Work Text:
VLAD
Being human is all I ever wanted. Since before I was 13 years old, I could remember refusing to bite people and drink their blood. The idea of turning into a bat freaked me out and I loved hanging around normal people.
Now, 5 years later, the Vampire High Council had arrested me on suspicion of being a half-breather, and arrested my family on suspicion of having had a child with a breather (both those accusations being true).
I had always believed that it would be impossible for me to become human. It was my destiny to become the Chosen One, a future I never wanted.
But hearing from the VHC that I got a choice, I was shocked. Shocked that my dad knew and never told me, just like he never told me that I was a half-breather.
"The sun will be coming up soon. It's now or never if you want to be human." Talitha told as she looked at me with pain in her eyes.
"I don't know what to do." I shrugged my shoulders.
"You've got lots of reasons to become human but only one reason not to." Talitha smiled.
"I was going to tell you how I felt but it was never the right time." I admitted.
"I thought you said you two were just friends?" Roquelaire was confused.
"If this is what you really want, go and live the life you've always dreamed of." Talitha nodded, giving me permission.
"I'm sorry, Tal." I exhaled, placing a gentle kiss to her lips before running off to face the sunrise.
Standing right in front of the courtyard, I looked up at the sky, a purple-ish blue hue covering the beautiful view. I took one step, before eventually reaching the middle of the courtyard. For the next 2 minutes, the sun began to shine on me, which burned me more than ever before. My skin smoked like a leaf in a fire. While the pain was horrible, it soon ended, but not with my body reduced to a pile of dust. Instead, I stood directly in the sunlight and nothing happened. No more smoke. No more burning skin.
To make sure it wasn’t a fluke, I attempted to speed back to the main entrance. I prepared myself. Instead of getting to the main entrance in seconds, I barely moved, remaining in the courtyard. With a sudden pep in my step, I walked back to the main entrance, a smile on my face.
"Vlad…you just…" Mum ran up to me, a concerned look on her face.
"I’m human, mum." I insisted. I opened the nearest curtains and held my hand directly in the sunlight, unable to hold back a smile when my hand didn’t burn up.
"I can’t believe it…" Mum nearly broke down. I held her hand against my chest, watching as she was shocked to hear a heartbeat.
"Mum? What’s going on?" George ran into the main foyer, confused.
"Vladimir Dracula! You didn’t do it!" Dad’s voice echoed.
"He did. Your 'only son and heir' stepped into the sunrise and became a human." Ingrid confirmed.
"How could you?! You became a human and left…Ingrid to become my only heir?!" Dad growled.
"She was the only pure vampire heir in our family. Besides, now I won’t feel out of place when I go to live with mum and George. Now that I’m no longer the Chosen One, I’m not a target and they won’t be in danger." I smiled.
"Go then. Be a puny breather who’ll die within the next 40 to 50 years." Dad rolled his eyes.
"Don’t forget you luggage." Ingrid gestured for Renfield to bring several bags out into the main foyer for me to take.
"Does Talitha know, at least?" Dad asked.
"She was the last person I saw before becoming human. I have no doubt that her father now knows of my future." I nodded.
"Goodbye, Vladimir. Although, I guess you’d want to be called Adam now?" Dad exhaled.
"If it’s alright with mum, I’d like to keep my name. As much as 'Adam' is a normal name for a normal person, I want to always remember where I came from, and who raised me. So I’ll be sticking with Vladimir." I chuckled.
"Vlad, for short." George smiled.
"Please leave before I puke. Hearing your heartbeat is making me gag. I can’t believe my brother is a full breather now." Ingrid groaned, using her speed to go to her room.
"Goodbye dad. If you’re ever in town, let me know. Maybe we can grab dinner?" I suggested, watching as mum handed him the address.
"I highly doubt that, Vlad. But…if you ever see a bat flying around, don’t hesitate to give me a wave." Dad wrapped his arms around my shoulders, clearly sad to see me leaving.
With the goodbyes all done, George helped me get my bags into the taxi that mum had called. While they got in and out their seatbelts on, I stood in front of one of the doors, covering my eyes slightly so the sun wouldn’t blind me. I looked up at the tallest window and saw Talitha looking down at me. She raised her half of the Yin and Yang necklace she gave me for my birthday and held it tight, letting me know that she’d never forget about me. I copied her actions, raising my half and holding it tight. I sent her an air kiss, watching as she smiled while 'catching it'.
"C'mon Vlad! If we leave now, we can be home before breakfast!" George opened the car door. I quickly got inside and mum gave the taxi driver the address. Within a few moments, I was leaving Garside, my home of 5 years.
"What do you want for breakfast, Vlad?" George asked.
"Your first morning as a human, anything you want." Mum whispered to me, trying to avoid the taxi driver hearing her.
"How about…bacon and eggs?" I suggested.
"Sounds lovely." Mum nodded.
"Good choice. I love bacon and eggs!" George nodded, agreeing with my choice of breakfast.