Bulletproof (Healer) (5 page)

             
“He’ll be home soon. I presume he’d like you to take her to the manor,” Rose says, setting her teacup onto the pristine coffee table. I can’t help but compare this beautiful abode to the dingy apartment Gabe was staying in Ayrin. Both mirrored the personalities of their occupiers. Gabe’s being dark, dirty and inhospitable. Rose’s is pleasant, bright and warm. “You should stay here until dark when I can contact him.” 

             
The decision is made without my input. Rose shows me to the guest room where she insists I should make myself at home. It is as delightful as I expected. The walls are painted a daintily fair shade of lilac, so light that it is almost white. The dusky pink and lilac floral bed sheets are tucked in so pristinely that it seems a shame that anybody should ever sleep on them but equally they look so comfortable that it takes all my strength to pull up some manners and not dive headfirst onto the clean, fluffy cloud duvet. There is a white wooden beside cabinet and a matching chest of drawers. A chandelier hangs from the ceiling and throws light across the room and bounces against the small bottles of perfume on the ornate dressing table. It is beautiful and it winds me to think how much money was spent on this room alone. Maurice must pay his staff a great salary, I think. 

             
Rose must hear me gasp because she giggles, “I am too house proud for my own good. I love decorating. In a few months time you won’t recognise this place.” It makes me sad to think this room will be torn apart, repainted and it will be a completely new kind of beautiful. “I understand Gabe didn’t give you much time to pack your things?”

             
I shake my head, “I wasn’t planning on staying for long…”             

             
Rose gives me the same sympathetic look that she gave Gabe in the living room, “Don’t worry. The drawers are filled with my clothes. Take your pick. I won’t miss them.”

             
Dad always aimed to give Bruce, Jana and I an ample lifestyle. Christmases and birthdays were brilliant days and I was never left wanting.  I have never been particularly taken my material objects anyway. What I desire couldn't be gift wrapped. What I wanted was freedom from my disease. But whilst I lived a comfortable lifestyle, I could never imagine what it must be like to have hundreds of luxuries at your disposal. I got the impression that if I took the entire contents of those chest of drawers, Rose wouldn’t blink and could replace it all with ease. That kind of extravagance was implausible to me when I only just replaced a winter’s coat I had for three years.  

             
“Thanks,” I smile, mustering up as much gratitude as I can for a woman I do not know but who’s world I am being thrusted into. I remind myself that whatever I am going to face in the vampire world will be much easier to handle if I make friends. I have learned that much from my days spent reading about them on the internet. Connections are important in this unknown world.

             
“There’s an en suite too so feel free to freshen up if you feel so inclined.” I feel as though Rose has lost the ability to speak with normal humans after spending so much time with vampires. Although she is welcoming, her conversation does not flow with particular ease. Casual slang has been replaced with the eloquent chatter associated with the creatures of the night.

             
Rose asks me if I would like more to eat but I decline politely. I don’t feel up to eating now. Whenever dad or Shannon’s face flash into my memory, I feel nauseous. She asks if I’d like a movie to watch and I shake my head. I don’t like movies. Romantic films make me cringe because I know they are created purely to give young girls like me false ideas about the real, cruel world of love. And when I watch action envy eats me up. There is something too tangible about movies. I always get the feeling that moviemakers think their audiences are stupid; they spoon-feed stories to as if I am not trusted to understand the concept of a story on my own. I don’t like being talked down to. 

             
Eventually I agree to one of Rose’s suggestions and decide to read a book. I am unsurprised to find Rose has a magnificent collection of novels in her study which is a room painted sky blue with the nice touch of small black birds and white swirling clouds on the ceiling. “I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable,” Rose hovers in the doorway. “I’m going to talk to Gabe. Shout me if you want anything. You are free to take any book.” Let me guess, she won’t miss them. 

