The Cost of Peace

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's first reaction to the conversation was amusement, but it was followed up quickly with anger. They had made the trip all this way, for this nonsense. And now they were trying to muscle Tenele around while she was barely conscious. He decided that he'd been in the shadows long enough. It was clear the situation had gone awry and there was no fixing it. Unless Tenele married Atul, which he was unsurprisingly not in favor of.

In a flash, he was leaning against the side of the maharaja's throne with his arms casually crossed. "An arranged marriage," he exclaimed. "It's awfully romantic, but do you really suppose he's any good in bed?" he whispered to the king, jerking his head discreetly toward Atul.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. Was Vlad really standing there. The priest bowed, even to Vlad, and shifted away back to his hord of other priests. She barely heard what the vampire said to the maharaja, but she knew that it was probably not good.

"Vlad," she said quickly.

"Vampire, you seem tired. Is my Lord wearing you down? I'd give in, its so much easier to deal with. Save what strength you have to fight him off later, else you'll be completely consumed." He was very serious. His dark eyes looked to Vlad, and that smile was painted on his face.

Tenele blinked. Vlad was fighting off Verin? He was still fighting him off? How long could Vlad continue doing that. The king opened his mouth to speak again, but Tenele didn’t want him pushing Vlad if he was already doing well to retain that darkness inside him. This was going to help his matter.

"Hey!" Tenele said angrily, taking another step forward. Her eyes flickered to Atul with a dark glare, he only looked away. "Did you forget? We're discussing the fate of a country here, not playing mind games. I'm tired of these little antics."

"You are very mad," Lalana said sweetly, tilting her head at Tenele. "Are you to stupid to understand that you cannot escape this? You dare to speak to us with such a condescending tone, when surrounded by so many guards?"

"Oh, shut up." Tenele was angry, fuming... and a bit woozy. Her eyes burned with hatred. She could condemn herself to save her people, or condemn her people to save herself. She was backed against a wall, with no escape. She was right. She couldn’t escape. If there was one thing that Tenele hated more than anything it was being bound, or trapped. The Queen could barely keep her home. Her heart fluttered.

Lalana looked taken aback, as if no one had ever spoke to her in such a way. “You will never speak to me like that– ”

“Gods save us...” He was there again, that grubby little man in his robes to big for him. He wasn’t alone, and how they moved so stealthily for being clad in gold and shifting fabric she didn’t know. They were muttering something, and shifting around her like they were looking for something particular. They poked, tugging on her sheath, lifting up her arms. Tenele forcefully pushed them off. It wasn’t hard. They weren’t much of a man in the first place. “Will you leave me be!” Her whole world felt like it was spinning to fast and she wasn’t able to keep up with it. She needed out, she needed air.

“Lady Raider, you don’t look well...” Atul said quickly, shifting forward. His face was full of worry and distress.

“Of course I’m not well, you sold me out you bastard,” Tenele breathed. Her eyes flickered to Vlad, and she hoped he wasn’t mad at her still. She hoped he could forgive her. She didn’t know if she could handle this alone. However, she’d understand if he chose to let her role in the mess she had created. And she would deal with it alone if need be. “Just tell me where I can send a message to Queen Sinead.”

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad could sense the situation building toward something that could become messy, so he decided to interrupt. His sarcastic smile was almost a match for the Maharaja’s. “Wearing me down?” he asked, and then raised his voice to the whole room as he sauntered out onto the steps in front of the throne. “You’d all like that, wouldn’t you? To see Verin ‘wear me down’ and peter me out. I wonder why that is. I guess if I had to guess,” he paused directly in front of the maharaja, as if he didn’t even notice he was there, “I’d say that watching me fall would justify how easily the rest of you have been battered and subverted by his empty promises of wealth and glory. Wouldn’t that be lovely, if I fell to my knees right here and worshiped the god of darkness, another hapless convert prostrate before Verin?”

