It was setting the maroon name-day blanket to flame that took the most of Hal.  The reality that there could be no memories, no proof left in the manor that she had ever been there.  The blanket was the last of her things, and some part of him was turning to ash along with it.  The steady pop and glow of the flames illuminated his chambers in a soft somber light.  

The crisp morning breeze pressed past one of his windows and rustled the nearby tapestries hung on sturdy wooden rods with carved embellishments.  The golden threads of the wall fabrics, embroidered with the stories of the vampire god El, showed plain the might his people were to strive for.   There were scenes of El, proud and strong, holding his son up to the light of the moon as his wife, Bali, remained within the home they had made.  Care had been taken in many of the scenes to show the strength and power of men in both the home and society.  Sadly, nothing the embroideries taught could have prepared him for the daughter he had received.

A loud pop in the fireplace brought his attention back to reality.   Without a word, he watched the last bit of the soft maroon fabric turn to ash and vanish into the flames.  The light of the fire bathed his face and long black hair in a somber glow as he sat there on a bear fur before the fire.  Despite the small size of the fire, it managed to fill the chambers with an amber glow.  The shadow of his form spread out across the floor and up onto the bed that held his wife Malora.

There was a rustle in the bed behind him and he could feel his wife’s tired eyes as he continued to sit there unmoving.  The memory of their previous discussion weighed heavy on his mind.  Together, they had made this choice to remove the physical memories of their daughter.  In truth, it was she who had asked him to do this last bit as she could not bring herself to.

“It’s done then.”  Her honeyed voice carried through the stillness of the room.  It was a statement, not a question, and for some reason that made it even worse for him. His heart clenched and he nodded as he fought to bottle the grief, loss, and hate that blossomed within his chest.  There would be no words spoken for him.  Not yet...  Not until he was certain he could speak without losing himself.  No vampire, in their right mind, would accept a ruler that would allow themselves to be swayed by the mere loss of one daughter.

“Come back to bed.”  Once more her voice reached for him but this time there was a hint of sadness, pleading perhaps.  Setting his jaw, he took in a long breath and fought once more to steady his heart and calm the raging wildfire of emotions within himself.  At this rate there would be little rest tonight.  

Without warning, her gentle hands were laying the thick furs from the bed across his shoulders.  She had always had a quiet gait but, now in his grief, her steps seemed even more muffled.  Her touch startled him and he sat up straighter trying to ignore the disappointment that washed over him.  Of all the people that should remain in control of themselves, he was at the top of the list.

“It’s just me, Hal.”  She had always been like that, he noted idly.  In all the time that he had known her, from back when they were just children, she had never been one to be in a place where she wasn’t supposed to be.  He didn’t know exactly what drove his wife to be what she was.  But here, now, in his nakedness of emotion, he was thankful to have her and the insight she would inevitably provide him.

Gently, he pulled the fur tighter around them and took her hands in his own.  “There is a great deal we will have to sort out going forward with this.  It will not be long before the whole town knows what we have done.  Even if she is our daughter, there will be… misunderstandings…”  His words hung between them despite their closeness as he waited to hear her thoughts on the matter.  Despite being a woman, she had never really ever given him bad council.  And here, now, he needed it more than ever.

“What will you tell them?”  It came softly from her as her eyes slowly moved to meet his own.  He had been staring at her face in the firelight for some time now; its gentle curves and high cheeks. The fire caught the highlights in her sandy red hair and he was reminded of just how much his daughter looked like her mother.  Though his youngest had not inherited his wife’s green eyes, it was a sweet diversion from the topic of their discussion.

“The truth…  mostly…  That she is a danger to our son.  That she is not to be trusted.”  The words were sour in his mouth and came just above a whisper.  Condemning his own flesh and blood felt somehow wrong.  Once more his eyes darted to the tapestries, needing confirmation that he had made the right choice.  But none told of the feeling of holding a new life in your arms and the attachment that would grow for the little helpless creature.  Once more he chided himself for his weakness; the last vestiges of his human ancestors from generations ago.

The feeling of her fingers caressing his cheek pulled him from the tapestries and back to her.  With a heavy silence, she held his gaze for a long moment, searching for something he couldn’t place.  Finally, she nodded.  “If you say it, just like that, they will believe you.”  One of her hands reached out and caressed his face.  “But if you give a hint…  Even the slightest… of what this fire is showing me, they will see you as weak.  And then there will be no way to protect Tekor from what comes after.”

His thoughts shifted slightly to his only son at the mention of his name.  No doubt this turn of events caused him some sort of discomfort as well.  There would be time later to see to him no doubt.  With any luck, before it was announced to the people.  All the same, he leaned into the caress his wife had offered.  “I will not waver.”  There was a pause to his words as he finally found the strength to fully bottle the feelings deep within himself.  “Not in the slightest.”

He watched as her eyes searched his once more.  Whatever it was she had been looking for, she found it faster this time and smiled sadly.  “There you are.”  Her body slid forwards against his own as their lips met in a chaste kiss.  “Come to bed.”  Once more the words slipped from her but this time it was clear by her tone that it was a mutual need.