Desire After Dark (29 page)

Though he had said he would marry her any night she wished, Antonio decided plans for the wedding would have to wait until Victoria grew more accustomed to her new way of life. Because he didn't want her to experience any discomfort, particularly that first night, he took her hunting before her preternatural hunger grew unbearable. If he had his way, she would never know pain or hunger or deprivation of any kind. She had willingly given up her life to be with him, and he intended to make sure that she would never have cause to regret it.

Vicki had expected to be reluctant to hunt for prey, repulsed by the act of taking blood from another, but such was not the case. Antonio told her how to summon prey, and she felt a surge of pride as she called a young man to her and took him into her arms. She soothed his fears, was careful not to hurt him.

Feeding seemed like the most natural thing in the world. Perhaps because Antonio had insisted she feed before the hunger had time to become painful, she wasn't tempted to take too much. She wiped her memory from the young man's mind and sent him on his way, then looked up at Antonio, smiling.

He smiled back. What an amazing man he was. He had taught her so many things, helped her find her way in her new life. And he loved her, without question or doubt. It was a wondrous thing indeed to be loved by Antonio. She shared every part of his life, knew him in ways she would never know anyone else.

“My warrior woman,” he said proudly. “I think you were born to be a vampire. I have never seen anyone take to it so easily, or so readily.”

She basked in his praise, in the love in his eyes, the beauty of the night that surrounded them. Never before had she noticed how many stars there were in the sky, or heard the myriad sounds of the night that ordinary mortals never heard—the beating of a moth's wings, the way the earth spoke to the trees, the sound of dew sliding down a blade of grass.

Hand in hand, she walked beside Antonio as they turned and headed for home. They could have returned to the castle with a thought, but Vicki liked to walk. She reveled in her newfound strength. Energy flowed through her, making her feel once again as if she could soar through the heavens or run for miles and miles.

“It is wonderful, is it not?” Antonio asked, smiling down at her.

“Yes!” Letting go of his hand, she twirled round and round in a circle, then threw back her head and laughed. “No wonder you love being what you are.”

He caught her in his arms and whirled her around. “It is you I love, my sweet one, now more than ever.”

“I want to go everywhere! See everything! Can we?”

“Whatever you wish.”

“Can we afford it? I only have a few hundred dollars to my name.”

“I have more than enough.”

“Handsome
and
rich,” she said with a grin. “Who could ask for more?”

They walked in silence for a moment, and then she frowned. “Where will we get married?”

“Anywhere you wish.”

“Can we be married in a church?”

“If you like.”

“I thought vampires couldn't go inside churches.”

“Some are more difficult to enter than others.”

She thought of her church in Pear Blossom Creek, the crosses, the holy water, the priest. She was sure Antonio would not be comfortable there. But she still wanted to be married in a church.

She frowned, thinking they should have gotten married before Antonio brought her across. She couldn't invite her mother now, or any of her friends. How could she explain it when she and Antonio didn't eat any of the wedding cake, or drink any of the champagne when people toasted them and wished them well? Her mother would expect to be there to help her dress. How could she explain her lack of a reflection in the mirror or excuse her absence during the day?

Well, there was no help for it. She would simply tell her mother that she and Antonio had eloped, and they would be married in a small nondenominational church. Perhaps they could ask Ramsey and Kelly to stand up with them…And what about Bobbie Sue? How could she get married without her best friend at her side?

In a rush, she told Antonio of all her concerns.

“Do not worry,” he said, drawing her into his arms. “It will all work out.”

And it did.

Vicki found a small church with a minister who was willing to marry them after dark. There would be no need to explain to Bobbie Sue or Duncan why the wedding had to be at night. Both knew that Antonio was one of the Undead. Vicki's only concern was finding a way to tell her best friend that she, too, was now a vampire.

The next night, she drove into town and called Bobbie Sue.

“Girl, where are you?” Bobbie Sue exclaimed. “I can't believe you left town and didn't say a word.”

“I'm sorry. I'm with Antonio.”

“Well, I guessed that! But you might have told me you were leaving,” Bobbie Sue said with an exaggerated sigh of exasperation.

“I know. I should have let you know, but I was afraid you'd try and talk me out of going.”

“Well, you're right about that. Call me crazy, but I just don't think running around with a vampire is a good idea. When are you coming home?”

“I am home.”

“You are? When did you get back?”

“I mean Antonio's home.”

“I see.” Disapproval was evident in those two brief words.

“It's not like that. We're getting married.”

“Married! Oh, Vicki, do you think that's wise?”

“Please be happy for me, Bobbie. You're the only one I can share this with.”

“But, hon, he's…I mean, well, I just don't see how you can make it work unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Never mind,” Bobbie Sue said quickly. “The idea is too awful.”

“I'm sorry you feel that way.”

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. Vicki could almost see the wheels turning inside her friend's head.

“Bobbie?”

“You're not thinking of letting him…Oh, geez, Vicki, tell me you're not thinking of becoming what he is!”

“No, I'm not thinking about it.”

“Oh, thank goodness, I was afraid you were going to—”

“I already did it.”

Another long silence, this one filled with disbelief and disapproval. Then, “You mean that now you're a—Oh, Vickie, I don't know what to say.”

“Say you'll be my matron of honor.”

“You know I will, hon, but…”

Vicki's hand tightened around the receiver. “But what?”

