Chapter 10 - Sweet dreams
As the sun slowly started to go down, Regis gave out a heavy sigh, recalling the previous events. When he and the godling found the other woman still alive, they knew they couldn’t leave her there alone. The vampire forced to act quickly, left both women with Percy and hunted down the remaining members of the Black Hand, securing the nearby area. Then he moved the women to the nearest camp and with godling’s help, took care of them. Morrigan’s case was the worst, because it turned out the arrow she was shot with, was poisoned. He smelled it in her blood as soon as he examined her wound. Although the poison wasn’t too strong, it took all his knowledge and almost whole herb supply to save her. Luckily, he had just enough samples with him. Also Percy was a great help. As the vampire was taking care of the brunette, the godling searched the camp and brought some essential supplies as clean water, few relatively clean blankets and a sheet, which he tore up and prepared make-shift bandages. Then he started to carefully clean the other woman’s wounds. Regis couldn’t help but be impressed by how skilful the godling turned out to be. When he managed to fight off the poison and lower Morrigan’s fever, he finished godling’s task, mended the biggest wounds on the other woman’s body and applied quickly prepared ointment, where it was needed. After that, all wounds were covered up with bandages and the work was done.
The vampire looked at two figures lying on the ground - both sleeping peacefully now, thanks to their effort - and he felt the fatigue finally caught up with him, pushing him to the brink of collapse. It was a long day and he felt himself drained in an unfamiliar way. Not only from the physical exertion but from the emotional overload. He sat down and focused on Morrigan’s face. He looked at her like he had never dared before, absorbing every detail like it was the air he needed to breathe. His heart gave him a painful ache when he realized how close he had come to losing her again. She had become so important to him, that he couldn’t even imagine his life without her anymore. When was the last time he had felt like this? Had it ever been that bad? He felt helpless, unable to control his own thoughts, feelings and body anymore. His situation, his behaviour, it could easily be compared to an addict. He knew the symptoms all too well. And he needed his fix - her voice, her smile, her skin on his... But the more he got, the more he needed, and it was driving him insane. Didn’t she know, she was unravelling him? Couldn’t she see, she was taking him apart piece by piece, so agonizingly slowly yet too fast for him to possibly cope? That moment when she smiled at him happily and kissed him, his mind went blank. Not thinking straight he clung to her and deepened the kiss and not only she didn’t push him away but also moaned in his arms. Remembering it, he felt a spark of hope suddenly grow exponentially, almost exploding into massive size and this time he didn’t even try to keep it contained. The vampire was under no illusions now. He fell head over heels in love with that woman. What he was feeling to her, frightened and delighted him all the same. He never felt something like that in his entire life. And it all made him feel like a complete idiot...
For once Regis let his inner vampire speak his thoughts - to logically regard the whole situation. Why on earth an ancient monster like him would fall in love with what he clearly sees as a lesser species? Perhaps, his strive to live like a person had something to do with it? He clearly ceased to feel good among his own kind, so maybe he was seeking solace among the races he vouched to respect and protect. After all, his unquenchable desire for penance, for the horrific blood binges of his youth was one of the reasons he was now calling himself a humanist. But when did he become so familiar with the lesser species? Living for so long, he made a lot of friends but that wasn’t the case. The truth dawned on him like a sudden slap in the face. Because none of those friendships were as strong as the one he shared with Geralt and his companions. A shared experience and weeks spent together, cemented their friendship. After meeting them, for the first time in his life he didn’t feel so alone and isolated because he was a part of something bigger. But in the end that friendship forced him into much more suffering. He almost lost his own life, defending his precious friends back at the Stygga castle and if that wasn’t hard enough, after he was nurtured back to life, again his loyalty to the witcher was tested, when he was forced to choose between his lifesaver and the monster slayer. And being cursed with a moral compass that his race mostly lacks, he broke the sacred law. He chose to protect the human and killed his own kin. And as if his existence wasn’t tormented enough, he was now declared a traitor and was forced to live far from the members of his race. When he thought about it, humans were the very reason of his constant torment. So why was he increasing his suffering by falling in love with one of them? There were so much differences between their races. She was nothing but a frail, mortal creature, doomed with a short existence and he was an ancient immortal monster. Even being as old as he was, he was surely going to outlive her and then end up with a broken heart. Wasn’t that the sheer example of idiocy? The answer was simple - it was utterly idiotic, but no one can control the thoughts and inclinations of its own heart. After all, falling in love makes otherwise smart and self-respecting people feel, and act, ridiculous and he wasn’t an exception. He could try, by sheer force of will, to purge himself of his idiotic impulses but it was a lost cause, because as the old saying goes, love cannot be compelled.
