3.5 The Innocence of White

by Christin Lovell

  She dipped her head for a moment before connecting with me again. “I approve of this union between the two of you. I believe she will offer you the balance you need so long as you bear no secrets. You are not a perfect man, but the two of you are a perfect match. I’ve seen the alignment of your souls in the stars.”

  I’d known she was the one the moment I laid eyes on her. The fierce connection I felt eight decades ago hadn’t diminished over time. Gravity pulled us together. Even if I wanted, I couldn’t keep away from her. I’d inadvertently gambled her heart in my games, but I swore never to dare fate again.

  “Gabi is the reason I’ve embraced a new life. She is the only reason why I’m withdrawing my contracts with the school in Japan. I’ll be losing a good chunk of my income, but she’s convinced me that putting human and vamp lives at risk for a bit of ninja training isn’t worth it.”

  Imara closed her eyes, gripping my hand tightly. The picture projected into my mind before I could get my bearings.

  A small white room came into focus. White floors reflected the light back on the white walls and ceiling. One by one, a bloody body collapsed onto the floor, seemingly falling from thin air; the blood from their battered figures splashed the pure room with sin’s consequences.

  The lone hanging lamp dangling from the center of the ceiling flickered as the body count continued to rise. Thirty-three, thirty-four… Humans and vamps alike were squashed together, the rancid scent of their death overwhelming my senses, even through my mind. The white of the room was now smeared with blood, smeared with the dirt on their tattered clothes, proof of their struggle until the end.

  Soon, the room could no longer contain the beings; limbs began punching through the drywall of the walls, the floor began to buckle under the weight of the pile and the ceiling began to crack as the bodies pressed against every surface of the space.

  Abruptly, water burst through a wall, washing away the bodies, but leaving behind it a black stain that tarnished the shell of a room. What was once crisp white innocence was now a molded black abyss.

  My mother faced me, her eyes awash in white. “You allowed your innocence to be soaked in sin, and your sins are grave, my son. You have killed far more than you’ve saved. Your repentance is owed for all of eternity to erase the karma of your past. You shall never achieve enlightenment without first achieving humility and grace.”

  She blinked several times, her irises reappearing. She cocked her head, staring into the distance. “We must be going. Gabi is ready.” She patted my hand before standing.

  My pulse quickened at the thought of Gabi. She was my saving grace. Mother hadn’t said it, but I felt it. Before, I lived only to indulge in myself. I was selfish. But now, I wished to live for her; to be all she needed me to do.

  To most men, love at first sight is a myth we don’t believe in. It took experience for me to change my view. It took Gabi for me to reconsider what I was doing with myself. She grabbed hold of my heart in less than two seconds and has held it tight ever since. In merely three days, she turned my world upside down. She challenged every action I’d taken, yet didn’t judge me for it. She forced me to face myself, yet loved me in spite of who I was. Despite her unconditional love, I found myself wanting to change for her, and for myself for the first time ever. Oh, the things one does for love.

  I stood, adjusting my button up white shirt, ensuring it was perfectly situated. I grabbed my black suit jacket and headed for the door. I stopped and turned back, waiting for my mother to come. The blue of the ocean outside the glass walls of my corner condo caught my attention. The sun was bright, illuminating Earth’s brilliant palette. Today was going to be a good day. I could feel it.

  She crossed the room, the white décor allowing her lively ensemble to shine as she approached me. She adjusted my grey tie before patting my cheek. “Let’s go.” She smiled up at me.

  I held the door open for her, waiting for her to walk out into the hall. I followed her, knowing she was leading me to my future.

  Chapter 3

  Gabi

  I fluffed my dark brown hair, full of body, falling in big curls over my shoulders. I ran my fingers, perfectly manicured with a pale pink polish to match my toes, down the front of my dress. I’d picked a style I didn’t typically wear. I was stepping out today, and wanted to take Jack’s breath away in the process.

