Bleeding Hearts Pt. 02

Author's Note: Sometimes, in a multi-part story, it is not essential that the reader read the first part before those that follow. I don't think that's the case here. This part of the story picks up immediately after the first part ends. I would like to think Part 02 is an enjoyable read by itself. I certainly hope that's so. However, Part 01 provides background that I believe is critical to the understanding of the characters and thus is essential for maximum enjoyment of this submission. That said, I hope you get as much pleasure from reading Bleeding Hearts as I have writing it.

The Truth Comes Out

The next few weeks were a whirlwind of activity. We saw another play. A private box. We watched Casablanca in the movie theater she had in her house. We ate exquisite meals. I managed to give Helena a mind-blowing orgasm. Debt squared. We learned a lot about what each other liked in and out of the bedroom. I began to feel comfortable in her house and around her staff. Helena said she often walks through the house naked. I didn't feel THAT comfortable. I had never met anyone who was so at ease with sex and with nudity. Every time we made love it seemed to get better. Less frenetic. More emotional. A month from the first time we had sex, we were lying together after a soft but satisfying session. I began the conversation that would change my life forever.

"Helena, I need to say something. Also, I have a question."

"You do find intriguing ways to open conversations," she laughed. "The floor is yours."

"I love you. I've known it for weeks. It's just taken me this long to gather up the courage to say it."

She pulled me close and kissed me. As she broke our kiss, I noticed her eyes had filled with tears. She looked away and asked in a shaky voice, "what's your question?"

"I never hear from you during daytime hours. Everything we do happens after nightfall. I read a story about a man who was allergic to sunlight. Is that why? If it is, it won't change how I feel about you. I'll do whatever we must to continue being together."

"Damn it, Diana. You had to say it." She paused and looked deeply into my eyes. "I love you too. More than I thought I could. More than I should. You can't begin to imagine what a problem this is."

"What do you mean?"

"I've been trying to suppress the feelings I have for you hoping my sense about what you were feeling was wrong."

"Maybe we should just stop talking. That's not the reaction I expected. I'm not sure I like it. I shouldn't have said anything."

"It's not your fault. We need to have this conversation. You've simply opened the door to what I've been trying to avoid."

"I'm confused. What are you trying to avoid?"

We sat up. She took my hands in hers and looked at me with the saddest eyes I have ever seen. "There's really no way to make this easy so I'm just going to say it. I'm not what I appear to be."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I'm not like you."

"I know. You're rich beyond anyone I've met. That doesn't matter to me. YOU do. I would feel the same way if you were not ........ whatever the world knows you to be. None of this matters," I said as looked around the room and swept my arm. "The house, the money, the prestige. I don't care. I'm in love with YOU. You're all that matters."

"I wish it was that simple. Who we are is not the problem. I told you from the beginning that I care nothing for social status. The problem is what we are. You're human. I'm not. I'm a Vampire."

I began to laugh, but her expression showed she was not joking. "You're not serious, right? You mean you BELIEVE you're a Vampire the same way some people believe they might have been Napoleon in a past life?"

"I assure you, I do not have mental health problems. I am, in fact, a creature that is not supposed to exist." With that she dropped her fangs and her eyes began to glow fiercely bright. She looked the very definition of feral, yet somehow even more beautiful. My first reaction was to recoil in fear. She quickly regained her normal countenance.

I tried to break from her grasp and back away. She held on tightly. "Holy shit. What was that? You're serious? You're really a Vampire?"

"I really am."

"Like Count Dracula?"

"No, not at all like Count Dracula."

"Then what?"

"I'm a separate species. Similar enough to humans to not raise questions but different in so many ways."

"Helena, this makes no sense. It's 1980. The world's a pretty small place. How is that stories of a human-like species of Vampires have not been in the news, ever?"

"Because we go to great lengths to keep knowledge of what we are a secret."

"We? There are more of you?"

"Yes. My family are all Vampires."

It took me a full two minutes to even form a thought. "OK .......... Say I believe you. I've read Stoker. Every British teen has. The story was more silly than frightening to me. But his book, hell, all books and films of which I'm even vaguely aware, describe Vampires as evil, undead creatures who prey on humans, drink their blood and kill them. There's not a lot to like there."

"I promise I'm nothing like what the stories and films portray. I'm not evil, or undead. I'm simply different. You are in no danger from me. I knew Bram Stoker. I was intimate with his wife. A beautiful, brilliant woman. The ideas for his book didn't just come to him in a dream."

"Wait, you KNEW him?"

"I did. I'm much older than I look. Much of what you know as history, I know as life."

"Oh, this just keeps getting better," I said. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be sarcastic. This is so surreal. How old are you?"

"That I will keep to myself for now. You'll have to settle for knowing I've been alive for centuries."

"Whoa. That's ...... Well ...... That's unsettling to say the least. Do you kill people and drink their blood? I can't accept that."

"I do drink blood. Human blood. I don't kill people to get it."

"Helena, we shared meals together. You seemed to enjoy the food. We drank wine. I know the difference between wine and blood. I'm certain we didn't drink any."

"I can eat regular food. I gain nothing from it other than the pleasure of its taste. My body simply absorbs it. Human blood is the only thing that contains the nutrients I need to survive. I get human blood a number of ways. I have agreements with local mortuaries. When a corpse is brought in and drained of blood prior to embalming, rather than throwing it away, the mortuary sells it to my family. Blood banks can only keep blood for a short time. The family purchases it from them when they are scheduled to dispose of it. We have ways to maintain its potency that the blood banks do not."

"But, you have drunk blood from people, right? Do you still?"

"I've taken human blood directly and do still from time to time. We call it feeding and it is done voluntarily. A Vampire who would take blood from a human without their consent would face severe penalties, most likely death. We demand that the donor is not harmed. After all, they are giving us the most precious gift possible, life. Feeding is strictly limited to the amount of blood a human would give as a donation for medical purposes.

"Most of my staff are humans. They know that I'm a Vampire. They sign a contract for their jobs that includes a very strict non-disclosure agreement. The penalties for breaking that agreement are sufficiently severe to deter doing so. A number of the staff offer to donate blood though it's not a requirement of their employment. Each donation yields them a handsome bonus."

"What about me? Were you going to ask me to give you some of my blood at some point? Is that why when we have sex you nibble so much?"

