1.

You open your eyes to the early light of dawn, cold and alone. Shivering a little, you push yourself up, looking around for Astarion. You spot him a little way off, his back to you as he watches the sun rise. You stay a moment to look at him; admiring him, remembering the feel of him on you, in you and the way he soothed your darkness. You quietly get up and tip toe over to him, sliding your hands around his waist as you rest your lips on the raised skin of scars on his back.

"You rest light…" His body tenses at your unexpected touch. You hum and nod into him, "I'd have thought you'd be exhausted after last night."

You smile into his skin and shake your head,

"No. If anything, I could go again, if you wanted to…" You kiss his back and let your hands drift down his stomach, your fingertips sliding lower still.

He stops your hands, releasing your hold on him so he can turn to face you,

"A tempting thought, but we should probably get back before everyone starts looking for us." He brings you into him, kissing you tenderly, then just holds you close for a few more moments.

"Astarion?" Your hands move up his back resting on the scars lightly. You hadn't noticed them last night, you'd been too distracted, and now your curiosity is piqued.

"Hmm?"

"Can I ask about…?" Your fingertips trace a few of the scars and he flinches, "Oh! I'm sorry!" You try to pull your arms away from him, "I didn't mean to… You don't have to tell me..."

"No, it's OK…They're a 'gift' from my old master, Cazador." He squeezes you even closer before taking a half step back, looking down at you, "Another time… I'll tell you about him and what he did to me." He cradles your face in both of his hands, "I don't want him ruining this moment." His forehead rests on yours as he breaths deeply, then releases you to gather your strewn about clothes.

Back at camp you see many of last night's guests still lying about, some even starting to stir. You spot Karlach and Shadowheart sleeping peacefully on the ground near Karlach's tent, Scratch and the owlbear snuggled around Shadowheart. As you continue towards your tent you spot Lae'zel angrily storming off away from Wyll, wondering what that's all about. Last you saw the two of them seemed to be interested in each other… Gale greets you happily from where he sits tending to the fire, his eyes taking in how closely Astarion is following you and he gives a cheeky smirk. You say nothing, only smiling sheepishly.

The rest of the early morning is spent lounging with Astarion in your tent, mostly cuddling. Late morning brings the departure of the Tieflings, everyone thanking them as they leave. As soon as they're gone there's an audible sigh of relief as everyone relaxes and looks around at each other's weary faces. Karlach smiles broadly then exclaims,

"Well then, let's hurry up and start relaxing!"

"Wonderful idea. I myself am looking forward to sitting back and enjoying a few books one of the Tieflings was generous enough to gift me. Rolan, that's his name. Is anyone planning on doing something of a similar enterprise?"

"I'm mostly looking forward to taking it easy." Shadowheart looks over at you and Astarion, her eyes staying on him, "Who knows, maybe we will even get to know each other a little bit better."

"Haha… Yes. I suppose with that in mind, I think there's something I should tell all of you." He shifts a little uncomfortably, everyone's eyes now on him, "Nothing too terrible. A tiny detail about me… Just something that hasn't come up naturally. It's just that I happen to be a vampire."

There's a long moment of silence. You look around at everyone's faces, fearing they'll be angry, instead Karlach smiles warmly at him and says,

"Aww. Vamps don't scare me. You're fine Astarion."

"So long as he doesn't develop an appetite for Githyanki I am fine with him staying." Lae'zel looks Astarion up and down before crossing her arms.

"Fine. As long as he keeps his fangs off our necks." Wyll shakes his head.

"Well, you've all made it this far without me sinking my teeth into any of you. Well… except one of you," You flush as he gives you a wicked smirk, "But you can trust me. We're a team."

