Chapter 12

You Would Make a Good Little Vampire

I woke, or at least I think I woke, I mean it was all dark and I was lying in a coffin. Mine I think. I sat up but straight away my head began to pound I'd hit the lid. As the lid was removed the light from the candles stung my eyes. I felt a hand on my shoulder that pushed me down. I relaxed and lay back into my coffin. I closed my eyes but they shot open when I realised who was standing over me. I looked up and saw his dark hair and brown eyes. Bertrand was watching me intently.

"W...what are you doing her?" I stuttered.

"Making sure you are ok," Bertrand stated.

"Why wouldn't I be? What happened?" I asked as my mind was foggy.

"You really don't remember, do you?" Bertrand asked a look of confusion sweeping over his face.

"I...I want Vlad," I said fear creeping through me.

"You can't see him Erin it's too dangerous," Bertrand said.

"Vlad's not dangerous, you are," I spat.

"I wouldn't be sure of that," Bertrand muttered.

"What? Vlad's saved my life," I argued.

"But he also did this," Bertrand snarled.

He touched my wrist, which I noticed was thickly bandaged, I hissed in pain. I pulled my arm away and was shocked to realise he had only just been touching it. I bolted up and backed away. I sat as far away from Bertrand as I could. Which wasn't very far seeing as I was in my coffin. I studied my wrist. I must have been hurt. That was obvious. But, seriously, I can't believe that Vlad would do that. I found the edge of the bandage and began twirling it between my fingers. I pulled gently trying to undo it.

"No!" Bertrand nearly shouted as his hand grasped mine.

"Why not?" I asked.

Before Bertrand could speak the door opened to reveal Renfield.

"It's time to change mistress Erin's bandages," he said.

Just looking at him made me want to gag. He was dressed as a war nurse and it was disgusting. He was filthy and definitely not someone who you would want to treat you. I buried my head onto my knees but kept my bandaged wrist away from them. I heard Bertrand and Renfield discussing something but couldn't understand what. Then, a few seconds later I heard the door shut. Cold hands began to unwrap my bandages. I looked up and saw Bertrand. Seriously this vampire has issues.

"I thought you would prefer me doing this than that filthy pest," he said.

I nodded and watched as the layers of bandage were removed. There were quite a few layers. I was amazed, only something serious could need something like this. The bandage unraveled from the bottom and got closer to my wrist. My bare skin was pink. I gasped in horror. Scarred on my wrist was a 'V' with vampire teeth protruding from the bottom. The top of the 'V' seemed to lace around my wrist and onto my hand. It was grotesquely beautiful. I was still staring at my wrist when Bertrand dabbed some cotton wool on the scar. I let out a noise of pain and pulled my wrist out of his grasp. I'm not usually one for overreacting but my wrist felt like it had been set on fire and doused with acid.

"Erin, it's ok. No-one's going to hurt you," Bertrand spoke calmly and quietly.

"Says the one who not long ago wanted to drain my blood for a book," I spat.

"Ok, I deserved that. But at least let me make it up to you. I am... I do regret my part in what happened to you," Bertrand said.

"You're part!" I said nearly choking on the words, "You were in bloody charge of the whole thing! At least Ingrid had the decency to use a flask of blood first."

"I did not mean it. It was not personal. That book was meant to be my kinds future..." Bertrand began.

"Vlad is your kinds future! You went against him with your plan for that book," I yelled.

"How dare you! Vlad was weak he didn't know the power the book held. I did I've been around it for hundreds of years it twist you. It wasn't my fault it turned into Siethius," Bertrand said.

"No but it is your fault that Vlad was dragged into this. You have given me nothing but reasons to hate you!"

"Then give me a chance to change your mind. Erin, p...pl...please."

"Why should I? All you've done is cause me pain. You've even tried to kill me multiple times."

Anger flashed through Bertrand's eyes before a deafening crack filled the room. I closed my eyes and coughed as dust surrounded me. When I opened them again there was a split in the wall spiralling from the point Bertrand's fist had impacted.

"I have only been following orders!" Bertrand growled, "I have to follow the regents wishes. Even when I don't want to. I allowed ways for you to get out of my traps. Erin, I truly have feelings for you."

"Don't make me laugh a fly can feel more than you," I told him utter disgust filling my voice.

"You'll pay for this, breather," Bertrand told me, "I swear that to you. You will pay for this."

"How are you going to make me pay? You can't touch me without Vlad coming after you," I told him.

"Yet he's the one who did this to you," Bertrand snarled.

"It wasn't his fault," I yelled.

"He lost control and hurt you. How can you excuse that?" Bertrand yelled back.

Just as I began to reply he cut me off by grabbing my wrist and placing his lips on mine. I pushed his chest trying to to get him away from me. Unfortunately for me I was no match for his vampire strength. I kept trying to push him away. When he eventually let go of me I moved as far way from him as possible.

"Get this in your thick head. I do not like you and I never will! I love Vlad no matter what he does," I yelled pretty sure all the vampires in the school could hear me.

Bertrand used vampire speed to stand in front of me and whisper in my ear, "You'll regret this little slayer, I'll make your life hell."

"Get away from me," I snarled.

"You would make a good little vampire. To bad Vlad doesn't have the guts to do it. But he's not the only one with fangs around here."

Bertrand looked at me as his fangs extended. He lowered them so they were millimeters above the skin of my neck. My heart thudded in my chest picking up speed, my palms were moist and my nails dug into my skin. I knew that Bertrand knew how he was making me feel but that only occupied a small portion of my mind. The rest focused on the fact that I didn't want to be a vampire. I could live with them and love one but I din't want to be one.