Windows of the Soul

Satinka Adams

Most people would have missed the silhouette of the young woman sitting beside the grave marker. She sat, her skin glowing in a creamy smooth way that made her appear almost luminous, by the side of the ancient marker, her bare arms resting on the rough surface. To any onlooker who would notice her, it would appear as if she wore nothing but a gossamer sheet of palest blue, draped around slender, elegant limbs. Her had rested on her arms, her gaze apparently lost in contemplation of the full moon. Her face was that of a pale angel, raven hair cascading to her hips made it appear even more fragile, even paler than it was.

She had aristocratic features, with a cupid's bow mouth and a slender nose. Her eyes were wide and large, much like a doe's. Beautifully shaped, liquid and seductively deep. And if she would turn her gaze on a mortal--his soul would be lost forever.

Tia was well aware of the effect she had on people. On mortals. So, when a young man walked somewhat unsteadily toward her, she was startled to note that he didn't seem to know she was there. She thought it was odd that someone would walk through a graveyard, in the middle of the night. On the wrong side of midnight.

His unsteady gait made her believe that he was drunk. A moment later she dismissed the idea. There wasn't a trace of alcohol fumes in the light breeze that blew into her face, and with her keen senses, she would have picked it up immediately. But there was nothing. No sense that he was aware of her. No trace of a sweetish drup smell, no alcohol fumes. Nothing. Yet he still stumbled occasionally, despite the light of the full moon that lit his path clearly.

Tia turned her gaze to him, curious to see what made him immune to her--and caught sight of dark eyes that gazed sightlessly in her direction. For a moment she was stunned.

He was blind.

"Who's there?" he called out to her, stopping.

"No one. Go. Be on your way." Tia whispered softly. "It's not safe here."

He blinked and it appeared almost as if he could see her. But he looked just slightly past her, having obviously judged where she was, from the sound of her voice. "If it isn't safe, then what are you doing here?"

"I'm the reason it isn't safe." Tia smiled and got off her perch. Slowly she walked towards him, noticing how he stiffened when he didn't hear her. He drew an unsteady breath when she touched his cheek with a cool hand. "Please. I don't want to hurt you. Please go."

"Hurt me? Why would you want to do that?" he reached out to her, his hand coming to rest on her slender shoulder. "You're cold. Don't you have a jacket?"

Tia looked up into his eyes, sad that such a good looking man would be blind. It didn't seem fair. And he seemed concerned for her. That hadn't happened in a long time. Men had desired her, had wanted to dominate her, enslave her. But hardly ever had one spoken with such a concerned voice. "What is your name?"

"Ryman. Who are you?" His hand was still on her shoulder, rubbing gently, obviously trying to warm her. Then he removed his hand and shrugged out of his jacket, holding it out to her. "Here, take mine. You need to get warm. You're as cold as one of those marble angels."

"Ryman." she breathed his name, but didn't take his jacket. "My name is Tia. Thank you for your offer of the jacket. I'm afraid that it would do no good. It wouldn' warm me."

"Sure it wouldn. It's sheepskin." he smiled, his hands reaching out and when he encountered her bare shoulders, he draped his jacket around her. "There you are."

The jacket held his scent and Tia took a deep breath, relishing it. She smiled up at him, then remembered that he couldn't see her. Her smiled faded.

"So, Tia, what are you doing in a graveyard, at this time of the night?"

"I...I live here." Tia shrugged out of his jacket and handed it back to him. "Ryman, you need to go. I...I am very hungry and I would hurt you. Please, you're a nice guy. Go, before it's too late."

"Too late for what? Do you need some food? You haven't eaten?" He insistenly put his jacket back on her. "I'd invite you for dinner, but I'm afraid I don't know if anything is still open."

Tia's hardened heart softened. "It wouldn't do any good. Please, leave. You don't know what I am. What I do."

"You are a danger to me?" He cocked his head to one side. "Why? You don't sound like you are about to start the next chainsaw massacre."

Despite her determination to make him leave, she chuckled. "No, I guess not. But I wouldn't need a chainsaw to wreak havoc. I'd just use my teeth."

"Your teeth. Uh-huh. What are you, a vampire?"

Tia remained silent.

"That's why you feel so cold? That's why you hang around a graveyard at night? Because you feed on the living?" Ryman grasped her shoulders. "If you are so dangerous, and so determined to have, uhm, dinner, then why haven't you attacked me?"

Tia stared dejectedly at the pebbles by her bare feet. " Because without you seeing me, I can't put you under a spell. And it would hurt you. A lot."

"So? What do you care?"

"You're nice. I couldn't do that to you."

