Priceless Heart

Chapter Two

Anton awoke briefly to find himself in a bath. The water was warm and smelled of a perfume he couldn't place- his mind was still cloudy.

"You awoke," his voice was near by.

Anton tried to turn his head towards the sound, but his head throbbed.

"Don't try to move, you're still very weak."

"Where am I? How...?"

"You are at my home. I brought you here when you fell unconscious. Don't worry you are safe with me, Anton."

"Why? Why are you doing this for me? What did you do to me?"

"Hush. The answers you seek will come, I promise. Now, relax. Go back to sleep." He moved over him and Anton felt the brush of a cloth on his chest. Goosebumps sprang across his skin. The water lapped at his chin and he felt fingers go gently through his hair that sent warm feelings all through him as he drifted off.


Anton woke up in a huge wooden canopied bed. The sheets were made of white silk and the pillows made of red velvet embroidered in gold thread. The curtains were a light violet and hung about the bed like a mist. He was dressed in a cream tunic that laced up part of the front and soft tanned breeches. His hair was brushed and tied back into a ponytail. He could smell the perfume, it was rose, though he couldn't tell if it was coming from him or the sheets. He realized he was clean for the first time in years. He smiled.

The windows were open, letting in the warm breeze of the late day, teasing the curtains of the bed. Outside the windows lay a balcony with a black iron rail. He slid out of bed and looked around the room. The room was finely finished. Some of these things would get me a handsome price, Anton thought.
The floor was wood, covered by large oriental rugs. The fireplace was empty, but had a white marble mantel lined with golden candleholders. The ivory colored walls were covered with paintings framed in wood, silver, and gold. The bed was in the far-left corner of the room, across from the wooden door. Along the right wall were rows of bookshelves. Next to the window stood a dark wooden desk. A single candle was placed on the surfacIn tIn the center of the room stood a table with a candelabrum and an array of food.

Anton realized he was famished and fell upon the food. Bread, cheese, grapes, apples, and meats sat on a silver platter. The wine was red, watered down and tinted with honey; the glass was crystal. He ate all the food and was drinking the last of the wine when the door opened.

The man entered. This time Anton got a clear look at him. He was Greek and in his early 50's. His skin was pale, just a touch of olive to it, smooth with no visible flaw to it. He was muscular, but lean too. He stood about 6 feet tall with dark brown hair. Wisps of gray were streaked through it. His eyes were still a warm and a welcoming black. He was handsome, if not down right beautiful. Though it was a strange beauty. Something fierce and magical, that Anton could place. Whatever magic it was, it intrigued him.

"I'm glad to see you awake," he said as he closed the door behind him. "You were in such a bad shape when I found you." He moved towards Anton, coming to stand next to the end of the table and looked down at him.

Anton stopped drinking the wine and set the glass down upon the table. He had forgotten about the beating. He looked down at his hand. It was healed with no sign of disfigurement. He took a deep breath, his ribs too were healed, and he felt no pain. His hands flew to his face. He felt his nose and his lips. They too had healed with out any sign of scars.

"How is this possible? I should be dead! At least my body should be broken and in pain. How did it heal so fast? Why," Anton flushed in the memory, "why did you take my blood? What-." He stopped and remembered all the horror stories he had heard in bars and in the street throughout his travels, men being attacked by deranged people, even monsters that drank the blood of living humans. Creatures that rose from the grave, that were dead, but were yet also alive, the Nosferatu, the Undead. "Mon Dieu! You can't be! That's impossible!"

"Oh, really? Why is it so hard to believe?" The man stared directly into Anton's eyes with such clarity that Anton believed him.

"Yes! What you are proposing is simply a legend to frighten children, fairy and ghost stories. You can't be a...a vampire."

"I am," he said with a small nod.

"No. This is insane!" Anton moved towards the windows and then turned around. "I'm dreaming! Delirious with pain, still lying in that barn with my blood poring out of me."

The man walked over to Anton and placed his had on his cheek. "Is this not real?" he asked. Their lips almost touched again, and Anton was sure that he would kiss him, but the man drew back. He opened up his mouth and his canine teeth extended, revealing long sharp white fangs. Anton tentatively reached up and lightly touched one with the tip of his fingers. He felt smooth hard bone, real fangs.

"They're...They're real?!" Anton jerked his hand back in shock, and maybe even fear. "You're real! But why did you save me? Am I a vampire too?"

