Bleeding Love

by Ashley Andrews

  Adrienne, seated on the passenger's side of the car, could only laugh at her two friends. She had missed this the whole time she was in Yale. There were hella fun and fucked up parties, lots of things going on, but easy camaraderie of high school friends was still different. And she was going to miss this. When she was in Europe Adrienne wouldn’t be able to fly to New York on a whim and see Max or Brianna, then head over to California to hang out with Tristan and Ethan.

  Europe was too far for weekend trips and she knew she was going to have a completely different life the moment she saw Xavier. She was going to get married, and settle into helping him rule his kingdom. So, she was going to cherish this car ride no matter how quickly it ended.

  “Well, the up side of med school is that after five years of controlling your sexual tension, you'll be able to release it during this break. Then you can go back and start all over again,” Adrienne said contemplatively.

  Sabrina was quick with another witty remark, “I think in Tryst's case, its absence makes the dick grow fonder.”

  “Amen to that,” Adie then agreed, laughing.

  She looked out the window and saw the airport getting closer. There were airplanes hovering overhead and impatient drivers honking their horns. She couldn't help it, tears just started to flow. Tristan and Sabrina might not realize it, but she knew that there was a possibility she would never see them again.

  She was fated to be a vampire Queen, and vampire Regents don't just travel from Europe to the states so they can party and hang out with friends. She would gain eternal love, and lose her teenage friends.

  When she parted ways with Tristan and Sabrina, Adrienne couldn't help but look back at them in order to memorize their faces and forms. They were smiling at her, and Tristan being Tristan, had the audacity to shout one, last nasty remark to her. She chuckled at that, laughed hard as she turned on her heel and entered the airport’s sliding doors.

  Inside the building the air was warm, yet Adrienne felt chills rise up and down her spine, prickly sensations on the hairs of her arms. The excitement was building. She threaded through the crowd, concentrating on each step. She had a ticket that was going to take her from Los Angeles to Munich, and another one from Germany to Vienna, Austria. After five whole years of not seeing each other, she was finally going to see Xavier Kristofferson, the man she was destined to marry, and this scared her. Now that she was alone, without Tristan and Sabrina's to fill the silence, she had time to think of her fiancé.

  Xavier and she had agreed that for the entire time they were separated that they wouldn’t communicate. They had figured that even one email would make the separation to difficult to bear. She’d been very afraid that if she heard his voice once, she'd drop out of her University classes and all that hard work would go to waste.

  As they had agreed, during the five years, she had dated other guys, but not one of those men got a repeat date. Through all this time her heart had remained with him. Each time some guy would pick her up at the apartment, she knew they didn’t stand a chance of taking her from Xavier. She dated because it was a normal thing to do in college.

  “Flight 116 to Munich, Germany, your flight is now boarding. Please proceed to gate thirty–six.” The announcement filled her soul. “Flight 116 to Munich, Germany–”

  Adrienne quickly advanced toward her designated gate. When she got there, she lined up and flashed her ticket before the cabin crew allowed her to board the plane. She continued to walk, closely approaching the front of the aircraft, and when she reached first class, she stored her carry–on in the overhead compartment before taking her seat. She sighed deeply. Adrienne hadn't planned on what she was going to do when she finally saw him. The hard part about this trip was Xavier had no idea that she was coming.

  She had put all her trust in Brianna and Aidan. The two were her accomplices in making this trip the surprise of the century. She may not have wanted to hear Xavier’s voice for fear of ditching school altogether, but she still needed to know what was going on with him. She had relied on her relationship with her best friend and her boyfriend.

  Briana and Aiden had decided to attend college together in London. They were now living there in the countryside where they could run through forests and mountains without being afraid of being discovered. Bree had even told Adrienne that Aidan and she were already talking about marriage, but as far as she knew, there were no definite plans yet.

  “Would you like a drink, ma'am?” one of the stewardesses asked, her long black, pencil skirt moving with her short, simple gestures.

  Smiling, Adrienne answered,” I'd like a glass of water, please.”

