Prologue
Winter.
That's what she reminded me of. Not just the refreshing cold, but the raging blizzards and still, white days. She reminded me of the short days and long nights, and the beauty so easily disregarded as safe. Most of all, she reminded me of the animalistic - the primal - hunger that drove wolves to travel thousands of miles for a single caribu, and polar bears to drown for a seal.
I've been told there was a time when they were believed to be a myth. People like her were thought to be the figment of the human imagination. It seemed hard to believe, seeing as I'd grown up with them. Sabril had alreay been alive longer than any of even her kind, however, and like winter, she's a very serious creature. So serious, she often tells people, that I taught her how to laugh again.
Our story is not one to regale to children or the faint hearted. Sabril insists that one day somebody will be reading this tomb and believe once again it is merely some magnificent tale. Whatever you have been told, whoever you are, wherever you are from and whenever you are reaiding the words recorded here, it is real.
They're watching. They're waiting. They will return, when mankind is ready again. Because we, like all young children, go through stages. Sometimes, those who protect us just have to wait until the stage passes, so they understand the next.
Chapter One
From the Darkness
Gentle knocking on my door pulled me away from writing my book. With a huge yawn, I stretched and slowly stood. My muscles ached from staying too still too long. On my way passed the coffee pot I poured another cup. The knock came a little louder. Clearly somebody was anxious to get an answer.
I hope it's not the church again.
Sighing, I set down my coffee. If it was the priest, I'd get a lecture about abusing my body. When I opened it, I gasped. Pale as the gleaming full moon, with eyes the color of glistening rubies, she had the most perfect skin I'd ever seen, the longest, whitest hair and the most luscious figure. I felt myself swallow at the sight of her.
Her eyes became wide and she let out a furious hiss. Suddenly I was slammed against the opposing wall with her fangs in my face.
"Wait! I won't hurt you!"
The vampire looked torn and confused. "What?"
"Look around." I told her softly.
Cautiously, the vampire peered carefully around the house. "Where are your weapons?"
"I don't allow weapons in my home. If somebody must bring them in here, they're kept by the door."
Her eyes turned back to me. She slowly released me. "So you don't want to kill me?"
"Not unless you threaten somebody in the town." I replied calmly. "There's a basement downstairs without windows. The sun will come up soon, so I suggest going down there before it burns you alive."
The vampire hesitated a moment before zipping away and through the basement door before I could correct myself. I let out a deep breath of relief, trying to release the heat that had managed to worm itself between my thighs.
I don't know how they do it.
I took off the sign from my door. It had a sun on it; the world-wide symbol for free food, shelter and protection for travelers.
If the church knocks I'll pretend to be asleep.
I saved my book, despite the lack of progress, and shut the computer down. I put all the coffee in the fridge and went downstairs. With my odd work hours meaning I slept so often during the day, I slept in the basement. I locked that, to prevent anybody wondering in at the wrong time.
When I saw her lying in my bed, I froze. She was already in stasis - that near-death state they slip into, where they are aware, but the sun paralyzes them. I had a bed upstairs, but it was too hard to sleep in the daylight. Usually travelers used it at dusk, meaning my door was rarely locked, but this one almost always was.
I watched her, amazed at how like and unlike sleep this was. She wasn't in pain, but she wasn't dreaming. It was like this limbo I found myself envying.
I'm being rude. She can feel me staring at her, and probably hear my heart beating. Besides, I need sleep.
I rolled into bed with her, unafraid.
Pain shot through my entire body as something sharp pierced my neck, waking me from dreams of falling snow. I screamed in shock, then gasped as the sharp, needle-like things ripped free. Cold lips pressed to the wound with a quiet moan. As the vampire began to lick and suck at the bloodflow, the pain ebbed into a numbness that seemed absurd after such angony.
I relaxed, holding the vampire I'd welcomed into my bed. Closing my eyes, I focused instead on the feel of her expert tongue and sucking. Little moans reverbrated along my soft skin and tickled my ear. A gradual warmth began to build as she took more and more blood. Her tongue and lips were like magic against my flesh. I heard a whisper of a moan echo from my lips.
My head was fuzzy, and had begun to spin. Oddly enough, I found I liked the feeling. When I realized it was becoming hard to focus, I gently pushed at her.
"Please," She breathed into my neck.
"No."
"So good," She groaned as if in pain.
"Off."
The vampire sighed, gave it one more lick and was off my neck. "Do you have first aid? I want to stop the bleeding."
"My bathroom. The one down here."
Within a heartbeat, she was gone and back. I felt her put cream on the wound, then bandage it. Finally I opened my eyes. I was taken aback by the emotionless look on her face, especially when guilt filled her now-white eyes. They were the silver-white of death.
"I'm sorry. You laid beside me all day. I couldn't help myself."
I leaned up to give her a deep kiss.
She jerked away. "The blood-"
"Doesn't bother me." I flipped on top of her to kiss her again.
"The cold?" She whispered on my lips as she allowed me to lay her down.
"I'm hot enough for both of us." I switched to her neck, kissing along it. I was surprised when I didn't find any bite marks. Kissing downward, I found myself curious if it was on the other side.
She gave a quiet sound in the back of her throat. "It's long healed."
I sat up to gaze at her in surprise. "Are you reading my mind?"
"I'm no fledgling, accustomed to refuge." She replied calmly. The lack of bitterness took me aback as well.
"I didn't mean offense."
"It's okay."
"But I do like your neck."
"I like yours too." She replied with this sexy, sadistic smile.
"Stay off mine." I replied firmly, but not meanly. "You've had enough."
