Chapter 6
Vlad waited in the dark alley leaning up against the wall. The car approached with the yellow beams of the headlights blinding him. The engine stopped and the lights flicked off. Vlad pushed himself off the wall standing in front of the car in his black leathers and formal vampire cape with an unreadable expression on his face.
The doors to the car opened and two people stepped out. One was shorter than the other with the shorter one being dark skinned. He had a moustache and wore leather straps forming a 'X' shape on his chest holding several stakes so he could quickly grab them in an emergency. The taller man had similar stakes strapped to his body but also had a belt holding various other devices including garlic grenades and UV bombs around his waist. These men were clearly ready for anything. The two men approached Vlad but made no move to grab their weapons.
"Evening Vlad." The shorter man said neither happy nor sad at their meeting.
"Jonathan." Vlad said the shorter man's name with same emotionless tone.
"Why have you called me out at this hour? The peace still holds, there's been no slaying."
Vlad just looked at the young slayer watching for any sign he was lying or concealing the truth, he wasn't at the moment. Vlad moved forward and grabbed Jonathan Van-Helsing's neck and pinned him against the wall in one sift movement making his feet hover just above the floor. The second man reached for a stake but Jhono stopped him with a raised hand. He knew if Vlad wanted, he could kill them both so it's best not to agitate further.
Vlad didn't squeeze his neck too hard so he could still breathe and talk but made sure it hurt. He put his face close enough so he could feel his breathes and hear his rapidly increasing heartbeat.
"Did you have anything to do with Erin's kidnapping?" He asked locking eye contact making sure the slayer leader knew he wanted the truth. Jhono could see how upset Vlad was and on the verge of losing control. The slayer could see the battle going on with him trying to keep the blackness from surfacing.
"I didn't even know she was kidnapped." He said slowly and truthfully. Vlad could hear his heart beat stay steady as he spoke and knew he was telling the truth so lowered him down and release his vice like grip on his neck. "What happen to Erin?"
"She was taken by three men in a van; they tortured her to find me. She almost died!"
"Where is she now? Is she ok?" He asked generally worried, he almost asked Erin out when she'd come back to the slayers but didn't get the chance as she'd betrayed them, he still had a little crush on her.
"She's back at the school with me, she's be fine in a few weeks."
"And the men who did it?" He knew how over protective Vlad was of Erin, he didn't really need to ask but wanted to make sure.
"Dead." He said it more as a warning that anyone who would hurt Erin would end up the same way.
"So what's this meeting for? Your problems are dead."
"Three men couldn't have pulled this off. They weren't alone, they had careful planning and they knew where to find her, where to take her. Someone's supporting them. She's still in danger."
"Well it wasn't the slayers guild. And who would want to find you. I mean no offence but your location isn't exactly secret anymore, an organization as large as you're suggesting could easily find you." He told the young Dracula, ever since the truce there had been several visits to him and he knew that being Grand High Vampire was basically celebrity status amongst vampires.
"So what did they want to gain by kidnapping Erin?" Vlad asked getting even angrier that she might have been hurt for no reason. Jhono just shrugged his shoulders. Food for thought he told himself.
"I don't know but I'll try and find who did it. Can you tell anything that could help me find them?"
"Ummm… they were clearly slayers, they knew how to handle stakes but they different. Their stakes had symbols on them that burnt me and one of the men was special somehow. He was human but was faster and stronger."
"So you're saying Erin was kidnapped by super slayers?" The young slayer joked but Vlad wasn't joking, maybe they were some sort of super slayers. "Ooook. I'll see what I can do but it might take a while, I haven't exactly got much to work with."
"Thanks." Vlad said grateful that ever since they joined forces he had the use of the slayers superior records and technology.
"What are you going to do in the meantime?"
"I'm going to keep Erin safe at the school and when I find out who's behind it I'll make them suffer." Vlad grinded his teeth together thinking of the men that hurt the women he loved. Jhono almost felt sorry for whoever was behind it because they would get the full wrath of Vlad – The Chosen one.
"And staying in a house of vampires is keeping her safe? I don't think sleeping in a coffin will be good for her injuries either." Jhono said trying to hint that Erin would be safer staying with him at the Slayer HQ.
"That's why I'm going to Ikea…" He muttered under his breath. Both slayers just looked at him completely confused. A vampire going to Ikea? It was completely out of character. Vlad saw their expressions and dismissed it. "Don't ask. I've got to go. If you find anything tell me immediately." He said before flying away.
