Honey

Prologue

Honey Rose Hooper, stood at the gate to the old mansion. The long driveway ran up a steep hill to a very large mid century house that sprawled out over several acres. She bit her lip and pushed the gate open, it creaked ominously. As she entered, a cold chill ran down her back. She had no idea why she had been sent, only that the nuns at the church orphanage had received a letter, saying that she was to live there. There were no other instructions of which she was aware. Honey Rose, or as her friends called her Rose, had been a ward of the state since she was ten years old. She had been placed in a church run orphanage at eleven and had been in their care since.

On her seventeenth birthday however the letter had arrived. That had been less than a week before, now she stood at the end of the very long driveway, her trunk and suitcase in hand, her purse slung over her shoulder. The house was dark and foreboding, just looking at it made her shiver a little.

It looks haunted. Rose thought.

She slowly made her way up the driveway, withered leaves blew along beside her as a gust of autumn air whipped her mousy brown hair and wool coat around her. It was almost October, and the weather had been wet and cold. There was another swift gust of wind as she neared the front door of the old mansion house, it blew so hard it nearly knocked her down. She gasped as she caught onto the heavy brass knocker to balance herself. She shivered again. Then, looking up at the portcullis, she took a deep breath to steady herself and lifted the knocker and let it bang down twice.

She stood waiting, her back to the door, as she surveyed the rolling lawns before her. She was a little out of breath from the uphill climb, and the creepy energy the house was putting off. She was startled when the door creaked behind her. She whirled quickly, but the door stood open, with no one there.

“Hello?” She called softly, as she stepped to the threshold. There was no answer. She looked inside the pitch black house, swallowing hard, before slowly lifting her suitcase and trunk and stepping inside. As she did, another gust of wind slammed the door behind her, knocking her down in the foyer. She cried out in surprise and pain as her knees hit the hard parquet floors. It was quite dim inside. The only illumination coming from the windows perched high above the grand staircase.

After regaining herself, she looked about as she slowly got to her feet. There were two wide sweeping staircases on the right and left of the round entryway. Between them was a grand arch, intricately carved, but in the dark it was difficult to tell what the carvings were. Where she stood, there were three short steps down onto a lovely silk rug. A round table sat between her and the arch, graced with a dozen red roses in a crystal vase. She left her bags at the door, and slowly moved toward the roses. She bent her head and took a deep breath. The roses were so sweet. When she lifted her head, she was startled by movement past the arch.

Hesitantly, she moved around the table. “Hello?” She called again softly as she passed the arch. “Is anyone here? I was sent by Saint Damascus.” As she came into the room, she paused. The domed ceiling above seemed a mile away and the chandelier that hung from the center was at least ten feet across. The room was massive, giving her a sense of endlessness as it stretched out before her with its grand emptiness and eerie silence. She stood still, staring up, until she was startled by a voice behind her. She nearly screamed, but caught herself turning around quickly with a sheepish smile.

“Honey, is it?” The voice asked again.

“Yes. I’m Honey Rose.” She answered softly, with a nervous smile.

“You’re early. My brothers won’t be up for a while yet. Martin, take Ms. Hooper’s belongings to her room.” A young man, not much older than she, directed an older gentleman in livery.

The older man carried her trunk and suitcase up the stairs, but the look he gave her as he went made her skin crawl. “Come with me.” The man said, shortly.

Rose nodded and followed behind him. He led her through the ballroom and down a long hall. “Um, excuse me?” Rose said softly, as they moved down the hall. The man’s step faltered slightly but he continued forward, ignoring her.

He eventually brought her into the study and closed the door, before turning on her. “Give me your coat.” He told her. She shivered, but slipped out of it and gave it to him. He surveyed her from the corner of his eye for a moment as he hung the coat from a chair back near the desk. Then he turned his full gaze on her and looked her up and down. She wore a conservative knee length dress with a square neck and tights.

His eyes moved over her in a way that made her blush deeply under such scrutiny. She had never thought of herself as anything but average, and his penetrating gaze reminded her as much. He sighed after a moment, thinking his brothers would eat her up. She was small of frame, childlike even, flat as a board, with big round eyes, and tawny brown hair. The way she stood there screamed I am prey. She’d shook slightly as she stood in the ballroom, but she had been obedient, like a lamb to the slaughter. It made his blood warm to think of tasting her.

“I was expecting something...more.” The man said as he moved around her slowly as if inspecting merchandise, his voice ever so slightly condescending. “But I suppose you’ll do.” He said as he came closer. She would do very nicely indeed. Very suddenly she found herself in his arms, her face against his shoulder, his mouth against her throat. She gasped sharply as his lips and tongue touched her neck.

