More to Learn

Vicki's lessons started as soon as they woke up and continue while Henry drove across the continent and not stopping until they found their next safe place arranged by Augustus. Traveling across country also gave them time to learn the give and take necessary for couples to live together. At sunset Vicki always woke up first and at dawn she'd drop like a stone in a pond while Henry was able to remain awake for a few extra minutes. He used the time to think about what he needed to teach her the coming night.

As she took her first deep breath of the evening she became aware of Henry at her side. She rolled closer so she could put her head on his arm and wait for him.

His arm moved and she said, "Ah, you're awake," and rubbed her chin up and down like a cat looking for a head scratch. Henry obliged by reaching over and messing up her hair.

"For another night."

"You don't sound happy about that."

"I'm happy. By midnight tonight we'll find the house Augustus arranged for us to use for the next year."

A week of practice had them packed and on the road within fifteen minutes but he slowed and passed the highway entrance ramp and said, "I saw a book store when we got off this morning and I want to check and see if they carry my books. I had a new release scheduled the same week Mike died."

"You're driving, your choice."

"Are we going to fight about my driving again?"

With a sarcastic tone she said, "No. Of course not. The fact you drive like an old woman and you NEVER let me drive doesn't upset me in the least. No. I won't bring any of that up."

Henry allowed a touch of vampire anger into his voice and growled, "Thank you for not fighting." Then he turned his face toward her and smiled so that his sharp fangs were visible.

Her eyes silvered as her smile revealed pointed teeth of her own and growled back, "You're welcome."

Anger passed with shared laughter. They were growing as a couple, finding their comfort zones. Those natural places in the heart where they could share banter, jokes and push emotional buttons that led to smiles in place of anger and blended with a large measure of love that could carry them over the rough spots in life. They were working together to establish a bond that could not be broken.

"Honestly Henry. My vision is much better and I'm sure I could see well enough to drive out here in the sticks."

As he pulled into front the Books, Comics and Games store he put on his full vampire continence, "You can drive the rest of the way to Vancouver if you agree to follow my directions using my rules of safe driving and not some of your hair brained ideas of how to drive. Is that understood?"

"Yes." Vicki took the keys he'd held out, leaned over to kiss the vampire's cheek and got out of the car.

Henry pushed the vampire back down where it belonged and laughed. He knew his vampire's power didn't work on her. It hadn't worked before she joined him in this life and it most certainly didn't work now. He knew she would do as he asked because it was important to both of their survivals, but he enjoyed teasing her and too much could go wrong with traveling to be careless about safety.

They went into the store and separated to find their own areas of interest, Henry to comics and Vicki to murder mysteries.

Before she could decide on which books she wanted she heard Henry call her name and found him standing in the isle holding up a graphic novel. "It's out and the editors didn't make any changes."

She took the book from his hand and started leafing though the pages. She gasped, closed the book and handed it back to Henry and with her head lowered she started walking away.

Henry reached out, grabbed her elbow and at that point a sales clerk walked over asking, "May I help you find something?" Before Henry could respond the clerk pointing to the book Henry held and added, " I really like that author and his characters. I'm not sure if Velvet is going to kill Mitch or sleep with him and that creepy Harold. Is he a shape changer or what?"

Henry let go of Vicki's elbow long enough to hand the clerk twice the cost of the book and said, "Keep the change." He then placed his free arm around Vicki's waist and led her back to the car. She handed him the keys and climbed into the passenger seat without saying anything.

They drove in silence for almost an hour while she looked out the side window and he paid very close attention to his driving.

Speaking softly Vicki said, "Talk to me."

Henry drove for another mile before saying, "The book was completed before the mummy incident."

"But why those characters and why do they look like...?" Her voice fell away before finishing the question.

"I write and draw for lots of reasons. Mostly I do it because I'm good and it's an easy way for me to earn money. There are times when I use words and art to work out my emotions. You weren't the only one in turmoil over the last year and neither was Mike. I had my own issues that I tried to work out on paper and canvas. I intended this book to be the beginning of a new series where the three characters were friends that were loyal to each other while fighting for good over evil. I wanted emotion, passion, love, hate, fear and excitement with periods of calm so that the characters could explore their feelings for each other and maybe make the right choices."

