The Cost of Peace

[Emora Deen]

"Atul," Tenele called to him, grabbing his arm. She jerked him hard. Her heart was beating so hard she could hear it in her ears. He slowed to a stop, tilting his head down at her. "Stop."

His lips tugged into a smile and he tilted his head at her. Her hand tightened on his arm. "Do you plan on fighting a God?" he whispered to her, reaching out and grabbing the hand on his arm.

"If I have to," Tenele breathed.

Verin laughed, highly amused by the idea of a mortal woman with the balls to take him on. At least, she thought that was what he was laughing about. He moved so swiftly she barely hard time to register what he was doing. She was facing away from him and towards the crowed that was shifting away. Her had her hands held behind her back, in a most uncomfortable postion, and his other hand was tugging harshly on her now uncovered hair. She gritted her teeth, holding back the urge to yell at him. She didn't want to draw the attention of those walking away. He was about to open his mouth when she thrashed wildly. Hitting him in the face, suddenly silencing his attempt to draw attention to them. Then they safely disappeared around the corner.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad caught up to Atul and found him pinning Tenele's arms threateningly. He didn't hesitate; he threw a very obvious punch at Atul's jaw. The god let his hands slip from Tenele's arms as he brought them up to defend against the strike, but Vlad didn't follow through on the punch. He dropped his fist and used his other arm to tug Tenele sharply, if somewhat unceremoniously, out of the god's reach. Then he went for Atul's face. The god blocked his strike, which didn't shock him. Fighting Verin was a bad idea, but if the god was going to have to cause a commotion one way or another, better for it to be fighting a vampire with the blood of an innocent on his hands than attacking the villagers that had just sacrificed everything to promote him toward the throne. "You're stronger than this, Atul," he snarled under his breath.

[Emora Deen]

Verin cocked his head at to blow, a bit impressed that the vampire would attack him, especially know that Verin could kill him so easily. But, then again, of course he would attack, given that he held the vampire's treasure so brutally. Verin's hand was coming around towards Vlad's chest, flowing blue flames of power wrapping around his fist.

Tenele had a hard time catching her balance. She felt like a rag doll between the two, and before she knew it she had fell harshly to the ground. "No!" she screamed as she got to her feet, wanting nothing more than to be able to freeze time so Vlad could move out of the way.

Suddenly his hand when off course and he aimed downward as he hit his knees, plunging his fist into the ground with a loud deep roar. He huffed, his glowing blue eyes growing a bit brighter. Panting, he tilted his head up at Vlad. You could tell he was struggling hard, for his entire body was shaking. "Its harder for me, Vlad," Atul said through clenched teeth.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad was frozen for a moment; Atul's body could move as quickly as his eyes could see. He knew the strike was coming, but there would be no time to dodge. But then the prince did what he'd been hoping for. He got a grip. A wide grin grew on the vampire's face. "Of course it's harder for you. That's why it's more important," Vlad said, angling himself between him and Tenele as he spoke. "When I defied him, it was enough to inspire hope even in you. But imagine, if you rebel against him, Atul, you will do much more than that. The greatest challenge is this first, painful victory, and the rest will be slowly better. But first this, this, at all costs," he said very slowly and intensely, kneeling before the prince and putting a firm hand on his shoulder to ensure his message was reaching the struggling man. If Verin got back out now, there was no telling what would happen.

A pair of women chose that moment to come around the corner carrying jars of water toward the 'hospital'. They stopped dead in their tracks, trying to take in the scene. Atul was on his knees, seemingly in agony, and the bloodied vampire had his sharp-clawed hand grasped over the prince's shoulder. "Get away from our prince, you monster!" growled one of the women nervously, hoisting her water jar upward as if to throw it at him, while the other woman shrieked for help.

[Emora Deen]

OOC: Sorry I've disappeared. I might have forgotten to mention I had a school trip this week. I'm still on it. I have been camping out at an old abandon iron factory that is a historical site poring iron and doing other incredibily dangerous things. But, the last few days we have a hotel room. I'll try to post when I can.

IC: Tenele watched nervously as Vlad knelt before Atul. Verin could kill Vlad with a simple wave of his hand, and what could she do? Nothing. But, it wasn't as if she had any ability to convense Vlad to not get so close.

