Szarr Palace faded out of view entirely, the usual lingering mist around its towers shrouding the final image of its height in a blanket of slate grey. The gates slammed shut behind their carriage and with them, this chapter of her immortal life. Though she was only gifted a temporary reprieve from the clutches of her betrothed, she couldn't help but squirm with elation at the prospect of this miniscule taste of freedom. A chance to wander halls without an accompanying spawn to ensure she didn't wander too close to rooms her Lord didn't want her to see, a bed she'd not have to share with a tyrant hellbent on destroying her body from the inside out for his pleasure, and a meal.. Gods, a meal not already picked clean by greedy mouths and maggots alike.
Elbereth glanced outward from the small window in the carriage and allowed her shoulders to loosen their whip-learned tension the further their carriage trekked away from the suffocating hold of Baldur's Gate's upper city. It was as if the chains had slipped away the moment they exited the gates, though much newer, more exhilarating chains took their place now- Chains that didn't bite nor bruise, but carried a familiar weight all the same. The watchful gaze of Lord Olazor Damaris.
As the carriage carried them onward toward Waterdeep, the City of Splendors and its moonlit harbors that had once stirred boyhood dreams in his long-forgotten mortal heart, Olazor stole glances at Lady Dusath. He wondered how much of the world she had truly seen beyond Baldur's Gate's walls, how long her existence had been confined to the oppressive tapestried prison that Cazador disguised as luxury.
She had never accompanied Lord Szarr to any formal affairs at his own estate, always seeming tethered invisibly to their chambers. "I do not weary easily, Lord Damaris. If I'm anything, I'm resilient," she had said, and Olazor chuckled in kind, the sound of it rumbling like distant thunder in the dim confines of the carriage. "I have no doubts of your resilience, Lady Dusath. You have survived far worse company than mine," he replied, the words laced with veiled truth. It was an admission of his own shadowed appetites, the reputation tailored to him as cleanly as his well-cut coat, no matter how graciously he smiled. Yet he sensed the sinister edge beneath her own charm, that subtle darkness flickering like black silk through pale cloth, drawing him with the same cold fascination that had driven him to unearth forbidden artifacts and pry open ancient tombs. Elbereth carried her fractures like the many beautiful jewels he'd collected, and he, a connoisseur of the hidden and imperfect, felt that pull to add to his collection.
He made no effort to hide his appraisal, just as she studied his broader frame–the powerful chest and shoulders honed not by spawn labor but by his own frontline endeavors, legs toned from centuries of action rather than indolence. He shifted closer, crossing one long leg over the other so his nearer shoulder offered a steady place for her to rest her head if she wished, the air between them thickening with unspoken hungers.
She could feel each time he looked in her direction. Could sense the rake of his eyes down her silk-covered form, starting at her wine-colored gaze and moving deliciously slow to the hourglass of her hips. In a nonchalant gesture, she leaned back just enough to expose more of her shape, one plush thigh crossed deliberately slow over the other to squeeze the two together, her raven curls cascading down snow-white shoulders dusted in freckles from a previous lifetime of sun and exploration. Every inch of skin bared was for him to admire, to appraise like the fine jewels and ancient relics he kept hidden in his own manor. Cazador would ignite at the thought of such gawking, and Elbereth relished the idea of his anguish each time she allowed the thin strap of her form-fitting gown to slither down the round of her shoulder, or the slit caressing her thigh to rise just enough to expose the feminine curve of hip.
"How you managed to convince him to let me leave with you is a miracle I fear my mind will never comprehend. I suppose I should sing your praises through the streets," she muttered, and that crooked smile of his deepened, dangerous and heart-stopping. "Sing if you wish. I've never minded being the subject of a ballad," he chuckled darkly, eyes flicking briefly to the passing landscape before returning to her. "Cazador is… predictable when one knows which strings to pluck, Lady Dusath. I merely played the tune he bends to–one you may yet learn to pluck yourself. Influence is an art, and I… I would not mind teaching you while you remain a guest in my hold." His hand lowered brazenly then, gripping the soft meat of her upper thigh through the silk, claws dimpling the yielding flesh in a possessive squeeze that tested its give and sent a clear message of intent.
