One-Shot written for Voldemortperfumes whose own version of "build it and they will come" is "you write it, I'll read n' review it!"
This is my first attempt at a Twilight fic, so you've been warned.
Huge thanks to Nala, for being both my best friend and beta.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. No matter how many different ways I try to twist reality, I still don't. *sigh*
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It was a dark stormy night…
Well, it really wasn't, but it should have been. It would make the tale she was about to tell all the more interesting. Some say it's urban legend—a myth; others say they saw it with their own eyes. The beautiful, young couple sitting in front of her, staring with rapt attention, didn't know what to believe. Hearing the blood course through their veins told her that they were anxious to hear it either way.
She snuggled a little further into the strong man that sat behind her. She was on the ground in front of him, his legs wrapped around the side of her body and his arms hanging loosely over her shoulders. She could feel his emotions rolling off him: his calm content, his amusement, his love, lust and growing impatience. She lifted her hand and gently rubbed his forearm, intentionally rubbing her elbow along his inner thigh as she did.
He let out a small groan. She could feel him change positions behind her, no doubt trying to make the large bulge that was growing in his pants more comfortable. He slowly leaned his head forward, running his chin against her temple. Letting out a breath, he whispered, "You really shouldn't play with your food. It's not becoming of a Lady."
In a voice too low for their friends' weak, human ears to hear she replied, "But they taste so much better when they're afraid." He sat back up again, not altering his calm façade; a soft purr drummed in his chest. He knew she was right. Whenever she told this story their friends—prey—couldn't help but listen with rapt attention. It really was a turn on. It was her own little version of foreplay, if you will. Was it the fear in their eyes? Was it how their skin showed the slightest of blushes as the adrenaline forced the heart to pound the blood through their veins? She knew the suspense made it harder for her lover to resist the call of the warm, thick red liquid, but she couldn't help it. He always found a way to handle feeling their ever-changing emotions to give her a little fun.
Even though the story really began on a very clear night with a slight breeze blowing the leaves that had fallen from the trees, she would tell the tale anyway. Before beginning, she looked at the couple in front of her. The young woman had long dark hair with big brown eyes to match. She was a perfect type for her lover's tastes. The young man was tall and lean with sandy blonde hair falling in his eyes. Hewas her type; something about him was so similar to the man wrapped around her right now. She turned her head slightly to look up at her lover. Giving him a coy wink and a sexy smile, she took a deep breathe that she didn't need and began the tale.
oOo
Now remember, they say this is an urban legend. Some say it's fake, that it couldn't possibly happen. Others say they saw it with their own eyes. Make of it what you will; come to your own conclusions. Either way, they say it happened just a few short years ago in the town of Salem, Massachusetts.
It was a dark stormy night, absolutely perfect for Halloween Eve. The streets of the small town were empty, save for the few drunken souls trying to make their way home from one party or another. It was just about midnight, the witching hour. In between the cracks of lightning and rumble of thunder, you could see two small beads of light coming towards town. Within moments a large, black SVU came around the corner, turning sharply onto the town's main road. Some of the houses had lights on inside, others only flashes of light indicating the occupants were watching television. Almost all of them had jack-o-lanterns lining the walkways to the front doors. The small candles burning inside had long since gone out as the rain crashed down.
The woman behind the wheel of the top-of-the-line, off-road driving, fine piece of machinery rolled her eyes and turned to the man sitting in the passenger seat. She could see the soft glow of his pale reflection. She smiled to herself as she watched him reach over and turn on the radio. He began humming along to the tune that was quietly playing. Any normal person would barely be able to hear it, but he could hear it just fine.
"Where do you think we should stop?" She asked once she finally spoke, not wanting to shorten her time of just admiring him.
He reached over and took his hand in hers. "Any where you want to, Darlin'. We can just spend the night in here, there's plenty of room. Or we could always stop at an abandon farmhouse right outside of town."
A light burn was beginning to appear in her throat. As if he could sense her need, he asked, "Are you getting thirsty, Love?" She nodded her head slightly in answer.
He pointed through the windshield. "At the end of this road make a right. If you follow it all the way down it will end at an abandoned farm. There will be plenty of privacy for us to stay the night." She didn't say a word, only followed his directions, turning down a gravel road she'd have missed if he hadn't pointed it out. She turned off the headlights as she followed its path, pulling the truck behind the building. With a soft sigh and a smile she relaxed. He knew her so well. He knew she would prefer this over some fancy hotel or being cramped in the truck all night. Sure it was roomy, but not for what she hoped would happen later.
