heard her walking up a while ago. 

“Not at all.” He placed down the old book, the flames casting its shadow long. “Is anything wrong, Mrs Belmont?”

She hesitated, sitting down in the chair beside him. They were alone. The moon was high and the winds cold. The Belmont’s had retreated to their tents a while ago in preparation for their trip. But he wondered if any of them were truly asleep. He was still here, after all.

Perhaps that was the reason for this. “I was going to return to the castle now. I just… wanted to finish this.” The book was one of Mrs Belmont’s. She’d shown it to his mother who had passed it along to Adrian in shared intellectual curiosity. 

“What? Oh.” She seemed surprised to see it. “No, that’s not it. You… can keep the book to finish. I know it’s an interesting read.”

“Oh.” He shifted, hands clenched around its spine. “Then have I done anything wrong?”

“No! Of course not, you’ve been polite all day. Really, I think your presence has given the pact some legitimacy among my family. Only I…” This time she shifted. 

“I was hoping to speak to you about Trevor.”

“Trevor?”

“Yes,” Mrs Belmont ran a hand down her skirt. She looked nervous. “More specifically his stay at the castle.”

“Oh.” Adrian knew this would come. He was only surprised it took this long. 

“I hope it doesn’t seem as though I’m cornering you. It’s simply… Trevor is my son. He’s always been home and— I want him to be safe.”

“Of course. That is completely understandable. He will be in a new environment and you won’t be there to protect him.”

She smiled. “You know my mind well.”

He shook his head, smiling softly. “My own mother fussed over me before I left to travel on my own.”

“Such is the curse of parenthood. You all eventually leave the nest. And then what is the point of us?” She looked so full of melancholy that Adrian began to reach for her before remembering himself.

“But that is the way of life,” she continued. “I only hope that I can count on you to watch over him.”

“I will. But,” he struggled to comprehend the situation. “Trevor doesn’t seem as though he needs to be coddled by me.”

“Of course not.” Her eyes flamed, offended at the notion. They were the same startling blue as Trevor’s. “He’s stronger than he knows. But,” her hands clenched in her lap. “He is emotional, even if he won’t admit it.”

“Emotional? Trevor?” Spontaneous, rude and perhaps well-meaning but he wouldn’t count it as a plethora of emotions. 

She smiled, shaking her head lightly. Her gaze drifted up to the night sky. The stars were scattered like silver dust across the darkness. Adrian recognised the small constellations and wondered if there was any meaning to them now.  

The moonlight illuminated her face, revealing the indecision in her eyes, the pursed corners of her mouth. After a long moment, she turned her attention back to Adrian, resolve settling in her expression.

She sighed. “His birth was the longest of my children. That and the pregnancy itself was difficult. I admit I… was not myself during it. I felt myself growing sad and sometimes numb. And Trevor,” her eyes glittered. “He had to grow up those first few years without me and then not long after I became better, I was with child again.

“He was lost in the shuffle of my emotions and negligence. But he didn’t let it affect him. He took care of his younger siblings and looked up to his elders. And that’s what concerns me.”

Adrian was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Mrs Belmont to reveal something so vulnerable about Trevor, let alone herself. A part of him screamed that it was a trick, a way of manipulation. It hadn’t seemed as if anything was wrong with Trevor’s family dynamic.

But Mrs Belmont didn’t seem like the type to put up a ruse. The Belmonts all preferred physical strength in a fight and this… this was just another conflict. 

He found himself remembering. He remembered Trevor’s anxiety at Zach’s presence, his loud way of showing him affection that he rarely saw him display to anyone else. Trevor was closer to his younger siblings than anyone else. He hadn't seen him interact with Henry with the same familiarity that he did with Ann and Zach. 

“How so?” He still didn’t understand why she told him this. It seemed as though Trevor had done the best in that situation. 

She didn’t speak for a while, simply fiddling with her hands, and when she continued it wasn’t where she left off. “I didn’t want Trevor to be married.” She admitted. “No one did but we all saw the necessity but even then I wanted him to stay. But he did it. For duty. For hope. Just as he looked after Ann and Zach, and just as he saved your mother.

“Trevor will never put himself first. And I hate that. He deserves a chance to live for himself. To discover what he wants. Not what the rest of us need.”

She met his state, eyes hard and determined. “My family will never trust you nor your species. But I trust your mother and I believe I can trust you.”

He gaped. Mrs Belmont had never shown him the same animosity as some of her relatives but that didn’t mean she suddenly trusted him. “You can’t be so sure.”

“No, I can’t. But I also can’t leave my son alone without trying.”

Adrian was silent for a while. It seemed a new perspective on Trevor kept opening up to him. And now he was responsible for him. That was the law that the Church spouted right? A marriage that tied two people together, that made them a family?

As twisted as their situation was, it still applied. 

“I will do my best,” he promised. In a second of quick deliberation, he grasped her shaking hand and squeezed. “I promise.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

For a few minutes, they sat there silently. Adrian couldn’t stop thinking about Trevor, twisting the ring over and over his finger. It shined in the moonlight and Adrian found himself remembering how Trevor had placed it on him, fingers rough and warm.

“I hope you like the ring.” She watched him abruptly stop fiddling with it. “We weren’t sure if it was to your taste.”

“It’s beautiful,” he said truthfully. “Thank you for picking it out.”

“Oh, I didn’t do a thing. This was all Trevor.”

He froze. “Trevor?”

“Yes, after being told we’d need rings for the ceremony, he searched through the family collections for something suitable.”

“I see.” He murmured. “I thought maybe—“ he stumbled over his words.

“No,” she said softly. “He wanted to pick it out himself.”

At that moment, his chest clenched with something he’d never felt. And for a single moment, the world was calm.

— — —          — — — 

Dawn broke and Trevor stood on the field watching the carts and horses of his family and friends leave.

He stayed there, watching, until they became small figures in the distance and the braying of the horses faded. He watched until everything was silent.

Soft footfalls approached, and Adrian stopped a few steps behind him.

He wanted to break the silence. To joke with him as he did before. But he felt heavy and he settled in the grass just as he did on their wedding day.

And behind him, Adrian does the same.

Trevor doesn’t see the conflicted expression on his face as he does. He simply stared ahead. Watching.