Cadmine averted her gaze from Vidmir as he smiled at her, praising the fact that she had simply spoken his name, as broken as it was in her accent. She licked at her lips, pink tongue flickering outwards with anticipation for him to make good on his promise. He owed her a married kiss now and she would probably be quite devastated if he were to deny her now. Her curiosity had been peaked, her desire to find out exactly what it was a married kiss would be like. Cadmine had been so sheltered, her knowledge of the outside world limited to what her parents deemed fit for her to learn and what her brother had been able to sneak in for her when they weren’t paying attention too closely. The thirst for knowledge beyond what she already had was something to filled her entire being with a need, a desire, to learn anything and everything she could. While Cadmine wasn’t entirely sure what Vidmir would let her do, even if he was being insistent on their being ‘equals’. It was something she hadn’t entirely wrapped her head about, the idea that she, as a female, would ever be able to tell her husband she wanted to do something and have him readily agree to it as if she was of the same caliber as a male. To have the power of making her own choices, whether his input was included or not. It was kind of of a scary thought, especially when she had always been under some sort of controlling authority.

As Vidmir reached for her chin, the brunette went entirely still. His touch upon her skin was chilly, but no in an uncomfortable kind of way. It actually soothed the heat that had pressed even more violently into her cheeks, making them ache with both anticipation and embarrassment. Cadmine allowed her eyes to flicker upwards to meet her husband’s gaze, the indigo of his eyes so similar to her own. She was used to the ever changing colors in the irises of the vampires around her, but it was so rare that she saw anyone else with that tell-tale indigo of the deepest heart aches. A kind of hollow hopelessness that was not something most discussed because it was so common for the more elder of their kind to have and to talk about them in a gossiping kind of way would have been untoward. Even if everyone did it anyway regarding other topics. Cadmine attempted to steel her confidence back up, but it faltered as Vidmire brought her face upwards properly and then he was closing the distance between them. She closed her eyes.

The first press of her husbands lips upon her own had the young vampiress’s heart skipping a beat inside her chest and stuttering to restart. At least that’s what it felt like to her, pounding in her ears as it was now. She wasn’t entirely sure what to do with her hands, so she kept them in her lap, leaned slightly forward as she ever so carefully, pressed her mouth back at Vidmir’s. She stopped breathing, stopped doing anything but focusing in on the sensation of her first kiss. It was not an unpleasant feeling, far from it as her body was sent thrumming as though Vidmir’s lips contained some kind of electricity she hadn’t been anticipating. The sensation spiraled deep down into her belly, warm and welcome but confusing all at the same time. Her tummy fluttered, as though many small wings were dancing around inside of it. Cadmine’s lips parted, a small breath pressed outwards as she shifted, leaning closer into Vidmir. Everything in Cadmine told her to press for more, to deepen this kiss until her brain was swirling and she forgot to breath completely, but too soon, much too soon, Vidmir was pulling away.

Cadmine’s eyes flickered back open in surprise, her lips still parted in that delicate pout they had taken on. The kiss had felt like it had lasted both forever and only a moment at the same time. A slight pang of disappointment flared in her chest, not because of the kiss itself, but of it ending in a way that felt so abrupt compared to what her body wanted it to be. She wanted another, immediately. It took all of the brunette’s control to prevent her from simply reaching out, grabbing her husband by the shirt and pulling him back to her. It helped that Vidmir was now reaching for the tea set, his attention turned towards that instead. She didn’t want to accidentally spill the hot tea on either on them, the pot in his hand steaming as he poured the tea first into her cup and then his own. Cadmine watched with rapt attention, her eyes trailing his movements, the way he added just the right amount of milk to hers without even asking. As if he already knew how she took it from simply observing her the past couple of days. Sugar cups plunked into his cup, splashing a bit before being stirred with a small, delicate spoon. She could see them melting away rapidly, soaking into the tea. Cadmine didn’t reach for her own cup as Vidmir spoke, a simple enough question, but one that had too many answers for her to feel entirely comfortable delving too deeply into it. How was she to tell him that she felt as if she had been shocked by a small bolt of lightening, that she could still feel it vibrating up and down her body? That his kiss had elicited a warmth in her stomach that swirled around, slightly aching and unfulfilled? That she wanted another, and another, and another until… until what? Perhaps until their lips fell off, though that seemed like it was definitely be an unreasonable request.

So Cadmine didn’t explain herself fully. Instead, she picked up her tea cup and blew on it a bit before taking a small sip. Just right. “Lovely.”

Setting her cup back on it’s saucer, Cadmine reached out for one of the pastries prepared for them and took a bite out of it. She needed something to do with her mouth, her hands, to prevent her from snatching at Vidmir in the manner she wanted to at the moment. She glanced at him, eyes dashing sideways to do so before returning to her food. “I… Perhaps….” She gulped and reached for her napkin, dabbing at the corners of her tingling but otherwise clean lips. “Perhaps another… Vi’mir?” Saying his name had gotten her the first kiss, maybe saying it again would get her a second?

Married Kisses, Please.

Cadmine’s breath had caught in her throat as Vidmir had brought his lips to her knuckles, her back still fairly bare, having yet to do up her dress properly but at least the rest of her was fairly well covered. Her cheeks colored and she gave a nod, glad for the promise of their picnic at midnight, that she had something to look forward to. It wouldn’t be a whole night of wondering when she would see her husband again, of when he would greet her in her chambers for yet another feeding. Her eyes trailed after him as he left, closing the door behind him only for it to be knocked on mere moments later. It was Gunhilde, carrying a breakfast tray that smelt strongly of oatmeal and tea, a smile on her face as she bid the lady of the house a good morning. Cadmine accepted her assistance in doing up the back of her dress, putting on her stockings, braces, and leather boots before she was helping her move from the bed to her wheelchair. The meal laid out for her this morning consisted of a bowl of piping hot oatmeal, a bowl of fruit, jar of honey, orange juice, and tea. It was different from her usual breakfast, but not unwelcome, especially when Gunhilde drew a clear pouch out of her pocket. She undid the packet with a pair of small scissors before pouring it out into an empty glass beside the orange juice, the red fluid at just the right temperature to be half frozen, half liquid, forming a lovely slush. Cadmine went for the blood first, feeling more hungry this morning than she had yesterday. She had fed off Vidmir, but that had been hours ago, long enough to leave her chugging her slushie until she got brain freeze and was grabbing at her head, groaning as Gunhilde’s eyes widened in panic. Cadmine waved her off, reassuring her that she was alright, she’d just drunken her blood to quickly. She switched over to the oatmeal in order to warm the roof of her mouth back up, sprinkling it with brown sugar, honey, and a few berries before she dug into it. It was nice, warming her insides in the fairly darkened room. The few good things she did like about the room were simple. The fireplace, how big and comfortable the bed was, and that it was on the main floor so she didn’t have to worry about any stairs or something to get up or down. She and Gunhilde never had any trouble exploring the main floor, even if they had gone through most of it the night before. There would be more time for that today, Cadmine supposed.

“I’ll fix your hair right up nice.” Gunhilde promised as she ran a brush through it as Cadmine ate. It was a tangled mess from sleeping, completely discombobulated to the point where she was having to fight it a good deal in several places to sort it out properly. Cadmine took another sip of her slushie, her mind falling back onto what Vidmir had said to her before he’d left. That Gunhilde was lucky because she got to touch Cadmine’s hair on a regular basis. Cadmine still wasn’t so sure what about her hair her husband actually liked. Her mother had always impressed upon her that keeping herself neat and tidy was of the utmost importance, especially for a vampiress of her standing. Perfect posture, perfect hair, perfect smile and the best clothing possible. Cadmine had spent her life with tight hair-dos in order to hide the way her hair liked to fight back, standing up on end, always a handmaiden available with a jar of gel in her pocket just in case. The bun was always the best way to contain it, the cover keeping it from exploding outward from its many pins, the rest smoothed completely back and locked into place with more product that left it sleek and shining, but a bit hard to the touch throughout the first portion of the day. Cadmine turned her head, worrying at her lower lip even as Gunhilde had begun to gather the long, thick locks into her hands, working their way upwards to get it onto the top back portion of her head.

“Gunhilde… perhaps… perhaps, not a bun today?” Cadmine questioned carefully, her brow narrowing a bit as if confused by her own words. What did she mean not a bun? Her mother had always insisted on a bun. It kept her hair tame and pretty! Vidmir’s words fell over her again and her courage returned a bit, remembering that he seemed to have liked her hair down. “Perhaps something to keep it out of the way, but not so contained?” Cadmine could nearly hear Gunhilde smiling as she dropped the locks back down.

“Of course, my Lady.”

“Cadmine.”

“Cadmine.” Gunhilde laughed and began to set to work again, using the brush to reorganize Cadmine’s hair into the right position. She started to french braid it from Cadmine’s left temple, running it down along her head at a diagonal so that when she had reached the ends of the long chestnut tresses and locked them into place with an elastic. With that done, she moved to the dresser, but instead of digging into it, she reached for the jewelry box on top of it. Cadmine watched, curious as her handmaiden withdrew several lilac colored bits. Upon closer inspection, Cadmine found that they were flowers, not real ones but very close, with stems and clips and drooping bits. Soon, Cadmine’s braid had been decorated with the flowers, making her head look more like a little garden of light purple than hair by the time Gunhilde handed her the mirror. Cadmine stared for a few moments, her eyes widening in surprise before she nodded.

“It’s so lovely! Thank you, Gunhilde!” Cadmine beamed, thrilled with the difference. It felt strange having her hair flowing over her right shoulder onto her chest instead of being pinned to her head tightly, but it also seemed to put a lot less stress on her neck. She finished her breakfast, read for a little while, but eventually found that she couldn’t sit still for the life of her. She was excited for the picnic, to get outside and spend more time with her husband. Despite her nervousness over the wedding, Cadmine was finding that she wanted to be with Vidmir more often than not. It had hurt her when he’d left the morning before instead of staying to sleep with her like married couples were supposed to. To get rid of her nervous energy, they left her chambers, keeping the book in a bag on the back of her chair along with anything else she might need while they were wandering. The pair explored more of the castle, peeking into places they had yet to discover until they found themselves lost along one of the more tucked away corridors. It didn’t last long. They had only been discussing whether left or right was the best way to go before Lucero had turned up. He had beamed, suggesting they go look at wall paper samples, fabric swatches, and paint colors so that Cadmine could decorate the castle however she deemed fit. She had stared at him for a moment before agreeing, but for only a half hour and not a minute more. She didn’t want to be late for lunch. That half hour was spent boredly in her chair in Lucero’s office, staring at what only could be described as what a male vampire of a certain age would think was fashionable or at all appealing to a seventeen year old.

“They’re gaudy.” Cadmine finally sighed out after the fifteenth suggestion, waving a hand of dismissal. Lucero looked affronted, but even as he went to open his mouth, the clock chimed half past eleven. Cadmine excused herself and Gunhilde, needing to freshen up before lunch and heading out into the gardens… which were, to be honest, devastatingly disappointing. Cadmine stared as they went out a back glass door in a rounded wall, finding that the stars were out tonight but that was about the best thing of being outside. Cadmine had brought a shawl with her, just in case, but she found she probably wasn’t going to need it much. It was fairly warm out, even if there was that slight chill that came with summer nights. The gardens though… oh the gardens.

Cadmine had been expecting flowers blossoming, nicely cleared pathways, tinkling fountains, and beautifully alive trees that were full of gorgeous leaves and maybe even bits of fruit like back home. The gardens here were anything but. The flowerbeds and hedges were completely overgrown, yellowing weeds spilling over onto what had probably once been a stone walkway but was now littered with dead leaves, bits of moss, and twigs. A fountain that should have been tinkling with water sat still, it’s bowls partially full with stagnant, bad smelling brown sludge and green algae that had clung onto the sides along with more moss trying to climb along the rims and base.  A bird bath appeared next, in a similar state, but only with a small puddle in the middle. The trees were even worse, raising upwards, bent a bit from the wind, their trunks and branches blackened as though they were sick or dead, all twisted up in a way that made them appear to be reaching for something, anything, to make them better and failing as they began to crumble inwards on themselves. Maybe it was just began it was dark out, but Cadmine knew better than to hope. These gardens were not pretty. They hadn’t been taken care of, no one seemed to even be concerned about them and had allowed them to go to waste. Cadmine’s stomach tightened as she took it all in, concern on her face as she wrapped her arms around herself, chilled now by just her surroundings.

Deeper into the garden they went, traveling under a tunnel made of dying trees and vines, the path here a bit more clear but still quite covered in crunching leaves that were broken easily beneath Cadmine’s wheels. They went over bumps that weren’t too easy, but it wasn’t as terrible as it could have been reaching the place where Vidmir had chosen for their picnic. Just outside of the tunnel, a small clearing opened up, curving flowerbeds creating a kind of barrier, several trees dotting what looked like it had once been grass. A small stream trickled somewhere and Cadmine’s eyes found a break in the vegetation where there looked to be a small wooden bridge keeping the path going. A plank of rotting wood hung from a branch by a rope, swinging slowly at an angle, another rope dangling from the branch above looking as though the end of it had frayed away. A swing, Cadmine realized, or rather, what had once been one. Her eyes traveled from there over to the blanket spread out beneath the tree next to the one with the swing. Platters of food had been placed on a small table in the middle, keeping them off the ground but only by about nine inches. Despite the state of the gardens, Cadmine’s face began to brighten as she spotted Vidmir, ready and waiting on the blanket beside the table.

“Afternoon, my Lord.” The little wife greeted, her indigo eyes lightening ever so slightly before swirling back down to their usual depth. She bid goodbye to Gunhilde once they reached the blanket and gazed down at her husband. He looked just as handsome as he had earlier, but now he was dressed, no longer in his pajamas but still casual, unlike when she had first seen him at the alter. He had worn what was traditionally acceptable for a vampire groom and knowing how awful her dress had been on her body, Cadmine didn’t blame him in the least for wanting to be comfortable. She wished she could do that as well. “I do hope I’m not tardy.”

Cadmine’s eyes slid upwards, peeking at Vidmir from the corners, watching as his mouth curved into what was probably one of the first real smiles she had ever seen upon his handsome visage. It made his eyes alight with something different… new. As if he were genuinely pleased to hear his name fall from her lips despite how horrendously she had butchered it with her accent. She turned her head a bit then, still too shy to fully meet his gaze, but her husband, it seemed, was determined to have her look at him anyway. His hand was surprisingly gentle as he placed his finger upon her soft cheek, running down it as though testing to see if she would allow him to touch her in this way. His hand followed suit, coaxing her carefully to turn her face to him, to lift her chin in order to meet his gaze. Despite herself, Cadmine did so, indigo orbs flitting upwards for but a moment before they were dancing away again, her heart beat beginning to flutter rapidly in her chest as the lord of the castle began to close the distance between them. Cadmine closed her eyes out of anticipation, her pink lips puckering every so slightly, waiting for the kiss she had asked for. What would it feel like, taste like? Instead though, Cadmine found her eyes opening once more at the touch of Vidmir’s lips upon head. Surprised confusion danced across her face, brow furrowing as her husband denied her, again, of the kiss she had requested. She opened her mouth, preparing to ask him if perhaps, she had not done well enough with her pronunciation of his name to warrant that sought after bit of intimate affection, but was quickly quieted as her husband’s mouth came to rest behind her ear instead. It was just a soft press, but it still ignited the sudden array of flames that decided to shoot through Cadmine’s body, warming her even further from the inside out and causing her breath to hitch. He was so very close to that one spot where he had first bitten her, where his venom had first entered her system to start the change that would be ongoing until her heart finally stopped beating in her chest. Those fiery tendrils inside of her burned hotter at the very thought of it, of tasting him again and her him. Though they had only had the two evenings together thus far, Cadmine could already feel her mouth watering with the promise of it. His blood was so delicious, so unadulterated unlike that of the human blood she had otherwise had to fill her thirst throughout her life.

Such thoughts only served to further Cadmine’s desire for his kiss, to make her squirm ever so slightly on the soft blanket beneath them as she allowed thoughts of their previous time together to flood her mind. The way he tasted, how his teeth had sunken into more than just her throat, an attempt to introduce his venom into the places her broken body needed it most in order to promote the healing the change would, hopefully, bring to her. She thought of the warmth that had pooled between her legs with him above her and she wondered, vaguely, if tonight would be when he would decide to take her fully in body as well. It was odd that he hadn’t yet, right? From what Cadmine knew, all of her sisters had gone off in the middle of their wedding receptions to perform the act of both their initial bonding bites and everything else that typically came to be on a wedding night. That had not taken place for Cadmine and Vidmir, her need to be free of that accursed brace keeping her back straight and pained causing him to sweep her away instead of keeping with the usual traditions. Why, Vidmir hadn’t even so much as tried to touch her breasts yet, let alone suggested that they perform the necessary coupling that would eventually bring them children. She had felt him though, the length of him through his pants on their second evening together, but… but had that been attraction or simply a result of their blood sharing? A gentle wave of concern began to flit about in the very back of Cadmine’s mind, one she forced away, refusing to so much as acknowledge. Vidmir had gone hundreds, thousands, of years without bothering to marry. Still though, the conversation they had had on the plane here… about him desiring a companion, not a wife or ‘fruit of the flesh’, but someone with fresh eyes for a life that he had lived for far too long alone. And who better for such a thing than the Savior? Cadmine pressed that thought backwards, to the further reaches of her brain. She would not think on it, on the idea that perhaps, her husband did have feel that kind of attraction to her, that maybe he would have preferred something else entirely.

Cadmine allowed her fingers to twist with Vidmir’s as he took her hand, telling her to try again, to say his name once more. She pouted a bit, not pleased that she would have to make a second attempt at it just to get a proper kiss from her husband. His tone was teasing though, taunting her with that new bit of light in his eyes that she hadn’t seen before. As if he were genuinely beginning to enjoy himself despite the color of his irises. Steeling herself, Cadmine straightened further, rolling her shoulders back until her posture was as perfect as she could get it without some kind of assisting medical device. She finally met Vidmir’s eyes properly, lips not stammering this time. “Vi’mir.” The little vampiress pressed his name out more boldly this time, voice stronger, though hers hands shook a little bit, still nervous but hoping this time, it would be sufficient enough. Her eyes flickered to his lips, both question and plea.

Married Kisses, Please.

Cadmine’s breath had caught in her throat as Vidmir had brought his lips to her knuckles, her back still fairly bare, having yet to do up her dress properly but at least the rest of her was fairly well covered. Her cheeks colored and she gave a nod, glad for the promise of their picnic at midnight, that she had something to look forward to. It wouldn’t be a whole night of wondering when she would see her husband again, of when he would greet her in her chambers for yet another feeding. Her eyes trailed after him as he left, closing the door behind him only for it to be knocked on mere moments later. It was Gunhilde, carrying a breakfast tray that smelt strongly of oatmeal and tea, a smile on her face as she bid the lady of the house a good morning. Cadmine accepted her assistance in doing up the back of her dress, putting on her stockings, braces, and leather boots before she was helping her move from the bed to her wheelchair. The meal laid out for her this morning consisted of a bowl of piping hot oatmeal, a bowl of fruit, jar of honey, orange juice, and tea. It was different from her usual breakfast, but not unwelcome, especially when Gunhilde drew a clear pouch out of her pocket. She undid the packet with a pair of small scissors before pouring it out into an empty glass beside the orange juice, the red fluid at just the right temperature to be half frozen, half liquid, forming a lovely slush. Cadmine went for the blood first, feeling more hungry this morning than she had yesterday. She had fed off Vidmir, but that had been hours ago, long enough to leave her chugging her slushie until she got brain freeze and was grabbing at her head, groaning as Gunhilde’s eyes widened in panic. Cadmine waved her off, reassuring her that she was alright, she’d just drunken her blood to quickly. She switched over to the oatmeal in order to warm the roof of her mouth back up, sprinkling it with brown sugar, honey, and a few berries before she dug into it. It was nice, warming her insides in the fairly darkened room. The few good things she did like about the room were simple. The fireplace, how big and comfortable the bed was, and that it was on the main floor so she didn’t have to worry about any stairs or something to get up or down. She and Gunhilde never had any trouble exploring the main floor, even if they had gone through most of it the night before. There would be more time for that today, Cadmine supposed.

“I’ll fix your hair right up nice.” Gunhilde promised as she ran a brush through it as Cadmine ate. It was a tangled mess from sleeping, completely discombobulated to the point where she was having to fight it a good deal in several places to sort it out properly. Cadmine took another sip of her slushie, her mind falling back onto what Vidmir had said to her before he’d left. That Gunhilde was lucky because she got to touch Cadmine’s hair on a regular basis. Cadmine still wasn’t so sure what about her hair her husband actually liked. Her mother had always impressed upon her that keeping herself neat and tidy was of the utmost importance, especially for a vampiress of her standing. Perfect posture, perfect hair, perfect smile and the best clothing possible. Cadmine had spent her life with tight hair-dos in order to hide the way her hair liked to fight back, standing up on end, always a handmaiden available with a jar of gel in her pocket just in case. The bun was always the best way to contain it, the cover keeping it from exploding outward from its many pins, the rest smoothed completely back and locked into place with more product that left it sleek and shining, but a bit hard to the touch throughout the first portion of the day. Cadmine turned her head, worrying at her lower lip even as Gunhilde had begun to gather the long, thick locks into her hands, working their way upwards to get it onto the top back portion of her head.

“Gunhilde… perhaps… perhaps, not a bun today?” Cadmine questioned carefully, her brow narrowing a bit as if confused by her own words. What did she mean not a bun? Her mother had always insisted on a bun. It kept her hair tame and pretty! Vidmir’s words fell over her again and her courage returned a bit, remembering that he seemed to have liked her hair down. “Perhaps something to keep it out of the way, but not so contained?” Cadmine could nearly hear Gunhilde smiling as she dropped the locks back down.

“Of course, my Lady.”

“Cadmine.”

“Cadmine.” Gunhilde laughed and began to set to work again, using the brush to reorganize Cadmine’s hair into the right position. She started to french braid it from Cadmine’s left temple, running it down along her head at a diagonal so that when she had reached the ends of the long chestnut tresses and locked them into place with an elastic. With that done, she moved to the dresser, but instead of digging into it, she reached for the jewelry box on top of it. Cadmine watched, curious as her handmaiden withdrew several lilac colored bits. Upon closer inspection, Cadmine found that they were flowers, not real ones but very close, with stems and clips and drooping bits. Soon, Cadmine’s braid had been decorated with the flowers, making her head look more like a little garden of light purple than hair by the time Gunhilde handed her the mirror. Cadmine stared for a few moments, her eyes widening in surprise before she nodded.

“It’s so lovely! Thank you, Gunhilde!” Cadmine beamed, thrilled with the difference. It felt strange having her hair flowing over her right shoulder onto her chest instead of being pinned to her head tightly, but it also seemed to put a lot less stress on her neck. She finished her breakfast, read for a little while, but eventually found that she couldn’t sit still for the life of her. She was excited for the picnic, to get outside and spend more time with her husband. Despite her nervousness over the wedding, Cadmine was finding that she wanted to be with Vidmir more often than not. It had hurt her when he’d left the morning before instead of staying to sleep with her like married couples were supposed to. To get rid of her nervous energy, they left her chambers, keeping the book in a bag on the back of her chair along with anything else she might need while they were wandering. The pair explored more of the castle, peeking into places they had yet to discover until they found themselves lost along one of the more tucked away corridors. It didn’t last long. They had only been discussing whether left or right was the best way to go before Lucero had turned up. He had beamed, suggesting they go look at wall paper samples, fabric swatches, and paint colors so that Cadmine could decorate the castle however she deemed fit. She had stared at him for a moment before agreeing, but for only a half hour and not a minute more. She didn’t want to be late for lunch. That half hour was spent boredly in her chair in Lucero’s office, staring at what only could be described as what a male vampire of a certain age would think was fashionable or at all appealing to a seventeen year old.

“They’re gaudy.” Cadmine finally sighed out after the fifteenth suggestion, waving a hand of dismissal. Lucero looked affronted, but even as he went to open his mouth, the clock chimed half past eleven. Cadmine excused herself and Gunhilde, needing to freshen up before lunch and heading out into the gardens… which were, to be honest, devastatingly disappointing. Cadmine stared as they went out a back glass door in a rounded wall, finding that the stars were out tonight but that was about the best thing of being outside. Cadmine had brought a shawl with her, just in case, but she found she probably wasn’t going to need it much. It was fairly warm out, even if there was that slight chill that came with summer nights. The gardens though… oh the gardens.

