As promised, a completely rewritten story. I'm much more happy with this one. I also wrote up the next chapter. Thank you for your patience. I hope it was worth it. Please review.
The Count and Draco walked through the castle of the Vampire Council being led by a younger vampire. They had received a summons shortly after the slayer incident. They walked into the hall where the council was waiting on them.
The council members all sat at their own throne. The Count and Draco walked to the center of the room and the doors were closed behind him.
"Welcome Count Dracula," the one in the middle said. His name was Nicolai and was the new head of the Council. "And they call you Draco?"
Draco smirked.
"Nothing? So untrusting," he continued.
"You all sit on thrones you all bribed and probably murdered your way onto," Draco said. "Why should I trust any of you?"
The one to Nicolai's right smirked, "He has a smart mouth too. He must be a Dracula."
The Count leaned towards Draco and whispered, "Maybe you shouldn't be so straight forward seconds after meeting them."
Draco ignored him and addressed the council, "Is that why you summoned me? To see if I'm really a Dracula."
"Who you are is irrelevant to us," the one on the very right said. "We just want to know where your loyalties lie."
"With vampire kind," Draco said.
Nicolai sat back, "Well then maybe we can work together."
"I don't think so," Draco said.
"We realize that you have been out of the loop for some time Draco," Nicolai continued. "But you are refusing to work with the established government of the vampire world. If you do this then you will be seen as an enemy."
"You were given a prophecy thousands of years ago," Draco began. "The one of the prophecy is now among you. This council even acknowledged his existence I was told. Yet you refuse to hand over your power to him."
"Vladimir Dracula may be the chosen one, but he's young. You expect us to hand over control of all the clans to a child with no experience in leadership and has shown sympathy to the enemy in the past."
"Well you did say when he came of age then you would all step down," the Count said.
"That was the former head of council. Also, Vladimir has not shown much maturity either."
"There has been a change recently and Vladimir is growing into his role," Draco argued.
"So we've heard," The vampire to the left said. "But that just adds more to our argument. He's untrained and reckless. He had no control over his own actions for too long of a time."
Before either the Count or Draco could argue one of the council members who had been silent stood up from his throne.
"There is no need for this," he walked over to Draco and held his hand out. Draco took it and shook.
"My name is Shango Ramanaga," he continued. "Please excuse my associates. They are just concerned."
Draco stared at him.
"Perhaps the three of us could speak alone for a few moments."
Shango led them into an office and clicked his fingers to close the doors.
"My father used to be head of the council," Shango poured two glasses of blood and handed to both the Dracula's.
The Count quickly accepted it, but Draco was hesitant.
Shango smiled, "Don't worry. I'm a friend of Vlad. Probably the only one on this council who trusts him."
"He tried to kill us once," the Count explained to Draco. "But that's all sorted now."
Draco rolled his eyes and took the glass, but didn't drink. Shango sat down at his desk and gestured for them to sit across from him. The Count and Draco took the invite.
"I wanted to warn you to tread cautiously," Shango said. "If this council doesn't have your cooperation, they will give you the same attention. What little they are working with the Dracula clan they will cut you all off completely."
"Is that a threat?" Draco asked.
"I'm just informing you what the council has already discussed. As corrupt as this council is they are still the ones in power. Vlad and the Dracula clan are strong in their abilities but not strong enough to take on all of vampire high society. What allies you do have, they are slowly losing trust in you all."
"Is there something we should know?" the Count asked. "Elder Son of Ramanga?"
"There is a lot, but it's not safe to discuss it here. But my advice would be to play along with the council wants for now until the power shifts."
The Count and Draco exchanged a look.
The Count stood up, "Maybe we should discuss this further. Would you like to join us for dinner sometime? Bring your brother along. I did like that boy."
Shango and Draco also stood.
"Give me some time here," Shango said. "But I can probably meet with you sometime in the next few days."
The Count smiled, "I'll give you our new address."
"This is bad idea," Vlad said.
"It's dads' idea" Ingrid laughed. "What do you expect?"
They stood in front of their new home. A newly built four story cobblestone castle.
"He will never understand to concept of laying low," Vlad complained.
Ingrid smirked, "At least we are surrounded by 50 acres of woods."
Piers closed the van door, "Don't worry, I have a plan for a security system."
Ingrid laughed, "Last time you did that Renfield almost killed us."
"It will have upgrades," Piers said defensively.
George walked up next to Vlad and looked up at their new home in awe.
"Wow!" It was the first time she had smiled since their mother had been killed. "We're going to live here?"
Vlad smiled back, "Looks like it."
Her smile didn't stay for long, "I wish mom could see this."
Vlad didn't know what to say, "Yeah."
George walked up to the door. Piers unlocked the door and let her inside.
Vlad started to follow, but Ingrid stood in front of him to stop him.
"You're not very good at this," she said.
"I just don't know how to comfort her. I only knew our mom for a short time. Sally was all she had for so long."
Ingrid shook her head, "She doesn't need comfort. She needs a distraction."
"How would you know?"
"I have lost someone before remember? She'll need closure eventually, but for now show her there is still a way to enjoy life."
"Sometimes you sound more like a breather than I do."
Ingrid folded her arms, "I'm a proud vampire. Not an idiot. Besides it helps to know how breather's minds work. Free advice."
Ingrid started to walk to the castle.
"Ingrid?" Vlad called for her.
She turned.
"Why have you been so nice to me these past few months?"
Ingrid smirked, "Don't question it. Just appreciate it while it lasts. That might not be for too much longer."