She laughed gently. "It is. It's all I've been able to do to refrain from actually biting you and tasting your blood. It's something Vampires normally do during sex. Not large amounts but small bites, much the way humans give one another love bites as they call them. Vampire love bites draw blood. For the record, it greatly enhances the sexual experience."

"So you WERE going to ask me for blood."

"At first, no. I didn't expect more than a date or two, maybe a night of pleasure. But, I enjoyed your company so much. You're gorgeous. A wonderful bed partner. The quality of your mind is something rare in humans. The more we continued seeing one another, the more likely it is I would have asked. Then, we would have ended up where we are now."

"If I hadn't told you I loved you, how long would you have continued your charade?"

"Charade? That's harsh. I suppose I deserve it. Honestly, I didn't set out wth the idea that either of us would fall in love. I've not lied to you about anything. I simply haven't told you everything. Do I know everything about you?"

"Of course not. But then, I don't have any Earth-shattering secrets, so .........."

"Touche'. I'm so sorry, Diana."

"I believe you. I guess the big question I have is how did you become a Vampire? Stories say it was a demonic deal. A pact with the Devil. That's something I don't believe exists. Of course, I didn't believe in Vampires until a few minutes ago. I've never given all that religious mumbo jumbo about a conflict between forces of good and evil any credence. Tell me that's not true as well."

"I'm glad to hear that. I don't believe human religious nonsense either. To answer your question, I didn't become a Vampire. I was born a Vampire. Your statement about people believing we are evil is a major part of the problem. When humans hear the word Vampire, they tend to react with fear, often worse. The normal response is to try to destroy that which they fear. Thus, our need for secrecy."

"So, there are others alive today who were born Vampires?"

"No. I'm the only one. I'm the original Vampire. Every other family member was once a human who became a Vampire."

"By being bitten, right? Is that why you haven't bitten me yet? You didn't want me to become a Vampire?

"There is so much more to that question and it opens so many other parts of this discussion. Listen, Diana, you're a scholar with an impressive mind. Let's avoid an unending stream of questions. Will you allow me to give you a few highlights?"

"I haven't tried to run away, so, yes, please do."

"As I said, I'm not human. Nevertheless, my body and mind function much the same as yours does. I'm pretty sure my mind is not your equal. My body is another matter. I have a number of attributes that are vastly different. I can move faster than the human eye or a camera can track. With the proper use of light and shadows, I can seem to be invisible. I possess physical strength you would find hard to believe. I have greatly heightened senses. I'm immune to poisons and diseases. I can heal rather quickly from injury. I'm not immortal. I will die one day, though not for hundreds of years. I can be killed. It's not easily done. Many have tried over the years and failed.

"My nocturnal habits shield me somewhat from prying eyes. I've had dealings throughout history with humans. It's inevitable with the amount of power and influence my family has. Those who are entrusted with knowledge about us engage in mutually beneficial relationships. For example, you don't know who the humans are in the major security agencies like the CIA and the KGB. We do. We have agreements that we will not interfere with human activity and they will leave us in peace. Neither the Queen of England nor the United States President know about us. There are only a small number of government officials in different countries who do. They agree with us that our true nature must remain hidden. The chaos that the knowledge that we exist would bring could topple governments and destroy human bastions of faith.

"There is, unfortunately, one group of humans who have been aware of Vampires for generations. They call themselves Hunters. They are our sworn enemy. They believe the fiction about me and my family and think we're evil creatures who will prey on them and kill them to satisfy our need for blood. Vampires and Hunters have been waging a private war for a long time. There have been casualties on both sides, as you might expect. If Hunters were to discover or even suspect that you know about me, let alone that we shared time together, they would torture you to find any information about me and my family. Even if you knew nothing, they would assume you did or that you were infected or compromised in some way and ultimately kill you."

"That's horrible, Helena. Why would you put me in this position? Why did you let me fall in love with you only to place my life at risk?"

"I didn't think it would come to this. I told you I thought we would simply have a few dates and create some enjoyable memories of each other. Nothing more. I'm not human but I'm enough like humans that I crave human contact from time to time. You were a chance encounter. I believed I could keep my emotions in check. I lost control. You're the first human in over a thousand years to affect me the way you have. After our third date, I assigned security staff to monitor your house and workplace. They watch from the shadows for any signs of Hunters. So far, I have no reason to believe they are aware of you. I would have told you if they were.

"I said I love you. It's more than that. I'm in love with you. Madly, passionately, crazy, illogically in love with you. The last person I loved as I do you was my former mate, Idra. She died at the beginning of the twentieth century. We were together 900 years."

I pulled her close and kissed her. "Then we really do have a problem because I'm completely in love with YOU. I believe you when you say you're just different. I don't know what you being a Vampire means but I know it doesn't change how I feel about you. Aside from me agreeing to let you bite me during sex, which now I'm curious about, where does that leave us?"

"We've gone further already than we should have. Each encounter magnifies the risk. My security staff can continue to offer you some protection. I could assign you a bodyguard but that would surely arouse suspicion. No offense but yours is not a career that normally warrants that. Logic and a desire to keep you safe would dictate that I send you home. Now. Before anyone discovers us."

"Send me home is a euphemism for saying goodbye, isn't it?"

"I don't want to. No part of me wants that. I've been dreading this moment more than you'll ever know. I can't risk you dying a horrible death at the hands of Hunters because of me. I love you too much. That's how Idra died. They killed her. I can't go through that again"

"I won't lie. The Hunter threat scares me. You say you believe they don't know about me yet. I'm glad. That you think they might at some point is concerning."

"it is. That's why a clean break makes the most sense."

"You can do that? You can say 'I'm in love with you, Diana. Oh, by the way, I'm a Vampire. Now that you know, we need to break up'. I have to tell you, that stinks. You promised you wouldn't hurt me the way Carolyn did. You sensed where this was headed and still you let me fall in love with you. Now, YOU get to decide that we can't have each other? Why? Because you're rich, super strong and all that other stuff? What about what I want? This is worse than what Carolyn did, MUCH worse." My tears came in a flood, my body shaking in a mixture of anger and despair.

She hugged me. I tried to push her away. But, eventually, I stopped crying and calmed enough for her to brush away my tears and kiss me tenderly.

