Categories > Movies > V for Vendetta > My Immortal
Chapter 3
V slowly made his way from the area that safely hid the Shadow Gallery from prying eyes. As he traveled in the darkness, oblivious to anyone on the street below, he couldn't help but feel his heart break just a little more as he remembered Evey-----the look of utter despair on her face as she looked around the Shadow Gallery. A sob broke from his lips as he stopped with his back against one of the building's parapets. He reached up and removed his hat, then slid slowly down the wall into the water that lay about on the rooftop, his cloak protecting him. He released the straps from his head, and laid the mask next to him. Lowering his face into his hands he cried, great sobs wrenching from his chest. He had no purpose now, his vendetta was finished, and the only love of his life was gone. He reached to his waist, and slowly pulled one of his knives from its sheath. He watched the rooftop light reflect from the cold, smooth edges as he turned it in his hand. He had his answers now. He could end it right now, or he could return to Victoria, and...........NO! He would not become something worse than he already was! Standing, he re-sheathed the knife, replaced Fawkes mask to its rightful place, and placed his hat upon his head. He had made the decision.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Victoria rose from her stone sarcophagi and stretched. The hunger was upon her again----she had to hunt. Walking up the stairs, she headed for the crypt entrance.
----------------------------------------------------
V walked cautiously down the deserted tunnel toward his new home. It was somewhat smaller than the original Shadow Gallery, but with what he had removed from his old home, it was beginning to feel more like the original. He stopped in front of a wall of debris that covered an old service tunnel entrance and searched for the false rock. Finding it, he pulled it out and pushed the red button, waiting for the light to change to green. Looking around once again to make sure he hadn't been followed, he disappeared into the entrance, the false door closing behind him. Just inside, V found the light switch that he had installed and flipped it up, the tunnel coming alive with dim light. Re-setting the security panel, he continued down the tunnel for several minutes, finally coming to another door, this one re-enforced with heavy steel. He entered a security code and stepped back as the door began to slowly swing open. Entering his faux Shadow Gallery, he threw his hat on the piano top, and walked over to the second Wurlitzer he had saved from the Ministry of Objectionable Materials. He smiled under the mask as he thought about all the other pieces he still had to bring out of storage and put them in their places. This smaller labyrinth had been perfect to store the things he had no room for in the original gallery. He pushed a few buttons, and the soft voice of Julie London filled the room as she sang ' Cry Me A River'. Unfastening his cloak, he placed it beside his hat, then laid the knife belt along side them. He paced the floor quietly, knowing that before long, Victoria would be hunting again. He knew she was out at night------searching for any poor unsuspecting fool----murdering just to sooth her hunger. For over a month, he had seen her, followed her, watching her every move----she was no better than those he had already taken to hell. Smashing his fist against the wall, he knew what he had to do. He would be waiting for her when she returned to the crypt.
-----------------------------------------
Victoria watched as the two men moved into the alleyway. She would be upon her prey before they had a chance to defend themselves. She followed them, staying to the shadows. Right before she was about to move, a large form sprang from the shadows and attacked. Within seconds, both were dead, laying in a pool of blood spreading between them. The coldest, numbing fear she had ever felt flowed through her veins as she watched in terror. There was only one thing that do that much damage------but they were suppose to have been all destroyed by the hand of a vampire elder-------her own father and his clan. Had one survived only to have followed her from her past? Had it been lying in wait till she awoke? She watched as the beast raised its head, and sniffed the air, a piece of human flesh hanging from its jowls. A howl erupted from its lungs so terrifying, Victoria began trembling. Quietly, she fled, hoping that the beast had not sensed her-----if it had, she didn't have a chance of reaching her crypt before it would tear her to pieces. She ran as fast as she could down the alleyways, finally jumping to a low lying rooftop, the only place she felt safe at the moment. Cautiously, she peered over the roof's edge-------luckily, she had not been followed. She let out a deep breath, then turned heading for her home.
-------------------------------------------
V entered the crypt cautiously, his knife drawn as he moved closer into the room. Several torches had been lit, and the light reflected off the marble walls causing shadows to dance across the sanctuary. He replaced the knife in his belt and looked at the things that graced Victoria's home. A noise caught his ears, and he quickly moved into the shadows. Victoria seemed to be agitated as she hurried down the stairs looking behind her. V watched as she walked around the crypt, a frightened look on her beautiful face.
