'Erinna,' Vlad's voice called into her mind like a breeze.

'Hmm?' She answered sleepily.

Her body felt sated and relaxed after the mindblowing experience they had shared. Who knew it could be like that? Certainly not her body because it had fallen into a drugged-like slumber. She didn't even want to open her eyes.

'Wake up love,' he coaxed her patiently.

Bit by bit the events of the last few hours came back to her and Erinna shot up from the bed with a gasp.

'Did I oversleep? I'm going to be late,' she panicked, scrambling up to wrap her towel around her nude form so she could go to the bathroom.

'You won't be late. I woke you up with two hours to spare,' he assured her.

'Oh,' she relaxed.

Well two hours was a lot, she only needed one hour to bathe and dress, then thirty minutes to obsess and panic over the oncoming events.

'I'll just go back to sleep then. You can wake me up after half an hour?'

'No, the other thirty minutes are for you to eat.'

'I'm not hungry.'

'It wasn't a question. Alexander said you picked at your food at dinner; since when do we do that?'

The sly old fox, he was already reporting on her.

'That was because I wasn't hungry. But I had breakfast this morning.'

'How about this, I'll allow you to sleep for fifteen minutes. But only if you promise eat before you go for the trial.'

It wasn't a choice and they knew it. He would annoy her until she picked up a spoon and ate.

'Alright but I can't even sleep anymore.'

'Because you talk too much,' he smiled but then he did something that made her drowsy until finally she fell into another peaceful midday nap.

When Vlad woke her up next, Erinna still felt sleepy but she dragged herself to the bathroom and bathed. When Melissa knocked on her door, she was already getting dressed. Her past governess tied her corset and helped her with her hair. After that, she went to the kitchen to eat because Vlad wouldn't shut up about it.

Her father found her eating.

"You look beautiful, child." He complimented her.

He looked handsome as well, quite regal. He had dressed in his royal robes and had his hair immaculately styled.

"Thank you father but you're the one who looks a hundred years younger," she teased.

"You mock me," he laughed. "You have decided to attend the trial then?"

She nodded.

"Like you said, I have broken one too many rules. It's time I answer for it."

"Don't be hard on yourself. I know everything you did came from your heart. You're a good person and they'll see that."

The words comforted Erinna and made her feel better. When she walked to the throne room, it was with a smile and her head held high. Her father and the rest of the council were already inside. She took a deep breath outside the door to calm her wildly beating heart. This was the moment that was going to decide her future in Ellingsdale.

'Relax, they'll love you,' Vlad said in her mind.

'I can't listen to you, you are biased,' she smiled but his comment and just his presence in her mind, made her feel better.

She got inside and regarded the room before her. Instead of chairs, the room had dark brown highly stuffed leather benches arranged in an arch with her father's throne at the head of that arch. Seated on those benches were elves from twelve of the most prominent families in Ellingsdale. Amongst them she recognized Mara and Terinelle Trinidad and six other elves whose names eluded her. Deacon sat at her father's right hand and Theodmon on his left.

Erinna walked up to the front with her head held high but her posture non-confrontational.

"You have to look respectful but not meek; confident but not brazen. We do not want you to look guilty or as if you have anything to plead for but we also don't want to make you look like you're making a mockery of the court," Mara had instructed her on one of their discussions concerning the trial and Erinna struggled to remember all those words as she walked.

She was glad for Vlad's boost of confidence because without it, she would have been in danger of tripping and making a fool out of herself.

When she reached the front of the room where he father was, she curtsied in front of the crown. Her father accepted her greeting with a head bow and encouraging smile. She smiled at Deacon and Theodmon who were seated at the right and left hand of her father respectively, then turned and greeted the rest of the court. They looked shocked and she guessed she had broken another rule again by speaking before she was spoken to. Luckily, Deacon stood up and saved her from the moment of awkwardness.

"A good day to you all, lords and ladies. Special mention goes to my king and the princess, we are honored by your presence here. I commend you all for arriving in time because the sooner we put this business behind us, the better."

"Get on with it already," Theodmon Virmenor mumbled from his seat beside the king.

"I think he would if we all listened and refrained from interrupting every other time," Mara said, glaring at the man Erinna had only met from a distance.

Whilst she had never had the pleasure of coming face to face with her father's left hand man, the elf was no stranger to her. She had heard tales of him ever since he was a child. No one in the kingdom liked Theodmon but because he was one of the most powerful elves and with connections in dark places, they had to bend to his will every other time.

In stature, he was short and seemed non-threatening. In fact, he rather reminded her of Zachary Zahid at the height of his sickness. But where Zachary's eyes had been filled with greed and pure malice, Theodmon's eyes were filled with cunning and deceit.

"As I was saying, we are here to try the case of Princess Erinna of the House of Ellington, fourth representative of the Order of the Alahastair, heir to the throne of Ellingsdale and recently Queen of the vast Draculian empire. I mention this not as part of protocol but so that we all remember that as much as we have some questions we wish the Princess to answer, she is also the most powerful woman walking on this earth and we need to respect that," Deacon said in a firm and uncompromising voice.

He made eye contact with each and every person in the room and when he was sure they were all on the same page, he continued.

