What Lies Beneath [Vladimir Tod Fanfiction]

Walk the Sky ~ Vlad

My mind slowly pulled itself out of its slumber, my eyes opening slowly.  Soft light flooded into them and I grunted, rubbing them with my hands.  I then ran my fingers through my hair and blinked a couple times, allowing my eyes to adjust to my room.  Someone had inconveniently left the black curtains open, which allowed my room to become illuminated.  I knew it couldn't have been the cat, so I'm guessing that Otis had slipped into my room last night and opened them to make sure I didn't sleep in as late as I have been.

Come on, he needs to lighten up.  I'm on summer break, for God's sake.  I should be able to sleep as long as I want while I still have free time.

I groaned as I sat up in bed, then slowly swung my legs around so that they were hanging over the edge.  I stood up and walked over my window, closing the curtains.  This restored some of the lost darkness, but I knew that I wouldn't be able to go back to sleep after being so rudely awakened.  So instead of crawling back into bed, I grabbed my phone up off my bedside table and sauntered out of my room in nothing but a pair of black sweatpants.  I was prepared to descend the stairs when I ran into Amenti, who was ascending them.  I let the plump feline pass before padding down the stairs and into the living room.  I collapsed onto the couch, resting my phone on the arm rest.  I yawned softly before snatching up the TV remote and clicking the power button.  The screen came to life as I heard something drop in the kitchen, followed by a slight growl.  I smirked softly at my uncle's frustration.  He never had very much luck in anything involving the kitchen.

A little kid's show came on and I quickly changed the channel as Otis stepped into the room, fully dressed.  He looked very dapper with his black loafers, clean pants and purple trench coat. He fixed the collar of his white shirt nervously before speaking.

"There's some blood for you in the fridge," he stated calmly.

"No breakfast?" I asked.

"I...dropped it," he said honestly. "Apologies."

"It's okay, uncle. It would be nice to know where you're going, though," I said calmly.

"I'm organizing my new office today," he said with a soft smile.

One of my eyebrows went up. "Isn't it a little early for that?"

"Vladimir-I've got a lot to do before the new school year starts. I hope you realize that," my uncle said.

"Don't worry, I do chief master principal."  Otis chuckled, face beaming.  It made me feel happy to see him like this, especially after what happened just a few short months before.  I smiled. "Nelly would be proud of you."

My uncle looked down at the ground, still smiling. "I know. But she would be complaining about me overworking myself."

"I'll start complaining about that if you start disappearing everyday," I said.

"Don't worry, I won't. I do have to leave today, however. My movers are here today with my supplies. I have to direct them, otherwise my office will look like a nightmare. And I don't think they want to know what happens when I get angry." I saw a flash of his fangs before he moved over to the coat rack and grabbed his newly made purple top hat, identical to the one he had before.  He moved towards the door, then looked back to me. "I will see you later, nephew." He then turned away from me and slipped out the door without a sound.  I kept my eye on the door for a couple seconds after his departure, then turned back to the TV.

Otis may say that he won't start disappearing, but I know he will.  He's going to overdo it because he's nervous about stepping into the principal role.  I just hope that he doesn't screw it up in the process, because he deserves this job, and it's what's going to make him happy.

The cable eventually landed on the news, and I left it there, my eyes staring vacantly at the reporter.  The lady anchor started talking about a car wreck somewhere outside of Stokerton and I sighed.  Who was drunk this time?  No one I knew, thank God.

After about a ten minute spout of laziness, I forced myself to get off of the couch and take care of my growling stomach.  I walked into the kitchen, grabbed a blood packet that Otis had magically found (it was harder to get blood now with the absence of Nelly, but Otis was somehow managing to swipe some) and opened a cupboard.  I took a green mug out and poured the blood into it, then dropped the plastic  casing in the trash under the sink.  I slipped the mug into the microwave, then shut the small door and punched in an adequate number.  While the rumble of the microwave rung through the house, I reached back into the fridge and grabbed the only source of food that I wouldn't need to cook, which was a packet of pepperoni slices.  I licked my lips before opening the package, grabbing three red pieces, and then dropping them into my mouth. 

"Mm," I mumbled to myself as I chewed softly.  I threw a couple more pieces in my mouth before the machine beeped.  I reached in and grabbed my steaming cup of blood, then walked calmly back into the living room and took my seat on the slightly ripped couch again.  I popped another piece of pepperoni into my mouth, then took two gulps of blood.

Just as the weatherman concluded with today's forecast (clear skies and lots of sun, to my dismay), my phone buzzed next to me.  I chewed and swallowed the food I had in my mouth, then picked up the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Vlad," Henry said, his tone nice and calm.

"What's up, Henry?" I asked, setting the packet down on the table, then putting my feet up on the table.  I grabbed my mug and took another sip of O Positive.

"Dude, grab your girlfriend. We're all gonna go hang at the park."

My eyebrows raised. "Define 'all'."

"October, Snow, you, me, Andrew and Sprat. Everyone else is confirmed to come except for Snow and you. Now come on. Let's go have fun."

I exhaled. "Alright. But if you get all over your girlfriend, I'm going to leave."

"Don't worry, we'll behave. I personally am more worried about you and Snow."

I rolled my eyes, irritated. "Oh please. Holding hands and pecks on the cheek is about as far as we'll go in terms of public affection." At least when we were in Bathory. At the Crypt, it was a different story. Mostly because Henry wasn't there to critique my skills.

Man I hope that October never invites him to the Crypt.  Not that I don't like my best friend, but he just doesn't belong there. I knew that he would just feel...out of place if he was brought there.  And since I've felt out of place for most of my life, I know that it's an awkward and painful thing to go through, and I wouldn't wish that feeling on anyone, even on the likes of Bill and Tom.

"If you say so. Now hurry up, dingus." The phone line went dead and I brought the phone down, huffing.  I then went into my text messages, typed in a small hello to Snow, then put my phone on the table.  I snatched the bag of pepperoni up and continued to eat again.

It took a couple minutes for snow to answer me with: Hi, Vlad. :) What's up?

I smiled, then replied with: Going to head to the park soon with Henry and the others. Want to come?

I gulped down the rest of the warm, throat soothing blood, then she replied. I think I can manage that today. Meet you there?

Sure. See you then. I put my phone back down onto the table, then took the plastic packet and the empty mug into the kitchen, putting the mug in the sink and the packet in the trash.  I then sped upstairs, almost tripping over the plump cat again.  I bounded over Amenti into my bedroom, then walked over to my closet.  I changed into a pair of black skinny jeans and a Metallica tee shirt, along with my favorite black hoodie.  I wrapped a skull necklace around my neck before heading down into the living room.  I rubbed some sunscreen onto the parts of my body that weren't covered by clothes, then slipped my phone into my pocket.  I grabbed one of the house keys off of the counter before heading outside.  I locked and the shut the front door before shoving my hands in my pockets and walking down the cracked sidewalk.