Heirot

The explosion of the room next door startled Tenara. "Shh," Tenele whispered through her own tears, rocking her child. "Calm down, Tenara. Remember, be calm. Breathe."

Tenara shook her head. "He lied. He lied. You promised! What did I do?"

"Nothing sweetheart, nothing," Tenele assured. "Please, calm down. Please." She had her father's temper, that was for sure.

Vlad leaned into the door, and let the sudden drain on his power force his muscles still. He took a slow breath of dusty air, and slowly stepped away from the steady surface. He raised his head, turned, and let himself back into Tenara's room, neon-eyed and alert.

He went to the girl's other side and sat down next to her with calm intensity. He had nothing to say. He just touched the girl's face, turning it to look at him, and he looked at her back with eyes strong and radiant as molten steel. Words weren't really necessary. We are with you.

Tenara stared at her father with a hint of red glow in her pupils... but it snuffed out. She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly, crying for her papa. It took her a while to calm down.

When she was calm Tenele sat with her on the floor playing with her dolls. They ate dinner quietly, and when it was bedtime Tenele tucked Tenara in. She gave her extra kisses and read her a bedtime story that Atul hadn't finished.

The Maiden held up pretty well all day to the point of being stoic. When she was finished and Tenara was sleeping, she closed the book and blew out the candles. Stalker curled at the side of her bed, letting out his own ragged breath.

Tenele retreated to the bedroom, the messy disaster that was everything they had in shatters. Torn sheets, feather pillows exploded, wooden chairs in pieces. She meandered around the devastation to the window where she looked down on Atul's ship sombrely.

"It leaves shortly," Vlad said from over her shoulder. He hadn't said more than a handful of words all day. He stepped up behind her and placed his arms around her warm body. There was a chill to the night air as they both looked down on the shipyard, where they were making final preparations.

He wasn't used to talking about emotions. It had taken an immense amount of trust and affection to make him as openly loving toward his family as he was. To lose someone he loved.... he hadn't needed to deal with such a thing. He loved so rarely. He didn't know what to do with the feelings, so he just didn't. He had them sternly buried now, locked away where they couldn't make him tremble.

"I'd like to sleep in the tower," he murmured.

Tenele wasn't sure what he meant by that. He wanted to sleep in his tower, but did he want her to join him? She couldn't leave Tenara down here... Of course Talon had been staying in her room at night and there was Stalker. But, she didn't want to leave her child who had suddenly lost a father. She frowned at the boat. "Alone?"

"With you," he said. "And her." He looked over at the ruined bed. "I know it's not the best place. I can ask Queeny about other arrangements tomorrow."

Tenele nodded. "Okay," she replied. "I'll get her." Tenele pushed away from her husband and went back into Tenara's room. She wrapped the sleeping child in her covers and lifted her off the bed. She slept so deeply it wasn't hard to move her.

Tenele carried her back into their room, motioning to Vlad that she was going to head up to the tower. Stalker trotted right behind her.

Vlad closed his eyes tiredly. He walked to the bed, collected all the blankets, and teleported to the tower to prepare for the women he loved. By the time they made it up, the hearth was blazing and the room was heating up. He looked around at the drab furnishings that made up his reality before meeting Tenele. The tower wasn't a place of comfort, but it was a place of solitude and self-sufficiency. It faced away from the port. It was what he needed at the moment.

He walked to Tenele as she arrived and took the child from her arms so she could make herself comfortable.

Tenele relinquished her daughter to her husband, pressing a kiss on her soft cheek. Stalker made his home by the fire. She went to Vlad's wardrobe and stole a tunic from the racks. She stripped her clothing away and dawned the shirt.

Tenele hadn't spared a moment to let herself acknowledged what was change in their life. Their was Vlad's temper to watch, Tenara to calm down, then she focused on keeping her occupied, eating dinner with her, reading to her, and now... peace.

Now, she could think.

She could understand what just happened.

Tenele leaned against the mantel, staring down at the fire. She reached up and wiped the tears, but they kept falling. "I'm sorry," Tenele whispered. She went to her husband and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm going to go for a little walk, okay? I'll be right back." She headed to the door without considering she was only sporting her husband's shirt.

Vlad had gotten Tenara settled into his bed, and turned back to his wife as she began to leave. His hard eyes softened as he watched her. He knew this part had to come for her sometime. He was determined to be there for her when it did. "My love," he said gently, leaving her some space. He thought about trying to stop her, or offering her pants. But really, he knew the need for privacy when he saw it. "Good. Stalker could use a chance to get out," he said in a tone that left no room for argument. The beast jerked to attention and trotted to her side.

Tenele scowled at him with a tear streaked face. "I don't need a chaperone," she replied, pausing at the door. "Stay," she told Stalker firmly.

"Go," Vlad whispered, and the beast stuck to her side immovably.

Tenele got angry. "A few minutes alone, that's all I'm asking." Tenele pushed Stalker away, trying to squeeze out the door without him. "I just need a moment alone."

Vlad twitched, his skin much too thin compared to normal. "Please don't go in public," he murmured, calling Stalker to him with a silent cue.

Tenele nodded and closed the door before he could change his mind. She took a ragged breath and stepped down the moonlit staircase. Tenele walked the quiet halls until she found a window where she could watch the port...

The ship was so close to leaving. The last of the supplies were being loaded. That was it. There wasn't anything else... He was gone.

Tenele buried her face in her hands and cried. The quiet in the hall wasn't as soothing as she'd hoped. It felt cold. It made the emptiness of his departure seem all the more devastation and she immediately regretted leaving Stalker behind.

But, what if she begged him to stay? Maybe he would listen to her? She hadn't put up enough of a fight. She'd let Vlad fight for her. Maybe he needed to hear that she wanted him to stay too. That she loved him.

Tenele took off in a brisk run down the steps. She ran the out of the palace, not even bothering with the odd looks that she got. Tenele ran through the crowded less than savory streets of Harbor Side, attracting curious attention as she passed. Tenele ran all the way to the dock, coming to a sliding halt against the railing overlooking the bay.

It was too late. The ship had pulled out of port while she was running. She huffed to regain her breath, to call for him. Maybe if he heard her he would come back.

"Atul!" she cried. "Atul, don't leave! Please don't leave!"

But, the ship just got further and further away. "Atul!"