The Dark Rose

by Ramsey, Valentine

  Pan stared at them in amazement. She had never seen a werewolf before. Despite all the horror stories they were beautiful. Khalil Hakim’s fur was mostly black with russet red around his muzzle and chest. From their heart shaped noses to their bushy tails they were much larger than the standard Gray wolf with powerful chests, large paws, legs long and lean, great for long distant runs.

  “Very nice,” Victor said. “Exquisite specimens.”

  Irritation flicker across Princess Neoma’s face at his admiration. She looked away to hide it. Pan knew her father’s praise was enough to make their hackles raise. Vampires loved were blood as it is strong and powerful. Werewolves, as they ran in packs, were more easily caught than other species. Their blood was intoxicating and hard to resist, though from what Andre had told her, nothing compared to Pixie blood, the all holy score that made others unflavorful bores.

  Though were-creatures in general steered clear of vampires because of the allure, rouge wolves tended to be more tolerant, lending out their services for day jobs vampires couldn’t do, such as guarding the royally born. Pan had had one as a child, but the bitch had gotten a little snippy with Andre who in return had gotten a little nippy and ate her. As a rule they haven’t had contact with them since the werewolf Magic ordered the wolf Lomax to kill her mother Evangeline.

  “All right then,” Victor said, and stood. Raphael and the others stepped into the light. “Let’s retreat into my chambers and discuss terms.”

  Princess Neoma glanced around, her eyes falling on Pan. “I’d rather not,” she said.

  She glanced at her again and Pan realized she was nervous to leave where Pan wouldn’t be witness to any possible attack. She believed Victor wouldn’t kill her in front of his darling daughter. Alas, she was right.

  Victor glanced at Pan, recognizing it as well. “However you wish to do it.”

  “Good. For twenty-four hour service, it’s two thousand a day each, four upfront. We get ten percent of the commission that will be deducted from the end payment. Agreeable?”

  “Very.”

  “Now, prices for collateral damage. While they are not members of our pack, we are their contractors, so if harm or death is befall one or both—” The wolf Joaquin snorted. “We require a hundred thousand dollar compensation fee for each. Agreeable?”

  Victor’s smile was cold. “Very.”

  “Good. Those are the rules; make sure your bloodsuckers play by them.”

  “I will. However, you are aware I cannot control the actions of the other covens we interact with.”

  “Very aware. However, the compensation fee still remains.”

  “You said four thousand up front?”

  “That’s right.”

  “For you or them?”

  “Us.”

  With an invisible signal Cylar strode forward, his long braided blond hair falling down his back like a shimmery rope. He tossed her a thick envelop.

  “Eight thousand,” Victor said. “They start tonight on patrol.” He looked to the wolves. “Tomorrow you will join Andre in protecting my daughter. That is your job, nothing more. You will take orders directly from him, her or me. No one else. Agreeable?”

  “Very,” said the Princess.

  “I believe that takes care of everything. Anything else you wish to go over?”

  “No.”

  “Then it was a pleasure meeting you Miss Bloodgood.” Victor’s smile was tight, his voice curt.

  She bowed. “Your highness.” It sounded awkward as she said it. “Princess Pandora.” She bowed to Pan. “See me out boys.”

  And with that Princess Neoma Bloodgood departed, the wolves trotting after her.

  Pan stood. “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

  “I just decided today,” Victor said. “The truth is the assassin could have been anyone. The proof found condemning the Gray’s, honestly…doesn’t hold much sway.”

  “Well, for how long?”

  “Until the threat is contained and your life no longer in danger of being maimed.” He tenderly cupped her cheek. He blinked then abruptly dropped his hand as if he hadn’t realized what he was doing. “You’re my only child Pandora, with you I take no risks.”

  Kissing her on the forehead, Victor left. When the doors closed, Pan rounded on Andre.

  “Didn’t you argue this?” she demanded. “Aren’t you enough protection?”

  “Apparently not,” Andre said, sitting down in her throne. “And heatedly. He is right though. The extra indifferent protection is worth having. We tend to be bias towards our own. The wolves may notice something we would not.”

