• It was 1:30am when Christabella’s cab pulled up to the Lincoln Hotel. She stepped out into the pouring rain. She hated rain and since she was an over sensitive girly-girl she made a scene as she tried to avoid getting mud on her brand new heels. She looked like a fool carrying her pink bag. Inside at the counter a women was helping a young man around the age of 21. Christabella waited. When she was done he turned to her. She almost fainted. He was like an angel with his black hair and those eyes, they mesmerized her.
    ”Are you okay miss?”
    ”Oh yes. Thanks for asking.”
    ”Do you have a room?”
    ”No not yet.”
    ”Well there are no more rooms but I’d gladly share my room with you. I’m single now, so don’t worry”. He looked down for a brief moment. “She died of a fatal snake bite to the neck.”
    ”Oh how tragic.”
    ” I do believe she went peacefully. “ After awhile he said, “Follow me“. They took an elevator to the fifth story. He unlocked the door. ”This,” he said throwing his hands out and twirling like a girl, “is my suite. I live here.”
    ”It’s quite lovely.”
    ”It is but it’s nothing to your great beauty.”
    ”Why you’re a charmer.”
    ”Really, I hadn’t noticed.”
    ”I still don’t know your name sir.”
    ”One, don’t call me sir, I’m 20 years old. Two, my name’s Blake. It means attractive.”
    ”Oh really? I’m 18 and my name’s Christabella. It’s Latin and French for…”
    He interrupted her. ”Beautiful Christian”
    ”Yes! How did you know that?” He shrugged.
    ”I’m just that perfect I guess.” He said flashing her a dazzling smile.
    ”When can I sleep? I’ve been in a cab since 1:00pm yesterday. I came from Los Angeles.”
    ”Oh that’s not that far Christy.”
    ”Hey, how did you know my nickname?”
    ”It’s on your bracelet.” She looked down at her wrist. He was right; it was printed on her hot pink bracelet in tiny faded letters. She’d had the thing for as long as she could remember. Her mother had given it to her but now both her mother and father were dead. They’d been dead for three years now. Christy lived with her grandparents but left when she was 17 to live on her own.
    ”You must have 20/20 vision!”
    ”I do. I also have a perfect sense of smell, fast reflexes and speed and let’s not forget my hearing. I could, for example, hear your heart skipping a beat just now.”
    ”Either you’re lying or you have super powers.” said Christabella stunned.
    ”Well dear, I’ll show you then.” He walked swiftly over to her, picked her up and threw her over his muscular shoulder. Like a flash he threw open the window and jumped down with no hesitation. When they hit the ground he landed on his feet. ”Now do you believe me?”
    ”Yes! I so totally believe you’re a nut job!”
    ”Oh hush Christy! Come on, I’m sure you’ve got tons of questions for me.”
    “I suppose yes I’ve got tons.”
    “Well then let’s go to my favorite place to chat. Not that most people will talk to me. They all think I’m a cruel beast.”
    “Most people know I’m stuck-up and even sometimes a b***h.”
    “Such foul language coming from such a sweet creature as yourself is shocking.”
    “I’m not as sweet as you think Blake.”
    “And I the same Christabella.” Her name sounded nice coming from his mouth. By now they were at a park alone since it was so early, around 2:00. He sat on the park bench and she clung to him. ”You know you can get off of me now.” He said slightly irritated.
    “I know but…”
    “But what?”
    “You’re so calming and you smell like lavender.”
    “You think I smell good? You’re the one tempting me. Hazel and honey, that my dear is your scent. Constantly on the air and now your hair flowing in the breeze.”
    “Never mind. God Blake, what’s wrong with you?”
    “Nothing. Just distract me with a few of your questions. “
    “Okay.” She carefully thought of a question that wouldn’t upset him. “What are you?”
    “A man.”
    “Ha ha. Now for real! A man can’t jump five stories down and run as fast as you.”
    “I know.”
    “Then what are you?” She asked again.
    “I can’t tell you, I’ll have to show you.” He smiled a wide grin to reveal a set of fangs. They gleamed in the moonlight.
    “You’re a…” She was silenced by Blake’s quick reflexes.
    As he removed his finger from her mouth he whispered “Hush. No one can know.”
    “But what do you want of me?”
