Roses in Snow

Brit closed her coloring book. Tips of crayons scattered around her. “Another broke?” asked Ethan. She nodded with a soft sigh. He gazed at her from his desk. Her body trembled and she stretched trying to shake off the feeling. Closing his ledger, he stood to hold out his hand to her. Pulling her up, he gave her a warm embrace and said, “You need to slow the world down, princess. It will be easier once you do.” He started to describe how she should visualize before she moved. She focused on him as he talked, but a glance within her thoughts showed him that she was not able to truly comprehend. Perhaps when some of the vitae wore off, he told himself. She would have to experiment with her newly found abilities. It was difficult to watch Brit struggle, but Ethan kissed her forehead and went back to his books watching her.

Ethan was proud that Brit was acquiring some of his attributes. He grinned at the memory of her broadcasting a comment to the room and how she struggled with moving very quickly. In time, he told himself, it would become natural for her. Brit settled back and picked up a new crayon. Her fingers moved too quickly on the page and pressed too hard. Within moments, the crayon snapped off the tip. Brit sighed staring at the page where she was trying to draw roses and cherries in snow.

Thinking to the night before, she remembered the warmth of the rooftop amidst the wind-blown snow. Ethan had given her warning about instincts. “When we both need guidance, we shall follow our instincts.” With his fingers caressing her bite marks, he added, “Though, instincts can be treacherous things.” More kisses followed until he said, “Mine. And I will not be left waiting.”

Ethan’s touches pushed the pain of Larissa’s loss from her thoughts albeit briefly. He could see within her thoughts as the newly awakened emotions of anger and grief drained away in his diversion. Brit’s eyes widened at his demeanor and words. Swaying to and fro when he pulled her close to him, she settled against him. “I do confess…that….” Her voice trailed off as she stepped closer pressing her body against his. Her fingers caressed his cheek as she finished her sentence by giving a slow and sensual kiss not wishing him to wait.

Ethan whirled her playfully fast and pressed her against the stone support for the billboard adjusting her body against his. “Confess to me, Brit,” he whispered softly before biting and nibbling along her neck. Moving his lips from her neck to her ear, he pressed her as he whispered again, “Confess to me.” Biting more, he flicked his tongue over her neckline. Snow flurried around them and his fingers shook the flakes free from her hair. Brit struggled to form the words that she wanted him to know. Closing her eyes, she felts his tongue on her neck. Her pulse beneath the skin was strong and vibrant.

Ethan continued to nibble and tease her neck with his fangs, never breaking the skin but leaving many bite marks to blush her skin. He yearned to hear her words spoken even though he could see it in her thoughts. Brit’s thoughts were never linear. He glimpsed it all. Her grief over Larissa’s death and her anger over the words she had heard. Dryl saying, “Dead,” and Nareth confirming that she was gone before the laughter started. Brit was offended and hurt over their behavior toward someone who was very dear to her. Her fingers clung to him as she rubbed her cheek against his hair. Her arms and legs wrapped so tightly around him that there was nothing between them anymore. “Confess to me,” he coaxed again. His voice was seducing her away from her high energy heart ache. “I know you will not fight me,” he said softly into her ear.

The wind was cold, and his body was as cold as the night. It mattered not as she could feel him warming where she was pressed against him. “Don’t fight me,” he repeated placing his lips on her neck. Brit blinked in bewilderment knowing she would never push him away. Opening his mouth wide, he sank his fangs into her skin breaking muscle and vein alike holding her tight as her blood filled his mouth. Before drinking, he pulled back with bloodied lips. Looking directly at her, his eyes were dark affected by her taste and his voice growled softly, “This is what I am, Brit, or at least part of me. I never hid it from you and I will always be part beast. But I will only be yours. Always. And you will never be alone because I will not allow it.”

Dipping her back until the stone supported both of them, Ethan drank heavily from her. His throat muscles working as he swallowed her blood turning it into vitae in his system. Brit’s mind raced to keep up. Telling him she would never fight him. She told him that she loved him. All of him. She could feel the snow pelt her exposed throat as he drank. Ethan enjoyed the feel of her chilled skin against his lips and the heat that lay beneath. “Do not fight me,” his thoughts pressed again and he drank another deep sip. Shifting to one side, his left hand slid lower pulling her tighter against him. With his arms around her and his fangs in her throat, Ethan seemed a predator keeping its prey near him. Brit’s thoughts started to drift as in a dream. Dizzy sensations from his drinking and embrace caused her to want her husband closer.

