Disclaimer: I do not own Young Dracula. All rights reserved for CBBC. 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 to all my readers. I have always shipped Erin and Vlad. Thanks to feedback I have done some rethinking of this chapter. Hope this is a bit more exciting.
Light mimicked sunlight as Vlad stepped through the mirror. How many times had he come to this place? Each time was a something new and yet familiar all the same. Now this place looked different less like a forest and more like a swamp, something Vlad had seen only in textbooks of places like Mississippi. The forest held vegetation that was alien to the English landscapes. Vlad pressed on and saw that in front of him lay a simple white pedestal out of a masolum with a single black velvet pillow placed at one end. Vlad walked up.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" Silence answered him. Gently Vlad laid Erin down on the pedestal. Unsure of what battle was coming his way. Vlad wanted his hands free. This place seemed to have been made for her. Erin continued to be unresponsive. At least she is not dust. Vlad pressed that thought away. By now the sun had risen. Had Vlad stayed in his world Erin most certainly would have been ash by now. There was hope. This place had its own rules with time and being filled with dark magic it would do his will. Vlad had to believe that. Somehow he had to make it happen.
"Tell me how to save her." Vlad ordered. "I, Vladimir Dracula, son and heir, command you to answer me."
There will be a price. The same voice whispered in his head.
"Whatever it is, I will pay it." Vlad cradled Erin's hand in his. He would give his life to save hers. Anything they wanted, the mirror could have it, even if that meant turning himself over to the darkness.
"We shall see." A familiar voice said as Vlad turned away from Erin to face the latest reflection creation.
The voice belonged to Robin Branagh, but as Vlad turned to face him, he realized this was not the boy from his youth but a man. Robin stood before Vlad so much is an older. A small goatee decorated his face and hid a scar on his lower lip. Robin's dark eyes looked heavy and the joy that Vlad had come to know from his friend had vanished. Whomever this was, it was not Robin. There was no cheap costume or attempt to pretend to be some sort of movie verison of a vampire. Instead, Robin wore a simple t-shirt under a sports coat with slacks and converse shoes. He looked utterly relaxed as Vlad watched him.
"Long time no see, Vlad." Robin smiled.
"You're not Robin," Vlad said. Vlad hated this. Hated to see the one person who hadn't cared that he was a vampire and had known his secret, to have their image used like this. Robin had been the best friend Vlad had ever know before giving him up. The old wound opened up. Robin had always wanted to be a vampire. Hell the first time Robin learned that Vlad was a vampire the boy had offered his neck which Vlad had promptly turned down. Seeing the man his friend had grown into hurt Vlad. Granted Vlad knew that when he left, Robin and his human family had no memory of the Dracula's or what had happened. The one reasurrance Vlad had was that he knew that Robin was living a human life away from vampires and slayers. Still there was a nagging part of him that wondered if Robin had given up his obsession with vampires. If his human life had become more normal with Vlad no longer in it. As much as Vlad hated to admit it, he was glad to see his friend, even if it was just some evil reflection wearing Robin's face.
"Of course not, but you chose this form not me." Robin said.
"I doubt that."
Robin cocked his head. "Your subconscious wanted to see a friendly face so here I am." Robin pushed past Vlad and up to Erin. "What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?" Robin leaned over to look at Erin . Reaching out he touched Erin's chest fingers stroking the gems embedded there.
Vlad's grip came down like a vice stopping the motion. "Quit pawing her." Vlad snarled.
"Is that anyway to ask for help?" Robin asked. Robin lifted his hand and Vlad released him.
"Tell me what I need to know," Vlad ordered.
Robin laughed. "Vladdy. It doesn't work like that."
"I'm the Dracula heir-"
"So what? When has that ever served you?" Robin asked. "All that power, and what? You only try to use it as some last resort? No wonder your so clumsy."
"We don't have time for this!" Vlad said.
"We have all the time in the world," Robin circled the pedestal caressing it gently. Then looked up at Vlad. "Unless you'd like to leave?" Robin smiled and from his pocket he took an apple. Biting into it, the juice dripped down his face like blood. Robin wiped it away with the back of his hand then took a seat on a stone bench that had strangely appeared.
"Is this some sort of test?" Vlad asked.
Robin shrugged. Watching Vlad with a smug look. Vlad fangs began to pierce his lip as his anger grew. Robin took another bite of apple. Watching, Waiting.