Everyone but Shadowheart looks at you knowingly. You shift uncomfortably before Gale breaks the uneasy silence,

"So, we're traveling with a vampire, are we? Well, if everyone is comfortable with that, and in the spirit of sharing potentially dangerous foibles…" He swings his arms back and forth before finally speaking again, "You see I have something of my own to share with you all… I have absorbed a raw piece of the weave," He gestures to the mark on his chest, "It is under control, but something has changed recently and now it may, one day soon, cause me to… erupt. And it would be no small thing… I believe it could easily wipe out an area the size of a city…"

He stands stock still as everyone stares in dumbfounded silence. Everyone except Shadowheart. She stands beside him, holding one of his hands… She must have already known about this. Is this why she didn't say anything about what Astarion is? You look at everyone's faces; Wyll looks like he can't take much more catastrophic news, Karlach is just nodding her head, Lae'zel looks like she's about to explode,

"You thrice damned rotten bastard! You've been the greatest threat to our lives all this time?"

"Gale is one of us, and we should stand by his side." Wyll puts a hand on Lae'zel's shoulder to stop her from charging Gale.

"You would endanger us all to keep him here?" Her fury turns onto Wyll.

"We are all already in danger from our tadpoles and everything else that has been happening. I see no harm in him staying. Besides, he seems to have this thing under control for now."

"And should he lose that control?"

"Then I shall leave. I will get as far away from you, from everyone, as I can get. I would go into the Underdark and be done with it. This I swear to all of you." His hand squeezes Shadowheart's, "I would not endanger you all needlessly."

"We're all risky in our own ways, Lae'zel. We stick together anyway. Right?" Karlach looks to Lae'zel but she stays furiously silent.

"Thank you all." Gale breathes a sigh of relief.

With that everyone disperses; Karlach goes back to her tent to lay down, Lae'zel stomps off to her tent to grab a sword and then stomps into the forest, Wyll follows her, Gale and Shadowheart smile at you before walking away to his tent leaving you and Astarion standing by the fire. You look up at him and wonder why he was oddly quiet during that discussion. He stands looking into the fire for what feels like forever, you standing beside him, your hand gripped in his before he finally speaks in a hushed voice to you,

"That went surprisingly well… All things considered. But, um… hrmm… I need some time to think." He kisses the top of your head and strides off to his tent.

As he disappears inside, and you're left wondering what to do with yourself Shadowheart comes over to you. She's smiling saying that Gale would also like some time alone to think, so she suggests that maybe a bath in the river, a little laundry and then some laying out in the sun would be a lovely way to spend the day. You could not agree more. You quickly excuse yourself to grab what little you have to wash and head down to the river.

After frolicking in the water and then falling asleep in the warmth of the sun you're woken by raised voices. You look over to see Shadowheart is no longer lying next to you, but is standing by Lae'zel's tent, being yelled at by her,

"You carry a Githyanki relic. I will have an explanation, or your head!"

"Walk away. Now. I won't warn you again." She leans in menacingly, seemingly unafraid.

"What's going on here? Why are you two arguing?" Wyll rushes to Lae'zel's side.

"She carries an heirloom of my people. I must know why!"

"Plunder from some conquered realm more like."

"Lies!" Lae'zel moves closer to Shadowheart, getting into her face as Wyll puts his arm between them.

"Is that what it is Shadowheart? Some Githyanki artifact?"

"I don't know. But this thing is what's keeping all of us safe. The artifact stays with me."

"You think this can just be settled with words?" She angrily stares at Wyll and his interference.

"Lae'zel, this is ridiculous. You don't know what that thing is or where it even came from. What would you have us do in order for you to let this go?"

"She is a thief. And this bad blood must be purged. A duel, come first light."

"You mean I'd get to prove you wrong and thrash you? I love it. See you then, Lae'zel." Shadowheart then storms off, she doesn't even look up at you as she passes and disappears into her tent.

Lae'zel ducks into her own tent leaving Wyll to stand silently outside shaking his head. You look over at Shadowheart's tent and contemplate going to her when Astarion comes out from his, spying you on top of the outcropping by his tent. He asks you to sit with him, so you go down and join him by the fire as Gale cooks dinner. You had slept the whole of the afternoon away and now the sun is setting. Gale calls for dinner, Shadowheart and Lae'zel both stay in their tents forcing Wyll and Gale to bring them each their dinners. Karlach stays with you by the fire as Astarion excuses himself to go hunt for his dinner. Your meal is spent quietly with Karlach, neither of you really seeming to know what to say considering all the drama that has unfolded throughout the day.

