Winter's Nights: Eternity

Most vampires sleep all day. They don’t have to sleep; they could survive without it if they fed more often, but most prefer to sleep. When they are awake, they can feel the sun’s rays creeping at them through the walls, but they don’t have to feel them when they’re asleep.

Amy Hunt slept all day, dreaming, as all new vampires do, about places and people that she had never seen. She floated through the memories like a dolphin on the ocean, entirely at home in them. Sometimes, if she focused hard, she could see specific things that she was interested in, like Merry’s werewolves. She saw their faces, both human and wolf forms, and knew their names and where they lived. Then the memories slipped away and Amy drifted on to others.

The next memories were of killing. Amy could feel the power of the vampire flowing through her as fangs met flesh and blood began to drain from the victim, and she could feel something else. Control. Never lose control. If you lose control then you stop being human, and if you’re not human, you’re as good as dead. Amy understood that if she went on a killing spree, she would be endangering the entire vampire race, and no other vampire would tolerate it. With that realization, Amy floated on to the next memory, and the next, all day.

Alix paced his living room nervously. He was glad that Amy was a vampire too, but it also meant that she knew that he’d slept with Merry, and he didn’t know how she would react to that fact. He was also nervous about meeting Davide, Merry’s sire and one true love. What would he do to him? Or would he punish Merry for cheating on him? His worries floated through his link to Merry and she answered his questions.

Davide will not hurt you, and he would never hurt me. What we did doesn’t count as cheating; I was creating. Davide would only be mad or hurt if I slept with someone because I was in love with them. Besides, he was out with two girls the night that I let you catch me.

And if I had known what you were up to I would have been there to stop you, Davide intervened.

Of course, my dear, Merry answered him. Get some sleep, Alix. You need your rest.

Yes, Merry, Alix replied. He released the link.

“What would you do if I fell in love with someone else?” Merry asked Davide.

They lay wrapped in each other’s arms on the bed in Davide’s hotel room. Davide thought for a moment before replying.

“If you truly loved him, I’d let you go,” he answered honestly. “I always want you to be happy.”

“I’ll kill any woman you fall in love with,” Merry said with a grin.

Davide looked at her slyly, then rolled over and took a hold of her wrists, pinning her down to the mattress. Merry grinned wider and struggle half-heartedly.

“Would you?” he asked. “You don’t love me enough to only want my happiness?”

Merry shook her head and giggled.

“You’re mine,” she replied, “and I won’t let you fall in love with anyone else. If I even suspect there’s a chance….”

Davide had transferred both of Merry’s wrists to one of his hands and he poked her in the ribs with the other. Merry, who was very ticklish, squeaked and squirmed. Her fangs extended as she gritted her teeth and tried to pull her wrists out of Davide’s grip. He grinned at her and she growled at him.

“Say you love me enough to let me go,” Davide said as he ran his fingers up her side, “and I’ll stop.”

Merry grinned back and stubbornly shook her head. No amount of tickling could make Merry say that she would ever let Davide go. In the end he was satisfied, knowing that he wouldn’t exactly give her up without a fight, no matter what her feelings were.

Hours later Merry woke up beside Davide on his bed. She could still feel the sun’s rays on the horizon, so she knew it wasn’t time to get up yet. She looked over at Davide and realized that she had rolled away from him in her sleep. Her heart ached and she slid over to him, cuddling up on his chest. She felt him wrap his arms around her back and she smiled as she fell back to sleep.

Merry’s movements had awakened Davide, but he didn’t mind. He was glad that Merry was so close to him and he held her tightly, never wanting to let go. He squeezed her tighter for a moment, as if he was trying to pull her right inside his skin. Being as close as they were was only just close enough, especially after being separated for so long.

Davide’s heart panged as he thought of what he would have done if the scientists had killed Merry and he hugged her tighter again, making it hard for Merry to breathe and waking her up again. She groaned softly and he eased his grip.

“Squishing,” Merry muttered sleepily. She opened her eyes and rose up so she could see Davide’s eyes. She read his mind.

“You’re not going to lose me,” Merry said softly. “Ever. I’ll never leave you and I’ll never die.”

“Promise?” Davide asked.

“With all my heart and soul,” Merry promised, sealing it with a kiss.