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To Disappear (kikora and Z.G.)

"My name is Abel." The vampire replied in kind. He listened to Lioran's explanation of his relationship with Kaura with a faintly amused smile. This was almost embarrassing. Her childhood tutor had come to save her. Truly Kaura's bark was louder than her bite. "Yes, she is quite intelligent. Good at the art of discourse, even if she does often intercede with her own sometimes ill-formed opinions."
 
At that Lorian had to give a hearty laugh, an honest smile forming on his lips. "All things with age, lord Abel." He chuckled. "Kaura is young yet, she cannot be expected to see things as clearly as those of us who have witnessed the changing of the world time and again, can she?" He shifted her again, somewhat surprised that she was not speaking out in her defense, but as he gazed down he found she had fallen asleep quite comfortably in his arms. "She will learn." He murmured softly, tilting his head towards the vampire for a moment. "Our race is one of neutrals. We adapt, we survive. Learned centuries ago to be as the willow, letting our branches sway to the wing, to keep our roots strong. While Kaura still acts as an Oak, stubbornly digging her heels in the soil, until the world crashes around her."
 
If Abel had not had centuries of experience in dealing with the Malthusian politics of the court the amount he withered inside at hearing even the broadest strokes of Lorian's narrative would have shown on his face. Above all other things, the separation of neutrality from a meaningful utilitarian perspective irritated him to the core. Lorian speaks of neutrality and law within the same breath, he internally hissed. "One would think," he responded, "that you would have to consider the symbiotic relationship with one of the fungi in the soil that the roots of trees have that reeds do not. Lignin builds up, making the soil resistant to erosion, helping the formation of clays along with the process of the formation of humus; all the rotted, dead reeds that grew beneath the great sun shaking head of the oak. The death of those reeds feeds a process that further cements the great counterweight of the root ball further into the soil, in turn promoting promoting greater growth of encroaching reeds."
 
"Of course." Lorian responded in turn, not seeming disturbed by the tone of the other man's speech. "Each philosophy of living is remarkably different. There was a time when the Elves stood as an Oak, unwavering to the forces of the world. We formed alliances and fought out in bitter feuds... Much like the war between our people, Lord Abel." He glanced over at the man out the corner of his eye. "Such actions nearly brought an end to both our races. A once mighty alliance between two powerful races in the world, and we were nearly undone."

He sighed deeply, and shook his head. "Our race was weakened, forced to hide from the world... And yours driven apart, separated. It has led to how we live now. But that is changing. Slowly."
 
For some reason, Abel suddenly did not feel comfortable discussing the traits and qualities of his people at that moment. Fractious as they were, if a creature that could potentially travel long distances in short periods of time knew how to and decided to be ballsy enough to make peace with one of the more peaceable factions, then the full thrust of a unified strike to shatter the elves and take back the old lands. While they were weak. A surging tide of vampires would be an interesting thing, rolling with their militias and war partisans across the mountains in great streaming hordes over the winter months, when nights were longest. Yes. That would be optimal. It would mean leaving in the Summer, when nights were shortest, but they could bring pavilions and tents.

The supply line would be interesting. There would need to be consistent raiding and a certain amount of horse and donkey siphoning, queer as it was. Almost like milk to water; it sustained, but too much would make sick. "Oh, the darkies and the palefaces finally get over their racial tension?" Whoops. Should not have said that.
 
Lorian's fingers balled into a tight fist for a moment. He was trying to stay pleasant with the vampire who owned young Kaura, but the man was making diplomacy difficult. He fought the urge to snap at the vampire, his face free of emotion. He glanced down at the sleeping Elf in his arms as a reminder of why he did not insult the vampire back. The law forbid he take Kaura away, it forbid that he slay the vampire, and as keeper of the law he was bound to it. The only ray of hope for his former student now was if he could stay near her, if for a time.

"Indeed." He said after a moment, his voice as even and friendly as before. "And my former student?" He question, quickly seeking an end to this conversation. "How long has she been in your charge? Has she been well?"
 
