Mature: Desert Moon

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad didn't mean to feel so pleased by Atul's shuddering weight against him, but he did. After days of stubbornly battling wills with Atul over his recovery and more than a little wondering if the things the king had gone through might have changed what was between them permanently, he definitely did.

"A bath, then," he said quietly. He opened the spigots on the tub faucet and let hot water, stored at the ready in a boiler room below them, flow into the large tub. A jug of scented oil tipped to pour a small amount into the water, and suddenly the whole room smelled of sandalwood and clove.

It filled quickly enough. Vlad released his embrace in favor of bending to lift the man into his arms, taking care not to put pressure on his bandages. They would be damp and in need of changing after this. A tedious process the doctors wouldn't appreciate, but Atul hadn't had the luxury of anything more than light towel baths in bed since the incident.

Vlad stepped into the tub and lowered Atul into the steamy water with great care. The he sat down opposite the king, Atul's legs scissored with his own in the middle of the tub. He hadn't asked permission to join the king for his bath, and thought the thought occurred to him now, with a faint bolt of tension, he refused to second guess himself.

[Emora Deen]

Atul let himself relax in the tub. He had to force himself to let the tension leave his body. The water stung his wounds, but nothing compared to when they were inflicted. He closed his eyes and rested his head back against the edge of the tub. He was so exhausted, and it suddenly struck him like a fierce heavy weight was pressing down. His eyes fluttered open and he looked at Vlad, leaning his head up to stay awake.

"I'm not used to this human healing," he muttered. "I heal slower than you, but faster than humans. I'm irritable and I'll probably stay this way until I don't need to be babied."

He sighed heavily. "But, its no excuse for yelling at people I care about..."

He shifted in the tub, glancing down at his chest. "That's the first time anything like that has ever happened... the first time I've ever been hurt like this. I'm royalty. Sure my bastard father was cruel, but I was his favorite. I was the child he hoped would return to him with the proper motivation. Being royalty I was sheltered from poverty, from hunger, from pain. I wasn't prepared for what they did to me... And I don't think I made it out of it... whole."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's ruby eyes followed him, sharp and bright. Atul hadn't spoken of his torture much to anyone. Certainly not like this. Vlad made sure not to look startled. Instead, he looked down at the water between them. "Torture is a devastating tactic. Your own body becomes an enemy to you. But it is certainly your body, and you will have control again in a few days' time. Even if it takes longer to feel that way again."

[Emora Deen]

Atul nodded solemnly, resting his head back again. "I was afraid..." he whispered. "When he told me that you had come, and that Tenele was with you... I was so afraid. I knew I couldn't fight them. I thought about how they carelessly mutilated my men, about their blood, flesh, and bones crushed into the gritty floor and I feared what they would do to you... but mostly to her. I knew you were acquainted with torture, and Tenele had experienced it herself at one time... But, knowing that they had no soul, no remorse, no fear. I knew they wouldn't care about the life inside her, or her safety. And I was so angry with you. In that moment, for a split second, I hated you for loving me enough to bring her there." Atul's eyes flashed up. "But, you didn't bring her and then I felt shame for not trusting you enough to know that."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad took a clean cloth from next to the tub and worked some soap into lather. He considered for a moment how he should feel about Atul's revelations. But there was no sense in questioning the thoughts of a man that wounded. "You were close to death, Atul. In no condition to think straight. Please tell me that isn't the reason for your distance these past few days."

The vampire lifted one of Atul's feet just out of the water and massaged his skin with the cloth. His motions were light and exact, avoiding pressure on his bandages while savoring the rest of him as much as he could. He did the same with the man's other leg, then shifted in the water so that he knelt with his knees on either side of Atul's hips, the king's legs crossing over his thighs.

[Emora Deen]

Atul watched Vlad, trying to determine the reason for his distancing, when he himself hadn't even noticed. He'd been so wrapped up in trying to get better... But, he knew there was a reason, that there were so many possible reasons. But, Atul didn't want to talk about them, not yet.

Instead he focused on the vampire's hands, the position of his body, and then he was astounded that his mind could even think of such things. He shook his head. "Gods I could use a drink."

