A Most Proper Thing

At sunset, Ethan walked into the library and made his way directly to Brit. Brit had been talking to Larissa. Without a word, he gave her a triad of kisses before offering his customary greeting to others. Larissa started to speak, but Ethan’s look of impatience caused her to postpone her discussion. Ethan quickly explained that he wished to take a walk and pulled Brit along behind him. They left the library quickly with Brit having to scamper to simply keep up. He escorted her up to the rooftop where he first met her. She looked over the city and toward the rooftop across the street to where he had been standing when she first saw him. “Look,” she lisped. “Someone has taken your standing spot over there.”

Ethan pulled her much closer as he glanced across to where Brit pointed. His eyes narrowed ensuring that there was no danger from the observer across the way. “They can have that roof,” he said. “I have all I need right here in my arms.” His hand ran over her cheek before he stepped back a bit. “Now,” he continued, “there is a reason that I brought you here in such a hurry. This is the place where we exchanged our first words.” Her hand slid down his arm holding his hand and she lisped, “It was summertime.” He nodded and moved toward the edge where they could view the shoreline. “It was,” he replied. “And you looked so cute doing your handstands.” His hand wriggled free from hers so he could slide it around her waist. “Though, this time, I did not bring you here to make you remember our first meeting. I wanted to talk to you about some things of faith.”

His words seemed to meander a bit. He first told her of the things that he had told her before: His human days when he was a monk and his discussions about the faith that guided him then and continued to guide him today. Ethan said, “Do you remember how you asked me what lovers are?” Of course she remembered. He explained that lovers were more intimate than beloveds. Reaching for Brit’s hand, he said, “Exactly. Amongst that, other things that….well…for example, my faith…the one I told you about.” His words began to meander again, but she seemed to follow. He suddenly stopped and moistened his lips as he realized that he had gone on another tangent. Regrouping, he said, “Well, in that faith, lovers….and beloveds also, I would say…” He stopped again and his hands gripped her tightly. Starting yet again slowly, he said, “It is the most proper…and honorable thing…and blessed by God…that they are joined in his eyes for all to know….it completes their union as a couple in the most spiritual way there can be…”

Brit’s head tilted slightly toward him listening. She repeated, “A most proper and honorable thing…” Ethan nodded mechanically and continued, “It is what people call ‘marriage’….what validates the union of a man and woman in the eyes of God. What makes their union pure and untainted….” He grins for the first time adding, “A lot like you are.” Tracing his fingertips over hers, he clasped her hand tightly and looked down at the floor before looking up again. She giggled to him remembering asking him about marriage in the diner and when he described how she was to him. “And like you are too,” she added.

Her remark surprised him that she thought of him as pure or untainted. After a pause, he said, “Well, yes…..marriage!” Another deep breath and he said, “It is only suppose to happen once…and only with one person truly meant for you. It is a most serious ritual. For my kind, it would be slightly different, how the ritual goes, but…the meaning is the same.” Shifting nervously from one foot to the other, Ethan’s second hand joined the first one still holding her hand. Brit looked up curiously as he seemed to be struggling for words. She whispered, “It sounds most romantic…and God approves.”

Brit’s voice caused him to look down to her and he nodded several times. Ethan’s stance changed drastically as if he had made a decision. He turned her toward him, and she saw his chest rise and fall as if he had taken a deep breath. Keeping her hand in his, Ethan knelt down before her before looking up to her. He said, “There has been no night or day since we met that I did not crave your nearness and did not find absolute comfort in your presence. You are what fills my existence with meaning and are the only one I want to be with in any possible way. I can not imagine my unlife without you anymore, and I want to make this union sanctioned in God’s eyes….what I wanted to ask you, Brit, is…would you chose to become my wife…to be the one I am bound to in God’s eyes forever and for me to become the one your bonded to in his eyes forever?” He looked directly into her eyes not breaking eye contact at any moment. “I want to be yours always and for you to be mine always as well.”

Her lips parted slightly in astonishment when he sank to one knee. Processing his words, she replied, “I…I want to be yours always and forever, Ethan…and you to be mine…always and forever.” Nodding to him, she bit her lower lip and felt a blush tinge her cheeks. “Always and forever yours…my one and only.” After a few seconds, she blushed deeply and nodded, “Yours…yes.”