    “I’m very lonely. I crave companionship. I’ve fallen in love with you.”
    “Oh my I….I don’t know what to say.”
    “I think you’re beautiful Christabella.”
    “I had no idea you felt that way toward me Blake. I’m just a normal girl.”
    “So?”
    “Why me? Why not a model or a women? I’m only 18 and you’re 20.”
    “Age doesn’t matter.” Just then Christabella yawned. “I’d better get you back.” With that he picked her up and like that they were suddenly in his suite. Christabella, lying on the bed, stared into his eyes. “I want to be like you Blake.” He leaned over and kissed her on the lips. She obviously thought he was going to bite her but he didn’t, not yet.
    “I love you Christabella.”
    “How do you know?”
    “Vampires know their soul-mate when they see them.”
    “And I’m yours?”
    “Yes.”
    “So when you’re bitten, do you stay that age forever?”
    “No, we age to 20 then no more. “
    “I think I love you as well.”
    “What makes you say that?”
    “The fact that I’m not afraid of you.”
    “You should be.”
    “Why?”
    “I killed my last girlfriend.” he said head down. Christabella’s breath caught in her chest. “But I won’t hurt you. I want and need you to much.” he said looking up.
    He leaned in and bit her neck gently, careful not to lose control and drain her. He let go seconds later. “There, now are you happy?”
    “Am I like you?”
    “Not yet dear. By morning. Time to sleep now.” He shut off the light and in mornings light she awoke feeling emptiness in her chest. “Good morning my love.”
    “This empty feeling will go away right?”
    “No, but you’ll get used to it. Now get up and get dressed in this.” He handed her an old Victorian dress.
    “What’s this for?”
    “Our wedding.”
    “I’ve got no problem marrying you but well we’re not engaged yet doesn’t that come first?”
    “That little bite, it’s sort of like my engagement proposal to you.”
    “Oh.” Christabella went to the bathroom and changed but she ran out when she saw herself in the mirror. “Blake what the hell what happened to my brown hair? Now its black!”
    “It happens to all vampires. We all have black hair unless we dye it. One time I met a vampire with blue hair.”
    “Blake I hate it! Fix it now!”
    “I can’t. You’ll have to dye it. Please don’t be mad, you’re quite beautiful with this way.” They argued for 30 minutes then he’d had enough. “Look Christy I’m sick and tired of this! You b***h about black hair and you completely forget the fact that we’re getting married! You’re going to live forever so please enjoy this moment. I’m sorry about your hair.”
    “Don’t be, it’s my fault. I should be sorry for yelling at you. I really do like my hair.” She looked up and for the first time noticed his clothes. They were Victorian, like hers. “Why such an old fashioned theme for our wedding?”
    “This my darling is my mom’s wedding dress.” He said with a warm smile. Then he set two plates of chicken on the table. “Sit down and eat.”
    She sat. “But this chicken is raw.”
    “I know dear Christy. We vampires eat meat raw for our thirst is for blood.”
    “So instead of teaching me to hunt we’re eating this?”
    “No. One, were in a bit of a rush. Two, you already have vampire instincts. You already know how to hunt. And three, I didn’t know you’d prefer tearing humans to shreds.”
    “I don’t, I just thought vampires only drank blood.”
    “Well then you’ll be learning quite a lot today.”
    “So where is the wedding at?” Christabella asked taking a huge bite of chicken and trying to finish it fast.
    “In ten minutes at the old church down Hickory road. My father built it for his wedding with Rose my mom back in 1845.”
    “Damn! It’s over 200 years old and it’s still there.”
    “Yes, but my father died in a fire. Fire is the only way to kill us. My father repaired the house so now Rose takes care of it.” After he’d cleaned up they both ran lightening speed to the wedding. There were only five people there but Christy knew her parents were there in spirit. “Christy meet Rose, Carrie my sister, Kaitlin my aunt, Jack my brother, and Dustin his friend. He just wanted to meet you.”
    “It’s very nice to meet all of you.” Inside there were black roses everywhere. “Oh my, its breathtaking!”
    “We did this while you slept last night. I thought weddings had roses so I got these.” he said once again twirling as he did. “My lord Christy you look nice.” said Dustin. “I’m finally glad you’ve fallen in love Blake.”
