Kiss Me

BY: Kash

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, and I'm not interested in owning anyone. I'm not making any money off of this.

Rating: PG (Still no bloodshed...but we've made it to the kiss...woo hoo)

I looked down at the ring Luce had just placed on my hand and had to fight back the tears. This was really happening…it wasn’t just some dream I’d conjured up out of the night to keep me warm. I was actually doing it…marrying the man I loved. Okay so he wasn’t exactly a man…and he did happen to be the Prince of Darkness…every relationship has its kinks…right?

We’d had a (please excuse the pun) one hell of a time deciding on the vows. Neither one of us felt we could write our own…and I damn sure wasn’t going to obey anyone. I’d love and cherish him, I’d stand beside him through the lean times as well as the good, and I would stay with him til death did we part…well since both of us are kind of NOT among the living that part was a bit off as well. However, saying we were joined in the eyes of God…as well as man…it was tricky. Luce and God have a history, which makes it less then wise to go around swearing things in the Lord’s name.

Besides that Luce and I both knew that in the end…we’d be on opposite sides of the battle field. We shouldn’t have even contemplated marriage…I knew that, but what can you do? When you love someone it isn’t because they don’t have any flaws that you abhor…it isn’t cause they're perfect…it's because you love them anyway. I know what Luce is, I’m very clear on that count, but I can’t help what my heart feels.

Because of all that and a great deal more we’d decided to keep it simple and just swear our love for each other. It worked for me. It was really the only honest promise we could make to one another. We loved each other but it didn’t mean that we shared the same ideals and it didn’t mean that we were on the same side. It just meant we loved each other and thought that maybe…just maybe, we could work past our differences. Besides doesn’t the Bible say something about loving your enemy?

I took the ring Luce held out to me. It was larger then mine but cut in the same design, tiny diamond chips set in the band…three to be precise. The rings had belonged to my great grandparents. I’d always loved the setting. I’d been amazed when I saw Asher take them out of his pocket. They were suspended on a silver chain…I had worn it around my neck at one time. I didn’t know how Luce had found them but I was glad he did, they made the act seem more sacred to me…more important. They brought back a bit of my family to me. I sometimes miss my family…but like the poet says…you can’t go home.

I repeated Malcolm’s words as I slide the ring on to Luce’s finger. “With this ring I thee wed.” Such small words, strange how they can hold such power. I took a deep breath and looked up into Luce’s eyes. He looked determined…and happy. The darkness that tended to swirl in the depths of his gaze had evaporated and I was left staring into a clear ice gray, that spoke of times gone by when he truly had been the Day Star. Eyes the shade of the sky right before the sun rises…blue barely creeping into them. Its not hard to imagine why he also known as the Seducer of Virgin’s…though tonight I fully intended to turn the tables on him.

Malcolm seemed pleased. He was smiling like a doting father. Maybe it was just the fact that HE was the minister and had actually been invited to join us on this occasion…Anita doesn't play with him all that much. It must suck being a Master Vampire in a city that bows before to the Executioner's every whim…not to mention that THE Master Vamp in charge happens to consider you little more then a charlatan. I imagine it wounded ones ego to be left out of all the politics…but on this occasion he’d been needed. Must be a nice change for him.

He smiled and nodded at us again…like a bobbing dog. Someone was going to have to glue his head on tight…the nodding was enough to make you nauseous. I waited expectantly…still turned towards Luce. I’d been on pins and needles earlier when the requisite question of “If anyone here knows of a reason why these two should not be joined, speak now or forever hold your peace,” had come. I’d been afraid to breath. Everyone here knew of at least fifty reasons why we shouldn’t get married. Fortunately I wasn’t forced to shoot anyone, they all remained in their seats. Though I swore I heard some muttering from Jason’s vicinity and I’m almost certain that Saul kicked Dare to keep him silent. I wondered who else had needed physical persuasion to keep their mouth shut…maybe in this case ignorance was bliss.

Finally the pronouncment of “You may now kiss the bride” came. It was about bloody time if you asked me. I’d been dying for want of a kiss for months…years…decades…eons even. Maybe all kisses are like that…well wedding kisses. I could feel the tension building in the air. The hush that feel over the entire gathering…the sweet smell of jasmine…I frowned a second at that one. Jasmine wasn’t in season and there wasn’t any growing near the Lupanar. I figured one of the girls must have some perfume on. Of course by then I was in Luce’s arms and he was pressing his lips softly to mine…just a hint of a kiss…the most delicate of tastes…so sweet so tender…I wanted it to last forever.

to be continued...


INDEXor To Be Continued