By the next morning the fire had burned itself out. The ashes littered the grate of the fire, their life essence extinguished. The sun shone through the blacked out window, casting an eerie shadowed light in the drawing room. Several items of clothing were strewn across the floor next to the dead fire. Serana's armour was in a heap on the chair. Stefan's armour had littered the surrounding area. The owners of these abandoned clothes were lying fast asleep on the fur rug. Stefan lay on the rug, Serana resting her head on his chest, laying on her side, with one hand on Stefan's face and the other around his waist.
Both of them were fast asleep, a throw from the couch had been commandeered as a makeshift blanket. Stefan lay with his arms around Serana. Serana's hair, usually neat and straight, was now messed up and lay tousled over his bare chest. She awoke slowly, she looked up to see her lover still fast asleep. She kissed his heart and rest her head on it, listening to it beating slowly. Serana lay with her head on his chest. It was so peaceful, listening to him sleeping deeply and feeling his heart beating. She had this wonderful feeling of ecstasy that she had never experienced before. She sighed happily and watched him sleeping.
Stefan stirred and he awoke slowly. He opened his eyes and looked down to see Serana watching him wake up. He smiled as he saw her. Serana beamed back at him as she rested her head on his chest. She felt his heart beat speed up as he saw her.
"It's beating fast again," she said happily.
He leaned down and attempted to kiss her hair. Serana moved and their lips met instead.
"Good morning Stefan," she said ecstatically.
"Good morning my Serana," he replied.
They lay in silence for a moment.
"How are you feeling?" asked Stefan. "Do you feel alright?"
"Yes," replied Serana smiling at him. "Never better."
She kissed him once again.
"Thank you," she said gratefully.
There was silence once more.
"How are you feeling?" asked Serana.
"Surreal," he replied smiling. "I woke up with a beautiful lady in my arms. I'm not sure if I'm dreaming."
Serana smiled to herself. He used the term 'lady' and not 'vampire'. He also used the term 'dreaming', whereas most mortals see the vampire as the stuff of nightmares. She scratched her fangs against his neck and pinched his waist firmly.
"How about now?"she asked playfully.
Stefan made a small noise of pain.
"Yes," he said as she pinched him. "It's real, it's real."
She beamed at him and they kissed once more. In one movement she had leapt onto him and straddled his waist. Her red eyes glowed mischievously as she looked into his deep brown ones.
He stroked her face and moved her tousled hair from her face.
"I'm the luckiest man in the world," he said looking into her eyes.
Serana beamed at him. He loved the way she smiled. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. Even though he knew it was real, he was unable to believe it. Just then, this tender moment was interrupted by a faint rumbling noise. Stefan looked down at his stomach. After not eating and all their amorous activities he was famished.
Serana looked down at the source of the rumbling noise. His stomach was empty. She giggled as his stomach rumbled again.
"Wait here my strong warrior," she said. "I'll be back with something to eat."
She kissed him passionately before she climbed off of him. Serana grabbed a throw from another couch and wrapped it around her naked lily white body.
She winked at him flirtingly and turned to leave. He watched her walk away, her long curtain of hair swaying as she walked. She reached the door, she opened it and looked back at it. She smiled at him and left the room, the door swaying on its hinges. Stefan sat on the fur rug, looking into the ashes of the dead fire. The book he was reading from last night caught his eye.
Immortal, living forever. He knew of course what this meant except he never really understood it. At least until now. Serana, he knew was immortal. No matter what happened she could never get old, never get sick and she could never die. He himself knew as a mortal he was susceptible to all of these things. Immortality was something all humans fantasised about. But every mortal, even Stefan himself, knows one day death would come for him and he would have to leave Serana alone in this world. Immortality was now a trait that he was willing to chase. The end of his days were not enough, he wanted Serana...forever. In this world of magic and alchemy, immortality couldn't impossible to obtain. There had to be a way. He needed to find a way to join her, in death.
