Part 25 (1/2)
”I haven't even known you two weeks -”
”Two weeks, two months, two thousand years. It means nothing. Love is something you either feel or you don't. You can grow to care for someone but love either exists or it doesn't. You can't make it happen if it's not there in the first place. So I'm asking do you love me?”
Her quickening heartbeat cried out to him. He sensed her discomfort as well as her arousal.
”That's a nice speech from a man who dumped me this morning.”
”I had reasons for acting as I did. None of them were good. I thought they were, but I was wrong.”
”And what if I answer you and you change your mind again? I'm a human being, Seraphim. I know I'm just a.. .an embryo to you, but -”
” I love you.”
She drew a sharp breath and reached for her gla.s.s. He took her hand, this time not releasing it when she tried to tug away. His thumb caressed her wrist, feeling her pulse leap.
”I do love you,” he said. ”You're part of me now. Forever. No matter how you feel, you'll always have my love.”
”It's because Trixie said she'd change me, isn't it? You want to do it because it'll be a rush for you, won't it? Mercedes told me what it's like between lovers when one changes the other.”
”Yes, I want to be the one to change you.” ”Then afterward it will be see you later, embryo.”
”No.” He touched her cheek with his free hand. ”Hannah, if I didn't want to share my life with you, I wouldn't have come here.”
”Then why did you turn me away this morning?”
”Because I've hidden a lot for a very long time. My fear is that if our bond deepens-through the change, for example-you'll see everything inside me.”
”Is that so bad?” Her hand tightened on his. ”You'll see inside me, too. I'm not afraid.”
”Perhaps you haven't as much to hide.”
”I know what you are, Seraphim. I know most vampires have violent histories.” She shook her head. ”d.a.m.n it, most human beings have violent histories, or have at least done things in their past they're ashamed of.”
”My life isn't entirely my own.” ”Tell me.”
”Before I do, I need to know. Do you want me to change you? And if by chance I can't, will you still want me after someone else has?”
She smiled with disbelief. ”Are you asking if I only wanted you because I thought you'd make me a vampire?”
He tilted his head slightly in question.
”Seraphim, I care for you very much. I do love you. G.o.d, that sounds crazy.” She closed her eyes. ”Love at first sight is some kind of fantasy.”
”No. It's real. It's the only love I believe in.”
”Should we make an appointment with Jules?” she asked softly, her expression almost shy.
”I already called him. He said we could stop by tonight.” ”Then let's go.”
They stood, and Seraphim paused, tugging her close. ”The song that's playing, isn't it the one you danced to at the mansion?”
She smiled, nodding. It was the one she'd performed specifically for him that night he hadn't wanted her to dance for the others.
”Dance with me?” he asked.
She nodded, allowing him to guide her to the floor. As he took her in his arms, she tilted her face to his and smiled before resting her cheek against his shoulder. Seraphim buried his face in her hair, tightening his embrace.
Less than an hour later, they sat in Jules' private office. Matthew faced them from behind the desk.
”You're definitely compatible,” Matthew said. ”Congratulations.” ”Good,” Seraphim felt a combination of relief and uncertainty.
”So what's next.” Hannah edged her chair closer to Seraphim's, their fingers entwined.
”Well, you can proceed at any time,” Matthew said. ”There is the danger that you might not survive. As a precaution I'd suggest undergoing the change here, where we can intervene if necessary.”
”You mean if I drop dead,” Hannah said.
Matthew nodded. ”But I don't foresee that happening. We have a room right here where you'll feel very comfortable.”
”Oh I'm sure,” Seraphim muttered. He was a ten thousand year old vampire but he was contemplating changing his lover in a doctor's office as if they were a couple of laboratory rats. Still, if it was less risky to her, it would be worth it.
”Honestly.” Matthew stood. ”Let me show you the room.”
Hand in hand, Seraphim and Hannah followed Matthew down the corridor where they hopped on the elevator to the sixth floor. There, Matthew brought them to a midsized room resembling a hotel room. There was a thick black carpet on the floor, a large bed covered with a black quilt and pillows, and a window overlooking the city. A door to the left opened to a bathroom and one to the right opened to the observation room where the doctor in charge could monitor the change.
”So you'll be watching?” Hannah wrinkled her nose at Matthew.
”No.” He smiled. ”I'll just hang out and be available should anything go wrong.”
”What do you think?” She glanced up at Seraphim.
”The ritual can be performed as well?” Seraphim asked Matthew.
”Of course. I know many vampires swear by it. Whatever the couples want is fine with us.”
”Ritual?” Hannah asked.
”There's a ritual that can be performed to help enforce the mental aspects of the change,” Seraphim explained. ”Many view it as tradition while others don't believe the change is even possible without it.”
”Oh it is.” Matthew folded his arms across his chest.
”You're right, of course, Matthew.” Seraphim turned to the doctor. ”However the phrase 'mind over matter' can be quite powerful. If the couple believes the ritual is necessary, then it is.”
”Do you think it's necessary?” Hannah asked.
”Not necessary, but helpful with the mental bond. It's also very beautiful.”
”So I've heard,” Matthew said. ”It's been explained to me, but I've never experienced it.”
”No, you have a child coming in an even more traditional way. When is your wife due?”