Authors: Carmella Jones
His teeth pierced her skin as effortlessly as if it were butter, and she gasped sharply at the slight pinch that resulted. She expected the feeling of her blood being drained out of her to be a wholly unpleasant, yet a rush of adrenaline accompanied the loss of blood that the experience was exhilarating. Her breathing quickened and she closed her eyes, letting out soft words of encouragement for Neculai so that he wouldn't stop. She didn't know why she enjoyed his touch, and his taking a part of her. The fact that she didn't know was irrelevant, though. She didn't need explanations in this moment, she just needed to enjoy it while it lasted.
He drank his fill from her, and then fell straight to sleep. Aurora was more than a little uncomfortable with a vampire lying in her bed. Hell, just a man lying in her bed would have been bad enough. She had no choice but to let it slide, however, and so that she did, and fell off to sleep.
Chapter Three
As Aurora slept, her mind was a total dark void. She didn't dream at all, and the sleep was a heavy, deep sleep. She didn't wake until late in the morning, judging by the light pouring through the windows when her eyes fluttered open.
She sat up and stretched, though that sudden motion made her very woozy. She felt sick and just laid back down, checking beside her for Neculai, and he was there. His frame was totally inert while he slept. To Aurora, it seemed as though he didn't even breath. She carefully reached out a hand and placed it on his neck to feel his pulse. His ice cold skin was still, and she wondered for a moment if he had died.
When his crimson red eyes flickered open and he frowned, brushing her hand away in annoyance and turning over, pulling the covers over his head. "I'm trying to sleep," he grumbled.
"I'm sorry," Aurora said, stammering slightly. "I . . . You were just so still, I thought that you were dead," she explained, so he would know why she disturbed him.
"I'd be flattered by your concern, if it weren't for the fact that I already am dead," Neculai replied and then yawned. "But even I need my rest, so stop bugging me," he added and sifted positions slightly so he could fall to sleep better.
Aurora just bit her lip, not knowing how exactly to react to that. So, she got up and started getting herself ready for the day. It was just easier that way, rather than fooling around in conversation with someone who obviously didn't want to be talking to her. So, she went to her bathroom and washed her face, then changed into a fresh dress. She had her duties as the queen to attend to, and though something pretty incredible had happened to her last night, she couldn't dawdle.
Once she was ready, she left her bedroom, making sure to lock the door so no one got into the bedroom and saw Neculai, then she went to her throne room. Her gait was a little off, and she had to stop twice on her way, so that she could orient herself. Still, she made it to the throne room and sat down without causing too much of a scene.
Her first order of business was to write to other monarchs in neighboring countries, petitioning for their help. She explained the threat of the Visigoths, and how they could wreak havoc on the neighboring countries if they were able to make Romania their stronghold. They were a nomadic people to be sure, but if they took over Romania and secured it, then their job would be that much easier if they wanted to progress against the neighboring nations. Though Aurora wouldn't hold out too much hope that this method would prove successful, there was always a chance that it may work. So, she sent the couriers to deliver the messages, and in the meantime would try her best to sure of the defenses so they'd last until neighboring monarchs gave her a reply.
By the time that was done, it was nearly five in the evening, and so she got up and began to make her way to supper. As she walked, she heard everyone talking about a new aristocrat arriving at the castle, and Aurora had to wonder who it could be that was coming, especially without her knowing! Granted, she had specifically told no one to disturb her unless it was of the utmost importance, but what new arrival could possibly be coming without so much as a letter of introduction?
When she sat down at the table, her blood ran cold for a moment as she saw Neculai. He had makeup on to make his skin look a bit darker, so that he wasn't unnaturally pale. In addition to that, his eyes seemed black instead of the bright crimson, and his antiquated garb was replaced with something more fashionable and modern. Still, why was he here? He should have been in hiding!
"I must thank the gracious queen for taking me in as a show of faith the the great Khans of the East," Neculai said graciously. Everyone seemed to be pleased and even some applauded this statement. What tale had he woven together while she was occupied with work?
