Bound for Eternity

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝔛

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝔛

𝕮𝖆𝖗𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖆

·:*¨༺ ♱✮♱ ༻¨*:·

I didn't expect Leticia to believe me. It was a surprise for me, to look at those things the way she did. I've felt before that she's similar to Elizabeth in some ways, but now it was more visible. Just like Leticia now, she was able to see the light in the darkness and make it brighter. Her idea was brilliant as well. I wiped the bloody tear with a tissue and we went on, dancing to the music, having two drinks already, until after two hours Leticia got tired and needed a moment to rest. We took our seats in the lounge.
''So, I could understand the antiques, but the nightclub? Why?'' She asked, turning her face to me.''Cause it's much easier to drink. When people are drunk, it's easier to pretend to flirt with them, go to the side, drink from them, and erase that memory by compelling them'' I explained. She straightened up immediately and I raised my eyebrow, in an unspoken question.''Erase the memory? By compelling? But you didn't use it on me, did you?''I chuckled, moving the strand of her hair behind her ear.''No, dummy. I didn't even need to.''We looked at the dance floor for a moment. It was crowded now, with many people around us. It was Monday, but obviously, not everyone had the same working hours as most people. Some of them simply didn't have jobs or had other incomes. I knew some of them, more or less. Besides, it was New Orleans, in a big city it was always easier to get your club to be full of people.I didn't tell her yet about what Astrid told me about the bond. It wasn't the right time. It would be a lot to process for her. Of course, hearing she also has to be married, I could say that we both have to, but she was still pissed at her father. I could as well feel something grow between us, but it would still be too fast and Astrid was already looking for another option. Despite her telling me ten times there wasn't any, I insisted, just in case especially since the explanation of the bond had a lot with her family to do. The reason why it occurred and the way of solving it. Suddenly it all made sense, despite its one-in-a-million chance of happening.''By the way, how do you feel after meeting the famous Dracula?'' I asked playfully. She looked at me in shock.''It was Dracula?!'' She asked with eyes wide open. I couldn't help, but facepalm.''No, it was Elizabeth Bathory. Yes, it was him, Let. Don't pretend to be as dim-witted as Louis'' I replied, rolling my eyes. She snorted, already straightening up, her „ready to explain" position.''He presented himself as Vlad Tep... Te... Tepish? Not Dracula!'' She exclaimed.I sighed, shaking my head.''Țepeș. Because that's his original surname. Dracula came later, from one of his titles: Draculea, which means the son of a dragon. And Valachia was his territory, once upon a time'' I explained, still unable to believe she didn't realize it was the famous Impaler. I will need to work on her knowledge about vampires...But I was also surprised by his attitude. I was skeptical when I saw he wanted to meet me, that's why I needed Leticia on my side, in case things turned ugly. I couldn't be defenseless or appear human to him. I needed her to pretend to be my girlfriend as well, so he wouldn't be suspicious. And I got to admit, it was... Satisfying, to treat her as if she was my girlfriend.''Well... That explains a lot now. If I only knew-''''Then what? You would bow to him?'' I chuckled.She sighed, rolling her eyes and moving her gaze back to me.''No... Actually. I don't know. As much as I didn't know you were murdered. It still feels sad... Why? What happened?'' She replied.I took a big breath and I took a big sip of my drink.''I was a countess. It was political. One of Vordenburgs who was in love with me, hid me after I got turned and kept me, feeding me with blood, doing his best. For... Well, I should tell you that anyway. For this, I was so thankful that I killed his whole family, leaving only him alive'' I told her. For the first time in a very long time, I was worried about Leticia's reaction. She opened her mouth in this unpleasant surprise, staring at me for a long moment before she looked away and took a breath.''Well... That is definitely not a good way to thank someone'' She sighed with a heavy heart. ''But it was a long time ago, right?''I raised my eyebrow. I could expect this kind of attitude from her.''Yes. I was turned in 1698, three hundred years ago.''''You changed a lot since that time. You... Well, saved me. Twice. And now... We are here. I may be naive, but I am sure you're a different person than you were