Post by mina on Jul 13, 2021 15:29:20 GMT
Correct title (which was too long)"Mirror, mirror on the wall ... who takes the most beautiful photo in the whole country?"
Evidence Photos
It smelled of smoke, of soot, of chemicals, of poison, of ...
Vladimir sniffed and opened the door to the dungeon. "Igor! What are you doing?"
The old vulture winced when the smaller duck came into the room and stood next to him curiously.
"Vladimir! What kind of behavior is it? You knock before you enter!" Vladimir crossed his arms behind his body and stood on tiptoe to see more of what the butler was doing.
"Sorry Igor. But would it have changed anything about what you were doing?"
He tried to look over Igor's shoulder. "So what were you doing? What were you doing? Black magic?"
"No," Igor raised his beak as if he were offended. "I wrote a letter to your relatives."
Vladimir looked inquiringly at his butler and tutor.
"Well," Igor folded the letter and put it in an envelope. "I thought, now that your birthday is about to be 190, you might like to come and visit."
"Igor, don't you think you should ask the count's permission first?"
"The Count's answer would be certain."
"I see ... and that's why you don't even ask him, you want to confront him with a fait accompli - strange behavior for a butler."
Igor turned around and looked at his pupil with a look which he could hardly distinguish.
But Vladimir stood firm with his arms crossed and looked questioningly at the butler. Igor had only too often felt that Vladimir was no longer the little boy he was back then, a boy who was stubborn but just a little child. This one had become calmer, more deliberate in action, but also very determined when it mattered.Little Vladimir had learned in his life. Finally the butler sighed.
"I will ask the Count's permission before I send the invitations to his relatives. But, with all due respect, it should be a surprise party for her 19th birthday."
he pointed out. "The only question is who would have been surprised if all of our bloodthirsty relatives suddenly stood at the door ..."
To be on the safe side, Vladimir took the letter from Igor as he passed him and looked after Igor. Thoughtfully, he turned the envelope in his hands.
"Somehow I can do without such a visit ... somehow ..."
In the meantime deep under the Duckula Castle in the village.
Count Duckula held little Nicolae in his hands. The chicks had grown a lot in the past two years. They were still walking around awkwardly, but they were walking. And began to speak their first little sentences.
"Well, little man," said Count Duckula, addressing the little boy. "Don't annoy Florina. It's not appropriate."
"She was annoyed!" replied Nicolae. "All right then." Count Duckula turned to the girls. "You mustn't annoy your brother either."
Then she made a Pouty face.
Count Duckula groaned. "I think it's about time that the little ones have a father who can get a little stricter."
Antanasia laughed at this remark. "And who does that want to be? You?" she tapped his beak. "You can't do that at all!"
"Oh yes! I can! After all, I have staff what I command!"
Antanasia had to smile at this remark. "Yes of course ... Dorin is coming home again today and after all, it won't be long before he opens his practice here. He said that it will happen this year." With that she tossed her friend a tea towel. "Better help me and make yourself useful, Fridolin. The little ones make a lot of work."
"I could ask Emma to help you." Then suggested the count. "She can do the children's laundry and help you with the dishes ..."
Again Antanasia had to laugh at the introduction. "No thanks, dearest, I think she has enough work for you and Igor. And besides, I want to keep buying new dishes ..."
"That is an argument."
While he helped Antanasia with the housework, he watched out of the corner of his eye as the little ones played on the floor. They were so delightful to watch. If only it were his children ... For a moment in his mind's eye he saw little Vladimir between them, playing with the others.
But this vision was only there for a brief moment, then it was over again. Past.
He had been told that Vladimir grew very slowly, these children here grew very quickly. At her age ... Vladimir hadn't had a mother.
And he's no longer a woman ...
Count Duckula sighed inwardly, remembering why he had actually come. "Vladimir is about to turn 190," he finally remarked. "I thought we should maybe prepare a little surprise for him. A little party."
"Party? Isn't it just something for you?" Antanasia shook her head as she put away a dried plate. "Vladimir is not that much of a party guy."
"I just meant a very small party ... with cake and so on."
"Cake for Vladimir?"
Count Duckula bit his beak, yes that was really a stupid idea!
"I know what you mean Fridolin. Such a small party in his honor ... would certainly please him."
Count Duckula smiled. "I tell you! So do you have an idea?"
"So no cakes - it doesn't have any of that."
"He doesn't, but we want to eat something, don't we? So I'm often hungry during the day. Besides, it's used to other people eating at celebrations. And he doesn't."
"Hmmm ..." Antanasia considered putting the last plate aside and turned to her children. "... that's right. But I think it's ... a stupid feeling for him."
Count Duckula did not answer to this, these thoughts had passed through his head very often, he considered.
"Vladimir likes to lick an ice cream. Just like me."
"Ice?" Antanasia on. "A good idea ... my little darlings love that too."
All three nodded eagerly. "Ice cream!"
Antanasia giggled. "It looks like Vladimir's birthday will be coming. Do you have any idea what we could give him?"
No, Count Duckula did not have that. He didn't even know what to give his brother / son. So he just shrugged.
