Naveen

I stripped out of a set of simple leggings and a tunic into soft pants along with a shirt. I folded what I had changed from then looked around the small room, eyeing the ground for the best place to lay down. "I'm changed."

Rina:

“You know you don't have to sleep on the floor. I don't mind sharing the bed.” I said softly rolling back over.

"I dont?" I asked in genuine surprise. I glanced at the floor then at her again, considering quietly for a long moment. In the end I moved over to stand by the bed, uncertainty coloring my face.

Rina:

I looked up to him. “I've slept next to you more than once. I'm not going to prevent you from sleeping in an actual bed for modesty's sake. Now get in.” I said matter-of-factly, lifting up the covers for him.

"Alright. I won't argue." A faint smile curved my lips and I moved under the covers to join her.

Rina:

I turned my body away from him. “Just keep cold feet to yourself.” I said jokingly as I blew the candle out.

A low chuckle left my lips as I nodded. "Alright. I will do that.". I murmured. I turned my back to her, pushing the covers to my hips as I settled in with a gentle sigh.

Rina:

I listened to the sound of his breathing and I soon fell into a sound sleep. During the night I migrated to the middle of the bed so my back was pressed against his.

I woke when her back was pressed up against mine, her warm skin welcome. I briefly considered rolling over so my chest was to her back, but I thought better of it. Instead I slipped out of bed to take a slow drink from a pitcher of water. When I returned I settled on my back slightly turned towards her until her breathing let me drift off once more.

Rina:

Morning came too quickly. I slithered out of bed and dressed quickly trying to rub sleepiness from my eyes. Today was the day. At least after tonight it would be done with.

I sat up after she had gotten up, though after one look I kept my eyes covered.

Rina:

I finished dressing and quickly tied my hair back in a braid. “I need to Speak to Mr. Moroe. Come down when you're ready.” I told Talon before leaving the room. I found the head of the house and he took me to his study to give me the instructions from Brian. To my surprise it came with a package. Mr. Moroe left me in privacy so I could sort out the instructions. I opened the package. “Oh lord.” I sighed at the site or the red velvet dress. It was gaudy, revealing, old fashioned and heavy. I read the pages of instructions with a look of distaste on my face.

I was to go to the vampire temple and change into the dress there and await dusk. Then a guide would take me to the vampire caves across the bay on an island. We would be going by boat. Once there, I would give them the locked box that was also in the package and they would tell me the information they had to help us.

I dressed slowly after she had left, going to far as to even get all my armor on and adjusted properly. Once I fully equipped I grabbed my pack and moved downstairs. I waited by the door, hands resting on the pommel of my swords.

Rina:

Mrs. Moroe packed us breakfast and lunch in a bag to take. I thanked them both for what they were doing. “You should carry any more than you need to, we will be back here by tomorrow anyway. And we will have to leave anything we take with us at the temple before going to the caves.” I warned Talon. I was taking my short sword and my sparrow daggers, but nothing else in the way of supplies besides the dress and food for the two of us.

I considered her words before digging through the pack for a few items that I added to my gear. The rest went back into the pack and it was placed back upstairs in our room. When I returned I nodded once to Rina to say I was ready.

Rina:

I thanked our caregivers once more before we set out. Once we were on the road I offered Talon the biscuits and dried fruit they had given us for our breakfast.

I ate my share without complaint, "how did you sleep?". I asked absently as we walked.

Rina:

“Soundly. It was a comfy bed.” I answered. The day was long but we kept up simple conversations for most of it. After noon we started swamping adventure stories. We laughed a lot. It was nice, it had been a while since I had someone like this to talk to. We had a rocky start but after a few days of secluded company, it looked like we could become decent friends.

The sun was low in the sky by the time we reached the temple devoted to the vampires. It was built from white stone and paved with marble. It was clearly an expensive building and it was out of place in the rural town. Thin woods were scattered around the area and the smell of salt was thick in the air.

"It's been a while since I got to enjoy the sea..." I remarked, making the attempt to lighten the mood. Things had been great, but it almost felt like we had grown closer to ward off the tension that lay around us like a blanket. If that tension came from us, or from the mission I wasn't sure.

Rina:

“I haven't been on this side of the country since I was a child.” I commented lost for a moment on an old memory of a trip here with my father. “But we're about to enjoy it up close in a couple hours.” my tone grew glum. “The vampire caves are on an island.” I said as we entered the temple.

Gently I shifted over to brush my arm against hers, offering what silent encouragement I could. "And so we wait here yes?"

Rina:

“Yes.” I murmured. It was vast and open inside, but completely quiet and empty. “Some one should come along soon, and they will take us there… and hopefully feed us first.” I said taking a seat on a stone bench.

"Right. But here. Just in case." I removed from our things a heel of bread inside which I had stuffed a bit of cheese. "Eat, I'm not that hungry." I settled down beside her and offered the remains of our food.

Rina:

I smiled softly and took it with gratitude. We sat together in the temple for a while before someone showed up. A man and a woman, both dressed in red, came in just at sunset. The stained glass windows bathed the room in crimson light. The man went to the head of the temple and lit several torches with a fire that burned blue, it gave no warmth to the room even to have it fully lit. It was a strange feeling and an odd setting. Both the servants looked like they were at least as old as I was, yet they had a smoothness to their skin that made them look younger.

The woman brought us stew with strange chunks of meet floating in it, but I ate it anyway. The taste wasn't bad, even if the texture was not pleasing. After we ate she gave us each a rag and a bowl of water and instructed us to cleanse ourselves. Her phrasing was odd, but I did it anyway as I had a days worth of dust on my skin. Then I changed into the velvet dress. It was clingy to my body and quite revealing in the bosom.

I returned to with my mood soured. It was healthier for me to give into anger than fear, and nothing about this situation made me happy.

The servants had the hair on the back of my neck standing up and I had to fight the impulse to draw my weapons. The stew was eaten slowly, and I even went so far as to cleanse myself but I was dressed in my armor as soon as I could. The only thing that finally made me stop watching them carefully was the sight of Rina in her dress. Her face made me pause, but I couldn't stop myself from looking her over. Not that I tried that hard.