Blood Mates

Arden's Past

William got to Arden’s an hour later.

When he arrived at the sophisticated, architectural wet dream of a home, he knocked and waited. Only for Arden to appear in a blink and open the door. When he stood stupid and stun as she looked up at him, Arden winced.

“I opened the door too fast didn’t I? I’m sorry! I got too excited when I realized you were here! I didn’t count or calm down a little before I opened the door.” William watched Arden ramble adorably for a moment and then realize she was and awkwardly stumble back, “D-do you want to come in?”

William nodded and Arden led him inside nervous. They sat in her living room and drank coffee in silence for a moment. But when the sounds of them sipping was too much to bear, William sat his mug down and manned up.

“Um, so I know it shocked you when I showed up. I should have called, but I couldn’t wait.” Arden nodded in understanding as her mind raced. “It’s okay. I guess after it took Jasper two weeks to come to terms with things, I expected longer for you. Or a stake in my door, either or.”

Laughing, William admitted shyly, “I’d never! I wouldn’t even know where to get one. And I guess it was easier because I had my son watching my back.” Watching Arden perk up, William inhaled as he finally decided what he wanted.

“Jasper would never tell me something wrong, and I know in my heart that I trust you. And that if you still want to do this, I’d love to continue our relationship.”

Arden’s answer was to kiss William excitedly and he chuckled happily as she fell into his arms. As he stroked her head he wondered curiously, “How old are you?” Arden playfully nipped his chin, “You never ask a woman her age.” She huffed.

Kissing her bottom lip, William teased,“You do if she’s an immortal being. I gotta know how many birthdays I got to make up for.” Arden blushed as she mumbled, “Three hundred fifty.” William hadn’t thought that low to be honest and chortled, “Huh, well not too bad.”

Arden giggled a little and he asked curiously, “If you don’t mind me asking, when did you met your late husband?”

She hadn’t minded, going into the kitchen, they grabbed wine and two glasses before going to the back yard to talk. The professionally designed lay out was comfortable and elegant. Lights stung up over their heads, and the black patio set was placed perfectly.

Right in front of a bonfire that needed to be lit by William in the chilly evening air.

Arden snuggled up into William as she remembered the blurry times, “I was still human, when I met Shamus in the eighteenth century. I was still just a girl and trying to survive a time where wealth and title were everything. And your birth right laid pavement to where yours will come from.”

Facing William, she stared him in the soul for a moment before admitting, “My mother was a w***e. And my father a countess, he paid for my upkeep quietly in gold to keep her from ruining his reputation. But when she died from syphilis, he sent for me. Told everyone I was his niece from a wayward brother.”

William rubbed Arden’s back in comfort, and she smiled at him sweetly. “It wasn’t so bad. He paid for the best schooling and gowns I could ask for, treated me decently considering I was his bastard.”

Eyes growing distant, Arden whispered, “And then I met Shamus. He threw a party for the families of high class and he was just there. I thought he would have wanted my half-sister because of her lineage, but he spent the whole night dancing with me.”

William smiled a little at Arden’s sad eyes, “How did you find out he was a vampire?” Arden winced and he started to take it back. But Arden wasn’t going to keep things from him or lie again.

“I was being sexually assaulted by one of my father’s men. He thought “ruining” me would keep me in the house. But Shamus came in just in time, he heard me struggling and I saw his true nature.”

William shook his head, “To think you’ve lived basically every era.” Arden grinned, “From panty hose and corsets to bras and tights.” William grinned and Arden curled into his arms and breathed in his scent. 

William kissed her head as he stared down in awe of her in the fire light, “How come…how come you never had children? In all this time?”

Looking down sadly, Arden confessed, “My ex simply didn’t want them. He told me at a time it was because he didn’t want to curse them with being vampires and not being able to give them a choice in the matter. But I realized later he just didn’t want them, and I didn’t force the matter. Even though I really wanted them.”

William shook his head, “Force it on them?” Arden looked at her boyfriend sadly, “A child born of two vampires will spend time mortal. But after a while they’ll become sick and have no choice but to turn. Shamus thought it cruel to put a child through that.”

Holding on to Arden tighter, William comforted her, “Must have been hard.” Arden nodded into his neck and closed her eyes as she admitted, “Things between me and Shamus weren’t perfect William.”

Arden bit her bottom lip as she told him, “He was a great man, and he loved me, but was very cold. Shamus had spent a long time alone and when we met, he warmed up a tad.”

William watched upset as Arden’s eyes filled with tears, “But he never broke the hard shell he had around him. Even when I knew him for everything he was, married him, and turned. He still kept me at a distance that over the years, grew wider.”

William held Arden tighter when she shivered, “Why not just leave him?”

Arden was ashamed to admit it, but it was her truth, “I don’t know. Fear was the main reason I believe. After spending so many years together, being apart seemed impossible. I guess after a few decades we just put on this cool layer of indifference, we went through time like statues. Stuck in a cold marble façade of being perfect and happy.” 

Stroking his fingers over her arms, William whispered, “I’m sorry Arden, but can I ask one last personal question about Shamus?” Arden nodded and William asked curiously, “If you all are immortal. How exactly did he die?”

Arden exhaled against William’s neck as she whispered softly, “He killed himself.”