Erin woke up and started to extend her arms out to stretch as she yawned but she remember she'd fallen asleep in Vlads coffin and brought them back close to her body. As her eyes cleared from the morning grogginess that clouded her vision she didn't see the purple cushioned interior of his coffin but a celling.
She looked around the room relieved she was still in Vlads room but was no longer in his coffin; she was in a bed! This wasn't here when I went to sleep she thought as she flicked through her vague memories of Vlad carrying her into his room in his strong arms, his scent that… Stay focused! She tried to stop herself from being distracted to get back to the original point, where the hell did this bed come from?
Erin moved into an upright sitting position leaning against the wooden back board when she remembered the painting she'd found in his coffin, if she was moved into the bed then what happened to it! Erin frantically searched under the covers for it hoping it was there but it wasn't. She was about to throw the duvet off and search every inch of the bed for it when a familiar voice sounded.
"It's on the floor next the bed." Erin froze instantly, she'd been caught red handed rummaging through his private things. She looked up and saw Vlad standing in front of mirror; not that it did anything, fastening up his school tie.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to find it. It was an accident." She quickly tried to reassure him while apologising.
"It's alright. If you like it you can have it." He told her causally. When he first saw she'd seen it he was conflicted in what to do but it was of her so didn't see any reason to take it from her. If it would make her happy then he was happy. Erin reached down and picked up the canvass holding it to her chest not wanting to lose it, it was a constant reminder of Vlads feelings for her so to lose it felt like she was losing Vlad. After a moment she turned to him again noticing him making final adjustments to his uniform.
"Where did you get a bed from?"
"I brought it last night. Comfortable?" He replied staying aloof to the conversation putting some books in his bag still without looking at her.
"So you went out last night and brought a bed as well as making it just for me?" She said still not really believing someone would do that for her, she had hoped it was a spare in the attic or something. Erin hated inconveniencing other people.
"Yep." He said simply as if it was no big deal. He'd actually been up most the night meeting with the slayers and making the bed but he didn't mind, she was worth it. He wanted to make Erin as comfortable as possible mainly so she could get better but also he wanted her to be comfortable so she'd stay and not leave again.
"Wow. Thanks…" Erin said not really sure how to respond. Erin sat in silence for a moment looking around his room taking in every detail; she'd rarely been in here before.
The bed was large with a thick white duvet and feather pillows, the mattress seemed to perfectly soft without being either too hard or soft. Erin was surprising comfortable in it, it seemed like Vlad spared no expense in getting it. The bed was against one of wall of the room adjacent to the coffin which was central. His room mainly consisted of shelves and cupboards filled with bits and bobs from his life but unusually had a long slender mirror next to the door so only when the door was closed could people see it. He had a wardrobe half open which held the majority of his clothes both breather and vampire style. As Erin returned her attention to him, Vlad was just finishing packing his school bag with a metal bottle of Soya Blood.
"Is it a good idea to sleeping in the same room?" she asked a bit nervous, they may have been a couple for a short while before but they never got that far, they'd only kissed twice.
"It's only so I can keep an eye on you, so I'm nearby if you need anything." He stated but Erin just looked at him and he said the real reason. "So I know you're safe. Besides it'll be fun having a roomy." He joked. As their conversation finished Erin wanted to start another one so Vlad wouldn't leave for school, she enjoyed his company and knew she'd be alone for several hours so wanted to make their time together as long as possible.
"Can we talk about what happened?" She asked half expecting him to say no.
"Which part. The one where you were tortured and almost killed or our argument." Vlad wasn't sure which he'd prefer to talk about, they were both daunting.
"Both." Vlad sighed, he was going to have to talk about it sooner or later so he might as well do it now. Vlad put his bag down and perched on the edge of Erins new bed.
"What do you want to know?" He asked looking in her eyes only partially concentrating on their conversation, with the majority of Vlads brain power admiring Erins beauty.
"How did you know where I was?"
"The broach I gave you."
"You had me tracked!" She snapped at him surprised he'd do something like that.
"No, I didn't know when I gave it to you but it linked us. I saw visions of you, at first I thought I was just dreaming but as it happened more I realized they're real so I went looking for you and well… I found you in that building." He reassured her.