    “Thanks Dustin.” replied Blake in a shy voice.
    “Well dear let’s start the wedding.”
    “Okay mom.” Rose strolled over to a piano and then her hands began flying across the keys in a beautiful way that made Christabella cry. “Are you alright?”
    “Yes Blake I’m fine but who’s doing the word thingy?” He laughed. “I’m sorry I don’t know what it’s called.”
    “It’s okay, I know what you mean and Dustin’s doing that.” She waited for everything to be ready then while holding Jake’s arm she walked down the isle. She deeply wished her father was there to walk with her but he couldn’t because of the stupid drunk a** who hit him. She came out of thought to find they were there already.
    “Okay ya’ll I’m skipping a hell of a lot words so I made up some new ones.” He cleared his throat. “We are gathered here today to bring together these two vampires for as long as they love each other. So do you Blake take this lovely new vampire to be your vampiress for all eternity?”
    “Yes, I take you Christabella as my vampires.”
    “And do you Christabella take this brilliant handsome vampire as you husband?”
    “Yes, I do, I will.”
    “Then with Gods will I pronounce you vampire husband and vampiress wife. You two may kiss!” They did and her heart would have skipped a beat if it had still been beating.
    After this they all went home. Blake and Christabella did some unspeakable things. But this is a story for young adults so let’s just say that on Blake’s 100th birthday Christy had a baby. The complete story is kind of hard to explain but let’s start with saying there’s a bit of a difference in normal babies and Christy’s. There was no surprise of when the baby was born with black hair. Its eyes were of a gold color and it was a beautiful baby. Christy couldn’t help but say so. There was a knowing look in the baby’s eyes. At the age of 1 the little girl, who they named Terry, could say “Christabella may I please have one of your delectable cookies?” Christabella was a great cook. It seemed to be the talent she took with her to the vampire world and it seemed to have enhanced a lot. At the age of 5 they learned Terry had a few powers of her own like mind reading and she seemed to learn to read and write faster than her mom and dad. She finished books in 10 minutes or her parents would read and she’d listen in with her super powers. At the age of 15 Terry met her soul-mate, a boy named Emory. He was 17. He found out what she was and unbelievably he never told anyone of her family secret. At age 19 she bit him. They got married and had a baby as well named Emily. She was like her grandmother in that she simply hated her hair all through life so she asked her mother if she could dye her hair red. A rude reply came next.
    “No do it when your 18.” So at age 17 she dyed it with a few red streaks and a blue one. She turned emo and rebelled. One day she told her mother, “I hate you so much mom!”
    “You go and do this behind my back. Why couldn’t you wait one more year?”
    “I’m leaving!” She screamed and she did. Emily went to live with Christabella and Blake where they talked her into going home. She did make up with her mom but was still an emo. She wrote gothic love poems for no reason, they were about heartbroken angels but never had she fallen in love so everyone wondered why they were the way they were. She explained “I’m in love with life but this thing I am, it hurts to know I’m not normal not like him.”
    “Like who?” asked Terry.
    “Like Chris.”
    “Oh who is Chris?”
    “He’s a boy I met. He’s emo and I love him. I try to be like him but he doesn’t notice. “
    “You didn’t tell him did you?”
    “No he doesn’t know he never will.” So she ran to him. “Chris I love you please don’t be scared but I’m a vampire.”
    “I know I’m one too.”
    “For real?”
    “Yes and I love you as well.” he said as he flashed her a big smile to show his fangs. “See dear Emily I too have fangs which I try to hide but my thirst carried me here to you.”
    “You want to eat me?”
    “No it’s love. I mean I can’t help but smile.” They talked for hours then spent everyday together until they got married.
    This is the chain of events. Eventually they had kids. Their kids had kids and so on. This is much like the human chain. That is something we have in common with them and their lifestyle is much like ours. Do not call them creatures; they aren’t human but they’re semi human.
    This is my love story. I am Christabella, Zack my boyfriend is Blake and my inspiration was the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers. This story is dedicated to my two classes. My 6/8 and my 7th grade classes. A few people in particular are Dustin, Zack, Emory, Alana, Curyashia, and my writing teacher Ms. Stallings. Had she not told us we had to do a short story I may never have written this story.