Devils Roses 01 - Cursed

was having a hard time believing it myself. I had adored him as a teacher too. I found no comfort in the fact, he hadn’t meant for it to be me. I wasn’t part of his evil plan or his shrine. I was an accidental victim. It was no consolation to me.
    The ambulance and helicopter people walked into my room, after waiting in the hall to allow my family time to say goodbye. “We can’t wait any longer, sorry folks,” One of them spoke sympathetically.
    My dad kissed my cheek. “See you in a few hours, kiddo.”
    He stepped back so Alise could have her moment. “Aimee, be strong and get better, okay?” She kissed my cheek leaving sticky lip gloss all over. I rubbed it off, frowning at her, which she ignored and walked into Blake’s arms.
    Blake hugged her and then walked to me. “I miss you in class, Aimes. You need to get better so we can hang out a little more.” I nodded, and tried to ignore the lump in my throat. He kissed me on the cheek and whispered in my ear, “I love you, Aimes. You’re my best friend.” He stood wiping his eyes and walked away with Alise. He put an arm around her as she sobbed.
    Shane knelt back at my bedside. “I love you, Aimee. I will bring your dad to the hospital. Don’t worry about him. I will see you in a few hours.” He kissed me on the lips, just brushing them. My eyes flickered to Aleks who stood in the corner brooding. His huge Viking presence wasn’t improving. He looked as angry as he could get. His fists were clenched and his face was furious.
    I glanced back at Shane, who was standing with the bleakest look on his face. He walked from the room as the men came to transfer me. I felt weak as they helped me onto the stretcher, but my eyes never left Aleks' face. He looked broken but stayed with me as we wheeled out to the helicopter. He climbed on board sitting beside me, never taking his eyes off of me.
    The new hospital room was a lot bigger with machines everywhere. I was put on dialysis just as Giselle had been, and Jaime was, as well. We were all on the same floor but different rooms. Aleks stayed beside my bed, still not speaking which made me nervous. He seemed to be in a severe struggle to remain with me. I knew he would leave sooner than later.
    “ What if I die and become like you?”
    He shook his head. “I’m cursed. Besides, I would never want this for you. Eternity is a long time.”
    He walked toward me and picked up my frail hand.
    I moved as well as I could, so he could lie beside me.
    “ I want you," I whispered.
    He frowned, laying down beside me. “You will always have my heart, Aimee. You are everything I needed to feel again, and I thank God every day that we met. I was a shell for hundreds of years and you’ve awakened my soul again. But there is no way, I would deny you the freedom of the afterlife.”
    “ Are there others like you?” I asked staring up at the ceiling, feeling his warmth beside me.
    “ Yeah, some things close to what I am,” he spoke quietly and I understood his lack of want to speak of it.
    “ Have you met them?” I asked, treading carefully, I wanted him to answer.
    “ Yeah.” He was still so reserved.
    “ Tell me something Aleks. Something you don’t want to. Just one thing and I won't ask any more questions.” My throat was hurting from the amount of tears that had sat in it for hours.
    Aleks hesitated and processed what lame thing he could tell me to get me off his back, just as a dark figure appeared in the doorway.
    Aleks was off the bed within a second and pinning a dark-haired man against a wall.
    He laughed, holding his hands in the air. “So she can see you, brother? Did you offer her immortality to save her life just yet?” he asked in an English accent. His dark eyes were unbearable to look at. He had the blackest eyes ever, like his pupils were the only things there. He was considerably shorter than Aleks, but something about the way he stood, commanded respect. His face was that of an incredibly young man, I would guess twenty-five at most. His confidence and smile contradicted his dimples and soft face. He dressed different from Aleks as well, more J.Crew and clean cut. Aleks always looked like he was going backpacking. The dark-haired man was wearing khakis with a white, long-sleeve dress shirt open casually. He looked like he should be on a beach somewhere. His dark hair was styled funky, he clearly cared a lot about how he looked. He winked at me and the two men were gone. I was alone