"Diana, what that Carolyn woman did to you was selfish. What I did was wrong but, unlike her, I'm not ashamed of us. I'm trying to protect you. I'm trying to save your life."

"Bullshit, Helena. What you did was selfish too. I'm in love with you. I can't turn that off. I can't control it. I don't want to control it. I truly believe I've found the person with whom I was made to share a life. If you love me the way you say you do and if being a Vampire doesn't mean you're some evil creature, why not let ME choose the risk I want to take? I'm not a child. I'm 45 years old. Besides, I'll be dead in a few decades, maybe less. And you, you'll, hell, who knows how long you'll live? Why not let us have what we both say we want?"

"Diana, when Idra was killed by Hunters, I lost my mind and committed atrocities. I came close to letting myself die. There is no way you could understand the pain I felt when the person I loved so completely was murdered. I couldn't bear it if that happened to you. I simply couldn't"

"I'm sorry about Idra but that doesn't make it any better. You're right. I've never had someone I love murdered. I can't imagine how horrible that must have felt and I understand trying to avoid a repeat. But, this is MY life we're talking about here, not hers. I appreciate that there's risk. I don't care. You're talking about making us both emotional martyrs. I don't want to be a martyr. Do you love me enough to let me live my life the way I want even if what I want is to spend that life with you until time or Hunters end it?"

Helena sat frozen for several moments. I could see the pain she was in and sense her mind working. Finally, she said, "You're right. I need to let you decide. I feel about you the way I did about Idra during the period leading up to our decision to mate. We deserve the same consideration that she and I had. You haven't asked how it was that Idra was able to be with me for 900 years."

"I assume you somehow made her a Vampire. No human could survive that long."

"Exactly, I changed her. The stories are correct that Vampires have the ability to change humans into Vampires. It's a little more complicated than just biting, but not greatly. The process is how everyone in my family became a member."

"Are you saying you want to change me into a Vampire as you did Idra?"

"I'm saying It's an option. Doing so would grant you powers with which you could protect yourself far better than my security staff could do. You would also live as long as I expect to. I will only do it on one condition. Do you love me enough to become my mate? My partner?"

"You're asking me to marry you?"

"In Vampire speak, yes. We don't actually marry. There's no ceremony or contract. The act of changing for the purpose of being a mate creates a bond much stronger than any human marriage vows. It's who we are. How we are.

"The process is that you ingest some of my blood. THEN, you would need to die a mortal death. In Idra's case, I drank enough of her blood to end her human life. My blood that she took remained active in her body and spread my DNA into all her organs and bone marrow. The next day she awoke. She didn't rise from the dead though her human life was over. She awoke transformed from human to Vampire. I would do the same with you."

"Damn, Helena. That's a lot to take in. You would kill me? Saying end my life or some other sanitary phrase just glosses over the act. You're suggesting I let you kill me."

"Technically, you're correct. I prefer the phrase taking your human life because that's what is really being discussed here. Killing you would mean you cease to exist. We're trying to avoid that, remember? Changing you means I end your human life in an intimate way. You trade being human for the life of being a Vampire, a different species. Once changed there's no going back to being human."

"Helena, you and Idra took a risk that you would be good mates for centuries. Humans have a hard time staying together for life spans as short as ours. How were you so certain it would work between you two? How are you so certain about us for that matter?"

"It was a risk, surely. I was alive centuries before she and I met. I had human companions. Some stayed with me for weeks, some for years. I didn't find any human that I imagined spending centuries with until Idra. Poets speak of true love, of knowing when someone is the right one. They speak of it as a rarity. I've personally encountered that feeling twice in a span of over 1600 years."

"Twice?"

"Yes. With Idra and now, with you."

It was my turn to sit in stunned silence. After a few minutes, I managed to speak. "What if you're wrong? We're talking about a lot of time here."

"There have been couples who thought they might be ideal mates and discovered they were not as suited as they imagined. There have been couples who after a long time together chose to uncouple. It's rare but when it occurs the family attempts to find ways to maintain civility and value in both members. If I'm wrong, you would still be a Vampire. Someone I love. That wouldn't change. You would still have responsibility in the family, significant status and wealth. I don't fear being wrong about this. I suppose some may think that arrogant. They haven't lived as long as I have nor experienced what I have."

"Idra and you? You and me? It raises the question about same sex marriage. It isn't really accepted almost anywhere on this planet. Is it so easily accepted among Vampires?"

"I'm not strictly a lesbian though my only true love, until you, was a woman. I don't feel a need to classify what I am. A millenium is a long time to observe changes in people's ideas and to choose what to accept and what to discard. I love you and want to live my remaining centuries with you. Do we need a label?"

"Not really. I guess my friends would say I'm bisexual. I was almost engaged to a man years ago. You're the only one I've ever loved this deeply. I don't know what that says about me. I can't judge what I haven't experienced or understand. I only know how I feel about you and how you make me feel."

"It doesn't have to say anything. You are as you are. The family has a number of same sex partnerships. Fewer male partnerships than female. Vampires tend to be hedonistic. The family blames me. They say something in my blood increases the libido. There's probably some truth in that. I think it has more to do with how long we live which greatly expands the opportunity for experiences. We're not confined by human conventions. We don't have sex with every human or Vampire who comes along but sex with different partners happens frequently.

"To answer your question, Diana, I do love you enough to let you choose your future. I'm afraid to continue as we are now. The danger to you and to me and my family increases every time we interact. I won't send you away. I can offer some protection but it has weaknesses and could arouse suspicions. The prudent course of action is that you choose to withdraw and consign us to memory. I would hate that, but it's the most logical option. I will never not love you.

"In my own way, I've asked you to marry me. If you say yes, you could remain human and move in with me as any couple might. That allows us to take advantage of the time we have together and best provide you safety from Hunters. You can help with the family business or continue to teach, as you wish. One thing to remember is that the family and I sleep during the day. The stories are correct that Vampires are vulnerable to sunlight. It's deadly. I can spend several hours at a time in the sun without ill effect. Extended time would be fatal.