She twisted, trying to get away from him, but his grip on her tightened, and she cried out in pain as he crushed her to him harder. “Stop.” She yelled, struggling against him, as he held her tighter. She stomped his foot hard with her heel, but he did little more than look down at her with disdain.

“You smell so sweet, no wonder you’re called Honey.” He whispered against her neck after a moment. “You should learn now,” He said as he pushed her to the floor on her knees, still holding her wrist, “That what I say to you is law and I do as I wish. You were sent here by the church?” He asked.

She looked up at him with terror in her eyes. He smiled. “Answer the question.” He said dangerously, her wrist still held tightly in his grasp. He twisted slightly, as she began to pull away. She cried out in pain, then looked up at him defiantly. He squeezed harder as she bit her lip and looked down.

She whimpered, but said, “I was a ward with Saint Damascus Orphanage, they sent me here.”

He released her hand and she quickly backed away until she bumped against the sofa. “It seems you’ve some fight in you.” He said as he stalked closer to her, the thought of breaking her excited him. She moved to stand, but before she could blink he was on top of her, pinning her to the sofa. “You’re going to be my special little plaything.” He said as his large hand wrapped up her wrists and pinned them above her head. His other hand wrapped around her throat and her eyes went wide with fear as she began to struggle beneath him. He laughed and his knee slid between her legs, pressing her dress up around her hips. “Don’t fight your purpose.” He whispered softly, releasing her throat to pull the top of her dress aside, as he lowered his head to her shoulder licking softly, as if savoring her taste.

Oh God, he’s going to bite me. She thought. She looked just in time to see vicious fangs, as he lowered his head again. His once beautiful face twisted into some ferocious monster. She began to shake as she felt the tips touch her skin.

“Bellamy!” A voice roared from behind him. The man atop her lifted his head and rolled his eyes, then slid back to a dignified sitting position, leaving her with her dress around her hips, from where his knee had been. Her dress was stretched at the neck, from his attempt to bite her.

She lay there dazed for a moment, shaking in fear, before the situation dawned on her. She looked at the man who was coming into the room, stood, pulled her skirt down, and darted for the door. She heard laughter behind her as she entered the hall and ran for the ballroom. The laughter seemed to echo down the hall as if chasing her.

She was shaking with fear, terrified. That man, was he going to bite me? Was he going to rape me? She thought. Her brain couldn’t make sense of the information it had been given. She ran through the arch into the foyer. She reached the heavy wooden doors. She tried the knob, but it wouldn’t turn, she pushed the doors but they wouldn’t budge. She began pounding on them when she heard voices behind her. She whirled around quickly to find four very attractive males, arranged on the stairs behind her. They seemed to range in age from a little older than her to about ten.

“You can’t get out that way silly.” A creepy childlike voice pierced her. She turned to find the very pretty little boy standing at the bottom of the stairs behind her, a stuffed bunny in hand. He laughed and the sound was like sweet nails on a chalkboard. It shot fear through her and she began to cry. When she did, one of them leapt over the banister of the staircase and dropped seamlessly to the floor, then moved toward her. When he reached her, he took her in his arms very gently, lowering his mouth to her ear.

“Your tears won’t do little mouse. You’ve come to live with us now. Don’t ever try to run away.” He told her, before crushing her to the door with his body. His mouth descended to her shoulder as his tongue traced a gentle path along her collar bone, before he was pulled away suddenly and was replaced with an identical image.

“Leave a bit for me brother.” He said playfully, before pressing her back against the door with long fingers wrapped around her throat. He pulled the other side of her dress down to trace an identical line across her other collar bone. She whimpered as she cried.

“Please.” She sobbed in fear, as his knee moved to press her more firmly against the door. “Stop.”

“Ramsey, Roman, that’s enough.” A sharp voice called. She gasped out when they both stepped away from her, suddenly able to breath, she collapsed to her knees. A moment later another man she had not seen before, stood before her offering her his hand. “Come, you need to have things explained to you.” He said as she took his hand timidly and he pulled her to her feet.

He led them into a better lit drawing room, then took up an armchair in a cluster of furniture, she sat on the sofa to his left, while the little boy took the seat beside her. The twins, Roman and Ramsey, lounged carelessly on the facing sofa, a coffee table between them, the other yet unnamed man took up the chair adjacent. She wrapped her arms around herself as Bellamy came in and took a place beside the window, ignoring them all. He was followed closely by another man who, she recognized from the study, came to stand with the others.

“You were sent here by Saint Damascus. You will be living with us from now on. I am Damien Elios, these are my brothers. You are now our ward and must do as we say.” He gestured to the little boy beside her. “Allow us to introduce ourselves, the youngest first, I suppose.” Damien said as he smiled at the child.

