The Gwy, YD Series: Alternate Realities
A/N: Ok, I am so so sorry that it's taken so long for me to upload this. I lacked inspiration and I sort of took a break from . I've been working on my own book that I hope to publish and have been focusing on selected stories and pushing others aside. But I spent Friday writing these three chapters all at once. I decided to change this story and make it a bit shorter than originally intended. I already have the sequel written to it, so I will type that up and upload it as well. Again, sorry about the wait. Enjoy the story. :)
Chapter 4
Vlad was out with Erin on a dinner date that she had invited him out to. This wasn't the first dinner date they'd had since Vlad had changed the universe. Vlad felt guilty every time they went, thinking about Gwynn. He pushed her to the back of his mind. He knew it was wrong but he couldn't seem to stop. He had convinced himself that it was all ok. That this world was better. But... was it really?... Could he really say he was 100% sure anymore? He didn't know. Erin was dressed in a dark blue gown, her hair done up in an elegent bun. Vlad had thrown on a tux and combed his hair through neatly. He felt nervous. This place looked so gloomy and dark even for a vampire run restaurant. And since when was that a thing anyway? He looked around. The walls were grey with murals of black castles and gloomy clouds and skies. It was gothic culture. There were vampires all around them. Vampire waiters and staff, vampire customers... The only human he could see was Erin. He fiddled with the tie on his tux, unsure of this whole situation. Erin reached out and put her hand over Vlad's.
Erin: Hey, Vlad? Are you okay?
Vlad: Er... yeah. I guess I'm just nervous.
Erin: Aww sweetie. That's not like you. You know you don't need to be nervous.
Vlad smiled.
Vlad: Thanks. Hey,um... Do we come here often?
Erin: Yeah all the time, why?
Vlad: Er... no reason.
Erin Are you sure you're feeling ok?
Vlad: Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. Just... er having an off day I guess. So... this place is run by vampires?
Erin: Well, of course. Vampires run all the businesses in town.
Vlad: Oh. How long's that been going on?
Erin: Well the vampire takeover started after you became Grand High Vampire. You gave the order, remember?
Vlad: Er... right.
Erin: Vlad, you really haven't seemeed yourself lately. Maybe we should talk to your dad?
Vlad: No, I'm fine. Really.
Erin: Are you sure?
Vlad: Yeah. Let's just enjoy our dinner together.
Erin smiled.
Erin: As you wish.
Vlad avoided talking any more about those sort of things for the rest of night as to not raise any more suspicion from Erin. They talked about her life, her family and just random things. If she was ever vague, Vlad didn't notice. Or if he did, he waved it off. They talked all night. They left the restaurant after eating dinner and headed back to the castle. Once there, Vlad listened and realized his Dad wasn't home at the moment.
Vlad: We're alone.
Erin: Ooh
She took off her shawl and draped it round his neck, biting her lip. She rose one eyebrow suggestively.
Erin: So... bedroom?
Vlad knew that in that moment he should have thought about Gwynn. He should of thought about the consequences. He should of thought of something... But at that particular moment... he seemed to only be able to think with his downstairs brain. He and Erin began kissing passionately as he picked her up, making his way to the bedroom. He lay her down on the bed and began kissing further and further down her neck. He got to her shoulder and stopped because he saw something. Was that a... a bite? Vlad pulled away, shock clear on his expression.
Vlad: Who? ...Who bit you?
Erin looked at him as if he'd grown two heads.
Erin: You do, remember? You always do. But it's ok. You always make sure not to bite too deeply so that I'll stay human. You always say I wouldn't be much use to you otherwise.
She laughed even though she wasn't joking. He shook his head in disbelief, too shocked to say anything.
Vlad: No- I- That's not me...
She frowned at him, wondering why there was this sudden change in his attitude and behaviour.
Erin: Don't you remember?
She unzipped her dress and stepped out of it, only in her underwear now, revealing the bitemarks and bruises all over her body.
