Jacob knocked on the door of his own cabin. I made him wait a few moments so that April could get completely dressed before we let him in.
I immediately began questioning him about my belongings being tampered with, I demanded to know why.
He denied any involvement and attested that he speak to Russell on his pack's behalf. I knew he would do so anyway, so I agreed.
He or someone from his pack tried to find my confidential paperwork. Jacob nor his pack are to be trusted.
The trip back to Mississippi was wonderful. April was the perfect travel companion, this was her first time on a train and she sincerely enjoyed the sights. She watched over my coffin during the day and I protected her at night.
At the mansion Talbot, the King's, Greek, six hundred-year-old lovers, was at the entrance and greeted us with his usual braggart way.
"What do we have here, two lovely guests and Franklin", he said as he examined my April.
April bowed; she thought Talbot was the King. Talbot grinned from ear to ear; he was already impressed by her. I quickly told April he was the King's companion and nothing more.
Talbot rolled his eyes as he beckoned Russell. The two-thousand-year-old king approached and greeted April first. Russell took notice of the sheer joy in my eyes; she was a lady, composed, beautiful and regal.
April bowed again. She wanted so to display even though she was born a slave, she had class, manners, and could handle herself in any situation.
"It is an honor to be in your grace, King Russell Edgington."
"Why thank you, young lady. Please allow my dear Talbot to show you our home, you are welcomed to stay as our guest if you so choose."
April nodded and smiled. Through our bond, I could feel that she was truly happy to be here with me. Jacob was escorted to a room by one of the guards; I knew Russell would converse with him about us later on in private.
April watched Talbot as he prepared a beautiful floral display for the King, April offered to assist, but Talbot refused.
"Sit down dear, you are a guest."
She did so and he sat down beside her. He asked her about how she and I met and what our plans were. April was cunning, she only told him what she felt he needed to know. He went on to belittle me as much as possible. April could sense he was jealous, but could not figure out why; his actions reminded her of Rebecca in many ways.
Meanwhile...Russell and I talked some business and afterward discussed the next book we would be reading. We had sort of a book club, between the two of us. We were almost finished with the Holmes collection. After a friendly debate, we settled on A Tale of Two Cities.
I gave him a full summary of my findings of the Georgia pack and obtained all the land deeds he had sent me to acquire.
"Good job Franklin." His approval of my work gave me some gratification. I felt indebted to provide the best work I could provide.
"Did you run into any trouble?"
He asked and I knew he was asking because he wanted to know if I'd done something to someone and not the other way around. Sometimes I did manage to stir up a little mischief here and there, nothing the King and I could not sweep under the rug.
"No sir, but, I'm sure you don't fully trust Jacob and his father. From what I gathered, I know they don't trust you. While I was out, I believe one of them tried to go through my things to see if they could find out any information on our project."
"I'm sure they did not succeed Franklin," Russell said as he blew smoke from his wooden pipe.
"Of course not, I know how to place things where they will never be found."
I inform him of my plans with April. I wanted to get that out of the way so if there was any problem I could prepare for it. He pretended to be pleased, but I could tell he had some trepidation about me being too distracted by her.
I went on and assured him, that would not happen and my work was still a priority. One of them anyway, I knew I was fully capable of giving my all to both my work and my April.
"Well, I 'm sure you want to get back to April, now I have some business to discuss with Jacob, have one of the servants send for him. Your work is done for now."
That was music to my ears. I wanted to have my servant get my doll fitted for new gowns right away.
The King and Talbot insisted that April and I stay with them upon hearing the news of our engagement. I had proposed to April in front of the King, Talbot, a handful of servants and guards. She was taken aback by the size and beauty of the ring I presented to her.
Large clear tears filled her doe eyes and rolled down her sculptured cheek. She delightfully accepted. The next night while she and Talbot entertained guests, I went out in search of some potential homes for my future bride and me to reside in after the wedding.
April and I set a date after her twenty-fifth birthday in less than six months. Talbot made all the arrangements and invited several vampires. He and April had grown quite close over the past few months. She began to understand that Talbot and I are like brothers who are polar opposites. The only thing we have in common is our loyalty to the King. When Russell and I were away on business, the two would carry on like two housewives awaiting their husband's return.
April said goodbye to the sun that day and that night my dark angel gracefully walked down the stairs in her white gown. If I had a heartbeat, I surely would have skipped several beats, the air left the room as she strolled down the staircase in all her glory. That was her night, and everyone in the room was fortunate to have the honor of sharing it with us.
