Crimson Peak

Chapter 3: The next day

Eden had woken up around two; and that was rare for her, she had felt both sexually aroused/frustraited and hungry for... for what? She had felt her neck burn, her hand had drifted to the spot where to was burning, then it started to tingle a little. Even though, she had went to bed early but slept until two and still she was very tired, she had slowly removed the blankets from her body and stood up and carefully walked to the bathroom. Splashing some cold water on her face it helped, she had looked at her reflection in the mirror, she was paler than usual and she looked different but she couldn't place why or even how the mirror was showing her. When she wasn't very beautiful, she was pretty, but apparently one Thomas Sharpe saw something in her. Eden smiled, but then a memory or a piece of her dream from last night. Eden in a tall slender man's lap, with his shirt opened and her licking and kiss at his chest; as her hands were moving in his hair and down to his neck, it was like something from an erotic vampire novel. Oddly enough to Eden in her dream, the stranger looked like Thomas or maybe she wanted him to look like him for whatever reason, splashing some more water on her face while she had reached for a towel to dry her face a little. She had walked over to the tub and plugged it and and filled it with warm water and decided on a relaxing bath; maybe that would make her feel better.

She had felt different, but she couldn't place why or even how? As Eden had settled in the tub, and leaned her head back and rested her eyes; last night's dream had flooded into her mind, the way that her dream man was holding her and kissing and nipping and licking at her neck. It was like something out of a Dracula movie; hot and gentle yet there was something that she couldn't put her finger on. The touch of the man was so familiar, so familiar that she couldn't place. The tast of his skin was sin itself; Eden had shook herself from the dream, and calmly sat down and pulling out her violin and started to play. The music had filled the room and through the opened window; it was a beautiful melody, and from what she didn't know. She didn't know that outside she was gathering quite a crowd; even in her towel, not a best choice of clothen, she loved it whenever she played, and hopefully she would be able to give Thomas Sharpe a private performance. The man was hot and sinfully sexy, and there was something about him, that like the per-verbal moth to the flame, that she couldn't ignore: something that she couldn't place her finger on.

Eden had sighed and placed her violin back where it always went; she had continued to look out of the window, with her hair dripping wet and her gaze on the setting sun. Just how long did she sit there and play? She had to get ready quickly, with it being five thirty, she had nearly an hour and a half to get ready, running to her closet and openning the slidding door, sense he had told her to dress comfortable. Eden had decided on a pair of her favorite dark denimn skinny jeans, they were so comfty and dressy after selecting a white laced thong and matching bra. Eden had looked at herself in the mirror that her grandfather had bought her when she was slender with soft curves she had continued to look at herself in the mirror she had plump breasts and she held a soft cashmir white sweater. Eden loved that sweater, it barely brushed her slender thighs, the sweater itself made her feel girly and comfortable. The material felt so soft against her skin, after styling her hair a bit, she had decided on a beautiful low messy bun, with a twist on the left side. After sliding on the sweater, and smoothing down the material; she had chose a simple golden chain and a matching braclet. Eden had taken a seat at her small vanity that her grandfather had bought in an antique store and was in good shape still; the vanity was a bout the size of a small writing desk, it was white and crafted with extraordinary care.

She had placed a small amount of eyeliner and some peachy eye shadow and some lipgloss, after looking down she had noticed a pair of gold studded earrings that her mother had given her to go with her necklace and her bracelet. Getting up and walking over to her closet and bending down to pick up a pair of dark brown boots that had a heel, she loved those boots, they not only went with everything but they were the most expensive things that she had ever bought, Eden had rarely bought any material possessions for herself. Sometimes she did, besides the essentials that she needed on a dayily basis, she had no knowledge of who her father was, and her mother had died a long time ago; so she couldn't get information from her, and her grandfather didn't seem to want to discuss it, what if there was bad blood? Her grandfather was a huge part of her life, and was the father figure that she needed to help her along the way. She knew that her grandfather, Mark, worked hard his whole life and he had a nice nest egg saved up, and he had told her that she was going to inherit it. Eden could argue with him about that until the cows sprouted wings and took flight, that wasn't going to change anything. She knew that he was going to leave her with everything.

After slipping on her boots, she had grabbed up a light brown jacket, it was made from soft leather and it was a find, she was in a junk store and she had came across it and something was telling her to buy it. And she did, she was so nervous, when she had stared at the clock on the wall; it was nearly time for Thomas to pick her up. Eden was mentally kicking herself for daydreaming, quickly shaking her head to rid herself of the thoughts that were flying around in her head, she had at least five minuets to chill the hell out! Eden was in the middle of taking a series of deep breaths, and quickly grabbing a small glass of water and downing the liquid quickly. Eden had gasped and jumped in alarm when she heard the door being knocked on, with her hand on her chest she was trying to calm down. While Eden was taking a few deep breaths, she was headed to the door when she had heard a noise behind her it sounded like a hiss, as she was opening the door there was a ghost!

