Crimson Groves

by Ashley Robertson

  I didn’t know what he wanted. Hoping that my young age would buy my naivety, I said, “I’m sorry but I don’t understand.”

  “May I taste you? I’ve never tasted one that still carries the essence of human life.” He brought my hand up to his mouth and licked it. “Mmm, you’re delicious,” he sighed.

  The door creaked, interrupting my need to answer Stone’s question. Quinn came in, drinks in hand, and made his way over to us. Setting them on the small table, he asked, “Ken I do anyting else for ya sir?”

  “Please send the donor back here in about ten minutes. That will be all for now.” Stone looked away from Quinn and back at me. “Sorry for the interruption. Now where were we?”

  I watched Quinn leave the room, wishing that he’d stayed instead. I wasn’t sure what Stone wanted, but I was afraid that if I said no he wouldn’t allow me to have the blood that I came for. I was getting hungrier by the minute.

  “Quinn is human,” I nervously stated.

  “Yes he is.”

  “But he’s not a donor.”

  “No he isn’t. Is that a problem?”

  “Isn’t that forbidden? What about the Enforcers? Doesn’t Quinn have to be a donor to know about us?” My hair fell to the side as I leaned forward, setting my drink on the table.

  Stone took a few sips of his golden beverage, then replied, “I guess in a way that’s true. The Head Council is strict about our secrecy.” He tilted his head to the side. “However, Quinn and I have an arrangement. There is nothing to worry about with him. Our secret is safe.”

  “Head Council? Who is that?” I fidgeted with my hair, then leaned forward again and retrieved my drink.

  Stone flashed me a suspicious smile. “Aren’t you the one telling me about the vampire code and conduct? You don’t know who our own Head Council is?”

  Nope. I’d never heard about the Head Council. Bronx forgot to mention that part when he was educating me on vampire politics. I shook my head, embarrassed, then replied in a soft voice, “Sorry, I must have been misinformed.”

  Stone reached over and pulled my hand out of my hair. Giving it a tight squeeze he said, “The members of the Head Council are the oldest, strongest vampires that are unalive today.” He chuckled. “They employ the service of all gifted vampires, calling them Enforcers. They ensure that we all keep a low profile and, of course, that all donor clubs pay the appropriate business fees to the Head Council, much like paying taxes. These payments also ensure Enforcer security at the donor clubs. Just think about it, who else could keep a vampire on their best behavior?”

  That explained the powerful security guard at Pulse that overpowered Bronx and detained him in the back room. He had to have been an Enforcer. Since Bronx had a gift, did that mean he was an Enforcer too? But why didn’t Bronx tell me about that? Why is it that every time I learn new information, I’m only left with more questions?

  Stone interrupted my thoughts, impatience growing in his voice. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to what I had asked you. May I taste you?” He released his grip on me and then set his drink down.

  What the hell did he mean by “taste me”? I needed blood soon, which meant I had to answer him now. The thought of Tyler anxiously waiting for me at the bar created more urgency.

  “Okay,” I mumbled. The dancing butterflies in my stomach were now doing a kick-boxing class. Anxiety crept up my back, clenching my neck.

  “Yes, I may taste you?” he asked again, unsure. He grabbed my hand and lifted it to his mouth. His lips brushed against my skin, causing tingles to shoot through my entire arm.

  My throat was tight. I swallowed hard. “Y-yes.” I gripped my drink tighter with my other hand.

  “Anna,” he breathed, “you’re absolutely adorable.”

  His fangs punctured my skin and slowly entered the vein in my wrist. I could feel the blood flowing outside my body like a water hose blasting inside his mouth. My world was moving, shifting, warping. The black walls were getting closer, caving in on me, suffocating, claustrophobic. I gasped, anxious, and scared out of my mind. My feet sunk into the floor as if they were in thick, slimy mud. My fingers dug into the glass in my hand, squeezing it like a stress ball. I tried to watch Stone but it was impossible to focus. I tried counting to ten but I kept losing track of what number I was on. I’d never witnessed a vampire drink from another vampire. I’m sure it’s something we do, but it still seemed so strange. Thank God it didn’t last long.

