Rose Blossom - By Renee Travis Page 0,43

Avalon winked.

"Antoinette will warm up eventually." I just had to find something to change her mind about wanting to get to know me.

I pulled out two silver hair combs with magnolias on them and Avalon squealed, "Loretta will love those!" Grabbing them she began to examine the silver.

"Here's Antoinette's." I was worried most about this gift, having only met the woman three or four times. But no one had ever complained; I always was a good gift giver.

Avalon set down the hair combs and took the little box from me. It was a small bronze music box; she opened it and smiled at the pretty tune it played and the very French looking couple dancing in it.

"Oh yes Rho, she'll like it very much. I can tell you've put a lot of thought into everything." Avalon handed it back, "Now what did you get Julian?"

"I really think he'll hate it," I could feel myself pale. I'd bought Julian's gift on impulse and was now starting to regret it. I took it out and displayed it for her, it was a shinning silver men's ring with a vine pattern and on the inside were the engraved words: for my dark prince, love your rose.

"You silly mortal! Of course he'll love it!" Avalon laughed. We started to wrap, with Avalon's vampire speed we were finished in no time. The only thing that slowed us down was us talking, about school and the people we knew. Finally the presents were just a pile of decorative boxes in red, green, silver and gold.

I looked up at the clock and saw it was almost nine, "Wow, Julian will be here soon."

"Then I'd better get going so you guys can have your bedtime alone time." She gave me a knowing glance, but there was softness in her expression.

The thought of Julian coming and holding me until I slept and the occasional make out sessions we'd been having of late made my heart speed up a little.

"Whoa girl!" Avalon leaned forward and brushed a kiss on my cheek.

The coolness of her breath and the scent of copper and honey suckles calmed me down, almost as well as Julian's. Even so I knew I was paler most days and my skin felt thin, my breathing was even harder to control, especially for a sitting down situation.

I decided to go with Avalon downstairs and escort her out as I would any of my living friends, she tried to assure me it wasn't necessary but I didn't mind, it was a nice familiar routine.

At the door my mom was taking off her coat, she pulled out the mail from her pocket and handed me a small bundle. There were a couple of early Christmas cards and some credit card applications since my 18 birthday was coming up. But the envelope that stood out had Athol's hand writing on it, my weekly letter from him.

Since Avalon was preoccupied with getting her things and talking to my mom I opened the letter.

I felt my heart stutter as I read his words: Christmas break started on Tuesday, I'm coming for you. The note slipped from my fingers and it was like slow motion.

Athol's vacation had started already? That meant he was less supervised than normal. He could have been outside waiting for me, or watching me whenever I left the house. Fear crept into my mind like poison. He was coming for me? What did that mean, and what would he do once he got me?

I watched Avalon with her supernatural speed pick the note up, read it and then run out the door. It seemed to all happen before I could even blink.

"My that girl sure can run, what was she so upset about?" I heard my mother ask.

Blood was beginning to rush in my ears and my breath was coming in gasps. My sight was darkening around the edges and I just stood there, shock filling my system.

"Rhodanthe?" I felt Mom's hands on my shoulders shaking me and then her voice pushed past the rushing in my ears as she screamed my dad's name.

I tried not to panic as the pain began to fill my chest and my vision faded even more. It seemed to take forever, but later my mom would tell me it all happened in seconds.

I could hear sirens in the distance and smell pipe tobacco as dad lifted me in his arms and took me outside to meet them.

Don't you die on me, I'm almost to you.