Every Rose has its thorn (M)

[Rain]

This is what I've been spending the last couple weeks doing.

Every Rose Has its Thorn
*Rachael, aka dancer, aka Raquel*


I remember the innocence I had as a young girl. My parents, Alyssa and John, lived in a small two-roomed cottage with a huge garden. Alyssa cooked amazingly, and we all loved her. Especially my dad, who has never loved anything as much as he loves her. Not even me. So my dad was hopelessly devastated when Alyssa was found dead in her garden, dark hair fanning out around her, blood gushing out from some unseen wound.
My innocence was ruined at that moment, at the age of eight. But let me tell you my story, and all that has happened to me. I am Rose and this is my life.
“Seiko!” I greeted my best friend (and next door neighbor) with a warm hug with weak arms.
He hugged me back. Back then, Seiko and I shared every day together. His mom, Yuki, was talking with my parents. I looked at Seiko. He had chin-length black hair, eyes as dark as the night sky and they shined like the stars. His wide lips opened in a sweet smile. Little did I know that he, too, was analyzing my big baby blue eyes, blood red lips, straight white teeth, and flowing blond hair.
“Hello Rose.” His voice was breathless.
“What should we play today?” He asked.
“I dunno- maybe House?” I said enthusiastically.
“Sure.”
“Let's go get my baby dolls.”
We ran upstairs to my room, as I was trying to calm myself down.
He doesn't know. He doesn't know. He doesn't know. I thought to myself. There was a secret I had sworn to keep from him- to keep from my very best friend.
I was a vampire.
I was bitten when I was sixty but I can make myself look any age- six or six hundred, I can do that and more. I run like the wind rushing through the trees. I have fangs that slide out when I'm thirsty. And the person I was most likely to bite would be my best friend Seiko. Except we vampires really don't need to drink that often. Just a little bit every year on our vampire birthdays, normally from someone willing and knowing like Alyssa. She would hold her neck out for me, washed and scrubbed, and she would instruct me to drink. And so I would- just enough to satisfy my thirst. My love for her was greater than my need to drink blood. I doubt I could resist Seiko- to hear that forbidden blood pulsing against his veins, reminding me exactly what I am and the curse of forever being a monster. And I had to pretend I was an innocent little six-year-old.
“Mommy, Seiko and me are hungry.” I complained. She smiled one of her dazzling smiles. I can eat human food- of course, I have to keep up an image!- and she said,
“Rosie, Mommy's out of vegetables. You and me have to come to the store.” She said, ruffling my hair. She too needed to keep up an image.
“Okay. Can Seiko come too?” I pleaded. The smell of his blood was almost intoxicating- it smelled like flowers but like the sweetest candy you could imagine. My fangs threatened to slide out. I blocked Seiko and his blood from my mind.
“Sure sweetie.” Alyssa replied.
The grocery store was somewhere we didn't go often. Just during the end of the winter when John and I had eaten all the stuff she had dried to last us through most of the winter. Seiko was here practically every day. I saw my teacher, Mrs. Rayelle Hamilton, walk by. She was remarkably different- she was wearing a black corset and a black miniskirt with black fishnets and tall boots with chains. Her makeup- she was wearing lots of black eyeliner, black mascara- she even managed to find black blush. She was totally Goth! And I saw the arm of her husband, Nate, and the back of his blond hair. He swept Rayelle up in a kiss, her long blond hair sweeping back. He wrapped his arms around her tenderly, and she did the same. Their passion echoed around the walls. I shivered involuntarily. Would I ever feel love like that?
Now that I was watching, I could see love off of every wall. There was a newly engaged couple walking together, their fingers interlaced. A single mom and her boyfriend made out behind the magazine rack. A blond girl shopping with her single mother stared longingly at a guy across the store, the expression of lost love in her brown eyes. Another one fought back tears of joy as her boyfriend kissed her. And yet another couple was extraordinarily delighted and kept rubbing the girl's slightly protruding stomach. And then to top it all off, this happened. A voice went on over the intercom.
“Libby Whitacker?” A voice asked. “Libby Whitacker, please report to the ice cream shelves.” A very confused red-headed beauty nervously walked to the ice cream shelves. By now everyone's eyes were turned to her. A man stood there. Her expression lightened up considerably at his presence.
“Libby Anne Whitacker, will you do me the great honor of joining me in holy matrimony... will you be my wife?” He asked, getting down on one knee and opening a blue velvet case, in it lying a beautiful silver ring, sapphires and rubies dancing in the light. Libby was shocked beyond words.
“Oh Bronx, of course I'll marry you!” She said, excitingly pulling on her ring with shaking fingers.
“Let me help, love.” Bronx murmured, sliding the ring on her finger. She kissed him lightly. Everyone “aw”ed. I've seen much more romantic proposals. This one was wussy.
“Let's go.” I pleaded to Alyssa quietly. She nodded- she understood. Seiko nodded too. We paid for our food then strolled home.

