When Erinna opened her eyes, she was alone in the room but she knew what they had said.

She was pregnant.

She was with child.

Dracula's child.

Deacon's prediction should have prepared her but Vlad had told her time after time that he was incapable of siring a child that she had not even entertained the possibility. Deacon had mentioned a betrayal and she had thought he was implying she would betray Vlad with another man and bear his child but apparently that was not the case.

Elation followed closely at the heels of her panic and Erinna tried to picture a little Vlad. The image filled her with so much joy and happiness that it brought tears to her eyes. She had to tell him!

A sobering thought dampened her joy. Would Vlad believe her? He was so certain that he could not have children and although Erinna had never given him reason to question her loyalty, she had to wonder if he would accept that their child was his. Why after four thousand years was he suddenly able to father a child? Was it because of the bond or maybe an error in the pattern of events in the universe?

Well, whatever he decided, this was her baby and she already loved it so much. Oh how she would spoil him or her. She could not resign herself to what the physician had said. Her child's father was not evil and neither would her baby be. Fierce protective instincts welled up inside her and Erinna knew as she put hands on her belly, that she would give anything to protect it.

Of course with the confirmation of her pregnancy came the confirmation of another prophecy. The day she had seen it in the archives, she had denied its veracity based on the fact that Vlad was unable to have children but that shield was now gone and there would be no more hiding behind it.

"Out of his loins cometh the poison

The disease of the unconquerable

And the death of a nation"

Erinna gripped her stomach harder and wept as she saw the future that awaited her and those she loved. She cried until the tears dried and cold acceptance sank into her bones. A part of her had wanted to run to Vlad but this was her cross to bear and she was not going to burden anyone else with it.

Mind made up, Erinna rose from her bed and began putting together the few belongings she had brought with her to Ellingsdale from Transylvania. She was in the middle of folding a spare travelling dress when there was commotion downstairs. She set aside the dress and went to the door. The voices grew more heated and hateful.

Erinna exited her room and crept down the stairs. Another time she could have berated herself for eavesdropping but not when it was the fate of her baby at stake.

"No. That is a non-starter." A voice she did not recognize said coldly.

"If you cannot accept the child, the least you can do is let it leave the kingdom," Mara said.

"It is a devil child. Who knows what evil it can bring to the lands?"

"That's the point isn't? No one knows."

"Need we another demonstration after the bloodshed its father has brought on this race and others?"

"You cannot judge a baby before it is born. Nothing is to say it will be like its father," Mara said.

"And nothing says it won't! It's just not worth the risk. We are already trying to get rid of one Dracula and you want to bring another one?"

"Marcus is right, Lady Mara. Even if the child was nothing like the father, there is nothing to say Dracula will not use it to further his ends. This is one of the most powerful children that this earth will ever see."

"I'm not a big supporter of the Count myself but he loves the princess. There is just no way he will use that baby for evil," Mara said.

"Says you? Do you know him? Do you know how the mind of someone who has slaughtered thousands works? What kind of monster can even gather up enough malice to strike down a Pure Being? He killed Enai in cold blood and did not even shed a tear about it! No, the child must die," Theodmon Virmenor, never a fan of the royal family, cut in most vocally.

Erinna gasped, her face going completely pale. Unconsciously, a protective hand went to her belly. She was about to go back to her room when she heard Deacon speak.

"I agree with the others. It is too high a risk we run in allowing the child into the world. But before this child is a Dracula, it is an Ellington. An elf. Are we going to slay our own blood?"

"What do you suggest then? Wait for it to slay us?" Lady Tsarra Venran who had driven for an exile at Erinna's trial said vehemently.

"I say we let the princess make a choice about her own body. Whilst she decides, we can watch the stars and wait for prophecies. If the child is indeed a danger to us or the world at large, we can tell her. She is no fool and will make a decision that protects the elves," Deacon replied.

Erinna's heart squeezed. His faith in her humbled her but she did not know if she was deserving of it. Would she have the selflessness it would take to kill her own child to save the world?

"You say that because she has poisoned you with her green eyes. We will not bring another Dracula into the world to satisfy your infatuation!" Theodmon declared.

The hatred in the voices increased until Erinna could not take it anymore. With tears in her eyes, she rushed to her room. She debated on taking her bag. She could teleport from the castle to the Valley and walk from there until she was out. Once she left the no man's land that was magic free, she would be able to teleport to Transylvania.

"You are leaving aren't you?"

Startled, Erinna turned to look at Melissa. The woman was looking at her with sad but understanding eyes.

"I can't stay, Melissa. They- they want to kill my baby."

"Their pride is hurt. No other Pure Being has ever reached marriageable age or conceived. It hurts them that the privilege went to vampires."

"But that is no reason to kill an innocent. They will not even give it a chance."

"Give them time to cool their tempers, they will realize they were being hasty," Melissa suggested.

"I wish I could wait for that but I cannot."

"I know. Is there anything I can help with?"

"Take care of father."

Before Melissa could reply, another presence appeared at the door. Although he had defended her, Erinna was still wary of him. Seeing the defensive look on the princess' face, Melissa looked behind her and gasped when she saw Deacon. Her expression changed and she straightened her shoulders.

