Blood Rose

The sand slipped through my fingers to describe a ring. I watched it flare to life, overcoming a startled gasp as the image of the hacker I had been observing for all my life was born inside the circle.

She doesn't know me, but I know almost everything about her, with past, present, and future combining to form a thread that I hold within my grasp. I wonder what she would think if I snap a little bit off and take her friend Robinson away or combine another piece, tying it together to form a friendship that once had been lost.

I don't know, but according to the visions, I would soon enough. My time had finally come and although I was afraid, part of me welcomed the chance to live among the humans and vampires again, the ones that were driven by their whims and fates that O Mother and O Father so rudely puts before them.

Gained the trust of the vampire Asher and embraced the concept of love without fear or remorse, because of the simple fact that she was determined.

Seeking the answer from the night sky, I don't flinch when the thunder rocks the clouds above me. Darkness was my time alone. Day, where things come and go, was my time to work and do the will of the three fates: maiden, mother, and crone, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos.

I've always found a certain comfort in the darkness. Sheltered all my life because of my gifts, my fathers made sure that when the night descends, it was my time to play, to hell with the source.

I smiled again at the thought of having two very different parents coming together because O Mother and O Father needed someone to guard me and lucky for me, two men were chosen.

One, the oldest, was an artist, using the many colors of beads to paint instead of brush and canvas. He was my strength, my model in which I based my soul to become. Two, a dark man of skill, and magic, wielding knowledge like a sword. He was my wisdom, the lessons to be learned and applied. Without them I would be nothing. I had much to be thankful for and knew never to take them for granted.

The sky gave me the solution I had wanted when I spot two very different stars twinkling, like two teenagers gossiping for hours.

"Carla, human servant to Asher and mother to Cyder, I give you the role and title of friend. So mote it be, so mote it be until the end." With those words said, my task was done.

I sighed, breaking the circle by stepping out. It fades, as does my eyes, returning to the plain brown that I had been born and cursed with all my life. I don't like the stuff you put in your eyes to change the color despite the feeling that it gives me of being a normal human person.

I settled for getting my ears pierced instead. My ears now look like a rack of all sorts of earrings. My fathers tease me constantly because of them, but they understood why I had to resort to such measures.

And tattoos? I'm like my grandmother's chickens; I'll rather have my head chopped off than stand still for the torture. So, ears it was, and I'm rather proud of them too.

My house was dark because of the energy crisis San Diego keeps dropping to jade around in our heads. Pardon my grudge, I don't trust government, city government being the same in my book.

We're poor, dirt poor at times, and I hate to see my family struggle just to put meat on the table. Paying outrageous prices for lights, stove and warm water just does not buy my loyalty, I'm sorry.

I may in fact be an oracle, but I'm a prophet that likes hot showers in the mornings. Now if only I can convince the fates of that, I'll be set for life.

There were pictures of wolves on the walls, CDs and computer claiming first honor in the middle of my room; I got a huge room. My closest was the smallest; I'm not a fashion expert by any means. Sweater, jeans and a comb through my short hair, and I'm ready to face the world.

I dream of a man dying and it comes true. I dream of someone getting a million bucks and the lucky bastard gets it without sharing the good wealth

But this time, I don't dream my usual stuff. I envisioned white rose petals falling from the sky and pale skin glistening from the moon above.

I see a man with long, curly dark hair, so dark that I could feel comfort while looking at it and he holds out a hand to me, daring me to grasp it. My dark angel, I think, ashamed that I'm that basic, but it's the only thought that comes, and I surrender, not by fate, not by will, but by my own desires to be loved and loved back.

Billy Sherman, being the Priscilla: Queen of the Desert worshiper that he was, smacked his gum in front of my face and waited for me to spill. I took my time, rearranging my pens, sharpening my pencils, the usual routine of stalling.

When finally his face looked like a volcano about to explode I handed him his file, disappointed that I had lost the twenty-second battle out of hundreds before and millions more yet to come. I don't like to lose.

I felt sorry for him. He was working three full-time jobs, struggling to support his mother and himself, plus earn an American Indian certificate on the side.

If it had two legs, a package in front, Bill was ready and willing. One of the reasons he chose me (the blush even thinking about it girl) to be his friend. I kept him grounded.