Though he stayed kneeling, he was obviously less anxious. “Well then,” he said, “we will marry each other tonight.” He sounded much more like his usual self and said, “I’ve arranged some things that you shall need. They wait for you in a chest in our resting place. But it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride before marriage so I will meet you at the church. Do be there in an hour.” He pointed toward the clock tower. Then he added, “A lady will need to help you dress.” Blinking hard, she said that perhaps Larissa could help. He stood nodding and motioned for her to run to get ready. She bolted for the library and burst through the heavy doors like they were screen doors attached to a country store. “I’M GETTING MARRIED,” she yelled, “AND I NEED HELP GETTING DRESSED!”

Omega was there holding Ethan’s letter in her hand. “That explains when.” With a warm smile to Brit, Omega said, “So you didn’t refuse him?” Brit shook her head no and was swept up in a warm hug by Omega. Omega then paused to question, “And…he did actually ASK you, didn’t he?” Brit quirked slightly and lisped, “Of course, he did.” Omega grinned and chuckled, “How very startling.” Larissa and Omega then left with Brit to help her dress and to get her to the church on time.

Formality

The horizon was beginning to show hints of color as the silhouette of a small boat appeared near the docks of the city. Even in the dim light of the newborn moon, the figure of the man in the boat would strike fear in the hearts of the most valiant of souls. Of course, he was a member of the Nosferatu clan whose appearance is both their gift and their curse. Before he stepped foot on the dock, two others appeared carrying a rather large chest and followed him onto land. Out of the shadow of the warehouse, Ethan appeared wearing a trench coat. Pulling on work gloves, Ethan approached the three men and exchanged warm handshakes with the massively disfigured kindred. The sound of the waves splashing against the dock covered what was said, but an envelope exchanged hands. As quickly as it had arrived, the boat disappeared into the night leaving Ethan with the chest, which was lifted to his chest and taken in the direction of the Voodoo Shop.

The next evening, Ethan woke alone. Usually he seeks out his beloved as soon as possible upon waking but, this time, he did not go to the library first. Instead, using the cover of every shadow, he made his way back to the Voodoo Shop via every back alley. Once there, he went to the Victorian desk located in the back of the building, moved it, and retrieved the chest hidden there the night before. Ethan sliced his finger open with an exposed nail and touched 12-points on the chest triggering the lockless chest to open. A silvery glow reflected on his skin as the lid opened, but what was removed seemed rather unspectacular: two pieces of papyrus, a quill, and a little bottle of ink along with a seal set. The chest disappeared behind the desk again and then the vampire took a seat at it and began to write.

Later, Ethan made his way to the library in anticipation of possibly finding Brit waiting for him. The thought of exploring the world of schemes, plots, betrayal, and manipulation with the approach of an untouched soul that sees and knows no evil brought a hint of a smile to his face. Finding the library actually empty, he did not seem disappointed and made his way to Omega’s private work place. Ethan quickly looked over his shoulder and a fine black mist appeared momentarily covering his narrowed eyes. None were near as his princess would have said, and he took the folded and sealed sheet of papyrus out of his mantle. After giving the golden seal a final check, he laid the note on her desk. The only writing on it was “Ω” ((Omega)).

Lady Omega,

With this letter, I wish to formally notify you that I have decided to ask Bridgette to bond herself to my being in every way my background as a mortal would command. Before the sun has disappeared in the sea the following morning, and should she accept my proposal, she will be wed to me. This is no affair of public interest, but certain measures have been taken in the last 24-hours to allow for the ceremonial part of this to be possible. There is only her adopted father that I deemed proper to inform besides you, but I have failed to find him as of yet. Since you seem to share a bond beyond the boundaries of distance, I rely on you to extend this information. You will hear of me moments before the ceremony, should you choose to attend.

It was signed elaborately “Ethan” and had a drop of blood in the middle of the signature.

A sly grin appeared on Ethan’s face as he looked back to the note and moved downstairs in the library. He noticed it was still empty. He brought his hand to his blood necklace clasping it and closed his eyes again. Words whispered into the wind with no sound or form. Traveling across land and sea, they reached the attentive ears of his chylder. Delivering a message to her, he reopened his eyes and made his way to the streets to continue his search for Brit as there were important questions to be asked.

