Blood Orange

A life of adventure was everything Mavis had dreamed about since she was a little girl, but now that she was out in the world her dreams were becoming reality. Mavis and Jonathan had ventured east after he'd won her imagination with his tales of the best fireworks in the world being in China.

The sunlight was quickly disappearing from the sky so she removed her hat and sighed a heavenly breathe of relief. It was no easy task for a vampire to go gallivanting around in broad sunlight; sure it would take a great amount to kill her, but third degree burns would really mess with her complexion. From her pocket she pulled out a phone and leaned in close to her boyfriend to snap a picture. It had taken the teen no time at all to adapt to the new technology, though the phone they'd given her father in order to keep contact had been sending jumbled messages –he wasn't so good at texting just yet.

"Do you think this one makes me look fat?" Mavis asked with a smirk as she showed the picture to Jonathan.

"Um…" he was at a loss for words as he beheld an image with him holding onto a floating ensemble of clothes. "…no you look…great"

"Great", Mavis pulled the device close to her face as she quickly sent it to her dad so he would call asking if she were alright. "The sun's down are they going to start the fireworks?" Mavis asked softly as she leaned against Jonathan's shoulder; it was thin and somewhat bony but comfortable.

Jonathan smiled as he felt her weight on him. It was different than other girl's, slightly heavier at times when she tired; Mavis snuggled into his side as she smelt something sweet. He hesitantly put his arm around her, gave her shoulder a light squeeze –boy was she adorable. Her affections made his heart race and his face flush. Pink spread across his cheeks as he pulled her up for a snuggly hug.

Mavis giggled as he squeezed her, but as the bridge of her nose rested on the warm underside of his rounded chin her breath caught. She nuzzled him there, wanting to warm her cold skin, wondering where that sweet scent was emanating from. Jonathan jolted when he felt her dainty cold hand wrap round his cheek and turn his head; she pressed her lips to his in a chaste kiss.

Pop! Crackle…Pop! Boom! BOOM! Boom! Crackle –Boom!

Mavis sprung to her feet as the sky was suddenly a giant glowing rainbow of colors; her eyes were saucers soaking in the breathtaking light. She was so ecstatic that she could hardly keep her feet on the ground. Behind her Jonathan brushed his fingertips across his chilled cheek, a tiny smitten smirk on his face as he watched her cheer and awe at the show.

The two of them remained on the roof till the finale. Mavis flew circles around Jonathan as he carefully made his way down the roof; he grabbed the ledge and eased himself back onto the balcony of their hotel room. As he'd promised the count the two would only camp out if necessary. His body hunched halfway over as he drug himself to the bed and collapsed. They had walked seemingly every street in Shanghais in just one day.

Vampires had excellent endurance, even during the day –Jonathan would have to remember that. Rolling onto his back he sighed with comfort. A presence made him crack his eyes open. Mavis was floating above him, starring.

"Uh…hey May", he greeted awkwardly.

"Weren't those fireworks amazing?" she squealed with pure joy as she did a quick barrel roll. "The most beautiful thing I've ever seen!"

"Yeah they were cool", he tried to ignore the fact that she was floating above him –the act was a plain as a standing conversation to a vampire. "I'm uh, glad you enjoyed the show. Heh"

"Oh I did!" she pecked him on the tip of his nose and floated to the wall; she began to pace up and down the walls and ceiling. "I can't believe I'm out here in the world! You don't know how much this means to me – where are we going tomorrow?"

"Where?" Jonathan's sigh cracked as he felt his dog's wine. "I thought we'd observe little more before we…walk a little more. Have to take this seeing the world thing in stride ya know"

"Yeah, I guess your right", she finally came back to the floor and stationed herself with her hands on her hips. "Oh, are you going to sleep?"

Jonathan's eyes popped open, slightly red from exhaustion. He forced himself itno a sitting position, his hands limp in his lap. As he spoke in a slurred tongue he mentally noted that the room was rocking back and forth.

"N-ot reafy…reaping me sides", his head fell forwards then sprung back up as he'd caught himself. "I'll be honest…I'm a little tired"

Mavis sat besides Jonathan on the bed. Humans weren't at all the monsters her father had portrayed. They were small and weak…but oh so adorable. She understood that their sleeping patterns would need to be readjusted because she stayed up all night and he stayed up all day. As a vampire Mavis required significantly less sleep than a human so she decided right then and there that she would oblige to the best of her abilities Jonathan's pattern. Besides, the world was so beautiful during the day it seemed a shame to not see it.

"Johnny you go ahead and sleep", she told him softly. "I'll eat my dinner and get ready for tomorrow"

"You sure?" he yawned as he had already began to drift off.

