(no subject)
CHAP 6
Rhen awoke to the sight of fire crackling as the vampire prepared another griffin creature. This was turning out be like deja-vu. Her whole body ached in a million places. With a sigh and grunt, she inched her way to the fire. Instantly the vampire was at her side lifting her up and depositing her gently near the fire, ignoring the human's protest.
The vampire wordlessly handed the human the finished but slightly burned carcass to the human.
Silence.
What was there to say? The vampire decided to grip the proverbial banshee by the hair.
".... I am…. sorry for my behavior. I could blame the demon bastard for it, but I will not. I understand if you no longer wish to travel with me. You are free of me here and now."
The human startled by the vampire shook her head only after a moment of hesitation. "No...I want to go with you." As for the apology, well she accepted it.
Teijal was shocked. "Why do you not hate or fear me, Rhen?"
Teijal used her name. She actually used her name. The human lowered the piece of meat she was eating. "I don't know… I just don't." She turned her gaze to the fire, not wanting to look at the vampire as words tumbled out. "I feel…comfortable around you, even after all the stuff that happened."
The vampire felt, dare she voice it, humbled that the girl…Rhen actually felt okay around her even after all the horrid things that happened to her. Was the world ending yet? Judging by the lack of fireballs raining down from the heavens, she guessed not.
"Teijal?"
"hmm?"
"What was that bird thing I created?"
Yes, what was it. The vampire struggled how to put it into words. After all, she was not a practitioner of magic though knowing the basics of it. "From what I know it's your 'powers' taking a physical form."
She paused, thinking. "Everyone has some power in them, what makes you different from a 'normal' person is the potential of that power. Some would call this power lifeforce. We vampires simply call it the heart."
She turned her gaze to Rhen. "And you must learn to control that power."
Rhen nodded and deep down, understanding it somewhat. Whatever that bird thing was, it made her momentarily feel strong and confident. She felt powerful. But now… she didn't know anymore. Rhen felt the power somewhere in here, but couldn't feel it. It was like touching through a thick blanket.
"Well, that will be another lesson for another day. But I warn you: I am a poor teacher in magic. You'll only learn the bare fangs from me." The vampire shrugged before smirking. "As for weapon skills, we'll make you a warrior yet even if you're arms fall off from the exertion or you stab me in the chest, by accident of course."
Rhen looked up alarmed until she noticed the barely visible teasing look. Deciding it was safe to make her own jab she muttered back, "Or you decide to sunbathe."
The vampire laughed.
"Aye true. But since you'll probably do the magic thing again, I just might."
-----------------------------------
Ahriman shook his head. Well, that Deava was down. It was to be expected. Well, look on the dark side: there were plenty of demons just itching to take her place, and he potentially found another warrior to add to his army. Yes, this human he was not going to kill. No, better to wait for her to mature a bit and then corrupt her later. Yes, another powerful soldier.
"Zawrich, to me now."
The demon appeared bowed before Ahriman. "Yes my lord."
"You are sixth Deava. Congratulations."
The demon nodded, "Thank you m'lord. Shall I continue my predecessor's work?"
"No, There's a change of plans. I have another task for you…."
---------------------------------------------
Teijal and Rhen started to travel again after they rested that night. They still traveled in general silence, but for the first time, the silence was not strange and filled with anxiety. It took a swamphouse, several attacks, and a demon for that to happen, but at least it did. The burnt mark on Teijal's shoulder finally healed now that the Deava was dead.
Dead, by a weak human's power.
Huh.
She heard about everything now.
Occasionally the silence was filled by stories or comments leading to conversations. But more often then not, the companionable silence stayed where it was, neither feeling a great need to say anything to the other for there was no need to.
Time passed, and they made good progress through the mountains. A few more days of travel, and they would be out of them. Thank goodness. The general large rocks around the area was beginning to look extremely oppressive and bleak.
-----------
Teijal watched the sleeping human while throwing another branch into the fire. Making sure Rhen was still asleep, the vampire inched closer. Several times now, the human's heart had called to her, even saved Rhen's life. But why? It disturbed her that something so…weak had such control over her. Before she even noticed her movements, Teijal was beside the human. She used a cold hand to gently touch the human's face. Teijal felt a need grow, but it was different from the bloodlust. It wasn't Rhen's neck that attracted her, but her lips.
Normally, a person would balk and immediately move away to ward off such temptations. But Teijal was not normal by human or vampire standards; she was a creature of impulses and instincts. After all, when one was immortal, what is caution? The vampire slowly moved closer.
Lower, just a bit more and their lips would meet…
Several inches…
Even less….
The vampire stopped.
No, the human trusted her, and for all her black blood, she wasn't going to endanger that trust. Had she the ability to breath, she would have let out a frustrated sigh. Instead, she got up, threw another branch into the fire, and regenerated for the day. The human was softening her up and the vampire was not sure she liked that.
---------------