A/N: Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

The Olga plot line was a bit of a gamble, I hope you like it. Its something that hasn't been done before and I thought I'd give it a go.

I have a few ideas for a final instalment but if there's anything you want in particular I'll see what I can do…

Chapter 10: Fire With Fire

Olga looked at *her* Council, a large smile gracing her face. She'd always dreamed of this power, she promised herself she'd get it and it had now been handed to her on a plate thanks to her dear big brother.

Ivan watched her proudly. Her father hadn't been like the Count, he'd treated her with more respect than Ingrid had ever received.

"Happy, daddy?" She grinned at him, using her sweetest voice. She's achieved what Boris had only managed for a short while – complete domination of the vampire world. Also, of course, she'd achieved what Ingrid had never quite managed.

Ivan smiled widely, he was proud of his daughter. "Its your power, about time that it was taken of Vladimir."

Ivan hadn't forgiven Vlad for his son's death. No matter what Boris had done to him, he was still his heir. The person to carry on the Dracula namesake. If Vlad had revealed himself Boris might never had put on the crown but then again they wouldn't have received the power they had now.

Ivan had had it rubbed in his face that his older brother had parented the Chosen One. The fact that Vlad was engaged before he was eighteen and being prepared for a mating ceremony was another kick in the gut.

Vlad had taken what was rightfully Boris'. Only Boris had the guts to slay the previous Grand High Vampire and take his place. Vlad had hidden in the shadows as the Chosen One, he should have stepped forward hen he had the chance.

"The Hunters will deal with him." The thought of the Hunters sent an unbearable chill down all of their spines.

Jorgen wanted to point something out. "Vladimir Dracula shouldn't be underestimated, he's a smart vampire…" Vlad wasn't like other vampires and that's what gave him an advantage. For some reason they couldn't figure him out simply because he wasn't evil, bloodthirsty or a power maniac. They didn't know how to treat him.

"I think I know my cousin better than you!" Olga shouted at them and they all nodded, not completely convinced. She'd only met Vlad a handful of times the first being seven years ago and after that only for formal or official events.

The Council shuffled under Olga's gaze, they weren't sure how she was going to react or what she was going to do. There was one thing they knew. Olga could never marry otherwise she forfeited her power, that law was still in place. Women forfeited their title if they married, Vlad was trying to remove that law but it was taking a while.

"WHAT?" She shouted at them, enjoying the way they flinched. She did like being stared at.

"We were just wondering, your highness what you might want us to do."

Olga leaned back in her throne, *her* throne. She loved that thought. Hers was a gold leaf, studded throne. It was large, much larger than Vlad's, with velvet lining on the seat. She loved that. Her cousin had a boring throne in her mind.

Olga's eyes narrowed, she'd always been a suspicious type. "About what?"

Baylor winced; she had a much quicker temper than Vlad. "Vlad always wanted a Council meeting to discuss policies…"

"I'll decide the policies from now on…"

Mikhail stepped forward, "You can't, the Council…"

"I'm sure my cousin told you," She drawled in her American accent, "The Council advises the Grand High Vampire, nothing more."

"Vlad always…"

They dared to challenge her?

"I'M IN CHARGE NOW NOT VLAD!" She screamed at the top of her voice, she threw a fireball at Jorgen who easily sidestepped it. Her fireball fizzled out as it flew though the air, she didn't have the power to attack them. She looked at her hand, "I need more power." She whispered quietly, she couldn't be this weak in front of the Council. She'd made a mistake showing them how weak she was.

Baylor looked slightly relieved before a mask slid over his face. Olga noticed it. "How will you get that?"

Olga glared at them, she might not have the power Vlad had but she wouldn't hesitate to do things the slayer way if they got too out of hand. "You want something to do. You figure it out."

Ivan grinned at them; he didn't trust the Council with his only heir. "I know exactly what she needs."

Mikhail, Baylor and Jorgen gulped loudly. The didn't like the calculating gleam that appeared in Ivan's eye.

YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL

Erin leaned on the doorframe watching Vlad; he was playing idly with a pen. Flicking it with his finger so it rolled away from him, as it rolled back he flicked it again. He kept doing this over and over again. He really was bored or hi mind had shut down completely. Erin was more likely to believe the latter.

Erin placed a kiss to the back of his neck. He didn't jump, he only turned slightly to look at her. Erin hopped up onto the table, sitting herself comfortably before running her fingers through his thick, raven hair. She loved the silkiness of it, it always brought some comfort to her.

"You know, I never once thought about your title. I only ever thought of Vlad not the Grand High Vampire." She spoke softly to him, her words acting like balm on a stinging wound. "Losing your title doesn't matter to me." Erin hadn't cared about his title and she'd never stood in the way of his duties. There had been a few argument when he in a sense 'brought his work home' in the terms of coming out of a meeting in the darkest of moods but she'd never held it against him in all that time.

"They all look at me as if I'm supposed to have an answer, and I just don't know what to do. To get my title back I have to turn her to dust. There's no loopholes in laws, she won't hand it back to me, there's no other option."

Erin couldn't believe that, Vlad had always been positive in the past. "Vlad, there's always another option. I've seen what slaying a vampire does to you Vlad."

He gave her a tight smile, "Nothing happens to me Erin."

"Don't lie to me Vlad." She told him firmly, she tried to mask the hurt but she failed. "Every time you have to execute one of your kind you hide away inside, you know you're doing the right thing but you feel like a murderer. You can't sleep for weeks on end and when you do its full of nightmares."

"I'm sorry." He whispered to her, Erin had always seen through him. "What do you think I should do?" Vlad asked softly.

"I also know you can't make the first move, you can't give her a reason to execute you." Olga would gladly kill Vlad at the first chance she got. Vlad was too much of a threat.

He gave her a wry smile, "I think I did that when I refused to bow to her."

"You're forgetting one thing Vlad." She kissed his forehead lightly. He gave her a confused look, his face scrunching slightly. "You're the most powerful vampire in existence. She can't hope to match that power."

"That makes her more dangerous. The Council know not to go after you though." Vlad told her quietly, "They know what'll happen if they do." He sighed, "Whatever she does it won't be by the book. It'll be devious and evil." Olga was capable of such acts of evil. Vlad had always been able to see through her act but he was at a disadvantage, he had never seen her in action but Ingrid had. The only downside was that he really didn't want to talk to his sister yet. Her actions stung, he needed to build walls before he faced her again.

To Erin there was only one thing Vlad could do, fight fire with fire. "Vlad sometimes to get the things back that matter, you have to do things that you're not proud of."

"What does that mean?"

"Maybe its time you stopped playing fair." Erin suggested quietly. Vlad was honest and Olga was going to use that against him to remain in power. For a chance of getting back into power Vlad needed to consider something that he wouldn't usually do. Sometimes to fight for what was right you had to cross that line.

Vlad gave her a sarcastic look, "How do I do that?"

Vlad suddenly froze and Erin knew that look. She hadn't seen it in years though but she knew what it meant. His eyes fixed glazed on the doors and she braced herself for whatever was going to happen.

An explosion rocked the manor. Vlad and Erin jumped up, straightening into a fighting stance and glancing around. Erin knew if her heart still beat it would be racing with fear at the sound. They knew that explosion hadn't come from inside, it had come from the outside.

Vlad sniffed the air, there was no scent but that didn't necessarily mean anything. The slayers could mask their scent.

Bertrand burst into the room, he looked at Erin before looking at Vlad. He looked stricken, almost as if he was too late over something.

"Vlad, we need you. Now."

TBC

A/N: Please let me know what you think.

Thanks for reading.