Blood Rose (Vampire/Ballerina Book 1)

Chapter 22: Unite

KAYLA

My grandma is on her way here. Mom went to get her. I wish I could've gone but I'm on house arrest. I guess I should be on good behavior to end it faster. Mom talked it out with dad, and I apologized once again. I hope he releases me from this jail. Although he isn't budging on Darius. He really does think he's a bad influence. 

Of course, I shut my trap and didn't bicker...but that sunk my gut to the depths of my stomach. This can't be forever, can it? Is this a permanent arrangement? Will I ever see my boyfriend again?? I can't imagine this being forever. I don't even think I could love again. 

Kayla's mind blooms with the image of Kota. His alluring features, silky dark hair. His ivory irises. The softness of his eyes. He feels...familiar. Like a friend from the past. I sensed no danger...or evil. He must be the good type of vampire. One with a heart. His graceful eyes grabbed my attention...regardless of there being hundreds of others in the crowd. I could bond with him...as a friend. Or a possible lover. 

She shakes her head to clean it of the thought. No....what am I thinking??! I'm with Darius! Our separation is temporary. I can't give up on him. Kota will be a friend...and nothing more. Kay sits on a bench built into the windowpane, complete with pillows and blanket. 

The blanket is wrapped around her shoulders. She watches the morning sun reflect the shiny skyrises. The elevator dings open. Kay sprints from the bench to greet her granny. Her grandmother has her salt and pepper hair in a high bun. This highlights her cheekbones and blue gray eyes. Kayla wraps her arms around her gran, loving the perfume she wears. 

One that reminds her of a gingerbread house. Of the many childhood Christmases when they both created the dessert houses. Her mind time travels; vividly revisiting her and Gran squeezing the white cream along the edges and creating the buttons for the doors. This time her freaky time traveling skill isn't alarming...she's thankful for the crisp memory playing in her mind. 

"Hello, my firefly." The old woman's voice is full of spunk, her age doesn't define her liveliness.

Kayla adores hearing her nickname. "Hi, gran-gran."

"How are you holding up?"

Mary, who departs the elevator, double takes. "What do you mean by , how is she holding up??"

Kayla beats her Granny to the punch before she can expose the big secret. "She means about the grounding..." Granny gives a startled expression. A dazed response which translate to "you haven't told her!" 

"Oh." Mary shrugs. "I mean...you grounded me hundreds of times, this is her first."

"Yes... that comes with the parent role. Although you were unruly. Your mother rode motorcycles with boys. Got illegal tattoos...and totaled my car. Just to name a few." Gran puts her hand on her hips. "She has the nerve to ground you?? What did you do?" 

"I went to a Halloween party." 

"HA!" Gran laughs roughly. "I wished she only went to parties. That would have been less of a headache!"

"Mom...enough." Mary stops the mechanical doors from closing. "Kayla, help with the luggage."

"Don't get embarrassed now, Dear." Gran slaps her daughter's shoulder. 

Mary throws her mother a chiding look. "Uh oh..." Kayla cringe while rolling two suitcases from the lift. Mary carries a duffle bag and umbrella inside. 

"I'm not afraid of that stare....you learned it from me." James's dress shoes tap from down the hall. "Ah, son-in-law! It's been a spell, hasn't it?" 

"Yes...five years. We missed you." He goes in for a hug.