“Told me what, exactly?” Raeguel was not one to like to be the last to know of important information, but given everything Melina’s family had been through, he could see why she was reluctant in telling him the whole story. Instead, Angela filled in the blanks and all the while he looked to Melina and her reactions. He wasn’t surprised to hear that her family came over here because of news of a new deity. It had been why he sought out Deceit long after his turning, to start a new from the ashes of his decaying past. In some sense he could see her reasoning for acceptance as the burden of her family’s transgressions could relate to his own, differentiating only in that he built his own foundation of sin on his back. Regardless, like he had been, she wasn’t as open in talking about it. He drank some wine as she continued on.

“I suppose it makes more sense now to me. The two lines seem similar as their differ in origins. The first Death Goddess back home had been the first vampire deity and of her three “children”, the Conqueror was the first mortal vampire. From there, several deities had been induced into the Family and my own sire was Goddess and head of the clan at the time. In fact,  many of the vampires that originated from those lands could traces their lines back to the Shiran in someway or form.” He had no idea whether that held true with Melina’s family or if their line was simply an ancient one. “The bit about the cousin should calm my nerves about this, but admittingly I still not sure if she will come out of this completely unscalded. The Blood doesn’t like to play well with other bloodlines and I have seen prove in that only when turning already turned vampires. I myself came from another line before being a Shira. Azrail, Desmond and Phyrra, though it affected all of us in different degrees. What could work for one may not work for another in the same way, though I merely speak about turning in that case. Given that in this scenario, I would merely feed her my blood which is taboo, given her humanity, but it should hopefully do nothing to her. He was overcautious, but this was a delicate situation that hadn’t been performed between two mortals before.

He got onto his feet and helped Melina up herself, “I don’t think I’m a situation to judge you or your family. Knowing all of this wouldn’t changed my opinion of you.” He turned to Angela and nodded, “This seems like a mad plan, but I’m willing to go through with this if it means helping her.” He followed her into a room that looked as though it just had a twister throw everything around on its way out and looked to the cornucopia. “I’m to do what?” Brows narrowed tightly together as she went around, adding random things (at least to him) into it. Hers words did little to persuade him in believing that this was foolproof or that this would pleasantly go down his throat, but Raeguel took to it and filled his mouth of the newly formed elixir. There didn’t seem to be any sort of taste to it that he could put a finger on, but as it went down, he started to gag on it a bit and was through into a coughing fit. He felt light, also like he was going to fall back first, but instead forced himself to take a knee while holding his stomach.

The things he did for love.

Angela watched him take the cornucopia and smirked as he downed its contents. “You’ll have to tell me how my temple tastes.” She jest as Raeguel fell down. Melina ran over to the vampire and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. 

“Angela!” Melina was honestly angry for a moment before noticing everything was alright.

“He’s fine. Give the man some credit, he’s a lot stronger than you give him credit for.” She watched them both for a moment or two. “He’ll be fine.” She tapped the vampire on his back before pulling him up. “Up, you are fine.” She held him still. “The rush will be over in a minute or two.”

Once he was settled she got a chalice and whistled a bit. “Okay from here, we just do this.” She did a small cut on Raeguel’s wrist and let it fill up a good way. “I can’t make this taste good for you Melina.”

“I’ll do it. I don’t care.” Angela whispered a spell and the cup glowed.

“From here on out, his blood is your boundary. Wherever he goes outside of this temple, you can too.” Angela blew in it before handing it off to Melina. 

Nervous, Melina looked over at Raeguel before trying to drink the blood down quickly. After a gag, she managed to finish it before she held her stomach. “Oh, that is nasty.” She made a face.

“It won’t have the same good taste a vampire gets to you. That much is purged from your family’s bodies but you should be fine now. I would give it the evening to mingle with you. You’ll have to repeat this every twenty four hours… Spend the night together, think about everything you can do now.” Angela smiled at them. “I’m happy for you both, really. It will do the children good to see you happy Raeguel.”

“You’d think…I would…know…bloody better”, he spoke in between fits of coughs as he stared up at the goddess. It had taken a lot more out of him than he realized, but there was no real damage done. “In all my years, I had never had to deal with someone that was a far greater pain than myself until we met. Ever since, its been like the ebbing and flowing of the tides. The fates must have cursed.” Melina called out to her, and he could feel that she was upset with her, possibly one of the first times since he had came here that he witnessed such. “I’m fine, dear”, Raeguel reassured her before he was risen up to his feet. “You need some sweeter seasoning to mix into that. It was too bland for my taste.”