Visions could never, EVER take the place of reality and seeing him there, so close, I knew exactly why Carla had fallen so hard.

I stretched my neck further to catch a glimpse of blond hair and panicked. Fates preserve me it was Carla. Now I know there was trouble and they were both coming my way. I chewed my lip (old habit) and thought quickly on what to do.

Billy grabbed my arm, giving me little choice on the matter. I gave him the filthiest look possible, cursing the fact that I had friends trying every single day to hook me up with someone. Of course he had no idea that Asher was already taken but what the hell, he deserved the look.

Oh hell, just my luck, not only do I get the live version of my assignments; they both know who I am. "Yes, but I prefer Keya," I replied calmly enough despite my racing heart.

I had the weakest heart on the planet. It beats when I would rather it stop and stops when I would prefer it to continue. I had a feeling Asher would be able to hear it and said another curse for good measure, biting my lip.

Help? Help I could do and smiled even more sweetly. "No, Carla didn't cheat on you with Jason even though you still have doubts and yes, Cyder does have a crush on Nathaniel. Any more questions?"

My head was swimming with the harsh truth that they were real and not just visions. It wasn't good for an oracle to see her assignments; it got to be too personal for those involved, especially for me.

Thrown for a loop, I faltered, "That's good to know. So, ah, what brings you to San Diego?" I winced when I said it. Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer in reply.

I stared at it. People don't like to touch me. I'm a monster to them, a villain that can see within the robes of dreams and know their secrets.

Asher nodded. "Our orders are to bring you to him. He is staying at the Blood Rose, a local hotel that is quite good or so I am told."

It stared like a sightless giant over the many buildings neighboring it, but it shined. Shined as brightly as my eyes when I first saw it and bought it. Blood Rose, my one true pride and joy.

With its marble staircase, dark pillars supporting five levels, and wooden floors, I was at home, easily leading the company on each side of me to where Jean-Claude was staying the night or day in this case.

"Magnificent," Asher breathed in my ear. I jumped, blushed when I realized that he was only commenting on our surroundings and not meaning to startle me. On the other side of me Carla smirked. Apparently she was used to Asher and his sneaking up on people habits

"Yes," I said in response and steered myself to face this Master Vampire of St. Louis. He wasn't what I had expected. In fact, he was everything I had hoped for in a man summed up in two words: dark angel.

When I had entered, Jean-Claude was in a heated discussion with the Master Vampire of San Diego. His name was Perry, very much the control-junkie.

Perry was among them in my opinion and knew that I didn't like him. When he caught sight of me, he paused, so completely taken aback that I had to laugh. "Never a dull moment in our city, hey, Perry?"

Perry just glared, not bothering to answer. I tuned my attention to Jean-Claude and well, let me tell you, I died and went to heaven. Oh my, how to describe him?

Snow-white colored silk sheets with ripe cherries in bed with you. Dark chocolate smothered in caramel ice cream. Ah, now those were the images that came to mind when I looked at him.

He was beautiful, the perfect match to Clotho, the maiden. But that wasn't what made me gulp in total surprise. It was my gift. It failed me. I couldn't look at him and see what the fates had in store, although I tried so damn hard that I was sweating from the effort.

He was nothing, but air and my mind refused to form an opinion either which way. Left or right, I hadn't a clue what path he would take. It was an unnerving feeling and one that left me shaken to the very core. I swallowed, held out my hand to him and said quite simply, "No. Whatever you want, the answer is no."

Asher introduced me, taking Carla's hand to reassure himself that she was still there. I smiled. The two of them belonged together. I was thankful the fates allowed me to intervene and give them what they had always wanted, each other.

The way Jean-Claude said my name sent shivers running through me that I fought the urge to close my eyes and ride the waves. "Still no."

I sat beside Carla on one of the sofas I had acquired at a going-out-of-business sale. The hacker seemed uncomfortable, most likely sensing that something was up between Jean-Claude and myself.

"Perry, perhaps you should go," Asher ordered, followed by Jean-Claude's nod. Perry looked about ready to protest, but in walked two other people I could not feel.

