When Red Roses Die

Chapter 29

Scarlett

The bite on my neck turned into a colorful bruise that really highlighted the puncture wounds and my ribs had distinct arm and hand marks.

I groaned internally while I threw on a really big sweatshirt and hoped for the best.

Hopefully Kjell doesn't get close to my neck. Hopefully I'm able to keep the distance from Oakley. Hopefully I can get through this day...

A lot of hope.

After doing a couple of spins around in the mirror, I deemed my marks pretty hidden. For extra measures though, I let my hair down so I could hide my neck from normal view.

Eventually, I found the courage to leave my room and brave the rest of the testosterone-filled house.

Clad in a large navy sweatshirt and my black mesh leggings from earlier, I neatly made my bed then dragged my feet downstairs.

The house was quiet as I finally descended the stairs. Erik sat, reading, in the living room and Bash was cleaning up the kitchen. Aspen was laying on part of the couch, legs crossed, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose, and his foot danced anxiously.

Bash smiled at me, seeming to be in better shape than before he had crawled into my bed.

Erik acknowledged me with a polite tip of his chin.

And Aspen ignored me.

"When's Lincoln going to be back?" I asked as I hopped onto a kitchen counter. I did my best not to grimace as my injuries flared with the movement.

Bash playfully glared at me because I was messing up his clean space but he still answered. "He called this morning and said he should be back by tonight."

I opened my mouth to ask about the whereabouts of the other, but he was ahead of me.

"Kjell went shopping and Oakley went to 'clear his mind'," He finger quoted. "Whatever that fucking means." Bash rolled his teal and navy eyes.

He finished cleaning the kitchen and walked over to me. Placing both hands on either side of me, he leaned in and gently kissed my cheek.

"Good afternoon Scarlett." Bash's bright smile was back.

"Good afternoon Sebastian." I breathed in his woodsy smell. "I fear you've spent too much time around Kjell and Aspen."

Bash quirked a blonde eyebrow. "Oh?"

"I don't think I've ever heard you use 'fucking' so casual before."

Bash chuckled. "Aye. I'm afraid they may be a bit of a bad influence." I grinned at his expense.

Aspen scoffed from the living room. His eyes covered by his elbow, but unfortunately his mouth was not. "Oh fuck off Demi. I bet you curse in your thoughts all the time."

Bash looked over my shoulder and into the living room. "Too bad you'll never know Vampire. You are too weak to ever get past my mental barriers." A challenge was evident in his voice.

Aspen heard it too as he immediately unfoiled from the couch and stalked into the kitchen. "Wanna bet?"

"You bet your fuc-" Bash cut himself off. "Very much so." He changed his wording with a slight glance in my direction.

"A stack says I break your barriers in an hour," Aspen said as they faced off

"Two stacks says you give up in the first thirty minutes." Bash crossed his arms as Aspen debated.