-/-

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, by contrast the floor between the door of their hotel suite and their king-sized bed, was paved with hastily discarded clothing.

"I thought you wanted to get some sleep?" Agatha moaned as Dracula's mouth latched onto her neck, sucking her skin into his mouth roughly enough to leave livid marks on a mortal, but on a vampire leaving only pink imprints that would fade in a few hours.

"Later…" Later, Dracula continued to mouth the word into her skin as his hands roamed down the plains of her back; lifting an unprotesting Agatha into his arms, growling as her legs wrapped snugly around his hips.

It didn't seem real what they had done, that they hadn't gotten away with it, their enemy as good as slain and a new, worthier target in their sights; it was enough to get his blood pumping…figuratively speaking. Fighting and fucking had once been his way of life, one that Dracula had been forced to supress under the veneer of being a respected member of the Elder community. Fucking his beloved Agatha had been enough to take the edge of that violent craving, but there really was no substitute for combining a victory and sex.

There was also nothing like seeing his beloved finally show her fangs.

Dracula had always known that Agatha had a strain of wickedness within her, a ruthlessness towards her enemies that she had spent years suppressing with prayer and good deeds, and she had been able to rid herself it entirely. He had seen it in her approach to countering him onboard the Demeter, how she hadn't paused except to gloat before setting him alight, that she wouldn't shy away from blowing the ship up, including Captain Sokolov, if it meant she took him with her.

To see Agatha finally tap into that power, to use it for their benefit, against their shared enemies…well it was a wonder Dracula had waited long enough to get back to the hotel suite to ravage her; it had been touch and go when they had dumped their clothing into the river, it had certainly been uncomfortable trying to pull on a pair of trousers whilst hard, yet somehow Dracula had managed.

"I am going to make you scream." He hissed, dumping them both onto the large king-size bed, whilst kicking off those damn trousers. "I'm going to make you beg."

Bouncing on the well sprung mattress, Agatha couldn't help but giggle at the look on her lover's face as he finally stripped down, only biting her lip when the look he shot her was somewhere between disbelief and feral lust.

"Do you doubt that I can beloved?"

Mutely shaking her head Agatha tried her best to appear penitent, Dracula was clearly not in the mood to be poked at…well not in any humorous way. If he were anyone else Agatha would have called him out…well if he were anyone else, they wouldn't be in this position…but Vlad Dracula was not a vampire used to playing second fiddle to anyone, not even her, no matter how much he did love her. He might be aroused by her capabilities, might praise her deeply for finally using her claws, but deep down she knew this dominant posturing was a direct result of her levelling up; they were equals now in fact, and not just because he graciously chose to treat her that way.

Or was she now more dangerous?

For a moment Agatha couldn't help but wonder if Dracula himself might be vulnerable to her abilities? Over time he might learn to protect himself, Agatha knew Dracula was skilled in the mental arts just as Lucy was, but right now she probably held that advantage. So, it was no concession to allow him this, to play a more submissive role in the bedroom if that was what he needed in this moment. Still it was a genuine gasp that escaped her lips as she was dragged down the bed, her legs propped up onto her lovers' shoulders, that devilish smirk disappearing between her thighs…the first pass of his tongue left her squirming.

No…it really was no hardship at all.

-/-

If Mycroft was annoyed at being made to wait until they managed to find some clothing, then he hid it well. Yet there was no hiding the tenseness in his shoulders, even if his face carried its usual stoic expression.

"You better have a bloody good reason for disturbing us Mycroft." Dracula groused, playing up his irritation at being disturbed so early.

In fairness only some of the irritation had been faked, as enthusiastic as Dracula was about going down on Agatha, she returned the favour somewhat more infrequently. Not that Dracula would ever complain about the imbalance, or pressure her into doing something she didn't want to do; still it did make the occasions when he awoke to Agatha's mouth on his cock something he preferred to savour…and not something that he was getting to do this morning, thanks to Mycroft.

"Elder Pazzi is dead." Mycroft dropped the statement like a bomb, his eyes narrowed as he watched for every minute reaction of the pair in front of them.

Knowing the moment that he spoke that they already knew…that despite the impressive attempt at shock from Agatha, there was a flicker as her gaze slipped to their Elder, and Dracula himself merely raised an eyebrow, not even caring to raise much of a façade.

