Deadly Beasts (The Curse of the Rose Book 1)

by T. M. Watkins

  “We could put you in jail if you like.” William grinned wickedly.

  Porter chuckled as he left the room, calling out his goodbye as he descended the stairs. William turned at the threshold of the walk in robe, scanning over me with a crooked smile.

  “I will be leaving soon, I shouldn't be too long. You should freshen up and select a dress for my return. I would suggest that you alter your sleeping routine in accordance with mine so that I can protect you better. Remember the rules. Do not leave the house, do not let anyone in, do not venture and do not pry.”

  Chapter Five

  After William left I closed the main door and locked it, searching through the boxes and putting things into the bathroom cupboards. I flicked through the dresses, they were all gowns of glittering glory, nothing was simple. Sighing with relief, I found one with a zip. It was a simple burgundy strapless dress, I could only hope it would be tight enough to hold me in. I was a little hesitant in taking a shower but did so knowing the door was locked and that he was gone. It wasn't a pleasant thought knowing what he was going to do. Someone was going to die, some poor innocent soul was going to lose their life to sustain another. I didn't want to dwell on it, it was too morbid. He had to survive and that was through feeding off the blood of a human.

  Wrapped in a towel, I searched through the draws and found the underwear draw. I was relieved to find the price tag still attached to them. It was one thing to wear a dress that might have belonged to another person but their underwear? No thanks. My hair had been done, Porter had packed hair ties and pins, enabling me to do a simple yet stylish bun. Now all I had to do was get into the dress and get the zip done up, the zip I was struggling to reach. The zip that was doing itself up.

  “What made you select this dress?”

  I shrieked and turned, gripping my hand to my chest.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “You can not sneak up on me like that and how did you get through the locked door?”

  “Locks and my house, hmm, I wonder how I did that?”

  I huffed at him, frowning deeply. “Do I not deserve some privacy?”

  “I came to offer my assistance with your dress, if you do not require it then I shall go.”

  I rolled my eyes and turned so he could continue to do the zip up. “How did you know that I needed help? How did you know that I wasn't naked in here?”

  “I didn't.” The humour in his voice didn't escape me, I turned to see that he was gone.

  I went in search of William which navigating this place wasn't an easy task. Beyond the door that sat behind the stairs was a corridor that seemed to split the house in two. Doors were locked everywhere I turned, it was a maze of tiny corridors that shot off in every direction and I was just going from door to door with little luck. By the time I thought that I was lost I found a door that opened, the kitchen. The room looked outdated and tired, in desperate need of an overhaul but considering it's owner was a vampire that never used a kitchen, I'd say that overhaul was never going to happen. I closed the door on the fifties throwback, wondering what the other rooms were like.

  “Are we lost?”

  I span around and hit the door behind me, yelping as I looked up at the cold face of an unimpressed man.

  “I was looking for you, I didn't know where you were.”

  “Dining room, to the left. Always to the left.”

  “Uh, okay.” I followed him, scurrying along the wood floors. He might have said to the left but it was his right, so who was correct here? I inwardly chastised myself, I was being a smart arse. William opened the door to the dining room, the end of the table had been set for one. The room was warm even though there was no fire place in here, there also wasn't any windows. All of the walls were lined with wallpaper that was long vertical stripes, a dark green that seemed to close the room into itself. An enormous black candelabra sat on the centre of the wood table, lighting the darkened room. I hated this no electricity nonsense. William held the chair out and waited patiently, the unimpressed face had not changed.

  “It is simple here, to the left. The house is under a spell that will trick the mind if you are folly with your movements.” Slowly and concisely he moved to the left of me, sitting on the first available seat. “Always to the left, never forget it otherwise you will be going in circles for days. Eat up before your food goes cold.”

  I looked down at the hulking side of meat sitting on the tray before me, several slices already cut. It looked like beef and it was steaming hot. Layered around it was an assortment of roasted vegetables an open bottle of red wine, a glass poured.

