~¤~ †he †urning ~¤~
As they entered the house he set down the bag of groceries and stoked up the banked coals so that soon there was a roaring fire in the fireplace. "That should get us warm in no time. Make yourself comfortable and I’ll start dinner" he said happily
She wandered around the room, looking at various books and other memorabilia. "Are these your friends" she asked curiously
He glances over at the picture she was indicating.
"No, I did an archeology study when I was in college. That is how I knew what Vitae Vino was. Latin. Not my strong suit, but I’m passable"he replied.
"You seem to be passable at a lot of things" she said with an impish smile adding "Is there anything that you’re good at"
"Well, yeah, but its been a long time,�?he said his checks reddening a bit, after a few minutes to collect his thoughts.
"Never had any complaints, at any rate. So what are your hobbies" he asked her.
"Archeology is the study of bones and remains and such. I’m more interested in anthropology.. the study of man, his society and beliefs. I just find your books fascinating. I read all the time" she replied.
"Well, if you see anything there you want to read, you’re welcome to borrow it" his attention returning to preparing the meal.
She picked up a book and read out loud "Kindred- a tale of children of the night".
"hmmm this one looks interesting. I wonder if they have any truths in it"
He opened the bottle of Blood wine and brought her in a glass "They better, I wrote it" he smiled
"It took a long hard research grant to get that one through. If you want, I’ll sign it, give it to you. I've got about two hundred more copies back home. Didn't sell very well. People are more into fiction than reality" he called back to her as he returned to the kitchen.
She listened to the clatters and various sounds of cooking as she smelled the sweet smells of meat roasting and
vegetables being prepared. He sips his wine and called out to her, "This blood wine is ...interesting.So how do you like your steak"
"Bloody" she replied with a little chuckle. "Ahhh a woman after my own heart" he called back. "If you only knew" she whispered quietly to herself.
He finished with the last of the vegetables and began to prepare a hollandaise sauce to go over the asparagus. When he finds that the bowl is rather hot from sitting next to the stove, he dropped the bowl, hitting the stove and pouring the contents over himself. Knowing it has cayenne in it, he excused himself to the shower for a quick fix before dinner.
"Damn fool, Mr... Clutso" he muttered to himself as he showered " You really know how to impress,I just hope she’ll wait"
As he exits the shower, he grabs a pair of jeans and a cardigan and begins to pull them on as he moves into the hallway,hoping she hasn't left he looks to see where she is, he notices articles of clothing strewn in a trail leading to the front door.
He quirked a brow and began to smile. Following the trail he found that the door was ajar.
Looking at the clothing on the floor, he knew she couldn't be wearing much, if anything at all. He grabs a blanket and the bottle of wine and headed out into the night, tracking her to bring her back to the warmth of the house.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
With the help of the full moon and the white snow, he was able to follow her tracks along the edge of the woods to a clearing overlooking the lake. There he saw her, crouched atop a large rock at the edge of the cliff, her pale skin seeming to glow in the light of the full moon. He approached, saying gently, "There you are. You’re going to freeze at this rate" He climbed up onto the rock next to her. She sat, her gaze off across the water. "Why did you leave" he asked, his voice quiet.
In a voice barely more than a whisper, she replied, "Call of the wild, if you must know" "Call of the what" he asked as he wrapped the blanket around her. She turned her head, so as not to look into his face, fearing what he would see.
He put a finger under her chin and turned her face to look at him. "There there, now, what’s wrong"
"I have no mate..... And you really don’t want to know" she replied quietly.
"I’m here, aren't I" he asked. She opened her eyes, revealing their red glow.
He felt his heart quicken, but he didn't move, mystified by her very presence.
"I need to be alone" she whispered.
"Please, let me be here with you" he pleaded
"You don’t understand" she said. "If you stay with me now, it will be always and forever"
“No, you don’t understand" he said firmly. "You are the one I have been looking for for so very long.I know what you are. And I know what I want.�?/FONT>
“No you don’t know what you ask.�?she interrupted
“I ask to be with you and if it is to be always and forever, then so be it.�?he said as he leaned in to kiss her, gently and softly, his heart now racing as he feels her fangs touch his lips.
He sat up and turned his head, revealing his neck."Share with me that which you would keep secret.�?/FONT>
“Are you sure, are you really sure there is no turning back ...ever" she said seriously."Take a last look at what you will be leaving behind...Do you really want that"
“Yes, I leave nothing because you are my everything, now and forever, I am yours.�?he said "I knew from the first time I saw you, that you were the one haunting my dreams, calling me here to you"
She kisses him softly at first and he returns her kiss they embrace the passion intensity overwelms them, kissing on down his neck, her eyes glowing... her fangs find her mark and her teeth puncture his skin she drinks thirstily. He feels the puncture of her fangs, a burning sensation that starts to travel through the whole of his body then as quickly as it came it goes. There is no pain, he feels life draw away from him, his life flashes before him and then there is nothing, he thinks if this is the last moment in this life time I have truly been blessed to share it with my soul mate with that he gasps.
She hears him gasp and she fights her bloodlust and pulls herself from him ... crying "Oh Shaman, are you Okay. I am truly sorry I didn't mean to go as far ...what was I thinking " she tries to awaken him. "My love you need to drink" she panics gouging at her wrist with her long nails she tears open a vein. The blood pours thick and fast she pushes her wrist to his mouth " Drink , Shaman you have to drink" she sobs.
Holding his limp body she cries out aloud "Why do you do this...What have I done....Why am I punished so , Can I never love someone" at that moment she feels him ever so lightly move his mouth she looks down with hope that he isn't beyond her call.
"I am just imagining this" she watches him more closely, willing him back from mortal death. He moans and suckles faster as if a great thirst has hold of him, his eyes open they glow he feels a throbbing in his head that moves through his body as if there are two heart beats, he feels as if he is about to explode the pain is very intense and he cries out a blood curdling howl that breaks the silence of the night.
Then again the pain went as fast as it came.He looks at her and smiles a glint of moonlight bounces of his fangs.She cries with joy and wraps herself around him "I had thought I had lost you my Love" he kisses her and says "Never my love, I am here till time is no more.I will never leave your side" Looking at her wrist he ties a scarf around saying "Here let me take care of that for you"
"It will heal in no time" she says smiling.
Whilst smiling knowingly to herself that she has made the right choice. “Well it is only fitting you have a new name" she said as he looks upon her "From this night on, you are I Gi Do Waya.It means Father Wolf, as my name, U Tsi Waya, is Mother Wolf. We shall be joined, in blood and spirit, and shall live as one, no longer two"
She leans in to kiss his cheek
"Just the one." he murmurs.
The End
James A Gower ã 23 May 2000
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