Chapter 117 - The Night And Scars

Delaney quickly pulled on her nightgown and robe and lit some candles.  Stepping out into the dimly lit hallway, she saw Ian was nowhere to be found.  She remembered then that she had told him to go to bed, not wanting Vincent to find out about her plan for Ian to guard him.

Cursing herself for falling asleep, Delaney hurried down the hallway towards Ian's room, rapping on the door.  Thunder shook the house and she heard a strange noise from farther down the hall.  Turning, she took off towards it.

"Delaney?" Ian opened the door then, bringing her to a stop, "What is it?"

"I think it's Vincent," she whispered urgently, "I fell asleep and I didn't notice when he left our room."

Not able to wait any longer Delaney took off again and Ian followed her, pulling on a shirt as he went.  She rushed to the door to the room Vincent had planned to stay in and grabbed the door handle.  She turned and rattled it but it didn't' budge.  The door was locked.

A shout came from inside and Delaney turned to Ian with eyes wide with worry.  His normally blank face actually looked worried as well.

"Lord Adair?" Ian knocked lightly at the door, "Are you alright?  Can you open the door?"

The crack sound of lighting could be heard and Vincent shouted.

"The dragons are coming!"

"N-no My Lord," Ian tried again, "The dragons are gone.  Do you remember?  You killed the last male yourself."

There was silence from inside for a moment until another rumble of thunder came and they heard a loud moan from inside the room.

"Vincent?" Delaney knocked on the door urgently then, "Please let me in!  Let me sit with you."

"Delaney?" came his desperate voice closer to them now.

"Yes!  It's me!  Open the door love and let me come in with you."

"I-I can't," he responded now just on the other side of the door, "I can't let you in my love I-I don't know what's happening.  There were dragons and..."

"No, no," She pressed her hands to the door speaking urgently to him, "There are no dragons love.  You've killed them all and we're safe now.  I'm safe."

A crack of lightning snapped above the house and she heard a tortured sound come from her husband.  There came a bang from inside the room.  Ian swore and took off back down the hall.

"Vincent?" Delaney tried louder, "Vincent please!  Let me come in!  You're safe!"

"I'm not safe!" he shouted, "There are dragons!  My blood is boiling from their poison!"

"I know my love and I'm sorry," she rested her forehead against the cool wood of the door, "But the poison in your blood came a long time ago when you killed the last dragon.  We're alright now."

Thunder shook the house again and the wind screamed.  For the first time then Delaney began to feel afraid.  Not that her husband would hurt her but that this storm might take their house down.  Another tortured sound came from inside the bedroom.  There was nothing she could do.

"Delaney!"

She looked up to see Ian rushing towards her a while later with their butler and Harris in tow.

"He has the keys," In panted, pointing to the butler, "He can unlock the door."

The man stepped to the door and fumbled with the chain of keys, looking for the right one for this door.

"I'm sorry my Lady," Harris apologized quickly with wide eyes, "I couldn't hear him over the sounds of the storm.  I should have come to check on him though I know he gets like this.  I'm sorry I..."

"It's not your fault," Delaney shook her head at the man, "This was my fault.  I fell asleep and left him alone."

"It's no one's fault," Ian spoke sternly to them both.

Just then they heard a click and the butler stepped back out of harm's way quickly.  Delaney reached for the door but Ian caught her wrist.

"You can't go in there," he said, "It's not safe.  He's not in his right mind."

"What are you talking about?  He's my husband and I'm going in!"

"I can go in," Harris volunteered, "He's known me all his life.  I can talk to him."

Delaney jerked her arm from Ian's grasp, "I am going in and you won't stop me.  You're in my house!  Both of you."

She pushed the door open then before either of them could try to stop her.  Ducking under Ian's arm as he reached out to try to stop her again, she went inside the dark room.

She looked around the room and it took her a moment to see Vincent.  He was sitting in the shadow next to the bed against the wall.  He was wearing only breeches and his head was in his hands.  Thunder shook the house again and another tortured sound escaped him.

"My love?  Are you alright?" she asked gently.

Wild, fear-filled green eyes shot up and landed on her.  "D-Delaney?"

"Yes," she smiled warmly at him as she very slowly eased forward, "It's just me."

