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: SEQUEL TO ENTITLED. Vlad is barely clinging onto his birthright and it becomes even harder to hold onto when the vampire world is splitting itself in half. However its not the only problem Vlad has to deal with.
A/N: Thank you to all those who read and reviewed the prequel 'Entitled'. I'm going to try and post two chapters everyday; I'm fed up of being ill.
This is the final instalment in the series that began with 'Predetermined', then 'Fortitude' and then followed by 'Entitled'.
I know it's later than I promised but I ended up back in hospital. A nurse decided to give me the wrong antibiotics when I had a follow up on Tuesday morning, she didn't look at my notes to see I was allergic to the Penicillin, she hadn't even bothered to check that it was the reason for the follow up. She only realised after I'd taken the stupid things then all she said was 'oh'. At least I was in the right place this time…
YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL
Chapter 1: StartedThe ancient, boned crown slammed down onto Erin's head, her legs buckled slightly under the force.
Her first reaction was to scream as she felt power flowing from it into her.
Fire burned through her mind as power emanated from the crown. All of her nerves were blazing, she arched and twisted trying to get away from the pain but she couldn't get the crown from her head.
Erin clawed at it desperately, trying to remove the bones digging into her forehead and scalp. All she succeeded in doing was tearing the skin of her fingers and making it dig in further until it felt like the crown was holding her skull in a vice like grip and would need machinery to pry it from her.
The vampire's eyes were closed, trying to ignore the pain throughout her body with little success. Silent, white, hot tears leaked from her eyes. She thrashed even harder as the sensations escalated, she pleaded for the pain to end, even if the only option was death.
Vlad's eyes were as wide as saucers as he watched. No other vampire could withstand the power of the crown. The fact Erin had survived the first few moments was startling enough, he didn't know why she had survived. Not that he would challenge that at all.
However it was important to remember that this wasn't over yet, her strength could fail her and the crown could still win.
Olga tried to remove the crown from Erin, she couldn't understand why she wasn't dust, but the crown refused to move even a fraction of an inch. Instead Olga recoiled in fear and worry, darting away from Erin, clutching her hand, which clearly showed signs of intense burning.
Once Olga realised her mistake – she'd left Erin with the crown – she tried to get closer only this time she hit an invisible barrier. Radiating for four feet around Erin.
Olga tried again she shot forward only to be physically thrown again the wall, the wall turning to nothing more than bricks and mortar.
Vlad knew that barrier anywhere, he could create one himself. He moved cautiously towards it, if it was the one he was the most familiar then it was up to Erin what she wanted to let in.
He extended his hand cautiously exactly where Olga had been repelled, preparing to recoil if he met with the barrier.
Olga began to laugh, her cackle making Vlad grind his teeth. She obviously didn't think he could do it. Vlad let out a quiet hiss before proceeding; Olga didn't know what she was talking about.
The young vampire continued on his journey towards his mate, he gave a small smirk at the instinctive and unnecessary intake of air from his cousin. He stepped within the barrier. Erin must have realised it was him.
He gestured for Ingrid to come closer to help him, Ingrid looked hesitant and for good reason too. She felt the intense power radiating from the crown, Bertrand had described the feeling as static all over a vampire's skin and that made her recognise it immediately. She reached forwards until her fingertips brushed against something. Unlike Olga she wasn't burned so she pressed harder but she couldn't penetrate the wall, it was like cling film being stretched across a gap. She couldn't break it no matter how hard she tried.
Vlad looked surprised, he'd made it inside without any problems but Erin's trust in him was based on love – she loved him and knew he loved her that's why he could get inside. Erin didn't fully trust Ingrid and her deceptions, of course she trusted her but subconsciously she was afraid Ingrid would turn on them again.
Erin sensed a comforting presence beside her, she knew who it was. She always felt like this when he was near, a feeling of warmth and safety, it would never change.
Erin's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurry "Vlad please." She still writhed. Her husband knew what she was asking, he didn't know what it would do though but there wasn't any other option. He didn't know how much more she could handle; she clearly could handle more than any other vampire he'd ever met.
Vlad grasped the crown gently in his grip; the crown knew he could handle the power. The crown seemed loose in his fingers, that gave him hope.
He looked into her eyes and she nodded, tears dripping from her cheeks to the floor. Vlad fought to keep his eyes firmly fixed on hers so she would have something to focus on. He fought to keep the fear from his eyes should she become more distressed at her predicament.
With all his might he pulled the crown from her head.
YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL
The crown came away easily; he didn't have to use as much strength as he thought he did. He didn't care to hold onto the crown as it finally slipped from her head, dropping it to the floor.
His wife suddenly stopped moving, arching limply this time in response to the sudden stopping of the power.
"Thanks." She whispered, before her eyes slid shut once more and her entire body buckled.
Vlad scooped her into his arms before she could hit the floor. Her body was limp; he crouched down spreading it across his knees, using them to support her. Her head turned into his chest subconsciously. He rocked her gently, her eyes were still moving. He let out a sigh of relief at seeing her eye movement.
Olga shook her head, unable to keep her vision steady on what had just occurred in front of her. Erin shouldn't be still alive; there was only one explanation if she was…
"The crown is fake!" Olga screamed triumphantly. Any more joy and she would be bouncing up and down in glee.