A friggin' ghost was at the top of the stairs, and she looked pissed! She was tall and slender, with very dark brown/ almost black hair, and blue eyes, she was beautiful in a scary way. Her pale skin was becoming dark while she was boring holes of hatred in Eden, She was looking at her as if she was an insect that was going to squashed.

Eden had stared opened-mouthed at the ghostly woman, she was sneering at her, Thomas was still knocking at the door, she couldn't tear her gaze away. In some strange way, she shook her head and blinked quite a few times. The ghost woman had started to move towards her, and then she screamed at her "Edith!'' With a gasp, she had opened the door, and at that moment, she had opened the door. Willing the creepy woman to go away. As soon as Thomas had stepped inside of Eden's home, the ghost woman had vanished, in a hissing cloud of black mist: Thomas had entered and gave her a small kiss on her cheek. She smiled "Are you alright, Eden? You look like that you had seen a ghost...'' Well, he could say that because she did, she had sighed calming down "I'm alright, Thomas, I thought that I saw something...'' Now he was on the alert, looking around slowly and smiling while extending his hand towards her "It must've been the trick of the light or a neighbor passing by, nothing to worry about.'' She smiled and took his hand, as he slipped a beautiful red rose in her other hand "I hope that you like red...'' She did, however he wanted her to say it.

''Yes, you must be a wizard or something...'' Eden had said while she had taken the flower and put it in a small vase; Thomas chuckled and walked further into the home, closing the door as he did so watching her move around the kitchen gracefully. With a small smile; she had laid a small vase on the kitchen table. The vase itself had belonged to her mother; it was her most prized possession that she remembered from her mother, when Eden was a child, her and mother would go for small hikes in the country side before moving to New York. She would go and pick a flower and put it in the crystal vase: while she would turn to her daugther and smile and said "God has blessed us with flowers for a reason, they are the gifts of love from him and his angels.'' Eden had smiled softly as Thomas had a comforting hand on her shoulder. She had smiled at him "Ready to go, Eden?'' He had asked her while holding out his arm for her to take; he couldn't stop staring at her, she was so beautiful. He had sensed his sister's deranged spirit attempting to get to Eden, he had sent word to both Tempest and Sarah. They had told me that it would be taken care of right away, while Eden had stared in shock, there was a black limo! In front of her home! Blinking slowly, as Thomas had escorted her in the long expensive car. Once inside, they had smiled slowly at each other, Eden was actually blushing "You look beautiful, Eden.'' Came his soft voice.

Eden was turning a nice shade of red, he looked breath-taking; Thomas and his slender frame was covered in a silk blue blouse, the man was a tease! How dare he leave the first two or three buttons unbuttoned?! He was lethal to all women, she didn't have any dealings with men. Wondering how could a scientist would be able to create a man like Thomas Sharpe, and if he took requests?

Thomas, for the immortal life of him, was trying to keep a straight face throughout all of Eden's thoughts, suddenly feeling bold. She had looked up at him, while taking a very deep breath "You dress up pretty fine, Mr. Sharpe.'' He chuckled, and placed his arm around her slender shoulders. Thomas had then moved closer to her "This old thing,'' Her gaze had then moved down to the simple but dressy black slacks that he had chosen, and his dressy shoes that she had noticed that they were black leather. As one of his long legs had crossed, he had smiled at her "This, old thing, Eden. I put it together for you. I hope that you like surprises, because I have a first date that you will never forget,'' With a smile, he had continued "Hopefully, I will earn a second date?'' He had asked, Eden had giggled a little "Maybe, I am hard to impress...'' She had said with a teasing grin on her face. As the limo had stopped, Eden had shivered when they had exited the car, as Thomas reached in the limo had pulled out a jacket that matched his pants. She had felt a little guilty, what if he got cold? She had then looked up at him, as they were walking "The cold, little one, does not bother me.'' Part of being a vampire, was that one never got cold.

As they had arrived to the destination; there was a small fire going with some candles of different shapes and sizes on their respective holders. Eden couldn't believe that he went through all of this trouble, just for her, as they had seated themselves at the firepit, so that she would be warm "So, tell me about your parents, Thomas? What were they like?'' Eden had asked as he moved closer to her, he had reluctantly pulled his gaze from hers and looked into the fire. Licking her lips, Eden wondered if she had said something wrong, however Thomas had cleared his throat ''I don't really remember my father, much, my mother wasn't so 'kind','' Eden could tell that he was chosing his words wisely, maybe because his childhood wasn't that great? Eden had braced herself and asked in a soft voice "Why wasn't she kind to her own child?'' She had asked as her hand touched his arm, meaning to comfort him and help him. She was like that, wanting to help people "I really don't have the answer as to why she was the way that she was. She died, and all I had was my elder sister, and even she didn't love me. I was always used against my mother and her.'' Okay that was sort of true; those two harpies often used him against the other.