Vicki didn't say anything as he continued driving in silence for another mile before he started speaking again. "Velvet, Mitch and Harold are the characters. Vicki, Mike and Henry are real people. I was trying to work it out so that they could all be happy. Maybe I was looking for a fairytale relationship for all of us full of love, hope and happy ever after. The first book went to the publisher with the plan of presenting copies to you and Mike. After you had read them I was hoping to sit down together sharing laughter, talking and just maybe ... well just maybe." He stopped talking for another half hour before adding, "It didn't work out the way I'd hoped." He sighed and continued, "When we went into the book store I had no idea which book would be released first. I have several projects at the publishers and they chose which one was best for the current market. I never meant to upset you."

She heard the sadness in his voice. "How long before we get where we're going?"

He glanced at the odometer. "About an hour then we'll have three hours until sunrise."

"Good. I want to read the book before we talk."

They sat in companionable silence listening to some soft music he found on the radio. He'd glance at her and she'd glance at him. Somewhere down the road Vicki reached out and placed her hand on Henry's thigh and he relaxed his grip on the steering wheel.

Henry pulled into the driveway of a neat little house at the end of a cul-de-sac, in a neighborhood where the houses were very far apart and everyone minded their own business. Vicki got out of the car and walked around the yard while Henry found the keys, unlocked the front door and pushed the garage door opener. Vicki entered the house and checked it thoroughly and agreed it would be a good place to stay until her lessons were finished. She sat down in a comfortable chair to read Henry's book while he carried in their bags.

Vicki felt herself being pulled into the words and drawings of Henry's book. The words flowed and blended with pictures that colored the mind with images of a beautiful, strong capable Velvet (Vicki), a tough honest Mitch (Mike) and a mysterious Harold (Henry) that was only partially seen in shadow. Vicki found she liked, no, she loved the characters and her heart ached for the choices Velvet needed to make. Mitch didn't deserve to be hurt and by his very nature the reader could never be sure of Harold.

Vicki closed the book and sat in the dark room with unnoticed tears rolling down her cheeks. Henry walked over, knelt beside the chair and touched her cheek with one finger and thought, "Vampire tears. I've never seen those before."

Vicki turned her head and nipped at his finger, "I thought you didn't understand me and what I was going through trying to balance between the both of you. I never thought you were going through your own issues that required tough choices. You've managed to capture all the best of Mike and my love for him. Thank you. You given him back to me in the best way. We're laughing, fighting and working together. Now I can remember us as we were before that last night. You're an artist and a writer Henry. If all the other evil hadn't gotten in our way, this book would have brought the three of us together as a team."

Henry watched Vicki's face until she quit speaking then gently stroked her cheek, stood and helped her to stand. They wrapped their arms around each other and listened to their hearts beat out a rhythm of love. In those quiet moments with each beat the bond that tied them grew stronger.

"Come VeeVee it's time to rest."

"Velvet Vicki?"

"Of course."

The small house in the country near Vancouver was their home for the next several months. During their stay Henry continued to tell Vicki how to survive as a vampire.

Any vampire that wished to survive had to continuously adapt to new technology. Henry found he had to reinvent himself every ten or twenty years keeping an eye on the fashions for his apparent age and an ear open for the language patterns, word usage and meanings. Over the centuries Henry had had servants, valets, butlers to do his bidding, now he had to make plans so that he could access his own money, driver's license, and all the details of daily living for himself unless he wanted to live the lifestyle of the very rich. Computers and Internet allowed him to complete business transactions around the world without leaving his sanctuary. He banked, wrote his stories, sold paintings, contacted his publishers on line. For changes in identity he relied on the current member of the Augustus family to get the needed documents. A vampire had to move about every ten to twenty years or people around them would notice that they didn't age. They had to adapt to change and never become attached to anyone place knowing every place they lived was going to be temporary and accept that friends, lovers, partners were also temporary.

After one such teaching session Henry looked into the distance as he thought about his centuries, what he had and what he lost. It was not often he allowed his mind to travel down the path of memories. He pulled back his thoughts before Vicki could see his sadness. He didn't want her to know about all his losses and preferred that she see the possibilities of a long and varied life.

