EVANGELINE-

Days had gone by since I fenced with Mr. Sherlock Holmes. Looking back on it I wondered why hadn't killed him? I could have, but I didn't. It wasn't often that I doubted my vampire instincts, especially when it came to dealings with mortals. But here I was sitting in my room doubting the very instincts that had kept me alive for four hundred odd years. I wondered if it was some greater power that had stayed my hand, and that same power had prevented Mr. Holmes from killing me?

I resolved to avoid all contact with my human guests not just for my own good, but for theirs as well. In my current state of mind, I strongly suspected that if I saw Mr. Holmes so soon after our match I would cause him serious harm; perhaps even kill him in a blood rage. I remained in my chambers leaving to feed as necessary. Occasionally there would be a knock at my door. I knew it was Dracula and I knew he wanted to talk, but I wasn't interested in talking to anyone human or vampire. I knew that I had to unwind and release the tension that was building with in me.

There was a hot spring at the very back of the garden. It was a private place for me these days, as it had been a private place for my father during my days in the sunlight. I would come here and let the heat of the water melt away my troubles. For all my vampire qualities, I would still sometimes feel the effects of my long life. Like my father before me, I was prone to pain in my hands and feet. Because I was a vampire, the pain wasn't as severe as it had been in my poor father, God rest his soul.

It was on a cool night that I found myself walking towards this place of solitude. An old willow tree grew next the pool, giving me privacy that I sought. As I came into the ancient grove of trees where the pool lay, the steam from the heated water washed over me. I breathed in the heat and sighed. The steam condensed on my cold skin forming little water droplets. In a way I felt like a flower awaking in the break of day covered in a blanket of dew.

I stripped off my dress and shoes. In naught but my shift, I stepped into the pool. As I sank lower in the water, I took the pins out of my hair, letting it drape over my shoulders. When the water reached the level of my shoulders, I dipped under the water quickly. Surfacing, I shook my head and pushed my damp hair out of my face. I splashed water over my body letting all my stress melt away.

I soon became aware of a human presence. I was familiar with this presence. The presence belonged to a certain consulting detective who was a guest in my house. He drew nearer to the pool and I made no notice of him. I knew that he noticed me bathing in the pool. My back was to him, so he had no reason to expect that I knew he was there.

"You must realize, Mr. Holmes," I said trying to maintain the calm I had achieved, "That it is very rude to stare at a lady when she's bathing."

I sensed his surprise at my words. I turned towards him. He didn't meet my gaze hiding his embarrassment. "I apologize for the intrusion Lady Evangeline. I was out taking a stroll until I came across this place. I hope I didn't startle you."

"No. But I seem to have startled you."

"Well I didn't expect to find you, least of all find you…exposed."

"I am wearing a shift, Mr. Holmes."

"It doesn't make much of a difference," he replied.

I looked down at my chest. My shift was white therefore see-through when it was wet. "I'm not ashamed of my body, Mr. Holmes," I said in a matter of fact tone.

"Should you be?" he asked.

"Are you saying that I have an unattractive body?"

He flushed bright red. "No, no…I only…I…You have a very attractive body."

I raised my eyebrow. "My that was very tactful," I replied dryly.

"I am sorry Lady Evangeline. I didn't mean to embarrass you. Agh!" He winced and clutched his shoulder. He rotated it stiffly.

"You are injured Mr. Holmes," I said.

"It's nothing."

"It is clearly something." I pulled myself out of the pool, my shift clinging to my body. I went to Mr. Holmes and touched his shoulder. He winced again. "Your shoulder pains you. What happened?"

"The fencing match. More specifically the slap across the face you gave me."

"I am sorry, but you did bring it on yourself. You shouldn't have provoked me."

"Yes, I should have known better."

"Yes you should have." I stepped behind him. I began to remove his jacket. He flinched. "I'm not going to harm you. I just want to inspect your shoulder." He allowed me to remove his jacket. I touched his shoulder as gently as I could. He winced as I probed his shoulder. "You've pulled the muscles in your shoulder. Get in the water."

"What?!" he asked in shock.

"Take off your clothes and get in the water. The heat with loosen up your shoulder and ease the pain."

"Oh. Could you please avert your eyes?"

I sighed and turned my back on him in accordance with his wishes. "I never fancied you as a shy man, Mr. Holmes," I said.

"I am not a shy man, Lady Evangeline. Just undressing in front of a woman who I am not married to is hardly acceptable."

"So I suppose looking at a naked woman is acceptable. For twice now Mr. Sherlock Holmes you have seen me in nothing but my skin."

Mr. Holmes coughed and cleared his throat. A moment or so later I heard the sound of water splashing. "You may look now," Mr. Holmes said.

I turned around and found Mr. Holmes in the pool. The water came up to his abdomen. In the light of the moon, his pale white chest glowed softly, giving his an ethereal appearance. I walked slowly back to the edge of the pool. Instead of stepping in the pool, as was my initial response, I sat on the edge allowing my legs to dangle over the edge.

"Come here," I said. His body was apprehensive. "I won't hurt you. I promise."

"What insurances do I have?" he asked.

I unclasped the chain of my reliquary. Taking it from my neck, I tossed it to him. "That is your insurance."

