I do not own Young Dracula, yarda yarda, Only the plot and Alsme Gray :)

I hoisted my small, but tremendously heavy luggage over the weathered cobblestones of the entry courtyard. From here, in the spring sun, I could hear the commotion of kids. This was it. The school my mum was taught at. The one where I would follow in my mother's footsteps. Take her classes. Wear her uniform – okay, not her actual one, but one that looks like the one she used to wear. This was Garside Grange Independent Day School.

I put down one of my bags and shoved open a heavy door. It creaked loudly, but was lost in the teenage chatter of the foyer. British teenagers in grey themed uniforms bustled about, talking in their famous and varied accents. It made me feel out of place. A boy with carefully styled bed-hair was leaning against an old, wallpapered wall, his shirt crumpled and half untucked out of his pants.

"Uh, hi." I said in my awkward, muddled up, was-it-even-a-proper accent – being Australian wasn't all it was cracked up to be. "I was wondering if you knew where I could find Alex McCauley's office." I blew a wisp of hair out of my face. It was so long and thick and an absolute killer to tie up when wet.

His sleepy eyes widened and I read, Really? You want to see her? "Uh, down that way and around the corner. It's easy to spot."

"Thanks." I replied with a nod.

I followed his directions, dragging my things through the waves of people with many excuse me's and oops, sorry's. I got to a dead end. What the? I asked again. Nowhere. And again, and again. Did these kids take pleasure in running the newbie in circles? Hmm? I went around and around until I was standing in the place where I began – by bad wallpaper. I huffed and went nosing around the halls for a map. NO MAP. What is wrong with this old place?

Now, don't get me wrong, I love old things – I want to make a living talking and writing about them – but there are just some things…

"Hello, can I help you? You look a little lost."

I pulled out of my mental rave to look at the speaker. He had pitch black hair and pale skin tone. His light eyes were kind and he had an average build. He seemed about my age.

"Yes please." I answered, my patience wearing rice-paper thin. "I would like to know where Alex McCauley's office is. I believe I am late for an appointment." I waggled a finger at him. "And no funny business. The proper route!"

He seemed confused. A moment later, his face cleared, the fog lifting off his sight. He laughed quietly.

"Oh, I see! No one really likes Ms McCauley, so they all take different routes to get to her office, often taking some strange way full of stairs and doors. It's just down this hall, turn left and the third door on your right. Actually, how about I take you there? I'm sort of going that way."

I sighed and nodded thankfully. I held out my hand. "Thank you. I'm Alsme Gray."

He shook it. "Vlad Count." He smiled.

I tried to read him, see if he was genuine. The ink was blurred. What? True person. A tugging, sick sensation hit my stomach and I doubled over, dragging our hands down with the movement. I couldn't read him properly! This had never happened before.

"Alsme!" He said in alarm. "Are you okay?"

I struggled up, pulling a smile. "Yeah. Must have been the plane food. It did look a bit weird." I lied – I hadn't eaten anything.

He looked unsure, but seemed to let it go, thankfully.

After a bit of banter, he took my luggage on insistence. I walked alongside him in my jeans and worn flats – damn, I should have worn boots. The halls, depending on where you were, were either normal height or really low - as in only a foot and a half from your head low. As we made our way past beaten up lockers and class doors, we made idle chit-chat. I talked a bit about my family and why I was here.

"Alex is my mum's younger sister. They both used to go to school here. I guess Aunt Alex didn't want to leave Garside alone." I shrugged. "My parents are journalists and they are away in South America. My younger siblings are still in Australia with my dad's sister. Mum decided I needed to be educated."

Vlad talked about a bit of his background and what it was like at Garside.

He laughed softly. "Well, my father is the owner of the school. I have an older sister. She graduated from here last year. I also have a younger half-brother that lives with us – Wolfie. It's a well-supplied school. Has a variety of subjects. I'm taking a bit of everything – biology, food tech. P.E, Math, English."

He stopped at a door clearly labelled Alex McCauley. I grinned and knocked. The door opened smoothly.

A man with long dark hair and slim fingers was talking with a woman in a blue dress. They paused and looked up.

"Dad?" Asked Vlad. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask the same of you, Vladdie." The man with angular features replied. Vlad cringed at the pet name.

"Aunt Alex!" I cried out happily.

She was startled. "Alsme. I thought you were coming next week?" Alex smoothed down her spotted dress professionally.

I sighed with a smile and enveloped her in a hug. She squeezed back and I saw surprise in the two males' eyes.

I looked at her. "Aunt Alex, we went over this. I was coming on the second week of term two, not the third week, because mum and dad weren't going to be able to see me off. You even said on the phone that you had it on your calendar!"

She hung her head. "Uh, I lied Al. If I told Madeline that I hadn't, she would have gotten on my back – you know your mum and organisation. It's just, I had so much going on…" She sounded far younger.

"Don't worry!" I laughed and hugged tighter.

"Wait!" She said. "I don't have accommodation for you. There isn't enough room in my flat and our dorms are filled. Sure, Elaine Grace isn't leaving until next month, but that is a long way away. I don't…"

The man Vlad identified as his father came forward. He had a sweeping coat on and his skin seemed so thin, you could see the dark veins. It reminded me of rice paper. He looked at me smoothly hand held out his hand, a quirked eyebrow presented.

"Count." He said silkily as an introduction.

I shook his hand politely. "Alsme." Huh. Isn't that their last name?

"Miss McCauley, how about I take your niece into my care? I have plenty of room and it would be no trouble." Count said to my aunt.

"But…Renfield…" She whispered over my shoulder - who was that? Was she trying to hide something from me?

He swatted his hand. "No trouble. I promise. We can even get her sorted today. Now."

That seemed to make my aunt feel better and I attempted to read The Count. The nausea hit again and I crumpled into a seat. Everyone crowded about. All I got from him was underlying adoration. He was like his son – unreadable! This was really annoying me. And wrong - my ability and the mystery around them. Yet again, I assured everyone I was fine and agreed to Count's idea. I needed someplace to go. Aunt Alex soon followed.

Count gained a smile that was slightly chilling. Was he supposed to look that scary when he smiled? He took my two bags after I retrieved my notebook and purple pen. Aunt Alex in all her headmistress glory handed me my timetable and told me to take my classes as I was for today. Vlad helpfully lead me out of the warm shaded room. He helped me through my classes, as I happened to be in most of them, par biology and food tech. But, hey, they weren't on for him today! I had a feeling things were going to be great!

Thanks for reading.

Please review to see what I could improve on, add to, and so on. Or...or maybe just some nice happy faces? :)