Time seemed at a standstill all day for Dracula was trying his best not to glance at the clock hanging up in his corner office. He began to massage his temples with his fingers wanting very much not to adult anymore. Even in death it seemed he was a slave to the money and the endless amount of paper work that kept accruing on his desk reminded him of that. In a daze somewhat as he looked out at the skyline from window of his office his cell phone began to go off. Glancing at the caller ID it happened to be a call he had been waiting on all day for and anxiously answered it. " Hello Robert… did you take care of the little nuisance like I instructed?" Asked Dracula " Well that's just it. You see Arnold managed to escape my lord." Dracula could feel his mood go from calm to furious in only in a matter of seconds. Extremely livid he was for he had entrusted in these morons to finish Arnold . Not only that was now angry at himself for not taking care of it instead. If he had been the one to kill Arnold again he wouldn't find himself in such a predicament. " How can this be? You better find him quickly and finish him before I finish the two of you off, is that understood?" shouted Dracula into the phone. " I'm sorry my lord. I notified all members of the Ventrue of our little runaway. It won't be long till he is captured and killed." Said Robert. " For your sake I hope so cause if you don't I'll take pleasure in ripping out your throats! Do not call me again until he is finished." Said Dracula before ending the call.

Abruptly he got up from his desk while he went to grab for his black leather jacket off the hook next to the door. The children needed to be picked up at once for Astrid was still until further notice banned from using the car or leaving the mansion for that matter. His mind was racing as he tried to prepare for the worst for all he knew right then and there that Arnold would come looking for Astrid. He didn't know if she told him where they lived , but if she did that would be the first place he would stop by at. Fiddling with his phone in his pocket once more he went to call Astrid.

Logan let out a big yawn just as he finished feeding from Astrid's finger. She rocked him back n forth in the rocking chair near the window of his nursery. It was in the middle of winter so by five in the afternoon it was pitch black outside. Depressing it was for sure ,but finally after so many months of being confined inside, she would be going out tonight. She managed dressing up nice for a change and decided to wear a blue silk dress shirt that tucked in her gray pencil skirt. It always amazed her how her body just seemed to snap right back into shape after having a baby while most women dreaded their bodies post partum. Dracula wanted to take her out for a late dinner after he had gotten off work, she guessed he was tired of hearing her complain about the cabin fever she thought to herself. Even her hair she pinned up in a bun with a few curly loose strands framing her face. Her phone began to vibrate on the windows ledge and she went to grab for it. " Hello Vlad, you leaving work now?" asked Astrid. " Astrid there has been a change in plans, I need you to pack clothes for yourself and the children enough to last a few weeks. I'm planning a trip for the five of us to stay at castle Dracula for a little bit." Said Dracula.

Astrid immediately tensed up as soon as he mentioned castle Dracula. Memories flooded into her head of past trauma and nightmares of which she experienced there. All of that aside it wasn't fit to have young children there. " I don't think that is wise Vlad. Logan isn't even a month old and last time I was there it was falling apart. You can go , but I feel it is best the children and I stay behind on this one." Said Astrid. " Astrid this isn't a request nor do I care for your opinion at this time. We are leaving tonight and that's that." " What happened to dinner with just the two of us tonight? Not once did you mention up and leaving the mansion." Said Astrid. " Astrid do as I say for my patience is running thin. I just pulled up at the children's school and you better have everything packed before we get home." Said Dracula.

Dracula ended the phone call without a goodbye or I love you at all for Astrid could only hear the dial tone at the end. She wanted to let out a scream , but with the baby in her arms she had to bottle it in. Seemed as if all she did anymore was just that bottle it in anytime Dracula did something that upset her greatly. With her not working and with no vehicle it seemed she was at his mercy when it came much of anything anymore, a horrible feeling it was, but what could she really do about it?

Logan was fast asleep with a full belly in the basinet next to Astrid's bed, giving her the opportunity to get some packing done. Suitcases took up most of the space on her bed while she combed through her closets ,selecting all the necessities that was needed for their trip back to hell as Astrid considered it as. Her level of frustration was now beginning to be tested as she pressed down on the lid of the suitcase so it would close. The zipper didn't want to go around the corner while she tugged on it some more. " You got to be kidding me!" she whispered to herself as part of the zipper came off from her pulling too hard. That was it the suitcase was broken which meant she would have to unpack and repack everything into another suitcase.

