Son Of The Dragon

II 

16 YEARS LATER

Casimir POV

"Casimir, get down from that tree. Your mother is looking for you." 

"Father, can you guarantee that mother will not put me in an uncomfortable outfit?"

"That I can not son, now come down before your mother has both our heads" 

I looked at Vlad Tepes, my father, future Voivode of Wallacia. I had been in this world for sixteen years now. My mother and father first thought there was something wrong with me when I didn't cry like a normal baby. 

I had said my first words at barely a year old after being exposed to the language daily, and I had started walking earlier than expected as well, much to my mother's chagrin. She would follow me around the castle ground as I walked around exploring my new home. 

Surprisingly, despite being made almost entirely out of stone, the fireplaces kept the rooms relatively warm. Except for the main hall, in which the hearth would only be lit during feasts or events.

As the years passed, I had built up a routine of waking early in the morning to go for a run around the castle and work on my fitness by helping my fathers people around the small town. I kept fit mostsly out of habit, but also because of the fact that a fucking vampire was playing barbie doll house with a bunch of skeletons in a mountain that was uncomfortably close by the castle. 

At first my mother had protested the idea of her 'baby boy' doing dirty work, but my father had wholeheartedly agreed with my actions. Stating that building a good rapport with my subjects was solidifying my hold as a good heir. I shook my head free from my thoughts. 

Apparently my father had secured an alliance with a neighboring lord. All it took was my betrothal to their daughter whom I would meet today. 

I had just turned 16 three months ago and every day I had expected the Ottoman to show up. However it never came and soon I had relaxed a bit, thinking back to my engagement. This didn't happen in the movie, nor do I remember any of Vlad Tepes' sons getting married. Hell, I don't even remember if Vlad actually had any sons in real life. All I know is that my being here had changed something in the plot of the movie. 

At least that's what I thought, when my mother fell pregnant once again a sense of dread fell into my heart. If it was a boy then the plot would progress and Mehmed would demand that my father hand over his son as a tribute just as his father, my grandfather, had done with him and my uncle. 

I sighed as I jumped down from the tree, landing with a loud thud as I walked over to my father. My odd behavior didn't seem to phase him, he always had a knowing look in his eyes. Years ago he had explained that the men in our family had been blessed with superior strength. I had explored this growing up, anything from lifting potted plants to the chests in the castle's treasury when I had been a bit older. 

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I tugged at the collar of my tunic, damn thing was way too tight. 

"Casimir stop fidgeting the guest will arrive soon" 

I looked at my mother to complain, but she sent me a glare that promised pain later on. 

It wasn't like she beat me, her idea of punishment was making me read to my unborn sibling or to give my father a foot massage. I'd rather read than be anywhere near my fathers feet. He could probably knock out the master vampire with the stench. 

Grumbling under my breath, I looked ahead once more as the doors opened and an influx of people arrived. The entourage of people made their way over to my family. We had been seated on what passed as thrones. Father and mother next to each other, and my smaller throne chair at my fathers right side. It had taken a while getting used to life as medieval nobility, from people bowing and people gawking when we were in town. 

I shifted in my seat again as the group of people split in the middle and stood off to the side. My breath hitched as I watched who I had been betrothed to finally enter the main hall. 

Her hair was like fire in contrast to the brunettes and blondes that took up a majority of the population. My own hair had started a head lighter than my mothers but slowly darkened till I looked like a shorter version of my father. I watched as this anomaly of a girl made her way to us and politely curtsied to my parents than to me. 

"God she's beautiful…" I whispered 

My father stifled a laugh and my mother glared at me, the girl looked down as the start of a blush bloomed on her porcelain skin. 

I looked away in embarrassment, I had said it louder than I intended. 

The girls father soon entered the hall along with her mother and bowed to my father. 

"Lord Vlad, lady Mirena. This is my daughter Dorina" 

"Lord Vasile, it is our honor to welcome your family into our home. This is our son Casimir, I trust the journey here brought no troubles?" 

