Disclaimer: I do not own Young Dracula. All rights reserved for BBC. This story is an AU from Season 3. What would have happened if Erin had reacted differently when Vlad bit her and turned her into a vampire.
Erin lay on the table with the time slipping away. Vlad felt as if he was being torn in two. Despite all his scraps, arguments, and battles with his father his emotions had never left him this torn. Vlad dug into his soul where his reflection self lived, the darkness inside. He had fought back the darkness for so long, never giving into temptation, always will to sacrifice himself and his happiness to do the right thing, to just struggle on, to try to be good, to try to be human. Looking at the woman he loved he realize how flimsy his grasp had been. He would do anything for her and he had the power. Deep inside the darkness whispered. Her skin was white with death, the green gem shards buried into her flesh were only slightly obscured by her torn shirt. The fire ball had done its damage along with the fall from the fourth story of the school buildling at Garside Grange. Vlad had never realized how fragile she actually was, how human. All his promises to protect her had failed.
"Even if you succeed in waking her, the effort will probably drain the remaining life force," Bertrand was saying. Vlad didn't care, he had to know. But even then he was lying to himself.
"The thing is, it's almost on, why not give it a go?" Ingrid said, almost sounding helpful.
"So what do I do?" Vlad asked. He stood next to Erin holding her hand. Hoping, praying she would open her eyes.
"Focus on the girl. Will her back to you with all your strength," Bertrand said.
"Then hold this wire." Renfield said. Vlad took the wire in his hand and the machine began to make all sorts of noises moving the needle on the dial towards death.
"Erin - Erin!" Vlad shouted. He felt his power fill his voice and echo around the room.
"Oh, great, he's doing the voice again!" Ingrid huffed.
"I, the chosen one, command you to awaken." Vlad said. He felt the darkness inside surge at his call and reach out for Erin. His love seemed to burn as he pushed his power into her. He was rewarded as she opened her eyes and turned to face him as a small sweet smile broke across her face.
"I love you." Erin whispered.
"I love you too." Vlad said bending down closer his eyes searching hers. "You are dying."
Erin smiled up at him and Vlad blinked back tears.
"I need to change you into a vampire to save you. What do I do?"
"Don't do it." Erin whispered. Her head turned away from him, smile slowly fading from her face.
The loud constant whine of the machine singaled her death as suddenly Erin's heart stopped.
"I guess that's that then." Renfield said
"Bye-bye, breather." Ingrid said.
"I'm not letting her go." Vlad said. His decision was made. His heart was breaking but something inside sang with triumph. His power was still in her urged on by something more.
"She'll hate you." Ingrid said. Her eyes were wide. Never in her life had she seen her brother break his word and truly surender to the evil of their blood line.
"But she'll live." Vlad said his fang lowering as he leaned over to pull Erin towards him. "I love you, Erin."
Vlad took Erin into his arms, and pulled her towards him as he bent over he neck. Eyes black and fangs bared he bit down and felt her slayer blood fill his mouth. It was the sweetest misery he had ever tasted. Inside he felt his soul open to the darkness. Drinking soy blood, even the old human stock that his father had on more than one occasion forced Vlad to drink, was nothing compared to this. Her Blood held death but something else, something stronger. Vlad tried not to think about it as he pulled away. The others stared at him. He hated the eyes on him it made his weakness plain for all to see. Taking a seat on the couch he did what he could and waited as the sun began to rise outside.
As battered as her body had been it took almost a hour for Erin to awaken. Renfield in that time had removed the equipment and cleaned the room while Vlad, Ingrid and Bertrand ignored him as usual. Everyone was watching Vlad and waiting for Erin. The instant Erin's eyes opened, she sat up breathing hard. Bertrand was there holding her, keeping her from falling from the table. Her chest felt as if every rib had been broken, her neck ached and her head pounded. Licking her lips she felt how dry her throat was and had to try to wet it several times before she could find her voice to speak.
"Vlad?" Erin asked as she fought to sit up.
"He's here." Bertrand said.
"Am I all right?" Erin asked as she pushed off the table and tired to stand. It was if her legs wouldn't hold her at first.
"You'll be fine." Bertrand said as she got to her feet.
"Vlad?" Erin asked. She looked over at him, Vlad refused to look at her. He just sat in front of the fire hands clasped his eyes staring ahead at nothing. Haunted.
"Open the curtains." Erin said to Bertrand but her eyes were for Vlad. Somehowe she knew it was daylight outside and that this was why she felt so tired.
"Not now, you need to rest." Bertand said trying to usher her away towards her room.
"Vlad." Erin said hoping her voice would reach him. He continued to ignore her.
"Get me a mirror." Erin said.
"I can't." Vlad whispered.
"Why not?" She asked.
"You know why." Vlad answered. He ran his hands through his hair. Then he actually looked at her. Expecting to see anger on her face. "You ...You were dying. I had to."
Erin looked at Vlad, his eyes were filled with pain that echoed into the the numbness she was feeling. Staring back at him, Erin realized she had stopped trying to breathe. Her hand found her neck first noting that she no longer felt her pulse under her finger tips and moving up to where the wound from Vlad's fangs hand mared her skin leaving the now healing scabs that would be gone by night fall. Erin felt her skin under her hand then forced herself to breath in and out. All she could smell in this room was death and vampires, and now her vampire nose could tell. The small scent that was still hanging on the tatters of her clothes was something else, something human and it was a fading memory of what she had been.
