Page 51 of Blood as Sweet as Roses

Crimson

“And then she said, ‘I’m your daddy now,’ and she reached down and cut his cock off with her dagger!”

Celine and Damien howl with laughter. Blood sloshes out of Damien’s wineglass and onto the floor of Celine’s office.

“Balls too?” Celine asks, wiping a red tear from the corner of her eye.

“Everything,” Murad answers. “You should have seen Waylan’s face! It was priceless.”

“Classic Crimson,” Damien says, giving me a wink.

I lean over to refill his glass. “That’s nothing. You should have seen Cedric’s face when I made him reveal he was working with Oana.”

“Now that’s a story I’d like to hear,” Celine says, cocking an eyebrow.

Murad leans forward, his eyes lit up. “Crimson summoned Cedric to see her in the mansion’s war room…”

But before he can say more, the door to Celine’s office swings open loudly. Renata steps in, a formidable expression across her face. She plants her hands firmly on her hips.

“What are you four doing?” she demands, eying our glasses of blood with derision. “It doesn’t look like you’re working on the trade agreement I asked you to ratify…”

“It’s the last Friday of the conference,” Celine sighs to her sister. “We’ve been working all week! We’re taking a break.”

Damien scoots to the end of the couch and pats the leather seat beside him. “Come on, Ren, join us for a glass.”

The other vampire’s lip twitches. “Well, I’m very busy tonight, and Lily…”

“Will be fine without you for twenty minutes,” Celine says.

“Stay and chat with us,” Murad says, flashing Renata his most charming smile. “I’d love to hear about how things are going with the hotel, and with Lily.”

This seems to get through to her. With a twitch of her lips, she concedes.

“Well, all right,” she says. She perches daintily on the couch between Celine and Damien. “I suppose a few minutes won’t hurt.”

“Will you have a glass?” I ask, reaching for the distilled blood. “We can open another bottle.”

Renata wrinkles her nose. “No, thank you. Do you really enjoy drinking it?”

“We love it,” Murad says, taking another sip.

“It’s been extremely popular among the Night vampires,” I concur.

“Really?” Celine says, incredulously.

“Your sister’s quite the entrepreneur,” Murad says.

Renata sighs. “I wish she was a little less entrepreneurial. She’s got a new business idea every week. Yesterday she tried to pitch a reality TV show about our family.”

Celine shakes her head. “Our family is a dangerous clan of vampires who run an illegal speakeasy and casino. How does she think that’s going to go down?”

“It’s her age,” Damien says. “When newborns turn a hundred years old, the novelty of being a vampire starts to wear off. They get restless, want to do something more meaningful.”

I nod. “Alin’s about the same age. He’s been impossible lately, constantly trying to convince me that we should be in different businesses. Last week he suggested that we should start our own vampire cryptocurrency.”

“Interesting,” Celine replies thoughtfully.

Murad shrugs. “It’s a brave new world out there.

Perhaps there’s value in exploring new avenues.

” He turns to Renata. “I want to congratulate you and Lily, Renata. I haven’t heard of many vampires choosing to start families with their partners.

I know it’s unconventional, but I think it’s wonderful. ”

Renata smiles at him. It’s the first time I’ve seen her relaxed all week. “Thank you, Murad. That means a lot to us.”

Celine reaches out and touches her sister’s shoulder gently. “We’re all excited for you, Ren.”

“How did you decide to start a family?” Murad asks, curiously. I give him a surprised look. I wonder what’s intrigued him suddenly.

“Well, actually, we already have one,” Renata replies. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a picture. It’s a little boy, perhaps six or seven, with ash-blond hair and dimpled cheeks. “This is Elijah, my step-son.”

“How precious,” Murad says. “Is he looking forward to having a sibling?”

“I think so,” Renata replies. She leans forward eagerly. I’ve never seen her so excited to talk about anything other than work. “I found a children’s book about becoming a older brother, that Lily and I have been reading to him before bed…”

I tune out her words. I don’t have much experience with children.

In fact, I’m absolutely shocked that Renata has chosen to start a family with her human lover.

It’s strange for vampires to have significant relationships with breathers.

And the idea of starting a family with one… well, it’s almost outrageous.

But Murad certainly appears intrigued by the concept. He asks Renata a series of questions: how they chose a sperm donor, how she makes sure she can spend time with Eli at night.

