Simon hated to come to her at such an hour.  He hated to come to her at all after avoiding her for so long, but he wouldn’t allow himself to face fate without seeing her one final time.  Breath was bated after he rapped on the door.  He almost feared it was too late and he had missed his chance, but it cracked open.  By the moonlight, he caught an emerald eye peering out at him.

“Who goes there?” her voice cautiously asked.

The hood that concealed his head was lowered and he heard her gasp when he revealed his identity.

“If it isn’t Simon Belmont,” she said.  Opening the door wider, she flashed him a smile that made this so much more difficult that he initially believed it would be.  “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I ask you forgive me for bothering you at such an hour, Leonine,” said Simon.  “Did I rouse you from your slumber?”

The woman leaned against the door frame, arms crossed and brow quirked.  Though she easily stood a foot shorter, he felt flushed under her smug gaze.  She always had a way of doing that to him.

“Rouse me?  Has it been so long you’ve forgotten my nocturnal nature?” she laughed.  Though teasing, her words made him feel that much more guilt about his absence.  When he did not joke back, she sighed and eased her posture.  “I jest, Simon.  You know our door is always open to you.  Let’s get you inside.  You must be freezing.  I’ve never seen so much of your body covered up!”

It was indeed cold.  His body already ached so painfully; the bitter chill of early winter was no added comfort.  He felt warmth surround him when she ushered him into her home, and he doubted it had anything to do with the flame that blazed in the fireplace.

“I know it has been too long since we’ve last met,” he said to her once he was inside and the door was shut. 

“Much time has passed,” she said.  “Almost wish these monsters would have popped up sooner if that’s what it took to get you back down from that mountain.”

“… I apologize I left.”

“Worry not about that.  I trust you had your reasons.”

He seated himself on the bench closest to the fire, already weary from the journey here.  By the firelight, she appeared to notice something was amiss.  Simon watched as the smile on her face faded.

“Is everything okay?  You seem…”

Leonine waved her hand, attempting to find the words to sugar-coat how pitiful the once-strapping warrior looked.

“That is what brings me here,” he revealed.  “My health has been declining recently.”

“Oh, my God.  Simon…”  She seated herself by his side and placed a hand on his thigh.  “I’m so sorry to hear that.”

He was admittedly a man of few words.  He wasn’t quite sure what to say, so he cut to the point.

“I was visited by an oracle yesterday,” he said.  “In the family mausoleum, a mysterious woman came to me.”

Leonine sat up straighter.  Simon figured if anyone would believe him about this, it would be her.  The lady had ties with the occult as well.

“You were?” she asked, voice was laced with concern.  “What were you told?”

“I must defeat Dracula to rid myself of this curse or face my death.”

Her brows furrowed.

“Dracula?  Did you not defeat him years back?”

“I did, and 'tis the reason I have become like this.  He must have uttered a curse with his dying breath.  I’ll have to revive him to get it lifted and save this land.”

“I see…”

She looked away from him, staring straight ahead at the fireplace to process this information. 

“The task ahead will not be simple, and I…  I wanted to see you before I embark on this quest, Leonine,” he said.  He placed his hand atop the one of hers that still rested on his leg.  “I regret that I did not see you as often as I wished I could.”

“Prithee, refrain from speaking like a dead man,” she replied without returning her gaze to him.  Her voice lacked her typical playful bite.  “You are by far the bravest and strongest man I have ever known.  You have defeated this evil once.  I trust you will be successful a second time.”

“I was in much better health back then,” said Simon with a bitter laugh.

Silence fell between the two of them.  He glanced in her direction, catching the glistening of her eyes as they stared solemnly into the flames.  Very seldom had he seen this side of her.  She was always so boisterous and jovial.  Seeing her upset was a pain that hurt deeper than any wound left by Dracula.  After a moment, she pulled her hand away to drag her wrist over her eye before looking back towards him.

“So…”  With just that short word, Simon could hear the slightest sniffle in her voice.  “Did you seek your fortune tonight?”

His own fortune was the last thing on his mind when coming to the conclusion to see her, but he refused to bring attention to the true cause.  He did not want to burden her any more than he had already.

“I suppose I do have concerns regarding my future.”

“Here.  Give me your hand.”

Leonine took his large, calloused hand in both of her dainty ones the moment Simon held it out for her.  He remembered when they were younger, how she used to hold hers up to his for comparison.  It only grew more amusing as they got older and the difference in size increased.  She held it for a moment, and Simon wondered if she too recalled those years before she drew a deep breath and turned it so she could view his palm.

In the past, she refused to look into his future, no matter how sweetly he asked.  Her reasoning to him was that telling the fortune of a stranger was a task far simpler than revealing the truth of what was to come to someone close.  In his mind, he figured that this change of heart was to hopefully put her own worries to rest more than it was for his benefit.

“This is your life line,” she said.  A shiver ran down his spine as her finger traced over it with a featherlight touch.  After a nod of acknowledgment from him, she proceeded.  “This here…”  She pointed at a small circle on that same line.  “It indicates a health issue or accident.  I believe this is what you are currently going through.  Thankfully, it appears to be early in your life, considering how close it is to your fingers.  Your life line is long, Simon.  You have many healthy years ahead of you.”

She offered him a smile after she said this, and a weak one was returned.  She then looked back down at his palm.  She pointed at a new line that stretched from his forefinger down to the base of his palm.

“This is good,” she said.  “It’s your fate line.  You’re ambitious, confident.  You’ll have a good reputation.  A clear sun line runs beside it.  Your name and fame will be well known and you’ll be in high demand.”

