Blood Rose (Blood Books Book 1) Page 8

  Dazed, he looked up at me from the ground, gripping the back of his head. Standing, he brought his blood-coated hand before him and wiped it on his black shorts, removing any evidence.

  I brought my hands before me in a silent plea and stared at my palms. I looked for traces of difference. My hands, my arms, my stomach, they looked the same, yet foreign. Nothing had changed physically. The force was powerful, like nothing I had ever felt.

  I met his gaze, scared and confused. I fell into him, letting his strong embrace maintain my weight.

  “What’s wrong with me?” I asked.

  “Avah,” he said, pushing away strands of hair from my face. “There’s nothing wrong with you.”

  “I can’t control it. This power. I don’t know what it is; I don’t understand it,” I said as tears dripped down my face. All I wanted was to go home. To run to my mom, to the elders, to my friends, and beg for forgiveness and to be taken back. This new world was awful and confusing and too hard.

  Ever so lightly, he wiped the tears from my cheeks with his thumb.

  “I promise you will learn control.”

  “How can you be so sure?” I said between hiccups.

  “I will teach you.” His words were soothing. They continued to have that effect on me. I didn’t like his control over my emotions, but at that moment, I was thankful. Though, I was sure I couldn’t survive without him. “You tapped into your ability. That was your shield.” He smiled.

  I dropped my arms and placed my fingers across my teeth. My thumbs rubbed against the fangs. Tapping into my vampire powers forced my fangs to retract. They lowered as my emotions rose—their own fight or flight response.

  “Take a few deep breaths. It’ll pass.”

  A door slammed shut behind us, and I whirled around, growling at the idea of an intruder. I was too vulnerable. I needed to learn control and master my senses.

  “Calm down,” Lillie said. “And put your game face away. You wouldn’t stand a chance.” She pushed her shoulder into mine as she passed. I imagined a vampire coven would be similar to wolves. In a pack, I was the weakest. I needed to earn my place. Simply being sired by Jasik wasn’t enough.

  “Lillie,” Jasik said. “Enough.” If I had any doubt that he wasn’t the alpha in this Hunter pack, then his stance now eliminated my concern. His tone was hard, demanding. His look was challenging. Lillie shrugged off my worry and walked away.

  Jasik turned back to me and held out his hand. “Come on,” he said softly. “You need to feed.”

  I grabbed his hand and stood. Taking his advice, I swallowed hard, closed my eyes, and forced myself to relax. As I released each breath, I felt a calmness wash over me. I brushed my tongue across the edges of my teeth and was relieved to feel normal again. I opened my eyes.

  “Better?” he asked with a smile.

  “Better,” I said. “Is this going to be the most awkward breakfast I’ve ever had?”

  “In time, they’ll learn to accept you just as you will learn to accept them.”

  We reached the lounge and began walking down the stairs and into the foyer. I remained silent, taking in my surroundings again. There were only a few lingering vampires, but mostly, the room was empty.

  “After breakfast, we’ll spend the day training. To stay, you must prove your worth,” he said, without meeting my eyes.

  “My worth? What does that even mean?” I said as we reached the bottom step.

  “Vampires are always welcomed to join a coven, but Hunters must fight for their place. Your duty will be to protect the coven. You will need to know how to use your gift, how to fight, how to think, how to kill.”

  Jasik opened the two large double doors to our right. “This is the grand hall. We often hold parties, council meetings, events. New Year’s Eve masquerade ball is next Thursday.”

  “A ball? People still have balls?” I said, stepping into the room.

  “Yes, often.”

  I wondered if he would ever relax. His answers were always serious; his voice was always concerned. He seemed to fear for me more than I feared for myself. That realization made me question everything I thought I knew about vampires. At the moment, hiding behind a masquerade mask seemed highly appealing.

