Roses Wither: Into the Darkness
Twenty

Chase

I had not seen Rosa in two days. Matthias took over some of her training and I wasn’t getting much in the form of information about her, other than her favorite color, which was purple. Her favorite food, something called a Caesar salad, and her favorite book, Pride and Prejudice. That, and that she packed a hell of a punch for such a little thing, as he had said.

Nico decided on another dinner outing tonight, one that I had attempted to opt out of, but was unable to remove myself from. We sat in complete, awkward silence, for some time before our meal.

I knew why my sire was doing this, as I watched him sitting at the rounded table with the two chairs on either side of him empty. He never took a round table, but tonight he had, then he had made certain that not even Rosa sat directly next to him, by directing us to our seats.

He had directed Rosa to the empty place to his right, avoiding the now empty chair, and me to her right, followed by another empty chair, then Clara and Matthias.

Had this been years ago, I would have assumed that he was showing his cards, having fathered the Queen and they were seeing that she was under the protection of the most feared guard for centuries, but now I knew better. He was pairing Rosa and I as the Queen, with her King.

This restaurant was a vampire owned establishment. More specifically, it was also full of vampires this evening. I knew a few in my days as the head of the guard. I had trained them.

No one would lay one hand on her, in fear of our retribution, but in his mind, doing this was his way of keeping her safe.

“So, Rosa,” After ordering, Matthias grinned across the table at her, “How old are you exactly?”

“Twenty-one.” Her answer was like a whip.

“What do you do for fun in the US?” He slyly leaned back in his chair, making his six foot four inch frame sink slightly, “You know, aside from mating with wolves that you have no business in being with in the first place.”

I glanced at Nico who just watched and sipped his wine while her jaw went tight with her instant response.

“Fuck each other,” She crossed her arms and glared at him, “It’s all we ever do, you know, being dogs and all that.”

Clara tried to hide her laughter, but her father was far from amused.

“Rosa.” He spoke her name in warning.

“Have you ever been with a vampire?” Matthias smirked and Rosa gave her father a pointed look, as if to say, ”See what I’m dealing with.”

“Isn’t your guard all eunuch?” Clara asked and Rosa made the cutest sound, almost like a snort before she tried to cover it up by drinking her wine, and Clara continued on, “I mean, that would explain about the uptight attitude you all hold.”

“Oh, we are all well hung,” He leaned toward her, “Perhaps maybe Chase can show Rosa and she can tell you all about it.”

Rosa’s sip of wine spewed across the table as she began to choke. The droplets hit Matthias and Clara laughed so loudly that it brought us some unnecessary attention.

“I am so sorry!” Rosa gaped when she was finished choking, “I didn’t mean-”

“Never apologize, my baby.” Nico snapped his fingers and a waiter came over to clean the mess, “You are the Queen. I never want to hear you say that you are sorry for anything.”

The waiter paused, looking up at Rosa in shock. She squirmed under his gaze and I began to glare at him.

“Please, stop staring at the Queen,” I spoke to the young vampire, barely able to keep my tone neutral, “You are making her guard uneasy and no one likes it when I am on edge.”

“Sorry, Mr. Guard, Sir.” He nervously went back to his duty and left.

“Mr. Guard, Sir?” Matthias gave me a pointed look.

“Chase, control your man.” Nico warned me quietly, “Before I do.”

“Matthias, I am highly respected amongst Nicolae’s people.” I held my chin as the soldier I was, as I spoke to my brother, “I have protected them and fought for them since my turning. Rosa is Nicolae’s daughter and our Queen. She is a Goddess. I am here to protect, nothing more. Neither one of us is to be questioned, mocked, or teased. Do you understand?”

“No,” Matthias pointed at the table as he spoke, “I don’t understand. You, The Guard, have been in hiding for days and her highness has had a stick up her tight little ass. Her vampire has not come out willingly until you came around tonight, and for some reason, you are suddenly very tight. You two are fated and you need to give in to the temptation before it consumes you.”

“It’s not that simple.” Rosa whispered through teary eyes, now finally back to their beautiful gray hue.

“Why not?” Matthias gaped at her, “He is right here, as are you.”

“I have a mate.” She swallowed hard.

“Oh, where is he now, your highness?” Matthias’s eyebrows shot up as he dug his dagger in deeper, “Is he under the table, looking for scraps?”

I moved to stand, to remove him, but at the same time Rosa’s heeled foot moved out and kicked. Unfortunately, she missed him and got me. My damn legs were too long and my movement had that pointed little shoe kicking me right in the shin.

“Nice shot.” I leaned in and whispered, trying not to laugh at her face as she realized who she had made contact with.

“I am so sorry.” She mumbled, gaping up at me in shock while Matthias laughed.

“Rosa.” Her father warned again.

“Sorry.” She went to apologize to her father for apologizing, then covered her face in embarrassment and mumbled, “Shit! I can’t even fucking do this right!”

“You are doing fine,” I leaned in to whisper, “It will come to you with time.”

The smile she gave me was one of pure beauty, but Clara cut it off by laying into my brother.

