Romeo & Juliet & Vampires (10 page)

R
omeo walked in circles within the confines of Friar Laurence's cell, his hands and shirt still covered in Tybalt's blood. His pulse was racing even faster than it had when he ran from the outskirts of town all the way to the monastery. Now he was trapped between four walls and could do nothing but fixate on the terrifying images of Mercutio's vicious murder and Tybalt's butchered head lying in the dirt.

Romeo tried to release the tension in his neck by tilting his head to the right and left, but it did not work. He attempted to console himself with the thought of Prince Radu's leniency toward him, but that brought him no comfort either. Banishment would keep him from his precious Juliet—for who knew how long—and that would surely be torture.

He stopped pacing and stood in front of a stained-
glass window in the friar's cell, leaning his forehead against the glass as he gazed out into the woods. His hands trembled at his side, and his lower lip quaked. The realization of what he had done—willfully taken someone's life—was fully sinking in.

Although Tybalt had instigated the fight, and Romeo's act of vengeance would probably be considered justified in the court of public opinion, he was drowning in guilt. If he hadn't trespassed at the Capulets' castle, none of this would have come to pass. But then he never would have met his soul mate.

…Who was also the cousin of the vampire he'd just slaughtered.

There was a knock on the door and Romeo's breath caught in his throat.

“It's only me.” The friar's gentle voice echoed out in the hallway. “May I enter?”

Romeo sat down in a chair, sighing with relief. “Yes, of course.”

Friar Laurence came in carrying a large wooden bucket full of water. He struggled to get it across the room, small streams of liquid splashing to the ground as he walked.

“Here, I hope this is enough to clean you up.” Friar Laurence wiped a few beads of perspiration near his temples, then reached into his robe's left pocket and brought out a bar of light green soap. “This is made with olive oil, so it should get rid of the
bloodstains on your skin. I am not sure about your clothes, though.”

Romeo could barely look the friar in the eyes. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome,” Friar Laurence responded. “Shall I leave you now?”

“No, I would like the company. I just…I don't know what to say.”

“You are in shock. Anyone would be,” the friar said.

“Do you not know? We vampire-killing Montagues are made of steel,” Romeo said.

He stared at the spatter of blood across his shirt-sleeves, which must have come from Tybalt. The large bloodstain in the center was from when he had held Mercutio in his arms as his friend took his dying breath. The more Romeo looked at his shirt, the more enraged he became. He tore the shirt into pieces, throwing the shreds on the floor.

Romeo knelt down next to the bucket and scooped up some water with both his hands. He poured it over his face three times, and then he broke down into silent sobs, his shoulders shaking.

“I am so sorry, Friar,” he cried out. “I never meant for any of this to happen.”

The friar placed a hand on top of Romeo's head. “If you ask for forgiveness, Son, it will be granted.”

Romeo opened his eyes and watched his own image reflected in the water. The young man he saw there was
completely unrecognizable. No longer was he a naive boy who daydreamed about love. Instead that boy was replaced by a man, who had come face-to-face with death, and lived to tell about it.

Only there was one person he never wanted to tell.

“You do not understand, Friar,” Romeo lamented. “I have killed Juliet's cousin, who she loved deeply. When she hears of this, she will hate me, and without her, my entire world will turn to dust.”

The friar pulled Romeo away from the bucket, sitting him on the floor and wrapping a towel around him. “You are not the Almighty, Romeo, which means you cannot predict the future. All you can do is pray.”

“Pardon me, Friar, but praying will not end my banishment,” Romeo said, shivering.

Friar Laurence was about to respond when the sound of pebbles hitting the stained-glass windows of the monastery distracted him. “Hurry, Romeo! Conceal yourself. Someone is here.”

Romeo got up and scurried into the friar's closet, which was filled with cloaks and robes for church services. He pushed himself deep into the back so the fabric would keep him hidden, and he listened as the friar called out, “Who is it?” Romeo could not hear the reply, but when Friar Laurence said, “Yes, indeed. One moment, my lady,” he had a wild hope that it was Juliet, coming to reunite with him so they could run away from Transylvania and never look back.