  “Oh pooh,” Pan said, and kicked his leg. She crossed her arms over his chest and he chuckled. “You laugh! Am I not smothered enough?! Freedom is only an illusion in my life and now I’m going to have stinky mangy mutts following me around! I have a naturally beautiful aroma,” Pan said, flipping her hair. “And they’re going taint it!”

  “It won’t be for long.”

  Pan smiled evilly. “Why? Are you going to eat them for me?”

  He gave a throaty rumble. “Don’t tempt me.”

  Pan let out a frustrated shriek and stomped her foot. How was Dom ever going to sneak in to see her now? How were they—

  There was a thud. Pan jerked around as Brighton and Paul tumbled through one of the hidden hatch doors in the wall.

  Andre shoved to his feet. “Spying in the walls! I should have you skinned!”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Brighton said, brushing off his legs.

  “Where’s Danna?” Pan asked.

  “Isla took her home,” Paul said. “We wanted to know what was going on.”

  “So what is going on?” Brighton asked. “We didn’t hear it all.”

  “I’m to be guarded by the hounds of hell,” Pan said darkly. She scowled at Andre.

  “It’s not my fault,” he said.

  Pan looked down her nose at him. “I didn’t say it was your fault, but I’m going to blame you anyway.”

  Andre rolled his eyes. “Oh, joy.”

  + Chapter 25 +

  A Vague Plague

  Four days of being separated from Dom was horrible, the torture terrible and nearly unbearable. Looking in the mirror, Pan always found the smile wearing her face was an imposture, but hearing his voice at night always gave her reassuring rapture.

  Overshadowing her suffering, yet enhancing it was Danna’s sickness or lack thereof. A virus was going around, around, around, only to be found infecting Danna, Brighton and Paul.

  They changed, transformed, evolved.

  Once caterpillars now blossomed into beautiful vampires.

  The news of it completely overwhelmed Pan with disappointment. All three, seventeen to eighteen, had been claimed by the transformation at the same time. Her blood was of royal descent, strong and untainted. She should have been the first taken by the virus.

  Everything would have been so much easier if she had been. The mercenary wolves would be gone and no one would stand in her way of her love for Dom. And if Pan was to entertain her biggest fear it would be what if she took after her father and didn’t change until she was in her thirties. The jolt of terror that clenched her heart at that thought was a physical pain.

  Burying her multiple heartaches in the ground, Pan found she was genuinely excited for her friends. There was no official rite of passage into Vampirehood, but to celebrate, a ceremony would be held in Witches Grove where they would prove their right into initiation by hunting their first prey.

  Human prey, which made for a fantastic display of the vampires carnal need for a good and juicy blood spurting slay. Pan wouldn’t be the one making the kill, but she already knew it would be the highlight of her evening.

  Dressing for an occasion of death, Pan donned the color of its master: classic black. Timeless and elegant, she was dressed to kill in skintight black pants with knee high combat boots with buckles, and a leather jacket with a diagonal zipper and pyramid studs on the shoulders. A
diamond moon crescent barrette pinned her hair back on the side. Rarely ever wearing makeup, she put on mascara, eyeliner and stick-on crystals at the four corners of her eyes.

  Floodlights illuminated the grounds highlighting the two dozen or so vampires standing around, talking. Descending the stairs, the wolves in human form following her, Pan looked for the others, wanting to see how the change had morphed and re-sculpted their flesh of clay that she doubted would ever again grace the face of day.

  A man standing by one of the six Escalades suddenly turned. Pan’s mouth fell open. Brighton’s eyes had always been a beautiful blue, but now…they were like a glaciers glowing fire.

  Brighton did a double take, locking eyes with her. Standing with him was Danna, Paul and a sullen pouting caterpillar, Isla. Pan walked up to them with wide eyes.

  Brighton grinned, holding open his arms. “Well?”

  Nights before he had been physically ordinary, now— “Extraordinary,” Pan breathed. “You’re—you’re both so handsome.” She stroked Paul’s cheek.

  Brighton chuckled. Pan was glad to see his features still held some of his boyishly handsome charm. They were all more chiseled around the edges, mature in their eternal preserve.

  “And Danna.” Her breath left her. “You’re so…” Pan felt her hair. “It’s so lustrous, like spun gold.”