“Ya better stop cracking yer brain old man or else it’s gonna explode...” The godling suddenly spoke breaking his train of thoughts. It sat down beside him with its head hung low and began tracing something in the soil with its finger.
“You are right my little friend. To be honest, sometimes I would like to stop thinking at all...” The vampire said and then regarded the creature more closely. “But enough about me, is there something wrong? You look troubled...”
“I...” The godling started but its voice broke and it hiccupped, no longer able to suppress the tears.
Regis was so taken aback by the sight, that at first he wasn’t sure how to react, but after the initial shock passed, he embraced the little form with one arm and shifted to face his small friend. But the godling refused to look at the vampire and instead clung to him, burying its face in older man’s chest. Regis let out a heavy sigh and started rocking back and forth to calm the creature. He knew everyone’s emotional endurance has its limits and suspected, that after all what happened, Percy simply met his own. And he didn’t blame him. Godlings were keen yet simple-minded beings with mischievous but also kind hearts and being exposed to so much violence, probably proved too difficult to cope with. And because of that, the vampire felt a bit guilty. But still, Percy willingly sought comfort in him, so at least he wasn’t too much afraid of him and that was definitely a good sign. So he kept rocking until the little fellow stopped crying and calmed enough to stop clinging to him so tightly.
“Do you wish to talk about it?” Regis asked after a moment, gently patting Percy’s head.
“Nah, I’m fine...” The godling muttered and rubbed its nose. It let go of the older man’s embrace and resumed tracing the soil with its finger.
“As you wish my friend,” the vampire said and after a second thought he added “and I am sorry you had to witness all of those horrible things.”
“Yeah, you really gave me creeps back there but still, it wasn’t all your fault. Ya weren’t the bad guy there...” Percy replied and then looked up. “Those bloody humans... They were responsible for the massacre. It’s not enough for them to hunt down and exterminate other races, they even go so far that they’re mindlessly killing each other. And they dare to call us the monsters?!”
“Not all humans are bad...” Regis said and looked at two sleeping figures, causing his companion to follow his sight.
“That’s true...” Percy replied and again tears formed in the corners of his eyes. “But it makes the whole matter more tragic, because people like those two lasses have to constantly suffer. I doubt that the girl we saved has done anything to deserve, what they did to her. Or those people in the town. They were innocent victims of the cruelty the humanity is capable of...”
“You know Percy, that the cruelty is not the privilege of humans...”
“Yer right, it’s not, but the humans improve themselves with it to great effect...” The godling muttered wiping its eyes, then after a moment, it motioned its head towards the women. “Do you think they’re going to be alright?”
“Of course they are, because we are going to ensure that,” the vampire said smiling at his little friend, thus making him smile back.
With nothing else to discuss a comfortable silence settled between them and after a few moments, Percy surrendered to the fatigue and drifted off to sleep. Making sure they were safe and his companions were fast asleep, Regis soon followed his example.
At first, the vampire’s dream was chaotic. It begun in a series of flashbacks from the previous events, making him stir in his sleep, but before it became too restless to actually woke him up, his mind conjured a different image. Suddenly he found himself in a dark room. It was unfamiliar but surprisingly cosy - furnished daintily and with great taste, much to his liking. But what was important, he wasn’t alone there. He turned around to find Morrigan standing in front of him, with her eyes half-lidded and mischievous smile curving her lips - both challenge and invite. She stepped closer and touched his cheek.
“I want you, Regis...” Her voice was low, dripping with want, and it sent shivers down his spine.
He was bewitched, enchanted and his gaze flickered to her lips and back to her eyes as he felt control slip through his fingers. He realized all too well he was dreaming and he cursed his own mind for conjuring such images. He wanted to feel this moment, not in a dream but in reality. He wanted to explore her skin and find every place that actually made her melt, not just imagine where those spots would be. He wanted to discover and reveal them until he knew them all by heart. He was content with having moments like these in his dreams, and yet he was not. It was easier to dream about her when he was sure she didn’t reciprocate his feelings, but now it simply didn’t feel right.
“No, you don’t,” he said stepping back, ignoring the confused look on her face. When he spoke again, his voice was merely a doleful whisper. “You don’t exist - not here. Not like this.”
