A/N: Disclaimer in Chapter 1.
I've finally been unblocked today (I had to be blocked a certain number of times or something before they could do anything).
A few people asked me about contacting them, I'm afraid they turn off their PMs after they send on off their messages so its impossible to contact them.
It is finally being sorted and after Sunday I will no longer be blocked! Unfortunately the site has asked me not to post tomorrow so they can sort it out to make sure it doesn't happen again to me or anyone else.
I'm sorry that this person has put you through this and I'm sure some of you are irritated as well with my erratic posting because of this. I can't apologise enough.
Thank you for all of your support during this difficult time, I'm forever grateful to you all.
Chapter 45: Promise Returned
It took a few moments for the realisation of who it was to sink in. A smile spread across their faces as they looked at the person on the screen.
Vlad wrapped his arm around Erin's waist drawing her back against his chest, she relaxed into him. Peace slipped over her face.
In the background was various sized medical equipment in a sparse white room, beeps and hums echoing bouncing off the spartan, white walls. The sounds would drive the vampires to distraction if they were in that room.
"I've been gone two months, that's all, two months and you've got a war on your hands, Bertrand's been bitten, you've lost your reflection and Erin's Grand High Vampire. You really don't do anything small do you?" The tone was stern and teasing at the same time. The figure on the screen shook their head in disbelief. "What happened to the Vlad that thought things through?"
"Jonno…" Vlad began to protest before giving up.
Jonno smirked from where he was propped up on the bed; he was pale looking and clearly far from recovered. He was almost as pale as his spotty nightgown, the heart rate monitor wires emerging from the collar. He had an IV lodged in his arm, he seemed to be glancing around the room every few seconds and Vlad had a feeling that Jonno was contacting them without his medic's knowledge.
"Are you supposed to be talking to us?" Mina asked her son sceptically, joy on her face that couldn't be disguised.
"Yeah." He answered as everyone in the room looked at each other sceptically with raised eyebrows.
"Good to see you're okay." Erin cut in changing the subject. Jonno nodded to her gratefully, his eyes drawn to her rounding stomach. Vlad noticed and placed his hands on it possessively. "Three and a half months." She explained with a sideways smile at her husband. Vlad beamed widely.
"He won't be when I get him." Mina muttered, concern for her son exerting himself overpowering her.
"The Count there?" Jonno asked curiously, he realised who was missing from the room. He'd expected to see Vlad's father around there.
The three vampires' faces hardened, Jonno's eyes flickered to his mother who seemed to be giving Vlad a sympathetic look. "He's somewhere."
"He hasn't left yet." Erin snapped angrily, she wanted the Count out of her home until he saw Vlad for his son without worrying what his kind thought about Vlad's current status.
Out of the corner of her eye Erin saw the door open and close, her parents entering to be nosy although the technical term was 'being kept in the loop'.
"Looking at the data, the slayings have been in Transylvania, Transiberia, Italy, America and the UK. Concentrated in areas that are full of support for Vlad." Jonno told them, scrolling through data.
"Jonno you need to rest…" Vlad began he didn't want Jonno becoming ill trying to help them. "We can handle this ourselves."
"You haven't done well enough so far." He commented and Vlad looked down. "I'm trying to help, you need it Vlad you don't have the resources we do and I know you don't trust the other slayers." Vlad nodded, Jonno was right. He trusted the Van Helsings, "You need to get your reflection back inside you before you're stuck as a gene fang for eternity, we can run tests to see how far along that change is but it doesn't alter the fact that we need to work quickly. We've sent through detailed and up to date maps of the areas and the castles that the Guild had raided years ago." Vlad pretended he didn't hear that. "A reflection needs an object that reflects to survive,"
"The mirrors were smashed." Erin cut in, there was nothing else in that room at the time.
Jonno continued, "It can exist on its own but only for a limited time, it grows weaker without a mirror." The vampires knew that. "I'm not sure how you can get it out of the mirror though, only clan mirrors recognise their kin. Whatever mirror his reflection is in won't recognise Vlad, you need to find a way to get it out. I have a few ideas…"
Jonno never quite got to finish that sentence.
"MR VAN HELSING!" An angry cry from off screen cut in making him snap his webcam or whatever it was off static replacing it.
Silence reined in the room for a few minutes before Mina spoke slowly, "Jonno will try again." She knew her son well enough to know that he wouldn't let being cut off stop him.
"I'm glad he's okay." Vlad told Mina seriously. Mina nodded, relief filling her as tears welled in her eyes.
Erin knew that everyone's attention would be focussed on Mina so she decided to distract them all. "So now we wait?"
"Now you finish that paperwork." Vlad teased into her ear, Erin groaned and glared at him. Vlad's super speed made it easy for him to perform the tasks because he was used to them, she had to cope with dyslexia and the fact she didn't understand them.
Tom glared across at his daughter, "He's getting you to work then?"
Erin ignored the jibe and the way Vlad bristled at the comment. She pulled on his hand lightly.
