The Dark Rose

by Ramsey, Valentine

  Dom took the next exit that led to a tiny town. He made a sound of annoyance as they drove down the main street. Pan was looking at the shops, but he was observing the locals with a wary expression.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I’m suddenly wishing my taste in cars wasn’t so ostentatious.”

  “Why?”

  “It’s not everyday people see a Shelby Mustang rolling down their two lane street.”

  “I doubt anyone knows what kind it is.”

  “Doesn’t matter. When people come looking, and I know they will, it’s memorable.”

  Hoping to hide a little better, Dom parked behind a building. Walking down the street, hand in hand, Pan thought she had never been anywhere so quaint and humble. All the shops were picturesque with rose vines, ivy, candy corns, and morning glories clinging to them.

  After freshening up at a diner, they found a little boutique called The Velvet Pumpkin with dresses displayed in the big bay windows fringed with frilly curtains. Pan went in while Dom waited outside to keep watch. She knew she should probably be a little more on guard like him, but her heart was so at peace being with him again, the strength in it wouldn’t let her psyche be marred with anxiety.

  Pushing open the door, the bell dinged as Pan stepped out. Dom looked around. She twirled in her new white sundress with small cap sleeves and buttons down the chest; her old clothes and three extra dresses in a bag.

  Dom smiled. “Beautiful.” He held a paper bag full of groceries. “Ready?”

  “Can’t I eat at the diner?” Pan said a little disappointed.

  His smile turned apologetic. “I don’t want to linger.”

  Pan waited until after dusk to say, “Can we pull over? I need to stretch my legs.”

  “There’s a place a little further up here I think.”

  It was after midnight and there was no one else on the road. They could see for miles as there was nothing but desert and sky stretching on like they were about to collide. A few minutes later Dom turned off onto the desert.

  Pan glanced out the back window to find she could no longer see the road. She didn’t say anything, trusting Dom’s navigational instincts. Coming up on some boulders, he stopped, his headlights illuminating the ground ahead. Throwing open the door, Pan jumped out and ran up to the little oasis nestled in the boulders, a few pieces of foliage growing around it.

  “It’s so beautiful,” she said, breathless.

  “I knew I smelled mineral water,” Dom said, getting out.

  The water was so pure and blue, untainted by man’s chemicals. Pan knelt and trailed her fingers in it. It was warm, a fine mist rolling along the top. Standing, she tilted her face up to Nut’s protective star speckled belly, arched like a filly.

  Coming up behind her, Dom wrapped his arms around her. Pan rested her arms on top of his. Rubbing his hands, she took a deep breath. “The air is so sweet.”

  There was such a preternatural beauty in the essence of nothing decorating the world but faceless, expressionless land.

  “It is.” He kissed down her neck. “Do you want to go swimming?”

  “I can’t swim.” She felt sheepish admitting that.

  “How is that possible?” Laughter laced his voice.

  “I’m just not very good at it. I almost drowned once.”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t let you go.”

  He walked down to the deeper end and dove in. Climbing on a rock, Pan slowly eased her legs in. Her heart began to race. It looked deep, definitely deeper than she was tall. She pushed back on the rock, drawing her legs out.

  “I’m scared.”

  His raven hair wetted back, Dom swam up to her and took her by her waist. “I got you.”

  Having no doubt he wouldn’t let her go, Pan grabbed his shoulders and let him ease her into the water. The water made her dress completely transparent, but Pan didn’t care. Past, present, and future all wound into one braided thread. Somewhere in time, a space beyond this place, he, her husband, had already shared her bed.

  Pan tilted her head back in the water and Dom smoothed his hands over her hair. Lifting her head, he brought his hands to her face and sweetly kissed her. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

  “How can our love feel so old with intensity when it’s so new?”

  “Soul mates. I feel the sear of it in my chest that has been cold for far too long without the beat of a heart.”

  Pan kissed the corner of his lips. “Then I shall give you my heart. Hold it close and take care of it.”

  “Oh,” Dom said, gazing at her lips. “I will do more than that. I will horde it away and never give it back.”

