I grabbed the back of his neck and tossed him into the air. He tumbled to a stop, quickly moving to his feet, facing me. I slowly walked toward him. I eliminated the space between us, and he fell to his knees in a pleading position. He had given up. I was surprised by his actions.
The wind shifted as someone approached. I looked up and found Jasik watching me. He said nothing, as if he were giving me permission to decide the vampire’s fate. I turned to face the enemy again. He was on his feet. His eyes were cold, hard. I knew he’d kill again. I wouldn’t let him kill another. I wouldn’t let him murder any more witches.
I raised my right arm and allowed my magic to flow within me. It coursed through my veins. With regained strength, I knew I could control my magic again. I smiled.
“Incendia!” I said. I spoke powerfully, confidently. I watched the flame spark and strengthen until he was covered in the fire. He screamed as it overwhelmed him. He tried to stand as if he planned to run but instead fell to the ground. It took only seconds for the steady beat of his heart to slow to a stop. The fire remained kindled until there was nothing but ash.
I smelled Jasik approach—his musky scent followed wherever he went—but I didn’t take my eyes off the vampire’s remains. Jasik stood behind me, rubbing his hand along my arm until it rested in my palm.
“Let’s clean this up,” he said as he squeezed my hand tightly.
“There are more,” I said.
“Yes, Malik will take care of them.”
I faced Jasik, tearing my eyes away from the Rogue’s remains. “One was different, deformed.”
Jasik dropped my hand; wrinkles of surprise briefly danced across his forehead.
“What?”
“That’s not possible,” he said, looking in the direction where the other bodies lay.
“What? What’s not possible?” I asked, frustrated.
He ignored me and instead walked into the brush, pushing away branches until he found the creature’s remains.
“You killed an elder Rogue?” Jasik asked.
“Is that what that was?” I asked, shrugging.
“Do not dismiss this, Avah. It’s an incredible accomplishment for such a young Hunter. Even I have never managed such a task.”
“He was stronger, but he was stupid. He was too confident. It left his side vulnerable,” I said, looking at the fresh wounds on his neck.
“I do not know what is more flabbergasting: the fact that you alone killed an elder Rogue or that you fed from one while he was alive. How do you feel?”
“I—I don’t know. Good. Strong.”
“As you should. Elder Rogues have lived for thousands of years. They were the first vampires. His power, his strength, was in his blood, which now courses through your veins.”
“So what does that mean?” I asked, rubbing my hands against my clothes, hoping to wipe away the stench of death.
“You’ll be much stronger. Temporarily, of course. His power was not meant to be yours and will not stay within you forever. But this is a great achievement.”
“There was something different about his scent. I could tell he was old. And then he just… changed. He became a monster—one of the monsters the elders of my own coven warned me about,” I said, losing myself in my thoughts.
“Elder Rogues have lived without their humanity, without their souls, for thousands of years. Depravation in that extent leaves long-lasting effects.”
“I had no idea something like this existed,” I said.
“That’s because very few survive an encounter with such a powerful Rogue. We still are unsure of how many even exist.”
“It was just luck,” I said, and I found myself focusing on the world around me, listening for any signs of danger lurking. I was the most powerful I had ever been in my life, but I felt weak, terrified, incapable of protecting myself against the dangers of this new world.
A week had passed before the coven’s priestess asked to see me. I was surprised she hadn’t insisted on the meeting sooner; news of my kills had spread like wildfire through the coven, but it was quickly forgotten. Jasik had assured me no harm would come. Hunters were meant to kill Rogues. But he still spoke with a hint of fear. I wasn’t sure if he was afraid for me or of me.
“She requested we meet alone,” I said as Jasik followed me to her door. Around us, the vampires hustled down the hall, busily putting final touches on house decorations for tonight’s event. The announcement of vampires from other covens attending the annual New Year’s Eve masquerade ball put everyone on edge, but thankfully, they paid me no mind to me. I was finally beginning to feel like I belonged here.
“Yes, I’ll be in my room, preparing for tonight’s festivities.” He smiled reassuringly.
I nodded. “No training today, right? Big party and all.”
“No time, but we’ll pick up again tomorrow.”
“Okay, good. I don’t want to take too much time off,” I said as we reached Amicia’s office.
“Don’t worry so much, Avah. You’re a few hundred years too young for worry lines,” he said with a sly grin.
I smiled as I knocked on her office door. Jasik turned to leave as I slipped inside once given permission. I remembered the way her Hunters stood before: tall with one arm resting behind their backs and the other at their sides. I mimicked that stance.
“Good evening, Avah.”
I nodded. “Milady.”