“I’m Milo, I’m the youngest, you’re going to be my new favorite toy.” He told her softly tilting his head, his blond hair falling over one violet eye, a fangy smile gracing his mouth. Her skin crawled as she caught sight of his pointed little teeth. Her brain refused to process what she was seeing, as his eerie smile faded and he stared at her with blank eyes.

“I’m Reese, I am the sixth son, I do hope you’ll show the same fight with me that you showed with my brothers.” Reese said, as he shifted forward, lowering a long leg that had been carelessly thrown over the arm of the chair he occupied. She took him in in the candle light, his red hair framed his long face, he had cheekbones one could cut themselves on, his green eyes glimmered slightly, before he gave her a fearsome smile. She gulped.

“I’m Ramsey.” One of the twins said suddenly, drawing her attention. She turned her head to look at them.

“I’m Roman.” The other said. They were identical images of one another, both with black hair and green eyes. They gave her matching smiles. “We can pick up where we left off.” Roman said, lifting his eyebrow at her.

“I’d like that.” Ramsey said, giving his brother a knowing look, before they both laughed, the sound sinister as it crawled down her spine. She was sitting shaking, unsure how to accept what she was being told. She had been sent here, it seemed, for the purpose of, what exactly she couldn’t think.

“You seem distressed.” A voice said, she looked up to meet the eyes of the man standing behind the sofa. “You’ve met my older brother Bellamy, I am Kade. The third son.” He told her with little other information. He was tall, lean, and muscular, with a handsome face, blue eyes and black hair. He did not smile at her, or give her any threat, but by the way he watched her, she realized he had been watching her from the moment he came into the room. She swallowed. “Who are you?” He asked.

“I am Honey Rose Hooper. My friends call me Rose. Saint Damascus received a letter from one of our donors requesting someone be sent here to live, I was the person they sent.” She answered, not sure what else to say.

“Were you told why you were sent here?” Damien asked, drawing her attention away from his second brother.

“No one seemed to know anything more than that.” She told him.

He smiled cooly. “Why would you send for someone like her?” Bellamy asked, from his station at the window.

“Because if I hadn’t, after Grace, I knew you six would tear one another apart. You’ve all already begun fighting, and she only threw herself from the tower a year ago. You all need to learn to control yourselves.” Damien said as he stood. “As for you, your reason for being here is to sate our appetites.” Rose looked up at him, the look on his face sent fear through her. Suddenly Milo pounced on her, pinning her to the sofa. He was far stronger than any child she had ever met. He held her down and licked her cheek, his eyes brightening as he looked up at Damien.

“She’s so sweet.” He said. Suddenly she bucked hard, catching Milo off guard and rolled off the sofa. “I didn’t even get my teeth in you yet!” He cried, as if on the verge of a tantrum. She moved quickly away from him, until her forward progress was stopped by Bellamy’s imposing frame. He grabbed hold of her, and when she began to struggle, he lifted her against him, holding her tight to his chest again, but his grip on her wasn’t crushing, the way it had been before.

“Stop struggling if you want to survive.” He told her, then dropped her to the floor. She landed on her knees and whimpered. She stood and ran for the door, but tripped over a table and sent a vase of flowers crashing to the floor, shattering just ahead of her. Her hands came down in the broken glass, cutting her palms in a few places. She cried out as she struggled to gain her feet again, and pressed herself to the door behind her.

She was crying as the seven of them suddenly loomed over her. “You may not have guessed yet, as you don’t seem very intelligent.” Bellamy said as he came closer. “But you’ve made a grave error, the smell of your blood is intoxicating.” He told her as he lifted her hand to his mouth and licked. “You know what we are.” He told her his eyes locked on hers, her wrist clutched in his hand. She suddenly felt dizzy as a wave of realization that she had been holding back, washed over her.

Vampire. She thought, as her eyes registered the blood and the dizziness took over.

Chapter One

Rose woke from a dream she only half remembered, but it was a dream she had often enough she didn’t need to remember. She was a bit confused as to her surroundings. Faint light was coming in through a heavily draped window. She was in a bed unfamiliar to her, with its blue and white lace and satin. It was larger than her bed at the orphanage, softer too. How had she gotten there? She wondered as she reached up to push her hair from her face, and noticed her hands were bandaged. She stopped, staring.

Last night...was that...a dream? She thought, but she couldn’t figure out how she got there, if it wasn’t. She looked down, she was wearing a nightdress, one of her own. She flushed slightly wondering who had changed her. She touched her neck and shoulders, there were no wounds, she sighed in relief.

“You’re awake.” Bellamy said to her, startling her from her thoughts.

“Why are you here?” She asked, backing away from him.

“This is my home. I come and go as I please.” He told her as he reached out and touched her cheek. She knocked his hand away and backed further away. Before she could roll out of the other side of the bed, he was on top of her, pinning her to the bed beneath him. He sat on her waist, her arms pinned above her head. She thrashed and kicked.

