Bambi and the Duke

When morning arrived, Vivian took a warm bath which was prepared for her. Applying more of the lathered leaves which produced the soapy and foaming touch on her hands when she rubbed them with both her hands. Dressing with the help of a maid who arrived at the door like every other morning since her change in the status, she got ready.

Leonard was reading the newsletter which was picked by the servant from the market, news which he was already well informed of when Vivian came into his view in the drawing room.

Unlike many other times, he didn’t start the conversation as he wanted her to speak about the matter of decision he had left in her hands last evening.

”I have decided what I want,” he waited for her to go on and he heard her speak, ”I want to be with you, Leo. As long as time permits, as long as I can elongate my years, I want to spend it with you. Thinking about the loneliness of not just mine but also yours when I am gone doesn’t sit well with me. I can’t let you go through the loss anymore. I love you, and I am ready to be turned into a vampire,” by the end of her sentence, Leonard had got up, walking towards her he pulled her to kiss her on her lips.

Their lips lingered on each other for a few seconds before they pulled apart. Leonard placed his forehead on hers, his eyes closed as he sucked in a deep breath and let it out. With her out loud confession, he could finally place a bond on her to bind their souls until death would part them.

A bond which was meant for lovers, the kind where one could place it on their partner only if there was mutual love.

Vivian felt Leonard hug her with his arms that had begun to tighten around her body but she didn’t mind it. For some like Leonard who never showed his feelings or emotions openly, Vivian basked in glory to know that she would be the only one to know this side of him. The warm Leo whom only she had privilege in knowing.

She smiled until the housekeeper arrived at the door with their breakfast along with a maid who stood behind him. Ready to pull back she nudged his chest with both her hands that rested there but right when she did that, it only made the Duke pull her closer to him before he finally let her go.

Though the housekeeper had now come to get used to Leonard’s affection that spilt every time Vivian was around, it wasn’t the same for the maids who worked there which included the servant who had come to leave their breakfast in the room.

Vivian, on the other hand, felt the embarrassment of Leonard’s open affection. Her face had turned bright red and she coughed, clearing her throat. Something today felt different to her, it was the atmosphere where Leonard looked relaxed.

Was it because of what she said? Scratching her neck, she sat down at the little table as tea was served to her.

After their breakfast in the drawing room, Leonard took her to his room. Closing the door behind him, he locked it. He then went to the balcony door, locking it before he drew the blinds turning the room dark.

As much as Vivian was looking forward to turning to a vampire, she felt nervous about it now. The procedure of turning into a vampire wasn’t a complicated one. The complication took place after the procedure was completed to see if the body could take in and digest the venom which would be diffused into the veins of the receiver.

It was necessary to demonstrate it in the dark as a newly turned vampire wouldn’t be able to bear the heat and light. It would take them a week before they would be able to adjust their new self to the existing environment.

He placed his hands on her shoulder, ”I need you to relax,” he said, feeling her shoulder blades under his hands, ”It will be difficult for the venom to seep in if your muscles contract too tightly due to which it might cause other reactions which we don’t want.”

Vivian nodded her head, taking in a deep breath she saw him unbutton the first two buttons of her dress so that he could have easier access to her neck with the cotton cloth which could create a hindrance. One hand of his moved from her shoulder to her neck, and the other was placed on her back to pull her gently forward.

Bending towards her neck, he first kissed the spot where he would be biting her. At the touch of his lips, she flinched at first with the fear that he was going to bite her but she relaxed when he dropped another kiss. Pressing his lips on her smooth-textured skin before dragging it up to the column of her neck.

Once he brought it down, his fangs came out and he bit into her neck with a single movement. At the puncture of her skin, Vivian gave out a muffled cry where she tried to bite in the pain which began to flood into her body, starting from her neck to flow to the tips of her fingers to tips of her toes.

His fangs felt like needles that were pushed into her with the pain that had only begun as he released the venom. As minutes passed, feeling it was enough to sustain and turn her into a vampire, he retraced his fangs while licking his teeth and lips from the blood that had seeped out of her tender skin.

”I-is it over?” asked Vivian, her voice small when their eyes met.

”Yes,” he answered to see her look at me dazed as if she could hardly keep her eyes open. Her body lost balance to fall into a state of unconsciousness in his arms.

Leonard stayed the entire day in her room. Keeping an eye over her to make sure he was there when her transformation would be complete and she would be awake.

Having the fireplace stocked, he sat on the wide chair with his back leaned against the chair. With papers, he had to file in the council which was on the death of the vampires which was caused by the humans he looked into it while he waited for Vivian to wake up from her sleep. The transition time varied from one person to another but it never took more than a day.

Letting her sleep through the day, the next day arrived but even with twenty-four hours that had passed by there was no sign of Vivian waking up which Leonard found suspicious. When he went to push her hair away from her face he noticed her temperature which was unusually warmer than necessary. Having slight fever was acceptable but as time progresses, her body temperature only increased to the point where he could feel the heat which worried him.

With the thought about her well being, he sent one of his servant with a letter in hand to request sister Isabelle to come to the Carmichael’s mansion. After an hour passed, a knock was heard on the door where the housekeeper arrived to announce to Leonard,

”Master Leonard, sister Isabelle is here to visit you,” the housekeeper bowed, moving out of the way so that the woman who had come to see them walked inside the room.

The woman’s eyes were gentle, her features soft that looked as harmless as a feather, ”Leonard,” she smiled. Her white robes swept across the clean floor like a phantom.

Leonard went to greet the high priestess of the church, ”Good evening, sister Isabelle.”

”You wrote you needed my guidance over something important. What is it?” as she asked, her eyes fell on Vivian who laid on the bed fast asleep, ”She looks unwell. Who is she?” she inquired, walking to the unconscious girl in the bed.

”Her name is Vivian. I was turning her to a vampire but something must have gone wrong in her transformation,” he answered her.

”Why would you conclude that? It looks like a recent transformation. Fever is very common during the transition from human to a vampire.”

Leonard’s jaw was set firmly before he spoke, ”It’s not the fever.”

Sister Isabelle, who was looking at Vivian turned to look at Leonard to ask him, ”Is it the core?” he shook his head.

”No, it’s not about the corruption of her heart but her blood that worries me. Her blood tastes the same as before. She’s still a human.”