Disclaimer: I do not own Young Dracula. All rights reserved for BBC. This story is an AU from Season 3. What would have happened if Erin had reacted differently when Vlad bit her and turned her into a vampire. Thank you everyone who has read my work and reviewed. I read all comments and hope you continue to enjoy my work.
Erin's eyes bolted open. Pain hit her somewhere deep inside freezing her movement in place. Had she been human Erin would have tried different techniques the slayers' guild had taught her to control her pain with breathing and mindfulness. Now all she had was her mind. Forcing her eyes shut Erin reached out and tried to 'sense' the pain, control it in some way. During her time as a slayer she had been kicked, punched, stabbed, beaten, thrown and almost suffocated during training exercises and out in the field. Add bitten to the list. That thought made her tenuous control waver and it took all her concentration to refocus. Erin realized that this pain felt different, dull and throbbing. For the first time Erin was glad she wasn't breathing, since the slightest movement seemed to create a bone deep ache. The fail safe must be working. No turning back now.
Erin managed to push the pain aside. It took work, but Erin managed. Coming aware of her surroundings her eyes opened and the pain-filled haze lifted, At least my eyes don't hurt. Erin gaze swept around the room in the faint light of the fading sun. The small couch in Vlad's room had been converted to a flat mattress of sorts. Modern, like something from the IKEA superstore, like that of the furniture that the slayers used in the safe houses. It had always amused Erin and Ryan that the Slayers would chose to decorate with the same styles over and over. Logic dictated that this was due to the multifunctional nature of the Swedish designs and that the furniture was cost effective, easy to move, and easily replaced if there was a battle. It was time to move. Erin felt the pain echo in her hips and down to her bones as she stretched to discover that what was covering her was Vlad's long black cloak, and underneath she only had on the button up red flannel shirt that belonged to Vlad but not much else. Her movement bumped into something solid and cold. Turning over Erin found that there was Vlad, asleep next to her, but he wasn't moving.
When Erin had been a slayer, she always noted that vampires looked dead when they were asleep in their coffins. Thinking back, when Ingrid was sick and Erin had made it her foolish mission to slay Vlad's sister; it was the humanity she found even in Ingrid that had stayed Erin's slayer instincts. Erin remember when Ingrid had fallen ill, she had been so weak that the vampire appeared almost human. Erin's quest to end Ingrid's vampire life had faltered. In that moment and several other moments to come, when faced with the choice to stake Ingrid, Erin had been unable to bring herself to commit the act. All the training the Slayer's guild had instilled in Erin, had not been enough. Not even the loss of her twin brother Ryan, had failed to fuel her anger enough to kill.
Erin held herself still and let her thoughts wander. What would have happened, had she been able to kill Ingrid? What would have happened if she had been a true slayer? What if she had never loved Vlad? The thoughts hurt her as much as the poison and made her want to move. Moving to reach for Vlad gave Erin strength. As if merely finding the strength to command her own form to move could overcome the doubt and sorrow in her soul. Still something felt odd. Then the pain seemed to back off, and it took Erin a moment to realized that it was the fact that the sun had set. She had felt it. That the sun surrendering to the night had given her a small boost. Slowly she sat up.
Vlad stirred beside her. He was wearing a bit more than she was. A similar flannel was only partly buttoned over sweatpants. Erin looked down at him as she pulled the cloak around her like a blanket. Vlad seemed to be dreaming, and she could see his eyes flicker behind his eyelids. In the growing dark Erin watched him. Vlad's eyes flew upon with fangs barred as he sat bolt upright.
"Vlad!" Erin said startled as he hissed at her before really seeing her.
"Erin?" Vlad blinked at Erin, his fangs disappearing as he saw the look of fear on her face. Vlad shook his head, which was pounding. Something was wrong, He never felt so thirsty. All around him was the smell of blood, not that old as it lay drying. In that moment, the dawn of awareness of the activities of the evening came back to him in a rush. The shirt Vlad had been wearing now covered Erin, and she was watching him as if she was waiting for something.
"Are you ok?' Erin asked. She seemed frozen unable to move save for her eyes which followed his every move.
"Bad dream." Vlad said and he saw Erin relax a little. Vlad rubbed his head trying to clear his thoughts and ignore the ravages of his room. There was dried blood on everything. The smell of blood was both intoxicating and sickening. The thirst was calling to him. Vlad swallowed and worked to gain control of himself. Erin reached out and touched his shoulder.
"What were you dreaming about?" Erin asked. Vlad refused to say and stumbled out of bed not answering her. From the corner of his eye he saw the concern fill her face. "Are you all right?"