You contemplate the day while quickly eating. The whole Gale might explode thing doesn't really bother you. Maybe it's because Shadowheart seems to be OK with it, so you don't really need to worry about it. But what happened with Lae'zel does rankle your mind. You understand Lae'zel being angry, but at this point what is she going to do? Take the thing back to her people and leave everyone to turn into monsters? What purpose would that serve? The idea of becoming one of those monsters utterly terrifies you. Anything but that.

As soon as you finish you excuse yourself from Karlach's silent company and go to wait for Astarion in his tent. You lay on his bed roll doing some stretches, occupying your mind with the much more pleasant distraction of wondering what it's going to be like from now on. Now that you found Him, your mysterious harlequin…

As you lay there daydreaming Astarion pushes the tent flap open and sees you sprawled out, waiting for him,

"Well… That's a pleasant sight to come in to," His smiles looking at you hungrily.

"I didn't think you'd mind," You give a sultry look up at him, letting your legs rock back and forth, only a little suggestively.

"And was there anything you wanted my sweet?" He lowers himself down next to you, hovering over you.

"I can think of a couple…" Your body already growing hot, a heady mixture of desire twisting with your dark need for him.

"And what might those things be?" He breaths on your neck and you shiver, grasping onto him, "What could my little treat be thinking of?"

"Bite me?" You beg, and then his mouth is on your neck, piercing your skin, that sweetest of feelings as he obliges you, "Fuck me," Another whispered plea.

He moves to nestle between your legs, continuing to enjoy your blood, your shivers and stifled moans. Your bodies move to find each other. His mouth leaving your neck to come down on your lips, his hand slides up under your shirt lifting it to tease a nipple. You tug gently at his shirt, wanting him as exposed as you. He leans up to pull it off before taking yours off, your hands working at his laced pants, exposing him just enough. You gasp and clamp a hand down over your mouth when he pushes into you, but his hand pulls yours away,

"I want to hear you," He smiles that wolfish grin, his hips rolling, driving you mad.

"But… everyone… will… know…" Every word strained as you try to keep quiet through his thrusts.

You can't finish your thought: your mind is consumed with him. You want to moan your pleasure as he ravishes you. His pace slows so he can watch you; your eyes half lidded, and unfocused, your lips trembling before you bite down on your lower lip, your breasts rising and falling with every ragged breath, with every thrust. You grip the bedroll beneath you trying to keep from being moved. He chuckles softly as he moves your legs to rest on his shoulders, changing his leverage to thrust relentlessly down into you, extracting an unexpected cry from you. You feel your body rising, ever higher, every time he slams into you. You furiously bite down on your lip, trying to keep yourself on the edge, but you can't. His whispered command,

"Cum for me."

Sends you tumbling into your orgasm. Your body pulsing around him as he opens your legs, letting himself down to viciously kiss you as he finds his end in you.

You collapse together, a tangled mess of limbs, panting and sweating and utterly satisfied. You snuggle into your nook, his hand idly drawing circles on your shoulder. You enjoy the quiet moment for as long as you can, your mind drifting, marveling at everything that's happened leading up to this glorious place. But one dark moment haunts you,

"Um, Astarion?" He makes a soft noise to let you know he's listening, "I've been thinking about," You don't exactly know how to bring up the first time he fucked you. Your body tenses, your fingers curl into fists, your nails digging painfully into your palms as you try to find the right way to ask him, "That time, after the… What I mean is… um." His hand stops moving, "You know what? Never mind… I's nothing." The anxiety twists knots in your stomach as you lose all will to ask.

"Did you mean to ask me about what happened after we killed that Gur?" His voice is low, tense.

"Yes," You nod, burying your face in him, unsure if you really want to know.

