A Love Returned

Chapter 5

The rest of the night was plenty fun, they talked and played games.

But that all stopped after they'd gotten overly tired and simply collapsed.

Now that it was midday and they'd awoken, it was time to plan how they would get Erin and Malik.

"When we find them, Will and I could act like meeting them was an accident. I can act like I dispise Vlad, and maybe we can get on their good side," Ingrid said as they sat around the small kitchen table, "But you'll have to hide somewhere, dad, because there's no chance that they'll ever trust you."

"Ok, but what happens when we get on their good side?" Will responded.

"I will carry a garlic gun and fangcuffs. They'll be taken by surprise when I finally appear, so I can fangcuff them, and then well spray them with garlic," the Count said matter of factly.

"Perfect!" Ingrid said excitedly, "We'll bring them back here and then hypnotise one of them into reading the book!"

"And dust the other," Will finished.

"Excellent!" The Count looked at his pocket watch, "Five. It will be about two hours until its safe to go out."

"I'll practise my accidental meeting speech, and Will can help me. Dad, you find the equipment we need, I think it packed it all in those bags from the mansion."

The Count went off to get fangcuffs and a garlic gun.

"You be Erin, or Malik, whoever. I've just run into you on the street," Ingrid got into character and ran into him.

"Ingrid?" Will began, he grabbed her arm, cautiously.

"Malik? Hey bro!" she pulled her arm away from Will, "What are you doing here?"

"I have my reasons, come to get revenge have you?"

"No, actually Im on holiday. Truce?"

"Not officially..."

"C'mon! If I was going to stake you I would have done it already!" Ingrid laughed, "How's Erin?"

Will eyes her suspiciously, "Fine... How's Vlad?"

"Broken to pieces! No, seriously. I dusted him," Ingrid thought that would be a nice touch when she faced them.

"Yeh, as if you'd do that."

"Really I did. That was my main goal after all."

"Okay..." Will smiled, "I think you're well prepared. I'll just play the shy, stranger card."

"Good. I wonder if dad found the fangcuffs?"

They walked to the front door where Count Dracula was waiting, "Ready to go?"

They went over the plan once more and sped out the door, into the dark evening.

They stopped in the park where the gathering had been the night before. There was no sign of any vampires.

"Where do we look?" The Count asked.

"They won't have gone far," Ingrid said.

"And from what you say, Ingrid, they have quite a reputation, so I'd think that they live around here," Will concluded.

"Lets walk around the neighbourhood then," he said.

They walked around the block, finding nothing and no one. Then, on their second time, Ingrid saw two people sitting in a garden.

She nudged Will, "Is that them?"

"How should I know? I never met them."

She giggled, "Yeh, I forgot. Dad, is that them in that garden?"

The Count looked, their outline bore some resemblance, "Maybe. I'll go hide nearby, you two go for a walk, say hi as you go by, then glance back and act all surprised."

"Ok," Ingrid said. She and Will waited for the Count to disappear into the shadows, then they held hands and began making their way to the path infront of the house.

As they got closer, Ingrid glanced sideways, it was them. And a baby?

Erin was sitting, leaning on Malik who was holding the baby and gently singing to it.

Ingrid thought that was too perfect for people like them. And how did they have a baby in what... Two months at the most?

Will saw the surprise on her face and whispered, "Don't look surprised yet, stay calm."

She nodded and they approached the house.

Will nodded his head and Ingrid said, "Evening," she glanced their way as they pick up their heads and replied with, "Nice moon, isn't it?"

If they'd recognised her, they didn't act like it. Ingrid took this as an opportunity and she and Will stopped.

"Yes, perfect for bite- getting a bite of pizza I mean," Ingrid replied to them. She hasn't completely shown her face yet, so perhaps they didn't recognise her.

"I know what you mean," Erin smiled.

Ingrid turned straight at them, they got a clear view of her and Will.

"Erin?" Ingrid said, sounding absolutely surprised, "Malik? What are you two doing here?"

"Ingrid," Malik bared his fangs. He handed the baby to Erin, who sped inside the townhouse.

Will bared his fangs in defense, but Ingrid stayed calm, "It's ok, Will. Hello, brother."

"Sister," Malik said with disgust,"How are you?"

"Particularly pleased. And you will be too when you find out what I've done."

Surprisingly, Malik actually invited them inside, thinking that the couple meant to harm.