He laughed roughly. "God, you have no idea. I was on my way to the bridge. You wouldn't be taking anything I'm not willing to give. Take what you need."

"The bridge? I don't think I understand." Tia eyed him curiously. Did he have any idea what he was offering?

"No, you wouldn't. You're immortal." he sighed. "I haven't always been blind. I used to be a vain, self-centered son of a bitch, who took advantage of everyone. Now I have to rely on others and they don't want anything to do with me. It's my own fault, but I've decided not to be a burden to anyone. So..." He sighed. "I was going to jump off the bridge."

Tia let out a soft gasp of shock. "No. You mustn't do that. Nothing's worth dying for. Believe me, I've tried."

Again he laughed, but it was a hard sound. "Yeah, you would say that. You can still see the stars at night, even if you don't get to see the sunlight anymore."

"You want to see so desperately? Is your vision worth dying for?" Tia said softly.

"Should you be taking me out of being your dinner?" He awkwardly settled down in the grass beside the path, and drew her down with him. "Do it. I have nothing to lose, and everything to give."

Tia reached up and cupped his face in her hands. "You are wrong. You are so wrong. You have everything to lose. And I don't want to condemn you, I don't want to kill you."

"Why not? You said yourself that's what you do. Why not let me do this? Save some other soul. Mine isn't worth it."

Tia couldn't help herself. SHe leaned forward and kissed him. Ryman drew back, startled, then gasped against her mouth. She stroked his face and his own hands instinctively reached for her to draw her closer. Her lips teased his, working gentle magic, and he captured them to deepen the kiss. She let him, drawing him into the spell her body was weaving for him. It had been so long since someone had taken care with her. So long since she had felt like this. Tia didn't want it end. And she knew that she was the only one who could save him from making the biggest mistake of his life. If she had to distract him until dawn, so be it. Suddenly he drew back and buried his face in his hands. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean--"

"You did nothing I didn't want you to do."

"Why? Why would you want me?"

"Because your soul is beautiful. It is gentle. And because I like you."

He gave a disbelieving snort.

"You didn't condemn me for what I am. You just accepted it. Not many people are so generous." Tia explained.

"I'm a fool, that's what I am."

Tia chuckled. "Well, there would be a great many men that would tell you that you're not a fool, but a lucky devil."

He smiled and lifted his head. "I had the impression that you were a beautiful creature."

"Some say I am."

"And you don't think so?"

"I'm not beautiful. I'm deadly."

He hugged her, hearing her dejected tone. "If you were, then I wouldn't be alive now. So my first verdict stands. And there is nothing you can do to change my mind."

Tia relished his hug. She wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling up to him. "This is nice."

He rested his chin on the top of her head, and sighed. "Yeah, being a vampire must be lonely existence."

"Lonelier than you could ever imagine."

"I don't have to. I'm not exactly winning any popularity contests myself. People I called friends turned their backs on me the moment I couldn't give them what they want. And the few friends I did have, I've scared away. They don't come around anymore. I've spent the past four months on my own, trying to figure out why this had happened to me. And it was lonely. Very lonely." He drew her closer. "You're the first person to speak to me in several months. I've almost forgotten the sound of a human voice."

"I'm not human, Ryman."

"You feel human to me."

She chuckled. "I'm not. I couldn't be father removed from mortals."

He reached for face, his fingers trailing her lips. "Open up."

She did, half laughing.

"Can't feel any fangs."

"Rertrcted." she muttered, his finger still in her mouth, blocking her tongue.

"Huh?"

Tia chuckled and closed her mouth around his finger, sucking gently. His shudder told her that she was making his toes curl with that action. She could feel his body tighten agaisnt hers and heard the soft gasp that escaped him. Her tongue laved over the tip of his finger, then slid down the length of it. He groaned, but didn't draw back. Instead he held her closer.

"Do you know what you're doing?" he said in a breathless whisper.

Tia nodded, continuing her game. A soft laugh escaped her when he pulled her onto his lap with one arm.

"you are driving me insane."

"Goog, I neangt to go gat."

He laughed. "You seem to have acquired a speech impediment."

She let him withdraw his finger, and wriggled in his lap, which elicited another groan from him. But before he could say a word, her lips were on his, distracting him. Her hands went to the buttons of his shirt, opening them one by one, until she could slide her hands beneath it to stroke his skin. He stiffened at the touch of her cold hands, then relaxed slightly. Only to go rigid beneath her when her thumb brushed over his left nipple. His lips became demanding, his tongue invading her mouth, teasing and stroking hers.

"Touch me, Ryman." Tia breathed against his mouth. "Please."

