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

by Leeah Taylor

  “Oh please, relax.” he scoffed. “Where is my son?”

  Daniel made eye contact now. He knew where Caleb was but he wasn’t supposed to tell Viktor. “I asked you a question, boy. Where is my son?”

  “The Surface, sir,” he answered on command.

  Viktor rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated breath. “Of course he is. How long has he been…”

  The door opened and Caleb walked in. Viktor glared at him. He reeked of humans. But even more he was overpowered with the scent of Becca. “Leave us.”

  “Yes sir.” Daniel marched away from him and passed Caleb, who gave him a disapproving look.

  “What are you doing in here?” Caleb demanded. This was his domain, the castle was his father’s.

  “Does it matter?” Viktor kept a steady stare. “Where have you been?”

  “Wherever the hell I want to be,” he challenged his father. Viktor came at him before he could retreat. Slamming him hard into the cement wall.

  “Don’t push me, boy.” His hand gripped around the boy’s jaw.

  “Or what?” Caleb pushed his father any chance he could. He hated his father; for so many reasons, he hated him.

  “You think I don’t know about your little secret trips to the Surface? Hmm? You think me so ignorant and naïve. I’m your father and this is my house,” he revealed. “I can smell the little whore all over you. And…I can smell Becca as well. Was I not clear before?”

  “You.Can’t.Have.Her!” Caleb growled at him. Viktor slammed his son’s head into the cement wall. And he winced. Warmth trickled down the back of his head.

  “I don’t want her!! I want her dead!!” Viktor screamed now. “And you will bring her to me. You will bring all of them to me.”

  A darkness flashed in Caleb’s eyes and without a thought he brought his hands up to his father, and a ball of power shot through Viktor, forcing him back and to the ground. He balled his fists up and breathed hard. Caleb stood strong.

  Viktor laughed though; a deep, hearty laugh. And looked up at his son. “Ha, you think you can take me? Think you can outbid my desire to have the Marks-Lorde family extinguished? Think again Caleb.”

  “You don’t even know what you’re up against, Viktor. If you did you wouldn’t be so smug,” Caleb retorted. He did though. By doing his homework on the family that Viktor wanted so badly.

  “Oh and you do,” Viktor asked, pushing up from the floor. “You think you know more about that family than I do. I’ve spent nearly the last 30 years looking for them.”

  “Yeah I know and yes I do. I’ve learned more about them in the last few days by just watching than you have in the last 30 years chasing them,” Caleb said, amused. He went over to his father now, standing nose to nose with him. “You’re way out of your league, father.”

  “What are you talking about?” Viktor seethed.

  Caleb had seen it as if it were his own memories. The six children playing in that small alcove above the barn. He watched as Becca had relived it herself. In those few moments it was clear to him what the truth was.

  “Figure it out for yourself. Just hope you can before it’s too late.” Caleb started to walk away. Viktor grabbed for him, his hand closing around the collar of his jacket and yanking him back. Caleb twisted out of it and had his father’s back on the floor. His knee weighing heavy on the man’s chest. Now Viktor looked up into his son’s eyes with shock.

  “Mind who I am, Caleb. I am your king,” Viktor warned him. Caleb gave a hearty chuckle, letting his knee dig deeper into the man’s rib cage. It made Viktor struggle for air.

  “No you’re not. Ha, you were never a king. A man that gave orders maybe, but not a king.” Caleb’s tone turned wicked. “This army answers to me. And don’t think for a second that I doubt that. When called to serve, it will be me they choose.”

  “How dare you?” Viktor spat at him.

  “No, how dare you think that I’d be any less than what you made me,” he declared, pushing up and crossing the room to a foot locker. “You made me what I am today.” Viktor started to get up but his son’s hand came up and wrist flicked, forcing his father in place. Holding him to the floor. Viktor struggled against the invisible force. “I’m not finished.”

  “You stop this now,” Viktor ordered but Caleb ignored him, now filling a black duffel bag with weapons, combat gear and clothing.

  “You’ve always been so damn distracted by Merrick Marks and Tobias Lorde that you never stopped long enough to see me. To see what I’ve been doing over the years.” Caleb stopped now and looked back to his father. “Do you know what happens when a Magi is self-taught? Is forced to muddle through the darkness and grasp his other side? Hmm? That darkness taints the soul. See father, I’m you to the core. And I’m tainted by the dark. My magic is stronger than most would believe.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying that I’m done. I’m taking what’s mine and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Soon I’ll possess more power than you can fathom.” Caleb started for the door, stopping at his father and kneeling down. “And when I do, I’m coming for your Chair. I’m coming for you. This castle, this kingdom, it’s going to be mine. Neither you, the Council nor the Heirs and Heiresses will be able to stop me.”

  Viktor’s face twisted and froze. It was the last part that struck him dumbfounded. His son’s plural use of Heir and Heiress unsettled him. Caleb saw that and he smiled wide.

  “Three Heirs and three Heiresses. Can you fathom the power that surges through them? Neither can I, but I’m going to take it.” Caleb was on a high. From Becca and from standing up against his father. “That’s right Viktor, six children. All born to two women after the Fall. Royals. Next in line to inherit the throne. Right under your nose all this time. Too bad you didn’t figure it out a long time ago.”

