Uncle Vlad

Chapter 1: The stranger

1st September

My name is Marlin De Chance, I'm 10 years old and I'm the only son of Ingrid Count and Dunkan De Chance.

We live in an old gloomy dark crumbling tower which used to be part of a dramatic beautiful castle, it used to belong to a merry Duke who would have grand parties with loud music and dancing Duchess and dukes twirling and spinning on the dance floor with the smell of food wafting through from the kitchen but that was once upon a time, a hundred years ago but it wore away with harsh winds and rain and the lack of looking after. Now all is left is this little tower that is ready to tumble down at any moment.

It only has two floors one underground. The ground floor has only a small kitchen with a sink and a few cupboards which store food and cutlery, there is only a small round table and three little stools where we sit and eat our meals. At the other end of the room is a very small fireplace with two matted old arm chairs in front of it, you could call it a tiny sitting room really.

If you go to the corner of the kitchen there is a little opening for us to squeeze though which leads to a crammed little room full a smelly patch work blankets and a double size lumpy old mattress (that is all we can fit in). This is where I sleep, where we all sleep; me mum, dad and the pig.

Mum said there are other floors upstairs but I was warned hundreds times from a young age no to go up. I didn't see how I could there was no ladder to go up or stones to help me climb but that didn't stop me wondering what could be up there. A hungry monster waiting patiently for the right moment to gobble me up for breakfast or a wicked witch brewing something deadly or maybe a blood lust vampire ready to sink his fangs into someone's warm fresh neck and that someone could be me...but no I worked out a long time ago that vampires don't exist but that was until a mysterious figure appeared on our doorstep.

It all started at the stroke of midnight. I was in a deep dream about what this castle would have been like all those hundreds of years ago. I was wearing fine satin clothing with golden chains gleaming for all to see. I was making my way around the ladies and men in colourful bright ball gowns and suits, the hall was lit with lights and diamonds twinkled in the candle light as they covered the long slender walls, food was spread out on the long golden tables, the smell filled my nostrils' as I made my way for one of the chicken legs, I was about to bite into it when a firm hand rested on my shoulder and a deep but smooth voice whispered in my ear

"I wouldn't eat that if I were you." Then, at that moment, as I was about to turn to face this strange a loud banging noise snapped me up wake.

"Stay there." said the sharp voice of my dad, he was a tall man with long autumn brown hair that coved his bright green eyes that shone whenever he was happy or angry. His pale face was as white as sheets and a crooked nose but I never asked why it was crooked. He climbed out of the hole and made his way to answer the door. My mother had her pale hand tightly gripping my shoulder

"Don't say anything," she hissed her black hair was streamed over her young pale face, her sapphire blue eyes shone with fear. It was not often we had visitors in fact we never had them at all, fear and curiosity crept inside of me. I could hear the creak of the old wooden door and I heard my dad gasp

"Your Grandness!"

The stranger was tower of a man standing tall and proud, he looked around in his twenties but he must be a man of some importance, he was wearing a fine black cape and buttoned up shirt with black jeans and boots and on the top of his head he wore a crown of skeleton bones. He had silken black hair which hung over his sapphire eyes just like mothers but they shone strength and power, but also a hint of disgust as his eyes scanned the front room.

"This place is disgusting, " he sneered "how you have raised a child in this place I don't know" I was little taken back, this man just waltz into our home and make such a rude comment I expected mother or father to flip but they stood there by the side of him their heads high and backs straight in respect for this man. I could see mother biting her lip trying to stop herself speaking out of turn I knew I should say something but there was something about this man that stopped me, he had some kind grace and importance about him like what a king had or a ruler.

"This is your son yes?" He pointed to me as I stood by the wall.

"Yes" father says giving him a bow "his name is Marlin De Chance."

"I see" his blue eyes stared deep into my green ones "how old is he?"

"Ten, eleven next week."

"Thought so" he turned to face my mother "I guess he knows does he?"

"Not yet" mother answers nervously like a school girl being told off by their head teacher.

"I thought as much I will pick up the boy tomorrow night at twilight make sure he is ready" but as he turned to face the door to let himself out I found my voice and spoke out

"Ready for what and who are you?" I asked suddenly.

He turned his head sharply to face me with a slight smirk on his face "I'm Vladimir Dracula, The Grand High Vampire and the son and heir of Count Dracula and, your uncle and I have come take you away with me to the UK and help you make it to your destiny" and like that he was out the door.

To tell the truth I'm very happy with this chapter I don't think I could of made it any better. You will know a lot more about the charters in the next chapter.