Blood Rose (Blood Books Book 1) (6 page)

I stared in disbelief, unable to stand. How could I have caused that much damage? Jeremiah was stronger than me. He had to be. How could I have gotten that close to breaking his shield? Close enough to taking his life?

Jasik offered his hand, and I took it.

“This is of no fault of yours. We did not know your strength. Jeremiah has already healed.”

I ignored him. I knew Jeremiah would be okay. In all honesty, I wasn’t worried about him. I was more concerned with me. I didn’t understand my vampire strength, and now I was making enemies. If I was going to survive in this world, I needed to learn their rules. I had to give them a chance.

“Let’s get home. Day will soon break, and Jeremiah must rest,” Malik said, walking over to Jeremiah, who was now able to stand alone.

Looking at the ground, I took my walk of shame behind the vampires, hoping I’d wake up and this nightmare would be over.

“We must make haste,” Jasik said, breaking my trance. “Can you keep up?”

I nodded, and we ran. My hair flew behind me as I dashed toward the others, ignoring the growing pain in my gut. I refused to believe that I was hungry.
Already.
I ignored the trees whipping past at my sides. I focused only on the night.

The air grew heavy with mist and salt. The scent of wildflowers grew weaker. We were leaving Oregon, still heading north. The moon sat above us; its glow brightened the woods, and I was able to see night animals scurrying away. No doubt they sensed that predators were near.

I didn’t know how long we ran. I just knew that I had never felt more alive or more at peace with Mother Earth. I briefly closed my eyes, listening to the creatures of the night. I inhaled deeply as the wind brushed across my cheeks. It felt like I was only at peace for mere moments, though I was sure we ran for hours. I never grew tired or weary of where the vampires were taking me. I trusted in myself and in Mother Earth. And just as I was finally coming to terms with what had happened to me, we came to a hasty stop.

A black, wrought-iron fence loomed before us. The tips pointed like deadly daggers. Two large gargoyles stood beside the wide entrance. Their menacing glares stared back at me. Witches had often used gargoyles for protection against evil entities, and I found it odd that vampires did, too.

“They’re spelled,” Jasik said.

I met his eyes, confused. “Witches live here?”

“No, but we’ve made allies,” he replied.

I couldn’t help gawking at him. Had he really just suggested that witches had
helped
vampires?

“There is much for you to learn,” he said, his British accent thickening the words. He smiled, turned, and walked away. The other vampires had already left us behind.

I realized then that I could run. By the time they had realized I wasn’t there, I could be to Montana or back home in Wisconsin. I knew I could never run back to Shasta. They’d find me there. But I could be free. Free of my Pagan expectations. Free of the vampire curse. And then I shook my head and kicked twigs at my feet.

I could
never
be free of the vampire curse, and it was time to face it: I
needed
Jasik. I wasn’t very good at being a vampire.

I followed the vampires across the threshold. I had almost expected to burst into flames upon entrance, like an evil being entering holy grounds. I laughed inside at the thought. Comparing a vampire coven to holy ground? I must have lost my mind.

The overgrown grass made it difficult to navigate the stone walkway. A small cemetery sat to my right. I found myself stopping to pray for the lost souls. The headstones were stacked one after the other. I wondered how the dead fit in such close quarters.

The carvings on the front stones were dark, new. The stones in rows farther back were dirty and chipped, and the ground around them was covered in weeds. I wondered how long the oldest grave had been there. One hundred years? Five hundred? I thought back to our cemetery. Ancestry played a bigger role in the vampires’ lives than I had realized.

The similarities between the two species, witches and vampires, left a bad taste in my mouth. Why, in all of my teachings, had I never learned of this side to them? Why had I never learned of Hunters, of vampires who seemed to protect me more than my own coven?

The overhanging trees were without bloom. I imagined how cold it must be. It was December, and we were in Washington. There was a light layer of snow beneath my feet. The crunch of it beneath my heels brought me home. I smiled as I remembered the long winters in Wisconsin. They seemed never-ending.

Each season brought a blizzard, and each blizzard brought games. I would play outside for hours. Only during Wisconsin winters did I learn how to control my magic, because only then did I need to call upon fire’s warmth.

I lifted my arm, palm to the sky. I didn’t feel cold, though I felt the breeze. I suppose I only knew it was cold because the human in me still beckoned to me. The witch wasn’t letting go, after all.

I dropped my arm and slowly backed away. As I turned, I collided with Jasik, who wrapped his hands around my arms to keep me from losing my balance.

“I was just…” I said, looking over my shoulders. Only then did I see them. They glinted as the moonlight hit them just right. Runes. Runes of protection, of strength.

