The Cost of Peace

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad frowned as her pulse fluttered faster, drumming against his senses. He was upsetting her greatly, and he wasn't sure what other option he had. Her pledge of honesty didn't comfort him, and he hated to acknowledge that he wasn't convinced by it. He wanted to believe her, though, and that seemed the surest way to calm her for the moment. "Okay," he said, stroking the backs of his fingers along her cheek and neck soothingly. "Okay."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele stared at him blankly, unable to believe that he would just let it go. Vladimir Dracul just letting it go. It was enough to worry her more. She nodded to him anyway, because frankly she didn't know what else to say. Her mind raced with the possibility of what could have happened. Could she be with child? Tenele closed her eyes, trying to go back into her memory. She eventually gave up, knowing that at the moment she didn't want to remember. If what Verin said was true, she didn't want to know.

"I love you Vlad," she said as her eyes fluttered open. "No matter what."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's eyes widened slightly. He wasn't ready for that. He was ready to be her protector, but not her lover, not right now. "Lie still," he instructed her quietly, straightening and taking a step back from the bed so that her hands had to slide off of him. "I'll return," he said, and teleported out of the room. Rummaging and shuffling could be heard from down the hall, and a minute or so later, Vlad returned to the room with a large tray holding a bowl of water, wet towels, and food and drink. His brief time out of the room had given him the room he needed to contain his reaction, and he looked much calmer, albeit distant.

He set the tray down next to Atul's side of the bed and dropped a cold damp towel unceremoniously onto his forehead. He shook his head. "Nursing another man back to health," he muttered disapprovingly, "Princey here's gonna owe me big." He knew he would never normally put in effort to tend to someone's health so carefully. Tenele was a singular and unique exception. But Atul's situation proved that he and Vlad shared a sort of unintentional kinship, if only through the fact that they were stuck in the same soup. It was nothing like he and Tenele, but it was a bond nonetheless.

Leaving the prince's side before he crossed the line between helping and coddling, Vlad walked around to Tenele's side of the bed. "They have no ice here, but Fero's wife provided these," he said to her, holding out a tiny tube full of powdered herbs. "For the swelling," he clarified, not quite meeting her eyes.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele looked at him a bit confused, then glanced down to her arms that Verin had nearly snapped with just his grasp. There was a dark ring around both of them just above the elbow, and it was stiff and sore already. She rubbed the liquid herbs onto her bruises. It smelled better than she had expected, and it numbed the soreness. The silence was about to drive her mad, and he seemed to be uncomfortable around her. "Thanks," she said as she put the vile of herbs on the beside table. She slid down onto the bed further, letting her head rest on the pillows. Her hair spilled out around her as she turned her eyes away from him. She curled over on her side, wrapping her arms around herself, and staring off at the wall. She would deal with this in the morning, she thought to herself. She'd find a way to deal with it, then.

In all honesty she wasn't terribly hurt, it was the simple fact that the rush of adreneline she had felt while Verin was confronting her, had driven her body into overdrive. It was in a weakned state just from that. No person had ever made her feel such fear, but then again Verin was a God...

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad watched her for a minute, then pulled the covers on her side up to cover her. He'd lain Atul atop the blankets, so although the two would share the bed, their bodies wouldn't be against each other. The situation was sub-par, but Vlad didn't intend to let either of them out of his sight tonight. He looked down at Tenele, wanting to touch her or climb in beside her, perhaps crack a joke about needing a 'cold compress' for her bruises. For the first human he'd allowed so close to him in all these years, it was probably not surprising that he found it difficult to distance himself from her. But this could not simply blow over. They would need to talk about this; it would not be buried. So for now, he chose to deny all that had happened for just a moment. He placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, leaned forward, and kissed her cheek. He lingered there for a moment with his nose just touching her skin, then stood up and moved to the foot of the bed, where he stood and prepared to patiently guard them both until down.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele almost broke into tears then and there as he placed his hand on her shoulder and kissed her cheek softly. She placed a hand on his, the one that touched her shoulder gently, and she gave it a gentle squeeze. She closed her eyes tightly and let her hand slip from his to pull the covers up under her chin. When he had stepped away she remained motionless and let sleep take her despite the will to stay awake. No, morning would make the awkward silence go away. Morning would probably cause things to fade into anger and yelling. But, Tenele feared not the wrath of the vampire, but his hatred. She feared him leaving her alone, and feared him hating her for something that was not her fault.

It could not be her fault.

This couldn't be true.

It had to be a lie.

Those words repeated themselves over and over in her mind, even as the slow drudge of dawn came, and even as she slept. The sun crested the desert horizone, and the window was slowly filled with light. It cast red twinkling colors across the room, most of them falling on the bed.

