A/N: Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

This will probably be shorter than my other fic because I laid a lot of foundation in part one. I have another YD fic to type after this one (a clean break) and the plot can't be slotted into this fic like I've done with others.

Chapter 11: Headaches

The Council paced around the room as Vlad could feel a headache building. He resisted the urge to rub his temples.

Ingrid gave him a sympathetic look from across the room; he could tell from her wince she already had one.

"You've gained allies but you still have some powerful clans against you."

"And others on your side that will change allegiance if given a high enough price."

Yulis looked at him, shrugging slightly. "Maybe if you offered something in return for allegiances it would stop them from swaying."

Ingrid straightened in her seat. "Vlad can't bribe them, that's what got us into this mess in the first place."

Yulis ground his teeth together. "Why is your sister involved in a *Council* meeting?" He glared daggers at her, his nose wrinkled, as he looked her up and down.

"Because…" Vlad slowly stood. "She's my number two." It was the only bribery Vlad would ever commit and at least this way he could keep an eye on his sister's plotting. It was better to have it under his nose than behind his back.

Quint spluttered slightly, "You can't have a number two…"

Vlad was expecting this, "I can and I have. The Justice Mordei was above you, I created a new position in its place as an advisor and I gave it to Ingrid." He knew what they meant – he couldn't have another person above their authority because they couldn't stand it.

Quint continued, "A woman…"

"I suggest you be very careful when you finish that." Huunter told him. "The Chosen One's sister and intended will have greater power than you, I don't think it's a good idea to insult either of them."

Vlad could see Huunter wouldn't mind Quint being staked and a few other members of the Council wouldn't mind it either.

While he had enemies amongst the Council they weren't allied with each other, that was something at least. He could play them against each other if he wanted – a tactic he kept in mind for future reference.

"Ingrid is my number two. That's final." He told them sternly, his gaze lowered so he looked through the lids of his eyes.

YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL

The silence that filled the room after Vlad's announcement did wonders for his growing headache, but it was rapidly becoming uncomfortable.

"Was there anything else?" It hadn't been an official meeting to start off with.

Archer rested against the table, he only knew of one thing. "A number are asking you change you decision on chosen matings…"

Vlad didn't need to hear any more. "No."

"But…"

Yes matings between clans would mean peace, but at what cost? Would alliances be formed with him or against him? Did he have the conscience to do that when he'd be free to choose his own mate? Vlad knew the answer to that; he couldn't condemn anyone to it.

"No and the penalty still stands." Vlad shook his head slightly, "Anything else I need to know?"

Atilla gave him a sheepish look, "You come of age in a week but your official coronation can't take place until a month after you are in power."

Vlad nodded, he didn't really care about the coronation that much. "Fine."

Atilla give him a confused look. "That's it?" He should challenge her; tell her his coronation should be on his birthday; be a power hungry vampire like every other member of their kind.

"Yeah." Vlad told her not caring about her opinion. In all honesty the longer he didn't have to wear that disgusting crown the happier he'd be.

"Why are you challenging him?" Augustus asked, "Nothing can be done even if he wanted it on his birthday."

Vlad smirked at his Gran, if she thought he'd allow her to have some of his power or even give her special favours. That reminded him… "I want to make it clear, if any of you ever use my name to put pressure on or threaten other vampires…you'll be going the same way as Ramanga." Vlad threatened the Council but in particular his Gran. Ever since he was younger he'd had her threatening their family now things were different he was the one *she* had to fear.

The Council nodded. Huunter bowed slightly, "We'll meet with you again on the day you come of age." There was nothing left to discuss and with the slayers chasing them it was better to only be away from their clans for a short while.

Yulis dropped a stack of papers on the table. "You need to go through these before you come of age."

Vlad looked at the pile feeling the spark of irritation beginning to surface. "You're dismissed."

In a flash he and Ingrid were left in the room. Ingrid poked at the pile with her finger, "Looks like you've got some coffin time reading."

YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL

Erin clicked her fingers, practicing lighting the candle before throwing minor fireballs at it. She winced as one missed and scorched the table, no one would notice if she put a placemat on it – hopefully.

"Erin." Atilla smiled warmly at her. Erin immediately began to panic; this woman was never nice to anyone. Both Vlad and Ingrid had warned her about their Gran.

Erin didn't bow, she didn't need to. Atilla had no say in the affairs of Vlad or his clan so she didn't demand respect. She could tell it irked the Westenra matriarch.

"This must be hard for you, a half fang that was a slayer. I'm sure our customs must be difficult for you."

Erin folded her arms over her chest in a defensive manner. "I understand them well enough." Erin told her quickly.

"But you never wanted this life." Atilla gave her a half smile that looked more like a grimace.

