Choices

I will be introducing a new character this chapter. Originally the character was going to be the orientation for a different story, but I decided it might be better if they were in this instead.

I don't own Young Dracula.

Chapter 13: Spy

The forests here were wetter than Vlad remembered, though that was probably because he had never 'roughed it' as the British would say; Vlad had quite an easy existence, everything had been provided for him, and now for the first time in his life he was without it.

Living in the wild wasn't any near as pleasant as Vlad had imagined, though he had no tent and that seemed to be half the problem for him, at least he had the ability to make his own fire and he didn't even do it through his currently uncontrollable vampire powers.

Vlad figured he was about three miles from the castle he suspected that the Grand High Vampire lived in; he was relieved it was night-time for the first time since he had left Stokely, because it likely meant that the Grand High Vampire would not be in, he would be searching, searching for him.

Vlad shuddered, if the Grand High Vampire knew he was coming he'd be doomed, not in the death sense, but Vlad felt if the Grand High Vampire found him then he would lose every ounce of freedom he had gained in his life, he'd become a slave to the Grand High Vampire, just like Justice Mori.

The leaves made gentle soothing noises when they brushed each other, but at one point it became louder and louder; Vlad bit his lips out of nerves took a deeps breath looking around to see if anything was there. Then heard a thud behind him making him jump forward and turn around.

It was a girl, she looked his age maybe... and from what Vlad could tell she was an untransformed vampire. She was far too pale to be human...

"Who are you?" She asked in a soft voice taking Vlad by surprise, he was not used to vampires – even ones who hadn't transformed - being so non-aggressive. "You do realise that you are on Salem territory."

"Who?" Vlad asked confused.

The girl gave him a scathing gaze, her dark eyes betraying no emotion and flicked her dark hair impatiently. "Of course, I forgot... no one knows who the Salems are."

Vlad blinked at the girl. "Who are you?"

"Terra Salem," she said calmly. "Now, you tell me who you are."

"Vladimir..." Vlad didn't finish the sentence.

"Yes?" She probed.

Vlad shook his head. "I can't say." She scowled.

"You're an underage vampire, wondering around alone in the woods," she said calmly. "You do realise what serious trouble you can get in for trespassing alone... not to mention that fact you seem like you are running away from something, or someone."

Vlad sighed starting to get impatient. "No offence Terra, but I am just passing through. I know well that trespassing as you put it isn't a crime... and I would like to know something..."

Terra blinked. "What?"

"Why are you speaking English and not Romanian?" Vlad knew he had her there and he heard her curse in his native tongue.

"I am just practising," she responded.

"You were testing me," Vlad corrected his eyes narrowing and she scowled in response proving him right. "I learnt English because I just did, I am not telling you why."

Terra crossed her arms. "You want to play this game, fine. My father is Serlai Arnex Salem, do you know who that is?"

Now that name rang a bell in Vlad's head, and he wasn't sure; then he realised if this was Salem territory and he was heading to the Grand High Vampire's castle... "He's the Grand High Vampire."

Terra nodded. "Yes, he is and you're Vladimir Dracula." She added realising who he was. "My father is looking for you."

Vlad almost choked. "You're his daughter."

"I am," she confirmed and cursed again. "I shouldn't have told you that."

"You're meant to be a secret," Vlad guessed, remembering how the Grand High Vampire had reacted when Vlad had spoken of a vampire's love. "Aren't you? Because you're a princess."

She cringed and didn't respond at first. "Well, you would have found out eventually given father wants you to live with us."

"You know?"

"Know that he wants to raise you, yes I know." Terra shrugged.

"But do you know why?" Vlad questioned probingly and she shrugged.

"It's none of my business," she told him.

"Yes it is your business Terra," Vlad said stepping forward. "I am the Chosen One, he knows this, and he wants to raise me as a prince so I stay on his side. In fact I think he'll take all my freedom away from me to do it... it wouldn't surprise me if he has done the same to you."

Terra frowned at him. "The Chosen One," she looked at him through her lashes. "It explains a lot, why Dad is so obsessed with finding you for one. So he wants you as his little prince and me his little princess..."

"Huh?" Vlad frowned confused.

"Ever heard of arranged marriage?" Terra asked sarcasm in her voice. "My father pulled me away from my mother last year for no reason, he said it was so I could be his princess and eventually be Queen. I didn't believe him, but I came anyway... now I see, he wants me to marry you so he isn't killed by you."

Vlad blinked half surprised and half unsurprised, it was a typical vampire thing to do. "No offence, but I don't want to marry you."

"Agreed," she said. "Listen, I don't know why you are here, but the castle is one and a half miles that" she pointed behind her "way, it's rough to get there and there are measures to make sure people don't simply get in or out."

Vlad nodded now drinking in her words.

"If you want to get in, go half a mile that" she pointed east "way you should find a natural cave, following through all the passageways to your right and you'll get to the crypt." She told him, taking a deep breath. "I don't know what you are planning or why you are even trying to get into the castle... but I am trusting you, I am hoping that you are going into the castle so you stop my father... that is if what you are saying is true. If not, then I swear by all that is evil I will hunt you down and hand you over to my father."

Vlad looked at the girl. "I plan on looking at the record there for a start, if you help me, we can see if you and I are correct."

She nodded and made Vlad just again my turning into a small bird and flying off.

Quite the unusual girl isn't she. You'll learn more about her as you go along.

Thank you for reading and please review!

C

xx