"I need some air." Erin said and headed towards the hall.
"It's daylight." Bertrand said, grabbing her arm.
"Fine," Erin said her eyes darkening. "I'm going to my room."
Bertand nodded and let her go.
Vlad was on his feet. "Erin."
Erin merely held up her hand, eyes not looking at Vlad but trusting him to respect her. "I need space."
Vlad watched her bolt from the room. His first instinct was to follow her but Bertrand stopped him the same way he had stopped Erin by touching Vlad's arm. "It is for the best. Let her go."
"What have I done?" Vlad said watching as if he could the ghost of her footprints running away from him, away from his darkness and into her own.
"She will adjust," Bertrand said, trying to reassure Vlad. "She has to."
Ingrid snorted from the shadows. "Not bloodly likely."
Vlad turned to his sister, his gaze narrowing. Ingrid smiled at him. "Leave her alone Ingrid."
"Not to worry little brother, she will come to me." Ingrid said pushing past Vlad. "Just wait and see. Mark my words."
Vlad watched her leave fear turning his blood to ice. Erin had no attacked him. She had not done anything, but she was already changing from the girl he loved. All he could think was, What have I done? And he realized that he really was just as much a monster as his father or his sister.
Erin retreated to her room, tearing off her shirt. The mirror that had been left and covered with newspaper was her only goal. Reaching out with clawed hands she tore at the paper revealing the reflection in front of her that was barely a ghost. Erin watched as she faded completely and there was only the empty room staring back at her. Looking down she saw the shards of the gem that had been in the ring that had controlled her. Now they were imbedded directly in her skin. Her light pink bra looked almost red against her pale white skin as all color and heat seemed to receed. Reaching out she ran her finger tips over the newly formed scar tissue feeling each gen shard. Despite the vampire healing the tears were still there, healed but ugly reminder of what had happened that night. Looking at her fingers, the nails had grown long and sharp without a second thought she dug the tip under the first gem drawing blood trying to dig it out, the shock hit her sending her hand back, strained into a claw and unable to move. Looking down the tiny cut pulled itself together and the gem seemed to glow as she healed. She tried again on another shard, the same thing happend with her other hand. Shaking it she waited as feeling returned to her finger tips and she regained the use of her hands.
Well that won't work. Erin thought and took another breath.
Vlad had been unable to save. Anger hit her hot and strong. Growling she reached up to the largest stone and dug her nails into her skin trying to pry it out with both hands this time. The pain this time sent her to the floor as her claws tore through her chest. Looking down she saw her own blood and gasped. Pain raced through her jaw and she felt her fangs push through the roof of her mouth. Vlad was right it was the worst thing she had felt. Her hand few to her mouth as she stifled a sob. Two twin fangs pressed against the palm of her hand. Half fang, like Ryan. She thought. How could he? Tears burned down her face. It was then she realized how cold she was. Grabbing clean clothing she bolted to the bathroom. Stripping off her underwear she stepped into the hot steaming spray of the shower. Her tears began again. Her fangs had disappeared back into their hidden slits that she could feel with her tongue as she licked away the water. Already the heat was no longer touching her. Despite knowing it was hot, her skin seemed to repeal the pain of what was certainly almost boiling water.
In time her tears stopped. Erin had no idea what time it was but her mind had been made up. She stepped out of the shower and pulled on a simple summer dress. It was the only one she owned. Carelessness had dictated her clothing choices but looking down at the simple cotton cloth, which was a light blue with little yellow and white flowers woven into it. She had to smile. It was a fitting costume as any. Returning to her room, no one was about, for some reason everyone seemed happy to give her space. Erin snorted. She was one of them now, but still only a second thought because of her half fang status. With her new found speed Erin began to stuff her ruck sack full of her things. It took only moments. She realized that the shower had lasted for almost 2 hours. It was past noon, most of the day had poured past her. She was going to miss school. Erin pressed her palm over her mouth to stifle a hysterical laughter that threatened to spill out. School was not an option anymore. Even when she had attended, like a normal person, it was a dream, something to pretend at. It was the only time she had felt normal even though she had been pretending to be a half fang at the time and then pretending to be human when really she was a slayer. Normalacy had been a fantasy. Even now Erin could feel the darkness rising inside her. All those times that Vlad had talked of evil, of the dark need that lived in every vampire, it had left her feeling haunted. Finally she was able to understand it, and it terrified her. The last thing she need was something in the past she had dreaded but this time, this time she knew what she had to do. Before all remenants of her humanity were gone.
Erin knelt and pulled up the loose floorboard that hid her slayer kit. Inside she pulled out a small silver locked. Popping it open a small gel cap fell into her hand. This was a slayer's last resort. Without a second thought she popped the pill into her mouth letting the contents onto her tongue. She expected it to burn but there was no sensation. Turning back to her kit she decided against putting it away, for now. Then lifting the chain over head she pulled the locket into place letting it settle next to the nearest gem shard on her chest. Beside the pill there was also a picture of her and her brother from when they had turned sixteen and started slayer training in the field. Thinking of Ryan made her heart hurt. Had he felt like this when he had turned? She had watched as the bite and transition to half fang had robbed her twin of his humanity and filled him with evil ambition for power. Ryan had tried to fight it. He had used a serum from the slayers to delay the change, she had given him all her supply, leaving none for her now. Erin had remembered the blind loyalty that Ryan had shown for Ingrid, how he had chosen her over his sister, over his humanity and succumb to the darkness of his nature as a vampire.