As the women reacted so fearfully, Atul glanced up to meet Vlad's eyes. "Thank you," he whispered quietly to him, where only his ears could understand. He shoved upwards, pushing Vlad away. "Leave this place, Vampire. You are not welcomed here. So help me... I will kill you if you do not." Every word he said was strained, and even Tenele could tell that he was fighting very hard to hold on. She needed to get him out of the open until he could recover. For that to happen, Vlad needed to make a fake retreat to the shadows. Maybe Atul could hold on long enough, maybe Verin would tire of his game.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smirked darkly at the Prince as he finally began to show some signs of progress against Verin. However, they were far from out of the woods yet, and he'd sacrificed his opportunity to coach Atul directly. Now he had to allow himself to be chased off, and that meant leaving Tenele with him alone. He glanced at Tenele and took an uncertain step back from them both, as if contemplating retreat.

"Harm her, and our next fight will be real," he warned Atul under his breath so that the onlookers would not hear, though his tone said he knew the prince already understood that fact. His eyes found Tenele's and narrowed, as if to guarantee her he would be watching. Then, clutching his wounded chest as if in pain, he replaced his expression with a glower, turned on his heel, and fled into the alley where the dead man's corpse still lay. He sprinted until he was out of sight, then disappeared.

The women who had spotted them ran directly up to the prince, though they didn't attempt to get too close. There was real concern in their movements, not just the pretense of obedience paid to a forceful ruler. "Prince Atul, are you hurt?" one asked with a lowered gaze, looking uncertain whether she should kneel. Backup began to arrive as several more woman and men bounded in from the main street, wary and eager to know what was happening.

[Emora Deen]

Atul watched as Vlad disappeared, his eyes turning to Tenele, who stood by quietly as the people filtered into the road. "I'll heal," he replied in a huff, straightening, he let his hands fall to his sides. Tenele could see his fists were clenched, and he was trying very hard to hold his concentration. "Please, it is not safe to be out here. Go to your homes, he still lurks in the streets."

"We'll help you find him," one called to him.

"No, I must handle this on my own. Please, I beg you, go back to your homes. Lock your doors. Do not come out until morning." Atul began backing towards the alley.

"But-"

"No. Please. I and the lady will handle this. The greatest help you could offer would be to stay safe," he told them, motioning for Tenele to follow. She pushed through the crowd of people who were slowly moving back towards the houses, almost too reluctant. They cleared away, and by the time most of them were gone Tenele and Atul were standing in the shadows of the alley.


"How are you feeling?" Tenele asked softly, coming up to touch his shoulder. He was leaning against the stone wall, clutching his arm around his waist.

His eyes shot to her, and she winced at his dark expression. "I'm doing swell," he replied hoarsely. "Just trying to hold back the force of a god. Nothing to hard.”

“I didn’t mean...”

Atul sighed softly. “I know what you meant, I’m sorry,” he replied, his dark eyes turning to her. He took her hand and removed it from my shoulder. “Keep your distance from me. He could take control of me at any minute. You should go, anyway.”

“I’m not letting you ruin all you are trying to do. I’ll stay here, until he gets bored and leaves, or force him out,” Tenele told him gently, stepping around to his side. She grabbed his arm. “Use your strength to hold him back, I’ll help you walk.” Atul glared darkly at her, but relinquished himself to her guidance. She could still see a few of the villagers when she glanced behind her, and all she really wanted to do was get Atul back to Fero before Verin could cause much more damage.

Atul’s slipped his arm around her shoulder so she could help him walk, and his other hand held her arm. He was trying his best not to rest his entire weight on her, since she was considerably smaller than him. His grip slowly tightened and Tenele glanced to him. “Atul, are you okay?”

He shook his head harshly, his grip tightening even more. Tenele ground her teeth together as she felt his hands dig her muscle against the bone beneath. “Tenele,” he breathed. “You should really listen to Atul.” His black eyes turned on her. “A woman in your condition should not be putting herself in danger.” He was speaking loud enough for someone close to hear, but she didn’t understand why. She checked to see if the villagers were watching, and thankfully they had taken his advice and left to there homes. Tenele turned her attention back to him as he angled his head towards her ear. By now he had stopped her ability to walk by holding her firmly in place. He was so close to her ear she could feel the gently brush of Atul’s lips, his breath on her skin. “Its not good for the baby,” he whispered so softly to her, that under any other circumstances she probably wouldn’t have been able to hear it. For some reason, it was as if it were meant for only her ears.