"If we all agree, we may begin. I hand over to you Dimitrius," Deacon bowed and returned to his seat.

The court representative stood up. He was a middle aged man of medium height. His head was a flaming field of red hair which complemented his porcelain skin tone. Erinna had never met him before and didn't know what to expect but his clear brown eyes gave her hope.

"I have never tried a royal, let alone a Pure Being, so please excuse all clumsiness on my part. I am quite awed," the man smiled and everyone indulged him with a soft chuckle.

His bright mood was quite infectious.

"The court gives you leave to drop all titles during proceedings," one of the women in the group said.

"Very well. In that case, may the accused say her name before the court," the man said and looked at Erinna with a regretful expression.

Erinna smiled to assure him he had nothing to feel guilty of but her father was not as understanding.

"This is ridiculous, she's a princess," the king could be heard grumbling but Erinna heeded the instruction with quiet grace.

"Erinna Dracula Ellington," she answered, leaving out her titles but including her husband's name so there would be no confusion.

If her people were to take her back, she wanted it to be because they wanted her back not because they thought there was hope that Vlad and her were not as intimately acquainted as the rumors told them they were.

"Thank you princess. Now I will call the Lady Tsarra Venran to report the accused's crimes," Dimitrius called forth a woman Erinna had never heard of her whole life.

She had never seen her yet she was coming to the front to read out a record of her life, Erinna thought, the surreal irony of it all wasn't lost on her.

Lady Venran went and stood beside Deacon at the front. Erinna expected the woman to start talking but instead she was looking at her expectantly

"Princess, you'll be required to kneel before the court," Mara said gently, her eyes sad and sympathetic.

Eric stood up to protest but Erinna halted her with a gentle hand gesture. Of course what they were asking of her was humiliating and demeaning but it was the law and she had already broken enough of it so without any more fuss, she lowered herself to her knees. Her father's anger was pulsating through the room, she could feel it rolling off him in waves but as affronted as he might be, it was clear that even though he sat at the head of the council, he was not the head of it this time.

"Thank you all, I am honored to stand in front of you to see that justice as always, prevails in the kingdom," Lady Venran said.

She took out a scroll Erinna hadn't seen and Erinna was thinking things could not get worse for her until the scroll was rolled out and reached the ground with a thud. Her sins were that many?

"Upon admission by her own father and the witness of several other elves including the esteemed Lady Mara, the princess is being charged of 31 accounts."

The whole court gasped except for Deacon. He remained neutral and didn't react. In fact, his poker face was beginning to unnerve Erinna because he, Mara and her father were the only people she had known would vote on her side, whatever happened.

"And what accounts are those?" Terinelle Trinida asked.

"Association with vampires, taking a vampire's bite, accepting a vampire's blood into her body, cavorting with the number one enemy of our race, marrying a vampire, mating with a vampire, treason, misuse of the breath of life, murder of two human children and injury to other creatures of the night but those hardly count as they are inconsequential, willfully endangering this race, choosing the enemy over her own people, selling our kingdom to the enemy by engaging in a marriage we never approved of, contaminating the pure bloodline of the Alahastair, mass murder, crimes of rage, passion murder, depriving the race of her gifts, not putting the welfare of her people first, not honoring her betrothal to the house of Thilmador, living and consorting with a known murderer, having intimate relations with a man before her vows, making a fool of this court by forsaking the engagement we made on her behalf to the house of Zahid, not upholding the holy name of the Alahastair, coming back to life by making a deal with the devil, tainting of her aura, misuse of her powers, failure to respect the elders of this court, taking role of life taker and giver and about all the worst sin of all: taking forward steps to promote evil."

Erinna was just stunned. She had hoped Lady Veran had been joking when he had said 31. She hadn't considered that it might actually be possible that her crimes had amounted to such an astonishing magnitude.

"You speak things you know nothing of. When did she ever take steps to promote evil?" Eric asked, his voice deadly and eyes blazing with barely withheld rage.

"By sharing a bed with the creature Dracula, she is ultimately agreeing to everything he has done, all he will do and everything he is capable of and we do not need to begin a discussion of what the creature has done in all his stolen years on this earth," Lady Venran said in a hard voice.

Erinna's anger spiked at hearing Vlad being referred to like some of inhumane monster.

"There is nothing stolen about his years on this earth. He is here because we cursed him. Everything he is is because of that curse," she burst out and Mara winced but Erinna didn't care.

She was tired of people acting too good and holy. Vlad wouldn't have to fight half the battles he fought everyday if the elves had not cursed him. He wouldn't have to fight bloodlust every day or the urge to turn into an animal and shred everything in his path. He wouldn't be so afraid of hurting her that half the time he was in her presence he would be doing everything he could to hold himself back. His reaction to everything wouldn't be violence and he wouldn't feel like it was him against the world every other time.

"A curse he brought on himself," Lady Venran shot back.

"We all make mistakes and Vlad has paid for his. You condemning him for the next century and a half will not change the past. Enai is dead and I'm sorry but we have to move on. Instead of degrading him, you should all commend him because I know none of you would even still be remotely human if you were cursed to drink blood and stay in the shadows your whole life," she said, her eyes glaring at them.