2
Vampires do not sleep. I sat in my windowsill, letting the cool night breeze wash over my face. Whispered words caught my attention. They were not from Alyssa and John's room- it was from outside.
“Rose. Rose.” I blinked, and said,
“Um, yes?”
“It's me. Seiko.” The voice, Seiko's voice, said.
“Oh. Climb in.” I said, giving him my hand. He scrambled up silently.
“What's wrong?” I asked.
“Yuki got hit by a car.” Seiko said reluctantly. I had gotten a vibe about him. A bad vibe, the one that sent shivers down my spine. But as I concentrated all my energy on Yuki, I felt a calm descend upon me.
Yuki would be just fine.
However, she would not remain human. I think I had to tell him. Seiko looked at me with his wide, starry black eyes. I couldn't tell him. Maybe later, but just not now. He had already been through so much, the death of his mother and finding out that his best friend is little more than a re-animated corpse? Seems like too much. And if Yuki wants to tell him she can, but my secret needs to stay secret. Seiko was still looking at me expectantly.
“Yuki will be just fine. She will be even better than fine.” I said confidently.
“Thank you Rose.” He breathed, throwing his arms around my waist. I stiffened, then leaned into his warm embrace. We sat like that for a few minutes. A warning vibe shot up my spine.
“Yuki's waking up.” I whispered to him. “Be there for her. Smile at her. She'll be just fine if you're there.” I said. I watched him beam at me as I tucked my knees into my chest as he slipped down the windowsill. I sighed as I knew he was gone.
“Oh Seiko. You'll never know the truth- about anything.” I sighed, fingering his birthday present to me- a gold locket. The charm of a heart shone in the light by my bed. I concentrated every particle of my energy to see my own future.
I was in a library. I was reading the next-to-last book in a series, and I knew there was only one copy left, my eyes flitting across the paper. I finished the last page, stopping only to shove the book hastily into the return slot. I skidded in front of the shelf that should hold the book. It was gone!
“Crap.” I murmured under my breath. I saw the book in the hands of some guy. I saw him- oh my God, he was a vampire! Another vampire! I walked silently to him. He murmured “no” too fast for human ears. He was a mind reader! He nodded. I blinked, bewildered. “Look, I'd finish it before you would.” He muttered.
“I can read faster than pretty much anyone else.” I bragged. I couldn't help it- he was so cute! He had sandy blond hair- that color somewhere between blond and brown? Green eyes, big, voluptuous lips, and fangs. He was thirsty, too. And of course as pale as a bone. He put his hand down, accidentally touching mine. I jumped at the volt of electricity flowing through my empty veins... what was this?
My vision went out of focus then. Exhausted, I collapsed against the pillow. A slight breathing exercise would do it... I thought as I drifted off into gazing into the ceiling, pretty much the vampire's version of sleeping. I heard small noises from Alyssa and John's room.
“Yes!” I heard her whisper. I heard John laugh. I concentrated on Alyssa, her mocha colored skin glowing, her almond-shaped sweet brown eyes shining.
“John... I'm pregnant.” Alyssa said hesitantly to her husband, not meeting his eyes. He kissed her.
“That's terrific, sweetheart.”
The baby was born. Then he got The Sickness.
Okay, so some vampires (like me and Yuki) are bitten and we join the realm of the undead. Others, babies, toddlers and young kids mostly, get this sickness that rages through their body, transforming every cell to be that of a vampire. But no one's had The Sickness in over 200 years! Only... oh.
Alyssa.
I saw her, dark hair fanning out around her delicate face, eyes closed, blood seeping from a wound in her neck.
You only get The Sickness if you bite an immediate family member, with enough strength to kill them- and are in the before mentioned age groups, of course. I saw the baby, the spitting image of Alyssa, laugh as the first coughs shook his small body.
I had to stop it. It couldn't be born.
“Lyssa... I think-.” John said in alarm.
“Whatever!” Alyssa said happily. I ran into their room, curls flying. John was on top of Alyssa, eyes widened in shock.
“Don't. I see the future, remember?” I said, as they hastily separated.
“Of course, darling.”John said, kissing the top of my head. “But can you get some sage from the garden? Alyssa was saying how much she needed it.” He added. I knew where the sage was- in the very back of the garden. Fine! They could have their privacy. It wasn't my problem. I angrily plucked sage from the garden. A sweet, sweet smell filled my nostrils. Shockingly, it smelled even better than blood. It was... lavender? A sudden urge told me to burn both the sage and the lavender. Experience had taught me to use my instincts, so I hastily threw some wood on the fire. I brushed it with my fingers and whispered,
“Fire, warmth and destruction, come to me.” As it did for all vampires, the logs quickly jumped into a merry, dancing fire. I threw in the sage and the lavender, letting my spirit soar, taking me away from here.
My eyes opened to another world. A waterfall trickled sparkling, clear water into a small pool. Long, soft grass tickled my legs. A soft smell reached me- lavender and sage. I saw Seiko lying in the grass.
Then my fantasy changed into a nightmare.
His dark hair lay around his still, dead face. His black eyes were open, the starry quality gone and replaced by a glassy shield. I knew what had happened, but I refused to recognize it. I picked up his hand, searching for a pulse but finding nothing.
“Seiko.” I cried, putting my head on his muscular chest.
Wait. Six year olds don't have muscular chests. I pulled away from him, my hands still on him. He was about twenty. Twenty? Then I understood. It wasn't a threat; it was a warning. A beautiful angel appeared before me, her brunette curls bouncing, her innocently gray eyes glittering with pain. Her mellifluous voice filled my ears.
“Look at his neck.” She told me. I did. Two identical marks were there. Each vampire has his/her own individual mark. Dracula had the circular ones. Those are the most common, with varying sizes. Mine look like little starbursts. And, to my dismay, that was the mark on his neck.
“Why? Why am I such a monster?” I cried, my hands back on Seiko's chest, my face at his throat. It was then I realized that his intoxicating aroma was not from the blood, it was from him himself. He smelled vaguely floral, and it was then that I also realized that I loved him. I loved him- everything was thrown into sharp relief.
“Angel, I love him. How did I k-kill him?” I studdered.
“You're not supposed to love him. You will love...” She trailed off, squeezing her gray eyes shut. “Shadow Connelly. You will have two kids, Midnight and Johnny. You two are meant for each other. Oh... I see your future dreams. He is in all of them. You love him... but it is an impossible love. You had to leave him behind, but you couldn't. You need him like he needs you. And when your thirst overpowered you to the point where you couldn't step outside lest jump on someone and drinking their blood. You convinced yourself that your love overpowered your thirst. You loved him so that it did work for a little, but...” Her eyes drifted to the corpse I loved.
“I understand.” I said, my eyes locked on Seiko's still beautiful face.
“Is there any way I can prevent this?” I pleaded. She looked sadly at me.
“Yes. The one who kills your mother is her blood son. He must be stopped. I leave this to you, young vampiress.” She said solemnly. Then everything went black and I was sprawled out on the grass beside the sage garden, my fire dying out. I took a few sprigs of sage and gathered them in my arms. Unable to hold back on my curiosity, I scrambled easily over the fence separating me and Seiko. I ran so fast that the sprig of sage I dropped as I was climbing over the fence hadn't even hit the ground yet. I saw him asleep. I felt a stab of longing pierce my heart. God, this is starting to turn into one of those sappy love stories. I was half-expecting some cheesy romantic music to start playing in the background. I heard Yuki's key in the doorway. I needed to be there- she must be burningly thirsty.
“Yuki.” I said in a soft voice. She spun around, her purple hair flying, her black eyes wild.
“You.” Her eyes narrowed. “You're a vampire too.”
“Yes.”
“How old were you?”
“Sixty.”
“You love my son.”
“That is your gift? To see relationships? Very interesting.”
“Yours and Seiko's is very strong.”
“Yes.”
“He is human, you know. The smell of anyone's blood is too much for me.” She looked at her feet. Clearly she wanted to be with her son, although it was so impossible.
“Let's go.”
“Where?”
“Out.” I said with a smirk, turning on my heel and marching out with supernatural speed.

3
Who knew the lights of the city could be so bright? Brentwood, California was teeny compared to the city of Pasadena, but there were far more than the awesome shops and terrific foods. There were tons of people. We saw families, couples, friends... what we needed was someone alone. Someone who wouldn't be missed.
We finally found her. She had sad, dull blue eyes and ratty brown hair and she looked at everyone like, at least you have something to live for. Yuki looked at her, put a comforting arm on her shoulder, and told her there is a way out. Her dull eyes brightened. Yuki took her behind a Dumpster and took the blood from her veins. With the last ounce of strength, she said,
“Thank you.” She whispered, a smile hovering on her lips, her black eyelashes closed.
Me and Yuki looked at each other.
“How do you feel?” I asked. Her eyes were rolling around in her head a little. I stepped back and really looked at her.
Her purple hair framed her starkly pale face. Her wide eyes were purple too, and she was as beautiful as Seiko, who was as beautiful as the night sky.
“Yeah. I'll be fine. Let's shop.” She said, her voice light.
“Oh. My. God.” I said happily. I was staring at the cutest shirt ever- it was a velvety purple with a silver belt and a skirt that was long with a slit up to the thigh and fencet gloves with felt boots and a faux tiger fur clutch. Yuki was frantically searching for a size four in the metallic silver dresses. I felt the familiar tingling sensation of a full-fledged vision come to me.
“You remind me of everything I try not to be.” I whispered to Seiko. He was older than six, younger than twenty. Fifteen, maybe? Seiko brushed my face with his bony fingers.
“You like it.” He said, his starry black eyes shining.
“If it has to do with you, of course I love it.” I said, in a mockingly sadistic tone.
“I guess that means you love me.” He said with a sexy smirk.
“You know it.” I said, pulling him close and kissing him. My heart exploded in a fiery expression of passion. I continued on naturally.
“Rose...” He said. He stiffened.
Right. My vampirisim. Apparently that gets in the way of kissing him.
“Sorry, Seiko.” I said.
“'S okay.” He said, his eyes a cloudy black haze of lust. I rested my head on his shoulder as he stroked my hair and whispered sweet words in my ear, lost in the breeze.
I jumped out of my vision, and found myself sprawled on the carpet of JC Penny's. Yuki stood over me, unsure whether to stay, call for help, or run in screaming terror. She saw my eyelids flutter and I saw her chill a bit.
“What was THAT?” She exclaimed as I sat up.
“My talent. I'm a psychic.” I explain as I straightened myself up.
“Way cooler than mine.” Yuki said, looking at her tall boots.
“No way Yuki. You don't fall to the floor in a mock seizure over something dumb.” I teased. I was relieved as a smile spread across her pale face. She held her hand out to me. I took it and we checked out.
We arrived at Yuki's farmhouse, Seiko still asleep.
“Do you mind?” I asked. She hesitated, then nodded as she took her huge bag of shoes to her bedroom. I walked into Seiko's room. He was so beautiful, holding on to his blankets, balled up in his fist. He cried in anguish.
“Shhh, darling.” I said, walking up to him and stroking his face.
“Water, come to me and cleanse this boy of his foul dreams.” I whispered. Water did. He relaxed.
“Good night, my love.” I said, closing his door.
“Yuki, do you have some sage and lavender?” I asked.
“Yeah, it's in the back.” She said, lifting her head from the dresser she was bent over into. I smiled.
“Come. I have something cool to show you.” I said, dragging her to her garden.
“Earth, give me wood.” A few good-burning logs appeared at my feet. I picked some sage and lavender.
“Fire, you warm us. Light the wood, the breath of the ground we live on, that feeds us.” I murmured, the fire erupting into a warm glow. Yuki's eyes were widened in surprise. I smiled as the flowers burned, the sweet aroma in the air.
“Let yourself go.” I instructed Yuki, as she did.
My eyes opened into a new paradise- flowers everywhere, weeping willows over large ponds.
“It's so beautiful.” Yuki said in a hushed tone.
“Patti! Oh my God!” Yuki cried, running into a guy who looked like Seiko.
“Rose?” A voice called. A familiar voice, but it was like I knew it from a different life. I swiveled around and saw a very blond girl with her arms around a tall man with my face and eyes.
My birth parents. I was shocked- and I was determined to memorize their faces.
My mother had flowing blond hair, blue-green eyes and a kind of feral aura around her. My father had dark brown hair, baby blue eyes, laughing lips and my heart-shaped face. I stood there like an idiot, staring at them, unbelievably happy.
“Roselia.” My father said, embracing me in a fatherly hug. My mother, maternal with her beautiful almond-shaped eyes and her dazzling smile, kissed the top of my head and embraced me in a warm, rose-scented hug.
“Madre! Papa!” I exclaimed. Spanish had been our language-I remembered everything now.
“Roselia, coma etas?” My mother said.
“Madre, could you please speak English?” I asked her.
“I'll try, mi quierdia.” She said. Tears spilled down our faces openly. The angel appeared in front of me, her gray eyes sad.
“No.” I whispered. I had just been reunited with my parents! I didn't want to say adios to them yet!
“Rosila. We have to go.” My mother said, her eyes sad.
“Te amo you, mama. Adios.”
“Adios, mi queridia.” My father said, brushing back my hair.
“Te amo you, papa!” I called to him as he faded away. Yuki called to the air,
“I love you!!!”
Yuki walked tword me, her eyes downcast.
“I really loved him...” Yuki said softly, her accented voice flowing quickly.
“I never even remembered my parents.” I said, wiping the tears that were flowing openly down my face. Yuki wrapped me in a hug, hiccuping.
We were in the backyard, sprawled flat on our backs. The sun was peeking over the horizon and I heard the mooing of cows.
“Seiko.” We said in unison.
“Alyssa.” I added. She nodded, saying a silent goodbye as I scrambled over the fence again.

