Scent of a White Rose (12 page)

Our feedings were going to have to become very
strict and limited to only people we'd fed from before. Because now
that it was clear that at least one family with demon blood resided
in our area, who knew how many more could be out there? I just
couldn't take the risk of any other member of my clan becoming
infected.

By the time I finished my phone call, the club
was in full swing. I found Dax talking to one of the members of the
liquor board who had apparently stopped in to make an impromptu
inspection. They seemed to be going through the checklist that the
inspector was carrying with him. As the owner, I should have made
an appearance and schmoozed the pencil pusher like I always did,
but after everything that had happened, I just didn't have the
energy to deal with that tonight.

Just as I slid back inside my office, Christian
appeared in the doorway.

"Evie, are you alright?" he asked.

I could tell he was nervous, and like the rest
of them, probably wanting to know what I had learned. But with Dax
and the rest of the clan occupied with their jobs, it was the
perfect opportunity to have a conversation with Christian about his
potential triggering. "I'm fine Christian, but please come in."

* * * * *

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Business Acquaintance

(Rose)

As we drove to the café, I just couldn't bring
myself to question Dad about his relationship with Meredith. So
instead, I sat there imagining all the expensive things I was going
to buy with the credit card he'd given me, while he pretended to
have a business meeting with his whore. Yes, I was that mad.

How in the hell could Dad continue to tell me
that it was "too soon" to move on, when he apparently didn't have
any trouble moving on from Mom's death whatsoever? The more and
more I thought about this, the angrier I was becoming. The rage
inside of me was building at a steady pace, and I felt the tears
threatening to spill.

"So, like I said, I figured you could do some
shopping while Meredith and I have our meeting. I think I remember
you mentioning that you needed some supplies for school and some
new cookware to replace the things that I ruined at the house," Dad
said with a chuckle. "I'll text you once we're done, and then you
and I can go to see that new movie that came out. Sound good?"

I can't tell you how hard it was not to scream
at him. It took everything I had to say, "Sure Dad. That'll be
fine." I had to keep my head turned towards the window, because if
I actually looked at him, I knew I would break. But apparently,
diverting my face wasn't enough to hide the waves of tension that
were rolling off of me.

"Is something wrong Rose?" he asked.

Damn it, why couldn't he have just let it
drop?
"Well, Dad, now that you mention it, I guess I'm not
really looking forward to seeing Meredith again, since it's obvious
that she is more to you than just a
business acquaintance.
"
I knew my voice carried a tinge of anger, and I didn't care.

A sigh escaped his lips, as he shook his head
back and forth. "Rose, I'm so sorry. I had no intention of dating
Meredith when we first met, but after getting to know her, we
really hit it off, and spending time with her has truly helped me
deal with my grief. I didn't say anything because I just didn't
think you would understand." Guilt as thick as molasses dripped
from his voice.

"Oh no Dad, I understand just fine. You banging
someone that looks just like Mom really helps lessen the blow that
she's truly gone." Fuck being nice; I'd had enough of being kept in
the dark.

"Rose Reynolds! You watch your mouth. How dare
you say such a thing to me? I loved your mother with all my heart
and I would never disrespect her memory by using someone else as a
substitute for what we had together. Yes, Meredith does have
similar features to your mother's, but what's really important is
that she makes me feel alive again, which is something that I never
thought would happen. Don't you dare think you are old enough to
understand what I've gone through."

I was confused by his last comment, but didn't
have time to dwell on it since we had just pulled up to the café. I
threw open the door and bolted from car, "Enjoy your lunch Dad.
Maybe
I'll see you at home?" I ran into the crowd before Dad
even had a chance to shut off the car. I noticed Meredith sitting
at one of the café tables as I ran by. She looked up, preparing to
smile, but then got the most curious look on her face. I was
extremely angry, and seeing the most vicious frown form on that
bitch's face had only made it worse.

