Chapter 23 Jess's 16th Birthday

Two Weeks Later...

***

Jessy woke up into a very sunny morning, her alarm clock registers 8:00 am.

"Goodmorning Miss Beautiful! Happy 16th Birthday, Jess!" Adam greeted his lady love early in the morning. He kissed both her cheeks, including her forehead.

"Wow, am getting a year older today!" she suddenly blurted.

"And you're getting gorgeous every single day," he said, doting on her.

Jessy looked at Adam and smiled warmly. She got up from her bed and washed her face in the bathroom, then she gurgled water and spit it on the sink. When she came out from the bathroom, Adam was gazing at the window below.

Then he clicked his fingers, 5 stems of roses suddenly materialized on his right hand. She gave it to Jessy. "Roses for you my love."

Jess' smile widens, she touched his face gently. "Thank you, Adam!"

"I love you, Jess," he cupped her face and kissed her on the lips.

''I love you more," she replied.

"I have a present for you downstairs, come down if you're ready," he said and went out from her room.

When she went downstairs, she found Nana Aida baking her birthday cake in the kitchen.

"Wow, thanks in advance for the cake, Nana! Please don't prepare too many dishes, just three dishes are enough for me, okay? I don't want you to get tired with all the cooking."

The older woman stops what her doing and give Jessy a tight hug. "Happy 16th birthday, Jess!"

"Thank you, Nana." Tears were about to form in Jess' eyes, she suddenly remembered her missing parents.

"Adam is in your rose garden, waiting for you," Nana informed her.

She went out of the kitchen and walked towards her garden. She found Adam standing in his favorite spot under the shade of the oak tree with a set of swings!

"Oh my God!" she shrieked with delight. She runs towards Adam and hugged him tightly. "Thank you very much for the present, I love it!"

"I made it last night and finished it earlier before you wake up. Jess, I know how much you love swings, so I thought it's cool to make you a set of swings. Hope you like it."

"I love it, so much!" She hops in excitedly on one of the swing and Adam pushed the swing back and forth for her.

"This is fun!" she said aloud. She grinned from ear to ear like a child.

Adam also hops in the vacant swing and together they spent the next two hours enjoying his man-made birthday present.

Later that night...

They enjoyed a delicious dinner the three of them together. Nana Aida prepared Beef and Cheese Lasagna, Creamy Garlic Mushroom Chicken and Shrimp Tempura. They were all Jess' favorite dishes.

"Blow the candle now, Jess!" Nana Aida said cheerfully after they finished their dinner.

Jessy made a wish and blow the candle.

After done eating, they helped Nana with washing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen. By 10:00 in the evening, Nana Aida already retired early for the evening.

The lovebirds only went upstairs after seeing the light on Nana Aida's room was finally turn off.

They quickly donned their black costume in their respective rooms.

"Ready Jess?" he asked her when they meet in the hallway.

She smiled behind her mask."Am ready! I'm excited to attend the masquerade ball!" she blurted enthusiastically.

Adam wasted no time, he hugged his ladylove and whisked her away into the masquerade ball venue in ten minutes time.

They arrived at the dark alley, few meters away from the venue and the place was already crowded. There were tables and chairs outside the bar, people wearing all types of costume were already dancing to the upbeat music, some were drinking liquor and chatting to each other animatedly.

Adam and Jessy, donned their masquerade ball masked and then blended with the crowd. They went inside the club and see the same thick crowd in there, so they opted to stay outside where the air is fresh, there were people dancing in the middle of the gathering and they joined them.

It's the first time they danced together in public. Jess and Adam were all smiles at each other. It's completely a new experienced for them. They found it exhilarating and fabulously fantastic.

A few minutes later, they stop dancing and brought a soda to drink their thirst away, they drunk quietly in a corner table, watching the people milling happily around them.

As for Adam, he is not used to being surrounded by lots of humans, but the good thing is they were not giving him even a single glance. For them, he is just one of the crowd. And it's a refreshing feeling to be among the crowd.

Jess' stared at five teenagers wearing black face masked and black costume, complete with black cloak, occupying the table on the north side from where they were sitting. "Are they humans or real vampires?" she asked Adam.

He followed her gaze, he scrutinized their appearance from head to toe. He sniffed at them and he smelled their human scent. "They're all humans. As far as I can tell, am the only real vampire here, the rest are fake."

They stayed in the ball a little bit longer...

Ten minutes later, they decided to leave the masquerade ball.

They went back in the dark alley, they were preparing to teleport home.

"Do you like to go somewhere, Jess?" he asked.

"How about the beach? Can we go into the beach?" she asked expectantly.

"Yeah, why not. I know of a quiet beach nearby, it's a bit secluded. So yeah, we can go there now," he said.

"Yes please, take me there, Adam." She catapulted quickly into his waiting arms.

Soon enough they landed in a shoreline, where sounds of waves were gently crashing into the big rocks formed haphazardly nearby. The full moon illuminated the shoreline with an enchanted glow.

"OMG, this beach is so beautiful!" she exclaimed in glee. The surrounding area was serene, no other human beings were present except the two of them.

"It looks like a paradise to me!" she murmured, completely enthralled by the beauty of the nature around them.

"You like it?" he asked her, loving her happy countenance.

"Very much!" she replied joyously.

They walked holding hands, tracing the entire length of the shore, they love the way the tiny waves lapping at their feet.

A few minutes later...

Adam gathered dried leaves and dried woods, he made a bonfire in front of them. They sat on the sandy shore and gazed at the millions of stars shining in the heavens above.

Jess' lays her body down on the sand supported by Adam's legs, cradled by his arms, she continued gazing at the stars above.

While he continues staring at her lovely face and at her inviting red lips. "Do you think we should kiss?" he finally said with his signature smirk.

"Bring it on," she whispers.

Adam's lips landed on her lips and they shared a lingering kiss like no other, under the moon and the stars above, their love will bind them together as long as their last breath.

After their lovely kiss, she smiled with satisfaction and happiness. Then she closes her eyes...loving and enjoying the tranquility of the beach~ fully secured and protected in the arms of the man she loves.

A moment later...

Adam, watched Jess' eyelids fluttered, heard her steady breathing...then she slowly dozed into a dreamland called sleep. A single tear fell from his eye. He had to enjoy her lovely presence as long as he can, his heart aching. How many years left for him before everything will be taken away from him? He's getting emotional now.

He kissed her forehead. He looked lovingly at his little goddess, his little bundle of joy, the love of his life. "I love you so much, Jess," he whispered in her ears.

He waved his right hand on the bonfire and the flames went dead.

"I will take you home now my beloved," he lifted her up and in minutes time they teleported back into the mansion, landing in her bedroom. He deposited her gently in her bed, then he lay down beside her, he continues holding her tenderly throughout the rest of the night.