“We must get inside,” he said, breaking my trance.

“Who’s buried here?” I asked, pulling away from him. The runes spelled on the tombstones were powerful. They were meant to keep something out.

Or something in.

He said nothing.

“Jasik,
who
is buried here?” I asked again. I made a point of asking in a tone that made him understand he didn’t have a choice. He
would
tell me, or we’d stay outside until the sun rose.

“Our dead,” he said. His answer annoyed me. He gave me a simple, and obvious, answer—one he knew I knew was technically correct.

“Jasik,” I said, breathing slowly, choosing my words wisely. “These stones are spelled. I know this, because I have used these very same spells on the graves of our dead.
Why
are these particular stones spelled, and if you lie or give me a stupid answer, I’m going to sink my fangs so deeply into your throat your healing powers wouldn’t be able to fix it before the sun rose. Understand?”

He smiled. In truth, his reaction didn’t surprise me as much as mine had. I had just threatened a seemingly very powerful vampire, and I wasn’t worried. I knew I could take him.

I took a step forward and linked my arm with his. He tensed under my show of affection. I found it odd that my proximity always made him nervous. Vampires were used to blending in with humans, and in order to successfully blend in, you had to become comfortable. When I agreed to leave with them, I thought I would be the one having a difficult time transitioning into a new life with new rules. But in reality, we both were having a difficult time accepting the change.

“I want to trust you,” I said. “You’re all I know now, Jasik. As much as I hate the thought, you’re all I have.”

I smiled. I gave him the most sincere smile I could muster. I didn’t want to fight with him. I needed him to see that he could trust me, too.

There was no space between us. My body rested against his. His heartbeat rose as I met his eyes. As much as I wanted to play the friend game, I still didn’t like how comfortable I was becoming with him. I tried to tell myself that I had to remember who I was—even if I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to remain that same girl. But I knew my survival rested in his hands, and I needed to know that I could count on him when it mattered most. I needed to know that he wouldn’t pounce the moment my back was turned.

“The tombstones imprison those of us turned Rogue. They’re no longer living, but we take extra precautions. Thus, the stones and graveyard are spelled.”

“How do we turn Rogue?” I whispered. I barely heard my own words, even with my heightened senses, but it was all I could say.

“By giving into the blood lust, by feeding from humans to the point where you consume their essence. It triggers a change—one from which you cannot return.”

I looked back over my shoulder, staring at the tombstones. I hadn’t noticed the mausoleum hidden in the corner. I wondered what was in there. Most of the dead seemed to be buried in the ground. Who was important enough to be buried behind what I assumed to be a locked door?

I unlinked my arm and walked beside him in silence. Within minutes, a large, dark building emerged from the smoky air. A Victorian mansion. Its wraparound stone porch and stained-glass windows would spook even the strongest heart. More gargoyles sat beside the entrance to the porch and were perched on the roof. Figures stood in the windows of the upper floors, watching us. I swallowed hard. I knew more vampires were inside. I was just getting used to Jasik and the Hunters. How was I to live in a house full of them?

“Everything will be okay,” Jasik said as he squeezed my hand.

I realized he’d promised that twice tonight, and I was beginning to wonder if he was actually trying to reassure himself.

Jasik pushed the double doors open, and we filed inside.

The door closed behind us, locking me in. I folded my arms over my chest as I looked around. We were in a foyer. A grand staircase wide enough for all five of us to walk up side-by-side was before me. I glanced to my left; black leather couches sat beside massive double doors. Vampires whispered amongst each other as I scanned the room. Mirrors and artwork adorned the walls.

I turned around, finding Malik standing directly behind me, blocking my path to the door. The walls held an old mirror. I stared at the girl looking back at me. Her violet eyes looked bright and full of life. Yet, I felt empty inside—and alone in a house full of vampires. I cringed and held my arms tighter around my body.

The floors were a dark wood while the walls were painted light beige. A Gothic chandelier hung above me, allowing dim lighting, but my eyes adjusted to the darkness. Many of the lingering vampires welcomed the Hunters home with various greetings: pats on the backs, hugs, kissing cheeks. I received nothing but stares and whispered gossip, as if my vampire ears couldn’t pick up the disgust in their tones. I wondered if they knew what I was: part witch, part vampire.

The room directly to our right was a large conservatory. Large gray and black stained-glass bay windows allowed in moonlight, and I couldn’t help but wonder how the vampires survived the mornings in a room with floor-to-ceiling windows.

