Page 23 of Blood and Roses

"Can I ask what you are doing all the way back here?" he asked softly.

"Hiding. Thought that was obvious." Rosa pulled her hair out of its tie and ran her hands through it irritably. "What are you doing back here?"

"Hiding as well, for the most part," he admitted as his eyes followed her movements. "I heard Lily and Pearl sniggering, and I saw you looked upset."

"Why do you care if I'm upset?" Rosa asked defensively. "I'm a servant and a pretty rubbish one at that. I have messed up more times today than I can remember."

She didn't know why she was even admitting that or why she sounded so defensive. Balthasar was the only one who had been polite to her, after all. She thought of their late-night sandwiches and swore softly.

"I'm... I'm sorry. Really. I have had the worst day and got next to no sleep. I tend to turn into a bit of a bitch when I don't get my eight hours. Eli's book gave me crazy nightmares, and being back in this place is bringing up a lot of things I'd rather not remember." She glanced once more at the picture. "He looks a lot like you, you know?"

"I have been told."

"You are surrounded by all of these family portraits all the time. Do you ever wonder what they were like? What kind of lives they had?"

Balthasar looked up at the portrait, his eyes going sad for a moment. "There is a lot of history in this house. Sometimes, I feel trapped by the ghosts in it."

"I know the feeling," Rosa muttered. "The Wylts have always served the Vanes. It is our honor, and it is our duty."

"That sounds very final, and as I said the other night, rather untrue. Where did you hear it anyway?" Balthasar asked curiously.

"It was something that was drummed into me when I was a kid. It doesn't matter now," she said as she got back to her feet. "You really should get back to the party. You're the one hosting it after all."

"Lily and Eli will do the job admirably. Pearl has already disappeared to make sure things are run with precision. I'm hoping Saul can stop himself from getting into trouble, even if it's only for one night," Balthasar said as they walked back into the hallway. "Are you sure you are going to be all right?"

"Better than all right. I get to go home and go to bed, but you have to go and be charming to people you don't seem to like." She grinned, trying to lighten the mood. "I'm sure you can manage it."

"I'll try. You have a pleasant evening, Miss Wylt."

Rosa ducked back into the passageway, shutting the door behind her. She never thought she would find herself liking a Vane, but maybe she and Balthasar could end up being friends one day. She hurried back down the stairs and was about to open the door to the kitchen when she heard Pearl and Cecily's voices.

"This is an important night, slave. I don't want to see any sight of that daughter of yours upstairs again. Do you hear me?" Pearl demanded.

Rosa watched her standing over Cecily through the crack in the door. One long white finger was pointing in her face as her other hand gripped her mother's shoulder. Rosa's hands tightened into angry fists.

"Yes, Lady Pearl, I promise," Cecily answered in a distant voice that held none of its usual fire.

"Good. That girl is causing enough problems as it is, let alone embarrassing us in front of our friends."

"Yes, Lady Pearl, I understand. Is there any other way I can serve you?"

"Well, now that you mention it, don't scream."

Rosa watched in horror as Pearl's beautiful face twisted, her mouth opening. Sharp white teeth lengthened before sinking into the folds of Cecily's soft neck. Rosa put her hand over her mouth to stop herself from screaming, tears running down her face. When Pearl was done, Cecily brought out a handkerchief and dabbed at Pearl's plump lips.

"Thank you, Cecily," she said, her eyes turning from a dark red to their natural pale gray. "Now, you are going to forget I was here and that you ever saw me. You are not to tell Eli even if he asks you. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, Lady Pearl, I promise."

"Good," Pearl said, releasing the grip on her shoulder. "Now carry that tray of refreshments upstairs. They were running out." Rosa watched them leave before she scrambled out of the passage, through the kitchen, and out the back door.

The freezing air battered her as she ran across the lawn, her mind crashing around her. Dogs were barking in the distance, and she ran faster. She slammed and bolted the gate behind her before she tripped on the wet flagstones.

"Oh, God. Oh, God," Rosa muttered as she climbed back to her feet, pulled the house key from under the mat and tried to keep her fingers from shaking as she pushed the key into the lock. Something rustled in the garden, and she looked around, ready to fight off monsters. There wasn't anything there, but the dark garden sparked a memory.

A few days beforehand, Balthasar had put his hand on her shoulder when he warned her about the dogs in the samemanner that Pearl had done with her mother. Rosa pulled out her necklace, gripping it tightly.The way he had looked at it...

"Damn it! Come on," Rosa hurried again with the key, getting it right this time, and she pushed her way inside. She slid the dead bolts shut and braced herself against the wall to stop herself from falling over. She was pale and shaking in the reflection of the hall mirror. The homeless woman's words came flooding back to her. It is not called Blood Lake for nothing.