Bloody desires

Chapter 2

Knox

I thought it was a pretty decent night when I found the person I was paid to get. I thought it was a good night when my prisoner came out to be quite resistant, it made my job more joyful. But heading out to find a blood witch sitting at my bar, a blood witch obviously insulted by my stuff…that made my night quite fascinating.

I didn’t know who she was yet. I only knew she was one because I’ve been listening to their conversation for a few moments now. The blood witches were rare, true, but there were still enough of them so I wouldn’t recognize her just from the sight of her long, wavy, dark red hair. What I know for sure, however, was that this one was around my age, a little younger, maybe. Her psychic aura felt like it when I touched it.

At my words, the little witch turned around, not at all afraid. She was either brave or stupid. The third option could only be that she was powerful enough to take me, but the chances of that were slim considering her age.

“Well, well. Knox LaVerna.” She tilted her head and smirked, watching me with eyes the color of molten silver. They were…unique. I’ve never seen any like that. “I didn’t know you owned a pub. I hadn’t noticed it even existed up until tonight, which is rather odd, don’t you think?”

Raking my eyes over her, I had to admit she was a pretty little thing. Beautiful even. Now that I could see the unique mix of blood-red hair, silver eyes and devilishly sinful lips, I knew no one could mistake her for someone average.

Wanting to discover who the little witch was, I walked to the chair next to hers and made myself comfortable. “Odd?” I shrugged, unbothered. “No, I wouldn’t call it that. But I would want to know what made you think that.”

“Why, I’ve known this neighborhood for quite some time. My whole life as it happens. According to your employee right there,” her right brow tilted to point at Estrella, “it’s been here for a while. And yet, I’ve never heard of LaVerna property so close to my own.”

As if her words made a puzzle fall into place, I smiled to myself. Of course. “Adrienne Roxana. I should’ve known.” I knew of her, I just never saw her face to face. And what a devious face it was. Whenever people talked about a cursed girl of Roxana clan, I always imagined just that. A girl. But alas, seeing her right now, it seemed that our age difference has come to be insignificant.

“True, but how could you? After all, you always did seem a little preoccupied to notice your own surroundings.”

Confused, I frown. “What do you mean?”

Her laughter at my confusion was the same parts amusement as it was pity. “We met before. A few times, actually. But I’ll take your lack of that knowledge as a compliment to my stealth, no worries.”

“You should take it as you not being interesting enough for me to notice.” I lied. There was no way a creature like her went anywhere unnoticed, but I wasn’t going to feed her ego.

“Really, Knox, you’re such a bastard.” She made it sound like she was hurt, but her eyes were laughing. “Just think of the feelings of the little girl you just hurt.”

I almost snorted. “Your feelings are not hurt. I doubt anyone could manage that so easily.” She shrugged as if to say ‘true’. “Now, pray tell, why did you threaten my stuff?”

From the periphery of my vision, I saw Estrella stiffen. I haven’t heard the start of their minor argument, but I’m assuming she said something she shouldn’t have. Estrella often did. “Me? Threaten your stuff? I would never do that.”

“Strange.” I raised my eyebrows incredulously, taking Adrienne’s drink from her hand and taking a sip. Her amused gaze followed the path of the glass all the way to my lips. “It must not be you I heard then. Perhaps, Roman’s voice there suddenly changed. It must be he’d gotten bored with his own and wanted to try something more on the feminine side.”

“Must be.” She agreed, her eyes still inspecting every inch of my mouth. I couldn’t help but smirk in satisfaction. Locking her gaze with mine once again, she sighted. “Well, if you don’t mind, I should be going. Potions aren’t going to brew themselves. It was nice meeting you.” The glass was ripped from my hand in seconds as she drank it all in one gulp. Then, her body leaned in, and her mouth just barely grazed my ear as she whispered, “Again.”

With that, she stood and walked out, leaving all three of us watching her like hypnotized. The woman was going to be big trouble if she already wasn’t.

“So, what can you tell me about Adrienne Roxana?”

I stood at my father’s office at his and my mother’s home. After Adrienne’s brief visit tonight, I decided I wanted to know as much as I could find about her. Her confidence, her mischievous little smile and that spark in her eyes woke a kind of slight interest in me. After all, it’s not every day you come across a blood witch.

“Adrienne Roxana?” my father, Darius, seemed slightly taken aback by the sudden interest. As a member of the High Council of Witches and Warlocks, I figured he would know if there was something important.

At my nod, he rubbed his eyes and fell back in his chair. “Why do you want to know?”

“She came into my pub tonight. Left quite the impression.” Darius watched me carefully, but he never could decipher what I was thinking. Mind sorcery was, after all, my specialty. “Just wanted to know if there is something to be known.”

“Right. Okay.” He conceded. “Well, what I do know is that she’s around…twenty-four, maybe. Unbelievably powerful for her age, so don’t underestimate her.”

So, I was right about her being younger, and nine years, no less. But as I registered what all he said, I frowned. I got that she was powerful, but the way Darius said it made it a whole other level. “What do you mean by unbelievably powerful?”

“I mean,” he pierced me with his green eyes the same shade as mine, “that she was chosen as the fifth member of the Crimson Circle. Her binding ritual is this Sunday. You’re to be present.”