The Hunger

Two hours before sunset, Brit woke starving. A glance at Ethan reassured her that he would not be waking prior to his usual time. After unwrapping her body from his, she dressed while still under the thick blankets and made her way to the diner. There, Annika, the waitress who seemed to always be present, brought her a heaping platter of pancakes with succulent blueberries and slathered in butter and maple syrup. Rather than dissecting out the blueberries and attempting to soak up as much syrup in each bite, Brit devoured it and ordered yet one more pancake that was consumed along with two large glasses of juice. Her tummy was slightly swollen having eaten so much, but the craving that she had upon waking still remained.

She made her way back to gather up items for her morning shower. Letting the water run to get rid of the thick rust coloring, Brit brushed out her hair, and brushed her teeth with the small bottle of water she had with her. The mint taste mingled with the maple syrup that remained. As she undressed, her thoughts turned to the hunger. She felt hungry. It was a feeling that came and went but, even after eating, sometimes it lingered. Pulling off her clothing, she stepped under the sporadic stream of water. The feeling of it splattering against her skin seemed to sooth the lingering hungry feeling.

She could hear music from outside of the building. A blasting speaker somewhere from someone determined to share their musical taste with the rest of the city. The song was slow in starting. Like a frozen music box, grinding as if reluctant to start. The gravelly sound of the singer and the smoky beat caused her to sway under the stream of the water as she reached for the shampoo that smelled strongly of vanilla and sugar cookies. Pouring shampoo into her hand, she slathered up her long tresses. The splattering sound of the water pattered like raindrops on her skin and the tile beneath her feet. As the singer crooned “Closer, move in closer…Closer now than…Than ever before,” her hands started to feel the soap as it oozed down her arms even as she continued to move to the rhythm. The song continued, “I doubt it that you can survive…So far from your trenches and your friends.”

Losing her self to the music and moving her body under the stream, Brit’s mind wandered as her hands rinsed out her hair. Reaching for the matching-scented milled soap, she ran her hands over the bar until she looked as if she were wearing mittens made of suds. The singer’s voice demanded, “Step into this room and dance for me.” Her hands washed the bite marks on her neck and she could feel her heartbeat quicken. The singer’s voice coaxed, “Step into this room and dance for me.” Her eyes closed as she danced to the music feeling the patters of water continue to pelt her skin.

She thought of the gala the night before. Opening her eyes while dancing with Ethan and feeling surprised at how many were near. Even in the crowded room, she could feel only Ethan’s nearness. “Come on, lady, dance for me. Come on. Come on. Dance for me.” The deep hunger she woke with grew slightly thinking of the warm ballroom, perfumed scents, and Ethan's closeness. Tilting her head back, she ran her hands over her body soaping her skin. The water trickled over causing rivers of suds to pour down making puddles around her feet.

Not so long before, Brit tried to explain this hunger to Ethan while they were on the rooftop overlooking the city. When he offered to take her to the diner, she told him that it was a 'different kind of hunger.' Brit stretched in the shower while she continued to wash her skin and danced to the song that seemed to permeate every corner of the room. “Step into this room and dance for me.” She wondered if Ethan felt similar hungers.

Her mind thought of other times when the hunger would start to grow. Her fingers stretched up toward the water that was cooling. The music seemed louder. All of the suds were off her body when she finally opened her eyes to see an amused Ethan watching her dance in the shower. Before he could say anything, Brit walked to him leaving a trail of water. Reaching up, she looped her arms around him, pressed her body against his, and kissed him deeply letting his Victorian suit absorb the water off of her soaked skin. She was completely oblivious to his expression of surprise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBxGj3R0za0

The Art of Swooning

Ethan walked into their shared resting place just in time to see Brit’s hand gracefully touch her forehead and, with a fluttering of her lashes, she slowly started to sink to the floor. Dropping his pack, he crossed several meters of space between them in record time to catch her before she landed. She was dead weight in his arms. He bounced her lightly to get a better hold and carried her to the mound of blankets. If he had a heartbeat, it would have been racing as he looked down at her crumpled form before him. With his hair falling forward, he worked quickly to check her pulse, heartbeat, and coloring. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary except for the fact that she was non-responsive. Thoughts flooded his mind as he methodically went through a sequential flowchart trying to diagnose what had happened to his baby beloved.

