Page 11 of Blood as Sweet as Roses

My eyes widen as he lays them all down on my table. “Oh…you didn’t need to do all of this…”

“Of course we did,” Clarance replies, with a kind nod. “It’s our pleasure to make your stay as comfortable as possible, and to ensure you’re well cared for. Is there anything else I can get you, before your appetizers arrive?”

“Appetizers?” I ask, incredulously. But from the look in his eye, I know I’m not going to be able to convince him that it’s too much. “I…no, I don’t need anything else. Thank you very much, these drinks look delicious.”

“It’s our pleasure, Paige,” Clarance says, before disappearing again.

I take a sip of coffee. It’s in a beautiful, wide ceramic cup, with a matching dish underneath.

It’s the tastiest coffee I’ve ever drank.

The espresso is smooth, hitting my palate first, and the milk is rich and frothy.

The taste of hazelnuts is perfectly subtle, complemented by a small drizzle of caramel on top of the foam.

Although I feel silly to be having three drinks at once, it seems a shame to let them go to waste, so I try the other two as well.

They’re also delicious, well-balanced, with just the right level of sweetness.

I don’t drink too much of the mimosa, it’s a bit early in the day for me.

But the champagne settles down well in my stomach and I relax a little.

It helps that I’m the only one here. It’s peaceful, and I find myself enjoying the beautiful view and tasty drinks.

I don’t often have quiet moments for myself.

My thoughts wander back to the vampire from last night, Roslyn Night, the one the other vampires call Crimson. I suppose she must be the…the boss, or the CEO, or whatever it is in a vampire clan.

I can’t believe what she did to that other vampire.

There’s a twisting feeling in my stomach when I think about it.

The expression on her face, so fierce and determined.

The way her fingers flexed against her dagger.

I’ve never met someone so…so assertive like that.

So commanding. My stomach twists again when I remember how she told me to go to her office, how she spoke to me on her couch.

I’ve never been spoken to like that. Firm, but not condescending.

Dominant, but not forceful. She spoke to me in a way that…

that made me almost want to give myself to her…

I shake my head. What a silly thing to think. I can’t stay here. It’s much too dangerous.

I’m startled out of my daydreaming by the sound of my ringtone. In the mansion, my cell service has been patchy, but I must have a few bars here in the restaurant. I see that it’s Miles, and I quickly pick up the call.

“Hi, Mi,” I say brightly, pushing all other thoughts from my head. “How are you doing? How’s your first week?”

“It’s good,” he replies. He voice sounds a little strained, but there’s a hopefulness in his tone that immediately relieves all my fears. “It’s…hard, but it’s good.”

“I’m so glad to hear that,” I respond. It makes me a little emotional to know that he’s getting the support that he needs. The support that…that so many people never get. But I push back those feelings. I need to be here for my brother right now.

“This means so much to me, Paige,” he says. It sounds like he’s getting a little broken up too. “I…I’m sorry, I just…”

“Take your time,” I tell him gently. “I’m here.”

“It’s not easy, going through withdrawal,” he continues. “But I know I can do it. I want to do it, for you.”

“You should do it for yourself,” I insist. “I love you, and I’m here to support you, ok?”

“Thank you,” he whispers. “I know that you had to use all your savings on this program, and I promise, I’m going to make it up to you.”

“You don’t have to do that, Miles. I’m your older sister. It’s my job to take care of you.”

There’s a pause on the line. Miles’s voice becomes very quiet. “Paige? Do you think…do you think if mom had been in a program like this…that she would have…?”

He trails off, and a heaviness weighs down inside of me. But I have to be strong. Miles needs me to be strong right now.

“Don’t…don’t think about that right now, honey. Just focus on yourself, and working through the treatment. Call me anytime you need to. And I’ll be there next week for our family session.”

“Ok. I love you, Paige.”

“I love you, Mi.”

I put down my phone, breathing steadily against the emotion rising in my chest. My little brother is the only family I have, and he means everything to me.

How am I going to afford to keep him in his treatment?

And afterwards, he’s going to need support as he gets back on his feet.

I don’t care about nursing school anymore.

All I know is that I need to take care of Miles, no matter what.

There’s got to be a way I can make enough money to support him.

“Your appetizers, Paige,” says Clarance, arriving at my table with an enormous tray of small plates.

A mouth-watering array of smells mingles in the air as he arranges the plates with a flourish on the table before me. My stomach growls powerfully at the sight. I’m so distracted I don’t even hear the names of the dishes.

Clarance gives me another grin. “Enjoy, Paige.”

I stare at the table, unable to believe my eyes.

This is enough food for four people, there’s no way I can finish all of it!

Each dish is small, but plentiful: two spring rolls, a tangerine salad, bacon-wrapped mochi, french fries covered with a generous amount of freshly-grated Parmesan cheese, an incredible-smelling lotus leaf that parts to reveal a perfect, steaming helping of sticky rice.

