The snap of a whip cut through the hush of the castle.  Gwen smiled to herself, knowing Richter was training once again.  She followed the cracks through the halls, until she reached the balcony overlooking the long gallery.  As expected, Richter was below.  She watched him for a few moments, admiring how he expertly knocked flames off of the candles with his whip.  The enchanted candles re-ignited themselves within moments for him to strike them again.  Never once did he miss.  Gwen didn’t think she had ever seen him slip up.  Interested, she called out to him.

“Is that difficult, Lord Belmont?”

Richter straightened up and looked above him to catch Gwen propped against the railing.

“You seek to take up the whip?” he called back to her with a laugh.

She shrugged.  “Just curious.  You make it look effortless.  Though, I can’t imagine it is.”

“Why don’t you join me down here?”

Without any further urging, she descended the staircase and crossed the gallery to where he stood.  He motioned her closer when she reached him.

“Which hand is your dominant?” he asked when she was standing before him.

She held up her right hand, and he placed the handle against her palm.  It felt strange to have the legendary Vampire Killer in her grasp.  There was definite energy inside of it.  She’d heard so much about this weapon.  She knew of all the monsters it had vanquished.  A vampire such as herself had no business holding an item of such reverence.  In fact, her hand tingled as she held it.  Part of her worried if this was a setup for her own demise.

“Relax,” he said with a squeeze of her shoulders.  “Do remember it is a holy weapon.  Try not to strike yourself and you should be fine.”

She gasped at the thought of being the one to slay herself.  Richter must have read her mind considering the hearty laughter that followed.

“Worry not.  ‘Tis said it does not heed those outside the Belmont clan,” he told her.  “So, I doubt you’d do much damage with it.  Perhaps a welt.  Here.”

Without warning, he got right behind her and curled his fingers over hers.

“You will need to hold it firmly.  Bring your arm straight up, elbow locked.”

This was torture, she thought to herself as he guided her arm up in the air.  He knew what he was doing when he stood with his chest to her back, one hand over hers, the other around her waist.  He breathed instructions in her ear, causing the fine hair on her neck to stand.  It was like he was trying to make her nervous and flustered so she slipped up.

“Keep it clear from your body when you snap it back down in front of you.  Let the weight of your arm coming down do most of the work.”

His arm slowly came down with hers.  He let her hand go and took a step back.

“Now, you try,” he said when she looked over her shoulder at him.  “Keep your motions smooth.”

She closed her eyes and took a moment to settle her nerves.  Her eyes opened again with determination.  As instructed, she raised her arm, then let it fall.  The leather formed a loop above her head and made a loud crack as her arm came back down.  She gasped in delight once she had done it.  Smiling wide, she spun around to seek his feedback.  With his arms folded in front of his chest, he gave a nod of approval.

“Not bad,” Richter said.  “How does it feel to be on the other end of the whip, vampire?”

“Exhilarating!” she replied.  “I can see why you love this so much!”

Richter’s cheeks took a rosy hue as he shook his head and laughed.

“Want to try again?” he asked.  “Do you think you can strike that candelabra?”

“That one?” she asked, pointing at the one on the wall closest to them.  Richter nodded.

“Focus and give it a try.”

Gwen gripped the whip tighter and focused her attention on the flickering flame that he had declared her target.  She repeated the steps he provided her earlier, which did nothing to get the tip of the whip near the candle.  Richter laughed aloud at her attempt, then pulled the whip from her hands.

“Step back,” he warned.  After she did so, he raised the whip and knocked the candle’s light out with one fluid motion.

“How do you do that?” she asked in awe.

Richter merely shrugged.

“Oh, come now, Lord Belmont,” she laughed.  “Surely, there must be some trick to it.”

“The trick is I’ve been training since the moment I learned to stand,” said Richter as he coiled the whip and placed it back on his belt.  “Son of a Belmont, you have no other choice.”

Richter’s words struck a chord with Gwen.  Before she could think better of it, she ended up speaking her mind.

“…  So, your fate was forced upon you as well?”

Richter froze.  The amusement that he had been wearing disappeared, leaving Gwen weary that she spoke out of line.

“Forgive me, my lord,” she quickly said.  “I apologize for being so bl-…”

“… It was.”

Gwen stiffened at his interruption.  She opened her mouth to apologize again, but the words wouldn’t form.

“It was,” repeated Richter.  His voice bore a bitter edge.  “And without it, what good am I to this world?  What need for the shepherd when the wolves are all gone?”

Her hand reached out to console him, but was promptly brushed away.  He turned from her, rejecting her sympathy.