We entered the beautifully decorated room, adorned with candles, and silk laced pillars. The flora covered alter was so magnificent, it brought tears to April's eyes. I knew April had some part in preparing for our wedding because the room was filled with several bouquets of lilacs, lavenders, white roses, and purple orchids.
The newly appointed Magistrate awaited us by that splendid alter, April and I slowly walk toward him. Her eyes were full of those fascinating human tears. She was smiling radiantly; tears of joy streamed her face. After the Magistrate recited our vows, it was time for me to turn her.
She took a deep breath and kissed me. She knew this would excite me and cause my fangs to emerge without effort. And to my delight, she kissed them too. I leaned in and bit into her neck with surgical precision and quickly drank, draining her of life.
I gaze at my human treasure for a moment until her pulse was almost entirely gone. I was the air that inhabited her. I bit into my wrist and held my dripping wound over her lovely lips. With the little strength left in her, she weakly opened her mouth, her lips slightly parting to receive my blood.
She feebly gulped and swallowed as the vampires in the room cheered and toasted to the newly welcomed vampire. I carried her to our freshly dug graves in the back and waited for my love to be reborn.
That night, I awoke feeling refreshed like I too had been reborn. My bride had her back turned to me and facing the vanity mirror. It looked like she was examining her fangs, something all-new vampires did. I called her name and she quickly turned to me. Just when I thought she couldn't get any more beautiful she achieved just that.
Dressed in a red nightgown, my lower body became rigid at the sight of her pert breast straining against the fabric. Her coal lined eyes are filled with desire; she licked her maroon-colored lips in anticipation and seductively walked over to me. She climbed on top of me, her mound pressed firmly against my erection; I looked up at her, worshiping her.
Several Decades Later...
One night Russell and I returned to Jackson after an important business engagement. That was when I happened to stumble upon the perfect home for April and me. That night I showed Russell and he agreed that the ranch styled home just outside of Jackson would be a perfect place for April and I to begin our life together. When I returned to the mansion I told April all about it. She was excited after she kissed and hugged me she ran downstairs to tell Talbot. Talbot was happy for April, but it was obvious that he would miss her. He liked her as a human but loved her as a vampire. He suggested that he should help April decorate and furnish the home and until our home was ready, we should remain at the mansion. Even though I was not happy about that idea, April seemed to love it.
"That is a great idea, thank you, Sir Talbot." She hugged him. "We'll get started right away!"
"Yes, just great." I crossed my arms; Talbot knew he was irritating me.
I was ready to go to our home; I didn't care if it was half empty. I had to put my foot down when Talbot suggested that he go with us to pick out some furniture.
"You've helped quite enough Talbot, now buggar off."
"Fine," He pouted. "April, when you are ready to buy curtains let me know, there is a place in New Orleans that imports the finest of curtains from Italy and France."
"Of course I will Talbot," April cheerfully agreed.
We celebrated that night with a few of Talbot's willing humans. But I had a taste for something stronger. I needed an adventure so I went riding around the area where April and I were moving too. A few fields away, I found a couple of Klan members terrorizing a teenage boy.
The kid was screaming as they were yelling slurs while beating him with various blunt objects. I felt I did a good deed when I told the boy to run for his life and ripped his two tormentors apart, my reward was feasting on the blood of the savage beast. I loved making the predator my prey. One of their hearts was still beating when I bit into it.
I returned home that night to April staring at a painting while hand stitching a table cloth for our new home.
"Next time bring some leftovers home for me." She winked as I went into the bath to get cleaned up.
The next week we traveled overseas. We shopped and saw the sites. First, there was Paris, then Rome, and finally to my original home in London where we visited the graves of my family. Three months after that we finally moved into our home.
Unbeknownst to Russell and perhaps April, I had a trusted vampire acquaintance by the name of William keep an eye on the whereabouts of Angelica. Even though several years had passed I still got word of her interest in me.
To someone as obsessive as Angelica, I knew that I would always be the one who got away and she could never let that res.t even though I had received a pardon from the Magistrate himself. I contacted William before I was to go to New York for a week, I always did that to make sure Angelica was far away from April and me.
William told me that Angelica was in London. I found that curious, Angelica did not care for London, but I foolishly never-minded it. As long as the heifer was not in America, I was content.
My time in New York seemed to go by slowly and I longed to be home with my wife. When I finally returned to Jackson, I could not escape the feeling that something was wrong. I felt April was distressed, but she was trying her best to suppress it. I made haste to my home and as I stepped onto my porch I could smell a stench and it made my stomach turn.