“Fame?” he laughed.

“Yes, Simon.  Fame,” she confirmed.  “I see the reconciliation of the long-tarnished Belmont reputation during your lifetime thanks to your bravery.  Your last bout with Dracula was but the beginning.  Soon, you shall be recognized as the hero you are.”

Even if her words were just lip service, they did a wonderful job at making him more assured about the quest ahead.  However, he believed her.  There was none he trusted as much as Leonine.

“What's this one?” he asked, pointing at one that ran beneath his fingers.

“Your love line.”

“Oh…”

“Have you a beautiful Belmont bride yet?” she teasingly asked.  “Did you elope to the mountains?”

“No, I’ve not married,” he revealed.  Looking at her hands, she did not appear to be wearing any rings herself.  “And you…  I assume it is still just you and your mother here?”

“Come now, Simon.  You know no man wants to deal with my mouth.”

Though hearing that was selfish relief, Simon almost wished he would have heard a different answer.  He believed her marital status was in part his fault.  In their formative years, the two may have teased each other about their future together.  While it may have been child’s play at the time, Simon did not grow out of his affections for her.  Though never spoken, he had reason to believe she felt the same about him.  Others in their village always associated the two of them together, thus making any possible suitors think she was accounted for and she made no effort to prove them wrong.  The two had gone their separate ways in adulthood and encounters became fewer and further between, but Simon still considered her so much more than just a dear friend.

Yet the Belmont legacy called to him.  Darkness would not halt for wedding bells.  He had intended offering to court her after his destiny had been fulfilled, but the man who returned from Castlevania was not the man who left.  The wounds from Simon’s battle against Dracula years before had never fully healed, and now caused him debilitating pain on a daily basis.  It was a pitiful sight- a man in his prime slowly withering away.  Her life had already been so difficult.  She grew into the strong woman who sat before him at an age far younger than any deserved.  She had no father of her own, and most people of the village harbored a mistrust of mystics.  Time only increased her spirit and beauty, and he wanted better for such a woman than to be raising a family on her own should he pass away, if he could even perform those kinds of spousal duties in a state like his.  If he did not perish, she still deserved a well husband who could provide for her and keep her satisfied.

She cleared her throat, and traced that line on his hand.

“Your love line ends where Mount of Jupiter joins the Mount of Saturn,” she said, pointing between the fore and middle fingers.  “Pure, true love awaits you.  I do not believe I’ve seen a love line so straight.”

“Why is that amusing?” he asked when she paused to giggle.

“You’ll be a conservative lover.  Perhaps shy and a bit passive,” she said.  “Yours is rather close to your fingers, too.  This suggests you tend to suppress your emotions.”

Feeling the heat rise in his cheeks, he merely grunted in response.  He knew not if she was truly reading his palm or calling out his behavior.  The pad of her finger drew over that same line a few times before she froze suddenly.  Her stare grew blank, and he knew she had to have seen something.  With a gasp, she dropped his hand, all but confirming this.

“Have you a vision, Leonine?” Simon asked.  She could only nod in response as she held her head.  “What was it you saw?”

“I…  I believe it is not appropriate to tell you at this time,” she lifted her head to admit.  “Nor is it relevant to your current predicament.  However, rest assured, you do survive this.  Your… vitality will return tenfold.”

“That is a comfort, at least.”

She kept her eyes down as she nodded.  Though she claimed she foresaw good fortune, Simon grew weary upon noticing she would no longer look him in the eye.

“When you complete your quest, return to me, and then we can discuss what I saw,” she said, grabbing his hand once more and clutching it between both of hers.  “The sooner you vanquish Dracula, the sooner you will return to being that brutish Belmont I grew up around.”

Whatever her vision was, it appeared to lighten her mood.  Simon could depart with a clearer conscience knowing that she was in better spirits.

“Thank you, Lee,” he said, reverting back to his old childhood name for her before he had a chance to realize it.  “I appreciate you taking the time to settle my mind.  'Twas good to see you again.”

“Are you leaving?” she asked.

“Yes.  I must be on my way.”

“You can rest here tonight, if you’d like,” offered Leonine.  “I’m sure my mother won’t mind.  I don’t know how you charmed that woman, but she does have a soft spot for you.”

“Thank you for your hospitality, but I believe it best if I make haste while I can.”

“Do you need any reinforcements?” she asked.  “I might not can wield a whip, but I am far from useless, you know.  We can use my foresight to make strategies.  And I’m not half-bad with an axe according to your father.”

“I know this is true.  You’re as capable as any Belmont, Leonine,” he said with a soft laugh.  “But I do have to decline.  I started this alone, I must finish it without involving you.  Besides, with all this evil roaming the land, your mother needs you here.”

She did seem disappointed by this, but she nodded and released his hand.  “I understand.  Do what you must.”

He managed to get back to his feet with her help, whether or not he needed it.  As he walked to the door, she followed him to see him out.  She spoke up when he reached for the knob.

“Simon.”

“Yes, Leonine?”

She opened her mouth, but hesitated and closed it.  She opted to instead wrap her arms around his waist.  Her head only came up to his chest, and his heart felt heavy with her resting against it.

“Please,” she whispered.  Her voice cracked as she squeezed him tighter.  “Do be careful.”

Soon, his arms were around her too, holding her like he’d been so afraid to do.  It would be difficult to pry himself away knowing he held everything he ever wanted in that moment, but he knew he hadn’t much of a choice.