  “I do not wish to be rude but where did this come from?”

  “Are you sure you wish to ask that question Mary?” His eyes lit up with fascination as he watched me falter, figuring this was his victims meal. Crud balls.

  “Uh no. Thank you, this is generous of you.”

  “My pleasure.” The weight of his gaze was heavy upon me, it was like he had never entertained a human before, like he had never seen them eat. I was incredibly uneasy about being watched when I ate, especially by someone who didn't eat at the same time. Though, I didn't want to dine with him, somehow I think that I might be either passed out on the floor or vomiting. Either way there would be tears, hysterical sobbing and a long life of nightmares to follow. Nice thoughts to have whilst eating. I inwardly sighed, I was over thinking things again. Time to change the subject. But to what? Can't ask about his past, which probably rules out a lot of questions about the house or his life in general. Maybe I could stick to generic stuff.

  His cold gaze had changed ever so slightly as I slowly made my way through the meal, it was incredibly good and I was extremely grateful.

  “This is good.” I said when my mouth was empty.

  He smiled thinly, one that could barely be called a smile.

  “Do you eat or drink anything other than blood?”

  “No.”

  “Has anyone ever tried? Does it kill you or something?”

  William shifted in his seat, was my questioning making him uncomfortable? He frowned ever so slightly. “They have and it makes us violently ill. The body purges it before death takes hold. Shouldn't you be eating before your food goes cold?”

  “Just being polite and making conversation.” I muttered.

  When I had finished I looked upon the food that was still sitting there, it seemed such a waste. There had to be enough for at least two people, if not more. It was a worrying thought that two people might have died. Maybe it was a couple that had sat down for a romantic meal only to have the local vampire knock on their door to steal their food and their life. And here I was eating it without a care, more concerned about the glacial glare I was getting from the thief. Charming. William stood from his chair taking the candelabra with him. He held his hand out to me, waiting for me to take it. The light of the candles flickered against his stoic face, they highlighted the darkness in his blue eyes. His thumb trailed over my knuckles and for the second time in as many hours, I was feeling breathless. The cold invaded my fingers snaking its way up them in a tight coil, slithering over the back of my hand. I wanted to shiver, it reached my wrist and the hairs stood on end.

  “Have you had sufficient?”

  “Yes, thank you but I feel wasteful, what will happen to this food? You don't have a refrigerator.”

  “Oh I wouldn't worry about a little bit of food. Come, we shall retire to the parlour for the rest of the evening.”

  I turned back to the table where the food was still sitting, my stomach gnawed with the hunger that would find me tomorrow, wishing I could save it somehow. “But the food.”

  “Do not fret, I am sure I could find something for you tomorrow.” He tugged on my hand, leading me out of the room. A small grin curled into the corner of his mouth as we stopped outside the dining room, the door clicked closed behind us.

  “To the left.” I whispered with a grin.

  “Always to the left.” He repeated w
ith the grin still in tact.

  When I followed his rule, the layout was a breeze. A few turns and I was back in the entry with no fuss. It was simple, no matter what, turn left. Even if it was a dead end, turn left, because apparently dead ends were just a trick of the eye. Back in the parlour I sat on the chesterfield and looked at the books that had appeared at some point since I had been in here last. There was a great stack of them on the table to the side, all waiting for me to select from. William figured that Porter wouldn't have packed anything worth my time and had picked out several books from his own personal collection because there was nothing else for me to do here. Boredom central, population one. I refrained from huffing after all, he was being generous in his offer. I had to see the brighter side in this, there had to be something positive. An education in classic literature? Okay, that's a plus I suppose. Something to do on an otherwise boring night? Yep, that is definitely a plus. Keeping my mind off the negatives like the fact that some thing wants me dead? Yes, that hits the mark, there is my positive, keeping my mind occupied.

