LORE: End Game (MATURE)

[Emora Deen]

Tenele snuggled closer to his warm body. "No...." she mumbled, not really too pleased with having to move from this gloriously comfortable position. After a long few seconds she sat up and slid off of him. She was walking to the door when she remembered what she was wearing. And so she turned and went back to her suitcase, pulling a long crimson dress from the stack of clothing. She slipped her robe from her shoulders and it pooled at her feet. The dress buttoned up the back, and she had it buttoned all the way, except three buttons from the top when she couldn't reach them anymore.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad watched her dress, satisfied. She was a bold young woman. She was taking her Change very well, as he'd always suspected she would. He was a bit proud. He got out of the bed as he saw her run out of reach for her last few buttons. Crossing over to her, he didn't have the same undead grace as usual, but it was replaced by a male handsomeness that was very human and, oddly, very Vlad. He moved like a refined gentleman of the court. "Having trouble," he whispered over her shoulder, touching her arms with warm palms from behind her.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele knew she'd normally want to shiver at his cold touch, but his hands were warm, even hot on her skin. She smiled, and tilted her head to the side. "Yes," she replied. "I'm forcing myself to dress when all I really want to do is..." She let her voice trail off and she turned around to look up at him.

"Not eat you, surprisingly," she replied with a grin. "Would you mind getting these buttons?" She turned back around, shifting her long silver hair to the side so he would be able to see clearly.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad found it a bit confusing, maybe even unsettling, to have her so plainly reveal her neck to him, and for him to still feel nothing. "Of course," he complied, looking oddly forlorn as he fastened her dress to the top. Experimentally, he arched his head down and kissed the smooth skin below her ear where her hair had left it exposed, running his tongue across it. He parted his lips and grazed her neck with the flat line of his upper teeth. It was exciting, yes, but not intoxicating. Definitely not appetizing. It was a little hard to believe he had once belonged to this existence, for it to now feel so alien.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled softly. "Missing being a vampire that much?" she asked him, leaning back against his warm form. She wrapped her arms around her and hugged his hands to her. "I'd give it back if I could. I don't like this being out of control thing... But, the teleportation is so much fun!"

She turned and kissed him, enjoying the lingering taste of his lips. Then she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the door. It was at the door she froze. "Vlad... Maybe I should stay here. If I walk out there... What if I attack someone?"

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad would've preferred to tell her that no, she would be fine from here out, but unfortunately, that wasn't how it worked. It was very probably that the rest of the crew would look significantly more appetizing than her lover.

"I'll hold the meeting. You should stay here for a few hours, and take blood from the crate whenever you start feeling shaky," he said, leaning his form against her back. "When things have calmed down, I'll come back for you. Don't open the door to anyone else."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele looked at him worried. "Why would I need to worry about someone coming through the door besides you?" she asked, tilting her head and glancing at the door. "Should I be worried?"

She wasn't sure why Vlad would say such a thing unless he was worried about the people on board wanting to get read of a possible death threat to them. She wondered just how far they would go to make sure she didn't kill anyone. Then, she remembered the priests that were on board and surely they had come with many holy relics to bring luck to the journey. She shuddered at the idea, for she wasn't entirely sure how they hurt a vampire.

"I won't let a soul in," she agreed.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad embraced Tenele from behind for one more moment. Letting out a warm breath on the back of her neck, he leaned away from her and walked to the door. He cast her a watchful glance as he stepped out into the hall and shut the door behind him. He made his way down the walkway, ignoring the stray stares of the crew. As an afterthought, he popped his collar to hide the purpling wound on his neck and made a B line for the captain's quarters. He paused halfway across the deck, shaking off brief haze of dizziness. When he got to the captain's office, he knocked firmly and opened the door without waiting. Inside, the captain was speaking with the first mate. Both looked at him in confusion.

"Can I help you, lord Dracul?" the captain asked expectantly.

"We have a small announcement to make," Vlad said, flashing the man a straight-toothed smile.

[Emora Deen]

The captain was seated at his table, with a map before him and a small compass. He looked up at Vladimir, and the compass slipped from his fingers, the point impaling on the table. His mouth was wide open, his curly beard brushing against his well tailered suit.

"Eh... announcement? Who is we?" he asked, having to stumble back to his seat. Wasn't Dracul supposed to be a vampire? After all, he had been an hour ago. "Where is Maiden Raider?" Had he stolen her humanity? Was that even possible. He didn't trust demons, vampires, or anything strange and unusual...

The first mate was a bit dumbfounded to, a little bit differently than the captain. Instead of stepping back, he curiously crept forward, tilting his head just to make sure he's eyes were not playing tricks with him. He had the strong urge to reach out and poke his teeth just to make sure they were real.

[Soran Nightblade]

"I'd let you pet them, but that would be awfully intimate, don't you think?" Vlad said teasingly as the first mate seemed ready to climb into his mouth.

"Lady Tenele and I had a small...magical mix-up back in Ighten. The details are not terribly important, but what is important is that we have a New Vampire on board, possibly for a while. Some codes of conduct are in order, for the crew's safety and Tenele's," Vlad said. It was clear from the way he spoke that his casual charm had been his as a human far before he was turned to the undead.

He looked at the two men, who just seemed to be staring at him. "Are you clear on that? We need the whole crew in one place. Now."

[Emora Deen]

The captain blinked. "What should I tell our passengers? And do you really thinking putting everyone in one spot is a good idea? I mean, she doesn't have to look hard for a meal if everyone is right there where she can find them... How dangerous is she? Maybe we should have the Priests isolate her with holy magic?" He continued to rant, but it was clear that he was very worried about the situation.

