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“Damn the eternal life,” Colin Bridgerton muttered as he adjusted his bow tie for the fifth time.
His older brother Benedict looked at him with a bemused expression. “What makes you say that?”
Colin sighed. “I don’t know, I just wish it was different. Some days I wish this never would’ve happened. It’s always the same mindless people, the same mindless chatter. Don’t you ever wish we were like everyone else?”
Benedict came over and stood behind him, adjusting his own tie. “Sometimes, but I rather enjoy being a vampire. I think immortality suits me. I have all the time in the world to get my paintings done, relax, and read.”
“Yes, and I’m happy for you. But don’t you ever want more?”
“Like what?”
Colin looked away, embarrassed. “I don’t know, love? Actually, never mind. Forget I said anything. Are you ready for the masquerade? We’re going to be late.”
Before Benedict could respond, Colin had grabbed his mask and was out the door.
Once they arrived at the party, Benedict tried asking Colin about his earlier comment. “Colin, is everything okay?”
“Yes? No? I don’t know. I go out, I see people’s journeys, and I sometimes wish it was me. Don’t you ever feel that way?”
“Why can’t it be? And sometimes I want more, but like I said at home, I like this lifestyle.”
“You of all people should understand how difficult it would be to explain what we are. We’re immortal , Benedict. It’s not like there’s a cure for this.” Colin was frustrated with Benedict, he was frustrated with the hand life had dealt him, and he was frustrated with his own behavior. Colin was about to say more when he saw a flash of red zip across the room.
Benedict followed Colin’s gaze to the woman in the emerald dress. He smiled to himself, and knew that Colin had just found what he’d been looking for. She looked like she was floating, commanding the room wherever she was. He realized Colin would never go over to her, and just as Benedict was getting ready to intervene, Colin surprised him.
“I need a drink,” Colin snapped as he ripped off his mask and put it in his jacket pocket. He strode off toward the bar, and Benedict’s surprised expression turned into a grin as he noticed the woman in green heading the same direction.
Penelope had been invited to the party by her cousin Felicity. It wasn’t very often a party of this magnitude happened, so Penelope knew they couldn’t miss it. They made a “don’t ask, don’t tell” deal, since it was a masked event. As long as the other was safe, they went their separate ways as soon as they arrived.
Penelope was feeling very confident in her silk dress. The emerald color she had chosen made her eyes pop, complimented the pale color of her skin, and contrasted her red hair nicely. She knew a lot of eyes were on her as she walked the room, going from group to group.
She flirted innocently with the men, joined in numerous conversations, and was overall having the best night. . She had just gotten her drink from the bar when she spotted Felicity waving at her from across the room and made her way over.
“You know, Felicity, I’m having the best time. This whole mask thing is doing a world of good for my confidence. Are you having a good time?”
“I am. As a matter of fact, I’m having such a good time, I’m going to leave. But you should stay!”
Penelope gave her a confused look. “You’re leaving? But we have only been here an hour!”
“Yes, I know. But,” Felicity blushed as she looked to her right, “I’m invoking my part of the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy. Seriously, though, please stay. You are fierce, you are beautiful, and I would honestly hate for you to miss out on an enjoyable evening.”
Penelope looked at the man approaching them and gave Felicity’s hand a squeeze. “Ah, I understand. Don’t let me ruin your evening. But please, call me in the morning. And Fel? Enjoy yourself.”
“You must be the cousin,” the mystery man said as he came over and put his arm around Felicity.
“Yes, I’m Penelope. And I was just leaving. I could use another drink. Have a wonderful evening.”
“We plan on it,” he replied as he led them out the door.
Penelope chuckled as she approached the bar. Of course Felicity would find a man within the hour and leave with him. Normally that would bother Penelope, but she trusted Felicity’s judgement. She never would’ve left with the man otherwise.
