Avatar Rose: Dusk

Chapter 27: Rose

I wanted to fight my way out, but with a blood bender out there, I guess that isn't an option. Gwen places a hand on my back and leads me to a room. I feel like an escorted prisoner.

My eyes wander, trying to find another way to escape. I know we're in a hotel, so why hasn't anyone noticed all the ruckus? Something weird is going on.

Gwen gently pushes me on to the bed. My fiery eyes burn into her angrily. I don't struggle. I'll just have to wait.

"Don't worry. You'll see that this was for the best soon," she says, but doesn't seem entirely sure herself.

All of this was infuriating. I can take care of myself. I don't know why they're being like this. Hell, I don't really even know them!

Gwen left me alone in the room. I glance around the small place. The window seems to just be for show, because it's impossible to open. I'll probably break the glass at some point, but my eyes are caught by a vent on the top of the ceiling. A way to escape silently. I'll be long gone by the time they come back in.

Problem is, I'm short. There isn't any chairs in the room either. Just a bed. I try to balance on an air ball with my feet, and slip my legs into the vent. My chest tightens.

I have claustrophobia. Good to know.

But I suck it up and swing my legs in. The door knob creaks below. I try to flip on to my stomach and crawl the opposite way my legs came in, but Nathan trudges in just before that. Startled, I hang upside down from the wall, my legs still hooked inside the vent. I offer an innocent smile.

He studies me for a moment, eyes wide. But then he smiles. "You're starting to act like the real Rose, and maybe a little different from that too."

I want to be angry at him so badly. He just abducted me, but I still feel warmness in my chest every time I look at him. I don't want to be mad at him.

"You're blushing," he remarks dryly.

"What? Am not!" I snap back, exiting my escape attempt and on to the solid floor.

"Your face looks pretty red to me."

It only makes the color deepen, making him laugh. He wraps his arms around my small waist and pulls me into a bear hug. I don't resist. I bury my face into his jacket as I hug back, wanting to stay there forever.

"I guess I do remember you. In a weird way," I murmur. I only have fuzzy memories of him, but nothing could block that it was clear we're much more than friends. He plants a small kiss on my temple, sending shivers down my spine. The good kind.

"Nathan, who am I? I hate remembering all these people, but not knowing who I am," I ask quietly. We sit on the floor across from each other.

He blurts out into a bunch of random things, which didn't really help me all discover what I asked. "Your favorite color is green. You only take honey in your tea. You have even more nightmares if you sleep with the windows open, and you hate it when someone calls you by your full name."

Well, I know the last part is true. The sisters that I stayed with for a few months called me Rosemonde a lot, and even though I didn't say anything, I hated it.

A smile spreads on to my face when he finishes. I study his face. Just as the picture seared into my head, his eyes shone the same kind of warm kindness, yet so much pain was inside them too. I wonder if mine have the same glimmer.

"I don't want to stay here. Nathan, let me go. I can take care of myself. I'm happy with those sisters too," I plead. It doesn't have much dignity in it, but honestly, I feel strangely too comfortable with him to hide in the mask of dignified resistance.

"Can't do that. You can't live a normal life, Rose. You don't understand now, but I promise you will," he retorts.

I grit my teeth. "Even if I did know, I still wanted to be on my own, right? I ran away for a reason, and don't think I'm still not trying to find out!"

It's clear that he doesn't feel good. He just gets up and begins to leave the room. My eyes widen in protest.

"Thank you for your brilliant portrayal of a self centered asshole in the movie of my life," I mumble angrily, plopping back on to the bed in defeat.