  The dark wood flooring continued into the room, as did the light beige walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows made up the wall to my left. I had decided massive windows were a house favorite since nearly every room had them. The wall across from our entrance had two sets of French doors, and another small door sat nestled in a corner to our right. Aside from that, the room was empty. No tables. No pictures. Just windows, paint, and doors. The room was long and wide. I didn’t doubt that over a hundred bodies could sit comfortably in there.

  “Those doors lead to the garden,” he said, nodding at the French doors across from us. “And that door,” he said, pointing to the tiny door in the corner, “leads to the kitchen. And if we go back into the foyer, I’ll show you the conservatory.” His voice echoed through the room as he spoke. If he wasn’t a vampire, he would make a great tour guide.

  My eyes lingered on the doorway that led to the kitchen. What was I expected to eat now?

  I turned to face him. “I will not kill someone, Jasik. You need to know that.” It was abrupt, and I was sure I said that more for myself than him.

  “We don’t kill people, Avah. We’re not fiends. We feed from three sources: animals, blood bags, and the willing.”

  I cringed at the thought of being fed from.

  “’The willing?’ Why are they so willing anyway? Are you offering immortality as a perk to being an on-call meals-on-wheels or something?” I said, looking around.

  “Absolutely not. Turning you was unacceptable, and I will take the sentencing Amicia hands down.”

  “Yeah, about that. What exactly is going to happen?” I was slightly concerned that my savior was going to die soon, and then I’d be left with Malik, Jeremiah, or worse, Lillie. I shuddered.

  “We have laws in place that make it so only High Priestesses can change humans. It’s for both power and population control. If vampires ruled the world, we’d all die. We need humans to survive.”

  “Then why would anyone ask to be fed from?”

  He stopped and turned to me, giving a grin that made my heart stop. Only then did I notice the dimples that formed when he smiled, the strong line of his jaw, and the five o’clock shadow that aged him perfectly. “Because it’s highly erotic.”

  My breath caught in my throat as his eyes burned into mine, their glow growing brighter as speckles of black tainted their color. He wet his lips. Moments seemed to drag on forever before he finally took the few steps toward me. I backed into the wall, not sure I was ready for him. He stopped when he reached me, leaving only one step between us. His breathing was slow, heavy, matching mine. His eyes invited me to him, and as much as his eyes begged me to accept his invitation, I didn’t know if I could. I loved that he let me be the one to choose whether or not we broke the barrier and took that final step.

  I could lose myself in him; I knew this. And what I feared more than vampires, more than my coven finding out about this forbidden romance, more than fighting a thousand Rogues at once, was that my insatiable appetite for ending this war was so easily subdued by my growing attraction to the vampire who stood before me. My body felt ready. My heart felt ready. But my mind told me it was wrong. I needed to remember that once I defeated the Rogues who did this to me, to my coven, I would return to them. I had to believe that they’d welcome me back with open arms; they’d congratulate me on controlling what I had become and using my newfound power to protect the witches. Losing myself in Jasik wasn’t my fear. Losing what I could reobtain with my coven was what terrified me.

  His thumb rubbed against the angle of my jaw, sending shivers through my body. “Avah,” he said in his thick British accent. His voice, his plea, betrayed his longing for me, for love.

  “Jasik?” a voice said, forcing us back to reality. The blackness
in his eyes quickly vanished, and he dropped his arm, stepping back and clearing his throat.

  Lillie stood before us. I pushed myself off the wall and crossed my arms. What had I just done? My fangs ached. I was so close to feeding from him—close enough to want to.

  “Lillie,” I said, my heart still pounding in my chest, my senses still erotically high. “He was just, um, giving me a tour. We didn’t hear you come in.”

  “I’m not sure how you could,” she said, annoyed and turning on her heel. “You know, most pay with their lives for the betrayal you two have committed,” she added before disappearing through the door.

  Her words stung. Why had I taken it so far with him? I wondered if her hatred stemmed from more than me being a witch. I wondered if she and Jasik had once been more than friends. I shook my head and looked at the ground, hoping the awkward moment would quickly pass.

