“So, now that I know about you, what am I supposed to do now?” I ask.
“That is the difficult part,” Emmett sighed. He stood up and began pacing the room.
As I watched him, I couldn’t help but think how eerie his words were. If learning that life was nothing like I had once believed wasn’t difficult enough, then I dreaded to know what the truly difficult part of all this was going to be.
Emmett stopped and stared outside the window. He seemed to be watching something, but I couldn’t see what from where I was sitting.
“How could anything be more difficult than what you just told me?” I half laughed.
“Well, you can’t tell anyone what you saw or that you know about me. Micah accepts that some other creatures know about us, but if he knew that you were aware…” he trailed off, unable to finish his own words.
Fear rushed through me. I knew what Emmett was going to say.
“Go ahead, just say it,” I demanded.
Sighing, Emmett walked back over and stood in front of me. “Micah is not as bad as he seems. He has a reason to be so guarded. The demon who killed my family and who punished me to this life -- he has been wreaking havoc all over Shady Oaks for centuries. He wants to kill Supernaturals or trap us to work for him, like I do. But, his favorite thing to do is to kill humans who know about us. He is a truly wicked man and wants to keep our world separated.”
Thinking of someone so evil and twisted roaming about Shady Oaks made me shudder.
“I won’t tell anyone, I swear. I just need to know one thing; when can I go home?” I asked,
An unsettling feeling had taken over and I knew I needed to get back to my world and fast.
“That’s another problem. Now that Micah knows about you, I don’t know if or when he will let you go.”
And with those words, I realized I may never, never get home.
Chapter 5
Emmett
Thunder rumbled through the night sky-- an approaching storm was sending out a warning to everyone in Shady Oaks. Standing by the window, I shuddered at the distant sound. Micah was somewhere inside this large house, and just knowing he was nearby gave me the creeps.
Emmett’s words were ominous and strangely vague as he told me he wasn’t sure what Micah would do with me.
In my heart, I wanted to believe that Emmett wouldn’t let any harm come to me, but at the same time, could I really trust this… monster? He had stated himself that he was a demon, punished and forced to deliver the dead to-- well, whoever it was.
I was trapped, a prisoner and had nowhere to go. Even if I did manage to escape, would I be able to find my way home? I had heard the myths and legends about the creatures that supposedly roamed the woods in Shady Oaks. And Emmett had given me reason to believe they weren’t just made-up stories.
“How are you feeling?” Emmett asked, his eyes watching me carefully.
Did he sense that I wanted to escape? I couldn’t be sure but his beautiful features were surely distracting me.
Shaking my head, I turned back to face the window. “I guess as good as can be expected,” I admitted.
Finally turning back around, I stared at him. Emmett seemed taken aback by this and gasped.
“When can I go home?” I asked.
Just then, the sounds of heavy chains and large bolts rattled from downstairs. Locking eyes with Emmett, I rushed to the doorway of the room that we were currently in. I followed the sounds down the hall and to the winding staircase.
“Stop, please don’t go any further,” Emmett’s whisper yelled behind me.
I ignored his commands and kept moving until I found the source of the eerie sounds. It was Micah and he was bolting the heavy, wooden front door with massive chains and locks. He locked four deadbolts and then turned the lock on the door handle.
“What are you doing?” I screamed out in a fit of rage.
It was true, he was going to hold me prisoner and possibly even kill me! I had to find a way to escape or… out smart them.
Micah turned at the sound of my voice and gave me an evil glare. “She needs to be locked up until we decide what to do with her,” Micah growled toward Emmett.
“Micah, just listen to me,” Emmett pleaded, holding his hands up in defense. “She is Evelyn’s granddaughter. We can’t hurt her,” he said with such emotion, I couldn’t help but look at him stunned.
“I won’t tell anyone about you all, I swear,” I cried out. “I didn’t even see anything.”
“I don’t know you. For all I know, you could be lying and then get out of here and tell the world about us,” Micah seethed as he stepped toward me.
I back up onto another step as fear engulfed me. “No, I won’t,” I stammered. I could feel tears pricking my eyes and I felt the sudden urge to vomit.
Emmett reached his hand out and grabbed hold of mine. The movement was so unexpected and raw, I almost screamed from his warm touch. He squeezed my hand and I suddenly realized that he was trying to get me to stop talking. He was helping me. But why?
“Micah, we owe Evelyn our lives. If any harm came to her granddaughter by our hands, she never would have forgiven us,” Emmett says, this time his voice is strong and commanding.
His hand gripped mine like a vice but I couldn’t pull away. There was something comforting about the way he held my hand, like he was protecting me. I tried to fight that thought as best I could.
Micah opened his mouth to argue, but then thought better of it. He held his fists tightly to his sides and I could see rage forming on his face. He was angry. He wanted to kill me. To end me from every outing them. But, I wouldn’t do that. If what they had said was true and my grandmothers stories were in fact real, then I owed it to her to keep their secret, too.
Realizing I had to say something, I looked back at Emmett and smiled with tears in my eyes.
“My grandmother protected you all for a reason. I would never defy her or what she felt like was important. If your lives are meant to be hidden, then that is what I will do,” I spoke up, my voice firm and even.
