Fourteen Hibernate

I awoke from what felt like an eternity of slumber, my body refreshed, my mood buoyant. Hibernation, it seemed, had its perks. Vampires typically rested in coffins, but I had chosen the comfort of Harry's messy bed, a risk worth taking for the luxury of soft sheets, albeit stained with the remnants of our nocturnal activities.

The air was thick with the scent of blood and semen, a testament to the wild night we'd had. I was as pungent as Harry, so I slipped into one of his robes and made my way to the bathroom for a steamy shower. My thoughts drifted to my mother. She disapproved of my spending the Full Moon Fest in Darker Ville, distrusting the vampires here. And the amount of sex we'd had? She'd disapprove of that for sure.

After my shower, I noticed something miraculous - the hickeys on my neck had vanished overnight. No need for makeup to hide them from my sisters or my mother, who would undoubtedly pry for every juicy detail. I recalled the last time they interrogated me about my first sexual experience at nineteen. It wasn't with my first love, or was it? Hayden, my first boyfriend, was a wolf, cute and young.

Our romance lasted three months until he was swept away by an omega in heat, marking the end of us. Since then, I'd only dated vampires. Mathew, who had taken my virginity, Lucas, another vampire, and then Kevin, a human from Willow Creek, before circling back to casual flings with Hayden. My mother always feared for my safety in these relationships, especially with humans, but the experiences, the parties, the human life... it was thrilling.

"Good morning," I greeted the maid who entered to clean Harry's room. She was close to our age, perhaps Harry's exact age. "Morning, Your Highness..." she replied, bowing slightly, her voice timid. "Ummm... Your Highness, it's noon."

"Really..." I was shocked. "It's been a while since I slept this long. I don't blame myself; yesterday was Full Moon Fest." I laughed. "Your Highness, Full Moon Fest was two days ago," she corrected softly, careful not to offend.

"Oh," I replied, my face a mask of calm, though inside I was reeling. Two days? What must my mother be thinking? But she would know I was alive; her witch senses would tell her that.

"Should I wake the prince?" she asked, her gaze lingering on Harry with an intensity that sparked jealousy. I could tell she had feelings for him, or perhaps knew more about us than she let on.

"You don't want to get closer," I warned, "He's completely naked." Instead of embarrassment, she blushed, which irked me. I was fiercely possessive. Harry stirred, noticing the maid, and hastily covered himself with the stained sheet, adding to my embarrassment.

"Hey... I just ran your bath; you should freshen up," the maid said casually, as if speaking to a friend. Confusion painted Harry's face as it had mine. "You're looking great, when did you bathe?" he asked, ignoring the maid. "Just a few moments ago," I smirked, "You should go now; she needs to clean."

I gave the maid a pointed look. As Harry headed to the bathroom, I followed, knowing he was waiting for me. Once inside, he shut the door quickly and kissed me fiercely. "The maid is just a room away; we can't do it here. What if we're discovered?" I protested. "You need to relax..." he whispered, "I locked the door; she'll assume you're just helping me bathe." He kissed me again.

"No, stop!" I snapped. "What's wrong?" he inquired, his eyes searching mine. "I can't start something I won't be able to finish. I don't want to wake your monster; I'm expected at school tomorrow." "Just one round, please..." he pleaded.

"Besides, you stink," I teased. "Okay, just one round. I need to save my power for school; I can't lose another two days sleeping again..."

"What two days? You mean we've been sleeping for two days?" His eyes widened in shock. "Yeah, I'm not sure, maybe it's been a fortnight," I jested, beginning to strip for my man, knowing full well I'd need another bath after this. The water steamed around us, the bathroom echoing with our whispers and soft laughter. There was an intimacy in this moment, a secret shared between us as the world outside continued to turn, oblivious to our small, hidden world.

We managed that one round, each touch charged with the electricity of our connection. But it was quick, knowing we were on borrowed time and space. After, I cleaned up again, the water washing away the night's remnants, leaving only the memory of our closeness. As we dressed, I pondered the complexities of my life - part witch, part vampire, caught between worlds. My mother's concerns, my own desires, the thrill of the forbidden, all played out in this castle of shadows.

The maid had left by now, the room tidied, our secret still safe. Harry and I slipped out of the bathroom, our laughter now silent, our eyes meeting with understanding. We had to return to our roles, him as the prince of Darker Ville, me as the enigmatic visitor from another realm. But the bond we shared, the passion that ignited under the cover of darkness, it was ours alone, a secret that made every moment together feel like a stolen treasure from the night. As I prepared to leave for school, I knew this wasn't just about the physical; it was about the connection, the escape, the sheer thrill of living on the edge of two worlds. I would carry this with me, through the daylight, into the halls of learning, where I was just another student, but within, a creature of the night, my heart beating to the rhythm of the moon.