He swallowed hard quelling the rising anxiety and reminded himself that he had been careful to not drink too much. A brief thought: Could another? His jaw muscle clenched as he checked her throat. Only his marks were there and her strong pulse let him discount that possibility. Just as soon as the current thought left, another sinister concern arrived. Perhaps she had been poisoned. His frown deepened as he looked in her mouth, and felt her face and neck examining her skin for any sign. A dart perhaps? Grabbing the lapel of her new red coat, he yanked it open scattering the ornamental buttons to see if she was marked or cut. Anything!

As buttons clattered on the cement and tile floor, Brit exclaimed, “Hey! What did you do that for?” Ethan fell back astonished and, for once, was the one who was sitting simply blinking. Brit’s eyes opened and she sat up searching for the scattered buttons oblivious to his expression of dismay. Reaching for her, he hugged her tightly feeling the tension and fear drain from him. For a moment, he thought he lost her. Burying his face in her hair, he felt suddenly possessive of her few short mortal years and silently vowed they would not be lost to accident. “Are you okay,” she lisped.

“Am I okay?” His mind was struggling to make sense of the entire situation. He repeated himself which caused her to wonder if he was unwell, “Am I okay?” His hands touched her face, neck, body, and hair to ensure that she was truly fine. He crushed her to him again.

She started to squirm and said, “Yah. Are you okay?” Her voice was registering concern as she tried to loosen his hold on her.

Holding her away slightly so that he could look at her, he said calmly, “Yes, yes. I am fine.” They watched each other silently for a moment. Ethan blurted, “What just happened, Brit? You almost hit the floor!”

Brit broke into a smile. “Oh! That.” She beamed up at him. “I was practicing swooning. The book that Larissa gave to me had a whole chapter about swooning. I have never swooned and so I thought that I should practice.”

This time, it took Ethan a moment to process. Crossing one arm, he regarded her a full minute with one hand covering his mouth. “Baby, like other things in that book, it is better to let nature progress on its own.” Her disappointed look made it impossible to be cross with her. He stood and helped her to her feet. With a slight grin, he added, “You have been studying hard. Take a break from reading for a while.” With light kisses, he opened the door and ushered her out. “Let’s take the book back to Larissa.”

An Intense Day

((Taken from RP))
The man came to the library like so many do. He asked Brit for books regarding the history of his kind. In time, he filled out a library card application, sat down to color with her, and told her a little bit about himself. While watching her color, he struggled to remember how he left this world the first time around. He described an abyss-like existence. Then he started to tell her about the centuries old war between his people, lycans, against vampires. Brit was stunned as she thought of many. Omega, Nikita, and Ethan to name but a few. Besides, Brit had not seen such a war. Perhaps it was over, and so she told him that all vampires were not cruel. Larissa and Lorne had come in time to see his shock as he wondered what had happened in the past five centuries to make people sympathetic to those he considered the embodiment of evil.

Brit explained, “Ethan is my beloved…my one and only. And he would not hurt you or anyone else.” The man looked at her incredulously.

Lorne looked up from the book he was reading to Brit. Creasing his brow, he said, “He bloody well would hurt people. He would kill people. Or has he taken to loading those enormous guns of his with flowers and music, and replacing his claws with marshmallows and happiness?”

Pouting, Brit replied, “You and Ethan don’t like each other. So… what happens with you and Ethan is…um…different.”

The man interjected, “I’m in too weak a state to make any boast or threat. But I hope you are right. Eventually, I’ll regain my strength. I’ll return to the war in full and hope that your…vampire idol never enters the reach of my claws.”

Tilting her head, Larissa commented softly to all in hopes of soothing the growing discomfort. “I would say he seems to be a great warrior, but someone wise once said that wars do not make one great.” Brit heard nothing Larissa said as she processed and felt the man had just issued a threat. It unsettled her. Plus, she knew that idols were not supposed to be good things. Larissa continued “What is this war you are talking about, if I may ask. There are so many.”

