Chapter Twenty

Full Circle

It was many hours before Juliet was finally able to pull away from Mika's lusty embraces. So many so, that she immediately had to freshen up and get dressed for the dance, which would take less time considering Mika had ripped off all of her clothes not thirty minutes after Jens had left. As she soaked in her garden tub, finally with a minute to herself, she couldn't help but note her lover's strange behavior. Mika had always been lusty, ever since they had first crossed that line he wanted to taste her body at least once a day, and she wouldn't deny him that. But now it had been… she had to count on her fingers, six… seven times in one day. She could barely walk up the stairs after their last bout of passion.

She sighed, allowing the warm water to soothe her muscles. Mika had said he would meet her outside when the time came to go to the dance, something about how he needed to run to town and get something 'fetching' to wear for 'his lady'. She smiled and shook her head, blowing bubbles in the water.

Gods how she loved that man.

After an eternity soaking the weariness out of her muscles (an eternity that ended 45 minutes too soon) Juliet hauled herself out of the tub and dried off. Applying lotion to her legs and making sure to stray away from her sensitive nether regions. She walked into her spacious closet and eyed the piece of clothing Jens had hinted at earlier. This festival was just a reason for the people in the town to get rowdy, as nobody really celebrated the Solstice anymore; it was also a great time for Jens, who always volunteered to run the drink stands at the fairgrounds. The past few years, Juliet had been working during the dance. This year, Jens gave her the night off. She secretly wondered if the man was psychic. She smiled and decided to humor him and wear the dress.

Downstairs, Mika waited outside the manor's giant doors. His face wore one of the sourest expressions he could muster, and it would have been obvious to anyone watching him pace back and forth between the openings in the wrought iron gate that something was bothering him. But as soon as he heard Juliet's soft footsteps come up behind him, his expression changed instantly.

It was so unlike Juliet to wear anything 'overly feminine'. She had a penchant for knee-length skirts and tight fitting blouses, but nothing that Mika had ever been able to label as 'girly', especially after he'd heard her swearing like a sailor when she arrived home from work. But she stood in front of him now, her eyes demure and innocent with a hopeful grin on her face and he couldn't help but see a shy, feminine girl with unmatched beauty.

Wearing a dress.

Mika could get used to seeing Juliet in a dress.

She cast her eyes sideways at his intense gaze and shook her head, her neatly brushed hair shaking around her shoulders. She remembered the day lord Highland had given her this dress, a gift from one of his trips abroad. It was what was known in America as 'rockabilly' style, something that hadn't really caught on in small towns like this one, so Juliet was hesitant to ever wear it, but she decided tonight would be special.

Plus the dress looked damn good on her, she thought, prideful.

It was powder blue in color, something that matched the bright silver-blue of her eyes in a fetching way. The skirt flared out at her hips, just enough to give the dress a definite bounce and show off her beautifully toned legs. Years of dance lessons would do that to you (especially if you still practiced every now and then while your Vampire boyfriend dozed on your couch), but it was the bodice that she loved the most. It had thin straps that went over her shoulders, and a curved neckline that showed just enough cleavage to get men staring whilst she maintained her modesty. Juliet had ample cleavage to show, and filled out the dress in a way she knew she shouldn't be proud of, but with a man like Mika ver Leth staring at you with hunger in his eyes, there was nothing wrong with showing a little extra skin.

But the pièce de résistance were the tiny cloth strawberries that dotted the skirt of the dress, and the clips that held back her hair, and all the way down to the white buckled shoes she wore (one on each). She knew it was a little girly, perhaps even childish, but she loved the way she felt. Pretty, attractive, the way Mika made her feel every single day.

He stared at her for what seemed like hours before offering her his black-gloved hand. "You look lovely, as usual."

She wrinkled her nose. "Not especially?"

"I prefer you naked," he stated simply, causing her to roll her eyes and sigh loudly with a smile. "But I suppose I will rate this as a close second."

For his part, Mika had cleaned up exceptionally well. He had slicked back his hair, which was in need of a trim, as Juliet never forgot to remind him, and his outfit was superb. He was never one for sloppy dressing, almost always wearing his signature loose black pants and a well-fitting men's shirt that accentuated his muscles in an almost arrogant way. Tonight, he had taken it the extra step. In town he had managed to find a pair of exceptionally tailored black slacks, how they had his size, Juliet would never know, but she reckoned that Mika himself may have crafted them using some of his lightning speed. He complimented the pants with a long-sleeved shirt, cuffed and collared and white, which was surprising, but what wasn't surprising was the black satin vest he wore over it or the polished black loafers upon his feet.

