When I woke up it was dark but I could tell I was in bed. I still felt so tired I just wanted to stay here forever which wasn't a bad idea especially when these pillows supporting me and the thick blanket was so warm and inviting.

"Oh, you're awake?" Mattie's soft voice shot through the silence. I didn't realise that he was just next to the bed until he moved and suddenly the bright light of the desk lamp pierced the darkness. And my eyes.

I groaned burying under the blankets until my eyes got used to it.

"How are you feeling, Alice?" He patted the blanket.

"A bit mushy."

I think I heard him sigh. I think. "Mushy is good."

Wait, why am I supposed to feel mushy in the first place?

My hand flew to my neck. I expected to find bandages there or at least something to say Mattie had bitten me but all I had was my own skin.

I guess he heard the clap of my hand against my neck because he said, "you shouldn't need anything for your bite marks, Alice."

My head popped out. "Why?"

"Because it's me." The corners of his mouth lifted up so I guessed he was smiling. Or grimacing. Why is he so hard to read now? Then he turned to look at the floor.

"Is something wrong?" I I realised I was being selfish all along. All this time I had Mattie to comfort me when I didn't even ask how he was holding up. I felt sick with myself.

"I'm sorry." What? "I should have held back because it was your first time but… your blood…" He hesitated, shaking his head a few times. It looked like he was debating whether to tell me or not. "No…" He paused again. "Alice, your blood… tasted a lot like Caim's."

What. "Is that good?"

He shuffled in his chair. "Somewhat."

"Oh…"

I still don't get it but it doesn't look like he would say anything else.

Looking a bit relieved with himself he said he was going to make me some hot chocolate but as he got out, my hand leaped up dragging the rest of my body to to a kneeling position just to grab his shirt. His face was frozen between shock and something else I couldn't put my finger on as he turned to stare at me.

What the fuck am I doing? I decided to chide myself because the present me just didn't do fuck all about being normal and keep these mixed up feelings away from Mattie. You're looking really desperate, Alice! Just sit gently on the bed.

"I, uh, wanted to know if you were okay?" I muttered as I lowered myself into a sitting position. "You know with Caim's death and all…"

For a second I thought Mattie wouldn't defrost and that I'd have to do something about it. Like maybe pull those cheeks the way I did to Caim, but he started to blink rapidly as his brain commenced working again.

"Oh Alice. I'm fine. I do miss him." He frowned. "But don't be mad at me when I don't emit a level of sorrow or empathy with some situations." I held my breath as he leaned closer, his gaze unwavering. "I'm an old vampire so I've seen a lot of death but I did care for Caim…" As he leaned back he added, "you should get some rest. I have something to tell you in the morning."

"Why can't you tell me now?"

"I'd rather tomorrow, Alice. Good night."

And with that he left.

Caim always told me that life was about one thing: the unknown. In this case the unknown of the future. He said even if you try to sculpt your own by ways of going to college and university, it still wasn't enough.

I never understood what he meant. You go to college and university to specialise in a subject and there's a high chance you'll end up in the same profession. But then you have the people who change careers. Is that what he meant?

But I'm sure what he wanted to talk to me about wasn't about university. It sounded it had a lot of weight. Maybe it defined my whole life.

So when I got ready for the morning that was the first thing I expected to come out of Mattie's mouth. Or at least one of a few.

He was seated on one of the chairs we had having pulled it over to the kitchen. There was a steaming cup of something that smelled absolutely disgusting and he was talking on the phone. When I walked out, he waved before saying that "I'll talk to you later." Why do people do that? So rude.

"Are you sure?" I said indicating to the phone. "Don't stop because I'm here."

"I'm sure." He hugged me a good morning. He smelt nice. Really nice. Like he had a shower this morning the smell was that fresh.

I went around to make some tea. But I couldn't help it, "Mattie, what did you want to talk about? The thing you couldn't say last night."

He shuffled in his seat. Took a huge mouthful of that drink. Ugh. Shuffled a bit more. "I was planning on introducing you to someone and getting round to answering all those questions you have." He paused to let all of this sink in. "But for me to continue I need you to have signed up to it first."

What. "What does that mean?" I said slowly peering at him through narrowed eyes. This shit coming out of the his mouth sounds damn iffy.

He looked up. My breath caught when those emerald eyes locked with mine. "It means I need you to know that the information I give you is confidential. Having you sign up with us prevents you sharing it freely." He frowned. "Let me rephrase that. You don't have a choice in this but we do need your permission to be with us."

