Jasik watched the two fight, his eyes growing hazy, distant, as if he were reliving those moments in history. “I couldn’t imagine living forever without someone,” he whispered.
His honesty made my breath catch. The only vampires I had ever encountered didn’t express such emotion, such pain and longing. I knew of the pain he felt. I would remain ageless while my Pagan family would grow old and die. I’d watch as their skin turned to wrinkles. I’d watch as they took their last breaths, knowing I could offer them forever, but understanding that they would never accept my gift of eternal life, of eternal youth.
“How did you become a vampire?” I asked, curiosity getting the best of me.
“Malik and I died during the Black Plague. We lived in a small village in England. I was 25, Malik 28. We lost everything and everyone, and just as we were to take our last breaths, something came for us. We later awoke in London. We remained in hiding. Our High Priestess found us, and we have stayed with her ever since, moving from place to place, protecting our kind while simultaneously eliminating any threats.”
I silently thanked the gods I had paid attention in history. Mentally doing the math, I figured Jasik had to have been born by 1320s, which made him almost 700 years old. I shook my head at the thought. I didn’t understand the vampire species. How was it even possible? He didn’t look a day over… 25. Why would anyone want to live that long? Sure, Jasik didn’t have a choice, but Lillie had chosen this life.
I had chosen this life.
“It’s time,” Jasik said, breaking my silence.
“For?” I asked, confused.
“To determine your ability.”
I swallowed hard, taking a step forward. If I was going to survive this new life, I needed to know what I could do. The two vampires abruptly stopped and began approaching me, as if they sensed my willingness. I was encircled by vampires, a situation I had been in before, but this time, I wasn’t in it for the kill. I quivered at the thought.
I looked between them and then back to Jasik. He gave a slight nod to the others, and something hit me from the front. I was forced backward, flying through the air until I slammed against a tree. I fell to the ground, the bark scratching against my t-shirt. Dazed, I stood quickly.
The first rule of survival is to be alert. Always.
Crossing his arms, Jeremiah flashed me a wide grin. I knew he had somehow hit me with his shield. It felt like a shield of air, but more powerful. Nina’s ability would have been no match.
I furrowed my eyebrows as I ran toward them. My arms swung at my sides as my feet pounded against the ground. The two stood without moving and grinned as I approached. I jumped for Lillie, leaping into the air, higher than human legs would have taken me, but she stepped to the side before I reached her. Somersaulting on the ground, I jumped back to my feet and dashed toward Jeremiah, but I skidded to a stop.
An iridescent wall shimmered before him, enclosing both him and Lillie; their bubble of protection seemed impenetrable.
“This is cheating!” I yelled, crossing my arms over my chest.
They laughed as I pouted. I wanted to learn. I needed to learn—how to fight, how to use my power, how to be a vampire. Learning everything I could to become the best, the strongest Hunter, was the quickest way to get my revenge on the Rogues who took my life from me.
“You think this is funny?” I asked, annoyed.
I took a few steps forward and placed my hand against Jeremiah’s shield. Nothing happened. I balled my fist and thrust my arm back and forth. Each blow struck his shield, but the wall maintained its strength. I concentrated on the wall, on the strength to break his armor.
I thought of the strength of the earth and focused on using its energy to fuel my desire. Slowly, his wall began to give way. As it loosened, Jeremiah’s face grew grim. Ignoring the two trapped inside, I focused on my arm, absorbing as much strength as I could and allowing it to flow into each hit. The wall cracked, and I drew my arm back to make my final blow, but my fist was caught mid-air.
“Stop,” Jasik ordered, his hand clasping my wrist. “Look at what you’re doing!”
I ripped my hand from his grip and drew my arm again, but the shield was gone. Instead, I found Jeremiah sprawled across the ground. Lillie sat down beside him.
“What happened?” I asked, lowering my arms.
“You nearly broke through his shield,” Jasik said, staring at me in disbelief.
“You told me to fight!” I didn’t understand his anger, his confusion.
