This is the 2nd of 3 chapters I'm posting tonight.
Chapter 7: AwakeningVlad turned around, "I am Vladimir Dracula and I am the Chosen One." His voice echoed around the room, booming. Dust fell, tables shook and flames flickered with every word.
His powers had increased well beyond hundred-fold, and that was just what he'd assimilated so far. No one dared to look him in the eye, those who did only looked for a fraction of a second.
"Sire…" A few Vampires began, moving forward to address him without permission.
"Be gone!" Vlad cried loudly, he'd had enough of vampires tonight. He didn't want them involved in the discussion – or rather argument – that was sure to follow.
In a flash every vampire in the room vanished. Vlad turned his attention back to the Brotherhood who couldn't escape no matter how they tried.
The young vampire's eyes returned to their normal colour as he gazed at them. He hesitated for a moment, Bertrand had taught him to wait it made his enemies sweat. "Who revealed our location to you?"
No one answered.
"Who told you where we were?" Vlad extended his hand out towards them and they cried out in pain as Vlad increased the pressure of the fire.
"Cou…nt Ni…cho…lai." The leader ground out, trying to resist but couldn't Vlad's power was too strong. Vlad clicked his fingers, and the fire vanished, but they were still held in position by Vlad's hand.
"Vampicide is punishable by death." The Count took over hissing, at them. "Attempted Vampicide needs to be presided over by the Grand High Vampire." He looked at his son, "You have a few months to pick a story." He turned to Bertrand. "Lock them away in the basement. Summon Count Nicholai." He ordered the final part to Renfield who nodded.
"Yes Master."
Bertrand made to move forwards but Vlad clicked his fingers and they vanished, "They're in the basement."
The Count placed an arm around Vlad's shoulders. "Well done Vladdy." The Count gushed, shaking him lightly. Vlad didn't say anything, he just stared at the now open book on the table.
The wording in the book was illegible and difficult to read. Its language was of an obscure dialect. It would take more studying to understand exactly what it said. While he'd opened the book he couldn't take his position until he had worked out what it said. He walked across and snapped the book closed, automatically the hands locked together.
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Ingrid pushed past him, but he didn't jostle to one side the way he might once have done, instead he held his ground and Ingrid was the one who grunted in pain.
Ingrid snatched the book from him and tried to prise it open but it refused to open.
"It was a fluke." She protested, "There's no way he can do that again." She handed Vlad the book back to prove a point.
Vlad gently touched the bony fingers and immediately it opened. This time there were no bolts of energy, Vlad had absorbed it all. Once again he closed the book and the fingers locked tightly. The book knew who its master was.
Ingrid tried again to open the book succeeding in snapping one of the fingers off, immediately another grew in its place. Erin and the Count pulled a face at the regrowth, Erin made a mental note never to touch the book.
Vlad noticed Erin's reaction, moving across to stand in front of her, he tilted his head silently asking if she was okay. Erin nodded. Vlad bent down and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.
Unfortunately that opened more cans of worms than it solved.
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They broke apart to the tense silence filling the room, Vlad turned to face his family. Bertrand remained impassive as did Renfield. Ingrid looked amused but the Count had barely contained anger. He was shaking with his fury.
"You are dating a breather?" Ingrid commented laughing,
"Guess it runs in the family." Vlad snapped at her, it shut her up immediately. He knew Will was a low blow but for some reason he didn't care. It felt good to get back at his sister.
"The Chosen One can't date a breather!"
"You didn't mind me having a breather for a girlfriend before!" Vlad argued back, growing irritated at the fact the Count's reaction before to Delilah, the girl he and Robin fought over.
"That was before you were the Chosen One!" The Count's voice rose higher.
"I've always been the Chosen One."
The Count paused his finger quivering in the air. "But that was before we knew you were." His triumphant hah was met by Vlad drawing a deep breath and biting the inside of his cheek.
"I'm dating a breather and you can't stop me!" Vlad's words held no room for discussion. This was the ultimate defiance especially as Vlad had created a lie for the entire Vampire community defending Erin being there. A lie that was backed up by Vampire Law.
A metallic crash sounded from behind them and Vlad's head snapped around. "You stupid oaf Renfield!" He yelled, causing Wolfie to start yapping against Erin's neck. "Shut up mutt!" He snarled making Wolfie cry more.
"VLAD!" Erin snapped outraged at his attitude. His face lost its hard edge, and an apologetic one took over.
"Sorry, I'm just tired." He whispered, Erin moved closer to him and looked at his eyes.
Erin could see it, there was something different, something she couldn't put her finger on. His eyes had changed since he'd visited her less than two hours ago. She could see the tenderness there but there was an edge to it. Something that kept appearing and disappearing.
She reached up and kissed him softly, she forgave him for his sharp words. Vlad responded communicating his apology into the kiss, he carefully cupped her cheek taking care to remember Erin was holding Wolfie. He slowly drew back looking around at his family and Bertrand.
"As I said Erin's under my protection." He told them forcefully his arms never leaving Erin's waist.
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"You're powers are becoming almost natural." Bertrand commented, watching as Vlad practiced his flying skills in the pitch-black courtyard.
"Good then I won't need you any more." Vlad commented dryly, with a smirk. That was something to look forward to.
"I know you're looking forwards to the end of these lessons."
"I made you a promise, I said you'd be the first to go." Vlad snarled, his handsome face disappearing under a sneer.
Bertrand looked taken aback, but he covered his surprise with a slight bow.
Vlad seemed to recover his senses. Why did he say that? It wasn't him.
"Sorry…"
Bertrand interrupted him, "The Chosen One *never* apologises."
Vlad nodded before resuming his lesson.
