Evan was hearing some unusual things from his fledgling.

Mick was...worrying if he had to admit it. The kid was far too... conniving for his own good. He did some brilliant stuff like trapping his prey with the vents and the violent blackmail preying on his fledglings' connections but honestly, Mick was too good at this, especially for someone who'd only been a vampire for two days.

"Master, I've got another one, all we need is the youngest among them. Then Keith will break to the point of begging to be turned." Mick drawled once more.

"Just remember, my ex-butler is helping the humans, you have my permission to kill him."

Mick laughed, licking some animal blood off his claws. Bill emerged by his side, looking a tad less feral than before.

"I've wanted to kill that bastard ever since I saw that he was alive."

"Right, wasn't there some business about a feud in your human lives?"

"They do say that love is a dangerous thing. Let's just say that once I'm done, there won't be enough to even burn the bastard."

For the first time in a while, Evan felt a hint of regret for turning someone.

—

"Should we bring the woman?" Keith asked. After all that had happened, he had reservations about dragging anyone else into this. Then again, Charlie did say everyone who knew and unfortunately, that included Sandra.

Didn't help that his face was burning.

"The more the merrier, I guess?" Little Mick responded.

Keith's face was scratched badly, unlike his leg wound, it wasn't bleeding.

He felt woozy and thirsty, like he just woke up from a crazy party. Was it from the blood loss? No, he couldn't be turning. He hadn't been bitten. Was this a vampire thing that claws can cause the transformation but slower?

He couldn't say.

Brian asked, "Hey, Keith? You okay?

"Ngh... I'm feeling kind of sick if I'm honest..."

"Look at me right in the eyes, you're turning. It only took this long and two scratches for it to start. The vampire can infect through scratches but it doesn't feed the vampire."

Keith instantly felt even sicker than he was.

"It's a lot slower as well. It'll take a few hours until it fully runs its course."

"Oh joy."

Keith began to poke at his teeth, they didn't feel sharp yet but the idea he only had a couple of hours left of humanity was... terrifying, to say the least. Keith ran his hands through his hair. In his hands were graying hairs. He would have tried backing away, but that probably would've made Little Mick keel over.

Brian looked at the hair, he held the strands for a moment before staring at Keith.

"Usually vampirism makes you look younger..."

"Guess I'm the rare exception to that rule..."

"No, I think whatever kept you alive with your drug use is treating this the same way, like a drug."

"Maybe I should've listened in health class then..."

"Look, Keith? We'll get through this. Even if we do end up a band of vampires."

"Says you. You'll be lucky if Mick doesn't find you and gut you like a fish... Besides, staying like this isn't an option. Not when Mick and Bill have gone bananas."

"Got it."

"Look, we should stop feeling sorry for ourselves and stop the root of this whole thing," Little Mick added.

Keith nodded. When the kid got it right, he really got it right.

"Right, we got one shot at this, so let's get our friends back!"

—

At the meeting point, Charlie was starting to get antsy. He needed a drink. That and he was worried about Keith.

Oh god, Keith... Was he alright?

"Charlie! We need your help and fast!" Brian called out.

The drummer looked down from his tree branch.

Keith looked, for lack of a better word, aged. He looked about twenty years older than he actually was. The slashes on his cheek were starting to heal over, and the wounds on his leg were starting to fade into scars. His pale look tipped Charlie off that he was infected.

The bat flew down to the ground, turning human again. His face streaked with red.

"How are you so old?"

"I'm not entirely sure. Brian thinks this stupid thing is acting like a drug for me. ...Come to think of it, maybe there is a pattern as to how this is affecting all of us..."

"It's like being on a bad drug trip after all, right?"

"Yeah... For now, let's cut to the chase. What the hell did Mick say to you that you thought you had no other options?"

Charlie looked away, words echoing in his head again.

"He threatened to kill me."

"Holy fuck... What conditions?"

"He said he'd leave me to burn unless I killed you and turned Little Mick."

Keith laughed, it was a loud and hearty laugh that was so unexpected from a rapidly aging man.

"Did he really forget who I am! I am Keith Richards! Guitarist of the Rolling Stones,survivor of so many drugs, unkillable as they call me!"

