Familiar feelings of disgust and being used consumed The Count but this time, instead of the helplessness humanity had forced onto him, he was engulfed by a cloud of blind rage that had him seeing the proverbial red.

At the back of his mind he heard Erinna shouting his name and bones cracking but he was completely unaware and locked in his past. Overpowering perfumes, sweaty skins, lusty hands groping him were all he could see, smell and feel. No, this wasn’t real, just a memory, he tried to tell himself but his past had him in its claws and was not planning on letting go.

He staggered forward, eyes unseeing as he tried to shake his head and clear his mind.

“Get back here you worthless whore! You think I paid my money to chase you around?”

He had to get away. He tried to run but he wasn’t fast enough. A hand gripped his bony arm and pulled him back but he picked a candle stand and slammed it into the man’s face. The sweaty arm immediately released him and he rushed to the door, knowing he’d find it locked but needing to try anyway, to hope this time would be different from the others.

He got the handle in his hand and twisted but the door wouldn’t open. He jerked and jerked, his heart now pounding with accelerating fear.

“So you think you can get away from us?” Another different voice. He hadn’t fully turned back before he heard the sound that always came before the pain. His body tensed as the whip slashed through the air and landed on his skin, sinking like a knife into soft butter.

Erinna had been so paralyzed with shock, so immobilized with surprise that she hadn’t been able to do or say anything. The contact itself had not lasted even three seconds. In her state of shock she hadn’t been able to do anything but scream as Vlad had flung the woman he had always regarded like a mother across the room. Miya violently crashed into Erinna’s mirror shattering it into a million jagged shards of glass and showered her mercilessly. He ha not even used telekinesis, that was how angry he was.

She looked at Miya who lay on the ground bleeding and Vlad who looked like he was locked in his own world. The choice was made unconsciously and she ran to her mate. She was beginning to learn her priorities.

“Vlad,” she called him, holding his hands.

His eyes were a very deep, tainted shade of crimson like the one they took when he was angry, hungry or extremely distressed yet this time the colour didn’t seem right. His lips were slightly open and his throat was convulsing like he was trying to say something but failing.

There was a glazed and unfocused look on his face that worried her. It was not his face that told her something was wrong, it was the air around him. Even in its silence, it sounded noisy and jarring. It was noisy with pain and anguish and she could hear the silent screams and tortured pleas.

“Vlad, Vlad please, come back,” she called, tears now falling down her cheeks as she squeezed his hands, trying to get a reaction from him for she had already guessed what was happening.

It wasn’t hard to figure out why unwanted sexual attention would drive this reaction out of him. Erinna herself had been shocked. What could have driven Miya, a woman Vlad had always respected and regarded like a mother to do something abominable like that?

Had it been an affectionate kiss it could have been understandable, but the passion in the kiss and the lust in the other woman’s eyes had been unmistakable. But Miya wasn’t her concern; they’d deal with that later.

Vlad was not responding and she was becoming more worried. Little gasps and the stangled sounds of pain experiencing their worst nightmare would escape from his throat every few seconds.

She needed to get him out of his head. After everything he’d gone through, he didn’t deserve to relive his worst horrors and nightmares.

She stood up on her toes and pulled his face down with her hands.

‘Vlad, you’re scaring me, please come back.’

‘Erinna?’

She kissed his lips but got no response.

‘It’s not real, whatever you’re seeing, love. Come back.’

‘You shouldn’t be here.’

‘Neither should you. I’ll go back if you come with me.’

She felt his longing, his desire to escape but then also felt the dejection as the blossoming hope died away.

‘I can’t.’

‘Yes you can love, come with me.’

‘He’ll hurt her.’

‘What?’

‘He said if I don’t do it he’ll make her do it.’

‘Hurt who?’

‘Elizabeth.’

Shock and revulsion filled Erinna. What? Draco had forced his son into being a prostitute for him by threatening his mother’s welfare? No wonder Vlad had refused to leave when Miya had tried to escape with him. More tears fell down her cheeks; tears for this child who had done so much for the woman who had refused to even acknowledge him or let him call her mother.

