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She had won…she had only gone and bloody won.

Dracula felt his dead heart flutter in his chest, or at least a feeling that would normally be ascribed to the heart. His brilliant, beautiful, maddening Agatha had killed Baron de Rais just like she said she could. There were many moments when he had doubted her, when her weakness had looked real rather than feigned and when that bastard had driven that stake into her shoulder…

Dracula had felt rage like nothing he had ever felt before, only his promise to Agatha and Myrcoft's foolish intervention had stopped him before it was too late. And his trust had paid off.

Dracula couldn't help but laugh from the sheer relief, for a moment there he had really thought he was about to lose her, but just as she promised Agatha flipped the situation…and her opponent, showing at last the true power of their clan. This time there was no restraining hand from Mycroft to stop him, his steps taking him to Agatha's side, when the sudden screams ripped apart the hazy world he had slipped into.

Now rushing to Agatha's side, Mycroft at his elbow Dracula dragged her to her feet, trying to be as careful as he could with her injury as he used his superior height to see what was happening, and what was happening was Giles's little thug army had gone rogue. It seemed without their tin pot dictator to control them and give them the veneer of respectability, their base natures exerted themselves and the carefully curated world of the vampire elite was turned on its head…the proletariat was revolting.

"Now might be a good time to beat a hasty retreat." Mycroft suggested, earning him a scornful gaze from both of his companions.

"Why would you think we would go anywhere with you?" Agatha spat, the betrayal of her friend burning deeply in her breast.

"Because we can either spend the time arguing or we can spend that time escaping!" Mycroft pointed out, relying on the logic of his words to sway them, even if he had lost their trust.

Reaching down Mycroft even retrieved Agatha's abandoned sword before it could be lost in the crush of vampires trying to escape the violence. Flipping it round, he offered the hilt to the Count, knowing that it would take the skilled warrior little more than a second to dispatch him with it.

"I know you won't just believe it wasn't me who tipped him off, but how about you extend a little faith?"

"I am not leaving without Isabella." Agatha insisted, causing both of the men to moan a little in solidarity.

"Beloved…"

"I did not fight a damn duel, get staked, and ruin my damn dress to allow any harm to come to her." Agatha hissed, her fingers tightening on Dracula's arm.

Sharing a look of disbelief with Mycroft, Dracula handed his beloved over to the other vampire, swinging the sword with superior skill when one stupid vampire decided to attack them, ducking under the claws Dracula punched the side of his head before following up with a swipe of the sword. Impressed when the razor-sharp blade sliced through his neck like melted butter.

"Oh where were you during my campaigns…"

"Less drooling over your weapon Count and more clearing us a path."

Agatha's chastisement drew Dracula out of his fan boy trance in time to skewer another attacker. This one unfortunately kept going, and it took a few more swipes to dismember him into a pile of blooded limbs.

"Don't get jealous my darling I will always prefer you drooling over my weapon." Dracula quipped, it felt good to finally be able to let go of the veneer of a gentleman for once. The call to battle causing his blood to sing.

"Disgusting man…I cannot believe I am going to marry such an oaf."

Dracula almost dropped his guard, Agatha's declaration robbing him of all sense…she said yes…true she insulted him twice in the same sentence, but she said yes. Right now, Dracula could have flown out of here he was so elated.

"Ahhh there is our errant blonde." He exclaimed, shoulder his way through the crowd to grab hold of Isabella who actually struck him before realising just who had hold of her.

"Time to flee the party little dove." Dracula's grin was maniacal as he dragged Isabella over to join their little group.

"Ah this is what all gatherings need a little bloodshed to really make things interesting." Dracula was in his element, with him in the vanguard clearing them a path, they made a quick exit out into the gardens. That most of the guests had tried to escape up into the villa and out the front entrance had also helped.

"Mycroft nearer the time please remind me not to let Dracula plan the wedding." Agatha groaned, her shoulder was really painful now, and this constant movement was not helping things.

"As long as there is a wedding and I get to arrange the honeymoon." Dracula retorted gleefully; this was the second time in as many minutes Agatha had mentioned marrying him, his greatest enemy was dead, and he was getting to cut other vampires in half…and to think he had thought this evening would be dull.

Unfortunately, their splitting off to find their own exit meant they began to stick out more and more from the screaming mob of fleeing vampires; and it seemed more than a few of de Rais's lackies had an axe to grind with them specifically.

