Author: yeknodelttil
Show: Young Dracula
Rating: K+
Genre: Romance
Pairing: Vlad/Erin
Disclaimer: I don't own Young Dracula. This is purely for the enjoyment of its fans, created by a fan
Spoilers: Series 3 of Young Dracula.
Summary: Set after 3x13. Vlad wants things to return to how they were before he found out Erin was a slayer but there are forces at work, which are determined to stop it from happening. Vlad/Erin
A/N: Thank you to everyone who read my Truth and Consequences Saga, I'm glad so many off you enjoyed it.
I couldn't resist writing this fic; it's been bugging me since I typed the last line of my saga.
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Chapter 1: Aftermath"No slaying?"
"No biting?"
"No Fun!"
Those words just wouldn't leave Vlad's head as he tried to concentrate on the task in hand – taking apart the sun catchers. The lenses and wire were a mess, but the sun catchers had been created in a hurry.
Vlad didn't want it falling into other slayers' or vampires' hands, it was better to dismantle a weapon than to leave it around for someone else to use. So at the first opportune moment he'd sent Renfield out to get it, he didn't regret the decision once so far.
Erin placed a gentle hand on his back, caressing the leather slightly. Vlad looked up at her smiling, he grinned widely at her. Erin crouched down next to him, she handed him the pliers wordlessly. Vlad accepted them with a nod, beginning to cut the wires that held the lenses in place.
"You got them to agree to live in peace." She spoke softly.
"Yeah," He gave a sigh, a habit he hadn't yet broken after four years. He looked around the room at the other vampires; they all shot the slayers disgusted looks. He was counting down the seconds until they left the school. "For how long though?"
Erin shrugged slightly, "It's a start." Vlad nodded slightly, he agreed with her it was a start.
Vlad deliberately focussed on dismantling the sun catcher as he asked his next question. "What about you?" He asked softly.
Erin seemed confused at his question, "What about me?"
"Are you going to stay or…" He shrugged still not looking at her.
Erin looked up at him shyly for a few seconds before her gaze shot away from him, "Do you want me to stay?"
He answered slightly too enthusiastically, "Yeah," He coughed slightly, shrugging casually, "If you want to…stay that is."
Erin considered his offer, she wanted to stay but she didn't want to cause problems from him. "Vlad…"
"At least stay to finish your A-Levels." He half pleaded, he didn't care that she was a slayer or that she had slain a vampire, he just wanted her to stay.
Her words echoed some he'd said months ago, "Is that the only reason?"
"I just…" His words caught in his throat, he was terrified of saying how he actually felt. He looked down trying to compose himself but nothing came into his mind.
Erin slowly reached out and touched his shoulder, he expected her to be angry but he saw gentle understanding.
Erin took a deep breath, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about being a slayer, I didn't know how to. I just don't find it easy to share things with people. Its not that I don't trust you I just…everyone's always judged me and…"
Vlad smiled softly at her before taking her hand in his. He squeezed it softly taking care not to accidentally access his powers. "Just don't keep something like that from me again." It had been a shock when he found out she was a breather, then another (unpleasant) shock when he found out she was a slayer.
Vlad took the time to memorise her scent, killing a vampire changed a breather's scent. Even one kill would change it that's why slayer scent was so distinctive. Erin didn't smell like a slayer, she'd killed a vampire but he couldn't sense it from her smell. She might have had slayers blood but being a slayer was a family 'occupation' handed down the centuries, the taste and scent of slayers blood didn't depend on the number of kills it was genetic.
"I promise." This time she meant it, before she was terrified about telling him. Now there was nothing so big to hide from him.
"Will you stay?"
Erin still wasn't sure but the pleading look in Vlad's eyes made up her mind for her. "Yeah."
Vlad beamed at her, Erin smiled shyly back at him. Looking away a couple of times.
Vlad shook himself slightly trying to remember what he was doing before she came to speak to him, "I'd better…" He gestured to the sun catcher, Erin nodded she began to stand. Vlad found he didn't want her to go, "You can help, if you want." He tried not to sound too eager but as if he were asking a genuine question.
"Sure." She settled herself back down next to him, not entirely sure of how she could help him – but she didn't want to leave either.
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The dusty remains of Sethius had become a 'no go' area within six feet of them. If anyone had to go near it they walked passed them as fast as they could.
Renfield grumbled something unintelligible, before bending down to sweep up the ash. Some of the ash rose into the air from the force Renfield used to sweep it up.