  “Right away, ma'am.” The flight attendant returned in a bit with a glass of chilled water.

  Adrienne gladly took the drink from her, saying thank you, she settled back for the long trip. Satisfied with the calm surroundings, she breathed a sigh of relief and closed her eyes. For a few hours, she forgot about seeing Xavier again, and what his reaction might be.

  Instead she amused herself with the world–class foods. The salad smothered with French dressing, hickory ribs sprinkled with barbeque sauce and spring onions, a slice of marble cheesecake with chocolate and strawberry syrups, and a tray of crackers and cheeses.

  She immersed herself with all these gastronomic luxuries and watched a rerun of Gossip Girl on her personal TV. It was the episode when Serena and Dan decided to call it quits in the second season, and Adrienne took notice of the blonde’s wardrobe. It was something she'd wear, and she made sure that the next time she shopped she was going to buy something similar.

  The trip continued like this. She avoided thinking of anything serious, instead eating, watching, sleeping, and then eating again. After repeating this routine more than a few times, the plane descended, turning to its left. It turned around and continued to decrease its altitude, and after a few minutes, the aircraft finally landed on the ground, wheels screeching in the process.

  Adrienne tightened her seat belt and held on to her seat. She closed her eyes, enjoying the swiftness with which the plane moved. She opened them as soon as they had landed. Immediately, passengers unbuckled their seatbelts, opened the overhead compartments, took out their carry–on luggage, and formed a line. Then slowly, they exited the plane.

  She was finally in Munich, Germany, and now, she had to go to her next flight, the one that was taking her to Austria. She rolled her eyes at how tiresome all this was before shaking the thought away. She was finally going to see Xavier again after years. That should be reason enough for her to go through all these grueling procedures. Sighing, she pulled her baggage with her and headed over to the departure section of the airport, repeating the same strenuous process she'd undergone back in Los Angeles.

  * * * * *

  The flight from Munich, Germany to Vienna, Austria took less time, yet service–wise, it wasn't as great as her trip from LA to Munich. This was because she'd decided to go Business Class this time, instead of First Class.

  When she left the plan, she made a beeline for one of the immigration desks. She wanted to get out of the airport as soon as possible, but even more, she wanted to see her closest friends again. Adrienne hurriedly gave the immigration officer her passport, and when it was returned, she headed over to the baggage carousels.

  Pushing a cart with her, she slipped in between two burly Europeans and patiently waited for her luggage. She had one big and one small suitcase. Round and round the bags went, and then she spotted her belongings, she reached down and tugged on the handle of the small suitcase and pulled the luggage off the carousel before placing it on her cart. Fortunately, Adrienne had help from the two men when she retrieved her bigger bag.

  After saying thank you, she headed over to the Arrivals section of the airport. There was still no sign of Brianna and Aidan, so she decided to take out her cell phone and wait outside. She thanked the Heavens her phone had roaming. She wouldn't have to play hide and seek since she could just call either Bree or Aidan
, but she was too late for that. A black Ford Expedition parked itself right in front of her, and when the driver rolled down the window, she was met by a shrieking Brianna who looked much paler than when Adrienne had last seen her friend. The California tan had worn off and she looked more like a vampire.

  “Oh my god!” Brianna’s voice raised several decibels, grabbing the attention of a number of people. “I missed you like hell! Life wasn't as much fun without you!”

  “But it was still fun,” Aidan interjected with a small wink, and Adrienne chuckled at this.

  “I wasn't done, Hun.” She turned her head to give him an evil glare before she turned back to her best friend. “I was wondering if you were still coming! I've been waiting for so long! I hope your flights were good though, yeah?”

  “Well, I almost missed my flight to Munich.” Her grin was impish. “Blame Tryst and Sab for that.”

  “No Max?”

  “You know how those two are. They'll be having make–up sex in no time.”

  Brianna slapped Adrienne's arm. “No need for that much candor, Adie!”

  “Oh, I forgot,” Adrienne answered, rolling her eyes teasingly. “You've been de-Americanized, and you've got a stick up your ass now. Forgot about that.”

