He smiled an alluring smile. I could think of nothing else but being with him forever.
My hands began to shake, but Alexander took them in his and drew me closer still.
"No!" Trevor cried. "Don't!" He fell to his knees, his right hand opening, revealing two fake fangs.
Trevor hadn't been turned. I should have known. He was just trying to stop me from being with Alexander.
For a moment, I felt for my nemesis, who had tried to declare his love for me and prove to everyone that it was he whom I belonged with. But I didn't belong with him. And that kiss that we had just shared was, for me, a kiss good-bye.
I glanced at the crowd of friends all warmly watching me. Becky, with joyful tears in her eyes, leaning against a handsome Matt; Sebastian, with his arm around Onyx; Luna, holding hands with Romeo. Scarlet looked as happy for us as she was angry at Trevor. Jagger, whose elbow rested on Valentine's shoulder, gave us a friendly nod. Then I saw a familiar threesome: my brother, Billy, with his best friend, Henry, and a grinning, adorable Stormy.
Alexander nodded to his sister, and she and Becky came toward us. Stormy sprinkled the flowers around us and the coffin, and Becky fanned out my dress.
Then they both stepped back.
Alexander said a few beautiful words in Romanian, and we both sipped from the goblet.
Then I gazed up at Alexander - my gothic prince, my knight of the night. My true love.
He looked into my eyes and I knew the time was right. This moment we both were ready. And we both beamed happily.
"I will love you for all of eternity," he said.
He gently brushed a few strands of hair away from my shoulder. Chills danced along my flesh from his touch. He smiled and drew me close, then leaned in to me. He slid his fangs against my neck ever so slowly, causing my heart to race in anticipation. Then, as if they were always meant to be there, his fangs gently pierced my neck. They slid into my flesh like a thousand kisses on wanton lips. It was as if he was breathing new life into my veins. I felt euphoria soar through my whole being. My skin tingled, my senses were heightened, my heart flooded with love. Then, when he drew my blood as his own, I could feel him breathe me into him. It was truly magical, like he was drinking in my soul. I couldn't have imagined such an amazing feeling and here it was, coursing through my every cell. We were finally one. I wasn't undead. In fact, I felt more alive than I ever had before.
I was electrified. I was filled with true love.
He smiled a brilliant smile and licked the remaining blood from his lips. I could smell it. It was sweet, like honey. And suddenly I craved his blood, as if in his veins flowed the most delicious nourishment.
He squeezed my hands affectionately, and he then leaned in to me again and we kissed for an eternity. We both were consumed with bliss.
As we drew apart, I realized I could hear noises that I hadn't detected before, the sounds of birds and bats far away. The moonlight was brighter than I remembered, and I could feel it dancing on my skin. And I could see through the night - dusk instead of complete darkness - trees and tombstones once out of view after sunset were now visible.
I slid my tongue gently along my teeth and I felt something I'd never felt before - two pointy fangs. I was overcome with joy.
Alexander and I were connected in a much deeper way than we ever had been. I was truly bonded to him, as if our two hearts beat in rhythm and our blood circulated in harmony. It was like being one. We embraced, and then he held me in his arms. I melted against him and gazed into his dreamy eyes as he joyously gazed back into mine, cherishing what he did for me - what he did for us.
We turned back to our friends and family, who appeared as haapp't ppy for me as I was. I knew I was the same person - but I was transformed. I was now a vampire.
Once again I remembered the time my kindergarten teacher had asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I had told her emphatically, "A vampire." If only she could see me now.
This was the life I'd always wanted and the life I was thirsting to live. And I couldn't wait to begin it as a vampire in the Mansion on top of Benson Hill with my true love, my handsome and mysterious vampire, Alexander Sterling, for all of eternity.
The End