Flores Vitae: The Flower of Life

Chapter 10: The Smell of Blood

Rose

The truth is, I didn't want to leave. But I didn't want to be forced to stay. When Matthias told me that I was free to leave... well that made everything okay.  When he actually begged me to stay... that made my heart crack open in my chest. No one ever, in my whole life, had EVER asked me to stay. Those words, "Please do not leave me, Rose." played over and over in my head for days.

I had organized my days into a quiet routine, which Matthias slipped in and out of in the most natural way. We usually took breakfast, and then I would go down to the stables to ride while it was still cool. Since I had passed their unspoken test, I was now allowed to take Charlie out into the grounds, and I was having great fun exploring the forest paths around the fortress grounds. There was no worry of getting lost. I might lose my way, but horses are like homing pigeons, they always know their way back to the barn. I had only to give Charlie his head, and he would lead us right back home. Once Matthias saddled up Maestro and he joined us for a ride. It was sort of magical to ride together, and he talked easily about many things. It was a great curiosity to be with a person who had been a witness to so much of history.

After riding, I went up in the studio to work... funny that art was now "work" for me. I was working in acrylics, because they did not smell as bad as oils, and they dried quickly. When I worked, I worked fast and furiously, and I needed a paint that could keep up with me. There was a new painted portrait of Charlie, and a painting of Matthias on the stallion maestro. I wasn't sure how he would feel having his image in my painting... it seemed to me like he wouldn't want any evidence of his existence in time. A thousand years from now would someone look at my painting and recognize the man who never died? But the synchronicity of the man and the horse, the combined power, control, masculinity that radiated from the pair was so captivating, I couldn't help myself.

After I painted for a couple of hours, I would wander back to the kitchen for "tea." That's what Maurice the chef called it. I suppose it was too late in the day to call it lunch. He would produce a cup of a hot tea, and an assortment of snacks. I would have been fine with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but Maurice insisted that I needed to "expand my pallet." Every day there was something different. Savory stuffed shrimp. Kabobs of meat and vegetables. Sushi. An antipasto plate with different cheese, cured meats, olives and peppers. I'd never eaten this kind of food in my life.

I had started playing with that garden space Matthias had promised, between the stables and his other gardens. His gardens were all carefully manicured and symmetrical. The beds reminded me of soldiers marching in line, no plant dared be out of step. I had something completely different in mind. I envisioned sort of wild "Secret Garden" inspired space where there were was no straight line, and no symmetry. I started the garden much like I started my artwork. I had simply picked a space, installed a hammock, and began designing the rest of the garden around it. Perhaps the best thing about the garden, is that Matthias and his henchmen left me alone out there. It was still an empty space with little shade, and they didn't feel particularly comfortable basking in the sun with me. The garden, as naked as it still was, was my sanctuary.

Matthias had given me a laptop, and a credit card, and told me that I could order anything I desired. Things were shipped to an address in South City, and then one of his couriers would bring it to the fortress. I wasn't too sure about using the laptop. I mean, I know how to use a computer and all that, but I don't have real good luck with electronic things. I didn't want Matthias to get angry with me if I broke it. He assured me there was no issue. "It is quite natural for your kind to have an aversion to modern technology," he told me, as he showed me the password into his accounts. I don't know how he knew so much about "my kind"... I mean there hadn't been much technology to speak of when his mother and sister had been alive, right? I also didn't want to spend his money on frivolous things. I wasn't that kind of girl who would just spend a mans money for my own enjoyment. I bought only what I really needed. Like cotton sports bras for riding, and "normal" inexpensive clothes. Plus the trees and flowers, seeds and shrubs I wanted for my garden.

Sometime after I cleaned up from "playing in the dirt" as Matthias called it, he came and called me to dinner. His punctuality for meals was kind of comical since he rarely ate real food. I suppose it was for my benefit, and I did appreciate it. I was starting to enjoy his company. I was even getting used to the way he was always touching me. He liked to hold my hand and stroke my fingers, or touch my hair, or my face. I wasn't used to being touched, at all. I mean, lets face it, I didn't grow up with parents who hugged me or showered me with affection. Most of the touch I'd known in my life had been either hurtful, or purely mechanical in nature, like when the doctor had to give you an injection. And Matthias's hands were so cold, it was completely different from human touch... but not uncomfortable. What was uncomfortable was the way it made me feel inside... the way it made me want for something more.

Sometimes he laid with me on the bed. Sometimes I went to bed alone and would later wake up in his arms. Sometimes, if he was particularly busy, I spent the whole night alone. It was a night like that, when his business had kept him away the whole night, when I awoke in a mess. I was crampy, I had a headache, and I could tell by the sticky feeling between my legs that I had probably bled on the sheets. I was so embarrassed. In everything that had been happening around me, I'd completely forgotten about my period and lost track of the days. I swore quietly to myself and slipped out of the bed and went to the bathroom to clean myself up. Someone had thoughtfully stocked the bathroom with feminine hygiene products, though they were not the sort I would normally use. I had showered and dressed and returned to the bedroom to figure out what to do about the sheets. I did not want to send them to be laundered. I decided to pull off the bottom sheet and take it to the bathtub to hand wash it myself. I was just pulling it off the mattress when Matthias started to casually walk into the bedchamber.

