Son of The Dragon

A prince owes himself to his kingdom, his people and his crown.

Frank was pretty tired of hearing this every time general schoonover caught him trying to get away from his royal chores.

“Prince Francis, you need to learn every aspect of your land. The mountains, the rivers, the forests and every creature that lives within” The old man made a face of discomfort and pointed to the paper in the desk. “And strategy, if your father’s attempt to deal with the ottomans fails, your kingship will begin way sooner than you think”

“Who are the ottomans?” The eleven year old asked.

Then the door opened, his father, king Mario entered the room, his armor still on and his face was odd, something happened, something bad. And the boy knew.

“The ottomans, my dear son, are our biggest threat” The king sat in front of his child and the general stood by his side in silence. “They came from the south, from a land different to ours, with swords and a different God”

For a young prince who’s never been out to any country besides his own, every tale was amazing, specially his father’s.

But this specific tale wasn’t as interesting as the others. The tone in the king’s voice was full of fear.

“Tomorrow, you’ll see them with your own eyes, and then you’ll go with them, for some time”

“My king” General schoonover began. “You accepted their conditions?”

“I had to, general” Mario looked at his son, his hand went to the boy’s cheek, and tears began to fill his eyes. “But my son’s strong, he’ll be a good king someday, and perhaps his sacrifice will spare him my heartache in the future”

Francis didn’tknew what his father meant, but soon he would find out.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

“Ah, you should be prince Francis” A old man looked down at him in the throne room, his armor unlike his father’s silver, was gold.

His eyes were big and black, Francis almost couldn’t see the white part of them. His accent was different, Frank had some problems figuring out what did he said.

“Yes, my Lord” Frank did a reverence, using the manners his mother insisted on.

“Now i give you my son, as a sign of good will and loyalty” Francis heard his father’s words and squared up his shoulders.

The sultan walked around him, sizing him up. And Frank felt even smaller.

“Your son will be trained and educated the same as mine, he’ll be a royal prisoner. There’s no need to worry about his well being” The sultan put a hand on his shoulder and moved him away from his father. “As long as you honor our agreement”

His mother was crying, his father was standing there as if something caused him nausea.

Frank couldn’t say goodbye to anyone. Little he knew, that would haunt him the rest of his life.

The travel was quiet, some soldiers mocked at him in a language he didn’t knew, and that pissed him off a little.

Pissed off beats scared, Everytime.

The mountains of Transilvania were a nice memory as the days passed by, memories of home and happiness.

“You’re a quiet boy, prince Fransız” The accent in that voice was still odd, Frank didn’t liked the way that man pronounced his name at all.

“I don’t have nothing to say, sir” The carriage movement was soothing, the sound of the stones under them, cracking and changing.

“Everybody has something to say, specially in a situation like this” The sultan remained quiet for a minute or two, and then continued. “Do you know why I’m taking you?”

“Yes sir, my father explained it to me” Frank faced the old man and spoke. “You were threatening our country”

To Frank it sounded unfair. Why Transilvania need to pay foreigners for their own land?

But again, the young boy was discovering that, life wasn’t fair, other way he wouldn’tbe here, in this carriage, going to a different world.

“You may think that i am a monster, right?” The sultan asked, and Frank felt it like a tricky question.

“None of that sir, I don’t believe in monsters” Frank answered and he meant it.

“You remind me of my oldest son, prince Vilyam, it’s hard to impress him. He’s your age now, i think” The sultan relaxed and closed his eyes. “You should sleep, Fransiz it’s going to be a long trip”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Edirne wasn’t as terrible as his mother wanted him to think, yes it surely was too different from home but nothing like going to a completely different world.

There was people from every colour and nation, just now Frank started to wonder the width of the Sultan’s empire.

He started pointing out all the differences from Târgoviște in a poor attempt to ground himself from the terrible feeling crawling in his chest.

The way the city was constructed, especially the colors, Frank was too overwhelmed to admire the city the first day, but he could see he palace.

The structure, the gold and the people remembering him that he wasn't in Târgoviște anymore at every passing second.

Everyone looked at him like if he were the most recent attraction, maybe he was.

The arrival of the sultan made everyone happy, the news of his most recent victories charged the city with a joyful energy that almost felt contagious.

There was a banquet, and the new food was hard to his stomach, he ate either way, he needed to get used.

“Welcome to my palace, prince Fransiz, this is my family” The sultan pointed at a beautiful woman with skin lighter than the king’s, at her side, there were three kids, one, was much like the woman but his eyes were like the sultan’s, the second one was a younger boy that was more like the sultan and a little girl with curled hair, her little hand was clenching on her Queen’s dress. “Prince Vilyam my heir, prince Ahmad and princess Dinah”

“It’s my pleasure to meet your family, sir” The heir was slightly taller than him, and the others were too young to play. But at least, having more kids around wouldn’t be bad for him.

But the prince was looking at him like if Frank had something that made him utterly disgusting.

“Vilyam, this is your new training partner, he’ll be taking classes with you, i expect nothing but your complete cooperation. Prince Francis will also train with the jenissaries…” Frank didn’t had a clue what that meant. But for the rage on Prince Vilyam face, it wasn’t good.

“Yes, baba” The sultan ruffled the youngest boy’s hair and lead to his daughter, completely ignoring the oldest son, rising the little girl in his arms and kissing her cheek.

“Good, now take prince Francis to his chambers, lessons begin tomorrow at sunrise” With that, the king walked away with his son’s and left Frank with a soldier.

The Queen didn’t said a word and followed the sultan.

The first night away from home he wanted to cry, and scream and kick someone in order to feel better. To demand someone to take him back home, where he felt safe.

But he wasn’t a baby anymore, and he wasn’t going to disrespect his father like that.

He was Francis Castiglione, prince of Transilvania, heir of the house of Drăculești.

He had to act like the man his people needed him to be.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

“Can I ask you something?” Frank looked at Vilyam, not even paying attention to the class that was being imparted. He didn’t understand half of what the teacher was saying, by the way.

“I’m trying to study, Fransiz” The prince didn’t even look at him, focused on writing every word he heard.

“What are the jenissaries?” Frank was a bit curious about what they were.

His intuition, told him that they were soldiers.

“Jenissaries are… elite fighters, who consider the Sultan their father and the empire their mother. The first ones were slaves, later they were mostly Soldiers captured in war. And now they are Recruited from other places that also belong to the empire. They learn different Languages” The teacher heard them and answered Frank’s question with a trace of discomfort in his face. “When a child is separated at a small age and trained not to know another life. Without hesitation he can kill and without complaining he can die”

Frank let those words sink in his brain for a moment. A bit of excitement took over.

Soldiers were special men, the closest than a man could get to a real life hero. They have the power to protect themselves, their people and those who cant. Becoming one, meant honor in the kid’s mind.

After class, prince Vilyam and him took lunch at the sultan’s table, back in Poneri, everyone in the castle would have lunch at the main hall, sharing with his king and queen.

Here, even that was different. Starting with the praying thing. Francis was also being trained on that.

“Did you ever had training back in transilvania?” Prince Vilyam asked in a very low voice. They weren't alone in the table, but it was big enough to make their conversation a bit private.

“Never in a strict form, my mother said im too young. What about you?” Both of them pretended to be eating, but the food in the plate was still there.

“Yes, i had… since four years ago” Frank couldn’t imagine what was to be trained, let alone at seven years old. “They’re going to hurt you, to make you a man. They'll be specially mean with you, because you're a christian”

To frank, god was what his mother told him it was. Masses were boring and the festivities were always sad. What kind of father would give his son to clean someone elses sins?

His, maybe.

The point was, that even when he didn't understand the ottomans god, he didn't believe he was different from his.

After a very quiet lunch, the boys walked together to their training. Vilyam was used to the maze-like structure, but frank was fast to catch the correct path, or identify the different areas.

“Can i ask you something?”

“You never get enough of questioning other people?”

“No”

“Fine, what?”

“Your name, it isn't ottoman, right?” Frank asked and Vilyam stopped Suddenly, turning his face to look at him with a bit of anger in his eyes. “Prince Ahmad and princess Dinah, i get the familiarity between them, but you… yours is different”

“How is it different?”

“It sounds a lot like “W-i-l-l-i-a-m” i mean, more like a European name”

“My mom chose it, father wasn't here when i was born to pick it himself” Anger dissipated and the prince kept walking.

“I like William, can i call you Bill?”

“Why would i let you do that?”

“Because we are friends”

Vilyam, remained in silence after that, and until they got to the training field.

“Why would I want to be your friend?”

There were swords of shiny metal and weak wood, armors and a lot of tools Francis knew were used to torture people. Old and young soldiers looked at them from distance, frank didn't liked it when people talked about him, and god almighty knew that situation was becoming too usual for him.

“Because you seem lonely and I am lonely too”

“I will tell you what” Prince Vilyam started again. “If you survive your training, I will be your friend”

“Can i call you Bill?” There was a small smile in his face, the first one since he got to this new land.

“Yes. But i don't think you can make it”

“Got it, how bad could it be?”

That day, prince Francis found out what Pain really meant, in flesh and bone.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

“Prince Francis did good in his first day?” The Sultan asked to one of his generals, looking at the training field from the balcony above.

“For a kid” The man talked with a hint of recognition. “He didn’t cry”

“The boy’s stronger than his father and tougher, we’ll shape him” Maybe it was a treacherous plan, but if fulfilled, Prince Francis could be a great asset for the empire.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

 Prince Vilyam was apathetic in a good day, he could be stoic about the most unsettling, crude and horrible things in a bad one.

This boy, that was like any other boy in the damn empire, who was a Catholic boy from a conquered land… he raised interest in those black eyes.

Prince Fransuva was laying down in his bed, blood was wetting the cloth the medics put on his back and arms.

The truth he didn’t told the transilvanian boy was that, the jenissaries were tortured until their souls separated from their bodies. Or that was what his father said.

Vilyam has never experienced it, but he saw it a couple of times now.

And in those times, Francis stood out on great contrast. Loyal to his word, he didn’t die, he screamed after the fifth or sixth time the whip touched his back.

Why he kept his promise? The answer will have to wait until Francis wakes up for dinner.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Frank never felt like this in his life.

The pain, insufferable as it was, sent his mind to a numb state he couldn’t Quite turn off.

Even the action of moving the food to his mouth seemed like a monumental effort. Was his father aware of the things the ottomans would do to him?

He wished his father’s ignorance to be truth, he wasn’t sure he would be able to forgive him otherwise.

The sultan said that his wellbeing wasn’t in danger. Frank didn’t understand what the hell was this then.

“My generals told me you were brave today, prince Fransiz” Frank turned his head to the old hag. “To be honest i didn’t expected any less”

“I did my best, sir” Talking was even worse that keeping himself upright, his jaw hurt and he could taste the blood every time it moved.

“First weeks are always rough, just keep going” Wiliam’s voice turned into a whisper directed to Francis.

“Easy to say when talking doesn’t hurt” Frank chewed, side eye-ing William. Whom was smiling and involuntarily, Francis smiled too.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

The sun was settling in the distant horizon, sending a relaxing feeling on his body.

Frank could feel the sand under his boots, his eyes fixed in the Black Sea, the waves and the low lullaby they gifted him.

They were in one if the corners of the empire, send by the Sultan to recruit jenissaries.

Frank was promised to be their general one day if he wanted. He couldn’t decide yet if it thrilled him or not.

Fighting hand in hand with Billy sounded really good. Taking nine year old boys from their homes and breaking them to be rebuilt… No, he would better be back in Wallachia.

“Never thought you’d be a sea enjoyer” Billy sat right by his side, long legs bent and elbows resting on his knees. “I guess it’s pretty”

“Even in it’s saltiness it brings me comfort. I find beauty on how dangerous it can be”

“Yeah, sure. You’d been hanging out with Ahmad too much” Frank snorted and Billy smiled. “That, poetry stuff is rubbing onto you”

“What, are you jealous of your little brother?” Frank teased Billy, pushing him with his shoulder.

“What should I be jealous for?” Billy straightened up inexistent wrinkles on his clothes and then his gaze caught Frank’s eyes on him.

“Absolutely nothing. You have it all” If Frank’s eyes were deceiving him and the pink shade he caught on Billy’s cheeks was a hallucination. He couldn’t tell.

Maybe it was the heat. Or the sun. Or the fact that he wasn’t talking about the sea when he thought of beautifulness.

“What are you thinking about? I can see you rummaging through your brain” Frank asked after a while, letting himself fall back to the sand looking at the blue sky.

A moment of silence got stuck in between the two of them and after five years, he’d learned that you should never push Billy.

If he wants to tell you something, he’ll do. The more you push, the worse he gets.

“The Sultan will send you to fight soon. He told me before we departed” The tone in Billy’s voice never betrayed his feelings. The guy had the best control in himself Frank has ever seen.

But this time he was hearing a bit of worry on it.

“I’ve been training with Hamza bay, I’ll be fine no matter where he sends me” Because in the battlefield Frank was confident on himself.

“I asked to go, and he told me that i needed to study more”

“Guess he’s protecting you” Frank said in a poor attempt to cheer Billy up.

He knew that the crown prince was eager as him to go fighting.

But even that didn’t spared him Billy’s fist on his side for saying nonsense.

“Like if he cared” He feel silent again and Frank had to bring himself up to put an arm around Billy’s shoulders.

“Well, that doesn’t matter, because i will win you a lot of land before your father releases me from my father’s oath” Frank took a coin he brought with himself from Târgoviște the day he was taken and put it into Billy’s hand.

“The fuck is this?”

“It’s my own oath, to you”

“It’s a single coin”

“Yeah, and it means that i care” Billy looked at him unimpressed, one could say that even a little baffled. “It means that your battles are my battles now. My blood is yours to take, so is my sword...”

Frank was adamant on continue but a hand was covering his mouth, Billy’s hand.

“Okay, okay. I get it” The earlier blush stood out even more this time, easy to pick on when Billy’s skin was rather pale. “God, you’re insufferable”

But Frank saw him put the coin in the Breast pocket of his jacket.

For the moment, that was enough.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

“Prince Franzuva will turn sixteen soon. I think it’s time to send him back to Wallachia” The sultan said to his great vizier. And Billy felt his chest tighten. “The boyards will kill him for the throne anyway”

“If you may let me, Sultan. I would recommend to keep the boy” The great Vizier, a man that seemed close to the Prophet Muhammad in age Started talking. “That mean we have a secure leash on Mario’s neck. We are not going to risk him getting support from the Hungarians once his son is back”

“I agree with Muhammad Pasha, father. Giving Frank Back to Wallachia might be like freeing a fox in a hen house”

“Are we the hens on your analogy, son?”

“Not at all, but there’s no real need to let him go. And many reasons to keep him”

“Seeming that you two agree with each other for the first time i must trust your judgement” The Sultan walked towards his son and put a hand over his shoulder. “Tell Franzuva he’ll stay here until further notice”

Billy bowed his head and got out of the room.

His words might get Frank to stay a little longer, but it’s irrelevant.

So he runs to tell Frank only to see him wreck his own room in a rage moment.

“That lying piece of shit, he told me that once i reached sixteen i would be able to go back to Târgoviște” Frank almost screamed and Billy had to shot him a glance. “It’s been years”

“Well, that’s what he does, he likes to piss on people’s lives, you should know by now”

“Am going to talk to him, maybe he’ll change his mind" Frank walked to the door and Billy step on his way.

“He’ll have your head”

Billy’s heart beats so fast that he’s afraid Francis might hear it.

“t’s just not fair Bill”

Nothing was, but Billy just hugged a frustrated Francis and accompanied him for the rest of the day.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

“¡Come on Frank, you can beat him!”

Bill’s desperate voice reverberating through the training field. Turning Frank into a frantic animal.

The spear in his hand managed to get in the flesh of his opponent, rivers of blood started to fall. Red strings followed by groans and curses.

Eight years ago, prince Francis Castiglione started training with the jenissaries. He has been sent to different sites, different fights for different lands. All for the greatness of the empire.

Home is a Long forgotten place.