Vlad refused to look at Erin. The carnage that filled his room was almost to much to bear. The night had been wonderful and terrifying all in the same instant. Still Vlad found his feet. All the training Bertrand had forced down his throat was paying off as Vlad found himself forcing his darker urges back and his sense of self to ground. With care Vlad raised his hand in matra and using his skills was able to focus as Bertrand had taught him, like he was preparing for a fight or to open that stupid book. At least the lessons had been good for something. The overwhelming nature of the scent of blood seemed to fade from his awareness and he regained control of his thirst. Within moments, only a handful of human heartbeats, Vlad was able to turn and face Erin. As Vlad opened his eyes, Vlad wondered what he would see when he looked at Erin. Would he be disgusted? Would he desire her? Would it be like it was before? How could anything go back to what it was? Still he was ready to face her and their future together. One thing Vlad was certain of, that whatever the future brought before him, he would meet the challenge with her at his side.
"How do you feel?" Vlad asked as he came back to sit next to Erin on the couch.
Erin searched his face, unable to tell him because she couldn't really say. The pain from the morning had receded and she felt better just being close to him. Erin searched his face and tried to reach deep inside for some truth of her feelings. In the end she settled on what was a simple truth.
"Happy I'm with you."
Vlad smiled. "I'm happy I'm with you too."
Erin summoned her courage and leaned forward to press her lips to his. Vlad didn't fight her but welcomed the kiss.
Time seemed to stop. In that embrace the night seemed to envelop them in the quiet caress of the dark. Erin and Vlad didn't need to breath and lost themselves to explorine one another in that kiss. Fangs and tongues seemed to call to one another, had they been human when finally Erin pulled back she would have been gaspings had she been human. But with eternity placed before them, how many vampires had lost themselves in a simple embrace. Were there lovers out there in the night still embracing? Why had we stopped?
Erin blinked the thought away. "What time is it?"
"Early evening." Vlad smiled. "The sun just set but you know that already."
Erin nodded. "I felt it." She turned away from him rubbing her arms with her hands as if she was cold. "I could feel it. It gave me strength."
"That's normal." Vlad said wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into his chest. "You will get used to it."
Erin nodded and leaned back into him to hide her face. Erin couldn't tell him what she had done. Not yet. Still as the moon rose and darkness swelled around them, Erin felt as if her vampire nature as growing stronger. The stones embedded in her chest seemed to sing with a power that she could feel and almost here. To take her mind off them and what was happening inside her, Erin surveyed the room. Their lovemaking had created such a mess. It was hard to look at without revisiting memories of passion ...and of the blood.
"Perhaps we should clean up," Erin said as she moved away from his embrace picked up and pulled on her jeans.
"Renfield will do it." Vlad said following her movements with his gaze. Vlad didn't want to think about the room.
Erin looked at Vlad. "Do you really want him to see all this?"
Only then did Vlad look around the room. There were two blood-bags empty and discarded on the floor but the splash of maroon of the dried blood was harsh on the wooden floor.. The coffin was shut and what little furniture he had was pushed aside or upturned. Papers and other school items were littered across the floor. His laundry basket was upturned. It had been where he had dragged out the clothes he wore this morning sometime before falling asleep. Erin's clothes in another pile where they were obviously shredded, save for the jeans. Vlad made a note to buy Erin several more outfits to make up for the one he destroyed. His own shirt on her looked no worse for wear except for the few buttons that had been ripped off. On Erin it looked almost seductive. A simple fix that even Vlad knew how to repair, and the shirt would be as good as new. Not that it mattered. His clothes were more of an afterthought and just one of the ways he tried to resist his father by dressing more like a breather than a vampire. Still Vlad had to admit he did dress in layers like other vamps, especially after his sixteenth birthday when the sun actually started to burn him. Vlad gave a passing thought to whether the other slayers understood that layers of leather, black velvet and heavy brocades most vampires wore were more than a simple fashion statement. For a vampire, a choice of clothes indicated status but there was something as another level of protection from humans and the sun. After watching Erin dress Vlad realized that even Erin would be adopting some sort of protection fashion sense. Granted having several layers of fabric between the sun and vampire skin did help but it didn't stop the burning, instead it only lessoned the pain a bit.
Vlads eyes moved back to watching Erin as she struggled to put the couch back to its original shape. Strength was not the issue, but instead she seemed concerned about not breaking the thing. Seeing Erin in his shirt caused Vlad such an intense desire that it took a moment to focus on his his meditation to block his need for her. That day, mere hours ago, when they had surrendered to the desire they had both felt; for one another; for blood. Everything that confirmed just how much of a vampire Vlad and Erin truly were, screamed in his soul. It took Vlad a moment of focus and silence to push such dark desires away. A part of Vlad wanted to take her right here and right now again. But deep inside, something honorable screamed at him, condemning his desire and that new power he now had over her. The guilt of his actions and his dark desire, echoed in his soul. Erin had told him, she wanted him, what everything they shared that night, but was this true? Or was she merely a thrall after receiving his bite? Vlad pushed aside those thoughts. Cleaning up the room will help clear my mind. He lied to himself.