  Stone raised his head up, tongue stroking back and forth across his lips. The walls backed away, slowly retreating, giving me some much-needed space. I let out a deep, long sigh, then pulled my arm away, rubbing my wrist with my other hand. He stared at me, grinning, his gaze almost hypnotizing.

  “Amazing,” he said, voice low and melodic. “I’ve never tasted anything like that. The sweetness and purity of your blood.” He tilted his head slightly to the side. “You’re not being completely honest with me, are you, Anna? Or should I call you Abby?”

  I gasped in horror and flashed to the door. Stone was already there, blocking my exit. “I won’t hurt you,” he said. “Please, you can trust me. I can explain.”

  I stood there frozen, staring at him, mouth wide open, fear swelling inside me like a balloon filling with air. If I were alone, then perhaps I could take a risk and hear him out. But I wasn’t alone. Tyler was waiting for me. Counting on me to make it back to him and get us both out of this club. What about blood? Oh why was I thinking about that? Now, at a time like this? I couldn’t go back out there to Tyler without drinking any blood. I was in a huge predicament.

  I folded my hands in front of my chest. “I’m listening.”

  “I had no idea you were hiding so much. I was only interested in finding out where you’re from and how long you might stay here. Please forgive my intrusion of your privacy.” He reached for my hand, took it inside his. “I promise your secrets are safe with me. You have nothing to worry about.”

  I swallowed hard, stared deep into his eyes trying to see signs of dishonesty. I couldn’t see crap. But I sensed that he didn’t mean me any harm. That was a plus.

  “Please sit back down with me.” He walked back to the sofa, gently pulling me behind. I followed. What else could I do? He wasn’t acting hostile so I couldn’t start a fight.

  He said, “Thank you,” as he sat down.

  “Can you do that with anyone?” I sat down beside him, keeping a small distance between us. “You know, taste their blood and get information about them? How does that work?”

  He smiled shyly, charmed. “Yes. It is my gift. I’m able to read people by tasting their blood. Similar to the way psychics can read your palm.” His eyes flicked to the floor and then back to my eyes. “Abby, you are very special. I’ve never tasted anything like that before.”

  “What else did my blood tell you?”

  “Something awful happened. That’s why you can’t use your real name.”

  There was a knock at the door. I looked away from Stone toward the door. Quinn walked in. The girl from the bar followed behind him. Was she the blood donor? How was that possible? She was an innocent!

  “Hello again, Britney,” Stone said as he motioned for her to sit on the sofa across from us. “Quinn, please grab us another round. We’ll wait for you to bring it before we begin.”

  “Yea, sir,” Quinn replied, “be right back wit dem.” He nodded and then left the room.

  I watched Britney sit down, curious. “She’s innocent! What is she doing back here?”

  “No, you don’t understand,” Stone said. “Britney has been patiently waiting for this moment. I promised her that I would drink from her tonight before the others show up. But since you are here, and your bite is much stronger than mine, maybe you wouldn’t mind doing it? After all, aren’t you in a hurry to leave? This will be your quickest way.”

  Britney flashed both of us a huge smile. There was a sparkle in her expectant eyes.

  “But I just can�
�t do that to her,” I said. “I can’t be the one that gets her addicted to this. I’m sorry.”

  Britney’s smile faded. Then in a screeching high-pitched voice, she cried, “You promised, Stone! You swore tonight would be the night!”

  Stone raised his hand to motion silence from Britney, and then directed his attention to me. “Are you really hesitant for her benefit or your own? There is no reason to fear drinking the blood of an innocent.”

  “That’s not it!” I replied, anger surging through me. “I just don’t think it’s right.”

  “Fine. Whatever you say.” Stone grinned, half laughing. “But this decision has already been made. If you don’t want to do it, then I will. I’m not going back on my word. Quinn has given his blessing for this.”

  “Why would you need Quinn’s blessing?” I asked.

