The Beast Within

“You need a beloved, Joah,” whispered an astonished Brit. With the lengthy summer days, Brit woke hours prior to Ethan. Knowing his concern for her health, Brit pushed aside the lack of hunger, went to the diner, and consumed whatever was set in front of her. While eating, Brit could smell honeysuckle, and the scent intensified as Joah entered. Joah smiled brightly seeing Brit sauntering to take a seat next to her. Hugging Brit tightly, Joah babbled how very much she had missed Brit in the library. Joah’s words quickly became slow touches that turned to caresses and, unbeknownst to either, Joah covered Brit with a shower of translucent dust. Brit then felt Joah’s lips press softly against her cheek and then her lips. “You need a beloved, Joah.” At Brit’s words, Joah chuckled low and soft, and showed every sign of mirth when Brit slipped to her feet and left the diner to return to Ethan.

Brit could not wake Ethan. The heady scent of honeysuckle permeated the room. Brit sneezed a few times and her eyes had started to tingle. Rubbing her nose and eyes, she picked up her bucket with her shampoo and scented soap making her way toward the hospital shower leaving a barely visible trail of pale-pink opalescent silt along the way. Brit quickly stripped as the water warmed, and brushed out her hair sending shower of honeysuckle-scented dust over her body. With every breath, she inhaled the sweet-scented dust and felt dizzy from the overpowering scent.

Brit was unsure how much time had passed when she grew cognoscente of steam from the shower. Shaking the disorientation from her head, she focused on the delightful contrast between water sounds on tile verses her hand as she tested the water. The smell of the honeysuckle was overwhelming, and her body was starting to tingle along with her eyes. Stepping quickly into the shower, the splattering water felt like thousands of tiny tongues on her flesh. Her body temperature and heart rate increased as a result, and she noticed a slight euphoric feeling flow through her body like liquid morphine. Stepping from the shower, she wallowed against the towel, dressed and returned to the resting place.

Ethan laid motionless on the rug. His eyes opened wide as the sun sank beneath the sea and he stretched his arm to his left searching for Brit. Not finding her there, he washed his face and dressed quickly spending only a moment to brush his hair prior to leaving the room. Opening the door, he bumped right into her. Brit’s arm went about him and her other hand rubbed up his chest as she lisped, “Going out?” Her body pressed closer. “I wanted to stay in.” He cocked a brow finding the back of her dress drenched and noticed the trail of water that followed her down the hall. Brit kissed his chest and then his lips. Her body rocked slightly against his as she told him breathlessly that she had already eaten at the diner and stammered away any reason that he might need to leave.

He raised an eyebrow and ran a finger over her skin that was chilled with traces of wetness causing her to press against his touch. The scent of honeysuckle overpowered the soft scent of her bathing soap. Both brows arched when she pressed his hand between her breasts during his triad of kisses. He noticed her rapid heartbeat, trembling muscles, and the pupils of her eyes were so large that the green in her iris could barely be seen. “You went to the diner….and bathed.” Her arms wrapped around him a bit too tightly and she angel-kissed along his jaw-line. He tilted his head intrigued and examined her behavior. Finally, he said in a soft voice, “Did you do anything else since you have been up tonight, Princess?” She did not respond, but pressed more against him and claimed his lips kissing until she was breathless. His arms went about her as he tried to get her to answer.

Brit’s hands stroked his hair and his face even while practically crawling over him while he stood in the hallway. He noticed that her skin was very warm. Her eyes closed and she pressed against him as seductively as any stripper would a dance pole causing him to blink hard. Giving her a slight shake, he asked again whether anything else had occurred. She ran her fingers through his hair marveling at how very beautiful he looked. “So beautiful and soft.” Her words were a breathy whisper as she continued to play with his hair. “I want to feel your hair on my tummy.” Stepping back to get a better look at her, he found she was wound against him tight enough that she dangled from him when he moved.

Ethan clutched her to him and walked back into their resting place kicking the door shut behind him. Taking a few steps, he pinned her against the wall. “Before anything else, you will tell me what else you did tonight.” His words were slow and measured. He made eye contact with her. She held his gaze and leaned toward him catching his lower lip in hers sucking it slightly while her body rocked slightly against him.

