Chapter 7: Into the night (part 2)
Vorazun entered her chambers, still perplexed at her own behavior. It was not like herself to act so silly and immature. Although she admitted that it was satisfying to convince the Highlord to do her whims.
The room was cold as the outside, but it did not bother the Matriarch, in fact, she found that temperature quite comfortable. She closed the enormous windows and started removing the light armor she used above her dress, placing them in one of the armories present at the room.
Vorazun sat on her bed, measuring everything that happened. That day was not as bad as she had expected. The way she and and First Ascendant got along was a good surprise. Even Alarak's taunts were not that much insulting in the end of the night, they seemed more like playful teasing. She would even dare to say she had fun with some exchanges.
She dropped herself on the bed; there was not much to do now. It was long ago that she had free time like that. While stretching lazily, she remembered Artanis' request to report as soon as possible and wrote a message to the Hierarch. However, she could not send it. She was interrupted by a presence touching her mind. Alarak wanted to speak with her.
Vorazun put on a face veil and let the door open. The Highlord entered with a datapad and a small box in his hands.
"What brings you at this hour, Alarak?" She asked calmly.
"I do not like the idea of owning you something." He answered nonchalantly. "I brought this to replace the garment I ruined."
He opened the box and showed the dark grey cloth inside. The Highlord made mention to take it, but remembered to first take his gauntlets off, placing them on the floor.
He took the cloth out of the box and handed it to her. It was impossibly soft, and had a discrete shine. It was probably one of the best fabrics she ever touched.
"You did not need to give me this." She said in a serious tone.
"I know." He looked at her eyes. "You should be grateful that I wasted my time to get you this."
"I am grateful." She answered honestly. "But I am also skeptic that you had the trouble of arranging me this because you felt guilty."
"You are right. I also wanted to show you what a sophisticated garment is." He said jesterly.
The Matriarch ignored his mocking. However, her irritation was visible, which amused Alarak enough.
"Put it on, I have to make some adjusts." He took a small tool from his armor.
Without questioning, she turned around and begun to change the veils. Meanwhile, Alarak sat on her bed and signed her to do the same. Although Vorazun could not brush off the feeling of awkwardness, her face was neutral. She sat by his side, facing him.
Alarak looked at his holographic sketches in the datapad and compared with the real garment. He took his tool at hand that was equipped with a tiny red psi blade. With it, he trimmed the end of the veil, giving it the shape he envisioned.
While he was quietly concentrated with his work, the female looked at the Highlord. She thought how his actions were so unlike him and how that night was getting more and more odd.
"So you're also an artisan. How unexpected." Vorazun stated.
"Not exactly. I usually just design what I want to be made. However, I could not trust anyone else to make such delicate garment."
"I see... What else did you designed?" She asked, not hiding her curiosity.
Alarak was pleasured to answer her. He took great pride in his talent and wanted the female to acknowledge it. The Highlord turned the datapad to her side and showed the holographic sketches.
Vorazun looked through the sketches. There were projects of citadels, habitacional buildings and some heavy armors.
"Are all those armors yours?" She asked.
"The Highlord has to always be prepared to combat." Even without looking at her, he could tell she was silently judging him.
"When was the last time you took off all this metal?" She said in a jesterly tone. "You can barely move in it."
He rolled his eyes at her comment. "I did not need to move to defeat you."
"We can try and see if you will have the same luck next time." She provoked.
"It wasn't luck, Matriarch. You underestimated my power, physically and psionicly. And I took advantage of your error." He answered while still working on the veil.
"I will not be that naive again."
Alarak rolled his eyes and continued his work, he noticed she softly laughing of his reaction. When he faced her, she closed her eyes feigning impassivity. Others would pay dearly for irritating him, however he found her attitude surprisingly endearing.
When Alarak seemed pleasured with the result, he put down his tool but did not move away. Vorazun was surprised to feel his touch on her chin. He had put his hand under the cloth so he could turn her face and see the garment from another angle. She opened her eyes and tried her best to not let slip any emotion.
Alarak just noticed his actions when her warmth and scent sunk through his skin. He knew that touching someone's face was an intimate gesture, but somehow he did not want to let go of her, especially upon feeling her shivering under his touch.
"You don't have to be so afraid, Matriarch. If I desired to harm you, I wouldn't wait for so long to do it." He said playfully while his thumb followed the shape of her chin.
"You talk like you think I don't know how you treat your foes, Alarak." Her eyes glowing as if a warning. "However, you are mistaken. I never feared you, and I wouldn't begin to do it now."
She tried to escape his grasp, but the Highlord grabbed her chin, pulled her closer and looked directly at her eyes. Her body was tense, but she could not tell if it was just because of the awkwardness of the situation anymore.
"However, as far as I know, you are not my foe. Are you?" He narrowed his eyes. "So, tell me the reason of your distress, Matriarch."
She avoided his gaze, but she knew lying would not make anything easier.
"I am troubled by your touch." She answered honestly while freeing herself.
"I thought the Nerazim enjoyed physical contact." He mocked.
"Of our families and loved ones... And you fit neither of these categories." She said while standing up and heading the dressing table to see herself.
When she was distant, Alarak noticed her datapad on the bed. He could not believe his luck when he saw who was messaging her. He could not waste that chance; he activated his psi enhancer and made a call.
