Mature: Desert Moon

[Soran Nightblade]

Sho shuffled a step back from the window. She looked nervous. "Master would have a good reason," she muttered, shivering. She was a long way from her fire. "Come. I will ask him." She took his cold hand in hers, which felt like stone that had lain in the warm sun. "Come," she repeated mostly to herself, pulling at him.

[Emora Deen]

Talon shook his head, pulling back. "If he finds out I told you, what I was asking of you, he will put more of that poison in Vlad and it will kill him," he whispered. "I can't take that risk. If he doesn't punish Vlad, he may punish you for even thinking to ask."

[Soran Nightblade]

Sho turned back and stared at him. "You truly believe this," she observed warily.

[Emora Deen]

"It is not about belief, it is about fact. It is fact," Talon seethed. "He threatened to kill my master's daughter, my sister's daughter, if Vlad didn't come with him. He used Vlad's child against him. What father wouldn't take all the torture in the world if it spared his child from death?"

Talon shook his head. What did it matter if she believed him? Tenele would find a way over the wall... and this poor creature would die soon in order to get to Maxwell.

Talon drew his hand away. "You should get back to your fire," he murmured.

[Soran Nightblade]

Sho frowned. "There is no door. Maxwell brings things to us. He can disappear, then return. I am sorry. Your master will die. I will talk to my master for you. He must have good reason." She spun and made her way downstairs toward the courtyard with a stiff, determined gait.

[Emora Deen]

Talon shook his head. This was a mistake.... he shouldn't have told her. She was going to get Vlad killed.

Talon wrapped his hand around the stone he wore. "Hurry, Tenele... Faster."

He then took off in a jog to catch up. "Sho, please."

[Soran Nightblade]

Sho stormed onward, tears in her eyes. "He would not. He would NOT." She reached the front door and pushed it open, peering out into the courtyard.

[Emora Deen]

Talon swallowed pausing as she opened the door. Part of him wanted her to see Maxwell for the monster that he was. It made him sick to think those people called him master, when all he did was use them so he could torment Vlad in this cold place.

"He would." Talon stopped behind her. "Go on," he relinquished sourly. "Go see for yourself."

[Soran Nightblade]

She stepped out into the frozen soil, her bare feet unaccustomed to the snow. She made her way very slowly toward the vampire and her master. Maxwell didn't even notice her in their presence until she was right next to him.

"Sho? Why aren't you in the warm place," he asked of her rather harshly. The same cool, practical tone he used when asking Vlad why he was breathing.

"Master," Sho glanced at the panting, wretched creature on the table. "Do you hate this man?" Her eyes were watery and trying hard to understand.

"Go inside, girl," Maxwell ordered, turning back toward Vlad with a syringe.

Her attention sharpened on the needle. "Wait! Don't poison him!" she gasped, jumping forward and knocking the syringe from Maxwell's hand.

The scientist stared at her, his gaze darkening. "Who said I'm poisoning him?"

Sho stood between him and the table defiantly. "Explain. Why is he without his fire?"

[Emora Deen]

Talon went to Vlad's side, cupping a cool hand over the vampire's cheek. "Hold on," he whispered. But, he pretty much knew his plan was over. Tenele would make it, she would scale the wall, and find her husband dead on a cold table.

His gaze lifted darkly to Maxwell. "Yes," he growled to Maxwell. "Explain."

[Soran Nightblade]

Vlad's eyes opened wider at Talon's touch and the vague awareness of the conversation happening next to him. He turned his head and found himself face to face with a young olive-skinned girl with the same yellow eyes as Maxwell.

Maxwell took the girl by the throat and pinned her to the side of the table. "What did you tell him, Sho?" he asked slyly, his voice promising aggression.

"M....aster," she choked.

[Emora Deen]

"You will not handle her like that," he spat. "She has told me nothing. It was a mistake to vent my frustrations with you at her. Let her go." Talon ran across the table and threw a punch at Maxwell.

[Soran Nightblade]

Maxwell staggered sideways under Talon's hit and whirled on him, throwing the girl to the side. He shoved Talon backward. A long knife flew to his hand from the surgical tray. The metal gleamed like the sun. He threw the weapon straight at the young vampire's neck.

It stopped an inch front of Talon and trembled there. Vlad was sitting up on the table and shaking with effort. The knife dropped to the ground.

Maxwell turned toward Vlad, anger darkening his eyes. The syringe on the ground rose up to his hand. Only Sho saw it happen.

[Emora Deen]

Talon glanced to the holy knife on the ground. He scooped it up as he jumped to his feet, the metal burning his hand. He stabbed down and up, wanting to gut the monster like he deserved. Like Tenele wanted.

[Soran Nightblade]

Maxwell teleported away from Talon's strike and reappeared immediately behind him. He didn't escape unscathed; the holy wound drew a hot but non-lethal line up his stomach.

"Talon!" Sho cried out. There was barely time to blink as the scientist thrust the needle harshly into the younger vampire's neck.