Blood Rose (Blood Books Book 1) (12 page)

I hoped my many emotions didn’t dance across my face. I knew of the vampires’ distrust and hatred for me; I had never expected one—especially Jasik’s brother—to acknowledge that there was something there, something between us. Something that could make Malik look past my Pagan ancestry and accept me. Jasik was all Malik had. I thought about my family and how I would do anything for them: fight, kill, die. Yet they did not grant the same allegiance to me. Malik’s devotion to his brother was clear. I knew
admitting his brother’s feelings for me hurt him. And I knew, given the chance, Malik would have stolen the life Jasik bestowed upon me. And although every fiber of my being told me to fear him, to protect
my
life, I couldn’t. My feelings for Jasik forced me to have feelings for Malik, too.

“My gift grants me the ability to see any future that affects my own, Avah. I want you to understand that,” he said.

“I do,” I said, confused.

“My brother’s future affects mine, and your future affects his. Do you understand?”

I didn’t speak. I didn’t know what he wanted me to say.

He faced me, eyes hard. “Your obsession with the Rogues who tore your humanity away will be your demise. But more importantly, it will be Jasik’s, too. His love for you has blinded him. He will stop at nothing to protect you, and that will leave him vulnerable. Do what you need to do to let it go. Move on. End your obsession. For Jasik.”

He turned and walked away before I could speak. His long legs had effortlessly taken him to the middle of the room by the time I was able to process his warning. I fully understood his meaning: if I continued on this path, I would die—and I’d bring Jasik with me. Every fiber of my being was screaming, but I couldn’t let it go. I had come too far to simply walk away from the fight now.

“But they’re not worth it,” I whispered to myself.

From across the room, I watched Malik pause, turn his head, and then straighten his stance before stopping where Jeremiah was wooing a group of girls.

I returned my gaze to the dance floor, watching as Jasik dropped Lillie’s arms as the song ended. She begged for another dance. I didn’t need super hearing to know that. Anyone would’ve guessed after watching her run her hands up and down his back as he tried to walk away, turning to pout when she realized he wasn’t complying.

“Would you care to join me outside?” Jasik asked when he reached my side.

The air was cool on my cheeks, the wind misty; I licked the clustered water droplets forming on my lips and brushed my hands against my arms as if to fight back the cold. It was a habit I had yet to control. I dropped my arms, embarrassed.

I would never be good at being a vampire.

Jasik stepped ahead of me and stared at the moon. It shined brightly, illuminating patches of the ground. Shadows still hid the secrets of this house: the headstones for fallen members of the coven, gargoyles sworn to protect the manor, fountains and statues and runes—runes hidden under the mossy pathway, behind the stone walls, within the statues.

“There’s a full moon tonight,” he said, still staring at the sky. “We’d better stay within the gates,” he added with a grin.

I smiled at his attempted humor and leaned against him. Resting my head against his chest, I closed my eyes and listened to the creatures of the night. I focused on them, on their heartbeats and fluttering wings. I focused on the way it sounded when they slithered. It was beautiful.

I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when Jasik asked if I was ready to rejoin the party.

“Yeah, I’m ready,” I said.

He closed the French doors as we entered the ballroom again. Vampires smiled at me as I walked past, and I found myself returning the gesture.

“Oh my goddess! I love your dress,” a girl said. She smiled, her fangs hanging ever so slightly lower than a human’s. Her blonde hair, white with age, was tied back into a tight bun. Her skin wrinkled in the corners of her eyes as she widened her smile.

“Thank you,” I said, instinctively running my hands over the smooth edges of the gown. I glanced up, meeting Jasik’s eyes. They smiled at me, and I blushed.

“You look beautiful. Your dress is gorgeous,” I said. Her white gown sparkled as she swayed from side to side. Her dark brown eyes looked bleak against her silver mask.

