Part 1

A/N: Just let me say I have always preferred to write stories with some kind supernatural twist whether that is is vampires, werewolves, magic or anything else. If you don't like that kind of thing then I suggest, with no insult intended, you not read it. I do not want to be made to feel bad about myself because what somebody writes is so insulting that it makes me stop writing for a long time. I know other peoples opinions shouldn't matter, but I can't help what I feel. I can accept criticism, but not insults where it is clear that this person just wants to tear someone down and tell them that they shouldn't write at all, though they weren't that polite about it. I know that I am a decent writer though I know I am not as good as robst or some of the others I have read, but I have never claimed I was. Feel free to leave me reviews as I don't get many of those.

Believer76

New Life, New Love

Connecticut Colony, 1721

"You will grant me entry, or you will lose your life right here and now," a voice growled loudly.

"I'm sorry, sir, but this house is quarantined," the servant tried, as he held the door open only a crack.

"I will not be affected, sir, since I am not like you," the voice growled again. "You will either grant me entry or you will die right now instead of possibly living a few more decades, as slim as the odds might be," the furious voice told him.

The servant started when the man had said that he would not be affected by the smallpox disease that had hit the city of Connecticut quite suddenly and he knew that this man was a vampire, as that was the only explanation, because vampires could not be affected by such diseases as smallpox or the plague.

"Can I inquire as to your business?" asked the servant.

"Really it's none of your concern," the tall black haired man growled, then added more calmly, "but since you'll probably be dead pretty soon, as your chances of survival are pretty slim I will tell you, since smallpox is such a deadly disease. One of the residents of this house is my mate as I can feel the pull from here. It took me awhile to track it, because when I first entered the city it was very weak, but now it's so strong that you're lucky I haven't killed you yet. However, I might be a vampire unaffected by human diseases, but I am also a gentleman, so this is your last chance to move aside before I force my way in, as no puny human like you is going to get in my way, do you understand?" the vampire growled, deadly serious.

"Right this way, sir," the servant decided knowing that this stranger was deadly serious. If one of the residents was indeed this vampire's mate then he for one wasn't about to stand in the stranger's way, as he would like to live a little longer if it all possible. "Can I have your name, sir?"

"It's Aaron Hotchner," the now named stranger replied. "Can you tell me whose house this is, as I didn't really have time to discover who lives here."

"I suppose not," the servant mumbled softly enough that most people wouldn't have heard him, but thanks to keen vampire hearing Aaron certainly did and he smirked.

"This is the home of the Garcias, who originally come from Spain about three generations ago. Master Simon ran a very successful shipping business, until the epidemic hit this city. His only son died when he was a mere seven years old and so the only residents besides, Master Simon and his wife Margaret, are his three daughters."

"How old are his daughters?" Aaron asked immediately, knowing that it was likely one of them maybe even the oldest.

"Well, the four oldest are married with families of their own and luckily, they don't live in Connecticut as they moved away once they and their husbands were wed, so as I said they're only three in residence, the middle child is 27 and has refused to marry, as she said that the men that have been courting her bored her to tears and she could tell that they really didn't love her, but just wanted the dowry her father set aside for her. She seems to take after Master Simon who is quite intelligent and we both know that most men don't like that. The oldest and the youngest wouldn't mind marrying, but haven't found anyone that they wish to settle down with and that their father approved of."

"She' right, so many men marry just for the dowry and then treat their wife terribly," Aaron smirked. "Why are you suddenly being so helpful, when you did your best to prevent me from entering the house?"

"I only tried to prevent you from entering the house, as I didn't want you to get the smallpox disease that has hit this city in the last few weeks. I was unaware at the time that you were not human," the servant said delicately. "Truthfully, I'm quite fond of the whole family, as they have always treated me very well and if you're going to save at least one member of it I will be grateful."

"Ah, I understand now," Aaron said with a nod, even though the man in front of him could not see it. "You've been treated like a member of the family, even though technically you work for them and so you're sad that their dying and you'll likely follow them soon."

