Heirot

Tenele's teeth clenched together hard enough that it hurt. "I did not," she whispered, glancing away. "I suppose I did not have much faith in its success. Or maybe I was blinded by the silly desire to be a mother..."

He smiled a bright, pointed grin and put his thumb and forefinger to his chin. "You are right to be afraid. I am confident there is a way it can be done, with the right skills. Without an expert, there is a decent chance that you or your infant could perish. I could be persuaded to help you, but I would want something in return."

Tenele narrowed her gaze on him, sinking her hands in Stalker' fur. "What would you want?" she asked him cautiously. A chill ran down her spine. She couldn't possibly imagine what this bastard would want from her or them in exchange for his help. But... if it meant the safety of their child...

"A year with the child," he proposed seriously. "No harmful experiments, mind you. Just a year of light research and the use of his skills, within his judgment. Think of it as an apprenticeship, if you will." He leveled his gaze on her. "Or, a year with Vladimir."

Tenele blinked at him, wrapping both her arms around her middle like a shield. "I'm not giving you my child," she whispered fiercely... "And I can't make that decision for Vlad..." But, she knew what Vlad would choose. She knew if they needed help, if it meant keeping her and their child safe, he'd spend a year with this monster. "I... I need to discuss this with him. We will need to make this decision together..." But, Tenele already knew her answer. She didn't want to lose her husband for a year either. But, she couldn't bring herself to tell him that, to give up the offer of his help, not knowing if she could get it back in a moment of desperation. "Do I have to answer you now?"

Maxwell switched to his more doctoral manner. "You may have one day. If I'm to help, I'd prefer to begin immediately," he said calmly. "If you want my help, burn a candle for me tomorrow."

With that, he turned and disappeared from the room.

* * *

After several minutes, Vlad gave up on dislodging the king from his body. The man was strong as a horse, and slept like the dead. He dropped still on the sheets and thought about his wife in the next room. Maybe if he called for her, he could gain some more pleasant company and a more discreet state for the evening. However, to get her attention through the alabaster walls, he'd need to alert half the castle. He did not feel so inclined. He grinned and lay thinking of what it be like to actually have a child. The doctor's warning was there in the back of his mind, buzzing like an annoying reminder that all was not assured in this plan. He chose not to think about it too hard. He couldn't afford to. He couldn't afford to imagine that anything could happen to the child they'd finally conceived.

He fell asleep smiling.

Tenele opened her mouth to stop Maxwell from leaving, to ask him more questions about what this year long contract would entail... But, he was gone in a flash. It left her heart racing and feeling light headed again. She stood up slowly, and used Stalker as a guide back to the bed. She didn't want to lose her husband for a year... and she refused to have her child living with that madman.

Tenele lay in bed, and a few minutes later, as if sensing her distress, Stalker jumped up onto the mattress with her. His weight pressed down, causing a sink hole in the bed that she rolled into until she rested against his soft fur. She cuddled him, running fingers through his fur to calm her nerves. Tenele eventually fell a sleep.

When she woke the next morning she searched the bed with her hands, but only found Stalker. He licked her face, and his wolf breath churned her already churning stomach. "Oh, no... Down, down, down!"

Stalker leaped off the bed and Tenele jogged off to the bathroom. When she returned she looked the room over with a frown. They hadn't come back. It sent a sinking feeling in her gut. Where could they have gone too? What if something happened to them? He heart started racing again. Tenele pressed her hand to her chest, took a deep breath, and exhaled very slowly.

A knock sounded at the door. "Lady Tenele," a meek voice called.

Tenele went to the door to find the VERY flushed face of a servant girl. "Yes?"

"I... I have... I..." She pointed down the hall to Atul's room. "I won't tell. I promise. I promise. Don't fire me. I won't tell."

"Won't tell what?" Tenele asked, completely confused. "Of course I'm not going to have you fired... Go on, what is it?"

"You're husband... the King. I think you should check on them," she muttered, bowing her head and running off.

