ROSES FOR RACHEL: EPISODES 11-20
Episode 15
I plopped down onto my bed the second we walked into my room. “Well, I’m glad you’re happy about my performance because, honestly, I thought I was going to vomit the entire time.” I admitted, then my stomach began to rumble again. “Actually,” I told Pedro. “I think it is still a possibility.” Then I flopped back, staring up at my ceiling.
“Oh, hush.” He said with a smile in his voice. “They loved you. I told you, fickle fickle vampires. You impressed them.”
I smiled for a second. It’s about time I got something right around here, and I have to admit it felt good to actually be liked by the people who were claiming to hate my guts just a day before. The moment was short lived though. “Well, they aren’t the one I cared about impressing.” I reminded him.
“You’ll see him soon at the ball, and speaking of…I have a surprise for you.”
The tone of his perky voice made me sit up. Pedro was standing over by the clothing racks and he pulled one of the long dress bags off and brought it over to me. “If the speech didn’t seal the deal, this dress will.” He said seductively as he unzipped the white bag, revealing a deep burgundy gown with a low scoop neck, which was totally backless.
I blanched when I laid eyes on it. “You have got to be kidding. What’s wrong with this dress?” I asked glancing down at the beautiful bodice of my sparkling gown.
He grabbed my arm and pulled me to stand up. “Nothing is wrong with it, but you want to keep the momentum going. Everyone will be buzzing about you if you have a wardrobe change in-between events like this. The other girls aren’t returning to their rooms, they all got ushered into a waiting area. I pulled some strings for you because the media will eat this shit up like it’s a plump eighteen year old girl.”
I leaned away from him, pinching up my face. “Ok, that’s disgusting.” My voice trilled in horror.
Master Pedro only rolled his eyes. “You’ll see what I mean one day. There’s nothing better than a human fresh out of a feeding school.” Then he shoved the dress into my hands and pointed me toward the washroom. “Hurry and change, we don’t want to be more than fashionably late.” He scolded, tapping the large faced watch on his wrist.
I walked briskly into the washroom and changed into the new dress as quickly as was possible. This one was just as snug as the last one, but at least the fabric had a little more give, so moving around would be easier. I tried really hard not to think about what Pedro had said, but the thought of all those poor unsuspecting girls back at the feeding schools made me feel sick to my stomach. I splashed some cold water from the sink on the sides of my neck to calm me down, but it only helped marginally.
After a couple of minutes of stalling, I finally went back out to join Master Pedro again. “Stunning.” He praised me with a clap and then gave me a wet rag and a new tube of lipstick. “This color will suit the dress better.” He explained when I furrowed my brows. “Now it’s time.”
The doors were already open this time when I arrived at the ballroom, and I could hear the upbeat music pumping from inside. They had been able to miraculously transform the ballroom back to the way it was my first night here. All the tables were setup again, and the buffets were overflowing with food. I left Pedro at the top of the stairs and scurried down to grab a plate. Before I could even get one thing on it though, I could hear the unpleasant sound of heels clicking my way.
I turned around slowly and faced the dread that was Frankie, Greer, Tessa, and Regina walking over to me. “Well well.” Tessa sneered. “Looks like you got over your little cold, huh?”
I just smiled at her. “Yes, I’m feeling much better, thank you for asking.” I said with fake cheer.
Regina took a step toward me, her awful orange dress swishing, and glared at me through her thick lashes. “If you think some little makeover is going to make Prince Cal forget your embarrassing little outburst, you’re even dumber than you look.” She snapped.
Frankie giggled, pushing forward in her grey gown to add her two cents in as well. “At least you’re finally dressing like what you really are.” She looked me up and down. “Skank.” She said under her breath, looking back to the others for approval. Greer’s face looked ashamed, her cheeks burning red, but she pretended to laugh with the rest of them anyway and then sulked off behind them.
I turned back around to the food table and noticed Lexton standing on the other side from me. “Hey.” She said with a soft smile. She looked so pretty tonight in her pale pink strapless dress and her thick brown hair up in a bun. I smiled back at her and we both started adding food to our plates. “You know,” She said softly. “They’re only mad because they could never fill out a dress like that one.” She told me. I must have looked suspicious because she ducked her eyes slightly. “Honestly, it’s beautiful.”
I was at a loss for a moment, but then I smiled back at her. Why was it so hard for me to take a compliment around this place? Maybe because it was so rare to come by one. “Thank you.” I tipped my head. “You look amazing tonight, too.” I complimented her. Her big eyes seemed to light up when she smiled, but then I noticed she wasn’t smiling at me, but over my shoulder.
“Good evening, ladies.” A familiar voice, that I’d only heard in my dreams recently, was suddenly right behind me. My heart jumped and I hoped he wouldn’t notice.
Lexton’s smile grew even bigger. “Cal, how are you tonight?” She asked sweetly.
I turned around to see Calvin standing just to my left, dressed in a simple white button down shirt with the top few buttons undone, and black slacks. He grinned at her, his dimples digging into his cheeks. “So far it’s been quite an interesting night.” He told her. “How about yourself?”
“Oh, it’s just been perfect. Thank you.” She smiled shyly glancing down to her plate in her hands, then back up to me. “I’ll give you two a minute.” She said as she excused herself to go sit at the table with the other girls who were all staring enviously up towards me.
