Now that the pair were alone on their asteroid prison, Tara’lena pulled Karrista to a boulder and pushed her down. “I do not think we have much time.” The Darkfallen spoke in her melodic Thalassian, her fangs giving her voice a sultry rasp.
Karrista glanced around as she settled with a surprised sound, into a seating position. “Blood magic, no Fel. Lets get to work.” She looked up to Tara’lena, the hints of fear and guilt on her face replaced with determined focus.
Tara'lena brought her wrist to her mouth and bit into it. Tearing the flesh, she let her blood well up, displaying it to the seated Karrista before her. "You know the basics, but you have twisted and corrupted them with your fel powers. You need to learn how to use blood alone to do what you need." Tara'lena stepped forward and held her wrist before Karrista's face. "Drink."
Karrista's eyes dropped from Tara'lena's face, to the wrist. The bite had already healed, but the pooled blood remained. She leaned forward and lapped up the offered blood quickly. She looked back to Tara'lena, waiting for the next step.
"Blood, like Chaos, is neither good, nor evil. It simply is. It provides nourishment, oxygen, life itself to an organism, and that is where its power lies." Tara'lena captured Karrista's gaze with her own. "Blood gives life, and takes it away, and to control it is to control life and death without malice or beneficence."
Tara'lena continued. "Without a target to practice on, I want you to envision and imagine. Prepare yourself to wield your magic without drawing upon your fel taint. Inflict an agonizing curse by withholding blood to one's muscles, without oxygen, they starve and burn. Imagine the pain of a hard workout, only amplified."
Karrista nodded to her mate and looked down to her hands. She flexed her fingers in casting gestures, experimenting with her magic, and focusing on the sources she drew upon. She didn't respond, but still listened, following Tara'lena's directions.
"Blood can also corrupt without tainting it, if it is unable to carry the necessities of life, it will only bring death, without the toxic influence of Fel. You can boil and burn it within their body, making it unstable. As for restoring yourself, their blood can do that. Do not siphon off their life, drain their blood, you will not need to twist it with fel energy, and you can simply let the blood provide life. Do you understand?" Tara'lena's eyes narrowed and she looked up to the starry nether above them. "I will be at your side to help you, do not be afraid of failing, it is how we learn."
Karrista took in a deep breath and closed her fists as if she could grab onto the knowledge and hold onto it. "Yes, I think I understand." She looked up as well, sensing the same thing. She stood up from her spot on the boulder and turned to back against Tara'lena. "He's on his way." Her words were more a statement than a question.
Tara'lena's eyes locked on the humanoid figure in the distance, rapidly growing in shape. "And he has company with him."
((Includes: @Tara’lena (not on tumblr)
Mentions: @ync-ubu))
Karrista stepped onto the back patio attached to her bedroom, her eyes torn between the sunset over the hills and her mate lounging. She moved in front of the lounge chair where Tara’lena sat and cleared her throat. “Here, it’s fresh.” Karrista held out one of the steaming mugs to Tara’lena.
Tara’lena reached up, taking the mug gently and cradling it in both of her pale hands. Her black eyes widened as she brought the mug to her lips. “Fresh?” She let out a soft pleased sound as she sipped the offered blood. The rich gamey taste was a refreshing change.
Karrista lowered herself into the same chair, lying alongside Tara’lena. There was a brief moment as the pair settled in a comfortable embrace. “Bear, Bronna collected it while we were unpacking.” She lowered her eyes to her identical mug held in one hand, a brief look of wariness showing.
“Are you sure about this? You do not have to rush your training.” Tara’lena’s gaze followed Karrista to the mug of blood in the younger woman’s hand.
Karrista shook her head and let out a soft sigh. “If I am going to go down this path, I have to learn to handle this.” Tasting her lover’s blood in the height of passion was nothing compared to this. Karrista took a deep breath before taking a ginger sip. Her cheeks brightened for a moment as she took her time to swallow, attempting to acclimate to the taste.
Tara’lena’s lips cracked into a half-rictus smile. “It is not so bad is it?” She moved one arm to wrap around Karrista’s torso.
Karrista licked her lips as she let out a relieved sigh. She leaned into the hug and looked up to Tara’lena. “Coppery, like I put coins in my mouth.”
“It is different for everyone.” Tara’lena leaned slightly to rub her nose against Karrista’s nose. “Are we really doing this? The two of us, together?”
