by Donna Haley
“I was just telling this young man about Kieran.”
He nodded, not looking at the man, his attention focused only on me. Severus had a way of making me feel as if we were the only two beings in the universe. He rarely noticed anyone around him, or so it seemed. But I knew differently. My husband never missed a thing and if he thought I was in danger, he'd be the first to destroy whoever threatened me. It was one of the things I loved most about him.
I could see the young man staring at us. I knew that we didn't look like we belonged together but anyone who'd ever spent more than a few minutes with us knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we were very much meant to be.
Severus was dark and handsome while I was pale and pretty in an unusual sort of way. His sense of fashion was evident by the expensive suits he wore effortlessly. I was most comfortable in torn leggings and band tees. We were complete opposites but love doesn't really care what you look like or even if you look like you belong together.
There was a time when we looked as if we’d been created for each other, but that's another story that you'll learn later.
For the first time since he'd arrived, my husband acknowledged the young man's presence. With a simple nod, he let him know that he was welcome here as long as I was comfortable and safe. Until such time as he felt I wasn't happy with the situation, my husband would keep his opinions to himself and allow this to continue.
He kissed me softly and I found myself getting weak in the knees even after all this time. Once he was convinced that I was alright, Severus left as quietly as he'd arrived and I walked back across the room and took my seat again.
I could see the questions running through the young man's mind and simply smiled at him.
“We've been married for about four years now though we met many centuries ago.” I felt the need to let him know that this wasn't just one of those meet, falls in love and marry kind of relationships, so I continued. “It took us a long time to get here, but we are and that's all that matters, isn't it?”
He nodded slightly, his voice soft when he spoke. “Can you tell me about that first meeting??”
I thought back through all those centuries before I spoke, wanting him to understand our beginning.
Chapter Four
I'm sure the smile lit up my face as I thought about that chance meeting that led to all of this and my voice was filled with emotion as I told him of the night I’d met the love of my existence.
The year was 1342 and I was sitting at my vanity in the castle of a King. I'd been undead for almost 200 years by then and I'd grown quite accustomed to a lavish lifestyle. Being part of the Royal Court just somehow seemed appropriate.
King Edward III was a generous host and had readily accepted Star and me into his midst without questions. Yes, my sister had been turned several years after my own turning, but that’s a story for another time. He turned a blind eye to our odd sleeping habits and never once mentioned our lack of an appetite. In return, my sister and I kept a low profile outside of the Royal Palace.
We needed to feed to survive and we'd somehow convinced a few of the staff to be willing donors. That kept us fed and happy. During those times no one spoke of the odd lifestyle we led thanks to Edward but even he couldn’t stop the stares that would come our way that night. My sister and I stood out in a crowd, as do most vampires, but that’s part of the mystique and what allows us to survive.
So there I sat, powdering my bosom, pulling the bodice of my dress lower. The swell of my breasts always drew attention and I used it to my advantage as often as I could. I raised my gaze up to watch Star as she expertly applied rouge to her cheeks and color to her lips. Her smile met mine and I nodded, letting her know I was ready to go.
With a final look in the mirrored glass I stood and admired the green velvet dress that hugged every curve of my body. Setting the black mask in place, I linked my arm with Star's and hurried to make a fashionably late entrance into the King's Masquerade Ball.
My foot had just hit the marble floor of the ballroom when I felt his presence. Turning, I scanned the crowd, looking past others who would have caught my attention any other night. It wasn’t long before I found sparkling blue ones staring back at me through a dark mask and I felt drawn to him. I could not resist the need to be next to him and ignored every other male in the building as I pushed past them. There was no explanation for what drew me to him but I was trembling by the time I stood in front of him.
Taking a deep and much needed breath, I held it as he took my hand in his and led me to the dance floor without a word. His body pressed against mine in inappropriate ways and my heart sang. I felt alive in his arms. Alive in ways I hadn't since the night my life had been stolen from me. I could feel the heat of his body through his silk shirt, his breath on my neck was warm and I knew that before this night was over, I'd be begging him to allow me one taste. He twirled me around the floor as if we’d been dancing together for years. His scent intoxicated me and I swear I was swooning, if such a thing actually happens in reality. It was heaven in his arms and I wanted to be in them for an eternity.
Those were the thoughts consuming me as the music ended. Before I had the chance to frown that the dance was over, his lips pressed against my ear and commanded that I follow him to the garden in a few moments. And then he was gone. I stood in the middle of couples dancing, trying desperately to get my balance. I waited for what seemed a lifetime before I sauntered out the side door and into the garden.
I found him with his back to me, the snow falling around him. I was nervous when he spun to face me with a wicked grin on his face, mask still in place. With one crook of his finger I was in his arms and the world made sense again.
