"Vacation does that. Plus, it was Kai's only time off from work. Besides, I'm not too far behind. It's only those days I've missed class from November and December. I have most of my work, but I just haven't worked on some of it." I replied, though I'm guilty about missing days in this month too.
In college, you can't miss as many days as I have skipped, especially since I was in a coma. Most of my professors can't know the truth about the coma because it's too vampiric-related for humans to discover it. Unfortunately, while I was still hospitalized, Mr. Collin had to reopen the college, which caused me to fall behind. He had it closed since Rebecca's murder occurred on the campus, so he couldn't wait for me to fully recover.
"I've never seen you get so sloppy. Maybe you should have taken a shorter vacation," Nora giggled before kindly offering, "Anyways, let me know if you need help."
"Thanks, Nora. I'll let you know," I thanked her before we continued to talk about something else.
I hate lying to her and my Professors about the vacation I never took, so shifting the conversation provided some relief on my part.
"I can't believe the karaoke bar burned down," Nora sadly remarked. "And Stella was murdered."
For Nora's safety, sometime last night, Rome obliviated her memories of Brandon and the fake Stella, thanks to his first gift that granted him that power. In Nora's mind, she only met Stella once, like me. She couldn't keep the memories of Roxy and her brother Brandon embedded in her mind because Stella's brother died two years ago, so we couldn't risk Nora questioning it.
"Yeah, it's heartbreaking."
Over by the pool tables, I twist my head slightly back and glance at the news broadcasting on a mounted wall TV. Reports are saying a gas leak killed over a hundred people in the karaoke bar last night, and they still haven't identified the bodies. My heart goes out to the families as I hoped this wasn't any vampire-related motive.
Next up, the news reported that a missing officer's body was discovered in a ditch on Wednesday evening, but his patrol car is still missing. Foul play is suspected, and the autopsy revealed no signs of blood in his body. They drew parallels between the officer's, Stella's, Elena's, and Ben's cases. If only the police knew that my husband is the one who killed him, and I suspect his minions forgot to cremate his body. I'm sure Mr. Collin is going to lecture him about this one.
"Would the lovely lady like a rose?" a seemingly kind man offered as Nora and I were eating and watching the news.
I peered at him, and recognized he was no man but a vampire who held out a rose to Nora with a thorn ready to prick her finger.
To vampires, roses either have a deadly meaning or a heartwarming one. Roses with thorns meant he was about to mark her for him to feast on her later. Thornless roses, were given to mates and lovers.
Nora giggled, pinching her fingers to take it, "Why—"
"She's not interested!" I vociferated and grabbed her wrist, pulling it down from the rose she nearly gripped. "You can give it to somebody else."
The vampire chuckled as Kai's friends stared our way, but they didn't appear concerned, which indicates they likely knew this vampire.
"Have a nice day," he smirked and then walked away.
"Why did you do that?" Nora questioned me.
"Because you might prick your finger," I made up a random excuse.
"Prick my finger?" Nora gawked at me as if I'd gone crazy. "Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm feeling fine. I mean, who hands out roses in the middle of January!" I ranted, though it was fake.
"There's a florist shop down the road, so it's not that weird," Nora remarked.
I said nothing in response as I watched the same vampire giving a rose to one of the young women who frequently starts most of the rumors about me in Professor Mark's class.
"Ouch!" she yelped as her finger was pricked.
Officially, she's been marked for the vampire to track her down and feast on her later. I guess the Grim Reaper is visiting her sooner than expected. Either this will finally stop the rumors about me. Or it will make things worse after what I said to her and her friends not too long ago. Oh well, it is what it is.
~~~
Hours later, I was driving up the mansion's driveway and then parked my car.
"I'll take your belongings to your bedroom," Darlene offered before she got out of the passenger seat.
After she gathered my stuff, she vanished as I was walking towards the doors, but before I had a chance to get near them, a tall vampire in a black trench coat appeared in my pathway with his back facing me. He just stood there, staring at the doors as I walked past his shoulder side without care. The Coven was celebrating Coraline's birthday party tomorrow, so there were a lot of Royal family members and the Members who were staying the night.
"You must be Victoria," his voice drew to my ears, and I turned to greet him with a soft smile.
His facial features matched similar to Chester's face, but he had Zoey's round forest-green eyes, and his demeanor is dull and monotonous like Kai's, especially whenever he gets upset.
"I am, and you are?" I inquired.
"I'm Troy, your nephew. Chester and Zoey are my parents." He responded without any indication of emotions.
"I wasn't aware they had—"
"I'm partly exiled," Troy spoke over me.
"What did you do?" I asked, and he only blankly stared at me. "Never mind. It's not any of my business."
"Perhaps you should head inside," Troy advised. "You wouldn't want to catch a cold."
"Right."
The butler unlocked the doors, welcoming us in with a friendly smile, "It's nice to see you have returned home, Victoria and Sir Troy."
Upon entering, Colton exclaimed at the top of his lungs once he noticed his far older brother. "Troy's home!"
"Hey, little fangs," Troy chuckled, crouching to pick up his little brother.
"You missed my birthday party!" Colton pouted, crossing his arms at his chest as Troy held him.
Even I missed his birthday party on the 29th of November. He is now seven years old, and breaking away from his shyness.
"I'm sorry I did, but I remembered to bring you a gift." Troy apologized as he put him down, ruffling the hair on Colton's head, which he hated.
"Troy, you've returned home!" Zoey dropped in and hugged her eldest son, who towered over her. "Have you been taking care of yourself?"
Through his coat, her hands gently pinched along his muscular arms like any loving mother would do.
"Always, Mom," Troy replied. "Where's Chester? I need to speak with him."
"Your father is out at the moment," Zoey strongly emphasized the word "father."
As they chatted, I strode to the elevator, heading across the main living room. I could tell there was some tension in Troy's voice at the mention of his father, and Zoey was trying to keep things peaceful.