Vlad woke up with a fright. Another nightmare. Zoltan moved closer to him as if to comfort him and Vlad smiled at the sight of it. He knew that these nightmares were just figments of his imagination. The idea was just ridiculous. He needed to throw these nightmares away and focus on the real task ahead. How the hell was he going to go to school as if nothing has happened. Robin had no idea what he was but he knew it was necessary. Vampires all over the world were panicking and he had to start doing homework again. He knew that his dad wouldn't let him help stop these Terrors. To add to the chaos, his cousins were visiting. His bloodthirsty Uncle Ivan and his more than likely crazy kids. He wished he could go back to the days where his biggest problem was finding a friend or living a normal life but he was a vampire after all. His destiny was to be blood sucking fiend like the rest of his family and he was okay with that. He just wanted to enjoy mortal life first. He needed to get dressed. Homework needed to be done and his family was arriving soon. Time to get ready.
He stood there with his father and his sister who finally recovered. They waited and waited but the train had not arrived. Renfield stood there exhausted. He looked at his sister and he smiled. No matter what happened with his cousins or anything else, he had his sister back. Nothing could take her away. He stood there exhausted. There was no need to worry anymore. He could forget the nightmares and the Terrors and all things vampiric because he had his family back. Now time to face the dreaded reunion of his father and uncle.
"Ah my brother Ivan is coming. He's been in America for far too long. He is spectacularly evil," said the Count with fake enthusiasm that even Renfield could spot. Vlad opened his mouth but couldn't even begin to bring himself to speak. He knew his father had sacrificed something but no one would tell him what it was. He couldn't bring himself to even speak a word to his father. It seemed that forgetting was admittedly a much harder task than he thought. The train arrived as Renfield took a step forward and it seemed he would be hit by the hunk of metal approaching at hypersonic speeds. Renfield froze and began to turn his head before receiving a glare from the Count and rushed to open the door and take the bags of the visiting Draculas. The Count laughed and said, "Prepare my children for Ivan the Bloodthirsty, Devourer of Souls and Black-hearted Butcher of..." A man with a fake tan and a blazer with a dress shirt walked out with his arms outstretched and smiled.
"Big Bro! Come and give me a hug," beamed the unfamiliar man with auburn hair. The Count looked at his brother with confusion and disgust. He looked him up and down before calling out.
"Ivan?"
"I go by Harvey now. Ivan's just so old country, don't you think." Vlad and Ingrid looked at their uncle and then locked eyes and laughed. The Count looked at them and they quickly held in their laughs. Uncle "Harvey" gave the Count a hug while they both muttered something in each others' ears. Vlad and Ingrid smiled as a teenage boy and pre-teen girl exit the carriage. The teenage boy seemed incredibly timid especially considering his loud and sociable father. Vlad tuned out his Uncle and Dad's talk about spray tan and ignored "Harvey's" attempt for a high 5 and the introduction of his cousins Olga and Boris.
"Enough of all the small talk brother. Let's go hunt some breather," smiled the Count. His brother looked at him with an inscrutable look before sighing.
"I don't know how to break this to you bro but I don't do the red stuff anymore. Gave it up in '93 for soya substitute." Vlad had this look on his face that screamed disgust. A look that he unconsciously put on. Ingrid nudged him and whispered,
"Aren't you happy. No need to be a bloodthirsty vampire anymore, right?" Vlad nodded and smiled before looking at his uncle with hope. He had missed his father's meltdown but smiled at his dad being as lively as ever. Maybe the sacrifice wasn't as big as he had thought. Maybe he could be happy. Maybe his family could be happy. Maybe...
Vlad had immediately broken down into laughter and called his sister up to his room. Boris had been spooked by Zoltan of all things. Even Vlad was more suited to be a vampire than this kid. Ingrid walked in annoyed but even she couldn't stop laughing at Boris. Eventually Vlad and Ingrid began to calm down and Vlad tried to calm down Boris. He told him that Zoltan wouldn't hurt him. Not if he had anything to say about it. Boris stopped holding on to the bannister for dear life and jumped from the walked towards Zoltan petting him before Zoltan growled and Boris jumped right back to the bed causing a rupture of laughter around the room. Boris immediately went red and shouted complaints of the castle to Vlad and Ingrid while Vlad just smirked.
"Hey aren't you almost 16?" asked Ingrid. Boris looked down, gulped and nodded. Vlad looked at Boris and saw his unease and went to comfort him with stories about his Dad's change while Ingrid rolled her eyes and left. Boris began to become more and more comfortable. After Boris felt relaxed, Vlad left his room to ask Ingrid if she wants to go to Sainsbury's to get cereal. He walked down and looked at Renfield scrambling after the Count and struggling to keep whatever he's holding in his arms. Vlad shook his head and continued onwards. When he finally reached the room, he immediately witnessed the ending of a showdown between Olga and Ingrid.
"I could make your life a misery down here," claims the newest future evil vampire goddess. Vlad walks in drawing attention to himself before waving. Ingrid grinned at Vlad before ushering him in. Olga looked at Vlad with a haunted expression.
"Mind repeating that in front of Vlad. Mainly the part where you said no one would believe me," sniggered Ingrid. Olga sputter and stutters but no words can come out. A playful expression comes over Vlad and he begins to call out for the Count before Olga stops him with a scream that even she didn't want to let out. A gust of wind brushes by Vlad and the Count appears.
"What exactly is going on here?" glowered the Count. Vlad taps his shoulder before whispering in his ear. "Ahh, I see. So little Olga wants to taste Renfield's special dishes alone. Very well. The rest of you kids and your Uncle may have whatever you'd like. Here's £40. I shall find me a breather to bite." Vlad looked at Olga and an uncharacteristic sneer appeared on his face before turning around and asking what Ingrid would like for dinner. He turned back one last time to Olga and laughed with Ingrid as they walked to his room to get Boris and Uncle Harvey.