Not quite certain, Part II

That night, Sapphire acted like it was another normal night of going to the ball and dressed like she always did. She wore her hair in a simple braid and had a silken, cobalt colored dress on. She didn’t bother with her kid gloves tonight. After all, she was only having dinner. I am glad, though, that mother never insists that I wear corsets, Sapphire thought, watching as her mother’s maid tightened Sophia’s corset. She was sitting in one of the chairs, waiting for her mother to finish. She had powdered her face and put her blonde tendrils in a French twist before she had began dressing. When the maid finished with the corset, she dressed her mistress in an elaborate mustard-yellow gown that was full of petticoats.

“Okay,” Sophia said with a smile as she snapped on her earrings and a necklace. “I think we’re ready to go downstairs, don’t you, dear?” She turned to Sapphire, who nodded, smiling, and followed her mother downstairs. When they had just come to the landing, a knock sounded on the door. “I can’t wait to meet this man that your father has been talking about!” Sapphire sighed as their housekeeper answered the door. Sophia uttered a small cry under her breath and Sapphire turned her attention to the doorway as well, wondering what her mother found so startling. Then she realized that Rafael Stone was looking more elegant and attractive than he had at the ball. She wondered, absentmindedly, why that was, but it hardly mattered to her. His ebony hair, which was as long as her own, was combed back and tied with a white ribbon. His dark eyes that were the same emerald green as hers flickered along the entrance hallway, taking his surroundings in. The housekeeper took his cloak and he smiled welcomingly at the two women. Sophia swallowed and greeted, “Hello. Welcome to our household, Mr. Stone. I have heard much about you from my husband. He thinks very highly of you.”

“Is that so?” He asked pleasantly. “You must be his wife, am I right?” Sophia nodded, a shaky smile appearing on her face. “And what a lovely wife he has.” Sapphire grabbed a hold of her mother’s arm before she swooned.

“You flatter me, my lord! Oh, how rude of me. My name is Sophia. I’m so happy to have you for dinner tonight.” He nodded, his small, congenial smile in place. His eyes flickered to Sapphire, who had watched the exchange silently.

“It’s good to see you again, Sapphire,” he said quietly, his eyes pinning her in place. “Not getting lost anymore, are you?”

“I should hope not,” she answered shyly. “This is my own home, after all.” His smile broadened at that.

“That would be a pity, wouldn’t it?” Rafael’s eyes flickered briefly to her neck and saw, vaguely, the two marks he had left on her neck. These people he were about to dine with had no idea what he really was, but that was fine. He had no reason to harm them and hopefully, he did not find any reason to. Hathaway was a kind, generous man, just like his daughter and his wife was very cheerful and welcoming. He liked these people, which was rare, because he only liked a few select humans.

“Please, come into the drawing room. My husband will be waiting for you,” Sophia told him, smiling benignly. He nodded and followed her and Sapphire to the drawing room, where Hathaway was reading over something. He glanced up and beamed.

“Mr. Stone, how nice to see you again. Sit down, please.” Rafael did as asked and purposely sat next to Sapphire, who blinked once in surprise. Sophia sat beside her husband on the divan, curling her arm in his.

“You have a nice home,” he told Hathaway and then added charmingly, “and beautiful women to match it.” Sophia gave a small giggle and when he glanced through the corner of his eye, he saw a pretty blush rise on Sapphire’s cheeks.

“Yes, they are pretty little things, aren’t they?” Hathaway asked good-naturedly. “Sophia is the one that decorated it mostly. Well, she ordered the things to decorate it with, anyway.” The conversation somehow turned to castles and their architecture. Rafael was surprised to find Sapphire add her input on the conversation, which didn’t seem to bother her father at all. Sophia offered her little tidbits, but didn’t say much. Nigh an hour later, dinner was announced by Francesca, whose eyes twinkled towards Sapphire, who led Rafael to the dining room. “I say, Rafael, if you don’t mind me asking, why is it that you keep your hair long? There are only so many men that can handle that here in England.”

“I like the accessories,” Rafael joked. Sapphire giggled and Sophia glanced at her own hair thoughtfully. “No, it isn’t that, I simply don’t bother with getting it cut. I just let it grew out and besides, I don’t think anyone would recognize me if I cut my hair.”