He scowled at the stares of the people in the room, some angry and some blank and confused. “This is not a country. It’s a damned cult,” he roared, his voice echoing through the silent hall. He spun back toward the maharaja. “So if you ask me, your majesty, we aren’t here to negotiate with you, and we never were. We’re here for the leader of your country, which would be YOU, Verin,” he shouted derisively at the ceiling for the god to hear. "Come represent your 'people'," he invited the god from whatever hole he was probably watching this performance. "I'm challenging you."

[Emora Deen]

"Vlad! No!" Tenele stepped forward quickly grabbing his arm. "You will not do that! I won't let you do something so stupid! He's worn you down already. Its suicide. He'll take you over completely for sure." Her eyes were filled with worry. Why was Vlad doing such a thing? What was he up too? She was breathing heavily, fearfully. "Please, don't do this."

But, it was too late. She could feel it coming. He was coming. "No. No! You won't do this." Now she really wanted to scream. She was about too when she remembered something. She reached into her pocket, and felt the soft metal of the holy tallisman. Her eyes flickered to Vlad.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's eyes flashed to Tenele as she protested. In the sea of faces in the room, only hers made much sense to him as the sound of drumming began overwhelming his thoughts. He sensed the worry and what he thought was a trace of anger in her eyes as they met his, and he found the anger comforting. If this didn't work, she wouldn't let him become a monster in front of all these people.

It was odd that no one but Tenele was moving, no one was trying to stop him from his antisemitic challenge. Were they just too scared to be near him when their god came? He tensed up suddenly, like a massive force was trying to flatten him to the ground. "Stay here," he managed to say through tightened lungs to Tenele. He wanted to say more, maybe even apologize for storming off the night before, but he stopped being able to focus as Verin appeared a few yards before him, in the center of the room. The god was wearing a vicious smirk.

"MY DEAR VLADIMIR, I HAD HOPED YOU WOULD SUMMON ME, BUT A CHALLENGE? HAS THE LAST NIGHT TAUGHT YOU NOTHING?" The god's voice was low, even pleasant, but it boomed inside Vlad's head like a earthquake, shaking apart his insides.

Vlad's eyes thickened to a pupilless black and a cold sweat began breaking on his skin. "I just washed up," he complained to the god in a strained voice, sick and tired of sweating. "You don't control everything that bites. I don't believe in you. Thus, you have no authority over me." Vlad said the words very slowly and with great effort, like a mantra he'd been reciting for hours in his head.

Verin didn't seem impressed. He waltzed forward, until he was directly in front of Vlad. "OH, YOU BELIEVE IN ME. LOOK AT YOURSELF, YOUR BODY CAN BARELY WITHSTAND YOUR OBSTINANCE. STOP DENYING YOURSELF, LET YOURSELF FREE."

Vlad fought with every ounce of focus he had to remain standing and remain conscious, but when push came to shove, he prioritized the latter. His knees folded like dry rags, and he wound up kneeling. "I am already free. Your promises are a joke," he choked, but he could barely hear his words now. They sounded like the meaningless buzz of an insect next to the roar of fire and drums. He wanted to be part of the fire and the rhythm.

[Emora Deen]

"No!" Tenele yelled by the God. She must have lost her mind becuase she whirled in to stand in front of Vlad. Seperating him from Verin. "Stop this." She stared defiantly at the God. But, no matter how defiant she was, she was very fearful of him. It suddenly came to her that she wasn't afraid of him because of what he could do to her, but what he could to do to Vlad. At first she had down right feared him, but now he had pissed her off to the point she could care less what realm he cursed her too. "What is there to prove? Your a God. You already have more power than him. Are you honestly that pitiful that you have nothing better to do with your eternal existance than waist your all-powerful gifts on tormenting people. Get a hobby, like a flower garden or cake decorating."

