Chapter 10
"It's...Erin..."
"WHAT!" Ingrid yelled before rushing to look out the window. And it really was Erin.
"I want to see!" Irina said, like a three year-old. She pushed Vlad and Ingrid out of the way. "Wow. Vlad, I see why you love her. She seems cute... In some strange Gothic sense..."
Irina tilted her head. She wasn't examining Erin, but more of what was on her shoulder. "Guys, why is the Ring of Ariamrod shattered on her shoulder?"
"Adze, Vlad's bride to be, shot her and the ring shattered in her shoulder," Ingrid explained.
"And you guys do know that if the Ring is part of the body, it has the power to possess someone?" Irina asked.
Vlad mentally slapped himself. "Wait. So all this time, Erin's been a Vampire, she was being controlled? Oh bats, I'm so stupid!"
Irina flipped her hair back. "Of course you are! You haven't done as much reading as I have!"
"Are we the only one's feeling left out here?" Rachel asked, indicating the Van Helsings, herself and her siblings.
Irina pretended to think about it. "Yup. But our Slayer friends here already know the story, so you three sit and let me tell it to you."
So Irina told the story of Vlad and Erin- she made it seem like a tragic love story. Once she had finished, she wiped away fake tears.
"Yes, it's worse than Romeo and Juliet. I know."
Vlad rolled his eyes. "Shut up," He paused before looking back outside, "She's still out there."
"Why don't you ask her to come in?" Irina asked.
Before Vlad could reply, Mina cut in. "That might not be a good idea. And we came to discuss about these three," Obviously, she meant Rachel, Matt and Will.
But the others couldn't find out, because the Count got mad. "I HAVE BEEN STANDING HERE FOR FIVE MINUTES AND NOBODY HAS BEEN PAYING ANY ATTENTION TO ME! Now is everyone listening? Good. I think it's a terrible idea to let that traitor half-fang into our residence. And now I need to enjoy a glass of blood." But he didn't leave without sending Rachel a cold glare.
"What was that about?" Irina asked her friend.
"Dunno," Rachel replied, but it was something.
Vlad, who was still staring out the window, jerked up. "Erin looks like she's in pain. I need to get her!"
Ingrid put a hand in front of him. "You're not going anywhere. What if it's a trap? What if she get's to you and stakes you?"
Vlad turned around. There was something in his eyes that Irina had never seen before- a look of pure determination. And love. "I'll take that risk."
Ingrid nodded understanding. She would do the same if it was her and Will. "Go."
Vlad whooshed out the room. Irina stared out the window, fingers crossed. If Vlad was staked right now, everything would be lost. The Peace plan would be ruined and there would be blood everywhere. But there is always one shot for everything. She crossed her fingers hoping nothing bad would happen to him and stared out the window. Irina couldn't hear what was going on, but they seemed to be having some sort of weird conversation. There was a point where Vlad stepped back a bit. Irina could only guess what was going on.
"Erin, this isn't you," Vlad said, taking a step back, "You've been possessed! The Rings have taken control of you!"
"And who told you that? Your new girlfriend?"
Vlad put a hand to his head. "Irina is most definitely not my girlfriend! She can be anything but that!"
"So she can be your wife then?"
Vlad groaned. This wasn't the Erin that he had went out with those many years ago. It was someone else. "Erin, please listen to me! The RIngs have taken over you! Think about... think about the time when my dark side took over me! You didn't stop until you helped me. Let me return the favour! I know you're in there Erin. You must be! Because there is still that part of you that wouldn't do anything to hurt me. There's still that part of you that cares."
Erin dropped to her knees. "No... NO! GET OUT!" Erin's eyes became clear for one second. "Vlad?" She asked, before collapsing to the ground.
Vlad's eyes widened in shock. She picked her up and took her into the throne room.
"What happened?" Ingrid asked, immediately rushing over.
"Irina was right. She's been possessed. I tried to get the dark side of her out, and she just collapsed!"
"Oh no."
All eyes were on Irina. "Oh no? What do you mean 'oh no'? Vlad demanded.
Irina hesitated. "I read about loads of things, because I was bored. One of the things I read was on Dark Forbidden Weapons. I read about the Rings, and not only do they possess people, but it becomes the life force of that person. If the person defeats the darkness, the Ring loses all power and fades away," Irina looked at Erin's shoulder and added, "They're already starting to turn grey."
Vlad started worrying. "Is there a cure?"
Irina couldn't answer. because Mina then interrupted. "I'm glad you're reunited with your lost love and everything, but Rachel, Matt and Will have gone."
Attention was focused away from Erin. "Why?"
"Maybe it's because of this," Jonno replied, holding a tape recorder. He clicked play.
