Demetrius Ch 14

Chapter 14

♪ "Sometimes you're made to feel your love's a crime,

When you got to kick at the darkness til it bleeds daylight."

Their first week together was filled with sharing, discovery and learning about each other. They constructed their own world separate from the rest of humanity. Sometimes their relationship was loving, intimate and suspenseful. Though feeling he was playing with fire, he saw how she manipulated her surroundings and more direct approach to doing things. In contrast his way was circuitous, at times foolish -- like a puppy running around in a circle trying to catch its tail. She was a sex-goddess to him and he remained in awe of her skills. He found himself being drawn into a growing intimacy with her; one he was unlikely to free himself from.

They made a compromise to their lovemaking when he'd withdraw before ejaculation, allowing her to have him orally. It was clear she liked that way best, insisting it was a source of nourishment.

He didn't take her or their relationship for granted. Each day was another opportunity to show her what human love was all about, before it was too late and he'd presumably not be able to. He bought her gifts, honoring her in ways no one ever had. Though she felt she deserved his praise because she was superior, it touched her that anyone human or vampire would care enough to make her feel special, gift-worthy. In fact she feasted on his tributes, finding his adoration a juicy artery of sorts.

She was curious to know more about love and sometimes when he got home, she was watching some soap opera with curtains pulled tight in a world of romance and melodrama. It was funny to hear her comments as to what the characters should do. Perhaps she was becoming more human while he was becoming vampire. She referred to television as,

"An electronic viewing box of ads, aimlessness and absurdity where marketers tried to create a need in an unknown audience of potential consumers."

One evening she prepared dinner for them. They ate by candlelight. He watched her suck down what he thought was raw beef liver, though she wouldn't tell him where she got it. They toasted with something of her choosing. He was afraid to ask what it was, deciding it was best if he didn't. Sometimes in the evenings she'd go to

Sangre Maria's.

He didn't know if she was having her social intercourses but suspected as much. He decided if she was going to do it he didn't want to know. Even so, his natural human jealousy and curiosity was hard to repress. One night he felt her getting in bed. He asked if she'd been with someone when she said,

"What do you think?"

He didn't answer thinking she was goading him. She was insistent however, rolling him to his back, pinning him down as she sat atop him. They were both naked. She held his wrists above his head swaying her tits back and forth across his mouth, growling angrily in his passive resistance; not wanting to kiss or to suck on her nipples. She didn't understand why it mattered to him. No one ever cared what she did sexually and knowing he did was upsetting. It was her business and she was the sole owner of her sexuality. It was her birthright but she felt he didn't approve of her owning her sexuality. His unspoken resentment towards her made no sense.

He was no match for her strength as she held him down; easily maneuvering her opening on him until he was inside her when she decided she was going to fuck him, rotating and thrusting her hips against him. He warned what would happen if she continued, that he couldn't help himself.

"I know fucker," she said knowing she won and that he'd soon be vampire. And who knew she'd find the warm spurts of human semen, warming her insides to be pleasurable. When she told him she hadn't been with anyone he smiled. She lay on top of him; he caressed her lovingly. She knew his caresses were an expression of love and could sense how he felt about her. He loved her with his fingertips as she hummed contentedly, feasting on his love, sucking and squeezing it out of him whenever she could.

The sounds coming from her were as though she was singing on the inside when there was no need for her to use her mouth. He thought it was the most beautiful sound ever and was pleased knowing there was no suggestion of revulsion on her part, in allowing him to ejaculate inside her for the first time. As expected it made him feel closer to her, their intimacy growing.

Rising up to smile down at him with her eyes, she made it clear they passed a milestone. She then knelt over his head encouraging him to drink once more. He found himself wondering what she'd be like if she was pregnant. He wanted to know about reproduction as it applied to vampires, asking her as much.

"Our birth rate is very low and we're only fertile once a year for about three days around our birthday. The urge for copulation is strong when we think of little else. It's not unusual to invite many male vampires to partake in what would seem an orgy. Usually we have sex with all of them, more than once. It's quite invigorating to have so many others attempting to fertilize our eggs. In spite of this our reproductive rate is much lower than humans. By our nature, we've developed an anti-aging ability to ensure the survival of our species. So, procreation is difficult but we make up for it in longevity."

"So how do you know who the father is, if you have sex with many," he wanted to know.

"The father is our husband if we're married. Unmarried others care little for who the father is since it has no meaning. Sperm is a nutrient-rich fertilizer to us," she said though he knew it mattered a great deal to humans. He said,

"Humans like to know when their genetic material is being passed on to their young. I guess this is another way in which we strive to have immortality through the generations. We have this silly notion like we've planted a tree for future generations to enjoy," he said though he could tell she was amused. She said she understood but genetics was different for vampires. She also said humans had children to help them in old age but vampires didn't share the same incentive.

"Do you have doctors and scientists studying genetics," he wanted to know. She told him Adrian has been involved in the study and history of vampires for some time adding,

"You'll probably experience some lucid and vivid nightmares. I'll comfort you. Along with these dreams you'll continue to acquire pleasant enlightenments when good and bad are switched at times. You'll get all twisted up or so I hear from trans-vampires. The important thing to remember is you are in transition and shouldn't panic, allowing time to help you. Some individuals experience anxiety disorders and begin to panic. They can lose their minds during this stage when we are called upon to round them up and deal with them through sedation, in some instances through termination."