Vlad: Oh my god...
Vlad couldn't take it. He left the room using vampire speed. Erin stood there looking shocked and confused. Vlad made his way over to his own room. How could he do that to Erin? To someone her cared about? In any universe? Oh god, what was he going to do? He threw his stuff all over the room, kicked his coffin and punched the walls in frustration. He sat on the edge of his coffin, wondering what to do now. I mean, could he fix this too? He hope so. He thought of what he and Erin almost did. He thought of his Gwynn. Guilt was chipping away at his soul piece by piece. How he could do that to someone he loved? I mean sure he and Gwynn had been a little rocky lately... but they always seemed to get through the rough patch in the end. Was this time any different? He hoped not. But if he could do this... maybe he really was as bad as people were making the him in this reality sound. Was he just some evil vampire with too much power who didn't care about anyone's feelings? Was that who he was now? He didn't know anymore.
Xxx
THE NEXT DAY
It was the evening of the next day and Vlad couldn't come to terms with everything he had learned about this universe. More and more he was asking himself if re-writing the world was worth it. I mean, Bertrand was alive so that was a plus. Erin was human and didn't seem to hate him, despite everything she'd told him about what he was like in this world. He had done everything he had set out to do. He had fixed his mistakes... So why did he have such a bad feeling about it? He sighed, getting out of his coffin. He had a meeting to attend to this evening with the Grand High Council. Oh joy(!) He wasn't looking forward to it because it was likely to be so boring it would put him to sleep, but at the same time he was because he figured Ingrid might be there. After all, she was part of the Grand High Council in his world. Maybe she was here, too. He put on his finest dress robes and sat on the throne in the throne room. The Grand High Council made their flashy entrance and he welcomed them. They all sat around a long table that had been set up in the middle of the room. The leader of the Grand High Council, one Atticus Cornelius Cromwell, otherwise known as Head Councilman Cromwell, took out a clipboard.
Head Councilman Cromwell: Now, we have a list of important things to discuss.
He looked at Vlad, as if for confirmation. Vlad nodded.
Vlad: Proceed.
The councilman around the table listened intently to the list of wrong-doings and problems within the community that Councilman Cromwell was reading, gasping and murmuring here and there.
Head Councilman Cromwell: First of all, a few minor offenses. Humans running amok thinking they can talk back to, and disrespect, vampires. This may not seem as serious as our other reports but nonetheless it must be dealt with. We can not show mercy or else other humans will think it's acceptable to defy us. And that could lead to a rebellion. Which is something we do not want.
Murmus of agreement were heard around the table. Vlad was somewhat uncertain about this whole ordeal.
Vlad: When you say no mercy...
Head Councilman Cromwell: We mean our aim is to kill.
Councilman Cromwell held Vlad's gaze, an unsure expression plastered across his features.
Head Council Cromwell: ... Is that not the usual protocol, sir?
Vlad tried his best to not seem too shocked at this, to keep a neutral expression, but he had a funny feeling that he was failing terribly at it.
Vlad: Is it? Er... right. Yeah. But... I mean doesn't that seem a little...harsh?
Head Councilam Cromwell: Harsh, sir? You always like to say that there's no such word.
Vlad: Er, right. But, surely it would be better to- I don't know- Let them live? Make an example of them?
Head Councilman Cromwell: Public execution is how we make an example of them, sir. It's the way it has always been.
Vlad sighed. He wasn't getting anywhere. He had a feeling that no argument he made would persaude the council of a different course of action. He felt like banging his head against a brick wall. Repeatedly. But he couldn't exactly do that here. He sighed again. Cromwell looked at Vlad warily, as if were attempting to walk on eggshells.
Head Councilman Cromwell: Grand High Vampire... er your highness... Have I upset you?
Vlad: No, no. You haven't.
