• I sighed and glared at my reflection in the broken mirror. My burgandy waves of hair curled downward and wrapped around my face like a frame to a portrait editted to make the subject more perfect. I was beginning to loathe that perfect face, the perfect eyes that glowed a blood red, the perfect lips that rounded nicely in all the right corners, and of course, the perfect teeth that came almost directly to a point.

    The tall collar to the dark purple dress was choking, and it didn't help that it was my least favorite color. The dark corset made it hard to breathe, even though it wasn't absolutely necessary to. The way it forced the wearer to sit up straight as an arrow was extremely uncomfortable.
    Don't get me started on the dress. The skirt swept lazily to the floor and past my feet in that nasty color, the sleeves too short and much too decorated with frills and bows. The giant bow on my back, propped up by the waves of silky cloth that trailed along the back, complimented the dress well enough, but was heavy as a loaded freight train. Standing upright was nearly an impossibility.

    "It's time, Mistress!" A maid called sweetly from the door to the midnight-dark room I had all but locked myself in. The wall-sized windows were covered in enormous drapes of black cloth. The walls were covered in drearily colored wallpaper that clashed with the bright wooden floor. There was a vanity, a dresser that took up nearly half the room, a couple chairs that matched the floors but were also swathed in the inky black fabric, and a large bed with a draping black comforter and surrounded by a black gauze-like material. Sickening, just like everything else that I owned.

    I stood easiliy -- despite the dead-weight on my back -- and swept to the door, avoiding bumping into the fragile chairs that dotted the room. I was dreading this day that has been marked for over two hundred years: I was getting married.


    "Ah, Maribelle, my sweet. You've decided to join us!" A tall man, pale as the moon itself with curly brown hair, held his hand out to me as I walked swiftly toward the main hall. I gave him the death glare and kept my pace until I was greeted by the man who was really on my focus.

    My father stepped gracefully down the red carpet-covered stairs, much too gracefully for a man his age.

    "Hello, my dear. I take it you're ready?" He stepped easily up to me, still much taller even though I was wearing the tallest pair of heels I could find.

    "As ready as I'll ever be," I said quietly, throwing a glance to the man who had come up beside me. My voice carried through the empty room and bounced off again and again in a slowly-ending echo.

    "That's my girl." My father patted my shoulder twice then turned to the other man.

    "Leonardo, I hope with all my life that you will take care of my daughter. You know she is my life and my soul." He said stiffly, clasping his hands around the man's.

    "You know I will, Sir. I'll love her for the rest of my existence." He smiled brightly at me.

    "Pft." I hissed and flipped my hair over my shoulder. Both men stared at me silently, but I just gazed upward at the giant glass chandelier that dangled over our heads.

    "Maribelle, this man wants to spend the rest of his existence with you. And you're treating it as some joke!" The father scolded, turning fully to me with a deep, creased frown on his hardened face.

    "Father, please. I'm the free type; I don't want to be caged up like this." I gestured to Leonardo and crossed my arms lightly. Leonardo smiled despite my bitterness, but my father just shook his head helplessly.

    Leo was always the quiet one, politely keeping out of trouble. Even before my time as a vampire, he had grown up next to me with a guiding hand and a gentle touch. For that I would be eternally grateful, but when it came to becoming one with him -- I shuddered at the thought -- I knew I wouldn't be happy forever with this man.

    "Lighten up, Maribelle. We only have to get through today alive, and the rest will be a breeze." Leo held out his hand for me, his tuxedo shifting quietly as he moved. I rolled my eyes but took the cold hand, my fingers barely sliding against his as my father led us into the next room. Leo kissed my fingertips lightly then strolled to the front of the room where three other men, a preist in a dark robe, and three young women, stood.

    "Maribelle! You look absolutely lovely! I'm so glad you decided to wear the dress I made for you." My mother glided toward me, all smiles with a bouquet of black flowers in her fist.

    "Yes, though you know I hate this color." I said with dismay and shifted the skirt about my knees.

    "It still looks adorable on you." She kissed my cheek and held my hands out in front of her.

    "I know you'll make a magnificent bride." She whispered in my ear, smiled and kissed the other cheek and then my forehead, then placed the small bouquet in my hand. I played with the leaves that were mysteriously colored, then tried to smile back at her.

    "I hope you're right." I said and turned toward the room.