To be fair he looked a bit like a Vampire. Juliet giggled inwardly.

Juliet shook her head, allowing him to lead her down the long road to town. Even from their position in the countryside, she could hear the music and laughter of the festival dance in the square. Her heart fluttered in anticipation, she wondered if she would be stared at, as she sometimes was when she attended these gatherings. The people of the town thought her a little eccentric for living alone in the ancient manor up the road, however those who stopped by Jens' bar knew firsthand of her kind disposition, her sarcastic wit, and her conversational skills.

That and Jens would always give them a terrible look if he caught them staring or being rude, so it seemed to force them into conversation with her.

Upon their arrival in the square, Juliet waved to Jens from his large booth next to the courthouse. He waved back, dressed to the dapper 'T'. He had a few of his night workers with him, none of them Juliet knew well enough to acknowledge. The band sat parallel to his booth, a good fifteen yards away, playing a good bit of swing music and a few local songs that Juliet had grown up listening to Highland sing quietly as she slept. Mika didn't hesitate to take her over to the dance floor.

"Mika, the dancing hasn't started yet." She giggled, blushing as her 'neighbors' eyed her handsome companion.

"Music is playing, and so we shall dance."

The last time Juliet had danced with Mika had been after he offered her a glass of vintage wine he'd picked up in a distant town when he'd left to feed. Juliet, ever the prideful, stubborn girl, hadn't told him that she'd never had a drink in her life, and had hastily downed the glass of wine as if it were plain grape juice. The ensuing drunken dance session had given her more than a workout and Mika more than enough erotic dreams, and the knowledge that Juliet cannot handle her liquor.

Right before they could begin, a man walked up to them with a camera and asked for their picture. Mika politely declined, but told Juliet to go ahead and take one.

"I want to remember this moment for the rest of my life." He'd whispered into her ear. Juliet blushed and allowed the man to take her picture.

"The photos will be ready right before the festival ends, so don't forget to pick them up!" he'd said before running off to another couple and allowing Mika to drag Juliet further into the square.

Mika ver Leth was a large man, but he knew how to dance. As he led Juliet to the dance floor, and their bodies began swaying in time with the music, the large crowd of people watched from the sides, smiling and clapping in time with the beats. Eventually a few other couples came out to the dance floor and eased Juliet's embarrassment, but as Mika twirled her around and dipped her, she became more and more focused on the dancing. Soon she was laughing and moving her hips with expert grace. She'd never danced in a crowd before, but being with Mika made her feel so beautiful and unafraid that she couldn't help but enjoy herself and stop worrying over what people must think.

Eventually Juliet was out of breath and Mika led her away from the crowd of dancers and over to Jens' drink stand. The bar owner smiled brightly as the two sauntered over, Mika still putting Juliet through a few twirls that made her laugh.

"Drinking tonight?" he asked.

"I'll take your strongest." Mika smiled. "And the lady," they both glanced at Juliet expectantly.

She blushed. "I, uh. Oh Mika, you know I shouldn't…"

Mika eyed Jens. Jens eyed him back. There was an understanding that passed between the two men. "I've got just the thing."

He reached under the makeshift bar and produced two bottles, a glass, and a pint-sized mug. "A little whiskey for the gentleman," he filled the glass to the brim, Mika smiled in thanks. "And for the lady, a little something I whipped up." He poured the second bottle and filled the mug, causing it to foam over.

Juliet eyed it suspiciously. "You've been making your own ale again?" the tone in her voice caused both men to laugh. "Don't laugh, Mika. This is serious! His last batch put a man in the hospital!"

"Now, Juliet. Don't worry. I tasted this beforehand, it's a successful experiment." He pushed the mug towards her. "Try it, for me."

Puppy dog eyes, she sighed.

"I suppose I do have a stronger stomach than most." She hefted the drink towards her face, sniffing it incredulously. It was summer, but the people liked their ale warm in her town, so Jens barely had need for a cooler. She took a sip, ready to fake her best smile and fight against gagging. Mika watched her closely from behind his glass, now empty. Jens gave her an urging smile.

She let the liquid into her mouth, and tasted it. The look on her face must have been plainly obvious, because Jens laughed out loud and clapped Mika on the shoulder. "See, I told ya'! I said it was good! You both looked so worried!" He took Mika's glass and refilled it. "On the house, friends. Now what do you think of my latest creation, Juliet. Be honest."

Juliet drank earnestly from the mug. It was that good. "It tastes like warm winter cider." She laughed, color rising to her face. Oh, no, it was definitely alcoholic. "How did you do it?"