With the years, Francis discovered that he’s good at fighting, he craves the release that comes quick and warm with his enemy’s blood.

Leaving a grotesque picture for those stupid enough to adventure in the forest of impaled bodies that he left behind every time.

Of course that his own blood has also been shed. Scars and broken bones Were proof of it.

“Captain Franzuva wins” One of the soldiers shouted and the multitude roared al unison.

Billy got to his side moving his face with his hands, asserting the damage to Frank’s face.

“I think that your nose is broken… again” frank grunted when Billy’s fingers readjusted his bone. Cursing under his breath. They were too familiar with this.

“But i won”

“We need to think in different ways to spend the time between battles, This is unworthy of princes like us” Billy cleaned his hands with a spare cloth, tucking it under his armor once he was satisfied with the result.

“I’m completely content with this” Frank coughed, spitting blood that wasn’t his in the ground. “Nowadays almost nothing satisfies me this much”

And it was no secret, prince Francis was a little kid when he arrived to Edirne. Too afraid and too small.

Now he was a young man, tall and well built, formed by his master’s whip and his enemies cries for mercy.

Thirsty for a bloodshed.

Tormented for not missing his home country, for forgetting his father’s voice and his mother’s embrace.

He replaced it with the false pride that he saw in the Sultan’s eyes with every population he won. Changed it for Billy’s soft whispers in the deadly night in the middle of a warzone.

Just like now, Frank’s bloodied face would be touched by The prince’s hands, his eyes shimmering with a promise kept between the two of them.

In the years knowing each other, his friendship grew into something else.

Boys bonded under the rule of a greedy man, become men that would slaughter entire countries for each other.

Frank had no doubts. His loyalty never was with he sultan but with his older son. Even if one day Billy decided that he was no longer wanted in Billy’s world.

“Snap out of it Francis. Are you listening to me?” Billy snapped his fingers in his face, frowning like he did every time he wasn’t being heard.

They walked to the royal garden, a place where only the royal family could access. Private and full of pretty flowers, the Sultan’s wife picked them herself before dying.

“You’re beautiful, can’t help it” William had a kind of beautifulness that Frank never saw before meeting him.

“Are you trying to take me to your Chambers?” Bill’s frown turned into a sly smile. “It’s going to take more than sweet words”

It’s been like this since their second battle, When a enemy sword almost broke Frank’s armour, too close to his chest. Francis remembers the kind of pained yell that came out of William’s throat.

When he woke up, Billy was there. Sleeping in a chair At the side of his bed while the rest of the army celebrated for their victory.

Castiglione knew his heart was with the man that would be Sultan. Not with the current ruler, who gifted him a different armor. One by which his enemies would recognize him in between of the smoke and the blood.

Francis put his hands on Billy’s waist, pulling him closer to his body. Surrounded by the sweet smell of flowers and the metallic taste of blood in his lips.

“Someone could catch us, Franzuva” William whispered again, close to Frank’s ear, but letting himself be caged between the flower covered wall and Frank’s bulky body.

His response was Frank undoing his armor’s laces, letting the gold pieces and clothes fall to his ankles.

Billy started to buck his hips, desperate to feel some kind of friction in his neglected length.

“You know that it isn’t my name… come on Billy, say it right” Frank touched the hardness between Billy’s thighs.

“A prince doesn’t beg” Billy started giving Frank open mouthed kisses, tasting his blood. Getting drunk in Frank’s scent.

“A prince you say” Frank kissed back every time, letting himself out of his blood soaked clothes, Rubbing his dick with Billy’s own. Enjoying the Moans and the sighs. “We’re soldiers now. We’re each other’s”

Billy’s hand went down to accompany Frank’s, stroking both at the same time. Kissing the exhaustion out of each other.

Billy came right when the bell for oration echoed through the palace, Frank followed shortly after, kissing Billy like if his life depended on it.

“Maybe I’ll let you fight more often, Frankie”

Frank laughed and helped Billy get cleaned.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

“My sultan, we have news from Wallachia” A captain entered the throne room, holding a letter.

Frank could recognize his family’s emblem on it. His stomach clenched, it was the first time in ten years that he heard from home.

Billy looked at him, he could feel those dark eyes burning in his face. But he kept unfazed.

“Read it out loud, captain Ibrahim” The sultan ordered.

“To his highness, prince Francis Castiglione, under the care of The sultan.

My Lord, it’s my greatest pain to inform you of our king’s passing”

The captain stopped reading, looking at Frank and then the sultan, whom gave authorization to continue.

“Your mother, the queen, has also fallen sick, doctors and priests ask for you return, in order to hold a coronation, marking the start of your kingship, like our lord Jesus Christ ordered”

The silence in the room was deep, Frank could feel Billy’s hand fidgeting with his shirt. The sultan thanked the captain and then spoke.

“Im sorry for your loss, Franzuva” For once, the man sounded sincere, but Frank felt numb.

“Don’t be sir. I was away more time than I was there. I barely remember… him”

The prince his parents send to Edirne, was long ago replaced with the so called punisher, the impaler, a monster raised to kill.

Yet, he felt a pang of hurt. He never thought of going back home, never really saw himself as a king. And now he was being asked to go back to Transilvania and become one. He also never saw himself leaving Billy’s side, but here he was.

“You’ll be sent to Wallachia tomorrow at dawn” The sultan ordered and Frank finally looked at Billy. “Get ready”

“Father, i don’t think that Frank should go so soon” Billy spoke, and only then Francis put his hand on William’s knee under the table. “We still have to finish the battle of Vienna. We need him”

The sultan looked at the two of them with something in his eyes that Frank didn’t liked.

“If my army depends on one soldier, then i failed as a sultan”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

“Frank, Are you awake?” Bill’s voice made him turn around, to open the door. His melancholic contemplation of Istanbul was interrupted by the only person he cared about leaving.

“Come in” Billy entered and as soon as the door was closed his arms were around Frank’s body.

They stayed like that for a moment. No one was really sure of what they should say.

“Can’t believe you’re going back tomorrow. I don’t want you to go away” There was a side of Billy that Frank knew, a side that he never showed to other people. “I’ll ask father to go with you”

“No, The empire needs his crown prince. I’ll be fine, Billy boy” Frank kissed Billy, leading him to his mattress and coaxing him to lay on his back. “I won’t make promises that i can’t keep. But be sure that i love you”

“Then do it, promise me, promise that you’ll be back” Billy pulled Frank by the shirt, accomodating him between his legs and crossing his ankles on the impaler’s back.

“I wouldn’t have made it without you these years” Frank kissed William’s neck, going down to his collarbone and back up to his lips. “But i owe myself to Wallachia as well. Can’t leave them to fend for themselves”

Frank saw Billy’s eyes darken with something that cut him deeper than any sword would and kissed him again.

In that moment, while undressing each other, Frank knew that his soul was linked to Billy’s.

“Even if i were to die tomorrow, I’ll be searching for you in my next life. Be sure of that Prince William”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

The horse that was supposed to take Francis from Istanbul to Transilvania, was a gift from the sultan. A sign of good will from the empire to the new king of Wallachia.

The sign of a hypocrite, if you ask William about it.

The minutes since Frank departure felt like thorns in his feet. Not because they never were separated. But because this time he wasn’t sure if Frank was ever going to come back to him.

“I won’t make promises that i can’t keep”

Billy knew that Frank was being practical, but his heart felt kind of empty when the other prince left.

“William, i have an important request for you” His father summoned him to his private chambers. A hand on the tilt of his sword and the other behind his back.

“Just ask me, father” Maybe a distraction would make him good. Being alone in the palace mean overthinking.

“I want you to take a handful of men, and intercept Franzuva” His father looked to the map on his wall, that same as poison, expanded with the time. “He mustn’t get to Transilvania”

William took a moment to himself, taking a sharp breath. The disbelief palpable on his expression.

“I will bring him back then, but if you let me, I’ll say that he shouldn’t have go back” A smug expression sat on his face. Billy knew his father wouldn’t let Frank go away just like that.

He was a royal prisoner after all.

“And Because no kingdom can compete with what we have” He thought.

“Not quite what I mean, William” his father finally turned to him. “I want Francis dead”

The request, didn’t surprised him. But Billy knew that he wouldn’t be able to kill Frank, or let anyone kill him for that matter.

“Frank is more valuable alive, Father. I don’t understand why you want me to…”

“The explanation, you’ll find it pretty simple” The sultan interrupted Billy. “Franzuva has courage and bravery, he’s honorable as a soldier must be. All these years I’ve had him on a leash. And giving him his own army, even as small and pathetic as it is, is still an army. Makes him a threat”

“Yet, we can just keep him here. I’m sure he’ll accept”

“If i was a less intelligent man, I’d think that you’re trying to save the Christian’s life, Vilyam”

Billy shut himself, getting all worked up wouldn’t have a good outcome for his well being.

“None of that father, I’m thinking for the empire needs, that’s what you taught me” William squares up his shoulders, lifting his chin in a more regal pose.

“Thing is William, that now that you’re all grown up. I think that you are more suited for the counselor position”

Anger and betrayal started rising up on William’s spine, filling him.

“Who would be Sultan then, if not me?” Truth was, his father could pick any of the boys he had with his concubines. But Billy was the oldest. The next in line was…

“Ahmad would be a good sultan after my passing” An evil shimmer lighted his father’s eyes. “And even if not, He’d be better than a man that lies with other man, don’t you think?”

Denying what was being implied would damage his future as sultan, even more.

“Did you really think that i wouldn’t notice and know about your little rendezvous?”

“I wasn’t hiding, exactly”

“Then you’ll understand my situation”

“So, you’re punishing me”

Silence prolonged itself after that sentence. This was like a chess match. Think smarter.

“I’m offering you redemption. Bring me the head of Franzuva, and you’ll have the empire after my death. Even after what you’ve done”

“Or i should just kill Ahmad and your other bastards”

“You can always try” The sultan sat by his table, some kind of Italian wine was on his hand. “You know, I thought that franzuva was a entertainment. Never really believed you were capable of caring for anyone other than yourself”

“Don’t project your issues on me, father” Billy lifted his chin up, a defying look on his eyes. “That would be your ruin”

William kept his word, always. His father knew that and both knew that Francis was unpredictable in battle, he was relentless.

The sultan was right.

Once, when they were kids Francis got held on the idea of giving Wallachia back to his people. No more playings for the empire or sending his army to fight for the sultan

Billy had told him how stupid it was. Even when he was sure that under his rule, Francis would come around and understand where he belonged.

“I’ll bring Francis back. You do as you want with him” Billy turned his back to his father. Going directly for his horse.

He’ll think of a plan in the ride back.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Frank had forgotten how far from home he’d been all these years.

The horse he was given was one of the Sultan’s personal breeders. Strong and faster than most. And yet Frank felt that the road home only expanded with every step the animal took.

After ten years he was finally going back to his loved Târgoviște.

He tries to conjure his memories about the city. But he was sure that nothing was quite the same.

He stopped his horse. Was leaving even worth?

Sure, he owed himself to Wallachia as the only heir of the house of Dracul. But now he has nothing to it.

His father died, his mother sick. No brothers and no sisters. Sure the members of the voivode families would be happy to find different suitors for the role.

Then he thought of Billy.

Bill was alone as well, in different ways than Frank was. But alone nonetheless.

No one of his brothers and sisters really understood him, his father was always distant to him and his mother never was a strong positive presence.

Frank remembers the night he killed her. And then he turns the horse back to Istanbul.

Wallachia really could find herself a new prince. His place was by Billy’s side. It was always going to be.

He would send a letter to General Schoonover, telling him that he declined his royal right.

He’d be a hovering presence to Wallachia anyway. He could help them the better from Istanbul.

He started riding back to Billy, not really hoping to see him at the middle of the road when he reached the outskirts of Istanbul.

“Billy, what are you doing here?” Francis asked while his horse walked around Billy’s. Out of breath and tired.

“My father requested for you to come back to Istanbul” Frank looked at Billy’s face and then at the soldiers surrounding him. “Never thought you’d be coming back on your own”

“What does that mean?”

“I’ll tell you when we get back”

Frank only nodded, he trusted Bill in ways that he could never trust anyone else. But something was off.

Starting for the way in wich the soldiers crowded around him and not around Billy. He has escorted people to the Sultan’s presence like this before. He knows what it means.

“Your father ordered my execution” He said, with zero doubts.

Because they took him by one of the side roads and not the main one. Because he caught a glimpse of fear on Billy’s eyes, because the soldiers he once fought alongside were drawing out their swords to make him climb down from his horse once they reached the palace.

“Father, he asked me to kill you to keep being crown prince” William spoke as soon as he send the soldiers to the training field, while he took Frank to the Sultan.

There was no point on asking what did the sultan change his mind. But the question here were Billy’s thoughts.

“So, letting me go was just for show?” Frank dropped his head and let out a groan. “He never intended for me to rule Wallachia, right?”

“Never” Billy agreed and took Frank into a lonely room. “Listen, i have a plan”

“Sure you do” Frank smiled and couldn’t resist the urge to grab Billy and kiss him.

Slow and tender at first, Frank be damned if he didn’t adored Billy and his antics, his plans and his ideas. Even after those first years where Billy would run off with a concubine rather than being with him.

“What was that for?” Once they recovered air, Billy asked with a shiny smile of his own.

“For having my back always”

“You’re so fucking sappy, God help me” Then, Billy smile fade. “Baba won’t spare your life even if you swear to stay out of Wallachia forever. So you’ll have to die”

Unimpressed, Frank rised his brow and looked at Billy.

“So, how are you going to kill me?”

“I won’t kill you, I’ll kill the sultan”

“Bill if you don’t want to risk your chance to be Sultan i don’t see the logic here” William walked around the room and then stopped.

“Remember the night that my mom tried to kill me?”

Frank nodded and Billy kept talking.

“She was preparing a beverage, with the flowers in the garden. She intended to kill The Sultan. And when I arrived she thought I would betray her. So, before she stabbed me, I took a mental note of the flowers she was using”

“And you have it already, don’t you?” Frank got closer to Billy and the ottoman prince took a little vial out of his cloak.

“This is it. I asked around and it’s supposed to fake a heart failure”

Frank examined the vial, not really convinced but not really wanting to die as well.

“And they won’t suspect? Probably They will frame me”

“They won’t”

Frank was about to ask how Billy was so sure, but then a knife produced itself on Billy’s hand, burying itself deep in Frank’s guts, soon a black cloth was covering his head and a fist swinged right at his temple.

He cursed out and all faded to black.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

“¡Our sultan has Died!” Billy roared at the multitude, he could hear prayers and some surprised gasps. “His passing leaves a great pain in our hearts, may Ala receive him with open arms”

“¡Long live the sultan Vilyam!” Someone, probably trying to win his favors, yelled and soon a chorus followed.

Yeah, Billy liked the sound of it.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

“How are you feeling?” Billy entered Frank’s chambers and sat on his bed.

“Like if i was stabbed and hit”

“Good, pain is temporary, means you’re alive”

Francis pulled himself up and groaned when he tried to move his arm a little. “What is the version you told them?”

“In your way to Wallachia you were ambushed by Hungarian robbers; Payed by the great vizier and other men from my father’s court” Frank snorted and Billy smiled. “They hit you and you fell of your horse, they stabbed you but you managed to kill some and climb back and come home and tell us about their scheming. But it was too late and they poisoned father before your return”

“And they believed that shit?”

“Seems like it”

Frank smiled and got up, finally putting attention to Billy’s state.

“How long it’s been since you last slept?”

“Maybe two days, I’m fine”

“Well, you look like shit” Frank poured some coffee and handed a cup to Billy.

“When’s supposed to be the coronation?” Frank has never been in one, but it kind of feels right that his first one is Billy’s.

“After the burial and other honorific events for my father’s dead” Billy finished his cup in one go and patted the mattress. “Come sit with me, Frankie”

Francis did as he was told, looking at the worried pout on Billy’s face.