"Lord Vla-"

"Please, we are old friends enough with the titles Vasile" 

I watched as my father stood and walked over to the man and his wife. My mother had also stood and walked over though she was mainly speaking with Vasile's wife. I looked at Dorina as she still awkwardly stood in front of me. 

I stood up from my seat and made my way over to her. She blushed even more as I drew closer, extending my hand. She took my hand and I placed a kiss on her knuckles. 

"I'm Casimir, it is my pleasure to meet you Dorina" I said with a smile. 

The poor girl looked like she was going to faint, still holding her hand I drew her towards the doors. Weaving our way through the guests we finally found our way out into the castle gardens. 

"It's beautiful…" 

I looked over to her, she was looking at the roses that my mother had planted around the small fountain. 

"Figured you could use some air." 

"t-Thank you, I was really nervous coming here when-" she trailed off

"What made you nervous?" 

She took a deep breath and looked at me. There was a strange familiarity to her that I could not place my finger on. I looked into her green eyes and waited for her to continue. 

Breaking eye contact she began to fidget with her fingers, looking around the garden at the other guests who were talking amongst themselves. 

"You would never believe me if I told you." She said with a sigh 

"You would probably tell your father that I am a witch or that I'm crazy." 

I looked at her again, trying to make eye contact once more. I placed a finger under her chin and lifted her head. Our eyes met and she blushed again, 

"Dorina, try me. I've seen my fair share of crazy" I said as I took her hand to offer her some comfort 

Dorina took a deep breath before locking eyes with me once again. The blush was gone, I felt her squeeze my hand and I smiled encouraging her to continue. 

"Your father…." My father? "Your father is going to become a vampire if he isn't already" 

I felt my heart skip a beat, frowning I look into her eyes for any signs of her joking. 

"And you say this, why?" I asked slowly 

"Because you're all characters in ficti-" 

I put a hand over her mouth and stopped her. She looked at me wide eyed as I took her hand and dragged her away towards my room. 

"Casimir, where are you taking Dorina?" Called my mother as she made her way over to the garden 

"To speak mother, I'm only taking her to my room, just to speak nothing else." I called back still pulling along the redhead 

This was big, she knew that this word was from a movie. I felt my heart skip a beat in excitement, I wasn't totally alone in this world. 

Dorina POV

"Oh god, he didn't believe me… what if he takes me to the dungeons after his 'talk' with me" I thought

His hand felt warm in mine as he pulled me along through the castle and its corridors. Finally we stopped in a decently sized room and he spun around and grinned. As he approached me I prepared for the worst, as his arms extended I closed my eyes tight. 

"This is it, fifteen years in this hell hole of a world and I'm going to get strangled to death by this unnaturally good looking teenager." 

I felt warmth, his hands never wrapped around my neck to choke me. I slowly opened my eyes and immediately I was floored. Casimir had wrapped his arms around me and was teary eyed. 

Casimir POV

I took a deep breath as I held Dorina close, I felt tears well up in my eyes and I pulled away to wipe them off. 

Looking at her baffled expression, an idea sprung into my mind. Was it mean to prank this one person who I could possibly get along with swimmingly? Probably, but the look on her face would be so worth it when I tell her that she isn't alone. 

Dorina POV

I watched as Casimir wiped away the tears in his eyes and looked down as if deep in thought. Then he grabbed my shoulders and pulled me into another hug as he slowly stroked my hair. 

"You poor poor girl, I am so sorry." He said 

'What?!?!' I mentally screamed 'oh no, he didn't believe me. He thinks I'm a loon.' 

I start to panic and push Casimir away. He had a look of shock on his face. 

"There's no monsters here Dorina, whatever scared those silly thoughts into your head isn't real" 

Blood rushed to my face, 'oh god, he really does think I'm crazy' 

I felt myself slowly tear up, I had screwed up big time. Who would believe a woman in this day and age where women who had skin that was too flawless was considered a witch. I started to make my way over to the door when I felt Casimir pull me into another hug from behind. 

"Dorina… it's okay, I was only kidding." 

"What?!" 

He flinched as I spun around to meet his gaze. 

"I know. I know what you're talking about." 

My heart skipped a beat. I took a step back and stopped as I felt the door that led to my freedom against my back. 

