A Love Returned

Chapter 14

"Vlad! Stop this! Stop this now!" Erin shouted at the doorway of the mansion Vlad was in, shock stricken on her face.

"Erin..." Vlad lifted his fangs out of a breather's neck, "How nice of you to join us. How excellent that you didn't rot in the cellar."

"I'm sure," She said sarcastically.

Ingrid walked out of the mansion living room, blood was dripping down her chin, "Erin."

"Ingrid," She wasn't surprised, "Enjoying yourself?"

"Quite," Ingrid replied, but she wasn't sure that she meant it. She folded her arms and stood in the doorway.

Vlad dropped the breather, letting him crash on the floor as a half fang, he walked up to Erin, "You come to have a bite? You're quite welcome to."

"What do you think I am? A murderer? I'm not biting anyone," Erin said aggressively.

"Shame," There was a roughness to Vlad's voice, an urging sort of tone, "I thought you'd come to your senses."

She put her hand into her pant pocket and retrieved a small stake, "I want the real Vlad to come back. Or I want you dust."

He chuckled, "Your words mean nothing," Vlad turned his head, staring at a spot on the furthest wall. The stake flew from Erin's hand and right to that spot.

She secretly smiled, "I was hoping you'd do that," She pulled a much smaller stake out of her sleeve and while Vlad's head was turned, she held it at his heart.

When he sensed the stake he immediately hissed and turned around, "You wouldn't."

"I would. I will."

Erin's back was to Ingrid, she didn't notice Vlad's sibling smirk.

"You wouldn't," Ingrid let out a slight laugh, "He's still in there and you know it."

Vlad leant forwards, next to Erin's ear and closer to Ingrid, "Good, Ingrid," He said loud and mockingly, "Aren't you clever," Then he quickly whispered in Erin's ear, "Trust me."

Erin froze for a moment, she wasn't sure what he was saying. Trust me. Was he tricking the other vampires? Or was he tricking her? She could stake him right now, it would be over in a second. Yet something was stopping her.

"You're right," She dropped the stake on the ground, "I can't."

Vladimir smiled, "That's right. You can't," He turned to Ingrid, "Leave us. I think Erin may have just joined my army. She needs informing."

"Nothing I can't hear," She teased, speeding past him as she spoke, then Ingrid went up the stairs.

When Ingrid had gone and she'd checked that no one else was around, Erin spoke, "Why don't you just leave?" She knew it was the real Vlad.

"I can't," He replied quickly, "The sun is rising now. And if they found out. Hundreds of vampires against one."

"You're the Chosen One, do something!" Erin said a little louder than she'd meant to.

"There's this guy. Kala-something. He's powerful, really powerful. I think he's one of the originals-"

"-The originals? Like one of the first vampires?" Erin asked.

"Yes. He entered my dream world. Took me underground. His powers could challenge mine," He put his hands on Erin's shoulders, "I've just got to play along with them."

"And bite innocent people in the process," She frowned.

"I... had no choice," He said half heatedly. He had had a choice and he knew it. Maybe Vlad's reflection had influenced him. He'd let his reflection take some control. That was his fault, but it had happened and there was nothing it could do to change it.

"You did, and you made the wrong choice. If you keep going along with them... you'll have to keep killing," She moved his hands off her shoulders, "You can't do that, Vlad!"

"I'll try, okay? I'll try. But if I fought these vampires, everyone else would be put in danger."

"What, you mean all those breathers you drained?" Erin stated, "Face it, you're doing this to protect yourself."

"I'm not!"

"You are!" Erin shouted.

Ingrid sped down the flight of stairs, she'd listened from above. Bat hearing and all.

"I knew it!"

Vlad groaned, "Ingrid..."

"I won't tell anyone, idiot," She sped beside Erin, "Do you know how many people I had to bite to save my neck? That guy is watching me, and I thought you were too."

"I always thought you enjoyed a nice bit of blood," Erin tilted her head.

"One or two, but not whole suburbs!"

"Okay. Stop," Vlad held up his hand, "Ingrid, I'm sorry for making you bite. Erin, I'm sorry for making stupid choices."

"Good," Erin looked at the ground, not quite forgiving.

"Let's just try to figure something out, okay you two?"

Ingrid and Erin nodded.

The half fang Vlad had created stood up. When Erin had checked the room she'd thought he was dead.

Having been regenerated by his new powers, the half fang ran out of the building. Speeding when he reached te outdoors.

"He won't make it..." Ingrid watched as the new vampire navigated through the shadows, avoiding the rays of morning sun.

He did make it. He entered the building opposite the mansion. The building where Kala was.

"He won't tell. He has to be loyal to you, doesn't he?" Erin tried to convince herself.

"I don't know," Vlad sounded nervous, "I guess we'll find out."