Damien finishes off his glass and looks to the smartwatch on his wrist. “Well, look at that,” he says. “I should be getting to my crypt. Good morning, everyone.”

“I’ll take my leave, as well,” I echo, feeling strangely pensive as I rise from my seat. “Murad?”

“I may stay a while longer,” he says, clearly still invested in his conversation with Renata. She looks like she wants to continue, so we all say our goodbyes.

Celine and Damien take a separate elevator down to their crypts, and I find myself alone. It’s very late a night, almost the morning now.

It strikes me as odd, that Murad was so interested in Renata starting a family. He’s easily curious. Where I tend to focus on what’s worked in the past, he’s always been interested in new innovations.

But it seems like it could have been more than that.

I think of how close Murad has been with Eloise in recent months.

I know that he’s cared for her for some time, but didn’t want to make their relationship known when Xavian was around.

I can’t blame him. Loving a vulnerable human is an easily exploitable weakness for a vampire.

If Murad had ever had a disagreement with Xavian, I wouldn’t have put it past my Creator to threaten her to keep Murad in line, or to hurt her as revenge if Murad ever disobeyed him.

I suppose it’s different now. There’s nothing stopping Murad from having a relationship with Eloise like Renata has with Lily. Although it’s difficult to imagine a baby at the Midnight Mansion.

As soon as I think of it, my thoughts turn to Paige. I wonder if she likes children. If she ever planned to start a family of her own. I suppose she might have. It’s possible she still does.

But obviously, I could never fulfill that for her. I’m part of a very different fantasy for the breathers I drink from. One that doesn’t involve diapers or bottles or whatever else babies require.

There’s a little tug of guilt in my stomach. What if Paige does want children? What if she wants to get married, wants a life with someone that goes beyond sex, blood-sharing, and midnight dinners?

Is that something she’s sacrificing, to be with me?

I’ve never asked her about her hopes and dreams. She once mentioned she wanted to become a nurse. I’m sure she’d be an incredible one. I’m sure she would be a wonderful mother.

It strikes me as a terrible thing, to take those hopes and dreams away from her.

And another terrible idea strikes me. The thought that, perhaps like Renata and Lily, her and I might have a family. That she could go to nursing school if she chose, still.

Instinctively, I push those thoughts away. I’ve never allowed myself to indulge in such daydreaming. It’s much too dangerous.

But to my surprise, a warm feeling lingers in my chest. There’s no Xavian to stop us. Especially here, surrounded by our allies.

Paige felt so perfect, nestled in my arms as I rested in my coffin. I’ve never done that with a living human before. Had never imagined doing something like that. But it felt so natural.

Could I give her more? Could we be more?

I’m so distracted that I barely notice Kai when I get off the elevator. They’re coming down the hallway, all alone.

“Good morning, Kai,” I mutter, still engrossed in my thoughts.

But they don’t reply. Instead, they stumble forward, and catch me by the front of my button-up shirt. I quickly grab their arms and hold them up, concerned. It’s unusual for a vampire to stumble. Then Kai looks up at me, and my unbeating heart leaps into my throat.

Their eyes are completely white, wide and unseeing. They clutch me with sharp fingers, and the scent of salt wafts off of their skin.

“Kai?” I gasp. “What’s going on?”

They open their mouth, wide and gaping. When they speak, it’s with a voice I don’t recognize. It’s a hollow, rasping voice, like the sound of a shovel digging into fresh earth. Their lips move in an unnatural, exaggerated twist as the words tumble out of them.

“Night turns to day, and dust to ground…”

I stare at them, frozen in horrified shock. We’re all alone in the hallway.

“As morning wakes, the truth is found,

The dream is dashed, all hope is bound…”

Dread washes over me as I realize what’s happening, and I try to pull away from them. But Kai clutches me tightly, their fingernails digging through the fabric of my shirt and piercing my skin.

“Kai, snap out of it!” I hiss, but it’s to no avail. It’s clear that whoever - whatever - is speaking, it’s not my progeny. It’s just using them as a vessel.

“An empty throne, a path to tread,

“A new day put your fears to bed,

“But in the light…blood turns to red.”