Still, Aurora just played along with Neculai's story and didn't say much so she didn't contradict him. However, his narrative seemed to be based around the Khans sending him as a peace offering to Romania, and though it was hasty, Aurora accepted him with open arms so that there would be no fighting from the East. Now if only Aurora could guarantee that, perhaps the narrative wouldn't be so bad. Aurora had no idea if they would be able to maintain peace with the Mongols though, and so she was somewhat concerned, but she couldn't contradict him in front of the royal court. Therefore, she ate her dinner quietly and retired back to her room as soon as she was able.
When she got to her room, she wasn't all that surprised to see Neculai already waiting for her.
"I sent Dracule down to have a look at the irrigation and the dams, and he found a few issues with the methods the peasants have been using. My suggestion is to have an aristocrat form a guild for farmers, and to require farmers to sign into the guild and receive lessons on proper damming techniques and irrigation models. The solution will probably take at least a month to come to fruition, but Romania was not built in a day," Neculai said.
Though Aurora was surprised, and slightly annoyed at how Neculai seemed to have the answer to everything, she couldn't argue with his wisdom there. It seemed like a smart way to tackle the situation, and so she just nodded.
"I'll have that arranged tomorrow," she replied, and paused before she went on. "You know, Neculai, you're awfully anxious to help for someone who was as angry at being called upon as you were."
"I can be persuaded to do quite a lot for a lovely lady such as yourself," Neculai replied, and smiled as he saw the blush spread across Aurora's cheeks. "You may be interested to know that I also managed to see the Khans today. In exchange for showing them a few parlor tricks, they agreed to leave Romania alone. They went on and on about it being a country of witches. The nerve! Them confusing vampires for witches."
"You spoke with the Mongols? But, how?" Aurora asked. The Mongol's were at least fifty miles away from Romania, so the fact that Neculai had actually went to them and ironed their issues out was incredible. She almost couldn't believe it.
"Never doubt my powers, my dear," Neculai said darkly, a grin spreading across his pale lips. Regardless of this, Aurora was exhausted, and she would simply have to oversee all the works that were in progress in the coming days. Having Neculai around to help her was undoubtedly an amazing advantage. She could enjoy the favors that he could give her thanks to his experience and rather extraordinary powers, but she had to find some way to pull her own weight. If nothing else, it was a matter of pride that she oversaw the affairs of her own country, and not just allow Neculai to take over everything. Helpful or not, she was the queen and despite his past claims on the throne, it was not his for the taking.
So, Aurora just tried to play it off as if it weren't the extravagant favor that it was. After all, she was still very wary of Neculai--and rightfully so. He was a powerful person, and even if she did appreciate him, she would attempt to maintain an air of aloofness. Now, if she could maintain that was yet to be seen, but she hoped.
"I see. Well, I do appreciate your help," Aurora replied quietly, and went over to her wardrobe to get out a sleeping gown. It was a thick, double lined cotton gown that, while it wasn't her favorite, at least was modest. So, she took it into her bathroom, which as of late had become her changing room, and slipped out of her ornamented day dress into the gown, returned the extravagant piece of clothing to its place in the wardrobe, then got into bed. Whether it was the fact that she lost a bit of blood yesterday, or she had worked hard today to get a bunch of things squared away, or a combination of both, she didn't know. What she did know is something had made her just want to lie down for a little while and relax.
"Perhaps you might want to show me that appreciation?" Neculai asked in a deep, sultry voice that made the blush on Aurora's cheeks grow a little darker, the implications of what Neculai meant being quite obvious to her. She hesitated slightly, looking into his deep crimson eyes. He was a fascinating specimen to be sure. Though his appearance was a bit strange, she did think that he was beautiful at the same time.
"What do you mean by showing my appreciation?" she asked, hesitating to agree, even though she knew full well what Neculai meant.
"Why, I'm a king. I need my queen, don't I?" he asked with a chuckle.
