Heirot

The vampire smirked wryly. "Sinead said something pretty similar," he mused. "She put me on forced leave. Told me to sort myself out. He closed his eyes. "I got pretty close."

Tenele frowned, looking at the dirty floor. He was close to feeling better and then she lost her memories. He lost his wife. His support. what could she possibly do to make him feel better?

Tenele took a deep breath and reached out. She slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him. It was the only thing she knew to do. Hugs made people feel better, didn't they?

After a minute Tenele backed off. "If I had known..." Tenele regretted telling him anything about her ordeal, especially knowing now that he was battling his own demons. She felt like her current existence just added more grief to him, still feeling so much like a broken toy.

Vlad looked at his wife quietly, studying her with bright ruby eyes. "I don't understand why you can be so warm towards me," he mused. "I frightened you before. I just made a scene in front of sinead's court. Yet you're here, trusting me not to attack k you in a barren dungeon with no torches."

Tenele glanced around at the lack of light, and then back at the red eyed man. There were a hundred different scenarios that sprouted in her mind with his words. She clasped her hands in front of her, held her head high, a mock show of bravery. "You promised you wouldn't eat me," she proclaimed, nodding her head. "And I'm banking on the fact you wouldn't hurt your wife... But, I realize that I don't know you. I don't know what you are capable of or what kind of person you are. From what I've seen I have to admit you seem a little bipolar and very violent and that scares me. I don't know if you beat me before, or if you hurt me in any other way while I've been with you. But, I get the feeling that the person I am doesn't think to rationally about danger. As you can tell, I at least kept that aspect of myself. Besides, I'm thinking if you were going to hurt me you would have done it while I was bandaging your hand."

Vlad smiled bitterly. "I've harmed you before. And I've bitten you. I've bitten you out of hunger, and out of malice, and out of lust. I've turned on you, Sinead, and everyone else. I've broken your heart before. I ended your brother's life, and put him in this hellish existence with me. I've kept secrets from you, and lashed out at you, and I let you be-" he broke off, as if her rape trumped all the others.

Tenele took a step back from him as he listed all that he was guilty of. It made a cold shiver run down her spine. She wondered how through all of those things she'd managed to stay with him, to love him, to have a child with him. There had to be more to it than all the bad. Something strong than that. He had to be better than all that, and he certainly didn't let that man hurt her.

"That wasn't your fault," she told him firmly. "And if I've stayed with you through all of the other things then you have to be a pretty amazing guy... or I'm a glutton for punishment. I'd like to think the former rather than the latter. I want to believe that you make me happy more than you've made me sad. Else, what's the point of remembering you if all I've ever gotten from you is pain." Tenele blinked, having not meant to say the last part.

Sinead was on her way down the dungeon hall when she heard Tenele talking. "what's the point of remembering you if all I've ever gotten from you is pain." She froze and listened. This didn't sound like a conversation to interrupt.

Vlad tilted his head back and looked at the ceiling. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. Can you go," he muttered. "I'll be back to normal in a minute, so please, just go."

Tenele shook her head. "I didn't mean it to sound like that," she urged. Tenele swallowed and reached out for his arm. "Please, talk to me. Maybe it will make you feel better to talk rather than to have it all piped up inside. What happened to me was not your fault. Please, don't feel guilty for that."

Vlad didn't move away from her touch. He took a deep breath and focused on her slender hand on his arm. "I miss you," he said. "I miss him. I miss myself."

Tenele's eyes watered at his confession. She didn't know who he was... Unless he was this guy named Atul that the Queen had told her about.

But, he missed her... and she wasn't the one he wanted. She just looked like the one he wanted. "I'm here," Tenele replied. "Sort of. You'll eventually get back to being yourself... Wounds take time to heal, right? Right now, we both have a wound to heal. We both have trust issues. We are both afraid. We can help each other out. Maybe we'll feel less alone in it."

She wasn't sure why she was doing this, or why she was willing to walk this path with him. Half of her wanted to run away from him after all the things he'd told her. The other half was more afraid of the world around her and more people like the couple that took her in. "I don't know who to trust," Tenele whispered like someone might hear her. "And I don't know if I can trust you. But, you killed the one who hurt me. You saved me. So, I'm hoping against all the fear inside me that the look of rage in your eyes when you saved me is the look of man who will not betray me."

He stared at her. "The same..." She was exactly the same. She didn't remember him, but she was all the things he'd fallen in love with, all the senseless optimism and bold, hardheaded courage and forgiving kindness. And he loved her so much...completely and deliriously. Vlad turned toward her and touched her cheek very carefully. His bandaged hand traced to her neck and the chain that she wore. "I will tell you what I told the other Tenele," he said softly, brushing the chain. "If I ever try to hurt you, you can use this against me. I would sooner die, Tenele. I would sooner live our entire relationship from scratch, and take my chances that you might not love me, than betray you. I won't hide anything from you."

Tenele stood very still while he traced the chain on her neck. She smiled brightly at him, giving him a soft pat on the cheek. "Good," she announced, smoothing her hands over the front of her gown. She turned and headed for the cell door. "Because, you're taking me on a date."

She paused, opening the wooden door. "How else am I going to learn more about the man I've married?" Tenele waved to him and closed the door behind her. She stood outside the door for a second before proceeding down the frightening corridor of hands and voices.

Sinead slipped into shadow as Tenele passed, not wanting to overwhelm her, even if she wanted to give her a proud hug. When she was gone, she stepped out into the hall and walked quietly up to Vlad's cell. The vampire looked about as drained and surprised as she'd expected from the end of that conversation.

"Vladimir," she murmured, raising a hand and lighting the torch beside the cell.

He bowed. "My Queen."

"I warned you to get yourself under control," she reprimanded.

"You did."

"We've had an agreement, for many years. You know the value of decorum in my court. You know the scrutiny that comes from employing someone with your skills, and you know that attacking our allies can cause scandal, especially when it comes to the church."

"I do," Vlad confirmed.

"Vlad... you are still under my protection, but I need to remove you from my court until this all blows over. I need to maintain order among the nobles."

He nodded slowly. "I agree."

"Honestly, I've been meaning to do this for some time, but the circumstances have finally brought it to pass. Vlad Dracul, will you stand on the High Court of Ighten?"

"Y-...What?"

"You saved my life yesterday, did you not?" She leaned in close to the bars, eye to eye with him. "You are my *most* trusted servant, Lord Dracul. I know where your loyalties lie. I know your goals and threats, and I know only a fool would bind you against your will without expecting consequences. You are above their gossip and games, as is Tenele. If she regains her memory, she will join the High Court with you. For now, do as you always have." She pulled the gate on his cell open. "Forget what everyone else thinks."

Vlad stared for several long moments, and then dropped to deep, sweeping bow. "My Queen...Sinead, I am at your command."

"Good," she said, turning to make her way back. "You're excused."

Once back in the main halls of the palace it occurred to Tenele that she had no idea where she lived and she wasn't exactly sure who to ask. She spotted some of the nobles that had witnessed Vlad's meltdown and was tempted to ask for directions. She paced back and forth until she got up the nerve to go to them.

"Excuse me," Tenele sighed. "This is probably not going to make a bit of sense, but... I had an accident yesterday looking for the cure for the queen and I'm not remembering things very well. I have no idea where my home is. Would one of you be so kind as to take me home?"

"I'll take you, dear," one of the women finally offered, stepping up to guide her. "I'll meet you later, love," she said to her husband.

"My dear, what's this about your memory?"