Crimson night.

[Guest]

Dain:

Stepping out of the shadows, Dain reveiled himself to the two of them. Grace jumped and aimed her gun at him then. Dain smiled darkly as he took another step forward. "Stop right there!" Grace said with a shake to her voice. "Or you'll shoot... Right?" Dain said cooly back to her. "Lilly... Go... Call the police..." He said softly to Lilly as he took another step forward. "Don't fuck with me... Stay back!" Grace replied as she aimed her gun at Lilly again. "She's... She's gotta die!" Grace said, her voice stained with fear and hatered. "NO!" Dain barked as he lifted his hand and stepped forward again. Grace reacted suddenly, jerking her aim back to him and firing off two rounds, One struck him in the shoulder, sending him off balance, the other bored into his chest, throwing him back to the ground.

Ravenloft

 

[Moonlight_33]

At the realization of what she had done, grace threw the gun to the ground and ran for the door. Lilly screamed and raced to the sided of the man who had tried to save her. The bullet had hit him in the middle of the chest, but as Lilly covered the wound with her hand, hoping to stem the flow of blood, she was shocked at how little blood there was, and at the color of it. Not red and alive like normal blood, but dark and thick, like old blood. Dead blood. She looked at his for a moment, confusion and memories flashing through her mind. He should have been dead. A shot like that would have killed any normal man, but then, he was not any normal man. Stepping back from him, she eyed him cautiously. "Who are you?" It was time she knew the truth.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dain:

Groaning as he pushed himself up to his knees, Dain lifted his head. Though he was a creature of the undead, he could still be hurt. Just because his heart didn't beat meant nothing in that regard. He pressed a hand to the wound drawing a hiss of a breath in as Lilly backed away. "I am Dain La'Veren... Please... Do not be afraid of me Lilly... I mean you no harm..." He said, pain evident in his voice. His hand reached out to her emploringly. "I would never harm the one soul who could save me..." His voice shook with emotion as he gazed up at Lilly.

 

[Moonlight_33]

Lilly took a deep breath as she fought to maintain control over her senses. She knew she should fear him, should run from him, but there was something deep with in her that would not allow her to leave. He was in pain, pain because of her, and he had saved her life. What ever else he was, he was her savior first and foremost. Se owed him her life now. She could see the physical pain in his face, but more, there was a fear in his eyes. Fear that she might turn from his when he was most in need of her. How should she run from him now when he had saved her life not once, but twice?

Slowly she lowered herself to her knees before him, taking his outstretched hand in hers and gently helping him to his feet. Wrapping her arm about his waist, and his about her neck, she supported his weight as much as she could. "We should get out of here. There is a motel across the street, we can go there." Kicking the door closed behind them, they made their way through the shadows and across the empty street. Lilly paid for a room, then helped Dain to the bed, laying him down and stripping away his shirt with all the tenderness in her being. The wounds were already beginning to heal, but he was obviously still in pain. "Dain, I want to help you. Tell me how. Please." A small tear ran down over her cheek as she sat down beside him. To see him in such pain was almost more than she could stand. It was then that she knew, without a doubt, that she loved him, and would do anything to save him.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dain:

With a pained smile, Dain took her hand and kissed it lightly. "First..." His voice nearly cracked as he shifted on the bed. "First I need to get the bullets out of the wounds... It won't be pretty... Maybe you should leave the room Lilly..." Even now, he was more concerned with her than with himself.

 

[Moonlight_33]

Lilly touched his cheek softly. "I'm not going anywhere. Now, tell me what we need, and i will find it." N force on heaven or earth could make her leave his side now.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dain:

Looking into her eyes, Dain saw the resolve therein and had to smile. "We need something to reach into the wound and that can grasp ahold of the spent lead." He paused for a moment as he reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from Lilly's eyes. "And then I will need to rest..." In truth he could be healed in less than an hour, but he needed blood to do so, and he wasn't about to broach that subject with her... Not just yet...