Erin felt the sadness fill her again. She had loved Vlad, and even as she tried to be angry at him, to hate him; all that she felt was sorrow, grief and loss. Still she loved him, and now the darkness inside her made her feel the blinding need to be by his side, to serve him, to give her life for any desire he had for her. Sliding back down onto the floor she sat under the coffin that Renfield had give her and pulled her legs up to her chest wrapping her arms around her knees and wept again.
Outside her door Vlad could hear Erin cry. His fingertips brushed across the surface of her door as he pressed his forehead against the rough wood. The knot that was churning in his stomach was only getting worse. To add to his pain, he knew that his father would be overjoyed with the news that his son had bitten a breather. I can't believe it bit her. Vlad played it over and over in his mind. The taste of her blood was still in his mouth despite the soy blood he had forced himself to drink to try to wipe away the taste. The memory was just too strong and his darker side was not about to let him forget. Ingrid would now be an even worse threat to his ideals as his memory of her comments continued to cut through him. Did Erin hate him? She should. Vlad could not blame her if she did. Still he needed her. Now more than ever. He needed her to know he still loved her. But he was afraid. More terrified than he had ever been in his life. Ingrid no doubt was having a wonderful time trying to think up ideas of how she could use Erin to destroy him. How Erin would make Vlad hate her just as her brother had learned to hate his maker Ingrid.
Vlad stood he had to face the consequences of his actions, whether Erin hated him or not. Whether she was evil or like him would she fight her vampire nature? In the end you surrendered. A voice whispered in the back of his head. Vlad licked his lips, the memory of her blood on his lips was enough to make him shudder. He had to face her. Had to know.
Vlad knocked.
Erin jumped at the sound. She had be so wrapped up in her self pity, she hadn't heard him approach. She wiped her face. "Come in," she said.
Vlad opened the door. His eyes traveled the room. Seeing her bags packed and slayer kit open on the table he raced into the room. He knew she was there but at first he could not see her anywhere.
"Erin!" Then he saw her under the coffin wrapped into a ball. Her eyes were wide and she looked lost. Vlad was instantly on his knees at her side. "What are you doing?"
Erin blinked at him confused. "Vlad?"
Vlad dropped to his knees next to her. "Are you alright?"
Erin cocked her head and looked at him. Vlad had changed. Erin blinked at stared at him. It was the same face but now, now she sensed him, his power. It was overwhelming. Then it dawned on her. This was why the other vampires hated him. She just couldn't see it before. When she had been human she had known he was called the Chosen One but now she could feel it, the power that seemed to come off him while he looked at her. It was intoxicating. No wonder Ingrid hated him. Erin studied his face, wanting to touch him, to see if he was real, if he was the same. But something new inside her made her freeze instead.
"I'm fine." Erin said. Her voice sounded strange to her. The expression on Vlad's face finally made her realize as she pushed past the vampire sensations, he was worried about her. He was afraid.
"What's wrong?" Erin asked.
"I thought..." Vlad said and trailed off. He had seen her hunter's kit open and immediately feared she had done something terrible or was about to. "How do you feel?"
"Different." Erin said. She looked down at her chest. The jewels caught her eye. She reached across her knees releasing her grip to touch them. "They won't come out."
"You tried?' Vlas asked. Happy to talk about something. Erin nodded.
"They were powerful dark magick. I am not sure what affect they will have on you." Vlad said. He wanted to touch her but at the same time he waited for her worried he might spook her a bit if he tried to touch her again. "Do they hurt?"
Erin shook her head. Looking back up at Vlad she felt lost. Part of her wanted to hate him, and the darkness that she could feel spreading seemed to surge with the need to lash out, to hurt him as he had hurt her, but her sorrow was stronger than her rage, and she pushed the anger down into her grief. Tears began to escape around her eyes and down her cheek.
"Why?" she whispered.
Her words were like she hit him. Vlad jerked back a little but did not drop her gaze. His own eyes were glassy, and haunted as he stared back at her.
"I had to." He seemed to plead with her.
"But I asked you to let me go." Erin could remember his request, her words, the talks they had. He had known she hadn't wanted this. She wanted to be with him but not like this, not as something he would grow to hate. Vlad seemed to cave under the weight of her gaze. She felt the anger surge for a moment then it was gone. Nothing could stand in the way of how much she wanted him. It was even worse now that she was his half fang. It was freaking her out how badly she suddenly wanted to touch him.
"I wasn't strong enough," Vlad whispered.
Erin looked at him. Vlad was the strongest vampire in a millennium and still he was just a kid. His full powers would come to be on his eighteenth birthday but he was still a kid, just like her. As a half fang Erin knew she was stuck this way until she fell to the stake, the sun, or beheading. Vlad however still would age for a time, he would until he was eighteen and then it would slow or perhaps stop and freeze him in time just as she was. Vlad was a vampire, he had seen death up close and personal but still he had never experienced true loss. He still had his family, despite how twisted and evil they might be. Erin had known loss. She knew how desperate that could make someone. Her parents, her slayer friends, and finally her brother. She was intimately acquainted with loss. Vlad had told her about the choice he had made at thirteen when he had accepted his fate as the chosen one and sacrificed the life living as a normal person to save his family and erase the memory of the slayers hunting him so that no one was harmed he had given up the life he loved to go on the run and accept his vampire life as best he could. He had turned his back on having normal friends, but still he had been her friend. still had been able to forge a peace with the slayers without wiping them out.