“You have my word,” he said.  “You will be the first I come to after my quest.”

Before letting her go, he pressed his lips to the crown of her head.  He threw the hood of his cloak back on and left, walking away before she had a chance to change his mind.

✩

The morning approached, yet sleep never came to Leonine after Simon’s departure.  She went about her morning unable to think about anything other than what she had seen the night prior.  She was absent-minded as she helped her mother hang their just-washed clothes on the line.  The encounter with Simon left her torn.  On one hand, she was very upset that she had to see her dearest childhood friend look so pitiful.  She had faith in him, but worried about him being in such poor health and having to face the lord of darkness once again.  On the other, she was trying to process what that which she saw meant for her own future.  She’d never had a vision that did not come to fruition within the span of a few weeks.  That said, she didn’t know how to live with the knowledge that sometime in the near future, Simon Belmont would be making ferocious love to her.

While her mother was very liberal, to the point that her daughter never knew who fathered her, Leonine had been fairly reserved regarding pleasures of the flesh.  The younger wasn’t necessarily conservative, she just didn’t tolerate any man who wasn’t a Belmont because none but the Belmonts had ever treated her and her mother with dignity.  She never blamed her for their reputation.  She learned young that people thought what they wanted to think about her bloodline, so there was no point in attempting to live to please them.  She managed to shoo off the few suitors in the village who made bets that they could tame her, and thus hadn’t known the touch of a man despite nearing the end of her twenties.  She’d long since come to terms with living as a spinster, but apparently, that was not what the future had planned for her.

Warmth pooled in her belly as the vision replayed in her mind.  There was no room for misinterpretation.  One blonde Goliath of a man was absolutely ravaging one petite redheaded woman.  Their nude bodies were intertwined in a carnal embrace.  Like all of her visions, it was tangible to her.  The heat and pleasure from what was to come radiated through every fiber of her being.  The ghost of the firmness of his muscular body soon pressing against her soft flesh overwhelmed her.  Strands of flaxen hair would be damp with perspiration and cling to either side of her face as the taste of his tongue filled her mouth.  Between her legs, a fire blazed.  She knew not how empty she could be until she felt how good it would be when he finally filled her.  It knocked the air out of her lungs.  It was the last thing she anticipated when taking the man’s hand.  If the circumstances weren’t so grim, she could possibly have enjoyed it.  She was still trying to come to terms with this fate.  Simon Belmont… The boy she had known since her mother fled with her to this village.  Her first and only friend…  Her future lover.  It was surreal.  She couldn’t believe her own good fortune.

Handsome didn’t begin to describe Simon.  Leonine had thought this since they were younger, though the boy he once was held no candle to the Adonis he had become.  She was not a stranger to his body.  While she hadn’t known him intimately, it was only natural since she had grown up beside him.  They’d slipped into in the creek together on warm days.  She had bullied him into bathing before supper after spending all day watching him train and work up a sweat, and even helped him a few times under the guise of not being convinced he did it right.  Not to mention, the man was usually so scantily clad compared to others.  In town, he earned many giggles from the fairer sex due to his rather barbaric fashion sense, but she cared not for his garb.  She’d never been embarrassed about seeing his body, but seeing it unprompted in such a sensual situation was different.  She still felt flushed and wondered if he had any idea of what was to become of them.

Leonine wouldn’t lie and say the thought of being with him never crossed her mind.  Once upon a time, she believed that maybe they would end up together.  The two of them made an odd pair, but they’d make a stranger pair with anyone but each other.  Simon easily had the largest, most fit frame around due to his extensive training, while Leonine was short and buxom.  Both were eccentric in the eyes of other villagers.  Simon could hardly hold a conversation.  The extent of his interactions with most were gruff and brief.  Many didn’t find Leonine easy to get along with either.  What she lacked in physical strength was compensated by her sharp-tongue.  Being a mystic seer, she could be outspoken and blunt with her truths, but Simon did admire that about her.  They complimented each other.  From youth until young adulthood, Leonine was his shadow- trailing behind him most everywhere he went and making up for his stoic silence with her lively chattering and gossip.

Though the topic had been tip-toed around, she had never been entirely sure if Simon had any interest in romance.  Vampire hunting was his life, and he had been preoccupied with living up to his name for as long as she knew him.  At times, she wondered if he had focused so much of his life preparing to live up to the legacy of his ancestors that seeking a companion to continue said legacy slipped his mind.  Yet the way he behaved around her was different than his interactions with anyone else.  Despite his own typical brash and somewhat forceful personality, Simon was an absolute gentle giant when it came to his Leonine.  When she talked, he listened.  Those times she got belligerent after too much ale, he allowed her to be right and ensured she made it back to her mother safe.  His presence alone would ward off those who would discriminate against her mystical background, though he knew she would not hesitate to take care of them herself.  One didn’t have to be a psychic to see there was something more to their relationship, which is why his neglect upon returning from Castlevania confused her.

Leonine couldn’t imagine the horrors Simon had saw.  He didn’t speak much before, yet he did enjoy telling tales of his heritage.  He was proud of his family, and was thrilled to share with someone who appreciated the legends as much as himself.  After facing Dracula, this was practically non-existent.  She never got the full picture of his triumph in Castlevania because he grew short when speaking about it.  She tried not to take it to heart when he grew reclusive.  She attempted not to let it get to her when she learned from his family that he’d taken to the mountains without saying a word to her before departing.  She knew something was wrong; she’d felt its presence since his return.  She hoped time and distance would heal his wounds, both spiritual and physical, but the night before made it apparent that they only grew worse.

