The Keys to Their Souls: Closed Thread

The Keys to their souls
By Glad and Yeishia

The mist lay thick over the city, the low hanging clouds trapping the place in an early twilight. It brought a soft rain that seemed to reinforce the air of melancholy that bathed the cobblestone streets. Some places exuded feelings of joy, others despair. This city bread longing for an older gentler time. There was melancholy because what was once great was fallen, what once had brought joy had been left behind. Some cities were like that, time capsules, throwing back to a period long forgotten.

If the partiers on the streets noticed the melancholic air, they gave no sign of it as they chattered incessantly about the performances they were about to witness in the coming days. To the sensitive ears of the sentinel they sounded like the buzzing of insects. Something of little consequence that should be ignored. He flew past them, lost among the water droplets of the mist and fog. None of the humans would sense his presence. Yet, he had a purpose. She was performing here; tomorrow was opening night for a string of sold out shows and that meant then that he needed to be here to protect her.

The mist slipped through a crack high in the theater’s wall, wended its way, wended his way into the inner workings of the hall. It was silent and empty here; the crowds outside drinking an eating at the surrounding restaurants could not be heard within the walls. He knew she had dreamed of playing on this piano, one of the more famous ones in the world. Though, to be honest the sentinel couldn’t be bothered to even know what human city he was in. He knew what year he was in, knew that it had been more than 5 and less than 10 years since the Dawning, when vampires were recognized as citizens in most civilized countries. However, he wasn’t a tourist, he could not be bothered to learn what the humans called this town. He was here for one reason, and one reason alone, for her.

He took his human form as he slid from the shadows. His long black cloak hid him from sight, kept him in shadows a throwback to another time just as much as this city was. However, it was a throwback to a time even older still. Long slender hands slid out of the cloak to clasp the railing of the balcony where he stood and he looked down his eyes a smokey charcoal that were unique in that they weren’t true black. They were shades lighter than his hair that was a true black, raven in color. The cloak obscured his form other than those pale hands, and his height which was tall easily over 6 feet.

Those dark gray eyes found her below. She sat before the grand piano where the music that had met his ears long ago told him she would be. She played to the empty theater. The piece haunting in its beauty. Beethoven, his mind supplied him, the piece often called Moonlight Sonata was the melody that filled the room. This was a Private moment for her to familiarize herself with the piano before the performances. Yet, she was alone, this was unacceptable to the hunter.

He knew he could not watch her for long. She would feel his presence as she often did, and she would stop playing, at the least would stop playing so freely so full of emotion. At least that had been his observation in the past.

It wasn’t just his charming personality or lack thereof, she disagreed with her father, the Blackstone council’s ambassador to the humans, decision to order her guarded at all times, especially in public. She seemed to accept the standard security that many famous musicians hired, no it was the special guard, him, that she resented. Nikolai couldn’t honestly say he blamed her for it either. He was not exactly overjoyed by this assignment. However, he knew his duty. He respected his Leader, and Where Vladimir ordered him to go, he would go. He thought Vladimir was wrong to follow the request of Anton, this one’s father, however nor would he argue about it publicly. He knew his duty. The hunter of rogues knew not why he had been pulled from his ancient duty of granting justice to those who deserved his judgment to become a babysitter, but Vlad had spoken, the council had spoken and Nikolai’s hands were tied.

Nikolai wished in that moment that he were more social, but he had been alone too long to just go to her and talk to her like a person. He was her silent shadow. Almost always there, but never really there for her. She had friends and family to be close to her, he was impartial, not to be swayed by her friendship or feminine charms, or even her music, though that last was harder. Her music drew emotions from the depths of his soul that he no longer even had words for. Emotions that he had walled away long ago to become one of Vladimir’s best soldiers of justice. He had to be hard, so the fact he had killed too many family members and friends in the name of protecting the humans and upholding honor, would not destroy him inside.

As he reflected, he never stopped watching her, listening to her, and watching everything around both of them. He was an image of the consummate bodyguard. Even as his eyes watched her, He suddenly became even more aware of her as a shaft of moonlight bathed her porcelain skin, her silvery hair, a picture of ethereal grace. Peaking from between the clouds the moonlight had caught them both and frozen them in time, and in that stolen heartbeat their eyes met, darkest gray touching with the blue fire of hers. Her eyes were filled with her power with the energy of her being wrapped up in the sensuality of that private moment with the piano.

For a stolen heartbeat he felt like he was included in that bond she clearly had with the piano. However, as the shaft of moonlight was eaten away by a cloud, so did the moment fade. Shadows swallowed them both and their eyes lost contact. They were no longer something more than what they were to one another. He was relegated back to the dark and cast from the pure passion he had experienced in that momentary connection. For that instant colors had looked brighter, he had felt more than he had in so long, and in a blink, a whisper of a fog bank, the connection was gone again.

Arriving in this old town had told her that her decision to follow her gut on this tour and seek out unusual venues had been the correct one despite her fathers misgivings. He was getting old she told herself grinning as she visualized the ancient Vampire in her minds eye. He looked the same as he had on the day that he had conceived her. She sensed the melancholy which abounded here but it was the brooding excitement laden upon the humid air that caught her attention, it was almost palpable. It fuelled her own, she shivered in expectation.

Once settled in her old world room in the hotel her manager had booked she had feigned exhaustion. Anastasia was now laying in her ornate four poster bed nestled in silver silken sheets feigning sleep. Her breathing was slow, her agile mind however was busy, it’s shields as tight and impenetrable as solid steel. The object of her thoughts tonight was her piano, it lay some where outside the old hotel she was sequestered in waiting patiently for her arrival.

A Bösendorfer ....she sighed imagining the concert grand in her minds eye.

She doubted that anyone would fully understand the passion with which she viewed her music even less the connection that she had with each piano she played. They were lovers of a sort. As she played, her supple fingers caressing each key lovingly, under her clever fingertips each one became a living breathing entity. Anastasia had found the deepest connections with those concert piano’s crafted eons ago, in a way no other piano did. Selfishly she wanted more.

Many pianists were more than content to have a Steinway gracing center stage not so she. Her venues this time were in fact planned solely to bring her closer to that which she sought ...pure visceral connection. Surprisingly despite her age she had never taken a flesh and blood lover, not imagining that any sensation could surpass that which she experienced as she played. The experience was evocative, addictive even.

She could barely contain her excitement, this particular piano was fashioned of the rarest of woods, rich with history and survival, even from this distance she could feel its heady pulse surrounding her, caressing her mind. It softly called to her even now. She stretched languidly beneath the sheets a half smile on her beautiful lips imagining the moment that they would meet, finally becoming one.

Her eyes flew open. They would meet this very night, she could wait no longer. Damn convention.