Erin watched his face searching his eyes, realizing that this was the first of many losses he was going to have to face and despite what she might have wished there was always going to be a point where they would part one way or another. Tentatively Erin reached out. She caressed the side of Vlad's face. He turned his face into the palm of her hand. Erin realized that his skin no longer felt cold. Finally they were the same temperature. The sadness fluttered again in her heart.
"I understand." She said. The sorrow in her heart stealed against her rage and she knew what she had to do. She stopped fighting the darkness that began to well up into her heart but still she could have love. The fear was what twisted thing that love might turn into. She wished he could see into her and see that she would do her best to rescue him from his own darkness even if that meant sacrificing herself to her own.
Vlad turned and looked at her. She had changed so little and so much. Her eyes held a sorrow he only had seen upon the death of her brother. He waited for her to say something. She just stared back at him. There was only one question he wanted to ask and he was far too afraid to speak the words. He desperately needed her forgiveness but he couldn't ask for it. So he asked another. "How do you feel?"
Erin shrugged. "Thirsty."
Vlad fought his instinct to flinch, her bloodlust was already awakening.
"I can get you something." He stood and she grabbed his arm. "I will be right back. Promise."
She watched him vanish knowing it would take only a moment the span of a heart beat and he was back. In his hand was a bottle of the soy blood that he had in his room not twenty feet from her own room.
"Here," Vlad said holding out the bottle. Erin gave him a look. "I promise it is better than you think."
Erin nodded and opened the bottle taking a sniff. At least it smelled like food. Day old, boring food that was in no way appetizing. She tilted the bottle back and chugged.
"See not so bad..." Vlad started to say but then he looked at her.
Erin doubled over in pain. Her stomach was screaming so was the jeweled shards in her chest. "Oh god it hurts."
Erin stumbled as Vlad grabbed her arm and suddenly retched up on the floor. "Erin!"
Between retches, Erin whimpered. "It hurts."
"What can I do?"
"I don't know what is wrong with me!" Erin shrieked back. "But the gems they burn."
"You need real blood," Vlad whispered and was gone. Erin had no way of knowing was this pain from the capsule, the soy, or the gems. She didn't care she just hated it, hated how she was so weak, even for a monster.
Erin vomited again the last of the soy out of her system as she pushed herself away from the mess she had made and curled into a ball. That was how Vlad found her. He had a glass wine bottle that held something better than wine but Erin didn't move. Vlad knelt and made her sit up and held the bottle.
"You need to drink." Erin shook her head. "I promise it is the real stuff this time. Just try."
Erin let Vlad guide the bottle to her lips and this time, the lukewarm liquid was pure bliss. Her hands came up and she drank greedily. The bottle was soon empty. The gems no longer burned, her stomach seemed satisfied and her thirst was more manageable. Still her fangs had slipped out and she wanted more. From the corner of her eye she watched Vlad's expression darken with sorrow, desire, and disgust. Erin closed her eyes, the bottle empty she placed it down on the desk wiping her mouth. Erin got to her feet. The room smelled different. With each moment her senses were growing stronger as she fully transition to a vampire.
"Feel better?" Vlad asked.
Erin looked at the bottle. "I want more."
"That's normal," Vlad said touching her arm. "But it is better to pace yourself."
"Why?" Erin asked and watched as his eyebrows shot up in confusion.
"Vampires need to learn control better to start now otherwise you might end up attacking and killing dozens of people. And even then that won't sait your bloodlust."
Erin looked at the soy blood bottle and Vlad followed her gaze. "I guess I only have one option."
"The gems in your system must need you to feed on real blood." Vlad said his gaze dropping to her chest as he reached out to touch the stones. "Do they hurt?"
"No anymore," Erin said as she sat up and pressed her back into the wall. "What are they doing to me?"
"I have no idea," Vlad said, he sat down next to her and frowned. "And that scares me. I will have to have Bertrand research the rings. All I know is that they were made from dark magick meant to enslave and control."
"But with them shattered can they still do that?" Erin asked. She didn't like the idea of being control any more than she already was by her need to be loyal and protect Vlad and hated the idea that any other vamp could use the ring's magick against him.
"I wish I knew." Vlad said and put his arm around Erin's shoulder. She tensed a moment then leaned into him. She still had the bottle in her hand. Looking at it, there was a name scrawled on the bottle and the year 1925. It had always amazed her that Renfield and other vampires could bottle blood like wine. For humans, when they donated a pint of blood, even with the anti-coagulant, it was only viable for about a month at most. But when she drank from this, it was as fresh as if it had been drawn this week rather than over 80 years later. Something had to be done to make it stay this way. Even with the blood in her system she still felt weak. Perhaps from the sun or the stones or something else she could not name. Erin licked her lips and slowly set the bottle down fighting to not break it open to lick the shards for any drops left behind. Vlad seemed to sense what she was thinking.
"We have gallons more, if you need it." He said. "I just want you to try to see if you can control your thirst."
"Is this what it feels like for you?" Erin asked.
Vlad shrugged. "You get used to it."
Erin swallowed. "What if I don't want to get used to it?"