This did elicit a small chuckle from Charlie. "Still... I worry about you... Especially now that we're all in this mess."

"I may be thirsty, but I am not going to give in, I'm going to save Mick and Bill from Dracula. Age be damned. I'm going to kill Dracula before the night is over!"

" You know I can hear you Keith, you will fail, your body is weakening and your allies are dwindling. "

"Oh shut up, old man! We are the Rolling Stones, Rock and Rollers that parents hate their daughters to date. You haven't heard the news? We are going to take you down!"

" Ello, this is Mick , I'm going to tear you apart limb from bony limb. I'm going to send the results to your wife right before I slit her throat."

"Ah, try me, Mick! You weren't even that strong as a human! And if you so much as approach Anita, so help me!"

As the whole argument went on, Charlie was wiping away the bloody tears.

Despite his now old appearance, Brian could see that Keith was still the man he always knew, fiercely determined, loving and just...Keith.

Anita has made a fine choice indeed.

A much better choice than him, anyways.

Meanwhile, Little Mick seemed lost in thought. He held the red bat that Brian had chosen to be.

"Can you infect others if you are a bat?"

Brian nodded.

"One little nip and you are a vampire."

"Wait, what if we force Dracula to become a bat and trap him. If he becomes fog, we can trap him in a jar or something."

"Well, that might work, but... what on earth are you thinking about?"

"From what I can gather, Mick wants to take out Dracula. Maybe we can use that to stop him?

Brian let out a happy chirp.

"Perfect! Use the man against him! You're pretty sharp.""

Little Mick smiled at the bat.

There was another part he was thinking about, but he felt reluctant to even voice it.

Vampire or not, one wrong move and everything could go crashing down.

But if he was a vampire... he might have a better fighting chance.

Perching from above, a black bat watched it then jumped and became Bill. He crashed onto Little Mick, but before he could take a bite, Charlie tackled him. Mick on the other hand pounced as a wolf, grabbing little Mick by the neck. He turned into his human form, and Little Mick braced himself.

Mick was about to dig into the younger man, he was kicked away by Keith.

"You think you can get our guitarist? F off Evil Mick."

"Evil Mick? Hah! I'm the good one." Mick said.

At that point, Little Mick and Charlie shared a look.

"Charlie, make me a vampire."

At that point, Mick froze for a second.

"What?"

"Did I stutter? He was supposed to turn me anyway..." Looking at Charlie, he added, "I'd rather be turned into one by you."

"Look it takes time though, you need blood to speed it up and... oh no... nononononononononono... I am not giving you my blood."

"I'm not asking for blood. Just a bite, okay?"

Bill was about to jump onto Keith, Keith smiled

"You know why I sent Little Mick out? This!"

Keith dug out a clove of garlic. It irritated the skin of his palms, but Bill cowered from it.

"Do your thing now Charlie!" Keith said, wincing at the feeling of garlic on his hand.

"Amazing that garlic stops vampires, hah!"

Charlie hesitated for another moment, but finally, he sank his fangs into the guitarist's neck.

Little Mick could feel a sense of euphoria, which wigged him out, since he'd only asked for this just to have a chance to survive the night.

He felt alive!

Little mick could feel his body grow cold as his senses heightened. By now, Charlie had got his fangs out of the young man's throat and had switched to supporting his frame.

Little Mick could feel small fangs come in, and even though it was dark outside, he could tell that his skin was starting to grow pale.

He needed a drink and fast. Of course, he didn't want to hurt anyone, so he looked around the area, trying to see if there were any small animals around.

"Little Mick, here,vial of blood." Brian said, handing a vial over.

Cautiously, Little Mick took it. He drank it, sating his thirst.

Mick laughed

"Why don't we settle this once and for all at the chalet, if you win, we all become human, if I win, then I may kill you anyway I want." Mick said.

"Fine by me," Keith said.

"You have one hour to prepare. Goodbye. Come along now my pet." Mick said, turning into a bat and flying away.

Bill looked at the others for a moment. He was about to say something before he became a bat as well.

Keith collapsed onto his back. As he felt his fangs come in, he muttered, "We're fucked."