With no little effort, he unwrapped her body from his and pressed her against the wall. Her fingers caressed his arms until he caught her hands to hold them in his. She moved toward him and found herself quite distanced causing her to pout. She writhed in his hold and whined softly, “I want….I want…..I want kisses. And….I want…I…I want…” She pressed hard against his hold and was able to run her lips over his chest and kiss his chin. The strong, sweet scent was laced on her breath, in her hair, on her skin. “Be my lover,” she pleaded as her fingers curled around anything she could grasp.

Ethan was perplexed as he took in her scent, physical presence, and erotic behavior. One hand held her firmly in place while the other forced her to look up at him so that he could make eye contact. Her pupils absorbed all color of her iris. “Brit,” he paused to see if she responded to her name. “You will tell me what you did earlier. And you will tell me now.” His voice was calm and soft, but his eyes flashed slightly crimson. The sound of his voice permeated her mind pressing out even the maddening desires that were consuming her.

Familiar black mist rose around them as he saw her thoughts. His hold was firm on her and his gaze was unwavering. Looking within her, he saw Annika bringing her breakfast. He could smell the odor of pancakes and the sweetness of syrup. Then the scent of honeysuckle that came with Joah. He noticed the pink glitter that fell from her and he saw Joah kiss Brit’s lips. His eyes narrowed and flashed up momentarily. “Joah,” he murmured as his hold on Brit tightened. Ethan stopped pressing against Brit with his hand leaving her more room to move.

Brit’s thoughts echoed her words luring him to kiss her, to be her lover. Her heated kisses and desires pulled his thoughts from Joah and her pink glitter, and stakes. Ethan took her wrist and pulled her to the rug making Brit kneel with her back against him. One arm held her in place even as she raked her nails sensually over his thighs and pressed her body against his. The honeysuckle scent grew heavier as she leaned back looping her arms around his neck behind her and did a slow dance against his body. Using his free hand, he moved her hair and sank his fangs deeply into her neck drinking three short sips before licking the wounds closed. Brit’s breath caught at the feel of his tongue on her neck. He brought his wrist to his lips and punctured the vein beneath his skin. The blood pooled in the wounds and he pressed his wrist against her lips. “Share with me,” he commanded in a strict voice.

In short time, the sensory enhancement of his vitae replaced her ecstasy-like high. He could sense that her elevate state of desire did not diminish as she continued to press against his every touch. It was a situation unlike any other he had encountered. The anger toward Joah, his concern at her condition, and the bewilderment over her behavior caused Ethan to struggle to keep the vampiric beast within in check. His eyes had a reddish cast and he spun her around to observe her. Her fingers ran up the length of his arms and she kissed him. His caresses were gentle as he predatorily observed her. Forcing her back on the rug, he raked his fangs over her throat with an animalistic growl. He whispered wickedly in her ear, “So, still want to be mine tonight?” While waiting for her to respond, he nibbled and bit her earlobe.

Brit had never seen her husband like this. His roughness astonished her and scared her slightly, though not unpleasantly. Her heartbeat quickened at his voice and demeanor that fed into her elevated state. “I want to be yours every night, Ethan,” she lisped. Dark mist crawled over the floor, up the walls and over the door shrouding them. His fangs sank hard into her neck as he held her tightly against him. He did not drink, but wanted her to feel the desires stemming from his own emotions through his vampiric kiss. The mist grew thicker and closer to him as she favorably responded to each bite, to each touch, and each embrace.

Two hours before sunrise, Brit applied liptint to cover the slight bruising. Bite marks lingered on her throat and elsewhere. Ethan ran a brush through his hair, but did not bother to secure it back. He held out his hand and turned her looking her over before directing her through the door. They went to the tavern where Omega was slumming as a DJ for the evening. She smiled brightly seeing the two of them, and her bright smile was returned by Brit. Ethan forced cool breath on the glass and drew a skull in it. Omega’s smile faded and he explained that a demonstration of her leadership was needed to explain why earlier he had a chemically affected beloved. After the conversation, Brit and Ethan danced for a while before returning to the resting place. She continued to cuddle close to him. Just before resting, he said, “You are mine…now and always.”

