Blood and Fire
Chapter 4
The Demon Torc.

The sky was clear, the flowers were blooming, and the first hints of dawn were showing to the east, the sky painted in pink and gold over the low hill where Flame Song and Aidan made their home. Aidan lay back in the grass and watched the delicate colors. Sunrises and sunsets felt special to him now, and he watched them often. They were a gift, literally. As a vampire he ought to be hurt badly, even killed by sunlight. He had spent several long months confined to darkness, and it had depressed him more than he would have thought possible. He had often wished he has simply died and stayed dead. He'd even contemplated suicide more than once during that time, and only the thought of Flame Song's grief had stopped him.

Already those winter months seemed distant, and strange. Why should he want to be dead? He had so much to live for! He had a wonderful, amazing, incredible wife, and a beautiful, perfect daughter, and a great many friends as well.

He recalled the day when his protective amulet had arrived, and his delight to finally see the sun again. He recalled also the letter that had come with it.

"My dear friends,
My heart went out to you when I learned of your troubles. I cannot imagine what it is like for you, Aidan, to have to suffer through this. But know that my thoughts and prayers are with you both. May all turn out for the very best. The gods sometimes know what we need better than we. Know also that whatever happens I and the Queen's Own will be there when you need us.

With love,
Tara Stargazer"

It was a letter, not of command from a queen, but of caring from a friend. Though brief, it said what Aidan most needed to hear; that, vampire or not, his friends would still be there for him. That gift was almost as as great as the gift of sunlight. From that day on he began to recover and now, some four months later, he felt almost like his old self again.

The colors brightened gradually, and finally the sun itself slowly pushed above the distant horizon. Aidan squinted at the brightness. His eyes were still quite sensitive and even though he wasn't looking directly at the sun, the bright eastern sky was almost blinding.

"Aidan!" Flame Song's voice floated up from the entryway to their underground home. "Are you coming to bed yet?"

"Yeah. I just wanted to watch the sun rise," he called back. He got up and made his way down the hill and inside. Flame Song was cradling Littlespark, who was already dozing off. He kissed his wife, and kissed his daughter too. Flame smiled at him warmly. He trailed after her as she went into the nursery. It had been a guest room, but they'd converted it to a room for the baby, and Flame was already talking about digging out another room, for guests or for when they had a second child. Flame Song tenderly tucked Littlespark into her crib. She was more than a year old now, and growing fast. "Is she asleep?" Aidan asked softly.

"Yes," replied Flame, getting to her feet. "And we should do the same." Aidan nodded and they went together into their bedroom. He was already dressed for bed, so he flopped down and watched appreciatively as Flame changed out of her clothing. But by the time she laid down next to him he was yawning, unable to keep his eyes open while the sun was in the sky. So she simply curled up with him. He shifted with a drowsy murmur, putting his arms around her, and she smiled. It was somehow warming and comforting that even half asleep and not really conscious, he still wanted to hold her. He soon drifted off completely, a warm but still presence against her back. It had taken her a while to get used to the fact that he no longer breathed. It had been a little disturbing at first, but by now she was quite used to it. And soon she joined him in slumber, though unlike her silent and still husband she snored softly.