Rose Blossom

chapter 8





"Hey Rho, Julian, great costumes!"

I grinned as Julian and I got another compliment for his great costume choice. We were an hour into Mel's Halloween party. There were black and orange decorations, black lights flickering in the corners that lit up scary faces, creepy haunted house music leaked from under closed doors and a table on one side of the room held everything from witch finger cookies to candy eyeballs and punch with a floating ice hand.

Julian's hand was in mine as he twirled me gently around the dance floor. We were dressed as Dracula and Mina. I had my hair in a tight bun and was wearing a blue black Victorian gown, and of course two oozing vampire bites decorated my neck. Julian was perfect in a traditional Dracula costume complete with the cape. His fangs shone in the light every time he smiled and they made me a little uncomfortable since I knew they were real.

When he had shown up at my house with the costumes I had laughed for 10 minutes straight at the irony. What had been funnier was Avalon dressed like Lucy Westerna. She had on a white nightgown and black eye make up, looking the part of deranged vampiress.

Then I'd almost laughed until tears had leaked out of my eyes, Julian had originally wanted us to go as the couple from Married with Children but Avalon and convinced him out of it. I just couldn't see Julian watching that stupid show.

We danced, slowly, past Mel and Killian who were beautiful as Hamlet and Ophelia. Mel smiled at me, we were better since our movie night and I was as excited as I could have possibly been. I hadn't attended her Halloween party since the year I had been diagnosed. Julian and I danced and laughed; we chatted with high school friends, ate junk and were content with having a drama free night.

"Oh Rhodanthe you look beautiful," Avalon told me as we stood together. She was watching me drink sugary sweet punch. She frowned as I took another sip, "be careful all that sugar is bad for you, your mom told us to make sure you didn't eat too much junk food."

I rolled my eyes at her and we stopped talking to watch a couple dressed as Romeo and Juliet walked by. And not just a normal Romeo and Juliet but ones that had already died complete with a stab wound and poisoned green skin.

"They look, interesting," I heard Julian's voice behind me in my ear. I turned in his arms.

"Well I guess it's creative," I shrugged.

"I've already seen Antony with Cleopatra, and Jackie O with JFK; people have been quite original tonight." Julian said. We turned back to Avalon, Julian keeping an arm, tight, around my waist.

"Did you guys see the Bill and Hilary Clinton or the couple dressed as Christine and Phantom, I wish I'd had someone to come with, I would have used their idea," Avalon gave a little pout, and with her make up she looked like a little dead girl crying over a broken toy.

Just as I was about to tease her Mel and Killian danced past us, they paused long enough for her to warn me, "Athol just showed up, he and all the losers he hangs with are dressed like the cast of Wizard of Oz, he's the Scarecrow." Then they were gone.

Julian looked down at me, "Don't worry love, it will be okay."

"I hope so," I murmured. Then I perked up as they began to play My Chemical Romance, I gave a small yip and pulled Julian back onto the dance floor. We'd found a way to get around the no dancing rule. He held me close to him and basically lifted me off the ground a few inches. It looked like I was dancing and felt like it without me having to do any of the real work.

I could feel his hard marble chest beneath my hands. His smell filled my nostrils allowing my heart to keep a slow rhythm as we moved in time to the beat. I nuzzled his neck and sighed as he pulled me a little closer.

I opened my eyes and noticed that every couple was on the floor, each as close to their partner as could be allowed with clothes on. Even Avalon was dancing. Feeling more brazen than usual, my mouth hovered over Julian's neck leaving little kisses on his skin. The scent from his skin got stronger so that I could almost taste the floral essence in the back of my mouth. I licked him to see if his skin tasted like it smelled and it did. He stiffened as my tongue darted out again to draw in the taste of his skin. I felt him shudder beneath my ministrations.

He moved his hands up from the small of my back and suddenly my hair was out of its bun, flowing down my back. With a small growl both of his hands, cool and frantic, were buried in my hair and he'd pulled my head back. He was smiling but the look in his eyes was completely feral with need. His smile widened, I could see his fangs had lengthened a little, in my mind I knew I should have been scared but with his scent filling every inch of me my mind was nothing but soothing calm. He jerked my neck to the side and right before his mouth could make contact Avalon was there.