Her gaze fell but she tried again to close the distance and touch him. He didn’t let her.
“It doesn’t mean this needs to stop...” Her voice was pleading now, but he only shook his head with a chuckle devoid of mirth. It was a conversation with himself.
“It does. This is not how it should be. I want you, the real you, and not some mind-fabricated body. But I must do it properly, instead of forcing myself on you like some kind of feral beast. That is why I must keep myself from acting on my urges. So please, give me innocent dreams - ones of stolen kisses and holding hands. Anything I can wake up with without making a fool of myself...”
“Is that really all you want?” She asked, a joyless smile on her face.
“No, but for now, it is all I am allowed to have,” his tone left no space for discussion and she simply nodded.
“Kind, caring and always a gentleman. You know I love that in you...” She said and vanished along with the dark room - his mind already preparing another image for him.
He didn’t wake up and this time only smiled in his dream.
Regis wasn’t the only one having the heated dreams, but unlike him, Morrigan didn’t have the willpower to stop them. Not that she wanted to. Instead, she was dead set on relishing the moment and was content with not questioning a single thing. She wasn’t even full aware it was only a dream. For her, it was a continuation of the events back in Tegamo. In her mind, Percy didn’t interrupt their kissing and she was moaning in the vampire’s arms, getting more and more restless. When they parted, he looked at her in wonder but the amazement slowly left his expression, replaced by something darker, that sent a surge of weakness racing through her system. A look alone shouldn’t have the power to weaken a woman’s knees and send arousal flooding through her system. It shouldn’t be bold enough, hot enough, that she could feel her sex flushing, swelling, instantly growing damp. And a man shouldn’t have the senses to detect it.
She watched as his nostrils flared, his gaze darkening as he recognized the scent of her arousal. It wasn’t fair, because she couldn't sense his emotions in the way he could, but still some part of her liked it that way. She pulled him closer, acting on instinct and he gladly obliged. He tangled his fingers in her hair and attacked her lips again, savouring them. He pushed her backwards until her back collided with the nearest wall. Then, without breaking the kiss, he lifted her up, stepping in between her legs and she instantly wrapped them around his waist. Her mind was clouded and everything else faded away. What mattered now, was that he was there, pushing her against the wall, looking at her like she was the most precious thing he had ever seen. Their lips melted into one and she pulled him closer, her response so natural, as if her body was made to be pressed against his. A moment later he left her lips, lowering the kisses and leaving a wet trail all over her neck. It made her breathing heavy. Reaching the neckline of her dress, he stopped and caught her lips again repeating the whole process again and again, until she was nothing but a moaning mess. They were too far gone for stopping now - for her to stop. She needed this, and she knew he needed it too. Her young and inexperienced body was aching, yearning for his touch. There was a time she felt terrified and repulsed by the idea of letting a man claim her body but with Regis, it was entirely different case. She was ready to give herself wholly to him and somehow she wasn’t afraid of it. She trusted him. There were no doubts, because how could that be wrong, when it all felt so right? Of course she knew he was a vampire, a terrifying creature of legends and a monster but after a moment of thought, she realized that he also was more human, than any other man she had ever known. And she loved him for that. For being kind and caring, for his gentle voice and quick mind. His whole demeanour made her attracted to him like a moth to candlelight. She simply loved him...
The realization lifted the veil of lust from her mind, drawing her out of her dreamscape and back to reality. She sat up, panting heavily and looked around her. The sun was rising and she noticed that she was in a place that resembled some kind of camp. Remembering the previous events she felt panic creeping into her heart, until she caught a glance of Regis and Percy sleeping nearby. The godling was leaning against the older man and the sight was so endearing, that it made her smile. Assured that she and her friends were safe, she studied her surroundings and looking to her side, she spotted a woman from earlier, her body now covered in multiple bandages. Actually she was merely a girl, surely younger than her, yet she already experienced much more in her short life than Morrigan could ever imagine. Not so long ago, the brunette would have shared her fate, if it wasn’t for Regis. And it made her sad, that they didn’t get there earlier to save her as well. Despite many bruises and a black eye, the girl was actually very pretty. She had beautiful ginger locks and a round face with full lips and small but elegant nose. Her clothes were dirty and torn but the fabric looked expensive, meaning she belonged to a wealthy family. It pained Morrigan to think what this girl was going to do, considering she was probably the sole survivor of the massacre. But she also knew Regis and was sure that just like her, he will do everything in his power to help the girl. Her gaze moved to the said vampire and suddenly she remembered her shameful dream. Her body heated up instantly and she felt dizzy and numb. Her stomach jolted and twisted in coils and she realized, that she was still wet from the arousal. She decided that she needed a walk to calm her now racing mind, so she stood up but nearly stumbled as she felt a piercing pain in her calf. She stifled a scream just in time to not wake up her companions. Then she moved carefully, mindful of her leg, until she was a few yards ahead of the camp in the open area. It wasn’t a long walk but her calf was throbbing with pain, making it impossible to keep standing, so she sat down on the grass. It was wet from the morning dew but it didn’t bother her. She was already wet from other reasons. She tried to calm her racing mind but to no avail.
