Page 42 of Blood as Sweet as Roses

Paige

We ride an elevator down several floors. Even though we’re underground, it’s just as plush and regal as the lobby of the hotel, if a little bit more vampire-y. The floors are dark wood with red carpets, and the wall sconces are noticeably dimmer than upstairs.

But I’m not complaining. I assumed we would be in a hotel room, but Crimson and I are shown into a lavish suite with a gorgeous king-sized bed and a jacuzzi that you could swim laps in.

I don’t see a coffin anywhere, but I’ve learned that vampires (especially powerful ones) usually have a hidden room where they rest during the day.

I guess Crimson already knows where it is, because she tips the bellhop quickly and closes the door behind him before I’ve even finished exploring the full suite.

“There’s a whole pool table, sir!” I tell Crimson in amazement. “Inside the room! And…” I hurry over to the bar, looking at the labels on the bottles. “This bar has alcohol and distilled blood…”

“The Respite hotel is used to catering to both magical and non-magical guests,” Crimson answers.

“It’s one of the many reasons why it’s been so successful.

And Celine and her sisters have done an excellent job of running it.

Even though Renata pretends to hate it, I think she likes that it keeps her occupied. ”

“I see what you meant about her not being interested in your territory,” I reply. I point at the bottle of distilled blood, but Crimson shakes her head, so I just pour myself a glass of pinot. “It looks like she’s pretty busy here.”

I sip from my glass thoughtfully. Since I started this job, I’ve been drinking lots of wine, and I discovered that I really like tasting the different varieties. This one is smooth, rich, with woodsy and cinnamon notes.

Crimson gives me a probing, curious look. “You’re really interested in this, hm?”

“What do you mean, my king?” I ask, hoping I haven’t overstepped by opening the wine.

“You’re curious about magical politics,” she answers.

“I don’t see how anyone wouldn’t be curious,” I reply, a little surprised.

I think about earlier, how Crimson told Celine she could speak freely in front of me.

But did she mean it because she trusts me, or because she doesn’t take me seriously?

The thought puts a bit of a damper on my good mood.

“My king…I want to know what you’re up to.

I want to make sure you’re safe. I know I can’t do a lot to help, but I’m here if you need to talk about what’s going on. ”

She gazes at me across the suite, that same expression in her eyes. Like she’s trying to figure something out.

But what is it?

“Paige…” she whispers.

A loud knock echoes through the suite. Crimson hisses, then she raises her hand to the door. It unlocks in a flash of red smoke.

“Enter!” she shouts, irritably.

“I’m…I’m sorry to bother you, my king,” stutters Alin, as he peeks his head into the suite.

“It had better be important,” Crimson snaps.

“I thought you would want to know…” Alin swallows nervously.

I’ve noticed that younger vampires seem to have more of those reactions than older ones.

I couldn’t even imagine Crimson fidgeting, but I guess they lose those little mannerisms the older they get.

I wonder how long Alin has been a vampire.

“Spit it out,” Crimson demands.

“I saw Kai sneaking that merman into their suite,” Alin says. “The one you told them they weren’t allowed to marry.”

Crimson sighs heavily. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, my king,” Alin quickly confirms, wrinkling his nose. “He’s got that mermaid smell. And they looked guilty too. They brought him in after everyone else was checked in, I saw them.”

“Thank you, Alin,” Crimson says. “You may leave now.”

“Um…I also wanted to ask…” Alin says sheepishly. “Lexi’s having a party in the club tonight. Some of the younger vampires want to go. Do you need us for anything, or…?”

She waves her hand. “Go ahead. Have a fun time.”

Alin’s face lights up. “Thank you, sir!” he says, before darting quickly out of the room.

Crimson rubs her eyebrow irritably. Maybe that’s her version of fidgeting, a little shimmer of the living human she used to be. I put my glass down on the top of the bar and go over to her.

“Why can’t things just go smoothly?” Crimson mutters, not addressing me in particular.

“Don’t let it bother you, my king,” I answer, softly. “You’ve got other things to focus on this week, and I’m sure the eastern shifters will be too busy to notice anything.”

“Perhaps,” she grumbles. “But I don’t like to be disrespected. Why did they even bring him here? It’s like they’re doing it just to get under my skin.”

“Well,” I reply. “Maybe it doesn’t have anything to do with you at all, sir. Maybe they just wanted to be with him this week.”

“Kai should be thinking about their clan,” Crimson replies, but there’s no anger in her voice.

Just a note of exhaustion that’s surprising.

I pause, letting her get her thoughts together.

“When I was their age, I never would have disobeyed my Creator like that. They’re lucky I’m not him.

He would have staked me without a second thought if I had… ”

She stops, something heavy behind her eyes. It’s hard to see her this way. Usually she’s much more composed, but it’s clear this situation is bothering her.

I put my hand up to her shoulder. “You’re not your Creator. And you don’t have to be like him. I don’t know everything that he did, but…”

Suddenly, she steps away, shrugging my arm off of my shoulder. The rejection stings, but I’m more concerned about her. Not meeting my eye, she shakes her head. There’s a shift in her demeanor. A gate crashing down inside of her.

