Heirot

"Maybe it's just the mailman," Vlad suggested.

Downstairs, an unearthly snarl echoed through the house. No. Stalker, heel, Vlad ordered, thinking it so hard that it echoed through both their heads. The sound of giant toenails scattering on the hardwood floor downstairs and then clamoring up the staircase assured them the hellhound had obeyed. The sound of long legs rapidly closing the distance across the upstairs rug let them know, a bit late, that he was obeying too well. In moments, Tenele was stuck in the bath with a large, wet wolf, and her husband was standing dripping-wet on the tile beside them, struggling to restrain his laughter.

Tenele yelped, covering her head as Stalker crashed into the tub with him. He seemed mindful of his claws, thankfully. "You silly dog!" she barked in a laughing breath. "Get off!" Tenele struggled to worm her way out from under him, fading into a fit of laughter when she flopped out naked on the marble floor.

"That's going to bruise," she whimpered, rubbing her rump and thigh as she reached for the towels.

Stalker's ears perked, and he watched them as they dried off, content to stay all covered in suds.

"You needed a bath anyway," she told him with a smile, rubbing his ears with the hand that wouldn't scald him.

The knock rattled against the door a little harder. The door creaked open.

"Hello?" Vincent called, glancing around the foyer.

"Is that him?" Tenele asked Vlad. She wasn't familiar enough with his voice to know.

Vlad glanced at the bedroom door, as if the voice had been that close. He could hear the man perfectly, and Vincent could probably do the same. 'It's him, he confirmed through the link. 'Perhaps I should let stalker greet him after all.

Tenele frowned at him. "We'll be right down," Tenele called.

Tenele felt nervousness flutter up in her stomach as she drew on her dress quickly, not even bothering to thoroughly dry her hair. She could almost here the maids who had raised her scold her about cold weather and wet hair.

Tenele pulled her boots on, nearly tripping over her own feet.

"Hurry up," she told Vlad with a smile, kissing his cheek as she skidded past him for the door.

Vincent was sitting stiffly in a chair situated by the dead fireplace. Tenele hid behind the wall for a moment, peeking out at him as he looked forlornly at the window.

"You're earlier than I expected," she finally greeted, stepping into the room.

Vincent looked up. "I was wondering how long you'd hide behind the wall," he smiled.

Tenele blinked, wondering how he'd known she was there. Her cheeks flushed.

"I'm sorry that I'm early," he admitted, standing up. "I can't stay long."

Vlad followed a few seconds behind her, wearing a tunic from the family's closet that fit him surprisingly well. "Hey pops," he said, ignoring the instincts that were bristling inside him in the presence of the werewolf. He'd experienced far worse instincts already this morning, and in context of THAT nightmare, Vincent's species wasn't worth a second thought.

He went to the cupboard and threw open the doors to study its contents. "I'm supposed to make tea or something, right? That's how these things work," he pondered as he sniffed at a jar of dried leaves.

"I'm fine," Vincent muttered quickly. "Thanks."

Tenele took a seat slowly. "You can't stay long?"

"Well, it is your honeymoon and I don't believe father's are particularly welcomed," he admitted, sitting again. "But, helping Vlad protect the people in the monastery has raised a red flag with Shea and... they'll be coming for me soon. As it should. She broke her promise, and I broke mine."

"What promise... what reason could you possibly have to make a pact with her? After what she did to mother," Tenele muttered, shaking her head. She frowned at her father, feeling anger well in her.

"It was before your mother died..." Vincent closed his eyes and gave a heavy sigh. "I was dying and I was weak, fearful of death. I searched the world over for a cure, but there wasn't one. So in my weakness I sought out Shea, and she offered to cure me. At a price, as it always is. She had me turned, and told me that if I fed upon what was most valuable to me I would keep my freedom. But, I couldn't eat my child, so I was forced to return to her."

Vincent glanced to Vlad. "Your mother followed me, and left you and Talon in the care of Sinead. She was captured by Shea and..."

Vincent stood up, moving to sit closer to Tenele. He took her hands gently, and she only faintly resisted. "I'd known your mother since I was a child. Being and elf... she aged slower than me. Somehow along the way we fell in love, as strangely as that sounds. Your mother and the Queen were very close friends, having lived years together that humans aren't allowed. Your mother had no parents to her knowledge, and no memory of her early years..."

"I know that," Tenele muttered. "I was told that."

"But, what you don't know Tenele is what puts you in danger above all other things," he whispered fiercely. His eyes lifted to Vlad again. "It makes Verin very dangerous for you."

Tenele's hand slipped out from under Vincents. "Does this have to do with that theory Vlad mentioned?"

