A/N: Disclaimer in Chapter 1.
Sorry to harass you again about the condensing thing, the same person asked if, as I wouldn't stop posting, I could make the stories shorter instead.
I just wanted to check that people were okay with the way I was doing it now. If not I'll condense them down.
Chapter 24: RiddlesThey moved around the town quickly, trying not to draw attention to themselves but outsiders always drew their attention. A hushed silence followed them with every move they took; they fought not to let it bother them.
It also helped that they weren't dressed like vampires; they were dressed as a normal British couple. Erin leaned into him as they walked, resting her head on his shoulder as they moved in perfect sync with each other.
Erin could hear some phrases in Transylvanian; she'd heard a few of them once or twice when Ingrid had insulted her brother
They reached the edge of the village; in between the bracken was a small wooden shack nestled inside. The bushes in front of it were overgrown, obscuring the windows. Flickers of light appeared between the minute gaps in the leaves letting them know that someone was in there.
"Wait here." Vlad told her quietly, "I'm just checking there's no one else around." He didn't want locals jumping out at them accusing them of being bloodsuckers or werewolves or something else without any evidence because they were outsiders.
Erin nodded, "Sure." Vlad looked at her strangely before disappearing in a flash.
Erin tapped her foot lightly on the ground; a craving for more soy blood overcame her. She waited another few seconds before making a decision.
The quicker she spoke to the woman inside, the quicker they could get the blood.
Erin cautiously pushed open the door to one of the shacks, the door jolted and jerked along the floor as it tried to open it.
Before she'd even made it over the threshold her wrist was clamped in a vice like grip.
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Erin felt a hand clamped tightly around her wrist, she went to pull it back but she couldn't move it. The woman's grip was far too strong. This was Octa.
"Let me go." Erin asked her in Transylvanian but the woman only gripped tighter, it didn't hurt her but Erin didn't like being handled this way especially not after her parents had done it to her.
The woman spoke a spiel of words, so fast and so quickly that she didn't understand many word only just catching the words 'vampire' and 'child'.
The woman wasn't old by any means she was barely in her late twenties. She had long ginger hair that was ragged and reached half way down her back. Her green eyes sparkled in intensity as she looked at Erin, trying to see into her very soul. She was beautiful so she found it strange that she was considered as 'mad' although the boy had never said it, that was the implication.
The woman grabbed the scarf and yanked it from Erin's neck, it slipped away making Erin gasp as her bites were exposed to the world.
The woman hissed and grabbed her neck forcing her down.
"VLAD!" Erin screamed mentally. Vlad appeared at her side, gripping the woman and forcing her hands from her throat with little effort. The woman winced at Vlad's actions, cradling her hand from where he'd forced it from Erin's throat.
Vlad gave her an annoyed look; he wasn't impressed at her ignoring him and going ahead without him.
Erin clasped her hands to her throat, trying to ignore the phantom sensations that still were present. Vlad looked at her in concern and she nodded that she was fine. It was more that she'd been startled than anything else. "You're not like other demons but demons wear many disguises."
She the woman didn't try to grab a stake or any form of slaying gear, she just smiled at Erin. Erin found the experience unnerving.
"You love her." She looked at the claim mark on Erin's neck.
Vlad yanked his scarf away, exposing it fully. "Yes."
The woman smiled and traced the marks in the air, "There hasn't been a mating ceremony in centuries. I've heard a lot about you Vladimir Dracula and your slayer mate. A brave choice." She smiled, Vlad didn't like that she knew so much about him.
"Why aren't you calling for anyone?"
"There's no point, you won't hurt me." She was confident in that. "Your mate keeps you strong, she doesn't let you be tempted by your evil. No other vampire has ever resisted, you're the first but not the last." She pointedly looked at Erin's stomach, a knowing look crossing her face. Erin folded her arms over her stomach in an attempt to stop Octa looking at her abdomen. "Protective parents, you'll love them no matter if they're a boy or a girl."
Erin's eyes narrowed in suspicion, "How come you know so much about us?"
"Because I was one of you, I'm no longer a demon." She smiled at him, showing him her neck. There were clear bite marks along it, this wasn't make up the marks were far too deep and silver looking. She moved her hand across the room and lifted a clove of garlic. "And I'm no longer loyal, of course the loyalty had to be broken first."