The two were male and female, the female being Anita Blake, Jean-Claude's human servant (my face fell on that development) and the male, Richard Zeeman, Jean-Claude's wolf. Anita took the seat farthest from Carla, casting her questioningly looks when she thought I wasn't looking. The hacker ignored her. I liked Carla already.

All right, so I was jealous, you would be too if you found out that the man of your dreams had already chosen. My life was looking barren by the minute.

Perry left, not happy. I hoped Jean-Claude knew what he was doing, because I didn't want to see a war between San Diego and St. Louis.

"We would like you to screen some people for us," Jean-Claude went on, neglecting to heed my protests. "We were told you can prophesy futures, yes?"

I started to shake, knowing the person he was talking about, Carpenter, Carla's ex-lover, one time friend, and my biggest mistake in my career. I had thought in the past that he would be the perfect match for her. Boy, was I wrong.

Every ounce of my being wanted to say no, but the thought of walking away, never to behold those blue eyes again. I relented. "Yes."

Jean-Claude invited me to dinner the next night. Was I surprised? Indeed, I think I nearly cried because I had no will to decline the invitation. I was like a zombie that could only say yes, it was pitiful.

I don't like the feeling he invokes in me. It makes me powerless. But most of all, I was nervous. If my gift failed me again, how will I know what to say? What to do? If he likes me or not?

A knock disturbed my thoughts and I turned to look. There's strength in Carla that any fool could see, no matter how blind and I'm awed by the way she puts trust in me without really even knowing who I was.

A connection, she must be sensing a connection because I was the one that had been chosen by the fates to direct her life. Yes, that had to be it, although I doubted it.

Not possible, at least I don't think so. Too much has happened in her life to make her distrust other people, and I should know, I'm the mastermind behind it.

I told her yes that I would (I'm always saying yes these days) and got up, my muscles squeezing in pain from sitting at my desk for so long.

Why was I so willing to go, considering the fact that Carla was my assignment and it was against the rules to be around her?

I had seen her in visions since we were both toddlers and had directed her life as best that I could. I wanted to see the results of my handy work, call me vain or conceited and I would agree.

I had always known that Asher often stays up to play with his daughter Cyder, a half-vampire that can turn into a fox. We found the vampire doing just that, tossing his little girl up in the air and never failing to catch her.

Little, so tiny that even I don't feel short (I barely make it pass the 5 mark myself) and so kindhearted that my heart aches because she lives in a world of darkness and blood.

Dinnertime arrived and I was scared to the point of throwing up. Both Carla and Cyder helped me with my hair, what little you can do with it, and got me dressed for the big event.

I looked myself over in the mirror, not sure if I should wear makeup or not. You must understand, gentle reader, I've lived almost all my life with just my two fathers and a vision circle to keep me company.

My heart burst with the sight of Lachesis, the mother. She was within the mirror, watching her daughter peek at herself with doubt. Lachesis had always been the most parental (I wonder why) of the bunch, often displeasing O Mother and O Father, and giving me counsel when she should not.

"I don't know if I can do this," I whispered to her, not wanting Carla and Cyder, both in the other room, to know that I was talking to a mirror.

It's difficult having a mother that is actually three different persons sharing the same body, but after twenty years, I've managed to get used to it.

The crone, aged and wrinkled, grinned at me, toothless. "Don't listen to your mother Lachesis, child, this plan is not my doing."

"Aye," now it was the maiden, her long, reddish-brown hair tied back to expose sharp cheekbones and silvery eyes that were like mine when I'm in the vision circle. "Our daughter has asked for a companion for the one she loved."

"Me?" I whispered, knowing that it was me Camilla had selected. Why, Cam, why? She loved him, loved Jean-Claude so much that my heart cracked to a million pieces from the depth of it.

"She had not the strength to be what he needed. We had thought her mad at first. She did love him, O Mother and O Father told us this, but nothing could have prevented her from making the choice. She did a spell."

My head whipped up from that bit of knowledge. A spell against her sister, it was against the rules. Not to be decreed by O Mother and O Father, no matter the intentions

"You are thinking that you are in the clear. Not so, my daughter. O Mother and O Father do not completely rule us and we think this best."

Maiden changed back to the crone. "You forget, child, we feel what you feel. We felt the reaction. It was not forced by spell or magic, what you felt towards the vampire was within your own heart. We think this best and besides, you alone did a spell as well."

