I watched as she walked back inside. Where are her shoes?
She's interesting, that's for sure.
"Stay away from her." I looked to my side; Asa was speaking to me.
He was also interesting, but the bad kind of interesting. He hated me, and I have no idea why.
"Stay away from who?"
"Don't play dumb."
"Rosalind?"
"Yes."
"Why? She's my boss," I said, and Asa stared at me. It was another day at the studio, and this was the first time Asa had spoken to me that wasn't through another person.
"Don't talk to her more than you need to," he said, following me as I walked.
"Mark." I turned around. It was Rosalind.
I could feel Asa staring daggers into my head.
"Yes?" I asked.
She stopped what she was saying. I raised an eyebrow at her.
"I need you, uh, help with another fashion design. And I want you to help me because you are, uh, good at it, and I need your help because you are helpful when you are helpful-." She stopped herself and took a deep breath as I smiled.
"Yes, of course, Rosalind," I said with a smile.
"Rosa, can I talk to you for a quick second?" Asa said, and she nodded, and the two of them walked away from me.
Damn. Her dress is very nice today.
I walked over to her studio area and sat on the desk.
She's becoming a serious problem.
I grabbed her notebook and flipped to an empty page. Oh, what is that? I swiped one page back. It was the suits I wore for the previous collection.
"For a handsome man," I smiled. I shook my head. I don't like her. I can't like her. I love Irene. I love her. I love Irene.
"Sorry, it took me so long," Rosalind said as she pulled out her chair and sat in it.
I handed her the notebook on the empty page.
I love Irene; I love Rina; Irene is my princess. I love her. I love Irene. I love Rosalind. I love Rosalind. Rosalind is my princess. I love her. I love Rosalind.
What is happening with my brain?
She is a problem.
"Stop looking at me, weirdo," Rosalind said, shoving the notebook in my face.
"What do you think?" she asked.
"Meh, it's okay."
"What's wrong with it?"
"You can add that weird silver trimming you always do, and I think the pants are too long. And if you are going for a casual look, change the shoes," I said, and Rosalind nodded.
She drew in her sketchbook.
"Thank you for actually helping today," she said as she drew in pen and added to the outfit based on the things I said.
I genuinely enjoy fashion; it's too bad, really.
I reached out for Rosalind's arm and took it in my hand.
"What's up with you today? Are you going through withdrawal from quitting smoking?" Rosalind asked not looking up from her notebook.
I traced my finger on her forearm. She had gorgeous skin; it was so soft.
Everything about her just seemed to fall into place. She is everything I have ever wanted. She is my princess.
"Mark?" she asked, and I looked at her.
She was looking down at her paper, just sketching.
You have a pretty face, even more than Irene.
"I'm sorry?"
"What?" I asked.
"Is Irene your girlfriend? I don't want to interfere," Rosalind said, putting my hand back in my lap and continuing to look down at her sketch.
Did I say that out loud? That is very embarrassing.
"Oh no. Irene is not my girlfriend; I liked her for years, and she liked another guy. She's been dead for a while, and she and her husband died together. I think she was 87 and he was 89," I said, looking down at the white desk I was sitting on.
"She was 87? Mark what?" She asked, and I looked around.
"Now she wasn't. Uh, she was 18 and he was 19. Yep, yes. They died, uh, tragically. I am not sure how, but they were together, and they died happy. Without me," I said.
I blinked, and I felt a tear fall.
"At least she's in a better place now," Rosalind said, reaching out to me.
She looked up at me and looked me in the eyes.
I watched as she started to shake, but she still smiled at me.
"I'm here to talk when you need it," she said, putting her head back down.
Wow, she. She's perfect. She can be my princess. I've finally found her.
"Thank you," I said. And she let go of my hand and went back to writing.
I got up.
"Where are you going?"
"My dad is calling me," I lied, and she nodded.
I went outside and pulled the box out of my pocket as I connected my phone to my headphones and called my dad's number.
I put the box back in my pocket, and I will try to stop for her. I'll do anything for her.
"Have you done it yet?" My dad asked, and I sighed.
"You are pathetic," he spat. And I sighed again.
I felt myself reaching for the box again. For her, do it. I have to.
"She's perfect," I whispered.
"I'll do it if you won't."
