"How could she do this to me after everything?" Shouted Arnold as he was hanging upside down on the ceiling. Lily soon after joined him on the ceiling in her home in the living room . " I feel you're maybe being too harsh on her." Said Lily. He looked over to his other wife standing before him upside down. Arnold had to admit he had missed her as well ,but not as much as he missed Astrid. After today's events he was struggling to come to grips with everything. Astrid was alive and she was in bed every night with the enemy, Count Vladislaus Dragulia to be exact.
" How am I being too harsh? My wife is sleeping with the enemy on top of that has children with him!" Lily walked over to him cautiously, she knew he was deeply upset and laid a hand on his shoulder as he stood there. " She told you she was raped and that she didn't think you were coming back. She had to move on in order to survive. Plus if she has children with him it is keeping her bound to him regardless of how she feels for him." Said Lily. Arnold pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes tight as he tried to calm himself down. Nine years of pure torture he awaited in hopes he would have Astrid to come home to, but in turn to find the Count had his grasp on her.
" Arnold I've know for a long time that you don't love me. At first it caused such jealousy in me and resentment, but I've had years to get over it. I know you love Astrid immensely I wouldn't give up so easily now." Said Lily. She pulled her long blonde hair into a messy bun before jumping from the ceiling to the floor. She looked beyond the flames of the fire place till Arnold later accompanied her. " Your words are harsh Lily, but I cannot deny some truth within them." Lily turned to Arnold her brown eyes met his. " You only turned Cecilia and I due to boredom. I understand completely, you wished to not be alone for all of eternity. Cecilia never understood this, but I did. I loved you ,but I new your heart would never belong to me. I had to let you go many years ago." Her words were like venom to him, not cause how she said it , but that it held to truth to them. All these many years ago when he entered into darkness he didn't want to share it alone and there Cecilia n Lily came into play.
"What do you suppose I do? She is no longer my wife and I couldn't disturb her life nor of her children's. I'm am her past and unfortunately Count Dragulia is her future , there is nothing I can do about it." Stated Arnold. " My dear do you not know she gave her children your last name? Before the Count came back into the picture she gave the them the last name of Vasile. I ask that you think long and hard before you give up on her. Time is of the essence my dear." With that Lily walked out of the living room leaving Arnold alone to his thoughts.
Astrid took every long route home she could in order to spare her some time to think. Surely Vlad would demand some answers from her, but the scenarios ran through her head. She couldn't help ,but think she made the wrong decision. Her feelings towards Dracula were unclear yet her children and her new child to be , she had to take into consideration. Upon arriving back at the mansion she saw Dracula's car already parked at the front. He must of left work early due to the Arnold picking up the phone from earlier. She treaded carefully through the threshold of the front door , peeking through to see if anyone was around. It was still early the boys wouldn't have to be picked up for another two hours, she hope she could be alone till then. " Astrid there you are! I've been trying to reach you for the past four hours." Said the Count as she walked into the door.
She wasn't sure how to respond nor did she think the Count would understand the shock she was in that her husband she thought was dead was now back. " I'm sorry I just needed some time to myself, I've had a trying day." He still had his business attire on with his blue dress shirt and black coat with dress pants. Dracula walked over to her embracing her as he reached her. She didn't hug him back for at this point she was too upset. " You knew didn't you? You knew Arnold was back and didn't tell me? Astrid shook her head and pushed herself away from him out of his embrace. " I had to make a major decision today that I wasn't prepared for, I had put my own happiness aside so that my children would be ok. My one true love I had to dismiss, because I knew you'd try to take my kids away if I was to leave." Astrid went to walk up the stairs towards her room. She didn't want to be around anyone, the remaining of her dead heart was broken.
" Astrid put yourself in my shoes why would I bring such a subject up when my goal was to bring our family as a whole?" said Dracula. She ignored him as she continued to walk towards her room. " Can you do me a favor at least and pick the children up from the bus stop . I wish to be alone for a little bit." Said Astrid. With that she vanished from his view, he stood there perplexed over everything that happened. It was apparent to him he had to make a few phone calls before he picked up the children.
