I apologise for the long delay.

It seems I've finally broken through my writers block, but I've not yet finished writing the actual story in the Doc.
So, I've decided to try and update this particular story monthly rather than keep you waiting like that again.

I'm posting snippets of what I'm working on, on my profile page, so you can keep up with everything that's going on in my mind.

I hope you all enjoy this chapter and, again, I apologise for the delay.

R


Everett was in a world of darkness. Every which way she turned there was nothing but blackness.

There was a hum above and around her that only got louder. She spun in circles trying to find which direction it may be coming from.

As the hum became louder and clearer it formulated a word

"Angel"

It echoed around her in the darkness and she stopped.

She hadn't heard that word in a long time.
It brought back to her such comforting moments that the darkness started to become almost friendly.


"What do you want with Everett?" Ingrid asked quietly

"I'm the one with the stake, so I'll be the one asking questions" the daemon said darkly

"But you're in MY home so I deserve a few answers!" she hissed back

He sighed, annoyed and glared at her evenly.


Marella moved silently up the stairs until she was standing in a grim and dusty looking hall.

'The smell is strongest up here. Could this be where she's hiding? In a school? That doesn't seem like her'


"Angel"

A faded apparition appeared before Everett's eyes. Though it had no definitive shape...or face for that matter...it was tall and Everett could see clear enough that it was humanesque...despite how see-through it was.

"You cannot continue to hold back sweet angel. You must let go and embrace your being entirely. I would not have guided you here if I did not think you would be protected. You must learn to trust. Trust yourself. Trust others"

The being held out what would have been hands to her.

"You do not belong in this darkness. Let me take you back to the land of Light"

"But I don't belong in the Light either" Everett told it.

It seemed to smile down at her and gave a hint of a laugh "Very well then. I will return you to wherever you wish, you need only say where. But first things first, you must listen to me carefully"


"Vlad"

It was a soft whisper, the perfect volume for Vampiric ears.

The Count had heard and watched as his son flitted over to the girl's side.

"I'm here" Vlad said quietly as he picked up her hand.

The Count felt that this was all a little too familiar and he didn't like it.

"Angel"

His eyes snapped to the girls face.

'That's an unusual thing to say'

He continued to watch on unmoving, even when her eyes snapped open and she bolted into a sitting position almost head butting his son.

Vlad couldn't help it when he grabbed her face that much was obvious, as was his relief.

And she obviously couldn't help it when she tackled him into a hug, knocking him onto his posterior. She held him at arms length for a moment before she muttered something and was on her feet.

Vlad grabbed her arm before she could run off.

"What about Ingrid? Did she do something to you? I'll kill her!" he growled out.

The Count was impressed by his son's change of demeanour. He was finally embracing his Vampire side.

"Ingrid did nothing. But something's wrong, I can feel it. I think she might be in trouble"

She ripped her arm from his grip and ran out into the hall.


Marella nearly tripped over a dog lying in the middle of the hall.
It growled some but she shushed it gently and, with a gloved hand, gave it a scratch on its neck to comfort it. It worked and she stepped over it.

It followed her a little ways down the hall to a door and she stopped.
She'd found the source.

"Stay" she said quietly

She braced herself and threw open the door, letting it close behind her and gaining the attention of all in the room.

Her arm snaked behind her and pulled a long, jagged, ritualistic looking knife.

"Rohan. Long tempore non videre" she stated casually.

"Marella"

"Marella?" Ingrid questioned disbelievingly

"What are you doing here?" Marella questioned the daemon.

"That's my own business" he hissed lowly

"It becomes my business when I find out the High Council employs you" she said as-a-matter-of-factly.

"The High Council?" Jonno was becoming hysterical. Vampires were one thing but this was a whole new level of distressing.

Ingrid snapped her fingers and he became still, gun still pointed at the ready.

"Not the smartest thing to do Ingrid" Marella stated a little annoyed

"What are you even doing here?!" Ingrid spoke back

"Saving your ass!"

"Enough! Where is the girl? And don't try anything Dracula, because I know you're at half power" Rohan placed the point of his silver stake underneath her chin, almost as if to prove his point...which he hadn't made yet.

"You're not the one in control here" Marella spoke up

"And if you don't shut up, I'll put this through her dainty neck" he said with a sickening smile "It might not kill her but her blood would be useful to me"

"You won't leave here alive if you do. My brother will rip you apart" Ingrid hissed

"It must be such an imagination you have to think he would care about you enough"

"It's nothing to do with me" Ingrid assured him.

"Her family will figure out what's going on anyway Rohan" Marella told him

"They may" he stated "But they won't be able to do anything about it" His smile worsened

Castelle readied himself to attack. Obviously it was no longer his job to protect the Принцесса


She hit a wall.

Well, an invisible wall. That's when she knew things definitely were not right.

She'd been hoping it was all her imagination, that she was being be melodramatic...but her intuition had never failed her before.

She gently touched the barrier and a ripple of energy moved outward and away from her touch.

"What's Ingrid got to do withal this?" she heard Vlad call behind her.

She groaned and rolled her eyes "That's not the bigger problem here Vlad!"

"And what is?!"

She slammed her hands on the barricade, sending ripples of energy that fanned across the walls.

"That is!" she told him, turning toward him "Something's wrong and I think may be my fault"

"Your fault how?"

"Now's not the time! I know Ingrid's in trouble! On top of that Jonno's with her and before you ask, no, he's not the reason she is. COUNT! GET YOUR UNDEAD BUTT OUT HERE!"

Vlad had never heard anyone call for his dad quite like she did just then. She was scared and angry...he made a side note not to get in her way if she was like this again at a later date.

There was thunder, lightning and echoing words "INCOLENCE! You dare order me!"

Vlad let his face fall into his hands. The Count was so overly dramatic...

"Yes!"

...And Everett would butt heads with anyone!

The Count stared at her through disapproving narrowed eyes in the doorway and she returned the look.

"Bigger problems at hand than our strange relationship" she stated icily, slamming the side of her fist into the barrier again.

The Count watched the ripples fan and then hissed loudly "Daemons!"

"How long since you encountered one?"

"Too long" he growled

Everett hummed and moved away from the wall "So, what d'you wanna do about it?"

The Count grinned maliciously "I have just the thing"

He gestured them all back into the main room, shutting the door when they were all in.


(I couldn't get the accent above some of the letters to appear in my Document, but what I've said here is what I was meaning)

Long tempore non videre - Long time, no see

Принцесса - Princess