Shades of Red

by T L Christianson

  “Umm… one more thing.”

  “Yes?”

  “For your own safety, don’t come into the lab without me, and under no circumstances go into the clean room.”

  I swallowed and nodded my assent. “By the way, I noticed that you use OVC for the plague. What does OVC stand for?”

  “Osculans Vestri Carorum. The Moroi are so dramatic. It’s Latin and means—”

  I cut him off. “Kiss your loved ones.” The blood in my veins seemed to freeze, and fear squeezed my heart. “I hope you’re careful.”

  “I’ve given myself the vaccine already.”

  I stood to my full five-foot-two height and stared him down. “Tell me you’re joking.” I bit my lip.

  “No, it’s been tested on human subjects back in New York, and it’s safe. I’ve given it to the kids to protect them.”

  “What!”

  “Lizzy, I know what I’m doing. The vaccine is safe and it works.” He stood, looming over me, his mouth set in a hard line. “It’s safer to be vaccinated against the disease than to accidentally get it.”

  I bit my lip.

  “They could die without the vaccine.”

  I nodded. “Okay, I get it.”

  We sat in silence.

  However, I needed to clear the air. I needed to know where our relationship stood. “I’m tired of fighting. I get it, you hate vampires, but I’m trying to work things out. If you can’t do that, just save us both the strife and tell me now.”

  He took my hands into his. “I know it’s been crazy. I know you’re still mad at me.”

  I pressed my lips together. “I just want to know where we stand.” I shifted. “I feel like we were good until you found out I was… what I am… I never meant to lie to you or trick you. I hope you know that.”

  “It’s fine. I’m over that.”

  “It’s not fine. Should we call it quits or try to work it out?”

  His eyes softened. “I’m not ready to let you go.”

  “I know, but I can’t live in this half-relationship. I don’t want us to end, but I feel like we’re torturing ourselves and we can’t continue like this.”

  He frowned and shook his head. “I know I judged you based on what you are, and I can’t stop it or pretend like you’re just some regular woman.”

  “You can.” I closed my eyes. “You can choose to accept me for what I am or… or not, and we end this.” I opened my eyes back up to gauge his expression.

  “Then yes. I want to try.” His fingers feathered down my arms. “This is difficult for me. I have a lot of baggage from living and working with the Moroi. I can’t just get rid of it overnight, but I’ll try. I never meant to hurt you. You’re the one decent, wonderful thing that has ever come into my life. Other than my kids, that is.”

  “I miss talking to you and being with you. I miss our friendship.” I blinked in relief and swallowed, trying not to cry like a baby.

  “Me, too, but I have to make progress on my work. People are dying.”

  “Vampires are dying,” I spat out. “Why not just let it happen?”

  “That’s not fair. It’s my job.”

  “Then walk away if it’s too demanding.”

  “I can’t.” He took my hands in his. “Can you be patient? This can’t go on forever. I’ll cut back a little, but I can’t make any promises.”

  “Owen, I’m falling in love with you, but I can’t get hurt anymore. I just can’t.”

  “Please,” he pleaded with me, face taut as he ran his hands up my arms. “I need you. I love you.”

  Later, I pondered his words. I love you. Did he mean it? I would’ve meant it if I'd said it back, but I didn't. We were going to try, I guess that’s all we could do.

  Chapter Nineteen

  I blew one of my wayward curls out of my face. I was an addict…. For Owen. He was on my mind always, even when I was mad at him. I wanted him; I wanted to breathe in his scent and taste his skin. I couldn't push the thought from my mind of drinking his blood again.

  I felt jumpy not being near him, which was most of the time. He spent his time in the lab, and when he wasn't working, he was sleeping on the couch in his study or out for a run.

  After three days went by and I hadn't seen him, I waited in his study for him to come out. Finally, around one in the morning he emerged, bedraggled, hungry and unshaven. He was spent.

  But none of this mattered.

  I unwrapped the sandwich and orange juice I had made him. Watching his strong jaw as he chewed and the blood vessels in his neck as he swallowed relieved me a little, knowing he was eating.