“Avah,” Jasik said, meeting my frustrated glare. “No one has ever broken Jeremiah’s shield before. And many have tried.”
“I… I’m sorry,” I said, turning to where the vampire lay. “Jeremiah, I’m so sorry.”
I sat beside him while Lillie placed his head on her lap. I was sure she didn’t want me near them, but she said nothing.
“Jeremiah,” I whispered as I rubbed my fingertips against his cheek. A hint of bitterness was in the air, and I inhaled deeply to welcome the scent. My fangs lowered in response as the deep red stain formed on Jeremiah’s torso. Lillie, already by his side, ripped open Jeremiah’s shirt, revealing a long slash embedded deep in his chest. He was badly bruised. My jaw dropped at the sight of his wounds.
Jasik fell to the ground, landing on his knees. His eyes took on an eerie glow as his fangs lowered, and he bit into his wrist. He placed his dripping wrist atop Jeremiah’s chest, and blood steadily dripped into the gaping slash. Within seconds, Jeremiah’s wound had healed and disappeared, and his eyes opened. Hacking, he buckled onto his side and buried his fingers in dirt. He took in quick, heavy breaths. Lillie helped lift him off the ground, keeping one of his arms around her shoulders so that he could lean on her.
I stared in disbelief, unable to stand. How could I have caused that much damage? Jeremiah was stronger than me. He had to be. How could I have gotten that close to breaking his shield? Close enough to taking his life?
Jasik offered his hand, and I took it.
“This is of no fault of yours. We did not know your strength. Jeremiah has already healed.”
I ignored him. I knew Jeremiah would be okay. In all honesty, I wasn’t worried about him. I was more concerned with me. I didn’t understand my vampire strength, and now I was making enemies. If I was going to survive in this world, I needed to learn their rules. I had to give them a chance.
“Let’s get home. Day will soon break, and Jeremiah must rest,” Malik said, walking over to Jeremiah, who was now able to stand alone.
Looking at the ground, I took my walk of shame behind the vampires, hoping I’d wake up and this nightmare would be over.
“We must make haste,” Jasik said, breaking my trance. “Can you keep up?”
I nodded, and we ran. My hair flew behind me as I dashed toward the others, ignoring the growing pain in my gut. I refused to believe that I was hungry. Already. I ignored the trees whipping past at my sides. I focused only on the night.
The air grew heavy with mist and salt. The scent of wildflowers grew weaker. We were leaving Oregon, still heading north. The moon sat above us; its glow brightened the woods, and I was able to see night animals scurrying away. No doubt they sensed that predators were near.
I didn’t know how long we ran. I just knew that I had never felt more alive or more at peace with Mother Earth. I briefly closed my eyes, listening to the creatures of the night. I inhaled deeply as the wind brushed across my cheeks. It felt like I was only at peace for mere moments, though I was sure we ran for hours. I never grew tired or weary of where the vampires were taking me. I trusted in myself and in Mother Earth. And just as I was finally coming to terms with what had happened to me, we came to a hasty stop.
A black, wrought-iron fence loomed before us. The tips pointed like deadly daggers. Two large gargoyles stood beside the wide entrance. Their menacing glares stared back at me. Witches had often used gargoyles for protection against evil entities, and I found it odd that vampires did, too.
“They’re spelled,” Jasik said.
I met his eyes, confused. “Witches live here?”
“No, but we’ve made allies,” he replied.
I couldn’t help gawking at him. Had he really just suggested that witches had helped vampires?
“There is much for you to learn,” he said, his British accent thickening the words. He smiled, turned, and walked away. The other vampires had already left us behind.
I realized then that I could run. By the time they had realized I wasn’t there, I could be to Montana or back home in Wisconsin. I knew I could never run back to Shasta. They’d find me there. But I could be free. Free of my Pagan expectations. Free of the vampire curse. And then I shook my head and kicked twigs at my feet.