[Soran Nightblade]

"THAT IS VERY SWEET, REALLY, MISS RAIDER, BUT IT IS HE WHOM I WISH TO HEAR PLEAD FOR MY MERCY, NOT YOU. ONCE HE HAS YIELDED, I SHALL GIVE HIM WHAT HE TRULY WISHES. HE SEEMS TO BE CLINGING TO HUMAN CUSTOMS AND SENTIMENTS. OH, THAT WOULD INCLUDE YOU, I SUPPOSE. WHAT DO YOU SAY WE HELP CURTAIL HIS SUFFERING AND JUST GET YOU OUT OF THE PICTURE NOW?" Verin smiled coldly. His hand shot out and grabbed her chin, tilting it up toward him. He couldn't harm her, those weren't the rules, but Vlad wouldn't know that. And once the vampire was his, the rules could be avoided.

"Stop," Vlad commanded, shouting to hear himself over the noise. He struggled to focus, to stop believing he was going to fail. Verin was stronger, he was mercilessly pounding his brains out. Vlad couldn't possibly do anything to stop him, it was a matter of time and then there was no telling what he would do. No...no, no, there was no reason Verin should be able to do that, none at all. Regardless of what he was, Vlad didn't worship Verin. But yet here was this supernatural being, his menacing hands now on Tenele, who was his one hope for damage control when things got worse. If he didn't do something now, they would both die. He forced his legs to support his weight and staggered to his feet, putting one sweaty palm on Tenele's shoulder. His consciousness was fading. He was losing. "Put it on me," he gasped into her ear, "...Out of time."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele jerked her chin free from Verin's surprisingly cold grasp. She tilted her head at Vlad's words, turning her back on Verin as if he were the most unimportant thing she had ever found cross her path. Her eyes met Vlad's and she could see how weak he was. It broke her heart. "I don't want to hurt you," she whispered to him. She pulled the tallisman out of her pocket, holding it in her hands. Her breath was shaky, her throat knotting. "I love you," she said. She smiled softly, sadly, and stood on her tip toes to place the amulet around his neck. She barely could bring herself to do it. She couldn't do it. She froze in mid-movement. Closing her eyes, she leaned forward and kissed him very softly on the lips. "I'm sorry." She whispered, as if she needed to apologise for what Verin was forcing them to do. Her fingers slipped from the amulet, and it dropped cleanly around his neck.

"The strangest thing I've ever seen, is a half-elf. Elfs, which are well known to be a decendent of Athara, in love with a creature of darkness," Verin muttered from behind her as she was doing this. "There might be hope for you yet, girl."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad clung to the sensation of Tenele's kiss, because it was the last thing he knew before the fire started tearing into his chest. A shrill sound wheezed from his throat. The red flooded back into his eyes like spilled wine, and suddenly his mind was his own and it was all he could do not to scream. No, he was definitely going to scream, he realized, and if he was going to have to do it, better to do it at Verin. The holy power was enough to overload his circuits and keep Verin out, but it wouldn't last forever. It wouldn't last forever because it could kill him very quickly.

"Verin!" he roared, shoving Tenele out of the way and going forward he pulled his fist back and slugged the god's mortal avatar across the face. Gasps and murmurs of astonishment sounded around the edges of the room as Vlad did what they thought was impossible.

Verin did not seem amused. His face darked with stern anger. "VLADIMIR, TAKE THAT OFF," he ordered.

Vlad would have been happy to oblige, but if his other option was to serve Verin, he liked the pendant fine where it was. He tried to wrestle the initiative for another swing, but instead a hoarse groan tore out of his throat and he wound up back on his knees. His whole body was on fire. Not the powerful, welcoming fire Verin had shown him, but a fierce white blaze that promised to burn through his chest and out the other side.

"TAKE IT OFF!" Verin commanded.