  I'd been giving him my blood when I could, wanting him to be healthy and robust. I longed to touch him, and when he finished eating and had laid back, I knelt on the floor between his legs. I ran my hands over his thighs, massaging as I soothed his tired body.

  I scratched down Owen's arms, over his chest, and along his legs. When my fingers reached his thighs again, my intentions became less benign. I ran my hand over his shaft, which immediately responded to my touch.

  I should've left him to sleep, but I was selfish, and could no more leave him alone than I could stop my heart from beating.

  Once he had hardened in my hands, I freed him from his black Adidas pants and slid my hands along his length. He moaned and opened his eyes lazily, the corner of his mouth turned up in a smile. It was all the motivation I needed.

  My flaxen curls closed like a curtain between our gaze as my lips covered his tip, and I took him into my mouth. Heat coursed through me as his arousal fanned the flames of my own desire. He was salty and earthy and with every stroke of my hand, and every taste of his skin, I was coming undone.

  My fangs had extended, and I slowed my pace to protect him, but he was coming close to climax. He thrust toward me, and I tasted his coppery blood in my mouth. Owen seemed to be even more aroused by this and finished with a groan.

  His hand tangled in my spiraled locks, and his body relaxed.

  Kissing the dark hairs that led to his naval, I crawled up onto the couch next to him where he nipped me with his teeth before sucking on my lower lip. His golden eyes opened lazily, and he seemed to be memorizing me with his eyes. A lazy smile clung to his lips, and I couldn't help but feel my mouth turn up into a satisfied smirk of my own.

  "What did I do to deserve that?" he asked me.

  I shook my head.

  His hand cupped the side of my face. "I don't deserve you."

  I didn't know what to say about that, so I was silent and sighed. I didn't deserve Owen, but somehow, I had captured his affection. My heart pained me at that moment when I looked at how beautifully special he was.

  He fell asleep soon after, and I laid beside him on the couch in the study until I became restless and carefully extracted myself.

  Walking through the quiet house, I came upon Martin in the kitchen.

  "Hi," I said as I filled the electric kettle with water. The guard sat there with an amused smile on his face.

  "You really need to shut the door next time you and the doc…" He mimed a blow job with his hand and mouth.

  Embarrassment flooded me. "Oh, my god! Were you spying on us?"

  Martin gave me a shrewd look. "Just saying. So, tell me something, are you paid by Chronos or does the doc pay you for that?"

  I narrowed my eyes and pressed my lips together.

  He held his hands in the air. "I'm just kidding, but seriously, I really didn't need to hear that."

  My nostrils flared, and I turned my back on him, before saying tightly, "I didn't know anyone was nearby. Message received." I let out a loud breath and felt his hand on my arm, startling me. I flinched.

  "Look, no harm done." His blue eyes crinkled at the edges, and he gave me an apologetic look. "It's just that it's lonely around here, and…" his other hand twisted one of my curls in his fingers, "you're sexy."

  My eyes widened, and I backed up. "Wha…?"

  His laugh caught me by surprise, and I put m
y hands on his chest and pressed against him to push him away.

  "Look," he said smoothly, "it's not like that. I'm not trying to make you do something you don't want to do, but I didn't hear you receive any satisfaction in there, and I don't mind taking up the slack."

  I was appalled, and before I knew it, my hand was throbbing, and Martin sported a red handprint on his cheek.

  We looked at each other in astonishment.

  "God! You're a bitch! I was just trying to be nice."

  I shook my head and narrowed my eyes. "You're a pig!" I yelled back at him. "Leave me alone!"

  Sam immediately appeared at the bottom of the kitchen stairs, and a moment later, Owen stepped through from the hallway, his eyes bright and awake.

  "What's going on?" Owen eyed the two vampires suspiciously before turning to me.

  I raised an eyebrow at Martin, but before I could speak, Sam interrupted me.