He stopped cold. A strange look passed over his face... if a dark skinned vampire could become pale...then he did..and his blue eyes became much darker. "My dear... are you... bleeding?"

Oh god. My face flamed with embarrassment. "Yeah, I'm sorry. Its that time of the month."

He backed away a step. "Forgive me Rose... the scent... it is overpowering me. I can not be near you now." And just like that he turned and fled down the stairs. A moment later, I heard the door to my chamber shut, and for the first time ever... lock. He had locked me in the tower.

Well, that seemed a bit dramatic. I HAD taken a shower, how bad could it be? I ripped off the sheet with the small bloodstain and marched down to the bathroom to wash it by hand. I scrubbed at it with bath soap until most of the stain was washed out... there was just the faintest discoloration left. I had a feeling that Matthias would just discard the expensive sheet like it was disposable. I hung it over the shower rod to dry, and then I would send it out with the laundry.

I had just finished with the sheet when there was a knock on the door, and a decidedly human servant poked his head in. "Good morning mistress, I have come with your breakfast. And the Master instructed me to give you this." he held out an envelope, and pushed the breakfast cart into my room.

"Okay, thank you." The unfamiliar man did the funny bow, where he made a fist and held it over his heart, and then shut the door behind him, and locked it. My hands balled into fists as I heard the lock slide into place.

I tore open the envelope and quickly read the note inside. "My dear Rose, please forgive my hasty exit. I was not prepared for the power of your fresh blood on my senses. It took all of my strength and self control to walk away from you this morning. The urge to feed on you was beyond anything I have ever experienced in my life. It is for your own safety that I have locked you inside the tower. I am the oldest and most powerful creature in my castle, if I can not resist you, then there is no chance that the others in my family, some who are quite young and impulsive will be able to keep away from you. Please do not be offended, for your safety, and for ours we must stay separated until your time has finished. Until then, my human workers will be at you disposal, you will find a list of names and phone numbers herein." His handwriting was like old fashioned calligraphy. Did he do that for show, or was that really the way he wrote? I swore and tossed the note aside. Intellectually, I understood it. Emotionally, I hated it. I hated being trapped in the tower. I hated having my freedoms revoked. I hated being alone. I'd gotten used to Matthias's company at least. Was this what I had to look forward to for the next however many years? Spending four or five days a month confined to the tower because of my monthly? Ugh.

I marched over and locked the inside of the door as well, sliding the deadbolt so that not only was I locked in, Matthias and the rest were locked out. I was feeling very moody as I stomped my feet back up the stairs. Stomping on stone steps was seriously unsatisfying. I did not feel like painting, or reading, or doing much of anything.

I fell asleep at some point, feeling angry and pitiful at the same time. Someone tried to enter at lunch time, but with the door locked from the inside, they could do nothing but knock while I steadfastly ignored them. So now you could add 'hangry' to my list of problems.

As night was falling there was a knock again. I was curled up on the couch watching old movies. I was hungry, but I wasn't going to open the door. I'd rather starve than be served my meals like a prisoner. "GO AWAY!" I yelled.

"Open the door, Rose. It's me." I heard Matthias's voice, and I hate that it gave me a little thrill.

"But you said you couldn't be around me."

"I can't. But I have something for you. I have just fed, I assure you, you are safe."

Curiosity killed the cat. I crept over to the door, undid the deadbolt, and pulled it open just a crack. There was Matthias looking as beautiful and majestic as ever. In fact he looked... less dead. I guess the fact that he had just fed made him look flushed and warm. Beside him was a human. I don't know, one week in the castle and I could tell them apart instantly. This woman looked to be a few years younger than me, with carrot-orange hair, and freckles everywhere. She was tall and gangly, all arms and legs, and she moved awkwardly, as though she hadn't gotten used to her body yet. I opened the door wider. "What do you want?" I asked peevishly.

Matthias pushed the red-headed girl closer to me. "This is Heather Monroe. I have appointed her to be your lady-in-waiting."

"Lady in Waiting? What the hell is that?"

"The queen's personal servant." Heather answered excitedly. She bowed and I thought she might topple over. "I am so excited to have this privilege, milady."

I looked in confusion from the red-head, to the dark prince. The dark prince looked like he had a headache. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "She will be your servant and your companion. She is very familiar with the castle, and can get you anything you need."

"What I need," I growled, "Is to get out of this tower."

"Tomorrow I will make sure that this wing is cleared, as well as the gardens and the stables, so that you will be free to go about your day. Please Rose, do not go into any other parts of the castle, as it would be very dangerous for us all."

I crossed my arms over my breasts like a petulant child. "Fine."

Heather practically danced past me into the tower rooms. "Ohhh, I have never been into the master's chambers."

Matthias gave me a tight lipped smile. "Good luck, my dear. Please lock yourself in again." He pulled the door shut firmly but gently. At least this time he didn't lock it. I slid the deadbolt and turned to face my "lady in waiting". She was staring at me, bouncing on the balls of her feet, looking about as excited as a kid at Christmas.