*Chapter 19: Vampire Bride*
Shadow was awaken by the sounds from his bride. He looked down to see Maria moaning in her sleep. She is sweating. She is about to turn into a vampire soon. Shadow opened the coffin to let himself out and watch his bride twitch. Maria opened her mouth, and her fangs appear. Her muzzle turns pale. She opened her eyes to reveal her hungry ruby eyes.
"Maria..." Shadow whispered. Maria made a hissing sound as she sat up from the coffin. She is thirsty.
"I...I am...thirsty." Maria whispered. She got out of the coffin and try to look at herself in a mirror, but she doesn't have a reflection. She is a vampire. "Shadow...the mirror..." Maria gasped.
"We do not have reflections." Shadow told her. "Come. Let us hunt. The sun is gonna rise soon." Shadow took her by the hand. They walk out of their bed chambers. Maria can see in the dark as they walk through the dark hallway.
"I feel...strange." Maria said.
"I felt the same way many years ago, my dear." Shadow said with a smile. "You have much to learn. But tonight...we must prepare for a war."
"Antoine..." Maria whispered. "He will-"
"He will not." Shadow told her. "He will not take away lives. But he will be surprised to see you as my bride. A newborn vampire." Maria looked at her hands as hunger grows. But, something has worried her. Shadow knew what she is thinking. "You can control your bloodthirst around mortals." Shadow said. "Trust me, Maria."
"...I do." Maria said, cupping his face. Shadow kissed her.
"Well, good morning păsări iubitoare." The two vampires turned to see Sonic coming out. "How are you feeling, Maria?"
"Strange, but well." Maria said. She smells fresh blood coming from him, but she tried to control her urges. "What are you doing up this early?" She asked.
"I thought I could go to Nicole to bring back any protection or weapons for a fight." Sonic said.
"Sonic, since you are awake, tell the others we will be back before the sun rises." Shadow said. "And be careful. And for a love of god, bring a cross with you this time." Sonic took a cross out from under his shirt, smirking at the count. Shadow rolled his eyes a bit. He took Maria down the halls. Sonic smiled at the couple. He is happy for the count to finally have love in his life.
A deer is grazing in the grass. It was unaware that two vampires were watching. Maria watches the animal with hunger. She remembered what Shadow told her. Better to feed off of animals than mortals.
"One quick strike." Shadow whispered to his bride. Maria found her time to lunge at the deer. She pins it down and bit down the neck. The deer made a whimper sound. Shadow came out and watched the door slowly die. Maria drank the blood until she is full. She couldn't believe how fast she was. She could hear things from far away, smell blood, transform into a bat, and she will live on for many centuries.
Maria pulled away from the neck, gasping for air. Blood went down her neck. Shadow leaned over and lick it off. Maria blushed a bit.
"It tastes...sweet. Like when I first drank your blood..." Maria said.
"Vampires have different tastes." Shadow told her. "Blood can be a bit bitter." Maria got on her feet and turn to see a sun about to rise. "We must go back." Shadow said. But Maria didn't move. Shadow was wondering why she couldn't follow him. But he noticed her face. It looks sad. Her eyes turn back to sapphire when her hunger subsided. The black hedgehog came to her side with concern. "What is it?" Shadow asked.
"I know we can be out in the sun by wearing jewelry, but...I'm going to miss being out during daylight." Maria said.
"We can be awake during daylight, but it made us more tired." Shadow said. "Rouge wanted to be out during daylight to find new clothing. After all, her soulmate is Knuckles. We have allies who are mortals we can visit."
"That's the thing." Maria said. "My grandfather and Mighty are mortals. My grandfather didn't want to be a vampire so he won't have to worry about his sickness." Shadow took her hand.
"We cannot force him." He said. Maria wanted to cry, but remain strong. So, the two transform into bats and flew up in a twilight sky to return to the castle.
"My brides..." Antoine growled. "They betrayed me!" He punches the mirror. His fist bleeds. The doors opened to reveal Scourge and Fang. Antoine turned to them with anger in his eyes. "Well? Where is Lady Marianella?"
"She's..." Fang stopped and turn to Scourge. The green hedgehog gulped and look at his master.
"Lady Maria is...a vampire. A newborn." He said. Antoine felt his heart drop.
"...She is a WHAT?!"
"A vampire, Lord Antoine." Fang said. "Count Shadow is with her and...seems like they were married already, so Lady Maria could be a vampire. Now, you cannot marry her."
"The old hedgehog knows what you truly are, so what is the point of marrying the girl?" Scourge asked. Now Antoine is angry. He wanted revenge. He will kill Shadow. Including his allies, and his bride. Antoine form an evil smirk.