Lord Damaris was temptation wrapped in velvet and poise and Elbereth was endlessly challenged to peel away the layers until she found the monster she knew lingered beneath. The very creature she'd locked eyes with as he devoured the beating heart of a woman at Lord Szarr's table, crimson staining the thin lips she so desperately ached to taste. The thought alone was enough to cause her to shift in her seat and by the gods there was a part of her that hoped he was still watching as she did so. Perhaps this yearning made her no better than Cazador himself - A lustful gaze for someone other than the man she was set to marry in a few months time. But Cazador had done more on a regular basis to shatter her than she could ever attempt in return. With that thought in mind, she allowed the faintest smile to cross her glossed lips and settled in for the long trip to Waterdeep.
The days that followed blurred into a rhythm of nocturnal travel and careful concealment as the carriage pressed onward, the journey spanning nearly twenty nights under starlit skies and veiled moons. They spoke in low, intimate tones during the long hours, conversations weaving between shared histories and lighter observations: the architecture of distant spires glimpsed on the horizon, the subtle politics of rival lords, the rare beauty of a blood moon rising. Olazor shared fragments of his expeditions, tales of cursed relics and forgotten cities, his voice a velvet rumble that invited her to open in return. Breaks came sparingly: momentary halts for fresh air where they walked the shadowed tree lines, the cool night breeze stirring her skirts and his coat. Hunting occurred under cover of deeper darkness, Olazor slipping away with predatory grace to secure sustenance–swift, discreet feeds on lone travelers or woodland stragglers, ensuring they left no traceable trail that might alert patrolmen on the paths they travelled. He returned each time with a faint flush to his pale skin, offering her a share or the quiet companionship of satiety, their bond deepening in these stolen, vulnerable moments. The carriage became a world unto itself, shoulders brushing, legs occasionally entwining in the sway of the road, building a slow-burning tension that neither fully acknowledged nor dispelled.
Lady Dusath usually despised the chilling cover of night, cursed eternally to stick to darkness and shadow when she craved the heated kiss of golden rays on her pale, freckled skin. But at Lord Damaris's side, cooped up in the mostly comfortable confines of a carriage that bumped and wobbled over paths she'd never been given the opportunity to explore, she didn't quite mind the seemingly endless darkness that coated the atmosphere in a cloak of midnight blue and white hot glimmering stars. It was tolerable. Bearable. Might she even say enjoyable. Days blended into one another until she'd lost track of time entirely, their conversations soothing the antsy ache to stretch her legs and roam unfamiliar stretches of forest outside of Cazador's gates. When intimate mutters died down to comfortable silence, she'd chance a glance at Olazor's visage to take in the sharpened angles and softness he seemed to only allow her to witness. The breadth of his chest and shoulders casted elongated shadows beneath the dim lanternlight of the small cabin, bathing Elbereth's form in a darkness she found oddly comforting. Though he radiated no warmth, she still found herself cozying up to his side to listen to his stories of travel and relics and a life so wondrously free she almost felt a little jealous. They talked of life, death, vast expanses of cities Elbereth had thought she'd never have the privilege to explore, each story drawing her closer to Olazor's orbit, each uttered word solidifying her interest.
When it came time to stop and search for food, Elbereth lingered back by the carriage, both enamored by Olazor's speed and efficiency and discouraged by her lack of ability to contribute. Her meals, though few and far between, had been handed to her ever since her heart ceased its beating and her skin chilled to ice. She'd no skill in the hunt, no knowledge of when or how to kill cleanly. Still, Olazor offered his catch as if it were perfectly natural to share with the spawn, his own rosy cheeks and satisfied grin urging her to indulge until her belly ached and her own complexion took on a pinkish hue. For the first time in as long as she could remember, she felt truly and completely full. No uttered thanks could possibly compensate for such an offering, yet Olazor seemed wholly unbothered by the transaction, a gesture Cazador wouldn't be caught exchanging with the very woman he'd sought to bind to his name for eternity. Instead, she simply pressed in closer once they boarded the carriage to continue their journey, her head rested on his broad shoulder, one dainty hand finding the back of his own to trace the bulging veins there, the featherlight brush of a foot against his shin. Gentle acts of intimacy that, she hoped, showed even a glimpse of her immense gratitude for his kindness.
