Rose Blossom

chapter 9



"Now we've installed an intercom near your bed in case you need us in the middle of the night," my mom said as she and my dad tucked me into bed. We had just arrived home from the hospital after five days of being tested and poked until the doctors were satisfied.

It was strange being home where nothing had changed, I looked around my room and it felt very surreal, "I don't need an intercom mom." I was trying not to lose my patience, she'd been even worse than ever.

"I say you do, now it's only one way so don't worry about your privacy, if there is anything you need you just-"

"Bethy we have more important things to discuss." My father cut her off. He looked rather amused by her extreme mother hen act. Dad had been the only voice of reason for days, we shared a small laugh at my mother's expense.

"So you two think this is funny? Well it's not!" mom gave a pretend huff, and then she too smiled.

"Now your teachers have all sent you the work you've missed, they extended all your deadlines and you have until the end of the semester to get caught up," dad told me.

"That sounds fair, the semester ends in January, I shouldn't have a problem, especially if someone helps me..." I gave my best innocent look and dad rolled his eyes, I knew he'd probably already finished half of my work for me. Mom said he spoiled me, but I needed his spoiling to balance out her inane rules.

"The police said that your written statement was enough for Athol to be tried in juvenile court. He may or may not be allowed out on bail but we've already filed for a restraining order." I nodded, listening to mom's words. I lay back on my big pink pillow to rest; as I did Julian's scent penetrated the room. I didn't think my parents noticed the sweet smell or the fact that my whole body stiffened, alert to him.

"Now for some new rules," my mom started.

"New rules!" I exclaimed, barf. What now? Every time I went to the hospital she added more rules and I was so sick of it.

"No more friends over for the night or going out on the weekends at all unless it's for school purposes. I have gotten rid of anything even a little questionable, like the diet soda and your father won't be smoking his pipes in his study anymore." I gave dad a harsh look; I could tell he wasn't happy with any of it.

"And last, no more Julian," the words were like ice water hitting my face, I bolted up in bed.

"No! Mom you can't!" I screamed it; both of my parents looked shock, my father even took a step back.

"Yes, I can and it's final." mom frowned.

"Please, don't do this, please, daddy?" I looked to my father, eyes begging.

"I'm sorry Rose, I've argued this point with your mother but she's being... difficult," he got a rather evil look from mom.

"Rhodanthe, when it comes to your safety and health there will be no tolerance, do you understand? I will not lose you and I believe part of your relapse is his fault."

I stared at my mother, and I knew my face was frozen in a look of sheer panic; I could feel something akin to hatred welling up inside me for her. She had ruined so many aspects of my life; she would NOT take this one from me too. My heart began to pound fiercely in my chest and I didn't fight it, it would serve them right if something happened because of their bad judgment.

"I hate you both." The words were out before I could stop them. My mother froze and I could feel the hurt radiating from my dad from across the room.

"You don't mean that Rose," dad murmured.

"I do, I love Julian, he makes me happy AND healthy, nothing, especially you, will keep us apart," I opened my mouth to say more, but I choked a little, pain welling up from my chest.

"Honey what's wrong?" mom asked. I refused to answer her, stubborn and childish yes, but I was truly hurt.

As mom began to reach for the pill bottle on my night stand I felt Julian's hands on my throat, just his light touch and my body relaxed, my heart deciding that a normal beat would suffice for now.

"Please just get out." And amazingly, after mom gave me another once over, they did just that. I could tell I hurt them, but they hurt me much deeper. I'd rather be dead than living the non-life my mother had just prescribed.

Once the door shut, Julian appeared to me, he climbed in my bed and wrapped his chilly arms around me, I laid my cheek against his neck and we just spooned there together for a few minutes, his hands rubbing circles on my back. Feeling silly I began to cry, not pretty tears that model girls cry but big fat unattractive sobs all over him. My hands were claw like as I grabbed his white T-shirt. My whole body shook.

Julian murmured in my hair words of comfort but they felt empty, they were not words of love, just normal condolence words, phrases I had heard my whole life, robotic responses that I hated.

When I was done, we pulled away from each other. Julian wiped the tears under my eyes with his fingers and I watched as the water was absorbed into his alabaster skin. His face looked so sad and I knew in that instant what he was going to say.

I took his hand in mine and began to shake my head, dear Goddess please no. I hiccupped, shaking my head faster, mouthing "no" over and over again as the silent tears began to leak from my eyes and stream down my cheeks.

"Rhodanthe please, don't make this any harder," he murmured, eyes trained on my face, "I am sorry love, but I have to agree with your parents. Had we never began our doomed relationship, Athol would have stayed your friend; he never would have attacked you. Every pain you have suffered these past months, it has all been my fault."

"No! No Julian it's not, please we're not doomed, we love each other, that's what's supposed to matter most," I whispered, desperation in each word.

"You have no idea how hard this is for me, please my Rose blossom help me keep you safe, don't make this any harder than it needs to be." Julian stood then and let go of me, he backed up to the window so I couldn't reach him.

My tears dried up with his words, like there were no more of them to shed. My whole body felt quiet, sad, achy and miserable. All I could think of to say was, "No you're wrong, Athol.... he would have come after me anyway." But even those words felt like dust on my tongue.

"No sweetling he would not, Avalon and I did some research. Athol comes from a long line of vampire hunters. When they hit 18 they have to prove themselves by making a vampire kill, you were just to be the bait for me. I think Athol loves you in his own way but he never would have come for you if not for me," His face was passive; he'd made this decision before tonight, he must have.

"I don't care." I told him coldly, even as I tried to absorb this new information. Athol was a vampire hunter? How much more insane could things get?

"I do." Julian blew me a kiss and then he was gone.

I just sat there for a few minutes, hurt and angry. No, not just angry PISSED. I was pissed that my mother was running my whole world, stopping my life even before my heart could. I was furious that Julian felt like he had the power and the control to end our relationship, furious that I was feeling powerless and disrespected.

I stood up and made myself walk to the vanity; I grabbed my ivory handled hair brush, the one my grandmother had sent me for Christmas the year before. I missed her, and if things didn't improve, I might just run away and stay with her. Thinking about running away gave me a little more perspective. Nana wouldn't allow me to stay with her, she'd always told me not to run from my problems.

I began to brush my hair and look at myself in the mirror. I asked myself what Grandma Lacey would do? She would fight back, I answered. So I finished brushing my hair and concocted a plan.