Burning another empty bottle to hide his evidence, Vlad sighs and picks up 'The Vampire Times' once more.
'Chosen One turns 18 soon!'
Great - he thought. Alerting everyone to the fact that he wasn't at his full strength yet was not ideal but Vlad did welcome the challenge. With 1000 reflections inside of him, he had no doubt that he could take on anyone. Vlad was confused on how he could become much more powerful. Vlad read on
In two months time, our Grand High Vampire, the Chosen One, Vladimir Dracula will be turning 18. Reaching his full powers, our leader will become an unstoppable force of nature, a fearless leader!
Vlad noticed that because the image of his face was rather large, the article as a result was incredibly short.
Like you, we at The Vampire Times are curious about Vlad's preparations for his special day. What does he plan to do, is he still living in England, what does he plan to do with his powers? Please contact us on 13-666-7 with any information that you have.
'Ughh' Vlad ripped out the number and set the rest of the paper on fire. Who do they think they are? Vlad knew that someone in Garside was bound to contact them, he knew that his face would be printed over the front page every week now until his birthday. The only way to stop the rumours that were bound to spiral, would be to address this head on. Vlad knew his strength, he could deal with a couple of reporters …
13-666-7
'You have reached The Vampire Times. Press 1 to share information about Vladi-'
1
The phone clicked through to a real vampire.
'Good Evening, what information do you have for us regarding Vladimir Dracula'
'Hello, I am Vladimir Dracula, I'd like to meet!'
There was silence and Vlad rolled his eyes. He realised that there were probably others that phoned up, pretending to be him and this would not be very convincing.
'Hello your highness. Meet us at The Duke of Argyll in Soho, London tomorrow at 11PM'
The phone cut off.
Vlad suspected that they believed him to be an imposter but they were giving him a chance as he could have information for them.
The Duke of Argyll was a well known blood bank in central london. It would be busy and a perfect place to expose a fake Vladimir Dracula.
Vlad walked up to the pub slowly, savouring the cautious glances he was getting from a few vampires chatting outside of the pub. They sensed his power, his strength, radiating off him like a drug. As Vlad opened the door he heard one of them say 'Wait, oh bats wait, is that the …'
On opening the door, the waft of blood hit his nostrils. A mixture of fresh blood oozing out of the barrells and dried blood that lurked in small amounts on almost every surface. He smirked, surprised that he had never visited this enchanting place before but he supposed it was out of character for him … at least for what people thought he was like.
At first, no one in the room batted an eyelid at his entrance but after a few seconds of Vlad remaining at the entrance and surveying the room and everyone in it, a few eyes wandered his way, including the muscular man behind the bar. He was the first to react with a shocked expression. The reporter sitting in the private room out the back had informed him that she was waiting for the 'Chosen One' but they had both been confident that he was likely a fake. It had been the fifth time that the 'Chosen One' had come to his pub now.
Stepping forward and out from behind the bar, he came to greet the new arrival. Vlad noticed the twitch in his eyes, the only visible sign of his fear as he approached closer. By now, a few more members of the pub were staring at Vlad, sporting the same shocked look. A few of them started to talk about him but Vlad tuned them out.
'Welcome to The Duke of Argyll your grandness'
'Thanks' Vlad muttered. 'Is the reporter here yet?'
'Follow me'
As Vlad walked past a few tables of vampires, he noticed their heads bowing and one table in particular caught his eye. A group of 3 vampires, table full of empty glasses, bowing their heads reluctantly with smirks beaming across their faces. An interesting reaction - Vlad thought.
The man opened a door and gestured for Vlad to enter, before leaving Vlad on his own.
Vlad stepped inside, the door shutting quickly behind him and noticed the reporter sitting around a small square table, notepad resting on the table with a pen in her hand. She was dressed in black jeans with a ripped black Sleeping with Sirens shirt on. Vlad was curious about her rather breather appearance. On her belt, a small but sharp wooden stake was attached. Vlad supposed this reporter may have killed some fakes before but that did not bother him.
The reporter slowly looked up. Suddenly, she noticed it. The waves of strength oozing out of him and warning her about his cold and youthful appearance. Deadly but entrancing.
'Good evening' he said, putting his hand out to greet her.
Stunned, this was actually the chosen one, she had got an EXCLUSIVE with the chosen one and she was all alone … who would believe her.
Composing herself, she stood up and took his hand.
'Alina Andrei - a pleasure to meet you, your highness'
Vlad had received lots of training from Betrand in the past about concealing his thoughts and expressions from others when he needed to focus on the job at hand. It was something he still needed practice on at times but he was becoming an expert in recognising when others were attempting the same. He saw Alina fidget with her fingers behind her back, he noticed the muscles in her legs tensing - attempting to hide her fear, and he noticed the slight waiver in her voice as she said 'meet you' suggesting Vlad's theories about her suspecting him to be a fake - to be true.
'You have no reason to fear me Alina, I am fed up of all the rumours that circle me and seeing my face in the papers. I want to put an end to the speculation and I thought the best approach would be to meet you myself, for you to get the information straight from the source.'
Alina tried her best to hide her shock and excitement but it was all too much and her eyes widened with interest. They sat down and she glanced at her list of questions that she wasn't expecting to actually have to ask. If they knew that the chosen one was actually coming, they probably would have sent a more experienced reporter who was more fearless.
'So your highn-'
'Vlad'
'So … Vlad, thank you for meeting with me, what can I get you to drink?' She smirked, confidence flooding back when she realised that this was Vlad in front of her, the famous vampire who was scared of blood …
Vlad simply rolled his eyes.
'If I were thirsty, I would have already asked for a drink. Thank you for your concern … but I shall be alright'
The reporter did not know how to respond to this. What was he referring to when he said drink?
'Are you still pursuing your SCRAP programme?'
