Light in the Dark (Young Dracula) 1

Ch. 6: Toothache

It was Ingrid's fifteenth birthday and she woke up to a handmade card from Vlad. She instantly tore it. "I'm a Dracula. I'm far too evil for birthdays." She said in his face. 

"So you won't want this card from your mother then." The Count said and pulled a card from his coat. She reached for it but he crumpled it and then turned it to mealworms with his powers.

 "Dad! You garlic muncher." Ingrid exclaimed. 

"Language!" He replied. She huffed and stormed away. 

"That was cruel. Even for you." Vlad said and got up from the table. 

"Yes. I've still got it!" The Count replied and laughed.

When Vlad got home from school he was shocked by the Count and Renfield shouted "surprise!". But then they noticed that it wasn't who they were expecting. There was a sign behind them that said "Happy Birthday Ingrid". "No, no, no, where's Ingrid?" The Count asked. 

"You're having a party for Ingrid?" Vlad asked as it was out of character for him. 

"I know she's only a pointless female but- Oh Ingrid, darling, Happy Birthday!" The Count said as Ingrid walked in. 

"Wow! What, really? This is all for me?" Ingrid asked happily. 

"And you thought we'd forgotten. Renfield's been out shopping all week." The Count said and Renfield held up a leather black, spiked dress. 

"Dad, it's perfect! This is the best birthday ever! I can't believe it." Ingrid said happily. Then she realized how strange it was. "Alright, what's going on?" She asked, out of her dream-state.

 "Nothing's going on, my precious. We just want you to look your best for your... husband." The Count, the last word of his sentence significantly quieter. 

"I don't have a husband." She stated. 

"You do now. Renfield, introduce Adrionus." The count said and Renfield removed a cover from the tv. "Unfortunately, Adrionus could not be with us today, so he recorded this special message." Renfield said and pressed 'play'. On the screen popped a dirty young boy who was kneeling with two goats in some hay. 

"Ello Ingrid, let me introduce you to my goats." Adrionus said. Ingrid scoffed. "So those were Fluffy and Irish, our goats. And this is the coffin that we will someday share." Adrionus continued and the camera panned over to something that looked no larger than a wooden manger. "Along with the rest of my family, of course. Life is hard here in Trans-Siberia but we know good fortune has finally come our way, now that the beautiful daughter of Count Dracula has agreed to be my wife." Adrionus concluded and kissed the camera. 

"This had better be a joke." Ingrid said. 

"I knew you'd be pleased." The Count said with a clap of his hands. 

"I'll pack your bags." Renfield said and ran off along with the Count. 

"This is all your fault!" Ingrid shouted at Vlad. 

"What did I do?!" Vlad asked. 

"You were born!" Ingrid shouted and stormed off.

Count hid in his coffin and talked on the phone with Adrionus. "So you'll fly over tomorrow to collect her? Splendid." He said and then jolted at the sound of Ingrid pounding her fist on his coffin. 

"Open up or I'll stuff garlic in your slippers!" She threatened. 

"Ingrid, oh yes, she's very excited." The count said on the phone and heard the line cut off. "Hello?" He asked and tapped the phone. He groaned and set the phone down, then opened his coffin. Ingrid and Vlad stood with her holding the line to the phone. "Ingrid, I am trying to talk to your husband!" He sat up and complained.