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“Jane, are you all right? You look tired,” Caroline said as she tapped me on the shoulder for the fourth time to wake me.
“I am sorry, Caroline. I just have not been able to sleep very well lately,” I yawned as I rubbed my eyes. I had been spending the past couple of nights in the library doing research on Mr. Wellington’s condition, but so far I had had no progress. Caroline smiled sympathetically.
“All this excitement can wear one down,” she said, then looking at the guest list added, “Don’t worry about this Jane dear, you go and get you some rest. I’ll come to wake you in time to get ready.”
“Thank You so much, Caroline.”
As I walked to my room, I heard Caroline and another servant talking. Something about the young servant girl, Alice. She had gone missing. It was nothing to worry about, I told myself. Alice had always been one to sneak off for some late night adventure. So, at the time, it did not bother me that they had not been able to find her yet because I knew they would discover her before lunch.
*~*
“Ouch! Stop pulling so hard!” I yelled, holding onto my desk as Mary tightened my corset. I could have sworn I could hear my ribs creaking.
I gasped out for air and grabbed my sides, almost falling over as she laced it up farther. I looked down at my breasts. This really hurt.
“I cannot breathe!” I whispered.
“Do not worry, Miss. You’ll get used to it by the time we’re finished with your outfit,” Mary replied as she went to my wardrobe. I was anxious to see my dress. My father had it specially made by a professional seamstress in London, so I was curious to see what it would look like. I hobbled, following Mary while I clutched my still aching sides.
“How in the world am I supposed to dance if I cannot breathe?!” I asked exasperatedly.
“I think you will stop complaining after you see this,” Mary said, pulling a beautiful dress out.
My hand flew up to my mouth as tears of happiness filled my eyes. I walked to Mary and touched the fabric, it was so soft and silky.
“It is beautiful,” I whispered, looking the rest of the dress over.
It was a gorgeous ballroom gown. It barely reached the floor, so no one would see that I was wearing flat shoes and the front was a tastefully done long V-shaped neckline. The sleeves were long and slender, with a small poof of fabric on the shoulders. It was taken up in the back in between my shoulder blades, which would create a beautiful sweeping effect in the back. I had a high waist that sat directly below my breasts. And the color, oh, what a beautiful shade of scarlet it was.
Excited as a small girl with her first toy doll, I gently took the dress from Mary and held it up to me, swaying the skirt back and forth with one hand for effect.
“What do you think, Mary?” I asked, spinning about with the dress, though I was still in my undergarments. It must have been such a comical sight.
“I think you will look beautiful in it, Miss, absolutely radiant,” she answered. I mock-danced over to her and took her hands in mine.
“Oh, Mary, do you think Mr. Wellington will think me beautiful in this dress?”
She smiled and answered with words that now seem more ominous than what I took them to be at the time.
“Miss, I think he will think you are so beautiful, it will be hard for him to resist.”
*~*
I stood there nervously in the shadows, waiting for the usher to call my name. I listened to the babble of the people who were waiting down below. My heart began to race as I thought of Mr. Wellington standing there at the bottom of the stairs with the same old smile he used to wear on his face. What would he think of me? Would he think I was beautiful, or would he think me an ugly creature, pretending to be beautiful? I nervously toyed with my hair. It had been elaborately pinned up in a loose bun that showed my hair’s natural curls, some dangling about my face.
I took a sharp breath as the usher hit his pole off the top stair. Mary had been right, I had gotten used to my corset. I straightened myself as the crowd became hushed, even the musicians stopped playing.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Jane Harrington.”
*~*~*
I smiled when I watched her walk out. I could almost feel her nervousness from the bottom of the staircase. Then she turned to face me. My breath caught in my throat and I nonchalantly took ahold one of the pillars to keep my balance. She was so beautiful. And how her dress marvelously contrasted with her pale skin! She was breathtaking! She was so many wonderful things I cannot begin to describe how exquisite she looked.
As she made her way down the stairs, I moved closer so I would be the first one to greet her. She smiled when she saw me, her eyes filled with nothing but love.
“You look beautiful,” I said and genteelly kissed her pale hand.
“You really think so?” she asked, unsure whether I meant it or not.
“I could never think otherwise, Miss Harrington,” she blushed at my reply, sending another wave of her intoxicating scent over me. After I calmed my nerves I asked smoothly, “Would you like this dance?”
*~*
This was...well, in all honestly I lost count of how many times we danced together. We spent most of the night together. It was obvious that she wished to spend her time with me, but was persuaded by her mother to think of the other poor gentlemen who had traveled all this way just to see her. However, when she did dance with another man, we never lost each other. She always knew where I was and always came back to me after that dance was over, much to that man’s despair.
Now we spun about to a slower tune. The music blended so well with the movements of our bodies that, though we were creating the dance as we went along, it seemed so natural. In fact, everything about her and I, about us seemed so natural. We just fit together. Maybe I could marry her and afterwards reveal what I was. No, that would not be fair to her. But she at least needs to know that...
“Miss Harrington,” I whispered in her ear.
“Call me Jane,” she replied softly.
“Yes, Jane,” I coughed awkwardly. I had lived for seven hundred years, and this was hard for me?
“There is something I have been meaning to tell you for quite some time.”
“Yes?” she asked, looking up at me, never missing a beat as we continued to dance to the music.
“Ever since I was blessed to make your acquaintance,” I began but she cut me off by quickly putting her hand to my lips. Don’t tempt me so.
“Please, we do not need all the formalities. We can be honest with each other,” she said softly. I took a deep breath.
