Red Dice

Chapter 7

please excuse my horrendous formatting cuz my word docs r always different than they are on here and it messes it all up. I hope y'all enjoy the continued adventure though (:

Chapter 7

Driving back to Collins’s house, I know that I’m going need to stop by my own place to resupply. What I’ve created at Collins’s as a means of protection is embarrassing compared to the kind of protection we need. I give myself another silent reminder to feed before my return lest I full on attack Collins out of thirst. That would certainly be a poor display of your self-control! I scoff. Pulling out my cell, I phone Collins and let him know that I am going to be gone for a little longer than planned. I explain why, warn him against going outside, and hang up.

During the drive home, I think about how much has changed in a matter of days. It is still unreal to me that Allegra is still alive after all these years. It makes me think about how many of our kind are still out there that I don’t know about. Has Allegra turned anyone else all this time she’s been alone? Doubtful. She’s more content with just making life Hell for me, but why now?

I admit there was a small part of me who still believed she could forgive, but after centuries of hatred Allegra had developed for her, it was unlikely. Allegra had spent years alone and her heart had only grown more black, her hatred that much more intense. I would give anything for this never ending feud to be over. If only Allegra had given me the chance to explain! But that had never been her strong suite; she always lost control.

My thoughts are disrupted when I pull in to my driveway shortly thereafter. I scan the area for any unwelcome visitors. I don’t notice anything out of place except… some of the hedges look a little long and the flowers need pruning. My garden looks like it’s dying. That might not seem like much to you, but it has occurred to me that yesterday morning, my groundskeeper should have come by to take care of the landscaping. Joey hasn’t ever been late.

Slightly more on edge, I leave the vehicle and stalk toward the house. Calmly rushing inside, I search all the rooms in my house: nothing. Still, I can’t help being on edge. Something still isn’t right and the longer I search, the more uneasy I get. Glancing in the garage, I find nothing untouched, but as I spin on my heels to move to the next room, I catch the unmistakable scent of blood. I stop short and enter, my eyes flickering wildly back and forth to different areas of the room. It is becoming more and more apparent that something is not right. 

I catch the scent of blood again and my eyes flash gold and my fangs extend, reminding me of my thirst. Slowly prowling through the garage, I pass by the gardening tools and catch yet another dreadful scent. Allegra. She must have come by yesterday morning looking for me and ran in to Joey instead. She’s obviously killed him, I observe in dismay though I remain resolute in my search for his body.

Sifting through the tools, I realize the sheers are missing, and by following the scent of blood, I am led to the back door that leads back outside. A few solemn drops of blood are sprinkled across the floor. I’m surprised it took me so long to notice them. In dismay, I realize that Allegra has probably done more than drink from him. If all she had done was used him to feed, the kill wouldn’t have been nearly so sloppy. She wanted me to find him dead.

There are more blood drops outside, and my pulse quickens as I dread the moment I find the unavoidable. The trail ends under a giant red rose bush, and I hold my breath, forcing myself to peel back the tangle of thick thorns. I am surprised to find the sheers, yet no body. I pick them up to examine them to see where I should go next and sigh as I notice a thick red ribbon tied around it. On the end of it is a note written in her distinguishable handwriting.

Expecting a body? I knew you’d miss the rope I left taught in the garage.

This is all just a big game to her! I cringe in disgust. I fight the urge to run back into the garage that instant to find the rope she’s mentioning, and force myself to read the rest of the note.