“A lot of emissaries from vassal states are arriving as we speak. The news about my father’s death ran like the wind” William took Frank’s hand on his, squeezing it softly. “And General Schoonover is on his way here”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

“Prince Francis. It’s been so long” General Schoonover bowed to him and stared. “Surely you are not longer the boy i used to teach”

“It’s been eleven years. Things change” Frank smiled, he was now the same height as Schoonover, while Frank had grown in muscularity, the old man seemed to have lost most of his bulk over the years. “I see you came to pay homage”

“Yes, of course. But not only that. I came here to take you with me” Schoonover never stopped smiling and Frank only frowned. “I presume you want to see your mother, and give your own homage to your father”

“How’s my mother?”

“The priest says it’s only matter of time until she joins your father” Schoonover took Frank by the arm and pulled him to a less crowded corner. “That’s why you need to come with me, don’t you want to leave all this behind?”

“I didn’t left Wallachia out of my own will, general” Frank rarely thought about his father’s decisions. “Sending me here was a sign of loyalty, and with that loyalty i will stay here until the new sultan asks me to leave”

“Oh boy, don’t you remember what I’ve always told you? A prince owes himself to his land. Loyalty to an oath your father made isn’t relevant. Your father is dead” After a minute of silence, the old general continued. “Haven’t you fought enough for the Ottomans?”

Frank’s eyes meet with Billy’s across the room. Dark and so brilliant that they captivated Frank every time.

Then his attention came back to Schoonover face.

“What is it that you aren’t telling me?” Schoonover look taken aback by the question, but soon enough he gave in.

“The Hungarians, they’re threatening to invade Wallachia now that it has no crowned ruler” Now, Schoonover should’ve started with that.

Hungary’s army was a formidable one, Frank has fought some of them, and it was reasonable that they tried taking Wallachia now.

Schoonover got closer and started whispering.

“You know your father was in talks with the oldest of the Corvinus To form an alliance against the empire”

“I remember, that’s why am here in the first place” The rumors of his father’s betrayal had led to find a way to appease the Sultan’s temper.

Did his father ever move against the empire, Frank would’ve been killed.

“All these problems fall in your hands. And we need you back home” Schoonover looked confused. “Never thought i would have to convince you to return”

“I will go back, but i need to do something first”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

“You told me you wasn’t leaving”

Billy’s hurt tone felt like being stabbed all over again.

“I know. I’m sorry” Frank took Billy’s hands on his, looking at all those small cuts and scars they had, how after all the rough treatment they were always soft as silk.

“I’ll just sent the army to the Hungarian border, easy” Frank shaked his head and Billy groaned frustrated.

“I need to get back. At least for my mother’s funeral. I owe her that much”

“They send you here to be tortured and held prisoner. You don’t owe them shit”

“I remember you laughing after my every training session with the jenissaries” Frank smiled and Billy shoot him an angry look.

“Don’t change the subject Francis”

“Listen, Wallachia has to pay tax every year, I’ll come to deliver it personally. I’ll write you”

“So, I’ll have to be waiting? I am no maiden, Francis” Billy walked away from him. If Frank put enough attention, he could se his lover’s thoughts moving around in his head.

“We knew this day was coming” Frank spoke, deep in sadness and frustration. “You are the sultan now, the court will ask for a Mother queen and a heir soon. You have a whole empire to lead…”

“¡We both won more than half of this empire! ¡It was our blood mixing with the sand in Iraq and Egypt!” Billy’s yells were out of character, to say the least. The whole screaming deal was more of a Francis thing. “We won Constantinople, we conquered the unconquerable”

Frank could see the hurt and anger in Billy’s eyes, the veins in his forehead showing the emotions that wanted to be ventilated. Aching for lashing out.

“Lead this empire with me, Frank. Let’s do it, both of us” Once recomposed, Billy’s hands went to Frank’s hair, pulling only enough to put their foreheads together. “I’ll find a way”

The silence stretched until it was unbearable. Both their breathing’s were unsynchronized, erratic in two different ways.

Frank hauled himself out of Billy’s grasp, tears forming in his eyes. Probably the first time in his life that he couldn’t find his voice.

“This wasn’t our time, Billy” Frank walked until he reached the door, every second he was in Front of William’s pleading eyes his resolve seemed to falter. “You have an empire and I’m your prisoner”

William’s silence cut Frank worse than any weapon has ever hurt him. For a moment he wondered if this shattering feeling was similar to what his victims felt when impaled.

A stake moving through his entrails, cutting and Avoiding all the vital organs, letting you weak and being no more than vulture’s food.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

“Aren’t you happy to be back? Come on my Prince, lighten up” General Schoonover palmed his back and moved him towards the palace gates.

“Târgoviște is not what I remember” Many peasants looked at him with something akin to disgust and fear.

The streets were dirty and many people were asking for coin. Not a merchant city anymore.

“Well, it’s all because of our nation’s yearly tax to the sultan” Frank cocked a brow and scoffed. “I’m afraid that out arcs are almost empty”

“Quite the gift my father left me” A decaying Country and a economic problem. “Just take me to mother, we can give it all a thought later”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

There are things that change all the Time, there are things that never change. The old church he finds himself in is an example of the latest one.

Frank remembers the disgusting feeling every Sunday that his mother send him to catholic school, to learn something he quite didn’t understood at the time he was six.

Now, while Frank sees himself in the mirror, dressed with expensive pants, boots and a silly little hat that pressed his skull way too tightly. He feels that same disgusting feeling in his gut, but this time as his own choice.

The emblem of the house of Drăculești shined in his chest, similar to the one that the Sultan ordered to engrave on his back that one time his father was late with the yearly two thousand gold pieces.

He was minutes away from being crown, a bright vision for the future awaiting, in Schoonover’s words.

Were all the royal born so tired at 22?

He sighed and let his mind drift to Billy. First, to the most pleasant moments shared, many of them in William’s chambers, many more in the battlefield.

The way Billy’s body was always so ready to welcome him, warm and narrow.

Frank moved uncomfortable in his trousers and his mind decided to punish him for it.

For the last month he’s been having nightmares about battles. Not past, but a battle in wich his sword goes against Billy’s.

A fight in wich Frank kills William and life leaving his pleading black eyes is the last thing Francis sees before waking up.

Francis shakes his head and walks out of the sacristy, not ready to be king but not backing out either.

All his life was ruled by do or die. There was no need to change now.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

“My prince, you seem to have a resolve to fix everything in one swipe” Schoonover stood by his side as Frank supervised the men working to restore the city.

“Following the correct strategy, everything’s posible, general” Frank smiled. “And im Good with that”

“Right, the great feats you achieved for the late Sultan did spread around the world. Some of our western friends are truly afraid of you because of it”

“Tell me exactly what you wanna know, general” Frank hated people that spoke nonsense when trying to get information from him.

“Well, in the boyard families the doubt of your faith has been growing. They doesn’t trust you as much as I do” The general looked unsettled about it, like if the people’s trust in Frank directly affected him.

It probably did.

“And that’s why?” Frank started walking, his hands firmly held behind his back and his head held up. “Thought everyone was happy to have me back”

“Oh yes, they are but Sir. You were raised by infidels and many of the boyards think that the rumors of your devilish pacts are true”

Frank snorted, those men had never been in battle, so it’s only natural that their ignorance and cowardice decided that the nature of Frank’s military achievements were the devil’s work.

“Believe me general, the devil doesn’t exist” Frank stopped when they reached the throne room. “What would you recommend to ease the boyard families?”

Schoonover smiled and put a hand on franks shoulder.

“I recommend you marry one of their daughters”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Being sultan had proved to be more boring that William ever expected.

Yes, the power was all his and his plans of expansion were taken forward with Success.

But times of peace left him with too much time to think about everything he avoided regularly.

“You’re more bitter than usual, Vilyam” Dinah entered his studio and Billy could feel his blood pressure rising.

His sister was everything but a companion, she poked at him more than anyone. But she being as loved as she was for the court, killing her would be a problem.

“Don’t you have lessons to take or maids to entertain you?” Billy looked at the documents on his desk, immediately taking the one with frank’s mark on it. “I’m occupied Dinah”

“What is that? Is one of Frank’s letters?”

With the years that Francis lived with them, most of the sultan’s bastards took a liking to him.

Frank was respectful and always ready to play with the youngest ones, to some he was like a brother.

To Dinah, more than any of the others, Billy would lie of he said that it never bothered him.

“Yes, and it’s addressed to the sultan, wich ain’t you so, you can go now”

Dinah made a face and planted both hands on the polished wood of the desk.

“You can’t keep him all to yourself, I assure you I’ll be there the moment he gets ripped from your hands” She left and Billy cursed her.

He took the little letter opener and cut the seal in one swift Motion.

“Dear Sultan William.

It’s been four months since my departure from Istanbul. The country my father left me was in a poor state. You would laugh if you saw it.

The people here doesn’t trust me, no do I trust them. But luckily they haven’t tried something. I don’t really wanna kill them.

The motive of this letter is none other that to tell you I miss you with all of me, The dark night make me remember the dept of those beautiful eyes of yours and my hands clench in pain by not being able to hold you; make sure to burn this after you’ve read it. Cannot have anyone reading my soul.

It pains me, that we’re separated. But a prince must do what he has to do, it’s always been do or die with us.

I won’t be able to deliver the yearly tax, I expect you to understand me and not ask for further explanation.

I will see you again, some day.

King Francis from the house of Drăculești”

Billy read it again and again trying to find any sense in the words written.

Was it a joke? Hopefully not, Frank was never good at cracking jokes and this was just out of character for him.

Technically Frank didn’t made any promises to him, but he said he would come every year.

“What are you doing, Frank?” Billy stared at the piece of Parchment, expecting the words to change to something more suited to his desires.

“My sultan, sorry for barging in such a way. But the we caught a Italian spy”

Billy frowned, good, problems piling up in his doorstep.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Frank missed the weather in Targoviste more than he cared to admit.

The heat was never his favorite, and the winter was a well know friend. He liked to drink wine to warm up his insides.

He was waiting for a certain someone to arrive. And as the soldier he was he stood there, looking through the window.

He would be excited if the entirety of this was his idea.

“King Francis, may I introduce lady Maria, daughter of Lord Mircea from the house of Basarab”

The servant opened the door and general schoonover materialized behind, by his side there was a girl.

Her brunette hair was tied up and she was covered in a fur cape to keep her from the cold.

She was pretty. And she looked humble even for someone with her social stature, good, he would let Wallachia die before he married some entitled brat that wasn't certain brat he knew.

“Welcome to my house, lady Maria” Frank stepped closer and looked at her reaction.

Many of the women around him are accustom to have fear in their eyes, always looking at the floor when he talked to them.

But this Maria looked at him, never quivering.

“It’s a pleasure for me to be here, my king”

“Now we may let you two alone, so you can talk” General schoonover took the companion maids out of the door and closed it again.

Frank wasn’t sure what to say, the only woman he talked to in a regular basis was Dinah, and it was months ago.

“You’re a lot more quiet than I expected” The boyard girl talked, almost accusing him.

“I’m not sure what should I say in a situation like this” Wich was true, but him being shit for casual talking and socializing was also true.

“You mean our marriage? It’s easy, we get to know each other” Frank stared at her, very few people talked to him like that and he found it refreshing.

“I don’t know if I am comfortable marrying someone I just met” He ran a hand through his hair and pulled a little on his nape. His romanticism was something he couldn’t quite get rid of, even after all the blood and war. Billy used to poke him about it.

“We’ll marry in three days, you better avoid having second thoughts” She smiled, and Frank knew she meant no harm with her words. She was trying to build some sort of familiarity. Probably she was afraid, but was good hiding it.

“No, I think I’m okay”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

“The spy in the Italian court says that the Catholic nations aren’t happy with your progress, my Sultan” The new vizier was a young man whose ambition was pictured in his eyes and that comforted him a little.

If a man had a price, he was easy to use.

“We’re taking their land, it’s stupid to expect them to be happy” Billy looked around to see his court. “Someone has something that is actually valuable to know?”

After his father’s death, it was a difficult task to choose the men in his court, every one was afraid of working for him. But the money and the rank were always a good stimulus.

“They say that is very possible that they try to reach Prince fransuva, now that he’s the ruler of Wallachia” A man by his right put a map on his desk.

Like if Billy didn’t knew maps better than they did.

“We have exploration teams here” He pointed at the Hungarian border. “and here”

“Why do we need explorers there?” The second team was inside Frank’s country, very close to the capital. To the Castle.

“We thought you’d like to have some sort of vigilance around prince fransuva, in case he…”

“Don’t even finish that sentence, frank was rised with me, we fought back to back… what he decides to do with Wallachia as far as it doesn’t harm the empire, is irrelevant”

The men in the room bowed their heads, as they should.

“Sorry, my sultan. But since prince fransuva didn’t notified you of his wedding we thought he left in bad terms. He was your prisoner after all”

The world stopped for a few seconds.

Frank was gone for almost a year now, his letters were more scarce everytime. But he would’ve said something, right?

He wouldn’t have waited untill some spies delivered the information to Billy.

But he did.

“What would I do in a Catholic mass? Sleep through it?” Billy lied, and as always everyone believed him. Some even laughed. “He did good”

William was a controlled man. Even in battle he could put a leash on his emotions and decide how to react.

After all, frank was right. They both needed to do this. A heir was expected.

So, he decided that this whole incident would be non important to him.

Even if a bitter emotion started to build up in his soul.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Frank was always amazed by nature.

The strength the soil had to grow trees taller than castles, the speed it gave to rivers or the fierceness it’s creatures had.

At times, when Frank feels most overwhelmed by nightmares of past or imaginary battles, he likes to stare out of the Castle.

In the dead of night when only the oil lamps are burning and everyone around him is asleep.

He likes to hear the wolf’s howls in the distance, like an old lullaby, the reminder of a friend that will always be there for him.

And maybe that’s the problem. Francis doesn’t like to think about him, doesn’t like the bitter feeling he gets everytime he wants to write to him but Refrains himself.

He doesn’t like how everytime, his thoughts drift to him at least once a day.

When his daughter Vasilisa was born, Francis was so happy that he wanted to scream in delight.

He thanked Maria a million times, and then he wished Billy was here to see his baby daughter.

Frank had a love for Billy that could tore him apart if he let it.

Their Gods be damned and so his feelings. Billy had a whole empire to fill Frank’s absence, Frank had a country and a family to take care of.

Now, as he watches his daughter laugh while he pretends to die by her sword, all of it is irrelevant.

“Oh Princess Lisa, you’re the toughest” Frank fell to the floor, the wooden toy firmly tucked under his arm.

“¡No, Daddy. I’m playing I don’t wanna kill you!” She threw herself at him, trying to take out the sword.

“You’re such a fierce warrior” Frank released the sword and hugged his child. “When you’re older I will teach you with a real one”

“¡No, you won’t!” A very pregnant Maria entered the princess room and took the toy from their hands. “A princess shouldn’t play with swords, Francis”

“Sure, how could I forget?” Frank smiled at Lisa and she jumped out of his grasp to hug her mother.

“How’s my baby brother today?” The kid touched her mother’s belly, her eyes squinted in a poor attempt to watch through the clothes and flesh.

“He’s very happy to hear you, here give me your hand” Maria put her daughter’s hand on a side of his belly, supposedly where the baby was kicking. “Don’t you wanna feel it, Frank?”

Francis stood up, getting closer to his wife and smiling like a fool when he got to feel his baby moving around.

“It’s going to be a little thrasher, can’t wait to have it here”

“He”

“How would we know?”

“I dreamed it, it’s a boy”

The king smiled, but deep down he refused to think that dreams were anything close to prophecies.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

If there was something The sultan Vilyam enjoyed these days, was the feeling after a recently won land. The taste of his coffee and the company of several women that he would never call concubines.

They weren’t that.

The sultan decided that his lineage wouldn’t continue by his side of the family.

Not that anyone needed to know. In fact, he wouldn’t say a word. And once old and after conquering the world, he would kill himself.

He drank from his cup, the warm liquid running down his throat.

Would Frank mourn him if he died first?

Nah, they were soldiers. Monsters in many tales around the empire. No one would mourn Billy if he died. Not even his brothers and sister.

