Dusk Till Dawn--Chapter 3

Dusk Till Dawn

Chaper 3

   Facilier bent over Ariel's peaceful sleeping face, stroking it yet again. He could not help himself. Her beauty was like that of a goddess. And her kind, adventurous spirit that he saw in her....Yes. She is his bride, who had finally come to him.

    Suddenly, Ariel stirred, stretching and slowly opening her eyes. Immediately he took her hand that was reaching out to him.

   "Dr....Facilier...?" She croaked, trying to get a better focus on his face.

   "Shh, shh. It's all right, love, he whispered, stroking her face. "How do you feel?"

   "Um, strange," she said thoughtfully, stretching her arms above her as she sat up. "But in a good way. Like...like I have something...something dark...but beautiful....inside me...a dark but beautiful power inside me..." And as she said this, her eyes glowed with bright violet light.

   Facilier smiled warmly. "That is good. This is how you should feel after the transformation."

   "Transformation? What are you talking about?"

   I had transformed you into a vampire. My bride." He smiled, caressing her neck where he had bitten her.

   Ariel's eyes widened in shock and fear. "A-a vampire? Y-your bride?"

   "Let me explain," Facilier said quickly, taking her hand. "A vampire's instincts are very potent powers to have. There is a time in each vampire's life when he or she will meet a person in their life and those instincts will tell them that that person is their mate for eternity. Those powerful instincts are not to be ignored or denied. When I saw you," his voice turned softer, " I knew you'd be the one for me. My senses told me you were my lover, my soul mate." He took her hand and placed it against his chest, over his heart. "You caused my still heart to jump...an event that only happens when a vampire finds his or her lover for eternity."

   Ariel's fears slipped away from her face and was replaced with a look of wonder and awe.

   "Facilier...I--I don't know what to say..."

   "Can you say you can feel that connection between us?" 

   Ariel paused, thinking. It was true; she could feel it. It was there, burning in her veins, in her heart. No longer was there a love for Eric. Now, there was a love for Facilier, a deep passionate love that almost knocked the breath out of her. She gazed deeply into his eyes, entranced. "Yes, I do. And I do want to be with you for always."

   Facilier smiled, taking her face in his hands, and kissed her eagerly. Ariel answered back with equal enthusiasm. She was thrilled with the feel of his smooth brown lips. She couldn't quite tell what that taste was, but she was determined to find out. She wrapped her arms around him, mashing her lips a little harder into his. There it was. She could tell now. He tasted delightfully of roses and chocolate, with just a hint of vampire darkness. It was the most intoxicating thing she had ever felt on her lips. Oh, how she wanted more...

   Facilier gently pulled away, chuckling at her enthusiasm. "We could do this all night, lil darlin', but you need to feed now."

   Ariel put a hand to her throat; she could feel the thirst almost locking up her airway. She would have liked to just ignore it and continue kissing her love, but it would be better not to be uncomfortable. "Well, alright. Where is the closest victim?" she laughed.

   "How about him?" he nodded at Eric, who was still unconscious. Ariel's smile dropped.

   "Eric? But--but I--"

   "I know what you were going to say, darlin'. But truth be told, I read his mind. And I'm sorry to say that he never truly loved you," he told her gently. "He only thought of you as a prize. He never liked your curiosity about the world or how you explored and tried new things. He only kept you for your beauty." He took her chin in his hand and guided her to look at him. "It's too bad he couldn't appreciate the beauty on the inside as well as the outside, as I see in you."

   Tears swelled in her eyes. "Oh, Facilier." she paused, thinking. "I guess I could see it's true. He often got irritated with me when I wanted to explore the festivities in the village. And he always got on my case about how going to balls is a display of good public image." The tears were released, spilling down her eyes. "Facilier, I'm so happy you found me."

   Facilier smiled warmly. "As am I, Ariel. As am I."

   Ariel turned away and kneeled down to Eric on the floor, still unconcious. She moved his hair away from his face and angled his head, exposing his neck. No longer was there reluctance in her now blood-red eyes, only determination and hunger for the rubies in his veins.

   "It's the best for both of us, Eric," she whispered in his ear. Then she sank her new fangs into his neck, drinking deeply.

   Facilier watched her with pride and love. This night was the happiest he had ever felt in many decades. He was no longer lonely. He had his new bride forever. And who knows? If she wanted they could have vampire children in the future, perhaps. Facilier could not have pictured a more perfect future for the both of them.

   Little did they know, they were going to adopt sooner than he realized.