Vlad began to put things right. There was no hiding the blood stains, those Renfield would have to clean but he could make sure things looked as close to normal as possible. Erin finished with the couch as Vlad picked up the bags of blood. Even the smell of the dried plasma stirred his need; he could control it. Vlad doubted Erin would have such control which was why he decided to grab the bags before she did. It was bad enough the copper perfume still hovered in the room. Vlad was about to throw the bags into the trash bin near the door when he stopped. Looking at the contents, the first bag was normal, something he had seen for years, taken from a local hospital bagged and tagged with date, type and other medical indicators that hospital used. But the second bag, that one caught his attention. It was the second bag, that Vlad realized he had torn into to feed Erin before their love making. Holding the bag, realizing what was written on it and what that meant, made him freeze with dread.
Le Infante.
Those words, written not by a doctor but by Renfield's father or someone like him. It was bagged and dated but that was all. The words were written in almost an elegant hand so Vlad knew Renfield couldn't have done it. Maybe his father? Dark thought began to race as the memory was awakened by the smell that made Vlad want to gag. Had Erin known when she took it? The thought made Vlad's blood run cold. The blood in the bag, that much blood could only mean the child had died from the blood loss, there was no other way to get so much from such a small creature. Death was the only outcome of such a collection.
"Vlad?" Erin asked. She was staring at him now as he stood frozen clenching the bag, his fangs out, eyes pitch black. "What's wrong?"
The anger inside chased away all thoughts of desire in the wave of outrage. Why was something like this in their home? Certainly his father had feed on victims to numerous to count but the only honorable this his father, even that witch of a mother who bore him, had been bound to was the simple rule that no one in the Dracula clan would ever feed on children. That taboo was just too much of a risk his father said but Vlad guess that it was due to the disgust of taking the life of one so innocent and helpless.
"Talk to me," Erin whispered he hand outstretched towards him. When her fingers slid across his shoulder, Vlad turned to face her and showed her the bloodbag.
Erin stood in horror looking at the bag. "No, it can't be."
"It is." Vlad growled and turned towards Erin. But the look on her face made him withdraw his fangs and the red fade from his eyes. "You didn't know?"
"I just grabbed what was in the front of the fridge," Erin said. Even as she said the words, they obscured the half truth. Taking the oldest blood bag had been intentional. Erin had refused to look at it, knowing that no matter what the bag contained it would only enrage Vlad. Still the darkness in her heart seemed to sing with joy at his pain and anger. It took all her effort to bring forth her sorrow. The weight of the act laden with her own shame and guilt. Children were supposed to be protected, sacred to both humans and vampires. But now there was no turning back. the deed was done and the horror of it clouded her face with the horror in what remained of her human heart, which was slowly fading. "Vlad I am so sorry."
"It's not your fault." He growled. It's not her fault. Vlad thoughts flashed to his father. "Why the hell would he have something like this?"
"Who?"
"Who else? My father." Vlad spat the words with disgust.
Erin remained silent and watched him. How many times had he seen his father swoon over different "vintages" of humans that were bottle in his personal blood bank. Even the blood that Erin had force fed Vlad last night had been one of those rare vintages of the Lady Jane Grey. One of the rarest and most famous blood stocks in the vampire world. Why wouldn't the Count have a bottle or two of baby's blood. Still it made Vlad sick to think about it. Vlad could understand feeding on humans who were adults or slayers who could fight back, but a child, a baby? They were innocent and defenseless. Where was the sport or honor in that? Vlad's eyes began to burn.
"Vlad," Erin said. "Vlad talk to me. What are you going to do?"
Then Vlad was gone. Even with new vampire powers Erin could see that Vlad was to filled with rage, moved to fast, fueled by his hate, for Erin to follow. She stood there, alone in his room. Erin had been so close but still Vlad loved her, she could see it in his eyes. But this new rage frightened her to the core and she feared what he would do, but for once Erin realized just how powerless she was to stop him, so she didn't even try.
Vlad materialized in the the main room, where the Dracula throne sat along with a dining table, several couches, as a hodgepodge of the past throne room and a modern sitting room. The Count was nowhere to be seen. With no one to vent his rage, Vlad shot out a blast of fire taking out a chair on the other side of the room. The shards hit the ground and turned to ash.
"Dracula!" Vlad shouted. "Where are you!"
