4 Chapter 3

Chapter 3:  

(Rosabella P.O.V)

A bright ray of sun hit my eyes making me shift to my side. I must have drifted asleep. I sprung awake; where am I? Am I still...I fell asleep on Lord Gabriel's bed. I caress the cold silk sheets and wiggle my toes against the silk sheets underneath my feet. This is the softest bed I have ever been on, I stretch my body while I yawn. 

Then all my memories from last night come down on me like cold water. To my surprise, besides me laid Lord Gabriel; he's incredibly handsome... He seemed so at peace. I brushed his long hair out of his face and gaped at his neck tattoo. I lean in closing the gap between us to get a better view. Right below his jaw a few centimeters to his left is where the tattoo began; a frail hand holding a rose wherein it's depicted that its thorn pricking the skin. I found it interesting how as a drop of blood falls, close to his collarbone there's a... Wait a second.  I trace my hand over the scar... He's been branded? It was a 'T' hugged up by what seems to be a vine of thorns. I wonder... How does branding work on a vampire? Let alone a pureblood. 

"Can I help you?" Gabriel's raspy voice broke the silence, causing me to yelp. 

I took a good look at him as he laid there watching me with vultures eyes. I noted he's half-naked, he only wore black silk PJ pants... Wait, I'm naked. I stared down at myself, quickly I covered myself up with the blanket and raked my hair out of my face. 

He chuckles. "Interesting, you've been gawking at me ever since you awoke...yet you shy away once I offer to assist you in whatever seems you have lost on me." 

"I was just looking at your tattoo," I spoke.

"I know." He says. 

"May I ask... About your tattoo. Branding on your neck, of all places?" I ask, closely watching him. He frowns as he places his chin on his hand to look at me. 

"It was courtesy of my late father..." He seems to be remembering exactly the time this gift was bestowed to him for he seems to be lost in thought.  

"That's a bit of an illogical gift... if you don't mind me saying, Lord Gabriel." I say remembering my place. 

"It isn't it?" He chuckles again. "By the way, you needn't call me Lord all the time." 

"Everyone else does..." I mummer.

"True... But still, I wish for you to only call me Lord when in other people's presence."

"As you wish." I glance over to him. "When did your dad-" 

"I was ten when my father branded me with the Tellurian crest." He said tastelessly.

"What..." I'm lost for words, to be honest... He was ten years old when his dad branded him?! What sick man brands a child? 

"You don't need to look so saddened Rosa." He says sitting up. " 'Tiswas long ago..." He shrugs it away.

"Is that why you got a tattoo?" I ask.

He briefly touches his neck before giving me a hopeless smile. "Funny story, kind of cheesy I suppose." His whole character changed. "After my father bestowed the illogical gift as you say, my mother had asked me to help her in her rose garden." 

"How lovely..." I imagined a small Gabriel gardening with the woman I saw in the family portrait downstairs. 

"As my mother picked a rose it pricked her finger at the same time, and as her blood dripped, the flowers beneath her bloomed but as it all gleamed with life seconds later they shriveled and died." 

I stare in shock. "Died?" 

"I was then reminded that, no matter how valuable we seem to be, all we bring is death." His voice deepened as he spoke. "Even if our blood is the holy grail to mundane or other beings."

I understand his tattoo now; the hand is his mom, and the branding is his father... All meaning to him one thing... Death.

"You must be feeling weak after last night." He says changing the subject.

 He stands up and walks towards his closet, picks out a long white shirt and places it at the end of his bed. I feel myself blush as I recall our last night 'encounter' shall I put it? 

"Don't blush too hard my dear," He appeared smirking inches away from my face. I pulled myself back enough I clashed with the headboard, I can't back up anymore and he still got closer to me. 

"Scared?" He toys.

"No-I'm not used to anyone being this close..." 

"Except for Dale?" He raises his brown still in my face.

 What? 

He giggles and pulls away from me. "You spoke his name in your sleep, who is he?" 

"Someone I had known," I say trying to disguise my voice. 

"Your lover?" 

"No!" I blush. "He wasn't my lover..." 

"Ah... so you just so happened to say his name?" 

"He was my brother." I lied.

His eyes dagger me. "Cayden did some research on your family, Rosa... Your mother did not bear any males." 

How... how was I supposed to know? He has me cornered-literally. 

"I told you a fact about me... I see it only fit for you to share with the class my dear," He chuckles.

The door swung open sending both Gabriel and me to a halt.

"There you are, Rose!" 

I sigh relieved... I'm Saved! Cayden sighs with relief as he comes into the room keeping his full attention on me. 

"This is the last place I'd think you'd be hiding away... actually I take it back, it's quite smart on your part Rose!" He smiles wide once he realized our surroundings. "Ayee, had fun last night I see," He gestures between Lord Gabriel and me. 