before'' She replied, looking at me hesitantly, as if looking for confirmation. ''Are you?''''You'll tell me. Especially if I will lose my patience and kill your ex.''She rolled her eyes and sighed.''Carm, I know you don't like him and I know he screwed up, but he's really not that bad. No need to kill him.''I would argue with that. I would celebrate his death as much as I wouldn't care about anyone dying. She was the only exception to that. For centuries no person was worth saving. Until I met her and I considered her worth it not only because of the bond.But the bond was an issue even more grave than I thought previously. I had to marry her. At first, I thought it was going to be completely natural since its reason lies in nature, but from what Astrid learned... Well, Mother Nature deals with absolutes. A simple act of marriage won't be enough, only the full one, acknowledged in the consciousness of people. It had to be both the gesture and the lawful one. Otherwise, nature will keep my powers split and imbalanced or make it even worse. But I was right about one thing, about the fact that it was her ''fault'' we were bound. If it was not for her and her origin, her bloodline... Of course, it was almost faded from what I could tell. If she didn't have a...''Carm?'' Leticia snapped me out of my thoughts and I blinked. ''Everything's fine?''''Yes, sorry, I was just... Thinking. You know, about this marriage thing.''I almost told her, that I could compel her father and make him change his decision, but first, she would probably be against it. She was a fair person, she wouldn't go for it. Another thing is that I may need him to push on the marriage.''I'm not going to marry Louis. I would do it maybe a year ago, but now? Not a chance.''''Good. Especially since I know how hard it was for you and how much you hid it before him, so he would go without ''sacrificing'' himself'' I replied, rolling my eyes. Sarah told me enough while she was gone, talking to her father and then Louis. Oh about this second guy, such a sweet lie. So satisfying for me. Unless she was gnawing herself about this lie now.''How... Oh, Sarah'' She snorted.''I can't blame her. She plays nice, but she has a grudge for him because of it as well. She told me this, so I won't let you go and come back to him'' I shrugged and took a sip of my drink.''But isn't love about letting go of a person you love most, so they can be happy?'' She replied with a question, causing me to raise my eyebrow.''No. If you love something or someone, you act to keep it with you for as long as you can'' I replied confidently. You keep them as long as they're alive, as long as you can protect them from being killed or simply losing them. Just like Elizabeth. Now it wasn't only for me, I couldn't let Mother get Leticia when she comes for me.The blonde opened her mouth to say something, but after a moment she closed it and frowned. The type of expression she uses when she decides to not say anything. She sighed and took a sip of a drink.The song changed and I couldn't hold back a smile.''Let's dance, what do you think?'' I asked and finished my drink with a big sip.''Sure'' She replied, doing the same, and got up. I led her to the dance floor, holding her hand. This song was slower, more peaceful, and fit better for ballroom dance. I put my hand on her hip, while still holding her another hand in the air. She started to move smoothly on the dance floor, keeping the slow rhythm of the song. I locked my eyes on hers, studying her blue pupils as if I didn't know them perfectly. I had plenty of occasions to see them long enough.''It's the first time I dance with someone here without planning to feed on them and leaving them with no memory of it. That's how the idea of this nightclub came to life'' I murmured.''Then my neck is safe?'' She chuckled, keeping her arm on my shoulder.''I didn't say that. I may not feed on you or not leave you. Or both. I have three options'' I murmured back. ''By the way, do you hear the lyrics?''''Uhmmm... I didn't focus enough'' She admitted, staring back, but I could feel her shiver.''You make paradise seem so close... As we dance in the dark'' I sang, loud enough for only her to hear that. And now the more accurate line.''The heaven in you meets the hell in me.''Right when she was about to say something, I pulled her closer to me, until I could feel her body on mine, her breath on my face, and her quicker heartbeat.''Isn't it so accurate? Aren't you such an innocent, beautiful angel, who got lost on its way to Heaven and clueless came to Hell?'' I murmured, lowering the tone of my voice, my eyes still fixed on her. I could already see her cheeks turn red.''And met a tempting, mysterious demon? So beautiful that you can't believe it is Hell?'' She replied, almost whispering. If not for my vampiric senses, I wouldn't hear that. But she probably knew it.For a moment I was looking for a reply, positively surprised by her answer, but then I just pulled her even closer and kissed her passionately.