My entire body froze. Impossible. She doesn’t even have half a century, let alone a full one. Hell, she’s not technically even half of half a century in age. Where the hell did all that power come from? “But, that’s not possible.”

“It is. The Four’s decision was unanimous on their first choice.” Darius said without a hint of humor.

“You mean to say that they didn’t even consider some of the older ones. Not for a second?” my brain couldn’t comprehend this at the moment.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” He nodded, “Apart from that, I know she has a twin brother, Noel. He was more lucky than she was, he’s not stuck with the blood curse. Her parents you already know, as well as the others from Roxana clan.” He stopped to think a little more. “If I’m not mistaken, Doralia siblings are distant relatives from their mother, Jasmyn’s, side.”

I frowned. “Really? Serafina never mentioned Adrienne nor her brother.”

“I’m not sure how close they are. I don’t think there’s any kind of relationship between them. Any of them.” Crossing his fingers over his stomach, Darius observed me for a second before warning, “Don’t do anything stupid with that girl. I’m not sure how stable she is, considering the track record of other blood witches. The blood they drink may keep them alive, but it also makes them more dangerous and bloodthirsty with time.”

Of that, I knew. Many of the blood witches couldn’t fare well with the need to take, to drink. Not all of them, of course. Some become more resilient, but the majority succumb to their desires. At the end, they were usually ordered to stop taking it, or they die of their own will.

But, Adrienne didn’t seem crazy. Okay, so she’s young, but if she was chosen for the Circle, it meant she possessed tremendous power and restraint already. Those with such power rarely fell into their hunger.

Father gave me the basics, but I will sure find the finer details on my own. There was no need for him to know any more than he should. “Well, if that’s all…”

“One more thing. Go see your mother before you leave.” Darius said. “You haven’t been here a while. I guess it would be too much to ask to stay for late dinner?”

“Sorry, I have somewhere I need to be. But I planned on seeing mother first, anyhow.”

With his nod of approval, I headed out to find mother. I already knew she was going to make a far bigger deal of me being here than it really was.

“Knox!” Vilora shrieked. My mother’s dark brown eyes lit with happiness as she hurried my way. She swept me in a hug so strong, one would think she hadn’t seen me in years and not three weeks.

“Mom.” I kissed the top of her head and released her. “Why you’re always acting as if you haven’t seen me in centuries is beyond me.”

She huffed and swatted me with a kitchen towel she had in her hand. “Someday, you are going to have children, and I can’t wait to see how you’re going to feel when they start ignoring you.”

I blinked. “I’m not ignoring you. I spoke to you three days ago.”

“Semantics.” She waved her hand away. “Now, come here. Sit. You’re going to eat.”

“I really can’t sta-“

“Sit.” She pierced me with an accusing glare which, I’m not going to lie, still made me uneasy to this day. Seeing it always brought back the memories. “Alright.” I muttered.

Mother put a cup of coffee in front of me and made herself comfortable for a second. Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she asked, “So, why didn’t you tell me straight away?”

I frowned. “Why didn’t I tell you that I was coming?”

“Don’t be stupid, Knox. You know what I’m talking about. I’m so happy for you. Jasmyn and I spoke earlier, and we were all giddy with excitement.”

“Jasmyn and you spoke.” I repeated cautiously. It was never good when my mother and her best friend ‘spoke’. “What did you speak about?”

Vilora groaned, obviously quite exasperated with me. “Knox, quit pretending. Why didn’t you tell me you’re planning to take Serafina as your mate?”

“Because I’m not.” I answered indifferently. But I sure wanted to know why would my mother think differently. “Where did you hear that?”

She blinked confused, her smile falling. “You, you’re not? But… Jasmyn told me Serafina’s told her that.”

“Well, Serafina lied. I never mentioned taking her as my mate, so I’m not sure why would she tell her mother otherwise.” And I would certainly make sure to ask her about it. Serafina was an old friend and, admittedly, I knew she was hoping that she’d be my mate, but that’s not going to happen. I thought I made that clear once before, but apparently she hadn’t been deterred.

“But Knox” she looked uncertain, “you must’ve said something for her to interpret it like that…”

“Mother,” I sighed, leaning both of my arms on the counter in front of me. “I am not interested in Serafina. I would’ve never said something she could even remotely interpret that way.”

Vilora studied my expression and, as if finding what she needed, her face went stony. I knew she liked Serafina, and I knew she and Jasmyn would be ecstatic for us to be mated, but she would also never stand for any such false claims. Especially when it was something my mother thought of as sacred.

“I’ll tell Jasmyn to talk to Serafina and make her stop spreading the false news. I like that girl, but this is unacceptable.” She said.

“No need.” I told her, stopping whatever she would’ve said next. “I’ll deal with Serafina.”

She stopped for a second, looking uncertain. “Knox, don’t do anything stupid.” She warned.

I lifted my brows questioningly. I was only planning to talk to her. Now, granted, if she wasn’t someone I knew for a long time, I would’ve been inclined to do more than that. As it was, she would stay intact.

Instead of answering her, I only smiled. It wasn’t, however, something that left my mother secure of the outcome.