“I shouldn’t be speaking this way,” she says, firmly, still not meeting my eye. “Kai’s my progeny, and I’ll handle them.”

I know I should be gentle with her, and it’s clear she’s experienced something difficult.

But it’s just so frustrating that she’s pushing me away.

It’s not the first time this has happened.

Whenever it seems like we’re getting closer, or when I want to help her with something, she closes herself off.

Usually I just let it go, but tonight, I can’t stop the irritation from tinging my words.

“Why try to stop them, my king? It’s clear Kai cares about the mermaid. If they’re in love, then…”

Crimson snorts. “Vampires can’t fall in love.”

There’s a pang in my chest. I wasn’t expecting that. “What do you mean? Why wouldn’t vampires be able to fall in love?”

She runs her hand through her hair, not meeting my eye. “It’s different for us. Our hearts don’t beat. Our worlds are just…blood, pain and desire. That’s all.”

There’s a heavy sadness in her voice. I’ve heard it before, and it always tugs at my heart. So far, I’ve tried to give her space. I know I can’t understand what it must be like to be a vampire. To be a vampire king, with a clan to protect. To have experienced everything that she has.

But for some reason, I feel bold. Over the past months, Crimson and I have been getting closer and closer. She never drinks from anyone else, and we spend most nights together. She brought me all the way here with her to Silverlake City. We’re sharing a suite, like…like a couple might.

What do I have to lose?

“Where do I fit, Crimson?” I whisper. “In your world of blood, pain and desire? What am I?”

An agonizing minute passes. I start to regret my words, afraid that I’m pushing her away.

She finally looks up, training her steely gaze on me. “You’re all three, Paige. All three and nothing more.”

It feels like she’s squeezing my heart in her fist. I take a shaky inhale, trying to reorient myself. “But…”

Then we’re interrupted again, this time by the tinkling ringtone of my phone.

“You should answer it,” Crimson says, her voice flat and dry. It’s clear she doesn’t want to continue this conversation.

I don’t want to let her off the hook so easily, but when I hurry to the bar to take my phone out of my purse, I see that it’s Miles.

“I do need to take this,” I whisper, wiping the moisture from my eyes.

I start to cross the room to go into the bedroom, but she’s already gone. With trembling hands, I pick up the call.

“Hi, Miles,” I say. “Is everything all right? It’s late, isn’t it?”

“Sorry, Paige,” he replies with a laugh. “I know you’re on a late-night schedule. I hope it’s ok I called you.”

“It’s always ok, Mi.”

“I was going to ask how your trip is going,” Miles says, a worried note in his voice. “But…are you all right, Paige? You sound a little off.”

I hug myself with one arm, pressing the phone to my cheek. “I’m fine. Just a busy day, that’s all.”

There’s a pause on the line. For a moment, I’m worried the call got disconnected. We must be pretty far underground. But then Miles’s voice comes through.

“You know you can talk to me if you have to, Paige,” he says softly. “I love you, and I’m here for you.”

“I know, Mi,” I whisper. “But it’s fine, really. I’m your older sister, I should be taking care of you. Especially with everything you’re going through.”

“I’m basically finished with my program. I know that it’s something I’ll be dealing with for a long time. But at some point, you have to let me in.”

I suppress a sigh. I know that Miles is right, but I have no clue how to talk to him about what I’m going through.

How would I even start? I’m dating a three-hundred-year old, emotionally avoidant vampire who’s keeping me at arms length because there’s a mysterious prophecy that says I’ll die if we fall in love?

It’s ridiculous. I don’t know if I fully believe it myself.

“Is Amanda showing you all of her favourite places?” Miles asks. “I know she loves visiting Silverlake City.”

“Oh…yes, she is!” I reply. I almost forgot I told him that Amanda and I are visiting Silverlake City this week, as a cover for what I’m really doing. I hate lying, but I didn’t know what else to tell him. “I mean, we just got in, so we haven’t seen much, but I’m really excited to be here.”

“Well, keep me updated, I can’t wait to hear about it! Maybe we can all go together sometime, once I’ve got my own place and everything,” Miles says.

The thought makes me smile. “That would be lovely, Mi.”

A dark clock hanging on the wall chimes softly.

“You should go to bed, Miles, it’s getting late,” I tell him. “But thanks for checking in with me, it’s always nice to hear your voice.”

“Your’s too. Goodnight, Paige, I love you!”

“I love you, too.”

The call disconnects, and I put the phone back into my purse.

But the suite feels cold now, and empty without Crimson. I wonder where she went. I search for her in the bedroom, and the large ensuite bathroom. She must have gone to her crypt.

I debate whether I want to look for her.

The entrance to her crypt must be somewhere in the suite, although I’m sure it’s well-hidden to prevent anyone from harming her during the day.

The night is still young, and I want to talk to her.

But a deep, aching tiredness overtakes me, and I can’t bring myself to try and find her.

Instead, I unpack my things, trying to distract myself from the thought of Crimson underground somewhere, all alone.