Vlad smiled. This seemed to make Councilman Cromwell even more wary and nervous. In fact, as he studied the expression of the council, he concluded that they all seemed rather creeped out by it. Was it that unsual for him to smile in this world? He let the smile drop, trying to maintain a neutral expression for the rest of the council meeting. It was pretty uneventful after that, and if he had raised any suspicion... well... They all seemed to scared of him to point anything out.
Xxx
2 DAYS LATER
It had been a few days since Vlad had seen Erin. He'd holed himself up in his room, trying to block out the world. The only people he really talked to at the moment were Bertrand and his Dad. He realised he should stop avoiding Erin. First of all, it was raising suspicion, and second of all, he should really talk everything out with her. He just felt so ashamed. Ashamed of something he hadn't even really done. The other him did it. Did that even make sense? To feel guilty for something another version of yourself did? He wasn't sure, but he still felt that shame. Through everything he had learned of himself so far, he wasn't the greatest guy. Not someone he would want to associate with. Not someone he would ever want to be. He sighed, deep in thought, and walked over to Erin's room. He knocked, waiting anxiously for her to open the door. She answered the door a few seconds later, smiling as she saw Vlad. Though the smile seemed... forced. Fake. Vlad mimicked her smile, wanting his to be real, but felt like his smile was forced as well. She seemed a little taken aback to see him smile and her smile faltered for a couple of seconds before she plastered it back on, pretending like she had never stopped smiling in the first place. Vlad chose to ignore it and instead took a deep, unneccessary breath, preparing himself for what he came here for.
Vlad: Erin... I think we should talk... about what happened the other day...
Erin's smiled dropped and her expression grew into one of worry.
Erin: Did I- Did I do something wrong? Did I not please you? I'll do better next time, I swear! I am but your faithful servant, master.
She batted her eyelashes at him, running her hand up and down his chest, seemingly trying to seduce him.
Vlad: No, Erin. You didn't do anything wrong. I just wanted to- Wait... Did you just call me master? And since when are you my servant?
Erin looked up at him through her long, thick lashes.
Erin: Yes. I am always your loyal servant. And you like it when I call you master, don't you?
Vlad was starting to feel really confused about all this. He frowned.
Vlad: I-
Her hands began travelling further and further down. Vlad, eyes wide, removed her hands and held them at her side.
Vlad: Erin. No! I just want to talk!
She obeyed, standing still.
Erin: Well, that's not very like you... You've been acting really strange lately... Nice, even. You're starting to creep me out a little.
Vlad: Look, I don't mean to creep you out...
Erin: Really? The Vlad I know would be all over me. Would be finding new ways to torture and beat me. Would be torturing innocent civillians, draining them, mocking them, scaring them, leaving bodies everywhere, no disregard for human life, or vampire life for that matter! I mean-
She clasped her hands over her mouth in disbelief of what she had just blurted out. She cowered, holding her hands above her head to shield herself as if she thought he was going to hit her.
Erin: I'm so sorry! I didn't mean-
Vlad: Erin! I'm not mad. But... Is that really what I'm like?
Erin looked at him, obviously not sure how to answer and wanted to answer correctly in fear for herself, for her life.
Vlad: Please, just answer honestly.
Erin: Y-yes... Yes, that's what your'e like...
She braced herself again, thinking he would hit her. Vlad just nodded and walked out of the castle. He walked into the darkness, taking in the night air. He looked up at the stars. He hated everything he had heard about himself in this universe. This universe's version of him was a complete dictator. Someone who could kill without remorse and had no regard for any sort of life. That was someone he never wanted to be. But how different was he, really? In his world he had killed his best friend, turned an unwilling Erin into a vampire and changed the whole world to suit his own selfish needs and wants. Now, he had gone on dates with Erin and felt something for her, when he already had a girlfriend. A girlfriend who had considered the love of his life. And now, here he was, just letting the girl he loved fade into nothing... Could he really say he was any better?
Xxx