Forbidden Findings -- Vampire One on One

Lurk

<3	100.0%	[ 18 ]
Total Votes:			[ 18 ]

[Korrye]

__________Something was wrong. There was something in the air, something in the way they moved that made Dahlia flinch. Lucas had pulled through the forestry first, his skin a healthier glow. Her eyes met his and while she smiled he barely returned it. She stepped off of the porch onto the drive in greeting. Lucas was in front of her before she could do anything else. Taking her hands in his he looked up to her with a face filled with terror. He looked horrified. But worse, when she smelt him he reeked of Demi. She’d been all over him. Dahlia looked at him with wide eyes, her lips parting to gape.

“Dahlia, please listen,” he said with seriousness. “I made a mistake, and I don't want to hide it but I'd like for you to know the truth.”

Swallowing back dry mouth she stared at him, watching as he was caught off guard. From behind Lucas Demi emerged, her dress barely hanging on her frame. Her chest was nearly exposed and she looked joyous, thrilled. Dahlia smelt a combination of their scents. They blended into one another from proximity. Demi stepped right behind Lucas and slid a hand out to play with the hair at the back of Lucas’ head. She smiled and twirled herself around them pulling at his pants until Dahlia slapped at her hand like a swatter. The woman purred. Demi turned her head to face Dahlia with a sly smile.

“O he’s mine love, always has been. You might as well let him go,” Demi stated. Malice played in her voice. Parading her age and her dominance was simply something Demi lived by. She did nothing else with herself.

“What makes you think that?” Dahlia sneered. Lucas was removed, his face stern with rejection towards Demi who only turned her eyes skyward. It seemed to obvious to her, like the answer was spelt out in the clouds. Dahlia followed her movements while she held onto Lucas.

“Doll, what do you think took so long? Luca got carried away with me,” Demi laughed. “Liar,” Dahlia snorted.

Only when she turned to Lucas for reassurance it wasn’t there. She faced him and felt her confidence plummeting. Her skin rippled. Dahlia was unraveling before them both. “Did you?” she demanded. Demi snickered. Dahlia pulled her hands from him and shoved him away forcefully. Whatever calm she’d begun to feel with him there was boiled away. What was left was salt which Demi took to grinding into her pre-existing wounds.

“But why!” she shouted. Her eyebrows creased together and she felt her body beginning to panic. Dahlia’s shoulders bunched together and she shook her head violently. Disbelief spread through her features. When Lucas made movements to recollect her hands she forced him away, waving them in the air at him while shuddering violently. She sidestepped in circles while he trailed her. She refused. He was spoiled milk, curdled and like poison. She wouldn’t let him touch her, not when he’d done things with that witch.

Lucas was a cheater, taking in the carnal pleasures of another vampire. Sure she’d anticipated former lovers. He had openly claimed to have thought love would fill his need for happiness along with money and sex. But this woman had no boundaries. She had crossed a line Dahlia had thought clear. Lucas had allowed her to. And his permission of such actions led Dahlia’s bottled emotions explode. Dahlia’s uncontained emotions from hours before only allowed the blowback of this event to run in full frenzy.

“Shut-up!” she roared, looking him directly in the eyes. She stared him down, pupils widening to swallow him up. The animal appeared. “Close your mouth and do nothing,” she demanded. Lucas went rigid.

To her left Demi was frozen. “Did you...?” she asked, pointing her finger at Lucas who stood with a hollow expression frozen in his step. “Did you just?”

“You,” Dahlia bellowed. She turned, her eyes wide. Vibrating with rage she felt her fangs extend, felt her fingers extend like claws. “Ungracious, sex icon, whore, butcher and slut. I will no—“

“Not what?” Demi countered, cutting Dahlia off mid sentence. She was stepping backward on her own as Dahlia pursued her. Demi trembled, felt that low rumble of fear replace her passion and lust for Lucas. She faked her confidence, feeling that were she to intimidate her opponent she would be on safer ground. “You can’t touch me with your little nitwit fingers.”

Demi laughed only to have Dahlia approach her and swipe her nails through her cheek in a haze of anger fueled action. Demi’s face spun to the right. The four slices from Dahlia’s nails oozed blood before sealing. Demi snarled in response. “Do your worst” she dared. Dahlia hissed as Demi took flight. Without thought she pursued.

Faster than the newborn, Demi hightailed north utilizing her knowledge of the path that had led Lucas and herself on the hunt earlier. She was running, feeling her legs dip into the ground while a wild animal hunted her. Dahlia tore through the brush trampling anything that came remotely within her reach. The animal continued to desecrate anything near to her. Her speeds were uncontrolled. Occasionally the trail would straighten out and she would be able to extend her legs as fast as they would go. Dahlia met with Demi two minutes after the chase when they emerged in a local hay field.

“Your face looks ugly when you’re angry. I should rip it off for you!” Demi taunted in fear, dancing through the weeds. Dahlia made her entrance known, vaulting into the clearing from the woods in a strong stride. She was visibly enraged, her eyes wide and her lips curled back to reveal her teeth.

“I will kill you b***h,” Dahlia screamed. She traced the scent in wild circles, catching it on the wind where Demi stood immobile, watching from her place as Dahlia circled and came down on her. Demi expected the girl to come to her, to find her. It was the time it took that caught her off guard. In her violent rage Dahlia held no moral sense, she simply moved and with full animal instincts in play she’d stalked her prey. Demi had been a fool to run in straight lines. When Dahlia jumped at her Demi landed a roundhouse kick in the girl’s jaw. The newborn was sent flying into the grass while Demi took the opportunity to flee. There was no way in hell she would be caught staring into those eyes. Demi had seen her glamour Lucas. In one command he was frozen. Now she darted like a bat out of hell into the woods. Taking no chance she wound her path intricately.

Taking longer to recover Dahlia screeched. The pain in her jaw subsided but she found herself in the midst of the field surrounded by tall grass and wheat. She cried. Blood gathered in her eyes and streamed down her face. He had cheated! Did Lucas understand how much that hurt? She was violent in her episode, grovelling on the ground and pawing at the dirt with her fists. Screeching she realized her prey had fled. Good, let her be gone. She wouldn’t be nice if she saw her again. Not ever.

[[Bang Bang]]

He obviously hadn't run fast enough. Lucas glared at the sight of Demi with an award winning smile on her face. This was her moment and she was living it up as best as she could. He could feel her close the distance and reach out to touch him. Lucas pulled his head away, but Demi persisted. She stepped in front of him and started to reach for his jeans - her favorite spot. Lucas' initial reaction was to stop her but he was beat to the point by Dahlia. Her guard was much higher than his, which was surprising. He couldn't imagine her being angrier at Demi than he was at the moment. Demi loved the fact that Dahlia was so protective. It would prove more fun to shatter that bond. Lucas couldn't help but think of how bad of an idea it was to have let Demi lived. She may not have been taking a life, but she was definitely destroying his. He knew her plan exactly. She wanted to take away everything he had until she was all that was left. Even then, he couldn't imagine himself going back to her. She wasn't nearly as important to him as Dahlia. She'd never be able to compare.

“O he’s mine love, always has been. You might as well let him go,” Demi said matter-of-factly. Lucas began to glare again, wishing Demi would disappear.

“What makes you think that?” Dahlia said disbelievingly. Lucas' throat swelled. This time, it wasn't from hunger but instead from his fear. He was nervous about how Demi would break Dahlia down. The last thing he wanted to do was to allow her to hurt his closest friend and love but he couldn't deny anything she was about to say either.

“Doll, what do you think took so long? Luca got carried away with me,” she said with a laugh. Lucas clenched his hand into a fist. Dahlia didn't believe her and angrily called her a liar. It wasn't until she looked to Lucas for answers did she patch things together. Lucas had started by saying he made a mistake. He wasn't telling Demi to stop her falsehoods. Her eyes widened as she was struck with disbelief.

“Did you?” she questioned as she turned to him for answers. Lucas paused and placed both hands over one of hers.