  The bodice of my white dress was a simple silk fabric, pure and lush against my skin. It hugged my upper body tightly; the v-neck of the top combined with the fit enhanced the best of me. The color showcased the soft tan of my skin, and would offer a stark contrast of me and Jack’s meshing ethnicities. The skirt of the dress began just above my belly button, and a two-inch wide, white taffeta ribbon created the waistline of the dress lined just above that point, pulling eyes to the thinner parts of my fuller-figure.

  The bottom half of the dress flowed out in pillowing layers of taffeta, netting and more silk and fell to my knees. It was an upscale designer piece with some over-the-top elements in the skirt to balance the simplicity of the top. I loved it for the way it drew attention to my best parts and masked the frumpier, plumper parts of me, such as my stomach and thighs. A pair of nude, peep toe pumps helped elongate my body. I’d accessorized with merely a simple silver necklace with a single 1-carat diamond pendant, and the engagement ring Jack had given me.

  I smiled as I stared down at the simple stone. A three-carat round cut diamond was mounted on a platinum band. I’d never pictured myself being an old-fashioned girl. I enjoyed all things glitz and glamour from runway fashions to Texas sized hair, yet I loved that Jack didn’t play into my outward appearance. Rather, he offered me a piece from within. Deep down, I was a simple girl who wanted simple things, such as a happily ever after. My exterior was much more rough than my interior. I fought hard for what I believed in, but it didn’t mean my beliefs were overwrought with fluff.

  “You are breathtaking.”

  I gasped, his presence catching me off guard. I felt my cheeks warm as I smiled at him. He was equally mesmerizing. His dreadlocks were neatly secured in a low ponytail, allowing the features of his face to stand out. His coffee colored skin was smooth, his lips a silken dark rose, but everything else about his body was hard. He exuded strength with a well-muscled physique, eyes the color of night that went of forever, and a well-defined jawline that somehow seemed to frame the large, pulsing vein in his neck.

  My pulse quickened as I studied his black suit. He’d dressed in a classic design of black slacks and a black jacket over a white shirt with a charcoal tie. It looked as though the entire ensemble had been tailored to his body the way he was tailored for me.

  He smiled, his full lips lifting to highlight his cheekbones. He bent his arm and extended his elbow towards me in old-fashioned courtesy. “Shall we?”

  “Definitely.” My cheeks were sore from the permanent grin on my face.

  We applied for our marriage license and then cuddled in the waiting room with all the other bright-eyed couples for it to be issued for immediate use since we weren’t from the state. An hour later, we made our way to the tiny chapel for a judge to permanently unite us. Imara met us at the door.

  “You are beautiful, Gabi.” She hugged me. As she pulled back, she pressed a kiss to each of my cheeks. “I offered to be your witness along with the clerk.”

  “Thank you.” Imara wasn’t my mother, but I appreciated her neutral approach to our relationship. Most mother-in-laws sided with their son regardless of his sins; I could tell she would be a unbiased though.

  “Hello again, Mother.” Jack kissed his mother’s cheek, escorting both of us to a chair to wait until our names were called. He leaned into me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “Are you ready to run yet?”

  I chuckled. “No. Surprisingly, I’m calm. I think this is the first time I haven’t experienced anxiety in my entire life.” I faced him, raising a brow. “Are you?”

  His smile lit up his face. He laughed. “Definite
ly not. I’m afraid I never plan to let you go, my dear.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  He nipped the vein in my neck, sending a shockwave through me. Every hair on my body stood on end as heat ensconced me. “I like the sound of Mrs. Gabriella Ambroise.” His breath tickled my skin.

  “Jack, not here,” I whispered, mindful for our audience.

  He smirked, his eyes lighting up with promise. “I can’t wait for later.”

  The clerk called us at that moment. We stood together, heading towards the door, heading towards the room that I would become Mrs. Jacques Lenore Ambroise in.