‘No one will hurt you Vlad or your mother. This is the past. You’re strong remember? No one will ever come near you again.’

Not as long as she lived.

Using the strategy Vlad had used on her, Erinna drew up on her toes and kissed him. It was a gentle kisse, filled with love, compassion and understanding. It was everything he was not and was at the same time. Erinna put her all into it, summoning all her happy memories, the joy and love she had felt in his presence and let the feelings flow into him.

Slowly he began responding, his lips barely moving at first until at last they were engulfed by passion so strong that it sparked and joined their auras; a whirlwind of purple, neon and other electric colours surrounding and flying around them.

The atmosphere round them was so thick with energy and love and mutual satisfaction that when they broke free they were both breathing hard. Erinna’s eyes were dancing with little flames behind them and Vlad’s were vivid red. It was no longer the murky and tainted red but the crimson she was used to.

"No one will ever hurt you again, Vlad."

He didn’t reply but put his hands on her waist and lifted her up. Erinna wrapped her legs around him and rested her head on his shoulder. Their heartbeats were synched and Erinna knew something fundamental had just happened.

She wanted to ask Vlad if he suffered from similar episodes but didn’t want to disturb the pleasant silence. The hug continued with neither of them saying anything but just enjoying the other’s presence.

“I love you, you know that?”

Tears fell down her face and emotion so violent made her hold him tighter. How could he still be capable of so much feeling after everything that had been done to him? How could he still be capable of giving after all the world had taken from him?

Too overcome with emotion, Erinna could only nod. Lines were blurring between them and she knew she was wrong for giving him hope like this when things could not go back to the way they’d been before but how could she refuse him when her heart wanted him so? Vlad needed her and she was going to be there for him, sensibilities could come in the morning.

The silence continued, only punctuated by Erinna’s sniffles. After ten minutes she was finally able to talk.

“Are you okay?”

He laughed and Erinna mentally banged her head on a wall. What a stupid question to ask. Of course he was not okay, it would be a wonder if he would ever be but Erinna knew that she was going to do everything in her power to free him. Not just from his demons but from the curses that bound and enslaved him.

“It’s been long since that happened."

"This was not the first time?"

She had known Vlad was haunted but this put a new meaning to the phrase. His time with his father was obviously his most traumatic memories and to relive that over and over again? It would break the strongest man.

"No."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No."

She tried to hide her disappointment. She really wanted to help him, but of course he deserved his privacy.

"Not now at least," he softened the rejection. "Thank you for bringing me back."

Erinna shook her head.

“You’d have done it for me.”

She then drew back a little so she could look at him. She framed his face in her hands again and looked into his eyes.

“Whatever happened in the past Vlad, it doesn’t define you. Whatever they called you or did to you, you are not a whore.”

He gave a dry laugh and tried to look away but she held him tight.

“Vlad I’m serious. You’re not, do you hear me?”

His eyes cleared a bit and she felt his melancholy mood shift a little and then he gave his signature smirk, reserved only for her. She doubted anyone else had ever seen Vlad’s teeth except when he was tearing their throat out.

“You’re so cute when you’re trying to be bossy. It’s one of my favorite looks on you,” he said putting a kiss on her nose.

She wanted to complain about being treated like a cat and for him not taking the conversation seriously but decided he’d had enough for that day. If he wanted a break then a break he was going to get.

“Favorites? You have several?”

“Oh yes. There’s the one when I'm touching you and you're trying not to lose yourself. Then the one when you’re so dizzy and satisfied after I take your blood,” he said kissing her neck, “then my new favorite of course when you’re angry and trying to make yourself mateless,” he finished, referring to the times when she’d tried to kill him.

Somehow, the words he said got to Erinna made all her secret places tingle with anticipation and desire. What was he turning her into?

