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As I write this, Violet sits outside on the porch in a rocker that is almost as old as she is. The flowered dress she wears looks as if it is holding on to her frame for dear life, for she is little more than a skeleton with cascades of still dark hair tumbling down her shoulders and onto her breasts. Her veins show more prominent now, pulsing through her skin, raising to reach the sky so one can feel them. Violet still wants me to drink from her. Oh, but she is so weak! Once more could kill her! But she teases me; flaunts around those beautifully raised, blood-filled veins. I just can't help myself; she is so delicious. But I cry each time I bite her. She wants to die. I know it, but I don't want to be the cause. Or maybe I don't want to be alone. I was alone for a long time before I met her, and I do not want it again. I don't want to lose her! She knows not the torment she puts me through! She doesn't have much longer. I am surprised she has lasted this long. Seldom do mortals live to the age of 101. I suppose it is my fault. My blood sustained her life, giving her more years than most, but she would not allow me to give her immortality. She made me promise to let her die, and to never, even when she suffers, turn her. How reluctant I was to agree! I am still not sure if I can keep my vow. I will not be able to stand her being in pain. Oh, how I love her. I dread the day that ends it all. I will not be able to bear it! I cannot live! Violet feels my despair. She gets up out of her rocker, and I feel how much she struggles against age and gravity to get her limbs to work. She comes inside to stand next to the chair in which I sit, and lays her hand upon my cheek. She notices the wrinkles on those hands and regret flashes in her eyes, but it quickly vanishes. A weak smile spreads across her pink lips, and she drops the small blanket wrapped around her shoulders, exposing to me her long, pale throat full of those throbbing blue veins. I try to turn away, try not to look, but she comes closer and holds my head to her chest. I take a deep breath, smelling her, breathing her. I'm lost in her scent; like honeysuckle and vanilla. "Drink," I hear her whisper. I shake my head, tears in my eyes, fighting the urge. She pulls me closer, holds me tighter. "Drink," she commands. "No!" I cry out. "Please, love, no." "But you'll feel so much better." "And you could die," I plead with her. Why does she not understand? "I'm mortal, my darling. It would be a blessing." She pulls me closer, tighter. I hear the blood, her blood; so seductive. My teeth extend. I try to hold back, but I find myself licking her throat, tracing my tongue along those veins. "I love you," she says so soothingly that I almost forget where I am. "Then do not make me do this." I am sobbing. My whole face is streaked with the red-tinged tears. The pain in my heart far overbears that of my hunger. "But you must. For me, for both of us." "No," I say, even as I pierce the skin and feel the warm, coppery liquid enter my mouth. I feel her convulse as the orgasm rushes through her, and I sob harder, suck harder. It is pure ecstasy; and I hate myself for it. I feel my own pleasure flow into my mouth, and for a moment I am floating, flying. I can barely hear her heart. It takes all of my strength to pry my mouth from her throat. Her fragile body lays in my arms, unmoving. There is no heartbeat now. An inhuman noise comes from deep inside of me, and I pull her body close to mine. "Please. Don't leave me." I run my hands through her dark hair, smelling it; honeysuckle and vanilla; feeling it, crying uncontrollably. "Violet!" I scream. My cries quickly become whimpers, and I kiss her for the last time. It hurts. It hurts so much. Like salt in a wound; like nails in the wrist; like greeting the pavement after jumping out a 20th story window. How will I live without her? How can I? For a fleeting moment I think about bringing her back. But I promised. I vowed. I cannot do that to her. She would hate me for all eternity. Besides, Violet is no longer here. Only her body is left. Her beautiful, old and fragile body;and I miss her already. "I love you." |