Page 31 of Blood as Sweet as Roses

Paige

I wake suddenly, late in the day, the afternoon sun already low in the sky. There’s an ache in my chest, and my head is fuzzy. But I can’t dwell on those feelings because my phone is vibrating urgently on my nightstand.

Disoriented, I reach over. It’s an unknown number. Could it be someone calling about Miles? I don’t want to risk missing an important call, so I pick it up.

“Paige, finally,” says an unwelcome voice. “You’ve been screening my calls.”

Blake’s voice is as rough as sandpaper. I immediately regret answering the phone.

“I’m not interested in talking to you anymore, Blake,” I reply, pressing my fingers into my eyes, trying to wake myself up.

“Well, I’m interested in talking to you, Paige,” he retorts. “How could you just end things like that? We’ve been together for six years…”

“I don’t owe you anything,” I sigh, although my voice isn’t as firm as I wish it was. I’m exhausted, and I have no energy for this.

“After everything I’ve done for you?” he replies. “I’ve put my time in, Paige! Nobody else wanted to be friends with you in high school. I put up with all of your drama with your family, all of the gossip…”

“Well, now you don’t need to do that anymore,” I snap. It hurts, to hear how resentful he felt of me all those years. I’m already feeling vulnerable, and I don’t need this.

“You’re going to regret this,” he says, his voice taking on a darker tone. “Paige, I’m not going to let those vampires take you away from me…”

There’s a threatening note in his voice that I don’t like. “That’s not what this is about. And I meant what I said, Blake. It’s over.”

Before he can reply, I hang up the call, and I block the number he called me from.

I had to block his original number last week, after he kept calling me over and over again.

I don’t like that he somehow got a new number.

I really hope this doesn’t escalate. But Blake is a reasonable guy. I’m sure he’s just hurt.

And a part of me wonders if he’s not right. It must have been hard, being with me in high school. My life wasn’t easy, and because of it, I wasn’t very popular at school. Everyone knew I was the one who’s mom was an “addict.”

You don’t owe him anything, Paige, a little voice inside my head says. But there’s another part of me, a hurt, small part of me, that’s made even smaller by the words that he said.

It takes all of my willpower to pull myself out of bed. I go through the motions of my day, getting something to eat at the restaurant, taking a bath, sitting by my picture window to watch the sun go down. But I can’t stop this melancholy feeling. And it’s not entirely about Blake.

I’m upset about what Crimson said to me last night. That she didn’t want my help figuring out who was behind the attack on Eloise. Is that all I am to her, a blood donor? Someone to drink from?

Of course I am. I feel silly for even thinking that she would want my opinion. She’s a super-powerful vampire, and I’m just a normal human who can’t even afford nursing school.

I just thought…for a second, that maybe I was…

special to her. She seems to know all of my fantasies, all of the things I like.

Things I didn’t even know I would like! When she speaks to me, I feel like I’m important.

When she looks at me, I feel like I’m precious.

But maybe she makes everyone feel like that.

I must be just one in a long line of humans she’s drank from.

There must have been hundreds before me, and…

and I’m sure there will be hundreds after.

How long will I be able to hold her interest before she casts me aside for someone else? Someone prettier, more knowledgeable?

The sun slips casually below the horizon, plunging the mansion and its grounds into pitch darkness.

I could take tonight off. Maybe I should. But I don’t know if it’s healthy for me to continue stewing in my own anxieties.

Slowly, I get myself ready for the night. A pair of simple, studded earrings, a dress of dark blue velvet, a little blush. It makes me feel a bit better, a little bit more like myself.

I go downstairs without checking to see if Sean and Chelsie are ready. I’m in a bit of a somber mood, and I don’t want to bring them down.

There’s a living human speaking to a vampire in hushed tones just outside the lounge.

He whispers to her softly, stroking her marble-smooth cheek.

I wonder what sort of relationship they have.

The vampire meets his gaze firmly, but there’s an expression of love and care in her eyes that seems deeper than just blood or sex.

Could it be possible, that some vampires form more lasting relationships with living humans? Or are we just their prey?

“Paige,” says a soft voice, right over my shoulder.