Spinning around Vlad stood in front of the hidden refrigerator where his father stored several bags of blood. Ripping the door open, Vlad searched the labels. All of them were the same generic blood from the hospital in town. The single bag seemed to be the only evidence of the crime. Staring into the white light that seemed to make the blood glow, Vlad couldn't help but wonder. Did Erin chose this blood on purpose? Would she really do that? Was she capable of something so heinous? Staring at the blood Vlad's hunger began to sing inside. In the past 24 hours Vlad had given in to his darker half. It hurt. Now he focused on his guilt, like a snake rising in his gut. Why had he let himself slip? His culpability in those dark actions were an old familiar sting. What have I become? Vlad was the Chosen One. He was supposed to be better than this, stronger than this. Still every choice Vlad made seemed to only make things worse no matter how hard he tried to do the right thing. The thirst was still there. Vlad reached out. The darkest question screamed in his mind. What have I become? All his life Vlad had spent fighting against becoming a vampire, but last night, that night; giving in, allowing his instincts to rule his heart and overthrow his mind had felt... freeing. Now the hunger was awake and Vlad knew how wonderful it was to give in. To surrender to every aspect of his darker half. From the moment he had bitten Erin, to the moment she had given him that blood soaked kiss, up to the moment that he repaid her in kind, all of it; it had been wonderful, dark, seductive and something Vlad could not help but regret. Not since Vlad had confronted his reflection had Vlad wanted to terribly to run away. Even thinking of the week when Vlad had left his family, left Erin, left it all behind to confront his own darkness that had been like a cancer to his soul. That isolation had rendered him stronger, fortified against his own weakness. The manelovent part of him, was in check. When Vlad had accepted his darker half and all the power that the vampire part of him held, he had changed what he had thought was for the better. Now Vlad was not so sure.
Thirst throbbing in Vlad's veins, he reached out to the blood and took a bag in hand. What if I could start again? Could I? How do I keep myself? I have to find a way. Vlad dropped it back into the floor of the refrigerator and stepped back. Eyes dark, the hunger having almost won. Vlad found his strength to resist once again.
For a time, when Erin had been at his side, Vlad had thought he had found a way to fight the darkness. Now was it finally too late? This dark need, was part of him, and he had made it part of Erin. Erin had been his light and now they had eternity of the dark to share. What had he forced on her? Was this how it was for others who resisted their darker nature? Vlad thought of Ingrid and the moment when she herself had fallen in love, only to bite the boy. Then to watch her love perish in a slayer attack. Would Vlad have to witness the same thing happen to Erin? No doubt the attacks would keep coming. Everyone seemed to want to take a shot at him, the Chosen One. How he hated that title. Shaken from those cyclical thoughts Vlad heard footsteps. Beside throne, the door opened and Renfield stepped into the room.
"Master Vlad? Can I be of assistance?" Vlad's eyes went black, and Renfield to his credit, flinched but did not run. "Master?" Came a squeak.
"Renfield," Vlad becomed with his finger and the servant scuttled in the room, cowering.
"Where did this come from?" Vlad's words were sharp and Renfield looked terrified as those aged eyes flicked to look at the bag in Vlad's outstretched hand. If it was possible, but Renfield went even paler than normal.
"It's not my fault, he made me bring it in here." Renfield whimpered.
"Who?"
"Ramagda" Renfield dropped to his knees. "It was his private stock."
Vlad's temper seemed to take a step back. He blinked. "What?"
"Ramagda said it was for a special occasion. He was going to share it with your father once you were wed to the princess Adze."
Vlad turned away, leaving Renfield holding the bag.
"I promise sire, there was only one bag in the whole castle. And I didn't harvest it. I give you my word."
Renfield on his knees, looking pathetic and afraid. Vlad's anger was tempered by wisdom. Vlad ground his teeth.
"Where is my father?"
"Out hunting, sire."
"See that he gets this message." Vlad dropped to face Renfield, eyes dark. "We have much to talk about. Tell him I demand to see him, and I will not be ignored. See that he comes to me upon his return."
"Yes, Vlad."
Vlad was on his feet as Renfield stumbled and pulled himself up off the ground.
"One more thing, Renfield," Vlad said.
"Sir?" Renfield asked.
Vlad was suddenly there at the breather's throat. Renfield had been his family's puppet for years. Vlad knew that his father had promised to bite the breather, turn him into a vampire at some point, but despite all this, Vlad didn't care for those promises or humiliating Renfield like Ingrid took perverse pleasure in doing. No, Vlad's anger was deeper than that. This had tainted not only his morality but Erin's as well, and someone would pay. Vlad lifted Renfield up, by his throat until the other man stood on tiptoe to keep breathing. "You will check EVERY. SINGLE. STORE." Vlad enunciated "Make certain none of this filth is anywhere, were any vampire can access it. Understood?"