Thaddeus took his hand from Anton's face slipped to the side and went to the windows. "No, you are not a vampire, not yet. You didn't give me permission to turn you. I saved you because you needed to be saved. When I first saw you, you begged to be saved from the poverty you were in. I saw this hopelessness in your eyes, such pain. I wanted to save you."

Anton turned to face him. "Why didn't you take me with you, right then and there?" Anton cut in.

"Because it wasn't time yet. When you are an immortal, you know things like that. It's very hard to explain. You have to feel it to know it."

"What is your name? You never told it to me."

He tuned and looked at Anton, "I'm sorry, my name is Thaddeus."

"You said you are immortal. Just how old are you?"

"I was born in 101 AD in Greece. I was made into a vampire in 151. I've been alive for 1,499 years."

Anton's jaw dropped. "That's such a long time. How do you survive it?"

"Not easily. You must have a strong will and a strong brain. These will help you along the way."

"Why did you want to be a vampire?"

Thaddeus gave a short laugh, "Simple, to escape dying. I didn't want to die. I was 50; I knew death wasn't that far away. I wanted to see the future, who doesn't?"

"Can you die?"

"Anton, nothing it truly immortal. All things can die. Vampirism simply prolongs our lives. Swords will not kill us, though a beheading might. Fire will greatly wound us, but in time we can heal. Sunlight and holy objects have no effect on us. We can cross running water and a stake though the heart will not stop us either. We don't need to breathe or eat, but we can. This helps us to blend in with the human society. Our skin is pale and will darken to a more healthy shade when we feed, on blood. Our strength increases with age. At the beginning you can have the strength to break rocks and lift hundreds of pounds with one hand. Your hearing is superb. You can hear for miles, a leaf falling from a tree, water from a brook, people. You will be fast, mortal will not be able to see you move, if you chose. Shapeshifting, some have it. I myself can change into a wolf or a raven. Some can do more. Our level of capability depends on when you were human."

"Have...have you made any other vampires?" Anton asked sheepishly, not sure if it was his place to ask.

"Why, yes, I have. Not many, but a few."

"Where are they?" curiosity was getting the better of him.

"Some have died, the rest have gone off on their own. I do not hold it against them."

"Who made you?"

"My, my! So many questions! Can you permit me to ask a few myself?" Thaddeus smiled and his eyes gleamed in amusement.

"I'm sorry, sir! I didn't mean to impose, I'm just...curious."

"Thaddeus, call me Thaddeus. I am not your master. You have every right be so! I will try not to have many secrets between us, but allow me to have a few."

"Yes, of course! You had questions, yes?"

"Right! Lets us sit down, you must still be weary."

"All right, but I don't feel tired."

They walked to the table; Thaddeus placed the candelabra over to the side sey cey could see each other clearly. "How old are you, Anton?"

"I'm 20, my birthday was in June, I think."

"Where were you from?"
"Russia."

"What happened?"

"The tzar, the ruler, was crazy. His name was Ivan, Ivan the Terrible. He had some of the aristocracy murdered. My parents were some of them, so I was told. I don't remember much. I was only a few years old. My parents, before they were killed, gave me over to some family friends who smuggled me over the border. They gave me to an orphanage in Germany. I think I was 5 then. It was a hard place. We were beaten almost everyday and food was scarce. I ran away when I was old enough. I've been living on the streets since then, stealing and talking hand-outs when I can," Anton looked up to meet Thaddeus's eyes.

"I'm sorry."

"It wasn't that bad, after I left...I mean, I could have died. But I haven't...I survived...everything," Anton said softly. He could feel the tears of memory coming. He tied to hold them back; he didn't want to appear weak in front of Thaddeus. "I'm fine, I'm fine," he whispered to himself. He clenched his hand into fits as if that would stop the memories from coming back.

Thaddeus moved his chair right in front of Anton. He took both of Anton's hands into his, prying them open and folding them into his. "Let it out. It's okay to cry. It will help."

"Will it? Have you ever lived in fear? I've almost died of sickness and starvation. No one has ever helped me before. Why are you helping me? I'm just a nobody, a peasant...a thief. I tried to rob you!"

"Does it really matter why? You're here, can't that be enough?" Thaddeus's voice was low.

Anton stood up, almost knocking over his chair, "No! There has to be a reason why a rich nobleman would do this..." he voice grew soft. "...save me. Tell me why."

"Do I really have to tell you?" Thaddeus' voice, still low, took on a husky quality that was, oddly, attractive to Anton. Anton walked over to the curtained window, looked down into the garden in the courtyard, trying hard to concentrate more on the butterflies fluttering amongst the flowers then on the feelings which Thaddeus' voice had inspired. There were butterflies in his stomach too.