Jens rubbed at the scruff of his beard. "Honestly, I was thinking of you. How to get non-drinkers to drink." He smiled devilishly. "It's a genius business plan!"

Juliet could only nod eagerly from behind her mug, downing the drink as if it were keeping her alive. Jens refilled it without question.

"So Juliet, will you enter the singing contest this year?"

A look of surprise crossed Mika's face at the other man's question. "Singing, I think that is a great idea."

Juliet blanched. "I donno guys." She mumbled, the drink hitting her hard and fast. Jens elbowed Mika and both men smiled.

"But Juliet, you have a beautiful voice,"

"For an amateur." She hissed.

"For anyone." Mika reassured, placing his hand on hers.

Jens filled both their glasses a third time. "You know the prize this year is something Highland donated to the town, the strangest thing, if I may say." The other two looked at him, questions on their faces. "A weapon of all things. It's a long chain with two strange lookin' knives at the end." Juliet rolled her eyes. "I saw it myself, girl. Don't gimme that look." He laughed.

Mika took another sip of whiskey and rubbed his chin. "Strange," he commented.

"I know!"

"What did those knives look like?" Juliet asked.

Jens tapped his chin. "They were a little flat, but sharp on both sides instead of one and they flared out like a diamond…"

"A kunai." Mika said. Juliet nodded.

"He once told me about his trips to Asia." She mused. "Guess he picked up a few things." She smiled sadly into her mug, Mika and Jens exchanged a glance.

The Vampire downed his glass. "All the more reason for you to sing."

"Yeah! Win back what's rightfully yours!" Jens laughed. "You know, not like they stole it or anything. I just think you should have it." He pet her shoulder. "Contest starts in twenty minutes, go sign up. I've got brains to addle." He smiled and waved them off as Mika led a now mumbling Juliet to the small booth where contestants signed up.

"Mika, I'm not sure about this."

"Then you don't have to."

"Do you want me to?" she looked up at him with large unassuming eyes. He softened.

"Very much."

At those words Juliet pushed herself out of his embrace. "Alright!" she said, straightening her posture. She stormed over to the desk. "Sign me up. The name is Juliet, and I'm gonna win my dead dad back his weapon!" her voice echoed over the crowd.

The lady at the desk calmly referred Juliet over to the sign-up sheet, and told her to put her name down and that they would find her ten minutes before it was her turn. Mika laughed to himself, drunken Juliet had more courage and less civility, and he had to admit he loved it. When Juliet returned from the desk she had a look of pride on her face unlike anything the Vampire had ever seen.

"Hello handsome." She laughed, throwing herself into his arms. Mika caught her with ease and twirled her around, making her laugh.

"Hello beautiful." He set her down and caught her chin in his hand before leaning in to kiss her. She responded immediately, opening her mouth to his probing tongue, unabashed at the few people who shook their heads at them, or the ones who openly frowned. In the end it was Mika who pulled away and led her back to the dance floor in time for the beginning of the contest.

It was a good hour before they found her, dancing drunkenly with her Vampire lover and laughing about the other contestants' song choices.

"Here's a list of the songs the band knows," said the director, "Mostly local ones, a few that have been popular for years now." He laughed. "You've got fifteen minutes to decide what song and prepare, no more, no less. Hop to it."

Juliet hadn't kept up with the majority of music, but she recognized one song on the list, something Lord Highland had played night after night leading up to his departure for his long trips, and they had danced and laughed by the fire. The very memory brought caused tears to well in her eyes, and she forced herself to shake them off. Minutes after telling the band what she wanted, she walked onto the stage.

The slow jazz began to play and the crowd turned their eyes to Juliet's slight figure in her baby blue dress with her strawberries on the stage. She smiled at Mika and began to sing.

"Till I waltz again with you, let no other hold your charms. If my dreams should all come true you'll be waiting for my arms.

Till I kiss you once again, keep my love locked in your heart. Darling, I'll return and then we will never have to part. Though it may break your heart and mine the minute when it's time to go, remember Dear, each word divine that meant I love you so.

Till I waltz again with you, just the way we are tonight, I will keep my promise true for you are my guiding light.

Till I waltz again with you, keep my love locked in your heart. Darling, I'll return and then we will never have to part. Though it may break your heart and mine the minute when it's time to go, remember Dear, each word divine that meant I love you so.

Till I waltz again with you, just the way we are tonight, I will keep my promise true, for you are my guiding light.

My light, my light… I will keep my promise true, till I waltz again with you."