He caught my reliquary and stared at it blankly. "Your native earth? You would give me the most precious thing in your possession."

"I'm not as cold as you seem to think I am. I truly want to help you with your shoulder."

He stood silent for a moment, before wadding over to the edge where I sat. He turned his back to me and I gently place by hands on shoulders. Digging my thumbs into his skin and muscle, I began to knead the stiffness away. My hands moved in small circles over his shoulders. As the muscles loosened I moved over to his neck and spine. Occasionally I would hear him moan softly as I found knots.

I sensed feelings within him, feelings that so many before him had felt. Arousal was a bittersweet mistress. It could bring you closer to the one you love, but it could also drive that same love away. While I sensed arousal from him, another feeling was rising within me. The Hunger.

I began to hear and smell his blood pounding through his veins. My eyes soon dilated and my vision blurred. I could clearly see the veins on his body. I bit my lower lip to try and suppress the feeling. It wasn't working. I had to feed and right here in front of me was a tasty morsel.

"He is here alone and so close," The Hunger told me.

"No I mustn't," my rational side said. "I gave him my word. He has my reliquary as an insurance."

"But I need the nourishment," I whispered softly aloud.

"What?" Mr. Holmes asked.

I took my hands away from his shoulders. "The Hunger is rising in me," I said. "You had better go before I hurt you."

Mr. Holmes turned around. He laid my reliquary next me and put his hands on my knees. My hands were folded in my lap. He took one of my hands and laid my sharp nails next to the skin on his wrist. With one swift movement, he sliced his wrist open. Warm blood rushed from his veins. He offered his wounded wrist to me.

"Drink," he ordered.

I slid into the pool and brought his wrist to my lips. A small amount of blood flowed down my throat. I took a deeper drink and he gasped. He wasn't in pain, but the arousal he had being feeling had increased ten fold. Soon my Hunger was satisfied. I licked his wound to stop the bleeding, my saliva forming a barrier to keep the infection out.

"Thank you," I said, wiping the blood from my lips.

"You are welcome."

"I must seem a monster to you, taking blood from you in such a fashion."

He brushed my hair from my face and tucked it behind my ear. "No, I don't see a monster. Before me I see a beautiful woman who has been much tried. I wish to get to know the woman who has a heart under so much cold."

I blinked. I had never known anyone, man or woman, who wanted to know me after they found out what I was. Is this why I didn't kill him before? I could do nothing but hang my head. Before I knew what I was doing, I buried my head in his chest and began to cry.

A pair of thin arms wrapped around me. A hand gently stroked my damp hair. "Why are you crying my lady?" Mr. Holmes asked in a gentle voice.

"Evangeline," I said through my tears.

"I beg your pardon?"

"You don't need to refer to me by my title. You may call me by my given name if you wish."

"Very well, Evangeline. But why do you weep?"

"For so many years people have only seen me as a monster. But you see me as a person. Why?"

"Because you were human once. I don't know how you came to be a vampire, but I deduce that it is a subject that you don't talk about with just anyone."

"That is very true. I hope that your friend Dr. Watson will forgiven my behavior when I didn't answer his question."

"You needn't worry about that. But we'd better get back to the house."

"Yes, the sun will be rising in an hour or so."

Mr. Holmes got out of the pool first. I turned away from him so that he might dress with privacy. When he finished, he reached down and helped me out of the water. He offered me the same privacy so that I might dress. When I finished, he offered me his arm and we walked back to the house together.

At Mr. Holmes' insistence, he escorted me to my chamber. Opening the door, I invited him in. He refused at first, but I had to speak with him about a very important and private matter. He accepted and followed me in.

"What do you need to speak to me about?" he asked.

"Mr. Holmes I have a very serious question to ask you. If you do not wish to agree to it I'll understand."

"What is you question?"

"Would you mind if I feed from you?"

"You want to make me one of your lovers?"

"If you wish to call it that, yes."

"What does being your lover involve?"

"It simply means that I come and feed from you every so often. Not every night, just some nights. But…"

"But what?"

"Perhaps you'd better sit." We both sat on my bed, before I continued. "The feeding process produces certain feelings that you no doubt experienced tonight. My feeding from you tonight, however, was a frenzy feeding born out of absolute necessity."

"How is it different from the normal feeding process?"

"Normally when it comes to feeding there is more sexual contact if you will. The feeding process is very closely connected to sex."

"Is it painful?" he asked. Sweat had begun to form on his brow.

"No. It is quite pleasurable in fact for both parties. But I'll let you think about this. It's a very big decision."

"Shall I give you my answer after sunset today?"

"Whenever you wish. I'm not going to rush you or pressure you into anything." I yawned. "Oh pardon me. I'm feeling very drowsy now. I should probably go to bed."

Mr. Holmes and I stood. I walked him to the door of my chamber. I opened it. "Good morning, Evangeline," he said.

"Good morning Mr. Holmes," I replied.

"You may call me Sherlock," he said, quietly.

He leaned down and gently brushed his lips against mine. It was a gentle, innocent kiss. As quickly as it his lips came, he drew them away and he disappeared into the dark hallway towards his own room. I went back into my own room and dress for bed. As I fell into my daylight sleep, my lips tingle still from his kiss. I could not help but fall asleep with a smile on my face.