I blush. "No, he asked me to rest... I just so happen to fall asleep." I stood up still holding the blanket.

"Asked?" Gabriel repeats while stretching then he lays facing us resting his cheek on his hand, "I did it out of courtesy, can't have you stumble and hurt yourself, my dear."  

"I'm with him," Cayden points to Gabriel. "I know he wouldn't ask yo- My dear?"

"Thank you for having my back brother." Lord Gabriel appeared beside him and pats him lightly on the shoulder. "Too kind?" 

"Completely out of character brother." Hayden gawks at me.

I peeked away from Cayden and watched Gabriel who had his back to me. Lord the muscles on this mans' back... I felt uneasy as I analyzed multiple scars on his mid-back and upper back: they to me appear to be whip scars… was he whipped? Was it his father too?

"Antonia was waiting for you in your room, she had to step out so I was told to take you to have breakfast, train, and then whatever Gabriel has in store for you for the rest of your day," Hayden informed as his eyes hop from me to Gabriel.

"Train?" I ask.

"Yes, marked ones are hunted down in the first realm, from those who don't get one."  Gabriel puts on a plain v-neck black shirt and pulls his long hair up into a messy bun.

"Which makes you a bigger target since you are my marked one," Gabriel adds before grabbing the shirt he had placed at the end of the bed and handing it to me. 

I walked to his bathroom, closed the door, put on the shirt, made sure nothing was showing before I stepped out. Quickly I looked at my neck where he had taken a bite and to my surprise, there was nothing there. I shrug the thought off and walked out, once I come out of the bathroom, both Gabriel and Cayden come to an uncomfortable silence as if they weren't even talking before I came out. 

"Rosa, once you eat and train I will see you in the rose garden," Gabriel ordered, and just like that he was out of the room leaving both Cayden and me all alone.

Cayden wore a plain dark blue t-shirt and black jeans with matching black boots. Although Gabriel has long hair, Cayden has short but well maintained black hair. Cayden also has a well-maintained beard but not too long.

"I will walk you to the kitchen." Cayden gestures for me to follow.

I look down at myself. "Umm..." 

Cayden grins. "Fine...Go change. Do you wish for me to wait for you down the hall...or… do you need assistance?" Cayden grins.

I blush at the tone in which he spoke. "I'm capable of doing it myself without an audience." 

"What a shame, I would have loved to have seen you bare." 

He takes me to my room but stood outside allowing me my privacy in order to get dressed. After getting dressed as quickly as I could I speed walk to Cayden who smiles wide once he sees me.

"How lovely... Leggings and a white t-shirt." He says a bit discontent. 

"I feel gravely judged." I chuckle nervously.

"You are training after breakfast, I guess it'll do." 

"I didn't know vampires slept or could stand in the sunlight," I said to him. 

"The sunlight thing is a myth Rose... the sleeping, well, we do and we don't...you see, we vampires have no need for sleep. It's more like resting our heads for a second or two.  But seeing how Gabriel suffered a lot of blood loss last night, closing his eyes for even five minutes it'll help further the healing process, even after feeding." He looks back at me. "And seeing how you still have some color in your cheeks, I'd say he hardly even drank from you...He must have gone to a Sacca di Sangue after you fell asleep."

What?

"No...Wait, his wounds healed, fully right after drinking from me,"  I said, causing him to come to a sudden halt. 

"Impossible, his bullet wounds probably, but not the ones caused by the crescent...that was an alpha's mark, no mere mundane's blood is potent enough to heal those. If he was to heal those wounds he would have had to leave you from the brink of death and drink five more mundanes to death. I might also add an alpha claw mark is the mark of the crazed. I'm surprised he's up and running as if nothing happened." 

"I swear Lord Cayden-" 

"Just Cayden will suffice." 

"All he did was drink a bit from me and then I fell asleep." 

"That's another thing, he has never shared his bed with a marked one, or human for the matter," Cayden says quite puzzled.

"For now, you must eat." He hands me a bowl of oatmeal once we enter the kitchen, "Come now, sit." He pats on a stool and places a glass filled with OJ. 

Back in the mundane society, everything is moderated, even our food. Seeing how Cayden plainly placed food before I made me feel uneasy. Dale-

"Lost in thought?" Cayden asks.

I nod. 

"Think of your life back at the Mundane Society?" 

"Yes." 

"Over the years I have heard many stories of how truly inhuman they keep all of you. And they dare say we are the monsters." Cayden sighs dramatically. "I bet our poor Rose was even forced to volunteer for the reaping by her own kin." He says as if he was dialoguing for a soap opera. 

