I actually completed a fic at last recently (it was a HTTYD fic but still) and it had me sitting to look at this one in terms of how much of the fic is done. I'd say we're about halfway through, but I'm hoping it won't take me another thirty chapters to finish... we'll see.
-YD-
Vlad had lost all feeling in his legs by the time Ingrid came out six hours later, even though he'd gotten up and moved for the toilet and snacks now and then. There hadn't been much noise, but that didn't mean anything other than Ingrid hadn't screamed. She watched as he got up awkwardly, legs not too keen on supporting his weight.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Legs gone to sleep. How was it?"
Ingrid shrugged, and Vlad tamped down on the jolt in his gut when she opened her mouth to reveal her brand new fangs, running her tongue over them like every other vampire would.
"Went pretty quick."
"You think?"
Ingrid frowned.
"How long was I in there?"
"About six hours. Not that quick."
"Huh. Didn't feel that long in there."
Vlad made a mental note to leave a stop watch when he eventually went in, out of curiousity for how long it would take versus how long he felt he was in there. Ingrid was obviously still adjusting to her changed body, but Vlad knew she'd be thirsty very soon and had prepared for that eventuality.
"Here, you'll want this."
His dad would probably complain about Vlad stealing from his blood supply, but he was just going to have to get over it. Ingrid needed to feed.
She took the bottle, and Vlad saw that flicker of hesitation. Knowing she'd want blood post-transformation and actually facing the prospect were two very different things.
"Your body has changed, and so have your taste buds. It might not be your favourite blood type, but you won't hate it."
When Ingrid opened the bottle, Vlad felt that strange mix of revulsion and buried hunger, his body aware of the future need for the substance but his mind rebelling against the scent, the idea of drinking blood.
Ingrid had no such issue, one sip turning in to a rather graceless gulping as the taste proved alluring, Ingrid letting out sounds of pleasure as she drained the bottle dry without stopping for... well, she didn't need to stop for breath, Vlad mused.
"Better?"
"Yes. What is this?"
"Type A. Actually, it's your blood type. Or was."
"How do you know that?"
Vlad shrugged.
"Scent. Each blood type and rhesus factor smells different. And tastes different, apparently. Most vamps have a favourite, but we don't usually have a proper blood type. But you had a human parent, so you do. Or did."
Ingrid inclined her head, thinking.
"So what would you come up as if a breather hospital ran your blood?"
"Uh, probably some rare blood type they have never seen before and we have to move... or maybe just whatever the most common is. Vampires don't smell like blood types, even before we transform. We smell sort of vampiric, with just a hint of life before the Mirror."
She leant in toward him a bit and sniffed, then shrugged.
"Now what?"
"Now..." Vlad held up his hand, leaning toward the door upstairs "do you hear something?"
Her hearing would be better than his by far now. Ingrid strained her hearing, nodding.
"The door?"
"I'm not expecting anyone, and I told Robin I couldn't see him today because I had no idea how to explain... this" Vlad gestured between Ingrid and the door to the Mirror room "so yeah, no idea. We better go up and make sure dad isn't killing a local."
Ingrid overshot it a bit and almost flitted herself into the wall, and Vlad advised her not to try that until the night, when she'd have been able to practice outside with less things to run in to. They had plenty of space with the great big hill after all.
"Mum!"
"Ingrid! Happy birthday!"
Young George ran right over and hugged his surprised sister, the Count hovering in the background looking absolutely bewildered.
"Oh, yeah. Thanks."
Vlad hadn't even thought of that; they'd been focused pretty exclusively on just getting Ingrid transformed so she couldn't be found out, not on celebrating birthdays. And neither looked confused or questioning having to come to Ingrid at the castle, so the memory alterations Vlad made seemed to still be sticking.
"Mom made a cake! I taste tested it, it's not a disaster this year."
"George!"
He giggled, hugging Ingrid again.
"You're cold. I guess this castle is kinda drafty though. Come on, presents!"
Vlad hung back, letting Ingrid have her moment with her family but keeping an eye on the Count, to make sure he didn't get any ideas. Sally seemed to have sort of passively accepted the mans presence, which at least avoided the awkward conversation of two people meeting sixteen years and nine months after an ill-advised two-night stand that led to the conception of an illegal half-breed.
And, because his father was predictable and an awful liar, Vlad knew he carried his 'breather torch' for Sally still by the way he watched her, no matter how he denied it. George did head over to bring Vlad cake with a beaming smile, eyes lingering for a second on his neck but Vlad drew his shoulders up to cover himself with his jumper and George soon returned to Ingrid, practically bouncing in his seat. Ingrid was visibly uncomfortable, and Vlad wished he could smuggle her blood so she wouldn't be thirsty with her brother and mother.
"Do we have to go?"
"George, it's getting late. I'm sure we'll see Ingrid again soon."
"Yeah?"
He turned to Ingrid, eyes wide and pleading. She nodded, stroking his hair as he hugged her.
"Yeah."
"Ok then, I guess we can go now."
Ingrid watched them go, face unreadable as she stopped short of letting the final evening sun touch her.
"How am I meant to see them again? I can't even go outside."
"You can when it's dark. We live in Wales, for evils sake. It's not known for long summers."
"I'm not exactly safe to be around."
"You'll learn. And we'll keep you fed before you see them, assuming you want to see them."
Ingrid shrugged, glancing to the cracks at the edge of the window covering, where it was not yet advisable for vampires to roam outdoors.
"I don't know."
Vlad left her to it, eating more cake before Zoltan got eyes on it and ate too much. His dad wouldn't touch it, but Renfield was probably going to finish it. He ate pretty much anything, and Vlad remembered he'd stolen sweets from Vlad's stash before.
Quite aware he was focusing on non-important things to distract himself from the weird day he had had so far, starting with Ingrid on top of him and ending with an impromptu party... Vlad put down the next piece of cake, brushing crumbs off his lap and looking around for Ingrid.
"Can I go outside yet?"
"Uh... give it a few minutes. Get a drink, don't want you running off to murder somebody."
"Spoilsport."
Vlad couldn't help but smile; Ingrid hadn't changed that much.
-YD-
I didn't write anything for an entire week and I wish I could say it left me well rested and full of ideas, but it did not, so here is me trying to get back into it.