The man smirked as he mulled over thoughts himself. He told Larissa the war was one of the originals between the bats and the wolves. Larissa smiled to Brit, “And is Ethan a…bat?”

Lorne’s brow creased a bit more and, before she could answer, he said, “You said Ethan would not hurt anyone else. If someone gave him reason to, he would. I am someone else. Disliking someone does not justify gunning them down like he did with me.” The volume of his voice increased, “Ethan sat on the throne of the Shadows, killed them one by one, and cursed him with nightmares. You would have chosen to die rather than live without him, and he would have died thinking he failed you even though you were not benefited in any way by the violence he sewed.” Lorne was all but yelling. He sat back adjusting his chair and scowled at Brit waggling a finger at her. “He is good with a strong heart and noble spirit, but do not presume to mislead strangers into believing he is harmless and non-violent. It simply is not so.”

Brit stared at Lorne clearly hurt. Whether by his tone or his words, it mattered not. She never intended to mislead anyone! The man drummed his fingers along the spine of the history book and he handed it to Lorne saying he did not feel he needed to borrow it after all. Lorne took several deep breaths releasing each one slowly and accepted the book silently looking it over. Larissa blew some cool hair on Lorne’s heated skin and stayed silent while watching him seem to boil. After a moment, Larissa straightened and smiled to Brit. Brit stood and filed the library card application then fled upstairs obviously very upset.

“An intense day, it seems,” said Larissa quietly The man said low that some people do not see what they do not wish to see. “Perhaps,” replied Larissa feeling concern. The man offered apologies, exchanged some words with Lorne and Larissa, and then left after a few reassuring words from Lorne that said no offense was taken. Larissa struggled whether to go after Brit, but she stayed massaging Lorne’s shoulders and neck.

Watching Brit’s empty chair, Lorne clasped Larissa hand. “Some simply see what is there. It is an overwhelming way to live.” He continued to hold Larissa’s hand that had been massaging his shoulder. His thoughts rolled over and over his words and he wondered at the flare of emotion. Not anger. Pain.

Stealing Apples

((Taken from RP)
Brit was surprised to find that Larissa was pregnant, but not as surprised as Larissa was to find that Brit thought people got pregnant by swapping spit in toilets. Therefore, to Larissa, it was well-beyond time for Brit to gain a better understanding of reproduction. “What do you know about sex, Brit,” Larissa asked. Brit knew there were books about it in the library, but confessed she had never looked at them. Brit preferred fairy tales and books with colorful pictures.

Joah entered the library and was told that Larissa and Brit were talking about sex. Taking her seat near the fireplace, she said, “Talk on. Don’t let me interrupt you.” Larissa went on to say that fairy tales were mostly about sex, but told Brit that many books left the most interesting part out. Joah added, “Ah, fairy tales. Gruesome for the most part.” Joah told Brit that Cinderella’s sisters cut their feet to fit the slippers, and that Cinderella’s birds pecked out their eyes and they served Cinderella as blind slaves for the rest of their lives. This last part surprised even Larissa.

Brit was stunned and whispered, “What about Snow White?”

Joah said, “Or Sleeping Beauty?” Joah told both that the Snow White’s prince really just wanted her body and his men dropped Snow White’s glass coffin which dislodged the bite of the poisoned apple. And Sleeping Beauty’s prince raped her.

With a whispered lisp, Brit said, “I thought it was true love’s kiss that saved her….that he kissed her…both of them.” Larissa told her that fairy tales had many versions and confessed that she liked the twisted ones more as they were more interesting. “What was he going to do with a dead body?” asked Brit. Neither answered, but Joah told her that the tales change for those who do not like the brutality of them and suggested that Larissa might be better for educating Brit about sex.

Larissa gave Brit a book that looked very old. It was titled For the Education of Decent Young Ladies. Joah muttered, “That ought to be enlightening” and wondered if swooning was covered. Larissa decided that the book would do as a start. The conversation sidetracked to make up briefly. Brit told both how Ethan painted her face with make-up brushes which caused Larissa to tell her that she made a beautiful canvas. Responding to Larissa’s words, Joah said, “Sometimes two people paint each other’s bodies with their own.” When Brit asked how people did this, Joah graciously turned the conversation back to Larissa who volleyed it back to Joah. After a moment, Joah explained, “In the way of touching, they lie close. The man slides himself inside the woman’s legs…inside her.”