"Yes," the servant admitted candidly. "I know you are aware that most servants are treated like they don't even exist, except when they employers need something and those types of people are normally always rude and demanding. The Garcias however, have always been kind to me and the other servants, likely because Master Simon is from a very poor family himself, but he worked hard to gain his fortune honestly. From what I know of the family history he once worked on ships, first as cabin boy and then he got promoted when he got older."

"Yes, I agree, because I've noticed that a lot of people who inherit their wealth tend to think they deserve more than they do and that most people are beneath them," Aaron agreed calming down considerably now that the servant had stopped defying him. The servant now understood the situation, so was being quite helpful. He had only been prevented from entry because the servant hadn't wanted him to get sick, not knowing that he wasn't human and therefore, couldn't get human diseases. "Those that are raised in wealth tend to be arrogant and full of themselves, because their parents don't realize that they need to curb their behavior or their parents are part of the problem."

The servant said nothing, but he agreed completely with the vampire's words.

"Who would you like to see for us to see if they are your mate?" the servant finally asked.

"The oldest daughter, as she is likely to be my mate," Aaron answered immediately.

"Very well sir," the servant agreed.

"So how old are the other three daughters?" asked Aaron.

"They're all pretty close together in age actually," the servant said. "They are about a year to year and a half or so apart. Mistress Margaret seems to be extremely fertile and it doesn't help that they genuinely love each other unlike a lot of high class families where the marriages a lot of times are arranged, especially for the daughters. I believe that it is only because they didn't meet and marry until they were both in their late twenties that prevented them from having even more children."

"So the next oldest will be wide about 28 or so?" asked Aaron.

"Nearly 29, but that's close enough," the servant agreed. "The one after that is 27."

"Well, any of them could be my mate then," Aaron mused.

"Here we are," the servant finally said, as he opened the door to the oldest daughter's room.

Aaron stepped into the room and felt for the connection he had been feeling quite strongly ever since he had arrived in the general area of the Garcia home.

"No, it's not her, the connection is not there," Aaron said softly instantly shaking his head, wincing in sympathy at the bright red patches with bumps everywhere on the young woman's exposed skin. This young woman had once been gorgeous if not for a sickness, for Aaron could see the refined features underneath the almost continuous red patches, so it was clear that the disease had hit the girl quite badly, as this was no light case, but one of the worst cases he had encountered.

"This way then," the servant said leading the way to another door that was just down the hall opening it to allow the vampire to step inside.

"Yes, this is her," Aaron said immediately, as he felt the connection as if it was a physical force.

"Her name is Penelope Kathleen," the servant said.

"I'll start the transformation here, but she's coming with me and if her parents or any of her family survives then you want to tell them that she died," Aaron said.

"That is unlikely Master Hotchner as her parents are barely alive and they're hanging by threads. I doubt they'll ever know what happened to one of their children and as for the other two, they have a better chance of surviving, simply because they're younger, but I'm not holding out much hope," the servant said.

"You're probably right, as Smallpox is an extremely deadly disease. I know this from experience," Aaron agreed looking sad. "I know that Penelope will miss her family, but she is my mate and I cannot let her die."

"I understand that, Master Hotchner and if any of her family happens to survive I'll just tell them that she died, although it might be a good idea to supposedly have her buried in a nearby graveyard," the servant suggested.

"No, if they survive you'll just tell them that she was taken to be buried in a common grave, as this is not a time for such niceties, as having an individual grave or a funeral service, not even from a family as well off as the Garcias. I've seen epidemics like this before, many times and believe me, it will pass," Aaron said shaking his head.

"I'll start packing Miss Penny's things, since she can't do it for herself," the servant said.

"Pack only what is essential as I'll buy her anything else," Aaron commanded and the servant nodded. "Just a few clothes and whatever she treasures that she won't want to lose," Aaron added, as he looked down at his mate and ran a hand through her sweat soaked blonde hair. Aaron listened carefully for her heartbeat and checked her temperature expertly. "She's burning up, I suspect that she would be dead by morning, if I hadn't arrived when I did. Unfortunately, smallpox has a high mortality rate and at the moment there is no cure."