A Night in the City (Ethan's Movie)

The Tango

It was official. Brit had taken to picking at her meals more and more. Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he examined her for any sign that she might be losing weight. He had sat with her for hours and felt that they had spent far too much time in the diner. Impatiently, he called the waitress over to clear the table. Setting his jaw, he held his hand out to Brit and wordlessly directed her out of the door toward the warehouse.

It was the middle of the night by the time they arrived. Ethan left Brit standing alone in the center of the dance floor to go put an old vinyl record on the turn-table. The music from the orquesta típica filled the large room with its strong, demanding sound. Honey-sweet violins played through the commanding mixture of piano, double-bass, and bandoneons. The weather was warming, and the windows to the warehouse had been opened for air to circulate. Brit was slightly wobbly because she had yet to adjust to the height of her new shoes. Returning to her side, Ethan walked slowly around her caressing lightly. Entwining his fingers with hers, he pulled her gently but firmly close.

The sounds of her rustling skirt and uncertain clip-clop of her heels mingled with the music. Brit felt his arm wrap around her waist holding her tightly against him. Ethan said nothing but watched her for a long minute. He placed her hand against his palm and the other on his chest. Assuming a stance, he pushed his chest out standing very upright and shifted her weight to her right foot. Saying nothing, he took a step backward with his right foot very slowly giving her time to follow. She was unable to move her right foot, so she stumbled forward with her left looking up at him to see if that is what he wanted her to do.

There was no hint of a grin or smile, but she caught a slight twinkle in his eye when she made eye contact. Ethan pointedly looked to his side while dragging his left foot past the right moving his body to the side in a long step forcing her to follow in a slow wobbly step. She was unable to look down at their feet and keep her balance, so she simply kept focus on his eyes and followed where he directed. As she stepped, her hip slid against his twisting her skirt slightly. Again, her eyes sought his for confirmation that she was where he wanted her. This time, she was rewarded by the smallest hint of a smile. He slid his right foot past his left and to her side, and then followed with the left before standing still just enough time to allow her to follow. She moved clumsily but steadied as she repositioned for the next step. His tight grip caused her hips and thighs to press against his in the process.

He caught her gaze again and gave her a brief smile of approval which caused her cheeks to turn slightly pink. She pressed her forehead against his chest shyly before he moved again forcing her to follow. This time, his left foot slide forward slowly and was followed by his right passing over the left one causing him to pivot. Both feet then came together and, as she followed, she found herself facing his gaze yet again. He whispered, “Again” and repeated the sequence of steps starting with the left foot sliding back. Letting his body be her guide, she followed his slow lesson dividing the steps into three categories: The opening, the middle, and then closing.

After the third set, he maintained the slowness of the motion but ceased to pause between each group of steps. Brit grew more confident in both moving in her new heels and following the odd set of movements. As she moved just prior to him, he stood very still and looked directly into her eyes. “Do not anticipate,” he directed before turning his head to the side and repeating the steps again changing the middle part by moving around her with three quick steps ensuring she was able to follow.

Ethan used his hands and body to guide her through the dance steps increasing the pace with each sequence. Keeping her close at all times, he often varied the original steps. Her body brushed along his hips and thighs, turning away often to be pulled back quickly facing him. Their eyes met time and time again as each part of the dance seemed focused on returning the couple to gazing at one another. Brit enjoyed dancing with her husband and found it far different than the times she had danced with her adopted father, Denny. “This dance is different from the others,” she told him as she was turned to face him yet again. Her comment caused Ethan to grin as he pressed her against him before stepping between her feet and bending his knee forward to dip her slowly only to pull her quickly upright again. Her giggles were short-lived as he pressed her through he familiar sequence yet again.

They danced quietly. Brit found she could follow his pace and lead by the subtle changes in the way he held her and his body’s muscular movement. She grew more confident in her ability to walk in her new shoes and her ability to follow his lead. Ethan dipped her very slowly again to the right. This time, he took advantage of the position and drug his fangs sensually over the side of her throat before pulling her upright again to continue the dance. “Never be in doubt,” he said quietly. “You are completely and totally mine.” His expression was quietly serious as he stepped to her side and pulled her around to face him again.

She nodded to show that she understood and they continued to dance. Ethan’s lead was demanding and exacting never allowing more than two breaths distance between them. His demeanor remained serious and seemed to fit the dance though such attitude might have unnerved her at another time. She stayed close to him, gazed into his eyes until both she and the night started to fade. Time blended.