  I had to stay awake for as long as possible to alter my sleeping pattern. William was insistent that I conform to his pattern so that he could protect me better. By midnight I was starting to get weary but was reasonably okay due to my job as a night filler. It wasn't a glamorous job but I had little choice. I could roam the shop and restock the shelves with the other two staff members and not have to worry about looking perfect or being the pleasant employee for the rude customer. When I snorted awake and looked up at the amused face of William staring down at me, I realised it wasn't as easy as I thought. He threatened to find a long stick to poke me with every time I fell asleep and then sat back down. My problem was that I was sitting by a warm fire feeling rather snug and toasty. At the shop the air would be cold because of the night and I would be moving around, doing things. By three am William poked me and said that he'd had enough of my snoring and it was time for bed.

  William was right in suggesting that the bag didn't have many dresses, it didn't have any at all. I found a pair of shorts and a tank top for bed wear. When I exited the walk in robe, I stopped dead in my path. The bed had been turned down, the pillows were sitting perfectly straight on the lounge under the window and the curtains were shut tight. Warily I stepped across the floor, gripping the lantern tight as I peered across the room. A pale blue light lit up on the bedside, a tinted lantern that had a candle flicking inside of it.

  “It will help you sleep better.”

  I shrieked as I gripped my chest, my heart hammering hard.

  “Would you stop sneaking up on me!”

  He opened the little door of the lantern I was holding, wetting his fingers he doused the flame. The room was filled with the dull blue light as the smell of smoke surrounded me. When the smoke disappeared I realised that William had too. “I do not sneak.”

  I span around, hearing the voice from behind me. As I backed away from his voice my hand was trembling, the cold of the room was snaking up my spine. I backed into the wall, or at least I thought it was the wall until it took the lantern from me. He caught me before I could move away, his hand slowly slipping over my stomach as he pulled me back to his body. In the paled light of the lantern on the bedside, I could see the other one crumble into shards of dust that glittered in the light. As it fell from his hand to the floor below, it dissipated into nothing, not a single speck hit the ground.

  “Your nightwear is inappropriate.” His voice whispered huskily over my neck, I gasped desperate for air as my chest heaved with an unknown heaviness.

  “You shouldn't be in my room.”

  “My house, my room. There is nowhere that I am not permitted and you are a guest so I would watch my mouth if I were you.”

  I could feel his breath on my skin like he was searching for the right vein to sink his fangs into. For all of the pleasantries and kind gestures, I had forgotten that he was a killer. A suave and sophisticated murderer. His fingers trailed up my arms starting at the wrists. When he reached my shoulders I could feel something soft against my skin. The fingers continued over my shoulders and down the sides of my chest, never touching me intimately but continuing swiftly down my sides. Soft material fell over my skin as the shirt and shorts crumbled into dust like the lantern. I looked over my body, the bed clothes I had been wearing was replaced with a white cotton night dress that was incredibly soft. It hugged my body firmly but it wasn't constricting. The sleeves were wide at the wrists and the hem dragged along the floor.

  “Much better, do not wear anything less than the best Mary. Batiste cotton is exquisite for nightwear.”

  “Sounds too expensive for me.” I muttered sadly. I pulled away, before I knew it I was being pulled back. In a swirl of movement, I was pressed into the wall, looking up at him as he stared down at me. His face was tinged in blue, it seemed an appropriate colour for the look on his face. He seemed pained by something, like he couldn't handle his thoughts or his emotions. I don't really know, all I could see was one sad face and it was getting closer. My heart was beating just a little faster as I pressed my eyes closed for the briefest of moments. When I reopened them he was gone and yet again tears were rolling down my cheeks. It worried me that I was going to be spending my days here permanently crying. I climbed under the sheets and stared at the ceiling, thinking about my future. Was there ever going to be a time where I could be financially free? It was unlikely and as I slowly drifted off to sleep, I imagined winning a lottery so large that I wouldn't have to work again. Ever.