"I would not set limits on your coming and going. Doing so would make you more of a prisoner than a mate. I would never accept such a relationship as I'm positive you would not. I will insist that you travel with guards. They can mitigate the risk from Hunters but not eliminate it. Your friends and colleagues will know only that you have accepted the hand of that reclusive rich woman you met at the play. I will dread the passing of time leading inexorably to losing you. That is pain I will have a difficult time bearing. When you die, I promise I will not go berserk like I did when Idra died. If, however, Hunters find you, torture you and kill you, I make no promises. Humans will die. Some horribly.

"That is not the choice, I want but at least it gives us years together which will have to suffice. That option offers us flexibility and safety our current situation lacks. The other option, and the one I prefer, is that I make you a Vampire. There is no way to adequately explain all that means.

"If you accept my proposal, changed or not, my life will be yours to share. My wealth yours to share. My family yours to help lead. If you consent to being changed you will have the exact same attributes as I do. Same speed, strength, immunities, long life, advantages you don't know and can't imagine at the moment. We will devise a cover story to explain the sudden end of your human life. An accident or some fatal medical issue. We will document the story to sufficiently satisfy humans.

"Everything and everyone you know will be in your past. It sounds harsh, but as you said earlier, unless you are changed, your human existence will come to an end before too long. Honestly, if you stay human and move in with me, because of our lifestyle, your relationships with the human world will likely diminish well before your death."

I pulled her close again and kissed her. "I don't want to end our relationship. I want to say yes. I want to say that my life is yours, whether as a human partner or a Vampire. I have already imagined spending my remaining time with you. Naturally, I didn't think about centuries. The idea of living that long definitely has appeal. Dying is a bit to get my head around. I can't say yes or no to any option right now. It's too much. May I have some time to decide."

"Of course. Each choice has its downside."

"I know. But I get to choose. That's what matters to me."

"I have to warn you. I'm not good at waiting for anything. I'm far too impatient. I propose one week. Can you make your decision one week from tonight? I don't want to unfairly influence you. So, I suggest that you and I not speak again until this day next week at 2100."

"Understood, and agreed. Did I mention I love you? Can I ask a favor?"

"Of course."

"If I choose to become a Vampire, I will need to drink human blood to survive, correct?"

"Correct."

"If that's to be my life, I would like to know what the person being bitten is feeling when a Vampire feeds. It's important to me that I know. I can only think of one way for that to happen. Will you bite me and take the amount of blood you would normally take?"

"That's not a favor. That's a brilliant idea. Of course I will, with pleasure."

"I'm sort of counting on that," I said with a laugh.

"Then kiss me," she said as she took me in her arms.

We laid back down on the bed. She took the lead and soon had me on my back. She began kissing my cheeks, then my neck. I could feel her fangs pressing into my skin. I began to brace myself for the bite. She started laughing.

"Aren't we eager? We have a lot of lost time to make up. I'll get to that. Let's hope your heart is as strong as you said it is."

She began kissing my shoulder and worked her way across the top of my breast. Her tongue began to flick my nipple. I began to moan, my hand gently caressed her hair. My body was totally relaxed as I could feel her fangs pressing into my breast just above the nipple. Then PAIN. She sunk her fangs into the tender flesh. I could feel it rip. An instant later, I felt a euphoria I had never experienced. I could hear her sucking my blood, feel it leaking into her mouth. After a few seconds, she released her bite and licked the wound she had created. I could see the blood welling up from where she had bitten. As her tongue swept over the marks, I watched the holes slowly close leaving no trace of what she had done. She smiled up at me.

"THAT is a love bite. They are brief in duration and only result in a minimal blood loss."

"I almost can't believe what I just experienced and saw. I was surprised by the pain. But, in the next heartbeat I had such a rush. I want more of that. You can do that all you want. How did it heal so quickly? I don't even see redness. There should be a mark where you bit."

"A Vampire's saliva has healing properties. That's one reason humans are able to donate blood to us without being a walking advertisement that we exist. Do you want to talk or keep going?" she said with a sly grin.

My answer was to pull her head back to my breast. She continued teasing then moved to my other breast to repeat except no bite. Her kisses moved across my abdomen to my left hip, then to my right. The pleasure was so strong, I knew I would not last. Her hands had been caressing and teasing my lips. She slid one finger into me easily. I had no time to savor the feeling when the pain struck again as she bit my thigh. I let out a yelp, only to moan deeply when the euphoria kicked in.

I don't know how I didn't climax right there as I could feel her drinking from the new wound she had created. A few seconds later, I could feel her lapping the remaining blood and closing the wound. My hips were trying to press my most sensitive area against her hand. My climax was only a few seconds away. I could feel my stomach muscles rolling as my insides clenched against her intrusion. Without missing a beat, she quickly moved up my body and looked into my eyes.

I was ready to explode. She let her fangs drop. Her eyes glowed with a with an inhuman light as she showed me her true self. I had a moment of fear overcome by a rush of pure lust and love. She turned my head and kissed my neck. Her tongue traced the line of my vein as she moaned in pleasure. She entered me again with two fingers this time. The combined sensations thrust me over the edge. Just as my orgasm hit, she bit into my neck.

This time the pain was overwhelming. The previous bites were nips by comparison. I screamed from the combination of pain and the completion of my climb to orgasm. Orgasm seemed way too weak a word to describe the feeling. My legs shook as her hand continued to tease. This time the euphoria following the pain of the bite was beyond anything I thought a human could experience. She was drinking. I could feel the blood leaving me as she swallowed my essence. Somehow my orgasm went a level further. Her mouth on my neck did not relent when my orgasm subsided. She continued to drink.

She was no longer teasing or biting for pleasure. She was feeding. I was her meal. There is no way I could have stopped her if she chose to drain me. Neither my mind nor body wanted her to stop. I lay there, a helpless vessel as she fed. My nerve endings were no longer on fire. They were also not numb. I felt almost weightless, lost in a dream as I gave her what she needed to survive. I heard moaning and realized it was not just me. Her hips were grinding on my thigh as she shivered. I could tell she was having an orgasm just from feeding.

I had no sense of the time she spent feeding. Time was of no consequence, only the pleasure of the deep intimacy we shared. I could feel her relax and no longer hear or feel her swallowing. I felt her tongue lapping and licking where she had bitten and eventually, just kissing my neck. Her face appeared in front of mine, inches away. Her eyes still glowing brightly. Her fangs still extended. I could see blood, my blood, on them and on her lips. She withdrew her fangs and returned to the Helena I knew and loved. She licked her lips and let out a wanton moan. When she kissed me, I could taste my blood on her tongue.