"I didn't know then… Who you really were. How could you possibly be Her? I thought that if I ignored all the signs… If I convinced myself that you weren't Her, then I could use you, manipulate you. Should the others ever discover what I was you could help convince them to let me stay. Or worst case, get you to come with me, should I be chased off... You would've been my delicious little distraction…" A soft, reticent chuckle vibrates his chest as his hand on your shoulder slides up to your neck, fingers gently caressing your pulse before continuing, "But I couldn't… I couldn't ignore how much you reminded me of Her… She was the first person I ever wanted for myself. Not as a beautiful victim for Cazador. Not as some powerful noble I needed to throw myself at for Cazador. No… I desired Her the same way I desired you… I was afraid of wanting you so much. I wasn't sure what to do… And… I knew you wanted me, too. So, I did what I have always done when someone wants me…" Another sad, soft chuckle, "But then you…" His other hand comes under your chin, forcing you to look up at him, "You knew, didn't you?" You can't bring yourself to answer him. You just look sorrowfully into his crimson eyes. "And yet, you let it happen. You didn't say anything. You just smiled sweetly at me."

It's true, you knew he wasn't with you in that moment; in what should have been a moment of shared passion and pleasure was nothing to him… He felt nothing for you because he feared feeling anything. You let the silence stretch for moment, trying to collect yourself enough to speak,

"I did know… I knew you were using me…" You turn away from his stare, "I didn't know how else to react… I did want you. You were the only other person to make me feel the same way as Him, but letting myself indulge in that feeling felt like a betrayal... I thought that if you at least wanted me for nothing more than as a distraction… that that would have been enough for me… But then you… changed…" The lump in your throat makes it difficult for words to come out, "You were forcing yourself and I didn't know what to do… So, I just let you do what you wanted…"

You fear telling him the whole of the truth: that the ache caused by him using you made you only want him more. Should you tell him about this darkness? How it yearns for your pain? How it's a never-ending hunger and that for the first time in your life it feels satiated? That it calls out for him? Wanting for him to be the only thing in your life to bring you to your knees?

"I'm sorry…" It's a soft whisper, barely audible.

"You shouldn't be… We both did what we know."

"It was instinctual."

He brings his face down to yours, kissing you passionately, his fingers tangling into your hair as he pulls you back into him, your bodies finding comfort in the others' once more before the night is over.

2.

The following morning has a bit of commotion around Gale, Lae'zel and Shadowheart. Wyll is waving his arms at Lae'zel, just about shouting at her. Karlach is hunched over by Gale and Shadowheart listening to Gale intently, nodding at almost every word. Shadowheart rolls her eyes and stalks over to you. Apparently, she and Lae'zel had continued their fight about the artifact, nearly killing each other and, surprisingly, it was Gale that diffused the situation. You smirk imagining it was simply that he spoke at such length that these ladies simply lost interest in their fight and instead wanted him to shush. Shadowheart all but confirms it by reciting something that he said, in her best Gale impression,

"Seeing as how the others are otherwise indisposed at this time, and therefore cannot be prevailed upon to aid in this endeavor, it needs must fall to me to remedy this situation," She then talks with a hand saying "Blah, blah, blah," You both laugh, you thinking her soft spot for the unkempt wizard is adorable as she continues to speak, "I do have a favor to ask of you though,"

"Sure. What is it?"

"Come here," She all but drags you to her tent, "I want you to hold onto this," She places the artifact in your hand. You look from it to her confused, "I don't want Lae'zel to find it, should she be foolish enough to go snooping through my things. She may say the matter is settled, but I still don't trust her when it comes to this. So, just for now, keep it."

"Of course. Just let me know when you want it back, OK?"

"Hah. If it lets me." She moves to leave, holding open the tent flap for you.

"Maiden help me, I don't want to keep the damned thing!" You giggle while trying to sound serious as she accompanies you to your tent to hide it amongst your armor.

The day passes quietly. You mostly sit with Shadowheart, Karlach insists on a little bit of sword practice with you, and then you insist on bathing in the river before settling by the fire to watch Wyll and Gale make dinner. As dusk gives way to night, everyone sits around the fire; eating, drinking, laughing, stories of past glories and embarrassments shared. Scratch and the cub bounding happily from person to person begging for pets and scraps, the rascals getting their fill of both. And as the fire begins to die you and Astarion excuse yourselves to retire to your tent.