Both boys looked at me, Micah with skepticism and Emmett with a strange wonderment.
Emmett squeezed my hand again and I felt a sense of relief wash over me when I saw the tiniest form of a smile grace his lips.
The fire in the hearth in the next room glowed colors of ember as it flickered against the darkened walls. The reds and yellows licked across Emmett’s face and for a moment, I felt transfixed as I stood there.
Man, he was gorgeous.
Micah thought over my words for what felt like forever. Finally, he shook his head as he began to speak. “Fine, I won’t kill you-- for now. But, if you dare breathe a word of any of this, I will personally hunt you down and destroy you and your family,” Micah promised more than warned.
“You have my word, just let me go home,” I added with finality.
“I will personally escort her home in the morning,” Emmett said, still holding my hand like a protector.
“Emmett, I am warning you. You can’t let your personal feelings get in the way of what we have created here,” Micah said, as his eyes danced between us.
What in the world did that mean? As curious as I was, I couldn’t dwell on what Micah was talking about. He had just agreed to let me leave and I felt a sense of relief come over me.
“Now, get out of my sight,” Micah stated, waving me away like a pesky child.
Emmett pulled on my hand and I had no other choice but to follow him up the stairs. He led me back to the room where we had been when I heard the noise before. I was panting and trying to catch my breath. So many emotions were rolling through me and I wasn’t sure what to feel.
When we reached the room, Emmett slammed the door behind us and I jumped at the loud bang.
Startled, I stared at Emmett as he paced the room. “Tomorrow, I promise I will get you home safely,” he said, his eyes locked on the ground as he spoke.
There was a darkness looming above us
and I couldn’t understand what had him so angry. Micah had agreed to let me leave; this was good news. At least to me it was.
“Thank you,” I said, my voice calm. I watched him as he continued to move around the room. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Micah will not let this go. He will follow you to ensure that you don’t tell anyone. I wish he would just listen to me sometimes,” he seethed.
He was walking so fast; I was afraid he would burn a hole in the floor. Thunder boomed again outside and I was reminded of the approaching storm. Pellets of rain smacked against the windows, and the sound drowned out his heavy footsteps.
“Why are you so upset?” I dared to ask.
I felt this strange connection to him and wanted to know if he were ok. Why? I had no idea.
“Why am I upset?” Emmett asked, throwing his hands up in the air in frustration. “Micah treats me like a child. I get no say in anything that pertains to our lives or the secrets we hold. I didn’t want to bring you back here. I didn’t want to scare you,” he shouted.
I took a step away from him, for the first time since meeting him, I felt scared
Noticing my frightened eyes and timid stance, Emmett lowered his voice. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to frighten you. I just get so upset…” he trailed off, shaking his head in disgust.
His words stung me and I wasn’t sure why. I should be happy he hadn’t wanted to bring me back to this terrifying eerie house. I should be grateful that he didn’t want to scare me. But, something inside of me felt sadness-- almost like I wanted him to want those things.
“I’m sorry I interrupted what you were doing with my grandmother. This is all my fault. I ruined your night and made you and Micah get into a fight,” I said, my eyes down and unsure of whether to look at Emmett.
Striding across the room, Emmett placed his hand gently underneath my chin. He forced me to look at him and when he did, a lone tear trickled down my cheek. With his other hand, Emmett brushed away the tear and stared deep into my eyes. For a moment, I felt like the world had stopped turning and time and life had become frozen.
My bottom lip quivered as I was unsure of what he was planning to do.
“Please don’t feel like this is your fault. Your grandmother died and you were hurting. I watched you the days following her death. I saw you sob alone and then hold a face of bravery around your mother and family. You are very strong. You didn’t bring this on yourself-- I did.”
His admission shocked me and I opened my mouth and gasped. “What?” I asked.
He had been watching me.
He had seen me cry alone.
What was happening right now. I had so many questions and I wasn’t sure if I were truly prepared for the answers.
“I have known about you for years. I promised your grandmother that I would stay away from you while she was still living. She had warned me that your stubborn curiosity would draw you to me and you would uncover secrets you weren’t ready to learn. I had sworn to her that I would keep my distance’ but in the end, I followed you anyway,” Emmett admitted.
I took a step back away from him, stunned into silence.
I was afraid of this monster in front of me and yet, my heart was calling out to him like a siren. What was happening to me?
****
I had destroyed everything I had created.
When I had first spotted Willow, she was thirteen years old. Even so young, she was a beauty. I was also thirteen and growing into the age I was supposed to represent on Earth. Evelyn had shown me her family in pictures over the years, but had never allowed me to meet them in person. Curious as I was, I would follow them around.
Part of me desired a family. Being a Lost Boy was lonely. Even with Micah and the others we met throughout the years, it wasn’t the same as a ‘real’ family bond.
Evelyn had always told me that even though I was punished on this Earth, she wanted me to protect her granddaughter and explain the realities that lurked in Shady Oaks to her.
However, this wasn’t how I expected to explain it all to her.