She turned off the engine and opened the door. Stepping out, she turned her face to the sky, the rain drops sliding down her cheeks as they fell. She could almost smell the history of the old house in front of her. How old the wood was, animals and people that had gone in and out of it, some more recently then others. She was thinking of all the people who may have lived here before, getting lost in the history, when she heard the door open behind her. Soon there were strong arms wrapped around her waist from behind. He rested his chin on her shoulder as she leaned back into him. She could feel his strength, power and love in the embrace.
"Why don't you look around while I find us something to eat?" he suggested. She turned in his embrace, wrapping her arms around his neck. She leaned up on her tip-toes and gave him a kiss, full of emotion. He could feel the different emotions rolling off her in small waves. "Thank you, Love. I'll see if I can find a place for us to be comfortable for the night. I know you'd much rather stretch out those long, sexy legs instead of pretending to be happy cramped in here all night. Besides," she stepped out of his embrace and passed behind him on her way to the house. "I'd much rather have you stretched out above me or holding me up against the wall while having your way with me anyway. Hurry back, you don't want to keep me waiting long."
With a wink from her and a smirk from him, he took off in to the woods, not caring what he found. It wouldn't matter if it was deer, bear or even coyote; all that mattered was hurrying back to her. It was as if his heart ached when he wasn't with her. He caught a scent and took off, moving deeper into the woods. He was so focused on the kill that he barely registered the two thundering heartbeats or the panting breaths as two sets of eyes watched the blur of him leaving the field. With a sly twinkle in his eye, he leapt through the line of trees and took off towards his prey.
A young couple watched with uncertainty. Whatever it was moved so fast, neither believed they even saw anything, both too stunned to speak of it. All they wanted to do was make love in the rain. They had found this place and never once ran in to another person in all of their time visiting, so why did it happen now? Before they could control their shock and resume their compromising position, a bright light shown on their very wet blanket on the forest floor.
"Daddy! What are you doing here? How did you find me?" The young girl choked to her father as she struggled to stand up. He looked menacing hovering a few feet away from them.
"It doesn't matter how I found you, I just did. This is ridiculous. You're coming home with me. Now!" He turned to the teenage boy in front of him and said, "Don't come around my daughter anymore! Go home to your family and stay away from us." The boy took one look at the girl, opened his mouth to say something, but then lowered his head. He answered, "Yes, sir." As she watched him begin to leave she fell to her knees and cried out, "But Daddy, you don't understand. We saw someone. It was a witch! We watched them float in to the forest. A person can't move like that. We couldn't hear anything they were so quiet. And fast! It was like flying!"
Her father spun towards her yelling, "You're making this up! Stop trying to cover up what you were really doing. I swear you're going to turn out just like your mother if you keep gallivanting around with boys, doing who knows what in these woods. Now get your shoes. I said we were leaving!"
The teenage boy moved past the father, slipping and stumbling on the way back to his car. The father grabbed his daughter by the elbow to lead her towards his own car. During the slow hike to his car he was mumbling about lies, his daughter being a harlot, keeping her locked up forever and something about keeping her from becoming a whore just like her mother.
A short time after the three had left the man came out of the forest, dragging two very large bears behind him. He knew it wouldn't take care of her thirst, at least not the way she wanted, but it would have to do for now. Tonight was not the night to have what they really wanted. That would happen tomorrow if all went well; which it always did.
You see, they were very particular. They didn't like to claim they preyed on the evil and terrible ones out there. That was just what others of their kind liked to say to make them seem more humane, or justified in their actions. Not them though. He was thankful they weren't living with those false pretenses. They were what they were and they couldn't change that. Honestly, they didn't go on bloody rampages, but they did what they had to do in order to survive. Why not enjoy it at the same time?
Their tastes were selective; they had standards that needed to be met. Their prey should call to all of their senses, not just the thirst. There had to be a certain appearance, an air to them. It always had to be a couple; one for him and one for her. They had to be aged like a fine wine. If they planned on taking what they wanted, in whatever place they decided upon, there was always a plan. It never happened in a rush and never more then once. They didn't want to limit themselves to just one location so they made sure to not draw too much attention.
