Lou's Life Chap 9 "Lessons Con't"

Wow! Cute boy! I thought as I walked from my Calculus class. He was good enough to make me look back over my shoulder. This guy had walked past me and I have to admit he was very attractive. I guessed him to be about 20-23 and he was wearing designer clothes. Hair fixed just right and good smelling cologne. You know the type. His blood smelled really, really good too, so to me he was cute. I don't discuss my sex life very often. There have been several guys over the years, but very few that I have ever felt really especially close to. Sex with a guy is one thing, a relationship with someone is something else entirely. I am a normal college student, so of course I have to keep up the appearances of a normal college sex life. In case you were wondering, there are a few questions I didn't answer in Vampire FAQ. One being, yes, vampires can be physically attracted to humans. Some vampires take it to the level of having an intimate, constant sexual relationship with humans because it fulfills some void in their lives. They even have special names for such vampires, a female vamp that has sex with a male human is called a Succubus, and when it's a male vamp with a female human, he's called an Incubus. Women vamps have less issues with sexuality than men vampires. A female vamp can have sex with any man she wants, pretty much anytime she wants. There is no chance of pregnancy or STD. Since technically we are dead (no heartbeat), the female sexual organs do not function exactly the same as they do in human women. But male vamps have a serious danger of getting a female human pregnant. When that happens, the fetus usually doesn't survive. When it does survive, it usually kills the mother during childbirth. A child born to a vampire and a human is called a Dhampir and these immortal children usually have only one special ability. They are adept at killing and detecting vampires, the only creature higher up the food chain than us. In a battle with a Dhampir, it is literally, to the death. Luckily for me, I've never seen one.

Anyway, back to the cute boy. When you have been alive for 429 years, you've seen lots and lots of different kinds of people. My perspective on beauty is rather unusual. You think fads nowadays go by quickly, try comparing it to 429 years worth of fashion fads. Beauty is absolutely, completely in the eye of the beholder. To me true beauty is beauty of the heart, beauty of the soul. Fashion can mean so many different things, from the way you wear your hair, to clothing, to wether you use accessories, or none. Beauty of the soul is something completely different. It generally no matter what kind of fashion your wearing. For me, there has always only been one man that I thought was beautiful. Every time I see him. No matter how he wears his hair, or what kind of clothes he's wearing, or even completely naked, he is stunningly beautiful to me. At first I hated him. I will admit it took me a long, long time to see his beautiful soul.

We got to the creek right at dusk. The creek was about a half mile walk from the cave. This had always been my favorite time of day. At this time of day all the evening chores had been done, evening meal had been eaten, and evening vespers had been sent up to heaven.. Before going to bed, we were given a small amount of leisure time at the convent to read, paint, pray, sing or just be children for a little while and play. this time of day meant relaxation. Quinn stopped and I walked around him to the water's edge. There was a wide spot in the creek, that looked pretty deep that I assumed was the bathing hole. "Turn around. Do not look at me while I bathe, it's indecent." I said. Quinn just walked away. "I'm going for a walk" he called over his shoulder. I quickly dipped behind a bush, pulled off my soiled wimple, let down my hair and loosened my braid, and pulled my dress over my head. I held it up to look at the damage and was amazed. No wonder everybody looked at me like was some kind of monster. I probably looked really monstrous with this much blood on me. It was supposed to be a blue dress, but I had been living in it for 4 months and it was covered in blood, so it was now a wrinkled, dingy mixture of brown and purple. I decided to burn it when I got back to Quinn's room. I hung my clean clothes on the bush, took my soap and waded into the water. I looked all around and could not see Quinn anywhere. I waded into the river with soap in hand and went under to wet my hair. The water had to have been freezing, but it didn't feel cold to me at all, just lukewarm. It felt so good to be clean! I came up with only my head above water. I opened my eyes and Quinn's face was at the same level as mine in the water, about 4 or 5 ft away. I jumped with surprise and anger. "WHAT, BY ALL THAT IS HOLY, ARE YOU DOING!! GET OUT OF HERE!! I am bathing, sir and it is highly improper for you to see me in such a state of undress. Remove yourself, right this instant!"