“All right.”  Leonine's mother tossed the dress she was holding into the basket.  “What happened?”

The sudden outburst ripped Leonine away from her thoughts.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“You’re not giving me a headache with your ranting today, Leo,” she said, folding her arms.  Feistiness ran in the family.  Leonine inherited Steliana’s spirit.  “You’re sulking.  Something is bothering you.  Talk to me.”

Heat rose to Leonine’s cheeks.  It was no use attempting to hide anything from her mother.  Years of practice had honed her gifts to a point that Leonine had yet to achieve.  If Steliana wanted to know something, it would be a matter of time before she found it out.  Leonine turned her focus to tossing the article of clothing in her hand over the line.

“It’s Simon,” she muttered without facing her mother.  “He came to visit late last night.”

“… The Belmont boy?”

Leonine nodded, causing the older woman to hum.

“Thank the stars, my girl’s finally brought a man home!  There’s hope for you yet.”

“It wasn’t like that, Ma,” she said with a sigh.  “He’s… sick.”

The other woman stopped what she was doing to look at her daughter.

“Sick?”

“Sick, injured.  Whatever he was, he’s not well.  You should have seen him,” she said.  “Or maybe it's better you didn’t.  He looks like a fraction of the man he was.  It was heartbreaking!  No wonder he isolated himself.”

“Really?  That’s a shame,” her mother said.  Leonine nodded sullenly as she reached for another piece of laundry.  Seeing how downtrodden her daughter was, Steliana offered a bit of encouragement.  “He'll recover, love.  I’m sure of it.”

“He will.  I read his fortune,” Leonine said.  “Doesn’t make it any less worrisome, knowing what he has to go through.”

“Hold on… You read his fortune?  After all this time?” the older woman asked.  She perched a fist on her hip.  “I thought you were adamant about not doing that.  Is that why he came to you out of the blue?”

“No, I think not.  I offered after he told me…”

It was true, she told her mother she’d never look into Simon’s future.  She had actually made quite a big deal about it.  Over twenty years of knowing each other, she’d had innocuous visions of him here and there.  Those were unprompted.  She felt she was better off living in ignorance when it came to what would become of him.  Though she did fear seeing his untimely demise since he was determined to rise to the legacy of his ancestors, it wasn’t the deciding factor of her choice.  The truth was that Leonine had a jealous streak.  The chance of envisioning another woman in his future filled her with envy to the point of nausea.  Seeing such a thing would devastate her.  Yet the night before, she put aside her wariness to know the truth.  In her heart, she’d rather him be alive with someone else than succumb to his injuries. 

“I had to know.  I was worried about him,” she explained.  “Things do look good.  But I, uh…”  She rubbed the back of her neck.  “I saw something… strange while reading his palm.”

“Strange?”

The color of Leonine’s cheeks now rivaled her hair.

“What was it you saw, Leo?”

Hiding behind her hand, she mumbled something.

“Speak up, love,” Steliana said.  “You know my hearing isn’t as good as it used to be.”

An exaggerated sigh escaped Leonine before she repeated herself.

“… I saw us making love, mother.”

Though she tried to hold it in, Steliana snorted and began to laugh aloud.

“What?!” Leonine exclaimed.  “Stop laughing, Ma!”

“About time,” the older woman exclaimed.

“Oh, hush!”

The younger tossed a dress at her.

“Quit being a child about it, Leonine,” said Steliana, balling up the dress to throw it back.  “Sounds like a damn good vision to me.”

“I’m not being a child!  I’m just… stunned.  I’ve never seen anything like that in all my years of telling fortunes.  It was…”  She paused to scrub her face, which had continued to grow red.  “Obscene!  So gratuitous!  So…”  She waved her hands about.  “So much!  I had to sit in front of him with a straight face after seeing what he’d do to me.  I wanted to faint right there!  I couldn’t tell him.  The man thinks he’s dying!  But he was very much not dead…  My God.”

Her knees grew weak as all the sensations returned.  She seated herself on a stump and held her face before taking a deep breath and continuing.

“I can’t believe this, Ma.  I’d given up.  After all, you’d think a renowned vampire hunter should end up with someone more prestigious than…”  She gestured at herself, causing Steliana’s grin to disappear.  “Especially one as handsome as Simon.  He’s a hero now.  He’s going to finally bring respect back to the Belmont name.  He will be able to have his pick of women when he returns.”

“And he'd pick you every time,” her mother said.  Leonine looked over, half-expecting Steliana to tack on a joke, but it never came.  “‘Tis easy to love a legend, my girl.  You were by his side prior to the glory.  He won’t forget that so easily.  A woman who is faithful to a wretched man is more valuable than any wench in the land.  You were always meant to be with him, love.  I’m surprised it took you this long to see what has always been visible.”

“Wait a minute…”  Her eyes widened as realization struck.  “You knew I would end up with him, didn’t you?  You saw this?”

Steliana wore a smirk again as she shrugged.  A look of mortification washed over Leonine.

“Well, I did not see that exact scene,” the older woman clarified.

“Oh, thank God,” Leonine mumbled.

“But I did foresee you and him…  And my sweet little grandbabies,” her mother continued.  “And Lord knows they did not come from the stork.”

“Babies,” Leonine said in disbelief.  “At my age?”

“Why talk like you’re some type of old maid?”

“By the definition of many, I am an old maid.”

“Worry not.  You’re still plenty young,” her mother assured her.  “You’ve not yet reached your thirties.  The two of you will certainly make up for lost time.”