However, when the friar led him out of the cloak closet a few moments later, Romeo saw Juliet's nurse standing before him. Her puffy eyes and drooping mouth made it clear to him that she was aware of what happened—but did that mean Juliet knew as well?

“Nurse, please be quick,” Romeo pleaded. “What news have you brought from my dearest love?”

“Juliet is eager to see you, sir, and requests your presence at the castle.” The nurse's lips trembled nervously as she spoke.

Romeo glanced down at his red-stained hands. “Then I suppose she does not know about my fight with Tybalt.”

“Juliet knows,” the nurse stated, her voice laden with sadness. “Still, she yearns to be with her husband.” She held out her hand and opened it, revealing a sparkling turquoise ring. “This is but a small token of her devotion. Will you heed her call and come to the castle?”

Tears of relief and happiness welled up in Romeo's eyes, but he could not quite believe what he was hearing. Did Juliet love him enough to overlook such an unthinkable sin as the cold-blooded murder of her own kinsman?

“She has forgiven you, Romeo, without you even having to ask. That is the purest love there is. Go to her,” the friar urged.

“But I am a fugitive, and the Capulets know I am
the one who killed Tybalt. If they do not strike me down on the way to the castle, then the prince's army will.”

The friar wandered over to large closet in the corner of the room and pulled out a white hooded robe with a gold rope belt. “I usually wear this when I go into town. If you put the hood up, most people will think you are me. Being in the nurse's company will help, too. I doubt you'll be approached by any soldier—human or vampire—while in her presence.”

Romeo cracked a small smile. “Thank you, Friar.”

“You must be aware of something, Romeo Montague,” the nurse said, pointing a short, stubby finger at him. “Juliet's transformation into a vampire is nearly complete. I hope you are prepared to deal with all that it entails.”

Romeo put his hand over his heart. “Juliet is my wife, now and forever. My love for her will never be swayed.”

The nurse shook her head in dismay. “If neither of you will listen to reason, then God help you both.”

 

The next morning, Romeo was lying on his side in Juliet's bed, watching her chest rise and fall as she slept. Her brown hair was fanned out on top of a pillow, her pale skin a stark contrast to the burgundy-colored satin sheets. Romeo did not want to disturb her, but he could not resist running one of his fingers
down the length of her bare arm or planting a soft kiss on the back of her delicate neck.

His beautiful wife squirmed a little, but did not awaken, much to Romeo's relief. They had been up all night long. The moment the nurse had smuggled Romeo into Juliet's chambers and left them alone, their passions overtook them, so much so that the pain in Juliet's changing body seemed to disappear as they held each other. Romeo smiled happily as glimpses of those heavenly hours passed through his mind—the urgent kisses and gentle touches. He could not comprehend what he'd done in his life to deserve such a perfect creature.

A gust of wind banged a tree branch against the window of Juliet's room, startling Romeo. He checked on Juliet to see if she had been disturbed, but her eyes remained closed. Romeo slid out from underneath the sheets gingerly and placed his feet on the cool floor. Then he got up and stretched, raising his arms in the air and yawning. He walked over to the window and pulled the curtains open so light could filter into the dark room. Romeo stood there grinning, his chest and face now warm from the dawning sun.

But his quiet moment of contentment was broken by the sound of Juliet crying out in agony. Romeo spun around in surprise and found her sitting up in bed, squinting and holding her hands in front of her face.

“What is it, my love?” Romeo said, rushing over to her in a panic.

“The light! The light!” she replied, panting as though she had just awoken from a horrible dream. “Hurry, it burns!”

Romeo bounded back to the window. He yanked the heavy curtains closed and soon the room was as dark as night. Romeo chided himself for not remembering how the sun would affect his wife on this most significant day.

He turned back around to find her curled up in bed, sobbing. Romeo approached her slowly, his heart truly aching for her. He thought about what he might say to comfort her, but then realized that no words would bring his bride any peace, not even “I love you.”

