A Grave Exchange

by Jane White Pillatzke

  Taking my chances, I dove across the floor and just reached the chaise when I felt my arm being wrenched out from in front of me. Screaming in pain, I tried to turn and kick whoever had me, only to find myself facing the king. He had me hanging by my arm, naked. The pain immobilized me. The king flashed an evil smile, his fangs descending from his mouth. They looked as large as a tiger’s canines. His eyes, like Lucius’, glowed eerily.

  “Little Ivy, how nice of you to dress for the occasion.”

  Dying of mortification, I tried to pull myself out of the king’s grip, but he was unmerciful in his hold, tightening it all the more. Gasping for breath, trying to breathe through the pain, I stole a glance at Lucius, who was standing frozen in place, facing us. This was going to be a fight to the death; there truly could be no other conclusion than a grizzly knock down orgy of testosterone. I turned to face the king, and he stopped looking at Lucius long enough to leer at me.

  “I will not, for any reason in this world or our own, let Lucius live. You will see him fall to his knees and beg me to let him die.” Turning away from me, he laughed.

  Something in that laugh hit a switch inside me. Never before had I felt so enraged, so completely removed from my normal, sensitive self. And yet, I felt totally in control, totally empowered. Gazing down at my wrist, I saw once more it was a blood red tear drop, and I smiled as I realized why. It was somehow up to me to get Lucius and I out of this deadly predicament, and quickly. Of course, knowing and doing were two very different things. Looking around the room, I wondered what I could possibly do to tip the scales in Lucius’ favor. Perhaps, if I could distract the king and his guards, Lucius could do his—well, whatever it was he did. Whatever he did, I hoped he was good at it. Realizing I had precious little time, I lunged forward toward the bed. Jumping onto it, I spread my legs wide open, confident the king would at least follow me. The king’s jaw actually dropped; perhaps he’d never seen a modern, clean-shaven woman before.

  Slowly, he inched his way toward me, his leering men following closely behind him. One stayed with Lucius, whose face, I noticed, was void of emotion. I hoped he knew what I was thinking, I hoped he knew I had no intention of bed hopping with these frightening men, that he truly was the only man I ever wanted to be with. My heart tripped over its own beats with fear that he thought I could ever look at another man.

  “Ivy, dear, sweet, tempting little Ivy, you surprise me.”

  Swinging my head around, I was shocked to see the king had reached the bed. He grabbed my ankles and pulled me nearer to the edge of the mattress, spreading my legs wide open in front of him. Whimpering, I tried to kick myself free, but the king had a death grip and yanked at my ankles to stop me from moving. Crying out, I felt my bravery wane, but something, something small inside me, willed me on. I smiled up at the king and licked my lips. The king dropped to his knees.

  Now or never, I told myself. I shifted lower, nearer to the king. As he watched, I slid my fingers down to my core and rubbed my clit. I moaned, half closing my eyes, but keeping my gaze pinned on the king and his men, two of which had partially disrobed and had taken themselves in hand. I swallowed back my revulsion and used their own depravity against them. I started to rock my pelvis, harder and harder, as I slid my fingers along my core. Finally, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lucius spring into action. No one but I saw him dispatch the one guard who’d stayed with him. No one but me noticed him as he crept up behind the king and his remaining men. Rolling my hips, licking my lips, gasping with pretend pleasure, I continued my careful distraction. Slowly, I slid one hand up to my breasts and rolled and flicked my nipples, all the while riding down on my fingers. The king slid forward, as did his men, and anger filled me to think they thought they could have me. Slowly, ever so slowly, Lucius came up behind them. Sheer will kept me going, my determination to see them all brought to justice riding on this very moment. Faking my near orgasm, I cried out, and with that, Lucius struck. He raised his arm in an arc and swung swiftly, removing three men’s heads at once. I didn’t know where to look. I froze, felt I’d be sick. I’d known he would have to harm them all, but to see three heads fall from the shoulders of men who had been very much alive and reactive, thanks to my amorous actions, made me go quite numb. Fountains of blood rose from the necks up into the air, and then rained down upon me. Screaming, I tried to crawl away from the bloodfest, but the king had other ideas. Apparently, he had become very turned on with all that was going on around him. He pulled my legs with one hand and then held me in place; with his other arm, he swung his sword high to keep Lucius away.

  “Had I known what a beauty you were, I would have had you earlier. However, I shall make up for lost time now. This will hurt, Ivy, have no illusions. I love hurting human women.”

