Chapter Ten

Hurting

Erin was hurt. There was no doubt about that. She really thought Vlad would welcome her with open arms. Well, her Vlad would. This Vlad wouldn't, and he never would with Adze around.

"Erin?" Bertrand's soft voice brought Erin out of her daydream.

"Hey, you." Erin replied, shyly.

"So, are you okay?"

"I've just seen Vlad..-" Erin began, fighting back tears. "-And he hates me, just like I thought he would. I don't know what to do, I want him so much."

"You have to fight for your rights." Bertrand sympathized with her.

"That's the thing. I have no rights with him anymore."

Bertrand cupped her face in his hand. "Erin, listen to me.-" Bertrand held her tight. "-Vlad isn't himself. The Vlad we know would never choose Adze before you, you know that."

Erin smiled awkwardly. "Bertrand, about before.. I-"

Bertrand cut her off, kissing her lightly on the lips." Nothing can happen, I know, Er. You will always be special to me, though. For as long as I live."

"Why can't nothing happen? Vlad doesn't want me, and you care about me as much as I care about you."

"Because we both love someone else more than we love each other."

"Bertrand-" Erin started.

"Don't say it. I know my Ingrid is never coming back, Er. I know she isn't, but I love her, I will always love her, she was The One for me, I just wished I had seen it sooner than I did, Ingrid was perfect, just as perfect as you."

"I wasn't going to say that, I was going to say something else."

"What?"

"It doesn't matter, now."

"What were you going to say?"

"I was going to say kiss me again." Erin replied, looking into his topaz eyes.

Bertrand stumbled, shocked. "Erin, I can't."

"Bertrand, please." Erin looked at him, pleading.

"I'm sorry, Erin." He replied, then vanished. Erin wasn't sure whether to act hurt, or to act relieved.

She stood there, drinking in her thoughts.

"Erin?" Bertrand's voice was cautious.

Erin spun around, happy to see him. "Hello, again.-"

She was cut off by Bertrand's lips meeting hers. "There, you happy?"

Bertrand looked at her. "Happier than happy. I'm just, content."

Erin reached up onto her tiptoes. "Thank you." She whispered into his ear.

"So it's true then?!" An angry voice made them both turn around.

Vlad was standing behind them, fury etched on his face.

"What is?" Bertrand asked, surprised.

"You and Erin." Vlad spat.

"What? No, we were just-" Erin tried to reason with the angry Vampire.

"Save it, Er."

"Vlad, please."

"Leave me, the pair of you." Vlad snarled, unkindly.

"Vlad-" Bertrand began to defend the pair of them.

"I said get out!"

Bertrand and Erin shot out of the room, hand in hand.

Vlad snarled and shot a lightning bolt in their general direction. The thought of the two of them made him feel ill. Even if he was with Adze, he had a right to be happy. Erin didn't. Not from what she put him through.

No, she did not have any rights.

At all.