"I fear you're right, sir," the servant said, as he quickly packed a few essential items.

Aaron wasn't listening, as he gently squeezed the unconscious Penelope's hand, before he gently bit down on the side of her neck taking some of her blood while inserting his own venom. Penelope never awoke at the gentle bite, as she was too deeply unconscious from the sickness that he could smell emanating from her very skin.

"I know I didn't actually ask you wanted eternal life, but just know that I love you already and I will love you forever. I never expected to find my mate, as I am older than you can imagine," Aaron whispered softly in her ear, kissing her gently on the forehead. "I know you'll forgive me for what I did to you without your permission, as the connection between us is so strong already, but still, I'll always feel guilty for not asking your permission first or having time to court you due to circumstances. We'll be going now," Aaron added turning to the servant who had finished packing his mistress's things, including several pictures of her family, which he knew Mistress Penelope would want to have as a reminder. "Luckily, it's night out now, so nobody is likely to see us depart. I have a carriage outside and if you would be so kind to bring her luggage I will be on my way."

"I'm glad you found each other and that you're saving her life, even if I know she'll have to drink blood now," the servant said sincerely.

"I know the life I have cursed her too, but we don't have to kill of victims, which is one of the things that makes this existence bearable," Aaron told the servant. "I was once human like yourself, as I wasn't born a vampire like so many of them are. I remember I was walking home, as it was nice cool night, but not cold. I remember seeing something moving out of the corner of my eye and just as I turned to see if I could get a better look at what it was I was down on the ground, not even having realized that something had impacted with me with this female standing over me and I had no idea who she was until she bit me," Aaron reminisced. "I was born in Wroclaw Poland in the 11th century less than a hundred years after it was founded actually, which was long before America was ever discovered. Back then, the city was quite a bit smaller than it is now, but I still I remember my homeland and I try to go back every century or so just to see how the city I was born in has changed. I was actually buried in a grave because whoever did so thought I was dead and I will admit that the transformation makes it seem that you are indeed dead, as it puts you in a comalike state as some vampire's venom races through your system."

"How did you ever escape after being buried alive?" The servant actually sputtered in astonishment.

"Vampires, especially newborns are incredibly strong my friend and it was only a wooden coffin and a few shovelfuls of dirt after all," Aaron told him with a shrug, as he held his mate tenderly up against his chest. "Of course, I had no one to guide me, so I had to learn about the vampire world all on my own, which was the much harder way to do it. Times were much different back then, far more primitive, less technology, so believe me, the world has changed quite a lot from the time I was born. I know most people don't think about that kind of thing, but it's true nonetheless and us vampires who are any age at all get to see it as technology and human development advances. I really must be going now, as I'd like to get Penelope someplace as comfortable as possible and also people will began to wake up pretty soon and I'd like to be gone from here before then. The fewer people that know what happened here, the better."

The subtle warning in Aaron's voice was easy for the servant to pick up.

"Don't worry, no one will be hearing anything from me," the servant promised. "Miss Penelope has always been kind to me, more so than the others, except perhaps, for her mother, as she inherited her kind heart."

"That's good to know," Aaron told the man before he tenderly carried his mate towards the front door. "What's your name by the way? I'm sure Penelope will want to know whenever she wakes up."

"It's Evan," the servant said, with incredible dignity.

"I'm sure she'll miss you, but this was the only way to save a life, as her fever was so high that her entire body was beginning to simply shut down," Aaron said honestly, the love he had for the woman in his arms shining in his dark brown eyes. "I was listening to her chest and very likely she would've been dead by morning. The human body can only take so much before it simply expires and that threshold is different for every person, but still, I would estimate her temperature was at least 108 and that is simply too high for anybody to survive very long."

"Are you a doctor Master Hotchner?" asked the servant in surprise.