Aurora was speechless at that, but she didn't stop him. Part of her found this wise old vampire incredibly attractive, even though they had only just met. Who would know, though? Besides, she could do what she bloody well wanted! She was the queen after all, so she didn't need to be shy like some aristocrat's daughter, who was saving her virginity as a bargaining ship in an arranged marriage.
"I suppose you have a point, there," Aurora conceded, looking into Neculai's eyes with lust.
After that, Neculai didn't hesitate to join Aurora on the bed, his long fingers tracing along her fine frame through the cotton gown.
"Neculai, before you do anything," Aurora began, wanting to square away a few things before they got started. "When you were at dinner, how did you change your eyes, and your skin color?"
"I have a spell for that, m'dear. You didn't think that I could have ruled for 100 years without having a method to camouflage myself, did you?" Neculai asked, chuckling a bit. "Unfortunately, I was still found out. I gave a good run for my money, though."
"And why do you know the answer to all of my problems so effortlessly, like they're the simplest things in the world?" Aurora asked. She just didn't understand why Neculai seemed so amazing at ruling a country. She almost wanted to give him the crown so he could rule the damn country, if he was so good at it.
"I've been around for a while my dear, and I've seen enough to know how to solve the basic ills of the country that I called mine for so many years. I lot has changed in the hundreds of years I've been asleep, but some things really never change," he replied softly as his elegant fingers still caressed her clothed form. Though she couldn't feel how cold his skin was through the fabric, she still shivered. "I'll be here for as long as you need me, to help guide you as a ruler. You won't have to worry your pretty little head about that."
"Are you just pitying me because I'm a woman?" Aurora asked, glaring at him.
"I'm not pitying you at all. Everyone needs a mentor to do something as difficult as run an entire country by yourself, and I will be yours," he replied softly, and gave Aurora a kiss. She was so surprised by this that she wasn't entirely sure of how to react, but she just let herself relax, and her arms snake around his neck, holding him close to her. Though he was cold, that coldness was not all that unpleasant. Her burning desire for him was mediated by his cold flesh, a glorious feeling indeed.
When he broke his lips away from her, she just looked at him, her eyes glazed over by lust. "That was amazing," she replied.
"It's only the beginning," he replied in the same deep and sultry voice he addressed her in earlier. Though just moments ago, she was annoyed by the pretentiousness of the assumption he had made, that she would be interested in him. Now she just found his deep voice incredibly alluring.
"Then please, show me what comes next," Aurora cooed, making Neculai just grin as he proceeded to slip off her gown and reveal her body underneath. She was soft and supple, like a lovely flower. Yet the delicacy of her body was contrasted against her arching up towards him, as if begging him to do something to pleasure her.
Neculai didn't hesitate to respond to her request, gently running his long fingers down her soft body, exploring her gentle curves and fine structure a bit, and appreciating the beauty. Once he satisfied himself with that, he began to delicately play with her breasts, massaging them as she moaned out in pleasure. She was a responsive one, that was for sure. He loved it, and loved her eagerness.
When he took away his hands, she looked at him like he had just stolen something from her, and she arched her smooth body towards him again. "Please," she said softly.
"Don't worry, dear. I won't leave you hanging," he said with a chuckle, and his fingers started to explore her nether region, making her feel pleasure that she previously didn't even dream of. She moaned out, trying not to be too loud, but as he increased pressure on her clitoris and continued to massage it, keeping the volume down was not the easiest thing that she had ever done. Still, she just closed her eyes and enjoyed herself as a wash of pleasure came over her.
She closed her eyes as he continued to pleasure her with his expert hands, though she was surprised when she felt a finger slip in and begin to thrust in and out, loosening her up for what was to come.
"Oh, Neculai," she moaned out, raising her hips so as to encourage him to continue. "Give me more," she urged. He just chuckled, amused that Aurora was so eager to continue when just moments before she'd been hesitant, but he wouldn't let his new queen go unsatisfied.