Reckoning (3 page)

Chapter 3

Roseline struggles to concentrate as she relays the details of Gabriel’s capture to William and Nicolae.
 
Her pupils dilate and her fingers retract into claws.
 
Her thirst for human blood is growing by the minute as the sedatives continue to poison her blood, making rejuvenation imperative.

She swallows, wincing at the burning along her esophagus.
 
Her hands unconsciously flinch in time with William’s pulse.

She rides the barrier between sanity and bloodlust as thoughts of Gabriel keep her teetering on the edge.
 
She needs to find him, to save him, but not at the cost of human life…or her soul.

Nicolae stares hard at Roseline.
 
Her chin dips to avoid his gaze, guilt burrowing into her stomach.
 
He knows.

“Hey Will, why don’t you head topside and let Sadie know everything is ok.
 
I’m sure she’s worried sick by now,” Nicolae suggests.

William blinks, startled by his interruption. Roseline falls silent, absently rubbing her temples.
 
His gaze flits back and forth between them, shrugging.
 
“Works for me.”

The tender flesh around Roseline’s eyes pinches as William brushes past.
 
He has barely made it to the entrance of the tunnel before Roseline doubles over, clutching her head in her hands.
 
Her lower lip trembles as she squeezes her eyes tightly shut, sealing out the light.

Bubbles of pain rupture behind Roseline’s temples. Spirals of color fill her mind’s eye.
 
Her body crumples in on itself as she sinks to the floor.
 

Her thoughts spin out of control as she fights to remember why she resists the blood’s call.
 
Nicolae’s heartbeat, strong and healthy, pounds in her ears.
 
Her control is slipping, breaking apart into fragments of resolve.
  

“You need blood.”
 
Nicolae’s voice reverberates through her body.
 
She bites down on her tongue to stifle the moan that builds within her.
 
He is right.
 
She desperately needs blood…but she cannot bring herself to bite him or anyone.
 

The thought of his blood spilling into her mouth makes her ravenous, her stomach growls with need, but Roseline knows the consequences of bloodlust.
 
Too much too soon and she might not be able to return from it.
 

“I’m not a monster,” she rasps.
 
Her jaw sets into a hard, distinctive line.
 

“I didn’t mean to imply that you are,” Nicolae declares softly.
 
He stares at the floor.
 
“I was merely stating a fact.”

Her chest tightens.
 
Roseline ignores his attempt to pacify her.
 
“You hunters are all alike.
 
You think you have everything figured out.”

Nicolae places his hands in his pocket and leans back against the wall.
 
A vein throbs down the center of Roseline’s forehead as his indifference makes her teeth grind.
 
She is not a threat now, and he knows it.

There is a long pause before he answers, “I know far more than you would like, Roseline.”
 

“My name is Rose.”

Nicolae pushes off the wall, adopting a challenging tone.
 
“To Sadie?
 
Sure.
 
William?
 
Yeah, he might still buy into that crap, but we both know abbreviating your name doesn’t change who you are.”

Roseline’s nostrils flare.
 
She rises and her feet plant wide as she bares her teeth.
 
His words dredge up age-old fears of becoming the thing Vladimir created her to be.
 
A killer, vicious and unmerciful.
 
“I am
not
a monster.”

Crossing his arms over his chest, Nicolae watches Roseline sway slightly back and forth.
 
“Would Sadie agree with that?”

The memory of her friend’s hollowed out cheeks makes Roseline’s throat tighten.
 
She came close, so close, to losing her friend.
 
Nicolae tilts his head to the side as he steps closer.
 
“She would be dead right now, if not for Fane’s intervention.”

Muscles along her neck strain against her delicate skin.
 
Her face flushes and hands quake as a rumble builds in her chest.
 
Why is he doing this to her?
 
Does he really think she meant to kill Sadie?
 
Does he only see evil in her eyes?

Knowing he is right only infuriates her more.
 
A sheen of sweat drenches her forehead.
 
Her stance balances out as her temperature rises, burning through a small portion of the tranquilizer that pollutes her blood.
 

Nicolae’s eyes narrow as he observes the changes.
 
He chooses his words carefully, egging her on.
 
“You might not have killed Sadie this time, but you will someday.
 
It is in your nature.”
 
His voice drops low as he leans in.
 
“You
are
a killer.”

Violent, uncontrollable anger sweeps through her.
 
She launches at Nicolae, a guttural roar spilling from her mouth.
 
Her fingers dig into his chest, ripping through his shirt to the flesh beyond.
 
Nicolae clamps his teeth down onto his lip, repressing the pain.
 

Roseline writhes on top of him, snarling like a wild animal, too far gone to realize he does not fight back.
 
“I never meant to hurt her!”

Her long nails claw into the tender flesh of his chest.
 