With a sense of urgency she flew to her armoire and stopped abruptly. The image reflected there startled her momentarily. She looked like some sensual wanton, an incongruous combination of dark and light. Her waist long wavy silver hair flew around her like a living entity settling in the folds and creases of the soft flowing off white chemise she had worn to bed; both seemed to be actively vying for a small taste of the sensual flesh that was hinted at beneath the almost translucent fabric.

Her deep blue eyes shone with an almost devilish violet light as she stared at her unholy reflection.

As a born vampire her looks were an anomaly, the only nod to her heritage were her tall willowy height and porcelain skin, this was all she normally saw in her reflection. Shaking off her fanciful thoughts she refused to dwell on what she had briefly spied. Instead she eased down her shields closing her lovely eyes and carefully and painstakingly searched. Perfect, she thought, grinning delightedly, Nikolai was nowhere to be found. Tonight she didn’t want him intruding.

Not bothering even to change, barefoot she shimmered into thin air and was gone. Ana loved the feeling she felt each time she left her corporeal body behind, it was the truest of freedoms; smelling and feeling everything around her with abandon, no censure, no unwelcome intrusions, no him...

She loved the smells of this new city and couldn’t wait to explore all of its nooks and crannies. It fit the essence of who she was perfectly. It smacked of possibilities. She had no time to dwell on melancholy undertones of this small city right now, another more potent entity was calling her, she had a purpose.

Unconsciously speeding up, the cobblestones and sensual, imagery forgotten she found the still closed theatre and slipped in through a forgotten open window. She didn’t slow down, the haunting call was stronger here, guiding her as no eyes could until she was in the main auditorium of the theatre.

Seamlessly taking her own shape once more her eyes feasted for the first time on her beloved grande piano. It stood there in the silent space reminiscent of a sleek slumbering predictor.

It was time to awaken and set him free.

Slowly on silent feet she reverently approached, her eyes caressing the smooth polish of its glossy veneer. She dearly wanted to run her long slender fingers over its dark surface in a languid caress. The compulsion to touch was strong and fanciful. Letting the breath she had been holding escape on the softest of sighs she sat spreading her chemise carefully around her. It was time...

Gently lifting the lid she revealed the ivory keyboard and with a gentle dreamy smile on her exquisite face she gently ran her fingers across it’s smooth keys playing a soft lifting scale. There was no choice really, with its delicate treble, deep bass tones and unique mellow sound it could have been custom made for Beethoven himself . Without conscious thought she found herself playing the first stanza of the Moonlight sonata to an eerily empty house.

Anastasia lost sense of who she was as she became one with the piano and the haunting music they were creating together. The very fibre of the wood spoke to her senses . It was almost as if the wooden fibres of its inanimate frame were taking on a life of their very own searching for and intertwining with the living sinews of her own gently swaying body. It’s woodsy fingers caressed her flesh invading her mind, filling it with darkly sensuous musical images. Anastasia felt like an exquisite smouldering fire as she became the music. Together, as one entwined entity there was a free flow across space and time itself; it was as haunting and compelling as the melody she played.

Ana was entranced. She would have wished to play for an eternity if not for the shaft of moonlight falling through the cathedral like window which caused her to look up. Deep blue eyes for a single moment met those of startled grey. The bond was instant deep and soul wrenching, immediately lost as the moonlight faded.

While playing the artiste had resided in the betwixt and between, half in and out of reality. As Anastasia felt her connection slip, acting on pure reflex alone, guided by another beacon of moonlight, she reached out with her mind to capture what had just been lost.

Back in the arms of her lover she allowed her fingertips to play across his skin bringing the sensual melody into his mind to bathe its every synapse. Her lips were pressed almost innocently against the fullness of his, her now violet eyes forged to the now moonlit grey of his. Possessing. Branding.

MINE...they clearly told him.

Him?

Those same eyes widened as she desperately sought to disengage herself from piano, melody and man.

Who, how, what was...

Backing away in all ways possible, like a bolt of out of control lightening , heart racing, senses on overload , knocking over the piano stool she haphazardly coalesced into nothingness and was gone! Nothing like her arrival at the theatre, she spun violently amidst a cornucopia of sensations; sights and sounds, as she fought for control. She’d end up in the middle of a bloody stone wall if she didn’t halt this spiral she thought almost spitting venom.

Anger helped her gain back some control. Bloody Nikolai was the villain here instinctively she knew it! What the fuck was he playing at! The next time she was in his mind she’d bloody kill him! She’d never met the man but hated him and his stupid backseat babysitting, she hated her father too! The mini tantrum halted her flight and just barely she was able to land to take on her human form once more without breaking an ankle.

Anger over she felt bereft as she huddled against, and thankfully not physically in the archway. The humour of it escaped her. Exhausted and confused she wanted to go home. Still shaken, uncharacteristically she felt weaker than a kitten. The still shaken woman realized that she would have to walk back to the hotel barefoot and in her barely there shift. “Fuck him,” she mumbled under her breath.

Resolutely she left her temporary haven and ran headlong into a wall...not a wall, a great hulk of a man! It felt like molten lava had drenched her soul, he smelled of earth and pure lust. Her hands were pressed flat across his chest...lust? Was she going to have to fend off some stupid human male? She was loosing her mind. Startled she pushed trying to gain some distance as she looked up into his eyes.

Twin orbs of smokey charcoal .

For the very first time in her long life Anastasia the strong fainted...

The moment had broken leaving Nikolai feeling bereft. For that instant the world had seemed different, so much brighter. Even as he prepared to sink further into the shadows a second shaft of moonlight split the room and she reached out to him. He wasn’t even sure if she knew she did it, yet this time the connection was far less coincidental, it was a visceral connection. Immediate and filled with promise of so much more.

The hunter could almost feel the brush of warm fingers on his hand, lips on his mouth. For the killer who had not felt the touch of a lover in so many centuries she ripped a guttural moan of need from his lips. Someone with his control did not just make noises like that, but she seemingly ripped through all of his defenses. The music, her mind, it all caused in him sensations beyond what he expected. Knuckles turned white on the balcony railing as he gripped it to control the urges flooding through him.

All too soon the beautiful pianist below him realized what she had done and broke the connection. As she fled Nikolai followed. His departure was much more stately and graceful as he too dematerialized. Even for that he was no less hasty as he followed her. As he flew, he knew he could not let her get away. She could not be this unprotected in this city, did she not realize she had enemies. Also, what was she playing at making such a connection between them. He knew she would find a way to make this all his fault, that was such a woman thing to do, and he just knew that’s what she would do. Fuck Vladimir for making him babysit a spoiled brat, and fuck her father for wanting a guard for her in the first place, and while he was at it, fuck her grandfather for naming her Anastasia, knowing that it would automatically give Vladimir, head of the sentinels, a soft spot for her. Just because she shared a name with Vladimir’s long dead bonded partner, did not make her special.

