A Love Returned

Chapter 17

The banging continued and Ingrid perked her head upwards. This was the first real movement Vlad had seen her make. Whatever was up there had something to do with her.

"What's up there?" Erin said quietly.

"Half fangs," Kala replied calmly, "Newly bitten. Probably practising sleeping from the ceiling. Don't pay any attention."

That second Ingrid turned her head back and stared infront of her, as though his words were a threat.

"Show me," Vlad held his finger to his chin and looked at the ground, thinking.

Kala shook his head, "There is no need."

Vlad glared at him and said slightly firmer, "Show me."

"Chosen One, if I show you, you will surely be ashed. I would prefer you undead."

"What does that mean?" Erin quickly said, almost shouting.

"Stop. Chosen One, you and the girl must forget this or I will have to punish you."

Ingrid continued sipping blood when Vlad said, "One click of my fingers and you'll be dust. I said show me!"

Kala shook his head mockingly, "I know too many important details for you to dust me. There's so much you wish to know. You wouldn't give it up," Kala smirked and clicked his own fingers, "As for what I can do..."

A crescendo of bangs and crashes were heard upstairs. It got as loud as a gunshot, then stopped, completely silent.

Ingrid shook and dropped her glass, blood spilling onto the floor and staining the tiles. A pained expression showed on her face yet she didn't move her gaze or speak.

Vlad and Erin jumped when the glass shattered.

Vlad felt himself turning red with anger. He so wanted to dust Kala yet he could not. The villain was right, he held too much information that Vlad was desperate to know. It was blackmail.

"What did you just do?" Vlad asked, clenching his fists and trying to keep himself calm. Erin clasped her hand on his shoulder.

Kala smiled, "You have been punished. This visit has been plentiful, I think. We have developed an agreement. You go along with me, Chosen One, and you get information," Kala waved towards the open door, "I will exit first so you don't lock me in here, then you shall follow."

"I'm not leaving without Ingrid."

"She will come with you to the basement entry," Kala signalled to Ingrid and she must have seen through the corner of her eye because she robotically stood up and walked out of the room.

Kala followed and held the wooden door handle as Vlad and Erin exited. He pulled the door shut.

"Maybe I lied,"Kala grinned, "Ingrid, you may go upstairs now."

Ingrid snapped out of whatever trance she was in. She nodded, looking relived yet also greatly concerned. Tears began to seep out of her eyes and she turned to Erin and Vlad, "Please go. I mean it, really. I want to go upstairs."

"I'll come with you-"

"No. Go," Ingrid forced a smile and sped upstairs.

Kala began walking in the direction of the long dungeon corridor, "That is your que to leave, I believe."

Vlad and Erin grudgingly departed form the building and re-entered the one opposite.

Ingrid clutched her hand around the attic doorknob, she wiped tears from her eyes and breathed in, then turned the handle and pushed open the door.

She let out a high pitched cry and felt herself falling to the ground.

Will lay motionless in the dark corner, beaten and bruised. Black vampiric blood poured out of cuts all over him.