The old woman rose, and went to make whatever preparations where needed. The others remained gathered around the fire, but Aidan got up and made his way out of the circle of wagons. Flame rose and followed him. “Are you alright?”

With a heavy sigh he sat down at the base of a huge oak that stood a little ways from the gypsy's clearing. “I guess. I just… I’m not adjusting to this vampire thing very well. The whole time that old gypsy was talking it was all I could do to keep my attention on her. Somebody in the camp is injured, bleeding, and I can smell it. I’m hungry in a way I’ve never been before. It’s getting harder and harder to ignore. I just had to get away from it.”

Flame Song sat down next to him and took his hand. “I hope you don’t mind if I keep you company.”

Aidan closed his eyes. “I… I’m afraid I do mind. It’s not really you, but… so long as you’re here I can still smell it. Do you understand?” He looked at her pleadingly. “I can smell your blood! I can hear your heartbeat! There’s just no escaping it, and it gets harder and harder to fight it.”

Flame looked at Aidan silently for a long time. Then she took a deep breath and said softly, “Maybe you shouldn’t fight it.”

"What?" He stared at her.

“Look Aidan. We’ve been here for only two days now, right? And you’re already having problems. We need at least three more days, if this gypsy is right. Are you going to be able to hold out that long? And what if it takes longer? What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know! But I can’t just go out and find some victim.”

“But you have to do something. What happens if you lost control and just attack somebody? You might kill them.”

“Well, what are you suggesting?” said Aidan, frustration in his voice.

“Haven’t you told me that people on your Earth give blood to those who are injured? It wouldn’t hurt me to give you a little bit of blood. Surely you don’t need that much?”

Aidan was horrified. He couldn’t… couldn’t drink his wife’s blood! The very thought was repulsive. “No! I couldn't do that.”

“What then? You’ll wait until you can’t control yourself and end up killing some innocent?”

“That’s exactly why I can’t do it! What if I kill you?”

“You won’t Aidan. I know you. I trust you. And I trust our love. I know you won’t hurt me. And I can’t see any other way. It’s this now, or someone’s death later.”

“I just can’t. If I hurt you, I couldn’t live with myself.” His tone was pleading as he tried to convince her. She surely didn’t know what she was offering. To donate blood in a blood drive was one thing, but this!

Flame Song suddenly smiled. “But you wouldn’t have to live with yourself. You’re already dead.”

Aidan sputtered wordlessly. This wasn’t a joking matter! Besides, whispered a little voice at the back of his mind, you’re supposed to be the one who makes the jokes. Almost against his will a laugh escaped him. He quickly returned to seriousness, however, at the thought of what Flame was offering him. He looked at her. Too his newly sensitive eyes her face was clear in the dim moonlight that filtered through the trees. He knew that to her his face must have been mostly in shadow. An expression of determination marked her features. It was one he’d seen before. She wouldn’t back down easily. And the thing was, he knew she was right. He felt like he was starving already. What would it be like tomorrow? The day after? He couldn’t keep on without risking a total loss of control. And here was Flame Song, offering him the greatest gift she could offer, offering to risk her life for him. He suddenly felt tears gather in his eyes. He hadn’t known vampires could cry. Not trusting himself to speak, he nodded.

Flame smiled warmly, trustingly, at him. “What do I do then?”

“You know as well as I. But I don’t think you need to do anything. Just hold still.”

He put his arms around her, one hand brushing the hair away from her neck. She closed her eyes and tilted her head to the side. He could hear her heartbeat racing, the blood seeming to thunder in his ears. He hesitated, torn between hunger and revulsion. How could he do this? He realized that Flame was trembling and pulled back a bit to look at her. “Flame? Are you sure?”

She shivered and spoke with her eyes still closed. “I… I admit it scares me. But yes, I’m sure. I love you, Aidan. I want to do this for you.”

With tears again welling in his eyes Aidan gently bent forward. He kissed the side of her neck softly, whispering “Thank you,” before biting down as gently as he could. She let out an involuntary gasp of pain. I must not hurt her, thought Aidan. I must take the smallest possible amount. And then he swallowed the first drops and all thought left him. It felt like nothing else he’d ever experienced. It was as if he’d swallowed liquid electricity, pure fire. Those were the only terms that fit, but there was nothing unpleasant about the sensation. It reached to the end of every nerve in his body, filling him with an amazing euphoric energy. Each drop strengthened him, filled him with new life, but he gradually became aware that as he grew stronger Flame Song was growing weaker. She sagged limply now in his arms, her breathing fast and shallow. He could feel what she felt, could feel the energy draining out of her.

He struggled. He didn’t want this incredible euphoria to end. It was so intoxicating, so seductive. Surely he could take just a little bit more? No! No, I must not hurt her. I can’t! The struggle went on for a moment longer and then at last will prevailed over appetite and Aidan drew back. Had it been some other person there instead of his love he might not have stopped, but the thought of losing her was motivation enough to counter any temptation. He looked down at her where she lay slumped in his arms. Her eyes were closed and her breathing shallow, and for one horrible moment Aidan feared he’d gone too far in spite of all he could do, but then she sighed softly and took a deeper breath, relaxing into a natural sleep. He shifted slightly to rest her head against his shoulder, cradling her gently in his arms. She murmured sleepily and snuggled closer to him. She’s only asleep, thank whatever gods there are in this cursed place. And… the hunger is gone!

He looked down at his wife with a deep sense of gratitude. She had risked her life for him before, but somehow this was different. This was more… intimate, more personal. She’d offered him her own life’s blood. He was hit all over again by how very much he loved her. What would he do without her?