A Love Returned

Chapter 7

They sped to the cottage, The Count quickly moving furniture aside and throwing the struggling Malik on the bed.

"Let me out of these!" He screamed, "Erin! Attack them!"

Erin looked at baby Vlad, she looked back at Malik, trying to think if an excuse, "I can't... the baby."

"Malik, we just need you to read something from a book," Ingrid said, she wouldn't give too much away.

"If I just had to read then why did you fangcuff me!" He shouted.

"Huh! You were going to attack them!" The Count laughed, "Really Malik, you didn't inherit my brains."

Malik just gave his father an annoyed glance.

Erin rocked baby Vlad in her arms, "You won't hurt Malik will you?"

Ingrid didn't know what to say, "Umm..."

"No. But you may feel a sting, it won't last though, long," Will finished.

Ingrid looked at him grateful, then to her father, "Dad, the book?"

"The book..." The Count left the room.

Erin walked over to Ingrid and whispered, "I didn't mean to hurt you or your family. The evil part of me loves Malik, but when I can take over the evil, I still love Vlad."

"Yeh, well, he's dust. But you can swap Malik for Vlad," Ingrid said, she played with the baby.

Will went over to Malik to loosen the fangcuffs, not enough that he could get free, but just enough so he can hold the book.

"I don't know... he's been really kind to us. And he does love the baby, no matter who's he is," Erin whispered, unsure if she should attack Ingrid or help her.

"You mean it's not Malik's kid?" Ingrid didn't want to hear this.

"No. I thought you'd figured it out. You can't have a baby in a few months."

"You never looked it," Ingrid tried to remember any time when Erin had shown a bump.

"Yeh well. What will you do to Malik?"

"It won't hurt. He reads the verse in the book and Vlad comes back in exchange for Malik," Ingrid explained the procedure.

Then the Count came in, holding the book open with Vlad's dust on the page.

He put the book on Malik's lap and then held a sharp piece if wood against his heart, "Hold the book and read the words, or I push this in."

"Tempting, old man, but I'm not sure."

The Count pushed the stake slightly, Malik groaned as pain surged through his body.

Erin let out a cry, she handed the baby to Ingrid.

"Don't hurt him!" Erin said as her eyes flashed red.

She sped over to the bed and sat beside Malik, she pushed the book away from him.

Ingrid handed the baby to Will, it was a bit like pass the parcel. She sped over and picked up the book, shoving it back in Malik's hands, "Read!"

Erin put both her arms around Malik and pulled him down onto the ground, The Count used speed to quickly grab the book before it toppled over.

Ingrid sensed power forming in the room, "Get down!" They all fell flat on the ground, Will being careful with the baby, as flames engulfed the room at eye level.

"Erin!" Ingrid tried the only approach she could think of, "You've got the chance to get Vlad back! Don't throw it away, you love him!"

Malik grabbed Erin and put his hands around her waist, he wasn't going to let her evil side loose control again, "Erin don't leave me, I love you."

Erin closed her eyes, it was too late, she loved Vlad. Not Malik.

"You can do it, Erin! For the baby's sake!" Ingrid shouted encouragement.

Everyone was still on the floor, fires were still burning.

Erin opened her eyes, they were now yellow. As if like a puppet, Malik's arms unwrapped from around her and he stood up. The fires stopped.

"Read the book, please," Erin told him.

The Count also stood up and handed the book to Malik. Secretly, he had hoped that it would be Erin who read it, but Vlad would kill him if he let that happen.

Malik took the book willingly and began to read the words, which were like an ancient spell.

He became surrounded by light and he and the book dropped to the ground. Malik turned to dust, and on top of the book, Vlad reformed, just as he had been when he unleashed his power.

Ingrid and Will hugged each other tight.

The Count picked up baby Vlad, snuggling him.

Vlad was dazed, his vision was all wavy and he couldn't make out who the people were around him, "What... happened?"

Erin let out a cry of joy and wrapped her arms around Vlad, she was never letting him go again.

Vlad couldn't register who was hugging him, but he hugged back.

"Vlad... I love you, Im so sorry."

He knew that voice... Erin. "I love you too."

He estimated where her lips were and kissed her.

Everyone in the room was so happy, except the baby, he wanted his mum. Baby Vlad let out a shriek and began crying.

The Count moved towards Vlad and Erin, Erin took her son.

"This is Vladimir Jr," she smiled.

Vlad took his son in his arms and the baby smiled up at him, recognising his father.

The Count could do nothing but smile.

Will pulled Ingrid into the kitchen.

He knew how breathers did this, but he had no idea about vampires, so he just went with the breather way.

He got down on one knee, Ingrid smiling as she knew what was coming.

"Ingrid, will you marry me?"

"Yes!" She fell into his arms, this was the happiest day in her unlife.