Renfield nodded as best he could and Vlad released him. Renfield fell back to the floor gasping. Vlad was certain he would follow his orders. Still the fact that his father had overlooked such a thing in his own household made Vlad warely. He had to find Bertrand. They needed to make plans. Erin had been a distraction. Vlad knew the orphans had fled back into the dark underground. His experiment to try to rehabilitate them had failed. Vlad had to admit he had been half assing the whole things. Flying by the seat of his pants making up the plan as they went. Bertrand had tried to warn him. Still, despite it all his tutor had been a constant support even with his little betrayal at the realization of the power in the book. Strangely Vlad did not hold it against Bertrand. In a way, Vlad had expected it. After all his studies, all the forays into vampire history, betrayal for a greater power had always been the resound creed of the vampire people. It had also been the cause of countless downfalls and deaths throughout history.
Renfield, finally managed to pull himself together, bowed and feld the room. Vlad watched him leave. Taking a seat on his father's throne, Vlad made the conscious choice to defy his father at every instance from now on. The blood, the changes in his home, were too much to ignore. Granted his eighteenth birthday was a year away but Vlad had come to realize that it was up to him to step up and take on the mantle that fate had thrust on him and no more half assing thing. Vlad closed his eyes and reached out with his senses. Erin was still in her room. Vlad could sense she was calm and reading something. Good. Vlad thought. This would give him time to plan. Reaching out again, using his powers Vlad searched the castle until he found Bertrand who sat in the dungeon practicing with his sword. Vlad smiled and bolted to the depths of the castle to meet with his tutor and set forth plans for the future.
Erin felt her back up against the wall. What would it take for Vlad to see? Erin had to think. With everything that had happened, her heart only seemed to lead her to deepen their ties to one another. Erin shook her head. A slayer should know better. Erin knew she had to do something drastic, something painful that would kill her deep inside to change Vlad's mind. Still it hurt to think about those wee hours before sunset when she had given into her own desires. Even now, in the dark, Erin wanted Vlad Wanted to be needed and loved by him. To have him accept who she was now, even when deep down inside, Erin had to admit she could not allow her to accept herself. The slayer inside was dying. But those memories, that sense of duty it was still there beating back the darkness. Tears came them, unbidden and unwanted. Erin hated to think about what evil actions she would have to put forth in order to force Vlad's hand. Erin knew she needed him to reject her completely so she could leave him. Erin's mind raced, each desperate plan was as flawed as the next, sending her in circles unable to think beyond this moment but then her phone buzzed. Walking over she flipped it open to see that there had been several missed texts. Some had from Jonno yet others from were Becky. Erin clenched her teeth as her answer came to her. Reading the message over, most were asking where she was. Erin turned and began texting Becky. A trap was being set and Erin knew no one, not even her own slayer conscious could stop the wheels she was setting in motion.
Becky made her way into the darkened school. Erin's text had been cryptic but too tempting to ignore. Becky found the doors open and followed the instructions to the classroom that had been closed due to issues with the wiring. Inside, there was the soft glow of candle light and as Becky opened the door she was greeted by a dozen candle lit in the room, filling it with a soft warmth. A smile spread across Becky's face. It was so neat to be trespassing in the school like this. A part of Becky had always liked to skirt the line between being the good girl desperate to act like the bad girl. Glancing around room, she looked for Erin.
"Erin are you here?"
Something brushed past her and Becky spun around to see Erin leaning against the wall.
"Don't scare me like that." Becky hand had gone to her chest but the girl was all composure.
"Sorry," Erin said with a shrug.
"Where have you been?" Becky demanded, remembering she was still cross with Erin. The teacher had forced Becky to collect the homework this girl had missed so that when she got back from whatever illness had kept her from classes. Becky looked Erin up and down. The girl had changed. The scruffy blond hair was more a mess than normal and she seemed paler if that was possible. The leather jacket was new, but the look on Erin's face was all to familiar.
"I was...ill." Erin said.
Becky rolled her eyes. That was a lame lie if she had ever heard one. "Yeah whatever. Mrs. McCally made me take notes for ya." Becky pawed into her backpack that she threw off her shoulder and pulled out a blue folder holding it out to Erin.
Erin took it. "Thanks. But I'm not going back to class." Erin put the folder on the desk where Bertrand had given his lectures to the orphans in the past. His old notes of the path the vampire armies had cut across Europe were still on the board but Becky obviously didn't care about the classroom.
"Dropping out?" Becky teased, but when Erin didn't answer, Becky's eyes went wide. "What? Really?"
Erin shrugged. "There isn't much left for me at school."
"How can you say that?" Becky stammered. "What about your future? University and stuff?"
"I really didn't have the grades for that," Erin said.
"Are you doing this because of Vlad?" Becky asked leaning up against the closest desk, crossing her arms over her chest. She glared at Erin with her best impression of her mother. All judgement and deep knowing as if to unnerve her friend.