* * * * *

(Jeremy/Dad)

"Jeremy, what's happened?" Meredith asked me as
I approached the table.

"Rose knows about us, and it didn't go well," I
explained.

Damn it. I hadn't wanted her to find out like
this. I had hoped to have a successful business meeting with
Meredith before things turned personal. I was planning to tell
Meredith that I wanted to let Rose know about us, and then ask Rose
to join us for dessert. That way they could spend a little time
getting to know each other before I shared the news. So much for
that plan.

I had never seen Rose act that way. She had
always been so level-headed, and such a good girl. I couldn't
believe the venom that her words had carried.

"I should go after her." I started to panic,
because I suddenly remembered the last words Rose had said, "Maybe
I'll see you at home.
" I had to find her before she did
something stupid.

"Jeremy, I think you should just let her blow
off some steam. She'll cool down after a while and then we can go
look for her. The fact that she doesn't have a car yet is
definitely a good thing right now. She shouldn't be able to get too
far," Meredith reasoned.

"I guess you're right." Resolved to let Rose
cool down before we continued this conversation, I sat down and
reached for Meredith's hand. "Thank you. I'm really glad that
you're here."

* * * * *

(Rose)

Watching Dad reach for that bitch's hand made me
want to scream. I had run into the nearest alley between two of the
shops and propped myself up against the brick wall while I tried to
catch my breath. Then I had peeked out to see how close behind me
Dad was. But, to my surprise, he wasn't even following me. He had
sat down with Meredith instead and then reached for her hand.

That was it. I'd had it. I had been feeling
guilty that I was going to be moving out and leaving Dad all alone,
but it was pretty fucking obvious that he had someone else to fill
the void that Mom, and now I, would be leaving in his life. What a
bastard.

* * * * *

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Dream Come True

(Christian)

As I entered Evie's office, I could tell that
whatever she had learned from her Sire had left her shaken. Her
hair had drifted a little darker and it looked like she had run her
fingers through it a number of times. But I just couldn't control
my curiosity. "What did you find out from Balam?"

After she lowered herself into her chair, she
closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. "I think it's best if I
tell everyone the information I learned from Balam after closing,
but right now there is something else that I want to discuss with
you."

Damn, I really wanted to get to the bottom of
this, and waiting until closing to find out what Evie had learned
was going to be torture. "Okay, what is it?"

"Well, I'll cut right to the chase. I have
reasons to believe that you are being triggered to become the new
Sire." Even though she looked tired, the smile on her face
indicated that for her, this was good news.

"Are you kidding me?" I was starting to feel a
little anxious, since this was the second time that someone had
mentioned this to me.

"No, Christian. I'm not kidding you. And if I'm
right, it will be a dream come true for me. From the moment that I
found you on the Swedish island of Gotland, it was clear to me that
you were a wonderful person." She paused, reflecting briefly. "It
was actually a coincidence that Dax and I even stopped on your
island. I remember that we were travelling through the Baltic Sea
and there was a problem with the ship. Once it docked, we decided
it would be best if we explored the island to feed, rather than
remain with the boat." She looked at me with such pride in her
eyes. "It was the best decision that we ever made."

Evie rose from her chair and continued to relive
the story that brought her and Dax to find me. "I remember
stumbling upon your little village and seeing all the hardworking
people, and the sense of community. As we watched from afar, I told
Dax that I only wanted to have a small clan so that we would always
remain as close as the people we saw there."

"I've always wondered why you created so few
vampires for your clan." I had never asked, mainly because I
thought it would be rude, but apparently she had gotten her wish.
Our small clan had always been happy...until now.

"We watched your village for several days and
fed only when someone would head to the stream for water. Dax had
dug out a burrow that provided us safety while we slept, but then
one day, we awoke to screams."

I knew the day she was referring to; it was the
last and first day of my life.