"I've had many careers over the course of my life, as I have to keep busy someway, although I know that's going to be considerably easier for sometime to come," Aaron answered vaguely. "I bid you farewell Master Evan, I will remember your kindness and helpfulness for a very long time."

Evan watched the tall handsome vampire leave with Miss Penelope cradled against his chest tenderly and observed, as he gently, placed his mate on the backseat of the carriage taking the time to make her as comfortable as possible, before he gracefully got into the driver's seat of the carriage and immediately drove away.

Evan was sad to see Penelope so ill and knew that Master Hotchner had likely been right that Miss Penelope wouldn't have survived until morning. Still, he knew that Miss Penelope would have a good life with her mate and he only hoped that his mistress accepted her new situation without to much trouble.

If what he had heard was correct vampires revered their mate's, because very few ever found them. The connection between them must be a powerful force if Master Hotchner had managed to track the bond all the way from the edges of the city, since the Garcia home was near the center of Connecticut.

It was hard to believe that Master Hotchner was over 600 years old, but then he well knew vampires never aged from the time they were changed and since he looked around 30 that was when he had been been bitten and transformed.

Evan wondered briefly what someone as old as Master Hotchner had seen in his 600 plus years, but then decided it didn't matter, so long as he treated Miss Penelope well he would die happy.

Instinctively he knew that Master Hotchner would do just that, so he wasn't worried about Mistress Penelope's happiness once she got over the fact that she was now a vampire.

Evan finally closed the front door and returned to his duties, as he was the last remaining servant of the Garcias, as the others had either fled or died from the same disease that had hit the entire household.

He suspected he would soon be dead himself, but for some reason that didn't worry him and so he just continued with his duties as best he could.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~

Aaron laid his mate gently on the bed in the master bedroom of the house he owned in the city, because even though he hadn't told Evan so he actually owned houses in various cities all over the world, as property was always a good investment. He had not been to Connecticut for many years, and definitely not since his mate had been born. He doubted he would have felt such a connection when she had been a child, but now she looked around his age as he had been turned at 33, so really five years age difference wasn't too bad, even if technically, he was centuries old. Still, he didn't look any older then she did, which would be a plus. He had known young women that had been shackled too old man that were 20 or 30 years their senior, having no choice in the matter, as they had to obey their father's wishes or risk being disowned, as in most households the wife ran the home and looked after the children, but didn't have any actual power.

However, that's not the way he intended to treat his mate, as they would be equals in every way and he would see to it. Outside the home Penelope was going to have to obey him, just so people didn't think she was a whore or a hoyden, but still, they would make decisions together, although he was sure that would astonish his mate, because that's just not how it was done now in the early 1800s. Women had very little freedom or at least human woman didn't, but things were different for vampires, even those that were not mates. Women couldn't own property or keep money that came from her own efforts unless her husband, brother, father or some other male relative allowed her to. However, her parents were likely dead or at least soon would be and she only had sisters...although come to think of it Evan had mentioned that there were four older sisters as well. Ones that were married, which meant that Penelope had brother-in-law's. Luckily, however, they didn't live within the city according to what Evan had told him, which was just as well as they likely would have died from this blasted epidemic.

Still, Aaron felt sorry that his mate was going to lose her parents and two of her sisters to this deadly virus, but there wasn't really anything he could do about it, except turn them into vampires. While he could do that, he was hoping that his mate wouldn't request it, because he wouldn't do it without their permission, and he doubted very much that they would be able to regain consciousness as Penelope certainly hadn't, even when he had gently bitten into the vein at side of her neck as she had never felt a thing she was so out of it.

Besides, if the parents were still alive, especially the father, technically, he would have control over his daughter, although Aaron would rip them apart himself if they dared interfered between him and his mate.

There was no point of worrying about it until or unless it actually happened, Aaron decided, as he lay beside his mate holding her hand and caressing her cheek gently. Besides, by the time, such a thing occurred to Penelope they would likely be dead anyway, which he knew would devastate her, but he would be there to comfort her as best he could, to help her get over her grief.

