Light in the Dark (Young Dracula) 3

Ch. 9: Therapy

"Any sign of Vlad?" Bertrand asked as the Count walked past him at the table as he moped over to his throne and slumped down in the seat. 

"I have searched the length and breadth of five counties and nothing." He responded tiredly. "You're back early. Did you search properly?" He noticed. 

"Are you sure you can-"

"You assured me you'd be a good mentor to my son, so why has he felt the need to go missing for a whole week?" The Count interrupted him. "If anything has happened to him the Vampire High Counsel and I will hold you entirely responsible." He threatened. Just then, Renfield entered the room with his breakfast cart. 

"Perhaps I could go out and paint some lost posters into some trees." He offered encouragingly.

 "This is my son not some missing monkey!" The Count shouted in a dark voice and his eyes flared red. Renfield slumped and reached for Ingrid's plate. 

"All done, miss Ingrid?" He asked as he cleared it. Ingrid was still frozen in shock from her run in with bad Vlad and she's barely said a word for a whole week. Renfield waved his hand in her face as if he was only noticing this for the first time.

 "Is Ingrid okay?" He asked. 

"I wouldn't know. I haven't seen her for weeks." The Count replied tiredly with his eyes closed as he leaned against his throne. Renfield looked in confusion as he stated back at Ingrid. Bertrand put his hand up slightly, signaling Renfield to let it go.

*Back in Stokely*

Camille walked past Anna's open door with a box when she noticed her daughter moping. "Anna, sweetheart, why don't you go out? Spend some time in town?" She suggested and Anna looked up. She sighed and stood up slowly. 

"Sure. I'll head out. I'll be back before dark." She said and walked out of her room. Camille quickly caught her arm before she walked off. 

"It'll be okay, I promise. Okay?" She said and Anna nodded. 

"I love you." Camille said. 

"I love you too, mom." Anna replied and came closer to hug her mom.

As Anna walked around she realized how three years ago could feel like just yesterday. Nothing's changed in her small town. Well, maybe not nothing. Anna stopped in her tracks when she saw someone that she thought she recognized. Obviously that person looked different but she knew she recognized them. "Chloe?!" She called out. The girl's head whipped around and made contact with Anna. Now that she saw her face Anna knew it was her. 

"Anna?! Is that you?" Chloe asked and the two girls rushed up to each other. 

"Wow, it's been forever! You're all grown up!" Anna exclaimed when they met. 

"Yeah! What are you doing here?" Chloe said. 

"My parents and I moved back. My grandpa got sick again." Anna explained. 

"Really? Oh, that's sad. But, why did you move away?" Chloe asked. Anna wanted to be honest but then she remembered that Vlad mind wiped them to forget about vampires. 

"Um, I had the opportunity to go to another school." She came up with. 

"Oh." Chloe said, thinking it sounded strange. 

"So, how have you been? How's your family?" Anna asked to move from the topic. 

"Much is the same. Robin's finally over Vampires. Dad and I thought it would never happen." Chloe replied.