  Chapter 4

  Jack

  I stood, facing the woman of my dreams, as we exchanged vows. Her eyes sparkled, blood red tears gathering in their basins. Her voice was thick, muddled with emotions most vampires avoided, as she spoke of all she promised to me. I, in return, allowed my vulnerability to be visible for this one period in time, knowing she longed for the softer side of me right now. She needed to know she wasn’t alone in her weakness of love. These vows in the vampire world were the kiss of permanent weakness. A vampire would always give in for the sparing of their mate’s life. Reversely, the united front of two vampires in love could be an unbreakable force few would challenged.

  “Mr. Ambroise, you may now kiss your bride,” the older male judge stated.

  Gabi smiled wide, waiting for me to make my move. I hauled her to me; my fingers threaded her hair as my thumbs caressed her cheeks. I captured her lips with a soft eagerness. Her lush curves felt amazing nestled against me. Her mouth fit perfectly against mine as I tasted the essence of her. I inhaled her scent, grazing my tongue along hers as if I could imbibe her. She surrounded me. The steady pulse of the blood in her veins and the rhythm of her breaths soothed me, lulled my soul into a deeper connection with hers. We weren’t in bed, but there was no deeper connection for us in this moment.

  I pressed my lips to hers one last time. I watched as her eyes remained closed for a few seconds after I pulled back, as if she was savoring what we’d just shared. Her eyelids fluttered open, glossed with a new shine.

  “I love you.” Her voice was barely above a whisper.

  “I love you.”

  Gabi

  I’d heard the saying, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.” Jack stole my breath. I didn’t know how I lost myself in him so easily, so readily. The moment we connected, it was as if we were connecting on another planet, another level of existence. For days I’d battled my conscience over being with him so quickly after Rafi, for being with him period after Rafi, but then I shared moments like this with him and all my worries seemed to disappear. My conscience was silent in those minutes, finally allowing my heart to speak and my soul to sing.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Ambroise, I just need your signature on the marriage license and you two are free to leave,” the judge stated.

  Jack squeezed my hands, bringing the rest of my mind back to reality. We approached the desk in the back corner of the room. I watched as Jack signed his name. His wedding band was a plain platinum band with a single half-carat diamond flush in the center. The color was gorgeous against his dark skin.

  I glanced down at my ring. He’d surprised me with two rings, adorned with half-carat diamonds wrapping halfway around each one. He’d placed my engagement ring between the pair as he slid them into place on my finger. “For our present and our future,” he’d said. My useless heart somehow seemed to pitter-patter at his words infused with promise.

  “You’re turn, my dear.” He gently kissed my forehead as he handed me the pen.

  I scribbled my name on the appropriate line and passed the pen to Imara. She winked at me, a twinkle in her eyes.

  Once she’d signed the paper, she threw her arms open and dragged us both into her. “Congratulations, my loves. I want you both to stand in front of the room and smile for a photo. If you refuse to cooperate, I shall rain on your honeymoon.”

  Jack scowled. “And I will fill your store with locusts.”

  She chuckled, patting her son’s cheek. “Indulge me.”

  “I promised Lexi I would have someone take a couple pictures on my phone.” I grabbed my phone from my silver clutch. “Do you mind, Imara?”

  She smiled. “Of course not. This will be for both of us.”

  Jack wrapped his arms around me. I couldn’t stop beaming. I felt loved and protected in his embrace. I knew as long as he was breathing, he would fight for me and with me. The knowledge that you had a permanent support system in your partner was invaluable.

  We posed for a few photos. I planned to print them and frame them in whatever home we settled in. I hadn’t taken many photos since becoming a vamp. Since we don’t age, most vamps don’t bother capturing a moment in their timeline. Not much changes for us outside of fashion, decor and technology. There are some moments worth capturing though, and this was one of them.

  “Wonderful. I want copies of each one in the largest print available,” Imara said, returning my iPhone to me.

  “I plan to make copies of all of them for myself too,” I stated.

  “Well, you best be on your way. A storm is heading towards your honeymoon destination, and it will delay your ability to land should you procrastinate,” she advised.

  “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to a built in psychic advisor.” I chuckled.

  “I promise not to divulge unless it has impact,” she promised. “Be careful though, my son doesn’t have the same filter as me.” She escorted us to the lobby of the courthouse before giving us each another hug and kiss on the cheek. She practically thrust us out the front doors afterwards though.

