Choices


Mori's triple agenting and the Ramanga thing that came with it was an eureka moment for me. I have had a minor one again for this chapter, but there won't be any more. Five chapters left and now the fighting commences...

WARNING: The next three chapters have character deaths... sorry, like I said this story is based around death. It's the whole point of it after all it's a civil war!

I don't own Young Dracula.


Chapter 50: First


It was time.

Vlad could feel it. It was the day before the full moon... and he had said that by then either he would be dust or the Grand High Vampire would be.

His thoughts were interrupted as usual.

"Vlad," Bertrand called from the other end of the training room.

Vlad turned around to see Mori and Bertrand pouring of a piece of old paper.

"What?" Vlad demanded.

"I suggest you come here," Mori called.

Vlad flitted over and noticed they were looking at the old arranged marriage document between himself and Terra.

"Where did you find that?" Vlad frowned. "I thought I had left it after the 'wedding'."

"Darius had it," Bertrand said and Vlad rolled his eyes unsurprised.

"What are you getting stressy about?" He asked crossing his arms. "It's just a piece of parchment with some writing on it.

"Odd parchment," Mori grumbled.

"Huh?" Vlad gave him a confused look.

"The parchment is too thick," Bertrand pointed out. "It's double the thickness of usual parchment. It's like two pieces have been stuck together."

"So?" Vlad demanded. "Big deal."

"It is your highness," Mori told him formally. "Because the back looks older than the front."

Vlad frowned flipping the document over seeing he was right, one side was dark than the other, more worn. Why hadn't he seen it before? Darius had poured over it for months when he first met him... surely he would have noticed?

"It's such a minor thing no one would have noticed it," Mori said. "Even I didn't notice when I wrote this document."

"So, what is it?" Vlad asked taking it into his hands.

"Well," Bertrand said. "We cannot know unless we manage to separate the back from the front."

"What if it's something like the Praedictum Impaver?" Vlad asked Bertrand frowning deeply.

"It won't be," Bertrand promised. "You cannot hold a person in something like this."

Vlad nodded still unsure, Terra had gained Sethius' power... this back page may do the same to someone else... maybe even him.

"How are we meant to spit it?" Vlad asked.

"I don't know," Bertrand muttered.

"Burn it," Mori said automatically looking at it.

"What?" Bertrand demanded but Mori ignored him looking at Vlad.

"The parchment must be vampire proof, otherwise how would it have survived this long. It looks as old as the Praedictum Impaver itself. You burn it and the top should burn away revealing the one underneath." Mori told him.

Vlad focussed on the parchment setting it alight the top turning to ash on the other page. Vlad blew the ash of the old one off to reveal the one underneath.

"Holy bats," Vlad said seeing what was there... feeling like his heart was going to jump right out of him even though he didn't have a heartbeat.


"What's the big emergency?" Ingrid asked when they were all gathered together in the throne room for Vlad to announce what he had found.

"We've found the prophecy," Mori told them looking at the curled up piece of parchment in Vlad's hand.

"WHAT?!"

"That's impossible," Terra chimed. "Only my father knows the prophecy, he wiped all knowledge of the full prophecy."

"He must have written it down before I became his servant." Mori interjected.

"He hid it behind the arranged marriage document," Bertrand announced. "He wanted to hide it. He didn't count on Vlad taking it."

"What does it say?" Robin asked.

Everyone looked at Vlad who with his spare hand was leaning on the table looking at the table tears streaming from his eyes.

"Vlad?" Yassik said.

Terra frowned and flitted over to him putting and arm around his shoulder. "Vlad honey, we need to know."

"More like deserve to," Darius interrupted.

"Darius," Valencia snapped. "The prophecy obviously has upset him; give him a break for once!"

"You don't have to read it Vlad," Korith said comfortingly but sounded curious.

"I'll read it," Terra volunteered brushing away Vlad's tears with her free hand. "Vlad, can you please give me the prophecy."

Vlad looked at her, pulled himself up and handed her the scroll into the hand that had been wiping his tears.

Terra took it tightening her fingers around it, knowing how important it was.

She unscrolled it, read it in her head and gasped.

"Terra?" Korith said uncertainly worried about his cousin.

Terra looked at Vlad. "Don't worry," she told him. "I don't think it means what you think."

"It has to mean it Terra," he murmured. "It has to."

Terra shook her head fiercely. "No, I refuse to believe that."

"Can you just read it?!" Ramanga barked irritated.

Terra looked around at the others knowing from the looks on their faces that Bertrand and Mori had already read it.

"It's written in Aramaic," she breathed.

"Like the Praedictum Impaver," Robin murmured.

