Leading A Vampire

[PogueMahone]

Vassily

Vassily slowly stretched out his hand, brushing her black hair away from her face as she hung her head, exposing her lovely face as she sat there still as a stone. “Forgive me, child.” He pleaded softly, his fingers gently caressing her cheek as he pushed her hair back behind her ear. “I should not have lost my temper with you,” He stated simply, his fingers tracing along her cheekbones as she sat there motionless. “I know it is hard, it seems almost impossible to think of eternal life when you are first turned.”

“I wish I could have spared you this pain, the pain of losing your life and yet living,” He assured her, standing up once more. “I will leave you alone to think, to decide what you want,” He told her, glancing once more at the heavy curtains that shielded them from the dangerous sun. “If you have need of anything, please just call.”

 

[CursedVixen]

Zoe shivered at his touch. It made her weak in the knees. When Vassily turned to go she gently reached for his arm.

"No, please, don't go." She asked him. She looked to his face in the shadows, searching for his eyes.

She felt brash, and bold. She regretted having reached for him and quickly withdrew. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. She looked down again, and if he had seen her face he would've seen that her face was flushed red.

 

[PogueMahone]

Vassily

Vassily paused as she reached out for his arm, her hand gently holding him in place as she looked up at him. Although her hand barely touched his arm, Vassily felt as if her touch had frozen him, holding him in place with an iron grip.

“There is nothing for you to be sorry for,” He assured her softly, his voice little more then a whisper as she withdrew her hand, freeing him from her captivating touch. “It is I who should be sorry, Zoe, sorry for what I have done to your life,” He told her, his hand reaching out to cup her chin, lifting her face so that he could look down at her in the dim light. “I hope you can forgive me,” He whispered, leaning down to gently kiss her lips.

 

[CursedVixen]

Zoë felt like she would collapse. Her knees were weak and she didn't think that she had enough strength in her to keep herself upright.

"I forgive you," she mumbled to him as she felt him stooping down to her. Without inclination, Zoë's body leaned against him. Her arms rested on his shoulders and she could feel his own arms wrapping around her waist. She closed her eyes as she inhaled his scent in the darkness.

Zoë waited for what felt like forever for his lips to meet hers. Something inside her snapped as his touched washed away every fear, every thought, and everything else outside of them. In that moment, Zoë felt that eternity with this man would feel like heaven on earth.

 

[PogueMahone]

Vassily

Vassily trembled. His arms around this lovely young woman, his lips against hers in a gentle kiss, Vassily felt something he had thought never to feel again. The surge of warmth, of emotion, that swept through him was like a physical blow, a blow that nearly knocked him to his knees, but a welcome blow. Once, only once before in his life had he ever felt this way, and that had ended long ago with the death of his wife. “Anatasia, my love, my wife,” Vassily whispered softly as their lips parted, forgetting himself and speaking in his native tongue.

“Zoe,” Vassily started, his mind clearing from the powerful emotions, realizing who he held in his arms and the faux pas he had just made. “I’m… I’m not sure this is the wise thing for us to do,” He told her, reluctant to let go of her, to relinquish his embrace of her. “You have been through much, I don’t wish to make the situation harder.”

 

[CursedVixen]

Zoe was disappointed to hear the name of another woman spoken from her lips. She sighed heavily as his lips pulled away from hers, but she wouldn't let him pull his body away.

She wanted to feel his body against hers. She wanted to feel his warmth. But she felt like it was fading.

"Who is Anastasia?" She whispered to him, obviously having been hurt by his outcry.

 

[PogueMahone]

Vassily

“Who is Anastasia?”

The question and the obvious pain in her voice caused Vassily to look down at the lovely young woman in his arms. He had hurt her unintentionally, the memories of his past life had boiled up to cause her pain. “She was my wife,” He told Zoe softly, his voice thick with the sorrow he still carried for her. “She was my lover, my friend, my life.”

“She grew up in the same street as I did, her family lived two houses down from mine. I’d known her my entire life, although how I felt for her came as a surprise to me. She completed me, made my life worth living. She died three months after we were married, an outbreak of disease, the plague, took her from me. I have mourned her ever since,” Vassily told her, tears running down his cheeks as he told someone of his loss for the first time in centuries. “I… I am sorry, Zoe, I did not mean to harm you.” He told her, forcefully pulling away out of her arms, “but perhaps it would be best if I was alone now.”

 

[CursedVixen]

Zoe then feared that she would never truthfully be able to spend the rest of eternity with Vassily. She regretfully and painfull allowed him to break away. She hadn't much choice because he was obviously stronger than she.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled. She sniffled and nodded.

A few moments passed as she watched him pull further and further away from her, desiring to be by himself. Zoe had never been in a serious relationship and knew that even if she had she wouldn't be able to comprehend his pain."I understand," she lied.

