Choices


Back to Vlad, I should point out, I have never been to any of the countries mentioned in this chapter, I would like to though... anyway, I apologise for any inconsistencies here with the actual countries...

Also, thank you for the reviews, and the answer to the question in one of the reviews is yes, the GHV really thinks after killing the Count he can get Vlad on his side; you'll understand why he feels that way when we are nearer to the end - it's in chapter 49 to be exact.

I don't own YD.


Chapter 11: Expansive


Perth in Australia seemed quite a pleasant place to Vlad, the sunlight, the buildings, everything. It was just a shame that he couldn't stay here longer, even though he had been looking around for over nine hours.

Night had already fallen in Perth – it was winter after all, and Vlad knew that meant vampires could find him. He didn't know if there were any Australian vampires, which made Vlad curse himself with every step he took. He should have studied vampires more carefully, asked his father questions about the clans and their positions, but of course he didn't think of that at the time, only his seemingly selfish desire to become human.

His father... Vlad cringed as he walked, there was so much they could have done together, but didn't. Instead, Vlad chose to isolate himself, avoiding anything vampiric, now he looked back on it, he felt stupid he should have made the most of the time he had had with his father rather than chasing unachievable dreams.


Vlad was grateful that he had slept on the plane, because it meant he hadn't suffered much jet lag, other than getting hungry infrequently. Vlad knew well that he would have to get used to this... after all he would be leaving Perth in a matter of hours.

He had decided that staying on the move might increase his chances of not being caught... and then decided to add a little side plan to his main scheme. Naturally, it wasn't going to be easy, but if Vlad could get away with his little side scheme, then he might have a better chance of surviving.


"The 18:24 to Bucharest, Romania will be departing in half an hour," the announcer called over the speaking, making it echo around the airport. Getting the ticket this time was easier than the last, as Vlad had booked it this time rather than just showing up; any problems he had encountered he had overcome with a 'touch of hypnotism'.

Vlad was calmer when he was walking alone down the terminal to the plane; somehow this isolated, quiet corridor was soothing to him it made him feel safe in an unsafe world.


Once Vlad was sat down again he slipped straight into his own thoughts, thinking of his father, Ingrid and Robin... he wished he could contact Ingrid, tell her he was alright, but he had no idea if she could be trusted... She had betrayed him before; he didn't want to take the risk again. As for Robin, if he contacted him, he had the feeling Robin might try and follow him... he didn't want that, the last thing he needed has a breather trying to help him and ended up killed for it.

Vlad turned his thoughts elsewhere, and stretched his arms out, noticing the state of his clothing... his denim jacket looked older than it was, there were mud marks on it and wet spots from where he had got too close to a fountain and ended up wet.

Vlad smiled slightly, that fountain had been fun to be near, but he couldn't play like he would like to...


His plan was that he would get back to Transylvania, find the castle of the Grand High Vampire – the last place he would be expected to go, because it was such a stupid idea – look to see what he could learn there, maybe he could find a way of hiding himself. Then get out of there before anyone noticed.

While Vlad hadn't been in Romania in almost two years, yet when he left the Bucharest airport, Vlad felt like it hadn't been five minutes, he could remember passing close to this city when him and his family were trying to get to Britain. They hadn't been on the road more than a few hours, when Renfield said they should stop in the city to take a break. This resulted in Ingrid going on about how they should go back and the Count yelling saying they weren't far enough away yet to stop.

Vlad almost smiled at the memory, but also felt an empty feeling as he remembered it as the leaving the airport.

Bucharest... Vlad had never come here before; the Count had always said it was too full of breathers. It was one of the few areas of Romania that had no vampires in, which only a century ago would have been a miracle, but in the 21st century it wasn't all the surprising, as since the worldwide expansion of knowledge of migrations, it was only natural that vampires moved away too, following their prey. Some countries were vampire free now because vampire were scattered so thin, though it had to be said, a majority remained in Romania, particularly the Transylvanian and Carpathian mountains.


Getting back to the old Dracula castle hadn't been as much of a challenge as Vlad would have expected, though half of the locals hadn't known Vlad existed, and the other half probably didn't recognise him; which made Vlad relieved, he knew well that if the locals found out who he was, and the fact he has here, they might kill him, even though what happened wasn't his fault.

The thousand odd year old castle had looked better, but Vlad had to admit it looked better than it did the last time he saw it. The last time he saw it, parts of it were on fire, now it wasn't and the evidence it had been on fire didn't seem evident; though it was likely because the dark stonework covered the soot marks that would normally be there.

Upon reaching the door, Vlad touched the charred wood, smelling the smoke, the smell of the past that had been infused into the wood. Vlad shuddered, remembering how close of the fires had been to him before his father had found him and flitted the pair of them out of there...

This place is full of memories good and bad... Vlad thought, maybe staying here will help me...


I wanted to get Vlad back to Romania; after all they did leave in quite a hurry. I want to get Vlad to go back while going forward so to speak.

We will be staying with Vlad for the next chapter.

Thank you for reading and please review!

C

xx