As Nikolai retook his human form, he realized the uncharacteristic anger in his mental ranting and actually took a deep breath. It didn’t help to calm him for the breath took her scent deep into his lungs, she smelled so good, of beauty and woman. He wasn’t a poet, or hadn’t been one in too many years, he did not have pretty words to describe her scent. He just knew he found it intoxicating. The anger morphed to desire. In a white-hot flash the irritation was swept away on the river of desire that flowed through his veins.

Then it happened. Just as he was about to approach and speak to her, where she huddled from the cold. Why she had not conjured warmer clothing he did not know, she turned and fled again. She fled this time right into Nikolai’s unyielding body. Strong arms came up to surround her willowy grace. He could feel her pressing at his chest, as if begging for space, he did not let her go though. He opened his mouth to say something, but their eyes met again. It was the first time their gazes met from so close. To say she was beautiful was to describe the desert as dry, it was an understatement. He had protected her for months now, yet, had he really seen her as a person? As his eyes met hers and he caught her as she fainted away, clearly overwhelmed by what had happened, he realized that he probably had not.

She weighed nothing in his arms as he scooped her up. He could not carry her like a baby, she might flash the crowds around them, he knew not what she wore under her gown. Rather, he embraced her tighter, lifting her feet from the ground in an almost hugging motion.

Nikolai stepped with her out of the flow of foot traffic on the street. Once in the shadows he took to the air. Not in the form of mist this time, to make her transform he would have had to take over her mind and a quick mental probe told him her shielding was too good for that. So, he had to fly in his human form, and just hope no unsuspecting humans saw them.

He tried not to think about how good she felt in his arms as he flew back towards her hotel. He was trying to get back to the hotel before she woke up, however, he was fairly certain that would not happen. It was not wise to cradle her so intimately after experiencing such a rush of lust just moments before, it would get him in trouble, he just knew it. He was tempting fate the longer he kept touching her. Distance, that’s what he needed, his safe distance, his shadows.

Anastasia was dreaming, she was in a pair of strong male arms dancing to some obscure yet seductive melody. She felt safe, she rarely felt safe. She breathed in his essence , woodsy earth mixed with undertones of pure alpha male, it was a heady combination. Pressing closer to the hardness that was uniquely his she began to slowly regain consciousness... this vampire did not dream!

Her traitorous body automatically went on high alert while remaining motionless. Sending small tendrils into his unsuspecting mind her suspicions proved correct, Nikolai! She’d known it was him. Unbeknown to him she had an intimate acquaintance with this part of his anatomy, today something had shifted. She sensed arousal, this was new, she had thought him made of stone.

The mind held secrets, it held knowledge of the ages, vampires guarded such precious information with a veritable vengeance. Some would kill for such information, many had!

Nikolai had great skill in mind shielding but it hadn’t prevented her from wandering his mind’s corridors staying on the fringes to avoid detection. The brain wasn’t unlike a huge library filled with books or files depending on the individual. Hers was filled with music stands each holding a wealth of information. They would fold in on themselves should she have an unwanted intruder.

She had visited Nikolai's head on quite a few occasions pulling out the occasional folder to browse. She’d found the contents boring, stuffy and had moved on. Ana wasn’t after his secrets that would be unconscionable, rude, she’d simply sort to read the sense of the man, and as he wouldn’t come to her she’d simply gone to him. He was absolutely correct about one thing.

It was his fault, and yes, she did blame him, she smiled wickedly into his hard chest. He thought her a Brat...she’d show him Brat!

He underestimated her as most males did, vampire or not. It was her looks, Ana saw them as a curse not a blessing, because of them men saw her as....she sought for the barbaric phrase of old.... yes, they saw her as some blond, brainless, bimbo, adding her choice of profession to the mix had simply had sealed her fate. Even her father couldn’t see beyond her outward facade. He’d sent this bloody Neanderthal to babysit her, a man cut from same cloth as himself, as if she were some unschooled child.

An anomaly in looks she’d been and anomaly in other areas too. Even as a toddler she had enjoyed sneaking into the minds of the members of the household undetected it was a favourite game to her. Soon bored with that she’d eventually snuck off the compound to find the Traveler's camp, undetected she had picked at their minds too.

It wasn’t until she was almost 14 that she’d been caught...Now that had been some day, a memory for another time she thought smiling.

Instead of punishment sensing her extreme talent Nicolas a powerful psychic in his own right he had elected to train her properly. From that day forth whenever the Traveller’s were near she had practically lived in their camp, it became her second home. Her subterfuge had been hidden in the guise of solitary music practise. Practise, thankfully she didn’t need, she was a prodigy in that department to. Mental training had lead to physical training when Ehlana took her under her wing, delighting in training her in the art of fighting behind her doting fathers’ back. Those has been wickedly exciting days. Anastasia had trained hard and diligently under their collective tutelage.

Totally unaware of who she was becoming her father remained oblivious He assigned her a fucking block-headed babysitter believing her defenceless. This would be an insult to any vampire; for Anastasia the wound went much much deeper.

This arousal, this lust she sensed was however very disconcerting .....Ana hated the man but it seemed her body had other ideas. She needed to get away before they ended up in her hotel room. Her mind sensed danger of the kind she instinctively knew that she was up-prepared to face. She needed time to re-evaluate, she needed space to breathe.

Decision made, she tossed leather bound books from their assigned places to slow him down as she exited his mind. It would feel like something akin to a nasty dull headache, buying her precious time. Like quicksilver she disappeared from within his arms.

Once back in her room, with a single thought windows were barred and doors locked. She ran to her bed and extracted an ornately carved black box hidden beneath it . Swiftly opened she extracted several large Shungite, crystals which she placed one meter apart around the perimeter of her bedroom mumbling an incantation as she did so. Her Vampire skills could not help her here, this had to be done the good old fashioned way... hands on. Anastasia had learned more than Vampire ways during her years at the wanderers camps. A little Hooks Pokus never hurt, especially in a town steeped with magic as this one was, it would go unnoticed.

Finished, she tore off her chemise tossing it into the waste basket, it stunk of the beast. Ana didn’t have time for the shower she would have wished for, instead she slipped into black leggings and a matching pullover. It gave her a sense of extreme satisfaction to do these things using she own hands rather than using her mind.

Slipping into her huge bed she grinned. Shungite was a powerful crystal able to deflect external sources of bad energy. Nikolai more certainly fell into that category.He would not be able to enter her room by shape shifting . He would have to work it out the old fashioned way. The crystals and the locked doors wouldn’t keep him out forever but when he did enter she was confident that he’d be so pissed at her, lust would be the last thing on the horny Vampires mind.

Rage she could deal with, lust was totally outside of her skill set. She could still smell him on her skin. If she were honest to herself, it felt oddly disturbing, and in a not unpleasant kind of way.