The Hunters led me up the stairs, allowing me extra peeks into the conservatory’s adjoining room: a library closed off by glass French doors. I had been an English minor while in college, so I was easily able to imagine myself spending hours each day in there. I was sure it would be my only peace while in the house.

When we reached the top, Jasik took several steps forward and opened the door directly in front of us, and the vampires piled in. Lillie pushed past me, slamming into my shoulder, and took a place beside the woman sitting behind a large, dark-wooded desk.

The woman’s hands were folded atop the table before her. She stared at me, her eyes moving up and down my body. I dropped my arms, allowing them to dangle by my sides, and squeezed my hands. Between her dark, mocha-colored skin; long, black locks; and bright green eyes, she was absolutely beautiful. Breaking the gaze that felt a lot like a game of mercy, I glanced around the room.

Behind the woman, a large window brought in lines of moonlight, and in the distance, I watched waves crash into the large rocks surrounding the back of the manor. I hadn’t realized we were so close to the ocean. I didn’t understand how I could possibly have missed the scent of salt water.

Both walls to my right and left were covered with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Dust coated the shelves and tickled my nose. Each book fit tightly into its place, leaving no room for extras. I imagined one led to a secret room just like I’d seen on a television show as a child. I assessed each shelf, looking for a hint of cleanliness or fingerprints to betray their secret passageway.

The woman cleared her throat and said, “Jasik, I hope to hear all went well with our problem.” She spoke loudly, affirmatively, eliminating any doubt that she wasn’t the head of this house.

“Yes, Milady,” he said. “We were able to eliminate most of the Rogues. Very few survived.” He stood tall, one arm resting behind his back and the other at his side. I noticed that the other Hunters mimicked this same stance, and I wondered if I should match them. I released the grip in my hands and stood straighter. I began pulling my arm behind my back, but a glance from Malik stopped me dead in my track.

“And who is this?” she asked, looking me over once again, stopping at my eyes. I couldn’t decide if that was because people typically look one another in the eyes or if it was because mine were so obviously different from those around me.

“We encountered another problem. A coven of witches was attacked, and I was forced to change her.” Thu-thump. Thu-thump. Thu-thump-thump. Thu-thump-thump. I listened as Jasik’s heartbeat rose when he finished his sentence. He clenched his fist behind his back, and his heart rate slowed again. His hesitation was minimal and probably unnoticed by the beauty before us, but any hesitation led me to believe I might have to fight my way out of this death chamber.

Lillie met my gaze, her jaw clenching. I didn’t understand why she disliked me. I knew it wasn’t only Jeremiah’s close call that brought on such hatred. 

The woman cleared her throat and stood, placing just her fingertips against the desk. “You know the law, Jasik.”

“I do, and I am prepared to repent for my actions.”

My breath caught in my throat. Repent? As in die? If they were willing to kill
him,
what the hell would they do to
me
?

“I see she is a Hunter. What is her ability?” she asked.

“We’re unsure.”

“Uncover her ability tomorrow, and I will find placement for her in another coven. You may leave.”

“Another coven?” I blurted. “I don’t want to go to another coven.” I turned to Jasik. The thought of meeting even more vampires who hated me made my blood boil. And I was getting really tired of making new friends.

His jaw clenched. I immediately regretted my outburst. I was sure I had broken some super-secret vampire law.

“Milady,” he began, “she will need to be trained in both combat and the way of our people. I will gladly complete this task, but it may be beneficial to the coven if she is placed here.”

“We do not need another Hunter,” she said, stepping away from behind her desk.

“Having another on location could prove ideal. Had Rogues attacked in our absence…” He didn’t finish. I supposed he didn’t need to.

I waited what seemed like an eternity for her decision. “I’ll consider it. You may leave.” And in the end, I still didn’t get one.

The door closed behind us after we left the room. I turned on my heel and faced the stairway, unsure of where to go. Another closed door was to my left, and a long hallway stretched down my right. Hoping we didn’t have to go back downstairs, I looked up to Jasik, noticing that he was already watching me.

“This way,” he said, walking down the hallway. Relief washed over me. I was able to avoid the vampires downstairs… for now.

As we walked side by side, I looked back to Jeremiah, who was swarmed by a dozen or so girls. His swoon ability was in full effect. I smiled when he looked over to me, and to my surprise, he smiled back.

We walked past a lounge, which sat nestled in a corner beside the office we had just left. We continued down the hall and past several sets of doors.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Malik said. Jasik nodded, and I looked back to meet Malik’s goodbye. He turned away and disappeared through the first closed door to our left.

“No one wants me here,” I said. I wasn’t sure why it bothered me. I
really
didn’t want to be here anyway, right? I didn’t belong here. The pit in my stomach grew deeper as I realized I didn’t belong anywhere.