Walking back to her closet she noticed a cool breeze blow right past her. Upon taking a few steps backwards she saw the window was wide open. She didn't recall it being open earlier, but without thinking much of it she closed it and when back to gather more clothing. " Ok I've packed shirts and pants, at least ten each. I better start working on the kids stuff." Said Astrid to herself. She was immediately caught off guard as a hand smacked over her mouth muffling her screams. " Shhhhhh! Stop screaming it is me." Looking at the far corner of her eye she realized it was Arnold who was holding up a finger to his lips. " Is anybody else home?" asked Arnold as soon as he felt comfortable that she wouldn't scream again. He let go of her mouth while scanning around the room anxiously. " No it is just me, but where have you been? I watched them take you away, I thought you were dead?" asked Astrid almost in tears. He looked like he had been through hell n back for he was in the rough shape upon noticing. His blue dress shirt was torn and stained with blood and dirt. Arnold also looked as if he lost a considerable amount of weight, his face was sulked in and he reeked of a fowl odor like he hadn't taken a shower in days, nevertheless she was still elated to see him and hugged him tightly. " There's no time to explain , but you must trust me when I say we need to get far away from this place." Said Arnold. He went to grasp her hand trying to lure out of the closet, he wasn't sure how much time they had before Dracula would return. Her ex husband, lover, and master was actually alive and right before her. It was great to see him once more, but something seemed terribly off." Arnold I can't just leave. My children, I can't leave my children." She stopped following him to the door which caused him to look back at her, sadness welled up within her eyes and he knew all too well of her predicament. " Astrid they shall come with us too. I could never separate you from them, but I implore you to come with me please for we must go now while we still have time.

Arnold went to turn around when he bumped into Dracula who was now standing in front of the doors. " Where are you going to run Arnold? I must say did you actually think you were just going to leave without saying goodbye?" asked Dracula as his eyes started to glow a light blue. Arnold backed away slowly from Dracula for he knew he wasn't in the best of shape to take on Dracula in that moment. " I gave you one simple request when Lucifer decided on letting you return and that was to leave Astrid alone. However you disobeyed and because of that I found no choice, but to lock you away." Said Dracula. " You lied to me! You told me you had nothing to do with this when deep down I knew along….I just knew." Said Astrid shakenly

" Could you really blame me Count for wanting to see My wife? Could one actually blame me for wanting to mend my marriage that was destroyed by your greed? " asked Arnold which caused Dracula to laugh in response. " lies and infidelity is that what you call a marriage? Sorry to break it to you ,but your marriage was in shambles long before I came into the picture Arnold. Besides Astrid and I are happily betrothed and have three beautiful children together. Everyone else has moved and so should you." Dracula casually walked up to Arnold so that now they were face to face with one another. " Now I suggest you go back home to Lily and don't worry Astrid already knows, I took the liberty of revealing the truth to her since the coward in you couldn't bear to do so." Said Dracula.

" You nor your threats scare me Dracula." Said Arnold. Astrid watched the two argue back n forth, it was definitely getting heated and it was only a matter of time before punches would be thrown. " Vlad please just stop this ." said Astrid while she walked over placing a hand on his shoulder. His body was tense while his knuckles were turning white as he clenched them tighter, Dracula about had it when it came to dealing with this fool. " Arnold you need to leave. If you love me then you'll forget about me and leave me be. I've…. accepted my fate." Arnold was devastated for he was just anymore a hollow shell of the man he once was and without Astrid he didn't feel he could ever he whole again. Astrid wanted no harm to come Arnold and her sacrificing her own happiness was her way of keeping him safe. The past couple months were torture for she thought he was dead yet again and this was something Astrid simply didn't care to go through once more.

" A wise suggestion Astrid, hopefully Arnold runs along if he knows what's good for him." Said Dracula before pulling out a needle filled with a clear liquid from his coat pocket. Astrid backed away from Dracula quickly for she knew all to well what it contained and so did Arnold. " Look familiar?" asked Dracula as he waived the needle in front of his face. " There is no need for this please put that away Vlad. Arnold was just about to show himself out." Said Astrid. Arnold's eyes never left the needle for he remembered how he started to have seizures after being administered the venom nine years ago. The last thing he recalled was Astrid's screams before everything went dark as he felt himself plummeting down into a black abyss. It was then where he first encountered the devil, it was something he could never forget for the devil imitated an image of his own. No one in hell ever knew what the devil actually looked like for he took on the form of the individual. Being tortured by oneself was enough to drive the strongest to insanity while in hell. Still standing before Dracula and Astrid , he was torn if he should just walk away or risk going back to hell to free Astrid.

