the ceremony

Chapter two

Annabelle looked at her vampire and he looked back. They did not speak, it was customary not to speak after being bonded. He pulled Annabelle Lee into a hug not knowing why but he felt that he had to be closer to her. Annabelle looked up into his face, he was so tall. She noticed that his shirt was a soft silk, Annabelle rubbed her face against it not caring what people thought of her. That was for humans to do, cats did whatever they want. Right now Annabelle wanted her vampire. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself into his arms. Annabelle pulled herself up to his eye level and smashed their lips together. The room looked on the pair with disapproving eyes but the vampire put his arms around Annabelle Lee and supported her while she pushed her tongue into his mouth.

His mouth was so warm and tasted wonderful.  Annabelle hade never tasted anything like it. She had never wanted anything as much as she wanted her vampire. She broke off the kiss when her vampire growled. Annabelle turned in his arms towards the person he had been growling at. The man was directly behind where Annabelle was a moment before. The man had his hand out as if to touch Annabelle. The vampire was staring at this man making sure that the man knew that the growl was for him.

“Sir, shall we get on with the ceremony. It is very inappropriate what you have done.” The man said with a hint of a southern accent. He was neither cat nor vampire he was one of the sorcerers that would bind the cats and vampires together if the right pair had found each other.

          The vampire looked amused and seemed about to argue but then he set Annabelle down gently and took her hand again. They raised their intertwined hands out to the sorcerer who bound their hands together with green light. Nothing could break that light the two were stuck together. They were led from the room and down the hall to the elevator. As was customary no one spoke, which made the elevator ride stifling and uncomfortable. Annabelle leaned against her vampire loving being near him. 

          When they reached the lobby the sorcerer led them out into the empty lobby. The man from earlier was still behind the desk and looked up in time to see Annabelle Lee leave with the two men. He sighed and went back to his work. The sorcerer led the pair towards a shiny black limo. The sorcerer got in and the vampire led Annabelle to a seat before closing the door. There was a female sorcerer in the car. She began talking immediately to the sorcerer about complicated things that the vampire and Annabelle did not understand.

          The car started to move taking the pair towards their destination to finish the bonding process. Annabelle had very little experience in cars and tensed when the car started to move. The vampire squeezed her hand and pulled Annabelle into his lap where he stroked her hair with his free hand. That got the sorcerers attention. The vampire looked completely comfortable and at ease in the situation. 

          “What the hell do you think you are doing? Both of you seem to have absolutely no respect for the situation you are in.” The sorcerer said getting very annoyed that the two were not acting as was expected of them.

          The sorceress smacked her companion on the arm. “Lighten up. They are still getting used to being together and you really can’t expect a cat to like cars.

          The car ride was long and boring but Annabelle was content to lay her head on her vampire’s shoulder and take in his scent, and feel him.  After about twenty minutes Annabelle fell asleep listening to the deep even breathing of her vampire. He knew that the cat showed a lot of trust in him to fall asleep on him.

          The vampire sat and remembered a time not that long ago when vampires and cats were at war with each other. The rush from drinking cat blood was still as prominent as ever in the minds of vampires, but for the moment the truce seemed to be working. It would be nice to have a companion again especially one as strong willed as Annabelle Lee. He liked her sitting this close to him. He liked how warm this cat was. She smelled like freedom and wind. Being with this cat would be fun. He sat back and relaxed with his cat on his lap.

          The car slowly pulled up in front of a nice house on a nice street. It wasn’t the type of place where you would expect to find sorcerers and magic in general. It was more like the place you would find someone that owned a remodeling company or someone that was manager of a successful store. The whole neighborhood had a clean perfect feeling to it. The house they stopped in front of was like all the other houses on the block. It was white with a pale yellow trim. The door was open and a group of friendly looking people sat on the porch drinking. The sorcerer and sorceress led Annabelle and her vampire up to the house.

          A middle aged woman stood up from the group as they approached. She was short and thin but had a kind face. She held out a perfectly manicured hand for the sorcerer to shake. Then she offered her hand to the new pair. Both of them looked at the hand then at each other before laughing. The woman led them into a perfectly country home. It was open and light, with plenty of room for a big gathering of people. “Hello you two. I wondered if we would be getting a new pair tonight. You two must be thirsty. Here drink this.” Another sorcerer said. He was sitting at the kitchen table reading a very large old book. He offered the pair a glass of blue liquid.

