Wow….27 reviews! You guys are so frikkin' awesome. I use all kinds of were animals in this, guys. You'll see plenty more later. Hope you guys like this.

While your lips are still red
By: BG
Chapter 8

Kiss…while your lips are still red,
While he's still silent…

(Daihmin's POV)

Night seemed to fall too quickly. I was still tired to really do anything. I knew what would fix that: A Donor. What a Donor was is someone, a human, who would willingly give their blood up to a vampire, as long as we didn't kill them or turn them. See, humans weren't always turned when we bit them. We're like snakes, we can choose when to inject "venom" when the need is required. But that could've taken me hours. An animal would have to do.
I turned to a bat again and went off to look for prey, and then…Caitlin. My sweet Caitlin…I missed her. I didn't forget to recognize the pain in my heart, it was still there, aching and hurting. I stumbled across a chicken farm, where all the hens were sleeping peacefully. I didn't need much, and it wouldn't hurt them until the morning. I picked out the biggest hen and flew to her foot. That accomplished, bit down softly, careful not to make the hen wake and see me to freak out and then deprive me of what I so ardently needed. I drank, fed, and then flew off. I didn't kill the hen, I couldn't. I'd probably need her for quite some time.
I screeched and became my giant bat form. I listened for any suspicious sounds and looked for anything that might lead me to Caitlin. As I flew high, something shiny caught my attention. I swooped down, changing to my regular form, and picked up the object in question: A silver dagger. I sniffed it and smiled. It smelled earthy, mixed with incense. It was Caitlin's.
"Don't worry Caitlin…I'm coming" I changed and flew off again, the ache inside dulling a little more.

(End of Daihmin's POV)

Things were nice with Angelicus. When I woke that day, the sun was bright, just as it had been before I was married to Daihmin. When I looked on my nightstand, I noticed that there was a tray of food for me and even a rose in a small vase for me. I wondered….
I ate the food gratefully, no meat, since Elves are by nature vegetarian. I was having some of the herbal tea when I heard Angelicus' voice sound from the doorway.
"Do you like it? Catriona really worked hard on this".
"She didn't have to. Oh no, Angelicus this is really sweet, but I couldn't possibly take food from you and your family-"
He raised a hand to quiet me. "My lady…we are your servants. We don't mind giving food to those who not only need it, but deserve it".
"Only because I'm a princess".
Angelicus smiled. "Not to me. You just deserve it for simply being…well, you".
I didn't know what to say to that. I blushed then looked away. But I could feel Angelicus' gaze on me.
"Well…is there anything you want to do today? My parents are letting me have a free day so I can spend time with you".
"Well, where exactly am I?"
"You're on the border between the Lands of Light and Darkness. We're the Shadow Border. It's what we call ourselves".
"Shadow Border….fitting".
"We're not too far from your home. I could escort you back".
"NO! Heaven's no…My father would send me right back to Daihmin".
"Do you even like being with him?"
I looked at him at last. "What?"
"Do you like being with him? Do you…do you love him?"
"I don't know. I mean, he's sweet…and he does try for me. He tries not to be a monster, but…it's the way of the vampire".
"You haven't accepted the Bite yet have you?"
I shook my head. "No. I can't. I don't love him entirely. I enjoy his company, just some things really bother me".
"Like?"
"He's cold, he's….he's too deeply interested in constant change".
Angelicus looked at me strangely and I laughed a little.
"He likes to change his hair and eye color every day".
"Oh…oh, I get it. Yeah…that probably gets annoying"
"Oh no, it's actually kind of delightful. It brings color to a lot of things. But I wonder sometimes what his real hair and eye color is".
"You mean you don't know?"
I shook my head again. "No…he doesn't want to show me".
"Maybe he's ashamed of something".
"But of what? He's beautiful"
"You think that about him? He's beautiful?"
"Of course he is".
"But do you not know what that beauty is primarily for?"
I did. Vampires were beautiful to attract potential prey. It was similar to how anglerfish used a light to attract prey. Only for them, it was much simpler. For Vampires, mind games were a must play in order to survive. They had to know the prey inside and out, sometimes play with emotions a bit. But then again, they lived for that. It was just a part of their nature. It was who they were.
Why couldn't I accept that about Daihmin? I mean…it wasn't his fault that he was a vampire. He never chose it. And I was sure he'd change that if he could. The lack of sunlight wasn't his fault either. I found myself feeling bad and ashamed from running away. He was probably worried sick about me or worse…I knew he loved me…the poor thing was probably heartbroken. The thought of him out there all alone made me want to cry. But I couldn't, not in front of this other one who cared so much for me.
"Caitlin….It'll be okay. You don't need to worry about him anymore. I'm here to help you get away from that. It's not fair that someone like you has to suffer at the hands of a tyrant".

"A tyrant?" I looked at him puzzledly.
"Yeah…My kind, the Lycanthropes, they're not safe from him. We didn't want to be a part of this war, we never did".
"That's terrible".
"It is…but Daihmin pushed us into it. He's human like that, greedy, power hungry. I can come up with quite a few things that define him" Angelicus paused, "Pride Slayer is no exception".
"Pride Slayer?"
"Caitlin….I know you're gonna find this hard to believe, but Daihmin and his vampires…they killed my biological family, my pride. I'm not say that to turn you against Daihmin, I'm saying it because it's something you deserve to know. If you don't believe me" he held his hands out for me, "You can check my memories".
I hadn't checked a person's memories in years, not that I'd forgotten how to do it, I was just really insecure about it. But I had to know if this was true. I took his hands, closed my eyes, and focused. Then, his memories came to light. I saw the fires, the burning grass homes, the slaying of all kinds of people. All of them were were-lions.
I couldn't believe it. This just couldn't be true. Daihmin would never do this…would he? My eyes watered with tears of both disappointment and pity. I was disappointed in Daihmin, but pitiful on Angelicus and his family.
"Don't you see now? Daihmin could just as easily choose to kill you. I couldn't let that happen to you".
"He'd never hurt me".
"That's what was promised of my people. And look what happened to them".
"I'm sorry about your family, Angelicus. But this is my husband, whether I love him or not. I have to stay with him".
"No you don't. You can stay here, with us, and be happy…stay with me, please. Caitlin…I love you".
What was I to say to that? Here was this victimized creature before me, telling me he loved me and meant it. What was I supposed to say to him? That I really did love Daihmin? Oh gods, did I really just think that?

Go back…go find him…he needs you.
"I can't…I can't leave Angelicus".
He's not your husband. He's not the one you love.
"But I don't love Daihmin either-"
You liar! You can't lie to me.
"Who or what are you?"
You've known me your whole life, Caitlin…I'm your heart. I know what you want. And what you want is to go back to Daihmin.
How could I lie to myself? I had nothing to say to that.
I know what you want. You wish to go back, to comfort him and his heart because it has broken because of what we have done. Go back. He needs you…he loves you.
I looked at Angelicus. "I'm sorry, dear friend…but I can't hide it anymore. I have to go back to him".
"He'll kill you".
"No he won't. I trust him".
Angelicus looked downcast and sighed. "If you wish…you may return to him tonight".
I leaned up and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Angelicus. I'll come back, I promise".
"Somehow….I doubt that" I could sense the bitterness in his voice.
"I'm sorry, Angelicus, but I have to go back to him".
"At least let me come with you".
"That's fine".
With that settled, I packed my few things again and we took off to search for my vampire husband….

Well, what'd you think of that, guys? Hope you liked it.