LORE: Training a Hell Hound (MATURE)

[Emora Deen]

Tenele looked at them both, knowing that neither of them was going to be pleased. She pulled the covers up further onto her lap, resting her hands there, holding the covers tightly. “They never intended for us to form a treaty with them. We arrived and were greeted with the greatest of hospitality. They held a feast in our honor… and Verin attended. During the night Verin did something to Vlad, took away the protection you power placed over him… I was drugged and….” She had been speaking very business-like. Recounting the events as a soldier would brief his commander. But, at this point she stumbled over her own words, and her mind raced to cover her tracks.

“I went to get a holy amulet to try and reign in Vlad, but I didn’t make it. Vlad attacked the High Prince, Atul, whom we can consider and alley. The next morning I met with the maharaja to try and get back on good terms with him. I had to prove my worth by fighting Arken’s Second Battalion commander. Even then it didn’t matter. It was all a game to the king. He tried to force me into a marriage with his son Atul, in the hopes that when faced with your kingdoms annihilation, you’d surrender your kingdom peacefully to me as your heir… Which would make Atul the king, and Verin would have wormed his way in.” She wasn’t even going to cover the second theory, not yet… and probably never. “Verin’s control on Vlad was almost complete, but I managed to lock him in a closet and seal him there. I confronted Verin, but being human I’m not much of a match against a God…”

Talon stared at Tenele, his sister. He could slap her for being so foolish, but she’d always been that way. Overly fearless. “Your crazy,” he breathed.

“I stalled long enough… I don’t know why, I guess they answered our prayers. But, the God Thar, and the Goddess Attara came to our aid and made Verin swear to leave us be. Verin’s not much for keeping his word though. Atul helped us escape, and we traveled across the desert to a small town where a man named Fero offered a way home in exchanged for helping Atul start his revolution. I wasn’t much help, the desert was not kind to me. So Vlad helped Verin’s son start a war. Verin wasn’t pleased, and it seemed like things only escalated.” Escalated into a nightmare, one Tenele wasn’t going to wake up from any time soon. “We thought Fero was sending us home, but… Something happened and we ended up in Verin’s realm. He treated us like toys. Made us run a death maze until the end.”

Tenele clenched her eyes shut. For some damned reason she couldn’t get Vlad’s words from her mind. No matter how hard she tried. They were as vivid to her as if she were standing in that darkness with him again and he was speaking them to her with cruel viciousness. “Verin tried to pit Vlad against me by wounding him enough to where he was near ravenous… But, Vlad had no intention of preying on me.” Her eyes didn’t look at them when she spoke about Vlad now. It was as if he’d suddenly become a different person to her. “I had a chance to escape, and hesitated because I wasn’t sure where the portal would send me. Vlad, impatient, used his hell hound to shove me through the portal… I was in his way. Verin was intent on getting his grasp on Vlad, and he had no more use for me. His situation with me was a win-win either way.” Tenele’s eyes fell on Stalker, before she closed them tightly. “Atul is an alley, but the battle he faces is near impossible to win without our help. I wanted to stay and help him, but my place was here. If Atul can win, my Queen… We could very well weaken Shea’s ability to invade. I fear that if we fail at this, we could very well be over run. If we’re invaded, I have no idea where we’ll run to. Ongoreth is in the hands of Shea… Ighten is the last place of light left.”

[Soran Nightblade]

Sinead was quiet for some time, letting it all soak in. She had many questions. "You believe this prince, Atul, could be a just ruler if we were to aid him? Despite his lineage?" she asked. Her tone indicated that she would give a great deal of weight to her maiden's opinion. After all, it was the best information she had to go on regarding the subject, and her advisors were clamoring for action against the Outerlands.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele's green eyes met Sinead's. "He risked his life to see that we made it out of the capital alive. He loves his people, and wants nothing but to liberate them from his father. He loaths the fact that he has Verin's blood running through his veins, and is continually learning to fight against it. We can trust him."

