Chapter Text
“So… how did you sleep?” Hector asked from his seat at the counter, eyes flicking warily at Adrian cooking at the stove and back to Trevor.
Trevor huffed at his place on his stool, needlessly fixing the scarf around his neck. “Great.”
He saw Adrian shift.
It had been a nice morning. He’d woken from a deep sleep to find Adrian mere inches from his face, staring at him intently. Trevor had huffed and pulled the blankets over his head, chuckling when he felt Adrian’s hand prodding at the material.
They’d lazed in bed for what seemed like hours before the rising sun pushed him up, and when he finally stumbled to the bathroom, Trevor had snorted at the dark marks scattered all over his neck and collarbone. Adrian had seemed as satisfied as ever when he’d looked over his shoulder, pressing his finger to a mark, testing and teasing, before Trevor shoved them towards the bath.
The scarf had been his genius solution.
He’d kissed Adrian softly at the door, who had promptly shoved him against the piece of wood and tried to devour him and once more when they were the only ones in the kitchen.
Hector nodded. “Good. I’m only asking because you ran out of dinner last night like a man possessed.”
“Hector.” Adrian’s voice was sharp, and he saw Hector’s brows raise.
“I don’t mean any offence by it. I just wanted to remind you that we are here,” his hands shifted awkwardly atop the countertop, “should you need any help.”
Trevor smiled despite it all. “I know. Thanks.”
Hector nodded swiftly, peering at the stove. “So, are these the infamous omelettes I’ve been hearing about?”
Adrian froze for a single second, but Trevor caught it. He smirked. “You know about the omelettes?”
“Adrian informed us about the breakfast ritual in his letters.” There was a small smirk on his lips. “I didn’t think it would include this much effort.”
Adrian did include more ingredients and spices than most usually made it with. But he liked that. He said so, watching Hector’s smirk widen and Adrian stare at him.
“What?” He looked around.
He heard the clink of cutlery as Adrian plated the food and set it down before him. Trevor thanked him and immediately started to eat.
“Where’s mine?” Hector asked.
“Make your own,” Adrian said flatly, and Hector shook his head.
“The nerve.” He drawled before heading to the pantry, muttering about favouritism.
“Harsh,” Trevor tutted.
“He can make breakfast himself.”
“So can I.” Trevor pointed out.
“No.”
“No?”
Adrian shifted, staring down at his plate. “I… I want to make breakfast for you. I like taking care of you.” He trailed off, peeking at him for his reaction.
But Trevor felt something light in his chest and only smiled. “Alright,” he said softly. “There’s no complaints from me. Not when you cook this good.” He cocked his head. “You know, you’ve been waking up later.” Adrian stared, a furrow between his brows. “You used to wake up at sunrise. Now you’re still in bed when I wake up.”
“It’s not as if you wake at midday,” Adrian mumbled. “Besides, I told you. The cold makes me lethargic.”
Trevor glanced out the window. Snowflakes clung to the glass.
“Yeah,” he remarked. “When are we leaving anyway?”
He shrugged. “When my father decides.”
Trevor scowled. “This is shit. We can’t even leave and–” he gasped. “Adrian the sheep is probably feeling so cooped up. This can’t be healthy for him.”
Adrian glared. “I am sure the sheep is fine.”
“You’re cruel, you know that?”
“Yes. Now eat your food.”
Hector came back into the kitchen at the same moment, holding much more ingredients than were needed for breakfast.
“What are you making?”
Hector stared at the ingredients. “...Something.”
Trevor laughed, ready to watch whatever it was Hector was going to bring into the world.
“I’d still stay,” Adrian said softly.
Trevor turned. “What?”
“I’d still stay. In bed. Even if we weren’t in these mountains.”
Trevor stared and reached for Adrian’s hand that was resting in his lap. He chanced a look at Hector, who was turned and still sorting out his mess of ingredients and leaned in to press a kiss to Adrian’s temple. He lingered, lips scraping against skin, smelling the scent of shampoo in his hair. He inhaled softly, slowly moving away to see him entirely.
Adrian’s hand tightened, and he smiled, soft and content. He parted his mouth, about to speak, when Lisa strode through the doors.
And his mouth shut. Trevor sighed and released his hand, quickly leaning back into his own space.
Adrian was frowning.
“Morning,” he called out.
Lisa started, quickly stepping towards him before she stopped. Her hands wrung in front of her, worry obviously set over her frown. “...Good morning, Trevor.” She hesitated. “How are you?”
“I’m alright. Really.” He glanced at Adrian, remembering their conversation last night. “Can I talk to you later?” And this time he really would.
“Of course,” she looked between them. Adrian gave nothing away. But Lisa didn’t make it uncomfortable and passed behind them, squeezing Trevor’s shoulder as she made her way to Hector.