She met him at the door, a disgusted look on her face, but understanding and thankfulness in her eyes. No words needed to be spoken. She walked up to him and placed her hand on his strong biceps. Her arms trailed up his shoulders and began moving down over his chest. Just as she moved her body closer to his, the bears began to stir. Rather then waste time fighting, or rather playing, with them they decided to drain them right then. When they were done she began to walk back inside of the farmhouse while he grabbed their bags from the truck. Walking inside, he saw her standing in front of the fire she had made while he was out; the fire dancing across her skin as she began to peel off her wet clothes. He sucked in a deep breath, dropping the bags on the floor before stalking over to help her with the remainder of her clothing. She let out a soft purr. "I was wondering what was taking you so long. I've missed you." She removed his wet clothing, leaving him breathtakingly naked in front of her.
As she laid out the clothing in front of the fire to dry, he brought the bags closer and removed a blanket to smooth over the floor. She stood, placing her hands on the old, worn mantle and leaned her forehead against her arm. She felt nothing but contentment as she stared into the flames. She felt his hands along her hips, slowly moving their way around to her stomach and up to her breasts. Moving her hair over her shoulder, he began placing kisses along her neck and spine, slowly making his way between her shoulder blades. He moved his jaw along one shoulder up to her ear. Taking the lobe in his mouth and massing it with his tongue, he could feel the purr rumbling in her chest. She reached behind her to take his length in her hands; a hiss escaped his lips as she moved her hand up and down. He pushed his hips further into her hands and she chuckled. She spun around, only removing one hand as she did so. He moved until her back was against the wall beside the fireplace. She began stroking him with both hands as her lips reached out for his, their tongues dancing with each other like they had so many times before.
They were never rushed, always making sure to take their time and show their pleasure to one another. Her grip tightened barely enough for a normal person to notice. He lowered his strong hands from her hips, and grasping her behind the legs he lifted her up with his masculine arms to rest her thighs on his. They broke for a breath neither one of them needed, their foreheads resting together. He looked down to watch as her hands moved along his full, hard length. Another hiss could be heard and he moved her jaw up so he could claim her mouth again. He lifted her higher and brought her hips to his, slowly sliding inside her. He was lost in how she felt surrounding him completely. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he moved her up and down over him with complete ease. He nipped at her neck and she pulled on his hair to expose his neck to her. As she bit him gently, he lost himself in her touches. He erupted inside of her as her walls contracted around him, climaxing together. No matter how they planned, it always happened like that. They wouldn't have it any other way.
Still inside her, he walked over to the blanket and laid her down. He grabbed a book from their bag; his choice was "Gone with the Wind". It wasn't normally a book she would have chosen, but she loved when he read it to her. He had a way of making everything come to life with the way he spoke and brought life to the characters. They snuggled in front of the fire and read for the rest of the night.
oOo
The following day was Halloween. Planned activities and re-enactments would occur all day, with the children trick-or-treating early in the evening. The real festivities would start around 9 o'clock, after the children were asleep in bed: the retelling of the Salem Witch Trials. That is what she had been waiting for; why she had wanted to come to this small town so far away from where they had planned on being. He couldn't deny her anything. Seeing, feeling her be this happy only made him that much happier himself.
It was almost time for the show to begin. Walking hand in hand on the way to the spot where it all happened so long ago, they stopped at the edge of the crowd as it began. They were listening to the history of the group of girls that had started everything. The thunder was rumbling from far off, signaling the storm was starting to roll in as predicted. It was the perfect weather for the town's famous historical story.
As the story progressed he picked up a familiar scent. It was one of the ones he caught last night on his hunt. He kept his eyes on the show in front of him, but trained his hearing on the argument that was happening around the corner of the building behind the other actors. The young girl was trying to plead with her father after being caught sneaking off to meet the boy again. The father was telling her the only reason he had allowed her to come tonight was because she was part of the show, and she needed to get out there and play her part. He warned her that if she didn't do this she would never see the boy again. Stomping out, the young girl joined the group of girls waiting for their turn to arrive. The man leaned down to his lover's ear and whispered, "It's almost show time. Get ready." She snuggled closer in to his side before answering, "I'm ready, just remember your part. We won't be able to come back for a long time so I want to make it worthwhile."