“Why is this clown even here?” She sneered at him as he laughed.

“I am here, because my brother obviously needs help with his game.” He wagged his eyebrows at Rosa and she visibly cringed, “Especially, if she would rather play with feral dogs.”

“You know, I only met you, and I already want to jam a knife in your chest.” Rosa glared as her eyes freckled with that silver again, but this time for another reason. Giving way to another sign that she was a Tepes, “That’s a new one.”

“Why don’t we just cut his head off?” I sighed speaking under my breath, “Much more effective on shutting him up.”

“Only you would go with that.” Clara glared at me and I understood my slip up.

“What? Five centuries is too soon, Clara?” Matthias glared at her now, his voice low and ominous, “Chase only killed your mother. Your witches killed two of my brothers that day and almost killed him.”

Rosa’s power unfurled around her, and I forgot about everything, as I closed my eyes for a moment to control myself from the impact it left on me. Biting into my lower lip told me that my fangs had extended as well. Her power alone pulled me into her. It was like a caress. One that I has trouble denying.

"Almost being the key word,” Clara hissed through her anger, not noticing Rosa’s power unfurl, “Maybe we should wage another war against your kind and I can finish the rest of you!”

The vibration was surrounding us now, and when I controlled myself enough to open my eyes, heads in the restaurant were all turned, so people could get a look at where the power was emanating from.

“I have had enough shit for one evening.” Rosa snapped, her voice growing loud as she leaned across the table, her slight accent thickening with her anger, “I am Rosamond Tepes. I was born with the powers of the Earth and the Moon, and I will no longer stand for anyone’s censure for any race that they were not born into! Do you all understand me?! We need to come together now more than ever! There is a bigger war coming! One we have never seen the likes of! Don’t you realize that there are no victories in the end of this?! Not when a loved one is left to mourn!”

“I am sorry, your highness,” Clara whispered, bowing her head in respect for her queen, “I will keep my feelings to myself.”

“Am I heard throughout?!” Rosa looked around the restaurant, not dropping her power or the gaze of anyone who gaped at her, “I know you are my father’s people. If any of you disagree with me, you can leave now, because we will be united! The creatures of the Moon and the Earth will work together! We will all fight as one!”

I watched her, the Queen, as her anger took over and her power warmed the room. No one moved, but one by one, every patron in the restaurant bowed their head in respect for the Queen.

There was no way that I was meant to be with this woman. There was no way that this beautiful Queen would want a soldier. Perhaps that is why she picked the wolf before had even met. Perhaps he was more fitted for her than I.

“I am sorry, your highness.” Matthias bowed his head, “I will watch myself.”

“Oh, look!” Nico smiled happily as the waiter brought our food, “Dinner has arrived.”

Of course he was happy, his daughter had used her power, opening it freely. Around his clutch. She was the Queen.

Rose

Spar, rest, spar, eat, spar, sleep. This wasn’t far off with how I grew up, but at least then, I had my freedom. Mother allowed me to come and go as I pleased. She trusted me.

“Okay, what now?” I gave a nod to the two men standing in front of me, critiquing my stance.

“She acts loose, but when it comes to the fight, she is tight, precise, and her mind is relaxed.” Matthias told him, not removing his eyes from me, like I were some feral animal.

“Perhaps a little too relaxed.” Chase spoke about me like a science experiment, “It’s almost like she shuts down completely. There is no emotion in her fight.”

“I use emotion.” I scoffed.

He looked questioningly at me, like what I had said confused him.

“Brother, I don’t think that us critiquing her technique is a good way to get on the Queen’s good side.” Matthias clapped him on the back and he looked away.

That was one thing. Although Chase and I were back to sparring, something was different. He was all business, even more now than before, and he wouldn’t look me in the eye. Not since dinner the other night.

“Chase is a bit of a... Warrior.” He gave a nod to me, “He has spent years as each The Lost, The Hunter, The Warrior, and The Guard. We don’t mean anything by it, other than to help you when he isn’t around.”

That was the kicker. My vampire always came out to play when Chase was near, but when it had been just Matthias and I nothing happened, unless he beat the crap out of me.

Something that Matthias had said stuck with me though... The Lost? The Hunter? Where had I heard those names before?

Matthias had literally gone out of his way to annoy me since he had arrived, so he was probably joking, but it didn’t stop me from going through my father’s journals later that night.

Chase and I hadn’t talked about that day or the awkward dinner at all, and I avoided being alone with him at all costs.

The more we were together, the more my mind wandered, my instincts kicked in, and I wanted him. Oh Goddess, how I wanted him...

I couldn’t have him though, even though my bond with Aiden had been fading. It was my realization that I had to be alone, for what was to come.

The Goddesses were against me on this, so I needed to fight it to the best of my ability. It was a cruel punishment, based on the fact that he had the body of a gladiator and the face of a god, but it was one I had to take...

Yeah... I had caught myself drooling over him today, when he wasn’t looking, and yes, I had trouble controlling my eyes around him, but I was doing my best.

The dreams last night were what got to me the most though. No one likes waking up in a sweat, craving something they can never have.

