A/N: It's been a long time since I had a chance to sit down and write again, but I couldn't let this story go unfinished. I appreciated all the reviews I received, and I hope you guys keep reading it.

Belle wasn't looking forward to getting up this morning. As soon as she was awake or aware or whatever it is that vampires call waking up, her head was bombarded with thousand thoughts. It was embarrassing that she allowed her emotions to lead her astray so many times. Her failure to trust Eric only pushed him away further. Sure he always came after her, but at some point that was bound to end. There is only so many times she could tell him to stay away before he actually would. There was a rational side to her, but now that she was a vampire that rational side had been put under lock and key by her emotions that gave her little rest. Everything was heightened now.

Eric's arm slid across her stomach pulling her towards him.

"Morning" he whispered into her ear proceeding to kiss her neck.

She smiled, her eyes remained closed.

"I'm a moron"

He laughed working his way down to her breast.

She opened her eyes, grabbing his face with her hand pulling him up "I'm no good at this" her eyes were filled with pain

He kissed her playfully on the lips "Not good at what?"

She stroked his face; it scared her how much she truly loved him "Living"

"Technically you're not living" he teased her

She grimaced at him as he went in for another kiss. She wanted to stop him, but melted into his lips. Kissing passionately she flipped him over straddling him. Her long hair fell over hear face as she leaned in to kiss him. He pulled her towards him hugging her tight. She loved having this little moment with him even thought there was so much she wanted to say, now all she wanted was to make love to him.

A set of footsteps quietly walked by outside of their room, the scent hit her like a ton of bricks. She broke free of his embrace sitting up, her fangs snapped out.

"Hungry?" he laughed.

"No" she failed miserably at lying

"I'll get her for you"

As he was about to leave the bed, she applied pressure to his chest "Please don't" she pleaded "I swore I'd never kill again"

He caressed her face "Don't worry. I'll teach you when to stop"

He was gone before she was able to say another word. Reappearing what seemed like a second later Eric walked in with a young girl. She couldn't have been older then 18 and Belle wasn't about to risk killing someone who barely had a chance to live.

He stared deep into her eyes "What's your name?"

"Stella" she was entranced with him

"Stella would you mind if Belle fed from you?"

"No" she shook her head

"You're glamouring her" Belle wasn't about to give in "It doesn't count"

Eric looked at Belle smiling "You know she'll like it"

"I doubt she'd like dying"

Fear swept across Stella's' face "I don't want to die"

Eric turned to her smiling reassuringly "She's only kidding" he looked deeper into her eyes "Nothing is going to happen to you"

She nodded, falling back under his spell.

Eric turned towards Belle "I'll stop you in time"

"I'm stronger than you Eric. What if I don't stop?"

"Then I'll feed her my blood"

There were about a million more reasons not to go along with Eric's plan that Belle could have thought off at that time, but the smell of blood weakened her will to resist. Sliding out of the bed she walked towards them.

Eric smiled looking deep into Stella's eyes "You'll enjoy this" he tilted her head to the side.

Belle bit into her neck, no longer able to resist her hunger.

Stella moaned from pleasure.

Belle felt all her control fade away as the hot blood hit her parched lips. The taste was incredible and the more she drank the hungrier she seemed to be. She didn't even spill a drop as she continued to drink at a furious pace.

"Stop"

Eric's voice seemed distant, her focus only remained on getting more blood. She felt his hand pull her away from Stella's neck. Instincts kicked in as soon as there was some distance between her and blood. She lunged back towards Stella, but Eric held her tight.

"Take a breath" he whispered into her ear.

She could barely hear him, let alone take his advice. All she could see was blood seeping out of two holes. Blood she wanted more than anything. She was about to break free from Eric's grip when she heard him tell Stella to leave, which she gladly did.

Once the smell of the blood faded away Belle was able to regain her composure.

"I failed" she was heartbroken

"It takes practice" he wrapped his hands around her "You can't expect to master control like that in one try"

"It's too risky" she turned towards him "I can't bear to kill anyone else"

"Just try it a few more times and if you still feel that you can't control yourself then stop" he smiled at her reassuringly

"Fine" she couldn't resist him "But only under your supervision"

He kissed her "Of course"

It felt odd sitting across from Russell and Talbot. Talbot smiled at her again, Belle wasn't sure if he was putting on his best performance ever or if his dislike for her had greatly diminished. She was the reason both of them were still around, but she was also the reason they barely escaped a staking. Her great concern however wasn't with Talbot.