“Let me go!” She cried, as she fought under him.

“Stop moving, right now.” He told her. She froze, suddenly aware that she could feel parts of him she couldn’t see. There was a note of embarrassment in his tone. She looked up at him, her face going bright red as he recovered quickly and leaned down, so that his mouth was beside her ear. “You will obey everything I tell you, you will be mine, above anyone else’s.” He told her before kissing her throat very lightly, then before she could blink he was gone. She sat up shaking.

What was that? She thought.

“You should get dressed, everyone will be waiting for you.” Another voice said from the shadows. She leapt from the bed holding the blankets to her. “It’s just me. You have nothing to fear in me...yet.” Kade told her as he moved from the shadows. “I hope I chose an appropriate nightgown.” Rose blushed scarlet and lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry if that embarrasses you, but my brothers couldn’t be trusted, and I don’t think Martin would have been comfortable with the task. Do you have a low constitution, Honey?” He asked her.

“No, but yesterday was…” She trailed off, as she looked up at him. He was staring at her. It was unnerving.

“It was a lot. I admit my brothers are a lot, but you belong to us now. You were a gift from the church, a payment of sorts. We will feed on you, when we want, you can say no, but it will not stop us. I can assure you,” He said, seeing her blush, knowing well the exchange she’d just experienced with his older brother. “Nothing but our fangs will ever penetrate you without your permission.” Her blush deepened as her eyes moved to the floor and she stood there in stunned silence.

“Who was Grace?” She asked softly when he turned to leave.

“Grace was…” Kade looked over his shoulder, there was emotion she couldn’t quite read in his eyes, but it cleared quickly. “Our last plaything. Maybe you’ll last longer.” He said with an evil smile. “Hurry now, don’t keep us waiting.” Kade told her then disappeared.

Rose took several deep breaths, everything was happening so quickly and there were so many things she needed to consider. The church had sent her as payment for something. She was living with seven vampires. She was confused as to how she came to be in such a situation. She slowly looked around her again. She had to get dressed, she didn’t want to anger them. She noticed a dress laid on the divan at the foot of her bed. It was mid length, white, speckled with yellow flowers, and flowy. She picked it up, she was too overwhelmed to think about how it got there, and slipped into it quickly, before brushing her hair and slipping on a pair of white satin ballet flats.

She opened her door onto a long hall. She had no idea where she was or how she came to be there. She sighed and turned left moving down the dimly lit hallway. She continued to the end, where she found a staircase. She slowly descended, coming into the kitchen. It was empty, but she could hear voices from the door beyond. She moved toward the door, stopping just on the inside and listened. It sounded like several men arguing with one another, it was getting heated. Then there was a sudden burst of laughter.

“I think she’s finally arrived.” Damien said as Milo opened the kitchen door and looked up at her with his big violet eyes.

“You’re late Honey.” He told her, he carried a stuffed rabbit with him. “Lapin and I have been waiting for you forever! We’re quite tired of waiting.” He said, snatching her hand and dragging her into the room. All of them were seated around a long elegantly set table. There were several dishes laid out between them, and Rose could smell the food. Her mouth began to water as she realized she hadn’t eaten since the morning before, and her stomach twisted a bit, reminding her how empty it was.

Milo led her to a chair at the end of the table. “This is where you’ll sit. This is your place. And this is my place.” He said, taking up the seat beside hers. He pulled his legs into the chair and sat gym style, as he reached for the food on the table.

“You’re late, Honey.” Damien said to her as she sat staring at her empty plate.

“I am sorry. I got lost.” She told him.

“Your manners need some work.” Roman said as he shoved a bowl of eggs under her nose. She looked up at him.

“I will work on them.” She told him, taking the dish and serving eggs onto her plate. Milo handed her toast and then sausage. She took some of each and then bowed her head, offering a word of thanks. Everyone at the table quieted. When she looked up, fourteen eyes were on her.

Damien narrowed his eyes as if considering her, then began eating again without saying anything. The others followed suit, but Rose could feel she had made a misstep.

After breakfast Kade took Rose into the study again. “You left your coat here yesterday, Martin put it in your closet. Your tutor will be here tomorrow. You are still in school, your grades seem good enough, I think there needs to be more intelligent women in the world. So, you will continue to learn. Anything you wish to study, you shall have the best instruction. You are free to follow any leisurely pursuit you like, as long as it does not remove you from these grounds. You may read what you like, we have an extensive library. Do you play an instrument?” He asked her.

“What? No. My mother…” She paused for a moment, then continued. “My mother had me in piano lessons once, before she died, but I don’t think I had much talent for it.” She responded.

“You really must mind your manners better, we have a certain reputation, the Elios Family.” He told her. She turned weary eyes to him. He was caught off guard by the look.

