Like Father...

The Count had many things he could be doing in the morning like sleeping, for example. Instead, he was woken up by his most loyal aide Renfield to read a stupid, useless letter from the school. A report for their behaviour for the first half term. He had no idea what a half-term was but it must be some ridiculous breather thing. He began by reading Ingrid's and was pleased by the carnage and destruction she caused. It read 'Ingrid was a born troublemaker who delights in causing as much disruption as possible'. The Count marvelled at the countless incidents where Ingrid destroyed any semblance of order in the place she was in. The Count looked at her report one more time before moving on to Vlad's.

"What will the future Count Dracula have in store, hmm?" wondered the Count and opened the envelope holding the secret activities of his son.

"Cock a doodle doo" sang Zoltan waking the pale child hiding in his blanket. Vlad turned over hitting Zoltan in the head. Zoltan waited a few seconds before repeating, "Cock a doodle doo."

"Zoltan you're a wolf, not a cockerel. Please try to remember," said Vlad sarcastically. He sat up taking off his blanket before making his way to the bathroom.

"A hellhound actually but your father wants to see you straight away. He's seen your report," revealed Zoltan. Vlad froze before turning to Zoltan. He forgot the reports were coming today. Vlad wasn't so naive to think that his father would be happy to see good behaviour on his school report. Why couldn't his dad understand he wanted to live a normal life until he was 16? If he could just have one day where his father didn't feel disappointed in his breather lifestyle. It wasn't like he hated being a vampire, Vlad just wanted to be able to experience the best of both worlds. Vlad sighed and decided to get ready for school before going near his dad. It was going to be a long morning.

"Vlad is a nice boy who is an absolute pleasure to teach," said the Count staring his son down. Vlad looked down and waited for his father to explode in anger. "I didn't send you to school for pleasantness," the Count berated. Vlad would have told him that he didn't send them to school and was tricked to but it didn't seem the right thing to do. "I understand your affection for breather customs. I myself was fascinated by their ways when I was young too but you must show your superiority as a Dracula. Vampires aren't nice and never will be. Not even at Christmas," lectured his dad. Vampires this and son and heir that. Couldn't his father understand he wanted to live a normal life before the change? The Count looked at his son and sat next to him. "Vlad, it isn't our way to be like the breathers. I need you to understand that as my son and heir, you have a role to play in vampire society. You must remember that your reputation is crucial," explained his dad. Vlad nodded and stood up but before leaving turned to his dad.

"It's just, I'm not you Dad. I don't do charming and deadly. I'm just me," Vlad remarked. The Count looked at his son and walked toward him. He caressed his cheeks and pulled him into a hug.

"You'll learn Vlad. After all, you are my son. Just follow Ingrid's lead for now," advised his dad before pushing him to go to school. Vlad was conflicted. He wanted to make his dad proud and cause a bit of trouble but he just wanted to be a normal kid that did normal things. He had to compromise. Ingrid looked at her brother and her father's talk and smirked. Ingrid knew being evil had its perks. "Have you read her school report? It says she's a born troublemaker. I know that if your sister can do it, you can too Vlad. After all, you are the heir to the Dracula throne," encouraged his dad. Vlad looked at his dad, nodded then moved on to go to school to do something. Ingrid looked at her brother and knew being evil was not going to be easy for him

"Morning Vlad," mumbled Robin looking drained for once as if he was forced to sing the macarena. Vlad looked at his friend with confusion. Why was he so sad today? He had never seen Robin like this before. He was going to ask before realising that Robin's report card must have also come in the post. Vlad placed his hand on his friend's shoulder in support.

"Bad report card for you too huh, Robin," replied Vlad. Robin just nodded while Chloe laughed at the both of them. Robin looked at his sister in annoyance before turning to his friend in confusion. How was his report bad? Vlad was the best-behaved Year 8 student he had ever seen or anyone had ever seen.

"Your report card was bad, Vlad. How?" asked Robin. Chloe looked at her brother and then at Vlad asking him to explain. Vlad didn't seem the type to get into any trouble at school or anywhere. Other than the twins at the start of term trying to 'assert their authority', but Ingrid put a stop to all that, there wasn't an incident that Vlad had his hand in.

"Are you forgetting my evil vampire dad who wants me in the street in the dead of night forcing people's blood down my throat?" quipped Vlad while looking at his two friends being stupid. A sudden realisation came over their faces and they just nodded while walking before being stopped by the Princess of Darkness.

"You just can't keep away, can you? Drawn to me like a moth to a flame," flirted Robin. Attempted to flirt anyway because all it seemed to do was disgust Ingrid as she turned her gaze toward him.

"Drop dead Branagh," Ingrid said. Ingrid looked at her brother and knew he was going to need a boost in this bad behaviour business. She wondered if she should warn him but decided against it. She was already helping him. She looked at Vlad and opened her umbrella. "By the way Vlad, no need to thank me after this," she told him. She planned this perfectly, Vlad would have the desire to help and try to turn it off when a teacher would catch him in the act.

"You opened an umbrella for what reason exactly?" asked Chloe rolling her eyes.

