A/N: Disclaimer in Chapter 1.
IMPORTANTAnswering a question: No I don't have another account. So I'm not quite sure what people mean when they've asked my why I've posted 'Predetermined' (mainly Erin's prearranged marriage and conditions) twice with a bit of 'Grey Inbetween' (in particular Vlad's slayer-caused fever) mixed in and no I haven't altered their ages, Vlad and Erin are still seventeen in my fics.
If there *is* a fic out there using these plots it *hasn't* been with my permission, but I haven't got another account. If these have been taken and used without asking me I'm very hurt and annoyed because I spend hours plotting and typing them for someone else to just take them.
If it continues I don't think I'll be able to continue my YD fics, as it's not fair to write someone else's at the same time as my own as much as I love writing these stories.
Chapter 2: BiteEveryone looked at Tom, unable to believe his position on this. Thanks to him choosing Andrew for her to marry they had been forced to cause her more pain trying to save her after Andrew had staked her. This was the only thing that might save his daughter and he was trying to stop them from doing so.
"It's the only thing that will save your daughter." The Count told him firmly.
"I don't want her to become one of you."
"Erin said she didn't want anything to do with you anymore, so it isn't your choice." Ingrid snapped at him.
Thomas bristled at Ingrid's answer, the garlic burned deeper into Vlad's neck. "You bite her and I will kill you."
"It's Erin's choice, she's bleeding to death. I have to bite her if she's to survive." Vlad told him sharply, his voice coming out more of a warning. Ingrid had a feeling that Vlad would literally bite him if he stopped him from saving Erin.
Steph surprised them all; she shoved her husband's hand away from Vlad's neck. The garlic flew across the room landing near the Count, who kicked it into the roaring fire. "I want my daughter back, I don't care if she's a vampire. She'll be alive."
Tom shook his head. "She'll be dead." Only dead in the sense her heart no longer beat. Her mind would still be there.
Steph's face turned violet as she stared at him, he'd already cost them both of his children and she wanted them *both* back. "I don't care, I nearly lost my son because of you Thomas. I want my daughter back even if you don't."
"She'll be one of them."
"He loves her and she loves him." She pointed towards Vlad, "If she loves him then she knew this would happen, she's accepted it. He can save her." Thomas quietened at his wife's stern tone. She'd never dared contradict him like that in public before. "Do it."
Vlad studied his fiancée's mother; she nodded confirming it was what she wanted. He had her consent that was one thing. He had his father's as well so it would be his defence if they accused him of illegally transforming her.
"Vlad…" His sister prompted, he needed to act now, they couldn't wait another moment.
Vlad nodded slowly, he knew what he had to do. Erin had told him to do it so he had that to consol him somewhat.
He closed his eyes for a moment, calming himself. He'd never done this before he only hoped he did it right.
The young vampire extended his fangs again. He was glad Erin wouldn't know what was happening.
Slowly he pierced the tender flesh on her left side of her throat with his sharp fangs.
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Within seconds of tearing though her flesh he knew why vampires loved fresh human blood so much. The warmth of her blood couldn't be simulated at any cost; bottled blood couldn't be heated to the same temperature.
Her blood was like delicious nectar, filling him completely. It tasted sweet and innocent; he could feel the love in it. It was nothing like slayers blood – or he didn't think so from the bitter taste his father described.
His eyes closed instinctively as he drank but he didn't take her blood greedily although every nerve told him to do so. He could feel her body cooling somewhat and he wasn't sure if it was because of him or the stake wound.
Erin didn't move or react and that was what he wanted, he'd heard stories of the instinctive struggle their victims put up and the accidental breaking of bones that followed from trying to hold on their prey. He'd already broken one of her bones he didn't want to break anymore.
He knew he couldn't take much more; she wouldn't have any chance of survival at all.
Vlad pulled back but not before pressing a kiss to her bite mark, wiping his fangs on his sleeve. He didn't want to look like a bloodthirsty vampire in front of everyone.
Something appeared in front of him and Vlad recognised it as bat vomit. They obviously weren't going to take the chance he'd be allergic to her blood.
He didn't feel unwell so he shook his head. He didn't want to lose the taste of her blood if it was the last thing he had of her.
He looked up at Bertrand who nodded, he'd done well.
Suddenly the door banged open and Renfield darted in, "Where for garlic's sake have you been?" Vlad shouted at him, his anger brimming before ebbing. It was done now.
There was no way they could guarantee this would work. They could only wait.
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Vlad remained vigil at Erin's side over the next hour or two sitting on the floor gripping her hand tightly in his, time seemed to go slowly so there was no telling how long everyone had been waiting in there. He buried his head in his knees, he felt exhausted.
Ingrid sat next to Bertrand; he even seemed to be anxious about seeing how this turned out. The Count kept hovering back and forth behind the only intact sofa they'd placed Erin carefully on.
Renfield was changing Erin's bandages once again, there was no sign that her healing had accelerated, if it had it would have meant that the bite was prevailing inside her body. They only hoped the bite would win the fight with her blood to convert her quickly.
Jonno and Mina watched with curiosity at the process that was happening and the effects it was having on the vampires in the room. While it would be useful for future knowledge they didn't think it was right to note it down as it was such a personal thing for them all.
