Rose was in shock. Complete and total shock. Is she mad?
"Rose, please close your mouth," Ruth said with a grimace. "It is completely uncouth." Like a robot, Rose's mouth snapped shut on command.
"But he's a—"
"Never mind what he is!" Ruth spit out quickly. "He's a savior. That's what he is." Ruth set down her tea and stood. "Go bathe and dress. He'll be here after sunset." With that, Ruth turned on her heel and walked briskly out of the room. Rose choked back a sob as soon was her mother was out of sight.
Her entire life had just changed with a blink of her mother's eye. Rose knew their financial situation was dire, but she had no idea that Ruth would stoop to this level. Arranging a marriage was one thing, but this, being sold to the highest bidder...
The highest bidder wasn't even human. No. Caledon Hockley was a vampire.
Vampires were still a myth, a legend. They were said to be blood hungry animals, killing women and children without any regret. Some said vampires raped their victims as they fed from them. Always, the vampires were described as beautiful and seductive. It was part of the hunt.
Cal was physically beautiful. Rose gave him that much. As for the rest, she couldn't help but think it was true. It repulsed her. But what could she do? If she ran, crying for help, she'd be locked up.
Though vampires were in fact real, it was a fact that was known by very few. Only the richest of the rich, and those with good names, knew of their existence. Rose and Ruth were becoming poorer by the day, but Ruth pulled out the good name card when she needed to. Her late husband had done business with Caledon Hockley, who had inherited the business from his late father. Well over a century ago.
Still, Cal remained thirty-three forever.
"Rose!" Ruth screeched. Rose's thoughts vanished at the noise. "I told you to get ready!" Ruth stood in the doorway, her face stiff and stern. Get ready? I can do that, Rose told herself. Then what?
Marry the vampire of your dreams?
The vampire of your nightmares.
Rose climbed the stairs to her room. She didn't even realize she was walking up them. She was too busy weighing the pros and cons of suicide.
*****
Rose didn't know how she did it. It had taken every ounce of strength to withstand the evening. Cal had joined them immediately after dinner. Rose tried not to think of what Cal was having for dinner and instead tried to focus on the fish on her plate.
Cal tried his best to seduce Rose that evening. His fangs were retracted, giving him an almost human look. He softened his eyes at her. Cal's voice was quiet and sweet.
The entire facade was disgusting. What disgusted Rose even more was that she was tempted to just give in, and get the inevitable over and done with. Cal would feed from her, and have sex with her, whether she liked it or not. But she kept her cool.
"I don't know why I bother," she muttered to herself as she crawled into bed. "It's not like I have a white knight to save me."
Rose fell asleep almost immediately, not knowing how wrong she was about her white knight.
The Following Night
The first time Jack saw Rose, he didn't know that was her name. He didn't know that she was looking for someone to save her from her hellish ordeal. And he had no clue that he was the one who would save her.
Jack did know, however, that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. And as an artist, he had seen many beautiful women. But he when saw the gorgeous woman with her fiery red hair, he didn't just see physical beauty. He saw spiritual beauty.
Not that I have a chance in hell with a woman like that, he thought to himself. She wasn't alone, either. On the lighted street, he could see a man with her. The black-haired man had a wicked sneer on his face. Which explains why her face is devoid of any emotion, Jack realized.
From where Jack stood, it appeared that she was being forced into an arranged marriage with a snobbish, haughty aristocrat. From her expressionless face, Jack could see that the redhead wasn't happy about it. He couldn't help but wish for an opportunity to arise so that he could make her smile, confident that her smile could capture anyone's heart.
Before Jack could allow his thoughts to go any further, the pair disappeared around the corner. He shook his head and closed his portfolio. Standing, he stretched slightly before walking away in the opposite direction.
Jack's thoughts remained on the woman, no matter how hard he tried to shove them away. Not a chance, he reminded himself.
He had no idea that very soon, his life would change in ways he had never imagined. In fact, just by seeing that woman tonight, the ball had already started rolling.
*****
It was official. Rose DeWitt Bukater was engaged to Caledon Hockley. He had done his best to woo her, including a late evening stroll in the park. But Rose's feelings hadn't changed when Cal gave her the engagement ring. The diamond ring weighed heavily on her left hand. She looked at it again, feeling sick to her stomach. Suddenly, the grandfather clock in the parlor gonged the hour. It was two in the morning. Cal had left to handle business that he was, of course, unable to handle while the sun was up.
More than anything, Rose wished for a way out. Living on the street, becoming a prostitute, even suicide all seemed like better options to her. Marrying a vampire is suicide, she thought to herself. I should just jump off that old train bridge.
Before she could change her mind, Rose slipped quickly and quietly out of the house. She was glad she had slipped a coat on, since the spring air proved to be chilly. To get to the train bridge, she knew she'd have to walk through the less than reputable parts of town. There was some part of her that realized that she could very easily be raped. I'll be dead by morning. Does it matter?
Rose didn't remember getting to the bridge. She didn't remember climbing over the railing. She barely noticed the height over the river, nor did she notice the breeze blowing her curls into her face. But she did notice the cold steel of the bridge against her hand. If I let go...
"Don't do it."