“Ah.” Hathaway glanced at the ebony strands, then at Rafael’s pale skin color. He seemed to be a man that preferred to avoid the sun, which he didn’t really blame him for. Of course, it also might just be the winter season that was catching up to him since the sun was hardly ever out.

“Sapphire, what’s on your neck?” Sophia asked suddenly, peering at her daughter’s neck.

“Oh, they’re just bites,” Sapphire replied, taking a drink of her water.

“It looks like vampire bites.”

“Don’t start on that again, Sophia,” Hathaway said, exasperated.

“Vampire bites?” Rafael repeated, raising his eyebrows in a skeptical manner. He realized that Sophia was one of the small amounts of people that seemed to believe the rumors. He wasn’t going to tell her that they were true, though. Sapphire and Hathaway seemed to think otherwise, which didn’t bother him one bit.

“She’s been listening to the rumors,” Hathaway explained with a scowl. He had heard his wife continuously repeat the rumors she received from her lady friends, but as an intellectual, he didn’t believe any of that kind of rubbish. Sapphire also didn’t believe it because there was no evidence that vampires exist or ever had existed. Their existence has only been told in fairytales and legends and lately, legends had become unreliable.

“You think there are vampires, don’t you, my lord?” Sophia asked, turning to Rafael, who took a drink of his wine.

“I can’t say I do,” he answered. “There hasn’t been any hardcore evidence that they exist.”

“That’s exactly right,” Sapphire spoke up. She was pleased to find that not everyone listened to the absurd rumors flying about. “We only have the word of others, no real evidence. There isn’t any real sightings or anything. After all, the attacks that have been going on right now could just be some madman who is trying to cause an uproar.”

“Quite true,” Rafael agreed. “There have been known records of people who pretend that they are vampires by puncturing the jugular vein with a sharp object like a scalpel or such thing and then just draining them completely.”

“Oh, but what about her...” Sophia whined, wringing her hands anxiously. “It looks like a vampire did bite her, not a bug. Come! Look at it!” Both Hathaway and Rafael went to look at her neck. Sapphire grimaced under the attention, but didn’t move away. Rafael reached out and brushed his fingers over her neck.

“...I think it’s just a bite,” he said, breathing in Sapphire’s ear. She shuddered, moving away slightly. Hathaway nodded in agreement.

“The bug probably just duplicated it’s bite or something. Nothing to worry about.” Sophia sighed, but gave up. For the rest of the dinner, they continued with their conversation on vampires. All four of them heatedly argued with each other, though not unkindly. At last, after dinner, Hathaway offered, “Would you like to have some brandy with me, Rafael, before you leave?”

“No,” he declined, “I had better be going.”

“Well, alright. Sapphire, why don’t you walk him to the door?” His daughter nodded and ushered to Rafael, moving ahead of him to the entrance hall. She took his cloak and offered it to him.

“It was nice having you for dinner, my lord,” she said with a smile. “We don’t normally have people over.” Rafael took his cloak, slipping into it. Her smile was so innocent that he wondered if she had ever done anything remotely sinful in her life. “You should come over more often. My father seems to like your company quite a bit.”

“Do you not like it, my lady?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. She blinked and became aware of her blunder.

“Yes, I like it, but I mean...Well, my father is very picky when it comes to who he spends time with,” she explained, a bit uncertain of how to word it. She hadn’t expected him to misunderstand what she meant. His lips curved in a smile and he tipped her head up, brushing his lips over his cheek.

“Then I hope you will begin to like my company even more,” he told her, before opening the door and stepping out into the brisk weather. She stared at the door, stunned. He hadn’t only kissed her on the cheek, but his comment seemed to most certainly have a sexual innuendo. Shaking her head a bit to clear her thoughts, she left to the drawing room, where her mother was alone.

“Your father went to his study,” Sophia said, before sighing. “That man, Rafael Stone, certainly is a charming one, isn’t he? I’m a little miffed that he agrees with you and your father that vampires don’t exist, but what he lacks in sensibility, he makes up in appearance.” She paused. “Don’t you like him, Sapphire?”