[Soran Nightblade]

Sinead nodded slowly. "I believe you. If he was able to protect you and save your life, I am willing to trust him, although Verin's potential to control him has its dangers. It helps that we have little other choice. Something must be done in response to their actions, and a civil war is the only reasonable war worth fighting in that country. If he has supporters, we will provide them the resources they need."

Her blue eyes seemed to drop a shade darker. "And what of Vladimir? Is he to be trusted?" Her expression said it all; she suspected their chances of recovering a vampire from the god of Darkness were slim. The queen was never a strong truster of vampires. Without her seal to preserve his mortal consciousness, he was as much a beast as any other demon. He was an important ally under her control, maybe even a friend, though she could never be sure. But in enemy hands, she believed he would be little more than a very dangerous weapon.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele averted her eyes from them, staring at the hell hound who was still motionless next to them. "My Queen," Tenele replied softly. "I am not the most reliable person to answer such a question. My heart is conflicted. I want to tell you that we can trust him, deep down I really do. In the end, I must go with what my duty tells me. Vladimir Dracul is not trust worthy. Not without your protection. Verin's magic is far too potent."

Tenele wasn't sure if she should even talk abou what happened just before her arrival. It felt so minute compared to the larger picture. Tenele's love life wasn't what mattered here. Her country mattered, so her heart would have to take a seat in the back. Tenele shifted her hands flat across her stomach, and she tilted her head back closing her eyes for a moment. "I'm afraid he's lost to us until we can find a way to remove Verin's grasp from about him."

[Soran Nightblade]

Sinead frowned, but nodded. She felt slightly guilty. She was responsible for shielding Vlad from that part of his nature, and she'd sent him straight into the heart of a land that was Verin's stronghold. "Let us start with getting you well," Sinead said quietly. "Then we will see to the matter of a task force to aid this Atul, ...and to take care of Vladimir." Her eyes glanced to the hellhound, which was still observing her with dubious patience. "I think it may be best to have it removed," she said. "If Vlad is beyond our trust, then so is that creature."

The hellhound appeared to understand her words, a flicker of intelligence showing in its stature as its head lowered threateningly.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele glanced to the hell hound. It was strange thing, that she suddenly realized as much as it annoyed her, the thought of it being taken away made her a bit sad. Still, it seemed to only be following her because she was the person it was sent after. Who knows, it could be biding its time until it was hungry enough to eat her.

"If you think so, ma'am," Tenele said softly. "I don't think it will be as easy as you think. I've seen it in action before, and you'll be risking the lives of your guards."

[Soran Nightblade]

Sinead knitted her brows and studied the hound. "Your safety is far more important," she said. "But you are correct. My guards are not trained for this. Demons are not meant to be contained. I will summon an expert to attempt to return him to hell. It should take two days, at maximum," she said. "In the meantime, if the creature shows even the slightest sign of aggression toward you or harms anyone, alert me immediately, and I will have a monk sanctify your chambers."

[Emora Deen]

"I will, my Queen," Tenele said a bit too formally. Her mind had drifted elsewhere. At the mention of her chambers being sanctified Tenele suddenly wondered if holy magic would effect her. Especially since Verin's child would carry his blood as well. Did that mean that she would be affected by it because of that fact? Tenele wasn't sure, but she still remembered the burning pain of holy magic from her breif stunt as a vampire.

"You should eat something, Tenele," Talon told her softly.

Tenele shook her head. "I'm not feeling like eating."

"When was the last time you ate?"

"Not too long ago... Maybe less than a day?"

Talon shook his head. "This happens when you hange around someone who doesn't have to eat real food to survive. You rarely eat. Please, eat something," he pleaded, he was worried about her and it showed clear in his lusterious silver eyes.

"I will later, I promise," Tenele told him, glancing up.

Again she stopped her arguing. Now he was really worried. He looked to Sinead, his face begging her to try and reason with Tenele.