"What do you want? A show of power?" Vlad tossed off a ball of fire hitting a tree nearby. "You want more?" Vlad shot off some lightening. "Or something that was lost." Vlad lashed out with zone field, but right before he hit Robin; the glowing ball of power that had the ability to turn vampires into crystals; stopped and hovered in mid air in front of Robin.
"Impressive," Robin said and tossed the apple at the ball. Instantly it was enveloped in a small red crystal dropping to the floor.
"How did you do that?" Vlad asked. No one had ever stopped a void blast, let alone pause it in midair.
Robin shrugged. "Things work differently here." Robin spread his arms wide. "I am part of this place. You can't hurt me, Vlad. Save your threats."
"Fine." Vlad stood down. His arms dropped to his side and he looked at Robin. "Then what do you want me to do?"
"Right now. Talk." Then Robin held up a finger as if to wag it at Vlad. "No lies."
"What do I have to lie about?" Vlad said. "I have nothing to lose."
"You have everything to lose."
Vlad watched him. "Fine. I will give you the truth, whatever question you ask. I will answer it. I give you my word."
"We shall see." Robin said with a coy smile. "I have seen how you keep your promises."
"What does that mean?"
"Didn't you promise to protect your lady love who now lies on the stone cold slab inches from death?"
"I tried-" The crushing guilt washed over him as Vlad stumbled to defend himself. But Robin stopped him.
"Tut-tut," Robin said holding up his hand. "I made my point. But I have my ways to get to the truth."
Vlad's eyes narrowed. "Ask your questions. I won't lie."
"But you are lying, you have been all your life whether you realize it or not. Lying to your family. Lying to your friends,, yet that is the past." Robin ended up behind Vlad forcing him to turn and face about. "But what I want to get, to the real heart of the matter," Robin said pointing at Vlad's chest. "Is how you are lying to yourself."
"That's all?" Vlad looked sceptical. It couldn't be that simple. Tell the truth and the reflection Robin would just, what? Cooperate? Just like that? Vlad knew things were never that simple. Especially with Vampiric dark magic.
Robin gave an exaggerated frown. "Perhaps. But either way it is the door we must pass through to access the knowledge you seek and save your lady love."
Vlad scowled. "Don't be so melodramatic."
"That's your job," Robin finished for him.
"When did you become such a pain in the ass?" Vlad snapped back.
"When did you?" Robin taunted.
Vlad glared at him. Robin continued to smile at him. The old twinkle was back and filling his eyes. But all this banter was just keeping Vlad from answers; his anger and constant questioning was getting him nowhere. Vlad closed his eyes and forced himself to center. This place was also part of him. Vlad had absorbed all the reflections that had filled him with darkness driving him to try to kill his sister and his father. And yet, there was still something left in him, that part that allowed him to break free and separate for a time. But in the end Vlad had to return to the mirror and accept his vampire nature. It had been brutal and terrifying. Back then, he had not even allowed Erin to help him when she begged him to stay. That week away. Away from his family, from the mirror with only his own sea of overwhelming thoughts, instincts, urges and desires Vlad had been forced to face up to things he could not put into words. This is just like that. Vlad told himself. I survived before. I can survive again. I will win. I will figure this out.
"Are you finished?" Robin asked.
"Yes." Vlad said. "Let us begin."
Robin smiled and steepled his fingers. This time Robin flashed Vlad a mouth full of sharp pointed teeth. More fangs than Vlad had ever seen. Not even a werewolf had that many. With all his questions Vlad had been treating this... creature as if it was Robin, but the veil had lifted and Vlad steeled himself for what came next. The world began to fill with fog. Vlad looked around and it was as if Erin and her pedestal were far away still within sight but to the background like a painting in the backdrop.
"What did you do with her?" Vlad snarled.
"She is safe, relax." Robin said as he pulled out a chair from a table setting that Vlad realized had appeared in front of them. There were four settings, waiting as if for dinner. The white table cloth, held white place settings of fine china with golden cutlery and simple crystal goblets. But no food. The only thing on the table that held any color was a single crystal decanter full of a bright red liquid. Blood. Vlad knew it without looking. Vlad looked around. The fog had changed this place. The trees were gone. In the place were three mirrors. One oval with a frame of black thrones as tall as Vlad. The next was silver, a perfect circle with wings of marble and silver holding the reflective surface. The final mirror was of gold, the rectangle that Vlad recognized as the exit back to his world.
"What are these?" Vlad said gesturing to the mirrors. Each one was perfect but like all mirrors remained empty of Vlad's image. Strangely Robin's image was reflected.
"What do you think they are?" Robin asked.
