“Okay. Regina is allowing us passage with this scroll of hers. We must not lose it. Because while this scroll may be our only way back to my world, it tis also the only way back to this world.”
She stood there in his living room. A couple bags packed with things that she knew her world didn’t have that he might find comforting. Items from his world that would help him adjust a little more easily. They certainly didn’t have things such as indoor plumbing back in her day. Or artificial lighting. And definitely not cell phones.
“We must have you blend in. So---”
With a wave of her hand and a flick of her wrist, she watched him become enveloped in white clouds only to reappear dressed to fit her time period. Smiling widely, she couldn’t help but show off her fangs. He was so handsome. In fact, he looked like he could easily fit in with her and her people. As if he really was just as old as she was.
“You look amazing, Asher. I cannot wait to go on this journey with you. Are you ready? Do you think you are forgetting anything that you might wish to bring?”
Sometimes it was a bit overwhelming; how much she had left to learn about the modern world. The new language that seemed to come with it along with everything else. Transportation, shopping, eating. Everything. Well eating for her was still the same. It would always be the same. But having him around....it certainly helped a lot. Perhaps now even eating would never be the same. She should try to go back to her old ways of feeding but.......he just tasted so good.
It had started out as ‘just this one last time’. But it kept happening as just one last time. And now she was officially hooked. She was pretty sure she was addicted to his blood. But according to one of her sisters, Regina, it may not all be in her head or entirely her fault. After reading some ancient texts on vampires, there could very well be a possibility that it was all natural. Another sign that Asher was indeed her soulmate. It would explain why no other blood was good enough. Even other human blood tasted nasty to her now.
In the end, it had drawn them even closer together. She even offered up her own blood to him in return. It was only fair and she honestly felt.....well it was an odd feeling. Her chest could have swollen with pride if her body was actually functioning like a mortal’s would. She was learning more and more what love was and what it felt like and she was definitely head over heels. She had even gotten better at the whole kissing thing.
A date. What she would have called courting. But yes. It was brought up upon her mentioning how she would love to actually see the night life without fear of hurting someone. And so a date had been set up. It would be a fairly quiet night since the weather was a bit icky with how warm it was. And of course it wouldn’t bother the two vampires. But they took precautions and had her feed before heading out. Just to be safe.
“So......courting is now called dating?”
She asked him curiously as her head tilted to the side. They had just arrived into town after having taken a small walk through the forest. It was still more of their spot than anything else so it was natural to start there first for their first big date.
Words. What were words? She honestly didn’t know how to form them into thoughts let alone say anything out loud. Thrilling. She had never experienced that feeling before as she raced through the dark forest. To mortals, it was pitch black and impossible to see anything. But not to Ivory. No. Everything was crystal clear. Why? Because she was a vampire. And she was about to meet up with another one. Unbelievable, right? But it was true.
She had met someone. Another vampire.
Could he be trusted? For now....yes. She trusted him. He seemed genuine in his actions and his words. He was shy just like she was. Or at least that’s how he appeared the first couple nights anyway. He was similar to her. Had talents. And her singing didn’t seem to effect him like it did mortals. Which she was happy for. And yet.....she feared that he wasn’t getting the full effect of what she intended her voice to be used for. To sooth people.
His job? Dancing. Her job? Singing. Some would say they made the perfect duet. The perfect tag team. A dream team of two. A dynamic duo. Her with her vocals and him with his amazing ability to dance to whatever song she would sing that night. Yes. This was a nightly thing now. She would always tell her sisters where she was going but it got to the point where she didn’t have to anymore. They all knew where she spent her nights these days. And they were happy for her.
Their little vampire was growing up right in front of them.
And it was there that she sat on the rock. Her rock. And began to warm her vocal cords up a bit. Just something to get her started and to pass time time till her fellow vampire got there to join her. Gosh she could watch him dance for hours. The way his body moved so easily to whatever pace she set with her voice. His face.....He was so....flawless. But was that the vampire charm creating a smokescreen even to her eyes? Or did she truly find him that attractive? It confused her greatly. And she’d often catch herself staring.
“Wow......the stars are just as beautiful as I remember them. Do you ever remember seeing stars so bright as these ones, my love?”
After having settled down in the queen’s castle, Regina’s castle, they had put in a day’s sleep and was back up again that following night. Or at least she slept. It was her understanding that he didn’t really need sleep. Which she felt bad about. She couldn’t imagine being awake for the rest of her life. But it didn’t seem to bother him.