Trevor sighed. “Did I make a scene last night?”
“No.” Adrian shuffled, almost awkwardly. “I did.”
“You?”
Hector and Lisa looked over from his raised voice, and Trevor grinned sheepishly. Lisa smiled and turned them both away.
“You?” He repeated in a lower hiss.
“Yes. Me.” But before he could say more, there was movement at the door again, and Isaac and Dracula walked in.
Isaac blinked at him, but only said. “Good morning.”
“Morning.” Trevor looked at Dracula, who had frozen at the entrance. He was staring at them, eyes burning and slightly wide. Trevor knew he shouldn’t rile him up, but well, well, why not?
“Something the matter?” He asked casually before shoving the last piece of omelette in his mouth and chewing loudly, just as he did when he last saw him. Isaac raised a brow and made his way to the others.
Trevor saw him peer into Hector’s cooking pot. “What is that?”
“...I have no idea.”
But Dracula was still looking at him, focused and entirely silent.
“What?” He asked more seriously now. “Did something happen?” His thoughts immediately went to his family. Around him, everyone looked at Dracula, concerned.
“Vlad?” Lisa asked.
Dracula’s brows furrowed, nostrils flaring. Trevor saw him glance at the scarf, and his eyes widened.
Dracula snapped his fingers, and Trevor’s scarf went flying across the kitchen.
He immediately slapped a hand against his neck, trying futilely to cover the love bites. It was impossible, he knew, Adrian had been clingy last night, but God– couldn't he retain some dignity in this castle?
In a flash, Dracula moved. He was so quick Trevor couldn’t track him, didn’t even have a half a second, a quarter , to even sense him before Dracula was behind him, almost ripping his head off with his sheer strength as he grabbed Trevor’s shirt and tried to pull his collar to the side.
Trevor bit down on the automatic instinct of panic as The fucking Dracula seemed to be bloody– whatever he was doing!
He twisted instantly, trying to grab Dracula with one hand and freeing his whip with the other as it quickly went flying towards his face. But Dracula pushed it sideways easily, like batting away a fly, and it went soaring across the room. Almost in the same direction as his poor scarf.
“Father!” Adrian snarled, off his seat to shove his father back. Dracula was moved back an inch. “What are you doing?!”
“Vlad!” Lisa was at his side at once, pushing at his arm. “Get off him!”
“Should we do something?” Hector asked Isaac.
Isaac shrugged.
It was a second more struggle before Trevor was released. He looked down at himself, breathing hard. The fabric across his collar was ripped.
“What,” he panted, “the actual fuck?”
Adrian quickly moved in front of him, maybe trying to block him from sight, but Dracula towered over all of them.
“Yes, Vlad.” Lisa’s voice was still raised. “What is the meaning of this?”
Isaac approached as she was speaking and passed Trevor his scarf. Trevor stared at him, baffled and took it but didn’t put it back on.
What. The. Fuck.
Adrian hissed lowly, “You’ve gone too far.”
“I?” His voice was tense as he gestured to Trevor’s neck. Trevor immediately rewound the scarf. “How could you have done this? I thought we agreed—” he broke off as Lisa stared at them, eyes wide. “At least you did not mark him.” He ended, muttering.
So that’s what he was looking for.
Trevor patted the scarf once more, making sure it was in place. Really, he should be furious. But, well. This was so fucking weird, he had no idea what to do.
Dracula just ripped off my scarf.
Dracula had just been the most violent he’d ever been towards me, and it was simply to look for a bite mark.
“You had no right,” Adrian began.
“I am your father.” As if that gave him every right.
Trevor silently looked at Lisa. She was staring at him, enlightenment beginning to rise in her eyes. Her mouth dropped into an O.
He sighed. He’d wanted to tell Lisa himself today, not make her find out through whatever this was. He hoped his apology was properly conveyed on his face because out of everyone in this castle, he really only cared for Lisa’s opinion. Other than Adrian, of course.
Her expression softened. She stepped towards him. Adrian and Dracula were still arguing behind them, but Trevor blocked them out.
Lisa fixed his scarf with gentle hands. “Are you alright?”
“... I’m still processing what happened. I’m sorry,” she froze, “this is what I wanted to talk about today.”
Lisa relaxed, a laugh bubbling out of her. Trevor’s chest lightened as he stared. “You–you don’t mind?” He asked hesitantly.
Lisa smiled softly. “Oh, Trevor. I couldn’t be happier for you both.” She glanced next to them. Adrian tried to wrench Dracula’s cloak off him. “Though, perhaps we should speak elsewhere.”
“Yeah…”
He had just gotten off his stool when Dracula snapped, “Where are you going?”
Adrian’s face contorted into a snarl but it didn’t matter as Lisa stepped in front of him instead.
