Carpathian Feast.
Valerie was a woman on a mission, the reason for her mission you ask? The entire year 8 science class had gone missing and nobody could find them anywhere.
That only meant one thing.
With her vamp seed she sped into the crypt, where she knew her dad was.
As expected her dear old dad was perched on his throne, She came to stand in-front of him.
"Dad, Year 8 science class has gone missing."
However the count didn't pay her any strips to busy looking at something over her shoulder.
"I said, black bishop takes white pawn. That's you, boy!"
"What are you…." Curious Val turned around to see…
She couldn't believe it.
The Year 8 science class was placed on a life size chessboard.
"Excellent. Be off with you, pawn."
A small year 8 moved of the board.
"What are you doing?" Val turned to her father accusingly
The count looked at her as if she had two heads.
"I'm teaching Wolfie how to play chess, obviously."
"But you can't use Year 8!"
"Can't!" The count scoffed "A word for breathers. Why have a school of human spawn if you can't have a little sport? They're all thoroughly hypnotised. They won't remember a thing."
"That doesn't make it any better." Val tried to reason with her father, knowing it was no use.
The count addressed the small child that was sat next to Zoltan.
Valarie had instructed Zoltan to look out for her younger brother and keep him company as he used to with her.
"You see, Wolfie, chess is the ultimate game of tactics and strategy. Every move should be an educated and intellectual decision."
Naturally this went over the 4 year olds head, he only saw pieces.
"Can you move the horsey next?"
Val gave her brother an affectionate smile.
She then turned to the human chess pieces.
with a snap of her fingers Ashe addressed the students.
"Right, go back to class."
"Stay." The count ordered.
Click
"Go"
Click
"Stay."
Click
"Go"
Click
"Stay."
Click
"Go"
Click
"Stay."
Click
"Stay"
Click
"Go!"
Valarie smiles in satisfaction, her word play had worked.
"You heard the man."
The students left, Val smiled in satisfaction and turned to her father.
"D-Do you see me laughing?" The count growled out fangs bared.
Val lost her amused grin.
Best not rile up her father any further.
...
...
She may not like him right now but if anyone was going to help her pass her history test it was Bertrand.
However That meant she was spending her spare time in Bertrand's coffin room, going over her notes with her tutor questioning her.
"So the Battle of Trafalgar was on..."
Val tried to remember what she had read.
her tutor didn't even look up at her.
"October...23rd?"
"21st."
Bats, well she was only two day off.
"All right. 21st October, 1805 got it." She wrote it down in her note book.
"And what was the Battle of trafalgar?"
"It was…. Um a navel engagement between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French and Spanish navies during the war of the third coalition."
Bertrand nodded.
"Correct."
"Who were the leaders?"
"Pierre Villeneuve and Federico Gravina for French and Spain and Horatio Nelson and Cuthbert Collingwood for British."
"Yes."
"Just before he died nelson said what?"
"Kismet"
"No, he actually said kiss me Hardy." Bertrand corrected for the first time looking up at Valarie.
"Kiss me? Are with sure?"
The history books say kismet.
"Yes."
There was something that val was curious, turning to face her tutor who was went back to reading his thick novel.
"Did you ever meet Napoleon?"
"No, but I was whiteness to the battle of Waterloo."
"Really?"
"It was an Easy picking, blood everywhere, embarrassed to admit I made quite a pig of myself."
See now that was interesting.
Before she could continue any further a familiar tune assaulted her ears, a very familiar tune, one she hadn't she hadn't heard in years, not since they had left Transylvania.
If she had heard it, that meant dad had.
Val turned to Bertrand who too was listening to the enchanting melody.
Both sped out the room and followed the sound of the music.
Valarie and Bertrand appeared in the hall as her father was on the ceiling staring greedily at the breather.
She would expect no less from him.
With a click of her fingers the cleaner freezes.
She can feel the presence of the others joining her.
The count looks down at his daughter.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Raising an unamused eyebrow Valerie retort's with her own question.
"I was just about to ask YOU the same question."
"But that song, it's Transylvanian. She must be from the old country. It's years since I've had a home-cooked meal."
What he could do for a taste of the familiar delicacy.
Val didn't care if the breather had been slavered in oils and posted to the count gift wrapped.
"No! You can't."
This did not bode well for the count, he liked to think of himself as a cunning and sneaky man, but he would not be ordered around by his daughter, chosen one or not.
The count from floated down until he was right behind the unfortunate breather.
"I'm your father, Pick a fight with me, girl and you WILL lose."
Val stepped forward, she was not going to let this happen.
"I said no."