I shake my head fiercely. “No, stop…”

“You can’t escape, the story’s told,

“Fate is deep, and fortune’s old,

“The die’s been cast, your soul was sold.

“The end is nigh, your loss is clear,

“You can’t save her, as you fear,

“Her last breath is drawing near.

“Roslyn Night, it’s Paige you love,

“Kind as a whisper, soft as a dove,

“A rose sweet, sweet like blood.”

Their words wrap around me like an icy chill, penetrating my skin and piercing my heart like a stake. Before I can say anything, Kai’s body jolts, and then goes limp in my arms.

“Kai!” I shout, holding them up, shaking them. “Kai, talk to me!”

The vampire’s eyes blink open. They’re back to their usual colour, thank god.

“Cri-Crimson?” they stutter, pulling themselves up to their feet. “I’m sorry, I…something made me stumble…”

“Kai,” I say, forcefully. I can feel the red flash in my eyes, see the concern in my progeny’s face. “Do you remember what you just said to me?”

“What I…just said?” they ask, their fangs elongating in fear. “I didn’t say anything, I just saw you come off the elevator…”

I hiss angrily as I let them go. It’s as I feared. “Does your merman have prophetic abilities?”

“Yes, fortune-telling runs in his family,” they answer. Then their eyes widen. “Wait…did I…?”

“Yes. Have you had an episode before?”

They shake their head, looking completely awestruck. “No, I mean…I didn’t even realize those sorts of abilities could be transmitted by blood. I thought maybe I’d get better at swimming, not tell the future! What did I say?”

“It’s not important,” I snap. “And I’d appreciate if you didn’t mention it to anyone.”

They frown. “Crimson, was it…was it about the prophecy about Paige?”

“Who says the prophecy is about Paige?” I ask, unable to contain my fury. The wall sconces flicker, the elevator light shining bright red.

Kai swallows anxiously. “I’m sorry, Crimson! You know how vampires talk. It’s just…you’ve been spending so much time with her, and it seems like you really like each other…everyone just figured…”

I bear down on them, my voice deep and serious. “How dare you discuss such a thing, behind my back?”

“I’m sure it’s not true,” Kai says, wringing their hands. But their voice falters. It’s clear they’re just trying to appease me. “Just because some witches said it, it doesn’t mean…”

“Go to your coffin,” I snarl. “And be grateful I don’t lock you in it, for your insubordination.”

“Yes, my king!” they reply quickly. With one last, fearful glance, they scurry down the hallway toward their suite.

Outside, the dawn approaches, and it tugs me downward. Or perhaps that’s just the weight of Kai’s words settling on me.

How stupid of me, to become so complacent? To think that I could just forget the destiny that’s been foretold. To think that I could be like Renata, or like Murad.

I traded my soul for power. My heart for a cold throne.

And because I love her, now she’s going to…

“Crimson?” whispers a gentle voice. A heart-shaped face peers out from an open door.

The door to our suite.

My gaze snaps toward her. “What?” I demand.

She winces, but doesn’t scurry away like Kai did. Instead, she wanders out into the hall. She’s wearing a lacey nightdress that flows around her hips and thighs.

“Are you all right, sir?” she asks. “I heard shouting…”

“It doesn’t concern you,” I reply. “Go back to bed.”

Her head tilts slightly, a frown across her beautiful features.

How painfully, wonderfully beautiful she is.

“I can stay up with you, until you drift off,” she says. “In your coffin…”

“No,” I reply, sharply. “That was a mistake, and it won’t happen again. And I will not repeat myself. Go to bed.”

“Fine,” she whispers, pulling the arms of her nightdress around her tightly. “But I don’t like it when you speak to me that way.”

“Understood,” I answer, crossing my arms over my chest. She gives me a final look, full of sadness and disappointment. It pulls me, worsening my mood even further. But there’s nothing else that I can offer her in this moment.

She turns around and goes back into our crypt, leaving me alone in the hallway.

I’m enveloped by a deep, penetrating heaviness, greater than just the oncoming day.

You’re going to lose her, I can’t help thinking. You’re going to lose her no matter what you do…

No, I counter, hard resolve solidifying in my chest. I’m the Crimson Stake. I’m the King of the Night. I didn’t sacrifice my own soul to sit on a hard throne all alone.

She won’t die…

Even if I have to freeze my own heart to do it.