The Blue Rose

11. Aster

ELEVEN

ASTER

W hen I wake up the sun is starting to set, I roll over, grabbing my phone and seeing it’s six already. Squinting, I hardly believe I managed to sleep for twelve hours. Normally, I sleep that well after a slaughter, not after an avenge killing for my little lamb, but nothing about the past twenty-four hours has been normal. I have two texts from Serena.

My little lamb must be thinking about me as much as I’m thinking about her.

Serena

Good Morning Aster

I’m gonna be at Boozy Books around seven, if you want to join me

I type back cursing myself for missing her text. She probably thinks I’m ghosting her again.

Aster

Sorry, I had a long night, I just woke up. I’ll see you later

Not promising a specific time, I place my phone down and start to get ready.

I opt for a long black sleeve sweater, dark blue jeans, and my black boots. I style my hair back where it is out of my face, but still falling at the sides. I go over to my watch collection and opt for my black one with a teal band.

My father used to collect watches, never wearing them, unless he was taking my mother on a date. I remember him always picking a band to match what my mother was wearing.

Before I clasp the watch I send Serena another text.

Aster

What are you wearing?

I mindlessly run my hand over each band, waiting for a reply.

Serena

A black top and blue jeans. Why?

The thought of her matching me without realizing it brings a small smile to my face. I place the teal band back in the case, grabbing for the plain black one, but stop myself. These are my fathers quirks that I picked up, he’s dead to me, but his ways are still living deep inside.

Aster

No reason, what color are your lips?

I hope they’re red.

Serena

Suspicious, but red

I knew it. I reach for the red band to match her lips, a small smile playing on my lips. Securing the band, my phone dings and I look down, disappointment falling over me.

Serena

I’m here, I’m where all the books are

I was hoping for some flirty banter, not her telling me she is waiting for me. I type out my response, eager to see her.

Aster

On my way, see you soon little lamb.

I place my phone in my pocket, grab a syringe from the kitchen drawer, grab my keys and head out the door. I put the syringe in the center console of my car, making it easier for me to grab later. I speed out of my driveway anxious to see my little lamb.

I park down the street where there are no cameras, and the street lights are dim. My blood races as I stare at the door to the bar. I’m hoping she took an Uber here, so I can offer her a ride home.

I don’t text her to let her know I’m here, I want to find her and watch her first.

Exiting the car, I make my way to the bar, when I walk in there is no sign of her. Not until I walk closer to where the books are and see her sitting on one of the bean bag chairs immersed in a paperback.

She is dressed in light blue skinny jeans that show off the supple of her legs and a black fringed crop top, exactly what she told me she was wearing. Her hair is pulled back into a high ponytail and looks to be straightened as well. She has subtle makeup on, only her bright red lipstick standing out in the dim light of the bar, and my cock twitches at the thought of those lips around it later.

I reach down to adjust myself, shaking my head from the thought. I may have broken two rules already, but sex is out of the question.

I stand there staring at her, and within seconds, as if sensing me, her eyes land on mine knocking the breath from me.

She closes her book and walks over. “Hey,” she says in the sweetest of voices.

Her voice is like a siren calling the sailors to their death. If I was a sailor I would jump ship with just one word, letting her drag me down until the darkness enveloped us. Getting lost in the darkness together would be an easier death than I probably deserve.

Enveloping her in a hug, I surprised both of us and whisper, “You look beautiful.” I see the blush creep up her neck as I place my hand on the small of her back, and walk us to a high top table.

I pull out her chair for her, earning an eyebatting and a “Thank you.”

Pulling her chair out, I rest my cheek against her and whisper in her ear, “What can I get for you, little lamb?” My breath on her skin makes her shiver, which only excites me more. I trace my fingers along the goosebumps on her neck, mesmerized by the way they enlarge with every touch.

She turns, our faces so close I could kiss her. She’s breathless staring at my lips, hers parting ever so slightly, and the rise and fall of her chest is quickening. “Moscow Mule,” she whispers in a raspy voice.

The way her lips form an ‘o’ at the end of saying mule has me giving her exactly what we both want. My lips crash against hers, taking the breath from us both. Her mouth parts ever so slightly, allowing my tongue to slip in. I grab the back of her head, tipping her head back and a small moan escapes her. We break apart and I look down, noticing our kiss smudged her lipstick. Swiping my thumb across her bottom lip, I use the excuse of fixing it to brush my fingers against her soft skin. “I’ll be back,” I whisper against her lips, all she does is nod, looking dazed from our kiss. I walk away and head to the bar to order our drinks, a smirk stretching my lips.