“ Hello, Victoria. “ V stepped from his hiding place, one of his knives clutched in his hand.
Victoria turned quickly toward the voice, her eyes locking on the mask's black eye slits. “ V!”
She hurried to him, but stopped in her tracks as she saw the gleaming steel in his hand. “ You've come back------only to kill me?”
“ I have no choice.” He answered, “ You are no better than those I stopped.”
“ I didn't ask for this to be done to me.....” she looked at him as he moved toward her. “ I was once like you.... human.” She began backing away, her eyes never leaving the shining blade in his hand. “ You don't want to do this, V.....” She felt the stone sarcophagi pressing against her back.
“ I have to.” He replied, moving on her.
A high pitched howl roared through the crypt just as he brought the blade down, toward her neck. Victoria screamed as V whipped around, his cape catching with her dress. Standing before them, on two legs was a large hairy beast, more human than animal. “ Oh, God!”
“ There is no god for your kind, vampyre.” A voice as cold as ice spoke to Victoria as huge yellow eyes glowed at her. “ Your time has come.” The beast moved on two feet toward them. “ It would be in your best interest to leave her, human.”
The thing looked straight at V, it's mouth open wide, drool dripping from razor sharp teeth.
“ No.”
The creature tilted it's head as it stared at him. “ Why do you protect this monster, human?”
“ Every thing has a right to life,” V replied as he drew another knife from his belt, “ Even monsters.” He judged the beast's distance from where he stood with Victoria. Then without a sound, one of the two- foot knives arched through the air, hitting the creature squarely in the chest. The beast roared in pain, then drew the knife from his torso, throwing it aside. Growling loudly, it ran on all fours toward him.
“ Victoria! Run!” V ordered as the creature caught him and he hit hard against the wall---- the beast's putrid breath penetrated his mask. The second knife was shoved into the creature's belly as V felt claws rip across his chest, warmth running down his scarred flesh. In a matter of seconds, the beast had him on the stone floor, looking into his face. V pulled another from his belt, and sunk it into the muscular form up to the hilt. A cry escaped from bloody lips as teeth sunk into V's shoulder and flesh was ripped from his body. With his hand still on the pummel of the knife, he used all his strength that was left, and twisted the blade across the abdomen, and screamed as another bite was taken from his chest.
Victoria watched in horror at the scene before her, and cried because there was nothing she could do to help V. If he died, she was just as dead also----even if she attacked the wolf, she was as good as dead then too. She watched as suddenly, the wolf went still, and dropped on V.
“ V!?” Hurrying to his side, she pulled the dead beast from his body, and cringed as she looked at him. Blood flowed from two great gaping wounds in his chest, as another exposed muscles and tendons in his shoulder. “ V, can you hear me?”
“ Yes.....” His voice was a hoarse whisper.
“ We've got to get out of here. There are probably more. We have to leave now!” she raised him on his feet. Taking the edge of the cloak, she balled it up, pressing it to the wounds on his chest.
“ Help...me..get...to...the...gallery....” He leaned against her, his strength slowly ebbing away. “ We'll.......be safe....there....”
“ I'll take you.” She picked him up as if he weighed no more than a small child. Looking down into the mask, she saw his head roll back as his body became limp. She searched for his heartbeat with her hearing, and found a very faint one-----he was dying! She had to get him to this …..gallery....as he called it, or it would be too late. She hurried up the steps and took flight.
------------------------------------------------------
V drifted from unconsciousness to brief lucidity as he felt himself being laid onto a soft bed. Opening his eyes, he looked up into Victoria's , a silver sheen coming from them in the dim lighting.
“ You are in your home. There were two different scents I picked up, but this one was the strongest.”
“ Thank you........” He whispered softly as he tilted the mask toward her direction. “ Victoria.....”
She looked at him, afraid of seeing what her eyes would show her. “ Yes?” Her hand clasp his gloved one.
