Written In Stone

lovely face. Her head lolled back limply, her eyes closed. Gavin sank his teeth into his own wrist hard enough to draw blood, then put it to her mouth.
    "Drink," he said gently. Angie obeyed.
    At first, it was weak suckling, liked a newborn might do for the first time. Then she began to draw on his wrist, his blood pumping into her. She grasped his arm with both hands and sucked harder. He began to swoon, the feeling going through him like a drug, and it took all of his determination and strength to pull back and break free of her grasp.
    They both lay panting in the tepid water. "What happened?" Angie asked him.
    "We are one now, Angela. We will truly be together forever."
    "How…?" She wiped at her mouth and saw the blood on her hand. She looked at Gavin and saw his mouth and chin covered in blood as well. She started to feel a dizziness come over her and became alarmed. "What's happening to me, Gavin?"
    "It's alright, Angie. Don't be afraid. I'm going to help you." He stood with her still in his arms and stepped out of the tub. He laid her on the bed and gently wrapped a blanket around her. He grabbed a towel and dried himself quickly, then slid into a pair of trousers.
    Angie writhed on the bed, screaming as if in pain. Gavin knew the only thing he could do for her was hold her until it passed, until her mortal body was shed and her immortal body made her whole again. She threw the blankets off her, screaming Gavin's name. He held her and rocked her, trying to soothe his love. He had never experienced the change himself, having been born of two vampire parents, but he had been present at a few changes and witnessed the passing of the old body. He wasn't personally involved with the person changing though, and he'd never made a new vampire before, either. It took more than two hours before Angie finally settled down and quit writhing and screaming in agony.
    She lay back on a pillow, her hair tangled and sweat running off her body. She looked like an angel to Gavin. "How are you?"
    "I don't know," she whispered, sitting up. "I'm still not sure what just happened."
    "You're like me now. You're mine. I'm yours. Forever." He looked at her and hesitantly asked, "It is what you wanted? To be mine? Forever?"
    "Yes," Angie said, sounding unsure.
    "I love you, Angela. God, how I love you." He took her into his arms and attempted to kiss her.
    Angie pushed him away. "Wait." She looked at him, her eyes wide. "What do you mean like you? What are you? What have you done to me?"
    "Don't be afraid," he begged. "I'll answer all your questions."
    "I don't understand." Her voice sounded shrill and she began to panic.
    "Trust me, Angie. I promise you everything is all right."
    Angie stared at him, clutching the blanket around her. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled onto her cheeks. "What am I now?" she whispered.
    "Come with me. I want to show you something," he said with a reassuring smile. He held a hand out to her. "Trust me, Angie. Take my hand."
    "My chair."
    "You won't need it. Trust me, Angie. Take my hand." She took his hand and scooted to the edge of the bed. "Put your feet on the floor." Angie looked doubtful but placed her feet on the floor, following as he pulled her upright. He let go of her hand and said, "Walk to me."
    "Gavin, you know…"
    "Trust me," he whispered. She put one foot in front of the other, and her legs held. She moved the other foot, taking another step, and another. Gavin walked backwards in front of her.
    "Gavin? Oh, Gavin! How did you do this?" Tears streamed down her face as she followed him around the room.
    "Come on," he said. He let her hand drop and went to the bedroom door to open it. He ran down the hallway to the stairs, at the bottom, he waited for her. "Come on, Angie. Trust me!"
    Angie moved down the hallway, slowly at first, but picking up speed, and running by the time she reached the top of the stairs. Seeing Gavin looking up at her, she bound down the stairs and leaped into his arms, her mouth landing on his, her legs wrapping around his waist. He spun her around and around as they kissed.
    "Let's go outside," she said.
    Gavin threw his head back and laughed. "Perhaps you'll want to put on some clothes before we do that?"
    Angie looked down at herself, just realizing she was still naked, and wrapped intimately around Gavin. "On second thought," she amended, "why don't we go back upstairs first?"
    "Great idea." He grinned and carried her back upstairs to his room.
    ~ * ~
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