“‘Tis what brought me back to this castle.  ‘Tis what nagged at my soul four long years before it struck me to take it back with my own hands,” he spoke without looking back.  “I refuse to accept my story has come to an end.  If it is my destiny to fight vampires, if I was born and raised with that purpose, I shall carry this whip and do so ‘til my dying breath.  I will do so.  I won’t go down as the one who slayed the count, yet still failed to rescue my own.  I’ll be the strongest Belmont.  My name shall be among the ones passed down like this very whip.”

Sensing his mounting irritation, Gwen stepped back. 

“I… I will leave you to your practice, my lord,” she quietly said, feeling it would be for the best for him to be alone.  After speaking, she stood in place to allow him a chance to voice if he’d prefer her to stay.  When he did not respond, she took that as the sign to take her leave.

Richter listened as she walked away.  The moment he no longer heard her footsteps, he let out a sigh.  It was not his intent to run the vampiress away.  When she was around, she served as a decent distraction.  He didn’t feel so insignificant in the grand scheme of the bloodline when she was at his side offering him consistent praise.  His frustration had been growing recently.  The practice she spoke of was his way of letting off some of that steam.  All this time alone in the castle was prompting him to dwell on things he’d prefer not to entertain.  He couldn’t help but ruminate on his destiny, as the reminders of it surrounded him.  Each day not facing Dracula felt like another one wasted.

Richter ran a hand through his hair before scrubbing at his face.  Brooding was doing him no favors, and suppertime was approaching.  He began to walk in the direction of the dinner hall, but paused upon realizing he did not wish to eat his meal alone.  His meal would not be satisfying with such a bitter taste left in his mouth.  With a turn on his heel, he began to strut in the opposite direction, the same direction in which Gwen had taken moments before.  His feet began to carry him towards the library.  He hadn’t the slightest idea if the vampire could dine with him, as he had not once seen her consume anything, but he sought her company regardless.

Upon reaching the heavy oak doors of the library, Richter pushed them open and slipped inside.  He looked around cautiously, but curiously, realizing he had never stepped foot inside of this part of the castle.  There were shelves as far as the eye could see, lined with more books than one could ever hope to read in their lifetime.  Richter idly wondered how many that vampiress had conquered before abandoning that thought to scan the room in search of her.  As expected, she was indeed where Richter had anticipated finding her.  A grin crossed his face as he stalked closer.

Gwendolyna sat beneath a window inside of the library.  Now that she knew the sunshine was not detrimental to her, this was her new favorite spot.  After reading by candlelight for so long, she was stunned by how much more comfortable the natural light provided by the sun hitting the pages made reading.  The warmth of day blessing her cold skin made for a cozy atmosphere that almost had her forgetting that she was still within the castle.  So enthralled in her story, she knew not that she had company until the book was pulled from her hands.  She looked up to catch Richter smirking down at her.

“What is it you’re reading?” Richter asked and held the book up.  “Surely no more spells.”

“‘Tis just poetry, Lord Belmont!” she insisted.

“Poetry…”

His eyes skimmed the page she was on.  Brows furrowed as he tried to make sense of it.  The vampiress was strange indeed.  He knew not the language that graced the page.  The text looked foreign.

“Do you read?” she asked him.

He shook his head and handed the book back over to her.  “Not as often as I should.”

“Oh, I see,” she said with a small laugh.  “What brings you into the library, my lord?  I’ve not seen you in here before.”

“I’ve come to fetch you,” he revealed. 

“Me?” she asked.  She shut the book and placed it to the side.  “Is something wrong?”

“I’ve decided you are to dine with me, my pet.”

“Oh?”  The look of apprehension vanished, replaced with a soft smile as she looked up to him.  “I’m honored to have the opportunity.  When will this be?”

“Right this instant.  Come.  Let us go.”

He held her hand out for her, which she accepted to be pulled to her feet.  Together, the two left the library.

Not a word was exchanged as they crossed the castle.  To Richter, the vampiress was always so quiet.  It was a pity, he thought, seeing as he did enjoy the sound of her voice.  Hearing her speak was a breath of fresh air when compared to the stale silence that had become such a constant in his life.

The table was already set for one when the couple entered the dining hall.  Richter pulled out the chair to the right of the head of the table, and gestured for Gwen to sit.  Once she was comfortable, he sat down himself.

“Would you care for some?” Richter asked as he began to fix his plate.

Gwen shook her head.

“Forgive me, but I will have to decline,” she said.

“I figured as much, but did not want to be rude.”  He gestured to the bottle of wine.  “Could I interest you in some wine, at least?”

With a reserved smile, she nodded.  “I suppose that could not hurt.”

He poured a glass of wine and placed it in front of her before pouring his own.

“Thank you, Lord Belmont,” she said.  He gave her a nod of his own before he began to eat.