[Soran Nightblade]

The small change in Atul's heartrate did not go unnoticed by the vampire. His body responded easily, like following in a dance. His gaze rolled up to the king's like a big wolf stretching. "I could give you one," he purred, letting his natural seduction drench the words as he spoke them. He moved the warm cloth to the center of his chest and slid it along his skin, over the small mounds of his abs, down past his naval. "Or perhaps, it should be the other way around," he added, circling the rag slowly but never touching between the man's legs.

[Emora Deen]

Atul groaned. "I've had enough torture," he admitted to the vampire. "Please don't make me endure more." He looked into the vampire's eyes and lifted a hand to his face. "Gods I wish I was stronger. I want to feel something good right now..." He stroked his thumb along Vlad's cheek. "If you want a taste of my blood, I'll give it. But, I can't offer you much. I need it for healing."

* * *

Tenele smiled down at Tenara as she rested in her cradle. "Sweet child," she whispered, pulling the thin tiny baby-sized blanket over her. "Sleep well."

Tenele stood straight, resting her hands on her hips. She glanced up at movement, a shadow passing across the curtains around their beds. She smiled, thinking that Vlad and Atul were back from bathing. But, then no one entered. She listened, but heard no feet.

"Melinda?" she called, giving Tenara a glance before stepping out into the rest of the empty infirmary. "Doctor Borat?"

There wasn't anyone there. She hadn't heard the door open, or any footsteps. Tenele bit her lip before returning to Tenara's side. Maybe she'd been imagining it.

Tenele just settled down in bed when she heard a faint noise. She stared at the ceiling, watching the candle light flicker across it. Her gut told her to check on it, but it also told her to stay put and not stick her nose into anything.

Another sound, the groan of a door closing. Tenele glanced to her sword propped at the head of the bed, and then to Tenara's cradle. She grabbed the sword and drew it, before stepping out of the curtain and towards the infirmary doors.

She stepped out into the empty, dimly lit hall, but there was no one there either. An uneasy feeling came over Tenele, and she turned back towards the door when something caught her eye.

The sconce that hung on the wall by the door was turned differently than all the rest down the hall, and the flames were out. Curiosity won out. She turned it right-side up, but felt that it also could go further over to the opposite side. So, she pushed it. Nothing happened for a second, and then the stone wall next to it sucked back into itself and moved with a grating sound, like rocks being drug across cement.

Tenele stared into a dark corridor, with a staircase twining around a central structure. Everything in her told her, "Don't go in there." But, at the same time, something told her she had to go. Tenele stole a torch and started up the steps. She kept going until she reached a dead end. But, the reached a plain that leveled off into a dark dead end hall. It was curious... and she couldn't figure out why it would lead to a dead end until she decided to peek through the small star cut-outs in the gratings on the wall.

She looked in on the bedroom she shared with Vlad. She could see her bed, and the door to Tenara's room. Tenele felt a sick feeling come over as she realized that whoever had been spying on them could have been watching them through this room. Every interaction they had, including when Knight visited.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad froze and pulled back stiffly. "You think I want to bite you? Now?" His voice was thin. The heat kindling between his legs doused out like it had been swaddled in ice.

[Emora Deen]

Atul blinked in confusion at Vlad's reaction. He tried to figure out what he'd said that was wrong, but it was nothing he hadn't said before. "Oh," he muttered. "I guess not... That's okay. I just got confused by the offer of a drink, and vice versa thing." The king grew immensely disappointed with himself when he realized that he'd done something to ruin what mood they'd had going. "I'm sorry."

* * *

Tenele skipped down the stairs, two at a time. She burst from the exit, not clearing the threshold one foot before a heavy force punched into her chest and knocked her back into the darkness. The torch slipped from her fingers and clattered across the floor. The figure moved fast, and the world blurred as it lunged in for her. She ducked and scrambled under sweeping arms. They grabbed her hair and jerked her back. She swung her sword, slicing through them, cutting up and into their ribs. They released her, and she fell back onto the steps, watching as they stumbled on unsteady feet. But, then the gaping wound she made started to close and they lumbered forward.