  I could feel Jasik’s eyes on me, but I couldn’t look at him. I walked away, leaving the room and Jasik behind. I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to fix this, these feelings that grew stronger and stronger as each minute passed. I knew I needed to make them go away, but I didn’t know if I wanted to.

  Jasik felt good, real. In a world where I questioned everything I was, everything I knew, I didn’t question him—or his feelings for me. The way he looked at me, the way he said my name, the way he made the others keep their distance, I knew there was something there. A simple attraction that could grow into an epic love that lasted until the end of time. I was foolish to believe in such fairytales.

  I had only been a vampire for a day, and I already had to remind myself that the emotions I was feeling were for a vampire.

  I cleared my mind by focusing on the tour. I needed to learn my way around the house. I had an ache in my gut that told me Jasik wouldn’t always be there to watch over me.

  Jasik joined me in the foyer and, thankfully, respected my wish to not discuss what had happened. Instead, he explained that there were three rooms directly across from the grand hall: first, the conservatory. Its openness had made this room easily viewable when I had first arrived. It had no doors. Instead, two beams offered a grand entrance. There were more wall-to-wall, gray and black stained-glass windows. A fireplace was nestled in the corner, and groups of over-sized chairs gave the room a comfortable vibe. I focused on the room and its decor—anything to stop Jasik’s presence from reminding me that no matter how much I tried, I didn’t, I couldn’t, hate him. Instead, I wanted him. I wanted him so badly it left a pit in my gut.

  “You know, conservatories are for growing plants and such, but since sunlight isn’t a vampire’s friend…” I hoped he’d take the cue and explain why they’d have such a room in a house full of vampires. I’d talk about anything to get me to stop thinking about his proximity. My arm hairs stood on end as he stepped beside me, admiring the windows.

  “Since we perish only in direct sunlight, we put in stained glass.” He turned around and led me to another set of French glass doors. Pulling them open, he said, “You can get to the library from the foyer or from in here.”

  He closed the doors behind us.

  I inhaled deeply, and the smell of musty paper filled my nostrils. It tickled my nose but soothed my nerves. The walls that did not have doors or windows held floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. More over-sized chairs sat in corners, and large tables decorated the middle of the room.

  “Wow,” I said, looking at the books. “There’s… what? Thousands of books in here?”

  “Close to, I’m sure,” Jasik said.

  The smell of books was overwhelming and clouded my senses. They smelled of age, of strength and dedication, and of home. I smiled at the thought. We also had a library on our property. Our elders would teach young witches the ways of our people and the threat of the vampire race. I remembered sitting on the floor with my legs crisscrossed. I would eagerly listen to the tales that had been passed down from generation to generation. We’d spend a couple hours each night in the library, listening to stories, researching vampires, learning our history.

  The older I became, the more my mother pushed me to learn everything I could so that I could one day become an elder to our coven. But eventually, I grew tired of stories and games. I ventured out to experience my own life. I went to college and grew close to my classmates, but in time, I came home and devoted my life to protecting my coven.

  The books sat neatly on the shelves, squeezed into the spots that seemed too small for their bindings. I jimmied a book free. Its fabric cover was peeling, as was the threaded binding. As I flipped through the pages, I saw that many were stained yellow—some no longer attached at the spine. I closed the book and ran my fingers against the divots of the title. I carefully placed it back on the shelf, gently securing it in its fragile state next to the others. It was safe between the other books, protected. I looked down at my hand and then back to the book. Its torn cover gave away its hiding spot. It would never truly be safe.

  I swallowed hard and turned to face Jasik.

  “In training, will you teach me how to use my gift to fight?”

  “Soon, but not yet.” He replied without hesitation.

  “Why?” I was taken aback. He spoke so surely.

  “There are other things, more important things, that must be learned,” he answered matter-of-factly.

  I watched him as he held his stance. Without cowering under my glare, he stared back. What could possibly be more important than learning to fight the Rogues who did this to me?