"You will have to go through me if you want to hurt her," the short maid glared at the army commander.

"It is reassuring that the Princess has such a valiant protector but I am not hear to hurt her. I merely wish to have a word. Princess?"

Erinna decided she could protect herself if Deacon indeed meant her any harm.

"It's alright, Melissa."

"I will be in the hallway if you need me, Princess."

Erinna gestured to the chair beside her table but Deacon shook his head. He was dressed in a brown leather tunic, a white shirt inside and brown leather pants. The attire complemented his blond hair and set off his knightly looks.

"How much did you hear?" He asked.

"Enough."

"They are not thinking straight. It is the nature of our people to shun what we do not understand and destroy that which threatens us," Deacon said.

A small light of hope flickered within her.

"You are not here to take me to them?"

"What? Of course not."

"You do not believe my child is evil then?"

"No one is born evil, it is the choices we make that define us."

His pointed look made it clear what he thought of the choices that he believed Vlad had made. But he did not know that the only choice Vlad had made was to live.

"There is a lot you do not understand, Deacon. Every story has two sides," she told him softly.

"I believe that. I am inclined to believe there is something good about him because of your blind loyalty to him. But I have seen more of this world than you Princess, and I will tell you that people do not change that much. You can tame a beast but you cannot change him. Woe on the world the day he tires of being docile and breaks his leash."

"You think his goodness is a façade to hide the evil within but have you considered it might be the other way round?"

It had taken her a long time to see but she eventually had seen things from Vlad's point of view. For him, if people were scared of him then none of them could hurt him. He used terror as a shield.

"I will concede that you know him more than I do. But I want you to promise me that this baby will grow under your influence and nobody else's. The power in its hands is so great Erinna, you can not let anyone corrupt it."

Erinna hesitated because she could not make that promise.

"The baby will have the best possible care," she finally said.

"That is not the answer I want to hear but I know it is the only one that you will give me."

He smiled but his eyes were still troubled. There was something he wished to say but he was wary of how she would take it.

"That's not all you are concerned about," Erinna said.

"I don't want to come between you and yours, but I need to know if you are going to be safe," Deacon said stepping into her personal space and looking down into her eyes.

The close proximity made Erinna uncomfortable and she wanted to step back but it would send the wrong message so she tilted her neck to stare up at him.

"Safe? There are soldiers on the road from the war I suppose, but if I teleport to the boarder, I will be fine."

"I don't mean the soldiers, I mean him. Will you be safe from him?"

She stepped back from him, a look of bemusement on her face.

"Do not go getting offended on me. The man has not sired a child in four thousand years. What makes you think he will believe this child is his?"

"Vlad trusts me," she said confidently but his question brought into her mind a reality she had not yet considered.

Would Vlad believe the child was his? In four thousand years he had never had a child but then again, except for Ingrid, he had never kept a lover for longer than a night. How could he truly know if his seed was viable?

"Are you sure? Because I won't let you go just for him to hurt you again."

"He doesn't hurt me. Anymore," she added when she remembered her father had told Deacon of Vlad hitting her.

The early days of their relationship had been tumultuous but she tried her best to forget it. Vlad had come a long way since those days and she refused to hinder his progress by dwelling on the past.

"Be that as it may, I would feel safer if you took your guardians with you."

"Angelica and Edward?" She asked.

She had not had much contact with them after she had negotiated their release from Vlad. He had let the incident go but she did not think he would appreciate having them flaunted in his face again. To him they represented one of his greatest moments of weakness.

"Yes. They are the only ones among us who could stand to live amongst vampires and they are very well trained warriors. Should anything happen to you, they would protect you."

"You are being paranoid," she said but they were wasting time. If she lingered more, her window of opportunity was going to close and her escape impeded.

"It is the only way I'll let you walk out of that door."

"You don't have to 'let' me do anything. I am your Princess."

"And I am the Commander of your army. The security of this kingdom is in my hands, and that includes yours."

Erinna sighed then agreed, but only because she wanted to get out of there before the elders were notified of her escape.

"We need horses," Erinna said.

Teleporting within one's territory was fine but magical boarders prevented one from teleporting straight into another race's kingdom. The fastest way she could travel was teleporting to the Elven boarder, riding a horse across the magic-free valley that separated their two nations then teleporting from the periphery of Death Town into Transylvania.

The last part is the only one that daunted her. Vlad had made sure that all his boarders were surrounded by ghastly sights of his enemies hanging on poles where they had been impaled. The sight was revolting and the air around the area suffocating. She now knew her ability to withstand death and contact with vampires was because she was an angel and could cleanse her aura but it did not make the experience any less harrowing.

But she could do it, as long as it got her baby to safety.

"I will get you horses. I have sent a message for Angelica and Edward, they will meet us at the royal stables."

"So you knew I would agree."

"I was being optimistic."

Hurried footsteps and raised voices started coming up the stairs and Erinna's eyes widened. Deacon quickly pushed her and behind him and faced the door. Seconds later it was wrenched open and a sweating Rispen faced them, others coming swiftly after him.

"You will give her to us now," he said to Deacon.