As Juliet sang the crowd clapped and nodded. Her voice clearly outshone some of the other contestants, for it was a bit deeper and more sensual. She swayed her body in time with the music, causing most of the young men in the crowd to watch her with unabashed enthusiasm. There was a definite amount of sex appeal coming from the woman on the makeshift stage, and as Mika watched her from his place in the crowd, he knew without a doubt that Juliet was singing for him. Her eyes caught his mid-song and she smiled and blushed. He smiled too.

The song finished and Juliet bowed shyly to the crowd who applauded her effort and her beautiful voice. She hopped off the stage and directly into Mika's arms.

"How was that?" she asked, giggling, still inebriated and regaining some of the liquors courage after her stint on stage.

"Lovely," he swung her around for the hundredth time that night. "Just like you."

They danced again for another hour, mingled with Jens at his bar as well, allowing Juliet to get more and more drunk as the minutes past. Mika left for a brief minute to pick up the photo of Juliet, and when she asked how he'd paid for it he'd stated politely that 'Every man has his ways.' The hour was late by the time all the contestants had sung and the winner was being announced. The moon sat high in the sky when Juliet was called up as one of the three finalists. She blushed furiously as she took her place on the small stage next to the others, a young woman and a man in his mid-thirties. Mika and Jens clapped furiously for her as she took the stage.

However she didn't win. As the young woman next to her was crowned first place, and the man took second, Juliet accepted her small third place prize, a simple silver bracelet, and exited the stage, a sad smile on her face. The festival was finally over, and the square was emptying. The winner of the singing contest didn't seem to know what to do with her strange prize, and instead offered it back to the town. (It would be displayed in the courthouse with a plaque that read 'generously donated by Lisabeth Dryer') As Mika took her hand, quietly and they waved farewell to Jens as he cleaned up, he was careful not to say anything to Juliet, lest he damage her ego further. They started up the long road to her manor in silence.

Halfway home, Juliet broke the silence with a sigh. "I really wanted to win."

Mika gripped her hand tighter. "You were amazing up there. Your voice was lovely." She started to laugh. Mika frowned. "No, Juliet, I'm not joking. I'm not making fun at your loss."

She covered her mouth in an effort to stifle her chuckles. "Mika, do you think I'm sad?" she looked at him. The look she received back was answer enough and she started laughing again.

"Woman, why are you laughing?"

"Because!" she sputtered. "Because I'm not sad, and I've had about six too many drinks and I think I might faint! Because I was on stage, and I was singing and it was the most scared I've ever been in my life and I've been hunted by a bloodsucking predator, twice." She shot him a piercing look while she laughed.

"Because if it wasn't for you," she stopped and stood in front of him, standing on her toes to wrap her arms around his neck. "I would never have gotten up on that stage, I would never have come so close to winning that I want to try again. Because I know, next time, I'm going to win!" she smiled, bright and beautiful and Mika smiled back. "Because next time I'll be singing with all my heart, and I won't be scared. All because of you." She shook her head. "I love you so much, Mika. You don't even know."

"I think I gathered that from your song." He kissed her forehead and held her close, the warm summer wind swept through their hair and Juliet sighed contentedly.

"Mika?"

"Hmm?"

"I know we've already… you know. About seven times today… but will you…?" He looked down at her and smirked. "I mean to say, I would like… ahm, if…" Even with the alcohol in her veins, Juliet could not bring herself to say those words. "I'm… uh. I want you." She nibbled at her bottom lip and blushed.

"Are you asking me to make love to you, my dear?" She nodded vigorously, and that was the only affirmation he needed to scoop her into his arms and run back to the manor.

The sex had lasted longer than any they'd had previously. Mika had taken her slowly; memorizing every centimeter of her skin with his fingers, his tongue, his breath was hot on her everywhere. Juliet's moans echoed through the manor for until just hours before the sun was set to rise. When they finally climaxed, together, Mika clung to her like a drowning man, savoring her drunken kisses until she finally fell asleep in his arms, his shaft still buried inside of her small body.

Mika stood, fully clothed, looking down at Juliet's sleeping frame. She stirred lightly under the blankets of the four-poster bed, and he smiled sadly. She would never hear him leave, would never know why he had left, but he had tried to make their last night together as meaningful as he could. As she'd drifted off in his arms, he'd whispered how sorry he was, how much he loved her and he'd prayed that she'd find the love of another. Perhaps Jens, now that he'd admit his feelings. Mika was sure the man would take care of Juliet better than he could.

