Building Anew

[Igraine]

"Someone has to worry about 'crap' like this. Otherwise the whole world will blunder along like you have managed to do for centuries. It's what separates the leaders from the followers." Caela turned around and smiled. She had added the last part in order to needle her father. He had considered being a leader once, though he had actually just let her mother rule. Isabella had brought a reign of prosperity to Xexoria before Roen had challenged her love of Vylrath and Caela's own birth.

Whether it was a bit of misplaced pride or true anger, Roen had lead an attack that ended with Isabella dying giving birth to her daughter. Vylrath had done nothing but watch her bleed, and then took Caela and left Isabella's body for Roen to find. Caela knew, as did Igraine, that it didn't take a whole lot of stress in order to disrupt a pregnancy. It was a miracle that Caela had lived being a month or two from being fully developed in the womb. She had not suffered much for the lost time, though -- except being born to a father such as Vylrath.

At least he had taken her. He could have left her behind to die by Roen's hands. Thorin's hands. Caela shook her head she had to start thinking of her brother as Thorin, not Roen. All children make mistakes and Thorin had made quite a few, but then so had she at the age of fifteen. Caela turned and surveyed herself in the looking mirror. It was startling to have similar features to when she was younger and non-Vuri. She touched her face gingerly, her fingers trembling slightly. Her features were still very simlar to a Vuri, but it was as if the Siren blood had realized how much her demon half had once been the most seductive she had ever become. She did end up pregnant with two children by two different men after all.

"This is amazing. I wonder if these blood magicks would change depending on what was eaten? Do they affect our men differently versus our women? So many questions to answer. I don't feel particularly evil like the Siren was, I feel like myself but perhaps a little more seductive than I've felt since being made a Vuri." Caela shrugged and looked back at her father.

[Vylrath]

Vylrath scoffed. If he hadn't intervened, Caela would never have been born by him and Isabella. He hadn't made her life easy, but then again, his life hadn't exactly been golden either. “When I met your mother, I loved her and I followed her, because I didn't understand the human politics. I had no interest, except to conquer. She knew that when she first laid eyes on me.” Vylrath paused, realizing that he was venting. “Your mother tried to change me once and maybe she succeeded a little...when she beckoned, I went to her without hesitation. I doubt those human men would have let her have as much power without consequence.” Shrugging, he went over his own words. Some part of him still cared for Isabella, but it was more of a sentiment than actual emotion for her. “Isabella had all the freedom in the world to exercise her authority.” Vylrath remarked. He had been kind to her, compared to how Raynalios would have treated her. It had taken a demon, to see the corruption in a human.

“And why should I have been considerate to humans, who abused me for their entertainment? I don't owe anyone anything.” Vylrath didn't regret his words or poisoned thoughts. “It isn't my fault that they were weak, when we took to power. I sought to destroy them anyway. I can't say that I didn't enjoy seeing their perfect world in ruins.” Vylrath growled, his emotions taking a new form of hate. He hated the fact that he would always be tied to Xexoria and Isabella. If not through his children, then through his darkened past.

“She choose me and she could have left me whenever she wished. I never forced her. She knew I saved her from that tyrant. I did what I wanted, while she reigned and her people practically worshiped her. “ Vylrath sighed, feeling as though he were facing some sort of judgment. “Kahlan is the first woman to see me for me..not what I am.” Vylrath admitted, not once regretting being in Isabella's shadow. Kahlan treated him completely different. When he was near her, there wasn't a hidden agenda. Even someone like him grew tired of the false emotions.

He felt as though he were ranting to a ghost from his past. Vylrath had kept everything inside until now. Caela was doing more than awakening his conscience, he was forcing him to see his past mistakes. “I had all of my children by Isabella out of love. I'm only thankful that you weren't born a weaker race.” Folding his arms, he glared at something in the distant, while his thoughts clouded. "I can't help that most of them have been a disappointment."

“If I ate Baleron and my magic changed, than yours will too. It only makes sense. That's why I wanted you to devour the Siren. I wanted to see if my theory was correct.” Always cocky, Vylrath shrugged as if to confirm in a nonchalant way.

“I can't say it will be a pleasant change. Change is never pleasant. You may experience pain or madness later..not that my family is known for their sanity.”

