Elysian House: Silver Bullet (2)

Chapter 9: Blood Trading

It was a spring day in Italy as Snow was in the middle of a meeting with several other higher ups, talking about new regulations and new laws to make. I was seated in my room, the room Snow had given to me to sleep in. It's been a few months since Snow had taken me home, after the death of my parents. After I was chased out of town by an angry mob.

A few weeks ago, Snow had come back home with another Vampire child. She told me that her name was Elpis Zoe and she would teach Elpis Zoe her ways so she could take over the kingdom when she was older. And I was going to be her protector. Her Knight. Tomorrow, I would begin my training, learn how to fight and to defend.

There was a knock at the door and I looked up from my book that Snow had me studying. A book about how to be a Vampire.

"Come in," I called, curiously, thinking maybe it was Elpis Zoe herself coming to speak with me for the first time.

The door slid open slowly and I caught sight of white hair. At first, I thought it was Snow, but as she walked in, I saw it was Winter. Snow's sister. She had come to visit for a couple of weeks. I don't know why, Snow wouldn't tell me.

Winter was much less kind to me than Snow was. Granted, Snow was harsh on me, but that's only because she wanted me to be the best I could be. Winter was harsh on me for no reason. She was always rude, always cutting me off, always calling me names. I don't know what I had done to her, but I certainly didn't like her.

"I see you're studying," was what she said when she noticed the large book splayed out across the surface of my desk. I looked down at it and nodded once, without saying a word. "I need to speak with you."

"Can't you see I'm a bit busy?" I said, turning back to the pages and returning to the reading. Just as I was getting engrossed into the studying again, Winter came to my side and shut the book in my face. I leaned back and looked up at her, glaring. "What's your problem?"

"You need to leave," she said, crossing both arms across her chest. "Now. Today. You have to go."

"Excuse me?" I snapped back at her, annoyed that she would even try to suggest I should leave.

"You heard me," she said, staring down coldly at me. "You have to leave this place. Take the other girl too. You don't belong here."

"You aren't the judge of where I do and don't belong," I stood up. I may be younger, and less experienced, but I did know that since I had drank human blood a few months ago, I was stronger than Winter. I could tell by her eyes that she didn't drink it. "I don't care what you say, Winter, I'm staying."

She glared at me and took me by surprise. Quick as lightning, she had me pinned up against the wall, both her hands on my biceps and holding me down. "You have no idea what you're getting yourself into, Rowan. What, you wanna stay because you think Snow cares about you? Here's some news for you, she doesn't. She's only interested in making that little girl down the hall queen so she can manipulate her into passing her own laws."

"Get your hands off me!" I cried out. She slapped a hand over my mouth, leaned forward and hissed into my face.

"You don't get to talk, you idiotic girl. I'm doing this for your own good. You have to leave. Or else I will make you."

"That is enough, Winter," said Snow from the door of my bedroom. Winter released me and stepped away immediately, turning back to her sister. I leaned against the wall, huffing and puffing. "Why in the world are you assaulting my student?" She walked to my side calmly and collectively, placing a hand on my shoulder and staring her sister down with bright, keen, confident eyes.