Heirot

Vlad felt a cold twist in his stomach. "You are you. Nothing that happened to you would change that," he said, wondering exactly what she meant. Did she really think he would turn on her for something like that? She had to know he'd been abused by many, many women himself in the past few days. Or did she not put that much together? Would she care if she knew?

She took a shaky breath. "He hurt me, Vlad," she whispered. "But, they hurt you too didn't they?" She leaned back and touched his face with her hand.

"They... touched you in places too... Like he did me..." She totally didn't realize how far her towel had drifted down.

"He knew who I was... and... People who hate the queen hate those who protect her. So they want to hurt them as much as possible.... But, there was something... more to it..." She closed her eyes.

"He done things too me that I only want someone I care for to do..." She pressed her check to his cool one.

"I guess you and I are both healing wounds no one else can see..."

Vlad tried to keep his voice calm. He needed to know. "Did he rape you?" He wasn't sure he'd forgive himself if he really had been too late.

The word sent spikes down her spine and she froze completely. She swallowed. "He... he didn't... r..r-rape me... He..." she swallowed. "I don't know how to... tell... explain..." She looked down in shame, emberassement. Though, she thought it was too dark for Vlad to see. "He did... other things..."

"You saved me from the worst... And I don't know how I'll ever repay you..." she said softly. "I only wish I could have saved you..."

Vlad's jaw stiffened. He could see the look on her face quite clearly, and didn't like it. Her towel was past immodest, having slid down around her waist. "Even you can't lie around all night in a wet towel without getting sick," he said, levitating a spare blanket from a shelf in the corner over to where they were sitting. He put his chin over her shoulder so she wouldn't feel he was looking and unhooked the towel from her lap, dropping it off the bed and onto the floor. He took the dry blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders. He wished Sekushi was there so he could kill him again. Once didn't feel like enough.

Tenele felt the warm blanket around her shoulders and she just realized she was cold. She sniffled slightly, but her tears had dried. Getting it off her chest realized her. "Thank you," she said, smiling softly and then she yawned.

She leaned in against him, resting there with her head on his shoulder. "I'm so tired..."

Vlad put his arms around her tightly. "I don't care who's touched you," he said. He ran his hands along her sides, down and up the length of her torso, touching her lightly through the blanket. "It makes no difference. Understand?"

Tenele smiled as she moved to look up at him, though... She couldn't really see his face. It relieved her so much to hear that. "I understand," she said softly, her hands roaming over his face to try and find his lips. She leaned forward and kissed him softly, but it was a long kiss.

"Tired?"

Vlad accepted her kiss, slowly kissing her back. What was it about this woman? Somehow between the beginning of the kiss and the moment she asked, he actually was tired. He leaned back with her into the covers, her light body resting on top of his. He hadn't noticed in all his movement that his own towel had come undone and opened up, and probably wouldn't until day broke. "Yes. Let's sleep," he said. His arms crossed behind her shoulders securely.

She closed her eyes, and before she could say anything else she was a sleep. She rested with out any more nightmares for the night. She slept peacefully in his arms. She felt protected... maybe even loved.

Vlad was out too in a matter of minutes. His sleep was dreamless and still until the dawn began creeping in through the window. He turned his head sideways, half waking as he faced away from the intruding light.

Tenele was a heavy sleeper, so probably any movement Vlad made wouldn't wake her up unless she was coming out of that deep sleep. Today was a day she was sleeping heavily, do to the emotional and physical trama. She sighed, snuggling up to Vlad in her sleep, her body was warm and soft. Her silk silver hair fell over onto his chest while she slept on top of him.

A light breeze blew on the tree outside their window, interrupting the rising sunlight enough to drag Vlad the rest of the way out of his sleep. He was surprised he'd really slept the whole night with her. He didn't normally sleep much, let alone with other people around. He shifted slightly, which made him aware of everywhere she was pressed in contact with him, even her silken hair that was cool and smooth on his chest. It was no fun when she was asleep. He put his arms up under his head and observed her thoughtfully, pondering how best to wake her - of course, simply speaking or nudging her was not a candidate in his decision making process.

Tenele sighed softly. Her hands on both sides slid from his toweled hips, up his sides, and across his chest. One of her legs came out from under the blanket revealing a bare hip as her leg bent and rested on one of his as she turned slightly onto his side.

Vlad's ruby eyes sparked slightly at the sight of Tenele's bare hip. His lips pulled into a smirk. He levitated a lock of her hair up and tickled it against the side of her face.