Son Of The Dragon

IX

Nearly three and a half years had passed since the day I had almost lost my life. In all technicality I did die on the floor of the cave that day. Fortunately or unfortunately someone else had been watching other than Chthon. My grip on Excalibur tightened as I remembered the encounter. 

Flashback 

Cold, the light had faded from the entrance of the cave. My arms and legs had gone numb. I coughed up more blood, breathing was now difficult, it felt as if I had a massive weight on my chest. This was it, I was going to die again, alone in this rancid cave. Laying in a pool of my own blood. I felt Excalibur humming somewhere in the cave as warmth washed over my freezing body. 

I sensed another presence entering the cave and immediately tensed up. I was defenseless, in a mess of broken bones, and my sword was beyond my reach. 

"Don't worry I won't hurt you," a voice echoed as if in my mind. 

Warmth washed over my body again, winching as I felt my ribs snap back into place and itching my flesh mend itself. I quickly stood up splattering blood on the walls as I spun around to grab my sword. Feeling an overwhelming pressure I froze on the spot. Losing control of my limbs I was lifted into the air and spun around. I looked at the figure that emerged from the light. My jaw hit the floor as I recognized the man in front of me. 

"Stan Lee?" The figure smiled 

"You can call me that, yes, other people call me 'The One Above All' but I think that name is a little pretentious, don't you think." 

Still in disbelief I felt myself getting lowered to the ground as Stan Lee walked over to my sword. I watched in shock as he effortlessly drew it from the ground before spinning it around catching it by the blade. He offered the sword to me handle first, so I carefully took it. Sheathing it back on my hip I continued to gawk at him. 

"You killed Chthon, with that thing. It's not supposed to be in this universe and yet here it is. Now what are we going to do about that?" 

"Um, Stan Lee sir, first off I'm a big fan of your work, at least I was before I didn't have the time to read the comic any more. Sorry I didn't watch any of your movies, I heard you were in a lot of them, and I uh, I'm sorry I killed Chthon? Was he important in any way?" 

One Above All shook his head and smiled "Chthon was evil no doubt, he himself wasn't important in a sense, just important in a way because he maintained the balance in this universe." 

Stan Lee just confirmed the existence of multiple universes. I would have laughed like a little kid if I hadn't noticed him frowning at the demon's corpse. 

"Now that he is dead, I'm afraid that I will need you to help me with something." 

I looked at him in worry. 

"No nothing like that, you still get to live your life and stay here. You'll just be my agent in this world. From time to time I'll call on you to sort out some mess someone is making." 

I thought about it for a moment. It wasn't like I really had a choice in the matter. This was basically God, and if he wanted he could wipe out my entire existence with a thought. 

"I'd never do that, I just need someone that isn't the Tribunal to help me out and sort out a few messes in the future. I've seen you handling yourself in this world, you're not a bad kid." 

I sighed and I stuck out my hand. "You have a deal Stan Lee" 

The One Above All took my hand with a smile. 

"I knew I could count on you, oh and since I can't have you dying on me while helping me out. Here's a little gift for you." 

A glowing light blinded me for a moment, when I opened my eyes again Stan was gone as was Chthon's body. A glowing orb floated in front of me. Reaching out a hand I touched the light and the orb shot out and sunk into my chest. I felt like fire was being pumped through my veins. Screaming in pain I collapsed on the floor curling into a ball. I felt burning in my mouth and my eyes began to water. After a moment the pain faded away and was replaced with the feeling of pure power beneath my skin. 

"Remember to have fun kid." 

I looked around, and smiled before my eyes widened. 

"Holy fuck! I just met God, or was that Stan fucking Lee. Ahh whatever, I just met this universe's supreme being and I acted like a total tool." 

I swung a fist at a stalagmite in anger and stepped back in shock as the structure exploded. Looking at my hand I looked at the small cuts heal instantly. 

"Well that's useful." I mumbled to myself. 

The sound of clicking drew my attention. Looking around for the source I spotted a spider in a far corner wrapping an insect up in webs. 