Vicki listened to his words and thought about the fact that she had just naturally kept current for her age group as she aged. The idea of having to stay current for a forever thirty something, caught her off guard. She knew her style of clothes and her colors were unique to her and now she would have adjusted according to what was age appropriate as years went by. She would have to make a conscious effort to wear and talk like the thirty year old of each future decade and asked, "How do cope?"

"I've done it for so long , I don't think about it. I forget sometimes how much a young vampire has to learn. It is a great responsibility turning someone and it really is like parenting a child. So much of the child's success or failure rests directly on the shoulders of the parent. I demand that you be a successful vampire!"

"Yes daddy." Vicki smiled with vampire fangs showing between parted lips.

Henry smiled back allowing his fangs to be seen in return and thought about what he saw. Vicki had been beautiful before she turned vampire, but because of the turn her natural beauty was enhanced. She had a pale, perfect completion, light golden brown hair that flowed gracefully to her shoulders, eyes that had a smoky blue green color that silvered when hunger rose, her figure had the curves of a woman at the peek of her beauty, she had been physically fit before, but now muscle tone was clearly defined. She was velvet soft to touch but the core of steel was never in doubt. All of Henry's previous loves were pretty, pleasant, people. Henry chucked softly to himself, as he used words such as strong, self reliant, independent, determined, stubborn, hardheaded, controlling and intriguing to describe his Vicki. Those qualities normally didn't attract him. But when he came up against Vicki, he felt like he fell in love for the first time. Henry's world tipped on its side and he doubted it would ever be quite upright again and that was all right with him, because he would always have Vicki.

The More Vicki Learns

Henry noticed the absence of Vicki's heart beat next to his before he could move. It seemed like hours instead of the five minutes it took for Henry to be able to get out of bed. He ran to the living room with out bothering to dress first. He found Vicki standing and staring out a west facing window.

"Vicki?"

She didn't turn around and said more to herself than Henry. "I'm a vampire. I'll never see a sunrise or sunset again. I tried getting out of bed as quickly as I could tonight. I wanted to see the colors of the sun as it set for the day. All I saw was a lighter shade of blue just on the horizon."

Henry walked up to Vicki, turned her away from the window and pulled her towards him. He whispered into her hair as he pressed his cheek against her head. "You will never see sunrise or sunset again but the night is beautiful. During a full moon the the light can be so bright it hurts your eyes and the stars are a magic that street lights have hidden from human sight. We vampires own the night."

Vicki stood there and accepted his comfort. They held each other and thought about their own memories of days in the sun. Neither one of them understood how hard giving up the day would be until after it happened and by then there was no going back The changes that living brings to each life can be accepted or denied but cannot be stopped.

Vicki nodded in agreement. "Do you have any new lessons planned?"

Henry mentally signed with relief and knew Vicki was ready for more information.

"As a matter of fact I do."

"Alright Obi Wan Kan-obi tell me about the Force."

"What?"

"Movie, Henry. "Star Wars" Luke Skywalker."

"I tend to forget anything not classical."

"Henry this is a classic."

"Not for me it isn't. It takes at least a hundred years for it to be a classic for me."

"Do you know you can be a real pain sometimes?"

With a smirk he said, "I try."

"Lessons please."

Nodding he thought for a few minutes before saying, "You've already found that your hearing has become more acute, and smells can be overpowering. During the next few nights we're going to go to very public places so that you can learn to ignore irritating sounds and smells and be able to concentrate on the hunt."

"Is everything we do from now on going to be about hunting and feeding?"

"No, but it must always be a part of any night's plan. We are predators first and last. To most people we are evil and all vampires should be destroyed. Therefore we must be on our guard at all times. I've let my guard down more than once, and each time it has been a painful lesson."

"Are you referring to the night I stabbed you and drank your blood."

He frowned and gave her a gentle shake, "I never think of that night unless you remind me. It's past time that you forgave yourself."

"I try, then I remember I am vampire because of what I did."

"Do you hate being a vampire that much?"

"I don't hate it but it's not easy getting used to it."