She hated it! she told herself adamantly. Earth, woods, leather, lust ...he needed a long bath, he needed a good aftershave , he needed to leave her the Fuck alone! Tomorrow she would contact Vladimir and have him replaced. If he wanted his shadows he could bloody well have them!

Lounging back on the silken pillows her mind drifted back to the deserted auditorium and her beloved piano. She only had room for one lover in her life. This one she understood, this one she craved, this one bathed her soul in ecstasy.

Nikolai simply pissed her off...

Nikolai was aware when she woke. He felt the slight tensing of her muscles, the sharp inhalation of breath. These were small signs that most would miss, not so the sentinel. He felt her questing touch in his mind. Identifying him silently. He had no idea how far into his mind she had gotten, he only felt it as a delicate brush almost as if fingers across bare skin. It was the type of mental touch only lovers shared after blood exchanges. However, perhaps his mind only interpreted her touch like that because of his strangely strong attraction to her all of a sudden.

Before he could make any comment to her, she dissolved into mist and left him with a headache. He sought inward into his mind. The library of his mind, old fashioned, with floor to ceiling shelves, leather bound tomes strewn everywhere explained his issue. The image of the library was literally a visual representation of her scattering his thoughts. He worked to reorganize them, placing them reverently back in their places as he followed her.

He did not rush; he knew where she was heading. A wounded animal always went home to safety. This time, home was her hotel room. However, when he arrived, she had locked him out. A mental probe found her safeguards. He smiled a bit to himself. Rather than trying to unravel her safeguards he set to work. He wove guards outside hers outside the room. Now, to leave she would have to break his barriers.

Pleased with himself Nikolai retreated back into his shadows. He was more comfortable not talking to her, why did she think he would follow her? His job was her protection, her hiding in her room only made his assignment easier. He justified his adding to her safeguards as clearly, she felt unsafe and he was just helping her. He rested with his back to the far wall outside her wall and mentally worked on straightening out the mess she’d made of his mind.

Anastasia sensed the moment Nikolai arrived in her hallway, she sensed just as quickly what he was up to.The sneaky bastard, he thought he could out smart her did he!

About to explode in a flurry of angry retaliation her inner teenager suddenly peeked out pushing her way into the half light as if determined to have some fun. Ana’s beautiful eyes lit up and her face relaxed as she began to giggle.

So the big brute of a man wanted to play ....she could play.

It had been a while but as a child she had delighted at such things, often driving the household staff to the edge of madness with her creative antics. Boredom was of course the bedfellow of invention after all! Ana had been beyond bored with tea parties and pretty dresses; treated by her father as if she were some Dresden china doll. Worse still, some human child, instead of a strong vibrant flesh and blood Vampire.

Anastasia hadn’t gotten caught then, she wouldn’t get caught now.Her cheeks dimpled as she sat crosslegged on the bed plotting her fun.

Nikolai needed to lighten up...maybe she could help him. I wonder what he looks like when he smiles? she pondered, his severe image coming uninvited into her minds eye. He would be quite handsome perhaps. Irritated she stopped her frivolous thoughts,banishing his image firmly from her mind. She had to think, she had devilment to ponder.

He’d added spells to guard her, mmmm...

Guards? yes that was it! Guards! Her eyes lit up!

Small toy woodsmen complete with bows and arrows appeared out of nowhere lined up across her bed. Tiny miniature Nikolai’s right down to the colour of his stormy eyes and the clothing he last wore. She rubbed her hands together grinning, they were perfect. Damn! I’m good, she thought chuckling softly.

Anastasia refused to ponder why they resembled him, her mind already fixed on the question of her escape. Ehlana had taught her that there was always a way out of any Dilemma, any situation. There was only the question of how. Not able to, was not a solution. It was a cop out. It was unacceptable.

Her solution found she scooped up her guardsmen and popped them into a black bag which she slung across her shoulder. Ana quickly braided her long hair in a single braid and even though Nicolai couldn’t hear or sense her because of their many spells she tiptoed quietly across to the bathroom closing the door softly behind her. In her mind strains of the Pink Panther theme accompanied her almost comical movements.

Standing in front of the ornate sink she looked at her reflection in the oval mirror. She hadn’t seen this girl in eons. She looked carefree, expectant, happy, one without a care in the world. She smiled at her reflection winking. “Let’s go!”

Giggling Ana bent forwards slightly closing her eyes and concentrated . With barely any effort her black clad body started to shimmer as it began to dissipate becoming like the purest quicksilver. Quicksilver the exact same shade as her hair. Gracefully and effortlessly it flowed into the porcelain sink dancing and swirling its carefree way down the tiny drain into the system of pipes below.

Her infectious giggle in the silent bathroom was all that briefly remained of the vibrant woman. For now Anastasia had escaped her captor.

She rematerialized into another vacant bathroom room further down and around the corner from her own. Steadying her staccato heart beat she silently slipped out into the shadowy corridor and quietly dropped onto her knees. Peeking around the corner she could sense rather than physically see Nicolai leaning against the wall opposite her door. His mind was blocked off, he seemed busy with some internal dilemma.

Not for long,she thought trying not to giggle again. Carefully she unslung her bag and removed the miniature guardsmen lining them up one by one in single file. In unison they all then disappeared from sight. Bitting on her bottom lip to stop herself from outright laughing the truant once-upon-a time unruly teenager backed on silent feet towards the elevator and pressed for its arrival.

A single thought would set her prank in motion, she dearly wished she could be a fly on the wall and see the fun that was about to unfold. Ana had a vivid imagination and was sure she could easily fill in all the delightful blanks... still she dearly wish to have a front row seat.

The guardsmen would march one by one along the hallway appearing only as they reached the hopefully unsuspecting vampire. As each one became visible, they would become considerable larger as they loaded and aimed their bows, arrows tipped with a confection of sweets. Marshmallows, chocolate kisses, strawberry hearts, crunchy almonds would be launched relentlessly at Nicolai's stately person. Anastasia could well imagine his expression as the sticky confections found their mark, on his face, his chest, his toned body.

When the elevator arrived Anastasia practically fell into it almost cackling with demonic laughter, bent double holding her belly as it’s door swooshed closed. Thankfully it was empty because she almost peed herself.

The guardsmen were on a loop, they would continue following him like doting puppy dogs appearing and disappearing . They would continue to shoot their sweet missiles at him until like the guards he had placed with hers around her room they were deactivated. He for sure had his work cut out. Smiling wickedly Ana idly wondered if the serious male has a sense of humour...somehow she doubted it.

On the ride downwards Anastasia pulled herself together. It was a beautifully posed woman who sedately stepped out of the elevator, gliding into the hotel lounge for night cap while she awaited requested a new room reassignment. Her silver hair was piled loosely upon her head showing off her slender neck and softly rounded shoulders. Her gown matched her hair and hugged her willowy curves to perfection She might be slender but there was no doubting that she was all woman. She was reminiscent of a sensual angel.

