Next Chapter! I have written about 6 chapters already so will be posting them quickly. I do not own Young Dracula. 3
Chapter 2- Arriving
Erin gave a little cough due to the build-up of dust in the hearse; and maybe the smell of Renfield. It was a relatively quiet journey toward Stokely. Renfield was busy concentrating on the road and Vlad appeared to be mulling things over. He remembered the last time he drove to Stokely, when he first came. He was arguing with Ingrid and Ingrid was arguing with Renfield whilst they ran away from the angry peasant mob. The castle was a quick choice but it was all they could do on such short notice. Of course they couldn't stay in the castle now; it had burnt to the ground. They would have to stay in a hotel or something.
As they neared Stokely, Erin's heart started to pump quickly which caught Vlad's attention.
"Calm down, everything's going to be alright." he rubbed her back soothingly.
"Yeah. I should be the one comforting you not the other way round." she laughed.
"We should comfort each-other." he corrected and Erin gave him a gorgeous smile and kissed him on the cheek.
"Master, we're here." Renfield drove over a hill and before them Stokely was led out exactly the same except with the lack of castle.
"Home." Vlad grinned. They drove through the housing estates to find people staring at them. Did they remember?
"Where are we going to stay?" Erin asked Vlad with concern.
"I think we should worry about that later. Let's just see the Branagh family first." he smiled and nodded to Renfield. They flew through the estates until they reached the one nearest the castle ruins and they looked at the houses passing. Vlad still remembered the house and where it was. A bright yellow detached house came up on the horizon. Vlad had strong butterflies in his stomach as they approached. The Camper-van was still there and the bright furniture was seen through the window. They skidded to a halt exactly outside the house.
"Come on Vlad." Erin pulled his top and opened the door. Vlad shook. Would he remember him after all this time? They walked up the neat and tidy driveway to the orange door and stood in nervousness.
"Ready?" Erin asked Vlad.
"Ready." Vlad said and rang the high pitched doorbell. The door opened almost immediately.
"Quit your complaining Chloe! Hello?" Mrs Branagh turned her head from yelling at her daughter and wore a face of pure surprise.
"Hello Mrs Branagh." Vlad greeted.
"Oh my gosh! Vlad? Is that you? Why you've grown!" she fussed over him. "You lot! Come down and see who's here!" she shouted back into the house.
"What is it Elizabeth? Who's here? Come on you two!" Mr Branagh came into view with a shocked expression with Chloe coming after. She had now got a short bob with a blunt fringe and was just past Erin's height.
"Vlad?" she questioned, squinting at him. "ROBIN!" she yelled at him.
"yeah, yeah, I'm coming!" Vlad heard footfalls on the stairs and a huff of a fed up boy. He came, captured a glance of Vlad over his dads shoulder then pushed to the front.
"...Vlad... Is that really you?" his eyes were glistening. He still wore black as usual and hadn't grown much in height but Vlad was now just as tall as him, maybe taller. His hair was longer and his face more angular. Robin Branagh.
"It's me." Vlad smiled. Erin stood behind him with a happy grin on her framed face. She had made Vlad happy.
"Oh, how rude of me! Do come in Vlad!" Mrs Branagh welcomed them into the house.
"Come sit in the living room." They all sat down on the two bright sofas and sat in an awkward silence.
"You've changed Vlad." Robin said to him. His hair had turned black and his skin was deathly pale. He had also gotten more prominent muscles and he had lost weight.
"Yeah, so have you." he smiled sweetly, flashing brilliant White teeth.
"So, who's this." Mr Branagh nodded his head to Erin.
"Erin. My girlfriend." Vlad said with the completely shocked reaction all round. Vlad had never had a proper girlfriend before. Robin remembered the time they fought over the same girl at school.
"Nice to meet you Erin." Mrs Branagh greeted her with strong smile.
"Nice to meet you all. Vlad has told me so much about you lot. He really did miss you." she tried to make them warm up to Vlad.
"Really." Chloe said boringly. She was obviously not happy with Vlad for leaving all of a sudden.
"So, where are you staying?" Mrs Branagh asked politely, throwing a stern glance to her family.
"Well, um we don't know. I mean the castle burnt down didn't it." Vlad said with an unsure and apologetic face.
"Oh yes, such a shame." Mr Branagh said with fakery. They were not warming up to Vlad at all.
"Maybe Vlad and Erin could stay with us." Robin suggested suddenly. Chloe sent a questioning look at him.
"That's a good idea Robin." Mrs Branagh agreed. "Erin could sleep in Chloe's room and Vlad with Robin. Sound good?" she organised. She appeared to be the only one completely comfortable with Erin and Vlad who were desperately trying to soften things up.
"Thank you Mrs Branagh. I forgot how very kind you are." Vlad complimented her. She always acted like a mother to Vlad when his own mum had left him. He really appreciated it and gave her a warm smile, well as warm as he could do being a vampire and all.
"Aw, thank you Vlad. Now, shall we get your things inside? Where are they?" Mrs Branagh got up and started to walk towards the door looking for their suitcases.
Erin, Vlad, Chloe and Robin followed after and Mr Branagh walked off somewhere else; probably fed up of the new houseguests already. Renfield was lead against the side of the hearse when they came out and then he immediately straightened up.
"Same car." she said with a laugh.
"Yeah." Vlad agreed and walked over to Renfield.
"We'll be staying here with the Branagh's, Renfield. We'll unload the car and then you can go back to the school. Thank you." Vlad told Renfield. He supposed that if he was aiming for a better future between vampires and humans, he might as well create a better bond between him and himself.
"Okay Master Vlad." he nodded and shuffled around to the back of the hearse, opened the boot and started unloading the suitcases.
"Renfield! Still living with the Counts then?" Mrs Branagh said.
"Yes Mrs Branagh." he nodded and carried on.
"Nice to see you Renfield." Chloe said to him. She had always tried to encourage Renfield to stand up for himself. Not that she remembered now. But he did.
"Nice to see you as well Mistress Chloe." he smiled with a warmer grin. When all three were emptied from the car, Vlad began to collect them but Mrs Branagh came over to assist, reaching towards the blood bag.
"No!" Vlad shouted in an immediate reaction, shocking them, "No, I'll carry it."
Vlad picked up all three bags with ease, much to the Branagh's amazement.
"Goodbye Renfield." Erin said to him as he clambered into the hearse. He waved politely and drove off back to Garside Grange.
"Shall we." Mrs Branagh gestured to enter the threshold which meant Vlad could enter. Unfortunately, vampires can only enter a property with permission. Vlad beamed and entered again. During this whole time Robin had been silent and it was making Vlad extremely uneasy. He hoped he had forgiven him for leaving.
It does get better I promise!