Page 7 of Blood as Sweet as Roses

“And what a wonderful little morsel you are,” she purrs, her eyes traveling over my body. “Would you be willing to do us a favour, pretty one?”

A shiver crawls up my spine. But I know that this isn’t the time to cower. I might not understand what they’re up to, but I know that it’s something I want no part in. I’ve gotten myself in way too deep already.

“Please,” I whimper, desperately. “I just want to go home. I won’t tell anyone anything, I swear on my mother’s grave…”

“What use do we have for dead mothers?” mutters the first vampire, rolling his eyes. “Let’s drain her, Sabina.”

“Patience, Waylan,” hums the second vampire. She looks me over again, her stare like a blaze of frost.

If they’re going to kill me, I want them to get it over with.

“How about this,” Sabina says, addressing me. “Why don’t you help us out for…twenty thousand dollars? You do us a favour, we send you the money, and you go back to your little human life.”

My jaw drops. Twenty thousand dollars? That would be enough to pay for both Miles’s treatment and to start my nursing school fund again.

“That seems like a yes,” Sabina says, with a wide smirk. Her long fingers take the vial of clear liquid and uncork it in one smooth motion.

In the blink of an eye, she’s suddenly crouched over me. Instinctively, I try to scramble away, but she grabs me by my dress, dripping the concoction over my neck. I shudder as she rubs the cold liquid over my skin. It tingles unpleasantly.

“Make sure she drinks from your neck,” Sabina instructs, tucking the empty vial back into her pocket.

She takes my hand and pulls me to my feet.

My legs feel like jelly, but with effort, I manage to stand.

“And don’t stop her. If you feel her bite start to ease, that means it’s working.

But it may take some time. Do you understand? ”

“I…I understand,” I reply, weakly.

Sabina turns to the other vampire. “I’ll be nearby.”

He nods, then he grips me firmly by the arm and drags me out of the room and into the office opposite, the one that says “Xavian Night” on the door.

It’s even larger than the office we were just in, and full of expensive-looking, ebony furniture.

There’s an ornate-looking wooden desk and a wide, leather couch.

The only light comes from a dim wall sconce.

I deeply regret not coming directly here. Now I’ve entangled myself in some devious vampire plot. The potion on my throat feels sticky and cold.

But…if I could earn that money…that would completely change my life. My brother’s life. I don’t feel good about it, but everything is happening so quickly, and I don’t know if I could refuse even if I wanted to.

The office door swings open suddenly, and the vampire from before enters. She must be Roslyn Night, although the other vampires also called her Crimson. Her grey eyes immediately find Waylan, and she regards him disdainfully.

“You let yourself into my office,” she snarls.

“Xavian’s office,” he shoots back.

She hisses at him. Instinctively, I recoil backwards, against a heavy bookshelf in the corner of the office.

“I am the King of the Night clan,” she declares. “Everything that was Xavian’s now belongs to me. The sooner you accept that, the safer you will be, Waylan.”

“I’m not afraid of you, Crimson,” he replies, eyes flashing. “You seem to forget that there’s no large difference between us in age or strength…”

Crimson barks out a sharp, condescending note of laughter. “If you think that, Waylan, then your grave is already dug. You’ll never best me, and you know it.”

“You’re cocky,” Waylan growls. “Arrogant, and overconfident. You think that…”

“I know that I’m more powerful than you are,” Crimson says, with a flicker of amusement in her eyes. The other vampire tries to speak, but she cuts him off. “And I’m sick of listening to your whining.”

Suddenly, her eyes flicker toward me. It’s like a bolt of lightning, striking fear into my heart.

“I’ve got better things to occupy my night. Now, get out of my office.”

Waylan snarls, but he gives me a pointed look out of the corner of his eye. Goosebumps prickle my skin at the thought of being alone with Crimson. Of what she’ll want from me. Of what I’ve agreed to do.

“As you wish,” Waylan mutters angrily, as he crosses to the door. “But you haven’t heard the last of me, Roslyn Night.”

He spits out the last word, and slams the door loudly behind him.

Now it’s only the two of us. Crimson paces to a cabinet behind the desk and takes out a crystal decanter filled with dark red liquid, and a glass.

I assume it’s wine, and wonder if she’s offering me a drink.

But then she pours it. The liquid is much thicker than any wine I’ve ever seen, and it leaves behind a deep, ruby stain.

She takes a thoughtful sip, and I realize with horror that it’s a cup of blood.

“What a fucking asshole,” she mutters. Then she turns to me, raising an eyebrow. “Do you have any brothers?”

My mouth is dry, and I fight against the sickening twist in my stomach. “Um…just one…”

“Older, or younger?”

“Y-younger.”

“Does he ever plot to overthrow you and steal your throne?” she asks, her lip twitching.

I stare at her, completely tongue-tied.

She gives me a grin, and takes another gulp of the liquid in her wineglass. “No, I suppose he probably doesn’t. Good for you.”