He still felt light, but he had to believe that soon it would pass. In the meanwhile, he watched the imp like woman gather a chalice, and his mind already guessed what she would be after now. Little time was wasted before he felt her slice into his flesh and a river of crimson flowed into the cup until it was ready. “Take your time if you have to, Melina.” He wasn’t sure how she would react to this- she was still very much human in his eyes and most did not partake in such luxuries. Well, at least not those free of sinister minds and desires. He place his hand onto her back and watched as she tried to down it. He shook his head and couldn’t help but to crack a light small as she struggled a bit. She was determined to venture out into the world, and to come with him. It must have been tough for her, but she forced herself to drink and he couldn’t help but to admire her for it.

“Well, I think that goes without saying.” Rubbing at her back, Raeguel could feel himself getting better, no doubt just as Angela had said. Still, there were some setbacks that he hadn’t really gave thought until now. The main one being that she would have to continue drinking his blood. He looked to Melina and wandered if it would get easier for her or not. He would have to certainly find a way to, otherwise this would be cruel for her to deal with. “I’d wish they didn’t worry about me, it's suppose to be the other way around. Speaking of which, I just gave Nerezza’s hand in marriage to that teacher of hers a few days ago. Better to let them deal with that then the rumors that reached me.”  

There was a smirk on Angela’s lips. “It’s better to have someone to play a game with. You are as much my equal as I am your’s Raeguel. Everyone needs someone to ebb and flow with.” Angela thought on it for a moment as Melina got upset with her. “Good, you care about each other for real. If you didn’t you wouldn’t be upset with me.” Angela gave another smile as she handed him something sweet. “Here this will get rid of the taste.”

Melina had just as much trouble taking in his blood as he had Angela’s magic. Once it was over she coughed a bit and smiled at him. “I want to be able to leave with you. Anything is worth that.” Melina took his hands and smiled at him. “They are your children, of course they will worry.” She chuckled a bit.

“You two sicken me. Get out of here with that love bird stuff.” Angela shooed them and Melina walked out with Raeguel. She was on his arm and her head on his shoulder smiling away. 

“You are really going to take me out of here.” She wasn’t questioning him but merely she was happy and content. “Let’s rest, that must have made you exhausted. You can stay in my room.” Her eyes stared up at him and a blush came across her face. “I insist it.” Look at her, commanding an elder vampire like that. All well.

She dragged him to the clergy quarters and found her rather simple room. It was filled with paintings, books, and herbs. “Sorry for the mess.” She let go of him to clear off the bed. “Don’t usually spend so much time here.”

While he wasn’t exactly sure whether thing would help with the taste, he took the offering only to find out it was a muffin. His eyes narrowed at it before he started to chomp away at the baked good. It was good to see that her sense of humor hadn’t vanished. But he was much more concerned about Melina and her having to drink his blood. It probably wasn’t an enjoyable circumstance, nor would it been in the days to come. But she was adamant about the whole thing and he nodded. “I suppose.” Lucian and Nerezza were vastly growing, and had been for some time. His little girl was engaged and it wouldn’t be long before his boy would find his own path. They didn’t need to worry about their father; he merely wanted them to be happy and safe.

Before long, the couple found themselves being kicked out by the goddess. Raeguel walked on as Melina held tight against him. “I will, I promise”, he responded as she led him to her room to rest. “Today had been…full of surprises, that is for certain.” He wasn’t too keen on invading her chambers but again she was adamant about it, and he was with little choice in the matter. When they got there, he looked around while she tidied up.

“What do you mean by that? Do you just run around the temple all day?” Given her personality, Raeguel wouldn’t have been surprised if that had been her answer. Still, everyone needed a break and he should have been worried that she would burn herself out. “Don’t worry about it, you have plenty to do around these parts, but even still, you shouldn’t be burning candles at both ends.” He went about, going over the room before sitting on the bed. He wasn’t the sort to care about how the room looked, but it did feel good to catch his breath after all that happened. He closed his eyes for a moment and thought of something. “Tell me, where did you want to go first, Melina?”

Melina gave him a look and smiled. “I do just run around the temple all day. I’m one of Lady Angela’s most trusted clergy.” She reminded him softly as she sat sown by him when she was done tidying up. “It helps to keep my mind from remembering I’m stuck here… but I’m not anyone thanks to you.” She leaned over and kissed his lips gently. It felt weird at first but when she released him she chuckled softly. “I’ll never get use to that.”