The next few moments were a blur, but before the count could dig his fangs in the breathers neck he found himself tumbling towards the far end of the corridor before falling down, curtsy of Valarie.
Only a moment later did val rush to her father, but it was too late, the deed had already been done.
"I'm so sorry, must have caught you..."
She tried to help her dad get up yet the count would only swat her away.
She turned to look at the others yet no one said anything.
She could only watch in growing dread as the count hobbled away.
...
...
That school day Val could barely focus, so much so she had almost used Garlic for her dish in home EC instead of her substitute, thankfully Erin had shaken her before she started smoking.
Somehow val doubted she would be able to talk her way out to that.
As of right now she was walking through the hall way.
"Come on, you stupid locker!"
It wasHholly.
She was a girl in her history class.
Walking over to the girl she offers her assistance with the locker.
"Allow me."
She went to open the locket Well at-least she tried.
She kept pulling and tugging on the locker and still nothing.
The other girls were giggling at her misfortune.
A hand appeared over her shoulder, and swiftly opened the locker.
The girls giggling stoped but was replaced by something else entirely.
Attraction.
Bertrand rested his hand over Vals shoulders and led her away from further embarrassment.
He had yet to take his hand of her shoulder as both walked through the hallway.
"Last night I dumped the mightiest vampire on the planet on his pants, and today I can't open a stuck locker."
Bertrand only spoke with finality.
"You were angry and focused, it concentrated your powers." He leaned down to her, making sure non of the breathers heard him. "You learn to control that and you'll be ready to open the Praedictum Impaver."
"I need it do some more training."
Bertrand wasn't going to turn down more training.
"Have you seen the Count today?"
Val shook her head, negative.
"He's avoiding me."
"He's seen the future. He has to feel relevant. It's vital that he's reassured, otherwise he's got nothing to lose He'll go on a killing spree, bring the slayers down on us. Until you open the book, he won't be ready to lead us at Kingston. We need more time."
Both were so caught up in their conversation they didn't notice how close they had gotten, but somebody had.
"Valarie."
Miss McCauley was walking towards them.
"Need I remind you of the school rules?"
Bertrand let Val go, but not before intently staring at Alex McCauley, who was this breather to tell him what he could do.
Miss McCauley to her credit didn't look away.
Bertrand gave one last pointed look at Val before walking back down the corridor.
Before Valarie could make her escape Miss McCauley took her by the arm and walked down the hall with her.
"I remember when I was your age, seems such a long time ago now. I used to think boys were everything and especially the one I knew my parents would not approve of."
"Miss?"
Valarie could not understand what this had to to with her.
Wait!
Did she she she and Bertrand were….
"Miss you've got it-"
But Alex cut her off.
"I understand the appeal, Bertrand is an older and attractive man, but just remember you have a life time of potential relationships in your future, but you only have one shot at an education."
Miss McCauley gave her one last squeeze before leaving her in the hallway, wondering exactly what had just happened.
...
...
It was lunch time and nobody said a word as they sat at the table where renfield was laying out the dishes.
Everyone just took their seats quietly, waiting for someone to speak.
Val decided she might as well make the first move, she looked at her little brother who was sat between dad and Bertrand.
"So... Wolfie, did you enjoy your chess lesson? Did Dad show you his famous Transylvanian opening gambit?"
The little boy only shrugged.
"It was boring."
"Unlike me, he doesn't appreciate the Count's wisdom."
Valarie rolled her eyes.
Of course renfield was trying to kiss dads coffin.
Her dad thought the same thing it appeared.
"Shut up, Renfield."
"Lunch is served..."
"What gastronomic delights are you tempting us with?" Val kept trying to make conversation but nobody was taking the bait.
"The Master's favourite."
"And by Master you mean...?"
Bats Ingrid why do you have to stir the pot.
Wolfie didn't need any time and stuck his head in the bowl and started egerly slurping at the food.
"Ocelot Wellington in a sticky badger sauce."
Erin tried to add her own two sense.
"Oooh delicious."
"Absolutely revolting!" The count spoke.
For a moment val was confused, dad loved ocelot wellington but then she noticed he was starring at wolfie.
"It's disgusting, Master! That pup needs teaching some manners."
"Good idea, Renfield, See to it."
Who's else did you think it would be renfield? Valarie snarked.
Everyone began to eat when the count let out a complain.
"Where's the ocelot's nose? I always get the ocelot's nose! Right, that's it."
The count was getting angrier and angrier.
"Apologies, I thought now Mistress Val..."
Valarie was quick to try to sooth her father.
"It's a mistake. Dad, this is yours."
