Forever Dark, a love story spanning the centuries.

The pain was excruciating. Its fire flowed through every length of blood vessel and blazed along every nerve; it permeated each joint, muscle and organ. I writhed uncontrollably as spasms contorted my body.

Then all movement ceased, and the fire within was my only perception. My body was gone.

Death was a most painful experience for one still alive…

"Show me," she whispered. Licia slipped from the bed to kneel before him and, like an actress in some late night horror movie, she tilted her head and bared her neck to his bite. Compelled by ages of longing, Josiah knelt on the floor, only inches from her body. The electricity between them was overwhelming, and at this intimate proximity, she could see it sparking in his eyes. Josiah leaned toward her, his breath warm and wet on her skin as he embraced Licia and snaked a hand up the back of her blouse. He pulled her to his chest, nestled his nose against her collarbone and inhaled deeply.

"Ah…" he groaned. "Lotus Blossom perfume--I should have known. That was always your favorite scent."

Licia trembled in his arms, reveling in the fear and the fire burning her through. "Please," she pleaded in a breathy whisper, "please…"

But, he did nothing more than caress her body. His need for her penetrated her, coursed in her veins, yet he resisted. Licia wanted more, she wanted her answers and she wanted his fangs in her flesh. She reached up, cupped his chin in her hand and put his mouth against her neck; yet he did not consummate the act which brought them together. He crushed Licia against his body, smothered her with kisses and sobbed.

"So many years," he whispered. "I have ached for you, yearned for this moment. I don't know how you managed the pain, the longing, the separation…"

Josiah's kissed her deeply, then, pressing his pent passion onto her lips as he guided their bodies to the floor. His tongue stroked Licia's, and his hands moved across her body. She melted within, molten metal in an artist's kiln as his touch set Licia afire.

Eager to be tempered by their blazing passion, she worked at the buttons of his shirt, and pulled it away to reveal his bare his chest. His skin was cool to the touch and rippled by muscles. He grinned, and then leaned forward to envelope her breast in his mouth. Piercing fangs cut through her blouse--a stinging delight--and the moisture from his breath soaked the fabric as her nipple tightened beneath his rubbing tongue. Breath caught in Licia's throat, she reached up to tangle her fingers in his hair. She guided his mouth to her neglected breast, groaning aloud as he gave it the same nettled bliss.

Licia loosed her grip in his hair, allowing him free reign. Josiah unbuttoned the front of her blouse, and leaned back to watch it fall open and expose her breasts. She lay next to him, with a chance moonbeam painting her body a ghostly white. Josiah licked the pads of his fingers, and then teased one nipple with them as he again leaned down, and took the point of her breast into his mouth. The tips of his teeth grazed her skin; the sensation kindled a white hot desire in her.

Propped on one elbow, Josiah walked the fingers of his free hand down her abdomen, and slipped it between Licia thighs. The pressure and motion of his hidden hand, even through the fabric of her pants, was enough to make her twitch and groan. Pleasure blazed through her body. It was as if Josiah knew just how to please her, and he did so to her delight and her torment.

Licia wanted him, needed to feel him in her. She rolled onto her side, and pushed Josiah down on to the carpeting. Straddling his hips, she felt the evidence of his arousal firm and hot beneath her. Licia traced a fingertip along the lines between his muscles, and nipped each one before she placed wet kisses at the intersection that ran past his navel and beneath his belt. She sat up and looked into his eyes as she pulled her nails down the length of his body. Josiah moaned, his head back and jaw clenching against the mix of pleasure and pain. His body stiffened as she pressed her lips to his neck. She progressed from his collarbone, down to his waist, and then ran her tongue along his beltline as she pulled on the buckle.

"Oh gods…" he groaned. His fingers curled into the nap of the carpeting.

At first, his body rose, both to thrust against the seat of her craving, and to aid in removing his belt. But, Josiah suddenly sat up and as he did so, he gently pushed Licia off his lap. He rose, lifted her from the floor and laid her on the bed. She pulsed with desire, ready to make love; yet he pulled away and lifted the necklace from where it had been dropped against the pillows. He held the jewels up in the moonlight, and watched the light reflect from the jackal-like muzzle of the Anubis charm.

His head fell, waves of dark hair covering his face. "I cannot do this to you," he said. "You have no idea what pain you will go through, how you will miss the sun. You will never have children, and you will watch your mortal loved ones die." Josiah lifted his head, tracks of tears shining on his cheeks. "I love you, and will love your soul for all eternity; I will not damn you to this existence again."

He's telling me 'no?' Licia could not believe what she heard. After everything she'd learned from him, to be refused was torture. "You cannot deny me! Josiah, please--I cannot live in this questionable hell."

Josiah stood for a moment, silent and contemplative. He held the clasp of the necklace open, and Licia rose from the bed in order for him to fasten it around her neck.

"The path to the truth is not an easy one," he said. "You must go back, and relive it all. Then you can decide if you want an eternity of darkness and blood. But to do that, I must free your mind from its conscious constraints."

"How?"

"There is only one way," he said and then bared his fangs.

Licia shuddered once, but then she exposed her throat. This time, Josiah leapt on her like a beast, his arms hard against her back as she felt a sharp, searing pain. The tips of his teeth pierced the surface just above her necklace, and she cried out. Josiah stifled her with his hand, and continued to bite down until his canines tore through her skin. His fangs burned in her flesh like branding irons, yet a chill settled into Licia's body as her blood was consumed and her muscles went lax. Tears bled from Licia's eyes, even as her own blood trickled from the corner of his mouth to seep between the beads and stain her white blouse.

Josiah released his hold. With great tenderness, he leaned Licia's head against the pillows, and pulled a blanket over her shivering body.

In shock, powerless to move, Licia watched as a tear ran down his cheek to mingle with her blood, which coated his lips. He took a napkin from the cart and wiped it away.

Kat Martin, www.katbook.com