 

[Moonlight_33]

Searching about in her bag, Lilly found some tweezers, and a nail file. Taking them to the bathroom, she did her best to sterilize them, and returned to Dain. Pulling the wound on his shoulder open as far as she could with her fingers, she reached in with the tweezers and pulled out the first bullet. Dain hissed a little with the pain, but she could tell he was trying to mask it as much as he could. "You do know that I am not going to give you any medals for bravery today, so you can scream if you need to. Just try and keep it down to a dull roar." She gave him a cheeky smile, doing her best to get him to relax a little, and maybe even make him smile. Setting the first bullet aside, she looked closer at the second wound. This one was not going to be quite so easy to remove. Straddling his hips, she leaned over him, bending forward to kiss his lips softly. His lips were cold, but still sent a tingle through her body.

Sitting up, she opened the wound with the file, pushing torn flesh and muscle out of the way so that she could see the bullet. With a sigh of relief, she found it. Reaching in quickly, she pulled it free and put it aside with the other one. From what she knew, mostly from books and watching television, Dain was a creature of the night, and he would heal faster if he fed. If her guess was correct, he would need blood, and she doubted he would take hers if she was to offer. Picking up the file, she gazed upon his handsome face as he lay there, then put the file to her wrist and made a deep scratch. The blood flowed free and quick as she pressed it to his lips.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dain:

Dain gritted his teeth against the pain, forming the grimace into a smile of sorts at her humor. The heat of her kiss lingered upon his lips for but a moment as she sat about diging free the second bullet. He clenched his fists, his nails biting into the palms of his hands as he did so. The pain was brief enough and he laid back, slowly relaxing, wanting only to slip into the oblivion of sleep for a time. His eyes faltered and then fell closed... Until he felt Lilly's hand slip under his head and lift his mouth to the cut she had made across her wrist. At first he tried to turn away with a surprised gasp, but a single drop of her blood rested against his lower lip, its heat, its power knifed through his will, and his mouth closed over her wound, his tongue lapped rhythmically against it. As before, in what she thought was a dream, the way his saliva mixed with her blood set her open wound humming with pleasure. He lightly held her wrist to his mouth then, the palm of his hand resting caressing the back of hers as his other hand slowly brushed up and down the length of her forearm.

His eyes were half lidded, but the longer he drank, the more life seemed to show through them, until he focused a darkly erotic stare upon her face. With every beat of Lilly's heart, the pleasure emminating from her opened wrist creeped further and further into the fiber of her being. It was a sensation not unlike the vision of a stream of oil being poured into a glass of water, it invaded her and displaced her own blood but it was so sinuously smooth in doing so... Almost hypnotizingly so.

 

[Moonlight_33]

Lilly:


Lilly's body purred and swayed with the wondrous sensations that poured through her, taking her over and lifting her to heights she could never have envisioned before. The sound of her own heartbeat was strong in her ears, and growing louder with each additional beat. Her mind was a blur with memories of times long ago, of other life times and far away lands. In all the visions, all the memories, he was there, ever present, ever watching, ever loving. With a click, she realized that something with in her was changing, and she tried to ease her wrist away from his hungry lips. His eyes locked with hers, reaching within her and drawing her to him, but she fought. With her very soul, she fought. Pulling away, she fell from the bed and backed away from him, gasping for breath, backing into the wall and sliding to the floor, her eyes never leaving his and her breath changing to short sobs. Slowly, smoothly, he rose from the bed and drifted towards her, his hand reaching out to caress her now pale cheek.

"I love you Dain, and I owe you my life, but I can't become what you are. I can't." her breath was weak as his lips met with hers in a tender, lovers kiss. Lips that were now warm and soft to the touch. "I love you, But I fear you." Her words were silenced as his mouth smothered hers once more. A new warmth filled her body, blanketed her in a shroud wonder and magic before darkness swept her away.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dain:

His kiss was a like a sedative to Lilly, she slipped into a deep sleep, her breath eased, and in her onconciousness, she feared nothing. He lifted her and carried her to the bed. Laying her down softly, He smoothed her hair back, letting it frame her face as she slept. Her lips were parted ever so slightly as she continued to draw breath. "You have nothing to fear my lady love... For your life and your soul will not be sundered... They will always be your own... I just ask that you never forsake me... Simply let me love you, let me fight the animal that stirs within my breast... In this, you will be my savior... You MUST..." He whispered as he sat by her side, stroking her cheek softly.