“We will be going where we see fit.” Lisa snapped. Dracula immediately stilled.
“Lisa—”
“I cannot believe the course of action you’ve taken here. If you suspect something between them, talk to them. How dare you simply attack Trevor?”
“I didn’t attack—”
“I won’t hear any more.” And she really did seem serious. “Really, Vlad.” A disappointed tone entered her voice and she deflated. “How could you do this?”
For once, there was no instant rebuttal from Dracula. Trevor took the opportunity.
“Yeah. I could’ve just been cold.” He patted his scarf. “I mean, you’ve got us up in the fucking mountains.”
Dracula glared, voice strained as he was aware of Lisa’s glare. “The castle is heated.”
“How would you know?”
He saw Hector nod his head before Isaac smacked him lightly on the arm.
“We’ll be leaving.” Lisa paused at the window, frost covering the glass. “And we will not be confined to this castle any longer. Take us out of this frozen hell.”
Trevor blinked and then smirked at Dracula’s expression, letting himself be dragged out of the kitchen by Lisa.
He heard Hector say, “Do I still make breakfast?”
— — —
They ended up in the library. Lisa had closed the doors with a finality that Trevor smiled at. It was nice, really, seeing Lisa wound up at Dracula. He knew Dracula would mope about, especially considering their bond.
He settled into an armchair, Lisa stoking the fire across from him and waited, picking at the fabric beneath his fingers.
“Perhaps we should’ve brought some snacks,” Lisa said. “I’m almost resolved to camp here for an entire week.”
Trevor huffed. “Dracula would go insane.”
“He would deserve it.” She finished raising the flame and settled into the chaise across from him. “I must apologise on his behalf, Trevor. I…” There was genuine anger on her face, “I can't believe he would treat you this way, after everything that has happened. I really did think I’d knocked some sense into him. I’m sorry.”
He waved her off, getting off his armchair to sit beside her on the chaise. She smiled, surprised but moved to put a cushion behind his back. He chuckled.
“It’s not your fault, Lisa. Dracula doesn’t like me.” He said it simply, talking over Lisa’s denial.
“He doesn’t like I’m here, he especially doesn’t like I’m married to Adrian, but,” he sighed, tilting his head back to look at the arched ceiling, “what can he do?”
“Be nicer.” She insisted.
“Is he even capable of it?”
“Yes,” Lisa said sadly. “He can be infinitely kind and warm. That is why I am angry. He is capable and yet…” She shook her head. “It’s not right.”
“Not much is.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “He doesn’t like me. It’s fine. I don’t like him either. And I don’t need to like him.”
She frowned but seemed to accept it as she leaned back and then grinned. “Yes. It’s not him you like, is it?”
He groaned, covering his face with a hand. “Why did you say it like that?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
He lifted his hand, trying to scowl but failing. “You know, you’re just like Adrian. You both have terrible jokes. He once told me this joke about a bloodhound,” he shook his head, singing. “I mean, really, how did he think— it wasn’t witty at all, Lisa and jokes need to be witty.” He paused. “It suits him, though. To have that humour. If we can call it that,” he added.
Lisa was smiling, watching him carefully. “He hasn’t had one good joke?”
Trevor shifted. “Well. Fine. Yeah, there’s been a few. But he can’t redeem himself from that , Lisa.”
“Of course not.” Her head tilted.
“What?”
“Nothing.” She smiled. “It’s simply… the way you looked speaking about him.”
He froze. “How’s that?”
“You smile. You’re happy. And after everything that has occurred recently, I am glad of that.”
Trevor felt a flush in his cheeks, damn Adrian, but he told himself to be honest. “He does make me happy.” He said softly. “If I’m being honest, he always had, but I was just… sometimes too blind to see it.”
“Love does that.” She said simply.
Trevor nodded jerkily. Lisa didn’t call him out for not denying it. Love.
“I should explain all this.”
Lisa grabbed his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I will be glad to hear it. Though, take your time.”
But Trevor only smiled. “I don’t really know when it started. This feeling. Adrian and I were always around each other, bickering or experimenting and at first… I don’t know. Before, I had barely overcome the realisation that we were friends, I could never have anticipated this. But…” He remembered Adrian handing him a toy, talking him through grief and anger and introducing something new.
“After my father died, I used to have bad dreams.” He looked at the fireplace and finally said the word he avoided all this time, “Nightmares. You probably don’t know the specifics, but… When the Church and Guard attacked the manor, I was there fighting alongside the rest of my family. The Guard… well, they were stronger than we could have imagined and my father… I had lost him in the fighting. When I finally had a second to look around, to fucking breathe, I saw him running into the manor.” He swallowed. “And a second later, they set that section aflame.”
Lisa gasped, her hand tightening over his.