"How?  How did you get in here?"

"We got the door unlocked.  I'm going to come and sit with you."

"You shouldn't be in here," he shook his head and dropped it back into his hands.

Delaney sat down next to him and gently touched his arm.  He still jumped and turned to look at her with bloodshot eyes, his scars a dark red.

"It's happening again," he said quietly to her, "I was exhausted when I went to bed and it still happened."

"It's alright," she assured him, reaching out and brushing his sweat dampened hair from his face, "We're together now and we're safe.  I promise."

Thunder shook the house again and he took a sharp breath, looking around wild eyed.

"There are no dragons?"

"No love there are no dragons.  You killed them to keep us safe remember?"

Vincent didn't look at her.  He was tense and Delaney was worried he wasn't back to normal yet.

"Here," she said quietly, taking his hand, "Look at your scars."

Delaney moved his hand to his abdomen and ran it over the web of angry red scars.

"I know you don't like looking at them Vincent but when you're scared like this you can.  You can look at them and touch them to remember they're real.  Your scars are there because you killed the dragons so we can be safe now."

Vincent lightly ran his hand over his own scars, moving it up to his face.

"So when you're confused like this just touch your scars.  They'll help you remember you're home safe with me because you've already saved us from the dragons and you don't need to do it again."

Her husband turned to look at her then and she saw recognition in his eyes.  A short laugh of relief escaped him.

"Of course," he said quietly, "Of course my scars are here because I killed the dragon and his poison scarred me.  He's dead."

"Yes," Delaney smiled, "I don't think that will stop you from your confusion but maybe it can help."

"Thank you my love," he leaned over then and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Will you come back to our bed with me?"

Vincent hesitated and thunder rumbled close by but no longer right above them.  "I don't know if I should yet."

"The storm is already calming down.  We can stay awake for a while until you think it's quiet enough that it won't wake you."

Delaney got to her feet then and smiled, holding out her hand to him.  Vincent hesitated, still looking worried, but finally stood as well.  He took her hand but rubbed the back of his neck with his other hand.  She saw he was covered in sweat and his scars were still a deep red.

She bit her lip and wondered if she should make sure no one but Harris and Ian were in the hallway before they went out.  Their servants truly cared for their master but most of them had never seen him with a bare chest or in such a state.  She didn't want them to end up scared of him.

Ian and Harris were hovering at the door and both looked relieved when they saw the couple was safe and sound.  The butler stood to one side with Ms. Bird in her own nightgown and robe.  Her grey hair was in a long braid instead of its usual bun.

Delaney watched her maid's reaction when she saw Vincent ragged, sweaty, and scars a deep red.  She was afraid the old made might react similar to the way Ivy had when she had first seen him.

Instead though Ms. Bird just looked sad.  Her hand flew to cover her mouth and tears glistened in her eyes.  Delaney was relieved the woman wasn't horrified but she was quick to turn Vincent away from her anyways.  He would not appreciate the pity.

"Bring us a bowl of warm water please," Delaney asked Harris as they passed him.  He nodded and hurried to do so.

Ian met her eyes for only a moment before nodding and heading back to his room.

Once Delaney and Vincent were safely back in their own bedroom Vincent walked over and sank onto the couch.  He dropped his face into his hands, elbows on his knees.  Delaney looked at him sadly before sitting next to him.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly, not looking up.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," Delaney replied, "It isn't your fault."

"I'm so tired."

"I know," she sighed, "Once Harris brings that water you can wash up and get into bed."

They sat quietly until the man did show up with a pot of warm water.  Ms. Bird was with him carrying a tray of tea as well.  Delaney thanked them and sent them to bed.  She drank her tea with her husband, letting it help calm his nerves.

Once Vincent had washed up with the soap and water he pulled off his breeches and eased himself into their bed.  Delaney got in on her side and scooted over to be beside him.

"I don't know if I can sleep yet," he said looking up at her.

Delaney leaned down and kissed him before propping herself up against the pillows.  She pulled him over until his head was resting in her lap.

"Close your eyes love.  We're both safe now."

Vincent sighed and did what he was told.  Delaney ran her hands through his hair, gently brushing it.

It wasn't long before his breathing grew slow and steady and she knew he'd fallen asleep.