"As you wish" He turned and started to walk towards shore. As he got higher in the water, I realized he was also undressed. "Wait, wait stop! You can't get out with me watching! Let me turn around!" Once I had turned my back to him, I waited several moments and yelled "Are you out?" "NO" the voice came from right behind me. I spun around as quickly as I could in the water and this time I was nose to nose with Quinn. He was smiling an evil, mischevious grin. "What do you think your doing? Why are you torturing me so? Please leave me be!" I said.
"No, I cannot"
"Why not?"
"Because when you came out of my chamber this afternoon covered in blood, you were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen"
I blushed and my mouth dropped open. "Pardon me sir, I don't think I heard you. What did you say?"
"I said you were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen."
"That's what I thought you said. You Sir, are a heartless rogue to tease me so. I insist that you cease. I am certainly not accustomed to such vain flattery."
"What makes you think I'm just being flattering? Am I a rogue because I show you favor? Could I not just be speaking words from my heart?"
The tip of his nose was touching mine the entire time he said this, and his eyes were staring into mine. The water was two inches below my chin, I was standing on the rocks on the creek bottom. Quinn was actually a good 6 inches taller than me, but he must have been standing in a lower spot because his nose was even with mine. Standing there, up close like this, I could see so much in his eyes. There was pain, hate, and anger to be sure, but beyond there, way in the back of his heart, was a vulnerable, hurt soul. He looked like a lost little boy, who had been hurt so badly he had shut himself behind a wall of blue ice. I felt hands on my waist. I put my hands on his wrists. We didn't move, I was afraid to breathe. Slowly, he titled his head slightly and his lips very gently pressed mine. It was like putting a piece of warm, wet silk to my lips. I felt a shiver go through me. Kissing! This is what kissing felt like! It was strange, but I think I liked it. Some place warm below my stomach did a flip-flop. He pulled his head back and looked into my eyes again. What was I supposed to do now? I had no previous experience to go on. I had seen the animals at the farm mating, so I knew where babies came from, but I had no experience with human intimacy. I was a virgin in more ways than one. I felt a tingle go all the way from my head to my toes. The kiss was very gentle, soft and sweet. I was terribly moved.

"You know, you are mine, you have been mine from the day the Gitan brought you into my chamber. The first time I saw you I was struck by how fragile you looked, like a fine piece of china in a glassblower's shop. Something exquisitely beautiful that some men would pay a fortune to possess. I wanted you then, but I knew you would fear me. If I had pushed myself on you, you would have ran screaming form me. I had to give you time to become accustomed to me, and to your fate. I'm sorry that I have been so gruff and hard with you. I knew you would accept it faster and easier if I gave you time and space, time to think, time to come to the realization that the world has not ended." As he said this wrapped his arm around my waist and tried to pull me closer. I moved my hands from his wrist to his chest and pushed back from him. I reached up and slapped him on the cheek. "You take indecent liberties, sir"
He just smiled again."Yes, but you know you find it enjoyable."
"What I enjoy and what I will allow are two very different things. You forget my lord, that not long ago, I was a Carmelite, a woman under the training of the church. I will not, I cannot allow such liberties with a man I have not wed. And since there is no hope of there EVER being a marriage contract between us, you will cease immediately!"
"All right, but eventually you will agree to see things my way." And with that he suddenly released me and turned to walk out of the creek. The view I got from the rear was interesting to say the least. I know I should have turned my head, but I couldn't seem to help myself. His shoulders were broad, tapering down to lean narrow hips. His torso made a perfect V. His shoulder length black hair, because it was wet, hung down between his shoulders. His pale skin looked like liquid silver in the moonlight. Moonlight?? Suddenly I noticed it was dark, much darker than it had been when we got here. I could still see very clearly, although everything had a kind of grayish tint to it. Like a movie in black and white. I guess vamps must have really excellent night vision, another extra ability. I scrambled out of the creek and into my dress. I didn't even take the time to braid my hair, just left it loose down my back. Quinn was far enough ahead that I couldn't speak to him, but at least I could see him and know what direction to find the cave. When I reached the entrance to the cave, he was standing there waiting on me. We walked in and again, conversation came to a halt. This time we were not confronted by any angry gypsy grandmothers, so we just collected our torch from the back of the room, and walked down the path without incident. Lesson Three: Quinn Is A Very Good Kisser!