             
Some of the books in her oak bookcases, which in this room look like majestic trees growing high into the blue sky, look very old and important so I’m sure they can’t be as easily replaced as clothes can. I’m impressed by the wide variety. I stare, open mouthed, at the dusty classics that look like originals but I don’t have enough knowledge of books to be sure. Laughably, I choose a copy of Interview With A Vampire and go back to my temporary room. 

             
I feel sweaty and unclean and decide to take up Rose’s offer to use the bathroom facilities. I need to figure out a way to waste time before night arrives and Gabe and Rose can speak with Maurice; I need to keep my mind off of my family who are worrying themselves sick. 

             
The en suite bathroom smells like lavender and it reminds me of my Gran’s, my dad’s mum’s, house which only makes me more homesick. It can’t help but feel the décor of the bathroom is inspired by a French boudoir. Rose must spend a lot of time in France if it’s where Maurice calls home. I wonder, as I run my fingers across the elaborate curves of the countertop that the gold sink sits in, if this is a nice reminder of that part of her life. 

             
The shower serves it’s purpose as a distraction. The water is warm and soothing on my skin which is tired from a few hours of travelling in the car and washes away the nervous sweat that had built up on the back of my neck. In Rose’s house I feel like I’ve been missing a huge part of womanhood. There are so many products on the shelves that I don’t know where to begin. She did tell me to help myself so I start with a honey and sugar body scrub which leaves my skin a bit raw and pink but smells so sweet I want it for dessert. Then I squirt strawberry shampoo into my hand, massage it into my scalp and rinse it away. What next? There’s cinnamon shampoo, peppermint conditioner, citrus body wash. And it doesn’t stop there. Once I’m out of the shower and patted dry with a fluffy white towel, I find watermelon body lotion and slather it generously onto my skin and then a coconut oil which I apply to my legs. It makes them look shiny and glossy and it is easy to see why so many girls enjoy pampering themselves like this; I smell like I’ve been dipped in a piece of heaven and my skin shines more than ever.

             
I choose a pair of the least risqué underwear in the top drawer. Rose seems to indulge herself in expensive and seductive pants and bras, all with a matching partner. There is a lot of lace and bright colours which make me blush just to look at. I soon discover that most of Rose’s clothes are out of my comfort zone. I like simplicity but everything I find is extravagant. I can’t deny they are striking and I’m sure Rose looks like a knockout wearing these intricately designed ensembles but I feel like I would look like a little girl playing dress up.

             
I’m still deciding between a long sleeve grey cable knit dress and leopard print sweater and black skirt when Rose enters the room without knocking. I grab for the pink dressing gown that I’ve left lying on the floor to cover myself up but Rose seems unfazed by my part-nakedness. “I think you’ve found the most boring clothes I own,” Rose laughs gently, fingering the hem of the grey dress.

             
“I’m not really into fashion,” I shrug. Rose looks appalled. Like I’ve just threatened her with a knife. 

             
“I love it all. Pretty dresses, handbags, shoes,” she grins but then she touches my arm and says, “But it’s not for everybody. I’ll get you something you’d be more comfortable in as soon as I can. You smell wonderful by the way.” I feel embarrassed. 

             
“I hope you don’t mind…” I say, twiddling with a strand of my wet hair. 

             
“Not at all,” she smiles. She probably has lots of guests coming in and out of her house. Maurice’s house guests. I doubt I am the first person he has requested to meet with. I imagine how I would feel if strangers frequented my home and I shudder at the thought of some girl I don’t know raiding through my shelves, using my shower and thumbing my books. I don’t own anything precious like Rose does but I feel anxious at the thought of somebody seeing my possessions and sleeping in my bed. Perhaps Rose is so accustomed to it by now. “I like it. Can I do your hair?”

             
I oblige purely because I don’t have the heart to turn her away. I want to be alone to read my book and find my bearings but this is her house, I have to agree. My emotions are still unsettled. While I am unhappy to have left my family so abruptly, afraid of what is to come of the next few days, I am also excited and satisfied about how the day has unfolded. New faces, smells and the prospect of meeting a vampire all make me feel giddy. 

