Waiting for Prince Adrian

Joshua was slow to recover from Lilith’s vicious attack followed by Mia’s taking. For days, she nursed him in her apartment. He refused blood wine this time – he was adamant; he’d rather die, he said. Feeding him iron-building foods, she saw gradual improvement.

Mia stroked the curls on his forehead back tenderly as he rested after another good meal. His appetite had returned and it wasn’t quite the struggle to get him to eat. He had even asked to take his meal on the sofa so he could watch television – a very good sign.

“You’re still pale.”

“I damn near got finished off by two vampires,” he grumbled. “I’m entitled.”

His vehemence startled her. “Joshua, do you wish me to leave?”

He shook his head.

“If you are regretting...”

“Too late for regrets, isn’t it? This Prince Adrian wants a piece of me, too. I took something that belonged to him.”

“It belonged to me to give as I wished.” Mia rose from the sofa and took his dinner tray to the kitchen. She set it on the counter with a clatter, because she was shaking so badly. Never had she imagined Joshua would turn on her! Not after all they had been through! Yet he was entitled – every man had his limits. She supposed he had reached his at last.

“Mia...”

She spun at the sound of his voice so close. He was leaning weakly against the wall just inside the kitchen. “You shouldn’t be up,” she scolded.

“Mia...”

“Once you are well, I’ll leave. Perhaps Al...”

“You aren’t going back there.”

Her chin went up a prideful notch. “You have no say.”

“The hell I don’t.”

“Listen here, Mr. Chasez...”

“I’m sorry.” His apology hung in the air.

Slipping beneath his shoulder, she helped him back to bed and tucked him in. When she would have left the room, he took her hand.

“I’m sorry, angel. I’m not a very good sick person. This being weak and cooped up...”

“If you would only take the wine...”

“I don’t want vampire remedies.”

“As I said, I shall leave when you are stronger.”

“No.”

“Perhaps if I am not with you, Adrian will not come for you.”

“You aren’t listening.”

“You’re right. I brought this upon you. You didn’t know, but by now I had planned to have drained you and...”

“For God’s sake, Mia!”

“What?” she demanded irritably.

“You aren’t going anywhere. You’re my wife as surely as we had actually gotten to the altar. Whatever we face, we face together – like we faced Lilith. Together – for each other.”

“But you...”

“I just explained I make a bad patient. I get surly, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t love you. I’d never let you go. We have too much love to let go.”

Tears of relief glittered in her eyes. “You are certain?”

“I am certain.”

She climbed on to the bed, letting him rest against her. “I make you this pledge, Joshua. If I know we cannot survive, I will kill you myself. A human death.” If she were less cowardly, she’d do the deed now and walk out into the light of day. They would both be spared the ordeal to come.

“What does this Price Adrian look like?” Joshua asked once he was fully recovered. They were driving to the coast for a holiday. Mia said she loved the ocean. They had left at dusk for the condo he had rented on the beach. She had been very solemn. The better he had gotten, the sadder she became. He wanted to bring that sparkle back to her eyes.

“Except he has black eyes, I know nothing.”

“We are on the look out for someone and we don’t even have a clue what he looks like?” That didn’t bode well!

“I assume he is dark. He is a strong enough vampire, he can walk the day if he is protected.”

“Damn!” That made it even worse. “How come you can’t?”

“I am young, hence weaker.” But then she had never tried... “Perhaps with the proper protection...”

“Meaning?” If Mia could walk the daylight hours...

She shrugged. “Heavy dark clothing, dark glasses, a hat. No skin in direct sun...”

“And I live in Florida and California.” How ironic. She had to dress like a freaking Eskimo.

“Desert women wear heavy garments for modesty...”

He laughed. “Be my little harem girl?”

“Until we see if it works, it is a fanciful notion.”

“Guess we’ll load up on the heaviest sunblock.”

“You’ll sweat to death before the sun gets you,” Joshua commented at Mia’s ‘daylight’ get up. She wore a dark ankle length skirt. A dark long-sleeved shirt with a high collar. She had draped a large scarf over head, face and neck, topping that with a broad-brimmed hat. Boots, dark gloves and large sunglasses. “The black mummy,” he teased. He was fairly sure she poked her tongue at him, but he couldn’t be sure. “Ready for a test?”

At her nod, he opened the heavy draperies of the condo’s living room just a crack. The sun struck her – nothing.

“More?”

She nodded again.

More sun.

Still nothing.

“I want to go outside.” She announced in a muffled voice. The pleasure in her tone could not be missed.

With her gloved hand in his, Joshua led her out to the deck. He heard a little sound from her. “Do you need to go in?”

“No.” She wept with joy. “This is the first day I have known in 26 years.”

Swathed in black from head to toe, if this made her happy, it made him happy.

