Roseblood

by Emily Shore

  “During the transition, I learned what Shaw was.”

  Skip curled his nose. “He was a vampire. Not a saint.”

  I traded glances at each of them, waiting for an explanation.

  “My mother offered up her blood for payment for our safe passage,” Raoul elaborated. I could only shrug, especially given the different era and location. It was decades before the Whites transitioned to Le Couvènte. It also made more sense why Skip’s mother had the struggles she did.

  “Unfortunately, my father pursued us,” Raoul’s words hooked my heart. “And my mother made another sacrifice.” I read between the lines.

  Skip remained silent after that part of the story. Even his countenance was more respectful since he understood what it was to lose a parent to murder. I hoped I would never understand that battle. Losing a friend was difficult enough.

  Raoul continued, “Shaw’s intentions were good when he bit me. He wanted to protect me. When a vampire bites someone for the first time, they drain almost all of you, but a singular bond is formed between vampire and maker. Human blood traded for silver blood.

  “Even though Shaw was a born vampire, he taught me how to control my power and use it when I only needed to or when it was justified. All the unrest following the Civil War along with the Great War was the best place for me to practice and for William him to teach me. We took many lives during our battles. I developed further and learned what power I possessed ― shape-shifting into any man, child, or woman.”

  “Now, I’d enjoy seeing the last,” cackled Skip, and once again, Raoul ignored him.

  I pondered for a moment. Most vampires had abilities, though some were more powerful than others such as Skip’s persuasion. Vampire abilities often stemmed from core personalities, destined from birth. Raoul’s ability was subtler, but he’d honed it over the course of more than a century, gifting him the level of a master. Now that he related some of his background, it formed a stronger bridge of trust between us. But there was still more.

  “For a time, I strayed from him,” Raoul interrupted my ponderings. “During those years, he married Julianna, uprooted himself from New York, and retreated to Le Couvènte. You’ve always believed that the night I rescued you was my first visit to Le Couvènte, but I was there years prior. I faded in and out of visits like a ghost, trying my best to entice my maker back to New York and resume his prior life.” He opened his hand, indicating, “I wanted him to join my coven as a leader. But Shaw had a new son, a real one, and three daughters to raise, and he wanted to raise them in Le Couvènte. I became an afterthought.”

  I could hear both cold remorse and the heat of guilt in his voice. “One night, I visited him again. Drunk and feeling betrayed. I had to drink five bottles of vodka to get that way, but I was in a state. Skip was still very young then. He's still very young.” Skip bared his fangs in a silent snarl, but Raoul ignored him. “His sisters were even younger, so I doubt they remember much. But there was no excuse for my actions. I was hotheaded. I lashed out at Shaw for condemning me to an exile of sorts. I ridiculed him for making me this way and leaving me to my own devices despite my years of rebellion and detachment. I attacked Skip even though he was no more than a child at the time. We fought until Shaw separated us. I left in anger.”

  Furious, Skip raised his voice. “And your action led to his death!”

  “Skip, calm down!” My order plagued me with another coughing fit, which disturbed the kitten now curled up at my feet. He managed to compose himself and nestled his head back into his fur while Skip also settled from my voice. In the back of my mind, I was aware of my instinct to rule ― an unbridled fierceness that coerced these commands.

  “Yes, I am ashamed to say that Skip is right,” Raoul said. “I didn’t intend for it to happen. Shaw had just finished his term as King, and his glorifying achievement was the renewal of the peace treaty your parents originally formed. But over the next few weeks, a small war erupted between the wolves and the vampires when the wolves crossed into vampire territory and hunted on their land as well as stole blood stores from the clans to weaken them. I was one of the few bitten vampires in Le Couvènte and not a permanent resident. And due to my unique ability, Shaw knew I could be a useful mediator for the uprising. He also wished to make peace with me, but I wallowed in self-pity and refused to answer his phone calls.”

  Raoul paused, his eyes darkening. Guilt tangled all around him like a network of cobwebs strangling, suffocating. I could hear the strain in his voice.

