Aris Reigns (27 page)

The first drawing brought pleasure too great for her to stand. He gently licked the pulse in her throat, spreading his venom on her skin to ease the pain of his teeth penetrating her flesh. The sensation of his soft lips and warm tongue brushing against her tender neck returned her to a swoon of wanting him. She moaned softly, tilting her head to expose more.

Aris had undressed her with care, wrapping her once again in the ceremonial robe she wore to the bathing ritual. Puzzled at first when she saw it draped across the foot of the bed, Sarah realized either Gabriela or Jane must have brought it for her. Thoughts of their love for her gave her courage.

The sensation of his lips on her skin was enticing until, suddenly, a brief sharp stab of pain shocked her as his canines grew long and sharp and he bit into her. And then, rapture. With each sip he took from her, she felt she would explode with pleasure. The sensation of his sucking her blood filled her with a longing she had never before known. It was as if her very soul ached to receive him. She reached her hands to caress him. She raised her breasts to him, uncovering them in the soft light of the chamber. Her nipples were rosy and erect, her desire evident before him. It seemed but moments to her when he drew away.

She opened her eyes to look at her lover. His eyes were glazed, a drop of her blood on the center of his full lower lip. He shook his head as if coming back from a daze as he licked it away. He sat next to her for only a moment.

“Now, my darling. Prepare.” Once again his lips sought her throat.

But not joy. Horror. Searing, burning horror. Each pulse of her heart as it pumped the venom through her body brought a new onslaught of flame. At first it was her throat. Then it spread like a wildfire in the wind. Her arms shook. Her fingers curled into claws as she dug them into the bed. Her moans turned to cries of agony. Aris' heart ached at her pain, yet still he poured his venom into her.

Was it days, was it weeks? When would he stop? She writhed on the bed as she lost herself in her anguish. She felt him pull away and yet still she burned. She knew she was turning to cinders. Somewhere through the cloud of torment, she realized this was but the first.

“My love, the burning will grow less soon. Breathe slowly. Soon it will begin to subside.”

His words were true. After what seemed an eternity of suffering, the pain grew less and less until it quieted. He watched over her as she fell into a deep sleep drugged senseless by the potency of his venom.

He was horrified. It had taken all he had in him to stop. The taste of human blood, of her blood, had driven him close to frenzy. Only his deep love for her saved her. And now, he must do it again. And again. Eight more times in the next three days he would be tempted. Eight more times he must watch her suffer. He buried his face in his hands and thought of Sebastian to bring him courage. If his friend could withstand the temptation, so could he. He would find the resolve to continue.

Each time, it became more and more difficult to stop. As his mouth filled with the enticing red fluid, he fought courageously to control his desire to gorge himself on her. Sebastian believed in him. Sarah trusted him. Other Immortals had trod his path and known victory. Again and again, he pulled away from her, his head reeling. His mouth dry and demanding more. Again and again, he filled her with his poison, changing her human body into one that was invincible, one that would last through the end of time.

Each session of the drawing and filling brought greater pleasure, more unbearable pain. By the morning of the third day, the bed was wet with her perspiration, her robe shredded and lying on the floor.
Her only moments of sanity were the moments of sleep that overcame her after the misery passed. The pleasure was almost as unbearable as the suffering. Never had she felt with such intensity. Never before had her body cried out for peace as it did now. She was unable to speak. She was weak, unable to even turn her head. Carefully holding her in his arms, he prepared for the next withdrawal. The sound of her beating heart thudded in his brain. It would beat until the last of his venom filled her and there was no longer human blood in her vessels. Then and only then would the torment be ended. He closed his eyes and prayed to whatever god might hear him that he could complete his task.

At dusk on the third day, he held her as she trembled and quaked in her final death throes. Then, suddenly, she grew rigid. Her heart stopped beating. Her breath ceased. She lay as if dead in his arms. At long last, her lids fluttered. She opened exhausted eyes to look at him. Finally, she smiled.

Aris cradled Sarah in his arms as she became aware of her Immortal body. He remembered his own awakening, his astonishment at his Immortal form, his driving hunger. Knowing how overwhelming the experience was to a changeling, he allowed her to explore her new world in her own time as he lay quietly next to her.

Her first jolt came as she opened her eyes as an Immortal vampire. Her vision was so sharp she could see the individual sunset beams shining from the light sconces on the wall. She looked at her arms in wonder. Each tiny blond hair was as clear as an individual star in the night sky; her skin, smooth as satin to the touch, porcelain perfect to the eye. Her fingernails were perfectly shaped and shined as if they had been polished. As she lifted her hand to stroke his face, she was amazed by the grace of her movement.