Thomas never fully figured out what had happened to his father, he had thought that his father had left, or one of them murdered him. Thomas had braved a smile at Eden, who sighed "Many years ago, I had met a good friend, and she and I had connected. She tried to help me over-come certain things in my past.'' Eden was watching him intently "And my sister didn't like that,'' Eden had looked at him confused "How did your mother react to your friend?'' She had asked while he had given her some red wine "She had died a little while before I had met her;'' Thomas had said while he was continuing "My sister didn't fully like the fact that she had to share me with not only herself but my friend. She was always the jealous type, it had to be her way or no way, she would try to guilt and manipulate me into believing certain things about everything in our lives.'' Biting her lip, Eden had plucked up the courage to ask him "May I ask what had happened to both your sister and your friend?'' Thomas had sighed, he knew that question was gonna be asked "My sister was in a drunken jealous rage, my friend was staying with us for a few days, her and her husband were working things out and I was trying to keep her safe. I knew my sister's temper, and when she got like that there would be no way in protecting yourself. But my friend was trying to defend herself, I was injured and trying to help my friend in any way that I could...'' Eden had tightened her hand on his; giving him support, she could tell that this was very hard for him, and she wanted to privde any type of comfort that she could.

"My friend and 'that woman' had killed each other, and I had blacked out and I had met these two women named Sarah and Tempest. They became my friends and family,'' Eden had smiled and continued to stroke Thomas's forearm and hand. Ok, that was somewhat true, Thomas had decided, but he couldn't very well tell her that it was like in the Victorian Era, she would run like hell or call the nearest pysch ward, not that he would blame her. Taking her hand with his own, "I never regretted meeting my friend, she helped me, and now I have the two best friends that anyone could ever ask for. They are my true sisters; and always will be. My friend, she had taught me love and respect, in her own way, without her even knowing.'' Eden had licked her lips "What was her name?'' She had asked, wondering how that woman was able to help him though a difficult time in his life; Thomas had smiled a bit ''Her name was Edith...'' Eden had froze in shock, that's what that creepy ghost woman had called her?! Was she dreaming? No she didn't hear right...

Eden had quickly shook her head in denile, hoping that Thomas didn't catch it, but with his vampire eyes had caught it. The name, the reconition, maybe she had heard of the name 'Edith' before and probably not matched the same up to the same person, Thomas had placed his arm around her small waist and brought her closer to him "Eden, are you alright?'' Even in death, his sister was a headache, he had hoped that Tempest and Sarah would be able to get rid of it by the time that they come back. Thomas was thanking the heavens that he had fed well before picking up Eden before their date, true he had felt his sister's evil spirit in the home. It was a good thing that he had asked both Sarah and Tempest to cleanse the home before Eden comes home, and no kinky stuff! She had smiled and shook her head "Just my imagination, Thomas, don't worry about me; tell me more about yourself. What kinds of hobbies that you love to do?'' She had asked as the rain had stopped and Thomas had placed another log in the fire. He had glad that he knew the man that owned this piece of property by a beautiful surrounding; with a decent-sized area to have a small bond fire even in the rain. He smile as their heads had slowly connected while watching the peaceful scene of the water whorling and swirling around. Eden was happy that her grandfather got to stay with some friends of his, he needed to be around people his own age, as much as he loved her and the feeling was mutual, she wanted him to socialize with other people.

"I loved tinkering, inventing, you can say and business; and trying not to make a fool out of myself in front of a beautiful woman... such as you Eden..'' Nice save, he had almost called her Edith, she may *look* like her, however that didn't mean that she *was* Edith. She was blushing a thousand-fold, smiling at her "What about you Eden, any hobbies that I should know about?'' Deciding to be bold and pouring herself a second glass of wine "You caught me red-handed, I wear a super hero cape and save the city,'' He laughed, so did she, she couldn't believe that she had just said that! While placing his arm around her to warm her better, Thomas had replied with "Well I would not have suspected that. I had thought something else like super model. But you are too beautiful for that, since you are a super hero, I won't tell anyone. Your secret is safe with me and always will be; so what color cape do you wear?'' He had asked, while he had continued "No, wait allow me to guess, red? You would look good in a red cape.'' Eden had laughed, "Sometimes, I do prefer blue, but red is one of my favorite colors. But, sadly I don't fight crime by either day or night. I am a college student, and I play the violin nearly everyday. Sometimes I play the flute or even the guitar and I am getting ready to learn the harp soon and the piano, I love the music: I always have ever-since I could remember, I go somewhere else and allow my imagination to run away with me.'' She had said wondering if it was a stupid thing that she had said, he had smiled and placed a small lap blanket on her small legs, she was getting cold.

