Predetermined

Chapter 4 - Disgrace

This story belongs to: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/615457/yeknodelttil 

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 The Dracula clan sat in stony silence as they looked at each other, trying to process exactly what Vlad had just said.

"You want us to do what?" The Count roared at his son.

"Act like a normal breather family." Vlad repeated, not flinching once as he spoke to the anger of the rest of his family. "Its only while Erin's family is around."

Bertrand answered next, "This is just to protect your slayer." Vlad sent him a harsh look and immediately Bertrand stepped back, he'd overstepped his bounds. He'd spoken out against him again.

"Its to protect all of us!" Vlad shouted at him, the Count had a closed mind.

Erin felt eyes on her so she wanted to defend herself a little, "I wanted to leave."

The Count clapped, he agreed with her completely. "Then go. Solves all our problems."

"Erin isn't leaving." Vlad answered automatically. "And you aren't going to make her." He answered before any of them could protest. Vlad's authority was showing through he's already proved he was a leader and he was just emphasising it once more. "Even if Erin does go they'll still turn up here."

"You have a slayer girlfriend who comes from a slayer family, the slayers want you to end the relationship and if our kind finds out..."

"We'll take the risk." Vlad and Erin spoke at exactly the same time. They caught each other's eyes and Vlad looked away while Erin blushed and looked down.

If the rest of the vampires found out then Vlad would be a laughing stock. He was supposed to date amongst his own kind the same went for Erin. If his kind ever found out then there would be chaos.

"You said it yourself Vlad, you're from completely different worlds." The Count reminded Vlad gently, nothing would be simple about their relationship. Both cultures had widely diverse traditions. Vlad's relationship would be considered as a courtship, in their culture that led to an engagement. In Erin's it could lead to engagement or it could lead to nothing.

"I know, but it's worth it." Vlad felt a connection to Erin that he'd never felt with anyone else. She made him actually accept himself and she made him happier than he'd been in a long time. He wasn't going to lose that because some people didn't like them being together.

The Count brought them back on topic, he couldn't bear the topic of his son's love life for a moment longer. "We're supposed to be in hiding." The Count didn't understand how they could have found out.

"Your Carpathian Feast officially brought us out of hiding." Ingrid answered, looking at her nails all of the Count's friends were gossips.

"If they don't find out what we are then we're safe." Vlad reasoned. The others had to agree with that. "Look we don't know how long they'll be visiting and they won't be staying here." Or so they both hoped. "All we have to do is not act like vampires around them." Vlad's head snapped to Bertrand and Ingrid, "And don't even think about doing it on purpose otherwise I'll be the one you have to watch out for."

The pair nodded slowly, they knew Vlad would stick to his threat especially when this was to protect Erin as much as themselves.

Ingrid leaned forwards, resting her hands on her knees. "What do you want us to do?"

*****

Vlad helped Erin finish building the bed frame. It had never crossed his mind that Erin would prefer a bed to a coffin. He knew he preferred a bed but his coffin had now become a safety feature for him. He was safe inside its metal confines. The old bed frame had been a feature when they'd brought the school, until now it had been stored in the basement having been ripped out for his coffin when he'd transformed.