"Look we are not going to get very far if you keep answering my questions with a question. I know that the gold one is the portal back to my home; my world." Vlad said gesturing to the gold mirror. "But what of the black and silver mirrors? What do they show?"
"One can show the past; the other possible futures." Robin said. "Do you want you know your future Vlad?"
Vlad shook his head then looked at the silver mirror. The wings almost seemed to move and flutter around it only to pause and revert to their fixed state. It was mesmerizing. Vlad was tired. Tired he tore his gaze from the mirror and stared at Robin. With all the riddles of the mirror realm how the hell was he supposed to save Erin? How was he to find the dark power to do the impossible? Vlad could feel his desperation growing. He had to find a way. There had to be an answer. What more could he try? Each step, each trial had made him stronger, a proper vampire prince. But still it was not enough? Vlad hated himself for being weak. His humanity had been his strength for so long, what if that was his weakness?
"What do you want of me?" Vlad asked.
Robin raised an eyebrow. "I want you to get out of your own way."
"What the hell does that even mean?"
Robin walked over to his friend. Vlad was wary but sat there watching the vestige of his friend approach and lay a hand on his shoulder, as he had done in the past when confronting, consoling Vlad. "What if I was to tell you, this, this whole ordeal is not about you?"
Vlad blinked. What? He couldn't say the words, but his face must have shown his scepticism. Ever since Vlad had put on that bone crown, everything in his world had been about him. Who he would marry; how he would rule; the powers he would have; and some great and powerful destiny for vampire kind. Vlad forced himself to blink again. "I don't understand."
Robin smiled. "Not surprising. Vampires are a very self centered lot." Robin nudged Vlad. "Don't worry you come by it honestly."
"But if saving Erin is not about me, my power; then what? How do I save her?"
"It's not about saving anyone Vlad." Robin said dropping his voice and looking behind him, toward Erin. "It's about choosing something greater than yourself. Something more about living rather than dying."
Vlad shook his head. "Please. I still don't get it."
"I know." Robin said.
"Then tell me!" Vlad slammed his fist on the table smashing the plate and toppling the crystal glasses. Robin held his gaze.
"It doesn't work like that." Robin rubbed his chin. "How do I explain this." He paused. "You have to come to the understanding on your own."
"Ok. How do I do that?" Vlad said pushing the shards of glass away. "Is this some sort of test?"
"Perhaps. But I told you that this was not about you. And yet it is up to you. So the question is; What are you willing to risk?"
"Anything."
"Really?" Robin said getting to his feet. "You'd give up your family, your friends." Robin walked over to Erin. "Would you give up your powers?" Robin raised his face to stare at Vlad. "Your life? Your soul?"
Vlad swallowed. Was he willing to give up everything to save Erin? Hadn't she done the same for him? Vlad shut his eyes against the memories that flooded him. The whispered. "Yes."
"We shall see." Robin said.
When Vlad opened his eyes. Robin was standing next to him and both of them were in front of the silver mirror. Vlad had no memory of getting to his feet. But at the same time he knew that was how things seemed to work in the mirror realm. Vlad knew he could not trust his senses. The mirrors he knew had to do with the test. Normally Vlad could control the mirror realm but now he back to feeling helpless, as he had when he faced his reflection. Now he stood infront of the black mirror. Looking back at him was Robin's reflection. Vlad had gotten used to not being able to see his face in a mirror. The Robin in the mirror continue to stare at him. Vlad was shocked to see that Robin's eyes had changed in the mirror as if to show the truth of the monster at his side. Goat like eyes stared at Vlad while Robin's tooth filled grin held rows and rows of serated teeth.
"What does this one show?" Vlad asked breaking the silence.
"The past."
Vlad nodded. He wasn't afraid of the past. He made mistakes. He owned that. He was willing to re-live any pain in order to get this supposed greater understanding that Robin was hinting at.
"This is the test, being able to look at my past? My mistakes?"
Robin laughed. "Oh, Vlad this is not your past," Vlad shot him a look. "It's hers." Then Robin tossed Vlad into the mirror. With a wicked smile Robin turned to Erin's body still stretched out on the stone platform. "So sleeping beauty, do you think he will survive what you really think of him?" Robin caressed her forehead. "Or will he run away from his darkest desires?"
