Title: Tarnished Gold
Author: Radiant Sea Serpent
Rating: Pg-13
Genre: Angst/Drama
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, not even Jeirdon who belongs to a friend.
Summery: Jander Sunstar learns the price of disobeying his master, Cassiar.
Author's Note: ok well I have to say this, this takes place when Jander had just barely become a vamp so he's not nearly as jaded as he was in all his stories...yet anyway.
*******
Jander watched Cassiar go, still in shock from it all.
"Are you ok?"
Jander stiffened and turned to the voice. He had been chained next to the prisoner, far enough apart so that neither could get to the other. Jander eyed the young human wearily.
The prisoner's face showed only concern, "Are you alright?"
Jander relaxed against the stone wall, rubbing his chained wrist. The manacle was wrought in silver and the elf's pale skin had already become red and irritated from contact with the pure metal, he tried to ignore it as much as possible, "yes, I am fine." For now anyway, he thought to himself.
The prisoner nodded and both sat for many moments in silence.
"My name is Jeirdon." He said after the silence became uncomfortable.
Jander studied Jeirdon for a long moment curious as to why the man was being so trusting to a vampire especially in his situation. "Jander." He said in response.
Jeirdon smiled slightly, "Well it looks like we're in this together, Jander."
Jander blinked, "yes, I suppose so." He answered though he didn't entirely agree with his reasoning. Jander was being punished yes, but Jeirdon was looking death in the face.
Jander was beginning to question the human's intelligence.
Both fell silent. ****
The night passed by without further incident and it was somewhat late the next day Jander was awakened by a light doze by a loud clatter coming from Jeirdon. Twisting around Jander turned to face the human.
Jeirdon knelt facing the wall twisting one manacled wrist presumably in an attempt to free him self. Jander caught a sharp coppery sent and noticed that the sharp edges of the manacles had cut into the human's wrist and blood was dripping down his arm.
Jander's mouth began to ache and he tried to fight back the hunger that suddenly surged within him, "What are you doing?" he asked sharply.
Jeirdon soared him only a slight glance, gritting his teeth as he continued his work, "Getting us out of here." He said.
Jander blinked, "Us?" he asked in startlement. The human was daft!
Jeirdon stopped, giving Jander a curious look, "Of course, you don't think I'd just leave you here at the mercy of such as them, do you?"
Yes, Jander thought to himself. "Why would you want to save me?"
Jeirdon gave Jander a sad look, "No one deserves vampirism." He said.
Jander started to turn away in shame until he suddenly understood what Jeirdon meant. Jeirdon hadn't the slightest idea Jander was a vampire already. He looked back at Jeirdon sharply.
Jeirdon had resumed his escape attempt. Jander swallowed hard as Jeirdon's cuts deepened.
"You'll take the skin off you hand that way." Jander warned.
Jeirdon winced, "Yeah, I know." He looked over at Jander, "Know a better way?"
Jander blinked and looked at his one chained wrist then at the wall it was chained to. Vampires were supposed to possess superior strength right? As of yet Jander had had no opportunity to test the theory and now was as good a time as any.
Jander grasped the chains with both hands and after a short moment to prepare himself began to pull with all his strength setting his feet and leaning back for better leverage.
After a moment as nothing began to happen Jander started to give up when suddenly the chain gave slightly and he heard Jeirdon gasp next to him.
Jeirdon had stopped and watched in amazement as cracks appeared on the stone wall and one of the chain's links started to bend and spread form the elf's efforts.
This isn't working, Jander thought as the strain began to take its toll. The muscles in Jander's arms began to protest and the chain's sharp edges cut into his hands. He gasped then gritted his teeth as he forced himself to pull harder. Pain shot through his hands and the chain became slick with his own blood. With a gasp of pain Jander started to release his grip. He was startled when he heard Jeirdon.
"Don't give up yet, you are nearly there." Jeirdon said encouragingly.
Jander gave Jeirdon a grateful glance but looked upon the buckling chain link with despair. He was close, yes, but Jander suspected what was left would be enough. It had been awhile since he last fed and his strength was not what it should be.
"I can't." Jander gasped.
"Nine hells you can't! I've never seen anyone do what you just did. I know you can do it!" Jeirdon said.
Jander gave him a hard look before shaking his head, "You know nothing about me."
"I know you're the only one who can get us out!" Jeirdon said curtly, an angry edge to his voice, "And I know that if the roles were reversed I'd do the same for you."
Jander winced, "You would not say such things if you knew me better."
"You're right, I know nothing of you! But I dared to think it wouldn't matter! Fine then, stay here and rot for all I care!" Jeirdon said angrily.
Jander gave Jeirdon a startled look.
"Yeah you heard me! I don't care. Stay here and die, let those monsters tear your throat out!" Jeirdon cried, "Coward!"
Jander's eyes narrowed.
"Coward!" Jeirdon cried again, "The slightest difficulty and you run like a dog! Probably threw yourself right at the monster's feet!"
Jander glared at him, stifling an angry growl, "How dare you!" he hissed.
"Ha! I'd like to see how you'd do in a real fight!" Jeirdon crowed.
"Oh really?" Jander asked raising an eyebrow. The Vampire in him was rising to the challenge and this time he did nothing to suppress it.
"To bad that'll never happen, you cowardly elvish pig!" Jeirdon spat.
That did it! An angry growl rose in Jander's throat and his vision turned red. Before he even realized what he was doing he gripped the chain in one hand and yanked. The chain ripped from the wall with an explosion of dirt and rock and Jander took a step towards the offending human.