"Oh, this reason," Ingrid said and then smashed the fire alarm while fleeing the scene. Vlad and Robin shared a look before running to disable it while Chloe tried to warn them about the impending danger. Vlad and Robin had finally stopped the alarm and the sprinklers so stopped and sighed in relief. Chloe cleared her throat and gestured above them. Vlad looked up and saw his worst nightmare. The slayer.

"It wasn't-"

"Do the words red and handed ring any bells? I'm suspending you two idiots until further notice," said Mr Van Helsing. He turned his head looking at Vlad and said, "Looks like I'll be having a word with your father. Won't that be nice?" Vlad grimaced. What was he going to do?

Chloe stormed into the girl's bathroom staring at Ingrid who smirked at her. Ingrid was as dry as could be except for some splash back on her shoes and socks. "I suppose you think this is funny?" asked Chloe.

"Funny, no. This is hilarious," laughed Ingrid. Chloe glared at Vlad's sister even harder. Why was she so cruel? She even got her own little brother suspended from school for two days. "Wait till my dad hears about this," smiled Ingrid.

"He won't have to wait long. Vlad's telling him as we speak. Van Helsing suspended him and Robin over the fire alarm. I hope you're happy," remanded Chloe. Ingrid just smirked and shrugged.

"All in a day's work. Although I have to admit, didn't expect him to get suspended. Sometimes my evil genius scares me," joked Ingrid before leaving the bathroom. Chloe huffed and left for her classes.

Vlad thought about knocking on the door but just decided to just walk in. He just knew his dad was going to make a big deal out of this so he walked in further before being stopped by confetti and party horns being wielded by his father, Renfield and Zoltan. There was a fat white banner with "CONGRATULATIONS VLAD" written on it in fat black ink. Although Vlad doubted it was ink. His father and Renfield decided to stop using the party horns and instead twirl around shouting "Bravo" every few seconds while Zoltan decided that he was a wolf all of a sudden and started howling as well. He understood Renfield and the Count but Zoltan was a surprise to him. Zoltan knew how much of an ordinary life he wanted to have. At least until he was sixteen. "Bravo Vlad, Bravo. Suspended, I knew you could do it," exclaimed the jubilant Count.

"I'm guessing the school rang you then,"

"Yes, pulling the fire alarm, getting the peasants wet before their classes. Well done, you little hell-raiser," praised the Count. Vlad looked at his dad and wondered if he should tell him the truth that Ingrid did it but he looked at his dad's happy face and couldn't. He then turned towards Renfield and saw him offering a cake and was about to tell Vlad the ingredients before Vlad put a hand in his face and told him to stop talking. Vlad had a taste of the cake and smiled at his dad. Maybe lying was the best option for him.

"I have written you a poem. There once was a vampire called Vlad who was terribly naughty and bad. He got suspended from school and learnt to be cruel so now he can fang out with his dad," sang Zoltan. Vlad glanced at Zoltan and laughed at his terrible poem. If this is what being a troublemaker was then he could learn to live with it. It wasn't too bad at all. Vlad looked at his dad one more time before sighing, turning to him and tapping his shoulder.

"Yes Vlad," answered the Count

"It wasn't me who did all this.," confessed Vlad. His dad looked confused and told Vlad to keep going. Vlad took a deep breath and continued, "It was Ingrid. She triggered the fire alarm and I just got caught. I was going to tell you immediately but you guys never gave me a chance. I promise I was going to cause some trouble, Ingrid just beat me to it." The Count looked at his son and just nodded.

"Well okay then. It seems you will need some tutoring after all. I thought as much but didn't want to force it on you," said the Count. Vlad groaned and went upstairs while the Count just smiled. It was going to be a good day.

Jonno opened his locker and started to check himself out in the mirror and sorted out his hair. After all, he needed to look good if he wanted to see Ingrid. She was so beautiful in a gothic kinda way. Either way, there was no other girl like her in the school. He closed his locker door before jumping back being startled by his dad. "You've got to stop creeping up on me like that," said Jonathan

"It's all part of the training. a good vampire slayer never drops his guard. You can never be too careful. They could be anywhere," said his dad.

"You mean, like that one behind you!" shivered Jonathan while pretending to be scared of an imaginary vampire. His dad slowly turned around before quickly spinning with his hands in a martial arts stance.

"I'm serious Jonno. Now I need your help for later. We're going slaying," smiled Van Helsing. Jonathan just looked at his dad and shook his head. When was his dad going to leave these people alone for god's sake?

"Look why can't we go bowling or the cinema or maybe the park? Just anything fun," begged Jonno.

"Slaying is fun though," replied Van Helsing. Jonathan just looked at his dad and shook his head. "Either way this time is going to be different. Vlad has given me the perfect excuse to suspend him which gives me the perfect excuse to visit the castle. We're going in," smiled his dad.

"Dad they're not vampires. We've watched them for weeks, the only things that suck blood are mosquitoes," said Jonathan while scratching himself. "I'm not going to let you slay that family,"

"Try and stop me."