"What do you mean?" Vlad asked, the pit in his stomach dropped. He had counted on Erin being able to drink the soy blood. Now with the harsh reality that she needed actual human blood to survive her transformation was not something he even considered. His father had told him the stories of how in the past, when there was no need to keep a low profile that he had drained dozens of breathers. So many of the old ones had gorged themselves on blood especially during the human wars that littered history. Holding Erin he didn't want that for her.
Erin looked at him and smiled showing him her fangs. She turned his head to face her. "Things are different now."
"I know," Vlad said. Standing still, letting her close the space between them.
"I can control myself," Erin whispered like a promise.
"I believe you," Vlad whispered back, and he wanted to but something inside his chest clenched in fear. When Erin had been human he had trusted her over any other and she had lied to him, then fought for him, and constantly tried to show that he could trust her, but something deep within doubted.
"Does that change things with us?" Erin reached out and ran her hands up his chest and around his neck. Vlad wasn't tall for a vampire but then neither was she and she liked that she was able to look at him dead in the eye on an equal level. With her senses Erin could see the blood under his skin and it smelled so different than the blood she had just drank.
"No," Vlad said. "I love you."
Erin's mouth formed a bitter smile but hid it as she pressed her lips to his. Vlad kissed her back, but there was something more than the sweetness that she had tasted from her human life. His mouth fought her as if he could drink her up. She let hid as he slid his tongue inside her mouth and probed with a desperate need. No longer needing to breath they could have continued to the embrace through out the night had her fangs not slipped down in her need of him. The moment his tongue caressed their shrap points he broke away.
Erin masked the hurt she felt as he pulled from her with a start.
"Sorry," Vlad said.
"No, its ok." Erin said pushing herself to her feet. "We should go down stairs." Erin looked back at Vlad and offered her hand to him. "We need to face the others and talk to your father."
Vlad didn't want to tell her but his father would be ecstatic he had bitten her. "We should get you something real to eat."
Erin gave him a look but headed to the door. "Do I really need to eat bat biscuits anymore? I thought blood was enough."
"It is but if you are going back to school you need to keep your body used to eating food to keep up appearances."
Erin kept her face a mask. He wanted her to go back to school. Funny. "Ah, for the breathers."
"Don't say it like that." Vlad chided as he touched her hand as he joined her in the hall. Erin continued on.
"Why not, it's what they are." Erin looked at him and forced herself to look away. "Not that it matters anymore. Let's go."
Vlad wanted to say more but she took him by the hand. They headed down the hallway just as the Count, Renfield and Malik were heading up.
The Count's laughter filled the air. The sound of his triumphant call at the defanging of his enemy was clear to everyone.
"What do you think of your new sibling, Vladdy?" The Count said appearing on the stair with Marik next to him. "A fine specimen, I'm sure you'd agree."
Marik had a coy smile pressed on his lips as the Count continued with his over exaggerated display and preening.
"Is it true?" Vlad asked, his eye hard and suspicious. Erin pressed herself into the wall and tried to say out of the line of fire.
"Yes." Malik said smirking.
"Brother." Ingrid said as she joined them in the hall. Her disbelief and disgust were apparent.
"Why keep it a secret?" Vlad growled. "You've been here for weeks." The idea that his father would believe this fool was beyond him. Still, Vlad had spent his every waking moment trying to be the opposite of what his father wanted in an heir and son. Even when is friend Robin had tried to switch places with him back in his youth it was not the same jealousy and distrust that lit a new fire in Vlad's soul. If only he didn't have so many enemies, so many battles to fight, he could do more for Erin and keep her safe. Here was just another in a long line of pretenders trying for power and a place in the Dracula ranks.
Malik shrugged. "Well, I didn't know how you'd react."
"Who's his mother?" Vlad asked looking at the Count for answers.
"I am here, you know." Malik said.
Vlad ignored him. "Who is his mother?"
"My mother's Elizabeta." Malik said. "Arthur's wife."
"Your brother's wife?!" Vlad said practically growling at the Count. The Count just shrugged. Vlad knew his father had a checkered past. Despite the issues with his mother, it was common for vampires to take numerous lovers over the centuries. They, as a species, were not known for monogamy.
"Vladdy, you have to stop this nonsense." The Count said and smiled. "Loyalty is for breathers. It's hugely overrated."
"You can't really believe he's your son?" Vlad asked.
"I'll prove it. However you want. Name it." Malik said.
"He has more bite than you, don't you think, Vladdy? More, more passion." The Count taunted.
The Count laughed. The twinkle in his eye showed that he was enjoying the little melodrama being played out between his children far to much. If it was up to Erin, she would say he was like a bored house wife who needed her soaps to get through the day.
"I wouldn't say that." Ingrid said. For the first time the Count looked at her, and he sniffed the are. Erin had been pressed up against the wall, listening and watching them but trying to go unnoticed.
The Count gazed at Erin. "You look different. Interesting, even."
"I thought we were talking about Malik." Vlad said.
The Count circled Erin, smelling her. "Exquisite." With a gentle hand, the Count reachout to touch Erin. She let him as his long fingers caressed her neck where the marks still showed the imprint of Vlad's teeth. A smile broke across the Count's face as he looked at his son. "I knew you'd come good. How could you not? My son, the chosen one! This calls for a celebration. Renfield, a feast in Vlad's honour. What would you like, Vladdy?"
"Roast neck of a breather?" Renfield offered. "Crispy fingers with a pastie to start?"
"Pizza?" Vlad said.
