A/N: Disclaimer in Chapter 1.

I forgot to say thank you for all the names that were sent to me through either reviews or PMs. They were all wonderful, I hope I didn't disappoint people with the final choices.

Their meanings won me over.

Chapter 67: Procedure

Vlad strode purposefully down the corridors, trying to get back to the interrogation room to finish what he'd started. He was trying to process the information that Octa had given him. He hated it when people spoke about things they had no right to.

"Why is it so important about Augustus knowing about the twins?"

"Because his hold over me… us doesn't mean anything anymore." Erin knew that he meant the arranged matings but she didn't know how Augustus had lost his hold.

Erin's nose wrinkled as she tried to understand what he meant. "I don't understand."

"Know he knows he we have twins he's already turned to Olga. He will have given Olga everything she needs to beat us. The twins aren't a bargaining chip any more. That's why I need to put a stop to this before things get worse."

"What do you mean you're putting a stop to this?" Erin asked him quietly.

"I'm ending this stupid war." He rushed out, not that it was much of a war in the terms of battles it had been a war of loyalties more than anything else. Their kind had been divided and he needed to stop further divisions being made before it was too late. "I'm tired Erin." Vlad told her, "I'm flapped off with everything to do with this." He told her quietly. "Olga has stopped killing vampires that are on my side, she's out there waiting for me, I'm sick of the threat of arranged mating over my head for the twins and I'm scared." He muttered under his breath.

Erin stepped closer and placed a hand on his chest. "Its not something to be ashamed of." She whispered, tracing small patterns under his shirt. "I've been scared every day since Olga challenged you. I can't lose my mate."

"You won't lose me." He told her softly, cupping her jaw.

"Olga is mad Vlad, she'll try anything to destroy you."

"I've got something she hasn't though." She tipped her head in confusion, "A mate and two beautiful twins." He brushed his lips against hers chastely.

"What are you going to do?" She asked softly.

"First I'm going to finish undoing what she did to Bertrand and you're going to get the twins to their medical."

"Just be careful." Erin reminded him softly, she didn't want to find him with any more broken bones.

"I will." He answered, pressing their foreheads together before darting off in the other direction.

He'd forgotten one thing though. "Vlad!" Erin called after him, rushing behind him as closely as possible. "At least give me Erika." She told him quietly.

He'd forgotten that he was holding Erika in his arms.

He carefully handed her to Erin, who cradled her daughter lovingly in her free arm.

"Do your best," She told him softly.

He gave her a half smile; Erin knew the possible outcomes of what he was trying to do. "I always do."

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"What's he going to do?" Octa asked Erin quietly as she watched the Queen redress her children from their examination.

"I don't know." That thought scared her, for Vlad not to tell her he was planning then she knew she really wouldn't like it one bit.

"Can't you order him to tell you?"

"Our mating doesn't work like that." Erin answered, she could press Vlad to tell her but she wasn't sure herself if she wanted to do that.

"Can I look at them?" Octa asked her quietly, looking at the children in Erin's arms. A familiar wave of jealously overcoming her. She wanted this for so long, children for so long. It wasn't fair.

She was amazed at their beauty; there was no denying who their parents were. Vlad and Erin were so clearly reflected in both of them, it was clear they weren't identical twins. They were strong to have survived being born so prematurely.

"Hard to believe they're not vampires." She whispered. Stroking Alex's face, Alex opened his eyes and immediately began to scream.

Erin felt insulted at that comment, "They are vampires."

Octa didn't seem to notice how Erin had replied but clarified her statement. "They're more than vampires, they're the future." Erin had to smile, it was true. They were the future – an important part of it. "Did you like the gift?" Octa asked her softly.

"What gift?"

Octa gave her a knowing smile. "The one in your attic."

The chest. Erin should have known, Octa was the only one who could have had knowledge of them having twins years before they had even met.

"Its beautiful thank you."

"My master wanted to get to be on the good side of the Chosen One, giving a gift was his way of doing it." Erin nodded, of course it had been placed there over ten years ago the amount of dust that was on it. "It gave me the strength to kill him." Octa continued. Erin looked at the child that Octa clutched in her arms, fearing for Alex's safety. Erin went to take him from her, "I won't hurt him." She looked at Erin sincerity in her eyes, "He wanted to use your children to gain favours, it helped me overcome the hold he had on me and I killed him. I knew he'd used the children I bore for the same thing." She looked at Erin, "I want you to keep it as a reminder of the freedom you and Vlad have created for your kind."

Erin simply nodded unsure what else to say.

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The door slid open and instinctively Vlad and Bertrand turned towards their new guest. Vlad's shoulders slumped and Bertrand's fangs dropped as he bit into the air in front of him in frustration.

"Tell her to leave Vlad." Bertrand didn't bother to ask Ingrid knowing full well she wouldn't listen to him. Ingrid stepped forwards regardless, she was always going to put up a fight.

"Ingrid…" Vlad began.

"You don't outrank me on this Vlad." Ingrid told her brother sternly, waving a finger towards him. "Bertrand is my fiancé I have the right to be with him through this."

Bertrand immediately cut in, "There's no law…"

Ingrid had been expecting this, "A moral one then." She snapped at her fiancé. She moved over to him and knelt down before him. "We are getting married and eventually mated," He opened his mouth to protest. "We compromised." She reminded him drawing a sulking look from Bertrand.

Vlad bit his tongue and looked down seeing how Ingrid could handle Bertrand. "We do things like Erin and Vlad – together not apart. This is something we'll do together."