I could never be free of the vampire curse, and it was time to face it: I needed Jasik. I wasn’t very good at being a vampire.
I followed the vampires across the threshold. I had almost expected to burst into flames upon entrance, like an evil being entering holy grounds. I laughed inside at the thought. Comparing a vampire coven to holy ground? I must have lost my mind.
The overgrown grass made it difficult to navigate the stone walkway. A small cemetery sat to my right. I found myself stopping to pray for the lost souls. The headstones were stacked one after the other. I wondered how the dead fit in such close quarters.
The carvings on the front stones were dark, new. The stones in rows farther back were dirty and chipped, and the ground around them was covered in weeds. I wondered how long the oldest grave had been there. One hundred years? Five hundred? I thought back to our cemetery. Ancestry played a bigger role in the vampires’ lives than I had realized.
The similarities between the two species, witches and vampires, left a bad taste in my mouth. Why, in all of my teachings, had I never learned of this side to them? Why had I never learned of Hunters, of vampires who seemed to protect me more than my own coven?
The overhanging trees were without bloom. I imagined how cold it must be. It was December, and we were in Washington. There was a light layer of snow beneath my feet. The crunch of it beneath my heels brought me home. I smiled as I remembered the long winters in Wisconsin. They seemed never-ending.
Each season brought a blizzard, and each blizzard brought games. I would play outside for hours. Only during Wisconsin winters did I learn how to control my magic, because only then did I need to call upon fire’s warmth.
I lifted my arm, palm to the sky. I didn’t feel cold, though I felt the breeze. I suppose I only knew it was cold because the human in me still beckoned to me. The witch wasn’t letting go, after all.
I dropped my arm and slowly backed away. As I turned, I collided with Jasik, who wrapped his hands around my arms to keep me from losing my balance.
“I was just…” I said, looking over my shoulders. Only then did I see them. They glinted as the moonlight hit them just right. Runes. Runes of protection, of strength.
“We must get inside,” he said, breaking my trance.
“Who’s buried here?” I asked, pulling away from him. The runes spelled on the tombstones were powerful. They were meant to keep something out.
Or something in.
He said nothing.
“Jasik, who is buried here?” I asked again. I made a point of asking in a tone that made him understand he didn’t have a choice. He would tell me, or we’d stay outside until the sun rose.
“Our dead,” he said. His answer annoyed me. He gave me a simple, and obvious, answer—one he knew I knew was technically correct.
“Jasik,” I said, breathing slowly, choosing my words wisely. “These stones are spelled. I know this, because I have used these very same spells on the graves of our dead. Why are these particular stones spelled, and if you lie or give me a stupid answer, I’m going to sink my fangs so deeply into your throat your healing powers wouldn’t be able to fix it before the sun rose. Understand?”
He smiled. In truth, his reaction didn’t surprise me as much as mine had. I had just threatened a seemingly very powerful vampire, and I wasn’t worried. I knew I could take him.
I took a step forward and linked my arm with his. He tensed under my show of affection. I found it odd that my proximity always made him nervous. Vampires were used to blending in with humans, and in order to successfully blend in, you had to become comfortable. When I agreed to leave with them, I thought I would be the one having a difficult time transitioning into a new life with new rules. But in reality, we both were having a difficult time accepting the change.
“I want to trust you,” I said. “You’re all I know now, Jasik. As much as I hate the thought, you’re all I have.”
I smiled. I gave him the most sincere smile I could muster. I didn’t want to fight with him. I needed him to see that he could trust me, too.
There was no space between us. My body rested against his. His heartbeat rose as I met his eyes. As much as I wanted to play the friend game, I still didn’t like how comfortable I was becoming with him. I tried to tell myself that I had to remember who I was—even if I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to remain that same girl. But I knew my survival rested in his hands, and I needed to know that I could count on him when it mattered most. I needed to know that he wouldn’t pounce the moment my back was turned.
“The tombstones imprison those of us turned Rogue. They’re no longer living, but we take extra precautions. Thus, the stones and graveyard are spelled.”
