Surface Below: Dark Secrets (The Surface Below Book 1)

by Leeah Taylor

  “They were created with love and darkness. Good and evil. The Heir and Heiress had a love for each other that was unprecedented. And when one died, for whatever reason, the other would take his or her own life. Unable to bear the pain of their loss. And then their essence and spirit would pass on to the next born male and female Royal.”

  “But there are six of us…”

  “Twenty-eight years ago, someone began killing off the royal line. And they worked all the way up to the Heir and Heiress. Killing them in cold blood. They didn’t like that too much and had other plans for their future successors,” he explained.

  “Who?” she asked.

  “Viktor…” And his voice trailed off. She raised her brow and nodded as if saying it made sense.

  “So basically we are the embodiments of ancient vampire royalty.”

  “Yeah, we are the rightful Heirs to the throne.”

  Becca leaned back against the headboard and shook her head. It seemed impossible that Nikki, Z and she could possibly be a part of all of it. Her mind went back to the eyes of the blonde-haired girl. The shock and fear she saw there made her cringe.

  “You couldn’t have stopped it, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “Ya know I’m not sure what’s worse. The fact that I know that or the fact that I didn’t want to stop it,” Becca admitted, bringing her gaze back to the window. “My throat is starting to burn again.”

  “Here.” He handed her the vials. “That’s what these are for. It’s what most vampires drink to keep the Beast inside. It’s Hybrid. Human blood…it…” William took in a deep breath. “It’s a drug. Like heroin or cocaine for humans. For you, most likely it will work out of your system in a couple of days. You may feel surges of energy and emotions but we’ll keep you well dosed with Hybrid until you level out.”

  “So this is what it means to be a vampire?” Becca said, studying the vial. Slowly tilting it back and forth. The contents sloshing from side to side. William considered her comment, raising a brow to it.

  “How else would we be?” he asked.

  “The way we were supposed to be.” It was stated dryly and matter-of-factly. Vivid images of their kind’s history flashed before her eyes. They were hiding within the shadows of their predecessors.

  “Becca, what are you talking about?” She looked up from the glass in her hand and into his eyes. He could see something there and wasn’t quite sure what it was. But there was something different lingering in her.

  “The images, the flashes. What we are now? We are a weaker species now. A mere blip under a dark shadow,” she said.

  Becca uncapped the first vial and the aroma hit her immediately. It wasn’t as enticing as the warm, smooth and almost creamy blood she’d had that morning. The smell was off, lacking the sweet, metallic aroma. Bringing it to her lips, she closed her eyes.

  “We should be embracing it, not substituting it.” And with that she emptied its contents into her mouth. The taste made her cringe and goosebumps ran down her arms. The hair on the back of her neck stood up. Her body protested it. The burning in her throat and chest subsided but not fully. She could feel it barely cowering to the faux substance. The thirst would return.

  “What images? What flashes? Becca, talk to me.” He was worried. From what he could remember from his first time, it hadn’t included any images.

  She brought her eyes up to meet his, and they flared purple and then normal. He straightened and tilted his head. They flared again but this time they didn’t change back. No, the purple color deepened until they were glowing back at him. Mechanically his hands closed around her wrists and he held them there. Not tightly but enough for whatever he could sense was about to happen.

  “Becca…” he said cautiously.

  Before he could react, though, she lunged for him and easily overpowered him, much to his surprise. She pushed him onto his back and was on top of him in a flash. Her breathing quickened, eyes darkened till they were almost black with a hint of purple.

  “Becca what is happening!?” He raised his voice, hoping it would jar her from whatever had its hold on her. But yet not enough to alert anyone downstairs. Whatever was happening, he wanted to see it through. And he didn’t need parents, uncles and siblings interrupting that.

  Unsheathing her fangs, she dipped down into his neck and sank them deep. It made him jerk away but her strong hold kept him from moving. A fire erupted where she bit down, and it spread slowly into his shoulders, down into his chest and out into the rest of his body. It boiled and peaked quickly. Just as fast, it subsided, leaving behind a euphoric pleasure.