Karrista giggled softly at the show of affection from Tara’lena. “Yes, like you always wanted. It will make training easier, avoiding temptation, and having someone to love.” Karrista’s eyes brightened with a distinctly devious glow. “I do have to warn you about one thing.” She subtly reached out with a basic telekinesis spell to the record player sitting on the nearby end table.
Tara’lena raised an eyebrow as she sipped from her mug. “You need to warn me about something new?” Her expression was briefly confused as a sweet slow melody filled the patio. “Karrista?”
“I. Love. You.” Karrista whispered to Tara’lena, drawing each word in time with the bass before the album’s singer began. She turned her attention to the sunset, watching the swollen orange ball turn the valley to shades of red and shadow. She kept the mug in one hand, the other she rested on the arm around her.
Tara’lena’s attention turned to the view, falling silent at Karrista’s words. She linked her fingers with Karrista’s, giving her hand a firm squeeze.
As the night took hold, the conversation picked up. The pair discussed possibilities and plans. They outlined Karrista’s training, as well as designs for the house. The whole time, the pair spoke quietly and remained in each other’s embrace. Karrista was the first to make a move.
“Let’s go to bed.” Karrista’s whisper was barely audible over the sounds of the night surrounding them. She set her mug on the end table and started to stand carefully.
Tara’lena moved quickly to stand and help Karrista up. “Are you hungry?” She kept her hands on Karrista’s waist even though she could stand on her own.
Karrista shook her head once and wrapped her arms around Tara’lena’s shoulders. Her fingers linked and began playing with the hair the nape of Tara’lena’s neck. “No, I’m not hungry.” Her voice lowered, becoming breathless and sultry. She raised herself up on her toes and looked up to Tara’lena. “No feeding, no blood. Tonight, I just want you.”
Tara’lena’s nonexistent breath caught in her throat. “I. Love. You.” Tara’lena repeated the words spoken earlier, her Thalassian accent making them sound like a caress. She leaned down and pressed her lips against Karrista’s, simply enjoying the gentle contact.
Karrista pulled Tara’lena closer, a dozen heartbeats before she parted her lips. There were no sparks, no fiery passion between them, only a slow simmering burn.
Tara’lena accepted the invitation, her tongue tracing her lover’s lips before tangling. The pair stood in each other’s arms for nearly fifteen minutes before Karrista had to come up for air. “Bed?” She asked with a faint smirk.
Karrista responded with a nod, bright red cheeks and swollen lips. She pulled away reluctantly and started back to the bedroom.
Tara’lena clasped Karrista’s hand, not wanting to break the contact. She closed the door behind them, the interior lighting already dim. She turned to face Karrista and brought both hands to caress her cheeks. She traced her lover’s skin slowly, pausing only once she reached Karrista’s dress. With delicate tugs, she unlaced the white linen garment with determined focus. As it fell to a pile around Karrista’s feet, her expression turned hungry.
Karrista’s blush remained, spreading down her neck as Tara’lena stripped her. A shiver raced up her back as the cold air touched her body. Under Tara’lena’s gaze, Karrista’s blush faded into a confident expression. “Turn around?” Karrista’s hands went to Tara’lena’s waist, pulling the black silk gown up slightly.
Tara’lena spun slowly, arms stretching above her head as she felt the zipper tugged down by Karrista’s teeth. Soft warm kisses along her spine brought a low moan to her lips. With a shrug, she let the gown fall to the ground. She kept her back to Karrista as she stepped towards the bed.
Karrista followed a half-step behind. She pulled back the covers with Tara’lena’s help. She sat down on the edge and pulled herself to the middle, lying on her back. She reached out with one arm towards Tara’lena, fingers beaconing.
Tara’lena crawled onto the bed, Karrista’s hand grasping the back of her neck. Pulled down alongside Karrista, she stretched out alongside her lover. She draped a leg over Karrista’s, one of her hands caressing deftly along Karrista’s body. She met Karrista’s lips, resuming that slow, fiercely romantic kiss.
Karrista wriggled against Tara’lena’s body. One hand tangled in Tara’lena’s hair, the other brushed tenderly over her body. Their kiss captured their moans, shared as if breaths. Karrista’s thoughts blurred, lost in the intimate moment as cold dancing fingers warmed her.