Terra nodded and began to read.

"Strife between families has ended,

It will one day awaken,

The five families no longer defended,

Salem, Dragos, Verfore, Lecushka and Barack returned.

The heirs joined together in a single destiny,

Destroy the mad ones of ruin and despair,

At this point one shall be the main heir,

The Chosen One, our saviour come to be.

Blood will flow,

Deaths a more frequent blow,

Vampires and Humans victims of the Chosen One's destiny." Terra took a deep breath.

"Is that it?" Ramanga asked disappointed and Terra shook her head.

"Give me a minute," she murmured and then after two minutes she calmed and continued.

"The beginning, middle and end are endless death,

Starting with the love of a the heir's father spoken with a last breath,"

Ingrid gasped at this point realising it was taking about Vlad's father, her father and his admittance that he loved them. That was the beginning for them.

"The false one's heir, a murderer and nothing less,

The false one himself returned he shall be,

Bring to an heir power that is endless,

Leader aside the Chosen One that is her destiny."

Terra took a deep breath and shuddered knowing she was the 'Leader aside the Chosen One' and continued.

"Before the beginning, the false one's heir proclaims,

Treasonous accusations at one of the five families it is aimed,"

Darius blinked knowing that was his family.

"But treason committed they had not,

Acts of kindness for breathers they were doing and it was forgot.

A single heir survived, meeting two of the others,

Promising to never to leave one another.

His destiny intermingled with the Chosen One's friend,

A boy, a breather, whom he is most alike,

The boy, bitten and changed in the end,

But still loved by his friend he remained,

This love shall finish the work of the heir,

In his family's castle the Chosen One finishes it there."

Darius smiled at Vlad and Vlad smiled back faintly.

"Now we come to the other two heirs,

That of Lecushka and Barack,

Barack will be broken, their leader with only one heir,

Leader's sister mother to she, we spoke as more than fair.

Lecushka will be victim to the blood flow,

Ending with girl who will allow to blood on to go."

"Huh?" Valencia frowned. "I think it means me."

"Me too," Vlad agreed.

"It means we are going to have kids I think," Yassik murmured to her and she shuddered not knowing what to make of that.

"The girl, breather she should be,

Not so, limits of mortality she is free,

Salem she is, but has blood of another,

It makes her unlike any other.

Now to the Chosen One we must go,

Friend he made before the main blood flow,

Lost his father to the false one's heir, a mad one,

Vengeance in his veins,

He meets the a heir,

Who leads the Chosen One to the others.

Two years of patience,

An insider helps the Chosen One map out his destiny,

Fake love with false one heir's child decided to be,

The child, the other leader and heir,

And fail to get revenge at marriage there.

Love believed to be,

But war would not allow it to be free.

Ending... full moon's promise,

It is true,

The Chosen One was being honest,

False one's heir or Chosen One die, and their ashes flew.

Victory by false one's heir means to an end,

For all vampires will see,

That it is they have no destiny."

Almost everyone gasped; realising if they did not win then everyone would die.

"But do not worry Chosen One,

Do not worry honourables,

Hope there will be.

All together the five heirs must work,

The other vampires will help too,

As for the slayer, it is up to you."

Terra smiled at Jonno telling him he was going to survive this.

"Determined Dragos but Vaccaria it is true,

Key to drawing them, they both flew.

Chosen One, heirs, vampires and slayers stand alone,

In order to get the false one heir's throne.

Now off with speed,

For you thirteen will see them soon,

Blood mirror an advantage you will have in the sight of the full moon,

Draw them in and have the battle.

For it is your destiny,

You destroyed the false one and took his power,

Slay the others and make victory ours!"

Terra sighed as she finished.

"It's like the person who said it knew we would be doing this right here, right now," Darius murmured fascinated.

"That was the longest prophecy I have ever heard," Ramanga said.

"The longer, the more important the individual I guess," Korith said winking at Vlad.

Vlad rolled his eyes. "It only mentions that me or the Grand High Vampire survives. Not you lot," he shook his head. "I don't want any of you to die."

Robin snorted. "You heard the prophecy Vlad, if we lose we all die, if we win then maybe none of us die, or some of us die. What does it matter? As long as our kind survive?!"

"He's right," Mori agreed. "Vlad, death is natural even for us vampires."

Vlad shook his head. "I still don't like it, it's like you're all saying you are willing to die for me!"

Korith then rolled his eyes. "Die for you?" he raised his dark brown eyebrows and glanced at him with his dark eyes. "More like die for everyone."

"Korith's right," Yassik agreed. "We are doing this for the greater good."