Cadmine had been expecting flowers blossoming, nicely cleared pathways, tinkling fountains, and beautifully alive trees that were full of gorgeous leaves and maybe even bits of fruit like back home. The gardens here were anything but. The flowerbeds and hedges were completely overgrown, yellowing weeds spilling over onto what had probably once been a stone walkway but was now littered with dead leaves, bits of moss, and twigs. A fountain that should have been tinkling with water sat still, it’s bowls partially full with stagnant, bad smelling brown sludge and green algae that had clung onto the sides along with more moss trying to climb along the rims and base.  A bird bath appeared next, in a similar state, but only with a small puddle in the middle. The trees were even worse, raising upwards, bent a bit from the wind, their trunks and branches blackened as though they were sick or dead, all twisted up in a way that made them appear to be reaching for something, anything, to make them better and failing as they began to crumble inwards on themselves. Maybe it was just began it was dark out, but Cadmine knew better than to hope. These gardens were not pretty. They hadn’t been taken care of, no one seemed to even be concerned about them and had allowed them to go to waste. Cadmine’s stomach tightened as she took it all in, concern on her face as she wrapped her arms around herself, chilled now by just her surroundings.

Deeper into the garden they went, traveling under a tunnel made of dying trees and vines, the path here a bit more clear but still quite covered in crunching leaves that were broken easily beneath Cadmine’s wheels. They went over bumps that weren’t too easy, but it wasn’t as terrible as it could have been reaching the place where Vidmir had chosen for their picnic. Just outside of the tunnel, a small clearing opened up, curving flowerbeds creating a kind of barrier, several trees dotting what looked like it had once been grass. A small stream trickled somewhere and Cadmine’s eyes found a break in the vegetation where there looked to be a small wooden bridge keeping the path going. A plank of rotting wood hung from a branch by a rope, swinging slowly at an angle, another rope dangling from the branch above looking as though the end of it had frayed away. A swing, Cadmine realized, or rather, what had once been one. Her eyes traveled from there over to the blanket spread out beneath the tree next to the one with the swing. Platters of food had been placed on a small table in the middle, keeping them off the ground but only by about nine inches. Despite the state of the gardens, Cadmine’s face began to brighten as she spotted Vidmir, ready and waiting on the blanket beside the table.

“Afternoon, my Lord.” The little wife greeted, her indigo eyes lightening ever so slightly before swirling back down to their usual depth. She bid goodbye to Gunhilde once they reached the blanket and gazed down at her husband. He looked just as handsome as he had earlier, but now he was dressed, no longer in his pajamas but still casual, unlike when she had first seen him at the alter. He had worn what was traditionally acceptable for a vampire groom and knowing how awful her dress had been on her body, Cadmine didn’t blame him in the least for wanting to be comfortable. She wished she could do that as well. “I do hope I’m not tardy.”

Cadmine stared at her husband, deep indigo eyes growing wider as he spoke, explaining to her exactly what the actual process of ‘married kisses’ entailed. It was not the simple press of lips that she had seen others around her do, but rather, a much deeper, more involved coming together. Not only did one use their mouths, but their tongues as well, something the young vampiress had definitely not been privy to. There wasn’t a ton of information given to her by her mother or sisters that had to do with kissing so much as what was referred to as a ‘male’s needs’ regarding the very serious matter of creating children with one’s mate. Cadmine was well aware of the mechanics now, something she had been vaguely informed of, but nothing near the actual act of such things. She had no idea of what it was supposed to be like aside from being one of her many ‘wifely’ duties to add to the long list of other household expectations. Decorating the home, being the hostess planning parties, doing whatever it was her husband required of her, and of course, child rearing during which she would have the assistance of however many nannies or nurse maids she needed. At the end of the day, it was up to Vidmir as to what Cadmine would be fully considered responsible for. For his approval. The idea of being… equal, as he had said, was foreign to her. Cadmine had been raised to obey and value her husband, to seek to please him. So far though, Vidmir hadn’t really asked anything of her that had been overwhelming or invasive. She’d had to see the doctor, be assessed, but he had respected her request of no more testing. No more needles, no more treatments for her back that she could no longer even endure the thought of being put through again. He hadn’t forced her into helping Lucero with choosing wallpaper and other such things, allowing her the freedom to explore wherever she wanted with Gunhilde. To wear her hair differently than she’d been raised, given her the go ahead to change around her own bedroom’s décor and, if she needed anything, to simply ask for it. Like nightgowns that actually covered her body and were not simply made up of gauze and lace. Though, admittedly, Cadmine had found she hadn’t entirely minded wearing his shirt to bed instead.

As Vidmir explained the finer points of kissing, Cadmine’s cheeks began to redden even further than they had with her question in the first place. Kisses so deep you opened your mouth, used your tongue… pressed your bodies together… The heat that coursed through the young thing’s bloodsteamn was a hot, burning thing, pulsing down into her stomach as she broke her eye contact away from her husband to look down at the blanket they shared. Her fingers twined into the fabric of her dress, fiddling with it as bit, the moonlight shining down making it look even paler than it had previously inside. Her heart was racing in her chest, beating so rapidly she could practically feel it pressing against her ribs, trying to break free from inside of her. This wasn’t due to fear though, oh no, but rather, excitement. Cadmine’s willingness, her desire to perhaps try a married kiss, was high and the idea that it was even more intimate than she had originally thought only increased her interest. Cadmine had already discovered she rather liked Vidmir’s touch. The way he had held her as they’d slept, his hands skimming along her body as he found the correct places to bite in order to inject his venom more directly into the parts of her body that it could help heal, even the simple touch of his hand on her own or brushing her hair from her cheek… they were all welcome things. She wanted more of his touch, his hands, his arms around her. The fact that he wanted something from her in return, something that should be as simple as speaking one word, his name, in exchange for the kind of kisses a couple shared, should have been a relief. That is, if Cadmine hadn’t been so embarrassed by how badly she spoke it. Even now, her accent lilted awkwardly around her words in general, but those were not important ones. Not the same way his name was, something so sacred that she rarely ever even heard her mother refer to her father as such. Perhaps alone, in their bedroom, but it was always some kind of respectful moniker. ‘Lord’, ‘Sir’, ‘Husband.’ The fact that Vidmir was requesting it of her…

“My l-lord… it wouldn’t be appropriate…” Cadmine whispered, though her voice was hoarse, as though her throat had gone dry at the very idea of it. She brought one hand to her jugular, pressing gently as she gulped, trying to clear it. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply. His emphasis on her own name, the way he always referred to her by it instead of some of the much more dehumanizing phrases a lot of males used in order to refer to their wives, was already different. Maybe… Maybe it wouldn’t be entirely that terrible to say his name. If only the once… If only just for a kiss.

Stealing herself, Cadmine took a deep breath, eyes flickering back open. She met Vidmir’s gaze, her own hard with determination, jaw clenching slightly as she fought her tongue for a moment. She repeated his name in her mind several times, speaking it to herself, the same way she had heard it over and over again, but it still wasn’t perfect, not the same. Her accent would destroy it, but… If his name was what he really wanted…

“Vi’mir.” Cadmine’s voice was barely even a whisper as she spoke, the vowels long and hard, missing that ‘d’ in the middle as so many of her native words tended to do when the letter was present. It was less ‘Vidmir’ and more ‘Vee-mear’, mouth absolutely murdering his name without meaning to. She looked down at her lap, face so flushed it was surprising she had any blood left to circulate through the rest of her body. “K-kiss… please.”

Married Kisses, Please.

Cadmine’s breath had caught in her throat as Vidmir had brought his lips to her knuckles, her back still fairly bare, having yet to do up her dress properly but at least the rest of her was fairly well covered. Her cheeks colored and she gave a nod, glad for the promise of their picnic at midnight, that she had something to look forward to. It wouldn’t be a whole night of wondering when she would see her husband again, of when he would greet her in her chambers for yet another feeding. Her eyes trailed after him as he left, closing the door behind him only for it to be knocked on mere moments later. It was Gunhilde, carrying a breakfast tray that smelt strongly of oatmeal and tea, a smile on her face as she bid the lady of the house a good morning. Cadmine accepted her assistance in doing up the back of her dress, putting on her stockings, braces, and leather boots before she was helping her move from the bed to her wheelchair. The meal laid out for her this morning consisted of a bowl of piping hot oatmeal, a bowl of fruit, jar of honey, orange juice, and tea. It was different from her usual breakfast, but not unwelcome, especially when Gunhilde drew a clear pouch out of her pocket. She undid the packet with a pair of small scissors before pouring it out into an empty glass beside the orange juice, the red fluid at just the right temperature to be half frozen, half liquid, forming a lovely slush. Cadmine went for the blood first, feeling more hungry this morning than she had yesterday. She had fed off Vidmir, but that had been hours ago, long enough to leave her chugging her slushie until she got brain freeze and was grabbing at her head, groaning as Gunhilde’s eyes widened in panic. Cadmine waved her off, reassuring her that she was alright, she’d just drunken her blood to quickly. She switched over to the oatmeal in order to warm the roof of her mouth back up, sprinkling it with brown sugar, honey, and a few berries before she dug into it. It was nice, warming her insides in the fairly darkened room. The few good things she did like about the room were simple. The fireplace, how big and comfortable the bed was, and that it was on the main floor so she didn’t have to worry about any stairs or something to get up or down. She and Gunhilde never had any trouble exploring the main floor, even if they had gone through most of it the night before. There would be more time for that today, Cadmine supposed.

“I’ll fix your hair right up nice.” Gunhilde promised as she ran a brush through it as Cadmine ate. It was a tangled mess from sleeping, completely discombobulated to the point where she was having to fight it a good deal in several places to sort it out properly. Cadmine took another sip of her slushie, her mind falling back onto what Vidmir had said to her before he’d left. That Gunhilde was lucky because she got to touch Cadmine’s hair on a regular basis. Cadmine still wasn’t so sure what about her hair her husband actually liked. Her mother had always impressed upon her that keeping herself neat and tidy was of the utmost importance, especially for a vampiress of her standing. Perfect posture, perfect hair, perfect smile and the best clothing possible. Cadmine had spent her life with tight hair-dos in order to hide the way her hair liked to fight back, standing up on end, always a handmaiden available with a jar of gel in her pocket just in case. The bun was always the best way to contain it, the cover keeping it from exploding outward from its many pins, the rest smoothed completely back and locked into place with more product that left it sleek and shining, but a bit hard to the touch throughout the first portion of the day. Cadmine turned her head, worrying at her lower lip even as Gunhilde had begun to gather the long, thick locks into her hands, working their way upwards to get it onto the top back portion of her head.

“Gunhilde… perhaps… perhaps, not a bun today?” Cadmine questioned carefully, her brow narrowing a bit as if confused by her own words. What did she mean not a bun? Her mother had always insisted on a bun. It kept her hair tame and pretty! Vidmir’s words fell over her again and her courage returned a bit, remembering that he seemed to have liked her hair down. “Perhaps something to keep it out of the way, but not so contained?” Cadmine could nearly hear Gunhilde smiling as she dropped the locks back down.

“Of course, my Lady.”

“Cadmine.”

“Cadmine.” Gunhilde laughed and began to set to work again, using the brush to reorganize Cadmine’s hair into the right position. She started to french braid it from Cadmine’s left temple, running it down along her head at a diagonal so that when she had reached the ends of the long chestnut tresses and locked them into place with an elastic. With that done, she moved to the dresser, but instead of digging into it, she reached for the jewelry box on top of it. Cadmine watched, curious as her handmaiden withdrew several lilac colored bits. Upon closer inspection, Cadmine found that they were flowers, not real ones but very close, with stems and clips and drooping bits. Soon, Cadmine’s braid had been decorated with the flowers, making her head look more like a little garden of light purple than hair by the time Gunhilde handed her the mirror. Cadmine stared for a few moments, her eyes widening in surprise before she nodded.

“It’s so lovely! Thank you, Gunhilde!” Cadmine beamed, thrilled with the difference. It felt strange having her hair flowing over her right shoulder onto her chest instead of being pinned to her head tightly, but it also seemed to put a lot less stress on her neck. She finished her breakfast, read for a little while, but eventually found that she couldn’t sit still for the life of her. She was excited for the picnic, to get outside and spend more time with her husband. Despite her nervousness over the wedding, Cadmine was finding that she wanted to be with Vidmir more often than not. It had hurt her when he’d left the morning before instead of staying to sleep with her like married couples were supposed to. To get rid of her nervous energy, they left her chambers, keeping the book in a bag on the back of her chair along with anything else she might need while they were wandering. The pair explored more of the castle, peeking into places they had yet to discover until they found themselves lost along one of the more tucked away corridors. It didn’t last long. They had only been discussing whether left or right was the best way to go before Lucero had turned up. He had beamed, suggesting they go look at wall paper samples, fabric swatches, and paint colors so that Cadmine could decorate the castle however she deemed fit. She had stared at him for a moment before agreeing, but for only a half hour and not a minute more. She didn’t want to be late for lunch. That half hour was spent boredly in her chair in Lucero’s office, staring at what only could be described as what a male vampire of a certain age would think was fashionable or at all appealing to a seventeen year old.

“They’re gaudy.” Cadmine finally sighed out after the fifteenth suggestion, waving a hand of dismissal. Lucero looked affronted, but even as he went to open his mouth, the clock chimed half past eleven. Cadmine excused herself and Gunhilde, needing to freshen up before lunch and heading out into the gardens… which were, to be honest, devastatingly disappointing. Cadmine stared as they went out a back glass door in a rounded wall, finding that the stars were out tonight but that was about the best thing of being outside. Cadmine had brought a shawl with her, just in case, but she found she probably wasn’t going to need it much. It was fairly warm out, even if there was that slight chill that came with summer nights. The gardens though… oh the gardens.

Cadmine had been expecting flowers blossoming, nicely cleared pathways, tinkling fountains, and beautifully alive trees that were full of gorgeous leaves and maybe even bits of fruit like back home. The gardens here were anything but. The flowerbeds and hedges were completely overgrown, yellowing weeds spilling over onto what had probably once been a stone walkway but was now littered with dead leaves, bits of moss, and twigs. A fountain that should have been tinkling with water sat still, it’s bowls partially full with stagnant, bad smelling brown sludge and green algae that had clung onto the sides along with more moss trying to climb along the rims and base.  A bird bath appeared next, in a similar state, but only with a small puddle in the middle. The trees were even worse, raising upwards, bent a bit from the wind, their trunks and branches blackened as though they were sick or dead, all twisted up in a way that made them appear to be reaching for something, anything, to make them better and failing as they began to crumble inwards on themselves. Maybe it was just began it was dark out, but Cadmine knew better than to hope. These gardens were not pretty. They hadn’t been taken care of, no one seemed to even be concerned about them and had allowed them to go to waste. Cadmine’s stomach tightened as she took it all in, concern on her face as she wrapped her arms around herself, chilled now by just her surroundings.

Deeper into the garden they went, traveling under a tunnel made of dying trees and vines, the path here a bit more clear but still quite covered in crunching leaves that were broken easily beneath Cadmine’s wheels. They went over bumps that weren’t too easy, but it wasn’t as terrible as it could have been reaching the place where Vidmir had chosen for their picnic. Just outside of the tunnel, a small clearing opened up, curving flowerbeds creating a kind of barrier, several trees dotting what looked like it had once been grass. A small stream trickled somewhere and Cadmine’s eyes found a break in the vegetation where there looked to be a small wooden bridge keeping the path going. A plank of rotting wood hung from a branch by a rope, swinging slowly at an angle, another rope dangling from the branch above looking as though the end of it had frayed away. A swing, Cadmine realized, or rather, what had once been one. Her eyes traveled from there over to the blanket spread out beneath the tree next to the one with the swing. Platters of food had been placed on a small table in the middle, keeping them off the ground but only by about nine inches. Despite the state of the gardens, Cadmine’s face began to brighten as she spotted Vidmir, ready and waiting on the blanket beside the table.

“Afternoon, my Lord.” The little wife greeted, her indigo eyes lightening ever so slightly before swirling back down to their usual depth. She bid goodbye to Gunhilde once they reached the blanket and gazed down at her husband. He looked just as handsome as he had earlier, but now he was dressed, no longer in his pajamas but still casual, unlike when she had first seen him at the alter. He had worn what was traditionally acceptable for a vampire groom and knowing how awful her dress had been on her body, Cadmine didn’t blame him in the least for wanting to be comfortable. She wished she could do that as well. “I do hope I’m not tardy.”

Cadmine’s eyes gazed at the swing, pondering how star jasmine might look climbing up the ropes. It would be lovely, she decided, elegant but simple. A garden full of life and light, of all sorts of colors and greenery that it was currently lacking. Perhaps some of the plants weren’t entirely gone, could maybe be revived if given the kind of affection they needed in order to thrive once more. What couldn’t be saved could be removed and replaced, to give the garden the kind of make over it was sorely in need of, similar to that of the castle itself in certain places. Cadmine supposed it might be more welcoming once her eyes could see in the dark better, but even then, there was such a lack of… brightness anywhere. The colors of the castle were deep and rich, but what of lighter ones? Gentler tones that would be much more soothing. Her own chamber, for one, was all dark wood and deep reds, not even remotely close to her own personal taste. Vidmir had said she could do as she wished. Redecorate the whole place as far as he was concerned, though she doubted that meant his personal rooms where he had slept, where his creatures dwelled when not outside. Cadmine had no desire to change his rooms, not that she’d ever even seen them. No, the young wife had only been able to traverse the main floor of the castle, where her chair was able to be pushed around or she could roll herself. Perhaps, if she ever got her legs working, she could see more of it. For now, the main floor was vast enough to keep her plenty occupied for a while.

Those deep indigo eyes flickered back to Vidmir as he regarded her question, her cheeks pink with embarrassment at having even asked such a forward thing to begin with. While he may have been her husband, Vidmir was still someone to be treated with the utmost respect, as Cadmine had been raised to do with males in general. She was the Savior, but she was also still a woman, still below in their patriarchal society despite her gift. And Vidmir was the highest ranking of them all. For her to ever impose herself upon him, to speak to him with anything but apparent reverence… It would be positively shameful. However, Cadmine found her husband’s response surprising, her eyes widening, blinking a bit as though trying to wrap her head around what he was saying. Vidmir hadn’t kissed her because he wasn’t sure if she would prefer he didn’t. That he was giving her the time and space to choose what it was she desired from him, respecting boundaries she had never given him, had never asked him to acknowledge. From all Cadmine knew of males and their wives, it was highly common for a husband to simply… take whatever he wanted, especially once the pair was completely bonded. It didn’t matter if the marriage was arranged, if the female was forced into it, it was whatever her father decided for her, and then, her husband once wed. The fact that Vidmir was sitting beside her, considering her feelings on the matter, on whether she wanted him to kiss her in that special way married couples did… It was… It was completely unheard of as far as Cadmine knew. Of course, things might have been different in a marriage based on love to begin with, but this…

“M-my lord?” Cadmine whispered, uncertain as he smiled at her, his voice a bit teasing as he spoke. It was true that she had asked him to stay with her, to sleep and hold her in her bed, unable to bear the idea of having him leave her behind as he had that first night. To leave her to cry herself to sleep again. He had done as she’d asked, allowing her to rest against him, an arm around her as she’d slept, his presence alone soothing her through their growing bond. As she stared at him, Cadmine found that she did, indeed, want a married kiss if he would give it to her. Just to see what it was like out of curiosity, to see if it was something he wanted of her as well. To get it though, Vidmir was asking something beforehand, something that may have seemed simple, but was actually kind of a big deal when you were raised the way Cadmine had been.

His name. To speak it, call him by it the way he used hers… so… casually. It reminded the near-vampiress of the number of times she had corrected Gunhilde, refusing the title of ‘my lady’ in preference to simply be called ‘Cadmine.’ Familiar and friendly, much more welcome. Now her husband was asking the same of her, if she wanted a married kiss. Furthermore, he was not only requesting it as a taunt, but rather, because he saw them as equals. That couldn’t be right, could it? Sure, Cadmine was powerful, she had been born as such and would grow even more so once changed, but to even think she could ever be on the same level as the man before her… Why, their entire society would lose their minds if they heard such a preposterous thing. Not to mention the fact that Cadmine knew exactly how her husband’s name would sound if it came from between her lips. She had spoken it, only in to herself, but with her accent… Well, she butchered it. Vidmir’s name did not come out for her the way others around him pronounced it, but rather, harder and more lengthened. She had only said it once before, to herself in the mirror, the night before she was to be married simply to see how it sounded. It was awful, the way her mouth formed his name, how her tongue moved around the vowels and completely lost the ‘d’ in the middle as was common in her native language.

“I… I cannot…” Cadmine looked down at her lap, that color on her cheeks deepening even as completely averted her gaze away from Vidmir. Her hands twisted into the fabric of her dress, wondering if maybe there was some other way she could possibly convince him to give her a married kiss without having to offend him with the absolutely awful way his name fell from her lips. “It would be disgraceful, my lord… I… You see… It… It… I cannot pronounce it.” Cadmine finally admitted with a sigh, her embarrassment all too obvious on her face now. “Not correctly, not as it is supposed to be. But I should still like to… to try a married kiss?”

Married Kisses, Please.

Cadmine’s breath had caught in her throat as Vidmir had brought his lips to her knuckles, her back still fairly bare, having yet to do up her dress properly but at least the rest of her was fairly well covered. Her cheeks colored and she gave a nod, glad for the promise of their picnic at midnight, that she had something to look forward to. It wouldn’t be a whole night of wondering when she would see her husband again, of when he would greet her in her chambers for yet another feeding. Her eyes trailed after him as he left, closing the door behind him only for it to be knocked on mere moments later. It was Gunhilde, carrying a breakfast tray that smelt strongly of oatmeal and tea, a smile on her face as she bid the lady of the house a good morning. Cadmine accepted her assistance in doing up the back of her dress, putting on her stockings, braces, and leather boots before she was helping her move from the bed to her wheelchair. The meal laid out for her this morning consisted of a bowl of piping hot oatmeal, a bowl of fruit, jar of honey, orange juice, and tea. It was different from her usual breakfast, but not unwelcome, especially when Gunhilde drew a clear pouch out of her pocket. She undid the packet with a pair of small scissors before pouring it out into an empty glass beside the orange juice, the red fluid at just the right temperature to be half frozen, half liquid, forming a lovely slush. Cadmine went for the blood first, feeling more hungry this morning than she had yesterday. She had fed off Vidmir, but that had been hours ago, long enough to leave her chugging her slushie until she got brain freeze and was grabbing at her head, groaning as Gunhilde’s eyes widened in panic. Cadmine waved her off, reassuring her that she was alright, she’d just drunken her blood to quickly. She switched over to the oatmeal in order to warm the roof of her mouth back up, sprinkling it with brown sugar, honey, and a few berries before she dug into it. It was nice, warming her insides in the fairly darkened room. The few good things she did like about the room were simple. The fireplace, how big and comfortable the bed was, and that it was on the main floor so she didn’t have to worry about any stairs or something to get up or down. She and Gunhilde never had any trouble exploring the main floor, even if they had gone through most of it the night before. There would be more time for that today, Cadmine supposed.

“I’ll fix your hair right up nice.” Gunhilde promised as she ran a brush through it as Cadmine ate. It was a tangled mess from sleeping, completely discombobulated to the point where she was having to fight it a good deal in several places to sort it out properly. Cadmine took another sip of her slushie, her mind falling back onto what Vidmir had said to her before he’d left. That Gunhilde was lucky because she got to touch Cadmine’s hair on a regular basis. Cadmine still wasn’t so sure what about her hair her husband actually liked. Her mother had always impressed upon her that keeping herself neat and tidy was of the utmost importance, especially for a vampiress of her standing. Perfect posture, perfect hair, perfect smile and the best clothing possible. Cadmine had spent her life with tight hair-dos in order to hide the way her hair liked to fight back, standing up on end, always a handmaiden available with a jar of gel in her pocket just in case. The bun was always the best way to contain it, the cover keeping it from exploding outward from its many pins, the rest smoothed completely back and locked into place with more product that left it sleek and shining, but a bit hard to the touch throughout the first portion of the day. Cadmine turned her head, worrying at her lower lip even as Gunhilde had begun to gather the long, thick locks into her hands, working their way upwards to get it onto the top back portion of her head.

