Vampire Girlfriend: Kat (special preview)

Three years ago to the day, you met your girlfriend. She had been performing in a traveling carnival when you first saw her. She was a juggler and fire performer. The show you first saw her in, she had started off but juggling bowling pins on fire, then she offered to show people to walk on fiery coals. You had volunteered, if only to get a bit closer to her. After that night, you started going to the carnival each night, if only to see her.

Now you look back at it, feeling silly for your bashful behavior. Despite her profession, Kat was easy to impress. The night you walked on coals with her was the night she became attracted as well. Nowadays, she talks about how she had been so excited to see you after that night. “Usually, people only come to the carnival once. Twice maybe to bring a friend. So, I just thought it was another spark lost to the shadows. Then she came the next night and the next, so I knew I had to do something.”

She did do something, and you’ve been together ever since. Even when she revealed she was a vampire, it didn’t scare you away. You’ve been planning a special date for just the two of you for a while now. Kat’s been working hard, especially since Muna, Fye, and Bronn have left the cabaret; she's been helping Oriharu take care of things. You want her to have a good day, a great day if possible.

You wake up in the dark, which is normal. Since Kat is a vampire you have to sleep under a special canopy that blocks out all light. You turn on the light strips, setting them to dim, and you roll back over, capturing Kat in your arms. She’s smaller than you, very petite. She didn’t look like a typical vampire, or at least, the pop culture one you’d known. With her small frame and cute, youthful face, she reminded you more of a fairy. She’s been with the Children of the Night Carnival for a long time, calling it her home since not long after she was changed and abandoned by her maker.

She begins to stir as you hold her, shifting her body so it presses into yours. A small smile appears on her face and she continues to try and pretend she’s resting. You kiss her cheek, knowing the game she’s playing.

“I know you’re awake,” you tease.

Kat bites her lip, trying her best to hold back her smile.

“I see you,” you whisper into her ear. “What are you trying to do?” You stroke your hand down her side, knowing where she’s ticklish. “Wakey, wakey.”

She squeals and jerks as you tickle her, curling up into a ball as your touch grows more intense. “No!” She cackles. “You know that’s my weak spot!”

You smirk, tickling her a bit more until she grabs you and holds your hand still. She’s stronger than you, but not the superhuman levels vampires are depicted as having. She bites your fingertip playfully, giving you a warning tap on her sharp teeth.

“Happy anniversary,” you whisper into her ear.

Kat beams as she looks up at you, her magenta colored eyes sparkling. “Three years,” she coos. “I’ve been so excited for today. You said you were going to do something special.”

“I am.” You gently brush her short hair away from her face. “I’ve been planning this for a while now. Even before I told you.”

Kat sits up, bubbly and excited. “What are we going to do tonight?”

You stretch and your neck pops as you sit up. “Well, first of all I want you to reach under the bed.”

Kat pushes open the curtains and leans over the edge of the bed. She giddy searches until she pops up with a suitcase in her hands. “Is the gift inside here?”

“It’s an overnight bag, silly.” You kiss her cheek. “I’ve got us a room at that fancy hotel we passed by the other night.”

Kat’s eyes widen and she gasps. “Really?”

“I also made us reservations at the restaurant thats on the top floor. They have live music so we can dance. I can have a few glasses of wine, which I know you like.”