TO LIE WITH MIDNIGHT ROSES

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RENESSA

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The sound of my name echoing throughout the trees like a haunting song had set unease within me. I wanted to brush it off but the feeling in my body was thick and heavy like lead just the same as the first time I heard it. Instead, this time I was sure, it was louder.

My heart races, thoughts running through my mind so quickly they were just wistful blurs and noises. I feel light, my head empty and yet heavy at the same time. 

My hands loosen around Xavier and for a moment I wasn't sure if I was going to let go. His body against mind had invoked so much emotion I wasn't sure what to do; those feelings I'd figure out later because now Roman stood before me, his wrist to my mouth as I drank his blood and Xavier was nowhere to be seen.

From the corner of my eye, I could see two unfamiliar figures standing, watching me as I sat, drinking from Roman's wrist as I feel my neck and head begin to heal. 

Slowly, he pulls away and asks me if I'm okay to which I respond with a quick nod and a yes before turning my head to see the two women. Their figures became clearer as my vision focused, seeing now both of them were breathtakingly beautiful and yet completely polar opposites. 

One stood tall and thin, her rich tawny skin was sun-kissed and glowy, unlike the Vampires I had grown so used to. Her cheekbones sat high, perfect arched brows contrasted her eyes that looked to be a deep hazel and her hair was short. Dark, loose curls sit just above her shoulders where she wears a red leather jacket, her shirt tucked into jeans. Looking down I notice her black pointed ankle boots that must've added a few extra inches to her already tall figure.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer honey," The woman's silky voice pulls my attention away from her shoes and back up to her face where a sly smirk rests against her lips.

"Knock it off, Jade," The blonde woman beside her nudges her arm, "I want her to like us."

Assuming the other lady was Jade that only meant the short, curvier figure beside her was Finley. Her hair was a light shade of blonde, not yet platinum but close, almost the colour of a sunray peaking through the curtains on a warm summer morning. 

Her eyes look to be a warm shade of brown, the same shade as the freckles that scattered her nose and cheeks along her porcelain-like skin. She wore a long sage dress that stopped just above her ankles, one slit up her thigh where I could see a small glimpse of what looked like a dagger in a silvery holster. I notice her thick-soled, laced boots are the same colour as her leather jacket, dark brown, as she steps towards me.

"Renessa! We've heard so much about you, I'm Finley," She says, flashing a pearly smile before side-eyeing the woman beside her, "And this lovely lady is Jade."

Roman clears his throat, adjusting the collar on his shirt as he nods his head.

 "Yes, this is why I left, Renessa. The second I saw you I knew, in a way what you were... are. Then when I saw your memories everything became very clear."

"That I was a Fairy?" My gaze meets his now, "How did Xavier not know... or Ryker or Jax—,"

Finley's light and airy voice cut me off, "You must be glamoured."

"Glamoured?" I had no idea what she meant as my head spun, fixing my gaze back on her as I hop off the desk I had been sitting on. She tucks a piece of hair behind her ear and I notice that they're slightly pointed at the tips.

"Well," She begins pacing back and forth now, playing with the zipper of her jacket, "You see, Fairies haven't been part of the human world for years, not since... well, for over a century now and the only way you must've survived this long here is because you were glamoured."

"Her mother was," Roman adds, "Somehow she was here, for nearly ten years before she passed." 

His words create a tug within my stomach and I blink, the memories still came every night, fresh and all so very real. His words were a reminder that this had all happened.

"But... in her memories, the man called her a half-blood, is that even possible?"

His question caused my brows to furrow and as Finley paces once more across the room I can see frustration boil within Jade, she reaches out, grabbing Finley by her shoulders and stopping her.

"Would you stop pacing!" Jade looks almost concerned despite her annoyance, Finley just stares at her before Jade adds a rather monotonous, "Please."

"Sorry," Finley squeaks as Jade drops her hands from her shoulders, "It's been a long couple of days, I am just tired."

"May I ask what took so long to get back?"

Roman answers, "I had to go find Jade first, you see, Vampires are not welcome through Zona's portal. I needed a Witch to let me through in order to find Finley."

"Zona?' I ask, my mind reeling with so many questions I needed and wanted answers too, but just as Finley had said, I was rather tired myself. 

The events of tonight were all too much and all my brain wants to do is shut off and sleep, curl up in silky green sheets by the fire and listen to the rain as I fall asleep to the scent of warm Mahogany.

"Zona Padure... My home," Finley answers, "Jade created us the portal after the battle, disconnecting our world from yours almost completely. Sometimes, wandering humans find their way through every now and again, odd creatures you are."

I stifle a tired laugh at her words, her voice sweet and soft as Jade just nods silently with her arms crossed over her chest, "It would be your home too, ya' know and to answer your question Roman, the girl seems young, yes?'

We both nod and she continues.

"No. She would have to have been born in Zona if you are telling me she had not left until she was maybe three years of age, then no but I'd have to see for myself. Stranger things have happened, like the falling."

Jade looks to the blonde beside her with inquisitive brows and then Finley whispers the last two words over again. The falling. 

"Your mother must have left after the falling of Zona, Renessa. It's the only logical reason she might have left, knowing what had happened to our kind and what could happen even then." Roman adds.

Beneath heavy eyelids, my eyes strained to stay open but Roman's blood had helped relieve my headache and wounds, it was ineffective in keeping me awake. 

"Do you remember?" Finley asks. 

Roman's eyes shoot over towards me as well as Jades, as if searching for answers.

"As if she would know, Finn," Jade saunters over towards me, heeled boots clicking against the floorboards and her presence was similar to Rayyas in the way that she carried herself, "The girl is tired and looks practically dishevelled, shouldn't we let her sleep?"

"I suppose she is too tired for me to dig any further into her memories, I'd have to go pretty far back to find anything from then," Roman adds, "All in do time, I suppose. However, the sooner the better. Get some rest now, dear."

Hazel eyes meet mine as I look at Jade, her features soften and her arched brows lower as she looks at me or within me, I'm not really sure but she steps away. Backing up into Finley, she stops, taking a quick step to the side.

"We will talk more in the morning," Jade forces a smile that doesn't reach her eyes as if knowing something we all didn't.

"It was lovely meeting you, Renessa." Finn smiles and Roman gently places a hand on my arm, walking me toward the door.

"Try to remember tonight," He says, "We will have much to talk about in the morning."