Robin smiled showing fangs. Reaching out gently, Robin moved his hand down her face, bringing up the fingertips down to her lips that were close to blue and yet, still held a faint caress of pink. Opening her mouth, his finger pressed up on the roof of her mouth. Dainty fangs popped out as Robin's grin grew. Still holding open her mouth, Robin brought up his own wrist to his mouth and bit down. Black blood oozed out and down his wrist. Holding it over her face, Robin was careful, with care he made certain not to spill a drop and allowed three drops to fall in her mouth. Erin still did not move as her body absorbed the blood. Robin licked his wrist as the wound closed. He walked back to the mirror Vlad had disapeared into. Robin smiled into his reflection.
"I'm sorry my dear but you cannot leave, not just yet."
Erin who had been trying to tip toe towards the mirror that showed the basement of the school froze. She turned and looked back at the figure in front of the black mirror who now had turned to smile at her. He almost looked human, almost. His eyes held slits that were horozntal and seemed to dance with a dark light. Erin straightened up her spine.
"Who are you?"
Robin bowed. "I am merely a guide."
"What are you?" Erin tired again.
"That is a more difficult answer. I suggest we skip it for now. In honor of the Chosen One's choice of faces I wear, you may call me Robin."
Erin blinked. Vlad had told Erin about his human friend, the one who he had taken the bone crown to protect along with his vampire family. That was the first time Vlad had scarificed all he loved of the human world to save all that he loved. Staring at the so called guide, Erin was smart enough to know that the serated teeth and goat like eyes were not part of the human that Vlad had loved. Those eyes were unerving but Erin kept her cool.
"What happened to me? Am I dead?" Erin asked.
Robin chuckled. "No. Not yet. See for yourself." Robin gestured to the platform behind Erin. There she lay on the stone surface as if asleep. Erin's mouth dropped open. Her body lay there, and for the first time Erin realized she had no memory of getting to her feet. Only that she had suddenly been standing, facing the mirror. Things had gone very wrong. Reaching for her chest, she could not feel her heart and though her panic was rising the need to breath or hyperventalate was not there. Erin closed her eyes and counted to ten. When she opened them, nothing had changed but she turned to face Robin.
"What is this?" Erin looked back at her body.
Robin gestured to the table. "Shall we sit? There is much to discuss."
"What did you do to me?"
Robin shrugged and headed to the table. "Nothing much. I used a bit of power to pull your astral body out so that we could talk." Robin pulled the chair out and gestured for Erin to sit. She stared at him. Robin smiled. "I promise you my dear, no harm will befall you here with me. Besides, your astral body is more like that of a ghost, you can not harm me either. Please let us talk."
Erin watched him, her eyes flicking back to her body. Robin sighed. "I give you my word, your body will not be harmed. Besides after what you did, there is not much more I could do."
"You are keeping me alive?" Erin asked as she crossed her arms and ran her fingers over her arms and elbows. Something was under her fingers, but it was not warm or cold. There was little sensation as if she had gone numb but lacked the prickliness of her sensation returning. Erin concentrated on the ground beneath her, but she felt as if she was floating, the lack of sensation was odd. Robin watched her eyes twinkling.
"In a way. Time moves differently here, so think of yourself as caught between one moment to the next, frozen why other events can play out." Robin gestured to the chair again. Erin blinked and started forward. Carefully she sat in the chair.
"Why are you doing this?"
"I was asked." Robin said taking the seat across from her. "It is as simple as that."
Erin shook her head. "No I mean, talking with me. If you are supposed to be Vlad's guide why waste time with me?"
"Would you believe I miss having company?" Robin said lifting an eyebrow.
"No, but I doubt you are going to give me any other answer."
"Correct." Robin said. "And even if I did, you would most likely forget by the time you awoke back in your body. The astral plane can be fickle like that."
Erin looked at the table set before them. Reaching out she tried to touch the pitcher at the center of the table. Her hand went through the glass. Robin smiled.
"I told you, this is your astral body. You can't interact with anything."
Erin cocked her head. "Then why have me sit?"
Robin shrugged. "I wanted to sit, and it is common custroy to off a lady a chair. Whether or not your body can interact with the chair, your mind pictures you sitting so now you are sitting. Simple as that."
Erin nodded and looked around. "What is this place?"
"You have been here before. We are inside of the mirror relam."
"Where is Vlad? I can't come here on my own."
"No, you could not."
"Where is Vlad?" Erin eyes narrowed. This guide was enjoying her confusion way too much and it was begining to piss her off.
"Lets just say I sent him on a little trip into the past." Robin steepled his fingers watching her.
"What?" Erin looked at the three mirrors that surrounded her. Each one showed a location. The first was the room where the mirror was stored, the next a castle on the hill and the final one showed a dark forest.