He looked to the horizon as they walked toward their resting place. After kissing her on the corner, Ethan said, “We should dance more often.” A motorcycle zoomed past them. Ethan watched it disappear down the street and continued, “And you will keep yourself nourished so that you can keep up.” Directing her to cross the street just as he directed her in the dance, he said simply, “Do not cut your meals short, Brit. The waitress knows what to bring you.” His expression was not scolding though his voice was serious leaving no doubt that his words were not a request.

Brit peeked up at his face that showed nothing but love and caring. “I will eat what Annika brings, Ethan. Do not worry.” Just as she had followed his lead, it was the response he wanted. He hugged her to him before opening the door to their resting place where she slept in an intimate and tender embrace.

All About Eve

Ethan missed the philosophical discussions with the monks and priests in his order. Questions that have remained unanswered through the years were more rewarding to ponder with others knowledgeable of Plato and Socrates. In those days, the questions were rhetorical whereas now some held personal meaning. Brit peeked up at him and picked at her meal. He knew that she was not hungry due to his blood in her body, but he was unwilling to let her fall into habit that could create problems over time. Motioning for her to eat, he enjoyed his internal musing while looking at her.

Reflecting on the definition of the term, he smiled knowing that Brit personified innocence. When they had met, he was concerned that he might corrupt her by his very nature. He picked up a raw, baby carrot and traced her lips before feeding it to her, and was rewarded by the slight blush of her cheeks that often came when she giggled. Ethan delighted in his wife’s innocence. She continued to be unacquainted with evil, and possessed no guilt or sin. Even though her mind was clearer by the attributes his vitae yielded, she lacked guile or cunning. Though he was showing her more of the world, he filtered what she saw and his eyes flashed crimson at the thought of those who tried to rob Brit’s innocence through their well-meaning, but untimely, teaching to bring her knowledge. Knowledge, he felt, would come in time; and it was his due as her husband to be her teacher.

Ethan tapped the plate and grimaced as Brit selected an exceptionally raw piece of steak to consume. Flicking his eyes to the waitress, he scowled as he wondered about the quality of the meat. Clean, pure foods were difficult to come by and Ethan spent plenty to be sure both were provided for Brit. His thoughts drifted to musing about purity and its definition. He wondered whether the state of purity was Boolean in its meaning. His wife was always clean from foulness and dirt, and she held a pure heart free from the defilement of sin. Ethan also knew that Brit held no sinister or improper motives, and that her words were free of barbarous or improper words or phrases. However, he was keenly aware that he had desired to give her his vitae and, by doing so, he felt she thrived. Did he rob her of purity by doing so or is just her blood mixed for now? He felt the latter was the case as, given enough time, her blood would purify itself again.

Brit sculpted the mound of mashed potatoes into a simple volcano and the melted butter flowed from the center like yellow lava. Outside, shrill shouts between a stripper and drunk over payment disrupted the unusual quiet of the night. Ethan watched his wife who seemed not to notice as she sacrificed a virginal pea to the God of the Potato Volcano. With no little contempt, Ethan considered the city’s population and smirked at the number of citizens that confused innocence and purity with chastity. It was all quite simple to Ethan. Innocence was freedom of guilt or sin. It knew no evil. It was blameless and harmless in effect or intention. It was candid. It lacked guile or self-consciousness. In the Garden of Paradise, Eve lost her innocence by eating of the apple of knowledge – not by laying with Adam.

Purity defined the wholeness of one’s body, soul, and mind. The mixing of impurities affected one’s purity. Again, Eve might have been physically pure when she was cast from the garden, but she had corrupted her mind by eating of forbidden fruit. Brit looked up and saw him watching her. With a slight puffing of her cheeks, she took a large bite of the volcano. Ethan thought of the teachings of Kant in regards to purity. If mixing was equated with defiling, then what purpose is served by intentional attempts to cross boundaries so rigidly established by theorists? Ethan felt most confident that there was no evidence that Brit was less pure for knowing him.