Though people looked at them strangely, Joshua took Mia to the tourist shops, for walks on the boardwalks, anywhere she wanted to go. No one knew what to think of the mysterious, black-clad female who chattered animatedly to the young man who accompanied her. He smiled often and offered frequent hugs, seeming to adore her. They had to wonder what lie beneath the veiled face.

At nights, they’d go down to the beach. By the light of the moon, they played in the surf and walked the beach. This was still denied them when the sun claimed the sky.

“Joshua, thank you,” Mia said as they made their way back to the condo late one night.

“For?”

“More freedoms.”

“I’d give you every freedom if I could.”

“I know. No one has taken better care of me, darling. You are very dear and very sweet.”

Pulling her close to his side, he dropped a kiss on her nose. “What I am is in love with you.”

“And I am so very lucky to know your love.”

As they approached the stairs leading to the deck, he swooped her up in a fireman’s carry to haul her up the steps. Her carefree giggle warmed his heart.

“Just what are your plans for me, sir?” she demanded, not being able to pretend anger in the least. Another giggle.

“A nice long shower, then making love to you by the moonlight.”

“I like that plan.”

Setting her to her feet, Joshua opened the patio door. Mia felt a sudden cold shiver down her spine – like someone watched them from the deepest shadows.

“What’s wrong, baby?” He saw her chafe her arms as if chilled.

“Umm...nothing. Just caught a breeze.”

He hadn’t noticed, but then he had been more intent on her. “We’ll take a nice warm shower and you’ll be fine.”

She wasn’t so sure.

Joshua’s tender love play in the shower had eased the chill. Then he carried her to the large bed and followed her down. He took his time loving her, as if she were a shy virgin who had to be coaxed into the deed. He kissed, caressed, and stroked each inch of flesh, covering her as completely as her daytime clothing. When he finally came to her, he held himself deep and still until she squirmed and begged for him to continue. With sure, slow strokes, he moved with her until the came apart in each other’s arms then softly floated back to Earth, to their moonlit bed.

Mia pressed her lips to his damp chest, placing a kiss over his thundering heart. She thought nothing of the warm, sweet blood racing through save that it kept him alive. The sure, strong beat soothed her to her very soul.

He pressed her close, reveling in her gentle touch.

“Strong heart. Brave heart. Loving heart.”

“And it’s all yours.”

“Joshua, I’m frightened.”

He didn’t even pretend he didn’t know what she was talking about. “I know. Me too.”

“I know nothing of him. With Lilith, I knew something of her – what she looked like, some of her motivation.”

“She was in love with you. I could understand that much.”

“With the Prince...I don’t know what to expect. We almost didn’t survive Lilith, how could we hope to win with a stronger foe?”

Joshua had similar doubts, but he refused to give them voice or credence. He refused to believe they were about to die – and walk the Earth as hideous undead. It didn’t bear thinking! “Adrian has never known love or sacrifice. It makes us strong, Mia.”

He kissed her forehead tenderly, then rose from the bed. Going to the heavy drapes, he closed them in expectation of sunrise. He felt it too, the sensation of being watched. Their archenemy grew ever closer – and he had no idea who to watch for.

When they had been home a week, the waiting had made Mia as jumpy as a cat on a griddle. She wasn’t sleeping restfully and she grew quiet and pale. She grew weak. Not wanting to see her waste once more, Joshua confronted her with the possible need to feed. She looked appalled he would mention it!

“It makes you strong,” he reminded her.

“And makes you weak.” She countered.

“Baby, you need to keep your guard up.”

“Prince Adrian knows where we are. He is toying with us.”

“All the more reason for you to feed.”

She shook her head. “Our fate lies with you this time.” She didn’t know how she knew this, she simply did. “He hates you.”

“Not any too fond of him either,” Joshua quipped. “He isn’t getting my wife.”

“Joshua?...” Mia looked at him expectantly as a stray scrap of knowledge came to her. If it were possible...

“What, baby?”

She shook her head. Maybe the legend was more myth than reality. It would be cruel to let him hope...

“What?” For a minute, he saw a bright promise in her eyes, a longing for a future. “Tell me.”

“It could be mere fancy.”

“I want to hear it.”

“It may be the destruction of my nemisis could make me fully human again” She shook her head once more. “I don’t know if I have taken too much...”

“You’re telling me if we get rid of Adrian, you’ll be free?” he demanded eagerly.

“It is a possibility. I am not sure if it is true or not – or if I have consumed too much of your blood...I don’t know the variables.”

The opportunity to free Mia to truly be his completely was strong motivation for the lover, even more so than his own life in the balance. “The guy is toast.”

Joshua spent hours researching vampire sites – and there seemed to be a plethora of them! Seemed garlic and crosses weren’t a preventative. He knew the no-reflection myth wasn’t true. He saw Mia readily in the bathroom mirror. Like the sunlight myth proved wrong. Old, strong vampires could walk in day if protected. Young ones like Mia would grow weak and die, but not burn to a crisp like in the movies.

