by Tara Brown
“Who are they all?” I whispered.
“Your friends, your new friends. This is the world your parents belonged to, Hanna. Welcome to it,” Roland whispered in my ear. “I only hope I did it justice.”
I suspected he had.
It was magical, even to me in my rotten mood.
The ceiling was covered in twinkling lights and the walls were filled with vines of a sort, making the room seem to continue on beyond them and we were going to party in a magical spot in the forest. A bar had been set up in one corner and a string quartet played soft music from in the other.
Roland gripped my hand, leading me in. It felt surreal. The room was packed with people.
Lydia was suddenly in front of me. Her eyes sparkled behind a dark-purple mask. I would’ve known it was her from a mile away. No one’s eyes sparkled like Lydia’s. I embraced her warmly, grateful she was there. “Happy birthday, dear girl.”
“Thank you, Lydia.” I clung to her.
“Don’t be scared, my dear. Everyone here is your friend. We are your family now. The family that was always waiting for you to join it.”
Something about the way she said it struck a chord in my heart. I swallowed the lump building in my throat. “Thanks.”
Scanning the room, I recognized the eyes behind the masks: Aimee, Ari, Lucas, Ben, and even the kids from the breakfast table. A sea of people remained that I wasn’t sure I knew. I did notice the Roses were on one side of the room.
A man I didn’t recognize walked over from the non-Rose side. “Happy birthday, Hanna.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t recognize me, do you?” He chuckled.
“No. I’m sorry. The whole masquerade is annoying.”
“It’s Andy.” He lifted his mask a little.
“Oh my God, hey.” Relief flooded me, maybe because he was a cop or because he was normal. Whatever it was, I was glad to see him.
“Roland asked me to come.”
“I’m glad.” It was the truth. “I don’t know anyone else here, thanks to the masks.” I rolled my eyes, which I assumed was lost on him with the mask.
Aimee strolled over, wearing a dress. It was weird, seeing my least favorite assassin in a dress. She smiled sweetly. “Happy birthday, Hanna.” She gestured toward the man with her. “This is Shane.”
“Happy birthday.” The man held a hand out for me. He smelled good.
“Thanks. Nice to meet you.” I wasn’t ever going to feel comfortable with Aimee but her friend was hot.
Andy turned and lifted his mask again. “Bagley?”
“Paulson, nice to see you, man. Weird seeing you here.” They shook hands like old friends. “This is Aimee. A friend from home.” He said “friend” in a way that suggested they were more.
“Nice to meet you, Aimee.”
“Hi.” She didn’t take Andy’s hand right away. It took her a second to do it.
“Me and Hanna are friends too.” Andy smiled, giving me that crooked grin, the one that made me want to jump him. I forgot about the room filled with people or the dresses and masks.
“How did you two meet?” Aimee’s focus went from me to the man beside me.
Andy looked at me and shrugged. “I carried her out of the woods.”
Aimee’s eyes flashed a fearful look. “He knows you?”
“No, he was the police officer on my file when I went missing and was found in the woods.”
“Oh, I see.” She laughed and changed the subject, “How long have you and Shane been friends?” she asked Andy.
He answered but I scanned the room, not paying attention. Regardless of the fact that it was my birthday and all eyes were on me, I felt one particular stare more than any other. Aimee, Andy, and Shane continued to speak and joke as I got lost in the dark eyes behind a gray mask across the room.
His intense stare didn’t bother me, but it intrigued me. How had I noticed it from so far away in amongst fifty other faces and masks?
After several minutes of this, he walked to me, bowing slightly. “May I have this dance?”
His hand came out for mine. Without even blinking I put my hand into his. The warmth of it sent a shiver up my back.
As his arms encompassed me, he spoke softly in my ear, “Hanna, I told you not to take anyone’s hand.”
“Sam.” His name clicked, seeming as though I had said it a thousand times and knew no one’s like I did his.