"It isn't." Vlad insisted, cradling Erin in his arms. He brushed the hair from her forehead. She shivered as he did this gentle gesture. She was responding to his touch which was a good thing.
Olga looked at the crown again, doubt surfacing in her eyes. She gestured to one of the Hunters that hadn't bowed to Vlad. Immediately he rushed to her side, determined to show the former Grand High Vampire who was truly their leader. In his mind Olga was worthy because she wasn't afraid to hunt breathers or drink breather blood.
She placed the crown onto his head with a smirk on her lips growing worried when her cousin's expression didn't change. Suddenly she felt the weight of the crown in her fingers and nothing else.
She chanced a glance downwards and noticed that there was nothing remaining of the Hunter than a shimmering, glittering pile of dust.
Olga couldn't understand it, Erin was weaker – she was a half fang. The vampire she'd just unwittingly turned to dust was stronger as a pure blood vampire. "How did she…"
Vlad didn't have an answer to that either, Erin shouldn't have survived but she had – for the moment. He offered a silent prayer to the heavens or whoever was listening for letting her stay with him so far and prayed that she would be okay.
The remaining few Hunters bowed down in respect to Vlad and his wife.
"You're choosing him?" Olga screamed, spinning around, "Just because he put on the crown."
"You haven't worn it, Dracula and his bride have. Both survived." Vlad looked down at his wife, she seemed to be getting worse as he held her, he couldn't lose her.
"I'm Grand High Vampire Olga, not you." Vlad told her fiercely, feeling the words spilling from him. He needed her to understand why she wasn't destined to be their ruler. "I control the Dracula power and I was born into it. Being Grand High Vampire is my birthright; Erin was destined to be my Queen. The only Queen our kind will ever have. You don't know anything about being our leader; the last seven years of my life have been to train me for this. I'm not letting you destroy our kind."
Olga looked to her father in complete rage; Ivan seemed as clueless as her. She couldn't believe that in Erin's weakened state the Hunters wouldn't attack him. They had the perfect chance, they could use his mate against him but instead they simply continued to bow to him.
Olga gestured to the crown beside Vlad and Erin, she couldn't rush forwards and grab it she didn't know if the barrier was still in place or if the male vampire in front of her hadn't created a new shield. "That crown is mine."
Vlad's eyes flickered to the object in question briefly before looking back up at her. "The crown doesn't think that."
"I'll fight you every step of the way for it."
Vlad nodded slowly, "Fine."
Olga blinked rapidly, his lip twitched slightly but it wasn't a denial of his words it was a conformation with the slight tip of his head that accompanied it. "What?"
"I said fine, you won't give up being Grand High Vampire and I'm the Chosen One." He paused. "Only one of us can win." He'd rather this was settled another way but it was the only option she was considering. He'd thrown it back into her court, he wasn't going to commit himself to a decision if there was ever an enquiry *when* (because there could be no 'if') he won.
Olga steeled herself, her cousin had gotten out of making the decision himself. He wouldn't declare it but it was clear that he was expecting her to and he was prepared to accept it.
"You know what this means?" Olga sneered at him. Vlad nodded slowly. "There can't be two rulers on the throne," She sent a dismissive glance to Erin.
Erin had been attacked, he could only retaliate. The vampire code of conduct demanded it. Now he'd been recognised as ruler again simply by wearing the crown when Olga had refused he didn't have any other choice.
"You did this Olga." Vlad spoke quietly. "Any dust is on your hands." He knew where the blame truly lay, Olga was a mere pawn in the Council's hand until she'd taken it that few steps too far and disbanded them. Power had gotten to her head.
"We'll see who's the stronger one now, see you at the throne cousin."
"I'll be waiting." Vlad answered, his voice not quavering. He didn't want this but it had now been decided. He doubted Olga would back down.
Olga's eyes widened for a split second, as she fully believed that Vlad was going to contest what she'd just said the fact he didn't confused her. Vlad wasn't as predictable as she thought he could be, the loss of vampire lives was probably the thing he dreaded most.
She'd need support if she was going to win this fight. Vlad would be a challenging opponent and she'd just lost her best weapon. Her bite still controlled him –partially – but she couldn't take the risk that he wasn't completely under her control. It left her open to deception and she couldn't chance that at all.
Olga's mouth opened and closed. "It begins." She eventually forced out before vanishing vertically as fast as she could from the room leaving nothing more than a sonic boom in her wake followed less than a breather's heartbeat later by Ivan.
Ingrid looked across to Bertrand who was blissfully unaware that Olga had left, she hoped they could get him back to the manor before he woke and discovered Olga had gone.
She reluctantly tore her gaze away from him to look at Vlad. Vlad seemed stricken from the decision he'd made but was more concerned with his mate at the moment. He whispered soothing words to Erin hoping that she could hear him. She didn't want to interrupt but she had to make sure Vlad understood the implication of his words.
"You know what you've just agreed to?" Ingrid asked him softly, they'd broached it before but there had never been a definite answer from Vlad.
Vlad nodded once in affirmation of what his sister was saying. He turned his head a fraction to face her, his eyes flickering down to Erin every few seconds.
Ingrid didn't need an answer but she wanted one, she wanted to hear him say the words.
Vlad knew what his sister wanted, he had to finally say the word, there was no way around it now. He'd decided the fate of half of their world in those last few moments.
"I've just started a vampire war."
TBC
A/N: Thanks for reading.