She’s playing right into my trap, everything is going according to my plan, with a couple hiccups of two rules broken. Now if only my dick would get with the program. Why do I keep kissing her? I can’t seem to keep my damn hands off of her. No matter what, she'll be another one of my lambs for slaughter and I’ll never have to think about her ever again. The hold she has on me will disappear when she does.

I get up to the bar, and see it’s a female bartender this time, mumbling while cleaning up a spill about how Gary no showed again and pissed he’s left all this on her. If only she knew, he would never come in again . She’s blonde with her tits hanging out of the deep v cut black band t she made into a crop top so short her under breast can be seen, making all the guys at the bar look her way. Everyone, but me, I have eyes only for my little lamb. She notices me right away and struts over, making her breast bounce with her. When she gets to me, she places her elbows on the counter, and twirls her hair. “What can I get’cha, handsome?”

Looking back at Serena I say, “My girl would like a Moscow Mule, and I’ll take a Manhattan.” She looks over my shoulder at Serena and with an ‘I’m better than her’ smile says, “You should ditch the chubster, I can make it worth your while.”

The fuck did this bitch just call my little lamb?

Lowering my gaze, squeezing my hands on the counter to keep from choking her, “She has more curves than your stick-self could ever dream of.” She scoffs and turns away “Insult my girl again and that will be that last thing you ever do.” Her eyes shoot into her hairline and she rushes off to make our drinks. She comes back a few minutes later and places the drinks down with shaky hands and walks swiftly away.

Not even going to apologize? I don’t usually kill women who look like her, except on my birthday. I make that exception, but that isn’t for another three months. The bitch can live another day, I don’t want to hunt in the same place twice. They’ll be looking for Gary soon, if fake tits were to disappear they’d shut the place down and question everyone. I’m careful, but my lamb has my mind swimming in chaos and I’m not risking getting caught to kill on her behalf again.

I grab our drinks and walk back to our table, setting Serena’s in front of hers. I watch her take a drink, and she watches me over her glass.

“Do I have something on my face?” she says, swiping her finger across her lips.

Watching the movement, makes me have to adjust myself, “No, I’m just admiring your beauty.”

Her eyes follow the action, squirming in her seat. “You must say that to all the girls to get in their pants.”

“As I recall, I was already in yours, and plan to be again.”

Her eyes meet mine, “Is that so? You’ll have to try harder this time, I’m not so easy you know.” She sits back and crosses her arms, a smug pout on her lips.

Crossing my arms, I lean over the table, “Guess that means I have to try harder then.”

That earns me a playful smile. “I guess you do.” Now she leans in closer, arms still crossed, her breasts laying on the table, and I can’t help looking at them. “Like what you see?” I growl my approval. “As much as I’d love a repeat of last time, maybe in a bed this time, I think we should take a second to get to know one another better.”

I never tell anyone any nitty gritty details of my life even if they ask, but with her I find myself wanting to tell her everything. Maybe it’s because I know our time together will end soon, and I want her to know more about me than any of my previous lambs. Which is strange, but I’m ignoring the little voice in my head and start talking.

“What would you like to know, little lamb?”

She smiles, her cheeks heating with a hint of a blush. “First, why do you call me little lamb?

A chuckle escapes me, “You haven't earned that information yet, but you’ll find out soon.”

“Okay,” She draws the word out. “What do you do for a living?”

“I’m an entrepreneur of sorts. What do you do?”

“That’s an elusive answer, but I’ll let you keep your secrets for now, we all have them. Promise you will elaborate later?” She has secrets, too? Everyone has secrets, but I’d bet she wouldn’t take hers to the grave. They’re probably nowhere near as dark as mine. “I’m an artist, I mostly take commissions, but have my own side projects and gallery pieces.”

“All will be revealed in due time, little lamb, don’t you worry.” I sigh pretending to get emotional. “When my parents passed away,” I say, knowing my parents are locked up tight in a cell they will never get out of. “They left me a rather large inheritance. I work mostly to keep my hands busy and not get bored with life. After all, idle hands are the devil's playground.”

Her eyes bulged at my statement. “Wow, okay, I was not expecting that, but I understand. My dad comes from money, but the day I take anything from him, will be the day I die.”

“You make an honest living, it sounds like.”

“Yeah, I guess I do, and I am damn proud of how far I’ve come with my work. I never dreamed I’d be able to make enough from my art alone. I feel really lucky”

“Luck has nothing to do with it, talent gets you those orders.” A small blush creeps up her cheeks making her blush look brighter. “You’ll have to show me sometime, or maybe I could commission a piece from you?”

“I do have a long waiting list for my commissions, but I think I could slip you in,” she says playfully.

“Is there any way I could convince you?” I ask, my chest rumbling with the desperation I feel for my little lamb.