In her anger, she had not realized her skin was starting to turn orange or that her gown had become the color of blood and that flames had begun burning in the irises of her eyes. The whole room had gone silent and they looked like they had seen a ghost.

'What's wrong?' Vlad, ever sensitive to her emotional changes, asked in her mind.

His voice instantly calmed her down and she reined in her fury.

'I think my chance of winning this case just went down the drain,' she said ruefully.

'What did they say?'

'They were talking about you and it made me angry that they would say those things about you and I---'

'Angel,' he interrupted her.

'Huh?'

'Take a deep breath.'

She wanted to argue because she was still angry but she did as he instructed and some of the fury faded.

'Thanks,' she said.

'No, thank you. You're the one defending me but didn't I tell you already that was a losing battle?' he laughed.

'It's not. They are being horribly unfair.'

'Forget about me. This is your case, your only chance to be accepted back into your race. Don't throw it away for me.'

'I can't just stand there whilst they-'

'Yes you can and you will. It's what I want.'

"We all digress here. I believe the princess is here to answer for her crimes, not for those of her husband," Dimitrius brought back the court to order.

"Forget about the crimes. I want to know what the hell just happened. How are we to try her when she becomes like that at the wrong mention of her name?" Another man asked, still looking at Erinna like a horse that had grown wings.

Erinna looked down, her dress had gone back to its normal color and her skin had lost its fiery tinge.

"She was not trying to attack you. She was merely defending the one she loves like you all would in the same position," Mara said.

"Yes well but I need to know I will not end up like one of her corpses for saying the truth."

"Mind yourself Drannor or indeed I might ask the princess myself to rid us of your presence," Deacon said with a hard glance at the elf.

"I apologize, it will not happen again," Erinna said.

The court had already gone way off course and they were all wary of her but they had to know she wouldn't intentionally harm them.

"Thank you, Princess. Is there anyone with anything else to add?" Dimitrius asked.

No one stood up so he continued, "Of all the crimes listed here, is there any that you deny, Princess?"

Erinna wanted to say there but all the charges had been true although they could have been expressed in better terms.

"No," she shook her head.

"You heard her yourself," Theodmon sniggered.

"In that case, the court will take a recess and after that, we will decide the fate of the princess."

Erinna was asked to leave the room so she did. Her heart was beating fast and she felt nervous for the situation ahead.

'So this is it,' she said to Vlad.

'They have made a decision?'

'They are discussing it but what is there to discuss? They literally listed 31 crimes that I committed and I couldn't deny any of them.'

'That's only one side of the story. Who is giving your defense?'

'That's not how it works in Ellingsdale and what difference is there anyway? I have already pleaded guilty for all the charges,' she reminded him.

'Tsk tsk Countess, who has been coaching you on court proceedings? Did no one ever tell you that you never plead guilty? You plead not guilty even as they hang you,' he chastened, making her laugh.

'You wanted me to lie to elves?'

'Oh yes, there is that issue by the way. But they won't cast you out. They know they need you more than you need them,' he said certainly.

'That's what father said.'

'Well for once in his life, Eldridge might actually be right.'

'Stop pretending you don't know people's names,' she laughed.

'If I do that he'll start think I actually like him and he is smug enough as it already is.'

Erinna rolled her eyes, 'You two will have to get along one day.'

'That day is not today so let's not discuss it. This is the last thing you were waiting for right? After the trial you come home?' He asked.

'Are you saying you miss me?' She asked with a smile.

'I think we know who misses who Countess. You can't go one hour without popping in my head,' he called her out.

'Shut up,' Erinna laughed.

It made her forget that her life was basically being decided in the next room.

'You know that you'll always have your place in Transylvania right? No matter what they decide,' Vlad said to her after a while.

'As your wife you mean.'

'No, as my queen. As co-ruler of my people.'

Erinna's heart warmed up. She had always thought being Vlad's queen would only be in name, not that he would actually let her rule beside him. It was one of the sweetest things he had ever said and it brought tears to her eyes.

'Don't make a big deal out of it,' he winced, sensing the direction of her thoughts.

'But it is.'

'No, it's not. I've ruled for more than two thousand years. Am I not entitled to taking on a willing slave?' he asked.

'That's what I am now?' She laughed.

'Why Countess, does that idea appeal to you?'

She blushed but was blessedly saved by the door opening. It was one of the council members calling her back inside.

'I have to go back, they're finished,' she said to Vlad.

'Saved by the door sweetheart. But I'm sure we'll find another time to discuss you and chains and on your kne-'

With a mortified gasp, Erinna pushed him out of her mind, the man was unbelievable.

She tried to read everyone's faces but except for Mara who smiled at her encouragingly, everyone else remained stoic and unyielding. A sense of foreboding overtook her and her knees were shaking when she returned to her place on the floor.

"I welcome you all back. We have all reviewed this case and I asked each one of you to cast their vote anonymously in this ballot box and according to the Elvish Book of Law, which we have abided by for four thousand years, it is my duty and prerogative to announce that in light of the majority vote, we have no choice but to declare exi_"