Avatar Rose: Justice

Ch.16: Dates

Nathan's POV

As she sweeps her cloak over her shoulders like a magician about to perform a disappearing trick, her braid tails off behind her, strutting to her pace. I stare after her.

Just before the door shuts behind her, she turns back and gives me a frightening eyebrow lift.

I follow obediently after her, glancing back at the fuming Gwen. Rowan, who's helping Gwen up, looks at the two of them horrified.

We make eye contact. The door breaks us up, interrupting with a rough slam

I hurry after Rose. "Was that really necessary?" I ask carefully.

She laughs. "Ohh, yeah! Did you see Gwen? Boy she must be pissed as hell!"

"Feel a little bad for her."

"You do? For that bitch? Don't even, she's not worth it." Her eyes look ahead and Rose keeps on walking. A few minutes later she morphs into Gwen. "Rose, your a freak," she mimics, waving her hands around. "Just like your father!" She morphs back into herself and spits. "Who does she think she is?"

The hallway is and misty, either from the fire alarm that went off a little while ago or just the time of year. Our footsteps click against the ground, and though she's shorter, her footsteps are louder. This place is practically deserted.

I sigh. "Liesel's gonna freak," I mutter. "When she hears how you treated Gwen and all."

"It doesn't matter," her reply lightning fast, "After all, I'm way more powerful, so her opinion doesn't matter anymore."

"Oh?"

"Are you challenging me?"

"Just teasin'"

"Yeah, right." We walk for a little bit more. Rose lights some fire in her hand. It's getting darker.

I shake my head. "Do you have a remote idea of where we're going?"

Rose scoffs. "Who needs that? We're taking a walk."

"A walk?"

"I am your girlfriend, right?"

"Well yeah..."

Is this supposed to be romantic?

"Consider this a date," she says. A couple seconds later she turns and smiles at me. Unnaturally. Her eyes are a velvet purple.

Some stairs greet us along with, finally, some light. We walk up. Rose yawns. We're appear in what looks like an abandoned building. The windows are missing and floor and ceiling have holes in them, but the sun's setting brilliance is clear and warming.

Rose kicks the ground. "An abandoned building huh? So ugly. And depressing. Doesn't deserve a place in this..." she stops, hung up on the term."This... This military base. Ahh, thats it." She turns to me, her hands squeezed behind her back. "Whaddaya say, Nathan? Won't burning this thing down be a better date than just walking?"

"B-burn it down?"

"Yup!" she beams. She reaches out and takes my hand. "Come on!"

When we get outside, she takes a couple breathes, then brings her hands up to shoulder height and punches. Flames scorch the concrete, then catch fire.

Punch, punch, punch. Soon the whole building is a bonfire, causing Rose's purple eyes to sparkle with glee.

Inside, I'm screaming.

What does one do when faced with this situation? I can feel her bloodlust from here, and it's causing goosebumps. 

I turn off. 

Hours later, I find myself in a bed. Sunlight peaks in through the windows. There's a pretty note in a fancy envelope on my bedside table. I peel the seal away and slide the thin sheet of paper out.

Hi Nathan,

I really enjoyed our date last night. 

Love, Rose V