"We've gained their trust. We have to strike." That was Rachel.
"I can't do that to Ingrid! Her dad is starting to make up for the bad things he's done, and I can't see her get hurt." Will.
"You love her?" Matt asked.
There was a brief pause before Will continued. "I guess I do."
"You both seemed to have forgotten what the Count did! He killed Dad!" Rachel yelled.
"I know Rache. We just have to make it seem like an accident. I want him dead as much as the next guy. But I just can't stand the fact of Ingrid getting hurt."
"Then we make Ingrid hate her Dad again."
"GUYS!" That was Matt, "Jonno and Mina are behind the door. They've heard everything."
Mina stopped the tape, looking at the shocked faces. Ingrid looked hurt, Vlad looked mad and Irina was clearly upset. Surprisingly, it was her who spoke first. "We've got to find them. Before they find dad."
"He looks so innocent," Rachel muttered, "It'll be a shame to kill him."
Matt rolled his eyes at his sister's sarcasm. "Let's just slay him and get out of here."
Rachel pointed the stake to the Count's heart. But before she could do anything, the Count opened his eyes and grabbed Rachel, put an arm round her neck and pointed the stake at her heart instead. Will made a move to grab her, but the Count raised a finger.
"Not one move. Unless you want her to live."
Will stepped back cautiously. The Count smiled. "Now, isn't that great. Now we can all be friends."
Will's eyes burned with anger. "We'll never be friends."
The Count pretended to be hurt. "Why would you say that? Who doesn't want to be friends with the mighty Prince of Darkness?"
"Maybe the children to the Vaxian you murdered!" Matt yelled.
The Count slightly loosened his grip on Rachel, which gave her the opportunity to escape. She ran to Will's side, who gave her a one armed hug of support.
The Count slowly fell to the ground. "It was an accident. Harold Gerandai was my best friend. I was the best man at his wedding. But people were after him. They were going to torture him... He wanted me to slay him. I refused. But he insisted. He had secrets that needed to stay secret, something about the Slayers. He would've slain himself, but if he did that, the Slayers would've gone after his family... So he put up a show. I made it so I hated him. And I spotted some of the Slayers in the crowd. Just before I thrusted the stake into him he told me, "Look after my family." And I did. I watched you for a while. But I had to return to my family."
The three children were shocked. They didn't know the truth. The Count looked up at them. "I know a place where you can find out about the Slayers that forced your father into murder. They aren't part of the Guild. They have their own secret facility where they hunt down Vaxians. And you should know this. Each Vaxian has a secret. And you three are the most powerful generation. You'll be hunted down next."
Will looked at him. "Are you telling the truth?"
"Yes. I knew your father very well and you are the splitting image of him Will Gerandai. Which is why I forbade Ingrid to see you, because of all the painful memories it brought back. As for the place of the Slayers," He handed them a sheet of paper, "Here's the address. I hope it shall do you well."
"I'm so sorry Count Dracula. We never knew the whole story. But thank you for telling us. We should go. Before-"
Suddenly Will, Rachel and Matt were grabbed and tied with Argentalium shackles. The Count gasped. "No! You must not hurt them!"
Irina, Vlad, Ingrid, Jonno and Mina gaped at him. "They were going to slay you!"
The Count sighed. "Yes. But I told them the truth and they understand." He clicked his fingers and they came free of the shackles. Will looked at the Count.
"Thank you." And he whooshed off, Rachel and Matt following him.
"What was that about?"
The Count smiled. "A promise."
After the whole Gerandai thing had been cleared up, Vlad had returned to Erin. She was currently on a bed with all these machines hooked up to her. Renfield had decided to help, seeing as he always liked Erin. Wolfie was whimpering by her side, because Erin had always been the really nice one. Vlad looked like he was going to fall apart. He was holding her hand and tears were rolling down his face. Irina came up to him.
"You okay?"
Vlad carried on staring at Erin. "No. Last time she was dying, it was different. I could turn her into a Vampire and she was fine. Sort of. But now, there doesn't seem to be a way out of this! She's going to die, and I don't know what to do!"
"I do."
Vlad turned to look at his twin."You do?"
"I have a friend. Okay, he's like an old man, but he's a friend. He's amazing with potions, better than Renfield. He might have a cure for Erin."
Vlad stood up. "Where can I find him?"
"Unfortunately, he lives in Transylvania. But I should go. He knows me better and I'd like to talk to him about something else."
"What do you have to talk to him about?" Vlad asked.
"Doesn't matter."
Vlad stared at her. "You can't go Transylvania. What if mum catches you and gives you something worse than Argentalium?"