She held up her plate to the count, it only made him more irritated.
"Keep it. I've decided to satiate my appetite, with a little Transylvanian cleaner I know, Don't try and stop me, I'm ready for you this time."
Bertrand was right, her dad was starting to unravel.
"And what if that brings the slayers down on us?"
"You're a big girl now, I'm sure you can handle it." The count brushed her off.
"Now you're just being silly."
That was the wrong thing to say.
"Silly….." the count scoffed. "I've been the scourge of nations, star of 10,000 nightmares and now I'm just silly.Count Silly of... Croydon!"
The count slumped on his throne.
Val kept trying to placate her father.
"Dad, I'm sorry if I've offended you. Really, I am."
"Prove it."
"How?"
"I want you to throw a Carpathian feast tonight in my honour." Bertrand's face showcased his shock, Valarie had to plan a carpathian dinner in one night!"Yes. A dinner for me and my pals, It'll prove that you still value and revere me."
Valarie thought about it, but in the end nodded her head.
If it would placate her father then fine.
"Yeah, I can do that, Renfield, make the usual discreet travel arrangements for the guests."
Ingrid could not help but scoff.
"That's it? That's the wrath of the mighty Count Dracula? She throws a party and it's all happy families?"
The count glares at her.
"You aren't invited and the only reason Valarie is coming is because she's the chosen one."
Ingrid enraged slammed her knife into the table.
...
...
Food, Check
Guest invites, Check
Finest Blood, Check
Cutlery, Check
Decorations, Check
"Hosting a party for Dad's old cronies is a torture of its own kind but if that's all it takes..."
Val was walking with Bertrand back to her coffin room.
"Learn not to take things at face value." Bertrand cautioned Val.
Mildly annoyed Val leaned against her door frame.
"What? What have I missed?"
"There hasn't been a Carpathian feast for hundreds of years."
Val moved her hand as if to say "and."
"There's something that happens..."
"I'll jump out of a cake if I have to."
Used to his students sarcasm by now Bertrand carried on.
"A vampire of the Count's choosing is roasted to death in his honour."
What.
Val straightend up.
What sort of people would ever-
Well vampires of course.
Ingrid's amused voice came form the opposite end of the hall.
"I hope your happy."
Worry crossed Val's face.
Her dad was going to roast Ingrid.
"Ingrid, I'm so sorry. Look, I won't let him do this to you."
Ingrid laughs.
"It's not me, it's Erin."
Annoyance at herself and her father filled her, of course it would be. How could she of been so stupid.
She had to see Erin.
This was her fault, Erin should stuffer for something she did.
Not giving much thought to the other occupants Val quickly Began her journey to the crypt, where no doubt that was where Erin was being held.
Bertrand the ever loyal servant was begging her to reconsider.
"Leave me alone. I'm not going to let him do this.
"Then you'll fail his test."
"She's my friend!"
Bertrand placed a firm hand on Val's arm.
"If you do anything to stop him burning Erin, he's going to know that you've put your wishes above his. Val, you know where that will lead."
Bertrand had a point, but she wasn't going to let Erin die, plane and simple.
"I'm going to see Erin."
...
...
Val eyes instantly went to Erin who was trapped quite literally in a cage.
"Are you OK?"
The look Erin gave her spoke volumes.
"Do I look like it?! Can you get me out?"
Bertrand appeared beside val.
Erin couldn't help but noticed that wherever Val went nowadays Bertrand was always a few paces behind.
Erin also notice the appearance of Ingrid who seemed to find this whole thing amusing.
"It's complicated."
"Not from where I am. You open the cage, I run away, end of."
"I just can't right now."
"Some friend you are, I've been begging dad to choose someone else, but he's determined." Ingrid boasted in mock empathy.
Valarie looked back at her sister before giving Erin a reassuring smile.
"I will find a way to get you out of this. I promise."
She would save Erin.
...
...
Well she had been reading through every book she could find on the carpathian feast, and still she could find any loop hole that would help Erin.
Her time was running out, she could hear the laughters of their guests.
Tik
Tok
Tik
Tok
Tik
Tok
She grasped the watch that was swinging in front of her in her palm.
Not helping Ingrid.
"Seen the time? Shouldn't you be doing the meet and greet at Dad's feast?" Ingrid pestered.
"In a minute, There must be a way to save Erin in one of these."
She was currently reading a paragraph on victim substation.
"I'll look if you want."
Valarie turned to her sister, that wasn't very Ingrid.
"Why would you do that?"
Ingrid delighted in people's suffering.
"She did rescue me when I was ill."
Fair point.