I jump, surprised at his sudden closeness. It’s Murad, his hands folded behind his back, a gentle expression in his dark brown eyes.

“I’m sorry if I startled you,” he says, with a smile. “I forget sometimes that you’re new to the magical world.”

“I’m just…not quite used to the vampire speed yet,” I reply.

Even though I know that he won’t hurt me, it’s still difficult to calm my pounding heartbeat.

Especially since I know he can hear it. But then I remember the events of yesterday, and my heart beats quickly for another reason. “How is Eloise?”

“She’s stable now,” he replies. “I had to come back to the mansion when the sun rose, but she’s doing all right.”

I exhale. “That’s good.”

“I owe you a great debt,” the old vampire tells me. “If it wasn’t for your quick action, she wouldn’t have made it.”

“It’s really nothing,” I reply. “I’m studying to be a nurse. Well, I’m not in school yet, but I enjoy reading the textbooks.”

He cocks his head. “Really? How intriguing.”

“I want to be prepared, when I start,” I explain. I’m used to having to justify my weird behaviour.

“Your studiousness is commendable. And in this case, very helpful.” There’s an expression in his eyes like he’s considering something. “I think…I have something you might like to see. Will you join me, upstairs?”

“Oh…” there’s a flicker of nerves in my stomach.

“Nothing like that,” he correct quickly, with a half-grin. “I’m very well-fed, I assure you.”

“Of course,” I answer.

He holds out his arm, and I take it. His movements are graceful, precise, just like the other vampires. We go up the stairs together, and down a hallway. Some of the other vampires give us funny looks, they’re all used to seeing me with Crimson.

“Here we are,” the vampire says, stopping outside of a set of ornate wooden doors. He waves a hand, and they open on their own, a shimmer of violet light against the wood.

I stare in amazement. “Do you always open doors like that?”

He gives me a sly smile. “No, I just thought it would impress you.”

“You were right,” I concede, following him into the room.

My breath catches as I look around. I don’t know what I was expecting - another office, perhaps?

But this room is enormous, like the lounge downstairs.

Except it’s filled with shelves upon shelves of books.

The ceilings are high - it must be at least two stories - with brass ladders on wheels to reach the higher shelves.

Overstuffed armchairs crowd the large room, along with long wooden tables, also laden with books.

It’s got a cozy, lived-in feel to it, unlike the rest of the mansion.

Murad chuckles. I realize that I’ve been standing in the middle of the room, staring with my mouth open, for at least a minute.

“I suspected you would like it,” he says, closing the doors behind us. “I’m sorry it’s such a mess. I’m usually the only one here. The other vampires aren’t big readers, to say the least.”

“I love it,” I answer, stepping toward a shelf and running a finger along a dusty, leather bound tome. It’s too old to have a title on the spine, but I glance at Murad. He gives me a permissive nod, and I pull it off the shelf and flip to the inside page.

North American Demons and Deities: Summoning and Common Practices

I take another one.

Blood Magick and Its Uses for Witches and Vampyrs

My eyes widen. “These books are about magic?”

“I’ve collected books on a wide variety of topics,” he answers, an expression of pride on his face. “Magic, history, biology…I have a section devoted to medicine, both magical and non-magical, just there.” He gestures to an overstuffed shelf in a bright corner of the library.

I can’t hide my enthusiasm. I quickly skip over to the shelf and start scanning the books. There are more recent ones here, shiny textbooks mixed in with larger, more ornate tomes.

“There’s magical medicine?” I gasp, pulling a thick, cedar-smelling book from the shelf. Its title reads Elementary Healing Magic: Cuts and Bruises.

“Of course. I know a Hecate witch, who specializes in healing magic. She’s quite a bookworm herself.”

I can’t quite believe what he’s saying. “You know a real witch?”

“Many. I think you would like her, actually.” He strokes his beard thoughtfully. “Crimson and I are planning a strategic conference with some of the other vampire and magical leaders in the region. You should come with us.”

Suddenly, the world feels so much bigger. But do I fit into it? As soon as the excitement fills my chest, it’s tinged with that somber feeling from before.

“Perhaps, if Crimson would like me to come,” I reply. I can’t help thinking about what she said last night, about not wanting my help. Is it too much, too fast?