“Yes.” He chuckled. “You didn’t recognize me?”
“No.” We danced around the floor, mixed in with the many couples now waltzing slowly about the room. “Why do I feel like I know you?” I asked after I couldn’t take it any longer.
“I don’t know.” He kissed my cheek tenderly. “Happy birthday, Hanna.”
He held me against him as if he were savoring every second he got. I forgot anyone else was in the room.
The song was over too quickly. He stepped back, smiling. “Thanks for the dance.”
I gripped his hand. His eyes were black pools I wanted to get lost in. He let my hand drop and stepped into the crowd. The farther away he got the colder I became.
“Want to dance?” Andy was there, maybe he had been for a while. Everyone was dancing again and I’d missed the start of the song.
“Sure.”
He took my hand and rested it in his as his other hand circled my back, pressing my chest to his. “Are you having a good birthday?”
“Yeah.” I gazed across the room, pondering where Sam had gone. “It’s weird your friend is with my friend,” I said after a moment, realizing I was being rude.
“It is weird.”
“How long have you known him?” I forced myself to turn my attention to Andy. I liked him; I liked how normal he was.
“A couple of years. I was working at the training facility while he was there as a cadet.”
“Oh, he’s a police officer too?” I couldn’t believe Aimee was friends with a cop. She was a murderer.
“May I cut in?” I felt a tap on my shoulder.
I glanced back, flinching when I recognized the dark-blue eyes. “No.”
Marcus stared me down. “Please.” He said it like he’d never said the word before and it tasted bitter.
Andy tensed, squaring off. “She said no.”
Marcus gave Andy a dead stare, possibly plotting his death.
“I was joking, Andy. I’ll dance with him once and then come find you.” I smiled sweetly, hoping it would fool Andy.
“Are you sure?” He wasn’t fooled.
“Yes. I’ll be fast.” I let Marcus take my hand.
When we got far enough from Andy, Marcus muttered, “Hanna, I need to explain.”
“No.” I glanced away from him. “Just dance and when it’s over, you’ll leave me alone.”
“Hanna, please, I need to explain everything. What you think was happening was not—”
“I know what was happening. I’m not an idiot. You think I don’t know about your blood bags?” I cut him off. “I don’t care.”
“Hanna, you are mine. We are meant to be—”
Another tap came to my shoulder, making Marcus tighten around me as I turned to see Aleks smiling down. “May I cut in?”
“Thank God.” I pushed Marcus back. “Of course.”
I leapt into his arms and danced him away from Marcus.
“You wanna lead?” Aleks stared down at me, grinning.
“No. I just want to be away from him. The whole vampire thing is disgusting. He makes my skin crawl.”
“You gonna be okay?”
“Yeah. The Giselle situation has me disgusted with vampires, but I know I have to go back to save her. And honestly, I’m just tired of the nonsense.” I motioned my head toward Andy who was chatting with Shane again. “He is a normal guy. He likes me, a lot. He’s a regular human being with a regular job and taxes. He doesn’t murder people. He doesn’t steal life force. He doesn’t vanish into thin air. And I can flirt with him, but beyond th
at I can’t do anything else. He would be in danger if I ever changed.”
“I know the feeling.”
I glanced up into pale-blue eyes. “I know you do. I can see it on your face every time you’re near Aimee. And yet she is with a regular guy tonight. That’s the Shane dude Giselle told me about. He’s a cop?”
“Yeah.” Aleks laughed bitterly.
“Who’s everyone else?” I changed the subject.
“That side of the room is made up of friends of your dad’s. I don’t know them. They’re scholarly people. That side there is us—what’s left of the Roses Academy on the West Coast.”
“How does Roland know everyone?”
“I’m not sure about your dad’s friends. But he knows the Roses because he and Lydia had a thing.”
“Gross. What?” I made a face. “Ewwww, really? They’re old.”
He laughed. “Hey, I’m old.”
“You still look good.”