 

[Moonlight_33]

Lilly:

In her dreams, Lilly tossed and turned, trying to find a balance within her soul that would allow her to love him, and yet remain who, and what she was. Even in her state of slumber, she was acutely aware of him. She could feel him, smell him, almost hear him breathing, and when he touched her cheek, it sent a sudden chill racing through her body.

She had no idea of how long she had slept, but upon waking dawn was yet to make its presence felt. She scanned the darkened room, looking for signs of the one she loved, and although she could not see him, she was very aware of him.

"Dain." Holding out her hand in his direction. "Come, sit with me. Tell me of yourself. Let me know you." The rest had revived her quite considerably, and despite the events of the evening, she felt far better than she had in a long time.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dain:

Slipping from the shadows where he had been sitting, Dain stood before Lilly again. He sunk down onto the bed next to her, his eyes giving her a haunted look. "There is little I can tell you that you would find pleasing Lilly..." He said, his voice faltering with regret.

 

[Moonlight_33]

"Dain. It doesn't matter if i would like it or not, I must hear it, all of it. Perhaps not tonight though. Time is growing short and the dawn will be upon us soon enough. But tomorrow night, after the show, I know more. I have to know about you before......" she cut herself short, unsure if she should say any more.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dain:

"Before you will be mine? I understand... I... I will be at your show tonight... Watching you... And afterwards, I will come back here..." His body language seemed a little sad but he flashed her a roguish smile and stood up, peering out the window as he did. "Aye, the dawn is indeed coming... Tonight my love... Tonight..." He whispered as he stepped in behind her, his lips mere inches from her ear. A small flit of air later and he was gone.

 

[Moonlight_33]

Even though he was gone from her side, Lilly could still feel him, as if he was a part of her. picking up her bag, she took out the strip of black cloth and wrapped it around her wrist. She then set about tidying the room, picking the the bullets, twezers and file, then slipping them into her bag. With that done, she set off for home. She would need sleep if she was to perform well tonight, and preform well she must, for he would be there, watching as always. What she had really wanted to tell him was that, she needed to know more about him before she left for London on Monday, but there was still time, and she still had much to think about. With a heavy sigh, she stepped out into the dim glow of dawn, and headed for home.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dain:

The first rays of sunlight filtered into the hidden storage room Dain used as his home through a ceiling window. It effectively locked him into the room as the light poured in a stream, directly onto the only door into the room. With a sigh, Dain slid into an old magician's trick saw box... And slept till dusk.

 

[Moonlight_33]

By the time Lilly arrived back at her apartment, it was fully daylight. Tossing her bag on the lounge, she reached over to scratch Sebastian, her cat, on the head, but he jumped away from her before she reached him, something he had never done before. Right now she was to tired to care over much, or even think about it, all she wanted to do was shower and sleep.

It was well into the afternoon when her phone rang and woke her. Sleeping during the day was right out of character for Lilly, but she figured since she had been up all night; it was ok to sleep all day. It surely didn’t mean she was turning into a vampire. Picking up the phone, she rubbed her eyes and tried to wake herself.

"Hello."

"Oh Lilly, Thank God you're there. The police just left here. Grace killed herself last night, slit her wrists in the bath. No one even knew she was feeling that way. I know you girls were not close, but we thought you should know before the performance tonight. Lilly, did you have any idea she was so disturbed?" Lilly's dance teacher's voice seemed a little shaken.

"No. I had no idea at all. Can we do the show without her?" Lilly knew very well that they could, but she wanted to seem at least a little interested in Grace's demise. Truthfully though, she was relieved that she would not have to look over her shoulder all night or worry about getting shot off stage.

"Yes, we can manage, but it’s going to mean more work for you I am afraid. You better get to the theater soon Lilly, we are going to need to go over a few things, and hope this tragedy doesn't scare away our audience."