Thaddeus' voice cut through his mixed emotions, "Can I ask you a personal question?"

"Sure...why not." What is he getting at? Anton wondered. He didn't dare turn around.

"Are you a virgin?"

Anton whirled around to face him; the look on his face was in shock. "I-I. What kind of question is that?!"

"You said I could ask, so I did. Have you had any lovers on your journey through the world?"

Anton turned back to looking out the window, to hide the fact that he was blushing. "Well, I..." his voice faded.

"Never?"

"No, there have been times... I tried to get a women, but it didn't strike me as...pleasant." He stopped talking afraid to go on. His mind was racing with ideas. Just what is he getting at? What if he finds out that I'm one of those who don't like women? A sodomite? What would he say? Maybe...maybe he's trying to find that out and he might be one too. Or he could hate sodomites and kill me. Just like Jacque tried.

Anton jumped when Thaddeus' hand touched his shoulder. He never heard him move. "I don't find women 'pleasant' as well."

The other man's body seemed too close...and yet so far way too. Anton's breath came out faster as Thaddeus spoke again, "I saw you watching me in the square, you looked like you could have been beautiful underneath all that dirty exterior. And I was right. When apart of your hair caught the sun I thought I saw gold. I remember the way you walked...fluidly...sensually.... Do you really not know why I saved you?"

Anton did not turn around, but merely whispered, "You're attracted to me."

"Yes," Thaddeus breathed.

"Is that why you rescued me?"

"It isn't the only reason. You were about to die. If I hadn't intervened, they would have killed you."

Anton took a deep breath to calm himself. To have Thaddeus speak so...intimately to him made Anton's heartbeat quicken. He turned to face the taller man, "Thaddeus, thank-you. I-."

"Shhh," Thaddeus put a finger over Anton's lips. "You owe me no thanks."
Anton saw that Thaddeus' eyes were bright, but not in anger as he had thought in the market place, but with desire. He wants me, Anton realized in awe. That thought threw him into chaos. He could remember the priest condemning him for his 'unnatural' desires...watching the two men making love...remembering the emotions that had been aroused in him while watching...the fear...the need...the loneliness.

God, he thought. He is beautiful! Can I trust him? I haven't even known him for a whole day! Yet, I want to. I don't know what to do. Thaddeus moved closer to him and he could see the lust in his eyes. He wants me, Anton thought wondrously. But do I want him? Do I want this, now? Can it hurt?

"You know what I want," whispered Thaddeus. "Just tell me, and we don't have to go a step further."

They were only an inch apart, "Yes, I want it..."

Thaddeus' arms came around Anton, pulling them close together. Thaddeus' skin was cool through Anton's shirt. Desire filled Anton; he yearned for Thaddeus's kiss. His heart was pounding; he looked into Thaddeus' eyes.

Thaddeus's lips touched Anton's in a tentative kiss. The first brush of lips together was so unfamiliar, so awkward. Anton had never guessed that lips could be so soft, their touch so achingly arousing...he pressed his lips closer, and suddenly Thaddeus' tongue was there, pressing up against his lips, licking them.
He opened his lips, allowing Thaddeus entrance. His eyes flew open, meeting Thaddeus' gaze for the briefest second, until he felt Thaddeus' tongue inside of his mouth, licking his own, tickling the roof of his mouth. He moaned, trying to suck Thaddeus' tongue with his own lips as their tongues collided with each other. Anton could taste Thaddeus' mouth. Anton felt his penis growing hard, and he sucked in a quick breath as Thaddeus broke the kiss.

Shyly, not sure if his own clumsy tongue could give the same pleasure, Anton reed Ted Thaddeus' tongue and licked at his lips. The lips parted, allowing him to enter, and Anton pushed his tongue past sharp teeth into warm wetness.

At the same time, Thaddeus' hands started to roam around Anton's body, moving down his back, along the ridges of his hips, and at last to massage his buttocks. Anton instinctively pressed his hard-on into Thaddeus' thigh, and his hands went to Thaddeus' hips.

The kiss broke off; Anton took in a gulp of air, and he let it out in a shuddering sigh.

Thaddeus's hands went under Anton's shirt and his fingers massaged his skin. The sensation of Thaddeus touching him sent waves of goosebumps through Anton. Thad's fingers were cool silk on Anton's warming flesh. "Ah..." sighed Anton.