Tenele's heart dropped. What could be so wrong that the girl feared getting fired. She crept hesitantly down the hall towards Atul's room, where the door stood slightly open. She pushed it, closing it gently behind her. The curtains around Atul's bed wafted in the breeze as she crept closer. Tenele noticed the chains first, and then her husband's naked body being crushed into the sheets by Atul.

At first, she didn't know what to make of the situation. She stood there blinking for the longest time, and then she laughed. That poor girl. Tenele stepped back and admired the two god-like bodies tangled together. That servant had gotten the view of a lifetime.

Tenele was torn between being highly amused, and a little upset that they hadn't come back to her. That she'd spent such an important night alone and worried while they had so much fun. She pushed that back and buried it, because it did her no good now. Besides, she was happy they had so much fun.

Tenele reached out and touched her husband's arm, giving it a good shake.

Vlad jumped awake, and when his red eyes flicked up to her, he looked human-exhausted. "Tenele," he recognized immediately. A dozen thoughts sparked and faded in his eyes before he managed, "Would you be so kind as to roll the king off me. Feel free to drop him."

Tenele laughed. She climbed into bed, on the opposite side of Atul, and rolled him towards her. He was heavy, so she had to work for it, but he eventually flopped over.

"Ahhh," the king groaned, covering his eyes from the sun. "Gods, my head. Who hit me on the head?"

Tenele snickered at him. She crept around above the Kings head, crawling across the pillows to kneel at her husband's side, up near his head and chained arms. She poked at the chains. "How are these holding you? Or are you faking?"

"Atul put some kind of voodoo on them. God knows what," Vlad muttered, flexing against chains. His hands were bruised up from the repeated abuse. "You awake, your highness? That's the last time I get you drunk!" he scolded the man.

Atul blinked, turning his head towards Vlad. He looked the vampire over, and then saw the chains. The King's eyes grew really wide. He cast his gaze down the length of Vlad's well toned body, and then over his own. Horror struck, he hopped out of bed, looking thoroughly embarrassed.

Tenele frowned at the chains and then turned her gaze on Atul. "Got keys?"

"Keys?"

"So I can set him free," she muttered, working very hard not to laugh.

"Oh, yes, keys." Atul jumped into action, jogging naked to his wardrobe where he dug through the bottom before bringing her a large iron key. Tenele took it gently.

Atul, turned away, taking up his robe and drawing it around his shoulders. He sat on the bed, watching Vlad warily as Tenele unlocked him.

Vlad's eyes flared with energy as the shackles left his wrists and his power rushed back to him like a long lost friend. His first official act of freedom was to sit up and kiss his wife, muttering apologies. His second official act was to teleport across the room where Atul had covered up, punch him in the jewels, and steal his robe for himself. He crossed his arms, daring the man to retaliate.

Atul covered his crotch, rolling over off the bed and onto his knees. He sucked in a deep breath. He wheezed, glancing up at the vampire in disbelief.

"Vlad!" Tenele gasped, standing up and rushing to the end of the bed where Atul coward. "Are you okay?" she asked Atul, reaching out a hand to touch his shoulder. He nodded with a green look on his face and pushed her hand away.

"Fine," he coughed out tightly.

Tenele punched Vlad's shoulder. "I should kick you between the legs for leaving me alone all night and playing with your boy toy," Tenele told him harshly. "Apologies or no apologies." She folded her arms, snatching the robe from around him. She wrapped it around her shoulders and sat down on Atul's bed.

Vlad surrendered the robe, still glowering pointedly at Atul. "I'm sorry, my love. It was not my intention to stay away the entire night."

"Neither was it mine," Atul reminded. "Someone let me drink too much."

Tenele sighed, her gaze dancing back and forth between the two. "Oh well, its okay. It doesn't matter." She stretched her legs out, her bare feet tapping on the stone floor. "I wouldn't have been much fun anyway, I did a lot of sleeping. I'm glad the two of you got to go out and have a good bonding..."

Tenele started laughing at the word. Bonding. Bondage. She laughed so hard she had to wipe tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry, that's not funny."