Holier Than Thou

[Soran Nightblade]

The high priest trapped Vlad's gaze for another moment before he looked over at Tenele. "And what is your name, my dear," he asked solemnly.

[Emora Deen]

She hadn't realized she had forgotten to give him her name. She'd been so worried about how he would react to Vlad. "Tenele Raider, father," she replied very softly, finally lifting her eyes from the respectful place she had trained them on the floor.

[Soran Nightblade]

"I know of you. Both. The queen's choice of aid is very interesting," the man noted, looking Tenele and Vlad over. "But it seems to me that at least one of you should not be capable of entering these walls. How is this so?"

"I was...changed," Vlad said, finding it more difficult to lie to this man than he'd expected. He'd wanted to say that the heavens had blessed him, that he was free of the evils of his race, but he knew that wasn't the case. A mad scientist had tortured him into immunity. There was nothing sacred about his change. Something about this place, and this particular man, was humbling enough to force him to admit it.

"Yes...you were," the high priest agreed. He turned to Jonah and Rosalie. "I will see them in my chambers, alone.

"But father, the demon--"

"Leave us," the man waved his hand and turned to walk down the hall, as if knowing that Jonah would stay back and Vlad and Tenele would follow.

Vlad looked at Tenele. He followed.

[Emora Deen]

She was nervous. She had no idea why she was nervous. Oh wait, she did. This man knew them, knew of them... Did he also know of their relationship or what they wanted. She realized that her nervousness stemed from the fact this man could make or break their future together. If he didn't agree to it, what then? Would they have to force themselves a part if they could not be together.

Tenele reached for Vlad's hand, but withdrew it before her finger tips could touch him. She didn't want to give the impression of something the man might not be aware of until they could properly explain it to him.

"It is very crowded here," she commented off handedly. "Have you had any trouble besides an overflow of refugees?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"There have been vandals in the nearby areas, but none have dared to come to this place. It is the last safe haven in the area. And it is for that reason that it is in danger...just as Sinead has predicted," the high priest said as they passed down a long stone corridor and reached a carved wooden door, which he opened. The room inside was lit by the gold glow of the fireplace. It was a medium-sized room, lined with bookshelves. A few armchairs sat before the fire, and a large desk sat in the corner. The high priest occupied one of the armchairs facing the fire and beckoned for them to enter and make themselves comfortable.

Vlad shut the door behind them as he and Tenele came in behind him.

"I will not lie to you. I am confused by our queen's choice of you two in particular. It seems there would be many less provocative options on hand. Lady Raider's brother, for instance."

"Yet she chose us," Vlad said flatly, a little ruffled by the suggestion that Talon would somehow be legitimate as a substitute for his skills.

"Yes. She chose you. Do you know why?" the high priest asked earnestly, looking over at them.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele took a seat in one of the chairs, relaxing into the softness. She didn't realize how tired she truely was until she sat down. "What I know of why she might have sent us is... Vlad and I are very qualified when it comes to dealing with Arken soldiers, as your priests are not trained in combatives. If an army does attack, you'll need us. If there is another reason, father, please tell us," she replied in the most polite way possible.

[Soran Nightblade]

"The queen knows well that it is not our way to fight. We can not approve of violence on these grounds."

"The violence will come here whether you approve it or not," Vlad said firmly. "This isn't a good time or place for idealism."

"This is a church, Lord Dracul," the high priest said evenly. "It is always the place for idealism. It is the reason Sinead sent you to me. You need this place as much as it needs you, but I have yet to understand why."

"I have no need for this place," Vlad argued flatly, and checked himself before he could say more. Thanks to a scientific miracle, he was standing in this room unharmed. But to pretend this place of religion offered some type of service or solace to him, after all the agony holy wounds had dealt him over the years, was quite insulting. He was here because he had to be. He was not religious; he never would be.

"I sense rage in you, Vladimir."

"Gods and I don't get along," the vampire smirked. "No offense.

The high priest looked over at Tenele seriously. "There is a room adjacent to this. You may use it as your quarters tonight. Tomorow, when you are stronger, I would like to speak with you in private.

[Emora Deen]

Tenele narrowed her eyes on Vlad, wanting to lean over and kick him to get him to be quiet. She didn't want him insulting the High Priest, especially with their situation being so delicate. "Of course, Father..."

