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For what seemed like eternity Agatha's words hung in the air, there was not a murmur from the crowd, only the laser like heat of Giles de Rais gaze meeting her own.

"I accept!"

"NO!" The objection was ripped from Dracula's throat, his feet taking him to stand between Agatha and Giles, as if by blocking her from his view, his body as a shield between them Dracula could somehow protect Agatha from Giles and herself. "I refuse to allow it."

"Ahhh." Giles almost looked apologetic, yet there was no hiding the manic glee in his eyes. "I'm afraid that in affairs of honour you have no power to intervene my dear Count."

"I have every right! I am the Elder of my clan, Agatha isn't even of age, as such I speak for her…she is too young to be either issuing or accepting honour duels."

"Ahhh actually sir." A familiar voice cut in and Dracula's glare all but bore a hole into Mycroft's forehead.

"Et tu Mycroft?" Dracula hissed.

"I am only trying to clarify the situation sir." Myrcoft looked genuinely hurt by Dracula's accusation, it was hardly his fault the pair of them seemingly flung themselves into these situations. "It is similar to the loophole we spoke of earlier; Agatha is neither an adult nor a child right now. Of course, you as her Elder could offer to fight on her behalf?"

"No this is my…" Turning around to glare down at Agatha, causing her objection to die in her throat, Dracula had only once before looked down at her like that, and Agatha didn't exactly have found memories of the Demeter.

Whereas Dracula had to resist the urge to bundle up his beloved and run for the exit, honour be damned. If it wasn't for the large crowd, and the worrying number of thug looking lackies who had suddenly emerged from somewhere…blocking off the exits…Dracula could take one or two but not all of them…but he could fight Giles and win that he was sure of.

"You should have more care for your own wellbeing and those who are really dependant on you Madam." Dracula growled, it was one thing for Agatha to want to save innocents, it was another thing entirely for her to put at risk her own life and the very fragile life she may be carrying.

"I will fight in her place." Dracula insisted, glaring down at Agatha as if daring her to object.

"I'm afraid I cannot allow that my dear Count, not even to oblige you. Ms Van Helsing has questioned my honour…"

"What honour is there is fighting a mere slip of a woman, or are you afraid to face a real opponent?" Dracula hoped goading Giles might work, yet they both knew he would be a fool to throw away an easy fight against Agatha for a real challenge with Dracula, but he had to try.

"I would seek to show an impudent young female her place in our society, something you seem to be incapable of teaching her. I will not leave her permanently damaged… well not the parts that have you so interested; she will still be able to do her duty by her clan."

"You ba…" Agatha began only for Dracula to cover her mouth with his large clawed hand.

"There must be something else you would accept; the foolishness of youth surely can be forgiven?"

"Not in this case…no…I will have satisfaction, and Ms Van Helsing will beg her apologies in blood, only then might the offence be satisfied."

Fairly vibrating with rage Dracula turned his back on a crowing Giles to stare down at Agatha. Reaching for her long satin gloves he practically shredded them, threading their fingers together Dracula lifted them to his lips. He couldn't hide the fact that he was furious with her, but chastisements could wait for later, after she won, and there was only one way to guarantee that she did.

"You do whatever you have to, you are not allowed to leave me." Dracula urged her. "If he gets within arm's reach, if he hurts you, I won't be able to stop myself from interfering. I don't give a damn for the circumstances, or how it will look, you end him."

"No…I can win this without...you know." Agatha insisted, she knew Dracula thought she was a fool, but she had spent years training her skills, she was more than competent, and Giles would not be expecting much of a challenge from her.

"Don't you see if I can beat him here then it will be over. No one will question it, they won't be able to come after us, Isabella will be free and so will we."

Of all the naïve, foolish, brave, reckless things Agatha had done over the year, this topped even bartering away her life to a vampire on the off chance he would keep his word.

"You maddening woman…I can't…I lov…" Dracula began only for Agatha to halt his words with her fingers.