Ethan’s mind went once again to Eve feeling she was innocent until she ate of the fruit. Similarly, he felt that Eve was pure until the fruit corrupted her mind. Many men had fallen due to the corruption of a woman’s mind, but those women were neither innocent or pure such incidents occurred. His mind went back to chastity and he considered its definition. He pondered whether someone was chaste if following God’s laws. Chastity involved personal integrity, but also restraint and simplicity in design and expression. Chastity meant purity in conduct and intention, and concerned itself with the quality or state of being chaste. As for the ponderings of the populace, Ethan remembered a discussion long ago. Did chastity mean abstention from unlawful sexual intercourse or did it mean abstention from all sexual intercourse? The question was never decided that night. Catholic law taught that complete abstention would violate God’s laws in a marriage. Therefore, Ethan felt that, until the apple, Eve remained chaste, innocent and pure.

A Field Trip

The skiff slid easily through the water as Brit sat huddled against Ethan. She could not drag her eyes off of the man steering. The night was foggy, and even with the full moon’s brightness, it was hard to see more than a few feet from the boat. However, the grotesque features of the crew were easily observed and so she watched. None seemed to notice her staring. Ethan comforted her by stroking her side while casually conversing with the crew in a language that Brit did not understand. Earlier in the evening, he told her that it was time to take a field trip and that the boat was waiting. Not giving her time to change from her gown, he escorted her onto the boat knowing full well that the elegance of the outfit did not fit the trip. He matched her, of course. The emergence of land startled her. The boat was beached, and Ethan stepped out offering her a hand to aid her. She lifted her dress to keep it from getting wet and followed his lead. Looking back, she saw no boat or crew, nor had she heard them leave.

Ethan grinned impishly as they walked through the thick foliage toward a large stone temple in ruins. “Not too many people know of this place,” he said looking around secretively. “Tonight, it is our private island.” Brit ran along behind him not wishing to get lost. The vegetation was so overgrown that she was sure he would never be able to find her if she strayed. Vines had reclaimed the temple. The moon shined down through remnants of stained glass casting an eerie glow around the vine-covered stone.

She slowed seeing a sarcophagus. The lid was heavy and intact as it set undisturbed in an alcove. Brit asked whether he had ever rested in such a box, not wishing to say the word “coffin.” Ethan nodded several times telling her that there was no safer place to rest. He reminisced about when he was first turned and did not have the ability to place wards as he did now. He walked her to it and the lid opened. Settling back against the soft velvet, he pulled her up to him balancing her slightly on top of him. The grinding sound of the lid caused her to shiver even as he stroked his hand down her back. Brit noticed the absolute absence of light. Even in their resting place, they always had a candle lit so that Brit could see. He was comfortable, but not resting, and he was very aware of her every move. In the quiet of the coffin, she whispered, “Tell me when you were….changed.”

Brit could not see his grin as he felt her taking in her surroundings. He moved to give her room to rest comfortably. “It’s a long story, Brit. But mainly it has to do with my group being captured by kindred…and after some time, their leader turned me into my current form.” As typical, she asked many questions. Was it scary? Did it hurt? Questions poured from her. He patiently waited for the stream to end before answering each one. “It did not really hurt, but it was scary,” Ethan told her. “And I didn’t exactly agree to it. After all, I was captive.” His fingers trailed through her hair.

Ethan did not describe what his captivity was like. He did not tell her that he watched his comrades die one at a time while not knowing when his turn would come. In his mind, he could see it clearly. In the silence, Brit grew quiet; and he could hear her touching the lid and then shivering when she realized she could not move it. He cuddled her to him. After a time, she asked who changed him. Ethan continued to run his fingers over her lightly and remained silent. Then he said, “The leader of that group of kindred did.” His mind played through it. It had happened after many nights of testing and pushing his body to the limit. He said softly, “I still do not know the name he had, but…he is the only one of the group that has evaded me.” His arms held her a bit tighter and then he opened the lid to help her out before continuing to explore.

“Ethan,” she lisped, “I would not know you if your life had been normal. And I would have never felt the love I feel…for it is only with you. There could be no other.”

Hinting a smile, he reached for her fingers entwining them in his again. “I know, baby. Therefore, I have no regrets. But you wanted to know what happened.” He walked from the temple to into the water toward a cave. She trailed after him.