  “Woah! That must be some storm coming. Now just where are you taking me to, Mr. Ambroise?”

  “If I told you, I’d have to kill you, and I’m not ready to lose my wife just yet.” He kissed the tip of my nose, ushering me towards an awaiting black town car. He opened the back door and I slid into and across the seat, the leather upholstery brushing against my calves along the way. He got in behind me and closed the door.

  There was an older Hispanic male in the driver’s seat, decked out in a chauffeur’s uniform complete with the hat. “Where to, senor?” he asked.

  “The airport,” Jack stated.

  “What about my clothes and stuff?” I frowned, thinking of all the items in my hotel room.

  Jack cuddled up to me. “I have a whole new wardrobe for you in a suitcase in the trunk.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “They better be nice clothes or somebody’s not consummating their marriage tonight.”

  He tossed his head back in a boisterous laugh. “I hired a stylist. You have nothing to worry about, my dear.”

  “Good.” I snuggled into his chest as we navigated the busy streets of Miami.

  “Mother was right though. It seems we will be stuck inside for the first part of our honeymoon. I don’t mind though.” He wagged his brows, his insinuation not lost on me.

  “We’ll see. Some things in life must be earned.” I smirked, loving the way his eyes narrowed in a challenge. Sparks flew as we sized each other up in a mock pre-brawl.

  He harrumphed, his eyes never losing their amused glow. “We’ll see, my dear. We shall see.”

  Chapter 5

  Jack

  The look on my wife’s face as she gazed at the private jet I’d chartered to take us to our honeymoon destination was worth every penny I paid for it. Her eyes widened, her mouth falling into a perfect ‘O’ as she gasped brought a smile to my face. Stepping aboard, she slid her fingers along every surface of the plane from the white leather seats trimmed in gold to the marble minibar and opulent bathroom.

  “You’re already spoiling me, Jack.” She giggled as she peeked in the fridge and found it stocked with only blood bottles.

  “I plan to spoil you for the rest of your eternity, my dear.” I pressed my lips to hers, stifling her enthu
siastic squeal. “Let’s settle in so we can take off.”

  “Okay.” She was practically bouncing in my arms.

  The four-and-a-half hour flight to St. Thomas flew by. I stole kisses from Gabi between sips of blood and hurls of laughter. She was blunt; she always spoke her mind, and I loved her boldness.

  “Thank God we’ve landed. I don’t mind flying, but after a while, I was ready to jump and swim the rest of the way.”

  “Sorry, love. I promise it’s worth it though.” I nuzzled her neck, luring a smile from her in place of her frown.

  “I’ll be the judge of that.” She jutted her chin, tilting her nose up before strutting off the plane onto the landing strip. Her hips hypnotized me, the way they swung from side to side with sass.

  “Thanks, Peter.” I waved to the pilot on my way out, both oversized suitcases in tow. He nodded in acknowledgement.

  By the time I reached the pavement, Gabi was looking around. Her lips were pursed, her eyes focused as she took in the scenery.

  “Based off the temperature, we’re on a tropical island. I’m guessing from the time it took us to get here, it’s the Virgin Islands.”

  I felt joy all the way to my toes as I watched her study her surroundings. She reminded me of a child solving a difficult math problem. She was perplexed, yet eager. She was clever; I knew she would notice the airport sign eventually.

  “St. Thomas!” she yelled the second she saw the sign. She laughed. “I’ve always wanted to come for a visit.”

  “Yes, well, we aren’t staying here. It’s merely a necessary stop along the way,” I stated.

  “What is this, Twilight? Are you taking me to Isle Esme?”

  I chuckled. “All in good time, my dear.” I walked over to the car off to the side. The trunk promptly opened and I put our luggage inside. “Let’s go.” I held out an arm, waiting for her to slide into my clasp.

  “What have you got up your sleeve, Jack?” She eyed me suspiciously.

  “A surprise, if you would stop trying to guess it.”