"That I can understand. Even though I begged to become a vampire I wasn't prepared. Until after Christina changed me I had no idea what her warnings meant. By the time I figured out what I had done, the bonding time was over and I was on my own. For years I kept myself in hiding only coming out to feed. It's taken a long time to develop the skills necessary to blend in with humanity and I don't intend for you to take that long to learn. Now lets get back to the lessons. I think we need to go to the opera."

"Forget opera. Just explain hearing and smells."

Henry focused his sense of hearing. Opening his mind he heard his own heart beat, breaths, movement of clothes, oops not dressed. He went back into their bedroom dressed quickly, came out handing Vicki his red silk robe. They settled down on the couch and Henry began his lecture on hearing.

He explained that hearing was a predator's natural defense and a skill needed to locate prey. The everyday sounds are background noise that the brain filters out so that important sounds can register and be acted upon. This skill became stronger as the vampire's gifts matured. Vicki nodded in agreement. At first she thought she when was hearing Henry's heart it was because she had her head on his chest, now she realized she could hear it across the room. She noted the other house noises, refrigerator, electronic hums, settling, wind, faint heart beats of animals, the calls of animals, flight of owls, sounds of families in houses hear by including the fighting, the loving, the crying, the snoring of neighbors. Now that she was aware, all the noises rushed at her and she clamped her hands over her ears and looked at Henry in horror. The noise was tearing her head apart. Henry places his hands over hers, looked into her eyes and brought up his vampire power of persuasion. His power worked on Vicki only if she allowed it. She nodded and he took control of her mind and mouthed the instructions that would tell her brain how to filter, how to select the sounds necessary for survival and how to isolate the sound needed for the night's goal, or the hunter's goal. He repeated the instructions several times until Vicki moved to pull her hands away from her ears and push his aside.

"You live with that all the time?"

"Yes and unless you want to go deaf or insane that is one of the controls that must always remain in place. Part of the reason I'm slow to move in the evening is that I'm setting and testing my controls each and every time I wake up. This century is noisier than any of the previous ones. That's why I had Augustus chose this place instead of an apartment. You needed time away from a city to adjust to the vampire gifts."

"Gifts. Yeah, more like a curse."

"Well at least one gift is better now than when I first changed."

"What would that would be?"

"Smell."

"Smell? I don't smell anything unusual, not like the hearing when you called it to my attention."

This time Henry went into the history of bathing, sanitation, powders, lotions, perfume. In previous centuries it was not always easy to wash, to clean clothes,or use plumbing. Vicki a student of history quickly got an even a better idea of the problem from someone who had lived through the centuries.

"I get it, as far as smell goes, now is better."

"Most certainly, especially in crowds."

"The predator uses smell to identify the type of prey and whether or not it should be eaten. For vampires smell can tell you if the prey is healthy, drugged, drunk or even pregnant. It helps with the selection of the meal. The smell can tell you when the prey is ready for passion. We discussed the need for passion in the past. The heart beat and the smell together will tell you when it's time to feed and when it's time to leave."

"Henry, that sounds so cold."

"Facts are facts and we must do what's necessary to survive. I'm teaching you what you need to know and what you do with that knowledge is your choice. I choose to live."

"So will I. I didn't like spinach, but I ate it anyway because it was good for me. Bring on the crowds and let's pick a meal."

Vicki learned to feed from others even though she much preferred feeding from Henry and told him so one evening before going out.

"I know but the change is complete at it's no longer necessary. You can sustain yourself."

"That's true, but I thought feeding from each other kept the bond strong."

"The bond is strong. Our vampires have become used to our blended scents, sounds and habits and have become an extension of each other. I've allowed you to feed from me much longer than is required for turning as well as my feeding from you. This was done deliberately to make us one."

"How could you be sure that would work?"

"I wasn't sure, but I hoped with all my heart." He then pulled the full force of his anger and hunger to him. Eyes darkened, fangs dropped and with a low growl he attacked Vicki.

she stood her ground not reacting and not afraid as Henry sank his fangs deeply into her throat and stopped. He pushed his hunger and anger back and the bite became a kiss. The wound closed under his lips and he raised his head and looked into her eyes. "Our bond is strong."