After a moment or two, she broke our kiss but not the embrace. Her hand had long since ceased teasing. She was now stroking my hair, my cheek my neck. She shivered again as her own orgasm subsided.

"Are you ok?" she asked.

"Define, ok," I said softly.

"Well, your brain doesn't seem broken. I guess the question is how do you feel?"

"Like I just ran a sexual marathon. Damn, Helena, is it always like that?"

"I wish it was. Tonight was a combination of our mutual emotion, your nervousness and curiosity and my desire to make it perfect for you."


"You definitely succeed there. Perfect is the least it was."

"I said it isn't always like that. But, between Vampires who love with one another it's very much so. With humans with whom there is no emotion, it's good, better than they can expect with another human. For a simple donation, there is no intimacy. Still the act of feeding brings humans intense pleasure. I'm sure you know that sexual pleasure is a combination of emotion and physical response. As a Vampire, your enhanced senses will increase your physical response."

"Thank you for allowing me this. I'm not ready to leave yet. I just want you to hold me for a while."

"That I can do."

When we woke a couple of hours later, I didn't want to leave. I knew I had to. If I stayed, I was certain my human life would end before morning and I wanted to make that decision with a clear mind. It was the most difficult ride home I had. I was pretty sure I would not decide to end this relationship. Not certain, however. She was right. It made the most sense. I came to the sudden realization that If I said yes to her proposal, my home would soon be the one I was leaving. I could be with Helena. The thought made me smile. I wasn't prepared to decide if it would be as a human or as a Vampire. Rather than feeling weaker for the loss of blood, I felt stronger than I ever had. I never felt in such control of my life as I was in that moment.

Sound Advice

"You seem pensive, Helena. Is everything okay?" asked Gabrielle.

"No. It isn't. It could be. That's the problem. I don't know which and I don't control the outcome. You know how much that irritates me."

"Ah, the famous Helena impatience. One of your less endearing traits. Is it the human woman?"

"The human woman has a name, Gabrielle. It's Diana. Yes, she's the problem."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Can I ask what the problem with Diana is? I thought you and she were enjoying one another."

"We are. Too much actually. She's in love with me."

"So? Humans have believed themselves to be in love with Vampires for centuries. It's always a risk when we feed during sex. It's never been much of a problem before. The feeling fades for them the way all memories seem to do in their short lives."

"I'm in love with her as much as she is with me."

"Fuck, Helena. Does she know?"

"I told her yesterday. I told her I'm a Vampire and much more. I asked her to be my mate."

"Holy SHIT. I've known you a long time, Helena, almost as long as Bridget has. You haven't come close to anything like this since Idra. Are you sure about Diana?"

"Am I sure about being in love with her and wanting her to be my mate? Don't be absurd. What I'm not sure of is whether she'll accept. I've given her a week to decide. Now, all I can do is wait."

"I think you need to talk with someone other than me. I try to stay far away from the whole being in love thing where humans are concerned. They're fun to play with, but I haven't met one I cared that much about."

"You're right. Would you do me a favor and contact Colleen and Liana? I would like them to come here. Ask Colleen to bring Bridget. Don't tell them what it's about. Just say I need their advice and it needs to be in person. Don't make it seem dramatic, but say that time is of the essence."

* * * * *

Bridget led Colleen and Liana into the library. After exchanging kisses and hugs, the four women sat.

Helena began. "I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you to come. I have a problem and I need your perspective. You're all aware that I've recently been keeping company with Diana."

Colleen responded first. "You told us she has spent a bit of time here. Rumor has it she's quite beautiful."

"She is. There's a problem. She has confessed to being in love with me."

"Sounds like a normal response from a human after sex and feeding with a Vampire. You've had that reaction from humans before haven't you?" said Liana.

"Really?" said Colleen. "I didn't know that happens."

"You're new," smirked Bridget.

"Forty years is not NEW, Bridget," replied Colleen laughing.

"It is to us," said Liana with a smile.

"If you three are done, this is serious," said Helena suppressing her own laughter. "I wouldn't ask you here just to tell you something that, except for Colleen, has happened to all of us any number of times. The problem is that I'm in love with Diana. There. I said it."

Liana, Bridget and Colleen gasped and looked at one another. They turned to Helena and all began to ask questions at once. Liana waved the other two off to restore order and said, "Colleen, you first."

"Mother, how much does Diana know about you. About us?"

"About me, a condensed version of all she needs to be a risk to herself. About you all, nothing other than a vague allusion to there being other members of my family who are Vampires."

"You realize how much danger you've put Diana in, right?" asked Liana.

"I do. I tried to end it. To send her away before I had to tell her. I should have ended our relationship after a couple of dates. I didn't. I couldn't. The thing is, in the times we've had sex, I had not fed from her or even taken a drop of blood in a bite until this last time. Her feelings for me and mine for her have nothing to do with that. I shouldn't have let it get this far. But it has."

"Damn, Mother, that's not like you at all. Liana, Bridget, help me out here. As Bridget said, I'm new" teased Colleen.

Both women shook their heads. Bridget said, "In fairness, the bulk of the time I've known Helena, she had Idra. Liana and I both knew Idra intimately. I'm at a loss here."

"Agreed, Bridget. What do you need from us, Helena?" asked Liana.

"Advice. Confirmation. Thoughts on what to do next. I've asked Diana to be my mate. She hasn't said yes or no. She wanted time to think about it. I've given her a week which ends a couple of days from now. Her options are, we part ways, she stays human and we live together or I change her and we become mates. I suggested we part now. She didn't agree. She said she would rather continue despite the increased risks. She might reconsider that. I advised her it was the most logical choice for her to make.

"I'm not wholly satisfied with the option where she joins me and stays human. Obviously, she would move in here. But, it means I'll lose her in a few decades. She's 45. If she was discovered by Hunters, she would be much more vulnerable than if she was a Vampire. Liana and Bridget have some idea what would happen if Hunters harmed her. They lived through my losing Idra."