"And what am I signing up to?" I asked defiantly. I refuse to be wavered with those eyes. "Who's us?"

"I can't tell you."

Are you kidding me? "You're saying you can't tell me anything unless I'm already signed up to God knows what? That's like committing to snowboarding without any knowledge!" Don't ask me why I picked snowboarding.

Mattie ran his hand through his hair. "I know. But know that Caim made the same decision. It's hard to explain to you right now but because Caim was your brother and he was with us, means you've been dragged into it." His eyes narrowed as if he didn't like the idea of my involvement.

I think I was insulted. Bringing up my brother now sounded like a ploy. How dare he!

"Don't ever bring in my brother when it fully involves me." I glared at him.

"But there's more. Should you-" Well fuck you too! "decide to sign up, you will no longer attend uni."

Shit. "Why?"

"There is no need. Your decision will affect your life. You won't have any time for it." He sipped his mug innocently. Does he know how hard I've worked the past year? To be able to get where I am?

"There's no time limit of course but if you want the answers, the sooner the better. Plus the experience is something uni will not provide you."

I'm assuming this was different to the 'normal' track of life. The track of getting through uni, getting a job, marriage, children etc. The one where I'd see Mattie hold a gun more. There would be a possibility of me using a gun but the idea of that was just impossible. Would I see more vampires? Shit. Shit. Shit…

"I'll give you some time to think." He got up with that mug and phone. "I have to make a call. Bug me whenever." He waved behind him as he headed to the bedroom.

Damn, I'm so fucking mad at him. It feels as if I was deceived.

I thought about making the tea later since I had to think about what he said. It might have just been my initial response and if I think about it as soon as I can, I'd feel a bit less confused. But I decided to boil the water anyway. Tea helped me relax which is something I needed right now.

I collapsed on the sofa in front of the TV, my tea on the table draping my arm over my eyes. Fuck, I felt so tired after that.

So I have to make a decision that'll affect my life with absolutely no information? What the fuck. But… Caim did make that decision and since he's been with Mattie and I, he was happy. Much happier than when we lived back at our parents. I sighed. Fuck you Mattie for saying that… Is it true I don't have a say in this? But I am interested in the whole 'uni won't give you this experience' thing…

Mattie still hadn't left the bedroom so I headed off to put my empty mug in the sink and knock on the door. My fist didn't even hit the door when it burst open which gave me a shock.

"Alice?" Mattie looked puzzled. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to let you know you guys have my permission." For God knows what.

He blinked. "Really? Then let's go!"

Forty minutes later we were in a silver Mercedes rental car heading to the motorway accompanied with my 'go bag' even though I hadn't needed to use it yet. As usual Mattie couldn't tell me where we were going (he was also driving), but he did mention that he had someone he wanted me to meet so I can only hope that was where we were going.

For a July morning it was obscenely hot. Not a cloud in the sky and for that we had the windows down. From what I knew of a vampire, my experience with him - and probably with some influence from movies - Mattie was sluggish in daylight so I was slightly scared of him driving. He was fine in daylight. But if someone was looking for a vampire they'd notice he was slightly paler than the palest person around. Notice he was covering his eyes with sunglasses (which is fine in this weather. The sunny morning was an advantage for him to blend in better with human society). They'd also notice his cool skin should they brush against him.

When I first started living with Mattie alongside Caim, I was a bit scared of people knowing he was a vampire but he told me he was known in the community having lived here so long. I didn't ask him the first thing that came to mind - what happens if someone realises he didn't age - but right now that wasn't a priority.

Being as nervous as I was with his driving I would offer to drive but trying to get the destination out of someone who thought I wasn't 'officially' signed up, even though I gave my permission, was like trying to talk to a brick wall.

But despite the secrecy throughout the few years I knew Mattie, there were some things I learnt like he preferred his blood fresh. Or his preference in waking early. God knows why he does. And… that was about it.

Nearing noon we pulled into an American diner on the motorway. I hadn't had anything to eat yet so thank God Mattie wasn't too excited to drive us the whole way.

This diner was just called 'Diner' (so imaginative) in bright pink. It had neon tubes outlining the name which made it seem like we were stepping straight into the fifties. It was placed right in the middle above a set of double doors. Windows ran the length of the building bordered by a grey paneling that looked a lot like they just decided to put them on last minute.

We sat in the corner on worn out leather seats built for two facing each other. The tables had that metal mesh you'd normally find in a mechanic's garage or something along those lines, which housed the menu, the salt and pepper pots, a bottle of malt vinegar and a tub of mustard.

