Initiation (20 page)

"I do! I do!" Giggling excitedly, Addison wrapped her arms around his neck. The sweet look on her happy face made him laugh as she gave him a few kisses before pulling away. "I can’t wait!"

"Me either." Christian rested his nose on hers. "We can do it tomorrow night if you wish."

"Tomorrow?" Addison’s face was still filled with a giant smile, redness in her cheeks as she giggled. "Really?"

"Yes."

"I love you, Christian!" Addison hugged him tightly to her. "I can’t wait!"

* * * *

Catching a glimpse of her reflection, Addison smiled. She was wearing a pure white dress, the sequin-lined bodice sparkling in the dim light.

It wasn’t anything like she thought her wedding day would be. It was quiet. The silence was a mirror of what her life had become. There was no one fawning over her or telling her how beautiful she looked.

Her sadness had returned, and she found herself feeling guilty for marrying her prince. She didn’t have her family there for this special day, and Kelly wasn’t her maid of honor. Kelly was dead.

Addison gazed at the charm bracelet on her wrist, her perfectly painted eyes turning downward to look at it. She let her fingers brush over the charms, closing her eyes tightly to stop the tears that were rushing to the surface and wanting to be released.

Sighing, she dismissed thoughts of her sister and took a step closer to the mirror. She smiled, studying the small fangs that protruded from her lips—the supposed gifts from God. She looked more like a playful kitten than a bloodsucking vampire and her snow-white gown made her look like an angel. Her long hair was pulled back in a messy but elegant bun that she had spent hours perfecting.

Someone knocked at the door, and she quickly picked up her long dress to answer it, "Who’s there?"

"Addison?" Brandon’s muffled voice came from the other side. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah. Just come in—the door’s open." Addison ran over to the vanity, picking up a small silver crown with a long veil attached.

"Well, look at you." Brandon chuckled as he walked into the room. His eyes were glued on her as she placed the crown on her head, using some bobby pins to attach it in place. "You look beautiful."

"Thanks." Blushing a little, Addison turned to him briefly before doing some minor adjustments to her hair.

When she was finished, she grabbed her coat and left with Brandon. She toted a large suitcase full of things she had collected in Castile and said goodbye to the drafty old manor that still gave her the shivers. She was happy to leave this place, the sad vibe it ignited easy to part with.

Brandon loaded her baggage in the back of his car silently, his movements more mundane and robot-like than the warm friendliness she normally received from him. Being with Addison reminded him of what he didn’t have, and he was still mourning the loss of his beloved Nicolette.

Then began the long, four-hour drive into the city where Addison and Christian would be married. Brandon peered at her through the rearview mirror periodically, his eyes shining with an inhuman glow as they reflected the street lights. The mood was depressing, more like the sadness that weighed invisibly on the backs of those attending a funeral.

She had been excited, but the journey to the church slowly deflated that feeling. Brandon was playing music from a classical station, something sad and slow that didn’t help to brighten the mood.

Picking up her phone, Addison looked down at it. She had no messages. A giant frown crept onto her features as she typed a text to Christian.

I miss you.

She sent a few texts back and forth to him, but there was always a great delay between his replies.

After what seemed like an eternity, they reached the large cathedral. It was late, the parking lot of the church almost barren. Brandon walked with her inside and escorted her to the main hall. He left her with a sister who worked there, the woman instructing her on the proceedings.

Addison found it very strange that Christian had chosen a church to get married in, especially since Christian was the most sinful person she had ever met. It was a beautiful place though, old statues and relics lining the towering ceilings. It was also a drafty building, dark and dimly lit.

Walking down the aisle to music playing from a giant organ on the third floor, Addison held tightly to the white lilies in her shaky hands. This was harder than she thought, this moment she had dreamt about since she was a child. Even though she was marrying the love of her life, she was scared, and her fearful eyes sought out Christian.

He was her world—she depended on him for everything. Every beat of her heart belonged to him, every breath she took only thoughts of him escaped.

Her heart was racing as Christian watched her with great interest, his figure illuminated by a large candle on the alter. The room was cloaked in shadows, the bright light of the sun gone and unable to light up the demons that hid in the shadows.

Christian looked amazing, something that immediately painted her cheeks with a rosy, excited glow. He was dressed in a black suit, his diamond cufflinks sparkling under the dim lights. Such a handsome devil looked very out of place in the house of the Lord, but from the smile on his face, he didn’t seem uncomfortable at all.

He was a dark angel descended from Heaven, his evil smile exposing his large fangs that were his gift from God. He was above humans, above these people who worshiped like scared sheep in this place, shuttering in the presence of this godly being.

Seeing Christian eased her fears, a shy smile on her face as she glanced away from him and down at her feet. She walked up the stairs that led to the alter, her hands clutching her bouquet with a vice-like grip. Christian appeared calm, his hands neatly placed in front of him as he beamed.

The priest greeted them both warmly, "Christian and Addison, have you come here freely and without reservation to give yourselves to each other in marriage?"

Addison and Christian spoke in unison, "Yes." Addison bit her lip nervously, bouncing Christian’s hands excitedly.

"Will you honor each other as man and wife for the rest of your lives?"

"Yes," they both answered.

"Since it is your intention to enter into marriage, declare your consent before God and his church."

Addison passed her bouquet to the woman standing near them. She quickly grabbed Christian’s hands, his skin warm and soothing to the touch. He held hers with a firm, sure grasp that compensated for her weakness.

"I…Christian
Vallore
, take you…" He caught the great fear that resided in her eyes. Her bottom lip trembled as she tried to hold back her happy tears. "Addison Collins, to be my wife."