Calvin glanced back to where she had gone and caught the other girl’s pointed glares before they could drop them and he turned, positioning his body between me and them and he smiled at me.
“Now, how did I know that I’d find you at the buffet table?” He chuckled lightly.
I was at a loss for what to say to him. “Oh, I don’t know.” I hadn’t actually thought far enough into the plan as to what to say to him if I could ever convince him to talk to me again, so I just stood there, smiling like a doofus.
The people rushed around us, laughing and talking animatedly, but all I could focus on was his eyes on me, and the way they kept roaming up and down my body. “Come on.” He whispered. “Let’s get you fed so I can take you somewhere.” He smiled as he led me to an empty table. He pulled out my chair for me and pushed me up to the table kindly. “Be right back.” He said, and then literally, without really noticing he’d gone, he was back with a plates of food in his hands.
He sat down beside me and picked up a fork and started eating the chocolate cake from his plate. I stared at him wide eyed. “What are you doing?” I laughed nervously.
He scooped up another bite and plopped it into his mouth. “What do you mean? I’m having some cake.” He tried to look serious, but then he had to laugh. “You should see your face right now.” He told me, pointing his fork in my direction.
I closed my mouth that was hanging open. “But I thought…”
Calvin sighed. “Yes, I drink blood, but I can eat whatever I want too.” He explained. “Blood is the only thing that will satisfy my craving and keep me from being overly hostile, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still enjoy a nicely prepared cake, Rachel.” He made a point of taking another large bite. “Did you really think we prepare this much food for just you six girls?”
“Well, when you put it like that I guess it does seem a bit silly.” I laughed. “I just assumed you only drank blood.” I picked up my own fork and stole a bite of his cake, enjoying the playful smile it made swirl the tips of his lips upward. “I guess I don’t really know much about vampires.” I admitted.
He shrugged. “There isn’t much to know.” He said. “I’m just like any other man, other than the fact that I drink blood, I’m fast, I’m strong, and I live forever although I’m technically dead.” He winked. “Oh, and I’m a prince of course.”
“Oh, is that all?” I giggled. “You forgot to mention that your eyes turn black.” I pointed out and he nodded.
“Hurry and finish eating.” He prompted me. “I really want to talk to you…alone.”
I looked around. No one was sitting at our table and it didn’t look like anyone, other than the girls, were paying any attention to us, and they were too far away to hear us. “We are alone.” I leaned in and whispered.
“I may have also forgotten to mention we have incredible hearing.” He whispered back.
“Of course you do.” I shook my head and finished up my plate.
“Where are you wanting to go?”
He just winked at me. “Someplace special.” He promised.
I scooted away from the table and he held his hand out for me. I took it as I stood up, and I expected him to let it go, but he continued to hold it as he led me through the ballroom and up the grand staircase. We climbed onto the elevator, but before the doors closed he dropped my hand and ran back out. He was gone for less than three seconds, then was back, lightning fast, with a suit jacket over his arm. I looked over at him questioningly. “Is going to be cold wherever it is we’re going?” I asked.
He laughed uncomfortably as he held the jacket open for me. “No,” he smiled. “I just can’t bear to be alone with you in that dress, so I’m going to need you to put this on.” He said as he wrapped me up in it. He looked me over again and sighed. “That’s better.” He joked then pushed the button for level 4.
“So,” I said as the elevator began to move. “Does this mean you’re done giving me the silent treatment?” I asked looking down at the floor and holding my breath for his answer.
“Did your speech tonight mean that you’re done being a pain in my ass?” He countered with a laugh.
“Yes.” I whispered, looking at the floor.
He reached over to lift my chin so that I’d look at him. “I highly doubt that.” He whispered back, leaning in slowly, but then the elevator dinged and the doors slid open with a swoosh.
We both let off a nervous laugh and he pulled me from the elevator and through the twists and turns of the corridors before we finally came to a large wooden door with a lock. Calvin glanced at me from the corner of his eye as he pulled a key from his shirt pocket and unlocked the door, pushing it open for me to go in.
“Oh my god.” I whispered, my breath coming in a sharp gasp.
We were in a giant bedroom. The basic layout was the same as all the other rooms I’ve seen, but this one didn’t have the silk hanging down to cover the stone and rock of the walls. Instead, the walls were covered with brilliant paintings. Hundreds of them, big and small. Every one of them was of flowers or landscapes, all with striking detail and color. The bed had fake flower vines wrapped around the posts and the carpet was a green color, making the room itself feel a little like a garden. Along the back wall there were tall white bookshelves filled to capacity with books that looked to rage from ancient literature, to newer modern romances. As breathtaking as the whole room was, my eyes were especially drawn to the center of the room. “Is that what I think it is?” I asked overly excitedly, even though it obviously was. Hanging down from the ceiling by two thick ropes was a wooden swing.
I kicked off my shoes and knelt down quickly to grab the hem of my dress so that I could run over to it. As I got closer to the wooden seat, I could see that it had gorgeous carvings of roses on it. Calvin came up to stand close at my side. “This was my mother’s room.” He said quietly.
I turned my face to look at him. “It’s beautiful.” I whispered and he looked deeply into my eyes.
“You’re beautiful.” He replied. “Actually, beautiful doesn’t quite cut it when it comes to you.” He smiled down at me.
ROSES FOR RACHEL: EPISODES 11-20
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