 

[PogueMahone]

Vassily

“I… please, just give me some time,” Vassily said, the pain and confusion evident in her voice as she unconvincingly assured him that she understood. “I did not expect…. I didn’t think that you… please, a little time,” Vassily stammered, the loss of her embrace shaking him more then the raw emotions that remember Anastasia’s death had rekindled. He longed to hold her, to feel her body against his, but at the same time feared it, feared her, afraid that she would replace the love of his life. “I… we shall speak again this evening,” Vassily managed to say, shrugging his shoulders and hugging his arms tight against his chest as he rushed from the room, hurrying to his own bedroom. Throwing himself onto the bed, Vassily was assailed by memories and guilt.

Deep wracking sobs of grief tore through him as he remembered the life he had lost, the love that once was his, and all the years that had passed. Although centuries had passed, Vassily was still tormented by the strength of his feelings towards Zoë, although he had just met her they seemed to match, nay, even surpass those he felt for Anastasia. How could he love another woman as much as her? Vassily wondered tearfully.

 

[CursedVixen]

As he left Zoe felt something rip inside her. She felt a kind of guilt and shame for having caused such a terrible grief. She watched him go into his room and from the kitchen she could occassionally hear his cries.

She found her way to the couch and laid down. She was hurt, confused, and lonely. His presence gave her something that allowed her to forget her pain, and she was lost without it.

She closed her eyes and drifted in and out of sleep as she watched the natural light of the sun fade into darkness behind the protection of the curtains.

 

[PogueMahone]

Vassily

Vassily spent a tortured few hours, neither sleeping nor awake as his mind turned inward, tormenting him by examining his feelings, his emotions. He was even more exhausted when he finally rose from the bed determined to talk to Zoe then he had been when he had laid down.

“The sun has set,” He announced as he entered the living room, pressing the button that controlled the curtains, the faint purr of the motors sounding as they rolled back to reveal the beauty of the night. “It is now safe for us to go outside, Zoe.” He assured her, standing over her as she lay on the couch.

“Please, forgive me, my dear,” He said after a few seconds pause, begging her pardon, “I have always been ruled by my emotions and there are times when they do get the best of me. Today, I was not at my best and I apologize for my behavior,” He said, bowing his head as he awaited her reaction.

 

[CursedVixen]

Zoe rose gently at the sound of his voice. She looked around and saw the neighborhood around her in almost complete darkness. She looked to him in question and in surprise.

"I do not blame you or begrudge you," she whispered as she stood. "So do not worry."

She stopped for a moment and stretched. "Where are we going?"

 

[PogueMahone]

Vassily

“Where would you like to go, my dear?” Vassily asked in response to her question, smiling at the graceful way she dismissed the earlier incident. “The night is yours, Zoe. What would you like to do? Where would you like to go?” He asked, reaching out to take her hand tentatively, his fingers caressing hers as he looked into her grey eyes. “Your eyes should soon become accustomed to the dark, you should be able to see as well as you would in the daylight,” He confided in her as he stepped around the back of the couch to stand at her side.

 

[CursedVixen]

"I wouldn't have the slightest idea of where to go," she admitted. She was greatful to feel his hand holding hers again.

As she looked around she knew his words were true. Her eyes were becomming better at seeing things in the darkness.

"I suppose I should ask what are the basics. What do I need to know?"

 

[PogueMahone]

Vassily

“The basics?” Vassily repeated, his free hand rubbing at his chin as he glanced over at the young beauty by his side. “Well, the most basic is avoid sunlight. It isn’t as deadly as the movies and folklore would make it but it is best to avoid the sun as much as possible. You won’t disintegrate into ash but it will hurt, imagine the worst sunburn you’ve ever had multiplied by ten.” He warned her.

“Garlic and holy relics won’t harm you, that is purely fiction.” Vassily assured her, raising his hand to touch the small silver crucifix that hung around his neck. “You won’t appear in a mirror. And you will probably notice a larger number of people like ourselves then you would previously have imagined,” He told her with a slight grin. “There is an entire culture out there that you as a human only scratched the surface of, Zoe. Slash is only one of a number of clubs that cater to our kind, a sort of feeding ground.”

 

[CursedVixen]

Zoe was surprised to hear that most folklore she had heard about Vampires was actually false. She nodded in understanding as he spoke. She took the crusifix in her hand and studied it.

"Interesting," she mused.

The question she had been dying to ask suddenly slipped out. "What about the fangs?"

 

[PogueMahone]

Vassily

“The fangs?” Vassily repeated her question, “Your fangs will only grow if you are about to feed. They are your body’s reaction the need for blood, much like your pupils dilating when exposed to bright light. You shouldn’t have to feed tonight, if the urge does come upon you, let me know. There is more you need to know before you feed for the first time,” he told her, reaching down to cover her hand the held his crucifix.

“We are a predatory society, Zoë. There are some of our kind who are little more then animals, dangerous animals who jealously guard what they perceive to be their territory. If you feel out of your depth or threatened, back away and find me.” He warned her, knowing that she would be the weakest of their kind; the youngest and most inexperienced were always targets unless protected.