"You can't hold my hand during this."

"I know, I'll stand next to my idiot brother." Vlad knew he should feel insulted but he saw the smile Ingrid received from Bertrand and knew she'd only said it to cheer Bertrand up, it made him wonder what other private jokes they shared about him. For the first time in years he felt self-conscious. "I love you and I'm not going anywhere." Bertrand seemed to consider her words before nodding, he was going to let her do this. "Be strong." She reminded him before stepping backwards and closer to her brother.

Vlad nodded to Bertrand signalling he was about to begin. The older vampire closed his eyes as Ingrid looked up towards the observation room for the first time seeing Mina ready to operate the device. Ingrid felt more comfortable with Mina operating it.

They were going to subject Bertrand to the particles first then draw out his reflection from the mirror and subject the reflection to them. Hopefully after that all traces of Olga's bite would be erased. It was easier if they did the reflection second as it would be weaker after the process and might not be able to escape the mirror if they did it first.

Bertrand let out a scream and arched his back upwards, straining himself against his bonds. Vlad tried to block out the sounds but was unsuccessful he hated inflicting pain on anyone else.

Ingrid felt anger towards her brother that he'd begun when she'd been distracted but it soon past as concern for Bertrand overcame her. She sought to comfort him even though Bertrand probably wouldn't be paying attention to her words. "Don't fight it." Ingrid whispered to him. "It needs to happen, don't fight it." Her words became more of a plea. She let out a gasp

"Is it working?"

"Shut up Ingrid." Vlad muttered between clenched teeth. It wasn't an easy feat separating a reflection from a host. This had to be done precisely for it to work. Vlad suddenly relaxed at the same time Bertrand did. His eyes seemed to fix on something she couldn't see but Vlad had always had stronger instincts.

He flicked his left hand towards the mirror and Ingrid watched as the mirror teetered backwards and forwards on its brackets showing something had been forced into it.

Bertrand slumped in his chair, his eyes closing. His chest heaved; he would breath for however long it took for him to either become a gene fang or for his reflection to be reabsorbed.

"NOW MINA!" Vlad shouted before grabbing Ingrid and speeding from the room as fast as he could. He heard the devices powering up to an almost frantic pitch before the door closed behind them. A flash lit up the room and Vlad knew that was the lightly flickering to show that the device was now operating.

Ingrid fought him all the way, she watched as Bertrand jerked in the chair, moving frantically in waves of agonising pain.

He shoved her towards the window and gripped her biceps holding her to him. He was restraining her. "I don't want to hurt you," Vlad told her seriously.

"Let me back in there."

"You know I can't."

"He hasn't got long." Ingrid whispered.

"I know." Vlad couldn't control how long the process took.

"Almost there." Mina whispered. Within seconds of her saying it the machine powered down. "Next stage." Vlad nodded and let go of Ingrid. He waved his hand. The mirror moved to stop directly in front of Vlad.

They had to wait now for his reflection to emerge.

It didn't disappoint them within a minute Vlad had sensed the reflection emerge. He threw out his hand and knocked the mirror out of the way. He held the reflection back using his powers. It couldn't be allowed to be absorbed by Bertrand yet.

He nodded to Mina and the process began again.

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It seemed to take longer this time; Vlad slumped down in exhaustion once he relinquished his hold on Bertrand's reflection.

Ingrid watched as Bertrand tensed in his seat and she knew he'd merged with his reflection. Without asking for clearance she darted from the room, her eyes set on Bertrand.

Vlad leaned back against the wall, his strength having left him, he knew the argentalium would affect the hold he had on Bertrand's reflection he just didn't realised how much so.

Ingrid hurriedly undid the shackles that held Bertrand bound to his chair. He slumped forwards onto her.

She lowered him to the floor and brushed his hair from his eyes. "Did it work?" She asked him, tears forming.

"I don't know." Bertrand told her honestly. He hoped it had, he hoped it had all been worth the pain.

"It'll take a few hours to see if it worked Ingrid, maybe a few days. His body has to readjust." Vlad's voice made her jump.

She kissed him lightly, before performing the affectionate gesture Vlad and Erin usually performed pressing their foreheads together.

She hoped it was worth it.

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They were all assembled in the medical bay; Vlad had one thing out of the way now he had to deal with another. To do that he needed to hold a meeting of sorts.

"I want the clan leaders assembled in the hall of the manor – tomorrow." He told Ingrid fiercely. Ingrid nodded. "We'll take care of Bertrand, he'll feel strange for a day or two." He knew that from personal experience.

"We can't fly or speed with the twins, their lungs wouldn't stand it." Vlad told her quietly. Erin knew that of course.

"We can go back via ambulance." Jonno suggested. "You'll get there quicker and the ambulance will be equipped to transport the twins." Erin shrugged to Vlad, neither of them wanted to leave the other alone.

"Mr Van Helsing you aren't going anywhere…" Clearly Johnson had picked up on the 'we' part. Jonno twisted around to face him, his stick banging hard against the floor.

"I'm fit enough to go, I've been confined to bed for months! The internal bleeding was dealt with months ago all I have to show for it is this stick!"

"You still need intense physiotherapy!" Johnson shouted back at him.

"Missing it for a few days won't kill me!"

Erin and Vlad shared a glance at the outburst, the words Jonno had spoken were of the famous last variety. They weren't going to get any further while Jonno was arguing. Vlad gestured with his head towards the door. "I've got to send a message." He whispered into her ear.

"To who?"

TBC

A/N: Thanks for reading.