See End for Authors Notes

Quinlan and Lianna spent the whole day with their bodies intertwined, sharing the most intimate parts of themselves with one another. Quinlan cherished the time he had to study every detail of her face. He was not sure if he would be capable of remembering them when he was wiped from this Earth but he studied them none the less.

Eph knocked on the door multiple times asking permission to enter to examine her wounds but each time Lianna would turn him away. Quinlan finally convinced her to at least let him remove the bandaging and take a look. As he slowly removed the bandages from her arms, legs and back his mouth fell agape. Her wounds were completely healed and all that was left was scars. As she sat fully exposed to him he felt his eyes swell with tears. He could not remember the last time he had cried but he could not help himself now. As he saw her scared body he knew the torment she had endured during her life time now far surpassed his own.

Lianna clutched a pillow to her chest as he examined her and when she felt his hesitation she turned to look upon his face. She saw the tears fighting to escape his beautiful white eyes, "what is it my love?"

Before Quinlan had time to think his thought turned into words, "how could someone hurt you? Someone so beautiful?" She simply looked at him as her face became emotionless. He climbed into the spot on the bed right behind where she sat, wrapping his arms around her and burying his head deep into her neck. Breathing her in, as he did he caught a subtle hint of lavender and something else he was unable to put his finger on. He found it angelic as he became intoxicated by it. A sudden memory flooding his mind as his eyes went wide, he'd smelled this intoxicating scent one other time in his life. 

...

1452ce

Quinlan found himself stumbling out of a brothel late at night, as he hit the road he pulled his hood up to hide his inhuman features. He made his way along slowly lost in thought at the pleasure he had just endured. He quite enjoyed these visits but something was always missing he craved for a woman to touch him with passion...with love. As he reached the River Tiber he leaned against a tree and breathed in the scents that filled the night. Closing his eyes he lost himself in thought, he wanted to feel something...anything. He craved the touch of a woman, but not for pleasure or because he paid them to. He wanted a woman who wanted him, utterly. Uncontrollably.

His eyes flew open as he heard the lite thudding of heals, and soon the woman tore right past him stopping only as she reached the railing before him. He could hear her as she silently cried to herself, her heart pounding. As he stared at her from the shadows he took in every detail of her; she was quite unusual. She wore leather pants with a white blouse tucked neatly and a black trench coat that hung loosely over her curves. He had never seen a woman dress in such a fashion. He spotted a gladius strapped to her back in a beautifully handcrafted sheath. As he looked closer he also notice a dagger delicately attached to her calf.

He watched as she slowly removed her own hood, allowing her long brown hair to fall along the length of her back. Throwing her head back she yelled to the heavens, "why me...why me God?" Quinlan tried not to move, he did not want to disturb her. She let out an unearthly scream before climbing over the railing, she leaned forward out over the waters below, her grip tight on the railing behind her. Her voice fell to a whisper clearly defeated, "My soul is damned to hell anyways."

Quinlan's heart stopped, was she considering committing an unforgivable sin? He could not watch her and used his unnatural speed to grab her before she could let go of the railing. He gripped the woman tight as he wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her back over the railing. They tumbled to the ground as she jumped at his sudden contact. He stumbled on his words, "I'm sorry I couldn't just watch..."

She turned to him now his eyes seeing her face for the first time, "you had no right!" He almost didn't hear her as he became lost in her amber eyes, she was so beautiful. She pulled herself away from his arms that were still loosely wrapped around her. "Why did you stop me?"

Her question pulled him back into the moment, "I'm sorry, I know I had no right. But that sin is unforgivable, you do know what your fate would have been yes?"

"Of course I know", she spat, "if you knew my life you would understand."

"You would be surprised." He remained hidden under his hood, he didn't want to scare her away. He wanted someone to talk to, and considering her current state she figured she probably did too. "I am Quintus Sertorius." He finally pulled himself to a sitting position as he sat with his arms resting on his knees.

She did the same, making herself comfortable. "Serena Carboni." She stared out onto the water, still clearly upset.

"What is the sword for?" He was curious about the woman before him, how could someone so beautiful find herself in need of such weapons?

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you", she sighed before continuing, "I hunt the creatures of the night. The ones that nightmares are made of. As my blade swings, hear the silver sing. I come for thee, scream for me."

"Is that a poem?" He was already curious about the woman but now he was hungry for more information about her.

"Yes, a dear friend wrote it." He saw a smile grace her lips for only a second before fading away, her face filling with sadness.

"Its beautiful. Can I ask you something?" She simply nodded, "would you have really done it? Would you have let go?"

He watched as she furrowed her brow watching her eyes bounce around the ground as she thought deeply. "I do not know, you did not warrant me the chance to decide." When she spoke he expected to hear anger but he heard gratefulness behind her tone. A small smile crossed his face, but quickly faded when she asked, "Now I have a question....why a brothel?"

He looked at her confused from the shadow of his hood, suddenly he felt uneasy. He sighed it was only fair, "there are days I seek the pleasures of a woman, as any man does." He saw her eyes flash down as if to decide how to ask her next question but before she could he continued, "I am not pleasant to look at, I often have to pay for a woman to want to do such acts with me." She heard the hurt in his words, and it some how pained her. She slowly reached her hands up to remove his hood but he grabbed her wrists gently, "Please don't, I have not just sat and talked with a woman in so long. I'd prefer you not fear me."