“There is something seriously wrong with your mind, Count Dracula.” She laughed because who else would be turned on by someone trying to kill him?

“Old news. But here’s another favorite, when you’re on your knees with your lips wr__”

He didn’t get to finish his inappropriate documentary as a cough came from across the room. Erinna’s eyes widened and shame engulfed her. How could she have forgotten about Miya. Heavens, what if she had bled to death? All she’d been thinking at the moment had been that Vlad needed her and she had to help him.

Vlad immediately tensed and Erinna could feel his anger and resentment without him saying anything.

“Vlad_”

“I’m not going to apologize.”

“I wasn’t going to ask you to.”

He frowned, clearly not expecting this answer.

“What she did was wrong but you know Miya, she is not like that. Something is very wrong.”

Before Vlad could answer though, his eyes grew unfocused again.

Erinna’s heart skipped a beat and for a moment she thought he’d gone into a trance again before realizing he was taking a telepathic call from one of his vampires. She waited until he had finished speaking to the person and come back to the presence.

“What is it?” She asked, seeing his frown.

“It’s a summons.”

“From who?”

“Your father.”

Erinna’s eyes widened. Her father who had hated her mate so much that he’d locked her in a tower and made the whole world believe she’d not been born just so he could keep her away from him now wanted to meet?

“Alexander says the letter is requesting a meeting on neutral grounds to discuss a peace treaty.”

“Father? It is impossible. He hates vampires, every elf does.”

Yet she couldn’t stop the hope blossoming in her heart. Could her father have finally seen he could not fight fate and what was meant to be would always be?

After the intimate moment Erinna had just shared with Vlad, she did not want to ever let him go again. The kiss had resolidified her faith in what they had. More than just their bodies, their hearts had communicated, a silent bond of trust had formed in which her soul knew his and his knew hers.

It was that connection that had given her this knowledge that no one with the depth of feeling that Vlad had for her could have ever done something so despicable. Whatever had happened, Vlad could have never cheated on her. They didn’t know the truth yet but she would find out whatever had happened that night along with what had driven Miya to kiss her son.

She didn’t know if Vlad would take her back after having doubted him so much and not even giving him the benefit of the doubt but she knew that she needed to repair all her relationships if she was to give all the time that her union with Vlad deserved to rebuild it. And the first step was repairing the relationship with her father.

“Every elf?” Vlad said but she could see the hint of a smile at the edge of his lips.

“You know what I mean. I don’t know if father is capable of change of heart but you need to go hear what he is saying. I can’t come; I have to take care of Miya.”

“Erinna the last thing that idiot wants is peace.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“He’s my father, show some respect. But I don’t see why he would lie. He probably just wants to see me.”

It was no secret that King Eric along with every elf in Ellingsdale hated vampires but it was also common knowledge that he would do anything for his daughter. It was a far stretch but Erinna couldn’t crush that hope that perhaps her father had undergone a change of feeling or at least realized that the only way he could see his daughter was by making peace with the man who had claimed her.

“And he won’t be seeing you.”

“Be reasonable Vlad.”

“Erinna it’s been how many months? He suddenly wants to communicate now? They must know by now I’d have defiled you in seven hundred ways.”

That part didn’t make sense to her either. For elves, being touched by a vampire was enough to warrant one unclean but if they were to know all the things she’d done with Vlad…

“Perhaps he doesn’t know. But just go and hear him out please. It would mean a lot to me if you came to an agreement.” She said, giving him her best Alex eyes.

Her father and her mate putting down their swords wasn’t her only intention in convincing Vlad to go. The issue with Miya was making him unstable and she wanted him to get some fresh air, at least until she’d resolved this and gotten Miya away from the castle. She didn’t want Vlad to do something he’d regret.

"Don't look at me like that," he groaned.

"Like what?" Erinna asked with fake innocence as she widened her eyes further and infused the bond with happy energy.

She knew he had caved in when he sighed and rolled his eyes which were now back to their usual black.

“Agh fine, the things I do for you, Countess.”