  Danna smiled tentatively, displaying her new fangs. “You’re not—mad?”

  “Heavens, no! Slightly disappointed I didn’t join you in your blossomed bloom, but I presume, I hope, Isla and myself will be soon to follow.”

  Isla harrumphed, arms crossed childishly. Danna threw her a dangerous glare then beamed. She was positively radiant.

  “Still so adamant you can’t marry a Rose?” Brighton asked. “Say no and I’ll propose.”

  Pan laughed as he wagged his eyebrows.

  “At least give me a hug,” he said.

  Pan wrapped her arms around him. Was it her imagination or was he taller? She, herself, hadn’t gotten any smaller. He enveloped her in a tight and intimate embrace, careful of his new vampire might.

  “Mm.” He ran his hands down her back. “You smell…intoxicating.”

  When his hold loosened, Pan smiled up at him. Ice blue, yet his eyes scorched with heat. Pan’s heart leaped when he lowered to kiss her. Suddenly, Raphael was there. Glaring, he shoved Brighton back in the chest.

  “Watch yourself,” he warned, and walked on.

  Brighton’s growl was very leonine. “Can I kill him now?”

  Paul chuckled. “Who knows, maybe an accident will happen on the hunt.”

  “Maybe one where we gang up on him and rip him limb from limb?”

  “I’m not committed to the details, but that sounds pretty good to start with.”

  Joaquin the wolf on one side, Raphael on the other, Brighton, Paul and Danna weren’t allowed to ride with her being that they were days old and hadn’t yet built up a resistance to the allure of werewolf blood.

  Driving through the winding sharp curving roads, Raphael rolled down the window.

  “What are you doing?” Pan asked as he began to climb out.

  “You’ll see.”

  But it only became too obvious as he dangled off the side of the assist step, holding the luggage rack, arms splayed like he was being crucified. Pan rolled her eyes. Car surfing.

  Howling, Gaston stepped on the gas.

  “Gaston, slow down,” Pan said, as they took a curve hard, rocking them in their seats.

  “Gaston—” Andre began to growl.

  A pair of headlights appeared, approaching fast. Raphael was dangling right in their way. The SUV laid on the horn.

  “Get it, boy!” Gaston said.

  As they passed, Raphael swung and shattered the driver’s side mirror, making the lights in it explode. Laughing, he jumped and slid back in the window, feet first.

  “Oww,” Pan said, annoyed as his booted feet fell in her lap. “Watch it.”

  Joaquin shoved his legs off of her.

  Raphael snarled. “Touch me again wolf and see what happens.”

  They were both leaning over her, face to face, glaring. Simultaneously, Khalil and Andre leaned forward from the third row and smacked Joaquin and Raphael in the foreheads. Gaston and Jean-Philippe laughed in the front.

  “Down boy,” Khalil said to Joaquin then traded a onceover with Andre.

  Both nodded in approval.

  Reaching the hidden drive that was invisible from the angle it was cut, Gaston gunned the car breaking through the barrier of foliage that had overgrown since anyone had last gone this route. Driving the winding trail, minutes later they reached the small clearing of Witches Grove.

  Hopping out, Joaquin and Khalil tilted their faces to the sky, scenting the rich, clean air. Pan looked around. There was a stone dais, moss covered like a relic of some ancient civilization. Everything was so beautifully green and pristine.

  “Hey,” Pan heard Andre say angrily. She looked around to see him stalk up to Gaston. “If I had known you were going to be a dick driving here, I would have driven her myself.”

  “You’re right,” Gaston surprisingly said. “I was reckless. I forget she’s still human.” He walked up to her. “I’m sorry Pan. Forgive me, I wasn’t thinking.”

  Pan nodded slowly, shocked at his earnest. He bent and kissed her cheek.

  “She bit me!” Isla ran up and shoved Gaston out of the way, eyes wild in panic. “The hooker bit me!” She thrust her arm in Pan’s face. “See! See!” There was a bite mark, barely bloody.

  “How many times do I have to tell you I’m sorry,” Danna implored. “You just smell so yummy.” Her emerald eyes glazed as she pushed Isla’s wavy hair from her neck.