"She has been well and in my charge only four nights. It has been a brief but rough entanglement. As far as her health is concerned, she seems quite resilient, and I managed to find a solution to the elven light dependency she experiences. I stuck her up in a tower with great big gaping holes in the roof for the day. It was how she escaped, actually really quite clever and acrobatic of her. It was filled with statues I had made when I first arrived; she leaped off of the top of one of the statues and then onto a hanging stone bird, and from that through a hole. From there she jumped down, from roof to roof, until she got over the wall of the compound." If nothing else Abel did seem readily impressed by her ability to do that. He had already come up with a solution: Kaura would be chained to the ground. It seemed as though the young woman was liable to be a greater investment than he had expected.

They appeared to be nearing the caves that were destination. "Are those what you were speaking of, ahead?"
 
"Not long." Lorian commented, glancing at Kaura once more, before chuckling. "Light Elves are far more acrobatic than we dark, though we are stronger in our forms. We each have an advantage." He paused for a moment, glancing up at the caves ahead. "Indeed. There are many tunnels within to rest in." He paused briefly, and absently stroked Kaura's cheek with him thumb, tenderly caressing her as she slept. "Perhaps." He said in a softer tone. "Kaura could walk with me out during high day?" He requested. "She seems quite weak now, I do not wish her to fall ill. Of course, you would have my word as a speaker of Law that she will not flee from this area or return to her home." He glanced once over, the silent plea on his face. "It is a horrid thing to try to force one of her kind to exist in the dark."
 
Fah. He will do as he likes in the end, merely seeking my approval out of the sake of politeness. The vampire gave an expressive shrug, shoulders rolling fluidly. "Do as you will to preserve her health. What, exactly, are the symptoms of light deprivation, if I may ask?"
 
Lorian let out the breath he didn't know he was holding, "I thank you, Lord Abel." He murmured and shrugged his shoulders slightly. "Not overly different than any other deprivation." He said softly. "She would grow weak, pale, sickly. Her magic would fail her first, her sensitivity to cold would raise until she would seek sources of heat. In just a few days she would not be able to move as she does, walking would be difficult, her mind would not function. It would be as if she were dying, bedridden, shivering. Many Elves fall into a deep sleep to conserve the last of their energies, and if they do not reach the sun, they disappear entirely. Faded into nothing, not even a body to remember."

He shook his head slightly, and pulled the girl in closer as they reached the caves. He led Abel in, through the caverns. They weren't dissimilar to the last cave system, the same emerald moss, but the caverns themselves were lined with gemstones. The shining of the moss lit the caves in spectacular color as they reflected off and through the precious stones. "You value these gems?" Lorian asked, curiously. "They are grown by my people to help our youth study, from time to time."
 
Will seek a heat source? The gears turned over in Abel's mind. He recalled the way Kaura had juggled those flaming sticks, touching the fire without reservation, and afterward somehow rejuvenated. Interesting. "Could an elf, if so pressed, derive that same necessary sustenance from fire? Would that be why they would seek a heat source?"
 
"Fire will extend the life." Lorian confirmed with a smile, impressed by the intelligence of the vampire. "But fire lacks the energy that the sun gives. Keeping close to flames will give an Elf strength, but it is like feeding a human only a small amount of thin gruel, eventually they would still die of starvation."

Gently he eased himself down, and set Kaura up in his lap, her head eased on his shoulder. She stirred briefly, mumbled something in her sleep, but drifted off once more. Lorian smiled tenderly at her, and brushed the long hair from her face. He chuckled softly, luxuriating in the steam that willed the cavern from the springs. "If I might ask, Lord Abel, what interest have you with this girl?"
 
Abel was studiously observing Lorian before the dark elf asked his question. Abel pointed to his fangs without comment in reply. After a moment he thought to tack on, "A hand servant, as it were. It is good to have vassal companions. Especially ones who are long lived, the idea has quite a bit of merit for me." He settled back down to observing this new comer, how he carefully handled Kaura, fingers brushing against her skin as though they belonged there. A carefully displayed affection for the young woman at odds with his large, armored appearance.
 
