Predetermined

Chapter 16 - Clarke

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

*****

Vlad looked towards the still darkened window, he'd have to leave soon before dawn broke but he didn't want to. He couldn't leave her here but he had no choice at the moment, he needed to see Jonno before he could do anything in terms of a rescue.

He hadn't slept, he didn't want to be caught unaware by anyone if they entered the room. Instead he'd alternated between using his hearing to keep watch and watching Erin sleep.

They were spooned together, facing her bedroom door. He smiled at the state of her hair, he knew his must be as bad.

Vlad pressed a kiss to Erin's bare shoulder, rubbing her arm gently, before nuzzling his nose in her neck. He could smell her blood, the effects of the stasis spray had worn off, the blood didn't tempt him as much now but he relished her scent.

Erin smiled and turned over to face him, she cupped his cheek with her hand. She gave him a gentle kiss before pulling back.

"Hey." She whispered, a slight blush on her face as she remembered back to a few hours ago.

Vlad loved her blushes, it was something he picked up on as he couldn't blush anymore. "Hey." He looked down and lifted her hand, caressing her ring finger gently. The swelling had gone down. Erin realised the broken ring must be in the bathroom still. "How are you going to explain it breaking?" He asked her.

"I'll think of something Vlad." She assured him, she'd say it got caught when she was in the shower and snapped or something like that.

Vlad gently lifted the ring she wore around her neck; it looked like she didn't ever want to take it off. "I didn't think you'd still be wearing it." He admitted, he thought she'd put it in her pocket when she was taken to hide it from her parents.

"You gave it me Vlad, I'm not going to take it off." Conviction was clear in her voice, she wouldn't take it off and she wouldn't let it be taken from her.

"It's not as flashy as *that* ring." Erin shuddered at the thought of the other ring, the one that could be seen from the moon.

She shrugged slightly, watching as he played with the ring between his index finger and thumb. "It's your ring." That made all the difference to her. She didn't like flashy and expensive, she liked the heartfelt and meaningful.

"It doesn't mean the same thing." He reminded her softly, he began to wish it did but it wasn't an engagement ring.

Erin gave him a sad smile, "I know." It meant more to her than an engagement ring, the most powerful vampire in existence had given her his protection. No one else could offer her that. "You can't take me with you." Erin whispered sadly to him, looking behind him at the 'cage' she was in. Vlad shook his head. He wanted to but it had taken shape shifting to get inside so there was no way he could get a mortal out with him.

"I can go out the front door..." Erin pressed a finger to his lips cutting him off.

"You'll be outnumbered. I'm not letting you get slain, they don't know you're in here."

They'd kill her if they found Vlad in here with her although at the moment that seemed like a very pleasant alternative to marriage.

*****

Erin clutched the sheets to her tightly as Vlad began to move off the bed. She could tell he didn't want to go and she didn't want him to either but he had to if he was going to get back to the school before dawn.

Vlad grabbed his shirt from the floor and slipped it on over his head. Erin let out a small chuckle and he looked at her completely confused. He couldn't see why she was laughing. Erin pointed to the mirror, unable to speak and he folded his arms over his chest. He didn't have a reflection; sometimes she forgot that about him.