Love Story, a short tale.

Mia opened her eye and looked at the stars twinkling above her. What the hell was she doing on the ground?

How long had she been laying here, Christ she felt dreadful. Slowly she sat up, a wave of dizziness washed over her. Mia moaned, taking a few moments to settle her head she tried again to sit up.

She had a hell of a headache, gingerly her hand touched the top of her head wincing when she felt the bump, she must have hit her head on something when she fell. That was it, she tripped and falling banged her head but how long had she been out. Slowly she got to her feet, bed, that's all she needed, a good nights sleep and she would be as right as rain.

Mia woke early the next morning still feeling bad, although she was tired she had hardly slept. Opening the curtains she quickly closed them again, "Ergh! to bright!" She made breakfast but didn't eat it. Better get the mail, bills and junk that's all it ever it was. Mia opened the door and stepped outside.... It was a beautiful summers day the birds sang, bees buzzed round her flower beds but Mia didn't notice, a searing pain shot through her body, she felt weak and something was burning.... HER!

She dashed back inside slamming the door behind her. Leaning against the wall for support she closed her eyes, what was that about? Maybe it was a bug or an illness, but why did she start to burn? the horrible stench clung to her making her nauseous. Under the shower she scrubbed vigorously trying to remove the odour. Slowly she made her way back to her bedroom.

It was dark when Mia woke up. Swinging her legs of the bed she stood up and staggered. Her head spun, her body drained it had taken all her effort to get up. In the kitchen she raided the fridge. She stared at the omelet in front of her, she was starving but couldn't eat it, her favourite cheese omelet and she had trouble even looking at it. "My God! What's wrong with me?" she mumbled. She was exhausted but didn't want to sleep just yet. Pacing the hallway she tried to think, maybe she should see a doctor.

Glancing at the mirror she froze in horror. "What the hell?" She could see the wall behind her and the picture. That can't be, where was she? moving closer she stared into the mirror, she should be looking at herself but she wasn't their. It was if she no longer existed "OK take a deep breath; it's a trick of the mind, tiredness, a fever"

The days passed in a haze. Unable to cross the front door she wandered round the rooms with the curtains drawn, she felt uncomfortable even in the dim light. She couldn't sleep at night. The intense hunger she felt only made things worse, she wanted to eat but couldn't her body ached for something else? Mia felt she was cracking up, the night she woke to find herself under her bed was the last straw, her hands pounded her head, "What the fuck is wrong with me?" She felt lost, trapped, unsure if the house or her mind was the prison.

The following night was warm; Mia sat and watched the fireflies as they darted around the trees. It was strange but the darkness no longer frightened her, it was like a blanket wrapping it's self round her enveloping her in its protection. The daylight was the enemy, something to be shunned, hide from. If she could she would cry, bawl her eyes out but that was not her way, she was the steady one always calm. She didn't feel calm anymore, she felt frightened worried and angry. The feelings she had were strange, what ever was wrong with her was getting worse.

Standing up she looked at the moon. "What's wrong with me?" she screamed in frustration. "Excuse me Miss, but are you alright?" Mia turned, her heart jumped at the sight in front of her, he had to be the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. "It's just that you seem to be in pain?" he added. "No No I'm fine; I haven't been feeling myself lately that's all" The man stared at her, she was beautiful, her hair was the colour of the night sky; her eyes twinkled like diamonds and her body....Wow! what a figure.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude but you sounded as if you were in trouble" The man asked as he walked towards her. "I was err, venting my anger" Mia replied breathlessly, she swallowed hard, just my luck to meet a handsome man and I'm as sick  as a dog. "I didn't know there were others around!" Mia looked at him confused "Others?" He smiled "Vampires" Mia laughed, "I don't know what you mean?" Vampires indeed. "Your a Vampire and a beautiful one at that" his hand reached for her cheek. "You must have had too much to drink" Mia was weak enough without this man's touch, she felt as if she was a lump of putty.

Jesus! who the hell had bitten her then left without waiting for the transformation, what kind of sick bastard would do that? "Allow me to introduce my name is Miles Metcalf I am Vampire and so are you" he explained keeping his voice low so as not to frighten her. "Me a Vampire, ridiculous, they don't exist" was he some kind of nut? "But we do, tell me when did you start to feel ill?" Mia thought for a moment, "About a week ago, I must have tripped; I came round on the path.... that was all he remembered. "You didn't fall, you were bitten by a Vampire a night creature, but to bite and leave you like that!"

"Do you feel lethargic, unable to sleep at night but unable to face daylight, if you do venture out in sunlight do you burn?" Mia nodded; it was starting to make sense. "Are you hungry but cannot eat, do you cast a reflection in a mirror, I am sorry but you are a Vampire" Mia sat and looked at Miles, she should be screaming in terror but she felt oddly calm, she tried to concentrate at what Miles was telling her but her mind kept wandering, admiring his broad shoulders the blond hair and eyes like caramel...