          “What is it?” Annabelle asked.

“I only drink blood.” The vampire said just a second after Annabelle.

          “Why do I always get the suspicious ones?” The sorcerer complained. “If you want to continue with the bonding process, you will drink it. This potion will keep you from bleeding to death during the ceremony, so drink up.” The sorcerer said with a smile. “When you have made up your minds and drink that meet me downstairs.” He said and walked through a door at the side of the kitchen that led down towards the basement.

          “Did he say bleed to death?” Annabelle asked.

“You haven’t been bonded before have you?” the vampire asked.

“No. have you?”

          “Never, but I’ve never known a sorcerer to joke about his work. I really don’t know if we will die or not, but we really don’t have a choice.” He raised their intertwined hands and reached for a glass.

          Annabelle hissed and turned away. The vampire smiled at her back. “Annabelle do you really want to spend the rest of our lives with one of our hands tied together?” she turned around to glare at him. He knew that he had not convinced her, not completely. “Would you do it for me, please?” He asked with a pleading look in his big golden eyes.

          “You first, and if you make a habit of trying that I will make your life extremely difficult.” Annabelle said glaring at him.

          The vampire grabbed one of the glasses and downed the contents. Then he grabbed the second one and put it to Annabelle’s lips. “It really doesn’t taste that bad.” The vampire remarked a little surprised.

          That seemed to convince Annabelle. She opened her lips and allowed her vampire to pour the liquid into her mouth. Annabelle swallowed quickly. It tasted horrible, well, actually more like sewer water. She glared at her vampire who chuckled and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. “You can make my life difficult and I can lie to you.” He said smiling.

          She gave him a smile though she didn’t want to. “Well then, let’s go off to our deaths.” Annabelle said dramatically, and started towards the door to the basement.

“Hey, we are not going to die.” The vampire said and pulled Annabelle into a quick kiss. Then he opened the door with his free hand and started down the carpeted stairs. Family portraits lined the walls giving off a welcoming and happy atmosphere. “Is it just me or is this place too human for a vampire and a cat to come for a secret ceremony?” The vampire asked a little creeped out by the humanness of the situation.

          “I don’t like it here.” Annabelle said in response. The vampire looked questioningly at her. “I am not some fat spoiled house cat. I am free to do as I wish, and that will not change.”

          “I would not dream of trying to control a cat, it has never been done.”

          “Nor shall you control her, and she will not control you. All of this is about partnership. Do you think us magic weavers would bind you two together just so you could fight each other?” The sorcerer asked. He was sitting at a bar that was built in the basement drinking a beer.

          “I think that you would bind us together because you as a group cannot mind your own business and let others do as they desire.” Annabelle said glaring at the sorcerer.

          “You are probably right, but I do commend you for convincing her to come here. Shall we get on with it?” The sorcerer said and led the pair into a room that was off to the side. This room was more like what you would have expected. The walls were paneled with the darkest wood. The floor was cold stone. The room was much bigger than one would expect but where else would a sorcerer practice his craft. There were all the tools of his trade and many odds and ends. In the center of the room was one long stone table. 

Reviews

[Sinister Cutlass]

At first, I questioned the whole cats-and-vampires angle, but the mythology you're creating (the war between the two races, the still-present racial tensions, etc.) is getting quite interesting.

[alf]

Hi Nightshade. okay, we are getting into the story. Your style is great, your characters (at this stage) are strong and have decided personality!!! I call this a simplistic write, though not at all simple!! you have the power to draw the reader in!!! and remember, this is NOT my genre!! I am beginning to get a feel for the story, through the atmosphere you create. Well done for this great, and well paced introduction to what will happen next!!! Will still read on!! alf

[nightshade]

hello glad to see you at chapter two! again thanks for reading. I am glad that you are getting a feel for my characters and their problems. thank you for all of your kindness it really inspires me to continue writing and maintaining high standards.
thanks for reading
nightshade