The Dark Rose

by Ramsey, Valentine

  “Is it too late to take that back?”

  Dom laughed. “Absolutely.”

  Parting from Urijah, Dom made his way to the solarium. Looking to remain unseen, once in the main house, he opened a hidden passageway servants used. Making it to his bedroom, the music still pounding below, Dom closed his door with relief, turning into his room.

  It was dark and dusky, set aglow from Christmas lights that were strung messily across the gothic styled room. A coat of armor stood in the corner.

  Collapsing on his bed of messy satin black sheets, Dom twirled the blossom he had taken from her. Her ring caught his eye. Pulling it from his finger he studied it. It was as delicate as Pan herself and needed to remain as close to his heart as she. Pulling his necklace with a pendent of his crown crest over his head, Dom unclasped it and dropped the ring on the chain.

  Just as he pulled it back on, the door clicked, creaking as it was slowly pushed open. Selene stood in the doorway. His eyes scanned up and down her body. She wore black and purple lace lingerie with a garter belt, nylon stockings and six inch heels, her glossy black hair pinned up. It was a sight that would have set him on fire hours before.

  She grinned seductively. “Hello Dominic.”

  She extended her long leg for his view, running a hand down her thigh.

  His usual response would have been salivating like a dog with strained balls on the wrong side of the fence of a bitch in heat with her ass dangling in his face that he couldn’t reach. He usually would have settled to humping any leg he could, but now he just grunted uninterested, and went back to twirling the blossom.

  “What do you want?” Dom asked.

  “You.” She strode to stand before him in front of the bed, putting herself on display. Unpinning her hair she shook it out so it fell in waves around her shoulders.

  “I should die of shock,” he said, already bored with her antics.

  “I want you, Dom.”

  “Since when? You taunt, you tease, you never please and I am left unsatisfied after every encounter with you.”

  “Not tonight.”

  He laughed. “Right.”

  Dom looked up as Selene crawled on the bed and she straddled his waist, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

  “You can touch me,” she said, trailing her fingers down her ample breast to her belly.

  “I don’t want to touch you. I tire of your cold fire.”

  She laughed, disbelieving. Her black eyes zoomed in on the flower. She reached for it, but Dom yanked his hand away, glaring. Selene glared back, unused to this treatment, but then smiled.

  “I know what will make you happy,” she said.

  Dom sighed. “I highly doubt that.”

  Leaning down, she began kissing on his neck. The smell of her hair, the feel of her lips, her core against his—Dom expected an onslaught of desire to explode in him, but felt—absolutely nothing. He laughed.

  “See,” she said, licking up his neck to his ear and suckling the lobe.

  “I’m not interested Selene.”

  “Since when?” She pulled the collar of his shirt down to kiss his chest.

  Since Pandora, Dom thought.

  “Since tonight,” he said.

  Selene sat up, smiling playfully. “Somehow I doubt that.”

  She rose up on her knees to reach between them. Dom tensed as she felt his limp member as cold as December.

  He raised his eyebrows as she scowled. “Happy now? Because I’m not.”

  Dom shoved her in the chest and Selene flip backwards off of him and rolled off the bed to land on the floor with a thud. She shot up, her hair disheveled.

  “You dare!” she snarled.

  “Leave.”

  Giving an ear piercing scream, she stomped to the door, slamming it shut behind her.

  Dom sighed, studying the flower. “The Gods think they play a joke blessing me with a dark Rose, but I laugh at them for I don’t care. A Rose with thorns you may be, but I do not bleed easily. My lovely Pandora,” he said, inhaling the blossom and her slight essence mingled with it. “Tomorrow is not soon enough.”

  + Chapter 12 +

  Sweet Dreams

  Time is a continuum. There is no going back, only forward. Pan would have sworn differently as it moved with agonizing slowness. School seemed to drag, weighed down by senseless babble as the hands on the clock tick, tick, ticked, like a militarian prick passing time with torture and drills making all the privates squeal.

  In classes, Pan didn’t pay attention any more than usual, a fault other students would have been reprimanded for, a fault she was ignored for. Her human teachers didn’t know her or her friends bloodsucking heritage, but they knew she had money and power. Two things they learned not to mess with.