After several such nights, as fatigue and the road's monotony pressed in, Olazor directed the driver toward a modest inn nestled along the trade route, a sturdy, timber-framed establishment with warm lantern light spilling from mullioned windows and the scent of woodsmoke and roasting herbs hanging in the chill air. Ivy clung to its stone foundation, and the surrounding forest loomed protectively close, offering shadows for discretion. He paid for two separate rooms with the effortless grace of nobility, coin exchanged between hands without fanfare, though the weight of his gaze on Elbereth as he did so carried heavy insinuation: a gentleman's respect masking the deeper desire to draw her closer, to offer affections and touches Cazador's gilded prison could never provide. Escorting her up the narrow, creaking staircase to her assigned chamber, he carried her trunk with ease, the muscles of his arms and back shifting visibly beneath his fine coat. The room was simple yet comfortable–plush bedding on a heavy oak frame, a crackling hearth casting golden flickers across worn tapestries depicting forest hunts, a small window overlooking the misty woods. He set her belongings aside with deliberate care, then closed the curtains to obscure any daylight from peeking through the windowpane the following day, turning to face her in the intimate space.
The carriage slowed to a stop and the spawn lifted her head just enough to peer out of the small window, catching sight of the inn that sat shrouded by night and tree cover. Her limbs ached from the extended period of time in the small space and once she stepped out of the cabin and into the open air, a heavy sigh left her lungs as she tipped her head back to inhale the scent of pine and evening fog. Hearth smoke and ale traveled on the breeze to accompany the earthy tang of forest the closer they walked toward the swaying lanterns of the quaint inn. She'd never been more grateful for the sensation of dirt beneath her bare feet, the thin silk flats she'd packed in her trunk long forgotten. Gold was exchanged quickly and in a beat, they were making their way up the long staircase toward the upper rooms, Olazor carrying the bulk of her belongings while she kept the small silk pouch tucked close to her side. Her eyes wandered straight to the flex of muscle in Olazor's back, the weight of her trunk seemingly featherlight the way he carried it so effortlessly over one shoulder. Again, her mind began to traverse darker scenarios - Just how easily he could carry her over his shoulder, limbs limp and body pliant beneath his dominating hold. How effortlessly he'd toss her onto any surface sturdy enough to withstand the pent up fury they both carried in their souls. Breath caught behind her ribs and she swallowed thick around the lump that had formed at the base of her throat, her salivary glands gone haywire the more her thoughts twisted into filthy fantasies.
Olazor led El into the small room designated just for her, his tall frame crossing the threshold to place her trunk down beside the decently-sized bed nestled against one of the walls before sauntering further into the space to close the curtains over the small window. If she any pulse, it would be fluttering at the sight of him now. She wandered into her quarters and took a moment to examine each piece of décor - Tapestries lining the walls depicting forest hunts, a hand-made quilt freshly washed and draped over the plush mattress that sat atop a deceptively ornate oak frame, pillows fluffed by the wrinkled hands of the old inn-keeper downstairs. On the opposite wall, a hearth crackled low, warm and inviting to bones chilled by much more sinister forces than the night air. Each aspect was far less lavish than she'd been accustomed to, but all comforting in their own quiet, simple ways. Olazor's voice cut through the silence, stirring El's mind once more
"We'll rest here for a day," he murmured, voice low and resonant in the firelit quiet. "Only five nights more until Waterdeep. Once we arrive, I'll ensure you have every comfort at my manor–far freer than what you've known. I would be honored to tour the city with you, to show you the bustling docks at twilight, the hidden corners where true nightlife stirs beneath the moon. And… Should you desire time to explore alone, the streets are yours." The words hung between them, laced with promise, as he lingered near the door.