He couldn't ask Igor, he always had the same confused ideas, like a "good drop" of noble blood or something like that. It was similar with his relatives. Well, he could be lenient with them, they didn't really know Vladimir ... but Igor.
Count Duckula considered. "Vladimir loves traditional clothes, maybe we could get him some more. I mean, if you and I go away alone, then he doesn't have to find out. We are the same size, so what fits me, fits him too."
Antanasia nodded. "A good idea. I just have to ask my parents if they play babysitting for a few hours. But they certainly like to do that. The little ones love being with grandma and grandpa, they are always so nice. And spoil them a lot very..."
Count Duckula preferred not to say anything about that, what should he also notice?
He was chased out of the house by them with the broomstick every time he came near them. He wondered how long it would take them to eat him? "And ... won't you mind if the two of us are alone together?" he finally noticed.
"Alone? Certainly ... because they still see you as a competitor to Dorin. You have to understand them, my status in Village is not exactly the best when I'm with a lover - when I'm married. You just don't understand our relationship." Antanasia considered. "But we can take Dorin with us! In two days he will be here, then the mood will be calmed."
Should Dorin come with you? This seemed to Count Duckula as if someone had hit him in the face with a wet rag. The dream of a few hours alone with his girlfriend was over! But ... he already understood. Just so as not to damage her reputation, he agreed, after all, he loves her.
Although it surprised him, after all, she had been with the "Freak Vampires" again for some time and it didn't seem to bother. Well ... it was your "work" maybe that was it? Although, where should the difference be whether they were together at their "work" or in their free time?
Count Duckula decided that trying to follow mortals' lines of thought was often hopeless.
"All right," he finally said, "in two days, so let's go together to find a present for the vampire." To say goodbye, he hugged all three ducklings again before disappearing in a little lightning bolt and a cloud.
Florina, Felicia and Nicolae already knew this very well, but were always enthusiastic about the spectacle and clap their hands.
"Papa should do it too!" it came from all three beaks.
At which Antanasia had to laugh. "No children, your papa can't do that - only your uncle Fridolin can do that!"
Count Duckula was immediately received by Igor upstairs in the castle to be able to ask him that question, but this was probably only because Vladimir was standing nearby and looking at the butler.
"Milord, I wanted to ask you if I could just post this letter."
Count Duckula just stared at him, confused. "Of course you can post letters, Igor. What kind of question? I'm not a tyrant."
"Oh thank you Milord!"
To Count Duckulas' astonishment, Vladimir Igor got in the way and stopped him. "STOP it! Don't be too hasty! You should perhaps let someone show you to whom the letters are addressed?"
"Why should I care who Igor is writing to? It's his personal life."
"Not quite in that case."
Still incomprehensible, Count Duckula asked Igor for the letters. This looked at the addressees.
"Uncle Vlad, Aunt Lucrezia? What do you want to write you Igor ...?"
"Well Igor wanted to invite you to my birthday."
Count Duckula raised his head and looked questioningly at Vladimir. "Oh no, no ... it wasn't my idea. I just meant that he might have to ask your permission first." "Permission denied! I still miss that, to have these scraps in my castle! And then for Vladimir's birthday!"
"Oh Milord, especially on Vladimir's day of honor. Think about what an honor this is for him!"
Igor sounded almost desperate. "I can gladly do without this honor, Igor. As much as I loved her as a child, I gladly do without it. It's not difficult for me." "Besides, we won't be alone on this day, Igor. Antanasia and family have already agreed. And then I can happily do without my vampiric relatives! After all, they want to come FOR food - and not come AS food." Count Duckula crossed his arms resolutely.
"Your relatives will be disappointed not to be invited." the butler pointed out.
"It may be, but it cannot be changed." Igor sighed. "But you have to invite them to Vladimir's 200 birthday! It's just the way it is. Or do you want to attract negative attention in your family, Milord?"
This time Count Duckula sighed. "All right, then in 1 year."
"In 10 years," corrected Vladimir. "I'll take a little time with the older ones."
Two days later, when Dorin came to his family, they met again and drove off to buy a matching shirt with traditional embroidery for Vladimir.
Count Duckula sat in the back of the car and heard the couple's conversation. "Antanasia my dearest, I can finally announce to you that I will only go to Cluj three days a week to work there, the other time I will be at home to open my practice and work here. I have mine Boss talked, there is a transition period until the "shop" is going right here. "
"That's really nice. Then the children will have more of their papa." replied his wife. "Yes ... otherwise they will still think of you as their father."
At the words Dorin glanced in the mirror - and, as always, saw nothing.
But he was used to this when he drove the Duckula brothers somewhere. "The little ones know that he is not their father, for them he is their uncle."
"Your uncle is a vampire ... I would never have thought I would experience something like that."
"Oh Dorin ..." Antanasia leaned against her husband. "... I don't think anyone in the village would have thought that the dreaded Count was completely harmless."
Count Duckula considered for a moment whether he should reply to this conversation. But what should he say to that? He was just sorry.
So he just turned and looked out the window.
Finally they arrived in Sighișoara - they had come here because they knew the dealer well by now and hoped to negotiate a good price with them.