The dust flew into Renfield's lungs as he breathed, making him cough as they became lined with it. Spittle flew out as he coughed over the pile, no time to turn away – not that Renfield would anyway.
Bertrand patted his pocket where he'd placed the bony finger of Sethius; it was all that was left of the book. The finger must hold some of the power Sethius had and that's why he'd picked it up. He wanted a taster of that power. It could be used as a weapon. Better to be in his hands that anyone else's, that was his opinion.
Bertrand hoped no one had noticed him take it, as it had been the last thing to drop to the ground. Renfield wouldn't notice the two indentations he'd made with his fingers as he'd picked it up.
He quickly decided to focus on something else should anyone – in particular Vlad – think he was slightly too interested in the remains of the maniac vampire.
Renfield made sure every scrap of the dust on the school crest was swept up into the pan. He lifted it carefully, the weight of Sethius' dust suddenly evident from the way the dustpan tipped slightly.
He scurried over to where the Count stood. Nearly slamming into him as he skidded slightly on the floor, dust shot into the hair as he jostled the dustpan trying to remain upright.
The Count grabbed Renfield's right ear twisting it painfully, "Be careful you maggot faced imbecile!" Renfield let out a squeak as the Count twisted it further.
Renfield was nearly doubled up, "Please let go Master!" Renfield squealed, a very high-pitched sound that had most of the vampires wincing as it affected their sensitive hearing.
"No." The Count pulled back as Renfield's stench filled his nostrils, "What do you want?"
Renfield held up the dustpan, "The dust Master. Where do you want me to throw it?" The Count grimaced before shaking his head.
"Where do you usually throw it?" He asked, Renfield hesitated his gaze shifting around slightly before answering, "Don't answer that, just get rid of it." He looked at the dust and an idea came to him, "Throw it to the wind."
To scatter the dust would definitely mean the end of Sethius, there would be nothing to become a shrine to him.
"Yes Master." Renfield spoke with a whimper.
He looked down at the servant. "Well…why are you still here?"
"My ear Master, you've still got it."
The Count let go like lightening then, not wanting to remain near his ear for another moment longer.
Renfield breathed a sigh of relief at the sudden decease in pain; he brought his hand up to rub it. "Oh, thank you Master."
"Now, GO!"
Renfield scurried away to dispose of the ashes as quickly as possible. The Count watched the room, making sure no one would follow his servant, he couldn't chance them getting hold of the ashes and worshiping them.
Especially after Vlad's questionable decision of no biting.
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Ingrid stormed across the hall having heard their conversation. She really wasn't amused, because of Erin she'd lost Vlad's trust and that had caused her problems when it came to trying to get rid of him. Vlad had become more guarded and defensive so she couldn't manipulate him or ambush him.
Although the look of pure devastation on his face had made something melt within her when they learned of Erin's betrayal. Her response to comforting him had been instinctive, it wasn't a scheme she genuinely felt she needed to comfort him. She'd scolded herself thoroughly after that one though, she wouldn't do it ever again.
Ingrid folded her arms as she glared at Erin, "I might live peacefully with breathers but not with a SLAYER." Ingrid spat the word out with distain. Erin had foiled enough of her plans while she'd been there,
Vlad rolled his eyes, "Erin's not a slayer anymore." He pushed himself away from the sun catcher standing; he brushed at the light grey dust that clung to his trousers.
"Just a liar then." Ingrid tipped her head, glaring at her.
The Count extended his finger pointing at his daughter, he still couldn't believe her nerve at trying to slay the Chosen One. "Oh and just what was your act then?"
Ingrid ignored him, a sure sign she didn't like being picked up on her 'mistakes', "I hope you remember she's slain a vampire." Ingrid looked at Erin with barely concealed disgust on her face.
Erin tutted and rolled her eyes. Anger filling her, "It was an accident."
"How can you accidentally slay a vampire?"
"Easy enough when they're given a delicate UV grenade." Erin was curious where Ingrid had gotten that grenade.
Ingrid became flustered as she realised exactly what Erin was referring to, a certain blonde visiting netball player who had been hiding in Vlad's closet waiting to ambush the Chosen One. Vlad seemed to notice Ingrid's flustered state but didn't say anything, as he'd thought it through he wondered if that was the reason for the ash in his coffin.
"What were you doing in Vlad's room I wonder?" Ingrid asked as she sauntered forward towards Erin.
