Mature: Desert Moon

[Emora Deen]

"Just drink it," she urged. She lifted the coconut up and poured it over his mouth. She touched his lip, a dangerous thing to bring her hand so close to the mouth of what desperately wanted to eat her. She opened his lips and let the blood wash inside. "Its okay."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad choked on the blood. His muscles didn't swallow right. It was a relief that he didn't have the energy to try to bite her. He certainly daydreamed about it as her hands brushed his face. The blood settled in the pit of his stomach and made him desperately, madly hungry. "Let m-me bite you. I sswear I will mmake it feel good..." he whispered.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele frowned at him. "I can't," she replied, brushing his face. "I don't know if I have enough to give anymore to you today. I'm sorry."

[Soran Nightblade]

"Damnit," he slurred softly. "Thank god."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele arched an eyebrow at his contradictory reactions. "When we get out of here, you can bite me again. I promise," she whispered. "Just stay alive." He wasn't doing too bad. He hadn't attacked her yet, even if she was leaning halfway into the circle.

"I'll give you your space." Tenele drew back slowly. She stood up, before immediately collapsing next to him. "Second thought, maybe I'll just talk with you a little longer." Tenele glanced to the lean-to. She just needed to rest a little more.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's black irises contracted slightly as they watched her collapse. She was in bad shape. "Tenele," he gasped.

She couldn't afford to feed him again. If he tried to kill himself, she would probably hurt herself equally fixing it. It was a stalemate.

[Emora Deen]

"I'm fine," she whispered to him. "My ankle didn't want to support my weight. That's all." She cupped a hand over the bandaged foot lightly. "Its better though. I should be fine in another day or so."

Tenele stood up, managing to stay on her feet this time. "I'll give you space." She hobbled back to the lean-to and collapsed on the bed of leaves near the fire. She went straight to sleep.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's senses held out as long as they could. It was upsetting. He wanted to be near Tenele, but he was afraid he'd try to sweet talk her into pitying him again. By the time dusk fell, he was completely shut down, sightless black eyes staring into space.

It was about then that the ship first caught sight of their fire signal, though its masts were just dark shadows against the black sea. "King says that's it," the first mate called to the captain as he joined him on deck.

"Good. We're already a week off schedule. For god's sake, this vessel isn't cut out to host royalty. Who could possibly be so important he needs to come out here himself," the captain muttered, turning the wheel and guiding them toward the shore. "It's rocky on the one side. We'll take it around and send out a dinghy."

[Emora Deen]

Atul drew the thin silk coat over his tunic as he stepped towards the ladder leading to the landing party's boats. He felt nervous jitters, but he had to come for them, no matter what their reaction would be to his presence. The fire gave them hope that they were still alive.

"We're ready, my king," the sailer spoke, motioning to the ladder.

It took them several minutes for the two boats to reach shore. The guards flanked out around him. It was hard to get away without guards now, even if he insisted that he had no need for them. He was capable of taking care of himself.

"This way," the guide called, motioning to the brush. Atul nodded, pressing on towards the hill.

"Cautiously," he reminded them. Vlad was probably a ravenous beast at the moment. If Tenele were not dead, that meant he was trapped, but if by some chance she hadn't been able to trap him, then he was lurking somewhere on the island.

They krept to the clearing, pushing past the thick brush. Atul spotted the lean-to and the fire, and a few yards away he saw the circle and the lump of a man lying motionless inside it. The King was torn between going for the shelter, and going to the vampire.

"Tenele?!" he called, stepping towards Vlad's holding circle.

[Soran Nightblade]

The vampire didn't even look a little bit alive. He looked like a corpse that had lain there a week. He felt nothing and heard nothing, sightless eyes staring ahead.

[Emora Deen]

Atul saw the coconuts near the vampire. He stooped to pick them up and smelled one. It smelled like blood. He held out his arm, and drew the knife from his belt.

"My king!" The guard stepped forward to stop him, but Atul already drew the knife over his forearm. The blood filled the shell. He leaned into the circle and opened Vlad's mouth by squeezing his chin and pulling. "This will perk you up a little better than her blood." He poured the substance into Vlad's mouth and sat back. "Bring me our guide."

The guard grabbed up the thin man who had led them to the island and held him near the circle. "If he comes around, throw our new friend in with him."

"But!" the man stepped back. "You promised me a pardon!"