Vladimir had "fallen in love" with one of his folk shirts with a waistcoat a long time ago, but until now the price had simply been too expensive for him.
So they approached the booth quite single-mindedly.
The people were quite astonished to see Count Duckula and the others without Vladimir, and asked if they didn't want to perform today?
"Not today," declared Count Duckula, "but we will come to next Saturday."
The dealer nodded. "The freak vampires are missing. After all, not every city has real vampires to offer - and they also make music."
Count Duckula, who had just searched the rows of shirts, stopped in the middle of the movement. "Like ... we're not really vampires."
he laughed but it didn't sound real. "And you all know that. Really! Don't be so silly."
Antanasia came up to him, she wanted to change the subject. "We are looking for this shirt, which Vladimir has looked at many times, that with the beautiful vest.
I hope you still have it?"
"Yes ... yes, of course ..." the dealer searched through his range. And finally presented it to them. "But it's not cheap as you know."
"Vladimir's soon to be his 18th birthday and we'll be all together." declared Count Duckula. "Is there anything here where I can change? I want to try it on to see if it would suit him too."
"Boy ... you're a duck! You can change here too." the dealer laughed.
Count Duckula just raised an eyebrow and gave him a challenging look. "I am a count! I have my dignity even as a duck!"
The dealer sighed. "There behind the curtain." Count Duckula reached for the clothes and disappeared behind the curtain.
Shortly afterwards he came out freshly dressed.
"So? How does it look? I think it should fit him!"
Antanasia nodded. "Looks good, fits perfectly!"
Dorin just nodded.
"Don't you want to look in the mirror?" the merchant's voice was indefinable for Count Duckula, was it pure friendliness and innocence, or was there more to it? "No thanks, I don't need a mirror. After all, it's for Vladimir - not me."
Eventually they bought the clothes by putting all three of them together. Count Duckula could not have afforded it alone.
As soon as they had paid and the count was about to reach for it, the trader's hand held him for a moment and he looked him in the eye.
"You are vampires, real vampires ... at least you and Vladimir. We've known for a while. But benign vampires."
Count Duckula withdrew his hand. "Nonsense! We're not vampires!" he nodded toward Antanasia.
"You definitely don't." confirmed the dealer. "But you guys ..." he clicked his tongue. "They took photos of you and the two of you never waited to be seen.
Talk to the landlord where you are going, he can tell you more little count." with that he turned around and attended to a new customer.
Count Duckula and the others looked at each other with concern.
Dorin clicked her tongue. "At some point it had to happen, did you seriously think that nobody would think of wanting to take a photo of you? And today in the age of electronics it is much easier than in earlier times. Now you can even make a film very easily and put it on the Internet. "
Count Duckula cursed inwardly. "Come on let's go to the landlord, I think I have to have a serious word with him!" with these words he walked ahead of the small group, head held high, until they finally arrived at the place where they were performing normally.
Count Duckula entered the restaurant proudly. "Good morning Count Duckula." the owner greeted him while his eyes met Vladimir.
"Where's Vladimir? Is he not well?"
"I wish you a wonderful good morning ... yes ... but Vladimir is fine. We are not performing today, but only on Saturday. I have come to discuss something with you ..." Count Duckula made himself as big as he could and sternly looked the landlord in the eye.
"I heard the rumor was going around, Vladimir and I, would be real vampires?"
The landlord nodded. "Yes. I don't think it should bother you. After all, it's good for business. The tourists want to see real vampires! That makes the tills ring not just for you - but for all of us here!"
"We, forgive me for being so strict, but we are NOT vampires!"
The landlord thought for a moment, then nodded. "Please come with me, we shouldn't be discussing this in this place."
Count Duckula, Antanasia and Dorin followed him into an adjoining room, where the landlord led them to a free table.
Count Duckula looked at him sternly, arms folded. "Well it is already clear to us that your charming companion is not a vampire. But you two drakes, you and Vladimir are all puzzles."
"Do you see canines on me?" Count Duckula pointed to his beak. "No! I don't have any - I only wear them for my performances! And they too!"
with that he pointed to Antanasia. "Well, like I said, nobody doubts she's not a vampire. But what about Vladimir? Nobody has ever seen him without canines."
"He's just very conscientious when it comes to his role." Antanasia interfered.
"You might think ..." the landlord nodded. "... if it weren't for another fact. Some tourists were so enthusiastic about your performances that they took photos of you ..."
"We don't want people to take pictures of us!"
"Exactly! That's why they did it secretly. They showed us the photos ... and ... well there is always only one duck to be seen."
The landlord nodded toward Antanasia. "There is not a single picture of you drakes. Although everyone swears that they also took pictures of you."
"Then it was probably just an imagination."
"Really? Wait a moment, I'll show you some of the photos you took."
With that he went away and came back a short time later with a few photos. He put this on the table in front of the three ducks.
"Look at the photos and show me some pictures where you two can be seen - or just one of you two drakes."
They flipped through the photos, in fact, if anyone was on them, it was Antanasia. No one else. Once it looked like someone had photographed the building behind them, which Count Duckula noticed. "But he didn't want to photograph the building - he wanted to take you."