“ I promised....you...I would...return......” His voice broke, “ Everything I ….have held.... dear to me....is...gone.....Evey........my....vendetta..... my reason...for..living.....” He closed his eyes. Madame Fate had dealt him another cruel hand----now, he had to make a decision---one that would place him in rest for eternity, or one that would make him a worse monster than he already was, but would also give him the ability to watch over a new world . He squeezed Victoria 's hand weakly. “ You are one of.....the most......beautiful.” His voice broke, and he swallowed, then drew an intake of breath. He raised his head up a little from the pillow to see her better.. “....creatures I have ever seen...... Maybe.....a life.....such as yours......would not be so.....bad.....” He coughed again. “....after all. Do you still......wish for us.....to be together?”
“ Yes.” It was her only reply.
“ Then, I consent. I will remain here......” He coughed roughly, and Victoria saw blood begin to trickle from the mask's lips. “ With you.”
“ Are you sure?” She asked in a whispered tone, “ There is no turning back after this.”
V shook his head slowly as Victoria's hand reached for the collar of his jacket, and she ripped it open, revealing his scared flesh. “ I'm sorry.......”
“ For what?” she asked leaning her head toward V's exposed neck.
“ For...you having....to see me.....” He coughed again.
“ There is nothing to apologize for.....” She whispered into the wig, then her lips were upon his neck, leaving wet kisses as V shivered with pleasure. Then, without warning, her fangs sank deep into his flesh as she began to feed.
Thoughts raced through what little mind he had left as he began feeling his body shutting down. It was nothing like the books he had read described. A warmness tingled through his body at first, but suddenly, the pain came-----it was nothing like he had ever suffered before----not even at Larkhill---this was different. It was more of a burning pain----like he was on fire once again, but he was burning from the inside out! Fire flowed through his veins, and he tried to cry out but couldn't as his mind collapsed, and he fell into blackness.
Victoria watched as his body went limp-----it had begun. She reached over and removed his mask. She would have to be able to check on his progress. She smiled down at him. She was proud----he had never made a sound or thrashed about wildly as she gave her gift to him, something that no mortal had ever done before. She would be proud to call him ' mate'. She had brought him near the edge of death, now all there was to do was wait as the poison spread through his body. It could happen overnight or it could take as long as three days for the venom to spread to his heart stopping it forever, and making him immortal. She would undress him, clean away the blood dried on his body, apply compresses to the wounds in his shoulder and chest, then she would lay with him, one hand intertwined with his, and the other across his waist. She would remain by his side until he stirred again.
It was the evening of the third day when she finally awoke-----and yet, he had not stirred. Maybe she had been wrong------maybe he wasn't as strong as she had thought. She laid quietly beside him, listening for any sound signaling that he was waking, but there was none, not even a faint heartbeat. She raised into a sitting position beside him, her hand touching his cold face. He had been dead for sometime now. She brushed away a blood red tear, closing her eyes as loneliness once again grasped her in its unforgiving embrace. She tried to cry, but couldn't----she had no tears for the dead. Putting her legs over the side of the huge bed, she began to get up just as a hand closed around her arm.
“ Not leaving already?”
She turned and looked down into the darkest violet eyes she had ever seen. They were so beautiful and such an interesting eye color, they hardly seem real---and those same eyes were looking deeply at her---- like it was the first he had truly seen her.
V's eyes roamed all around her face; to her hair, then her eyes, and lips. He stared at her and an intense hunger filled his body. All he wanted to do was grab Victoria and claim her as his own. He shook the thought out of his mind and looked around the room--- and even though, it was dark as night, he could see as if it were broad daylight. Everything was so clear---even the books on the shelves across the room. He could see every letter that made up the titles. Then, something caught his attention. It was a scent---- the kind that draws you in----it was hypnotic---you wanted to grasp the smell, and pull it into you----- the kind of scent you would never tire of. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and followed the source----- it was Victoria that it was eminating from. He pulled her to him, taking in her smell.
“ V?” She asked in a worried tone.
" Yes?" He purred softly.
" How are you feeling?" She asked as his hand touched her face gently.
He opened his eyes and looked into worried ones. By the Gods, he could see the beauty in her eyes so much better without the mask. Suddenly, realization hit him hard, and he jumped across the room trying to cover his face, Victoria following him.
"V, what's wrong?" She looked all over him, nothing seemed to be out of place. “ Are you in pain?”
"Don' t look" He answered, his voice full of anguish. “ I don't want you to see the hideous monster behind the mask." His hand shielded his face from her.