Robin had been glancing back at Vlad constantly ever since this ordeal had begun. Vlad had noticed and had ignored them, his eyes constantly fixed on Erin. He couldn't tell if his bite was even working on her.
"I'm sorry Vlad…" Robin began to apologise to him.
Vlad's eyes snapped around to his friend, anger clear for all to see. The thunder clapped and lightning flashed through the open shutters.
"Sorry won't fix this Robin." Vlad ground out. He stood stiffly, his lips curled in a sneer. "You had to make a joke didn't you? If I hadn't taken my eyes off her because of your stupid joke this wouldn't have happened. Andrew wouldn't have taken the chance to try and slay me!"
While Vlad spoke Robin began to cower backwards. Vlad wasn't sure whether he would be able to forgive Robin for this. He'd given Andrew the opportunity.
Worse of all Vlad didn't know if he could forgive himself, he knew what Robin was like but he'd let his comment get to him and that had nearly (it still might) killed Erin. He'd failed in his promise to protect her.
"I didn't know…"
"That's the problem Robin, YOU NEVER THINK!" Vlad roared loudly at him. "I'm supposed to protect her not the other way around."
He was supposed to have sent the stake and deal with it not Erin. Robin had uttered an ill timed and inappropriate joke about Erin being an awesome half fang and sinking her teeth into people in front of slayers who hated vampires and the Truce.
"I've just had to watch Erin being staked, I've broken her collar bone trying to hold her down, I felt it break under my fingers, Bertrand's had to physically pull out splinters from inside her so I can transform her before she's even ready to become a half fang. All because you had to make a joke about Erin becoming vampire!" He yelled loudly.
Every slayer and vampire in the room watched the outburst; they were surprised it hadn't come earlier. They'd been expecting it. Vlad didn't lose his temper as quickly as other people but when he did it was a fearsome sight; only Erin could weather his temper completely unscathed.
Everyone tensed as the mahogany table, regency chairs and every other item in the room began to shake and vibrate as if in an earthquake in response to Vlad's feelings.
"WHAT WE'VE JUST DONE, WHAT I'VE JUST DONE WILL NEVER GO AWAY!" He'd gone back to shouting again, "I HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT FOR THE REST OF MY UNLIFE!"
Ingrid grabbed Vlad's shoulder, physically manhandling him like she used to do when he was thirteen. With some effort she pushed him towards the doors, she hadn't realised how much muscle Vlad had gained in four years.
"Get cleaned up." Ingrid told him softly. Vlad still looked a mess caked in Erin's blood.
Vlad glanced back at Erin, "I'll look after her, I promise." This wasn't like last time when she'd lied when she'd said she'd save her, she truly meant it.
Vlad nodded reluctantly before vanishing from the room.
"Thanks Ingrid." Robin smiled at her.
"I didn't do it for you." She told him firmly, she didn't do anything for breathers. Erin's transformation clearly wasn't an immediate process. If she died, Vlad would be unstoppable. He'd let grief consume him. "I'd hope she pulls through if I were you because at the moment Robin she's the only person who can rein Vlad in when he goes too far."
They all knew it was Erin that had managed to talk sense into him when he'd let his reflection get the better of him and Erin was the one who'd gotten him to see sense when she'd assembled an army to slay him.
"I didn't know they'd…"
Ingrid cut him off with a wave of her hand. "Like Vlad said Robin, you never think."
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Vlad peeled of the shirt that clung to him due to Erin's dried blood. He held it for a moment; he could smell the sweet, innocent scent of her blood. He bundled the shirt up and threw it across the room as far away from him as possible. He didn't want to look at it again.
He sped across to the wardrobe and pulled out a clean shirt and jeans, he wouldn't be long he wanted to be back at her side.
He looked down at his chest; her blood had dried on him turning the pale skin crimson red. He lifted a hand to touch the blood but found he couldn't. His hand hovering a mere inch from his flesh, the sight of it made him feel sick. He had to get it off him as soon as possible.
Vlad sped towards the bathroom, and turned on the showed. Without a second though he stepped inside and scrubbed with shaking fingers at the blood that coated him. He screwed up his eyes as the sight of the red water grew too much for him.
He continued to scrub trying to get even the feeling of her blood on his skin from him until his flesh began to burn from his actions.
Vlad hit the wall feeling the tiles of the shower crumble under his fist. The water mingled with the droplets of salty tears that leaked down his face.
He scrubbed at his face, feeling the way his eyes had swelled. He reached up at turned off the shower, twisting the dial until the water stopped completely.
He climbed out and dressed as quickly as he could before leaning over the sink and washing his face in cold water to try and remove the puffiness of his eyes.
With a sigh he dried his face and sped off towards Erin. He couldn't leave her any longer.
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Vlad's ears picked up at the sudden change in breathing of his fiancée, his sensitive hearing detecting the change first. A sudden rush of movement followed from around him and he knew the others had heard exactly.
Erin's breathing slowed to ratting, shaky breaths until it stopped completely. She didn't move a fraction of an inch. She just lay there motionless.
The question they all had circling in their heads didn't have a clear answer.
There was no way to know for certain.
Was she a vampire or was she truly dead?
TBC
A/N: What do you think?
Thanks for reading.