  Closing his eyes to the feeling, he cradled the back of her head with his hand. His fingers tangling into her messy locks. He wanted her to drink from him, as deeply as she could. A deep satisfied moan passed his lips and it made Becca bite down even harder, drinking from him even more.

  William didn’t know what was happening but as she drank from him, it awakened his own Beast. It stirred and came to life, already trying to push its way to the surface. His eyes began to change to a brilliant emerald green, and a newfound strength was building within him. And when it peaked he grabbed hold over her and easily switched places with her. The urge to drink from her was greater than ever before, and he didn’t resist. In fact, every fiber within him was screaming for him to take from her. She arched against him and offered up the flesh of her neck.

  He lowered down to her, feeling every bit of her hips grinding hard against him. It excited him and made him quiver above her. His body thirsted for all of her. A low, guttural growl ripped from his chest. Without giving it any thought he let his razor sharp canines graze against her skin, leaving behind a streak of blood. His tongue lapped at the few drops and then he succumbed to her, letting his fangs bite down into the flesh of her neck.

  She moaned at the sensation as it stung, tingled and pulsed.

  Becca tasted every bit of the aroma she emanated. It was sweet and spicy. His arms wrapped her body and he jerked her up hard. A satisfying cry escaped her as she felt his teeth sink even deeper. He drank greedily from her, taking whatever she was willing to give. She arched up to grind into his groin and a more visceral growl ripped through his chest.

  Releasing her, he felt a renewed sense of balance. His senses kicked into overdrive and everything around him came to life. The smells that mingled throughout the entire house hit him in the face. The sounds of laughter, heartbeats, thrumming of fingers, water running all filled his ears. And then her, he could feel her even more now. Her thoughts were in his mind, and his in hers. Her heart beat in his chest, and his in hers. Their very existence merged and became one.

  William pulled his shirt over his head and lowered back down, kissing her hard with an urgent need. She moaned against his tongue as it pushed for admittance. Her hands caressed down his back and to his front, greedily pulling at his jeans and fighting to push them off of him. He pulled from her and stood to remove them. Kicking them off with rabid intent.

  He took her by the hand and pulled her into his arms, meeting her with his lips. He nibbled at her bottom lip and traced them with his tongue before kissing her hard. She moaned against his tongue twisting with hers.

  His hands cupped firmly around her bottom and he lifted her up into his arms. He turned and lowered her to the antique green dresser behind them. His fingers grabbed at the bottom of her tank top and pulled it up over her head. He wanted to see her face, taste her lips and look into her seductive purple eyes. They mesmerized him. Their beauty alone was captivating. He lined her neck with kisses, letting his tongue trace the curvature of her collar bone. It made her belly bubble and boil with excitement.

  Becca pulled at his boxers, freeing him from the restriction. William’s fingers slid into the waist of the PJ pants she wore, and he worked them down her legs and off to the floor. His lips kissed and licked their way back up the length of her, stopping just short of the spot on her neck. He inhaled deeply and groaned against her hot s
kin. Savoring her aroma as it mixed with the scent of sex.

  He kissed her hard again, his hands sliding under her and he pulled her towards him. Her body stiffened and then relaxed around him as he slowly filled her. William set a slow and steady pace at first, the need for her growing with every moan that escaped her. The thrusts quickened and got harder.

  His lips touched to the rhythmic pulse beneath her skin and he sank into her again. Blood coated the inside of his mouth and awakened the dormant Heir deep within him. Rising from the depths and bursting throughout with a power that surged through his body, making him thrust hard into Becca. A cry passed her lips, her nails scraped against the skin on his back and it made him growl.

