A Heart Whose Love is Innocent

by Spikeskat

October 20, 1764 

I finally saw him tonight, finally got the introduction I had been dying for.  He was completely proper as he bent over my hand and kissed my knuckles, rattling his name and title off his tongue as if he had done it countless times – as I am sure he had.  But his eyes told another story. Green like the most perfect emerald, they shimmered with, dare I say it?  Desire?  

I near blushed to death at the thought that this man would want me in that way.  Oh, I know I am the virginal young miss, but maids are wont to talk and I had overheard many a story about passion and lust…and all the workings that went along with it.  I think I shocked him too, for even though I was crimson-faced, I held his gaze – felt sure I gave him (what I hoped) was a similar look. 

Because he fair took my breath away, and I meant to have him. 

No time for childish antics and such.  I had seen what I wanted, what I was meant to have, and had decided that he would be mine. 

I must have done something right, for after the appropriate introductions were finished, he swept me from my mother’s side and beckoned me out onto the dance floor.  

And it was heavenly.  There was no other way to describe it as he gathered me almost indecently close as we twirled about the room.  It felt like the champagne had gone to my head, even though I had yet to drink a drop.  Then he did something I hesitate to write, but must surely do, for I am fair bursting with the telling of it and I dare not tell another. 

The dance was only halfway complete when he spun me out and away from the floor towards the veranda.  And I let him… 

Tugging me behind him, he led me to a secluded spot, away from the prying eyes of others.  He pulled me close to him, so much so, that I could feel the evidence of his desire as I pressed against him.  I barely had time to catch my breath before his mouth descended onto mine…just hung on as his lips moved back and forth over my own.  When I was about faint from lack of oxygen, he pulled back. 

Then he said something that just made my knees weak. 

“You will be mine, Renee.” 

~*~*~*~*~ 

They stood there like that…soaking in each other’s presence until Renee caught a whiff of something circling the club.  Not wanting to reveal the girl to the other fledglings making their way unerringly towards the master vampire, she grabbed the girl’s wrist and started back the way she'd come.  Weaving in and out of the people milling drunkenly about, she put distance between them and the other vampires. 

“Where’s your car?” Renee asked the girl – she’d still yet to get her name. 

“VIP parking.  Why?  What’s wrong?” 

The vampiress’ eyebrow shot up at that, VIP parking for The Cavern was for the elite, catering only to the rich and famous.  But, instinctively, she knew.  Knew this girl following willingly behind her was just that type of person.  Her bearing screamed wealth, and not the new wealth of enterprising Americans.  No, this girl’s manner told of breeding and culture; her soft, melodic voice bore a slight accent – she wanted to say British, but with her emotions in such a state, she couldn’t swear by it. 

“Nothing I can’t handle.  Just would prefer to get you out of her unnoticed by the others.” 

“Oh, them?  I’m not worried about them.” 

That remark brought the vampiress up short, causing Jocelyn to nearly run into the back of her.  She caught herself just in time. 

“Well, if you’d rather not.  Come on…We’ll slip out and make a dash for my car.” 

Renee debated for a moment before deciding to go along with the other girl’s plan.  This time it was Jocelyn who gripped the other’s hand, veering to the right towards the stairs of one of the VIP lounges.  There were VIP lounges and then there were VIP lounges; the one Jocelyn led the vampiress to was extremely exclusive.  But, she knew the owner of The Cavern, Josh, who had been trying to get into her pants for six months now, even though he happened to be one of her close friends, but she’d always held back…too busy with locating Renee to bother with sexual entanglements. 

Now that she’d found her… 

Later.  She’d worry about Josh later.  If it came right down to it, Jocelyn knew she’d choose the vampiress over her friend.  She was tired of being alone. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

“Nice ride,” Renee commented as the pair walked up to a black Aston Martin Vantage. 

“Thanks.”  She didn’t say anything else, and the vampiress was struck again that this girl was used to the finer things in life.  So, why was she seeking vampires?  Her specifically.  True, they looked like they could be related, but that was no reason for a human to actively seek out a nocturnal predator.  Shoot, most people didn’t believe that vampires existed…thought they were an urban legend, something that Hollywood gloried in marketing. 

“My place ok?” Jocelyn asked as she expertly maneuvered the sleek car onto the New York City streets.  She took her eyes off of the road for a second to look over at her passenger to see her nod.  “Well, it’s not really my place, per se.  Just something I use when I find myself in the states.” 

“It’s fine.”  So saying, the vampiress settled back into the plush seat allowing the human girl to drive unbothered. 

~*~*~*~*~ 

Renee must have allowed her mind to wander during the ride because she was slightly disoriented – something that hadn’t happened to her since her fledgling days – when the car pulled to a stop in an underground parking garage. 

“Where are we?”

“Private access parking garage,” Jocelyn replied as she killed the engine and opened the door.  Beside her, Renee did the same, coming gracefully to her feet from her seated position in the low-slung vehicle.  The doors closing resounded in the near-vacant garage and Jocelyn engaged the car alarm before gesturing towards the elevator. 

Renee watched as the girl extracted a special key to engage the lift, gaining them exclusive use to the upper levels of whatever hotel she’d been brought to.  She was more curious than nervous – it wasn’t like she feared staking at this slip of a girl’s hand, even if said girl looked like she could hold her own in a fight.  The vampiress held her tongue, allowing the other to invite her into her home once the elevator doors opened directly into her rooms. 

“Come in, Renee,” Jocelyn invited, her lack of fear and ready invitation doing much to confuse the other. 

“Er, thanks,” she responded, momentarily flummoxed.  “Look…” 

“You want to know why I was searching for you, don’t you?” 

“For starters, yes.” Her eyes darted around the penthouse suite, taking note of the old, musty-looking books scattered on just about every available surface. 

“Can I get you something to drink?”  

Renee glanced up sharply from where the other stood holding a volume of poetry in her hands.   ‘She didn’t just offer what I think she’s offering, did she?’ 

Nothing in the other girl’s expression gave her any indication and she shrugged the thought aside, figuring it had been a figment of her imagination. 

“No thanks.” 

“Suit yourself,” she replied as she left Renee alone for a moment and retrieved a bottled water from the fridge. There it was again.  That slightly mocking tone. Not enough for her to take the girl up on her offer, just enough to tease the vampiress.   

Deciding she’d waited long enough she sat down upon the leather couch, cocking one finely arched brow in enquiry as the girl came back into the room. 

“So…what do you want to know?” 

“Let’s start with your name.” 

“Jocelyn Renee.”  She deliberately left off her surname.  No sense tipping her hand quite yet.  After all, it had been two long years she’d searched, following leads until they fizzled into nothing more than dust.  Right now, she wanted to savor her prize; some small part of her was worried that once the vampiress knew why she had been searching for her, she’d just shrug and disappear into the night once again.  Jocelyn wanted to delay that possible outcome for as long as she could. 

“Jocelyn…Jocelyn…Jocelyn Renee,” the vampiress rolled the name around on her tongue, trying to get a feel for the familiarity of it.  Jocelyn held her breath and waited…waited for the recognition to light the other’s amber eyes. 

“Tell me, Jocelyn.  How long have you been looking for me?  And, more importantly, why?” 

It was finally here.  She could delay it no longer.  Time to tell the vampiress who exactly she was. 

“My name is Jocelyn Renee Allen. My great-great-great-great grandfather Nicholas was your brother. That would make you my great-great-great-great aunt.”

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