Beth Bishop's Blog, page 3
June 19, 2019
Wild Rosegarten, Chapter 7: Part 1
“You know what I find interesting?”
“I’d love to know.”
I waved a hand at the book of fairy tales. “This story has no moral.”
“How do you mean?” Leslie’s brows came down briefly, and he smiled a bit.
“Rumpelstiltskin did the girl a favor in turn for favors but never got his final reward. The miller was never punished for lying, but I’ve always found that lying gets you into all sorts of trouble that you usually can’t get out of without telling the truth.”
“I never thought about...
June 17, 2019
Wild Rosegarten, Chapter 6: Part 2
The driver got out and opened the door. Selene emerged from the limo in a royal blue gown that matched her eye color to perfection. It was tight and covered very little of her above the waist. The skirt flowed down her body like a narrow stream into a small pool. There was a short train on the dress. She practically glided over to him.
“Wow,” we said in unison.
“Good evening, Justin, Lily,” she said in an amused tone and winked. “Your ride will be along shortly.”
She took Justin’s hand and le...
June 14, 2019
Wild Rosegarten, Chapter 6: Part 1
Despite all the training and jogging I used to tire myself, I slept poorly both Wednesday and Thursday nights. I debated having a glass of wine to calm me down but ultimately decided against it. When I did sleep, I dreamed of fanged people in long black gowns who wanted to dance.
Friday morning, when Justin and I went out to spar, I found a package propped against the back door with my name on it in block letters. Justin watched as I opened it and pulled out an old, leather-bo...
June 12, 2019
Wild Rosegarten, Chapter 5: Part 2
“What broke your mood, Dear?” my mother asked. She walked up behind my chair and reached over its back to pat my shoulder.
“Snow White’s a vampire, Cinderella is a slave, and Beauty looks like Aster.”
“I don’t know that Snow White was a vampire. She was still human, and true love saved them all.”
I coughed out a laugh. “True love. Fairy tales,” I grumbled. My mother walked around the chair to face me, and I looked up at her. “It’s been twelve years, and I still miss her.” I stood, and my moth...
June 10, 2019
Wild Rosegarten, Chapter 5: Part 1
What I knew about dresses was nothing, which is why I wandered around La Boutique without the first clue. Justin tried to be patient with me.
We had already visited the tuxedo place. The two men in charge of the shop knew exactly what to do when Justin told them he would be attending Benoit’s party on Friday. Since it was Wednesday, only two days before the event, they chastised Justin for waiting so late in the week. Didn’t he know they would have to alter the tuxedo? Did he expe...
June 7, 2019
Wild Rosegarten, Chapter 4: Part 2
For the remainder of the evening, Justin and I were to practice acting like the mates of our respective vampires. We milled about the house, discussing things like vampire etiquette and societal norms, and my parents gave us constructive criticism.
Since it went completely against my nature, it was a challenge for me to act demur. However, I had a feeling that once I was in a large house packed with vampires, I wouldn’t have any problem keeping silent and being polite. I planned to stick to W...
June 5, 2019
Wild Rosegarten, Chapter 4: Part 1
Whatever Wells told my father appeased his fears that we were going to be some lone rag-tag group fighting for the impossible. My family agreed to work with Wells, but we planned to stay in our current house and refused Wells’ offer of turning on the power. My father reasoned that it would be best to keep ourselves hidden until it became impossible.
I paid close attention when Wells showed my father a detailed map of Tallahassee and surrounding areas so he could X off the houses that...
June 3, 2019
Wild Rosegarten, Chapter 3: Part 2
Suspicious best described my family’s feelings about the proposition. Everyone, except Mandy and Robert, agreed that my father could give Wells our threshold. The plan was that, after a Q and A session, Dad would revoke Wells’ invitation, thereby booting him from the house, and the family would make a decision.
I tried to give more details and answer questions. To avoid upsetting them further, I didn’t tell them I was doing it regardless. I was still undecided about whether to talk to Justin...
May 31, 2019
Wild Rosegarten, Chapter 3: Part 1
This was going to be big.
Leaning against the wall the dining room shared with the living room, I listened as my father spoke to our family about the offer. They were afraid. Robert suggested we move immediately. Mandy assumed that Wells bit me and suggested that my father kill me before we moved. That suggestion was poorly received, most of all by Justin, who yelled at her.
With what little information I had given him, my father answered their questions. Most of...
May 29, 2019
Wild Rosegarten, Chapter 2: Part 2
“Please, try to trust me.” His brow furrowed a bit. “I can offer you protection, aid.”
“Why?” I wondered what the price might be.
“I want to work with you, specifically. Beyond that,” he took his hands out of his pockets, “you should know that a household like Benoit’s is always on the lookout for young females…for various reasons. One of your recent visits to the grocery store drew the attention of Benoit’s right-hand man, Luc.”
I straightened. “How can you know that?”
“His men have been ask...
