Aurora Soleil's Arc

Chapter 1 of 4

Aurora Soleil reached the mansion door and raised her hand to knock. Then she stopped. Her skin glowed pink and gold, warm as noon. That warmth would burn the woman she had climbed this hill to court. Aurora wanted to become the vampire's bride, to stay with her forever. But she could not even touch her without hurting her. She lowered her hand and pressed her palm to the cold stone instead. The door opened on its own. A woman stood in the dark hall, dressed in black lace, red eyes steady. This was Vivienne Nightshade, who owned the mansion and had lived here alone for sixty years. She looked at Aurora's glowing hair and stepped back. "You're bright," Vivienne said. "Too bright. Stay there." "I know." Aurora stayed on the step. "I burn things. I don't want to burn you." Vivienne said nothing. She did not shut the door either. Aurora took that as an answer. "I saw this place from the road," Aurora said. "I couldn't walk past it. I thought, someone in there is alone." "I am." Vivienne's voice stayed flat. "That's not your problem." Aurora held out a bundle wrapped in cloth. She had carried it up the hill. Inside were wildflowers with glowing petals, picked that morning. "These heal burns," Aurora said. "I take them when my own light gets too strong. If I ever hurt you by mistake, chew the petals and press them to the mark. The burn fades." Vivienne stared at the flowers. She did not reach for them. "Why bring me a cure before you've done any harm?" "Because I plan to come back," Aurora said. "And I won't let my warmth be the reason you stay afraid of me." Vivienne crossed the hall. She stopped at the edge of the dark, where Aurora's glow met the shadow. She studied Aurora's face, not her light. For a long moment neither spoke. "Set them down," Vivienne said at last. Aurora knelt and placed the flowers on the threshold. The glowing petals lit the stone between them. Vivienne crouched on her side of the line and lifted the bundle with care, keeping her fingers clear of Aurora's reach. "You'll come back," Vivienne said. It was not a question. "Every day," Aurora said. "Until we find a way for me to stand beside you." Vivienne held the flowers against her chest. "Then here is the rule. You stay outside the light. I stay outside your reach. We talk across it." She paused. "Break the rule and I close the door." "I accept," Aurora said. Vivienne stepped back into the dark. The door stayed open a hand's width. Aurora sat on the cold step, her glow lighting the garden behind her, and began to talk. The courtship had started. But the rule that saved Vivienne also kept them apart. To ever become her bride, Aurora would have to find a way to carry her light without the burn.