I let go of the spoon as he has me all figured out. How many Marked ones have the same story as me? I lost my appetite. 

"I'm right... aren't I?" He interrogates as his demeanor changes to a more serious tone.

"You are." I sadly say. 

"Hey Rose... I'd like for you to think of this whole situation you are in... being marked one and given to us Tellurians' as a blessing. Rather than the damming of your soul..." 

"Oh my god, you need to stop watching all those melodramas shows you have been watching! you're starting to talk like one of them!" Othilia walks in the kitchen holding a glass filled with blood I presume. 

Cayden over dramatically putting his hand over his chest and the other over his forehead.  "Your words are but daggers to my heart my sweet sister." 

"Whatever, dagger yourself to the office Gabriel wishes to speak with you." 

"You're always barking orders Othili-" 

"Go." 

"See what I mean?" 

I stare at them trying to piece together what I am seeing. They are vampires, we are taught they do not speak or think like us humans but here I am, witnessing a normal quarrel between a brother and sister.

"Rose, I will conduct your training today," Othilia says cheerfully ignoring Cayden in the back bickering. 

I found myself smiling. "Alright." 

"Why are you still here?!" She turns to Cayden.

"Cuz your bratty ass keeps on ignoring me!" 

"Go before he comes looking for you." 

"Let him come, he's not-" 

"I am not what brother?" His voice made my heart fasten. "I came to see what was holding you up." Gabriel stood arms crossed leaning against the kitchen doorway with a slight grin as he looked at his brother. 

"A-are not gonna-" Cayden laughs nervously as he scratches the back of his head. "Yeah, you're not gonna waste any time looking for me if it's truly important for me to-to see you." Cayden smiles happily with himself. 

"You're hopeless," Othilia says under her breath. 

"Ah, see that's exactly what I thought you'd say, brother."  He stood there grinning even when his eyes locked onto me. 

"Eating well?" he asks. 

"I am, thank you Lord-" 

"Inside the manor, you may just call me Gabriel, outside you, may call me lord." He nods for my understanding. I guess he truly meant what he had said back in the room. 

I nod back. 

"Great." He smiles widely and claps his hands "Cayden I must speak with you. Othilia training with Rosa! And Rose Garden afterward Rosa." 

We all nod in agreement.  

***

( Gabriel P.O.V) 

"I want his fucking HEAD!" I growl while pacing in my office. My body trembled in rage as I completely contemplated how I am to achieve this 'new goal' of mine

. 

"Gabe we do not know if it was truly him," Olympus says. "It could have been any alpha." 

My blood boiled. 

"How many Alpha's from the first realm has two different eye colors? Olympus. It was Kamado! I saw his fucking eyes." I appeared before Olympus who simply bowed his head to me. 

"I do not mean to seem threatening." I apologize to Olympus as I sign trying to calm my rattled skin. "I could have been killed... I see it fit for me to be disdainful with my current situation." 

"Good thing your marked one arrived yesterday, or else you'd still be recovering," Ken added as he smiled respectfully at me. 

"We have plenty of Sacca di Sangue Ken... you know." Cayden chuckles. "With or without Rose he would have been healed regardless… Although you are right, such a coincidence she arrived when you were attacked."

"Do you believe it was Kamado?" Zarra asks as she places a hand on my desk and the other on her hip. 

"I know it to be true." I simply say. I remember seeing one green eye and the other yellow. The only alpha to have such eyes. Kamado. 

"How do you wish for us to proceed Gabe?" Olympus asks. 

Olympus is one of my oldest friends. His real name is Jeremia Mandrapilias but seeing how he's seven feet tall and weighs over 200 pounds of pure muscles his nickname is Olympus. Another reason why his nickname is Olympus is that his family of purebloods the 'Mandrapilias' originated from Elis, Greece. A city is known to worship Zeus himself. He's my most loyal partner and my best friend. Zarra Ayad's family are the purebloods from Cairo, Egypt. She is truly a beautiful desert flower. A trustworthy vampiress to have by my side. Her body has luscious curves and her long thick hair complements her Egyptian traits. Today she wore the usual, skin-tight bodysuit. Oh... and in black. Although we are in the twenty-second century, her house is still a little outdated. Her marked ones are male instead of females like in my house or Olympus or Kens. Ken Todoroki, my second best friend, is also a loyal partner by my side. His pureblood family originated from Okinawa, Japan. He is slim yet tall, and I was once told by one of my marked ones he is pretty attractive, enough to be a part of some K-pop band. I have no idea what that means so I just shrugged it off and never told him about it.  

"How late is it to announce a festa della luna?" I asked Cayden who simply raised a brow at me. 

