Midnight Shadow

Chapter 12 - Confessions

"Ash, tell me about your home" she whispered.

     It had been a week since the night Mia had fed, the night everything in the world changed, and private time with Mia was at a premium. The problem was it was too risky to go somewhere public. Mia looked barely old enough to pass for sixteen and no place open at three in the morning was appropriate for that age. We'd taken to talking very quietly in the living room at night. It had been raining outside and the sound of drops on the roof afforded us some protection, but it also meant Mr. and Mrs. Hill woke up more often. Their bedroom was on the top floor on the other side of the house. Once or twice they'd woken up and come to the kitchen but never gone to check on Mia or I. Consolidating the office and sewing room had taken slightly longer than Mrs. Hill had planned and she apologized constantly to Mia for it.

     I  looked through the darkness at her face almost glowing in her silver aura. How had I failed to see her beauty that first day? Her smiled stunned me... literally. Even the memory left me speechless.... it had happened enough for me to realize I needed to practice discipline.

     "What would you like to know?" I responded quietly. It was rare for her to talk out loud with me anymore, especially at night when quiet equaled privacy.

Where are you from.... originally?

"Memphis" I whispered.

Egypt? What was it like?

"I'll show you some time" I promised to her puzzled look.

     We were sitting on the floor together with our backs to the couch. It was incredibly convenient that she needed no more sleep than I did. We spent our days as part of the human society and nights in our own little immortal bubble. Just the two of us. I was so in tune with her now that I felt her emotions as clearly as if they were my own. The warmth and contentment blanketed me in a blissful peace I had never thought could exist for someone like me.

      She moaned softly and a wave of longing crashed over me as she snuggled closer to me, under my arm. It was an odd feeling. Both completely complimentary and contradicting at once. Her cold skin chilled me when we were this close but her emotions swirled around me with warmth like I had never felt. The closer I got to Mia the more I realized about her nature... and mine. Of course she was a vampire. She had a very distinct scent. It was unlike anything I'd ever inhaled and the more I was around it the more intoxicating it had become. Her skin was cold and smooth. She always wore long sleeves around the Hills and complained often of poor circulation to explain her cold extremities. Of course she looked like an angel to me, constantly surrounded by the faint silvery aura. Her voice was high and clear and it sounded like a sirens call to my ears. Her taste... well I honestly didn't know about that. Not that I didn't want to. I'd thought about it.... with increasing frequency the last 10 days. Ever since the night when I had her pressed against the cold ground outside. I laid my head back on the couch seat and sighed.

     What is it? Are you cold? I'm sorry.....  I pulled her closer to me to silence the apology. There is no place on earth I would have rather been.

     "No... I was just... dreaming" I said with a soft laugh.

Yeah.... ok You sleep about as much as I do... when was the last time?  She teased in my head.

"A few weeks before I got to the Hill's. You?"

      About a year ago... It took a long time to find Dianne. I only had a vague idea where she was. How long did you sleep for?

     "A few hours" I replied unsure of her reason for the question "What about you?"

Longer than that....  she thought reprovingly. I could feel a sense of wonder and shame creeping over her.