Aaron lay beside his mate, someone he had never expected to discover, but when he had felt the connection as soon as he had approached the city he had been absolutely flabbergasted, but also extremely worried, because the entire city had come down with the smallpox epidemic, so there were very few people on the street, except for policemen. He had been stopped more than once, as the police officials had inquired as to his business in the plague ridden city. Finally, he had reached his destination and he knew he had not been a moment too soon, as Penelope would've been dead in a few hours at the very most and definitely by morning, so he was grateful that he had decided a visit to Connecticut was a good idea, somewhere he had not been in at least 150 years.

Aaron studied Penelope's face and arms that were uncovered although he had left her, with her dignity and modesty and not undressed her, because a man did not undress a woman that was not you're wife in proper society. Aaron studied Penelope again and saw at once that the red patches were fading from her skin and it was becoming diamond hard like his own and starting to look very healthy again. It wouldn't be long now before the transformation was complete.

Aaron worried that his mate would be able to ignore the connection between them, just because she was so furious at him, for taking her from her family, as sometimes a new vampires emotions were rather unpredictable depending on the person. Aaron knew very well that he would die without her, but if she wanted to be away from him he would agree to that once he was sure that she had control of herself out among the general populace.

Aaron hoped that she would be grateful to him at least for saving her life, but females in general, well, really anybody with emotions were often unpredictable in their action, but particularly women.

Aaron became so lost in his thoughts, that he didn't realize that time was passing rapidly and he was quite suddenly jerked out of them when Penelope groaned and started to move underneath his arm that was across her chest.

She's waking up, Aaron thought excitedly and gently moved off the bed to stand across the room, as he didn't want her to think he had been doing anything inappropriate while she had been unconscious.

The idea of his mate being a virgin, absolutely excited and thrilled him to his core, but he also knew it was going to be more painful for her the first time that they made love, because he would have to break her hymen and then use some of his venom to make sure it didn't grow back, as that had happened in the past to other vampire females who were virgins when they were changed, although females born as vampires didn't have one and why this was, was not known.

"Where am I? Who are you? What have you done to my family?" Penelope asked, as soon as she had opened eyes and looked around the room which she did not recognize.

"I haven't done anything to your family, Miss Penelope," Aaron promised his voice oozing charm. "You were dying of the smallpox epidemic and you would have been dead by morning if I had not intervened. I'm afraid to say that your parents and your two sisters that were still living at home are likely dead by now or if they are not they soon will be as all of them were, extremely ill. Unfortunately, smallpox leaves very few survivors, especially considering that you at least had the most deadly form of it. As to who I am, I am Aaron Hotchner."

Penelope paused from where she was standing on the other side of the room not even having realized that she had risen from the bed, as her actions had been automatic and without forethought.

"Yes, I remember that," Penelope admitted slowly. "I remember laying in my bed, too weak to rise and Evan doing his best to look after all of us by himself. The other servants were either dead themselves or they had fled. I'm sure they were hoping to escape the disease. I remember that my father got sick first, but didn't realize it right away as it apparently takes a few days to incubate."

"And then he passed it to the rest of the household," Aaron said and Penelope nodded sadly. "It wasn't really your father's fault, as all of you likely would've come down with it, just from interacting with other people who also had it, even if they didn't realize they did. Even someone breathing on you when you are sick like that can be deadly or at least that's what I have noticed over the years," Aaron added kindly.

"Why did you save my life?" Penelope asked bluntly surprising Aaron, as he figured she would accuse him of kidnapping her.

"Because you are my mate," Aaron told her, as calmly as possible. "A vampire cannot lose their mate for any reason and I could feel the connection we share all the way at the edge of the city, which means that it was an incredibly strong, at least from my end because I was at least 15 miles away from where you were. I was coming to Connecticut not having been in a long time, a century at least, not realizing that the entire city was quarantined and only me being a vampire prevented me from getting sick I'm sure. I certainly wasn't expecting to feel such a connection and it took me a few minutes to figure out what it could possibly be, as I had never felt anything like it in my life. Once I did however, I knew I had to find you, because let me repeat that a vampire cannot live without their mate. I'm only sorry that I didn't get your permission, but you were so deeply unconscious, in a coma really, that there is no way I could have, so I'm really hoping you can forgive me."