'The SCRAP programme was … is, a valuable programme to support our most vulnerable to reintegrate into society and live in respectable homes. The first round enabled us to evaluate what was working and what could be improved.'
Vlad spoke clearly and confidently, like a politician coming up to an election. Despite looking like a 14 year old, he spoke like a 60 year old who was wise and calculating.
'While I am not running a programme right at this moment, I do plan to roll out the programme across the country in the future'.
'What is stopping you from doing that now, your high- Vlad'
'I have my reasons'
It was a short answer, one she did not expect but she knew it would not be wise to press him further.
'What are your plans for your 18th birthday?'
'Honestly, I am not big on birthdays. I am sure my dad will make the day special in some way or another. This whole 'come into my full powers' nonsense is not a big deal. I've already faced my reflections and I can't see that I'll change all that much.'
Vlad was trying to make his 18th seem less of a big deal, to reduce the reporting about it but he had slipped up. Reflections … he hadn't meant to say that and he hadn't meant to sound so ignorant to vampire culture. Ugh, he was too quick to speak his mind, too angry at times. Bertrand said that his temper was his weakness. Vlad hoped that the reporter hadn't noticed …
She had and she paused. 'Reflections. What do you mean reflectionsss' She emphasised the s.
Vlad chose to ignore her pronunciation and act cool, putting a mask over his face.
'Facing my reflection gave me a large surge of power, more than the crown of power did on the day I became recognised as the chosen one. I understand that my 18th birthday will provide me with another surge but I do not believe it will be as significant as my last'
'You didn't answer my question Vlad. It has been rumoured throughout vampire history that some vampires, great vampires, have multiple reflections, making them more deadly and more cruel. Are you suggesting that you had multiple, it wouldn't be surprising knowing who you are'
'Yes I do' Vlad responded coldly. He couldn't lie about this but equally he was not going to address how many he had. If everyone knew how powerful he really was, he would become even more isolated and treated wildly different.
'Okay then. So a relaxed birthday with your family, made special by your dad.'
Vlad nodded.
'Do you feel safe? Leading up to your birthday, although you suggest it is insignificant, many will believe you are currently at your weakest, before you become untouchable.'
'I- ' before Vlad could even begin to start talking the door crashed open. Before Vlad could even look up, three men stood directly in front of him, to the left of the table. Vlad recognised these men as the three that smirked at him in the pub. Behind them were 10 more, dressed fully in black with evil smirks on their faces.
Vlad eyed them carefully and noticed the distinct BB ring on each of their ring fingers. Members of the blood brotherhood … great.
Vlad sighs, loudly, prompting a few members to reduce their smirk to a thin line of disapproval. The reporter next to him tenses up, every muscle in her legs becoming as hard as ice. She clearly was not expecting this encounter and was out of her league.
Making eye contact with the man that Vlad considered to be the most powerful and central of the group, Vlad begrudgingly asks 'What do you want?'
The reporter shifts nervously in her seat in response to Vlad's dark but cool tone that shows so little interest in the powerful men surrounding them.
'Your ashes' the member responds.
Before the member of the blood brotherhood could speak his next words, all the men dropped to the floor, collapsing on their knees and clutching their stomachs, wincing in pain. Vlad smirked, they were tough, they refused to scream but they were at his mercy.
'And how do you plan on doing that' Vlad responds, smirking even more cruelly and maintaining his control over all 13 members in the room.
The nervous reporter scribbles down notes. Vlad does his best to ignore her, she wasn't worth his time and setting her notepad on fire would likely make the news articles worse. Internally he sighed, it would have been better for his image if he hadn't come.
Bravely, one of the members at the back of the room makes an attempt to speak but under excruciating pain, it comes out as a mumbled moan. Vlad studied his angry expression and the man exploded into ashes.
Vlad had no patience for the Blood Brotherhood. They had been after him and his family for years and there was no talking out of situations. The best approach was violence with them and boy did Vlad enjoy the violence. He would never admit it and always suppressed it but deep inside, destroying the blood brotherhood would bring him so much joy.
'Will his ashes do, or do you need some more?' Vlad asked, showing a curious face as if he genuinely wanted an answer.
All members of the blood brotherhood looked at the floor. Shame, they didn't have much fight in them today. Perhaps Vlad had reacted too quickly? He would pretend to be weaker the next time.
Vlad stands up and gestures to the reporter 'come'.
Vlad winks at the member that is standing in the doorway and he explodes into ash. Dusting off the ash that landed on his shirt, Vlad pushes the door and enters back into the pub.
Whispers immediately stopped as every single vampire in the pub turned to face Vlad. He ignored them and walked straight to the door. The vampire guarding it was another member of the Blood Brotherhood but he immediately moved out of the way, not wanting to be dusted by just a wink. He must have heard the exchanges that Vlad had with his colleagues.
Once they step out of the pub, Vlad grabs the reporter's hand and flies them to a field overlooking the London skyline. The reporter recognised it as Alexandra Palace … how had they got there so quick!
'Apologies Alina, for putting you in danger there, those bastards won't give up, they're so irritating.'
Vlad quickly realised that his choice of language was probably not ideal considering his every word could end up in tomorrow's paper. He internally shrugged and realised that it didn't matter anyways.
'Best of luck with your report'
'It is a risky business, I knew what I was getting myself into, I just have one more -'
Vlad flies off before the reporter can ask a final question. She shrugs and sits on the grass, staring at the stars. She had just met The Chosen One, she had just interviewed him and he had just saved her. Not only that, she had witnessed his extraordinary power first hand. Oh how the other vampires at the vampire times would be jealous and she had a whole pub of people to back up her story.
On arriving back at garside, Vlad slams his door and reaches straight under his sofa for the only thing he could truly trust to support him … blood.