“Gunhilde… perhaps… perhaps, not a bun today?” Cadmine questioned carefully, her brow narrowing a bit as if confused by her own words. What did she mean not a bun? Her mother had always insisted on a bun. It kept her hair tame and pretty! Vidmir’s words fell over her again and her courage returned a bit, remembering that he seemed to have liked her hair down. “Perhaps something to keep it out of the way, but not so contained?” Cadmine could nearly hear Gunhilde smiling as she dropped the locks back down.

“Of course, my Lady.”

“Cadmine.”

“Cadmine.” Gunhilde laughed and began to set to work again, using the brush to reorganize Cadmine’s hair into the right position. She started to french braid it from Cadmine’s left temple, running it down along her head at a diagonal so that when she had reached the ends of the long chestnut tresses and locked them into place with an elastic. With that done, she moved to the dresser, but instead of digging into it, she reached for the jewelry box on top of it. Cadmine watched, curious as her handmaiden withdrew several lilac colored bits. Upon closer inspection, Cadmine found that they were flowers, not real ones but very close, with stems and clips and drooping bits. Soon, Cadmine’s braid had been decorated with the flowers, making her head look more like a little garden of light purple than hair by the time Gunhilde handed her the mirror. Cadmine stared for a few moments, her eyes widening in surprise before she nodded.

“It’s so lovely! Thank you, Gunhilde!” Cadmine beamed, thrilled with the difference. It felt strange having her hair flowing over her right shoulder onto her chest instead of being pinned to her head tightly, but it also seemed to put a lot less stress on her neck. She finished her breakfast, read for a little while, but eventually found that she couldn’t sit still for the life of her. She was excited for the picnic, to get outside and spend more time with her husband. Despite her nervousness over the wedding, Cadmine was finding that she wanted to be with Vidmir more often than not. It had hurt her when he’d left the morning before instead of staying to sleep with her like married couples were supposed to. To get rid of her nervous energy, they left her chambers, keeping the book in a bag on the back of her chair along with anything else she might need while they were wandering. The pair explored more of the castle, peeking into places they had yet to discover until they found themselves lost along one of the more tucked away corridors. It didn’t last long. They had only been discussing whether left or right was the best way to go before Lucero had turned up. He had beamed, suggesting they go look at wall paper samples, fabric swatches, and paint colors so that Cadmine could decorate the castle however she deemed fit. She had stared at him for a moment before agreeing, but for only a half hour and not a minute more. She didn’t want to be late for lunch. That half hour was spent boredly in her chair in Lucero’s office, staring at what only could be described as what a male vampire of a certain age would think was fashionable or at all appealing to a seventeen year old.

“They’re gaudy.” Cadmine finally sighed out after the fifteenth suggestion, waving a hand of dismissal. Lucero looked affronted, but even as he went to open his mouth, the clock chimed half past eleven. Cadmine excused herself and Gunhilde, needing to freshen up before lunch and heading out into the gardens… which were, to be honest, devastatingly disappointing. Cadmine stared as they went out a back glass door in a rounded wall, finding that the stars were out tonight but that was about the best thing of being outside. Cadmine had brought a shawl with her, just in case, but she found she probably wasn’t going to need it much. It was fairly warm out, even if there was that slight chill that came with summer nights. The gardens though… oh the gardens.

Cadmine had been expecting flowers blossoming, nicely cleared pathways, tinkling fountains, and beautifully alive trees that were full of gorgeous leaves and maybe even bits of fruit like back home. The gardens here were anything but. The flowerbeds and hedges were completely overgrown, yellowing weeds spilling over onto what had probably once been a stone walkway but was now littered with dead leaves, bits of moss, and twigs. A fountain that should have been tinkling with water sat still, it’s bowls partially full with stagnant, bad smelling brown sludge and green algae that had clung onto the sides along with more moss trying to climb along the rims and base.  A bird bath appeared next, in a similar state, but only with a small puddle in the middle. The trees were even worse, raising upwards, bent a bit from the wind, their trunks and branches blackened as though they were sick or dead, all twisted up in a way that made them appear to be reaching for something, anything, to make them better and failing as they began to crumble inwards on themselves. Maybe it was just began it was dark out, but Cadmine knew better than to hope. These gardens were not pretty. They hadn’t been taken care of, no one seemed to even be concerned about them and had allowed them to go to waste. Cadmine’s stomach tightened as she took it all in, concern on her face as she wrapped her arms around herself, chilled now by just her surroundings.

Deeper into the garden they went, traveling under a tunnel made of dying trees and vines, the path here a bit more clear but still quite covered in crunching leaves that were broken easily beneath Cadmine’s wheels. They went over bumps that weren’t too easy, but it wasn’t as terrible as it could have been reaching the place where Vidmir had chosen for their picnic. Just outside of the tunnel, a small clearing opened up, curving flowerbeds creating a kind of barrier, several trees dotting what looked like it had once been grass. A small stream trickled somewhere and Cadmine’s eyes found a break in the vegetation where there looked to be a small wooden bridge keeping the path going. A plank of rotting wood hung from a branch by a rope, swinging slowly at an angle, another rope dangling from the branch above looking as though the end of it had frayed away. A swing, Cadmine realized, or rather, what had once been one. Her eyes traveled from there over to the blanket spread out beneath the tree next to the one with the swing. Platters of food had been placed on a small table in the middle, keeping them off the ground but only by about nine inches. Despite the state of the gardens, Cadmine’s face began to brighten as she spotted Vidmir, ready and waiting on the blanket beside the table.

“Afternoon, my Lord.” The little wife greeted, her indigo eyes lightening ever so slightly before swirling back down to their usual depth. She bid goodbye to Gunhilde once they reached the blanket and gazed down at her husband. He looked just as handsome as he had earlier, but now he was dressed, no longer in his pajamas but still casual, unlike when she had first seen him at the alter. He had worn what was traditionally acceptable for a vampire groom and knowing how awful her dress had been on her body, Cadmine didn’t blame him in the least for wanting to be comfortable. She wished she could do that as well. “I do hope I’m not tardy.”

“Of course, my Lord.” Cadmine smiled, the corners of her mouth twitching in response to Vidmir’s greeting, the lips against her knuckles, soft and gentle as always. He was always doing that when they came together, giving her hand a kiss in the same manner others might have. It was a standard way of saying hello, of paying respect to a woman but also to show respect for their husband by kissing beneath a wedding ring. It was much more appropriate than trying to be more intimate with a hug or something. Cadmine knew Vidmir did it as a way of showing that he respected her as his wife and it was never unwelcome, but ever since he had bitten her that first night and then last night, even the smallest touches from her husband had Cadmine’s cheeks feeling a bit warm. She ached for his arms around her instead, to hold her close to him in the way he had only done when biting her. She had settled for pressing her face against his arm the night before, breathing him in as she slept contently beside him for the first time. She had been glad to awaken with him still there, even if she had been thrown completely off by the presence of a tiger and wolf in her bed with them. Both animals had been happy to be with their master, to receive his full touch and affection in a manner that Cadmine could only hope to be worth of some day. Maybe he would stroke her hair or allow her to lay a bit on top of him in the same manner she had seen couples do out in the gardens when they thought no one was looking. Now, as he reached for her, Cadmine found herself relishing in the way his hands clutched her, lifting her from her chair to rest her carefully down beside him on the blanket. It was soft on top of the yellowed, dying grass. The gardens didn’t seem nearly as terrible as they had at first now that she was back with Vidmir. She barely noticed Gunhilde leaving them, her indigo eyes transfixed on her husband. She closed them as his hand reached for her, pressing a loose lock of hair away from her face to tuck it safely back behind her ear. Her cheeks visibly pinkened and she looked down shyly, reaching up to twist that same bit of hair around her finger. He liked her hair…

“Thank you, my Lord. It is… more comfortable.” The young vampiress decided after a moment of thought. Having her hair looser like this didn’t pull hard on her scalp, didn’t leave the top of her head feeling a bit hard with the gel usually used to tame down the fly-aways so that they wouldn’t have a chance of popping up throughout the day. The lack of strain in her neck was also a welcome relief, so she was glad her husband seemed to enjoy her hair like this instead of insisting she wear it bundled up tight. She liked it too, especially the added flowers. Maybe she would have Gunhilde do something different with it every day for the foreseeable future, that way she could figure out what she liked best. Oh, if only her mother could see her now! She would be positively aghast at the very thought of Cadmine wearing her hair in anything but the bun she’d always insisted upon. Of course, her mother no longer had any kind of say in those things, did she? It was, really, up to Vidmir and what he preferred from her, but at the same time… He didn’t seem overly keen on telling her what to do. He had allowed her to roam all around whatever bits of the castle she could get to with Gunhilde and had implied that he didn’t care what she did to the décor if she did decide she wanted to change something. If anything, Cadmine felt the castle needed to be less… gloomy, for one. To her, it was just… too dark, even by vampiric standards. Maybe she would feel differently once she had been fully changed and could see better.

Shifting her eyes back to their surroundings, Cadmine looked from the broken swing, to the rotting bridge and the poor, blackened trees. The flowerbeds were overrun with weeds and leafy debris, and even fir bushes were becoming much more orange than green. She could tell, that at one time, the gardens had been beautiful, probably well looked after and allowed to thrive but they had long since been neglected into a state of sadness that felt like a deep wound left unhealed. Her eyes moved back to look at Vidmir for a moment before she gave him a nod. She wasn’t sure what had led to the lack of care the gardens had received while Vidmir had slept, that it was something even Lucero, who was responsible for looking after things, had chosen to forego. Maybe he had seen no need for beautiful gardens in this kind of landscape, or perhaps, he hadn’t been allowed to touch them. What would have caused that? Cadmine’s curiosity peaked, but she kept any questions she had inside, not wanting to offend her husband by, maybe, being too forward. Instead, she lifted her braid, stroking down the petals of one of her flower clips. “Lilacs.” She stated simply. “Hyacinth. Hydrangea. I like the purple ones… The gardens… The gardens were my favorite place.” Cadmine admitted softly, having always loved being able to get outside of the stuffy mansion where she had no real responsibilities. She lifted a hand, gesturing towards the broken swing. “A new one. With flowering vines up the ropes. Mother never liked me to go on the swing, but my brother, Hagin, would help me sneak on. He’s two years my senior, so we spent a lot of time in the nursery together. Perhaps, if my legs become strong, I wouldn’t even need a push.” Cadmine remembered fondly, thinking of the big brother who had stopped playing with her much once she’d started being required to bite people. She was always too tired to do much playing those days. He still did little things for her though, like bringing her that little music player and books about different places in the world that she would probably never get to see. It was rare in their world, to have a sibling at all, let alone one so close in age but Cadmine’s family had been special. Lucky to have what was considered a great deal of children before she had rounded them out at the end.

“These look delightful.” Cadmine remarked, turning her attention to the table. It had a good deal of her favorite human foods laid out upon it, though she had found herself desiring them less ever since she had first tasted Vidmir’s blood. She reached out, carefully plucking up a toothpicked sweet and popping it into her mouth. She chewed it thoughtfully for a few moment before swallowing and glancing up at Vidmir, another question coming to her mind, making her cheeks deepen even further. “Might… might I ask you a question, my Lord?” Cadmine wondered out loud, asking, but not really waiting for a response. “It’s a bit…. Why…. Why is it that you only ever kiss my hand? I am your wife, after all, shouldn’t… shouldn’t there be… married kisses?” Cadmine whispered the last bit, embarrassed to be asking such a thing in the first place. Vidmir hadn’t even kissed her after their vows like at most weddings nowadays, but she had figured that was because he was old fashioned. She had been positively relieved to avoid it, of course, at the time. But now, her desire to be close to Vidmir, to understand him, had started to become stronger every time he drank from her and she him. The fact that he had yet to give her what might be considered a proper kiss between a husband and wife was actually confusing her a bit. Shouldn’t he, as a male, want that from her? All of her sisters had tales of kissing. Every couple she had ever seen had given at least little pecks when greeting or parting. Did Vidmir not want to kiss her like that?

Married Kisses, Please.

Cadmine’s breath had caught in her throat as Vidmir had brought his lips to her knuckles, her back still fairly bare, having yet to do up her dress properly but at least the rest of her was fairly well covered. Her cheeks colored and she gave a nod, glad for the promise of their picnic at midnight, that she had something to look forward to. It wouldn’t be a whole night of wondering when she would see her husband again, of when he would greet her in her chambers for yet another feeding. Her eyes trailed after him as he left, closing the door behind him only for it to be knocked on mere moments later. It was Gunhilde, carrying a breakfast tray that smelt strongly of oatmeal and tea, a smile on her face as she bid the lady of the house a good morning. Cadmine accepted her assistance in doing up the back of her dress, putting on her stockings, braces, and leather boots before she was helping her move from the bed to her wheelchair. The meal laid out for her this morning consisted of a bowl of piping hot oatmeal, a bowl of fruit, jar of honey, orange juice, and tea. It was different from her usual breakfast, but not unwelcome, especially when Gunhilde drew a clear pouch out of her pocket. She undid the packet with a pair of small scissors before pouring it out into an empty glass beside the orange juice, the red fluid at just the right temperature to be half frozen, half liquid, forming a lovely slush. Cadmine went for the blood first, feeling more hungry this morning than she had yesterday. She had fed off Vidmir, but that had been hours ago, long enough to leave her chugging her slushie until she got brain freeze and was grabbing at her head, groaning as Gunhilde’s eyes widened in panic. Cadmine waved her off, reassuring her that she was alright, she’d just drunken her blood to quickly. She switched over to the oatmeal in order to warm the roof of her mouth back up, sprinkling it with brown sugar, honey, and a few berries before she dug into it. It was nice, warming her insides in the fairly darkened room. The few good things she did like about the room were simple. The fireplace, how big and comfortable the bed was, and that it was on the main floor so she didn’t have to worry about any stairs or something to get up or down. She and Gunhilde never had any trouble exploring the main floor, even if they had gone through most of it the night before. There would be more time for that today, Cadmine supposed.

“I’ll fix your hair right up nice.” Gunhilde promised as she ran a brush through it as Cadmine ate. It was a tangled mess from sleeping, completely discombobulated to the point where she was having to fight it a good deal in several places to sort it out properly. Cadmine took another sip of her slushie, her mind falling back onto what Vidmir had said to her before he’d left. That Gunhilde was lucky because she got to touch Cadmine’s hair on a regular basis. Cadmine still wasn’t so sure what about her hair her husband actually liked. Her mother had always impressed upon her that keeping herself neat and tidy was of the utmost importance, especially for a vampiress of her standing. Perfect posture, perfect hair, perfect smile and the best clothing possible. Cadmine had spent her life with tight hair-dos in order to hide the way her hair liked to fight back, standing up on end, always a handmaiden available with a jar of gel in her pocket just in case. The bun was always the best way to contain it, the cover keeping it from exploding outward from its many pins, the rest smoothed completely back and locked into place with more product that left it sleek and shining, but a bit hard to the touch throughout the first portion of the day. Cadmine turned her head, worrying at her lower lip even as Gunhilde had begun to gather the long, thick locks into her hands, working their way upwards to get it onto the top back portion of her head.

“Gunhilde… perhaps… perhaps, not a bun today?” Cadmine questioned carefully, her brow narrowing a bit as if confused by her own words. What did she mean not a bun? Her mother had always insisted on a bun. It kept her hair tame and pretty! Vidmir’s words fell over her again and her courage returned a bit, remembering that he seemed to have liked her hair down. “Perhaps something to keep it out of the way, but not so contained?” Cadmine could nearly hear Gunhilde smiling as she dropped the locks back down.

“Of course, my Lady.”

“Cadmine.”

“Cadmine.” Gunhilde laughed and began to set to work again, using the brush to reorganize Cadmine’s hair into the right position. She started to french braid it from Cadmine’s left temple, running it down along her head at a diagonal so that when she had reached the ends of the long chestnut tresses and locked them into place with an elastic. With that done, she moved to the dresser, but instead of digging into it, she reached for the jewelry box on top of it. Cadmine watched, curious as her handmaiden withdrew several lilac colored bits. Upon closer inspection, Cadmine found that they were flowers, not real ones but very close, with stems and clips and drooping bits. Soon, Cadmine’s braid had been decorated with the flowers, making her head look more like a little garden of light purple than hair by the time Gunhilde handed her the mirror. Cadmine stared for a few moments, her eyes widening in surprise before she nodded.

“It’s so lovely! Thank you, Gunhilde!” Cadmine beamed, thrilled with the difference. It felt strange having her hair flowing over her right shoulder onto her chest instead of being pinned to her head tightly, but it also seemed to put a lot less stress on her neck. She finished her breakfast, read for a little while, but eventually found that she couldn’t sit still for the life of her. She was excited for the picnic, to get outside and spend more time with her husband. Despite her nervousness over the wedding, Cadmine was finding that she wanted to be with Vidmir more often than not. It had hurt her when he’d left the morning before instead of staying to sleep with her like married couples were supposed to. To get rid of her nervous energy, they left her chambers, keeping the book in a bag on the back of her chair along with anything else she might need while they were wandering. The pair explored more of the castle, peeking into places they had yet to discover until they found themselves lost along one of the more tucked away corridors. It didn’t last long. They had only been discussing whether left or right was the best way to go before Lucero had turned up. He had beamed, suggesting they go look at wall paper samples, fabric swatches, and paint colors so that Cadmine could decorate the castle however she deemed fit. She had stared at him for a moment before agreeing, but for only a half hour and not a minute more. She didn’t want to be late for lunch. That half hour was spent boredly in her chair in Lucero’s office, staring at what only could be described as what a male vampire of a certain age would think was fashionable or at all appealing to a seventeen year old.

“They’re gaudy.” Cadmine finally sighed out after the fifteenth suggestion, waving a hand of dismissal. Lucero looked affronted, but even as he went to open his mouth, the clock chimed half past eleven. Cadmine excused herself and Gunhilde, needing to freshen up before lunch and heading out into the gardens… which were, to be honest, devastatingly disappointing. Cadmine stared as they went out a back glass door in a rounded wall, finding that the stars were out tonight but that was about the best thing of being outside. Cadmine had brought a shawl with her, just in case, but she found she probably wasn’t going to need it much. It was fairly warm out, even if there was that slight chill that came with summer nights. The gardens though… oh the gardens.

Cadmine had been expecting flowers blossoming, nicely cleared pathways, tinkling fountains, and beautifully alive trees that were full of gorgeous leaves and maybe even bits of fruit like back home. The gardens here were anything but. The flowerbeds and hedges were completely overgrown, yellowing weeds spilling over onto what had probably once been a stone walkway but was now littered with dead leaves, bits of moss, and twigs. A fountain that should have been tinkling with water sat still, it’s bowls partially full with stagnant, bad smelling brown sludge and green algae that had clung onto the sides along with more moss trying to climb along the rims and base.  A bird bath appeared next, in a similar state, but only with a small puddle in the middle. The trees were even worse, raising upwards, bent a bit from the wind, their trunks and branches blackened as though they were sick or dead, all twisted up in a way that made them appear to be reaching for something, anything, to make them better and failing as they began to crumble inwards on themselves. Maybe it was just began it was dark out, but Cadmine knew better than to hope. These gardens were not pretty. They hadn’t been taken care of, no one seemed to even be concerned about them and had allowed them to go to waste. Cadmine’s stomach tightened as she took it all in, concern on her face as she wrapped her arms around herself, chilled now by just her surroundings.

Deeper into the garden they went, traveling under a tunnel made of dying trees and vines, the path here a bit more clear but still quite covered in crunching leaves that were broken easily beneath Cadmine’s wheels. They went over bumps that weren’t too easy, but it wasn’t as terrible as it could have been reaching the place where Vidmir had chosen for their picnic. Just outside of the tunnel, a small clearing opened up, curving flowerbeds creating a kind of barrier, several trees dotting what looked like it had once been grass. A small stream trickled somewhere and Cadmine’s eyes found a break in the vegetation where there looked to be a small wooden bridge keeping the path going. A plank of rotting wood hung from a branch by a rope, swinging slowly at an angle, another rope dangling from the branch above looking as though the end of it had frayed away. A swing, Cadmine realized, or rather, what had once been one. Her eyes traveled from there over to the blanket spread out beneath the tree next to the one with the swing. Platters of food had been placed on a small table in the middle, keeping them off the ground but only by about nine inches. Despite the state of the gardens, Cadmine’s face began to brighten as she spotted Vidmir, ready and waiting on the blanket beside the table.

“Afternoon, my Lord.” The little wife greeted, her indigo eyes lightening ever so slightly before swirling back down to their usual depth. She bid goodbye to Gunhilde once they reached the blanket and gazed down at her husband. He looked just as handsome as he had earlier, but now he was dressed, no longer in his pajamas but still casual, unlike when she had first seen him at the alter. He had worn what was traditionally acceptable for a vampire groom and knowing how awful her dress had been on her body, Cadmine didn’t blame him in the least for wanting to be comfortable. She wished she could do that as well. “I do hope I’m not tardy.”

Married Kisses, Please.

Cadmine’s breath had caught in her throat as Vidmir had brought his lips to her knuckles, her back still fairly bare, having yet to do up her dress properly but at least the rest of her was fairly well covered. Her cheeks colored and she gave a nod, glad for the promise of their picnic at midnight, that she had something to look forward to. It wouldn’t be a whole night of wondering when she would see her husband again, of when he would greet her in her chambers for yet another feeding. Her eyes trailed after him as he left, closing the door behind him only for it to be knocked on mere moments later. It was Gunhilde, carrying a breakfast tray that smelt strongly of oatmeal and tea, a smile on her face as she bid the lady of the house a good morning. Cadmine accepted her assistance in doing up the back of her dress, putting on her stockings, braces, and leather boots before she was helping her move from the bed to her wheelchair. The meal laid out for her this morning consisted of a bowl of piping hot oatmeal, a bowl of fruit, jar of honey, orange juice, and tea. It was different from her usual breakfast, but not unwelcome, especially when Gunhilde drew a clear pouch out of her pocket. She undid the packet with a pair of small scissors before pouring it out into an empty glass beside the orange juice, the red fluid at just the right temperature to be half frozen, half liquid, forming a lovely slush. Cadmine went for the blood first, feeling more hungry this morning than she had yesterday. She had fed off Vidmir, but that had been hours ago, long enough to leave her chugging her slushie until she got brain freeze and was grabbing at her head, groaning as Gunhilde’s eyes widened in panic. Cadmine waved her off, reassuring her that she was alright, she’d just drunken her blood to quickly. She switched over to the oatmeal in order to warm the roof of her mouth back up, sprinkling it with brown sugar, honey, and a few berries before she dug into it. It was nice, warming her insides in the fairly darkened room. The few good things she did like about the room were simple. The fireplace, how big and comfortable the bed was, and that it was on the main floor so she didn’t have to worry about any stairs or something to get up or down. She and Gunhilde never had any trouble exploring the main floor, even if they had gone through most of it the night before. There would be more time for that today, Cadmine supposed.

“I’ll fix your hair right up nice.” Gunhilde promised as she ran a brush through it as Cadmine ate. It was a tangled mess from sleeping, completely discombobulated to the point where she was having to fight it a good deal in several places to sort it out properly. Cadmine took another sip of her slushie, her mind falling back onto what Vidmir had said to her before he’d left. That Gunhilde was lucky because she got to touch Cadmine’s hair on a regular basis. Cadmine still wasn’t so sure what about her hair her husband actually liked. Her mother had always impressed upon her that keeping herself neat and tidy was of the utmost importance, especially for a vampiress of her standing. Perfect posture, perfect hair, perfect smile and the best clothing possible. Cadmine had spent her life with tight hair-dos in order to hide the way her hair liked to fight back, standing up on end, always a handmaiden available with a jar of gel in her pocket just in case. The bun was always the best way to contain it, the cover keeping it from exploding outward from its many pins, the rest smoothed completely back and locked into place with more product that left it sleek and shining, but a bit hard to the touch throughout the first portion of the day. Cadmine turned her head, worrying at her lower lip even as Gunhilde had begun to gather the long, thick locks into her hands, working their way upwards to get it onto the top back portion of her head.