The devilish teenager had fled. All that remained as she sat at the bar serenely sipping her drink was the devilish glint in her shimmering,now violet eyes. Eyes that were steadfastly trained on the elevator doors even though her brain told her it was doubtful that he would use them. That in all probability Nicolai would simply continue to ignore her skulking in the shadows he obviously preferred.

She’d make sure he was reassigned tomorrow but meanwhile she found herself hoping that there would be a round 2. Ana stifled another giggle as she thought of what she would do if she were he...

Nikolai delved deep inside himself, unconsciously straightening out what she had done. He reverently placed back his memories in their proper places. As he did so he got flashes of memories from the books. Clasping arms with a blue-eyed warrior, Nicholas. The black eyes of his leader, Vladimir. The pain in his eyes as he told the rest of the sentinels their beloved prince had gone mad. His reluctance to bring justice, peace to his oldest friend. Nikolai could see a young Nikolai step forward and offer to do the deed for him.

Perhaps it was good that Ana had not seen this book. Why was it so low in the stacks? Rather than placing it back on the low shelf Nikolai slid it up higher above casual reach. They had all loved Maxim, and he was never the same after the humans finished torturing him. Nikolai knew it was not his long-term leader he had executed, but something that was lost and damaged, a twisted killer that was not the born vampire’s former leader.

Nikolai was dragged out of his inner dark thoughts as he felt the sting of something against his cheek. A slender hand rose to touch his face, finding a sticky residue on his fingertips. He brought it where he could see it, it did not appear to be blood, it was red, like a smudge of lipstick on his jaw.

Before Nikolai could react, he felt a sting on the other cheek. Gray eyes flicked around the hallway even as his fingers found an almond in his palm. What in the world was happening? He turned to face where the second hit had come from and felt a sharp sting on his backside. Giving a very undignified hop and quite unmanly squeak he whirled to face his new attacker but saw nothing. However, chance allowed him to see the next soldier approaching, aiming and firing its chocolate kiss missile. He batted the projectile away with one hand, but then yelped as a line of peanuts struck him in the back of the head. He whirled to see a miniature replica of himself aiming a machinegun at him. Hadn’t the first one had a bow and arrow that he could dodge. Machine gun? That wasn’t fair. He swatted at the fellow with the gun, but it was gone like the arrow firing one.

He turned back and forth trying to figure out what was attacking him. Most would materialize and lazily shoot their bows and arrows at him, tipped with sweet treats. However, there was one, who simply cheated, it was armed with something more deadly and though kisses and hearts were easy to dodge, high velocity peanuts and almonds, were not. “Ouch,” he swore as the little bastard drilled him in the ear, stinging hits that made him swear louder and swing at the air so hard he put his fist through the wall.


He Tried to weave safeguards to keep the soldiers at bay. He succeeded in stopping the candy bow’sman. However, her plan must have gotten out of hand. Surely this had to be her doing. But some quirk of the spell had created this little tyrant with its peanut Uzi. And that bastard actually kind of hurt. The ridiculousness of this whole situation was not lost on the sentinel as he started to dismantle the soldiers. It was simple enough to conjure little dragons to come and roast the marshmallows the soldiers were firing. Although this backfired as he suddenly was being assaulted by little fire arrows. However eventually it worked and his little dragons began to exterminate the soldiers. Except for that one. That little bastard didn’t fade like the others, it seemed stronger and it mowed through his dragon army with its weapon. “This is nuts,” he said as he tried to kick the soldier that scampered away.

He was impressed with himself for destroying most of her little army. However, that last bugger would just not die, and his attempts to get it was starting to cause property damage.

He finally dissolved into mist and sought for her. He found her, in public no less. As soon as he materialized in the hall on the ground floor the little bastard was back, and as he reached out to grab it, a couple shot him a weird look. Nikolai had to pretend he had a leg cramp, rubbing his calf and shooting them an apologetic look.

It took more control than the sentinel wished to admit to, just walking into the bar pretending that he wasn’t being shot in the bottom with nuts the entire time. Surely someone would see all of the projectiles? However, the humans seemed oblivious. He stalked into the bar and approached her. There was a man playing a piano in the corner of the old-fashioned lounge. She seemed serene as she sat with her wineglass. His approach did not seem to change that. “Is this stool taken?” he asked even as he threw a long leg over it, shoving back the black cloak as he did so. It revealed a black shirt that was tucked into leather pants beneath it. He looked truthfully like he belonged in an earlier century.

Finally seated beside her he barely looked at her and spoke low out of the corner of his mouth trying not to cause a scene but clearly his patience was being tried severely. “Call your war dog off before this Hotel gets a new skylight and I call down lightning to flame that little bastard out of existence. You’ve had your fun, but that little bugger with the almond Uzi isn’t funny. This is nuts. And no pun intended.” He flinched as he endured another round of his attacks the pain showing in flinches around his eyes. “You do not want to make me angry.”

Anastasia had been forced to listen to the lounge pianist for almost half an hour; what he lacked in talent was not helped at all by his poor choice in songs. The hour was late and if his intent were to put the patrons to sleep he was certainly succeeding and she a Vampire didn’t sleep. Twirling the untouched ruby liquid idly around her wine glass she almost contemplated offering her services while he took a break. Bluesy Jazz would be perfect about now.

He wasn’t coming...


Her somber eyes returned to the elevator just as he materialized into the corridor. It took all of the young Vampire’s expertise to remain the calm cool persona she was affecting at the moment. What she saw delighted her to her core and at any other time the spectacle might well have had her falling from her bar stool in laughter. As it was, what she was witnessing first hand had her insides in a turmoil of exquisite merriment.

He eyes remained cool orbs of ocean calm but if you looked more closely you could perhaps see the impish teenager peeking out to view her handiwork. Irises of purple honed in onto the hilarious scene unfolding before her. It was perfection, she couldn’t have wished for more if she had planned it herself , wait ...she had. A quick satisfied smile passed quickly across her lovely innocently schooled face.

The peanut uzi shooting its wicked missiles into his most private parts was amazing to behold . It’s little button eyes sort out hers. They connected for the time it took for her to receive a blow by blow cinematography of what had gone before. Images of him dodging the many fanciful projectiles flew across her agile mind. The expression on his bewildered face was priceless!

Ana had initially wished him harm, she had wished to also to see the fruits of her labor first hand. Her eyes narrowed briefly...this wasn’t her direct creation. This was her conjuring gone array!

Mind control 101: be careful what you wish for! Anastasia almost let out small a giggle. Controlling matter or minds, was much like the Genie with three wishes, you had to be very very careful, very precise. Anastasia had gotten caught up in the devilment of the moment and had neglected this important nugget. A rookie mistake but nevertheless effective. The result was this wickedly brilliant apparition, one that apparently this seasoned Vampire couldn’t banish with his will.