“Dahlia...” He started. From that word alone, she could see the answer for herself. Dahlia pulled her hand away from him and forced him backwards. He stumbled for a second but continued to step forward. She didn't know the full story. She shouted in disbelief to which Luke tried to answer honestly. “I didn't mean to, I wasn't myself. I'd never do that to you, Dahlia.” Reaching out, he attempted to take her hands back into his but she violently shoved him away again. Lucas could feel his heart beginning to crack. Dahlia didn't want him anymore. She didn't want him touching her or trying to console her. Her feelings of anger and betrayal weren't aimed at just Demi anymore. He was beginning to get the full force of her fury as well. He suddenly had problems breathing. Without Dahlia, nothing felt right. “Listen, please, Demi drank from th--...” He was cut off by his lover's rage.

“Shut-up!” Lucas looked into her eyes with hurt. What was saw was an empty void which sucked him inside with one gulp. There was no struggle, no attempt to break the connection. Just a quick switch from being independent to a puppet. Just like that. “Close your mouth and do nothing,” she demanded. Lucas closed his slightly agape mouth and did exactly as he was told. His mind stopped, his muscles froze, and his breathing became still. Everything after that was simply black. He didn't remember anything. Not drifting in a sea of nothingness or listening to the sound of the angry girls screaming. He did not feel the wind brush past him when they took off or the burning hatred Dahlia transferred over to him. He was a shell for an untraceable amount of time. All he knew was that he had been looking at Dahlia when he felt composed and then he was standing alone. He panicked and immediately begged for answers. Why was he alone? Where was Demi? More importantly, where was Dahlia? Smelling the air, he could still pick up on both of their scents. It lead him to the forest, where he had come from. Lucas wasted no time. He once again pushed for his best speeds and tried to catch a distant glimpse of something that could reassurance. If Demi and Dahlia were left alone without him, the chances would more than likely skyrocket in favor of a fight. Demi was older than he was - she knew her way around battle. Dahlia had never fought on her own and could only rely on her instincts, which each vampire was already equipped with. He feared the worse in the situation. Would he be able to live with himself knowing he was the cause of her... No, he refused to even imagine it. Dahlia was safe somewhere and he was imagining everything. His worry was just getting the best of him. Their scents got confusing after a while, feeling like they were weaving themselves in circles. Smells lapped over one another and Lucas was scared he was lost. He moved along a grassy field and was about to turn back when he saw something solid that did not move with the rhythm of the plants. Lucas paused, nervous about who he had just found. Whoever it was, they were sitting in on the floor, hidden by the tall grass. As he moved closer, he caught a strong scent which washed relief all through out him. Lucas ran towards the woman he knew as Dahlia and quickly approached her. He didn't want to remember the last time he felt so close to losing her.

Lucas did not realize Dahlia would not return the same feelings for him. When he got too close, she screamed and swiped at his face. Lucas clenched his teeth together and did everything he could to stay silent. He fought to swallow the pain and try to ignore the sting. His wound closed up quickly after, providing relief. Lucas tried again, this time slower. She continued her fit and once again took a swing for his face. He could once again feel the way her nails ripped open his protective layer of skin and exposed his wound to the wind. The sting was worse but Lucas still choked himself into silence. He squinted his eyes shut and held his breath until the same thing happened as before, and the wound closed up on it's own. Lucas did not give up though. He repeated his last actions but just as Dahlia reached out, he grabbed her wrist and stopped her before her nails could graze his skin. What he hadn't intended for was her other arm which darted out for a new target: his shoulder. She hit him precisely and dug four of her five fingers deep into his muscles and around his collar bone. Lucas could not remain silent this time. He cried out painfully while trying to remain at ease. Luke bit on the insides of his cheeks and tried to relax, but the treatment was painstakingly cruel. It hurt so much more because it was Dahlia who was attacking him.

“Please,” he begged, trying to ignore the unbearable amount of pain from her four fingers deeply lodged in his shoulder. Every breath he took made his body rise and fall which only irritated the throbbing wound more. “I'm sorry, Dahlia. I'm so so sorry.” She was still consumed by her anger. She kicked out at him and retrieved her hand from his muscles. Lucas wailed as she ripped them out. She took another plunge at his face and made contact. She scratched him towards the back of his head and nearly took his whole ear off when she brought her nails around to his cheek. Lucas muffled back more cries, and this time stumbled back in defeat. He couldn't take much more of Dahlia's treatment. Sure, his body would heal back up just as it was doing now. But emotionally, he was losing every ounce of determination he had left. Dahlia didn't want him and she was making it more and more clear as he continued to try. “This isn't you,” he huffed. “I know this isn't what you want to become. You can stop this if you calm yourself.” As the last wound began to heal, Lucas began to rebuild on his courage. He would attempt to get close to her as many times as it took to reach the one who owned his heart. He wasn't going to give up that easily on her.

[Korrye]

__________Nothing was bringing her comfort. Dahlia swallowed deep breathes and moved slowly on her hands and knees. She spent a limited amount of time on her own. During this she grew no closer to her conscious. Removed from her physical presence she was untethered by her solitude she could think of nothing but wrenching the life out of a person. Just holding her hands at the base of a human’s throat and watching them convulse and shudder. Dahlia craved the release that would not come.

Lucas appeared mere minutes after Demi had taken her opportunity to flee. He was dazed and breathed audibly. Dahlia wasn’t at all mentally present. The moment he approached she hurled herself at him. Crying out like a rapid dog Dahlia slashed her right hand at his face. Damn him! Damn him for letting that whore do things to him, take advantage of him. He had allowed himself to be taken from her. At the sight of him her episode intensified tenfold.

Nothing in her was satisfied with his response. He was silent, bearing the pain she inflicted in stride. When he backed away she sat back on her haunches and stared away from him. Only he persisted. The second time she swiped at his face her fingers dug through his cheek nearly half an inch. His blood clung to her fingertips when she stepped away. Turning her back to him she heard Lucas choke back his moans and groans of pain. Desperate to hear him cry her mental capacity remained as that of an animal. Her rage continued to boil.

On his third approach she repeated her previous attack. Her right hand cut through the air only Lucas caught it before she could touch him. Dahlia snarled and threw her left hand into his shoulder before he could shield himself. Her nails punctured the skin, all except her thumb which grappled the joint regardless. Standing level with Lucas now she watched him flinch and cry. She growled, her eyes lighting up with his response.

“Please,” he begged. Pushing her fingers into the wound she applied pressure. He bled, wet warmth spreading over her fingertips. With every breath she saw the labor of his effort. His pleas fell on deaf ears. The words were garbled. Without her lucid consciousness Dahlia didn’t want to hear him or understand. She was just angry. Lucas presented himself and now she was unleashing herself on him.

“I'm sorry, Dahlia. I'm so so sorry,” Lucas told her. His voice was verging on desperation. The dried blood on her cheeks was refreshed. She felt her tears run thick paths. They carved trenched on her face in red, gathering at her chin before dripping onto her neck. Dahlia threw her leg at him and pulled her fingers from his shoulder. The pain caused him to shout which only lead her to swipe at his face again. Why not tear the lips off his face so that no one else could have them. Her fingers made contact with the back of his head, ripping along his hairline until a climatic tear at his ear. At this he fell back, grunting and bearing his pain with defeat. Dahlia breathed frantically, her chest pumping far harder than normal. Adrenaline coursed through her veins.

“This isn't you,” he huffed. “I know this isn't what you want to become. You can stop this if you calm yourself.”

Dahlia saw him heal, watched as his wounds sealed and healed leaving him like new while she was so broken. He regained his posture and his courage. For awhile they stood there, staring. And the more she looked at him, the more distant she felt. She crumbled in front of him, collapsing on her knees. She stared up at him, her eyes red with blood. Her face was mottled mess of grime and dirt. Dahlia was indistinguishable. Her hair was matted and clung to her cheeks in places. Her fingers were tensed and stretched like massive claws. Her skirt was torn up her thigh; her tank top was dipping dangerously beyond what she normally thought was appropriate. She was covered in thick layers of dust and blood, her own and now Lucas’ coated her fingers.