Her words lisped asking, “So, should you see him in the city, then….all is okay?” The water felt freezing to her as she followed him from the temple. At the question, Ethan turned to her. Brit immediately leaned to kiss him and whispered, “I should not wish to endure without you, Ethan.”

Seeing her expression, he stroked her cheek. “Should he come to the city…should I find him, he would owe me many explanations, but other than that…” His voice trailed and he picked her up to place her against a heavy, moss-covered, wooden cross that kept her out of the water. The moonlight reflected along the glass and tinted the world a lovely green. Brit’s paleness reflected the light less for her blue-tinted lips that quivered with cold. Ethan whispered, “Share with me, princess. It will warm you up." He brought his wrist to his mouth and punctured the skin. Ethan then pressed his wrist to Brit’s mouth while he sank his fangs deep into her neck. He held her pressed against the cross while he drank heavily of her and ensured that she drank of him.

Summer Nights

Upon entering the diner, Ethan walked to the counter demanding that the waitress bring what he had requested earlier. Rather than explain why she had not followed his directives prior to his arrival, she dropped her gaze and rushed to the kitchen. Ethan turned to Brit looking her over carefully before placing his usual triad of kisses on her forehead, cheek and lips. Then, without warning, Ethan trapped Brit quickly against the wall with one hand about her waist and blocked any thought of escape with his body. His other hand held a cane. He asked, “So, have you been eating and drinking to keep yourself from hunger and thirst?” The tip of the cane traced her shoulder and neck.

Brit explained that she had been very thirsty, but not so hungry. With a glance, Ethan could see several empty glasses of juice and nodded, “So. Much juice.” He ran the cold tip of the cane up and down her neck slowly trailing over her bite marks. Brit reached up to his cheek caressing it lightly. Ethan placed a slow kiss on her lips. This time, the kiss was far less playful than the triad from before and he said in a low voice, “My good girl.” Brushing her hair back, he added, “Do make sure that you are not thirsty.” Seeing the waitress, he motioned Brit toward the booth.

Brit picked at the food more disassembling it on her plate than really eating. With a sigh, Ethan told the waitress to bring some French fries and was surprised when they too held marginal interest to Brit. Regardless, he motioned for Brit to eat and blanched when she dumped a river of ketchup on top of the fries after practically coating them in salt. Ethan fed them to her one at a time rewarding her with angel-kisses between each ingested fry. With half the fries left on the platter, Brit again told him that she did not feel hungry. He lingered against her lips breaking the kiss only when he worried that she might need to take a breath. “I have missed you,” he grumbled. “And the summer makes the nights shorter. And then I miss you more and crave your nearness.” His voice had a melancholy tone that faded as he leaned to her again and fed her more fries laced with kisses.

His actions and voice seemed odd to her. Outside, someone ran down the street screaming about a mutated gigantic frog. Ethan rested his chin on the top of her head and watched the man disappear down the street. “Are you well,” Brit lisped. When he did not answer, she said, “I rest with you daily, and I spend my nights with you.” He pulled her closer to him wrapping his arms around her protectively. She whispered, “Are you sad?”

Ethan allowed the waitress to pick up the tray. Most of the French fries were gone and a lake of ketchup remained on her plate. The juice was gone, but most of her milkshake and the Vienna-styled schnitzel remained. He said softly, “Not sad. Demanding and dependant of your time. No. Our time.” With a sigh, he continued, “With the summer night, I cannot seem to get enough time with you, princess.” He placed a pair of soft kisses against her temple and then her lips. Watching her eyes, he said, “I cannot get enough of my wife.” His voice was as soft as a church confession. Her response was a shy smile because Brit did not know how to reply to such words.

There was a drop of ketchup on the corner of her mouth. He grinned as he reached for a napkin. “Now, that looks almost like….” Ethan went silent as he dabbed the ketchup off and dropped the napkin on the table. Taking her hand, he said simply, “Let us relocate.” He pulled her from the booth gently while asking, “How would you like to go to the beach tonight?” He did not wait for a response guiding her out of the door. While walking, he said, “There are many other ways of sharing vitae…with effects you seem to be noticing.” He walked quietly for a moment while running his hand up and down her side over the lacy fabric of her dress. With a low whisper, he said, “I want to try something with you.”