"He said, so please, anyone can say that."
"As you mean Milord. But what about these pictures ..." with that he tapped a couple of pictures, which showed violins apparently floating in the air. Count Duckula fell silent. He felt his lover hug him with one arm. "And Count Duckula, should I get down my camera and take a nice picture?"
"And what do you want to do now?" Antanasia asked her counterpart.
"Company? Nothing! As long as they are harmless vampires, nobody here cares. Quite the opposite!" he smiled broadly. "If the word gets around, it will be teeming with people! It's a sensation!"
Count Duckula sighed. "I don't want to be a sensation because I'm a vampire! I want ..."
what did he actually want? Good question. With everything he wished, he didn't want to be treated like an exhibition subject - known all over the country just because he was a… "freak". Then they really would be the "freak vampires".
Count Duckula took a deep breath. "That's not what we want, neither Vladimir nor I. We want to ... just be like you."
"You are not like us."
"Yes! I'm a vegetarian, I don't drink blood! I even hate it!" protested Count Duckula.
"And Vladimir? What about him?" asked the landlord. "He's not a real vampire either."
"But he looks like one."
"Yes. But he's a mongrel, a bastard vampire, a dhampire."
The landlord stared at him. "You really are" Freak Vampire "".
"With that he patted the Count on the shoulder so that he almost fell over. "read it well his buddy! We all like you here. Nobody cares what you guys are ..."
The Count's mood on the return trip was not particularly good. In contrast to his character, he was quite monosyllabic.
He looked out the window, watched the landscape and was silent most of the time, lost in thought.
Dorin also noticed that his efforts to lighten the Count's mood were only answered with a hum.
Antanasia's efforts were answered with his sighs. When they finally arrived in front of the castle and Count Duckula got out, Dorin saw him after him.
"Strange, they called themselves the 'freak vampires'."
"It's not strange Dorin, think about it for yourself. They called themselves that because their butler called them that. But just imagine you're in their position." Dorin turned and looked inquiringly at his wife.
"Imagine everyone would stare at you, see you as an abnormality and no longer see yourself. It doesn't matter what you are? For everyone else, only your otherness counts. For some you are a curiosity, for others a freak, a monster for others. How would you feel about it Dorin? "
Dorin became thoughtful. "Pretty ... bad ... to be careful."
"Right. That is the case with the counts, who are thought to be a monster. And also Vladimir, who is even more conspicuous because of his canine teeth."
Dorin thought about it and stared at his car again. "A stupid situation."
"It is exactly like that."
Vladimir was just finishing the email program when his brother came into the room.
He looked at the screen for a moment, then turned around and looked into Count Duckula's somewhat sullen face.
Even if he tried to cover it up, the displeasure was evident. "Well? I think you wanted to spend a few nice hours today? Was the trip so bad?"
Count Duckula just looked at Vladimir, should he tell him or not? "Was it because Dorin was there?" Vladimir asked further.
"I wish it would be like this!" burst it out of the little counts. "I really wish it were!" he raised his arms theatrically.
"I didn't really want to tell you - but it wouldn't change anything anyway! So I'd better tell you Vladimir right away."
At that moment Igor came into the room to bring the Count his biscuits and cocoa. "Shall I leave it here, Milord?"
Count Duckula ran a hand through his hair. "Yes Igor, thank you."
Then he turned back to Vladimir, ignoring his butler who was still standing nearby.
"It's like Vladimir that some tourists took photos of us while we were making music as" Freak Vampires "."
"It's just not possible, my lord, you can't take photos of vampires," remarked Igor with his deep bass voice. "So don't worry, Milord."
Count Duckula turned around as fast as lightning to look deeply into Igor's face for a moment.
"Wrong, Igor! THIS is exactly the problem. If you had photos of us, it wouldn't be a problem at all. But since you haven't received any pictures of us, that's the problem! You now know that Vladimir and I are vampires! at least the assumption is close to them. "
Igor cleared his throat loudly and noticeably. "Well, Milord, it had to come like this. If you let the common folk so free for amusement, it was to be foreseen that it would one day come like this."
"We have not" released ourselves to amusement "!" Count Duckula tore his hair at this word. "We do an honest job and make people happy with it. THAT is something completely different Igor!"
"I see it differently, Milord ..."
"I think," Vladimir intervened, "both of us are not particularly interested in your point of view, Igor. Both of us are much more interested in how we clean this up."
"You couldn't clean this up young gentlemen, word will get around that they have been real vampires. Nothing can be changed about that." Igor interfered with schoolmaster's voice again. "You have to face the fact!"
Count Duckula sagged his shoulders. How often in his rather young, new life had Igor already told him this?
"By god, I wish I wasn't a vampire!"
At this word Igor groaned loudly. "Milord! How can you ?!"
Count Duckula ran his hands over his face. "Igor, I ... give up ..." he sighed and looked at Vladimir.
"Now that I have explained this" little "problem to you. What have you done today?"
"Oh, I wrote emails with Juliana."
"Juliana Fehér?"
Vladimir nodded.
