159Noc"tu*a*ry\ (?; 135), n. [L. noctu by night.] A record of what passes in the night
Oooooookay, back by popular demand! I at least thought that I should give Evalina and Eric an epilogue (like someone suggested) but now I can't decide if I should take it further because I've got a couple of ideas rolling around in the ol' noggin. I suppose my best bet is this: read this chapter, lemme know what you all think about it, and if the feedback is good, I'll take it to the next level. If not, meh, I had fun writing and reading all your wonderful wonderful comments and reviews. Either way, I appreciate everyone's input and thank you a thousand million times! ENJOY NOW PLEEEEASE!
"I just can't believe it," Whitney mumbled, awe-struck, as she stared at Eva from across the table. Eva didn't shrink away from Whitney's penetrating stare because she knew that it wasn't malicious. She was merely curious about her friend's new state. "Can I touch you?" Whitney squeaked hesitantly and Eva giggled, the noise sounding like the most delicate fingers fluttering over the strings of a harp.
"Yes, Whitney," Eva answered, rolling the sleeve of her black blazer up to her elbow. In one of the most graceful gestures Whitney had ever seen, Eva laid her forearm underside up across the table, fingers stretching toward her.
Whitney stared at it at first, shocked at how wintery white her previously tanned skin appeared. It was smooth looking and completely blemish free. There were no cuts, not bruises, no scars or scrapes. Eva's arm looked as though it had been sculpted by Alexandros of Antioch himself from the finest creamy marble.
"Go ahead, Whit. Don't be afraid. It's only skin, still my own," Eva nudged gently in a velvety voice. Whitney's eyes flicked up from Eva's arm to her eyes quickly then back to her exposed skin. Finally, she reached out toward Eva's arm; pausing centimeters from the skin for the briefest of moments, then letting her fingers make contact. Whitney gasped but was too enraptured with the silky feeling of her friends skin to pull away. She dragged her fingers backwards and forward up and down the length of Eva's arm, her eyes wide with wonder. The skin was smooth as still water. It almost felt like she was touching air. There was no hitch in the skin, no raised veins protruding, no errant hairs catching. Eva's arm was unlike anything she'd ever felt before in her life and suddenly she could understand the fuss about hooking up with vampires.
"Jesus, Evalina," Whitney breathed, her fingers still pressed against Eva's arm. To Eva, the touch felt like a feather, or a fleck of dust on her arm.
"It's definitely a change," she answered and allowed Whitney to continue to marvel at her immortal skin. She knew her friend, though always entranced with vampires, had never actually taken the time to inspect their skin up close and in painstaking detail.
"Look at you, you're completely different-I mean appearance wise. You were really pretty before but now you're like," Whitney paused to gesture in grand circles with her free hand. "You're like inhuman. I've never seen anything like you, and I've seen female vampires before, but you're different," she finished, finally letting her eyes peel away from Eva's arm and looking at her friend's eyes.
"I'm not so different," Eva whispered, eyes downcast. The last thing she wanted or needed was her best friend thinking she was some sort of unnatural, sinister being. She still felt herself; only she was now the best version of herself possible. She still wanted to be herself, except now she was extraordinary. Eva looked up when Whitney ceased drawing circles and literally grasped Eva's forearm.
"Oh, Evie, I know. You're not different; you're still my best friend, my sister! Don't think I love you any less just because you're dead," Whitney said in a familiar joking tone that set Eva's nerves to rest. Both friends smiled at each other over the table and Whitney laughed. "Now, let's see those chompers," she said and released Eva's arm. Eva giggled and her fangs suddenly appeared where regular teeth had been seconds ago. Whitney's excited gasp made Eva laugh a lilting melody. "Wow," Whitney said and Eva snapped them back into her gums.
"They're something, that's for sure," Eva responded. Then she became pensively silent for a second, her eyes glazing over as she looking passed Whitney's shoulder. As quickly as she became distant, she snapped out of her trance and a warm, stunning smile captured her lips. "Eric's coming," she finally said, her eyes reconnecting with Whitney's.
"How do you-"
"Hello, ladies," an accented, smooth voice interrupted Whitney's sentence. She looked up from Eva to find Eric, the blonde haired god that had started the ball rolling. He was the picture of elegance and charm, he exuded wit and cunning, not to mention hoe startlingly handsome he was just standing there behind Evalina like a shadow. He suit was sublime in its fit; the collar of his oxford was starched and pristine underneath his jet-black blazer. He looked like a walking Gucci ad with his light hair slicked back in neat brush strokes. In all honesty, Whitney couldn't blame Eva for choosing Eric over humanity.
His palm rested on top of Eva's head and slowly stroked down the length of her silky black locks, his face a mask of adoration.