The sultan Vilyam probably would end up being a blurry memory in Francis’s mind.

Seven years went by after that last letter. The yearly tax was always on time, and the explorers said that Francis was putting all his effort in making Wallachia a place worth living in.

Yeah, that sounded like a very Francis thing to do. Like his incessant need to save dogs all over the conquered land they won every time.

Such a sappy man. Such a strong soldier.

Speaking of which.

“My Sultan, there’s word from the Drăculea Castle” The great vizier found him in the Garden. “Prince fransuva had an heir”

“So it’s a boy. Wonderful” Suddenly the coffee was bitter than usual. “Should I send my congratulations?”

“No, we should go visit Francis” Dinah and Ahmad materialized on the other entrance to the garden, approaching them. “It’s been years, we should go and meet his family”

“I strongly disagree with princes Dinah” The vizier put a hand on the sultan’s shoulder. “We don't know prince’s fransuva anymore”

“That’s nonsense, we were raised together” Ahmad, who was usually quiet, seemed to be influenced by Dinah’s fire. “He’s my brother as Vilyam is”

“Stop talking” The Sultan said while he moved away from the three of them.

Francis would never expect him to go, and even when the logic seemed to be stronger, Billy needed to see him again.

“I guess we can pay him a visit”

If it was to silence his siblings or to satisfy himself, no one needed to know.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Easter is one of the principal holidays of Christianity. It marks the Resurrection of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion.

A topic adults shouldn’t try to explain to children, if you ask Frank.

But his wife insisted and as almost always, Frank agreed.

And since giving birth was harder than anything he’s ever experienced, Francis wasn’t in any position to deny anything to Maria.

The accomodations for the feast were planed to feed the whole population in Targoviste. They might be celebrating the resurrection of Jesus, but he was celebrating his son’s birth.

“Frank, may I speak to you?” Dimitru an old friend and actual right hand man approached him in the stables.

“I’m all ears” Frank got down from his horse after his morning ride, pulling the animal to it’s designated area.

“The orden of the dragon, they requested an urgent reunion with you” Dimitru helped him with the horse while Frank washed his hands and then continued. “Specially king Matthias”

Right, the Mighty order of the Dragon. A group of catholic men from different countries, most of them princes, lords and kings whom were Ready to assemble and fight the enemies of the Catholic nations.

The Italians, Germans, Serbians and Hungarians were the main four members, all of them wanting to vanish anyone who dared disagree with their God.

The Ottoman empire, for example.

Ever since Frank got back to Wallachia, the order tried to reach to him. Wanting to use his knowledge in the battlefield and the Turkish customs to their advantage.

Five times Matt asked, five times Frank’s answer was negative.

Having ties with the Hungarians and the order made his father send him with the sultan. He wouldn’t do the same mistake.

And even if he wanted to separate Wallachia from the empire, he would talk to Billy about it.

“Tell Matthias that he should know better” That man specially, was a die hard catholic boy. Where did he got his faith? Frank had no idea. “I don’t wanna be part of their brotherhood. I’m no knight”

“Matthias seems eager to bring down the empire. Has he ever met the Sultan?” Dimitru followed him inside the Castle, everything was radiant and there were flowers in every corner.

“Not that I’m aware. But I think that The sultan killed King Jákob in battle” The old Hungarian king never stood a change against Billy in battle. Frank knew that. Being a fighter as he was Jack left this world in the middle of a puddle of his own blood.

“It might be it. We have talked about emancipation, I think you should talk to Matthias…”

“The answer remains the same” Frank interrupted Dimitru a little more rude than necessary. But he didn’t apologize. “Anything else I should know?”

“Oh yeah, the sultan’s here”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

There were very few things that left The sultan in a state of genuine awe. Seeing his life long companion holding a baby in one arm and a little girl in the other hand is something he’s sure no amount of time could’veprepared him for. The image was now engraved in his memory.

A feeling rised up, Was it the agonizing pain of being replaced or second hand happiness?

Maybe both.

“My Sultan, let me welcome you to my home. This is my family” The little girl said in a very broken Turkish, took several steps forward and bowed, her green dress flowing with the spring breeze.

“What’s your name?” Billy asked while looking down on her, maybe under further inspection he could find the resemblance between her and Frank, maybe that would make her existence bareable.

“Princess Vasilisa, but daddy calls me Lisa” Dinah kneeled down and extended her hand to the girl.

“Yeah, your father is really good at simplifying things” They shook hands and Dinah moved to meet the woman at Frank’s side. “I’m glad to finally meet you”

Billy studied her, she was nothing out of this world. Her eyes were brown, so was her hair, her pale skin seemed to be smooth and pristine.

No wonder why Francis chose her. He was always drawn to fragile things.

“My sultan, welcome to Wallachia” Billy must have zoned out, because he barely heard Frank’s wife talk to him until Ahmad elbowed him.

“It seemed past due to visit Francis. I hope that we don’t interfere with your celebrations” Billy took her hand and kissed her knuckles. He couldn’t care less about their fucking celebrations.

“Bullshit, having you here is like a gift”

Oh there he was, the Francis Billy was raised with. The Wallachian Monarch handed the baby in his arms to his wife and walked towards him.

Billy lost control of time when Francis’s arms wrapped him, the scent of his skin was the same, the strength in his arms was as crushing as he remembered and Ala might forgive him but this was as heartbreaking as it was desperately needed.

“I really missed you, Bill” Frank’s voice was a bit lower now. But that voice was the one in his dreams.

“Yeah, well. You’ve been holding up very fine” Billy moved away first. Regaining his composure while Frank did the same gesture with Ahmad and then took his time to spin Dinah around.

“Come on guys, you need to rest. I know the travel can be bone wrecking” Frank took his daughter in his arms and then motioned to them. “Follow me, once you wash up, we will talk”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

A king must be able to let his words come out with enough vigor and confidence so no one can speak for him or against him.

His speech must be impeccable, his words powerful and his presence should demand the audience’s full attention.

When Frank was sitting in the center of the table, with his wife and kids on his right side and the Sultan and his siblings in the left. He felt like this moment right here, was what he fought for during all those years.

“Fellow countrymen and friends. We’re here today to celebrate our lord Jesus resurrection, rebirth and new beginnings. But also we’re here to feed into our bonds and friendships. With our families and friends” He looked around, everyone seemed to be wary of the sultan’s presence. No on e was really listening to him, all the eyes were in the sultan’s frame.

The pointy nose, long lashes and beautiful eyes.

Those black eyes meant to Frank more than all the blood he has lost in the name of the empire.

The moment Frank saw them after several years of avoiding them, he knew hell would be expecting him once he dies.

There’s no way Frank could put his feelings for Billy to the grave. Save himself the mourning of something they could never possibly have In this lifetime.

Time changes people’s lives so easily that frank swallows the knot in his throat before finishing his speech.

Truth was that, even with Billy being in his mind always now his list of priorities was rearranged the moment his son and daughter were born. His love for Billy can only be overshadowed for the love for his family.

“May our celebrations be of the likeness of our lord. May god protect us, so we can honor Wallachia”

Frank took a long sip from his cup and sat down while everyone started to eat.

Everyone except for Billy.

“You’re still shit with speeches. That head of yours got screwed with all those years of fighting” Frank wanted to smile, but he wasn’t really feeling like it.

“Yeah, well. They weren’t hearing me. They’re so afraid of you being here that they went deaf”

And that rised questions in Frank’s mind that he knew he needed to sort out.

“Are you ready to talk?” Billy spoke before he could. Looking at him with eagerness.

“Yes, follow me”

They both got up, maria searched for her husband’s eyes, a little confusion forming inside her head.

Dinah and Ahmad were fast to catch up and then started talking with the Romanian family while Frank took Billy towards the nearest empty room.

“I’ll be clear and honest with you. I have information that six boyard families are plotting to demote you” Billy started talking the moment Frank closed the door behind them. “I have their names and allies, in other circumstances i would allow you to decide what to do with them. But seeming that your wife is daughter of one of these men, I’ll oder you to kill them”

Frank took a moment to analyze Billy’s face. The stubble in his jaw, the little beauty marks that the time was putting in the corner of his eyes. Was he testing Frank’s loyalty to him?

“I will need to send my family to the monastery, they can’t be here for what I’ll do” Frank could see the satisfaction that rolled down on Billy’s face.

He just proved that the years separated meant nothing between them. Billy pointed and Frank would shoot.

“Naturally, Dinah will go with them. I’ll send some men, are you ready to act tomorrow?”

Frank pondered the options he had. Something similar to anger started pressing in his gut.

“None of that, I’ll do it today” Frank headed for the door, a deep frown in his face showing his discomfort. “Tell Ahmad to take my family to The Cozia monastery. They should be safe there. I’ll get my men ready”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

If there was something that Billy missed from all the time he was separated from Frank, besides Frank himself, was that energy that charged him with euphoria when he got to see Frank own the name his enemies gave him all those years ago.

The punisher, The impaler.

Seeing him get angry at the moment he knew about the treachery, was like a sip of ambrosia for a dying man.

Even when a moment ago he felt like if that anger was directed at him more than to those who it belongs.

He sweep that feeling deep under his armour.

He followed Frank out of the room and back to the main hall, Francis was already talking to two of his men. Confusion and then resolve showed in the face of the peasants before moving outside of the Castle and directly to Frank’s wife.

“Ahmad, I need you to follow Frank’s family to safety. Take a dozen of my jenissaries” Ahmad knew better than questioning His brother, but that didn’t stopped Dinah.

“What did you say to Frank?”

“It’s none of your business, just do as I say for once in your life. You wanted to know Frank’s family, so now you’ll have plenty of time” Billy left them and moved to see Frank.

Many of the noble families notices the movement of their king and the deployment of ottoman soldiers. The nervousness was increasing with every second.

Then billy noticed Frank’s wife looking directly at him. What was her name? The woman seemed to be upset at him specifically.

Like if she knew that everything was a set up. It was but her gaze was unsettling.

One can’t blame a man for testing his lover’s affection through murder.

The Wallachian family was out of the recint before Billy could register The queen’s absence, as irrelevant as she was.

“The doors are locked. I should speak now” Frank came back to him. His eyes showed determination and Billy got over excited.

“Delight me”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Francis was able to do many horrible things.

It was a statement, there were no doubts about the lengths of his anger and bloodthirst. But when he got married to Maria, he swore to her that his ottoman armour was locked down in the castle.

Buried with all the damage Francis knew he could unleash.

The dragon tangled around the silver skull was out of commission for nine years now.

He promised Maria that the punisher was dead. She told him to ask for God’s forgiveness, for Lisa and his son.

And now?

He was putting long Wooden stakes through the bodies of fellow countrymen.

It took a real professional to master the impalement. The avoid all vital organs while moving up through their bodies. And then leave them in the outside of the castle.

A great display of violence that could Plant the seed of fear in whoever got to see it.

“Goddamn Frankie, I love to watch you work” Billy walked from behind, putting both hands on his shoulders.

Frank walked away from the screaming people and the blood pooling in the ground.

Searching for a cloth to clean his hands.

“You always had something for the most horrible parts of me”

Billy was a predator, sharp and always hungry. Frank knew that he was just as bad, but when Frank tried to hide it underneath the love he felt. Billy showed it like a medal.

“I always had a thing for you. It’s not the same” Billy followed him inside the Castle.

The moon started to hang in the sky, the fire in the torches was enough for them to make it to Frank’s chambers.

“You can’t say things like that anymore”

“Remember you place Frankie, no one tells the sultan what to do” Francis scoffed, the bickering didn’t helped his anger and annoyance.

“I don’t know if you’re playing with me or not” Frank took out his cloak and jacket. “My father in law swore that there was no secret reunion to kill me. Now I want you to tell me the truth because I killed half of my court today”

Frank saw the mood in Billy’s face shift. The playful gesture on his smile went away as he stared at Frank’s open shirt.

“They were meeting with Matthias and the rest of the order, it looks like they’re trying to recruit you again, now that you married one of them”

 There was a punch of venom in The sultan’s tone, one that frank wanted to hang on the order and the mention of Matthias. And not in his wife.

“You didn’t had to lie to me Bill” The wood cracked in the fireplace, the heat in the room started to increase.

“I didn’t lied to you. They were moving, the order wants to wipe me down”

And Francis knew what Billy was implying. Anyone who moved against Billy, moved against Frank. Billy always saw them as an extension of each other.

Even if in Francis’s eyes it wasn’t exactly like that anymore.

The sultan got closer, his hands hugging the impaler from behind, resting in his stomach and dangerously close to the hem of his shirt.

“You’ve been so far from home, you’re softer now” The sultan rested his chin in Frank’s shoulder. “There’s always going to be a place for you in Istanbul”

“Is that why you’re here? To take me back?”

“It’s where you truly belong” Billy’s hands went to rest on his chest, giving it a squeeze that Frank felt in his heart. “You didn’t thought you would be able to play house with that woman, did you?”

Francis moved away and pinned billy to the nearest wall. Not like all those times they shared when they were younger, no, this was dangerous.

“What the fuck is your problem, eh? Are you tired of scheming against the European? Being sultan ain’t as entertaining as you thought?” Frank growled at him. He was angry, years worth of anger snapped because of the silliest of things. “Do you need your favorite toy again? I killed those men today because of you”

“That never bothered you in the past” Then billy started struggling, desperate to break free from fransuva’s hold. Taking them both to the ground.

Billy managed to get on top of Frank’s body, his heels digging into Frank’s forearms. Restraining him.

“So, you really changed” Frank tried to move but Billy punched him square in the jaw. “How disappointing you’ve become. I had great expectations when I decided to come here, I came to get ahead of our enemies as a show of my love, and you just forgot about me”

“I loved you, why do you feel the need to lie to me?” A bitter taste was pooling in his mouth. Memories of the first times that Frank approached Billy with romantic intentions. Billy’s attitude and disdain. “I remember confessing my feelings first and you laughing at it. You couldn’t decide if I was your partner, your friend or your prisoner. Whether I was helping you, advising you, or just doing the job, you had to decide and you choose the empire first, you put me away”

“And then I gave you everything, I promised myself to you and it wasn’t enough” Billy bend himself in a uncomfortable angle so he could forcibly kiss Francis. “You did the same to me as I did to you”

And while Billy got up to get out, Frank found his voice to yell at him.

“Get the fuck back here Vilyam”

•••••••

Vilyam decided to depart for Istanbul that same night, caring very little about the two siblings and the mess he left behind in Drăculea castle.

Back in the day Frank could lead a whole army under Billy’s father orders without complaining. Extending the length and width of the empire with his sword. Massacre used to happen everywhere he went.

And now, the killing of barely a dozen men made him physically attack his sultan.

Billy was… hurt, in a emotional level. How dared Frank insult him in such way?

How dared he replace Billy with some… some commoner?

Well then, if franzuva wanted to paint him as the villain, Billy would make sure to give him his all.

•••••••

The night started to down on them, the țuică was cold, just like Frank liked it. Ahmad not so much, if the scrunch in his face was something to go by.

“This… is quite strong” His brother said with a smile, looking at the cup as if it held all the answers he needed. “So Vilyam left”

“He had a temper fit, the usual” Back in Edirne, when his Ballsack was still up in his belly, Frank and Billy would be insufferable, throwing temper tantrums at each other at any minor inconvenience. “He decided that Wallachia wasn’t as enchanting as he wanted”

“Hes been more… well, more like baba” Frank took a sip of his țuică, paying special attention to Ahmad’s somber tone. “He thinks I idealized my father only because he never abused me physically. But I always knew what kind of man my father was”

“That is just Billy being Billy” He was vengeful, he was petty and damn smart.

“He was hurt when you left and made it everyone’s problem”

Frank gulped down his drink and laughed when Ahmad tried to do the same and a coughing fit overcame him.

“I wish he were more reasonable” Ahmad said with pain in his tone, he sighed and then spoke again. “I wish you were too”

Frank nodded and let the wind fill up the silence.