The spawn's hands busied themselves with removing her jewelry as she listened to Lord Damaris speak, first the gold necklace with a single ruby teardrop pendant, her thin, delicate fingers carefully coiling the chain as she placed it in the small silk pouch. Next her earrings, rubies cut into facetted flowers, each one tucked safely into the pouch alongside her necklace. "Only five nights? Mm - I suppose time quickens when one is truly comfortable in their surroundings." Lady Dusath winked in Olazor's direction, playful and light, the pouch in her hands gently discarded on one of the small bedside tables. "As much as the idea of exploring anywhere alone sounds wonderfully tantalizing, I'd find it more enjoyable to traverse the landscape alongside someone that knows its splendors well," El glanced over her shoulder at the large figure stood in the doorway now, her shoulder dipping just enough to allow the strap of her gown to fall sideways. The other followed, and soon the garmet was barely hanging onto the swell of her breasts.
As he offered his final goodnight, his feet refused to carry him away. Instead, he stepped closer, an imposing yet magnetic presence that filled her personal space, not with threat but with an undeniable force of proximity and want. Towering above her petite, shapely frame, he drank in the oil-slicked curls framing her face, the delicate scatter of cinnamon freckles across her pale cheeks, and then raised one clawed hand, gently tilting her chin upward to force her wine-dark gaze to meet his own. "Sleep well, Lady Dusath," he said softly, the baritone in his voice threaded with dark provocation, "though I confess… the thought of leaving you here alone tests even my considerable restraint. There are far sweeter ways to pass these stolen hours… ways I would gladly demonstrate, should you wish to learn."
One small, pale hand lifted upward to brush a strand of onyx hair away from Olazor's face, the bodice of her gown shifting to expose the thin red lace underneath. "Your restraint is admirable, Lord Damaris," El's voice dropped in volume, an intimate whisper shared between two unbeating hearts, her fingertips crawling toward the back of Olazor's neck in order to anchor herself closer to his chest, "Who am I to deny a teacher the opportunity to enlighten a willing mind?"
Every night spent reliving that evening in the rose garden, every moment lost to Cazador's cruelty when all she craved was Olazor's affections, led to this.
He held her there, suspended in the charged silence, the heat of his breath ghosting her skin, every inch of him radiating control laced with invitation, but he never closed the final gap. The choice, for now, remained hers still–ever since the night she left him wondering by the fountain of their moonlit walk.
Elbereth raised up onto the tips of her toes to even partially meet the vampire lord's height, the hand at the back of his neck gliding back down toward his chest before falling away entirely as she let a cool exhale coast past his lips. Then she took a careful step back, allowing the red silk clung to her form to slide downward until it pooled at her ankles to expose the red lace underclothes that left little to the imagination. She stepped out of the garment, each step calculated in their speed and precision, her small frame swallowed by the space around her as she stared back at him. A devilish smile tugged the corners of her lips upward as she backed herself further into the room, a flick of her gaze toward the lanterns extinguishing their flames, leaving only the orange glow of the flickering hearth to illuminate the space. Piercing orbs of red shown through the darkened room as she reached behind her head to let her hair down from its neat half-up arrangement, black curls cascading down her shoulders and back in a waterfall of oil slick and raven feathers. There she stood, bathed in shadow and hearth-light, temptation wrapped in red lace and desire that could be felt cities away with one palm outstretched to the towering man positioned statuesque in the center of the room. Sin and seduction. A serpant poised to strike, though blissfully unaware of the much larger dangers that lurked nearby. Words left unspoken only thickened the air around them and each breath grew more and more difficult than the last.
"Show me, Lord Damaris," El breathed, her gaze never faltering no matter how intimidating his shadow had become. "Show me what others cannot."