  Screaming every obscenity I ever heard, I tried to push him away, but he dug his nails into my legs and crawled on top of me. Crying out, I tried to squirm from his grasp. I could feel his excitement pressing on my belly and in my desperation, I tried to claw out his eyes. In return, I received a swift fist to my face. Tasting my blood, I vowed vengeance. He gripped my hair and yanked my head to the side, and I fought to disengage his hold. The world seemed to stand still at that moment. I remember hearing Lucius scream and saw him dive toward us. The king bit into my neck. An insidious poison attacked every fiber of my being, spreading rapidly through my bloodstream. I felt my heart weaken; I felt myself being drained of my life’s blood. I tried so hard to push the king off me. Lucius appeared in my line of vision, and he too tried in vain to pull the king from on top of me, but in a shocking move, the king picked me up, and we simply disappeared.

  A moment later, we reappeared at the cemetery. Fear coursed through my veins. Shivering violently, I tried to pull my weakened body away from the king. He stood there, towering over me, laughing violently.

  “Little Ivy, I’ve brought you to a very special place, don’t you think, to consummate our intimate union? I believe I will keep you, use you as my blood donor, at least until I get bored, which shouldn’t be too long from now.”

  Not truly understanding him but not wanting to find out the meaning of his hateful words, I started to drag myself around the very tombstone before which I’d met Lucius. How cruel fate could be. Feeling overwhelmed and finding it hard to move, I started to cry, to roar, to scream at all the Gods in the heavens to hear me and to come to my aide. Lightning lit up the blackened sky, freezing rain pelted down on my bare, tender skin, tree branches whipped around us, and still I kept screaming. Something inside me started to change, but still I ranted. The king stood there, obviously bemused, an evil smile splashed across his cold face.

  I somehow found the strength to stand, and leaning against Lucius’ tombstone, I turned to face the king. Nothing would stop me now; if I died, I would die knowing I tried to kill this monster before me. Glaring at him, I started to shout. Words flew from my mouth in a tongue I did not recognize, and yet, they all sounded strangely familiar. The king’s smiled disappeared, quickly replaced by a frown.

  “Ivy, what are you saying? Who taught you this language? Stop it this instant.”

  He lunged for me, but I quickly stepped back, and he fell to his knees. The thunder above us roared, and the wind whipped the fallen leaves in a macabre dance around us. Still, I continued my rant, roaring words I did not understand but feeling the meaning of everything I shouted. The king screamed at me to stop. Looking down at him, I noticed signs of aging on his once youthful face. Suddenly, I felt an ethereal presence and turned toward it. A glowing light shone between two chestnut trees, radiating heat and beauty. Smiling, I turned back to the king. His body had aged grotesquely, and I could barely stand looking at him.

  “Ivy, please stop all of this. I promise you I will leave.”

  A small, warm hand touched my shoulder, and I felt a beautiful peace spread through my body. I looked to see who had touched me, and I gasped. A tiny female stood before me, smiling, and I instantly knew who she was.


  Screams punctuated the night, and turning, I saw King Casimiro doubled over.

  “Maria, forgive me, I had no idea of the grief I had caused. I will do anything, anything at all if you just let me go.”

  Turning to Maria, I watched her delicate, angelic features; she looked at me, innocence personified, and smiled warmly. She walked over to the king, reached down, and when she put her hands on his shoulders, his body instantly turned to dust. The wind whipped around us and gathered his ashes, spreading them everywhere. A second later, the wind died down, the dancing leaves fell to their rest, the branches once again stood still, and I sat down on the cold, hard ground, staring at Maria. Turning once more toward me, she smiled and said something, but I could not hear the words, as the sound of Lucius’ roars drowned out whatever it was she was she’d said. Strong arms wrapped around me and lifted me up. I turned to smile at Lucius, but the smile slipped, and I gasped. Blood red tears fell freely from his eyes and covered his cheeks.

  “Dear Gods, Ivy, you are determined to find a way to kill me.”

  Laughing shakily at his attempted humor, I gently kissed the teardrops away.

  Suddenly, I remembered Maria. I pointed back over my shoulder. “Lucius, it’s Maria.”

  Lucius looked past me. “Where?”

  I turned around, then stepped back from Lucius’ embrace, frantically scanning the cemetery. “She was here, I tell you. Just a moment ago.”

  But the beautiful light had disappeared. I started to turn back to Lucius to explain what happened, when something lying on the ground between the two chestnut trees caught my attention. I walked over and knelt down; lying just in front of me was a small, intricate locket. I picked it up, and holding it in the palm of my hand, I opened it to find a tiny key sat inside. I closed it once more, then picked it up by its chain. Turning to Lucius, who had followed me, I held it up for his inspection.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “I don’t know, but it belonged to Maria. I remember seeing her wearing it the day she was killed,” Lucius told me. “Zorion gave it to her. I don’t know why she left it here, but I’m sure we’ll figure things out, over time.”