After a moment, he realized how awkward it was to have her patiently watch as he ate.  He found himself wishing again that she would be a little more sociable, lest he go mad from the stifling hush of the castle.  Perhaps if he got her started on something of interest, he could finally get a decent conversation out of her.

“What was the language of that poem you were reading?” asked Richter.  “I did not recognize it.”

“‘Twas in Latin.”

As he nodded, he thought back to the slip of paper he had seen her with before.  He remembered being able to read the instructions, though the spell itself was in another language.  At the time, he thought nothing of it.  Now, he found himself curious.

“You can read multiple languages?”

“I can.  I picked up Latin because most of the books in the library are many centuries old.  There are a few in modern languages, but those options are severely limited in comparison.”

Richter considered it fascinating that she could understand such a variety of texts.  Her knowledge could possibly be to his benefit someday.  He quickly realized that this talent of hers could also be of use in the present.

“I see,” he said, pausing to sip his wine.  “I must admit, I’m growing bored in this castle awaiting the resurrection.  I only imagine this is how you have felt for many years.”

Gwen laughed and nodded.  “Yes.  Time does begin to drag.”

“Indeed,” said Richter.  “That said, I think I’d like for you to read to me some time.  Perhaps in the evenings.  I do not know Latin, but it must be more entertaining than nothing.”

“Really?”

Richter didn’t think he had ever seen her face light up as bright as it did in that moment, nor had he ever heard her so animated.  The triumph of winning her over welled in his chest.

“Yes, really,” he assured her.

“Oh, it would be an honor, Lord Belmont!” exclaimed Gwen.  “What kind of stories do you like?”

“I have no preference,” he said.  “What kind of stories grab your attention?”

“There’s not much I won’t read,” she said with a giggle.  “I enjoy all sorts, my lord.”

“Like what?” he asked.  The way she shrugged had him feeling she was self-conscious about her preferences, so he decided to probe.  “Pray tell, what was that poem you were reading?”

“Oh…”  She tucked her head away bashfully.  “‘Twas… romance.”

“Romance?”  Richter leaned closer to her chair.  Truth be told, he figured as much.  From what he gathered, that vampire had all the traits of a hopeless romantic.  A smile spread on his face as he observed her shy nod.  “It doesn’t give you any ideas, does it?”

“No,” she said with a frantic shake of her head.  “Of course, not.”

“I think I shall be the judge,” he teased.  “I want to hear what kind of silly love stories you fill your head with.  Perhaps I could learn a thing or two.”

This quip earned a laugh out of her.  She then reached for her previously untouched glass of wine.  If vampires were capable of blushing, Richter knew her face would be as red as the liquid that filled the chalice.  She tipped it to her lips and drank half before sitting it back down.

“Yes, Lord Belmont,” she said.  “Of course.  If you do like romantic stories, I can think of a few titles that you may enjoy.”

With a satisfied smile that he had successfully broke the ice, Richter lifted his own glass of wine and took another sip. 

“Is that so?” he asked.  He took it upon himself to top her off before refilling his own as she nodded in response.  “Well, I look forward to hearing them…  Just pick something out next time you’re in the library and bring it to bed with you.  It does not have to be this evening.”

Gwen’s glass was once again brought to her lips.  When she sat it back down, he noticed she was fighting back a grin.  Her shift in expression left him confused.  He didn’t recall saying anything that could have amused her so much.

“Did I say something humorous?” he asked.  She shook her head, which caused the smile she was attempting to hide to grow wider.  Noticing her grip on the glass, he put the pieces together.  The vampire was thoroughly tipsy.  Richter found himself smiling too.

“I see…  Wine goes right through you, doesn’t it?”

Covering her face, she nodded.  He leaned in again, using his hand to pull hers away from her face.

“Come now,” he urged.  “Tell me what tickled you so.”

With Richter still holding her hand, she adjusted it so she could thread her fingers through his.

“Do you enjoy… adult stories, my lord?”

“Adult?”

She could only respond with another giggle, leaving Richter to ponder her question.  He was left to assume based on the conversation that had happened up until that point the stories she spoke of involved romance between adults.  Realization soon sunk in.  She had to be talking about those that explored the more intimate side of these relationships.  If this were the case, he could understand why she had gotten so bashful.

“I was not aware of the existence of obscene stories,” he admitted.  “Many of the books in the library back home pertained to hunting or were accounts of my ancestors.”

“It seems the Count was also a romantic,” she said.  Though she whispered, her voice had not lowered in the slightest as she leaned forward to share with him these secrets.  “There is no lack of erotic material within the shelves of the library.”

Erotic.  That confirmed it.

Richter raised a brow.  Though he did not wish to think of Dracula indulging in pleasures of the flesh, he was more concerned that the vampire before him was sharing with him this information.  He was thoroughly amused at how casually she spoke of this.