Ingrid smirked her eyebrows raised as she glanced between the pair of them; Vlad knew exactly what she was suggesting. Erin looked uncomfortable at Ingrid's suggestion.
"Ingrid!" Vlad snapped sharply. Ingrid backed off from her stepping backwards. Vlad might have given her what she wanted but he was still the one in charge or at least the Count was until he was made to see sense. Vlad couldn't see the Council allowing the Count the one still in charge when he came of age. Vlad wanted to change the subject away from Erin. "What are you going to do about your posse?"
Everyone turned to look at the netball team, or rather the surviving members and Ryan. Her loyal followers.
Ingrid shrugged, "Its none of my business." She didn't give them a second thought; they'd served their purpose. While they hadn't killed Vlad she still got the status she wanted.
Vlad let out a small laugh, before turning stern. "You created them so you need to deal with them."
"Her brother was an accident." Ingrid told him angrily, her finger pointing at Erin. Erin winced at the suggestion; Ryan was different now he was loyal to Ingrid. Erin knew she couldn't trust him the way she once did.
Vlad shook his head, he wasn't going to accept any excuses this was her mess she had to clean up. "You still created him."
"But…"
Vlad's voice deepened, his eyes fierce, "Now."
Ingrid opened her mouth to protest but considering Vlad held the key to her getting the power she wanted she nodded slowly. With a final glare she turned and began to stride across the room towards her 'army', her shoes clicking and her long black dress trailing along the dust covered floor.
"Don't even think about slaying them!" He yelled over his shoulder to her. Ingrid didn't reply verbally but he heard the soft hiss instead.
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Vlad walked Erin towards her room, Erin seemed nervous about walking through the corridors again after being 'banished' by Vlad last time.
Vlad hadn't set foot in this room since Erin had left, it had only been a couple of weeks but it had seemed much longer. He'd stopped anyone from entering; especially Renfield when he'd tried to take her coffin away.
Her deception had hurt him deeply; he knew it would take time to heal completely – to take down the walls he'd built around himself again.
She hovered behind the door. The last time she'd seen it Bertrand had torn it apart, she wasn't sure she actually wanted to go in. Vlad took her hand pulling her into the room, she surveyed the room slowly, everything was still exactly the same – nothing had been touched.
Her jacket still rested on the back of one of the chairs, her school text and exercise books piled beside the coffin along with her rucksack. The clothes were still inside the closet…
Something on top of the coffin caught her eye, she froze staring at it.
Her slaying equipment.
It was still open from where Bertrand had flung it open. A torch, two sharp jagged stakes (one long, one short), a compass and garlic were all on view for the world to see.
Vlad seemed to notice her sudden hesitation; he followed her gaze until it rested on the coffin.
Erin darted over to it, quickly bundling it up. She held it out to Vlad. Vlad seemed confused at her actions.
"Get rid of it for me?" She asked him softly, she never wanted to see it again.
Vlad wasn't sure what to think, he was thrilled that she trusted him that much to think she was safe around him but on the other hand she had no means to protect herself around his family and Bertrand. Considering what Bertrand had tried to do to her just hours before, he'd rather she kept them for her own protection.
Vlad shook his head, Erin's brow furrowed in confusion. "Please Vlad." She pleaded; she wanted him to know he could trust her again.
His voice was soft as he spoke, "You might need them." Erin shook her head, she didn't believe him. "I'll protect you but I want you to have something to defend yourself with."
Erin understood then, he was trusting her not to use them against him. She felt her chest tighten at the gravity of his decision.
"Keep them safe, away from the others." He gestured with his head to the rest of the vampires. Erin nodded quickly, she'd hide them later on. She placed them back down on the coffin lid, a slight thud echoed around the room as they fell from her grasp.
"I'm sorry…" She began again.
He offered her a small smile, "I know."
Erin gave him a similar smile, full of regret at what she'd done to him. Vlad shuffled closer slightly, Erin didn't move away from him at all. She tipped her head back as he moved maintaining eye contact as he moved closer to her. Erin's smile became more nervous as she watched various emotions flitter across Vlad's face before he paused.
Vlad paused for a moment; he thought he saw disappointment flash across Erin's face. He slowly leaned closer to her, her head tilted up to meet him half way.
Vlad could feel his confidence slipping away from him as he slowly drew closer, a few hesitations ruining what should have been a smooth movement.
He could feel her breath on his lips.
"Isn't this sweet?"
TBC
A/N: Thanks for reading.