Vlad shook his head in disbelief as the drums began rising up again amidst the chaos. He winced, his hand reaching for the pendant.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele couldn't watch this. She couldn't take seeing him in so much pain. It was torturing her. She rushed forward, sliding to her knees in front of him. She took the amulet before he could touch it with his hand, and held it away from his sizzling skin. She had barely noticed the tears that had fallen from her eyes. Vlad was a heavy man, but Tenele was a strong woman... and even stronger when she needed to be. Adrenaline pumped through her system. She grabbed his hand and spun, drawing her sword. It nearly sliced into Verin's pretty face. "This sword has the power to kill any demon," she lied. It was the other sword she had. The one she had in her room. Damn it, why did she have to be so stupid. "I'm sure it wouldn't kill you, Mighty Verin... but it will sting." She suddenly sprung backwards, dragging Vlad by his hand. She held on tight, and prayed all the way she could make it to the storage room at the end of the throne room, back towards the door. Everyone seemed to be staring at her as if she were mad, because they knew there was no escape, but Tenele knew something else.

Verin was a God of Darkness, which meant holy magic just him just as much as it hurt Vlad. She helped Vlad to his feet, or rather carried him with on of his arms slung over her shoulder. The storage room doors were open, as if suddenly someone had found to be kind enough to open them for her. She hadn't remembered that. Whoever it had been, was fast. She carried Vlad until he was almost in the storage room and she let herself slip out from under his arm. She reached out as he was falling backwards, and grabbed the amulet from his neck. She dropped her sword as he crashed to the ground, grabbing the double doors and closing them. She quickly tied the handles together with the leather cords of the pendant, before turning to face them all.

She knelt, grabbing the hilt of her sword. When she stood up, Verin was no more than a few inches from her. "Lalana is right, you are mad." He tilted his head. "What makes you think that a door is going to stop me?"

"Not the door, the pendant. Its blessed that door. I have sealed that room. You cannot enter it. Not unless you or your demon hord can touch holy magic... and you can't get me to take it off." Tenele tilted her head up to him. "And you wouldn't want to damage the option of having Ighten surrender without so much as a fight."

"We don't need you whole," the Maharaja explained, smirking.

"You fascinate me," Verin mused. "Both of you. Do you really think you can make this little... 'relationship' work? I mean, you can't marry. The Gods you worship even condemn your love for him. You can't bare his children, if he can have any. He's old, I doubt he can. You can keep playing house, but houses made of sticks and strings and amulet things always come crashing down. You defy your queen, and your people for him. Could it be, that you yourself are drawn to this darker side? How else would one of Sinead's truly noble and honorably pure Maiden's fall into his snares?"

They circled each other. Tenele listened to him, trying to not let his words reach her. He was trying to get to her, looking for a hole. The part about fearing how long their relationship would last struck a nerve, and she tried not to let it show.

"I can help you. I can bind you both together in ways that no human or sorcerer could. He is a No Life King." He was suddenly gone, and standing behind her, too close for her liking. He bent his tall form and pressed his lips close to her ear. "I can make you his Queen."

"Shea tried this bullshit," Tenele muttered.

"Shea made the offer to the wrong person. I am offering it to you, not to him. I can feel what you want, Tenele. Its what I do." His voice lowered. "I can feel every aching desire. Every fear.” He came around and placed his hands on her shoulders, giving her a sympathetic look. “You are afraid of losing him. You lost your mother, your friends, your fellow Maidens, you lost the women who had taken care of you since you could remember... People just have a tendency to die around you. You are afraid of the curse clinging to him, taking its next victim. Maybe it hugs you so tightly because you aren’t meant for that world? You want things that your people would consider... twisted. After all, what follower of a God of Light makes love to the spawn mine?”

“Can we get on to the pain part?” Tenele muttered.

“I like you,” he said. He gripped her shoulders tightly before removing one hand and cupping her chin with his fingers. “That’s why I’m not going to do what I was going to do. I’m not going to throw you through that door.” His grin frightened her. It was strong, broad, and very amused. He had actually thought it out in great detail, she could almost see the events unfold in his black eyes. “One day you will come and kneel at my feet as well, child. I see that.”

“Over my dead body.”

“Exactly.” Tenele was a bit thrown by what he had said, until she guessed he meant over her living-dead body. He thought Vlad would turn her.

“We can’t do this forever. What do you want? If your not going to hurt me...”