"No fucking way" 

I ran over to the entrance of the cave and looked out. The night sky had never been so clear before. I looked around the forest and my vision changed into some sort of mix between XRay and heat vision. I spotted Roach grazing where I had left her. 

"Oh fuck, Dori's going to kill me." Looking around realizing it was well beyond evening I held my breath. 

"Okay how the hell did Vlad do it in the movie." My face scrunched in concentration. Suddenly I felt a tug in my gut, my laugh was lost as I exploded into a cloud of bats. 

Being a cloud of bats was a strange feeling. On one hand I could feel what all the bats felt, I counted about 245 separate bats in my cloud. Learning to move as a cloud of bats was another thing. Soon I figured out I could gather my mind into a singular bat and fly around, the rest would just follow. Rematerializing into my human form was much easier, I just pictured myself and willed the bats to condense. 

I wondered if this was what the gift Stan Lee had given me or maybe it was because I was wounded by the vampire. I had been laying on the ground with bones that the vampire probably chewed up and spat out. Maybe Stan's 'gift' had mutated and turned me into a vampire. Hell I wasn't complaining. I looked down at the ring on my finger. It was silver and it wasn't burning me. Maybe I wouldn't have the same weaknesses. Smiling, I threw myself off the mountain and turned into a cloud of bats. Roach reared up in fear as I rematerialized next to her. Untying her reins I quickly mounted her and made my way back to the villa. 

Flashback End

Life in the last three years had been in relative comfort. I had been right, I had none of the weaknesses, hell I didn't even need to drink blood. Though I found that I could during a particularly heated session of love making with Dorina. I hadn't yet figured out how to control my fangs and accidentally bit her. Her blood was rather sweet, almost like honey. Not that I'd ever tell her. When she first learned of my condition she had been worried about trying for children. That was quickly dismissed when we found that I still had full control and functionality of my body. I didn't need to use the toilet anymore but the other stuff still worked, much to her pleasure. She had told me that she didn't want to be a vampire until we had our fair share of kids, since she didn't know if the same immunities would apply to her. 

In the three years I hadn't been called to by the One Above All yet. Dorina had confirmed that the being that I had met was in fact the God of this universe. She was rather annoyed that she didn't get to meet Stan Lee but I told her that the guy had a suffocating aura of power and I felt like an ant while I was talking to him. 

"You know, you can just join me out here right?" 

"Still can't get over the fact that you can literally hear my heart." 

Dorina's feet crunched against the snow as she joined me by the Christmas tree. She took my arm and leaned onto my shoulder. 

"Three years, Cas. It's been three beautiful years with you." 

Turning to face her I cupped her cheek planting a kiss on her lips. I laid a hand on her growing belly and smiled. Listening to her heart beat along with our baby's was always something I enjoyed. When we found out that we had been expecting, we jumped for joy. Up until Dorina had her fight with morning sickness. Then she'd glare at me as if I was a pig rolling all over 'her' bed. The townsfolk had celebrated. Vlad and Mirena contradilated us, Ingeras had looked excited. Her parents had even sent us a few gifts. 

"I still can't believe that I finally got my own slice of paradise." 

Dorina smiled as she lay a hand over mine on her stomach. 

"I'm glad I met you." 

"Ditto," she looked at me. "This is all I've ever wanted and I will do everything I can to protect it." 

She laughs. "Nothing can hurt you Cas, you're literally sponsored by God, and you can bench press a mountain." 

"It's not me I'm worried about love." 

I took a knee and looked at her before looking down on her stomach. "I'm going to protect you and your mother. You hear me in there?" 

She pulls me back on my feet. "What did she ever do to you? Why are you telling her off like that?" 

"She? How do you know it's going to be a girl? For all you know it could be a boy." Looking back at her belly. "Aren't you, you're gonna make proud right son?" 

She slaps my hand away as I reach out to pat her belly. 

"I'm carrying the baby, of course I can tell. Also don't treat her like a dog!" 

I feign hurt in my face, squatting down I whispered to her belly. "Don't be like your mother alright?" 

I blocked another swat to my head and dodged a fist to the face. Laughing out loud I ran back into the house Dorina slipper in hand hot on my trail. 