"What did you do to him?" Mycroft all but demanded. Not knowing right now, what was making him more irritated, that they would make such a move without even discussing it with him first, or that Dracula didn't seem to care that he realised it.

"Mycroft…"

"Please do not insult my intelligence by denying it." Mycroft cut Agatha off. He would have thought better of her, until she had gotten involved with Dracula romantically, Agatha had always impressed Mycroft with her logical thought processes. Love it seemed was capable of breeding stupidity as well as babies.

"What does it matter Mycroft?" Dracula cut in, distracting Mycroft's ire from his beloved. "The Elder was a threat to our clan, whomever dealt with him did us a favour."

"Only an idiot would think creating such a blatant move a good idea, you've all but declared war…"

"And only a coward wouldn't realise we were already at war!" Dracula retorted, stretching out to his full height, and doing his best to look imposing in a bathrobe.

"So preoccupied with keeping the status-quo and advancing your own position." Dracula added scathingly. "You are good at playing politics Mycroft, but you are terrible at developing strategy. Our enemies had already set themselves against us, they dared to make the first strike, they thought us weak enough that they could get away with murder…now they know better…"

"And when you are dragged before the council to answer for this?" Mycroft was struggling to keep his composure. "You have doomed us all."

"I have done no such thing." Dracula insisted. "Suspicions are not proof, and fear is a powerful weapon. No one will dare to move against our clan now. We will deny all knowledge, let them try and prove it, I think you will find there is less appetite to confront us than you think. The game has changed, no longer will it be about who is allied with whom, or who has more clan members…wasn't that you wanted? Wasn't that why you threw in your lot with ours, because you saw in me someone who had the power to change the game?"

"Not by massacring their opponents." Mycroft retorted, his gaze shifting to Agatha who had remained silent, her gaze somewhat distant. "I shouldn't be surprised you would react with brute force but had thought better of Agatha."

"When you are the one they send someone to rape and cut into little pieces Mycroft, then you get the right to judge me." Agatha replied softly, reaching out to catch Dracula's arm before he could react poorly to Mycroft's scorn or her revelation. "I am sorry that your first reaction was to come here to accuse and berate us Mycroft, but I wonder would you have dared do the same to Baron de Rais?"

On the back foot from Agatha's revelation and accusation Mycroft swallowed down his immediate reply.

"You see I don't think you would have. In fact, I think you have forgotten quite a few things. Like how before Dracula came you had to toady up to whoever you could skim favours from, how you had to do all those tasks you hated and were beneath your abilities. He gave you the chance to rise to the position you have now, do you really think you would now be getting the respect you deserve from others on the council without his support?"

"I have more than earned my position…"

"I know that, I am not denying it, but would you have ever been given the opportunity to earn it?" Agatha pressed her point. "No, we both know you wouldn't have; they would have kept you in your place, always subservient, always trying to prove yourself and getting so little in return."

"That would be better than dead." Mycroft added bitterly, his blue eyes narrowed in scorn. "You know better than to think you will just get away with this, even if it isn't the council, the other Elders wont just let you get away with this. It will just be a stake in the dark."

"Not if we stop them first." Dracula insisted confidently, as only a warlord used to winning against impossible odds could. "Something that would be a lot easier with your support Mycroft, but I understand if you want to save your own skin." He understood, but Dracula found it difficult to respect it.

"It's up to you. I was going to propose we finalise the blood adoption, announce it at the ball to deflect chatter about the lack of betrothal announcement. I will give you to then to make up your mind, but Mycroft I warn you now…" Dracula paused, his dark eyes burrowing into Mycroft's. "Go your own way, save your own skin, but if you choose to betray us to our enemies then you become my enemy, and you will be the first I come for."

"We come for." Agatha corrected, her hand tightening on her love's arm. They were in this together, for good or evil, and Agatha only hoped that Mycroft would be part of that team, if not it would hurt to turn on a friend, but she would do it, for her own sake, for Dracula, their clan…and any children she hoped to bear.

Clan Dracula was at war and only an idiot thought they could stop things now.

-/-

"You look beautiful."