  “On one night, he decided to visit me in person. I was in a safe house at the time, so he had to pass through wolf lands, but he believed the risk was low since he was no longer a ruling monarch. But he was attacked close to my home. And I was too late to offer any aid. The most I could do was allow his family to have his dying breath.”

  I returned to the memory I read from Skip the previous night. How he was the only one at the estate to receive Shaw. His mother and sisters were at a neighbor’s ball. I remembered Skip’s helplessness when he tried to stem the blood that formed a silver pool below him. How he’d memorized the gashes, punctures, and other wounds the wolves had wrought. How his animosity towards them and Raoul was more than understandable. And yet, he’d chosen to save my mother in a heartbeat. No hesitation whatsoever.

  “I tracked the wolves away from Le Couvènte lands, slaughtered the ones I could, and left,” Raoul explained, his eyes flicking to Skip, who bristled. As if it could make up for the past. “I didn’t return until the first anniversary of Shaw’s death, which was coincidentally the same day I met you. So now, you know the truth.”

  I sighed, taking it all in. “Thank you for finally coming clean. I’ve been doing some thinking, and I’ve made a decision.”

  I hoped I was doing the right thing this time. If Caroline were here…My throat felt like ash. I sure had chosen a wonderful day for this, but every part of me pressured me not to delay. “I know things have been complicated…tense between all of us. Neither of you deserves to be kept waiting indefinitely with no commitment. So, I plan to make that commitment, and whoever I choose will accompany me to the Masque.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Preparation

  The Masque. The prom of Le Couvènte High. A prom on steroids. The final event to ring in the end of the school year and to welcome summer’s blessing. That night, I would be celebrating much. My birthday. The Masque commenced at nine p.m., and at midnight, I would turn eighteen.

  In Le Couvènte, the students went all out, taking every opportunity to buy the most expensive ornate gowns. Status would hang in the air as everyone tried to outdo one another with costumes. To shadow the ultimate authority of Le Couvènte’s Queen, girls took the opportunity to ask their prospective boyfriends to the Masque. My choice would reflect that on a far grander scale.

  After opening his history to me, Raoul excused himself. He fetched the basket of kittens promising to care for them, then locked eyes with my brother in the hallway. When Heath offered him a supportive nod, I suspected Heath knew Raoul’s history before I had. Heath knew everything before me. I brushed aside the minor irritancy.

  After Raoul had departed, Skip still seethed, rising to a stand, eyes laced with malice as they marked Raoul’s presence on our property. Always the Guardian even when unnecessary.

  “The man I revile most in this world for taking my father is now the same one trying to take the one thing that means something to me now,” he growled, voice like arsenic.

  “It’s my choice.” I defined, overshadowing his crossing my boundary.

  Skip nodded, then excused himself, too.

  Any consideration over the Rose Killer, the prophecy, or the riots around Le Couvènte were too much for me to handle while sick. At least rumors had spread about last night. When I tuned into the morning news, I learned all riots had ceased. Whether things were just stalled or if it was a reaction to the battle we’d won, I didn’t know.

  Both Raoul and
Skip still haunted my thoughts. Finally, Raoul had shared his past. It was a beautiful, vulnerable thing. Shattered like some sort of fallen star: left in slivered pieces ― dark and nebulous but valuable as a meteorite. On the contrary, Skip was a phoenix constellation. Splendorous, shining from ashes, ready to light the world on fire. And I was a whole galaxy.

  Putting all thoughts aside, I focused on the film. Later, I grabbed a thermometer to recheck my temperature…and groaned, aggravated. I’d even tried cooling my body temperature down with my elemental ability…the ice part. But it required a chronic presence. Perhaps that ability would come later. Perhaps healing abilities would come later. It made me wonder if Skip could persuade a body to repair itself, could he do the same with illnesses?

  “It can't be that bad, can it?” Heath poked his head around my door.