    The sides of the room were painfully obvious. One was covered in white; white bows, ribbons, and dresses. Even the seats were covered in the bright color.
    On the other side, everyone wore black. The darkest shade imaginable collided with the pale faces that gazed dully at me. Leo's side of the family didn't exactly appreciate me. And to make things better, I didn't exactly appreciate them, either. They were mourning the loss of their son as if he had died. Apparently I was a fate worse than death.

    I took my father's arm and gazed around the room. Yin, and Yang. Opposites, yet still destined to be a part of one another. The forbidden word sprang up in my mind once again: Forever. A word I was going to live in fear of for the rest of my existence, as Leo had put it.

    One foot forward, then the other. The words echoed deep inside my mind as I stared at the bumps in my enormous dress. The fact came yet again that I would've preferred something a lot more simple. Yet my mother wanted me to be traditional. Another word I would soon try to erase from my mind.

    As soon as I looked up, I regretted doing so; every pair of bloody eyes was staring at me. Knowing that if I had married during my human years, I would've blushed deeply and, without a doubt, tripped on the gown that was so obviously in my way of walking. No wonder my father was walking so slowly.
    I kept my eyes up as a sign of persistance. I didn't need my future parent-in-laws thinking I was a coward on top of the hatred that already boiled in the pits of their stomachs.

    I found myself wrenching at the bouquet as I let my father go and stepped onto the small stage. Leo took my hands and smiled brilliantly at me. I attempted to return his smile, but obviously failed miserably. One eyebrow curved upward a bit as he fought back a laugh, then turned his attention to the priest, a hunger flashing in his crimson eyes.

    I closed my own eyes and breathed in deep. He smelled old, but the priest did have an appealing aroma. The blood pulsing through his veins close to his temple smelled sweet. Diabetic? I opened my eyes and found Leo examining my face.

    "Dearly beloved," the priest started in a trembling voice. Had he already figured out what we were, who he was standing in a full room of?

    "We could share," Leo suggested in a voice so low only I could pick it up. "We'll take him after the service. A wedding gift, per-say."
    I looked at him unbelievingly. "What would my mother think? This guy was the best in the business!" I muttered just as quietly, throwing a glance in the priest's direction.

    "No one would ever know." He winked quickly and returned to his fake solemn look. I knew that if I were still a human, I would've blushed and just fainted right about there. That would've been such a catastrophe that the wedding would be called off because Leo was marrying a strange woman. Instead, I bit my lip and stared into space, lost in his captivating eyes. I'll admit it, he did have some sort of attractiveness to him. The tuxedo he was wearing was a pure, inky black, and made his white skin stand out more. The red tie brought out the dark auburn tints in his nearly black hair, and of course, the deep ruby pits in his face.

    "Maribelle Crittenden, do you take Leonardo Belden as your husband, to have and to hold, till death do you part?" The priest said in a shaky voice.

    Till death? I asked myself, then nodded. "I do." I said in a quiet whisper, only loud enough for the priest to be satisfied with. He nodded and turned to Leo. The amusement in the chosen vows shone in Leo's eyes as he turned his face to the old man.

    "Leonardo Belden, do you take Maribelle Crittenden as your wife, to have and to hold, till death do you part?"

    "I do." He said with some hesitation, curiousity lining his gaze at me.

    "I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

    Leo stepped forward and took me in his arms, and with uncertainty, leaned forward and--


    I woke up startled, laying on the couch. There was already a fire in the fireplace, the curtains in the window next to me waving slightly from the open window despite the constant rain that droned on outside. The red satin of the short couch felt soft beneath me, and a thick afghan was draped over my slim body. An unlit lamp sat on the stained wood coffee table between me and the window, and sparkled in the light of the dawn.

    I heard someone moving around in the kitchen, then Leo appeared in the light. I sat up in shock. In his outstreched hands he held Desdemona, my cat, dripping wet. He was carrying her as far from his body as he could manage without dropping the poor thing.

    "Mari, why did you leave the cat out in the rain?" He stomped over to me and dumped the cat on my lap.

    "Ah, there you are, Dessy!" I took the blanket from on top of me and began gently drying her fur; she nuzzled up to my hand as I stroked her soaked fur.

    "That's a good girl." I smiled and scratched her nose with a long, skinny finger.

    "Why do we even keep the thing?" Leo said to himself and turned back into the kitchen, his boots squeaking on the linoleum floor.