"Honestly? Yeah." Erin surprised herself with that answer.
"Honesty is nice." Becky said. "Since I met you, I swear you have had too many secrets. Honest truth, you always look as if some big bad monster is about to jump out and bite you."
Erin spressed a grin. Becky was way more observant than she had given her credit for.
"Don't laugh at me," Becky said. "I'm your only friend, the only person you sort of let get close to you besides Vlad and he doesn't count."
"Why not?"
Becky rolled her eyes. "Duh, he is a boy. I know we had our differences and I tried to steal him, but come on his dad owns the school! I would give my eye teeth to explore this place. I am sure you have."
Erin's eyebrows went up. Becky had never talked like this before. It was refreshing that the breather was being so honest. Honesty was a nice change. Then Erin, thoughts darkened. Was this really Becky being truthful or merely a side effect of Erin becoming a vampire. When Erin had been training to be a slayer, the teachers had told her that normal humans had a tendency to spill the beans and be overly honest with vampires, it was why Slayers always had to be on their guard and keep up their mental stamina in order to not jeopardize their missions with over talkative truth telling.
"You're not still mad about that?" Becky asked. Erin could read genuine concern in her friend's eyes. How many friendships had been ruined because of a boy? Erin could remember all the stories Becky had told her about her sisters and cousins who were all 'boy crazy' and even when Becky admitted she was too, it was Erin who was the one giving up everything for the boy she love.d
Erin focus returned to her friend and shook her head. "I'm the one who spiked your drink."
"Ugh. Garlic. I remember it was nasty with the cola. Why did you do that anyway?"
"It wasn't because I was jealous."
"Sure," Becky said silly sarcasm dripping from that single word.
"Truth?" Erin said.
Becky shrugged. "That would be nice for a change."
"What do you mean?" Erin asked confused.
"I see you with the owner's son, thick as thieves. But something happened, something you won't tell me, to get that emo boy to dump you and give me the time of day. I have to admit I was flattered but I wasn't fooled."
"What did he do to you?" Erin asked suddenly afraid. She hadn't been able to follow Vlad when he had asked Becky to have a 'bite' with him. But the garlic at least had made certain Becky had been able to return to class. Erin remember how terrified she had been of 'bad' Vlad. How Erin had watched the darkness take over the boy she loved to the point where he was terrorizing the school, attempting to kill his dad and his sister. Had it not been for Erin's quick thinking Ingrid would have been ash in the noonday sun.
"Well, your lover boy, yelled at me and told me to leave." Becky began to shiver. "He was actually quite scary. I didn't think he had it in him."
"Oh, he had that and more in him."
Becky mood changed in an instant. "Is that why you broke up? Did he hurt you?"
Erin looked at her friend. Vlad had never lifted a hand against Erin. Not until the night he bit her. Even when his darker side had been in control of his actions, Vlad had been unable to bite Erin. Something had stopped him, not once but twice. Erin shook her head.
"No, it was nothing like that." Erin said searching for the words. "He just learned something about himself. He changed."
Becky watched Erin as if she was studying something Erin couldn't read. There was part of Erin who wanted to use her vampire power to force answers but this conversation was at least going the way she wanted and Erin decided not to press her luck.
"But then he changed back." Becky said. When Erin didn't answer, Becky continued. "Come on it's obvious. Vlad disappeared for a week and when he came back it was like you two never broke up. Hell, I would say you were closer than ever and that weird sister of his was even buddy-buddy with you."
Erin did smile then. The new and improved Ingrid had been such a shock to both Erin and Vlad. The idea that one session of therapy could cure all that was messed up in that vampire's head was ridiculous. Ingrid had shown her true colors all too soon with her little gang of girls that were pathetic half fangs who had no idea what being a vampire really meant.
"Ingrid is pretty weird," Erin argreed and both shared a chuckle.
Becky took a deep breathe and let out a sigh. "Erin what really is going on? I mean this place is weird and all but things have gotten even more freaky in the last week. You brought me here, I figured it was because you wanted to talk. To tell me the truth. I'm your friend. I will listen. I won't judge you. Vlad or no Vlad. You need to do what is best for you girl."
Erin blinked. That had to be the most thoughtful thing she had ever heard Becky utter in the entire time that Erin had known her. Erin chewed her lower lip considering her plan.
"Look there is one else here," Becky continued. "Whatever you want to say will stay between you, me, and these four walls. Promise."
Erin's heart clenched. She found herself quoting her teacher back at the slayers guild. "Two can keep a secret, if one of them is dead."
"What?" Becky asked confusion written on her face.
Erin laughed. "Becky, I am going to do something against my better judgement, but before I do, I need you to look at me."
"Why?" Becky said but stoof straighter and looked Erin in the eyes.
