Mature: Desert Moon

[Emora Deen]

Talon smiled. Take as much of it as you need. I'll recover. Just kill them. Make them suffer. Talon moved closer to Atul, and sat down next to the man. The two of them had never really gotten along, but right now Talon was filled with his Master's sympathetic concern for the King. And he could admit that his sister cared for him, loved him, and his Master loved him... and no man deserved what they had done to him. Talon draped an arm around the King's mutilated body and drew him closer to him so that it would be less for Vlad to cover.

"Do it." He nodded firmly.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad didn't wait to enjoy watching their failed chemistry experiment with their blood. "If you value your lives," he hissed at the men surrounding them, "Run. It will be twice as entertaining that way." Darkness crackled into his voice, and power materialized at his fingertips.

Hold onto him, Talon. Do not separate. Do not bite, nor matter how drained you may feel.

The vampire focused his mind on the two of them, and a red globe formed an iridescent shell around them, hard as stone.

[Emora Deen]

Atul leaned into Talon. Being encased in Vlad's protective shell, and being next to a guard. For the first time since being taken captive he allowed himself the luxury of rest. True rest. Whatever happened after this point, it didn't matter. All that could be done was being done.

Talon saw the world through rose colored glass, and smiled as he watched it fall.

[Soran Nightblade]

The show ended about two hundred yards away from what had once been the ruined tower. Vlad's enormous form released them from their tight clutch against his chest and lay the sphere to rest on the quiet sands.

Behind them, smoke and flames smoldered among the wreckage. Sand was pouring down into the crater Vlad had left when he deliberately crashed through every tunnel and chamber below the ground, collapsing it all behind him before digging free himself.

Vlad looked back at his work. The reddish haze at the edge of his vision told him what he already knew. He'd done a little too much. Talon's strength had come in handy, as a last resort, but he knew the younger vampire must be struggling by this point. Releasing the blood shield was a massive relief as the constant flow of strength finally ceased seeping from his veins. He let the transformation break as well, doubting he was strong enough to fly them back to the city. His powers were unstable enough on the sands without adding burnout to the mix.

His form collapsed back into his usual appearance, minus his usual vigor, minus his clothing. He turned around toward Atul and Talon like he hadn't seen them in thirty years.

[Emora Deen]

Talon sat up slowly, looking across the desert at Vlad's work. He lifted a lazy gaze up to his master. The sun was setting again, and the desert would grow cold. But, none of them were affected much by temperature, or at least Atul usually wasn't.

But, it was a long trek back to the capital, and the King was too weak to walk. Talon was exhausted, but was confident he could muster the energy to trudge through the sand. But, Gods was he thirsty.

"Are you strong enough to carry him?" Talon asked quietly, glancing down to the unconscious King.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Yes," Vlad said, hoping it was true. He walked to their side and knelt next to them. "You're well enough to walk?" he asked his bloodling, placing a hand on his shoulder and tilting his head to study the man's eyes protectively. "I used you heavily."

[Emora Deen]

Talon smiled. "I won't be running, but I think I'm able enough to walk... If not, go on without me. I'll make it home at my own pace and there isn't much that can kill me in this desert. He needs attention, and his wounds cleaned. The sooner he can get some of his energy back the quicker he will heal." Talon stood up slowly. "We should get moving."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smiled at his ward. He wondered if Talon realized how far he'd improved from a few months ago. "Very well. May I take him?" he murmured, drawing Atul gently into his arms. The man didn't weigh as much as he should. Too much shock, too much blood weight missing. He kissed the man on the lips and then licked at a cut on his cheek with territorial attention. "We are going home," he murmured to the king.

[Emora Deen]

A day of walking is what it took to get home, much quicker than when that weasel was leading them. When they reached the kingdom Talon skipped ahead of them to raid the market for some fabric to cover Atul's naked body. The last thing they needed was the people of his kingdom seeing their king naked and mutilated. He also grabbed pants for Vlad, hoping to bring as little attention to them as possible.

"Still," he admitted as he tucked the fabric around the king. "It may be best to teleport us into the palace once we get out of the sands and inside the walls."

Atul stirred at the friction of fabric against his wounds. Still not used to being blind, the king panicked when he couldn't see where he was. He thrashed, thinking his tormentors had him again.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad responded by placing a cool hand against the man's forehead. "You're safe, my king. I'm guarding you," he soothed, wondering if his injuries were making him delirious. "I'm here."

He glanced to Atul. "I can't port him like this. But you're right...the kingdom is tenuous right now. He shouldn't be seen this way. Go to the palace... have them bring a chariot. And water. Sate yourself first, if you need to."

[Emora Deen]

Talon nodded. "I'll return quickly." He turned away and headed back into the bustle of the city. His hunger gnawed at him. Every pulse he passed begged him for a drink. He paused to gain focus, and continued. But, by the time he reached the palace he was shaking, growling... He clutched the stone when he reached the Gate Master, bearing into it with his nails.

Several minutes later a covered carriage flanked with soldiers rolled out of the city and up to Vlad. The physician that had abandoned Tenele jumped out with his arm bandaged, and ran to them hastily with a leather flask of water.

His shock branded his face. "Hurry, hurry... We need to get him back. Get him in bed and tend to these wounds. He's not healing." The doctor ushered Vlad towards the carriage.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad lifted Atul slowly and carried him into the carriage. He sat with the king lying across his lap, making do with the small space inside the carriage. His hands were shaking now. It was like the adrenaline of getting Atul home was suddenly wearing off, and simultaneously being replaced by the reality of the man's wounds. It took him a moment to pinpoint the reason for the powerful fear he suddenly felt. The part he had control of was over.

He stroked the man's forehead, murmuring explanations and quiet affections to keep the king aware of what was going on as they made their way down the street toward the palace. When they finally reached it, they pulled up as close to the front gate as they could get.

[Emora Deen]

They couldn't have the palace know that the King was so weak, that he was so injured. It would bring chaos to the palace, to the city, and to the kingdom. The fact that he and his soldiers were missing hadn't been spread outside a group of select few.

So, a portion of the nurses were sent home for the day, and a private room in the hospital wing was empty for the King. The physicians went to work cleaning his wounds, stitching the ones that needed it. They replaced the bandages over his eyes, horror choking them at what they saw. The nurses forced him to drink, and fed him medicine for pain.

"There isn't anything else that can be done for him right now," Doctor Borat told Vlad when he closed the door to the king's room behind him. "He needs rest. We will watch him. He's in good hands, and there isn't a threat to his life. He won't die. He just needs to heal. Normally that's a fast process for the King. However, the power is in his blood, and they drained him of that. As his body replenishes it, he will begin to heal again. Our concern is that the human side of him will heal the human way, and that some of his injuries will become permanent.... Like the blindness, for instance."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad swallowed the terrible taste that came up in his mouth at their words. "I see," he muttered. No. Not his sight. His stomach swirled. "I will stay with him," he said quietly. "I would also like to speak with Tenele's midwife. Can you have her sent here?"

[Emora Deen]

The doctor nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing in confusion. "I will," he replied, unsure why the Ambassador wouldn't visit the woman himself. Doctor Borat stepped away and whispered to one of the nurses. She scurried off down the hall in a quick walk.

He turned back to the vampire. "The king will be fine here if you want to alert your wife of your return and see to your child..." the Doctor pressed.

Talon had excused himself to his room and his rations until he had better control over himself.