Hey there! Sorry for the long wait, but now it's here! Another chapter of Our Bloody Memories! Enjoy!!!
Summary, Rated, Warnings, Genres, Pairing and OC Profiles are in Chapter One if needed.
Disclaimer: StarlightAngel101, DOES NOT own Beyblade, and OCs that belong to any authors I mention along the chapters. StarlightAngel101 owns story plot, Jess (OC), and other OCs that belongs to me and mention along the chapters.
The Legend to Help You Read, is in the first 26 chapters. From now on then….the Chapter begins quickly!!!
Chapter Thirty
Preparations
"Today's preparation determines tomorrow's achievement."
"Now, with you mating someone young at your age, there would be restrictions," Boris said to Brooklyn.
After the big decision with Jess to agree to mate with Brooklyn, both of them were at Boris's study room, with Boris and Morgan.
The contract is ready for them to sign it, and that insists on writing in their own blood, to make a binding agreement. Boris and Morgan already sign the contract, and it's just them to write it to make it confirm.
"As she isn't able to travel for her age, you must not travel outside of Japan. You must be her escort if she done her training with Morgan for music and dance on the night she is supposed to attend. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir," Brooklyn responded.
"Before the signing can begin,"Morgan said, "the mating ceremony only happens when there is a new moon. Although we have not had any sightings for lycans for almost half a century, the ceremony only happens at that time. So according to the calendar… the next new moon will happen by June the seventh; two weeks from now. But before that we have a three-day preparation for you two to be purified as a tradition. So everything for the mating ceremony preparations begins on June fourth. I'll explain to Jess the details on her first day of training, the day after tomorrow."
"Is everything clear?"
"Yes," answered Brooklyn and Jess in unison.
"Very well, then..." Morgan looks to Boris. "I think it's official that they'll sign the contract now."
Boris went to his desk to open a drawer with two old-fashioned pens with nibs as tips. The nibs have sharp edges and he hands in of one each for Brooklyn and Jess.
"This contract will be signed by your blood, so simply prick your finger with the nib, and have enough blood to write your full name. Once you're done, dip the pens in this little jar of water." He shows them the little jar of clear liquid on the desk.
Brooklyn pricks his finger with the nib, as a bead of crimson blood appears. When the nib is filling with blood, he went over to the desk, and begins signing his name on the mating contract.
Jess feels nervous about this because of her being a virgin to have a powerful scent of blood. If she dares to prick it, would it be hard for Boris, and possibly Brooklyn to resist the sweet scent?
There's only one way to find out.
With the nib on her index finger, she presses the sharp edges of the nib into her skin. It pierces her flesh; a sting of pain went through her body. It is like getting a shot at the doctor's office. A bead of her own blood begins to form and flow in the nib of the pen.
The scent of her blood flows in the room. Boris had to resist and react as little as possible. Morgan could understand more of Brooklyn's and Jess's situation, someone was abusing her for her blood, as it rings that Jess is a virgin. Brooklyn smells her scent through her blood; he could handle it better than Boris. After being with her for some time, it was something her could handle, aside from times he forgets to feed.
Jess went to the contract lying on the table; she looks at the signatures of those who signed it. Boris, Morgan and Brooklyn, is the order that it went through. All of their signatures are in; their first and last names, all written in blood. Now it's her turn to write her name down.
With the nib on the line dotted for her, she writes her name down in hand writing.
Jessica Pacheco
Once she is done, she places the pen in the jar of water, now with a little company, letting the remains of their blood is mix in the water.
Jess observes her index finger. It has already healed.
She backs away from the desk and beside Brooklyn.
"So it is done," Boris said. He hands the contract to Morgan.
"I'll bring you a copy for records," Morgan said, "And I'll be leaving."
She walks out to the door, and before exiting out. "Jessica…"
"Yes," Jess responded.
"I'll see you the day after tomorrow. Go to the neutral grounds from where you have met me." Morgan than leaves, and continues to walk down the hallway.
"Now for you two," Boris said. Brooklyn and Jess look up to pay attention to him. "I want you to pack up your things before tomorrow night. By tomorrow, you'll be heading to the dorms of the mated couples, in which you are to be assigned to your headquarters, and sleep there for eternity. Is that understood?"
"Yes," both Brooklyn and Jess answered.
"Very well, you two are dismiss."
The Next Night…
The doors open wide, as Jess enters into a hallway. This hallway is something she never enters, as it is the dorms of those who were mated.
She carries three duffle bags, which contain all of her clothing, books, sketchbooks, accessories and her laptop. She'll no longer be able to sleep in the girls' dorm, but happy to be away from them after their jealousy and rampaging moment at last night's meeting.
She takes a few steps in, and then sees Brooklyn, carrying a big duffle bag that is hanging on his shoulders. He is with a female vampire with dirt-blond hair and brown eyes.
Brooklyn sees Jess, and smile without showing his teeth. He is glad that Jess finally came.
"You must be Jessica," the blond woman said, "My name is Heather. I was explaining to Brooklyn about giving you a tour of the dormitory before sending you two to your assigned room. Anyway, I too am mated with Maxwell, so I live here, and have been living here for almost a century.
"Now if you follow me, I'll show you around."
Heather starts to walk down the hall, and Brooklyn and Jess follow, carrying their stuff for the tour…
Ten Minutes Later…
Brooklyn and Jess have toured around almost the whole dorm, and now it was their room that they'll be living in.
The dorm is something that Jess may think is like the girls' and possibly the boys' dorm, and she is wrong of that. This also made sense to how there were rarely any mated couples in the lounger room near the entrance of the building. The dorm room had a little living room, with a few couches, a coffee table, carpeted floors, and a small fireplace. But today, the fireplace didn't have fire.
The bathrooms/shower rooms were in a soft mint-green color for the walls, and the tiles were white. Each shower stall is only use for one mated couple. In the center of the shower stalls insists on benches, hooks and cubbies. All of them are to be used for their clothing, towels (as they are given), and any other items; such as shampoos, brushes, blow-dryers, toothbrushes, and moisturizing creams.
Heather stops at one of the many paper doors in the hallway, and Brooklyn and Jess stop after her. It is to their guess that it's their room, and it is on the right side; three doors down from the "mated" living room. The dorm-rooms have about twenty rooms in total, but there weren't a lot of couples. Jess asks Heather during the tour about it, and she responds that it was because most weren't going to be tied down with someone with eternity, so mating is a rare event.
The vampires here and in Blood Trillium have some interesting vocabulary to label and describe certain things.
"This is your room that you'll be sleeping in for eternity" Heather explained. "So you can go in and unpack your things, and the rest of the time is up to you two. But remember of your conditions. As well other members can come in to visit, but to enter in your dorms is not acceptable, and an invasion of privacy. The lounge room can be use for those visits."
Heather then leaves to her dorm room, which is on the left side, seven doors down. Leaving Brooklyn and Jess to themselves.
Seeing Jess with those bags, Brooklyn slides the door open, and said, "Ladies first."
Jess smiles and said thank you to Brooklyn, before entering into the room, and Brooklyn went after her, and closes the door behind him.
Brooklyn and Jess were in daze to see the room.
It is bigger than the rooms that they have slept in.