" What are you talking about?" She asked softly, "I don't see a monster, I see a man who is very handsome inside and out. "
V let out a cackle as he whirled on her. “ You call this handsome!” He asked angrily throwing his hand up to his face.
" V, come with me, please." Grabbing his hand, she gently pulled him from the bedroom and into the gallery to where his makeup room was located. Then very slowly, she took his hands in hers, and looked into his eyes. " V, look at your self.” She said softly.
He looked at her with pain in his eyes, trying to see if she was toying with him. What he could see was trust, happiness, awe, excitment, and even love-----then, he turned and looked at the mirror. What he saw sent ripples of confusion through his body-------- what he saw was a stranger staring at him. He turned to Victoria. “ What has happened to me? ”
“Your scares healed during the transformation.” She replied, “ Honestly, I didn't know if they would or not."
“ You saw them?” He asked quietly.
Victoria looked at V, love showing in the dark depths of her eyes. “ Yes.” She replied calmly.
“ When?”
“ When you passed out the first time we met,” she paused, “ And after I tasted you.”
“ And you still stayed beside me? Why?” He asked softly, never taking his eyes from hers.
“ Because I fell in love with you and I want you for my mate, “ Victoria turned away from him, “ but I won't force you, “ She turned to face him once again, “ unless you want it.”
V stared at the beautiful woman before him. She just admitted that she loved him, even though she knew what he looked like before the turning. “ Thank you.” He said in a whisper.
She nodded her reply as she looked into the mirror at his reflection beside her's.
“ I thought vampires could not cast a reflection.” He said looking at the face that stared back at him. It was angular with high, strong cheekbones. Dark eyelashes framed the deepest, brilliant violet eyes he had ever seen. His ears were perfectly shaped, and dark brown hair fell to his shoulders. “ Was this what I looked like before Larkhill?” He whispered softly.
Victoria smiled as her arm circled his waist. “ Your first answer is yes, we can, and second, most likely.” She looked up at him again. “ How are you feeling?”
“ Fine.” V replied, “ Better than I have ever felt before, but my throat is burning though.”
She looked up at him, a smile on her lips. “ Then it's time for dinner.”
V slowly made his way from the area that safely hid the Shadow Gallery from prying eyes. As he traveled in the darkness, oblivious to anyone on the street below, he couldn't help but feel his heart break just a little more as he remembered Evey-----the look of utter despair on her face as she looked around the Shadow Gallery. A sob broke from his lips as he stopped with his back against one of the building's parapets. He reached up and removed his hat, then slid slowly down the wall into the water that lay about on the rooftop, his cloak protecting him. He released the straps from his head, and laid the mask next to him. Lowering his face into his hands he cried, great sobs wrenching from his chest. He had no purpose now, his vendetta was finished, and the only love of his life was gone. He reached to his waist, and slowly pulled one of his knives from its sheath. He watched the rooftop light reflect from the cold, smooth edges as he turned it in his hand. He had his answers now. He could end it right now, or he could return to Victoria, and...........NO! He would not become something worse than he already was! Standing, he re-sheathed the knife, replaced Fawkes mask to its rightful place, and placed his hat upon his head. He had made the decision.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Victoria rose from her stone sarcophagi and stretched. The hunger was upon her again----she had to hunt. Walking up the stairs, she headed for the crypt entrance.
----------------------------------------------------
V walked cautiously down the deserted tunnel toward his new home. It was somewhat smaller than the original Shadow Gallery, but with what he had removed from his old home, it was beginning to feel more like the original. He stopped in front of a wall of debris that covered an old service tunnel entrance and searched for the false rock. Finding it, he pulled it out and pushed the red button, waiting for the light to change to green. Looking around once again to make sure he hadn't been followed, he disappeared into the entrance, the false door closing behind him. Just inside, V found the light switch that he had installed and flipped it up, the tunnel coming alive with dim light. Re-setting the security panel, he continued down the tunnel for several minutes, finally coming to another door, this one re-enforced with heavy steel. He entered a security code and stepped back as the door began to slowly swing open. Entering his faux Shadow Gallery, he threw his hat on the piano top, and walked over to the second Wurlitzer he had saved from the Ministry of Objectionable Materials. He smiled under the mask as he thought about all the other pieces he still had to bring out of storage and put them in their places. This smaller labyrinth had been perfect to store the things he had no room for in the original gallery. He pushed a few buttons, and the soft voice of Julie London filled the room as she sang ' Cry Me A River'. Unfastening his cloak, he placed it beside his hat, then laid the knife belt along side them. He paced the floor quietly, knowing that before long, Victoria would be hunting again. He knew she was out at night------searching for any poor unsuspecting fool----murdering just to sooth her hunger. For over a month, he had seen her, followed her, watching her every move----she was no better than those he had already taken to hell. Smashing his fist against the wall, he knew what he had to do. He would be waiting for her when she returned to the crypt.