He didn't know what kept him here, or what kept calling to him. Maybe he wanted redemption, but he doubted he would ever be granted such a thing. His sins ran as deep as his ego. "You look like your mother when I first met her...sometimes I can't stand to look at you. You are cursed with her beauty. Your body even moves like her." Vylrath said, his voice turning more sorrowful than cruel. This was the first time, that he had actually spoken so intimately to Caela. It was an awkward moment, one that he wouldn't easily escape from.

[Igraine]

A laugh rippled through Vylrath's speech as Caela sat down at the mirror to brush through her damp and tangled hair. Her eyes sought Vylrath as he continued to speak, silhouetted by sunlight pouring in the large picture window overlooking the garden. She said nothing while he vented as she was taught from a young age. Vylrath had taught her to listen first and speak later, a skill that she valued despite the professor.

"You loved my mother? She has always considered your relationship to be one of power. The new queen marrying the High General of the military. A true political match that very few would be in a position to destroy." Caela set the brush down and turned on the stool she was seated on to look at Vylrath. Where he was silhouetted she would be a blaze of color in her soft violet colored dress and her deep red hair. Her eyes were the most curious as she spoke. She still held herself as a Queen might, displaced though she was, her back was ramrod straight and she held her head at a slight angle -- as if she were holding court and listening to an advisor. It was safe to say that Igraine had learned a thing or two from Caela, Isabella, and Kahlan on the arts of ruling a country.

With a grace that made her seem older than she really was, Caela pushed her hair back from her face and looked at Vylrath.

"Your granddaughter is a human. You scare her sometimes but she loves you as any child loves a grandparent. She's held captive by the Unseelie King and I have no way to know if she will be alive when you go to fetch her. I don't even know if my daughter will be human when she comes back to me. I won't mourn the loss of her humanity, and I doubt she will either." Caela looked at her hands before shaking her head. Then she looked up suddenly with her eyes wide. She bolted to her feet and crossed the room to Vylrath quickly. She took his hands in hers and looked into his eyes.

"You have to tell Thorin what we have found out. If there is a fight, or a sudden...disappearance of a Fae creature -- he could use that to his advantage and consume the flesh. It is imperative that the King doesn't find out this new development. He could use Thorin, or he could find me, or he could even get you and force us to create others like us. Indeed, he could make me give birth to more full Vuri." Clutching tight to Vylrath's hands Caela looked up at him and shuddered.

"I don't think I'm prepared to give birth to any more Vuri children anytime soon."

[Vylrath]

Vylrath wasn't the type that enjoyed close contact- even if it was with one of his own. In truth, he could care less what happened to Thorin, but he knew it would effect everyone involved. Sighing, he let Caela hold his hands a little longer, before he pulled away from her. The moment was awkward for him, more than it was for her.

He didn't like being constantly reminded of his past crimes. Vylrath was never the type to take responsibility, let alone be careful with someone's life. Everything up until now, seemed like some grand test for his character and patience- maybe that was what Kahlan had planned all along. Would he ever get to rest? He doubted it.

“I don't exactly want to be a father again either...not that I really was to begin with.” Shrugging, he stood by Caela wondering where this would take them. “If I want to create more of my kin, I will simply turn others.”

“As for my granddaughter, I never considered her such, until you connected us. Trydian is hardly a son as it is, but at least he has his demonic soul intact.” Vylrath said, knowing there was little to be proud of with his children. The women had all been strong, but he couldn't say the same for the Xanathi sons.

Most of his son's had betrayed them, in some form or another. It would be hell talking to Thorin and convincing him to trust his word- the two hadn't exactly been working on a father and son relationship.

“I'm hardly afraid of this King. He doesn't seem that threatening, if he hides behind a vale that only a fairy can reach.” Vylrath was extremely ignorant to most politics and the Fae/Unseelie race. It would take an extremely patient person to work with him, while they worked on an agreement with the King.

“He sounds like Raynolios...hot headed, but probably better dressed. This King probably puts fear into his subjects. I can't see a reason why anyone would respect him otherwise.” Vylrath was curious about the King, but not necessarily threatened. The King had only shown interest in his family, but he hadn't actually seen a compromising force behind the man's power. He knew he shouldn't be cocky about the situation, but Vylrath hardly had the skill to control that part of his personality.

Vylrath walked to a cabinet in the room, hoping to find something to drink. The only way to dull his anger, would be through hard liquor. “I'll warn Thorin, but I can't say that he'll listen to me without a fight.”

[Sebilla]

**This thread is now closed. See Antebellum for the continuation. It takes place on the evening of the same day that Building Anew takes place!**