Elizabeth
Things were less scary. Day after day, I got closer to Eric. I also continued my training with Anna and Shane. They said I had a natural gift to learn fighting techniques and acrobatic stunts. I was a pureblooded vampire, and I had an extensive background in dancing. In fact, before I was kidnapped, I spent my time dancing and performing in shows with my sister.
Marie loved to choreograph and draw body movements. She always said that I was the most skilled at the actual dancing. We performed in many ballet companies. By the end of the twentieth century, we fell in love with contemporary dance. We studied it in the best schools in the United States and we even performed in Broadway shows and with some dancing companies in different towns and famous cities. Music and dancing was my life. It was what made me happy and gave me the willpower to live, to laugh, and love the world. Dancing was like blood to me, without it I would surely die.
It had been a long time now since I thought about dancing. In a way, fighting was like dancing, we had to rehearse steps and move the body to the rhythm and pace of our opponent while defending. My favorite weapon was the fighting stick because it was elegant and challenging. I thought it had an exquisite choreography using a stick to attack and defend. It reminded me of a video game I had played a long time ago using Kilik as my favorite fighting avatar. The game was named Soul Calibur. Even if I had no clue how to play the game, and mostly I pressed buttons randomly, I liked to see his movements: fighting and beating down his opponents. It was beautiful, and now that I was learning how to do the moves and bounce the stick around my body without hurting myself in the process, it was like I was dancing when I faced my opponents.
In the next weeks, I became really good with the fighting stick. I was so good that Anna would put six big and powerful werewolves to fight against me. I have to confess that it scared me the first few times. I was clumsy and nervous. They had to be patient and endure my lack of ability to fight them off and control all their movements. They looked mean, even if I knew that they wouldn’t actually hurt me. But I couldn’t help but panic. The abuse was still fresh in my mind, the first times facing men was terrifying.
That was until I realized I was faster, stronger, and I could handle them. I could swirl in the air, jump, backflip, and manipulate my stick with an ease that it would appear I had born with it in my hand. I could manipulate my impulses in the air and use wind like I was an airbender. It was awesome! Even I was surprised by how good I was with a stick.
With time, I developed the power to use my speed to shake the air vibrations and send my opponents flying in the air. Jumping high and landing with speed, I mastered a wave of wind so strong, it would shake and throw away everything around me. Anna and Shane helped me develop that ability so I could take the most advantage in a fight against heavier and meaner opponents than me.
By my request, Eric wouldn’t watch my training. The first times he did, I wouldn’t do anything right. So, Anna sent him away like the persuading and sweet niece she was. Without his eyes on me, I felt less pressured and intimidated.
Things between Eric and I were great. We had made a lot of progress. We became inseparable. He made me laugh, and we always had things to talk about on our dates in town or our long walks in the palace’s gardens. Eric was kind and respectful. Hugging, kissing, and holding hands made me feel young and innocent again. Not having the pressure of the sexual component helped me realize that we worked well as a couple. Spending time together only made me fall in love harder and harder, to the point I couldn’t see myself without him anymore.
***
Jessica sat beside Eric and I and hugged one of the cushions from the sofa. We were waiting for Anna and Shane to arrive for our movie night.
“The Mating Festival is next weekend. I can’t believe the time has gone so fast! Have you decided yet what to wear?” Jessica asked me.
Eric kept looking at his phone while using one finger to swipe and tap.
I leaned against his shoulder and shrugged. “I’ve never been to one. What happens?”
“There are parties and dancing,” Eric replied without looking away from his screen. “I’ll offer you a mask and take you to dance. The men will hunt to provide for the meat. The singles will flirt with the females and hope to find their mates.”
“Did you use to go there to find me?” I asked, looking in his direction.
He raised his eyes and smirked at me. “It’s been a while since I bothered to go, but I’ve been to some.”
Jessica huffed. “As the queen, I need to host it with Marcus. The other years, he didn’t bother to attend, but this year it will be different. I want everything to go according to the schedule. Not to mention that we’ll be hosting a dinner gala at the palace to receive our allies and boost our friendship.”
“Is my sister coming? Did she say anything about that?” Eric looked at Jessica with hopeful eyes.
“It seems we would see her first if we traveled to London. Which isn’t something I’m considering in the near future,” his mom replied.
“Do you need help with anything?” Eric asked.
“I have the majority of things organized. Dulce and Anna are helping. The school has the kids choreographing songs and dancing routines. We’ll have a few famous bands performing, and the security details have been discussed with our allies and neighbors. You just need to show up on time to take your mate dancing.”
He smiled at me. “I can’t wait for that.”
“I’m still on to help with the paper flowers for this week,” I warned Jessica who was looking at her nails with a bored expression.
“Good. We’ll need a lot of floral arrangements to make everything look pretty. I also invited a few witches from town and surrounding villages, so we can do a mystic theme night,” she said with a grin. “Like that, the ones that don’t find their mate can have their fortune told.”
“I’m sure this will be a festival to remember,” Eric said.
Pushing the cushion aside, Jessica stood up and looked at her phone. “Anna is late. Why are they taking so long?” Then she looked around. “Where’s Marcus? He told me he was finishing the illustration and would meet us here.”