His smile grew when he saw a few tears snake down her cheeks. His voice was calm and smooth, a hint of wickedness always present in his perfect expression. "I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life."

"I," Addison’s voice came out shaky and nervous, "I…Addison Collins…" She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing would come out. In her nervous state, she couldn’t remember what she was supposed to say next. "I…" Her fearful eyes looked at Christian for a few seconds, but he didn’t seem to mind her pause. He squeezed her hands and waited for her to speak. "I…"

"Take you." Christian’s voice was hushed as he guided her, the velvety tone making her swoon.

"Take you…Christian
Vallore
…" Her face filled with a giant smile when she found her words again, her cheeks reddening from her tears. "To be my husband. I…" She forgot what to say again and shook Christian’s hands, a begging expression in her tender eyes that made him laugh a little.

"I promise to be true to you."

"I promise to be true to you…" Addison giggled, biting her lip as she hesitated, her face feeling like it were on fire, "In sickness and health. I will love you for the rest of my life."

The priest smiled, speaking in a warm, friendly voice as he turned to Christian, "Christian, do you take Addison to be your wife?"

Christian’s voice was low, "I do."

The priest then turned to Addison, "Addison, do you take Christian to be your husband?"

Nodding her head quickly, Addison squeezed Christian’s hand as tightly as she could. "I do. I do."

The priest then spoke, "What God has joined, men must not divide."

Christian took the ring from the woman near him. He then turned to Addison, holding her left hand in both of his. "Addison," His giant smile forced him to bare his fangs, which were digging into his bottom lip slightly. "Take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity." He slid the band on her finger, his voice smooth and hushed, "In the name of the Father..."

Addison began to sob at his words, her face squished together tightly as she tried to hold back her tears but couldn’t. A small, hushed chuckle escaped Christian’s lips as he watched her.

"Christian," Addison’s voice was wet and thick with tears as she took the ring from the woman near them and quickly grabbed Christian’s left hand. "Take this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness." She quickly slipped the band on his finger, watching it smoothly slide over his tanned fingers and rest above his knuckle. "Forever."

The priest said something more, but Addison had already jumped into Christian’s arms and kissed him. Her arms were wrapped around his neck as tightly as she could get them.

"My love for you…" Speaking into her ear as she clung to him, Christian’s voice was soft, but every word was sharp and clear, "Is like the heavens, immeasurable and eternal. It will outlast the day and the night, the years and the centuries."

"You make a lovely couple." The priest chuckled as he put a calm hand on Christian’s shoulder, Addison releasing her hold. "I wish you and your new bride forever happiness as you go in peace and continue to serve our lord. God bless you both."

At those words, Addison glanced down for a few seconds, a quiver in her happy smile. It returned when Christian pulled on her hand, the pleasure in his face making her joyful too. They walked up the aisle together hand in hand, stopping to give kisses to each other halfway down.

* * * *

Christian quickly whisked her into the car and to a nearby hotel. It was the presidential suite and looked more like an apartment than a hotel room. He carried her inside like a normal groom would, doting on her and having a million giggles follow in their wake.

Setting her down on the bed, Christian smiled at her devilishly, a cat-like pose to his slightly arched body as he hovered over her. "Are you hungry, my love?"

"Yes." Addison nodded, still cringing a little at the sound of those words, but able to produce a tender smile.

"Then I shall get you something." Christian gave her a quick kiss and a gentle pat on the leg. "I will return shortly." He then jumped out a nearby window and disappeared.

That sick feeling returned in Addison’s stomach. That guilt of having to steal someone’s life to keep herself alive. Even though she had done it a million times, she always got nervous, a giant ball of anxiety welling in her empty belly before each feeding.

Christian hastily returned, his movement so swift and sudden it made her jump. "Here we go." Chuckling as he held onto a young woman who appeared to be in a trance, he walked her over to the bed where Addison was sitting. "A wedding present for my love."

"She’s…" Addison jumped when she saw the girl tremble under his hand, the terrified girl's eyes widening when she saw Addison. "Awake."

"Yes." Christian's grin grew tenfold when he sensed the great fear in Addison's tender voice, "I want you to taste the blood of the hunted. Fear in the blood makes it taste like the grandest cut of meat."

"I know," Addison glanced down and then back up at him as she scooted to the side of the bed and sat on the edge. "But I don’t want to hurt her. Can’t you just put her in a trance for me?"

"No." Christian let go of the girl, leaving her to stand alone. "Trust me, my love, once you taste her blood, you will not want it any other way." He pulled Addison to her feet, holding onto her possessively as he whispered in her ear, "Be a good girl and try it this way for me."

Addison looked at the frightened girl. She must have been barely eighteen. She looked lost, giant tears falling from her
racooned
eyes as she stared at them. The girl rubbed her arm nervously, her whole body shaking in fear.

"I can’t..." Addison bit her lip anxiously as Christian pushed her forward, holding her from behind and leading her closer to the girl. "I don’t want to hurt her."

"You
will
do it." Christian let go of Addison and walked over to the girl. He took hold of her waist and yanked her closer to him. "You take the first bite." Smiling devilishly at the girl in his arms, his intense hunger to consume her blood reflected in his sadistic features. His ego was feeding on the girl’s terror, with every whimper that escaped her lips, his grin grew slightly larger.

Addison's voice was so low it was barely audible as the next word slipped off her unwilling lips, "Okay." Addison walked reluctantly over to the girl, trying not to look her in the eyes. She opened her mouth and moved close to the girl’s neck but suddenly jerked backward when the girl spoke.