"Later, My boy," The Count was practically dancing around. "Come along, Renfield. We have work to do."
The Count disappeared down the hall. Renfield and Malik at his heels. Ingrid moved closer to Vlad and Erin.
"How can he just accept him?" Vlad asked.
"We don't know that he has." Ingrid said. "But you're missing the point, as usual."
"So, enlighten me." Vlad suppressed a growl and the flash of fang. If anything Ingrid had inherited her father's love of melodrama.
"Malik will want power." Ingrid said. The concern she was trying to hide along with her own heart ache and disgust. If Malik really was their brother, than her little crush had been squashed just in time. Despite the centuries of inbreeding it was highly frowned on in vampire culture and could carry a death sentence. Not that Malik had even seemed to consider that when he played with her affections. Regardless, Ingrid was bound and determined to make him pay. Her eyes narrowed. "He's a threat."
"I'm not scared of him." Vlad said.
With another vampire fight brewing, Erin couldn't handle it. It had been enough for the Count to touch her like that, to see how he had reacted to Vlad and how, despite everything, Vlad had let his father say and do exactly what he wanted. Erin knew she was a half fang, and a female but seeing Vlad get caught back in the petty interactions with his family and not doing a damn thing where she was concerned hurt. Besides she had seen what Malik was like behind that lovely smile that all the Dracula's seemed to share that was so enticing and yet so misleading.
"You should be," Erin whispered. With the others in the room she fell back into her old excuse and headed toward the kitchen. "I need some air."
"Erin, wait." Vlad said. She paused but did not look back at him.
"Don't worry, I won't go outside. Sun's still up. Just give me a bit."
Then she was gone.
"I did warn you." Ingrid said with a smile.
Vlad was about to chase after Erin when Bertrand ran up and grabbed Vlad's shoulder forcing him to face his tutor with his full attention.
"Magda's furious about the defanging." Bertrand said.
Vlad tried to shrug him off. "So let her take it out on Dad and Malik. They did it, there's nothing she can do."
Bertrand's eyes went wide. "She's taken her father's seat on the high council. She's called for a vote of no confidence."
The pit in Vlad's stomach dropped. Erin would have to wait. "Coexistence is working. We've proved it."
"The defanging gives her ammunition." Bertrand hissed. "She'll use it to undermine you."
"We'll write a report. Get it in first and derail the vote." Vlad siad.
"But the meeting's tonight." Bertrand said.
Vlad's eyes grew hard. "Then you'd better get a move on. Write the report, Bertrand."
Vlad stormed off leaving his tutor to do the work that he could not. Not with Erin alone and easily manipulated by his family. In his anger Vlad forgot about the gems and the fact that he needed Bertand for another reason. The fear that Ingrid would get to Erin, turn him against his freaked out Vlad more than he would like to admit.
Erin found that her vampire speed had delivered her to the kitchen faster than she expected. The smells that filled the room had always bothered her as a human but now, not as much despite being able to tell more of what each scent exactly was. Erin felt her stomach clench. The blood she had drank earlier had not been enough but she had promised Vlad to try and control the hunger. Still the thirst pressed in on her and she wondered if she could make it to the Counts private stock in the basement. Moments later Ingrid stepped out of the shadows and walked toward her.
"This will stop the pain." Ingrid said holding out a milky green liquid that was toad's milk.
"I'm not drinking that." Erin said. She had tried when she was pretending to be a half fang the memory of the taste made her stomach turn.
"Your taste buds have changed." Ingrid said holding it closer. Watched as the half vampire took a sniff of the liquid, sigh and accept the glass and began to drink. "There's a lot I can help you with."
Erin could feel Ingrid's eyes on her. In all the time she had spent with the vampire, Ingrid had always been out for her own agenda, her own power. Still Erin could not begrudge her that. Despite being a female slayer, Erin had enjoyed the feminist movement that had her on the same even playing field as the male slayers. All her life despite what life would throw at her with the bias of modern society, still Erin had been able to live as an empowered woman. Even as the thought crossed her mind, Erin felt a surge of guilt. She had been a female slayer and still not able to kill a vampire except by accident. She had been strong and able to fight but when it came down to it she could not bring herself to kill. Other slayers had seen it as a weakness but not Ryan. Not Vlad. to both the men in her life it had been a strength. Still she had been free to rise in the ranks and through hard work been able to go on assignment on her own and have some sort of freedom. Watching Ingrid all this time and pretending to be half fang where Erin had been able to see vampire society up close, she hated how segregated it was and how females were so overlooked, dismissed and sold almost like cattle by their fathers. Granted half fangs had it worse. They were considered nothing more than cannon fodder and an afterthought to the vampire counsel. All these thoughts raced through Erin's mind as she drank the toad's milk, which indeed did help with the thirst.
Vlad entered the room. His eyes darted to Ingrid then to Erin. "You can't trust her. You know that."
Erin wiped her mouth and whispered. "And I can trust you, can I?"
Erin stood and walked towards Vlad. She looked at him, her face a mask. It took all her will to keep her pace steady as she closed the distance. She offered herself to him, she would have to, and knew what it would do. But not here, not yet. Her heart was still battered to hold the strength she would need for the night to come.
"Erin..." Vlad started to say but she turned on him. Her eyes full of sorrow and anger.