You let him settle down first, laying down on your bedroll before draping yourself over him, your arms folded on his chest, your head resting comfortably as he begins to idly play with your hair,

"I suppose I should tell you about Cazador," He sighs heavily.

"Probably. I do know of him, but only that he's one of the elites back home. If he was ever at one of the masquerades, I didn't know about it."

"No, he never attended any events outside his own palace. He hadn't hosted a masque during your short tenure."

"I see… Rather reclusive then," Your fingers fiddle with the fabric of Astarion's shirt, "Is he a vampire?"

"Yes… He's the one that made me what I am: a vampire spawn,"

"What's the difference between a vampire and a vampire spawn?"

"A true vampire is incredibly powerful, possessed of powers beyond what I have. Speed, strength, the ability to turn into mist, able to call upon creatures of the night and to create spawn…" He pauses a moment, "A vampire's spawn is their slave. Their puppet. The vampire need only speak, and their spawn are compelled to obey."

"Then how do you become a true vampire? I had thought it was just being bitten and not dying… But I never really heard anything other than scary stories as a kid."

"No, to become a true vampire the vampire that turns you into a spawn must then give their blood to you. You see, they must allow it. And why would they do a thing like that? Vampires are greedy, power-hungry monsters. A spawn is bound to obey them while another true vampire would be a competitor."

"Oh…" Your fingers stop moving, instead curling to grip his shirt, "How did you…" You want to know how and why he was turned, but you also don't want to ask him about something he'd rather not talk about.

"The night he… made me was a long time ago. Nearly 200 years. I was a magistrate in Baldur's Gate. And one day, one of my rulings was, shall we say, 'disagreed' with… And so that night, while walking home, I was attacked by a pack of Gur… I was beaten to death's door. They left me there, bleeding, dying in the street… And that's when Cazador found me. He offered me a way out…"

"How did he know you were there? It's not like you'd be the only bleeder in the city. That's a nightly occurrence, even now."

"I didn't think to ask him while I lay there bleeding out. So, who knows? Maybe he was just drawn to the smell of blood."

"That feels… convenient…"

"Perhaps. How should I know?" He sighs sounding exasperated, "Anything else?"

You think a moment before a few questions come to you, but you think it best not to pester him too much tonight, so you stick with the first one that popped into your head,

"You had said he's your old master, so does that mean he can't control you anymore?"

"Well, it certainly seems that way, thanks to our little wriggling friends." He wiggles the strand of hair he's playing with making you giggle, relaxing a bit, "This little worm has changed the rules, and I intend on using it to gain my freedom from him. And who knows… maybe even kill him."

4.

The final day of recuperation dawns. You wake snugly wrapped in Astarion's arms, feeling so completely contented. You turn into his chest, breathing deeply, the faint scent of bergamot clinging to his skin. Your antics seem to cause him to stir. He smiles, eyes still closed, his hand tangling into the hair at the nape of your neck, griping you, tipping your head back so that he can taste you. His body moves, pinning you down and you moan into him, wanting so much for him to continue. But there is so very much to do today, and regretfully he pulls away from you to get dressed.

After dressing you venture out and prepare to leave with everyone. The agenda for the day being shopping and resupplying at the grove while collecting Halsin. You wonder if he was able to settle everything there; it seemed a complete disaster such a short time ago. But you worry seems unnecessary for not only is Halsin waiting for your rag tag group but is seated before a large array of supplies; the grove's parting gifts everyone. Halsin seems to realize the sheer amount of stuff and offers to wild shape into his bear and be used as a pack mule. He's laughingly told no by everyone as everything it split up and easily enough carried back to camp.

Once back at camp Lae'zel, Wyll and Halsin set to organizing and splitting the supplies amongst everyone; you bemoan just how much you've been assigned to carry. Obviously Halsin, Karlach and Lae'zel are carrying more than anyone else, but still you and Gale look like you'll be swallowed up by your enormous packs. He can barely lift his and needs someone to help him get it up onto his back. And you can hardly move with it on you over your chainmail; thinking it will be easier to wear it rather than have it packed away, but now you're not so sure. Shadowheart and Astarion tease the two of you for being so frail and feeble. You pout and stick out your tongue at them, you're not some wilting flower, just unaccustomed to walking around carrying so much heavy stuff while also wearing armor. Feeling the need to make someone else feel just as ridiculous you point out Astarion's own reluctance to trekking around the forest not that long ago. The two of you go back and forth for a while about who is the most dainty, spoiled city kid, Shadowheart and Karlach interjecting their own opinions, barely able to keep their laughter contained.