"Yes", she eased him back and pulled a blanket to cover him. "You sleep"

He hadn't heard her. Jonathan slumbered soundly, his chest slowly rising and falling. Mavis smiled as she sauntered over to her backpack and dug out her substitute packets. She reclined in the sofa as she bit into the pouch and slowly sucked the nutritious liquid. It tasted sweet when she knew from her books that blood was sour and Mavis wondered for just a fleeting moment what actual blood tasted like.

She looked over her shoulder at Jonathan, her human boyfriend. Humans, she knew were filled with blood. But Jonathan wasn't food he was her zing. Mavis held the empty pouch in her hand and licked her fangs dry. She was still thirsty, but didn't know why. Her eyes wandered over to Jonathan who slept soundly, now wrapped in the blanket she had laid over him; he looked so peaceful.

Leaning down Mavis reached out and lightly ran her fingers through his frayed orange hair. A content smile spread onto his lips and it was contagious; Mavis smiled as well. Her feet rose from the ground and she hovered over him, her dainty finger ghosting the bridge of his nose. It twitched and Jonathan blushed in his sleep.

Red. The color looked so beautiful on his peach skin. Mavis wanted to touch his cheek but knew she'd wake him. She leaned in closer just to look and smelt that sweet scent once more. Was it something he wore she wondered that was so very alluring? A light growl emanated from her stomach, startling Mavis and stirring Jonathan.

"Oh…" she rested her hands on her flattened tummy. "Maybe I worked up more of an appetite than I thought. A second helping couldn't hurt"

Mavis indulged in another packet of the substitute while flipping through the local channels. She had no idea what anyone was saying, but continued to watch until she unknowingly drifted into sleep.

…

"Ow!" Mavis jerked awake and away from the sunlight shinning through the crack in the hotel curtains. "Stupid sun!" she flew over to the darkest corner and called out to Jonathan. "Jonathan! Jonathan!"

Jonathan bolted upright and tumbled in a heap of body and blanket to the floor. He writhed like a warm into the living room where he found Mavis blocked off in the corner with the sun slowly consuming the room. He unwound himself and closed the curtains. His new girlfriend was eternally grateful, jumping into his arms and wrapping hers around his neck. She smiled with utmost joy, her fangs prominent in her toothy grin.

"You okay?"

"Yup", she rolled her eyes over to the curtains. "In the future we've got to remember to close those things"

"Yeah", was his simple reply. "I'm hungry. Breakfast?"

A light growl from Mavis had the two of them giggling as Jonathan pulled food from his backpack. They say across from each other, eating cereal. Mavis missed monster food, but human food was okay. After breakfast Jonathan suggested they finish up their sightseeing and then continue venturing.

Since she'd fallen asleep Mavis had to get ready before leaving the hotel. She showered and redressed, slipped on her arm length gloves and secured her sun hat with bobby pins. The wonderful thing about the twenty first century was that when people looked at her and Jonathan all they saw was a stoner –whatever that was- and his goth girlfriend.

"Okay! I'm ready to –oof!" she'd barreled out of the bathroom so quickly that she'd bumped smack into Jonathan. "Woah! I'm sorry Jonny, you okay?"

Jonathan sat up, holding his hand and wincing. He'd smacked a porcelain vase on his way down and it had shattered. The cut on the side of his finger was small but a tiny red bead escaped, contrasting against his peachy skin. Mavis took immediate note of a smell, tangy and sour and sweet that hit the air. Her eyes locked on the red and glistened.

"I'm okay", Jonathan assured her as he brought his finger to his mouth, intent on cleaning the wound "huh?"

Mavis was suddenly kneeling besides him, her grip firmly on his wrist, eyes locked on the red bead. She'd acted on impulse, wanted a better look, a closer look. It was beautiful. The color made her substitute look faded and the smell was beyond enticing.

"Really, Mavy…I'm okay" he assured her, trying to ignore the glossed over look in her eyes. "You can let go now"

"Your blood is so beautiful", she spoke evenly, softly. "I've never seen human blood before"

"Oh, well…thank you. I guess", Jonathan's eyes darted away and back and hoped Mavis would see just how uncomfortable the whole situation was becoming. "You can let go now" he pulled, but she didn't budge as her eyes were seemingly fixated. "Mavis!"

"Yes?" Her grip loosened and Jonathan pulled his injured hand to his chest, cradling it. "Jonny, what's wrong?"

"Nothing", he lied. "Let me get a band aid on this and then I'll clean up the mess.

"No let me get it", Mavis waved her hand and a purple mist picked the pieces from the floor and put them back together. "See. All better", she followed Jonathan by his heels as he fled to the bathroom. "Let me help with your hand"

"Nah, it's all good", his voice cracked a little as he shut and locked the door. "Vampire magic can't mend skin…just need a band aid"

"Okay", she shrugged her shoulders and floated off to her backpack. "I'll just wait out here"

Her voice was low, sultry and sent shivers up Jonathan's spine. Mavis had never seen or smelt human blood…what exactly did that mean? Vampires were civil, but what if her virgin fangs were itching to be used? No, thought Jonathan. Mavis was innocent and sweet like a…fruit bat.

