Heirot

Tenele's voice cut into his raging nerves and caught his attention. He capped his fury with a desperate burst of focus, and the blood shield fell apart. Vlad sagged with the sudden drain, but it helped mute the terror and obscure his memories enough to remember where he was. "Tenele," he breathed. He held her close. "Shh. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he shivered.

Tenele heaved air into her lungs, tears streaking her cheeks. She shook as her nerves calmed, like hot coals cooling. "Hmmm," she murmured, a poor attempt at telling him she was okay. She curled tighter against him, locking her hands around him. "I'm alright. I'm okay."

Vlad frowned at their clothes on the ground in the distance. Everything but them had been thrown far away. He telekinetically summoned Tenele's dress and his suit. "I'm moving us. More will come," he said hoarsely. At least he felt hoarse. But he wasn't the one who'd screamed. As soon as his control was strong enough, they disappeared to a similar cliff on the opposite side of the harbor. The festival was too far away to hear, now, but they wouldn't be bothered. Vlad caught his breath and stared at Tenele, trying very hard not to think about the things he'd just thought about to make her this way. He felt awful about it, but there was nothing he could do. If he could control these memories, he would have by now. The vampire grabbed a fistful of long stems from the grasses around them and began telekinetically weaving them into a complex braid. The task focused his mind, and his wild thoughts slowly grew more controlled.

Tenele slipped quietly back into her clothing. Her hands shook as she drew it on piece at a time until the last thing was the corset she wore around her waist. She fumbled with it, having no trouble getting it on earlier, but it seemed like such an impossible task suddenly. She gave up and crawled to Vlad, moving between him and the braid. She sat in his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her against his skin.

Tenele listened to the sound of the waves against the cliffs and the warm wind blowing through the grass. Tenele let go, only to cup his face in her hands. She kissed him. Slow at first, and then deeper, as if her kiss could drive out his pain and replace it by something warm and beautiful. She drank him in until she needed air, and then she pressed her forehead to his. She sent him all the good feelings and thoughts she could. She sent him pleasurable images of all her wildest dreams, she sent him warm thoughts of them cuddling by a fire, or her reading to him. She drove out his darkness in every fashion she knew possible.

Vlad kissed her cautiously at first. The warm thoughts danced from her mind to his. It was like she was erecting a protective barrier between him and the last five months. He dropped the reeds he'd been weaving and met her eyes in true disbelief as his heart felt calm. "Tenele..." he breathed. "Is it possible you're becoming a better vampire than me?"

Tenele smiled, her fingers stroking his cheek tenderly. "I have had a wonderful teacher," she whispered to him with a misty gaze. She kissed him again. "Whenever it becomes too much of a burden, I am here for you. I will always be here for you. So, let me in."

Vlad stared at her, emotions twisting at his smile. Even if his subconscious tried to seek out the memories, they seemed lost in the mist. His guard lowered slowly. It had been so long. But for just a few minutes, he didn't have those memories. They weren't to be found. "My god, Tenele," he murmured, pulling her into a tight embrace. His fingers wove through her hair, claiming her and bowing down to her at the same time.

Tenele smiled happily, driving out that darkness easily, as he had so much inspiration to pull from. She framed his face again and kissed him. When they slept she knew there would be nightmares. She couldn't keep that darkness at bay then, but maybe her happy dreams would overrule them? If not, she would share in his fear and his pain, and that didn't bother her.

"Should I not have gotten dressed?" she asked, giving him the vivid image of her naked body atop his. The full moon a halo about her head. "Or are you feeling ready to head back?" The next image was of their bed, and their bodies twined around each other in loving comfort, sleeping blissfully.

Vlad sucked in a breath at the power of the image. "Maybe, we could sit here a bit," he said, carefully choosing his words and thoughts to be sure she knew she was wanted. It was embarrassing to come back from such an awkward thing, but she didn't seem to be upset with him, so he didn't indulge in the humiliation his pride wanted him to focus on. He drew her into his lap and rested his chin on top of her head, staring out at the sea. "Sinead's going to hear about the blood shield," he mused.

Tenele smiled, nestling closer to him. "Sinead will understand," she sighed. Tenele watched the stars quietly, tugging his arms around her tighter as she got settled against him. It was peaceful, and she loved it. She just kept her thoughts as positive as she could, no longer trying to force them in, but instead just letting him feel her happiness.

Vlad kissed her hair and locked his arms around her. "Thank you for your trust," he murmured.

Tenele smiled. "You will always have it," she replied.

They sat there a long time, and Vlad slowly managed to relax of his own accord. Tenele's thoughts became a happy addition to his mind, rather than a crutch or a forcefield. Eventually, he found himself tempted to sleep. It happened often when he was linked to her mortal mind, even though he'd avoided it lately. "Perhaps it is time to turn in," he said into the moonlight. "Relieve Esmerelda of his duties."

Tenele yawned. "I like this plan," she stood up slowly and stretched her arms above her head. "I bet Tenara is fast a sleep by now." She tugged on him. "I think we should take the shortcut."

"Yeah," Vlad smiled, wrapping her up in his arms. They were encased in black for a moment, and then they were in their room beside the bed. He released his wife and glanced around for any sign the others were still up.