Doe

1.

She heard the whispers around her but stayed quiet. Her eyes were all dried out as well; she couldn't see anything clearly around her because of the sheer veil obstructing her view. All she could see was the intricate embroidery on her veil, she wanted to appreciate it but she couldn't.

Every month, it was a custom in their village, for every unmated girl over eighteen to make a small cut on her finger and rub the oozing blood on the bark of a tree. She had turned eighteen two days ago and her mother had made her do the ritual. It was a saying that monsters would take a whiff of this blood and finds their partners, those monsters sucked blood of the innocent to stay healthy.

So far she had seen only two girls in her entire lifetime to be chosen by the monster, she was the second. She knew about the species that looked like humans but were different in many ways, they were immortals and very powerful. Her village elders told them stories of different supernatural realms and their village was the entryway to the realm of the blood sucking monsters, vampires.

If the monster selected his partner then he would notify the village elders through a message such as a letter, according to the rules the selected would have to be dressed in an exquisite wedding attire designed by the monster and made to stand alone in the forest where he would then come and take her and make her his wife.

She was scared because she had never heard again of the girl that was chosen and the village elders too didn't make things pleasant for them. When the village elders had come to her house, her mother had fainted and her father just stood still and took in the news. She was the chosen. She couldn't believe her fate, she had cried and pleaded but there was no choice.

“Doe,” her mother whispered. She turned to her mother and just looked at her; she had nothing left inside of her.

“My daughter, it is time,” her mother whispered and Doe saw the tears trickling down her cheek.

Doe saw her mother walking away, as per the customs Doe was not supposed to be touched by anyone after her evening bath, it would pollute her scent and the monster didn't like that. The elders said they wanted them pure and untouched, like virgins.

And for this very reason, males and females in the village were not allowed to fraternise.

The forest was quiet, save for the chirping of the crickets. He would come anytime and she didn't dare move. It was not a pleasant forest, especially during the night. She stared at the moon streaming through, despite the thick canopy of the forest. It felt like she was getting mocked by everything around her.

A few moments passed again and nothing happened, soon dread started to fill her. Questions began swirling in her mind, how would the monster be? Would he drain her of her blood? Would he abuse her? Of course he would, why else would he be called a monster? She whimpered loudly and turned around, the gown rustled around her and she bit her lip from sobbing loudly. She started to walk towards her village, she wouldn't submit herself to the monster, and she wouldn't go down without a fighting.

“Stop,”

She immediately stopped in her steps. Her breathing hitched and she felt the eerie presence engulf her. The crickets had stopped chirping and it seemed the moon had been covered with a thick cloud because there was no light at all in the forest. It was pitch dark. Her body started to tremble violently but she didn't utter even a word, she wanted to scream for help, shriek loudly to resonate her terror but she couldn't, her voice chord seemed blocked as if it was choked by a vice grip.

She felt the monster though. There was coldness around him, the air was frigid and crisp and it was extremely sinister. He didn't make a sound, but she could feel him move around.

He growled and she yelped, she quickly bit her lip from making any more sound. She didn't want to risk his wrath.

He closed in on her. She felt his strong and large hand on her waist; Doe shut her eyes close and with bated breath waited for the pain to come. He was a monster, he would torture her, he would enjoy inflicting pain on her. She felt his breath on her neck and a soft moan left her lips, she felt the heat rising to her cheeks and she wrapped her arms around her body.

Doe could feel a throbbing; the pulse on her neck was throbbing. Like it was calling out to someone, like it wanted something to satiate the throbbing, to calm down.

The monster seemed big, she knew it was looming on her, he gently pulled her to him and her body hit his back.

“My bride,” he whispered.

A sob escaped her lips and soon, without her control, she was crying. She was so scared and terrified of her life ahead. What would this man do to her? He turned her around to him and the only thing she could make semblance was of his chest, she couldn't see anything else. He bent his neck considerably and took a slight whiff of her neck.

“You are very tiny,” he growled.

His voice was like molten lava, very thick and strong. It also oozed command and authority, his entire persona oozed authority. She was thoroughly intimidated by the monster. He scared her and frightened her. He was also very big, she could make out and she was as it is considered so tiny, how would she keep up with the large monster?

“What is your name?” he asked.

“D-Doe,” she stuttered meekly.

“How old are you Doe? I have never detected your blood before,” he said. His voice was commanding and demanded answers. But she couldn't speak anything, she was hyperventilating and she wanted to just sleep in her momma’s lap.

“E-Eighteen,” she whispered. She couldn't afford to upset him.

He stilled, she knew he did, but she didn't know why.

He picked her up and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She kept her eyes closed, she didn't want to know him or see him. She would do everything but look at him; she would never be able to draw that amount of courage.

His arms were strong and he felt virile and extremely masculine and muscular. He was also very tall and extremely well built, she could feel the strength of his biceps, and they were massive.

Monsters or vampires never aged. They stopped after a time and lived for eternity, there were few ways to kill them but she was not aware of any.

They continued walking across the forest, vampires had great vision as well and it was proved by how he was walking, his steps were surefooted and speedy. The moon started to shine its light again and she sighed in relief. She could see the forest in front of her clearing, giving way to a road, a car was parked and she knew that was her transport to hell.

He expertly opened the car door with one hand and placed her inside, she kept her gaze averted from him. There was another man sitting in the front, the driver maybe.

The monster removed her veil and she gulped. She saw him biting his wrist and she frowned harshly and turned away. He brought his wrist to her mouth, it was bleeding. She tried to move away but he mercilessly forced her to lick his bite.

“Doe, this is important, I want you to take my blood,” he growled.

She whimpered but did what he said. She brought her mouth and started to suck on his blood, it was just like what blood tasted, copper.

He removed his wrist and brought her wrist to his mouth, she started to pull away, tears streaming down her face. But he bit her and she felt the piercing pain, she winced her eyes shut and a scream bubbled from inside of her.

He sucked the bite and then licked it clean. Her head was spinning at the monstrosity she was exposed to and she began to sob loudly.

He pulled her closer to him and ran his fingers through her hair.

“Now you are my wife, forever,” he whispered.