He touched the scarring on his neck. Like the movies portrayed two little holes as vampire bites. Fangs didn’t leave neat puncture marks. They tore flesh. What filmmakers didn’t know could fill volumes! With a grim smile, he mused he could write the book on reluctant vampires.

“Are you learning much?” Mia asked as she wrapped her arms around his neck from behind as he sat at her computer.

He leaned back, resting his head against her breasts. “Quite a bit. We have to burn him to make sure he stays dead.”

“That’s hardly inconspicuous.”

“We won’t face him here. I’ll choose the place.”

“You?”

“You’re right. He’s waiting. Well, I’ll let him know I won’t. I’ll choose the place and it won’t be our home.” He tipped his head back. “Pack a bag. We’re going on a road trip.”

Mia wondered if she needed to caution Joshua on his cockiness. Calling Prince Adrian out hardly seemed prudent. But then her consort’s high confidence fueled a wondrous strength in him she found not only reassuring, but exciting as well. When she mentioned it as they drove to the chosen place, Joshua chuckled. “So me playing at Rambo makes you horny? Well, when it’s over, I’ll be glad to oblige.”

“A medieval festival?” Mia questioned when they entered the small city hosting the event.

“It took some doing, but I got us a room at a little motor lodge.” He had packed several heavy blankets to supplement the draperies in the room so Mia would have a restful stay.

“Why here?”

“Perfect. It has what I need,” he said enigmatically.

Joshua settled them in for the night, ordered in dinner then suggested they turn in for a good night’s sleep.

“It won’t be tonight,” he assured her as she curled against him, trembling.

“He’s here. I feel him.”

“I know, baby. He’s watching. But it won’t be tonight. He’s trying to figure me out.”

Teasing to break her own tension, she quipped, “I still haven’t managed that!”

Chuckling, he hugged her close. “It’s easy. I’ll do whatever I have to do to protect my wife.”

“I do love you, Joshua.”

“And when this guy’s history, we’re gonna get married for real, Mia.”

“Perhaps after I hear your proposal,” she stated smartly.

He laughed again. “Deal.”

She sighed, trying to release all her tension. “Goodnight, Joshua.”

“Night, baby. Get some rest.”

Trustingly, Mia fell into slumber rather quickly.

“She’s mine, you bastard.” JC announced to the darkness.

Joshua hunted up a costume for Mia’s day trip into the festival. Dressed as a widow of the period she as covered completely without looking out of place. She looked like a participant. By the same token this made trying to spot Prince Adrian all the more difficult. With monks, priests, executioners and such dressed in black and fully covered they couldn’t tell player from foe.

“Why here?” Mia asked once more.

“Tents burn easy. Fire from torches – and other things,” Joshua answered. “Today I am just getting the lay of the land.

“I am quite amazed at you.”

“How is that?”

“After Lilith’s attack, you lost the will to fight...”

“I was weak, I didn’t see a future.”

“You do now?” Adrian was far more powerful than Lilith had been.

“I read about your legend about the destruction of your nemesis giving you back your humanness. It doesn’t matter how many times you take from me – you haven’t killed. You can be restored.”

“Joshua...”

“We can beat this, Mia.” The certainty in his voice was a balm for her fears.

When Mia was too long returning from the ladies’ room, Joshua knew Adrian had her. No matter how powerful a vampire he was, the Prince would have to lay low during the daylight hours. He couldn’t risk a confrontation until after dusk.

Joshua returned to his car. On the floor beneath the backseat, he located his weapon of choice. Pulling the sword from its scabbard, he tested the weight. He’d worked with it so it no longer seemed heavy and unwieldy. The sword of an executioner. He’d found it in mint condition at a rare arms dealer. It dated back to the conquistador times in Florida. He had never dreamed he’d own such a piece of history – and for such a reason. To kill.

As the setting of the sun, Joshua left the motor lodge to return to the festival grounds. Dressed in black jeans and tee shirt, he had mused that good guys wore black. He parked the jeep outside the gate. He should be able to reenter without too much trouble at this hour – in the confusion of closing. Strapping the sword’s belt around his lean waist, he headed for the gate. When some drunken revelers drew the guards’ attention away, he slipped in.

Mia had never known fear as she knew it now, had never been in the presence of such pure evil. Prince Adrian was a devastatingly handsome creature with compelling dark eyes. He was also the embodiment of pitiless, unrelenting evil. He had snatched her and then left her bound and gagged in this tent while he continued to follow Joshua. The festivities had gone on just feet from her, but she could do nothing. He had returned to release her, having no fear she could escape. He watched her now with those cold black eyes, savoring her helplessness, feeding off of it.

