For a woman of myth, her decision for keeping people out was...questionable.  What was between him and a well of knowledge was a field of skeletons on sticks, and quiet frankly, Vlad sort of expected a more common, candied version of the frequent myths and rumors that he heard from people.  This was definitely not it.

These skeletons were impaled in various ways, usually straight up through the...the less vulgar and painful feelings he got from this display was from the skeleton on his right.  

Well, Vlad thought, at least this is a sign of someone serious.

He took a moment to secure his dagger sheath, and moved forward.

The sudden chattering of bats filled Vlad’s ears, a common sound Vlad had gotten use to as he had brought himself closer and closer to Lisa’s castle.  Something flashed by his face.

On instinct, he drew out his dagger...and promptly impaled a bat.  It’s sickly red blood ran down his arm, and he flung it to the side.  The broken thing made a wet splat at the base of the towering castle.

 The blood reminded him of the consequences that failure could bring if he failed-whether she was real or not.

Cautiously, Vlad knocked on the enormous doors with the pommel of his dagger, all while keeping his hand on is short sword.

Suddenly, he could hear metal clanking against metal and lighting crackle in ways he had never heard before.  

At least that’s promising, Vlad thought snidely, much better that muttering cheating, wise women or those thieving church officials. 

The doors opened.  

Vlad took a deep breath..and stepped in.

The doors proceeded to close behind him immediately.  Great, he was possibly stuck in here with a monster with no way out.  The only way he could look now was...forward.  And in the candle-light of the various candelabra that tastefully lined the hall, was several sets of stairs.

Leaning on the railway of the stairs was...a woman.  What she actually looked like, Vlad couldn’t make out.  Her form was sheathed in shadows, but he could at the most make out her movements as she made her way down the stairs.

It was now or never.

“I am Vlad Tepes of Wallachia, I’m here for the hidden information you have within your realm.”

As he spoke, the figure glided past many columns.  “What kind of knowledge?”

She spoke warily, like a woman with not enough time on her hands or enough trust. 

Before he could speak again, the figure asked, “The kind that all men seem to seek?”

It only took a few seconds for Vlad to get the message.  Night creature or a woman with trust issues, Vlad grind his teeth in frustration.  He traveled several miles, almost got robbed, and stabbed a bat, to get this?

He had to take a breath to regain his worn-down temper.  “No, I’m here for the true sciences, not how to woe women.  Or any sort of lusting lord or lady.  That’s all they seem interested in.  I want to actually learn.”

The presents of the figure was behind him now, a firm hand on the small his back.  Vlad steeled his nerves some more.

“I’m not hear to dabble chicken blood on people either.  I have been taken for a warlock one too many times.”  He could feel past resentment and anger rising at his very own words.  If people were less like sheep, he wouldn’t have to deal with this thing touching his spine.

Suddenly the figure behind him spoke.

“I am Lisa Fahrenheit, Lady of Castlevania.”  A pause of silence, then a sudden change of tone.  “Turn around.” 

Vlad turned around...and didn’t see anyone.  He blinked.  What in-

“Eyes down here.”

“Oh.”

She was actually smaller than he had expected.  And her hair was a dirty blonde with a set of blue eyes. But like all creatures of night, her skin was deathly and smooth, and a small set of fangs peeked out.  At least, that was what they claimed her to be.  Although, she definitely wasn’t hideous.  Lisa was-actually pretty, unmarred by any sort of suffocating makeup that many of his “fellow” courtiers wore.  The only effort she seemed to put in her looks was a single braid that was pulled behind her head,           

“Usually men come here for something else.  So your...a new change in pace.”

Lisa tilted her head.  He could see admiration in her eyes.  Lisa cracked a smile.

“And definitely taller.”

She proceeded to walk around him.  Vlad’s eyes trailed on her own.  

“Do you want me to take your coat?”  

Vlad blinked, a little stunned at the offer, but a little suspicions as well.  Vlad may be a man of science, but after almost being eaten by a demon, he was a little cautious.

“Or are there no more manners in Wallachia?  Do I have to teach you manners?”

Despite her seemingly cheerful-if not slightly cheeky nature-Lisa’s eyes seemed...tired.  Like she had dealt with something bad to many times, and simply given up.

Perhaps she had.  

She proceeded to sniff the air.  “Holy water?” 

Vlad internally winced.  

“I had a run in with a demon.”

“Ah, you didn’t seem like a religious type.”

“I am not.  Me and the Church...do not get along.”

Lisa looked to a hallway he had previously not noticed.

“Hmm.”   

A light seemed to go on in her eyes.  She gestured to follow her down the hallway, now lit and a little well kemp than the rest of the castle.  Lisa looked at him.

“This way.”

And Vlad followed him down the hall.  A question came to mind.

“Lisa...why decide to trust me so quickly?”  

She looked back.  The light in her eyes were a little brighter.

“Something feels right about you.  A little grumpy and anti-social, but right.”

“And the impaled people?”

Lisa actually seemed a little flustered, if not embarrassed by this question.

“People had a bit of a...acceptance problem towards many women in power back then.”

Vlad surprised himself by chuckling.  

“Ever been out of the castle since then?”

“Not since I became a vampire.”

Vlad may have paused for a second as they were walking down the hall.  A vampire...very...straight forward.  But looking at her eyes, it was an honest answer.

“I must tell you, it is best if you don’t.”

Lisa laughed.  “My goodness, I wonder what people are like now out there.”

She opened the door.  “Now, here we are.”

Vlad wasted not time to start handling the tools Lisa had in this wondrous place.

Lisa walked over to his side to take the valuable tool in his hand. 

“All of this is a precious thing among immortals.”  

Lisa looked at Vlad.  Her eyes were truly bright now.  

“In return for all of this, will you help me with a project?”

There was no pause to his answer: “Yes.”

“Good, we have much work to do if we are going to improve everyone’s lives.”

Vlad might have frozen on the spot.

“What?”