Something was happening with the Praedictum Impaver.
It was glowing.
You head her glowing.
No one could make sense of it, that's where she was right now.
Her father had called a clan meeting to discuss the latest development.
"Why has the Praedictum Impaver lit up like a Christmas tree? I mean, what's it doing?" The count looked at everyone.
It was Bertrand that spoke up.
"The pulsing light is a signal calling out to someone. The question is who and why?"
Good question.
Val suspected it was most likely someone on the clan leaders, they had been chomping their fangs for a while now.
It seems her father had the same thought.
"The clan leaders!"
Bertrand voice was filled with dread.
"The book will lead them right to us!"
"Visitors?" Renfield questions "I better get this place looking good. We need more cobwebs." He pulls out a spider. "Come on, get spinning."
"Put away the welcome web, this is not good news." The count lamented.
"Unless they think the signal means I've opened the book."
The count speeds of his throne and to vals side.
"Except you haven't. You've got every vampire in the world waiting to hear what's inside and you have not delivered."
Yes thanks for the reminder, it's all anyone ever talked about.
"I'm close, I just need more time."
She could feel it.
It was there.
"There is no more time! They will want answers not excuses. No answers and their strongest will punish us."
"Looks like someone's going to get it in the neck."
The count leaned down to Ingrid's level.
"You think this is funny? If Val doesn't open the book we will all be ash."
Ingrid lost her grin.
The count turned it Bertrand.
"Do your job. Teach her how to open the book. Clock's ticking."it wasn't a question, It was a threat.
...
...
Val was going to do this.
She was going to open the book.
Channeling her power like Bertrand taught her she pushed her magic over the book.
"I am ready. Open and reveal my destiny."
Nothing.
"I command you to open!"
"Reveal my destiny!"
Nope, nothing.
A mocking laugh distracts her.
"Reveal my destiny! Very powerful, very compelling and totally ineffective."
"Go away Ingrid!"
"Ignore her." Bertrand chides. "You've got to dig deep into the blackest part of your soul."
Easy for him to say.
Valarie turned to Bertrand.
"What's the point? I can't open it."
From his expression val knew Bertrand Wasn't going to take no for an answer, Annoyed val turned back to the book.
"Yes, you can."
All of a sudden Val was shoved forward.
The caught herself before she went completely down.
Without speaking she turned to face her attacker.
If that's how Bertrand wanted to play it then fi-
Bertrand's hand was gripping the bottom of her face, squeezing hard.
"You want to see your family turned to ash?" He shoved her away.
Bertrand shoved her back.
"You want to hear their screams as they pay for your failure?"
Val could feel her inner vampire biting to be let free, to kill Bertrand, still she pushed it back.
Not that Bertrand was making it easy.
The way he approached her was mocking.
"The book won't open because it sees the coward inside." He hissed.
Coward!
With her fangs out Val stormed to Bertrand until she was right in his face and growled.
"I am not a coward!"
Bertrand kept pushing.
"It can smell the fear on you. The girl frightened of the monster in the cupboard. Too scared to look."
Her vampire busted through her defences.
"I'll show you who's frightened!"
It was on.
Val flew at Bertrand ready to tear his limbs from his body.
"Let the monster out!"
The pair tumbled to the floor.
Both evenly matched, with Val untameable rage and Bertrand's years of fighting experience.
Punches and kicks were given until Val was on top of Bertrand, her legs either side of him holding him securely to the floor.
Val blamed it on the adrenaline coursing through her veins, along with her vampire senses heightened.
She was unsure who initiated, or perhaps they had both leaned in at the same time.
Firm and surprisingly soft lips encased Vals.
After a half a seconds hesitation val felt her eyes close and her head tilt to the side.
Bertrand kissed like he trained, hard and controlling.
His lips dominated hers, kissing her slowly and with intensity, the taste of his mouth filled her senses, a mix of something spicy and the O-negative blood that he had recently consumed.
His arm went around her waist, pulling her to him further, and his other hand slid up the back of her neck, getting entangled in her hair.
Val had never been kissed like that before, There was an animalistic quality that sent shock waves through the rest of her body.
Val grabbed a handful of his tempting curly hair, remembering all the times she had dreamed of doing it.
Val pulled him even closer to her.
Valarie heard him make a low kind of growl and lean into her.
His hand slid down vals leg, behind her knee.
She moaned and felt him tense.
Suddenly Bertrand had pulled away as if he had been burnt.
He quickly flashed to the other side of the room before exiting all together, leaving val to wonder the the hell just happened.
Suddenly whispering filled the room.
"'I will help you. Come to me, The answer lies within."
What was that?
...
...
Val would like to say that the previous event with Bertrand didn't affect her and she was completely fine.