“I went after him. I remember it all.” Lisa shifted closer, a sound of grief in her throat as she placed an arm around him. “We were both there, where the flames were raging. I could hear him. He was still alive. But the smoke was too heavy. I could barely see, barely breathe. And then some of the roof fell on me.” He paused, staring at his burned palms. “I tried to get it off…” He trailed off, something terrible in his heart. “I could hear him, Lisa. He was shouting for me. He probably thought I was coming to help him, but I–I–” his mouth felt heavy and Lisa shushed him gently, pulling him into her arms.
“Oh, Trevor.” Her fingers ran through his hair. “It wasn’t your fault.”
He said nothing. Everyone had told him that. His mother had held his face when he was recovering, whispering the words to him. But then, when she thought he was sleeping, he’d hear her cry beside him, feel the wetness of her tears spread to his pillow.
It wasn’t his fault, they all said. But Trevor… he could never accept it.
“He trained me.” He murmured. “More than my other siblings. I always… It was selfish, but I always thought I was the favourite. He had a whip, the Morningstar. It was the strongest, most concentrated weapon within the family. He would let me train with it.” He smiled at the memory. “I learned to wield it with him and he would–” he broke off, settling his breaths, “he said he was proud of me.”
“Where is it now?”
“Henry has it. It went to him as the head of the clan.”
Lisa’s voice was soft. “He didn’t offer it to you?”
“He had other things to worry about. Even still… I didn’t want it. It hurt even to see it. The weapon my father trained me with, all the things he’d hoped for me, and I still couldn’t save him. I don’t deserve it.” Trevor sighed, leaning his forehead against Lisa’s collarbone, just for a moment.
He felt like a child. But he felt safe.
He still forced himself to lean off her, to sit upright instead of in her arms. “Anyway,” he coughed, “that was the main portion of my dreams. Adrian helped me.”
Realisation fell. “It’s as you told me before the attack. He had stayed in your room.”
He nodded. “He would stay with me when I couldn’t sleep. He once called himself my shield.” He huffed.
“That is wonderful.” Lisa wiped her eyes. “... I’m glad Adrian could help you. I… even when we first met, I always thought you carried too much burden on you, Trevor. I felt infinitely guilty knowing you were the one to leave your family for this, and I—I feared you’d never let anyone close enough to share the weight.”
He shook his head. “You say that, but coming here is probably the one thing that actually helped me.”
“I know,” her voice broke. “And I am so glad of it.”
“Me too.” He murmured, shifting in his seat. His fingers brushed over his scarf, hesitating for a moment as he weighed his next words. “Adrian told me about the mark last night.”
Lisa’s eyes were wide. “Did he?”
He nodded. “Hmm. I get why you wanted him to be the one to tell me.”
“What do you think?”
“It’s interesting the way nature works. The way Adrian explained balance,” he sighed. “You know, ever since you all introduced the science here, I keep second-guessing everything.”
“Do you?” Lisa seemed delighted. “That is exactly the mindset that makes a scientist!”
Trevor laughed. “What have you done to me?” He shook his head. “But it makes sense. My family has always called vampirism a curse but this aspect of it… I don’t know. It seems like a gift.”
Lisa sighed next to him. “There are positives and negatives to it. Especially in our situation. Has the topic come up for the two of you? Of marking?” Lisa said it matter-of-factly.
“Yeah.” He looked back at the ceiling. “Adrian…” he trailed off, remembering his tears, his grief, and the hopelessness Trevor felt not being able to reassure him. “I told him I’d never become a vampire. Not even for him.”
Lisa was still next to him. There was no judgment in her expression, only deep sadness. “He’d expect that. As a child, Adrian had asked whether I’d become a vampire too. But I explained it to him, just as I did to Vlad. He understands it. ”
“He did. But a part of him wanted me to. Why wouldn’t he? He’s going to have… eternity without me. Without us.”
Lisa gripped the edge of the chaise, white knuckled. “It is always on my mind,” she began softly, “my death and its consequences. I always knew Vlad would struggle but I hope he remembers us, our love, enough to overcome it. But a vampire’s grief is strong,” she sighed. “We won’t know until we know.” Trevor placed his hand over hers, chest tight. “For Adrian… I knew he would adjust. He always has been able to. I used to hypothesise that his human side balanced out the vampire, so that the grief would not flood him. But now,” she looked at him, wondering. “He cares greatly for you.”
“I know.”
“His grief will be just as great.”
His voice broke. “I know.”
“But that is our challenge to bear. The knowing of what will happen but not giving ourselves up due to it. They understand it. They have to.”
Trevor stared at the flames that crackled and whipped within the fireplace. He wished there was another way. Everything he’d told Adrian had been true, but the thought of Adrian wandering alone and maybe, one day, remembering something at the sound of Trevor’s name… it was unbearable.
