Choices


Right then, here we go. It's the final showdown. Let's see what happens shall we?

WARNING: This chapter is the major character death one, and may get a bit emotional because I have included a surprise something I haven't told anyone about which I think you all might be happy.

I don't own YD.


Chapter 52: Third


The inside of the blood mirror was a forest, lit up by the moonlight shining in through the glass of the mirror from the office.

Elizabeta stood up looking around the forest. None of them knew this place other than three of them.

Robin knew about this place because of Vlad telling him about it...

Vlad knew this place because he had dreamt about it.

Salem knew about it because he had seen Vlad dreaming about here, it was how he had found out Vlad was the Chosen One.

"This is the forest that I went to in the dreamworld," Vlad said looking at Salem. "The place that led to me finding out I am the Chosen One."

Salem looked at Vlad. "Are we going to fight like last time Dracula?"

"No," Vlad said honestly. "There is no sunlight here."

"Then why have you brought us here," Elizabeta flitted to stand next to the Grand High Vampire.

"Because," Ingrid said. "This is the Dracula blood mirror. Which means it can only be controlled by the Count Dracula... or in this case the most powerful Dracula."

Elizabeta and Salem looked at Vlad realising he was the one who could control the mirror.

"It mean that you," he looked at Elizabeta. "Cannot shapeshift."

Elizabeta hissed baring her fangs.


Like before hell broke loose again, the twelve vampires split into two groups, six against Elizabeta and six against Salem.

Vlad, Terra, Ramanga, Darius, Robin and Mori were all trying to hit the Grand High Vampire with fireballs or lightning. Vlad, Darius and Terra tried to confuse him by taking the forms of different people and Ramanga tried to do the same by splitting himself into several versions of himself. Mori stuck to trying to use the weaknesses he had learnt to kill Salem.

The others fought Elizabeta, and were doing a better job of it. Elizabeta was weak without her shifting abilities and couldn't dodge all the fireballs. She got slower and slower until Ingrid flitted in from of her grabbing her by the neck.

"No wonder Dad didn't marry you," Ingrid sneered. "You're so pathetic!"

Elizabeta hissed. "You're father should have married me! I loved him, I even killed his brother so he would have the throne and we would be married. But no! He abandoned me!"

"For good reason then if you killed Arta," Bertrand added lightly.

Ingrid dropped Elizabeta and looked to her brother who swung his arm, the GHV ducked the green light and it hit Elizabeta making her turn into a crystal like her son.

Ingrid furiously scooped the crystal up and faced the nearby river and with a swing overhead flung it into the water making Elizabeta turn into nothing in the flow of the water.

The Grand High Vampire didn't react to Elizabeta's death but merely flitted out of the way when Ingrid tried to make a grab at him making her collide with Adze who had had the same idea.

He appeared right by the real Ramanga and extended his hand blue lightning flashing out of it and hitting the clan leader making the doppelgangers fade and Ramanga fall away into dust.

"FATHER!" Mori yelled.

"I warned you Mori," Salem told his former servant. "You're father is dead because of you."

Mori shook his head in refusal. "No, he's dead because you aren't willing to let anyone have power."

Vlad frowned knowing he couldn't let Mori get hurt, he was so full of anguish that he would probably get himself killed.

He closed his eyes and let out a breath forcing all but himself, Terra and the Grand High Vampire out of the mirror back into reality – even Ramanga's dust left.

"This is between me and you Salem," Vlad told the Grand High Vampire.

"Then why is she here?" he asked looking at his daughter.

Terra flitted next to Vlad and took his hand. "Because father, it's only right I get to be here when you die... and someone has to cover Vlad's back."

Vlad rolled his eyes.

"Very well," the GHV murmured. "I gave you both a chance and now you will pay for your disobedience with your lives!"


Korith banged on the mirror. "LET US IN!" He yelled.

"He won't listen," Ingrid said resigned sitting down on the table.

Mori and Adze both scowled at that.

"They cannot take Salem down on their own!" Valencia said near hysterical.

"Vlad always has a plan," Robin said. "He'll be fine." Robin then flitted out to check on Jonno.

Bertrand crouched down picking up the crystal that held Malik. "Vlad has been trained well, by both me and Daralum. Terra is strong too. If any vampires can stand up to the Grand High Vampire it's those two."

"They are our friends!" Darius complained. "We HAVE to help them."

"It's because you are their friend you have been thrown out of the mirror," Bertrand got up. "They care about you so much that they don't want to risk any more deaths."

Korith turned away from the mirror and slumped to the floor. "So it's just down to them now..."


Vlad gripped Terra's hand tightly.

I love you, he thought telepathically to her. Sorry, I was an idiot and fell for Erin.

Terra rolled her eyes responding briefly. Forget about it. I'm glad I met you Vladimir Dracula; you're the kindest and my favourite vampire in the world.

Vlad smiled to himself - she may not have said she loved him but what she had said was the next best thing - making Salem frown at the two.

"Here goes," Vlad muttered letting Terra's hand go.

Terra flitted around to the other side flinging a blue fireball – Vlad was surprised it was blue, usually hers were orange – at her father.

Salem managed to make it stop and let it fall to the floor, at the same moment Vlad tried to zone him but he managed to step back out of its way.

Terra then shifted so the zoning wouldn't hit her either.

The GHV extended his arms and tried to hit the teens with blue lightning, Terra shifted out of the way again but Vlad held out him palm absorbing it easily.

Vlad while holding the lightning flung a fireball but like before it stopped just before it hit the Grnad High Vampire.