When he opened the door she was waiting for him, her eyes wide. His negative thoughts were fleeting as she squeezed into his side and with her presence a wave of contentment washed over him. Perhaps it was her vampire allure but Jonathan forgot all his troubles.

"How do I look?" she asked curtly.

"Beautiful", he told her, blushing faintly.

Mavis smiled, nuzzled his neck and whispered into his ear, "How sweet are you my little blood orange?"

The blood drained from Jonathan's face. He looked down at Mavis who was leaning on her tip toes with half parted lips. She gently, slowly, alluring pressed her lips to his. And concern gripped him. For when she pulled away that innocence was fading from her eyes and the gleam of something otherworldly was slowly growing in its place. He felt his emotions being eased though the chill of something amiss still plagued him.

…

Before the two of them knew it morning had become mid afternoon. With the sun at its highest the two of them figured a hike through the jungle would be their best bet. Mavis adored the bamboo and the lush green underbrush; the sun would break through the bamboo in parts but she was covered more so than in the city. And the air was so fresh it made her feel alive. Holding her hat in place Mavis flew in between the branches and around Jonathan who had stopped to catch his breath.

Concern on her face she lightly ruffled his hair but he sprung his hand into view sporting a quick thumbs up. Mavis smiled and flew off with a cloud of purple mist trailing her as she transformed into a tiny bat. Jonathan trudged after her, his endless energy starting to dwindle. Usually he never got tired, but he past few days he'd been immeasurably tired. A brief thought crossed him; could Mavis be affecting him with her powers and not be aware of it? Did vampire powers work that way? Exactly what were her abilities anyway –the same as her fathers?

He excused himself, falsifying a bathroom break to venture out of earshot. Jonathan pulled out his phone and peering over his shoulder called the count. It took two rings for him to answer the phone. His thickly accented voice was slurred and drowsy.

"Vat is it…nothing better be vong with Mavis", his voice was stern and made Jonathan reconsider asking the counts opinion, but his survival instincts were kicking in.

"Uh, hey count…yeah Mavis is super…" he held his breath then continued. "I was wondering…if maybe there would be anything I would need to know. If she started acting weird"

"Veird like vat?" the count grumbled, rubbing his tired eyes.

"Well…um, vampires don't need human blood right?" he tried to keep the conversation general as to not worry the old vampire, and to also keep him from freaking out as he often did. "I mean human blood won't like effect you guys in any way right?"

"Vampires need blood to survive because ve do not make our own –it doesn't necessarily have to be human", he informed. "Mavis, my darling daughter has never smelt or tasted human blood and it has never effected her", there was a heavy pause that made a knot the human's stomach. "Mavis, she loves you…she vill get close to you. But heed this warning Jonathan the human, my little girl has never been around real blood…your full of real blood. Do the math, blah"

"Uh…what does that mean?"

"Nothing to vorry about I'm sure. Mavis is a good girl, I'm certain she von't let her instincts get the better of her", he sounded assured in his comment and began to drift back to sleep. "…goodbye Jonathan. Keep your hands off my baby, I'm not ready to be a grandfather quite yet"

"Uh, count…wait", it was too late, he was already snoring. Jonathan hung up the phone on his end and returned to Mavis. "Hey sweety", he greeted as she reassumed human form while circling him. "How do you, uh…like the jungle?"

"Oh, it's wonderful", she breathed onto his neck. "Just the two of us out here in the wilderness. It's so exciting", she snaked her arms around his midsection and snuggled into his hair, smelling his scent.

Goosebumps formed on the back of Jonathan's neck as Mavis spoke into his ear; her sultry voice was beautiful and soothing. He eased back against her and she led him to the jungle floor so that his head was lying in her lap. She smiled down at him, her eyes half lit with mischief as she gently stroked his wild locks back. Mavis was unaware as she looked into her zing's eyes that she was hypnotizing him; his body was dead weight on the jungle floor by the time she leaned down to plant a kiss on his forehead.

"Are you comfy my little blood orange?"

She asked him with vampiric allure; he nodded his head once, eyes barely open. His hand reached up to touch her face and the rough texture of the band aid caught her attention. Mavis gently grabbed hold of the human's hand and looked at the band aid. She reached her other hand up and peeled it off his finger. The cut was deeper than she had expected and some blood came out when she removed the band aid. It was selfish, but she loved Jonathan, had tasted his lips and wanted so much more from him; wanted just once to see if his blood was as sweet as it smelt.