"Mycroft please escort the ladies…I will be right behind you…just a few riff-raff to deal with first."

"No, we have to stay together…" Agatha began only for Dracula to pause, a momentary flicker of regret on his features.

"My darling I do hope when you have time to heal and reflect that you will forgive me…"

"Dracula don't you dare!" Agatha growled, but if anything her fierceness only seemed to encourage him, his grin turning shit eating before he all but flung himself back into the mob.

"Agatha, we have to go now." Mycroft insisted, yet it was like trying to move a deadweight.

"I am not leaving him behind." Agatha knew she was being irrational and stubborn, that without Dracula guarding their back speed was their next best advantage. "And I cannot believe you think I trust you enough to put my fate in your hands."

Yet there was something akin to a premonition that tickled at her consciousness that told her if she let Dracula out of her sight now it might a while before she saw him again. Besides there was something almost hypnotic about watching Dracula eviscerate their enemies.

"Agatha please I'm scared…The Count will join us soon, but can we please not escape first." Isabella's frightened voice was enough to bring Agatha back to herself.

Realising she had to stay strong for Isabella, Agatha finally allowed Mycroft to draw them from the room, slipping out into the shadows and falling back on their natural speed. Doing her best to ignore her injury, to put it from her mind, Agatha could still feel her strength sapping despite all her best attempts. It was inevitable that she would begin to lag behind.

It was Mycroft who first noticed, and Mycroft who came back for her.

"It would easier if you let me carry you."

"No."

"Agatha please we don't have much time, we need to get to the river, I have a boat waiting."

"If you think I will put myself entirely into your hands after you betrayed us to Giles. How can I trust you after everything, how can I know you aren't leading me to our enemies?"

"Because you're my sister!" Mycroft finally snapped, his normally placid composed face, contorting with rage. "And family is more important than politics Agatha, even for me. And honestly because right now you have no bloody choice; so, stop being difficult and let me carry you!"

For a moment Agatha glared up at him, yet there was something in his gaze that seemed honest, and it wasn't like she really had much of a choice. Nodding her acceptance Agatha slipped her uninjured arm around Mycroft's neck, and he scooped her up bridal style.

It was much easier being carried, now her focus wasn't on keeping herself going, Agatha was able to take stock of their surroundings. The gardens were beautiful and under normal circumstances she might have enjoyed strolling through them. Yet these were not normal circumstances, looking up at the terraces they had just left Agatha could make out movement, she could almost taste the excitement of the hunters…and they were the prey.

"Mycroft we are being stalked." Agatha whispered.

"We are almost there." Mycroft insisted, the river was just around the corner and the boat…the boat had to still be there, or they were doomed. Yet the question was would they reach the boat in time to make it aboard and pull away enough that they wouldn't be overcome once on board? "We can make it…"

Yet from the sounds of the rapidly closing vampires that was increasingly unlikely.

Reaching the riverbank, the pier where the boat sat was only a few hundred meters away, Mycroft put Agatha down on her feet. "We are going to have to split up…I will lead them away from the two of you…you need to get on that boat Agatha, even if I survive this we both know Dracula will gut me if anything were to happen to you. Get out of here and find somewhere safe to hide, don't try to find us, we will come and find you when it is safe."

"Wait...they are probably tracking my scent…" The reason was obvious, her shoulder wound was still bleeding because of the stake that was still embedded. Gritting her teeth Agatha prised the stake loose, and ignoring the crunch of shattered bone, twisted her skin together to seal it. Then ripping the blood-stained neck of her already ruined gown, she removed one shoulder, using it to mop up any remaining blood.

Mycroft accepted the bloody token with barely a wrinkle of the nose to show his distaste. Yet he insisted Agatha keep the stake, just in case he failed she would need some protection. Leaning against the wall for support Agatha watched as Mycroft took off in the opposite direction, deliberately making as much noise as he could. With any luck he would draw off those who were still following them

Then turning back Agatha caught sight of Isabella hovering, an unreadable expression that she assumed was concern twisting her features as she looked Agatha up and down. Agatha could only imagine the state she must look like right now. With both of their protectors out there fighting to keep them safe, and with Agatha in no condition to defend them, was it any wonder Isabella was wondering if she had made the right decision to come with them?

Mustering a reassuring smile for the timid blonde, Agatha nodded towards the waiting boat, pushing herself off the wall she forced her feet forward; each step caused her wound to grind against itself. "We can do it…just a bit longer and we will be safe."

"No…but I will be."