"Don't you dare say anything that sounds like a goodbye. I am going to win!" Agatha couldn't help but sound harsh, she needed Vlad to believe in her, maybe if he did then she would find the courage to stop her knees from wobbling quite so much. Yet there was no need for words, those expressive dark eyes of his showed everything in that moment.

Refusing to allow Agatha the last say in this, Dracula ducked his head, brushing away her fingers, his mouth covered hers hungrily. The titters of the crowd, the threat of Giles de Rais, even Mycroft's betrayal faded away, there were only the two of them here. She was his and he was hers and they didn't need the blessing of a priest or the binding of a ring to know that.

Pulling away, resting his forehead on hers, Dracula growled his instructions. "You will win."

"I will." Agatha nodded her agreement.

"And then you'll do the decent thing and make an honest man of me."

"Is that a question or a command?" Agatha teased, amused by Vlad's insinuation that he was the damsel in distress or the blushing maiden.

"Agatha…" It sounded more like a whine from the back of his throat, for the third time he had asked and still she kept him waiting for the only answer he had ever wanted.

"I am sorry to interrupt you but are we planning on fighting this century?" Giles mocking voice ruined the moment yet again, and it was only Agatha's hand on his face that stopped Dracula from going full out vamp and ripping the bastard's throat out.

"He wants you to lose it, he wants you to break the rules." Agatha whispered. "He knows he isn't strong enough to take you out by himself, if you attack him here in front of everyone over me, then he wins. He and his lackies will rip us both apart and call it justice, and he will claim our clan and your fortune as spoils…"

"Now you are thinking rationally?!" Dracula scoffed, the irony not escaping either of them.

"Just promise me, just like I promise to win, that you will give me the opportunity to do so. No jumping in the moment it looks like I am losing…I need him to think I am an easy mark Vlad, it's the only way I will get close enough to put him down for good."

This was the hardest thing she had ever asked of him, and god knows Dracula did not want to agree. To have to stand by and watch her be hurt and do nothing.

"Promise me!" Agatha was not budging on this point; she would hear him say it.

"I…I promise." He conceded, part of him wondering just when he had agreed to have his balls removed so Agatha could carry them around in her purse. "But you owe me an answer too!" He reminded her.

"Afterwards." That was all Agatha could commit to, there was her life before and after this duel, and she couldn't get caught up in dreaming about their future before she ensured they would have one.

Turning back to her opponent Agatha swallowed down the sick feeling that threatened. Giles had removed his restrictive tails and white tie, he stood before her in shirt and trousers, fully able to take advantage of his greater reach and stride whilst she…she was in a damn evening gown. Muttering a prayer that Lucy and the fashion gods would forgive her, Agatha took hold of the soft floating cape, ripping it from the join at the shoulders with only a flicker of regret. Now at least Baron de Rais could not use that against her. Her long skirts however…

As if sensing her intention Dracula crouched down, his hands running reverently over the delicate beading work over her bodice. He would buy her many such gowns to replace the one they were destroying tonight. He found the seam and ripped it up to around Agatha's knee, then taking one of his nails he slashed at the silky material, making a rough cut that allowed the fabric to fall safely around her calf.

"Thank you." Agatha accompanied her words with the soft caress of her fingers through Dracula's immaculately styled dark locks.

"Now ladies first, never let it be said I am not a gentleman." Giles called out, waving magnanimously towards the hasty stockpile of weapons that had been collected together, Agatha's ever curious mind wondering just where they had come from at a ball of all places.

Walking over she took her time assessing them feigning ignorance the best she could, there were a couple of swords that might work, but they looked a little too large and unwieldy for her preference, what Agatha wouldn't give for a proper katana in her hand.

"Perhaps the dragon girl will consider the offer my masters blade for her protection."

Surprised by the interruption Agatha looked up to find one of Elder Honshū's entourage offering her the very blade she had been hoping to find. It was too good to be true and yet despite the suspicious circumstances it was not an offer Agatha could refuse.

