MoonLife (2 page)

“Oh I do, that just might work.” I took the box out of Wendy’s hands and dug through it. Towards the bottom I found my cobalt blue lapis lazuli earrings. They were always my favorite, ever since my parents gave them to me in middle school.

“Perfect,” said Wendy, “They are going to make you look beautiful.” I noticed little tears welling up in her eyes.

Normally, I don’t use my powers with my friends but I needed to know what the tears were about. I knew she was happy for me to be getting married
,
but she normally only cries when things were exceptionally bad. I was worried there was a problem with her and Ludwik.  I looked deep into her eyes and opened my mind. I could feel her emotions clearly as if they were my own. She was very happy about my wedding, but she was almost crushed that she wasn’t going to be able to attend it. What was she thinking? How could she even think I would get married without her being there? She is my best girlfriend and basically family to me. I just assumed she would go and I assumed she knew that, but I guess I didn’t exactly ask her. Now I was feeling horrible
.
W
hat kind of friend assumes that kind of thing and doesn't ask?

“Wendy, I’m sorry.” I jumped up and grabbed her hands and gave her a big hug. “I just thought you would know you had to come with us to Buffalo.  I can’t get married without you there. Please come with us, bring Ludwik and be my maid of honor?” I said looking at her with hope that she would accept yet still feeling horrible that I hadn’t asked her already.

“Oh Sadie, thank you for asking, I thought you two might just want to do this alone. I have been so longing to go with you, but I didn’t feel right asking you
,
”
s
he said as she hugged me. “Definitely I want to go!” she said pulling away. “I’ll run home and get Ludwik, throw some clothes in a bag and I’ll be back.”

“Great. Be sure to be back by sunset. We are going to take off then
,
” I yelled to her as she ran out.  Now if I can just finish this packing before Sebastian gets up, I’ll be all set. What should I pack for him, I wondered as I walked towards the closet? This could be a long afternoon!

Sebastian had just gotten up. I was trying to be quiet while I finished packing our stuff, but I guess not
quiet
enough for a sleeping vampire. I laid out some of his clothes while he jumped in the shower. It was still hard getting used to his sleeping all day and being up all night.
Once we are Bound and I have Turned, I
will be on his schedule too. It will be strange not to be out in the sunlight during the day, but it's not like I am a huge fan of the daytime anyway. When I was a kid I couldn't understand why my parents didn't sleep during the day and stay up all night. They used to complain about traffic and the heat. It was the perfect solution, just get night jobs and sleep all day; of course they thought I was crazy. When I was little, I used to dream about doing that when I was all grown up
.
I guess I somehow knew that this was my destiny even way back then.

Going through my closet, I grabbed all my favorite outfits that I could fit in the bag. Sebastian said to pack enough for at least a week, which meant in girl terms to bring enough for two. I needed a change of clothes for day and night; well
,
at least for a few days. Then we would have to see what I wanted to wear after I turned. As I put my stuff in the bag, I wondered to
myself if I would change much. Would it just be an external change or would all my feelings and thoughts change as well? Would I still be plain old me, Sadie Jones, or would I be some shell of a chick that just wants to drink blood and go crazy? I was a little afraid I might become some sort of wild vampire woman, but Sebastian had assured me that wouldn't be the case
,
although he had never seen a Mandurago mate go through
the Turn
.

He had told me that
the Turn
was extremely tough and that most human women don't make it, they die before the process is completed. I am not a normal human though and my Royal blood will protect me, being promised to a Mandurago helps too, but still I'm scared. I am especially worried about the pain I have to endure to become a Mandurago. I wish it wasn't the only way. Don't get me wrong, I love Sebastian. He means everything to me, which is why I am doing this. I also don’t mind living as a Mandurago and being immortal, that’s not the issue either. What bothers me is the thought of the type of pain I have to endure. Sebastian said when he
T
urned the pain was like being burned alive and feeling every second of it for what felt like an eternity. I don't like the idea of that at all. I have always been afraid of fire and the thought of having to feel as if I am being burned alive, is pretty much my idea of hell. We have tried to think of ways to help the pain
,
but short of knocking me out or half draining me of blood, we can't figure a way around it. I try not to dwell on it, but as it gets closer to time
,
it seems to just keep nagging at the back of my brain more and more.

"Sadie
,
you look as if you are deep in thought
,
" said Sebastian as he walked out of the bathroom. I have known this man for months, both emotionally and physically
,
yet sometimes he is just so damn strikingly handsome that I just have to stop and catch my breath. Today was one of those moments. He walked towards me with just a towel wrapped around his waist. He is so tall with his broad shoulders and bold Viking god-like features that he looked like a Swedish male model. His blonde hair shimmered in the dusk lighting coming in through the windows. He was wearing it longer than when we first met, just past his shoulders and in many loose layers. Wisps of hair swept across his forehead and dangled in his eyes. He looked like a Norse god had come to life… and he was all mine.

Trying to clear my head and get back on track
,
I answered
h
is question. “I’m okay, just worried. Worried about
the Turn
, worried about getting packed, worried about getting out of here in time.” I grabbed a black t-shirt and held it up. “What do you think about me getting married in this?”

He brought me in close to him and looked into my eyes. “Sadie, I know this is a monumental step, but we don’t have to do this, not now…not yet. We can wait, take our time, plan the wedding you have always wanted and not rush this. This isn’t our only option.”

“I know
,
but you and I both know that we want to be together forever. Why put it off and take the chance of having Lars or anyone else try to separate us? I love you
,
Sebastian. I am more interested in being with you and getting on with our lives than having a large wedding.”