"Don't touch her cunt," I spat.
"Then kill her. You have been alive for 224 fucking years; you've done this so many times. Kill her."
"No."
"No?" And I felt the line go dead.
Goddammit, he's coming.
I sighed.
"Don't say no to me, bitch." Smack. I sighed.
"How's mom?" I asked with a smile. I hit a nerve because he stopped in his tracks.
"Don't bring her into this."
"Oh, but I just did."
"You killed her; how is that my problem?" I asked, and my dad looked at me. He was trying so hard to intimidate me, but it didn't work. Not anymore.
"Find someone else, Dad, and you'll know why I feel this way."
"No."
My dad stopped. That had him thinking.
"Mark! You better not be smoking, or else I'm not letting you back in," I heard Rosalind call out as she opened the door.
I rolled my eyes; my dad hadn't disappeared and instead was eying her.
"I can see why you like her; she's a looker, and she likes to take charge." I fucking hate him.
"I'm Mark's dad; nice to meet you," my dad said, reaching a hand out towards Rosalind.
"Nice to meet you; I'm Rosalind," she said with a smile.
My dad gave me a look and smiled back at Rosalind. She didn't recognize him, and the greatness he had amounted to all these centuries, and by that glance, he was irritated.
I smiled.
"Oh, the famous fashion designer? I didn't know she was your boss." He was lying because that's all he ever did.
Of course, he knew; he would not have sent me to be a model for her if he didn't know. He wants her dead; he wants me to gain her trust and then her power.
We had done this countless times; many lives were lost to history thanks to me and my dad, including my mom.
"I'm surprised he didn't tell you. I am glad to have your son as one of my models," Rosalind said, letting go of my dad's hand.
"When you are done talking to your dad, come back inside so we can talk more about ideas. It was nice to meet you again. Mr. Camacho," Rosalind said, giving him this nasty look.
I smiled. She was smarter than she looked.
"Stop ogling her," my dad said, and I blinked and smashed my nose.
"I was not."
"I'm your dad, and I know you. You were. Her and that nasty attitude."
"Reminds me of someone."
"Don't bring your mother into this-."
"You," I said, and my dad glared at me.
"I want her dead; you hear me?"
"I want you dead, but it looks like we can't all get what we want, can we?" Smack. Smack. I moved my head, and I stared at him.
"I'll kill her if you don't."
"Touch her and you fucking die, old bitch," I said, launching at him. He dodged.
"You are still young, I can tell," my dad said, and I felt myself stop.
I felt my hands move as he controlled me.
"You're pathetic," I said as I felt myself get launched into the nearest wall.
I tried to scramble to my feet as he walked towards me.
"I'll go kill her myself; you stay here," he said, and he held me down.
"Mark! What the? Big shot!" I heard Rosalind walk closer to me and my dad.
"Rosa, don't-."
"I understand he's your son, and you think you own every goddamn thing because you are rich, but do this on your own time. And last time I checked, he's still mine for the next couple of months, so when that time ends, you can have him back. But until then, don't step foot near my studio again," Rosalind said with a smile.
She is perfect. She even called me mine. I felt my heart start to race. What is happening to me?
"Oh, I'm sorry; last I checked, he's my son."
"Dad, don't touch her-."
He pushed me back.
"So I can do whatever I want with him, and it's my business," he said, trying to get her to make eye contact with him like I had done so many times. She was a smart girl; I'll give her that. She knew the way it made humans feel. Fear.
Oh fuck. Rosalind just laid a mean fucking punch on my dad.
My dad licked the inside of his mouth and turned back towards her.
"I slap your son; you think I won't hit you twice as hard?" Rosalind said. She's so hot, oh my god. I feel like I need to be put in my place personally; personally, that's just me, and personally, Rosalind is the right woman for the job.
"I'll show everyone in this world who you really are. It will ruin you and everything you have built up," my dad said with his phone in hand.
"Thank god. I hate this, but I'll get to you first. Cameras, I guess, now please leave," Rosalind said, and she grabbed my hand.
She pushed open the doors and dragged us back to where we were sitting before.
"Don't leave my sight," she said, going back to drawing in her book.
Say less, baby. Say less.
I looked at my phone. It was a lunch break; it was just me and Rosalind now.
