A/N: Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

I've felt out of sorts today so sorry if these chapters aren't up to my usual standard.

The 'T' rating will kick in in a few chapters.

Chapter 11: Confide

Ingrid paced back and forth in her room, she honestly was confused.

She couldn't tell the Count what she'd done; he'd stake her before she even finished speaking. He'd be furious at her trying to take Vlad's power for herself.

Ryan would mess everything up, he was too eager to please her and that had already started to get on her nerves. She liked the adoration but she hated the way he clung to her like a shadow unless she ordered him away.

Bertrand wouldn't hesitate in manipulating the situation to his advantage; he would betray her if he knew she was close to being found out or if it served him better. Bertrand knew the history of the clans and he had experience in fighting them. He knew Vampire Law off by heart often quizzing Vlad on it during training.

Those were her choices and she needed to make a decision.

There was only one person who could help her, only one person who had any skills or knowledge that she might need.

She'd hate having to ask this.

YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL

She neared the door to hear a heated argument between Bertrand and the Count. She tilted her ear towards it, she had never learned how to use her sensitive hearing but then again she'd never had the benefit of actually being taught how to use her powers unlike Vlad.

"You're still in charge of his training until his eighteenth birthday, after that I want you to leave and never set foot in this school again." Clearly the Count cared more about Vlad becoming Grand High Vampire than the fact that Bertrand had betrayed them.

"Isn't that up to Vlad?" Bertrand countered, using Vlad's absence to buy himself more time. He knew the Count was trying to take some of Vlad's power for himself, he was used to being Regent and it was clearly something he wasn't willing to let go of just yet.

"Vlad doesn't always know what's best for him." Ingrid snorted at that, most of the time Vlad knew what was best for them not the other way around. "This whole peace with slayers thing…"

"He seems to think it'll work." Bertrand's tone had a little something else in it. Ingrid couldn't put her finger on it but it seemed to be mocking in some way.

Lightning crackled outside, a sure sign the Count was growing angry. "Slayers want to kill him, that's why they took him."

"We don't know that." Bertrand knew Vlad could escape their clutches unharmed.

The Count shook his head, "Slayers can never be trusted!"

"What about Erin?" Ingrid asked as she entered the room, the men turned towards her, scathing looks being sent in her direction for her disturbing their conversation.

"She betrayed him, she broke his heart." Those words sounded more disgusted that Vlad had a heart rather than anything else. "Vlad knows it can't go anywhere." The Count told Ingrid as a matter of fact.

Ingrid let out a laugh, "Has that stopped Vlad before?" Vlad like the impossible. He was already in too deep with Erin, she could see it and so could Bertrand but the Count couldn't. "Vlad and a slayer, he likes to really defy you doesn't he?" Ingrid taunted the Count.

The Count's face darkened, "She brought the slayers down on us!"

Ingrid had never been one to defend Erin but she knew she had to step in, "You don't know that. Erin's never told anyone where we live. They found out that themselves."

Bertrand looked at her curiously, "Why are you defending her?""

That was actually a good question, "She saved my life twice." And if she wanted it to happen again when it came to Vlad punishing her for what she'd done. Erin might be the only thing that stopped her from being reduced to ash.

Bertrand narrowed his eyes, he didn't think that was the whole story but he wasn't going to pressure her in front of the Count.

"I don't want her being a distraction for Vlad anymore." He directed his words towards Bertrand but the younger vampire wasn't going to fall for that again. He wasn't going to harm Erin and incur Vlad's wrath or have the Count make Vlad catch him in the act.

The Count seemed irritated that Bertrand didn't pick up on his words, he'd left the bait there for him but he wasn't going to bite. He was learning.

Ingrid looked at the Count, worry crossing her, "How are you going to do that? He'll never forgive you if you do anything to her."

He hadn't said he'd harm her but he didn't say he wouldn't either.

The Count didn't speak; he turned away from them and fixed his gaze on the fire.

YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL

Ingrid grabbed Bertrand's arm tightly, her fingers digging into his forearm as she pulled him from the room.

Bertrand didn't hide the look of complete and utter anger at being man handled. He hated anyone touching him unless he was prepared to, he was trained as a fighter he could have easily turned her to ash before realising who she was if the other hadn't been in the room.

As soon as they were secluded in the corridor as Ingrid pulled the door closed behind them he yanked his arm free from her grasp, the force caused her to momentarily lose her balance and tip towards him. "What do you want?" He hissed at her his fangs ready to bite.

Ingrid looked to his side before looking at him; this was even harder than she'd thought it would be. Dracula's didn't ask for help – from anyone, for anything. "I can't believe I'm saying this." She muttered under her breath before realising he'd probably heard her.

He looked at her impatiently; he had better things to do with his time than wait for her to tell him something. He turned away from her. "I need your help."

Bertrand froze; never would he have expected to hear those words from her.

This would be interesting.

YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL

Bertrand did something he had never done in all of his four hundred years – he turned his back on someone who could easily be his enemy as he tried to process what she'd just admitted to doing.

He couldn't believe she'd confided in him of all people, he really didn't want to know now. Didn't she have any idea of what Ramanga was capable of? Of course she didn't, she'd latched onto an opportunity without thinking the consequences through.

"You've done what?!" Bertrand shouted at her. She wished immediately that he wouldn't shout so loud.

Ingrid tried to defend herself, "I'm tired of Vlad being the important one, the one with all the power when he doesn't even want it…"

"He was born with it!" Bertrand shouted at her, he knew Vlad didn't want it but he believed Vlad had actually come to accept it. "Of course he'll have all the power! It's his birth right."

Ingrid let out a frustrated cry, "Everything is always about Vlad…"

"It's the way of our world Ingrid!" Bertrand told her sharply, shutting her up. "It isn't Vlad's fault, he gave you a second chance! I know some of his ideas are…" He swallowed sharply, his nose wrinkling in disgust, "Unusual." Talk about an understatement, "But you betrayed him deliberately."

Ingrid shook her head, talk about calling the kettle black. "So did you!"

Bertrand was ready for this, "That was different!"

"How?" He'd betrayed Vlad for power just like she had, he'd been pardoned just like her but at least he'd kept his head low.

"I knew what I was doing! You entered a deal without knowing anything about Ramanga. You realise he'll take the power from you if you get it."

"Please," His eyes widened she really was desperate if she was using 'please', "You know things about clans…"

Now he knew where he came in, he felt hurt but he didn't know why that she only wanted his help because of his knowledge and not because she genuinely trusted him. "Give me one reason I shouldn't tell Vlad what you've done?!" He asked, his eyebrows never lowering from their raised position.

Ingrid folded her arms over her chest, staring the older vampire down. "If you tell Vlad I will blame you."

It was all she had.

He knew she would and she would probably get away with it as the Count wouldn't side with him concerning where he'd been during the time Ramanga was here and he couldn't trust Erin after trying to kill her. "And have me take you down with me?" He reminded her

Ingrid cursed softly as she realised that Bertrand did have a point.

Ingrid's eyes were wide with her plea, she needed him. "I need your help, will you help?"

He knew the consequences if this backfired and he just couldn't risk them.

Bertrand shook his head, "This is your mess. I'm not helping you sort it out."

TBC

A/N: Thanks for reading.