With Lucas in front of her so composed she was starkly reminded of how immature her actions were. Dahlia felt her body relenting to his stature. From her position on the ground she sputtered out cries. Her blood tears stole her energy and the monster passed her away to him. Dahlia felt her mind cloud and haze over until she was blasted by her senses into reality. The sky was so bright beyond them; the sun had made its slow ascent. Lucas was a mess in front of her, staring at her with both hope and concern. His emotions flooded her and his words, his words echoed in her head. They now held meaning and the message was clear. This wasn’t her.

Dahlia’s chest rolled as she shuddered out noisy sobs. Her eyes looked up at him and down at her hands in disgust. She brought her hands to her face and moaned at the sight and smell. It was hazy, what had happened. Nothing made sense. Where were they? Had she, had she killed anyone? There was blood, blood all over her face. The more she cried the more it came. The questions came unbearably quick. Her mind wanted logical answers but they just weren’t there. She was a monster, a vile blood thirsty animal. That was the only realization that presented itself to her and it made her choke and moan. It was unbearable to let the phrase run true. To have it apply to her was something she didn’t want to believe. But when she looked at what she had done on a whim it wasn’t something she could deny. Dahlia’s emotions were the fuel to her inner animal. Overwhelmed by her blood-lust and Lucas’ fling with Demi were all it had taken to send her into a frenzy. The next time it could very well be a spree. She’d wanted to squeeze the life out of something’s eyes. How long would it be before that actually happened? Disgusted by the thought she flinched.

“I’m,” she hiccuped. Her lips trembled and her fangs retracted suddenly. Dahlia’s head jerked with the movement as her chest fought to regain a rhythmic breathing pattern. “I’m so-rry.”

[[Bang Bang]]

Lucas watched with caution as Dahlia began to change. Her face slowly dripped free of her hatred for him and soon, she was barely able to stand from the sadness that overwhelmed her. Dahlia's knees quickly gave in and forced her down onto the floor. He immediately felt sympathy for the situation he had forced on her. It hurt him knowing she was suffering from something he couldn't help her with. It was his fault for her situation and she had to hate him for her. Blood ran down her face continuously and stained everything it touched. She had no willpower to fight any longer and he doubted she had any strength to do much more. Carefully, he approached her while remaining paranoid of another attack. He lowered himself to his knees and stared at Dahlia who was appearing to get worse and worse as the seconds passed. Her lip quivered when she willed herself to talk. Lucas was surprised to see her want to speak to him at all. But he was immediately all ears for her.

“I’m-I’m so-rry.” she stuttered. Lucas paused and as he tried to figure out what on earth she had to apologize for. It was he who should be on his knees, crying for forgiveness. But Dahlia had just started to calm down. He didn't want to bring up the same subject which had turned her into an animal and risk a repeat of the same event. But he had no idea what else to say that wasn't going to come out as an apology. Lucas swallowed back the pained expression over his face and nodded in response. Whatever she wanted to say sorry for, he would agree and look past it instantly. It took a lot of concentration to inch closer and reach out to touch her. She was a time bomb, that was unquestionable. The real problem was trying to figure out what stage she was in. Had she blown the fuse already or was that just the first of more? Was she recharging for her next blast or was she all out of fuel? Lucas was more than willing to take the risk for her sake, but he preferred it if he would at least have some sort of warning before entering into another battlefield. As his fingers brushed against her arms and made physical contact with arms, Lucas immediately had to hold his breath. A horrible black hole ripped into his chest and ate every happy feeling he had ever been granted. Happiness seemed like a privilege now and this void had just stripped him of his. The world lost it's color in a flash and all the previous memories he wanted to cherish became blurry and out of focus. Lucas knew immediately this was Dahlia's emotions, reaching out to him. They were horrid and infectious. Once they began, he wished he could cut off their bond. He wanted to be freed from the darkness that had enveloped him. But if he was feeling it, Dahlia must have been feeling it too. Except she must have been suffering for what felt like years by now.

Trying to ignore the gap he felt, he reached out and pulled Dahlia into his arms. With one arm against her back and the other at the crease of knees, he secured her in his grip and turned to leave. Dahlia felt like dead weight in his arms. She didn't move or make any noises. She hardly seemed to be awake at all from the blank stare she was making. Lucas pushed off and was gone away from the grassy clearing all too fast. While he ran, he glanced down at Dahlia once in a while but she was always the same. Maybe in her mind she was active and lively but it surely did not carry over to her external world. Lucas turned back to running until he brought them both to the front of their cabin. Their door was still open from when Dahlia had exited to greet him back after his hunt. Upon recalling what happened, his energy was cut in half. He felt as if a wave had taken his strength away and left him half the man he used to be. This heap of skin and bones in his arms was because of him. It was all that was left of the girl he dedicated himself to protecting. Lucas stepped inside with Dahlia still in his arms. She didn't make any fuss or movement as he carried her up the stairs, into her bedroom. As he laid her down on her bed and began to step away, she hardly noticed. Lucas moved into the master bathroom and turned on the hot water at it's highest temperature. He clogged the drain then returned to find the girl in the same spot. Lowering himself before her on his knees, he reached out and brushed a hand over her dirty cheek. Dried blood and dirt peeled away. Lucas sighed and turned his attention towards the remains of her clothing. She hadn't run as gracefully as Demi had, when they were weaving through the trees. Though she may have been quick, she still didn't have the capability to dodge obstacles. The forest had ripped her clothes to shreds. He gently reached out and helped her out of what was left over. She didn't do much to prove she had an opinion on what he was doing. She never pulled away nor did she help him strip her. When he had gotten off her clothes, he picked her up again carried her to the tub. It was nearly full when he arrived. With extra care he dipped her body into the water until she was submerged to the neck in what was probably water at it's boiling point. After taking care of Dahlia, he sat himself on the floor beside her and sighed again. Dahlia's broken eyes nearly ripped him into pieces. Her nails were powerful but the pain didn't seem to compare to the hurt she had in each pupil. After a few minutes of letting Dahlia sit in peace, he set to bathing her. Lucas grabbed a bar of soap in one hand and dipped his other hand in the water. Resting his fingers on the back of her neck carefully, the man held her up while he began to wipe away at the blood that had collected over her cheeks.

It took him thirty minutes to wash her then another ten minutes to dry her and then find her clothes to change into. All the while, he was silent and careful. He tried his best not to be too affectionate with her but it was unbearable when he had to keep his hands away from her skin. Dahlia didn't seem to notice much of what was going on - if she did, she didn't make any alert of it. He wished he could hold her again but after unintentionally betraying her trust, he didn't feel like he deserved to without her permission. Instead, he had to watch her suffer alone without the ability to help. Lucas carried Dahlia back to her bed once she was as clean as a brand new start and laid her down with her head against a pillow. He took two steps back and examined the room. There was no space for him in there. Dahlia more than likely didn't even want him nearby but was too broken up to tell him. Maybe he was making things worse by staying close. The idea shattered his world. Was distance the only way to help her? Would he need to rip himself away from her and let her heal on her own while he dwelled in his guilt? Maybe this was his punishment - letting go. Lucas tried to keep his composure at the thought.

“I'll,” he muttered after choking. “I'll go.” With every step he made towards the door, his body became more numb. There was no Dahlia in the direction he was going. There was no one he wanted to be with or talk with or live each day with. If Dahlia didn't want him, it felt useless to even carry on.

[Korrye]

__________When he brought himself down to her level Dahlia felt no animosity towards him. Rage had exhausted her. Now she felt rail thin and hungry. Her gums hurt. Emptiness swallowed her thirst. Hovering on her physical presence Dahlia could only feel the darkness that was rejection. Apologizing was her way of commenting on her actions, on her using her ability to glamour him so that she could get in an attack on Demi. Having fled the other vampire was obviously terrified. Stepping down from the battle was not typical. Even in her limited experience Dahlia knew how addicting the aggression was. Now she was struggling to cope with the repercussions.

What did he see in Demi, she wondered. A wild life of rough sex and murder? Lucas brushed up against her then, bringing his hand to her arm. Immediately he pulled back. Dahlia felt his mind then and how guilt and shame were suddenly devoured by her own depression. The light he’d brought to her then wasn’t something she displayed for him. Deep in thought she knew he felt responsible for her. Lucas was bringing on the pain to himself, allowing her to attack him because he felt he deserved it. He knew that he had hurt her and it reflected in his emotions before he found himself drowning in her own. Picked up into his arms Dahlia leaned against his chest and stared forward, weak.

