Free Blood Rose (Blood Books Book 1) by Danielle Rose Page B

walls.
    I turned around, finding Malik standing directly behind me, blocking my path to the door. The walls held an old mirror. I stared at the girl looking back at me. Her violet eyes looked bright and full of life. Yet, I felt empty inside—and alone in a house full of vampires. I cringed and held my arms tighter around my body.
    The floors were a dark wood while the walls were painted light beige. A Gothic chandelier hung above me, allowing dim lighting, but my eyes adjusted to the darkness. Many of the lingering vampires welcomed the Hunters home with various greetings: pats on the backs, hugs, kissing cheeks. I received nothing but stares and whispered gossip, as if my vampire ears couldn’t pick up the disgust in their tones. I wondered if they knew what I was: part witch, part vampire.
    The room directly to our right was a large conservatory. Large gray and black stained-glass bay windows allowed in moonlight, and I couldn’t help but wonder how the vampires survived the mornings in a room with floor-to-ceiling windows.
    The Hunters led me up the stairs, allowing me extra peeks into the conservatory’s adjoining room: a library closed off by glass French doors. I had been an English minor while in college, so I was easily able to imagine myself spending hours each day in there. I was sure it would be my only peace while in the house.
    When we reached the top, Jasik took several steps forward and opened the door directly in front of us, and the vampires piled in. Lillie pushed past me, slamming into my shoulder, and took a place beside the woman sitting behind a large, dark-wooded desk.
    The woman’s hands were folded atop the table before her. She stared at me, her eyes moving up and down my body. I dropped my arms, allowing them to dangle by my sides, and squeezed my hands. Between her dark, mocha-colored skin; long, black locks; and bright green eyes, she was absolutely beautiful. Breaking the gaze that felt a lot like a game of mercy, I glanced around the room.
    Behind the woman, a large window brought in lines of moonlight, and in the distance, I watched waves crash into the large rocks surrounding the back of the manor. I hadn’t realized we were so close to the ocean. I didn’t understand how I could possibly have missed the scent of salt water.
    Both walls to my right and left were covered with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Dust coated the shelves and tickled my nose. Each book fit tightly into its place, leaving no room for extras. I imagined one led to a secret room just like I’d seen on a television show as a child. I assessed each shelf, looking for a hint of cleanliness or fingerprints to betray their secret passageway.
    The woman cleared her throat and said, “Jasik, I hope to hear all went well with our problem.” She spoke loudly, affirmatively, eliminating any doubt that she wasn’t the head of this house.
    “Yes, Milady,” he said. “We were able to eliminate most of the Rogues. Very few survived.” He stood tall, one arm resting behind his back and the other at his side. I noticed that the other Hunters mimicked this same stance, and I wondered if I should match them. I released the grip in my hands and stood straighter. I began pulling my arm behind my back, but a glance from Malik stopped me dead in my track.
    “And who is this?” she asked, looking me over once again, stopping at my eyes. I couldn’t decide if that was because people typically look one another in the eyes or if it was because mine were so obviously different from those around me.
    “We encountered another problem. A coven of witches was attacked, and I was forced to change her.” Thu-thump. Thu-thump. Thu-thump-thump. Thu-thump-thump. I listened as Jasik’s heartbeat rose when he finished his sentence. He clenched his fist behind his back, and his heart rate slowed again. His hesitation was minimal and probably unnoticed by the beauty before us, but any hesitation led me to believe I might have to fight my way