"I remember I was burning up," Penelope said finally, as she thought back. "I somehow knew I was dying and I vaguely remember Evan entering my room several times talking to me and trying his best to help me, but there was nothing he could really do, except comfort me. He tried to get me to eat on several occasions, but I was never very hungry, although I ate a few bites just to make him happy."

"I've heard that's part of the disease," Aaron said. "Trust me, you were dying, as I've had some practice at being a doctor. Of course, I've had many careers over the course of my life, but I certainly remember everything I learned from several doctors I knew."

"And now my parents and my sisters are likely dead too," Penelope said and the pain in her voice was heartwrenching to hear, though Aaron could certainly understand it, as his mate had lost those closest to her, so the pain she was feeling was understandable.

"I'm really sorry about your family, but just know I will love you forever and although I know I'll never take the place of your siblings or your parents, I promise you I will do everything in my power to make you happy. You've been unconscious for three days, as that's how long the transformation takes, especially when you are so ill and Evan informed me that your parents at least were very near death and barely hanging on," Aaron said.

"Poor Evan, I know he did everything he possibly could," Penelope sighed. "I won't be surprised if he gets sick himself considering that I vaguely remember him telling me that the other servants had either fled or died, so he is trying to run the household all on his own.

"Perhaps, we'll name one of our children after him," Aaron suggested.

"Children? You want to have children with me?" Penelope asked astonished, as the thought hadn't even occurred to her.

"I know you don't really understand what the what the word mates mean, as it's a very complicated word that nearly impossible for a human to understand, since they don't have such things, but basically, you and I will be together forever as vampires don't age from the time they are either grown-up or changed. You will start to love me just as soon as you allow yourself to feel the connection that is thrumming so strongly with potential between us. Basically, it means we are perfect for each other in every way and I will never treat you like a second or third class citizen like many men do their wives or woman in general, whether that be their aunt, sister, cousin, niece, daughter, acquaintance or a total stranger. You have to act like a proper lady whenever when we are out in public if you don't want to be looked down on, but we'll always make decisions together, depending on the situation at the time of course, as such things tend to be fluid and can change rapidly. However, since I know I changed you without asking your permission I'm willing to wait to complete the bond that is between us until you get to know me at least a little. In other words, I'm going to court you just like I would have if you hadn't been so ill."

"You did save my life..." Penelope said then paused, "and I'm very grateful to you, so I'm willing to be courted and we'll see what comes of it."

"Why didn't you ever marry?" Aaron asked a little tentatively. Aaron didn't want to upset her, as her emotions were very strong at the moment, much stronger than they had been as a human. Unlike mortals vampires didn't have any filters over their emotions that controlled how much they could feel at one time, so their emotions were at least 30 times stronger.

"Because the man that courted me I could tell that they didn't really care about me, well, other than very superficially, they just wanted the dowry that my father set aside for each of his daughters, as it was quite substantial. I wasn't about to get myself into a situation where I was basically ignored while the man cheated on me behind my back or where I was abused, as many men appear to be upstanding citizens, but you don't really know about their private life. I wanted someone I could actually love with my whole being, where we shared things that most men don't share with their wives or where the man actually listened when his wife talked and paid attention to what she was saying. I know my view is rather unusual and I suppose it comes from seeing how my father treated my mother, as the two of them were so much in love and he certainly didn't treat mom like a second or third class citizen. Oh, she behaved like a proper lady in public just like you suggested I would have to do if I didn't want to be looked down on, but in the home he actually listened to her advice and I know she often gave him sound financial advice, as she had a very keen mind. However, you know very well that my father would have been looked down on for accepting advice from a woman, even if his fortune increased substantially because of it, so it had to take place behind-the-scenes. I think that father actually listening to her advice made her love him even more, then she already did and I also think that she didn't mind staying in the background, letting father take the credit for the increase in the Garcia fortune."