•••••••

“Something is bothering you” The tender look in his wife’s eyes was something so precious to Frank. Kind and warm, maria was the kind of person that Frank felt so compelled with. “Tell me”

Frank looked at her, not sure if he should disclose his findings with her. But after considering that she’s been the one to ground him in the nights where his nightmares make him lose control and after being the reason that her father’s dead. He starts talking.

“Dimitru and I found Turkish soldiers dead. In the base of the broken fang” Frank and his friend were hunting when they came across the scattered pieces of Ottoman explorers. After further investigation that consisted on climbing the godforsaken mountain, Frank felt uneasy. “I don’t know what killed them. But their presence means one thing”

His wife approach him in the bed, climbing with grace and putting her head on his chest.

“What is it Frank?” She asks, her voice is a whisper. She’s afraid and she’s right on being.

“Explorers mean Conquest”

“Why would the sultan want to conquer Wallachia?”

“I don’t know” Frank lied.

To punish him, was the answer. Two years ago he dared to hurt Billy. He was aware that their last encounter broke something between them.

Maybe it was Frank’s fault, for thinking he could have two loves at the same time. Or maybe he was unfair, he remembers that billy pushed away, but eventually gave him everything.

Nightmares attacked him that night and his wife was there to soothe him. Little she knew, that the dark feeling on his gut was nowhere close to leaving.

•••••••

The cold wind slapped him like Hamza bay used to.

His horse, ever the fastest, took him from Târgoviște To Fâget in less than six hours. Reaching the middle point he and Matthias Corvinus agreed to meet.

What Frank was doing, represented all the risks he’s been avoiding since he left Istanbul.

But if Billy was thinking on invading, Frank’s wasn’t going to let him through so easily.

And for that he needed Matt’s black army.

The men of the Black Army fought as well-paid, full-time mercenaries and were purely devoted to the arts of warfare. It was a standing mercenary army that had taken large parts of Austria out of Billy’s hands and more than half of the Crown of Bohemia.

For a man like Matthias, that swore on the bible to only resort to killing when necessary, he did a great job as an strategist Frank could recognize that Matthias established one of the best standing armies of Europe, but Matt didn’t stopped with a good army, he reformed the administration of justice, reduced the power of the barons, and promoted the careers of talented individuals chosen for their abilities rather than their social statuses. If he weren’t a fucking prude, Frank would even consider him a friend.

 Frank knew that Matt’s ideals went blurry when Billy was mentioned. The empire was a threat to the European way of living. To God and everything he and the order believed in.

“How was your travel, Francis?” Matthias Corvinus with his red hair and those brown eyes that shimmered with the ligth of a lamp.

“Nothing to uncomfortable” Frank’s hand was resting on the tilt of his sword. “But I’m not here to talk about the weather”

Matt smiled and poured them wine in golden cups, offering one to Frank and taking a sip of his.

“Tell me then, why you ask for a meeting after all those years I went to you?” Matthias tone was accusative. “Did you finally saw what kind of snake that man is?”

“I always knew what kind of man HE is” Frank never got used to people trying to insult Billy. He remembers putting down soldiers that dared express a bad opinion about him. Now he only drinks his wine and glares at Corvinus. Frank took the little souvenir he took from one of the bodies and presented it to Matt. “I found Ottoman explorers in my backyard. You and I know what it means”

The Hungarian king stared at the finger in his table, and then looked at Frank.

“I thought that you and him were still like brothers. Why would Vilyam decide to take you out?” Frank let out a low growl. Brother wasn’t the word he thought of when thinking about Billy.

“I’m not sure” He lied. “but when shit comes down, an army like yours will come in handy” It wasn’t a secret that Wallachia had roughly 20,000 soldiers. Frank took their training very seriously, but not many men wanted to fight, and in contrast to Matthias, he wasn’t in a place to offer them money for their swords.

“I will help you with one condition” After a moment, Matt spoke again. His face had a frown and he reclined his back on the chair. “You're gonna take them with you and train them. It’s not a secret that we wanted you in the order not only for you pretty face” Frank snorted and Matt continued. “You used to be a jenissarie, and in a normal day one of those men can take out at least ten of mine in five minutes”

“You want me to be the Order’s personal trainer? It’s been years”

“But you never forgot, did you?”

There was something devilish in Matthias eyes that made Frank give in, after all he was the one asking for help.

“It’s a deal then, if I don’t die first. I will train your soldiers”

The two kings made a brindis for they alliance, and after a moment, Matthias asked what Frank was afraid to answer.

“If the moment of facing The sultan comes, will you be able to kill him?”

Frank finished his wine in one swing, getting up and looking at Matt with real gratitude.

“Thank you, Matthias Corvinus”

His steps taking him away from Billy’s Most formidable enemy, and getting him closer to Billy’s backlash.

•••••••

The ligth of a torch was the only illumination in the place, creating shadows that danced in the walls.

If those shadows could talk, they would probably ask Vilyam for mercy in behalf of his little brother, Ahmad.

Always the human and poetic brother. The one that tried to maintain everything in calm so the family could stay united.

The one that used to play with the concubines while Billy was beaten to a pulp at fucking nine years old.

Frank used to say that Ahmad was a saint, Vilyam was just making sure that his Martyrdom was worthy of sainthood.

“Just tell me the truth, I won’t get mad” Vilyam cleaned his hands with his brother’s dirty shirt. “Did you tell Franzuva about the explorers?”

Ahmad’s face was bruised beyond recognition, even if he made it out alive his left eye would be a total loss, among other parts and pieces that Vilyam took out earlier that night.

“I just want to know that, what else did you tell him, eh?” The sultan crouched down to look up at his brother’s face, wiping blood away from his mouth. “I've been spying on him ever since he left, and he was nowhere close to discover it. Then, one day suddenly, he just takes my explorers out, not one but two times”

The thing with his soldiers, was that you wouldn’t find them until it was too late for you. Nine years passed and Franzuva never acted on the explorers. And now Vilyam new team found pieces of two parties scattered in a Transilvanian river.

“I never told him anything” Ahmad breathed out and Vilyam inhaled. “He found them on his own, I have no idea what to tell you”

His brother’s voice was distorted because if the recent loss of teeth and the continuous flow of blood coming out of his mouth.

“You know what? I believe you” Vilyam took his dagger out of his belt and started cutting through the rope tying his brother to a chair, feet first. “Deep down I wanted to like you, I really did”

Billy moved behind his brother and put the dagger against his neck.

“But you’re only annoying” He said while the blade brings blood out of his brother’s throat, Ahmad started coughing, surely desperate to overcome the flow of blood suffocating him.

Vilyam looked at the scene until his brother stopped moving, the blood they shared dirtying the Sultan’s boots.

“If anyone asks” Vilyam let out a tired sight and looked at the body in the chair. “a Hungarian spy killed Prince Ahmad Zubair from the house of Otmar” Vilyam said to his vizier, a man nicknamed bullseye. “I want his body to be dealt with and get ready to travel to Transilvania, I want you to deliver a message”

•••••••

Frank read the letter twice before finally burning it. And as it disappeared in between the flames, he asked himself what was happening.

“Dear brother Franzuva.

Writing this isn’t easy, but my honor as a prince and as a man demands for me to warn you.

A Hungarian spy was caught earlier today, I was sent to deal with it myself. In a attempt to save his life, the man told me about your meeting with king Matthias.

Don’t worry, brother, I fully understand that the world we live in is one of survival, I have no plans to share this information with the sultan and risking those wonderful children of yours, we both know the lengths of my brother’s fury.

It pains me, to be trapped in between your fights even when it summons memories of our childhood together.

Be careful, son of Drăculea, the tides are changing and one misstep could cause the fall of an empire.

With the greatest affection, your brother, price Ahmad.”

Frank’s hands were sweaty, his vision blurred for a moment and he felt the urge to get out of the room he was in.

Ahmad was risking his life by warning him. If the reunion was now something Billy knew about… he would come knocking on Frank’s door soon.

Francis only hoped for it to be after Matt’s army arrived.

•••••••

“My prince, The sultan sends his regards to you and your son” The great vizier was a man younger than the last one.

“Thank you, hedef tahtası” Frank said with a smirk and saw a twitch in his guest eye when the reply came in perfect turkish, good. “I have the sultan tax ready”

“We are extremely pleased with you diligence, but we are not here for that” The young man Walked closer to Frank’s Throne, way too close to be a respectful gesture. “The Sultan demands a thousand kids, for his army of jenissaries”

Silence filled the room while Frank remembered those years of his life.

He promised Wallachia a future, this was nonsense.

“The sultan stopped with the jenissaries years ago” Francis questioned, without really asking the reasons behind Billy’s decision to his right hand man.

“Well, recently he has changed his opinion” The vizier took a step closer and Dimitru got closer, a protective action towards his king. “And he’s expecting your daughter to travel with us back to Istanbul”

Then, Frank’s guards entered the room carrying a chest with coins, two thousand coins in pure gold. Shining with the daylight.

“There is the Sultan’s tax, take it and leave” Francis got up, making the Turkish take a step back. “My money is enough, so take it”

“I was hoping for this answer, your majesty. It gives the sultan a good reason to turn your country to ashes” Hedef Tahtası Answered with a smirk and Frank suddenly forgot the vote of peace that he made to his wife.

His hands went to the vizier’s coat, pulling him up and closer to his face.

“Do you know who I am?” The Wallachian king said in Turkish and The man has the nerve of smiling again.

“You mean, who you were? The punisher? The great impaler?” Frank let out a growl, taking the man’s sword out of his belt and up to his neck. “That’s a tale we tell to little kid who doesn’t want to sleep early”

Frank remained silent a moment, his soldiers were restraining the Turkish party, Billy’s soldiers were smug. So Frank decided to give them a lesson.

He let the sword fall to the floor, the noise echoing in the stone walls.

“You know what I noticed?” Francis gave a tap to the vizier’s Fez. “Your in my court, but you don’t show your respect”

“You must have forgotten about our customs, if you’re asking such a silly question” the vizier tried to remove himself of Frank’s grasp, but it was futile.

“You’re in my country, in my presence. If it is so important, I’ll help you, so you never have to take it off again”

•••••••

“At least we know that prince Franzuva still has it”

“He can die a Honorable death”

“We should just go into Wallachia at once”

“Silence” The sultan demanded, contemplating the cercenated head of his great vizier right in the center of his table.

A strange package was delivered to his chambers that morning, the messenger was nowhere to be found and it showed that even when Frank needed Backup, he still had a way of getting things done.

What they found in the wooden box was a surprise, all bloodied and with the fez nailed to it. Knowing Francis, the nails came before death did. Vilyam couldn’t even feel bad for the poor fucker.

The sultan knew exactly what he was sending him to, when he delivered that message to Francis.

The man wasn’t going to give his daughter without fighting. Like he did everything else.

Except for Vilyam. Francis gave that up pretty easily.

“We’re going to pay prince Franzuva a visit. I want you to send one thousand men. Bring me him or his offspring” The three men nodded and one by one left Billy with his thoughts.

The love he felt for Frank was like a poisoned spear going through his skin, consuming him from the inside out. The memories of young love were tainted with the hurt of betrayal, of replacement.

But deep down, Billy can be honest with himself.

If Francis came and asked for forgiveness…

Vilyam would give it.

•••••••

“Princess Dinah asks you to put your family to safety as soon as I informed you” The blond headed Girl said with pleading eyes, like if she too suffered with the current situation. “If The sultan crosses the Danube, you all will be doomed”

“That roughly gives us a week” Dimitru said, mortified with the idea of invasion. “Surely Matthias can help us”

“The sultan is sending only a handful of his men. If we win with Matthias help, he’ll send more and more until there’s nothing left of the black army”

And nothing left of them, he wanted to add. But his job as King was keep these people at ease.

“Im going to think of a solution” Then Frank looked at the girl again and put his hands on her shoulders. “If Dinah thrusted you, I do as well. You need to go back and ask Ahmad to get some loyal men ready…”

“But, my Lord… Prince Ahmad was killed some weeks ago”

It only took Francis a moment to realize, that probably, it was Billy’s doing.

“May Allah bless his soul” The words scaped him before he could think correctly. He never prayed, but for Ahmad, he would.

“We can not leave our home” Maria said with determination, wich only showed her ignorance about their situation. “You and the sultan were like… brothers, if you ask maybe he can spare us”

“Theres no turning back. I sent him a corpse when he asked for our daughter” As a father, Frank promised himself that would never do what his father did.

A kid wasn’t responsible to save a nation, no kid should ever go through what he went, no man should ask another to sacrifice his greatest joy.

“You and the kids will go to the cozia monastery, the mountains will give us enough cover against Vilyam’s cannons” Frank caressed her cheek with the tip of his fingers.

Like everything in his life, she too will be victim of the violence that followed him everywhere. No matter what he did.

“What will you do?” she asked, hugging her husband tightly, hiding her face in his chest.

“I will pray for help”

•••••••

There were stories his mother used to tell him when he was little and wanted to wander around in the forest.

Stories of a creature that lived within the mountains of the Carpathians and came down to the surrounding forests to take kids out of their homes and eat them.

As a kid, he was scared shitless, as a young lad he believed that it all was a metaphor for the human threats around them.

As a man, he knows there’s something into the woods. Something that can kill Half platoon of Turkish soldiers.

Among the kid’s tales, there was this dream he’s been having, one where his skin burns and his stomach churns with the appetite of a predator.

The monks said it was the devil trying to lure him. He now thinks that it is the creature… calling for him.

“They're called Strigoi, troubled spirits that have risen from the grave. They are attributed to gain vitality from the blood of their victims” The priest had said once when Frank confessed before the Sunday service. “The devil is following you, your majesty. Keep in the path of our lord, pray for enlightenment”

That was exactly what Francis did.

If there was a devil, Frank wanted a deal.

He followed the river all the way up to the mountain, the environment even when familiar, was full of obstacles. When the last rays of sun disappeared, Frank reached a cave he could pass the night inside.

That until the smell of rotten flesh hit his nose, too familiar to be comfortable. The hair on his nape rised and he held his sword up, ready to attack but in clear disadvantage due to the darkness.

“You finally came” The eerie voice made him search in the dark for even the slightest glimpse of a silhouette.

“Show yourself” Frank demanded, contemplating the very creature he was searching for.

“Be careful of the tone you use with me, boy” Then, a hand slapped his sword away and another held him against the wall of the cave. Francis found himself unable to move. “Tell me, how’s the son of the devil doing?”

“It means son of the dragon, protector of the innocent” Frank struggled, he tried to kick but his legs were far from the ground, his eyes started to make details out, the moonlight being his only help. “Who are you?”

“I answer to many names, none of which you’re worthy to pronounce” A sharp claw started digging on his neck, if the warm feeling was anything to go by, he was bleeding. “Does your lovely wife know how many innocents you killed?”

“I did it because i had no other option” It was unsettling, the amount of information the creature possessed.

“Impalement was an obligation?”

The wet tongue of the creature licked Frank’s blood, making him shiver and struggle more violently to get free.

Once satisfied, the Strigoi let him fall, Francis didn’t realize he was so far from the floor until he hit it.

“By impaling a small village, I saved ten more” He was trying to regain control of his breathing and blindly search for his sword.

“That’s the lie you tell yourself every night so you can sleep” Fire started burning somewhere in the middle of the cave.

The pale face of a emaciated man welcomed him in a orange glow. His eyes were red and sunk, his attire seemed even older than him. And even from a distance, Francis could see his fangs.

“What do you want, son of Drăculești?” Once back on his feet, Frank noticed that what covered the ground were bones, and that in fact, the horrific smell came from the corpses of two Turkish soldiers.

“I want a deal. My country and my family’s in danger. I need powers like yours”

“You don’t know anything about my abilities, nor the sacrifices i made to get them” The creature moved around Frank, examining him. “But I’ve been searching for a man with your determination, to share this curse with”

“What can I do to get them?” Frank asked with hope, not really giving a fuck about whatever curse this man was Talking about.

