Her voice was like cold steel against his neck. Goosebumps raced up and down his skin. “Do you love?” she whispers closer. “Is that truly what this is?” A cold, white hand stretched out from within the darkness. “Touch me.” She pleads, “Feel me.” He hesitates for only a heartbeat before grasping her shaking hand. “I am here.” He whispers roughly, throat constricting, lips suddenly dry.

“Do not leave me.” her words a plea, a command echoing within the darkness. She is cold, like marble. Skin white, unblemished, wearing the darkness like a silky cloak. Her eyes, darker than coal made his head spin. The world swayed around him, balancing on the edge of oblivion. And bliss. It threatened to throw him off if he did not hold on to her. ‘Is this lust?’ he thought bleakly. ‘Or is this true love?’

“Together.” She sighs, arms snaking around him, constricting his breathing, pulling, tugging, hungry. “Together.” He gasps, struggling now, a cold sweat covering his brow. What little light that was left was fading, obscured by the shadows that followed her. His eyes could only focus on her mouth, her lips, pale and thin. He no longer felt the chill in the air. The touch of her skin against his making him burn with desire, with need.

Black dark eyes stared up at him. Malevolence and hunger gleaming in them like silver stars. “Do you love?” she whispers from within the darkness. Quiet laughter echoed in her voice. His only answer, a ragged nod before she kissed him, her lips sending cold fire burning through his mind, and everything was – dark.