"Alright thanks."
That left her just enough time to get changed.
She left the book with Ingrid.
...
...
Valarie couldn't help but fidget with her dress, the spandex felt itchy on her skin, the halter made her feel like she was being choked, the open back felt uncomfortable, the mermaid and floor length fit made her feel like she was going to fall over at any moment.
The black stilettos pinched her feet, the heavy bracelets on her wrists felt like cuffs, the long earrings pulled on her ears making them hurt, the tight bun her hair was in felt awful, like her hair was being pulled from her head.
She felt horrible.
She poured the blood of the guests quietly only speaking when spoken to.
It was Bertrand who was dressed to the tops with a officers jacket of royal blue brocade to pull her away.
"Will you cheer up?" Bertrand spoke quietly to Val "You can't let the Count see you fretting over Erin. He has to believe that you're fine with it."
"But time's running out to save her."
"Then maybe you have to face the fact that..." Val would not even let him Finnish that sentence.
"I'm not…."
Val was cut of by the arrival of the count.
"Everything all right, Valarie? No second thoughts about my little celebration?" The count challenged.
Val put a joyful smile of her face and responded to her father with good cheer.
"Not at all, Just going to get a case of Chateau Peasant."
The count hummed.
"42?"
Valarie confirmed.
"That's the one."
The count slanted away to mingle and not long after Bal was approached by her sister.
"I know how you can save Erin."
...
...
"I have to drink your blood?" Erin could only stare at the vampire informer of her with shock.
"Ingrid found a paragraph that the blood of the chosen one would protect the sacrifice from the flames."
Erin looked horrified, Desperate to offer some form of contact, Val reached in and grabbed Erins hand.
The moment her hand came into contact with the over girls she felt a funny feeling.
She detected warmth.
Valarie dropped Erins had as if it had burned her, the blond girl didn't say a word she knew exactly what Valarie had felt.
She hadn't had time to apply and status spray before she was hauled out of her rooms and into this cage.
Slowly Valarie brought her hand up to rest of the forehead of Erin.
It too was hot.
Her suspicions were correct.
"Your head and wrists are warm, they can't be unless your a breather."
Valarie held eye contact.
Erin knowing the jig was up Began pleading with Valarie.
"I should've told you. I'm so sorry."
"How did I not know?" Val looked to Erin eyes full of accusation. "Why?"
"My brother's been bitten and I need to find a cure for him. If I could find a cure anywhere, it would be with the Draculas."
"You could've been honest with me!" Valarie wouldn't of cared that she was a breather.
"I told you I want humans and vampires to live together. I trusted you and you lied to me."
Val stepped back from the cage, eyes filled with accusations and distrust.
"But I didn't know you like I do now. Anyway, you were trusting me with a secret, I would have been trusting you with my life."
Hurt by her casual dismissal val turned around and walked away.
Serves her right for thinking she could maybe have a friend.
"You can't just leave me to burn... Val, help me. Please!" Erin begged.
Val just walked away.
...
...
She may of been betrayed by someone she called friend but she was still Valarie Dracula.
Valarie Dracula did not allow inhumane practices.
Currently she was talking to a vampire by the name of Augustus, a member of the vampire council.
And most likely the answer to her problems.
"- It has to be that way, it is vampire law." Augustus said confidently.
Val fiend interest.
"No way around it?"
The older vampire shook his head.
"None. Rules are rules."
Interesting.
Her father approached the pair and grasped her shoulders.
"Apologies, I need to speak to my daughter urgently."
Keeping with manners Valbheld out her hand.
Augustus took it in him and placed a kiss on her knuckles.
As the count led her away he leans down.
"I just saved you from a fate worse than staking, Augustus is such a bore."
"Enough to send anyone to sleep." Val joked.
She and her father laugh.
Her father turned to the assembled guests.
"Bring in the half fang!"
The room erupts in cheers.
Val used this as her chance.
"Hold on, hold on." Eyes turned to her, Despite not believing in her family's ways she was a Dracula, and Dracula's had a charm to make people listen when they spoke. "Before the climax of what has been a fantastic evening." There were cheers."I'd like to say a few words about the Count. The Count, my dad, has let me down." There were confused looks all around." When I was growing up, he didn't warn me that not every vampire I met would have his charm, his charisma, his intellect... Everything I will become, I owe to him." Despite what most people believe Val was quite charismatic she just don't show it often. "Gentlemen, I give you my role model. My inspiration. My father."
Cheers erupted as the guests rose to their feet and cheered.
Val gave her father a curtesy, the count touched his heart.
"Now, bring on the half fang!"
The count joined in.
