Roses Wither: Into the Darkness

Marcus

“We need to leave,” Father hissed, “Where is she?”

“She’s coming, Father,” I smiled at him, “Give her time.”

To say that my sister was still pissed at my father for expecting the worst of her, would be the understatement of the century.

She’d started pushing her limits, in more than one way. She was always late now, went out at night, shifted on vampire land, and sarcasm was now her second language.

Clara was potentially her guard, but I believed that she encouraged Rosa’s behavior. They seemed to get into trouble together a lot.

When I suggested that we send Clara back to the shifters, Mother said that she would be needed, but how?

I had come to look at Clara as a sister, but when my actual sister came into play, I saw her as reckless. Not as the guard she was meant to be.

I did see her at the final battle, but there was another at the forefront. One who hadn’t come into the picture yet. Three beings, to be specific, but one of them we were meeting with tonight.

“How much time am I supposed to give her, Marcus?” Father asked through gritted teeth as the door to the castle opened and Rosa walked out and I had to stifle a laugh

She was wearing red leather pants and a tank top that read “Vampires Suck”. Her midriff was showing and Tati turned to mother.

“Absolutely not, Nita.” He hissed, "I cannot allow this!"

Father had done well at not saying much to her, since the night we left the only home she knew. He had softened, but only merely.

“She’s doing it to goad you,” Mother smiled, holding back her own laugh, “Do you see how she lit up when you turned to me?”

“Well, what am I supposed to do?!” He continued to hiss, “Just let her dress like that?”

"Yes." She gave a nod, "Just look at her beautiful face."

“Are we ready?” Rosa grinned between everyone and I snorted with laughter.

She knew exactly how to push father’s buttons. She could play stupid and ditsy all she wanted, but we all knew what she was doing.

“That is not what I had in mind, Rosa.” Father’s green eyes narrowed at her.

“You just said red. I’m wearing red.” She shrugged.

“And the shirt?” He asked through tight lips.

“I like it.” Her smile grew devious.

“We are running late, they are awaiting on our arrival.” I reminded them all.

“Let’s go.” She shrugged and climbed into the limo.

After some griping from Father, we were off.

This wasn’t a regular meeting, or a friendly visit. This was the Moon Goddess, our grandmother, we were meeting. She had called upon us, and wanted to make sure that we brought Rosa. For what purpose, I had no idea.

I had only met her once, upon Rosa’s birth, and she was creepy. Rosa eerily looked exactly like her, except the Goddess's hair was a more vivid shade of red.

Davide would be there too. He was my father’s half brother. A half demon who shared the same mother in The Moon Goddess. He was my father’s older brother, but looked younger, and nothing him. So, this dinner should be interesting.

Rosa

We met my supposed uncle in an empty night club. He was seated at the bar when we entered, looking like a lone patron, as another being worked behind the bar, serving drinks.

The half-demon looked no older than twenty-five, but I knew better. I had heard about him through my father's teachings the past few months.

Davide was my father’s older, demonic brother. Which meant that he had to be centuries older than my father. He had hair that was such an interesting shade of red, that it could only be described as fire, and when he saw me, his black eyes zeroed in.

The closer we got he stood, towering over us all. His long, lean arms folded behind his back as he tilted his head to examine me.

“She looks just like her...” He whispered in awe.

“She also has unnatural hearing and heard that.” I scoffed.

“Rosa.” My father warned in my ear.

“It’s okay, Nicolae.” He waved my father off, coming only inches away from me as he looked me over, “She has a lot of mother’s charm, I see.”

He had a heavy, otherworldly accent. One that had to be due to his familial background.

He examined me a little longer, then jumped back and grinned. It was a pleasant grin though. One that friends with an inside joke would share, too bad, I wasn’t in on it.

“She’s going to be very strong willed, Nico.” He spoke to my father.

“She already is.” Father spoke through clenched teeth.

“What does that mean?” I snorted.

“Rosa!” Tati warned me again.

“No!” I snapped, looking between them all, “You brought me here, for some meeting and wouldn’t tell me why. I deserve to know something.”

