Scarlet Roses [8]

Chapter 8:1

The waters were seemingly unbroken as Jerod, Jacques, Nicholas, & Francis peered quietly around the tall evergreen trees. In the distance, boars were sleeping quietly, & half a mile from them was a group of deer. Jerod's eyes, like the rest, were crimson red & thirsty, but never the less, he passed himself, wanting the buck on the left, right next to a doe & a yearling. He seemed to be the leader, guiding the group like Nicholas did, keeping watch for anything harmful. (The group of very thirsty vampyres was one of the unnatural predators they never expected to see.) 2

"Quiet, if I can hear anything from you, I swear I'll rip your throats out. " whispered Jacques, who was swiftly smacked by Nicholas.3

"If anyone needs to hush, it'd be you Jacques."4

"Who elected you leader of this outfit?" demanded Jacques.5

"Shut up both of you," scolded Jerod "I'm fucking thirsty, now let's go, we've waited ample enough time. They hear nothing, come." said Jerod as he began making his way quickly towards the buck he wanted to feast upon. As the others reached him, they realized every one of the large animals had been slayed, while the does & yearlings were let free, running down into the valley below.6

"Nice kill Jerod, though, I personally prefer boar." said Francis sarcastically. Jerod smiled, he personally preferred Francis over the other two, who constantly bickered over silly little things, never important, just stupid & pointless.7

"Well, nice kill, gather it, we have to move, I heard hunters over to the north, they're headed this way."8

...9

Emmet sat still in the orchard, the world he had created for himself, the place he had settled in after James died. Today he was there to look for answers. He hadn't returned to his hole in the wall, set away in his mind. He sat in the silence, the hospital room that contained his body was still & silent, sacred silence & sleep. He could hear Jocelynn's breathing, realizing he was breathing along with her, slow, drawn out breaths, not often, but still steady & even. He smiled, ripping out of his dreamland, knowing he didn't need to search for answers now, he needed to be there for Jocelynn while Jerod was away. He had grown found of Jocelynn, who was now like a sister to him, rather than a mortal/vampyre combination he had created. He felt pride & love for the girl, not knowing what would become of her, but hoping for the best. He loved the girl, knowing that, with the help of Elliott, who sat across from him, she would get better. 10

"Emmet." said Elliott flatly.11

"Yes?"12

"Oh, it's just...Jocelynn was talking about you earlier, she said you hadn't left her side, she was very glad to have you around to protect her."13

"Yeah, I guess, but she's always talking about you. Last time it was how "cute" your stormy grey eyes are & how she longed to "kiss those perfectly formed lips"." at that Elliott blushed, he loved Jocelynn with his whole heart & didn't want to ever let her go.14

...15

Esme sighed & focused in again, trying to force herself to see Jocelynn, but nothing was working. Elliott must be there, because he could block everyone around him out. 16

"Damn it!" she said, slouching in her chair, she was tiring herself out with this. It seemed pointless to sit here when she knew nothing was going to happen. She sighed and began to sing.17

"One morning, one morning, one morning in May, I spied a young couple all on the highway. And one was a lady so bright and so fair, and the other was a soldier, a brave volunteer. Good morning, good morning, good morning to thee, now where are you going my pretty lady? I'm going to travel to the banks of the sea to see the waters gliding, hear the nightingales sing...."18

...19

She smiled, the counsel was meeting again, it was to determine the mortal's fate. It seemed a girl had fallen for him & loved him with her entire being, it seemed that they would have to let him stay, & possibly turn him into one of them. It seemed so easy but difficult as well. It was alarming how quickly children fell in love, it was rather pathetic. She sighed, this wasn't what was supposed to happen, in her 200 years, she'd never seen the likes of it. The poor mortal was no where to be found. The common rooms he was allowed in, he wasn't there, his room was barren except for the small desk & bed. No one had any idea where the boy was, he was soon to be judged & he was missing. This made her laugh, maybe there is no hope for this mortal after all, she was hoping she could kill him with a good bit of blood, she was in the mood for it. Blood like chocolate to those annoyingly fat or grieving mortals. She could taste the sweet crimson on the tip of her tongue. She wouldn't let it end this way. She had to convince the counsel that the boy couldn't be trust, nor turned into a vampyre. She wanted his blood. And she was going to get it no matter what.20