Thaddeus took Anton and lifted him into his arms. Anton smiled and put his arms around Thad's neck. They moved to the canopied bed and fell into the sheets as Thaddeus closed the curtains behind them. Anton lay beneath him, and tried to wrap his legs around him and his hands tried to find their way into Thaddeus' shirt.

Thaddeus's tongue found its way back into Anton's mouth again, they sucked each other's tongues until Anton had to come up for air; he laid back into the mattress. Anton was aching for more; he wanted to touch him, but also wanted to be touched himself.

So you shall, Anton heard Thaddeus's voice in his head.

Thaddeus tore off Anton shirt and threw it onto the floor, "Ah," he said more to himself then to Anton. He fell upon Anton's nipples, nipping them slightly while sucking them with his lips. Anton felt his penis growing harder, and he moaned.addeaddeus stopped suckling Anton's nipples, and moved back up to his lips, "You taste so good", he murmured.

Anton kissed Thaddeus as he went for his shirt lacing. With shaking hands he undid Thaddeus' shirt and Thaddeus pulled it off, tossing it to the floor, already forgotten. Thaddeus sat up, with him he pulled Anton to his chest. Their lips met again while Anton's hands explored Thaddeus's chest.

His nipples too where hard, Anton pinched them tenderly with his teeth, hearing Thaddeus sigh in reply. His hands roamed to the small of his back, pulling them closer, their hips locked. Thaddeus's strong arms came around Anton pressing him down into the sheets. Anton tore at his mouth, he wanted more, the waiting was almost painful.

Thaddeus lay beside him and reached down to Anton's crotch and stroked his hardening penis through the cloth. Anton gasped, "Ooohhh," he couldn't believe that it felt so good. Thaddeus's hands moved to the top of his pants and pulled down. Anton squirmed to be free of the restricting garment.
"Thaddeus," he gasped.

Thaddeus' fingers closed around Anton's penis. It hardened in his hand, making Anton writhe in desire. Thaddeus spread Anton's legs and moved in between them. One arm went around Anton, the other went under him, massaging his buttocks, and his mouth kissed the tip of his organ.

"OH, GOD!" Anton arched his back and reachut fut for Thaddeus. He almost came, his mind swam, it felt so good. Then Thaddeus swallowed his whole length. His tongue, teeth, and lips massaged him, making him grow even harder. Anton was gone; he was consumed by rapture. He was rapture. His hips bucked and Thaddeus sucked him harder taking him all in his mouth.

"Thaddeus! I'm -," he screamed as he came, back arching, his eyes clouding over. He felt Thaddeus suck his cum out of him. Then it was over.

Anton collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. Thaddeus stayed down a few more seconds, slowly suckling his soft penis. He slid back up to Anton, kissing him gently on the lips. "Am I good?"

"Oh, god yes. That was...incredible." Anton gasped. He breath was ragged and his heart was hammering in his chest. He had never ever thought anything could feel so...wonderful. It released him in a way he never thought possible. Fear and loneliness vanished, while need was only increased.

They began to kiss, Thaddeus waiting until Anton was ready to start again. Thaddeus' lips moved down to Anton's jawbone, then to the hallow of his throat. Anton could feel Thaddeus's sharp teeth nipping lightly at his skin. And after a while Thaddeus thought Anton was ready.

Thaddeus slid out of his pants and Anton gasped at the sight of his penis. It was huge, larger then Anton's by far. Thaddeus reached out to beside the bed where he produced a small ceramic bowl filled with oil.

"Take me Anton, you want me, now have me." Thaddeus said in a low voice. He rolled over, pulling Anton on top of him. He spread his own legs, reached down, took Anton's organ in one hand and with the other he took the oil and started to massage it onto Anton's cock. Anton went instantly hard and with that, Thaddeus showed it its place.

Anton gritted his teeth as he penetrated him; once he was in, it was easy. Thaddeus moaned in pleasure, he took Anton by the hips and thrust him in deeper. Anton got the idea and started to move in and out of him while Thaddeus was trying to bring him in further. Thaddeus moaned with each thrust, his hands locked around Anton's back. They got an exquisitely fast rhythm going, and Anton could again feel his balls tightening. He tried to hold it for as long as he could, but soon he could hold it no longer. With a guttural cry, he came.
He collapsed on top of Thaddeus, completely spent. Thaddeus himself was in a world of rapture, he held Anton to his chest, his breath uneven, panting. Anton could hear Thaddeus's heart beating rapidly in his chest; Anton's own was no better.

They stayed there, recovering from the shocks of pleasure, content, for now, just to lie with each other. Thaddeus's hand came up and caressed Anton's cheek. Anton's mind was swimming with emotions; he hadn't ever been this happy before.

