CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

DEATH BECOMES HER

ETIENNE LUCIER:

Leah lay on my useless, but decorative, opulent four poster bed, her dark hair framing her face perfectly. Even this close to death she looked beautiful. Her lovely wedding outfit was stained with blood. This morning she had woken up and smiled at the gorgeous dress she was going to wear for Jake and Nessie's big day. She had frowned at her reflection in the mirror as she cursed turning nineteen. She didn't want to be older than me, it was her worst nightmare coming true. I had kissed her full pouting lips passionately, my hunger making her forget this birthday temporarily. How could we have known the events that would unfold today?

Twilight was descending over Vancouver, the deep blue sky welcomed the orange sunset into it's wide arms. Night would soon be upon us. I could not delay any longer. I had needed to look at Leah as human one last time. I needed to hear her heart beat, which now thudded slowly and erratically. I needed to feel her warm soft skin, which at this moment felt quite cool and clammy. Nothing was as before. I needed to tell her how much I loved her, how much I hoped she would understand and forgive my actions. My words fell into the deep silence of the bedroom. Even Leah's breathing had slowed down, soon it would stop if I didn't hurry. This was so difficult for me, despite my love for her. I had dreamed of us being together forever. I had dreamed of her being like me. Now the reality was here I was finding it hard to let go of my hopes and dreams that my beloved would have a normal human life. There was no future for her now, unless I changed her.

The ticking of the Grandfather clock sounded like it was counting down the last moments of Leah's life. I sat here staring at her, knowing what I had to do, knowing it really was inevitable. As much as I didn't want to change her, I knew I couldn't let her die, not when I had the power to prevent it. How could I live without my love? How could I live without my life? I could not. I would bring the final death upon myself somehow if I lost Leah. I had to take action and I had to take it now. The orange setting sun had given way to the night sky now. Stars twinkled and the Moon shone into my window, giving Leah a bluish glow. I put my hand over her weakening heart. So slow were it's dying beats. It stuttered once, but resumed it's faltering pulse. Her shape shifter side was so so strong. It fought for life. It clung to life tenaciously but for how long? I had to stop this sentimentality and save my girl from the stealthy creeping feet of death. I had to.

In the bright moonlight I lowered my head onto Leah's breast. One last listen close up to her beautiful human heart. One last listen to her weak pulse as it tried to carry wolf like blood to her wounded limbs. I gently moved her dark silky hair away from the soft delicate skin of her neck. Cliché? Yes you could say it was. But I'd always favoured this part of her body and that had nothing to do with old fairy tales and legends of vampires. My sharp teeth slid easily through her soft flesh as the venom filled my mouth in eager anticipation. I had ashamedly dreamed of this moment so many times. How it would feel to bite her. How it would feel to taste her. How it would feel to completely lose myself in her. Now I knew that my dreams of this moment distinctively paled in comparison to reality. I was overwhelmed with both intense love and extreme hunger. I had to rein myself in as her sweet intoxicating blood smeared over my mouth and tongue. I didn't want to damage her, all I needed was for the venom to enter her bloodstream, where it would make it's way rapidly to her slow heart, stopping her life in it's wake. She had enough healing to do without me causing more. If I went too far I would kill her, it had to be just enough to change her. It would have been too easy after one drop of her life nectar to go into a frenzy of violent abandonment. For me it was easier not to. I didn't want to kill her, just change her.

Her body bucked and writhed as the venom entered her heart. Thankfully she did not regain consciousness. I really don't think I could have stood to see her in tremendous agony as she left her human life behind. Her face actually looked quite serene and peaceful which made me smile slightly. I liked to think she knew I was trying to save her because I loved her more than my own existence. I held her hand as her heart gave it's last beat. I sighed as she finally died. She lay peaceful and still. I knew it wouldn't be long before she started to burn from the inside out. The venom was already rushing through her body, filling up her veins, changing her very being. She could burn for days. I hoped she didn't. It would be so hard to watch her in immense pain like that. If truth be told I didn't even truly know how a shape-shifter would react to the changes. This was a first in more ways than one. I stared at her waiting and watching carefully. I didn't know what to expect. It had been so long since I was changed, the memory was distant and weak in my mind. Or was that my mind's way of protecting itself from the horrors of the change? At least I had my mind control to help her through it, maybe we could lessen the evils of the newborn phase? That would be good.

A few hours had gone by and still Leah had not moved at all. I sat by her side holding her hand and stroking her hair as I spoke soft words of love and encouragement to her. I was prepared to stay by her side for days. The thirst could wait. I was fine. I didn't need anything except to be close to her. She was going to need me to help her through the changes. I was scared but also excited. Leah was now eternal, immortal, forever mine. Now we could be together in all ways. We could be lovers. I shivered slightly with desire as I tried to rein in my less than pure thoughts. The moon still shone in my window bathing Leah in it's magical light. I watched in fascination as her skin became paler and luminescent, her features became sharper and her hair grew even longer and more lustrous. The venom was doing it's magical work within her veins. I hated how I couldn't hear her heart any more. I hated how she was so still and motionless. But I had to love the fact that she so obviously hadn't left me. She was so alive in her undeadness. My mind is a jumble of emotions so please forgive my ramblings! I stroke her cheek as the clock strikes midnight. It is a New Year. Time for changes. A new chapter, a new beginning. Hopefully, I silently mouth in a fervent wish.

Then Leah opens her eyes.