With a natural death, how long would Adrian live?
The Belmonts had always known immortality as a curse but now, Trevor wished it wasn’t.
He swallowed, something terrible churning within him. “What are the effects of the mark?”
She tilted her head, thoughtful. “For a human, not much. It’s meant to ground a vampire to their humanity, whatever’s left of it. Though sometimes, I think I can feel something.” Her hand settled over her mark. “Something very faint when Vlad is feeling strongly.”
“Shit.” A thought popped into his head. “What about humans who were marked and then turned into vampires? What happens to them?”
“Ah, they feel the effect of it similar to their mate. But then again, many simply mark their mate themselves now that they can.”
“Oh. What does that do?”
“Makes the bond even stronger.”
He nodded. Made sense.
“However, the bond is always most volatile when first marked. A vampire’s possessiveness will calm down as time passes, but in the first few weeks, they do not wish for them to leave their side.” Her lips pursed. “I always hypothesised that due to Vlad’s power, the effects of the bond are much stronger. It would explain his overbearingness and, well,” she gave him a look, “everything else.”
“That… actually makes a lot of sense.”
“A scientist's perspective, Trevor!”
He huffed, shaking his head. “So, then. Would Adrian also be affected to that extent? He is Dracula’s son.”
“Another strong hypothesis. However, his human side again becomes a factor. We could say it balances out the extra emotion caused by his parentage. However,” her brows furrowed. “This mark is rooted in nature and magic. We can never guess what will happen unless it does, and… there are no other Dhampirs to compare this to.”
Fuck. This must have made Adrian insane.
“I will warn you that sometimes their nature will leave you strained. Just like how Vlad moved us to the mountains after the attack, they will do what they think is best for you, regardless of what you think.” She sighed. “It will be frustrating, sometimes even similar to speaking to a wall. But it's... hard to fault them. They can’t control what they feel.” She stared at him. “Communication is necessary. Dare I say it is the most important thing to utilise once the bond is made. Trevor, you must speak for yourself.”
“But, how do they listen?” He was getting confused. “If they do what they want—”
“Your word will always sway the decision. Trevor,” her eyes bore into his, “for a vampire, their mate is the most important thing to them. Always. We affect them, in their minds and their souls. When it comes to our own safety, yes, it gets trickier, but understand we balance them. Enough so that the haze of their instincts will clear and they will see what’s right for us.”
Trevor exhaled, considering everything Lisa had said. Adrian had stated that the bond changed a vampire, but this was a lot more than he expected. He couldn’t ever imagine Adrian acting as his father did, confining him to a castle in the middle of the mountains.
But Adrian was an anomaly. No one knew how he’d change. But even as he thought of it, the wrongness of it burrowed into his chest. Adrian would never. He’d always respected Trevor, his boundaries and his silence. He could never imagine a scenario where—
Adrian’s pupils blown and dark, fangs digging into the sheets as if he were wild.
Trevor stopped. Alright, so he did lose control but only for a moment.
He sighed, leaning his elbows onto his knees. He stared at the fireplace and said, “Adrian tried to mark me last night.”
“What?” Lisa’s voice was loud.
“He lost control for a moment. But it wasn’t—” it wasn’t as if it were out of nowhere. Adrian had been biting and sucking at his neck just before. Trevor had encouraged and he’d— he pressed his hands to his face, consciously aware Adrian’s mother was just beside him.
He exhaled. “It wasn’t as if he did it unexpectedly. Like I wasn’t walking down the hall, and then,” he waved a hand.
“Oh. Oh, I see.” Trevor’s face flushed. “Well, may I first say that it is perfectly normal for you both to engage in—”
“Lisa! Please, please don’t. I get it, you support us. Thank you. But, God.”
He heard her undignified giggle. Really, she and Adrian were so crafty.
“Very well. I’ll be frank. It is likely your activities spurred him into trying to mark you.”
“I thought that,” he mumbled before collecting his dignity and leaning back. He turned to Lisa. “It’s not that I… I don’t care what Adrian tries to do when he’s all vampire-y. It’s more that… I know I can stop him. If not with words, then with strength.”
She nodded. “Yes. Knowing you can protect yourself will sway him tremendously. He perhaps won’t be as protective as Vlad.” She paused. “I say as. He will definitely have it to some extent.”
But Trevor stared at her. “This is all the more reason for us to train together.”
“What?”
But he nodded to himself. “Dracula will see that you’re skilled enough to defend yourself, and then he’ll have to not resort to mountain prisons.”
She smiled softly. “Ah, indeed. We’ll see.”
But Trevor stared at her. “I’m gonna find something for you, Lisa. I swear it.”
Lisa started, watching him warmly. Her hands gently grabbed his, and Trevor watched as she inspected his burned palms, brushing them softly. “You are a good man, Trevor Belmont.”