“I don’t understand why I’m here.” She told him softly.

“Has it not been explained to you clearly enough?” He asked, coming to sit beside her. Her scent was floral and honey and intoxicating. He was having trouble focusing on anything but the sound of her blood rushing through her veins.

“No, I think I understand my purpose in being here, but why is it me, that is here?” She asked more clearly.

“You want to know why you, specifically, are here.” He said, she nodded. “Fate I suppose. You were easy to get, fit a few important criteria, and no one will miss you.” Kade explained matter-of-factly.

“Oh.”

“You’re not special. Not really, you could have been any girl in that orphanage.” Kade told her, reaching out to touch her hair as his words sank in.

She shied away from him slightly before stopping herself. “Please don’t touch me.” She said softly. His hand stopped short, then dropped.

“Because you said please.” Kade said, rising. “I’m glad it was you.” He said going to the desk. “I’ve a schedule here for your tutor, and the books you will require will be in the library. Try not to let Milo distract you too much.”

“Will he be tutored as well?” Rose asked.

“No, but you are his new favorite toy. He’s learned all I think he cares to for now. It’s been two hundred years after all.” Rose’s mouth dropped open then snapped immediately shut. Kade held back a smile. “He was born premature and never developed much past his current state, but don’t underestimate him, Honey, he’s sadistic, and twisted. His bunny Lapin, is the only animal he can be trusted around. Don’t test him.” He said, looking at her across his desk.

“I’ll remember.” She said standing and coming toward the desk to retrieve her schedule, when she noticed the clock on the mantel behind him. “Oh, it’s ten already.” She said, “why is it so dim? Is it raining?”

“No, it’s ten at night. You slept for a full day, you must have been in shock. Our household runs on an odd schedule. It is varied and irregular. You will eventually adjust, if you’re here long enough.” He told her. “Do you feel alright? I can call the doctor if you’re still feeling unwell.” He said with a lifted eyebrow.

She nodded, and took the sheet of paper he offered her. “I think I’ll be alright. Thank you.” She answered him with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Be careful of my brothers and I, your life here will most likely be quite short, enjoy your pursuits while you can.” He said, just as his cellphone rang. “You can see yourself out, wander the house and grounds if you like, anywhere you’re forbidden will be locked. Don’t leave the property.” He told her, then turned away to answer the call.

She left him there, in the study, and closed the door behind her. She stood in the wide hallway for several minutes trying to decide what to do. If she could find her way back to the kitchen she could find the room where she woke, but she also wanted to see more of the house. She decided on a whim to turn left and continued down the hall away from the ballroom. There were various rooms along the corridor, a parlor on her right, a music room on her left. She noticed the library as she moved deeper into the house, and at the end of the hall, the solarium. It was completely dark in the room, but she entered anyway, totally mesmerized by the sight of the full moon and the aray of stars she could see through the crystal clear domed glass ceiling. She came fully into the room, looking up, her mouth agape. She could see Venus burning white hot above her, and Mars lower on the horizon.

She walked slowly past a sofa as she went, in an awed daze by the stars. Before she realized it however, she was being pulled down to the sofa by a strong hand. “You’re blocking my view.” Bellamy said as he lay back on the sofa again.

“I’m sorry.” Rose whispered, so softly she almost didn’t hear herself.

“I know.” He said looking over at her, as she leaned back beside him, the sofa was wide and easily accommodated them both. The piece of furniture was antique, but well maintained, and comfortable. She blushed at his words, then moved to get up. He took hold of her. “Stay.” He commanded.

“I didn’t mean to disturb you.” She replied.

“Stay.” He said again, when she moved to get up a second time, he rolled to sit on top of her, pinning her down. “Don’t struggle.” He told her, then bent his head to her throat. “I’m going to hurt you, but don’t move, I could kill you.” With those words, he sheathed his teeth inside her flesh.

Rose cried out in pain as his teeth penetrated her skin, she suddenly felt very light headed. “Please, Bellamy.” She sobbed. He lifted his head, and looked down at her, licking blood from his lip.

“Honey, your blood is so sweet.” He told her, before dropping his head to her throat again, but he didn’t bite this time. He kissed her very softly, before taking either side of her dress and pulling it apart, sending buttons flying in every direction, then he bent his head back to her neck, sucking her throat, causing the blood to rise to the surface, marking her as she whimpered.

“Please, you’re hurting me.”

He smiled. “Am I?” He then tilted her head to the other side.

“Please, don’t.” She begged, fear in her voice.

“I have to hear it again.” He said just before biting into her shoulder. She cried out again, as he began to suck her blood into his mouth. She looked up at Venus burning above her, trying to focus on anything but how much he was hurting her. He bit her over and over, until finally he seemed sated. He rolled off of her and sat there for a long moment. She sat up slowly, before getting to unsteady feet, and fainting.