“How do we turn Rogue?” I whispered. I barely heard my own words, even with my heightened senses, but it was all I could say.
“By giving into the blood lust, by feeding from humans to the point where you consume their essence. It triggers a change—one from which you cannot return.”
I looked back over my shoulder, staring at the tombstones. I hadn’t noticed the mausoleum hidden in the corner. I wondered what was in there. Most of the dead seemed to be buried in the ground. Who was important enough to be buried behind what I assumed to be a locked door?
I unlinked my arm and walked beside him in silence. Within minutes, a large, dark building emerged from the smoky air. A Victorian mansion. Its wraparound stone porch and stained-glass windows would spook even the strongest heart. More gargoyles sat beside the entrance to the porch and were perched on the roof. Figures stood in the windows of the upper floors, watching us. I swallowed hard. I knew more vampires were inside. I was just getting used to Jasik and the Hunters. How was I to live in a house full of them?
“Everything will be okay,” Jasik said as he squeezed my hand.
I realized he’d promised that twice tonight, and I was beginning to wonder if he was actually trying to reassure himself.
Jasik pushed the double doors open, and we filed inside.
The door closed behind us, locking me in. I folded my arms over my chest as I looked around. We were in a foyer. A grand staircase wide enough for all five of us to walk up side-by-side was before me. I glanced to my left; black leather couches sat beside massive double doors. Vampires whispered amongst each other as I scanned the room. Mirrors and artwork adorned the walls.
I turned around, finding Malik standing directly behind me, blocking my path to the door. The walls held an old mirror. I stared at the girl looking back at me. Her violet eyes looked bright and full of life. Yet, I felt empty inside—and alone in a house full of vampires. I cringed and held my arms tighter around my body.
The floors were a dark wood while the walls were painted light beige. A Gothic chandelier hung above me, allowing dim lighting, but my eyes adjusted to the darkness. Many of the lingering vampires welcomed the Hunters home with various greetings: pats on the backs, hugs, kissing cheeks. I received nothing but stares and whispered gossip, as if my vampire ears couldn’t pick up the disgust in their tones. I wondered if they knew what I was: part witch, part vampire.
The room directly to our right was a large conservatory. Large gray and black stained-glass bay windows allowed in moonlight, and I cou
ldn’t help but wonder how the vampires survived the mornings in a room with floor-to-ceiling windows.
The Hunters led me up the stairs, allowing me extra peeks into the conservatory’s adjoining room: a library closed off by glass French doors. I had been an English minor while in college, so I was easily able to imagine myself spending hours each day in there. I was sure it would be my only peace while in the house.
When we reached the top, Jasik took several steps forward and opened the door directly in front of us, and the vampires piled in. Lillie pushed past me, slamming into my shoulder, and took a place beside the woman sitting behind a large, dark-wooded desk.
The woman’s hands were folded atop the table before her. She stared at me, her eyes moving up and down my body. I dropped my arms, allowing them to dangle by my sides, and squeezed my hands. Between her dark, mocha-colored skin; long, black locks; and bright green eyes, she was absolutely beautiful. Breaking the gaze that felt a lot like a game of mercy, I glanced around the room.
Behind the woman, a large window brought in lines of moonlight, and in the distance, I watched waves crash into the large rocks surrounding the back of the manor. I hadn’t realized we were so close to the ocean. I didn’t understand how I could possibly have missed the scent of salt water.
Both walls to my right and left were covered with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Dust coated the shelves and tickled my nose. Each book fit tightly into its place, leaving no room for extras. I imagined one led to a secret room just like I’d seen on a television show as a child. I assessed each shelf, looking for a hint of cleanliness or fingerprints to betray their secret passageway.
The woman cleared her throat and said, “Jasik, I hope to hear all went well with our problem.” She spoke loudly, affirmatively, eliminating any doubt that she wasn’t the head of this house.
Blood Rose (Blood Books Book 1) Page 6