Lightness bloomed. “So are you.”
“I am a woman.”
“Even better.”
She laughed, squeezing his hands fiercely.
They sat for a while, watching the fireplace. In a way, it reminded Trevor of the time they hid from the Church. They’d both cloaked themselves in fake bravado, Trevor trying to encourage Lisa after what had almost happened, and Lisa instead trying to comfort him when he’d revealed his identity.
But when the silence settled, they’d sit by side, remembering things they wished never happened.
“What do you like about the mark?” Trevor asked. He'd heard enough on the negatives.
Lisa smiled. “It’s special. When Vlad and I first spoke about it, I will admit, I was wary. To bind myself to him to this extent, especially when I knew how my death would already affect him… But it’s… even though we do not feel the effects ourselves, the love is there. I know I’ve changed Vlad for the better. I know that I am the one he will always turn to. The one he will always consider his actions for. It’s… I will always wish for him to do better for himself, but for now, this is enough.” She sighed. “And truly, Trevor, a part of it has no logic. I love Vlad. Ever since I intruded and demanded to be taught science and medicine, I have always… I love him,” she finished softly. “That’s enough for me.”
But her brows furrowed. "But you need to understand. When Vlad first marked me, he was my constant companion. I understood that. I cherished it. It was easier for me, as I'd already sought his companionship after being ostracised from my village due to my belief in science. But Trevor... you've already given up so much to be here. Your family loves you and they—you—are Belmonts. I cannot estimate what the consequences will be if you do this."
He hesitated. "If I've already given up so much, can't I finally choose the one thing I want?"
Lisa's gasp was pained. "Of course you should! But your family- they haven't seen your relationship with Adrian as we have." She sighed, "You should visit them soon. Introduce them to Adrian as we were to you."
"I don't need their permission."
"I understand. But it's better if you have it. It's not just your relationship with Adrian that will change."
He swallowed. "I know." He came to Lisa to hear the reality of the mark. He couldn't just brush her off because he it wasn't what he wanted to hear. He shook his head. "Thank you. For helping me."
"I always will."
Trevor stared at his ring. He bit his lip, watching it gleam. “If you could speak to Adrian too? I don’t think having just Dracula’s opinion is helpful in this situation.”
She nodded. “Of course I will. This conversation is long overdue.” She paused, frowning. “Though that also reminds me to speak to Vlad regarding his involvement.”
“Can I watch?” He grinned.
She laughed, patting him softly on the head.
— — —
Trevor was walking through the halls, silently and on guard, when he sensed something behind him and turned, already jumping away.
Adrian raised a brow.
“Oh,” Trevor exhaled. “It’s just you?”
“Just me? Who else would it be?”
He scowled. “Well, considering your father, who hates me by the way, now knows about us, I need to prepare for my life.”
Adrian straightened. “He won’t harm you.”
“Yet.”
Adrian sighed, watching him. “Are you alright? What happened in the kitchen was…”
“Insane? Out of nowhere? Completely and absolutely fucked?”
“Yes.”
Trevor shrugged. “It’s not the worst thing that’s happened to me. Dracula hates me anyway, so there was no winning him over.”
Adrian stared at him. “He doesn’t hate you—”
“Have you seen him?”
“He doesn’t hate you. He’s just wary about the consequences for us.” Trevor wondered what Dracula had said to him when he and Lisa left.
But his mouth was pulled into a line. “Though his scene in the kitchen was unacceptable.”
“Yeah. But Lisa said she’d speak to him.” Trevor looked out of a nearby window. The new view of a flowered field made him smile. “She’s already pulling him in line.”
Adrian followed his gaze. “That she is.” He paused. “And how did your talk go?”
Trevor measured his words. He couldn’t get the sight of Adrian’s tears out of his mind.
I don’t ever want to see him like that again.
“Well,” he settled on. “She gave me a lot of perspective. Good and bad. I know we need some time,” he added as Adrian began to shift, “to decide, but you should know… It’s not a mark keeping me here.”
There was a vulnerable expression on his face as Adrian reached for his necklace. “I know.”
— — —
Over the next week, Trevor dodged Dracula like his life depended on it. Because, as much as the others said it didn’t, it really felt like it did.
Lisa did her part in pushing him away. He never showed up at breakfast or dinner, though Trevor only attended dinner for the first three nights before retiring to his room. It wasn’t that he was uncomfortable, but more that on the last night he had left the hall and saw Dracula standing at the end of the hall, a lone figure. His back was to Trevor as he stared out a window, but the sound of the dining room echoed past the open doors. Trevor could hear the clink of cutlery, Lisa’s laughter and chatter rising from the room. If he could hear it, Dracula definitely could.