Deciding that it was probably safe enough, she had suggested they go out for a walk in the Macalania Woods which was easily reachable from Bevelle which is where Regina’s castle was headquartered in. But in the back of her mind, she couldn’t shake this uneasy feeling she had.
“I will explain later! We must hurry for the castle!”
“Castle!?”
He knew better than to ask again as to what was going on. But could anyone blame him? One minute she was showing him something that she had called both amazing but risky. Well now he was wondering if it was more so risky than amazing. They hadn’t been in this....forest---for more than maybe a few minutes and suddenly all hell broke loose.
They were just blurs, but Asher could see them. Someone was running after them. Him and Ivory. But unfortunately for the young vampires, there was more than one blur hot on their trail. These guys weren’t something to mess with. That much was certain from what Asher could tell. He had the sinking feeling they were in deep trouble. Whatever forest Ivory had taken them to.....it wasn’t a safe one.
But he kept running. He kept running as fast as his vampire genetics would carry him. He was actually a little faster than Ivory which made things a bit difficult since she was the one who knew where they were going. He was half tempted to just carry her and let her give directions. Because he wasn’t about to let anything happen to her. Even if this was territory she was familiar with.
And then it was too late. They were a split second slower and that was all it took. Her battle cry of frustration rang out through the forest, causing a flock of birds to leave the high tree tops. It was dawning on him more and more that his female vampire friend knew these people. Great. So he wondered who these people were.
One of them had him in an odd body lock. These guys were vampires too. There was no doubt about that. The iron grip this guy had around him while the other hand was gripping his neck. One swift move and his neck could be broken. Instant kill. So he stayed completely still. But his eyes instantly stuck to Ivory like a hawk. Speaking of......
“Well, well, well.....Look, dear. Tis our little flower. And look how she has blossomed since the last time we saw her.”
He had never seen his friend’s eyes instantly grow black like they did just now. Usually Ivory’s eyes would only turn black if she was in severe need of blood. A feeding. But she had just fed from him a couple hours before they made this weird trip which she still had yet to explain to him why they were even here in the first place. But that wasn’t important right now. Especially not when he could die at any given second.
“And look. She even made a friend.”
A tall and powerful looking female started to approach the young male vampire and he could see Ivory instantly tensing up and trying to break free from the vampire that was holding her. Actually there were two vampires holding her down. Wow. But then it hit Asher. She had said she used to be a weapon. Used by her parents. So while Ivory may be slower than him.....he had the feeling Ivory was much stronger and far more deadly than he could ever imagine being.
“Well he is not a pure blood. But he shall do. He was faster than her after all.”
“Leave him out of this! Tis I you want. Not him. Let him go!”
“Oh......well now.......What tis this, Ivory? Why so angry? We have not harmed a hair on his head. Why so hostile?”
He watched; staring back and forth between his friend and the elegant woman. Oh......Oh! This woman and the man who was standing beside her......they were Ivory’s parents! Whoa! His eyes widened as he finally settled his eyes on the two much older vampires as everything started clicking into place for him. But then something overcame him........anger. Rage. Why? Because he knew all about these monsters. They tried to hurt and break his friend......
Who was he kidding......Ivory was so much more to him than a friend......
“Oh.....honey......Look.”
The ancient but elegant woman wore a knowing smile. Almost a smirk. She stared between the two younger vampires before placing a gentle hand on her husband’s shoulder and saying with a little laugh in her voice,
“They’re in love. Our little flower has found a mate. She reeks of him. Can you not smell him all over her and her all over him?”
Oh how Asher wished he could move his neck. But unfortunately the lackey that was holding him captive made that pretty much impossible. But he could still move his eyes. And his dark eyes were staring at Ivory. And boy did she look....well.....not happy. Not happy at all. And he wasn’t quite sure what to make of that.
“Ivory. Don’t let them do this to you. It’s okay. They just want to make you angry. Don’t give them that sa----”
“Silence, child.”
He felt a strain on his neck a little and realized how fast it could all end should he continue to push the envelope. But he’d do whatever he had to as long as it meant freeing Ivory of her cruel parents. Speaking of, the two adults chuckled as they watched their daughter slowly turning into a beast in a human body. A body so small and beautiful and precious.....he hated seeing so much anger radiate from her. Her bared fangs and snarl. But he was impressed to see the two vampires holding her down were starting to struggle.
“Ivory. Look at me. Look only at me.”
And he was actually surprised when she stopped struggling. While those black eyes were wide and her fangs were still bared, he could see where she recognized him and watched as she softened a tiny bit. To which brought more dark chuckles from the king and queen.
“Oh yes. They will do quite well. Lock them both up in the guest room.”