“Gunhilde… perhaps… perhaps, not a bun today?” Cadmine questioned carefully, her brow narrowing a bit as if confused by her own words. What did she mean not a bun? Her mother had always insisted on a bun. It kept her hair tame and pretty! Vidmir’s words fell over her again and her courage returned a bit, remembering that he seemed to have liked her hair down. “Perhaps something to keep it out of the way, but not so contained?” Cadmine could nearly hear Gunhilde smiling as she dropped the locks back down.

“Of course, my Lady.”

“Cadmine.”

“Cadmine.” Gunhilde laughed and began to set to work again, using the brush to reorganize Cadmine’s hair into the right position. She started to french braid it from Cadmine’s left temple, running it down along her head at a diagonal so that when she had reached the ends of the long chestnut tresses and locked them into place with an elastic. With that done, she moved to the dresser, but instead of digging into it, she reached for the jewelry box on top of it. Cadmine watched, curious as her handmaiden withdrew several lilac colored bits. Upon closer inspection, Cadmine found that they were flowers, not real ones but very close, with stems and clips and drooping bits. Soon, Cadmine’s braid had been decorated with the flowers, making her head look more like a little garden of light purple than hair by the time Gunhilde handed her the mirror. Cadmine stared for a few moments, her eyes widening in surprise before she nodded.

“It’s so lovely! Thank you, Gunhilde!” Cadmine beamed, thrilled with the difference. It felt strange having her hair flowing over her right shoulder onto her chest instead of being pinned to her head tightly, but it also seemed to put a lot less stress on her neck. She finished her breakfast, read for a little while, but eventually found that she couldn’t sit still for the life of her. She was excited for the picnic, to get outside and spend more time with her husband. Despite her nervousness over the wedding, Cadmine was finding that she wanted to be with Vidmir more often than not. It had hurt her when he’d left the morning before instead of staying to sleep with her like married couples were supposed to. To get rid of her nervous energy, they left her chambers, keeping the book in a bag on the back of her chair along with anything else she might need while they were wandering. The pair explored more of the castle, peeking into places they had yet to discover until they found themselves lost along one of the more tucked away corridors. It didn’t last long. They had only been discussing whether left or right was the best way to go before Lucero had turned up. He had beamed, suggesting they go look at wall paper samples, fabric swatches, and paint colors so that Cadmine could decorate the castle however she deemed fit. She had stared at him for a moment before agreeing, but for only a half hour and not a minute more. She didn’t want to be late for lunch. That half hour was spent boredly in her chair in Lucero’s office, staring at what only could be described as what a male vampire of a certain age would think was fashionable or at all appealing to a seventeen year old.

“They’re gaudy.” Cadmine finally sighed out after the fifteenth suggestion, waving a hand of dismissal. Lucero looked affronted, but even as he went to open his mouth, the clock chimed half past eleven. Cadmine excused herself and Gunhilde, needing to freshen up before lunch and heading out into the gardens… which were, to be honest, devastatingly disappointing. Cadmine stared as they went out a back glass door in a rounded wall, finding that the stars were out tonight but that was about the best thing of being outside. Cadmine had brought a shawl with her, just in case, but she found she probably wasn’t going to need it much. It was fairly warm out, even if there was that slight chill that came with summer nights. The gardens though… oh the gardens.

Cadmine had been expecting flowers blossoming, nicely cleared pathways, tinkling fountains, and beautifully alive trees that were full of gorgeous leaves and maybe even bits of fruit like back home. The gardens here were anything but. The flowerbeds and hedges were completely overgrown, yellowing weeds spilling over onto what had probably once been a stone walkway but was now littered with dead leaves, bits of moss, and twigs. A fountain that should have been tinkling with water sat still, it’s bowls partially full with stagnant, bad smelling brown sludge and green algae that had clung onto the sides along with more moss trying to climb along the rims and base.  A bird bath appeared next, in a similar state, but only with a small puddle in the middle. The trees were even worse, raising upwards, bent a bit from the wind, their trunks and branches blackened as though they were sick or dead, all twisted up in a way that made them appear to be reaching for something, anything, to make them better and failing as they began to crumble inwards on themselves. Maybe it was just began it was dark out, but Cadmine knew better than to hope. These gardens were not pretty. They hadn’t been taken care of, no one seemed to even be concerned about them and had allowed them to go to waste. Cadmine’s stomach tightened as she took it all in, concern on her face as she wrapped her arms around herself, chilled now by just her surroundings.

Deeper into the garden they went, traveling under a tunnel made of dying trees and vines, the path here a bit more clear but still quite covered in crunching leaves that were broken easily beneath Cadmine’s wheels. They went over bumps that weren’t too easy, but it wasn’t as terrible as it could have been reaching the place where Vidmir had chosen for their picnic. Just outside of the tunnel, a small clearing opened up, curving flowerbeds creating a kind of barrier, several trees dotting what looked like it had once been grass. A small stream trickled somewhere and Cadmine’s eyes found a break in the vegetation where there looked to be a small wooden bridge keeping the path going. A plank of rotting wood hung from a branch by a rope, swinging slowly at an angle, another rope dangling from the branch above looking as though the end of it had frayed away. A swing, Cadmine realized, or rather, what had once been one. Her eyes traveled from there over to the blanket spread out beneath the tree next to the one with the swing. Platters of food had been placed on a small table in the middle, keeping them off the ground but only by about nine inches. Despite the state of the gardens, Cadmine’s face began to brighten as she spotted Vidmir, ready and waiting on the blanket beside the table.

“Afternoon, my Lord.” The little wife greeted, her indigo eyes lightening ever so slightly before swirling back down to their usual depth. She bid goodbye to Gunhilde once they reached the blanket and gazed down at her husband. He looked just as handsome as he had earlier, but now he was dressed, no longer in his pajamas but still casual, unlike when she had first seen him at the alter. He had worn what was traditionally acceptable for a vampire groom and knowing how awful her dress had been on her body, Cadmine didn’t blame him in the least for wanting to be comfortable. She wished she could do that as well. “I do hope I’m not tardy.”

Cadmine smiled, glad her husband was willing to lend her a hand with her clothing. As comfortable as she was wearing his white shirt, the fabric soft against her skin and very easy to move in, Cadmine was certain she did not want another explosion of random animals and people in her bedroom without being properly dressed first. It had made her uncomfortable, despite the fact that she had been fully covered by the blankets. She knew her hair was in absolute disarray and there was probably a bit of drool stuck to one of her cheeks, sometimes she was vaguely alright with her husband seeing considering that he was, well, her husband. Vidmir had been given those kinds of rights when she had married him, not to mention that he was the only person currently in the castle that made her feel wholly at ease. She was beginning to become more so with Gunhilde, but that wasn’t difficult. She was another woman, one who was trained for this type of position and who also spoke Cadmine’s native language, making it easier for her to communicate without having to worry about wondering over her pronunciations or accent. She shook out her hair a bit, tugging at it and wishing there was more she could do with it but knowing it was probably best to contain it in the way it always had been. She didn’t know what expertise her husband had with doing hair, but she supposed she might need Gunhilde for that after she was dressed. Vidmir, could at least, help her with the first bit.

“It’s quite all the same to me, My Lord.” Cadmine shrugged, not really having much of a preference for the color of her dress or which one she wore. She was far too used to someone else fetching her clothing for the day, either picking it out for her or bringing what her mother had decided would be best for whatever event might be occurring. She nodded as Vidmir pulled the lilac from among the rest of her dresses. They were all fairly similar in cut, with long sleeves, high collars to cover her neck less she appear unseemly, and a long draping skirt that would hide the entirety of her legs and had been hemmed to just the right length so as not to get caught in the wheels of her chair. The young vampiress ran her fingers through her hair, watching as they caught quickly in the never-ending unruly tresses, unable to press all the way without hitting some kind of knot or tangle. She reached for the dress as it was placed beside her and undid the small buttons on the back so that it would be easier to slip into. Once closed, it would be much more form fitting. Her eyes shifted, following after Vidmir’s movements as he went to her bureau, locating her underthings in the top drawer. She blushed at the thought of him seeing those, but at the same time… well, he had seen her in the ridiculous nightgown previously, so it wasn’t all that much different was it?

“There should be some slips in there as well.” Cadmine commented simply, not really noticing Vidmir’s internal debate over her panties. She felt a strange twinge of warmth in her belly that wasn’t her own lingering inside of her and it made her frown, not entirely sure what to make of it before it was rapidly replaced by a bit of embarrassment. Discomfort filled her and she looked down at her blanket covered lap, cheeks filling with pink as she realized that it wasn’t her own emotions she was feeling but Vidmir’s. The bond was forming, the strings starting to latch them more together with every feeding they shared. She pressed a hand to her stomach, trying to calm herself down as her under things were set in a pile beside her. She reached for them, grabbing at the panties first and bending to slip one foot through and then the next before removing them again, remembering that she needed to get her old ones off first. “Stockings… I… Stockings as well, please, My Lord. The thigh length ones are best.’

Cadmine took a deep breath, her emotions starting to run high as she realized that in order for Vidmir to help her dress, she might have to expose more of herself than was comfortable yet. But then, that shouldn’t be a big deal, should it? He was her husband after all, there was no reason to be shy, to hide away her breasts or bits when he was going to seem them for himself eventually, perhaps even later when it came time for them to feed off one another again. She remembered the gentle tingling sensation between her legs the morning before and began to chew anxiously at her lower lip, clenching her thighs together in response, wondering if perhaps there would be more of that as well. She reached for her bra then, knowing it would be easiest for her to cover up her top half first. “Could… Perhaps you could cover your eyes or turn around a moment, My Lord? I know, at your age, you have probably already seen many a bare woman and I am your wife, but… if I am to be dressing, it feels a bit more appropriate that it be done privately. Just while I get sorted.”

Cadmine waited, wondering if Vidmir would insist on watching but she felt she knew him better than that by now at least. Indeed, true to his gentlemanly nature, he kept his back to her. Cadmine shifted off the t-shirt, letting it fall onto the bed beside her before she pulled on her bra, the slip, and then her dress. It puddled a bit around her hips but kept her covered up at least, her back exposed where the buttons remained open. The young vampiress shifted slightly on the bed, wriggling as she grasped as the waistline of her panties, trying to shimmy them down but getting caught on the gentle curve on her ass, unable to get the lift she needed with her legs still not quite able to help her as much as she needed. She sighed. “My Lord… I fear that I shall require more assistance. Perhaps you could do my buttons and then summon Gunhilde to help with the rest? Only I fear there might be a little impropriety involved. I’ll need her for my hair anyway afterall. Shell I meet you in the garden at midnight?”

Bonded

Cadmine slept fitfully the first night in her new home, her brow furrowed and face streaked with dried tears that had fallen from her eyes for a good while before she had finally given in to her body’s exhaustion. She had ached in more ways than one as her new husband had kissed her hand and instead of lying with her in the manner of which a man did with his wife, Vidmir had left her. He had told her she was tired, and that they had all of eternity for such things, but Cadmine hadn’t been able to help feeling a bit… disappointed? She knew that she should have been relieved, that most women would have been glad for the chance to rest properly after such a long day but before Cadmine knew it, she had broken down in tears. Her heart had ached inside of her chest, though whether it was from the beginnings of the change slowing it down or the fact that her husband had decided not to stay the night with her Cadmine couldn’t tell. It could also have easily been homesickness, having to sleep in a new place that she had never been to before or a yearning for her parents who had always bid her a good night before she’d gone to bed. She had stained the satin cover of the pillow beneath her head, the crimson material darkening even further beneath the wetness of her sadness. Eventually she had grown cold without Vidmir’s presence beside her and shifted on top of the covers, fighting with them until she had been able to squirm her way beneath them. It was warmer under the blankets and Cadmine had fallen asleep at last, her hair sticking to one cheek, her hand brought close to her face. She nuzzled against the flannel of  her husband’s pajama sleeve, breathing in the scent of him and causing a fresh flood of crying to be released from her eyes as she felt a sudden yearning for his presence. She wasn’t sure why he had chosen to go elsewhere for the night. Even if he had decided that being with her physically wasn’t something they needed to do right away, she still would have felt better to have him lie beside her. The red room felt much larger, more empty, and a lot more foreboding without him there.

When Cadmine woke it was to the swish of curtains sliding across a rod and the smell of food. She stirred, rolling and rubbing at her eyes, her hair an absolute mess on her head she blinked, trying to take in her surroundings. She was confused momentarily, the place unfamiliar at first until she remembered. She had been married last night. This was the home of her husband, her home now, and this was the room he had given to her. The handmaiden, Gunhilde, had just opened the large velvet curtains, letting in the light of the moon, brightening up the dim settings. Cadmine knew that with the change her eyes would adjust in time so that she would be able to see much better with limited light but at the moment, she welcomed the addition. She was able to more clearly see the room now but even so, she could have done with a few more candles. Or some electric lighting but an old castle like this simply didn’t have such a thing.

“Good morning, my Lady.” Gunhilde greeted in Cadmine’s native tongue, the sound of her words reassuring to the young wife. Cadmine managed a small smile as she began to press back the blankets a bit, but Gunhilde rushed forward holding a bed tray to place over her lap instead. Fine china sat on the gleaming wooden surface, plain white pieces with simple golden rims. Cadmine stared down at her favorite breakfast, a simple piece of sourdough toast with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese and topped with thin apple slices. There were also scrambled eggs and some bacon off to one side, as well as a cup of what smelt like her favorite morning tea. “The Lord said you might be quite tired this morning and to not put you through any unneeded strain. I do hope your night went well, Lady Nezhdanov.”

Cadmine blinked, surprised for a moment as she registered her new name. She had heard it the night before of course, but it hadn’t quite clicked until now that her name was no longer the same as it had once been. She was a married woman and thus, had taken her husband’s surname as her own. How did one even go about spelling something like Nezhdanov? Cadmine would have to learn. Looking up from the tray across her lap, Cadmine’s eyes fell upon Gunhilde, looking all the world like almost every other handmaiden Cadmine had ever had. She wore the usual uniform of a dress and apron, stockings and good shoes made for working in, her hair pulled back into a tight bun. In a way, it was comforting for Cadmine and she felt her nerves easing a little bit, though her eyes flitted towards the door, wondering if her husband was awake yet.

“It was fine.” Cadmine stated simply, turning her attention back to Gunhilde. “Have you eaten? I’m not very partial to eggs if you’d like them.”

“Ah yes. Your parents said that, but the Lord wanted to make sure you got enough of your energy back. Neither of you will be able to partake in any blood except one another’s until after the change is complete, as is the tradition.”

“Oh, right…” Cadmine sighed, looking down at her tray again and noticing the severe lack of her usual blood slushie. It pale in comparison when she remembered the absolute ambrosia that was Vidmir’s blood though. She didn’t know if a slushie would satiate her ever again in the same manner of which it once had now that she knew what it was like to drink fresh from the vein of her husband. “Is he awake, do you know?”

“I’m afraid not. Master Lucero said he was not to be disturbed but you are welcome to do as you wish throughout the castle until you are ready to retire back to bed for the night.”

“Oh.” Cadmine felt a wave of disappointment wash over her, the realization that she probably wouldn’t be seeing Vidmir again until it was time for him to return to this bed. They would drink from one another again and then… what? Was he going to take her as his? Or perhaps he would decide upon that first so they still had enough energy for feeding left. The memory of his lips upon her neck the night before, the way his teeth had sunken into her flesh and then the pleasure that had forced away the pain of his venom. Just the thought of it had Cadmine’s cheeks heating with color, her thighs tightening beneath the red blankets. She had desired him and even now, as she pondered the idea of becoming one with her husband, Cadmine was both nervous and excited. Surely tonight. He had probably just been too exhausted from yesterday’s busyness to continue. And afterwards, he would stay with her. They could lie together, close in that way couples were supposed to. For now, she would simply have to be patient until he came for her.

“After you’ve eaten, I can help you dress and we can do whatever you please, my Lady.”

“Alright then.” Cadmine agreed. She lifted the toast and bit into it, relishing the familiar taste of her usual breakfast. She ate it down heartily, wanting to have plenty of strength for tonight, sipping at her tea. When she was finished, Gunhilde removed the tray and set it off to one side. She moved to the large wardrobe and tugged it open, revealing Cadmine’s usual assortment of dresses. They were pretty things, but very old fashioned if she was to be honest. However, she was still happy to see them at the moment. “May I have the green please? The light one. I do believe that is my favorite.”

Gunhilde appeased her, pulling the sage colored dress from the wardrobe on its hanger, lying it down on the bed. It took time and effort for Gunhilde to figure out how to help Cadmine dress and get into her wheelchair. Cadmine could do most of it on her own, though the many buttons down the back of her dress made things more difficult than they had to be. At least she didn’t have to deal with a rotten corset and back brace today. That had been demolished by her husband in the limo the night before. Her leg braces, however, were more familiar and easy to put on, not making her feel so confined and helping her stay upright easier when she stood up to get her dress down and then, sit in her chair. She leaned back into it with a sigh, letting Gunhilde do up her hair in it’s usual tight bun with a cover. When asked what she would like to do, Cadmine frowned and then shrugged, suggesting maybe they could go exploring a bit. The handmaiden agreed and rolled her out of her chambers, heading down a long hallway that was still more dimly lit than Cadmine would have liked. It was a good hall though and the thin wheels on her old chair moved easily along it, not catching like they tended to on most things.

“Gunhilde, may I go fast?” Cadmine asked after a moment, reaching down to grab at her wheels’ handrails. Gunhilde laughed.

“It’s your house, my Lady. Master Lucero said the Lord was very clear. You can do whatever you desire.”

Cadmine smiled at that and then pushed herself forward, using her arms to get herself going much more rapidly than before. She’d never been allowed to race about back home but it was something she did enjoy. Going slow had never been fun for Cadmine but there was always the worry that she’d fall out of her chair if she raced about. She couldn’t run, so it was the closest she could get. She released a bit of a laugh as she reached the end of the hallway and found herself in the main entrance hall full of paintings from last night. Gunhilde had picked up her own pace to keep up, holding her bun a bit to keep it in place but she had a smile on as well. She wasn’t all too much older than Cadmine to be honest, only in her early twenties. They ended up racing circles around the entrance hall for a bit, Cadmine only getting caught on a rug every now and then when she wasn’t careful and nearly sending herself toppling because her chair couldn’t handle  it. Soon after though, they picked another hallway and started down it, intent on getting the lay of the land for now. Cadmine wanted to figure out where all the main rooms were so she wouldn’t get lost.

“Lovely.” Cadmine smiled, glad that her husband hadn’t forgotten about his promise to have a proper picnic lunch tonight, to spend more time together outside of their nightly required feeding. It made her happy to know that Vidmir was interested in being around her for more than just marital duties and the potential of getting out of the castle, to spend some time outside, was only an added bonus. She let her hands feel more at the wolf’s fur, a little more at ease now that the creatures had proved to be much calmer than anticipated. She leaned slightly towards Vidmir, intent on asking him what time they were going to have their picnic when the door was pushed open rapidly. She grabbed at the blankets, tugging them up as high over her front as she possibly could despite the shirt she was currently wearing. It covered her enough but still didn’t exactly feel proper to wear in front of anyone who wasn’t her husband. Lucero burst in, closely followed by Gunhilde who was rapidly apologizing for the interruption. She frowned at the male’s reaction to her handmaid, not liking how he insisted he didn’t need her permission to enter Cadmine’s quarters. She looked down at the blankets as the wolf moved from the bed, lunging to greet Lucero properly, followed after by Shrishti. Her frown grew larger as Lucero announced that he had set up meetings for both her and her husband today. What kind of meetings? Cadmine began to worry at her lower lip until Lucero was informing them about exactly what kind of things he had planned for them today, and that Cadmine’s involved textiles.

“What?” The young vampiress stared, taken a bit aback by the sudden insistence of her choosing things like wallpaper and curtains. She hadn’t even had the opportunity to see the entirety of the castle and had only been married to her husband for just over a day now. She knew that it was part of a wife’s duties to decide upon the housing décor but she wouldn’t have even known where to begin! She wasn’t ready for such things, the silliness of trying to pick how to decorate each and every different room in the castle, which was very large and to be honest, such a task seemed quite foreboding. She paled slightly at the idea of it and look rapidly to Vidmir, wondering if she would be required to do this today or if he could get her out of it. Technically speaking, she could have easily refused to do it, but she didn’t want to upset Vidmir if he wanted her to get started on such things already. “I don’t...”

Cadmine hugged the blankets tighter to her front even as Gunhilde moved rapidly across the room to retrieve a robe and toss it carefully over her shoulders. Cadmine smiled at her gratefully, shoving her arms into the sleeves and feeling a bit more at ease now that she was more covered. Vidmir seemed to understand though as he spoke up, saying that these textiles sounded like a lot and that they already had plans for today. She began to relax slightly, glad that she wasn’t going to have to deal with all of that just yet. At some point, when she was ready, she would gladly do so, but right now it felt a bit… too soon. She hadn’t even finished her change yet and this was, technically, supposed to be what was considered the ‘honeymoon’ period of their new marriage. She watched as Vidmir rose up and began shooing everyone out, telling Lucero to get his own wife and stop harassing his. She nearly laughed at that before she was flopping backwards on the pillows with a sigh. “Thank you, my Lord. I have not a single desire to deal with textiles today. Nor do I find it pleasing to be seen in nothing but my pajamas by your… handmaiden man. You… you’re the only man who… who’s allowed that.”

Cadmine pushed the blankets away now that it was safe and scooted her way to the edge of the bed. Her legs dangled, cheeks colored slightly as she eyed her wardrobe. “Might… Might I bother you to help me dress or perhaps retrieve Gunhilde so she may assist me? It’s just the buttons mostly. And the hair. I can’t get it contained on my own but I doubt you’ve much experience with that either.”

Bonded

Cadmine slept fitfully the first night in her new home, her brow furrowed and face streaked with dried tears that had fallen from her eyes for a good while before she had finally given in to her body’s exhaustion. She had ached in more ways than one as her new husband had kissed her hand and instead of lying with her in the manner of which a man did with his wife, Vidmir had left her. He had told her she was tired, and that they had all of eternity for such things, but Cadmine hadn’t been able to help feeling a bit… disappointed? She knew that she should have been relieved, that most women would have been glad for the chance to rest properly after such a long day but before Cadmine knew it, she had broken down in tears. Her heart had ached inside of her chest, though whether it was from the beginnings of the change slowing it down or the fact that her husband had decided not to stay the night with her Cadmine couldn’t tell. It could also have easily been homesickness, having to sleep in a new place that she had never been to before or a yearning for her parents who had always bid her a good night before she’d gone to bed. She had stained the satin cover of the pillow beneath her head, the crimson material darkening even further beneath the wetness of her sadness. Eventually she had grown cold without Vidmir’s presence beside her and shifted on top of the covers, fighting with them until she had been able to squirm her way beneath them. It was warmer under the blankets and Cadmine had fallen asleep at last, her hair sticking to one cheek, her hand brought close to her face. She nuzzled against the flannel of  her husband’s pajama sleeve, breathing in the scent of him and causing a fresh flood of crying to be released from her eyes as she felt a sudden yearning for his presence. She wasn’t sure why he had chosen to go elsewhere for the night. Even if he had decided that being with her physically wasn’t something they needed to do right away, she still would have felt better to have him lie beside her. The red room felt much larger, more empty, and a lot more foreboding without him there.

When Cadmine woke it was to the swish of curtains sliding across a rod and the smell of food. She stirred, rolling and rubbing at her eyes, her hair an absolute mess on her head she blinked, trying to take in her surroundings. She was confused momentarily, the place unfamiliar at first until she remembered. She had been married last night. This was the home of her husband, her home now, and this was the room he had given to her. The handmaiden, Gunhilde, had just opened the large velvet curtains, letting in the light of the moon, brightening up the dim settings. Cadmine knew that with the change her eyes would adjust in time so that she would be able to see much better with limited light but at the moment, she welcomed the addition. She was able to more clearly see the room now but even so, she could have done with a few more candles. Or some electric lighting but an old castle like this simply didn’t have such a thing.

“Good morning, my Lady.” Gunhilde greeted in Cadmine’s native tongue, the sound of her words reassuring to the young wife. Cadmine managed a small smile as she began to press back the blankets a bit, but Gunhilde rushed forward holding a bed tray to place over her lap instead. Fine china sat on the gleaming wooden surface, plain white pieces with simple golden rims. Cadmine stared down at her favorite breakfast, a simple piece of sourdough toast with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese and topped with thin apple slices. There were also scrambled eggs and some bacon off to one side, as well as a cup of what smelt like her favorite morning tea. “The Lord said you might be quite tired this morning and to not put you through any unneeded strain. I do hope your night went well, Lady Nezhdanov.”

