Holier Than Thou

[Soran Nightblade]

Sinead's brow furrowed. "How is it possible I'm just learning this now? I know Vlad is your husband, but he is the last person who should be getting involved with Verin. You cannot simply change his nature. To even think of joining him with Atul...such dangerous magic. You have no idea how unstable such links can be. What if they had been permanently joined?"

[Emora Deen]

Tenele shook her head. "But, they weren't. And its done now. I told you about my problem with Verin when I got back, and you told me to tell Vlad what I was keeping from him. I did. This is our solution. It doesn't seem unstable. The being they become cares about me, and hasn't shown any signs of being hostile or violent to anyone. We felt this as our only choice."

[Soran Nightblade]

"Absolutely not. You must not join them again. For goodness sake, this is exactly why I didn't want you two-..." she broke off without finishing her sentence. "

[Emora Deen]

Tenele frowned at her, feeling her nerves bristle and anger boil. "Didn't want us what? Married?"

[Soran Nightblade]

The queen's eyes went wide, her expression frozen. "...Of course not," she almost whispered. She looked at the vampire she had thrown to the floor and back to Tenele. "Tenele, of course not."

[Emora Deen]

"Vlad isn't human, but he isn't property. He is a being, with thoughts and feelings, and I love him and he doesn't deserve to be treated like a slave," Tenele told Sinead firmly. "But, please explain what you mean. What didn't you want us to do?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"I control Vlad for his own good. To protect him from himself, and from the likes of Verin. Now, if you insist on turning him into something I can't control, I demand to meet this being."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele glanced to Vlad, and then back to Sinead. "As you wish," she whispered. "I'm sorry Vlad, I know its tiring." She wrapped the cloth around her bleeding hand and tucked the fabric inside itself, creating a bandage. "Sagra ne reion"

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad didn't have much chance to respond as the spell consumed him. He flickered out of existence, and a burst of energy next to Tenele brought the new being into existence exactly where he'd last disappeared, on his side next to the fireplace. He looked up at Sinead and Tenele thoughtfully, his black hair fanned out behind him on the carpet. "...Queen Sinead," he addressed the woman after recognizing her. He studied her thoughtfully with unmatched eyes, seeming neither derisive nor impressed by her presence.

"Where is my servant, Vladimir. Can he hear me?" Sinead demanded of the being.

He raised his eyebrows. "I thought I had just explained these things," he sighed.

"Vlad's link to me is gone. Explain how you broke it."

"I broke nothing. He simply no longer exists, for the moment." He got to his feet, casually graceful. "Let me be clear, though, Queen. I am born of your servant, but I am not yours to command."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele stepped closer to her unnamed hero. "He means no one harm. He loves me. He'll protect me from Verin," Tenele told Sinead confidently.

[Soran Nightblade]

"You've barely even met him. How can you assume that he cares for you? Just because you've created something powerful does not mean you'll necessarily be able to control it." I'm one to give such advice, Sinead sighed to herself.

"You know nothing of me," the man said. His voice had gone icy cold, and his eyes burned slightly in the low light. "Especially if you expect me to be controlled."

Sinead frowned, trying to sense with her magic exactly how much power this creature had. "Tenele, I am not comfortable with this."

[Emora Deen]

"I am comfortable with him," Tenele told her. "He is born of Vlad and Atul, both whom are loyal and caring. I see no reason why he should be any different. I'm sorry, I don't regret what I did. You don't want me to call upon him again. If given the opportunity, if Verin comes to torment me again, I will call him."

[Soran Nightblade]

Sinead frowned at Tenele. "Perhaps this man is not mine to command, but Tenele, you are still at my service. Or will you deny even that?"

[Emora Deen]

Tenele flinched at her words, and gave her guardian a wary look. "If I do not call him... Verin will hurt me," Tenele whispered. "He can trap me in his realm and not even you can save me from that. You are powerful, my Queen... but you are not a God. I have served you faithfully all these years. I have fought your battles, I have endured torture to protect your secrets, and all I want is to guarantee myself safety from a force I cannot fight against. I don't want what fate Verin wants for me..."

Tenele felt tears brim her eyes, felt her throat close around her words. "I will deny it. I will call him. I do not want to be helpless against what is coming for me. I accept whatever punishment you'd give me, and I share no hard feelings concerning it. I am disobeying you, but I do not do it lightly."

[Soran Nightblade]

"Sinead," the immortal said in a low, but firm voice. "Can we speak privately?" he gestured to the hall outside.

Sinead paused a moment before reluctantly nodding and preceding the man out into the stairwell. He closed the door behind them, leaving Tenele alone inside.

Alone with her, he stepped into Sinead's personal space and pressed his hand against the wall behind her, just over her shoulder. "What are you doing?" he demanded.

"Do not threaten me," Sinead warned.

"I did not threaten you. I asked what the hell you are doing to the girl you raised like a daughter."

Impatient with the man's intimidating posture, Sinead put her hand to his chest to knock him backward with a burst of energy.

His eyes glowed slightly, but otherwise, he didn't even budge as the magical force dissolved in a shower of sparks around them. He gazed sharply into her eyes, waiting for the understanding to show in them. When he was certain he saw it, he removed his hand and stepped back out of her space.

Sinead was astonished. He'd just shrugged off a spell strong enough to throw oxen across an entire field. "You are strong."

"I am," he confirmed blandly.

"You love my maiden?"

His lips pulled into a wry smirk. "I do. Impermanent as I might be, I may still feel as I wish."

The queen nodded slowly. "Then love her. Protect her," she said a bit sadly. "Can you truly defeat Verin?"

His expression darkened slightly. "I do not know," he admitted.

"If Verin defeats you, will he control you?"

"Tenele is more likely to separate us first. But if he does, he might as well control me."

She shook her head at the thought. "Do what you can." She turned and began heading down the stairs.

"Are you not going to explain to her? What you were about to say?"

Sinead looked up at him thoughtfully. "Tomorrow will tell. Do you have a name?"

"I do not."

"I see. See that you are given one," she murmured as she descended the steps.