The room has dark blue walls, with a set of windows on the opposite end of the wall, covered like the rest of the rooms with windows in black velvet curtains. The right side of the room there is a futon, not two, and it a big with sheets all made and ready. It is in between two bedside tables, both containing lamps and little drawers. Beside the windows on the left side is a Japanese screen, standing in a diagonal line, with 90 degree angles forming as stairs. The left side of the room includes a desk, with a chair; an empty candle holder is on top of the desk. There is a drawer, and a closet with a few more drawers; all made in dark burgundy wood.
When Jess sees the futon, nervousness crept on her. She is use to sharing a room with her sisters when she was little, but now she is sharing a room with a boy; her lover to be exact.
Her thoughts break off as Brooklyn opens the empty closet and drawers. His bag is next to him, but he looks at Jess, and asked, "Should we start unpacking?"
She simply nods, and went beside Brooklyn; she goes down to her knees, and opens her bags, along with Brooklyn. They remove all of their clothing, and in an organized manner, place their shirts, pants, sweaters, skirts and shorts, bras, underwear, and socks in a good respected order. Jess is a little embarrassed to show any of her bras and underwear to Brooklyn, or even seeing him placing his spare boxers in, next to her stuff.
Brooklyn's hand takes hold of Jess, and gently squeezes it. "It's okay Jess, it just me."
This made her feel better, that at least it isn't anyone else, well specifically a boy or a man seeing it.
Brooklyn couldn't believe this is happening to his own eyes. They would be together for eternity; it didn't matter of their ranks anymore. It didn't matter if they knew it is love that made them be together; to mate. As long as his promise his kept at his side of the bargain, and be with his love, it seems to be a happy ending to him and to Jess.
As the clothes were all neatly folded and hung in the closet and in the drawers. Jess then unpacks her laptop, books, and sketchbooks on the table in good order, with enough room for write anything using the desk.
Brooklyn takes a look at Jess organizing her sketchbooks, but it's how she does it that made him wonder. Before placing the sketchbook on top with the others, she would look through the pages to see her drawings. There were images of fantasy, nature, animals, people, landscapes and other objects. They varied in colors, shading techniques, and emphasis on certain amount of objects.
As she finishes scanning all the pages of the book, or till she is looking at a blank page, she places them neatly on top with the other, and went to the next one scanning all the images.
His eyes went on a certain image, as she is looking at it for some time. The picture he saw when he kept his eyes on Jess as she sleeps. This was when Jylz committed suicide months ago.
"Jess, do you know them?" he asked.
"Yes," she responded, "They are my parents."
"They are your parents? I never heard you talk about them…"
"The image I drew was a picture hung on the wall at my home in Canada. I was a few that my mom and dad were together…"
"Jess, there's sadness in your voice, did something happened?" He places his hands on her shoulders to feel his presence physically.
"About two years after my little sister was born, my mother past away. I was five at that time. My father then had to be the mother and the father of my family. Now twelve years later, I feel sad of not being able to see my dad or my sisters and brother. To me, it is as if they are…dead to me."
He could only respond by wrapping his arms around her small frame. She could only turn around and look at his eyes.
"I'm sorry…But you must have been strong to be a mother-less child and now with a family searching of your existence. The love within your family may be only memories, but love will never die. As long as you have the love of Eros, you'll never have to be alone."
"Brooklyn…Thank you."
The happiness in her complexion is shown to Brooklyn.
"I'll do anything to make you happy, my love."
They stare at each other for some time before Jess broke the silence. "I should finish sorting my sketchbooks."
Brooklyn lets go of Jess, as she turns around to finish organizing. He then sits on the futon, as he sees Jess's movements of her little job. His eyes look around the room once more, and then facing to see the futon's pillows and the wall.
It would be a major change in his life. He slept alone in his own room, and now Jess would be with him. When they both sleep together, and when Brooklyn opens his eyes to see her first thing in the night.
He then looks back at Jess, thinking of what he said to her a few moments ago. Something inside him, wanted to show Jess that he really means it. So, a thought hit him, and a sly smile spread across his face.
He gets himself off the futon, and step by step went behind Jess. The sounds of footsteps didn't echo to Jess's ears. Without realizing, Brooklyn's fingertips tickle Jess's sides, creating a sudden reaction for Jess to flinch and screech, "Nya!!!"
She covers her mouth, of embarrassment, as she hears Brooklyn chuckling. Jess turns around to see him, his shoulders shaking from the funny reaction.
"Brooklyn, stop that…" Jess said as she fully recovers from the tickling.
"Stop what?" he asked, being playful to her. "Oh, you mean this?" He then gently tickles on one side of Jess. Luckily Jess misses.
"Yes, that!"
Apparently, Jess has fall for Brooklyn's little mind trick. If she were to say, 'yes, so stop that' it would really mean stop. But since she say 'yes, that', the tickles would be given to her.
"Yes? Yes tickling…Okay."
He pulls Jess to him, by wrapping his arms around her waist, and the tickle fest begins. Her reactions went flinching, partial screaming, and begging him to stop. The begging part dies down soon, and she begins to laugh, almost laughing in joyful tears.
"Brooklyn, stop it! I am warning you…he-he… I mean it…he-he-he…Stop….he-ha-ha-ha!"
Brooklyn laughs with the playfulness of his teasing to stop. Both were laughing, as Jess is still on Brooklyn's grip. They both end up near the wall. Jess turns around; resting her back against it, as she looks at Brooklyn, a few giggles and laughter came, before she tries to breathe to calm down.
Brooklyn stares at Jess, and stares deep into her crystal-blue eyes.
Both of his arms let go of her waist, as one of his hand went to cup her cheek. He leans in to place his lips on her forehead; to a gentle kiss. He goes down to one of her cheeks, and places another kiss on her icy skin. Lastly, he pulls away to see her lips, and leans in to brush his lips against hers; his eyes closed in the soft kiss.
She responds by closing her eyes, her arms wrap around his neck, and returning the kiss to Brooklyn.
How long since they were able to kiss this way? It must been long for them to have the peace, and love each other without suspicions.
Without warning, Brooklyn breaks the kiss to pick Jess up bridal style. They both went back to where they left off, as Brooklyn carries her to the futon.
The Next Night…
It is not long, since the sun had already settled that Brooklyn and Jess finally wake up.
When their eyes open, they see each other first thing in the night, and greet each other before they kiss. It is the first time that they slept together under the same room; the same futon. It really was a soothing night for Jess and Brooklyn, as both of them were snuggled together in an embrace under the blankets.
Brooklyn strokes Jess's bare, pale arm, sending chills up her spine.
"How did you sleep Jess?" he asked.
She shifts her body so that her arm supported her upper half, with the pillow as the comforter. She wants to be under the same height with Brooklyn. The blanket rolls a bit to reveal her grey tank-top (A.N. – They did not have SEX!!...yet.). She stares at his eyes, before responding.
"Relaxing…"
She smiles at him, as she places her lips on his. Brooklyn responds to the kiss, and with one arm, wraps it around her, pulling her body to be on top of his. It lasts a few seconds before they pull apart, and Jess rests on his clothed chest.
"I fell asleep from your scent," she added. "Your scent smells like forest and the ocean; that is what I smell. I can only say that with me under your embrace, I had the most peaceful dreams, whenever you are around."
Something in her mind causes her to giggle.
"Jess, what's so funny?" Brooklyn asked.
"I just remember what Jylz has said to me about our relationship."
