Chloe was beyond furious with Alice for dropping her date for Vlad. 

"Chester was a perfectly normal guy!" Chloe shouted as Alice folded clothes. 

"Chester is cool," Alice said. "But I like Vlad."

"Chester was supposed to make me happy," Chloe pointed out.

"Then go on ahead and ask Chester for a date," Alice advised. "Robin gave pretty good advice for once."

"Did he really?" Chloe asked in disbelief. "The vampire freak?"

"He asked if going Chester was making you happy or me happy," Alice answered. 

"You are supposed to avoid marrying, the vampire," Chloe complained.

"We're 13, I assure you will find different people by then," Alice stated. 

*** 

Two weeks later, Alice was doing dishes with Chloe when Robin walked up to them with a newspaper in his hands. It was about the staff of Carpathia.

"Come to Vlads with me."

"No," Chloe denied.

"Okay," Alice agreed. Robin has been really cool with Alice and Vlad's romances toward each other; as long as they aren't like that around him. They got to the castle, Ingrid opened the door and planted a kiss on Robin; they walked into the castle kissing.

"Did she and Will have a row?" Alice asked as she walked in.

"No," Vlad denied, he then took to the opportunity to exchange a kiss with Alice while Robin was distracted. 

Ingrid pulled away, she became mortified with who she just kissed. Robin leaned in for another kiss; Ingrid slapped him. 

"If you tell anyone about this bat breath I will chop off your tongue and feed it to Renfield!" Ingrid threatened; she hurried away to go throw up, Robin was still in a daydream. 

"I think I'm in love," Robin gushed; he slap the newspaper into Vlad's arms. "Read."

Vlad sighed, folding the paper. "Staff of Carpathia. A new attraction at Stokely Museum. Legend has it that one blow from the staff will cure the curse of Vampirism. Robin, this is brilliant!" He looked, Alice was staring at Robin was still in his daydream. 

"Ah, oh yeah," Robin breathed. 

"Come on," Vlad issued as he pulled Robin away from the door. 

****

The next day, they went to the museum, and Chloe was kind enough to join them.

"Thanks for coming today, I really appreciate it," Vlad thanked her. 

"Who couldn't resist steering my sister from her current romance and a chance to authenticate a historical artifact like the staff," Chloe gushed in excitement.

"Out of everyone I know, just you," Robin answered as Alice rolled her eyes at her sister.

"Oh, good," Alice smiled as she looked ahead. "The map." The two went up to study the map, the boys joined moments later.

"So, we're here and the staff is there," Vlad said as he pointed at spots on the map. "Everyone know which way to go?" Everyone nodded. "Good." Alice and Chloe went one direction, Robin another, and Vlad another. 

"Hold on," Alice as they stopped on the stairs, they both turned to see the boys walking in a different direction. 

"They are hopeless," Chloe groaned as the boys continued to be confused.

"It's this way," Chloe spoke up.

"I'd go with them," Robin said. "They're usually right." They continue down the hall for a bit.

"It's down there and left at the severed heads," Chloe explained as they walked through a set of doors.

"Ah it really smells like the plague in here," Robin complained

"Sort of familiar though," Chloe admitted. 

"Moldy cabbage," Alice stated as they smelled the air, they stopped at a section with rats on display.

"With a hint of toe jam," Robin added.

"We call it armpit sweat," Vlad informed.

"I think we found an answer," Alice said, they all looked to see a hand in the rat's display, trying to grab them.

"Renfield," they all said. They went behind the display to find Renfield holding the rats.

"Put those rats down!" Chloe ordered. 

Renfield stood. "What rats?" He got bit. "Well, ow, ow, ow!"

"What are you doing here?" Vlad asked. 

"N-nothing," Renfield answered as he observed the people in front of him. "Supervising your date with Alice, your father's orders." Vlad and Alice looked at each other; then back at Renfield.

"Where's dad?" Vlad asked. 

"I lost him," Renfield answered.

"You lost him?" Alice repeated as she folded her arms.

"In fact, he's definitely not here," Renfield confirmed. "And we're not after the staff."

Robin began to think. "If your dad's after the staff."

"That means it's got to be for real," Vlad smiled. "Thanks, Renfield." They began to walk away.

Renfield was whimpering. "Please don't tell Master! You forced it out of me!" A rat bit him again. "OW!" Soon they finally found the staff of Carpathia, everyone ran up to it.

"Staff's still here!" Chloe cheered. 

"So's my dad!" Vlad panicked, they looked over to see the Count staring blankly.

"He seems off," Alice said as they went up to him.

"Dad, dad?" Vlad asked as he began to shake the count. 

"Sorry, Vlad," Robin apologized. "I think your dad's dead."

"Well of course he is," Vlad agreed. "He's been dead for 600s years!"

"Then--" Alice began.

"This is an old vampire party trick," Vlad cut her off. "The life forces can leave their bodies." They all glanced around the room.