4
I lay in my (unslept-in) bed, staring at the ceiling. I was not happy to admit what I thought of.
Seiko. Seiko's eyes, Seiko's hair, Seiko's nose, Seiko's lips... I thought of his black eyes thisclose to mine, his hands in mine. He runs his fingers through my hair, then sweeps me back in a long, passionate kiss.
“We've been just friends for far, far too long.” He said. I stared back at him. God, his eyes were so starry...
“I agree.” I said breathlessly.
“Rosa, I love you.” He rushed out.
“I love you too.” I said, staring into his beautiful eyes like an idiot.
“I don't know why you won't tell me why you're so distant some days, but it just doesn't matter. I love you more than I've ever loved anything.” He confessed.
I wrapped him into a hug.
“Seiko, I'd love to tell you. I can't, though. All I can say is to trust me, and that I love you like Edward loves Bella.” I said. Everything in my life was changing into a cheese-tacular romantic movie. Oh, Seiko! My love! My hope! My dream!
I shook myself from my mental daydreams, returning to the life I faked. Alyssa knocked on my door and stuck her head in.
“Sweetie? You're not still mad, are you?” She asked.
Oh yeah. Her son. The son that would murder her and become the most evil thing in the history of vampirisim. And I, Rose Lacrymosa McKee (I don't have an actual last name- that's just a cover-up. Like everything else.) am the one thing standing between life and death of the entire world.
It's hard being me.
Alyssa blinked.
“Nah, I'm fine. I need to talk to Seiko, Alyssa.” I said urgently.
“Yeah, go ahead.” She said. I sped to his house so fast that my legs were a blur and I was practically invisible. I lept over the fence, landing lightly like a cat. I slowed when I reached his house, calling his name.
“Seiko! Seiko! Open the window!” He did, showing me a very pale and beautiful face. Oh. He must be sick.
“Rose?” He squinted in the sunlight.
“Sorry Seiko. I didn't know you were sick.” I said apologetically.
“It's okay.” He said. “See you soon, Rose.” He closed his window and I wandered around the small neighborhood aimlessly. Past Seiko and Yuki lived Mr. And Mrs. Olsen, the young couple, who were walking around their garden, talking. I stared at them, thinking of all me and Seiko could be. But we weren't and it seemed like we never would be. Past them were the single mom and her three kids- Leona, Lacrymosa, and Josef. She was cooking dinner- I could see her through the window. Lacrymosa was on the computer IMing her friends and Leona and Josef were bickering. Lacrymosa looked miserable. Her brown eyes were holding something behind them and she never met anyone's eye. I sat on the grass, concentrating on her.
She was unspeakably beautiful. Golden hair fell past her sholders, her brown eyes glowing. But not with happiness. She ran a comb through her hair and looked at what she was wearing- a long, sparkling gown that had a long train. She sighed as she pulled her short, chic veil over her face. There was a knock at the door.
“Come in.” She called, her voice too melodic for human ears. A man in a classic tuxedo came in, holding a bunch of blood red roses and baby's breath. She stood up, took the roses, and kissed him.
“Tomorrow.” He said, picking up her hand and kissing it, an emerald ring gleaming like snake's eyes. “Goodnight, love.” He wrapped her in a warm hug, kissed her once more, and left. Lacrymosa put the roses on her vanity table.
“I can't love him. He doesn't know about my past...” She rubbed a scar. “He should never love me.” She said, lowering her sparkling eyes. I already knew what would happen. So the vision fast-forwarded to her funeral. Red roses were scattered around, her fionce sobbing in the corner. Lacrymosa lay still, her lush lips parted oh so slightly, her brown eyes closed. I sighed and found myself returning from the vision in the backyard. Lacrymosa. She... it was almost unbelievable, that someone she knew would die before she even reached her prime. Before her poor lover could realize what she really was, what she really felt.
But what could I do? Head lowered, heart heavy, I trudged home.
“Rose.” I swiveled around, searching for whoever had called me. I saw no one.
“I've finally lost it.” I murmured to myself. I lifted my head and saw the face of my young Hispanic mother. And what I must have looked like before I became... well, a monster.
“Rose, time is running out. You need to follow the path closest to your heart to find the answer.” The voice said. All I could think of is, yep, I've lost it. And what path is she talking about?!
“The haven you seek refuge in is not what you think. It is a purgatory for lost soul- those who have no purpose on Earth, and no purpose there. When you go in, there is a portal that you can go through. But so can anything else. It is not safe, young vampiress. You must not go there or the lost souls, the evil, the ones who would kill will take over everything and everyone.” Then the voice subsided into a jumbled mass of words.
I have a long way to go, don't I?

