Chapter 2

"What do we have first period, anyway?" Erin asked, fixing her tie. After all the years of having to wear one she still couldn't do it up; so she'd gotten Vlad to. He'd made it too tight; it was cutting off the circulation to her brain.

"Err…" Vlad replied as he located his timetable in his locker. He sighed, "… Great, history." He said sarcastically, before looking over at Erin, "What are you doing? I just did that up."

They were in the school corridor at Vlad's locker, collecting his things. They had already been to Erin's locker; which was closer to the Dracula's… sorry, "The Count family's" quarters.

"Do you keep forgetting that I can breathe or something, Vlad?"

Vlad smirked at her as she tried to undo the knot he had done up in frustration as his dad,

"Here, hold these." He handed his books over to Erin, who piled them on top of hers.

"… These things are an occupational health and safety hazard." Erin stated once Vlad had loosened it and she had handed back his books.

"So is having a bunch of vampires living in a school…"

"Yeah, well…" Erin sympathised, punching Vlad's arm, "At least they're controllable... most of the time."

Vlad looked sceptical. He really couldn't trust Ingrid and Bertrand any more. They had deserted him when he needed them… more than once.

"Erin!"

The couple deflated. It was Miss McCauley.

"Miss McCauley." Vlad sighed in greeting.

"Good morning, Vlad." Miss McCauley replied, before acknowledging Erin, "Erin, may I have a word?"

"Err… sure." Erin stole a look at Vlad. He took her books.

"I'll meet you in history."

"Ok." Erin replied, slightly reluctantly.

"In my office, please." Miss McCauley gestured down the hall.

Erin followed obediently into the small room, taking a seat opposite her head teacher in a comfortable, yet slightly awkward silence.

"Erin," She shuffled through some papers; obviously it was Erin's file, "I couldn't help but notice that you've been away for two whole weeks."

Erin attempted to say something, but Alex interrupted, "Now, I know school is a little hard when you're dyslexic, but there are people that can help you through that, Erin."

What had this got to do with her extremely minor case of Dyslexia?

"Miss McCauley, I thought The Count-," She corrected herself, "… Mr Count told you I was going to my uncle's for two weeks…" it was a lie; but she had to think fast.

"No, he didn't."

"Did Vlad?"

"…No…" Miss McCauley looked quizzical, "Strangely, all I could get from him was that he didn't know and he didn't care."

"Oh, it must have… slipped their minds." Erin said, rather wounded… Vlad must have been angry with her.

"Hmm… well-" Miss McCauley was interrupted conveniently by The Count, "Ahh, Mr Count. Erin, you may go to class. "

"Thank you, Miss." Erin attempted to squeeze past The Count but he was blocking the way. He was most defiantly there to discuss last night's 'bonfire' with Miss McCauley.

"Erin." He acknowledged.

"Mr Count." She put on a pleading face. He couldn't tell her the real reason she hadn't been at school for the last two weeks. Erin wished she was a vampire at that moment, then she could telepathically tell him to say that she had been at her uncle's and he had forgotten to mention it.

The Count eventually moved out of the way and Erin walked slowly down the quiet corridors to her history room.

Vlad raised his hand almost awkwardly.

"Yes, Vlad."

"Umm… could I ask why we are learning about vampires, Mr Smith." He said, looking at the blackboard.

Mr Smith rolled his eyes,

"As I said Vladimir; this unit is about myths and legends in folklore."

"Sorry, sir." This was just getting weird. First Bertrand had put him on extra vampire history lessons rather than training after the incident with Sethius, and now he was being forced to learn about his supposed absence of existence in school. He hit his head on the desk. What was this? Whatever it was it was bound to be about as untruthful as Ingrid… excellent.

At that moment Erin entered the class. Vlad's mood brightened.

"Erin, finally decided to join us, have you?"

Erin took no notice of Mr Smith's comment and took her seat next to Vlad, opening her workbook.

"Now, I want you to read this handout and answer the questions on the back of the sheet. It is pretty basic, so anything you don't get done now will be homework." Mr Smith said as he handed out the sheets of white paper.

Erin read the heading; Vampire myths and legends. She looked to Vlad, who had already begun to read the two-page handout.

"…Oh, wow." He stated, appalled.

"What?"

"They have no idea…" This was really quite hilarious.

"What have they done?"

"Okay… So apparently- I'm a legend- not that we didn't know that already…"

This comment only gained him another punch from Erin.

"And dad is the most fearsome and powerful vampire of all and… lives in a Castle in Transylvania… "He paused, reading on,

"Where he terrorises the local peasants… and their teddies…"

Erin smiled, remembering the story of Mr Cuddles the second.

"Until they come after him and his son with… an angry peasant mob…"

Erin turned to look at Becky; who was answering the first question.

"Oh, and he has one son and… he eats slayers for breakfast." At least it was half believable…

"Oh, great… very reassuring…"

Vlad put the handout down, "… If only it was true…" He said, facing Erin.

"Why?" In Erin's mind it was a good thing it was true… in a way.

"According to this, Sethius doesn't exist."

"If only…" Erin whispered loud enough only for Vlad's ears.

"Vlad! Would you please be quiet?"

"Sorry, Sir."

This didn't really bother Vlad. He could telepathically talk to Erin anyway, not that she could reply…

"Bertrand would be disappointed…" Vlad broadcast into her mind making her jump slightly, "We should show him this… maybe we could get a smile out of him…"

Erin snorted quietly, gaining a look from Becky… and Mr Smith.

"Erin…" Mr Smith warned in an annoyed tone.

Erin looked back to her work and completed her questions in silence, with the odd input from Vladimir.