Rose Blossom (10 page)

             
"Julian," I said his name quietly and held out my hand to him, "it doesn't matter." The relief on his face was apparent, I glanced at Avalon and she was smiling. Julian practically jumped over the couch; he wrapped his arms around me and kissed my forehead. "Your mother went for a walk," he whispered.

             
Just as I was opening my mouth to ask about what he'd said there was a loud knock on the front door.

             
I moved out of Julian's embrace with an apologetic smile and went to the front door. What I didn't expect was to see a truly pissed off Mel on the other side. Her eyes were violently green, which was a sure sign she was mad. I left the door open but took a few steps outside.

             
"Hey Mel, what's up?"

             
"You never freaking called me back!" she exclaimed, "You're always too damn busy with your new boyfriend and his weird little sister!"

             
"I did so call you back, why don't you check your voice mail!" I told her. I frowned, not really understanding why she was so angry, "and don't call Avalon weird, it's not nice. She's really very interesting and you'd see that if you actually talked to her."

             
"Don't defend her! She's replacing me I can feel it!" Tears filled Mel's eyes, "you NEVER want to hang out with me anymore."

             
"That's not true Mel, no one could replace you, we've been friends since kindergarten, besides every time I have free time you're with your own boyfriend." At this point I raised my hand to place it over my heart; it skipped a couple of beats as I watched Mel decide what to yell at me about next.

             
I could feel the color draining from my face, but still I had the gumption to be upset that Mel wasn't noticing because she was too angry.

             
"Okay, fine, but I'm still worried about you Rho," Mel said, staring at her feet.

             
"What? Why?" I rolled my eyes.

             
"I think, well maybe Julian is taking over your life, maybe you should consider dating someone normal, like Athol. I mean shit! He is always bugging me about you during P.E."

             
At the mention of Athol's name my heart stalled, I hoped Julian had not heard that, I took a deep breath in through my nose and peace began to fill me as Julian's scent enveloped me. My heart started to return to normal. But it was another shock as one more odd quality of Julian's was shoved in my face. Mel couldn't see him but he was standing inches from me, helping me to remain calm.

             
"I understand you're worried Mel, but there is no need to be. I want to be with Julian, and honestly Athol gives me the creeps. But you know what? Friday evening is free for me, why don't you come over and we'll do a movie night, how's that?"

             
Mel smiled at my suggestion, her whole demeanor brightening, "That would rock Rho! Okay, well then, I'll see you at school tomorrow." She grinned at me and ran down the sidewalk to her car.

             
When I turned around I was not surprised to see Julian standing behind me, a predatory gleam in his eyes.

             
"Athol is asking about you?" he asked a slight growl in his voice.

             
"I guess," I shrugged, "but who cares?  I'm with you and that is not going to change."

             
Julian just stood there for a minute or so eyes fastened upon me so intently I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. So I asked.

             
"That he's going to continue to cause trouble," was his answer. "What about you, what are you thinking?" he countered. "All I got was a few words."

             
Hands on my hips I made eye contact, "you masked yourself from her thoughts." It was a statement not a question. Julian blinked and then nodded in agreement.

             
"Do you ever do that to me?"

             
"Never." He lifted one hand and placed it upon my cheek.

             
A little shaky I walked past him to the living room, I sat down next to a very wide eyed Avalon. I steadied myself before inquiring, "How did you become a vampire Avalon?"

Chapter 7

              Both vampires stared at me as if I had grown another head in the few seconds that followed. I watched as Avalon looked to Julian for the okay to tell me her story. Then after a few more deathly quiet moments she began to speak, quickly and softly as if she was afraid this was going to hurt.

             
I leaned forward to give her my full attention, if this was going to be painful for her then the least I could do was be an apt listener. I felt rather than saw Julian sit down next to me; he wrapped an arm around my waist, his body pressed up against mine, offering comfort and his presence to both of us.

             
"I was born in Avalon," she started.

             
"Like Arthur's Avalon?" I asked eyes wide. That would make Avalon several thousand years old.

             
She smiled, eyes distant, "yes, that Avalon. I was born to be a priestess of the magical Isle, but I was rebellious I didn't want to follow like my mother, my Aunts and my sisters. I wanted my own life, my own destiny," she laughed and it was a sardonic laugh.

             
"I was foolish, I should have been grateful that I was a liberated female born to make magic and use the tools our Goddess gave us, but I couldn't seem to keep my mind off of the land beyond our home." A dry sob came from her chest and I placed my hand on her knee. She was a statue under my touch.

             
"One day a stranger came to Avalon.  He was sick, wasting away, sad looking but with the most intense eyes I had ever seen. We only had men come so we could have more daughters, but I was only 14 and not ready to bear a child. Even so I was quite taken with him and his stories of the land beyond Avalon. I visited him every night and he seemed to like the company," she stalled, as if lost in her own thoughts for a moment.