“Still an early bird, I see...” A voice behind her back spoke, startling her.
She didn’t have to look around to know it was Regis standing behind her. Still she marvelled over his ability to move without making a single sound. Another vampire thing to keep in mind.
“I wanted to stretch my legs a little...” She replied shortly and took a deep breath at least trying to cool off her face.
“You should not overextend yourself. The wound is not too bad, but the arrowhead hit the nerve and that would make walking a bit painful for a few days. Not to mention your body is weakened, because of the poison it had to fight off...” The vampire said, taking place beside her. That piqued her curiosity.
“I was poisoned?” Morrigan asked and looked at him clearly surprised.
“Was, is the right tense. Your blood is clear of it now, I made sure of that...” He suddenly trailed off and looked at her strangely.
Their gazes locked for a brief moment and when his expression changed, her face heated up instantly, because she recognized that look. The memory of her lustful dream flooded her mind again and she lowered her head in shame, unable to look him in the eye. He sensed it. His gaze darkened, because he recognized the scent of her arousal, just like in her dream. But this time it wasn’t sensual. It was humiliating and all she wanted to do then, was to run away from his sight. And she would probably have done that, if it wasn’t for the piercing pain accompanying her every step. He also must have sensed her discomfort, because he cleared his throat and decided to distract her mind from the overwhelming shame.
“A question, if I may ask?” The vampire said and waited for permission, and when she merely nodded, he continued. “If I recall correctly, you have done something unexpected back in the town. I admit, I still have trouble remembering all what happened, considering my mind was in an intoxicated frenzy, but I do remember one thing clearly. You somehow managed to cast a fire spell and burned that sorcerer’s hand. I know because I saw that.”
“I suppose, I did, didn’t I?” Morrigan replied, genuinely grateful for the change of subject.
“But how did you do that? I remember we discussed the fact, that your mother was a magic wielder but you never mentioned that you could use it as well...” He said, his tone slightly accusing.
“Well, I didn’t mention it, because it was actually the first time it ever worked,” she said chuckling, suddenly feeling amused. “My mother spend months trying to teach me different kinds of spells and incantations, but as hard as I tried, I could never use any of them. All my efforts were in vain. I couldn’t even light a damn candle, let alone conjure a fire in my hand, so believe me, I was just as surprised as you were!”
“Now that is an interesting concept...” Regis said more to himself than to her. His mind was already working on such a high speed, that she swore, she could almost hear the gears moving inside his head. “So you are trying to say, that you needed some kind of incentive for activating your magical powers?”
“I suppose so...” She said not knowing how to respond.
“But why then? Why didn’t you use the magic to protect yourself earlier? For example, when those men attacked you on the road, or back in the inn? That simply doesn’t make sense...” He said suddenly feeling very frustrated.
He was absolutely right. It didn’t make any sense. She was in much greater danger before, but didn’t feel any power back then. So how was that situation any different? She looked at now very puzzled Regis and suddenly knew the answer. Because back in the town, she wasn’t the only one whose life was threatened. She was watching him suffer, enduring the pain they were causing him, because he didn’t want to be responsible for any harm coming to her. And she was honestly tired of constantly being the damsel in distress and deeply frustrated knowing she was utterly useless. So she acted on instincts and it all suddenly came as naturally as breathing.
“I think, I know the answer,” she said and smiled at him. He looked at her and tilted his head, giving her the sign to continue. “It was because of you Regis.” She said and giggled when the look of surprise crossed his features. “I just couldn’t watch you suffer because of me.”
“I see...” He said and chuckled. His features softened and their gazes locked for a brief moment. He was still a little confused, but much to her surprise, didn’t press the matter. He simply smiled and got up.