Penelope ordered her drink and was about to walk away again when she saw a mask on the floor. Bending down to retrieve it, she was going to give it to the bartender when she saw a man a few feet away with his back turned to her. She took a sip of her drink and tapped him on the shoulder.
Colin felt a tap on his shoulder. “Excuse me, does this belong to you?”
He turned at the sound of the voice and everything stopped. He was staring down into the face of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He knew that if his heart had been beating, it would have stopped at this exact moment.
He blinked for a few seconds, coming back to reality. “Oh! I guess it does. Here you go.” He could see the woman holding out his mask to him, but his arms were not cooperating. Neither was his brain.
“You. It’s been you this whole time. You are extraordinary. The most bewitching creature I have ever seen,” he finally whispered.
He hadn’t even realized he was reaching to hold her hand when he suddenly felt the fabric of his mask in his hand. He quickly put the mask in his pocket again, not once breaking eye contact.
He noticed the red on her cheeks and neck, and wondered how flushed his own face was. He reached his hand out again, and managed to introduce himself. “I’m Colin.”
When the man turned around, Penelope knew she was done for. He was the most beautiful thing she has ever laid eyes upon. He was Adonis in human form, and she was not leaving here without him.
Normally she would’ve been appalled at her own thoughts, but there was something different about this man. She felt drawn to him, like a moth to a flame.
She handed him his mask and knew she was turning a nice shade of crimson. She could feel her body react to his, with not even a touch passing between the two of them. When they did finally touch, it would be electric.
She saw him reach his hand out and heard him introduce himself. She managed to squeak her own name out. “I’m Penelope. Do you want to go outside?”
“Oh God, I thought you’d never ask.”
As soon as they got outside, she took a deep breath. She had never felt this way before, and knew she never would again. She looked over at him and saw him staring. “So you feel it too. Whatever this is, I want it to last forever.”
“Your wish is my command,” he whispered quietly.
Colin knew by the end of the evening, his greatest wish would be fulfilled. He couldn’t stop staring at this woman.
When he heard her say she wanted the moment to last forever, he almost combusted. Before he knew what he was saying, he whispered, “Your wish is my command.”
Benedict watched his brother and the woman on the balcony. He knew his brother had met his soulmate, despite not technically having a soul. He had never seen Colin look at anyone or anything like that, ever.
He turned away from the window and sent Colin a text. He knew he wouldn’t get a response, and that was okay. Not even the jaws of life could pry his brother away from the green goddess.
Benny: Hey, don’t worry about me tonight. I’ll make myself scarce. The apartment is yours. I’m happy for you, brother.
To his surprise, Colin responded back a few seconds later.
Coli: I guess I need to find my own place, huh? Seriously, though. She’s The One, Benedict. She makes me feel alive again.
Benny: Speaking of your lady, where is she? I know she’s not with you if you’re responding. I would like to meet her before you whisk her away.
Colin grinned at his message.
Coli: She went to freshen up. I had to force her to go. I haven’t even touched her yet, Ben.
Benny: You haven’t? Why not?
Coli: Truthfully? I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop. I need to tell her who I really am first.
Benny: Colin, are you sure that’s something you want to tell her tonight?
Coli: I have to tell her tonight. It’s a door to another world. I need to know if she wants this. If she doesn’t…I don’t know what I would do. She’s coming back, I’ll bring her to you.
Colin looked up at Penelope as she approached him again and smiled. “Hi. I missed you.”
She smiled back and said, “I missed you too. Can we get out of here? I’m suddenly over the party scene.”
“Yes, absolutely. But first, I want you to meet someone.”
Colin placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her inside, careful to avoid her skin. “Penelope, I would like to introduce you to my older brother. Benedict, this is Penelope.”
Penelope’s breath caught. How was it possible for two humans to be so beautiful?
“Hello. It’s nice to meet you.” She offered her hand, and Benedict took it.
“It’s lovely to meet you as well. Colin was not kidding, you are ravishing.”
Penelope blushed at his compliment.