“Do you?”

“Do I…?”

“Enjoy those filthy stories?”

Looking away, she gave a sly shrug that was all the confirmation he needed.

“Naughty vampire,” he teased, which earned him more giggles from her.

“I am not naughty!  I’ll have you know I have only read a few,” she confessed.

“A few,” Richter repeated with a grin.  “And of those few, you believe I would enjoy them?”

“Did you not say you wished to learn a thing or two?  I only want to assist your quest for knowledge, my lord.”

Richter let go of her hand and straightened back up in his seat.

“I should fill you with wine more often,” he chuckled.  “You are quite entertaining like this.”

He lifted his chalice and raised it, then cast a glance in her direction that had her following suit.  The glasses clinked together before both indulged in another sip.

“To answer your question,” he said as he sat the chalice down and replaced it with his fork.  “I would not be opposed if you did wish to share with me that kind of work.”

She smiled and nodded as he resumed his meal.  The silence returned, though this time it was much more comfortable than it was before.  She swirled the wine around in her own glass as she watched him, still grinning.

“‘Twas such a relief that you cannot read Latin, my lord,” she said with a giggle.

This unprompted confession caused Richter to almost choke on the last bite he took.

“That’s what you were reading earlier?” he asked after managing to swallow.

The vampiress hid behind her hands again.  Her shoulders shook as she devolved into more immature laughter.  Rather than feel annoyed, such a conversation had Richter feeling just as playful as she, and he realized he could waste time on his supper no longer.

“I think I have had enough this evening,” he said, rising from his seat.  “Let us retire.”

“To the library?” she earnestly asked.

After a chuckle, Richter shook his head.

“I think you are in no state to read tonight, my pet,” he said as he helped her to her feet.  He took note of the way she swayed when she stood.  “In fact, I’m not even sure you can make it across the castle to bed.”

“I can manage,” she said to him.

“Are you certain?”

This inquiry earned a huff from her.

“You are just looking for a reason to carry me again.”

With arms now folded in front of his chest, Richter raised a brow.  It took Gwen’s inebriated mind a moment to process that smirk of his and what she had said to cause it.

“Wait, no,” she said, holding her hands in front of her as she took a shaky step back.  “No, I-I didn’t mean tha-!”

Before she could finish her sentence, Richter had lifted her up and tossed her over his shoulder like he had done before.

“Put me down, Lord Belmont!” she squealed, squirming in his grip.  “Put me down this instant!”

“I think you like this,” he teased.  “That’s reason enough.”

“I most certainly do not!”

“I think you do,” he said and walked out the dining hall into one of the many corridors.

“Let me go!”

“I will not.  Not ‘til we reach our destination.”

In spite of her protests, she was indeed giggling still as she writhed.  She quit squirming eventually.  She had also grown quiet, but he did hear her mumble something that he didn’t quite catch.

“What was that?”

“You like this, too.  Don’t you, my lord?”

“… Too?” he said.  He wished he could see her face in that moment.

“Ooh!  You’re impossible!”

In her frustration, she went limp, causing Richter to crack up.  Upon laughing, he realized that he may have been a touch flushed from the wine as well.  He wasn’t anywhere near as tipsy as she, but he had indulged in more than the typical glass he had with his meals and was feeling a comfortable buzz compared to his earlier irritation before dinner.

It was a decent distance from where they began to the master’s chamber.  Over the course of their walk, Richter noticed that the vampiress had become less rowdy.  At first, he thought she was pouting and he was going to let her do so.

“Don’t tell me you’ve exhausted yourself,” he said upon noting how quiet she had become.  Her head swayed from side to side against his shoulder.  “It’s rude to work me up like you did at the table and then expect to get away with it.”

She did not respond, but it was not necessary.  The door that Richter sought finally came into view.  He pushed it open with his foot and stepped inside with her, then closed it behind himself and walked to the bed.

Gwen did not realize how heavy and numb the alcohol rendered her limbs until Richter tossed her down onto it.  He knelt beside her on the mattress.  When she rolled her head to look in his direction, he laughed at how groggy she now looked. 

“I think you’re too far gone to fuck tonight,” said Richter.  “I, too, am exhausted.  Truthfully, such a dull day has rendered me weary.”

Hearing that was a disappointment and caused Gwen to whine. 

“Oh, listen to you.  You can’t even tell me what you want.”

A whimper followed, further proving his point.  He shook his head and laid down by her side. 

“Shh… Don’t pout,” he said and pulled her close.  “You know there will be plenty of nights for that, my pet.  Especially if you intend to read filthy things to me.”

She laughed softly.

“Do you really want me to read to you, my lord?” she asked.

“Why not?” he replied.  “I could use the distraction.”