Fade to Black (pt.2)

The fire is reduced to embers, the candles now burn low, and the incense has long since stopped smoking. The smell of black lotus still lingers faintly in the air of my spacious living room. I finish my third glass of blood wine, and look upon the gorgeous figure laying peacefully beside me, still covered in the black velvet blanket. “Yes,” I think “she is perfect.” I turn my gaze back to the dying embers in the fireplace, and glance up at the clock. 6:30 pm, time to get ready.1

I rise silently from my sofa, being careful not to disturb the peaceful slumber of my love. I quickly move up the stairs, into my bedroom, or should I say, OUR bedroom. Throwing open my closet doors, I remove two pairs of leather pants, two trench coats, a tight-fitting black t-shirt, and a slightly low-cut, tight, black tank top. I place all of the clothing on the bed and move quickly to the bathroom. I shower, shave, brush my teeth, and fix my hair to perfection. In this business, nay, this lifestyle, one flaw could mean not eating for a night, or worse...2

Just as I finish dressing, I hear a faint sound of movement downstairs. I grab the other clothes off the bed, and rush down the stairs, barely even disturbing the air. As I step into the living room, I see my love, sitting up and looking about as if she had no idea where she was. With a grin of remembrance, I move beside her, all while staying in her side view so as not to startle her. “How do you feel, love?” “Where am I” “We are home. How do you feel?” “Hungry... wait, OUR home?” Smiling, I nod and extend the clothing in my arms to her. “Put these on darling. Your memory will return soon.” She slowly stands up, still a little shaky, but this will pass soon enough as well. I watch as she undresses and re-dresses. I enjoyed this moment, as she did all these things at a regular pace, allowing me to take in her full beauty - I was not disappointed. 3

When she was finished I said “Tonight my dearest love, we celebrate. But this will also be a lesson for you. You will be learning a new lifestyle, deviate even slightly from the path I show you, and you risk everything you have.” “What are we celebrating?” “Our love, my dear.” I draw her near me, and slowly, passionately, kiss her. I motion her to follow, and me move silently out the door. The sun has just passed out of view, it’s infernal blaze overcome by the beauty of night. We move, hand in hand, to my car, a black jeep wrangler with leather interior. After another quick kiss, I begin to drive down town. “Where are we heading?” she quietly asks. “There is a zombie room tonight at some goth club down town. Mostly a bunch of people who wouldn’t know one of us even after they have been bitten, and others who wish they were like us.” I reply. “What do you mean, ‘like us?’” Well, she will know sooner or later, I will let no secret separate me and my love. “We are vampires, love. You a mere 17 hours old, and I over 300 years old.” “Please stop the car.” Feeling horrible, I slowly pull the car over and stop it. Suddenly, she is upon me, showering me with kisses and “thank you” s. Not being the reaction I had expected, I inquired about this bout of peculiar behavior, and she replied with “You have made my one true dream manifest itself into reality!” A smile spread slowly across my lips, and a laughed out loud before saying “And you have made my dreams come true as well love, and I thank you more then you will ever know.” With another kiss, we are off. “Yes,” I think “she is perfect. Tonight we shall celebrate properly!”4