Courage Runs Red

by W. J. May

  Right now it didn’t matter who she belonged with. Her father’s future depended on getting him somewhere safe for a while, training him to use his strength he had no idea lay dormant inside of him. If he couldn’t even get in the room with Liam, then nothing would improve and she would have effectively put her and her mother at risk for nothing.

  “I don’t know who this guy is, Kallie, but you don’t need his protection,” Liam said as if reading her thoughts. “You have mine. You’re stealing my heart and as much as I hate the loss of control, I don’t want this John guy, or whatever his name is, moving in on what’s beginning between us.” He carefully pressed her chin and she lifted her head as he moved down and brushed his lips against hers. “Let’s go see your dad so we can work toward a solution – together.”

  “Okay,” she whispered. He was willing to risk everything to help her and her dad. That had to mean something.

  Liam held the door open for her.

  As she walked through ahead of him and wiped under her eyes, she decided she needed to put Caleb on the back burner until they ran into each other again. She had a million questions for him and something told her that he’d be more than willing to answer each and every one of them. She would have to do that without Liam.

  What if it was her? If she was a Red Blood? What if she had been the target instead of her dad? Another thought tugged at her heart. What if her dad had changed to help protect her? Would she and Liam stand a chance if she were a Red Blood? Or would a wall resurrect between them, the age-old struggle of dominance all the way till the blood in their veins killed off their chances?

  “You’re thinking again. Quite dangerous.” Liam took her hand and pulled it to his lips, kissing it softly before nibbling on her knuckles, a soft growl leaving him and shaking her to the core of her being.

  He was right – enough thinking. Now it was time to act.

  Chapter 13

  The moon sat high in the sky, the air around them still a bit too warm. She glanced over at Liam, his eyes lost to the vision of something before him. He had secrets – a life lived far beyond the few moments she had known him. She didn’t even know how long he had been a vampire. After tonight she would ask him. She wanted to know everything about him. After they passed this test she planned to spend an evening wrapped in his strong arms, getting to know him better. What if he hadn’t slept with anyone since he had turned? It would make him a virgin in a sense as well. It could be something special, something to covet as the days got harder. Their future so unpredictable and everyone she loved at stake in some way or another.

  Liam set the car’s blinker on as he waited for oncoming traffic to pass. Kallie stared at the tree up ahead where everything had changed. Her eyes were always drawn to it. She let her gaze trail behind the tree where Caleb had made his debut in her life much to her surprise.

  As Liam turned onto her road, he tugged on her hand. “I’ll drop you off in front of your house and bring my car to my house. You go get your father. I’ll meet you out back in the yard. Is your mother home?” Liam’s eyes scanned the property around them, his gaze electric and paranormal.

  “No, I don’t think she is.”

  “Good. If something goes wrong, I don’t want her hurt or scared. I’d prefer if you stay inside. Just send him out so he and I can talk for a minute.”

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Kallie. Please.”

  “No. He’s not coming without me. Stop protecting me.”

  “I suppose you’d rather your new stalker do that?” He closed his eyes and exhaled loudly, their fighting nothing more than nerves over the situation before them.

  “We’ll meet you out back shortly.” She got out of the car and walked into the house, the sound of Liam’s apologies finding their way to her. She was too tired to respond, her lack of sleep and then all-nighter the night before took her energy away without permission. She needed to be alert and ready. Tiredness would have to wait. She could sleep when she was dead.

  She stopped in front of the basement door, knocking softly. “Dad?”

  “Tell your friend to go away.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Tell him I feel anxious tonight, my skin’s crawling at the need to fight or kill,” he called from downstairs.

  “Dad, please. He’s going to help us.”

  “There’s no helping me, Kalls. Tell him to leave.”

  She hit her hands against the door a few times, her emotions getting the best of her. “No. You come out and do this. I know it’s my fault, but I’m trying to make it better. It’s only a matter of time before they come for me and mom.” She hated using that card, but she didn’t have a choice. She pounded the door with her fist a few more times, her show a bit dramatic, but she didn’t care in the slightest.

  The door opened and her father stepped out. “You stay here. I’ll go talk to the boy.”

  “I’m going with you.”

  “I’m telling you I can already feel myself diving toward the edge of snapping, Kallie. Didn’t he say there were two kinds of vampires? Isn’t he the opposite of me?”

  “Dad, you’re stronger than you think. There’s no way you’re going to snap. All you’ve been through, you can do this.”

  “What if he snaps? Then what? You’re putting me in a situation where I could end up killing. This boy is someone to you, what if I kill him?”

  “You won’t.” She trusted her dad more than anyone and believed with her heart Liam would keep himself under control too. He spent every night chasing down vicious Red Bloods and still kept it together. If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t be a decorated officer at the station, but a vicious killer behind bars. Surely they could hold back whatever existed between their kind long enough to create a solution for her and her mom.

  Her dad sighed and moved toward the back door. He pushed it open, walking out on the porch as Kallie followed. She reached for the hero just beside her, her father, moving faster than she could have ever imagined.