"Is she still in love with you?"
Vladimir shrugged. "I don't know. But she would like a photo of me ..."
Evidence Photos
It smelled of smoke, of soot, of chemicals, of poison, of ...
Vladimir sniffed and opened the door to the dungeon. "Igor! What are you doing?"
The old vulture winced when the smaller duck came into the room and stood next to him curiously.
"Vladimir! What kind of behavior is it? You knock before you enter!" Vladimir crossed his arms behind his body and stood on tiptoe to see more of what the butler was doing.
"Sorry Igor. But would it have changed anything about what you were doing?"
He tried to look over Igor's shoulder. "So what were you doing? What were you doing? Black magic?"
"No," Igor raised his beak as if he were offended. "I wrote a letter to your relatives."
Vladimir looked inquiringly at his butler and tutor.
"Well," Igor folded the letter and put it in an envelope. "I thought, now that your birthday is about to be 190, you might like to come and visit."
"Igor, don't you think you should ask the count's permission first?"
"The Count's answer would be certain."
"I see ... and that's why you don't even ask him, you want to confront him with a fait accompli - strange behavior for a butler."
Igor turned around and looked at his pupil with a look which he could hardly distinguish.
But Vladimir stood firm with his arms crossed and looked questioningly at the butler. Igor had only too often felt that Vladimir was no longer the little boy he was back then, a boy who was stubborn but just a little child. This one had become calmer, more deliberate in action, but also very determined when it mattered.Little Vladimir had learned in his life. Finally the butler sighed.
"I will ask the Count's permission before I send the invitations to his relatives. But, with all due respect, it should be a surprise party for her 19th birthday."
he pointed out. "The only question is who would have been surprised if all of our bloodthirsty relatives suddenly stood at the door ..."
To be on the safe side, Vladimir took the letter from Igor as he passed him and looked after Igor. Thoughtfully, he turned the envelope in his hands.
"Somehow I can do without such a visit ... somehow ..."
In the meantime deep under the Duckula Castle in the village.
Count Duckula held little Nicolae in his hands. The chicks had grown a lot in the past two years. They were still walking around awkwardly, but they were walking. And began to speak their first little sentences.
"Well, little man," said Count Duckula, addressing the little boy. "Don't annoy Florina. It's not appropriate."
"She was annoyed!" replied Nicolae. "All right then." Count Duckula turned to the girls. "You mustn't annoy your brother either."
Then she made a Pouty face.
Count Duckula groaned. "I think it's about time that the little ones have a father who can get a little stricter."
Antanasia laughed at this remark. "And who does that want to be? You?" she tapped his beak. "You can't do that at all!"
"Oh yes! I can! After all, I have staff what I command!"
Antanasia had to smile at this remark. "Yes of course ... Dorin is coming home again today and after all, it won't be long before he opens his practice here. He said that it will happen this year." With that she tossed her friend a tea towel. "Better help me and make yourself useful, Fridolin. The little ones make a lot of work."
"I could ask Emma to help you." Then suggested the count. "She can do the children's laundry and help you with the dishes ..."
Again Antanasia had to laugh at the introduction. "No thanks, dearest, I think she has enough work for you and Igor. And besides, I want to keep buying new dishes ..."
"That is an argument."
While he helped Antanasia with the housework, he watched out of the corner of his eye as the little ones played on the floor. They were so delightful to watch. If only it were his children ... For a moment in his mind's eye he saw little Vladimir between them, playing with the others.
But this vision was only there for a brief moment, then it was over again. Past.
He had been told that Vladimir grew very slowly, these children here grew very quickly. At her age ... Vladimir hadn't had a mother.
And he's no longer a woman ...
Count Duckula sighed inwardly, remembering why he had actually come. "Vladimir is about to turn 190," he finally remarked. "I thought we should maybe prepare a little surprise for him. A little party."
"Party? Isn't it just something for you?" Antanasia shook her head as she put away a dried plate. "Vladimir is not that much of a party guy."
"I just meant a very small party ... with cake and so on."
"Cake for Vladimir?"
Count Duckula bit his beak, yes that was really a stupid idea!
"I know what you mean Fridolin. Such a small party in his honor ... would certainly please him."
Count Duckula smiled. "I tell you! So do you have an idea?"
"So no cakes - it doesn't have any of that."
"He doesn't, but we want to eat something, don't we? So I'm often hungry during the day. Besides, it's used to other people eating at celebrations. And he doesn't."
"Hmmm ..." Antanasia considered putting the last plate aside and turned to her children. "... that's right. But I think it's ... a stupid feeling for him."
Count Duckula did not answer to this, these thoughts had passed through his head very often, he considered.
"Vladimir likes to lick an ice cream. Just like me."
"Ice?" Antanasia on. "A good idea ... my little darlings love that too."
All three nodded eagerly. "Ice cream!"
Antanasia giggled. "It looks like Vladimir's birthday will be coming. Do you have any idea what we could give him?"
No, Count Duckula did not have that. He didn't even know what to give his brother / son. So he just shrugged.