"And what is that?"
"Before he was gone, he told me that our relationship is similar to the story of Cinderella."
"Cinderella?"
"Yes, and this is what I laughed about. That it is a dream come true. They know about us being a couple, and how to them it is not okay for you; an heir to be with me who barely past a year as a vampire. However, with strings pulled out, we are able to be together for eternity, and to me it feels like a happy ending."
"Oh, I see. But I can see his point, and all I got to say is that I am too happy on how it went for the two of us."
He hugs her as she is still on top of him. The something hit him.
"Jess, are you suppose to go somewhere today?"
"Huh?"
She is confused at first to what he was talking about.
'I don't know what he means by that…I think…Oh yeah, how stupid of me!'
She quickly gets up, and off of Brooklyn and the futon, causing Brooklyn to lose her from his grasp. Jess hurries to the closet and drawers, finding clothes to wear tonight.
"I need to meet with Morgan today. She's going to help me out with the details of the mating ceremony and how it would take place, along with possibly my first training as her apprentice."
Finding the clothes that she decides to wear, she goes behind the Japanese screens. The clothes she intends to wear were place over the screen. She starts to strip down her pajamas.
Brooklyn had understood how she feels about getting dressed and undressed in front of the opposite sex.
Last night after their make-out session, dawn was coming and they agreed to get ready to sleep during the day. At first to Brooklyn it seems simple, but after he was done undoing his clothes (excluding the underwear) to put on his sleepwear, he noticed that Jess didn't remove her clothes an inch.
When he asked her, she responds that she had a few after-math effects from the abuse. One of them is undressing and dressing into her clothes. It made her feel insecure, even though told her he is the only one here, and no male would dare to touch her. So Brooklyn compromised, and told her that if she still feels uncomfortable that she can use the Japanese screens, and when she's ready then time will tell.
He could have gotten the hint from Jess feeling small when he removed his shirt for his pajamas in the first place.
His thoughts of what happened last night begin to break as he sees Jess no longer in her pajamas. She is wearing her casual outfit; a black halter turtle-neck top, and black pants. The shade of black made her look pale as peachy snow, and stands of her dark brown hair frame her face. Her eyes, had a gentle glow of crystals, and she haven't drink any blood today, so far.
Brooklyn gets up to reveal his shirt, as he runs his hand through his fire-color hair.
"Don't forget, to drink blood before you go," Brooklyn tells her, "Although you moved to the rank of Toddler, you still have some properties of being a fledgling. Drinking blood everyday is one of them."
"Don't worry," Jess said, as she kneels down beside Brooklyn. "I will."
Brooklyn leans in to give her one more kiss before she leaves. His hand caresses her cheek in a gentle manner.
Jess pulls back, and kisses Brooklyn's cheeks before leaving their room to meet with Morgan outside in the neutral territory.
Brooklyn then recalls Boris's words.
"You must be her escort if she is done her training with Morgan for music and dance on the night she is supposed to attend."
He reaches for his cell phone that lay on one of the bedside table, flipping it open and as sends a message to Jessica.
Hours Later…
Brooklyn leans against a lamppost, its light flickering on him like a spotlight. He stares at the building that Jess has been in for some time.
In the distance, he hears doors opening, and out comes Jess. Exiting out of the building, she heads down a small path leading her out of the building's perimeter.
Her eyes look around, and she sees Brooklyn. Happiness came to her in an instant.
Brooklyn walks towards her; she knows that it would be happening when she goes for her training with Morgan. Brooklyn to escort her back to Blood Trillium is part of the conditions since she can't use defense when she is alone and with her as an apprentice, it could foreshadow danger to her.
"How was the first training with Morgan?" Brooklyn asked.
"I didn't do any training," Jess replied, "All she did for today is to inform me on how the mating ceremony will go. As well, she made me watch the other female vampires do routines and performances of music and dance. Before I left, she told me that I have to inform you about it too… Can we head back to talk in detail?"
"Sure, it would not be a problem. Hop on my back."
Jess complies with Brooklyn words, as she got on his back. Her legs wrap around his waist, as her arms were around his neck in a loose grip. Brooklyn gets up from kneeling on the ground to his two feet, and quickly runs with Jess back to Blood Trillium.
The speed and the rush in Jess made her feel okay. She is now comfortable with this kind of transportation.
But there is something that Jess is hiding from Brooklyn that she didn't tell him. She isn't sure about saying it to him.
"Jess, aside from the music and dance, I want you to try out your skills in defense," Morgan said.
"But Morgan, I can't do that!" she exclaimed.
"Yes you can, but listen to me. I am going to put you through a test to see how well you can progress up to. Depending how far you can go, they may approve you to even practice it out. Do you want to see how well you can do Jess? You have the potential on being the next leader, so there is a chance you have the skills to defend yourself. So will you?"
Thoughts fill her mind of the possibilities to be able to learn defense. Possibly this can help her show them that a girl can do anything without limitations of being in a strained rank.
"Okay, I'll do it," she answered.
"Good," Morgan said, "So the next time you come here, you'll be test on how much you know about it. So a few days time, one of the members of Blood Trillium will let you know when you must come."
A Few Days Later
Brooklyn once again, waits for Jess at the neutral territory. She is in the building that she is under training with Morgan as an apprentice. It would be a long time till she is to become the leader of the females.
There would be so many things that would happen within the two weeks of time.
Before the ceremony would begin, he and Jess would be separated for the three-day process of purification. This would involve both Blood Trillium and Black Rose. It would be split into two groups; the males and the females so they would prepare the soon-to-be mated couple. Some of the purifications would be burning incense, purity baths, and drinking virgin blood.
On the day of the ceremony, they would then be dressed in the finest kimonos as a groom and bride, and the bride would carry the flowers that resemble their clan's name. For more information on the actual ceremony, it wasn't present, but Jess has explained that by the end, they would then carry a mark of their mating.
His ears perk up to the sound of the door opening, and out of the building is Jess. He notes from her appearance that depression is in her.
She sees Brooklyn. He is waving his hand, and giving a smile to Jess. But for how long will he smile to her… Till he knows what has happened to her in the building over an hour ago? Or longer?
"Hey there," he greeted, "How's the apprentice working for you?"
"Same as always," Jess responded, "Nothing didn't change- Can we go back now?"
Brooklyn nods, as he stretches out his hand to her. Jess accepts his hand, as they begin to walk away from the building. Today, they'll take their time and smell the roses. They would be back in Blood Trillium in three minutes with Brooklyn's speed, but walking would be admiring. It will be worth the twenty two minutes.
But something inside of Brooklyn keeps bugging him, as he ponders on why Jess is feeling the sense of depression on her.
Some things can come in mysterious ways…others in cliché when things are revealed.
Brooklyn is in the lobby of Blood Trillium, taking a sip some a cup of human blood to his pale lips. He sits alone at one of the few tables; his friends were gone for group hunting at a local night club not far from here. Even his love isn't here with him; it would have been helpful to keep him company.
He asked her about coming with him to the lobby for a cup of blood to drink. She declined his offer, saying she already had fed. Before he left her in their dorms, he saw her face to be still depressed like yesterday.
But why is she depressed?
He pulls the cup away from his lips, and places back on the table; the glass near him whenever he wants some more. The cup is caked in blood, and is slowly rolling down in the glass, blending in with the blood that is a quarter full in it.