             
I sit in a basket on a chair facing the large mirror and Rose stands behind me blow-drying my hair with great intensity in her eyes like my lank hair is a work of art. Once my hair is dry, she combs through the knots and I can see her mind ticking away with ideas of what my hair could become. Her dark hair is so long and falls in soft curls that reflect the same curves of her womanly body. “I wish I had fair hair like you,” she says, pulling my hair away from my face, and I can tell she is lying to flatter me. My lemony blonde hair is something I think I must have inherited from my mother. Before dad went grey, he had jet black hair and I am certain Shannon has naturally dark hair too. Bruce and Jana are like twins with their matching short black hair. Yet again, I am the oddball of the family.

             
Rose plaits my hair and ties it up in a knot on the top of my head. She sprays it with hairspray and smiles at her finished product. I don’t normally wear my hair away scraped back like this and it takes a few seconds to adjust to seeing my face so clearly. I do like it though. I wish Rose was always around at home to make me look and feel like a proper girl. 

             
“Thanks,” I say, touching the side of face which feels bare now. “It looks lovely.”

             
“No problem.” I see Rose’s gaze turn to the sky outside which is still showing signs of light. The vampires won’t be awake just yet. 

             
In a bid to get some more time to myself I ask Rose for some dinner. When she is gone, I lie across the bed, which fits around my skin like a good hug, and start reading my book. My brain is not truly focusing on the words so they fly past my eyes and don’t sink in. 

             
The sky has darkened considerably when Rose calls me for dinner and I can tell she and Gabe are tense when we sit around the dinner table. Are the vampires awake now?  Rose has made pasta with a spicy tomato sauce and serves it up in a big glass bowl that sit in the middle of the round table. “Help yourself,” while making dinner Rose must have found time to change from the red dress she was wearing earlier. Now she is wearing a strapless gold top that looks like foil with black dress trousers. Her make up has changed too. The red lips have been replaced for a deep purple and her brown eyes are highlighted with gold shimmering eye shadow. 

             
I didn’t think I was hungry until the fiery aromas hit my nostrils and I’m ravenous. I fill my bowl up twice and I am acutely aware that the heavy sound of my chewing it the only noise to be heard at the table. 

             
The phone rings. Gabe glowers at Rose. Rose smiles back and, in a smooth movement, rises from the table and moves to answer the phone. While Rose talks on the phone, my eyes are glued to Gabe who is moving his mouth gently like a child who has memorised the lines of his favourite movie. I watch his face move while he watches Rose but still keep my ears pricked to listen to Rose’s side of the conversation. 

             
“Hello… she’s here… at my house… yes… I understand… he’s very sorry…” her eyes flicker nervously towards Gabe who looks angry. She offers him an apologetic face but he maintains his frown. “I understand… thank you… we’ll see you soon, goodbye.” 

             
Gabe doesn’t waste time before demanding, “What did he say?”

             
“He’s pleased,” is all she offers and returns to her place at the dinner table where she takes a dainty bite of the pasta. 

             
“Is that all?” Gabe says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. 

             
“No,” she says. “Perhaps we shouldn’t get Cassie involved with our business, Gabe.”

             
“She doesn’t mind,” he says, glancing at me quickly. 

             
“I don’t mind,” my voice squeaks and it’s true. I would appreciate being included in their whispered conversations about me. 

             
Rose smiles at me like I’m a silly child who needs coddling from the real world. She doesn’t understand that my pampered life has not been through choice. I’ve wanted this for a long time: taking a chance, experiencing a different life with my own eyes. But she sighs, giving in to our stares, “He is doing business in Spain currently. He wants us to stay here for a couple of nights until someone can send us over a fake passport for Cassie and then travel to France tomorrow where we can see the sights.”