5
Three days later, Seiko came over, well and happy.
“Seiko!” I cried, wrapping my arms around him. I had had three endlessly boring days without him, besides my vision and the ominous warning.
“It's my birthday today!” He exclaimed with the carefree joy of a six- er, seven year old. “And I know yours is next week, so...” He smiled. My birthday is next week? I thought. Wow. I really need to keep better track of everything.
“You remembered!” I cried. He kissed me on the cheek. He kissed me! I felt the skin there tingle. I kissed his cheek too.
“Seiko, I have something to show you.” I said, leading him to our extensive gardens. I murmured an ancient spell under my breath. A waterfall trickled down into a clear pool and a bubbly brook. Lilies sprung up on the banks, and Seiko stared at me, open mouthed.
“Drink the water.” I instructed gently. And, as if he was in a trance, did so. His black eyes closed. This was my way of insuring his life... though I hated myself for doing it. I saw his body transform from that of a seven-year-old to a teenager. His black hair was shaggy but his black eyes gleamed with a new light.
Lust.
I looked at my face in the pool. I was the same age as he- fourteen- with big blue eyes and lightly curling hair. My skin was the same shade and I looked so much older than fourteen- more mature, like I had been through so much... which I had. Seiko also glowed. Good, it had worked. I gave him the power of electricity- so he had gotten it from his father. Around thirteen is when the “supernatural” abilities start showing up. I remember freaking out because I had my first vision at twelve. And they hadn't left me alone since. Most humans have some sort of ability, it's just so subtle that they don't even notice it. Seiko's was remarkably strong. His father... I needed to know more about him. Seiko touched my hand. I felt a soft jab of electricity that had nothing to do with his newfound talent. He looked at me, confusion in his eyes.
“Why did you do this to me? To us?” He said, not meanly. Just curiously.
“I would have killed you.” I said, not meeting his eyes.
“Rose. Trust me.” He said, lifting my chin so our eyes were level. I sighed.
“Seiko, open your mind. Be free.” The scent of burning sage and lavender freed my own mind, and we were in my heaven.
“Seiko, open your eyes.” I whispered. He did, and I heard his sharp intake of breath.
“It's beautiful.” He said. “As beautiful as you.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. For some reason, the sound of violins suddenly filled the air. He asked me to dance, and we did. I wrapped my arms around his neck as we moved in time to the music. He spun me around. We danced until the sun went down. Then we sat on a secluded bench (secluded from what?) surrounded by rosebushes and ferns. He plucked a rose and put it in my palm.
“A rose for a Rose.” He said. He blinked, his black eyes inches away from my blue ones. He lifted my chin and kissed me. I felt like some new part of me arose from the ashen remains of what was, and I was born anew. I felt like it gave me wings and set me free, away from my curse, away from everything. He pulled away from me too soon... I looked into his glittering, shining, sparking black eyes. They danced like summer stars. He took my hands.
“Sorry about seeming forward.” He said.
“I don't mind.” I said sweetly. My fourteen-year-old eyelashes were so very long... and so were his, with those beautiful rosy cheeks. He was beyond childhood cute now, he was kind of hot.
My childhood friend and neighbor. And I love him. And he loves me. Somehow, he loves me.
He loves me!
I draped my hands around his shoulders. My head inched up to his, embracing him in an enticing kiss.
“Stop!” I said to myself, though Seiko took it as a warning to himself.
“Seiko, love, I can't do this. I said, dried tears freezing on my face. I couldn't cry- I've only been dead for sixty years. And this girl just now found true love.
How indescribably sad.
“Rose, I'm sorry.” He said.
“Oh, sweetheart, it's...” I couldn't tell him my secret. I just couldn't. It wasn't an issue of trust. I knew I could trust him with anything-ANYTHING-but I was afraid to see the light he would look at me with if he knew. Oh, if only I could tell him!
“Rose, I don't know what's wrong, but you can tell me almost anything. Unless it's a 'lady problem' or something.” He laughed, tucking a stray curl behind my ear.
“Seiko, I love you. I really do think I've loved you since I met you. That pretty little baby, with those beautiful black eyes.” I said into his ear.
“You were a baby the same time I was, love.” He said quizzically.
“No I wasn't.” I whispered horsely.
“Rosa, you're the same age as me.”
“I'm not.”
“What?”
“I'm not who you think I am.”
“Rose, I know you better than anyone else on the face of the Earth.”
“That is true. But there are things I don't tell anyone.”
“Oh, Rose, you are impossible.”
“Let's just leave.”
“Good idea. Possibly one of your only ones.”
Anger flashed in my pale blue eyes.
“Just take my hand!” I yelled. He did and I felt his electricity pump through me.
We ended up next to the waterfall, merrily pouring out the elixir of life. I angrily unbound the magic.
“Goodbye, Seiko.” I said as he left without a word. I walked to my house, strangled sobs breaking the gentle orchestration of crickets and the distant howling of the mighty wolf.
“What's wrong, darling?” Alyssa asked to me over the clatter of dishes in the sink.
“Seiko.” I said as I marched to my room, closed the door and cried over a boy. How pathetic and predictably sexist could I be? The icy dagger of pain stabbed my dead heart.
Oh, Seiko. What have we done now?

6
I checked myself out in the mirror. I looked so different as a fourteen year old! Blond hair framing my strong, heart-shaped face. My long, elegant neck was slender and beautiful, leading down to my broad, bone pale, photogenic shoulders, to my curvy, hourglass figure, slim waist, and long, slim powerful legs just like my flexible, strong arms. My facial features were the same- light brows, wide icy blue eyes with a haunted, slightly alive look. I had an aquiline nose, and deep red poufy lips. I smiled as I ran my long flexible fingers through my softly curling hair.
Now I traveled on the bus to high school, Seiko next to me, his back turned. What did he see when our eyes met? Did he see the power, the grace, the toughness, the beauty behind them? Did he he feel that electricity flowing through us? Could he guess the secrets I kept from him, the ones I needed to to save myself?
I sighed, flipping open a book and cranking up my iPod, wishing I could drown my sorrows in a flood of words and music. Amy Lee's powerful vocals cried in my ears, singing a tale of betrayal and sacrifice.
I hate you. I thought as I gazed at Seiko's back. ...I hate myself. Then a silent tear rolled down my cheek.
Because it's true.
“Rose?” Seiko's strong voice broke through the wall of sadness I hid behind. It was exactly my brand of heroin. Addictive and the worst thing possible for me.
How is it that the best thing for you is also the worst?
“I'm fine.” I lied. He knew I was lying but was too annoyed to say anything.
“How did Yuki react to your new...” I trailed off, but he knew I meant age, look, pretty much everything.
“She was surprised at first, but she seemed to understand. Rose, is there something you aren't telling me?” He said.
I wanted to tell him. I needed to tell him. I wanted him to know. I wanted him to truly be a part o my world.
“No. Nothing.” I lied again. He nodded, unconvinced. Finally, after what seemed like eons of torturous public transportation, the bus screeched to a halt, opening its squeaky doors unto a world of torture, misery, betrayal and lust that is known as high school. I stared at its many windows, wide-eyed, as Seiko took my hand.
“I'm here for you, Rose. I always will be.” He assured. And with that, we nervously embarked into Clear River High School. Yet, all I thought, with all the drama, tears and trigonometry that lay ahead, was what an imaginative name for a school. It's not like the name of everything in the entire town is named Clear River something. God, that's kind of sad.
The sight I saw was something I had never seen in any school, ever, except on T.V. , so it was shocking.
There were six teenagers, all boys, surrounding one girl. She was terrified. Her wide emerald eyes were as big as the moon, her pink lips in a soft, surprised O, her small body wracking with pleas to stop. One of the boys- a tall, blond, athletic one- was kicking her cruelly.
“You sorry now, Tanisha?” He growled, hate gleaming in his dark brown eyes.
“I didn't do it, Leo!” She screamed.
“What, you think that just because you made the softball team means you can do whatever you want? Let's not forget that night. If that got out, I don't think the softball coaches would want someone with that on their record batting for their team.”
She narrowed her eyes. The other boys all came to the defense, surrounding the tall blond one. Tanisha looked like she was about to do whatever she wanted, but she fell to the ground.
“It won't happen again.” She panted. The guys walked away, cackling.
I looked with horror at them. I blinked in surprise,then dashed to Tanisha's side, Seiko babbling in surprise like he always did when something upset him.
“Why'd you let that jerk push you around?” I demanded to her surprised face. She recovered from the shock, and laughed, black braids whipping around her lovely mocha face.
“You really think someone like me can beat someone like him?” She scoffed.
“What did he mean, when he was threatening you?” I said naively. She blinked in surprise.
“Thank God, someone who hasn't heard about my night of weakness!” She said happily. “Well, about a year ago, I was going out with Leo. I thought he was sweet, smart, funny, and of course drop-dead gorgeous. One night he came to my house. My dad was out with his girlfriend, so I was alone. He brought a six-pack and pretty soon I was beyond drunk. I couldn't walk in a straight line! So I let him get too far with me... I woke up feeling empty, alone, and like a part of me was missing. So now every time I walk by him, Leo just keeps hitting me with that same mistake. If I could go back in time... I would change everything.” She sighed, her face downcast.
“He abused me, too. He would hit me and scream that he wanted me to die. I was miserable and I almost wished he would get his wish.” She said sadly.
I blinked in astonishment. I had grown used to the ways of old, more appropriately my time, and now I was living a very sheltered life, it seemed. And Seiko- poor Seiko!- He was really in over his head. He had the social skills of a six year old.
I am the worlds biggest idiot. I thought to myself as I pulled Tanisha to her feet.
“You're gonna need my help.” She commented, shaking her head.
And then began the end of everyone's everything.

