Crimson {COMPLETED}

CHAPTER X

CHRISTOS' POV

OCTOBER 10
5:27 p.m

ALICE AND I walk to dinner together. She insists that I don't need to hold her hand to lead her there. That she knows where it is.

I'm not sure if I'm more excited that she's becoming familiar with things or upset that I won't be able to hold her hand.

I haven't told her about Emily being here. I don't want her to worry about it.

She talks more than she did at breakfast. She makes mother and father laugh despite how serious they are. And Adalia manages a smile or two even though I can tell it bothers her that Alice is so, well, wonderful. A perfect bride.

Even Adalia knows how perfect the two of us would be together.

If only Alice could see that.

She's still being stubborn. If only I could give her some absolute reasoning. She's a smart girl, she relies on reasoning.

I look through her thoughts for values, things that attract her, things she finds appealing.

She values family above almost all else. Not surprising. Emily and her no doubt share that.

She trusts the opinions and wants of her parents. She always tries to please them, even as an adult.

A people's-pleaser in general. Easily swayed because she herself is always unsure of her decisions.

After dinner, we walk around for a while and talk. Just talk. She tells me how she's starting to feel homesick.

A deep sigh escapes me and I feel tired. Why is this so much more difficult than I imagined? And why haven't I just moved on? She's clearly not interested.

Perhaps...no, that can't be it. If we were mates, she'd be drawn to me as well.

Well, I presume she could be drawn to me, just not romantically.

"Alice," I break a string of silence, "is it just me or do you feel, I don't know, this warm, cozy feeling when we're together."

She gives me a quizzical look but shrugs anyways. "I mean, I guess I do. It's not really anything I've taken notice of."

I have to know. But the only way to know would be by tasting her blood. A mates blood is supposed to taste better than any blood.

But how am I supposed to know without feeding off her?

As crazed as it sounds, I'll have to wait for a chance. I'll have to be quick the second she gets a cut on her hand or something of that sort.

We end up in our separate rooms and I toss and turn in bed. I've always slept alone but tonight this bed feels especially empty and cold.
___________

OCTOBER 11
1:22 p.m

Alice and I wander around the garden and she gapes at just about everything. Especially the roses.

Her fingers skim the rose petals, an afternoon breeze going by.

"Careful, don't prick yourself on a thorn." I sit down on the edge of the fountain.

Just as the realization hits me, she carefully picks a rose from the bush.

If she just pricks her finger on a thorn, I can find out.

As if fate has the same idea I do, Alice pricks her finger and the rose falls from her hand.

I'm over to her so fast that I manage to catch the rose and get the blood from her finger before she can even blink.

She looks at me, almost concerned.

"Sorry, instinct." I lie with a wide smile.

It sure tasted different.

I consider double checking but I don't want to weird her out more than I already have.

And besides, I think all signs point to a yes.

I hand the rose back to her, barely able to contain my excitement.

She takes the rose and holds it from the top, almost like it's a wine glass.

She starts to turn away but I grab her hand and gracefully spin her around, kissing her before she can process it.

She pulls away, the kiss having lasted a few seconds longer than I thought it would.

"Jesus, how much blood do you drink a day?" She bites her tongue.

"Sorry." I smile. I'm more happy she didn't say anything about it.

"What'd you go and do a thing like that for?"

I spoke too soon.

"Alice I-"

There's a long pause. Why am I bothering with trying to sway her? I've had some of her blood, I could hypnotize her if I really wanted to.

But I feel like I want her to have feelings for me.

"It was my less-than-subtle way of trying to ask you to be my lover."

"Like, your girlfriend?" She chuckles.

"Yeah."

"I don't even know you. We've covered this."

"Yeah well, people in your realm date strangers from the internet."

She laughs. "Touché."

"So?"

"I don't think Emily would be very happy about that." She says quietly.

"What about what would make you happy, huh?What about what you want?"

She bites her lip.

"I want some time."

I sigh. "Whatever you want, love."

"Love?" She raises an eyebrow.

I smile and take her hand, kissing her knuckles.