It took a moment for the words to register, Agatha blinking as reality clashed with her expectations. It was only instinct honed from years of tracking that saved her. The change of scent, the shift in the air currents, Agatha moved by muscle memory alone, twisting out of the way of the first blow. Stunned she fell to the floor, Isabella's first strike hitting the wall behind her. Scrabbling backward as Isabella growled and stalked her, Agatha could only stare up at her in horror.

"Stay still you fucking bitch." Isabella's sweetness was long gone, her painted claws tightening on a makeshift stake she had clearly ripped from one of the surrounding trees.

"Why…why?"

"Why?" Isabella scoffed as like the answer should be obvious, still her hesitation allowed Agatha to stagger back to her feet, even if she was very unsteady on them.

"You dare to ask me why? Because you deserve to die. I thought you wanted to be my friend and instead you ruined my life. Baron de Rais told me everything, as if stealing my intended and the position I was owed wasn't bad enough, you murdered my father!" Isabella all but screamed. "Then not satisfied with that you came back, killed my betrothed, and took away my chance to become the wife of an Elder again!"

"You won't get away with this."

"Oh please of course I will." Isabella drawled sarcastically. "You all fell for my innocent act before. When they find me sobbing over your body, claiming some nameless vampire came and you stepped in front to protect me and he killed you; why wouldn't they believe me? It will only be a matter of time before I convince your beloved Count to marry me, since we will grow closer together grieving you. Then I can give him proper offspring, befitting of his station, not whatever common half-breeds you would push out!"

"There is only one problem with that plan….me" Agatha hissed, she had never felt that bloodlust, that desire to want to rip out the throat of her enemy before…but with Isabella…Knowing that she had been played all this time, that she had put her love and her clan at risk to try and help Isabella, that she had risked her own life and been badly injured all because guilt had motivated her; Agatha felt the battle rage that Dracula referred to set in.

Energy reserves Agatha didn't know she had kicked in, rage numbing the pain from her injury, Agatha launched herself at a stunned Isabella; the bloodied stake she had previously ripped from her own body now launched in Isabella's direction. Teeth, claws and stake extended Isabella didn't stand a chance. She had only revealed her hand when she had thought Agatha was too weak to fight back, but she underestimated her opponent, no one fought harder than a cornered injured animal.

Her teeth latched into Isabella's throat and sank deep, ripping away the skin, the blood flowing out and Agatha drank it down. Pinning the struggling blonde down against the wall, Agatha only gasped when Isabella's claws raked over her injured shoulder, ripping the wound back open. Flinching back Agatha lost her grip on Isabella throat, allowing the blonde to flip them, this time pressing Agatha back against the wall, her own fangs getting dangerously close to Agatha's face. Leaning back Isabella following, the two of them tipping precariously; Agatha couldn't contain her smirk, savouring the momentary flicker of confusion on Isabella's face, before lifting her legs to wrap around the blonde's waist and flipping them both over into the water.

Freezing cold water and drowning, Agatha had done all of that before, even so suddenly hitting the water disoriented her for a moment. Yet if Agatha was momentary thrown, Isabella was panicking, clearly swimming was not a skill the young vampire had been taught. For a moment Agatha almost felt sympathy pricking, yet the image of Isabella playing happy family's with Dracula, or bearing him beautiful dark eyed little boys and girls, of Dracula taking her to his bed every night; that image killed that flicker of feeling stone cold dead before it could really draw breath.

Pushing the girl down under the water, Agatha took advantage of the Isabella's panic, not needing to breath was one thing, feeling your lungs fill with water was another; and Agatha found her target with unerring precision for the second time that evening. If Baron de Rais had looked irate in the moment of his death, Isabella looked confused, but then as a natural born vampire this was her first and last dance with death. Her long blonde hair floating about her face like a halo Agatha let her go, watching as her body slowly sank into the dark depths of the river, until not even Agatha's vampire enhanced vision could see her.

Now that the threat was finally over, the cold chill of the water finally sank in, the current of the river had swept them long past the gardens of the villa, and Agatha didn't have the strength left to fight it…it wasn't like she was going to drown a second time. Giving into the overwhelming urge to rest and knowing that none of her enemies would be able to follow her trail, Agatha closed her eyes and let the river her bear her on. There would be time enough to sort this all out later, and Agatha had faith that no matter where she hid herself, eventually Count Dracula would be able to track her down, she just had to keep herself safe in the meantime…

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