Chapter 8

Mary-Lynette was scared out of her mind. Her parents had agreed to allow the Redferns to change her into a vampire. However, she was sure it was only because of the possibility of it saving her life. If there was any other way to keep her alive, she was almost one hundred percent positive that they would have chosen it over the only current option.

It wasn't the fear of drinking Ash's blood that was worrying her at present – it was the fear of actually becoming a vampire. Mary-Lynette had drunk Rowan, Kestrel, and Jade's blood back when they first learned about the Night World. The sharing of the blood had made them blood sisters, and essentially made Mary-Lynette – and her brother Mark – part of the family. She and Ash had also exchanged blood the night Jeremy died.

"Mary-Lynette?" Rowan attempted to bring her back into the real world.

"Oh. Sorry." Her head turned towards her friends on the couch.

"Where do you want to do this? Or rather, who do you want to have do this, would be the better question."

Mary-Lynette gave her a look that seemed to say You're really asking me this?

"Ash, obviously," she announced, smiling warmly at him.

I was beginning to think you forgot about me, he said, chuckling to himself.

Well of course I wanted you to do it! Who else?

I dunno. I was thinking maybe you'd want Kestrel or someone to do it.

Mary-Lynette shot him a sarcastic glance.

Geez you can be an idiot sometimes, she told him with a smile on her face.

"Are we missing something?" Claudine asked, looking from Ash to Mary-Lynette.

"Soulmates can kind of communicate telepathically," Mary-Lynette explained.

Claudine simple nodded in acknowledgement. It was clear that all the things she had learned about the world she thought she knew was overwhelming.

"So where should we do this?" Ash asked, looking at Mary-Lynette.

"Ummm….. My room I guess. Doesn't really matter to me."

"You guys can do it down here." Mr. Carter spoke up. "I'm sort of curious to see how this exchanging blood thing works." He admitted.

"Suit yourself," Ash replied.

"Dad, it might look a bit gruesome," his daughter warned.

"It's okay Mare. I can handle myself."

Mr. Carter moved off the loveseat to provide his daughter and her soulmate a place to sit while performing the blood exchange. Claudine still sat there, looking as though she had been turned into a pale stone. Mr. Carter reached down and helped her up from the chair. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he led her over to where Ash had been sitting. Claudine dropped into the seat with an audible thud as Mary-Lynette and Ash sat down on the loveseat together.

Are you sure you're ready for this Mary-Lynette? Ash asked her, his mental voice lathered in concern.

Of course. My Dad is kind of expecting you to change me now anyways, she laughed.

Ash slowly began to lean in, first giving her a quick kiss on the lips despite her on-looking parents, then moving his head down to her neck.

The feel of Ash's teeth piercing her skin was precisely how Mary-Lynette remembered it – like a jelly-fish sting. Short with a brief period of pain. Then his mouth was on her neck, and she could feel his warmth slowly spreading throughout her body, bringing her closer to him. She stroked the back of his neck as she had the last time they exchanged blood. Their minds slowly melted together and they were one.

Mary-Lynette could feel his mind all around her. Just as she remembered, it was filled with every imaginable color. There was one difference, however. The dark abyssal-like places in his mind were fewer. Less numerous.

You have changed. She told him

I promised you a dragon, didn't I?

Mary-Lynette just allowed herself to fall deeper into his mind, surrounded by an ever-changing rainbow. Her thoughts flowed freely with Ash's. This was how it was supposed to be.

As Ash began to pull his mouth away from Mary-Lynette, she let out a low, deep moan. "I've gotta stop, love. I don't wanna take too much." He told her in a low voice that her parents wouldn't be able to hear.

"Your turn now."

She watched as Ash ran a fingernail along the base of his neck, just above his collarbone, opening a small wound which bled bright red. Mary-Lynette looked upon him in shock.

"I learned a little trick from my cousin James," was all he said before encouraging her to lower her head towards his neck. As soon as she tasted the blood, Mary-Lynette instantly wanted more of the wonderful taste – magic; as old as the stars. Once again, their minds melded together. Ash was as amazed by his soulmate's beautiful mind as he was the first time they exchanged blood. She was twilight blue and fiery red, all in the same person. She was everything he had ever wanted.

When Mary-Lynette finished drinking, she wiped the blood from her face, embarrassed when she remembered her onlookers. Looking up at Ash, she gave him a quick kiss.

"Thank you," she whispered quietly.

"Anytime."

Only then did Mary-Lynette and Ash dare to look out at the people watching them intently. Rowan, Kestral, Jade, and Mark looked bored. Claudine was as pale as ever. Mary-Lynette's father was wide-eyed. He continued to stare at them long after they exchange of blood had stopped.

"Dad?" Mary-Lynette asked, after an awkward silence hung in the air. "Are you alright? Ash and I are gonna take off. Is that okay with you?"

"Oh. Ya. I guess so." He said, coming out of his trance.

As the two got up to leave, Mary-Lynette's Dad caught her in a sudden, tight, bear-hug.

"I love you, Mare. Never forget that." He told her as he watched her leave the house with the cat-like boy.

A/N: Thanks again for reading. :) Figured I should finish this chapter and update quickly because you guys won't be getting another one until after Monday. Sorry. Feel free to review with any criticisms, ideas, feelings towards the characters/what's going on. Anything. Even flames only help me improve upon my writing skills.

Special Thanks to:

kinanbon x3: Thanks again for the wonderful reviews! :) I'm sorry I missed you last chapter; I had already posted when I got your review. I love hearing your thoughts. It's people like you who help inspire me to keep working away at the story. :D