As if reading her thoughts, Ethan shook his head slightly. Biting his lips several times, he cause his vitae to pool before cupping her face with one hand. “I want your kisses,” he said, “And I want you to drink mine.” His tone all but ordered it as he claimed her lips pouring his vitae into her mouth. Brit kissed him and sucked his lower lip with soft pops as she released it. With each drink, her body received a slight surged reaction as the vitae hit her system. She mumbled ‘yes’ once to him and drank his kisses. Her bite marks pooled blood that slowly dripped down her neck. The color was rich red, crimson and dark, reminding Ethan of roses or cherries in the snow. Brit glimpsed his thought. Sensing her blood dripping, Ethan immediately moved to her bites and sucked the cooling blood greedily from her skin. He nibbled and licked ensuring none was left before returning to her mouth again. Reopening his lip, he demanded, “Drink more.”

Brit swallowed drink after drink of the heady vitae. Her body pushed away unsure she could drink any more. Ethan pulled her back tightly and repeated in a low whisper, “Don’t fight me. Drink more.” Her lips trembled from the powerful vitae coursing through her body. Ethan kissed her softly and dripped more vitae into her mouth as she breathlessly leaned against the post that supported both of them. Dutifully, she swallowed and he kissed again refilling her mouth albeit more slowly. Again, she swallowed. Her body trembling hard as it processed. “More,” he whispered. Her mossy green eyes blinked slowly as he filled her mouth again. One drop after another dripped from his lips until the wound healed. His fingers touched her chin holding her mouth closed with a fingertip until she swallowed.

Picking up another crayon, Brit pulled it twice across the page before it snapped. She sighed. Ethan saw her body still racked with trembles. She would acclimate, he thought to himself. Besides, the benefits she would gain were too precious not to ensure they were within her grasp. “The tremors should pass, Brit. You will learn to control the gifts I give you.” Standing, he walked to offer her a hand. “Perhaps color later.” She took his hand and he pulled her up to him settling back on the desk. After carefully looking her over, he kissed her forehead, her cheek and then her lips. Inside, he glimpsed the focus again on Larissa. She needed time to mourn, he thought. With a hint of a smile, the fact that his wife finally realized that not all were “way nice” showed she was growing in a way he deemed positive. “You will always be mine,” Ethan said softly. He motioned her to follow him to the Haven thinking that perhaps dancing could help her body process, and assist her mind to sooth over the loss of her friend.

Transitions

((Taken from assorted RP's))

It was Sunday, and Brit was watching Ethan conduct his business again with the men on the small skiff. Brit sighed softly. The late meetings were more frequent and she could not hear what was being said. Items were exchanged for wide, sealed envelopes. Brit’s awareness was growing, and her questions were becoming more pointed; and therefore, Ethan sent Brit to wait for him at the library. Brit was greeted by Joah and Poncho as she entered, and sat pristinely smoothing out her new dress. Joah assisted someone with nightmares as Poncho looked over the report in his hands. “You’ve been gone for a while….honeymoon?” he asked Brit.

Brit filled both in on her comings and goings. A soft blush tinged her cheeks as she spoke. One left and another joined. Lorne was mentioned, and Brit asked, “Where is Lorne.”

Joah looked to where Poncho had been sitting, but he had gone too. She told Brit, “He left the library. He went to the Shadows.” Brit asked about Larissa and whether she was upset over Lorne’s leaving, and whether Lorne checked on Larissa and their baby. Joah walked over to Brit and placed a hand on Brit’s knee comfortingly. She then told Brit that Larissa died giving birth to her baby and that Nareth had taken the baby from the city.

Other explanations followed, but Brit heard little. She could only remember Larissa’s prettiness and gentle friendship. Tears fell down Brit’s cheeks. One fell and she remembered Larissa telling her how much love she had for Lorne. Another tear splattered and Brit remembered dancing with Larissa in the library, warehouse, and dance studio. More tears fell. The talks in the library and diner. The time Larissa’s eyes went black and the broken glass that swirled around her. Memories passed with the falling of each tear. Joah explained that Larissa was an angel now. Full of sparkle and light, but Brit had not seen her. So many had gone and the tears continued to fall. Joah hugged Brit as she cried and wiped tears with her handkerchief until Ethan came to get her.