    "Because she's such a well behaved kitty, aren't you sweety? Yes you are!" I gushed and rubbed my nose on hers. She purred in response, but Leo just chuckled softly in the next room. The sound of pouring liquid came from the door, then the dunk of a straw. Finally, Leo came out with two large cups.

    "Breakfast, my sweet." He said and handed me the purple cup, keeping the pink one for himself.

    "Har har, very funny. Why purple? It just spoils the breakfast mood." I muttered and took the glass. I brought my knees close to my chest so that Leo could sit down on the now damp couch without me squishing Dessy.

    Leo shrugged and crossed his legs, sipping at his drink. "Something special for your birthday."

    "You mean death-day. This was the day I was turned, remember? And guess who did the honors." I clinked his glass and absentmindedly stroked Dessy's wet coat.

    "I'll never forget the day." He said with a smile, then took a long drag of his drink. I grinned faintly and stared at the sloshy red liquid that filled the glass almost to the top.

    "Yea? Well, I'll never forget my parents' reactions when they saw me like that. Then someone had to turn them as well." I finally took a drink, swishing the blood around in my mouth, satisfying all of my taste buds. When I finally swallowed, Dessy nudged my glass with curiousity. I moved to hold it off the back of the couch, my arm resting on the giant pillows that leaned against the wall.

    "No no, sweety. You can't drink that." I scratched her head and lifted her gently to the ground with my free hand. She reluctantly left the room, tail dragging on the ground.

    "Don't go outside, Dessy! I don't want mud prints on my floor." I called after her, then settled back against the arm of the chair. I clasped my hands around the cup and took another sip, then sighed with relief after that swallow was down as well.

    "Don't be so polite. Bottoms up!" Leo encouraged and took another drink. I smiled gratefully at him and tipped the glass upward, downing the entire glass in a few seconds. I licked my lips and sighed when I saw the glass was entirely empty.

    Leo grabbed the cup from my grasp. "Want some seconds?" He asked and headed down the long room toward the kitchen.

    "Yes please." I said, then shoved the afghan to the side and stood, stretching. I pulled the drapes away and stared out over the scenery. The house was planted in the country, on a tree-covered hill somewhere near the Oregon coast. There were no other houses to be seen, which created a relaxing environment.

    "Here you are." Leo handed me the pink glass this time and took a sip of the purple one he now held. He stared at the trees with me for a few minutes, then yawned and scratched his back.

    "I probably should be heading out." Leo said and walked toward the bedroom that branched off the small living room I was still standing in.

    "And where on earth will you be heading?" I asked curiously, following him to his room. I leaned on the doorframe as he bustled around the room, tossing clothes everywhere.

    "I need to go get Alexandra from the airport. So get dressed, you're a mess." I glanced down at my wrinkled pajama pants and loose tee, then back up at Leo.

    "You never told me Alexandra was coming." I ventured to his bed, relaxing on the end of the comforter. He raised his eyebrows at me, then pulled on a pair of faded jeans that had been resting on the floor.

    "Really? I could've sworn I'd told you." He tugged a mossy green shirt from its hanger and pulled it over his curly head. I shook my head and drank heavily from my cup.

    "Nope." I said quietly, watching him pull a small comb through his curls.

    "Ah, well, she is. And she doesn't know we're vampire so please keep it on the down-low." He took my cup and had a swallow, then handed it back to me and fled the room.

    I followed him swiftly and grabbed a coat off the rack. I slung it over my shoulder and leisurly hung myself across the couch behind him as he put on his shoes.

    Alexandra was Leo's adopted sister. Ever since his true family had abandoned him after our marriage, sometime in the 1600's, multiple kind families had taken him in and donated money for our sake. Alexandra was the oldest of the most recent families. She was quite fond of Leo, and took time to visit him as much as possible. Today, Leo would be introducing us.

    "Will she like me?" I asked, playing lazily with the brown curls that sat on top of his head.

    "Of course!" He assured me and took the coat from behind me. He kissed me quickly and stood, rushing to the door. He paused, then took my blood from me, took another drink, then left through the door. I quietly waved behind him as he hurried to get out of the rain and into his comfortable black Mustang. As he zoomed into the distance, I closed the door and examined the place. It could definately use some cleaning before the famous sister arrived.


    {[TO BE CONTINUED]}