As his lips found mine, I felt shy and unsure of myself for the first time in years but I couldn’t resist the longing I felt for this man. My arms wound around his neck as my lips parted and his tongue sought entrance. He explored my body with his hands, caressing my cold flesh. If my heart actually beat it would have been racing. My fingers tugged on his hair as our bodies sought the release that only the other could bring.
Before I knew what was happening the bodice of my dress was undone and his tongue was teasing my breasts. I couldn't form words but my need was evident in the small moan that escaped my lips. .
With a smirk that told me that he was only too happy to oblige he lifted me, my legs swinging up and over his arms as his mouth found mine again. He found no argument when he began to move us towards a secluded gazebo. The heat that radiated from his body warmed mine in ways I'd never known. I'd never met someone who just exuded sex and heat like he did and I never would again.
As he lay me down on the cold wooden bench my fingers fumbled with the buttons of his shirt and I grew impatient, sending buttons flying everywhere as I ripped it from his torso. His laugh seemed to fill the air like the most beautiful of songs and he raised himself up onto an elbow, looking down at me with a devious grin.
“No need to rush, Sweetheart.”
I answered with a growl, my need urgent as I expertly undid the buttons of his pants, freeing him as his hands pushed the skirt of my dress up and over my hips. My fangs ran out as he entered me in one swift movement. His grin grew as he arched his neck, offering me what I desired most.
I licked down along the throbbing vein in his neck, teasing him before finally sinking fangs into it. The groan escaped without warning when the hot, spicy sweet blood teased my tongue. Losing myself in the taste of him, I gulped his blood as if my very existence depended upon it. I'd turned into the primal being that I'd been made to be with just one taste.
Finally pulling back, my eyes locked with his as I licked the last of his blood from my lips. Smiling, I offered him my own neck and gasped when he bit it without hesitation. I saw the shock fill his face as he drank of my blood, feeling the same pull I did.
Neither of us could deny that something unusual was happening but I was too far gone at that point to even recall my maker's words about
blood bonds. My body responded to his and my nails dug into the fevered flesh of his back. Every movement we made brought me closer and closer to pure ecstasy. With a deep, guttural growl he pushed me over the edge and I fell willingly. He joined me not long after, whispering words of adoration in my ear.
We lay there, spent and content to stay close. I whimpered softly when he pulled himself off of me watching in complete fascination as he lowered his head and traced a finger over my inner thigh. In one quick move he bit hard into the sensitive flesh and pulled back with a bloody grin.
“Mine.” That growl sent shivers down my spine and I pulled him to me. I could taste my blood on his lips as we kissed and I never wanted this moment to end but voices signaled the approach of other guests. Offering me a hand, he helped me to straighten my dress and I watched as he hurried to retrieve his pants. As the humans grew closer he bent down and kissed my cheek. Then he simply vanished, right before my eyes, leaving me confused and feeling as if I’d lost my soul and heart in that one brief encounter.
I could feel his uneasiness at what was being said and it brought me back to the present as I shifted in my seat. My chuckle was low and almost unheard as I tapped my nails on the arm of the chair, the memory of that kiss still fresh in my mind.
“It was as intense as you think. I still have that scar on my inner thigh.”
He blinked, unable to speak and I just sat watching him. I could almost read his thoughts. He was wondering exactly what kind of being my darling Severus was.
The silence was uneasy and palpable. I knew I could end his questions with one little word, but I wanted him to feel everything in ways I had.
“Back then, I was still new to the world of the supernatural and like you are now, I questioned what kind of being could just vanish into thin air. But I couldn't really go around asking the breathers that particular question without exposing my own secrets and risking final death.”
I let this sink in for a while before I continued on with my train of thought.
“I studied every book I could get my hands on about the supernatural world. My frustration grew and grew until I happened across another who smelled almost the same as him. I tricked this being into telling me what he was and for days I kept the surprise I felt hidden from everyone. I wasn’t entirely sure that being in love with his kind was in anyone’s best interest, but it was too late for that. I was already in love with pure evil and there was no turning back.”
His interest was piqued and I knew he was on the edge of his seat waiting to hear exactly what Severus was.
“My husband is a demon, dear. A very powerful one at that, but I didn't know that back then. All I knew was that I'd never tasted blood that delicious or addictive. I wanted more. But it wasn't just his blood that I craved. It was all of him. The smell of his skin, the taste of his lips, the heat of his body, they all called to me. I'd never known a man like him and I never would again. It would soon become an obsession, trying to find him.”
He smiled and I knew by that gesture that he'd never really understand the need I felt to find the demon that would one day become my husband. And as much as I wanted to delve right into our relationship, I knew it would have to wait. There were other stories that needed to be told if he were to fully understand this thing I called a life.