7
I trudged home through the fields of the farms. Waving goodbye to Seiko, I slid inside my house.
“Rose?” I swiveled around at the sound of Alyssa's voice.
“I'm p-pregnant.” She studdered.
“How long so?” I said, arching an eyebrow.
“Five months.” She lied. It was eight months. She had been hiding from me, wearing those maternity dresses, and even worse she knew the baby was a boy. She knew its name would be Jimmy. And she had kept this from me.
“Great, Alyssa. I'm really happy for you.” I said, a false smile spreading across my porcelain doll like face. She smiled, and she gave me permission to stay out as long as I wanted until I moved out. I gave her my thanks and ran out the door.
“Rain, fall upon this farm town.” I whispered. And on my command, a refreshing rain fell upon the rolling fields of crops, onto the two kids playing Cops and Robbers outside, onto the large white farmhouses, onto the livestock, and onto me. Just to prove how much my life had become some sappy romance movie, I felt like
I was about to sing. Me! Sing! I must be insane, I thought bitterly.
Although I did cry. I walked the streets, not knowing or caring where I was. My curls stuck to my face, my lashes stuck together, my black clothes clinging to my body. I sloshed to a restaurant. Anything to feel more alive.
I was beginning to wish that instead of that vampire biting me, he had just left me to die.
I remember that day very well. I was a sixty year old poet, publishing my works as anonymous. No one knew the way my heart beat- how could I let anyone in?- and no one even knew my name. That night, I had gone to a small French restaurant. There I met a man with the name Victor Husselbeck. He flirted with me casually. I smiled and told him to visit me anytime he wanted. Then I left, which was easily the dumbest thing I ever did. It was around three in the morning, and most normal people were asleep, or at least at home. It was a warm summer night, the moon was full and shedding a particularly bright light. I took off my sweater, where all I was wearing was a tank top. I also looked about twenty, so I heard these guys wolf-whistling at me. I was about to snap at them to shut up, but then I saw Victor among them. I stared at him in shock. Then, one of the guys stood next to me.
“You're so pretty.” He snarled in my ear. I spit on him.
“Mistake, darling.” He said, holding a knife to my neck. I gulped. Then I felt the blade skim my skin, the pain bursting through me like a ten-ton wrecking ball through an abandoned office building. I fell to my knees, howling in agony. I wanted it all end, for it all to decay inside me. Then I felt the sharp stinging of vampire venom flowing through me. I screamed even more.
Then the blackness ensued me. I heard the exited talk of passerby, the concerned mutters of strangers, the rustles of newspapers, the thumping of feet on the pavement, the roaring of cars on the freeway, and the silence of my own heart. I opened my eyes.
Everything was so sharp. Like a super-high resolution photo where you can see practically every pixel of every molecule. I could see the lines in people's irises from miles away.
Oh my God. The face next to me was Victor. He was a vampire! And with that true statement, began my life after my death.
I shook myself mentally. Stupid vampire. I wanted to die.
I left before anyone took my order. I just wanted to be alone... no, I wanted to be loved... no... I didn't know what I wanted. I didn't even know who I was. Tears slid from my eyes. The homeless lined the streets. They were no stranger to pain. Their eyes traveled up my marvelous clothes, quickly looking down before I could meet their gaze. I saw a mother cradling her two children. She didn't look much older than sixteen, yet here she was, tear tracks leaving clean spots in her dirty face. Every day, she had to face the same hopeless consequences of other people's bad choices. Instead of a ring on her finger, all she had to show her husband's commitment was a bent fork. She looked like she was about to give up. Unknowingly, I started sobbing too.
“Can you hold Shaqueeqa?” She asked, handing me a very dirty, very scraped baby.
Who could it hurt? We cradled the future of America in the dark alleyway, embers from the only fire they had slowly fading to ash. This was the life they knew. This was all they had, I thought as the sun began to rise. I handed her her baby, then walked into the sunrise, heading to the place I'm forced by law to call home.
Nothing is worth the struggle. I thought.
I sat up. I hadn't slept, of course, but I had drifted into the substantial land of unconsciousness. Idiot! It must have been a dream! I scolded myself.
How wrong I was. And how, by the end of the week, I wish I had never met that homeless mother, Lelani, and her kids, Sam and Shaqueequa.