  “Because Britney is his daughter. I would never touch her without his permission, but as I told you, Quinn and I have an arrangement.”

  Britney opened her mouth to say something but Stone waved his hand at her, eyes glaring. She kept silent. Smart girl.

  No one said a word the next few minutes. I was seconds away from freaking out. I couldn’t just get up and leave without getting blood. Stone knew that too. But could I really take it from her? It was obvious her fate had already been decided. If I didn’t bite her, Stone surely would.

  “Britney,” Stone said, “did you know that Anna is only one month old?”

  Britney’s eyes lit up. “Are you kidding me? Just one month?” She looked over at me with a huge smile. “Oh please, will you be the one to bite me? Please? Please, Anna?”

  I was left with an incredibly tough decision. Either I bite this innocent girl, she becomes a bite addict, I get addicted to drinking blood from innocent people, and get the hell out of here fast. Or I can stay here, watch Stone bite the innocent, while I wait for another donor to arrive. No telling when that would be and what danger I’d get into before that. What to do. What to do.

  I looked at Stone and then back over at Britney. Her eyes were begging me to do it. There was a pressure in my chest, tight and constricting. Something cold slithered up my spine. This girl would become a blood donor with or without me, and I really needed to get Tyler out of here. “I can’t promise my bite is still as potent as it used to be,” I said to Britney.

  Britney’s head bobbed up and down like a bobblehead doll. “Does that mean you will? You’ll be the one to bite me first? Oh I never could’ve dreamed of this,” she replied, voice squealing like a pig in heat.

  I gulped down the rest of my drink, set down the empty glass, and then got up. I headed over to Britney, taking small, slow steps. Unfortunately she wasn’t that far away, and I got to her faster than I’d wanted. I stood over her, gazing down at her face.

  “I’m pleased you are doing this,” Stone said. “I will return the favor to you.”

  “Yes you will,” I snapped. “Our conversation is far from over. I want to know what you haven’t told me!”

  “Done. Whatever you want to know. I promise.”

  Unsure if I could trust him but completely positive I needed blood now, I knelt down and gently grabbed Britney’s face with both of my hands, tilting it to the side. Her body tingled. Her neck looked delicious. I watched the vein pumping below her skin. Maybe this would be easier than I’d thought it would be. I hovered over her for a brief moment, and then brushed my lips against her neck. It was soft like cashmere, warm and alive. This was her last chance to change her mind.

  She didn’t. I plunged my fangs deep beneath her skin. She jolted and tried to pull away, but the taste of blood, fresh, crisp, velvety blood, was already on my tongue. My grip tightened. I bit down harder, penetrating further into her juicy vein. Her attempts to struggle lessened, and I felt her body fall into that blissful state that all blood donors find themselves in during the bite of a vampire.

  14

  Warned

  THE BLOOD OF AN INNOCENT really was everything Bronx had said it was—sweeter, fresher, tastier. The finest of delicacies. I wished I didn’t like it so much, kind of like wishing you didn’t like caviar the first time you tried it. But maybe now that I’d had it, I wouldn’t want to drink Tyler’s blood anymore. Fat chance, I’m sure. We’d just have to see how good my willpower was the next time he cut his finger. Actually, he was probably better off just not bleeding around me.

  Britney was lying on her side, sprawled out on the sofa. Her arms were tucked up against her chest. Clumps of blond hair streaked with dark brown hung over her face like multifaceted curtains. She had been out cold for several minutes. She’d stay that way at least a couple more hours.

  I was sitting next to Stone, waves of shock finally wearing off like calming waters after a fierce rainstorm. Britney’s blood had been my storm. “I can’t believe how good that was,” I said, smiling, face slightly turned as I looked at Stone.

  “The fresh blood of an innocent is always better than the tainted blood of an experienced donor.” He chuckled and then took a sip of his golden beverage.

  “I wish I didn’t know that.” I looked away momentarily, filled with a renewed sense of worry for Tyler. Regardless of how good Britney was, there was no way I could make a habit out of biting innocents. I feared there would be no turning back if I did, and I couldn’t risk putting Tyler in such a dangerous situation—or any other innocent human. “So why didn’t you keep her for yourself then?” I swung my eyes back to him, glaring.