Her hand appeared on his shoulder and the contact must have snapped him out of whatever was wrong because he stilled and we came to a dead stop, my head came up and our eyes connected. He looked hungry and shocked. Dropping his hands to his side he took a step away from me and drew in a deep, and unneeded, breath.

"Thank you Avalon," his voice was ragged and soft.

"No problem brother, I could feel your blood lust from across the room," she gave me a sympathetic smile, "why don't we go outside for some air?"

Julian nodded, "I am sorry Rhodanthe, it's not your fault I should have been better...prepared."

I was blushing so badly I couldn't even speak. Julian leaned down and grazed my lips softly with his and then he and Avalon turned and went toward the patio. I took a breath and walked off the floor toward some couches that were against one wall.

Before I could get there I heard a commotion coming from near the front door, it sounded like raised voices, male and female. I swiveled around as I heard my name mentioned. I began to walk toward it, what was happening? I picked up the pace as I heard Mel and Killian's voice add to the mix.

"You need to leave, you're drunk, go home!"

"C'mon bro, don't start a scene, just get out of here."

A crowd had begun to gather and I had a hard time getting toward the front of the mess to see what had Mel so upset.

Finally after making it through and past everyone the sight that greeted me was Athol being cornered by his friends and my best friend. His eyes were blood shot and his costume skewed, straw flying everywhere. Confused, I tried to make sense of what I was seeing.

"I am not going anywhere; I feel fine, back off." Athol said.

"If I have to I will get my father," Mel told him, her hands on her hips. Uh oh, I knew Mel and that stance meant that whoever she was talking to was in serious trouble.

"I need to see Rhodanthe," Athol was angry and his voice was as loud as I had ever heard it.

"You don't want her to see you like this man, just go home, sober up and call her tomorrow," one of his friends dressed like the Tin Man told him. Tin Man tried to put his hand on Athol's shoulder, just to have it violently knocked away.

"Fine, that's it I'm getting my father," Mel stomped one delicately heeled foot.

"Bitch," Athol hissed at her. At his harsh word I gasped. His eyes found mine in a second.

"Rhodanthe," he moaned. I could smell the liquor on his breath from where I was standing. But I didn't have much of a chance to think about that because Athol covered the five foot distance between us like it was inches.

I never even knew what happened. Athol hit me like a truck, every inch of his weight was behind him as he launched himself at me. I didn't have even one second to move out of his way. As our bodies collided I felt something in my chest, almost like a small popping, like when you crack your knuckles only deeper.

His mouth attached to mine as we hit the floor behind me, I heard screaming but I couldn't even breathe so I knew it couldn't have been my voice. My heart was thumping so loudly in my ears that it slightly dimmed out the hysterics going on around me. My sight began to dim as Athol ground his hips against mine. I knew I was in pain but it was as if I was far away from it. I began to be able to count between heartbeats, first to three and then to five.

Then before I could count past five Athol wasn't on top of me anymore. I don't know where he had gone but the pressure of him on my chest allowed me to at least breathe a little better. The last thing I remembered before passing out was relaxing with Julian's scent surrounding me.

I wasn't sure how much time had passed between smelling Julian and waking up. When I did finally open my eyes I was very confused about where I was. That was until I saw the white washed walls and the monitors that were all beeping and blinking. I tried to move but there was an IV in my arm and I was connected to every machine it seemed they could hook me up to. I blinked the sleep out of my eyes and licked my dry lips. I had a funny metallic taste in my mouth and wondered if they had given me oral medicine, which would have been strange since they had me hooked to an IV.

As the confusion and sleepiness wore off, I also began to be aware that my right hand was firmly in the grip something cold and hard. I looked down and saw that a slim pale hand was gripping mine. I followed the hand to the arm and all the way up until my eyes rested upon a shock of black hair against pearly skin. "Julian" I whispered, his head jerked up automatically his eyes, so bright blue, focused on my face.

"Ah Rhodanthe! Thank the great Goddess." He brought my hand to his lips and began to kiss each of my fingers. It sent tingles up my spine and a smile stretched across my parched lips.

"Julian, could I have some water?" My voice harsh, I cringed when I heard myself, damn, it must sound awful! He jumped up and walked over to the sink where he poured some water from one of those ugly brownish green plastic hospital pitchers into a matching cup and brought it back to me. I raised myself up a little and he held it for me as I sipped.

