Arnold was gone again once more and there was 7nothing that Astrid could do in that moment. She sat in her car crying to herself , hoping she could think of something or someone that would help. With no friends, family, or resources she felt helpless and knew better than to ask Dracula for help. Sitting alone for some thirty minutes it finally dawned on her, who would be wanting to be rid of Arnold. It had to be Dracula, no one could pull something off like that other than him. He had money , power, and surely connections through the government that was unbeknownst to Astrid. She feared of what he was capable of and what he would do onto Arnold.
She had to call Dracula for she was panicking, she couldn't calm herself down to think straight. She had to know if he was behind this and if so then why. Astrid started scrolling through the contacts in her phone until reaching Dracula's number. The phone rang a few times before going to voicemail.
Dracula's phone kept vibrating in his pocket during a very important meeting discussing new budget plans that would go into effect for the upcoming new year. His fellow colleagues looked over to him as they could now hear his phone going off again. He pulled out the phone to see three missed calls from Astrid. " Gentleman if you could excuse I need to take this." He exited the conference room in a haste until his phone went off once more. Annoyed at this point, but didn't want to come off angry on the phone if was a true emergency he answered to hear Astrid sobbing on the other end. " Astrid what seems to be the matter? I had to excuse myself from an important meeting cause of you calling my phone non stop." " You did it didn't you? You made him go away." Said Astrid
He for a second had no clue what she was referring to not to mention barely being able to understand her while she was crying. " Did what Astrid? Whatever the issue is ,can this not wait till I get home?" All he could hear was silence and went to check his phone to make sure the call didn't drop. He was standing in the hallway outside the conference room occasionally looking around to make sure no one was eavesdropping into his conversation. " Astrid are you there?" he said now more annoyed than ever. " Vlad I know you were behind what happened with Arnold today! Some random strangers in a black Buick forced him into a car and sped off. I have no clue where he is now or if he is even ok." Said Astrid
"Astrid you need to calm down and besides why were you in Arnold's company alone while I'm at work?" If he could snap the phone into two right now he would just so he didn't have to hear another word of this nonsense. Yes it was him that ordered the hit on Arnold, but no way shape or form was he going to admit it. " That is besides the point Vlad, you know damn well where he is and better start talking. Tell me where he is!" " Astrid my dear you are not thinking clearly. I'm not sure if it the pregnancy or hormones, but you have no proof that it is me. Besides I have more important things to worry about than Arnold Vasile. Now if you excuse I must get back to the meeting. We shall discuss this matter when I get home." " We won't be home when you get back….. Bye!" said Astrid before hanging up the phone.
The call ended abruptly before he could get another word in. He so didn't need this right now and in a fit of rage threw his phone against the wall clear across the hall. The screen was cracked and beyond repair but he didn't care as he stormed back into the conference room. Saying his apologies and goodbyes he grabbed his suitcase making way towards the parking garage in a hurry.
His children were in his thoughts as he reached the car. There was no way he would allow her to take them from him. Finally after so many years he labeled himself as a father and he be damned if he let Astrid interfere with that. Dracula luckily had a spare phone for emergencies that he barely used that he kept in his glove compartment. He had to call the children's school to make sure they were still there for he was going to try to get there before Astrid did. The school secretary picked up Dracula could only assume and immediately told her his name and asked if his children were still in class. He was put on hold as he waited at a red light for the secretary to return back. Tapping on the steering wheel growing rather impatient the light turned green moments later and he sped off doing 60 Mbps in a speed zone of 35mbps. Rattling could be heard in the background as the secretary returned back on the phone. " Thanks for holding mister Dracul , they are still in class. May I ask if you are picking them up early?" " Yes, but please don't let their mother sign them out. I shall be the only one going forward to pick them up from school." " As you wish sir, I shall notify the teacher to have them ready for an early dismissal." He hung up the phone quickly sighing in relief that they were still there. This stunt Astrid pulled off today would cost her an ear beating from him and banned from leaving the mansion. It upset him that he had to punish his wife like a child, she never learned it seemed and she would regret what she did today.
" Father why you picking us up early from school? Where's mom?" asked Alex as Dracula was ushering them out the front doors of the school. " Your mother is a bit under the weather so I figured I'd pick you up instead." The twins didn't ask more questions really after that for they were happy to get out of doing the math test they were in the middle of. They pulled into the gated driveway twenty minutes later to find Astrid's car parked out front. " Children I need you to listen to me carefully. I need you to go play in your rooms as soon as we get in, I need to tend to your mother. Do I make myself clear?" Elliot groaned as he slouched down more into the backseat of the car. " You promised us we would go flying tonight father." Said Elliot. " I'm sorry son, but there seems to be a change of plans , please do as I say."