"No matter. Lady Marianella isn't the prize anymore. Since she is a vampire, she will have her heart stop beating. Same goes with her beloved grandfather. Count Shadow will be heartbroken, yet he will join her in death." He said. "Tonight, the Blood Moon will come and we will be unstoppable! Even I will be the strongest creature in the world!"
"But, how do we get inside the castle without invitation?" Fang asked.
"Oh, they will invite us in. We just need a few more vampires to join us." Antoine said. "They'd do anything for fresh blood." Scourge and Fang exchange glances, then at their master. Yet, they want to avenge Barker and Bean.
"Knuckles, are you sure this is a good idea?" One echidna asked after Knuckles knocked on the door of the castle. Knuckles knew that his team are nervous, but he trusts Shadow that the vampires will not harm them in every way possible. Not even Rouge. Vector came by Knuckles' side.
"In case things get out of control, we bring these up." He said, pulling out a cross from under his shirt. The door opened and there is Tails. The vampire hunters and Vector blinked at the young fox. "Tails? What're you doing here?" Vector asked.
"You all arrive just in time." Tails said, opening the door all the way. "Count Shadow is waiting down the main hall." Knuckles walked inside the castle with his group. Above the ceiling is Rouge, watching Knuckles with sorrow. She is afraid to confront him.
The vampire hunters walked in the lobby to see Shadow and Gerald. The black hedgehog turned around to see them.
"Thank you all for coming. I appreciate your help." Shadow said.
"You will when we win this war." Knuckles said. The other echidnas look around to see Honey, Blaze, and Espio come out. Mighty told the hunters to lower their weapons and crosses. Knuckles turned back to see Rouge slowly approach him. "Rouge." He said. The white bat looked at him with her aqua eyes. She looked like she wanted to cry. "I understand why you didn't want to tell me." Knuckles spoke. "But...Count Shadow told me you are different. You all never kill the innocents. You feed from animals."
"But...you are a vampire hunter. If I told you sooner...you'd kill me." Rouge whispered. Knuckles didn't say anything. He reached for her hand, but Rouge turned away to run down the halls to retire to her bedchamber.
"Don't worry about her." Silver spoke, coming out with a tray of refreshments. "Just make yourselves at him."
"You mortal?" One echidna asked. Silver nodded.
"We have some mortal friends who will aid us." Shadow said. "Now, let us prepare for the Blood Moon!"
XX
Maria puts the necklace on and walk over to the window where the sunlight shines through. Her hand went out to feel the warmth of the sun. She smiled. At least she will not burn.
'I am a vampire. It will take time for me to get used to, but...there is a fight coming tonight.' Maria thought to herself. She closes her eyes and prayed. Praying for her and her friends to win this war. And keep her grandfather safe. Maria opened her eyes as tears fall. Gerald is dying. If only he could let her bite him so he could be immortal. But he refused. And she cannot force him.
From the doorway, Rouge was watching Maria in silent. She could read her thoughts. Rouge thought about Knuckles. That made her wonder as well. Will they be together in the end? Will Rouge turn him into a vampire or not? Silver wanted Blaze to turn him into a vampire so they could be together for many more years to come, but Blaze refuses. Stupid rules.
"Rouge?" Silver's voice spoke. Rouge turned to Silver. The white bat walked away from the door so Maria wouldn't hear them. "Is Maria alright?" Silver asked.
"She's fine. But, Silver, we need to talk." Rouge said. She took him by the hand and lead him down the hall. "Be honest with me, Silver. Do you wish to become a vampire to be with Blaze?" She asked.
"Well, of course. And to help with the war." Silver said. "I tried to convince to turn me, but she refuses." Rouge stares at Silver's neck.
"I could turn you." She said. Silver's jaw dropped a bit. "I know what you are going to say. A vampire who loves a mortal alone must do it, but...it's a stupid law!" Rouge said. "Look at me! I'm in love with a vampire hunter. I can't bring myself to turn him either."
"Rouge, we must speak with the count or Blaze about this-"
"Do you wish to be with Blaze forever? You are not getting any younger." Rouge asked. Silver stared at her. Blaze wouldn't approve of this, but he wanted to be with her for all eternity. The white hedgehog sighed before answering. "Anything to be with my love." Silver said. "You have my permission." He revealed his neck. Rouge smells the blood and her eyes turn red. She grabbed his shoulder and brought her mouth over to his neck. She opened her mouth and brought her fangs down into his neck. Silver let out a groan as Rouge drinks his blood.
Maria watched in horror from the corner. She couldn't speak or use her thoughts of what she had just witnessed. Silver will become a vampire. But Blaze will never forgive Rouge if she found out.
