Crimson: Secrets and Lies of a Living Vampire (Shades of Red Book 1)

by T L Christianson

  I placed my forehead on the table and tried to breathe.

  I knew he would age and die someday, I just wanted to be there with him.

  “Is there anything I can do? Do you want me to find your maker?” Her brown eyes were soft.

  “Actually, yes. Can you find what happened to my husband? Alexander Roberts.” If I were going to die, I should know what became of him.

  Instead of being taken elsewhere, I was processed there in the Chronos building. My fingerprints and DNA were taken before I’d been placed in a solitary cell. One bed, a toilet, sink, and desk occupied the space. By Moroi law, I had to give a saliva sample for the Moroi government to have my DNA on file. Apparently, when a human was changed into a vampire, part of their DNA was changed, and the Moroi can determine the vampire’s lineage.

  No one was let go after being charged by Chronos, and all were kept in the detention center until their trial. I’m not sure if this was Moroi efficiency or patience. Either way, I had a court date for this Friday.

  I still haven’t been able to see Owen, but I could smell him on my leather-bound book. He must have placed it next to his skin at some time, maybe under his shirt. He must’ve known that I could smell him on it.

  The pamphlets are a joke. Most of the information I already knew, except it was nice to know there were professional blood deliveries in major cities. Although, that wouldn’t help me in Durango.

  Hazel had eased my fears about all the blood I’d given Isa and Owen. I knew that I hadn’t manipulated the people I loved. Heck, if I thought I could manipulate anyone, I would’ve done it to Alexander. Except I didn't know how to compel people back then.

  Having accessed the UK online database, Hazel was getting answers for me. Yeah, Alexander was arrogant, insensitive, and narcissistic, but he’d been my husband, and a part of me loved him even after his betrayal. Finding his wife drank blood couldn’t have been easy. I could understand his reaction. If this thing hadn’t happened to me, I would’ve thought that the entire vampire thing was insane also.

  I couldn’t think about my case coming up before the judge. I was trying to push it from my mind.

  Treason.

  Treason…

  I was just trying to protect Owen and the kids.

  I had been here for a week, and my case wasn’t looking too good.

  Hazel visited me today. Even though I gave precise directions, the house where I was held hadn’t been located yet. Aidan, Iona, and Dimitri hadn’t been found either.

  Apparently, Martin was testifying against me, and with the cell phone… it didn't look good. Even though it was apparent that I was being coerced, I still agreed to spy for the Scotts Clan.

  Which to Chronos was treason.

  As one of them now, I was subject to their laws, whether I knew them or not. These rogue clans were considered terrorists, so if Chronos caught them, they’d probably be executed.

  Hazel did bring me some information on Alexander.

  He remarried a little over a year after I allegedly died. He’d had no biological children, but his new wife had three children from her deceased husband.

  Hazel gave me a copy of my death certificate. The cause of death was listed as influenza. I shook my head while reading it. If Alexander had wanted me officially dead, he had the means to have it that way. I wondered what the asylum told him. Did they make something up? Had my ‘body’ burned to prevent the spread of disease? It could’ve happened.

  So, he had remarried. I had mixed feelings about that.

  Would Owen find someone else after a while if I didn’t come back?

  Would he ask to be turned once he started to age?

  Dear Owen,

  I hate that I’ve been unable to talk to you, it’s killing me.

  I gave you my blood to heal you, that's all.

  I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. Please forgive me.

  If for some reason, I don’t come home, there are a few things I’d like you to do. The necklace that was my mother’s, please give it to Becca, she has always admired it. Also, I have an old dagger that was my grandfather's, give it to Jack. Both items are in the bottom drawer of my dresser in my jewelry box. Please think about petitioning the Moroi to become a vampire. I can’t think of a world without you in it.

  Thank Hazel for me, I really do think she’s doing everything she can to help.

  Eternally yours,

  Emilie

  I had to rewrite it twice because my tears kept leaving water marks on the paper.