She woke up in the same room as before. She was startled to find someone in bed with her. “Don’t move.” The voice said. “If you move I might not be able to stop myself.”

“Why are you here?” She asked meekly, trying not to cry.

“Because you belong to me, and I can be anywhere I please, I choose to be here, now. You also happen to be here.” She rolled over to face him. He pinned her down again. “Why do you provoke me?” He asked his hands on her wrist, holding her down. She began to struggle.

“Stop! Get off of me!” She cried. Her eyes met his suddenly, and she stopped moving, swallowing hard.

“I told you not to move, and I’ve told you before not to struggle, if you continue to disobey, I’m going to think you are inviting more than my feeding from you.” Bellamy said in a deadly calm voice.

“I’m sorry.” She said softly. “I didn’t mean to…” Her voice trailed off as she turned her face away from him. He removed himself from her bed and took up the bench in front of her vanity.

“You should change and come down to dinner.” He told her, directing her attention to the dress laid out for her. It was a red and black party dress. “Kade likes you to look innocent.” He told her, in a voice that seemed angry, before standing and going to the door. “I prefer something a little more mature.” He tossed over his shoulder as he left.

She had to get a hold of herself. She didn’t know how she had ended up there, there was no apparent rhyme or reason, but she believed in fate and the will of God. She had to make the best of what she had been offered. She had no real control over her body anymore, but she could keep her thoughts safe, locked inside. She could steel herself for the pain they would cause her, she had before. She would just make her way back to her special place when it was too much, just as she always had in the past.

She picked up the dress and looked in the mirror across from her. She gasped when she saw the bite marks and the bruise at her throat. She touched it lightly, flinching at the soreness. The punctures had been cleaned it seemed, there was no dried blood on her skin, but her dress was ruined. It lay in a bloody pile beside a waste basket. She went to pick it up, and pressed it to her face, as she sank to the floor, crying.

She tried to control her breathing and rein in her tears. They would help nothing, they only made her feel worse. She gently folded the ruined dress, she would try to salvage it later. She needed to clean herself up and get dressed. She still wasn’t sure where the boundaries of her housemates’ anger lay, and she wanted to tread carefully for now.

She quickly dressed and made her way down to the dining room via the kitchen. She could hear them talking when she reached the door. They all looked up when she entered. She quickly took her place at the table and was served an elegant plate, by Martin. The plate had a large piece of rare red meat, surrounded by potatoes and dark greens. The sight of the blood seeping from the meat made her a little lightheaded.

“You have to eat your meat, or you can’t have dessert.” Milo said conspiratorially, as he leaned close to her.

“I’m glad you could join us, Honey.” Damien said, watching her. She looked up and swallowed.

“I’m sorry I was late.” She told them, before lifting her fork and cutting into the meat. Her stomach rolled as the blood ran out, and her head swam with images of Bellamy’s teeth sinking into her throat. She tried desperately to push the thoughts down as everyone around her ate.

“Is it too rare?” Bellamy asked, taking note of her distress. She was taken by surprise, as she lifted her eyes to meet his smirk. “It’s good for your blood. You’ll need the iron.” He explained, a note of condescension in his voice. She dropped her eyes quickly and cut the meat into small pieces, before taking her first bite.

It didn’t taste bad, but was far more rare than she would have preferred. Her stomach took over then, and her head drifted to other thoughts as she tried to concentrate on anything but the blood filling her plate. She ate quietly as those around her carried on normal conversations. Mostly about people or things she knew nothing about. She listened to them, filing away information as she ate.

The twins were talking about a video game they both liked to play, while Milo and Reese argued over the correct Batman timeline. The men around her could have been normal humans. They seemed to have mundane interests and enjoyed human pursuits.

“Which is your favorite?”

She looked up, not sure who had asked, or what they meant.

“Who is your favorite superhero?” Reese asked again, his look was expectant. Milo was also looking at her.

“Oh, I’m not sure. I’ve never given it much thought.” She said after a moment. “I think maybe Spider-Man.” She answered honestly.

“Spider-Man?” Milo cried, then scoffed. “Who likes Spider-Man? How lame you are, Honey.” She dropped her eyes to her plate, blushing fiercely.

“Milo, that’s enough.” Roman said. “Reese asked her a question, you mustn’t be rude when she answers.” Milo glared at Roman, then pouted, before picking up his knife and playing with the sharp edge, but saying nothing else. She caught Milo eyeing her with a look that made cold sweat trickle down her back. She had the real feeling that if they were alone, he might have used the knife he was playing with on her.

After dinner, she went back to her room. None of them tried to stop her.

When she reached her room however both of the twins were lounging carelessly on her bed. Roman was leaning against her headboard, while Ramsey lay with his head in Roman’s lap, reading her diary out loud to him.