"Thaddeus?" he whispered."

"Hmmm?" he replied.

"Why didn't...I mean, can you...you know..."

"Vampires cannot have children in the conventional sense. We're sterile. We have children by exchanging blood. We can still feel all pleasures of having sex, but we cannot ejaculate. Our main pleasure comes from giving and taking blood."

"Drink from me, please."

"No, I can't. I took enough from you already. You're too weak. I don't want to hurt you, Anton."

"I don't care if you do hurt me, take me...please."

Thaddeus stroked Anton's cheek thoughtfully. Suddenly, in one motion, Thaddeus flipped Anton onto his stomach. He dipped two of his fingers into the oil and slowly slid them into Anton's hole one at a time. Anton shivered, there was pain, his-hol-hole contracted as he tensed up. "Ah," he grunted.

"Relax," Thaddeus said. "It'll feel better." Thaddeus waited until Anton had relaxed enough, then slowly he moved his fingers inside of him, trying to open Anton up. Anton groaned in pleasure, "More," he begged.
Thaddeus happily obliged him; he slowly finger fucked Anton for a few minutes, opening him up. He slid his fingers out (which brought a nice reaction from Anton), and put his tongue there in place of them. This drove Anton wild. His hips bucked, and he tried to force Thaddeus' tongue in deeper.

Thaddeus took Anton's butt checks in his hands and spread them apart, getting his lips in there he began to suck his hole. Thaddeus could sense that Anton was close to climax. Before Anton could cum again, Thaddeus took his face out of Anton's checks.

"Don't stop!" Anton cried.

"I'm not," said Thaddeus. He flipped Anton onto his back and looked into Anton's eyes, "This is going to hurt, I'll do my best to be gentle." With that he smoothed some oil onto his penis and pushed into Anton.

At the first nudge, Anton's whole body jerked. And as Thaddeus slid in deeper Anton clenched his teeth and gripped the bedclothes. The pain was terrible, but there was immense pleasure in it too. "My God," Thaddeus cried. "You're so," Thaddeus moved in deeper, "tight!" he threw his head back as he groaned through clamped teeth.

Anton could fees ass ass-hole widening, letting Thaddeus in. He though he might be ripped in two. Finally, there was one last thrust and Thaddeus was completely in Anton. Slowly, not wanting to hurt him any more then he had too, Thaddeus pulled out fully and then quickly moved back in.
Anton screamed; his whole body arched off the bed, moving Thaddeus's cock along with him, adding to the ecstasy that went through him. Thaddeus got to his knees and began to hump Anton in smooth, practiced thrusts. Anton moved with him, moaning, his eyes half closed.

Anton felt Thaddeus cover him, his lips were at Anton's neck, and then he felt a sting.

Thaddeus kissed Anton's neck and let his fangs break through the skin. A warm wash of blood covered his tongue and flowed like a river down his throat. He drank and his whole body shivered in ecstasy. The blood warmed his body and heightened his senses, which were already almost over loaded. He reached down and fondled Anton's rock hard cock with his fingers.

The texture of the skin was soft, smooth, hot to Thaddeus' touch. Anton was ready to explode. All it took was the slightest touch from Thaddeus' nimble fingers, to push him over the edge.

Thaddeus felt a warm gush of fluid go over his hands. He released his fangs from Anton's neck, covered the fang marks with his saliva to heal them, leaned back, and looked at the semen that covered his hands and brought them to his lips.

Anton watched with heated eyes as Thaddeus tasted his cum. Sweat covered him from head to toe, he was exhausted, but he wanted one more thing from Thaddeus...his blood.

Thaddeus saw the lust in Anton's eyes. "Ah, do you want it now, my lover?" he whispered.

It took Anton a moment to reply, he had to catch his breath, "Yes, give it to me!"

Thaddeus leaned back down, slowly, ever so slowly, to draw out the sensation, he removed himself from Anton. Anton moaned in delight.
Thaddeus straddled Anton's waist; he raised a finger to his own neck and cut the skin. A thin steam of blood trickled its way down Thaddeus' chest. The look in Anton's eyes turned to hunger. He lifted his head and caught the blood with his tongue. He wound his way back up Thaddeus' chest to the wound. He sucked at it hungrily, the taste of the blood was sweeter then any wine or honey. It was his ambrosia. He fought when Thaddeus lifted him away. When it was gone, he collapsed onto the bed. Sleep was overtaking him. He heard Thaddeus say, "There will be other times, Anton..." He was gone.