  I didn’t want this to be the end.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Friday morning, Hazel came to visit me early. She gave me a pale-yellow pants suit to change into. I brushed my hair and tried to tie it back, but several curls escaped and settled around my face.

  I was held in an individual cell for a few hours, until it was my turn to see the judge. I was taken to a small courtroom, where the judge sat behind a desk with a white powdered wig like they wore in Great Britain. To the side of my attorney was another table with a tall male vampire who looked a bit harried.

  Hazel watched as the guards brought me to a table and uncuffed me. Her eyes were intense, and I wondered what news she might have.

  “They’ve found the rogue vampire house and Dimitri," she whispered. "I found out that he’s been wanted for years by the Global Council. He’s a real problem. I’m hoping Stephen will approach before the proceedings to give you immunity for your cooperation.”

  Iona’s words seemed to echo in my brain. “Don't you care that Chronos is killing off rival clans? We just want to be left alone, but we need an antidote."

  It made me wonder again if I was on the right side.

  I exhaled a breath that I’d been holding and looked around for Owen. “Where’s Owen? Shouldn’t he be here?”

  She shook her head. “No, humans aren’t allowed into these proceedings.” She smiled. “I’ve already gotten the blood charge overturned.”

  I chewed my lip and watched the prosecutor, Stephen.

  “I hate waiting,” I whispered to Hazel.

  “It’s okay, this waiting is good.”

  Stephen, the prosecutor, approached the judge and were having a whispered conversation. I snuck peeks through my lashes. They were talking about my case, but I couldn’t quite make out everything, even with my vamp hearing.

  After what seemed to be an extended period of time, the conversation tapered off and Stephen approached our table.

  His blond hair was disheveled, and he sported days’ worth of stubble. “Okay, Hazel, I’ve talked to Chief Justice Emery, and I’m allowed to offer her immunity if she agrees to continue her help during the investigation and testify against the rogue clan members.”

  “So, time served, and job done? No probation or anything?”

  “If she agrees to testify against Dimitri and helps if needed in the future.”

  I didn’t like that second part and looked to Hazel.

  Her shrewd eyes took me in. “This is the best we could have expected. You should take it.”

  Walking out of the courtroom, I scratched my scalp. My skin must be healing from where that trashy vampire pulled my hair out. She'd scratched me, too, and the cut was now an angry red mark on my pale back.

  I got my letter from Hazel that I had written to Owen and tore it up.

  Everything seemed to speed by me in a blur, and when I was finally free, I stepped out of Chronos Corp headquarters and stood to look up at the sky.

  Someway, somehow, I’d been able to escape my fate.

  I now had to face Owen and explain what I’d done.

  I decided to walk to the apartment where he was staying. It was a warm day for March, and several people were on the streets.

  This was the New York I loved.

  I picked up some of my favorite pizza to take as a peace offering.

  Trepidation began filling me as I neared the building. The walk was a lot more tiring than I remembered. My neck was so
re. I’d never been sore as a vampire though, so it must be from the stress of the past few days.

  I pressed the elevator button to Owen’s floor.

  I was afraid. I wasn’t sure I would still have him in my life after today.

  I stood in the elevator, going over what I was going to say to him. I held my sweater in one hand and the fabric bag from Chronos in the other, with the pizza box wedged on my hip.

  When the doors opened, Owen stood there in bare feet.

  His expression was inscrutable, and I guessed that he was a damn good poker player. I forced a nervous smile and followed him through the door.

  He stood there, beautiful, hair messed up from him running his fingers through it, several days’ worth of stubble, his intense gaze on me.

  I set everything down on the kitchen counter. I could barely speak, I was so afraid of what he was going to say. My breath seemed to catch in my throat.

  “I didn’t know… I’m so sorry about giving you my blood.” My voice echoed in the quiet room.

