For once, I have a valid excuse.
Just as I was getting into a rhythm school fudges it up! Scratch updating weekly – due to my current workload and overload of homework I am going to have to resume my old method = upload whenever I can.
This means I could upload once a month or 4 times but I will try my best to keep it weekly.
Reviewer Monarchs: Skeletal Princess and Cecld16.
The group stood in the school foyer looking like the manipulative bastards they were. As Ingrid sauntered down the lobby stairs Ingrid smiled, teeth lips parting, and teeth glittering in a false reflection of greeting.
The five were the highest intelligence (apparently) the vampire world could offer, they made all the decisions and it was the duty of lesser vampires to suffer the consequences for their foolish actions.
Ingrid gave one last flash of flawless teeth before her crimson lips curled into an emotionless smile. "Let me show you to the training room," before she rescinded the stairs.
Once settled and drinking a number of the Count's most precious vintages Ingrid seated herself opposite the group with a devilish smirk.
"So… Down to business then?"
Phaelyss, a youthful yet devious vampire from Asia winked at her while Valtov, a more senior member of the council, glared.
"Where is the Chosen One?!" He demanded, fangs flashing behind wrinkly lips.
Ingrid leaned back in her chair, leather rippling across her skin in a catlike manner, and rolled her eyes. "Always looking for Vlad? Aren't you fed up of arguing with that freak yet?"
Then she explained her brother's entire situation.
"That is why I am the perfect candidate for replacing him... and why it's common sense to dispose of that breather lover."
The council members looked between each other and Ingrid's lips parted for another toothy insincere grin.
"I'll leave you to confer."
Vlad was unceremoniously pulled off the sofa when his father flitted into the throne room.
"You need to talk to the council!" The elder vampire's nose wrinkled in disgust as he flapped his arms illegible gestures. "Just make them clear off back to Transylvania!"
Then he was gone, and Vlad was left to sway briefly and wonder how the hell he was meant to solve this mess.
He still had no clear plan of explanation once he reached the throne room, hoping that his Chosen One status would be enough to bail him out. When he entered five vampires stared at him, each with calculating dark eyes and taut lips. It made Vlad want to shiver.
"What are you doing here?" Vlad asked and the room bristled.
An elderly vampire sat near the front of the group huffed, like a Robin inflating its feathers. "We are here to deal with the slayer situation!"
"It's fine!" Vlad exclaimed. "I can easily reinstate the treaty – Jonno won't be that hard to convince."
"We don't want the treaty reinstated!" The vampire snarled back. "We want to take revenge against the revolutionaries who have decided to start slaying our kind again!"
"No!" The Chosen One slammed his palms on the table. "We can do this peacefully, there doesn't need to be any bloodshed."
A vampire, more youthful in appearance than the first, got to his feet. "Two of my cousins were killed here a week ago searching for you! There will be no peace – they must die."
"You don't have the authority to overwhelm me," Vlad told him angrily. "I can sort this out – we don't need to fight them."
"And how do you plan on doing that?" Valtov was speaking again, spittle flying from between his lips as he snapped. "Our sources have informed us that you have been crippled by the slayers - what you can you do?"
"I can talk to them!"
"And ask what?" The elder hit the table with his palm furiously. "Because of your inaction - they have the upper hand!"
"I don't know!" Vlad barked at them. "But I'm the Chosen One and you have to listen to me!"
The youthful vampire had spoken out to him previously leered at him. "How do you intend to stop us?"
Vlad snarled, bearing his fangs in response to the challenge. "With these!"
"You have no power - hissing doesn't scare me."
"Maybe this will then!" Vlad thrust his hand out on instinct and the vampire who'd just been insulting him was writhing, a fireball shape sizzling on his chest.
"I am not incapable and you will not step out against me!" He released his hand and the rest of the vampires visibly reared back. "Until I change my mind we try for peace!" Vlad scowled at them, hiding his shaking palm behind his back. "And that is final!"
Doing his best to remain calm he stalked out the room.
What the hell had just happened?
Vlad had never been so glad in his life that the council didn't know his full strength as that fireball was at the level he'd been capable of before he even turned. But even that didn't explain how he was suddenly capable of full fireballs again; before he could barely summon enough power for a candle.
A feeling akin to excitement squirmed in his stomach. Recovery was not something he'd believed in days earlier but now a cry, almost a squeal, of delight danced on his tongue.
The stake dug into his thigh as the vehicle jolted. Jonno winced as his stomach leapt up and down when they passed bump over bump on the road.
The faint orange of sunset dimmed the armoured car interior. The faces of the slayers were cold as they travelled to their destination, the autumn hues from the rising night creating hollow shadows beneath cheekbones and stealing what colour they had. The newbie who had called Jonno up on his feelings for Erin sat opposite him a patch of her cheek mottled blue, purple and yellow.
When he met her eyes she scowled.
He considered murmuring an apology but her words from before reminded him just exactly why he'd slugged her in the cheek.
The stake dug into his side once more and Jonno wondered whether he'd be able to shove it into Vlad.