“Ma, can you not talk like that?” she asked with a sigh.  “My God.”

“There’s no shame in it, dear,” Steliana said.  “I know I don’t blame you.  If I found a man half as dashing as that Belmont boy, you’d have a whole litter of brothers and sisters.”

“Mother,” she groaned, causing laughter from the other woman.  “Ugh!  I cannot believe you kept this from me.  How long have you known?”

“Don’t be so sore.  Just since your little friend’s ceremony.  I remember it well…”  Her mother’s hands were clutched in front of her heart as she gazed off into the distance.  “'Twas his night and you wouldn’t leave each other’s sides.  The two of you didn’t quit whispering to each other not once the entire evening.  Or maybe you were talking his ear off and he humored you like he’s always tended to do.  When you came and tugged my arm to ask to stay a little later, he stood right behind you.  I know you brought him along to pressure me into saying yes.  That’s when I saw it- my little girl as a beautiful woman with her handsome husband.  How could I say no knowing your fate?  Always thought it amusing that you didn’t get any taller than you were that night, and I think that boy doubled in size.  What do they feed those Belmonts, anyway?  Surprised you’re not built like that as often as you’d stay over for supper.”

Leonine’s jaw dropped and she stared in utter disbelief at her mother.  She was referring to the Belmont tradition of passing the whip and title of Vampire Hunter once the next in line comes of age.  This happened when Simon had turned fifteen, fourteen years prior.  Her mother had been keeping this secret half of Leonine’s life.

“That long?  Why did you not tell me?”

“Takes the fun out of it, don’t you think?” said Steliana.  “Besides, if you wanted to know, you could have checked for yourself.  But nooo, you were too embarrassed to read the boy.”

Leonine huffed, burying her burning cheeks in her palms as her mother cackled.

“Though, I had hoped he’d get you out of my hair years ago,” the other woman said.  “No matter.  Better late than never…  Do you think he’ll move me into that fancy Belmont estate with the two of you or are you going to leave your poor mother alone to rot in this dump?”

Leonine rolled her eyes and rose to turn her attention back to the laundry.

“Won’t really be out of your hair if you shack up with us,” she said.  “And I doubt the Belmonts want you bringing men into their home.”

“Why say that about your dear mother, Leonine?  I don’t even do that anymore,” said Steliana.  She paused to laugh.  “Not often, at least…  Say, he doesn’t have an uncle or someone he can set me up with, does he?”

“Oh, my God.”

She couldn’t help but laugh along with her mother.  Both of them resumed finishing the last little bit of laundry they had left.

“Oh, Leo?” Steliana asked.

“Yes, Ma?”

“How was he?”

Thinking the subject had been dropped, she buried her face in the cloth she was holding and groaned.

“He must be pretty good considering the pack you end up with.”

“You’re unbelievable, Ma,” she grumbled.  “I'm starting to believe this 'gift’ of ours is a curse to me.”

Steliana chuckled to herself, but offered no further retorts.  A moment passed before Leonine cleared her throat.  She glanced over at her mother, who had busied herself with the last dress.

“… But um…”  She waited for her mother to look over in her direction.  “He’s going to be phenomenal.”

This caused Steliana to double over and howl with laughter.

“Knew it!” she exclaimed with a clap of her hands.  “That’s my girl!”

“Oh, stop making it odd, mother,” she mumbled.

“Me?” the older woman scoffed.  “You’re the one bragging about sex you’ve yet to have.”

“And you’re the one who’s jealous.”

“What if I am?  If I didn’t have so many years on him, I probably could have snatched him up myself,” she proclaimed.  “I look just as good as you.  Just aged like fine wine.”

“You know, just for that, I think I’m going to be so loud when he makes love to me,” Leonine said.  “I hope he takes me in our home, just to spite you.  See how you like someone wailing while you try to sleep.”

“When aren’t you loud?  ‘Tis nothing new.”

“Must have got it from you.”

“Must have.”

Leonine laughed and shook her head.  Though she still had her worries, the future ahead seemed much more promising.

✩

Not even a week had passed since the last time Simon stood in front of this door.  What a long week it had been, but that was behind him now.  The curse had been lifted.  The darkness had been vanquished.  Dracula had been laid to rest.  Somehow, the challenge that lie ahead was more daunting than what he had faced up until this point.  He had trained to take on monsters.  Extensively.  He had been honed since birth into becoming the greatest vampire hunter of his time.  That came naturally to him.  Yet he had not the first bit of exposure to being a lover.

With Leonine, it should have been easy.  Getting along with her was always effortless when he was younger.  The day he realized how in love with her that he was, that is when it grew difficult.  He thought about how badly he wished to kiss her when watched her lips speak.  He wanted to pull her onto his lap and hold her when she seated herself near him…  When he had dreams about her in the dead of night that woke him in a cold sweat and left him praying for forgiveness, he realized how woefully unprepared he was for this kind of relationship.

The journey back to his village was filled with much internal deliberation.  Simon thought back to what she had said the week prior about his love line.  Shy and passive…  Tending to suppress his emotions...  A conservative lover…  Each word rang true when it came to her.  Leonine was always better with words and feelings than him.  She understood him and was always the one who spoke up on his behalf, whether or not he wanted her to do so.  He was the brawn; she was the beauty and brains.  Never had he met a woman as intelligent, intuitive, and unashamed to let it be known.  He thought perhaps if he met her halfway tonight, if he said enough to make it clear that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, that she would complete him as she always had done in the past.  He formulated a good idea in his head of what he wanted to say the next time he saw her.  He wanted to apologize for how distant he had become over the past few years.  There was no excuse for his absence, but he was prepared to tell her his reasoning behind it.  If she had it in her heart to look past that, he would finally ask her to be his wife.