-----------------------------------------
Victoria watched as the two men moved into the alleyway. She would be upon her prey before they had a chance to defend themselves. She followed them, staying to the shadows. Right before she was about to move, a large form sprang from the shadows and attacked. Within seconds, both were dead, laying in a pool of blood spreading between them. The coldest, numbing fear she had ever felt flowed through her veins as she watched in terror. There was only one thing that do that much damage------but they were suppose to have been all destroyed by the hand of a vampire elder-------her own father and his clan. Had one survived only to have followed her from her past? Had it been lying in wait till she awoke? She watched as the beast raised its head, and sniffed the air, a piece of human flesh hanging from its jowls. A howl erupted from its lungs so terrifying, Victoria began trembling. Quietly, she fled, hoping that the beast had not sensed her-----if it had, she didn't have a chance of reaching her crypt before it would tear her to pieces. She ran as fast as she could down the alleyways, finally jumping to a low lying rooftop, the only place she felt safe at the moment. Cautiously, she peered over the roof's edge-------luckily, she had not been followed. She let out a deep breath, then turned heading for her home.
-------------------------------------------
V entered the crypt cautiously, his knife drawn as he moved closer into the room. Several torches had been lit, and the light reflected off the marble walls causing shadows to dance across the sanctuary. He replaced the knife in his belt and looked at the things that graced Victoria's home. A noise caught his ears, and he quickly moved into the shadows. Victoria seemed to be agitated as she hurried down the stairs looking behind her. V watched as she walked around the crypt, a frightened look on her beautiful face.
“ Hello, Victoria. “ V stepped from his hiding place, one of his knives clutched in his hand.
Victoria turned quickly toward the voice, her eyes locking on the mask's black eye slits. “ V!”
She hurried to him, but stopped in her tracks as she saw the gleaming steel in his hand. “ You've come back------only to kill me?”
“ I have no choice.” He answered, “ You are no better than those I stopped.”
“ I didn't ask for this to be done to me.....” she looked at him as he moved toward her. “ I was once like you.... human.” She began backing away, her eyes never leaving the shining blade in his hand. “ You don't want to do this, V.....” She felt the stone sarcophagi pressing against her back.
“ I have to.” He replied, moving on her.
A high pitched howl roared through the crypt just as he brought the blade down, toward her neck. Victoria screamed as V whipped around, his cape catching with her dress. Standing before them, on two legs was a large hairy beast, more human than animal. “ Oh, God!”
“ There is no god for your kind, vampyre.” A voice as cold as ice spoke to Victoria as huge yellow eyes glowed at her. “ Your time has come.” The beast moved on two feet toward them. “ It would be in your best interest to leave her, human.”
The thing looked straight at V, it's mouth open wide, drool dripping from razor sharp teeth.
“ No.”
The creature tilted it's head as it stared at him. “ Why do you protect this monster, human?”
“ Every thing has a right to life,” V replied as he drew another knife from his belt, “ Even monsters.” He judged the beast's distance from where he stood with Victoria. Then without a sound, one of the two- foot knives arched through the air, hitting the creature squarely in the chest. The beast roared in pain, then drew the knife from his torso, throwing it aside. Growling loudly, it ran on all fours toward him.
“ Victoria! Run!” V ordered as the creature caught him and he hit hard against the wall---- the beast's putrid breath penetrated his mask. The second knife was shoved into the creature's belly as V felt claws rip across his chest, warmth running down his scarred flesh. In a matter of seconds, the beast had him on the stone floor, looking into his face. V pulled another from his belt, and sunk it into the muscular form up to the hilt. A cry escaped from bloody lips as teeth sunk into V's shoulder and flesh was ripped from his body. With his hand still on the pummel of the knife, he used all his strength that was left, and twisted the blade across the abdomen, and screamed as another bite was taken from his chest.
