All Over Again (A Young Dracula Fan-Fiction)

Chapter Seventeen: Surorile Secrete

A/N: The funny thing is-- I'm making this all up as I go. Weird, huh? Make sure you comment and vote and remain happy Young Dracula fans thirsty for more AOA! 

~Wishi x

Chapter Seventeen

Riley's POV

My salivary glands refused to stop continuously creating unnecessary saliva. The gulping wasn't helping. Vlad just got curious. More curious by the second.

Ingrid's piercing stare stabbed me in the eyes as she paced behind Vlad, her arms crossed across her chest. "C'mon airhead, speak up!" she yelled. The chair I was forced to sit in, felt slippery in my sweaty palms as I rubbed my fingers across the bridge of the seat. 

"Riley?" Vlad asked. I looked up at him. "Are you human?"

"YES!" I lied. Thank God he couldn't hear my thoughts. I attempted to control my heartbeat so Vlad couldn't know I was lying. I slowed it down by thinking of my mother. Vlad raised an eyebrow.

"Then why did the 'unicorn blood' or whatever it is, react with Ingrid and not me?" Vlad wanted an answer. I honestly didn't know. Why didn't it work with him? 

"I don't know," I replied.

"LIAR!" Ingrid yelled. Her voice shook the house and the ceiling's quick paint job began to crumble off its body. Vlad looked at Ingrid in surprise and dusted a few paint chips off his jacket. Ingrid looked confused herself. Her growl sent shivers down my spine. 

"What is the unicorn blood?" Vlad asked nicely. His expression proved that he wanted to rip my throat out. With his bare hands.

"Have you heard of Surorile Secrete?" I inquired. I had to tell Vlad the truth. How else was he supposed to 'help me control my powers'? He's a mind reader, but he can't read mine. I need to tell him.

"Yes, but I've only heard of them. The Dracula side of the Vaccaria border is forbidden land. No black marketers are allowed here," Vlad struggled to understand why I mentioned them. "Who are they?"

"More importantly," Ingrid snarled, "Who are you? Let me guess-- you're an evil breather scientist working for Malik, who has given you the task of spying on the Draculas to collect information to take us down and allow the Vaccarias to swallow up the land that is ours for power?!"

"INGRID!" Vlad bellowed, "Rest your nerves." Ingrid inhaled heavily and rolled her eyes behind her brother's back.

The siblings' nerves were like the ebony and ivory keys on a piano set. And I was pressing all of them. All at once. 

"Surorile Secrete is the label for two sisters who trade money, unique products, services and items of worth in return for secrets and information. I purchased the collection of vials from them."

"Vials in return for what?" Ingrid asked the question, but it was obvious that Vlad was eager to know to. My sweat glands became more difficult to tame as my palms slid against each other. I don't understand. I was saying the truth.

"Never tell anyone of your powers."

My mother's words hit me like an unexpected tornado. The hot air represented my mothers words, prohibiting Vlad's knowledge of me and my magic. The cold air represented my urge to tell someone, who will soon be my mentor and my saviour, the truth. The winds chased each other, creating a tornado of confusion and lies. 

Ingrid's question about the secret I told returned back to me after my short comparison of my mother's orders and a natural disaster. 

"A secret is called a secret for a reason." Both the Draculas were irritated by my vague answer and turned away into a damp corner, discussing what their next move should be.

"I don't think I can trust you, Riley," Vlad said; he refused to look me in the eyes. "I think you should leave."

Ingrid's face grew a new feature. A smile, so crooked and jagged that it could be used as a weapon of murder. She had gotten exactly what she had wanted: good riddance.

"Vlad, I think you're being drastic. Kicking me out isn't what you want. Can't you see the real snake here? Ingrid is twisting her way into your mind like the viper she is. She's sunken her fangs into your body and released the venom of trust into your veins. Please, Vlad," I begged. It was the only thing I could do.

I have grown very fond of this magnificent home. With its cobwebs and dusty dining tables and schizophrenic children and all. It reminded me of what I can only dream a family would be like. I looked up at Vlad to try and use his expression as a clue to his reply. He seemed reluctant and upset, however Ingrid hand on his shoulder sent shots of denial into his mind. 

"Power," I mumbled. The bottle Ingrid drank had the word POWER printed on it. What did it mean? The power of persuasion? The power of superiority? What would become of Ingrid? Greed? Hungry for protection and even more power? Ingrid looked at me with bewilderment which was quickly hidden by a smirk.

"What do you mean 'power'?" Vlad questioned, hearing my almost non-existent whisper. 

"Never tell anyone of your powers."

It was difficult to merely ignore her words. They echoed in my mind like a bat in a cave. The words bounced off the walls of my brain and prevented me from impulsively thinking and revealing my secret.

But, my mother also mentioned that Ingrid was trouble. Not exactly in the letter, but my aunt told me it was the case. Everyone knows it. I know it. Vlad knows it. Even Ingrid herself knows it.

Was it worth it?

Was it worth the revelation of an entire species?

Was it worth the disregarding of my mother's request?

Was it worth Ingrid knowing it too?

Was it worth it?

It was. It had to be. The Surorile Secrete sold me the vials of unicorn blood to use to defend Vlad. Not to use it against him. 

There's a secret. More than one actually. So many secrets that Vlad doesn't know. So many that could lead to a dangerous and unpredictable future. 

I remembered the question that Ingrid had asked me previously that I answered vaguely: Vials in return for what? I couldn't tell him that there was a rumor. A rumor that his ex-girlfriend and step-brother had a child. 

I have to tell him. Vladimir Dracula needs to know. But not now. Not while is sister can listen. And she's good at eavesdropping too. It needs to be in private. 

Oh the secrets. So many secrets.