Never Back Down

A Vampire Story.

Epilogue.

0-0-0

100 years had passed since that fateful day in the old van Halen manor, where I had been changed into what I am and always would be – a vampire. Quite a bit had changed since then.

The last thing I remember was waking up in my room at the manor with Draven by my side, wide awake. Apparently, it had taken three weeks since I had been bitten for my body to complete the change.

At first, I had had quite a difficult time adjusting to the vampiric lifestyle. There had been a couple close calls with humans, but thankfully Draven was nearby, as always. From then on, I was careful not to go anywhere that was inhabited by humanity – at least not until I had control over myself.

Going out in sunlight had been a bit of an issue as well – it doesn't burn us, but our eyes are extremely sensitive to it and if you haven't had the chance to get adjusted, it felt like you were burning. At times it felt like my eyeballs were going to burn right out of my skull. I wore extremely tinted sunglasses whenever outside for about a year. Overall, it took me three and a half years to get control over my new and improved body.

Five years after I was bitten, two and a half years after I had control of myself, Draven proposed to me. He informed me of the fact that, while we were bound in the vampiric world, we weren't in the human world. And, Draven being who he is, wanted us bound by all legal forms. The possessive bastard.

Our wedding ceremony was a quick ordeal, with just the family and priest present. We didn't go far into the planning process, and it was held at a small church in the New York country side. My dress was not the traditional white, either. It was a bright, passionate red, with lilac accents in the form of a band around my waist, and beads along the neckline. The sleeves were three-quarter, and styled after the renaissance style dresses. Aaren had had it custom made just for the occasion, and so it was the only one of it's kind in existence. I still have it, hanging up in the back of my closet somewhere.

We moved around pretty frequently, never staying in the same place for more than five years or so. The family stayed together for about thirty years after my transformation before going our separate ways. At the moment, my husband and I are in Loire Valley, in France.

Earth had changed much in the century that passed. Technology had made a variety of leaps and bounds. Unfortunately, we still don't have those flying cars that everybody wanted way back when. Most people have reverted back to using horses as their main method of transportation. It helps the Earth with the pollution battle.

There are no children in our lives. Not that I mind, though. I wouldn't have it any other way. Draven and I like having the property to ourselves. It gives us our needed privacy – if you know what I mean.

As for the others, Cain found a mate about 50 years ago. She's not his Chosen, but she's perfect for him either way. They're expecting their fourth child any day now. Aaren still hasn't settled down with anyone yet – but it's not exactly in his nature to do so anyway.

A few fights have happened between Draven and I, but never anything too bad. We never go more than a day without talking to one another.

Draven is mine: my Chosen, my husband, my best friend and my lover. Just as I am his. We might have met under extremely…odd circumstances, but now that we have each other, we will never be apart. If there is one thing that I have learned throughout my life, it's to never back down.

A/N: Well. There you have it. It's done. Over. Finite. Fini. The End.

Thanks for reading...

For the last time, yours sincerely,

Zayren Heart.