1. Chapter 1 (1/1)

just a little three-parter, the third part of which i haven't actually written yet so be prepared for a wait. enjoy! there's a bit of a time jump at the line

eak down there, by the way. just so you're not confused.

disclaimer: don't own. fortunately for the characters.

"you know there's a truce between the draculas at the moment. i can't go against vlad. so you might want to consider that before you tell me exactly what you're plotting." sure, ingrid couldn't turn on her

other for now, but that didn't mean she wanted to run to him with details of every little scheme. bertrand sighed."it's not... i don't mean him any harm. i just want him to stop hating me. i thought perhaps you'd help." she raised an eye

ow."and why would i do that?"

vlad didn't know what ingrid was up to, but he didn't feel entirely comfortable with it. a few times today she'd mentioned how important it was for the family to all eat dinner together, and now the meal was becoming ominous in his mind. so it was a pleasant surprise to find himself alone in the dining room at the appointed hour, food already set out for two people, he noticed. perhaps ingrid was planning to join him and reveal what on earth was going on with her.

sure enough, she appeared in the doorway, but only for long enough to flash him a grin and lock the door on him. he groaned; his father had had every lock in their quarters changed to argentilium so he couldn't just use his powers on them – ingrid had had to wear gloves to turn the key. fine. well, he'd see who was laughing when she realised she'd just donated her dinner to the feed vladimir fund. he'd just slumped into his seat when the door opened and was locked shut again, too fast for him to realise what was happening. he looked round, expecting ingrid, ready to demand an explanation.

what he saw was bertrand.

the surprise disappeared from vlad's face quickly, to be replaced by a scowl as he stood."what are you doing here?""having dinner with you." vlad scoffed at that."what makes you think that's a good idea?""i need to apologise.""after a month? you're lucky i haven't already thrown you out; ingrid said you had to stay and train her. it's the only reason you're still here... if that is what you were doing in the training room for all that time-""it's not." vlad looked stung by that for some reason, but bertrand simply took his place at the other side of the table and they both sat down in silence, ignoring the food in front of them.

"i should have apologised sooner. i was wrong to take erin, i was wrong to take the book, and i was wrong to betray your trust. i'm truly sorry, vlad." the chosen one considered that for a moment."then what took you so long?""i've been busy.""in the training room, with my sister.""yes."

vlad lashed out, knocking the bottle of soy blood he'd

ought with him clear across the room. it smashed against the wall and he cursed loudly."i could really have done with a drink, as well." bertrand hesitated, then pushed the goblet he'd just filled from his own hip flask across the table, infuriating his student still further. "i don't drink that, you know tha-" he paused, sniffing at the liquid suspiciously. "this is soy. why did you

ing soy-?"

bertrand stood, turning his back on vlad. this was hard enough to explain without having to watch the other vampire's reaction."it's what i drink, now. vlad, you need to understand - i've been addicted to

eather blood for the last 250 years. it's only been recognised as an addiction recently and only by very few vampires, but... it was clouding my judgement. i was angry and concerned about the way you'd

ushed off the slayer threat, so i hid in erin's car to get out of the school and away. i couldn't stand being here anymore. i had to go and do something. but i hadn't drunk anything in... well, too long, it seems. she got in the car and i could hear her blood rushing... i wanted to drain her. but i thought i wouldn't waste her blood; i'd use it to protect us from the slayers. we all know how that turned out."

vlad was silent, across the table, and bertrand risked a glance behind him, turning to see the boy frowning down at his rapidly-cooling food."i couldn't pledge my allegiance to you again, couldn't begin to seek forgiveness, until i knew my blood problem wouldn't take over again. i asked ingrid for her help. all that time, in the training room, i was going through blood withdrawal. it... wasn't pretty. i owe your sister a debt of gratitude. but i am recovering. i can try to serve you better now, if you'll let me."

after a horribly long pause, vlad nodded slowly."if you ever betray me again, i won't forgive you." bertrand hung his head, accepting this. "and if you ever need help, with the blood or anything else, i'll help you." he looked up in surprise."what?""i let you stay here, in my house, despite the fact you hadn't apologised for treason, for a month after you tried to kill erin. what, you thought i didn't care about you?"with that, the chosen one picked up his fork and the matter was closed.