Light in the Dark (Young Dracula) 5

Ch. 6: The Enemy Within

Sally sat at the kitchen table with a sketch pad but her eyes her fighting against her and shutting involuntarily. "I'm awake, totally awake." She told herself. "Come on." Then George walked up to her.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"A sketch of the sculptire for Vlad, not that it will happen since we're leaving." Sally replied.

"No, I don't want to go." George insisted. "You need to sleep."

"I'm not tired, I am fine." Sally insisted. Then she heard a sound coming from the hall and she whipped her head over quickly. Anna stepped in. 

"Don't panic, it's just me." She announced and Sally released a breath.

"Can you please convince my mom to go to sleep?" George asked.

"I told you George, I'm fine." Sally insisted.

"I might have an idea." Anna spoke. "If you're worried about shadows I can keep the light up in your room. I'll even stay watch." She offered.

"See!" George agreed. Then Vlad stepped in.

"Everything okay?" He asked, stepping in next to Anna.

"Of course!" Sally insisted, putting on a smile for her son but he saw right through her. He gave her a knowing look and she sighed. "I'm sorry Vlad but it's not safe here. I can't even close my eyes." She revealed. Just then George fell through a small box that she was using to stand on to reach something on a shelf.

"It's alright, it was jsut an accident." Vlad tried to reassure Sally.

"This place is full of accidents." Sally pointed out.

"Renfield, please get rid of that box." Vlad asked. 

"Yes master." Renfield got up from his cooking. He carried the crate to the pantry and set it down but it rocked and grumbled.

"Renfield, what was that?" Sally asked.

"Not entirely sure." Renfield replied, looking at the box with caution.

"Probably just the live lemmings." George guessed. But Renfield couldn't continue his investigation because the Count called him urgently. The Count thought he was being attacked by knocking outside his room so he instructed Renfield to find out what it was.

"What creature did you get attacked by?" The Count asked after Renfield came back in after a few moments.

"I stubbed my toe! But there is a toad out there." Renfield replied.

"Oh! I haven't had a toad in years!" The Count said in excitement and hurried out to see what message the toad was delivering. Out from the toad came a scroll and the Count picked it up. He read it and began to cheer. "Renfield I have news!" He exclaimed as he reentered the room. "Things keep getting better and better! I want a victory potion prepared and I want everyone to meet in the great hall, and tell them it's important. And use the Impuser Goblet!" 

"The Impuser Goblet? Isn't that only to be used on very special occasions?" Renfield asked.

"Yes! And this is one of those times, now go!" The Count urged him along.

 "I don't want to go yet, but mum won't let us stay." George complained as they all continued to sit around the kitchen table. 

"George, don't stir." Sally said. 

"She's right. It's not exactly the safest place in the world." Vlad agreed.