"So he could be anywhere?" Alice asked. 

"Pretty much," Vlad confirmed. "He'd never go far unless..." Panic filled his face. "He was in trouble. I have to find him. Alice, come with me, you two look after his body." 

"You are going to be able to see his life force?" Alice asked as she and Vlad began to leave.

"Of course," Vlad confirmed. "Where would he go? The horror section?"

"Too obvious," Alice answered. "Perhaps the bathroom?" They got to the map section; they heard a girl screaming; she was near the boy's bathroom. 

"Dad," Vlad commented. "Spot on as always." He kissed her cheek; they looked over to see Jonathan looking at them. The two boys raced to the men's bathroom. Alice went and stood by the map. Soon, they both ran out. "Come on, Alice!" She followed them back into the room. 

"Oy, no running!" a worker shouted. They got to the bench find the Count gone.

"He's gone," Vlad panicked.

"Robin," Alice sighed. "Chloe."

"Well, I'm gonna find him and turn him into dust," Jonathan declared. 

"Not if we find him first," Vlad declined.

"You are the only one who can see him," Alice reminded him. The two boys took off.

"I SAID NO RUNNING!" The worker shouted. All three of them left in a speed walk. They got to a window to find Van Helsing dancing outside.

"What is up with your dad, Jonathan?" Alice asked. 

"My dad's life force in Van Helsing's body," Vlad answered. "Dad seems to be enjoying the sun."

"Good for him," Alice nodded.

"Not good at all!" Jonathan exclaimed, the other two looked at him. 

"Come on," Vlad pleaded as he grabbed Alice's hand, they all went outside, and when they got there, Van Helsing was gone. Without another word, they ran back in. Vlad and Alice went back to the Carpathia room.

"Oh good," Alice breathed. "Robin and Chloe."

"Where's my dad?" Vlad asked as the two walked up to them. "You're supposed to be looking after him."

"Don't worry, he's okay," Chloe assured. "We've hidden him in the horror exhibition."

"Brilliant, Chloe," Alice complimented. "Let's go." They turned to see the worker.

"The staff, it's gone!" The worker exclaimed as he held up the mop. "Call the police!"

Vlad stepped up, his eyes glowed yellow. "But you've got the staff. Guard it with your life."

"Oh," the worker breathed as he looked at the mop. 

Vlad blinked. "Come on." The four left as the worker put the mop on display.

They got to the Horror exhibition just as Jonathan was about to slay the count.

"NO!" Vlad shouted as he pushed Jonathan's arm away.

"Jonno!" Van Helsing shouted, they all looked at him. "This vampire fiend won't leave my body!" He was moving oddly. "There's nothing for it. You'll have to stake me!"

"NO!" Jonathan shouted. 

"Dad, get back in your own body right now," Vlad ordered.

"NEVER!" Van Helsing hissed in a different tone. "I'm alive, Vlad." Robin grabbed Chloe, she pushed him off of her. "First time, in hundreds of years. I can feel the blood pumping through my veins! It's fantastic!" Van Helsing took over. "Do it Jonno, finish us both off while you can." He opened his jacket. 

Suddenly, Renfield pushed through everyone, he was wearing a French woman's court costume, holding the staff. He was speaking French. He tripped onto Van Helsing, knocking him over. Electricity zapped through his body. Vlad looked back, everyone looked as the Count raised his head. 

"Now, Jonno!" Vam Hesling shouted as he got to his feet. "Let's get him now!" Count broke free from his restrainments.

"Here you are," a voice said, they all looked over to see Mina Van Helsing. Eric and Jonathan put their weapons away as the Count appeared next to her. "Well hello, Mr. Count. I didn't know you were here today." She looked at her family, and her smile dropped. "What a coincidence."

"I'm just here making sure my boy's date is going well," Count answered, Mina looked over; Vlad and Alice waved. "Forgive me, I was being..."

"I'm sure I'd do the same for Jonno's first date," Mina smiled as she looked at him. "Well, it's nice to see you again. Shall we go?" The Van Helsing laughed; Count let out a victory laugh.

"Now I remember why I don't hang out with you guys anymore," Chloe recalled. "Big sister, you should really find a different boyfriend." They all looked at her.

****

Everyone but Chloe went back to the castle, Vlad was going at his dad. "It was the Staff that drove you out of Van Helsing's body, wasn't it? It does cure vampirism!"

"Oh don't be ridiculous." Count groaned. "It was just the shock of that useless lamp hitting me." He pointed at Renfield. 

"So why did you go to the museum to steal it?" Robin asked. 

" I didn't steal it, breathers," Count corrected. "It's mine, it's my favorite back scratcher. I lost it 400 years ago and I've never been able to replace it." He then scratched his back with it. "Heaven, want to try?" He handed it to Vlad. 

"Why did I get my hopes up?" Vlad groaned. 

"Don't give up, Vlad" Alice said as Vlad gave the staff back to his dad. They then went up to his room.