  He growled loudly, his words shocking her more than his actions. “You? You bastard! You were there that night! This is your fault!” Her father leapt over the large balcony, landing in front of Liam and plowing into him, her father lifting her handsome cop off his feet and slamming him into the ground. She couldn’t hear their conversation, but turned to run down the side stairs, yelling for her father to stop.

  She looked to her left and she jolted down, losing her footing and falling about three stairs in. Her body tumbled over itself, her ankle twisting somewhere in the midst of the mess. She screamed in pain and fear, her fall softened at the bottom by strong arms.

  She pulled herself up with help and looked into Caleb’s red eyes.

  “I’ll help him, as I’ll always be here to help you.” He reached up and touched her face, the moment torn from them by the loud screaming of her father. Liam pinned the older man to the ground, his face contorted into something almost demonic.

  Liam looked over at the same time Caleb rushed him, picking him up off her father. Liam swung wildly before Caleb threw him toward a large oak tree. Liam hit hard, the tree cracking as he slid down to the earth below him.

  Kallie crawled toward her dad, fear echoing her mistakes and making terror all the more real. She knelt beside him, her dad’s face bloody, a tooth missing from the front of his mouth. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. Tell me you’re okay.”

  “He’ll be fine,” Caleb commanded. “Go inside, Kallie. I have to extinguish the Blue Blood and I don’t want you to see it.”

  She grabbed Caleb’s ankle. “Don’t hurt him. Something’s wrong. A misunderstanding.” She glanced toward the tree, the earth bare and Liam gone.

  “He was there,” her dad croaked. “That night. I remember. I saw him. I’ll never forget his face. He’s the one that did this.” Her father moved toward her, his words painful to hear.

  She swallowed the lump in her throat and looked at Caleb. Something didn’t seem right. She just didn�
�t know what it was yet. “You were there too. Why?”

  He licked at his lip, blood dripping down his perfect chin. “To protect you.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’d have died without me.”

  “You didn’t change my father?”

  Caleb shook his head.

  Could it have been Liam? It didn’t make sense. “Why would you care if I lived or died that night?”

  “I do.” His eyes burned nearly red. “More than you’ll ever know.”

  What the hell did he mean by that?

  THE END

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  Part 1

  THE HIDDEN SECRETS SAGA

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  Book Description:

  Like most teenagers, Rouge is trying to figure out who she is and what she wants to be. With little knowledge about her past, she has questions but has never tried to find the answers. Everything changes when she befriends a strangely intoxicating family. Siblings Grace and Michael, appear to have secrets which seem connected to Rouge. Her hunch is confirmed when a horrible incident occurs at an outdoor party. Rouge may be the only one who can find the answer.

  An ancient journal, a Sioghra necklace and a special mark force life-altering decisions for a girl who grew up unprepared to fight for her life or others.

  All secrets have a cost and Rouge’s determination to find the truth can only lead to trouble…or something even more sinister.

  *Warning: There are werewolves in this story... and they are not friendly.*

  ** Warning #2: This book will end on a cliff-hanger. Book 2 picks up where this book ends.**

  Seventh Mark

  Chapter 1

  Ear buds stuffed in, I cranked the volume on my iPod and clicked my exercise shuffle. I jogged down the gravel driveway and turned to follow the last bit of sunset. If only I could draw or paint…

  Crossing an intersection, I headed left and let my legs carry me away from the small houses, run-down yards, cracked door screens and broken-down cars into a block of bigger houses. The lawns rolled further away from the sidewalk and the houses grew farther apart. Maybe one day I’ll buy a place like this. I snorted at the thought.

  Even though I’d never admit it to anyone, a part of me is cursed. Like poison running through my veins, I’ve always believed it would catch up with me. I didn’t know the whys or hows, but deep down it seemed inevitable.

  Except now fate intervened, and for once in my life, thank goodness. If it hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here, in this awesome place on the other side of the country. The whole curse thing was probably just in my head.

  I gazed straight in front, between the old giant trees lining the roads. The jagged pink and white peaks reflected snow from the remains of the setting sun made me appreciate the beauty of nature. West coast, oh yeah! I smiled, unable to keep the giddiness inside. I’d lived all my life in Niagara Falls, but this—words couldn’t begin to describe this beauty.

  Inhaling real fresh pine scent, not the kind from cleaning agents from the past two days, I savoured the moment. If Family and Children Services hadn’t approved Jim and Sally’s request, I wouldn’t be seeing real mountains for the first time. As quick as the bubble came up, it burst.

  Next January I’d be eighteen and no longer at the benefit of the government. Jim and Sally were decent foster parents, but they also made it clear they couldn’t afford to help me with college. I quickened my pace. I didn’t want to think about where I might be in a year.

  You’ll be on your own…no family. Nothing. Unwanted again. The imaginary little devil on my left shoulder laughed at me.