Arnold went to walk away from where Astrid and Dracula while cautiously fixated still on the needle. " Vlad don't!" shouted Astrid as she saw him attempt to stick Arnold with the needle as he was walking past them. Arnold fell backwards onto the wooden floor as he nearly missed the needle going into his jugular, if it wasn't for Astrid he wouldn't have reacted in time. Just as Arnold tried to get off the floor Dracula then tackled him before pinning him to the floor once more as the two struggled to hold off the others attacks. There was no time to think Astrid knew she had to get herself and the children out of here before things got even more out of hand. Scooping up Logan she made a run through the bedroom door and skidded into the hall as her feet made a loud shriek against the well polished floor. Frantically she banged on each of the twins doors pleading for them to come out and to come quickly. Elliot and Alex popped their heads out of their doorways to see what going on for they could hear shouting coming from their parents room. " Boys grab your coats, we are leaving this place and hopefully for good." Said Astrid. The children turned their attention immediately to where all the commotion was taking place to see an arm chair come whizzing out of their parents bedroom before smashing into pieces as it hit the wall. That was all the coaxing they needed without questions asked, follow their mother down the steps to grand hall.

Arnold's face was covered in cuts , deep painful gashes from Dracula trying to claw at his face, as soon as his cuts healed more would appear for Dracula was persistent. His grip was slipping his arm felt like it was going to give out at any minute as the two wrestled each other on the floor over the needle. " This is the end for you I'm afraid my friend, don't be afraid Arnold the depths of hell await you once more!" grunted Dracula as he continued to push down against Arnold's wrist with the needle still firmly planted in his hand. Nine years he had awaited to get his revenge and nine years later he was too close to failing once more again. His body was about to give out on him, Dracula was too strong and in a last minute attempt he head butted Dracula square in the face causing him to fall backwards from the impact. The needle flew out of Dracula's hands into the air before landing next to the foot of the bed.

" The key ! Where's the car keys ?" asked Astrid frantically while raiding the junk drawer in the hall way and even dug into all the coat pockets on the coat rack. Dracula always had a spare key that he kept in the same draw that coincidently was missing when she needed it the most. " Mom I know father always carries the car keys, why don't you ask him?" asked Alex. " Oh honey that is out the question at the moment." Said Astrid as more shouting could be heard from upstairs.

Dracula started to panic as he watched the needle slip from his grip and land six feet away from him next to the bed. Arnold noticed this too and tried to inch over to it while crawling on all fours towards it. " Not so fast !" said Dracula as he now gotten ahold of Arnold's foot and was now pulling him farther away from the needle while Arnold's nails dug into the hard wood floor, anything to anchor him down. The needle was slightly in reach for Arnold's finger tips slightly grazed it. " Get off me you sack of shit!" said Arnold as he tried shaking his leg to free it from Dracula's grip. Dracula was now twisting his ankle so much Arnold hollered in pain. He could feel the bones in his ankle were on the verge of breaking the pulling of the muscles it was all excruciating to bear. He was so close to the needle with it barely touching his hand now if only he could now grasp it without it slipping out of his grip. " Beg Arnold! I want to hear you beg for your life like the coward that you are!" shouted Dracula as he continued to twist Arnold's ankle even more. An evil grin crept on his face as he watched in delight over Arnold's misfortune. Dracula now leaned over Arnold who looked as if he was about to pass out from amount of pain he was in. His right hand grasped onto Arnold's chin grasping onto to it ever so tightly to the point he could crush Arnold's jaw if he wanted to. " Oh how I love to watch my enemies squirm before me. The pounding of their heart beats to fear that is present in their eyes is so exhilarating it is almost worth dying for once more." Laughed Dracula. " Well then let me help you with that ." chocked Arnold before ramming the needle into Dracula's neck.