"I see," Aaron said and he did indeed understand why Penelope had never married. "You appear to have inherited both your parents intelligence."

"I certainly inherited my mother's keen eye for observation," Penelope admitted smiling a little shyly. "You can tell a lot if you simply observe people, as most people don't notice that kind thing."

"Yes, you can," Aaron agreed. "I will help you accomplish anything you want to do with your life, as women won't remain downtrodden forever. Things have changed a great deal from when I was born. Of course, there will always be men who treat women like they don't even exist, except when they want something, but I will never be one of them I promise you, as I was brought up to respect those around me, but particularly women. Right now though, you really need to feed, so luckily, it's dark enough that we should be able to hunt without being seen, and even if we are, we won't be able to be identified, as human eyesight is very poor particularly in the dark."

"Vampires don't kill, to satisfy their thirst, right?" Penelope asked wanting reassurance.

"They don't have to," Aaron promised her tenderly, understanding her worry, so did his best to reassure her. "Of course, some vampires don't care if they kill who they're feeding off of, but I've never been like that I promise you and I'll teach you how to do the same."

"Alright then," Penelope said accepting Aaron's promise. "However, I can't go out in my nightgown," Penelope added looking down at herself that was covered from head to foot, except her arms and face.

"I had Evan pack a few things for you and once you've fed we can leave this city and go whenever we want to. Once we get someplace else, you can shop to your heart's content. Don't worry about the money involved, as technically, we are going to be married at least in the vampire world, once we complete the bond that is between us, so what is mine is yours. However, we need to go somewhere that isn't under quarantine and where you are not known just in case somebody recognizes you, because to the city of Connecticut you are officially dead, due of smallpox, as that's what I told Evan to tell everyone. Nobody is likely to question the fact that you are dead, because the smallpox epidemic has claimed so many already and you will just be another victim."

"I understand," Penelope said and she truly did understand what Aaron was getting at.

"I can see you do," Aaron said approvingly. "Now I'll just get your trunk from where I put it and I'll help you get changed, even though I know that technically, I'm not your husband. However, you don't want to rip your clothes to shreds as any type of fabric is very delicate to a vampire, particularly a newborn like yourself and I only had Evan pack the bare essentials. Of course, I was kind of in a hurry, as I wanted to get you back to the house I owned here—even though I haven't lived here for at least 100 years—before morning when more people would have been out on the street. Because it was after the sun set very few people saw us, if any. It's just better for us if there are no rumors that you are still alive."

"So how are we going to get out of the city without being seen?" Penelope asked understanding the necessary of it, even if she didn't like it.

"Well, once we've fed, we'll simply take the carriage I came in and you'll hide inside at least until we get out of the city and away from people possibly recognizing you. I plan on taking a different route out of the city then the one where I entered it and hopefully, nobody will stop us from leaving, but if they do anything or cause too much trouble I'll deal with it."

"You won't kill them will you?" Penelope asked.

"I'll simply knock them unconscious to give us time to get well away," Aaron promised. "I actually try not to kill unless it's absolutely necessary, although I hope you realize that sometimes there is no other choice."

"I don't like it, but I do understand," Penelope admitted.

"Unfortunately, it will probably happen at least a few times in our centuries together," Aaron said. "As I said situations can be extremely fluid so it all just depends. Now I'll go get your trunk and I'll help you dress if you have no objection and then I'll take you hunting."

"I should have an objection considering we don't know each other and it is not proper for a lady to get undressed in the presence of a man who is not her husband," Penelope said. "However, I do understand I'll just rip my clothes if I don't allow you to help me and I hate wasting things like that, because they should last for a long time. I certainly hope that Evan didn't pack me anything that has a lot of layers to it, because we'll be traveling and that's the last thing I need. I'm hoping he was sensible enough, just to pack some of my more simple dresses, which basically requires me to unbutton them and then pull them on and then button them back."