“The boy thinks he can best me,” the dark prince scoffed as he circled Mia. “He thinks with his pitiful little sword he can beat me.”

Mia said nothing.

“And you! For the trouble you have caused, I shall make you pay for eternity.” He grabbed her chin roughly. “I will drain you and make you my boot-licking minion.”

“Please, leave Joshua...”

“No. He took what was mine.”

“No. I gave it to him. He didn’t know...”

“He knew when Lilith came to fetch you.”

“I killed Lilith.”

“To save him – and, now, he thinks he can conquer me.” He stroked the birthmark on her neck and she shivered in revulsion. “That blood was mine to drink, not for some weak boy.”

“He isn’t weak and he isn’t a boy,” she stated bravely. Pleading for mercy would gain her nothing. This creature had none to give. “He is a very strong man.”

“Pride gains you nothing, bitch.” Wrapping a hand around her throat, he purred silkily, “You would have been my bride.”

“A bride who had been groped and drained by your clan. Not a cherished bride.”

“All I needed was your first blood. I would have given you over to Lilith.” His grip tightened. “But now she can’t save you from your fate.” Without warning, he swooped down, fangs bared. Upon her birthmark, he tore her flesh. Tonight, he would finish what had begun 26 years earlier.

“No!” Joshua cried as he saw Adrian attack Mia.

Adrian paid him no attention as the girl went slack. He couldn’t swing the sword with Mia so close...Grabbing a nearby-unlit torch, Joshua swung it at Adrian’s head. The first blow gained nothing. The second blow had the Prince releasing Mia and spinning to grab the weapon, wresting it from Joshua’s grip.

“Bothersome gnat,” Adrian growled as he struck the man with the torch.

Joshua was dazed only a moment. He lifted his eyes to see Mia helplessly awaiting the return of Adrian’s feasting, hand to her throat, blood seeping between her fingers. She was dying. “No!” he raged, scrambling to his feet. “You stay away from her!” He charged Adrian – and once again he met hard ground. He had to keep the vampire away from Mia – to keep her from being drained – and so he could swing the sword without hurting her. Drawing the sword from his scabbard, he lunged forward, driving the sword into the Prince.

Adrian howled in rage and turned back to his rival. “You are quickly becoming tedious.”

Joshua beckoned the creature towards him. “Wanna piece of me? Come and get it.” As Adrian started toward him, he stepped away from Mia, distancing her from harm. “Big bad vampire picking on a little girl, that make you a man?” he taunted.

“I will make you the lowest of the low,” Adrian promised.

“You can try.”

“Joshua!” Mia screamed as flames licked at her cumbersome skirts. The abandoned torch had evidently not been doused properly, sparks reignited.

Only having time to either rescue Mia or attempting Adrian at this distance, Joshua chose the former. Going to her, he tore away her skirts, stomping the flames beneath his boots. But the conflagration had already taken hold of the tent wall. Lifting her free of the fiery area, he carried her to the questionable safety of the other wall, seeking to place himself between her and Adrian.

“Boy.”

As Joshua turned, he was lifted off his feet by a crushing hand on his throat. Momentarily stunned, he forgot the sword in his grip as he kicked his feet to find no ground beneath his boots.

“You should have tried when you had the chance,” Adrian mocked.

“I still can.” Joshua gasped. Lifting the sword, he knew he was too close for a clean swing – but a jerky chop had Adrian releasing him. Gaining his feet, he stepped back and swung the sword cleanly with two hands.

Adrian’s head tumbled from his shoulders as the old vampire released a chorus of banshee wails.

Assuring a permanent destruction of the dark prince, Joshua kicked the head into the fire. Noting the flames overhead, he sheathed his sword and retrieved Mia.

This time, Joshua carried Mia away from the mayhem. Wrapping her in a blanket, he set her in the car and got in behind the wheel.

“We’ll be home before dawn.”

Whispers of pink were shading the sky when Joshua carried Mia into their house. She’d said nothing since the fire began and he wondered if perhaps she as too far gone. He headed up the stairs to their bedroom.

“Joshua...” Mia lifted her head from his shoulders. She had just noticed...

He released a great sigh of relief. “Thank God!”

She touched his neck wonderingly. The scars were gone. Her hand went to her own neck – no scars or signs of Adrian’s ravishment. “Joshua!” she cried happily, squirming to be released.

“What?” he demanded laughingly as he set her to her feet.

Going to the large east window, she jerked the heavy drapes aside. “This!”

“Mia!” he warned as the new day filled the room.

Nothing happened. She stood with the new sun at her back and nothing happened!

“Yes!” he crowed as he snatched her up and swung her around. The curse had been lifted!

Giggling, she covered his dear, dirty face with happy kisses. “My darling, beloved Rambo!”

“Yeah, and more than ready to oblige!”