Chapter 16:
The Count was sitting reading his newspaper while Ivan was playing chess with Malik, Ingrid was reading the latest copy of Fang Magazine with Olga painting her nails. Renfield at that moment entered the Room with his silver trolley of refreshments. "What news of my son, it has been over a week" the Count demanded.
"Master Vlad is recovering nicely Your Magnificence; he will be back to full strength in no time" Renfield grovelled.
"For your sake that better be true" the Count said with menace.
It was at this moment that Malik got up and flashed out of the room before returning almost immediately brandishing a piece of paper. "Well, are you going to tell us what that is you are holding or are you trying to give us all paper cuts," Ingrid said sharply.
"This dearest sister is the address where those rogue slayers are hiding" Malik said as he presented it to his father, the Prince of Darkness. The Count took the paper and stood with such force that all of Garside Grange shook with thunder and lightning. "Come brother, my son, we have a hunt to prepare for" the Count announced as Ivan smiled a smile that was all fang and Malik smirked at Ingrid before the three of them flashed out of the room "Show-offs" Ingrid muttered.
The Count, Ivan and Malik arrived outside the address that Malik's vampires had tracked the slayers to. Malik was about to tell his father and uncle his plan to trick the slayers and get them to come outside when he noticed that something was wrong. The door to the house was ajar and the scent of blood was heavy and thick in the air. The Count and Ivan had noticed this as well. They all approached the door with caution and then Malik extended his arm gingerly through the open doorway waiting for the inevitable jolt of pain and pushback sensation that came when a vampire tried to enter a human dwelling uninvited. The expected backlash never came so he pushed the door open fully and proceeded inside followed by the Count and Ivan. The scene that greeted them was not what any of them had expected to see. The room they had walked into was completely covered in blood and bits of people. Arms and legs were scattered everywhere, and the three vampire's eyes went black with hunger as they gazed at the aftermath of slaughter before them. Malik noticed a pile of heads stacked neatly in the corner of the room. The Count and Ivan had gathered in front of the only intact and whole body in the room. When Malik noticed he came to stand next to his father and after taking a good look at the dead slayer announced, "That was the leader of this little group". The Count didn't appear to hear so focused was he on the sword that was pinning the dead slayer to the wall.
The Count was transfixed by the sword, for he recognised it. He'd had it forged and crafted for Vlad's last birthday and it was a beautiful sword with the hilt embossed with the Dracula coat of arms. Only for Vlad to go on another of his normal life rants but now here it was the instrument of the carnage that had taken place in that room. Which meant Vlad was the architect of this slaughter. The Count withdrew the sword from the man's chest and watched as he slid to the floor leaving a trail of blood on the wall.
The Count returned to Garside in a rage, the building shook as he stalked down the corridors until he finally found his target. He burst into the room to find Vlad and Ingrid sharing a bottle of blood over a chess game. The Count walked over to them and slammed the blood-encrusted sword onto the chess set sending the pieces flying. "Something you want to tell me, Vladimir"
"Is that my sword? I've been looking for that" Vlad said with an air feigned innocence
"You are supposed to be healing, resting but instead I find your sword impaling a dead slayer to a wall, your stupid boy you were nearly a pile of dust not one week ago and now instead of waiting to regain your full strength you go and pick a fight with the same slayer who nearly – I despair I really do" the Count ranted.
"And yet they are dead, and I am not," Vlad said
"That is not the point Vladimir, you will not set one fang outside this house until I say so," the Count said
"WHAT! You cannot be serious" Vlad exclaimed
"Never more so, you will not leave until I am satisfied you are fully recovered" the Count said.
Ingrid found Malik in the corridor leading to the Mirror room. "And where do you think you're going" Ingrid demanded as she threw him against the wall.
"Is this not the way the blood cellar?"
"It is not as you dam well know, now get out of here and be grateful it was me that caught you and not Vlad, the mood he's in you'd be lucky to make it out with all your limbs attached" Ingrid said menacingly as she led her brother back the way he came.
"He in a bad mood, is he?"
"Apocalyptic"