Evening descends all too soon. Everything has been packed up save for the tents and what everyone needs for the morning. The little camp site looks sad and bare, Scratch and the cub snuffling about the barren place. You sit by the fire with Astarion watching Gale once again do the cooking, your offers to help brushed aside as he insists on doing it all himself. Astarion prefers it this way, he wants you by his side so he can play with your hair and talk to Gale. Shadowheart makes her way to you with wine and a smile, a silly grin spreading over your face at the prospect of getting tipsy with her and the boys. She doesn't even get to sit down before the camp is beset with the unmistakable stench of brimstone.

A spot of black smoke swirls near the fire then dissipates revealing an ostentatiously dressed man standing with an air of superiority about him. Wyll and Karlach are instantly on edge, he angrily stalks over while she runs off to grab her great axe, brandishing it at the stranger as he opens his smiling mouth to speak,

"My my. What manner of place is this? A place of redemption or of damnation? Hard to say, for your journey is just beginning." He looks at Karlach and continues right on speaking as though she wasn't ready to strike, Wyll holds his hand in front of her, "Hrm. What would suit the occasion? The words of a lullaby, perhaps? The mouse smiled brightly: it outfoxed the cat! Then down came the claw, and that, love, was that. Haha! They do know how to write them in Cormyr, don't they? Well met. I am Raphael. Very much at your service." He opens up his arms and gives a dramatic curt bow as he introduces himself, all of his mannerisms are flamboyant and exaggerated.

"So, are we talking to the cat or the mouse, I wonder?" Gale squints at this stranger with a look of suspicion.

"Neither. The fox, rather, hiding in a word: a silent observer, about to break the silence. Of course, what I have to say merits some privacy, as well as some more… let's call it refinement. This quaint little scene is decidedly too middle-of-nowhere for my tastes." Raphael waves his hand and all of you are whisked away to an opulent, but decidedly gaudy hall, "There. Middle-of-somewhere. The House of Hope. Where the tired come to rest and the famished come to feed, lavishly. Go on, partake. Enjoy your supper. After all… it might just be your last."

You look around at the place, there is indeed a lavishly set table overflowing with sumptuous looking food. It all looks too good, like it's a trap, but a trap your hungry self is mildly tempted by. Everyone else looks around anxiously, clearly uncomfortable at what's happening.

"And what makes you say that?" Shadowheart glares at him.

"Call it a ninth sense." A wicked, knowing smirk twists his lips as flames engulf his body, revealing him to be a winged devil, "What's better than a devil you don't know? A devil you do. Am I a friend? Potentially. An adversary? Conceivably. But a savior? That's for certain."

"What makes you think we require saving?" Lae'zel bristles at Raphael.

"Come now. Why play hard to get when you're in deep over your tadpoled head? One skull, two tenants, and no solution in sight. I could fix it all like that."

His comment about your parasites makes you realize Halsin isn't among those transported to this ridiculous place.

"You're mad if you think any of us would make a deal with a devil!" Karlach steps closer to him, ready to swing.

"And what is madness but a denial of reality? Try to cure yourself. Shop around. Beg, borrow, and steal. Exhaust every possibility until none are left. And when hope has whittled down to the very marrow of despair, that's when you'll come knocking on my door. Hope. Hahahaha. Such a tease."

"I will rip out your mocking tongue!" Lae'zel joins Karlach before the devil, both shaking with barely contained rage.

"Ah. The tongue. Yet another piece of pleasurable anatomy you'll soon have to do without. All those pretty little symptoms, sundering skin, dissolving guts, they haven't manifested yet, have they? One might say you're all paragons of luck. I'll be there when it runs out."

