#twodunmer

"Ah, there you are, sweetheart. I have been looking for you."

Datharsi squeaked as she was wrapped in a hug from an unfamiliar person. Wh-who was he? Why did he call her 'sweetheart'? She didn't know this person. Wiggling free of the embrace, the confused and slightly scared little Dunmer took a few steps back to look up at the mer.

He looked nice, she supposed, but still not familiar at all. He looked almost sad, too, and she wondered why.. "C-can I help you?"

Dalamus' expression fell a bit further, his brows furrowing with confusion. That was not the tone he was used to hearing. She did not smile when she saw him. "What do you mean, Datharsi? I merely wished to see you again..."

How did he know her name?! 'Again'? Meaning they had met before? Then how come she didn't recognize him? The uncertainty was beginning to frighten her. As was he; she took another step backward, her hands working nervously against each other. "Sorry, I-I think you h-have me confused with s-someone else, s-sir."

Sir? His heart dropped. No 'Dad,' no 'Dal,' not even 'Dalamus.' He did not understand. The fright in her eyes hurt. Had he done something wrong? The vampire could not recall anything that might have upset her to such a degree. "Datharsi.. sweetheart, it is me. Dalamus. What has gotten into you?" He took a small step toward her, offering his hand. He did not know what else to do.

The girl only stared at his hand, unsure whether to take it or not. He sounded like he genuinely knew about her. But she wasn't sure if she knew him. Maybe she did know him, and there was something wrong with her. But if that was true, then what? What had happened? Somehow he knew her but she didn't know him, and that scared her a bit. Tears appeared in the corner of her eyes. "I'm s-sorry, I d-don't know you."

"..What?" How... How could she not remember? Then it dawned on him. Greymages. The fiends. His lips pulled back in a snarl, revealing his fangs. "I am going to kill them."

He was a vampire! Lohren had said horrible things about vampires. That they were evil. Would this vampire hurt her? She didn't dare say anything or risk getting his attention when he looked so angry all of a sudden. So she just froze in place, tears in her eyes and body trembling.

Dalamus had not meant to frighten her, and her tears immediately calmed him. He could go after the greymages later, but it was Datharsi that needed him now. "No, no, Datharsi.. It is alright sweetheart."

Was it though? She still didn't know what was going on. This vampire was talking to her like he knew her. And she felt like she should know him. But she didn't. It didn't make sense and she was scared.

Dalamus took a risk and stepped forward, pulling the girl into a hug. Suddenly afraid for her life she began to struggle and push, knowing that the vampire could easily kill her now. But he did not let her go, instead holding her firmly but gently against himself, trying to soothe her. "I just need you to think, to remember. Think about when you met me, and you were scared. I hugged you and you felt safer. Do you remember? Or when the greymages turned you into a daedra? When they harassed you and I got them to leave? The way you told me of your childhood? How you were often alone? And your struggles with Skooma?

...When you said I was like a dad to you? Do you remember, Datharsi?"

As he spoke, Datharsi slowly stopped her struggles, realizing it was pointless to try and escape. She listened, and the more he said, the more she remembered. It was fuzzy at first, but he would not know of so many things if he had not been telling the truth, right? Finally, she remembered up to the last moment he told of. When she called him dad. Even if it had been by accident, she had meant it. And she felt it now, why she had called him so. He made her feel safe, even though he was a vampire.

Instead of pulling away, she hugged him tighter, hiding her face in his chest, tears soaking his shirt. "Dal.. I was s-scared.. I'm s-sorry!"

"Shh, sweetheart. I am here. You are alright now." He rubbed her back and stroked her hair, then gently pulled her from him to place a kiss on her forehead. Just like he always did.