“Thank you, Avah.” My heart sunk as she said my name. I knew my status in the house wasn’t unfamiliar to the guests, but it didn’t change the way I felt when someone I had yet to meet knew who I was. “I was hoping I would have the opportunity to speak with you tonight. Your transition was quite intriguing. Never has a vampire of such authority blatantly disobeyed our laws,” she said, her eyes lingering on Jasik. “By the way, this is a great ball, Jasik. As always.”

“Thank you,” he said firmly. “Milady has outdone herself once again.”

“Seems she has,” the woman said.

Someone pounded on the door—once, twice, thrice—and the room silenced. Malik was beside Jasik faster than I could turn to face them. No one spoke. Instead, the Hunters sprang into action. Jeremiah’s shield enveloped the house in a protective layer unwanted visitors couldn’t break through. The few Hunters who accompanied their coven’s vampires scurried to protect their priestesses.

Jasik grabbed my hand, and I followed the Hunters into the hallway that led to the front door. The knocking came again. I turned to Lillie, who stood beside me, her eyes glossy as she read the visitors’ minds.

“They—they want to talk,” she said, confusion filling her voice. “About Avah.” She looked at me.

Jasik squeezed my hand, and my eyes met his.

“I need you to be prepared to fight,” he said. “It will come to that, understand?”

I nodded.

“I won’t be able to protect this coven… and you.”

His words escaped his lips in a hushed tone. I knew it hurt him to say that he couldn’t be there for me if I needed him.

“I don’t need you to protect me,” I said, pulling my hand from his grip. “I’m ready for this.”

He paused momentarily, watching me, his eyes hard, distant. He then faced the door and nodded to Malik.

I held my breath as it creaked open. The Rogues stood before us. There were at least a few dozen. My breath caught as I assessed the threat level just as I had while patrolling the woods that lined our property in Shasta.

The leader stood in front, just feet away from the shielded border. He smiled when he saw me. His eyes trailed down my frame as he looked at me. He licked his lips, his blood-red irises shining brightly.

“I’ve waited centuries for you,” he said, meeting my eyes. Jasik tensed beside me. “You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.”

“You’re not welcomed here,” Jasik said. “Leave now.”

The Rogue vampires before us laughed at his leave-or-die scenario. We were severely outnumbered, and they knew it. Jeremiah’s shield was all that stood between these fiends and the royalty attending our ball. I was sure they knew that, too. The protection of the priestesses here befell the Hunters of this house.

I knew Jeremiah would not be able to leave the house. The vampires inside were too important. His shield must stand. If he left the safety of his shield, he’d be put in unnecessary danger. The Rogues knew that.

That left four Hunters able to fight. We wouldn’t survive.

“You must forgive my rather vulgar attempts to retrieve you, but when we discovered another prophetic witch was so close, we had to move quickly. Certainly, you understand.”

My memories came crashing back in waves. The Rogues before me were undeniably familiar. We’d met before—on the night of my birth rite. Anger boiled in the pit of my gut. I began to shake in frustration as I clenched my fists.

Malik cleared his throat, breaking my concentration. I met his eyes, and he slowly shook his head. My eyes slowly trailed back to the Rogue before me.

“I have an offer for you. You for their lives.”

“Never,” Jasik interrupted.

The Rogue smiled. “Very well.” He drew his arm back and slammed his fist against the shield. Jeremiah fell to the ground.

“Jeremiah!” Lillie yelled, falling to his aid. She ripped his mask off and cupped his face between her palms.

“I’m—I’m okay. Wind knocked out of me. That’s all.”

When the vampire struck again, a few more joined him. Jeremiah cried out in pain as they slammed their fists against our shield. I could hear the partygoers begging to be spared. Where we stood, we were powerless. We had but only a few options: let me leave with them, risk a fight, or wait to die.

In a daze, I looked from the vampires to Jasik and from Jasik to where Jeremiah lay, thrashing in pain as the Rogue forced all of Jeremiah’s strength into maintaining his shield. I knew it was only a matter of time before it fell.

I realized then that this coven needed me, but more importantly, I needed them. All of them. I needed the Hunters and their vast array of knowledge. I needed Amicia and her constant pushing, forcing me to see my worth. I needed Jasik, and he needed me.