"So much for the powerful vampire that you mated with." Tom continued, "You really think that he's have saved you back then if he was like this?"
That was something that got Erin's attention immediately, she spun around to face her parents – or rather her father in particular.
Vlad quickly spun and wrapped an arm around her waist pulling her back to him. "Erin they're only trying to work you up."
Her father ignored her, "You've lost everything now. You've got no name for you or your child…"
Erin shook her head, laughing, "Now you care?" Tom's jaw set. "We've managed before, we'll manage now that's what a family does. Not that you'd know that." She snapped. "Our child is no concern of yours. If you want it to be keep your opinions to yourself." She closed her eyes but when she opened them they were still black. "I need a drink."
YEKNODELTTILYEKNODELTTIL
Erin paced back and forth in the kitchen, Vlad watched her in complete silence – he was used to this after nearly four years together. Erin's anger release was a brisk walk around a room, she'd just march backward and forwards putting her anger into ever step.
When she'd first done it, the night of their first semi-argument he'd paced back and forth after her looking like an idiot before stopping and watching her move.
She looked at him before turning away and reaching for the bottle of blackcurrant juice on the top shelf. She braced her weight on the surface as she tried to push herself upward, balancing dangerously on her stomach.
Vlad sprinted over to her and firmly grabbing her waist, lifted her up and moved her away from the side. She gave him the kind of glare that could scare away the most fierce of vampires, Vlad shrugged it off feeling a tingle creep up his spin before reminding himself that she was hormonal at the moment.
Erin looked up pointedly at the blackcurrant juice, then back at him then up at the blackcurrant juice. With a reluctant sigh, Vlad received the message loud and clear. He reached up and grabbed the blackcurrant juice and held it out to her.
She took it from him, almost snatching it from his grip, "Thank you." She leaned close and gave him a peck on the cheek.
Erin yanked a ceramic mug from the draining board, checking it thoroughly to make sure it was clean before pouring some of the blackcurrant juice into it. She dropped the juice on the unit harder than necessary causing them both to wince as a dull thud echoed around the air.
She strode over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of chilled soy blood. Vlad watched as she fought with the lid before topping up the blackcurrant juice with it. His stomach gave a lurch at the thought of the combination.
His signet ring fell from underneath her blouse slipping forward and hitting the goblet with a chink drawing Vlad's attention to it.
"You're still wearing that?" He asked with a faint smile, playing with the ring he'd given her long ago. It sparkled like the sun they couldn't expose themselves to. For the first time he felt how cold it was in his mortal state compared to his immortal one. It was disturbing but interesting the contrast in senses. "Bit pointless now you're not mated to a Dracula anymore."
He tried to look cheerful but it backfired on him, his face twisting into more of a grimace.
"I've never taken it off Vlad." Erin answered with a smile of her own, it meant everything to her – this tiny piece of jewellery had saved her when there had been no hope before – she wasn't going to take it off and toss it in the corner of their room to gather dust. She made a decision then, she gently slipped it from her neck. Vlad looked horror stricken for a moment before she moved it towards him.
Vlad jerked back before she could do anything to him.
"What are you doing?" He asked, his voice laced with fear. He moved backwards slowly, afraid she was rejecting him. Erin saw what he was doing – running away, his defence mechanism. Erin grabbed his wrist and held him in place mindful that if she wasn't careful she could break his wrist just as he'd done to her collarbone years before.
She pulled him back to her, the chain clasped tightly in her fingers as she stepped into his personal space. Vlad's arms automatically wrapped around her, his thumbs caressing her waist with the lightest of touches. She cupped his cheek and he jumped at the shock of the silver chain coming into contact with his cheek.
"I *am* mated to a Dracula, you didn't face one reflection you faced a thousand and you won. You found a balance. No other gene fang can say that." She unclasped the chain and fastened it around his neck. "You told me that with this ring I was under your protection. You're under mine now." Vlad looked down at the rings as it rested on his shirt. He wanted to protest but she was returning the promise he'd made years ago.
Vlad leaned forward, "Love you." He whispered to her, his lips brushing hers lightly. His breath ghosted across her lips making her shiver. Vlad noticed and couldn't help the smirk that crossed his lips. He still affected her even as a mortal even though deep down he couldn't believe that she'd accepted everything in her stride, especially this.
Erin's face softened with his words, "Love you too."
Vlad closed the distance and kissed her. Erin immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning into him as he slanted his mouth over hers. Erin moaned as she felt his tongue brush against hers. She pressed herself closer to him, she knew that her growing bump would stop her from being this close for a while. Vlad seemed to sense her thoughts and pressed a hand to her abdomen stroking the skin there.
A forced cough from the door drew them apart, Vlad's chest heaving with his breathlessness. They turned to see Renfield.
"Master Vlad, your guest has arrived."
Immediately Vlad's face hardened and Erin once again knew she was missing something.
TBC
A/N: Thanks for reading.