“You’re with me. You’re welcomed wherever I am,” Jasik replied.

You’re with me.
My heart dropped as he said those words. But why? His arm brushed against mine as we walked down the hall, and heat surged through my body. My heart began to race at his proximity. The lingering smell of his musk teased my senses. I shook my head. I needed sleep. I needed to learn to control my senses.

The hallway we walked down was long and dark. The same dark-wooded floors were beneath my heels, and another Gothic-looking chandelier lit our way. I expected to find sconces, stone floors, and blood-stained walls, but instead, though dark, it felt like a home. Like it could be
my
home. I tried to clear my thoughts. 

“We passed Malik’s room,” he said. “Mine’s here, and this will be yours.” His room sat between mine and Malik’s.

“Jeremiah and Lillie?” I asked.

He turned and faced the doors across from ours. The door across from mine was for guests, the room across from Jasik’s was Lillie’s, and the room across from Malik’s was Jeremiah’s. He went on to explain that the other members of the coven resided on the third and fourth floors.

“I’ll show you the rest of the manor tomorrow, but we needn’t go up there.”

I turned back to my door and walked in. The bedroom was stunning. A king-sized bed dressed in dark maroon sat directly in front of me, supported by four posts that nearly touched the ceiling. Sheer white fabric twirled around each post and then enclosed the bed, creating a blissful paradise. An enormous armoire sat to the right, made of the same dark-brown wood as the rest of the manor. An elegant make-up table angled in the corner to my left. The enormity of the furniture made the room feel small, yet comforting.

“The door to your left is your personal bathroom, and the one to your right is your closet,” Jasik said, breaking my awestruck moment.

“Thank you,” I said, turning back to him. “For everything.” It was clear that Jasik had risked his life for me. I still didn’t understand why, and I wondered if I would have done the same for him.

He smiled, nodded, and then stepped backward, grabbing onto the door handle.

“We must rise early, by eight in the evening. Sleep well, Avah.”

“Night,” I said with a small smile.

He turned to leave. Before the door latched, he added, “Stay in your room tonight.”

And with that, the door closed, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts and mixed feelings.

Leaning against the closed door, I looked around the room. I flipped the lights off, peeled off my clothes, and slipped into the nightgown that was conveniently left on the bed. Settling in under the covers, I hoped for sleep.

But rather than its welcoming embrace, I projected.

I sat up, looking around. My head felt heavy, the room dark. As I stood and rose from the bed, it took all of my effort to take just a few steps. I looked around the room, noticing the corner, full-length mirror, the cracked wall, the shattered pictures. I leaned down and picked one up.

The collage was of a beautiful girl. She smiled next to an older woman who closely resembled her. They hugged each other as if nothing could tear apart their bond. In the next, she stood with an arched back, strong legs, and straight arms pointed toward the sky. I looked past the girl wearing a metallic, sparkly leotard; others matched her stance, but they stood on beams, preparing to twirl and jump and maintain balance. In the final picture, the girl was kissing a boy. His brown hair was shaven short, and her hand was wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer to her.

The girl looked happy, as if life had given her everything she had asked for: family, friends, romance. Faces were the ultimate disguise for the turmoil that lay beneath. The girl in the picture was used to hiding her inner desires, and the boy in the picture had no idea. But then again, she had everyone fooled.

I set the picture on the bedside table and walked around the bed, trailing my hand against the footboard. The door across from the end of the bed was open, and clothes cluttered the floor. She must have left so abruptly that she didn’t have time to clean. Maybe when she returned. I closed the door, hiding the mess from unwelcome eyes.

A scattering of post-it notes decorated the front of the door.

Write more poetry.

Help Mrs. Mills with garden.

Clean closet.

Russian History test on Monday.

A floorboard creaked. I turned around, but no one was there.

The air became hazy as I walked to the desk that sat beside the closet. Homemade picture frames with super-glued seashells stuck to the corners. The happy girl sat at a table surrounded by smiling faces. She, too, smiled, wrapping her arms around shoulders and waists. A closed laptop, an open notebook with scribbled cartoons, and a stack of books: English Literature 1800s, Russian History, Astrology, and Economics. Against the desk, a backpack sat open on the floor. Folders, notebooks, and pens spilled out.

I grabbed a lanyard off the desk;
Northern Shasta College - California
was written across the strap. I stared at the girl in the picture on the ID. Her long brown hair rested in soft waves next to her face. Her smile seemed to stretch from ear to ear.
Senior
was written below the headshot and
Home of the Bears
below that.