“Tell me about your transition. Jasik has been updating me nightly about your training. He has assured me you’re a quick study. Do you feel you’re coming into your new life and abilities?”
“Yes, Milady. Jasik has been very helpful.”
“So it seems. He informed me that you’re already trained in combat and that you’ll be quite valuable once you learn what it truly means to be a vampire.”
“Thank you,” I said, though I wasn’t sure what she meant by truly being a vampire.
“I heard of your hunting in our woods, and I wanted to thank you for eliminating a nearby threat. Rogues rarely come this close to the manor.”
“You’re welcome,” I said.
“I was delighted to hear that you went hunting on your own. Do you feel you’re prepared to venture out again?”
I wasn’t sure what to say. I realized Jasik must’ve given her a slightly different version of the day’s events. I’m sure he neglected to tell her I was running from my feelings and our feeding.
She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back in her chair, awaiting my response.
“I don’t know. There’s still a lot I don’t know.” Was she planning to send me out on my own? Did she think I was capable of looking after myself so there was no need to keep me around?
“Yes, there is. The Hunters of this house are highly skilled and have been directed to do whatever it takes to ensure you are prepared for this life.”
“Thank you.”
“I trust you will come to me if you have any doubts,” she said.
Doubts about what? Staying here? Training with vampires? Being a vampire? Did I even have a choice in the matter?
“Doubts, Milady?”
“Yes. Doubts.” She spoke confidently as if I knew exactly what she was referring to.
“Sure—yes. I’ll come to you if I need anything,” I said.
“Very well. I hope you’ll join us this evening, Avah. Our masquerade ball is a cherished event. Members and priestesses of covens all around the world are invited to join us in welcoming the new year.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” I plastered a wide smile on my face. It was forced, but at this point, it was getting uncomfortable.
“Have you anything to wear?”
I thought about the racks of clothing in my closet. I was sure there was something in there suitable for a ball.
“If not, inform Jasik. He will take care of it.”
“Yes, Milady.”
She smiled at me, and I realized that was the first time I had ever seen her smile. It w
as small, but genuine.
“That’s all,” she said, looking down at the papers scattered across her desk.
“Good evening, Milday,” I said as I turned to leave.
“Oh, Avah,” she said, and I faced her with the doorknob in hand. “I shouldn’t have to tell you how important your presence will be this evening. You may have only spent a short time here with us, but your… creation has been news. Everyone will be watching you, seeing where your allegiance lies. I’ve been watching you since you’ve arrived. I know you’ve formed relations with the Hunters of this house. We have welcomed you into our home, Avah. Like humans, status is everything in our culture. They will be watching you. Give them a show.”
I said nothing. I simply nodded. I understood what she asked of me. I needed to choose a side, and I needed to make my decision known. I needed to showcase my power, her weapon.
I returned to my room in a daze. Was I ready to showcase my power, to seriously choose a side? I closed my bedroom door behind me and switched on the light.
A sexy black evening gown hung from one of the posts of my bed. I walked over to it, running my hand across the silky fabric. With a thigh-high slit and a thick, one-sided strap, I felt provocative just thinking about wearing the gown. The top was a low princess cut, and most of the gown was sheer. I hadn’t realized becoming a vampire meant showing this much skin.
A simple black mask with a violet shimmer. Under the mask was a note from Jasik: For you. It was simple, direct, but oddly arousing. I dropped the note, grabbed the dress, and walked toward the mirror. I felt like a princess as I pushed the sheer gown against me.
I glanced at the time: it was nearly eleven in the evening. I frantically showered, applied dark eye makeup, and styled my hair in a sweeping updo with soft curls. I didn’t want my long hair to distract anyone from the gorgeous gown, which meant I had to bare even more skin.
I slipped into the form-fitting dress and tied the mask on. My violet irises burned brightly against the dark colors of the mask and dress. I was certain Jasik chose this dress specifically for that reason. I felt more beautiful than I’d ever felt before. Smiling as I left my room for the party, I thought of how badly I wanted to see Jasik’s reaction to me in this dress.
The double doors opened as I approached, and I was greeted by two vampires. Though their faces were hidden behind masks, I recognized their stance, their eyes, their smell. They were part of Amicia’s entourage. I guessed their duties went beyond her chambers.
“Welcome, Miss Taylor,” they said in unison. I smiled.