He knew Dracula knew he was there. But he hadn’t turned, hadn’t tried anything. Trevor left a moment after and loudly said he’d be busy for the next few nights, so not to expect him at dinner.
He didn't react when Adrian had asked what he was busy with, but he’d returned the same night, stating he’d left early since his father was at dinner. Trevor had ignored his suspicious gaze, laughing later as Adrian pushed him against the bed, muttering he was too good against his lips.
Trevor wasn’t. But it was nice to hear Adrian say it.
He stared at Adrian now. He was glaring at Adrian the sheep.
“You know,” Hector mused, “I see the resemblance.”
“No, you don’t,” Adrian muttered.
“I do!” He patted him gently. “He was a little skittish, but now look at him!”
“Just like when Adrian was a child,” Isaac confirmed.
“Seriously?” Trevor looked around. “How so?”
Adrian pushed off the wall. “In no way. They’re lying.” He glared at the sheep. “Are we done here?”
“You’d think you have some more care for the animal holding the key to your antidote.” Hector fiddled with the microscope. “After the booster shot Trevor and your mother gave, he should have a detectable level of antibodies produced now since his immune response started. However,” he looked at their original science room. “The things we need to do a test will be in your father’s lab, which…”
Trevor sighed. “Which I’m not allowed in anymore.”
He’d barely had any time to be in it before he was banned again.
“It’s kind of boring.” Hector tried to reason. “You’ve done all the fun stuff; this is just a test to see if the antibodies are there.”
But it was his experiment. His and Adrian’s. What was the point if he couldn’t see it through himself?
“Whatever,” he shrugged. Adrian was watching him. “What do you need from him?”
“Just some blood. After its time in a centrifuge, we’ll have the serum you need, and then it starts from there.”
Adrian spoke up. “Extract its blood elsewhere. I need to speak with Trevor.”
Hector and Isaac stared at him. Trevor stared back, confused and shrugged.
“Sure,” Hector led Adrian the sheep out. “He’s got to get used to us anyway.”
Adrian let out a disgusted bleat.
Trevor held in his laughter at the similar look of contempt on his Adrian’s face.
“What is it?” He asked as they left.
Adrian turned to him with determination. “Let’s steal it.”
“What?”
“The equipment. From my father’s lab.”
He blinked. “Oh, you’ve lost it.”
“No.”
“No?”
“No.”
“Adrian. I’m already on Dracula’s last nerve. How would this even–” He spluttered. “What made you think of this?”
“You don’t care what my father thinks.”
“I don’t. But I also know where not to cross him.” He sighed and approached Adrian, who relaxed once Trevor leaned against him. “What’s this idea coming from, anyway?”
“I just… I know you want to finish it. What we started. And you deserve to. My father can’t just block you from—”
“He can.” He huffed at his furious expression. “It’s fine. I’ll get him back.” He stared at their lab. Sure, Dracula’s was everything this wasn’t, but this was where he and Adrian had first come up with their hypothesis. This was where Lisa taught him his lessons and where he’d bickered and studied with Adrian.
Dracula’s lab was just that. A lab.
“Explain it again,” he said, for lack of anything else since Adrian was glaring at the simple microscope.
He huffed, straightening out of his tensed position to his lecturing position. Trevor bit down on a smile.
“Simply, to see if the sheep’s blood is actually defensive against the gorgon’s venom, we will first coat a plate with the venom and add the serum from the sheep’s blood. The antibodies will bind to the venom.”
“How do we know if they'll bind?”
"We add a second antibody, one made in the lab, that sticks to the sheep's antibodies. And we’ve attached an enzyme to it.
“Enzyme…” he racked his mind. “Uhh, oh! It speeds up reactions, right?”
“Correct,” he smiled. “In this case, we’re using one that comes from a horseradish plant.”
He scoffed. “Right. Vegetables.”
“It’s also known as sea radish.”
“Because it grows by the sea?” He guessed.
“Correct. We pair the enzyme with another chemical, which is used for its colour-changing properties. You see, when the enzyme touches it, the liquid changes colour, which means the sheep made the needed antibodies. If not, the liquid stays clear.” He stared. “The stronger the colour, the more antibodies the sheep made.”
“Right. Sounds simple enough.”
Adrian was back to glaring at the microscope.
“Hey,” he nudged him. “Stop pouting.”
“What else am I supposed to do?”
Trevor looked out the window and grinned.
—
“Ah,” Trevor tilted his head back, enjoying the warmth falling over his face. “This is great. Especially compared to the mountains.”
Adrian shifted. He was practically lying on top of him, body curled over his as he hid his face into Trevor’s hair. They were lying in the flower field, nothing but the sun and clear skies above them. “The mountains weren’t that bad.”
“We couldn’t even leave the castle, Adrian.”
“Hm.” He only burrowed himself further against him.
“You’re like a cat.”
