Page 105 of Shadows of Eternity

“I was thinking of going shopping tonight,” Leia said, sending an appreciative glance at Rohan. “Would you like to go with me, Mom?”

“What a silly question,” Cynthia said, her voice laced with excitement. “I’ve always dreamed of this day.”

“Me, too. How soon can you be ready?”

“Just let me tell Dad we’re going.”

Leia sighed as her mother hurried upstairs. Turning to Rohan, she said, “Thanks. I couldn’t think of a plausible lie.”

“No problem, although you could have done it yourself.”

“I know, but … it just didn’t seem right to use my power on my own mother.”

“Have fun,” he said as Cynthia returned. “I’ll see you later.”

“Leia, how are you, really?” Cynthia asked as they pulled out of the driveway.

Leia grimaced inwardly. This was a conversation she had been dreading. “I’m fine, Mom. Honest.”

“Do you feel … you know, different?”

“Sometimes. But mostly I still feel like me.”

Cynthia fell silent for a moment. Taking a deep breath, she asked, “But what about the … the blood?”

“Oh, Mom, do we really need to talk about this?”

“I’m sorry, hon. But I can’t help being curious. Becoming a vampire isn’t like changing your hair color or rearranging the furniture. You can’t change it back.”

Leia laughed in spite of herself. And then she sobered. She couldn’t blame her mother for having questions when there were still things she wanted to know. “It’s like being me, only more so. I’m physically stronger. Everything looks the same, yet different. Colors are brighter. I can hear sounds I couldn’t hear before, see farther. I thought I’d be repulsed by the blood, but I’m not. Rohan has made the whole transition easier for me.”

Thankfully, they reached the mall before Cynthia could ask any more questions.

As she had before, Leia walked up and down the aisles in the bridal shop. To her surprise, she found a gown she liked even better than the first one. The clerk said they had ordered a new one several weeks ago for a client who had then changed her mind. The gown was scheduled to arrive on Friday, along with a matching veil.

“Well, that was lucky,” Cynthia said as they left the store. “It’s a beautiful dress and except for being a little too long, it fits perfectly.”

Leia nodded. “All we need now is a church and a wedding date. And flowers.”

“And a cake,” her mother said.

“And a cake,” Leia repeated. She knew a moment of regret, thinking that Rohan wasn’t the only one who couldn’t eat it now.

“Oh!” Cynthia’s eyes widened. “You can’t have any, can you?”

“No. But everyone else can.”

“Do you miss food?”

“Not really. I thought I would, but I don’t.”

Her mother was unusually quiet on the drive home. No doubt pondering all the things she’d learned about vampires, Leia mused. It must be hard for her parents to relate to her the way she was now. She considered herself fortunate that they had accepted her, even though she knew they weren’t happy about her new and unusual lifestyle. She wondered how her brother would react when he found out. His shoot in Italy had ended and he would be home within a few days.

Staring out the window, Leia pondered her future. What would life be like once she and Rohan were married? Would they live in her apartment? Or Rohan’s lair? Or buy a new house?

Would he continue to dance? She hoped so, although he had talked of quitting. They wouldn’t get old, wouldn’t have children or grandchildren … Of course, if Rohan were agreeable, they could adopt a baby, but she would never feel a child of her own move within her womb, never know the wonder of creation.

She put the thought out of her mind. Human or vampire, there was no point in fretting over the future.

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