  Music shouted in my ear, “You’re supposed to be alone. Alone…lone…lone…” I glanced at my left shoulder and pretended to flick the imaginary devil off, nearly crashing into the old high-stoned wall lining the neighborhood. Regaining my balance and focus, I pulled the iPod out of my pocket and skipped to the next song.

  Street lights flickered on. My eyes had grown accustomed to the darkness without even letting my brain know. I should turn around before it’s completely black. Didn’t want to be out on my own when I barely knew the area.

  A gap ahead in the high wall caught my attention. Curiosity won. Instead of heading back, I pushed forward. A public park entrance came into view. Heavy black iron gates led me onto a smooth paved entrance. A large raised garden split the road in two.

  A plaque set into the garden’s stone wall made me smile. End of an Era. From the raised stones peeking behind the garden flowers, this was a cemetery, not a park. The owner obviously had a sense of humor along with the desire to create one of those resting places with a welcome. A twenty-something looking woman whizzed by on roller blades, waving as she passed.

  The pathways were lit up with those new solar green energy lights. I took the first lane along the outer border and slowed my pace. The tall slate and marble gravestones were erected on the left side with an ancient forest lining the right. As I jogged, I passed through a part of the cemetery that must’ve been the original lot with worn-down, ancient-looking stones. I paused or weaved between the stones to read the odd one: “1886 John Hartzel – 18 years of age, 1892 Patrick O’Reilly – died too young, Tammy Fortune 1802 -1822.” What’s with this place? Can’t come here if you’re over thirty?

  Squinting, I jogged closer to a raised tombstone with a concrete angel resting on top. Using my hand, which carried my iPod, I rested it on the corner of the stone to steady myself. I leaned forward for a better look at the inscription. Poor thing, same age as the others. I straightened and pushed off to finish my run. The cord from my iPod snagged the angel’s head, yanking the buds from my ears—the iPod went flying from my hand.

  “Crap!” I skidded to a stop on the damp grass and used my palms to hug my ears. It hurt like a bitch. I glanced up at the stone figurine and grimaced. Imagine trying to decapitate an angel. People were probably rolling in their graves right now.

  Double crap! My iPod. It better not be busted. Night had fully descended, which didn’t work in my favor. I got down on my knees and began groping in the dark, futilely trying to scan the grass. The little solar lights were useless. “Of course, I had to buy the black case,” I mumbled and shook my head as I crawled to check under a nearby bench. Cobwebs caressed my face, which had me doing a karate twitch dance as I tried to knock off any possible spiders and remove the webs.

  A twig snapped, followed by a muffled laugh.

  I froze, waiting, tense, my head cocked to the side. It was dead quiet. As it should be in a cemetery. No noise. Not a sound.

  “Dummy.” I got out from under the bench, sat up and brushed off my sweatshirt. It’d taken months to save for the iPod. I dropped down to search again clawing at chunks of grass. I’m not leaving till I find it, even if I have to swallow some hairy, icky spiders.

  “You lose something?” A low, gruff voice broke through the dark. “Or are you digging your own grave?”

  Seventh Mark

  Chapter 2

  My heart leapt to my throat. I smacked my head on the bottom of the bench. “Flippin’ heck!” I scrambled back, rubbing the sore spot, paranoid about how high my butt hung in the air. My luck, it was probably some graveyard rapist.

  The stranger said nothing. All I could see was the outline of a pair of dark with white Converse sneakers. I noisily sucked in a rapid breath, not realizing I’d held it.

  “Sorry,” the husky male voice said, sounding amused. “I didn't mean to
startle you. This probably isn’t the best place to sneak up on someone.” He cleared his throat. “Are you looking for something?”

  His voice turned soft, but masculine. Not the kind of voice you expected to hear in a cemetery.

  Then again, what kind of voice would one expect to hear?

  I glanced up then fell back on my butt. A boy standing a few feet away from me definitely didn’t belong in a cemetery. Too tanned, too blond, too…wow, hot.

  Very tall, especially from where I sat on the ground. I had to make an effort to drag my eyes away from his face. Even in the dark, his blue eyes flashed against the moonlight. He had the blondest hair I’d ever seen, like a Viking’s.

  Not a psycho or kidnapper, just a kid like me. I relaxed and stood, brushing my shorts. Why are you in the cemetery? I didn’t bother to ask. He probably wondered the same about me. With my luck, he’d just visited his girlfriend’s tombstone. Man, I’m awful.

  I quickly shut my mouth, which hung open. Coughing, I spoke a little too loudly. “I-I lost my iPod.”

  Another chuckle erupted from his lips, sounding like it belonged in the movies. Hollywood-boy walked around me and behind the upright stone angel. He bent down behind it and pulled a long, white string. My eyes widened and for a split second I thought about running. What did he plan on doing? Strangling me?

  Then it dawned on me, the white string belonged to my ear buds. A sure sign when the iPod followed along, like a fish on a line. The wind caught behind me and blew escaped ponytail hair into my face. Irritated, I brushed it away from my eyes.

  He paused before turning back around. “It smells…” he inhaled “…like liquorice.”