"Evalina," Eric cooed and Eva tilted her head upwards and closed her eyes as Eric kissed her lips twice with two quick, but sweet, kisses, letting his face linger suspended over hers for a moment after her eyes opened. He was still captivated with the bright beauty of her pewter irises.
"How are you, Whitney?" Eric asked, straightening suddenly and switching his profound blue gaze so quickly from Eva to Whitney that Whitney wasn't sure how it happened.
"Uh it's…I'm alright, thanks, Eric," she answered, stuttering a little bit, unused to Eric's full attention. She had no idea how Eva survived underneath that heavy gaze. Then she realized, lately, Eva's gaze fell just as heavily, like transforming from one species to another came with all this knowledge and power that she never had or needed as a human. Whitney knew that was true to some extent, but she had never felt it so completely until she found herself sitting before these two supreme, perfect, regal beings. How could the human race not realize that vampires were superior to them in almost every way possible? She'd never say that out loud though for fear of being maimed by her own species.
"Ready?" Eric asked casually, a blonde eyebrow rising in simple question. Eva nodded her head and pushed herself up from the table, watching as Whitney did the same.
"Oh, Evie," Whitney choked out and fell into Eva's arms. As Eva wrapped her strong arms around Whitney, Eric felt a well of emotion swell up inside Eva like he hadn't felt since the night she woke into her new life. He struggled with the emotion, probably more so than Eva did because the emotion wasn't so long gone to Eva like it was to Eric. Before Eva came along, he had forgotten how to feel.
"Don't worry, Whit," Eva whispered into her best friend's hair as she sniffled against Eva's shoulder. "I won't be gone forever. I'll come back, I promise. I wouldn't leave you forever," Eva murmured and pressed her cheek against Whitney's.
"I know, I'll just miss you so much," Whitney said, pulling away but still holding onto Eva. "We haven't been apart for more than a couple weeks since we were freshmen in college and-I-I'll just miss you," she sniffled and pulled Eva back into another hug. Eric's patience was a comforting presence inside Eva and she drew from it to calm herself. Crying tears of blood probably wouldn't help set her friend's mind at ease.
"Oh, Whit. I'll miss you too. I'll always miss you for as long as I walk this earth. I love you, Whit," Eva said, fighting back tears.
"I love you too, Evie, forever."
They stayed silently intertwined for a long time, each taking inventory of the other. There were things to be remembered: smells, sights, the way they felt, how the room smelled, the sound of each other's breaths, the pads of fingers against their backs. Everything stopped for Evalina because while Whitney would only remember her until she passed on, Eva would remember their friendship for the rest of forever. And she so wanted to remember.
Finally, they pulled away and Eva took three steps backwards until she knew Eric's chest would be a hairsbreadth behind her. Whitney thumbed a tear away and nodded slowly.
"Goodbye, Whitney," Eva said, eyebrows puckered together and eyes filled with affection.
"Bye, Evalina," she whispered quietly in reply and watched Eva and Eric turn to leave the small, moonlit café.
Once they were in Eric's car and driving toward the airport, Eric spoke up.
"We could stay, Evalina. You don't have to leave everything you know," he cooed gently. He saw the look on her face, felt what she felt inside at leaving Whitney behind. The pain was crushing, the divide between them would be immense and Eric felt that expanse filling his chest like it filled Eva's until he couldn't help but speak. He loved Eva; he loved her from the crown of her head to the balls of her feet. He loved every part of her and that meant he loved her happiness and he wouldn't be the destroyer of it when he had tried his hardest to be the supporter.
Eva turned her face away from the scenery out the car window and regarded Eric's concern with a small smile that spread out her plush, pink lips. She reached over to his face and cupped his cheek softly with her hand.
"I know. But I don't want to stay. I want to go. I want you," Eva answered calmly, in the same soothing tones she would have used as a human. Eric smiled, knowing not much of her had changed and that made him content in his final decision.
"You're sure, now, that you want to spent eternity with me, Evalina?" Eric hummed, his voice sultry and seductive, igniting a fire inside of her that she suppressed. Now was not the time. He felt her flame and his lips twitched at his ability to wind her up so easily. Eva laughed at both his smugness and his question, both silly, silly things. She ran her hand slowly down his cheek, down his neck until it rested lightly on his shoulder.
"Forever and forever and forever," she answered in a melodious voice. He didn't respond, just idly smiled out the windshield at her answer. He was satisfied because he knew she meant it. "Goodbye Shreveport, hello Sweden," Eva murmured, a small smile tugging at her plush lips. Goodbye Shreveport indeed.
Okay there it is. Please review and let me know what you thought, even if you're new to the fic and haven't reviewed before! I await your comments! Thanks again, guys,
Kate