“Thank you.” He kissed my cheek for too long before we both pushed back, aware of the obvious problems we had with one another’s attraction. “Happy birthday, Hanna.”
“Thanks. So, who is Sam?”
“Why?” His eyes sparkled.
“I feel like I’ve known him my whole life.”
“Weird. I just met him. He seems nice enough.”
We finished our dance and Aleks stood off to the side as I danced with other people. The night ended up being sort of awesome. I met professors who had worked with my father and scientists who respected him. I met other Roses, ones I couldn’t figure out what they were. The men smelled delicious and the women were charming.
People began to leave and I noticed Marcus and Aleks speaking in a far corner. I was stuck with Roland and Lydia in the receiving-line style of goodbye.
Everyone wished me a happy birthday and congratulated me on becoming such a wonderful young woman.
If they only knew.
Finally free, I slipped along the wall to where Aleks and Marcus were, overhearing the conversation going on between them in the shadows.
“If I didn’t need your help, I would tell you to shove it,” Aleks growled.
“Don’t be like that.” Marcus laughed. “We used to be best friends, Aleks. What happened?”
“You—you always happen, Marcus. You ruin everything.”
There was a heavy pause as they stared at one another until Marcus lifted his nose into the air. “Hanna, is that you love?” Marcus turned his head to where I was eavesdropping.
“I’ve said goodnight to Roland. Aleks said I have to go with you and I’m ready to leave.”
“Let’s go to the car, darling.” He offered me an arm, shooting Aleks a look.
“I’ll deliver her to the house.” Aleks took my hand and flashed us out before Marcus could say anything else. I blinked and we were outside Marcus’ castle.
“Home sweet home.” I shuddered remembering the moment I’d fled from there.
“Thanks for taking one for the team.” Aleks laughed.
“You should go before I change my mind.”
He didn’t let go of my hand. He squeezed it and stepped closer. His scent so close was the best smell ever. I lifted my face, letting him brush his electrifying lips against mine.
“Something about you makes me crazy,” he whispered into the embrace our lips shared.
“I don’t think I can do this.” I closed my eyes.
“You can.” He lifted my chin as I opened my eyes, meeting his gaze. “You want to help Giselle.” He gulped. “You love Marcus.”
“Love?” The word sounded funny in my suddenly fuzzy head, but I nodded weakly against my will. “Okay.”
“You love Marcus.” He repeated it and something clicked in me. “I love Marcus.” I echoed it and believed it.
Aleksander looked funny as he stepped back, maybe regretting everything, but I didn’t care.
“Where’s Marcus?” I turned, suddenly anxious to see him.
“I’ll see you soon, Hanna,” Aleksander called out before he vanished.
“I love Marcus,” I muttered, ignoring Aleksander.
Chapter 16
Beauty and the Beast
The warm air took my happiness with it. I peered up at the castle entryway and remembered Aleks convincing me I loved Marcus. He’d used his magic and made my mind fuzzy. It took a moment for the feelings to dissipate, and in their place my dislike for Marcus returned.
“My love, you came back.” Marcus walked toward me with open arms.
I quivered at the sight of him with his outstretched arms. My skin crawled and twitched. He was a vampire and they killed beautiful girls, like the one he’d had at his house.
I glanced over at Henry standing beside the door, guarding it. I couldn’t make a run for it without serious injuries. He wore a bowler hat; he was trouble. He’d throw it at me and cut me in half, just like on James Bond.
“Hanna, love. Please, let’s talk.” Marcus gave me his smug grin.
“I’ll be in my room. Unless, of course, it’s not my room anymore because you’ve started moving your harem in.”
He chuckled. “Be reasonable. I have to eat.”
“I don’t want to hear your dirty stories, Marcus. Keep it to yourself.” My skin shuddered as my body threatened to change, but I fought it, thinking how peaceful it would be to cry into my pillow instead. I didn’t want to be there.