Cadmine blinked, surprised for a moment as she registered her new name. She had heard it the night before of course, but it hadn’t quite clicked until now that her name was no longer the same as it had once been. She was a married woman and thus, had taken her husband’s surname as her own. How did one even go about spelling something like Nezhdanov? Cadmine would have to learn. Looking up from the tray across her lap, Cadmine’s eyes fell upon Gunhilde, looking all the world like almost every other handmaiden Cadmine had ever had. She wore the usual uniform of a dress and apron, stockings and good shoes made for working in, her hair pulled back into a tight bun. In a way, it was comforting for Cadmine and she felt her nerves easing a little bit, though her eyes flitted towards the door, wondering if her husband was awake yet.

“It was fine.” Cadmine stated simply, turning her attention back to Gunhilde. “Have you eaten? I’m not very partial to eggs if you’d like them.”

“Ah yes. Your parents said that, but the Lord wanted to make sure you got enough of your energy back. Neither of you will be able to partake in any blood except one another’s until after the change is complete, as is the tradition.”

“Oh, right…” Cadmine sighed, looking down at her tray again and noticing the severe lack of her usual blood slushie. It pale in comparison when she remembered the absolute ambrosia that was Vidmir’s blood though. She didn’t know if a slushie would satiate her ever again in the same manner of which it once had now that she knew what it was like to drink fresh from the vein of her husband. “Is he awake, do you know?”

“I’m afraid not. Master Lucero said he was not to be disturbed but you are welcome to do as you wish throughout the castle until you are ready to retire back to bed for the night.”

“Oh.” Cadmine felt a wave of disappointment wash over her, the realization that she probably wouldn’t be seeing Vidmir again until it was time for him to return to this bed. They would drink from one another again and then… what? Was he going to take her as his? Or perhaps he would decide upon that first so they still had enough energy for feeding left. The memory of his lips upon her neck the night before, the way his teeth had sunken into her flesh and then the pleasure that had forced away the pain of his venom. Just the thought of it had Cadmine’s cheeks heating with color, her thighs tightening beneath the red blankets. She had desired him and even now, as she pondered the idea of becoming one with her husband, Cadmine was both nervous and excited. Surely tonight. He had probably just been too exhausted from yesterday’s busyness to continue. And afterwards, he would stay with her. They could lie together, close in that way couples were supposed to. For now, she would simply have to be patient until he came for her.

“After you’ve eaten, I can help you dress and we can do whatever you please, my Lady.”

“Alright then.” Cadmine agreed. She lifted the toast and bit into it, relishing the familiar taste of her usual breakfast. She ate it down heartily, wanting to have plenty of strength for tonight, sipping at her tea. When she was finished, Gunhilde removed the tray and set it off to one side. She moved to the large wardrobe and tugged it open, revealing Cadmine’s usual assortment of dresses. They were pretty things, but very old fashioned if she was to be honest. However, she was still happy to see them at the moment. “May I have the green please? The light one. I do believe that is my favorite.”

Gunhilde appeased her, pulling the sage colored dress from the wardrobe on its hanger, lying it down on the bed. It took time and effort for Gunhilde to figure out how to help Cadmine dress and get into her wheelchair. Cadmine could do most of it on her own, though the many buttons down the back of her dress made things more difficult than they had to be. At least she didn’t have to deal with a rotten corset and back brace today. That had been demolished by her husband in the limo the night before. Her leg braces, however, were more familiar and easy to put on, not making her feel so confined and helping her stay upright easier when she stood up to get her dress down and then, sit in her chair. She leaned back into it with a sigh, letting Gunhilde do up her hair in it’s usual tight bun with a cover. When asked what she would like to do, Cadmine frowned and then shrugged, suggesting maybe they could go exploring a bit. The handmaiden agreed and rolled her out of her chambers, heading down a long hallway that was still more dimly lit than Cadmine would have liked. It was a good hall though and the thin wheels on her old chair moved easily along it, not catching like they tended to on most things.

“Gunhilde, may I go fast?” Cadmine asked after a moment, reaching down to grab at her wheels’ handrails. Gunhilde laughed.

“It’s your house, my Lady. Master Lucero said the Lord was very clear. You can do whatever you desire.”

Cadmine smiled at that and then pushed herself forward, using her arms to get herself going much more rapidly than before. She’d never been allowed to race about back home but it was something she did enjoy. Going slow had never been fun for Cadmine but there was always the worry that she’d fall out of her chair if she raced about. She couldn’t run, so it was the closest she could get. She released a bit of a laugh as she reached the end of the hallway and found herself in the main entrance hall full of paintings from last night. Gunhilde had picked up her own pace to keep up, holding her bun a bit to keep it in place but she had a smile on as well. She wasn’t all too much older than Cadmine to be honest, only in her early twenties. They ended up racing circles around the entrance hall for a bit, Cadmine only getting caught on a rug every now and then when she wasn’t careful and nearly sending herself toppling because her chair couldn’t handle  it. Soon after though, they picked another hallway and started down it, intent on getting the lay of the land for now. Cadmine wanted to figure out where all the main rooms were so she wouldn’t get lost.

“No?” Cadmine asked, her eyes still glued to the tiger and wolf both vying to Vidmir’s undivided attention but not fighting one another, not entirely sure they weren’t going to hurt her. She knew Vidmir wouldn’t let them at least, he was probably stronger than the both of them combined and could have easily manhandled them out of the room if need be. Both seemed content enough to have on hand each scratching at their heads as her husband gave them affection. It was softer than she had ever seen him behave to be honest, the way he spoke to his creatures like they might as well have been little children as opposed to giant wild beasts that she had only ever seen pictures of in her encyclopedias. Her knowledge of the world was limited to those volumes of books and whatever she had learned growing up from her parents, siblings and the staff in the house. She had occasionally see dogs or cats, sometimes a horse but anything more… exotic had never been on the ground of her family’s house as far as she knew. The tiger was larger than she had ever imagined them to be, the weight of her lingering over her legs heavy but not in an unpleasant way. She wasn’t used to feeling this much sensation in her legs either. It was… strange, the combination of the tiger and then the wolf laying over her lap trying to get to Vidmir. The rambunctious thing was soon rolling over, one leg moving rapidly as he reached for her belly, scratching at it while the wolf panted in appreciation.

“Shrishti and Volkova.” Cadmine repeated, her mouth forming the names awkwardly, accent making them sound a little different from Vidmir’s pronunciation. Even her husband’s name would have been strange for her if she had bothered to attempt it. She wasn’t even sure if she was allowed to call him by his first name, sticking with a simple ‘my lord’ just in case he got… offended or something by her being overly informal too soon. Her eyes glanced at his face and then back to the creatures that had decided to make themselves quite comfortable upon her bed. A lot of pets, Vidmir said. How many was a lot? If this was only two of them… and one was a tiger, what other animals might be lingering in the old castle someplace? Most likely down where Vidmir’s quarters were, though Cadmine wasn’t sure exactly where those were located. They had to be either upstairs or lower than the first floor, but nowhere Cadmine could get to on her own. She had traversed nearly all of the main floor yesterday with Gunhilde and hadn’t discovered anything that appeared to be Vidmir’s living space.

“I’ve never spent much time around animals, my Lord.” Cadmine admitted, though she doubted it would be all that surprising considering how protective her family had always been of her. The offer to pet the creatures, that they would allow it, tempted the small vampiress. She wasn’t so sure about the tiger, but Volkova looked nice enough. Almost like a regular dog, just… bigger but still similar to a friendly puppy with the way she rolled about. Cautiously, Cadmine let one hand fall, the other still clutching onto Vidmir’s arm as she reached out, carefully just barely touching at the wolf’s fur. It wasn’t super soft, more… wiry in a way, stiff on the outside. She carefully pushed her fingers in a bit deeper, finding the softer fur underneath the waterproof layer on top of the wolf. She didn’t seem to mind her touching her, perfectly happy as she focused mainly on Vidmir and the lovely pets she was receiving. She removed her hand from Vidmir and reached for the wolf with it, rubbing away at the wolf’s belly with both hands now instead. The fur here was even softer, fluffy and warm and she relished it.

Looking down a bit as Vidmir mentioned her legs, Cadmine shifted slightly, trying to figure out if they felt any better than they had yesterday. They felt… twitchy under the weight of the animals which was more than the amount of sensation she could typically feel there. She curled her toes a bit, shifting under the blankets as much as she could and tilting her head to one side curiously. After a few moments she was able to manipulate one leg over a bit, bumping it ever so slightly into Vidmir’s underneath the covers. “Stronger. Just a little bit… but… I can feel them more, I think. If… If that makes sense, my Lord. Are we still going to have that picnic today?”          

Bonded

Cadmine slept fitfully the first night in her new home, her brow furrowed and face streaked with dried tears that had fallen from her eyes for a good while before she had finally given in to her body’s exhaustion. She had ached in more ways than one as her new husband had kissed her hand and instead of lying with her in the manner of which a man did with his wife, Vidmir had left her. He had told her she was tired, and that they had all of eternity for such things, but Cadmine hadn’t been able to help feeling a bit… disappointed? She knew that she should have been relieved, that most women would have been glad for the chance to rest properly after such a long day but before Cadmine knew it, she had broken down in tears. Her heart had ached inside of her chest, though whether it was from the beginnings of the change slowing it down or the fact that her husband had decided not to stay the night with her Cadmine couldn’t tell. It could also have easily been homesickness, having to sleep in a new place that she had never been to before or a yearning for her parents who had always bid her a good night before she’d gone to bed. She had stained the satin cover of the pillow beneath her head, the crimson material darkening even further beneath the wetness of her sadness. Eventually she had grown cold without Vidmir’s presence beside her and shifted on top of the covers, fighting with them until she had been able to squirm her way beneath them. It was warmer under the blankets and Cadmine had fallen asleep at last, her hair sticking to one cheek, her hand brought close to her face. She nuzzled against the flannel of  her husband’s pajama sleeve, breathing in the scent of him and causing a fresh flood of crying to be released from her eyes as she felt a sudden yearning for his presence. She wasn’t sure why he had chosen to go elsewhere for the night. Even if he had decided that being with her physically wasn’t something they needed to do right away, she still would have felt better to have him lie beside her. The red room felt much larger, more empty, and a lot more foreboding without him there.

When Cadmine woke it was to the swish of curtains sliding across a rod and the smell of food. She stirred, rolling and rubbing at her eyes, her hair an absolute mess on her head she blinked, trying to take in her surroundings. She was confused momentarily, the place unfamiliar at first until she remembered. She had been married last night. This was the home of her husband, her home now, and this was the room he had given to her. The handmaiden, Gunhilde, had just opened the large velvet curtains, letting in the light of the moon, brightening up the dim settings. Cadmine knew that with the change her eyes would adjust in time so that she would be able to see much better with limited light but at the moment, she welcomed the addition. She was able to more clearly see the room now but even so, she could have done with a few more candles. Or some electric lighting but an old castle like this simply didn’t have such a thing.

“Good morning, my Lady.” Gunhilde greeted in Cadmine’s native tongue, the sound of her words reassuring to the young wife. Cadmine managed a small smile as she began to press back the blankets a bit, but Gunhilde rushed forward holding a bed tray to place over her lap instead. Fine china sat on the gleaming wooden surface, plain white pieces with simple golden rims. Cadmine stared down at her favorite breakfast, a simple piece of sourdough toast with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese and topped with thin apple slices. There were also scrambled eggs and some bacon off to one side, as well as a cup of what smelt like her favorite morning tea. “The Lord said you might be quite tired this morning and to not put you through any unneeded strain. I do hope your night went well, Lady Nezhdanov.”

Cadmine blinked, surprised for a moment as she registered her new name. She had heard it the night before of course, but it hadn’t quite clicked until now that her name was no longer the same as it had once been. She was a married woman and thus, had taken her husband’s surname as her own. How did one even go about spelling something like Nezhdanov? Cadmine would have to learn. Looking up from the tray across her lap, Cadmine’s eyes fell upon Gunhilde, looking all the world like almost every other handmaiden Cadmine had ever had. She wore the usual uniform of a dress and apron, stockings and good shoes made for working in, her hair pulled back into a tight bun. In a way, it was comforting for Cadmine and she felt her nerves easing a little bit, though her eyes flitted towards the door, wondering if her husband was awake yet.

“It was fine.” Cadmine stated simply, turning her attention back to Gunhilde. “Have you eaten? I’m not very partial to eggs if you’d like them.”

“Ah yes. Your parents said that, but the Lord wanted to make sure you got enough of your energy back. Neither of you will be able to partake in any blood except one another’s until after the change is complete, as is the tradition.”

“Oh, right…” Cadmine sighed, looking down at her tray again and noticing the severe lack of her usual blood slushie. It pale in comparison when she remembered the absolute ambrosia that was Vidmir’s blood though. She didn’t know if a slushie would satiate her ever again in the same manner of which it once had now that she knew what it was like to drink fresh from the vein of her husband. “Is he awake, do you know?”

“I’m afraid not. Master Lucero said he was not to be disturbed but you are welcome to do as you wish throughout the castle until you are ready to retire back to bed for the night.”

“Oh.” Cadmine felt a wave of disappointment wash over her, the realization that she probably wouldn’t be seeing Vidmir again until it was time for him to return to this bed. They would drink from one another again and then… what? Was he going to take her as his? Or perhaps he would decide upon that first so they still had enough energy for feeding left. The memory of his lips upon her neck the night before, the way his teeth had sunken into her flesh and then the pleasure that had forced away the pain of his venom. Just the thought of it had Cadmine’s cheeks heating with color, her thighs tightening beneath the red blankets. She had desired him and even now, as she pondered the idea of becoming one with her husband, Cadmine was both nervous and excited. Surely tonight. He had probably just been too exhausted from yesterday’s busyness to continue. And afterwards, he would stay with her. They could lie together, close in that way couples were supposed to. For now, she would simply have to be patient until he came for her.

“After you’ve eaten, I can help you dress and we can do whatever you please, my Lady.”

“Alright then.” Cadmine agreed. She lifted the toast and bit into it, relishing the familiar taste of her usual breakfast. She ate it down heartily, wanting to have plenty of strength for tonight, sipping at her tea. When she was finished, Gunhilde removed the tray and set it off to one side. She moved to the large wardrobe and tugged it open, revealing Cadmine’s usual assortment of dresses. They were pretty things, but very old fashioned if she was to be honest. However, she was still happy to see them at the moment. “May I have the green please? The light one. I do believe that is my favorite.”

Gunhilde appeased her, pulling the sage colored dress from the wardrobe on its hanger, lying it down on the bed. It took time and effort for Gunhilde to figure out how to help Cadmine dress and get into her wheelchair. Cadmine could do most of it on her own, though the many buttons down the back of her dress made things more difficult than they had to be. At least she didn’t have to deal with a rotten corset and back brace today. That had been demolished by her husband in the limo the night before. Her leg braces, however, were more familiar and easy to put on, not making her feel so confined and helping her stay upright easier when she stood up to get her dress down and then, sit in her chair. She leaned back into it with a sigh, letting Gunhilde do up her hair in it’s usual tight bun with a cover. When asked what she would like to do, Cadmine frowned and then shrugged, suggesting maybe they could go exploring a bit. The handmaiden agreed and rolled her out of her chambers, heading down a long hallway that was still more dimly lit than Cadmine would have liked. It was a good hall though and the thin wheels on her old chair moved easily along it, not catching like they tended to on most things.

“Gunhilde, may I go fast?” Cadmine asked after a moment, reaching down to grab at her wheels’ handrails. Gunhilde laughed.

“It’s your house, my Lady. Master Lucero said the Lord was very clear. You can do whatever you desire.”

Cadmine smiled at that and then pushed herself forward, using her arms to get herself going much more rapidly than before. She’d never been allowed to race about back home but it was something she did enjoy. Going slow had never been fun for Cadmine but there was always the worry that she’d fall out of her chair if she raced about. She couldn’t run, so it was the closest she could get. She released a bit of a laugh as she reached the end of the hallway and found herself in the main entrance hall full of paintings from last night. Gunhilde had picked up her own pace to keep up, holding her bun a bit to keep it in place but she had a smile on as well. She wasn’t all too much older than Cadmine to be honest, only in her early twenties. They ended up racing circles around the entrance hall for a bit, Cadmine only getting caught on a rug every now and then when she wasn’t careful and nearly sending herself toppling because her chair couldn’t handle  it. Soon after though, they picked another hallway and started down it, intent on getting the lay of the land for now. Cadmine wanted to figure out where all the main rooms were so she wouldn’t get lost.

Cadmine did not cry nor did it take her very long to fall into a deep, content slumber with her husband beside her. His presence gave her a strong sense of security she hadn’t had the night before when he’d left her to her own devices. She curled into him, relishing the sensation of his bare skin against her cheek as she snuggled closer, shifting her head onto his chest to use him as a pillow instead. Her arms wrapped around his and she slept soundly, not stirring even when the bedroom door was scratched upon, nor when it was thumped open by the very large cat in search of her favorite vampire. The tiger sniffed around the bed before jumping up, settling in on the married couple’s legs and still, Cadmine did not wake. The weight of the tiger only soothed her further and she released a soft sigh, nuzzling her nose against Vidmir’s skin. She knew, even in sleep, that he was here with her and thus, everything was perfectly alright. Nothing in the world could go wrong as long as her mate was beside her. Even her mind was at ease, no nightmares plaguing her as they tended to do throughout her sleeping hours. Typically, she would have dreamt of the chamber where she was forced to bite innocent people, to make them change or watch them die as they bled out from every available orifice. To hear their screams playing over and over in her head until  she was awoken by whomever had come to dress her for the day.

Instead, Cadmine dreamed of being bitten.

The young wife licked her lips in her sleep, thinking about the way Vidmir’s blood had tasted and then, how it felt to have his teeth pierce her skin. It burned at first, but the pleasure she got afterwards, the way it soothed away the pain and made her feel so… light and good and tingly all over… It was absolutely wonderful. Now, as she slept beside Vidmir, she dreamt of that sensation, of the gorgeous warmth that spread to between her legs, of how it had felt when Vidmir had pressed between them… The little vampiress moaned, squishing closer to Vidmir, trying to lock herself around him as much as she could but her legs were still hard to shift. They had more sensation to them beneath the blankets than before, the nerve endings reacting quicker to outside stimulation. Her toes curled, her feet and knees twitched every now and then, as though her legs were restless, tired of being still, wanting to move, to run. Running… Cadmine’s mind shifted away from biting and Vidmir to running… how would it feel when she was able to go so fast on her own? To carry her own weight without any kind of help from braces or others holding her up?

Cadmine dreamed of feeling the grass on her feet, of soil and the cool water of a stream swirling around her ankles. She had never experienced these things properly but now she desired them. She knew what it was like to stand, to walk awkwardly in her braces with someone holding onto her tightly, but to move completely unassisted, know what it felt like when she was able to walk toe to heel instead of raising her whole foot in a kind of strange shuffling fear of falling down… Nothing would make her happier and in her sleep, Cadmine smiled, mind full of hope for the future.

It wasn’t until the sun had fully set that Cadmine began to gain back consciousness. She and Vidmir had been up quite late and thus, needed more sleep than usual, staying in bed well past the usual hours of twilight. It was only when she came into that strange, comfy warmth of limbo that Cadmine noticed the heaviness on top of her legs and began to panic slightly. She had never felt such a thing before in her life and after a few long moments, her eyes flickered open and she gasped, staring straight ahead. She saw the red satin of the bed sheets and pillows, the pale expanse of Vidmir’s back as he sat up. Her heart began to calm back down in her chest, soothed by his presence but there was still something large on her legs. Shifting a bit, Cadmine used her arms to push herself to sit up… and pale automatically as her eyes took in the shape of the large cat lounging on her bed.

A tiger… a real living beast of a thing that was currently pressing its big head into Vidmir’s hands as though it had missed him. The tiger released a strange noise, something between a huff and a slight growl that had Cadmine shuddering in fear as she reached on hand to grasp tightly at Vidmir’s arm, fingers going pale with the amount of grip she was using. Her whole body began to shake, but she was too afraid to move or speak, to ask what the heck a whole grown ass tiger was doing in their bed. Her husband seemed completely unaffected by the situation, but at the same time, he was a full vampire already. He could have easily killed the tiger in a split second if he needed to, thus, making him the more dangerous predator in the room, but Cadmine… well, she was very much currently an edible little kitty treat if the tiger decided that it was hungry.

A loud bark sounded from Cadmine’s side of the bed, making her eyes glance over without moving her head, not wanting to fully take her attention off of the giant cat. The large head of a wolf appeared over the edge of the bed, sniffing at the blankets before it was releasing an excited yip and launched itself upwards, leaping onto the bed to join them as well. The wolf climbed right over Cadmine to get to Vidmir, not seeming to mind the presence of the tiger as it butted it’s head against the vampire’s stomach, wanting attention as well. It flopped right on top of Cadmine’s lap, wriggling as it tried to get itself more onto Vidmir but not seeming to want push the tiger out of the way either.

Cadmine lifted her hands, fingers balling into fists by her shoulders as her mouth finally opened in an awkward scream of fear and discomfort, eyes shifting around rapidly, not sure what to do with herself but not wanting to become anyone’s breakfast either… well, not unless it was Vidmir’s. She’d gladly be his breakfast any day.

Bonded

Cadmine slept fitfully the first night in her new home, her brow furrowed and face streaked with dried tears that had fallen from her eyes for a good while before she had finally given in to her body’s exhaustion. She had ached in more ways than one as her new husband had kissed her hand and instead of lying with her in the manner of which a man did with his wife, Vidmir had left her. He had told her she was tired, and that they had all of eternity for such things, but Cadmine hadn’t been able to help feeling a bit… disappointed? She knew that she should have been relieved, that most women would have been glad for the chance to rest properly after such a long day but before Cadmine knew it, she had broken down in tears. Her heart had ached inside of her chest, though whether it was from the beginnings of the change slowing it down or the fact that her husband had decided not to stay the night with her Cadmine couldn’t tell. It could also have easily been homesickness, having to sleep in a new place that she had never been to before or a yearning for her parents who had always bid her a good night before she’d gone to bed. She had stained the satin cover of the pillow beneath her head, the crimson material darkening even further beneath the wetness of her sadness. Eventually she had grown cold without Vidmir’s presence beside her and shifted on top of the covers, fighting with them until she had been able to squirm her way beneath them. It was warmer under the blankets and Cadmine had fallen asleep at last, her hair sticking to one cheek, her hand brought close to her face. She nuzzled against the flannel of  her husband’s pajama sleeve, breathing in the scent of him and causing a fresh flood of crying to be released from her eyes as she felt a sudden yearning for his presence. She wasn’t sure why he had chosen to go elsewhere for the night. Even if he had decided that being with her physically wasn’t something they needed to do right away, she still would have felt better to have him lie beside her. The red room felt much larger, more empty, and a lot more foreboding without him there.

When Cadmine woke it was to the swish of curtains sliding across a rod and the smell of food. She stirred, rolling and rubbing at her eyes, her hair an absolute mess on her head she blinked, trying to take in her surroundings. She was confused momentarily, the place unfamiliar at first until she remembered. She had been married last night. This was the home of her husband, her home now, and this was the room he had given to her. The handmaiden, Gunhilde, had just opened the large velvet curtains, letting in the light of the moon, brightening up the dim settings. Cadmine knew that with the change her eyes would adjust in time so that she would be able to see much better with limited light but at the moment, she welcomed the addition. She was able to more clearly see the room now but even so, she could have done with a few more candles. Or some electric lighting but an old castle like this simply didn’t have such a thing.

“Good morning, my Lady.” Gunhilde greeted in Cadmine’s native tongue, the sound of her words reassuring to the young wife. Cadmine managed a small smile as she began to press back the blankets a bit, but Gunhilde rushed forward holding a bed tray to place over her lap instead. Fine china sat on the gleaming wooden surface, plain white pieces with simple golden rims. Cadmine stared down at her favorite breakfast, a simple piece of sourdough toast with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese and topped with thin apple slices. There were also scrambled eggs and some bacon off to one side, as well as a cup of what smelt like her favorite morning tea. “The Lord said you might be quite tired this morning and to not put you through any unneeded strain. I do hope your night went well, Lady Nezhdanov.”