  "I'm sorry Dr. Bennett. It's Martin. He's been trying to flirt with Miss Kepner since we got here. Tonight, he said some stupid things and is regretting them." Sam looked over at Martin with an incredulous glance. "It won't happen again, right, Martin?"

  Owen watched the two soldiers warily. Martin stormed out the back door through the screened-in porch and into the backyard.

  Two things happened at once. The first was the conversation between Martin and Sam outside.

  "Really, man?" Sam yelled at Martin as he moved away from the house.

  "Fuck you, Sam! Why is she wasting her time with a human? I could do things for her that would blow her mind. He's weak and fragile!"

  Sam sighed and lowered his voice. "She isn't like a regular Moroi. She doesn't act like a Moroi. She acts like a human. She thinks like a human! Don't you get it? She's all about that nerd, I don't know why. You’ve got to stop!"

  How did I not act like a Moroi? I hated not knowing things, and I was definitely out of the loop as to what normal vampire behavior was.

  Martin had calmed down a bit. "Nah, man, she's a plant. She's working for someone else... And not being registered? You know what that screams to me? The Scotts Clan. She's screwing the doctor because she's getting paid to screw him. Have you smelled him? She's feeding him her blood. She's manipulating him."

  I was worried when Sam didn't defend me, and the silence lingered between the two.

  "She was checked out front and back by Chronos security when she was hired. They would've found something if she belonged to the Scotts."

  "Whatever, no hot piece of Moroi ass like that moves to bumfuck Colorado to teach two little snot-nose kids. Say what you want, but she's not what she seems."

  "Martin, don't be so paranoid. She's naive. She's like a young vamp. This is a schoolgirl crush, and whatever is going on between the doc and her is their business, not ours."

  "I'm gonna report her."

  "Yeah… okay." Sam's voice was mocking, and I knew the two were walking the perimeter. I couldn't hear them after that.

  "What just happened? I heard yelling." Owen strode over to me and watched as the two vamps left the house.

  The kettle beeped, and I poured water over a tea bag for me and made a cup of hot chocolate for him. Before stirring, I blocked his view and cut my palm with my fingernail, letting some of my blood drip into his cup. I was determined to make his dark circles go away.

  I sniffed and shook my head, stirring his drink. "Martin came on to me, and I turned him down… so he called me a bitch." I rolled my eyes. "Don't people ever grow up? I would've thought that there would be standards as to who gets turned into a vampire!"

  He ground his jaw. "I should've started teaching you jujitsu long ago. Would you like to learn? I'm a little out of practice and should sharpen my own skills anyway."

  "Jujitsu?" I asked and handed him his mug.

  Owen's laugh was a low rumble, and he smiled at me before taking a sip. "I'm kind of stuck with my research right now anyway. I need some balance; besides, it'll be more time we can spend together."

  My mouth twisted. "I'll try it." I reached out and interlocked my fingers with his.

  "Okay, I'll think about how to teach you and the kids."

  My eyebrows shot up. "The kids? Isn't it a little early for them?"

  His laugh rumbled again. "No.." I could hear the smile in his voice. "I was born rolling with my brothers."

  "Wait, rolling?"

  "Yeah, sparring. All three of you should begin to learn to defend yourselves." He added, "especially since you're so small."

  I poked his ribs. "But I'm strong and feisty!"

  Owen clasped me to him and kissed my forehead. "I know. That's why you need to learn. I don't ever want you to be in a situation where you can't defend yourself. Moroi are dangerous."

  He leaned forward, and his lips brushed mine.

  "Okay. But right now, you need to get some sleep!" I told him.

  Our entwined fingers held as he pulled me toward the back stairs. I let him go and pulled the milk from the refrigerator, adding a bit to my tea after removing the bag. I was listening to Martin and Sam outside.

  After watching me for a moment, Owen asked, "You can hear them, can't you? What's wrong?"

  "Martin wants to report me and have me investigated…" I pressed my lips together then shook my head before adding a sugar cube to my mug. "I need to register with the Moroi council or whatever. I feel like Martin may get me into some kind of trouble."

  "Never, I won't let him." He leaned against the banister and finished his cup.

