Black Rose Chapter 2

Chapter 21

For a few days, I was distant. I didn't eat much nor drink and I always felt like I really had to think about Revlyn. Adelie didn't really have updates because she said Revlyn wanted to keep himself unknown from everyone because there were spies that worked with Samia and the HVI. He defintely have to hide himself because ever since Samia's death, the spies were working extremely hard to find Revlyn, then hide Tristen in a different place.2

Finally on Thursday, at night, the door rang. Adelie ran to my room with a huge grin on her face and pulled my hand, so we can both open the door.3

"Come on, mon ami!" she squealed. "Maybe, Collin is back!"4

I wondered why she was so happy. If she said that Revlyn said that Collin was injured, then why wasn't she frowning and sad? I just smiled and followed her downstairs.5

The doorbell kept ringing, now with annoyance. Adelie said something quickly in French that I couldn't keep up with and opened the door, the smile still glued on her face until a guy walked in, then tumbled on the floor, the blood splattering in all different directions. That was when Adelie screamed and fell to the floor.6

"Collin, pouvoir vous entendre moi?" Adelie said quickly, trying to budge him. "Collin, can you hear me?"7

I looked down at Collin, whose eyes were closed as he groaned, and frowned. His white hair was braided, just like the person in the picture and he had such cold beauty. How could Adelie love someone that looked so coldhearted?8

She looked up at me, tears in her eyes. "Pourrais-tu m'aider?"9

She told me to help her, but I didn't know what to do. I just nodded and said, "Oui."10

After all the confusion and Adelie sobbing the whole entire time he came, she finally took him into her bedroom--by carrying him without my help, of course--and dressed his wounds, him being asleep the whole time. I watched, not able to do anything because she was perfect at this whole thing and was very quick with it.11

Finally, he opened his yellow eyes and looked at Adelie, a warm smile on his face. My eyes opened wide; maybe he wasn't cold after all.12

"A-Adelie..." he whispered, touching her face to wipe the tears from her eyes. "Je t'aime."13

She nodded and took the hand that was on her face. "Je t'aime, Collin."14

I smiled at this until Collin looked at me and his smile faded. He got up quickly and pulled my arm. Adelie put a hand on his shoulder and shook her head, explaining quickly. I could tell she was tripping over some words. Perhaps, she knew something that I didn't know about him.15

"Mais qui donc est-elle?" he asked her angrily, still watching me.16

I frowned, knowing perfectly what it meant. He had cursed at me and I was offended. I couldn't say anything really in French, but I couldn't really speak it, so I just sat there and glared at him.17

Adelie patted his shoulder and said something quickly in French. She said something about Revlyn and when was I sent to her house. Collin took his eyes away from me and looked at her, his eyes softening as he nodded. He put his arms around him and started to sing softly to her, now glaring at me. I glared back and rolled my eyes. I stood up from my seat and started to walk out.18

"Emily?" I turned around and looked at Collin. So, he did speak English.19

"Yes?"20

"That is your prenom, isn't it?"21

"That is my name, yes."22

"Close the door on your way out. We want to be alone." He spoke that so coldly I thought I would shiver. I nodded, trying not to get angry, then closed the door on my way out.23

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We didn't eat until midnight. Collin was able to eat with us downstairs because he was an immortal as well and could heal quicker than any human, like myself. I had found out that he'd turned Adelie when he met her after Revlyn, Tristen, and Samia moved out. I thought Revlyn had turned Adelie, but I was wrong.25

"I was out by myself," Adelie said softly, no higher than a whisper, "and it was raining awfully hard. Then, I heard a groan and a whimper, the whimper from a rabbit. I walked into the alley and saw this young man, about eighteen, eating a rabbit and her babies. I just stared at him for a while and moved closer, afraid myself. Collin turned to look at me, then just stared at me, growling lowly. He walked up to me, wounded, and told me that I was the most beautiful girl he had ever saw. I was highly flattered and helped him to my house. We talked for a while, stared into each other's eyes, and kissed so softly. Then, later at night, he told me if I wanted to live forever...with him. It was hard, but when I thought about my siblings, I nodded and he turned me."26

I listened to her story and smiled at it. "So, did you regret anything once you were turned?" I asked.27

Collin frowned, then growled at me. Adelie shook her head. He nodded and looked down.28

"At the time, I had many regrets, but the ultimate one was never to have met him," she said sadly.29

I immediately apologized. "I'm sorry, Adelie. I shouldn't have said that to you. It was stupid. Even, Collin warned me with those eyes."30

She smiled softly to me, then looked at Collin. "He doesn't like new people around me," she said, taking his hand. "Let him get used to you around here."31

I nodded and started to eat again, embarrassed of what I said. I listened while Adelie and Collin kept talking--in English--about Revlyn and him finding Tristen.32

"Are you sure he won't let you know where he is?" Adelie asked, drinking her "wine."33

"He'll call every week and tell me where he is, so I can keep up, then finally start the hunt again," he said darkly.34

"Mon dieu!" she squealed. She looked at me and said, "Maybe, you can talk to him, Emily? Won't that be s'amuser?"35

I nodded, wondering what I would say to Revlyn. He'll be so happy. Maybe, he'll finally go home and we can hold each other once more like we did before he left so suddenly. I looked at Adelie and showed that I was very happy. She squealed very happily.36

"Um, Collin," I said, "when will you leave to follow Revlyn?"37

He was halfway eating a piece of his steak. He dropped his work and glared at me.38

"Do you want me to leave?" he asked, offended.39

"No, I just asked a simple question."40

He got up and walked to the stairs. "I'm going to bed, Adelie."41

"You're not done with your dinner!" she exclaimed. "Didn't Revlyn order you to keep eating? You'll starve and you won't drink blood half the time!"42

"Cela m'est egal," he said nastily. "I don't care."43

Adelie grew angry, but when she saw me staring at her, she breathed in and out and drank her "wine" again. "Revlyn said he hasn't been eating much. He plans on taking a vow to drink blood once a month, but not to eat regular food. It reminds him of his old life. You see, he hated his old life."44

I nodded. "I did something wrong." It wasn't a question.45

"Oh, no!" she exclaimed, now beside me, putting a hand on my shoulder. "He's just bitter. It's not your fault at all, Emily. He's just...bitter right now."46

I got up, realizing my food was gone. "I'm going to bed."47

Before she could protest, I hugged her and walked up to my room while she cleared the dishes. I got dressed for bed and tried to go to sleep, but I felt uncomfortable.48

I opened my eyes and screamed after a few minutes. Collin was in my room, watching me with glowing eyes of yellow, a black rose in his hand...