  “Because you needed blood much more than I did. Is it so hard to believe that I did something nice for you?”

  I shrugged. “I guess I owe you my gratitude then. Thank you.”

  He smiled, a glimpse of fang touching his lips. “It was my pleasure.”

  “Do you mind getting back to where we left off, please?” I leaned forward, reaching for my drink on the table.

  “You’re feisty after you eat. Aren’t you?” he said, playfully teasing.

  “I’m not being feisty! You promised me some answers!” I was getting impatient and it was coming across in my voice. “You know my real name. I won’t deny that any more. You know something bad happened. You also said you can sense the essence of my human life. What the hell does that mean and what else do you know?”

  “Calm down, Abby. Calm down, please.” He reached over and grabbed my hand. Instantly, I pulled it away. “Is it okay if I call you Abby?”

  I took a big gulp of my drink, hoping it would calm me a little. It didn’t. I wanted to go grab Tyler and get the hell out of here. But I needed answers and there was no way I could get them if I left. Glaring at Stone, I stood up, then started pacing the area between the sofas and the door. The rotted floors crunched under my boots.

  “Can we please start over?” Stone called out to me. “You seem very angry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I will tell you everything you want to know. Please sit back down.”

  Silent, I kept pacing a short while longer. Every time I stole a glimpse at Stone, he was smiling. “Fine,” I said, feeling defeated. Then I plopped back down next to him.

  He chugged the rest of his drink and set down the empty glass. “I think your human essence is still strong because of how you were transformed into a vampire. It’s against the rules to be forced into this life, and unheard of to be done without the approval of the Head Council.” He stopped talking, appearing deep in thought, face sobered completely, like someone had flipped a switch. “You were brought into this world with no knowledge of it. The one who made you used a high level of persuasion on you to lure you away from the protection of the outside world.” He ran his fingers through his hair, tucking both sides behind his ears. “You’re a very beautiful and very special woman.”

  We were silent the next few moments as I absorbed what he’d told me. I was afraid he knew too much already. What if he knew Bronx? Or what if he saw Tyler save me? Britney moaned; the sofa groaned and squeaked as she shifted her position on it. I watched her for a short while, unsure what t
o do next. Should I leave? Or keep asking questions? What to do. I didn’t sense hostility or anything suspicious from Stone. Staying a little longer shouldn’t hurt. I hoped.

  I looked back over at Stone, a little taken aback by his stare. There was something in those beautiful azure eyes—mystery, intrigue, attraction. My chest tightened. He reached for my hand again, gently squeezing it inside of his. This time I didn’t pull away. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I didn’t get his name. But I do know he made numerous attempts to force you to love him. None of them ever worked. Actually quite the opposite.” A low snicker escaped his lips, echoing throughout the room. “You hate him. An opportunity came for you to escape and you took off, never looking back. You’ve changed your identity hoping to prevent him from finding you.”

  I swallowed hard. My throat was still swollen. “Is there anything else?” I asked.

  There was a flicker in his eyes. His grip on my hand tightened. “You don’t really think you can hide from him forever, do you?”

  That question stung. I could taste it in the back of my throat. I balled my fist, but Stone held on, curving his hand to stay around mine. “I hope I don’t have to,” I said, voice small. I really wasn’t sure I could hide forever. I’d never planned any of this. Tears started welling up in my eyes. Geez, great, not now. I needed to get out of here. I wasn’t going to cry in front of the vampire club boss.

  I pulled my hand away, got up, and started pacing again. I could feel Stone watching me, but I refused to look at him and confirm it. There was more to his story, but I definitely wasn’t going to hear it tonight. If he was telling the truth then he knew nothing about Tyler, thank God, or that Bronx was the one I was running from. But I couldn’t ask him to be sure. I had no reason not to trust Stone, of course; no reason to put my trust in him either. Besides, as far as I could tell, he’d kept his word. He’d answered my questions.