Verin chuckled, his eyes glancing to the pendant around the door handle. “Oh, I never said I wasn’t going to hurt you. Your God’s can’t help you now, and soon that pendant won’t be able to help him.”

Tenele knew that, she knew very well that there was something she needed to do for him. She needed equal help. She needed a God on her side to fight for her... But, would they listen to her? If what Verin said was true... Then, had they abandoned her as well? She was suddenly beating herself up for not locking sealing herself inside that room with Vlad... That would have given her plenty of time to pray to them. Now, she’d have to do it and keep herself alive at the same time. She needed more time. She needed to escape.... and the first thing that came to her mind was to run.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad didn't even twitch as Tenele dragged his body away. He had no idea what she was doing, but to avoid the risk of striking her away, he forced himself to stay still. He trusted her. When her hands released him, the fire was gone and he was collapsing onto the floor. Very undignified, but he found it hard to care over the aftermath of the burn. The doors closed, and the room became dark and silent. No drums, no heartbeats. Tenele wasn't with him. Where was she? He forced himself onto his knees, clasping one hand over his chest as if that would stop the bleeding, but there was no blood, only pain. He reached for the door with his other hand and one light touch was enough to tell him he'd been sealed in. But Tenele was still outside, with an angry room and a god. Damn.

He dragged himself closer to the door and began pounding on it with his fist. Not only was his arm not strong enough to break down the door, but the seal zapped through him like an electric fence every time he tried. He gave up on that idea and looked around for something in the closet that could be used to force the door. He spotted an old fire poker in the corner that looked like it had potential, but when he tried to move toward it, his body went on strike and he wound up flat on his side.

Tenele was out there, and even if he got out, he couldn't help her. It was a bad feeling, bad enough to make him desperate. He only had one idea, and he just hoped trying it wouldn't make things any worse. He clenched his eyes and awkwardly began thinking words in his mind. At least he thought this was how it worked...he was probably doing it wrong, but he had to try. 'Hey, Thar. Not sure you're even hearing this, seeing as I've never bothered with you before. To be fair, you're the reason I've got a hole in my chest right now. Anyway, I probably don't get a vote, and so forth.' He paused, feeling too dizzy to think. It was hard to focus. 'So yeah, I'm the spawn of Verin, and I might very well end up his soon. But you see, her, she's always been yours. She needs help, and as amazing as this is, I can't help her. So if you could just wave your magic wand and make this alright for her, and get her back to Ighten safely, I know she'd thank you later. He grimaced, running out of ideas for what to say. He had to be doing it wrong, he didnt' feel any touch of power, or pain, or anything to imply anyone was listening to him. 'I love her.' he added quietly in his mind, and then gave up. What the hell was he doing trying to pray anyway?

[Emora Deen]

Tenele was repeating the same thing over in her head after finishing her prayer as they closed in. Did they honestly think they could make her take that thing off. Atul was the only one that stood back, still fixated in his place by the empty throne. Even the Maharaja seemed to be creeping forward with a dark glint in his eye that was clearly not his own. Did Vern have the ablity to control all of them? No, these people were under no control, they were doing this willingly. So she repeated it in her head over and over, louder it seemed, if you could possibly scream inside your head. 'Please save us, please help us. Please. Or make me strong enough to endure, so that he is safe.'

There was no way she could do this, and she realized that now. No way she could control this situation, stall, or talk her way out of it, and as Verin raised his hand and moved to swipe her towards the group, like swiping dust from the top of a table, she knew that this was it.

Or so she thought. There was an explosion of light as Verin's forearm met a hand. It belonged to an equally tall male figure, who was just as miraculously gorgeos, if more. His skin was a tan pearl, and his hair sweeping locks of gold. His face was stern, strong, and very displeased. His hand had caught Verin by the arm just as he was in mid-act of depositing Tenele quickly to his team of negotiators. The two Gods made eye contact, and it was clear and easy to feel the rivalery in the air.

"Thar," Verin greated menacingly.

Thar said nothing in return, for Verin did not deserve a greating. "You will not harm this one. She is protected."