With a sigh, she finishes off her glass, and puts it on the desk at the center of the office.

She crosses to the back of the office and sits on the leather couch, leaning back comfortably against the supple fabric. Her gaze finds me again.

“Come here,” she commands.

My legs shaking, I join her. I keep a foot of distance between us, not sure what to do.

She holds out her hand. “Let’s see.”

I furrow my brow, confused as to what she’s asking. But then her eyes flicker to my wrist, the one that I cut earlier. It already seems so long ago.

My heart races as I offer her my arm. Her touch is chilly, and gives me goosebumps. There’s a thin line across my skin where the cut was, but there’s no scab. It looks like the wound is several weeks old already.

“It’s healed well,” she says, with a satisfied expression. “You shouldn’t have a scar.”

“T-thank you,” I manage. “I…I didn’t know that vampires could do that.”

“Older vampires can acquire different magical skills,” she explains.

She places my arm in my lap, and leans back against the leather couch again.

Her eyes are no longer tinged with crimson, and her fangs are back in place with her other teeth, although I can still see how sharp they are.

She regards me thoughtfully. “I haven’t seen you before. Are you new?”

“I just started tonight.”

“Have you ever been bitten by a vampire before?”

I shake my head.

She gives me a devious look. “I’m glad I found you first.”

To my surprise, there’s a warm flutter in my stomach at her words. I clasp my hands anxiously in my lap. “I…I thought maybe you were going to fire me…”

Her head cocks to one side. “Fire you? Why?”

“Because…you sent me to your office…” I reply, my voice thin. Suddenly, I feel very silly, but I can’t stop talking. “I thought maybe you didn’t like my blood. When you tasted it earlier.”

A slow, mirthful smirk appears across her face. There’s something about her mouth, about the elegant curve of her lips. The way she speaks, the way she grins. I can’t take my eyes from her. Are all vampires like this? Is she enchanting me, somehow?

“I enjoyed your blood,” she replies, silkily. “You have nothing to worry about. I called you to my office to sample you again, in private, if you desire.”

The words “private” and “desire” float around in my head, making me feel gooey and warm.

She leans forward, her grey eyes locked on mine. “I can make it feel pleasurable for you, if you wish. Another skill that I possess…”

I’m caught in the net of her gaze, unable to break free. Is that what Eloise meant, when she said that it could feel good? Nervously, I tuck my hair behind my ear, trying to ignore the heat that’s suddenly spreading through my core. I find myself leaning toward her, shifting myself closer…

What’s happening to me?

Her fangs begin to elongate slightly, and the ache intensifies. There’s something strangely…satisfying…at the thought of submitting myself to her…

“Would you like that?” she whispers, her voice low and husky.

My voice is so quiet I don’t know if I speak the words at all. “I think…I would…”

Her eyes meet mine, and I can feel a tug. My body starts to tingle, as though I’m melting…

Then I remember what I came here to do.

“Wait!” I gasp, pushing myself away from her.

She frowns, and the tingling sensation stops. “Would you like to stop?”

“No…” I bite my lip, nervously. The potion feels sticky and cold on my neck, and there’s a horrible twist of guilt in my stomach. I don’t know how to tell her this, but I also know that I can’t let her bite my neck. She would consume whatever the other vampires put on me, and it would weaken her.

I can’t do it. Not even for twenty thousand dollars. It’s not right.

With a deep breath, I come clean. “That…that other vampire who was here before…”

“Waylan?” Her eyes narrow. “What did he say to you?”

I struggle to stay composed under the force of her stare. “He…him and another vampire put something on my neck. Some sort of…potion, I think. They said it was made by a witch.”

Her nostrils flare, and she bends her head toward me, sniffing my throat. The proximity of her mouth to my neck makes me quiver.

“That bastard…” she says, her eyes flashing red. She seems to understand what’s happening without me having to explain further. Then she trains her gaze back upon me, a powerful ferocity in her eyes. Her pointed canines begin to crest over her bottom lip.

Fearfully, I scramble against the other side of the leather couch, as far as I can get from her lethal fangs.

“You were involved in their scheme?” she hisses.

“No! No, they offered me money, but I couldn’t do it,” I sob, shaking my head desperately. “Please don’t hurt me, I didn’t want any part of it!”

She sighs angrily, giving me a suspicious look. “Who was the other vampire? Wait…was it Sabina?”

“Y-yes.”

Her anger is palpable, chilling the room like a dense fog. She leans in closer to me. “Did either of them touch you? Hurt you in any way?”

The breath catches in my throat. There’s something startling in her tone. Something possessive. It’s strangely gut-wrenching, although I don’t understand why she’s asking, or why she would care about me.

I shake my head.

“Good,” she growls, her voice so low I almost don’t hear it. “Then I won’t stake them. At least not yet.”

I wipe the hot tears from my cheeks.

What’s going to happen to me when the other vampires find out I betrayed them?

What’s she going to do to them?