  As it was nothing could hold her attention. Not Brighton or Paul’s flirtation. Not the adulation of flattery by fawning sycophants who tried anything to be included in their group. It wasn’t that they just wanted to be friends with the popular mysterious kids; they were unknowingly drawn to them because of the vampire allure.

  As none of them had transitioned yet, it wasn’t at its full hypnotizing potential, but it was strong enough to seduce the senses. And as outgoing and friendly as some of the kids were, Pan and her friends weren’t allowed to play with them. They usually got bitten if they did.

  Pan didn’t care about any of this trivial twitter that used to intrigue her, though a few drops of blood to the tongue was an interesting muse. All her brain could entertain was Dom’s words of love and proposal. She would give anything to be with him now instead of being lectured by Mr. Chow.

  Leg bouncing with anxiousness for these ordinary pretenses to be over so she could see her betrothed again, Pan stared at the clock, willing it to move faster. Tick—

  “Pan,” Danna hissed.

  Pan startled and looked around to see Danna and Paul turned in their seats, looking at her.

  “Relax would you. You’re making me nervous as hell.”

  Pan took a deep breath, trying to gather calmness to her. Her anxiety was boiling over and seeping into the emotions of those around her. Kids sitting by her were acting twitchy, biting their nails and bouncing their legs as well, not realizing the cause was a child of hell. Once she was changed she would be able to control it.

  When the bell rang, Pan shot from her seat, rushing from the room. Walking fast down the hall, relief washed over her to just be moving. Catching up with her, the others appeared at her sides.

  “What’s wrong with you?” Brighton asked, hitching up his sagging pants. It wasn’t a fashion statement, he was just that skinny. “You can hardly sit still.”

  On the quick, Pan said, “Raphael. He surprised me last night is all. It really annoyed me.”

  Paul bared his teeth in dislike.

  “If I were braver, I’d kick his ass,” Brighton said.

  “Then it’s fortunate for me you’re not,” Pan said. “I appreciate all your body parts intact.”

  Brighton wagged his eyebrows. “Which body parts in particular?”

  Danna elbowed him in the gut and he winced.

  Ryan van Tussle, the most popular boy in school, the athletic one all the other boys wanted to be and all the girls wanted to date, was walking towards them. Every school had a Ryan with his natural charisma and charm. Seeing Pan, he grinned, his messy blond hair falling in his eyes. His uniform wasn’t any neater, the tails of his shirt sticking out of his sagging slacks, his striped tie hanging loose around his neck like an untaught noose.

  “Looking beautiful Pan,” he said as he passed, turning to walk backwards. “As always.”

  “Thanks,” Pan said, reciprocating his bright smile with denial. As it was custom with most popular girls, it wasn’t in her nature to be bitchy.

  “Back off,” Paul said, shoving Ryan in the chest so he bounced into the lockers. It wasn’t in her nature, but it didn’t mean it wasn’t in the others. They were protective of her, especially the Rose males as they
prided themselves on having the only Princess.

  “Paul!” she scolded. “He was being nice.”

  “That’s the problem. He shouldn’t even be looking at you.”

  If a human eyeing her inspired that amount of dislike, Pan shuddered to think what would happen if they found out she was to marry a Gray.

  “Everyone admires our Princess,” Isla said with pride. “You should be used to it by now.”

  “But you don’t know what I know about that kid,” Paul said darkly.

  Pan exchanged surprised looks with Danna and Isla.

  “Okey-dokey then,” Danna said. “Care to share since you dare?”

  “Nope,” Brighton said.

  Danna elbowed him again. “I wasn’t asking you.”

  “Quit with the knobby elbows, would you,” he said, yanking her long hair.

  Danna cried out and punched him in the arm. Scowling, she combed her hair out with her fingers.

  “Paul,” Pan said, the tone of her voice alone ordering him to confess.

  “Uh-un.” He shook his head and Pan’s eye’s flared. “You’ll find out soon enough,” he said quickly.

  “I better.” Pan let it slide as she didn’t care at the moment, but later he better have some sort of atonement.

