Chapter 14:

The Count found himself standing before the entranceway of the abandoned theatre where someone had written in red paint above the doors 'Eternal I endure. All hope abandon, ye who enter here.' The Count thought Dante's Inferno was a bit too sophisticated for the average street fang, so suspicions raised he entered.

Upon entering the main stage area, the Count noticed that the street fangs were all surrounding a table upon which a body was laid out. His curiosity got the better of him and he approached the table and when seeing who it was lying on the table Count Dracula froze in shock and fear at the site of the burned unconscious form of his son. This was broken at the site of who was leaning against the wall. Malik. Anger surged through the Count his eyes flashing red, with thunder booming and lightning flashing. He rushed across the room and grabbed his traitorous son by the throat "YOU!" he hissed

"Wasn't meee" Malik managed to choke through his nearly crushed throat. The Count eased his grip slightly "Explain" he ordered

"Came across him, attacked by slayers, found him like that" Malik wheezed out. The Count released him, and Malik fell to the floor rubbing his throat "Slayers" he hissed in rage. He moved back over to the table with Malik following "Tell me everything" the Count demanded.

"Alright, alright we were tracking a group of rogue slayers who'd attacked me in Paris, I was looking for a spot of revenge you see, when we came across them about to stake Vlad" Malik said. "Vlad is the Chosen One, he's more than a match for a few renegade slayers," the Count said softly stoking Vlad's head. "It seems that they herded him towards a UV mine and then riddled him with garlic-dipped crossbow bolts, it's a testament to his strength that he's not a pile of ashes," Malik said

"And what of the Slayers"

"Two dead the rest fled"

"As cowards always do" the Count spat angrily.

"We brought him here to heal but it's been a day and no change" Malik said

"So, you sent a cryptic note summoning me here," the Count said

"Well, I doubt you would have come if you knew it was from me"

"Well, he will need Renfield, you will help me bring your brother home" the Count announced to Malik, it took a moment for him to respond as this was the first since arriving the Count had acknowledged his son as such. Malik nodded and then helped his father lift Vlad up before they flashed out of the room leaving a room full of confused street fangs.

Ivan Dracula was enjoying a nice glass of château peasant while he did the crossword. His brother had left mysteriously earlier, although he suspected it had been to track down his allusive nephew. Hiding from relatives was a desire he well he understood he thought with a chuckle.

"RENFIELD COME HERE NOW!" he heard his brother's voice shout from the residential wing. From his nephew's room if his hearing was correct. This spiked his interest, so he went to investigate. Ivan arrived in Vlad's room to find his brother and another man standing over Vlad's coffin in which his nephew was lying unconscious and looking badly burned "What happened" Ivan asked. Both turned, shocked at his arrival.

"Slayer attack," the stranger said before his brother shouted

"RENFIELD WHERE ARE YOU, YOU WORTHLESS WORM!"

"Here master" his brother's disgusting servant said gasping for breath as he ran into the room. Then he noticed Vlad "What's wrong with Master Vlad?"

"He's been attacked insect brain now FIX HIM" the Count's anger seeping into his voice

"I'll try master"

"You'll do more than try you maggot or I'll skin you alive" the Count snapped at the servant

"Yes, master I'll get my potions book for vampire cures" Renfield said before scurrying out of the room. "You boy go help him" the Count ordered the mysterious stranger. He looked like he was about to argue but then saw the expression on the Count's face and said "Yes Father" before flashing out of the room after the servant.

Father the word echoed in Ivan's head, so that was the boy Malik the son of his brother and Arta's wife. The son who tried to murder and usurp his brother, interesting. Thinking of that reminded him of his own son Boris and his own untimely demise, a part of him thought it unfair that his son should be dust while his brother had two still undead but another look at Vlad made him think that might not be true for long. He left his brother alone with his son and left to go finish his crossword knowing there nothing he could do.

Ivan had been had finished his crossword and the full bottle by the time he was joined by his brother and Malik. "How's Vladimir?" Ivan asked his brother.

"Suffering from UV burns, garlic poisoning and severe blood loss" Ivan winced in sympathy "he's passed through the worst of it, but he will require constant care for the foreseeable future" the Count said before noticing a single beam of sunlight that due to Renfield being preoccupied hadn't been blocked up. He turned to face Malik "I suppose you can stay the day boy" before flashing out of the room, presumably to return to Vlad's side.

Dinner that night was a very tense affair, with Vlad's absence and Ingrid glaring at Malik making subtle remarks about his mother didn't help matters. Olga was very confused as to who the stranger was although her father had said he was the Counts son. "I think I know what would make things better father" Malik said

"Suck up" Ingrid muttered, a comment that Malik chose to ignore before addressing the table "It would help if we hunted down and drained those responsible for injuring Vlad"

"A spot of revenge would cheer you up brother" Ivan said agreeing, the Count started nodding clearly liking this idea.

"I hate to point this out, but we have no idea who did attack Vlad and slayers though they may be they are not stupid enough to be just wandering about waiting to be bitten, they will be in hiding by now surely" Ingrid took delight in pointing the flaw in her brother's plan.

"That negative thinking is why you aren't invited daughter" the Count said in a petulant tone.

"That won't be a problem I've had my street fangs tracking them" Malik said with a smug smile aimed at Ingrid. "Didn't want to come anyway" Ingrid said

"Can I come I'm almost sixteen?" Olga asked hopefully before her father, uncle and Malik started laughing. Ingrid shook her head and looked at her cousin in sympathy.

"Get help from a girl" the Count said between laughs "We are the men of the family and we can fight our own battles" Ivan and Malik continued laughing and nodded their heads at this proclamation. Olga slumped down in her seat in sadness and the sounds of her male relatives continued laughter.