There was a massive shiny counter with stools of the same style just before the doors of the kitchen. More neon lights hung with pictures of America's scenery and smiling people around a table with heaps of food.

One of the waitresses came over with a smile that could brighten anyone's day. "What will it be?"

"Am I too late for your waffles?" I asked. "And can I get some oj?"

She checked the time before taking out a pen and paper and scribbled down the order. "You're just in time." Addressing Mattie she asked the same question and to my surprise, he ordered some coffee. It sounds silly but I never saw him eat or drink anything but the blood so I assumed it was related to his being a vampire.

But then again it could just be for me.

I raised my eyebrow on him folding up the menu and placing it back. How do I put this… "I thought you already drank."

He grinned. "Need a pick me up."

"Eh…"

When our food and drink arrived the first thing he did was grab a fork and took a wedge of my waffles stuffing the whole fork full in his mouth. "Hey!" I got a damn cheeky grin for an answer. I half expected syrup to start dribbling out then I would be the one with the cheeky grin on my face.

But despite I was pretty mad at him earlier, I did like this playful side of him. Maybe it was one of the things that made me love him.

If only his mood didn't change so drastically.

"I thought you weren't hungry." I'm not sure why but I couldn't look at him while I asked that. It felt a bit awkward being in public even though with all the questions that were said so far, you wouldn't have thought Mattie was what he was.

"Hm." I saw him pick up his coffee cup, "I'm not sure on this but I think everyone can do it. The waffles here are pretty good."

Which meant… he thought all vampires could eat human food? Eh?

He leaned in closer to add, "you'll learn even more, Alice."

I hadn't realised I stopped breathing until that exhale when I saw him lean back.

I sighed. I was starting to get tired with all this bullshit.

We hit the road after paying. I wasn't sure where we were because I had never been this far away from home.

We entered the city heading straight to the centre and parked. Here everything was huge, old buildings were everywhere housing modern stores. One or two glass buildings could just be seen in the distance but was shielded with green shrubbery. It was pretty busy and Mattie didn't wait up while I gawked at the surroundings.

It wasn't long before I realised we were heading to a bank. It loomed in the distance. It looked like a museum. Stone pillars sprouted from the stairway and buried themselves into the decoration at the top - a swirling design, the one you would see in the Times newspaper. Only the glass doors told you it was a 'bank for the people'.

"We're going to the bank?" I said.

He didn't look at me when when he replied, "Yes but it's not the bank we want to be."

There wasn't that many people there. I followed Mattie across the room passing a small coffee table with a couple of chairs and the counters where the tellers would have been. I say that because there were two. One was seated behind a counter that looked like she was counting money. We sauntered to the other teller, a woman who looked like she was in her mid thirties with auburn hair tied in a bun. She wore glasses, a black suit, white blouse with a red tie. Her lips matched the tie. She was looking at the computer and glanced at Mattie with a frown, looked at me panting behind him then back to him.

Mattie grinned. "Good morning, Sophie. I'd love it if I can put some money in today."

Her frown deepened. "Of course, Mr Taylor, if you would follow me, this computer isn't set up to take transactions right now." Sophie looked at me.

What is happening?

She got out of her cubicle and we went round a corner into a short hallway with smaller rooms on either side. All had a wooden door with a panel of glass so I could see what was inside. Each had a desk with a computer with two seats with either a potted plant in a corner or a picture of promotional sales.

We stopped at an lift with glass panels cut out just like the other doors and once she pressed for it she turned with her hands on her hips. It reminded me of a teacher with a bad student scenario. "You're late."

Mattie held out his hands in defence. "Not my fault."

Turning to me she said, "I hope he hasn't drove you crazy yet."

I didn't know what she meant. "Uh."

"Save it for later okay, Soph? She's not official yet." Mattie said, pressing for the down button. For some reason a little panel unlocked above the up and down buttons. Mattie had to punch in a huge code before it was green lighted and that electronic voice told us that the doors would be closing and to keep away from them. Sophie stayed with us until they closed.

"Alice, will you promise me something?"

"Sure."

"Do not come here on your own under any circumstance at least without my knowledge."

I looked at him. His face was just a statue looking straight at the doors as we descended.

"I promise, Mattie."

Just when I said that a bright light shone in. The view outside the lift shocked me. I just didn't know what to even think or what was even coming my way.

"Welcome to Bloody Rose, Alice."