KC Lumi Rose

Part 20

"Lumi, my love. I finally found you." Cye came rushing into the Mercy Brown room.

I stood staring at the picture but began to walk on as soon as Cye startled me. I stopped in front of the Mercy Brown Statue. I put one arm on it and looked at Cye. More visions of the dead girl laying limp and lifeless dripping of blood on the statue filled my head. I could almost feel her when I put my arm on the statue, her fear. That's when it caught my eye, the red circle. She was running from something. I pulled myself back to Cye.

"I have been walking around just looking at all the art. Missing you." I grabbed him bringing him close to me.

"I missed you too Lumi. I'm sorry my work has been keeping me from you. I would spend every waking hour with you if I could." Cye said as his thumbs caressed my cheeks.

I loved his touch, but I needed to stay focused tonight. I reached for his hand to kiss it and I smelled something I have never smelled on him before. Dirt. I stopped before kissing him. He looked at me strangely.

"You smell different today."

"I do? I shouldn't, I was doing what I always do." He laughed.

"You know, I never did ask you what you do exactly. What keeps you out at all hours of the night Cye?"

"I guess it's true I have not told you, have I? I run a large international shipping company. It's been rather busy lately. However, I have also been meeting with people about our party. I do not want you to fuss with it. The council can be, messy. I want it to be perfect for and for them."

"About that. Maybe we can forget the party?"

Cye laughed, "Not a chance. I want the world to see my beautiful bride to be. The most feared and powerful woman in the world. I love you." He grabbed me kissing my forehead.

"I love you too Cye." I looked up at him holding his gaze for a minute.

"Something bothers you, what is it?"

"Nothing, I, I think I just have the jitters. You know, meeting all those vampires at once is a little unnerving." I wasn't nervous at all. I was planning on finding out who had my people. Someone at that party will know exactly what happened to them.

"Miss Lumi." Clara said from behind us. My back got prickly at the sound of Clara's voice.

"Miss Lumi your door is locked I can't get in to pick up and do my nightly rounds"

I stepped out from behind Cye still holding his hand. I surveyed Clara very closely. There was something off about her. Her black hair, pale skin her entire façade. It was fake it was all and act. I couldn't place it though. It was right there. Right there on the tip of my scales. I felt the rage from within.

"I won't be needing it this night or any other night Clara." I glared at her my eyes on fire.

I felt Cye's eyes on me as he tried to pull his hand from mine. I didn't realize the burning was starting in my fingertips. I gripped his hand tighter as I spoke to Clara never looking away from her. Clara watched with her eyes wide and as Cye was pulling harder. He was calling my name, but I was oblivious to his calls. I was glaring at Clara and what looked like a smirk on her face. I was in a death trance.

"LUMI STOP!" Cye yelled.

Finally yanking his hand from my grip and withdrawing me from my trance. Clara stood very still not making a move.

"Clara, leave us do not tend to Lumi anymore."

I couldn't stop watching her as she left us. I knew something was wrong, but I couldn't place it. It was killing me inside. My inner senses were kicked into overdrive when I saw her. If I could only take my ring off to see more clearly. Cye put his hands on his hips and blew out a long deep breath. He walked slowly around the room looking up at the ceiling pacing. I watched him closely. It's all I could do. I was too angry to speak.

"Lumi you MUST get a grip on your powers. You could have killed me."

"Cye"

"I'm serious Lumi the party is tomorrow, and I can't have you blazing everyone from existence. Especially Magla. She is the only one who can help you. More than me. Please my love, I need you. How can I make you understand this anymore? Magla has agreed to help us. This is important."

I listened to his plea taking in every word. I knew having Magla on our side would be of great benefit to us. We needed her. I decided to keep how I felt about Clara to myself. I would find out what was happening. I stayed quiet as we walked back to my room. Cye rubbed my back as if he felt bad for yelling at me. I didn't care, it didn't bother me but I had to act hurt so he would stay in his room this evening. Once we were in front of my door, I turned to him.

"Cye, I think I need to be alone this evening."

"Lumi please don't do this. I was angry. I'm sorry, I need you. I didn't mean to yell, I have been under a great deal of stress lately."

"I just need to sleep it off this evening, please Cye." I looked up into his glazing eyes and saw how hurt he was.

"Ok, I understand." He pushed off the door and walked away from me. My heart sank. I never thought I would feel so empty seeing Cye Bian walking away from me. I almost ran after him in a moment of weakness, but I couldn't. I had to work on my dress with Raven and get a plan together for tomorrow.

I locked the door behind me still regretting my decision of turning Cye away. I stood there for a minute thinking in the darkness. Finally, I flipped on the lights and before me hung the most luminous dress I had ever seen in my life.

The dress was a beaded red ombre bleeding rose. The top of the dress was the bud of the rose, and it was crimson red. Each petal flowered up around my chest and back making it a perfectly bloomed rose. It cascaded into an ombre of blood drops down to the floor to a white train behind me. I couldn't wait to try it on and thank Raven. As I stood admiring the dress Raven walked out of the closet holding something in his hands.

"Oh, you're back! What do you think?"

All I could do was run over to him and hug him.

"It's amazing Raven."

Tears started to flow from my eyes, I was so moved by his work.

"I take it you like it then?" He laughed a little.

"I love it."

"I made this to go with it."

In his had he had beaded a choker of the same beads as the dress. The choker had little dangles of red, black and white. It was elegant. It was perfect. It was all perfect. I was overly emotional about it. I cried even harder seeing the necklace he made for me.

"Why do you cry Lumi? We will find our people. I believe in you."

"I know Raven, I know. I just feel so emotional, I miss them."

"We must sleep now Lumi, tomorrow is a long day."

"Goodnight Raven, thank you again."

I had slipped off my ring before bed and placed it in its hiding place. I had to listen to the house. I could hear Raven lightly snoring and the maids talking and laughing in the kitchen. I couldn't place Cye. That worried me. What I could hear worried me even more. A fast heartbeat coming from within my room. Then a swishing sound. My eyes widened when I realized the heartbeat was coming from within me. I sat straight up in bed and held my stomach. I needed to calm my breathing. I was pregnant.