Observing the area he is in, whispers of words came to some of the vampires' lips.
All that comes out of vampires these days were only gossip and rumors.
'Why do they care to hear and spread them around,' Brooklyn thought.
It is then that Brooklyn caught something in his ears.
"Do you think he'll dump her before the mating ceremony?"
Dump? Mating ceremony?
'Are they talking about me and Jess?'
He retrieves the cup, to silently drink, as he hears the next few whispers of the conversation.
The cold, dark-red blood flows through his lips and into the caverns of his mouth. He gulps the blood to his throat, as he could feel it go down to his stomach.
"He should. She has humiliated not only herself, but to the clan too. If I were the heir for that matter I would dumped her quickly."
"Yeah, a fledgling like her should learn that defense is only for us, who were trained. Like, what made her crazy to believe that she can use it for her age."
Defense?
Jess never mentioned defense to Brooklyn…
'So why was she using it in the first place?'
"Well, Morgan wanted to see it incase if she can be able to be in Senior Female class. Of course, you know the results."
"Before five minutes have past, the fledgling was unable to fight."
"She isn't able to fight, and unable to do many things before she reaches at a higher rank in many years to come. What was the point in her to become a vampire? She should have been dead than changed."
Those remarks, cross the line, when Brooklyn slams his glass cup on the table. Luckily the glass didn't break, and the sound of a clang-bang erupts throughout the room. The rumors and gossips die after that sound. No one dares spoke a word at all.
Brooklyn gets up from his seat, pulls the chair to tuck in with the table and walks away from the table and away from them.
He has to know… What happened to Jess when she was with Morgan the other night?
Many thoughts were cross firing in his mind. There is so much to think of from what was being heard from the past few minutes.
'What was the point?!' Brooklyn thought. 'There was a point for her to be changed and become a vampire! I did it to save her life; I did everything that none other vampire will do. Change someone for love, even with death as the person's fate.'
Jess is sitting on the futon, holding a pillow, as she stares into space.
She didn't dare go in the lobby today, or willing to come out in a few days. They will be talking about her; she knows it for a fact. Some of the female members in Blood Trillium saw the humiliation in their own eyes. She knows that they have spread the word among their fellow members.
They'll treat her with little to no respect for her, even as the next female leader among the females in vampirism. They'll treat her like the oriental and the Pakistani women, who were dishonoring their family. And possibly…Brooklyn…he may never want her. All of this would happen because she isn't perfect, like all vampires were now, and many, many years ago.
The sudden sound of a door sliding open, is heard in Jess's ear, as she looks up to see Brooklyn. She avoids his eyes, by turning her face away from him.
Brooklyn sees this, and notes that the gossip was true, but he wants to show her what he feels about this.
Closing the paper door, he walks towards Jess, and sits on the futon besides her.
"My love is there something wrong?" he asked. 'My love' was his expression to call Jess as a romantic nickname. The word pet name seems to make a person like a property, or a way to be treated like an animal.
"Did something happen the other night when you were with Morgan?"
"…Yes," Jess responded, "Looks like it spread like wild fire."
Brooklyn pulls her closer to him, with his arms wrapping around her waist. Her head rests on Brooklyn's torso.
"I have heard, some opinions on the aftermath of the event, in which upsets me. I never heard of the actual event. Can you tell me, what happened?"
"Morgan wanted me to see how well I can use defense. So she would put me with the senior females, instead of having a separate special class for me. A test was in place for me to see my progress…"
She sighs as she finishes her explanation. 'By the time I say it, Brooklyn would shun me like the others…'
"I faced one of the senior females with a whip, and I had to use a pretty long dagger. When the battle begin, the caught the dagger with the whip, and then grab me with it and threw me along the floor and walls. Morgan came in time to stop her, and I only saw disappointment in everyone, but Morgan's face. She was the only one to help me up, and told me that it was not my time to learn.
"I know that you are disappointed in me because of this, so I understand if you want to end it…"
Tears silently spill from her eyes, as she pulls away from Brooklyn. She covers her face with the pillow, as she cries and sobs.
Brooklyn reacts with a shock. Leave her? Just because she couldn't use defense first hand.
"I-I didn't want to let you down…I just want to show how perfect I can be for you, to love me."
Her mind went flips and gone crazy, as she doubts and question her assertiveness. Memories flood into her and she couldn't stand it anymore.
'Someone please end it all!' her mind screamed.
Is she thinking that all of this because she isn't perfect? Does she think that if she isn't perfect, that it means he wouldn't love her anymore?
Brooklyn leans it to wrap his arms around her, and pulling her closer to him. He isn't willing to let go of her from his hug, until he tells her a piece of his mind of all of this.
"Why would I do that my love?" he asked her.
She looks up to him disoriented. Her tears shed no more; only a few tear drops roll down her cheeks. His hand went up to her soft, pale cheek; his thumb wiping the few away from her. Her eyes gently widen of his reaction, as his hand remains in hold of her cheek.
Jess then notes of his eyes; they were gently glowing in emphasis; he must have already drink some blood. The emphasis or glow in a vampire's eyes indicates that they have already fed blood into their system. The glow would eventually fade, within a few minutes. However, the glow in his eyes seems mesmerizing in a beauty strong and complicated to explain.
"Never believe them at all. I am not that kind of guy to let you go, because of perfection. If any guy would do that to a fair maiden just because she isn't perfect, he is insensitive and a jerk.
"Ever since you have been here; in my arms, rumors were firing up. I hear them everyday, through their whispers of lies and insults. Some of them are very degrading. I did not care about those rumors from the beginning, so why believe them now?
"I don't care about their views on relationships with lower rank vampires than I. Nor how mating a fledgling would pull me down like a burden. I don't care on what others think… I will show them how much I don't care…with this-"
He closes in to feather his lips among hers in a kiss. It caught Jess off guard for Brooklyn to kiss her. It became more than a kiss, when Brooklyn's tongue passes her lips, exploring the caverns of her mouth. Her stomach went in flips and jumps; unlike one of her hellish nightmare experience, it is gentler and loving.
There were many ways to define the kiss Brooklyn gives to Jess. Tongue kissing… French-kiss… But to him one of them is suitable for this….Soul-kiss. And this is the first time he gives her this kind of kiss.
He leans down on her, as she co-operate with his actions, as they now lay on their futon. Brooklyn is on top of her, but maintaining his weight so he wouldn't crush her as much. Their legs entangle, their arms embracing, and they deepen the kiss to show their love.
A few seconds of exploring her mouth, he pulls his tongue away, and breaks the kiss. He looks at her eyes, as Jess is in amazement. They softly pant for breath from it, relaxing and taking time to be aware on what happened.
It is a short while later, Brooklyn begins to speak.
"I would never kiss another female human or vampire like this, just because they can do everything perfectly. I would never kiss you, unless you have your flaws that make you, Jess. I love you just the way you are; you are beautiful, unique, and perfect with your flaws, you are perfect to me."
Jess feels content of Brooklyn's words as they sooth her. Looking back at memory lane now she feels happier than before.
"I love you too…You are perfect just the way you are," she answered.
Brooklyn moves his body to lie down beside Jess. He turns his head to see her face, as he takes her hand into his.