  Pan smiled, wrapping her legs around his waist as he began to pull her around. His large hands supported her back as she floated, staring up at the sky. He slid his hand between her breasts to the back of her neck and pulled her up.

  An hour later they lay on the hood of his car, Pan nestled against his side, his arm around her. The night was warm, their clothes nearly dry.

  “There’s Orion, the Hunter.” Dom pointed it out. “Taurus is above it with Monoceros the Unicorn to the left, but you’re probably still a little too human to see it.”

  “I’m a Taurus.”

  “I know, born on May 20th at 8:18 at night.”

  “Everything seems so insignificant when you study the stars. I can’t wait till we reach Mexico. As soon as we do we’ll practically be free of our father’s rule. No longer their trophies or pawns, pushed away when all goes wrong. And then we can truly be together.”

  Grabbing her chin, Dom tilted her face to look at him. Concern shadowed his eyes.

  “Do not hold any false beliefs that every moment I spend with you are the very favorite moments of my life Pan. I could live a thousand years and never touch you as sweetly and innocently as I do now and if I was to die at the end of those thousand years I would surrender my life knowing I had never been happier.” His aqua blue gems searched her eyes. “Okay?”

  Pan nodded. “Okay.”

  He lowered his face to hers, caressing her lips with his. “We’re almost there my love.”

  Something wet splashed her cheek. Pan looked up at the sky, seeing patches of clouds had rolled in.

  + + +

  Dom watched Pan’s face light up as she laughed. He hadn’t been undead for long, but even in his humanity it had been the rarest occurrences to find something so small inspire such a beautifully innocent expression of genuine happiness.

  She slid from the hood to bask in the headlights of the car. Sitting up on his elbows, Dom watched Pan tilt her face up, sticking out her tongue.

  He laughed. “Aren’t you supposed to do that with snowflakes?”

  She paused and considered. The slight frown on her lips as she tried to figure out if he was right was beyond adorable.

  “No,” she said at last and with authority. “Snowflakes are crystallized rain so you can do it with both.”

  “How could I be so stupid?”

  Pan laughed as the heavens unleashed a sudden downpour, drenching them in seconds.

  The parched cracked earth and shale soaked up the water so fast it hardly had time to pool.

  Dom watched fascinated as Pan twirled, dancing to the earth’s crying orchestra. Under the moon she set his heart to swoon, dancing in her own enchanted romance like a fairy upon the green lacking sands, like a nymph tossing her head about with long disheveled hair, her feet muddy and bare.

  “Dance with me!” Pan said, reaching her arms out for him.

  Dance, sing, she had him doing things that only a girl wearing his ring could command.

  Sliding off the hood, Dom took her in his arms. Her, him and the rain, perfect in its small range of domain. She rested her head against his chest as they swayed.

  Love, he thought, is a spirit of compact fire that will not sink with its heaviness, but aspire upon Cupid’s readiness to do his heavenly hire.

  And he was gladly an all-consuming consumer.<
br />
  Bright lights suddenly flashed, blinding his supernatural eye. Dom’s heart sank. They had been so close.

  Three Escalades and a Jeep barreled towards them over the land. He knew they hadn’t had long, but he thought they had longer than this. He didn’t say anything, but let Pan remain in oblivious bliss. He just wanted to hold her a moment longer.

  + + +

  Pan opened her eyes as light flickered across her closed lids. Her heart dropped in horror.

  “It appears no matter how fast and far we run they will always catch us,” Dom said.

  Pan looked up at him with pleading eyes. “Can’t we run?”

  His face was grim. “They’ll only chase.”

  Tears filled Pan’s eyes, invisible against the rain.

  But Dom noticed. “Don’t cry. These trials and woes only become our foes if we let them. We will be together.”

  Pan nodded and rested her head against his chest. “I’m beginning to think it only in death.”

  The convoy of cars stopped. All the doors swung open and a dozen Rose vampires got out, getting soaked. Pan wrapped her arms around Dom’s neck afraid to let go, terrified of what they would do to him. An involuntary shiver ran through her.

  “Don’t be afraid.”