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Erin was sitting at the table in the training room when he found her. She was engrossed in a book. An evil part of his mind told him it was the perfect opportunity. He crept into the room, taking care not to stand on the creaky floorboards, if he zoomed behind her the sound would alert her. As soon as he was close enough he launched himself at her.
Erin jumped as something grabbed her around the waist before realising it was only Vlad. He chuckled at her reaction. Erin stiffened as she felt him play with the scarf at her neck.
"Why do you wear it?" He asked softly.
"Because this way I didn't have to fake the scar every day." She told him as if it were obvious.
"You don't need it now." He pulled it from her neck, Erin shivered as she felt the cold air hit it for the first time. Now she knew that she wore it because it kept her warm, even if she hadn't realised it at the time.
Erin focussed back on the book on the table, scouring through it once again. She wasn't going to give up hope just yet. Vlad had been content to watch her before so she knew he wouldn't mind her continuing.
Vlad relished her scent now that she no longer used the spray. Her scent was unique and she didn't smell like most breathers, her scent didn't overpower his senses it simply made them tingle. He slowly titled his face to breath in her aroma more fully but he didn't count on his reaction.
As she turned the page she moved her head just a fraction. She felt something on her neck, cold and hard, with four sharp points. It took a moment to register what it was. When it did she couldn't believe it.
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"What the hell are you doing?" Erin snapped jumping away from Vlad as fast as she could. The chair flew over, Erin flattened herself against the wall. To her relief Vlad didn't approach her, he seemed to be too afraid to move.
Vlad was frozen for a minute before his eyes met hers. She could see the horror in his eyes. She'd seen that look ever since the book had opened; it was as if he was fighting a battle internally. Nature vs. Nurture.
"I…I don't…Erin…"
In a blink he had vanished from the room, leaving her staring where he once was. Her hand came to rest on her throat, rubbing it absentmindedly.
Was Vlad just going to bite her?
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Vlad wanted to tear his fangs out, what the hell had he just almost done? One minute he was thinking about his girlfriend and the next he was ready to bite her. The only consolation was the fact he hadn't drawn blood, even such a small amount would result in a frenzy of hunger and a half fang. Becoming a half fang was the last thing he wanted for Erin.
The craving for blood had now become unbearable, he thought he could control it but the book had awakened his nature. He was turning into the one thing he most despised – a cold-hearted killer.
Vlad ripped the hinges from the fridge, not caring to wait for the secret door to open. The scent wafted towards him and he inhaled deeply his eyes turning blood red.
He picked out a blood bag containing A+ blood. He lowered his head fangs ready to plunge into the bag, he didn't have time for a straw he was famished.
With as much willpower as he could muster he stopped himself, his fangs coming to rest on the plastic membrane bag. He threw the blood bag across the room, before cursing at his foolishness should it catch on anything and rip open.
Ever since opening that book he'd begun to change, the power was corrupting him somehow. It started with insulting Ingrid, then Renfield, Wolfie had practically burst into tears in Erin's arms, threatening to kill Bertrand then nearly murdering Erin. Every single time he insulted one of them the pleasure he got from it was amazing, their hurt faces made it all the more delicious. It was addictive.
Vlad shook his head. He needed to gain more control.
"I HATE BEING A VAMPIRE!" He screamed as loud as he could, thunder crashing and lightening illuminating in the room.
"It was always your destiny to become a vampire." A voice came from the shadows of the room before the Count emerged into view.
"It isn't my destiny to hurt everyone I love." Vlad yelled. "I'm changing even now, I can't control myself. Even now I want to kill you and take my inheritance." Vlad stepped back further, the Count looked surprised at the outburst from his son. "Just because of what you're forcing me to do."
The Count saw the struggle his son was going through. It didn't occur to him that the book would awaken the evil that Vlad had defeated when he encountered the mirror. "You have a choice Vladdy, fight it."
"I definitely didn't have a choice after you destroyed that Staff."
The Count protested, his eyes turning yellow. "I don't know what you're talking about." Vlad knew he was winning with yellow eyes.
"The Staff of Carpathia, your back scratcher. I never did see it after that night." Vlad stood taller. "What did you do? Drop it into the flames after I left?"
"You are the Chosen One!"
"And what's so special about that?" Vlad snarled, "I'm constantly under watch. I do what I want to do. I have to leave my girlfriend because Law dictates I must marry a clan leader's daughter before I can even take my role as leader."
"She's a breather!"
"I LOVE HER!" The Count drew back at Vlad's words, Vlad paused as his on admission registered in his mind. "And I can't even be near her." Vlad's voice cracked.
"Breathers and vampires were never meant to be together." The Count whispered softly, realising for the first time how much heartbreak his son was actually going through. It didn't occur to him that Erin was much more than a fling.
"I know." Vlad conceded, for the first time he understood, the laws were there for a purpose. He cast a glance towards Erin's room. "I can't hurt her."
If he stayed Erin would always be in danger from him, if he stayed every pupil in the school would be in danger. His powers were dangerous enough he couldn't risk a slip, but worse was his fear of biting someone. It had doubled now that he knew the side that was slowly taking over him would relish it. It had affected him once when he though he'd bitten Chloe, but if he did bite anyone he'd never forgive himself. He'd come too close to biting Erin and he loved her. If he couldn't control himself around her the how was he expected to control himself around Renfield or other breathers?
His mind was made up.
"I can't stay here."
With those four words Vlad shot out of the room, not horizontally but vertically.
Out of the room, out of the school to who knew where.
"VLADIMIR!"
TBC
A/N: I don't think I've ever typed up a fanfic so quickly in my life!
Thanks for reading.