

As you watched the moon in the sky, your hands moving on their own across the pad of heavy paper, you found yourself lost in an ocean of thought. Memories, some cloudy and distant, others painfully sharp. Your favorite ones featured Adrian, the melancholy dhampir was so sweet, so sad. He had known happiness once, but those moments were fleeting in the past. You both were two sides of the same coin, living together in gentle silence, your love needing no grand declarations, no over the top melodrama. Loving each other was easy, gentle, and felt so perfect. Slowly you brought moments of happiness to the dhampir, melting the ice that he held within his heart. Slowly you both fell into the hot fires of love and desire. Twigs snapped beneath your feet as you trudged through the forest in a daze, the unforgiving terrain ripping through your thin shoes and shredding your feet. Your family had been killed by the church, accused of some made up atrocity. You were on the run, having no one tor turn to for help, and pushed to the brink of desperation. In the distance you heard light footsteps, another hunter you thought. Ignoring them as you finally arrived at the glassy lake. You stood on the shores, tears falling in rivers down your cheeks as you gazed across expanse of water. Alone. No one. Hungry. Sick. Desperate. Your hands shook as you loaded your skirt pockets with heavy stones, your hands numb from the fall air. The brutality of the deaths flashed before your eyes, searing your heart with pain. The scent of blood permanently imprinted upon your senses. Once you were weighted you stepped into the chilly water, sending shocks through your body and numbing your torn up feet. You waded into the water, letting the chill seep into every bone of your body. Your tears scalding upon your cheeks as your waded deeper and deeper. Finally you were deep under the surface, your lungs burned for air, but you pushed down the urge to survive. Your hair floated around you, shining in the moonlight. As your eyes fluttered closed, your mind growing faint, you saw a blonde man dive into the lake. Alucard saved you that night, carrying you back to the castle. Stripping you of your wet clothes, keeping you warm and dry until your sickness passed. Tightly he held you to his bare chest, trying to keep you calm as you thrashed with fever dreams, a cool cloth on your forehead. Finally you awoke days later, in a large plush bed, Alucard asleep in an armchair beside your bed. You were wary of the dhampir at first, but you slowly grew fond of him, and he of you. Years had passed since that day, together you repaired the castle, and the library. The easy companionship was a light in both of your lives. Eventually you opened up to him, and he to you. Many sleepless nights were spent by the fireplace, his head in your lap as he told great tales of his adventures, your fingers playing with his hair. You realized you loved him, and it terrified you. He was so beautiful, so broken, but so were you. You needed each other, finding glimmers of happiness you both deserved within each other. Finally you both had found love. Softly you set the sketchpad down upon a small table, Adrian's sad eyes gazing up at you from the heavy paper. A gentle smile upon your lips as you gazed upon your work, your hands smudged with charcoal. You rinsed your hands in a basin of warm water before drawing a hot bath. You scented the water with roses before heading to the kitchen to retrieve a bottle of sweet wine and two glasses. You strode to the study with gentle grace, leaning in the door frame drinking in the luscious sight before you. Adrian sat in a large armchair, his skin glowing in the fire light. His shirt was undone to the tops on his trousers, giving you a view of his toned body. His long legs stretched before him lazily, one hand held a book as he leaned his head upon the other, his long beautiful hair obscuring some of his angelic face. "Adrian, I drew a hot bath and got a bottle of sweet wine. Won't you join me?" Your voice was gentle as you entered the study, setting the bottle and glasses upon the end table to run your hands down his chest and pepper kisses into his hair as you leaned on the back of the chair.