Nothing happened, not even the faintest whisper of smoke rose from her hand.
Erin and Vlad looked at each other, it had never been possible. Vlad had spent most of his life trying to undo it. He turned his head and focussed on her, he could hear the gentle beating of her heart. She really was a mortal again.
"How?" Vlad asked, he'd never heard of it before. If there was a chance to save Bertrand…
The woman smiled, "In time." She laughed as Vlad bristled, he really was impatient. "You have worse things to deal with."
She stirred the pot in front of her, the smell wafted over towards Erin, clinging to her nostrils. She fought the urge to wretch.
The woman handed her a small poultice, "Smell this, it'll help with the sickness." Erin took it from her and inhaled it, almost immediately she felt her stomach settle.
"The Rue de Gerrard may hold part of the answer to what you seek." That was a riddle to Vlad but it had a location.
The name meant something to Vlad but he couldn't remember what. He looked at Erin for the answer but she gave him a blank expression – it meant absolutely nothing to her.
"Keep your reflection locked inside, nothing is what it seems when you find what you seek." She warned Vlad, he was confused he always had control over his reflection with only a couple of glaring exceptions.
Erin shook her head, she was thoroughly confused, the riddles were confusing her. That's if they were riddles and not just plain nonsense.
Octa continued not looking up from the pot. "If your reflection escapes it might help your friend."
Vlad looked at Octa as if she'd gone crazy, his eyebrows were raised as he nodded slowly. "Thanks. I think."
Erin went to hand her back the poultice. "Keep it, it will last for centuries. You'll need it."
Erin didn't know what to say to that. Vlad was just as startled at her bluntness but he was thankful Erin really wasn't coping well with the morning sickness.
He took Erin's hand in his, gently leading her from the house into the outside world.
Octa called out to him, "Remember to keep your reflection locked inside."
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One perk of being Grand High Vampire was that Vlad didn't need to be invited into a home. That honour was now extended to Erin as Queen. By law Vlad could make impromptu visits whenever he liked.
This palace was more about grandeur than anything else, it was a trophy that stood out amongst the other houses. This was a different part of Transylvania, this was a more upmarket part with estates and terraced houses.
All the while he couldn't help the feeling that he knew this place from somewhere – well, knew the name in a non Grand High Vampire way.
Vlad landed in the entranceway, seeking out with his mind for any inhabitants of the palace. No vampire could hide from him – he was far too powerful for them to evade him at all.
There was no one in there, he relaxed slightly but he didn't get too confident – they could appear at any moment. He gestured for Erin to join him.
Vlad brushed a soft kiss across her lips, before resting his forehead against hers. "Ready?"
"Ready," she confirmed.
Vlad nodded before they slowly entered the palace.
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The corridors were quiet, nothing seemed to be there not even a mouse. The building was clean, cleaner than their manor, something Erin never thought she'd see although she doubted that in seven months that the manor would be clean for much longer. The heights of fashion in the terms of furniture from different eras decorated the corridors.
Vlad could feel the power flowing from the mirrors; he had always been sensitive to things like that.
He followed his instincts, Erin close behind him. He didn't open a door he just continued on one path in particular.
Erin was a little concerned that this was too easy, she was also afraid of what Octa had said to them.
The climbed higher and higher in the palace all the way up to the main turret. Erin climbed the steps with ease; she didn't miss the puffing and panting that used to come with climbing the stairs at the school.
Eventually they reached the top floor, and Vlad looked at her. "We're here." His hair was tingling; he knew this was the place. He was only afraid of what he'd see on the other side of the door.
The room was shrouded in darkness; there was nothing to be seen in it at all. The walls were bare there was absolutely nothing in there.
"There's nothing here." He hissed, "I can feel the power but I can't see anything." He muttered angrily. He was angry at being led on a wild goose chase.
Vlad clicked his fingers lighting the candles in the room. He clutched his eyes to shield them as intense light hit them, blinding them temporarily.
Erin waited for her eyes to adjust, seeing red and green spots in front of her. Then she looked down – the sight startling her.
Vlad let out a gasp, dropping to the floor in agony.
This was worse than he could ever imagine.
TBC
A.N: What do you think?
I'm taking it a different route to what you mind expect…
Thanks for reading.