Trying to imagine it, Brit asked, “Sort of like canoodling?”

Joah saw that Larissa was not going to field this question either, so she sighed softly saying, “And I thought we were talking about fairy tales.” With a deep breath, Joah continued, “ Yes, Brit. Canoodling starts it. Except the part of the man that grows hard with excitement slides in between the woman’s legs, inside her warm wetness, completely into her.”

Brit listens without blinking. She remembers something while canoodling, but such things did not slip inside of anything. Brit finds it all pretty interesting. “But why?” With a glance to Larissa, she asks, “Why are your cheeks so red? Are you warm?”

Larissa struggled with the topic even though she brought it up. “Brit, you are so sweet, and some people are so mean. They can make fun of others’ innocence and ignorance. I would like you to learn more. I know you are quite intimate with Ethan, and I respect how he approaches you. I don’t know much about vampires though, and if he will ever…” She pauses and takes another deep breath. “There are people out there that would take such intimacy away and force it on others. And I would not want you to be a victim of that.” Thinking a moment, Larissa adds, “But also, it is beautiful to find these things for yourself with the one you love…and I wish for you all the best with that. It is hard to explain because without the excitement and that need, it is just plain. You have to be there in the verge of wanting it so much…then…it is the most beautiful thing.”

Nodding in agreement, Joah then continued, “When his excitement is over, and he grows soft again, he leaves seed inside the woman. Sometimes a baby grows from that and sometimes not.” Stretching, Joah wished she had her tea kettle with her. “Why? Because it feels as good as Ethan’s kiss, Brit. As for making babies without touching, I have no knowledge although I expect it feels the same.”

Brit blinkblinked and softly said, “Oh.” To Larissa, she asked, “Is that how you got pregnant?” She processes slowly connecting it with things she knows. As for Ethan’s kisses, she smiled and felt her cheeks warm slightly. Then asked Larissa, “Was it beautiful?”

Larissa raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, basically Joah is right. Biologically, that is how we reproduce. At the second question, she said, “Oh, it was!”

Joah quietly added, “But….sometimes it can also hurt. It can hurt very badly if done to someone who does not want it.”

Brit asked Larissa whether she was hurt. Larissa explained that she was not hurt, but people do complicate things. Joah agreed and said, “Yes, they do complicate things. There are many ways of being hurt. When the love is not returned by the beloved. Others.” Joah did not explain further as she remembered violence done to her when she was left for dead. All that was added was, “Others might use force…instead of love.”

Adding quietly, Larissa said, “And others take it for granted.” Brit asked GrrBrool who came into the library whether he ever had someone to force him to canoodle or not love him back. Larissa laughed, “I highly doubt it. Grr is so adorable.”

Blinking, GrrBrool said, “I see I came at an interesting time.” He suggested ‘adorable’ for his marker. Joah explained that they were talking about sex and asked him to share his experience for a male perspective. GrrBrool said, “From a technical side? Making puppies? Or tha good times side of things? Or scrumping to relieve tensions.” When Brit asked what was scrumping, GrrBrool said, “Oh, scrumping Well, that’s what it was called in the army when two troopers need ta get their minds back on the job.” He clarified that both sexes were in the army then continued, “They would find a quiet spot and well, work it out. Ya know…err….ta get tha hormones back in check.”

Joah had just made some tea and was close to spitting it. Larissa listened as GrrBrool continued to meander down the path explaining the need for scrumping. After a bit, Joah shifted the topic by asking whether Larissa had a book for decorous behavior for young men. Brit sat wide-eyed listening to Grr’s take on…scrumping.

Hearing the conversation shift and noticing Brit’s reaction, GrrBrool asked if it made sense and then whether it was a taboo topic. Larissa explained that Brit was just under-informed. Grr said that he was happy that everyone can feel so frank about stuff, then left to take a cool shower patting the cool walls on his way to depart.