"Bring a friend to the one you watch. We listened and we obeyed. A friend this ghost-blood one will have. What better friend than the one that has written her fate from the start?"

-I take upon myself strength, strength of a hundred souls, bring here a soul for him, a soul that binds them together. She will be born of Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, maiden, mother, and crone and she will be the daughter of the fates in all names. Vision her gift and love, her power. So mote it be. So mote it be for all eternality.-

I'm immortal, can't die unless someone found the fates and killed them first, but hell, it was my life. I wanted to choose the person I'm bonded to for as long as I live.

I sighed. Closed the book with a loud bang, dust flying everywhere and staining my pure white dress brown. I closed my eyes in dismay. What to do now?

It was an apple-colored embroidered shirt with long sleeves that flowed to touch my fingertips. The bottom of the attire, short, too short in my opinion, was a cotton white skirt that stopped to my knees, forcing me to show off my white legs.

Music, my favorite, cellos with a touch of Suzanne Vega's voice, greeted my ears as I entered the restaurant area of Blood Rose. Jean-Claude was already seated, rising to his feet as I approached. A shy smile graced my lips.

He took my hand in mine, so fittingly, that I didn't pull back. There it stayed for the rest of the evening as he watched me eat, although I didn't need much. A glass of diet coke, a small salad with light dressing and coconut cream pie for dessert. He smiled when I had finished.

I swallowed a gulp of diet coke, my throat suddenly dry as a hint of chest suddenly could be seen as he shifted in his chair.

A silk bright red shirt that was so low cut, I tried to keep my eyes to his lips, big mistake on my part. "Have you ever tried picking a rose, but got seized by one of the thorns?"

His eyes drilled into mine. I was tempted to let myself fall, to see what the rush was all about, but I didn't. I couldn't. It was the spell that was forcing me to react this way; it just had to be. He leaned forward, so close his dark curly hair was brushing my cheeks.

I dreamed that this would happen, but when it did, I was not prepared. Jean-Claude took me to the rose garden just out front of the hotel, the salty ocean air washing over my face, calming my nerves.

Slowly he pulled me to the nearest bench, not saying much. He didn't need to. I could feel his puzzlement and my acceptance, although I never would admit it.

He had no clue why he felt so helpless towards me, no idea why when I put my hand over his, that he could feel the warmth, but had no need to steal it. A first for him, a first of many things that would soon come thanks to the spell Camilla had put over us.

He had no memory of Camilla, nor did the others for that matter and I wonder if Camilla had felt the same way being with him.

Felt the need to take his face and give him the love he longed for, but still could not find even bonded to Anita and Richard.

First him falling in love with Asher and willing to share with Asher's human servant, Julianna. Second, seeing Anita, knowing that with her by his side, he would gain power, third, discovering that Anita loved Richard and once again forced to share, and fourth, I saw myself through his eyes.

An oracle that had the power to ease his pain with just a shared look, a girl that would help him because he asked, a person that he wanted, but could not have.

It was the end of my resistance. I laughed as rose petals began to fall, the will of the fates, perhaps, and as the moonlight reflected off his pale skin, I felt the spell grow, expand, force us to admit what we could not fight.

Jean-Claude stood up, a catlike grace that left me breathless and asked, "Would you give me this night, chere amie, to remember always?"

I could give him no power. My offering would only be his to enjoy, no gain would he get, but my love. As I took his hand, and looked into his eyes, I realized that he did know.

"Yes," I answered, because there was nothing else to say. It was the greatest night of my life, and one that I would cherish for all my immortal years. It was something I had to thank Camilla for if I ever had the chance to see her again.

Carla sighed, closing her eyes as weariness took over. She stooped down in her chair, fighting to keep herself from screaming. "Not your fault."

But it is, I wanted to shout at her. I'm the one that had Carpenter sweep you off your feet without even checking to see if he was actually human or not. And when finally I realized my mistake, it was already done. You had been hurt.

I closed my eyes too, trying not to think of those dark times when Carla shocked me speechless by saying something I had thought impossible.

She nodded, her eyes still closed. "We weren't the best of friends, but she helped me through a lot in the past year that I owed her my silence. She told me about the spell and who you were, and why she was doing it."