  In another hour school would be out and she’d be with her beloved again. Their time last night was like the too quick lightning, which struck in a second ceases to be the next. And with the hours past, this new bud of love ripening under summers breath, may prove a beauteous flower when they meet next.

  After school, having no clue when to expect him, Pan used the excuse of the upcoming council meeting to bail on going to Isla’s. Having no reason to doubt her, they suspected nothing. Instead of Andre following them, Pan headed to his Hummer in the parking lot. Seeing her approaching, he climbed out and walked around to the passenger side to open her door.

  “Everything alright?” he asked, helping her in.

  “Yes, why wouldn’t it be?” she inquired lightly, wondering if he suspected. She had, after all, told him of her new love, though she didn’t think he had taken it seriously.

  “You usually ride with the dork and dorkettes.”

  Pan gave him a reproachful look and he chuckled.

  “Those names are getting lame, come up with something else.”

  His chuckle died and he scowled. Pan laughed, yanking her door closed.

  Pan had hoped once she reached her room her anxiousness would die, but it didn’t. If anything it gained wings and started to fly. To pass time, she took a long shower, hoping Dom would be there when she got out. He wasn’t. After doing her homework, Pan meandered down to the kitchen and slowly ate her dinner, unable to savor it. She was even disappointed when

  Raphael didn’t appear to be a pain in her rear so she could be mean to him.

  She had hoped after eating, she would have come back to find Dom waiting for her, lounging comfortably in her bed, but he wasn’t. Her hope deflating, Pan sat on the bed looking out into the garden, not really seeing it. Sheba appeared, loping up to her, her black fur rippling like oil. She butted her head against Pan’s knees.

  “There’s still time in the evening,” Pan said. Scratching behind Sheba’s ears, she stared at the sinking sun, casting her Eden in flaming orange light.

  Sheba looked up at her. Her golden orb eyes seemed to hold a higher intelligence than that of an ordinary feline.

  “You think I’m foolish?” Pan half expected an answer from the purring cat. She sighed when she didn’t get one. “Well, I think I’m sad.”

  After a while, Sheba loped off and Pan continued to stare until the sun set and long after, waiting for the slightest rustle announcing his arrival. The wind tricked her many times.

  Disappointment hitting heavy and hard, a feeling that she lost something she never really had sunk in. Closing the doors for the night, Pan accepted his absence with a heavy heart and changed into a lacy tank top and boy shorts. Perhaps she was foolish believing all that had transpired last night, perhaps she was a love fanatic, a hopeless romantic, and maybe he was on his way this very minute.

  At least that’s what she told herself as she laid her head to rest on her pillow. Pan tried to stay awake, telling herself five more minutes, just five more minutes and he’ll be here, he’ll be here…

  Pan didn’t know when she had succumbed to such a steep slumbers sleep, but she woke to a cool breeze as her blankets were pulled off and her bed sank as someone slid in behind her.

  Raphael! her mind screamed, but before she could freak Dom’s silky voice eased her panic.

  “Sorry I’m so late,” he said, pulling her hair back and kissing behind her ear.

  Pan smiled. “I didn’t think you’d come,” she said sleepily.

  “Never doubt,” he murmured, kissing her cheek. “Your cheeks are so rosy.” He ran his knuckle over it.

  Pan turned on her back to look at him. Propped on his elbow, he smiled down at her lovingly as he ran his fingers through her mused hair. He was just as dangerously handsome as she remembered. It was hard to believe he wasn’t a dream.

  His jeweled Caribbean aqua eyes had a luminescence to them that illuminated the planes of his gorgeous face. Pan raised a hand to stroke his cheek. He closed his eyes, tilting his head into her touch.

  “I was so worried,” she whispered.

  Dom’s eyes flicked open. “I’ll always come to you,” he said. “Always.” He took her hand and kissed her palm.

  A yawn stealing her breath, Pan took a long blink trying to keep her eyes open. Her sleep had been so sound, her breathing was slow.

  He began tracing her eyebrows. “Go back to sleep.”

  Pan turned in his arms to face him and kissed his neck, snuggling close. “I don’t want to. All day I worried you were a dream. There one second and gone in a flash the next, a figment of my overactive imagination.”