The last time he’d carried her like this she’d been a heap of mangled human flesh. Three months old, he’d told Demi in a lie. No, Dahlia knew she was a month and two weeks. She’d spent forty-three days as a vampire with him. Did he keep track of time the way she did?

In his arms she was deathly still. Her eyes weren’t focused on seeing the path he followed back home. There were waves of thoughts exchanged between them. Their bond continued to leak information from one to the other. Dahlia felt his regret re-surface when they returned to the house. He brought her inside immediately, acting on penitence. Whisked away to her bedroom Lucas set her down on the bed. He didn’t leave her alone. Dahlia felt inclined to stay near to him. The more he touched her the more she was reminded of how he felt. She wanted for this to just go away. But how on earth could she put his affair behind them? What did he want from Demi that she couldn’t give him?

The rush of water came from the other room. The tap had been swiveled on full. Lucas reappeared beside her, coming up next to her and drawing a hand over the dried blood on face. Part of it pulled away on his fingers. It pinched and pulled at her skin but she didn’t respond to it. Slowly Lucas pulled at her shirt. Dahlia stared forward unmoving. He slid the shredded tank-top over her shoulders. Though he was gentle and directed her arms through by moving them himself Dahlia gave him limited help. Setting the shirt on the floor he moved to her skirt, bunching it at her hips before sliding it down her legs. Dahlia was before him in minutes, completely raw and naked. He didn’t take advantage of her, simply pulling her into his arms again and proceeding to the bathroom. The tub was filled three quarters of the way. He lowered her slowly. Turning the water off he let her sit.

The clean water clouded immediately. Swirls of red and brown twisted from her arms and neck where thick collections and residue of the fight had set in. Lucas bathed her then, pulling himself to sit on the outer rim of the tub behind her. Wetting his hands he began to wipe at her with the bar of soap. His fingers massaged her cheeks while flakes of dried grit came off onto his fingers. Bracing the back of her head while he washed her Dahlia had to do little while he worked.

Commitments aside Lucas was patient and docile while he went along. Dahlia sat still for him, enjoying him while he freed her skin. They exchanged no words. She gave him no signs of her pleasure. Still trapped in her mind she was fighting with the idea of what she could do for him, what it meant that he’d gone off with Demi and given in to her pleasures. The bath was long and when Lucas was finished he towelled her off. Retrieving clothes from her shrinking collection Lucas dressed her himself. Bringing her back to the bed he set her down on the soiled sheets, laying her down with her head on her pillow.

To think that just hours before they’d been playing submission games. Reveling in their passionate acts Dahlia had dreamed of them staying in each other’s gentle arms like that forever. Now it she was forcing herself to accept that it wouldn’t be like that. Lucas had demonstrated a desire for something else she didn’t possess on a regular day.

Lucas didn’t dare hover. Willing to let her be he made a low moan and stepped uncomfortably for the door.

“I'll,” he muttered. “I'll go.”

“Don’t,” she whispered. Blinking rapidly she focused on the room, on her clean body and the lingering smells of soap. She looked at her fingers and saw no trace blood under her nails. Stain free her skin had a certain glow to it. He’d ensured she was proper. Her hair was set on her shoulders neatly. Dahlia recalled him sitting her down on the floor in a towel while he sat and combed through it in silence. His fingers had pulled through the knots easily. She bit down on her lower lip out of nervousness. She was so unsure as to how to approach what he had done. Dahlia wavered on exposing her thoughts to him. Yet she wanted no secrets to be kept. He had immediately tried to be honest with her when he'd returned from his hunt. She hadn't listened in her rage as he tried to apologize over and over.

Setting her hands in her lap she looked out at him, her eyes accepting of him. Despite how her emotions had torn away at his conscience Lucas still held himself properly, his shoulders back and his legs straight. Without a smile he looked like a statue. He was frozen in his place at her words, shocked that she’d asked him to stay.

“What do you want,” she asked lowly. “When you’re with...Demi,” she choked on the name. “What is it that excites you?”

Dahlia pulled her legs over the side of the bed and tested her weight on them. The muscles obliged her. She didn’t stumble. She was emotionally weak, not physically. When she realized she could walk she made her way over to him, stood in front of him dressed in a simple white collared dress. It hung over her nicely, accenting her frame. She felt pretty. He’d gone the extra length in cleaning her.

Pulling his hand into her she looked at his fingers, rolled her fingers over his knuckles before flipping his palm to face her. She traced the lines like a reader but remained silent. These fingers of his had willing touched Demi, rolled over her chest and felt her up. Dahlia’s bare toes curled and she squeezed his hand in her tension. When the tears re-emerged she couldn’t help it. They slid from her eyes down her newly cleaned skin. It was an ugly smell to her nose. But with no other option her body cried tears. Dahlia trembled for a moment before Lucas made a move towards her. She remained still.

Bringing his hand in hers to her chest she pressed his palm up against the area where her heart laid dead. “I will give you what you want,” she murmured. Sliding his hand in hers across the ruffles of her dress. She pressed his hand below her thigh until they reached the end of fabric. Her breathing intensifying as she guided him about her with surety. Dahlia felt his fingers reach her bare leg. Pulling his hand under the fabric of her dress she drew it up her waist and past her undergarments. The gown was pulled back over their arms until his hand reached where she’d held it above the dress before, just over her heart. He pressed against her warm skin, still hot from the bath water.

“Promise me you won’t go with her again,” she pleaded. She stared up at him, trying to smile. She wanted him, now that he was so close to her, in ways she’d thought impossible. The carnal pleasures that Demi had brought to him, she knew she could give. She wanted to. If it would make him happy she would do it. She wanted him to make it up to her. Dahlia wanted to feel the pleasure of him gliding against her skin. This newborn lust overpowered her feelings of rejection and sadness. They emerged and began to spin new thoughts and ideas.

[[Bang Bang]]

“Don’t,” Dahlia called after him. One word was all it took for him to keep his sanity. The idea of leaving Dahlia - actually leaving for good - it wasn't something he could dwell in. It was a venomous thought that would spread within moments and poison his mind. He knew if he sat in the next room and allowed the thought to grow he'd of either done harm to himself or something else. There was no living without Dahlia, in his world. He refused to even give it a chance. She owned all that he was and without her, he was a shell. This feeling of desperation was spiking to levels, unhealthy. He wanted her - needed her - so badly. She was in pain and he wanted to cure her. If he could do no good, he was going to wait it out with her. Anything she needed, he'd get. Anything she wanted, he'd do. So long as he didn't have to leave, he'd do anything. All he wanted was for her to understand that. Lucas turned around to face a nervous girl. She seemed so fragile and dainty even though she was physically incapable of being harmed by a human. He was still in disbelief that he had heard her tell him to stay. She had been attacking him less then an hour ago. From the look in her eyes, he was unsure if she'd of stopped if he hadn't stopped her, himself. Lucas wanted her to have her revenge. He wanted to grant her the ability to redeem her pride, which he had crushed through his actions with Demi. It was his reason for letting her have at him without defending himself. He tried his best to keep from making a noise so she wouldn't feel sorry for him. He wanted whatever punishment she could think of, but most of all, he just wanted forgiveness.

“What do you want when you’re with...Demi?” she asked. Lucas felt confused all of a sudden. The very idea of Demi only bred anger and betrayal. “What is it that excites you?” He began to wonder what sort of image he had created in her eyes. Did she really think he'd ever pick Demi over her? Standing before him, she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever laid eyes on. She was simply herself with nothing to define her. Hair still slightly damp, skin glowing all on it's own, no make up or accessories to distract from her true identity, eyes a brilliant honey color, lips full and plump, cheekbones that gave her face a remarkable outline that could never be matched; she was gorgeous and everything he wanted. Dahlia ran circles around Demi's best competitive edge and made her look like just an ordinary woman. Lucas knew Demi was considered attractive. To some men, she was a dream but to Lucas, she was eyes, a nose, and lips. She was a body with a woman's features that had hair atop her head - but none of these components strung together so wonderfully as Dahlia. The woman he adored so dearly rose to her feet on her own. At eye level, she seemed all the more dazzling.

