Page 10 of Blood as Sweet as Roses

Paige

When I wake, I wonder if it was all a horrible nightmare. A strange, twisted dream filled with flashing red eyes and gleaming, pointed teeth. With the sharp edge of fear and with…

A powerful, aching heat in my core that I can’t deny.

But even before I open my eyes, I know I’m not at home in my studio apartment. This mattress is soft and the duvet envelopes me in a cloud of down. The room is perfectly heated, warm and cozy, unlike my apartment, which always had a draft that the landlord never got around to fixing.

My eyes blink open lazily. I parted the curtains last night, so the sun streams in through the arched window. It’s bright. It must be late in the day already. I suppose this is what being on a vampire’s schedule is like.

I sit up in bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I feel hazy, disoriented.

The details of last night come rushing back to me, in little snippets, like watching the trailer to a horror movie.

I can’t stay here.

It doesn’t matter how much I get paid. I made a huge mistake even coming here. This isn’t like donating blood at all. This is…this is like living in a haunted mansion. These vampires exist in a world completely different from my own, lawlessly, shamelessly…

I remember the feelings that rose in me when that vampire leaned in close.

A fluttering…a dark, carnal desire deep inside me.

I’ve never felt that way before. What was she doing to me?

Now that I’ve had a moment to process my feelings, it’s obvious to me that I felt some sort of strange attraction to her, one I wasn’t expecting.

I can’t be thinking thoughts like that. What would Blake think, if he knew I’d shared such an intimate moment with her?

No, it’s best just to get out of here right away, before things escalate. In the light of day, everything seems more clear.

Good thing I didn’t pack much. It’s easy to quickly brush my teeth, throw on some sweatpants, and toss my things back into my suitcase.

I’ll go home, and it will be like none of this ever happened. I’ll find another way to support Miles.

My gut wrenches when I think of him at the treatment center. I used all my savings for the deposit, and turned in my notice at the coffeeshop. Maybe they’ll take me back. Maybe I can move in with Blake, finally, and I can save some money that way.

I carry my suitcase down the hallway and descend the stairs, trying not to make eye contact with any of the naked figures in the paintings on my way down. Worries swirl in my head as I try to figure out how I’m going to make money now.

Luckily, I don’t pass anyone as I go down the stairs. I guess everyone’s sleeping in after the celebration last night. I hope Eloise is awake. I want to let her know I’m leaving and tell her thank you for her advice, even though it didn’t work out.

I wander down the main hallway, looking for her. I shiver as I pass the open door to the lounge, remembering the debauchery of the previous night.

A door down the hallway opens, and Eloise steps out. She smiles when she sees me.

“Paige!” she calls, waving at me. “I was just coming up to check on you.” Then she spots my suitcase. “Are you…going somewhere?”

I feel so guilty for leaving on such short notice. “I’m so sorry, Eloise. But I don’t think this is for me. I appreciate the opportunity, but I can’t work here any more.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she says. She sounds genuinely disappointed, and I appreciate her kindness, but it doesn’t change anything.

“Could you tell me where the nearest bus station is?” I ask. “My cell service isn’t very good out here, and I wasn’t able to look one up.”

She frowns, her eyes crinkling. “That’s because there isn’t one.

The transit system out here isn’t very well developed.

I think it’s because…” her nose twitches, and she doesn’t finish her thought.

“Well, never mind. I can arrange a car for you, if you like. Unfortunately, because it’s been a very busy week, all of our drivers have the day off, or are otherwise occupied, but I’m sure I can coordinate something for tomorrow. ”

“Tomorrow…” my stomach sinks at the thought of spending another night here.

Eloise puts a gentle hand to my shoulder. “If you want, you can enjoy the restaurant and garden today, and when night falls, you’re welcome to stay in your room. No one will bother you there.”

I bite my lip, considering her offer. My mind races through my limited options: there’s no way I could afford a cab, Amanda doesn’t have her license, and I doubt that Blake would be willing to rent a car and drive all the way out here to pick me up.

“Why don’t you think about it, and let me know when you’re ready,” Eloise says, with a concerned frown. “I do apologize that your first night was…difficult. I can understand if it’s too much for you.”

I nod. “Thank you, Eloise, I really appreciate that.”

“Have you eaten anything yet?”

“Not yet,” I reply. Although now that she’s mentioned it, I can feel a gnawing hunger in my belly. Yesterday, I was so nervous that I skipped dinner, and now it’s catching up to me.