******
TBC
Review Please!
Author: Radiant Sea Serpent
Rating: Pg-13
Genre: Angst/Drama
Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, not even Jeirdon who belongs to a friend.
Summery: Jander Sunstar learns the price of disobeying his master, Cassiar.
Author's Note: ok well I have to say this, this takes place when Jander had just barely become a vamp so he's not nearly as jaded as he was in all his stories...yet anyway.
*******
Jander watched Cassiar go, still in shock from it all.
"Are you ok?"
Jander stiffened and turned to the voice. He had been chained next to the prisoner, far enough apart so that neither could get to the other. Jander eyed the young human wearily.
The prisoner's face showed only concern, "Are you alright?"
Jander relaxed against the stone wall, rubbing his chained wrist. The manacle was wrought in silver and the elf's pale skin had already become red and irritated from contact with the pure metal, he tried to ignore it as much as possible, "yes, I am fine." For now anyway, he thought to himself.
The prisoner nodded and both sat for many moments in silence.
"My name is Jeirdon." He said after the silence became uncomfortable.
Jander studied Jeirdon for a long moment curious as to why the man was being so trusting to a vampire especially in his situation. "Jander." He said in response.
Jeirdon smiled slightly, "Well it looks like we're in this together, Jander."
Jander blinked, "yes, I suppose so." He answered though he didn't entirely agree with his reasoning. Jander was being punished yes, but Jeirdon was looking death in the face.
Jander was beginning to question the human's intelligence.
Both fell silent. ****
The night passed by without further incident and it was somewhat late the next day Jander was awakened by a light doze by a loud clatter coming from Jeirdon. Twisting around Jander turned to face the human.
Jeirdon knelt facing the wall twisting one manacled wrist presumably in an attempt to free him self. Jander caught a sharp coppery sent and noticed that the sharp edges of the manacles had cut into the human's wrist and blood was dripping down his arm.
Jander's mouth began to ache and he tried to fight back the hunger that suddenly surged within him, "What are you doing?" he asked sharply.
Jeirdon soared him only a slight glance, gritting his teeth as he continued his work, "Getting us out of here." He said.
Jander blinked, "Us?" he asked in startlement. The human was daft!
Jeirdon stopped, giving Jander a curious look, "Of course, you don't think I'd just leave you here at the mercy of such as them, do you?"
Yes, Jander thought to himself. "Why would you want to save me?"
Jeirdon gave Jander a sad look, "No one deserves vampirism." He said.
Jander started to turn away in shame until he suddenly understood what Jeirdon meant. Jeirdon hadn't the slightest idea Jander was a vampire already. He looked back at Jeirdon sharply.
Jeirdon had resumed his escape attempt. Jander swallowed hard as Jeirdon's cuts deepened.
"You'll take the skin off you hand that way." Jander warned.
Jeirdon winced, "Yeah, I know." He looked over at Jander, "Know a better way?"
Jander blinked and looked at his one chained wrist then at the wall it was chained to. Vampires were supposed to possess superior strength right? As of yet Jander had had no opportunity to test the theory and now was as good a time as any.
Jander grasped the chains with both hands and after a short moment to prepare himself began to pull with all his strength setting his feet and leaning back for better leverage.
After a moment as nothing began to happen Jander started to give up when suddenly the chain gave slightly and he heard Jeirdon gasp next to him.
Jeirdon had stopped and watched in amazement as cracks appeared on the stone wall and one of the chain's links started to bend and spread form the elf's efforts.
This isn't working, Jander thought as the strain began to take its toll. The muscles in Jander's arms began to protest and the chain's sharp edges cut into his hands. He gasped then gritted his teeth as he forced himself to pull harder. Pain shot through his hands and the chain became slick with his own blood. With a gasp of pain Jander started to release his grip. He was startled when he heard Jeirdon.
"Don't give up yet, you are nearly there." Jeirdon said encouragingly.
Jander gave Jeirdon a grateful glance but looked upon the buckling chain link with despair. He was close, yes, but Jander suspected what was left would be enough. It had been awhile since he last fed and his strength was not what it should be.
"I can't." Jander gasped.
"Nine hells you can't! I've never seen anyone do what you just did. I know you can do it!" Jeirdon said.
Jander gave him a hard look before shaking his head, "You know nothing about me."
"I know you're the only one who can get us out!" Jeirdon said curtly, an angry edge to his voice, "And I know that if the roles were reversed I'd do the same for you."
Jander winced, "You would not say such things if you knew me better."
"You're right, I know nothing of you! But I dared to think it wouldn't matter! Fine then, stay here and rot for all I care!" Jeirdon said angrily.
Jander gave Jeirdon a startled look.
"Yeah you heard me! I don't care. Stay here and die, let those monsters tear your throat out!" Jeirdon cried, "Coward!"
Jander's eyes narrowed.
"Coward!" Jeirdon cried again, "The slightest difficulty and you run like a dog! Probably threw yourself right at the monster's feet!"
Jander glared at him, stifling an angry growl, "How dare you!" he hissed.
"Ha! I'd like to see how you'd do in a real fight!" Jeirdon crowed.
"Oh really?" Jander asked raising an eyebrow. The Vampire in him was rising to the challenge and this time he did nothing to suppress it.
"To bad that'll never happen, you cowardly elvish pig!" Jeirdon spat.
That did it! An angry growl rose in Jander's throat and his vision turned red. Before he even realized what he was doing he gripped the chain in one hand and yanked. The chain ripped from the wall with an explosion of dirt and rock and Jander took a step towards the offending human.
******
TBC
Review Please!