Boarding School for the Mythical

"I was giving you a hug for saving me silly. I can't really think of any other way to pay you back." I said giving his cheek a kiss then pulling back. "Thank you mister vampire."

Velaric:

I rubbed the back of my neck, perplexed. “I better be going.” I said to Sphinx and Tabitha who didn’t seem to be paying attention to anything besides each other.

"I'll tell em. You go before you feel more awkward silly." I said with a smile and a nod.

Tabitha:

Later I was setting up the couch with blankets and pillows. I brought out a large shirt for Vivian to sleep in too, it would probably come to her knees and work as a nightgown.

Vivian:

I took the shirt and went into the bathroom to change into it. When I came out I was wearing her shirt, a pile of what could be considered long strips of cloth in my arms.

Tabitha:

“Do you need anything before you go to sleep?” I asked her, standing close to the couch.

Vivian:

I thought about it for a moment then shook my head. "No thank you." I shuffled my feet a tad awkwardly before I smiled shyly up at her. "Thank you for letting me stay here for a little bit."

Tabitha:

“You’re very welcome. Just… Don’t leave without letting me know okay?” I told her, then ruffled her hair lightly. “Sleep tight.”

"I promise." I said with a nod, flashing her a playful grin when she ruffled my hair.

Tabitha:

“Okay good. Now off to bed with you.” I told her then made my way to my bedroom where Sphinx was waiting.

I giggled and snuggled under the covers on her couch, my body heat making the pocket of warmth cozier for me.

~Five Months Later~

Tabitha:

Shade was sitting in Sphinxes lap as I drove.  He wasn’t all together pleased with this, but I was fairly sure Sphinx was bribing him with treats from his pocket.  It was a four hour drive to my mother’s house.  All of my family was meeting up there.  Sphinx had already met my older brother and sister, but it had been under extenuating circumstances, and they hadn’t exactly been too kind to him.  I was hoping this time would go better.  

Velaric:

This was the first time I had been left completely alone with Vivian for mother than a few minutes.  I was fairly fond of her, and she seemed to like me.  Plus the tempting scent of her child blood had begun to fade, it wasn’t gone, but I could think of more than just sinking my fangs into her neck while I was around her.

Sphinx:

I reached into my pocket to draw out another treat. I had been well supplied by Vivian with treats, though I had left over half of them behind. Shade was getting a bit thicker around the middle, but we wasn't quite overweight yet. I guessed I had formed a weary truce with the fox, he no longer complained or glared too much when I shared a bed with Tabitha. And while he would still sleep between us, it was in our tangled legs instead of right between our bodies. I scratched him behind the ear as I turned loving eyes to Tabitha a soft smile on my lips.

Vivian:

I grinned at Velaric from his doorway, a backpack in my arms. I had grown considerably, and while I no longer fit into my bandage clothes. I made due by having my hair tied into a ponytail with one of the strips of cloth and socks that went up to my knees from the same bandages. "Hi Vel, how are you my favorite biter?" My eyes danced as my grin grew mischievous. I had started to tease him by calling him fangy, biter, my personal predator, and so on. I didn't mean any offense by it, I just liked to tease him.

Velaric:

“Well fed.” I commented, going back to rinse my glass in the sink, pink water spiraled down the drain. “Why don’t you pick out a movie for us to watch?” I asked. “Something festive.” I nodded to the TV. I had put up a sad little half dead tree in the corner and hadn’t bothered to decorate it. I had never failed to celebrate Christmas, even after all these years. As a kid it had been my favorite time of year. My parents would get me something sweet from the bakery, a rare treat. After the years had gone by I merely kept up the celebration as a memorial.

I stepped into his place and looked at the tree. "Oh no. We are going out right now." I went into the kitchen to the fridge. I opened it up and pushed aside the bottles of blood to grab a marked bottle of cranberry juice. I opened the bottle and took a sip. "Mister Vampire...if we are going to do Christmas we have to do it right! Your tree is kind of sad...and you know things like that burn easily around me! Remember what happened at thanksgiving?"

Velaric:

I grimaced. “Everything burns easily around you.” I muttered rubbing my fingertips together. “I’m prepared.” I picked up the fire extinguisher from beside the fridge as a point. “Besides, I like the tree, it’s kind of like me; Mostly dead, but somehow still here.”

I sighed at him and shook my head. "I haven't burned anything since then...but if you like the tree that much I suppose we can keep it..." I went over to him and offered out my hand. "Now come on, lets watch something!"

Velaric:

I took her hand and let her lead me into the living room. Her skin always made mine tingle, when she was younger it had been uncomfortable, now I barely noticed it.

I wasn't satisfied with just holding his hand. I hugged his arm to drag him over to the couch. I pushed him down on it before grabbing the remote from the coffee table. I sat down beside him, cuddling up against his side.

Velaric:

I relaxed on the couch next to her content to watch whatever she picked, even if it was lame.

I turned on the movie It's A Wonderful Life. A black and white classic. I turned my head slightly, trying to be sneaky on how I was breathing in his scent. I could feel the pheromones he put out to attract people to him, but my nose hunted ignored those, burning them away to leave his real and natural scent behind. I ignored the odor of blood, and death that also clung to him, going for what lay deeper. His true, natural, unchanging scent.

Velaric:

“You can’t watch from just one eye.” I commented in amusement. I reached over and turned her chin so she was facing the TV screen instead of my direction.

Tabitha:

I pulled up into the drive way and killed the engine. I let out a slow breath. “Are you ready?” I asked with a nervous smile.

"But..." I gave in and did what I could to make sure I still got his scent without being to obvious. I kept my eyes on the screen though just because I wanted to watch the movie.

Velaric:

When the movie finished I looked her over. “Sleepy?” I asked. I knew she didn’t keep the same hours as I did, and while it was only eight, I didn’t want to keep her up.

Sphinx:

"No.  But so long as I have you I could survive."  I leaned across the car to kiss her gently before pulling back with a sigh.

Vivian:

"I actually have to go to bed?" I complained. "Tabitha is always making me go to bed early..." I pressed my face into his side and let out a soft sigh into his shirt.