Sebastian paused for a second and looked into my eyes. I knew he was thinking, but he was quite good at shielding his feelings from me. He knew I could read them if I wanted to, but I don’t feel the need to pry into them usually, and this time was no exception. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the bed.

Sitting me down beside him, he took a small black and gold box out of the bedside table, and my heart jumped. “I have been saving this for the right time and I think this is it.” Holding his
hand up so I could see the box more clearly he continued, “This has been passed down from generation to generation in my family. My great-great-great-great grandfather first gave it to his beloved in France in the 1700s and the tradition has continued on.” With that, he turned the box towards me and pulled up the top. That was when I got my first glimpse of the ring; it was possibly the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. It was magnificent!  The band was gold with the largest square princess cut diamond I had ever seen, surrounding the diamond was delicate gold filigree with two smaller rubies on each side woven into the design. It was breathtaking. He pulled it out of the box as I
gave
him my hand.  “I would be honored if you would consider wearing this as your bridal ring.” He slipped it onto my finger and I swear I felt as if my face was glowing I was so excited.  He looked down at me with a serene look. “I had hoped you would like it.”

I took my hand and held it up to look at my new wedding ring in the light.  It was extremely gorgeous. While staring at it, the realization came to me that I hadn’t thought about rings at all up until this point. For some reason, it didn’t seem like we needed rings like normal humans do. We are claiming our souls for each other, rings seemed silly
–
but this ring, wearing it on my finger, just seemed so significant. My eyes started to tear up and I looked at him. “Sebastian, it is remarkable. Thank you, it means so much to me.  I of course would be honored to wear it.” He leaned down and kissed me softly on the lips. I enjoyed the feel of his soft lips until the realization hit me that I didn’t have a ring for him. Terror or worry or possibly both must have gone through my thoughts because he knew instantly what I was thinking.

He pulled back from our kiss and smiled a little smile at me and said, “Sadie
,
with the binding ritual they usually provide the couples with rings. They are very simple little three ring bands that are part of the ceremony more really, than something you would wear every day as in the Human tradition. But in my family, the matriarchs have always worn this ring.” He held up my hand and kissed my ring finger. “It means more than you know to me that you have agreed to wear it instead of the traditional ring. Also, our wedding attire is part of the ritual so you don’t have to worry about what to wear either.” He picked up the black t-shirt I had offered to him earlier as my wedding dress. “Which is probably a good thing if you were thinking you should wear a t-shirt?”
h
e said with a snarky smile.

Feeling very relieved even with him harassing me, I leaned against him as his arms wrapped around me and he held onto him snugly. It felt so good to be in his arms and I wondered then how did I get so lucky as to have him? Now if I could just get packed in time to get us out of here by sundown.

Chapter Two

“Okay
,
so we just need one more bag and we’ll have them all
,
” I said to Ludwik as he carried them past me to the car where Sebastian was already waiting.

“My Love, didn’t I say we just needed to pack for a week…not a year?” Sebastian said to me loudly while getting a look at the luggage.

“Hey a girl doesn’t get married every day. I need to have options and since I couldn’t make up my mind I brought everything I really like.” I motioned to Wendy to grab the last carryon bag.

“Good thing you don’t have more clothes or we might not all fit in the car with your things.” Sebastian opened the door and motioned for me to get it. Time was passing and our flight was leaving in less than an hour. Granted it was a private plane, but we still had to make it to the Sacramento airport on time.

Ludwik climbed into the driver seat of the limo and Wendy scooted in next to him. She and Ludwik’s relationship had undoubtedly flourished, they seemed to me to be getting really serious. When he protected her during a car crash that was instigated by the Draccos and Rakshas, they got extremely close. He has never left her side since. It’s cute really because Ludwik is a huge man, like a WWE wrestler type
,
and Wendy is a petite little thing. They make a great couple and with him being a bodyguard for the Underworld Protectors Guild and her being a Wiccan
,
it lets her into our circle.

I jumped into the back seat and Sebastian followed, shutting the door and pulling me in close. “This is it
,
m
y
l
ove. We are on our way…about to start our life together.” Looking out the window, I silently said goodbye to our little world as the car pulled away and we were off.

I have never taken a private plane in my entire life. Oh
,
I have seen them, I know of them, but I am more of a Southwest Airlines kind of girl. You know, cheap and herded together like cattle fighting for a low number on the boarding pass. So when we pulled up to the unloading zone at the airport I was more than surprised to see an airline employee holding a sign with our names on it.

“Knight, Sebastian Knight and party?”
t
he man said to us as we climbed out of the car.

“Yes, that is us
,
” Sebastian said as the man went to shake his hand.

“Hello
,
Mr. Knight. I am Jonathan. I will be your escort today. Let me get someone to take your bags and park your vehicle. Follow me please.”

With a nod of his head three men appeared from the doorway. Two started unloading our bags while the third came around and met Ludwik at the wheel. He took the keys and Ludwik gave him some suggestions on where and how to park it. Jonathan th
e
n motioned for us to follow him and headed us towards a large crowd of people waiting in long lines to check it. I was relieved as he motioned for us to go around the crazy, crowded lines, and down a long hallway to a door marked private. Now
,
I have been to the Sacramento Airport many times, I have waited in the long lines from hell, I have waited through security and I have waited in those horrible seats while the flight was delayed. Never have I been escorted
past
all those obstacles and into a private area. On the other side of the private door was a whole different airport. There were no lines, no waiting and thankfully no hard chairs. There was still a security check
point, but we just walked right through it.  Then Jonathan showed us to the VIP private lounge area and advised us to wait there while he got us a car to take us out to our waiting plane. A car to the plane… I thought to myself, looking around knowing I was out of my league.