Predicting Russell's' next move would be impossible. She had no idea what kind of deal he struck up with Eric in exchange for his freedom, but she knew that he would be up to something. Even coming that close to meeting his true death would not deter him from carrying out his initial plan and seeing how she was a key element in that plan, she knew it would be a matter of time before he tried to get the upper hand once again.

"Well this is uncomfortable" Talbot was keen on breaking the silence.

Belle couldn't help but smile.

"I heard you fed" Russell looked at Belle.

Rolling her eyes she looked the other way, she wasn't about to let go of the hatred she felt for him.

"I see no reason to postpone this conversation any further" Eric finally spoke

"Great" Belle cut him off "Then can somebody please explain to me why we are all here. Actually what interests me more is why I'm here?"

"After you left" Eric didn't skip a beat "I had full intention of going through with the plan, but your words stuck with me. It would never end if I went through with it."

"I figured that part out already Eric" Belle was getting testy being in such close proximity to Russell "What was the deal you made with him?'

"Your freedom for mine" Russell had to put his two cents in

"I highly doubt that" she didn't even look in his direction "Eric, I don't want any more surprises."

"Killing him would not take the pain away" Eric's words sounded sincere "And if I went through it, it would mean losing you as well. The deal was as simple as that, our freedom for theirs."

"And you trust him?" Belle was still convinced that Eric was leaving something out, but decided to play along.

"He gave me his word"

"His word means nothing" Belle couldn't hide her obvious hatred for him.

"It's rather rude to speak as though I am not here" Russell's confidence was fully back.

Instantaneously Belle appeared by Russell grabbing him by the neck. Her fangs snapped out as she pinned him to the floor.

"Don't take what happened in that basement as a sign of weakness. I detest you; I'm only tolerating this conversation for Eric's sake. Now tell me exactly what you offered him"

Much to Belle's annoyance Russell broke out in a fit of laughter seeing her take full advantage of being a vampire.

"Those fangs look good on you"

She couldn't believe that he would taunt her knowing how much stronger she was and especially since their bond was broken.

"I meant no offence Your Majesty" his wicked smile caught her off guard. Those words echoed in her head making her release her grip on him.

Russell wasted little time getting off the flood and facing her.

She turned to Eric looking for some sort of clarification.

"I offered him Louisiana" Russell's words seemed distant while she tried to process everything.

"With Sophie-Anne gone, Russell generously offered me the crown" Eric walked towards her.

"It's not his to offer" Belle was sure this was another one of his tricks.

"It's his by marriage and his free to name another king or queen if he so chooses. But, there are conditions" Eric took her hand

Still unable to process everything, Belle wasn't surprised to hear the last part "How did I know that part was coming"

Eric smiled at her "The condition is that we share the crown"

"I'm sorry what?" now she was just stunned

"He can only be king, if you are to be his queen or you can be queen if he is your king. Whichever way you want to look at it"

Belle shot Russell a look.

"Eric, it's a trick" she didn't believe for a second that Russell would relinquish that kind of power.

"Oh I assure you" Russell walked over "There is no trickery on my part"

"And why would you give up that crown?" Belle challenged him

"My plan was contingent on your involvement, now that I can no longer control you. There would be nothing stopping you from taking revenge or stripping me off all my power. This way the scales are balanced, with the two of you having equal power to mine."

"And everything will be done through the vampire league" Talbot quickly chimed in "So it will be binding"

"This is our chance to be happy" Eric pulled her towards him "We can't unchanged the past, but we can't continue to live in it. It's time we both moved on"

Belle's head was spinning; the chance to be with Eric without the fear of someone seeking revenge or controlling her was too much to pass up. And a crown on top of that, there was so much good she could that with that kind of power and Russell would have a hard time challenging them if they were in an equal position as him. It seemed she had nothing lose.

Eric looked deep into her eyes "So, what do you say? Will you be my queen?"

"Yes" she could no longer resist the idea.

"Wonderful" Talbot clapped with excitement. Appearing by her, he grabbed her by the hand. "No time to waste. We have a wedding to plan" With that he sped out of the room, dragging her behind him.

"That went better than expected" Russell approached Eric

"You know that she will never trust you" Eric looked towards the door from which she disappeared seconds ago.

"I count on it" Russell smiled