“Nothing,” he emphasized strongly. “I don't want anyone but you. Dahlia, it's always going to be you.” He knew what he was saying was true but he wished there was some way he could prove it to her. The younger vampire reached out and took his hand into hers. A relief he couldn't describe eased into him. It was like she had given him back his world with her touch. Everything seemed easier; his body was at peace with her nearby. He watched her silently as she observed his hand. First by touching his knuckles then by observing his palm. Her grip tightened as he looked up to see blood surfacing at her eyes again. The sight burned knives into him from the inside. It was unbearable to watch. He refused to let her suffer again. It was tearing both of them apart. Lucas leaned inwards and placed his tongue at the end of one of her tears. Reaching around to gently hold her by her neck, he licked upwards until he was at the corner of her eye, where the blood had originated. He cleaned away the crimson that threatened to stain her innocence once more. Then he turned to her other cheek and did the same. His tongue inched up little by little to take in every bit of the blood and leave her clean. When he finished, he stepped away to examine that she was okay. It was natural to him: to take care of Dahlia. He felt responsible for everything she did. Despite being a vampire now, she was once that fragile human that could barely handle her own. Though things might have been different now, he was still her guardian and now, her maker. Above that, he was her lover which supplied his need to look after her. Dahlia took his hand and guided it towards her chest. She pressed his palm to her body and held it there. Just felt nothing beneath it but knew exactly what should have been there. A pulse.

“I will give you what you want,” she told him. Dahlia took his other hand into hers as well and guided it upwards, starting at the leg. Lucas held his breath as he felt her soft skin roll beneath his fingertips. He was touching Dahlia again and she was allowing it. It felt like too long since he was able to press his hands to her body. His fingers rubbed past her chest, where her flesh was softer and more delicate, over the same spot as before. Lucas tried to level his breathing. More importantly, he tried to keep the uneven patterns hidden from Dahlia. “Promise me you won’t go with her again,” Lucas nodded immediately then swallowed back venom.

“I never wanted to touch her. I smelled the blood in her mouth and my instincts took over.” he swore. Thinking back on the events, he wished he were more powerful and able to control himself better. Lucas looked into Dahlia's eyes with dire hope that she'd believe him. He saw the trails of new blood she had created and immediately set about on cleaning her again.

[Korrye]

__________Nothing. He had wanted nothing from Demi but the blood in her mouth. How sick, that wench. Dahlia realized that it had all been a ploy. How she’d fallen into that trap. When Lucas drew his tongue across her she smiled weakly. It felt odd to have him wipe her cheeks like a dog. He was soft and gentle, pulling himself across her before the tears threatened to land on the collar of her dress. When she held his hand against her he was at ease, pushing with her lead. There was no tension in his fingers. They were at ease against her skin.

“I never wanted to touch her. I smelled the blood in her mouth and my instincts took over.” he swore. Tears fell from her eyes again, stinging when she thought of how much his promise meant to her. Lucas was a man of his word. He explained himself without embellishing or lying to keep her at peace. Compelled to keep her blemish free he licked her face again, bracing himself by holding the back of her head. With his hands away from her chest her dress fell to her knees. When he finished she pushed herself against him suddenly, landing a kiss on his still parted lips. She traced her tongue along his teeth, keeping them parted while still grinding against him. When he threatened to pull away from her she bit at his lower lip.

Dahlia’s hands tore at the buttons of his shirt. Not even bothering to unhook them she shredded the fabric open. The seams ripped with little effort on her part exposing his stunning chest to her. Her hands proceeded to his shoulders. Dahlia pulled the rest of his shirt off of him in one swipe. The fabric fell to the floor. She brought her lips to his chest and kissed over his heart. Drawing her lips across his skin delicately she chose to hover and exhale over the spot.

Pouncing on his jeans she panted and leaned her forehead into his chest. Pulling at either side of his hips she tore the fabric wider than his body could uphold. The denim fell to his ankles in a stretched heap. Shoving him backwards with a slap to his pecks he danced out of them, kicking them aside. For a second they were a part, just enough time for her to throw the white dress she wore over her shoulders. It joined the remains of Lucas’ clothes on the floor where it would most certainly stay.

[[Bang Bang]]

Lucas was wrapped up in the taste of Dahlia's tears. It was a combination of another human's blood with Dahlia's venom which had originally been his. The venom would have been strong enough to burn his tongue but it was mixed with a crimson component which deluded it's strength. Not to mention his tongue was lathered in a coating of it's own venom which kept him protected. The taste was exquisite. Nothing appetizing, he knew that. It would never sustain him with nutrients he needed through blood and so, it was oddly different from food. But it was very smooth and strangely cooling. Experimenting with drinking it felt oddly amusing. He had no problem cleaning her up for the amount of times he had lost track of, by now. Dahlia was smiling again. Though he couldn't see it from closed eyes, he could feel the shift in her cheeks as her lips made room for her teeth to show. She had returned to him now and he began to relish the fact that she was going to take him back, despite his flaws. Suddenly, he wasn't so hesitant to touch her again. And apparently neither was Dahlia. She pressed her entire body against him so suddenly that he was taken back by her speed which then caused him to open his eyes to figure out what was going on. Lucas quickly forgot about the tears in her he had been cleaning. It was an easy thing to do when Dahlia was slipping her tongue into his mouth. Lucas was bombarded with her playful persona. He wasn't sure where it was coming from but he was hesitant to give in. It was unlike her yet strangely familiar. Like he'd done it before. Dahlia rubbed her body against Luke's, allowing him to feel the way her curves danced when she motioned them. He pulled away to catch sight of Dahlia's face but his attempt was ruined early. Dahlia's teeth stayed attached to his lower lip. The feel of them wrapped around his flesh spiked his desires. His resistance to join this new game of hers weakened dramatically.

Her hands rapidly moved for his shirt and did not have enough patience to remove it the old fashioned way. Instead she shredded the buttons away and desperately reached to touch skin with skin. Dahlia ran her hands over the ridges of his abs, up to his pecks directly for his shoulders. Dahlia ripped at the opened shirt as if it had been bothering her for a long time. He was bare from his torso and up, once more. His lover took advantage of the moment and pulled her lips away from his only to replace them with the skin on his chest. He felt her warm breath against him and it made him ripple with anxiety. She wasn't touching him or feeling him anymore. She was just breathing softly in the area where his heart should have been. Hearing a rip around his waist, he stared down only to notice he was standing in just his underwear with a pile of denim shreds at his ankles. There was a shove against his chest which forced him back while she chuckled with joy. Dahlia's mind was a million miles ahead of his. He didn't know whether to stop her or egg her on. What she was doing to him made him feel like no other time before, but was this really her? For a second he could say she was looking just like Demi. However, he chose to follow along simply because he trusted her enough to do so.


o o o


Lucas grabbed a pair of dark gray sweats and slipped them on. He also grabbed a black tee shirt and placed it on as well. He wasn't really concerned with what he would be wearing - he didn't plan on going anywhere. Turning away from his room out into the hall, he was greeted by Dahlia who was gliding down from the staircase. She smiled at him joyfully which was quickly returned.

“So how does this work?” he asked, honestly. Lucas may have known every bone in the human body, the table of elements, and the reaction for bonding any pair, but he wasn't educated in how to set up a tree. Dahlia quickly took the role of a teacher. She reached into the bag that they had set aside with decorations to dress the tree with, and pulled out four boxes of ornaments. Two of which held large white orbs while the other two held gold ones.

"There's nothing to it," she laughed. Grabbing another box filled with hooks, she reached for a white globe and tied it with the wire. "Just tie it and hook it to one of the branches. You take gold." Lucas nodded obediently and set out to follow Dahlia's lead. The color of the gold ornament shimmered brightly in his hands. He stared at it carefully with gentle observation. It reminded him of so many subjects, but mostly brought him back to just one thing.