A grunt of pain leaks from Nicolae as he presses back into the floor and then the struggle ends.
 

Roseline pants heavily, her head sways with dizziness.
 
The whites of her eyes appear as she collapses to the floor.
 
Her limbs twitch uncontrollably and darkness glides over her vision as she stares up at the ceiling.
 
Her rage fades, like a receding tide.
 

“Oh crap,” Nicolae grunts, shoving her legs off so he can kneel beside her.
 
His fingers press against her neck, searching for a pulse.
 
Roseline’s heart batters her ribcage.
 
Her chest pumps rapidly as she gasps for air and her vision blurs, staring blankly up at him.
 

“Hang on.”
 
With trembling fingers, Nicolae hastily attempts to roll up his sleeves.
 
He growls in frustration, impaired by a button.
 
Gripping the fabric, he yanks the sleeve free.

His hand fumbles in his back pocket.
 
A glint of steel vanishes into supple flesh and Nicolae hisses as blood drips from his arm.
 
“Drink, Roseline”.

She feels her body pulled into his lap, her head gently eased under his arm.
 
Droplets of his blood splatter against her face.
 
Her eyes lock onto his arm as he lowers it to her mouth.

Color drains from Nicolae’s face as her lips curl around his wound.
 
He grunts as the vein gives way, dispensing his healing blood down Roseline’s throat.
 
She clings to him, moaning as the pain begins to recede.
 

Desperately weakened, Nicolae collapses to the floor.
 
“Roseline, stop,” he pleads.

She barely hears his faint whisper over her greedy sucking.
 
His hand flutters over her head, attempting to fight her off.
 
Anchoring her nails into his forearm, she refuses to let go.
 
“Please,” he calls, his head lolling against the floor, “remember Sadie.”

Roseline’s teeth retract from his flesh.
 
Her gaze sweeps his unconscious form.
 
“Nicolae!”

***

Roseline paces next to the couch in Nicolae’s sitting room, chewing her nails down to the quick.
 
He has not moved.
 
His pulse is slow but his breathing is beginning to taper into normal rhythms.
 
 
Roseline prays that he will live.

“He will be fine,” Sadie soothes, reaching up to pat Roseline’s arm as she passes by.

 
Sadie looks unnatural in a rumpled green tank top and oversized camouflage pants.
 
Her flattened hair lacks its usual spiky quality, her eyes vacant of black eyeliner.
 
Minus her paperclip jewelry and knee-high biker boots, Sadie’s boisterous personality feels greatly diminished.
 

“Stupid fool,” Roseline grunts, pulling out of her friend’s grasp.
 
A flicker of remorse jabs at her as Sadie’s face crumbles, crestfallen.
 
“Sorry,” she mutters, dropping into a nearby chair.
 
Her legs bounce rapidly.
 
“I just don’t know what possessed him to do that.”

Sadie reaches out to brush stray hairs back from Nicolae’s forehead.
 
The smile plastered on her face fails to reach her eyes.
 
Her pride in Nicolae’s bravery is not diminished by her anxiety.
 
“I told you he turned out to be a good guy.”

William snorts.
 
His posture is closed, hostile.
 
Forgiveness is vacant from his face.
 
Roseline leans back in the chair, gazing steadily at him.
 
“Go on.
 
Say it.
 
I know you’re dying to.”

“Fine.”
 
He pushes up from his seat and stomps forward.
 
“Want to know what I think?
 
I think you’re an idiot.”

Sadie gasps but Roseline waves her off.
 
She simply stares back at him, mouth pressed into a white line.
 
William jabs his finger toward Nicolae.
 
“How many people have to risk their lives for you?
 
Sadie?
 
Gabriel?
 
And now Nicolae?
 
Should I wait around in case you need me as a blood donor, too?”

Sadie’s hand snakes out as she leaps to her feet.
 
The crack echoes about the room.
 
Dazed, William’s fingers stroke his cheek.
 
“You hit me.”

“Of course I did, you big oaf,” she snaps.
 
“How dare you speak to our friend like that?”

William rounds on her.
 
“Friend?
 
How can you even call her that, Sadie?
 
Look at what she has done.”
 

He growls, kicking at an end table.
 
It totters before falling over, spilling an antique lamp onto the carpet.
 
He turns to glare at Roseline.
 
“I was actually worried about you down in that dungeon, relieved that you were safe, but I was a fool.”
 
His lip curls.
 
“You didn’t need my help.
 
You needed blood and it sure as heck looks like you took it.”

Roseline’s teeth snap together and her nails claw into the arms of the chair.
 
William shuffles back a step.
 
Her anger brews just under the surface, volatile and deadly.
 
She rises slowly, controlling her movements.
 
“You are right.”