“Yes, I like him, what makes you think I don’t?” Her daughter asked curiously.

“Oh, well, you didn’t seem that enamored of him.”

“He’s very...amiable,” Sapphire said at last, not wishing to admit that she really did was a bit enamored of the man. Especially after what happened earlier.

“Hmm...If you say so, dearest.”

X

A week later, Sapphire attended another ball with her parents. She decided that she would take her father everywhere she went, even if it was to the lavatory. However, she didn’t have that problem because almost as soon as she sat down beside her father, Rafael Stone approached them. Hathaway smiled at him in a friendly manner and said, “I see you are here as well, friend. Having any fun yet?”

“Barely,” Rafael answered. His gaze flickered to Sapphire, who was in her favorite emerald green gown. Her father had given it to her as a birthday gift and she found herself loving it more and more every time she wore it. “Would you care to dance?” She blinked, surprised, looking to her father, who looked surprised as well, though not displeased.

“Go ahead,” he told her with a smile. “I’ll be waiting here.” She nodded numbly as Rafael took her hand, guiding her onto the dance floor. She didn’t know how to take the offer, but she still couldn’t get his last words to her a week ago out of her mind: “Then I hope you will begin to like my company even more.” If this was a step to making her like his company more, it was most likely going to work. She twirled on the dance floor in his arms, her skirts fluttering about her ankles.

“You look very nice tonight,” he told her. “The dress matches your eyes.”

“What? Oh...Thank you.” He smiled at the light blush that appeared on her cheeks. She was not used to receiving compliments by anyone else but her parents or other family members. She was also not used to being asked to dance, which seemed to him peculiar. He didn’t understand why nobody would ask her to dance. She wasn’t unattractive, for that he thought was certain. She had a fine figure, even if her bosom was petite and she was a bit short, and she had a lovely personality – much better than the other women, if he was asked for his opinion. “I don’t know why you asked me to dance,” she said uneasily. He arched a smooth, black brown in question.

“Why shouldn’t I? There is nothing wrong with you, now is there?” He questioned. She looked puzzled.

“I don’t know if there is something wrong with me,” she admitted. “No one’s asked me to dance, but I’m not too bothered by it. I only come to the balls most of the time to keep my father company. Most of his friends, well, died.”

“I see.”

“Some of them recently,” she added. “By these so-called vampire attacks.”

“Oh?” Rafael wondered if some of the people he had killed were the friends of Hathaway’s. He was not the only vampire in England, or London for that matter, but there was not many and he had been doing the majority of the killing from what he knew by reading the newspaper.

“Yes, but most of them were killed during the recent war.” He nodded mutely and glanced around the ballroom thoughtfully. He had wondered why Hathaway always seemed so alone and secluded. His hand shifted on the small on her back and he brought her closer as another pair of dancers almost collided with them. He did not ease her back. He rather liked having her small body so close to his own. She did not move back, either, though she didn’t appear to have noticed how close they were. Rafael’s gaze shifted to her neck and saw that the marks he had left on her neck had gone away, which meant that he could feed off her again. He had enjoyed the taste of her blood the first time and he hoped that he could get another chance – and soon. When the dance was done, he led her off the dance floor and was going to lead her away from the ballroom all together so he could be alone with her, but Cameron Hines interrupted, popping in front of them. Sapphire shrunk back in fear, her hands going to Rafael’s arm. Wondering what had caused her to become like that, he eyed the male with a dark look. Cameron flinched, but did not back down.

“Sapphire, can I speak with you? I mean, not alone...This man can certainly come along, but I just wanted...hoped...well...” He trailed off, unable to form any intelligible words. Sapphire hesitated, before nodding. Relief flooded onto his face as he continued, “I wanted to apologize...I mean, for that night. I really had no idea that Don was going to...go all the way like that.” Sapphire glanced fearfully up at Rafael, but he had no idea what they were talking about and felt a bit puzzled. “I should have stopped him from...well...entering you, but...” He hesitated, then continued, “But I guess I’m a bit of a coward when it comes to that. I was too shocked at what he was doing to really stop him. I know I’ve been a real jerk to you, but I was just following my brother. I’ve always idolized him, but now...” He shrugged helplessly. “I hope you can forgive me.”