In this moment, this vulnerable moment, as Jasik looked at me, his eyes begged for an answer. His coven would fall. Everything Jasik had fought for was being taken away before his eyes. The Rogues laughed as Jeremiah’s shield shook under their immense strength. But in that moment, as he stared back at me, I knew what I needed to do.

When I became a vampire, he told me to accept what I was, and I stubbornly ignored him. But as the vampires that took me in would soon fall before me, I knew it was time to accept the truth: I was a vampire. The one thing I hated most in my human life. But I wasn’t human anymore. I had to release my grasp on mortality and welcome my immortality.

I raised my right hand and shouted, “
Terra
!” The ground grumbled beneath our feet as I called upon earth. I maintained my vice-like grip and raised my left arm, shouting, “
Incendia
!” The vampires combusted before us. The leader was engulfed in flames. I pulled at the immortal power within me, tugging it until it wrapped me in a warm blanket. Power radiated off me. It pulsed within. I shouted my Latin incantations again, strengthening the fire on the Rogues. Those who stood in the distance ran, leaving those in the front to perish. The leader, now on his knees and leaning against the shield, met my gaze. I blinked, and he was gone, vanished into the darkness, but I knew, in time, he’d be back for me. He was strong, like the Rogue I’d fought in the woods. The flames I cast would only hurt him, not kill him.

I released the elements and fell to my knees. I rested my hands atop Jeremiah’s chest. His breathing was heavy, labored. He was slipping away. I spoke under my breath, whispering as I called upon the elements one final time.

“
Terra. Air. Ignis. Aqua. Spiritus. Sanabit. Sanabit. Sanabit!”

The Power flowed through me, using my shell as a vessel, and entered Jeremiah. As it passed, it refueled his strength, and within seconds, his eyelids fluttered open. I smiled as I pulled him to me, wrapping my arms around his strong frame.

“I thought you were a goner,” I said in a chuckle.

“Me too,” he replied.

I sat back and placed a kiss on his forehead. He smiled, and I wiped away the lipstick I’d left behind. I ignored the vampires who stared in disbelief. Instead, I scanned the room for Amicia, who stood on the stairs, surrounded by her personal guards. She smiled at me and nodded. I thought back to our conversation earlier today. She was right. Everyone would be watching, and now, no one would question where my loyalties lay.

“The Rogues will
return,” I said, pacing Amicia’s office as the other Hunters stood with arms crossed. Amicia said nothing as she tapped her nails against the top of her desk. “We need help.”

“They
won’t
help us, Avah. You know this,” Jasik said.

“I have to try. If not, then what? What will we do? Wait for them to return? Try to fight? Jeremiah almost died!”

“But I didn’t die. We can just harvest your witchy power or something, right? We can figure out a plan without your old coven’s help,” Jeremiah said.

“We can’t harvest The Power. It doesn’t work that way. I could fight a few at a time, but an army? I would need to fully embrace it. Tapping into that much of The Power would consume me. We need answers. I know the elders have information,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “There has to be something in the prophecies that we can use.”

“She’s right,” Amicia said. She raised a hand as Jasik began to speak. “Enough. This is not a discussion. I’m sending Avah to Shasta. The witches will give her guidance, and she’ll return before sunrise the same eve. The Hunters will stay here to watch the manor.”

“Milady, please,” Jasik said.

“I have made my decision,” she said as she stood. “I will not discuss this further. She is going. You will stay here to protect this coven. Avah, you leave at sundown, and you will return by sunrise. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Milady.”

“No!” Jasik stopped pacing the room. “She’s not going, Amicia. We need to find a way to contact the witches without sending Avah to her death.”

“How
dare
you speak to me with such disrespect! Have you forgotten the price for such actions? Or are you simply blinded by this
ridiculous
love affair?” Amicia walked toward Jasik. Anger practically beamed from her.

“Wait!” I said, stepping between them, putting my arms up in surrender. “There
is
a way for me to contact my mother. We’re both spirit users. We’ve both perfected our ability to astral project. I can go to her
tonight
without ever leaving your side,” I said, turning toward Jasik.

