Renata
She took a deep breath as she wrapped herself in a towel. The bathroom was excessively built in size and grandeur, like her bedroom and just about every other inch of the mansion she'd seen thus far. The dark woods, blood red accents, and overall gothic theme seemed a bit clichéâ a small part of her was thrilled since she'd always fantasized about visiting the Adams family house.
The bedroom was a bit cold as Renata stepped into it. She wasn't at all surprised to see Rocio lounging on the made bed. "How's the girlfriend?"
Renata thought back to how frantic Diamond sounded. It was becoming a common occurrence and she hated that she was the cause of it. Her eyes narrowed back in on her older sister. "She's not my girlfriend. She's worried about me." Liar, liar, liar.
Okay, I love you.
"You haven't even been gone a full forty-eight hoursâtwenty four of them you damn near slept away." This was the kind of banter that convinced Renata she was actually talking to her sister. Rocio was never known to let things go.
Renata began applying her lotion. "Yeah, I think everything just kind of caught up to me. I hadn't really slept all last week."
"Well," Rocio swung over her lengthy legs to sit up and on the edge of the bed, "I rescheduled the dinner we were supposed to have last time to tonight, assuming you don't want to get another snooze in."
Renata had put on her silver necklace. Now she folded her arms, feeling annoyed with her pushy sister. She should have 'persistent motherfucker' tattooed across her chest. "What? Vamps don't need sleep?"
Rocio smiled. It was kind of creepy. It has this knowing, mischievous air about it. "Sometimes. Definitely not as often as humans." Her eyes zeroed in on Renata's neck. "I'm surprised you've kept that this whole time still, and in that condition too."
Renata touched the heart, running her fingertips over it. It was cool against her warm skin. "Yeah. Ma comes everywhere with me, you know that."
Rocio kept staring at her neck. She spoke as though breaking her own concentration. "You know, I always envied that necklace. You've always had a piece of her. I wasn't so lucky." Rest in peace, TÃa Isa.
She thought back to her tÃa, who'd taken eight year old Renata in when Renata's mother, TÃa Isa's older sister, Reh, was murdered. It would only be three years later when TÃa Isa suffered a fatal heart attack. Considering Reh and Isa were the only known family members of Rocio and Renata, this left them at the mercy of the United States' Government.
Renata lost some of the fire in her tone. "I'm sorry, I didn't know that."
Rocio waved her hand and got up. "Relax, I didn't mean to bring down the room. Can you be ready in an hour? I'll come get you."
Renata nodded, but she was still grappling with the different topics of conversation. "Yeah, that's okay."
"Alright, I'll get out of your hair." She was gone. Renata had a deep breath as she felt the rush of air as a result. Another thing she learned was the ridiculous speed of the undying. There was a lot more to learn, but Renata felt no need to digest it all at once.
**********
Renata had just finished laying down her edges as there was an insistent knock at the door.
"We're not going to the Met Gala, Nata," Rocio hollered from the other side. "You look delicious." Wow, what a choice of words considering Rocio hadn't quite asked what the undying eat. There was an obvious answer, but she didn't dare assume, especially because her heart needed a fucking break.
She ran a hand over her big braid. She opted for a black, tight-fitted shirt and baggy, black jeans. Renata slipped into her black sandals and scurried over toward the door. When she opened the door to reveal her sister, her jaw nearly fell to the floor.
Rocio wore a black sheer, short-sleeved, cropped top. It hugged her bare breasts, outlining them for all to see. Her pleated skirt was barely there too. And with fishnet stockings and chunky wine red boots, it couldn't have been any more clear what she had to say about anyone who felt just about anything toward her outfit: go ahead and clutch your pearls, bitch.
Renata exhaled all the air in her lungs. She tried not to eyeball the markings scattered down her sternum and curving around her breasts. "I thought we weren't going to the Met Gala?"
Rocio looked down at herself. "Oh." She scoffed. "Me and Tahoma liked to match sometimes."
Renata waited for more context, and when she realized there wouldn't be any, she shook her head and stepped into the hallway. As she shut the door behind her, she asked, "who's that?"
"Oh, I'll let him introduce himself at dinner."
This was already sounding like either a disaster or the most fun she'd experienced in a while.
**********
Upon their arrival, Nirvi was at the head of the long-stretching table. She stood up from her seat. Renata didn't know what to expect, and wasn't sure whether to be pleasantly surprised or mildly disappointed.
Nirvi gestured to the seats on either side, "welcome Renata," her red eyes shifted toward her sister, "welcome back, Rocio." Her voice was deep, smooth, and calculated. There was a southern eastern accent, barely there, but it added a richness that just slid over one's skin like honey.
Nirvi dressed herself in a rose pink wrap dress. It hugged her curves and overflowed with elegance. Inky black hair was pulled up beautifully on top of her head, shaped with purposely laid curls. Her almond eyes were focused and quick. She had a thin, curling mouth and a proud, tilted nose. Renata was almost silenced by this woman's natural confidence and beauty.
Renata seated herself, feeling naked as Rocio went to sit across from her. Only then did Nirvi return to her own spot. "I hope you've found your stay adequate," she addressed Renata, "and most of all: comfortable."
"My bed was really comfy," Renata confirmed. She knew the right thing to do was to remain calm and respectful, yet another part of her demanded answers.
"Well, I'm glad. I should hope you've been looking after your sister, Rocio." Her eyes cut to Rocio.
Rocio's eyes widened comically. She pressed a hand to her chest. "Of course, I have. Nothing but the best for my baby sister." She lifted the cup in front of her. "Cheers."
Renata went to grab her own crystal glass.
"You're not starting without me, are you?"
Renata's head turned in response toward a voice that filled the room. And against her will, her eyes widened as she drank in his appearance as he strode toward them. Long black hair parted down the middle. Piercing eyes noticeable from across the room. A dark, severe gaze imprinted into a tanned face sculpted with care and passed down from each generation of warriors to the next.
"You're just in time," Nirvi responded. She regarded him with a distanced warmth. So did Rocio.
She watched as his eyes finally latched onto Renata. Whoever he was, he was dressed in the exact same outfit as Rocio, and he wore it well. He wore it instead of it wearing himâclothes as bold and loud as that tended to be the main show, but not for him.
Renata held her breath, gauging his reaction to her. Intrigue. Mischief. More intrigue. Maybe a little delight. Delight for what? She had the impression that he was refraining from licking his lips. This alarmed her, but she remained still.
Nirvi gestured to him. As he took the seat beside Renata. She didn't feel his warmth but she felt the power rolling off of him. His energy was untamable, anyone could have known that just by looking at him. "Renata, this is my son, Tahoma."
She turned toward him, but he was staring at the empty seat across from him, beside Rocio. His brows furrowed and he floated away to someplace else, to another timeâRenata knew the feeling. His attention snapped back to the present. The corners of his lips lifted and it felt like the moment when a wave had reached its highest point and was crashing back down. "Hello, Renata, I've heard so much about you."
Renata felt proud of herself as she refused to be too dazzled by his striking face, his striking everything. "Really?" She sipped her drink she had been holding and placed it back down. "Like what?"
He smiled and his eyes darted toward Rocio and Nirvi. "Well, mostly from Rocio. She can't stop talking about you. Renata this, Renata that," he waved his hand and grabbed the pitcher toward the center. He tipped it and dark red liquid poured into his glass. "I was almost becoming jealous."
Renata arched her brow. "Not anymore?"
He paused his drinking. "I wouldn't go that far. Now, who's on the menu?" His eyes focused on Renata and the breath came to a screeching halt in her throat.