A slender hand was spayed across her midriff as she struggled to control the laugher that threatened to bubble over.

His control was admirable as he quite literally stalked crossed the room to her, valiantly acting as if the little bastard wasn’t even there. Predator was the word that came to mind. Anastasia had the briefest compulsion to run. His demeanour was foreboding. He was after all the bogey man, the stuff of nightmares and fokelore; designed once upon a time to keep the vampire populace in their place.

Intimidating yes, scary no. Ana had grown up with an even greater bogeyman she had spent time in his lap and hours under his tutelage, she wasn’t afraid of the virile male striding purposely towards her? Perhaps you should be, her subconscious warned her, gently speaking up.

An image of him flinging her bodily across his lap flitted across her mind. She could feel the itch in his strong hand, feel his muscular thighs pressing into her soft flesh, feel his anger. It was a palatable potent entity.

He was going to spank her, right here! right now!

He wouldn’t dare! Oh yes! he would, her subconscious warned her grinning.

Anastasia took a deep slow breath determined to keep such errant thoughts from the man unfurling his large form gracefully on the stool beside her as he spoke, “Is this stool taken?” Such an innocuous phrase, so filled with deadly promise. She almost shuddered, her amusement for the moment gone.

He was too close!

“Call your war dog off before this Hotel gets a new skylight and I call down lightning to flame that little bastard out of existence. You’ve had your fun, but that little bugger with the almond Uzi isn’t funny. This is nuts. And no pun intended.” he ground out as another barrage of nutty missiles attacked him from behind.

In an instant her humour was back, her momentary apprehension forgotten. The images he’d conjured up with his words she’d dearly like to see come to fruition. Such a loss of control in this little backwoods hotel. Had he looked at her directly would have noticed that her eyes were momentarily filled with devilment once more. He’d made a pun even if he denied it, maybe there was hope for him.

This was the first time she’d experienced him up close, before he’d always been some brooding shadowy presence viewed from an upper balcony, dark, intimidating, shrouded by his soft cloak.

Her once again calm beautiful eyes appraised him thoroughly as he sat barely looking her way. He looked truthfully like he belonged in an earlier century and perhaps he did. Tall, slimmer than she’d thought, well muscled, graceful, handsome even. You're attracted to him Ana, her subconscious whispered in her ear. I am not most certainly not, Ana denied pushing away the thought. He’s a Neanderthal, a throw back. Be silent, she admonished her inner self.

“You do not want to make me angry.” His last words echoed in the space between them...

Fighting her urge to squirm instead Ana did the unthinkable...

Leaning towards him slightly she reached out her mobile pianists fingers to gently touch the side of his face turning it towards her. Their eyes connected as she trailed them downwards along his firm jawline to scoop up a piece of red confection clinging to the corner of his sensual lips.

“Lipstick?” she queried, finally smiling.

Her question was rhetorical as she brought the sweet confection to her red painted lips sucking it gently and lazily from her finger tip.

“Ummmmm,” she gently whispered.

Eyes to eyes, hers darkened to pools of shimmering azure, they resembled deep welcoming pools; tempting pools designed to drown in.

The connection as old as time shimmered on the breath between them, intimate, beguiling, insidiously wicked.

You will never hurt me, her mind told his softly. It was but a thoughtless prank. She spoke the truth and in that moment she realized that she would never willingly hurt him either.

The lounge pianist began to play a new tune, it was his best rendition yet. The softest strains of the Moonlight Sonata began to permeate throughout the room around them.

Their world stood still.

Neither noticed that the devilish peanut Uzi had simply vanished...

Insolence. That was the only word he could think of to describe what she did after his ominous words about not making him angry had fallen into the empty air. He had to fight not to flinch back as she wiped a smudge of her candy confection away from his skin.

“Women don’t kiss Neanderthals,” he said dryly, almost deadpan. Yet, with that simple sentence he let her know she was broadcasting more of her thoughts to him than she might have guessed. Let her wonder exactly how many of them.

However, as he watched her lick the candy from her fingertips his body responded, things low inside him tightened and he let out a hiss of air. He suspected that she didn’t even realize how seductive she truly was in that moment. She was simply a sensualist; lost in the pleasure of the flavors that she had found in the candy. However, he could imagine, could imagine so very much. Her tongue coiling around that fingertip, could imagine other things. He had to slam that mental door before his face betrayed his thoughts. The only concession to his feelings a flicking down to the bar of his eyes, before he was back to watching her.

He could have gotten lost in her eyes. So deep so beautiful. She was very bad news for him. He was the predator here, not her, right? When she spoke, she used the common pathway of all vampire kind, for that was the only pathway of communication open to her as they had not shared blood. This meant any vampire in range would hear them. It did however mean the humans would not, which was probably better for now. I never said I would hurt you. My duty is to protect you. Though I am not so sure anyone would blame me if I took some…. liberties after such actions on your part.

His words were soft in her mind. He did not project loudly, not wanting other vampires to hear though anyone listening on the common pathway that was close would. His eyes met hers fully as the music changed.

“All we need is a shaft of moonlight to come full circle.” He reached out casually taking not her hand, but shackling her wrist with one large hand. His thumb stroked over her pulse at her inner wrist. Just that simple touch and he already wanted to bring their heartrates into sync, wanted them to beat together. “Though if we had the moonlight, you would but flee again, would you not?” he asked as he used that grip on her wrist to encourage her not to do so as he leaned in closer almost, almost drawing her into him his eyes, such a dark gray boring into hers.

He could feel the connection growing between them, and it was clear on his face he wanted to take that last step. “A less honorable man would steal the kiss the tension in the air keeps hinting of.” He whispered it against her lips. Though he did not complete that movement, did not kiss her.

From the moment their eyes connected Anastasia was lost; in much the same way she felt when she became one with her beloved music.

“I never said I would hurt you. My duty is to protect you’” he’d vowed.

“Blood of my heart, my protection is thine, blood of my body, marrow and mind,” she responded as if on cue.

Her soul had defiantly recognized his, of that their was no doubt, it was reaching out...

Nicolai had mentioned the taking of Liberties.

“Life of my life taking mine, taking yours.” she murmured. His words were soft in her mind as her response would echo in his.

Her staccato heart beat almost threatened to drowned them out entirely.

“All we need is a shaft of moonlight to come full circle.” Nicolai whispered.

“Soul of my soul, to our spirit bind,” came her instinctive response.

She felt his calloused flesh on hers. The feel of his thumb on her life’s pulse was erotic, compelling, causing her own slender fingers to curl around his corded wrist as she unconsciously echoed his movements; instinctively slowing her own heart beat to match the synchronicity of his more stately pace.

“Though if we had the moonlight, you would but flee again, would you not?”

She would not...

Ana felt as if she were but mist on the warm air flowing inexplicably towards his very core, it was a coming home of sorts.