Cadmine blinked, surprised for a moment as she registered her new name. She had heard it the night before of course, but it hadn’t quite clicked until now that her name was no longer the same as it had once been. She was a married woman and thus, had taken her husband’s surname as her own. How did one even go about spelling something like Nezhdanov? Cadmine would have to learn. Looking up from the tray across her lap, Cadmine’s eyes fell upon Gunhilde, looking all the world like almost every other handmaiden Cadmine had ever had. She wore the usual uniform of a dress and apron, stockings and good shoes made for working in, her hair pulled back into a tight bun. In a way, it was comforting for Cadmine and she felt her nerves easing a little bit, though her eyes flitted towards the door, wondering if her husband was awake yet.

“It was fine.” Cadmine stated simply, turning her attention back to Gunhilde. “Have you eaten? I’m not very partial to eggs if you’d like them.”

“Ah yes. Your parents said that, but the Lord wanted to make sure you got enough of your energy back. Neither of you will be able to partake in any blood except one another’s until after the change is complete, as is the tradition.”

“Oh, right…” Cadmine sighed, looking down at her tray again and noticing the severe lack of her usual blood slushie. It pale in comparison when she remembered the absolute ambrosia that was Vidmir’s blood though. She didn’t know if a slushie would satiate her ever again in the same manner of which it once had now that she knew what it was like to drink fresh from the vein of her husband. “Is he awake, do you know?”

“I’m afraid not. Master Lucero said he was not to be disturbed but you are welcome to do as you wish throughout the castle until you are ready to retire back to bed for the night.”

“Oh.” Cadmine felt a wave of disappointment wash over her, the realization that she probably wouldn’t be seeing Vidmir again until it was time for him to return to this bed. They would drink from one another again and then… what? Was he going to take her as his? Or perhaps he would decide upon that first so they still had enough energy for feeding left. The memory of his lips upon her neck the night before, the way his teeth had sunken into her flesh and then the pleasure that had forced away the pain of his venom. Just the thought of it had Cadmine’s cheeks heating with color, her thighs tightening beneath the red blankets. She had desired him and even now, as she pondered the idea of becoming one with her husband, Cadmine was both nervous and excited. Surely tonight. He had probably just been too exhausted from yesterday’s busyness to continue. And afterwards, he would stay with her. They could lie together, close in that way couples were supposed to. For now, she would simply have to be patient until he came for her.

“After you’ve eaten, I can help you dress and we can do whatever you please, my Lady.”

“Alright then.” Cadmine agreed. She lifted the toast and bit into it, relishing the familiar taste of her usual breakfast. She ate it down heartily, wanting to have plenty of strength for tonight, sipping at her tea. When she was finished, Gunhilde removed the tray and set it off to one side. She moved to the large wardrobe and tugged it open, revealing Cadmine’s usual assortment of dresses. They were pretty things, but very old fashioned if she was to be honest. However, she was still happy to see them at the moment. “May I have the green please? The light one. I do believe that is my favorite.”

Gunhilde appeased her, pulling the sage colored dress from the wardrobe on its hanger, lying it down on the bed. It took time and effort for Gunhilde to figure out how to help Cadmine dress and get into her wheelchair. Cadmine could do most of it on her own, though the many buttons down the back of her dress made things more difficult than they had to be. At least she didn’t have to deal with a rotten corset and back brace today. That had been demolished by her husband in the limo the night before. Her leg braces, however, were more familiar and easy to put on, not making her feel so confined and helping her stay upright easier when she stood up to get her dress down and then, sit in her chair. She leaned back into it with a sigh, letting Gunhilde do up her hair in it’s usual tight bun with a cover. When asked what she would like to do, Cadmine frowned and then shrugged, suggesting maybe they could go exploring a bit. The handmaiden agreed and rolled her out of her chambers, heading down a long hallway that was still more dimly lit than Cadmine would have liked. It was a good hall though and the thin wheels on her old chair moved easily along it, not catching like they tended to on most things.

“Gunhilde, may I go fast?” Cadmine asked after a moment, reaching down to grab at her wheels’ handrails. Gunhilde laughed.

“It’s your house, my Lady. Master Lucero said the Lord was very clear. You can do whatever you desire.”

Cadmine smiled at that and then pushed herself forward, using her arms to get herself going much more rapidly than before. She’d never been allowed to race about back home but it was something she did enjoy. Going slow had never been fun for Cadmine but there was always the worry that she’d fall out of her chair if she raced about. She couldn’t run, so it was the closest she could get. She released a bit of a laugh as she reached the end of the hallway and found herself in the main entrance hall full of paintings from last night. Gunhilde had picked up her own pace to keep up, holding her bun a bit to keep it in place but she had a smile on as well. She wasn’t all too much older than Cadmine to be honest, only in her early twenties. They ended up racing circles around the entrance hall for a bit, Cadmine only getting caught on a rug every now and then when she wasn’t careful and nearly sending herself toppling because her chair couldn’t handle  it. Soon after though, they picked another hallway and started down it, intent on getting the lay of the land for now. Cadmine wanted to figure out where all the main rooms were so she wouldn’t get lost.

The subtle wave of guilt that washed over Cadmine wasn’t her own as she stared at her husband’s face, watching as his brow creased with concern. Still though, he pressed into her touch, seeming to welcome her hand upon his face even as they lie quietly for a few moments. Cadmine was about to open her mouth, to tug her hand away, certain she must have done something wrong or misconstrued Vidmir’s intentions, but soon he was holding her hand to his cheek, reassuring her that he did, in fact, enjoy her touch. Cadmine smiled gently at this, pressing her palm more firmly against his skin, drinking him in even as he spoke. No one had touched him like this in ages, he explained, with such a gentle hand and especially among their kind. Cadmine knew of what he was speaking of course. Tender touches were reserved for children and, sometimes, depending on the dynamic, spouses. Even Cadmine was aware that most of the time, males were non too gentle with their wives. She had heard such stories from her sisters. The way their husbands would pin them down, bite them when they wanted to and mate whenever they desired. It was a woman’s duty, of course, to allow this. She was not to disobey her husband, she was to submit to him as was typical in their culture. There were tales though, of vampiresses not approving of this behavior from their men, of pushing back in a way that the higher portions of their society deemed as positively scandalous. Of course, so was choosing your own mate instead of having your family do it, in order to make sure the bloodlines would be strong and hopefully produce at least one or two children.

Vidmir too, was much more gentle than most of the men Cadmine had come across. Perhaps it was because of what he had said earlier, that the longer the blood line the further away from humanity the offspring would be. Vidmir was as close to humanity as one could get for a vampire. He was one of the originals, born to a human mother. He had lived as human for as long as possible before his thirst had gotten the better of him. Cadmine, on the other hand, came from a very long line of vampires. Her own blood would have probably only contained maybe half an ounce of humanity if not for her gift. In that way, she supposed, she and Vidmir were similar. At least a little bit.

The young wife didn’t pull away as her husband moved her hand from his face in order to kiss at her knuckles as was becoming more and more customary between them. Was he showing her respect or affection? It was hard for Cadmine to tell but she liked the feel of it anything, the soft press of his lips on her skin, even if it was limited. This was followed by an apology and then, a promise. Vidmir wasn’t going to leave her bed tonight. He would stay with her, as she wished him to, and even as he rolled away from her a bit and released her hand, Caerwyn couldn’t help but feel comforted by this. With him close by, she felt she would be able to sleep much better, especially in this overly loud room with all of it’s deafening redness.  Cadmine stayed on her side beside him, watching his face in the dim light of the candles and fireplace, the natural dance of the flames flickering over his visage.

An activity. Cadmine brightened even more at that. Something they could do together? She lifted her head slightly, intrigued by the prospect as Vidmir continued on, mentioning a pond with swans and a potential picnic of sorts. The idea appealed to her greatly, always loving being outdoors. She hadn’t gotten any fresh air today and she was already yearning for some, to get out of this dark castle and under the blessed moonlight. She nodded in agreement, her indigo eyes meeting Vidmir’s matching ones. Hers danced ever so slightly, the color lightening just one shade but enough to show that she was listening, that she liked this idea of his.

“Oh yes, please, my Lord.” Cadmine grinned, reaching out a hand to clutch at his arm. She held onto it tightly, head still moving up and down, unable to hide her excitement. A picnic! With her husband by a swan pond! What a lovely thing that would be! She would have to dress warmly, just in case the climate here was a bit more tumultuous than the one back home, certain they had traveled just a bit more north than she was used to living. She hoped her mother had packed her good cloak. “I would like that very much. Gunhilde said she knows how to make our foods, the ones from back home. Lahapiiraka, ruisleipa, salmiakki, leipajuusto, mustikkapiiraka...”

The young vampiress continued to list off all of the types of food she enjoyed the most, though the brunt of them were in her native language of Finnish, which meant Vidmir probably didn’t fully understand all of them. Gunhilde would, of course, and she’d be able to help teach the cooks in the kitchens how to make them for their new lady. Of course, human food would always pale in comparison to blood, especially now that Cadmine had tasted Vidmir’s. However, until she was fully changed, she could not survive on blood alone, at least, not fully. And she would continue to need proper energy to refuel her own inner stock as well, to make sure there was enough of her own blood for Vidmir to drink. Cadmine began to run out of food options and she started to grow tired, her body wearing down from the long day of exploration, the doctor visiting, and of course, having her husband feed from her. Her voice dropped off after a while, small murmurs of ‘salmiakki is the best’ and ‘mmm, herring...’ emitted from between her nearly still lips.

Cadmine wiggled after a while of near silence, her top half moving much better than her legs could, leaving her body at an angle across the bed as she pressed her face against the side of Vidmir’s arm. She nuzzled into it with a sigh, one hand coming to rest upon his chest as the other moved beneath her cheek. She curled up against him as much as she could, only lifting her hand from him in order to grasp downwards. “Blankets, please, my Lord.”

She didn’t settle completely until after she was properly covered and only then did her breathing begin to slow down. Her chest rose and fell, pressed as close to Vidmir as she could get, her lips lightly brushing against the skin of his arm. Her voice was barely a whisper now, tired and ready for sleep. “Thank you… for staying.”

Bonded

Cadmine slept fitfully the first night in her new home, her brow furrowed and face streaked with dried tears that had fallen from her eyes for a good while before she had finally given in to her body’s exhaustion. She had ached in more ways than one as her new husband had kissed her hand and instead of lying with her in the manner of which a man did with his wife, Vidmir had left her. He had told her she was tired, and that they had all of eternity for such things, but Cadmine hadn’t been able to help feeling a bit… disappointed? She knew that she should have been relieved, that most women would have been glad for the chance to rest properly after such a long day but before Cadmine knew it, she had broken down in tears. Her heart had ached inside of her chest, though whether it was from the beginnings of the change slowing it down or the fact that her husband had decided not to stay the night with her Cadmine couldn’t tell. It could also have easily been homesickness, having to sleep in a new place that she had never been to before or a yearning for her parents who had always bid her a good night before she’d gone to bed. She had stained the satin cover of the pillow beneath her head, the crimson material darkening even further beneath the wetness of her sadness. Eventually she had grown cold without Vidmir’s presence beside her and shifted on top of the covers, fighting with them until she had been able to squirm her way beneath them. It was warmer under the blankets and Cadmine had fallen asleep at last, her hair sticking to one cheek, her hand brought close to her face. She nuzzled against the flannel of  her husband’s pajama sleeve, breathing in the scent of him and causing a fresh flood of crying to be released from her eyes as she felt a sudden yearning for his presence. She wasn’t sure why he had chosen to go elsewhere for the night. Even if he had decided that being with her physically wasn’t something they needed to do right away, she still would have felt better to have him lie beside her. The red room felt much larger, more empty, and a lot more foreboding without him there.

When Cadmine woke it was to the swish of curtains sliding across a rod and the smell of food. She stirred, rolling and rubbing at her eyes, her hair an absolute mess on her head she blinked, trying to take in her surroundings. She was confused momentarily, the place unfamiliar at first until she remembered. She had been married last night. This was the home of her husband, her home now, and this was the room he had given to her. The handmaiden, Gunhilde, had just opened the large velvet curtains, letting in the light of the moon, brightening up the dim settings. Cadmine knew that with the change her eyes would adjust in time so that she would be able to see much better with limited light but at the moment, she welcomed the addition. She was able to more clearly see the room now but even so, she could have done with a few more candles. Or some electric lighting but an old castle like this simply didn’t have such a thing.

“Good morning, my Lady.” Gunhilde greeted in Cadmine’s native tongue, the sound of her words reassuring to the young wife. Cadmine managed a small smile as she began to press back the blankets a bit, but Gunhilde rushed forward holding a bed tray to place over her lap instead. Fine china sat on the gleaming wooden surface, plain white pieces with simple golden rims. Cadmine stared down at her favorite breakfast, a simple piece of sourdough toast with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese and topped with thin apple slices. There were also scrambled eggs and some bacon off to one side, as well as a cup of what smelt like her favorite morning tea. “The Lord said you might be quite tired this morning and to not put you through any unneeded strain. I do hope your night went well, Lady Nezhdanov.”

Cadmine blinked, surprised for a moment as she registered her new name. She had heard it the night before of course, but it hadn’t quite clicked until now that her name was no longer the same as it had once been. She was a married woman and thus, had taken her husband’s surname as her own. How did one even go about spelling something like Nezhdanov? Cadmine would have to learn. Looking up from the tray across her lap, Cadmine’s eyes fell upon Gunhilde, looking all the world like almost every other handmaiden Cadmine had ever had. She wore the usual uniform of a dress and apron, stockings and good shoes made for working in, her hair pulled back into a tight bun. In a way, it was comforting for Cadmine and she felt her nerves easing a little bit, though her eyes flitted towards the door, wondering if her husband was awake yet.

“It was fine.” Cadmine stated simply, turning her attention back to Gunhilde. “Have you eaten? I’m not very partial to eggs if you’d like them.”

“Ah yes. Your parents said that, but the Lord wanted to make sure you got enough of your energy back. Neither of you will be able to partake in any blood except one another’s until after the change is complete, as is the tradition.”

“Oh, right…” Cadmine sighed, looking down at her tray again and noticing the severe lack of her usual blood slushie. It pale in comparison when she remembered the absolute ambrosia that was Vidmir’s blood though. She didn’t know if a slushie would satiate her ever again in the same manner of which it once had now that she knew what it was like to drink fresh from the vein of her husband. “Is he awake, do you know?”

“I’m afraid not. Master Lucero said he was not to be disturbed but you are welcome to do as you wish throughout the castle until you are ready to retire back to bed for the night.”

“Oh.” Cadmine felt a wave of disappointment wash over her, the realization that she probably wouldn’t be seeing Vidmir again until it was time for him to return to this bed. They would drink from one another again and then… what? Was he going to take her as his? Or perhaps he would decide upon that first so they still had enough energy for feeding left. The memory of his lips upon her neck the night before, the way his teeth had sunken into her flesh and then the pleasure that had forced away the pain of his venom. Just the thought of it had Cadmine’s cheeks heating with color, her thighs tightening beneath the red blankets. She had desired him and even now, as she pondered the idea of becoming one with her husband, Cadmine was both nervous and excited. Surely tonight. He had probably just been too exhausted from yesterday’s busyness to continue. And afterwards, he would stay with her. They could lie together, close in that way couples were supposed to. For now, she would simply have to be patient until he came for her.

“After you’ve eaten, I can help you dress and we can do whatever you please, my Lady.”

“Alright then.” Cadmine agreed. She lifted the toast and bit into it, relishing the familiar taste of her usual breakfast. She ate it down heartily, wanting to have plenty of strength for tonight, sipping at her tea. When she was finished, Gunhilde removed the tray and set it off to one side. She moved to the large wardrobe and tugged it open, revealing Cadmine’s usual assortment of dresses. They were pretty things, but very old fashioned if she was to be honest. However, she was still happy to see them at the moment. “May I have the green please? The light one. I do believe that is my favorite.”

Gunhilde appeased her, pulling the sage colored dress from the wardrobe on its hanger, lying it down on the bed. It took time and effort for Gunhilde to figure out how to help Cadmine dress and get into her wheelchair. Cadmine could do most of it on her own, though the many buttons down the back of her dress made things more difficult than they had to be. At least she didn’t have to deal with a rotten corset and back brace today. That had been demolished by her husband in the limo the night before. Her leg braces, however, were more familiar and easy to put on, not making her feel so confined and helping her stay upright easier when she stood up to get her dress down and then, sit in her chair. She leaned back into it with a sigh, letting Gunhilde do up her hair in it’s usual tight bun with a cover. When asked what she would like to do, Cadmine frowned and then shrugged, suggesting maybe they could go exploring a bit. The handmaiden agreed and rolled her out of her chambers, heading down a long hallway that was still more dimly lit than Cadmine would have liked. It was a good hall though and the thin wheels on her old chair moved easily along it, not catching like they tended to on most things.

“Gunhilde, may I go fast?” Cadmine asked after a moment, reaching down to grab at her wheels’ handrails. Gunhilde laughed.

“It’s your house, my Lady. Master Lucero said the Lord was very clear. You can do whatever you desire.”

Cadmine smiled at that and then pushed herself forward, using her arms to get herself going much more rapidly than before. She’d never been allowed to race about back home but it was something she did enjoy. Going slow had never been fun for Cadmine but there was always the worry that she’d fall out of her chair if she raced about. She couldn’t run, so it was the closest she could get. She released a bit of a laugh as she reached the end of the hallway and found herself in the main entrance hall full of paintings from last night. Gunhilde had picked up her own pace to keep up, holding her bun a bit to keep it in place but she had a smile on as well. She wasn’t all too much older than Cadmine to be honest, only in her early twenties. They ended up racing circles around the entrance hall for a bit, Cadmine only getting caught on a rug every now and then when she wasn’t careful and nearly sending herself toppling because her chair couldn’t handle  it. Soon after though, they picked another hallway and started down it, intent on getting the lay of the land for now. Cadmine wanted to figure out where all the main rooms were so she wouldn’t get lost.

Cadmine’s tears fell softly down her cheeks as she stared at her husband, hoping he wasn’t going to get angry at her for speaking her mind. A spark of guilt played in the back of her mind as he met her eyes, but she wasn’t entirely sure where it was coming from. Perhaps because she felt she might be asking too much of him, but at the same time… her question didn’t seem entirely outrageous to her. It was supposed to be natural, wasn’t it, for a husband and wife to sleep together? In all her short years, Cadmine had never heard of any couple sleeping separately, it was simply not heard of in their society. The fact that Vidmir had left her by her lonesome before had shocked her enough that she had been left crying in her bed, curled up and wishing he would return to her so that she could have a proper first night with her husband, even if it didn’t involve all of the physical aspects. Even now though, she desired him in so many ways Cadmine could barely keep track of them all. She wanted his blood, his touch, his affection. She needed to hear his voice, to listen to the way he breathed despite not really needing the air, and to know that he was just… there with her. Cadmine wasn’t sure why she was so drawn to Vidmir. It hadn’t been like this until after they had bitten one another and thus, probably had to do with the bond. This didn’t change the fact that she didn’t want to be without him though. It was as if they had become tethered to one another.

The worry and fear of Vidmir leaving again began to ebb out of Cadmine as he apologized, his arms reaching out for her. She didn’t shy away as he pulled her to his chest, the sensation soothing as she rested her head down against him. It felt so incredibly right to her, to be laying with her husband like this, to have him holding her so tenderly. Her body began to relax against him, her tears slowing as she was able to blink them back now. Still though, Cadmine frowned as Vidmir continued, explaining that he had thought she wouldn’t want him staying with her, not until the bond had formed between them completely. She shook her head at that, meeting his gaze as he pulled back just a bit. She sniffled a bit but didn’t look away as he reached for her face, brushing her tears away gently until there was only a slight wetness lingering upon her skin.

“Why would that be better, my Lord, when all I want is to be with you?” Cadmine asked softly, releasing a small sigh. She could understand what her husband was telling her, that he had thought she might not want to have him stay with her overnight. That she would, potentially, want her space instead because their marriage hadn’t exactly been her choice. He was trying to respect her, in his own way, but to Cadmine it had felt more like he was avoiding her. “Can’t you feel it? The bond is already forming… I… I can’t help but to want you beside me, my Lord. My heart aches when you’re away from me, I don’t care how old you are. You don’t look but more than a couple years my senior. Why can’t we simply do all of those things together? You and I… I feel so much more at peace beside you, my Lord.”

Reaching out a gentle hand, Cadmine cupped Vidmir’s cheek, still meeting his eyes as she examined him. He was incredibly handsome, young in appearance despite his great age that one would have trouble noticing until he spoke. She ran her thumb over his skin, feeling at the cool surface of it, the smooth plane both pliable and solid beneath her fingers. She traced his face then, using one finger now to run it over the contours. She started at his temple, moved over his brow and then worked her way down to his eyes. Cadmine slid her fingertip down his nose, brushing against his lips and then along his jawline until she reached his chin and started her way back up again, this time pressing some of his hair behind his ear. “I welcome your touch, husband. Do you welcome mine?”

Bonded

Cadmine slept fitfully the first night in her new home, her brow furrowed and face streaked with dried tears that had fallen from her eyes for a good while before she had finally given in to her body’s exhaustion. She had ached in more ways than one as her new husband had kissed her hand and instead of lying with her in the manner of which a man did with his wife, Vidmir had left her. He had told her she was tired, and that they had all of eternity for such things, but Cadmine hadn’t been able to help feeling a bit… disappointed? She knew that she should have been relieved, that most women would have been glad for the chance to rest properly after such a long day but before Cadmine knew it, she had broken down in tears. Her heart had ached inside of her chest, though whether it was from the beginnings of the change slowing it down or the fact that her husband had decided not to stay the night with her Cadmine couldn’t tell. It could also have easily been homesickness, having to sleep in a new place that she had never been to before or a yearning for her parents who had always bid her a good night before she’d gone to bed. She had stained the satin cover of the pillow beneath her head, the crimson material darkening even further beneath the wetness of her sadness. Eventually she had grown cold without Vidmir’s presence beside her and shifted on top of the covers, fighting with them until she had been able to squirm her way beneath them. It was warmer under the blankets and Cadmine had fallen asleep at last, her hair sticking to one cheek, her hand brought close to her face. She nuzzled against the flannel of  her husband’s pajama sleeve, breathing in the scent of him and causing a fresh flood of crying to be released from her eyes as she felt a sudden yearning for his presence. She wasn’t sure why he had chosen to go elsewhere for the night. Even if he had decided that being with her physically wasn’t something they needed to do right away, she still would have felt better to have him lie beside her. The red room felt much larger, more empty, and a lot more foreboding without him there.

When Cadmine woke it was to the swish of curtains sliding across a rod and the smell of food. She stirred, rolling and rubbing at her eyes, her hair an absolute mess on her head she blinked, trying to take in her surroundings. She was confused momentarily, the place unfamiliar at first until she remembered. She had been married last night. This was the home of her husband, her home now, and this was the room he had given to her. The handmaiden, Gunhilde, had just opened the large velvet curtains, letting in the light of the moon, brightening up the dim settings. Cadmine knew that with the change her eyes would adjust in time so that she would be able to see much better with limited light but at the moment, she welcomed the addition. She was able to more clearly see the room now but even so, she could have done with a few more candles. Or some electric lighting but an old castle like this simply didn’t have such a thing.

“Good morning, my Lady.” Gunhilde greeted in Cadmine’s native tongue, the sound of her words reassuring to the young wife. Cadmine managed a small smile as she began to press back the blankets a bit, but Gunhilde rushed forward holding a bed tray to place over her lap instead. Fine china sat on the gleaming wooden surface, plain white pieces with simple golden rims. Cadmine stared down at her favorite breakfast, a simple piece of sourdough toast with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese and topped with thin apple slices. There were also scrambled eggs and some bacon off to one side, as well as a cup of what smelt like her favorite morning tea. “The Lord said you might be quite tired this morning and to not put you through any unneeded strain. I do hope your night went well, Lady Nezhdanov.”

