Predetermined

Chapter 12 - Signed

This story belongs to: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/615457/yeknodelttil

*****

Erin folded her arms petulantly in the back of the car. She didn't speak but she wasn't going to show weakness again

She closed her eyes focusing on remembering everything she could about the Draculas and Garside Grange. She felt the ring weighing heavily against her chest. She didn't risk exposing it to her parents view; they'd take it from her.

She wished she could just close her eyes and wake up from this nightmare; she wanted to be back with the Draculas.

She had been scared about living with them at first but she'd quickly learned not to cross Bertrand as his attitude originated from an era when men got what they wanted, the same went for the Count. Ingrid she was suspicious of from the beginning besides the fact she'd bitten Ryan. Strangely enough she felt more comfortable living with people (yes people, she wasn't going to think of them as anything else) who could drain her before she could say 'blood', then she did with her own biological family.

She smiled as she thought about Vlad. He was hardly the confident, arrogant, violent, 'drain you as soon as look at you', merciless, smug Chosen One she'd been taught about. He was the complete opposite, granted his evil side had proved that but she knew who was in control (most of the time).

Erin knew he couldn't look for her before nightfall, she knew without a doubt he would look for her.

*****

Erin let out a gasp as she felt something enter her mind. 

"I'll find you, I will do whatever I have to, to protect you."

She smiled, as she knew exactly who it was. Erin wished she could contact him someway, tell him exactly where she was verbally but she couldn't. Her human mind wouldn't let her.

"What?" Tom snapped at her, turning around to look at her. He'd heard her gasp. Erin's smile quickly vanished.

Steph gripped the dashboard, her knuckles turning white. "TOM!" Steph shouted as the car swerved with his diverted attention.

The steering wheel was yanked back with force and they were all thrown back against the other side of the car.

Erin realised her Dad still wanted an answer, "My foot's gone to sleep." Erin covered shaking it slightly trying to make it look more believable.

He let out a disbelieving huff, she knew he didn't fully believe her but she had been prone to cramps and sleeping limbs when she was a child so he couldn't prove it either way.

*****

Her father pulled the car over to the side of the road with a jolt. Erin was flung against the window, thankful that she had her seatbelt on. Her parents climbed out before locking the doors leaving her trapped inside.

She noticed for the first time they were in a wooded area. There were green trees all around, firs, spruces and oaks. On their side of the cars there was about ten yards of grass

She thought it was ironic that she'd met Vlad here, she recognised the track. Yes it was definitely where she and Ingrid had broken down for the final time.

She knew from experience if she pulled on the latch to the unlocked position the doors still wouldn't open. Besides knowing them they'd have put the child safety lock on the doors especially for her.

She watched them out of the window; her mother was waving her arms about frantically, trying to get Tom to listen to her.

Erin knew it was pointless.