Dracula went through his phone book in his study. A couple people he knew owed him some favors and he needed such favors done with haste. He listened to the dial tone to his cell phone till someone picked up. " Robert ….. long time no talk this is Vladislaus calling , was hoping you could return the favor for I got a job for you." Robert on the other line listened intently to the description of Arnold and where to find him. Dracula was confident he could eliminate this nuisance one way or another. With the connections to do so he leaned back in his recliner next to the fireplace while his legs were propped up on his desk. " Arnold….. Arnold soon you will no longer be a thorn in my side no more." Said the Count to himself.
Dracula had retrieved the children hours after and they flocked to their mother's room anxious to tell her about their first day of school. They talked about their new teacher and showed her their folders of all the papers she had to sign. She was listening to them , but felt as if she wasn't there. Her thoughts were somewhere else, they kept stemming back to Arnold. His embrace she remembered his scent everything was coming back to her now for she had learn to forget for sometime. " Alex has this crush on this girl from the bus stop. He stared at her the whole time in class." Said Elliot. " So what least I'm the better looking twin !" The two were always constantly bickering. Astrid never understood how they were so close but so completely different from one another. " Well boys I'm glad you survived your first day , but leave me your folders so I can read and sign everything." Said Astrid. She read through the documents, basically emergency contacts and criteria they would be learning this year.
Just as the boys rushed out of her room Dracula waltzed in. Astrid was in no mood especially being pregnant didn't help any matters. " Still mad at me I'm presuming?" said Dracula nonchalantly as he approached her. " I Swear you don't know the meaning of privacy or personal space." Said Astrid. Dracula chuckled at her remark before sitting on the edge of the bed next to her. " Oh Astrid I feel it is better to talk things out versus remaining angry at one another, don't you agree?" " My feelings obviously don't matter to you Count! Besides there is no need to be concerned I told Arnold I could not leave to be with him, my duty is to my children. I'm sure that should appease you." " Why such coldness towards me? Have I not treated you with kindness n respect since you arrived? Yes I will agree that in the past Ive done wrong by you, but I am trying to write wrongs." Said Dracula. She sighed to herself and relented before leaning her head on his shoulder while she sat next to him. Stupid pregnancy and her hormones being all crazy, not being able to decipher what was real and what was make believe. Perhaps she hadn't given it her all when it came to her relationship with Vlad. Past actions hindered her view of him for anything meaningful between the two to come about. However with new Revelations of Arnold's return and a new baby on the way she was in disarray when it came to thoughts. She gave him a small peck on the cheek. It was symbolic of her surrender to him it felt to her. Astrid knew she had to act as if Arnold never existed that he was never her master nor a man she had ever loved.
The first flurries of November had started to fall . It was a chilly morning and Astrid was already once again standing at the bus stop. She was banned for a few months from leaving the house for Dracula feared she would run away. It took months of convincing that she could be trusted till he relented and allowed her to walk her children to the school bus. No longer was she on the inside looking out. The fresh winter air hit her face immediately as she walked outside. She bundled her kids equivalent to the younger brother in the Christmas story. Though she knew the cold weather didn't bother them the mother in her didn't want to take the chances. " Mom don't you think this is a little extreme?" muffled Elliot as the scarf was covering his mouth. " Nonsense, I rather be safe than sorry plus you two look adorable!" said Astrid. The boys gave her a look of annoyance as they waddled behind her to the bus stop. The driver was punctual as always as it pulled up at 7:30 on the dot. Her children got on the bus immediately and the bus zoomed past Astrid. The wind whipped at her auburn hair while she turned to walk towards her car. Someone was walking down the sidewalk she could see from the corner of her eye she didn't make anything of it till they were walking directly towards her as she jiggled the keys into the door lock of the car. It didn't take her long to realize who was approaching her from afar as he approached closer. Arnold had a black leather jacket on with his bald head covered my a black baseball cap on his head. Astrid wrapped her red scarf tighter around her neck for she was freezing as she awaited for Arnold to come closer.
This was some coincidence or maybe not , Astrid couldn't be to sure but Arnold was standing before her now. " You free to grab a drink?" shouted Arnold over the howling wind. Astrid stood there perplexed clearly not knowing how to respond as he was now in front of her. All she could do was shake her head and unlocked the door so they both could get into the car away from the freezing wind. His cologne immediately hit her senses as she entered the vehicle. Memories started to flood her brain as she closed the door leaving the two alone in car. " Why are you here and how did you find me?" asked Astrid. " Does that really matter Astrid? I know of place that caters to us vampires ten miles from here. I'd like to discuss some things further with you there." Said Arnold. The sound of the engine hummed as she turned the key into the ignition. Astrid turned the car from Park to drive and followed the directions Arnold gave to the café.