Simon was prepared to spill his heart the moment the door cracked open.  The words were on the tip of his tongue, but it was not Leonine who answered.  He was greeted instead by her mother.

“Oh!  You’re… Simon, right?  Belmont?” she said before he could get a word in.  The man nodded, prompting her to continue.  “How wonderful to see you!  My, you weren’t this big and handsome last time I saw you, were you?”

Much like Leonine, her mother had a way of making Simon blush.  She continued without giving him a chance to respond.

“Well, I figure you’re not here for me.  You seek Leonine?”

“Yes,” he said.  “Is she around?”

“She’s upstairs,” her mother replied.  She swiped a shawl off the rack near the door and threw it over her shoulders.  “Would you believe I was just leaving to visit the tavern?  Feel free to let yourself up there.  I’m sure the girl’s decent.”

Simon could only nod as the eccentric woman squeezed out the door past him.

“Tell Leo I’ll be back late, if you don’t mind, dear,” she said.  Before he could agree, she waved and left him standing in the doorway.

Simon stepped into the house, shutting the door behind himself.  He paused, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, attempting to regain the courage it took him to knock moments ago.  Once he was settled, he removed his boots, crossed the floor, and ascended the steps.  He hadn’t been up these stairs since they were children.  It grew inappropriate to enter her room and be alone with her when they both matured.  At the time, Simon thought it unfair.  He barely understood the reasoning and had no interest in such affairs.  Now, his palms were soaked at the thought as he approached her room.  Once again, he gussied up and rapped on the door that stood between him and his future.

“What is it, Ma?”

Simon couldn’t bring himself to enter her room, despite their history and what her mother said.

“Ma?”

“Your mother was in a rush and told me to come up.”

“Simon!” he heard her exclaim from the other side of the door.  The sound of her footsteps grew closer before the door flung open.  She tossed her arms around his neck the moment she saw him.  He bent down slightly so she wouldn’t have to stand on her tip-toes to embrace him and his arms found her waist. 

“Oh, Simon!  You’re all right!  I was so worried!”

With her face in the crook of his neck, he could feel her misty eyes wet his skin.  He held her tight, so tight he feared he’d squeeze the life out of her.  He soon eased up with intentions of speaking to her.  Something overcame him in that moment, as his icy eyes locked with hers of jade.  Now that his strength had fully returned, his arms lifted her off her feet before he could process his actions.  His embrace was even tighter than before and he pressed his mouth upon hers.  Passion overcame them both as their lips collided.  She clung to him.  Her arms and legs wrapped around his broad frame to steady herself so she could deepen the kiss.  In all the years they had known one another, never had they shared such a frenzied bout of intimacy.  The moment lasted an eternity, yet was over too soon.  Simon tamed the kiss to pull back.

“Lee, forgive me.  I was foolish to avoid you,” he said.  The words he had recited streamed past his lips before he could lose them.  “I loved you.  I love you still.  Never will there come a day when this love will wane.  I feared what would happen if we got too close again.  I knew if I was around you, I’d want to make you my wife.”

“I would have married you, Silly Simon,” said Leonine with a laugh.  “No matter what.  You know I would have.”

“I know,” he said, dropping his gaze.  “'Twas what plagued me.  I knew not if I would make it.  I couldn’t allow myself to make you a widow.”

With Leonine still in his arms, Simon rested his head on her chest. 

“Oh, Simon,” she said softly.  A hand of hers reached up to play with his silky, golden locks.  It had been too long since she’d done such a thing.  He had forgotten that it was the greatest feeling in the world.

“Forgive me,” he whispered again.  The guilt of wasted years weighed heavy on his soul.  “I’ve craved you for so long.  Your alluring beauty has only increased each day in the decades I’ve known you.  It is to the point I feel I cannot make it another night without you by my side.”

“Me?  The sole weakness of this mighty Belmont?” she teased in an attempt to conceal her blush.

“Indeed, you are,” he lifted his head to say.  His soft blue eyes glistened as he gazed at her.  “No vampire, spell, or monster from hell can bring this man to his knees the way you do, my love.”

She wanted to retort, but could only remain silent as his lips once more brushed against hers.  His words and caresses rendered her speechless.  His lips traveled away from her mouth, kissing a trail towards her neck.  Each kiss was more ravenous than the last.  His lips against her skin made her entire body heat up.  Once he reached her collarbone, he glanced up to meet her eyes again.  His face displayed a hungry expression.  His next words took her by surprise.

“I wish to wed you, but I cannot wait.  Lay with me tonight.”  His voice was low and hoarse, dripping with desire.  “Life is brief and can be taken from us on a whim.  I do not intend to face fate again without knowing you.”

Never before had he spoke in such a raw manner.  Feelings of lust arose in her from the sincerity in his tone.  Leonine’s cheeks burned bright crimson, both from his fawning and her arousal.  Her heart pounded with the knowledge of what was to come. 

“Many a night, I’ve yearned for you,” she revealed.

“As have I for you, my sweetest Leonine,” said Simon.  “But tonight, I’ve this throbbing in my loins, this burning inside that only your body can quell.”

“Oh?”  A sly smile graced her lips.  She tucked a golden strand behind his ear.  “My bed is steps away, Sir Belmont.”

