Hello readers. I told you there wouldn't be much time between updates, I'm quite proud of myself. I have to apologise for the last chapter, even if it was a slight filler, it was rubbishly set out, written and worded. I'm quite proud of this chapter and I hope it's miles better than the last. Because it's certainly longer! I hope you guys all enjoy this chapter, which is chapter 7 ;)

Vampires

Anna snapped her gaze to the floor, blinking back the worries filling her head. Silently praying that what she had just seen was just a trick of the light. It was only when she heard Velkan's uneasy breaths from next to her; that she realised that she hadn't been seeing things.

A slow, monotonous chuckle rang out across the vast training ground, sending shivers up Anna's spine. Cursing under her breath, she began to raise her head; grasping Velkan's hand tightly in her own. She looked towards the high wall directly in front of her, laying her eyes on the three people she hated most in the world. In Anna's mind they were the cause and end of all the trouble in Vaseria over the past lifetime and she hated to think of why they were confronting her, in school of all places. Her face darkened considerably as she studied the figures of Verona, Marishka and, worst of all, Count Dracula.

"Prince Velkan, Princess Anna, what a pleasant surprise. If I had known that you would be joining me for a…" The count paused. "Bite…then I might've dressed up a little." The count smiled evilly, his smooth voice adding to the already tense atmosphere. He took several calm steps towards Anna, looking her directly in the eye. When he was within close range, he brought a hand to her face. Anna drew back at his touch, gasping at the coldness of his hand. Fear began to take over her body and she found herself loosing all sense of logic. She began to breathe rapidly, her terror freezing her to the spot. Velkan took an uneasy step towards Dracula, trying to turn his attention away from Anna. The count took away his hand.

"What a pity you were born into the Valerious family, if you weren't; you wouldn't have to play this little game." he walked away, retaking his place by his two brides. "Marishka, Verona, get them." The two brides smiled at each other before swooping down from the top of the wall, transforming into their bat-like exteriors. Anna shared a frantic look with Velkan, before turning on her heel, and running.

She had always known Velkan was a faster runner than her, but until now, she didn't realise how vital it had proven to be. Within seconds, Marishka had grabbed Anna from behind, lifting her into the air. Shouting in surprise, Anna had no time to react. She just hung from Marishka's grasp, arms flailing blindly as she searched for a release. Remembering the switch-blade in her boot, Anna reached down awkwardly; pulling out her lifeline. Anna put all her weight behind the blade as she plunged it into Marishka's foot. Marishka, who hadn't seen this coming, cried out in pain and dropped Anna hastily. Daring to look down at where she would land, Anna saw that it was, in fact, an old Willow tree, void of all its leaves. Several branches snapped because of the force in which she landed on them; but finally one held out—just. From her look-out, she saw Velkan still running from Verona. By the looks of things she had tried several times to grab Velkan, to no avail. Seeing how close Velkan was to her, Anna formed a plan in her mind. She waited a couple of seconds; just until Velkan ran under her. Verona soon followed—this is when Anna struck. She leapt from the branch she was sitting on; onto Verona's back. The Vampire screeched with rage, trying desperately to throw Anna from her. Anna held on persistently, steering Verona by her wings. The Vampire was powerless, and she knew it. There was nowhere for her to land; so she couldn't change back to her semi-human form.

Velkan watched astounded as Anna steered Verona over the school building. He couldn't see much from where he was standing, but he was trying not to be noticed by Marishka. Dracula, he noted, was standing in exactly the same place as before, watching the fiasco unfold before him. Velkan didn't know what Anna was doing. For all he knew, she could've jumped on Verona's back with no plan, and no back-up plan. Velkan was so worried about Anna, he heard Marishka's cackles later than he should've done. Seeing her flying towards him, he set out at full sprint; looking behind him occasionally to see how much progress Marishka was making on him. Facing forward; he gazed in horror at the site infront of him. He was faced with a wall. Unfortunately, it wasn't one of those walls that was likely to collapse any time soon, although this is what Velkan needed right now, it was a solid brick wall; full of swords.

"I think it's about time I forgot about fighting honourably." He stated, grabbing a training sword, in the hand not holding his own. Throwing caution to the wind, he turned around and ran back the other way, straight towards Marishka.

The wind whipped at Anna's face as Verona started to fly faster and faster. Being a Vampire, she was used to flying at such speeds, unlike Anna, who wasn't even used to flying. Straight ahead, Anna could see a steeple—just what she needed. The church was quite small, but outside it, was a fountain filled with Holy water. Steering slightly, she grinned, waiting until she was extremely close to the church fountain. When she was within touching distance of the church, Anna jumped off of Verona's back. This didn't give Verona any time to veer away from the fountain; and she crashed into it, falling directly into the pool of holy water.

Velkan ran continually, not daring to think about what he was about to do, he was getting closer and closer to Marishka and she knew it. She shrieked in triumph quickening her pace. Suddenly, she stopped dead in her path, gasping and clutching her stomach. From behind Marishka, Velkan could see Verona standing in the fountain of holy water beside the training ground; eyes wide with shock. A couple of seconds later, she crumbled to dust.

"Verona!" Marishka screeched, she began to twist at an extremely fast pace, turning into a mini-tornado; eventually spiralling out of sight. Velkan saw that Dracula had also disappeared. He looked to Anna, who seemed to be a little surprised as she turned to face him. He dropped both his swords on the floor as he realised what Anna had done. Grinning, she ran and hugged him tightly; laughing deliriously at the thought of Verona being gone for good.

"I killed her. I actually killed her!" Out of the corner of his eye, Velkan sees his father standing on the edge of the training ground, examining where Verona had perished. Anna followed Velkan's line of sight, also spotting her father. Boris looked towards his children, smiling to himself. He ran towards them; hugging them both tightly. The sun emerged from behind the clouds, illuminating the scene of disarray that was the courtyard. Anna walked calmly over to the base of the Willow tree, and picked up her sheathed sword, which must've fallen from her waist during the chaos of the fight. She then went to stand by her father. Boris took the hands of his children; looking at each of them.

"We must go home; we have some planning to do." With that, Boris led his children towards the school gates, and home; to where they would face the inquisition that was Helena.

I'm hoping that there are many people with opinions on that chapter, I'd love to hear from you, even it is a simple wow or, it was horrible ;) Finally I just want to say…I LOVE MY REVIEWERS! Lol it had to be said. I have shouted it from my bedroom window before now so I think I should say it on here. Until next update.

Kate x