That would be a lie.
She could not stop thinking about it.
What did it mean?
Was it just a heat of the moment?
Was it because of her growing affections for her tutor?
Was it her vampire side?
What did Bertrand think?
Bertrand hadn't stopped the kiss.
Did that mean he wanted it to happen as well?
Why did it mean now?
It seems Bertrand was trying to avoid val, no matter where she looked she could not find him anywhere.
Was he avoiding her?
It was all just so confusing.
Not only was Bertrand filling her mind but she was also hearing voices.
Honestly val was beginning to question her sanity.
No one else could hear them.
"I have what you need, come to me."
What did it mean.
Typical she would also end up running into Erin.
The girl In question looked at Valarie with mild concern.
"Are you feeling alright?"
"Peachy."
Erin leaned forward worriedly.
"Listen, you need to know something, Bertrand knows our secret."
Wait what!
All thoughts left her mind and vals complete focus was in Erin.
Bertrand knew Erin was a breather!
"What did he say?"
Erin with a shaking voice repeated her conversation with Bertrand.
"We accidentally ran into each other, Bertrand was looking stressed and i simplex asked did he was okay, next thing I know he's hissing at me, telling me he knows our secret, He said and I quote "I heard you and Val. I know your secret, I know the truth."
This was bad.
"Look val, I have to get out of here."
Val was quick to persuade her otherwise.
"It's dangerous out there!"
"I'll take my chances." Erin declared, at least out there she had a chance.
"I don't want you to become one of us. Sometimes it's better to hide and fight another day."
The look on Erins face was one of debating.
"Alright, what do you suggest?"
...
...
Val lead an apprehensive Erin to the cellar.
"I'm not staying down here in the cellar!" Erin protests strongly, it smelt and there were rats.
" It's only until I can work out a plan to get you safely away."
"But it's creepy." Erin complained.
The grin Val gave Erin was filled with amusement.
"And living with us isn't?"
She had Erin there.
"I'll be back soon, I promise."
Finally Erin relented.
"You better be, Or I'll be wrapped up with the rest of the spider food."
She began making herself comfy on one of the many boxes while trying to Keep herself warm.
Valerie quickly left.
At least Erin was safe.
...
...
Val was hurrying through the halls and to her surprise into Bertrand.
Typical when she wants him she can't find him, but when she's trying to avoid him…..
However what come out if Bertrands mouth was not what she was expecting.
She was expecting him to make a comment about what happened in the training room or even that Erin was a breather, yet he spoke of neither of those.
"Val. The clan leader's here." Alright that she was not expecting."Don't tell him you can't open the book. Play for time."
"What's the point? I'm never going to get it open."
It was no use, she tried everything, she did the breathing and focusing.
"You can if you get those stupid ideas out of your head."
"What ideas?"
"You want vampires and breathers to live together in peace. You want the bloodshed to end forever."
He had been there when she and Erin had spoken.
"You were spying on us?"
"You and Erin are vampires! You can't change that."
He still thought Erin was a….
He was speaking about the peace secret.
Relief consumed Valerie, Ingrid was still safe.
Well as safe as she could be around the Dracula's.
"Yeah, We are vampires. Vampires who want humans to be our friends, not food."
"You want to stake your life on that?" Bertrand asked unamused.
"If that's what it takes."
She believed in her future.
"You tell that to Ramanga and it'll be the last thing you do."
Alright.
She'd play ball for the time being.
"I'll be with you in a minute. I've got something I need to do."
"Don't keep him waiting."
Bertrand was gone.
...
...
Val was running down the cellar stairs ever to tell Erin the good news but stopped suddenly as the whispering returned.
"I'm in the mirror room, Look for the mirror.'"
She needed to know what this was.
So she turns back around and followed the tunnels to where the mirror was kept.
The whispering was getting louder.
"That's right. I'm over here.'
"I'm down here, in the dark."
"That's right. I'm in here."
Val walked Into the dark room and turned on the light Exposing the family Blood mirror in its golden glory.
The voice was pulling her towards the mirror.
"In here! Look for the mirror!'"
Val stood in front of the golden mirror.
"Val?"
Val turned to Erin.
The girl had followed Valarie down here.
"Stay there."
Then like lighting the two golden gargoyles that stood either side of the mirror and grabbed her by the arms then pushed her through the mirror.
The last thing val heard was Erins screams.
Val was trapped inside the mirror she could only watch ad Erin tried to arrack the mirror only to be stopped by the gargoyles.
"Erin! Run! Get help!"
She knew Erin couldn't here her, but it still filled her with relief when the other girl ran out the room.
...
...
Val was not alone in the mirror she was almost certain.
