''Speak''
'Thought'
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~3rd POV~
In a certain room of the massive castle stood a wooden table set in the middle of the room, and on that table was none other than Ryunosuke Akutagawa. With his eyes closed, he seemed to be peacefully sleeping on the wooden table.
With the sun slowly rising, the sunlight shines through the window outside the room before getting in through the open door. When the sunlight hit Ryu's eyes, he started to move, and slowly, his eyes opened, revealing his grey pupils.
Sitting up from the tables, Ryu looks at his hand before clenching and reopening it. He keeps doing this couple of times, seemingly looking for something. Ryu's eyes move toward his nails, which seem to be a little longer, but his nails seem to be quite sharp.
To prove this, he brings his hand down on the table, and with a flick of his hand, the nails easily leave a scratch mark on the wooden table. Ryu raised a curious eyebrow at this before seemingly satisfied before getting down from the operating table.
Ryu starts to look around the room before his eyes land on the coffin that Bram is sleeping, well, was sleeping in, to be more specific. After all, the casket seems to be open with no sight of Bram in there.
'He awake? In the morning time?' Ryu thought to himself, seemingly quite amused, seeing how The Dracula himself seemed to be a morning person, not some night stalker.
Ryu slowly walks out of the room and starts walking around the castle; after all, he has no idea about the castle layout, and he still needs to find where Mary and Bram are, especially. After all, he wants to know what Mary did to his body.
''Ah, there you are, young one.'' A raspy voice can be heard behind Ryu, who he immediately recognised who voice it belonged to.
Turning around, Ryu sees Bram standing there, wearing a suit with a long black coat.
'How did I never hear any sound from him?' Ryu thought.
''Doctor Mary is waiting for you in the dining room; I will bring you there, so follow me,'' Bram said before starting to walk past Ryu, who silently followed behind after Bram.
After walking for a few minutes, Ryu is the one who decides to break the silence.
''Did you write about Dracula basing it on your condition?'' Ryu ask
''Yes and no. I did base it on myself, but I also did base it on Vlad. He gave me quite an impression when I met him during my travel around the world.'' Bram casually answer.
''I see.'' Ryu responds before going back into his thought.
But suddenly, Ryu seems to realise something from Bram's answer, causing him to stop right in his track, making Bram turn toward him.
''What wrong young one?'' Bram ask
''Did you say you met Vlad?''
''Ah yes, I did. He was quite a fine gentleman if I do say for myself.''
''Are you serious? How is he still alive?'' Ryu asked; his voice got slightly higher, and he seemed to sound surprised.
''Isn't it obvious? Because he is a vampire, the vampire.'' Bram answer
''The vampire?''
''Yes, the vampire. He was quite an interesting fellow, drinking blood, getting drunk on it and starting cursing God in all kinds of manner. It was an interesting night, to say the least.'' Bram said
Ryu, who seemed shell shocked, just shook his head, put that behind, and continued to follow Bram toward the dining room.
After a few minutes of walking, they arrive at the dining room. Standing in the middle of the room is a long wooden table decorated with unlit candles, and sitting on one of the chairs is Mary herself, still wearing the same cloth as before.
''You finally here, take you long enough.'' Mary said, standing up from the tables.
Bram nodded before walking away from the room, seemingly disappearing into the shadow.
'Huh, how did he do that?' Ryu thought
Mary quickly makes her way toward Ryu. Standing in front of him, you can see the clear height difference, with Mary being taller than Ryu, causing her to look down on Ryu.
Mary put her hand on her chin, seemingly analysing something about Ryu.
''So, how do you feel?'' Mary ask
''I feel fine.''
''Ho? Is that so? How about your new arms? Is there something you want to talk about it?''
''These arms, it feels strange, and I these nails seem to be very sharp.''
''That is something you should expect. With Bram's arms, you should at least have super strength, not insanely strong, of course, but should be strong enough to break bones with a single casual punch. It will be a different story if you have different body parts from Bram.'' Mary said before continuing
''Are you sure that is all you feel?''
''Yes.''
''Hm... How disappointing.'' Mary said, causing Ryu to raise a single eyebrow at her response before asking his question.
''You said if I have different body parts from Bram, it would be a different story; what do you mean by that?''
''Ah, that? It's simple, let said, instead of having Bram's arms, you have his legs instead, you gain more speed because of that legs, and of course, a kick from those would, without a doubt, kill a human in a single strike.
Of course, you might also get some special ability depending on the body part you get like my eyes, of course.''
''Your eyes?''
''Oh, I forgot you don't know about this. My eyes are technically not my own eyes, and it's Bram's eyes.'' Mary casually answer
''Wait, if that is Bram's eyes, how did you... change your eyes?'' Ryu asks, seemingly don't know how to word his question correctly.
''Isn't it obvious? I did it myself by simply turning my pain receptor off with my power and then just pulling my eyes out. I would insert Bram eyes into my eyes socket, and Bram eyes would heal themselves and connect to my body like how arms change.''
''You pull your eyes out?''
''Yes, I did; it was quite an experience, and thank these eyes, I was able to stitch your new arms, you know.''
''Is that so.''
''I think that enough questions about me, I didn't call you here to play twenty questions. I want you to do something for me.''
''Why should I?'' Ryu asks, seemingly seeing no reason to follow her. After all, he already let her do some experiments on his body, so he doesn't owe her any favour anymore.
''Isn't it obvious, if you help me with this, I will owe you a favour, and me owning a favour to you mean a lot, you know?'' She states like it's some obvious fact.
''I still see no reason why I should do it.'' Ryu answered
''Are you serious? Having the world greatest doctor owning you a favour is a big deal, you know? Besides, I know that you have nowhere to go, judging by your cloth, so if you help me, I will owe you a favour, AND you will have my permission to live in this place.''
''Isn't this Bram house?''
''It WAS his house.''
Ryu stays quiet for a moment, seeming to think about what to do next.
''Why did you pick me? Why don't you ask Bram to do it?''
''Well, I would, but your power is much more fitting on what I am asking for, and Bram is quite tried because he just regenerated his arms, and hungry right now, he might turn someone into a ghoul because he can't control his hunger, so that is why I am asking you.''
Ryu just stared at her for a few seconds before sighing.
''Fine, I do it.'' Ryu answer.
''Very good!! I will tell you what to do, but first, I think you need to do something first.'' Mary said
''And that is?''
''Take a shower, brat, you smell like trash.'' Mary answered before starting to push Ryu out of the room.
''Bram will lead you to the shower and give you new cloth. After that, come back here, and I will tell you what to do.'' She answers, finally pushing Ryu out of the room, leaving him alone in the hallway.
Ryu stands there in silence, seeming shocked from a very quick development.
''Shall we go then, young one?'' A raspy voice said from behind Ryu that Bram seemingly appeared out of nowhere again.
''How did you keep doing that?'' Ryu asks, turning around facing Bram.
''I simply do.'' Bram said, ''Shall we go then?''
Ryu nodded, following behind Bram.
''Are you really her patient or her servant?'' Ryu asks, knowing how Bram seemingly followed everything that Mary said.
''I am her patient. I simply own her my life. Without her, I would be already dead from those hunters. Helping her with a simple necessity is one of the ways for me to repay her.'' Bram said, his raspy voice seeming to be full of admiration.