Tenele sliced, but they moved fast, and struck her head against the brick wall. She stumbled, still-weak legs working overtime to keep her on her feet. She shoved in again, straight through their middle, even as they planted fist after fist into her side.

Tenele bore in with as much strength as she could until she ripped the sword out of their side. It bought her enough time, and a big enough opening to get out into the hall. As she ran out, she twisted the sconce. The door started to close as the figure reached for her, the stone pinning them half hanging out of the wall. It struggled, long jagged nails clawing. The stone around it began to splinter under the strength. Tenele twisted, arched the sword around, and sliced the head off before it could break free.

She stumbled to the opposite side of the corridor and slumped to the floor, watching the headless body suspended where it was pinned, and the head roll to a stop on the floor.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad blinked as he realized what Atul had thought. He flushed, his pale skin going dark with color. "No," he breathed, suddenly unsure he wanted to admit what he'd been suggesting. The thought of having him in his mouth, of bringing him to his peak right there in the tub, where the king could do little more than wriggle against the porcelain, had made him drunk for a moment. "I-"

He cut off as something faint caught his senses. Blood. Where was it coming from? He glanced over Atul for signs of opened wounds, even though the half-god's blood had a very distinct scent compared to this.

[Emora Deen]

Atul blinked at Vlad's reaction. Gods, he wanted this man to touch him, but how could he ask for it at a time like this... and now. Now, it seemed like a silly thing. "Vlad... is there something wrong?" He glanced around, as if expecting to see something that had caught the vampire's attention.

* * *

Tenele stood, straightened her robe. She checked herself for any cuts, but all the blood seemed to be from the creature. She growled and kicked the head, it bounced off the wall and rolled into the door. "All we want is peace. Gah!!"

She huffed, pressing a hand to her side, before righting herself and marching back into the infirmary. She immediately went to Tenara, and felt relief wash over her when she found the child sleeping soundly. It was enough to bring her to tears. How could she have gone off and left her when there was so much that could have happened in those precious minutes?

She drew the child into her arms, startling her into a fit of crying. "Shhhh..." Tenele whispered, holding her tightly. "Shhh. Its okay. I'm sorry. Go back to sleep."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad blinked, losing focus on the smell. It seemed to be there, and then not, like it was very distant. Atul's probing gaze, however, was immensely present. Something in that look erased his doubts and left his body laser-focused on the man in front of him. "Atul," he murmured huskily. "If it's pleasure you need, I'd like to arrange it for you." As he spoke, his lips closed over the man's nipple while the washcloth glided lower, over his inner thighs, the base of his pelvis, teasing.

[Emora Deen]

Atul's lips parted in a breath. Yes, this is what he wanted. What he needed. He needed to feel something good, something wonderful, something that would erase the pain, if only for a second. "Please," he whispered to his lover. He stroked fingers across Vlad's shoulder.

* * *

The adrinaline wore off like someone sucking the life from her. Her body felt all wobbly, still not full recovered in some ways. She stripped off the bloody robe and settled onto the bed, curled there with Tenara resting on the mattress next to her. One hand lightly cupped around her child, holding Tenara there protectively, and the other latched around the hilt of her sword.

She could feel the ache in her side, but ignored it. She focused on staying alert, still, and quiet, as if she moved something else would launch out from the dark. She wanted to go to Vlad, but waited for the dizziness that came from that much adrenaline to pass. Not wise to teeter with an infant and a sword in your arms.

[Soran Nightblade]

Atul's words tore away the last of Vlad's self control. He looped an arm under Atul's lower back and raised his hips just enough to angle them toward him and raise him above the water. His other hand took his need lightly in his fingers. Then he slid his mouth over him, strong and tight. In a slow motion, he began to lick and suck at his flesh, all the while sliding up and down, growing faster. He moaned from the back of his throat, and then there was no chance to speak as he took the man fully inside his mouth. It was a bit like biting, in a way. The strong sense of being dominant and fully in control of his partner was enough to drive his nerves raw with excitement.