Dracula slammed the car door shut and looked up to see Astrid peeking out the window of their room before drawing the curtains shut. He didn't even attempt to walk up the stairs, but instead teleported directly into their room. She wasn't joking he thought as he saw opened suitcases filled with her clothing on the bed. Astrid didn't even acknowledge him as he stood in the door way watching her walk back n forth from closet to bed. " Going somewhere my dear? "said Dracula. Not once did she stop her packing she was dead set on leaving this place with the children. " You know Astrid it is quite rude to ignore to someone while being spoken to?" He appeared behind her just before she was about to turn around towards the closet. " Leave me alone. I wish not to speak to you." He quickly grabbed her by the wrist as she tried to squeeze past him. " Not so fast Astrid! You and I have much to discuss." She tugged with all her might to free her hand from his grip, but he was too strong. His sharp nails were starting to dig into her wrist , she wanted to scream as it seemed blood was now seeping out of wound he created.
His iris's turned to an electric blue ,eyes in which she hadn't seen in some time and was truly terrified what he was going do to her. " I'd like very much right now to beat some sense into you at this very moment maybe even deny you of food for a few weeks. However seeing that isn't an option cause you are carrying MY child , I have no choice but to ban you from leaving the house for good. You can't be trusted and I can't stay home and babysit you!" " Admit it! You took Arnold away. I demand you tell me where he is!" she shouted. Dracula was so angry at that point all he could do was laugh. It was truly disturbing to watch him laugh like a mad man, she almost was afraid she pushed his anger too far.
" I will not admit to something I have no clue about and I have not committed any wrong doing towards Arnold. What I do know is you call me several times at work during a very important meeting. You tell me you won't be around when I get home and i immediately had to run to get the children in fear you would take them back to America!" He pinched the bridge of his nose with his free hand before closing his eyes. His shouting could be heard outside the room and down the hall. The twins knew something was amiss when their father picked them up early and his shouting just confirmed their suspicions while they were in their rooms. "If you want to leave and run off with him after you have the child then so be it, but the children are staying with me, the choice is yours." He let go of her wrist and his eyes turned back to their normal dark blue. Dracula walked away from her slamming the door shut behind him as he made his way towards his office.
More weeks had gone by and there was no word of Arnold's whereabouts. Astrid being a prisoner in Dracula's home would sometimes sneek into his office while he was at work as to find any clues of his involvement in Arnold's disappearance. Either Dracula had been clever enough to erase any clues of wrong doing or maybe he was telling the truth when he said he had nothing to do with it. The unknown was causing her to obsess over whether he was dead or alive. Her baby was due any day now and it was to be another pregnancy that she wasn't excited about. It seemed for all of her pregnancies were just filled with anguish and her being depressed. Nothing even close to the joyous happy times she would see other people have when expecting. Dracula's anger seemed to subside a little for he was beginning to worry about her with each day that passed. She barely ate and was restless at night as she tossed n turned from horrible nightmares. What was worse she would barely feed , at times he had to force her to feed which wasn't at all pleasant with her most of the time spitting blood in his face.
He was beyond tired and on top of that he still continued to work and tend to the children since Astrid wasn't in the right state of mind to. It was saddening to know it came to this , his children were without a mother and his love for her didn't seem to matter to her. Dracula was in his office one night after he tucked his children into bed. He heard a knock on his door and told whomever was at the other side of the door to come in. It shocked him to see it was Astrid for she barely ever left her room anymore. She had a white laced cotton nightgown that came to her knees her hair was in disarray along with dark circles under her eyes. It looked as if she had been crying as he now got a good look at her when he put down the newspaper he was reading. She treaded carefully over to his desk with caution , waddling as she did for her stomach was very large. " Yes Astrid?" asked Dracula. His tone came off kind of cold not quite how he intended to sound. He arose from his recliner when trails of blood started flowing down her face. She allowed him to embrace her and it was the first time in weeks she allowed him to. Astrid sobbed uncontrollably in his chest, such sadness in someone so beautiful he thought. It did bother him to know some of her torment was because of him. Imprisoning Arnold he did not regret, but he didn't think even with Arnold absent would cause such chaos under his roof. " Tell me what's wrong my dear?"