"I do not pardon pirates, not your kind. You're a murder, a rapist, a thief. I'd sooner put your life to better use than let you wander off to continue your debauchery," Atul seethed.

He brushed past the man and headed straight for the lean-to, ducking inside. He found Tenele curled on her side near the fire. Pale. Shivering. Half-naked. Almost two weeks on an island, but it had been kinder than he thought.

"Tenele," he called, crouching near her. "Tenele, look at me. Wake up."

But, she didn't move or budge, not even when he drew her into his lap. He brushed her silver hair away from her face. "Come on, my love," he whispered. "Wake up. Please." Atul cupped her face gently, brushing his thumb across her cheek. Just as beautiful as he remembered. No, he hadn't been gone from them too long. But, how he'd missed them. Each day it was like someone ripped out his soul and mended it. Seeing her here, holding her feverish form.

Atul bent and pressed his lips to hers.

SMACK!

A hand struck his head. Again and again. Her legs kicked with all the energy she could muster, and she screamed. She looked right at him, like she didn't know him, and screamed.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's eyes shot wide at the sound of her scream. It was only then that his throat noticed it was clogged. He swallowed and choked, then swallowed again. Atul...he tasted Atul. The blood buzzed through him like hot cider. Atul. Atul.

"Atul," he rasped, trying to sit up and failing. Dark brown warmed the center of his irises. He was so hungry, so much pain in his limbs, and all he cared about was that this taste on his breath was Atul's. "Atul!" he called blearily.

[Emora Deen]

"In you go," the guard sighed. He shoved the pirate into the ring with Vlad. The man tripped over the vampire.

Tenele struggled with Atul, trying to get out of his grip. He didn't know what was wrong with her. He just kept trying to get her to sit still. "Stop moving," he called. "You're hurt." She was too weak to really argue against him, but that didn't stop her from trying to beat him off.

Finally, the King admitted defeat. He released her. She scurried into the corner of their lean-to, huffing at him and curling her half-naked body up to where her knees pressed into her chest. He could hear Vlad calling for him, but was afraid to face the vampire... not while he was in the throws of hunger and rage.

"Tenele," he whispered, holding out her hand. "I know you're angry at me."

"I don't know who you are," she hissed. He'd kissed her. She covered her head with her hands.

Atul frowned. "I'm sorry. I, maybe we can talk this out on the ship?"

"Ship... Are you with Atul?"

The king's mouth parted. "Am I with... I am Atul," he replied. That's right. She lost her memory. You idiot, he thought. Of course she wouldn't remember. He removed the knee-length silk coat from his arms and passed it to her. "Something to hide you from my men. They are behaved, but I do not like their eyes to linger on you too long."

Tenele took the coat slowly. "Thank you."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's hunger flashed white hot at the frantic man suddenly in his proximity. He'd been suffering for days. It was one thing to restrain himself from Tenele, but with this stranger, absolutely nothing held him back. He took out all his pain and desperation on the prisoner's body, sucked him dry enough to jerk the meat, and did a good job tearing him to shreds after.

When the unrecognizable body in front of him couldn't accommodate any more damage, he glared at it in satisfaction. His muscles were coming back into their own, his skin luminous and pale, rather than dull and grey. His eyes warmed to a medium-red. He wasn't the strongest he'd ever been, but he was functional, and stable. His hunger no longer gnawed at his ribs. He looked out at Atul's men, who didn't seem particularly comfortable with what just happened.

Vlad couldn't care less what they thought. He thrust his clawed hand through the forcefield and dragged it over the ground, destroying one of the runes. The barrier fell, and Vlad Dracul straightened and stepped outside. The men rushed to stop him as he started toward the tent.

"No further!" a guard ordered, pushing him back with a sword blade.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele slipped the coat over her slender shoulders. It hung large on her, but it made her feel comfortable. "Let's get you both back to the boat," he urged, reaching for her again.

Tenele shied away from him. "Don't," she whispered. She didn't trust him. He could see that look in her eyes.

"Can you walk?"

"Yes." Tenele used the wall to help herself to her feet. She took quivering steps out of the shelter, lifting her gaze to find the guards gathering around Vlad. "Leave him alone!"

Tenele hobbled quickly to them, brushing between the sword and Vlad. Her legs gave out just as she reached the vampire and flung her arms around him, using him as a crutch. Atul stood in the doorway of the lean-to, his expression a mixture of relief and sorrow.