***We left the club at midnight, leaving my ''hunting place'' to pulse with life until late at night. That was the purpose of this place. Make it big enough and then target some people to bait them to the side, have a drink, compel them to forget the incident, and let go. Feeding with my blood obviously, so there wouldn't be any bite mark. Biting the neck was the most comfortable way, someone who would see it by accident, would think we were just kissing and cuddling. Or simply going to have sex.''By the way, you dance I could tell you were a Countess, Carm'' Leticia said, after getting into my car. Then she added with a chuckle: ''But surely not by the way you leave mess everywhere.''''I had maids to clean up. I still have it in my house. If I had them in your place, it would be all cleaned up'' I shrugged, but with an amused smile.''No maids, I still prefer to do it on my own. The more comfortable and luxurious I would get, the more weight I would gain'' She replied, moving her eyes to me.''Oh really? You tend to eat a lot of sweets and you're thin like a stick'' I replied, raising my eyebrow and starting the engine.''I have a theory I wouldn't be if you didn't take so much sweets'' She snorted. I couldn't help but laugh in response.''It still doesn't explain what I said'' I answered, turning left and driving the street towards Leticia's home. No one should drive after drinking alcohol, but luckily as a vampire, I was immune to alcohol's influence. Unlike Leticia, who got completely loose and therefore much bolder.Soon we reached her house. I held her close, listening carefully, ready to react to any suspicious noise that we would hear near. Or rather me with my supernatural hearing, but nothing happened. We safely reached her floor in the elevator, in comfortable silence, until we quit and then entered her apartment. She stumbled upon her shoes near the entrance, since it was yet dark, but I caught her quickly. Seeing her in the darkness perfectly, I stared into her eyes. I could see her eyes move to mine when they got used to the darkness. I smiled slightly.''Here we go again, saving the damsel in distress'' I murmured, holding for a longer moment, hearing her heartbeat getting faster.''I think you got used to being my saviour'' She muttered in reply, causing me to chuckle.She straightened up and turned the light on. We went into the living room, where I took a seat on the sofa.''You're not going to sleep? It's late in the night and we work tomorrow'' Leticia pointed out.''I don't need to sleep much. I don't need to sleep at all'' I shrugged. The blonde came towards me and took a seat next to me, causing me to raise my eyebrow. ''I don't recall you being a vampire as well.''''Just... For a moment. I just... I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate that you shared your story with me. Your past wasn't nice and positive, but... Seeing you now, I'm proud of you.''I kept staring in front of me, wondering. I wouldn't agree with her. She may know my attitude towards her, but I knew I wasn't the good one. It was easy for her to put on the pink glasses and see me as a hero. I saved her, I cared about her, but she couldn't see it was only about her. It was still going to be only about her. She was different in my eyes and now blinded by her own feelings. So was I, knowing that it was like a lion living together with an antelope. I just... Couldn't help myself.I put my hand on her knee, moving my gaze towards her.''I wish I believed in my good side as much as you do, Leticia'' I replied, looking into her eyes. I leaned towards her, to give her a quick kiss to her lips. ''But now go to sleep or I may use my magic on you and make you go.''''Now you're a mommy with a cocoa'' She chuckled and hugged me before she got up. ''Goodnight, Carm.''''Goodnight, Leticia'' I replied and I kept watching her, until she left the room and reached her bedroom. I pulled my phone out of my pocket, just to check the information I got from Astrid. No other way, it had to be a marriage. I sighed and hid my face in my palm. So it was inevitable and I had to find a better way to tell her about that. I also had to make sure Louis wouldn't be her boyfriend again, whether by force or in a more polite way. I've lost too much in my life to risk her slipping out of my hands.Soon I got up and went to my room, where I changed, removed my make-up, took a shower and then I had to go to sleep. With thoughts revolving around Leticia all the time, I fell asleep.