The next night Miles called again much to Mia's delight. They talked more about her turning, "You will find things are very different, you have a lot to learn but I will teach you" Mia thought of the night she woke up on the ground and shuddered, why could she not remember? "It will come to you in time, I have brought you a gift" Miles smiled at her. "A gift! for me what is it?" she as surprised. "A coffin" he grinned at her."WHAT!" her face turned whiter. "The reason you are weak, you are technically dead, you do not eat as such nor will you get sick but you do need to recharge, a coffin or ground will do what a bed could never achieve"

It was unnerving laying down and closing the lid but Miles had brought his own and with a smile from him she settled down for the day. She stared at the top of her coffin; she could feel the panic rising. "Miles! I'm scared" she whimpered. "You'll be fine, sleep it will soon be dusk" Her eyelids felt heavy they fluttered briefly then closed.

"How do you feel?" Miles asked that night. "I  feel great, the weakness is gone!"He laughed at her  astonishment, "There is so much to teach you, to show you" Her eyes widened in surprise "Miles your eyes...they've turned red!" he leaned in closer, his arms circled her waist "As yours have, it's a sign of hunger" he moved closer and in a husky voice added "It's also a sign of passion.

Mia closed her eyes and waited. She could feel the warmth of his breath, his lips close to hers; she wanted this kiss so much it hurt. Miles drew her closer pressing his body against hers. "I think we better go and eat" Mia was disappointed but nodded in agreement. "Think bat" Miles told her with a wink.

 A few hours later they returned. "That was fantastic, flying above the roof tops, I could see things I never had before, I feel invincible" she felt giddy with excitement. "That's what feeding does, it makes you strong but it will not last long, we must do it every night forever" he warned. "I don't care; it's exhilarating I feel, God! I can't describe it"  Her hands rested on Miles shoulder, she could feel the hard muscle underneath, his hands on her waist made her blood boil, it surged through her body in anticipation of more. Her eyes turned red again, Miles had done the same. "It's not hunger is it?" she whispered, her voice hoarse. "Yes, but not for food" Miles stepped closer.

Pulling her closer his mouth met hers. Mia could feel the passion in his kiss but he was holding back, she wanted him too she wanted him all of him, his passion his body. Miles found the clip holding her hair and removed it, her hair tumbled down over her shoulders, Mia moaned and pressed herself further into his taught frame. The desperation in her action made Miles growl his fangs glinted in the light as he removed her clothes.

Miles tore off his shirt throwing it to the floor, he reached for his jeans. Mia removing the flimsy material of her underwear stood in front of him her hands on his chest, her eyes now the colour of molten lava revealed how much she wanted him. Miles looked deep into her eyes, mixed with passion he saw love, she loved him as he loved her. The possibility of two people falling for each other in such a short space of time seemed impossible but here they were. Pulling her to the floor he showed her just how passionate Vampires were.

Mia had never had sex like that before, so intense so ardent. Afterwards she lent against him his arms round her, they talked about anything and every thing, she wanted to know all she could about him. "The sun will be rising soon, we will have to sleep" Miles told her his hand caressing her bare  flesh. Mia squirmed in his lap, "Not before we...." Miles grinned at her, reaching for her breasts.

The days turned into weeks, Mia got used to sleeping in her coffin. Her love for Miles deepened, she could not imagine life without him. Miles showed her things they were able to do, bats not being the only animals they could change into, he loved the excitement she showed on learning something new. Their life together was bliss, they would wake and feed, returning home they would make love, talk or watch the night sky, he couldn't remember ever being as happy as he was now.

One night Miles popped the question. On bended knee he asked Mia to marry him producing a beautiful engagement ring. Mia squealed with delight. Placing the ring on her finger he didn't need to know how happy she was he could feel it. A shadow crossed his face. "Mia, we cannot stay here, what will people think when they show signs of ageing and we do not" Mia looked confused "What do you mean?" Miles gave a sigh "We have to leave, the world is a big place we can go anywhere we wish" Mia was quiet, sensing her sadness he quickly added."The places I have been and the things I have seen, I want to show you, will you come?" Mia didn't need to be asked twice "Yes"

The following night Mia stood outside her house. She felt a tinge of sadness at the thought of leaving her home the town, not close to her parents she doubted they would notice her disappearance, when was the last time she had seen them, weeks more like months. Miles wrapped his arms round her. "It is for the best, we live in secret, for mortals to find out we exist would be the end of us." She looked round her home "I understand but I wish I could say goodbye to a few people at least" He understood, had felt the same the day he had left home "I know but we cannot do it any other way" Mia nodded. "Ready my love where do you want to go first?" She thought for a moment then asked "Egypt, I always wanted to see the pyramids" With a nod he took her hand "Egypt it is"