Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
“ T he soil is sort of dry.” Mary’s voice tore back through the swirl of thoughts racing in my mind. Without saying a word, I watered the tomato plant she was looking into. Plucking a ripe tomato off and popping it into her mouth.
The forest loomed outside, covered in a thick blanket of snow. Hiding the remains of Maaier’s confession under its weight. Now a moment lost in time. I didn’t know when he was coming back, but I yearned for him regardless. I ached to ask him why he didn’t take my mother and aunt to the other side. To ask why they were allowed to remain in the manor. The question had eaten at me most of the morning.
Grandmother had forced me to eat breakfast with her before ushering to go outside and garden despite my every protest. Assuring me it would serve me well. The heavenly scent of roses wafted through my nose. The blazing red peeking out from beyond the mass of grey. Everything in this greenhouse reminded me of Maaier now. No matter where I turned, I could not escape him.
“Did you hear of another attack?” Mary lowered her voice, gazing conspiratorially at me.
I shook my head, my heart pounded painfully.
“A brunette this time. They said she was caught in the streets with her throat sliced.”
I trembled. My skin prickled with fear. Why were his killings so random?
“Did she make it?” My voice, hoarse.
Mary shook her head. “The police are still interviewing witnesses but they say she was a woman of the night.”
My heart thumped in my chest. The murder almost mirrored the killing of the loveless man's mother in my book. Of possibly Maaier’s mother.
“Did she have a son?”
“Not that anyone is aware of, but they were new to town.” Mary quirked a brow but said nothing.
I put down the trowel I had clenched in my hands and leaned back against the bench.
“It won’t stop,” I said. This was all because of me. If I had died that night maybe the man would have left us alone. Not chased after women linked to my likeness.
“Mary, can you fetch Victor for me?”
She scattered away quickly, eager to help whatever thought she assumed I had.
Victor arrived with a smile. But it didn't meet his eyes. He looked exhausted. His right hand bruised on the knuckles. Red dotting the grey flesh.
“You’re bleeding.” I noted as I hurried toward him.
“It’s fine.” He shook me off. Rejection waved through me. I shook it off before meeting his gaze.
“How many women does it make now?”
“Eight,” He said softly, avoiding my gaze. My jaw fell open, my fists clenching beside me.
“And you didn’t think to tell me?”
Victor went on to explain that he didn’t want to cause me any more panic because I was already weighed down enough. He had even argued the point with Maaier before I had interrupted that morning.
Victor had been so upset at himself for withholding the truth that he took his frustrations out on a tree in the yard. A lie almost believable. Victor wouldn’t hit a tree and the tree wouldn't leave those marks.
I shook my head turning back to the bush, Mary came up beside me. Picking another tomato and popping it into her mouth.
The smile on her face was out of place for the current mood.
I thanked Victor before turning away. He didn’t move away, instead, coming up beside me.
“You need to leave, Vespera. Take Dorian and Mary and go.”
“I can’t just leave Victor.”
“Yes, please do it for me. Please.” He urged. His hands cupping my shoulders. His expression turned desperate. “Do it for Dorian.”
“What has she told you?” I narrowed my gaze.
“Nothing.” He shook his head. Light curls bouncing around steely eyes.
“Then I'll be fine!” I said exasperated. “If the man comes back it’ll be the end of it all. Don’t we all want that?”
“No.” Both Mary and Victor responded in unison.
“You think we are just going to let you die?” Mary sighed before sitting on the bench.
I looked down at my boots on the floor. At the dirt caking them like a secret holds a heart.
“I can’t leave my grandmother.”
“Well. We will take her too.”
“You and I both know that she will never leave this damned house.” I pressed. Victor’s fingers dug into my flesh.
“I am begging you, please Vespera. Leave.”
“I am not leaving Victor. My place is here with her.”
If I died away from here I would never see my mother again. I had to stay, if only for her. If I left, her soul would be lingering for nothing. And that was a weight I could not bear. I was already drowning on my own.
Victor slumped with defeat. Pulling me into his embrace. “Then I will stay with you.”
“What if I want you to be safe?”
He pulled back from me. Searching my face. “Nowhere is safer than you and the lunatic you call a friend.” His cheeks colouring slightly.
My lips quirked. The smallest hint of a smile showing through.
Maaier appeared the next night. Hovering below the window outside in the gardens. I looked down at him with a grin before heading out to the greenhouse where I knew he would be waiting.
I had just read the book he first gave. Nearing the end of the book of flowers. Learning nothing I didn’t already know.
I leapt into his arms. Feeling his lips crash against mine. My body lit up for him. My hands snaked their way through his untamed hair falling to his shoulders. The dark waves falling over my skin.
“Oh how I have missed you, little bloom,” He whispered against my lips. Not breaking the embrace.
“It’s only been three days.” Three days of agonised hell trying to figure out if I truly wanted to accept his words after our encounter.
“A second away from you is like an eternity I wish not to bare.” His hands glided over my body. Committing my form to memory as he led me further amongst the shrubbery. Our tongues greedily explored the other’s. His name was a breath of air caught in my chest. The word buried itself in my soul, marking it as his for eternity..
His arms went lower. Pulling me up against the bench. His hands pushed my skirts up. Gentle palms cupping my waist.
“I can’t wait any longer.” He spoke, his voice raspy and strained. As if holding himself back with a firm restraint.
“Then devour me. Devour my soul,” I whispered softly.
Maaier’s eyes grew dark as he did as I commanded. Thrusting into me as his teeth met my neck. Nipping and sucking all over the expanse of bare skin. Hungry hands pulling down at the buttons of my nightgown until they popped free. A moan filled the night air as it fell from my lips.
I gasped for air. Feeling him fill me over and over again. The feel of him was the closest to heaven I would ever have the pleasure of experiencing. The snow falling outside but inside the steam swirled, fogging the glass. Maaier’s hand gripped my waist. The other bracing on the glass pane of the windowed walls.
“Anyone out there could see how well you take me, bloom.” He grunted, thrusting harder into me. I was a wordless mess. The effect only he could have on me. My hands gripped his hair pulling it tighter as his lips found mine again. Our desperate pants filled the air as we both reached the edge of the cliff only to come tumbling down together. The ecstasy lighting a fire within.
Maaier withdrew but still held me in his arms.
“You’re making the choice harder than it has to be.” I managed.
Maaier chuckled darkly. “I am a man of persuasion.”
I beamed up at him. My breath coming in short.
This man was surely going to be the death of me. And I wasn't sure I minded.
I looked into his eyes. Seeing myself reflected in them. A sight I would never be sick of.
My gaze fell on something over his shoulder. A brief flicker of a shade before vanishing. My already pounding heart picked up speed. Did I just see that flower in colour? And why did it look so vibrant? Mary had said roses can come in pink or yellow but I had never seen the colour to know. In the daylight, the flower looked much like the supposedly pink dress I had selected for Dorian. A soft grey. So gentle and pure.
Maaier smirked before kissing me once more. Knowingly distracting me from the colour.
“Not yet, bloom. All with time,” He murmured. “All in good time.”