Victoria watched in horror at the scene before her, and cried because there was nothing she could do to help V. If he died, she was just as dead also----even if she attacked the wolf, she was as good as dead then too. She watched as suddenly, the wolf went still, and dropped on V.
“ V!?” Hurrying to his side, she pulled the dead beast from his body, and cringed as she looked at him. Blood flowed from two great gaping wounds in his chest, as another exposed muscles and tendons in his shoulder. “ V, can you hear me?”
“ Yes.....” His voice was a hoarse whisper.
“ We've got to get out of here. There are probably more. We have to leave now!” she raised him on his feet. Taking the edge of the cloak, she balled it up, pressing it to the wounds on his chest.
“ Help...me..get...to...the...gallery....” He leaned against her, his strength slowly ebbing away. “ We'll.......be safe....there....”
“ I'll take you.” She picked him up as if he weighed no more than a small child. Looking down into the mask, she saw his head roll back as his body became limp. She searched for his heartbeat with her hearing, and found a very faint one-----he was dying! She had to get him to this …..gallery....as he called it, or it would be too late. She hurried up the steps and took flight.
------------------------------------------------------
V drifted from unconsciousness to brief lucidity as he felt himself being laid onto a soft bed. Opening his eyes, he looked up into Victoria's , a silver sheen coming from them in the dim lighting.
“ You are in your home. There were two different scents I picked up, but this one was the strongest.”
“ Thank you........” He whispered softly as he tilted the mask toward her direction. “ Victoria.....”
She looked at him, afraid of seeing what her eyes would show her. “ Yes?” Her hand clasp his gloved one.
“ I promised....you...I would...return......” His voice broke, “ Everything I ….have held.... dear to me....is...gone.....Evey........my....vendetta..... my reason...for..living.....” He closed his eyes. Madame Fate had dealt him another cruel hand----now, he had to make a decision---one that would place him in rest for eternity, or one that would make him a worse monster than he already was, but would also give him the ability to watch over a new world . He squeezed Victoria 's hand weakly. “ You are one of.....the most......beautiful.” His voice broke, and he swallowed, then drew an intake of breath. He raised his head up a little from the pillow to see her better.. “....creatures I have ever seen...... Maybe.....a life.....such as yours......would not be so.....bad.....” He coughed again. “....after all. Do you still......wish for us.....to be together?”
“ Yes.” It was her only reply.
“ Then, I consent. I will remain here......” He coughed roughly, and Victoria saw blood begin to trickle from the mask's lips. “ With you.”
“ Are you sure?” She asked in a whispered tone, “ There is no turning back after this.”
V shook his head slowly as Victoria's hand reached for the collar of his jacket, and she ripped it open, revealing his scared flesh. “ I'm sorry.......”
“ For what?” she asked leaning her head toward V's exposed neck.
“ For...you having....to see me.....” He coughed again.
“ There is nothing to apologize for.....” She whispered into the wig, then her lips were upon his neck, leaving wet kisses as V shivered with pleasure. Then, without warning, her fangs sank deep into his flesh as she began to feed.
Thoughts raced through what little mind he had left as he began feeling his body shutting down. It was nothing like the books he had read described. A warmness tingled through his body at first, but suddenly, the pain came-----it was nothing like he had ever suffered before----not even at Larkhill---this was different. It was more of a burning pain----like he was on fire once again, but he was burning from the inside out! Fire flowed through his veins, and he tried to cry out but couldn't as his mind collapsed, and he fell into blackness.
Victoria watched as his body went limp-----it had begun. She reached over and removed his mask. She would have to be able to check on his progress. She smiled down at him. She was proud----he had never made a sound or thrashed about wildly as she gave her gift to him, something that no mortal had ever done before. She would be proud to call him ' mate'. She had brought him near the edge of death, now all there was to do was wait as the poison spread through his body. It could happen overnight or it could take as long as three days for the venom to spread to his heart stopping it forever, and making him immortal. She would undress him, clean away the blood dried on his body, apply compresses to the wounds in his shoulder and chest, then she would lay with him, one hand intertwined with his, and the other across his waist. She would remain by his side until he stirred again.
