Roses Wither: Into the Darkness
Twenty-eight

Rose

Instead of stopping at the bar, which I knew I should have, I made my way in a different direction, right out the back of the club, into a dimly lit alley.

I had to get away from Chase, and if it involved slinking through an alley and walking around the block to ready for a run home, I would do it.

I paused to remove my shoes and was halfway through the alley when the back door swung open with a bang.

“Do you enjoy, playing with demons?” His voice was cold as the door slammed behind him, locking us both out if the club and leaving us alone in the alley.

I was still halfway to freedom, but frozen in my spot as he slowly strode toward me.

“Do you enjoy spying on me?” There was a little more edge to my voice as I tried to keep my cool. His presence alone made both my vampire and wolf jump. Why was he even here tonight?

“Do you enjoy doing stupid shit that can get you killed?” He cocked his head to the side, his brow furrowing as his silver eyes raked the length of my dress.

“What is your damage?” I snapped, “You are not my babysitter.”

“No, I am definitely not,” He looked all chill, but his words were tightly wound as he made it closer to me, “Because if I were, you would be under lock and key, so you couldn’t sneak out. Maybe even tied down somewhere.”

“What-?!” The way his eyes raked me again, as if in thought, made me feel naked under his gaze.

“You heard me, you want to act like a spoiled little brat, your highness, fine.” He huffed a laugh, “But I will not sit around and watch you put your life in danger.”

“I wasn’t in any danger.” I rolled my eyes at him as he stood in front of me, or was it behind me, since he was between me and the club

“Okay, we’re leaving now.” He reached out and grabbed my wrist and began to pull me out of the alley.

“Why are you so pissed?!” I ran behind him.

“That was the strongest demon I have ever felt and you were consorting and dancing with him like it was nothing.” He spoke like he was talking about the weather, but I knew better, I caught the undertones in his voice.

“It's Davide." I sighed.

"Who is Davide to you?"

“About what?” He paused and turned to look at me. He didn’t have to raise his voice once, but the anger was seething off of him, I could feel it.

“Lots of things.” I hissed, “He can read part of my prophecy. The part that no one else can. I needed information and I got some of it. If you hadn’t shown up I may have been able to get more.”

He didn’t respond. He was frozen, his eyes flicking to that deep silver and staying now, as they moved to the wrist he held.

There was an intricately woven chain around it that I had never seen before, looking all the more dangerous with it’s deep red diamonds imbedded into the strands.

“This isn’t mine.” I examined it. It was pretty though. Beautiful really.

“Blood diamonds.” He whispered as he gaped at the bracelet, “He is tracking you now.”

I went to remove it and he stopped me.

“You can’t.” He spoke quickly, his voice still just as chill as ever, “We don’t know what spell he put on it.”

He crouched and got into my face, his eyes fully silver still. He wasn’t angry anymore. Nope. Now he was livid.

He spoke the words from my marking. The ones that I couldn’t translate. They were beautiful coming from him, because he spoke the foreign language perfectly. The words rolled off of his tongue, harsh and clipped, but with a smoothness that made me weak in the knees.

“The sun will rise in the darkest of places,” He translated, “The two become one and the species will unite to bring peace.”

“You knew what it said?” My eyes shot to his, “This whole time?”

“It is not demon. It is the language of the priest that raised me, but I do not know why it is on your skin.” He threw my hand down and turned to march out of the secluded darkness, onto the street.

He literally marched. Like a soldier going to war and it took me twice as many steps to catch up to him, but I did.

“What is your problem?!” I shouted as I followed.

“My problem is that you are being careless, foolish and reckless!” He hissed now, rounding back on me, “Now you have a tracker on you, from Satan’s son. What the fuck is wrong with you, Rosa?! Why can’t you just leave well enough alone?! Did that witch coerce you into this?!”

“Aren’t those synonyms?” I questioned his description, “Like, all of them?”

“How stupid are you, Rosa?!” He continued to hiss, his anger rising but his voice lowering, “What are you planning on doing with the demon?”

“No deal was struck.” I gaped at him, “I don’t see the problem here.”

“There’s always a deal! They always want something! That is why he is tracking you.”

“Davide is different.”

“Satan’s son, the ruler of his army is different?!” He gaped at me, “You don’t know demons, Rosa!”

“And you do?!” Instead of responding, he turned and began marching down the street again.

There was a group of guys in the distance, but he seemed to be walking right toward them. What was he doing? Picking a fight with some townies now?

One of the guys spotted us and began backing away from the circle. He spoke Romanian, but I knew what he was saying, having grown up with my father.

“Eh,” He gave his friend a tap on the shoulder, “Told you. The Guard has returned. He came to get Nicolae’s daughter from the club.”

“Move away from my bike please.” Chase told the humans in a monotonous tone and they parted, to reveal a black motorcycle that looked like it costed a fortune.

Humans around here didn’t know about vampires, but they feared my father enough not to damage or steal Chase’s bike.

He ignored the humans and got on the bike. As it roared to life, he turned to look at me, ignoring everyone standing around us.

“Get on.” He gritted out.

I looked at the seat and inwardly began to cry. This would mean contact. Physical contact with Chase. The man I tried to avoid at all cost.

“I’m wearing a dress.” I knew I could tuck it around my thighs, but that also meant my bare thighs wrapped around him.

“Rosa,” His voice was low and his eyes flickered with that silver before going back to normal, “Get on the bike before I throw you on it.”

“You wouldn’t dare.” I crossed my arms, meeting him with diffiance.

“Get on the fucking bike, Rosa.” Okay, that tone in itself was enough to get me moving.

I got on the bike behind him, tucked my dress in around myself and held on.