8
My day began normally enough. I grabbed a deer on the way to school (I'm the world's best predator) and sucked it dry. As usual, my blue eyes shone like they always did after consuming any blood. Plus I felt more alive... something I hadn't felt for a while.
I needed human blood. Not Alyssa's- she would know somethings up if I drank blood more than once a year.
Lelani.
Yesterday as we were cradling her children she confided that she was... suicidal. The way I saw it, she would kill herself anyway. Why let all that beautiful blood go to waste? Ignoring my civic duty to actually attend school, I threw the deer into a pile of leaves and headed off for Lelani and her children.
“Hello Lelani.” I growled from behind a Dumpster.
“Wh-whose there?” She studdered.
“Come with me and your kids will live.” I said with a laugh. With trembling knees, Lelani came forward, leaving her two kids asleep on the wet ground. Sam sneezed. If I hadn't been so blinded by rage I would have stopped right there.
But I didn't.
“Come here.” I cooed, using the hypnotizing voice I didn't even know I had. She did, eyes blank. She fell forward and I bit into her neck, letting the sweet nectar flow into my mouth. I kept drinking, blood spilling onto my lap, splashing onto my lips, rolling down my face, tinging my fangs red.
It was horrible and terrific all at once. Then there was less and less blood, and then I left the corpse of Lelani in the alleyway, to be discovered by her parents and children.
Little did I know how big of a change little Sam and Shaqueequa would cost me.
“Seiko.” I nodded to him as we passed in the hall.
“Where were you? Were you like, ditching or something?” He said excitedly.
Yep. His brain and physical appearance may be that of a fourteen year old, but he was defiantly six on the inside. Poor Seiko. Falling victim to my own mistakes.
Yet again.
“Yeah, I ditched.” I lied.
“Sweet.” He smiled.
“Well, smell you later.” I waved. He gazed at me forlornly as I wandered down the hallways to my Science class. As usual, he left me more confused than anything and longing for something more. That was when it hit me- I had just drank from a human! Someone living! Well, they weren't living anymore; I had killed her! I'm a murderer! I thought, walking straight through a wall. Again.
I sat on the bus, acknowledging that the buzzing from kid to kid was all about me walking through that wall, mostly because I could hear every whisper. I felt eyes boring into my back. I knew it, and I knew it would happen eventually. It was part of being a vampire. I sighed to no one, and then the most clueless person in the world stepped onto bus 145- Seiko Vonhurr.
“Hey Seiko.” I said, trying to sound nonchalant.
“Hi Rose.” He said, coolly. He didn't even know about the walking through walls? God! This beautiful child is clueless about everything- especially his best friend, Rose Shia. Me. The vampire.
“Um... I have something to tell you.” I said.
“Yeah?” He said clueless as always.
“Meet me in my shed after we get dropped off.” I whispered. He nodded.
“What is it, Rose?” He called out, having much weaker eyes than mine. I sat here in the hay, letting the light shine on me.
“I'm over here.” I sighed. I heard him trudging through the hay, ending up in front of me.
“Wow,” I heard him whisper. “You are amazingly gorgeous.” His eyes were wide, so I knew he meant it.
I laughed quietly.
“Seiko, I have something to tell you.” I murmured.
“What is it?” He said, eyes wide and fearful.
“Did you like Dracula?” I asked. We had watched last Saturday at Yuki's.
“Yeah, I loved it.”
“What if... I was a vampire? And what if... you were my human consort?” I said, looking at my feet. I didn't want to see his face as he second-guessed everything he knew.
“I thought monsters were made up. Fiction, you know.” He said, looking at his feet too.
“I am a monster. I've killed someone. But that doesn't change the way I feel about you, Seiko. The way I've always felt.”
“You really are a vampire then?”
“Yeah. I drink blood and everything.”
“How old are you?”
“Fourteen.”
“When you died.”
“Sixty.”
I heard his sharp intake of breath.
“I'm in love with someone forty six years older than me.” He grinned.
“You love me too?” I said, standing up.
“Always.”
Then I wrapped my arms around him.
“Thank you.” I whispered. He dipped me back and kissed me. It was magical, like it always is in the movies, with him holding me close and the feeling like I was soaring over mountains that I had only dreamed about reaching before.
“This is so wrong.” I said as he pulled away.
“I know.” He agreed.
“Too bad for the Vampire Rulers, you're staying with me.” I laughed.
“The what now?”
“The Vampire Rulers. They conduct all of our laws and restrictions... and punishments. As soon as you become a vampire, your mentor-the one that turned you into a vampire- takes you to them. Then they can keep tabs on you.” I said warily.
“What about the human consort thing?” He asked.
“You are my human consort. Technically, vampires aren't supposed to have any, but they happen. I'm supposed to have a vampire 'mate' but I'm the only one for miles. Besides, all I want is you.” I said, truthfully.
“You live forever?” He asked.
“Yeah. We do.”
“Let me join you.”
“Love, I would never make someone a vampire who has another choice.”
“You must! That way the Royal Vampires or whatever will let us be together!”
“Seiko, darling, I don't need the Vampire Royals to tell me I love you! I've loved you since the day you said your first word- you were in the garden with Yuki, Alyssa was helping her weed, and you said Rose, clearly as I would.”
“My first word was your name?”
“Yeah.”
“Strange, huh?”
“You bet.”
“Rose, one more question- why did you turn me into a fourteen year old human?”
I closed my eyes.
“Seiko, there's one more thing you should know about vampires-we all have some special ability.” I told him.
“Sweet. What's your's?” He said enthusiastically.
“I see the future.”
“Oh my God! That's like, so cool! Have you had any visions about me?”
“Yeah.”
“What was it about?”
I took a deep breath. “Your death. And it was all my fault. But Seiko, you know now. You can see if I'm about to bite you. Never, ever let me bite you.” I sobbed.
“It's okay, Rose. It's okay.”
Should I tell him that it's never okay, that nothing is ever okay?

9
Alyssa was having her baby. Seiko didn't know that it would be the ultimate demise of the world, so he kept whispering things in my ear, like “Oh my god, a little brother!” It was kind of annoying, mostly because I was already agitated. So I just smiled and nodded. Me and Seiko talked about vampires to pass the time. He seemed very interested in them- more so than even me! Most of those old myths are just that- myths. We can cross running water, we can go out in daylight, it just kind of burns, crosses and holy water do nothing to us, a stake through the heart won't even work- our skin is virtually impenetrable. The only way to kill us is to kill the one we love. And if the one you love is a vampire, you can always rip our heads off, stuff them with garlic, and scatter our limbs around. And I don't even sleep, let alone in those freaky coffins. And I love some garlic on my pasta.
Most of those myths are made up to give the humans a false sense of supremacy, that they are somehow better than the paranormal.
Yeah.
There are other paranormal beings too- there are werewolves, fairies, pixes, dwarfs, you name it. There are also things you probably haven't even heard of, such as the Triclepitose. They're a tribe of Native Americans that literally are bird men/women. They have the beaks, feathers and wings, yet are built as humans. They are a peaceful people, being vegetarians and pacifists. Every once in a while you'll get a masochistic Triclepitose, but normally they keep to themselves.
Almost all of the “fairytale” beings have some sort of way to blend in, like a chameleon. Why have you never seen a fairy? They do live in trees but when they leave they can make themselves invisible to human eyes. All of us in a paranormal world sort of have an alliance. Even children of the night-us- coexist with the daughters of the light (the fairies) to keep our true selves out of sight. Even genies exist. Most of them were wiped out when humans melted down their lamps, but a few do still exist. They are very old and wise, and if anyone needs advice they're the go-to guys. The nurse came up to me and Seiko just as he asked me how you can tell who's a vampire.
“Do you want to see the baby?” She asked.
“Yeah!” I said. I wanted to see what I was up against.
“Come with me. You can come too.” She said, gesturing to Seiko. He took my hand.
“Vampires all have a tattoo. It is put on my the Vampire Royals to track us. Here's mine.” I said, pulling back my sleeve. It was of a rose, of course.
“They like to make it practical.” I said, smiling.
Alyssa held baby Jimmy in her arms. For a soon to be cold-blooded killer, he was kind of cute.
“Hey Jimmy.” I said. He looked at me with Alyssa's big brown eyes. Actually, he looked almost exactly like her except that his skin was a shade lighter.
This is the future demise of or planet? I thought. But I had no idea how hard it would be to kill your adopted mother's son. Especially when that kid is an evil vampire.
“Awesome, Alyssa.” I smiled.
“Thanks, sweetheart,” She croaked. “You can go home. I don't want you to have to sleep in the waiting room. But, knowing you, I guess you'd be too exited to sleep anyway. I beamed with fake happiness at her. Good thing she was so tired! The Alyssa who had kind of raised me would have known immediately that something was up.
“See you at home, Alyssa and John!” I called as Seiko and I left.
“Tell me more about you.” He demanded as we marched down the hallway. I laughed and told him everything I knew about magic.
That it was real.
And that he had some of it in his veins, that it actually made him stronger. That he, too, had a talent.
Electricity. And he could help me kill the demon that was the newest member of my family.
“So,” Seiko asked as we were leaving, “why do they need to track you?”
“For the insane, the ruthless.”
“And what happens to them?”
I looked at my feet.
“Execution.” I whispered. Goosebumps raised on my arms.
“Oh.” He agreed, and we walked home in a silence out of respect... respect of the dead. The dead... the place someone I knew and loved would be.