“It was difficult for me to pick out two colors for our Christmas,” he explained as he twisted a hook on top of the globe. “I tried to think of what you'd like; tried to remember seeing you wear a certain color over most in hopes that it'd indicate your preferences. Nothing left me sure enough to decide.” He smiled as he recalled his struggle to bring home decorations. “Then I stopped trying to think of your interests, and focused on thinking of just you.” Lucas noticed Dahlia stopped what she was doing and was more wrapped up in his story that what she was doing. Lucas stared at the tree and at the lonely, white ornament she had hung first. “White represents purity. It stands for the goodness in the world; the light that keeps away the dark.” Reaching out, he hung his gold ornament beside Dahlia's then turned to stare her in the eyes. “Gold, of course, is the color of treasure and value. It's rare and looked upon as a prized possession.” He smiled shyly at Dahlia. He had no problem explaining himself to Dahlia but it wasn't often he poured out his admiration for her this strongly. “When I realized that, the answer was simple,” he admitted with an awkward chuckle.

[Korrye]

__________Running out of clothes Dahlia sorted through her closet from something to cover herself. Spending all of two minutes she pulled on clean underwear and a bra, picking a simple pair of jeans and a white long-sleeve that was too big for her. Lucas had parted to return to his own quarters. She was starting to wonder why they kept separate rooms. Convenience would accommodate them were all of their belongings in the same closet. Neither of them possessed enough to fill a dresser.

Before heading downstairs for the tree trimming Dahlia scooped up the torn remains of their earlier outfits. Dahlia’s dress was still intact but she hadn’t felt like wearing the white silk. Her skin ached for coverage. The fabric of the jeans shielded her legs. With Lucas absent she felt odd. Whenever Dahlia chose to show excess skin it was for his benefit alone.

Stowing the torn and stretched fabric in a hamper Dahlia straightened the sheets and left the room. The lack of a door made her smile, giggle to herself, but proceed. Heading down the stairs Lucas found her first, dressed casually in a black t-shirt and sweats. The clothes hung on him but she could still picture his perfectly sculpted body underneath. They both grinned at one another, wide warm smiles that connected and spread.

“So how does this work?” he asked, honestly. Snickering Dahlia stepped over beside him and took his hand in hers. When Lucas had been gathering decorations he’d kept the extras in a neat stack of boxes and old shopping bags. Yanking the first one from the top of the pile she handed it to him only to see him hold it and stare at it uncertain. Walking over to the tree she opened another bag, pulling shoe-boxes of hooks and ribbon as well as assorted spheres and stars. The large white and gold orbs were the ones she chose to open first. Her mother had always started with them at home.

"There's nothing to it," she laughed, still seeing that he had done nothing with the bag in his hands. Dahlia pulled a white sphere from the box first and ran her fingers over the dried glitter. Part of it stuck to her finger tips. Looping a hook through the top she turned to Lucas’ lovely tree. "Just tie it and hook it to one of the branches. You take gold," she explained. At her instruction he nodded and moved around to pluck a gold version of her own white orb. Dahlia set hers on the tree, somewhere in the middle.

“It was difficult for me to pick out two colors for our Christmas,” he told her aloud while working with a plastic hook. Her skin rippled at his use of the word our. “I tried to think of what you'd like; tried to remember seeing you wear a certain color over most in hopes that it'd indicate your preferences. Nothing left me sure enough to decide.” He smiled while he spoke. Dahlia felt his warmth and dreamy emotion lingering in the air. She paused and turned to watch him, admiring that he was so lost in thought. “Then I stopped trying to think of your interests, and focused on thinking of just you. White represents purity. It stands for the goodness in the world; the light that keeps away the dark.”

He walked up beside her and placed his gold ornament beside hers. Dahlia reached an arm around his waist, holding a box of decorations in her other hand at her hip. Leaning into his shoulder she felt whimsical. Lucas had always been thoughtful, she realized. “Gold,of course, is the color of treasure and value. It's rare and looked upon as a prized possession.” He eyed her with docile eyes and Dahlia leaned her head on his shoulder, staring up at the two decorations side by side. “When I realized that, the answer was simple,” he admitted.

All along he’d been thinking of her and what she wanted. No matter when he’d been taking decorations he’d formulated a plan in his mind long before. Lucas had decided at first to think of what she liked. The small facts, she realized, where the things he largely didn’t know. Dahlia hadn’t realized she didn’t voice her opinions on the small things. Color. Furniture. He’d asked her once about her decorative style. In reality she hadn’t had one before meeting him. Now she couldn’t resist saying she liked what he liked. It just fit.

“You’re so sweet,” she remarked. Without stating it bluntly he’d explained his color choice as that she was his prize, one of purity and light. Dahlia didn’t agree with his views on her one hundred percent. There were hungry and raving aspects of her personality that marred her former image. But he was complimenting her none the less and she loved and accepted that. Pecking his cheek she set about looping hooks onto the rest of the orbs in her box and placing them haphazardly on empty branches.

“For future reference my favorite color is lavender,” she remarked, fighting to come up with other minor details. The obscure things seemed so obsolete until moments like this. “And you remind me of orange. I can’t quite say why. It seems so random,” she giggled. “My parents are catholic. I never saw a copy of the bible until I was sixteen though. And I love orchids, they’re my favorite flower. Tell me about you though,” she questioned. He had never truly expanded on his personal likes and dislikes. Dahlia’s idle curiosity was turning for him again.

[[Bang Bang]]

Dahlia had fallen into his arms with his words alone. Lucas naturally held her close while thinking of all the things he wanted to know about Dahlia. He didn't want her to just list them for him - he wanted to discover it for himself. He wanted to make more memories of Dahlia and her smile to store and cherish, now that she was immortal. Every day of every year, he wanted to learn more about her and never feel satisfied. Christmas would be one of his first chances to do so. They both returned to fixing up the tree soon afterward, while talking to one another casually. Lucas still had trouble placing the ornaments on correctly. Dahlia stopped what she was doing every now and then and guided him through it. Mostly, he crowded too many gold orbs in one area without noticing. Dahlia had plenty of patience in correcting him.

“For future reference my favorite color is lavender,” she explained out of nowhere. Lucas paused and immediately felt engulfed in the drowsy color. It's gentle sight made him feel closer to the woman beside him. For some reason, lavender just seemed to fit her so well all of a sudden. Their gracefulness and genteel were one in the same. “And you remind me of orange. I can’t quite say why. It seems so random,” Dahlia added. Lucas laughed and stared at her with good spirits. Orange. So loud and messy. It was a color that screamed with energy and aggression. He began to wonder which of these traits she figured him as.

“My parents are catholic. I never saw a copy of the bible until I was sixteen though. And I love orchids, they’re my favorite flower. Tell me about you though,” she said. Orchids. The next time he went into town, he would make sure he didn't return home without them. He wanted at least one set of them in the house, to please Dahlia. Then she asked him to elaborate on himself. He didn't know what to tell her that she didn't already know about him. Lucas was so uninterested with anything human now that Dahlia had left her original species. "Favorites" were impossible to list when he only had one like in the world. One love, actually.

“I don't have many preferences,” he admitted. “I appreciate the contrast in all things. It reminds me of my quality in life.” It was true. Lucas was a firm believer that in order to appreciate the sun, there had to be rain. He knew that nothing gold could ever last forever, which was why he cherished every moment he was given - especially with Dahlia. She made time so easy to lose and in the same moment, miss. Even with his never ending life life, he wished he had more moments like this with her. “But I do believe strongly in the Almighty Being.” Staring down at the globe in his hand, he ran his fingers over the dried glitter and designs. “In my lifespan, I've seen remarkable things. I've witnessed the impossible and could come to no other conclusion then that of His presence. I hope one day you'll be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of His essence like I have.”

[Korrye]

__________Running out of clothes Dahlia sorted through her closet from something to cover herself. They battled for spots to hang things. Lucas had an affinity for the gold decorations, placing them as he saw fit. Only as Dahlia realized, he would barely take two steps away from one side of the tree. Carefully Dahlia would spread the color throughout the tree. Stepping back she’d stare at it from a far, hum to herself, before pulling some small golden star or bird and replacing it slightly to the left or right.