“Then ask away,” The half demon smiled, “Please, by all means.”

“Why do I feel the pull but I’m not a vampire? Wasn’t I born with fangs hiding somewhere?”

“You are so much more than a vampire,” He gave a nod, “But mother has to relinquish her power, in order for you to gain it.”

“How is that going to work?” I snorted. As far as I knew, the woman was long gone.

“Easily.” A smooth, feminine voice sounded, but not from around me, from within my mind.

When I looked up at the demon, that was my supposed uncle, he grinned.

“You heard it didn’t you?” He asked.

“Just as clear as I hear the wolves.” I looked at him with a renewed curiosity.

“That is our link.” The voice spoke again, “You, my beautiful grandchild, will be a Goddess.”

I looked to my family, who all stood with concern marring their features. They couldn't hear her.

“Where are you?” I asked in my mind, looking around the large, empty bar, “Why can’t I see you?”

“A child born of Earth and Moon,” A woman emerged from a back room, cloaked in darkness, as her blue gown fluttered around her, “She will become the goddess of many kingdoms. She shall rule with a just hand and strong will. She will govern those of her species and seek justice for the wrongs that have been done."

I was shocked when she exited her shadows and came into the light, as minimal as it was. She looked exactly like me. Well, almost.

Our only differences were that her eyes were a clouded white, her hair was the same shade of red as Davide’s and her markings were completely different from my own. She had a snake on her eye and some red webbing around her neck.

“She is beautiful, Nicolae.” She mused, looking my face over, as though she had never seen it. Hadn’t she looked in a mirror?

“Has Vladimir seen her yet?” She turned to my father.

“No.” He snorted as she walked over to him.

“He will need to.” She gave a slow nod, “He must help her harness the power she will possess.”

“You aren’t doing this now.” My father shook his head, “She is just a child.”

“The sooner it is done, the sooner she will find him."

"Find who?" I asked, but she ignored me and continued on, talking to my father.

"She is not ready." My father gaped at her.

"She will return the son and he will bring the light,” She held his hands as she looked at him now, “I need my sons to understand how important this is."

"She is only nineteen." He hissed.

"She is strong." She told him.

He stood stoically, giving her a nod and she moved on.

“Nitala,” She spoke to my mother with a harsher tone, “As the wolf Queen, you have seen the beauty your child will possess.”

“Yes, but at what cost?” My mother’s eyes glossed over, “We could use you in the battle.”

“My true war ended when I passed through the gates of hell. As your's did that day in battle, when you became she. Don't you understand that? We die and our time moves on. The child will be stronger than either of us,” She cleared her throat, “She will be Goddess, and able to control all of the power. Your creator and mine fated us to this outcome, to combine the species once again and restore the peace. Do not think they have done this blindly? She is beautiful and will be the perfect match for her king.”

“Why?” I couldn’t help but ask and those freaky, cloud colored eyes turned back to me, “Why me?”

“You, my beautiful princess of Sky and Earth,” She moved toward me, placing her hand on my cheek and I instantly felt the heat from her hand, “Will return what has been long ago stolen, and right the wrongs of the past. The sun will shine in the dark once again, because of you, and our people shall be free of rule."

“How do you expect me to do all that?” I scoffed, “I’m also supposed to be this savior for the wolves.”

“She’s too young.” Davide shook his head, “She doesn’t understand.”

“You will all help her understand, Davide.” She looked to him with the love of a mother, "You will one day tell her what we know. When the time is right."

“I don’t even have vampire abilities,” I whispered and she turned back to me, “That’s why we’re here, isn’t it? I need some kind of switch flipped or something?”

“You are here, because I called for you,” Her head tilted to the side as her eyes bore into mine, “It is time for you to take your place on the throne.”

“She isn’t ready, Mother.” My father told her, his voice tight, “She needs to train more, to work into her vampire first.”

“No one is truly ready for what is to come.” Her hand quickly snaked from my cheek to my neck, pulling me toward her as she pushed my head to the side and bit into my neck.

I let out a blood curdling scream as the searing pain suffocated me like a flame.