“These putrid walls have been my prison, for centuries. I was lured with the promise of power beyond human understanding” The Strigoi moved closer to the fire and Frank followed. “For years, I’ve searched for a candidate to free me from this confinement. And you, little prince, are the kind of monster I need”

“Im not a monster. And I don’t want power, I just want to give my family a chance at survival”

“That’s were you’re wrong” The creature took a dried skull from the cave’s ground and smashed it. “I've tasted your blood, I’ve seen what you’ve done”

With the top piece of the skull, the creature cut his skin and started to collect his own blood.

“Spare me the sermon. You don’t know anything about me or the motivation I have to do things”

“You’re as stubborn as a bull. I can see why you got yourself in this poor situation” Once the amount of blood satisfied him, the Strigoi handed it to Frank. “If you drink this, you’ll get the power of a hundred men, complete control of the night, the darkness and all the creatures that live within. Your injuries would be cured and Maybe even you’ll have a a chance of saving your beloved family”

Frank took the makeshift bowl in his hands and looked at the liquid. Everything had a price, and powers like this never came with a ribbon.

“And what is the curse?” Frank asked.

“The sun will be your sworn enemy and the hunger will bring the real monster out, if you save your wife from the ottomans, maybe you will end up killing her. But if you can last three days without seeking food, you’ll go back to normal” The Strigoi crossed his arms behind his back and then continued. “You will live forever and one day I will search for you to take revenge on the man whom deceived me”

“I won’t live like this forever” Frank stated before drinking the Viscous liquid, it was bitter and his stomach barely could hold it.

When he finished, Frank smashed the skull in the nearest wall, wiping his mouth with his cape and looking defiantly at the Strigoi.

“Now what?”

“Now you die”

A whole colony of bats came from the back of the cave, Frank tried to cover his face, but the little animals continued to push him out.

The wind was cold, and the moonlight finally gave him a full look at the Strigoi. Rather than red his eyes were orange and it felt like if they were actually reading his thoughts.

Then the ground disappeared underneath his feet and Frank was falling.

•••••••

The sultan woke up covered in sweat, his breath was erratic and his heart felt like it would explode.

Never, in thirty years of living, a nightmare got to scare him enough to pray to God like he was doing now.

Months ago a dream woke him up as well, a dream where he was killed by the love of his life, he could make peace with that, it wasn’t a nightmare.

But this was different.

In this one, Frank’s body was in a river, face down and with the water washing away the blood from his Injuries, his skull was smashed, as the wolves started to crowd around him.

That was definitely not the kind of death a man like Francis deserved. And it let Billy with an uneasy feeling.

Battle was coming, and he only wished that the thousand men he sent to Frank’s door were enough to put him back where he belonged.

At Billy’s side.

•••••••

The Rhythmic sound of the torrent made him came back to consciousness.

His body hurt, for a moment, he thought that everything was a dream, he would open his eyes and his room at the Edirne palace would welcome him.

Maybe if he was lucky, Billy would be sleeping at his side, limbs extended and tangled with his own.

But, the wetness around him broke his fantasy.

First, he was in the Danube. Not in his room. And second, there was something burning in his chest.

Frank rapidly opened his shirt, only to discover his emblem burning his skin. Same as the wedding ring in his hand. Frank moved further into shore and retired the two objects, carefully putting them in his pocket.

To his awe, the damage started to disappear, not leaving a trace.

Okay, that was useful.

Then he looked around, it was probably midnight, but he could see perfectly in the darkness. He could hear the deers and wolves hearts from kilometers away.

He looked up and a emotional gasp left his throat.

Frank has never seen stars so bright, so beautiful.

His hand moved up to his mouth, feeling the pointy teeth at the sides, those weren’t useful. He wasn’t going to let the curse consume him. Three days, that was all he needed.

He oriented himself back to Târgoviște, Ready to run all the way back. But once he gained some speed, his body transformed in many little bats, moving as one cloud of noisy wings. He stopped and the animals disappeared.

“I’ll need a moment to get used”

•••••••

“My sultan, we have news from the Poneri Castle” One of his generals raised his hand when their council meeting was about to end.

After all the trade routes and taxes and the newly conquered land, this little bit actually interested the sultan.

“Great, are my soldiers coming back?” Then Vilyam saw a little bit of fear in the old man’s eyes.

“I fear, prince Franzuva finished the thousand men you send, my Lord” The man retreated, as if scared of The sultan’s retaliation.

He was know for not taking mistakes lightly. But this wasn’t a mistake they should be punished for. Vilyam looked at the five men in the room, all of them avoiding eye contact.

“Well, this is very disappointing” And it rised more questions.

Did Francis actually went to Corvinus? Otherwise, his shit show of an army could’ve never been able to take on his men.

“Send ten thousand. I’ll command” Vilyam moved his hand to his pocket, and palmed the silvery coin he carried with him always. “When I march to Europe, Francis will be at my side. Either he wants it or not”

“My sultan, but wouldn’t it be more profitable to end with the house of Drăculești Once and for all?”

It would, obviously. But Vilyam wasn’t going to let Frank die before he did.

Anyhow, Frank was acting downright stupid due to that… woman. Once she’s gone, he can have frank back as he always did. As brutal and heartless as it sounded.

“Well, my dear friend. When you become sultan, you can order his execution” The old man bowed and then Vilyam continued. “Prince Franzuva Has done inimaginable good to this empire. He won’t die as a transgressor”

•••••••

“Where is my family?” Frank asked when he finally reached Dimitru, the desperation palpable in his tone and the adrenaline still pumping in his body.

He encountered a small fraction of Billy’s army in his way home. Thankfully, with the Strigoi powers he easily cleaned them all.

He even had spare time to leave a little message for Billy before sunrise.

Francis forgot how good he was at fighting, how easily he could unleash a untamed part of himself that he discovered when he was given as a royal prisoner. But found out that the Strigoi hunger was actually a problem once blood was spilled.

“Queen Maria and the princes were sent to the monastery, as you asked” Dimitru was fast, following Frank around in a makeshift camp for his glorious army. “Theres no word from the black army”

“I’m not even sure they’re going to help us” Matthias’s answer was positive, but the delay in his actions made Frank think that maybe, low-key Matt expected both of them to exterminate each other.

“Frank but please tell me what happened to you?”

Then Francis stopped a moment, realizing he must look like someone whom went to hell and came back.

He looked at his hands, covered in dirt and blood, little pieces of wood were stuck in his skin, once he took them out the little injuries closed on their own. He hid his hand from Dimitru.

“I encountered A small part of the Sultan’s army close to the Giurgiu Fort” Frank retired his cape and started cleaning himself once he got a little more of a room for himself, away from curious eyes, and more specially, away from the sun.

“But… those would’ve been more than 1500 men” The position Frank granted to that fort was a gift, to show his trust in Billy’s actions. But given the necessity, Francis needed it cleared from Ottoman soldiers due to its strategical value. The fort is situated amongst mud-flats and marshes on the left bank of the Danube, facing the recently attacked city of Bulgaria in the other side.

“Im not going to explain to you what happened there, my friend. But be sure I will do everything in my power to keep everyone safe” Frank put a hand on Dimitru shoulders, looking at his eyes. Before walking away to find clean clothes. “Its time for us to prepare, because the sultan won’t hold back once he gets here”

To win a fight, one must know his enemy as one knows himself. And Frank knows Billy better, even if the billy of his memories is further away. Lost under all the duties and the hunger for power. He still is the Billy Frank grieves for. The one he loves.

“Frank… your… your scars aren’t there” Francis had begun to undress, not noticing the fixed gaze of his right hand man on his torso.

“Get out, Dimitru” His face must’ve told something to his friend, because he only bowed and left him alone.

He would need to find a way to keep all this strigoi shit under wraps. He just hoped for Billy to arrive soon, three days was all he had.

•••••••

“My father used to tell me that war shows what people is capable of doing to each other” Vilyam was fixing the laces on his armor when he was interrupted from his thoughts.

He accommodated the gold plates in his chest and shoulders, locking eyes with the intruder through the reflection in the mirror.

“when he broke my arm, he told me that the pain would make me free” He secured his sword in his belt and then turned to look at his sister. “When I killed him, he told me he wasn’t surprised. I took a bit of offence, for being pointed as transparent. I wanted to remain the mysterious character”

“Baba was far from a perfect man, but he wasn’t a monster like you” The woman holding the knife got closer, and Billy smiled at her.

“I realize Baba used to tell me way different things that the ones he told to you”

“I can stop you, here and now. Spare Franzuva from having to kill you” His sister said with conviction.

“You can surely try” She got closer and her hand moved the knife like a child would. The inexperienced hand that uses the weapon in such a humiliating way.

Vilyam took her wrist, twisting it until the utensil fell to the stone floor. The noise reverberating in the walls of his chambers.

Billy took out his own knife from the side of his belt, holding it way too close to her ribs.

“The baba you loved so much was not better than a pig” Vilyam said close to her ear, making sure that she could see them in the mirror. “I saw him do horrible things to other people. I helped him with some” Billy took a deep breath, his sister’s perfume making him sick. “He forced Frank to do some as well. These are the ways of our world, Dinah. The only crime in war is to lose”

“Kill me now, so you’re the only thing left of this empire”

Vilyam looked at her with disdain before releasing her hand and pushing her away, The princess fell to the floor, her blue dress spreading around her, like the waves did when touching shore.

“I won’t kill you, but you will do something for me”

•••••••

“We will wait here for the sultan forces. The plan is to keep them away from Târgoviște as long as we can”

The Wallachian king said to his troops, strategy won battles even when the word troops was longer than his army.

The map was displayed on the table, General schoonover and Dimitru were by his side, nodding and asking details every once in a while.

“Our army is small, so we’re going to strike swiftly and divided in small groups. This small part is going to cross the river and wait in the woods” Frank sighed, Marking the places where he wanted his men and trying to convey his desperation in his tone. “The lookouts reported that the Sultan’s army is barely a day away” And after a equally defeated and gloomy tone he added. “He will get here by sunset, I think”

“Its good or bad, that they’re taking their time to arrive?” Dimitru said, and Frank tried not to smile at the question.

“You should be flattered he’s paying us this much attention” the men in the room were send to their posts and only the old general and his friend remained. “What’s eating you, old goat?”

“Francis, I still don’t know how you plan on winning” The general was distressed, his eyes seemed to sink every passing second, and his skin was in a yellow hue. “Im sure that if you go to Hungary right now you’ll get there tomorrow morning…”

“I asked for help once, and Corvinus turned his back on me” The old general, made a sound of disagreement. “My decision is final. We are going to win this war in two days and Wallachia won’t have to ask for mercy ever again”

“Two days? Holy God in heaven Frank, why not one? You can surprise us all” Dimitru smiled but his smile was different from the natural.

Ever since he saw Frank scarless, he treated his king at arms length, he was nervous all the time and Frank could hear his heart beat a lot faster every time they were left alone in a room.

“Giurgiu Fort gives us a preferential position, I plan on using it to the maximum capacity”

“My king, im sorry for interrupting but… there’s someone asking to see you” A young man entered without knocking, the sunlight followed him, casting it’s warmth right over the table, almost burning Frank’s hand over the map.

“Bring them in” When Frank spoke those words, he never expected to see Dinah’s face cross the door. The surprise made him a second slower commanding the three men to leave them alone.

Once the door was closed, Dinah rushed to his arms, breathing deeply.

“What are you doing here?” Frank asked, when she finally let him go.

“I tried to kill Vilyam, Frank” She looked remorseless, she had the right to.

“You tried?”

“I did, but I failed” She saw a chair and sat there, away from the door and right by her step brother’s side. “He spared my life to give you this”

Dinah produced an envelope from her dress, the Sultan’s seal was visible when Frank took it. It looked harmless, but Billy was a crafty little thing. He could kill him with a spoon if he was in the mood for it.

“Frank.

I must say, old friend, that your behavior has got me upset recently. You started something we both know you can’t win. But knowing you as I do, I reckon you won’t stop until one of us is dead.

It looks like The price for my love, is not one you’re willing to pay. So I won’t hold back when the ultimate clash between us comes. It pains me, that you don’t see the motives to my actions. That you refuse to listen to reason and follow me, as you did in the past.

I try to be a compassionate ruler, but compassion has a limit and I already tested the limits of my patience with you.

I will use this letter to let you know Of my plans as a last gift to you.

By the moment my treacherous sister finds you, a group of jenissaries should be On their way back from cozia. Where I’m sure you put your wife and offspring in a attempt to shield them away from the battle.

They have orders to keep the two kids alive until they arrive and I see them, don’t fret.

I want you to think back of that moment at my father’s funeral. When I asked for you to stay. That answer could’ve changed everyone’s destiny.

We could’ve been together, conquered the world, but your rejection will not pass unnoticed.

This should end where it started, in the crib of all my dispair, all my pain. The place that welcomed you to the world is going to be your tomb.

With the most sincere of my affections.

-Billy”

“He is unstoppable, Frank” She clutched the shoulder padding in his armour and only then she realized what he was wearing. Her fingers moved to the engraved dragon around the skull. “You're wearing Baba’s armour”

“It seemed appropriate” Frank took her hands on his, leaving the letter buried in his trouser’s pocket. “Seek refuge, stay inside the Fort. I’ll do my best to stop Vilyam”

“No, none of that. Allah bless you Frank, for being a caring brother. But I will fight him until my last breath is ripped from my chest”

“Dinah, if you die… the house of Otmar will die with you” Even when he personally didn’t care that much about legacy and wealth. Francis knew perfectly that the empire would be left as a headless chicken, ready to be grabbed by infidels and pillagers.

“Im tired of everyone putting me to the side. I prefer To die today and reunite with Ahmad and my mother, rather than be spared and watch how Vilyam destroys everything I hold dear”

Frank remembered then the little girl with curled hair that used to piss Billy off just because she wanted to play with them, the one that was stubborn as a mule when something didn’t matched her view of the world. The one that loved her mother more than anything else.

Dinah has always been a tough woman, and Francis cursed the world for making her that way.

“I’ll ask Dimitru to give you an armour then. But you will be where I can see you” She smiled and hugged him again.

“I pray that in our next life, we can be siblings again”

•••••••

“Of all the land I own, this is the one I dislike the most” Vilyam stopped his horse when the river shore was visible. Probably five hundred meters away. The other side looked lonely, but the smoke further into the woods told him otherwise. Frank was waiting for him, and even in danger, something inside him stirred the old affect he held for the man. “General, inform our soldiers that whoever brings me Franzuva alive, will have Wallachia”

“At once, my sultan” The horse moved away and Billy looked at the river for some time more. As if waiting for Frank to appear in the other side.

“I just hope, that this is the last day of our senseless grudge, Frank”

•••••••

“God save us, soon the whole world will be ottoman” Dimitru said, maybe impressed or maybe scared. Their hiding in the trees made it easy to get a glimpse of the Sultan’s camp. “They’re going to wipe us from Earth”

“Your attitude is really inspiring” Dinah said and maybe if Frank’s mind wasn’t with his family’s safety, he would’ve laughed at the exchange. “Vilyam is going to need some local fishermen to take the soldiers and cannons to the other side of the river” After a moment, she searched for Frank’s arm. “We should destroy the barges”

In the semi darkened environment, Frank could perfectly see the spark of bravery shine in his sister’s eyes. She also had that shine when she recommended to fight in the shore rather than the fort. Maybe if they get out of this, she would make one hell of an empress.

“Dimitru, take some men and set fire to all the boats you see in the shore” His right hand man was about to leave when Frank took his arm. “Don't wait until the moon it’s on it’s Zenit, they will se you”

“On it, be careful princess Dinah” Frank cocked a brow when Dimitru left, not really sure if Dinah could see him. But if her speedy heartbeat was a sign of something Frank was impressed.

“Dimitru is a good man”

“I don’t follow”

“Don’t play dumb” Frank nudged at her shoulder. Readjusting his position in the branches. “I saw it that time on Easter”

“All those times you got your ass beaten messed with your head” Frank laughed, causing Dinah to smile while trying to get closer to him and slap his face.

Then, her hand slipped from the branch she was holding, the sound of cracking and then a pained Yelp was produced from the princess throat.