"Maybe, I could get a private concert, if I earned a second date?'' He asked, hopefully, while placing another log in the fire, and using a medium-sized stick to stir it with, she had smiled shyly as a small piece of hair had escaped to frame her face. Thomas had slowly reached up and tucked the stray stands of her hair behind her ear, Eden sat there dumb-struck, the way that his hand was softly stroking the piece of hair behind her ear. Before they could stop, their lips had met in a soft chaste kiss; her first kiss! his hand had linked with hers, when they had pulled apart, her face was tinting red. Eden was shuddering "I should show you something, come'' Thomas had said while gently grabbing Eden by the hand and guiding her from the shelter, it had finally stopped rainning a little bit ago. As Thomas had led her to a cabin and ushered her inside, he had a fireplace going and a modern sound system that he had walked over to; Eden was looking around at the cabin's inside. She had looked in awe, it was clean and well- kept "Do you bring all of your dates here?'' She had asked while he had turned around from whatever he was doing at the music station, he smiled and reached over to pour her another glass of red wine that was chilling in a near-by bucket. After handing her the glass, he had went back over to the music and after a couple of clicks it was playing Dark Waltz- By Hayley Wetenra.

Eden had smiled, turning to him from her place near the fire in order to keep her warm, Thomas had made sure that the song was on repeat. Knowing that her innocent gaze would be on his frame "How did you know that I loved this song?'' She asked, while he had calmly walked over to her and gently placed the galss on a near-by table; as he took her hand and gently led her to the center of the floor and started to lead her in a dance "Uh, Thomas, I should warn you that I have two left feet...'' She was soo bad at dancing, it would be anything short of a prayer just to sway from one side to another, chuckling Thomas had brought her close to him "Just follow my led, Eden, and I will aid you.'' With his casual strength, Thomas had lifted her up in his arms and placed her on his feet and began to lead her, swaying to the music, back and forth. Moving as one. Eden was blushing many shades of red "For someone with left feet, you move rather well,'' Thomas had said while leanning forward and giving her forehead a small kiss, she laughed "I might have a good teacher...'' And she was a fast learner. And he didn't answer her questions "Eden, to answer your questions: one you are the only person that I have ever brought up here. And two, I'm afraid to say my other past-time... I am a pyschic...'' They both laughed.

From that night on, they saw more of each other, and Sarah and Tempest had cleansed Eden's home while the two were away. Sarah knew that what she and her lover had wrought would not last forever, that mad woman would find a way to terrorize her, Tempest and Sarah had sensed Thomas and Eden were coming home. Both of them had vanished into mist and wafted out of the house. Thomas was walking Eden to the door with her keys in her hand, after unlocking the front door and ushering inside and then going in as well she smiled. She had a great time "Well, Thomas, I think that you did earn a second date with me, do you like the theater?'' She had asked, if he said yes than she would brand him as hers, his mouth quirked a bit, well being a vampire 'did' has its perks. Wrapping an arm around her small waist and bringing her close to him "Yes, I do, I always have to drag my two closest friends to them.'' He was mentally snickering, he heard Sarah's laughter and Tempest's promise of revenge, he loved that about his two sisters that's what they are to him and always will be. Eden had laughed as he had lifted her hand to his lips "Tomrrow night?'' She had asked, he had said yes...

As Thomas had pulled her into one last kiss for the night, he had left reluctantly... Eden had closed the door and placed her hand on her rapidly beating heart and sliding down the door and sitting and acting like a total love-sick calf! Thomas Sharpe was a well-off gentleman, and what the hell would he want her for? After gathering herself from the floor she had climbed up the stairs, still giggling. After she had taken a fast shower and got into bed, she had fallen asleep with a smile on her face; with the covers barley on her ribs. A fine trail of mist had seeped under the bedroom door, there her dark lover had stood; he had to see her one more time, he was addicted to her, as he settled himself on the bed like before he had lifted her small light body in his arms and pulled down the same night dress as last night. Thomas had felt his fangs grow and he had pierced her neck again, Eden had made a small noise between sensual fantasy and sensual reality, her eyes were rolling in the back of her head as he drank; he would not take enough for an exchange just enough for their minds to be twined with the other. After pulling away and swipping his tongue along the puncture wounds that were there he had opened his shirt and pierced his breast and guided her mouth to the trail of blood that was slowly pouring from the cut. Eden would be a step closer to the world that he had occupied not only with Tempest and Sarah but with other vampires.

After he had adjusted not only himself, because he was as hard as a board, and her, he had kissed her mouth and her forehead and back to her mouth. As the trail of mist left the night went on as usual... with a certain vampire checking in on Eden until dawn...

(End of chapter 3, now I wonder what should happen? Please read and review!)