  I let out a breath I'd been holding. "I don't know…"

  "What else have they been saying?"

  "Apparently, I don't act like a vampire is supposed to act. I'm more like a human."

  He smiled at me and pulled me to him. "You are, you know."

  My brows grew together. "Seriously? I don't see how."

  Squinting his eyes, Owen seemed to look off into the distance. "You move and breathe like a human. Most Moroi don't try to act human."

  I lowered my chin and twisted my mouth. "What else?"

  "They're not inhibited as much as you are. You're modest like a human. Moroi aren't. Most don't hold themselves to human social standards. Things like nudity and sexual promiscuity are pretty standard."

  "Have you slept with another vampire before?"

  He shook his head. "No. But some colleagues I've worked with have."

  "Hmmm…"

  "And they're bored all the time. Most Moroi act like they've done and seen everything under the sun."

  I laughed. "Martin and Sam aren't even that old!" I threw my hands up. "Or are they? How old are most vampires?"

  He shook his head. "I don't know. Old though… I think. Hazel is about as old as you, but her bosses are really old."

  "Like, how old?"

  "Hmmm… I know her boss Aurav lived during the Roman empire, so he's at least…" Owen shook his head and laughed. "I don't know, like two thousand years old?"

  "Wow!"

  "I know." He pulled on my hand. "Come on, come to bed with me."

  "As long as you sleep!" I picked up my mug and followed him up the stairs.

  Chapter Twenty

  The day after the confrontation, Owen, the kids, and I all gathered in the schoolroom. Owen began by showing us all some basic jujitsu moves, before telling the kids, “Okay, you two, go at it.”

  “Wait! What, Owen?”

  Smiling at me, he motioned to the kids to start. “They’ve done this before.”

  I stood there, mouth gaping like a codfish.

  Excited, both kids went full on wrestling each other to the mat. Becca was strong, but Jack was scrappy. Their dad broke them up several times, pointing out this or that move to do to pin the other or escape.

  “Good job, guys.” Owen dismissed the kids and turned to me. He assumed a fighting stance. I rolled my eyes and sighed a split second before he came at me. I used my vampire speed to evade him a few times, but he finally caught me and laid me out flat on the mat.


  “Show me how you did that,” I said and watched as he moved my arms and knees into position to take him down. I laughed, and he kissed me.

  “Okay, I’m going to try to come at you. We’ll go slow.” When he reached for me, I tried the move on him, but I could tell I needed more practice. It would work on a human, but I wanted to be able to subdue someone with vampire strength. We ran the maneuver several times before I felt like my body was coordinated to automatically time the moves right.

  Owen surprised me with his speed and strength. I realized that I’d given him a good deal of my blood recently. I knew it healed humans, but did it make them faster and stronger, too?

  So instead of goofing off and learning some self-defense and having fun flirting and enjoying my boyfriend, I found my mind racing.

  Really looking at him, I noticed his excellent color and lack of dark circles. He was fine! He was much better! His amber eyes glittered with health.

  My thoughts were wandering, so I was surprised when my back hit the floor, and the wind was knocked out of me.

  I kicked out my foot and dropped Owen, who caught himself and gave me a raised eyebrow expression. “Pretty good. I’ve never seen a beginner pick up the moves this fast.”

  I laughed. “You just took me down.”

  “Not easily.” He had begun to perspire, and his hair was now damp.

  “Well… I’m not just any beginner.” I smirked at him and smoothed my hair from my face. I hadn’t even broken a sweat but was a little flushed.

  “Okay, let’s try something else…” We both looked at the kids, Jack was making something out of Legos, and Becca was intricately braiding the hair of a large plastic horse. Owen shrugged at me. “We’ll let them be kids. If you learn this, then you can teach it to them.”

  “Yeah.” My mouth curved up, and I motioned to him. “Bring it on.”

  He went for my neck, and I could tell he wasn't holding back. He held me in a choke hold, which I was able to get out of but not easily.

  “I give up. You’ve got to show me what to do if another vampire does this to me,” I told him.