“I...I’m sorry, Cameron, but I can’t forgive you for what you did,” she said quietly. “What your brother did...” She shuddered in terror, the memory floating back from within her.

“I understand,” was all he said. He hastily left, seeing the mutinous look on Rafael’s face.

He led her out of the ballroom and turned to her, asking brusquely, “That boy’s brother raped you?” She nodded mutely, not looking at him. She was shivering, as though she were outside in the cold weather. Sapphire was remembering that man – that monster – who had destroyed her. She felt warm arms envelop her and she drifted from the memory, looking up to see that it was Rafael who was embracing her. She was embarrassed at reacting like that in front of him, but it couldn’t be helped. She was terrified of remembering that. “It won’t happen again,” he said bluntly, in a tone that made her trust him, made her believe him.

“But you saw that man in the library...” Sapphire said quietly. “He was going to take advantage of me and that was after...” She trailed off, not wanting to say it aloud. She wouldn’t be able to handle it if she did.

“Yes,” he agreed, “but I took care of him. I intercepted.” She blinked as he took her face in her hands. “That won’t happen to you again. I’ll make sure of it.”

“You won’t always be there, Rafael,” she whispered. “Anything can happen.” A wry smile crossed his mouth briefly.

“That’s what you think,” he murmured, before his mouth closed over hers. She hadn’t expected his kiss to feel so wonderful, even if it was only for a moment. She leaned into his body, pressing hers against his hard frame. She slid her hands up to his shoulders, pressing her mouth against his as she leaned up. He cupped the back of her head, turning the gentle kiss into something more passionate, more intimate. It wasn’t chaste any longer as he pressed her against the wall of the corridor, enclosing her body. His hands slid to her hips and he brought her forward, bringing her flush against him. She made a small sound in her throat, feeling the hardness in his breeches press against her thigh. He plunged his tongue in her mouth, savoring her taste, exploring every crevice, caressing and coaxing. He massaged her tongue with his own and she shyly reacted. Seconds later, he reluctantly drew away. Her lashes fluttered in surprise and she gazed up at him in wonder. He bent his head again, landing small, brief kisses on her mouth, before his kisses were trailing downward along her jaw and to her throat. His lips passed over her jugular vein and he felt his fangs growing. He drew away slightly, clenching his jaw tight, willing them to shrink back. They obeyed him and he moved his mouth from her throat, deciding that was not a wise place to go – yet. “We had better return before your father begins to worry.”

“Yes, you’re right,” she agreed, pulling away from him. “I...apologize.”

“For kissing me?” He questioned, frowning. She nodded. “Why?”

“I acted quite...improper and...” He grabbed her wrist, pulling her to him. He kissed her again, fiercely.

“Don’t apologize,” he rumbled. She gazed up at him and a smile passed over her lips.

“Very well. I won’t apologize.” He chuckled, brushing his lips over hers once more, before he led her back to the ballroom.

X

Rafael did not feed on her that night. He decided he would have to wait. It was when he woke up from his daytime slumber that he realized if he was going to involve himself with her, he would have to tell her, eventually, what he was. He did not like that idea, but he knew it would have to be done. The days moved by sluggishly and every time he saw her at a ball, he would snatch kisses from her whenever he could and spoke to her when they danced, but still, he could not bring himself to admit his being a dark creature that everyone feared. Hathaway finally spoke to him alone one time when Sophia had dragged Sapphire away. “Rafael.”

“Hathaway,” Rafael addressed, eyeing him in a slightly cynical manner. “Is there anything wrong?”

“No, no, nothing wrong,” the other male assured him. A pensive expression came on Hathaway’s face, before he sighed and said, “You are...greatly infatuated with my daughter, aren’t you?” Rafael blinked twice, but did not reply. “I know that you are. You have taken an interest in her lately, so please do not lie to me. I am only a concerned father.”

“...Yes, I am very...infatuated...with her,” Rafael replied carefully. “She is a lovely woman.”

“Yes. Are you going to propose to her?”

