Roseblood

by Emily Shore

  “Calista.” He cherished her name as he unwound her arm from his neck, then urged her into a proper embrace. There was no denying Skip shared a deep bond with this sister ― the one directly below him, but how many years his junior I couldn't guess since she seemed older than her time.

  “You smell brighter, brother,” she noted, inhaling. “Richer than I’ve smelled in a long time.”

  When Calista turned around, I tried not to shrink in the wake of her beauty, by how she could put the white marble of the estate to shame. Much like Skip’s, her beauty belonged in a Grecian temple ― some priceless goddess statue a sculptor broke bones to complete and one men would shed blood to touch. Her hair was a mirror shade of Skip's, blue eyes more vivid than a cove, they were a lagoon,.

  “So, this is the infamous flesh bag who has bewitched my brother.” No bother to conceal her disdain as she circled me, eyes practically stripping me raw, however melodic her address.

  Other than her eyes, Calista was exactly like Skip, albeit without the masculine jaw, nose, and cheekbones.

  “Be nice,” Skip warned her as he strayed to my side, the center of his arm nudging my shoulder.

  “It's good to have you home, Stefan,” another voice like a sprinkling of stardust spoke from the second level before she smoothed her hand along the railing and wandered down the staircase.

  “Mother.” Skip abandoned me for a minute to greet her. She touched his shoulder before leaning down to kiss his cheek. It was clear Skip had inherited his beauty from her. I assumed the redhead took after her father.

  “My son speaks very highly of you,” Mrs. White dictated upon her approach.

  I resisted the urge to shift my weight in self-consciousness as she observed my confident black dress, off the shoulders, with lace sleeves and overlay and sweetheart neckline. Though I would never become an intoxicating beauty unlike so many supernaturals around me, I was not ashamed of my girl-next-door beauty. One thing I possessed that they could never have but something I knew they would always want: human blood. Now, I had all three bloods. In my eyes, it made me the most desirable. For better or worse, I owned that…sometimes a little too much as Skip had pointed out: my blood echoed my emotions.

  “You and my son share the same age, but you seem younger. My name is Julianna.” She covered up the first statement with an introduction and extended her hand.

  “Reina Elizabeth Caraway,” I accepted her greeting but reflected her first words. “I'd wager any human seems young to a vampire, but my bloodline has roots.” I thought back to my father's analogy.

  “Yes, it certainly does. We have learned of your blood claim. Ours simply run a little deeper and bear royalty within them,” she commented, chin raised high.

  “Mother…” Skip’s voice cemented, eyes mimicking.

  Julianna softened beneath them. “You must forgive me, Reina. I never interact with humans and forget my manners. And I am proud of my daughter for filing her claim just last week.” Ahh…no wonder Calista detested me.

  I held up a hand. “I won't take offense. And thank you for having me. Your home is…” I licked my lips, searching for the right word, finally settling on one, “stupefying.”

  Julianna glanced at Skip before the trace of a smile crossed her lips. “Why don't we give you a tour?”

  We didn't eat brunch until an hour later. Even though I enjoyed the tour of all the exquisite rooms and learning enough about interior design to fill a semester's course, my real desire was to discover more about Skip’s family. During the tour, the girls trailed us, a possessive Calista lingering closer to Skip than anyone else while bruising me with brutal glares. At least brunch was calmer, though I swore flames pounced from Calista’s eyes when Skip chose to sit next to me and not her. And that was the other reason: jealousy. Not that I could fault her. Considering my budding abilities, I didn’t want to imagine my reaction to Heath’s first girlfriend. Thankfully, his standards were set so high, no girl had yet caught his eye.

  “Shaw commissioned the finest architects in Le Couvènte to build this house. Its construction took nearly five years to complete. I spend much of my time ensuring it’s maintained. I majored in interior design back in New York,” Julianna concluded the conversation about the tour over our brunch of chilled peach soup, lemon scones with clotted cream and raspberries, and fresh brioche with Brie. “What majors are you interested in pursuing after graduation, Reina?”

  Her question took me by surprise. I'd always known what I wanted to do with my life, but college was the smallest portion of it.

  “Communications or psychology. Maybe a double major.”

  “Both excellent and reputable aspirations. Skip’s desires take him along the creative path, and I'm certain his art could sell in galleries if he were willing to part with it.”

  “Someday,” countered Skip while raising his blood glass and eyeing me from the side with a hint of a grin. His entire family drank blood with every meal. It didn’t phase me. Not after all the times my family had everything from wine glasses to water bottles filled with blood.

  “What are your career goals?” pressed Juliana. “Any plans for those degrees?”

  Calista’s focus was not lost on me when I nodded, straightening in my chair to respond, “Yes. Psychology would be very useful as Le Couvènte’s monarch, wouldn’t it?”

  Calista's eyes turned to ice shards, ready to penetrate my rib cage, cracking bones, aiming for my heart. But the reflection of Skip's smile beyond the dark layer of glass was all the encouragement I needed.

  “So, you believe the prophecy, then.”