10
Seiko walked me home. The stars danced in the indigo sky, tiny pinpricks of light, of hope, in a seemingly endless sea of indigo despair. Wow, look at me, being all poetic. I thought sarcastically. He opened the iron gates blocking the entrance to our garden. He walked me up the cobblestone pathway, rosebushes lining the sides, and stopped at my door.
"I love you." He said, hs dark eyes sparkiling, trained exclusivley on my all-too-bright ones.
"I love you too." I said, kissing him. The kiss grew hotter. My arms pulled him closer, closer... he was perfect for my form. My legs wrapped around his waist, moans of longing escaping from our mouths. The kiss grew hotter still, as he threw me onto the grass- as if that could hurt- his hands up my shirt, lips demanding and hot. I fell into the passion, shedding my inhibitions with my shirt, which was in relativly good condition while Seiko's was torn into ribbons by my own passionate fingernails. His arms wrapped around my chest, undoing the hooks of my bra, his hands smoothing the sides of my waist onto my jeans, bringing them lower and lower... I knew what was happening, and I welcomed it. Soon we were both naked, bodies shining sliver with sweat in the moon light. He had sex with me, his body warmth driving me crazy, every inch of him with a serotonin that made my sences tingle. My fingers trace his delicate features, a low moan escaping my throat as he finds my weak spots, kissing me on the neck. I hold him close, his naked, surprisingly strong chest un top of mine, his heart beating faster and faster. Tears roll down my face, landing on his sholder.
"Rose? What's wrong?" He whispered into my ear.
"You're so perfect! I don't deserve this!" I sobbed, clutching him close.
"Shh, love. I'm here. I don't deserve you sweetheart."
"I've killed people before. Killed them and ripped their throats open. People much stronger and older than you. You don't know my past, Seiko." I looked away.
"I don't care. You are everything to me. I am meant to be with you. I know it. I don't care what you are. I love you." He said. It was possibly the longest sentance he had said all night, certainly the most profound.
"Seiko... that's amazing." I said, tears rolling off my eyelashes. He put a hand behind my head, pulling my face tword his, kissing me sweetly this time.
"I'm sorry." I said. "About everything." I quickly got dressed and ran to somewhere I belonged... VCO- Vampire Council Orginization. The band of vampires that govern and rule us. This month was the annual Convention of Vampires. If I ran, I could make it...
So I ran to their secret village. Somewhere I would always belong.

11
I missed him. I knew that. Yet I continued to speed through the grass, as the stars glittered at me as the indigo sky turned to purple, to lavender... I was almost there. Seven hundren more miles, meaning seven minutes for me. Unless I ran into trouble.
It had been a long night. After being with Seiko, I quickly left him. I needed to find a place for me. Anything would be better than being Seiko's reluctant muse. As soon as I was fifty miles away, I broke down crying, falling to my knees, wrapped my arms around my chest, and screamed. I fell and cried, tears rolling off my lashes and dripping down my cheeks.
"Seiko." I whimpered, then cried much more, dry grasses brushing against my face. Screams of pure agony echoed through the rocky crevasses. I lay there for a while, wallowing in self-pity. Then I thought of Jimmy, the baby. I had little more than two months. I gritted my teeth, wiped the tears and snot from my face, and ran.
I felt better after the wind brushed my face, a caressing touch compared to the coarse grass. My mind was preoccupied, so I couldn't think of the s.hit I had just done with Seiko.
D.amn it Rose, you screwed that up. I growled to myself.
Focus on nothing. Nothing. Nothing. and by thinking of that, I thought of nothing.
So that leads me to now. I snuck behind the houses of sleeping humans, aware of every breath taken in, every snore, every beat of their hearts.
You have a purpose, Rose. I reminded myself.
I slid into the village of vampires, all enjoying themselves. Why not? Nothing was going wrong with them. Everything was just peachy.
Ohmigod.
I actually said peachy.
I walked past the celebrating vampires. Laughter rang merrily through the air, bottles of fine wine raised to good health and happiness, an inside joke among our kind.
Then I saw someone I had hoped beyond hope had moved on to the Lands of Dead. He was certainly mischevious enough to do something stupid and end up dead. But there he was, my ex-lover. For vampires, sex is never just a one night stand. It erects a bond between the two. For instance, Seiko is feeling betrayed, upset, angry, used, dirty, trashed, impure, and left out.
Oops. My bad.
There he was, Aran VonHouten.
"Hello Aran." I said, gulping.
"Rose." He said. There was a cold gleam in his gray eyes. They really were gray, not grey. See the difference? He took my hands.
"Stop it, I'm with someone else now." I growled, trying to snatch my hands back.
"Right. I felt that hour or so of intence pleasure when you and your 'love' were getting the freak done in the grass. Real classy, Rose. I thought you were better than what. W.hore!" He said, the last word yelled. Spit landed on my cheek.
"Well, I-" But a hard blow delivered to my face sent me spiraling onto the floor, more from shock than actual pain. I blinked.
"I'll kill you! You... You... You..." I couldn't think of a word bad enough to call him. So I spoke with my fist. I kicked everywhere I could reach, every lesson I had ever had in fighting forgotten in this one moment of pure rage. He lay beneath me, reminding me of that night thirty years ago. I was about to kill him when a strong hand closed around my sholder. I whipped my head round, eyes in slits, fists at the ready, but I found myslef staring into the face of my best friend Laurenne! I kicked Aran one last time and then embraced her.
"Laur, I missed you! How was the tour of the world?" I said, remembering her reason for being gone for all these years.
"Eh. Didn't find a good guy," She smiled. "But word is you've got someone by your side... more like on top of you!" We laughed. We were best friends; she could diss me all she wanted and I'd forgive her.
"It's true." I said.
"Do tell!"
"He's hot, sexy, big, sweet... basically everything I've ever wanted." I said, a smile on my lips thinking of last night.
"Oh my god. You... Did It?" She said.
"Yeah, we had sex and I havn't said 'Doing It' since middle school." I joked.
"Holy..." she said, eyes wide in wonder.
I smiled.
"Well, I'm going to talk to the VCO about a vampire broblem in France. An insane vampire has been on the rampage in secret, killing quietly. The human cops are going crazy." She said matter-of-factly.
"My adopted mother's son is evil and will be the ultimate demise of society as we know it." I said, trying to be nonchalant.
Her jaw dropped open.
"You go first..." was all she said.

12
The emperoress sat upon her throne, emerald jewlery gleaming like the eyes of a snake.
-max amount of letters. I'm continuing on a post below

[~*Crimson Rain*~]

At first I was all like: "HOLY S.HIT! HOW DOES THIS PERSON KNOW ME!?!?!"

...then I realized it was you...x


Lol, my name is going to end up being all over the internet before the end of the week xD

[Rain]

I don't think that's necssicarily a bad thing, having your name all over the Internet...

[Rain]