"Why is Vlad in the past? What does he have to do?"
"Do?" Robin gave her a toothy grin and Erin stepped back. "He can't do anything. The past is the past. There is no changing it. No matter what the stories say. No, he is there to witness."
"That makes no sense, what does he have to 'witness'? the history of vampire's rise to power?"
Robin laughed. "You really are a silly girl. I understand why he likes you. Let me give you a little mirror tutorial. The mirrors only show those moments tied to those who are in the mirror realm. Past, present, future, they are all tied to those who step into this place."
"So what? You are showing Vlad some dark secret in his past? Some way for him to better understand what it means to be the Choosen One?"
Robin smiled again. This one was more genuine. "Yes and no."
"What does that mean?" Erin said crossing her arms to pout. "You are worse that the stupid books that Bertrand gives us."
Robin laughed. "I appoligize my dead. Vlad is not witnessing his past, he is witnessing yours."
Erin froze, eyes wide. "What?"
"Oh, you heard me." Robin said dropping the tone of his voice, so it was almost menicing. "The best way for our little vampire prince to understand the human condition is to live it. What better way than through the eyes of one who loved him most."
Erin stood there digesting what Robin said. Vlad was stuck in the past, her past. He was witnessing everything she had ever said, thought, or had done. Erin stared at Robin. What was he trying to accomplish? Why show Vlad her past? What pull her out of her body for a little chat? This didn't make sense. At least with the vampires and their petty infighting made some sense. Erin tried to think, to choose her words with care.
"What will showing Vlad my past help him learn?" Erin leaned forward. "I mean what part of my past is he seeing?"
Robin smiled. "That is the question isn't it. I am only a guide. I do not what the mirror is showing him or forcing him to relive. All I know is that it is your life that he must witness. But memory is a mutiable thing. It likes to change based on view point. What you remembered as a little girl is very different as you remember it today. That is the problem with memory."
"Wait, then how can that possibly help if a memory changes?"
"There is something Vlad must see for himself. He must go through this if he is ever going to achieve his goals. Think it like this Erin. Your soul is the focus of your life. You move through your memories, with that lens that allows to you to see events through the thoughts and feelings you have. Now the mirror is showing those same details, those same thoughts and feelings but Vlad has his own lens in which to see the events play out. He can know the thoughts and sense the emotions and feelings but the trick is to see if he can shift his lens to understand another. It is quiet difficult and I have no idea if he will be successful."
"What if he fails?" Erin asked.
Robin shrugged. "I am merely a guide. I do not care about the destination, merely the journey."
"Tell me what will happen to him!" Erin shouted coming to her feet.
Robin waved her down. "Settle, child. No harm will come to him. This place is a scancuary for his family a place of power. No harm will come to him."
"I don't believe you."
Robin gave her a sly smile.
"See, that is what I am worried about. I have seen what happens to Vlad when he goes into the mirror. You won't physically harm him, but mentally? When Vlad came out of the mirror he nearly kill me."
"And yet he didn't."
"That is because he is stronger than any vampire gives him credit for." Erin snapped back.
"This is true." Robin said. "Let me give you a little background on the histoy of vampires. A History, I might add that they have forgotten."
"Why would you even bother telling me this?" Erin asked. "Especially since you told me that once this is over, I might forget everything I learned in this astral form."
"My dear child, nothing is ever truly lost. Yes, you will not remember exactly how these events played out between us, but burried in you subconsious the information will live and stay with you, especially if our little Chosen One is successful in his mission."
"You still have not told me exactly what Vlad is trying to do."
"All in due time my dear. Now tell me what you know of the vampire lienage."
Erin snorted. "I thought you knew everything I did since you are tied to the mirror realm."
"Nope. I have an essence of my own. I cannot read your mind. Just because i am part of this places does not mean I know all its secrets or yours. Now what does a slayer know of the orgin of the vampire species?"
Erin sighed. "Not much. What I learned was from the Slayer guild. What they know comes from speculation. One group believes that vampires came from Cain like in the Bible, however there are others who point out that vampires were around during the height of the egyptian empire which predates the Bible. Others have found evidence that vampires existed in the new world with the Aztecs. So, basically, they teach the Slayers not to study the past but focus more on the present and ways to fight the vampires who exist here and now."
Robin gave a slow nod. "The vampires believe similar propganda."
"Proganda? You mean its made up?"
"Yes. Would you like to know the real story?"
Erin couldn't help herself. "Yes, please."