"Where do you want the crew?" the first mate asked, and he seemed to find it a bit easier to switch gears and get over shock when it came to getting down to business.

* * *

Tenele lounged on the bed that was built into the alcove where the large window was over looking the ocean. She watched the waves, looking through rippling clear glass as she waited on Vlad's return. Her eyes turned upwards to the ceiling and she listened to the alluring heart beats of the people in the rooms above hers. She ran the tip of her tongue across her upper lip, thinking of that warm delecious substance flowing through the veins of the passengers and crew.

No.

She couldn't think like that.

But, oh, how she wanted too.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's eyes flashed with anger at the mention of holy magic. "No one goes near her," he said with surprising ferocity. "She's New; if you try to confine like that, you might kill her. And then I will kill you. Understand? And unless you want panic on this ship, I suggest we explain to everyone in one place at one time. The last thing we need is a witch hunt on our hands," he ordered. "Have everyone meet on deck by the tiller in five minutes."

[Emora Deen]

The captain narrowed his eyes. "I think this is very unwise," he muttered and rose form his seat. He nodded to his first mate, and the two of them opened the door and waited patiently for Lord Dracul to exit his cabin.

Within five minutes a good number of people were crowding onto the deck, all whispering and talking, wondering what could possibly be so important. Priests clung together in their own little group, hoods pulled over their heads as if sunlight would scald them. Their hands were clasped in front of them, and the sleeves of their robes so long it concealed their flesh. Soldiers leaned casually against one of the masses, as if nothing in the world could make them fret. They joked and laughed, not the slightest bit concerned with the strangeness of the situation. Crew members muttered, mostly grumbled, about how they had work to do before their break time, not to much worried about the situation either. However, those that were worried were like usual, the noble aristicratic abassadors that had chosen to tag along just in case Tenele and her vampire companion happened to screw something up, which in their eyes was very likely to happen.

"Alright, Lord Dracul, you have the floor," the captain grumbled, stepping away. The crowd suddenly grew deathly quiet and all eyes turned to him.

* * *

Tenele heard the noises getting fainter, and soon it seemed to faint to her, as if suddenly everyone had disappeared from the ship. She sat up, looking over towards the door, her head tilting to allow silver hair to cascade over her shoulder.

She rose to her bare feet, and padded across the wood floor until she reached the door. She knew she wasn't supposed to open it, but she was to curious for her own good. She slowly pulled the door open and poked her head out, but there was nothing to be found. The doors down the hall were all open, and she could see straight to where the fading afternoon light was pooring down the twisting staircase.

She closed the door once again and leaned against it, thinking about what would happen now.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad looked over the crowd, wearing a politician's calm facade. "Alright!" he shouted over the group, and the authority in his voice was enough to make them all fall silent. The soldiers were the last to mumble into a hush as all eyes fell on Vlad.

"We have a situation," he called over the crowd. "Nobody will leave this spot, until I have finished explaining it." They seemed ok with that, so he continued in a slow, firm voice. "Due to some unforeseen circumstances, the Lady Tenele and I have traded natures. I, as you can see, am human. She, as you hopefully not see, is experiences the first stages of vampirism. This means," he shouted over the murmuring of the group, "This means that no one is to look at, touch, or speak with the maiden except for myself. You are not to even pass by her room. Those lodged adjacent to her quarters will be bunked in other rooms. When she is well enough to leave her room, you are to wear clothing that covers your arms and neck. You are to walk, not run, away from her when she approaches you. You are not to make eye contact or speak. All wounds or scrapes are to be cauterized and covered immediately. Those with an understanding of the divine will inscribe wards of safety at the entrances to your quarters. Under no circumstances will they be cast on Tenele directly or on her quarters. All crewman are to remain in their or quarters or in the sanctified lounge at all times when not on duty. Does everyone understand?"

Krad looked over the crowd as the shock of the news and the weight of his instructions began to set into them.

[Emora Deen]

And though the ex-vampire probably did not wish it, all out chaos broke loose in the form of yelling and loud objections. The priests, however, stood idly by, all to quiet for their own good.

"We shouldn't inconvienence ourselves do to one person!"

"What if she gets lose?"

"She'll kill us all!"

"How come she won't attack you!"

"Yeah! If you have some secret protecting you from her, share the wealth!"

"We shouldn't treat Maiden Tenele differently, she is still Maiden Tenele, and I'm sure full of intellegent sense. She won't attack us!"

The rumble of loud voices continued and the priests looked at eachother. All three nodded once and began to walk away while the crowd was beginning to swarm Vladimir and the captain with their loud and worried questions. One of the priests remained, calm and quietly stepping forward.

"A demon is a demon, and as we all know from Lord Dracul's behavior, not one to be taken likely. If we can judge her conduct by the way Dracul has handled himself... then we can surely foresee devestation. He, being a vampire for quite a long time, still seems to find himself incapable of proper conduct and self-restraint. Given this, we can descern that a new vampire would be at least forty-times more likely to reek chataclismic devestation. We must ensure, with the use of our gifts from the great God of Light, that she is neither a danger to us, or to herself. Lady Tenele is a very beloved member of the royal family, and possibly the heir to our dear Queen's throne if something unfortunate were to happen to her. Therefore, we have an obligation to take all the above procautions that Lord Dracul has stated... as well as some of our own." It was hard to see the his face from under the hood, but one could just make out the slight tug of a confident smirk. He was very sure of his persuasive skills, as well as his gifts. However, no matter his talk, he had never once dealt with a vampire face to face.