  “You might say that.” Skip and I both shared a hint of a smile.

  Calista was the next one to speak while swirling her spoon in the peach soup. “Not many of us believe the prophecy. It's really more of an urban legend cooked up by some ancient vampire with foresight. But foresight's never as reliable as it should be. It's why the current Queen can't even keep our borders safe.”

  “Calista, that is enough,” Julianna chided. “You'll have to excuse my daughter. Caroline Abbott was a fresh Queen when Shaw was attacked and killed. Calista believes she could have done more to prevent it, but no one could have predicted the wolves would break the treaty enacted by the former Queen and King, your parents. Today is the anniversary of my husband’s death.”

  I dropped my spoon, shifting my eyes to Skip. He steadied his gaze on me as if reminding me that he was taking his opportunity. He’d invited me into his home, the Whites had invited a human with a wolf mother into their home on their most tragic and private day. I allowed the gravity of that knowledge, heavy as an hourglass, to weigh on me as we finished brunch.

  “Rest assured, if I were to become Queen,” I announced, seeking each one’s eyes. “My priority would be bringing the murderers to justice.” I had to believe I could harness whatever creation power was necessary to weed out the evidence; it was a promise I could very well keep.

  “The Queen made us that promise years ago,” snarled Calista, stiffening.

  I deadpanned. “I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

  After brunch, Skip led me upstairs and to the bedroom that seemed large enough to be a master suite. Immediately, I fell in love with the hardwood floors draped by a comfortable black rug, the gray and white quilted bed, abstract glass sculptures, lofty beamed ceilings and finally, the unobstructed, arched-windowed wall with adjoining door that led to a terrace.

  “Skip, you have the ultimate dream bedroom,” I gushed, my hand hesitant to touch anything.

  “I'm quite fond of it, but I have to wonder what your room looks like now.” Skip made the indirect inquiry while wandering toward the glass sculptures.

  I shrugged, smoothing my daring fingers across the quilt. “Pale gray walls with purple border. Nautical bedspread, hardwood floors, textured purple rug, attached bathroom.”

  “Purple, hmm?”

  “Darker purple like my eyes. Amethyst.” I moved to the grand window.
/>   “Yes, your eyes were the first thing I noticed about you,” reflected Skip as he approached me again.

  “When was that?”

  “The first time you walked into Le Couvènte High.”

  “Yes, I was homeschooled before. But Heath spoke to my parents after I turned fifteen. Said it would be better for me to interact more in society, especially if the prophecy were to come true.”

  “Reasonable assumption. We both have siblings we are close to. It was quite a treat to witness you publicly scold him at the Chateau.” He reached my side and leaned against the window, forearm resting against the glass just above my head.

  “But you left that night.”

  “I was curious, so I stuck around to see what would happen. It was quite thrilling to see you contradict your brother. Just as it was thrilling the first night we trained.”

  “Oh, that.” I shrugged a little and tucked a curl behind my ear. “I'm not going to apologize for being confident, especially when you were being such an asshole.”

  Skip grinned. “I was at that.”

  When Skip curved his fingers toward my hair, I parted my lips but no breath came. It returned a little sooner than I expected since this time when he kissed me, it was sweeter, not as insistent as the last time. A mere rub of his lips across mine with his fingers fluttering, carousel-like, across my neck.

  Then, he pressed his thumb to my chin, light enough to tilt it upward before reminding me, “We should join the others by the pool.”

  It didn’t take me too long since I didn’t have a bathing suit. Just a quick restroom break, but on my way downstairs to the pool, I passed Skip’s room where the door was ajar. From here, I could hear lowered voices from the terrace. His and Calista’s. Hers was more insistent, urgent.

  “Prove it,” I overheard her say.

  I paused. Just one peek inside. In time to witness her injecting her fangs direct into his wrist. Biting another vampire was not forbidden just as silver blood was not. I shouldn’t judge, especially considering my own indulgences of Skip’s blood. But it was still an intimate experience. Perhaps not as unheard of between siblings?

  After she’d had her fill, a thin line of Skip’s blood trickled down Calista’s chin like a silver thread. Perhaps because they’d spent more time and distance from each other…As Skip had reflected, we both had siblings who were close to us. Except that Heath would never consume my blood. And I would never take his.

  As I made my way down the hallway and to the stairs for the pool, Beth caught up to me, joining me. “I've seen the way you look at my brother.” At first, I tensed, but Beth's next words whetted my curiosity. “Don't pay any attention to Calista. I've seen the way Skip looks at you, too. She'll come around. She just doesn’t like competition. But I love seeing her threatened for once.” She winked, settling me, depleting my tension.

  “So, you don't mind that I'm a human?”

  Beth shook her head, practically dancing off the last step. “No. You're good for him. When he started high school, Skip put up a good front, but that's when he moved out and restored his studio home. I visit him more than Calista, so I've seen what he paints. All his paintings used to be dark. And now…I'm sure you can't take credit for everything, but…” We reached the atrium doors leading out to the pool where she nodded to Skip, who noticed the two of us talking inside. “Something's happened this semester since he met you. He's not as tortured. Doesn't brood as much. And he comes here more. Like Dad’s death doesn’t haunt him as much. Besides…don't tell Calista or my mother, but…” she added and reached for the door handle, “…I believe in the prophecy too.”

