#macul

It had been three years since Mathias had infiltrated the Castle with the Brotherhood of Light, and had been spared, only to be taken as a war prize by Dracul. Dracul had been terrifying at first, and quite frankly, he was still a little scared of the strange vampire. But he had slowly gained the trust of the aloof Lord, enough to at least keep the Castle from harassing him at every moment. Mathias had mixed feelings over the vampire himself though. Could he even call Dracul a vampire? He seemed like he was so much more than any human could understand fully.

Staying within the permissions of Dracul and the entity within the Castle, he explored and sought out answers to his questions. Dracul had let him meet the Toymaker or, as Mathias fondly calls him, David. The old man was a godsend, giving Mathias a safe place that neither the Lord nor the entity frequents. David was even teaching him to read and use alchemy! Something he never had the privilege to learn before with the Brotherhood. But after three years of essentially being Dracul's pet, he was getting restless. He wanted to learn everything he could about Dracul and the Castle. The Toymaker could only give him so much information, but the man's memories weren't always reliable.

That's where he finds himself now. Walking through the Castle to try and find the library. The entity was always moving rooms around, and Dracul was always passive about it, claiming, "Its just testing you. It'll bring the room back soon." Mathias knew it wasn't testing him, it just didn't like him. Took too much of Dracul's time and attention away from it. He didn't mean to, but it just happened naturally. Dracul was an aloof man, but he never tried anything to actually harm him. Shy, quiet, and most certainly handsome... Mathias shook his head, trying to clear out his thoughts.

He needed to focus. Find the library and try to learn more of the history of this Castle. He did not need to think about Dracul's voice, or his dark hair, or those ruby eyes, or that broad body, or the dark hair that trailed down below his- "Stop!" He covers his face trying to get the images out of his mind. He wasn't going to get anywhere if he couldn't focus on what he came here for.

"Stop what?" Came a familiar accented voice. He uncovers his face and sees Dracul looking at him. For a man who was shorter than Mathias, his mere presence had a way of making one feel small.

"My Lord, I'm sor-"

"Mathias, I've told you time and again, that you don't have to call me that. Dracul is fine. And preferred."

"Right, my apologies, Dracul. I didn't mean to yell like that." Mathias apologized. Dracul's eyes soften. It was a minute change on his face. Small enough, that most wouldn't have seen it, but Mathias did. After three year of having this man as a regular companion, he learned the vampire was surprisingly easy to read.

"The Castle is changing the rooms around on you again, isn't it?" Dracul's voice was also softer now.

"Yes, it is." Mathias nodded, but noticed something, different about Dracul. He seemed... Tired. He knew the vampire lord didn't sleep. He always claimed he didn't need it, but looking at him now, Mathias wondered if that was actually true. "Dracul? Are you ok? You seem tired." Dracul just nods.

"Well," Mathias shocked himself with what his next words were, "I could... Accompany you for some rest after I find what I need from the library, if you wish." And Dracul looked tempted by this offer. Mathias was almost hopeful he'd take it.

Dracul finally nods. Mathias couldn't keep the smile off his face, especially when Dracul put his hand out, shyly gripping his. Dracul's hands were big and calloused, and Mathias wished he could feel those hands on other parts of him. The blush returns. Had it really been so long, that Mathias was now lusting over the one who took him as a prize? Maybe it's because Dracul reminded him so much of Trevor. He missed Trevor.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice that Dracul's hand was no longer in his. Nor was the vampire anywhere to be seen. Looking around, Mathias was disappointed, but he had hopes that maybe Dracul was making sure the library was within his reach. Before he could continue his walk, he felt something on him shift. Slowly turning his head, he saw a rat in the fur of his cloak.

The rats in the Castle were strange creatures. They always seemed to follow him, and were far more intelligent than the rats outside. Mathias often wondered if they were part of the Castle itself. Another way to watch what goes on within it. This rat, however, was resting on him. Not that Mathias could blame it, the Castle was always freezing to him, he could only imagine how cold it must be to something so small. But it had a strange presence to it.

Looking closer, he noticed the rat was sleeping in his cloak. A rat. In his cloak. Asleep. He picks up the rat, who gives him an indignant squeak, and holds it in his hands. Red eyes, strangely shaped teeth. The strange presence.