Liana spoke first. "You were in pain, Helena. What you did was horrifying. But, you allowed Bridget and I to keep you from harming children. I hope to never again see you as out of control as you were. You came way too close to ending yourself in your grief. That would have caused chaos in the family not to mention a nightmare for the humans."

"Those fucking Hunters deserved everything they got," said Bridget forcefully. "Liana's right about one thing. The family was at risk. I still get scared when I think about how close we came to losing you. You sometimes don't seem to realize how much we love you. Not all the family. Most only know you as Queen Helena. But, to Liana and me, and Colleen. Well, you have to know how we feel."

"Thank you. I'm less worried for the family these days now that Colleen is here. If anything should happen to me, she'll be a great Queen. I don't foresee a recurrence of the Idra response. I promised Diana that if she chose not to be changed, I would not let grief at losing her drive me mad. I did not promise to stay my response if she died at the hands of Hunters. There will be death and destruction if that happens.

"If she stays human and moves in, there's not much that changes other than I get the few years of love I will share with her. The family will understand. Keeping company with a human is not a rare situation among family members. If I change her, there are repercussions for the family. When Idra was alive, as my mate and the only other Pureblood, she was first in the line of succession. Things are differen now. Collen is first in line. My initial thought is to name Diana second in line. I don't know how the family would react to my mate not being first."

"I don't see that as a problem. You should make Diana first in line instead of me," offered Colleen.

"It's not that easy, Colleen. We can make the necessary adjustments to all the financial and legal documents. We can also figure out which duties you should keep and which she should take on. How that makes you look is the issue. Some in the family might view it as a demotion. I will not have the family's view of you diminished in any way."

"Helena, we had our chance to be mates. We both chose what we are today. Only mates could love one another more than we do each other. I couldn't care less what the family thinks of me."

"You need to care what the family thinks. Whether you're first or second in line, there is the potential you will need to step into the role of Queen. If the family sees you as something less than they expect in a Queen, there will be problems. Trust me. I've seen what happens when there is discord in the family. Idra and I had to destroy so many Vampires to weed out the problems. You don't want to do that."

Liana said, "There have been human Kings who wed and their Queen was not in the line of succession. Why does Diana have to be?"

"I won't have the family view her as just my concubine or in any way not my equal. She's more gentle than me, more cerebral. Her response would likely be to ignore any slight, at least at first. I, on the other hand, won't tolerate disrespect. You know someone will say something about her. It's inevitable. Then, I'll have to kill them."

"Not a concubine," said Liana, "a Consort."

"Isn't that really just a pretty word for concubine?" asked Bridget.

"It can be," replied Liana, "but it needn't be. It depends on how the role is presented. Neither I nor Colleen live with Helena. Nevertheless, the family surely sees us as her chief advisors. No offense Bridget. Most family members don't realize how much Helena depends on you for advice."

"None taken," said Bridget.

"Anyway, Helena, it would seem natural that Diana would become your chief advisor based on proximity as well as relationship. You could declare specific duties, some that Colleen currently discharges and some that you do as Queen, to be under the aegis of the Consort. That would mean that you would have to honestly give those responsibilities to her so the family would see her handling them. You need only declare her word as equal to yours, just as you have with Colleen. The more Royal responsibilities the family sees Diana managing the stronger her role becomes."

Coleen said, "Oooh, I love that. Mother, If something should happen to you and Diana still lived, I would want her to be able to advise me."

"And take you to her bed, no doubt," laughed Bridget.

"That's not as funny as you might think, Bridget," said Helena. "If Diana agrees to join me, I will make her Pureblood. For her first three months the only blood she can receive is from either me or Colleen.

"None of you have created a new Vampire. But, you all know that the act of feeding a newly turned human creates an emotional bond for both parties. How strong that bond is depends on a number of factors, the most significant of which is whether there is intimacy prior to or immediately after feeding. The more often that occurs the stronger the bond. The fact that I changed and fed the three of you and we shared intimacy during your transition periods is a large part of why you each are so special to me.

"Idra and Collen are unique among all Vampires in history. They received only my blood during transition. As in all things blood-related, pure blood has a more powerful effect. Idra and I set out to be mates. That further strengthened our bond. Colleen and I didn't set out to be mates, ultimately chose not to be. Nevertheless, our bond is only slightly less than the one Idra and I formed.

"Colleen, I would like you to agree to take turns with me feeding Diana. I won't require it. That's far too personal an act for me to command of any Vampire, especially you. I love you too much. I can give her some of your blood from our stored supply. But, it would mean a lot to me if you did agree. And, before you say it, I'm well aware that her reaction to feeding and yours to giving is highly likely to lead to intimacy. You two can do as you wish with my full blessing. When Idra was alive we were never possessive. I expect Diana and I will be no different in that regard.

"To be honest, I would love it if you two create a bond as strong as mine is with you. You deserve it and will be a better Queen for knowing the feeling. She will be emotionally stronger and have an easier transition. If Diana agrees to be my mate, it will not diminish my love for you. Nothing could. That same declaration goes for you as well, Bridget and you, Liana. I love you both."

"If she agrees to being changed, I'll gladly agree to feeding her. As for intimacy, you know I've never shied away from pleasure with a gorgeous woman. Hopefully she's good in bed." teased Colleen.

"Don't be a smart-ass. You've been spending too much time with Bridget. I knew I would regret letting her leave me to be your security chief. For the record, Diana is the best human I've ever known, by far.

"Be aware, I won't let you just give her the assignments you don't like. You're still preparing to be Queen. It's not all fun and games. Whether or not Diana is in the line of succession will be her decision. If she chooses to be, I will make her second in line and we'll manage any repercussions. Who knows? She may opt to stay human or even end things between us. This discussion might be moot."

Liana asked, "What do you think she'll do? Do you believe she might end things with you?"

"Based on our discussion, no. There's always that chance but I think she'll be living here by this time next week. I can't predict whether she'll allow me to change her."

"I think I can say this for the three of us," said Liana. "We hope she joins you. It would make you happy and we can always use new blood, so to speak."

Bridget nodded enthusiastically.

"You two are as bad as Colleen. Yes, after she completes her transition, you can make your moves. AFTER. What did I do to deserve you three?"

"Hey, you made us, remember? Not our fault," said Bridget as the meeting devolved into laughter and chaos.