He couldn't ask Igor, he always had the same confused ideas, like a "good drop" of noble blood or something like that. It was similar with his relatives. Well, he could be lenient with them, they didn't really know Vladimir ... but Igor.
Count Duckula considered. "Vladimir loves traditional clothes, maybe we could get him some more. I mean, if you and I go away alone, then he doesn't have to find out. We are the same size, so what fits me, fits him too."
Antanasia nodded. "A good idea. I just have to ask my parents if they play babysitting for a few hours. But they certainly like to do that. The little ones love being with grandma and grandpa, they are always so nice. And spoil them a lot very..."
Count Duckula preferred not to say anything about that, what should he also notice?
He was chased out of the house by them with the broomstick every time he came near them. He wondered how long it would take them to eat him? "And ... won't you mind if the two of us are alone together?" he finally noticed.
"Alone? Certainly ... because they still see you as a competitor to Dorin. You have to understand them, my status in Village is not exactly the best when I'm with a lover - when I'm married. You just don't understand our relationship." Antanasia considered. "But we can take Dorin with us! In two days he will be here, then the mood will be calmed."
Should Dorin come with you? This seemed to Count Duckula as if someone had hit him in the face with a wet rag. The dream of a few hours alone with his girlfriend was over! But ... he already understood. Just so as not to damage her reputation, he agreed, after all, he loves her.
Although it surprised him, after all, she had been with the "Freak Vampires" again for some time and it didn't seem to bother. Well ... it was your "work" maybe that was it? Although, where should the difference be whether they were together at their "work" or in their free time?
Count Duckula decided that trying to follow mortals' lines of thought was often hopeless.
"All right," he finally said, "in two days, so let's go together to find a present for the vampire." To say goodbye, he hugged all three ducklings again before disappearing in a little lightning bolt and a cloud.
Florina, Felicia and Nicolae already knew this very well, but were always enthusiastic about the spectacle and clap their hands.
"Papa should do it too!" it came from all three beaks.
At which Antanasia had to laugh. "No children, your papa can't do that - only your uncle Fridolin can do that!"
Count Duckula was immediately received by Igor upstairs in the castle to be able to ask him that question, but this was probably only because Vladimir was standing nearby and looking at the butler.
"Milord, I wanted to ask you if I could just post this letter."
Count Duckula just stared at him, confused. "Of course you can post letters, Igor. What kind of question? I'm not a tyrant."
"Oh thank you Milord!"
To Count Duckulas' astonishment, Vladimir Igor got in the way and stopped him. "STOP it! Don't be too hasty! You should perhaps let someone show you to whom the letters are addressed?"
"Why should I care who Igor is writing to? It's his personal life."
"Not quite in that case."
Still incomprehensible, Count Duckula asked Igor for the letters. This looked at the addressees.
"Uncle Vlad, Aunt Lucrezia? What do you want to write you Igor ...?"
"Well Igor wanted to invite you to my birthday."
Count Duckula raised his head and looked questioningly at Vladimir. "Oh no, no ... it wasn't my idea. I just meant that he might have to ask your permission first." "Permission denied! I still miss that, to have these scraps in my castle! And then for Vladimir's birthday!"
"Oh Milord, especially on Vladimir's day of honor. Think about what an honor this is for him!"
Igor sounded almost desperate. "I can gladly do without this honor, Igor. As much as I loved her as a child, I gladly do without it. It's not difficult for me." "Besides, we won't be alone on this day, Igor. Antanasia and family have already agreed. And then I can happily do without my vampiric relatives! After all, they want to come FOR food - and not come AS food." Count Duckula crossed his arms resolutely.
"Your relatives will be disappointed not to be invited." the butler pointed out.
"It may be, but it cannot be changed." Igor sighed. "But you have to invite them to Vladimir's 200 birthday! It's just the way it is. Or do you want to attract negative attention in your family, Milord?"
This time Count Duckula sighed. "All right, then in 1 year."
"In 10 years," corrected Vladimir. "I'll take a little time with the older ones."
Two days later, when Dorin came to his family, they met again and drove off to buy a matching shirt with traditional embroidery for Vladimir.
Count Duckula sat in the back of the car and heard the couple's conversation. "Antanasia my dearest, I can finally announce to you that I will only go to Cluj three days a week to work there, the other time I will be at home to open my practice and work here. I have mine Boss talked, there is a transition period until the "shop" is going right here. "
"That's really nice. Then the children will have more of their papa." replied his wife. "Yes ... otherwise they will still think of you as their father."
At the words Dorin glanced in the mirror - and, as always, saw nothing.
But he was used to this when he drove the Duckula brothers somewhere. "The little ones know that he is not their father, for them he is their uncle."
"Your uncle is a vampire ... I would never have thought I would experience something like that."
"Oh Dorin ..." Antanasia leaned against her husband. "... I don't think anyone in the village would have thought that the dreaded Count was completely harmless."
Count Duckula considered for a moment whether he should reply to this conversation. But what should he say to that? He was just sorry.
So he just turned and looked out the window.
Finally they arrived in Sighișoara - they had come here because they knew the dealer well by now and hoped to negotiate a good price with them.