Irina rolled her eyes. "Vladdy, I'll be fine. And besides, if that does happen, I'll send you a pain trigger, to alert you."
Vlad thought about it. "Fine. I guess you know him more than I do. And you know where he lives. So, you should be the one who goes."
Irina smiled as she thought to herself, Here's my excuse.
And you're sure you'll be okay?" Vlad asked for the millionth time. Irina was on her way off and Vlad had been attempting to change her mind.
"I'll be fine. Besides, you need to stay here beside Erin. You could keep her alive," Irina replied, "Now, I've got to go, before Erin does die and you do nothing to stop the war between Vampires and Slayers."
"Fine. Go. I'll see you in a week."
"That you will brother dearest," And Irina flew off. Ingrid came in a while after.
"Renfield's working on a potion that could save Erin," She informed him.
"Tell him to stop. Irina has gone to visit someone who is ace at potions."
Ingrid was shocked. "What? You let her go? Are you nuts!"
"Relax. She'll be fine," Vlad said, really convincing himself.
Ingrid shook her head. "It's not her I'm worried about. She's tough. But it's what Dad will say when he finds out."
"When he finds out about what?" A voice said behind them. The Count stared them down. "Well?"
"Um... It may have something to do with the fact that I let Irina go to Transylvania, so she could get a potion for Erin, because Renfield couldn't make a good one," Vlad explained.
The Count blinked at him. "Do you realise what could happen if Magda catches her? Or what if she burns in sunlight?"
"Irina is smart. She'll send me a pain trigger if Magda gets her, and she'll find shelter away from sunlight," Vlad replied.
The Count nodded his head in approval. "I guess she'll be okay then."
But of course Irina was okay. She hypnotised the people at the airport to give her a ticket, and she got herself a fake passport. She hopped onto the plane, and there weren't many people on board seeing as it was a night flight. The journey took a couple of hours and Irina was sleepy. She got a place at a nearby hotel and fell asleep. Sure, Erin was more important, but what wrong would sleep do? She needed it, including the whole charade about her condition...
In the morning, Irina hung about in her room. She slept, watched TV (although most of it was about Vampires and Werewolves) and toured around the city. When it was twilight, she took off without a moments hesitation. Fifteen minutes later, she was at the front door of the greatest potion maker she knew.
"Marcias!" She yelled as she entered the small shop. An old man, who looked about 50, appeared from the back room.
"Irina!" He exclaimed, "I thought you went to England?"
"I did, but something came up."
"It hasn't happened yet has it?"
"No! But I'll be needing more potion..."
"I only have one more left Irina," Marcias replied, "And it will take months to make a new one. And by that time, the effects will have already taken place!"
Irina sighed. "Fine. I'll take it. I just have to accept the fact that... Anyway, I came here for another reason. Vlad's girlfriend was shot, and the Ring of Ariamrod shattered into her. The life force is fading. Do you have a cure?"
Marcias looked down. "Unfortunately, I do not have cures for Dark Magic, as I am afraid of what might happen after the last time I tried. But I do know someone who does. We exchange ingredients through underground passageways. He is a lot younger than me, but I'm sure he'll be fine."
"Underground passages?" Irina asked.
"He lives in Stokely, England," Marcias explained, "You wouldn't want this old man burning in sunlight during desperate needs!"
"You're not as old as Dad," Irina replied truthfully, "Thank you Marcias. I hope I'll see you again."
"I daresay you will Irina. Don't forget your potion!"
"Never do!" Irina replied, picking up her vial and speeding off down the passage. A couple of hours later, she had arrived at a giant castle, and she felt her powers draining. She took a sip of the vial, and felt her strength returning to her. She knocked on the door and it opened. She walked in and the entrance was huge. She smiled.
"This is Stokley Castle? No wonder Vlad liked it so much!"
"You know Vlad?" A voice asked.
Irina spun around to find an eighteen year old boy with black hair. His accent was proper Welsh as well.
"Yes. He's my twin."
"He never talked about you," The voice replied.
"He wouldn't have. My name's Irina. Vlad's girlfriend was shot with dark magic and the life force is draining. I need a potion to cure her."
"No problem! Let's see..." He said, scanning the shelves, "Vlad's got himself a girl? Isn't that sweet! Here it is!" He said, taking a bottle down, "The cure to all your problems."
"Who are you? And how do you know my brother?" Irina asked, now suspicious.
The boy smirked. "Vlad was my best mate. I'm Robin Branagh."
Yes, I brought back an old face. And this is the longest chapter yet! Thank you to all your reviews! I'm sorry to say that the end is nigh, but there shall be a sequel! I'll post like a "notice chapter" once I'm done, with all the info :D