             
"No matter what we did the stranger kept getting sicker and sicker, he would not tell us how to heal him but he wouldn't eat or drink anything we provided. So I sat with him and talked to him. Every so often I would see a look pass over his face when he glanced at me, something frightful, but it never lasted long," Avalon closed her eyes and I watched as a red tinted tear leaked from under one eye lid and trailed down her cheek.

             
"Then one eve when I was sure he was going to die he beckoned me near to him and I leaned over, he whispered, ' I tried to fight, but I cannot, I wish to live I am sorry,' and suddenly his skeletal fingers were gripping me and his fierce breath was on my neck. He bit into my skin and the pain was unbearable I tried to cry out for help but I was frozen with fear. He drank and drank; it was like a cold, lonely, relaxing sleep as I began to die."

             
"You don't need to continue," Julian said, quietly.

             
"Yes I do, she needs to hear it," Avalon's bright eyes met mine, "but he felt such remorse that after, while I was dying, he made me drink from him. When I woke again he was long gone and I was being readied for burial. I realized right away what I had become, vampires being normal folk tales and all. I packed a few belongings and took off in the night."

             
"Oh my God Avalon! That's horrible, how did you survive?" I asked, my mouth gaping.

             
"I killed when I was hungry, slept during the day and skulked around at night," she laughed, coldly, "About 300 years worth of being a crazed child vampire. I did not learn or age I stayed my child self until Antoinette found me while I was in Gaul. She was newly made but wiser than me in many ways and she took me under her wing. I eventually was able to regain my sanity and sense of self." Avalon finished.

             
"Are all of your stories so dramatic and sad?" I wondered in disbelief, I found it difficult to think all vampires were forced or had such unique beginnings.

             
"Of course not Rhodanthe," Julian chastised, "some of use choose to become, and some of us are just simple poor folks with no interesting history at all."

             
"Oh, well Avalon thank you so much for sharing your story with me, I really appreciate it," I took Avalon's hand in my own and gave her the warmest smile I could muster.

             
"You're welcome Rho, I'm going to go wash my face now," she stood up heading to the first floor bathroom.

             
"So," I turned to Julian, "you're a vampire huh?" Julian swallowed and nodded.

             
"And that would make me... your prey." I bit my lip as again he answered me with a simple nod.  "Do you love me?"

             
He stopped mid nod, and his whole being froze, like a sculpture. I took a deep breath feeling my heart thump in my chest. I knew today had been too intense and that I would need my medication and a long nap to be myself for tomorrow.

             
"Do you love me?" I asked, again, breathless.

             
"Yes," Julian whispered, he leaned in and captured my lips with his own. His kiss burned like when you touch ice. I felt passion rise in me, such soaring sensations throughout my whole body. His touch made me feel healthy. My lungs filling with his sent as his hands ran up my sides to cup my face.

             
Finally he pulled away from me his eyes glowing with fervor; he stared for a few long seconds and then yanked me against his chest cuddling me to him.

             
"And you, my Rose blossom, how do you feel lying in the arms of a vampire?" I heard his words in my hair.

             
"Safe and healthy," was my automatic response. He tightened his arms around me.

             
"And love?" He asked.

             
"Yes Julian I love you," I told him. Then I frowned.

             
"What?'

             
"You're not how I pictured a vampire." I said outright.

             
"Ah," He pulled back, he cupped my chin, a smile on his face, "You pictures some angsty dark Goth guy bemoaning about living forever and having no soul, right?" I nodded, embarrassed.

             
"Don't worry it's how most people see us. But now you know the truth, we're just regular people. I actually enjoy my life." He kissed the tip of my nose.

             
"Good, I enjoy your life too." I blushed

             
"My family is having an outing Friday night, join us," he requested softly.

             
"Can't Mel is coming over," I reminded him, eyes closed, feeling a little sleepy.

             
"It's not until midnight,"

             
"My mom will freak if I ask."

             
"Then don't ask, I'll pick you up down the street at midnight."

             
I yawned, "And Mel? She'll be pissed if I ditch her."

             
"How long can movies and tofu pizza possibly last?" Julian kidded me. I tilted my head up to look at him; did he seriously know nothing about girls?

             
"All night Julian, she usually passes out on the couch with me."

             
Julian raised an eyebrow, "well then as soon as she falls asleep sneak out."

             
I smiled at his deviousness, "Okay, midnight it is." 

              Friday came much too soon for my taste, however grandma called that morning and she and I got to talk for about half an hour before mom yelled that I was going to be late for school.

             
My teachers had decided to pile on the homework that week; I was tired and a little stressed out by the time Friday afternoon rolled around. But I couldn't cancel on Mel; she was too emotional about the whole me-replacing-her thing.