  “What a marvelous dream I must be,” he said in amusement.

  Pan laughed.

  “But surely you are the dream as I have dreamed of you always.”

  “How am I to be sure you’re real now?” Pan said, turning her face up to his, offering her mouth.

  He closed the two inches that separated them, leaving her no doubt of his existence. Pan hadn’t expected the eagerness that would follow the kiss as both their hands were everywhere, exploring each other.

  Tiredness evaporating as her heart raced, Pan sat up and pulled from his lips to yank his top off. She had seen men without shirts, but there was something marvelous about Dom’s perfectly lean chiseled body that fascinated her and made her want to touch.

  Probably because he was hers now.

  Pan met his eyes as she touched his chest. Sliding her hand down, her fingers rose and fell with the groves of his muscles, moving feather light. He was strong where she was small. Letting out a shuddering breath, Dom grabbed her hand to stop her.

  “You’re going to drive me insane,” he breathed.

  “Insanity breeds the best imagination.”

  He chuckled as she rose to her knees and grabbed his face, kissing him hard. Pushing him back, she straddled his waist. He laughed at her dominance. Running her hands down his long arms, Pan twined her fingers with his.

  Dom suddenly surprised her, rolling her on her back. His smile revealed fang as she stared up at him with wide eyes. Giving a smug chuckle, he sat back on his knees, looking down at her. He ran his hands along her shoulders to her bust, along the curves of her waist to her hips, down her bare thighs, eyes admiring with lust.

  Turning on her belly, on her elbows, Pan looked back at him over her shoulder. Dom blanketed her with his body, braced on his arms to bear his weight, his jeans scratchy on her bare legs. Pulling her hair back, he kissed her shoulder, her neck. When Pan didn’t turn her face to meet his, he placed his fingers on her jaw, turning her mouth up to kiss. Pan arched back into him.

  Dom grumbled low in his throat. “We better stop.”

 
He rolled to the side, pulling her into his arms again. Pan laid there dazed, her lips and body tingling. Licking her lips, she frowned noticing an odd taste in her mouth.

  “What?” He was smiling in content.

  Pan sniffed his sweet breath. Pulling his neck to her, she kissed him and—there it was. Now that she recognized it she tasted it rich on his tongue.

  “Blood,” she said.

  His eyebrows pulled as he looked at her with intrigue.

  “For still being human, you have an amazing sense of it,” Dom said, impressed.

  He was vampire. Of course he had to feed on blood. Pan knew it silly to be hurt that he would snack on another girl before coming to her, but it did. The thought of his lips on a neck other than hers…she wanted to cry, she wanted to kill. Her aching heart need be still or she will.

  Dom frowned, reading the hurt on her face. He turned anxious as tears shone in her eyes.

  “Pan, what’s wrong?”

  “It’s stupid,” she said, brushing them away and turning away from him.

  “Look at me.” He pulled her back and studied her face then suddenly smiled. “Ah,” he said in realization. “You’re upset because you think the blood is female.”

  “I’m not used to sharing,” Pan said, a little petulant. “I’m not good at it.”

  “My god,” he said in fascination and thumbed her bottom lip. “Look at this pout. It’s heart breaking. A Princess through and through.” Chuckling, he pulled her against his chest. “I’d have it no other way. It’s animal blood, my love. Amazing that you sense it when it’s been near two hours since I’ve fed.”

  Pan looked up at him. “Animal blood?”

  Dom nodded. “Horse, Arabian to be exact. The difference between that and a humans will become very obvious once you transition. There will be no mistaking it. The animal was large enough so I didn’t have to kill it. The thought of its death marking our anniversary didn’t please me. So rest with ease now.”

  Relief washed through Pan, cooling her jealousy towards the imagined rival that had fortunately been suppressed by her upset. There was nothing more volatile that a spoiled Princess in a rage. She was glad she didn’t have to execute an unknowingly innocent human. Most vampire couples easily shared their partners with the same sex or any sex for that matter, and it was good for them to be so passive or else more blood would be shed than could be replaced, but she wasn’t one of them.