Really short, but here's another bit. Vlad's harder for me to write in this one for some reason.
Disclaimer: Not mine *yawn*.
He'd done his best, really he had.
When he'd realised how frustrated Bertrand was becoming – Vlad failing to do his job was, after all, making it impossible for Bertrand to complete his – he'd made it his sole focus to open the Book. Even when his evil reflection took over, the uppermost thing in its mind seemed to be to open the Book and let Bertrand get on with his unlife. He didn't want Bertrand to leave, but it seemed increasingly likely that his tutor had other work to do once the Book was open, and it was only fair to let him go and attend to that as soon as possible.
Instead, when he found the pages blank – he'd failed again, and Bertrand would be stuck with him for a little longer – it was Vlad who had to leave. When he came back, having got his head together, he was determined that Bertrand shouldn't have to stay a moment longer than he had to. This could, and would, be finished quickly; he would fill in the book somehow, and let Bertrand go.
No matter how much it hurt.
