Unraveling by Kelley

She had to know. She wanted to run as far away as possible, but she couldn't. Hands shaking, she pushed the doors open. They were all there, the group, their inner circle, a variety of hangers-on. They all turned at the sound of the doors, their eyes first wide with surprise, then closed in laughter. She closed her eyes and listened, his laughter wasn't there anymore. Opening them, she scanned the room and found the one person who wasn't laughing. The recognition was instant as their eyes met. The face in her dreams, the one she could never bring into focus, was staring back at her.

"Well, well, well, it looks as though the brainiac has stumbled on to our little secret." Carmen was sitting on Nick's lap. "What happens now? Do we drink first and then kill her?"

"No my pet, we kill her as we drink. You have such a hard time remembering that." Nick shook his head and kissed her affectionately. The rest of the room laughed at her silliness.

"It really is too bad she isn't more, oh I don't know, attractive. She does seem to be very smart, we could use someone like her." AJ was nibbling delicately on the shoulder of a young girl. "But I guess we don't want to ruin the quality of our lineage with someone who is soooo far below standards. Howie, why don't you take the honors."

She ignored their taunts and their threats. There was no fear in her eyes as she crossed the room towards the leader. Crouching next to his chair, taking his hand in hers, she whispered to him, "Make me one of you. I want to see the world. I want to see what it will be hundreds of years from now. I want to see what civilization becomes. I want to be a part of it. I want my child to be a part of it."

The expression on his face didn't change. He gave her no response for he couldn't speak. She didn't beg for her life, she didn't beg for her child's life, she had no fear of him and what he was. He was amazed at her strength.

The room burst into laughter as they heard her request. "Oh that's absurd" "She wants to be one of us? Ridiculous!" "Someone is feeling very self-confident this evening." "I suppose we could put a bag over her head."

Neither one of them heard a thing. She took his silence as rejection. Pulling herself to her feet, she stood before him, unafraid. "I will not beg you. I only ask that you do it quickly, if not for my sake, then for the child's." She closed her eyes and threw her head back, waiting for the inevitable.

He stood and cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Our child" he whispered, a smile on his lips. "Are you sure, my love?" He found the answer in her smile, in her eyes, in the touch of her hands on his waist. Tilting her head to the side, he sunk his teeth into her neck. His mind spoke to her as their connection was made. "I've been waiting so long for you, my love. You will rule with me."

The room is silent as they watch him drain her. He finally stops. She is weak, barely conscious. He continued to hold her face as she looks into his eyes. It is there that she sees his history...the horrors of the Black Death, losing his wife and children to it, the terror of becoming what he is now, the years of being bricked up in a tower, the wonder of watching the world evolve, the overpowering loneliness of experiencing all of this by himself. She couldn't contain her tears and kissed him gently with the last of her strength, hoping to ease a little of his pain.

Without hesitation, he sliced open his throat and pressed her to him. Drinking from him, his life, his power flows into her. Every drop makes her stronger. He pulled her away when she has had enough, both of their wounds healing instantly. Her eyes are greener, her lips fuller and he cannot resist them. Bending his head he kissed her as she melted into his arms.

"Kevin, what have you done?" Nick roared from his chair. The kiss stopped and they turned towards the rest of the group.

"You fool, why her?" Carmen squealed her agreement. "She's noth....." Carmen was dead before she could finish her sentence.

She turned towards her mate. "May I Kevin?" He nodded his ascent. The rest are dead within seconds. The remaining four are stunned to have their playmates gone. "I never figured out why you surrounded yourself with idiots. You will find that you are happier without them." They look at her and laugh. One look from her silences them instantly. They know she is more powerful than all of them combined.