“Everything does happen for a reason. Fate is a living entity that guides us all down a path of realization. We are only given journeys that we will succeed in completing.” He reached out and took my hand in his.
Everything that was happening seemed odd, surreal even. Here I was, holding the hand of the vampire I just fucked while he got all philosophical on me. I idly wondered where his brothers were, but again, like he read my mind, he answered, “They left to fulfill their own destiny.”
His choice of words was strange, but I had to admit I liked the idea of having Mikael all to myself. I shivered, not from cold but from something completely different. I watched as Mikael stood and undressed before slipping into the bed next to me. He pulled me toward the hardness of his chest and I rested my head over his heart. I could hear the steady, rhythmic tempo of the organ and I smiled. “I guess the stories about vampires being the undead aren’t true.”
“It is true to an extent.” I pulled back to look into his face. “We must die in order to start our new life. We must shed our human minds and bodies in order to become something entirely different.” He spoke in a low, soft tone, filled with understanding. “Does a caterpillar not shed its former body to become another creature? Something that holds beauty and grace?”
His words were endearing to me. “That they do.” I rested my head on his chest again and thought about his words.
“Are you afraid, Sophie?”
I thought about his question, really thought about what it meant. “Yes,” I whispered, and then licked my dry lips. I closed my eyes and smiled a sad smile, one that no else could see. “Truth be told, I don’t want to die. There are so many things I haven’t done, so many people I haven’t met.” There was another moment of silence after I spoke. Mikael pulled back and looked down at me.
“Do you believe in fate?”
I searched his face, wondering why I was being so truthful with him. “I don’t know if I do.”
“You believe everything happens for a reason though?” I nodded. “Is that not part of fate intervening on our behalf?” I wondered what he was thinking, wondered where he was going with all of this. “I believe in fate.” He pushed himself up and braced himself on his elbow. “Fate brought you to me.”
“George brought us together.” I smiled but Mikael didn’t find humor in it.
“Fate showed you the path that would give you the greatest victory, the greatest outcome. It led you to me.”
“I don’t understand what you’re saying, Mikael.” I pulled myself up and brought the sheet around my body. This whole conversation was getting a little too deep.
“I can help you, Sophie.”
“How?” I stared at him with confusion until it dawned on me. I started shaking my head. “I don’t want that as my life.”
“You don’t want what? Undying companionship, life to explore everything your heart desires?” He grabbed my hand again and clasped it to his chest. “Feel my heart beating, feel that I am alive, breathing, speaking just as you are.” Mikael was still powerful and deadly, but right now, at this moment he seemed hopeful, caring even. “I can give you those things. I can guide you through a life where knowledge is unending, where life is at your very fingertips.”
“I don’t want that, Mikael. I don’t want to hurt people to survive.”
He let go of my hand and his expression changed. “Did I hurt you, Sophie? Did my drinking your blood harm you?”
I felt my cheeks heat from his words. It most certainly did not. I thought about the pleasure he gave me, how he was gentle. “I don’t want to watch the people I care about die.”
“Are we not born to die? Will your loved ones see you pass?” He pulled me close and wrapped his arms around my body. He held me for the longest time and I knew he wouldn’t push anything I didn’t want.
“If you are ready, I’m here. You are who I have been searching for, a companion to share my life and heart with.” He pulled back and ran his thumb across my lower lip. “We can have all the time in the world to know each other, to learn about one another. I know you feel this connection between us. I know I can’t be the only one that is affected this strongly.” He wrapped me in another embrace and lowered me back to the bed. “Sleep, Sophie. Give yourself a reprieve from the worries that plague your mind for a short time.”
I closed my eyes, my thoughts on what Mikael said, what he offered. I didn’t know if I could make that kind of commitment, didn’t know if I could take that leap that would end my mortal life. As sleep crept upon me, I wondered how my life would be if I did accept Mikael’s offer, if I did let him turn me into a vampire.