  He turned his back to me. “You thought you could make me your slave?” His voice was hard, and I swallowed, shaking my head even though I knew he couldn’t see me. “If you’d just wanted a sex toy, you should’ve chosen someone younger.”

  He turned, his amber eyes shining brightly.

  I gasped. “I… I love you. I didn’t…” Tears burst from my eyes, and I fell to my knees, face in my hands.

  Owen’s familiar scent surrounded me as he took me in his arms. I looked up into his face, which was full of surprise and remorse.

  “It was a joke. Oh, god! I was kidding. I’ve always known about the blood.” He shook his head. “I’m actually a little insulted that you thought you could try to sneak it to me and I wouldn’t notice.” His chest rumbled. “Look at me, sweetheart. I’ve worked with Moroi blood for almost a decade. It’s unique, the smell and taste, there’s nothing else like it.”

  “You’ve tasted vampire blood?”

  He nodded. “Yes, I have. I know exactly what it does, and I’m sorry that I was unable to head off this stupid court thing.”

  He pulled me to my feet and pressed me to his chest, kissing my head and breathing in my curls.

  “I just wanted to help you,” I sobbed. I was shocked and feeling incredibly stupid. “I’m such an idiot. Of course, you would know, of course…” I stumbled over to the couch to sit down. Owen sat next to me and held my hands in his.

  “I knew what you were trying to do, and when you put blood in my hot chocolate, I didn’t think it was a secret. I was so overworked, I probably would’ve gotten sick if it weren’t for you.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. I think it’s a romantic, sweet gesture, and I wouldn’t have drunk it if I hadn’t wanted to.”

  “You promise?”

  “I swear.” His lips lightly touched mine.

  I leaned away from him and quirked a smile. “I brought pizza… are you hungry?”

  “I’m hungry for you.”

  I bit my lip. “Raincheck? I’m exhausted.”

  He gave me a strange look.

  I never got tired. Ever.

  However, at that moment, I was so exhausted that I could hardly keep my eyes open.

  I ended up falling asleep on the couch.

  Our flight left the next day, and I’d never been happier to leave the city.

  I hoped that going home and resting would help kick my exhaustion.

  My throat was sore, and my joints ached, but I brushed it off. I’d been through a lot… vampires weren't invincible.

  Owen told me to take another week off from teaching the kids.

  What was up with my vacations? They all seemed to end up with me in jail, one kind or another. At least I was given food and blood at Chronos.

  Was Moroi jail considered real jail? Yes, in my book it was definitely the most real jail I ever wanted to experience.

  So, I guessed all of this had taken a toll on me.

  Which was strange, because I never got sick like this after Isabel died, and that was one of the worst times of my life.

  Could I be sick with the disease?

  No. No, it’s not possible.

  But I couldn’t work up the courage to test myself.

  I was just tired, right? Unless I found out differently, I was simply tired.

  I picked out my short red dress and tall nude-colored heels. Owen had planned a special return dinner for us. I took time applying my makeup and combing my hair into thick waves.

  When I stepped downstairs to where my boyfriend stood in the foyer, his eyes lit up and the corner of his mouth curved in happiness.

  He'd made reservations at an expensive steakhouse, and as we approached, I clasped my hands together.

  "I've wanted to eat here!" I exclaimed. "The menu looks amazing."

  Owen opened the door for me, and we entered the old tavern-style entryway and made our way to the lounge.

  Sitting in the dark restaurant, a candle between us, appetizers on our plates, I held the stem of my wineglass between my fingers.

  "To being away from the city!" Our glasses clinked, and our gazes held as we both sipped.

  "To passing this damn vaccine on to other scientists!"

  I smiled and nodded before clinking his glass.

  The murmur of the busy restaurant seemed to cocoon us in our own private booth.

  "So, I've been afraid to ask you about that." My mouth twisted in discomfort for him.

  He shrugged. "Nah, it's okay. I'm over it. I probably needed a break anyway. I was offered paid leave for now."

