by Tara Brown
"Hanna it isn’t like that at all." Lydia spoke frowning.
Hanna got up from the table suddenly and walked from the room. She worried her father had been nothing but another notch on Aimee's belt. Aimee and Ari, she wondered what kind of girls they had been before they became what they were?
She walked up the stairs to the second floor. She passed the room where the smell of sickness filled the air. She looked in to see the sick girl smiling at her.
"Hey."
Hanna smiled, "Hey."
"You can come in if you want to."
Hanna nodded and walked into the room.
The girl looked sick and fragile. Her long silky dark hair sat around her thin face. Her eyes looked weak.
"Are you the new girl?"
Hanna shrugged, "Maybe. I'm Hanna."
"I'm Giselle."
"Are you one of them?"
She shook her head, "I'm friends with Aimee."
Hanna frowned, "Oh wow, you're like a human. I didn’t think she had human friends. She's pretty cold."
The girl shook her head, "No she's the best. Aimes is like the sister I never had. I've known her for like a million years, she's awesome."
Hanna nodded, "I'll take your word for it I guess. Why are you in here?"
"I'm dying. I let Vampires feed off of me and I fed off of them."
Hanna frowned recalling her and Marcus in the woods, "You can die from that?"
The girl laughed, "No duh. I had a liver transplant, Aimee and me were drugged by a rapist science teacher at like a party. It made Aimee what she is now and almost killed us both. I got my new liver but it was still crazy weak. The vamps were doing mad drugs and feeding me their blood."
"It's called Blood Drugging. It makes the human high with the Vampire."
Aimee walked into the room.
Hanna felt a low growl in her throat, seeing the girl standing there with streaks of blood on her.
"I am sorry Hanna. I was only ever doing what he asked me to. I didn’t want him to die, but he was going to change any second. It would have been the last change of his life, his body was dying. The beast was too strong for his weak body to hold back any longer."
Hanna watched her face. She looked sorry and yet she was covered in someone else's blood. "You're apologizing for killing my dad, my only family. Yet you're covered in the blood of someone else."
Aimee lowered her grey blue eyes, "I had no control. When I saw what they had done, I lost it. There were other girls…" She looked up but her eyes were haunted, "I killed every one of them. No one will ever suffer from them again."
Giselle smiled, "Dude you didn’t have to do that. I wanted to go to the club."
Aimee shook her head, "You were becoming an addict. The blood is addictive on its own, adding cocaine and ecstasy to it only makes it worse. They knew that."
Giselle shrugged, "Whatevs nut ball, you got goo all over you. It's nasty."
Aimee blushed, "I'm going home for a shower. I have to speak to Lorri and find out what we can do to fix you."
Giselle laughed, "Girl you can't like fix this. I'm like a cat with nine lives and this is the ninth."
Aimee reached for her hand but Giselle pulled back horrified making Aimee laugh, "It's going to be okay. We will find a way."
"Go shower, you smell."
Aimee nodded, looking at Hanna, "I really am sorry Hanna. Your father was an amazing man. I never knew he meant for you to be there. I promised him in the end I would do it the way he wanted."
Hanna nodded, feeling the piss and vinegar wash out of her, "Thanks."
Aimee turned and left, "Be back in a bit." She was gone from the room with a whoosh.
Giselle frowned, "Don't let it fool you. She isn’t always like this. She's super worried about her sister. She used to be, like, funny. She was a huge nerd, like I mean science camp smart."
Hanna looked up, "Seriously?"
Giselle nodded, "Dude she was like quiet and smart and nerdy. She saved my life. Now she's kind of hard and cold. You only ever see her laugh and shit with Shane. We went to school with him."
Hanna nodded, "Crazy." She couldn’t help thinking about her fathers note. She wondered if Aimee would be able to decipher the numbers and letters in the equations. If she could solve it without Marcus things would get a lot simpler for her.
Chapter Twenty-One: Look into my eyes, you are feeling sexy, very sexy
Aleksander
He felt ashamed of himself as he walked into Giselle's room seeing Hanna there.
He smirked at her, "Hey."
Hanna blushed, he could see her eyes remembering their first meeting.
Giselle seemed oblivious, which wasn’t new for her.
He cleared his throat, "Can I talk to you?"
Hanna nodded and got up from the chair, "It was nice hanging with you." She spoke softly.
Giselle smiled, "Yeah come back and visit. The circus freaks here are not as entertaining as I thought they would be."
Hanna laughed and followed Aleks out into the hallway.
He felt anxious about saying what he was about to say, "I need you to go back to Marcus."
She frowned, "What?"
He felt the shame crossing his face, "I need him to save that girl and the only way he will do it is if you go back."
She crossed her arms, "No."
He looked at the hurt on her face, "Hanna, look I know we had a weird meeting for the first time. I'm confused by it too. I can't seem to keep my thoughts on what they need to be on when I'm around you." He looked her directly in the eyes and smiled his most charming smile, "I don’t want you to go back to him but I can't let her die. It's all my fault she's even sick."
He watched as her eyes dilated, as she drank in his charms and nodded, "Okay."
He smiled again.