“I am not certain,” Rafael said, uncomfortable with the subject of marriage. Hathaway nodded slowly in response.

“Very well. If you do, you have my blessings, my friend.”

“Thank you, Hathaway, that means a lot to me.”

X

Rafael invited Sapphire over that night and Hathaway had no problem with that. He assumed that Rafael was probably going to propose to her, but how wrong he was! Sophia’s face had lit up with glee and she did not say anything, either. So, Sapphire rode in his carriage to his manor and once they arrived, he took her hand and led her to the steps. He took her to his study, where a fire was crackling in the hearth. He gestured for her to sit down and she did, looking at him in confusion. “Is something wrong, Rafael? You seem so tense,” she stated in a concerned tone.

“I’m about to tell you something, Sapphire, that you don’t know about me – nobody knows. I beg of you not to run screaming out of here, or to tell anyone if you accept this. If you don’t, I understand completely.” Her eyes suddenly took up a fearful glint that he hated seeing in her forest green eyes. He let out a small sigh, before continuing, “You remember those marks you had some time back?”

“I remember.”

“Your mother was right. They were vampire bites.” She stared at him and then let out a low moan of agony, covering her face with her hands. “I’m a vampire, Sapphire. You might not believe such things, but it’s true. It is the reason why I never called on you during the day.”

“But...” She shook her head, not wishing to believe it. “But why are you telling me this now?”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said softly. “I thought I should tell you now before it was too late.” She uncovered her face, staring at him with a face full of hurt, but mostly confusion.

“I don’t understand. How were you able to enter my home?”

“Hathaway invited me,” he reminded her. “With an invitation, I can enter. If I don’t have one, then I cannot.”

“...You’ve been the one killing those people? You did it?”

“Yes,” he answered, hating the way she stared at him. Finally, she turned her gaze back to her folded hands in her lap and then closed her eyes. After a quiet moment, she opened her eyes and raised her gaze to his again. He tensed, waiting for the worst.

“I love you...you do know that, don’t you, Rafael?” Sapphire asked quietly.

“Yes, and I love you as well. That’s why I told you.” She smiled lightly.

“Then there is nothing more to discuss. I don’t...I don’t mind what you are, just so long as you still love me.” He let out a breath of relief and she stood up, going to him where he sat and she settled herself on his lap gently. She moved her arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder. “I don’t know, though, much about vampires.”

“I will teach you,” he assured her. “I do wish to ask, though, if I may...?” His gaze flickered to her neck and she blinked, unsure.

“Does it hurt?” She asked quietly.

“No, it won’t. I can make it feel wonderful.”

“Then...you may.” He moved her soft locks from her neck and kissed it lightly, just as he had before. His fangs extended, before he sank them into her jugular vein. She shuddered beneath him and his eyes closed shut as he felt her blood fill him with warmth. This time, she was awake and willing. They were filled with a sexual-like experience and when he withdrew, licking his lips, he discovered that he was suffering from a hard-on. She noticed as well since she was sitting in his lap. “Rafael...” She murmured and he knew that it was an invitation to get rid of that hard-on.

“I will not hurt you,” he whispered to her, kissing her softly.

“I know.”

X

Epilogue

Rafael had got a special license, pronouncing them married, so he didn’t have to go through the hassle of a wedding. He couldn’t go through it anyway. Neither he nor Sapphire told her parents what he was. They both decided it was better if they didn’t know. Not only would they protest against their marriage, but also be extremely angry that he had wormed his way into their lives. Rafael saw Hathaway and Sophia at balls, but Sapphire had told her parents that he worked throughout the day so that he could not visit them with her. They accepted the tale, so their peace together was kept. Sapphire accepted what her husband was, even if it meant that the only time she was allowed to spend with him was during the night, but that didn’t bother her one bit, so long as they both were happy.

Finis

X

Kanna-sama: Well...This was supposed to be a one-shot, but ended up being a two-part fic. It actually came out pretty good, considering I did it without sleep and at ten am in the morning. Twenty pages on my computer and it only took two hours. That’s a record. Well, I hope you enjoyed it. Please review on your way out and tell me what you thought about my first vampire story. Ciao!