But she paid little mind to that as Erin, Bertrand and Wolfie approached the mirror.
"Like I said, they just chucked her in."
Desperate to get there attention Val began pounding in the mirror.
"Bertrand! Erin! I'm in here!"
Erin looked at the two gargoyles.
"Those gargoyles won't let you near the mirror."
"I'm in here!"
It was no use.
"They guard it. They must have thought you were a threat."
Trying to preserve her strength Val just watched the three occupants on the other side.
"Maybe if we smash it, it will release her?"
No don't smash the mirror!
Dad will die if She does.
Bertrand was also awear of this.
"No. If you do that the whole family will turn to dust."
"I'm in here! Hello! Let me out!"
"There's no sign of her. Wherever she is, we can't follow."
Bertrand quickly gestured them to leave, desperation filled val as they trio walked away.
"Don't go! Don't go! Don't go!"
They were gone.
Suddenly the whispering was back.
"'The answer lies within. Come to me. Come to me, 'Come to me. The answer lies within.I will help you.'"
Well she wasn't getting out anytime soon so why not.
Val began walking through the darkness following the voice.
...
...
The interior of the mirror was vast and wide.
Slowly Valerie walked along the stone path, trying in vain to see anything.
She wasn't alone, but she just couldn't see anyone.
Whooshing and laughing.
Someone was playing with her.
Evil laughter filled the vast space.
Every nerve ending was tingling, whoever else was here they weren't good.
Someone grabbed Val by the shoulders and spun her around.
At first val though she was looking at a mirror, but it wasn't her reflection.
It was her.
Well someone who looked exactly like her, but held a much darker presence.
"It's like looking in a mirror, isn't it, Val?" The other her spoke.
This other her let out an eary laughter, it made her bones tingle.
She knew instantly what this was, how could she not.
The day she was most dreading.
Becoming one with her evil reflection.
No!
This was not it!
She was not going to give into it.
Val prepared herself for Battle, not just any battle, a battle for her soul.
The twin Val only laughed in glee.
"You don't make it easy do you, like it or not I am you, I'm the person your meant to be, the powerful vampire who will make her enemy's fall at her feet."
Val lunged.
Her reflection was ready.
Valarie lost herself in the twists and blocks, the strikes and kicks.
Her reflection was giving just as good.
It was like a dance, evil her struck, and she blocked and retaliated.
Evil her blocked, and retaliated.
Val was beginning to tire but she kept going.
Evil her struck in a flash, prompting Val to block it. Shifting slightly, Val pushed off from her left leg and tackled Bad her to the ground.
Rolling quickly the two separated and came to their feet, Striking out again, bad val grasped Her by the arm as she kicked val in her side.
All of a sudden a blinding bright light filled the room, Valarie had to cover her eyes.
All of a sudden, multiple copies of herself filled the space.
"Stay away from me."
"You're special, Val You don't have one evil reflection... You have a thousand. Together we will be the most powerful vampire ever."
They were all running at her
"No!"
One by one they jumped inside of her.
As each reflection entered her body Val felt herself begging to fade away.
She couldn't do anything.
Everything was begging to go dark and then.
Nothing.
...
...
Valarie opened her eyes.
She'd never felt more powerful, everything that held her back was now gone, buried deep in her.
How foolish she had been.
She was a strong and powerful vampire, the chosen one.
The world should be bowing at her feet.
She had been reborn and now it was time she took her rightful place.
And anyone who got in her way…….
She would end them.
She was Valerie Contessa Mercinda Dracula, vampires and breathers should fear her.
And they would.
She would run the streets red with the blood of those who defy her.
She will have what she wants and nobody will stop her.
Valerie walked through the light and out of the mirror.
The gargoyles look at her but she pays them no mind, she had a war to start.
...
...
Val strode with purpose to the throne room, it was time for her to take her place.
With a click of her fingers the door open wide.
6 pair of worried eyes turn to her.
Her family were being back into a Corner by the clan leader and his many versions of himself.
Ugh, she didn't have time for such mediocrity.
"Val."
She continued walking, the book was in her site's.
The clones disappeared her the she touched them, still she kept walking.
She grasped the book with both hands.
Thunder and lightning was crashing around them, indescribable power filled her.
Yes!
This was why she craved.
Power.
All nine (now ten, the finger of the clan leader returns to the book.) opened up wide.
It was time for her to claim her destiny.
She opened the book……
Blank pages.
What.
Her father and Bertrand quickly join her, peering over her shoulder in anticipation.
"Chosen One, reveal to us our destiny." The clan leader got on his knee.
She had the power to do what she wanted and she Knew exactly what she wanted.
With a sinister laugh Valarie addressed the clan leader.
"Tell the others our time is coming."