Collapsing in bed I gave up running, Dorina stormed in the room a moment later huffing and puffing. She stomped over to the bed and lay down next to me. I turned to my side facing her. She was breathing heavily but there was a smile on her face. Turning away from me when she noticed me I continued to smile as I pulled her close caressing her pregnant belly. 

She sighed and put a hand over mine as I traced small circles on her stomach. 

"She'll be here in a few months." I could almost hear her smile. 

"So you admit that it's going to be a girl?" 

"Yes," I sighed "and she will be my princess. I will spoil her rotten and give her the world." 

Dorina lightly swatted my hand. "Don't turn our child into a spoiled brat." 

Laughing as I held my family close I drifted off into sleep. 

[Line Break] 

Three months later shit started rolling down the hill. The townsfolk started whispering about Turks being spotted further south a few towns over. Ingeras was nearing the age where Mehmed would come back and demand that my father pay homage to him. Dorina comforted me and attempted to placate my anxiety. 

With war potentially on the horizon I feared for her and our unborn daughter. I formed a scouting party and had them regularly scout out the surrounding hills and towns. So far there had been no news or sightings of the ottomans. A week later everything changed. 

"Lord Casimir, we have dire news." 

Looking at the group I noted that they looked like they had been ambushed. Three of their members were also missing. 

"We were ambushed just two days ago after we returned from spying on their army by an Ottoman scouting unit. They killed three and we managed to escape in the chaos." 

"How many were in their numbers?" I knew the number but I dreaded hearing it from my men's own mouths. 

"We wouldn't tell my lord, the group that ambushed us was no more than a dozen but their army measured in the thousands. There had been hundreds of tents." 

Nodding, I dismissed the men after telling them to see to their wounds and rest. I turned to Dorina who had been seated next to me. 

"What do you think?" 

She looks down at her belly and then to me. "I don't think I can travel so I'm stuck here. In any case I'm not running, we can't abandon this town." 

"I never said I would run," waved a servant over. "I'm just worried that the Turks will attack the villa. 

As the servant approached I told her to send a messenger to my father. I pulled a letter I had written in preparation for a day like this and passed it to the servant. 

'Nothing left to do now but wait.' I thought to myself as I led Dorina back to our room. 

Four days later Vlads reply came along with my mother. Dorina and I greeted Mirena as she stepped out of her carriage. She gave me a hug before walking off with Dorina to talk about the baby. Demitru handed me a letter and I opened it. 

Casimir, 

Then it is as I feared my son, Mehmed did not heed our warning all those years ago and wishes to advance into our lands. This letter should arrive with your mother and Demitru. I send them to your villa to keep your mother safe, I think she is with child again. I will personally meet with Mehmed, to negotiate peace. Until I return, keep your mother safe. If negotiations fail, return back to the castle, take everyone and go to Cozia Monastery, it is high up in the mountains and too remote for cannon fire. 

Vlad 

The damn fool, I cursed under my breath. I knew full well that Mehmed would not negotiate. What had Vlad been thinking? I quickly told Demitru to watch over my mother as I went into the house to look for my wife. I found Dorina with my mother having pastries by a fireplace. I handed Dorina the letter and kissed my mother on the cheek. Once Dorina finished reading it she stood up and gave me a hug and a kiss. 

"Do what needs to be done and come home to us." 

"You know I always will," kissing her again. "I'll triple the guard around you. Keep it hidden and only use it when you need to." 

Mirena looked at me strangely, Dorina nodded and sat back down. 

"Mother, I had to see to an urgent matter that has arisen. Please stay close to Dorina. I have told Dimirtu to keep watch over you. There will also be a forty man guard around the both of you at all times." 

Before she could say anything I ran to the armory, picking up a few grenades I stored them into a pack before grabbing a bundle of fuses. Leaving one of the weapons that Da Vinci had invented with Dorina was a good idea, no one expected a woman to have a dagger, much less a dagger with a gun built into it. It had taken nearly a year of tinkering to get the damn thing to work. Who knew Ubisoft was onto something when they said Da Vinci designed the hidden blades. I had a set built into my gauntlets sans the gun, I felt as if cutting instruments were more my thing in this lifetime.