Standing in front of the floor length mirror, Agatha couldn't help but fiddle with the edge of her cape. The dress was a masterpiece, even if Lucy had insisted on tweaking the original design a little, the skirt was still the simply A-line Agatha had insisted on, and it was still modest, the neckline of deep red satin dress skimmed her collarbones, fastening to the false effect cape by ornate clasps at the shoulders. The sleeves however were gone, her toned upper arms once more on display, her forearms clad in elbow length satin gloves.

In all Agatha barely recognised herself. The hair and her makeup had been taken care of by paid professionals, and Agatha had avoided looking until they were finished, and she was able to take in the full effect.

"Dearest…? What's the matter don't you like it?"

Pulling away from the draw of her own reflection, Agatha glanced upward, meeting the concerned stare of her lover in the mirror.

"I'm fine, just nervous."

Smirking at that reply Count Dracula moved closer, wrapping his arm loosely around her waist, careful to avoid his nails catching on any of the ornate beadwork that had been handstitched into the bodice of the dress.

"I especially like this…" His smirk grew bigger in the reflection, as his fingertips caressed the dragon that stood on guard, its long tail wrapping around Agatha's hips, one clawed foot curving protectively over her heart the other over her stomach holding a blooming rose, as though guarding the treasure that might lay beneath.

"You would, subtly has never been a Clan Dracula trait. You couldn't have stamped your claim to me more ostentatiously if you tried." Agatha snorted, not that she resented the show, not really. But it was a power play, a way of announcing their clan was here and here to stay…plus it was a beautiful piece of work, all played out in gold, pearl and jet.

"I had nothing to do with this beloved." Dracula insisted, chuckling when Agatha rolled her eyes. "Doubt me all you want, this is more of a Mycroft ploy, I suppose if he cannot force us to announce a betrothal tonight, he will leave no one in doubt as to your future role in the clan."

"Remind to have words with him about his presumption…well if he is still part of the clan after tonight." Agatha muttered, yet she laid a gloved clad hand over her flat stomach. "Its not like we even know I am pregnant."

"No." Dracula had to concede that much, hiding his troubled expression by placing a kiss on her exposed neck. "That we will just have to wait for, but a vampire can hope."

"Hmm." Agatha was non-committal in her reply causing Dracula's frown to deepen.

She had been like this for days, and Dracula could only hope that it was due to waiting for the shoe to drop with regards to their intervention with Elder Pazzi, and not that Agatha was regretting agreeing to try for a child.

Feeling Dracula's concern like it was a physical thing, Agatha sighed and lent back into the solid frame behind her, allowing her vulnerability to show through as she closed her eyes.

"I just want this to be over, so we can go back home and forget about antiquated rituals, and clan politics, and just be us again."

"Clan politics will never be over." Dracula snarked bitterly, yet he agreed with the sentiment; whereas once he would have delighted in playing games with his peers, Dracula longed for a simpler time where he didn't have to worry for a stake through his or his beloved's heart.

"I just wish we didn't have to go, I wish we could runaway tonight and never look back." Agatha sighed again, opening her eyes and meeting Dracula's weary gaze.

They had talked about this, how the likelihood was high that they might be walking into a trap. A fact that grew more and more likely as they days passed, and no one came to even question them about Pazzi. Even Mycroft had been acting distant since their last conversation, Agatha wished she could guess just whether he would decide to stay and help them or turn coat and abandon them. It was like there were vultures circling just waiting for the right opportunity to pounce, and here they were about to offer themselves up like willing bait.

"You know why we can't, running would seem to confirm guilt. We can't blink first, the fact no one else came to challenge us means there is no evidence, so we can't act like we are guilty of anything, they want us to give ourselves away and we can't give them the satisfaction…"

"Not to put anymore pressure on me or anything…I mean I just have to be perfectly poised and graceful, smile politely at people who might want us dead…"

"And dance and entertain like a trained poodle…" Dracula finished for her. This was not the first time Agatha had repeated this rant in the last few days.

"Arse." Agatha wasn't gentle with her elbow, as she rammed it into his chest and freed herself from the Count's grasp.

"So eloquent for a poodle." Dracula teased, catching her hand before Agatha could flee him completely.

Placing a kiss on her gloved knuckles Dracula caught her gaze, trying his best to enthuse her with the confidence he had in her. Besides there was nothing on earth powerful enough to separate him from her side this evening, no matter what the other clans threw at them Dracula would defend his beloved to his dying breath if necessary.

-/-