A Chance Meeting

Before Lucille could answer, a giant grizzly bear appeared out of the bushes. Lucille instinctively reached for her sword, but realized that it was gone. However, she didn’t have to wonder where it was for long. Nicolai was brandishing the sword at the bear, taunting it. Ignoring the vampire completely, the bear let out a roar and charged at a defenseless Lucille.

While the bear was preoccupied with Lucille, Nicolai stabbed the bear through the chest with the sword. Bleeding profusely, the bear collapsed to the ground. It was dead seconds later.

Lucille embraced Nicolai in a tight hug, causing him to drop the sword. The close proximity caused feelings to rise in Lucille. Green eyes met dark ones and it did not take long for Lucille to close the gap. The kiss started off innocent, but deepened to more. And it did not stop there.

Afterwards, Lucille lay snuggled up next to Nicolai as she basked in the afterglow. Running his fingers through Lucille's golden hair, Nicolai was the first one to speak. "Was that your first time?"

"Yes," replied Lucille, sheepishly. "I haven't gone that far with anyone before. I have only ever kissed someone before now. Why? Was it bad?"

"No, it was quite good," responded Nicolai. "But if you're worried about it, that's nothing a little more experience won't fix." He began kissing her again. Lucille lost herself in the moment as they began making love a second time.

Over the next few weeks, Lucille received a generous portion of experience. Nicolai was a very thorough lover. He wasn't just interested in his own enjoyment. He cared a lot about hers as well. But something was bugging her. There was just something that Lucille could not shake no matter what. After their latest rendezvous, Lucille decided to address her fear. "How come you have never tried to bite me?"

"I don't bite the unwilling," responded Nicolai, stroking Lucille's hair. "There are things that I crave far more than blood."

"Like what?"

Nicolai fixed Lucille with a pointed gaze. "Oh, I think that you know. Besides," he added, "I would never bite you."

"Why?"

"Because I care about you too much," admitted Nicolai.

"But surely there would be some circumstance that you would?"

"Unless you were dying and the only way to save you was to turn you into a vampire, then no."

"That seems fair," agreed Lucille.

"Really, you would consent to that?" Nicolai was taken aback by her response. But he could tell that Lucille's mind had been made up. She grasped his hand in hers and squeezed it tightly. Her eyes locked onto his and when she spoke, her tone was serious.

"Yes, if I'm dying and you are nearby at the time, you have my permission to turn me."

Nicolai sighed with relief. "Good, because I don't want to think about living in a world without you in it, Lucille. I know it may seem strange since we haven't known each other long, but I..."

The sound of footsteps grew closer. A familiar voices accompanied the footsteps. Lucille's eyes grew wide as she heard her fiance's voice. Standing abruptly, she cast a fearful look at Nicolai.

"You must go. He cannot find us here."

Nicolai's fangs seemed to lengthen. A look of mischief plastered onto his face as he gazed in the direction of the intruder.

"But why not? I'd like to have a little chat with him."

Lucille shook her head, "No, please don't do that. Please, just go."

Lucille pushed hard against Nicolai's chest in an effort to move him. The vampire did not budge but his focus shifted. The white fangs retracted as Nicolai looked down at Lucille's hands. A smirk crossed his lips.

"Can't keep your hands off of me, can you?"

Lucille rolled her eyes at him.

"Now is not the time to be playing around," she hissed.

"Fine," Nicolai sighed. "I will go. Can I at least kiss you goodnight before I leave?"

Lucille nodded. Nicolai leaned forward. His hands instantly went into her hair as he held her head in between them. The kiss he gave her was short but sweet. Her eyes fluttered shut as she allowed herself to enjoy it. When she opened them again, Nicolai had vanished.

Her heart sank. She felt terrible about the way that they parted. The best part of her day was when they were together. Now she had to wait until sunset to see him again.

"What are you doing out here so late?"

Lucille squeezed her eyes briefly shut in annoyance. Turning around, she came face to face with her fiance.

"I couldn't sleep."

Her fiance narrowed his eyes, "So you decided to go wandering around in the woods?"

Lucille placed her hands on her hips. Glaring at him, she replied, "Yeah. What's it to you?"

"You are my future wife! I believe that alone makes it my business to know why you're wandering into places you don't need to go!"

"You don't own me! I can do as I please!"

Her fiance scoffed.

"As I stated before, I will be your husband soon enough. That means you have to do as I say!"

"It hasn't happened yet. It may not happen at all."

Lucille's fiance stared at her. She watched as his face went from red to purple. It finally settled back on a bright crimson. He stepped forward so that he was inches from Lucille's face. A look of pure menace plastered onto his face

"Oh, it will happen. Don't worry your pretty little head about it," he growled. "And for the record, if you think for one second that you'll get out of this, you're wrong. I intend to see this through to the end. However that end may come "

Lucille hated the way that he was smiling at her as he said the last part. A chill ran down her spine and she felt her resolve fade a little. A wave of fear overtook her as she pondered what he meant. Whatever it was, there was no way that anything good would come out of it.