1. Chapter 1 (1/2)

here we go. i've been threatening redrachxo with this for ages... enjoy. if that's the word.

disclaimer: young dracula is not mine. it belongs to the bbc.

he had known from the beginning that it would end this way.

they had holed up in a small council chamber, but it would be a matter of mere minutes before the vampires chasing them caught on to where they were. vlad was frantically throwing things against the door with his insane powers, but bertrand caught at his arm."vlad, it's useless. they're going to get through eventually."

the grand high vampire shook his head, desperation clouding his judgement."we just have to hold them off long enough to explain, they'll come round, they have to understand – i'm the chosen one, by all that's bloody, they're supposed to respect that!" the voices outside the door and the sudden hammering of fists against the solid oak, however, clearly contradicted what he was saying.bertrand shook his head sadly. "i'm sorry, vlad. our time's up."

the younger vampire's face crumpled. "so, what, the council react badly and you just walk away? i thought i meant more to you than that, bertrand. i thought we meant more to you."how could he answer that? "i'm not walking away from you, vlad. i'll never walk away from you." the worst thing was knowing that it was true, and that it would

eak both of them. "now listen carefully, because this is important."

vlad's eyes lit up; bertrand always managed to come up with a plan. the trust he placed in the older vampire just served to make the next words more crushing, however."we're not getting out of this together. trust me, i've thought of everything and no matter what we do now, this – us – can't go on. so i need you to keep quiet and play along with everything i say, no matter what. alright?""no, that's not alright – i can't lose you. you can't leave me now, it isn't fair-"

bertrand crushed him against the desk of whichever council member the chamber belonged to, trying to convey everything he felt in a single, scorching kiss. there was nothing gentle about it, or about the hungry way vlad responded, but that didn't make it any less meaningful. and then, after longer than he knew was wise, bertrand pulled back, resting his forehead against his lover's.

"te iubesc." it was barely a whisper, but he knew vlad had heard."je t'aime, bertrand." they always exchanged these most crucial words in each other's native tongues; it was something just for them, a habit they'd acquired to show they cared. now, though, they exchanged one more sweet kiss and bertrand frowned."then forgive me... and forget me." he pulled himself from his lover's grasp and hammered on the door.

"everyone quiet, and move away from the door, or the grand high vampire is dust and you'll all be held responsible." there was some muttering from outside, but silence slowly fell. bertrand removed his old stake from his belt, staring straight into vlad's eyes as he continued to call out to the waiting vampire mob. "i'll tell you the same thing i told vlad; if you don't go along with this relationship – if he doesn't go along with it - my agents will strike against the entire dracula clan, and the entire council will be wiped out as well. so i suggest that you let me leave with the boy."

vlad's eyes widened in horror – this was the first he'd heard of any such threat, and bertrand didn't have agents – and his stomach gave a sickening lurch as he realised what bertrand was doing.

"no..." the whisper was so quiet that even bertrand barely heard it. he responded just as softly."it's the only way, vlad, they'll never let us go."