She reached into her shirt and pulled out a piece of paper, "I need Aimee to go over this and text me the answers."
He took the paper, "Okay I will get her to do it when she gets back. Can I take you there now?"
She smiled staring up into his face. He bent kissing her lips softly. He couldn’t help himself. She kissed him back wrapping her arms around him.
It seemed when he used his charms on her they bounced back on him.
He lifted her into the air, holding her against him.
"I need to go home. I need to see Roland first. I will go right after my birthday party. I promised Roland I would be there for it. It's tonight."
He nodded and instantly they were standing in the foyer of her house. She looked peaceful seeing her surroundings. He watched her sigh and lighten up. He didn’t know how she had been able to fight his persuasion but she had. She had chosen her birthday over Giselle. He assumed she didn’t realize the severity, not the way he did.
Roland walked in smiling, "My dear girl you made it in time. I have the dresses and all the ladies to do your hair in your room upstairs. They've only just arrived."
Aleksander couldn’t bear to smile at the old man, he had betrayed Hanna in the worst way.
Hanna squeezed his hand, "See you tonight then?"
He nodded, bowing slightly, "Tonight."
He was gone and back to the house instantly. He only hoped Giselle would last long enough for Hanna to celebrate her birthday.
Chapter Twenty-Two: The Monster's Ball
Hanna
The dresses all fit remarkably but the pale green one made her hair come alive. She twirled looking at it as her reflection floated past in the mirror. She was excited and nervous. She stood still as the finishing touch was added to her face, a small beaded black masque. It covered the top of her face only.
Roland walked into the room beaming, "You look like a princess. My word that is a dress."
She looked at her reflection and nodded. The dress was a sweetheart cut with silver beading along the bust and hemline. It was pale green with a shimmer to the material. It was strapless and fit perfectly. Her chest made attempts at escaping through
the top, making her wish she had a cover of some sort.
"Your parents would have loved to be here at this moment. They would have done anything to be here Hanna. This was your mother's wish. Its tradition in her family."
She nodded trying not to tear up.
"Your guests are waiting."
She turned to him, "Who have you invited?" She honestly couldn’t think of any friends who would want to come. She had vanished from her world. She responded to no one. Her old friends had stopped texting and messaging her at all.
"Trust me." He offered her an arm. She took it, gripping for dear life.
He led her down the stairs and through the long hall to the great room. As she entered the large opening clapping started up. She looked to see a massive room full of people. Everyone was dressed in gowns and suits. Their faces all wore a masque. They sang happy birthday, making her face blush beneath hers.
The room was transformed. She had never wanted the birthday party. She had ignored the day for years, forcing her aunt to treat it as a normal day. Her mother had made a big deal out of it every year, before she passed away. Hanna had never felt up to it after that.
"I asked Lydia to let you stay with her. I know she wants you there. I needed to prepare. I only hope I was able to do your mothers wishes justice." Roland whispered in her ear.
She felt her eyes water, "It's beautiful. Thank you Roland."
The ceiling was covered in twinkling lights and the walls were filled with vines of a sort, making it seem as if the room went on beyond them. There was a bar set up in one corner and soft music playing from a string quartet in the other corner.
Roland gripped her hand leading her into the room. It felt surreal, the room was packed with people.
Lydia was suddenly in front of her, her eyes sparkled behind a dark purple masque. Hanna would have known it was her from a mile. No ones eyes sparkled like Lydia's. She embraced Hanna warmly, "Happy Birthday dear girl."
Hanna hugged her back, "Thank you Lydia."
Instantly she started to recognize the eyes behind the masques, Aimee, Ari, Lucas, Ben, and the little kids from the breakfast table.
A man she didn’t recognize walked up to her smiling with soft looking lips, "Happy Birthday Hanna."
She nodded allowing him to take her hand, "Thank you."
"You don’t recognize me do you?"
She frowned, "No. Sorry."
He laughed, "It's Andy."
She frowned looking harder. Behind the masque she noticed his eyes and laughed, "Thank you for coming."
He shook his head, "I was stunned when Roland asked me to come."
"I'm glad you came." She was telling the truth. She liked him. He was the boy next door.
Aimee walked over with a man, Hanna was pretty sure she didn’t know.
Andy turned and smiled brightly, "Bagley."
The tall man next to Aimee put a hand out, "Paulson, nice to see you man. Weird seeing you here."
"I know right. I'm a friend of the birthday girl. You?"
The tall man pointed to Aimee, "My girl."
Hanna watched his eyes meet Aimee's. Her grey blue eyes sparkled and came to life. Aimee giggled. It was fleeting and Hanna had to pinch herself lightly to be sure she heard it.
"How did you two meet?" Aimee asked still looking randomly at the man beside her.
Andy looked at Hanna and shrugged, "Pulled her from the woods."
Aimee's eyes flashed fear, as if she suddenly realized where they were, "He found you?"
Hanna shook her head, "No he was the police officer who was on my file."
"Weird. I'm being rude, Hanna this is Shane my boyfriend. He works with Andy."
Hanna put her hand out "Nice to meet you."
"You too. Happy birthday."
"Thank you."