"The crew of the boat had discovered your
village. When we reached them, they had already started to plunder
and pillage. I remember seeing you fighting so fiercely to protect
that young girl. Dax and I fought off everyone we could while
trying to not frighten your townsfolk, but by the time we reached
you, you had been stabbed through." Evie had circled behind me and
now rested her hands on my shoulders. "There was no way I could let
you die. Not after seeing what a wonderful person you were. So
helpful to your village, such a hard worker, and an amazing
fighter. I knew in that instant that you would become my son. My
first vampire son."

Evie squeezed my shoulders and then made her way
back around to sit behind her desk once more. "If you are in fact
the one being triggered, I want you to know that I couldn't be
happier or prouder."

I sat stunned for a moment. Not because of her
speech, but because I hadn't thought of that day in so long. It was
going to take me a minute to shake the memories from my head. "I'm
at a loss for words. Honestly, I feel like there has to be some
mistake. I haven't shown any signs of being triggered and..." My
words drifted off as I truly didn't know what to say.

"Actually, you have been showing signs. Remember
in the private room when I launched myself at you? It was because
you had commented on something that I had
thought
–not said.
I was so shocked and surprised that I literally flew across the
room to see if I had imagined things. But then we were interrupted
and I couldn't explain."

As I sat there dumbfounded, she continued, "Then
there's the fact that when I was trapped in the comatose state, you
just happened to
know
what the right thing to do was. I
actually think that's because you are developing the psychic
ability called claircognizance, which means 'clear knowing'. Then,
when you were outside the office tonight, you had the most
quizzical look on your face so I scanned you and found that you had
heard Dax and my conversation by accident. I can honestly say that
I have never experienced any of these things myself, but it leads
me to believe that you are in fact the one being triggered." Evie
sat there just looking at me with a smile on her face.

I couldn't move. I sat there stunned then had to
shake my head in order to knock my brain back into gear. "I just
thought my hearing had been doing weird things. I have heard some
people whisper a couple things, and then accidentally honed-in on
your and Dax's conversation. And as far as the "knowing"–I'm not
sure how I knew how to help you when you were comatose. But really
Evie, I don't see how that can equal me being triggered. I thought
there were
specific
signs to look for." I was confused and a
little nauseous. I just couldn't wrap my head around this. I
couldn't possibly be the one.

"I have been wondering that too, so when I spoke
to Balam, I asked him if all Sires show the same symptoms when they
are triggered. He informed me that each Sire is different. It's the
fact that you are starting to display
any
new powers that
identifies you as the one being triggered. Now, as to what those
powers might be, that's something that is individual to each
vampire. The scanning ability, the sedative of eternal life, and
the poison of true death are all things that are passed between
Sires during the Passing of Powers ritual, but each Sire usually
has an additional power or two that they develop during their
triggering. When I was triggered, I actually developed the ability
of telekinesis. I could move objects with my mind." Evie
demonstrated by moving a stapler from one side of her desk to the
other. "It is not something that I use very often, and it's also
something that only Dax and Balam know about."

I must have looked comical to Evie because I was
sitting there with my mouth gaping open and my eyes bugging out of
my head. I couldn't believe the shit that was happening lately. No
way could I be the next Sire. And I couldn't believe that she had
never told us that she could move shit with her mind! I also
couldn't believe the amount of information and history that was
being kept just between the Sires. Now I was really curious as to
what other secrets Evie would be sharing with us later tonight.

"Christian, are you okay?"

When I finally looked up and met Evie's eyes, I
could tell that she was worried about me. And honestly, I didn't
know if I was okay or not. This was just so much to process and we
hadn't even gotten to the situation with Terrance yet. I just
wasn't sure if I could deal with this right now, and truth be told,
I wasn't sure I wanted to become the next Sire. The one thing that
I did know about becoming a Sire was that it meant I would have to
leave the only family I had known for over 600 years. I couldn't
imagine leaving my family or Rose.
Wait...Rose.
If I became
the new Sire, I would be able to change Rose! No petitioning, no
waiting, I would be able to change her and then we could truly be
together forever.