Chapter 33

DEMETRIUS

Rose didn’t speak a word for six months.

We moved back to Alaska with the girls. Aric returned to France, and he and James later moved to Singapore.

Aleesha, Angus, and Eloise all headed back to India. It was just the four of us. And the twins were smart enough to keep out of their mother’s way.

I was not so smart. The first day we arrived, Rose walked out into the sun. It wasn’t until I could smell her skin burning that I realized she was outside.

I tackled her to the ground and dragged her back inside and down to our room.

She wept heavy bloody tears while she healed and refused to drink from me.

The next night, she destroyed Eleanor’s old room, the kitchen, and the bathroom. She threw all of Eleanor’s belongings into a pile and set it on fire.

She stayed watching the fire until the sun began to rise, then she walked back inside, leaving the smoking remnants of her human daughter’s life outside, blowing away in the morning wind.

From then on, she spent her days wrapped in a ball, in our bath, silent, staring at the wall.

She grew very weak. She was refusing to drink anything, animal or human. Even from me.

Night by night, I watched her wither away. Ever silent.

We’d left Italy very fast. After Eleanor had collapsed, we’d all stood, listening to her heart rate slow, beat by beat, until it stopped completely.

Rose had fled from the room.

I had picked up Eleanor in my arms and carried her out of the hall. She was light in my arms, blood dripping from her neck.

Rose didn’t come back. I could hear her screaming in the distance. But she didn’t come back.

It was Phoenix and Venus, who had gone searching for her, who were able to finally bring her back for our flight.

I watched her sitting her days away. I wanted her to get angry, to scream, to cry. Anything. But Rose was still and silent.

One evening, after feeding on a particularly juicy beaver, I carried it back to her and handed her a glass of its blood. She ignored me completely.

I left the glass beside her and went into our closet to change out of my bloodied hunting clothes.

I discovered a folded piece of paper in one of my pockets. I recognized the paper. Eleanor’s drawing paper. Folding it in my hands, I felt my heart beat just once.

I grimaced, trying to keep my emotions in check. I unfolded the paper slowly. It was a drawing Eleanor had made when she was five years old.

It was a drawing of us. Rose and I, holding her hands. Aric, Phoenix, and Venus standing next to us.

I closed my eyes and let the drawing fall to the ground, squeezing my eyes shut as my tears threatened to overflow.

I let out a big breath. Then I realized I hadn’t heard the soft thump of the paper landing on the floor.

When I opened my eyes, Rose was standing in front of me. She was holding Eleanor’s drawing, staring at her, her eyes wide, bloodshot.

She raised her head slowly, her eyes meeting mine.

“It was in my pocket,” I explained.

She shook her head very slowly, her eyes narrowing on me. She took a step toward me, slowly, silently.

“You promised me,” she whispered, her voice catching.

“Rose,” I reached for her, but she flinched back, snarling.

“You promised me!” she growled. “You stood by me and told me that you wouldn’t let anyone hurt her!”

“I know, I know,” I reached for her again, but she was backing against the wall of our closet, shaking her head furiously, her blood teardrops sullying the clothes.

“I’m sorry, Rose, I’m so sorry,” I whispered.

“Don’t you dare come near me!” she snarled, her eyes bright red. “Don’t you dare tell me that you’re sorry!” she spat. She had reached the back of the closet, glaring at me.

“Rose, please. I am hurting too.”

“You’re hurting?” she hissed. “What about Eleanor? Do you think she was hurting when that fucking princess bit her? How do you think she was feeling, Demetrius? Frightened, hurt, heartbroken.”

“Rose, I wish I could have done more.”

“Wishing won’t change anything,” she snarled. “You promised me!”

“I didn’t expect my uncle to be so adamant! I thought… I thought I could save her.”

“I don’t want to hear your fucking excuses, Demetrius,” she snarled at me. “I never want to see you again.”

“Rose,” I took a step toward her. She was fuming, she crunched Eleanor’s drawing in her hand. Destroying the last remnant that I had of my human daughter.

“Please, Rose, know that I am in the same pain as you.”

“You didn’t have to kill our daughter,” she snarled.

“Neither did you.” I regretted my words as soon as I spoke them.

Her eyes widened as she gasped. Like a broken doll, her knees gave in, and she crumbled against the wall, bawling.

I rushed to her side, wrapping my arms around her.

“I made a choice.” She wept into my chest. I held her tightly.

“I’m sorry Rose, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

“What could I have done?” her eyes were wide, staring up at me, blood tears streaming down her face. I felt her trembling in my arms, like a human. She was so weak.

“You need to feed.” She shook her head violently.

“I need to die.”

“No!” My voice had more strength than I expected. She glared up at me.

“Rose, you have Phoenix and Venus. And Aric. And me.”

“Why did you think I did it?” she whispered. “If I’d try to run with her, the king would have taken my children.”

“I know, Rose.”

“I couldn’t protect her.” She was crying harder now. “I promised her. I promised her that I would always protect her. But I killed her.”

I gripped my shirt. I rubbed my hand up and down her back slowly, feeling her trembling in my arms.

“She was beautiful,” I said quietly. “She was so amazing, Rose. So amazing. You made the right decision when you brought her home a decade ago. And I regret not having seen that sooner.”

“Where did you bury her?” she asked softly.

“There was a beautiful rose garden behind the mansion,” I informed her. “I chose a place with a beautiful view of the ocean.”

Rose was quiet.

“Demetrius,” she breathed. “I don’t think I can continue without her.” Her voice was just a whisper.

I kissed the top of her head lightly.

“You have me. Forever.”

She wept harder.