The night was short and soon they were in their resting spot again. Brit was crumpled against him. Whispering more to himself than talking to her, he said, “I shall never grow tired of doing this.”

Symbiosis

The explosion from within the city interrupted Brit and Ethan’s routine greeting as they woke at the moment of sunset. Brit’s eyes widened as the sound shook the city. Ethan’s eyes flashed red for a moment. Keeping her in a comforting embrace, he said, “It seems there is excitement in the city, princess. Shall we investigate?” They both extracted themselves from the plush rug and covers dressing quickly. Ethan handed her a box of juice and encouraging her to drink quickly. Even though he acted quite calm, he was curious what had happened during the night.

Brit was very thirsty and gulped down the juice box. They both quickly dressed and slipped out into the night. People were running back and forth screaming. Angry gunshots and accusations were heard. Ethan’s eyes flashed crimson again as he pulled Brit closer and walked faster toward where many were running. Fires blazed, and there was a harrowing howl of anguish. Soot and ash were settling like snow as they grew closer to the warehouse. Ethan stopped someone he knew and asked what was happening. It seemed that a pack of lycans had blown up the blood fountain that fed so many vampires through the city.

Outside of the building that housed the smoking fountain remains, a crowd had gathered. Upon closer inspection, an injured lycan laid on the ground surrounded by citizens from all fractions in the city. A vampire kicked the lycan hard as another pressed down on its spine crushing it. A demon was pleading for the life of another lycan whom she called "family." Brit paled visibly as the sounds of bones breaking mingled with the angry voices and shrieking from the injured lycan. Taunts that the lycan’s pups had already died were shouted along with clamoring to crucify the remaining, injured lycan.

Seeing Brit’s reaction, Ethan took Brit further down the street slipping into the building. After gesturing for Brit to stay back, he inspected the fountain. “Indeed destroyed. There will be a lot of hungry vampires.” Turning to her, he cautioned, “Make sure you do not hide your bite marks, Brit. And if anyone approaches you, let them know that you are exclusive to me.” His voice lowers as he watches one come and then leave. Turning back to her, Ethan said, “Should they dare touch you, they will be brought before the sun.”

“No one cares about sunshine when they wish to bite, Ethan,” she said with concern in her voice.

Ethan cocked a brow at her response. “Even beasts know when the other beast will kill them, Brit. And self-preservation usually is enough to keep them from acting. Instincts will always kick in.” Ethan watched as another kindred came to the room hoping to grasp a few lingering drops. Staying between Brit and the other, he said to the kindred, “In case you have not noticed, the blood fountain has been destroyed.” Taking Brit’s hand, Ethan started to walk out of the building. He instructed to her in a low voice, “This is why you must make sure they know it will mean their death. There are plenty of others walking around that will make for better targets, baby.”

They walked through the city keeping to the shadows. He escorted her down back alleys and across less populated streets where fewer dangers might be encountered. Picking up food at the diner, they returned to their resting spot. “Maybe we should return to the Mainland,” she offered. “Just until the city calms.”

With a shake of his head, Ethan told her, “This will not be over for some time, I fear.” His fingers trailed through her hair as he thought of the situation at hand, and how it could impact him and his mortal wife. He could also see that Brit was worried for him and for others like him. He insisted she ate while he rubbed her back to relax her. “Do not worry, princess. I will keep you close to me.”

Brit stretched beneath his fingers on the rug. Turning to her side, she looked up at him. Never had she thought of herself as a food source, but she knew he would need blood. “You can drink from me when you need so, Ethan. I do not wish you to ever suffer or feel hungry.”

Rolling her onto her back, he leaned kissing her. “I know, baby. And I do appreciate that.” Running his fingers over her bite marks, he said, “You have made the search for blood so much easier.” Gathering her to him, he kissed her deeply after opening his own lip on his fangs. His vitae filled her mouth and she could feel the strength of it hitting her system. He continued to kiss her until his lips had healed. Settling her back against him, he simply held her. After a while, he softly said, “I never want to have anyone else make me feel less hungry.” Then he drank from her heavily knowing that the vitae he had just given her would have her healthy by morning.