"I'll see you in less than an hour." With that, she hung up the phone, and headed for the shower. She needed to be fresh for the show tonight, and for her favorite fan. Dain.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dain:

As he slept a cold deathly sleep, Dain reached out on some level of his being. If it had been something of flesh and blood it would surely have looked a gnarled and clawed hand... Silently it crept through the city... There was a marked soul it was after... A woman tainted by the seal of death... Into her room it slithered in all its inky blackness... The woman huddled in a corner, sobbing, rocking herself back and forth as her hair hung in strings down over her face, her eyes were red and her nose was running. Her reality had been shattered and she simply didn't have it in her to cope with it... Whatever dark part of Dain's soul had sought her out slipped into her skin. Almost immediatly she calmed, then she stood and walked slowly toward the bathroom. Minutes passed as she filled the tub with steaming hot water, and still in a dark trance sunk down into it, cloths and all. She picked up a razor and drew it down the length of her arm...

Three hours later she was cold and dead when her land lady found her...

 

[Moonlight_33]

Lilly

With the acceptation of Grace not being there, everything at the theatre was as it should have been. The dancers suicide had been kept very low key, and for the moment, had not affected the audience numbers at all. It was a sell out crowd, but as the sun began to set, and the dancers limbered up, Lilly had only one person in the audience on her mind.

The curtains opened, and the performance began, Lilly didn’t have to look to see Dain, she could feel him. She could almost smell him, hear his dark heart beating, and the warm breath the escaped his loving lips. Before she knew it, the dance was over, and she was standing on the edge of the stage, flowers about her feet. She overheard someone in the from row comment that they had never seen anyone dance so well, and she wondered if her new connection to Dain had anything to do with it.

Back in the dressing room, she sat back before the mirror, looking into her own reflection, breathing a sigh of relief that the night was over. Or was it?

 

[Ravenloft]

Dain:

Only minutes had passed after Lilly had left the stage for the last time... She sat herself down in front of a mirror, Dain regarded her sitting there, with more love then he thought his dead heart capable of. He walked silently up behind her, then rested his hands lightly upon her shoulders, she jumped out of instinct, making him smile all the more. "I am sorry I startled you, my love..." He whispered as his hands slowly kneeded at her shoulders, easing her body back into a relaxed lounge. He looked at her image in the mirror, he was so accustom to his own not showing that it no longer seemed odd to him. The only thing that hurt was that she could not see the contented smile on his face at that moment...

 

[Moonlight_33]

***

 

[Moonlight_33]

With the nights performance over, and only one more preformance to be done the following night, Lilly covered the hand on her sholder with her own, and thought for a moment about her future. In two days time she would be in a new City, a new job, and a new life. She had yet to tell dain, not that there had yet been an opertunity that seemed right to do so, but she had to ask herself if she really wanted this man, this creature of the night, to be a part of her life. She had no doubts that he loved her, but could he realy be a part of her future?

Tilting back her head, she gazed up his pale, yet handsom face, and as she did so, he leaned forward to kiss her lips softly. His touch was cool, and his lips held little warmth. "You need to feed Dain." with love and compassion in her heart, she ofered him her slender throat, all previous thoughts swept away with her concern for his needs.

 

[Ravenloft]

Dain:

It was a throbbing need to feed, Dain felt it down to his core... Lilly offered her throat... "Lilly, please... Don't... I... I can't..." He stammered, still seeing her mortal beauty in his mind... Her dance... Everything she was, and that she could be, he knew, would be snuffed out if he fed again... He could not, would not hold back this time... It was a duel pain, knowing her beauty, but never having it held in his arms... Only a taste of it, and the more he tasted of it, the more it would die...

 

[Moonlight_33]

Lilly:

Lilly could sense his hesitation. Standing, she turned and looked into his distressed face.

"Dain?" All at once, she realized what was wrong. She could feel her heart pounding, calling to him, wanting to be consumed by him, and become a part of his world, but she was as unsure as he was, as to weather or not she wanted to be a being such as him. He was so smooth, so sexy, and thrilling and dark, but he was without warmth of his own, and could not live without death. It was a hard thing to overlook.

Reaching up, she kissed him gently on the lips, leaning closer and whispering into his ear. "Go and see to your needs my Darling, and i will wait for you at my apartment. The night is young, and we have much to celebrate."