Erin felt her eyes begin to glow. "Whatever you hear, what you see, remember you are safe with me. You have no reason to be afraid. You are strong enough to listen and hear me out."
"I am strong enough." Becky repeated. Erin nodded and stepped back. Becky relaxed even more and moved to sit at the desk.
Smiling Becky folded her hands on top of the desk like an eager student. "Ok, enough melodrama. Spill teach."
"Ok, this is a bit hard for me, but here goes nothing." Erin swallowed. She wasn't sure if her mental suggestion was going to be enough but she had to try. She was going to need Becky's help if Erin's plan was going to work and better to have a willing participant than some puppet. "I have been undercover at this school."
"You're cop?" Becky asked.
Erin shook her head. "No, I was a slayer."
"Slayer? What did you slay? Because it certainly wasn't fashion."
"I kill vampires."
"Vampires." Becky repeated.
"Look we are not going to get very far if you keep repeating everything I say Becky." Erin said annoyed.
"Sorry." Becky said. "So you're telling me vampires are real and in this school."
"Yes."
"But no one has died. I mean we would notice if people went missing from class."
"Vlad makes sure that no one hunts on the campus."
"Oh, he's a slayer too!" Becky said. Erin could imagine her friend picturing Vlad as some hunter hero.
Erin shook her head. "No he is a vampire."
"Shut up1"
"Seriously, he is."
"Get out. That little emo guy? I guess I can see it." Becky said thinking things over. She tapped her forefinger to her lip as if remembering all the times that Vlad had done something strange. "Wait is that what you meant when you said he changed. Did he become a vampire and that was why he was such a jerk?"
Erin shook her head. This was becoming a pattern. "No, Vlad was born a vampire, but he got more power and it made him a bit ...unstable."
Becky snorted. "That is one word for it. I think he was bit of an ass." Becky thought about her lunch date and suddenly her hand went to her throat.
"Did he?"
Erin was on her feet. Watching Becky realize how close she had come to being bitten almost broke the tentative calm that Erin had given her. "No, he didn't bite you. He wanted to but I stopped him."
"The garlic."
"Yeah. Vampires are allergic."
"So you saved me."
Erin shrugged. "What are friends for?"
"But I was a jerk."
"You're only human."
"Wait." Erin watched as Becky seemed to process everything that she was learning. Erin could almost see the memories play across her friend's face as Becky searched her thoughts to put the puzzle pieces together. "So he asked me to lunch so he could bite me and did all that in front of you to what, hurt you?"
"Yes."
"What a dick." Becky said then turned to Erin and walked over to the desk. "So what changed? I mean why take him back?"
Erin smiled. "He got better."
"Come on, there has to be more to it than that."
Erin held up her hand. "Trust me there is, but going into all the vampire politics would take all night and I don't have that kind of time."
"What you have somewhere else to be?"
"No I need your help."
Becky looked Erin up and down. It was obvious that Erin believed what she was saying but Becky could not quiet bring herself to belive her.
"I'm not sure I even believe you. I mean, this is crazy. Vampires? Like out of a B movie? Are you serious Erin?"
"Deadly serious."
"I'm not sure I can believe you." Becky said now pacing the room. "I mean, what proof do you have? Is Vlad going to fly in like a bat and what compel me to do his bidding."
"He could, but he is busy right now."
"Doing what?"
"Vampire stuff, I guess."
"You guess?" Becky frowned. "Girl you are not doing a good job of selling yourself or this crazy story."
Erin pinched the bridge of her nose. "I know. I didn't want to do this but I guess I have to prove it to you."
"How? Are you going to slay a vampire in front of me?"
Erin smiled. "I could but I think this might be a better demonstration."
Erin felt her eyes begin to glow. Erin opened her mouth revealing her fangs.
"But you said you were a slayer," Becky said backing up into the wall, not running.
Erin could all but taste Becky's pulse in her mouth. "I was, until I was changed."
"When?" Becky asked still managing to keep it together when Erin made no movement to corner or close in on her.
"Last night."
"Vlad did this?" Becky asked.
"Yeah, but in his defense I was dying."
"He tried to kill you?"
"No his crazy vampire fiance did. She used a fire ball to knock me off a roof. Vlad only bit me and changed me into a vampire to save my life."
"No way." Becky said forcing herself to sit down on the nearest desk.
Erin stood and watched her friend, letting the fire leave her eyes and retracting her fangs. Erin moved slowly so as not to spook Becky and sat down across from her.
"Vampire huh?" Becky asked.
"Yup."
"So you drink blood and stuff?"
"Yup."
"Are you going to bite me?"
"Do you want me to?" Erin asked.
Becky blinked. The question took her completely off guard and for a moment she could only stare at Erin. "Would I become a vampire if you bit me?"