" I'm sorry." Was all he could make out of her muffling into his chest. Her crying didn't seem to relent she just seemed too distraught to have any sort of conversation. He felt all he could do in that moment was hold onto her and occasionally wipe the tears that from those brown eyes of hers. " Astrid I can't help or even begin understand what is the matter until you calm down." It was no use she continued to cry into his jacket and this was not the time nor place to deal with this. He teleported the two of them to their room with his arm still wrapped around her shoulders. Guiding her over to the bed he pulled back the covers so she could get back into bed again. " Will you come to bed early please. I don't want to be alone." Astrid whispered. He looked over at the clock on the wall it was only nine o'clock, but he relented. He wasn't sure what had gotten into her all of the sudden , but was just thankful she was being loving for once instead of the angry pissed off Astrid he had been dealing with lately. Dracula removed his tie and dress shirt in the same order as he usually did. Glancing over he could see she finally was laying down looking as if she was half awake. Boxers and gray t-shirt he dressed down to before he went into bed , Astrid snuggled up with him immediately after he got underneath the covers. " Arnold isn't coming back huh?" she asked. He wasn't quite sure how to answer her question and was caught of guard while he was gently running his fingers over her back. " Astrid I don't know what happened to Arnold and I know that is what is causing you to be so depressed these past weeks. However I can assure you everything will ok. Our children miss you, you haven't been the same and I… want my wife back." " I know I just feel so lost so hollow . It's killing me to not know what happened to him. I'd just like some closure you know?" said Astrid. Dracula lifted his two fingers under chin and gently placed a kiss on her lips. It was slow and meaningful, but filled him with joy as she kissed him back. " Don't worry your pretty little head on things you can't control. Focus on your children focus on us. You'd be much happier if you did." He clapped his hands signaling for side table lamps to turn off before pulling her closer towards him as they drifted off to sleep.
It was a Saturday morning and it was everyone's favorite day of the week for everyone got to sleep in. Kids the had no school and Dracula was always off too, but this Saturday morning startled Dracula out of his sleep as he could feel something wet underneath the covers. Pulling the covers off he noticed the sheets were covered in blood and the blood was coming from Astrid. She seemed like she was in a lot of pain for she was biting the edge of her pillow to muffle her screams. " Astrid what is wrong? Are you going into labor?" She managed to nod her head while breathing in and out through the pain. He hurriedly called out for one of maids to call for the midwife for Astrid was in labor. His shouting woke up the children as they were rubbing their eyes while peeking their heads out the doorway. Quickly he went back into the room where Astrid was and remained by her side till the mid wife came.
He anxiously paced up and down the hallway in front of their room. Moans followed by cries coming from Astrid could be heard outside the door. Their unborn child was concerning to Dracula for Astrid was such in a depressed state that she barely ate. The impacts of this is what he feared , who knew if the child would make it out aalrigh? He then had to consider if she would be in the right state of mind to take even care of the child. Dracula already felt over stretched when it came to the already existing responsibilities he was in charge of. A cry of a baby broke his train of thought while still in the hallway. Immediately he pushed open the doors to find the midwife holding his new child wrapped in a white receiving blanket. Astrid remained laying on the bed, her legs were quivering while her teeth chattered together. The birth caused such shock to her body that it didn't seem like she could remain still. He walked over to her and sat beside her before grasping onto her shaking hand. " Congratulations my lord , you have a son." Said the midwife before placing the child into his arms. The infants blue eyes like his own captured his and smiled down at his new son. Delicate tiny fingers grasped onto his , the overwhelming joy he felt to actually be there for the birth of one of his children was something he couldn't describe. Dracula turned slightly on the bed towards Astrid so she too could see her son.
" He's perfect!" She whispered while running tip of her finger along the baby's forehead. " What do you suppose we name him?" asked Astrid. He pondered for sometime still shocked to his new son finally in his arms. " I'm thinking of naming him after my brother Radu. What do you think?" The thought of naming her son after his dead brother wasn't really appealing to her at all she thought but knew she would have to compromise some how. " How about Radu be his middle name and perhaps Logan's be his first name? It still honors your brother but is still modern. What are your thoughts?" asked Astrid. Dracula wasn't all too keen on the name Logan, but nevertheless at least one of his sons would bear his name which got him into thinking on how to change his other son's last names. However that would have to wait till a later date, he was fixated by the amount of dark hair his newborn son possessed as his fingers combed through his locks. " Astrid I need you to promise me something." Said Dracula while still staring upon their son who was now fast asleep in his arms. " What might that be?" He was now looking at her and it looked at one point as if he was going to break down and cry in that moment, but no he would not let himself get to that point. He must and will always remain the strong one amongst his family plus future family. Knowing all too well Arnold was not dead yet locked in a prison far beyond anyone's reach , it was in his deepest desires to forget that he ever existed that Astrid would forget of his existence too. " Promise me that you will no longer go looking for Arnold… Promise me that your focus will remain on your children as well as myself. I don't ask you to forget of your past but to embrace your present and future for that is all that remains." She knew of what he was asking of and she felt as if she had been doing that all along. It would have been so easy at times to leave and never look back, leaving her children motherless while she pursued her own dreams. Though she never had any intention on being a mother let alone having a choice she grew to love her one and only family. " Rest well Arnold and may our paths cross sometime soon." She thought to her herself before shaking her head in response to Dracula's request.