She laid down on the bed gently tugging him down with her. Snuggling her head into his chest she thought about it for a long time. “I would love to go to a city. That is first on my list. Whatever city you like the most, we can go. However, I think one of my favorite places to read about are the Hanging Gardens in Parvpora. I love their story even if they are sad.” She kissed his neck gently as she closed her eyes.

“They were built for a woman who cared not for the man… He jumped off from the top of the gardens splashing into the deep blue below. They say his spirit roams around making sure the Hanging Gardens never fall. They float in the sky like Tarishitar does.” She held onto his hand now as her thumb rubbed softly against his skin.

Suddenly she rolled onto him and stared down at him. “Actually, Horae Island would be a nice stop first. It is suppose to be an amazing place to go with the four seasons. We can visit the fey, the elves, whatever you want. I’m not sure where to go first but if that was the place I would be grateful. I heard stories from Lady Angela about it.”

Raeguel stared at her for a moment, wanting to believe that Melina was playing around when she said that, but something told him that it was true and he shook his head, “Even so, there’s only so much one person can do. I’d rather you not tire yourself out, even if you are used to it by now” He was likely one to talk, but still he didn’t want her to put such strain upon herself. But as she explained why, he grew to understand it a bit more. He looked up in time to see her descend upon him before they kissed again, this time by her doing. “I’m sure you will. In time, which we have plenty of”, he chuckled back. Looking at her, Raeguel could have sworn that she looked a bit like a younger version of Andrea, his first love. But unlike other times when he would obsess over that, he had to remember that it wasn’t the reason why he was falling for her. It was Melina herself and not Andrea that he had feelings for now. She had done so much for him in a time where he didn’t deserve it and it was her gentle and understanding nature that was guiding him out of the darkness. He went with her whim and laid back first onto the bed along with her. He had some things that he had to get used to himself- mainly the intimacy they were sharing now. Had he been back in his darker times, he would have taken advantage of this, thinking little of it other than a bit of foreplay before he took to his desires.

Raeguel’s mind came back to the present and looked to her. “I haven’t been there yet either. I’ve been looking about the other continent for a bit now, but I’m sure that we can stop there at some point.” He didn’t mind at all if that was her wish. Melina deserved to see what was out in the world, and these Hanging Gardens seemed like a good point to check out at some point.

“How tragic. Love sometimes end up like that,especially if one person doesn’t share the other’s feelings.” He paused for a moment before smiling, “You don’t have to question me. I had thought that if I could push you away, to find someone better, then you’d be happy. And that would have made me happy in return because I believed that I was saving you from heartbreak, but it was just me being afraid to admit my feelings for you.” He stroked at her head softly, he never thought that he could be gentle with another woman like he had. The gesture of itself was absentminded, which was why he was surprised when she overtook him, laying down on top of his body now. It hadn’t been until that moment that he truly noticed her. Melina was a young, beautiful lady that had just reached womanhood, he knew all of that but he hadn’t actually noticed it until now. Her body, while not as voluminous as other women, was instead much slender and her curves were defined enough beneath that white dress. Her eyes were entrancing and though she didn’t have much experience, she knew enough to pin him down against her. Raeguel, in a sense, frightened of trying to get more intimate with her for he was sure that she was still a virgin and then it really sunk in for him. He wanted for her to enjoy it fully and it wouldn’t be like all the others he had. No, this was much more special. She was much more special to him.

“Ye..yes…of course, we can head there too.” He wasn’t really in a position to tell her no, especially in the compromising position that he was in with her. A deep sigh took hold as he reached around her back and slid his hands against it and slipped down lower. His breaths were labored with excite as he struggled to keep himself in check, but was fortunately losing that battle…badly.  

Melina gave him a gentle look as she wasn’t about to argue it with him. He cared about her and that made her feel good, if that meant taking a break every now and again more than she already did, then so be it. “Alright you win.” She chuckled. “But only if I spend that time with you when you are here.” She wasn’t about to not strike a deal with him.

She was awkward with him as she laid there enjoying their time together. “Sounds exciting all around though I don’t mind where we go as long as I’m with you.” Not that she had a choice but that was a truthful feeling to her. Even if they were not bonded she would say that. She took his hand and kissed each fingertip gently. 

She giggled softly as she watched his eyes. “I wasn’t about to question you too much. I trust you with everything, maybe it’s because Lady Angela trusts you or maybe it is just the feeling in my gut saying you won’t hurt me.” She could have purred the way he stroked her hair. He was so gentle with her and in truth it was something she needed.