Lorian nodded slowly, his fingers pausing for a moment in their caress when Kaura stirred again, groaning in her sleep. "I am unsure what Elven blood tastes like to your kind." He muttered. "But I assume you have already drank from her....?" His hand tightened on her without him realizing, as if trying to protect her from even the memory of pain. "I hope she handled it well..." He whispered, drawing her in again. "She's young... Frail... I cannot help but to worry for her."
 
"She handled it well, though she did get a little permissive. You know, Lorian, dawn is quickly approaching and I find myself tiring. I will retire for the day. I bid you adieu," with that the vampire sauntered down further into the recesses of the cave. Soon after echos of his singing could be head, and then silence. He had barricaded himself into the rock wall for his coma like sleep. The more he talked with Lorian the more little openings he saw, quite a few of them surrounding Kaura. He could only hope that was an exploitable flaw. Something he could draw upon later, when their conflict came.
 
"Permissive?" Lorian whispered, his eyes narrowing on the vampire as he stood and made his exit. The Elf winced slightly at the echoing sound of Abel's whistles, but was otherwise impassive, cradling his old student in his arms as though she were a lover. He drifted off to sleep as well, until Kaura's stirring woke him around high noon.

They spent the day in each others company. Lorian carefully healed Kaura's welts and bruises, mending her fractures wrist and bloody feet until she was in far better condition than when Abel first gained her. He allowed her to bath in privacy after that, while he sang softly to the gems on the wall, bidding them out and into fine thread. Her wove them as he sung, smiling to himself. The tattered garb his student wore hardly suited her, he thought. The white dress he crafted almost seemed to glow, sparking in the light, soft to the touch, and woven expertly enough that one would never know it was made of transparent material. He formed it for the girl, and set it on a rock her her to change in, paired with soft shoes for her feet.

Once dressed he led the girl outside, wincing as the sun burned his skin, but it was a small price to pay. He watched as Kaura wove her hair back into her braid, and he smiled, pinning gems to hold the knot in place, all that snowy white that suited her so well. And there in the sun they remained, talking quietly between themselves in Elvish as Abel slept.
 
The vampire awoke in his rock cage and whistled sweetly, greeting the night with all the pops he could muster from cracking his knuckles. Yet another interminable night of dealing with Lorian. Irritating elf, he thought before traveling further towards the mouth of the cave. Abel stopped when he saw Kaura replete in her shimmering gown, jeweled hair and soft looking shoes. The slave was beautiful, her curves accentuated by the shimmering cloth, one that looked as though it could have been woven from light itself. She also looked healthier, if still somewhat fatigued, refreshed in a way he had not yet seen her until this night.

Abel's knee jerk reaction was to bring her low again, but he did not know how effective that would be with Lorian present. There was always one way to find out.

The vampire snapped his fingers, "Kaura, come here. You look absolutely beautiful."
 
Kaura and Lorian were laughing softly as the sun set, a respectable bit of space between them as the final rays of sunlight disappeared under the horizon. They let out twin sighs, almost mourning the loss of day, and the time they could spend in each others company without the vampire present.

A low pitched whistle deep inside the caves alerted the pair that Abel was awake once more, and Kaura pushed herself to her feet, watching the cave mouth intently, as her master came into full view once more. "Good morning, Master." She said, bowing slightly. Lorian simply ducked his head at the man, a slight sign of respect as he called for Kaura. "She does..." He whispered to himself, his eye softening slightly.

Kaura either didn't hear him, or didn't pay much mind to the compliment, she stepped forward to Abel and smiled softly, tilting her head to the side. "Did you rest well, Master?"
 
"Very well, Kaura, thank you for asking." He graced her pleasantry with a smile while his faded eyes slowly drank in the young elf before him. Compared to her sad state last night by the time he had caught her Kaura was practically glowing, her beautiful hair in a complicated knot atop her head. The vampire raised his fingers to brush against some of the uncut gems, "You look absolutely stunning."