[Soran Nightblade]

Eat, Tenele. This isn't about your mood. I cannot heal you fully until you regain some strength," she ordered gently, standing up. "And Talon, I understand your worry, but allow her space," she added before taking her leave of them both. Stalker came off his guard, raising his head and straightening his ears to observe Tenele and Talon.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele sighed, almost a bit in aggravation after Sinead left. She leaned over, wincing as she went to lift the tray of food. Talon quickly moved and grabbed it before she could, lifting and setting it gently in her lap. "Thanks," she muttered, picking up the peice of bread.

Talon didn't say anything, he just moved to sit down on the opposite cot. There was a long agonizing silence before he spoke again. "You were drugged?'

Tenele dropped the bread and sat very still. "Talon, I'm eating. Can we talk about this later?" she asked.

Talon was quiet, but it burned in him. "What happened?"

Tenele sighed. "I don't know, Talon, I was drugged." She stuffed her mouth full of food. It was catching on now, and she realized how hungry she was.

"You don't remember anything?" he asked her gently. The way she was acting lead him to believe that something was terribly wrong with her. Tenele's life was spent fighting and arguing with him.

"Talon, please. I don't want to talk about it," Tenele told him. "Stop baggering me."

"I'm just worried. I don't want anything bad to have happened to you. I want to help you if something did," he told her.

Tenele sighed, and her eyes shifted to Stalker. "Sick him boy." She said, not even believing it would actually work.

[Soran Nightblade]

The hound's lips drew back in a victorious snarl at Tenele's invitation. It crouched on powerful legs and then cleared the space between itself and Talon in a matter of one leap, fangs and claws spread wide and aiming to kill.

[Emora Deen]

Talon's eyes widened and he rolled quickly out of the way. His feet skidded across the floor as he moved to gain some distance between him and the beast. "Call it off!"

Tenele sat there stunned, holding half a peice of bread in her mouth. Her eyes watching the hell hound attack her brother. "Ugh... How?"

Talon did a running leap to a bed and stood on top, as if that would do much good. "Say, sit boy or something."

Tenele looked at Stalker very seriously. "Sit boy." Yeah, like that would work.

[Soran Nightblade]

The hound crashed into the table of medical supplies that had been behind Talon, skidded to his feet, and prepared to attack again. Tenele's command to sit did not seem to impress it, but at the same time, it didn't move from its spot, just looking at Talon hungrily while a low growl rumbled from its throat. It seemed undecided on whether to proceed. After all, Vlad had commanded it only to remain with Tenele. Obeying her had not been specified. But the creature was more intelligent than one might assume. It ultimately chose to neither sit nor attack, simply staring down its would-be prey with remorseless ruby eyes.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele ate her food as she watched the specitacle, not really sure of what to do. She looked at Talon. "Move slowly away from him," she advised. She hadn't expected the wolf to actually go for Talon. She looked at Stalker with a glowering stare. "I was joking."

"How do you know its a boy, anyway?" Talon muttered as he eased away.

"I don't know. Why don't you check for me?" she asked with a smirk. Tenele moved the tray away when she got finished eating what little bit of food she felt like eating. She winced, gritting her teeth as she used her strength to lift herself up and slide back into a lying position on the cot. "Talon, I know your worried, but at the moment I just don't want to talk about anything. I'm tired."

Talon was backing towards the door. "I'll let you sleep..." He didn't dare turn his back on the wolf, and when he reached the door he opened it from behind him. "Tenele," he called softly. "I know that we don't always get along... But... If you need me, I'll be there for you."

Tenele opened her yes to stare at the vaulted ceiling. "Thank you," she whispered back to him, and he left.

* * *

By the end of the day Tenele had cleaned two plates clear of food. She’d slept most of the rest of the afternoon and a bit into the night. It had been a restless sleep. She’d awakened many times only to fall back into that same restless pattern. A day came and went, and then another day. When morning came and she felt the warm beams of the sun pouring in through the pulled curtains, she slowly sat up and ran her hands through her hair.

Her green eyes flickered about the room, half expecting to see Vlad there. She remembered then, when she was more awake, that it wouldn’t happen like that. No, she was faced with the reality at hand. Vlad was someone she really didn’t know. He was a prisoner.