The room temperature water was wonderful; I swallowed a couple of times before he pulled away. Mouth in a more comfortable state I motioned for him to sit back down. As I did I saw that my skin was almost translucently pale, each vein bright blue, and standing out like they had been drawn on. I frowned at the old IV marks in my hand, how long had I been out?

"Julian, what happened? How long have I been in here?" I asked him, concerned.

"I rushed in as soon as I heard Mel scream. I would have come sooner but Avalon and I had gone for a small walk so I could regain my control," Julian told me, forlorn.

"Don't blame yourself, I'm just glad you got to me." I took a slow breath in, my chest felt a little heavy.

"Well I do, Athol didn't start hounding you until we began dating," he looked tired as he spoke, "it was horrible, he was trying to..." Julian trailed off, took a deep breath and continued, "I pulled him off you right as you lost consciousness. I gathered you up in my arms and ran to the hospital." He stopped talking, but I could tell there was more, he just didn't want to tell me.

"Julian, how did I survive the trip to the hospital?" I asked; he looked away. I reached up and touched the side of his face.

He turned back and there was a loathing and disgust in his eyes that I hoped wasn't aimed at me. "You were going to die Rho, do you understand, death was seconds away from claiming you, I couldn't allow it."

"Okay..." I tried to grasp at what he was implying and maybe with fewer drugs in my system I would have, but I was dumbfounded.

"I made you drink from me my precious Rose blossom, just a few swallows, but you consumed my blood nonetheless," Julian tried to stand and I grabbed his hand, he was stronger and he could have pulled away, but he didn't.

"I'm sorry, please don't hate me. I love you," he whispered, scooting closer to me, his face just inches from mine.

"I don't, I love you too, thank you for saving my life Julian." He looked shocked at my words, like they were the last thing he'd expected me to say. But I wasn't concerned, Julian's blood had saved my life, I didn't feel any different so what was there to be upset about?

Julian graced me with his smile and kissed me, as his lips touched mine, I realized the scent of roses was a little stronger than normal. I was about to kiss him back when our privacy was ruined.

"Get away from her!"

We both jerked up at the very angry and hysterical cry from my ragged looking mother. Her hair wasn't brushed and she was in clothes that looked a few days stale and slept in. Her eyes were red and brimming with anger and tears.

"Mom, what the heck?" I asked her, Julian had pulled away from me at her command, but I kept a firm grip on his hand.

"I said, get away from my daughter Julian, this is your fault! If you hadn't taken her to that party she wouldn't be in here right now!" I had never heard my mother shriek quite like that before. But the tone in her voice and the thought of Julian leaving caused my slow beating, slumbering heart to wake up. I was the only one who noticed when my heart monitor began to beep faster.

"I can't believe I ever trusted you with her well being, well it will be the last time! Get out! Get out!" My mother advanced toward Julian and just as the beeping on the machines began to get faster and higher pitched, a new voice and two new people entered the room.

"Mrs. Watson if you don't calm down I will have you escorted from your daughter's room," a burly, older nurse with the voice of a strict matron walked right over to my heart monitor and began adjusting it.

"What!" my mom yelped.

"Bethy, your tone is upsetting her," I saw dad, pale and tired looking, just standing in the door way. "All her monitors started going off like crazy the moment you entered the room."

Face flushed with anger my mom opened her mouth to say something, then her eyes darted to the nurse who had begun to take my pulse manually, and she closed it just as fast.

"Julian, could you step outside and give us a minute?" my dad asked, politely.

"Yes Mr. Watson, I'd be happy to," Julian gave me our special look as if to say don't worry I'll be right outside and then he left the room.

After Julian was gone the nurse, whose bright blue name tag read Monica, pulled out a syringe, she flicked it with her finger a few times and then quickly injected it into my IV.

"What's that?" I asked.

"It's just something to help control your heart's reactions, like the meds you already take darling," Monica gave me a beautiful smile and then sent my parents a dagger filled look. "Do not make me come back in here because you've upset her again." Then she filed past them and shut the door loudly behind her.

"Daddy, what happened?" I asked my father, angry at my mother for how she had treated Julian.

"After Julian and Avalon brought you to the ER, you were in a coma for three days. Julian stayed by your side for almost every minute. He only left to give a statement to the police," dad said. He came further into the room, leaned down and kissed my forehead.