“Did you come to the party alone?” Benedict asked.
“No, I came with my cousin. But she found her own man, and left already. I believe we were about to do the same?” She looked at Colin as she said that, hoping he would get the hint.
“Yes. If you’ll excuse us, Benedict. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Have a good night. And Colin? Be careful. Your heart may not beat, but I know it can still break.”
Colin nodded at his brother and ran to follow Penelope out the door.
The atmosphere in Penelope’s car was electric. Colin couldn’t stop looking at her profile as she tried to concentrate on the road ahead of her.
Every time she glanced at him, he could swear his heart beat. She was bringing him slowly back to life, he could feel it.
He almost laughed at how ridiculous he sounded. But he didn’t know how else to describe it. It was crazy how fast things had escalated between them. The energy was unreal. He knew she was special.
Colin could only hope she would understand what he was going to tell her. But what he really wanted most of all was for her to choose him.
Once they arrived at Benedict’s flat, Colin felt a wave of nausea. He knew things would shift between them as soon as the words “I’m a vampire” came out of his mouth.
He knew the rumours, of course. The Twilight phenomenon had only made things worse. Not that anyone knew he was a vampire. In fact, this would be the first time it would be spoken aloud.
“Penelope.” They had stopped at the doorway to Benedict’s flat. Colin reached for her hand and finally made contact. Their touch was electric. He rubbed his thumb over her knuckles lightly.
She looked up at him with eyes so full of love. “Yes, Colin?”
He took a breath. “This door right here? It’s the door to another world. I need you to promise you’ll be understanding of what I’m going to tell you. I know that’s a lot to ask, but I need to hear you say it. Otherwise there’s no point.”
She simply nodded and said, “Whatever you need to tell me, I promise to listen to you.”
They entered the flat and Colin pulled her close, breathing her scent in. He hoped this would be the first of many embraces and not the last.
Colin sat her down on the couch and he began to pace. “You make me want to spill everything I’ve ever kept secret, you know that? I’ve never felt this way with anyone. Ever. Not even Ben, and he’s my brother .
“I really don’t know how else to say this. Penelope, I’m not normal. Far from it, actually. I’m something of a horror movie, but without the stereotypes you hear about. I’m not exactly…,” he paused and looked at her. “Human.”
He flinched as he said the sentence. He could almost see her brain processing his last sentence. When she remained silent, he continued. “I’m not human because I’m a vampire.”
He practically ran to the kitchen to give her space. If she was gone by the time he returned, he would understand. It’s not like he could change anything.
After what seemed like hours, he sensed her presence as soon as she walked into the kitchen. He felt her come up behind him and wrap her arms around his waist. “Okay,” she whispered. “So you’re a vampire. I have about a million questions, but I need to know one thing. Will you hurt me?”
Colin turned around in her arms and brought her to his chest. He kissed her hair and rested his chin on the top of her head. “No, never.”
“Okay. Can you tell me more?”
“I should probably also say that Benedict is also like me. He changed me so he wouldn’t be alone. A brother’s bond is strong and deep. It was something I had to do for him. And before you ask, he has never told me the story of how he became one. I don’t think he ever will.
“I don’t drink blood. Never did, never will. I never lost my appetite for human food. I can pass for a normal human, because sunlight will not kill me. I have heightened senses. I’m fast, but not lightening fast. And I do not sparkle. Thank God. Oh, and werewolves are not my enemy. The only enemy I have is time. And you.”
“Me?” She pulled away and questioned him. “How am I your enemy?”
“Okay, you are not exactly my enemy, but you do scare me. Because of what you do to me. You make me feel alive. And I haven’t felt that since I was alive. I could swear my heart is beating, but it’s not. Time is my enemy because I’m afraid of how much time I have left with you.”
“Forever,” she said simply. Like it was the most obvious answer. “You have forever.”
Colin whispered, “Okay,” and kissed her. The first of the rest of eternity.