The feelings she rouses in me are confusing, having me second guess my decision to take her life tonight. She was supposed to lay on my table, after I got to feel what my mouth tasted. She is making my chest tighten along with my jeans. I’ve already killed too many people recently. I need to take my time with her, savor her in every way, and then after my cool down period in a couple months I will give her a blue rose. Everything she’s making me do and feel without even realizing it has me deciding that tonight I will kill her. These feelings need to stop, now.

She places her finger on her chin, tapping it and looking around the room. When her eyes land on me, she says in the most seductive voice, “I can think of a few ways.”

The promise in her voice has me growing harder than I already was. I twist in my seat, trying to adjust myself with little success. Her eyes travel down, and she looks back up with heat in her gaze. “Looks like you’re thinking of a way or two?”

“Oh, little lamb, I don’t know if you could handle what I’m thinking.”

I can’t even handle what I’m thinking. I want to fuck her instead of kill her? What has my little lamb done to me? I’ve broken almost every rule for her, since spotting her in this very bar. I’m starting to learn that my rules don’t apply to this little lamb.

She gets up and comes behind me, reaching her hands over my shoulders and down my chest, far enough she can almost reach my cock. She stretches her fingers across my lap, nipping playfully at my neck, my dick swelling even further. She brings her hands back up, locking them around my chest and surprising me when she says, “I want you to choke me, while you fuck me.” She bites my ear lobe, pulling at the delicate skin with a gentle tug, and walks back to her seat leaving me dazed. “Now that I have your attention again, what do you say we get out of here?”

Nodding my head, we both get up to leave the bar. I take her hand, walking her to my car, when she stops me mid way. “I already called an Uber, I’ll give you my address.”

I grunt in frustration, my fingers tightening around hers. “Cancel it, I’ll drive you back to my place.”

She takes out her phone, a sultry smile on her face. “Done.”

My heart races in my chest, an unfamiliar pang accompanying the usual surge of adrenaline as I continue to walk us to my car. Opening the door for her, I walk over to my side and get in. She looks over at me with her phone in her hands. “What’s your address? I need to text Jessica where I’m going in case you’re a murderer and I go missing.” she says laughing.

Heart racing faster, and hand stopping to click in the seatbelt, I freeze. Is she being serious? Is she joking? Why would she joke about that? Does she know I’m planning on killing her eventually and is trying to get the truth out of me? A thousand thoughts race through my mind in that moment, unsure of what to do I click the seatbelt in place and start the car.

“I’m just kidding, I know you wouldn’t kill me, but I do need to tell her your address.”

She was joking, that’s good. I lean in close, “Now how are you so sure I won’t kill you?”

“Very funny, Aster, now please tell me your address.” She says laughing, but I’m not laughing and the moment Serena realizes I’m serious, her face falls.

I turn away from her and ask, “What’s your address? I’m taking you home.”

“What? Why? Did I do something wrong?” Her voice shakes, and I can hear the tears in her eyes.

I take a deep breath. “No, but I’m not in the mood to play anymore, I want to save what I have planned for you for another night.” I get in her face, “I want to have you screaming my name and begging for mercy, but tonight isn’t that night.”

She turns towards the window, mumbling me her address with a sad voice. I punch it into my GPS and drive her home in silence.

No one can have my address, there can’t be a trace of me left behind on any electronic device. It’s why I have a burner phone, why I pick my lambs up, and take them to my home. Her asking for my address startled me, making me rethink my plans for her tonight. I was going back and forth, should I kill her tonight or wait, having decided I needed to feel her blood between my fingers. Now it is all ruined.

The moon hangs dimly in the sky, and the clouds cover the stars, making for a gloomy and dark night. I have the windows down, letting the humid air hit my face and blow Serena's hair around, hoping the air will cool some of the tension that has built up. This was not how either of us were expecting tonight to go, with how Serena won’t even look at me, and her eyes facing towards the sky, I know she is just as upset as me.

Once we get to the road to her house, I see it is a long road like mine, except it is all paved. Pulling up to the house it is a two story, it’s teal all the way around and has wood pillars that compliment it outside. She has a two car garage and a little barn to the right side of her house. It’s too dark to see what color it is, but my heart races at the sight. This feels like home. The barn reminds me of the one my parents used to have, but smaller. I park in her driveway, and she goes to leave, but I grab her arm, stopping her. With a defeated sigh, I say, “I’m sorry, Serena.”

She looks at me with red rimmed eyes. Fuck, shes been crying. “Yeah… I’m sorry, too.”

The car door shuts with a dull thud that seems to reverberate through my entire being. I watched her enter the house and shut the door without looking back. Causing me to second guess everything again tonight.