As he sat down on the edge of the bed, Juliet crawled over to him and burrowed her face into his bare shoulder. Romeo rubbed her back with the palm of his hand and repeatedly kissed the top of her head.

“I am so sorry,” Juliet whimpered.

“Why are you apologizing? I am the one who is so absentminded,” Romeo said. “I did not give opening those curtains a second thought.”

Juliet sniffled. “That is exactly why I am sorry. You shouldn't have to think twice before doing such a simple thing.”

“It will just take some getting used to,” Romeo said, cuddling her tighter. “Try not to worry.”

Juliet pressed her lips gently against his chest. “I fear that's all I can do.”

“No, my sweet, it's not,” Romeo murmured. “Look at me, Juliet.”

Juliet raised her head a little so she could gaze upon him with ruby-colored eyes.

“Just for a moment, can we pretend that this bed is…an uncharted island?” Romeo said with a small grin. “Very small and secluded. No one will find us here.”

From the smirk growing on Juliet's face, he could tell this game might actually lift her spirits. “Where is this island exactly?”

“Oh, off the coast of Persia,” he continued. “It's quite warm, and the sand at the beach sparkles like gold.”

“That sounds heavenly.” Juliet placed a kiss on Romeo's cheek. “Can we smell the sea salt in the air?”

Romeo laid Juliet on her back, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Of course we can.”

“What about food?” Juliet asked as she brought her hands behind Romeo's neck and laced her fingers with his.

“Food, yes, we will certainly need that,” Romeo said, kissing the inside of her wrists. “What if I became a fisherman and you gathered nuts and berries?”

Juliet pulled Romeo toward her. The faint scent of
her perfume practically put him in a trance. “I don't think you are the fisherman type.”

“Really? Why not?”

Juliet closed her eyes and sighed. “Because you aren't a killer…of any living thing.”

Romeo's eyes widened, surprised by the realization that Juliet had not brought up his showdown with Tybalt since he'd arrived in her chambers. Now here she was, showing him that she believed he'd never set out to harm anyone. At this moment Romeo felt that Juliet knew him like no one else did.

“You're right, I'm not.” Romeo kissed Juliet's lips as she ran her hands down his back.

“Tell me that we are never going to leave this island,” Juliet murmured.

“I wish I could,” Romeo replied with regret in his voice. “But we can pretend for a little while longer.”

All of a sudden Juliet turned her head away from him, her lower lip trembling. “Wishes are the only thing we have right now, aren't they?”

Romeo's pulse quickened—he didn't want Juliet to become upset again.

“We have love. If we have that, everything will be fine,” Romeo whispered, kissing her on the softest part of her neck.

“No, Romeo. It will not.” Juliet wiggled out from Romeo's embrace, sat up against the dark wood head-board of her bed, and looked at him with her smoldering
eyes. “I want to believe that our love will conquer all—truly I do—but perhaps we've been foolish. Now that you are exiled, our plans to escape together are almost impossible. And today, I become everything I detest.”

Romeo tenderly laid a finger on Juliet's lips and silenced her. “Do not detest yourself for something you cannot control. And we will figure out a way to be together. I am sure of it. My dear, how can you question the strength of our love, after how you have forgiven me for what I did to Tybalt? In all my life, I have not known someone so selfless, courageous, and loving.”

Now tears were streaming down Juliet's cheeks, one after the other. Romeo swallowed hard, fearing that his wife might be having second thoughts. He cupped her face in his hands, hoping to calm her.

Juliet shook her head. “The nurse explained how Tybalt started the awful fight. I loved my cousin, but if he had respected the law, you would not have broken it either.”

Still Juliet wept, even harder than before. “But…but—”

“Are you concerned about whether I'll still love you as a vampire?” Romeo interjected.

Juliet managed a small nod.

“Darling, my love for you today is greater than it was for you yesterday, and I will be true to you. Always,” Romeo said.

“But there is something important I have kept from you.” Juliet's voice was as soft as the sheet that covered her body.

“Whatever it is, you can share it with me,” Romeo said.