Crimson Love - Chapter 17

When Mark and I returned to the bedroom, we both changed into something more fitting for bed before he looked up from his shirt drawer.
"Kristine?"
I turned and looked at him. I was completely dressed by then in a short silk night gown.
"Hm?"
"I don’t know when we'll be able to hang out during Halloween," He began to explain. "My parents hold a ball for some of our friends to come over. And I already know you'll be spending time with your sisters later that night. Perhaps the six of us could al go trick or treating; You, me, your sisters, Elizabeth and Vivian?"
I smiled, nodding.
"That's fine. I normally host my own Halloween party. I'll hold it at our place. It'll probably be just three or so friends of mine. Stacey is definitely going to be there. I'll have something to do while you're away, don’t worry." I giggled lightly and Mark nodded before he continued to search for something to wear while I walked out onto the balcony.
The night was simply beautiful and from the balcony of our bedroom; the entire city of Rome lit up around us like twinkling Christmas lights.
I smiled as I stood there, letting the chilly night breeze blow my hair. It was amazing how much time had really passed. It was already October. School was back in, but thankfully with this Italy trip it was going to count toward my schooling in some degree, and laptops are amazing for getting homework done, so its not like I was behind or anything, in fact I was ahead by a week, and Mark and I left in a couple days. It worked out perfectly.
"Kristine?" I heard Mark whisper as he walked onto the balcony. I turned, smiling to him.
"Yea?"
He stood there a moment, looking at me with this look on his face and I blinked a bit, wondering what the matter was before he leaned down onto one knee in front of me. I stared motionlessly. He wasn’t doing what I think he was doing, was he?
"Kristine Curtin," He took my right hand in his and smiled up to me as he slipped something onto my ring finger. "Will you do the honor of marrying me properly?"
I gasped faintly. He popped 'THE' question on me in Italy! IN ITALY! Of all places and he found the most romantic!
I smiled brightly, tears brimming in my eyes as he stood up and I nodded.
"Of course, Mark!" I laughed a bit and hugged him around the neck, sharing a kiss with him that was deep and significant compared to all others. I had something to experience with my parents; I would get the wedding I always dreamed of and I could now share my home town with Mark; Kailua, Hawaii.
I couldn't wait to get home and tell Stacey and Mom!
I smiled gently as I looked up into Mark's beautiful blue eyes. I had always wanted an excuse to show Mark my childhood playground and to have my dream wedding. And here he was, being a real gentleman. Of course he would ask me to have a humanized Wedding. He knew I would want it.
Mark kissed me again lightly before bending down and picking me up bridal style. I gasped lightly at his movement, not expecting that, and blinked as he carried me back into the bedroom. He paused a moment as I stared around the room; the lights were off, but candles were lit everywhere, rose petals covered the top of the coffin and were scattered in areas on the floor and inside, while soft romantic music played in the background.
I blushed deeply. I knew what this was all about. He had read my mind when it came to this scene. When I imagined loosing my virginity to the one I loved, I wanted rose petals, candle light and soft music. He had read me like a book for the second time tonight.
"If you're not ready, we don’t have to do this right now." He cooed faintly into my ear, nipping lightly at it.
I shook my head: "No, its fine." I smiled to him and he walked over to the coffin and gently laid me within its cool silk walls before climbing in himself and shutting the coffin lid only half way to allow some light in.
The night was blissfully sweet, and quite romantic. And being that intimate with Mark for the first time really just enveloped me in his black wings of love. He was my vampire prince; my dark angel and I loved him even more than life itself.
This night had turned out even more perfect that I could have ever imagined.

****

It wasn’t until early that morning that a prickling sensation brought me from my blissful sleep. I opened my eyes in the darkness and looked around, but I could only see the lid of our coffin.
I looked over to Mark and slowly untangled myself from his body before I climbed out, searching for my nightgown to at least slip on when I noticed a shadowy figure standing on the balcony.
I jerked my head in that direction only to find the ghostly figure of my adolescent nemesis, Shadow, standing there; her long black hair bellowing in the cool October night wind.
I hissed and wandered out onto the balcony to face her. I was immortal now, she could do nothing to kill me. Could she?
Shadow's eyes narrowed as she looked over my beautiful Vampiric body.
"You're an immortal now;" her voice was beautiful, yet I could taste the venom she held within those words. "A Vampire."
I nodded.
"Yes, and you can no longer kill me. Just leave."
She chuckled lightly, amused by my ignorance.
"Vampires can die, little Kristine," her eyes soon narrowed in on my heart. "And I will make sure that you never wake with the sun again!" She shrieked, pulling a silver dagger from her side and stabbed it downward in my direction.
I screeched, only to be pushed out of the way. I blinked, breathing heavily and looked up only to find Jasper.
"J-Jasper?" I wasn’t expecting him to come to my rescue.
I heard Mark hiss and I looked over Jasper's shoulder to find him standing there by the balcony, thankfully in boxers, and ready to attack Shadow when my old friend, Christopher appeared.
I smiled brightly. Christopher was always the one to save me from shadow back then, he would do so now. Only he knew how to get rid of her.
"This is not your fight," He told Mark before looking at Shadow with his cool purple eyes. "Demon, you will go back to hell where you belong." And with that he attacked, shoving a medallion he had always worn straight through her chest and she screamed, her body slowly deteriorating from where the medallion went in.
Mark rushed over to me and Jasper to make sure I was alright, but I could only stare as Shadow disappeared into nothingness. I blinked and looked over to Christopher. He had always been part of my life, but I used to think he was nothing more than a figment of my adolescence; that I made him up to help me with my loneliness, but here he was.
I stepped away from Mark and Jasper and over to Christopher and he looked down at me, smiling gently.
"She will bother you no more."
"Thank you, Christopher." She had ruined my ceremony with Mark, she had put my life in danger more than once, and now she got what she deserved.
Christopher leaned down and kissed my forehead as he placed the medallion on my hand and I smiled, looking up at him, but gasped faintly when he closed his eyes and his body slowly turned to ash, drifting out from the balcony in the wind.
I watched helplessly as his essence disappeared into the night.
"Good bye, my sweet prince." I whispered faintly, clutching the medallion in my hand. He and I were never in love like Mark and I are, but he was still someone very special to me.
Mark walked over, wrapping his arms around my waist.
"You going to be alright?"
I nodded lightly before looking over to Jasper. I smiled faintly.
"Thank you, Jasper. Really."
He nodded, yawning lightly.
"I just happened to be up." He smiled over to us before disappearing back to his room for the duration of the night and Mark led me back to our coffin where I would spend the rest of the night with Mark playing with my hair gently, lulling me back into a blissful sleep, with dreams of Christopher and Hawaii in my wake.

[To be continued]