These fantasies in my sleep were not a new occurrence, but their intensity was. Which could only mean one thing. That now, with my cloudy bond to Aiden and Chase nearby, my wolf had fully gone into heat, because she wanted him too.

The Earth Goddess and the Moon Goddess both wanted me affixed to the same man. I assumed that’s why he was built with everything I found attractive in a guy. But why?

Needless to say, I found that the less sleep I got, the better, and the less time around Chase would be the best.

I focused on sparring and spent most of my free time sitting by the fire, mulling over my father’s books. I actually found the silence intoxicatingly warm and inviting.

“What are you doing?” Clara leaned over my shoulder, looking at my book.

“I’m trying to replace something from my father’s histories.” I continued to thumb through it, “There’s a lot missing though. Like, decades.”

“I didn’t think you paid attention in these histories.” She grinned.

“I tried not to, but when you have these,” I pointed to the markings on my arms, “It’s kind of hard.”

“What are you looking for exactly?” She sat down next to me and grabbed a book.

“Stuff about The Lost.”

“The Lost?” Her brow furrowed as a smile creased her face.

“Yeah. I believe it will be toward the beginnings.”

“Why are you so curious about The Lost all of a sudden?” She began thumbing through the one in her hands.

“Someone mentioned it.” I shrugged and continued on.

“Someone very buff and blonde?” She snorted.

She had been doing well, not to insult them, but I still didn’t feel like I could talk to her about this situation of me being in heat for Chase.

I looked over at the book she grabbed and laughed, “I wouldn’t read that one, unless you want to read about my conception.”

Hours later, Clara was in bed, it was two AM, and I had finally found something.

“Here it is...” I spoke aloud and began to read the words written in my father’s language.

"I met a man today who looked no older than seventeen, aside from his height.

The boy had the face of an angel and an empty stare. I could only believe him to be one of The Lost. A being that I had only ever heard of and believed to be a myth my mother taught me as a child.

This man-child had no fear of me, no emotion when he spoke of battle. He had a presence that I have never felt before.

The Lost are spoken to have survived wars, and it is said that they were given eternal life through the church, in which we worship.

There are seven of them and I had only met one, but the impression he left in me was that he had strength, power, and that he was something otherworldly. Almost like an angel of death."

“Wait... The Angel of Death? He had mentioned that in later books too." My brow furrowed, but I read on.

"Intrigued, when we parted ways, I followed the boy into the forest, to a barren campsite. Where there were six others like him, all with no fire, no food and nothing to sleep on. All were of the same stature, but none were similar to the boy. He had a force about him that I couldn’t place.

One of the boys asked him if he had “killed the target” and his response interested me.

“I didn’t sense him,” The boy spoke, “He is not demon.”

I watched in silence as they all lay still and motionless on the Earth’s surface, wondering how this was God’s way, to allow man to sleep on the cold earth and not feel it.

A man emerged from a decaying barn nearby, wearing black robes and stood between all the boys. Even my ear couldn’t understand his tongue, but the boys all stood and moved to the barn as if ordered. It was then, that I saw the extent that these boys were put through by these so called priests. This was not the work of the church.

This was the work of the devil himself. These boys stood in still formation and waited, as the men went down the line, splitting their necks, and pouring blood into their open throats.

What shocked me more, was when the boys would heal. They healed. Not being of vampire, it is not normal, but they would come back, stand in formation as though nothing had happened, and the men would move onto the next.

When it came to the last boy, the one I had seen in the market, he was told to remove his overcoat, which revealed markings on his forearms and chest. Godly markings of the rosary and a cross, with wording that even my vampire eye couldn't read.

I watched in shock as the boy examined his skin, as if he was unaware that he’d had such markings.

As the boy did this, one of the dark priests were shouting at him in a foreign language. He replied with a soldier’s tone in the same tongue, while another robbed man pulled out a knife that burned with blue embers.

This knife was different than the one they had used on the others and I watched the boy stand stiff, staring at the blade as the priests shouted back and forth.

It appeared that this knife might kill the boy, with the way he watched the blade, and I couldn’t allow it.

Lord, please help me. I don't know what overcame me, but I set fire to that barn and slayed the demon priests.

The boy had blatantly told me that he was sent to kill me, but I freed him. Perhaps it will be my death, but this boy could be important to my prophecy. I needed to protect him.”

“I have to replace the stuff about the Angel of Death...” I grabbed the book I had been looking at first. Around twelve hours ago, "I know he referred to the boy as that later on too."

Speaking of the markings was more than enough to indicate that he was referring to Chase, but I needed proof. I needed to know.

I opened the book and flipped to the chapter of the battle I knew was there.

"There he was, the Angel of Death, staring back at me from across the battlefield. He had waged this war against my coven. He and his brethren.

The Angel of death is now the leader of The Seven. No more, does he look like a tall, stringy boy. He is a warrior now, and the way he watched me, says that he will not rest until I am dead.

I should have killed the boy when I had the opportunity."

“Wow, pops...” I mumbled, “Morbid a bit much?”

There was another battle too, I knew it. Why couldn’t I replace that book?