"In case you haven't noticed, she's tainted." Verin smirked.

Thar glanced back at Tenele with his almost translucent soft blue eyes. "I do not see anything that is tainted. Clearly you need to brush up on a dictionary, Verin. For all I see is a heart filled with goodness, and love. If she were tainted would you not harm her yourself? You've already tried."

Verin's handsome face contorted with anger. "Stay out of this, its none of you-"

"They have prayed to me, it is my business. You have over-stepped your bounds, and will cease this nonesence immediatly. You will leave them be. Let the humans fight there battles out without your meddling hands. As of now they are not of your concern. They have asked for my protection."

"Funny how people only get things from you when they ask," Verin hissed.

"I do not poke my nose into things I'm not wanted, like you Verin." Everytime he said Verin's name it was with disgust.

* * *

The room might have been dark, but slowly a light began swirling around the room, slowly taking form. When she appeared, she appeared in a flash of silver. Her hair was long, a sweeping bright polished silver, much like Tenele's. Her eyes were a swirling storm of green and blue, like seeing all the world through her eyes. She was kneeling next to him, her head tilted and a placid expression on her face. She said nothing to him at first.

After a moment she looked at Vlad very sternly. "It is not normally that we help your kind," she mentioned to him, before her features softened. "But, it is not normally that your kind loves." She reached up and cupped his face in her warm hands, knowing that it would not sting him now. She wouldn't allow it. "I am hear to help... But there are many ways of helping. I have come to give you a choice. I can make you human, which will keep Verin's power from you. You will be flawed, and vulnerable, but protect for good. You will not be strong, and as such escaping this place will not be easy. The other option is that I restore what Sinead put in you... The walls will go back up, you will be yourself again. You risk hurting Tenele, and eventually Verin will find a way to get back at you both. He won't try immediatly, but one day his boredom with humanity will lead him to you. You will be strong, as you were. You will be able to protect yourself and her, and escape this place. I know which you will choose, but I hope that you will consider the choices."

As if to add to his insentive, to help him choose a certain one. She showed him something, a vision of Tenele in a white dress. He, very much a human. They were visions that flashed before his eyes of a normal life, a normal relationship... a very human and flawed life. A life without fear of hurting her. A life without undying cravings, or allergic reactions to holy things. "You can have that... but it will be hard to escape as a human. For that, I know which one you will choose. I ask anyway."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad had fallen utterly still when the goddess framed his face in her soft hands. His first instinct was to jerk away before her palms corroded his flesh, but it was like she held him there, very still. He had the time to stare at her in fascinated horror, carefully attending to her words as she spoke to him. But all he could think was no, they had gotten it wrong, this wasn't what he prayed for, not him, her, of course her, how was this even happening?

But a goddess was there, supporting him in a protective embrace that didn't burn or chill him. It was more like life itself was flowing out of her hands. But they couldn't mean him, they were making a mistake.

Then the images came along with her words, of human things he could never give Tenele as he was and of a life he'd lost hundreds of years ago. With her warm hands against his skin, it was easy to believe it was true, that it could all be possible, that he was not forsaken by the gods, was not tamed like a dog by his queen, was not lost to his race or feared by the people he'd died to protect. He really had a choice.

He met her eyes and forced a rueful smile. "You know my answer," he said haughtily. It was all the answer he needed to give her. "But thanks for the choice," he added, very quietly. He closed his eyes from her gentle gaze in case they were doing what he dreaded they were doing, and waited impatiently to be burned or struck down or whatever would happen next. He'd been offered salvation and refused it. He saw no possible way to further insult the goddess who'd apparently come to try to help him.