“I don't have many preferences,” Lucas admitted. “I appreciate the contrast in all things. It reminds me of my quality in life.”

Dahlia paused in hanging a white horse on a higher branch. To think that Lucas held no true preferences seemed like an odd characteristic of any person. He’d had centuries to think over colors. He had been introduced to new textiles and fabrics and games on the side. He’d experienced so much that he saw it simply that a good thing couldn’t exist without the bad otherwise it wouldn’t appear good, it would only seem to exist. He was so philosophical in a brief sentence. Miffed she smiled and tilted her head to the side in her understanding before facing him.

"But I do believe strongly in the Almighty Being.” Lucas didn’t focus on her while he spoke about himself. There were few times when he could look her in the eye and describe himself, explain what he felt unless he was angry. “In my lifespan, I've seen remarkable things. I've witnessed the impossible and could come to no other conclusion then that of His presence. I hope one day you'll be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of His essence like I have.”

Dahlia fell quiet and directed her gaze to the floor, squeezing her eyes tightly. Realizing that she stood so far apart from him made her wonder about her own beliefs. Whenever Lucas possessed a rational and well thought out debate it forced Dahlia to reassess why she thought what she did. Lucas claimed to have seen miracles, lived them and understood them as something more than luck.

With half a box of ornaments in her hand she sat down on the couch. The decorations made its way onto her lap where she stared into them, seeing her flawless reflection on the shimmery surface of an aluminum bell.

There were so many things that she knew Lucas had endured. He’d fought in wars and been a part of the horrors and repercussions of extremists. The front-lines had brought him into the face of the devil. In Tacoma Dahlia had never seen a positive outcome to a case she solved. The issue, she found, was that even when the culprit was caught he’d still committed the damage. She’d been the victim and it never brought her any sort of relief.

“I,” she started, her eyebrows dropping over her eyes while she thought. “I can’t,” she concluded. It came out forced, an embarrassed statement. “It’s just, I know it seems stupid considering what you’ve seen and done but I worked with murderers. And even when they were behind bars or dead the damage was done. If He existed then he would never let those people drown in their emotions. I never met a person who wasn’t affected for the rest of their lives.”

When she moved to look up she stared at their tree. Though they had ornaments to spare the branches were packed. Everything was balanced. In the lights from the ceiling most ornaments sparkled. The glitter caught and reflected back at her. Dahlia stared at and smiled warmly at it, at what they had accomplished. “I believe in justice and the prevention of crime. I believe in you and what we are and fate. But not Him.”

[[Bang Bang]]

Dahlia seemed to grow uncomfortable when he brought up the topic of God. Suddenly, she wasn't so excited and cheerful anymore. Lucas could feel the shift in atmospheres. What he had said had set her off, apparently strong enough to make her stop decorating the tree. Lucas watched Dahlia move herself onto the couch for a short break. He rubbed his thumb over the glass carefully while opening his ears up for anything she was about to say. From the look of it, she didn't seem to feel as enthusiastic as he was. He had seen the look in many people's eyes before. Some humans wore it on their face until the day they died. It made him hold his breath in anticipation of her next words.

“I-I can’t,” she confessed. Lucas tilted his head in confused. Can't? There were plenty of reasons why humans and vampire's alike weren't religious but the inability to do so wasn't one he could ever recall hearing. It didn't take much. With time, His existence became more and more clear. With two hundred and thirty two years under his belt, Lucas had no doubts anymore. “It’s just, I know it seems stupid considering what you’ve seen and done but I worked with murderers. And even when they were behind bars or dead the damage was done. If He existed then he would never let those people drown in their emotions. I never met a person who wasn’t affected for the rest of their lives.” So it was her negative out view on life that discouraged her belief. A common misconception. It was typical for humans to put the blame on anyone but themselves. Dahlia was no longer human, but she still possessed a lot of their qualities. It would be years before she would wear them out. She had lost her faith because of her job. It was supposed to be an occupation in which the human was required to remain detached emotionally but that in itself was an oxymoron. Humans always let their emotions get the best of them. Her excuse only further proved his point. There was no good without the existence of bad.

“I can understand your loss of faith.” Lucas thought back to his human days. If there's one thing he remembered about the war, it was his utter fear of death. At the age of 23, he was deemed a man and thought of to have already lived a full life. He was shipped to the front lines and expected to conquer his fear for the good of his country. “But God is not our crutch. He cannot be expected to intervene when a murderer, bred from a society of hatred and abuse, makes an irrational decision.” In Luke's opinion, sacrifice was still very much alive. Innocent people were made into demonstrations of what humans were capable of. It was unfair, yes, but their sacrifice would not go unnoticed. Their world in the afterlife would never let them suffer again. “The miracle is that he still loves his children, despite what they're capable of,” he explained. “Humans have no idea how blessed they are; to be able to live eternally in a perfect world.” Lucas sighed to himself. He could only imagine the sacred land the bible described as Heaven. It was a place he'd never be welcome in, no matter what or who he was. But Dahlia still didn't seem convinced.

“I believe in justice and the prevention of crime. I believe in you and what we are and fate. But not Him.” She seemed to stand firm now, with her decision. Lucas wasn't going to push his ideas on Dahlia. It didn't matter anyways, they would remain on earth together forever in both body and soul. There was no such thing as an afterlife for them so her faith didn't need to be pulled into question.

“Very well,” he agreed in defeat. He analyzed the room carefully and soaked in all the new decorations Dahlia had set up around the house. Their small cabin was festively dressed for the holidays, just as Dahlia had wanted it. “You know,” he sighed to himself. “We're missing something.” From the corner of his eye, he could see Dahlia's interest grow. With a smile, he looked at her and said, “I'll be right back.” Luke retreated to his room and dug into his closet. Along the floor were shoes he had yet to wear as well as their boxes. Inside one box was a small gift Lucas had placed inside for Christmas day. He didn't think he'd be able to wait any longer though. Grabbing the object, he returned to the living room with it behind his back. “I was saving this for Christmas, but I don't think I can wait any longer.” Luke pulled the item around from behind to reveal a large velvet jewelry box. He watch Dahlia's face change before finally speaking. “I understand if you don't want to wear it. Our lives aren't exactly delicate.” He pulled the box open to reveal a necklace with diamond and silver decorations. However, it wasn't a normal piece of jewelry. “It's a music locket,” he explained. Dahlia's hands slowly found the locket and opened it. As promised was a small music box with a slight collection of dust waited inside. Immediately, a tune began to sing. It was elegant and clearly very antique. Lucas had to search far and wide for something he thought Dahlia would even remotely like. He hadn't realized he wasn't breathing just yet. Dahlia's reaction was the only thing he could focus on.

[Korrye]

__________There was little understanding on his side of the discussion for her position. Dahlia sat uncomfortably on the edge of the couch cushion, unsure of her own reasoning now that she’d vocalized it. When he listened she second guessed herself, wondering if she was right. The idea of God had always been present in her life but when she’d committed herself to ten years of public service the bleak outlook of life just didn’t give her any inclination to believe. Dahlia had as emotionally withdrawn from her work as was possible. The picture of death was one she established, acknowledged and recognized as existent. Lucas had stolen away the aging process of being human but her personality resided. The human condition plagued her yet. She almost wanted it to stay for fear of losing her rationality, if her morals still fell under that category.

“I can understand your loss of faith,” Lucas replied. “But God is not our crutch. He cannot be expected to intervene when a murderer, bred from a society of hatred and abuse, makes an irrational decision.”

There lied the key difference in their opinions. Lucas saw the vicious and deluded as people grown and cultured to a life of fear and murder. Dahlia saw it the other way. The butchers, the assassins, were born heartless. They may well have experienced a hard life, she knew, but when a person held no conscience for their actions because of their brain’s hardwiring that was the way that person was born not raised.

“The miracle is that he still loves his children, despite what they're capable of,” he explained. “Humans have no idea how blessed they are; to be able to live eternally in a perfect world.”

According to leading scientists and researchers the world was slowly dying under man’s life. It was being suffocated by waste, chemicals and people living in the excess. Remaining quiet she quickly realized her error. Lucas wasn’t talking about the life a person lived on earth. With respect to his beliefs he was referencing heaven without saying so blatantly. The perfect afterlife was God’s gift.