"In the begining, there was not one progenitor but five families on the five contents of power where humans had evolved and began to practice the most basic of alchemaic arts and crud witchcraft. There was a group of demons who were siblings that sought to come to this world but in order to do so, the humans had to invite them in, and allow themselves to be corrupted."
"Vampires come from demons?"
"Yes. But hush and listen. These five demons made contact to socerers on the five seats of human power, to use the modern terms this included places which were Egypt, Mexico, Norway, China, and Italy."
"There were five mirrors made; one of silver, one of gold, one of obsidian, one of mercury, and one of pearl. Each you have stepped through the one made of silver."
That surprised Erin. The mirror's frame was made of gold but the mirror itself? She had never gotten a closer look. The vampires had always been too protective of the thing.
"How can you make a mirror from a pearl?" Erin asked.
"Magic."
Erin rolled her eyes. "That is a vampires explanation for everything they cannot explain."
"Agreed. But in this case it was true. No one knows exactly how."
"That would have to be a huge pearl. I thought they came from oysters."
Robin shook his head. "All the mirrors can change their shape. Orginally they were all small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, about the same size as a modern day coin."
"But that thing is huge!" Erin gestured to the mirror behind her.
"Yes. I said the mirrors can change and actually most are now that size. It makes traveling into the mirror realm so much easier if one only has to walk in like through a doorway."
"I guess. But if what made they was magic, how did the humans come up with it? I mean the demons must have shown them but how does that make someone a vampire? I mean where did they start?"
"You won't like it."
"What do I have to lose? Tell me." Erin said. She wasn't goign to chicken out now. For better or worse she was curious and wanted to know.
"The ritual was one that required a bit of human scarifice."
"That does not surprise me," Erin said under her breath. Robin looked at her. "Sorry. Please continue."
"Each alchemist had a daughter. Each woman was to be a vessel. The sacrifices required a maiden, which was a girl of nine prior to her first menstral cycle; a mother, one who had just given birth, and the most difficult accquisition, a crone, a wise woman who had completed menopause. Back then they were truly rare. Still the alchemists gathered the scarifices. The tirad of women were killed and their blood poured into a pool where the daughter had to bathe. Once done, her father would drink a potion made with the mestral blood of his daughter and the demon would enter his body. Togehter the father would fall on his daughter and take her until she was with child which occured that night under the dark moon. That was the only time the demon could enter a human form. Once complete. The father would live until the children was grown to his 18th year. Then the demon would return for his soul and the sun would kill him. But the children be beget would be the first pure blood vampires born to this world."
"That is horrific."
"Yes. Demons usually are."
"What happened to the daughters?"
"They died in child birth since they would give birth to twins, a boy and a girl."
"Twins?"
"Yes. The mirrors, are portals. At their birth the girls were traded to the other alchemists. That way the children would be raised together, come into their vampiric power together and thus spawned a species."
"I guess that makes sense to avoid inbreeding." Erin thought a moment. "Wait, if both a boy and girl were born to each blood line doesn't that make them equal in power?"
"Yes. But as history shows, what were supposed to be equal was quickly destroyed. The females were turned into brood mares. While the males spread their seed. In time, the vampires decided they did not want to wait for their off spring to grow. Using alchemy they figured out a way to change the species again. This is why a vampire bite from a pure blood vampire creates a vampire that is weaker and subservant to their purse blood sires. That was a modificiation that allowed vampires to create armies of half fangs to fight their wars."
"Half fangs can't make more vampires?"
"They can but it is difficult and requries numerous bites, blood sharing and luck."
"But they still try don't they?"
"Yes, but that weakness was built into their DNA. Another thing, pure blood vampires can bite without turning a human."
"What?"
"Why do you think there are four fangs in a pure blood vampire. Think of thier fangs like that of a snake. The vampire produces a venom that can change a human into a half fang. The vampire can control the venom they inject or with hold that venom."
"What about the second set of fangs?"
"Those hold a venom to heal, and injects an aphordiatic and sedative to make victims more managable and allows them to enjoy a bite."
"But I wasn't told any of this?"
"Not many vampires even know about it."
"How is that possible?"
"It was lost and many don't want to know."
"Why?"
Robin shrugged. "Vampires today have become decadent, foppish and weak. Their obsession with power and wanting to engage in petty intrugies with themselves has led to their decline. Most older vampires are stuck in the past. Their children are forced to follow in their footsteps while the humans advance and destroy the planet around them."
"You care about the planet?"