"Does Asa like me?" I asked.
"No."
"Why?"
"I don't know, something about something. I don't know. Probably because you are hot and constantly talking to me,'' Rosalind said, not looking up from her book once more.
"You think I'm hot?"
"No."
"But you just said-."
"No, drop it," she said, obviously getting embarrassed by what I had said.
"I think you have a little crush on me," I said, and she didn't answer.
She stayed silent for a few minutes, and they shoved the notebook in my face and didn't look up from the desk like it was the most interesting thing in this whole world.
The outfit was cute; it was a crop top, some jeans with suns, and a few other patterns and designs on it that I couldn't recognize, but they were all cute.
"I'd like to see you in that," I said, and she rolled her eyes and started to get a little bit red.
"In your dreams."
"Every night," I said, handing her back the notebook.
I ran my fingers over her arm, and this time she didn't move.
"Do you have any beauty marks?" She asked while drawing something I could see because she was so close to the page.
"Yes."
"Where?"
"My neck, I have one on my arm, my leg, and one-." I stopped and smiled.
"One?" She asked and looked up.
"You're nasty."
"You asked," I said, and she rolled her eyes.
"What about you? Besides, you know your whole body."
"You are just full of compliments today, aren't you? I have like four on my back, and that's it," she said and laughed.
Her eyes shot up to mine, and I watched as she scanned for the beauty marks on my neck.
"You have two right here, like a vampire," she said, and she put the index and middle fingers together on her next.
Like a vampire. Like a vampire.
I watched myself as I looked in the mirror.
It was years ago; all of this was, but I can still remember it all so vividly.
My fangs were growing weird, and my mother sat there patting my back, telling me everything was going to be okay.
I watched as she smiled in the mirror, looking at me and her in it.
On days like this one, when Dad is uncontrollable and crazy, I miss her. I miss her like crazy, but at the same time, missing her won't bring her back.
I watched the bathroom move into the hallway. And there I was, walking.
The hallway morphed into the living room, and their mom lied.
I heard me screaming and crying, and my dad watched. He watched her lifeless body.
I remember him standing there and staring at her.
"What did you do to her?" 17-year-old me screamed as I watched as I launched myself at him with full force.
"They're coming."
I still don't know who, but that day I became the monster that he had always wanted me to be.
My mom was the only thing keeping me grounded from becoming what I was destined to become.
Mom has been dead for 207 years, and Dad is still in mourning. He would never admit it, but it messed him up badly. He has to live with that forever. Momma would want him to move on, especially now, but he can't. He has to sit with the guilt of killing his wife, and I have to sit with the guilt knowing that I have become my father.
For the first 17 years, I knew all the awful things he did, but we both hid them from Mom. We knew it would have shattered her poor heart.
He broke her soul. He broke my soul.
Humans and vampires can't be together.
"Don't get up; sit down," Rosalind said to me, and I looked at her.
I have to kill her. Before she knows about the monster I am—the killer, the demon. The villain I have become.
I felt the guilt take over as I looked at her sketching and doing her own thing.
I couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to kill the girl I loved.
Not now. Not ever.
She could join us. I smiled. We could be together forever, and no one could stop us, not even my dad.
I would win. Just this once, but it would last forever.
"Stop smiling; you are freaking me out," Rosalind said with a laugh, and she tried to fix my smile with her hands.
She would join me.
"I'm sorry, just thinking," I said.
"About what?"
I stopped.
"Tell me when you want to," she said, shrugging her shoulders.
I took a deep breath.
"Do you want to go on a date with me?" I blurted out. God, I'm awkward. It's been a long time since I've flirted with someone.
I think it's been forever. Damn, that's sad.
I have a hard time getting close to people, friendship-wise and romantically, so I guess I was bound to be awkward like this when it came to relationships, especially love.
"Like as friends?" Rosalind asked and closed her notebook.
"Yes?"
"Then it's a hangout, not a date," she said, standing up.
"I want it to be a date," I said, reaching out. Damn, I am getting all desperate now. Like I need her or something.
She smiled.
"You're cute. When you are nervous, where do you want to go? The lunch break ends in 55 minutes," she said, looking at her watch.
"We can go to that-."