Atul came awake suddenly, gasping Tenele's name. The last thing he remembered was Verin attacking her to get her to remove the amulet. He sat up wearily, glancing about. The first thing he noticed was Vlad at the foot of the bed, and the second thing he noticed was a still form next to him. He winced at the black ring around her arm, and the distinct print of fingers he had left behind.

"Did I hurt her?" He was speaking as if he had full control over what had happened, when infact he didn't. But, to Atul, he felt as if he were responsible for the actions against her.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's eyes were empty and unsurprised as Atul awakened somewhat dramatically. It had been a long night, and Vlad had done nothing with it but think. The vampire tilted his head slightly at the prince as he visibly pieced together the story of the previous evening, but Vlad made no other movement, giving Atul time to ascertain the situation.

When the prince's question came, Vlad shook his head, breaking his uncanny stillness. "Verin could have done worse, had you let him. And for what it's worth, she returned the favor," he said, indicating with his hand the place on his chest where he'd been burned. The wound was covered with a bandage, Vlad's handiwork, so the vampire had no way of telling whether Atul's body had been able to heal it, but Vlad could recall feeling those burns for days or weeks afterward. His hands raised at his sides in a casual shrug that said he considered the scores settled, despite his prior threats against the prince regarding Tenele's safety.

[Emora Deen]

Atul looked down at his open shirt and the banadage on his chest and neck. It was then that he noticed the stinging pain, and he had not noticed it before because of his deep concern for Tenele. He reached down and pulled the banage away, wincing at the site of the holy mark burned deep into his skin. "She's resourceful," he muttered darkly, scooting back to lean against the headboard.

Tenele was still for the most part, but she groaned in her sleep. After a moment she tossed over onto her side again, gripping her stomach. She was still fairly a sleep, even as she made a sound of discomfort. Then, her eyes flickered open and suddenly she was on her feet, running rather distressed to the bathroom. Within seconds, having not found what she saught, she was running back through the room, brushing passed Vlad. She fumbled with the window, and finally lifted the latch to sling it open. Doubling over unceremoniously to the point she almost flung herself out the window, she lost the food that Nadia had cooked the night before in one low heave.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad was now observing Tenele with wide-eyed curiosity. He'd sensed no signs of illness from her in her sleep...what could be causing this now? He exchanged a mutually baffled look with Atul before crossing the room toward her side. He reached out and held the window out of her way, using his other hand to brush her hair back away from her face. "Now now, I know it's a shock to wake up next to princey over there, but he's not THAT unattractive," he teased her quietly. He wasn't unsettled by the concept of her throwing up, and at the moment, it even seemed vaguely endearing to see her behave so unceremoniously. But, he thought, what was it? Something not right with the food here?

He went very still as another possibility smacked him like a rock out of space, so distant from his initial train of thought that he couldn't really accept it. This couldn't be morning sickness. Verin's words had been a trick, a bad dream. He looked down at Tenele with an expression that was suddenly guarded.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele chuckled soflty as she lifted a bit of her dress to wipe her mouth. "My body doesn't like Nadia's cooking apparently," she whispered, taking a deep calming breath, only to suddenly heave out the window again. She waited there after it was over, as if she expected it to happen again. Resting her head on her arm, her other dangled off the edge. "Sorry," she muttered to them. "I know this has to be disgusting." When she thought she was good and finished, and knew that no food was left in her, she sat up and wiped her mouth again. "Ugh..." She leaned into Vlad, who stood close next to her, resting her body against him. "I feel better now."

Atul glanced to Vlad, for even though Verin had been in control, he had been aware of everything his father had said after he had escaped into the town. That's when his control had grown lesser. He had been under the impression that Verin had not been successful, but then again he was probably lied to. He wasn't the most popular among Verin's family. Not to mention, he probably would have done something to stop it. Now what could he do? And did Vlad know?

Atul slowly stood up, gripping the edge of the bed for a moment. "I'll see if Fero is done with his portal..." He left the room, closing the door gently behind him.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad put an arm around Tenele's waist supportively as she leaned against him. There was no good thing to say to her. She had never had a weak stomach, and he'd never known her to get sick easily. At the same time, this was not the right time to confront the issue, not when she was in this state. He dropped the window closed and began guiding her away from it, toward the bathroom. "Some cold water on your face, and you'll be fine. Not disgusting at all," he told her in a calm voice as they walked.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele nodded against him as he walked with her to the bath room and when she reached the table with the water basin she pored cold water int othe bowl and dipped her hands in. Bending she splashed cold water onto her face, and took up the cloth next to her to dry the water. She cleaned the spot on her gown that she had used to wipe her mouth. "You drink peoples blood for food, Vlad, of course throwing up isn't going to disgust you," she told him with a soft smile. She turned and pressed her body up against him, turning her head to rest her cheek on his chest.