I rubbed my temples as a piercing headache began to form. My phone vibrated in my pocket and I quickly glanced to see that Pierce was calling. I was sure he needed another supply of blood. I didn’t have time to deal with him right now; he would just have to wait. I hated to make my friends wait, but I had been there enough for them as it was
My eyes traveled to the window and I watched as heavy rain fell from the angry sky. The silver moon was full tonight, adding a slight glimpse of light into the black night.
I was so wrapped up in my own head, that I didn’t realize Willow was still standing there-- beautifully distraught like a golden princess.
I knew it was dangerous for me to fall in love with her, but I just couldn’t help it. Part of me wondered if this was Evelyn’s plan all along.
“Why am I just finding this out now?” Willow asked.
She seemed so small standing next to me, and, so out of place. She radiated beauty and goodness-- a grim contrast to the gloomy and dark house in which I lived.
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to think carefully about my next words. I didn’t want her to be upset with her grandmother. Everything we had done had been to protect Willow. To protect all humans in Shady Oaks. But now, all I wanted to do was to make her understand.
“It’s just how it was meant to be,” I said, offering her no other explanation.
Willow nodded like she understood, but I couldn’t see how she did.
“When I go home, will I be safe?” she asked.
“I will ensure you are always safe,” I stated firmly. And I meant every word I spoke.
Evelyn had known about those who were after the supernaturals in Shady Oaks. That was part of her reason for not wanting her family to know about the rest of us living among them. It was dangerous to know us-- to be part of our lives.
“I believe you,” Willow said.
More than anything, her words sank deep into my heart. I wanted her to believe me. But I couldn’t fathom how she could believe a monster like me. But, something inside of her eyes told me she did. I couldn’t understand it, but I would take anything she was willing to give me.
Chapter 6
Willow
It had been an hour since Micah had agreed to let me go home. I couldn’t be certain, but it seemed like Emmett was almost sad about this. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to sleep tonight-- too much had happened and I feared if I were to close my eyes, nightmares might just plague my dreams. The storm raged on outside and I couldn’t help but wonder what my parents were thinking right now.
My phone!
I had completely forgotten about my phone in my pocket, I reached down inside my jeans, but it wasn’t there.
Panic flashed through me just as a bright, white streak of lightning lit up outside the window. I jumped back at the sight and fell into Emmett’s arms. He held me tightly and I could feel the rapidness of his heavy breathing. He seemed nervous, too.
“Sorry, the storm scared me,” I said, trying to stand up without help.
Emmett helped me and then smiled “It’s ok. You have been through a lot tonight.”
I laughed a little. “Just a little,” I teased.
“You can sleep in this room,” Emmett said, beckoning around the large study. “There is a bed in the next room and a bathroom you can use. I can get you anything you need and I will just be down the hall,” he added.
I was a little scared to be sleeping in the same house as Micah. “Where will Micah be?” I asked, glancing around. I wasn’t’ sure why, but I expected him to just pop up like some angry villain in a horror film.
“He is out hunting right now but don’t worry about him. I am here and he won’t do anything now.”
I knew his words should have reassured me, but I only had more questions lingering in my head. What was he hunting? Why at night? Ugh, I couldn’t think about it anymore.
“Ok,” I said, decid
ing it would be best to just stop talking and go to sleep. When I woke up again, it would be morning and I could go home.
I went toward the bedroom door and stopped. “Hey, I think I dropped my phone at the morgue. Do you think I can get that tomorrow?” I asked.
“I will make sure you have it tomorrow,” Emmett said.
“Thanks,” I said, before heading into the dimly lit bedroom.
It was exactly what I had expected for a bedroom in this house. A large, dark wood four poster bed sat in the center of the room. One window overlooked the forest and a tall dresser was up against the far wall. I made sure to lock the bedroom door before pulling back the heavy sheets on the bed. Climbing in, I covered myself and lay in the bed.
I wasn’t sure how I would ever find sleep.
****
The next morning, I woke before the sun did. I had been startled by loud noises outside and when I had jumped out of bed to see what the commotion was, I found Micah outside by a large shed. He was locking a heavy door and he seemed exhausted by the way he slowly walked toward the house.
After that, I wasn’t sure what to do. My stomach was growling from extreme hunger and I was ready to go home. I was too afraid to venture out of the room, so I sat on the bed and waited for Emmett to come get me.
Once the sun was high in the sky, I heard a faint knock on the bedroom door. Walking over, I unlocked the door and slowly peeked out. I wasn’t sure who or what I was expecting, but I was more than happy to see Emmett on the other side. He offered a slight smile and held a glass of water in his hand.
“I thought you might be thirsty,” he said, handing me the glass.
I gladly took the cold water and downed it fast. A shadow danced across his features as a cloud bank rolled in outside, blocking the once bright sun.
“Thank you,” I said, admiring how he looked even with shadows on his face.
“Once you are ready, I will take you home,” Emmett said.
I couldn’t be certain, but it sounded like he was sad about this.
“Yes, thank you,” I said, relief flooding through me. It was still early enough that I could devise a plan to explain my whereabouts to my parents. Knowing I had been out all night would have made them freak out I was sure.
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