Time For A Choice

When Monday arrived, everyone at school noticed I was distracted. I didn't engage in conversations as easily as I normally would. The students could sense something was off. The morning after I left Helena's I had decided one thing. I didn't want to live my life without her. She said she didn't want that either. So, it was now a matter of choosing whether I would continue as we were and take the risk of being discovered by Hunters, or, essentially, marry Helena. I wasn't remotely ready to decide which. I was definitely not ready to abandon my human life and become a Vampire.

I knew I couldn't just sit in mine and wait for Helena to call. So, I asked for the rest of the week off and decided to take a quick trip to Cervinia for their fall season.

I had a trove of questions. Helena appeared to be my age, but was more than a thousand years old. I was sure she mentioned 1,600 years. Was she even older than that? She said if I let her change me I would live for centuries. How many I wondered. Even two or three sounded insane. What would I look like in several hundred years? I don't consider myself vain but the idea of retaining my appearance for a long time had appeal.

Helena said she wanted me to move in with her. Moving to hers would be a huge upgrade. She said something about helping her lead the family. I had no idea what that meant. I had no knowledge of finance or corporate directorship. I wasn't sure what use I would be. I suppose I could learn. Whether I would find the work interesting was the question. It might be easier to continue teaching but the difference in how Helena lived, being mostly nocturnal, would make that difficult. Maybe something part-time or guest lecturing would work, if the school would agree. That seemed temporary at best.

If I let her change me, I would live to see significant advances in science, technology and societal changes even in a two to three hundred year span. That was a thrilling prospect. It sounded as if I might even have the ability to affect some changes that would occur. Helena seemed to have a regard for humans as more than just food. I liked that about her.

The problem with sunlight didn't thrill me. Would this be my last ski trip? She said I would be the same as her. If she could be in the sun for a few hours, did that mean I could too? I would miss days at the beach reading a book. Do Vampires swim? Can they drown? I wondered what the world looked like through Vampire eyes. Would I be able to see in the dark? I hoped I could still see sunrises and sunsets, walk in the woods, see the leaves change color.

By mid-week, I was certain of my decision. I was going to say yes. Yes to being her mate. Yes to letting her change me. I didn't know what it meant to become a Vampire. Whatever it was, it didn't matter. I knew that I wanted to be with her. I wanted to hear her voice, see her face, kiss her, hold her, every day. When I almost married years ago, I never had such longing for being so close to him. This was the love I wanted since I was a little girl. I stopped thinking about the fact that in order to have what I wanted, I had to die.

Helena used the word change. I began to see it that way. Not die. Become different. I would still be me but improved in ways I didn't fully understand and wouldn't until it happened. I decided that if I trusted Helena enough to let her end my human life and make me into a Vampire, I had to trust that the details would sort themselves out and I would adapt.

I wanted to call her and tell her. I thought to cut my trip short, drive to hers, beat on her door and give myself to her. I had a moment of panic that she would change HER mind. Maybe I was reading more into her response than I should. In the end, I chose to enjoy what might be my last ski vacation. Every minute that passed seemed a lifetime. I never skied more freely nor was technically as sharp.

I had scheduled to return from my trip mid-afternoon on the appointed day. Luckily, there were no travel disruptions. I tried to eat but my nerves were too much to overcome. Besides, I didn't want to think that it might be my last meal. That was too much. My phone rang at 2100 sharp. My hands were shaking as I answered. I hoped my voice sounded somewhat normal.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Diana. I hope you're well."

"Helena. Thank the Gods."

I heard her laugh. "I thought we agreed we didn't believe in them."

"Don't tease me. You know we don't. I've never been happier to hear anything as much as I am to hear your voice."

"You should know, Diana, this has been a difficult week for me. I can only imagine how hard it was for you."

"Surprisingly, it's been less difficult than I expected. I'll tell you about it when I see you. Do you mind if I say something?"

"Of course not. Please do."

"I can't tell you how glad I am that you gave me the time to think. I needed it more than I could have imagined. The strongest, most consistent thought I had this week was that I am completely, madly in love with you. I missed you so much that I almost came back early but I wanted you to have time as well in case you reconsidered. There's a lot that I don't know about you or about the future we're considering. The one thing of which I am certain is I want to be with you for as many lifetimes as possible."

I could hear a sharp intake of breath. "Are you saying what I think you are?"

"I can't say I want to die. But, I don't want to grow old while you stay as you are. I don't want you to have to constantly be worried for my safety. I don't want to be always looking over my shoulder for an attack that might never come. I don't want you to have a withered old woman as your lover. I don't want to see you in pain watching me die in what, for you, is a brief moment in time. I couldn't handle that if the situation was reversed.

"Since I was a young girl, I believed there was one person for me. I didn't expect that person to be a beautiful woman or for that woman to not be human. Yet, she is. I feel completely unprepared for what living as a Vampire means. Whatever it is, I'll embrace it because it means I get to be with you. I want the life you're offering if you still want me."

I could hear Helena softly sobbing. I was afraid I had said something I shouldn't or that she had changed her mind. I almost jumped in the air when she said, "Diana, I am so in love with you. I want to share everything with you. I want you beside me. Always. I want to go to sleep in your arms and wake with you in mine. I absolutely still want you. "

When I could breathe and talk again, I wiped the tears of joy from my eyes and managed to say, "So, what do we do now?"

"Well," she said, "you COULD look out your front door."

I threw my phone down, raced to the door and opened it. There, by the curb, stood Helena beside her limo. Instantly, she had me in her arms and we were kissing. It registered in my brain that I hadn't seen her flinch. The distance was only a couple of meters but she covered it before I could see movement. That shock was quickly replaced by the feeling of our bodies tight against each other from breast to hip. I realized I was gently grinding against her which only made me hug her tighter. I didn't want to break this kiss.

"I love you. I love you. I love you. Please, take me somewhere. My room, Your house. Hell, in the limo. I don't care. Being with you is all that matters to me."

She laughed. "Do you think you can wait long enough to get to our place?"

"Our place. I like the sound of that. Can your limo move at some magical Vampire speed?"

She laughed. "No. It's just a limo. We should at least get in it. The less your neighbors see the better, don't you think?"

"I don't really care what they see or think. But, I take your point." She ushered me in then walked back to a car that I hadn't noticed.