"Bring on the half fang!"
Cheers erupted and Val walked back to her tutor who was waiting for her, boasting a proud look.
Once she was by his side he leaned down and whispers to her.
"Well done."
She once again went to join her father, though if she had been only meters closer she would of heard a very interesting conversation between Ingrid and Bertrand.
...
Val and Bertrand had been tasked with fetching Erin from her cage.
Bertrand opened the cage.
"Come on, half fang, out you come."
Erin stayed huddled in the corner.
"I'll take it from here." Val instructed her tutor.
Bertrand bowed and then left.
Leaving Val and Erin alone.
...
...
Valarie dragged Erin into the room, and was greeted with cheers from the guests.
Valarie took Erin to the edge of the burning pit before looking at her father fangs bared and a grin on her face.
"Can I have the honour of throwing her in?"
The count looked at Valarie with glee.
"Of course."
Valarie excitedly pushed Erin to stand by her fathers side and joined her.
She pushed Erin to the edge before turning to her father casually.
"You have filled in all the forms, haven't you?"
Confusion flitters across the counts face.
"Form? What forms?"
Val leans close.
"Permission to burn a fellow vampire."
"I don't need permission." The count denied.
Val leaned in close to her father
"Yes, you do, Augustus said." She turns to address the vampire, beckoning him with her hand. "What was it that you were saying about the forms?"
Augustus swiftly joins them being carful of the pit.
"The Vampire High Council directive of 1832 said that every feast must be sanctioned by them."
"You're here, sanction it."
"It's not that simple, Dad." val told her dad.
"You need to fill in form 965 and have board approval." Augustus Finished.
"Oh really! This is ridiculous!"
"He says failure to comply will result in ritual staking. I know...""Stupid burobats and their...""Let's do it anyway.""Red tape. Absolutely, get on with it."
Val got behind Erin and began swaying her.
"On my count... One..."
"One!" The guest chanted.
"Two…"
"Two"
"Three…"
"Three."
"Wait!"
All eyes turned to the count.
"Can I just have a quick..." I gesture to val."One moment."
Val and the count Turned their backs on the crowd.
"We've all had such a nice evening, no need to spoil it by upsetting the High Council."
"It's your party dad. You're the boss."
The count looked over his shoulder to the awaiting guests.
"What do I say...to them?"
"Leave it to me dad."
the count sends his youngest a look of reassurance.
Valarie gets everyone's attention.
"My apologies, gentlemen, it appears we have neglected filling the appropriate forms to burn the half fang."
There were groans of disappointment.
"The penalty is ritual staking for all attending. The Draculas are not one to ruin people's entertainment, so we are leaving it to you shall we proceed?" Val looked at the guests nonchalant.
Suddenly the anticipation turns to meekness.
Mutters of No can be heard throughout the guest.
"I wouldn't." The count adds.
Augustus hold up his glass of blood.
"If there's more of this Chateau Peasant, what does it matter, if the half fang doesn't burn?!"
The count eager to get the evening back on a roll called out to renfield.
"Bring up a crate of Chateau Peasant, the '42."
As renfield scurried off, the count patted val on the shoulders.
"Well done, Vallie, Well done."
Valarie grabbed a shocked and relived Erin and led her from the room.
Passing Bertrand who moments after she and Erin pass flashed his fangs in annoyance.
...
...
Valarie took Erin back to her room, the moment both were inside erin broke away and being pacing.
"Have you any idea how terrifying that was?"
"Yes I do." Val sat of the sofa.
Erin turned sharply and accusingly to Val.
"I thought you were going to throw me in that fire."
"I had to take it to the edge or Dad would've worked out what I was up to. Why didn't you tell me the truth? I get why you didn't, but..."
Erin and Val held eye contact one filled with Accusation the other with mild regret.
"I should've. I know. I was just so desperate to find a cure for Ryan."
"There isn't one, I've tried everything."
If there was something Valarie would of found it by now.
"Can you categorically tell me there isn't a cure?"
Umm
Val supposed not.
"Well...no."
"Then I'm not going to give up I've got to keep trying. He's my brother."
"And that's why you stayed." Valarie Finnishes.
Erin can to sit next to Val.
"At first, but you're special, Val, I believed you when you said you wanted humans and vampires to live together."
Valarie let out a resigned sigh.
"My own kind are going to hate this idea, and will do everything they can to stop it, Will you stay and help me?"
She was going to need all the help she could get.
Erin bit her lip but nodded.
"Alright! And form now on no secret."
Val head out her hand.
They shook on it.
All the while an inner turmoil was going on in Erins head.