“Soul of my soul, to our spirit bind,” her mind promised him reverently.

He was a demon, the devil incarnate pulling her into the very essence of whom he was. This was Witchery, and yet it was she who was unconsciously setting the spell.

Hearts synced, breath synced, even their eyes had become shaded as one turbulent palate of blues and stormy greys. She could feel the connection growing between them, it was a living breathing entity in and of itself!

To close. To late.

Blood of my heart, my tides, my bright moon, she thought smiling.

“ A less honourable man would steal the kiss the tension in the air keeps hinting of.” He whispered against her lips. She moaned against them feeling their impossible heat.

Taste. She wanted to taste him.

Gently she pulled his full lower lip into her warm and welcoming mouth, without effort her incisors lowered to gently pierce his tender flesh.

The moment she tasted his life’s blood she moaned again as her world opened up to a million new possibilities; a heady kaleidoscope of half formed impressions! In that single moment she wanted more of the Neanderthal.

“Blood of my heart, my salvation , my moon! “ She cried out her pleas to the cosmos they were filled with heartfelt yearning.

It seemed as if the moon really did appear to shroud them both as she fluidly slipped off her stool to press closer into the apex of his strong thighs.

“Ours, yours and finally mine!” her mind avowed. He smelled divine.

Ana all but flowed into the Vampire that she was intimately pressed against. Her fangs had retreated but they were still impossibly joined as one.

She completed the movement he would not, her tongue began it’s innocent yet seductive exploration.

It seemed to have an errant sinful mind of its very own....

Her beautiful eyes fluttered closed.

Ping! Ping! Ping!

Startled! her eyes opened wide, breaking the sensuous spell.

“Oche!” She softly cried out. What the bloody hell was happing?

Instinctively she pressed closer still to Nicolai seeking refuge, immediately feeling his heated hardness... it felt like a burning brand! Anastasia jumped back only to be pierced again.

Fuck that that hurt!

Her bloody peanut Uzi was back again and it was attacking them both like a some devilish half crazed maniac.!

Ping! Ping! Ping!

Aroused, confused, alarmed, delighted, so many emotions were chancing one another across her mind.

Their wrists were still bound together as they instinctively turned back to back to face their enemy. Anastasia eyes deepened to purple as in her mind she focused in on the Uzi apparition easily blowing it into a thousand tiny pieces .

Be gone! and don’t come back! she ordered mentally.

The tiny pieces exploded into the air then floated down upon the startled couple much like silver and white confetti at a wedding.

Momentarily startled by the vision they both hastily glanced around at the startled patrons who of course could not see the Uzi but who could obviously see the glittering confetti.

Nicolai pulled her fully into his arms and twirled her around telling the delighted room at large.

“ She said Yes! ”

The room erupted in into excited chapping as Anastasia stared to giggle against his chest her breath catching as she wondered what she had in fact said yes too. Her eyes darkened.

This was too ridiculous another apparition gone astray, she sighed, he was befuddling her mind. She would worry about the consequences tomorrow because right now she was having the time of her life .

If he’d taken her up to his room in that moment she probably would have gone...

Nicolai’s heart missed a beat at her words in his mind. Surely, she didn’t know what she was doing. They were ancient words, words of binding. Most these days used the modern words, the newer verses in the vampire creed. However, there were binding rituals even older still. He wanted to tell her to stop but he felt the pull, knew this was right, somehow in some way it was very right.

Even as he soldiered through his verbal words, her mental responses were binding them together. Without the blood exchange it was not yet permanent, but it could be, it was the binding ritual, or at least an ancient version of it, the words translated from their ancient tongue into modern language. Even as she spoke, she joined her wrist to his, and he could feel her jumping pulse beginning to slow. He unconsciously slowed his even further, just to encourage her to follow him.

He was supposed to be the one tempting and drawing them together, and yet it was she that was claiming he, she the one speaking the ritual as she wove threads of their spirit together. And then it happened, she spilled blood, it like a wash of warmth through his body as the fire of his passion woke to the fact that she was tasting his blood. It was not a formal exchange, a formal feeding, but it was just a taste. It was enough to make him want so much more. The heat in his center grew into a burning need for her.

She closed that distance, pressed her lips to his, let her tongue taste that welling of blood but pass beyond it to kiss him. For the inexperience he suspected she had, one could not tell it by the way she kissed. He moaned low with need.

Then the moment was broken by the rhythmic wump wump wump of the little bastard’s peanut rockets. At first, she instinctively pressed into him, but finding his arousal she pulled back again. However, she seemed to get over that revelation about him as she cried out to the cosmos about how that hurt. He was going to say something snarky about she deserved it or now she knew how it felt, and then he got shot himself. His free hand going up to his ear which was stinging with the hit.

Still joined they moved as one, as if they were trained to fight together. This should have surprised Nicolai, should have made him wonder where she might have learned a defensive move, but there wasn’t time. For, as she exploded it into a million pieces the pieces became visible as confetti pieces. Nicolai was no stranger to making up stories to appease humans, if he did not just mindwipe them. This was going to have to be a whopper of one though.

Finally, he played on their previously intimate moment. He spun her into his arms and proclaimed, “she said yes!” and kissed her thoroughly in front of the cheers and clapping crowd.

Unconsciously he stroked her hair as she hid her face against his chest. He smiled at the crowd as he gently steered her out of the room. The crowd was all too happy to cheer them on their way assuming he was spiriting her off to his room. Yet, he did not take her to a room, he took her right out a side door onto a deserted courtyard, with a small fountain and some trees, with a path that lead out into the forest behind the property. Nicolai’s arm was around her waist as he guided her onto the path. “We can either talk about the ritual you started, or I can simply claim you as would be my right after so clearly offering yourself to me.” His words were soft yet firm. “Most of my kind would not give you an option in this. I suspect you know not what you have done, and I will not so easily bond you to me without you understanding. You play with dangerous emotions, you make me feel, hunger, in ways that I have not for a very long time.” He finally stopped moving to turn and face her unconsciously sliding arms around her waist leaning down as if to kiss her again. Hunger was there in his face. He seemed unable to keep the impassive mask he had worn earlier. She made him feel something and in that second, he let her see it.

Anastasia could still feel his lips on hers, feel his deft fingers stroking her hair, hair that had somehow escaped its confines and was now cascading down her slender back as he guided her from the hotel lounge. She’d never imagined him as gentle and yet he was as he spirited her out of the hotel into the balmy night.

They were headed towards the forest, Ana knew she should resist, insist he take her back but something beyond her control kept her silent. The steading arm around her waist felt like a fiery brand, she shivered. His softly spoken words were heartfelt as they filled her body and soul.

Ritual? Offering herself to him? Did she?

Bonding herself to him? Had she?

Everything that she had done had been instinctive, an insidious powerful push from somewhere deep within her psyche.