“Why don’t you come have breakfast in the restaurant,” Eloise says. She hooks her arm into mine. “You can leave your suitcase here.”

“Oh, I try not to eat out,” I tell her, imagining how expensive a restaurant around here must be. “I’m on a budget. I prefer to cook for myself.”

“Nonsense,” Eloise titters. To my surprise, she leads me up the stairs, not out the door. “Our restaurant is on the third floor, adjacent to the staff rooms. Everything is comped, and you can have whatever you want.”

My stomach grumbles, as though it’s heard her.

“That’s very generous,” I say.

She leads me up to the third floor, toward a set of mahogany double doors.

I’m expecting a cafeteria-like set up, with tables and maybe a buffet.

But she lead me into what looks like an expensive, five-star restaurant.

It’s full of tables with crisp tablecloths, dotted with candles and single red roses.

There are enormous windows along two sides of the restaurant, displaying the rich greenery outside and the bright, blue sky. It’s completely empty.

“Look, you’ve got the whole place to yourself,” Eloise says. “Pick any table, and a server will come take your order.”

“You aren’t hungry?” I ask her.

“I ate already, but you should enjoy yourself. We have lots of different breakfast options, although now, they may have switched to the lunch menu.”

I look around nervously. I’ve never eaten in such a nice restaurant, and it’s hard to believe I can just sit anywhere I like and order whatever I please. “Are you sure?”

“Of course,” she laughs. “They should have something you’ll like. Unless you only like shellfish. Me and the host are both allergic, so we don’t serve any shellfish here. But they should be able to make anything else you request.”

A swinging door opens, and a man wearing the same crisp, black-and-white uniform as the servers last night enters. He gives us both a warm smile.

“Good morning, Eloise, Paige,” he says. I’m surprised that he knows my name. “Will you both be dining with us today?”

“Just Paige,” Eloise says. “Please take care of her, Clarance, won’t you?”

“Of course,” he says with a nod. He turns to me, and gestures toward the many tables. “Sit anywhere you like, Paige, and I’ll get you a menu.”

Eloise waves goodbye, and I pick a table in the corner, by a window.

The view is gorgeous. Last night, in the dark, I wasn’t able to see outside clearly.

But in the morning sunlight, I can look out at the beautiful maples and aspens that dot the grounds of the mansion.

Did Eloise say there was a garden somewhere? I’d love to go see it, before I leave.

I guess I have no choice but to stay here another day. Perhaps it won’t be so bad. I can eat now, then have some dinner before the sun goes down, then tomorrow, I’ll be off.

Clarance hands me a food and beverage menu, and fills up a glass of water for me.

My stomach grumbles as I survey the lunch options.

Since my mother died (and even before she died, if I’m being honest), I’ve never had much money, and certainly have never been able to afford a nice restaurant like this.

Even when Blake takes me out, I always feel nervous about ordering something expensive, so I just get a salad.

I don’t want Blake to make any comments about how I’m too high maintenance.

My anxiety gets the best of me, so when Clarance returns, I request the soup of the day. There are no prices on the menu, but that can’t be much trouble to make, can it?

Clarance raises an eyebrow when I order. “Are you certain? I can highly recommend the pad see ew, or the salmon croquettes. I could even have the lunch chef prepare a tasting platter for you, so you can sample our various options if you’re unsure what you might like.”

“Oh, no, thank you,” I reply, almost blushing. “That’s far too much work. I’m the only one here, I don’t want to put you out…”

He leans in, a warm smile on his face. I tend to get a little intimidated by wait staff, but he’s very friendly, and I get the sense that his words are genuine.

“It’s no trouble at all, Paige. We don’t often get diners this early in the day, so we’re glad to have something to do.

Let us take care of you while you relax. ”

Before I can protest, he swoops back into the kitchen. I feel a little uncomfortable. I hate to be a burden, and I’m not used to being waited on. I can’t help feeling a little bit like an impostor. After all, I’m not even working here anymore. He really doesn’t need to make such a fuss over me.

In a matter of a few minutes, he brings out a tray laden with drinks.

“I brought you some drink options to sample,” he says graciously. “A hazelnut macchiato with a single shot, a mimosa with our finest champagne, and a non-alcoholic lavender spritzer, if you prefer not to drink so early in the day.”