The door opened once more and Serana stood in the doorway. The throw still wrapped tightly around her slender body. Her hair was still tousled but slightly tidier than before. She beamed at him as she saw him waiting for her. Her fangs exposed as she smiled. Stefan looked at his chosen bride. In the low light of the room, it was almost as if she was shimmering again. The weak sunlight played around her long hair, making it glow in the shadowy room. Her red eyes were bright with happiness as she slowly entered the room. A fully laden breakfast tray completed this vision of perfection.
She walked slowly towards him carefully carrying the tray on her petite hands. She placed on the rug in front of him. The tray was laden with Venison, various fruits, cheese and bread. There was also a jug of ale and two empty goblets. She sat next time and kissed him lovingly.
"Eat well my strong warrior," she said playfully.
"Thank you my ravishing Vampire," he replied smiling.
He leaned across the tray and pulled his iron dagger from his belt. He held his hand over an empty goblet.
"Let me," she said.
He looked over to her. She held out her hand for the dagger. He gave it to her. She held his hand steady and made an incision as gently as she could across the palm of his hand. She then suspended his bleeding hand over the goblet and brimmed it. She then cast a healing spell over his hand and the wound healed instantly. He was surprised, he didn't feel any pain like before.
"How did you do that?"he asked. "It was so painless."
Serana smiled at him. As a Vampire, she knew how to cut a human without causing pain.
She raised the goblet to her lips. She then gestured for him to eat.
"Eat," she said. "I think you need it."
She wasn't wrong. As he took the first bite and swallowed it. His mouth watered and he felt the food slide down his oesophagus. He was sure he could hear it clatter into his empty stomach. He ate hungrily, careful not to consume his meal too quickly, It was rude to eat too fast in front of a lady. Serana took a drink of his blood he had given her, then something occurred to him.
"Serana," he began as he swallowed. "My blood. What does it taste like?"
She looked at him puzzled.
"Blood I suppose," she replied.
"No," continued Stefan. "Let me rephrase the question. Does my food intake effect the blood you drink?"
She looked at him and thought about it for a moment.
"In a manner," she replied. "If I were drinking blood from someone who ate a lot of nutrient enriched food that it would certainly be more beneficial for me."
Stefan looked at the Venison he was eating. He then put it back on the plate and picked up some of the fruits.
"Why the concern?"she asked.
"I should eat better," he said.
Serana beamed at him. She loved how he always thought about her needs first. Even if it meant he sacrificed something, he would always make sure she would always get the best of everything.
"You're too sweet Stefan," she said kissing him on the cheek. "I don't mind what you eat, I will always be thankful you give me your blood."
He shook his head, his mouth full of red apple.
"No," he said. "I should eat better, for both of us. Only the best for my Serana."
She beamed at him and watching him eating hungrily. There was nothing to be said. They simply sat in silence. That was the mark of a good relationship, you are able to stay in the same room as your life partner and remain in complete silence with no awkwardness between them. The only sounds that could be heard were the sounds of Stefan eating and Serana drinking her goblet. She finished her goblet and turned to watch him eat. There was a slight look of expectancy in her eyes.
"Did you want some more?" he asked as he saw her looking at him.
"I can wait," she said as he devoured another apple. He refused to make her wait. He held out his hand.
"Go on," he said. "Take as much as you want."
Serana picked up the dagger, she raised it and then lowered it again.
"I can't," she said lowering the dagger.
"Why?"he asked.
"It's too much. It's not right,"she replied.
"Serana," he said firmly touching her face with his apple juice soaked hand. "Whatever you need, I am happy to provide."
He took the dagger from her hand, he then opened his other hand and filled her goblet once more, sealing it with the healing spell.
"Here," he said presenting it to her. "I think you need it too."
Serana beamed at him. The tips of her fangs could be seen from her top lip. His heart jolted, the sight of her fangs. There was something attractive about them.
She was so seductive as she sat on the rug drinking her goblet. The throw perfectly covered her body and her hair fell untidily upon it. Her shocking red lips stood out on her lily white skin. Her blood red eyes seemed to glow in the morning sunlight. Stefan watched her. Serana looked up from her goblet and noticed him watching her.
"Did you need something?"she asked her sultry voice echoing around the room.
He shook his head. She returned to her blood meal as he continued to watch her.