“We're getting ahead of ourselves with that though. First I would need to get away from my maker and make it on my own. And then there's my family and how I came to be reunited with one of them. If you're interested in hearing things in order, that is.”
“Oh, we can go in any order you wish, Mrs. Severus. I'm here to listen and record, nothing more.”
I nodded once more and reached for the glass of Diet Coke laced with blood that a servant had brought in while we'd been talking. Taking a sip, I grinned at how delicious it still was to me. I wasn't sure I'd ever get used to human food again, but I was giving it a shot since we’d discovered that vampires could consume human food as long as it had blood in it. So much had changed since I was turned. I shook the thought away and looked back at the young man with a warm smile.
“I think we should go back to how I escaped the mad man that turned me.” And with that I was taken back in time again.
Chapter Five
For two years I'd suffered at Kieran's hands before he finally gave in and allowed me to visit my family. I missed my mother and sister most of all and longed to be back home with them. Being with Kieran Blood had taught me that my human life hadn't been that bad and I should have been more respectful of my family. And while it was freeing to be able to do as I pleased, a small part of me would always hope for a miracle and I'd wake from the nightmare that had become my life.
I was so happy when he agreed to allow me to at least go home and see that they were okay. He instructed me that I could never reveal myself to them because they wouldn't understand what I was now. I argued that it was my choice whether I tell them what I was or not but he stopped me quickly. Before allowing me the opportunity to decide for myself, Kieran took me back to London and showed me exactly what my family thought had happened to me.
My confusion grew as we approached the cemetery. I questioned what we were doing there and he led me to a headstone that stood at the back of the graveyard. I blinked back tears as I read my own name etched in the marble. I sank to my knees and ran my hand over the letters, letting my tears fall. It had all become too clear that I could never reclaim the life I’d had. For the first time since I’d risen a vampire, I understood. I was dead.
I guess it had never crossed my mind how my absence had been explained and I'd never asked either. I took it for granted that my family had just accepted that I'd run away.
That night my maker filled me in on how he'd brought a body to the road just down from the estate we'd been at that fateful night and placed my dress on it. The young woman was my size and had the same blonde hair but her face was unrecognizable thanks to Kieran. I understood that he'd needed to make it believable but it still hurt to know that my family thought I'd been murdered but it didn’t make it any less painful to know that I’d caused them some measure of grief.
Rising to my feet, I brushed the bloody tears from my face and accepted that in their minds and hearts I was gone forever. I knew Kieran was right, they'd never understand what I was and telling them would alert the rest of the world to our existence. I couldn't risk that.
I resolved to just be happy being able to see them from afar. Just knowing that they were alright and happy was more than I deserved.
A few nights later, my maker and I made our way to the farm I'd spent my entire human life on. As we reached the edge of the field, I knew that something was wrong. The horses were still out and night had fallen hours prior. It was unlike my father to leave them out on a cold night and I looked at Kieran with concern.
Seeing the change in his demeanor told me he sensed something was off as well. We cautiously made our way to the house, circling it to check for any movement before we stepped towards the door. My heart sank when I saw it cracked open. I listened intently for any signs of life and heard none. Kieran kicked the door open and stepped inside the dark house.
I followed closely on his heels, scanning the room for signs of movement. We crept towards the back parlor, both of us nervous and on edge. He entered the room before me and spun back around trying to shield me from the bloodbath that lay out before our eyes.
My scream echoed throughout the house and sent the horses into a frenzy outside. Before me lay my mother and father, bound and shot execution style. Next to them lay the bodies of my youngest brother and his new wife. I buried my face in my maker's chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Seconds passed before he tilted my face up and put a finger to his lips indicating that I needed to be quiet.
In the darkened room we both heard signs of movement from another part of the house. Not sure of who we'd find, Kieran led the way. Our fangs had run out at the first hint that we might be in a dangerous situation and we we
re prepared to kill whomever we found.
As we crossed the threshold of the kitchen, my eyes fell on the bloodied body of my sister, Star. I could hear her heart beating faintly and by the blood smeared on the floor, I knew she'd been the one we'd heard moving about.
I rushed to her side and cradled her head in my lap, whispering words of comfort to her. Her breathing was shallow and it was growing close to the time she'd pass. I looked up to Kieran, pleading with him to help her. He shook his head and moved to turn from the room. As much as I hated the idea of him being her maker, I had to ask him to help her. She was my only family and I’d have done anything to save her that night.
“Please, Kieran. You can help her.”
“Don't ask for things you can't have, Sunshine. We cannot risk it.”
“She will die if you don't.”
“Then she'll be dead.”
“Please?” My pleading was growing frantic as I felt her dying in my arms. I could not let her go. She was all I had left of my family and I needed to save her. Bloody tears fell on her face as I cradled her and I pushed my grief to my maker in desperation.