She licked her lips, "Should I try that with you?"

"You can if you like, but it's not necessary. If the bond was weak you would have fought me with everything you have. Your vampire knew mine was no threat to it and mine knew you'd never hurt me. We're safe for as long as you want."

"How does forever sound to you?"

"Very good Valued Vicki."

She punched him in the arm and kissed him soundly.

As the time lengthened from weeks to months even though the bond was strong some of the territorial issues that Henry had been worried about started to make themselves felt. Henry didn't want Vicki to know when or where he fed and Vicki resented Henry's continued watching. They found that being close to each other became annoying.

"We need to talk." Henry said as Vicki was about to leave the house.

"I am going out. When I feel like it, we'll talk." She wanted to get away from him and he sensed what Vicki was feeling because he felt it himself.

"If you leave before we talk, I am not sure I'll be here when you get back and I might not come back here at all."

Vicki turned and looked directly at Henry and bit back the word "Good." and said, "What are you saying?"

"Territorial issues. We've been together several months and the natural sharing of territory between vampire parent and vampire child is growing thin. I'm afraid if we don't talk now it'll be too late. I'm trying as hard as I can to keep the bond strong, but I can't do it alone. I need your help. Like any other child reaching the 'teen' years you are fighting for your own identity, your own independence."

Vicki looked more closely at Henry, he was not smiling and his eyes looked sad and tired, his shoulders were slumped. If she didn't know him better she'd have described him as defeated. She felt tired and each night was a strain on her nerves. Walking to the couch she threw herself down and growled, "Talk."

"The vampire instinct for survival is driving us apart. You're proficiency in vampire skills is fully developed and the vampire in me senses that and is trying to push you away."

"And I am getting sick and tired of your nagging and telling me what to do. So how do we fix this?"

"We have to overcome the instinct and that takes conscious effort. A word, a gesture, a smell, could trigger a fight over territory and could lead to one of us killing the other or at least driving such a wedge between us that we could never stand to be in the same city let alone same room."

"How do I fight an instinct that is just beginning to develop and how do you fight a centuries old instinct?"

"Augustus and his ancestors set down guidelines for vampire behavior when crossing through another vampire's territory. It included being very politely acknowledging the right of the current owner of a territory to dictate hunting rules. We must work out our own guidelines and follow them to the letter. With practice we can make the guidelines a habit."

"I suppose you've worked them all out and I'm to smile and accept them?"

"That wouldn't work for either of us. I know you and you know me. We need to work on the rules together giving both of us every chance to succeed."

Feeling like a child being scolded by a parent she thought, Why am I fighting him when I hate the thought of being vampire without him? Aloud she said, "This sucks you know, being a teen scolded by a parent."

Henry walked over to the couch and sat at the far corner from Vicki, "I can see that by the look on your face. I bet you gave your mother a run for her money when you were growing up."

"There are some things I will never share with you and you just found one of them. Let's just say my mother earned every one of her gray hairs watching me grow up."

Henry tried to picture a young tomboy sneaking out of the house. He moved closer and she stiffened then leaned toward him. Together they said, "Let's work this out." Their lips touched lightly and both nodded in agreement.

He started, "First rule, we always share the day. I mean from sunrise to sunset we are together in the same place side by side." Vicki smiled and said affirmative.

She said, "Second rule, no demanding where the other is going unless it's necessary for mutual survival." Henry raised an eyebrow and agreed.

"Third rule, no complaining about the others food choices." Vicki frowned as she remembered his preferred diet of pretty women but said yes.

Thinking about Henry's previous upscale life style she demanded, "No dragging me to an opera."

"Vicki, that's not a territorial issue."

"Can't blame a girl for trying."

"Lets get back to rules."

Vicki took a deep breath, "No sneaking up on each other."

"Good one. No sudden aggressive moves."

"Nope, I like to fight with you to much."

"No sudden aggressive moves in ANGER."

"That works. No bringing food home to eat in our bed."

Henry looked at Vicki smiled and agreed. "Our place is only for us. That should have been the first rule."

"Are you writing these down."

"Not necessary. We both have good memories. And this stuff is really common sense for any two people who want to get along."