"Of course, remember it is the place of paradise, however humans continue on their path it won't matter. In this the vampire council is correct. The human race needs to be culled. There are just too many of them and they are making a mess of things."
"Vampires aren't much better."
"No they are not. I doubt the founding familes ever thought the world would come to this."
"So what do we do?"
"That is for your generation to decide."
"I guess that is why Vlad is the Chosen One. Is he supposed to kill off the humans? Change the vampires? Save the world?"
Robin laughed. "You are so young. Those are complex questions that do not have easy answers. But change must happen if all the races are to survive."
"I get that, I just don't know how. Also even if we come up with a plan, I will forget it. Unless you are going to educate Vlad as well."
"He is not ready."
"When is anyone ever ready?" Erin asked. "I mean, I thought I was ready to be a Slayer, then a vampire, hell I was ready to die, but those are just lies I tell myself. I was never ready. You just have do what you can with the skills and knowledge you have and try your best. Sometimes things work out, other times they don't. But being ready is just a throw away excuse to avoid actually doing something."
Robin smiled, all teeth and yet some how pure joy. "I see why he loves you. And yes that is exactly it."
"What do you want from me?"
"Want? My dear girl, you are just helping me fill the time until our Chosen One returns. I find it rather dull here otherwise. Unless the clan needs me, I am normally just stuck watching and waiting for my part to play."
Robin glanced back at the mirror. Erin followed his gaze and for an instant saw herself reflected there, laying on a table as Vlad bent over begging her to open her eyes. "Is that-?"
"Yes, the moment he chose to bite you, to turn you, and tie your fate to his for all eternity."
Erin's head whipped back at Robin who was now facing her, he had moved without her hearing him. Erin refused to blink and stared back at him. "How did it feel?" Robin purred. "To have the one person you care for most in the world betray you?"
Erin searched those alien eyes. How did it feel? Erin found herself at a loss for words. Her eyes broke away from Robin to glance back at the mirror as she saw herself wake. Then she knew. Knew that deep in her soul the emotion that played across her face before all others, it was sorrow. Even now Erin could feel that sadness weighing her down. Granted she understood why Vlad had done what he did. She logically could wrap her mind around the power of emotion of loss. Had she been able to do the same to save her brother, she might have. Even now Erin could admit had she been able to switch places, had she been the vampire and him the human would she have made the same choice. Erin sat back as Robin continued to study her. Maybe it was this place, maybe it was being in her astral form, but something had shifted within her.
"Feelings like memories are mutalble." Erin said mimicking Robin's explaination. "Waking up a vampire, there were so many emotions. No doubt Vlad is experiencing them in mirror right now. But overall, the underlying feeling, the one I still carry is sorrow."
Robin cocked his head. "Interesting. Explain."
"What is there to explain? Even thinking about it now, all I can bring up is this intense saddness. I love him. Even after everything. I love him. I guess I just wish he was stronger."
"But he is the strongest vampire to walk the earth in centuries." Robin genuinely looked confused.
Erin shook her head. "It is not that kind of strength. Maybe it is because you are part of the mirror tied to vampires or maybe you really are just some sort of demon. But the strength I am talking about has nothing to do with magic or physical nature of someone, what I am talking about is the inner strength that makes a person who they are."
"And you think vampires are people?"
"I know they are. Hell, they are just as flawed as any human, any slayer, I have ever met. Perhaps due to their nature, more so. Still they are people. They have hopes and dreams like anyone else. They love, they understand loss and anger all of it."
"You are the strangest human I have ever met."
"You have met other humans? I thought only vampires came here."
Robin smiled. "You are not the first human to catch the eye of a Dracula." Robin waved away the questions that threatened to pour out of Erin. "We digress, tell me more about what strength you see in Vlad."
Erin looked down at her hands, for the first time she noted that even as she wove her fingers together there was no sensation and as she continued to stare it was as if she could see through them like a ghost.
"Erin?"
"Sorry." She shook her head and refocused. "Grief and loss are powerful driving forces that can spurn people to do crazy, desperate things. I love Vlad and I know he loves me but the strength he needed was to be able to face his life without me. In that moment, he couldn't. Its one of the reasons I know he has this love/hate relationship with being the chosen one."
Robin looked confused. "All vampires want power."
"I hate to break it to you, but all people want power. Power to control their own lives and live as they desire. Vlad is no different. He hates being a vampire, and as much as he says that he accepts his nature, he really doesn't. He can't bring himself to love what he is, and yet like everyone person I have met, he is trying to use his situation, his power, to do what he thinks is best. Even when he fails."