  Frustrated, I glowered and chucked the thermometer across the room, aiming for his head. Quicker than a fired bullet, Heath flicked up his hand and caught it. I stuck out my tongue. Glancing at it for a moment, Heath tapped the instrument against his open palm. “Came down a little…” he muttered and approached my bed.

  Voice raspy, I decided to pleasantly order him, “Tea! Herbal tea, no caffeine.”

  “I’ll boil some water.”

  Don’t bother, I wanted to tell him, but I could wait for the electric tea kettle. Heath was used to it. And I enjoyed it.

  “I wanted to talk to you. I heard about your…decision,” he emphasized.

  I threw him a look.

  “So, Masque night, huh? Three weeks comes up sooner than you think. Any ideas yet?”

  “Not one!” I threw my head back but connected with the bedframe and not a pillow. “It’s stupid to think about with everything else going on!” I groaned and cupped the back of my head.

  “Your feelings aren’t stupid, Rin,” interrupted Heath, sitting on the bed next to me. “Describe your relationship with Raoul in one word.”

  “Ugh!”

  “Okay. Three words. Go.”

  I smiled. “Protective, romantic…intimate.”

  “Now, Skip.”

  Goosebumps toyed with the surface of my skin as I directed my thoughts to the young vampire. “Intense, passionate, reigning.”

  Heath placed his palms together and reflected, but when he didn’t answer, I pursued him. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

  “No.” Heath shook his head. “My opinion would be biased.”

  I sighed and bit down on my lower lip. “Because you’re voting for Raoul.” Even after Skip saved our mother. Saved me multiple times.

  Heath shrugged and picked up the book on my nightstand. “I know him. My closest friend. I know he would treat you well…beyond this whole queen business. I still don’t know enough about Skip. I give him the benefit of the doubt. I respect him. In light of recent events, I’m trying to get rid of my bias.”

  Over the next couple of weeks, I intended to spend time with each of them to better make my choice. Both rational and emotional.

  “Who do you want to choose, Rin?”

  At first, I didn’t consider telling him, but I fiddled with the threaded ends of one of my throw pillows and surrendered, “Skip.”

  My brother had the follow up question I feared. “And who do you think you should choose?”

  “Raoul.”

  Weeks passed, days blurring into one another. But not nights.

  7:32 pm, May 16th

  “What do you have for us tonight, your highness?” Skip tempted me, ready to sink into a crouch. He always referred to me in monarchical terms. Every time, it stoked my blood, enticing me, persuading me.

  “Feel free, Reina,” echoed Raoul in his own beautiful, melodic way. Always Reina. Never Rin.

  “Try this on for size,” I uttered, then shot the shockwaves from my body so they rippled like lightning bolts for each vampire. Each one ended up on the ground, needing to shake out their bodies from my newfound ability.

  “Beautiful,” Skip responded while stumbling to a stand, a hand to his chest.

  Raoul took a moment longer before rubbing his jaw and grinning. “Touché,”

  High on the power coursing through my veins, I laughed, nearly giggled but caught myself before my childish impulse. Over the past few days, I’d spent much time in research. My father deduced my abilities were raw but unlimited. Untapped but powerful. Time was necessary for me to reach full potential. Much, much time. Perhaps even decades. My desires gravitated to the extreme. Either extremely physical such as my elementals or extremely psychological…telekinesis and telepathy. When I’d broached my desire to use my mind to inflict pain, my father warned me from such a power. It was far too difficult to control for my humanity. Too simple to end in murder.

  No encounters with the Rose Killer in days. Perhaps his strike to the throne was his target all along. Perhaps I was just a convenient vessel of diversion. At least it was what I hoped even if it didn’t make sense. The Queen was gone. Her killer had no reason to wait. Unless he was waiting for me.

  I never stopped reading Skip and Raoul’s thoughts. Or shimmers of thoughts. Ever since my announcement, they’d granted their permission in order to give me a better advantage to make my choice. Not that it’d helped much. While Raoul’s ran deep, loving, and pure, they were almost too pure. He was so controlled, so experienced thanks to over a hundred years. The rest of him remained a mystery. So much I still had to learn. Skip was a sharp contrast. He was an uncut diamond, all dangerous angles. The phantom who haunted my blood, who let me drink from him, and challenged me to be the Queen I knew I was deep down inside.