"Do let me get this straight..." Zarra raises her hand just enough to be a gesture of her normal sass. "You want to invite the crescents over to a fucking moon party? The crescents? You know, those wolves!" 

"I find it quite interesting," Ken added, puzzled. 

"You want his head yet want to throw him a fucking party?" Zarra stares at each and every one of us. "Am I the only one who sees this being a bit... I don't know... Contradicting?" 

"Zarra, I will have his head," I added with a smile. 

She frowns at me yet amusement can be seen in her eyes.

"You want his head to be the centerpiece for your fucking dinner table while his pack casually feast around?"

I said nothing but gazed amused by Zarra.

"Smart." She adds sarcastically. 

"You see," I tap my chin. "Now I wasn't thinking-"

"I Know THAT." She interrupts. "You aren't thinking." She mummers.

"I wasn't thinking of the head being a centerpiece... More like a peace present from us Tellurian to the crescents." I said ignoring her scolding look. 

"Tch," she clicks her tongue at me and looks at Cayden. "Who's more dramatic, you or him?" She asks rhetorically. 

"I can assure you Cayden," I answer with a chuckle. 

"Gabe." Olympus interrupts. "Are sure about this? You'd then have to sit with the Masters and explain your actions." 

I frown. "I am the vampire king of the first realm! All Vampires follow me Oly, that also includes Master Rowan." I say firmly.

"Gabriel, he has a point. Although Master Rowan HAS to follow you, there are three other Masters to consider, one of them being Master Luna and she speaks for the crescents." Cayden points out seriously. 

I scoff. "They can all bite me." 

"Master Luna just might." Zarra snaps. 

"You didn't answer me." I gawk at Cayden. "How soon can we have a festa della luna ready and invite those crescents?" 

He sighs. "We can have it tonight if you wish, but I doubt they'd accept." 

I sat on my desk inches away from Zarra. "Olympus, Ken, and you my dear brother are to invite those crescents from the moon manor and make sure Kamado is one of those who accept, do not make it obvious that we need him to attend. But do persuade him. You are all dismissed. Zarra, may I have a word?" 

She nods. 

I sped to the door and locked it once Cayden and the other exit out. I look back at her as she is already sitting legs crossed on my desk watching me with her sexy grin. 

"You needed to talk?" She asks. 

I grin at her, tucking some of the loose strands back behind my ear as I make my way to her. 

"I do," I say. " How am I supposed to be a king if you keep undermining me in front of my subjects?" 

"A leader you are... A great king in fact. Gabriel, you needn't think of it as undermining... You need understanding. Which I am providing you for free may I add." 

She then opens her legs and pulls me closer to her. Once I was within inches away she drapes her arms over my shoulders making me lean down towards her. She is truly a beautiful woman. 

"I could have sworn I do pay you." I chuckle planting a kiss on her lips. 

"While we are on the subject." Her entire aura changed in a split second. She dug her heels into my lower back as her eyes glowed red. 

"Why did I find out about your displaced encounter with the alpha and some mundanes this fucking morning Gabriel." She growls. "And I also heard you slept with your marked one!" Once she spoke I kindly pulled myself away from her clutches, I then sat on my chair and glared at her. 

"Ah, I must have struck one of your nerves." She says leaning over my desk. 

"You weren't advised because I had it so." I harshly said. "The marked one is none of your concern seeing how she's mine and not yours. I may even say, you know I do not sleep or ever have I slept with a mundane before. Due to my profound blood loss, I drifted beside her as she let me feed on her without ever being drained before." I scoff at her. "I needn't explain myself to you." 

Her eyes were honey brown once more as she stood straight and crossed her arms. 

"You must have drained her badly." She says. 

Rosabella's pleasurable moans echoed in my head as I sat there remembering everything. Her lips… Her skin… her eyes filled with lust.

"Hello?" 

"Gabriel?" 

"You didn't kill her right?" 

"Earth to Gabriel!" 

"For fuck sakes!" 

She turns away and walks to the door, I watched quietly amused in fact as she storms out of the office leaving me alone

. 

"Rosa..." I say in my Italian accent as I turn my chair to face the window behind me, I gape at the woods as I distinctly remember the sweetness of her blood. I can't recall ever tasting blood sweeter than hers. Even more, at first, she was frightened to even face me, like every other marked one I had... But she dared to touch me and face me, me being a predator who was badly wounded before her and her my prey who could end her life for mere pleasure in a mere second. Her body trembled but her face and eyes were determined. 

Hm

-Hey my lovelies! Anat here 😊 due to some bad time management on my behalf I'll be posting this week's chapel early. Please hit the "⭐️" and leave a comment 😚 Who's your favorite character so far? Let me know in the comments 🥰 See you next week Thursday at 6 pm for chapter 4 😘