"May the spirit of the dragon protect you." He added, bowing down as he offered up the blade.

Repeating the gesture as she accepted it, Agatha could only gasp as she withdrew the sword from its sheath, it fairly glowed in the candlelight, the ripples in the steel made it appear fluid like water, yet it was the breath-taking depiction of a dragon carved into the ancient blade that restored Agatha's faith. It fit in her hand like it belonged there, and for a moment Agatha almost felt like it was breathing courage into her.

"Thank you." Agatha repeated her eyes gazing the crowd until she found Elder Honshū, taking a moment to bow respectfully to him as well.

"Well well enough of this play acting." Baron de Rais once again proved his track record for ruining the moment. He picked up a wicked looking sabre, whose hand guard and pommel ended in a rather sharp looking point, it seemed the Baron would be taking three dangerous weapons into their fight.

"I assume someone bothered to educate you as to the etiquette of these things." Giles gloated as he accepted the hastily honed stake with his free hand.

"First we bow." He paused to drop into a bow any fifteenth century courtier would be proud of, waiting impatiently for Agatha to return the gesture, with far less flair and more economy. "Then we hear the rules."

"You will fight to the acceptance of a yield or to the death." Some nameless vampire intoned. "No one else may interfere, there are no seconds, all offending parties will be summarily executed."

"So, you are all alone little dragon girl…scared yet?" Giles mocked.

"Tap blades and withdraw three paces."

Following the instructions Agatha was grateful once again for her undead status, a sweaty palm would have impacted on her grip on her blade. She had decided to play up her feebler status, choosing to keep both of her hands on the hilt of her blade, as if struggling to lift it. She knew she was fast enough to avoid Giles strikes, and this was how she had trained, this was how she was comfortable. Her stake she had wedged into the waist of her dress, what was one more tear in the beautiful creation, the wood a reassuring weight between the form sitting satin and the boned corsetry beneath.

The tap of their blades sang out and the two of them withdrew as ordered, Agatha keeping her gaze on her opponent, maintaining the distance between them by circling whenever Giles made a move towards her.

"This is a duel little girl, not a game, stand your ground and fight me." Giles growled after a few futile minutes of chasing Agatha around.

"Forgive me if I choose to think your advice might not be to my benefit." Agatha hissed back, causing Giles to actually laugh.

"You know its almost a shame to have to kill you." Giles countered, this time practically leaping into Agatha's space, forcing her to meet his blade and somehow push it aside. "If you were only a sensible thing and knew your place then you wouldn't be in this position."

"You know why I am really here; you know of anyone. I am here to stop you from tormenting my clan and ruining anymore lives."

Snorting Giles dismissed her bravado, his next blow almost lazy in its inelegance. "You are here because I planned for you to be. Because I know you Agatha Van Helsing…" He added with a follow up repost. "You are a foolish woman who goes around in the deluded belief that she can save everyone."

"If you think saying I am a good person is an insult?" Agatha barely ducked the next strike, pivoting with a grace that Monsieur would be proud of. Following with her own strike at Giles's expose back, annoyed when he managed to block it in time.

"It is when it makes you predictable." Giles gloated, battering her pathetic attempt at a strike away. Knowing he was in full control of this duel and no danger; Giles savoured the moment. Playing with his victim had almost been the most fun part, and although Agatha Van Helsing didn't exactly have the parts that got him excited, there was something similar enough in the experience of hunting one's prey to get the blood pumping…well so to speak.

And speaking of predictable, Giles knew the moment Agatha made the mistake of lowering her guard, and he took pull advantage, turning from skilful selective strikes to a brute force that she could not help to counter. All her fast-little moves were nothing when she had no choice to backpaddle under his repetitive strikes, her elbows bowing under the strain of meeting his fierce attack.