I decided to not mention that astral projection would only work if my mother was willing. She was much more advanced and had the ability to block her mind from others. I knew mentioning that fact would force me on the road—and I wasn’t prepared for the price Jasik’s anger would cause him to pay.

“You can do this tonight?” Amicia asked.

“Yes. I can reach out to her mind while I sleep.”

“Then it is done. Everyone to your chambers. Tomorrow, we prepare for war—with, I hope, help from the witches.”

I left her office in a daze. The vampires of the house continued with their day. They had no idea. They didn’t know of the danger that lurked. Amicia had assured them that my power had eliminated the threat. But in reality, I had only killed a few. Those who didn’t perish ran.

I reached my door, closing it behind me and peeling off my clothes. I turned on the shower and sat on the cold ground as the hot water cascaded over me. The steam rose, fogging the glass enclosure. I brought my legs up, covering my chest, and rested my head on my knees.

I thought about the fight to come and the likely event we’d die, I’d be taken, or The Power would consume me. I shuddered at the thought.

“Stop being so negative,” I whispered, pulling my legs closer to me.

The door to the shower opened. Jasik stood before me with a look of defeat. He couldn’t stop me from projecting to the witches—or traveling on foot if needed. He couldn’t change how important I was to this coven. As much as he wanted to protect me, he couldn’t. The toll weighed heavily on him even as he watched me.

“I’ll be okay,” I said, rubbing my arms up and down my legs. “We’ll be okay.”

“I just,” he said, looking at the ground, “I couldn’t bear it if anything were to happen to you. You’ve become part of me. I wouldn’t survive it if they got to you before you made it to me.” His tone was vulnerable, shaken.

“Jasik—”

He shook his head, silencing me. “Rest well tonight. You will need your strength for tomorrow.” He turned to leave.

“Jasik, wait,” I said, and he turned back to me.

I couldn’t help stopping him. I couldn’t stop what I’d subconsciously decided to do.

I stood. His eyes lingered on my nude body as I walked toward him. I scrunched his short hair beneath my fingers and pulled him down to meet my lips. He kissed me back with a ferocity I hadn’t expected. He pushed me into the shower until I leaned against the wall. My fingers tore at his clothes, now wet from the shower, until we both stood nude. I jumped into his arms, my legs wrapping around his torso, and dug my fingers against his skin as he kissed my neck.

“Drink,” I whispered, and he pulled back. I needed to feel that erotic bliss again.

“Soon, my love.” He planted a trail of kisses down the length of my collar bone before his lips found mine again. “Tonight, there is no war. There is only you; there is only me.”

He grabbed my thighs and slowly slid himself into me. I moaned as he filled my body. He pumped faster, harder, and I dug my nails into his back, a trail of crimson dripping down the muscular curves. The smell of his blood and the intense pleasure of him inside me were almost too much.

He groaned as my nails broke skin, and in retaliation, he brought his lips to my neck and slowly lowered his fangs until they pierced my skin. He sucked long, hard, as he pumped faster.

I was acutely aware of the rough feeling of him rubbing inside of me, of his lips on my neck, of his tongue rubbing against the puncture marks to keep the wound open, of the force behind each suckle, of the water splashing against us, and of the growing sensation within me—one that would soon overpower my ability to hold it down.

I moaned as it overtook me and bit into Jasik’s neck. I felt his essence splash into me as we both drank from each other. He pulled away breathlessly.

We stood in the shower, holding each other as the water slid down the curves of our bodies.

My chest rose and fell in quick bursts as I allowed my sputtering heart to slow. I rested my head against him as he wrapped his arms around me, running his fingertips down my spine. I shivered.

I gazed up at him and wrapped my arms around his neck, and for a brief moment, I felt safe, at peace.

I closed my eyes and focused on my mother, on her essence. I fought to ignore the overwhelming sensation to reach for Jasik, who lay nude beside me, with only a thin sheet separating him from me. I shivered at the thought of having him touch me again.

