I want to move in time with you
I want to breathe in rhyme with you
I want to feel the deepest kiss
And I want to know you feel like this.....
I want to feel your hand in mine
And I want to feel that rush in my spine
I want to wear the scent of you
And do all the things you want me to.....
I want to move in time with you
I want to breathe in rhyme with you
I want to stitch my clothes in sin
And in the dark
I want to find that door and go within

--Savage Garden, "This Side of Me"

Chapter 1, Part 1: Body and Blood - by Savage Vampire

I opened my eyes. Awakening from my short slumber, I sensed it was still a few hours to go until dawn. The secure darkness of the night protected me from the deadly rays of the gloating sun, for night would be the only existence I would know now anyway. I would never see the golden face of the sun ever again, nor the bright blue sky with their oh so cottonly white clouds. No, no, no, for that would be the end of me for sure. I would never see day.

I slowly turned to my side on our king-size, four poster bed. The black silk blankets felt delicious against my naked skin. Ah yes, satin sheets always agreed with me so well... a sensual creature I am, how could I not resist enjoying this luxury?

But something was missing. The strong pair of arms which were holding me just an hour ago was gone.

My love, my eternal dark prince... where are you?

"Daniel?" I whispered outloud in case he was maybe in the bathroom. No response. I strained my ears to hear anything. No, he was not even in the house.
I slowly sat up, licking my lips at the memory of his sweet, hot blood within me. There was nothing more beautiful and dazzling than our passionate drinking sessions - or shall I say, our bloodlust orgies we so often indulge together. How I cherish those moments when my beloved Jonesy and I become one as our blood blend and fuse in fury - his neck, oh so delicate neck, pressed against my lips as I drink ever so gently from him while he takes me... well, I try to be as gentle as I can, but every so often I lose control and I devour him like a wild beast. But how can I resist him? He is so divine, I could lose my mind just by thinking about him. Sometimes I am even a little afraid of the hot intensity in my almost obsessive love for him - ah, but then again, I have always been known as a little obsessive over many things. But with my darling Daniel, nothing can compare.
Where could he be now? He couldn't just leave me here after one of our most wild bouts yet - I shivered as my thoughts turned to the previous hour. Blood, blood, and more blood everywhere... I remembered how I had made him moan over and over again, he was begging me never to stop as I drank and drank and drank... of course I had to stop my little pleasure at some point, no matter how delicious he was or else he would completely pass out and that could be dangerous. Oh, the ecstasy, the rapture as I drank from his fount and he drank mine, our mouths meeting again afterwards, sharing that special kiss we always save for last, our tongues entwining as one, tasting the blood together. So beautiful, so utterly beautiful... it was the moment when everything in the whole wide world became clear, nothing was hidden, everything was just so... perfect.

My Daniel. My Daniel forever.

My thoughts turned back to what it was like years ago when we were still mortals. For so long we hid our desires for each other, as we were already taken - I was married and he had a steady girl. We never suspected the other had deep feelings for him though we were already half crazed with lust secretly inside for each other. But to cut a long and quite painful story short, we finally came around and became lovers. My lover, mine, mine, mine, he was all mine. Those months (and was it years?) was pure bliss... I had never loved another being so completely, it was like I was oblivious to everything else but him! We had such happy, deliciously intimate times together; we were so in love it was almost claustrophobic. You could say we were mad for each other. Insane maybe.
And then something happened. Something which changed our lives forever and made us what we are today.

Chapter 1, Part 2: Story For A Rainy Day - by Camilia Maverick

The rain began to fall. Soundlessly.

This New York City night, like all other winter nights, smelled of urban noise, human heat, hard liquor, and bleak coldness. The blazing neon lights seemed to bear an unspeakable weariness in the freezing wind, I once knew that world. I once knew what was it like to behold the sluggish sun rising above horizon. I once knew what was it like to play soccer in a hot summer afternoon. I once knew what was it like to walk into a bar, filling myself with drink after drink and flirting with all the girls.

And now, as I was lingering outside of the front door of "Cup Perfect," impassively watching mortals going in and coming out from the bar, I felt the first drop of icy moisture falling onto my hatless hair.

"It's raining again," whistled a young woman standing beside me, her hazel eyes heavily lined and her attire leaving nothing to the imagination.
"Sweetie pie, do you need a place to warm up? There're many good bars in this area."
I flashed her a small smile. "No thank you. I've had quite enough for a night."

That was the truth. Darren could be such a satyr without even trying hard. I smiled again, this time at the memories. The exquisite blood kisses at my neck, the eager tongue warring with mine, the nimble hands roaming all over my aroused body, sending a thousand shock waves, a thousand electric currents through me. I was flying high on love and lust, my body empty and my mind burned with rapture. The pleasure of mortal sexual encounters amplified a hundred-fold by the preternatural blood.

"Are you sure?" her voice dragged me back into reality.
"Yes, sorry. Next time maybe," I lied, "you're a pretty lady."
Pouting, she walked away quickly, only to stop and talk with another potential client over the corner of the street.

The rain began to pour down. The street became almost empty except for horning cars as people retreated into the nearest building possible--be it a topless bar, a mystic bookstore, or a federal building. Rock music blasted forth furiously, attempting to overpower the symphony of nature. The neon lights persisted, but behind the curtain of water and mist they appeared to become a ball of distant star fire.

Fire...I stared at the rain absent-mindedly. Yes, fire. That was what his red elixir felt like. Liquid fire flowing through my veins, my skin, my body, scorching my overloaded sensory neurons.... Almost unconsciously, I licked my lips. The sweet taste still remained.

Then why am I here? I questioned myself yet my mind refused me an answer. Darren would be probably awake now, and I didn't even leave him a note. It just seemed unnecessary.


***********************


I woke up before him, still locking him tightly in my arms. His lips curled up in a sweetest little smile made of content. His beautiful body, covered only by a fine sheen of blood and half-transparent black silk sheets, was a feast for the eyes. His scent filled me. Rich, ethereal Dazzling Silver it was, made all the more intoxicating by the crimson

He stirred the very beast within me. I craved to crush him with my wild kisses, to hold him like a little doll...and he might as well had been one. I mean, he just looked so bloody INNOCENT!

Still cradling him, I heard myself sigh. A feathery touch on the lips, I released him from my arms, letting him sink back into the pile of softest silk. I got out of the bed and quietly dressed myself, then drove away in our beloved black 1999 Ford Taurus.


***********************


Thunder.

I awoke from my trance. The storm had grown worse. There wasn't much time left for me tonight. The drowsiness had yet begin to claim my limbs, but my Swiss watch told me it was exactly an hour and half before dawn. I climbed into the car.

Maybe, just maybe, it was time to go home.