Vladimir Dracula was happy. For the first time in his life he was truly happy. He felt like himself, something that had never happened to him before. He knew who he was. There were downs to his life of course like the fact that Sally and Geoge had no idea of his exsistence but none of that mattered. He had left the complications of his life behind. He was free now. He could do as he wished without judgement or a pair of eyes looking over his shoulder. It was just him and Talitha. Talitha. She was probably the one thing in his life that was causing the constant grin to be plastered on his face.
Vlad grinned as the familiar feeling of nightfall came upon them and glanced at Tal who was already on her feet, her satchel over her shoulder. She smiled at him and grabbed his hand as they sped off to the beach they had been planning to visit all day. The two had been travelling for just over a year yet the wonders of the world never ended. They had spent a few weeks in the Himalayas after capturing the blood seed, but the atmosphere lacked any real culture so they shipped themselves off to the carribean to Africa then back to Europe where they found themselves now, in the south of Wales. They stopped at the coast, on the edge of the water and Talitha sighed, watching the beauty of the magnificent waves crashing against the shore. It was so peaceful.
"I wish we could go into it, swim in the ocean, just once." Tal said as she slumped her shoulders slightly, her gaze never wavering from the beauty.
Vlad looked at her, taking her hands in his as he pulled her closer, forcing her to look at him, "So do I, but I'd much rather never step in running water with you, than swim inside the ocean without you."
Talitha smiled as she brought their hands higher, wrapping his around her waist as her own fingers circled the back of Vlad's neck, "I love you, chosen one." she said with a teasing grin
"And I love you, bodyguard," she let out a chuckle at his reply before tilting her head back to capture his lips in hers.
Not too far away a family of five sat on a brightly coloured beach towel, a yellow camper-van behind them as they each tried to light a fire, the cold giving them shivers. A tall lanky boy dressed in black leather sat not too far away from them but not close enough to be associated with the family until he groaned at his father's attempts at striking two rocks together to create a fire.
"This isn't going to work, I can't believe dad forgot the matches." he moaned.
"Now, now, Robin." Mrs Branagh admonished, "What's done is done. It's not the problems you face that make you who you are, but the way you persevere."
A chill swept across the beach, sending shivers through the six of them, "Mum, the weirdo is right." Ian began.
Chloe cut in , sending a glare at him for the word 'weirdo', "It is very cold." she admitted, "Why don't we just get in the van, I'm sure we can make space for us all to sleep peacefully."
"Batman here won't be able to sleep without hanging from the ceiling though." Ian, as Paul began laughing hysterically.
"Oh shut it, tweedle dum and tweedle dummer." Robin snapped at them hugging his legs tighter as another chill attacked them.
A couple walked by them, stopping only a few metres away, and the arguments dulled down as they watched the two in awe. There was something very familiar yet completely unfamiliar about it all. The man kissed the woman's hand causing her to let out a melodious laugh before pressing a kiss to his lips. They could see the girl's face but the boy's was turned away from them until he spun the girl around, resulting in him spinning to face the Branaghs. His face went still, a stunned look taking over his face as he released the girl. She waved a hand in front of his face, successfully snapping not only him out of the stupor but the Barnaghs too.
"Was that Vlad?" Mr Branagh asked.
"Yes, I believe it was." Chloe replied, her voice equally as shocked, though an undertone of worry hid beneath it.
Robin opened his mouth to speak when a familiar voice interrupted him, "Hi,"
"Hello, Vlad." Mrs Branagh said pleasantly.
"It's nice to see you all again, it's been too long."
"Vlad, I - um - nice seeing you." Robin said, getting to his feet, "Who's your friend?"
"Oh right of course, this is my girlfriend." he smiled as she waved at them awkwardly, "Tal, these are the Branaghs. They were our neighbours back in Stokely. Chloe and Robin were close friends of mine back in school."
"Talitha Roquelaire, pleased to meet you." She flashed a smile at them causing Chloe to stifle a gasp as Robin flinched uncomfortably. There was stony silence in which the Branaghs simply stared at Vlad and Talitha, who in turn exchanged awkward glances, looking anywhere except at the breather family. Talitha spotted their attempts at making a fire and grinned, "let me light you a fire, it's pretty cold out here."
Ian and Paul practically drooled as she kneeled down beside them to grab the rocks, striking them against each other as she formed a fire ball, successfully lighting the pile of sticks on the sand.
Mr Branagh looked at her with surprise, "How did you do that?"
"We travel a lot, you have to know how to light a fire without matches if you're going camping everywhere you are." she replied smiling.
Mrs Branagh looked up at Vlad, her eyes shining, "Why don't you stay for a while, we can catch up."
Vlad and Talitha glanced at each other before Talitha checked the time, nodding. Vlad smiled, "Yeah, that sounds fun." He sat down beside Talitha and her body immediately relaxed as they moulded together effortlessly. Chloe and Robin were still staring at Vlad, their expressions practically identical, "So how are things in Stokely?"
Ian grinned, "Oh they're great, things haven't changed much since you left."
"Unfortunately," Paul coughed, pointedly looking at Robin, as he reached over his brother for a beer from the cooler, breaking Ian's own beer in press, spilling glass all over him.
"Ah, Paul! That hurt." he retracted his hand, now covered in glass and blood as Mrs Branagh stood.
Talitha choked a groan as she set her eyes upon Ian's arm, the smell intoxicating enough to make any vampire swoon. She could feel her fangs fighting to be let free and studiously kept her mouth closed, that was until she glanced at Vlad. His pupils were dilated, his jaw clenched, and his eyes glued to wound on Ian's hand.
"Come on, Ian. Let's get that bandaged." she said as she took Ian into the camper.
Vlad blinked and shook his head slightly , gulping before squeezing Talitha's hand slightly. She squeezed back, her lips tight and fangs piercing her tongue, "We, uh, we should be going. It was nice seeing you again." Vlad said as he stood, "I hope Ian's hand heals." he added, standing up and offering a hand to Tal who took it easily.
"Leaving so soon," Mr Branagh interjected, "Well alright but say hello to Ingrid and Mr Count for us will you."
Vlad smiled, "Of course." He sent a quick nod towards Chloe and Robin and waved good bye before the couple continued their midnight stroll.