Regardless of the fact it was her birthday and all eyes were on her, Hanna felt someone watching her from the other side of the room. She looked up to see the most beautiful eyes in the room, fixed upon her. They watched her from behind a dark grey masque. She felt her breath leave her chest. She bit her lower lip, no longer aware of anyone else in the room.
He walked to her as she turned toward him and away from the people she was speaking with.
"May I have this dance?"
His hand came out for hers. She put her hand into his. The warmth of it sent a shiver up her back.
As his arms encompassed her, he spoke softly in her ear, "Hanna I told you not to take anyone's hand."
She smiled remembering his beautiful face.
"Sam."
He chuckled, "You didn’t recognize me?"
She shook her head. She couldn’t speak, feeling her chest being crushed into his.
"Sam why do I feel like I know you?" She spoke softly, struggling with her words. Something about him made her thighs ignite.
"I feel the same way. I find myself lost, watching you." He kissed her cheek tenderly, "Happy birthday Hanna."
He held her against him as if he were savoring every second he got. She forgot anyone else was in the room.
The song felt as if it was over too quickly. He stepped back smiling, "Thanks for the dance."
She gripped his hand, but his eyes darted behind her. She heard a throat clear in the background, but all she saw was Sam. His eyes were black pools she wanted to get lost in. He let her hand drop and stepped into the crowd. The further away he got the colder she got.
She turned to see Andy smiling at her, "Want to dance?"
She glanced at the people milling about and nodded. Andy pulled her to the open space near where the quartet played and took her in his arms.
"Are you having a good birthday?"
She nodded as she looked across the room, wondering where Sam had gone.
"Weird your friend came with my friend." She spoke after a moment, realizing she was being rude.
He nodded, "It is weird."
"How long have you known him?"
"A couple years, we joined the police at the same time."
She looked into his eyes, she felt the same attraction for him but something was in the way suddenly.
As the song ended she felt another tap on her shoulder, "May I cut in?"
She recognized the dark blue eyes immediately, "No."
Marcus stared her down, "Please."
She felt Andy tense, "She said no."
Hanna flinched watching Marcus react to being spoken to by Andy. She turned back to Andy and smiled reassuringly, "It's okay. I was joking."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded and let Marcus take her into his arms.
She felt as if they were floating above the ground, she wouldn’t be surprised if they were.
"Hanna I need to explain."
She looked away from him, "No."
He kissed her cheek softly, "Hanna please come home with me. I need to explain everything. What you think was happening was not. I would never do that…"
She turned sharply cutting him off, "I don’t want to know."
His eyes pleaded with her, which she was certain was new for him, "Hanna."
She shook her head, "No." She hated him. She hated that he'd hurt her. She'd been in his castle for days and he'd tried nothing. Instead he brought his own entertainment. She felt disgusted.
"Hanna you are mine."
She felt another tap on her shoulder. She felt Marcus tighten himself around her, as she looked to see Aleks smiling down on her, "May I cut in?"
She pushed Marcus back, "Of course."
Chapter Twenty-Three: That puts a Sam in the works
Aleksander
His hands took hers and in a swift and fluid motion he pulled Hanna into his arms and away from Marcus.
"Aleks." Marcus growled.
Aleks smirked, "Maybe she will save you the next dance." He danced them away from Marcus.
He looked down at Hanna, "You okay?"
She smiled, "Yeah just tired of the nonsense."
He laughed, "I
know the feeling."
She looked around, "Who is everyone?"
"Us, what's left of the Roses. Daniel has done a number on us. This is about half of what we had for numbers."
"How does Roland know them?"
"I don’t know, he and Lydia have a thing I think."
She made a face, "Ewwww, really. Wow. They're old."
He laughed, "Hey I'm old."
"You look good still."
He kissed her cheek, "Happy Birthday Hanna."
"Thanks, so who is Sam?"
"He's Nephilim."
She rolled her eyes, "I wish everyone would stop saying that like it meant something to me."
He laughed, "Half angel and half human. He's more powerful than the others."
"He has the strangest effect on me. I feel like I've known him my whole life."
They finished their dance and he stood off to the side as she danced with everyone. The night seemed magical. He felt horrid knowing he would be delivering her into the arms of evil at the end of the night. He had ensured she had drunk several glasses of champagne. Every time he saw her he used his charms to remind her of her promise. He felt anxious thinking about it. He watched her dance with Sam again. He could see the spark between them. He knew he would need to quell it for at least a few days. He would need her to enjoy being with Marcus.
"You better not be double crossing me,"
He turned to see Marcus sipping a scotch beside him.
"If I didn’t need your help I would tell you to shove it."
Marcus smirked, "We used to be best friends Aleks, what happened?"
He felt a burn in his stomach, "You, you always happen. You ruin everything."
The smirk never left his face but Aleks could see the haunted look in his dark eyes.
****
Hanna came to him at the end of the evening, "I've said goodnight to Roland. I'm ready. Aleks I want you to know I'm not happy about this."
"Why? I thought you and Marcus had a thing."
She sighed leaning into him, "We did, maybe we still do. Something feels different. Anyway I told Roland I was going to be spending more time at Lydia's. I'm giving you a couple days to get this sorted with Giselle and Marcus."
