Chapter 4

Hello again! Sorry about the long wait… I have been really busy lately. Anyway I have got a few chapters typed up, so I should be on track soonish…

Enjoy!

(Heartland4life)

Erin and Vlad had retreated to Erin's room. Neither of them wanted to run the risk of bumping into Bertrand or The Count. They sat on the couch by Erin's coffin in a comfortable silence withdrawing into their own minds until Vlad had calmed down, then Erin spoke,

"Vlad…?"

"Yeah." Vladimir replied, slightly distracted.

"Does it hurt?" she asked her voice slightly wavy.

Now Vlad was concerned. He moved closer to Erin, looking into her eyes,

"Does what hurt?"

"You purposely killed your own kind, Vlad."

Vlad sighed, looking away. He hated to admit it but it did. It really hurt … thinking about it brought a cauldron full of emotion back. He hadn't felt it after he had killed Sethius, the adrenaline was still pumping then…

"Vlad?" Erin asked when she realised he had slipped back into the confines of his own mind.

"It does…" He said quietly. Even though Sethius was a complete nutjob, he had still killed his own kind. He'd never really done that before.

In that moment Vlad felt like crying. Killing wasn't something to be proud of, no matter who it was… but he couldn't let go of his raging emotions… not now, not in front of Erin.

He looked over to her and could see that she was as close to giving in as he was, so he tightly wrapped his arm around her in comfort, holding her close. Erin graciously accepted his cool, comforting embrace.

Erin had missed this in the two weeks she had been away. Many days she had found herself remembering these sorts of times to get her through the day, in the hope that she could go back to Vlad. Thankfully that day had come; although not in the most pleasant of ways.

Their moment was interrupted by a small boy poking his head through the door.

"Vlad….?"

"Yes, Wolfie?"

"Vlad, they're gone… they're all gone, aren't they."

Erin sat up slowly, releasing herself from Vlad.

"What?"

"All those vampires… they're d-dead aren't they?" Wolfie asked, holding his teddy tightly.

Both Erin and Vlad sighed. Wolfie still hadn't quite grasped the concept that vampires were already dead, but they knew what he meant. How on earth were they going to explain what they had done to a 5 year old?

Erin took charge, "Come here…" she offered the spot on her lap. Wolfie took it slowly. He liked Erin. She smelt nice and was always warm and comforting, unlike the rest of his family; who were moody and unpredictable most of the time.

Silence held the room for a while, with both Erin and Vlad considering how to explain the previous night's events to Wolfie.

Vladimir looked outside to the full moon. Night was beginning to fall quicker and quicker these days; a sure sign of winter. The beams from the moon began to spill in through Vlad's half closed blind, coming to rest just in front of Wolfie, who suddenly subconsciously followed his werewolf side and jumped into the light; transforming instantaneously.

Erin gasped, placing a hand on Vlad's thigh in shock. Vlad smiled. Erin had never seen that happen before, she knew it happened; she just hadn't seen it. Wolfie howled at the full moon, along with Zoltan who had been asleep in the corner until now.

"VLADIMIR!"

Vlad Jumped. Sighing when he realised who it was. He hated it when his father called him like that… Then again, he had done it on a regular basis before he'd half-mastered telepathy… And he still did do it…

"What?" He sent back telepathically.

"Your guests are here, Vlad."

Vlad groaned,

"What… Now?"

"Yes, now. Get down here, Vladdy."

Vlad flung his head backwards, expecting it to meet with the back of the couch, but instead hitting it hard on the wall. He winced,

"Fogging garlic!" He swore, gaining a look from Erin, Zoltan and Wolfie and an extremely painful telepathic lashing from his father.

"VLADIMIR DRACULA! LANGUAGE!"

Again, he winced, rubbing his head. He hadn't meant to say that or send it to his father. Regrettably, he'd have to talk to Bertrand about selective telepathy/speaking and the difference between them later. Right now he had to attend a vampire feast…fun.

"They're here." He told Erin and his brother, standing.

Erin looked at Vlad curiously.

"For the 'celebration'…" He eyed her up and down. "You should probably get changed…"

"Gee, thanks." Erin said, faking hurt. Vlad didn't seem to notice.

"No, I… I didn't mean-"

"It's okay, Vlad… I was joking…" Erin truly believed that Vlad really shouldn't be going to a party. He was too stressed as it was. She looked over to Wolfie as she heard Vlad whoosh next door to his room transmitting the words 'be careful' into her mind.

Even though Wolfie was a dog at the moment, it still felt strange to dress in front of him. With Zoltan it was just plain weird. So she decided to send them away.

"Come on, Wolfie. Out, I have to get changed. " Wolfie obediently left with Zoltan following; he seemed to be the one to keep the young 'Were-pire' company when he transformed. He was also the one who could translate for him.

Erin quickly chose a vampire-ish outfit, slipped it on and fixed her hair in the mirror. This was going to be another long night, and she was already tired. She was about to leave when she remembered her stasis spray. She quickly squirted it on all her major pulse points. There wasn't much of the watered-down liquid left. It would last for an hour tops; but it was all she had at the moment.

(Heartland4life)

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