He could see her baffled expression as he pulled his head away from her, but only after giving a strange gentle kiss to her cheek. She shook her head, unable to find words to argue. “You’re lying.”

“Am I?”

“Atul,” she called to him.

“Not here,” he replied cockily.

“I know,” Tenele hissed to him. “Atul, I’m sorry.”

Verin chuckled darkly. “What are you sorry for?”

“For this,” she told him harshly, pressing the warm metal pendant she had been holding in her hand to the side of his neck quickly. His moment of pain filled distraction, she looped the cord over his neck so even if he shoved her away he couldn’t remove it. Her cried out, his voice so very strange. Two different voices were screaming from one mouth, and Verin scooped her up in his hands, holding her unbearably tight.

“Take it off!” He roared.

“Never!” she screamed at him. “How does it feel you over-confident son of bitch?”

He whirled and slammed her up against the alley wall. “Take it off!!!”

“Screw you,” Tenele muttered, looking up at him dizzily.

“You already have,” he tried through gritted teeth, trying his best to not scream. It was almost too good to wittness, this black God trying not to utter a sound of pain. Atul’s pain filled eyes were glowering at her, and she wanted nothing more than to end his agony, but Verin was something she could not deal with. This was her only protection from him.

“Deal with it, or leave, Verin.”

His teeth ground tighter together, and suddenly Atul was shaking, his head arching back. Verin’s form calmly stepped out of Atul from behind and slowly disappeared into thin air. The prince shuddered once more before his knees buckled and he fell to the ground. Tenele removed the necklace from him quickly, slipping it back into her boot before immediately fading into ramped apologies. Her whole body was shaking from fear and adrenaline, and she wasn’t sure if she could stand even if she wanted to. What had seemed like long minutes, and only been a short time, and if she knew Vlad, he was right there about to pounce.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad waited on a roof overhead, carefully observing and waiting for the bystanders to leave so he could return to the pair struggling on the ground. But no sooner was he certain they had gone than he saw something change in Atul's posture. The conversation he overheard next was impossible not to eavesdrop on and impossible to interrupt. His eyes narrowed and his expression went slack as he heard Verin speak through Atul's mouth the very words Tenele had assured him were not true a few hours before. He stared at them without moving, unable to think.

And then, without warning, the amulet was out, and he couldn't even look on them. He teleported to the ground, closer, but with the amulet in his line of sight, he couldn't see what was happening. He had no choice but to clench his eyes and listen, because he could be of no help with that relic out in the open. He could hear Verin bargaining, wrestling with Tenele. The more he listened, the stiffer he felt, like his muscles didn't want to go toward them, but his pulse had grown fierce and enormous inside his chest. Finally, he felt Verin's power dissipate, like a ghost passing through him as it left the scene. A moment later, he was able to open his eyes. He wasn't surprised to find Atul on the ground, and Tenele beside him, stashing the pendant where it could do no more damage.

He stood there, knowing he could go to them now, and just stared. They both needed help. Why was it so hard to go to them? He blinked slowly as his brain began to finally absorb what his body apparently had already. He could not unhear what he'd heard. Seeking a grip on reality, he forced his legs to carry him forward, running to their side like he'd originally intended to. When there's no good reaction for what you've just witnessed, better to just follow procedure. "Are you hurt?" he asked Tenele first, as normally as possible, testing the air for the scent of her blood.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele winced, leaning back against the wall that she had just been rammed up against by a very strong creature. "I'm fine," she muttered, rubbing her arms that already had bruises forming on them as the blood pushed up to the skin. "Atul's out cold. Probably used all his energy to hold Verin in...." Her eyes looked up to him, her face a mixture of so many emotions that it was just to hard to read. "We should get him back to Fero's. Can you port us there?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"Yes," Vlad said, kneeling to pull the collapsed prince up into his arms. Atul's body felt hot, possibly feverish, after his ordeal. Vlad stood with him and turned toward Tenele, making eye contact, but there was nothing in his expression that seemed readable. His crimson eyes were empty of the glow they often held, leaving them simply two dark pools of red. "Hold on to me," he said, sounding faintly rushed, but after all, this would be a very inopportune time for witnesses to wander into view.