Jess feels his hand touching her, but she focuses on his face; his eyes. The glow on his eyes fades away, returning his eyes to normal. But it didn't matter to how much it sparkles or glows; it is just the color of his eyes. It is a green-blue, the color of the ocean, and it was those eyes that she first saw, and fell in love with. These were the eyes of gentleness, and calmness; the eyes of Brooklyn Kingston, her love.
Brooklyn's eyes open slowly, as he first sees the ceiling of a room. He looks around by moving his head till he sees Jess sleeping.
Strands of her dark-brown hair were covering her face. Her hands clasp to his right hand that touches her cheek, as if his hand were to be a pillow. He then looks at Jess's body to see she is still in her clothes.
He looks down to his chest to see that he too, is still wearing his clothes.
Checking the time, with his left hand went into one of his pant's pocket to retrieve his cell-phone. Feeling it, he pulls it out and checks the time of the screen. It is getting close to 8:15pm.
It comes to him that they both accidentally fall asleep from where they were from the previous night. At least they got a few hours extra of sleep.
Jess wouldn't be awake soon, till the sun is fully set. This is an advantage for Brooklyn because for his age, he can be awake a few minutes before sunrise or sunset. And he'll sense it when the sun would be setting soon. So, he'll be spending the remaining minutes to stare at Jess while she sleeps.
Last night, it made him think pretty heavy about Jess using defense. It was insulting to what the members of Blood Trillium said about her; being useless if she can't use defense at all. They should be aware that they put that law into place, that a fledgling like Jess can't, at all learn or use defense.
But he had to agree on one thing… her defense was not skillful. It is evident she was against a group of those guys weeks ago; who tried to get their way on her. They have punched her, and bruised her, along with cuts on her face. When she defended herself from them, she barely made a bruise on them. She struggled to get out, but then he had come to save her before she was struck by a truck.
Without defense, it would be his duty to watch and protect Jess, by all means necessary. And if for some reason or possibility that she is harmed or…dead, he would be held accountable. Jess is depending on him to protect her in any way possibly; if she couldn't use defense…
…A thought hit him…
…But what if he teaches her to use defense. Its positive points would be simple: Jess would be able to learn a few skills to use defense whenever is necessary. She would gain some independency that she can take care of herself, and he could be there when there are emergencies.
There is also a slight of a problem. She can't use defense, after not having the progress to learn it or use it at all. As well, if he teaches her at a rank that she isn't supposed to, then certain vampires would be devastated or worse furious of him teaching a fledgling. It would not mean punishment for him but for her as well.
Brooklyn looks up at the ceiling as he thinks on an idea to deal with that problem…
Seconds fly by, and another thought hit him.
If he could teach defense to Jess in secret, then that would be no problem. As well to help out, he could tell her that she can only use defense, whenever is necessary. Now where should he teach her?
He begins to feel the sun fully set, indicating that all vampires can now roam in the night. A soft sound erupts as he turns to see Jess. She was stirring and moving in her sleep, getting ready to wake up. He eyes flutter openly, as she sees Brooklyn staring at her. She stretches out like a little kitten, getting her body to work with energy. It during her stretching that Brooklyn caught her off guard on what he asked of her.
"How would you like if I taught defense to you?"
The density of the wooded area in a park that vampires don't ever go to for hunting is the perfect place for him to teach Jess defense.
"This seems to be a perfect spot to start," Brooklyn said to Jess.
Although they didn't allow him to travel out of the country with or without Jess, it doesn't mean that he can't travel with her outside the city.
He is on a thick branch of a tree, about 12 feet from the ground. Jess is on his back; her arms holding on to him during the short distant traveling. As well he carries a "gym" bag, with a few things inside.
As he checks his hearing and sniff the air, he couldn't find any scent or hear anything that would interfere there night. Only the branches, and bushes rattle, and the smell of nature are what he could smell and hear.
Brooklyn checks the ground for a good spot to land, and once he found it to be safe, he jumps off the branch. He lands perfectly on two feet, before letting Jess to get off his back, so she too can place her feet on the soils of nature.
"So the first lesson of defense would be the basics," Brooklyn explained, "you'll be learning to punch and dodge. Unlike you training when you become a vampire, you dodge at times when you are physically involved with another vampire."
He bends down to his knees, and opens up the bag. Inside of the bag, there is a pair of boxing gloves, two small square mats with black Velcro straps, a thin blanket, two glasses and a wine bottle.
"What's with the wine bottle?" Jess asked.
"As a disguise," Brooklyn said, "It may look like its wine, but there's blood inside. I brought it with us for breaks. Here, put this on…"
He gives Jess the boxing gloves, and she puts them on, one hand at a time. By the time she finishes, Brooklyn places the bag near a tree, before putting on the small mats on his hand.
She understands what it supposes to be. They are to be punching bags for Jess to hit with them.
Both of them were in front of each other, in the center of their surroundings.
"Listen carefully," Brooklyn said, "I just want you to punch the mats, with your left hand first and then with your right hand. The mats will be still at first, but as you progress to be good enough, I'll be moving the mats. You must hit at least twenty times without missing it. After exceeding twenty hits, I will, at times try to hit you, but you must dodge them. Does it make sense?"
"Yes…"
"Then let's begin…"
Brooklyn positions himself by bending his knees slightly, and the mats away from his face. Jess responds to this by positioning herself; bending the knees at a certain angle, her right feet behind her left foot and her gloved hands ready to punch.
"…And go…"
On cue, Jess begins punching the mat on Brooklyn's left hand with her own left hand first. After making the punch, she pulls her left hand away, and then with her right hand, punches the mat on Brooklyn's right. The punches repeat a few times, left to right then to left and then right, and punch and return, then punch and return.
Brooklyn, after letting the mats take impact a few times, senses that Jess is good with the basic punching. Now it is time to make it tricky.
As Jess punches the right mat with her right hand, Brooklyn moves the mat on his left hand up; close to be above his head, and good height for Jess to be able to punch it. When Jess sees the hand movements Brooklyn is doing, Jess gets ready to over-head punch the mat.
She succeeds, and Brooklyn then lowers the right mat down to the exact measurement of his knees. As she punches the left mat, and sees the right mat went low, and gets ready for a punch with her right box-gloved hand into a tight fist.
The movements and the punching lasts a couple of minutes when she reaches to twenty consecutive hits.
"Now, Jess," Brooklyn said, as she punches the mat on his left hand. "It will be back to normal standard punching, but this time, if you see me about to strike you with a mat, try dodge without getting hit, ok?"
"Ok," Jess responds. She is beginning to breathe quick and heavy from throwing her arms around and the sudden body reactions.
"And… It starts now!"
Jess's training with Brooklyn went for just a week, to help her with the basics of defense. The first day, the punching techniques went fluently well for Jess. Hitting without any misses or any hits, when Brooklyn, with the mat gloves, tries to hit her for her the dodge.
The second and the third day involve techniques and basic skills of kicking. The basic skill to kick was easy, but when it came to the dodging and the old 'get caught in the middle of a kick', she needed improvement on.
By the fourth day, they did a combination of the two skills for defense, and went one on one for combat, with the gloves. Brooklyn didn't want to hit Jess too hard with normal fists as he was highly skilled in the area than her. However, he didn't make it easy for her to fight… and in the end; she was getting the hang of it.