He didn't hesitate. His hands slipped beneath the sheepskin jacket, gently stroking up her ribcage, his thumbs barely grazing her breasts. Tia sighed and reached for his hands, guiding them to cup her breasts. He was so warm. His touch was like fire to her.

"Will you...would you..." She broke off, never having had to ask. "I won't get mad if you turn me down."

"Turn you down for what?" he said in-between kissing her throat.

"Make love to me." Tia waited for his answer, half afraid that he would pull back, half wanting him to.

"I thought that was where we were heading?" he chuckled.

"I...no, we weren't. We were headed towards some form of mindless coupling." Tia felt him stiffen.

"Maybe you were. I wasn't." Ryman began to pull away.

"Please don't go..." Tia pleaded. "I'm sorry. It's just that no one ever--" she clamped her mouth shut, fearing that she'd said too much already. "It's not normally like this."

"Oh yeah. Sure." he scoffed. "What's it like then? Normally?"

"Different. Not like this." God, she wanted him to see her. Desperately. "Men don't usually take their time with me."

"Then your choice of men is sadly lacking." He still kept away from her, but there was regret in his voice.

"Not this time."

Despite his blindness, he looked up at her. "What's different this time?"

"This time he cares about me. At least that's what it feels like." Tia reached for him again. "And I like how it feels. A lot."

"Surely someone must have cared about you before?"

"If someone did, then he hid it well."

His arms wrapped around her, holding her close. "Then it's time we change that."

"You don't mind pretending?"

"What says I'm pretending?" he said softly.

She hugged him for that. "Thank you."

"No need." His lips captured hers and continued where he'd left off.

Tia leaned into him, her hands in his hair, caressing the nape of his neck. It felt so good, so right. She sent a plea to whatever deity would listen, to let her keep him safe.

Ryman lowered her into the grass, caressing her midriff, taking his time to explore. Her wrap came loose, allowing him to explore soft skin. Tia pulled his shirt out of his waistband and trailed her finger along his abdomen. Seduced by his warmth, by his gentleness, she placed a kiss onto the smooth skin below his navel. Hearing him moan with delight made her smile. Her tongue flitted against his skin, making the muscles there tighten. His hands stopped her when she reached for the snap of his denims.

......

Gasping for breath, shuddering into her again and again, he held her tightly until the tremors subsides. Tia clung to him, starry-eyed and sated. Never had anything felt like that. Not ever.

She placed a gentle kiss on his forehead, nothing that the sky was beginning to lighten. "I have to leave."

"Take me with you. I have nothing to go back to." he whispered.

"You have life to go back to." Tia said gently. "Don't waste it. It's too precious."

"What about you? Will I see you again?" He frowned at his choice of words. "I mean--"

"I know what you mean. And yes, I will come to you. But I have to leave you now." She kissed the tip of her finger and placed it on his lips. Then she got up and draped the gossamer wrap around herself. Seeing Ryman's hands search for his denims, she picked them up and handed them to him. She couldn't leave him like that. Not seeing, practically helpless. Slowly she knelt down beside him, casting a worried look at the easter sky and the slight purple tinge there. "Ryman, I...I can give you something in return for what you gave me. But it will hurt. A lot."

"You need to fee, huh?" He paused, his shirt in his hand.

"Yes, but that's not why I'm asking."

"Do it."

"Don't you want to know what I am offering?" She was surprised that he hadn't asked if his vision was within her power.

"That isn't important to me. I just don't want you to be hungry." He tilted his head to one side. "Go for it."

"Oh Ry, it will hurt so much..."Tia whispered, already moving toward him. There wasn't much time. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be, just do what you have to do."

Her fangs extended at the sight of the throbbing pulse in his neck. Kissing him gently, she grasped his shoulders... and bit down. He went rigid and she knew he was on the verge of screaming out his agony. She couldn't let him, and put her hand over his mouth. And she drank. After a long while she withdrew and licked the wounds. Then she let some of the blood that was still on her mouth drip onto her finger.

"Open your eyes."

He did, staring blankly at her, his face twisted with pain. Tia let a drop of blood trickle into his eye, and he screamed in agony, clutching his face.

"The other one, Ry. Right now."

"No. Oh God no! What are you doing?!" He tried to avoid her grip, but she easily overpowered him.

"Open it."

"No. It hurts!"

"It has to , damn it! Now open your eye!" She quickly dripped the remains of blood into his right eye, mortified when he moaned in agony. "Come back here tomorrow night. And then tell me it wasn't worth it."

Tia got up and ran to her tomb, shutting herself inside before the sun could reach her.

Ryman knelt in the grass, his hands on his face. And when he took them away, he saw the pink streaks of dawn brighten the sky in the east...

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