Valencia then interrupted her boyfriend. "We agreed to that years ago," she added. "We promised we would get rid of Salem so that our world could improve, rather than going backwards."

Ramanga looked at all of them. "You're all willing to die just so that you can 'improve' our way of life so we don't bite people?!"

"Yes," all but Adze and Bertrand chimed. Ramanga was surprised his own son agreed to this and sighed.

Vlad abruptly frowned. "Can you feel that?"

"Feel what?" Robin asked.

Terra looked at Vlad. "I think I know what you mean."

"What the bats are you talking about?" Ramanga demanded.

"The Grand High Vampire is nearby," both Vlad and Valencia said at the same time and with the same look of fear in their eyes.

"My father is only five miles away," Terra added flinching.

"We need to hurry," Vlad stood up.

"What do you mean?" Korith asked now confused but Vlad ignored him flitting off.

Terra then sped next to Jonno. "Jonno, if you don't want to get involved I understand and Vlad will too."

Jonno turned and looked at Terra. "I'm staying," he told her. "If we are going to beat those two you'll need how to trick them."

Terra frowned. "Jonno, you're human," she frowned. "So you won't be able to get involved in the main battle."

"Huh?" Jonno frowned back at her.

"Vlad's going to draw them into the Blood Mirror where he can control who can shapeshift, the mirror doesn't let breathers in it, never mind slayers," Terra informed him. "You can help us get them in there but that is about it."

Jonno nodded. "I would rather keep out of the Blood Mirror anyway from what people have told me about what it is like inside."

Everyone laughed.


Vlad stood looking at the mirror, he had just told it the instructions that it would shop Elizabeta shifting once she was inside and limit the Grand High Vampire's powers where possible.

He had moved it to his father's office as a way of getting at Salem, but also so it was in sight of the full moon. He had opened the windows so the faint light of the rising was let it, there was no clouds tonight, whether that was intentional or not Vlad didn't know. All Vlad knew was this...

He would stay with the mirror until Elizabeta and Salem came to him and would finally avenge his father in the Blood Mirror that was his.

Each person had taken their position.

Renfield had taken cover and set up the suncatcher just in case, he was now at what was the Branagh's place safely hidden where no one would find him unless they knew he was there. He also held a message from Vlad to the council members in case Vlad didn't succeed. He had the prophecy and Vlad had told him to tell the council they had to stop Salem at all costs to save themselves.

Adze, Darius and Robin were in the tower so they could force Elizabeta and the GHV downwards to the Count's old office.

Ramanga, Bertrand and Mori were loitering near the office ready to protect Vlad at a seconds notice in case Vlad's plan was uncovered.

Jonno, Korith, Yassik and Valencia were all in a room adjacent to the office to help charge the enemy into the mirror and catch them of guard.

Then there was Ingrid and Terra, whom were in the throne room holding Erin and Malik captive.

Terra was holding Erin, her hands on her shoulders pinning her down in one place, happy the now she had chance to get her own back on her for trying to trick Vlad.

Ingrid had a hold on Malik. Ingrid had been up and down since Will's death, but since she had heard the prophecy it had given her something to focus on, and made her realise she had to get on with her unlife if she survived. For Vlad's sake and for her own; she was one of the last Dracula's left and she needed to act as such.

Terra knew her father was nearby, she could sense it just like Vlad and Valencia. But he had about a mile out stopped approaching. Terra felt tingly from sensing her father, but it wasn't as strong as she knew it would be once he got here.

Worse though was the fact she felt like a darkness was coming, something similar to herself, except the thing that was coming was limited in shifting abilities.

It was Elizabeta. Terra knew it from the grin on Malik's face slowly showing because he could sense his mother getting closer and closer.

"Elizabeta's almost here," Terra told Ingrid firmly. "I think she's come first to free these two," she nodded at Erin nod then at Malik. "And then inflict as much damage as she can before my father arrives and deals with Vlad."

"You think Elizabeta won't take on Vlad?" Ingrid asked surprised she wouldn't.

Terra shrugged. "She may try, but you heard Mori. Elizabeta cannot take the form of anything non living, she can do breathers, vampires and animals but not zombies or things like bushes."

"She may try to fool us into thinking she is someone she isn't," Ingrid pointed out.

"I know," Terra sighed. "But most of us are shifters Ingrid. Vlad, me, Korith, Yassik, Valencia and Darius all are shifters too who can pretend to be anyone and then you, Bertrand, Mori and Robin all have limited shifting powers from what you have learnt from us."

"What about Ramanga, Jonno and Adze? They don't have that advantage," Ingrid added.