Frank Held her wrist, letting her hanging at least five meters from the ground before pulling her up with one arm and letting her on a more stable part of the tree.

“Oh my God Frank. Thank you” She hissed in relief and then he smelled it.

“You're injured” Because the pain he felt in his mouth then turned in a soul breaking need to satisfy the hunger he’d been postponing since he awakened in the river.

“Oh yes, my leg is bleeding but it’s nothing big” For her, maybe. For Frank meant that he needed to get as far away as he could. “Frank?”

“Let’s climb down, it’s almost time for us to strike”

Frank jumped down and put a knee on the ground. Prying his mind away from the metallic smell coming from her, trying to think in anything rather than the sound of her heart pumping blood.

He thought of his family, In the pink of Maria’s cheeks in the winter; in the laughter of his daughter; in the innocent looking face of his son.

Then he thought of Billy, the deep talks they used to have in the death of night. In the way Billy liked his coffee, how they used to touch their foreheads together after a battle.

Frank was divided between two things he loved. And now he was prepared to kill one of those things, right?

“In my next life im Training as hard as you” A very tired Dinah finally joined his side. “What, jumping damaged your knees old man?”

“In my next life I won’t train” Because he hopes for a more peaceful way of living. “I will be a farmer or something”

She laughed and then both of them used the cover of night to move back to where the Wallachian group was waiting for instructions.

•••••••

Wind blew away the smell of coffee in the tent, mixing with the smell of the river. Maybe the Wallachian landscape wasn’t that bad.

“My sultan, I’m sorry for bothering. But the party you send to Cozia just arrived”

Billy smiled, lifting his cup and drinking the unsweetened beverage, warm and comforting.

“Bring Franzuva’s family here. They’re royal prisoners from this moment forward”

It wasn’t long until the woman of his nightmares appeared with the two children Francis held so dear.

“Princess Maria, is always a pleasure to see you” He extended his hand, for her to kiss as a show of subordination, wich never came. “I know that the circumstances aren’t the best, but I assure you your family isn’t in danger”

“You put my whole country in jeopardy, how can you say that were are not in danger?” She his the kids behind her, as if someone as fragile as her could ever protect them from him.

“Well, if Franzuva would’ve listened to me this all wouldn’t be happening” He sat on the head of the table and commanded her to do the same. “Please, Maria. I won’t hurt your children, if that’s what you fear”

“Frank will come for us”

“I’m counting on that” Billy looked at the kids again, the girl reminded him of Frank more than the boy did. Even if it was only a tiny piece of Francis what they had, they would be spared. “Ahmet, please make sure lady Maria doesn’t Hurt herself while I’m not here”

The soldier only nodded and Billy got up to get out of the tent.

“Where are you Frank?”

Then a bright spot was spotted far away from the camp, near the river. His soldiers started moving and shouting.

“My Sultan, they set fire to the ships” The man was panicking. “What do we do, sir?”

“They are trapped here with us” Billy looked around and then looked down to the soldier. “Send the men to the woods, disperse them, kill everyone”

The man sprinted to deliver orders and Billy smiled to himself. When the first wave of Wallachian soldiers started attacking from the limits of the woods.

Small groups that attacked like commoners would do, inexperienced and in fear of being killed.

“I want this tent secured at any cost” he yelled at a few soldiers before stepping away while drawing his sword out and starting to send them to hell.

If someone would describe to him what he saw, he would paint it as delirium from a dying man, perhaps a trick played by Francis.

But the wave of bats that came down blocking visibility from his army was a coincidence or rather, a confirmation of the dark magic used by the Drăculești house like the rumours said.

Billy moved through the camp, cutting and slicing, the weight of his sword in his hand giving him all the confidence he needed.

When the bats cleared another wave of maybe five hundred men started to attack.

This time Billy finally caught a glimpse of the man he was looking for. His black armour was almost invisible, if it weren’t for the Faint light of the torches spread around the camp and the fire coming from the shore.

“Sons of Otmar, its time to put an end to this” He lifted his sword and used all the air in his lungs to yell at his soldiers. “Kill them all”

•••••••

Frank heard Billy’s heart before he saw him. A steady rhythm that he knew better than anything.

“Dinah, Billy will be closer to the center of the camp” The princess was already sprayed with a bit of blood, clearly out of breath due to the lack of experience. “We need to move”

Frank moved swiftly around the Turkish soldiers, many started crowding around him, making him drop the sword and start using the powers he bargained for.

His hands started to rip throats from the necks of his enemies, using his force to throw soldiers away like rags. Using the Poles of the tents to impale five men at once.

The smell of blood running freely out of the bodies made his mouth hurt again, this time more desperately, his teeth started to enlarge and for one glorious moment, he forgot what he was fighting for.

When he was about to sink his fangs on the neck of a soldier, Dinah’s voice got to him as an anchor.

“Frank, Frank what are you doing?” She was desperate, her hair that earlier was fixed in a Braid now had some curls out. She looked scared, almost horrified of all the bodies surrounding him. “Frank, please, your family, we need to get to them”

His breath was erratic and his eyes felt More sensitive to light.

Then a cry broke the spell of the monster, it wasn’t a battle cry, it was a baby. His baby boy was crying, and in between the fire, blood and the screams Frank could hear his wife trying to shush him.

“This way” Frank collected a sword and started walking towards the biggest tent in the camp.

“What was that?”

“I would rather not say”

•••••••

In battle, Billy was more comfortable than in peace. The fact that he could only depend on himself was as known as the history of his empire.

The only one who could ever match with him was the one who was coming after him.

“Look at us Frank” The sultan said when his biggest enemy was finally standing in front of him. “It is like everything we dreamed of. But instead of fighting back to back, we’re face to face”

“I would like to say that we don’t have to do this, but it’s all said and done”

Francis was standing proud, his black armour bringing his full glory back to life. He also had longer hair and a beard that was now covered with blood that wasn’t his. Billy was sure of that.

“Let them go Bill” Frank lifted his sword and pointed at the tent at his back. Billy turned his head a bit, only to see the soldiers being cut From behind by his little sister.

Billy threw a dagger at her, hitting her shoulder. He could only register what happened next until Francis was tackling him to the ground, smashing his fist in his cheek two times before Billy could kick him away.

“Bill… let them go” Frank got up fast, adopting a defensive stance. Billy walked closer and by the corner of the eye he could see Dinah crawling inside of the tent.

“Attachments are weakness, Frank” Billy scoffed lifting a piece of wood from the ground and swinging it, testing it’s balance. “I never had anybody, did I?”

Billy swinged and hit Francis in the ribs, making him fall backwards.

“You had us, Bill” Francis was breathing heavily, trying to get up. “Ahmad, Dinah. We were a family”

“A family? What a crack of shit” Billy went for another swing but Francis stopped him with one hand, Hitting his knee with a pole. Sending him down with excruciating pain. “You always cared too goddamn much about them. More than you did about me”

“That's not true and you know it” Francis used his position to get a hold of Billy’s hair and started beating him again.

Blood started pooling in Billy’s mouth, Francis let go of him and Billy could feel the mud underneath. Billy got up and avoided the fast fist of his enemy, he locked Frank’s arm with his, putting pressure until he heard the familiar cracking of bone and Francis’s pained grunt.

Francis fell to one knee, that should’ve let him out of commission. But Billy found himself gasping when he saw him moving his arm normally after some seconds.

“What did you do, Frank?” Billy took some distance, trying to understand what just happened.

“What I had to” Frank launched himself to Billy.

The sultan held him by the armour, pulling him down and meeting his face with his non Injured knee. Frank’s hands held him by the waist pulling him away more easily than he should’ve.

Billy took his knife out, the silvery blade shining under the fire and the moonlight, swinging his hand and making a small cut in Frank’s arm. The bleeding lasted as long as the blink of an eye would have, and then the slash closed on its own.

Francis got closer, Billy could see the murderous intent in his darkened eyes. He was sure that if he were to touch Frank’s chest he would feel his heart running faster than the stallions he owned.

Billy managed to hold him by the neck, using that inch he had on Frank’s height to move him backwards, until his back was against a cart of supplies. Then his knife was inside Frank’s chest.

“Whatever you did to yourself, turned out futile” Billy put their lips together, not expecting to be reciprocated until Frank’s hands were clutching to his armour and he could taste the dirt and the blood from Drăculea’s son mouth.

After what felt like an eternity, Francis finally delivered the final blow.

If Billy put enough attention, he would’ve been able to distinguish the organs Francis’s knife was piercing.

He took a couple of steps back, looking down and seeing his blood accumulating in the dirt. When his eyes went up, he saw frank walking to him only to retrieve his knife, making the hemorrhage bigger.

Billy’s breath was heavy, but even when the dizziness was overtaking him, his fist went up, only to be held by Frank’s left hand while his right one went up in a fist to strike again.

The sultan fell to the ground, but what he felt wasn’t defeat.

“Im glad to prove that the only difference between you and me… is the amount of people who will mourn us when we die” He wanted to say more things, damn, if his blood stayed inside a bit longer maybe he would’ve apologized for the mess. But he would never have to opportunity.

Francis got to his knees again, cradling him in his arms, holding his sultan closer to his chest, like all those times they shared a moment of intimacy.

“Why were you such a son of a bitch?” Frank asked, voice hoarse and accusatory, wiping the blood away from Billy’s face, at least Francis’s tone brought him the comfort of being missed.

“If I’m going to die tonight… I’m glad it is you who kills me” Billy took one last look at Francis face.

Then darkness consumed him.

•••••••

“Billy?”

Frank couldn’t have recognized his own voice even if he wanted. When Billy closed his eyes and he could hear his heart slowing down, a fear stroke rushed through him.

Matthias question came back to hunt him.

Before he could think of it better, Frank opened his own arm with his teeth, pouring his blood into Billy’s mouth, making sure to hold it close until the Sultan’s heart stopped completely.

Francis got up, carrying Billy’s lifeless body to the tent where his family was blinding themselves from the fight, blinding from him.

“Frank…” Dinah let out a pained gasp when she saw him, her expression rapidly turned to shock when she saw the Sultan’s body. “Is he alive?”

“Tell the soldiers that they’ll find mercy if they follow you. I will kill the ones that rebel against you” Francis let Billy over the lounger on the edge of the tent before turning to his wife and kids.

Dinah got out to regroup what was left of the army. Not without looking at him with suspicion.

He got closer to his family, hyper aware of their reactions. They knew, somehow, that something was different about him now.

“Frank?” Maria’s hand went to his cheek, examining the red spots left from Billy’s attack. “Is everything over?”

Frank looked at her, tears forming in his eyes as he started thinking on what to do from now on.

“Yes” He lied.

•••••••

“Don't ask again Dinah, He will stay here” Frank stated. Once the fire and the stink of death vanished from the Wallachian countryside, he could stablish a peaceful week for all his citizens and soldiers to rest and mourn their loses.

“Alright I get it, I’m just saying that having the sultan’s corpse back in Istanbul would make me a solid with the court” Frank looked at her and then at the covered window, the sun was probably shining behind the curtain. Francis wasn’t allowed to see it anymore. “Can I at least know why you won’t let me take his body back?”

Silence was the only answer she got before being dismissed due to the arrival of One Matthias Corvinus.

“Frank, it’s always a pleasure to see you” Well, Frank wasn’t exactly pleased, it probably was showing in his face because Matt’s eyebrows got together. “I came to congratulate you”

“Apologizing sounds more fitting, don’t you think?” He wanted to let all his anger come out at the only one who dared to come and seek him.

A week of isolation and taking precautions all over the castle distracted him from the main problem.

He fed on a agonizing soldier and hasn’t seek food even since. The general annoyance in his mood may be due to that.

“I reckon, that my arrival is out of time. But you made an excellent job dealing with that, didn’t you” Matthias was fidgeting with his ring, his brown-ish eyes were looking for something in Frank that he’d rather keep hidden.

“With the risk of being annihilated, humans are capable of great feats” Francis got up from his throne, walking towards Matthias. He could smell the blood running under his skin and a certain kind of desire for the other king started to build up in his gut. “I still don’t understand what you’re doing here”

“The order is… worried, word of unholy acts of your doing to win that battle is spreading through Europe” Matthias met his eyes, Frank wasn’t sure if he felt comfortable with that, but he didn’t falter. “And your recent alliance with the Turkish Queen, makes you the enemy number one for western Europe”

“I highly doubt that they send you to warn me” Because he just confirmed what francis knew, The Europeans saw him as an attack dog, nothing different to the view the sultan had.

“They are going to attack you if you don’t go to Rome and present your respect and loyalty to the pope”

There were many reasons for wich Frank couldn’t do what Matt was asking. First and foremost, because stepping into holy ground would set him on fire. A very disastrous lesson he had to learn the hard way.

Second, His little secret buried in the castle’s dungeons would also be in risk of being found if he left for more than a day. The screams coming from the coffin made it the main focus of the maids and other workers.

But also, he swore that Wallachia would never had to fear for their own land. He definitely didn’t get rid of one oppressor only to fall in the hands of another.

“And you’ve come to warn me out of your guilty conscience?” Because nothing happened by accident. And even when Frank felt almost invincible these days, he knew that getting too comfortable would have his family killed.

“Once we were friends and I know the sacrifices you’ve made for this country” Matthias Held his forearm, trying to convince Frank with those glassy eyes of his. “Just travel to Rome, visit the pope. They will leave you alone…”

“Until there’s another war and they need me or my scarce resources” Frank put his hand over Matt’s and slowly moved away. “If this is everything you’ve got to say, I wish you good travel”

“I just hope you know what you're doing, Frank” Corvinus inclined his head lightly and turned around. His steps taking him back to Hungary.

Francis considered Matt’s words, rapidly discarding them as his daughter made her way inside the throne room and into his arms.

For now, everything was under control, he would take this moment to get his shit together. Enjoy the little time extra he got.

•••••••

The nightmares attacked him with more force than ever before. A month has passed since the battle, and it’s not only Billy’s screams he hears inside his skull when he closes his eyes.

With nightmares worsened sleeping at all was privilege he wasn’t granted anymore. Sleepless nights were his new reality, and like everything that happened in his life he took it head first.

At night it was usual to find Francis roaming in the Castle, moving in the shadows with no destination in mind, but always finalizing his walk in the dungeons.

Francis had the place fixed so no one other than him would enter, there were bodies, hanging from chains secured in the ceiling. Criminals that were sentenced to die served to feed himself and the sultan, he would remove the corpses, throwing them away in the forest for the wolves to finish the job. Looking for hours to end at Billy’s coffin under the chest that contained his black armour and Billy’s weapons.

When he was in the room, the screams and pleas would diminish to whimpers and low growls barely heard through the wooden box he was trapped in.

“Billy would never forgive me” His mind provided one night when his wife insisted on him trying to rest. Her soft body was pressed against his, feeling her warmth even when fully clothed. She hasn’t seen him naked since the battle an in fear of her reaction, he kept it that way.

“He will” Maria said, and only then Frank realized that he voiced his thoughts. “He loved you, when you met again in the afterlife, he will understand”

Yeah, surely they both would end up in hell.

“You did what every father would’ve done, you saved our children. You saved everyone” Her hand cupped his cheek and Francis felt nauseous, unworthy of her pity, her gratitude. “You killed him because there was no other option”

“I don’t regret what I did. I just wonder if it could’ve been any different”

“Rest, Francis. Pray to the lord to ease your mind”

•••••••

Time was a funny concept.

When you seem to enjoy life, time comes and goes quickly. With no regards for the happiness it might be taking away. Billy could conjure memories of frank, sitting by the side of the sea, talking nonsense about feelings and promises.

On the other side, when something was specially painful, time laughed at you. Passing way to slowly, making fun of your stupid choices.

Time was now a indifferent thing to him. He died a month or a year ago?

The voice he heard, was really Francis or it was a trick his mind liked to play on him?

If this was hell, it wasn’t as bad as the Catholics made it look like. Only, Billy knew damn well the changes he felt in himself weren’t those of the dead.