However, the vampire was distracted by the sudden availability of her neck. He was thirsty, though he did drink from her the day before, he also used up so much blood hunting her. The amount of vitae he had burned through in his displays of strength and speed had been taxing. His cold fingers caressed the tip of Kaura's ear down to the nape of her neck in a decidedly familiar fashion. "I am also thirsting."
 
Lorian couldn't say he was particularly pleased with the familiar way the vampire handled his former student. While she was certainly acting as herself, a bright smile on her face, glowing as if she could light the area as bright as midday. Radiant. He didn't think even the word stunning did her justice.

He watched silently as Abel stroked the gems adorning her hair, and traced over the very tip of her ear, down to her neck. "Excuse me." He muttered, and quietly excused himself, knowing he had no right to interfere in the feeding. Even as he left, he damned his job, the thing that kept him from pulling Kaura away, and taking her safely home.

Kaura glanced back briefly as Lorian left, but she didn't try to stop him, afraid of the actions she might allow when under the effects of Abel's bite. She sighed softly, and tilted her head to the side, exposing her white nape. "By all means, Master... Enjoy."
 
Kaura was being quite well mannered thus far. We'll see how far that lasts, Abel quietly commented, looking down at the elf's pale flesh. It was so warm, fragrant, inviting. The vampire's mouth planted a brief kiss on the corner of Kaura's lips before his own lips settled on the flesh of her neck. His arms wrapped around her, one hand caressing the back of her neck, the other arm around her waist to hold her close. That sweet, coppery, feminine blood of her's--it tasted almost somehow richer today, as though somehow some sort of extra life had been injected into it. Whatever had been done to make Kaura so radiant would have to happen more often.
 
Kaura didn't protest as Abel grew closer still, kissing her lightly on the corner of her lips before dipping his head low. He settled on the skin of her neck, kissing it as his arms wrapped around her. He held her near, a hand supporting behind her head, while the other settled onto her back. Her fingers wrapped along his upper arms, squeezing lightly as his fangs broke into her again, and waited eagerly for the bliss to flood her. She gave a shuddered sigh, her eyes fluttering shut as he drank from her. She was slowly becoming used to the bliss that consumed her from his venomous bite... Something she knew without a doubt he would take advantage of yet again.
 
Abel tore himself away from greedily sucking down the young elf's vitae. He could not help but to caress her neck while he slowly licked at the wound in her neck, feeling her sweet flesh knitting itself back together beneath his tongue. The vampire sensuously kissed her neck after the twin punctures had knitted back together, enjoying the smell of Kaura, the feeling of her fingers pressing into his upper arms. His nose gently butted against hers, "You look absolutely beautiful today, Kaura. Truly gorgeous."
 
Kaura sighed when he pulled his teeth free of her, caressing her lightly as he licked her wounds closed. He kissed her briefly on her neck lightly before rubbing his nose to hers. She giggled softly, and pressed her lips to his lightly, kissing him once as her arms rose, looping around his neck lightly. "Lorian made it for me." She told him softly, kissing him lightly again. Her lips twitched up more, a joyous light dancing in her eyes. "I'm so glad... You two are getting along so well. It makes me very happy to know an Elf and Vampire can be civil towards each other... And sad... For being so childish...." She leaned against him softly, kissing his neck in a simi-drunk way. "I have growing to do, my dear master."
 
Abel patted Kaura's back through her shimmering dress, enjoying her somewhat drunken state. The vampire was surprised Kaura was impressed by Lorial and Abel not falling to blows. Of course had only done little things to goad Lorial so far, little barbs here and there. Bringing up the pink elephant of racial tension between the light and dark elves, noting how permissive Kaura can occasionally become. The vampire gave her a playful kiss on the crown of her head, "Yes, you do have growing to do. I will be so overjoyed to watch you grow and change." One of his hands rubbed up and down her side, "I can only imagine the kind of person you will be ten years from now."

The vampire lightly sucked on the tip of the elf's ear, fully aware of how she enjoyed it. He did enjoy being tender with her when the situation arose.
 
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