"Jonno will be fine," Terra rolled her eyes. "He will get out before the others can get to him; he knows the castle almost as well as Robin and Vlad do. Ramanga can trick you by splitting into several versions of himself, only Mori has that ability as well. As for Adze, I can see she can take care of herself. Darius has been helping her a lot to learn the full extent of her powers."

Ingrid nodded reassured. "You all have been doing a lot while I haven't been looking."

Terra smiled at her. "Besides Ingrid; you know this is an either 'we win or we die' situation. So we have nothing to lose."

Ingrid turned her head away from Terra, and she sighed. Terra knew that Ingrid had already lost almost everything... all that mattered to her now was protecting the Dracula throne and keeping her brother from turning to ash.

Terra then winced feeling the presence of a shifter only outside the door. "She's here," she murmured. "Be careful Ingrid, she can get into your head and affect your mind. It's a forbidden art now. If you feel her trying to get in, flit out of here and leave her to me."

Ingrid looked at Terra again as she heard the door to the room open. "I'll never leave you behind."

Terra didn't have time to argue, because she could see Elizabeta floating – literally – on thin air into the room, dressed in a golden orange plastic looking dress, her orange hair pinned up with bits hanging down that Terra just wanted to cut off because they were so annoying.

"Mother," Malik smiled still unable to escape Ingrid's grip.

Elizabeta stopped and landed neatly on her high heeled shoes. "Let my son go," she told the two darkly. "The Grand High Vampire will punish you for this if you do not."

Terra snorted looking over Erin's shoulder at the older vampiress. "You have to be kidding," she almost laughed. "My father? Punish me?!"

Elizabeta let her eyes slide to the Salem heir. "Terra Salem, I assume. Seeing Serlai has no other children."

"Hello," Terra smiled her mischievous smile. "I would shake hands but my hands are kind of full at the moment. Oh and I'm Terra Nike Barack-Salem, for your information. I use both my mother and father's names."

Elizabeta scowled at the girl. "Don't talk to me in that manner little girl. I could dust you in a moment."

Terra tutted. "PLEASE!" She complained. "As if!" Terra told her confidently, even though inside she was terrified. "I'm a shapeshifter too, and I know a thing or two about dark magic as well. I think I am more than a match for you."

Elizabeta ignored her and turned to Ingrid. "Ingrid Dracula, you don't need to do this. I only want your brother dead. Not you, I could teach you how to shapeshift; imagine what an advantage it would give you! You could have men falling at your feet!"

Ingrid briefly looked tempted and then remembered something. "Thanks," Ingrid said sourly. "But I have already started learning from my 'sister' here."

Ingrid smiled at Terra telling her that she viewed her as a sister and would never abandon a fellow vampiress in distress.

"Very well," Elizabeta snarled at the pair. "We will see who is the better shapeshifter."

"Vampiress, more like," Terra murmured, and abruptly the Elizabeta's jaw opened making the four cover their ears. The pain was all in their heads, and Terra was the only one to know it. She resisted it, and managed to get up from her couched position on the floor that the others had taken.

Terra cringed as she looked at Elizabeta. "You cannot stop us," she told her and flung a spray of fire at her which blocked the path between her and Elizabeta merely distracting her.

Terra flitted over to Ingrid who wasn't writhing in agony as much – neither were Erin and Malik – and pulled her up.

"What was that?" Ingrid spluttered.

"She got into our head and made us think we were in pain using a certain frequency of noise," Terra told her eyeing Elizabeta murderously. "It's the forbidden power I mentioned. Daralum stopped teaching it once he found out that it could be used for dusting Vampires."

Ingrid winced putting her arm over Terra's shoulder.

Malik began to stand the affects of the power fading and stood next to his mother. Erin was still curled on the floor whimpering.

"She's going to die," Terra murmured to Ingrid. "Half fangs cannot last as long against vampire powers as vampires who are born."

Elizabeta grinned abruptly and looked at her son. "May I?"

Malik shrugged uncarely. "She was starting to get on my nerves anyway."

Erin looked up to Malik and Elizabeta with fear in her eyes. "Malik..."

Elizabeta flung red lightning at her as she was left nothing but a pile of ash. She then turned to Ingrid and Terra. "You're next."

Terra glared at her and bared her fangs. "I think not," she snarled and then felt a tingly stabbing across her body and looked at Ingrid. "We need to go."

Ingrid nodded and the pair flitted out knowing the Grand High Vampire would be arriving at any moment.


So much for chapter 45 being my longest, this has become my longest!

I know evil cliffhanger, but you'll find out the rest soon enough.

I decided to kill Erin because she is so insignificant in this. I only brought her in because I thought she'd be good to us to fill in the gaps so to speak.

Thank you for reading and please review!

C

xx