Huldrefolk

A First Date: Rose

Rose stared at herself in the bathrooms big mirror. Pale olive skin, long blonde hair that curled around her waist, big grey eyes framed by sandy lashes and tinted brows that Danie had helped her dye several weeks earlier. She was wearing a big, woolen grey scarf over her long sleeved, V neck black shirt with too-long sleeves and dark blue skinny jeans. The ankle boots worked well with the outfit, but she was having second thoughts about her biological mother's locket. It was the only connection to who she was before Rose Martin, the billionaire business owners daughter. It was a gold pendant, with blue and grey enamel patterns that swirled around like waves. She had gotten it dated a few years back, out of curiosity, and had found that it had been in the family for at least six hundred years. Rose had never taken it off since. It did clash with this outfit though. Tentatively, she removed it, and placed it in her purse, not wanting to leave it anywhere by itself. She kept it nearby, it had become a comfort to her. It was wrapped around her swaddling when she was dropped off at the Martin residence. It had been with her then, when her life was so utterly turbulent, fresh from the womb and left to sit in the freezing, Canadian winter.

She walked down the three flights of stairs from her room to the garage, popping her head into Pa's office to tell him where she was going, before leaving. He replied only with a grin and cheeky wink. Ma wouldn't be home until at least nine, because she was working on a high profile case (lawyer stuff...) at the moment. She slumped down in her midnight blue Mini, closing the door and breathing in the sweet smell. Pa collected loads of cars from all corners of the globe, but Cooper was Rose's favourite. She didn't make any annoying or scary noises and drove pretty smoothly. Plus, She smelt like Rose. She smirked, strapping in and starting her up.

'Like a charm', Rose thought, driving out the garage, past the pruned, snow-dusted gardens and shining (frozen) fountains of the Martin front yard, then out the towering gates, and onto the street. It took five minutes to drive to Kade's place, then another two to actually find it. It was nestled among a vast pine forest and farmland. The house itself was very modern, white concrete, two storey, with a homey garden that didn't look overly unkempt. Rose parked so she was not blocking anyone else, including the garage, just incase. Then she took a few calming breaths, before getting out and knocking on the door. Unfortunately, it wasn't Kade who answered the door. It was a girl, maybe a year or two younger than Kade, with a sculpted jaw, wider green eyes, but the same floppy gold hair, albeit hers wasn't as curly as Kades.

"Can I help you?" She asked, raising her brows.

"Depends. I'm looking for Kade?" Rose says, shoving her hands in her pockets shyly.

"Oh. My brother. Of course you're looking for Kade. Excuse me for a second." Her sandy eyebrows furrowed, as she turned around, half closing the door, before yelling "KADE!" At the top of her lungs. Rose heard footsteps running down wooden stairs, and a brief, hostile exchange. Suddenly, the door opened wide again, and Kade's grinning face greeted her. The girl who had opened the door for her was nowhere to be seen as she entered. Kade placed his hand gently on the small of her back, looking at her as if to ask 'is this alright?' She smiled, glancing around at the immaculate house. A whitewashed bookshelf contained all manner of large, leather bound books, a flat screen TV sat in front of big white leather armchairs and a fluffy black mat.

"Welcome to my humble abode, Rose Martin."

"It's really nice."

"Good- I mean, good that you like it." He shrugged and she could tell for the first time he was nervous.

"You can relax," she said, folding into him and placing a hand on his chest.

"I know. So can you." He teased, brushing his lips over her closed eye. God they were soft. She placed a hand on his waist and another on his shoulder, letting it slip slowly down his back, when suddenly he grabbed her wrist, not tight enough it hurt, but enough she could tell he wasn't comfortable with that, though his face showed no evidence of that. He replaced her hand on his hip this time.

"Hello, to the stranger provocatively embracing my son." A cheery voice said from the open plan kitchen. Rose flinched away, surprised. A freckled woman with short auburn hair and still attractive curves. She looked as though she was in her early thirties, but she was probably older. Her startling blue eyes were smiling, which meant she was clearly not bothered by said stranger embracing her son. "I'm Liz. And would my darling child like to introduce his lady friend?"

"This is Rose. Rose, mom, mom, Rose." Kade gestured between them, and Rose waved uncertainly, comforted by the grin on Liz's face.

"Okay. Well if you kids want anything, the chickens are free range." Rose opened her mouth in shock, and Kade chuckled and led her up the flight of wooden stairs.

"That's Lindberg code for 'the kitchen is open'."

"Lindberg? Is that your surname?" Rose asked, as he opened his bedroom door for her.

"Yeah. I forgot to mention that didn't I? Dawson at school, Lindberg at home. Don't ask why. We're… secretive." He wiggled his eyebrows and smirked. Rose giggled at this, walking through the doorway and following him into his room.

"Yep." Rose glanced around the room. It was painted a grey-blue color, darker than the other parts of the house. She had expected posters of edgy bands to be plastered to the wall, but instead, there were paintings. Exquisite paintings that showered the room in color. She didn't recognise any of the artists, but some were landscapes, the sun rising over snow dusted villages, while others were renaissance, naked women lounging on Roman couches surrounded by winged cherubs.

"Do you like them?" He asked, watching as her eyes followed the paintings around the room.

"I do." The bed was the same blue grey as the walls, but with black sheets and pillows which contrasted nicely with a desk of the same color across the room. It was strewn with heavy novels and folders of music. She spied a guitar resting casually against the desk and a door which looked to be an en-suite. She had seen something resembling a linen closet near the bedroom,, which she assumed was likely to be where he stored his horde.

"What's your sisters name?" She asked, unable to keep her curiosity at bay.

"Eli."

"Does she go to our school?"

"Yeah. She's a freshman."

"Right." She spun around and wrapped her arms around his neck, unable to help herself. He had an effect on her, like they were north and south on a magnet. His presence had a calming effect on her, and a subtle sexiness that made him more attractive than anyone she'd ever met. Even if they had literally only met this morning.

"This is moving way too fast, but I really want to kiss you." He whispered.

"I know. It's crazy." Rose replied.

"You should probably leave before I shove you down on this bed and make out with you."

Rose's heart cartwheeled in her chest, thrumming at the same pace as her desperate gasps. She was breathless, totally and completely under Kade's spell.

"Good idea. That should probably wait until like... next week."

"It should,” he chuckled. Goodbye, Rose Martin."