The town blacksmith had a wonderful time studying the diagrams and building the strange weapons. A hefty sack of silver and the man had swore on his family's life that he would keep their creating a secret. 

Throwing on my traveling cloak I made my way out to the stables after deciding that flying there was way too conspicuous and would lead to questions that I didn't want to answer. Passing by Dorina and my mother I kissed Dorina as I bid them farewell. 

Outside men had gathered in a formation. I addressed them all with as much authority my voice could carry. 

"Listen up, I will be attending to an urgent matter. I am going to rely on you lot for the safety of Lady Mirena and Lady Dorina. Demitru here, will be acting commander while I am gone. Am I understood?"

The men all agreed in unison and followed Demitru as he outlined a simple guard rotation based around the movements of my mother and Dorina. 

As I neared the stable I met with a smaller group of men, these were my elite few. Hand picked by me specializing in being covert. I had trained them personally with my previous life skills. From picking locks to assassinations. Not even Dorina knew they existed, they would blend in with my servants and functioned as my spys. I quickly told them to remain unseen while they shadowed my family. They all quietly disappeared after their orders had been issued. 

Was this a bit overkill? Sure, but one could never be too safe. I remember Mehmed tricking Vlad in the movie after all. Another thing my condition granted me was a perfect recall of my memories. It was as if every single memory was organized in neat shelves in my head. I thanked One Above All silently as I mounted Roach and rode off towards Castle Dracula. 

I stopped to allow Roach to rest a few hours later, I lay a pile of hay in front of her as I looked around my surroundings. Fresh tracks covered the road, a small company of men had passed by here recently. The snow was beginning to melt and the ground was turning to mud. Looking off to the distance I could see the castle, having this enhanced vision was handy. Though I knew that the castle was still a few days' ride away I could not spot any tents. 

I used Excalibur to cut down a tree and made short work of it, setting a small camp up. I started a small campfire after digging a hole to prevent smoke from giving away my position. Cooking some frozen venison I had over the fire I watched as the sun began to set in the horizon. Despite being immune to sunlight I was still much more comfortable in the night. Mostly because I had the advantage of being able to see perfectly fine as well as the natural cover. 

I ate my meal in silence and lay down on the makeshift bed of logs I had made. The stars had been beautiful before, but now with enhanced vision I felt as if I was standing right up there along with them. Not even pictures in my past life could compare to what I saw now. I closed my eyes and willed sleep to take me off to the realm of dreams. 

Waking up just at the crack of dawn I erased the signs of my camp and got back onto Roach. As I rode down the trails I spotted Turkish tents in the distance, slowing down I made my way around the camp, no point in being spotted now. Once I had safely avoided the Turks' attention I rode hard towards my fathers castle. I reached the outskirts of the town a day later. Things were oddly quiet, windows had been barred and shops had been closed. As I approached the gates I lowered the hood to my cloak and greeted the guards. They lit up in recognition and immediately opened the gates. Riding into the castle grounds I dismounted and my spurs clinked onto the cobblestone. Looking around not much had changed, handing the Roach's reins to a stable boy I was greeted by Petru. 

"Casimir, what brings you around." 

Clasping arms with the man I offered him a smile. 

"Just visiting, where is my father?" 

His expression darkened, "Prince Vlad has gone to meet with the Turks. They paid us a visit on Easter demanding the Prince went along with them." 

"Petru, Easter was days ago, I received a letter from Vlad less than four days ago, he told me he would be off to negotiate with Mehmed." 

"Your father had written that letter once he received yours less than a day later the Sultans envoys untrusted our Easter feast. Vlad left a day or so ago." 

Sighing, I started to walk towards the castle. "Well, I might as well wait for him, is my brother home?" 

Before he could answer the doors burst open and Ingeras ran into my arms. He had grown substantially in the years. 

"Casimir! You came to visit!" He shouted as he threw his arms around me in embrace. 

Laughing I set him back down on his feet. "Of course I came to visit, you're my favorite brother." 

Pouting, he crosses his arms. "I'm your only brother." 