"What theory?" Vincent muttered.

"Verin came here today. He picked with me," Tenele growled. "What is it that no one is telling me? I get the feeling you both know something. What does he want with me?"

Vlad frowned slightly as Vincent's gaze locked on his expectantly.

"Don't look here," Vlad scoffed. "You open the worms, I'll make the tea." He dragged a kettle out from under the cabinet and struck a match for the stove.

"Have you heard the legend of Attara?" Vincent asked Tenele.

"Yes," Tenele hissed. "I heard it a lot in the Outerlands. I look like her, or rather I resemble her."

"You more than just resemble her, Tenele," Vincent sighed.

"If you tell me I am Attara I will break your nose, whether you're my father or not," she threatened, pointing a finger at him in warning.

"No, you are not Attara," Vincent replied in a calm tone that made Tenele feel light-headed with worry. "You're her daughter."

Tenele frowned, narrowing her eyes on him appraisingly. And then she laughed. She laughed until she had to sit down, trying to calm herself for air. "You have been under Shea's paw too long. It surely has rotted your brain." Tenele looked to Vlad. "He thinks I'm the daughter of a goddess. You should have burst into flames last night."

Vlad smirked. "It is quite a tale," he acknowledged, but there was as much sincerity in his voice as there was amusement. "The logic of it all is rather convenient, though."

Vincent frowned at her. "When your mother and I were imprisoned Shea brought Verin to see her," he started again, calling Tenele's attention back to him.

"He knew who she was, though she didn't. She was terrified, but brave to the last. But, he still couldn't have her, even in the form he'd cursed her too. He could keep her from Thar, but he also kept her from himself. He couldn't have her... on his own." Vincent's jaw clenched tight. "And I was his newest monster. I hadn't hard the years to build up a tolerance to his power."

Tenele felt sick as she watched the terrible expression bloom on Vincent's face.

"He used me against her," Vincent hissed. "And when he was through he had her killed, to release her back to Thar."

"Gods don't die," Tenele told him, swallowing the rocks in her throat. "She was human. He was mistaken."

"When the executioner brought the axe down, separating her head from her body a white light filled the room. I had to shield my eyes from it, but I couldn't help but look. For a brief moment I saw her, Attara. Then, she was gone. I knew in that instant what was truth." Vincent's green eyes lifted to Tenele. "I made a deal with Shea that if I served her in anyway she chose she would keep the knowledge of my children a secret. I knew Sinead would take care of you both, I had no worry of how you would be treated or raised. And so that is where I have been all these years."

Vincent reached out for Tenele's hand. "Verin is after you Tenele, because of Attara. You're her daughter. He loved Attara beyond reason, and when she shunned him for Thar that love turned into obsession. A twisted deadly one. He cannot have Attara, but he could have you."

Tenele frowned at him, her heart racing. "That..." she shook her head. "I..." Tenele looked to Vlad, panic creeping through the faint link. "I know you think you saw that. But, could it be you were so tramatized that..."

"I saw it!" Vincent snapped, a slight snarl in his voice. "You have to believe me Tenele. I wouldn't lie to you. This is the truth. Its not a game. Vlad knows at least that much."

Vlad didn't know truth from lies in the man's voice, but he knew fear when he smelled it, and Vincent's fear was real. "I can't say if he's right or not, Tenele, but he's dead serious."

Tenele frowned, moving away from her father. "If what you say is true..." Her eyes turned to Vlad. "You knew what his theory was... You knew why Verin was in that room and you didn't tell me everything. Something that important? Both of you, for that matter. You couldn't bother to drop in, slip me a note, maybe have some priest explain to me that the God of bloody Monsters might show up one day and pick up the next best thing to his former love interest? And what about my mother? She couldn't step off her godly post to help us out when we were trapped in Verin's realm..."

Tenele shook her head, turning for the door and grabbing one of the cloaks hanging on the wall.

Vlad frowned, thinking back to that day, when they'd faced off against Verin. "Actually, she did help us that day. Or at least, she helped me help you."

Tenele shook her head. "Yes, she came to you. But what about in Verin's realm when we were trapped and to get me home you..." Tenele bit her tongue. "My mother helped you, I am thankful for that. Forgive me if I seem bitter that she didn't care to pay me the slightest visit in over a hundred years." Tenele drew on the cloak. "I need air, I am going for a walk."

Vlad glanced from Tenele to Vincent thoughtfully. He was fairly sure Tenele would be back, but if he left Vincent alone, it might be the last they saw of him. "I'll...you know, tea," he said, nodding to Tenele.