“I love you,” I confessed, she missed a step. We quickly fixed our mistake and were soon dancing about the floor again as if nothing had happened.
“What did you say?” she whispered hurriedly, obviously doubting what she heard.
“I love you,” I replied again, with the same firm and sweet sincerity.
She smiled, tears filling her eyes. Even now, after seven hundred years of living, I still did not understand the female sex. I do not think I ever shall.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she replied, placing her head on my chest as we danced into a more private room, “I have just been waiting for you to say that for a long time.”
A warmth filled my chest like a schoolboy who meets his first crush. She loved me! Such childish happiness I had never experienced, but somehow it seemed appropriate for the occasion.
I smiled and let her scent take over my mind and cloud my thoughts. There was nothing at that time except her and me, except us. I envisioned right now, sinking my fangs into her throat and making her my vampire bride, together forever. Suddenly, she stiffened, ripping me out of my thoughts. She pulled back.
“What is the matter?” I asked, fearing the worst.
“Nothing, Mr. Wellington. It is just the song is over and Mr. Harrison wishes to dance with me,” she said, but I felt like her voice was far away.
She made her way through the crowd, making her way to Mr. Harrison who was at the other side of the room. Then I lost sight of her...maybe she went to get a drink.
*~*~*
Once I made it into the hallway, I broke into a run. I had to see if what I thought was correct. When I closed the door to my father’s library, I ran to a bookshelf in the back. Luckily, the candles were lit, so it did not take me long to find the book I knew would give me the answer.
I hurriedly brought the book back to one of the candlestands, flipping the pages in a desperate attempt to discover the truth. I hesitated when I turned to the chapter, thinking myself foolish for going this far. What I had seen was probably a wish of my own, not his.
“I must be crazy,” I whispered as I followed my finger as I read the words that stood eerily against the page. Vampires.
I stood still, in shock as I finished the short chapter the book contained about these creatures of the night. He fit every description. He was the bat on my curtain. Mr. Jenkins had been a lie. He was in a better mood after we visited the city because he had fed. He was suffering all these symptoms because he had not fed in a prolonged period of time. That was what kept us apart. And Alice...
Tears filled my eyes as I thought of Alice. She was so young and innocent, why did he have to kill her? Because he loves you... My mind answered. But if something like that could love, does that not mean that they have a good side as well?
“He is a vampire,” I whispered, realizing out loud what I should have known a long time ago.
Suddenly, breeze began to blow about the room. I smelled smoke as the candles were snuffed out. Anticipation and fear filled my veins as the room became dark. I looked up. With a gasp, I dropped the book, which landed with a dull thud as it hit the floor.
Mr. Wellington stood before me, the wind coming from the open door to the balcony whipping his hair about his face. His eyes were wild and frightened, like an animal that has been backed into a corner.
“Mister...,” I began, but was cut off when he disappeared. I was thrown across the room, onto a table top. Mr. Wellington loomed over me, holding my throat in his hard cold hand. I gasped for air as I tried to pry his cold fingers from my neck.
“It is not wise to dabble in things you do not understand, Jane...someone could get hurt,” he whispered menacingly as he lifted me up, making my feet leave the table. “Do you realize I could kill you now?”
“Please, please, Mr. Wellington, please don’t kill me,” I wheezed as his grip on my throat got tighter.
“You shouldn’t have meddled. I was doing what I thought was best for you by not telling you what I was. I was protecting myself,” he looked at me with cold eyes, “And if I have to kill you to save myself, then I shall.”
His grip got tighter, threatening to snap my neck in two. Black dots clouded my vision as I felt my legs loose their strength as I tried to kick them.
“STOP!” I managed to scream. He hesitated. His grip loosened, and I gasped as I tried to get more oxygen to my body. “Please stop,” I whispered.
I saw something flicker in his eyes and they softened. I relaxed as I saw the human side defeat his animalistic nature. He lowered my gently to the table and let me go. I grabbed my throat, gasping and sputtering as I tried to get oxygen back into my body. He turned away from me, looking like he was going to leave. Even though I had found out what he was, what he had done, I still could not let him go.
“Wait!” I cried out, grabbling ahold of his sleeve, “Do not go.”
He paused for a moment, and then turned to face me. I was startled at first when I saw his face was covered in blood but then I realized he was crying. He did have a heart.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, his voice thick with tears and regret.
“Do not fear, Mr. Wellington,” I said as I took out a kerchief and began to wipe his face clean, “I want to help you.”
“But...why? After what I’ve done? After you have found what I am?” he asked, his face wrinkled with confusion. I took his head in my hands to make him look me in the eye.
“I will love you know matter what you are, no matter what you have done. Never, ever forget that,” I said passionately.
We sat there in silence, motionless in the dark. I could see it in his eyes, there was a battle waging in his head. Then after what seemed like a long time, he bowed his head to congratulate the winner.
“Well, in that case,” he said as he knelt down on one knee. He took my hand in his and he looked at me. There was no lie in his eyes. “Miss Jane Harrington...will you marry me?”
I smiled as tears of happiness filled my eyes. I knew this was so bizarre being so excited when I should have been screaming in horror, but I could not help but be happy. He loved me and that was all that mattered.
“Yes,” I said as I put my other hand over my mouth to stifle my joyous sobs, “A thousand times and for a million years, yes!” He smiled, no longer afraid to show his fangs.
Yes, he loved me and I was his vampire bride-to-be.

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Hey everyone. Here's chapter five up and posted! ^_^ I hope you like it. There's only one short more chapter and an add on I've made to the story, and then I'm thinking about posting my werewolf story. Tell me what you guys think. Please read and review! Love! ^_^

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