Jessica stormed out of the office.
“What do you think of this bathtub?” Eric asked, showing me his phone. “I need to finish the remodeling of the new houses, but I can’t decide on the bathtubs and the backsplash for the kitchens.”
I analyzed the image. “It’s nice.”
“Just nice?”
“It’s small.”
“I’ve already chosen a soaking tub for the master bedrooms,” he said. “But this is small if we had to compare it to the one George had in his house. I had completely forgotten about how his house was modern for the time it was built.”
“His bathroom was gorgeous. It looked like an ancient Roman spa. I loved the frescos. Did you have time to think about what I said?”
“Yes, but I would spend a small fortune to remodel and bring it back to its former glory. The majority of the materials would have to be imported. Then it would be hard to find a buyer, especially when we can’t allow humans to buy houses in our town.”
I puckered my lips. “Have you decided what to do with that house, yet? Was your buyer interested in the property?”
“I’m busy with other projects, so I didn’t have time to run the numbers yet for a selling price. But the buyer was interested. I’ll send some engineers to check the foundation and see if we are able to salvage the outside walls.”
“Father would have loved to meet you. You would have a lot to talk about.”
Eric put his phone down and circled my shoulders with his arm. “You said he was a politician, politics bore me.”
I moved closer to him. “He was also a poet, a writer, and a philosopher. He became a Republican in the time the monarchies were being overthrown, and the majority of the vampire families were against the liberal ideas and the technological advances.”
“He would’ve loved George. He was the one who convinced my father to move to America. He fought for the abolition of slavery and believed all races were equal.”
“Don’t you believe that too?”
“Yes, I do. I try to honor his memory. Still, I enjoy building and creating more than going to war and fighting.”
“There’s nothing wrong about that. My family was peaceful and endorsed the arts. Father knew that there were cruel and vicious beings, but he was happier when he was writing his stories or watching us perform.”
Eric arched his eyebrow. “Perform?”
“Ballet. Haven’t we talked about this?”
“You don’t talk much about your family, and I try not to pry because I know it’s painful for you to remember your sister.”
I lowered my eyes and scratched the fabric of his shirt. “Marie and I were ballerinas. The vampire community in Europe was substantial and liked festivities and to endorse the arts. Our passion for dancing was approved and seen with pride by my dad.”
Eric caressed my cheek and kissed my lips. “I’m sure you were amazing.”
“Anna was talking about how there’s no dancing teacher in town. The school only has drama and no dancing classes.”
“Yes, the community would benefit if there were dancing classes for the younger generation.”
I bit my lower lip. “I’ve met Dulce … She’s a trained dancer.”
“She enjoys serving coffee more these days,” Eric said and sighed.
“It’s just to pay her bills. Her real dream is to open a dancing academy.”
“Here in Affinity?”
“Yes.”
“That explains why she needs money and is selling her inheritance.” Eric rubbed his temples.
I gazed up at him. “I could teach ballet. It would give me something to do. I have money that I could use to buy my share in her company. We could be partners.”
Eric looked down at me and rubbed my head.
“Working is therapeutic. Plus, the shrink everybody wants me to see is in town. I could work and go to the sessions. You could drive me to work. I’ve never learned how to drive.”
“Are you serious?”
“About wanting to work?”
“That and seeing the psychologist.”
“Eric, you’ve been amazing. The fighting lessons have also helped, but I still wake up with nightmares. The drops aren’t working anymore. I don’t let you sleep when I wake up crying and … I’m still afraid of being more intimate with you.”
He kissed me with passion and made me lose my breath. “I will wait for you for however long you need me to wait. I’ll also support you if you want to teach dancing with Dulce.”
“What about the psychologist? Could you attend the first sessions with me? I don’t think I can go alone.”
“I’ll talk with Dr. Kent to schedule the first seasons. We’ll go together.”
I smiled and kissed him. “Thank you.”
Eric brought me to his lap, and we continued the kissing until Anna entered the office.
“Sorry for being la-te … Oh! Where’s Jessica?”
Giggling, I slid from Eric’s lap to his side and sat with my head against his shoulder while he rubbed his face.
“Uncle,” Anna greeted. “Aunt Beth,” she teased. “Sorry for being late. I was talking with Kevin on the phone and lost track of time.”
“Jessica went to call Marcus in the library and hasn’t returned,” I informed.
“Good evening,” Shane greeted.
“So, we aren’t late,” Anna said, heading to her place on the sofa and sitting beside Shane. “Has anyone made the popcorn yet?”
I got up. “I’ll make it. Jessica is too stressed with the Mating Festival.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t want to reschedule the family night.”
“That’s because I have a big announcement to make,” said Jessica, entering the office. Everybody looked back at her with King Marcus behind her. “Now that I have everybody here, I’m proud to announce that Marcus and I will renew our vows on the last night of the Mating Festival.”
“You are going to get married?” Anna asked, jumping to her feet.
“I am, and I hope everybody will be there. Especially the absent ones.”
“I talked with my brother, he’s busy. But if you are going to get married, I’m sure he’ll find time to come.”
“Good because I have a big reception planned.”