“That’s not the first time you’ve made the comparison.”
“Can you turn into one?”
“No.” He peered back enough to gauge Trevor’s expression. “Why? Do you want me to?”
“I think they’re cute.”
His eyes narrowed. “Considering you think the same of the sheep, your opinion does not amount to much.”
Trevor grabbed his collar. “Oh? What if I said you’re—”
“Cute?” Adrian raised a brow. “I don’t think I’ve been called that since I was a child.”
Trevor snorted. His hand left to cup his jaw instead. Adrian leaned into it. “Yeah, because you’re completely hideous now.”
His lip quirked. “Indeed.”
“Seriously, I don’t know how you managed to snare someone like me. It’s– really, Adrian, I’m going to ruin my gene pool.”
“We can’t procreate.”
Trevor grinned wolfishly. “We can try.”
Adrian laughed, open-mouthed and bright. Trevor watched the sun hit his hair, creating a halo behind him. He was so bright, Trevor thought. It’s almost blinding to look at, but I’ll never look away.
He smiled, chest still heaving. “You’re—”
“I’m?”
Adrian grinned. “Hideous.” He laughed again when Trevor rolled them over, pinning Adrian below him.
“Am I?” He pressed a kiss to Adrian's cheek, lips quirking at his inhale. “Am I really?” Another kiss below his eye. Then at his forehead. And again and again, Trevor was pressing light kisses all over his face. “Come on, Adrian. Tell me I’m ugly.”
He struggled. “You’re—” Trevor pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips.
“I’m…?”
A strong shove, and this time Trevor was being rolled over and pressed to the grassy ground. But he didn’t let up, quickly rolling them over again. And then Adrian did it again. And then Trevor. And again and again until they were rolling around senselessly in the grass, pressing flowers beneath them.
“You…” Trevor struggled to catch his breath, stomach tight with laughter. “Have a flower in your hair.”
“Nature likes me,” Adrian muttered from under him.
He whispered into his hair, feeling entirely like a lovesick fool but unable to stop it. “ I love you.”
And Adrian was swarming up, hands over his face and kissing him deeply. Trevor held him closely, enjoying the warmth the sun had pulled into his hair and clothes.
Trevor kissed him a final time before pulling away, and Adrian stared after him. He picked out the flower from Adrian’s hair and pressed it into his hand.
Adrian looked at him softly, staring and staring.
“What is it?” He eventually asked.
He blinked, startled. Adrian stared at the flower, threading its stem over and under his ring until it stood fixed. Trevor smiled at the sight.
“It’s just… the sight of you in the sun.”
Trevor stilled.
“It’s beautiful.”
—
They returned to the castle, slow in the warmth around them.
Trevor leaned on Adrian, unable to pull away. He felt like a cat himself now, draped over his back, mouth at his nape as Adrian carried his weight effortlessly. It was only whatever was left of his dignity that refused to let Adrian carry him completely.
He was sated, basking in the sun and lull of Adrian’s voice with all the familiar peace that had been taken away from him.
“What should we make for dinner?” Adrian asked.
“Ger bud.” He yawned against his neck. Adrian shivered.
“We’ve been eating garlic bread too often.”
Another mumbled response.
“It doesn’t matter that it’s good. You need to look out for your health. Hasn’t my mother told you this?”
He grunted, shifting impossibly closer as Adrian stepped over something.
“Well, then, you ought to be putting it into practice.”
He sputtered out some of Adrian’s hair.
“No. Well, yes. I do like to feed you, but it’s about the long-term effect, Trevor.”
The shadow of the castle fell over them.
He pressed his mouth to Adrian’s skin.
“I love you, too.”
Trevor smiled.
They were taking, well, Adrian was taking, their final steps towards the castle steps when a sharp voice rang out.
“Trevor!”
He stumbled, pushing himself off Adrian’s back and watching in disbelief as his mother ran out from the castle doors. Ann was just behind her, face tight as she hurried down the steps.
Lisa appeared behind the doors. The large figure behind her was Dracula. Why did Lisa look so worried?
“Mother?” He could only gasp out as she reached him, not even sparing Adrian a glance as her hands clutched at him.
“Are you alright?” She quickly asked.
Ann reached them, giving Adrian a blank stare before looking over Trevor’s body.
“I’m fine.” He quickly reassured her, holding her hands in his own. “Mother,” he breathed, “what are you doing here? What happened?”
At that, his mother’s mask shattered. She shook her head furiously. Ann’s expression turned tortured.
“What?” He demanded now. His heart was in his throat. “What–”
“They took him.” Ann rushed out. “It was— he was there and then he wasn't—”
“Who?” He was shouting now.
“Zach.” His mother finally said. Her stare was lifeless.
Trevor’s blood turned to ice.
“They took Zach.”