The result of insomnia. What productive nights i have...
The count was taking his usual midnight sweeps of the castle. Deciding to go in and check on Vlad, he misted under the door and reappeared on the other side bat formed. He flew up to where Vlad was sleeping in his bed and hovered above him for a while, watching his son and heir sleep the night away. Something round and shiny next to the sleeping Vlad caught his eye, and he transformed back to his human form.
Bending low over Vlad and being careful not to wake him, the Count looked closer. The shiny object was a glass eye.
"If he's salvaged 'Mr Cuddles' again there'll be trouble" he muttered to himself.
He picked up the eye. Attached to it was a fluffy black bat with silk wings. He stared at it for a long time. It was so soft…the wings silky and smooth. He looked around sheepishly, then checked Vlad had not woken up and stashed that bat inside his cape.
He exited the room, misting under the door, then continued his swoops of the castle. He would deal with the stuffed toy later.
Vlad woke up early, straight away feeling something was wrong. He began to panic, and frantically got out of bed and trashed his room, desperately searching for the lost object.
"ZOLTAN!" He shouted
Shortly, the stuffed hellhound came trundling in.
"Yes Master Vlad" he said, yawning.
"What have you done with Nibbles?"
"Nibbles…" said Zoltan "OH. Your toy bat, haven't touched it. What's happened to it?"
"It's gone" Vlad replied. Ingrid certainly wouldn't have it, and neither would Renfield. He had enough of his own.
That let one person.
"DAD!" Vlad bellowed, and began to make the journey to his dad's room.
There was a loud thud, followed by curses and a disembodied voice that echoed through the castle.
"Beelzebub's bogbrush! I am trying to sleep"
Vlad reached the Count's room and entered without knocking. Flipping open the lid of his dad's coffin he began to speak.
"Dad…what have you done with…" he trailed off. He had been meaning to finish the sentence with 'Nibbles the bat', but the sight before him was too shocking for him to continue.
The Count was lying on his back facing the ceiling with his eyes closed and arms folded over his chest. It was what was under his arms that interested Vlad, though.
He reached down and carefully removed the object, being careful not to wake his dad, then slammed the coffin lid shut.
Another loud thus came from inside the coffin as the Count slammed his head against the coffin lid for a second time.
The lid flew open and the Count sat up glaring. Then, realising something was missing he looked around, not noticing Vlad until a certain black bat was dangled in front of his face.
"Looking for something?" Vlad enquired a sarcastic grin on his face.
The Counts cheeks reddened slightly as he hung his head. Caught in the act.