Carla snorted. "What didn't happen? She loved Jean-Claude, although I don't know why, the vamp's a bastard, but her love wasn't enough. She began to grow depressed and despite Jean-Claude's best efforts, she pushed him away. When everything was said and done, her heart was broken."

"He had no choice. It had something to do with him being a sex-feeder or something. It was the only way he could gain the power he needed to save everyone, including Asher and me. Camilla understood that, but she was forced to watch them do it. She was never the same after that."

Carla opened her eyes and shook her head, "Asher does, so does Anita. She felt bad for what had happened. Even helped Camilla do the spell."

"I know, I was shocked too, but Anita did. And now you're here, and Jean-Claude looks like a fish out of water, not knowing what to make of you."

"Yes," Carla's face clouded over, and she hurried and went on, as if afraid I would interrupt her. "Camilla also told me that I'm your assignment and that you didn't mean to bring me Carpenter. I can't say I forgive you for it, but I hope we could be friends despite that."

I said nothing, knowing that she wasn't ready for me to say what I had to say. One day, maybe sooner than later, I would tell her why I had done it and why I had given her Asher and Cyder, but not today.

Carla stormed into my office with that statement, her eyes twinkling with merriment. My face grew as hot as a stoplight. No brighter, the color of a rotten tomato on a sidewalk. I ducked behind a book, hoping she wouldn't see me blush.

"You didn't!" she seemed disgusted by the idea and I regretted every darn thing I had put in her head about Jean-Claude. How on Earth was I supposed to know that I would fall in love with the guy because of some stupid spell my sister cooked up?

At the time, he seemed like the good one to hate, girls falling over him whatever he went, and trust me, I wasn't happy now that I was among those fluttery chicks.

I sighed, cursing my pale complexion. When being cornered, act like a fool, lesson fifteen, chapter three in the great book of knowledge.

Oh, yeah, the book existed all right, but no one seems to follow it, least of all me. But today, I was going to make an exception. Mother crone would have been proud, I think.

"Yuck!" Carla made a face, grabbing one of the bottled waters from the refrigerator I kept stocked for emergency purposes. I tossed her a Hershey's Symphony bar and we were set for some serious girl talk or at least that's what I assumed she wanted.

Not that I minded having Carla as my responsibility, but heck, how to be her friend when you know almost everything about her?

If the fates hadn't twisted my words royally, she would be talking to some other person that most likely would have helped her better. Fates preserve me, indeed.

I laughed out loud when Carla looked like she was about to puke. Not good on the imagery, I guess. Well, served her right. She got to spend a night with Asher of unbelievable pitch when she had reached the fourth mark. It was my turn now

"If you say so," Carla replied, then hesitated. "Be careful. I don't want you to end up like Camilla, because no matter how good Jean-Claude is in bed, he'll do the same thing he did with Anita if need called upon it."

I closed my eyes, knowing that that was the truth and hating that fact that Carla could be as forward of a person as I could be.

"No, I don't. I've seen JC actually talk with Asher, asking Asher how he should behave with you since JC thinks we're so much alike. Of course, I had to put my two cents in just for good measure, but you should have seen the look on JC's face, kid. He's in love. Vulnerable and not afraid to show it. True, it's the spell that's making him behave this way, but it's about time someone knocked him off his horse and brought him back to reality. He isn't as powerful as he thinks he is, not with you messing up his plans."

Carla grinned. "We were supposed to get you to look at the guys, see if Carpenter was among them and leave. Not stay THREE nights. Jean-Claude's pushing this Perry too hard, I think. But I'm glad. I thought Perry was a slime-bucket when I first met him and when Perry called you a bitch the other night during a meeting, Jean-Claude took him by the throat and threatened to take over San Diego and give Asher the seat of power as Master."

"Even Asher looked upset. It took me some serious sweet-talking to calm him down. Asher likes you, you brought me to him and in his mind, he owes you one," Carla leaned forward in her chair, her eyes swimming with an emotion I could not identify, "Jean-Claude would never had challenged Perry before, not even for Anita. But he did it for you. Only for you."

I swallowed. Not sure what to make of that. I quickly changed the subject. "So, are you going to ask me why I gave you Asher?"