  “Is that even a word? De-Americanized?”

  “I don't even know, Bree.”

  “And that comes from someone who graduated from Yale?” Aidan questioned, feigning a look of outrageousness. “What standards,”

  “Don't adulterate or adjudicate the institution that has turned me into the brain you see before you. Hmph!”

  “Now there's the Ivy–league graduate I was expecting,” Aidan teased, even winking for added effect.

  “And Xavier's going to kill us if we don't get home soon. The guy's depressed enough as it is.”

  “But we're bringing a big present. With Adrienne at our side, he can't get mad at us.”

  “So was that your reason for forcing me to come here, hmmm?” Adrienne's tone was playful. “To save you two from getting slaughtered?”

  Brianna came to their defense. “Well, it's partly Xavier's fault, he's being such a killjoy.” Brianna continued on with her rant, explaining to Adrienne the depression which Xavier had fallen into.

  In the mean time the three of them began the drive back to the mansion, which Brianna told Adrienne was bigger than any of the houses back in America. It was really a castle, high ceilings, a tall, hovering tower, lavish burgundy curtains, and all that jazz. The Kristofferson residence was royalty at its best. Adrienne just couldn't picture a sulking, vampire prince amidst all the luxury.

  “Well you can't really blame him,” Brianna commented. She didn’t turn around to face Adrienne. “He hasn't seen you in years. He really misses you, and has been worrying all this time, afraid that you'll get together with the guys you went out on dates with.”

  “Did you tell him things never got past the first date?”

  “Did you really mean first date?” Brianna put on a thoughtful expression. “Not first base?”

  “You didn't,” Adrienne began, her voice turning sterner and colder. “You didn't tell him I—, I didn't!”

  “I'm sorry I misinterpreted the things you told me. But at least it's only the first base, he'd be furious if you went farther—”

  “Not the point, Bree! What will he think of me now? A slut? A whore?”

  “Well, you'll be his whore now, or slut.”

  “Tell me again why we're best friends?” Adrienne then asked, a little bit disappointed.

  Bree raised her eyebrows up suggestively, and it was only then that Adrienne realized that everything had been a joke.

  “Because I wasn't being serious. Seriously Adie, my hearing's perfect, I'm a vampire now like you guys.” She was openly laughing at her best friend whose face was fuming read. “Damn, you should've seen your face. And first base isn't bad really, considering Xavier knows how far you've already gone.”

  “Again, not the point,” she answered, her voice bordering on both amusement and disappointment. “Thank God, I love you, because really, I haven't been using my psychic powers, might as well use it on you right now.”

  “Whoa,” Brianna continued chuckling lightly. “Hold your horses. You'll thank me soon enough, since we're almost there.”

  When she looked out the window, she realized that the road had narrowed. There were green fields on both sides of the road. Instead of tall buildings and lots of people milling around, there were farm animals munching on what nature had to offer. The environment had quieted as they went deeper into the countryside. The ride continued for about thirty more minutes before they finally arrived at the castle. The building was utterly majestic as Brianna and Aidan had said.

  “Can you believe you're going to live here?” Brianna asked. She'd been at the house a number of times, but she was still amazed every time she saw the size and area of the place. “You're so, so lucky, Adrienne.”

  “Hey,” Aidan feigned a pained look. “What's that supposed to mean, babe?”

  “I only said she was very lucky,” Brianna answered, reassuring her boyfriend. “I didn't say she was the luckiest woman in the world.”

  And with that, Aidan started to grin like crazy. His lips twitched before they turned up into a full smile, even allowing some of his teeth to show. That compliment of Brianna’s might have been simple and indirect, but that was what made it utterly adorable and sweet. It was genuine. Her feelings were genuine.

  That realization forced Adrienne to realize that she'd have to face her own feelings in just a few moments.

  Aidan parked the car in the garage, so they had to take a small, secondary route into the castle. The moment Adrienne saw the kitchen, she was openly gaping. Her family was rich all right, but Xavier's had just another level of wealth and affluence. She and her father only had a mansion back in America. The Kristofferson's had a castle.