[Emora Deen]

She blinked, looking at his peculiar expression, and she wondered idly what was wrong with him. Her expression faultered as she suddenly realized that he could have possibly over-heard what Verin had said. She averted her eyes as her heart began to race to the point she felt even more light headed. Her body trembled, for she feared his reaction. How could she explain to him that it couldn't be true, if she didn't know the whole truth. Tenele didn't move from her place on the ground. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his legs, holding herself to him.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad glanced down at her holding his legs. She was shaking, and she looked uneasy, and she had the right to be shaken after what had just happened. But he didn't want to risk her losing her grip during the port. Moving one leg gently, or at least easily, out of her grasp, he knelt directly in front of her. Letting Atul's upper back rest against his bent knee, he freed his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders, pulling her into a secure embrace that pinned Atuln lightly between them.

Drawing his focus, Vlad unleashed his energy and the three of them were momentarily surrounded by icy blackness. An instant later, Vlad was crouched with them in the same position on the floor of 'their' room. The still-disheveled sheets and scattered clothing in the room were distant reminders of the intimacy he and Tenele had shared earlier. Vlad looked away from the bed. From where they were, he could see out into the hallway, where the door to Fero's study was closed. "That old man had better be working," he said quietly, as if talking to himself, though that wasn't his habit.

Atul was already in his arms, so he lifted him first, carrying him over to the unmade bed and laying him on top of the sheets on one side. Once the prince was lying securely, the vampire returned for Tenele and scooped her up easily but gently, carrying her toward the other side of the bed.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele held onto him tightly, as if she feared he'd suddenly burst from the room and run away from her. Even as he set her down on the bed, she didn't let go. She held his arms with her hands, her eyes fixating on him. She wanted to tell him something, anything. She looked on the verge of tears, and she couldn't fathom why she wanted to cry besides the fact that Verin had given her news that to any other woman would have been happy information. She wanted to tell him something, anything. Why was this suddenly so hard. What if he hadn't heard anything at all? What if she was imagining it?

She could have been.

"I got that pompus God, good, didn't I?" she asked him, smiling meekly.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad was still standing at the edge of the bed, hovering over her in the position her arms held him in when he set her down. He didn't try to break free, but he found it hard to speak to her. He was, he realized, immensely troubled, and angry. Normal anger was simple enough to deal with. Just hit someone until the grudge was settled. But this was different. He could not feel angry at this trembling, innocent figure that was holding on to him dear life. It was not her fault....it couldn't possibly be her fault. She wouldn't have....he just couldn't believe that. He looked down at her, his face within a foot of hers. He studied her green eyes intently, and all he could feel was cold shock. He could not solve this grudge with his claws. Verin might be within his reach to defy, but not to harm. And even if he should destroy the god until he lay mutilated in the dust, it would not prevent the fate being forced upon Tenele. His brow furrowed as he stared into her eyes. It couldn't be true. She couldn't have shared at bed with Verin and then hidden it from him. "Tenele," he said uncertainly, and a shadow of the helplessness and anger he was feeling betrayed itself in his expression.

[Emora Deen]

She knew with that one expression that he had heard. That he thought... Her jaw clenched tight as she felt her stomach turn to knots. She shook her head slowly, the color draining from her face. "I would never..." she whispered. "You have to believe me. Please believe me." She was holding him tighter, her mind racking her memory for the truth. A truth that Verin had shown her, one that could be just as false as the one he had told her. "I wouldn't lie to you."

And even in that it was lie. She had lied to him that very night to keep him from knowing what she had feared to be true. She had lied to him to the point it had driven him away for the night. And she had lied to him just earlier today in the hopes of making him forget about what she had said. She was disgusted with herself to realize that she had turned into a person that kept things from him. Why?

Because she feared him doing something stupid. She had feared him going off to attack Verin and ending up dead.