“And your mother has fled to the tavern tonight,” he said as he carried her back into her room.  “That woman… Think you she knew of what was to come?”

“Funny you mention that,” said Leonine.  “Recall how I said return to me and I’d reveal to you my vision?”

Simon nodded.  A second later, he processed what she had said and his face flushed red.

“Surely, this was not what you saw.”

“I know not if it was tonight or a night yet to come, but you and I shall be united.”

“And you thought it not appropriate to tell me?” asked Simon when laid her down on her bed.  “Why so?”

“That would take the fun out of it, don’t you agree?” she said.

The man laughed and shook his head.  “If you insist.”

Leonine kneeled on the mattress and beckoned Simon closer.  Already standing at the edge of the bed, he leaned forward so she could touch him.

“Allow me,” she said and reached for his broad chest.  Her hands smoothed over the leather before meeting at the buckles at the center.  They were unbuckled, one at a time, before she slipped the armor off his shoulders, past his bulging biceps, and sat it on the floor.  Her hands found him again, this time tugging at the lacing of the tunic that lay beneath the armor.  Once loosened, she stood on her knees to pull it over his head.

His eyes caught hers the moment the top was removed, and she kept his gaze as she tossed it aside.  While staring into his eyes, she tucked his fine, blonde hair behind his ears, then pulled him forward by his face to kiss him.

It was brief, even chaste compared to the one from moments ago.  She eased off to trace his jaw and allow her hands to wander lower.  He shivered feeling the glide of them down his neck.  They graced his chest and stopped momentarily to appreciate the beating of his heart.  She met his eyes again to smile at him, and took delight in how the pulse raced upon doing so.

Leonine’s bottom lip was caught between her teeth as she shifted her focus lower still.  Fingertips brushed over the harden muscles of Simon’s abdomen.  His skin was littered with evidence of all the battles past.  Some scars had faded with time, but she saw a few fresh scrapes and bruises as well.  It did pain her to see them, but she knew him well enough to know he wore each with pride, as a medal of honor for valiantly upholding the family’s legacy.

Once hands reached the intricate belt sitting on his hips, she halted.  Eyes roamed the leather for some hint of how to take it off.  Sensing her confusion, he took it upon himself to remove it.  She sat back and watched as he unfastened the armor belt.

The leather tassets had done well to hide Simon’s excitement until that moment.  Though still covered by linen, the instant the belt was removed, Leonine was greeted to a clear view of his arousal.  She clasped her hands together over her chest as she stared, giddy with anticipation of what awaited her beneath.  Yet before she could get her hands onto his trousers, Simon gestured at her fully clothed body.

“May I?”

She bobbed her head, and he gathered the skirt of her nightgown that had pooled around her on the bed and lifted it over her head.  With that one article removed, she was fully unclothed.  Simon did not anticipate this.  He gazed upon her body as if he had stumbled upon gold.  In that moment, Leonine was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.  She had always been, but this was such a different side to her beauty.  There was a certain magic in seeing the woman he had always loved completely bare on the bed before him.

“‘Tis not the first time you’ve seen me nude,” she said, averting her eyes as his remained glued to her.  The way she crossed her arms over her chest broke the hold it had over him.

“Never was I permitted to drink in the sight,” he replied.  “Nor do I remember you being so…”  Simon cleared his throat as his hands hovered over his own chest.  “… Matured.”

“Oh?  Do you fancy them, Belmont?” she teased while leaning forward to give him a better look.  The normally stone-faced man cast his eyes away.  Even in the faint candlelight, she could see the blush creeping across his cheeks.   “… Would you like to touch them?”

Once he responded with a reserved nod, Leonine patted the mattress beside her.  Simon seated himself by her side, and she settled between his legs with her back to his chest.  Her hands grabbed his, which trembled slightly as she brought them to her breasts.  They were large, but so were his hands, making them perfect handfuls by some stroke of fate.

His hands may have been rough, but his touch was gentle as he held her.  While he touched her, she relaxed against him, allowing the back of her head to rest on his shoulder.  He buried his nose in her neck, inhaling deeply as he squeezed the flesh.  His hands left her breasts and followed the curve of her waist.  She was everything he wasn’t.  He saw her body as a stark contrast to his own- so plush, so soft to the touch.

“You’re so beautiful, my lady,” he whispered as he ran a palm beneath her navel.  A kiss was pressed to the nape of her neck.  “I’ve always thought so.”

It was rare for Leonine to be truly speechless.  The woman always had so much to say, yet Simon was excelling at silencing her this evening.  His humble praise of her did in fact render her without words.  When her lips parted, a content sigh was the only thing that slipped out.

It grew increasingly uncomfortable for Simon to continue holding her like this.  His body yearned to proceed, and he knew the lady would not protest if he did.  He moved her off his lap and laid her down beside him on the bed.

One look into those eyes of hers, so darkened with desire, and his lips were brought upon hers again.  The tenderness in which he kissed her was not one would expect of a man so brutish.  His affections were not reserved for her mouth alone.  He kissed her cheeks, along her jaw, down the column of her neck as she giggled and squirmed beneath him.  Experiencing her delight filled him with joy of his own.

Lips ventured lower still, peppering kisses anywhere from her shoulders, across her clavicle, and even on her breasts.  There could have been more freckles gracing her fair skin than stars hanging in the sky, and he still wished to kiss each one of them.  If Simon had the time, he could have spent the remainder of the evening- nay, the rest of his life- worshiping this body of hers.  However, the woman before him was impatient.

“Please, Simon,” she whined as she writhed.  “No more…  I must have you.”