I gasped as I entered the room. The ceiling was adorned with a shimmery finish, fitting beautifully into the starry night. Iridescent streams of fabric dangled along the walls, hiding the wood frames. A floor-to-ceiling tree sat in the corner, decorated with sparkling red and silver ornaments and white twinkling lights. A champagne waterfall sat along another wall, nestled between two towers of glasses. Its bubbling, sweet scent tickled my nose. A dozen circular tables with fitted, sheer white table cloths were scattered around the room. Wordless music played from hidden speakers. Members of my new coven huddled in corners, busily gossiping with vampires and priestesses from other covens, while others danced in the middle of the room. The grand hall was utterly breathtaking.
I walked to the champagne bar and was handed a full glass. The others around me watched as I sipped my drink, whispering secrets under their breath. I smiled but was left facing backs. I wondered if I would ever be welcomed in this house.
“You look beautiful,” a voice said from behind me.
I turned to find a masked figure with icy-blue irises and a boyish grin. I unsuccessfully fought my eyes as they drifted down his frame. His black suit and tie made him look breathtakingly handsome. His black mask was simple with only speckles of light blue, making his eyes shine even brighter.
“Even in the midst of this chaos, you’re still easy to find,” he added.
“I can’t imagine why,” I said with a grin. “My eyes betray my identity even behind a mask.”
“Your eyes betray your beauty, Avah, and nothing less,” he said, eyes intense. My breath caught.
I looked away, drawing my gaze to the dance floor. My eyes rested on the vampires in masks before me. Many laughed, pulling their mates closer. Others fed in the corners. Some smiled for pictures, displaying two perfect points.
“What do you see?” Jasik asked as he glanced down at me.
What did I see? I saw potential enemies in the newcomer vampires. I saw members of my own coven who didn’t trust me. But when I looked at Jasik, I saw something different. He didn’t hate or fear me. He gave me a chance. As I turned to face him again, his difference, his beauty, mocked the idea behind what I saw.
“What do you see?” I countered.
His lips briefly curved into a small smile before disappearing into a hard line. The seconds he waited to answer hung in the air. His face bore his typical features, that of a man thinking too hard about the words he chose. “I see you,” he finally said.
I stared back and swallowed hard, fighting back the emotional flood that threatened to erupt within me.
He leaned in, brushing his lips against my ear, and added, “All I ever see is you.”
Pulling back, he softly slid his thumb down the curve of my jawline.
“You carry your soul in your hands and hold it out for the world to see, and all I want is to pull it close to me and cover it with my own. All I want is to take this fragile part of you that you so generously share with the world and protect it. Shade it from the sun yet hide it from darkness,” he said, dropping his hand from my jaw and taking a step backward. He cleared his throat as if his honesty even surprised himself.
“Jasik,” I whispered. I began to take a step forward but stopped myself. He smiled and held his hand out to me.
“May I have this dance?” he asked.
I placed my fingers in his palm. “Always.”
He whisked me onto the floor and pulled me close to him. I admired how our bodies curved into each other as if it were our natural placement. We quickly fell in step, and at some point in the dance, I lost track of time and song. There was only us and the way our heartbeats matched. I closed my eyes and placed my ear against his chest, listening to the rhythmic beats. The world beyond us slipped away, and I willingly let it go, hoping that this moment would last a lifetime.
But a lifetime turns to forever when you’re immortal, and songs seem to ignore one’s pleas after just a few minutes.
“May I cut in?” a voice said.
I lifted my head from Jasik’s chest and opened my eyes to find Lillie beside us. Jasik’s grip on my waist tightened as I began to pull away.
“Sure,” I said with a smile.
Her smile widened as she grabbed Jasik’s hand and pulled him to her.
I stared at the floor as I walked away. From the shadows, I watched as they danced, twirling in the same way Jasik and I had. Her pink, strapless gown clung tightly to her body and flowed down to the floor. She hid behind a matching pink mask that sparkled under the dim lighting. She was beautiful, and next to Jasik’s towering stance, she seemed to fit together with him just as well as I had. My heart sank as she said something inaudible, and Jasik smiled down at her.
“Don’t let her get to you,” Malik said. I briefly glanced at him as he stepped beside me.
“She knows parts of him that I’ll never know,” I said, keeping my eyes on the two that twirled on the dance floor. The words escaped me, and as I said them, as I opened my heart to Malik, I instantly regretted it. I couldn’t let him in the way I’d let Jasik capture my heart. Beneath the layers of lust, there was a sensible girl who knew this was wrong. I couldn’t let myself love Jasik—even though I so badly wanted to.
“She knows only of his past,” Malik replied, seemingly unaware of the battle within me. I looked up at him, but he spoke without meeting my gaze. Instead, with his hands clasped behind his back, he watched his brother and th
e girl. “But Jasik doesn’t live for the past,” he said, turning to face me. “And you are very much his future.”
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.
Blood Rose (Blood Books Book 1) Page 11
