1. Chapter 1 (1/2)

apparently i can't stop posting random little one-shots. it's a problem, i should join a support group or something. so, this is my version of what might have happened at the carpathian feast if there were just a few minor tweaks in the lore and such. there's slash all over the place here, so if you don't like it... you're probably reading stories from the wrong author, to be honest.

disclaimer: not mine. sad but true.

"oh, it isn't me. it's erin."

vlad, predictably, lost it at the news and buried himself in a large, dusty book, searching for the answer that would save the half-fang from the flames. ingrid left him to it, pleased with herself for finding someone else to do the legwork. her

other would find a way to rescue erin, and nobody would ever be any the wiser about her own interest.

as time passed, however, and no cry of triumph came, she sought him out, unable to sit by and do nothing. on her way, she ran into bertrand, who pulled her aside to chuckle conspiratorially."he could save her, you know. a kiss from a dracula would protect her from the flames. he won't find it in that old book, though. the half-fang's as good as dust." and then he was gone.

she offered to take over the research from the chosen one, turning pages slowly as she mulled over her options. she could tell vlad the solution, and accept that he was going to kiss erin, that they would probably get together when erin survived the ceremony... or she could say nothing, and the half-fang would burn. that wasn't an option; she'd have to tell vlad... unless.

bertrand had said 'a kiss from a dracula'. she was a dracula.

erin looked up as ingrid entered the room where the cage hung."vlad? oh." the vampiress tried not to be offended by that; the half-fang was stressed out, of course, and was depending on the wimpire to save her. "ingrid. come to gloat?""i don't know what i've done to make you think that, erin. i don't want to see you burn, either." she hadn't been lying, earlier, when she'd told her she'd begged the count to choose someone else. unfortunately, with hindsight, she suspected that it had done more harm than good, given that she wasn't exactly the rotten apple of the count's eye. "luckily for you, i've found a way to save you."

suddenly, erin was all ears – it was funny how the promise of escaping certain death could do that to someone."what? how? ingrid, that's fantastic, you're fantastic." she smirked; she'd been hoping the girl would realise that eventually, but it was an unexpected delight to hear the words now."i'm glad you think so. ancient vampire lore says that a kiss from a dracula will protect you from the fire." the half-fang frowned slightly, peering through the cage into the darkness behind her saviour."then... where's vlad?"

ingrid stamped her foot, letting out a snarl of frustration. "i'm a dracula too! why does everyone always forget that?" still, her family issues were not important right now. she had to focus on the task at hand. "vlad's not here, so i'll have to do. i don't know how much time we have. is that alright?" she hit the last phrase with as much sarcasm as she could muster, which being ingrid was quite a lot. erin blinked, apparently missing it.

"i have to kiss you?" the vampiress rolled her eyes impatiently."technically, i have to kiss you. so you'll have to get nearer the bars." erin shuffled forwards slightly."but why would you do this for me?""you saved my unlife when the slayers were chasing me, the least i can do is return the favour. do you want to burn or not?""no! no. ok then. best just go for it..." and, taking a deep

eath as if she actually needed to, the girl moved to rest her head against the bars, cheek facing ingrid.

"oh, i don't think we should take any unnecessary risks, do you? no point doing things by halves." she reached through the bars, one hand under the other blonde's chin as she turned her head to face her. she paused for a second, giving erin a chance to react, watching her eyes widen as she took in ingrid's meaning, and then she leaned in to capture the other girl's lips with hers.

a jolt ran through her; the feeling was somehow familiar, but there was something about it that felt out of place. she hadn't felt warm lips on hers since... wait. warm lips? she pulled back, a smug smile tugging at her lips even through her shock as she observed erin's closed eyes and flushed cheeks. warm lips, flushed cheeks... it could only mean one thing."

eather."

erin's response was immediate; her eyes flew open and she threw herself backwards in the cage, as far from ingrid as she could get. of course, she could easily have walked round there, but that would have just led to hysteria."well, well. and you've fooled us all this time. i'm impressed, i must say. even suppressing your pulse... very clever." the girl stared at her, terror giving way to confusion."i thought you'd be furious.""oh, well, i certainly want to know why you're here, given that you're not a half-fang on the run, but if i was a

eather among my family i'd pretend too. why are you here, erin?"

the blonde scrunched her eyes shut again, obviously anticipating violence as she answered."my

other... you bit him. i came looking for a cure.""but you've spent no time in the li

ary, you haven't asked bertrand... you could have pretended it was for yourself. so you must have thought you already knew how to cure him... ah." she did pace around to the other side of the cage then, slow, deliberate steps calculated to intimidate. erin scuttled away from her most obligingly. "you must have heard that ridiculous old myth the slayers put about." she stopped, facing the caged

eather and staring her straight in the eye. the girl was

ave; she stared back.