First Troubles

"I knew it would be like this! Fucking Conrad!" Henry swore under his breath as he ran through the bushes of the autumn forest. "How many of them left?!"

"Just two. One wounded, he's breathing like a dog, another, smaller, a woman." A voice of the boy reached Henry's ears.

"Jesus Christ! I'm almost 60! I'm too old for this!"

"Told you we should take that plane."

"Screw the plane! I would rather swim my way through the La Manche!" Henry spat without turning back.

*******

A few days earlier.

When the boy woke up, there was quite a commotion. Young Marcus didn't believe when Henry tried to explain the situation to him. What would you expect? The last thing you remember is escaping with your father, but then you wake up in a stranger's house, all alone. Of course, you would think of the worst!

Everything got cleared when Henry handed him the letter he found inside the bag Conrad left. Yes, he searched through the all stuff that was in the bag, but he didn't take anything for himself, there was nothing of use to him.

Anyway, the letter was written by Conrad. Although messy, probably due to the rush, Marcus could recognize his father's handwriting, as it was him who thought him how to write and read.

The child started sobbing in front of Henry, who honestly didn't exactly know what to do. He didn't interact with children since he took care of his son. Many years ago...

The old man decided to give the boy some space, so he left the room and went to prepare some tea.

Later that day both of them settled some things. Henry explained the situation and what he knew. Marcus calmed down and thanked him for everything, much to Henry's displeasure.

As Henry thought, Conrad didn't return for his son. A week passed but there wasn't a single word from him. Instead, terrifying news reached him, the Tepes Royal Clan of Romania had fallen. The rebels under the leadership of the Orkan clan successfully overthrew the Tepes clan.

Knowing the policy which the Orkan clan represented, Henry knew he won't be safe if he stayed in Transylvania. He most likely wouldn't be bothered, but the problem was the boy. Presumably the last Tepes alive.

"Grab your things, kid. We are leaving the country." Spat Henry flatly, not giving the boy a simple glance, and instead went on to pack himself.

"What, why?" Said perplexed Marcus.

"The Orkans took over. If the news reaches them where you are hiding they will come for you, and that means they will come for me. Damn it!" Explained shortly Henry, cursing under his nose for all the trouble he gets himself into.

"Then what about my dad? Wasn't he supposed-" But then realization struck him. If the Orkans successfully took over and declared themselves, then his father won't come back... He would fight them to death, which perhaps happened or he was imprisoned.

Marcus bit his lip. Multiple emotions swept through his body, a mixture of sadness, anger, anxiety, and fear. He silently walked to grab his bag with Henry closely watching him.

'At least he's not crying and throwing a tantrum... So good of being a vampire, eh?' Thought Henry, thinking about how a normal human child would behave in Marcus' place.

After a few minutes, both of them were standing in front of Henry's house, each holding his luggage.

"Wait." Ordered Henry with a dry voice.

Marcus glanced at him, as he walked to the small wooden box next to the house only to walk out with a green canister. Then, the old man walked inside the house, and Marcus could see through the windows as Henry started pouring out the content of the canister.

Not so long after, the man walked out and lit up the match, throwing it inside.

"Go, we don't have time," Henry said and walked past Marcus without turning back. He was heading towards the car.

Marcus followed shortly after him, and both drove away. The young boy looked behind and through a dirty window, he could see the bright, orange flames, greedily devouring the wooden building.

"Why did you burn it down?" Asked Marcus after being silent for some time.

Henry raised his eyebrows, still staring at the road. "What's with that stupid question? I've had some things I couldn't take with me right now, so it's better to burn them than give them to the leeches. Wasn't taught common sense?"

Marcus frowned at the salty response. He knew that the old man wasn't happy with the situation, but Marcus thought he had it worse.

"Whatever..." Murmured young boy, staring outside the window, admiring the scenery.

****

From that day they travelled to the nearest city with the railroad in it. Abandoning their car, they used a train to get to France as soon as possible.

The only time they stayed in a Motel or some kind of inn was only when the trains were scheduled later from each other. And that happened only twice, in a small city in Hungary and at the border of Germany. It was the first time Marcus had ever ridden a train. He admired the machine and was surprised to see how many people can use it at once, and without any magic whatsoever. Though he knew that the Floo powder was much quicker, something like that was still amazing.

The problems arose when they arrived at the shore of France. There, in the small town with the only attraction being a train station, they decided to stop because Henry said he had to contact a friend that will help them reach Britain.

Marcus was resting on the only bed inside the rented room. He just stared at the ceiling with empty eyes, his mind clouded by the images of the events that...that shouldn't have happened.

Suddenly Marcus sit up, his head snapped at the floor. He could hear it, the commotion beneath. Two people were arguing with the bartender using French, though the Romanian accent was clearly present.

[Two men, young and old! Boy, this high! Are they here?] The male voice spoke with crude French.

The young boy started listening more carefully, focusing his senses on the newcomers. And he found what he wanted, the heartbeat unnatural for humans.

"They are after me... I gotta go." Marcus's eyes widened, and a feeling of anxiety crawled inside his heart. He grabbed his and Henry's bag, quickly put on his shoes, and dashed toward the window.

[Sir, I can't tell-] The surprised bartender was quickly cut off.

[Leave this meat bag, Vasil! Check the rooms!] A woman spoke, this time in Romanian.

Marcus placed his legs over the window frame and gently pushed himself down. Almost silently landing on the wet ground, he quickly scanned his surroundings and sprinted toward the woods.

'I can smell Henry's scent... Disgusting...' Marcus scowled but still followed the trail. 'It shouldn't be far, Henry said he would be back in a few minutes.'

And as he thought, after a few moments he met old Van Helsing walking down the path between the trees.

Spotting a familiar figure running towards him, Henry's expression turned into a frown.

"What are you doing in here, boy? I told you to wait inside the room."

"I...I know... They are here... The Vampires..." Said Marcus between his breathes, obviously tired from running at his full speed. It was the condition of the Vampires, they were faster and stronger than humans, but also they were getting tired quicker than most of the normal people.

Henry didn't say anything but grabbed his bag from the boy's shoulder and started jogging in the opposite direction he was walking before, deeper inside the forest.

Marcus sighed, not used to such...extensive activity, but soon followed after the older man.

"How many?" Henry inquired, now with the revolver in his hand, glancing behind from time to time to see if they are yet followed.

"Two for sure, they were inside the inn." Spath Marcus focuses on his legs to not trip over the fallen and dry branches or tree roots.

"There have to be more, probably five overall..." Mumbled Henry. He suddenly stopped and started searching through his bag. "Focus, kid. Try to hear them, it should be easy with all this mess on the ground." The old man instructed without looking back at Marcus.

Marcus did as he was told to. He closed his eyes and ignored the noise of Henry running through his stuff. His ears twitched slightly, he could hear it, the sound of dry leaves and small branches cracking around 400 meters from where they came from.

"Around 400 from us, but they are coming quickly, four of them." Informed Marcus.

"So four it is... Sometimes I envy that leeches senses, heh." Henry murmured and turned around, crouching under one of the trees. He stabbed something to the ground and then moved next to another tree doing the same thing.

Something glittered, Marcus squinted his eyes, and then he barely saw it. A thin wire around 10 inches above the ground. He looked over to where Henry stabbed something in the ground. There was a stake and on it was something similar to a dark green potato with attached wire.

"What's that?" He asked.

"Muggle Bombarda, hah." Snickered Henry with a nasty smile and resumed his run through the forest shortly after.