Chapter 2

"I liked him from afar for a long time, he always had girls surrounding him, always being asked to perform first rites, so I watched him, and admired him and loved him. And then one day I got to meet him, and I saw that the beauty of the outside was followed by more on the inside, and I fell desperately in love. I would try to always be with him, and would push other girls out of the way, but that didn't matter because I wanted him. And then it became obvious he liked me too, he would do goofy things around me, and tease me about one thing or another, and when he first kissed me", she sighed "it was like the mother was singing in my head, and I knew then that we were meant to be, that we were two parts of one whole, that he was my spirit mate. When I got him to agree to mate me, I was so happy, and everyone else so jealous, but even then I could see his friends and family trying to dissuade him. But I thought it wouldn't work, and on the morning of our matrimonial, I was so contented, because he and I would be together for the rest of our lives.

She took a breath, "and then he was gone, on that same day, our matrimonial, and I had to explain to everyone, knowing they were laughing at the girl that thought she had caught the mighty Jondalar. But I thought I knew better, I thought he just wanted a bit of freedom, before he was tied down, that he needed the adventure and then he would be back for me. And I waited, never giving up hope, even when others thought he was probably dead, I knew my Jondalar would be back to claim me."

Staring down at her feet she continued, "but it didn't work out like that, he came back with a woman with so many obvious skills that I pale in comparison. He was so caught up in her, he didn't even notice me, I was nothing to him, after all those years I was insignificant, he had left me behind."

Taking her hands, he looked at her with such sorrow.

Sobbing now, she said, "he obviously didn't love me." She felt him draw her into an embrace, burying her head in his shoulder, she whimpered.

Drawing her into his embrace, he heard her whimper, "he left me behind."

Putting his lips to her neck, he kissed it, breathing in her essence, she muttered, "then he was a fool," and then opening his mouth, he sank his fangs deep into her throat.