Rose cried out in embarrassment, before jumping onto the bed and attempting to snatch the leather bound book from his hand. Ramsey was far too quick for her and pulled away, rolling her under him and handing the book to Roman. “You’re quick, little mouse.” He told her as he bent his head and licked her collarbone. “But not quick enough.” He gently kissed along her throat. “Brother, shall I share?” He asked, turning his eyes to Roman.

“It’s only polite, I’ll take the bottom.” Roman said moving swiftly, he took up her ankle in his firm grip, and bent her knee, pressing her legs apart. She began to shake in fear.

“Please, stop! I need to bathe!” She cried frantically, searching for any reason to stop them. They both paused looking at one another, then gave a laugh in unison.

“Do you find our company so distasteful?” Roman asked, lowering his head to her inner thigh and licking.

She moaned softly as a sudden spark ran through her. “No, please, I just…” she gasped as Ramsey lightly nibbled at her ear. Then suddenly they were standing beside the bed.

“Go.” Ramsey said.

“Bathe.” Roman said.

“We’ll be here waiting.” They both told her as one. She moved from the bed quickly, her skin flushed as she gathered her clothes.

She left the bedroom and moved down the hall, looking for the bathroom. It took her a few tries before she opened the door to a steam filled tiled room.

Someone else must have been here. She thought as she placed her things beside the sink. She then undressed and wrapped a towel around her midsection, before she moved further into the bathroom, stopping short at the heavy glass door. She realized her error a moment too late, when the door swung open and a very naked, very wet, very handsome Kade reached out and pulled her into the shower with him, through a puff of steam.

“I was just thinking of you.” He purred as she stood there, her skin tinting red with embarrassment. He didn’t touch her, only gave her an appreciative once over, then handed her a bar of soap. “Wash my back.” He told her. It wasn’t quite an order, nor was it a request. She swallowed hard. “You can lose the towel, I’ve seen it all before. This isn’t sexual.” He told her softly, in a manner that seemed to be coaxing. She shivered even as the heat from the steam around her brushed her skin.

She slowly let the towel go, unsure of any other choice she could make, she reached for the bar of soap he offered, her fingers brushing his hand. Her eyes met his and he gasped ever so softly, before pulling his hand away and turning his back. She pressed her eyes closed for a moment trying to regain her composure. He was so, so very naked. They both were, but he’d kept his eyes on her face after his initial once over. She believed him when he told her she wouldn’t be molested, but the situation in which she now found herself, pushed her boundaries.

He looked back at her. “Honey.” He whispered. She startled, then went immediately to washing his broad back.

“I’m sorry.” She said softly, her hands shaking as she ran soap over his smooth skin.

“There’s no need to be.” He said turning and taking the soap from her. He moved closer to her, and she stepped back. He followed, she looked up at him, when her back came up against a cold tile wall. He looked down at her, then lowered his head to her chest and licked, very slowly from the top of her breast to her throat.

“Kade.” She whimpered.

“I just wanted to taste your skin,” he said, turning her away from him, “before my soap touched it.” He told her, before slicking his soap over her back, arms, and shoulders.

She stood still as he lathered his soap across her skin. When he finished he pulled her back against him and into the scalding spray of the showerhead. It was so hot, but it felt so nice, she relaxed against him slightly. “Close your eyes.” He told her. She obeyed without question, afraid his mood might change suddenly. She was surprised to feel thick cool liquid in her hair, as his fingers worked against her scalp.

Very carefully he washed her hair, then tilted her head back to rinse. She opened her eyes looking up at him as the soap washed from her hair. When he finished he tilted her head upright, then pressing against her, he lowered his head to her shoulder, his mouth pressed to her skin.

“I like the way you smell, with my scent clinging to you.” He panted against her bare back. “I’m sorry, I can’t.” He said, taking a deep breath, then sinking his teeth into her shoulder with a groan.

“Oh God, Kade, please.” She cried out. He pulled her against him, his bare skin cool against hers. He held her with his arms crossed over her breast, her back pressed to his chest and his teeth buried in her shoulder.

He lifted his mouth from her shoulder. “Don’t say anything. Don’t move. I can’t…” he almost whimpered, before burying his teeth in her again, sucking hard, pulling her blood into his mouth. The taste was like fire and honey dancing over his tongue. She was the sweetest thing he’d ever tasted. Then just as suddenly as he’d bitten her, she found herself alone, on her knees in the shower. She flinched and whimpered when she touched his bite. She only felt two punctures, he hadn’t bitten her the way Bellamy had. His bite had been painful but not possessive.

After a few minutes of kneeling under the hot flow of scalding water, she climbed to her feet. He hadn’t taken near as much from her as Bellamy. She was a little lightheaded, but not faint. She cried as she washed the rest of her body. She had been so embarrassed, but he had seemed completely unaffected.