Cadmine blinked, surprised for a moment as she registered her new name. She had heard it the night before of course, but it hadn’t quite clicked until now that her name was no longer the same as it had once been. She was a married woman and thus, had taken her husband’s surname as her own. How did one even go about spelling something like Nezhdanov? Cadmine would have to learn. Looking up from the tray across her lap, Cadmine’s eyes fell upon Gunhilde, looking all the world like almost every other handmaiden Cadmine had ever had. She wore the usual uniform of a dress and apron, stockings and good shoes made for working in, her hair pulled back into a tight bun. In a way, it was comforting for Cadmine and she felt her nerves easing a little bit, though her eyes flitted towards the door, wondering if her husband was awake yet.

“It was fine.” Cadmine stated simply, turning her attention back to Gunhilde. “Have you eaten? I’m not very partial to eggs if you’d like them.”

“Ah yes. Your parents said that, but the Lord wanted to make sure you got enough of your energy back. Neither of you will be able to partake in any blood except one another’s until after the change is complete, as is the tradition.”

“Oh, right…” Cadmine sighed, looking down at her tray again and noticing the severe lack of her usual blood slushie. It pale in comparison when she remembered the absolute ambrosia that was Vidmir’s blood though. She didn’t know if a slushie would satiate her ever again in the same manner of which it once had now that she knew what it was like to drink fresh from the vein of her husband. “Is he awake, do you know?”

“I’m afraid not. Master Lucero said he was not to be disturbed but you are welcome to do as you wish throughout the castle until you are ready to retire back to bed for the night.”

“Oh.” Cadmine felt a wave of disappointment wash over her, the realization that she probably wouldn’t be seeing Vidmir again until it was time for him to return to this bed. They would drink from one another again and then… what? Was he going to take her as his? Or perhaps he would decide upon that first so they still had enough energy for feeding left. The memory of his lips upon her neck the night before, the way his teeth had sunken into her flesh and then the pleasure that had forced away the pain of his venom. Just the thought of it had Cadmine’s cheeks heating with color, her thighs tightening beneath the red blankets. She had desired him and even now, as she pondered the idea of becoming one with her husband, Cadmine was both nervous and excited. Surely tonight. He had probably just been too exhausted from yesterday’s busyness to continue. And afterwards, he would stay with her. They could lie together, close in that way couples were supposed to. For now, she would simply have to be patient until he came for her.

“After you’ve eaten, I can help you dress and we can do whatever you please, my Lady.”

“Alright then.” Cadmine agreed. She lifted the toast and bit into it, relishing the familiar taste of her usual breakfast. She ate it down heartily, wanting to have plenty of strength for tonight, sipping at her tea. When she was finished, Gunhilde removed the tray and set it off to one side. She moved to the large wardrobe and tugged it open, revealing Cadmine’s usual assortment of dresses. They were pretty things, but very old fashioned if she was to be honest. However, she was still happy to see them at the moment. “May I have the green please? The light one. I do believe that is my favorite.”

Gunhilde appeased her, pulling the sage colored dress from the wardrobe on its hanger, lying it down on the bed. It took time and effort for Gunhilde to figure out how to help Cadmine dress and get into her wheelchair. Cadmine could do most of it on her own, though the many buttons down the back of her dress made things more difficult than they had to be. At least she didn’t have to deal with a rotten corset and back brace today. That had been demolished by her husband in the limo the night before. Her leg braces, however, were more familiar and easy to put on, not making her feel so confined and helping her stay upright easier when she stood up to get her dress down and then, sit in her chair. She leaned back into it with a sigh, letting Gunhilde do up her hair in it’s usual tight bun with a cover. When asked what she would like to do, Cadmine frowned and then shrugged, suggesting maybe they could go exploring a bit. The handmaiden agreed and rolled her out of her chambers, heading down a long hallway that was still more dimly lit than Cadmine would have liked. It was a good hall though and the thin wheels on her old chair moved easily along it, not catching like they tended to on most things.

“Gunhilde, may I go fast?” Cadmine asked after a moment, reaching down to grab at her wheels’ handrails. Gunhilde laughed.

“It’s your house, my Lady. Master Lucero said the Lord was very clear. You can do whatever you desire.”

Cadmine smiled at that and then pushed herself forward, using her arms to get herself going much more rapidly than before. She’d never been allowed to race about back home but it was something she did enjoy. Going slow had never been fun for Cadmine but there was always the worry that she’d fall out of her chair if she raced about. She couldn’t run, so it was the closest she could get. She released a bit of a laugh as she reached the end of the hallway and found herself in the main entrance hall full of paintings from last night. Gunhilde had picked up her own pace to keep up, holding her bun a bit to keep it in place but she had a smile on as well. She wasn’t all too much older than Cadmine to be honest, only in her early twenties. They ended up racing circles around the entrance hall for a bit, Cadmine only getting caught on a rug every now and then when she wasn’t careful and nearly sending herself toppling because her chair couldn’t handle  it. Soon after though, they picked another hallway and started down it, intent on getting the lay of the land for now. Cadmine wanted to figure out where all the main rooms were so she wouldn’t get lost.

Cadmine shuddered as Vidmir’s teeth left her back and he gently pulled her underwear back up over her bottom. Her shirt slid down and she turned her head as far as she could in order to look at her husband which only got easier as he helped her roll back over again. There was concern on his face and in his voice as he spoke to her now, asking if her back hurt. Cadmine nodded, not pulling away from him as he reached for her, lifting her up just enough to lay her against him. It was more comfortable this way, rolled a bit onto her side with her head resting on his shoulder. The pain in her back wasn’t as bad as it had been when he had bitten her and definitely felt loads better with his blood flowing through her. She slowly began to relax against him more fully, meeting his eyes with her own as he gazed down at her. She could barely breathe as she stared back at him, the silence between them palpable. “It’s better now, my Lord.”

Cadmine nodded, knowing that they just had her elbows and her throat left now. She offered up her closest arm, not pulling away as Vidmir bit at her elbow, drinking from her but for a few moments before he was switching to the other one. He was moving faster than he had with her wrists, seeming to have better control over himself than he had before. Her elbows stung, making her take in a sharp breath through her teeth before they soothed back down and she relaxed against Vidmir again. He was holding her, arms gentle as he shifted her about in order to get to her neck now. Cadmine was all to happy to have his arms around her though, relishing the contact, eyes closing as she felt his nose press lightly to her throat, then his lips quickly followed by his teeth. It was the shortest bite he had given her tonight, ending before the pain of it had even begun to sooth. She frowned as he pulled away, shifting out from under her to lay beside her on the bed now. Cadmine immediately felt a wave of disappointment fill her at the loss of his touch. Why had he released her already? Didn’t he want to hold her, wasn’t he supposed to want to, as her husband, be touching her?

“Yes.” Cadmine responded softly after Vidmir asked if she was alright. She sighed, rolling carefully onto her side so she could look at him, her eyes having returned to indigo already. She gazed at him before lifting a hand, hesitantly reaching out to trace a finger down his face, running it along from the inside corner of his eye, along his nose to his chin. A sense of dread filled her as she realized that they were finished with feeding for tonight… and instead of approaching her in a way that indicated he wanted to mate with her, Vidmir had pulled away again. Cadmine’s heart clenched in her chest, worry filling her as her brow furrowed, trying to keep the heat of tears welling in the back of her eyes at bay. She failed, the tears starting to press forward, shimming in the flickering candlelight of the room.

“This is the part where you leave me again, isn’t it?” Cadmine asked sorrowfully, her eyes deepening in shade a bit, the disappointment obvious on her face. He had left her when they had arrived at the castle, then after they had fed last night, and again today when they had finished with the doctor. The idea of him leaving her again already made her ache for his return. She couldn’t bear the thought of it… “Please, my Lord, don’t go. Won’t you stay with me? I… I really like it when you’re with me and when… when you touch me. It feels wrong when we’re apart. We’re married, aren’t we supposed to share a bed?”

Bonded

Cadmine slept fitfully the first night in her new home, her brow furrowed and face streaked with dried tears that had fallen from her eyes for a good while before she had finally given in to her body’s exhaustion. She had ached in more ways than one as her new husband had kissed her hand and instead of lying with her in the manner of which a man did with his wife, Vidmir had left her. He had told her she was tired, and that they had all of eternity for such things, but Cadmine hadn’t been able to help feeling a bit… disappointed? She knew that she should have been relieved, that most women would have been glad for the chance to rest properly after such a long day but before Cadmine knew it, she had broken down in tears. Her heart had ached inside of her chest, though whether it was from the beginnings of the change slowing it down or the fact that her husband had decided not to stay the night with her Cadmine couldn’t tell. It could also have easily been homesickness, having to sleep in a new place that she had never been to before or a yearning for her parents who had always bid her a good night before she’d gone to bed. She had stained the satin cover of the pillow beneath her head, the crimson material darkening even further beneath the wetness of her sadness. Eventually she had grown cold without Vidmir’s presence beside her and shifted on top of the covers, fighting with them until she had been able to squirm her way beneath them. It was warmer under the blankets and Cadmine had fallen asleep at last, her hair sticking to one cheek, her hand brought close to her face. She nuzzled against the flannel of  her husband’s pajama sleeve, breathing in the scent of him and causing a fresh flood of crying to be released from her eyes as she felt a sudden yearning for his presence. She wasn’t sure why he had chosen to go elsewhere for the night. Even if he had decided that being with her physically wasn’t something they needed to do right away, she still would have felt better to have him lie beside her. The red room felt much larger, more empty, and a lot more foreboding without him there.

When Cadmine woke it was to the swish of curtains sliding across a rod and the smell of food. She stirred, rolling and rubbing at her eyes, her hair an absolute mess on her head she blinked, trying to take in her surroundings. She was confused momentarily, the place unfamiliar at first until she remembered. She had been married last night. This was the home of her husband, her home now, and this was the room he had given to her. The handmaiden, Gunhilde, had just opened the large velvet curtains, letting in the light of the moon, brightening up the dim settings. Cadmine knew that with the change her eyes would adjust in time so that she would be able to see much better with limited light but at the moment, she welcomed the addition. She was able to more clearly see the room now but even so, she could have done with a few more candles. Or some electric lighting but an old castle like this simply didn’t have such a thing.

“Good morning, my Lady.” Gunhilde greeted in Cadmine’s native tongue, the sound of her words reassuring to the young wife. Cadmine managed a small smile as she began to press back the blankets a bit, but Gunhilde rushed forward holding a bed tray to place over her lap instead. Fine china sat on the gleaming wooden surface, plain white pieces with simple golden rims. Cadmine stared down at her favorite breakfast, a simple piece of sourdough toast with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese and topped with thin apple slices. There were also scrambled eggs and some bacon off to one side, as well as a cup of what smelt like her favorite morning tea. “The Lord said you might be quite tired this morning and to not put you through any unneeded strain. I do hope your night went well, Lady Nezhdanov.”

Cadmine blinked, surprised for a moment as she registered her new name. She had heard it the night before of course, but it hadn’t quite clicked until now that her name was no longer the same as it had once been. She was a married woman and thus, had taken her husband’s surname as her own. How did one even go about spelling something like Nezhdanov? Cadmine would have to learn. Looking up from the tray across her lap, Cadmine’s eyes fell upon Gunhilde, looking all the world like almost every other handmaiden Cadmine had ever had. She wore the usual uniform of a dress and apron, stockings and good shoes made for working in, her hair pulled back into a tight bun. In a way, it was comforting for Cadmine and she felt her nerves easing a little bit, though her eyes flitted towards the door, wondering if her husband was awake yet.

“It was fine.” Cadmine stated simply, turning her attention back to Gunhilde. “Have you eaten? I’m not very partial to eggs if you’d like them.”

“Ah yes. Your parents said that, but the Lord wanted to make sure you got enough of your energy back. Neither of you will be able to partake in any blood except one another’s until after the change is complete, as is the tradition.”

“Oh, right…” Cadmine sighed, looking down at her tray again and noticing the severe lack of her usual blood slushie. It pale in comparison when she remembered the absolute ambrosia that was Vidmir’s blood though. She didn’t know if a slushie would satiate her ever again in the same manner of which it once had now that she knew what it was like to drink fresh from the vein of her husband. “Is he awake, do you know?”

“I’m afraid not. Master Lucero said he was not to be disturbed but you are welcome to do as you wish throughout the castle until you are ready to retire back to bed for the night.”

“Oh.” Cadmine felt a wave of disappointment wash over her, the realization that she probably wouldn’t be seeing Vidmir again until it was time for him to return to this bed. They would drink from one another again and then… what? Was he going to take her as his? Or perhaps he would decide upon that first so they still had enough energy for feeding left. The memory of his lips upon her neck the night before, the way his teeth had sunken into her flesh and then the pleasure that had forced away the pain of his venom. Just the thought of it had Cadmine’s cheeks heating with color, her thighs tightening beneath the red blankets. She had desired him and even now, as she pondered the idea of becoming one with her husband, Cadmine was both nervous and excited. Surely tonight. He had probably just been too exhausted from yesterday’s busyness to continue. And afterwards, he would stay with her. They could lie together, close in that way couples were supposed to. For now, she would simply have to be patient until he came for her.

“After you’ve eaten, I can help you dress and we can do whatever you please, my Lady.”

“Alright then.” Cadmine agreed. She lifted the toast and bit into it, relishing the familiar taste of her usual breakfast. She ate it down heartily, wanting to have plenty of strength for tonight, sipping at her tea. When she was finished, Gunhilde removed the tray and set it off to one side. She moved to the large wardrobe and tugged it open, revealing Cadmine’s usual assortment of dresses. They were pretty things, but very old fashioned if she was to be honest. However, she was still happy to see them at the moment. “May I have the green please? The light one. I do believe that is my favorite.”

Gunhilde appeased her, pulling the sage colored dress from the wardrobe on its hanger, lying it down on the bed. It took time and effort for Gunhilde to figure out how to help Cadmine dress and get into her wheelchair. Cadmine could do most of it on her own, though the many buttons down the back of her dress made things more difficult than they had to be. At least she didn’t have to deal with a rotten corset and back brace today. That had been demolished by her husband in the limo the night before. Her leg braces, however, were more familiar and easy to put on, not making her feel so confined and helping her stay upright easier when she stood up to get her dress down and then, sit in her chair. She leaned back into it with a sigh, letting Gunhilde do up her hair in it’s usual tight bun with a cover. When asked what she would like to do, Cadmine frowned and then shrugged, suggesting maybe they could go exploring a bit. The handmaiden agreed and rolled her out of her chambers, heading down a long hallway that was still more dimly lit than Cadmine would have liked. It was a good hall though and the thin wheels on her old chair moved easily along it, not catching like they tended to on most things.

“Gunhilde, may I go fast?” Cadmine asked after a moment, reaching down to grab at her wheels’ handrails. Gunhilde laughed.

“It’s your house, my Lady. Master Lucero said the Lord was very clear. You can do whatever you desire.”

Cadmine smiled at that and then pushed herself forward, using her arms to get herself going much more rapidly than before. She’d never been allowed to race about back home but it was something she did enjoy. Going slow had never been fun for Cadmine but there was always the worry that she’d fall out of her chair if she raced about. She couldn’t run, so it was the closest she could get. She released a bit of a laugh as she reached the end of the hallway and found herself in the main entrance hall full of paintings from last night. Gunhilde had picked up her own pace to keep up, holding her bun a bit to keep it in place but she had a smile on as well. She wasn’t all too much older than Cadmine to be honest, only in her early twenties. They ended up racing circles around the entrance hall for a bit, Cadmine only getting caught on a rug every now and then when she wasn’t careful and nearly sending herself toppling because her chair couldn’t handle  it. Soon after though, they picked another hallway and started down it, intent on getting the lay of the land for now. Cadmine wanted to figure out where all the main rooms were so she wouldn’t get lost.

Cadmine wasn’t sure Vidmir was going to listen to her, to even hear her voice when he was feeding from her. She knew that blood lust was a strong sensation, having experienced it herself already and it was very difficult to veer away from. She had nearly drunken too much from him last night herself and he’d had to basically pry her off of him to get her to stop. Even now, with his blood flowing through her system, Cadmine’s throat felt slightly parched, like she wanted more. She couldn’t begin to imagine had it felt for Vidmir, who was male and thus had an ever stronger natural instinct to fall into the throes of blood lust than she did. He did it though, releasing her leg so that it could sink back down onto the sheets but Cadmine barely saw him move as he grabbed for her other one. The pain was the same as his fangs sank deeply into her flesh, making her scream again but this time she welcomed the fire in her leg. It meant she could feel something, that the nerve endings were picking up on messages they had previously been unable to find. Whether it was due to the bite from the night before or the direct introduction of venom into her leg, Cadmine would never know. It didn’t matter which it was. All Cadmine cared about was that the sensations were there. She shuddered as the pain flowed away, leaving her twitching.

Vidmir’s bite on her second leg didn’t last very long at all and soon, Cadmine felt him pulling back away, much more fully than he had before. She gazed up at him, curious as she watched the redness of her own blood stain his lips before he was licking it away. He needed to have her roll over… Cadmine nodded in understanding, knowing that he intended to bite at her back next. This was going to be the most difficult of bites of the both of them, she supposed. For Vidmir because it wasn’t going to be a very easy angle to work with and for Cadmine, well… it was the most sensitive spot on her body. Cadmine had always had troubles with her back, especially around the area where her spine was screwed up. Sometimes it twinged so bad at night she had trouble sleeping, and other times she barely noticed it at all. Cadmine started to turn a bit, using her shoulders mostly but Vidmir was ahead of her. He flipped her over so fast and with such ease she might as well have been a pancake. He was gentle enough that it didn’t hurt, but Cadmine still had to find a new comfortable position to work with. She placed her head on her arms, turning it so she wasn’t face planted down against the pillows instead.

Cadmine felt her shirt lift, exposing her back to her husband. It wasn’t his first time seeing it, having removed both her wedding dress and her dress tonight, not to mention the awful lingerie that left very little to the imagination. Cadmine did freeze up a bit though, when she felt Vidmir’s fingers slip underneath the waistband of her panties. He had never seen her without them before and when he began pulling them down, Cadmine felt herself growing more nervous but kind of excited at the same time. Her husband didn’t remove her underwear though, simply moving it out of the way beneath her butt so that he had fully exposed her bottom and the section of her back that was obviously the most screwed up. The area above the very lowest portion of her spine had been cut open so many times that the scar tissue there had grown back thick, creating a small ridge that was almost like a very flat button over the place where she hadn’t developed properly.

The young vampiress allowed Vidmir to lift her hips upwards, further exposing her ass to him, her pants just barely covering up the other secrets she kept hidden underneath them. The angle proved to be better for Vidmir to work with though as he leaned over her, plunging his fangs into her back, tearing through the scar tissue. Cadmine’s hands locked in the sheets then, trying to pull away rapidly at she cried out, eyes watering as the pain from Vidmir’s bite shot up her spine rapidly. It hurt worse than any of the other times he had bitten her yet, a sensation so strong Cadmine was certain she was going to pass out from it. Her vision swam as Vidmir’s venom began to attack the devastated portion of her spine, swirling around and around, lighting her nerves on fire so strong it was as if he was injecting actual white-hot flames into her body. Cadmine screamed again, squirming underneath him until mind went black and she became limp underneath him. Her hips only remained bent due to his hands on her, keeping her in the position he needed in order to properly bite her here. It took much longer for the balm of Vidmir’s blood to reach this spot but when it did, Cadmine began to stir again, still in pain but regaining consciousness slowly.

“Ow ow ow...” Cadmine whimpered, eyes blinking back open. She couldn’t see Vidmir now, but she could still feel him, the way he sucked away at her back, drinking her blood. With the soothing sensation so close to her nether regions, Cadmine began to moan again, wishing Vidmir was back between her legs. The tingling was back now, stronger than ever and she could barely stand it. “My Lord… my Lord… Oh god...”

Bonded

Cadmine slept fitfully the first night in her new home, her brow furrowed and face streaked with dried tears that had fallen from her eyes for a good while before she had finally given in to her body’s exhaustion. She had ached in more ways than one as her new husband had kissed her hand and instead of lying with her in the manner of which a man did with his wife, Vidmir had left her. He had told her she was tired, and that they had all of eternity for such things, but Cadmine hadn’t been able to help feeling a bit… disappointed? She knew that she should have been relieved, that most women would have been glad for the chance to rest properly after such a long day but before Cadmine knew it, she had broken down in tears. Her heart had ached inside of her chest, though whether it was from the beginnings of the change slowing it down or the fact that her husband had decided not to stay the night with her Cadmine couldn’t tell. It could also have easily been homesickness, having to sleep in a new place that she had never been to before or a yearning for her parents who had always bid her a good night before she’d gone to bed. She had stained the satin cover of the pillow beneath her head, the crimson material darkening even further beneath the wetness of her sadness. Eventually she had grown cold without Vidmir’s presence beside her and shifted on top of the covers, fighting with them until she had been able to squirm her way beneath them. It was warmer under the blankets and Cadmine had fallen asleep at last, her hair sticking to one cheek, her hand brought close to her face. She nuzzled against the flannel of  her husband’s pajama sleeve, breathing in the scent of him and causing a fresh flood of crying to be released from her eyes as she felt a sudden yearning for his presence. She wasn’t sure why he had chosen to go elsewhere for the night. Even if he had decided that being with her physically wasn’t something they needed to do right away, she still would have felt better to have him lie beside her. The red room felt much larger, more empty, and a lot more foreboding without him there.

When Cadmine woke it was to the swish of curtains sliding across a rod and the smell of food. She stirred, rolling and rubbing at her eyes, her hair an absolute mess on her head she blinked, trying to take in her surroundings. She was confused momentarily, the place unfamiliar at first until she remembered. She had been married last night. This was the home of her husband, her home now, and this was the room he had given to her. The handmaiden, Gunhilde, had just opened the large velvet curtains, letting in the light of the moon, brightening up the dim settings. Cadmine knew that with the change her eyes would adjust in time so that she would be able to see much better with limited light but at the moment, she welcomed the addition. She was able to more clearly see the room now but even so, she could have done with a few more candles. Or some electric lighting but an old castle like this simply didn’t have such a thing.

“Good morning, my Lady.” Gunhilde greeted in Cadmine’s native tongue, the sound of her words reassuring to the young wife. Cadmine managed a small smile as she began to press back the blankets a bit, but Gunhilde rushed forward holding a bed tray to place over her lap instead. Fine china sat on the gleaming wooden surface, plain white pieces with simple golden rims. Cadmine stared down at her favorite breakfast, a simple piece of sourdough toast with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese and topped with thin apple slices. There were also scrambled eggs and some bacon off to one side, as well as a cup of what smelt like her favorite morning tea. “The Lord said you might be quite tired this morning and to not put you through any unneeded strain. I do hope your night went well, Lady Nezhdanov.”

Cadmine blinked, surprised for a moment as she registered her new name. She had heard it the night before of course, but it hadn’t quite clicked until now that her name was no longer the same as it had once been. She was a married woman and thus, had taken her husband’s surname as her own. How did one even go about spelling something like Nezhdanov? Cadmine would have to learn. Looking up from the tray across her lap, Cadmine’s eyes fell upon Gunhilde, looking all the world like almost every other handmaiden Cadmine had ever had. She wore the usual uniform of a dress and apron, stockings and good shoes made for working in, her hair pulled back into a tight bun. In a way, it was comforting for Cadmine and she felt her nerves easing a little bit, though her eyes flitted towards the door, wondering if her husband was awake yet.

“It was fine.” Cadmine stated simply, turning her attention back to Gunhilde. “Have you eaten? I’m not very partial to eggs if you’d like them.”

“Ah yes. Your parents said that, but the Lord wanted to make sure you got enough of your energy back. Neither of you will be able to partake in any blood except one another’s until after the change is complete, as is the tradition.”

“Oh, right…” Cadmine sighed, looking down at her tray again and noticing the severe lack of her usual blood slushie. It pale in comparison when she remembered the absolute ambrosia that was Vidmir’s blood though. She didn’t know if a slushie would satiate her ever again in the same manner of which it once had now that she knew what it was like to drink fresh from the vein of her husband. “Is he awake, do you know?”

“I’m afraid not. Master Lucero said he was not to be disturbed but you are welcome to do as you wish throughout the castle until you are ready to retire back to bed for the night.”

