Heirot

Vlad's eyes flared. "Is this some kind of joke? It's not funny."

Atul sat up. "No, it is not a joke. It is my life. I would not joke about my life!"

Tenele jerked awake as Atul yelled and clamoured over her. He grabbed his pants at the foot of the bed and tugged them on. "What's going on?" she asked softly, pulling the sheets around her.

"Do you think I want this to happen? I don't want to marry someone else. I don't want to be forced into this. My happiest moments are spent away from court, pretending to be a normal man with the two of you. But, I'm King. I have duties. I have no choices. I have no freedom."

"You have no courage, Vlad began to snarl. "You're running away because it's hard. You have a choice!"

"I have no courage?!" Atul roared. "I have courage. Do you know how hard it is to walk away from you? From her? From Tenara? Do you know how painful it is to marry a woman I'll never love? Don't lecture me on courage right now. You do not know the shackles of a King."

Vlad stood up and leaned in close to the demigod's face, eyes flashing with hurt. "Don't you dare lecture me about shackles. I can't believe you'd give this up for some random bitch rather than use that power you're so 'shackled' with. I can't believe you could fuck us with a straight face while planning this."

Atul's gaze faltered, he took a half breath. His eyes fell on Tenele. Shame splintered through him. "It was... I just wanted to be with you one last time," he whispered. "I can't fight this. I've tried. I managed to fight it for three years. I can't go without a wife. My kingdom needs a Queen. How Sinead has lasted this long without a King I can't fathom. But, Hajara has different rules and customs and... I'm sorry."

Vlad rocked a step back. "You don't want us with you?" he looked sick. "Not even in secret?"

Atul swallowed. He felt light headed. "Atul..." His head jerked to the beautiful silver-haired woman kneeling in bed. Yes, that's what he wanted. "My wife will not approve of such a thing, Vlad. She will not want me to continue it. It is dishonourable for me to treat my wife as if her opinions and desires don't matter. Do you really want to sulk in the shadows? Do you want to meet in damp inns for sex only to pretend like we are distant in the daylight? Do you want me to treat you or Tenele like a common whore? I don't."

Vlad winced at the word. "This is not about sex...," he voice wavered. "Not to me."

"Don't get on that ship."

Atul's blue eyes watered. "What do you expect me to do?" he breathed. "Give up my kingdom that I fought a God to keep? My enemies will move in and enslave my people. They will suffer because I gave in to love. I am King. I have to be above such things. I sacrifice so that others can have peace. I have to get on that ship."

Vlad felt his head fumbling apart. It hurt. He'd never been this hurt. And Vladimir Dracul had survived these hundreds of years by destroying everything that hurt him. He looked at Atul, and wanted to hate him. He wanted to wound him. It wasn't fair... it wasn't right to have to be in love with something that hurt him. But he couldn't. He just couldn't...couldn't do anything.

He reached out and touched Atul's cheek. His fingers were trembling with the need to love him and lash out at him at the same time. "Get out," he whispered. "You have five seconds before I tear you to shreds."

"Vlad," Tenele called, slipping out of bed. She wrapped a hand around her husband's arm. "You will do no such thing."

Atul pulled his shirt on, trying to hide the hollow twisting in his gut. It felt physically painfully to hear those words. "I'll say good bye to Tenara."

Vlad didn't breathe or move as the king moved around the room, getting his things. His ribs felt tight enough to break. He couldn't bring himself to speak. He wanted to flee, teleport away from the awful moment. He couldn't. He couldn't leave Tenele, and he couldn't go anywhere. He had to face what was happening, second after second, until it was all he could do to pray he wouldn't try to kill the second person he'd ever loved. 'Get out, get out....please get out,' he thought frantically. 'It's torture...I'm going to break apart... get out.'

Tenele tried to help Atul. But, her hands shook as she placed his things in the bag. A tear dripped onto the silk blouse she folded. Atul buckled the bag and cupped her cheek, brushing away the tear. He wanted to say something to her to ease her pain. Gods, he was a monster. How could he have done this.

"I shouldn't have let it get this far," he whispered to her. He pressed his forehead to hers, taking in a ragged breath.

He turned for the door connecting them to Tenara's room. He wanted to look back at Vlad, he wanted to say good bye... But, he knew how Vlad got when he was upset. He knew that the vampire was capable of cold murderous rage when he was pushed too far.

Tenele followed him into her room and watched him sit on the edge of her bed. He brushed his fingers across her cheek and then nudged her shoulder gently. "Little one," he whispered.

"Wah...."she murmured, blinking her eyes open. She rubbed her small fists over them until she could see. "Papa..."

Atul choked, cupping her small face. "I love you, Tenara..."

She smiled. "I love you."

"I have to go, Tenara. For a while. I will visit you. But, I have something I need to do. I'm sorry. I know-"

"Don't leave!" Tenara cried, sitting straight up in bed. She jumped up to her feet. "No leave!"

"I have too," Atul argued. "I'm sorry."

"No," Tenara shook her head. "You won't come back. You won't."

"I will visit you," Atul reassured. "I promise. I will see you again."

Tenara shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. "You lie," she whispered. "Liar!"

Tenele went to the bed and wrapped her arms around Tenara. "Shhh... He's not a liar. He will see you again. He just has to do an important job. Its okay, Tenara."

"I love you," Atul choked, tears dripping down his cheeks. He leaned across the bed and gave the child a tender kiss. "Be good for your mother. Be strong for your father."

"No, papa!" Tenara cried, reaching for him as he backed away. "Papa!"

Atul hurried from the room like a man on fire. He slammed the door behind him in his rush to get as far away from those heart wrenching sobs as possible.

Vlad listened to the conversation, Tenara's crying protests. He was shaking, his whole body miserable with anger. The no-life king held still. He waited for the sound of Atul's hearbeat to disappear into the distance. When it was gone, he walked slowly to the door to Tenara's room and closed it, walling himself off from the others. He turned slowly and leaned back against it, trembling.

He pictured every moment he'd spent in the man's embrace, every confidence he'd shared, every time his guard had dropped. He clenched his eyes and screamed. The entire room imploded. When he was done, nothing in the room was whole.

And they certainly were not packed.