Erin quickly looked around wondering what had happened to the broach really hoping she hadn't lost it with all her other possessions as it was a one of a kind family heirloom that was completely irreplaceable. Vlad saw her panicking and pointed to the chest of draws next to her bed and there it was glistening away. She let out a sigh of relief and picked it up once again marvelling at its quality; every time she looked at it, she always seemed to find something new and intriguing on it.
Erin held the Dracula coat of arms broach to Vlad offering it back to him, she didn't need it anymore since she was staying with Vlad and it was rightfully his. Vlad gently wrapped her fingers around it and pushed it back.
"Keep it, it helped save you once." Like with the painting, Erin was only more than happy to keep hold of it.
"And those men who did it… you're OK with what you did?"
"I'll never be OK with killing but… you were right. It was a necessary evil." Erin just smiled at him, she knew better than anyone Vlad could've easily got caught up on this for years so to see him dealing with it pleased her. Vlad couldn't help but find her smile contagious as it spread to his face too. He noticed something different about Erins smile though, it was almost saying to him Of course I was right, I always am which just made him widen his smile even more knowing that he'd never be able to win an argument with her.
"And our argument…" she nudged him on wanting him to say it again.
"There's nothing to forgive, it's all forgotten." Vlad told her again.
"Yes there is! I'm sorry for what I said, I really didn't mean it. When I was being tortured they planted the idea in my head and it was scrapping away at my skull for me to ask you, I just wanted to know if it was true or not." She continued her apology trying to give Vlad the full story this time so neither of them would jump to conclusions.
"I know. It's Ok." He told her plainly not needing anymore words, they both looked into each other eyes and could tell they were forgiven.
"You have to admit though it's all a bit odd. The hottest boy in school who also happens to be the chosen one and the vampire king interested in me, billy no mates who's lied, hurt and left you but you're still there for me. I'm not even that pretty." She touched her face gently running a finger over one of the practically large scabs. "Especially now." She said solemnly.
Vlad just moved next to her and pulled Erin into a hug cradling her head against his chest silently telling her how foolish she was to think that. "You could have any girl, why me?" She asked.
"Because none of them are you." He whispered into her ear.
"That doesn't make any sense." Erin wasn't really sure what he was trying to say. Vlad just smiled and explained.
"In my eyes, you are the most perfect thing in existence and I wouldn't change a thing about you even if I could. I love you and you alone." He said softly running his fingers through her hair. Erin just rolled over onto her side so she could look up at Vlad while still embraced in his hug and stare into his dreamy eyes.
"You really are the sweetest vampire." They both grinned at that remembering the first time Erin had said it. Erin considered leaning in to try and kiss him but Vlad obviously saw it fit to avoid that possibility as he got up and moved closer to the door almost making Erin collapse flat on the bed.
"I'd better be getting to school. Miss McCauley's been keeping me on a tight lease lately." He said nervously rubbing the back of his head trying to make it seem like a casual excuse.
"I don't want to sound rude but what am I supposed to do all day?" She asked reluctantly only just holding back the desire to grab hold of Vlad and force him into a long and passionate kiss that her body and mind yarned for. She knew she'd just had a perfect opportunity to confess her feeling for him but she'd missed it.
"Ohh garlic! Almost forgot, there's some money in the top draw. You're probably going to want to go shopping to buy some new clothes but you need to be resting, doctors' orders." Erin just flung herself backwards on the bed until she was lying flat.
"I hate resting." She moaned. Vlad just grinned at her, Erin wasn't the type of person that could just sit around and do nothing, she always had to be doing something. Vlad propped her crouches against the side of the bed as he knew as soon as he left she'd want to get up and walk around at least.
"If you need anything just yell, I've told everyone you're here and there to help you in anyway the can." Vlad started to walk towards the door when he paused and wheeled round, he knew her too well. She wouldn't listen to what the doctors said. "Promise me you'll take it slowly for the next few days. I don't want you hurting yourself. I worry about you."
"I promise."
Vlad hesitated not wanting to leave her alone, he'd much prefer to stay and look after Erin. He'd only just got her back and didn't want risk losing her again. Erin saw his reluctance to go and hid a smile, she wanted him to stay too but he had to go especially after missing several days of school to watch over her while she was unconscious.
"I'll be fine. Go on or you'll be late." She encouraged him to go like a mother would a son.
"I'll come back as soon as I can." He promised before speeding away to lessons.