“The first thing we should do is get you some new clothes,” Vassily said, his finger running along one strap of her halter, feeling the crusted, dried blood that had soaked into the fabric the night before. “Would you like to return to your own home, Zoë?”

 

[CursedVixen]

Zoe was relieved that fangs wouldn't be an ever-present complication that she wouldn't have to deal with. She was also relieved to hear that Vassily would be protecting her, that he would be around for a while and there for her.

She understood when he said some were animals. In Zoe's mind, vampires were not unlike humans. Indeed, some humans are very animalistic and predatory.

As his hand glided over her shirt she looked to it. Yes, she needed new clothes. At this she felt very unclean. But when he suggested returning to her own home, she was shocked.

"What if I run into someone I know? I thought you said to forget my past," she said as she looked up into his eyes, still holding on to his crusifix.

 

[PogueMahone]

Vassily

“I am sorry, my dear,” Vassily chuckled, “I meant only for us to go to your home to retrieve your clothes.” He explained, realizing how unclear he had been. “Forgive me, this language is not my native tongue and there are times when I misspeak.”

“If you are truly worried about encountering someone from your past life, we can purchase you a whole new wardrobe, if you wish.” He assured her, his hand still covering hers as she looked up at him, her grey eyes large in the darkness of the room.

“It is completely up to you, Zoe.”

 

[CursedVixen]

For a moment she looked down and thought carefully about what she wanted to do. Her clothes suited her. Surely no one would be at her appartment this late, they would just have to be quiet.

"I would like to get some of my things," she admitted. He told her that she would have to leave her old life behind, but she wanted to take some of it with her. "How will we manage?" She asked him, once again looking up as she drew herself closer to him.

 

[PogueMahone]

Vassily

“We’ll go there first, Zoë,” Vassily told her softly, his hand sliding off hers as she held onto his crucifix, his fingers caressing the bare skin of her arm. “We can either walk or take a taxi,” He whispered to her softly as she drew closer to him, his arm sliding around her shoulder almost automatically. Hold her felt so natural, so instinctive that he found himself embracing her before his thoughts caught up with him.

“Before we leave you should drink,” Vassily told her, suddenly stepping back away from her, knowing that if he continued to hold her, to be that close to her they would never leave the house. “You will be expending more energy then you are used to and the blood will help sustain you. If at any time tonight, the hunger comes over you, let me know immediately. “He warned her again, moving towards the refrigerator and pouring them each a goblet of blood.

 

[CursedVixen]

Once again Zoe felt empty as he pulled away. She wanted to continue holding on to him, but Vassily wouldn't give her that pleasure.

At the mention of drinking blood Zoe instinctively cringed. She'd never seen appeal in it, and she didn' think it would taste very good. She understood that she would be loosing energy, and that if she didn't take the goblet and do as she was told she would grow weak.

She nodded in affirmation and took the goblet in her hand. She tentatively sniffed it, but then decided to simply close her eyes and drink. As she did she felt that same jolt of electricity she had the night before. The taste was something so exquisite and fulfilling. In mere moments she had finished and was wiping it away from her lips. After only so little she felt rejuvenated, and understood why her attacker had taken so much from her.

"Thank you," she said softly as she gently set the cup on the counter.

 

[PogueMahone]

Vassily

“It wasn’t that bad, now was it?” Vassily asked with a smile as he sipped at his own goblet, remembering how the first taste had shocked him so many years ago. Of course, drinking it from a glass was a completely different experience then feeding on a human, the fear, the sweat, the adrenalin all added to the bouquet of the blood, the heat of life and the rhythmic pulse of a heart pumping blood into one’s mouth… it was as close to bliss as Vassily had ever gotten, a bliss that was tempting, alluring, almost addictive.

“Now, are you ready to go?” He asked, finishing his own glass and setting it beside hers on the counter.

 

[CursedVixen]

"No, it wasn't," Zoe giggled. She had no idea what she had been expecting, but now she knew she had been wrong. And now she knew what he meant by the arising hunger. She could only imagine would it would taste like fresh from the veins of a human. It would be a temptation she would have to resist.

She nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready." She said to him with a wide smile, feeling the energy in her muscles and in her bones. Zoe came to the conclusion that the night would be a fun learning experience for her, if she let it.

 

[PogueMahone]

Vassily

Vassily saw the energy, the vitality in her eyes as the blood renewed her. “I think we should walk to your apartment, Zoe.” Vassily told her, reaching out to take her hand. “It is on the other side of the city, we should be able to reach it in about ten minutes,” He assured her, knowing that for a normal human the trip would take hours.

“Shall we?” he asked, guiding her out into the cool night air. A gust of wind kicked up, streaming her long black hair out behind her as she took in her first night as a vampire. “You’re beautiful,” He whispered softly in his native language as he gazed at the young woman at his side.