“You don’t need her permission to do everything,” the other vampire replies. He scans my face and seems to read my mood accurately. I wonder how old he is. He doesn’t seem quite like the other vampires. There’s something more measured about him, something gentler.

“I’m happy to serve her,” I answer, putting the book back on the shelf.

“She’s lucky to have you,” Murad answers. “You seem like a bright young woman.”

I smile at him, but the smile is tight, and I’m not able to meet his eye. I’m not good at accepting compliments, and Crimson’s words keep ringing in my head.

The other vampire takes my chin gently in his hand, raising my gaze to meet his. “What’s troubling you, Paige?”

Discomfort rises inside me. I’ve never had someone ask me about my feelings so bluntly. He watches me patiently as I collect my words. One nice thing about vampires is they don’t ever rush you.

“I…I like Crimson a lot,” I confess. “And I know it’s only been a few months, but we’ve gotten so close already. Everything seemed like it was going so well, but now…it feels like she’s pushing me away.”

“Ah,” Murad sighs, and crosses to a nearby couch.

He pats the seat beside him, and I sit down.

I thought I would feel awkward and vulnerable after sharing with him, but he looks thoughtful about what I’ve said.

I appreciate that he takes me seriously, even though I must seem so young and naive compared to him.

He leans closer to me. “Crimson…she’s a complicated vampire.

Most of us are. The world is very different now than how it used to be, and the magical world even more so.

” He pauses, as though considering what to share.

“Crimson’s Creator was a villain, plain and simple.

He was devious, cunning, and could be quite cruel, at times.

He forced Crimson and his other progeny to do things that were very… damaging.”

“What sorts of things?” I whisper. I hate the idea of anyone hurting Crimson, but I want to know.

Murad shakes his head. “The details aren’t important. But you should know that she’s had a difficult existence. It doesn’t excuse her from her actions, but perhaps it will help you to understand her better.”

“Thank you for telling me,” I answer, genuinely. “I’m still so new to all of this…”

“You’re doing very well. And…” he pauses again, running his hand slowly across his beard, as though he’s trying to decide whether to share something with me. “There’s something else you should know about Roslyn Night.”

There’s a dark note in his voice that makes my chest tighten. I lean forward nervously.

“It’s not something you should heed too seriously,” he says with a frown. “But it may be impacting your relationship, and so you have a right to know.”

“What is it?” I’m so curious I could burst.

The candlelight flickers gold in his dark brown eyes. “There’s a prophecy, foretold by the Artemis witches. That Roslyn Night will drink from a living human. A human she’ll fall in love with. A human who…will be her undoing.”

“‘Her undoing’?” I repeat, confused. “What does that mean?”

“Those are the exact words of the prophecy,” Murad sighs with a shrug.

“You know how prophecies are…well, I suppose you don’t.

But they tend to be…very malleable things, and they never turn out quite how you think they will.

That’s why I wasn’t sure whether to tell you, but I think it’s important for you to know. ”

I nod, trying to process this information. But I feel more confused now than ever.

“I don’t believe that Crimson takes the prophecy seriously,” Murad says. “And you shouldn’t either. But if she’s keeping you at arm’s length, it might be because she doesn’t want to be perceived as having a weakness.”

“I…would be her weakness?”

“As I said, I wouldn’t put much stock in prophecies,” Murad answers, cryptically.

My mind flies, trying to put everything together. Suddenly, it feels like too much. And everything I’ve been carrying starts to unravel.

“I don’t see how I could be her weakness,” I reply, a note of sadness in my voice.

“The human in the prophecy…there’s no way it could be me.

There’s nothing very special about me. I’m not even a nursing student yet.

Before this, I worked in a coffeeshop. Crimson is a three-hundred-year-old vampire king, and I’m just… Paige.”

“Perhaps being ‘just Paige,’ is much more than you think it is.”

I shake my head. “I don’t know. She’s so strong, so powerful…what could I possibly offer to her?”

“There are many types of strength. You may possess a sort of strength that Crimson lacks,” he replies, giving me a pointed look.

This makes me pause. “What do you mean?”

He opens his mouth to answer, but then the doors to the library open with a loud bang.