  Lucius took the locket and gently placed the chain over my head. The locket, carved in the shape of heart, with the word Amor etched in script on the front, rested nicely on my chest. I drew in a long breath, overwhelmed by everything that had just happened but also feeling a deep sense of calm. I hadn’t felt this peaceful in a very long time.

  Smiling, I put my arms around Lucius and said, “Please take me home. I need you. I want you to make love to me.”

  Lucius gently picked me up in his strong, warm arms and took me to his car. When he opened the car door, I sighed; there, before my eyes, lay the velvet throw I loved. Kneeling, Lucius placed me on the passenger seat and wrapped me up in its luxurious warmth. Tenderly, he brushed the hair back from my face. I turned to him and smiled, and he bent down and kissed my lips with a reverence that melted away my heartbreak. All of the horrors I had suffered faded away, lost in my past. This was the man I loved.

  Lucius smiled and said, “Home it is, Ivy.”

  Chapter Ten

  I awoke suddenly and cried out hoarsely for Lucius. He jumped up from where he lay beside me.

  “You’re alive, thank the Gods.” He picked me up and sat me on his knee, pulling the velvet throw over us.

  Curling into his warm body, I sat there, rubbing the locket that still lay between my breasts.

  “What happened to me?”

  For the longest time, Lucius said nothing, just held me, stroking my back. Finally, he spoke.

  “Ivy, things have changed for you now.”

  I sat there mute, unable to form the questions tumbling around in my mind. Of course, I knew the answers already. My body felt totally different, unique and alive in a very different way. Looking up, I gazed around the room. The colors appeared different, the shading more vibrant and the textures more interesting to the touch. The words Lucius had spoken to me in another language, I suddenly understood. I could smell something wonderful, something vaguely familiar. Turning to Lucius, I nuzzled up to his neck and inhaled. A passion gripped my body, one that left me panting with desire. Lucius pulled my head away and smiled down at me.

  “You are like me now. Your world has changed forever, but now, we can be together forever, too.”

  I smiled and resumed my position, savoring Lucius’ delicious scent. Sighing, I kissed his neck, and then I licked him there. Shuddering in ecstasy, I bit into his neck. I could not stop myself; my body’s desires took over my rational thought processes. The delicious taste of heaven was sliding down my throat—Lucius’ life blood—sweeter to me than any flower’s nectar to honey bee. Groaning, I turned around and straddled him. I sucked harder, cried out when his blood pooled in my mouth, arched into his already hard cock, slid my soaking pussy lips up and down his velvety skinned shaft. I reveled in all the new sensations, sliding harder and harder, and crying out when my swollen clit rubbed deliciously along his wet cock. I raised myself up, unable to wait any longer. Lucius grabbed hold of my hips and thrust into me. His cock slammed into my aching, wet vagina. Screaming with desire, throwing my head back, I rode him with everything that was in me. Lucius roared, and our mating became something primal and animalistic. Harder and faster, he pumped into me, holding onto my hips with a vice-like grip that had I been human, would have injured me. Smiling, I looked down at him. My breasts bounced wildly, and as I slammed down hard, my inner walls clenched my release and milked Lucius’ cock. Screaming my name, he came inside me.

  “This is what I wanted all my life. You are everything to me,” he said through gasping breaths.

  Shivering from my iconic orgasm, I laid my head on his shoulder. Lucius chuckled quietly, rubbing my ass with his hands.

  “What’s so funny?”

  Pulling my face up to his, he kissed my nose, then stared at me for the longest time, his beautiful, molten eyes glowing like stars from the heavens.

  Finally, he spoke. “I believe when Maria was dying she actually blessed me with you. Somehow, her prayers were heard and the Gods above saw fit to send me you. Ivy, I am the luckiest man in existence. Her blessing not only brought me to you, but also awoke the strong, powerful woman sitting on top of me now. The woman I am going to ravage from head to toe slowly, starting now.”

  With that, Lucius picked me up off his lap and threw me squealing onto the bed. Pushing my legs wide open, he knelt before me and raked his enchanting gaze up and down my body. Goose bumps broke out all over my skin. Shivering with excitement, I laid there waiting, wanting. This was the beginning of our life together; so much more was to come, a lifetime of discoveries together and a million questions to be answered . . . like how I had just become a vampire.

  ~The End~