Chapter 17
Misery loves company
They were in bed by midnight and perhaps as expected they were about to have sex. When he began to mount her she lifted her legs higher, placing them on top of his shoulders.
"Put it in the other way. I'm in the mood for it Demetri," she asked.
It was different than what he was used to with her and when he got a nice rhythm going she said,
"I especially like being treated roughly when I'm having it this way. You can't hurt me of course but try all the same, it will add to my pleasure."
No matter how rough he was she encouraged him further. It turned into a wild frenzy of madness when they were more like animals. She cheered him on, inviting him to get into the spirit of it. When he did he found himself crossing yet another line in his continuing change. Soon their sounds of passion filled the room. His in stark contrast to hers were heard throughout the apartment. If there was anyone in earshot, they surely would've thought something horrible was happening.
She loved every moment of it, telling him to bite her as hard as he could on the top of her right shoulder; not stopping until he'd broken through, drawing blood no less. He heard her throaty laughter of encouragement as he relentlessly pounded into her, biting her neck as though he was trying to tear off a juicy piece of meat from its bone. It was as though he was vampire; she his willing, clutching and up thrusting victim.
As he approached his climax he lost track as to how hard he was biting when they felt he'd hit pay-dirt. The taste of her blood now filling his mouth was hardly distinguishable from her other body fluids.
"Yes," she said with enthusiasm looking at her shoulder. He saw her dabbing a fingernail into the blood, moving it around until it was coated with it.
"Fuck me, let me feel your liquid-warmth filling me there," she said thrusting upwards almost squeezing it out of him. She placed her hand and blood-soaked fingernail on the nape of neck in readiness. When he convulsed in climax she met his final thrust, rotating her hips, adding to his pleasure. Without his knowing she sunk her bloodied fingernail into the back of his neck, tattooing him with her blood.
He felt her fingernail puncturing his flesh but since it was timed so perfectly with his climax, the added pain only seemed to enhance his pleasure. Their roughness released the mounting frustration which had been festering in him for some time now. Though it proved to be therapeutic, he never knew he'd been branded, marked by a vampire. Her blood was like a tattooist ink, permanently marking him with what appeared to be a crescent moon. It would be a long time before he'd even discover it was there.
Afterwards he was exhausted but it was a good feeling since he felt healthy. Sleep came easily to him as she bided her time, waiting. Every once in awhile he began to convulse and twitch like he'd been given a jolt of electricity. It didn't wake him but it kept her awareness on him. She knew what was causing it; it was his body changing and adjusting to the transformation taking place within him. At first she felt good in achieving her goal of winning him over. A victory more important and longer lasting than the one she felt in besting him in a game of chess. But for some reason, she found she was having mixed feelings about his losing and what she'd set in motion.
Of course she believed in vampirism, wanting him to be one and with her. On one hand she thought she was sharing a gift when they could share in an ongoing happiness for who knew how long. Still, she felt guilty knowing how vulnerable and helpless he was, he'd been. It occurred to her the promise of love for humans was the same as holding out a treat to a puppy, when you could hit them over the head with a club for all they cared. All that mattered was the promise of reward.
Her presumed success led to something unexpected, something she was unprepared for. She never had to feel human emotions from the inside out. Oh sure, she understood them when she saw them in others but she never had to feel them for herself, until now. The feeling made her uneasy, restless and confused as though something was wrong with her. Perhaps she too had crossed a line when she could be losing her identity.
Emotions and confusion don't come easily to vampires but when they do they're overwhelmed as was she. She began to feel anger and irritability, not understanding the reasons why. She wondered if she was losing her mind, wanting to talk to someone. That someone had to be Anastasia. She wanted to see her anyway, to break the news and to let her about their plans to marry.
Alexis was yet to feel selflessness. She understood it but practicing it is not the same. Even her wanting to marry him was rife in selfishness, when she knew her social life and prestige would be elevated. The thought of being declared Princess Alexis had a certain appeal when the idea of love was still too mysterious.
She rose from the bed silently, untying her gauzy sheath, letting it drop to the floor. She wrote a quick note telling him of her intentions and that she'd be back before morning. She opened the living room window a few more inches before sitting, thinking of the first animal most vampires' interact with in their attempts in establishing a kindred connection with the animal kingdom. She remembered holding one in her small hand, tickling its underbelly. She'd never forgotten when it bared its fangs, biting her finger as hard as it could. She allowed it this last act of defiance before angrily biting off its head, spitting it out before squeezing its innards into her mouth in reprisal.
She closed her eyes feeling the transition when she was out the window heading northwest, zigzagging and elevating in stages until she found a current of wind to assist in her trek into the night. She loved the feeling of free and easy flight, leaving behind the burdens of humanity she was beginning to feel. The crap he and his stupid world instilled in her, cursed her with. Though she soared unencumbered, she knew she'd never be the same.
You are accepted -- accepted by that which is greater than you, no matter how strange it can be.
She easily passed over the gates to the estate and could sense where Anastasia was as she gently lit down, returning to her former state. She had a unique ultrasonic song-like call which signaled her presence. It was both beautiful and distinguishable to those of her kind. Tapping gently on the window outside the library where Anastasia sat reading, she saw Anastasia's reaction in response to her arrival.
Anastasia smiled as she opened the door to greet Alexis admiring her beauty which was the appropriate thing to do before they hugged.
"Come sit with me in the library. I can tell you've something to share with me."
She handed Alexis a cashmere shawl to cover her nakedness as they sat by the fireplace.
"He's asked me to marry him. He thinks he loves me and asked if I'd change him on our wedding night, as you and Adrian did. I know you wanted to change him but I thought perhaps he and I would have a stronger bond if you'd allow me to do it. I thought it would make our marriage special, perhaps as you discovered it did with Adrian. Of course you know he's drunk from me repeatedly and will soon begin to see changes. I've marked him this very night while we were having sex. I told him what to expect and that he's crossed an important line."