[Emora Deen]

Atara smiled kindly, and tilted her head forward. She knew that was the choice he'd make, but she also knew the reasons he made them. Her lips pressed gently against his forehead, like a mother kissing her son. Her powers coursed over him, like a thousand silver spark sized fairies dancing across him. It spread out from where she kissed his forehead, down his face and neck, taking the burned holy image virtually from him. He wouldn't be able to do what he needed to do if he were wounded. Then, the sparks concentrated back towards the center of his chest. They went inward, delving into his body, and once the last of them had disappeared, a pulse spread out and he was once again whole. "Do not fear Vladimir Dracul, maybe one day the choice will be given to you again. You have, afterall, earned your redemption." She smiled sweetly, though his eyes were shut. "Do not fret about Tenele. Thar has Verin quite under control. However, we cannot control what his followers do."

She stood to her feet, her long white gown shifting like mist about her perfect form. Her eyes glanced to the door. "You're free." She was gone, not in clap of thunder, or whistle of wind. She faded with silence, as if she had never come.

* * *

A clatter caught Tenele's attention, as well as the God's. The tallisman had untied itself and slipped to fall to the floor. The door was no longer sealed. Her breath caught in her throat, and Verin smiled. Thar only chuckled at him, as if he found something amusing. "Thar, your God-like powers of perception are waining in your old age."

Verin's eyes narrowed on the door, and his smile slipped away. "Atara..." he hissed through gritted teeth.

"My wife has a soft heart for all creatures," Thar mused, finally releasing Verin's arm. "Although her heart chooses to free them, not enslave them. Verin, how many centuries will we do this? When will you tire of your actions? Do you not see that better things come from goodness?"

Verin arched an eyebrow, seemingly bored. "How many centuries will you dictate the same speach to me. This is who I am. Man, is a corrupt, vile, and vicious creature. Goodness and happy fairy tales will not reign them in. Your way is a failed way, Thar. You're ways are dying out. You will come to pass and fade into the pages of history, and even then you will rot away. No one will remember you, or Atara. No one will worship you, or even know of your existance. I am but the future, and you are the glimir of a forgotten past." He leaned forward. "Your faith in them is pathetic."

"At least I have faith in something, Verin."

Tenele blinked. She found it strange to hear of Gods needing faith in something. But, here one was, openly admitting he had faith in man. Verin's eyes fell on her, and he smirked. "Like, I said... Pathetic." He made a sudden sound of disgust. "Fine, I'm through with them." He suddenly appeared, taking her chin in his fingers again, tilting her head up to look at him. "For now." It was a plain spoke sentence. Short, and but not so sweet. And in his eyes was something. A swirling vision of a broken memory. It was enough to make her stomach churn with nausea, but at the same time she wanted to double over in laughter at him. The most she could pull off though, was a faint grimance that was a mix between disgust and a smirk. Then, Verin's eyes looked to the door, awaiting for when Vlad would recover his strength, the strength that Atara was surely letting him rebuild. He knew that it would only be a moment before the vampire burst through those doors. He wanted to bid him fairwell, too. His smile grew into a feirce grin. Thar reached out, taking Tenele's arm gently and began to pull her gently out of Verin's grasp.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad let his eyes slowly open and stare at the empty space where the goddess had just stood. He could feel Sinead's power, steady and firm in some part of him that didn't have a name. His chest had stopped burning, and all that was left of his wound was the phantom memory of it in the back of his mind. It was so difficult to believe that for a moment, he couldn't make himself move. His cheeks felt wet. He waited for that to sink in as well. When it did, he ran his sleeve fiercely across his face and stood up indignantly.

Light caught the corner of his vision and fell in a thick beam across the dusty storeroom. The door was open. He looked at it and remembered what was outside. He remembered who was to blame for all of this, and why he had made the choice he did. He narrowed his eyes and teleported out of the room into the center of the hall, directly in front of Verin. He glanced around, just enough to be sure Tenele was okay. He had to feel a bit disconcerted when he noticed Thor there with her, but after what had just happened, very little was surprising him, and even less scared him.

He glared into the god's eyes with a proud fury that Verin's eyes returned in kind, two demons staring each other down. A thousand insults and threats came to Vlad's mind as he faced the God, but in the end he smirked and said the thing most dangerous to a god. "You mean nothing to me," he said, and spat at Verin's feet.