  Chapter Six

  I woke with a start, hearing the most peculiar noise. It was like something large was moving over loose ceramic tiles. When the sound stopped it was replaced by a creaking noise, slow and creepy. I got out of bed and pressed my ear to the door, fearing to actually open it. The sound was like a door being opened and then closed. I shivered wishing I could lock my door and have it remained locked. Sunlight had found it's way through a crack in the curtain, I scampered over to it, missing the glorious light already. I took a tentative peek through the crack, checking the land around the house. It was like a ghost town, not a soul to be seen. I couldn't help but wonder if William had killed all of his neighbours. As I thought about it, I shook my head, mocking my stupidity. As if he would kill his neighbours, it would make him a suspect and I guess no vampire wanted to come under police scrutiny.

  The air was cold, the house seemed to have the worst heating, even my dud for an apartment had better heating than this place. I climbed under the sheets and snuggled into the warmth, the bed was the softest I had ever felt. Though I had spent my life in the orphanage on a thin piece of foam so it was likely that the hardest of mattresses would be comfortable. Sleep evaded me for a long time, I don't know how much sleep I had gotten, there was no clock in the room. I stared at the ceiling, wondering if I was too awake for my body to let go. Flicking back the sheets I huffed, I figured sleep wasn't going to come back to me. Padding over to the door, I pressed my ear to it again, there was silence. It was crazy of me to be scared of the house during the day, regardless of whether there were locked doors and crazy rules, it was bright and sunny. There should be no fear, it should be easy. My hand was on the doorknob when I suddenly realised, dressed appropriately. Turning back to the room I dashed to the walk in robe and flicked through the dresses. They were all elaborate, they were all demure. I found a dress that was a little more simple and not some bit of puffery designed for a ball room. It was a sun dress with a fitted top and a full skirt that sat below my knees. The floral dress sat well with the cream cardigan I found. I could only hope it would be sufficient. As I searched through the dozens of different colours and styles of shoes, I wondered if these belonged to William's late wife. It certainly made sense, why else would he have women's clothes unless he liked to wear them himself? I giggled as I put on a pair of flat shoes and scampered out of the room in pursuit of breakfast.

  The corridor was dark and void of life as I slowly opened it ju
st a crack, peering out in the hope that no scary man would sneak up on me yet again. Personally I think it amuses him and he finds great joy in scaring the crap out of me. I stepped out into the corridor, the sensation of being watched made my skin crawl. To the left, always to the left. I bustled down the stairs and moved to the door behind them, opening it in search of the kitchen. The right of the corridor seemed so tantalising but I refrained from trying to lose myself again. I found the kitchen with ease and searched the cupboards for my tins of food. The tin of mixed fruit was a delight as I closed the cupboard door I began to search the draws for a tin opener. Draw after draw I found nothing. Not a single utensil to be had. If I don't die of starvation, I'm going to write a book about this. What to expect when living with a vampire. Chapter one, take a tin opener for all of the tinned food that you will consume. I couldn't even call Porter and tell him what a jackass he was for not including one in my welcome to hell pack. I huffed loudly, expressing my pure frustration.

  “Something wrong?”

  I should be used to his sneak attacks by now but still I jumped and yelped. With my heart trying it's damnedest to escape my chest cavity, I turned to the annoyance who was leaning on the door frame with a smug attitude.

  “No tin opener.”

  William raised his eyebrows in recognition of the statement but said nothing, turning out of the room.

  “Gee thanks for that mister helpful.” I muttered under my breath.

  The sound that I had heard earlier started to clink around me, it was like little tiles were falling onto each other.

  “Open the draw Mary.” His voice echoed from the corridor.

  I did as he said and my eyes widened with shock, the draws were full of cutlery. They were old and dusty almost like they had been sitting there since the house was built. I opened the second draw and found it filled with utensils. This draw had a resident spider in it, I had to gently pull away the web hoping that it didn't jump out at me. Thankfully the tin opener was at the top of the pile, I pulled it out and squinted at it. My eyes then darted to the sink, wondering if I should wash the dust off it. I turned the tap waiting for the water to start, the pipes clanged with an air bubble, thumping against the wall.