“As you wish…”

Simon shifted and positioned himself between her legs.  The view of her from this angle was surreal.  He found himself paralyzed by reverence for her once more.

“I’m not fragile, Belmont,” she huffed.  “Did all those years of roughhousing teach you nothing?”

Her frankness earned a chuckle.

“Verily, we were closer in size back then.”

“Oh, brag not about your size and make love to me!”

“I apologize, my beloved,” he said.  “After all this time, you should have to wait for me no longer.”

At long last, the Belmont rid himself of his last article of clothing.  Leonine hadn’t the time to admire the sight between his legs before he unceremoniously pressed it into her.  The moment the thick tip entered her, her hand clasp over her mouth.  She whimpered behind her palm as he filled her.

“Does it hurt, Lee?” he paused to ask. 

With hand still over her mouth, she frantically shook her head.  His girth did take some getting used to, but she would not say it hurt.  Quite the opposite, in fact.  After she had a moment to adjust to his size, her legs hooked behind him.  Hands tangled in his hair to encourage him, and encourage him they did.  Soon, he bottomed out in her.  He shuddered at the feeling of the welcoming warmth of her sex around his.  His face was buried in her neck again, kissing beneath her ear before proceeding.

Simon finally making love to her was even better than Leonine could have ever predicted.  He was taking it slow despite what she had said about not being fragile, but she found it suited the mood.  There was something she found romantic about the way he carefully rocked against her.  She relished the weight of his sturdy body atop hers.  Hearing his composure slowly slip away was so much more erotic than the act itself to her.  She had never heard anything more attractive than his panting and the occasional grunt as his hold on her hips tightened.

Never had Simon realized that such pleasure could be obtained either.  It ached to consider that this could have been his years ago, but better late than never.  He felt her hand against his back, resting above the scar that no longer pained him for the first time in nearly a decade.  It served as a reminder that he could now love her without guilt.  He could tend to her like this with all of his strength.  His rhythm did increase, but only enough as to not overwhelm either of them.  He did intend to savor his first night with her.  It took restraint not to ravage her and end the moment too soon.

She tossed her head back and whined his name after a particularly deep thrust left her seeing stars.  Her arms wrapped tighter around him; legs urged him to stay closer to her.  His hands in turn traveled up from her hips, past her waist, and linked behind her back.  This newfound intimacy ushered a feeling unfamiliar to both parties.  Desperation rose.  The moans that fell from her as she clung to him had his pace quickening.  Within moments, their lovemaking culminated in a single moment of bliss with she and he releasing in harmony.  Simon’s lips smashed upon hers as he spilled in her, allowing her kiss to muffle both their moans.  Together, they fared this wave of ecstasy, riding it out until it waned and left both of them spent and breathless.

Lazy kisses and snuggling followed as Simon settled at her side once again after the deed had been done.  As Leonine thought about it, this night was far too gentle compared to the love-making she had seen in her vision.  The most mischievous smile crossed her face when she considered what that meant for them.

“Simon,” she whispered after these languid displays of affection tapered into the comfortable silence of enjoying each other’s embrace.

“Hm?”

“… Tonight was not the night I saw in my vision,” she told him.  This statement was met with silence.  “Do you know what that means?”

This question earned her a second “Hm?” from the man in her bed.  She leaned over him and pecked his lips before answering.

“We shall soon be doing this again.”

“I know not if your powers have rubbed off on me over the years,” he started.  “But I could have told you that.”

Leonine laughed aloud at this atypical cheeky response from him.  Smiling himself, he cupped her cheeks to kiss her again.

“The things I intend to do with you once fully recovered from my quest are countless.”

“Oh?  Well, rest up, Belmont,” she said.  “Someone owes me years of pleasure.  Dracula will be an excuse to avoid me no more.”

“Years of pleasure, you shall get, Lee,” promised Simon and kissed her once more.  “So long as I draw breath.”

✩

Steliana sat downstairs in the kitchen, sipping a cup of tea.  She looked up from her mug briefly at the sound of steps creating to catch as her daughter descended the stairs with the Belmont boy sneaking down behind her.  She smirked, but kept any comments to herself.  It was Leonine who froze when she noticed the other woman.

“Mother!” she exclaimed.  It was subtle, but obvious that she was trying to shield the much larger man with her body.  “You’re up early…”

Steliana shrugged and tipped her mug to her mouth once more before looking past her daughter to her guest.  Simon’s face flushed bright red, and he averted the gaze of Leonine’s mother.

“Leaving so soon, Belmont?” she asked.  “You’re welcome to stay for breakfast.  Come.  The two of you sit down and I’ll make some more tea.”

He glanced to Leonine, who rubbed the bridge of her nose.

“Oh, you just want to read his tea leaves, Ma,” she mumbled.

Steliana cracked up at the accusation.

“No, I wanted to be hospitable to my future son-in-law,” she said.  “But now that you mention it…  I wish to see this fortune.”

“Lee, I wish to see this fortune as well," he admitted.

After rolling her eyes, Leonine grabbed Simon’s hand to drag him to the table.  The moment their palms touched, she froze.  A blush once again claimed her as she caught a glimpse of what awaited both her and Simon.  She found herself so happy she couldn’t fight off her wide smile.

“Another vision?” Simon questioned, earning a nod.

“What was it this time, Leo?” asked her mother.

She shook her head.  It seemed their wedding night would be sooner rather than later, and she didn’t want to be the one to ruin the surprise.

“Come. Let us see what those leaves say instead."