"I take it that he has failed a lot?"
Erin shrugged. "We all have. His just usually has a body count. Trying to force the vampires to get along with the slayers. His attempts to deny his own blood lust, even when I was about to die, he could not face the fact that he had failed to save me."
"But that was not his worst failure, was it?"
Erin looked away. "When he turned me, gave in to that part of himself, he could no longer pretend to be a the good guy. I think it was harder to admit to himself that when pushed into a corner, he would do exactly as his father had said and turn his back on his principles to avoid losing those he loved. He just didn't have the strength to do it." Erin sat lost in thought a moment and her brows furrowed in anger. She wanted to scream in frustration. it wasn't fair. She didn't care that he had made a mistake or that she had been a vampire, hell she didn;t even care that she was stuck in thsi limbo. All Erin wanted to do was scream at the universe and the injustice of it all. They were kids. Hell the ancient vampires who had centuries on them hadn't been able to figure things out, how dare they expect Vlad know exactly what to do.
"You're angry." Robin said as Erin shot him a gaze of pure malice.
"Of course I am angry. But not at Vlad."
"You are angry at me." Robin said and his amusement played on his face.
Erin closed her eyes. "Yes. I am angry at everyone like you. People wanted Vlad to be the Chosen One, to have all the answers, to make the right choice, fight the right battle, to fulfill some great destiny, but he is just a kid! How is he supposed to know what to do or have any clue how to tackle these things. At least he is trying."
Robin started to laugh.
"What's so funny?"
"Just the irony of it all."
"What?"
"I have been watching the world play out through these mirrors for centuries. Everyone gets so wrapped up in petty things that they don't ever seem to ask the right questions. I find it funny that a half fang would be the one to acutally start on the right path."
"Wait, Vlad has been doing the right thing all this time? He idea of co-existence?"
"In a way. Your plans have had all the hall marks of change that we have been talking about but like those before, those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it."
"Trust me Vlad has been studying the past."
"Not his past, but humanity's past. There are many lessons to be learned, many things to be gained before true change can ignite." Robin looked back at the mirror. "And on that note our time is quickly coming to an end."
"Wait, we just started. There is so much I want to ask you."
"I know. But I cannot spoonfeed you answers. You must live and discover them for yourself."
"But I am dying."
"Not if Vlad has any say in that."
"What is that supposed to mean? I thought had him watch my past so that he could let me go."
"He may do that, but I doubt it."
Erin thought a moment. She doubted Vlad would let her go as well.
"Then what next? Do I go back to my body?"
"Yes." Robin lifted his hand to send her back.
"Wait, one last question. Why did you want Vlad to see my past? If it wasn't to help him let me go? Why make him go through all that?"
"He took away your choice. He hates himself for that, but he needed to see, needed to know that choice, free will even with all the vampire abilities to compell a person or erase their memories, free will still remains. He can't fight that."
"I see." Erin got up and walked over to her body. "Thank you for talking with me. Even if I don't remember it. I still think, somewhere inside I will know and this feeling of assuredness is a nice change."
"You are most welcome." Robin said lifting his hand again. "Now sleep,"
Erin's astral body vanished. Robin walked to the table and picked up the pitcher of blood. With a quick flick he tossed the contents until Erin was covered in red. Robin began to chant. Erin's body convulsed and began to rise from the table as if pulled from her chest into the air. The stones began to glow in her chest. Erin's body spasmed. Robin's brown furrowed in concentration. Slowly the gems began to pull away from Erin's body as her skin stretch and tore. Blood that was dark against the stains from the pitcher oozed out as each stone gave way releasing its hold and her body dropped by inches back onto the slab. Finally the last stone broke away and Erin body settled back to its frozen state. The wounds fresh and gaping with blood. Robin panted a moment and with a flick of his wrist the stones began to slowly spin in a circle above her as if waiting for some next step.
"Ok, that's done." Robin looked at Erin. "Sorry for the bloodshed, but it is a necessiary step. I know you understand."
Robin turned back to the mirror. Slowly he contenplated it. Vlad was still in there. The one thing being a guide, a slave to the mirror realm meant that he didn't always understand the role he was to play, but watching these two, Robin was putting the pieces together. A wicked smile crept across his face. If events played out as he hoped, these two could mean his freedom. It had been a long time since he ever dared hope for something, but now, standing in front of the puzzle pieces waiting for them to fall into place, it was all he could do not to shout for joy. This was going to be fun.