Vladimir had "fallen in love" with one of his folk shirts with a waistcoat a long time ago, but until now the price had simply been too expensive for him.
So they approached the booth quite single-mindedly.
The people were quite astonished to see Count Duckula and the others without Vladimir, and asked if they didn't want to perform today?
"Not today," declared Count Duckula, "but we will come to next Saturday."
The dealer nodded. "The freak vampires are missing. After all, not every city has real vampires to offer - and they also make music."
Count Duckula, who had just searched the rows of shirts, stopped in the middle of the movement. "Like ... we're not really vampires."
he laughed but it didn't sound real. "And you all know that. Really! Don't be so silly."
Antanasia came up to him, she wanted to change the subject. "We are looking for this shirt, which Vladimir has looked at many times, that with the beautiful vest.
I hope you still have it?"
"Yes ... yes, of course ..." the dealer searched through his range. And finally presented it to them. "But it's not cheap as you know."
"Vladimir's soon to be his 18th birthday and we'll be all together." declared Count Duckula. "Is there anything here where I can change? I want to try it on to see if it would suit him too."
"Boy ... you're a duck! You can change here too." the dealer laughed.
Count Duckula just raised an eyebrow and gave him a challenging look. "I am a count! I have my dignity even as a duck!"
The dealer sighed. "There behind the curtain." Count Duckula reached for the clothes and disappeared behind the curtain.
Shortly afterwards he came out freshly dressed.
"So? How does it look? I think it should fit him!"
Antanasia nodded. "Looks good, fits perfectly!"
Dorin just nodded.
"Don't you want to look in the mirror?" the merchant's voice was indefinable for Count Duckula, was it pure friendliness and innocence, or was there more to it? "No thanks, I don't need a mirror. After all, it's for Vladimir - not me."
Eventually they bought the clothes by putting all three of them together. Count Duckula could not have afforded it alone.
As soon as they had paid and the count was about to reach for it, the trader's hand held him for a moment and he looked him in the eye.
"You are vampires, real vampires ... at least you and Vladimir. We've known for a while. But benign vampires."
Count Duckula withdrew his hand. "Nonsense! We're not vampires!" he nodded toward Antanasia.
"You definitely don't." confirmed the dealer. "But you guys ..." he clicked his tongue. "They took photos of you and the two of you never waited to be seen.
Talk to the landlord where you are going, he can tell you more little count." with that he turned around and attended to a new customer.
Count Duckula and the others looked at each other with concern.
Dorin clicked her tongue. "At some point it had to happen, did you seriously think that nobody would think of wanting to take a photo of you? And today in the age of electronics it is much easier than in earlier times. Now you can even make a film very easily and put it on the Internet. "
Count Duckula cursed inwardly. "Come on let's go to the landlord, I think I have to have a serious word with him!" with these words he walked ahead of the small group, head held high, until they finally arrived at the place where they were performing normally.
Count Duckula entered the restaurant proudly. "Good morning Count Duckula." the owner greeted him while his eyes met Vladimir.
"Where's Vladimir? Is he not well?"
"I wish you a wonderful good morning ... yes ... but Vladimir is fine. We are not performing today, but only on Saturday. I have come to discuss something with you ..." Count Duckula made himself as big as he could and sternly looked the landlord in the eye.
"I heard the rumor was going around, Vladimir and I, would be real vampires?"
The landlord nodded. "Yes. I don't think it should bother you. After all, it's good for business. The tourists want to see real vampires! That makes the tills ring not just for you - but for all of us here!"
"We, forgive me for being so strict, but we are NOT vampires!"
The landlord thought for a moment, then nodded. "Please come with me, we shouldn't be discussing this in this place."
Count Duckula, Antanasia and Dorin followed him into an adjoining room, where the landlord led them to a free table.
Count Duckula looked at him sternly, arms folded. "Well it is already clear to us that your charming companion is not a vampire. But you two drakes, you and Vladimir are all puzzles."
"Do you see canines on me?" Count Duckula pointed to his beak. "No! I don't have any - I only wear them for my performances! And they too!"
with that he pointed to Antanasia. "Well, like I said, nobody doubts she's not a vampire. But what about Vladimir? Nobody has ever seen him without canines."
"He's just very conscientious when it comes to his role." Antanasia interfered.
"You might think ..." the landlord nodded. "... if it weren't for another fact. Some tourists were so enthusiastic about your performances that they took photos of you ..."
"We don't want people to take pictures of us!"
"Exactly! That's why they did it secretly. They showed us the photos ... and ... well there is always only one duck to be seen."
The landlord nodded toward Antanasia. "There is not a single picture of you drakes. Although everyone swears that they also took pictures of you."
"Then it was probably just an imagination."
"Really? Wait a moment, I'll show you some of the photos you took."
With that he went away and came back a short time later with a few photos. He put this on the table in front of the three ducks.
"Look at the photos and show me some pictures where you two can be seen - or just one of you two drakes."
They flipped through the photos, in fact, if anyone was on them, it was Antanasia. No one else. Once it looked like someone had photographed the building behind them, which Count Duckula noticed. "But he didn't want to photograph the building - he wanted to take you."
"He said, so please, anyone can say that."