  Their breathing hitched and came quicker with each thrust. He let up from the bite and could feel the impending implosion coming. Becca snaked her hands up his back and pulled him to her, forcing him to drive deeper. Again she forced his body against hers and she brought her bite down on his chest. A surge raced through her and she forced him to her again, making him hit hard. The Heiress emerged from deep inside of her and her essence spread quickly. Filling every bit of her with an untapped power. More vivid memories forged into her mind, giving her a clear look at their history. Going back centuries, the many faces of the Heir and Heiress seeded permanently into her mind.

  Again he drove hard, the dresser beneath them hitting against the wall. William grabbed her by the legs and wrapped them tightly around his body.

  His free hands cupped her face and he kissed her one last time as he thrust into her. William’s body exploded inside of her, a pleasurable throb pulsed in his groin and he let out a low rumble from his depths as he shook against her, inside her. His hand holding to the wall behind them as it slowly dissipated.

  Becca moaned, feeling him fill her and her own orgasm explosion burst within her core and out into her body. A tingling pulse filling her tummy. Sweat covered their bodies, both quaking as the bloodthirsty urges left them. Their eyes returned to normal. Their chests heaved up and down hard.

  William kissed her softly now against her neck and then her cheek, his hand coming to rest on the small of her back. His hot breath hitting her in the face as he rested his head against hers.

  They both felt something very different deep down in their core. In their souls. Something far greater than the Beast that lingered there. A plethora of history now playing in their mind. Their destiny, their legacy.

  Becca finally look up at him, their eyes locking on each other, and a satisfied smile grew on her lips.

  “Hello my Heir,” she whispered to him, letting her fingers graze his face. He gave her the same smile and kissed her again.

  “How I’ve missed you, my Heiress,” he whispered against her lips.

  Chapter 18

  Caleb paced back and forth in front of the now empty cell. Rage boiling at the surface. He stopped and stood inside the doorway, his arms holding him up against the frame. Her scent still lingered inside. The sweet, intoxicated aroma that was Becca. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her since tasting her. He yearned for more of it. Hell, he demanded more of it. There was a power in her that he needed more of. The little taste of power he had gotten wasn’t enough.

  “Guard!” he screamed. Their escape infuriated him. It left him looking inept and incapable of running his unit. His army.

  A guard hurried down the corridor towards him. He stopped just before him and stood rigid.

  “Yes Sir!” He straightened.

  Caleb said nothing at first, still staring into the cell. Until finally he reached up and grabbed hold of the man by the black shirt he wore, and jerked him hard towards the opening of the door.

  “Why?” He forced himself to have an even, firm tone. “Is this cell empty?”

  The guard held to the wall trying to keep from slipping and falling beneath Caleb’s grip. He looked into the cell and searched for an answer.

  “I…I don’t know, sir,” he uttered.

  Caleb sucked at his top lip and closed his eyes. He pulled him up hard and pushed him back against the wall.

  “You idiot.” He spit at him. “How did Sarah and Becca Lorde escape?”

  The man was struck speechless. He knew whatever answer he gave would be the wrong one. There hadn’t been an escape in over thirty years. Caleb thrust him into the wall again. “I asked you a question.”

  “I don’t know, sir. It happened between watch changes.”

  Caleb’s eyes widened in rage.

  “I’ve told you all a million times. Never! I repeat, never leave any post unattended!” he screamed at him before releasing the guard. The man stumbled away and looked down at the floor, forcing himself to stand rigid again. “You are all incompetent. You disgust me, get out of my face.”

  The man scurried away, like a dog with its tail tucked between his legs. Caleb’s feet started pacing again, giving the empty room a glance.

  Down the hall Viktor watched him. Something was off about his demeanor. Not so much the asshole factor as much as the agitation. Ever since he had caught him sneaking a taste of Becca, Caleb’s words and actions had been off.

  And with Sarah’s and Becca’s escape fresh in Caleb’s mind, he was beyond outraged. If only he knew his father had planned it all along.

  Grabbing Sarah before she could go back to the Dark Dimension was just dumb luck. But once he had her, he knew exactly how he would lure Tobias Lorde out. Discovering Becca, though, that was just a bonus. If Sarah didn’t work in getting to Tobias, having his daughter would.