  “Like what?”

  “I will not teach you to fight until you are ready to survive.”

  “What’s the difference?” I had fought, and killed, vampires. I knew how to survive. His attitude annoyed me, and I wondered if I could best him right now.

  He sighed. “My point exactly.”

  I folded my arms and shifted my weight from foot to foot. I wouldn’t let up. I wouldn’t let this go until he gave me an answer. He dropped his folded arms and leaned against the desk.

  “You must first learn that there are herbs that can quicken your healing process. You must learn that at this altitude, you can run for half a day before you must feed. You must learn exactly where to stake a vampire to result in immediate death. You need to learn that taking another’s life is the most important thing you’ll ever do, and you need to learn that fighting isn’t the only knowledge that leads to survival. Until you’re ready to kill whatever stands before you—a child, an elder, a witch—it’s not worth the time it will take to train you in combat.”

  He stood abruptly and walked to a new set of French doors—the ones that would lead us back into the foyer. He opened the door and stepped through, but I didn’t follow. I stood, arms crossed, jaw tight. His words echoed through my mind.

  Until you’re ready to kill whatever stands before you...

  Could I do it? Could I kill someone? Could I kill a witch? If my life depended on it, would that make it easier? Could I do it to protect myself? To protect someone I loved?

  I met Jasik’s eyes. He remained in the foyer, holding the door open, seemingly awaiting my decision.

  “I will prove that I’m worth your time,” I said as I walked past him. I hoped my words hurt as they left my lips. I hoped they hit his ears with a dagger-like vengeance. When I turned around to face him, he still stared at the empty library.

  He closed the door after a few more seconds and walked to the end of the foyer. To our right was another lounge, and directly in front of us was a large room with opened double doors. Several long tables that fit at least a few dozen were all that the room contained. The dining hall, I was sure of it.

  I took a step forward and stopped in the doorway. The tables were packed with vampires. There were so many that I was sure the entire coven was in this room. They slurped on their straws, finishing their breakfasts. I put on a brave face and hoped it would suffice.

  My mind flashed back to Amicia’s threat of tossing
me out, but she said she’d wait until Jasik taught me the way of her people, until I could prove my worth. I didn’t see her now, but I was sure she was watching me—watching and waiting. This was a test; it had to be. She wanted to see how I’d react when I was surrounded by the creatures I had promised to kill.

  Jasik lowered his hand to the middle of my back and slightly nudged me forward. We walked into the room together.

  The vampires fell silent as I entered, but I ignored their devious grins and glares. Instead, I focused on the blood. Though I fought it, it was instinct. I inhaled deeply; the smell was intoxicating.

  A rookie mistake.

  I squeezed my hands shut until my knuckles went white. The thick aroma in the air was overpowering, tickling, poking, and prodding at my desire to feed. I couldn’t break down, not in front of the entire coven, not when everyone was sure I would fail. Though the thought made my stomach turn, I couldn’t be condemned from two covens in less than 24 hours.

  That would be pathetic.

  My heart pounded in my chest, and I fought to control my desire. My breathing became heavy; my fangs lengthened. I swallowed hard, but suddenly, my throat was dry. I bit my lower lip. I was losing my grasp on reality. I was a lioness stalking her prey, and just as I was about to pounce, Jasik grabbed my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine.

  I barely heard the others gasp around us—at his public indiscretion. I was grateful for his devotion since it was clear that the others wanted to make a meal of me.

  “You’re strong, Avah. Stronger than you know. Control it,” he whispered, squeezing my hand in his, grounding me. His voice was smooth; his words coated my mind in a protective layer even as my grasp on reality was threatening to break.

  Bile crept its way into my mouth, my stomach lurching from hunger. I dug my nails into his hand, breaking his skin. And suddenly, the world went silent. The gasping vampires and their whispers and sputtering hearts went mute as I focused on the blood dripping down Jasik’s hand.