“I believe we should get back to the camp. Our new companion will be very confused, if she wakes up there, seeing only a small godling by her side...” The vampire said and extended his arm, offering her his hand.
She took it without a second thought and let him lift her off the ground. As soon as she was standing on her legs, he wrapped an arm around her waist, thus supporting her. If she didn’t know him better, she would have sworn he was doing it on purpose. They only began to move forward as they suddenly heard a terrified scream, which caused them to look at each other.
“Well, I asked for it, didn’t I?” Regis chuckled scooping Morrigan up in his arms, causing her to yelp with surprise and then he ran towards the camp.
The moment they got there, they were greeted by the very frustrated Percy trying to calm the screaming girl without success. When he spotted them, he let out a very exasperated sigh.
“Who thought it was a good idea to leave me alone with her?!” He asked crossing his arms, annoyance evident on his face.
“I woke up and saw Morrigan wasn’t here, so I went to search for her.” The vampire said, placing the brunette on the ground. The godling looked at her accusingly.
“So you’re the one to blame! Damn you girl! Do something, will ya?” Percy muttered and pushed her lightly in the direction of the screaming lady.
Her screams were terrified cries now and the sight of another strangers only seemed to upset her further. Especially the sight of Regis. And considering what she has been through, the vampire didn’t blame her. So he decided to leave both women for a while and let Morrigan handle the situation. He took Percy by the hand and tugged him along.
Seeing the man and the strange creature were gone, the girl calmed down a little and focused on Morrigan. She was still scared but the sight of another woman was a bit comforting. Her cries subsided, leaving her hiccupping and gasping for air.
“It’s alright. You have nothing to fear of. You’re safe now...” The brunette said, her voice quiet and gentle. She moved closer and sat down in a safe distance, not wanting to scare the girl off.
“Who... Who are you?” The girl asked, her voice shaking.
“My name is Morrigan. And those two you saw, were my friends. You don’t have to be afraid of them. They saved you and brought you here.”
“Here?! To the Black Hand’s camp?! Are you mad?!” She suddenly shouted, clearly mortified.
“Calm down, the camp is save now...” The brunette tried to explain but the girl interrupted her.
“How could it be safe?! They could come back here in any moment!”
“Trust me, they won’t. Because not a single member of the Black Hand remained to threaten us...”
“What do you mean? I don’t understand...”
“They...” Morrigan started and her voice trailed off.
She couldn’t just tell the girl that Regis got rid of them. She would never believe that single man took down the entire hansa. It would require further explaining, thus revealing his true nature and that was simply out of the question. The brunette was more than sure the girl would ultimately freak out, if she was to learn that the stranger she knew nothing about, was a terrifying blood-sucking creature of legends. She knew, she would be, if she was in her place. So without a better option, Morrigan decided to bend the truth a little for now.
“They were all killed by some kind of monster. It came from the woods, attracted by the smell of blood. The beast butchered them one by one and then went back where it came from.” The brunette explained, hoping the girl would buy the story.
“A beast?! What kind of beast? And how do you know that?” The ginger haired girl asked sounding a little suspicious.
“We saw everything from afar. The beast was terrifying. It had a large set of claws and sharp teeth. We never saw anything like that. It was incredibly fast and cruel. It tore their bodies as if they were mere ragdolls. Actually you were lucky to came out of it alive. The beast probably thought you were already dead. After all, when we found you, you were barely breathing.”
“And what about Lysander? Is he dead too?” The girl asked and Morrigan stopped herself in the last moment from admitting right away. That would be too suspicious.
“Who?” The brunette asked instead, feigning ignorance.
“Lysander Delacroix - the Black Hand’s leader and a very dangerous man...”
“You mean the sorcerer?” Morrigan asked still not dropping the act and when the girl simply nodded, she continued “yes, he fought fiercely but eventually lost the battle and was killed along the rest of his men.”
“I see...” The girl said, sounding surprisingly sad. That piqued Morrigan’s interest.
“You knew him?” She asked trying to sound sympathetic.
“Yes, I did. He was... He was my fiancé...” The ginger haired girl replied and suddenly started crying, leaving Morrigan completely speechless.
Now that was a long break since the last update, wasn't it? I'm terribly sorry for that, but I had so many things on my head that I simply didn't have time to spare for the story. I finally found a job and it turned out to be so engaging that it forced me to spend my free time on sleeping and regenerating my strenght for another day of work. But it's better now and I believe in the future I would find more time to focus on the story.
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