Little did the townspeople and tourists know what was about to happen. The young girl caught sight of her father and felt a surge of rage and panic. She would never be able to see her boyfriend again as long as she lived her with her father. She had to prove what she said last night was right. She felt another rush of emotion, this time it was determination. Walking to the front of the group, she pointed to the woman standing off to the side. The girl screamed, "That's her! That is the witch I saw in the woods last night!" Everyone in the audience turned and gasped, all murmuring and wondering if this was part of the show. The woman stood up higher and challenged back, "Prove it! You don't know what you're talking about."
The young girl separated from her group and stood in the center. She was feeling even more determined and justified then before. With her finger still pointing strongly at the pale woman to the side she began. "We were in the forest last night. I saw that strange woman come to town and wanted to see where she was going. I saw her, with my own eyes, as she seduced some man. She was naked and dancing around the fire. She had him under a spell. She had her way with him like some harlot and then she killed him. She smeared his blood all over her body and then ran in the rain to wash it off. She was floating and moving so fast it looked like she was flying. I swear I'm telling the truth! She's a witch and she has to pay for what she is!"
Murmurs again went through the crowd, growing louder by the minute. It was as if the crowd was turning in to a hysterical mob. She winked in the direction of her lover and took a deep breath. She walked toward the one that had accused her of being a witch and held up her hands in surrender. Her voice was steady as she proclaimed, "It's true. I have done what she says I have. I am no mere human. I am far from normal. Make of it what you will, but I will not hide it." The townspeople were momentarily shocked, having expected the woman to deny the accusations and lie. She heard various shouts from them.
"She should be punished!"
"She is an abomination!"
"We can't let her get away with murder!"
"Let's burn her!"
Her lover was feeding in to the frenzy with the last comment that was heard. She lifted her chin high and spoke, "Do what you must! I will not run. I will not hide. I am proud of who I am, be damned all of you!" Then someone else in the crowd yelled, "She's trying to put a spell on us. Do it now before she has a chance to kill us all with her words!"
Suddenly there were four sets of hands pulling on her arms, dragging her back toward a large pole settled in the ground. She pretended to stumble as they pulled more. They pulled her arms behind her back and she let out a fake scream as they secured the ropes. More hands on her feet were doing the same. She looked as if she was struggling to break free. She was speaking in low, deep tones, words that could not be understood by the people of the small town. Someone came walking forward with something resembling a torch used in the original witch trials. Her lover was ready on the outskirts of the crowd, as close to her as possible without being detected as being with her. She raised her head and her red eyes shown clearly. They could see the flames dancing in them. She let out a snarling growl and spoke, "If you're going to do this, at least move back so everyone can see. There won't be a repeat performance." With her words the crowd moved back and spread out. The man with the torch passed it to the one that accused her. He looked down at his feet, hesitant to move forward. She sent a look to her lover and another wave of hysteria hit the now angry mob. The young girl huffed and moved closer, only a few feet away when she tossed the torch to the pile of wood at the woman's feet. The flames took almost immediately. There was a strong rush of breeze as that fire went out and another instantaneously replaced it. This one had flames more purple then the bright yellows and oranges of the previous one. As the wind flew by she could hear, "I love you, Darlin'. Show them what you've got." Looking to her right, she saw him standing at the edge of the crowd.
The purple flames grew brighter and higher. She let out an evil laugh and glared at those staring at her. She thought to herself how ironic that these people think she is evil when they are the ones burning someone alive. She watched as their faces showed excitement, interest and justice. They thought they were all remaking history like their ancestors before them. As the flames grew stronger and hotter, she fought with her bindings. Her clothes were practically melting off as they burned. Her head was thrashing back and forth, growls and snarls flowing from her mouth. She started speaking in what the mob thought was spells, curses and hexes. The chanting continued, "Burn, Witch, burn" slowly growing louder as the flames get higher.
The storm is upon them now. The lightning is bright and the thunder cracks before the sky dimmed again. The rain poured down on them, but the flames continued to grow stronger. Not realizing how much time has passed, the crowd is startled from their chanting when the church clock rang. They turned around to watch as the bell tolled 12 times. It's Midnight. After the last bell had faded the townsfolk turned to the burning witch, but she was no longer there. Only a pile of clothes and ashes remained, the dying fire almost out. Now that the hysteria was over, they start to feel self-loathing and guilt.