Transitions

((Taken from assorted RP's))

It was Sunday, and Brit was watching Ethan conduct his business again with the men on the small skiff. Brit sighed softly. The late meetings were more frequent and she could not hear what was being said. Items were exchanged for wide, sealed envelopes. Brit’s awareness was growing, and her questions were becoming more pointed; and therefore, Ethan sent Brit to wait for him at the library. Brit was greeted by Joah and Poncho as she entered, and sat pristinely smoothing out her new dress. Joah assisted someone with nightmares as Poncho looked over the report in his hands. “You’ve been gone for a while….honeymoon?” he asked Brit.

Brit filled both in on her comings and goings. A soft blush tinged her cheeks as she spoke. One left and another joined. Lorne was mentioned, and Brit asked, “Where is Lorne.”

Joah looked to where Poncho had been sitting, but he had gone too. She told Brit, “He left the library. He went to the Shadows.” Brit asked about Larissa and whether she was upset over Lorne’s leaving, and whether Lorne checked on Larissa and their baby. Joah walked over to Brit and placed a hand on Brit’s knee comfortingly. She then told Brit that Larissa died giving birth to her baby and that Nareth had taken the baby from the city.

Other explanations followed, but Brit heard little. She could only remember Larissa’s prettiness and gentle friendship. Tears fell down Brit’s cheeks. One fell and she remembered Larissa telling her how much love she had for Lorne. Another tear splattered and Brit remembered dancing with Larissa in the library, warehouse, and dance studio. More tears fell. The talks in the library and diner. The time Larissa’s eyes went black and the broken glass that swirled around her. Memories passed with the falling of each tear. Joah explained that Larissa was an angel now. Full of sparkle and light, but Brit had not seen her. So many had gone and the tears continued to fall. Joah hugged Brit as she cried and wiped tears with her handkerchief until Ethan came to get her.

Brit felt a strong sadness for a few days. Mirah had told her, “I wish I had an answer as to who goes and gets to stay with us, sweetie, but I don’t. And it kills me that I don’t.” Brit said little about it for a few days. Unexpectedly, Ethan took her from the city once again. This time, they did not meet men with the skiff or with Ethan’s tailor. He took her to a tall tower that overlooked a city on the mainland. Ethan sat on the railing and watched his wife who seemed terribly silent. With a slight frown, he pulled Brit a little closer and touched her neck gently before taking her hand to bring her closer still. With a caress of her hair, he wrapped his arms about her bringing her to him for a tender kiss.

Brit returned a warm hug and paused to take in the view. Another kiss lingered before she pulled away just a hint. Her eyes were sad and she whispered, “Larissa is dead.” He asked her what happened as he anxiously checked her over with soft touches. Brit explained all to Ethan. He held her tightly as he thought over what else he had recently learned regarding the wards that had been removed from the library. After a very long time and some soft quiet words, Brit said, “I was asked if we have been on our honeymoon. Are we?”

Ethan grinned and the look of concern left his face at her question. “Well, you could say we have been on our honeymoon in Toxia, but we came here to extend it a bit.”

“You kiss lots on a honeymoon,” she said before kissing him. Wrapping her arms around him, she said, “And cuddle lots too.” Her lips brushed over his as she whispered, “And get close.” A few more moments passed before she offered, “I read about it in the library.”

Pulling back just a moment, he repeated somewhat stuttering, “Read about it?” He had asked others to keep such things from her and thought of ways he could inflict pain on them for not doing so. She seemed still somewhat reserved and teary wetness lingered on her eyes from where she told him of Larissa. He kissed her again sensing each kiss distracted her from sadness.

Quiet kisses and time passed. Her fingers ran through his hair as she continued to kiss him with a growing boldness. The sound of her dress rustled slightly and she said softly, “I want to make you hungry….and…then….remove your hungers.”

After a brief blink of surprise, Ethan looked at her quite entertained and lovingly ran his fingertips down her neckline to where her dress starts. “Make me hungry?” His finger traced her face as he continued, “I am always hungry for you in one way or the other. It is just a matter of timing for my kind. And how much you want to fight the hunger.” With a grin, he said, “Of course, there are all kinds of hungers. And some I only ever feel for you.” The next kiss was deep and more sensual. He took her back to their temporary resting spot in the city they were visiting. Brit looked about just for a moment before helping him off with his tie as he shrugged off his coat.