I exhaled deeply, focusing.

Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.

My breathing became heavier. Slowly, it became nonexistent. I let go of the human tendencies, the instinctual habits, as my astral self left its binding shell. Soon, I was hovering over my old house, terrified to enter.

Instead, I opted for the front door. We needed their help, and I couldn’t afford to burn bridges.

I floated to the ground, looking around at the outside world. I could see nothing beyond the fog. My legs were heavy as I walked to the door. Slowly, I balled my fist and knocked. I could only lift my arm three times before the weight of my limb overcame me, and it fell limp to my side.

I knew my mother was rejecting me. That was the only reason staying felt physically draining to an astral being. She didn’t want to answer my call, but I couldn’t afford to leave without her help.

“I know you can hear me. I know you know I’m here. Please, Mom. We need you. I need you.” My words were barely above a whisper. It hurt to speak.

My breathing slowed, my body weak. I knew I couldn’t hold on much longer without her.

“I won’t leave. Not without speaking to you,” I said.

The door creaked open. The silhouette of a person stood in the distance. Her back was to me. She was fiddling with a vase of white roses on the table. Even though I didn’t recognize her, couldn’t see her face, I knew it was my mother.

I took a step forward, attempting to enter the house, but I was stopped. With my hand before me, I touched the clear barrier that prevented me from entering my coven’s home. I tried to push against it, silently begging for entrance. It did not give way.

“Why can’t I enter?”

“Your kind is not welcome here,” she said. She didn’t turn toward me. She didn’t look up when she spoke. She simply arranged the flowers. As she moved each rose, petals fell from the buds, drying and turning to dust as they hit the floor.

I tried to push my way into the house. I clenched my fist, brought my arm back, and banged on the barrier. I knocked again, over and over. It took what little strength I had left to not fall, to not return to my shell.

Her head jerked up, and the vase of dead roses fell from her hands, crashing to the ground and shattering into pieces. I blinked, and she disappeared. I blinked again, and she reappeared before me.

“Stop!” she yelled. “Do you really think the power of one vampire can withstand the power of an entire coven? You cannot break our barriers. Now you must leave here!”

“We need your help. Rogues, they’re coming. They’re coming for me.”

“Avah, you know we can’t help you anymore. You need to figure this out on your own. Now please leave.” She paused briefly before adding, “And don’t come back.”

A single tear slid down her cheek, but she turned away. When she faced me again, the tear was gone—replaced by the cold, hard stare with which she had welcomed me.

“I won’t leave. Not until I can speak to the elders. I need to learn about The Power. I think it can help us.”

She laughed. It was abrupt, mean. She stopped herself quickly. “You can’t possibly believe that The Power is still within you. You died, Avah. The Power moves on to the next chosen one. You know the prophecy.”

“No, it doesn’t. I’ve used it. It’s still within me.” I tried to reassure her, but I was losing focus. If she didn’t accept my astral self soon, I’d lose my connection to her.

“That’s not possible…” she said, confused. She turned away from me, lost in her own thoughts.

“I’m still the same. Becoming a vampire didn’t damn my soul. There’s so much we didn’t know—”

“Avah, stop! I can’t help you. Not anymore. You must leave here.”

“Not until I speak with the elders. They must know something. Rogues are coming, Mom. Whether you like it or not.” I was angry, and I was sure it showed. I wouldn’t budge. I’d die before I’d leave without information. I was stubborn, but I was my mother’s daughter.

She sighed, and the barrier lifted. With her acceptance, I was rejuvenated. I felt life flow through me just as it had when I first left to meet her. I stood tall, strong. I inhaled deeply. The feeling of power within me washed over my insecurities, my fears. I smiled and stepped inside.

“You can’t come back here, Avah. They won’t let me help you. Things… things have changed since you’ve left. There are new people in power, and they won’t let me help you.” She ran her hand through my hair, tucking loose strands behind my ear.

“I don’t understand. Are you not the high priestess anymore?”