Tenele rose and bowed her head to him. "Thank you for hearing us... She went to walk towards the door when she paused. "Vlad is as much my guard as he is my friend. Is there enough room in here for him to stay as well? I fear he might not be excepted anywhere else and it might cause violence you don't condone with the refugees."

[Soran Nightblade]

The priest raised his brow at Tenele. "It would be best to leave Lord Dracul to this room while you stay in the next. I regret that we do not have many spare beds at this point. These chambers make up our theological library, but the sofa in the next room is quite comfortable. The library opens at 9, so be prepared to be intruded upon in the morning."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele nodded. "I am greatful for your hospitality," she told him. She gave Vlad a long look before she stepped into the next room, abandoning him not by choice but by politeness. She closed the door behind her, sure that he would come in after the Father had left the room.

She survied the small room with the sofa. There were books in here too. Some where in shelves and some were stacked around the room. She tossed her bag into the corner of the room and lifted her hands to her hair. She went about pulling the pins out and unbraiding it so that it fell down her back in soft waves. It wouldn't stay wavy for long, her hair couldn't old a curl if it wanted to.

Something wasn't sitting right with her though. She felt uneasy, despite the obviously safe place they were. She went to the narrowed arch window with its clear glass panels all cut in triangles. There was a stained glass circular design at the top of the arched window, and what little light was left in the sky caused colors of blue, red, and yellow to fall on her face. She looked out the window at the trees, for thats all she could see.

She gave a heavy sigh. She knew exactly why she was uneasy... There was no watch, no guards to warn if they were being attacked. And if they were, what would happen? The hundreds that had taken shelter would perish, for as good as they were, she and Vlad could not save them all.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad watched the high priest leave and then stood motionless at the center of the room, just thinking. It was difficult. It was difficult to be polite, to be political and hold his tongue around the people here. He didn't usually bother with this much restraint, though he knew he could use it when he really wanted to, which wasn't often. He turned slowly and took in the high shelves stacked floor to ceiling with books, most of them religious texts. Most of the books would contain at least a chapter or two describing how he was a monster, an irredeemable, soulless evil that was intolerable in God's eyes. It was the kind of place he'd like to set fire to. Certainly not sleep in for the night. Maybe this was really the only room they had, with so many taking refuge, but Vlad felt it was some sort of jab to lodge him here.

"Paranoid? Who, me?" the vampire muttered to himself as he turned and strolled to the door of Tenele's room. The priest had recommended they sleep separately in God's house, but he wasn't feeling especially pious at the moment. He teleported through the wall, strangely repelled by the idea of touching...well, anything here. "Isn't our host lovely?" he asked her casually as if he hadn't just walked through a wall without knocking. "All sacred and wizened."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele smiled at him. “He is very wise,” she admitted, though suspected Vlad had probably not meant his comment as a compliment. She placed a hand on the glass as she looked out through the colored panes. “Poor Stalker is sleeping out in the cold tonight…”

She turned towards him after a moment. “Are you going to be able to stay here without doing something… rash?” she asked with a soft smile as her hand trailed up his tunic shirt and played idly with the buttons at the top. She looked up at him for a second longer before turning to her bag.

She dug through it until she found her night clothes. She went about unfastening the leather corset around her coat, dropping it by the bag. She pulled off her coat, and the rest of her clothing, leaving them next to the bag.

The gown was cotton and warm, with long sleeves, and hung down to just below her knees. It hung too loosely around her shoulders, slipping off to one side. She pulled the string tighter and tied it in the front, so the gown wouldn’t hang so lose.

“I wonder what he wants to speak with me about tomorrow… Makes me a little nervous,” she admitted as she ran her hands through her hair.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Perhaps he just wants to chat. It's probably been a while since he's spoken with a pretty woman," Vlad smirked irreverantly, walking up behind her and looping his arms loosely around her stomach. He tilted his head down and rested his chin on top of her head. "Kidding, of course. It's probably about me."

[Emora Deen]

Tenele leaned back against him, her hands folding over his arms. "Yeah," she breathed. "Well, maybe it won't be so bad... Maybe it will just be a 'keep him in line' speech." She turned in his arms and smiled, looping her arms around his neck. "Will you be lonely in that library all by yourself?" she asked him with a smile.

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad smiled. "Don't be ridiculous, I don't get lonely," he scoffed sarcastically. "It's not as if one of those books could accidentally fall of the shelf and unleash some holy incantation that would engrave my bones on their nice hardwood floor." He paused to think about that a second longer, then shook his head and leaned around to kiss her.