"As you mean Milord. But what about these pictures ..." with that he tapped a couple of pictures, which showed violins apparently floating in the air. Count Duckula fell silent. He felt his lover hug him with one arm. "And Count Duckula, should I get down my camera and take a nice picture?"
"And what do you want to do now?" Antanasia asked her counterpart.
"Company? Nothing! As long as they are harmless vampires, nobody here cares. Quite the opposite!" he smiled broadly. "If the word gets around, it will be teeming with people! It's a sensation!"
Count Duckula sighed. "I don't want to be a sensation because I'm a vampire! I want ..."
what did he actually want? Good question. With everything he wished, he didn't want to be treated like an exhibition subject - known all over the country just because he was a… "freak". Then they really would be the "freak vampires".
Count Duckula took a deep breath. "That's not what we want, neither Vladimir nor I. We want to ... just be like you."
"You are not like us."
"Yes! I'm a vegetarian, I don't drink blood! I even hate it!" protested Count Duckula.
"And Vladimir? What about him?" asked the landlord. "He's not a real vampire either."
"But he looks like one."
"Yes. But he's a mongrel, a bastard vampire, a dhampire."
The landlord stared at him. "You really are" Freak Vampire "".
"With that he patted the Count on the shoulder so that he almost fell over. "read it well his buddy! We all like you here. Nobody cares what you guys are ..."
The Count's mood on the return trip was not particularly good. In contrast to his character, he was quite monosyllabic.
He looked out the window, watched the landscape and was silent most of the time, lost in thought.
Dorin also noticed that his efforts to lighten the Count's mood were only answered with a hum.
Antanasia's efforts were answered with his sighs. When they finally arrived in front of the castle and Count Duckula got out, Dorin saw him after him.
"Strange, they called themselves the 'freak vampires'."
"It's not strange Dorin, think about it for yourself. They called themselves that because their butler called them that. But just imagine you're in their position." Dorin turned and looked inquiringly at his wife.
"Imagine everyone would stare at you, see you as an abnormality and no longer see yourself. It doesn't matter what you are? For everyone else, only your otherness counts. For some you are a curiosity, for others a freak, a monster for others. How would you feel about it Dorin? "
Dorin became thoughtful. "Pretty ... bad ... to be careful."
"Right. That is the case with the counts, who are thought to be a monster. And also Vladimir, who is even more conspicuous because of his canine teeth."
Dorin thought about it and stared at his car again. "A stupid situation."
"It is exactly like that."
Vladimir was just finishing the email program when his brother came into the room.
He looked at the screen for a moment, then turned around and looked into Count Duckula's somewhat sullen face.
Even if he tried to cover it up, the displeasure was evident. "Well? I think you wanted to spend a few nice hours today? Was the trip so bad?"
Count Duckula just looked at Vladimir, should he tell him or not? "Was it because Dorin was there?" Vladimir asked further.
"I wish it would be like this!" burst it out of the little counts. "I really wish it were!" he raised his arms theatrically.
"I didn't really want to tell you - but it wouldn't change anything anyway! So I'd better tell you Vladimir right away."
At that moment Igor came into the room to bring the Count his biscuits and cocoa. "Shall I leave it here, Milord?"
Count Duckula ran a hand through his hair. "Yes Igor, thank you."
Then he turned back to Vladimir, ignoring his butler who was still standing nearby.
"It's like Vladimir that some tourists took photos of us while we were making music as" Freak Vampires "."
"It's just not possible, my lord, you can't take photos of vampires," remarked Igor with his deep bass voice. "So don't worry, Milord."
Count Duckula turned around as fast as lightning to look deeply into Igor's face for a moment.
"Wrong, Igor! THIS is exactly the problem. If you had photos of us, it wouldn't be a problem at all. But since you haven't received any pictures of us, that's the problem! You now know that Vladimir and I are vampires! at least the assumption is close to them. "
Igor cleared his throat loudly and noticeably. "Well, Milord, it had to come like this. If you let the common folk so free for amusement, it was to be foreseen that it would one day come like this."
"We have not" released ourselves to amusement "!" Count Duckula tore his hair at this word. "We do an honest job and make people happy with it. THAT is something completely different Igor!"
"I see it differently, Milord ..."
"I think," Vladimir intervened, "both of us are not particularly interested in your point of view, Igor. Both of us are much more interested in how we clean this up."
"You couldn't clean this up young gentlemen, word will get around that they have been real vampires. Nothing can be changed about that." Igor interfered with schoolmaster's voice again. "You have to face the fact!"
Count Duckula sagged his shoulders. How often in his rather young, new life had Igor already told him this?
"By god, I wish I wasn't a vampire!"
At this word Igor groaned loudly. "Milord! How can you ?!"
Count Duckula ran his hands over his face. "Igor, I ... give up ..." he sighed and looked at Vladimir.
"Now that I have explained this" little "problem to you. What have you done today?"
"Oh, I wrote emails with Juliana."
"Juliana Fehér?"
Vladimir nodded.
"Is she still in love with you?"
Vladimir shrugged. "I don't know. But she would like a photo of me ..."