A woman got out and went into my house. Helena returned and sat beside me. She instructed the driver to wait. "Gabrielle is going to lock up for you. She'll just be a minute or two."

True to her word, Gabrielle was soon back and we were off.

* * * * *

All the way to the house, we were kissing and fondling one other. Somehow, I lost my blouse. Helena bit me twice, once on each breast. I wanted out of my slacks and panties so bad. They were sopping wet. When the limo finally stopped, Helena fairly pulled me from my seat, took me in her arms like a bride, carried me to the bedroom and deposited me on the bed. She handled me as if I weighed nothing. I can't even describe how fast we moved. My eyes couldn't focus on anything. I had a slight attack of vertigo when I finally found myself lying on her bed. My mind was sharp enough in my-lust addled state to think to myself, "our bed."

"Wait, I said in a whisper, "please, I need to settle myself. I'm dizzy."

"I'm sorry, Love. I should have realized the impact moving at Vampire speed would have."

She had already finished undressing and lay down beside me stroking my hair while showering me with gentle kisses. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. After a few minutes, I dared to open my eyes and was relieved that the room had stopped spinning.

"I think I'm okay now. Wow, that was something. Will I be able to move like that?"

"Yes, faster even. I was not at top speed. And you won't feel any dizziness as you did just now. Are you okay?"

"I will be once I get these damn slacks off," I said with a smile.

She ripped them as if the seams were made of velcro. "OK, this is happening," I thought to myself.

"Diana, I will ask you this only once. If you don't say stop now, I won't be able to stop if you say it later. My Vampire instincts will kick in and in the emotional state I'm in, no one will be able to save you. I won't take your life if you are not absolutely certain it's what you want. Are you certain?"

"My life is yours. Take it. No matter what my human instincts may make me do or say. I'm certain. This is what I want. You agreed that it was to be my choice. I've chosen. Whatever happens is on me. Please don't make me wait any longer."

She bit into her wrist and presented it to me. "Drink. Take me into you so you can change. I will be a part of you as long as you live. When I drink, you will become a part of me."

I took her arm in my hands and closed my lips over the wound. I drank. I couldn't help but see this act as the Vampire version of wedding vows. I knew I had just sealed my fate. I never wanted anything more. Fortunately the wound was not huge so I was able to drink at a normal pace. After a couple of minutes, she told me to stop and removed her wrist.

"That's it?" I asked. "We're married?"

She laughed. "Mates. Not married. Mates. I love you so much."

With that, Helena kissed me as deeply as she ever had. "I won't ravish you. I want your transition to be as memorable as possible. Relax and let me make love to you. You'll know when it's time for me to bite. Once I bite, I won't pull away until your heart stops. Others who have been turned describe a gradual loss of strength and consciousness. Then, nothing. No dreams. When you regain consciousness, you will be a Vampire."

I took a deep breath, took her face in my hands and pulled her in for a kiss. "I love you with every part of my being."

"Lie back. This is your night. Don't worry about my pleasure."

With that she kissed me again. Her hands began sliding over my body gently squeezing my breasts and tweaking my nipples. Her mouth moved to my neck. I tensed, then remembered what she had said. The moment wasn't here yet. I relaxed and savored the feelings her hands were providing. One hand reached between my legs just as her mouth found my nipple. I gasped as her finger entered me. I had no time to focus on the feeling because she chose that moment to bite into my breast.

Her dance of lust was now in full swing. My hips began to undulate, moving in time with her fingers. My clit was eager for her touch. I didn't have to wait long. My legs clasped her hand and I moaned and grunted as an orgasm hit. She did not relent. She moved down until she was positioned between my legs and immediately attacked my core. Her tongue flicked over my clit then slid between my lips lapping at my juices which were flowing freely, I remember thinking I was sure the sheets would never be clean again.

When she bit into my thigh, she again slid a finger into me, wiggling it and exploring my insides. I could feel her drinking and hear her moaning. I had another orgasm. This one was less powerful but my legs still trembled. I knew she wasn't done. She worked her tongue again on my core trying to coax another response. I was beginning to climb again. This one was going to be an explosion. I could tell.

Apparently, so could she because she started kissing her way up my belly, then my breasts until she was half lying on top of me. Her hand left its spot between my legs only long enough to stroke my cheek and slowly and gently move my face to the side exposing my neck. She began kissing and nibbling while her hand returned to my center. When she entered me again, my orgasm began. It was slow at first but quickly built to what I knew would be a volcanic explosion.

PAIN. She bit. Hard. Deep. I could tell she had bitten through the artery. I screamed from the pain, from the strength of my orgasm and from the sudden realization that I was about to die. I kicked at her trying to dislodge her hand. I tried to push her away from my neck but she was immovable. I could feel the blood pumping from the wound in my neck and feel her swallowing it. She moaned almost as loud as I screamed. As quickly as my moment of terror hit, it stopped leaving only the euphoria her bite brings. My hips rolled, my muscles tightened around her fingers. One arm tried to pull her body closer. The other went to her head and held her in place as if her withdrawing was even possible. My orgasm peaked as she drank.

Minutes passed as if we were a painting. Me bathed in the afterglow of the most powerful orgasm I ever had. Her continuing to drink. I remembered the night she fed from me. I sensed she had now gone past that point. This was not feeding. This was death. I was dying. I could feel it. Oddly, I welcomed it. I would soon be a Vampire and have Helena beside me for centuries.

My arm on her back and my hand on her head gradually lost strength. My breath was becoming more shallow and ragged. I tried to tell her I loved her, but couldn't do more than make groaning sounds. I felt my head throb in time with the beat of my heart. It sounded loud in my head for a few moments but soon became a softer almost background sound. My eyes began a rapid blinking until even that slowed. She drank and drank. I could feel that I was not spurting blood the way I was when she began. She was sucking to draw the blood faster than my weakening pulse could provide it.

My ears began to buzz lightly. My eyes closed. I was able to force myself to open them. I wanted a last look. All my muscles were completely useless. The room grew more dim with each passing second. I couldn't feel myself breathing. Then, darkness. No sound. No sensations. Nothing.

Human Diana was gone. Helena would tell me when I awoke as the new me, Vampire Diana, that she stayed at my neck for a full 10 minutes after she was sure my heart had stopped.