She simply nodded understanding what it felt like to want to keep some secrets to yourself, she had her own that she did not wish him to know. "Women are shallow creatures Mister Quintus. It matters not what deformities lay on the surface but which ones reside on the soul."

He quite liked this statement, "I can assure you there are many that reside on my soul as well."

"I don't believe there are as many as you fear. I am a stranger and you pulled me from the fate I wished to doom my soul to, I think that shows the true nature of your soul."

Quintus sighed, if only she knew. "Does your husband not worry about you?"

She let out a loud laugh, "no, no! I have no husband. Would you let your wife be out like this?" She smiled teasingly as she waited for his reply.

"No, I suppose not. I haven't had a wife in a very long time. But, I know I would not have allowed her to hunt creatures of the night as you do."

She simply smiled, she knew men found her acts distasteful but she did not care. "I suppose that is why no man desires me." She threw her head back and laughed as she looked at the stars. Laying back on to the ground crossing her ankles and tucking both hands behind her head.

Quintus furrowed his brow, "Perhaps. But do you not desire the touch of a man ever?"

She looked at him as a sweet smile crossed her lips, she had never spoken so candidly with a man. "I wonder what it would be like to make love, yes. All women do, they are liars if they claim differently."

"So you desire love not pleasure?" He felt his heartbeat quicken, something not easily done. He laid down beside her on the cold hard ground, he stared at her as he suddenly found her more lovely that the heavens above them.

"Can one not have both?" She smiled as she rolled to her side propping her head up upon her hand. "I want someone who can please me both physically and mentally. I do not want a man who seeks to change me but rather someone who encourages me to grow into the best version of myself. Someone who pushes me to be better."

Quintus was at a loss for words, he had never met a woman so full of passion. He suddenly wondered what it would be like to kiss her as his eyes fell upon her lips. He quickly sat up to help him push the thought from his mind.

She quickly followed and asked in a hurry, "did I say something to offend you?"

He heard the panic in her voice, "what? No not at all. I quite admire that you want such a man. But I doubt that you could not find such a man that would desire you."

"What do you mean?"

"You make it sound like such a man is impossible to find?" She simply looked at him confused so he continued, "I desire you in that way...."

"..you do? But how you don't know me?"

"I have known enough people in my life to know their souls by simply looking at them."

"And what do you see when you look at my soul?"

"You believe you are broken, you are not. You are loyal and passionate. You have a fire in you that I've never seen before." He gently brushed her hair from her face, "if a man does not desire you he is a fool!"

She suddenly wanted to see his face again so again she cautiously went to remove his hood and again he denied her the privilege to see his face. "Please, I wish to see your face."

"Please don't make me", she looked at the ground suddenly as shamed washed over her. Quintus scooted closer, slowly slipping both his hands onto either side of her face and raising her face to his. They were only inches apart now, "you would not desire me in return."

Being this close allowed her to at least make out his lips as the moonlight shined down brightly upon them. "I don't need to see your face to know that I already do, you saved my soul and showed me yours in return. If you will not let me look into your eyes to show me you desire me then show me in another way."

He knew it was not a request it was a command. His heart suddenly skipped a beat before quickening its pace again. He looked at her lips, feeling her warm breath against his as he still held her face only inches from him. He breathed deeply taking in her scent, mmmm lavender and a hint of something else...lovely. "May I kiss you?" He needed to hear her permission, but she simply nodded. "Say it, please."

"Yes...yes you can kiss me." He heard her heart begin to race as his lips gently touched hers. At first she did not kiss him back so he went to retreat but as he did she did not permit his escape and suddenly he felt the wetness of her mouth against his. Keeping a single hand on her face he used the other to pull her closer, crushing her body against his own. At this sudden action she responded by kissing him even more passionately. He felt her tongue lick across his lips asking for permission, he smiled slightly with his lips to hers. When he felt her tongue repeat its action he parted his lips allowing her to explore his mouth. He released a low growl, he had never been kissed like this. He savored every second of it: her scent, her taste, the feeling of her body against his. He suddenly wondered, would she kiss me like this if she knew what I was?

She suddenly pushed hard at his chest breaking the kiss, panting at the passion coursing through her body. He saw her mind racing at a million kilometors an hour, he wanted so desperately to know what she was thinking. "Did I do something wrong?"

Still out of breath from his kissed she whispered as she furrowed her brow, "I'm so sorry", she pressed her forehead to his, "forgive me." She kissed his lips one last time before retreating from his arms. As she stood she looked into his eyes, "I do desire you. But I refuse to watch you die." She quickly retreated down the street and out of view.

Quintus sat there dumb founded, did she some how know what I am? His heart still raced as he felt the feeling of her lips against his still. It was a kiss he did not want to forget but eventually the memory would fade.

...

Current Day

"Quintus, my love, are you ok?" Quinlan suddenly realized he had become lost in his memory.

"Yeah sorry, I just got lost in thought", he tightened his grip on her and twisted their bodies so they both collapsed to the mattress their heads landing on the soft pillows. He buried his nose into her neck again and breathed in deeply, smiling to himself.

Lianna felt his lips on her sensitive skin curl into a smile and he eventually released a small chuckle. She did not know what he found so amusing so she simply smiled, "I am yours you know?"

He did not respond but gently kissed her neck with a smile upon his lips, and I am yours.

I really hope you guys enjoyed this chapter if you did not please let me know why! All feedback is welcomed and appreciated!