  Tonight, I was the Queen embodied.

  5:43pm, May 26th: Memorial Day Weekend

  Raoul handed me a wine glass filled halfway. “Pinot Noir from Stone Arch Vineyards I believe is your favorite.”

  “Raoul…” My voice was as soft and warm as the wine. Our hands collided when I accepted, but his fingertips tarried on the bare skin of my arm. I tried not to gawk.

  “Look at this place!” Brian interrupted my ponderings, gesturing to the environment. From twinkle lights enthroning the various trees to hundreds of artificial tea light candles flickering along the grounds and patio area, acting as miniature shrines, Raoul had put his heart and soul into the small party. He’d even roped wires from the house to strategic trees and bushes, the pool water mirroring the golden lights below. Fresh square plots bursting with white roses were his latest addition. A backyard fairy tale fit for a wedding site. All for me. Not for my brothers who guffawed at the cocktail tables draped in white tablecloths and decorated with lanterns boasting of real candles.

  “Are you sure you’re a vampire?” Brian accused him.

  Raoul’s lips curled back to bare his fangs, and he shrugged.

  “Glorified sissy,” Heath joked, swinging toward us.

  “Is that supposed to offend me?”

  I rolled my eyes and murmured to Raoul, “Don’t pay any attention to them.”

  “I usually don’t.”

  “Your movie stash confirms it.” Heath referred to the countless chick flicks and rom coms Raoul was unashamed to display. Ones I could see on shelves through the double patio doors. Raoul could watch any genre, but my theory was that he’d had his fill of war for multiple lifetimes. Instead, he spent years watching British dramas, Broadway classics, and Jane Austen with me while I desecrated his couch with paint-stained overalls. Light-hearted romances were his way of carving out his own personality quirks, on the edge of mimicking mine.

  Heath rested his forearm on my shoulder, reminding me, “I’ve never managed to bruise Raoul’s ego. I’ll do that tonight when I kick his ass in the pool.”

  “I long for the challenge. Or lack thereof.”

  Raoul won.

  When Heath surfaced from the deep end, aggravated fist punching the water, I smiled as Raoul climbed up the ladder and made his way to me. Victory pulsating through me from winning a bet with Brian, I leaned over to kiss Raou
l on the cheek. “You just won me a pool-scum free month,” I told him.

  Disgusted, Brian grunted. I punched him gently. “Poor loser.”

  On the way inside to change into regular attire, I couldn’t help but overhear Heath from behind the glass doors. Especially with my vampire senses.

  “So, Raoul, now that you know about all the changes with her…What do you think? Is she the one?”

  “I have no doubt.” Raoul declared beyond any hesitation. “And she would make the finest Queen.”

  “And what about you, Raoul?” Brian picked up where Heath left off.

  “What about me?”

  “You’re my oldest friend.” Heath lowered his voice. “I don’t need to read your mind to know your feelings for her. But I want to hear you say it. Is she the one for you?”

  Hundreds of live wires worked their way under my skin to stir my blood when Raoul replied, “I have no doubt of that either, my friend.”

  “If she were to become Queen but remain human, you’d have to make sacrifices. Build up your resistance to her blood even more than you already have. Is she worth it?”

  I held my breath and waited, but it didn’t take long for Raoul to speak. “More than any other girl in the world.”

  “All I wanted to hear.”

  I started walking toward the bathroom, but overheard Heath again. “Ever wish you had my transparency power?”

  I glanced back to see Raoul push my brother back into the pool, providing Brian with a round of laughter.

  I knew Raoul was the safe choice. The one I’d never fear. I was the private artwork inside the gilded frame of his heart; he held me steadfast and refused to let me wither. On the contrary, Skip would show our beauty to the world. Proud as monarchs. That prospect, that longing was staggering. How far would Skip go to stave his bloodlust?

  June 2nd

  One week before the Masque