  It shouldn’t matter what Calista or anyone thought, but it was encouraging to know one of Skip’s family members was my advocate. Beth’s words almost had me forgetting all about the experience between Skip and Calista.

  After a short time of watching the vampires frolic in the water, I excused myself to go to the bathroom, but somewhere along the way, I made a wrong turn and ended up trekking down a long hallway until I heard voices coming from an open door. This was the second time I didn't mean to eavesdrop and heard something dangerous.

  “Understandable, but this will help take the edge off. Even if you do mix it with animal blood. O Negative just as you requested.”

  “Thank you, Doctor,” I heard Julianna’s voice from inside.

  “No, thank you for your generous donation. Now, we can finally build the new children's cancer ward. Any time you need blood in the future, I’ll be more than happy to provide you with whatever type you require. I trust your escort will get me out of Le Couvènte the same way I came in?”

  “Yes. I shouldn't require your services again. This is a rare request for me, but given the circumstances…”

  “Indeed. I'm quite sorry for your loss. Good day, Ms. White.”

  At the risk of getting caught, I slipped into the room across the hall and hurried to shut the door, leaving it open just a slit to see the doctor exit the room. From that slit, I could see Julianna pour blood from an IV bag into a wine glass already half-filled with what I assumed was animal blood. Human blood was entirely illegal in Le Couvènte. Even mixing it with animal blood would be just beyond the boundary of unethical. Did Skip know about his mother's request? And now that I knew, did I risk reporting her behavior to the Council? Or would I confront her right then before it was too late? Julianna raised the glass to her lips to drink.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Conflict

  I watched Julianna sip at the wine glass. Conflict clawed at my heart: did mixing human blood break Le Couvènte’s laws? I wished I’d paid more attention in social studies. She wasn’t hunting. No humans targeted or harmed. She’d donated a fair sum to a children’s cancer ward. Plus, it was the tenth anniversary of her husband’s death with the stress of raising four children by herself. I had to believe a former monarch knew her limits. Finally, the Whites were one of the most respectable families in all Le Couvènte. I wanted to give them all the benefit of the doubt. Even Calista.

  I wavered too long. Julianna finished the last blood droplet and closed the door behind her. After hearing a shower running, I opened the door to the guest bedroom and tiptoed back down the hallway. Somehow, I finally managed to find the bathroom. Cupping my hands, I splashed some water on my face, hoping to rinse off the memory. It still stuck. Later, I would talk to Skip.

  An hour later, I huddled on the floor while the youngest, Sophie, toyed with my cinnamon curls.

  Calista, seated across from us in the generous white chair, set her book aside and narrowed her eyes. “So…Rin, right?” I nodded, and she continued, “What exactly is going on with you and my brother?”

  Skip practically snarled at his sister. “None of your business, Calista.”

  “I’d rather hear it from her if you don’t mind, Stefan.”

  Skip stood and stalked toward her. From here, I couldn’t see his eyes, but I heard the tension in his voice, enough to make Calista shift in her seat. “Let it go!”

  “Besides…” Beth interjected with a mock yawn. “I think it’s pretty obvious what’s going on.”

  “Shut up, Bethie,” Calista threatened, preying her eyes on the redhead.

  Beth stuck out her tongue. “I like her. She’s different. She makes him better.” I flushed pomegranate red from the comments. Even so, I didn’t want to get in the middle of a sibling squabble.

  Fortunately, Skip took the lead. “If we have something to share about our relationship, I will share it at the appropriate time.”

  “Well, you have my vote,” little Sophie informed us. “I want you to bring her back. She has prettier hair than Beth. There! I’m done! It didn’t want to behave, but I got it!”

  I peeked at myself in the mirror she produced. A few willful strands hung around my face, but the others were gathered into a twisted sort of bun, and she’d French-braided around the base. It did not look like the work of a seven-year-old.

  “Thank you,
Sophie,” I commended her and tucked a few strands of hair behind my ears before standing and directing my next words to Skip as Calista brooded with her book. “I can speak for myself by the way.” Then, I turned to face Calista, confident hands facing her. “I respect your brother and your family, so I’d rather not answer such a question so hastily when things are still developing. Like he said, if he has anything to share, he will share it when the time is right.”

  Impressed, Skip placed a hand on the small of my back, and I prepared to turn around, but Calista sprang up from her seat and looped her arm around mine before I could. Instinct caused me to lean away from her.

  Her silky voice purred in my ear. “I’m going to take you out sometime. I think we should get to know each other very well.”

  On the way home, it was time to address the elephant in the room.

  “You’re not the only one with opportunity.”

  The steering wheel leather whined from Skip’s tightening grip. His gaze locked on the road, but his hand on mine was still soft as goose-feathers. “Yes, I’ve known about his interest for quite some time.”

  “I wish I understood why you hate him.”