Her mind was fuzzy, still not completely awake. She covered her mouth as she yawned, for it was still ver early. What happened last night hung between them like an unsightly cold sore. The elephant in the room. Both wanting to say something, both afraid to say it. Was that a good sign? Was it good that he was afraid to confront her on it? Did that mean he didn't completely hate her for keeping something like that, something that could have possibly happened, a secret?

Still, it could be a lie. But, why would Verin lie about something like that?

Why was she even wanting to believe him? She knew what he had shown her... Could that have been the lie? Why would Verin tell her she was pregnant with his child. What was the point to lie about something like that? Her hands clenched to fists as she aggrivatedly pushed the thoughts aside. Maybe Vlad wasn't saying anything because he too thought it was a lie.

"Did Verin come back?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"No," Vlad said, "Atul was passed out all night, and he didn't try anything on me." Truth was, he'd spent most of the night waiting tensely in preparation for such a disaster, but in the end, the god had not shown up again. He looked down at her form resting against his chest, thinking that they would need to talk about this at some point. At that moment, Fero burst into the room.

"Atul tells me the lady is ill?" he asked, looking flustered and disheveled as he walked in toward them. It was clear from his appearance that he hadn't slept that night. "My wife can prepare-"

"We will seek a physician upon returning to our own land," Vlad interrupted impatiently. "Your spell is prepared?"

Fero looked at them for a moment like a sparrow caught in the eyes of a snake. Vlad assumed the hesitation stemmed from the fact that their departure meant the end of their alliance with Atul's efforts; he didn't give it a second thought. "It is ready in the next room," Fero finally answered, looking even more exhausted than before, if that was possible. "But surely some breakfast, a humble meal before your journey to thank you for all you've done..."

Vlad narrowed his eyes impatiently. "The only debt you owe us is safe passage back to Ighten. It is urgent that we re-establish communication with our queen. There is no time."

Fero's eyes glanced to Tenele, almost like he wanted to appeal to her judgment, but Vlad's frown cut him off. "Then come. The preparations have been made," he said rather sullenly, leading them out into the hall and into Fero's study. Books lined the walls of the room, and all the funiture had been pushed to the perimeter to make way on the stone-tiled floor for a large, complicated rune laid out in amber sand. Vlad knew little about magic, but he knew enough to understand that this was not a brand of sorcery he recognized from Ighten.

"Stand in the center," Fero instructed, walking to a book that lay open on a small table in the corner.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele moved uneasily towards the central ruin, her eyes glancing to Atul who stood leaning against the wall. He gave her a nod. "I hope to see you both again some day, Lady Tenele. Maybe under better circumstances."

Tenele smirked. "I hope as well," Tenele told him, glancing down at the ruin beneath her feet. She was a bit nervous considering that everything magic seemed to go wrong when she and Vlad were put together. "Be safe."

"You too, both of you," Atul replied, meeting eyes with Vlad.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Don't forget what you were able to do last night," Vlad said, meeting Atul's look with a smirk. "There's no excuse to let Verin have you again now that you've fought him off once, so the next time you let him leave you outcold, I'll personally be there to draw on your face."

Fero waved his hands to cut off their conversation before the men started squabbling with each other, out of friendship or not. He gestured for Vlad and Tenele to hold still, closed his eyes, and began reading from his book.

As the incantation went on, the room began to grow unnaturally dark, but an invisible energy could be felt in a cold tingle on their skin, like static electricity frosted with ice. Vlad put his arm around Tenele to ensure they didn't become separated, and the room sifted darker and darker until they were staring into pitch darkness. The sound of Fero's voice began to warp and finally disappear, and there was a distant sound of wind blowing, as if over bare rock. Finally, a cold rush of power poured through them both, and it was clear they were no longer in Fero's study, but in a much larger space, probably larger than the eye could see.

Except their eyes could see nothing. Not even Vlad's could make out a hint of light in the pitch blackness surrounding them.

A sense of foreboding grew strong in Vlad's gut. He sensed no further magic, no sign of change. They were not in Ighten. The spell was complete, and it had taken them...here. Wherever they were. He moved his arm out in front of him, and there was odd sensation up his arm, like he was reaching through a cloud of static. It was chilly, although he could not feel the wind that he could swear he heard blowing steadily and universally in the vague distance around them.

"WHAT'S THIS? AFTER SO SHORT A PARTING, COULD IT BE THAT YOU'RE UNABLE TO RESIST YOUR MASTER'S PRESENSE?" an all-too-familiar voice boomed omnipresently around them. Verin's mortal visage blended forth from the darkness just ahead of them, smiling at them both with a twisted look of triumph. His form was visible to them, yet it shone no light to let them see one another or the space around them. They were in a world outside the rules of reality, a realm where the only reality was that dictated by Verin.