The clergy member pinned him softly against the bed even though she knew full well it wouldn’t take him much effort at all to over turn the situation. She gave him a smile as he gave in to her whim and felt his hands grace her body. It was an odd feeling but good as she leaned down and kissed him once more. “I do trust you Raeguel. I trust you to be gentle and good to me.” She said before another kiss.

She rolled the two of them and smiled up at him as he was now the one pinning her. 

There was still some hesitation in him; Raeguel couldn’t remember a time where he was gentle when it came to the affections of a woman. Most that he had dealt with had been him dominating or allowing himself to be. There was no genuine concern or love expressed when he had sex, yet he was worried about Melina since it seemed obvious that he was to rob her of her innocence, her purity. He felt wrong in doing so, and yet he felt the temptation strong as ever as he felt her body against his own. She agreed to him taking it easy at times, though it came with a strict stipulation, one that he had no choice but to agree to. She was surprisingly starting to get a little bossy, not that he had minded, of course.

He closed his eyes and though deeply; she trusted as well as her goddess did, but…he wasn’t so sure of himself. If anything was to go any further, then he needed to be able to trust himself to be delicate with her. Whispers kept invading his mind, bickering amongst each other on whether he should proceed with this or not. The feel of her skin against his fingertips only added further to his agony. Only when her lips met with his some more did he start to relax a bit. The voices died down a little and his anxiety weaned, but he was still concerned even with her permission granted. Another kiss all but left him weak and speechless before they swap positions and the next thing he knew he was laying on top of her, making sure to not have his full weight pressing down. She trusted him entirely, and deep down, his fear faded away and he pressed his lips onto her neck, enjoying the taste of her skin which reminded him of some hint of vanilla. He moved up to her ear as his hands fell into her own and wrapped his fingers against hers.

His lips kissed her again for what seemed like a lifetime before he lifted up just enough to unbutton his shirt and allowed it to fall onto the floor before leaning back down and embraced Melina again. Hands traveled about as much as he could of her, despite the dress that remained on her. “I trust you too”, he uttered in between kisses, though while she trusted him in the matters of sex, he was trusting her with his heart, still mending from the darkness. His fingers wrapped around one of her straps and slowly tugged at it as if to remove it. Raeguel kissed the exposed spots it had formerly resided and moved down her warm form, trailing it with his lips. 

Melina did her best to calm his nerves, and she could tell that there were a lot of them. Many of them probably had been pushed done for a long time, but she did trust him and that meant soothing them. She wanted to be selfish with him but it was also hard for her to realize that he had children just a tad younger than herself and if it wasn’t accepted by their mother of all people she would have been uncomfortable with their relationship advancing. The last person she wanted upset in the world was Angela after the goddess had done so much for her family. Raeguel was quickly becoming her own family as well, perhaps someday her own family. She pushed the thought from her mind as she struggled with getting the man to open up.

The clergy member could only  think of a few ways to make the man more comfortable with her. This was going to be hard for him she imagined. Through the kissing, she could also taste his hesitation with her. It must have been hard thinking you would break the one you loved, but she wanted to soothe that. She thought giving him control was just what he needed and sure enough it seemed to be the push Raeguel needed to go further. She wanted him to understand she wasn’t a delicate flower. She wouldn’t break easily, at least in her mind.

Any clear thoughts she had soon left her as they kissed. It was the very first time she had let pleasure get in the way of what she did at the temple, even with her lady’s blessings. Hazel eyes watched as he undressed, if she had even seen him with his shirt off before it wasn’t viewed in the same manner. This was something new. At his words, she put her forehead to his and gave a loving smile. She would take care of his heart with all of her years. 

It was intoxicating to have him about her, let alone kissing down her. The woman didn’t even grip onto any restraints she might have had and just let go. She knew that if she went too far, maybe too fast, he would get her to calm down.

–

Their time together seemed dizzying at best to her. She hadn’t felt something like that and seemed rather content that it had been Raeguel to show her. Laying about his chest she twirled his long white hair and smiled to herself. He had been gentle and there wasn’t much he had to fear from her, she wasn’t strong enough if he resisted. 

She pulled a blanket back up onto the bed and stared at him for a moment or two before covering them up. Her mind suddenly stuck on the thought of someone walking in, her eyes looked to the unlocked door. Her fingers wrapped around his and she gently sighed as she calmed down and nuzzled into his neck.

“Tell me more about you,” Melina knew it would take a lot but she didn’t want them to hide from each other. “I don’t want to not know. Anything you’ve done before Revaliir and your time here, it doesn’t effect us.” She just wanted to know. “I know it’s a lot to ask of you. I’m not saying to tell me now but someday.”