That was what Vlad wanted. Terra took the opportunity to flit behind her father and grab him from behind pinning his arms behind him.

"Ah!" he yelled in pain.

Terra scowled and saw Vlad flit right in front of the Grand High Vampire.

"This is the end for you," Vlad told him.

Salem grinned. "I think not," he twisted his hand grabbing his daughter's wrist span her around and got her in front of him on her knees.

The Grand High Vampire bared his fangs and ran a hand down his daughter's throat. "Give in Vladimir Dracula. I know how much you love my daughter; you want nothing other than her – to sink your fangs into her. I'll kill her, and you'll have nothing."

Vlad didn't respond and his eyes turned devil red.

"Vlad don't do it!" Terra said and her father covered her mouth her with his free hand. Terra then bit down on his hand fangs and all.

"AH!" He yelled again and jumped back letting Terra go. His eyes burned red too and was about to fling lightning at them again when.

"Hello Serlai," they all turned to be facing Count Dracula who was walking leisurely to the Grand High Vampire and stopped only a metre from him.

Count Dracula was dressed in the same cape and traditional vampire attire as he had the night he was dusted. He was looking at the Grand High Vampire rage in his eyes.

"Dad," Vlad gasped feeling a stabbing in his heart again. Terra pulled herself up and gawped un able to speak.

"Count Dracula," Salem snarled. "I dusted you!"

"I know," he rolled his eyes. "But as normal you underestimate the Dracula's." He looked at his son who was still red eyes with fury. "Vladdy, dust him."

Vlad nodded at his father and turned his eyes to the Grand High Vampire.

Salem didn't notice what Vlad was doing at first until the last minute, fire burned at his feet and spread across his body.

"AHHHH NOOOO!" He screeched burning up and slowly left nothing but ashes behind.

Vlad's eyes returned to their normal colour. "It's done," he breathed relieved. "Finally."

Terra looked at the Count and Vlad seeing them both looking at each other almost longingly.

"I'll go and tell the others that my father's gone," she murmured and walked off and exited through the mirror.


Vlad looked at his father with disbelief. "Dad... you're dead."

"Yes," he shrugged. "But you really think that it will stop me from helping you?"

"You've been talking to me," Vlad realised. "The voice in my head, that was you."

The Count nodded.

"How?" Vlad demanded. "How can you be here? I saw you turn to dust!" Vlad was close to hysterical, he'd been through so much... his father dying, his mother dying, learning he had another half brother, falling in love with Terra, feeling confused about Erin, being unsure who to trust, tricking people so much that he almost fooled himself, seeing his sister's boyfriend die, seeing Ramanga die, seeing the rise of Sethius and bringing him down, losing Terra and then killing the Grand High Vampire. It made him question if he was evil or not... how could he have possibly lived through all that?!

The Count looked at his son sympathetically. "The mirror always remembers every vampire it gave a reflection to. Part of them exists in the mirror, a reflection of themselves in a way." Vlad's father chuckled at the joke.

Vlad still looked pale from what he had been through but spoke anyway. "So, you're here. You always will be here."

He shrugged. "In a sense." The Count then appeared to take a deep breath. "My death wasn't how I imagined it. But it was destined; I was going to die sooner or later."

"You died because of me, because of my stupid destiny and that prophecy," Vlad shook his head feeling tears in his eyes. "If I wasn't the Chosen One it wouldn't have happened."

The Count smiled faintly. "Serlai wanted me dead no matter what. He would have killed you had you not been the Chosen One Vladdy. He feared you; it was that fear that kept you and Ingrid alive."

"It has resulted in death, there has been no life... no peace," Vlad shook his head. "IS this what my entire unlife will be like?"

"No," his father told him fiercely. "Vladimir, listen to me. This was all necessary; I know you have been hurt and tainted. You feel like you are evil, but you are a vampire. Evil is necessary at times..."

"Vlad, I am proud of you and Ingrid." The Count told him. "I always will be. You both accomplished what most vampires saw as impossible."

Vlad then thought of something. "You know I love Terra don't you?"

The Count nodded earnestly. "Don't give up on her Vlad, she's very... uncertain. She saw what love did to Francine, and she doesn't want to end up the same way."

Vlad nodded. "I guess this is goodbye."

The Count gave Vlad a wicked grin. "Vladdy, Vladdy, why would you think that? Of course you'll see me again, you and Ingrid both."

Vlad blinked. "I wish I could stay forever..."

The Count smiled at his favourite child. "I'll always be with you Vladdy, no matter what."

Vlad nodded reassured and remembered something. "Dad... you heard Elizabeta say..."

"That she killed Arta," he nodded. "I am not surprised. I thought I did it... the weight of it has been on my shoulders for centuries and now finally I have relief."

Vlad smiled. "Good... and Dad?"

"Yes,"

"I love you," Vlad told him. "I'm sorry I didn't get to tell you that before you died."

The Count shook his head. "Everyone feels that way when a person they loved has died. Nevertheless I love you too Vlad, and Ingrid as well. Please tell her that."

Vlad nodded and began to walk to the mirror.

"Vlad," his father called.

"Yeah, Vlad turned around just before he exited.

"Don't be harsh on Malik; he is the way he is because of both me and his mother, just like Ingrid is. Bare that in mind..." he told him.

Vlad nodded knowing he meant 'don't kill Malik' and stepped through the mirror portal back to the real world.


Tah da! I brought the Count back! Which was nice and like he said he'll be back again one more time.

I hope you're all happy with the way I got rid of Elizabeta and the GHV. I wasn't sure how to get rid of them...

Thank you for reading and remember to review!

C

xx