On the fifth, they couldn't do any training, because several days ago, a tournament was being held that day. Brooklyn balanced the first few days of her training with his own for the tournament. As an heir, he must attend these tournaments. This was a lucky for Jess, because she would be able to see Brooklyn in action as she was in the rank of a Toddler. She remembered that Morgan and Boris allowed her to see tournaments and defense, but not to use or learn them at all. Brooklyn told her to keep an eye out and study the movements, and not yell anything for advice, she was allow to yell for cheer do it wouldn't be odd for anyone else.
The tournament was crazy for Jess, not on the fact Brooklyn won, but the fact of the female vampires screaming at him, like fan girls, particularly one of them fainting when he won. Jess was indeed worry about him, when he got injured in some of the matches, and at the end; he went to the recovery room to get bandaged and clean from the cuts and minor blood loss. By sunrise, Brooklyn was fully healed.
The sixth day, Jess learned on using weapons for defense, starting with the most common weapon, the sword. The swords were made of wood, for precautions of any serious injuries that can lead to suspicions and then the secret to know that Brooklyn was teaching her at a young age. After knowing how to use the swords, she went into the Bo-staffs, too made of wood and she learned through the techniques of using it.
The training, would be spend half a night, so that they would return to Blood Trillium before sunset, or be there after Brooklyn and Jess relax and drink some blood that they would carry every day for breaks. But a couple of them would last for almost the whole night. It was exhausting but worth the lessons and training that Jess has ever done…
The Night before the Three Days Mating Preparations Process…
"Where are we going?" asked Jess.
Today, Brooklyn told her that they are not going to do any training today, but instead head out. The problem is, where to? Both of them have been walking for ten minutes and were in a street with rarely anybody here.
"You'll see…" Brooklyn answered.
As they get deeper into the empty streets, Jess sees a few people huddle in a group. One of them is to be a woman in skimpy clothing; a prostitute. It must possibly be for business with a customer… Jess turns away from them as she sees what is in front of her and Brooklyn.
After a few turns, Brooklyn takes Jess into a dark alley.
"Brooklyn, what's going on?"
"We are almost there…"
Jess notices that at the end of the alley is a door. Made of steel and has some brown rust. There was a small screen window that is shut.
As they got to the door, Brooklyn knocks against the metal door, creating soft bangs.
Bang-Bang…
He pauses for a second…
Bang-Bang…
He pulls his hand away from the door and in a minute or two, the small screen window slide open. Black darkness is inside, but then a pair of red eyes appears in the screening. The eyes were a bit intimidating for Jess.
"State you're species," a dark hush voice answered.
Brooklyn said, "Vampire."
"Clan's name?"
"Blood Trillium."
The eyes were gone from the screen window and the blackness being close by the small metal panel. Then there her noises of locks and keys dangling and clicking, the metal rusty door opens to reveal the person behind it.
Jess stares in amazement of the person. He looks to be like a human, with tan skin and brown hair. But there are characteristics that made him, inhuman; the blood red eyes for instance, but it is his ears. His ears were long and pointy….
'He's an elf?!' She thought.
"Let me see your symbol to the clan…"
Brooklyn didn't hesitate to show the tattoo on his wrist as proof of his identity. Jess follows him to make the elf person know that she too belongs to the clan.
The elf looks at their tattoos, studying them for a few seconds. His eyes gaze at them and he answered, "You may go in."
He steps aside from the door, and with Brooklyn taking her hand, they both enter into the darkness.
When they enter inside, both Brooklyn and Jess got their eyes adjust to their surroundings. Their eyes, brighter and more detailed than an average human eye sight, sees walls made of stone blocks. The dark stoned hallway lead a set of stairs, and Brooklyn and Jess follow the pathway step by step down into the unknown.
The stairs didn't have many steps. And it spirals in a semi circle.
"Where are we going?" she asked again to Brooklyn.
"We are just about there," Brooklyn answered. His hand, unoccupied made the point fist, as his index finger shows the direction. When Jess looks at the way, she sees the end of the hall. But to her curiosity, there is light shining on a line. As well, she hears noises of some kind of talking, blabbing and bustling.
Where did the light and sound come from? Where does it lead to?
As they were close to the light, Brooklyn stops, and she did the same.
"I didn't want to tell you because I wanted to keep it as a surprise. But are you ready to figure out what is behind these dark walls?"
Jess nods.
Brooklyn then reaches out to touch the wall. But the wall is actually thick curtains; the colour of shadows. Taking hold into one of them, he pulls away the curtain to allow light to enter in the dark areas.
"Go in…"
As Jess goes in, her eyes then adjust to the light once more, and amazement came into her.
In the light lit by torches of strong fire, within walls that go up to twenty feet, and fifteen feet wide in her estimate, it is a marketplace.
"Wow…" Jess replied to all that is in front of her eyes.
Aside from the place to be fit in, she sees crowds of people. But these are not the average humans, but those who have blood of the supernatural!
They are those of vampires, dwarves, elves, witches, warlocks, wizards, neko-people, and… fairies?
All bustling in and out of stores, that goes row on row on both left and right sides. They are either going deeper into the paths, observing and buying items. There were different items that she knows and others that were a mystery.
Everything that is so big and wonderful can be fit into a small building underground.
"Welcome to Yokai Village of Shops," Brooklyn said, "A shopping area for the supernatural.
"We couldn't go into a regular one because there are many looking for you, Jess. And if you get caught, so many things will end in catastrophe. So, I thought I take you here for the first time, so that you can be here any time you wish. What do you think?"
"It's amazing Brooklyn," she turns around to comment. "But why are we here?"
"We are here to take a break from training. And I thought for a break that we can go shopping for some new stuff…"
"Really? But Brooklyn, I don't have any money…how can I-"
"From me," he answered. "I get rewards from the tournaments I attended, and done some odd jobs at my years. You can say I am getting paid by interest now. So you don't have to worry about it."
"Oh, you are so sweet…" she said as she hugs Brooklyn tightly.
"Now let's go, and shop."
Brooklyn takes Jess's hand as they head down to one of the shops down the marketplace…
"They strolled hand in hand back the way they had come, pausing now and then to share a kiss when no one was looking…"
Brooklyn and Jess have come back from the marketplace some hours ago. They have carry about three bags of items bought from the Yokai Village of Shops. Most of them were clothing for Jess, to set up summer's heating days and cooling nights and a dress for certain formal occasions. Brooklyn too bought of few buttoned shirts and pants. Other than clothes, they have too bought a sewing kit, for Jess to sew clothes whenever there are holes or rips, and a few books.
Now they are back at their room, on top of their futon, cuddled up and enjoying some time with one of the books.
Reading a romantic novel, and being in a bonding moment, seems to be perfect. A Whisper of Eternity by Amanda Ashley is the book that Brooklyn is reading, as Jess reads the words from the pages of the book.
After reading the final paragraph of chapter two from the book, Brooklyn shuts the book and places away from them.
"That was romantic," Jess commented. "Not just for the book, but the way we bonded."
"Indeed it did," Brooklyn said as he kisses her head. He sighs, in concern. "Tomorrow is the big day… We would be separated, along with the clan to be split into male and female…"
"The purification process, before the ceremony," Jess said. "And soon, we'll be together again, but this time to be as one permanently."
"It will be hard, because my nights to be with you seems to have enlighten my overall life. Without you to be there, and be the first when I open my eyes and see, it would feel like the old boring life I once had."