“Oh.” Cadmine felt a wave of disappointment wash over her, the realization that she probably wouldn’t be seeing Vidmir again until it was time for him to return to this bed. They would drink from one another again and then… what? Was he going to take her as his? Or perhaps he would decide upon that first so they still had enough energy for feeding left. The memory of his lips upon her neck the night before, the way his teeth had sunken into her flesh and then the pleasure that had forced away the pain of his venom. Just the thought of it had Cadmine’s cheeks heating with color, her thighs tightening beneath the red blankets. She had desired him and even now, as she pondered the idea of becoming one with her husband, Cadmine was both nervous and excited. Surely tonight. He had probably just been too exhausted from yesterday’s busyness to continue. And afterwards, he would stay with her. They could lie together, close in that way couples were supposed to. For now, she would simply have to be patient until he came for her.

“After you’ve eaten, I can help you dress and we can do whatever you please, my Lady.”

“Alright then.” Cadmine agreed. She lifted the toast and bit into it, relishing the familiar taste of her usual breakfast. She ate it down heartily, wanting to have plenty of strength for tonight, sipping at her tea. When she was finished, Gunhilde removed the tray and set it off to one side. She moved to the large wardrobe and tugged it open, revealing Cadmine’s usual assortment of dresses. They were pretty things, but very old fashioned if she was to be honest. However, she was still happy to see them at the moment. “May I have the green please? The light one. I do believe that is my favorite.”

Gunhilde appeased her, pulling the sage colored dress from the wardrobe on its hanger, lying it down on the bed. It took time and effort for Gunhilde to figure out how to help Cadmine dress and get into her wheelchair. Cadmine could do most of it on her own, though the many buttons down the back of her dress made things more difficult than they had to be. At least she didn’t have to deal with a rotten corset and back brace today. That had been demolished by her husband in the limo the night before. Her leg braces, however, were more familiar and easy to put on, not making her feel so confined and helping her stay upright easier when she stood up to get her dress down and then, sit in her chair. She leaned back into it with a sigh, letting Gunhilde do up her hair in it’s usual tight bun with a cover. When asked what she would like to do, Cadmine frowned and then shrugged, suggesting maybe they could go exploring a bit. The handmaiden agreed and rolled her out of her chambers, heading down a long hallway that was still more dimly lit than Cadmine would have liked. It was a good hall though and the thin wheels on her old chair moved easily along it, not catching like they tended to on most things.

“Gunhilde, may I go fast?” Cadmine asked after a moment, reaching down to grab at her wheels’ handrails. Gunhilde laughed.

“It’s your house, my Lady. Master Lucero said the Lord was very clear. You can do whatever you desire.”

Cadmine smiled at that and then pushed herself forward, using her arms to get herself going much more rapidly than before. She’d never been allowed to race about back home but it was something she did enjoy. Going slow had never been fun for Cadmine but there was always the worry that she’d fall out of her chair if she raced about. She couldn’t run, so it was the closest she could get. She released a bit of a laugh as she reached the end of the hallway and found herself in the main entrance hall full of paintings from last night. Gunhilde had picked up her own pace to keep up, holding her bun a bit to keep it in place but she had a smile on as well. She wasn’t all too much older than Cadmine to be honest, only in her early twenties. They ended up racing circles around the entrance hall for a bit, Cadmine only getting caught on a rug every now and then when she wasn’t careful and nearly sending herself toppling because her chair couldn’t handle  it. Soon after though, they picked another hallway and started down it, intent on getting the lay of the land for now. Cadmine wanted to figure out where all the main rooms were so she wouldn’t get lost.

Cadmine gasped as Vidmir bit at her other wrist. The pain wasn’t as severe this time, the balm of his blood already working through her system, moving rapidly to fight off the sting of the venom as it entered her body. The wave of pleasure coursed over her and she sighed again, her eyes following Vidmir’s movements as he sucked just a bit from her wrist this time, just enough to get his venom flowing into her. She squirmed, eyes closing as she felt something thick pressing against the juncture of her thighs that hadn’t been there before. She pushed up against it the best she could, groaning as her name fell from her husband’s lips. Her arm was released, his lips leaving the skin as his hands went to her hips instead now.

The young vampiress was not entirely prepared for the way Vidmir pressed down into her, holding her still as he rocked against her, sending pleasurable little sparks into her brain. Cadmine’s reached for him but Vidmir was shofting again, grabbing one of her legs instead. It bent upwards with ease, Cadmine not having enough muscle to fight back even if she had wanted to. She watched with wonder, eyes swirling to the point where the red was fighting hard against the indigo now. At this anGLE, Cadmine could better feel the press of her husband between her legs, the growth in his pants pressing more tightly against her softness. She gasped out at this as his lips pressed to the skin of her knee. She could feel it, just barely before he was pressing his teeth into the flesh there as well. The venom entering through her leg was different than it had been when Vidmir had bitten her elsewhere. It took several moments before the pain hit her brain and she cried out. Fire shot down the limb, igniting nerve endings Cadmine had never known existed before. She thrashed slightly beneath Vidmir until the pain began to decrease again, the warmth spreading from her knee up both ends of her leg, easing the ache that was there.

More surprisingly to Cadmine though, was the fact that she began to feel more in her leg than she was used to, almost certain the muscles were twitching as they tried to fight against the venom as the body always did naturally in order to try and protect itself. Usually the sensations were limited, still there but more similar to a muffled noise than what she was feeling now. She wasn’t sure if it was because the pain of the bite had been so intense but Cadmine’s eyes had gone wide. She forgot a bit about the pleasure between her legs as she reached for Vidmir. Her hand grasped at his hair, giving him a tug, wanting him to release her knee. “The… the other one, my Lord. Do the other one… It feels… it feels… stronger.”

Bonded

Cadmine slept fitfully the first night in her new home, her brow furrowed and face streaked with dried tears that had fallen from her eyes for a good while before she had finally given in to her body’s exhaustion. She had ached in more ways than one as her new husband had kissed her hand and instead of lying with her in the manner of which a man did with his wife, Vidmir had left her. He had told her she was tired, and that they had all of eternity for such things, but Cadmine hadn’t been able to help feeling a bit… disappointed? She knew that she should have been relieved, that most women would have been glad for the chance to rest properly after such a long day but before Cadmine knew it, she had broken down in tears. Her heart had ached inside of her chest, though whether it was from the beginnings of the change slowing it down or the fact that her husband had decided not to stay the night with her Cadmine couldn’t tell. It could also have easily been homesickness, having to sleep in a new place that she had never been to before or a yearning for her parents who had always bid her a good night before she’d gone to bed. She had stained the satin cover of the pillow beneath her head, the crimson material darkening even further beneath the wetness of her sadness. Eventually she had grown cold without Vidmir’s presence beside her and shifted on top of the covers, fighting with them until she had been able to squirm her way beneath them. It was warmer under the blankets and Cadmine had fallen asleep at last, her hair sticking to one cheek, her hand brought close to her face. She nuzzled against the flannel of  her husband’s pajama sleeve, breathing in the scent of him and causing a fresh flood of crying to be released from her eyes as she felt a sudden yearning for his presence. She wasn’t sure why he had chosen to go elsewhere for the night. Even if he had decided that being with her physically wasn’t something they needed to do right away, she still would have felt better to have him lie beside her. The red room felt much larger, more empty, and a lot more foreboding without him there.

When Cadmine woke it was to the swish of curtains sliding across a rod and the smell of food. She stirred, rolling and rubbing at her eyes, her hair an absolute mess on her head she blinked, trying to take in her surroundings. She was confused momentarily, the place unfamiliar at first until she remembered. She had been married last night. This was the home of her husband, her home now, and this was the room he had given to her. The handmaiden, Gunhilde, had just opened the large velvet curtains, letting in the light of the moon, brightening up the dim settings. Cadmine knew that with the change her eyes would adjust in time so that she would be able to see much better with limited light but at the moment, she welcomed the addition. She was able to more clearly see the room now but even so, she could have done with a few more candles. Or some electric lighting but an old castle like this simply didn’t have such a thing.

“Good morning, my Lady.” Gunhilde greeted in Cadmine’s native tongue, the sound of her words reassuring to the young wife. Cadmine managed a small smile as she began to press back the blankets a bit, but Gunhilde rushed forward holding a bed tray to place over her lap instead. Fine china sat on the gleaming wooden surface, plain white pieces with simple golden rims. Cadmine stared down at her favorite breakfast, a simple piece of sourdough toast with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese and topped with thin apple slices. There were also scrambled eggs and some bacon off to one side, as well as a cup of what smelt like her favorite morning tea. “The Lord said you might be quite tired this morning and to not put you through any unneeded strain. I do hope your night went well, Lady Nezhdanov.”

Cadmine blinked, surprised for a moment as she registered her new name. She had heard it the night before of course, but it hadn’t quite clicked until now that her name was no longer the same as it had once been. She was a married woman and thus, had taken her husband’s surname as her own. How did one even go about spelling something like Nezhdanov? Cadmine would have to learn. Looking up from the tray across her lap, Cadmine’s eyes fell upon Gunhilde, looking all the world like almost every other handmaiden Cadmine had ever had. She wore the usual uniform of a dress and apron, stockings and good shoes made for working in, her hair pulled back into a tight bun. In a way, it was comforting for Cadmine and she felt her nerves easing a little bit, though her eyes flitted towards the door, wondering if her husband was awake yet.

“It was fine.” Cadmine stated simply, turning her attention back to Gunhilde. “Have you eaten? I’m not very partial to eggs if you’d like them.”

“Ah yes. Your parents said that, but the Lord wanted to make sure you got enough of your energy back. Neither of you will be able to partake in any blood except one another’s until after the change is complete, as is the tradition.”

“Oh, right…” Cadmine sighed, looking down at her tray again and noticing the severe lack of her usual blood slushie. It pale in comparison when she remembered the absolute ambrosia that was Vidmir’s blood though. She didn’t know if a slushie would satiate her ever again in the same manner of which it once had now that she knew what it was like to drink fresh from the vein of her husband. “Is he awake, do you know?”

“I’m afraid not. Master Lucero said he was not to be disturbed but you are welcome to do as you wish throughout the castle until you are ready to retire back to bed for the night.”

“Oh.” Cadmine felt a wave of disappointment wash over her, the realization that she probably wouldn’t be seeing Vidmir again until it was time for him to return to this bed. They would drink from one another again and then… what? Was he going to take her as his? Or perhaps he would decide upon that first so they still had enough energy for feeding left. The memory of his lips upon her neck the night before, the way his teeth had sunken into her flesh and then the pleasure that had forced away the pain of his venom. Just the thought of it had Cadmine’s cheeks heating with color, her thighs tightening beneath the red blankets. She had desired him and even now, as she pondered the idea of becoming one with her husband, Cadmine was both nervous and excited. Surely tonight. He had probably just been too exhausted from yesterday’s busyness to continue. And afterwards, he would stay with her. They could lie together, close in that way couples were supposed to. For now, she would simply have to be patient until he came for her.

“After you’ve eaten, I can help you dress and we can do whatever you please, my Lady.”

“Alright then.” Cadmine agreed. She lifted the toast and bit into it, relishing the familiar taste of her usual breakfast. She ate it down heartily, wanting to have plenty of strength for tonight, sipping at her tea. When she was finished, Gunhilde removed the tray and set it off to one side. She moved to the large wardrobe and tugged it open, revealing Cadmine’s usual assortment of dresses. They were pretty things, but very old fashioned if she was to be honest. However, she was still happy to see them at the moment. “May I have the green please? The light one. I do believe that is my favorite.”

Gunhilde appeased her, pulling the sage colored dress from the wardrobe on its hanger, lying it down on the bed. It took time and effort for Gunhilde to figure out how to help Cadmine dress and get into her wheelchair. Cadmine could do most of it on her own, though the many buttons down the back of her dress made things more difficult than they had to be. At least she didn’t have to deal with a rotten corset and back brace today. That had been demolished by her husband in the limo the night before. Her leg braces, however, were more familiar and easy to put on, not making her feel so confined and helping her stay upright easier when she stood up to get her dress down and then, sit in her chair. She leaned back into it with a sigh, letting Gunhilde do up her hair in it’s usual tight bun with a cover. When asked what she would like to do, Cadmine frowned and then shrugged, suggesting maybe they could go exploring a bit. The handmaiden agreed and rolled her out of her chambers, heading down a long hallway that was still more dimly lit than Cadmine would have liked. It was a good hall though and the thin wheels on her old chair moved easily along it, not catching like they tended to on most things.

“Gunhilde, may I go fast?” Cadmine asked after a moment, reaching down to grab at her wheels’ handrails. Gunhilde laughed.

“It’s your house, my Lady. Master Lucero said the Lord was very clear. You can do whatever you desire.”

Cadmine smiled at that and then pushed herself forward, using her arms to get herself going much more rapidly than before. She’d never been allowed to race about back home but it was something she did enjoy. Going slow had never been fun for Cadmine but there was always the worry that she’d fall out of her chair if she raced about. She couldn’t run, so it was the closest she could get. She released a bit of a laugh as she reached the end of the hallway and found herself in the main entrance hall full of paintings from last night. Gunhilde had picked up her own pace to keep up, holding her bun a bit to keep it in place but she had a smile on as well. She wasn’t all too much older than Cadmine to be honest, only in her early twenties. They ended up racing circles around the entrance hall for a bit, Cadmine only getting caught on a rug every now and then when she wasn’t careful and nearly sending herself toppling because her chair couldn’t handle  it. Soon after though, they picked another hallway and started down it, intent on getting the lay of the land for now. Cadmine wanted to figure out where all the main rooms were so she wouldn’t get lost.

Cadmine kept her teeth locked to Vidmir’s neck, drinking from him but not unaware of the movement of his arms around her. She groaned, relishing the way he brought her closer to him, his chest pressing against her own as his head tilted even further to give her more space to work with. Her own arms shifted as well, moving from his chin to wrap around him too. She could feel his fingers moving along her back, the shirt not creating much of a barrier between them at all. She whimpered, enjoying the sensations he was giving her through his touch alone which was only intensified by the taste of his blood upon her tongue. She only blinked a bit as he spoke her name, her eyes opening for a moment in response, but then closing again as she continued to drink for him. Vidmir seemed to be enjoying this as well now, at least, Cadmine thought he might be. She tightened her grip on him, wanting to never let go but all too soon, she felt herself being forced back.

Cadmine grumbled slightly as her teeth were extracted from Vidmir’s skin, blood dripping down her lips before she was licking them clean, her eyes searching for her husband’s in question. Why had he stopped her so soon? But of course, she shouldn’t drink too much from him because then they’d both be in trouble. She reached out to touch his face tentatively, questioning in her now red tinged eyes as he took a breath and then, opened his eyes back up. They were so red… Cadmine felt a wave of excitement fill her right before her husband was pressing her backwards against the pillows. He landed comfortably between her legs, Cadmine spreading her legs to the best of her ability to accommodate him. She lifted her hips slightly in encouragement, gazing up at Vidmir with eyes full of just as much lust as his, but hers was more less about blood now. She reached up, about to trace a finger down his face again when he grabbed at her wrist instead. She looked at him curiously, but then he was lowering his mouth to it. Realization filled Cadmine as her husband carefully kissed at her wrist first, testing it before he pressed his teeth into her flesh.

Cadmine cried out as the pain erupted up her arm, emanating from the bite Vidmir pressed into her wrist. It didn’t last long though as he began to drink, his venom coursing into her system before his was easing the fire back down to something tolerable and then, pleasurable. Cadmine sighed, her eyes closing happily as she let herself relax into a state of bliss, not wanting this sensation to ever end. Vidmir was pulling back for a moment but then he was drinking again. Cadmine whimpered, but not because she was in pain. Her thighs clenched together and she peered up at Vidmir as he spoke to her, carefully lapping at her new wound in order to help seal it back up properly. She wasn’t entirely sure she tasted anywhere near as good as he did though. His blood was phenomenal.

“You taste the best, my Lord.” Cadmine whispered up at him, her eyes finding his. “I’m fine. You didn’t take too much… Again?”

Cadmine lifted her opposite arm, offering him her other wrist for biting, trying to remember all of the places the doctor had said would be the best to do. Major arteries and her back… She knew she had some arteries in her wrists, but where else were they? She couldn’t remember at the moment but it didn’t really matter. All that she cared about right now was having Vidmir bite her again, to give her more of that gorgeous sensation that came from it.

“Please, my Lord. It makes me all… tingly… I like it… Do you feel it as well? It’s right… right here.” Cadmine pressed her hips up again to indicate where she was feeling the sensation the most. She hoped her husband didn’t mind it too much or perhaps, maybe, he was enjoying something similar as well. “It hurts when you bite me, but then it feels nice.”

Bonded

Cadmine slept fitfully the first night in her new home, her brow furrowed and face streaked with dried tears that had fallen from her eyes for a good while before she had finally given in to her body’s exhaustion. She had ached in more ways than one as her new husband had kissed her hand and instead of lying with her in the manner of which a man did with his wife, Vidmir had left her. He had told her she was tired, and that they had all of eternity for such things, but Cadmine hadn’t been able to help feeling a bit… disappointed? She knew that she should have been relieved, that most women would have been glad for the chance to rest properly after such a long day but before Cadmine knew it, she had broken down in tears. Her heart had ached inside of her chest, though whether it was from the beginnings of the change slowing it down or the fact that her husband had decided not to stay the night with her Cadmine couldn’t tell. It could also have easily been homesickness, having to sleep in a new place that she had never been to before or a yearning for her parents who had always bid her a good night before she’d gone to bed. She had stained the satin cover of the pillow beneath her head, the crimson material darkening even further beneath the wetness of her sadness. Eventually she had grown cold without Vidmir’s presence beside her and shifted on top of the covers, fighting with them until she had been able to squirm her way beneath them. It was warmer under the blankets and Cadmine had fallen asleep at last, her hair sticking to one cheek, her hand brought close to her face. She nuzzled against the flannel of  her husband’s pajama sleeve, breathing in the scent of him and causing a fresh flood of crying to be released from her eyes as she felt a sudden yearning for his presence. She wasn’t sure why he had chosen to go elsewhere for the night. Even if he had decided that being with her physically wasn’t something they needed to do right away, she still would have felt better to have him lie beside her. The red room felt much larger, more empty, and a lot more foreboding without him there.

When Cadmine woke it was to the swish of curtains sliding across a rod and the smell of food. She stirred, rolling and rubbing at her eyes, her hair an absolute mess on her head she blinked, trying to take in her surroundings. She was confused momentarily, the place unfamiliar at first until she remembered. She had been married last night. This was the home of her husband, her home now, and this was the room he had given to her. The handmaiden, Gunhilde, had just opened the large velvet curtains, letting in the light of the moon, brightening up the dim settings. Cadmine knew that with the change her eyes would adjust in time so that she would be able to see much better with limited light but at the moment, she welcomed the addition. She was able to more clearly see the room now but even so, she could have done with a few more candles. Or some electric lighting but an old castle like this simply didn’t have such a thing.

“Good morning, my Lady.” Gunhilde greeted in Cadmine’s native tongue, the sound of her words reassuring to the young wife. Cadmine managed a small smile as she began to press back the blankets a bit, but Gunhilde rushed forward holding a bed tray to place over her lap instead. Fine china sat on the gleaming wooden surface, plain white pieces with simple golden rims. Cadmine stared down at her favorite breakfast, a simple piece of sourdough toast with a slice of sharp cheddar cheese and topped with thin apple slices. There were also scrambled eggs and some bacon off to one side, as well as a cup of what smelt like her favorite morning tea. “The Lord said you might be quite tired this morning and to not put you through any unneeded strain. I do hope your night went well, Lady Nezhdanov.”

Cadmine blinked, surprised for a moment as she registered her new name. She had heard it the night before of course, but it hadn’t quite clicked until now that her name was no longer the same as it had once been. She was a married woman and thus, had taken her husband’s surname as her own. How did one even go about spelling something like Nezhdanov? Cadmine would have to learn. Looking up from the tray across her lap, Cadmine’s eyes fell upon Gunhilde, looking all the world like almost every other handmaiden Cadmine had ever had. She wore the usual uniform of a dress and apron, stockings and good shoes made for working in, her hair pulled back into a tight bun. In a way, it was comforting for Cadmine and she felt her nerves easing a little bit, though her eyes flitted towards the door, wondering if her husband was awake yet.

“It was fine.” Cadmine stated simply, turning her attention back to Gunhilde. “Have you eaten? I’m not very partial to eggs if you’d like them.”

“Ah yes. Your parents said that, but the Lord wanted to make sure you got enough of your energy back. Neither of you will be able to partake in any blood except one another’s until after the change is complete, as is the tradition.”

“Oh, right…” Cadmine sighed, looking down at her tray again and noticing the severe lack of her usual blood slushie. It pale in comparison when she remembered the absolute ambrosia that was Vidmir’s blood though. She didn’t know if a slushie would satiate her ever again in the same manner of which it once had now that she knew what it was like to drink fresh from the vein of her husband. “Is he awake, do you know?”

“I’m afraid not. Master Lucero said he was not to be disturbed but you are welcome to do as you wish throughout the castle until you are ready to retire back to bed for the night.”

“Oh.” Cadmine felt a wave of disappointment wash over her, the realization that she probably wouldn’t be seeing Vidmir again until it was time for him to return to this bed. They would drink from one another again and then… what? Was he going to take her as his? Or perhaps he would decide upon that first so they still had enough energy for feeding left. The memory of his lips upon her neck the night before, the way his teeth had sunken into her flesh and then the pleasure that had forced away the pain of his venom. Just the thought of it had Cadmine’s cheeks heating with color, her thighs tightening beneath the red blankets. She had desired him and even now, as she pondered the idea of becoming one with her husband, Cadmine was both nervous and excited. Surely tonight. He had probably just been too exhausted from yesterday’s busyness to continue. And afterwards, he would stay with her. They could lie together, close in that way couples were supposed to. For now, she would simply have to be patient until he came for her.

“After you’ve eaten, I can help you dress and we can do whatever you please, my Lady.”

“Alright then.” Cadmine agreed. She lifted the toast and bit into it, relishing the familiar taste of her usual breakfast. She ate it down heartily, wanting to have plenty of strength for tonight, sipping at her tea. When she was finished, Gunhilde removed the tray and set it off to one side. She moved to the large wardrobe and tugged it open, revealing Cadmine’s usual assortment of dresses. They were pretty things, but very old fashioned if she was to be honest. However, she was still happy to see them at the moment. “May I have the green please? The light one. I do believe that is my favorite.”

Gunhilde appeased her, pulling the sage colored dress from the wardrobe on its hanger, lying it down on the bed. It took time and effort for Gunhilde to figure out how to help Cadmine dress and get into her wheelchair. Cadmine could do most of it on her own, though the many buttons down the back of her dress made things more difficult than they had to be. At least she didn’t have to deal with a rotten corset and back brace today. That had been demolished by her husband in the limo the night before. Her leg braces, however, were more familiar and easy to put on, not making her feel so confined and helping her stay upright easier when she stood up to get her dress down and then, sit in her chair. She leaned back into it with a sigh, letting Gunhilde do up her hair in it’s usual tight bun with a cover. When asked what she would like to do, Cadmine frowned and then shrugged, suggesting maybe they could go exploring a bit. The handmaiden agreed and rolled her out of her chambers, heading down a long hallway that was still more dimly lit than Cadmine would have liked. It was a good hall though and the thin wheels on her old chair moved easily along it, not catching like they tended to on most things.

“Gunhilde, may I go fast?” Cadmine asked after a moment, reaching down to grab at her wheels’ handrails. Gunhilde laughed.

“It’s your house, my Lady. Master Lucero said the Lord was very clear. You can do whatever you desire.”

Cadmine smiled at that and then pushed herself forward, using her arms to get herself going much more rapidly than before. She’d never been allowed to race about back home but it was something she did enjoy. Going slow had never been fun for Cadmine but there was always the worry that she’d fall out of her chair if she raced about. She couldn’t run, so it was the closest she could get. She released a bit of a laugh as she reached the end of the hallway and found herself in the main entrance hall full of paintings from last night. Gunhilde had picked up her own pace to keep up, holding her bun a bit to keep it in place but she had a smile on as well. She wasn’t all too much older than Cadmine to be honest, only in her early twenties. They ended up racing circles around the entrance hall for a bit, Cadmine only getting caught on a rug every now and then when she wasn’t careful and nearly sending herself toppling because her chair couldn’t handle  it. Soon after though, they picked another hallway and started down it, intent on getting the lay of the land for now. Cadmine wanted to figure out where all the main rooms were so she wouldn’t get lost.