  This situation demanded fear, yet Dom’s voice was steady calm, almost like a soothing balm.

  “They’ll kill you,” she whispered.

  “The gray Wrangler.”

  Just then the four doors of it were thrown open and his crew, Urijah, Deacon, and the three others climbed out. All but Urijah glanced about, nervous at being outnumbered.

  Andre stalked forward, expression fierce, eyes glowing a blue so faint they were white.

  “Pandora!” he roared, muscles straining in his neck.

  “No,” she said, clutching Dom tighter.

  “Pandora!” Andre roared again. “Now!”

  Pan shook her head. “I can’t leave you.” She looked up at Dom. “I won’t.”

  “All will be fine,” he assured, his expression hard and determined. “Trust me and go.”

  Tears filled Pan’s eyes all over again, this time spilling over.

  “Go,” he said again. “You’re breaking my heart with those eyes.” He ran his thumb under one. “Go.”

  Pan nodded. His face was so devastatingly grave. To see it light again, she knew she would have to be brave.

  “Okay,” she said. “I love you.”

  Cupping her cheek, he took her hand in his other. “I love you too.”

  Pan pushed up on her toes to kiss him. Raphael’s enraged bellow had her pulling away sooner than she wanted. Teeth bared, he paced in a fast fury. Pan headed for them, but Dom was reluctant to drop her hand. Arms stretched between them, she looked back. Face sad, he let go.

  Pan headed to Andre. She crossed her arms over her chest as Raphael’s eyes dropped, taking in her virtually nude body, her wet dress revealing nearly everything. Andre slipped off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders. Climbing in the truck, he slid in after her, slamming the door shut.

  Pan had never seen his expression this terrifying.

  “Drive,” he ordered then addressed her through clenched teeth. “If you didn’t have such a pretty, slender neck I’d wring it.”

  Raphael rounded on her in the front seat. “You dare—”

  “Raphael,” Andre snapped. “Shut the fuck up.”

  Raphael glared, but faced forward. Circling around, Pan watched Dom standing illuminated in the headlights, eyes glowing silver, top plastered to his chest. Her chin began to quiver as her vision blurred.

  “Save your tears,” Andre said. “They’ll be demanded in waves with your peers.”

  A snowflake in the desert, her avenging angel melted into the darkness.

  + Chapter 32 +

  Such Divinity Is an Obscenity

  Andre brought Pan to the vampire embassy where she was summoned to appear before Victor. At first she had been scared, but fear had turned into anger. It was the madness of insanity. Besides, she had no need to worry. Andre was doing enough of it for the both of them.

  Wearing a short skintight black lace dress with long sleeves and a high neck that was transparent to her boy shorts and bra paired with buckled army boots and a purple star barrette in her hair, she was the semblance of open defiance.

  Striding boldly into the hall, Andre behind her, Pan stopped in the center of the floor.

  Resembling a statue, cold and distant appearing, Victor sat on his throne, his men on either side of him. Pan’s eyes fell to his drumming fingers. He. Was. Furious.

  “Father,” she said.

  Victor’s nostrils flared at her insolent tone. “What have you to say for yourself Pandora?”

  “By whatever do you mean?”

  In a burst, Victor shoved to his feet with a snarl. “Do not insult me by pretending to be ignorant of your betrayal to me! Not once, but twice! You have completely disregarded my orders and your birthing in this coven by running away with a Gray!”

  Fist clenching at her sides, Pan stomped her foot. “I love him!”

  “He is a Gray!”

  Moonbeams illuminated her eyes as if they borrowed its silver shine, but they were clouded with repine and crystal tears that gave light to her heart fight not to crumble further at her father’s thunderous word rumble.

  “I don’t care! I love him and he loves me!”

  “Do you hear how ridiculous and childish you sound? This divinity you claim of him is an obscenity!”

  “Good because he is the idol of my worship. None can compare and none should even try to dare!”

  Victor flashed down the stairs so fast Pan didn’t see him until he appeared before her. His arm darted out and Pan gasped and choked as he gripped her throat. Clutching his wrist, she looked at him with huge eyes. His were nearly completely black. Snarling, he spun so he was kneeling on one leg, bending her backwards over it, her back severely arched.

