A/N: Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

I had some problems uploading the new fic last night, the site hated it, I had to keep deleting and uploading it until it finally accepted it and wasn't gobbledegook.

Chapter 3: Power

The applause seemed to die down slowly although there seemed to be a split amongst the hall by the looks on their faces. A few didn't care that she was becoming Queen, a number were glad she was being rewarded with the honour and the rest were simply livid at his announcement.

Erin looked at Vlad, she wasn't sure how his announcement would go down.

One of the clan leaders, Rubik stepped in front of them. He sneered at Erin and Erin immediately felt only six inches tall. "Congratulations I suppose." He spat at them.

"Thanks." Vlad spoke kindly, he was an enigma to the Council and the rest of his community. The vampire who'd fallen for a slayer and openly expressed his affection for her but he was fearsome when crossed. He maintained a Truce that made them stronger than before and he was the most powerful vampire in existence as well as being a just ruler.

Rubik's gaze burned as he looked at Erin, "Was it her idea?" He looked up and down her body, scrutinising every part of her. "A pretty face but she shouldn't be able to convince you to give her that power…"

"Erin never convinced me, *I* convinced *her*." He told him emphatically. Erin looked down, she knew they'd feel like this. He was going to be scorned.

"She's got the right idea then, a half fang isn't worthy…" Vlad shot his arm out and Rubik fell to his knees, crying out in pain as he was forced down. Vlad wasn't even using a thousandth of his power to force the clan leader to his knees. Rubik tried to struggle but Vlad held him too securely to do anything about it.

The entire room had fallen silent again as they watched Vlad's anger take hold. Erin's eyes glistened slightly, this was supposed to be a celebration not an argument.

Vlad's voice dropped dramatically as it deepened, "I wouldn't insult my wife if I were you." Ingrid and Bertrand moved until they flanked him. "Do you understand that?"

"Yes Sire." Rubik gasped out and Vlad released his grip. Rubik collapsed forwards with nothing to hold him.

Rubik nodded, bowing to Vlad who deliberately held him with his gaze for few seconds. He couldn't leave until Vlad dismissed him. Vlad nodded to the distance gesturing for him to go. Rubik sped away. He didn't stop until he'd completely disappeared from the school.

Ivan stepped behind them, "They just don't want to see a woman with power." Erin and Vlad jumped, they hadn't seen him move. Ivan gave her a small smile; "They'll see their worst fear soon." His tone was wistful as he spoke.

"Vlad." She whispered to him before stopping she didn't know what she wanted to say. Her eyes were scared. He turned to face her, trying to calm her fears without speaking but it didn't work.

Vlad gestured to the small orchestra who began playing again. Erin could feel those in the hall who disapproved of her staring at her, burning holes in her back.

Erin quickly left the hall, resting outside to compose herself. She could feel the carvings on the panelling digging into her back as she stood their, it didn't make her feel uncomfortable strangely. She always knew Vlad's announcement wouldn't be received well, even though they hadn't said anything she knew.

The door opened quietly, and Vlad's silhouette stepped into the dark corridor. "Tell them you've changed your mind."

"Erin I want you as my equal. I told you that from the moment we were engaged."

Erin shook her head. "They think I'm just after your power, like Ingrid did…"

"That was before we were even together." He reminded her, Ingrid had only said that out of jealousy at the time because she felt second best.

"She didn't know me just like the people in there don't. They'll think the same." Her eyes glistened, she wasn't going to cry, she wouldn't be that weak.

Vlad tilted her chin upwards, before kissing her new scar tenderly. Erin sighed and tipped her head in his direction. "You are my mate, my wife." As he spoke he pressed firm kisses to her neck. He pulled back, "If anyone can prove that they're wrong, you can. You proved me wrong when I thought you only wanted to slay me." That made her smile, "I love you Erin because I can see you and I want to share my power with you because I know who you really are. I can read you like you can read me."

"I'm just not worthy of that kind of power…" Vlad pressed a finger to her lips, Erin never could see what he saw. It had been instilled in her from a young age that she wouldn't have a choice, that the only thing she was worthy of was being a slayer.

"Erin Elizabeth Dracula you are worth it." Vlad assured her. It had taken him two and a half years to prove to her that she was worthy of being his equal and for her to actually accept half of his power. He knew he'd make her see sense in the end, not all this had been undone by one person. "Things have to change. They need to realise they can trust other people like I trust you. Trust makes us stronger."

"Vlad I've never had any power…"

He crossed his arms, looking at her with a sceptical smile. Erin really didn't know the power she already held in her hands. "Who is the only person who can control me? The only person who my clan will listen to? The only person I will listen to? And who is the only person who can force my evil back inside? Erin I nearly killed a breather when I thought I'd lost you, you're the person who can give me the courage to control that part of me. Erin they're scared because you have the power to make me listen and make my clan listen. I accept your advice and we work together. No one else can make me do that. You have the power to make me do the right thing." Erin looked up at him, Vlad gently wiped the running make up from her cheeks and below her eyes. "Trust me Erin, I know I'm doing the right thing."

Erin stared at him unsure what to say, instead she stepped into his warm embrace. She inhaled the scent of her husband deeply, the scent of metal, mahogany and something she could never put her finger on filled her nostrils and she felt safe and loved.

YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL

Vlad slowly pulled Erin back into the large but rapidly quietening hall, even more vampires had left since the last time and that made them both relax somewhat. There would be less of a commotion this time if someone tried to insult her.