Silent looks passed to one another making a silent pact. They will never speak of the atrocity that happened here tonight. If anyone were to find out it would just be written off as a story to scare children; an urban legend.
Little did the townsfolk know that the burning witch and her dead lover had run like the wind. They had run about ten miles away to their truck that was hidden from passer-bys. It only took them a matter of minutes before they climbed in. This time he was behind the wheel and she was laughing hysterically from the passenger seat. He reached for her hand as he pulled on to the road and began to head south, driving to their next destination. The mob they had left behind didn't know that people would be talking about that fateful night years later, just as they had predicted. They would never know their tale would manage to travel as far away as it had. Almost fifteen hundred miles away, down to the Florida Everglades, to right where we are sitting now.
oOo
The woman sat up straighter between the man's legs and stretched a little. He could feel the anxiety and excitement pouring off of the two people in front of him in waves. They were still too caught up story to notice anything different. The young woman snuggled closer to the young man at her side. She was still clutching his arm, just as she had been while listening to the well told tale. He grabbed her hands from his arm and put it around her shoulder. She kissed his jaw and looked in to his eyes. They shared a smile and laugh before turning back to the couple that told the story. Before noticing anything different she asked, "So what happened to the two from the story? Was she really a witch? Where did they go?" This time the man spoke, his southern drawl coming out with every word. "No she wasn't a witch, but she wasn't human either. They drove south until they felt like stopping, I s'pose."
The young man spoke this time, "If she wasn't human then how did she not die?" This time the storyteller lifted her head from her Lover's leg and opened her eyes. With a sly smirk on her face she said, "She didn't die because she can't. Not from flames she created herself."
After she spoke those words she stood up, extending her hand to her Lover. They moved closer to the couple so they were now mere inches from them. The young woman shivered from the cool night air; the fire starting to burn out. As if hearing what she was thinking the woman said, "Don't worry. I'll take care of the fire." She held out her hand to the young man and asked, "Will you help me?" Answering with a nod of his head he took her hand. With a firm grasp on his hand, she sparked a purple flame in her other. The eyes of their prey grew wide with surprise. Their mouths dropped open, but no words were uttered. It was as if they knew what was coming, but were too frozen to change the course of action about to take place.
Her Lover was now sitting behind the young woman; his arms wrapped around her to keep her still. He watched as she leaned over to the young man and whispered, "They had it wrong. It wasn't an urban legend. She couldn't die because she was a vampire. I am a vampire. I am that woman. I am dead, but not in the sense you thought." She ran her nose along his jaw and towards the bulging, throbbing vein at the side of neck. Taking a deep breath she continued, "You will surely be a meal worth traveling almost fifteen hundred miles for." In that moment she sank her teeth into his neck. Seeing what his Lover had done, he turned and did the same to the young girl wrapped in his arms. Both savored the feel of the warm blood flowing past their lips and over their tongues, feeling slight bursts as the heart continued to pump it through their bodies.
After all the blood had been pulled from them, he took the bodies to the edge of the water and threw the first body in; the alligators would finish them off. He put the second body in the water and sat to watch the new predators swim over to inspect the situation. He heard his Lover as she walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist. She rubbed her nose along his back and slowly circled him until she was in front of him, now the sole receiver of his deep gaze. She raised her arms and secured her hands behind his neck. Knotting her fingers in his hair and pulling him lower, she willed him to lower his mouth to hers. The kiss she gave him was saturated with the passion, eroticism and, most of all, the love she felt for him.
After a short while they parted; she looked up and allowed her tongue to pass her lips. It reached out and licked the small amount of blood his meal had left on the side of his mouth. A purr began to rumble in his chest at the sensation. She licked her lips sweetly as he swept her off her feet and began walking towards the truck. Looking deep into his bright red eyes, she tells him, "Maybe next time I'll have the girl. The taste was positively sinful." He chuckled as he placed her in the passenger seat. He answered, "You say that every time and yet you don't." He closed the door and was in the driver's seat in an instant. She snuggled back into the cool leather and watched him drive. Even doing something so simple and easy, his masculinity and sexiness always exuded through. She finally asked, "Where are we going next, Jasper?" He took his hand in hers and squeezed gently. "I was thinking of taking you home. Let's go to Texas, Bella." She closed her eyes in contemplation, knowing she wouldn't deny him. She couldn't deny him. She turned one last time to look at him before answering, "Then take me home, Cowboy."