  “Don’t you comprehend?!” Victor yelled, the force of his voice resonating through her. “Your actions will resonate so far you can’t amend!”

  He pushed her head back to reveal her neck, baring his teeth to bite. Tears spilled from Pan’s eyes as she clutched his arm, waiting for the pain.

  “You refuse to submit to me?” Victor growled.

  Pan closed her eyes. It wasn’t in her nature to give up and give in even when her crime was her coven’s worst sin. Pan turned her face to look at her father.

  “Yes,” she whispered, knowing it could cost her life.

  His cold black eyes searched hers. A smile pulled at the corner of his lips.

  “I would expect nothing less of my daughter,” Victor said. Releasing her neck, he stood in a flourish, pulling her up with him. “This is the last time you will defy me. You are forbidden to see him again. If you do I will have him put to death. My leniency is over.”

  “You can’t—”

  Victor slapped her. Pan gasped, cupping her stinging cheek. She didn’t know if she was more shocked by the pain of it or the fact that he had done it. He had never hit her before. Andre stepped forward, but Victor whipped around on him, snarling. Jaw clenched, Andre bowed his head in submission, his eyes remaining fierce.

  “I can do anything,” Victor said, straightening his robe. He strode back to his dais.

  Fresh tears pooled in her eyes. “You can’t,” Pan said, her voice trembling.

  Climbing the stairs, he resumed his seat. “I have. As of now you are further by engaged to Raphael.”

  Pan’s mouth fell open. She looked at Raphael seeing a huge evil grin split his face.

  “You willingly doom me to damnation? If I must marry, I’ll marry—” Pan searched for a name. “Andre! I’ll marry Andre!”

  Raphael threw Andre a fuming glare.

  Victor looked at Andre also, eyebrows raised in appraisal. “Well?”

  Andre glanced at her then looked back to Victor, squaring his shoulders. “I am devot
ed to Pan in any way, shape, or form, whether it is as guardian—or husband.”

  “Sweet,” Victor said, his tone holding a sting of bitterness. “But the matter remains no longer in Pandora’s hands since she has violated my rules yet again. My decision is final.”

  “I will never marry him!”

  Victor shoved to his feet again. “You insolent disobedient wench! You will marry

  Raphael or never after look me in the face! Tonight you will board a plane to an undisclosed location and will remain there until I alert you otherwise.”

  “Banishment?” Pan gasped. “Be merciful, say death!”

  “You’re lucky I have not! You are dismissed, leave now before—”

  Pan whirled around, walking fast. She stormed through the halls, fighting back more tears. Running down the stairs, she ran to the Hummer and jumped in the back, not waiting for Andre. He jogged out seconds later and hopped in.

  Pulling out, when they were past the gates and guards, Pan burst out crying. Lying down on the seat, she sobbed hard and loud. She was exhausted with crying, but if anything deserved tears, it was this, it hurt so badly.

  She needed to call Dom. It was an overwhelming need. Sitting up, Pan pulled the cell phone she had stolen from Khalil from her purse on the floor. Wiping her eyes so she could see, she dialed and got nothing but a dial tone. Letting out an ear piercing scream, she chucked the phone. Andre ducked as it hit the windshield.

  Reaching the Rose mansion, Pan rushed from the car and ran in. Bursting through her bedroom doors, she ran to the landline and snatched up the phone. Holding it up, her eyes went round, staring at the cord that had been cut. Crying out, Pan threw it across the room and shoved everything off the table.

  Her knees giving out she fell to the floor, slumping against the bed. Andre strode in and headed to her huge walk-in closet. He came back out with her Louis Vuitton trunk and luggage pinned under his arms. Dropping them, he doubled back and came out with a stack of dresses on silk hangers.

  Calmness washing over her, Pan watched him repeat the process four times. When he was satisfied with what he had got he went to her vanity and pushed everything important looking to a girl into a hatbox. Taking out a drawer full of barrettes he dumped that in too.