"Do you remember when Carpenter had killed Stacy and she came to you, warning you that Carpenter wasn't the man you thought he was," with Carla's nod, I continued. "I was watching you at that moment in the vision circle. You looked at yourself in the mirror and asked what sort of game the fates were playing. It was my fault. I wanted you to be loved. I didn't think Carpenter was a ghost, although I should of known."

I paused, my voice breaking. It was hard to admit that her greatest pain in life was my biggest mistake. So hard that I didn't dare look at her, and found my eyes wandering to Witchcraft Central. I got up, grabbed it from the top shelve of the bookcase and handed it to her. "Turn to page 67 and read what it says."

Carla leafed through the pages, her own hands shaking. "If I command the moon, it will come down and if I wish to withhold the day, night will linger over my head, and again, if I wish to embark on the sea, I need no ship. And if I wish to fly through the air, I am freed from my weight."

"It's what I can do. I am a witch born of the three fates, I am Saga, fortune-teller, and you are Sortilega, a diviner, a sorceress of ghost-blood. I was chosen to be your guide in life, to help make sure you grow into the full extent of your powers. In time you would have been able to see me, to consult with me for my advice. But I'm only to guide, not control. I did something I shouldn't have with Carpenter. I made you fall in love with Carpenter by using a similar spell Camilla used against me, and when I realized that Carpenter wasn't what I had thought he was, it was already too late. What had been done was done."

I expected her to be angry, to throw stuff at me, or grab the small sword behind her back and slice me up. Instead she gave me a somber nod, as if confirming something she had suspected. "Well, Keya, looks like the fates are giving you a taste of your own medicine "

"You aren't kidding. I did another spell," Carla gave me a dirty look and I quickly added, "No, it wasn't a spell to control, only to enhance something you wanted and asked for. You wanted a friend, but the fates, my nice, but demanding mothers ruined it and well, here I am, talking to my assignment, something no other Saga has done before, becoming the friend you wanted."

I grinned. "Because I thought he was cute. Besides, I didn't **give** you Asher, you just took my little suggestions and made true of it."

I ran before Carla could splash me with her water and laughed when she had one of her ghosts, Taylor, to stop me in my tracks by blocking my path.

Yes, I can touch ghosts, because normal rules of the living usually do not apply to me. Robinson must have been telling Carla my secrets, I thought, damn that devious ghost of hers.

Drenched, but happy, I followed Carla out the door, having been told by Taylor (Asher's favorite ghost to `borrow' apparently) that Jean-Claude had called a meeting and I was to tag along. Lucky me, I guess.

Jean-Claude, tired, and irritable, paced the room; his eyes immediately seeking my own as I sat down beside Asher. Carla had gone to check on Cyder, but both Anita and Richard were present, making my chances look grim on stealing a couple moments alone with Jean-Claude.

"The Master Vampire of San Diego has requested that we leave at once," Jean-Claude told me why he had called the meeting.

"I don't see what the problem is. None of the men we brought are Carpenter, " Anita answered. "We should go. Call it quits."

Perry raged in at that moment, his hand whipping out to slap Jean-Claude in the face. It was a movement so fast I really never saw it coming, nor did Asher, who suddenly took my elbow in an iron grip.

Total silence greeted the room. Even Carla, coming in at the last minute, felt the shock and went to stand where Asher was sitting, putting her hand on his shoulder.

I would have killed Perry at that moment. Power started gathering, entwining like a snake around Jean-Claude's people. I felt it, saw it, even went to join it, but was creamed back by Jean-Claude, his need to protect me outweighing everything else.

I sat back, hurt, but recognized why he did it. I still had to live in San Diego. By getting involved, my family would be at risk. I would be at risk.

"I will forget what you just did, Perry. We are leaving San Diego. Now I suggest you leave before war really does come between us."

Perry left, still unhappy. I looked over at Jean-Claude, seeing the same sadness echoing in his eyes. He was about to leave and I was not about to follow him, spell, or no spell.

When she got back to St. Louis she would find folded in her bag her very own copy of Witchcraft Central, something the hacker and human servant would need soon enough.

I even marked two pages she would find interesting. First, a spell for those of ghost-blood to be able to touch their spirits and second, a summoning spell if ever she needed my help. It was my hope that one day she would use it.