Dangerous emotions?

Ethlana had warned her that there were more dangerous enemies than those to be found on the battle field, was Nikolai such an enemy? No this felt very right. On any other day, in any other moment Anastasia might have put him firmly in his place, but this was not the moment!

Hunger? yes, she too was hungry...

Nikolai finally stopped moving to turn and face her sliding his strong arms around her waist leaning down as if to kiss her again. Anastasia felt his longing, saw her own hunger reflected in his earnest and for once unguarded face, it was her undoing.

They both stood bathed in the moonlight that gently lit the secluded pathway. Vampiric statues caught in time itself. The eyes upturned to his were filled with guileless wonder. In that moment she resembled a silver apparition from a world and time long gone. Innocent, untouched, ethereal.

Her arms entwined around him as she began to slowly move leading him in a slow hypnotic dance, one as old as time itself.

Her smile was soft and welcoming as her mind once more touched his. The melody was haunting as he felt the song invade his senses like soft caressing finger tips. Her soft voice was pure magic.

When we move
Under the moon
I can feel you
Slipping through to tantalize
When you speak
Your words soft and sincere
Oh I want you
More than I ever desired
There are things I don't understand
Deep within my well
Then I wish to unveil myself
When I dance under your midnight prayer
We dance around, around, around, in circles
And I dance around, around, around, in circles

In a dream???

Their motions stilled as she stood on tip toe her pale blue eyes still fastened to his, her song continuing. Her tiny razor sharp fangs descended as her eyes began to darken. She nuzzled his corded neck her soft lips seeking out the pulse she could both feel and hear. Gently she bit down and began to feed.

“You should stop,” her inner voice warned her sternly. “I cannot,” she quietly avowed. “ I now see the man behind the mask, he is mine.”

Calm, surreal
I can taste you
Feel completely hypnotized
When you speak
The words I long to hear
Oh I want you
More than I ever desired
There are things I don't understand
Deep within…

Her eyes fluttered closed as she pressed closer giving him her unspoken answer to his questions as she deepened her bite.... mmmm her Neanderthal was sheer perfection!



Music and lyrics borrowed from; Spellbound-Ghostly Kisses.

https://lyricstranslate.com/en/ghostly-kisses-spellbound-lyrics.html

.

Nicolai swayed with her as she initiated their dance. The music was in their minds only, but it was a rhythm both could feel. Her mental touch imparted melody and lyrics for the sensuous movement.

Nicolai had never heard the song before, but her voice in his mind was beautiful, sweet and lyrical. It drew him, the words pulling him closer to her. Then, then there was a pause in their dance and the essence of pure grace she rose on her toes to lean against him.

His left arm instinctively locked around her back, gentle yet firm. It served both to encourage her and make it clear that this was what he wanted. She had need, she hungered. It was his duty, his honor to provide for her. He would have it no other way. She might not understand that it was, yet her instincts were pulling her to him.

Whips of white-hot fire coursed through his body from the twin pricks of her delicate fangs. Her body was pressed the length of his as she found and took what she wanted from him. He rumbled low with his pleasure. His body reacting hardening at the feel of her feeding. You belong to me, His words sounded in her mind, a gentle caress of thought, as the tendrils of their minds grew closer.

The hand on her back twined in her hair. He could feel it coiling around his fingers and he unconsciously tightened his fingers in the mass, pulling her still closer, urging her on. To reach him she had had to press her body to his. He was aware of every curve as they pressed fully to him. He wanted this, he needed more. Her actions only served to fuel his desire to taste her. His mind brushed hers tried to impart to her his desires, the need his face had shown just moments ago. Mine. A single word, yet it said so very much.

He pressed her closer. It was almost as if along with their minds the boundaries of their flesh were melding together as one vibrant entity. She could feel his every ridge pressing into her soft flesh. His fingers entwined in the thickness of her hair as he sought to devour her as she was devouring him. The music entwined with the tendrils of their minds in an erotic dance of exploration. Music was her world and yet here he was firmly enmeshed within it.

So many memories small snippets of the man himself flowing through her veins like musical notes. They were all consuming as they settled themselves on the music stands within her mind as if they truly belonged there. It was as if they were intent on writing a new erotic symphony; one that was theirs alone.

If music is be the food of love play on...

The sensation was addictive, overriding reason. Music could overcome her need for love, yet he was the music. Nothing could override this obsession she was feeling for this potent male, he was fast becoming her destiny.The musical notes were like puzzle pieces they all fit perfectly together. Two beings becoming one, just missing a single something.

She moaned aloud as his mind brushed hers....Mine! A command, a plea, an eternity of need and desire, all rolled into one tiny delectable entreaty.

If music is be the food of love play on...

The thought was terrifying she should pull away and run! She couldn’t, her own need was irrevocably entwined with his. Mine! Her own desperate entreaty echoed his tenfold.

She eased back keeping her own sharp fangs still firmly embedded in his flesh as she turned her head slightly stretching her long neck as she pressed her head into his hand; offering her own neck up to him. He would feed, she would feed, they would feed. A never ending circle of completion!

If music is be the food of love play on...

They had an eternity stretching out before them to fully comprehend the why of this. In this moment it simply felt right.
”If Music be the food of love play on,” borrowed from William Shakespeare - Twelfth Night.

.

He could feel each pull of her lips at his skin, as she drank from him. Each sent a coil of fire through his body, causing stirrings in his body. Feelings he had not felt in a long time. To be so excited by a simple feeding, was a rare experience. As a sentinel, he opened a vein for very few, and so he had denied himself the feel of this pleasure for far too long.

Then it happened. She did not offer herself to him with words, but sensuous movement. She arched into his touch and bared her neck to him. He hesitated only a beat. He let the doubt flow through his mind, would she punish him for this later. However, hunger countered any mental doubts. He felt the press of his fangs against his tongue. His body recognized the offer for what it was.

He sank his own teeth into the tender flesh of her neck, lips pressing to the softness forming a seal and began to feed.

He couldn’t help the low growl at the first taste of the flavor that was unique to her. He knew with just that one taste he would need more. He would never grow tired of her. He tightened his grip around her as he let her essence fill him even as the tendrils of her mind bound them closer with her song. His voice filled her mind as he began the ritual.

I claim you as my bonded partner. From this moment forward our souls are one. Your body, mind, and soul cry out to me, and I take that what is mine. Your care will become my priority and your happiness my goal. We are bonded and I claim you before the spirits of those that came before.

With the sharing of their blood like this and the words, they were bound to one another. He now would not easily let her go, even if she wanted. She had invited him to cross a line, and he could not go back. She was his forever, and even that wouldn’t be long enough. Later could bring the concern of what would her father think, how would he respond to this, but at the end of the day there was nothing he could do, so such a thought was banished, his mind filled with only her and this glorious moment as he made her his. Only one thing remained, he needed to be inside her.