"No, I don't need this right now. I need to think." Erin hated to confess but she felt like a monster, an outsider. Despite being a vampire she was still lesser, a small afterthought for the Dracula clan, a blimp on their centuries of their own family soap opera. It had hurt that Vlad, despite how he said he loved her, and promised to protect her, he had failed in the face of everything, despite being the so called Chosen One.
"You're so beautiful." Vlad whispered. Erin looked up at him. It was all that she could do not spit or growl or snarl at him. He looked so vulnerable, so sincere and that is what hurt the most. Her own pain drowned out everything, the thirst, the darkness, and even her anger.
"Even as I am?" Erin asked showing him the gem shard. Her eyes glowing red. Erin wanted to laugh in his face. She suppressed a snarl but pushed past him without a word.
"Trouble in paradise?" Ingrid asked.
"I made her, she has to be loyal. It's part of our code, she has no choice." Vlad said. His mind was racing. What they had shared in Erin's room seemed to have been tainted by Erin's interactions with his family and this new drama with Malik.
"In your dreams." Ingrid smiled. "Trust me, little brother she's mine now."
Vlad watched the women in his life walk out on him, feeling helpless and the darkness inside grew stronger. He had the power, he was supposed to make they listen to him to obey him, but even as the thought arose he pushed it aside. He didn't want slaves or servants. he didn't want blind devotion. he wanted friends. he wanted everyone to get along and stop playing all these pointless power games that only led to pain and death. He just hoped it wasn't too late for Erin and him. He wished with all his might that he could find a way back to the good place they had been in before his token engagement that had led to Erin's death and continue to strengthen his alliance and peace with slayers. Was it too much to ask for some help?
Beneath the school the Count was tearing through his stock of blood. Renfield like most servants had perfected the bottling process that allowed the blood to store like wine. Humans were not even close to the preservation process. Sadly for breathers with their chemicals and sad attempts for their blood transfusions only seemed to taint the blood. The Count smiled he had bottle that were centuries old and just as fresh as the day they were bottled.
"Oh, 1935, pre-war! For the summer's day." The Count said tossing the bottle aside. Malik caught it. The Count was fervent and the smile on his face flickered to life between the frustration of not finding what he wanted.
"Where is it?" The Count said slamming his hand on the table, and as he did the hidden compartment opened behind him with a click. He spun. "Look it's here!" He laughed. "Oh, yes." Caressing the bottle.
"No way!" Malik said.
"Yes way." The Count said holding the bottle up. "The only bottle from that tragic young queen - Lady Jane Grey." He tore off a scrap of fabric that was wrapped around the bottle. "Her blindfold." He tossed it to Malik. "She tied it herself before the old -"
"Can I hold it?" Malik asked looking at the bottle.
"Certainly not, it's for Vlad." The Count said. "Move."
Malik seemed to grind his teeth but followed the Count back upstairs.
No one in the house could resist the call of Count as they were ordered to the main room where a table sat in front of the fire place where a roaring fire gave the illusion of warmth. Seated as the Count made his entrance were Erin, Malik, Ingrid, Bertrand, and the Count prepared to take his seat next to Vlad who was to have a place of honor at the head of the table.
"Vladdy, Vladdy, Vladdy." The Count said as he guided his son to his seat. "Stop, stop, stop. Come this way." The count would broke no words from his son. "Move." The count commanded Renfield. "Sit, sit, sit." He said when he realized the other vampires had stood.
"Ah Ta-da!" Renfield said revealing on a table flive flat white boxes.
"Pizza!" Vlad said.
"It's what you wanted, isn't it?" The Count said.
"Yes, but, " Vlad looked from the pizza to his father. "You never give me what I want."
"Ah all that's changed." The Count said. "Now you have proven yourself, what Vladdy wants, Vladdy will get."
"Oh, please!" Ingrid snorted.
"It doesn't stop there." The Count said. "Renfield."
"Oh, yeah." Renfield pulled out his bottle opener. "Ta-da!"
"What's that?" Ingrid asked.
"Lady Jane Grey." Vlad read.
"Is that her blood?" Erin asked. Afraid to know.
"Yes." The Count said. "I thought you'd never give me the chance to uncork it."
"He's been saving it for centuries." Ingrid said.
"And it's for you, Vladdy." The Count said. "All these years I've been saving it for you."
"But he's only bitten one person." Ingrid growled. "It's hardly carnage!"
Erin finched but her eyes could not leave the bottle of blood in front of her as she longed to taste it. In an instant her thirst returned with a vengeance. It was all Erin could do to stay in her seat as Renfield poured a glass of the nectar she could smell from across the table.
The Count waved Ingrid's words aside. "It will soon follow, it's inevitable, now he's tasted the nectar."
"I don't drink blood." Vlad said, but he was fighting his own darkness. It was all Vlad could do not to look at Erin. The smell of the blood in front of him was almost as intoxicating as Erin's had been. Vlad could still taste her in his mouth and the blood that his father presented him was only a remind of that taste that he had taken from Erin. Vlad knew if he did not fight this desire here and now despite what it would cost him, he would eventually give in and everything his father said, everything his father believed about him would be true and Vlad couldn't let that happen. Not now, not ever.
"Are you insane?" The Count asked.
"No." Vlad said.
"Drink it." The Count ordered.
Vlad faced his father. The blood, he could smell it but the anger that was part of his constant defiance was paired with the hurt he felt doing this to his father. But he had to hold onto something of himself even if it was this fight.