"Gee, that's reassuring," he said looking at her curiously for comfort.

"You'll be fine. I give you my word."

"If I get all twisted up, how do we know I'll still love you afterwards?"

"Well you have to remember love is a human thing. We have to learn the concept as I've been trying to do with you. We'll always have a connection like the two rings I showed you with my hands. Having sex with others will be nice but not the same as what we share."

"Why don't young vampires remain young forever," he asked.

"Our anti-aging abilities don't begin until we mature. Our body temperatures begin to decrease. You noted my body temperature was high when we were together but that was because I used only hot water when I was showering. For an adult vampire our body temperature lowers to around 80 degrees as it continues to decrease with time. The older vampires will feel very cold to you.

"Much of what you perceive to be aging is due to your cooking from the inside out. With a lower body temperature this is minimized. Our heart and pulse rates decrease with aging as well. As a result our circulatory systems don't work hard. Compared to humans we exist in a form of stasis, defying the aging process. While sleeping our heart rates are fewer than twenty beats per minute. That's why we've been called the living dead by those of your species."

He thought about what she was saying. The more he asked the more sense it made. The more sense it made the closer he came to making a decision.

"How is it possible for you to heal yourself," he wanted to know.

"Ah yes, therein lies the real source of our difference and superiority. It isn't that we are parasites and live forever; it's due to our cells. Your cells are primarily single task in their purpose but ours have an awareness of our bodies and how they are supposed to be. When something happens to us physically, like being wounded, our cells in the damaged area communicate to other cells there is something wrong. They flock to the area and begin to restore and repair the wound or injury very quickly. You have the ability to heal too but your healing is very slow in comparison, usually when it's too late. Our cells have a blueprint and know what is normal and what isn't. When something goes wrong, they respond very quickly."

"What if I want you to change me on our wedding night the way my mother did," he asked.

She thought about it awhile, knowing Anastasia wanted the honors but in spite of this she said,

"You know that's not a bad idea since you always have a deep connection with the vampire who changes you. It would improve our relationship I think. Perhaps we can suggest it to your mother if you come with me to the graduation ceremony. She'll be pleased knowing we've bonded. I never told you this but she considers me to be her daughter."

That night he experienced this dream:

He felt her teeth on his neck. She often teased in this way, noting how excited he became. This time was different though, as he felt her bite deeply. He felt and heard his artery rupturing when she began to soothe him by running her hand over his stomach and down to his hardness. And then he felt her bite harder still when his eyes flew open, an unearthly pain consuming him. This was no playful sexual act he realized, it was a down-and-dirty vampiristic act of business if he ever knew one.

Though already asleep he felt he was being drawn deeper, still having an awareness of what was happening in what he perceived to be the real world. She tried awakening him but couldn't. She panicked. He was aware of everything she was feeling and doing but he was unable to respond or escape what was happening. He heard her calling someone on the phone before returning to sit by his side, holding his hand. He thought she was scared as he felt her vigorously shaking his hand in an attempt to awaken him though he remained lifeless.

He remembered the front door of his apartment being thrown open. It was his mother. She was dressed in a long black cape. He heard her thundering and echoing footsteps as she marched down the hallway towards him. The sounds of her footsteps were heard twice, from their source and again inside his head until she was beside him, looking down at his lifeless body in disbelief. She looked angry and concerned when he heard Alexis say,

"Oh Anastasia, I don't know what happened. We were sleeping and I was dreaming. In my dream we were married and it was our wedding night. I knew he wanted me to change him. After biting deeply I heard his moans. I awoke in a panic, realizing what I'd done."

His mother sat examining his wounds when she said,

"You've bitten too deeply. He's in transition now."

At first he thought his mother was scolding Alexis for having done the unspeakable but when he realized they were hugging one another, he knew differently. He heard his mother say,

"It's for the best darling but I did want him to come to us on his own volition. Alas, I fear it's too late now."

Feeling remorse in defeat he felt he at least had Alexis to cling to until he heard her coldly say,

"I suppose I could stay with him tonight if you'd like. I'll check in on him in a week or two to make sure he's adjusting. As per your instructions, I trust my task has been completed to your satisfaction."

Her words cut deeply, lacking in feeling with their shallowness. Somehow her indifference hurt and mattered more to him than his losing his humanity, being changed.

The following day while he was still dreaming, he didn't speak to her out of hurt and anger. He went to work asking for a transfer to their Chicago office without her knowledge. It was granted and he left without her knowing.

He was on a Greyhound, sitting in the back, staring out the window seeing the road as it rolled beneath and away from her and the pain she brought to him. The motion of the bus tossed him from side to side. He sat limply in defeat, broken and empty in losing everything he once had -- his humanity.

While still dreaming, he'd been without her for weeks, missing her -- hating he still loved her. One night after work and having dinner, he stood alone looking at a Christmas nativity scene in one of the department stores. It was late and a warm heavy snow floated down around him as he looked at the Virgin Mary holding the infant in her arms.

He thought he felt a presence but dismissed it, seeing only his reflection in the window until he felt someone taking hold of his hand. Her very touch revealed who it was, without his need to look. She pressed her shoulder against his, leaning on him:

"You're one of us now. You must come to terms with it. Don't let it destroy you and come between us."