"We were really worried Rose, but the doctor said that Julian getting you here so quickly saved your life," dad stroked my hair back from my face.

"Saved her after he almost killed her," mom snarked.

"Now Bethy, stop. Julian saved our daughter, this is not his fault," dad giving my mom a harsh look. I was so grateful he was sticking up for my boyfriend!

"What happened to Athol?" I asked.

"He was arrested shortly after you were admitted. The police still need to speak with you, but we've told them it needs to wait until you feel better," mom came closer and took my hands in her warm one. "We were so worried baby; I never want to see you in the hospital again."

"It's okay you guys, I feel fine, besides I haven't been in the hospital like this in what, three years?" I tried to joke but they didn't care for it.

They each took one of the chairs next to me; my mother still had rage in her eyes and my father looked alone and distant. I closed my eyes, I didn't want to sleep, but I also didn't want to talk to them about anything. My mother wasn't going to get past her anger and my dad, well he was grieving, for what I didn't know, but I didn't want to deal with it either.

I pretended to be asleep and within about twenty minutes I heard my father snoring. My eyes popped open in shock as I glanced at my parents and silently chuckled. They had both fallen asleep, how they could manage it in the stiff back hospital chairs was beyond me.

"Rho?" I heard the whisper and turned to see Julian's face about three inches from mine. I gasped and his hand covered my mouth before the sound could leave my throat.

"Look, they can't hear me or see me but I needed to speak with you, sorry I startled you," he took his hand away and I reached up quickly. I cupped his face in my hands and kissed him. I had been dying (I know: bad pun) to since I'd awakened to see him holding my hand. My lips were feverish as they pressed against his. He kissed me back, his mouth open, breath hot against my skin.

As soon as it started it ended, "ah my Rose blossom, I love you," Julian pressed his forehead against mine.

"I love you too Julian. Now what did you need to tell me?" I inquired, curious as to what could be wrong now.

"I needed to tell you what you can expect now that I've given you my blood." I bit my lip and nodded for him to continue, "It just provides a stronger bond between us now. You will find it harder to be without me and if you concentrate you will be able to find me with our bond no matter where I am."

"That doesn't sound too bad," I frowned, wondering what the catch was.

"I may become...a little more possessive over you than before," Julian gave me a rather sardonic smile, "but most important, a vampire may only give a mortal blood three times before they must change them. If they do not change them after that third time the mortal becomes in danger of going insane. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but this is only the first time, so what's the problem?" I posed the question in such a way so that there was a hidden second question: only the once, right?

"There isn't one; I just needed to tell you." Julian seemed relieved, "I must go now." Julian stood up and reached a hand out, he ran his thumb over my bottom lip and mouthed, "I love you."

"I love you too," I whispered back and just like that Julian was gone, all that was left was his scent and the slight tingle in my lip.

For a few moments after he left, the feeling of utter abandonment ran through me causing my heart to sputter, the monitors made an odd bleeping sound, but I remembered what Julian had said, and consoled myself. He loved me, he was going to come back and I was fine. After another second or two the monitors went back to normal and I was fine.

The door to my room opened and Monica peeked in, looking to the machines, to me, to my parents, and back at me. She titled her head, "what's wrong?"

"Nothing, bad dream, we're all good in here," I said.

"Okay, well try and get some more sleep," Monica darted back out and the door closed, silently.

I was about to settle down into the hospital bed when the phone rang, I nearly jumped out of my skin and grabbed it as fast as I could, my parents stirred and dad mumbled in his sleep. I sighed; they weren't going to wake up, good.

"Hello?" I asked into the receiver.

"Oh Pumpkin I'm so glad you're okay," the voice on the line sounded young with a accent that was a weird cross between British and Spanish.

"Grandma!" I whispered, excited, "How did you know I was here?"

"Your father called me, your evil mother, sorry sweetheart, but she doesn't own him entirely yet. He keeps me well up to date on how you're doing."

I laughed a little at Grandma's words, "it's so nice to hear your voice, I miss you."

"And I miss you, but I promise that you'll see me for Christmas whether your parents like it or not." She sounded sad but stubborn and I knew it was because she was afraid I'd die before she could see me again.

"Okay, you better! I love you."

"Get some sleep Pumpkin I love you too," and then she hung up.

Smiling to myself and feeling warm and happy, I allowed sleep to suck me in and under.