The Original Hybrid

Second Rebirth

1455.

Mountains of Transylvania,

Millions of skeletal bones were impaled on stakes suspending them in the air, as a swarm of bats swarmed a castle when one was stabbed by a woman who then tossed the bat off her dagger and watched as the bats flew off The young woman looked up at the large door in awe before she knocked amd the door opened, the woman with the blade in hand made her way inside looking around cautiously before pausing as the door closed behind her, Looking up at the top of the stairs she saw a figure in the shadows, "My name is Rina. I am from the Village of Midhya. I want to be a doctor." 

Xandrax watched the girl with a blank expression, "You bang on my front door because you want to daub chicken blood on peasants." He said, his voice coming from all around Rina.

"Do not mistake me for a witch. Everybody out there already does that. I believe in science, but...I need to know more. I've exhausted my other options, and all the stories say the man who lives here has secret knowledge."

 "I am Count Dracula, The Night King, and I do not get many visitors." Xandrax said behind the woman who withheld a gasp, watching as he circled around her, "What have you to trade for my knowledge, Rina of Midhya?"

 "Perhaps I could help you relearn some manners. I've crossed the threshold of your home, and you haven't offered me a drink or even to take my coat." Rina said looking at Xandrax who raised an eyebrow "What if I took a drink from you?" Xandrax asked black veins bulging around his eyes for a moment, "I'm really not interested in superstition, or being some muttering wise woman cheating people with boiled nettles and entrails. I want to heal people. I want to learn. Will you help me?" Xandrax looked at the woman, "A healer, huh?" Xandrax asked before he turned and walked away waving her over lazily, "You are definitely different to most humans I have met in recent times."

 "Maybe I can teach you to like people again, or at least tolerate them, or stop putting them on sticks." 

Xandrax chuckled, "Keeps visitors away, the normal ones at least."

 He said smiling, "Where is Midhya Village?"

 "You don't travel much." 

"I can travel. This entire structure is a traveling machine."

 "But... you don't. Do you?" 

"Not in centuries." Xandrax said.

 "Maybe you should. The world is changing. Travel, like people do. You might like it." Rina said.

 "I've known you for like two minutes, and you offer for me to walk the earth like an ordinary man. While I give you the knowledge of your precious science." 

Xandrax said as lights came on in a room and Rina saw walls lined with books and devices.

 "Ohh. My God." 

Rina looked around in awe, before turning back to Xandrax, "if you teach them they won't live such short, scared lives if they have real medicine. They won't be superstitious if they learn how the world really works."

 "Why should I do that?" Xandrax asked.

 "To make the world better. Start with me, and I'll start with you." Rina said, causing Xandrax to look at her "I think I might like you." 

Xandrax and Rina walked to a table and began to learn more about each other, for a full year she was in his company, she allowed him to reconnect with a part of himself he had forgotten about, he even started drinking animal blood.