Brit felt a strong sadness for a few days. Mirah had told her, “I wish I had an answer as to who goes and gets to stay with us, sweetie, but I don’t. And it kills me that I don’t.” Brit said little about it for a few days. Unexpectedly, Ethan took her from the city once again. This time, they did not meet men with the skiff or with Ethan’s tailor. He took her to a tall tower that overlooked a city on the mainland. Ethan sat on the railing and watched his wife who seemed terribly silent. With a slight frown, he pulled Brit a little closer and touched her neck gently before taking her hand to bring her closer still. With a caress of her hair, he wrapped his arms about her bringing her to him for a tender kiss.

Brit returned a warm hug and paused to take in the view. Another kiss lingered before she pulled away just a hint. Her eyes were sad and she whispered, “Larissa is dead.” He asked her what happened as he anxiously checked her over with soft touches. Brit explained all to Ethan. He held her tightly as he thought over what else he had recently learned regarding the wards that had been removed from the library. After a very long time and some soft quiet words, Brit said, “I was asked if we have been on our honeymoon. Are we?”

Ethan grinned and the look of concern left his face at her question. “Well, you could say we have been on our honeymoon in Toxia, but we came here to extend it a bit.”

“You kiss lots on a honeymoon,” she said before kissing him. Wrapping her arms around him, she said, “And cuddle lots too.” Her lips brushed over his as she whispered, “And get close.” A few more moments passed before she offered, “I read about it in the library.”

Pulling back just a moment, he repeated somewhat stuttering, “Read about it?” He had asked others to keep such things from her and thought of ways he could inflict pain on them for not doing so. She seemed still somewhat reserved and teary wetness lingered on her eyes from where she told him of Larissa. He kissed her again sensing each kiss distracted her from sadness.

Quiet kisses and time passed. Her fingers ran through his hair as she continued to kiss him with a growing boldness. The sound of her dress rustled slightly and she said softly, “I want to make you hungry….and…then….remove your hungers.”

After a brief blink of surprise, Ethan looked at her quite entertained and lovingly ran his fingertips down her neckline to where her dress starts. “Make me hungry?” His finger traced her face as he continued, “I am always hungry for you in one way or the other. It is just a matter of timing for my kind. And how much you want to fight the hunger.” With a grin, he said, “Of course, there are all kinds of hungers. And some I only ever feel for you.” The next kiss was deep and more sensual. He took her back to their temporary resting spot in the city they were visiting. Brit looked about just for a moment before helping him off with his tie as he shrugged off his coat.

Different Strokes

Ethan arrived to their resting place almost immediately after Brit arrived. In truth, he had followed her for over a block, and had half-expected for her to turn sensing him near. She greeted him with a warm smile and unnaturally rosy cheeks. Kissing her forehead and lips, he paused when brushing her hair away to kiss her neck. His marks on her throat were gone. Pulling her to him tightly,his eyes flashed crimson for a moment. The sun was rising and he could feel himself growing more exhausted. Calmly, he said, “Tell me of your evening, Brit.” He had to spend energy to stay awake as he methodically went through a flowchart of casual questions. She answered easily; and he quickly attained that it was unlikely that anyone intentionally meddled, but she had indeed met someone who might have wanted to help. Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her before sinking his fangs deep into her throat and slowly drank while wrapping a blanket around both of them. “I want to hear more tomorrow,” he said while lazily licking the wounds and falling immediately dormant.

Brit thought of the events of the evening while she lay practically bound in Ethan’s arms and the blanket. Her thoughts kept her from sleep. She could not shake the words between Nareth and the girl from the library from who Nareth drank. The girl seemed to care deeply for Nareth and Nareth did not seem to care for the girl at all. Remembering the dinner in Vienna, she knew that caring was not required. However, what disturbed Brit deeply was that the girl seemed wobbly and left the library with no one to follow or look after her. Her lips parted as her heart pounded and she felt sorrow for the girl. At the dinner, others seemed to look out for everyone there or perhaps she did not notice. The thought was upsetting.

That evening, unable to find Ethan, Brit went to the church to ask God about it. As before, there was no response. Her mind went to the line of priests she had met in Vienna. Each had spent some time talking with her about prayer, God, and answering questions for as long as she had them each evening. Ethan had waited and did not interfere as she spoke to each priest. She saw children of the school with the nuns and Brit had attended an evening mass with them. The music and language were beautiful though she did not speak the language. Ethan quietly interpreted it for her and answered additional questions after they had left the company of priests. Ethan kept expecting a question as to why one priest wore a mask, but Brit had never asked so he never had to explain about the anomalies of the Nosferatu clan.