She smiled and kissed his jaw.

“Thank you. Be careful.”

“Like that nitwit could actually do anything to me except shout insults from behind a window.”

“He’s your father-in-law, show some respect.”

His eyes flashed.

“Father-in-law? Does this mean there’ll be a wedding after all?”

“It means we have a lot to discuss when you come back,” she said getting down from his arms.

“Now how am I supposed to focus on talking to the midget when I’ll be thinking of that?”

“Delayed gratification,” she smiled whilst batting her lashes.

He pulled her back with his hands on her waist.

“I’m a very instant type of man, angel.”

“A randy one too, get away from me,” she laughed pushing him away.

“You better be ready to make good on your word when I come back,” he winked and vanished.

Laughing, Erinna turned around to where Miya was. Her eyes widened at the amount of blood. It wasn’t a lot but to think she and Vlad had been talking whilst Miya had been there hurting. It had been a good idea though, if she had rushed to help Miya Vlad would have killed the witch instantly. His feelings were still a little raw on the issue.

“Miya?”

“The Prince deserves a true queen by his side. You have brought him nothing but pain and despair. He has seen enough in his life without the misery you inflict on him.”

Erinna’s heart junped and her heart widened in surprise. There was only one other time that Miya had told her she was not strong or good enough for Vlad. At the time it had not made sense but looking back into her actions, she could see the claims had truth to them. Guilt swelled up inside her, making her cheeks burn with shame. She really had treated Vlad awfully.

“I didn’t mean to hurt him, Miya.”

“You are wrong for him.”

😶😶😶😶😶😶

Vlad was still in a state of turmoil and denial when he left the castle, his mind struggling to accept what had happened. This was Miya, how could she have done that to him?

He had tried washing his mouth over and over again, even using the horrible liquid Leila used for washing dishes before he left but he still felt as unclean and as blemished as he had the moment it had happened. He doubted there was anything on earth that could actually cleanse him and free him from the feeling of being dirty and defiled.

And all in front of Erinna, if he was going through this, what must she be going through? It was too much to cope with, too much for him to ask of her. She had been trying so hard understanding and supportive, not chucking him out or denouncing him as he had expected for his past. What had he ever done to deserve her?

Pushing the gloomy thoughts from his mind, Vlad gave a mind-cleansing sigh and teleported to the neutral region that existed between the boarders of Ellingsdale and Death Town. The no man’s land strip had magical properties that rid all those that entered of their powers. No bloodshed was allowed there. It was the area Vlad had killed their Pure Being so Vlad guessed the properties of the land had something to do with that.

Dracula’s central province was constructed in concentric circles such that in the middle, at the very heart was Transylvania, followed by the human village, then the shifters and lastly by Death Town which boarder and encircled the whole Province such that no one could enter the kingdom without passing through Death Town first. So this valley that made up the no man’s land was all that separated Ellingsdale from Death Town, no wonder they were not very fond of him.

Eric was waiting for him there, alone as promised. But he was too quick to presume, for just as he arrived, a man stepped from behind a bush, pushing a human girl who was in front of him. Her fear was palpable and Vlad could smell it. His predator instincts became alert and the task of not launching himself at the girl was a test of will.

On another day, resisting could not have even taken an effort given the watery smell of the girl’s blood. It was too ordinary and bland compared to Erinna’s potent and bewitching blood. But he was a hungry man and the temptation was too much, even Eric must have noticed because the king gave a toothy smile as he noticed Vlad’s struggle for control.

Maybe he should just take a sip, a little bite. Erinna would understand; she wouldn’t want him to starve. But you promised. Vlad scowled, he hated these inconvenient bouts of conscience he was having lately.

“What’s this? I thought you said you’d come alone?” He asked, dragging his eyes off the tied girl to Eric. He felt disgusted as he looked at the man, such a hypocrite. What would Erinna say if he knew her father was going around kidnapping human girls just to see what it took to make his daughter's mate tick?