  They walked through the hallways, finally getting close to what smelled and sounded like a dining room. Brianna stepped in front of Adie, into the room first. “We're home!” Brianna shouted.

  Adie could hear both a man and a woman’s voice, as well as a shuffle of other sounds. She could hear Henrietta's familiar maternal yet commanding tone. “We're here eating, Brianna, dear!” the elderly woman answered back. “Come join Xavier and me! The lad's been in a bad mood all day.”

  “We know Mrs. Kristofferson.” That was Aidan who answered. He was even chuckling as he passed Adrienne and went into the room. “That's why we brought him a present.”

  “Mother, how many times have I told you that I'm just tired due to all my responsibilities? I am not in a bad mood,” he said, obviously surely.

  Adrienne's heart jumped when she heard Xavier's voice. She had missed his tone, deep and comforting, seductive and playful.

  “Why do all of you assume I'm sulking because of Adrienne?”

  Brianna turned back and looked at her friend. She and Aiden entered the room and went to stand at the table so that they could see Xavier’s face, and watch Adrienne enter the room. They wouldn’t miss this surprise for the world.

  Brianna couldn’t help throwing gas on Xavier’s fire. “Well, you barely smile, and I know it's not because your father's sick. You've accepted that inevitable, but missing Adrienne makes you irritable.”

  Xavier sighed. “Adie is at Yale,” he said. “And she's happy there, so I'm happy as long as she is.”

  Brianna decided to take advantage of the moment. “What kind of fiancé are you, you don't even know the whereabouts of your own girl?”

  “We're disappointed, Xavier,” Aidan added as he went over to his girlfriend and wrapped an arm around her waist. “And she's not in Yale anymore. She already graduated, dumbass.”

  Xavier was silent for a moment. Depressed that he hadn’t even known. “Well, it's not my fault she hasn't been talking to me—”

  Brianna and Aidan smiled. They both knew what was going to happen next.

&nb
sp; “And I'm sorry for that,” Adrienne answered softly, coming into the room and stopping just behind Xavier. Since they were all vampires, she knew the words would be loud and clear. She saw the way the ripples in his arms tensed up and flexed. She heard his now–ragged breathing, and she could just imagine the look on his face—one of shock and pure bewilderment. She didn't know what to say after apologizing, so she went around the table and kissed the cheek of Xavier's mom, before she finally turned to face her fiancé.

  He was more gorgeous than ever. Or maybe it was just that she hadn't seen him for five years. He was a little paler, but his complexion brought out the dark shade of his eyes and hair. She knew by the way he sat, that he’d grown a little taller. His jaw was also sharper, edgier, and she thought she could thank all his responsibilities for that.

  He was officially a man at the age of twenty–three. He wasn't the high school senior she’d fallen in love with. He was different, but the moment they locked eyes, she just knew their feelings for each other hadn’t changed. She smiled.

  “You–you're here,” his voice seemed sad. “When did you get here?”

  “I just came from the airport.” She tried to hide the fact that she didn't like the tightness around his mouth.

  Xavier's mother decided that this reunion could happen without her. She finished her cup of tea, wiped her mouth with a napkin, and went upstairs to sit with her husband.

  When it was only the four of them in the room, Aidan and Brianna took one seat, with Brianna resting comfortingly on her boyfriend's lap.

  Adrienne took the chair nearest Xavier's.

  “Oh,” was all Xavier could say.

  “Maybe I should go back?” She didn't get it. A while ago she heard him say he was happy as long as she was, but now, he was acting like he didn't miss her at all. She just couldn't understand him. And she was angry because of that. “Should I?”

  “No.”

  “Then why does it seem like you don't want me here?” Her voice was starting to grow louder, tighter.

  He looked up at her, and she saw his watery eyes. She winced at the sight of him. He looked disheartened, and yet she knew he was trying to hide the feeling. The way his lips curved up awkwardly was a dead giveaway. And then unexpectedly, he held out his hand for her.