And now…

He was an enemy.

As angry as she was with him using her, she knew that she needed to help him either way. He didn’t deserve to be a prisoner… Well, maybe he did to her at the moment. She couldn’t tell what her feelings were telling her.

“I’ve played your lover, as you wished. It was amusing enough, for a time. I babysat you through this infernal maze, I even endured your pathetic whining about the disaster you’ve brought upon your womb. I’d say I’ve been quite accommodating. But a guest should know how to tell when it’s time to relieve their host of his duty. Now, be a good human, and get the hell out of my way. The charade has grown dull for me.”

Her fingers knotted into her cotton sheets and she through them off. How could he have been such a lying bastard, she thought. Did he just get his kicks and giggles from playing with the hearts of sweet maidens. Sinead tried to warn her of Vlad’s particular reputation with them. Tenele had been too blinded by emotion and no reason to see how it really was.

Still, through all that she could not, and would not leave him to be a prisoner of Verin. If nothing, just to spite the Dark God, she’d find away to get Vlad back. Tenele moved to stand, and she found it far easier than three days ago. She glanced to the wolf, who hadn’t budged since she had come to this place. She gave it no warning that she was leaving, she simply went to the door and peeked out.

She wanted to go to the library, to do a bit of reading up on her enemy. He had to have some sort of weakness, right? Besides holy magic. Who was she kidding he was God… But, there had to be something that spoke of how to block his hold completely from a person. So Tenele snuck out of the room, and headed down the hall. It was early morning, so not a lot of people were up. She looked a bit of a mess, but no one seemed to pay her much mind, and she was thankful for that.

The library was enormous. It was at least 4 stories high, and from the wall to the ceiling it was nothing but books. An oval room, with high glass windows and no curtains, it was brightly lit by natural light and large dangling chandlers. There small rows of book shelves in the center, and up and down the isle there were tables to sit at and read. Tenele was a bit overwhelmed at first, because the moment she entered she realized she hadn’t the slightest idea where to go to look for books about Verin. So she wondered about the isles, and up the stairs to the next levels.

Tenele moved slow and sorely, but effectively about. She gathered what books she thought would be of use into her arms, and when she had deemed the load sufficient she found a nice quite table hidden in the midst of the rows of book shelves. She spread them out across the table and began to read.

It didn’t occur to her that her disappearance might be a bit unexpected and cause a panic, so after being there several hours, after dawn had came and went, it surprised her a bit to look up from the books she had been reading and find a stern looking silver haired man sitting across from her. The table was so wide she hadn’t even heard him or seen him sit.

“What are you doing?” he asked her, his arms folded.

“Studying,” she told him softly, her eyes returning to the pages. “Did you know that deities are connected with their temples. If you destroy a temple, the deity is affected. They feel the pain of its destruction.”

He said nothing, his eyes looking her over. “What did he do to you?” Talon asked seriously.

Tenele didn’t glance up from the book. She just folded it and gathered the others into her arms. She stood and turned to walk away. “Why do you assume he did something to me,” Tenele muttered. Talon rose quickly to follow her, glancing warily for the wolf.

“Because, I know you Tenele, and you never keep quiet about anything unless something happened. You’re fierce and determined, and far too much like our mother. I know when something’s bothering you,” he told her. Tenele kept walking. “Tenele, please. Let me help you.”

“You can’t help me Talon,” Tenele whispered, turning to head of the steps.

Talon paused for a moment, but didn’t let that stop him. “I’ll find someone who can,” he told her. “Sinead can help you.”

Tenele stopped, turning to him with the books in her arms. He froze at the expression on her face. It was a woman on the verge of breaking. “You can’t help me. She can’t help me. No one, Talon, can help me. I brought this upon myself, and I will deal with it by myself.” Vlad had told her she wouldn’t have to deal with it on her own… But, he had lied, much like everything else. “Please,” she whispered, “Just… go away.” She turned away from him, on the verge of tears.

Talon reached out, to grab her by the arm.