"Hey Rosa, do you want to go anywhere for lunch?" Asa shut up. He smiled at me. He wanted to get on my nerves.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I am going somewhere with Mark."
"Oh, can I tag along?" said this little bitch.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Mark was going to take me on a date," Rosalind said, and she beamed. She was truly beautiful.
"Like a romantic one?"
"Yes," Rosalind said, smiling at me.
I win.
"You can drive us if you'd like,'' I said with a smile. Don't step into the kitchen if you can't handle the heat, dumb fuck.
"Oh, would you, Asa? You know I don't have my license," Rosalind said, and Asa sighed.
"For you, I will," he said, and the three of us made our way to his car.
He unlocked it, and I got in the back seat; he got in the driver's seat.
"Rosa, you can sit up here if you'd like," he said, patting the seat for her.
"Oh no, thank you, Asa. I'll stay in the back with Mark," she said, sliding into the car next to me.
"Of course, pick the hot model guy over your own secretary; I get it," Asa said as he started driving.
"It's not like that," Rosa said, laughing.
He likes her; I fucking knew it. I win, you lose. I was right. Well, well, I asked if they were dating, not if he liked her, whatever.
Damn.
"Stop looking at my boobs."
"I'm not!" I said it with my hands up, and Rosalind laughed.
"You so were." I mean, was I? Meh, they looked at me first.
"At least take me out to dinner first, at that expensive Italian restaurant," she said with a laugh.
"Where do you think we are going?" I said that and glanced up at Asa with a glare.
She smiled at me and looked out the window. She was perfect.
"This is pretty. I have never actually been in here; I only order online. I feel like I'm underdressed," she said.
"Still beautiful, though," I said, and she laughed and looked at the menu.
"You are such a sweet talker."
"Only for you, baby," I said, and I also looked at the menu.
Despite being a vampire, there are a lot of things I could do. Go in the sun. bitch sunscreen exists. Eat garlic; I just don't, because it makes me feel awful. I have never gotten a stake in the heart, so I can't vouch for that, but I feel like that would kill anyone, so whatever.
Do I need blood? Yes. Do I go crazy if I don't have blood? Uh, I actually don't know and will hopefully not find out ever.
I can still eat regular food; I just crave some blood on the side.
"What's that?"
"Juice, the doctor said I need to drink a lot of it. I'm dehydrated or something," I said, lying to Rosalind. I felt bad, but I couldn't tell her just yet.
"You are 24 and drinking Pedialyte?" She raised an eyebrow.
"It's like Pedialyte, just red for some reason I don't know. I have been drinking these forever," I said. At least I was halfway to telling the truth.
I feel bad for lying; it was eating me away. But I had to. To protect her.
I didn't want her to get freaked out or my dad to find out that she knew. I will tell her when I'm ready.
"Pedialyte boy, what do you want?"
"Huh?" I looked up; the waiter was there.
"Anything without garlic. It makes my stomach hurt," I said awkwardly, and the waiter wrote it down.
"You drink Pedialyte and can't have garlic; for all those muscles and your build, you have a weak fucking immune system," Rosalind said, and I laughed.
"I know," I said, and she smiled at me as she drank her water.
I will protect her. Protect her from this life and the forever we will spend together.
She will be safe from me once I turn her, but until then, I need to keep her safe from myself. I know my abilities, and she doesn't.
I don't want her to get hurt. I will protect her with my life.
I am a vampire by nature, and nothing will change that. But nothing will change my love for Rosalind, either. I love her; even if these past months have been so small compared to forever, they have felt like forever, and I won't ever forget her now or forever, and I don't want to.
When the time comes, I will give my soul to her. I will tell her everything—my thoughts, my feelings for her, and my secrets. Everything.
"Thank you,'' I said, and the waiter put some pasta in front of me, and Rosalind started to eat hers.
I love her, and I have to protect her from this world and everything in it. Including myself. It's going to be hard, but I will do it.
"Eat," she said, shoving her fork near my mouth.
"I can't have garlic."
"You can't taste it; stop being weird," she said, and I opened my mouth.
I can't taste it. I smiled at her.
"Good, right?" she said, and I nodded.
She continued to eat her pasta.
"It's like we just kissed," I said with a wink, and she rolled her eyes.
"Maybe one day," she said, smiled, and looked back down at her food.
God, I love her.