Tori on the other hand, she's the kind of prissy bitch who is always done up with perfectly matching, fashionable clothes, hair, and makeup. She acts like she's better than everyone else in the world, including me.
The few times I've run into her, she's sneered at me and made sarcastic comments about what I wear. I have a tendency towards what the locals call "The goth look" not that I'm into gothic styles, I just like wearing the colour black. Black dresses, black jeans and tank tops, black jackets, boots, you get the idea.
Jason and Richard don't seem to mind my choice in fashion, it does make working for them easier, I can blend into the shadows wearing black after all. Besides, even if I do say so myself, I look good in the clothes I wear. Of course, now that I think about it, I've never actually asked them what they thought.
"What's wrong Rose? You've been frowning at the neighbours place for a few minutes now." Richard's voice snaps me back to reality.
"Sorry, was just thinking."
"I think it's time. You need to feed, Rose. You'll be starting school on Monday, can't have a ravenous little beast on our hands now, can we?" Jason laughs as he asks the question. I know he's just teasing, but he's not wrong either, I really do need to feed, and soon.
Their house is beautiful, it never fails to take my breath away. Everything about it is extravagant. When I first walked into the foyer, my jaw just about fell through the floor. As you walk in, you're greeted with an expensive looking Persian rug, intricate lace-like leaf patterns done in red, black, and gold. The next thing most people notice is the white and gold tiles. I'm not kidding they actually have tiny squares of gold right there on the floor. Jason swears it's just gold tint, but I don't believe him.
The foyer leads you to three places; you can go left into the kitchen, my favourite place in the whole house. You could go right into the living room, which is just as opulent as the rest of the house, golden mirrors gracing the back wall on either side of the giant ass TV. A real fireplace at the side of the room, creamy off-white couches big enough to seat three people on each couch comfortably. What sets the entire room off though, is the massive crystal chandelier hanging in the middle of the room. It too is gold with three tiers of little fake glowing candles. Along the left wall is nothing but windows from floor to ceiling overlooking the giant fishpond with a gargoyle fountain.
It really is a beautiful place.
Just don't ask me to clean it.
Of course, your third option from the foyer is to go up the winding staircase. The upstairs isn't as big as the ground floor, but each room up there has a small balcony, I love going out there when I can't sleep at night. Despite there only being three of us living here, there are four bedrooms, mine, Jason’s and Richard’s plus a smaller guest room, a games room and a library.
"Rose, are you even listening to me?"
I shake my head, staring at Jason with a frown. I didn't hear a word he said, nor do I remember walking into the kitchen with him.
"When was the last time you fed?"
I shrug, "I don't know, three days ago, I think." My mind begins to drift off again, but Jason must see the blank expression on my face, he shakes my shoulders gently, drawing my gaze back to his intense grey eyes. "Areyna look at me, stay focused. Richard is getting you a bag now." I nod, keeping my eyes on him. It's a mistake though, my eyes focus in on his neck, more precisely the vein throbbing in his neck.
"Jason, you need to back away now." I growl out through my teeth. He takes one look at my face and backs up a few steps. My entire body starts shaking with the effort it takes to keep my mind off his pulse.
The hunger has a strange way of taking over my senses, first I become dazed, like I can't focus past any one thing, then I become obsessed with finding a source of blood. It's not always like that though, when I'm on the very edge of losing myself to the hunger, I get this urge to sink my teeth into someone, but I also get a sexual urge as well. Don't get me wrong, I'm a virgin, the doctors who checked me out after I killed Marcus found that out. So, I know I haven't ever given in to the urges of my bloodlust, but I feel them, every damn time.
"Hurry up Richard!" Jason shouts snapping my attention back to him. My eyes go first to his throat then to his eyes, I love the way the lighting in the kitchen makes his eyes seem lighter, almost like looking into smoky crystals.
Heavy footsteps come from the direction of the wine cellar, followed by the muted sweet scent of blood. I turn my attention to the source of the smell, taking an involuntary step towards Richard before I catch myself and step back again.
"This is the last one." He says placing it on the table and stepping back. They know not to get too close when I'm feeding. Instinct takes over and until I'm finished anyone nearby is a meal.
I gasp, if we're out then I'm royally screwed. The next shipment of blood doesn't come until Monday afternoon. The guys made a deal with a guy from the local blood bank, seven bags a week, the problem is, I've been needing more than one bag lately and the dealer won't supply any more than that. He keeps saying it's too risky to take more than one a day from the stock at the blood bank.
"Fuck!" I snap as I snatch the bag from the table, turning my back to the guys, I tear the bag open at the straw-like end, flooding my mouth with the sweet taste. I couldn’t really explain what it’s like drinking blood, the flavours are all different, I think it has something to do with the person or people the blood comes from. Maybe it’s something in their diets, but most of the blood bags make me feel sick to my stomach. Not that I have much of a choice, without blood I’ll become rabid, tearing into the nearest person without any remorse. Believe me, it’s not a pretty sight.
"Took the word right out of my mouth." Jason says behind me, bringing me back to the conversation. His voice is too close for comfort, I move to the side, carefully keeping my mind off the sound of his rapid heartbeat.
"You'll just have to take some from us." Richard's voice comes out calm, like it's no big deal.
I pull the bag away from my mouth causing the straw to splash a few drops. I turn back around to face them, regretting it instantly as blood drips down my chin and my eyes latch onto Richard's vein. Images of sinking my fangs into that throbbing source of blood flash though my mind and I shake my head, trying to clear it. "I can't, you know what happened with Marcus." I wipe my chin, and turn my back on them again, it takes every ounce of my control.
"I know Rose, but we can't have you going to school without having had your fill." I can hear his footsteps as Richard paces back and forth between the table and the breakfast counter.
"So don't make me go." It seems like the most obvious solution to me.
"We'd still need to give you some of our blood, you can't go days without it anymore." I see Jason out the corner of my eye as he pulls out the closest chair to me and sits down, manspreading his legs.
"No." I take another small sip, then pinch the bag closed. The blood from the blood bag makes my stomach heave but I've been drinking this stuff so long I barely notice the feeling now. "I'll just sip it over the weekend. It'll be fine." I start walking over to the cellar door to put the blood back in the downstairs fridge. The worst of my hunger has passed but if they keep talking about this, I'm going to lose control.
"What are you so afraid of? Is it really the bond or are you just afraid of getting too close to anyone?" Richard's question comes out of left field, halting my footsteps.