"Dorina, did you come from another world too" 

I felt the cold sweat run down my back against my dress. My vision dimmed and I teetered forward as my world went black. 

Casimir POV

'Damn I guess I went too far'

Dorina mumbled something as I carried her over to my bed. Maybe acting like I thought she was crazy was too much. As I lay her down on the large bed I sat down next to her passed out form. 

She really is a beauty, I wonder if she was a redhead in her past life too. It's not like she inherited it from her parents, unless her grandparents had red hair. Lost in thought I stood up and walked over to the small study I had set up in the corner of my room. 

I pulled out a leather bound journal from a shelf and sat down. Opening the journal to an empty page I began to write

March 14, 1466 

Another entry, for another intresting event. Today I met Dorina, she came from the world that came from. At first I thought that I had been hallucinating and that I had fallen on my head after jumping from that tree. Then she confirmed it by passing out and nearly head butting me on her way down. I caught her of course, like hell I'd let her hit the ground after my joke. She is also to be my fiancé, Vlad, my father has secured an alliance with a neighboring lord named Vasile. So far not a lot has changed from the canon plot, other than my birth, Dorina, and the alliance with Vasile. I must maintain my vigilance and ensure that my family does not suffer their fate like in the movie. If Dorina is to be a part of my life I will ensure that she is safe. I can't let the only other person that will know the real me to die off. Maybe I should visit the master vampire soon. Or maybe the friars know of a way to permanently destroy him or something. But that would leave the ottomans. One step at a time I guess, when that day comes I will fight till my dying breath to keep them all safe.  

Casimir Tepes  

Formally known as Brent Whitfield SSgt. SOF US Army  

I sighed, closing the journal and replacing it in its hiding place beneath a loose tile by my fireplace. I heard Dorina stirring behind me. I brushed the ash that had stuck to my knees as I stood up and turned to my bed. 

Dorina was looking straight at me with disbelieving eyes. 

"What did you do to me" she said quietly 

"Uh, I told you that I believed you and then you passed out" 

She immediately stood up and stomped on over to me, despite the look of fury on her face I couldn't help but smile at the adorable display. She stood in front of me and pointed a finger at my face. 

I grabbed her finger and lowered her hand, intertwining our fingers. I looked at her and smiled even wider. 

"You know, in sixteen years I have never had anyone that actually knew me as I was." 

She looked at me, slight confusion still in her eyes. 

" Oh for fucks sake, I'm saying that I came from the same world you came from." I said in English 

I watched as Dorina's eyes grew comically large as she took a step back, nearly tripping on her own dress. Tears started to freely flow out of her eyes, I pulled her in for a hug which she returned. 

" You ass, I really thought you would tell them about me and for a second I thought you were going to kill me"  

I held her closer and brushed her hair slowly as the door to my room quietly opened. My mother peeked in and saw Dorina in my arms. Sending a smug smile my way she stepped back out and closed the door as quietly as she could. 

" I haven't spoken in English in so long, it's kind of weird isn't it?"  

Dorina looked up at me " What do you mean weird?"  

" I mean you and I have been speaking Romanian for years now, and yet we can still speak English without issue. Hell, you still have a slight accent." 

Dorina tilted her head, listening as I spoke. She pulled away from me and wiped the tears from her eyes. 

"You're still an ass"  

"Oh c'mon, it was a joke"  

"Fuck you! I thought I was going to die"  

"Did I mention that you are drop dead gorgeous?"  

That did it, Dorina blushed hard and stopped cursing me out in English. With a pout she turned around and stomped out of my room. 

"Where are you going?" I called out to her

"Back to my parents, so I can tell them to call the wedding off" she replied in English 

I laughed as I ran after her, she turned around and saw me following behind her. She quickened the pace with a barely concealed giggle. 

"My love, wait for me." 

"Fuck off asshole" she yelled back as she bunched up her dress as she  ran, now openly laughing. 

Maybe my luck wasn't as shitty as I thought, as I followed her through the corridors. A felt the corners of my lips twitch into a rare smile as I chased after the redhead. Maybe things would actually go my way this time around.