"I've never understood how some women go around wearing all those layers with petticoats underneath, but that doesn't matter anymore, because if Evan wasn't sensible to pack you some really simple dresses that are easy to get in and out of, well, we'll be buying you new things at our first stop anyway. Also I'm going to be helping you until you learn to control your new strength, as trust me, you are much stronger then even the biggest human man now," Aaron said. "Once we settle somewhere for a few decades you can buy those more complicated dresses if you want, the ones that require petticoats."

I don't particularly like getting in and out of them, although I had my sisters or my mother's to help me a lot of times, when I had to get all dressed up and if they couldn't help there was always the maid. I admit that fashion really isn't fair to women," Penelope said smiling.

"I suspect that will change to, but probably not for a long time, as changes in society, particularly major ones takes time," Aaron said wisely. "Here let me help you get out of that so you don't rip it to shreds," Aaron offered. "I doubt that Evan thought to pack any nightgowns and he probably blushed when he had to pack your unmentionables."

"Probably, as it's not really a man's territory, not even a husband's," Penelope giggled, something that Aaron was glad to see happen, as it likely meant that Penelope was accepting her new situation much more easily than he'd suspected she would and if that was the case it was good as far as he was concerned.

Aaron gladly helped his mate out of her long nightgown that went all the way down to her feet, after he had gone to fetch trunk from the carriage, as he had not bothered to remove it before now as he hadn't wanted to leave Penelope side.

Penelope opened the trunk and found everything she could possibly need neatly folded. "I think Evan thought of everything, although how he could possibly know what a woman needs is beyond me. He even added my bath things."

"It doesn't matter, just be glad that Evan was sensible and didn't add any of those dresses with so many layers," Aaron said, as he helped Penelope get dressed.

"Yes, that's true," Penelope agreed, as she felt like blushing the entire time and would have if she could, but luckily, vampire's didn't blush. She had never had a man see her naked body before, not even her father and even though she knew that she and Aaron were mates they weren't husband and wife—yet. She could indeed feel the connection that was between them, now that she had been a vampire for a few minutes anyway and she wanted nothing more than for Aaron to make her his, but she also wanted to be sure that these feelings were her own and not something just caused because of the bond. She admitted, if only to herself that he was very handsome and in fact she could see herself easily falling in love with him. Truly falling in love and not just lusting after a handsome man and developing a crush, but she wanted time to have true feelings develop before she really did what she already wanted to. Besides, technically, she was a lady without any male relatives to give permission for Aaron to court her, as her father was likely dead right along with her sisters and mother and her brother-in-law's who would be next in line to approve Aaron's courtship lived in different cities that were far away from Connecticut.

She suspected that if any of her male relatives her father or her brother-in-laws didn't agree to let Aaron court her that he would kidnap her anyway, because mates could not be separated or at least that is what she had heard. No, mere human was going stand in their way, so was just as well that her brother-in-law lived hundreds of miles away and would never hear that she was still alive, technically, anyway.

"They are now you're ready," Aaron finally said, as he had helped and Penelope pull the dress over her head and then buttoned up the back for her

"Good, because I'm very thirsty," Penelope grinned predatorily, which was normally unlike her, but her vampire instincts were very strong since she was still a newborn and would be for the next year at least.

"That's not surprising," Aaron assured her. "Follow me my lady and I will help you find your first victim. I promise to help you, not kill whoever it is."

"Thanks, as I really don't want to have to kill anybody," Penelope said.

"I don't blame you there," Aaron said, as he escorted his mate downstairs to the front door, "as I really don't like killing either, as I told you earlier. Back when I was a young vampire I didn't have a mentor though and it took me a long time to learn sufficient control, so that I didn't kill my meals. However, in your case, I will be with you every step of the way to help you control your very strong vampire instincts. A vampire's instincts are probably at least 10 or even 20 times as strong as any mortals and it's probably more than that. Mortals have very weak instincts compared to vampires, but then we are natural predators, so this is not surprising."

Penelope absorbed everything that Aaron was telling her, as she had no doubt that she would need it later.

~~~Aaron and Penelope~~~