"Is Erin okay?" Robin asked Vlad quietly, seeing her slightly puffy eyes. Erin heard him and pretended to ignore him completely, instead she pulled her hand from Vlad's and moved towards the buffet table.

"She's fine." Vlad squeezed her hand before giving Robin a grateful smile at his concern.

"He isn't the only one whose objecting, you know."

Vlad nodded, "I know." He looked around; the Council had slowly dwindled until only his gran remained. She was standing by the wall keeping a cautious look out for anything or anyone acting suspiciously following his announcement. "I'm doing this Robin." Vlad told his friend, he couldn't be talked out of it.

Erin sped back towards Vlad and Robin with a plate full of food, Vlad reached for a tomato but Erin slapped his hand. He gave her a hurt look, giving her wide eyes that made her melt. Vlad didn't do it often but when he did she felt her legs turn to jelly each and every time. She held the plate to him and he grabbed the tomato eating it happily.

"Erin!" A call came across to her and Erin groaned. She turned slowly, she didn't want to talk to them.

"Mum." Erin acknowledged at her with a slight smile, she really didn't want to get herself even more worked up by seeing them. "Dad." That greeting was colder. She hadn't managed to completely forgive him for everything that had happened yet.

Robin saw that this was going to be uncomfortable, he glanced around the room. His eyes clapping on someone. "I think Jonno wants me." He grabbed the plate out of Erin's hand as fast as he could acting more like a vulture than a breather.

Before Vlad could grab him and pull him back Robin had vanished with a speed that would do a vampire proud.

Steph grabbed her daughter and pulled her into a hug, Erin remained tense in her arms but wrapped her arms around her mother. When Steph pulled back Erin looked at her slightly awkwardly. She made no effort to embrace Tom, she gave him a nod but nothing more. Vlad could sense how tense she was without seeing it, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him, Erin rested her head back against Vlad's chest.

Tom studied Vlad, he hadn't expected the vampire to wait this long. "You stuck to slayer tradition then." Erin flinched; Vlad saw it and kissed her temple lightly. He didn't want this brought up now; this wasn't the time to discuss Erin's former but-not-quite-legal engagement at the Induction Feast to celebrate her mating to Vlad.

"I wanted to respect her culture despite what you tried to do to her." Vlad told them firmly, the thought of arranged marriages like that still made him sick. "And I wanted to make sure she wanted me as her husband before committing her to the mating. I was giving her a choice." Erin looked up at him, she couldn't believe he'd thought she'd change her mind, his thoughtfulness was overwhelming. He'd always been firm, refusing to remove the date at all.

"Erin always had a choice…"

"WHEN?" Vlad asked loudly drawing the looks from the people around him.

Tom gave him a confused look, his brows knitted together. He looked remarkably like Ryan in that moment. "What?"

Vlad leaned forward slightly as he spoke, his fangs twitching to release themselves. "*When* did you give Erin a choice?"

"I let her choose you."

Vlad let out a laugh at Tom's 'allowing' Erin to chose Vlad. "That was only when you knew we were already engaged."

Erin gently rubbed circles on Vlad's bicep, he looked down at her. "Vlad, not here." She whispered to him and he nodded, now wasn't the time to open old wounds. Vlad didn't want to withdraw just yet but he nodded proving that she had the power to make him listen. "Come on."

Erin laced her fingers in his, smiling as they fit perfectly before tugging him across to the space in the hall allotted for dancing.

YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL

Vlad placed his hands on Erin's waist as he guided her in the dance. They weren't bothering with the traditional vampire dancing that they'd had earlier in the evening. There wasn't any point with only the guests who were staying in the manor remaining. Erin rested her head on his chest, letting out a relieved sigh.

The young Grand High Vampire smirked as he caught sight of Bertrand and Ingrid in the corner. Vlad had never seen his sister so happy; she'd never been like this with Will. Ingrid had her arms draped around Bertrand's shoulders and his were wrapped around her waist.

"They're happy." She spoke quietly, with a smile gracing her features. Vlad looked down at her nodding, he couldn't imagine anyone feeling happier than he was at the moment. That definitely sounded cheesy, he was glad he'd kept it in his head. "Sorry your mum wasn't here." She told him quietly. They hadn't invited her but she would have been blind to miss all the coverage in the Vampire Times, Fang Magazine and splashed all across the vampire web.

"I'm not." He answered truthfully. "She would have had to be the centre of attention." Magda thought the entire world revolved around her and she didn't care who she hurt to get what she wanted. It was no wonder that Vlad was terrified of being rejected and Ingrid was desperate to be loved.

Erin whispered, "It might have been different." She knew she was being optimistic.

"She's an evil, two timing, manipulative, double crossing witch Erin. I didn't want her here and I'm glad she didn't turn up." He could feel himself getting angry discussing this, he screwed up his eyes and tried to force himself to calm down, focussing on something outside the hall. An owl hooting in the background outside the manor itself.

"She's still your mum." Erin reminded him softly. She felt his chest move as he sighed, it was still an unusual sensation feeling his usually still chest shift. It only moved when he was irritated.

"Can we not talk about it and enjoy the rest of the evening?" His voice was pained as he asked her; Erin knew the psychological scarring of one Magda Westenra on her children wouldn't heal overnight. She wished she could do something about that but only time could.

"Sorry." She stood on her toes and kissed him chastely, their tongues battling as she apologised. Erin pulled back and pressed her forehead to his before resting it against his chest once more.

Vlad whispered into her ear tenderly, "Love you."

"Love you too."

TBC

A/N: Thanks for reading.