"Artanis! It has been so long!" He said feigning a friendly tone as soon as the call connected.
"Alarak?" Artanis looked at him wide eyed. "What is the meaning of this? Where is Vorazun?"
"She is busy at the moment." He answered with jester.
"Do not toy with me, Tal'darim! I demand to speak with her now!"
"You demand nothi..." A hand pulling his face down into the mattress and the datapad being snatched of his hands interrupted the Highlord. Before he could do anything, the Matriarch was already over him.
"Artanis, do you need something from me?" She asked, as nothing was amiss.
"No. I just thought it was you that called me." Artanis answered sadly.
"I apologize, Hierarch. I shall not leave my datapad unattended again." She said calmly. Under Vorazun body, Alarak started to squirm, attempting to scape. She threw all the weight of her body on him, holding the Highlord against the mattress.
"Are you well?" The Khalai asked in a worried tone.
"Yes. I appreciate your concern, Artanis. I assure you everything is under control." Alarak begun to laugh and she promptly kicked him. "I am sorry. I will have to talk to you in a more appropriate time. Farewell."
Alarak was still laughing when she disconnected the call.
"You sadistic honorless Tal'darim." Her cursing only making him laugh more.
"And you are a little liar Dark Templar. 'Everything being under control' could not be farther from true. Oh, how I would love to see the face of your precious Hierarch when I say that you agreed to be here just to amuse me."
Swiftly, she pulled the neck protection of his armor. The Highlord could not even react before Vorazun strongly slapped his face. With the impact, his head turned to the side. Alarak looked wide-eyed at her and turned to say something but was received by another slap, this time with the back of her hand. He cursed the ridiculous amount of rings and metal claw ornaments that she wore.
Then, her hand clamped down on Alarak's face, gripping his cheeks just beneath his eyes, bringing him closer to her face.
"Listen well, Alarak. Our bargain included me only. I do not care that I have to be here to listen you mock Artanis is not for your amusement. Your match will be the only thing I will permit that you get from him." Vorazun ranted. "And you know my name, use it!"
He regarded her wide eyed for some time. Her aggressiveness woke something primal inside him. Alarak became conscious of the pressure of her body over him, her warmth and her scent. It felt strangely thrilling. The Highlord wrapped one of his arms around her waist, while the other helped him stand in a sitting position.
"Very well, Vorazun." He answered softly and gave her a smug look.
The Matriarch released him, pleased by his obedience, but also surprised by how easy he complied and even more, by how she liked the feeling of her name in his voice. Her thoughts were disturbed by his mild mental touch, trying to provoke her.
"I never saw that demanding side of yours." He said, while one of his hands started to pull her back closer to him and the other caressed lightly her face under the veil. "A quite enjoyable display."
"Do not provoke me, Alarak." She warned.
"Why not?" His mental touch was starting to feel luscious.
The Matriarch looked at him and narrowed her eyes. "Are you really proposing that...do you understand what you are implying?" She asked.
Alarak pulled her face closer to him until their crest touched, while his free hand gently caressed her nape.
"Yes." He answered honestly.
Vorazun felt her skin getting hotter from embarrassment, feeling completely lost with his actions. It had been a long time since the Matriarch had felt that kind of touch, or any intimate interaction at all. Deep inside, she knew she felt lonely and yearned for that. However, she was not sure if she could trust Alarak enough to have him as a partner. Her hands went to his chest; she was going to push him away. Then, she felt his mental barriers dissolving.
"Now I am exposed like you were. You may attack me if you want to." The Highlord stated. His red eyes looked straight into hers.
"You could have hurt me in the watch tower, but chose not to. I won't attack you either." She said while trying to evade his gaze but he grasped her chin making her face him.
The Matriarch's hands lingered on his shoulders, unsure of how to proceed. Vorazun needed some reassurance that he would not turn against her when she exposes her mind. So, she begun to carefully touch his mind, exploring his feelings and thoughts. He promptly let her in.
Alarak remembered well when the last time he opened his mind to someone else was. At the battle, that he conquered his position as Highlord. However, this time it was different, Vorazun mental touch did not search for his plans or strength.
The Highlord closed his eyes while feeling her subtle, intimate and almost caring presence in his mind. He could feel she wanted to know what he felt about her. The male was not sure himself. Curiosity, desire, envy and... Respect?
Vorazun saw his face deepen in color while she saw the mess his feelings were. She dropped her defenses, showing him that he was not the only one in disarray. She rested her arms around his neck, embracing him fully. "What are we doing, Alarak?" She asked in a soft whisper while stroked her face against his neck. He closed his eyes, savoring the sensation.
"I blame this upon you. You taunted me first, Vorazun." He chuckled. "Now, I am eager to know your barbaric ways." Alarak removed his chest armor, exposing his fair skin to the cold of the room.
Noticing his discomfort, Vorazun pressed her body against his to warm him. The thin fabric of the Matriarch's clothes did not prevent him from feeling damp heat of her skin or the shape of her slim but strong body. However, Alarak felt that it was not enough, his hands went down to caress her thighs, tearing the cloth that was in his way. As soon as he felt her smooth and soft skin under his fingers, Vorazun's claws sunk into the skin of his back. He jolted a bit, startled.
"You still can leave if you want." She said with a smug look, her hand gently caressed his chin.
But there was no way he would. Nor his pride nor his lust would let him.
