Blood of a Red Rose
much so, that I had recently gotten a tattoo to demonstrat e the very fact.
    It was thr ee words done in Slavic runes: Truly, Madly, Deeply . It was located on my upper right shoulder-blade and was meant to describe how I lived and loved. I loved Rose with all my heart, but I was starting to question if she still felt the same.
    I understood finding out Meredith was alive change d the situation for her...for all of us. It had been good news that Rose wasn't a wanted criminal, but I knew , once again , she feared for her father's safety . What I didn't understand was why t his had changed things between us.
    "Hey. Can I talk to you?"
    I hadn't realized I was in front of Terrance's cell until he'd called out.
    "What do you want to talk about?" I leaned against the opening of his cell and watched as he paced what little distance he could while still chained to the wall .
    "Have you found out where that demon bitch is yet?"
    "Evie has Renard and Loni checking it out . T hey're suppose d to be back tomorrow night."
    "I'm going to kill her , Christian. Just find out where she is and let me out of here and all our problems will be over. I'll make her pay for what she did to Loraine and me."
    I remembered Terrance expressing his feelings for Loraine when Rose and I had questioned him months ago, but none of us had talked about it since.
    "Did you really love her?"
    "Yes." Exhaling, he stopped his angry pacing and leaned his back against the cell's gra y c inderblock wall. "She was honestly the first person I loved since I'd been turned and lost my family." As his shoulders sagged and his head dropped , I realized that I finally felt sorry for him.
    "Well, as soon as we learn how to kill her, I'll let you know. But honestly , I'm not sure Evie will let you out even though you're obviously drifting back . S he won't risk that Meredith may still have the ability to control you. This may be a fight you 're just going to have to sit out."
    His chains rattled as he started drifting and pacing again. "She killed Loraine and messed with my mind ! Made me lie to everyone I cared about and to Rose. She has to be stopped, and I want revenge for Loraine. I loved her, Christian. I really did. "
    "Then you and Rose have a common goal."
    It was in that moment I r ealized I wouldn't be biting a human to guard Rose during the day. She n eeded to meet with her dad and start planning revenge for her mother. She hadn't killed Meredith the first time, but with all of our help...she wouldn't fail again.
    "Hang in there , Terrance. I'll let you know what we find out."
     

* * * * *
    CHAPTER THIRTEEN
    Merry Little Men
    ( Meredith )
     
    "I'm impressed." The logging site Damien had scouted really was ideal. Merry little men hustled around doing their manly work, yet in the last designated area of the site there were only two workers, far removed from the rest of the crew. "Let's go check out the hunting shack and get everything set up , and then we'll head back down here just before quitting time."
    "Ok, boss. Sounds good. Let me grab the stuff from my truck ."
    I watched Damien gather his supplies as I did the same. We were parked far enough from the work site, along a lone dirt road , that i f anyone happen ed to stumble upon our vehicles they would most likely think they belonged to a couple of hikers exploring the woods.
    "Do you have everything?" I asked.
    "Si. Do you need me to carry anything for you?"
    "No. Let's just get this over with. I want to have everything set up before sundown, so when the final horn of the day blows we can just grab them and go."
    The excitement on his face was clear. He couldn't wait to kill these men and get another taste of fresh blood.
    " Do you think if we moved this week's meeting up to tonight all of your cousins would be able to attend?"
    "I think so. But why do you want to move it up? So the blood will be fresh er ?"
    "Actually, it's because I saw a strange car outside my house this after noon before I left. I think

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