"Can I try the opera thing again."

"No."

"Crap. Allow each other to do the work that makes them most happy, your art and writing, my detective work."

He added, "We'll try to stay out of each others work." Then paused before saying, "We divide our territory so that unless absolutely necessary we don't feed on each others favorite hunting grounds. If we accidentally stray we tell the other, explain why and we'll always accept the explanation."

"I can live with that. You take all the high class places, art and literary crowd. You know, the uptown crowd, I'll take the darker sides of the city where crime happens and perhaps my skills will make a difference there."

Henry was grateful he and Vicki were talking about rules that made sense for them. The rules could be added amended, deleted as needed. The only thing that mattered was that he and Vicki were talking.

Vicki noted Henry smiling and thought to herself, this was the Henry she preferred. The give and take of two people talking not as parent to child, or teacher to pupil but as two people sharing their love. "Can I go out and eat now?"

"No I think you need to be grounded for the night. In fact I think you should be sent to the bedroom and punished."

"You think so, do you?"

"Yes I do VeeVee."

"VeeVee?"

"Voluptuous Vampire."

Vicki flew from the couch, pulled Henry up, dragged him to the bedroom laughing and saying "Who is going to punish who?"

Neither one had the time or strength to go out and feed that night.

A few nights later after talking about the events of the night Henry asked her to go to out together.

With a look of annoyance she asked, "But why go to the opera?"

"Well, I made a little mistake while feeding in the city and got involved with two women that know each other and travel in the same circles I tend to visit."

"You! You broke your own rules." She placed a hand over her heart and said, "Henry! I am shocked."

"Knock it off Vicki. I've been known to make mistakes and I usually change my habits for a while or leave town. I can't do that this time. So I need you to help me out of this mess."

"For you, I'll do just about anything." She took her 'warrior princess' stance and bowed to her liege lord.

"I want you to be my wife."

Vicki looked at Henry with her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water before asking, "Did you just propose marriage?"

"Yes."

"Some rules will need revision. I don't like sloppy seconds when it comes to my man."

He growled over his shoulder as he walked out of the room, "We agreed to not discuss feeding habits. That's part of my style of feeding."

She shouted back, "Well then be sure to take a shower after dinner before touching me."

Henry walked back to the bedroom came out with a garment bag, a box and a heart breaking smile.

Vicki not used to presents from anyone, just stared.

Henry opened the garment bag and pulled out a dress that was made in the 1930's. Red, clinging, soft and meant for dancing. He then opened the shoe box and held up dance slippers that matched the dress perfectly. "I've always liked this dress and have kept it for over eighty years hoping to find someone to wear it. I know the dress will fit you, but the shoes I'm not so sure of. You should probably find some new shoes."

He handed the dress and shoes over to her. She stroked the fabric and thought about what a romantic he was. He then handed her a small open box revealing two matching white gold eternity rings.

Henry pulled Vicki to her feet and placed the smaller of the two rings on the third finger of the left hand. He handed the other ring to Vicki and she placed it on the third finger of his left hand.

He looked down at his hand and said, "I've never worn a ring on this finger and this will be the only one I will ever wear on this finger. You are my accidental child as I was my father's and therefore labeled a bastard child of the king, "Fitzroy." I want you to share my name as my accidental child, daughter of a royal prince, and as my mate, my life partner, my wife."

"I accept." Then Vicki abruptly sat down bent forward, grabbed her middle as her shoulders started to shake.

Seriously alarmed, Henry knelt at her feet and yelled, "What's wrong?"

"Oh my God. Do you know what you've just done."

"I thought I asked to take my name."

"You've made Henry the VIII my grandfather and father-in-law in one sentence."

"You're going to pay for that, VeeVee, Vile Vicki. That's a very vile thought."

In place of the usual physical battle caused by the use of 'VeeVee', she stood slowly, smiled down at Henry and whispered, "At least we don't have to go to family reunions."

Henry thought to himself as they walked toward the bedroom. "There are going to be two very hunger vampires on the prowl later tonight."

(to continue this story line go to: "The older Stories "- Chapter 1 Vicki goes to the Opera)