Staring into his eyes, she realized for the first time the true depth of the soul hidden deep within the Immortal man holding her in his arms. For the first time she realized the true joy of eternal love. Raising himself on his elbows, he leaned toward her. As his warm lips touched hers, a tender thrill made her shiver. She nestled closer to him, pressing into him with her nude body. As she felt his muscles tense beneath her hands, the thrill exploded, desire flaming in her as she had never felt it before. Unquenchable. Undeniable.

Tenderly he stroked her forehead, her cheeks, as he spoke. “Not yet, my darling. There is a greater ritual that must come before.”

Laying her back onto her pillows, he drew the bedclothes to cover her. Bewildered for only a moment by her easy control of her need for him, she shifted her awareness to feel the weave of each individual thread in the sheets. She could smell the fragrance of the white cotton, of the very fields of Egypt where it had been woven. Giving in to the pure sensation of bliss, she reached to rest her hand on his chest.

Closing her eyes, the light coming through her eyelids made visible all the tiny individual vessels that ran through them carrying his venom, giving her this exquisite gift. As they lay quietly and she slid her hand across his velvety skin, she realized his chest wasn't moving. Then, with a second jolt, she realized she wasn't breathing either. Her chest lay as quiet as his.

Sarah knew before her changing that breathing would be her choice, not a demand of her new form. She knew her human functions would only operate if she chose, yet the experience was still shocking as she focused on the total silence within her body.

Without warning and with a vengeance, the silent void exploded within the very core of her being. Small at first, yet powerful, dark, frightening. The void changed shape and intensity into a craving, a demand, a desire even greater than her desire for Aris. A desire that blazed with an agony that even her changing hadn't brought.

She was barely able to groan his name in supplication. “Aris?”

Understanding her need, he uncovered the tray resting on the bedside table. He reached for a goblet to hand to her. She sat up and took it from him, gripping it tightly with both shaking hands. She closed her eyes as she raised it to her lips. It had a familiar scent that momentarily bewildered her. Then she recognized the smell of rust that was carried in blood. Without a second thought, she brought it to her mouth, tipped it and drank the contents to the bottom.

It was warm and thick like pudding, yet not sweet. Salty. Salty and rich. It tasted like nothing she had ever tasted before. She savored every drop, rolling it in her mouth for a moment before she swallowed. At last, when the goblet was empty, she opened her eyes. She felt a moment of embarrassment as she handed it back to him.

“The need to drink will return several times today. It will be overpowering. We will stay in our chamber and I will be here with you to feed your first hunger as an Immortal.” He brushed her curls away from her forehead. “Now, stand and walk. Take your first steps in your new life.” He stood, taking her hands in his. He helped her rise from the bed, wrapping the soft blue bathrobe around her. As her feet touched the silk of the woven carpet beneath them, she sighed with the tactile pleasure of her every step. She felt each stitch caress her toes as she walked across the floor. She felt the creative hand that sewed them, the days spent in the life of the human that went into making the rug. At a complete loss for words, she stood in one spot slowly turning in a circle to survey her surroundings.

The candles adorning the dressing table were lit and each candle flame danced, alive and warming to her new senses. She could taste color. She could smell sound. Would she ever grow accustomed to this new world?

Aris interrupted her musing. “Your ordeal is finished.” He took her hand, leading her to a bathing chamber. An enormous, tall glass shower stall stood in the center of the room. He turned the handle
and jets of hot, steamy water shot from hidden spouts, fogging the glass and running in twisting rivers down the shiny walls. She could see each droplet of water creating the fog. Smiling, she dropped her robe on the stone floor.

“I will be just outside. There is a clean gown for you behind the door.” He stepped out, leaving her to explore her new body.

As she turned to step into the shower, she noticed a tall mirror on a silver stand resting against the wall. As she drew near to it, she laughed out loud at what she saw reflected back at her. All her tiny wrinkles and physical imperfections were gone. Her complexion was as smooth and glistening as marble. Her body was lean, yet muscular, powerful. Her hair thick and rich, her eyelashes as full as brushes. The image before her was one of beauty, of perfection. She was the very picture of an Immortal.

What did she feel? What did she not feel? Every inch of her skin was a bare nerve. Every sensation new, delicious. The hot water pouring down her back ran in rivers of delight. She watched the water as it swirled in a circle of froth, then disappeared down the golden drain. Each individual soap bubble reflected light more brilliant than the finest diamonds as they spun in the whirlpool on the floor of the shower. Her red toenails reminded her of the liquid in the goblet and her desire to drink returned. Quickly, she stepped from the shower. Every nub on the thick fluffy white towel massaged her skin as she dried. Wrapping her bathrobe around her, she hurried to Aris and the pewter goblet. The bedding was changed and inviting as she laid down next to him.