  "Well, that's good news. Maybe we should go on vacation."

  He squinted his eyes. "Hawaii? Bali?"

  My eyes crinkled at the edges as I laughed. "Anywhere, as long as I'm with you."

  I coughed and heard Owen's heartbeat quicken. When I looked up at him, his brow was furrowed, but it quickly smoothed out when our eyes met.

  "No, really, where would you like to go? We can take the kids, or," his eyebrows raised, "leave the kids with my parents."

  I frowned. "As much as I love the kids, let's have some time alone."

  "Agreed." We clinked our glasses again after pouring more wine.

  After we ordered our meals, I asked him, "I wasn't trying to hide what I am before. I wanted to tell you."

  "I know. I figured that. You can't go around telling everyone you're Moroi."

  I squinted. "So, was it the blood that gave me away?"

  Nodding, he sighed. "Yeah. Even then I wasn't really sure, that's why I asked you on Christmas." He laughed sardonically. "Wow, was that bad timing. I'm an asshole."

  "No, you were worried about your kids." I sniffed. "Now that I've met others like me, I can understand."

  "I’m so sorry. I was stupid."

  "Owen." I held his hand across the table. "I don't want to tell you this, but you need to know." I hesitated. "There will always be a part of me that thirsts for blood. I can't stop it, I can't hide it, but I do manage it." He started to interrupt me, but I stopped him. "However, I will never, ever allow you or the kids to be at risk from me." Again.

  His other hand covered mine. "I know."

  We still had secrets between us. He knew I was charged with treason, but he didn't know the details. That would have to wait.

  For now, we talked about other things. "So, why don't you let your kids go to school?"

  He hesitated. "Chronos has taken care of everything since they were born. They say, ‘We're sending you a nanny, we're sending you a tutor.' They want me to keep working, so I do." He narrowed his eyes. "I wasn’t given a choice. Aurev is afraid that Becca and Jack make me vulnerable. So, they’re kept at home, whether I like it or not."

  "You're a good dad. I see that."

  He smiled. "I try. I know I work too much."

  I shook my head. "Well, I'm not trying to talk myself out of a job, but… it might do them some good to be in a classroom with other kids."

  A d
arkness seemed to pass behind his eyes. "I'll think about it."

  There was something he wasn't telling me. Did he have some kind of weird contract with Chronos? They did engineer the children.

  I raised an eyebrow. "Oh, look, here's dinner!"

  We were sitting there as our plates were removed when Owen pulled me to my feet and got down on one knee.

  His face was freshly shaven, and his dark hair smoothed back with gel. He wore the only suit he had. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the small box Flor had shown me a month ago.

  I covered my mouth with my hands and watched as he removed the ring and held it out toward me.

  "Elizabeth…” He shook his head and laughed. "Emilie, I've been waiting for you my entire life. You make every day worth looking forward to. You bring joy to my life, to the kids' lives, that we haven't had in a long time. I can't imagine being without you."

  Tears sprang to my eyes, and I wiped my fingertips beneath them to keep from smearing my mascara.

  He continued, "Also, I've never met anyone who cries half as much as you." I nodded, and we both laughed at that. "I know that life with me will have its ups and downs, but I'm willing to take the chance if you are. Will you marry me?"

  I laughed. "Yes, yes, I will." The people around us clapped as Owen placed the ring on my finger before standing to fold me into an embrace.

  Outside, we stood in the cold air, waiting for the valet to fetch Owen's SUV, nibbling on each other's necks, tasting each other's kisses. He fluttered his fingers over my back, as I scratched my nails through his hair.

  He whispered, "I love you," as we drove home, and I whispered it back.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  This night would have been so amazing and unforgettable if he had just slipped the ring on my finger and that was the end.

  But that wasn't the end.

  Owen parked in his usual place behind the house, and we began to walk toward the screened-in porch.