The first time the warm liquid started to pour from what he deduced was the roof of his confinement, Billy was enchanted by the smell, and when it finally reached his mouth… Vilyam felt ecstatic.

But at the same time, everything felt like too much, the darkness, the loneliness, the hunger, the desperation.

Those things combined made everyone loose their shit at some point.

In fact, he’s not so sure that the screams he hears in the distance are real. It could be one of the very real nightmares he usually has.

•••••••

“I would like to hold your hand” A young Francis asked to prince Vilyam, hope was filling him, for the first time in a long time.

“I am too much, for a war dog like you” Vilyam smiled and something bitter started to take pieces of his confidence away. Francis took a step back.

“Don’t call me that” He was now defensive, only the sultan called him that and it wasn’t specially pleasing. “Never call me that”

“What did you think I was going to say? I’m above you, you better look down Franzuva, you can break your neck”

Francis woke up when something started burning in his chest. First he thought it was the pain from remembering in dreams about times when rejection started to hurt more than torture did.

He opened his eyes and tried to move but he couldn’t.

“He’s awake sir” someone said and then Frank could hear whimpers somewhere.

“Don’t get close, the beast can attack you” That voice belongs to General schoonover, and Frank started to trash around in his bed, testing the resistance given by the chains he was tied with.

“Where’s my wife? What did you do?” Frank decided to stop moving for the sake of understanding what was going on, even when he had an idea.

“Lady Maria is being prepared for execution, and so are the kids” The old man said, Frank could hear other three hearts on the room, but these people weren’t speaking. “she will be judged for the crimes of witchcraft and burned accordingly”

“You touch my family and I will feed you to yours”

“All your life I told you that a prince owed himself to his country, no kind of love or even loyalty can compare” Then, the general got closer and pressed something against him again. His skin started burning and Frank hissed. “You clearly did fraternize with the devil, whatever the reason, you shouldn’t have done it”

“You Are alive thanks to what I did” Francis broke free and the men around him tried to run for the door.

Francis moved faster than ever, blocking the exit with his body and holding the closest one by the neck before crushing it.

“I should’ve let you die when The sultan came” Frank’s hand morphed into a claw, making strips out of flesh from the men around him, letting the general be the last one to die.

“In the name of god, I order you to desist from these unholy acts” The old man held his sword up, ready to attack Francis. “They have orders to kill your family if I don’t come out of this room”

“You're a fucking coward” Frank walked towards the man he once considered his friend, caging him against the wall. The tip of the sword touched his chest, but that only made Frank move closer, stabbing himself and getting a little scream out of the man, whom horrified tried to move away.

General schoonover couldn’t scream when Francis bit out his throat. His lifeless body Fell to the ground and Frank took the sword out from his chest. It hurt, but now he had to find maria and kill the insurgency.

•••••••

When the screams started to come to him, it first felt like a dream. Some of those nightmares he’s been having. When he can’t figure out day and night, when the hallucinations were too much.

It sound like the villages did when his army marched and burned everything down, even the smell was similar.

“Come, everyone says this is where the king hides his treasure” Someone said, it surely wasn’t a hallucination, the voices were clear and louder than ever.

Something rustled around and then creaked.

“What if it is cursed? I don’t want to go to hell”

“Are you going to help me or what?”

The two men stopped talking and then the light from the torches made Billy’s eyes hurt, the air was a lot lighter and the screams started as soon as he opened his eyes to asses the risks of feeding from the guys.

When he was done eating, he found himself walking out from the dungeons. He had clothes on that smelled like Francis, intense and homey but now painted in red from the blood of the two burglars.

The ligth hurt his eyes, he feed from two men and he could control the shadows around him, but yet the weirdest discovery came when he reached the main yard of the castle, following the stench of burnt meat, fresh blood and Francis natural essence.

There were dismembered pieces of a lot of people, the biggest puzzle he’s ever seen, in the center there was a burning pile with some poor person tied up on a stake. And kneeled in front of it was a whimpering figure he would recognize everywhere.

“Frank?” Billy asked, voice hoarse from screaming for a long time and then not using it at all. As he got closer, he realized that Francis was holding something in his arms. He was covered in blood from head to toe.

Billy put a hand to Francis’s shoulder, only to realize that what the king was holding were the lax bodies of his children. Their necks sliced and their clothes covered in what he was sure were their own blood. Their skin pale and Frank holding to them while the tears wiped the blood away from his cheeks.

“Frank” Billy tried again, he had a lot of questions, but the only one who could answer was petrified. “Frank, it’s me”

Something seemed to click on Francis mind, his eyes, sharper than ever looked at Billy with something unrecognizable.

“Bill?” Francis asked and Billy got to his knees, trying to convey some sort of confidence.

“Yes Frank” Tears started to roll again, and Billy hoped this was a nightmare. “Tell me what happened”

“It didn’t work… I thought it would work like it did with you but… their wounds aren’t closing…” Then billy realized that Lisa had a tiny speck of blood in her mouth, same as her little brother.

Francis’s forearm had a pretty nasty wound, as if some wild beast took a bite from him.

“They tied me, I don’t know how they did it without me noticing” Frank started again, cradling the corpses closer and closer to his chest. “they told me they were still alive, but when I finished…”

Francis kissed his daughter’s forehead, whispering apologies to her that Billy couldn’t understand.

“We cannot stay here Frank” Because whatever they were now, people in Târgoviște seemed to know. Billy wasn’t stupid. “We need to go”

“No, no” Billy got up and realized that the person in the burning pile was probably the children’s mother. “I can’t let them here”

Billy looked at him, deep in thought.

His heart was hurting, even when he wanted Frank for himself, even after Frank’s successful efforts to kill him, he never wanted to see him like this.

Broken, lost to himself in grievance. If Billy couldn’t pull him back, Francis was capable of doing something stupid.

“We have to bury them, Frank” Billy moved away and searched for a cloth inside the castle to cover the little ones. Then he looked for something to dig a hole.

“I can’t let them here” Frank repeated, to his surprise, The words were inside his head. Frank’s voice was reverberating inside his skull, but he could dwell in his newly acquired set of habilites later, in a safe place preferably.

“They need to rest, Frank” Billy put the cloth over the bodies and tried to take them away from Francis’s grasp. Whom only hold them tighter, not even bothering to look Billy in the eyes. “I will help you, come”

The infamous impaler let go and Billy walked to the back of the Castle, where the forest started to lit up with the orange glow of dawn. In the place where the rest of the house of Drăculești was buried.

Frank was right behind him, shovel in hand.

•••••••

Guilt was something Frank was familiar with. There were many things he regretted in life.

But this was definitely the worse of it all.

If he closes his eyes he still can see the hand of Dimitru in his daughter’s neck, his knife -a knife Frank gifted him- cutting the little girl’s neck while other soldier Frank wasn’t familiar with did the same with his baby boy. While his wife’s burning body was held as a spectacle for the rest of the traitors.

Francis can’t remember the ten minute span after that, in wich he killed all the people in the Castle. Soldiers, barons, men he once though of as allies… some friends.

He should’ve been there to save his family, everything he did was to keep them safe and he failed. At first, he resorted to try and see if the blood of the strigoi could bring his kids back.

Turns out, one had to die with the venom in the body for it to work.

After the pain came the anger, Frank devastated several towns close to Târgoviște, all under Billy’s expecting eyes.

In the end, Wallachia met it’s destiny delivered by the hand of it’s biggest defender.

The rush that came with feeding wasn’t enough to distract him from the missing part of his soul that was now buried in the familiar tomb.

When Francis hit rock bottom and was ready to let himself burn in daylight, Billy stopped him.

“You didn’t brought me back to life to abandon me again” The words hurt, because it reminded him of one of his biggest mistakes. “I know you lost your family, but I still got you”

“Don’t act like this wasn’t exactly the outcome you wanted” Francis spit the words to Billy’s face and the former sultan only stared at him unimpressed.

“No, it wasn’t. And whether you like it or not, I’m the only ally you have” The sun started to come out from behind the mountains and Billy rised his hands to the sky, a curtain of dark clouds blocked the ligth from touching the ground and Frank stared speechless. “I wont let you die, not like this”

“That's not for you to decide” Frank thought, and to his surprise Billy’s voice answered him in his head.

“You're wrong”

“What was that?”

“I don’t know, but you’re going to tell me everything that happened in the past weeks. Everything Frank”

•••••••

A forgotten king and a murdered sultan sat in the ground, looking to the Turkish imperial palace.

The moon was hanging High in the sky and both men were just observing the city they conquered many many years before. The Foundations build with blood bricks for a much stronger empire.

The sultan kissed his enemy on the lips, their foreheads touching, their eyes making promises that they would honour this time. Promises that not even death could tarnish.

Love was measured by how much one suffered, how many sacrifices were made for it.

Both men had bleed enough for a lifetime. One, saw his love be put aside, as if replaced. The selfishness in him destroyed A country.

The other decided to take a gamble with his heart, tried to give it to too many people. The only result was the breaking of it.

But love also found it’s way back to the two carcasses that once were fierce warriors, time made sure that king Francis from the house of Drăculești found his revenge against the people who ordered his family’s execution. And the sultan Vilyam was more than glad to help him.

Washing away with blood his own offence to the Wallachian king.

“What do you want to do now?” Vilyam asked his lover while his fingers intertwined.

“I want to get out of this fucking empire” Francis answered, his free hand tracing the scars his Sultan used to have, clear skin answers by shivering. “I will destroy it if we stay”

Vilyam smiles, understanding of his lover’s thoughts.

“I’m sure we can start anew wherever we want” Their abilities were above those of any human, their lives were theirs forever. “Have any place in mind?”

“What about The Rus?” Francis manhandled Vilyam to get his body on top of his, their hands separating only to be readjusted.

“Why not the west?” After a moment of thinking, Vilyam came up with a proposal. One he was expect Frank to do first After all, it was the wallach man who had unfinished business with the europeans “What if we go to Rome?”

“Rome, you’re not thinking on killing the pope, are you?” frank smiled and Billy had his answer already.

“Ah, don’t be silly Frank” Billy pressed his finger to Frank’s chest, making him wince and then smile. “We can’t get close enough, I don’t want to die like that, thanks”

“Rome, sounds good. We always wanted to go” Francis put a bit more pressure, making sure his fingers left red marks on Billy’s hip. “You don’t want to tell Dinah?”

Vilyam looked back at the window, denied with a shake of his head and then turned to Francis again.

“She was more your sister than mine, she would try to kill me, even at her old age” The Princess was now sultana. The first woman to get to rule the empire, her sons were the last drop of imperial blood. “She moved forward, and I must do the same”

Francis pulled him closer and kissed him again and again until both of them were panting against each other’s mouth.

Rome was ahead.

•••••••

New York, united States.

562 years later.

“Am telling you, you shouldn’t have never mentioned us to Abraham” Billy said with a smile, the tip of his tongue outlining his lower lip before taking a sip of beer. “Now we have Twilight and it’s no one’s fault but yours”

“I genuinely thought he was going to forget it” Frank shrugged, rising his hand to the waitress. “He was drunk as fuck” And in a more amused note he added “I enjoyed talking to him”

The waitress came and Francis asked for two more beers and an order of fries. Billy’s favorites.

“I’ll be back in a second, sweetheart” She winked at Frank and Billy scoffed.

“After five hundred years, you still get jealous?” Francis saw the blood start accumulating around Billy’s eyes and lifted his hands on surrender. “I’m just saying, Billy-boy, it’s been a long way together”

“It’s not you. It’s her confidence to think that she…” He pointed at the girl in the Bar. “Is what you like”

Frank laughed, a sound so rare but so precious to Billy. Memories of lives ago came to him and before he could stop it, his memories were flowing freely into Frank’s consciousness. A movie they both knew by heart but weren’t capable of watching more than once every hundred years. The scars were deep, and the pain could kill them.

“We don’t think about that anymore, Bill” Francis pinched the bridge of his nose and cleared his throat. Watching Billy's eyes directly. “If it becomes a problem we should give Curtis a call”

Curtis was just one of the freaks Frank decided to call friends, a wizard that had sympathies towards frank, and thanks to it, made them sunproof. Frank gave him samples of his blood so he could save lives in Curtis’s little clinic.

“I don't want A mage messing with my memories” He said rudely, and in a more polite manner he added. “Memories are part of life frankie, and I would like you to stop denying mine”

Frank huffed, the kind of sound that reminds Billy of how long the nights under Francis’s attention can get.

“What happened, just happened, didn’t it?”

“Got us where we are now” In a movement, billy intertwined their fingers across the table, just in time for the waitress to come back and stare in defeat at the show of affection.

Frank thanked her and gave Billy a squeeze before letting him go. His mind disperse in how many more years he would need to openly talk about that first story.

Billy was nothing but comprehensive, Frank felt like his anger was yet to subside. A couple more of decades, he used to tell himself when they first left eastern europe.

The pain wasn’t as raw anymore, but it still existed. And because of that, sometimes, when the hunger mixed with the anger and the love Frank held towards Billy, he would fuck him like he was punishing him.

Billy takes it, everytime. Pushes Frank to the limits and then they hold each other for long hours.

Billy kept commenting on how western culture was damned to failure since the very beginning, something in wich frank agreed. But then, they made a lot of money thanks to it.

“Do you smell that?” Frank said and Billy nodded.

The smell of fresh blood started to fill the room, they started looking everywhere, humans were oblivious to it, but someone was stabbed damn fucking near.

Both men got up, leaving a couple of bills and heading where the smell was stronger.

Blood meant problems, and problems usually meant that Frank would like to go check on the poor souls or feed on them. Depending on how much of a sack of shit they were. Sometimes Billy made fun of him, remembering how someone called him an angel.

Frank moved like a trained dog, noticing nothing but the goal he had in mind. Billy followed him because feeding together was too damn funny to decline.

Then there it was, in the alley behind the bar someone was in the floor right next to the dumpster, hugging their knees and sobbing. A girl, Billy concluded.

Shit, not the kind of problems they were searching for.

“Hey, Are you okay?” frank got to his knees trying to soothe the kid. As much as a man just above six feet and build like a tank could be.

“Go away, just go away” The girl screamed, retreating more to the dumpster, Billy could see it, the blood covering her clothes and hands. No one could loose that much blood and survive, he’s sure.

“You heard the lady frank, let’s go” Billy said dryly, but didn’t tried to pull Frank up. He knows better than that.

“We won’t hurt you, kiddo. We’re going to help you” Frank reached for her again, only for her to attack him with a DIY knife in her hand.

Billy would be surprised if he didn’t got annoyed everytime someone attacked francis. Luckily for her, She didn’t manage to actually hurt frank, and being the stubborn fucker he was, Francis tried again.

“Listen, we can help you. But you need to trust us”

The human scanned them, her eyes went to billy who only looked down on her, arms crossed against his chest but unmoving. Then francis who, tried to appear amicable, holding a hand out to her and reassuring that the help was legitimate.

Humans, when faced to death, cling into anything that could give hope of another day in their monotonous life. Billy has been there, and he thanks his lucky stars for the guarantee he has to avoid it now.

The girl nodded, she was still scared, but the blood loss made her trust frank. He had that effect on the Dying.

Frank took her hand and helped her stand up.

“Think you can give her a drop, beautiful?” Frank asked billy, whom was used to the flattery his lover would use when he knew they might be in a disagreement.

Billy let his fangs grow and pierced his wrist, getting closer to the girl and holding her head steady while his hand pressed against her mouth.

After a few seconds he pulled back and she collapsed on frank’s arms.

“That must help her heal. Let’s go” Billy said, with that regal and demanding tone that five hundred years couldn’t erase from him.

“We can’t let her here, we don’t know what or why was she hurt”

“Frank, I know the drill” Billy said accusatory. “You turn a dying kid and then they terrify a small village, You put them down and I have to comfort you for a hundred years”

“Don’t be an asshole and cover me up” Francis snarled dismissively while billy manipulated the shadows of the city to convey their little operation.

“Here we fucking go again”

Billy cursed the child, but Frank only smiled.

“I will make it up to you, beautiful” Francis said in perfect turkish.

Then billy smiled too.

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