"Still bleeding…poor human", she cooed, bringing it closer to her painted lips. "Let me kiss it and make it better"

She pressed her lips against his flesh and the small amount of blood that was there enveloped her senses. Parting her lips Mavis inhaled the scent, licked the sweetly sour liquid from her lips and then froze. Jonathan watched the wheels turning in her head as her eyelids dropped. Mavis seemed sedated.

But in her mind she was so alive. His blood, it was the most deliciously divine thing she had ever tasted –more so than worm cakes.

Suddenly Mavis hardly felt like herself at all, like something inside had washed pieces of her away. The deep black eyes Jonny loved grew red and hungry. He pulled his hand away and leapt to his feet. On the floor Mavis was looking up at him, strikingly beautiful but possibly deadly. Jonathan lost his footing and fell back into a clump of bamboo. Mavis crawled to him, sending his human blood pumping.

And she heard his heart and smelt his blood –oh, he looked simply adorable wide eyed. She could eat him up. His name left her lips a ghostly whisper as she sat between his legs, eyes boring into his. Jonathan couldn't believe how quickly she'd gone from innocent schoolgirl crushing to lustful bloodsucking vampire mode.

"Jonny", she said again with a smile. "We've been travelling all over Asia", she ran her finger along his nose, under his chin. "Yet all I needed was a taste of you to feel truly alive", her chilling lips kissed his neck, it was soft and possessive.

Jonathan would never tell her the truth, but she had frightened him. His body was sluggish as if her whispers were numbing him and she was kissing his neck, breathing in his scent. As romantic it could have been things seemed off. Maybe it was the fact that she was possibly going to viciously drain all the blood from his body. The panic that gripped him made his head spin and the only thing he could think to do was to say something to her.

"I love you Mavis"

His shaking voice caught her off guard, catching her in a place where she was nuzzling just to smell the scent of his blood. Mavis leaned back, her eyes black and wide. She covered her mouth which still faintly tasted of the drop of blood she had taken from him. Realization hit her. This was the rule she was never to break and yet she'd done so without struggling with herself in the slightest. How could she be so weak?

"I…Jonny…I don't know what came over me", she floated away from him, covering her face. "I'm sorry, please don't think I'm a monster!"

"What? No!" in an instant he was there, by her side. "Mavis…your my zing. I'd never think that about you. It's okay", he eased her down into his arms and gently coaxed her by rubbing his hand on her back. "It's okay…you just got a little excited. That happens sometimes"

"No", she shook her head into his shirt, eyes moistening with tears. "You don't understand Jonny…what I did was horrible"

"So you kissed my finger. Big deal my mom does it all the time"

"I tasted your blood, Jonny. I drank human blood", she pushed him to arms length as if his presence was tempting. "It felt like someone took over my brain –I couldn't think straight. All I could think about was you", in her features Jonny saw fear and love and self hatred.

"Mavis, don't blow this out of proportion", he tried to grab her shoulders and calm her down but she kept knocking his hands away. "You're overreacting"

"I want you", she whimpered as she bit her finger and looked away abashed.

"Uh…oh…um…" he took a step towards her and she took a step back. "Mavis, that's perfectly normal. You don't have to be embarrassed…or act like the world is going to end", he noted the last bit dryly.

"No. No. No", she shook her head and fanned her hands frantically. "Not like as in as a girl I want you –though that's not to say I don't…" she bounced up and down in an attempt to blurt out what she was trying to say. "I want you as a vampire"

"Oh, okay that makes TOTAL SENSE" Jonathan slammed his palm into his face and shook his head. "I don't get what you're trying to say at all"

Mavis flew towards him, gripping his shoulders and flying him back into the bunched bamboo. She held him there with her lips roughly pressed against his. His face turned beat red and she clawed at his hair. It was a mixture of human and vampire emotions that made it difficult for her. She wanted to be with him always, but a part of her wanted its piece of the human. Jonathan was overwhelmed by her pouring emotions and kissed Mavis back.

…until she bit his lip.

"Ow!" he pushed her back. "Y-You bit me!?"

She licked the blood from her lips and kissed him again. He struggled a little but her grip was an inescapable vice. Blood and saliva mixed and sedated the beast inside her. Mavis released her love and he plopped to the ground breathless, tasting his own blood.

Standing above him, clawed hands frozen in the air stood trembling Mavis. It was as clear to her what she wanted as it was to Jonathan. It frightened her and terrified him. Thoughts swam in her head, half of them her desire for her lover and the other a dark desire for his surrender. She'd heard tales of young vampires succumbing to ancient hungers, but the substitute and lack of contact had kept her from such an era in her life.

Now here she was with the man she loved. Who was human. Who was helpless against her. Who she loved and longed for. She looked down at him and her adrenaline spiked while her fangs tingled.

"I shouldn't have done that"