12 (continued)
Her green eyes gleamed with a hard look that only years of pain and suffering can provide. But she was nice- when we entered, we tried to bow low but she caught us in an immense hug. Her face was laced with scars, proudly worn. Loose green robes clung to her curves but skimmed over the rest like it didn't exist.
"We come with bad news, Your Highness." I said, lifting my head high.
"Yes, young one?" She said, sighing. I was young, I suppose. Certainly compared to HRH Lily, our ruler of 908 years.
She had seen it all- some of which I had no desire whatsoever to see. I guestured to Laurenne, who nodded.
"Martirio, our favorite insane vampire," she said with an eye roll, at which HRH Lily laughed at, "has gone on a killing spree around the suburbs of Paris. Innocent humans have 'disappeared' in the dead of night, and the humans are frightened. We need stealth warriors there, Your Majesty."
HRH Lily nodded. "Permission granted, Laurenne. Rose?" She added, turning her green gaze to me.
"Your Majesty, Alyssa, my adopted mother, gave birth two nights ago. However, this baby is not what he seems. I had a series of visions about him. He will kill Alyssa after he gets The Sickness, he will grow to be a lost vampire, but an evil vampire takes him under her wing, teaching him of their ways. Jimmy- the boy- will become a greater enemy then we could have imagined, Your Majesty." I said, meeting her steady gaze. It hadn't changed a bit.
"What shall we do?" She asked me. She was asking me about the future of the vampire race. One wrong move, and we could be wiped out for good.
"I want you to give me permission to kill the baby." I said, lowering my voice to a growl. HRH Lily's eyes widened hugely. Laurenne stifiled a gasp.
"That's against the age-old code of our kind! 'Do not kill those who are unable to defend themselves.' It's basic, Rose! The only code that has always been honored by vampires! We have honor!" She seethed.
"Please, Your Majesty, I wouldn't bother you with something unless it was of utmost importance." I begged. "I can't let my adopted brother kill my adopted mother! Not to mention the rest of the world! Empathize- this is my LIFE we're talking about. This is our world. Please. And if you don't... I don't want to, but you'd leave me to disobey and kill him. I'd die because of it- but my death would be the birth of a thousand others. I need your permission, Your Majesty." I said. I didn't realize I was crying until HRH Lily told me not to cry.
"I grant you permission to kill the baby." She said, eyes sadder than usual.
"Thank you. Thank you so much. MAny blessings to your, Your Grace." I breathed, giddy with releif. And I hadn't even had to tell her who-
"Rose, who was the vampire who corruped the poor child's mind?" She said, casually. But I knew why she wanted to know. She wanted to kill the obviously mad vampire. I had to tall her the truth- she'd know it if I was lying.
"It was me, Your Highness. I was the evil b.itch who turned the pour soul who was clearly naught more than a young toddler away from the good and into the dark ways." I said, looking at the floor. HRH Lilly's eyes widened in utter horror.
"No." She whispered. Then she regained composture.
"Rose, if you kill the baby, your life will be spared. Kill the defenceless, and save your own life. Or leave it to live, possibly choose our side or the dark but you will die. What will you choose?" She said, firmly.
"I will do what I think is right." I answered, holding my head high.
"I pray that is the right thing to do, Rose. Off with you!" She commanded.
And we left the royal chambers, feeling completely, utterly, horribly worthless.
That's when I fell to the ground, hitting the cold hard stone, yowling in pain as a vision came on. First a blindingly white light filled every inch of my body, searing with pain. I knew I was flailing madly, but I could barley even feel my arms by my side. It was an agony I had never experienced before. I wanted to scream, to howl, to shriek; but my mouth was clamped tightly shut. I wanted it to end. I'd take death over this never ending torture. After what seemed like decades, the pain left, just as soon as it had come. A soothing, refreshing silence, then the vision.
It was different than my normal visions. Normally I'm in third person, watching from the sides. Here, I was me. I felt everything.
"Rose." An all-too-familiar voice called. I spun around, blond ringlets flailing.
Of course. Seiko.
"Hello, my love." I said, but I didn't say it. The me that wasn't me said that. Oh, crap, that makes no sence. The me that would be me in the future replied. Yeah, that's good.
"I've waited for this moment." He growled, an almost hungry look in his beautiful eyes. The me inside the future me shuddered.
"Seiko, no..." The present me murmured.
"Kiss me, my love. Kiss me like it i the last kiss we should ever share." The future me whispered, kind of sexily. Seiko flew- holy hell, he flew- over to me and threw his arms around my waist and kissed me passionately. I felt that, too. It felt amazing.
"Now, my sweet, we kill your brother." He said, pulling out a switchblade. The future me smiled, baring my ivory fangs.
"Yes, dearest. Let's rip him to shreds so that we can rejoice forever, basking in your love."
"As soon as you bite me, Rose, and I join the ranks of the undead, we can truly become one. I promise- no, I swear that I will love you for all eternity. Bite me now, Rose. Please." He said, longing in his beautiful gaze.
"Not now. I need your humanity."
"Yes, my Queen. Let us rejoice in the summers of our love; may it's strength never falter, may we alway know right from wrong, in love and in death. I promise to love you forever. I've said that already, I know, but it's true. I want you to know- you're gonna be stuck with me forever, and if you don't want it, break my human heart instead of my vampire one. Rose, after this, will you... will you marry me?" He asked. That made both of the me's mouths drop open.
"WHAT THE HELL?" We both asked. Or yelled.
"Rose, I love you. I want to be with you, forever. do you promise me that too?"
"Let me get through this mission." I snarled.
Then the white light shot through me again, not as as painful this time. I eoke with a jolt on the stone floor, dizzy and tense.
"ROSE!" Laurenne shrieked.
"L-laurenne?" I said in a raspy voice that was not my own.
"Rose, you woke up, thank god! What was that? You we're flaililing around like you were having a seizure oor something. And you were screaming bloody murder. Then you started calling for help, and I really did think you had a seizure, and then it got all quiet..." She said, trailing off.
"I'm a vampire." I pointed out.
"Yeah, I guess it was the mom in me. I miss Carlie so much sometimes..." She said, eyes dark with unshed tears.
"Carlie loved you. She still loves you, even if she's seventy and dying, she'll never forget her mother who (allegedly) died to save her life. Even her husband, if she has one, will respect that. No one can take a mother's place in your heart." I said, thinking of my own beautiful human mother, long dead, as I remember the last words she said to me.
"Don't ever give up, Rose. Not until you've lost everything. Fight with your last breath. Remember that it's easier to go down without a fight, but it's more honorable to be locked in combat as you fall." She had told me. Tears welled up in my eyes.
It was like she knew I would become a monster...
Holy crap. How did I not see that?! She knew I would become a vampire because she herself was a vampire and knew that, since vamps arent supposed to have kids, that the HRH at that time would come find me and kill me, or make me join the ranks of the undead.
That's why I was changed. Holy crap, I get it now! That's why she was always saying that there was something special about me! That's why my mother and father fought so much! That's why I was killed!
But why did they transform me? Why not just kill me and get it over with?
Then it hit me.
"Oh, crap." I said softly, as I realized what it was that I was here for.
"Not me. It can't be me! I can't do this! I can't do this by myself! Seiko, oh, Seiko, I need you!" I said.
"Rose?!" Laurenne asked, alarmed.
"I-I'm just going to go to my chambers. See you later, Laur." I said, shakily. I needed to process this.

13
Yes, I was talking to myself. Who cares?
"Okay Rose. Concentrate. Vison, vison, vision..." I murmured. I lay down on the stone floor- we don't sleep- and closed my eyes, focusing all of my paranormal energy on Seiko. Then, finally, it came.
Seiko sat on a leather sofa, cradiling a beautiful black-haired baby girl in his arms. She cooed softly.
"Shh, shh, Rose, it will be fine." He said softly. Aw, Rose, what a cute name for such a cute ba-
Wait. Hey, that's MY name! He named his baby girl after me? Oh, Seiko... I looked on with hurt eyes. I heard a key turn in the lock. Seiko's eyes brightened.
"Hello love." He called.
"Hey, sweetheart." She called back. Oh, she was beautiful. Soft, straight chestnut brown hair fell to her tanned shoulders, with big, icy blue eyes. Oh my God, that's his wife. I thought incredulously. She was beautiful. I immediately hated her. Especially when she held him close, smiled into his eyes, and kissed him. Then I realized, This is what's best for him. He needs someone human, someone who won't have to hunt for blood, who isn't lethal. It just broke my heart to think that. Then Rose, the baby, started crying.
"Shh, shh, mommy's got you know Rosie." She said sweetly.
"I'll be back, love." Seiko said. Naturally, I followed him. He collapsed heavily on his bed.
"Why didn't I save Rose? She was the best thing that ever happened to me. Despite everything, I love her. I still love her." He said sadly, pulling a picture out of his pocket. It was me, but me that I had not ever seen before. It was me, smiling, laughing, holding hands with Seiko, a ring on my finger.
Oh, no. Ohhhhh no. I thought. He married me but I died, he was heartbroken, met his current wife, but still loves me. I feel so sorry for Baby Rose.
"Seiko, baby, you okay?" his wife called.
"I'm fine, Hayley," He said in a mock strong voice. "I'm fine."
My heart ached for him. I wanted to reach out and hold him, brush away his hair from his eyes, kiss his tears away, and whisper sweet words of consolation into his ears. Love. What a beautiful thing.
Yeah. Not. Take it from me- love sucks. But then I looked in Seiko's oh-so-beautiful eyes. I saw all that pain, the torture, the self-inflicted marks on himself, just to feel alive...
Holy crap. He was cutting himself over me.
No! No! This is all wrong! I wanted to scream. I wanted to hold him close as he cried his troubles into my chest, as I rubbed his back and kissed his forehead, as I let my tears mix with his blood, red-tinged droplets over us both, united in mind, spirit, body and blood. I wanted him to be happy. It's all I've ever wanted.
"I wish I could have helped her. That fierce Amazonian warrior princesss..." He said, shuddering and repressing the memory.