He looks at Jess, as he takes hold of her face with his hands. He leans in to give her a kiss on her lips. She wraps her arms around Brooklyn's neck, and returns his kiss.
Brooklyn pulls back, breaking the kiss and stares at Jess's eyes deeply.
"Everything about you is beautiful to me. Your personality…" He kisses the top of her head. "Your eyes…" He kisses her cheeks, close to her crystal-blue eyes. Brooklyn leans in to kiss her lips once more, but with passion that they now lay on the futon, with him on top of her.
Getting caught in the moment, Jess hands wonders through Brooklyn's body unbuttoning his shirt, revealing his abs and muscles of his torso. Reaching to the last button and undoing it, her hands glide to his back, unaware that she made a few rips and holes from her fingernails. Reaching to the collar of his shirt, she pulls it down to reveal his entire chest, and pulls it down to his elbows.
His arms let go of Jess, to shake off his shirt and toss it aside. Then his arms went back to take hold of her. Their legs, clothed in their pants entangle in the moment, and it getting to heat up. Brooklyn gives her a soul-kiss, his tongue passing her lips, and Jess accepting it; allowing him to explore her mouth, letting his soul to welcome in her body.
Brooklyn's hands went to the hem of her, tank-top; letting them go underneath. His hands crawl, feeling her cool skin. The touch through Brooklyn's fingers make Jess moan in a sense for Brooklyn to continue.
He continues to touch her skin, moving up more till he made contact with a soft material underneath her shirt; her bra. Feeling the bra, disappoint him, so his hands went down back to the hem of her top, and slowly begin to pull it up.
When the thought occur to him that they were taking their clothes off to get more intimate that before, his eyes shot open, breaking the kiss, pulling his body away from her.
"No," he said. He pants for breathe from the heating moment between them. His sees Jess on the futon, breathing slightly hard and fast from their interactions; her tank top was lift half-way to show her stomach. One of her hands is lay beside her head, as the other lay to its side down.
"Brooklyn is there something wrong?" she asked.
He is about to respond, when there were knocks at their door, and a voice calls out from the other side, "Brooklyn, are you in there?"
Brooklyn looks to see the door, and sees Jess in sight of fear to what if that person see the in their state.
"Hide in the covers, pretend you are asleep," Brooklyn whisper to her. Jess hurries to get into the futon; the blanket covering her whole body.
Brooklyn looks for the shirt that he was wearing tonight, and found it on the floor. Grabbing it and putting it on, without being aware of its state, he hurries to the door and slide it open to reveal Garland.
"Hi Garland," Brooklyn answered when he saw his face, "What are you doing here?"
"I came from Boris to inform you of tomorrow," he said. "He told me to let you know, that Morgan will be picking Jess and all of the female members at Blood Trillium for the purification process. As for the male members, we'll be arriving at a different location with the other male members of Black Rose…"
Garland pauses to look at Brooklyn; he has his shirt buttoned half-way up revealing his torso. It is then that he notes a few holes were on his shirt, and then he looks at their room, noting a big bump on the sheets. He didn't know what to say, that may sound awkward, but he took his time to say the next thing that comes out of his mouth.
"Is she here?"
"Yes, she's fast asleep. I'll tell her about it when she wakes up."
But looking at the moment, made Garland to think of a misjudging moment.
'I knew his would happen,' Garland thought. 'He has lifted up Jess like Superman and now in bed with her, I knew it, I knew it!'
"Okay, so I'll see you tomorrow Brooklyn?"
"You will."
Garland walks away from Brooklyn, as Brooklyn closes the door. He takes a deep breath and lets it go in relief.
"He gone, Jess," he said.
On cue, Jess, removes the covers, and props herself up to be sitting on the futon. Brooklyn too sits down, and both share a silence from the thoughts they have about what happened several minutes ago.
"Jess, what happened now…" Brooklyn said, "I am sorry for getting caught up in the moment. I didn't know that my actions would go that far."
"You don't have to be sorry. I too got off guard from it."
"I know, but I didn't want this to happen. Not now… I want it to be a special moment between us… Can I make another promise to you, love?"
"And what is it?" she asked.
"That we have our intimacy to be special, when it comes to the ceremony. Don't forget, I made a promise to make love to you after we would be bind in marriage. And with this ceremony, it involves binding as like a husband and wife, so it must be suitable to be characterized as a wedding. So you don't mind if we wait after the mating ceremony, to have it?"
She nods, and said, "Yes." She then pauses to look at Brooklyn for a moment. "Brooklyn, remind me afterwards that I need to mend your shirt."
"Why? Nothing is wrong with the shirt-… Oh," he said, after looking at his shirt. He now notices the holes on his shirt, and thought he made the right choice to stop from where they left off. Any closer, the shirt would look like rags worn by someone transforming into a lycan…
By the next night, after Brooklyn and Jessica were awake, they immediately get ready for the separation. They have to pack a few set of clothes for the nights that lay upon them. They couldn't bring their cell-phones, because no interactions or communications should take place for the two, as they are going to be purified, before the ceremony.
As they were all set, Morgan arrives to pick up Jess, and all of the females in Blood Trillium, to take them; along with all of the females in Black Rose to a location that could not be named, for cautions and avoid contact with all the male vampires at both clans.
Brooklyn stays with them, until they were all set to go to another location to unite with the Black Rose male members.
This is the first night of the three-day purification process; and the first step of it is to get the couple pure and ready. This consists of a bath that they have to be cleansing in to be pure physically, but spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.
The bath consists of a few things: Herbs of chamomile, rosemary, and bay must be put in a cloth or a muslin bag, once they are all in, it is tied up, and hangs from the faucet so that the bathwater runs through it. Salt is too put in; bath salts, can be in any scent, and it is use to energize with good energy. Thirdly, candles are lit around to allow the male and female to concentrate on it glow, to get rid of anything that is negative in them. And lastly, they must have petals of their clan's name in the water, thus the petals of Blood Trillium should be in the water for a half hour purifying process. Both the male and female must be soaking in the waters, and that includes their hair.
During the three-day process two things are a mandatory for the male and female that would soon be mated. The first one is that they must drink a specific type of blood; virgin blood, as it is use to cleanse their insides. The second one is during the times that they sleep during the day. They must be sleeping with burning incense, so the smell can go through them to give them relaxation and deter nightmares.
The second night both the two sides, on separate occasions went to the Yokai Village of Shops to get the outfits on the night of the ceremony. They must wear kimonos as part of the Japanese culture for old traditions of the outfits for the bride, groom, and those involved to help with. The bride and groom must wear the customary colors of white and black, but as well have a design symbol of their clan's name. As for the guests and other vampires, they wear light color kimonos for the spring's heat, unless they prefer dark colors, and must not wear any black. Accessories are involve as well, especially for the bride to wear a veil, and a bouquet of flowers; too to be symbolize of their clan's name.
During the second day, they demonstrate on how the mating ceremony would work, and went through it a few times for Jess and Brooklyn.
On the third day, the male and female of the mated will go into the purification baths once more, but this time to be cleansing with burning incense in the room. This would last half hour as before.
Since it is the last day, both sides have created a celebration party; a bachelor and a bachelorette party.