"I know what this means to you, but I can't." Vlad said trying in any way to lesson the blow, to avoid the fight.
"Then you, Vladimir are no son of mine." The Count growled.
"Wait," Erin said and all eyes switched to her and she was on her feet.
"Stay out of this half fang," Ingrid growled.
"No, let her speak." The Count said. He was intrigued to see what she would do.
Erin reached out and took the goblet of blood that Renfield had poured for Vlad.
"You have saved this for centuries to honor the first vampire Vlad had ever created." Ern said, taking a small whiff of the blood as she gracefully walked around the chair until she stood between the Count and Vlad.
"Erin, what are you saying?" Vlad asked as he watched her hold the goblet. Erin just smiled at him, still holding the goblet of blood.
"But unlike the rest of you," Erin said leveling her gaze on the vampires who surrounded her. "Each of you, who have given into the need to kill, to maim or harm. Who felt the need to bite for darkness and pain." Erin turned back to Vlad. "Vladimir did it for love, so this is a toast to him."
Before she could think or anyone could stop her Erin took the blood into her mouth and then forced her lips to Vlad's forcing him to drink. Vlad was so caught off guard he opened himself to her and for that moment surrender a bit of himself as she let the blood pour from her mouth into him. Together they drank and kissed.
"Bravo!" The Count was shouting in the background about the protests of Malik and Ingrid and the cheers of Renfield. Bertrand just sat and stared.
Erin broke off the kiss and pulled back. Vlad's eyes were wide as he stared at her. She reached out to wipe the stray drop of blood from his chin but he grabbed her wrist crushing it as his eyes went black. Then he was gone.
The Count was on his feet his arm slipped around Erin's shoulders. "Not to worry my dear, he will come around."
Erin let the count steer her to her seat as he took Vlad's place at the head of the table. "I have underestimated you my dear."
"You can't be serious," Ingrid snort.
"Deadly serious," The Count said leaning forward to sneer at his daughter. "You could learn a few things from this one."
"As if," Ingrid said. She shot a cold gaze at Erin.
Erin did not back down. "I meant every word I said."
"And aren't you going to pretend to be a breather?" Ingrid asked.
"I like the taste of blood too much," Erin answered honestly. That caused everyone to look at her and the Count smiled.
"Of course you do," the Count said. "I am glad that you are not trying to deny your nature my dear. I think you could teach my son a thing or two about accepting what he is."
"That's my plan," Erin said.
"Oh really?" The Count asked amused. "I would love to hear it." He began to pour another glass of the Lady. Erin and the others watched. The Count lifted it to sniff before handing it to Erin.
"Why does she get some?" Malik demanded.
"Silence," The Count growled. "I want to hear what the half fang has to say."
Erin accepted the glass, with all eyes on her she lifted it to her lips and sipped the delicate bouquet. It was just as amazing as before, but lacked the fanfare of sharing it with Vlad.
"I love him," Erin said simply.
"Of course you do," The Count said. "He saved you."
Erin forced herself to put the glass down. "Ye, he did." Everything in her wanted to drain the glass dry but she controlled herself. This was key to her freedom to put her plan in place, she had to make them believe her. She needed this to work.
"I don't want to deny my nature," Erin continued. "Granted I am still getting used to things and Ingrid had helped."Ingrid's eyes went wide but she kept silent. Erin continued. "Still, I am learning my new nature and as a Slayer, a breather I did not fully understand what it meant to be a vampire. Maybe its because I am half fang and I didnt have to transition as the rest of you with a mirror or a family to support me, but that also means I don't have to fight what I am. It merely is what I am and I cannot fight that. And I don't want to."
Erin stopped talking and slowly took another drink. This one was longer and she savored the flavor of the blood as the others watched her. It was the Count who was the first to speak.
"What do you plan to do?"
Erin was expecting that. She shrugged. "I love him, my hope is by having Vlad guide and teach me about myself he will better understand himself and stop fight his true nature."
Bertrand seemed to take a breath and the Count sat back looking at Erin thoughtfully.
"What makes you think you can succeed where we, his family, have failed?" the Count asked.
Before Erin could answer, Bertrand spoke. "Vlad loves her. He made her."
"Good point," The Count said then smiled at Erin. "Go, you need to take care of my Vladdy. i will be watching you."
"Can I have some blood?" Erin asked as she got to her feet.
"Of course!" The Count said. "Take the Lady...'
Erin cut him off. "No, just some of the stock you have in there," She indicated to the hidden refrigerator in the room, but quickly added. "I would hate to ruin your toast. The rest of you should drink to Vlad's success and my rebirth."
"Good point my dear," the Count said. "Redfield, pour!"
That comment got several smiled from Malik, Ingrid and Bertrand. Erin couldn't blame them, the blood was amazing. She bowed and stepped towards the fridge. Already everyone was talking as if Erin did not exist. In silence Erin with drew several bags of blood and left the room following the escape Vlad had made earlier. Despite the drama it was still day light and the school was difficult to traverse during the day but Erin still felt she knew that Vlad had retreated to his room, the only place that was his to lick his wounds. She walked the halls at a human pace. Force feeding him the blood had been an act of defiance and part of her plan, still it had hurt when Vlad had bolted leaving Erin to deal with his family, but she knew that she had hurt him. His revulsion of blood and abstinence had been his salvation and she had taken it from him by force. Still Erin felt he would forgive her, he had to or her plan would be expedited. She hoped she had not made things worse.