"And with what authority do you give me that order?" Deacon asked.

"Don't be a fool, Deacon. She forsook your engagement, you don't owe her any loyalty," Theodmon drawled from behind the good doctor.

"Get out of our way Theodmon, or by heavens I will slay you," Deacon said.

Eric quickly came in front of his subjects.

"I order you all to stand down now. I will talk to the Princess and we will come to a satisfactory decision."

Satisfactory decision? Erinna stepped back, hoping he did not mean what she thought he meant but looking into her father's eyes, she knew she was not mistaken. His opinion on Vlad had been made the day she had failed to get her wings.

"My lord," Deacon gave Eric a hard glance, "I meant you too."

"Don't get ahead of yourself Deacon. Erinna is my child, I will not harm her but this thing inside her needs to be removed."

"Thing? You would speak of my child this way?" Erinna asked, stepping away from Deacon's protection.

"It is not a child. No life comes from what is dead."

"Eric," Mara tried to say as they all stood crowded at the door but Eric shook her hand off his arm.

"Goodness Mara, she is my daughter, what do you think I'll do to her? We only need to remove what is inside her."

Deacon drew out his sword.

"You will do no such thing," he declared.

"Treason!" Someone shouted.

"You can all get out of my way or fight me to the death but either way, the Princess is getting out of here without any of you stopping her."

"You would dare disobey me?" Eric sneered.

"I respect you, my king. You have been a father to me and a fair ruler to our people but by the laws of our people, my duty is first and foremost to protect the Alahastar."

It was true and her father seemed to know he could not argue it. Pure Beings had the highest authority and their protection was the main priority of the kingdom.

"I will not harm her."

"Forgive me if I do not believe that. Now please step aside, I do not want to have to do something I don't want to," Deacon said stonily.

It took a minute but Eric finally stepped aside. Erinna lifted the case with her belongings but Deacon took it from her, holding it in his left hand, the sword in his right.

"Is that everything?" He asked.

Erinna nodded.

He gestured for her and Erinna walked out of the room. With Deacon's imposing presence behind her, no one said anything. As she passed Mara, Erinna squeezed her hand in gratitude for her defense. The woman who had been the most hostile of her relationship with Vlad had ended up being their biggest ally.

As she got to the stairs, someone grabbed her. The only thing she heard was a gasp as metal ran through flesh. Nausea hit her as the man's life seeped out of his body. She turned back to try to help him but Deacon pushed her forward.

"Don't look back, they will bring him back."

It pained her to leave someone in pain, sure they would be able to bring him back to life if he died but having died before, Erinna did not want him to go through what she had.

"I just need a minute," she told him.

Quickly, she approached the man who was on the ground, clutching his side where Deacon had run him through with a sword. Erinna touched his arm even as he tried to recoil. She fed healing energy into him until his wound closed and his energy was restored.

There was no thank you, but then again, she had not expected any. Deacon put his fingers around her bicep and pulled her to her feet. Together they approached the stables where indeed Angelica and Edward were waiting with three horses. The third one was white and stood taller than the rest. Erinna was immediately drawn to it.

"Is everything ready?" Deacon asked Angelica and Edward.

"Yes, we have all we need."

Erinna greeted Angelica and Edward. As in all her brief encounters with them, Edward remained silent. Angelica was the one who talked.

"I don't know how I can thank you enough for doing this," Erinna told them.

"It is no sacrifice Princess, you have done way more for us. But we need to leave now before it gets dark."

"There is one more person I need to get," she said.

Erinna delved into the barn where her familiar liked to dwell in. For some reason, Xander liked the horses and preferred their company to that of humans. That was probably because he had never met Shadow. Erinna could not wait to introduce him to the ill-tempered horse.

"Xander," she called but her familiar retreated further into the shadows.

Puzzled, Erinna stepped forward.

"Are you alright?" She asked when she finally had eyes on the large scorpion.

"I will not come with you."

So he knew.

"You would like Transylvania, Xander. There are many horses, there is Alex who is the most beautiful soul you will ever come across and if you give him time, you will like Vlad too."

The scorpion snorted.

"So you won't consider it then?"

"Go, they are waiting for you."

No matter how much she tried, Erinna could not convince her familiar to come with her. Even though the animal was not the easiest thing to deal with, he had begun growing on her and she would miss him. Him, Deacon, Mara, Melissa, Faraviel and even her father. She had enemies in Ellingsdale but she had made many friends too.

Deacon was at the door when she walked out. He raised his eyebrow and she shook her head. Trying to fight her tears, Erinna walked to the white mare who had drawn her attention at first sight. She was a beautiful beast, her head standing taller than Erinna and her tail thick and abundant. She had beautiful brown eyes that were full of intelligence, kindness, strength and determination.

Her honed muscles and shiny coat bespoke of an owner who cared and had taken the time to raise her well. How could he bear to be separated from his horse? Because unless Erinna was mistaken, the horse was the one that had been prepared for her. It was also not from the royal stables because she was familiar with all the animals there.

So focused on the glorious horse before her, Erinna did not hear Deacon approach her until he spoke from behind her.

"She's mine."