  Isla shrieked and smacked her away. “Gregorian!” she called, and stomped over to her brother.

  “Alright,” Pan laughed. “Restrain yourself.”

  “I’ll try,” Danna said then whined, “but I’m starving. When do we eat, already?” Sulky, she rested her head on Pan’s shoulder. “Mm, you smell even better.” She pulled Pan’s collar down to smell her neck. Pan looked at her wary.

  Khalil’s eyes narrowed. “Step away,” he said.

  Danna made to growl, but then paused and said, “That’s probably wise.”

  She walked away, but just then Raphael pulled a sword from the back of the truck. Danna leaped back, hissing. She looked surprised at herself.

  “You Miss, must be allergic to silver,” said Prince Albion of the Drake coven. “Most vampires are.”

  Raphael swung the sword as if preparing for battle then lunged. Gaston and Kida K. hissed, dancing away.

  “Ask him what the sword is for?” Paul urged her. He looked apprehensive.

  “Why?”

  “I hate his guts, why would I ask him anything?”

  Pan rolled her eyes. “What’s the sword for?”

  Raphael looked pleased by her interest. “For show mostly.” He held it for her to see.

  Pan frowned. “But that’s the Rose crest.” A red rose was in the green center of the hilt.

  “Your father gave it to me yesterday before he left for Moscow.” He grinned wickedly. “He knows how we like to play.”

  The ceremony started. It was all overly dramatic, yet surprisingly systematic. Raphael and a few other Princes’ chanted in Latin and knighted them in a way. When that was over the humans were dragged forward and kicked to their knees; three men with hoods covering their heads, hands tied behind their backs.

  Pupils huge, Brighton, Paul and Danna trembled with eager excitement. The hoods were yanked off and Pan gasped. Near hysterical, Ryan van Tussle looked around terrified.

  Paul strode over to her. Ryan noticed him and cried, “Paul! Hey, Paul man, you know me, you know me, help me out here.” He laughed weakly. “I mean, I mean, it’s a joke right?” He looked at her. “Right, Pan?”

  “What’s he doing here?” Pan asked.

  Innocents weren’t usually chosen for a new
borns first kill, but those tainted with sin. To begin, convicts, rapists, murderers, lawyers, politicians, thieves and pedophiles, were usually scented out as a vampire could smell evil a mile away. And Paul was glaring at Ryan with a hatred so strong it had to be wrong.

  “I picked my own game,” Paul said darkly.

  “But he’s tame!” Pan said.

  Paul snorted. “Hardly, he date raped a girl.” Pan gaped at him. “You remember that party two months ago? And remember how you suddenly didn’t feel good and we had to rush you home?”

  She nodded, cold with gut churning dread.

  “I discovered he slipped something in your drink. But it didn’t work right on you because of what you are.”

  Pan looked at Paul horrified. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because I beat the shit out of him and threatened him that if he ever did it again, I’d kill him. But now I’ve just decided to kill him. I didn’t want to scare you. I wanted to be the one to get revenge.” Paul’s face was hard with intense anger. “Nobody, nobody, threatens to brutalize my Princess.”

  Hugging his arm, Pan rested her head on his shoulder. “Make it good.”

  “I concur,” Andre said venomously.

  Sobbing, Ryan screamed, “Pan!”

  Predatory cries of excitement and encouragement rang through the murky forest layered with darkness so thick the only distinction that could be seen of them racing after Danna, Paul, and Brighton hot on the hunt, was their streaking blurred forms.

  As the only human, Pan was able to keep pace with the race as they drew it out, toying with them. Isla in a severely bad mood, decided to stay with the cars. The wolves and Andre flanked her sides.

  The golden goddess Danna soared through the air as she leaped into a tree. She hissed and her prey slid and fell with a scream. Scrambling up, as he ran, Danna leaped in front of him, spun him around and sank her fangs deep into his throat, her acid green eyes gleaming.

  His scream of terror sent a thrill of chill through Pan. Watching Danna feed, Pan bounced edgily, wanting to join in. She inhaled deeply, aroused by the smell and flood of blood gushing from his neck into Danna’s mouth. Her own bloodlust soared as this would soon be her score.