So this chapter is short, and probably not one of my greatest achievements but it is short due to the cliff-hanger at the end where this story is about to pitch headfirst into darkness.

Here's the prologue to the Bad Vlad that many of you have been waiting for.

Enjoy.

Chapter Eight – Fire

Vlad was left with a problem. He'd gotten to the statue, he'd rendered unconscious any one in his way and now all that was left was to leave with the statue.

Leave. Yeah, like that's going to happen. What Vlad had expected to be a fairly small statue was solid stone in the shape of Portae Inferi and, it was about a foot taller than him. Forgot one vampire, it would take at least three to manage that statue and he didn't even have long to get it out.

Then he had yet another fantastic idea, one that would allow him to leave with the statue clenched in his fist. He flexed his wrists and took some, useless, deep breaths. He thrust his hand in the direction and was delighted when a green light shot from his outstretched palm.

It hit the statue and it began to shrink, a few seconds later all that was sat in front of him was a grey rock.

He snatched it off the floor and left the vault.

Oh. Vlad thought as he looked at the two corridors he could go down. How the hell do I actually get out?

Maja-Keht had given him an express route into the place, wherever the hell that was, but she hadn't thought to give him any kind of exit route and so now he was sunk. As it was however, it turned out there were simple answers to his issues and he just hypnotised one of the guards to tell him. It was rather embarrassing really.

It was fairly simple to escape without being spotted and with a combination of crawling on the ceiling, turning into a bat and turning to smoke Vlad found himself at street level with little issue.

He stepped outside.

Then, he started to smoke.

A golden sun was beating down on England with surprising ferocity causing Vlad to run for shelter for fear of bursting into flames. He glared out at the street from his new hidey-hole, suddenly feeling very angry with Maja-Keht for her to just dump him into this. Then he realised that this was the price for being turned into a full vampire and he felt even angrier, as he didn't even want to be transformed, again!

The bright day left Vlad isolated and he was forced to stay hidden in his alleyway for hours until a storm cloud conveniently started pelting England. The burning sun had departed by then but it left Vlad with a wonder as to whether a rainbow would burn him.

Vlad took the opportunity of the lack of sun to turn into a bat and fly back to Maja-Keht in the Vampire High Council dungeons.

She was waiting for him in her chambers.

"Here." He growled placing the rock on the table. The mystic's eyes flickered with interest as she observed the silvery stone.

"So the rumours are true, the Chosen One can zone." With a smile Maja-Keht plucked the rock off the table and placed it into a fold in her clothes. "I think I'll keep it in this form."

"Can we go and let my friends out now?" He scowled as the mystic seemed to be behaving as if they were friends and they certainly weren't.

"Certainly, just let me get something," Vlad didn't see what she went to get but waited somewhat impatiently as she returned with a jar.

She raised her eyebrows at him when he gave it an odd look.

Eventually his curiosity got the better of him. "What's that?"

Maja-Keht smiled, as if she appreciated his interest. "This is the container of animabus." She fiddled with the stone cap. "It is made to house souls."

He really should have caught on then.

They walked down to the lower dungeons together and Vlad realised she hadn't pulled out any kind of keys.

Second sign.

When they reached the dungeons Maja-Keht placed her jar on a table with the lid left off. Vlad frowned at the dungeon as it looked rather different. Salt had been dumped pretty much everywhere, Robin and Jonno's cells had been circled with the salt and there was one circle in the centre of the room.

Third sign.

He took several steps in and glanced around. "Wha-"

He didn't have time to finish as Maja-Keht grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him into the centre circle.

"What is going on?" He managed to say this time.

Maja-Keht smiled. "I am finishing the deal." She pressed her hand to his chest and chanted. The words floated in the air and surrounded Vlad.

Then he felt the pull.

An agonised yell was ripped from Vlad's throat as his entire body felt like it was bursting into flames. He glanced up helplessly into Maja-Keht's golden eyes. "Wh-a-"

The mystic had a slightly apologetic look on her face. "We are removing your soul." As there was another pull Vlad's body jerked suddenly and he was able to see the jar.

It was being filled. Clear white ribbons swirling inside the glass. Vlad turned back to Maja-Keht his face contorted in pain. "Wh-hy?"

"It was the deal." She shrugged before turning to her minions. "Bring some blood, and the strongest human painkillers you can find." She glanced back at the vampire. "Having your soul ripped from you is one of the most excruciating pains that can be experienced without losing sanity."

Vlad screwed his eyes shut. It felt like everything that made him Vlad was holding on for dear life as darkness clawed at their feet.

The pulling continued and Vlad's back arched in agony.