“Well, how are we going to shop for dresses with you there and me here?”

“We aren't. Just buy something you love that you can wear again. It's going to be very informal.”

“Oh, well, all right. When's the big day…er, night?”

“We haven't set a date yet. I'll let you know.”

Bobbie Sue giggled. “Imagine, both of us getting married so close together. Who'd have thought? Duncan wants to have children right away. He says he's waited so long to get married, he doesn't want to wait to have kids.”

“That's wonderful,” Vicki said, forcing a smile into her voice. There would be no children for her and Antonio. It was her only regret.

“What's your mother going to say when she finds out you're marrying a vampire?”

“Are you kidding? I'm not going to tell her, or Karen, either.”

“Won't they think it's a little odd that you're getting married at night and the bride and groom don't eat or drink anything at the reception?”

“They won't be there. I'm going to call and tell Karen and my mom that we're eloping.”

“Oh, well, that's a good idea, I guess. It'll sure save a lot of explanations.” Another pause. “Can I ask you something? You don't have to answer if you don't want to.”

“You want to know what it's like.”

“Yes.”

“It's wonderful, Bobbie, you can't imagine what it's like. Everything is…How can I explain it? It's like living your whole life in black and white and then tumbling over the rainbow to the land of Oz where everything is in glorious Technicolor.”

“If you say so,” Bobbie Sue muttered dubiously. “Did he make you drink his blood?”

“No, he didn't make me.”

“But you did?”

Vicki sighed. She could hear the revulsion in Bobbie Sue's voice. Not that she could blame her. Not too long ago, she had felt the same way.

“Oh, Vicki…” Bobbie Sue wailed.

“Bobbie, you love Duncan. Wouldn't you do anything you had to do to be with him?”

“Well, sure, but come on, Vickie, turning into a vampire for the man you love isn't like giving up smoking because he has to, or cooking low-fat foods cause he's on a diet. I mean, this is forever.”

“Edward Ramsey is going to walk me down the aisle,” Vicki said, changing the subject. “Antonio wants to know if Duncan will be his best man.”

Bobbie Sue laughed at that, laughed until she cried.

Vicki couldn't blame her, not really. It was going to be an odd assemblage—a vampire bride and groom, a vampire hunter turned vampire giving the bride away, a vampire hunter standing up with the groom, vampires for guests. Bobbie Sue, Tom, and the minister would be the only mortals present.

Vicki was certain there would never be another wedding quite like it.

“I'll tell Tom,” Bobbie Sue said, sniffing back her tears. “Have you bought a dress yet?”

“I ordered one through a mail-order catalog. Wait until you see it. I sure hope it fits.”

“Why didn't you go to a bridal shop and…Oh, never mind. Mirrors. I forgot.”

“Yeah,” Vicki said. “I'm thinking we should have gotten married before, well, you know.”

“Why didn't you?”

“I didn't want to wait, and to tell you the truth, I didn't think of it at the time.”

“You really have the hots for him, don't you? Where are the two of you going to live?”

“I don't know yet. He's got houses everywhere.”

“Must be nice. I guess Duncan and I will be moving soon. He's going to work for that vampire school in Los Angeles, remember the one I told you about? Can you imagine me in L.A.?”

“Maybe I can talk Antonio into buying a house out there. We could be neighbors.”

“I'd like that. Listen, I've got to go. I'm gonna be late for work.”

“All right. Tell Gus and everyone hello for me. I'll let you know the date and time of the wedding as soon as I know.”

“Okay. Bye, hon.”

“Bye.”

Vicki was feeling more than a little depressed when she returned to the castle. She sat in the car for a few minutes, thinking about her conversation with Bobbie, rehearsing what she would say to her mother.

Antonio met her at the door. One look at her face and he knew something was wrong.

Vicki blew out a sigh when he asked her what it was. “Nothing, really. Well, it's Bobbie Sue. I told her I was a vampire now…”

“And she does not approve?”

“No, she thinks it's awful.” Blinking back her tears, she looked up at Antonio. “She's my best friend. I wanted her to understand.”

He wiped her tears away with his fingertips. “Did you really expect her to approve?”

“No, I guess not, but…How have you stood it for so long?”

“How would you feel if the situation were reversed and Bobbie Sue told you she was a vampire?”

Vicki grinned at him through her tears. “I would have felt just like Bobbie Sue. Horrified and betrayed. Do you think she'll still be my friend, once she gets over the shock? I mean, she said she'd stand up with me at the wedding, but what if she decides she doesn't want to be around me anymore after that? What if she looks at me differently? I don't think I could stand that.”

“If she is truly your friend, it will not make a difference.”

Resting her head on his chest, Vicki wrapped her arms around him. “I love you.”

“As I love you.” He kissed the top of her head. “For now and always.”

 

At last, the date was set and the night of the wedding was upon them. Vicki arrived at the church in her wedding dress, her one regret being that she couldn't see how she looked. And then she brightened. So, she wouldn't have any wedding pictures, but that didn't mean she and Antonio couldn't have their portrait painted. An old-fashioned wedding portrait, Vicki thought, like the one of her great-grandparents, with her sitting in a white wicker chair and Antonio standing behind her looking properly solemn, one hand resting on her shoulder. The thought cheered her immensely. She might even have a second one painted for her mother.