The more I thought, the madder I became. My feet made angry sounds on the floor, but he was louder in his pursuit. He called after me, not getting too close. “Hanna, please, just let me explain. I didn’t do anything, I swear. I was just feeding. I didn’t kill her. If you saw a lot of blood, it’s because sometimes people bleed more than you’re prepared for. It gets messy.”
I stormed to my room, slammed the door shut, and lay on my bed to feel sorry for myself. I made certain I was extra loud in my efforts to be displeased. I hated him. I hated the castle and Henry. Well, maybe not Henry and the castle, but I refused to be reasonable.
Eventually, I fell asleep.
I woke to darkness but I could smell him. He’d been in the room. I ran my hands over my body to find fuzzy fleece pajamas. He had changed my clothes while I slept.
Gross.
Annoyed, I walked to the massive window and stared out at the dark night. My mind wandered from Sam to Roland and Aleksander. Tears trickled down my cheeks.
I never should have left home.
For the first time I felt sorry for myself and disappointed.
I wondered where I’d be at that moment if my aunt had just asked me for the money.
What would my life look like?
My father had been right.
Roland was the only person who cared about me.
I needed to get things back on track and going back to the Tudor meant closing off the things I had left opened and untouched. I needed to deal with my father’s and Rebecca’s deaths and then I needed to begin again. It meant starting over.
“Please stop crying. I can’t take it. Your broken heart is killing me.” He was at my door, speaking into the crack.
“Leave me alone.”
The door opened slowly, creaking the whole way. He took up the entire entryway, leaning against the frame with only his silhouette distinguishable.
“Get out.”
“Hanna, I swear to you, nothing happened to that girl. She left here happy as always. Are you jealous, is that it?”
“Why would I be? You’re a monster. Get out of my room or let me go home.”
He reached in, closing the door, leaving me alone in the blackness of the night.
I turned my back to the door and glanced out the window again.
Suddenly, I noticed his breath on me. “I know you care,” he whispered onto the nape of my neck. The smell of him overwhelmed me, forcing its way into the places in my mind where he controlled what I did or felt, like Aleksander.
“We’re meant to be together, you and I. Soul mates.” His
words were crazy but the feelings he provoked in me argued for him. “Just promise you won’t cry anymore. You’ll try to like it here.”
I nodded, not speaking, terrified and waiting for the assault.
“Thank you.” His breath was the last thing I felt before the sound of the closing door made me realize I was alone.
I had no intention of keeping my promise. I would stay and be pleasant until Giselle was fine, then I was out.
Chapter 17
I’d like to shake your hand
The winds had picked up, bringing winter to the West Coast. I shivered, walking through the garden, trying to avoid the house or the way Marcus always watched me.
His eyes rarely left me alone.
The worst part of it was that I despised him less and less. He didn’t force kisses on me or sneak into my room. He played chess and laughed and told me weird stories over glasses of expensive wine.
I was beginning to see the man behind the monster, the way I’d seen him before he ate that girl. And before I knew how terrible vampires could be.
I wondered how close we were to Giselle being healed. His blood would save her and then I could go home.
Wondering if I would miss it there, I glanced back at the house, seeing Marcus through the window. He was on the phone and looked angry until he saw me watching. Then he smiled and waved. I waved back, certain something was going on. He never waved. He was not the waving sort.
My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and stared at the strange message from the unknown number.
RUN!!!!!!
I looked around to see if I was being played. Who is this?
Aimee.
It was weird that Aimee not only had my number, but texted me. And even weirder that she had sent that text, shouting at me.
MARCUS IS USING YOUR BLOOD TO MAKE A MONSTER FOR THE DARK ONES. RUN NOW.
“What?” I gasped, texting back: My father made up that formula, not Marcus. Marcus has been working on it for my father.
NO. Your father only wrote the first part. Marcus changed it midway and turned it into something else. This will never save you. It’s to change something using your blood. To make a weapon.