Of course he was. He’s hundreds of years old Honey Rose Hooper, he’s probably seen more naked women than you have brains in your head. She scolded herself as she rinsed the blood and soap from her body. At least the bleeding seemed to stop rapidly after a bite.

She finished her shower quickly and got dressed for bed. She was exhausted, she’d been bitten twice and accosted more times than that. She was beginning to feel a little out of control. She didn’t know when, but at some point on her walk from the bathroom to her own sleeping quarters, she began running.

She ran down the stairs and into the kitchen, bursting through the back door and onto the grounds. It was cold, but she was hot from her shower and the exertion of running. She had no idea where she was going, she let her feet guide her. By the time she stopped, panting and out of breath, she was in a wide field at the bottom of the hill. She could see a fast moving river stretched out before her and on the other side a cosp and thicket. She sighed heavily. She knew, in her heart there was no escape. She hadn’t expected to get away, but some part of her would have kept running until she was, had mother nature not seen otherwise fit.

Rose had not realized how early it had gotten. She noticed she was beginning to be able to see rather well, and took a step back when she saw the first morning rays creeping over the horizon. She sank to her knees slowly, out of breath, as the sun rose. It had been a strange and frightening day. She’d come to a house filled with vampires. All male, all terrifying in their own way. She felt no control in her life. Her body was not her own, her bed was not her own, her choices were not her own. The sun slowly crept above the trees before she was able to stand up and walk back toward the mansion. It was full daylight when Rose reached the kitchen door and she was frozen to her core. It had been a mistake to run off in nothing more than a nightgown and wet hair.

She expected to find it empty, however when she opened the door, she saw Damien, standing at the refrigerator, drinking juice from the carton. He wore little more than pajama pants. She blushed and looked away. “You’re embarrassed by this?” Damien laughed when he saw her. “From what I smell you’ve been showering with one of my brothers. I’m at least wearing pants.” He told her, admiring the scarlet hue of her skin. Her flush brought the blood to the top of her skin and made her scent stronger, but it was different, he could smell the strong scent of Kade’s soap on her. He grinned. “I can smell his soap on you clearly...Kade does favor cedar.” Damien told her as he replaced the juice in the fridge and turned around, moving toward the kitchen door. “Our secret.” He told her as he left.

She made her way back to her room, taking the servants’ stairs. She was suddenly so very, very tired. Her body ached almost as much as her head. Damien hadn’t questioned where she’d been, or what she’d been doing. He hadn’t touched her, or even come near her. He was different from his other brothers. He was frightening in that he was a monster, but she wasn’t really afraid of him. She considered that as she opened the door to her room, and found the twins asleep together on her bed.

“Oh no.” She whimpered very softly under her breath, as she stepped back.

“What took you so long?” Roman asked.

“Yes, where have you been?” Ramsey questioned.

“Why do you smell like Kade?” Roman asked as he moved off the bed to stand before her, taking her wrist in his hand and pulling her into the room. The door swung shut behind her and there was anger in Roman’s narrowed eyes.

“I don’t have an answer that will keep you from wanting to hurt me.” She told him. He dropped her wrist and stepped back. Ramsey began laughing as Roman looked down at her.

“I always want to hurt you.” He told her. “Your answer has nothing to do with that desire. Where were you and why do you smell like Kade?” He asked again as he took a seat on the divan.

Rose swallowed hard, then looking at the floor she explained what happened. “I went to bathe, the bathroom was foggy, so I thought someone had just been there recently, since the door was unlocked. I went to the shower and found Kade there.” She blushed deeply. Both men laughed. She looked up at them.

“Did he wash your back?” Ramsey asked with a giggle.

“Did she wash his?” Roman laughed back. They both stopped when they noticed how red her face was. Both of them were grasping her before she realized, wrapping her up between them.

“I see.” Said Roman. “You forgot about us, because our older brother was pleasing himself with you.”

“How unkind to neglect those you had an appointment with, for one that was happenstance. What a sin.” Ramsey said.

“I wasn’t with him long, he bit me, then was gone.” She told them. “After that, I…” She looked up at them both, fear crawling down her back as they pushed her toward the bed, then threw her down.

“You what?” Roman and Ramsey asked in unison as they came down on either side of her.

“I ran.” She whispered. They both stopped, looking at one another with a look she didn’t understand, then climbed off of the bed.

“Don’t ever do that again.” Ramsey said. “We can’t protect you out there.”

“I won’t let you go if you keep me waiting again.” Roman said. Then they were gone.

Rose was shaking and exhausted after they left. She climbed into bed, and lay down, trying to regain some sense of herself, but she was so tired she didn’t remember her head hitting her pillow.