Petru shakes his head and heads back to the castle as I chase Ingeras around threatening him with tickles. I didn't know why I hated him so much in the movie. The little guy was adorable. Maybe it was because I grew up with him this time around. 

After we settled down I had servants prepare my old room as I wandered around the near empty castle. Memories were created in these halls. I smiled as I saw the family portrait hung over the thrones in the great hall. I passed by a painting of Dorina and I on our wedding day in one of the halls as I entered my room. Kicking off my boots I stripped down to my underclothes while leaning my sword against the tub. Once I was ready I lowered myself into the warm water and let out a sigh of satisfaction. 

Cleaning the dirt that had built up on my skin was always a satisfying process. Even in my past life I would take several showers a day just to relieve stress. I dipped a towel in a clean bucket of warm water and draped it over my face sinking further into the tub. I soon drifted off into sleep only to be awakened by knocking at my door. I toweled off and slipped on a clean set of clothes from my pack. Dinner had been prepared, I thanked the servant as I took the tray of food. Closing my door again I set the food laden tray on my desk and sat down before wolfing down the food. 

Even if I didn't need to eat anymore I still enjoyed food immensely. The flavors were enhanced with my new senses and it was always a blast eating new things. Once I finished I set the tray back out in the hallway and closed the door to my room. Looking around at what little I had left behind I started to reminisce. 

I heard a heartbeat approaching my door and I opened it before they could knock. Ingeras looked at me in shock and I grinned at him. 

"How did you know I was coming?" 

"It's a secret," I smiled as he pouted. "What is it, little brother?" 

"Fathers back, did you want to greet him together?" 

Ruffling his hair I stepped out of my room after picking up my sword. We walked towards the great hall and stepped out to the main courtyard just as Vlad was dismounting his horse. The frown on his face morphed into a wide smile as he saw us waiting for him by the steps. 

Pulling the both of us into hugs stepping back he ruffled Ingeras' hair and slapped my arm. 

"You've grown taller Casimir, I can only hope Ingeras does the same." 

Ingeras slaps Vlads hand away and stomps back into the castle as we laugh. 

"Father, what news do you have of the Ottomans?" 

Vlads smile turned serious. "They have made a demand." 

"Ten thousand boys?" 

"Ten thousand boys and your brother." He confirmed. 

Growling I tightened my grip on Excalibur. Noticing he puts an arm on my shoulder. 

"They will come to take Ingeras tomorrow, I am ashamed but I need to ask for your help Casimir." 

Shaking my head I looked at my father. "You need not ever be ashamed to ask for my help father. I will go with you tomorrow, I only ask that you keep it a secret should a fight happen." 

Vlad agrees and we head back into the castle, plans formulating in my mind as I spoke with Vlad. As of the moment he had a standing army of less than ten thousand men. If I called my army we could have a combined force of no more than fifteen thousand. Though I could single-handedly wipe out the ottomans I dare not draw too much attention to myself. I remembered what happened when Vlad had been outed in the movie. If they lay a hand on anyone in my family all bets were off though. 

Once we finalized the plan we bid each other good night, I walked back to my room deep in thought. Once behind my doors I barred them shut and I opened a rift with Excalibur. I pulled my armor out along with a few extra knives and a cloak. Closing the rift I looked at my armor. I had the craftsmen model it after my fathers crimson armor. Though I had them oxidize mine giving it a blackened appearance. The family crest of two dragons roaring at each other with a sword in the center was etched into the chest plate then lined with silver. The cloak was embroidered with the same crest. 

A while ago I had managed to teach the blacksmiths to create alloyed steels. I had a chainmail hauberk made entirely out of tempered high carbon steel. The armorer was amazed at the strength of the steel. I was still raking in profits from shops selling the steel. Swords made of the stuff were much tougher and stayed sharper. Most of the swords beforehand had been made of iron or low grade steel. A majority of the guards at my villa were armed with high carbon steel spears and swords. Some had fire lances, Leonardo Da Vinci had a few diagrams on making better firearms but the technology of this time was still lacking. 

I set my armor on a stand and lay in my bed, tomorrow seemed like a century away.