Those who were with Brooklyn celebrated with dinner. Drinking blood; virgin blood for Brooklyn, alcohol, and a traditional baseball game in a field far away from the city (A/N: I know, it's sooo Twilight cliché, but I liked the idea and it's one of a few things a bachelor's party can do without the strippers LMAO!!), and that night was suitable by the thunderstorm coming, without the showers.
For the female vampires who were with Jess they too celebrated with dinner, and then to a play at a private theatre. After that was over, they went back to their location to have a spa, hiring some vampires that help out with spa treatments.
All these activities before the big night arrives…
After the huge ball game with friendly competition, Brooklyn and all of the male vampires in Blood Trillium and Black Rose celebrate with blood and alcohol to drink.
Music is blaring in the rooms, as they all talk and drink from their cups, blood and alcohol.
A toast has made a while ago, for Brooklyn as he is entering the mating-hood of vampirism.
As they were enjoying the moment, Brooklyn gazes at one of the many windows in the room he is in. The night sky is filling with clouds of thunder and lightning. The cityscape of Tokyo is dark and gloomy in the weather.
Somewhere out there, his love is there getting read for the ceremony tomorrow night.
'Don't worry Jess,' he thought, 'I will see you soon. We will be together again…for eternity, and as one.'
He looks down at the cup he is carrying. It is filled with virgin blood, as part of the mandatory requirements for him to be purified. It is also too mixed with a shot of alcohol, like almost everyone else. Most of the male vampires are at or over the age of becoming an adult in both human and vampire. It would be almost the same with the female vampires, but only one couldn't drink the alcohol in her human years; as she is seventeen, and vampire years…for now; by becoming a rank of a young adult, she would be able to drink simple fluids, but it would be in over a century before that happens.
Brooklyn takes a sip of the mixing blood and alcohol to his lips and drinks a small amount. He rarely drinks alcohol since he became a young adult. He would only drink one glass for emergencies, when a prey is hard to get.
As he lowers the cup from his lips a voice of an old man appears.
"It's been ages since I have seen, Young Brooklyn."
Brooklyn turns around to see the elder of the Black Rose, Voltaire. He couldn't disagree with him. The last time he has seen Voltaire was on the night of executing a…
"But you are no longer young. You are becoming for of a true man; a man of power, wits, and the heir to your clan's name. And now, mating to the lucky female that will soon become the leader of the females… a powerful couple I may say so."
…is it possible?
"Yes sir." He bows slightly to Voltaire in respect. Just because he's the elder of the clan that has been feuding with Blood Trillium for over two centuries, does not mean he must be treated as an enemy when a celebration uniting the clans is to bring peace and harmony like the old times.
"You don't have to bow at me," Voltaire said. "Today is a celebration for you. You are the guest of honor to mate tomorrow night."
He then places a hand on Brooklyn's shoulder.
"But you are a very obedient and excellent member of Blood Trillium. I would have had you to be my heir, but I already choose him. Unlike Boris's way, I only give my blood to the heir; meaning the one that was changed by me would become the leader. That boy is Kai…
"Even though the events in the past made him exiled himself from the clan, he can't deny becoming the next ruler. And it was a good thing he hadn't killed himself, or even gone insane…"
"What happened to Kai anyway?" Brooklyn asked.
"He's in a sister clan of ours in Russia," he answered, "It's such a shame he is not here to celebrate for you this wonderful night. You two could have caught up, just like the old days…"
Brooklyn looks at Voltaire in shock.
'Did he know about Kai and I and our competitions and bonding?' Brooklyn thought.
"Well I have to be leaving," he stated, "but before I do, here are a couple of advices for you to take in consideration. Get lots of sleep, because tomorrow's the big day. And lastly, who ever the one you mate protect her… Protect her like if she is your heart's greatest treasure…"
The females are doing the exact thing that the male vampires are doing. They are celebrating with loud music, blood mix in alcohol, spa treatments, and socializing. This night is a fun night, before the actual ceremony begins.
It is four in the morning. The sun would be rising in a couple of hours. Then after 12 hours or so, the ceremony will happen.
Jess feels nervous by the second, as time ticks to tonight. A cup of virgin blood lay in her hands, half-full. No alcohol is mix in the drink, unlike the others because she is not old enough to drink it. As well Morgan thought it would taint the purification if there is a single drop.
She and Morgan are in the sleeping quarters alone. They were in a hotel, created by vampires. No humans were here this night, as the hotel is throwing a "royalty, wedding preparations for the bride-to-be", mainly for Jess.
Jess sat on the bed; her legs over the edge, the same bed she was sleeping in for the past few days. It has been too long since she ever slept in a comfortable bed, the first time, she fell asleep instantly.
Morgan is kneeling on the bed too, but she is brushing Jess's dark-brown hair in gentle strokes to give it a silky smooth result. It would be Jess's time to sleep soon, so that is why Jess is wearing the sleepwear Morgan insisted her to sleep in. It is a satin silk, décolleté, spaghetti strap, ankle-length, white night gown.
Jess drinks the remainder of the virgin blood into her mouth with several small sips. Once done, she places the empty, but bloody glass on the bedside table.
"How are you feeling, Jess?" Morgan asked, "Because tonight is something that would change you life."
"Nervous," Jess whispered, but she knows that Morgan could hear her answer. She didn't know what to say after that, she will be mated to Brooklyn, but there were butterflies in her stomach.
"Do not worry. You did a good job when we recited on what you do during the mating ceremony. Some of those mated were nervous too, but they overcome it afterwards, even I too surpass the jittery uncomfortable moments."
"You were mated?"
"Indeed, I mated to Voltaire the elder of Black Rose, and you'll be seeing him soon enough. Didn't I tell you about being mated?"
"I-I think I don't recall."
Morgan continues to brush her hair. Jess went in deep thoughts, as she feels her hair gently pull away from her and then let go from the small teeth of the hair brush.
"Morgan, can I ask you something?"
"What is it dear? You can ask anything you want. Is it about the mating ceremony?"
"Yes," she pauses before continuing, "What advices could you give to a female right now, when she is officially mated to a male?"
"There are several I can give to help out," Morgan answered, "For one thing, honor the one you mated. Have good communications to prevent conflicts in agreements. Once the ceremony's done, get use to the emotions that are mixing in you. Some are not technically yours, as now you can sense your mating partner's emotions. And just for you personally, you'll be closer to him than ever before…"
Within a few strokes of brushing Jess's hair, Morgan stops, and puts the brush away.
"It's time for you to sleep now, the day is approaching. Sleep well, and do remember my advice. Pleasant dreams, little one…"
Morgan gracefully, skips away from Jess, and out of the room, leaving Jess all alone.
Jess gets off the bed, to pull the covers up, and once again went on the bed, but this time with the blankets covering her up to her stomach. Her head rests on one of the few pillows, soft and her head sinks slowly before halting. Trying to sleep, Jess reflects on the advice given to her, and the feeling of being anxious still creeps in her. Once she sleeps and wakes up, there's no turning back.
The preparations given to her these days are to determine tomorrow's achievement…
Done at last!!!!! Sorry for the long wait, but it was due to the Easter weekend, and school related activities. I wish for all of you to review and stay tuned for the next chapter.
Till the next update,
StarlightAngel101
Chapter 31 – Closer: Hints Hints
The mating ceremony takes place, along with the ever love scene between Brooklyn and Jess. The scene that bodies and souls entangle in the love dance to become one flesh and one soul…