Dracula's laughter suddenly came to a halt as he immediately realized what had just happened. His fingers shakenly reached for the needle logged within his neck as he now went to pull it out. The effects of the venom were instantaneous as the room seemed to spin while tiny black dots appeared in his vision. He couldn't move nor speak all motor functions were paralyzed as his body fell over to it's side. Arnold watched in horror as he could only imagine this was what he looked like when had be stricken with werewolf venom all those many years ago. Only the whites of his eyes could be seen now he seemed to having some sort of seizure, Arnold could do nothing but watch as blood came pouring out of his eyes and mouth simultaneously.

" Mom! Mom! What's wrong?" shouted one of the children from downstairs. Arnold's focus immediately turned towards the doorway as he could hear more screaming coming from downstairs. Grabbing onto the one of post of the bed he managed to pull himself off the ground as quickly as he could. His ankle was almost twisted backwards and who knew how long it would take to heal as he held onto the walls for support.

Astrid was still searching for the keys when she felt a pain in her chest. It seemed to almost knock the breath out of her that she immediately needed to stop what she was doing. " Boys help me….get.. your.. father." Said Astrid before collapsing to her knees. The pain was now spreading from her chest all the way up her arms and now found its way to her head as all she could do now was buckle down in pain on the floor. Arnold had now limped to the top of the steps to see that Astrid was on the floor in a lot of pain. With as much strength he had left in him he managed to teleport by her side , propping her head in his lap as he did. " Astrid look at me. What's wrong?" asked Arnold as he began to slightly smack her cheek. She kept holding onto her chest almost as if she was having a heart attack. Blood was pouring out of her mouth similar to that of what happened to Dracula earlier. " Arnold where's Vlad? Please get him…" she cried out. " Astrid he is gone. I'm so sorry, but I'm here for you I'm not going anywhere." Said Arnold lovingly. " Father! Father! where are you ?" yelled Elliot as he was getting increasingly worried about his mother who remained lying on the floor. " The bond. Dracula…said that if he should die that I… would follow soon ..after." whispered Astrid as more blood started to pour from the corners of her mouth. Arnold came into a sudden realization of what she meant and felt completely helpless while she was dying in his arms. His thirst for revenge was at the expense of Astrid's life, he should of listened to her and leave when she warned him ,but he didn't. " Arnold.. what's it like? To….die?" asked Astrid. He couldn't bear to tell her of what awaited her, her soul was damned, damned because of him. Heaven's gates would be closed to her and devil would torture her soul anyway he saw fit. " No ..no don't talk like that you're going to be fine. Astrid please look at me! Stay awake." Said Arnold " Do something please mister. Mom is bleeding everywhere!" cried Elliot as he was now holding Logan in his arms.

Astrid started to cry for the pain in chest and head was almost unbearable. Death was approaching rather quickly and for once she was actually afraid. Years she was told to never fear death for death was the last thing immortals had to worry about. Never did she see this coming never she did think she would have to die this way and leave three young children behind. " Arnold…. take them. Keep them safe, please promise… me you will?" sobbed Astrid. Arnold wasn't the type of person to cry or get emotional, something he was taught earlier on in life as a weakness . He wished it was him in this position, he wished he could be the one to die again he thought as gradually blood tears started to run down his face. " Yes, you have my word . I…. will always love you Astrid." Said Arnold while looking down at her. She smiled for the very last time before her eyes gently closed and her body went limp in his arms. He remained on the floor as the three young children surrounding him hadn't quite grasped what had just happened. " Did mom fall asleep? Is she ok?" asked Alex . Arnold didn't reply for all he could was hold onto her tightly sobbing into her hair as he did. " Mom this isn't funny, wake up!" said Elliot as he went to shake her arm frantically. They had just lost both of their parents, they just went through something traumatic that he wish they could've unseen. " Children I .. don't know how to tell you this. Your mother…" Arnold couldn't even finish his sentence before he started to choke up again. It didn't take Elliot and Alex long to put two and two together, that this wasn't a game it really happened, their mother had departed from this Earth. Arnold didn't know if he could even be the father they needed if they would even accept him as a father figure. Only time would tell , but he picked himself off the ground still looking down at Astrid's dead body. " Come little ones you shall be coming back with me till things are straightened out." Said Arnold. He offered to take Logan from one of the twin boys arms for he had a screaming baby and two hysterical children to contend with. Everything was a mess a complete disaster at best, nothing made sense nothing at all, but all he could think of was what had he done?