Astarion's body tenses next to you, his hand finding yours and squeezing it. This devil and Astarion's unease reminding you of his scars… They're written in infernal…

Before you can think to move, the devil, Raphael, gives you all a smug sneer. His fingers snap and then you're all enveloped with sulfuric smoke; sent back to your camp. Halsin rushes everyone, clearly distraught at everyone's sudden disappearance. They all rush to speak, shouting over each other, describing what happened. As tempting as it was to have him rid you of the parasite, you know better than to make deals with devils. You need look no further than Wyll and his new horns. Honestly you just want to eat dinner and go back to your tent. You know no one is going to want to sit around drinking and laughing after all that.

Dinner is never finished, so you just rummage through the supplies to find something to tie you over until breakfast and then you slip away to eat alone in your tent. Astarion comes in eventually, looking down at your little upturned face,

"Will that be enough to satisfy you?"

"I'll be fine for tonight. But come breakfast I'm going to be famished!"

"I'm sure you will be. Do you want to know what we all discussed while you were off eating?" He chuckles softly.

"No. Not really." You shake your head and pat the bedroll, wanting him to sit down with you, but he remains standing, "Although… I didn't want to bring this up around everyone, but your scars… Do you know what they say? I know you told me they were Cazador's doing, but-"

"Why would you need to bring it up around the others?" He cuts you off, his voice having a slight edge to it.

"Not that I wanted to bring it up in front of them, just that they were all there when that devil, Raphael, showed up. It's him I wanted to ask."

"Why would you want to ask a devil about them?" His voice grows sharper.

"Um… Because they're words… written in infernal..." He stares at you intensely, waiting for you to continue, "I thought you knew that… I can't read infernal... Can you?" You ask quietly, a little taken-aback by his change in mood.

"What? No! Why would I?" His face contorts as he paces for a moment, his hand drifting to his back feeling the raised skin, "Why in the hells is it in infernal?"

"You really didn't know?"

"No, Talia, I didn't! How could I? It's not like I can just look in a mirror now, can I?" He's furious, and he's scaring you. He must have seen the fear in your eyes because he quiets his voice, almost muttering to himself, "He said it was a poem… Why write a poem in infernal?"

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to -" You can't make any more words come out of your mouth.

How could you ask him about those damned scars? He hadn't brought them up since the night of the party. He didn't want to talk about them then, and he certainly doesn't want to talk about them now. How could you be so stupid? You berate yourself, tears threatening to fall as you chew the inside of your mouth.

"No, no it's fine…" He kneels down before you, reaching out to cup your dejected face in his hands, "I hadn't told you about them yet because I didn't want to relive those memories." He breathes for a moment, releasing you to sit beside you, "Cazador… tortured me... Not just me, but all of us… All of his spawn… My six 'brothers and sisters', my 'family'. He insisted we call ourselves family, the sick bastard… This was only one of the many shared nightmares I have with them." He sighs, calming himself, his voice no longer tinged with anger, "But you've seen them - My scars, I mean. And you said they're written in infernal? You're certain?"

"Yes…" You turn your body to look him in the eyes, "Astarion, I really am sorry, I didn't mean to… It was just a random thought that popped in my head. You don't have to talk about it." You've never seen him like this, not even when you found the monster hunter, such rage and fear…

"No, it's alright. It was… kind of you to think of that on my behalf. Thank you." He pulls you into a rough embrace, "Now I am curious as to what it says," He softly chuckles into the top of your head as he his body begins to relax.

"Maybe Karlach or Gale could read it, but something tells me you don't want them knowing, huh?" You lean back to look up at him, giggling softly, your own body beginning to relax again as his mood eases.

"That would be preferable my sweet…" He brings his face down to yours for a passionate kiss before he moves to your neck, his fangs bared, waiting for you to lean into him before he bites down. You can feel the tension fully draining out of him as he drinks you in.

Authors Note: Thanks to those few reading this silly bit of nonsense. I'd love some feedback on how it's going so far. I've never written smutty content before and I'm not sure how it's going so far. I don't know if it needs to be more or less descriptive, or even what vocabulary I should be using for it. ^_^;