“This…this is incredible,” I gasp. “Thank you so much…it smells amazing!”

“The expression on your face is thanks enough,” Clarance chuckles. “Enjoy, and I’ll be out with the sampler of lunch items once you’re finished.”

“This isn’t the lunch sampler?” I ask.

“Of course not! These are your appetizers, I asked the lunch chef to prepare a few of her favourites for you. Your lunch sampler will be out shortly. Did you enjoy your coffee and drinks?”

“They were delicious,” I reply, not sure what else to say. “But really, this is too much.”

“It’s nothing at all, Paige. Can I get you anything else?”

“No, thank you, this is plenty.”

He whisks back into the kitchen. I’m still feeling anxious, and a little emotional, after my phone call with my brother.

But I push that away as I dig hungrily into the food.

Everything is incredible. I savour every bite, grateful to Clarance and the kitchen staff.

It was so kind, what he said about taking care of me.

I think of my luxurious bedroom, of the delicious wine I had at the celebration last night.

I have to admit, the benefits of this job are amazing.

Even if the pay wasn’t what it was, I can understand why this might appeal to someone.

“Paige!” shouts a chipper voice. I turn to see Chelsie and Sean enter the restaurant.

They’re both wearing comfortable pajamas.

Cheslie’s hair is in a long braid, and Sean has a robe and fluffy slippers on.

I wave to them, and they join me at my table, their eyes widening as they take in the restaurant’s fancy decor and stunning views.

“This is gorgeous,” Sean gasps.

“Ooh! Can I taste some?” Cheslie asks, not waiting for an answer before popping a bacon-wrapped mochi in her mouth. She gives me a thumbs-up as she chews. “Mmm!”

“Eloise said all of this is comped?” Sean says, looking in amazement at the spread of food in front of me. “If I had known how sweet this gig is, I’d have signed up ages ago!”

“Vampires or no, I’d do it just for this food,” Chelsie says, helping herself to a french fry. Then she gives me a devilish grin. “But the vampires are pretty nice too.”

A little flush comes to my cheeks as I notice the two distinct bite marks on Chelsie’s neck.

Self-consciously, I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.

When Sean reaches over to take a spring roll, I see that he has a similar mark on the underside of his wrist. I run a finger nervously along the mark on my own forearm.

When Crimson drank my blood, she drank it from the cut I already had.

What would it be like to have a vampire sink their fangs into you like that?

But before I can wonder any more, Clarance arrives at the table and greets Sean and Chelsie, who order a pitcher of red sangria to share. Clarance leaves them a food menu before going back to the kitchen.

“Little hair of the dog,” Chelsie says. “Oof, I’ve never drank so much wine in one night!”

“I don’t really have a hangover, though,” Sean comments. “Do you think it’s because of the quality of the wine?”

“Is that a thing?” Chelsie asks.

“Who knows,” Sean chuckles. “Maybe it’s from being glamoured.”

“I can’t believe we’re being paid to do this,” Chelsie sighs happily. Then she turns to me. “How are you doing, Paige? I saw you with that hot vampire last night, the one who’s in charge.”

“You’re so lucky,” Sean says, leaning over the table. “How was she? Did she glamour you before she bit you?”

“Where did she do it?” Chelsie asks, scanning my neck and wrist for bite marks. Then her eyes widen. “Was it your thigh?”

My face reddens. “Oh, um…I cut myself, so she just drank a little of my blood, from my wrist,” I explain, showing them my forearm.

“She didn’t bite you?” Chelsie says, with a frown.

“You should definitely ask her to bite you next time,” Sean adds knowingly.

I remember when Crimson leaned closer to me on the couch. When she told me she could make it feel good. That strong ache of desire returns to my stomach, and curiosity gets the better of me.

“What’s…what’s it like, when they bite you?” I ask, my voice a little hushed.

“It’s amazing,” Chelsie sighs, dreamily.

“It’s better than sex,” Sean concurs.

Clarance arrives with the drinks, and takes Chelsie and Sean’s orders.

My phone buzzes. It’s a text from my brother. A picture of the two of us, with my mother, before she died.

Found this on my phone. I think she’d be proud of you. You’re a good big sister.

His words almost bring tears to my eyes. I text him back immediately.

She’d be proud of you. You’re doing something really hard, and I’m proud of you, too.

I put my phone back down.

Maybe I don’t need to leave the mansion.

Now my decision feels a little hasty. Yes, last night was terrifying, and unexpected.

But I have a responsibility to my brother.

He’s getting the help he needs, and doing the work.

He’s the most important person in my life, and I don’t know what I would do if something happened to him.

I promised him I would get the money to pay for his treatment, and that’s what I have to do.

And…I can’t deny that the idea of seeing that vampire again brings a wonderful, pleasant ache to my stomach.