Erin didn't agree with it or deny it, "This way I get to spend my unlife with Vlad and his clan." She genuinely thought of here as hope, and she had to admit that even when she first moved in with the vampires it was more of a home to her than she'd ever had before.

"A half fang who has the Guild chasing her." Atilla looked away briefly, "I researched you." Erin's jaw set, she should have expected it. "Does Vlad know your brother is a slayer and so are your parents?"

"He does." Erin confirmed, "Although my brother was bitten by Ingrid." Erin enjoyed the rush of realisation cross the woman's face at the half fang knowing something she didn't. "I haven't hidden anything from Vlad."

"I'm sure there's something we can find to *persuade* you to find a more suitable mate and let Vlad rule over our kind as a true vampire."

Erin wanted what Atilla had just said to be clarified, "Are you telling me to leave your grandson?"

"He can't mate with a half fang let alone a former slayer, his reputation will be ruined."

"I've met people like you, slayers like you…they all ended up dead because they thought they knew best and wanted things done their way. Is this because you can't chose Vlad's mate for him?" Erin didn't bat an eyelid as she stared Atilla down, she knew how much Atilla had tried to control her grandchildren's lives in Transylvania stopping either of them ever having friends until they moved to Stokely. "You don't have any say in Vlad's unlife, your daughter never officially became his father's mate."

Atilla bristled, pulling herself up taller to stare at the disrespectful child. "Everyone knew they were mates."

Knowing and having proof were two different things. "But they weren't officially, that means you can't tell me or Vlad what to do."

Atilla grabbed Erin's arm pulling her closer forcefully. Atilla's grip was like vice around her bicep squeezing tighter and tighter. If she was still a breather she'd have bruises forming. "You will never mate with my grandson, not while I still have no breath in my body."

Erin felt a migraine building, "I love Vlad…"

"Love has nothing to do with it. Vampires don't mate for love."

"Then we'll be the first." Erin told her fiercely, she refused to let her fangs fall she wasn't going to let the older woman know she'd agitated her.

Erin yanked her arm back from the woman, the force and strength surprised the older vampire and she staggered forwards.

"Are you okay?" A voice called from the doorway. "What are you still doing here Gran?"

Erin turned to smile at Vlad and Ingrid hovering in the doorway. Ingrid had her lips pursed and was currently shaking her head at her Gran. Vlad sped over to Erin and gave her a quick but firm kiss on the lips.

He caught the shudder of his Gran and relished it, he wrapped his arms around Erin from behind.

"I wanted to have a word with Erin, Vladimir." His Gran spoke sweetly and Vlad rolled his eyes.

"I know what you just said to Erin." He told her firmly. Erin gave him a puzzled look, he hadn't been anywhere near her so… "Vision." He whispered into her mind, Erin understood perfectly. Vlad always knew when someone he loved was in trouble or upset, sometimes it centred on Ingrid but it was mostly around Erin. "I make the decision, Dad's accepted her…"

"Your father would." Atilla muttered darkly, glaring at Erin. Erin stared back at her.

"I haven't officially asked her yet, but if she accepts she will be your Queen. If I were you I wouldn't offend her too much."

"Ingrid!" Atilla turned to her daughter.

Vlad smiled at Atilla, "Ingrid agrees with me."

Ingrid smiled slowly, her fangs showing although she didn't bare them at her instead acting as if she'd forgotten to retract them after drinking.

Atilla turned back to the disobedient vampire in front of her, "You're going to ask her on your birthday then?"

Vlad opened his mouth to speak but Erin beat him to it. "I'm not expecting anything when Vlad turns 18, I don't care if he doesn't ask for the next hundred years but you have no say in our unlives."

Atilla didn't like the freedom Vlad gave his half fang toy. She scowled at her, she lifted her hand ready to teach Erin some manners.

Vlad saw it and threw his hand out, invisibly pushing his Gran backwards. "This 'chat' is over. Now get out!" Vlad pointed to the dark window.

Atilla nodded, her nostrils flaring she stiffly bowed before disappearing.

"You okay?" He asked her softly.

"Yeah." She smiled at him, turning her head slightly to kiss him.

Vlad glared out in the direction his Gran had left. "Gran has no say in our clan. She can't stop me from having you as a mate, only you can." He kissed her temple lightly.

Erin closed her eyes and leaned back against him.

The gong sounded throughout the room. Erin groaned and pushed herself away from her boyfriend.

"Dinner." She whispered. Vlad nodded, he didn't want to face the 'delights' Renfield had prepared and it seemed no one else did either judging from their horrified expressions.

"Chips?" He asked her and Ingrid.

Ingrid and Erin exchanged matching looks, "We'll get our coats."

TBC

A/N: Thanks for reading.