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“I’ve built a house or two in my time, so I can take care of the planning,” I reminded her.
She smiled at me and her expression eased, “Will you always do that?”
“Do what?” I asked, uncertain of what she referred to by her question.
“Always take care of everything?” she asked.
I took her in my arms to reassure her. “I will always take of you and everything you need,” I promised.
I knew she would need time to adjust to her new role as my Agápe and wife and I wasn’t surprised when she said, “If you do everything for me, doesn’t that mean one of us is unnecessary, meaning myself? What does that leave for me to do?”
“You are to be loved and love me in return. That’s your only job.”
She smiled and said, “I don’t guess I can complain about that.”
I stood and offered her my hand. “Come on; let’s head back to the house so we can look at where we’ll build our new chambers. The contractor should be here tomorrow so we should discuss a plan tonight.” She took my hand and I pulled her against me tightly. Her arms reached to wrap around my shoulders and I rubbed her lower back.
“I love how you’re trying to convince me to marry you sooner, but it isn’t going to work. You get your way on everything else, so now it’s my turn to have my way. It’s called middle ground and it’s what marriage is built on, so start getting use to it, Pal.”
“I’m sorry it feels like you are forced to give in more than your fair share,” I apologized.
“It’s alright for now because it won’t always be that way,” she warned and I knew her words were a promise of what was to come.
We folded the blanket and then began the walk back to the house. She reached for my hand and said, “I want you to have an art studio. You’re too talented to let it go to waste. Do you think that could be built, as well?”
My heart smiled at her thoughtfulness and I gave her hand a quick squeeze. “What did I do to deserve you?”
She laughed as she said, “Just incredibly lucky is all I know.”
3 Swans, Seekers and Dolls
We returned to the compound and walked the site by the South wing where the construction for our private world would begin soon. Chansey insisted my art studio be built on the East side with large windows to allow the morning sun to shine on my art pieces. I smiled at her consideration but couldn’t bring myself to mention how the windows would be unnecessary if she was successful in her plan to become a creature of the night.
Her thoughtfulness sparked an idea and I decided to secretly construct a sitting room for her inside our quarters as a surprise wedding gift for her. I don’t know where the thought originated because it seemed to suddenly pop into my mind like someone else placed it there for me.
Many exciting changes had occurred over the past couple of days. Although Chansey accepted my marriage proposal, she still didn’t know a lot about the world of vampires and there was much she needed to learn. “Do you think you would feel comfortable joining the others for dinner tonight? If you are going to live in a house of vampires you will need to become accustomed to the sight of blood drinking.”
She swallowed hard. “Where do they get the blood?”
“There is a community of humans called Black Swans that know about us and support our cause. Some of the Black Swans choose to become Blood Swans, which means they freely give of their blood supply for our sustenance.”
She looked thoughtful and asked, “Do you bite the Blood Swans?”
“I’m sure there are Blood Swans that would like to be bitten, but we do not drink directly from them. There are humans that allow themselves to be bitten, but we discourage it because it is too easy to lose control. There are groups of humans called Seekers that desire the company of vampires and wish to be turned. Seekers willingly allow vampires to bite them as a way of being introduced into the community. Then, there are also Blood Dolls. They enjoy and are addicted to the act of being bitten because of the umm...ecstasy they receive from it. They refer to the pleasure of the bite as The Kiss.”
“Have you ever bitten a Blood Doll?”
My answer was not going to please her. “We have all had a Blood Doll at some point in our existence, but it was a very long time ago.”
The angry versus jealous expression on her face told me she didn’t appreciate my honest answer. “How many have you had?”
I looked to the ground for help, but found none. “Only one.”
“What was her name?”she asked, jealously.
“Her name was Luciana and our relationship meant nothing. It can’t really even be considered a relationship. I drank from her. There was nothing romantic between us because it isn’t like that for vampires. The only thing we feel romantic about is the blood we crave. And our Agápes,” I explained.
Her hands went to her hips. Uh oh. Not a great sign for me. “Did your relationship with her last a long time?”
I was probably about to shoot myself in the foot or cause her to shoot me. “Depends on what you consider a long time.”
She was becoming aggravated with my vague answers and slightly raised her voice as she interrogated further. “Please, answer the question that you are avoiding. How long was Luciana your Blood Doll?”
“A little more than two years,” I admitted. Although two years was nothing for a vampire, it was rather significant in the life of a human and I knew by the look on her face that my answer didn’t sit well with her.
She became silenced by my unintentional hurtful admission. Now, she looked at the ground in search of the right words. The silence surrounding us emphasized the beat of her rapid heart before she finally continued, “What ended your relationship with Luciana?”
“She thought she loved me. I failed to convince her that it was the result of The Kiss she loved, so I ended all contact with her.”
Chansey took a deep breath. “What happened to her?” she asked.
“She found another vampire to feed on her and he eventually turned her.”
This hole I was digging was getting deeper with each question I answered. Chansey took the stance I had unfortunately become quite familiar with when she shifted her weight over to one leg. “Incredible! There’s a second vampire out there somewhere that’s convinced she’s in love with you? You are quite the lady’s man, aren’t you?”
“Luciana i
s a vampire, but she is not in love with me. She’s a vampire in love with the blood she drinks,” I clarified.
“Vampires have romantic relationships with other vampires, so how do you know she isn’t still in love with you?”
“She just isn’t,” I argued.
I reached for her arm and she stepped out of my reach. “But, how do you know, Curry?” she insisted.
“I’ve seen her since she was turned and she isn’t interested. Nor am I. I was never interested in her for any reason other than using her for blood when she was human.”
I cheated and used my vampire speed to catch her before she could pull away from me again. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed the top of her head as I pleaded, “You are the only one I have ever loved in my human life or in my years as a vampire. The only one. Ever.”
She finally returned my embrace and said, “I’m sorry. I know I must look like a jealous fool.”
I certainly couldn't fault her for feelings she couldn’t control. “I understand because I have experienced some jealousy issues when it comes to your admirers.”
“I don’t have admirers,” she argued.
“It certainly looks like it to me, but why don’t we just call all of it water under the bridge?” I suggested.
“I think I can agree to that and my answer is ‘yes’ to your earlier question. I would love to join you and your family for dinner tonight. Make mine AB negative,” she laughed.
“My, Miss Leclaire. You have a choosy palate. AB negative is the sweetest and most difficult to come by.”
“It’s good to know I’m sweet and in high demand,” she said as she walked her fingers up my chest.
“Your blood type is AB negative?”
“All day and all night long,” she laughed.
I wouldn’t have guessed that from when I tasted her, but I only had a few drops. Maybe it was the Agápe bond throwing it off or maybe I just didn’t have enough to be able to tell. “Chansey, don’t tell anyone that. Always keep that to yourself.”
“Okay, I will,” she agreed.