Joah broke the silence when Grr left and said, “Brit, let’s just say that there are many ways men and women can make themselves feel good that way. But not all of them lead to babies. Only the one way that Larissa and I told you about.”

Brit nodded to show she understood, then went to get the urban dictionary. She opened it to find ‘scrumping.’ Reading slowly, she lisped, “Apple-stealing.” Then she read more, “When a man and a woman get it on. A redneck tuerm used when two people leave a party to do the deed quickly and return with knowing nods to their friends. Best done in a truck and in the woods.” She read more. “Rapid rabbit sex closely related to porn star sex.” To Joah and Larissa, Brit asked, “Is that good?”

Pondering a moment, Joah smiled saying, “Yes, that would probably describe ‘scrumping’ quite well.

Larissa burst out laughing. “Well, you see…just imagine ‘hungry’.” Brit closed the book and mouthed the word ‘hungry’ as she thought of canoodling and the feelings that it sometimes yields. “I think that is enough for one day,” said Larissa. Joah agreed.

Outside of the library, two eavesdroppers pushed off the wall. One said to the other, “Ethan needs a truck if he is going to scrump.” The other said, “Indeed.” And they both went to the Haven.

Different Strokes

Ethan arrived to their resting place almost immediately after Brit arrived. In truth, he had followed her for over a block, and had half-expected for her to turn sensing him near. She greeted him with a warm smile and unnaturally rosy cheeks. Kissing her forehead and lips, he paused when brushing her hair away to kiss her neck. His marks on her throat were gone. Pulling her to him tightly,his eyes flashed crimson for a moment. The sun was rising and he could feel himself growing more exhausted. Calmly, he said, “Tell me of your evening, Brit.” He had to spend energy to stay awake as he methodically went through a flowchart of casual questions. She answered easily; and he quickly attained that it was unlikely that anyone intentionally meddled, but she had indeed met someone who might have wanted to help. Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her before sinking his fangs deep into her throat and slowly drank while wrapping a blanket around both of them. “I want to hear more tomorrow,” he said while lazily licking the wounds and falling immediately dormant.

Brit thought of the events of the evening while she lay practically bound in Ethan’s arms and the blanket. Her thoughts kept her from sleep. She could not shake the words between Nareth and the girl from the library from who Nareth drank. The girl seemed to care deeply for Nareth and Nareth did not seem to care for the girl at all. Remembering the dinner in Vienna, she knew that caring was not required. However, what disturbed Brit deeply was that the girl seemed wobbly and left the library with no one to follow or look after her. Her lips parted as her heart pounded and she felt sorrow for the girl. At the dinner, others seemed to look out for everyone there or perhaps she did not notice. The thought was upsetting.

That evening, unable to find Ethan, Brit went to the church to ask God about it. As before, there was no response. Her mind went to the line of priests she had met in Vienna. Each had spent some time talking with her about prayer, God, and answering questions for as long as she had them each evening. Ethan had waited and did not interfere as she spoke to each priest. She saw children of the school with the nuns and Brit had attended an evening mass with them. The music and language were beautiful though she did not speak the language. Ethan quietly interpreted it for her and answered additional questions after they had left the company of priests. Ethan kept expecting a question as to why one priest wore a mask, but Brit had never asked so he never had to explain about the anomalies of the Nosferatu clan.

Uncharacteristically, Ethan woke before she did. Rather than quietly extracting himself from the tangle of hair, he playfully poked and tickled her until she woke. Brit brushed her hair from her face immediately telling him of her concerns regarding Nareth and the girl in the library, and completely cut off what he was getting ready to say. Ethan listened with his infinite patience though not as relaxed as he usually was. He quickly reminded her of the dinner in Vienna, and told her to not be concerned or interfere. Additional questions were answered with kisses until she grew quiet. Pulling back, he traced his marks now quite raw on her neck and asked additional questions regarding the night before. Then he said, “What was the name of the person who touched your shoulder in the church?”

“Wolves,” she lisped. “He’s way nice.”

Leaning, he kissed Brit’s forehead and lips softly. “Everyone is way nice,” he softly teased, and sent her to dress. After sending her to the library, Ethan walked in the direction of the church.