Perhaps it wasn't gentlemanly, but Giles used her distraction to swipe her feet out from under her, yet the quick little rat rolled over onto her belly and sprang back to her feet even as his blade struck the floor where she had been but a moment before…showing a skill that was surprising but hardly a cause for concern.

"I knew using Isabella would force you do something stupid, I had to do something to expose you both, but this…oh my this has exceeded all my expectations'; even better than getting to humiliate Count Dracula in front of our peers and forcing him into exile. Killing you will destroy him in ways I could never have dreamed of, by destroying any happiness Dracula could ever feel…" Giles broke off his gaze leaving his current opponent to find his real one in the watching crowd.

If looks alone could kill Giles would have been eviscerated from the look Dracula was giving him, and the Baron could only grin toothily back. "Now my dear shall we end this?"

Girding her courage Agatha nodded. She had allowed Giles to dominant so far, learning his skill and style as best she could, and Dracula had been right the man was a formidable opponent…his only weakness was enjoying the sound of his own voice too much, and his arrogant belief in his own ability.

Their blades met again, this time in a show of strength, as Giles gained the upper hand, even one handed he had more strength than Agatha, hand in both. Perhaps that was why she missed seeing it coming, so focused on not letting Giles sword slip, that the stake was in striking range before she could dance out of the way, only her quick reflexes saved her, twisting away and taking the bloody blow to the shoulder instead.

"AGATHA!" Dracula screamed in distress, almost disregarding the rules not to interfere and forfeiting both of their lives if it wasn't for Mycroft risking his own skin by standing in his way.

"Honestly be a good girl and strop struggling, I promise to make it quick and well almost painless." Giles gloated, as Agatha struggled to hold her sword up one handed, the stake in her shoulder buried into the bone from the force and not something that could just be yanked out…well not without causing serious damage.

It was almost inevitable that she would lose her blade next, a showy flourish from de Rais more than enough to disarm her. He was on her a moment later, his greater bulk forcing them both to the ground, his blade held at her neck, any moment now he could end this, but he paused.

"Any last words for your beloved?" Giles questioned. "I promise to tell them to him faithfully. In fact, I will enjoy every second of it."

"Why do you hate us so much?" Agatha refused to allow her last moments to be begging a monster for her life. Not when there was still a chance to learn something…a chance to save them all…if she could just reach…

"Foolish woman." Giles hissed. "You aren't worth the effort of hating, but you are in my way, the both of you are. Ever since Dracula's return, just his very presence here has challenged my position. Do you think after spending years clearing out any other power base in northern Europe, tying the Italians so tightly in their own blood feuds, that they barely take notice of what is happening, that I would allow your clan so simply turn up, and setting up your own power base? No Dracula has to be taught a lesson about who is really in charge here. Now I tried to do it pleasantly, I could have made him my ally but due to your interfering presence, ruining a perfectly good murderous vampire, well has then it has to be the hard way."

"Thank you." Agatha whispered so serenely, Giles actually blinked in surprise, she wasn't supposed to be…

Yet that thought was never finished, instead he coughed, his mouth suddenly full as he gagged, blood spilling over what supposed to be his victim…glancing down the reason suddenly became obvious, as pointing out through the front of his shirt was the sharp end of a stake…not his stake…

"You bitch…" Baron de Rais choked on the words, his once firm grip on his sword faltering even as he tried to slit her throat and take Agatha with him.

Flipping them over, Agatha happily scrabbled back on her hands and feet like a crab, putting at least a few feet between herself and the dying vampire. Her eyes still locked on the Baron just in case he would rise from the floor by some miracle. Yet it seemed today all the dumb luck was hers, Agatha had only had one chance to reach her own forgotten stake, one chance to strike, but one chance was all she had needed to drive it through the Baron's back, through the protection of his ribcage and land a one in a hundred blow, staking him straight through the heart.

For a moment there was a shocked hush throughout the room, no one could quite believe what they had seen, but then the world exploded…

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