Erin shook her head. "No. I am what is called a half fang. It is really difficult for us to change humans into vampires. I am not even sure how, to tell the truth. The legends where a vampire bites you was about pureblood vampires who were born, not bitten."
"Like Vlad?"
"And his sister." Erin added.
"Damn a whole family of vampires. Well that explains their father. He always seemed like a nutter. But if he is a vampire that would explain everything."
"He still is a bit of a nutter." Erin said and both girls laughed again.
"Does it hurt?" Becky asked.
"No, but I am different than I was." Erin said. "You would think that being a slayer, knowing what I did, how I was trained, that I would have known what to expect but this new life is beyond my wildest imaginings. I'm not sure I can even put it into words."
"But does that mean your slayer group will come after you?" Becky asked.
"Most likely at some point. Especially if I start killing breathers."
"Hey," Becky said. She had grown up a black girl surrounded by white chicks and knew a derogatory term when she heard one.
"Sorry. Its just hard to hold onto what I was. Remember what it was like to be human."
"Is that why you need my help? To remember what it was like to be human?"
Erin shook her head. "No, I need your help to prove to Vlad that I am a monster."
Becky's pulse jumped again but she stayed in her seat. Erin watched her friend digest the news. Erin had shown a small glimpse of the monster inside and rocked the safe, normal worldview that Becky had been privileged to grow up knowing her whole life. Erin had never been that lucky. Even when she and Ryan had been kids they knew the world was a dangerous place full of monsters all wearing human faces. Vampires were just the more overt and embodiment of that evil.
"What does that even mean?" Becky asked. "And why would he not know?"
Erin smiled this was going to take some explaining and she had to hurry. Becky had been willing to listen and save her questions until Erin was done with her story. With the abridged version Erin shared how she has lost her brother when Ingrid had bitten him. Erin told of the search for a cure that did not exist. How she had met Vlad, fallen in love not only with his sweet nature that was so against everything Erin had ever experienced with vampires and even more love with the dream that breathers and vampires could live together in coexistence. Erin shared how that dream had failed. How Vlad's decision to ignore Erin's wishes to remain human had changed her not only into a vampire but into something she could not stand in herself even as a vampire. Erin tried to convey how, even now, even when plotting as she was to shock and dismay Vlad enough to let Erin go, that Erin was doing this because she loved him. Becky took it all in and sat in silence for a moment.
"So you did the deed, didn't you?" When Erin didn't answer. Becky grinned. "You did, Damn girl. How was it? Spill."
"That's what you care about everything I told you?" Erin asked, unable to hide her shock.
"Hey, girl has got to have priorities. Now dish."
If Erin had been human she would have blushed. "It was... amazing."
"So what you are telling me is that in the last 24 hours you died, came back a vampire, fell into bed with the man you love, drank some crappy blood and now you want to break Vlad's heart?"
"That about covers it."
"Girl, you are some crazy kind of messed up. Why the hell would you want to do this?"
Erin closed her eyes and tried to find the words. She was worried she might need to push harder with her vampire abilities. Erin needed the right words somehow somewhere inside to help her.
"Vlad is the Chosen One. He has a destiny. The Vampires want him to make war, wipe humans from the earth and force them to be cattle again."
"Really? Even with technology and the slayers and stuff?"
"Yes. Vlad doesn't want that. He has been fighting his vampire nature his whole life. He fights to protect humans, but he is still a kid. Until he turns 18 next year. He has to follow the rules of vampire society."
"Ok, but that doesn't explain..."
"When Vlad is with me, now that I am like this, he is changing and not for the better."
"What do you mean?"
"I told you I am losing whatever was human in me. I keep pushing him. He keeps giving in, because it is me. He loves me. I love him, but I can't let him lose himself because of me. Do you understand? I can't give up on him and I cannot let him give up on himself."
"So you want him to reject you, so he won't reject himself."
"Exactly."
"Damn girl, that's deep."
"And difficult."
Becky stood and began to pace again. Then after he fifth cycle around the room she came to a stop and looked at Erin. "What's your plan then?"
"You're in?"
"I'm considering it." Becky said. "I have some reservations but if what you are telling me is true. If Vlad goes all dark side, then this school is going to be ground zero for the round up of humans for this vampire farm."
"That's one way to put it. Ok." Erin smiled and began to explain her plan. Becky added some details but it took them only a little time to hammer out the details. Erin was surprised how cunning Becky was turning out to be. The suggestions that had come from some of the forbidden romance novels her cousin had smuggled in, were more than enough to set up not one but several plans to push Vlad into a corner using the feminine art of seduction. Erin just hoped that they could pull it off. Seduction and subty had never been Erin's strong suit but Becky seemed almost eager to begin. It was time to spring the trap.