He looked at the box that held Juliet's daggers. He'd promised her he'd help her uncover the mystery behind her past, but all he'd done is show her how to fight. He hoped that someone else would be able to fulfill his broken promise.

As he'd packed up all of his few belongings into a sack, he'd straightened up the majority of the rooms he'd past through, determined to memorize every inch of the manor as well as he had Juliet. There were memories here that he never wanted to forget. He had to be strong.

He didn't cry as he opened the doors to the front of the manor, or after he'd shut them. He didn't cry when he was ten, fifteen, fifty miles away. When he reached the very outskirts of Vampire Mountain, the place he would call home, forevermore, and he lay down in a small cave, waiting for the sun to rise, he felt a single tear slide down his cheek. As much as he wanted to say the tear was for Juliet and the pain he knew she would feel when she woke, he knew very well that his tears were for himself, for what he was sacrificing for his clan. He was a selfish fool crying over what he could not have.

The door to the manor slid shut, but for one figure that exited, two did enter.

"I can't believe he actually left." Said a feminine voice. "I was actually rooting for them."

"Foolish of you, then." Said the other, more sinister and laughing. "For we both know how it would have ended, and how it will." He sauntered over to the parlor room and stared at the dead embers in the fireplace.

"You know, I never wanted this." He said suddenly. His companion tilted her head.

"Wanted what, sir? Everything's going according to your plans, right?"

He bent down and started the fire, the flames magically sprung to life under his gaze. He turned to her and produced a bottle of liquor from thin air. "You know what I mean, dear." He opened the bottle and splashed some of the liquor onto the flames in the fireplace. The fire roared to life, increasing in size and lapping at its surroundings. With an evil grin, he poured a trail of liquor around the room and into the fire.

She gasped. "What are you doing?"

"Tying up some very old, and very loose ends." He laughed as the fire consumed the room

She blanched at his joke. "But she's still sleeping!"

He smiled and stared directly into her eyes. "Then I suppose you should go get her." The girl looked towards the hall and then back where he had been standing.

Then she ran.

There was sickening laughter that followed her. "I don't suggest trying any of the doors, dear. You'll find that they are much… heavier than usual."

"Juliet. Juliet. JULIET!"

She woke up with a start, her head dizzy and her stomach turning. Oh god, how much did she drink?

"Kathy?" she stared into the worried eyes of her one-time friend and coughed. Was that smoke? She was so dizzy. "Let me sleep!"

"Juliet you have to get out of here!" Kathy shouted, shaking the naked girl even more.

"What, why? Where's Mika…?" Juliet noticed suddenly.

"He's gone, of course!"

Juliet shot straight up now, noticing the rising heat in the room and coughing more from the growing smoke. "What? Why would he leave?"

"Why do you think, Jules! He's a Vampire!" Juliet's eyes began to water from the smoke and sad tears welled in confusion. "Oh, god, I never thought he would do this! Juliet, stay if you want, but I'm getting out of here!"

"Mika? Mika wouldn't do this!" she grabbed Kathy's arm and shook her head furiously, looking at her with fear in her eyes.

Kathy groaned and shook Juliet off of her. "Yeah, well he did. He's gone and this place is going up in flames. I'm leaving." Kathy rushed from the room and left Juliet, naked and confused, alcohol addling her brain.

Mika was gone. Her home was on fire and her ex best friend had come to save her.

"Oh gods…" she whispered. Kathy had been right.

Juliet coughed and scrambled off the bed. She could see bright orange light from the open door and cringed. There was so much smoke, she couldn't keep her eyes open, they stung and watered and she found herself running into the walls and dressers, looking in vain for something to cover her nudity. There was a loud crashing noise, and then the bed was on fire, and Juliet was screaming, inhaling so much smoke that she found herself on the floor, coughing and spasming.

"Mika…" she cried, her voice no louder than a whimper. She was so dizzy, she felt she would be sick, and there was so much smoke. She looked over at the bed, the fire dancing wildly on it, lapping so close to her it hurt. Everything hurt. There was another loud crash and one of the heavy posters from the bed fell on to her, pinning her into the floor.

The tears came easily. Juliet cried desperately. She'd been betrayed by the man she loved, left to die in a fire with her memories. She tried to push the wooden pillar off of her, but couldn't find the strength; darkness crept at the edge of her vision. The dizziness took over and she lay on the floor in resignation, and allowed the darkness to take over and guide her back to a pain-free sleep.

Juliet Andères never woke up from that sleep.

Arc 1: Memories END

A/N: I did not write Juliet's song. Teresa Brewer - Till I Waltz Again With You