The car ride was silent she was afraid to ask many questions for she remembered how badly the last conversation went. To make matters worse her belly was bigger since the last they met. Just a reminder of how time had distanced the two of them from one another. After the two were seated at this café that Astrid never had been before she removed her green jacket with brown fur on her hood. It reminded her of like a star bucks or Panera bread not somewhere she thought of getting blood. However she was amazed when Arnold spoke of blood to the waitress, sh knew immediately what he was after. " Your probably wondering why I brought you here. I….. feel we didn't leave on the best of terms. Since then you haven't left my thoughts and I needed to see you." Said Arnold " What do you want Arnold? As happy as I am to see you've returned it brings me much sorrow for I know things will never go back to which they once was." Said Astrid. " Indeed I felt the same way, but I don't have the strength anymore to stay away." Astrid was taken aback by his words. The waitress came by with their glasses of blood which Astrid took from and started to sip immediately. " I can only imagine what you have gone through while I was gone. Everyday I feel guilty as I was not strong enough to protect you. I brought you here today to ask for your forgiveness." Astrid reached out for his hand across the table , she felt his rough calloused hands amongst her soft ones. " What happened in the past was not your fault. Hector betrayed us both, the bastard got what he deserved." Said Astrid.
" This may seem reckless but why don't you and the children come with me? I'll raise them as my own , I don't care at this point. My return will be unfulfilled without you, please." Said Arnold. He was begging to her, she never been in a position where one begged to her. If the children had not met their real father before hand that be one thing, but they now had a relationship with Vlad, how could she tear them away from that? " You don't know what you are asking of me. You are asking me to choose between my children or you." "How? I'm asking you to bring them with us." Asked Arnold. " You know Dracula would never allow that and the boys have a relationship with him now. I couldn't bear to rob that from them."
Arnold sat there silently sipping on the blood in his glass. He was at a loss for words he didn't think she would be against leaving with him. " Is he a good father n partner to you and your children?" asked Arnold. All Astrid could do was shake her head at him. When it came to being a father Vladislaus excelled, but he over time was getting better at being a good partner/ husband to Astrid. " Well as much as it saddens me I don't want interfere with your family life. If you will excuse me I best be off." Arnold left in a haste leaving Astrid to pay for the bill.
She didn't want Arnold to walk in the cold weather and hurriedly went to pay the bill. She saw him standing on the side walk out front the café the wind blowing at his leather coat. A black Buick pulled up in front of him and two men immediately exited the car. Astrid saw them grab Arnold by his jacket as Arnold tried to break free from their grip. She ran outside the ice cold wind whipping at her face, the two men who were vampires as well for Astrid could detect no heart beat started to beat on Arnold. Astrid managed to throw one of the men off Arnold causing him to soar till his back to hit a telephone pole. The other larger vampire out of the two had his arm wrapped around Arnold's neck. His black sharp nails elongated pressing into Arnold's neck. " Let him go!" shouted Astrid. His golden yellow eyes bared down at Astrid just as he teeth now lengthened past his lower lip. Cars were whizzing by outside the restaurant, but no one stopped to help. No one could help she was all on her own and the stranger was strangling Arnold as he gasped for air. The passenger door opened and Arnold was thrown into the back seat. The stranger with the golden eyes and short brown hair followed in after. The door slammed shut just as Astrid tried to claw at his back. Jiggling at the car door it wouldn't budge as she heard the doors lock. She clinged to the door handle being dragged away as the Buick pulled away from the sidewalk. She was literally being dragged through the snow covered streets at 30 miles per hour. The snow sloshed in her face from the tire she had to let go for her bulging stomach was getting too close to the spinning rear tires. Landing hard on the pavement she looked up as the black Buick took said off into the distance. A few people from the café saw what happened and helped her off the road. Many of them wanted to call the police, but it was no use she knew the police could not help. She had to save Arnold somehow some way.