The memories returned to him once more. The memory of the moonlight as they danced, and her smile; he remembered them so clearly at times. Sometimes they faded from his mind and he only remembered loneliness, but as he ran his finger over the warm body beneath his own, the memory returned, and he smiled.

His own skin was cold, as cold as his blood was. A human's body was warm, but Dracula hasn't been a human for centuries. He had been a man once, but he had lost the warmth when he had cursed God. He had found some of that back through Lisa, though. He had thought he could never love again after losing Elisabetha, but as years and decades and eventually centuries passed... Then he had met Lisa. He had truly loved her.

That time was one of happiest of his long life. However, he could have never made her into what he was for she would have lost the warmth. Lisa had not longed for immortality, but she had loved him regardless of what he was, and even given him a son.

The body of a living human being was so warm; he smiled as he caressed the skin of his partner whose silent sigh told him that his touch was appreciated. He moved his hands on that warm body, making sure to take care of every need this human had.

"Lisa..." The memories came flooding back to him now, memories of the two of them. How they had danced alone in the light of the full moon; how they had laughed and shared sadness, how she had held him when things had just felt to be too much for him, how he had held her when she had been down. Her face, every detail of her delicate body when they had made love...

His companion grunted when he pressed into the warmth of the human's body, appearing to be uncomfortable. Dracula smiled and pressed a soft kiss on his lover's lips, shifting his position a little in an attempt to make things easier for his partner. The human strained on the bed, then strong legs were wrapped around the vampire's waist as the human clung to him in bliss.

He gritted his teeth as he continued. The warmth was almost unbearable and burned him so; he was certainly nowhere near back to his usual strength. It was going to take a while for him to regain his powers after he had lost the last battle against the Belmont family several years earlier. The dark priest Shaft had however done all his power to revive his master, and Dracula was alive... If he ever was alive.

He closed his eyes and smiled again while thrusting into his lover. Oh, he had felt alive back then when he had held Lisa in his arms. There was no saying he wasn't alive now either as he leaned down to kiss those lips that belonged to a human being. The kiss burned him even more, but he couldn't have cared less. The burning was to be expected, but it reminded him of something. A feeling so sharp and deep; something he hadn't felt for a long time. It was almost painful but pain meant nothing to him. He had felt worse pain.

Pain. When Lisa had died. He glared at the wall suddenly, angered. That was when humans had sealed their fate, drawn his eternal hatred on them. He would destroy those weak, pathetic creatures and make the world fit for darkness. Those who had killed Lisa had paid for it, but his rage did not end there. No, until they had all paid.

His thrusts turned violent and his companion cried out in pain. He shook his head then, realizing he had made his partner bleed. The smell of blood suddenly turned him insane, and he wanted to bite this human, satisfy his lust for blood... But he had never bitten Lisa. He froze, staring at the human, then wrapped his arms around his lover, mumbling an apology. He couldn't bite; it would have destroyed all his memories of Lisa.

Even if Belmont blood was strong, and he wanted it. Oh gods how he wanted it.

He smiled a little sadly as he watched Richter Belmont look up at him. He then slipped his hand onto the man's crotch and gave him what he needed, until Richter cried out, wetting his palm. With his partner's need taken care of, he took his own release then slumped onto the bed next to the man.

A human's warmth was a beautiful thing, he thought as he lay there, stroking his companion's dark hair. Had he bitten this man he would have lost it, and besides, he had other use for Richter. Maybe he would take his blood after all of his strength returned.

"But not now... Lisa," he mumbled as he closed his eyes. Richter sighed and snuggled closer to him; the spell Shaft had placed on the vampire hunter held so perfectly.

Dracula shook his head. He would wait, and he would not destroy the memory.

Author's notes:

So the CV Fanfiction LJ Community challenge this time was "Echoes of the Past". Have at you.

Delightfully twisted. Yes I know I'm a sick, SICK person and I love every moment of it.

- Lady Harken (September, 2005)