To be able to understand some of the events in this story you will have to read it's prequel. It's poorly written but if you don't read it you won't understand some of the events in this one.

Disclaimer: In Chapter 1

Sorry it's so short and I haven't updated in a while it's just a bit hectic at the moment. Also my internet is a little erratic. Sorry.

Here is the next chapter.

Chapter 3: Judge, Jury and Secret Keeper

Vlad had taken an unsteady Erin back to his house, although it technically was her house too as she was a permanent resident there. Ryan stood in the corner of the throne room keeping a close eye on his sister. He knew why she was more shaken up than him at their sister's reappearance.

Vlad handed, a now seated Erin, a mug of hot chocolate; it was the only other thing they had besides different varieties of blood and Vlad knew Erin wouldn't want those.

Erin carefully took it from his hands giving him a grateful smile as she did so. Her smile quickly faltered as the Count almost word for word repeated what Ryan had recently asked her.

"Are you sure she was there?"

Erin rolled her eyes at him before an annoyed glare appeared in them.

"I know what I saw. I saw my dead little sister talking and living and breathing. She can't be here... but she is." Erin's eyes began to water again.

Vlad wrapped an arm around her shoulders pulling her in closer.

"Well that's settled then no creepy ghost sister back from the dead." The Count rose from his throne preparing to leave the room.

"Wait." Everyone turned to face Vlad waiting for the reason he stopped his father from leaving. "It's been done before, resurrection; I brought back Renfield's dad remember.

"Why did you bring back Renfield's dad?" Erin asked him. She didn't see any reason to bring back Renfield's dad; one Renfield was clumsy enough.

Vlad gave her a look that clearly said 'I'll tell you later'. He didn't want his dad knowing the real reason he'd brought Renfield's dad back.

"It's easy to do; you just need the right stuff." Vlad continued. "You could probably buy it at any 'Bats and Blood' shop."

Erin gave him a slightly incredulous look before taking a sip of her hot chocolate.

"So what you're saying is... someone's brought our sister back from the dead." Ryan stepped out of the shadows coming to stand behind his sister, resting his hands on the back of the sofa.

"Seems like it." Vlad replied.

Vlad looked at Erin who had seemed to have discovered a newfound interest in the floor.

"Erin." He said slightly shaking her in a futile endeavor to get her attention. "Erin." He tried again this time snapping her out of her contemplation.

"Hmmm." She said shaking her head as if to clear the thoughts out of it.

Vlad could tell she was hiding something but didn't want to ask her in front of everyone else.

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Concurrently, the now absconding felon decided it was time to indulge in a few unmerited superfluities.

Starting with the reprisal of the citadel that be an asylum of fortification for those who condemned and chastened the aforementioned unconfined predator whose depravities include sedition and subversion.

The sky darkened as the predator prepared to pounce on his prey, the aroma of their blood overpowering his senses. All sense of caution was lost and carelessness overtook them. They attacked.

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Ryan, Ingrid and the Count remained in the throne room as Ryan told them about Tiana's past, Renfield was watching Wolfie, much to his irritation and Vlad had taken a now reticent Erin back to her room.

Erin knew that Vlad could sense her hesitancy to talk about Tiana. She knew he would ask why, she just didn't have an answer.

Finally, the silence was shattered.

"Are you ok?" Vlad asked, he wanted to ask her what she wasn't telling him but he decided it was a little too soon for that. His face took on an untainted look of sincere concern.

Erin noticed this and realized she couldn't keep snubbing him. "No." She replied, tears threatening to scald her eyes as she slowly turned to face him.

Vlad could see the hurt and sorrow in her eyes and immediately pulled her into a hug.

Erin held back tears as she endeavoured to stay strong in front of Vlad.

Erin slowly pulled away her eyes red and puffy with unshed tears.

Erin walked over to the wall, sliding down until she was seated; Vlad mirrored her, looping his arm around her waist pulling her in closer.

Erin rested her head on Vlad's shoulder, burying herself deeper into his side.

"She wasn't just my sister," She began. "We were best friends, inseparable. She was the only person I could really trust, with things you can't tell your parents. I told her everything, every nightmare, every secret, everything."

Vlad gently stroked her waist with his thumb, in a supportive fashion, letting her know that, come what may, he would always stand by her. He wanted to comfort her; he just didn't know what to say. So he just held her.

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"Why did you bring Renfield's dad back?" Erin asked again, knowing he could now answer her. Vlad removed his arm from Erin's waist and ran his fingers through his hair.

"It was one of my feeble attempts to get out of becoming a vampire. I found this book that Renfield's dad had written and there was a recipe thing that removed the curse of being a vampire."

"So why didn't you do it yourself?"

"The page I needed was missing; I thought if I brought Renfield's dad back he would remember what was needed and help me."

"I sense a but."

"But, he lied and alomst killed Robin, he just wanted to become immortal and kill all of us, us being me and my family."

"Oh. I take it your dad doesn't know about the whole 'get out of becoming a vampire' thing."

"No." He turned to face Erin, looking deeply into her eyes. "I'd prefer it if it stayed that way."

"My lips are sealed."

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After a few minutes of contented silence a knock at the door drew them apart. The knock however, was not on the door to Erin's room, but on the door to the focal quarters. Vlad helped Erin to stand up before taking her hand in his, lacing their fingers together, as they strolled towards the Throne Room.

Although the sight they saw when they got there wasn't a welcome one.

"Tiana?"

TBC

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