  And it had.

  Viktor had watched the reunion from the comfort of his bedroom. And he had done nothing to stop it. In fact he was ready for them to make their escape. He had watched with bated breath as they hurried into the clearing and towards an open portal. What he hadn’t expect though was to come up against someone as powerful as Miranda. Her ability did not stop at just opening the portal; no, she had cloaked that door long before anyone even stepped through it. So, unlike his son, he was angry because range of sight had ended when they walked through the portal.

  Slowly he walked down the corridor, glowering down into the cells as he passed them. People inside cowered against the walls, faces dirty and sickly.

  Caleb stopped when he saw his father and gave him an angered stare.

  “Don’t worry father, I’ve already appropriately punished the guards that were on duty.”

  Viktor held a hand up and shook his head. “No need, son.”

  “Excuse me?” Caleb’s face twisted with confusion.

  “Do you really think they just walked out of here without as much as a pin dropping? I’m not that oblivious to what goes on in my own castle. Although I’m sure you think so,” his father said. He leaned forward and eyed the empty cell; Becca’s delectable scent lingered in the air.

  “What are you saying?” Caleb asked.

  “It was my plan all along. How else could I lure Tobias Lorde out of hiding?” Viktor clicked his tongue against his teeth and shook his head at his foolishness. “I had his wife and daughter. I knew he would come for them.”

  “And you just let them walk out?” his son yelled in his face. Viktor’s hand came down hard across his face. Caleb glared over at him, holding to the spot.

  “Yes I did. I don’t just want Tobias and Merrick, I want the whole damn family. Caroline Marks, William and Markus Marks, Craeden Spencer. I want them all. And Becca Lorde.”

  The mere mention of her name made a jealous rage flare in Caleb. Viktor had done it on purpose, to gauge his reaction. And it was exactly what he had expected. He grabbed his son by the jaw and straightened him up to look at him.

  “You listen to me good, that whole family is getting nothing but a painful death. Nothing more and nothing less. That includes Rebecca Lorde. Do I make myself clear?” he seethed.

  “Yes sir,” Caleb mumbled, jerking away from his father’s grip. Viktor grabbed him again and forced his son to stare into his eyes.

  “Wh
atever this sudden , you will not let it hinder your ability to be objective. You will…” Again Caleb jerked but his father’s grip tightened. “You will find them and bring them all back to me. So that they can suffer their fates. All of them, Caleb. Every last one.”

  “Alright I got it.” He pulled away and stormed down the dimly lit hall.

  Viktor knew from the moment he had caught Caleb drinking from her, it was going to be a problem. He already knew his son had a growing addiction to human blood but this, this was different. Her scent was enticing and she tasted divine. Even he could feel the powerful force coursing through his body. The power she held in her blood was monumental.

  “My liege?” a low voice called.

  He turned and came face to face with his assistant. An older woman, maybe late forties stood there, her hair just beginning to gray. She had served with Viktor since he secured his spot in the castle and the High Chair.

  “Yes Vicky.”

  “Sir, the Council is waiting,” she said.

  Tilting his head back, he closed his eyes. He hated having to answer to them at every turn; from the small things to the big. Either way he wanted nothing more than to disband them altogether. But being such as it was, he had no options.

  “Of course they are,” he muttered, passing her. She turned on her heel to follow him.

  Walking up the steep stone stairs, he entered back into the castle, into its brightness. He waved the guards off, letting them relax at their posts.

  “Don’t let my son back down there. It’s making him act more irrational than usual,” he ordered, already walking away. “And Vicky, you’re dismissed.”

  “Yes sir,” the guard said.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow sir.” Vicky waved to him, breaking away and turning down the hall just off to the side of them.

  He made his way to the Great hall, located on the other side of the castle. Passing servants, maids and castle administration as he navigated the maze-like corridors of the nearly 900-year-old fortress. Its stone walls and floors held to the vast history it had seen. Hundreds of years of Heirs and Heiresses.