Uncharacteristically, Ethan woke before she did. Rather than quietly extracting himself from the tangle of hair, he playfully poked and tickled her until she woke. Brit brushed her hair from her face immediately telling him of her concerns regarding Nareth and the girl in the library, and completely cut off what he was getting ready to say. Ethan listened with his infinite patience though not as relaxed as he usually was. He quickly reminded her of the dinner in Vienna, and told her to not be concerned or interfere. Additional questions were answered with kisses until she grew quiet. Pulling back, he traced his marks now quite raw on her neck and asked additional questions regarding the night before. Then he said, “What was the name of the person who touched your shoulder in the church?”

“Wolves,” she lisped. “He’s way nice.”

Leaning, he kissed Brit’s forehead and lips softly. “Everyone is way nice,” he softly teased, and sent her to dress. After sending her to the library, Ethan walked in the direction of the church.

A Public Discussion

Watching the flames in the fireplace, Brit blushed slightly thinking of Ethan leaning forward to whisper a comment against her lips before placing a soft kiss. He then kissed her chin and her throat, and then he placed another on her neck before opening his mouth wider and biting down on the skin. She could hear soft pops as his fangs sank deep through the layers of her flesh. Pressing her against the wall, he trapped her with his hands and body weight ensuring no possibility of her breaking free while he gulped her vitae. She could hear it being pulled from her. After regaining her bearings, she closed her eyes losing herself to the intense sensation.

As she watched the flames, her heartbeat started to race at the memory of the night just as it did while he drank from her enjoying the adrenalin rush that flavored her blood in a way he found pleasing. He drank until she felt dizzy, and then licked his lips clean and ensured that her wounds had closed. Brit stroked his cheek as he grinned at her saying nothing. Quietly, they simply stayed close until he pierced his lip before leaning closer for a different kind of kiss. Her body’s response to the taste of the powerful blood was immediate. She felt stronger. Her thoughts were strangely clear. Blinking up at him, she realized how very beautiful he was, and she wondered if the blueness was always in his black hair. She could smell the ocean and contrasted it with the salty-vanilla scent of her own skin. The night seemed clearer and she could hear the rustling of their clothing. It had happened before, but she associated the clarity and enhanced senses with the blood on his lips and pressed against him in return as she sucked softly on his lower lip until he pulled away.

She tried to follow him but he spun her toward the wall and pressed against her again biting into her neck again. This time, he took only unimportant amounts of blood but focused on feeling her skin part. Letting his fangs slide in and out of her neck…savoring the taste…..

“Brit?” The voice blinked her out of her memory and she noticed the library had become quite full. Merma, Poncho, then Neri, Omega, Larissa and Nareth. Denny entered. Nareth had said that she had bought a dress. Brit and others asked to see it. Nareth looked lovely, but Denny’s focus seemed to be on Brit. “He’s taking too much,” Denny muttered. Then a few minutes later, he added, “I miss the colorful dresses too.” The newspaper he was reading rustled. Others talked and admired Nareth’s dress. Some started to pay attention to Denny as he continued, “Around each other too much.” He muttered something about wedding rings and stared at Brit as he told Nareth she looked beautiful. Then he asked, “How is your beloved Ethan, Brit?”

Denny watched her noticing the paleness. Her answer was sentient, clear, and aware with no hesitation. Denny said, “How many are near” and Brit answered without missing a beat. “Is there anything else you want to tell me,” Denny asked. She told Denny of the ring she received for Valentine’s Day and he gave her no response for several moments. “Brit, I know he drinks from you, but are you drinking from him?” She did not answer and seemed to focus on conversations of others in the library for a moment. Denny picked up a book and hurled it toward Brit who caught it easily and simply put it in her lap. Omega asked him if he had gone mad, then commended Brit on her catch. Denny answered Omega, “No M’Dear. Our dear Brit has tasted vampire blood.”

Brit said softly, “What happens between beloveds is not for public discussion.” The words were not hers, but she felt they fit at that moment. Denny continued to glare at her and said, “I think it is time for bed for you, youngling. Wouldn’t want to stay up too late and miss OUR dear Ethan now, would we?” Brit kissed Denny’s cheek as she left and thanked him for understanding. She left not knowing that, within the hour, Denny would destroy the second floor of the library and spend the following hours repairing it while harboring rage regarding his adopted daughter.