Or so people believed. And now, she realized, she would never see it. Shifting in her seat she crossed and uncrossed her ankles, not liking the feeling that amounted with the idea of no life following this one. Lucas had stolen her away him that possibility and she’d thankfully allowed him too without a second thought. Regret over weighing this decision stunted her from speaking for a few minutes. When she stuck to her side of the discussion Lucas didn’t put up any fuss, letting it fall.

“Very well,” he concluded. The weight of the discussion didn’t flee her until she caught sight of their tree, glinting and sparkling with ornaments in various shades of white, silver and gold. It was beautiful and well equipped for their evening. Christmas Eve under the tree with her love, what could possibly be a better gift?

“You know,” he sighed to himself, breaking her silence. “We're missing something.” Dahlia watched him think, felt his excitement glow in his eyes. “I'll be right back,” Luke told her, taking off to his room. Left on the couch she searched for the lid, claimed it from its position on the floor and capped the box. Rising to stand she shuffled the empty boxes into a pile along the far wall of the living room, beyond site. Lucas appeared then, his arms behind him holding onto something or another. Dahlia looked at him with a puzzled look that raised an eyebrow and gave her a curious smile. Beaming back at her he looked happier than a kid in a candy store. The way he held himself was taught, an eagerness to show her what he had.

“I was saving this for Christmas, but I don't think I can wait any longer,” Dahlia eyed the clock on the wall. They were approaching midnight. "It is Christmas technically, for Europeans," she smiled.

Lucas pulled the item around from behind to reveal a large velvet jewellery box. She gasped, suddenly unsure. s**t, she had nothing for him! What was inside though, made her lips curve into a curious expression of shock and happiness. Lucas had taken her words to heart when she’d said she wanted heartfelt gifts to be exchanged, ones that counted for something more than just having stuff. “I understand if you don't want to wear it. Our lives aren't exactly delicate.”

Pulling it open Lucas displayed a thick locket on a dazzling silver chain. Dahlia sighed at the sight of it. It was elegant and gothic in design. It made an impression on her. She reached out to touch it with a gentle hand. “It's a music locket,” he explained. Dahlia nodded, pulling open the base of the locket with a touch as gentle as she could muster. It was old, antique. The moment she opened it she smelt dust and old perfume. At once it began to play a low melody that made Dahlia tilt her head and close her eyes to listen. She smiled when she realized she couldn’t name the composition. It was one of a kind.

“You are such a treasure,” she murmured, closing the clasp and letting it hang on the velvet. “I love it.”

Would she ever dare wear it, for fear it might break? Dahlia grinned at him, reaching her arms around his back to hug him. “It’s so thoughtful. And I feel terrible, I don’t have---,” she trailed trying desperately to come up with something. There wasn’t a thing in her closet that she could give to him. In fact there was little to anything, probably two outfits and a pair of shoes was all she had to her name. What more could she do for him? An idea came to mind immediately when she was reminded of the state of his own wardrobe.

“I will treat you,” she said, pulling back to simply holding herself around him, her arms draped over his shoulders. “To clothes and a day of fun if you’ll let me.”

[[Bang Bang]]

Lucas was cheating the system but Dahlia seemed to not mind. Her anxiety told her to let it pass and to allow Lucas the early gift giving process. As he stood with one arm behind his back, hiding away the item he had spent a good amount of time searching for, he still couldn't picture Dahlia's reaction. He had found the necklace in antique jewellery shop two cities away from Ely. Just about everything in the small town was already antique, but he refused to settle for just anything. Lucas' original intentions were to get Dahlia a music box. Their house was always filled with either silence or their own voices. There was the occasional hum of their refrigerator but nothing more. Music would bring ease to both of their spirits. It wasn't until he came across the locket that he realized something oddly unique and fitting for Dahlia's tastes. Though he was no expert in all the little things about her, he felt like it would make a perfect match. Luke chose to follow that instinct.

"It is Christmas technically, for Europeans," she said forgivingly. It was on that cue that he revealed the box to Dahlia only to see her light up with shock and excitement. His lips curved into a small grin. He pulled back the cover and watched as her hands carefully explored the details and texture. From what he was seeing, he had made the right choice. All he wanted was to make Dahlia happy. It excited him to know he was making that happen. The small song began to reach both their ears upon the opening of the locket. The tune was gentle and aged, just like the rest of the necklace. It was clear that the song had once existed with much admiration in the 1800s but now, it was outdated and unfamiliar. Dahlia enjoyed it none the less. “You are such a treasure,” she whispered. Lucas smiled wider as she started to return her focus from her gift to him. “I love it.” Happiness overwhelmed him.

“It’s so thoughtful. And I feel terrible, I don’t have---,” she trailed. Lucas was about to explain that she and already given him everything he could ever want. Her staying with him was a gift in itself and it would continue to be cherished so long as they were together. “I will treat you,” she chimed. Lucas' eyebrow rose in suspicion. Him? Dahlia was going to try and treat him? It sounded so odd to him, but she seemed confident in herself. “To clothes and a day of fun if you’ll let me.” The idea was already making Lucas anxious. Anything Dahlia came up with and deemed as fun, was surely to be promised. Lucas nodded in agreement and bent down to kiss Dahlia contently. He brought a hand to her cheek and held her head caressingly for a moment before pulling away.

“I can't wait,” he said with a smile.

[Korrye]

__________With his hand holding her cheek Lucas bent down to kiss her. Dahlia obliged and felt her lean into him, tasting the soft surface of his lips. When he pulled away she still leaned her chin into his paw. Lucas smoothed over the surface of her cheek with his thumb.

“I can't wait,” he said with a smile.
“You’ll have to,” she giggled. “Everything will be closed for today.”

Dahlia leaned in and squeezed him in a tighter hug. They rocked back and forth on the spot before shifting across the floor towards the fireplace. Tugging at a fleece throw on the back of the couch Dahlia pulled it away from the cushion while they moved, keeping one arm around his lower back. Spreading the blanket across the floor they eased to sit, spreading their legs out with their backs to the hearth. The fireplace was brought to life by Lucas. He set the logs into a pyramidal design before striking a match and lighting a handful of kindling.

The logs took to the flame and Lucas settled back to lie beside her. Dahlia had her legs outstretched, lapping up the warmth of the fire on her back. Propped up on her elbow she was able to spend a fair amount of time just looking at Lucas, taking in his rich scent. When Lucas was happy he seemed to have a certain glow to his skin. Dahlia wove her fingers through his, tracing the spaces between his knuckles.

“You trust me enough?" she wondered aloud. “To go shopping in town with you?”

The issue wasn’t only that Lucas would permit her but if Dahlia trusted herself enough to interact with the humans who’d grown familiar with her face months before. Was she recognizable? She’d tried to leave the house before, sick of Lucas’ perverse and radical view on killing her murderer. He’d thought her stupid in all capacity for trying to leave. Not to mention when her leaping at the Demi’s gift, rabid and thirsty. Would she be able to contain herself for him, maintain the barrier between herself and the animal inside? She knew she would try her best. This wasn’t for her, what she wanted to do. This was for him. All she wanted to do was return his generous gift.

Lucas would reply because beckoning her closer to him. Dahlia would be wrapped up in his arms and they lay there quietly, his chin resting on her shoulder. She felt safe in his arms and more than any other time she felt like herself. Just the regular Dahlia, whole and complete. If she thought back to the way she was before meeting him, stuck in the routine of her job so much so that she had been a brute; Dahlia was beginning to realize the strength with which Lucas effected her. Stubborn, yes, and dominating when the time arose, Dahlia was calmer. Unfortunately it was the vampire side of personality that had her acting on her emotions and not on logic. Yet Lucas was working to change that.

“What would be something we could do until tomorrow?” she asked, hoping he had ideas for twenty-four hours. With it having snowed quite heavily it was doubtful they would want to stay inside. They could have fun outdoors while the town burrowed into their homes. At least, this was what she hoped. Dahlia didn't know what to expect from Lucas.