It was the evening of the third day when she finally awoke-----and yet, he had not stirred. Maybe she had been wrong------maybe he wasn't as strong as she had thought. She laid quietly beside him, listening for any sound signaling that he was waking, but there was none, not even a faint heartbeat. She raised into a sitting position beside him, her hand touching his cold face. He had been dead for sometime now. She brushed away a blood red tear, closing her eyes as loneliness once again grasped her in its unforgiving embrace. She tried to cry, but couldn't----she had no tears for the dead. Putting her legs over the side of the huge bed, she began to get up just as a hand closed around her arm.
“ Not leaving already?”
She turned and looked down into the darkest violet eyes she had ever seen. They were so beautiful and such an interesting eye color, they hardly seem real---and those same eyes were looking deeply at her---- like it was the first he had truly seen her.
V's eyes roamed all around her face; to her hair, then her eyes, and lips. He stared at her and an intense hunger filled his body. All he wanted to do was grab Victoria and claim her as his own. He shook the thought out of his mind and looked around the room--- and even though, it was dark as night, he could see as if it were broad daylight. Everything was so clear---even the books on the shelves across the room. He could see every letter that made up the titles. Then, something caught his attention. It was a scent---- the kind that draws you in----it was hypnotic---you wanted to grasp the smell, and pull it into you----- the kind of scent you would never tire of. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and followed the source----- it was Victoria that it was eminating from. He pulled her to him, taking in her smell.
“ V?” She asked in a worried tone.
" Yes?" He purred softly.
" How are you feeling?" She asked as his hand touched her face gently.
He opened his eyes and looked into worried ones. By the Gods, he could see the beauty in her eyes so much better without the mask. Suddenly, realization hit him hard, and he jumped across the room trying to cover his face, Victoria following him.
"V, what's wrong?" She looked all over him, nothing seemed to be out of place. “ Are you in pain?”
"Don' t look" He answered, his voice full of anguish. “ I don't want you to see the hideous monster behind the mask." His hand shielded his face from her.
" What are you talking about?" She asked softly, "I don't see a monster, I see a man who is very handsome inside and out. "
V let out a cackle as he whirled on her. “ You call this handsome!” He asked angrily throwing his hand up to his face.
" V, come with me, please." Grabbing his hand, she gently pulled him from the bedroom and into the gallery to where his makeup room was located. Then very slowly, she took his hands in hers, and looked into his eyes. " V, look at your self.” She said softly.
He looked at her with pain in his eyes, trying to see if she was toying with him. What he could see was trust, happiness, awe, excitment, and even love-----then, he turned and looked at the mirror. What he saw sent ripples of confusion through his body-------- what he saw was a stranger staring at him. He turned to Victoria. “ What has happened to me? ”
“Your scares healed during the transformation.” She replied, “ Honestly, I didn't know if they would or not."
“ You saw them?” He asked quietly.
Victoria looked at V, love showing in the dark depths of her eyes. “ Yes.” She replied calmly.
“ When?”
“ When you passed out the first time we met,” she paused, “ And after I tasted you.”
“ And you still stayed beside me? Why?” He asked softly, never taking his eyes from hers.
“ Because I fell in love with you and I want you for my mate, “ Victoria turned away from him, “ but I won't force you, “ She turned to face him once again, “ unless you want it.”
V stared at the beautiful woman before him. She just admitted that she loved him, even though she knew what he looked like before the turning. “ Thank you.” He said in a whisper.
She nodded her reply as she looked into the mirror at his reflection beside her's.
“ I thought vampires could not cast a reflection.” He said looking at the face that stared back at him. It was angular with high, strong cheekbones. Dark eyelashes framed the deepest, brilliant violet eyes he had ever seen. His ears were perfectly shaped, and dark brown hair fell to his shoulders. “ Was this what I looked like before Larkhill?” He whispered softly.
Victoria smiled as her arm circled his waist. “ Your first answer is yes, we can, and second, most likely.” She looked up at him again. “ How are you feeling?”
“ Fine.” V replied, “ Better than I have ever felt before, but my throat is burning though.”
She looked up at him, a smile on her lips. “ Then it's time for dinner.”
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