  Caleb stood and went for the door. Adrenaline steering his actions.

  “CALEB! You come back here. You come back here and undo what you have done,” Viktor called after his son. He pulled and pushed against the power still restraining him. “CALEB!”

  A devilish grin played on Caleb’s face as he left the barracks and entered the training yard. At least a dozen eyes came upon him. His men. His top men. The best of them all. They all looked to him for an order.

  “It’s very simple. You either stand with me or against me. Stand against me though and you will suffer. With me and you will reign with me over the nations,” Caleb told them all.

  Daniel, Caleb’s second in command and right hand, replied, “What are you orders, sir?”

  Chapter 22

  Constance studied the paperwork in front of her. Tediously approving and denying requests. A soft knock came at the door and without even looking up she commanded the intruder’s entrance.

  “Ms. Manning…” A mousy, timid voice called to her. Rolling her eyes, she looked up to see her secretary. A small, soft-spoken girl.

  “What is it?” Constance demanded, going back to the stack of papers.

  “There’s someone here to see you, ma’am.”

  “Tell them to make an appointment,” she demanded. The girl cleared her throat and still stood inside the door. “What is it?”

  “It’s…I’m sorry ma’am; it’s just that it’s Caleb Burm. Viktor’s son.” Constance stopped and considered that for a moment.

  “Really?” It intrigued her that he was there. Or maybe it just excited her. “Well don’t keep the little prince waiting. Send him in.”

  She pushed the paperwork aside, flipped her hair to one side and as the door opened she smiled widely. Just looking at him made the space between her legs tingle and moisten.

  “Caleb, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Her voice was seductive. Two other men walked behind him but he was quick to shoo them away.

  “Wait outside,” he ordered, keeping his stare on her. The two men nodded and left the room. “Constance.”

  “Have a seat,” she offered.

  He eyed h
er and his fingers dragged across the back of the open chair. Inching towards her side of the desk, he leaned against it.

  “Right here good?” he asked. His thirst may have been for Becca, but his want was for Constance. She batted up at him with her eyelashes.

  “I guess that’ll do,” she said, standing up and making sure to just barely graze his body. Her fingers played with the buttons of his shirt. “Now, what could possibly have you bothered enough to be coming during the day?” One by one she freed the buttons from their places. Nuzzling into his chest, kissing his bare skin, she caught a scent and she pushed him away.

  “Ugh, you smell like her,” she scoffed, turning away from him. His hand caught her by the upper arm and he twisted her around to look at him.

  “Since when did you care how I smell?” His eyes darkened down at her.

  “Since your little obsession took over,” she countered, pulling away from him and crossing the room to a bookcase. Her light touch glided against the wood and the faux case clicked open. Pushing it open, she entered a bedroom. Caleb followed her, taking care to close the hidden door behind him. His eyes intent on watching her.

  She pulled at the zipper in the back of her dress and let it drop. Revealing the lacy ensemble underneath. He raised a brow to it. Constance turned and gave him a sideways glance before lying down across the bed.

  “Don’t understand what’s so special about her.”

  Caleb slid out of his shirt and climbed onto the bed. He started at her feet, kissing up the length of her legs. “I wouldn’t expect you to. You’re not a vampire.” His voice was deep now. He let his tongue glide up her belly and she let out the smallest whimper.

  “As long as you know who to come home to,” she warned, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down to her. He went to kiss her but she pulled away. “Right?”

  “She may satiate my thirst but Constance, my dear, only you can fuck me like no other,” he whispered against her lips.

  He kissed her hard and let his hands caress down her taut belly. She smiled against his lips. But she grabbed his hands again and pulled them away. A growl rumbled deep within him, his eyes darkening. “Viktor?”

  He rolled to his side and gave her an irritated look. “Have to ruin it by bringing him up?”

  She narrowed her eyes at him and sensed something more. “What happened?”

  “Had a little confrontation, that’s all.” He underplayed it. “The usual.”

  “Caleb what did you do?” The mood was gone, her tone angry now. She pushed up on her elbows to look at him.

  “I did what should have happened a long time ago.” His hand came around her throat and he pushed her back down to the bed, bringing his lips to her ear. “I gave him a taste of what is to come.”

  “Because of her.” She went back to Becca.

  Constance only tolerated her lover’s obsession to ensure their plan fell into place. But that was it, she tolerated it. His eyes smoldered and he came down to kiss her, but she turned away. Caleb tightened his grip on her neck.

  “Yes because of her. Because he wants Becca for himself. And that is not going to happen. You may be the ultimate prize my dear. My little fuck goddess, but you do nothing for my growing hunger. You don’t give me the power she does. The game has begun, my queen.” He jerked her face up to his. Constance’s face softened and a playful smile played against her lips. Her hands coming up to his skin, caressing the back of his neck.

  “Okay lover, no need to awaken the Beast. You know how little fun he can be.” She taunted him now, nipping up at his lip. He loosened his grip now, letting his hand slide down her body and slipping under the lace. She arched her sex into his awaiting hand. Groaning against the tips of his fingers.

  “But my love.” He brought his fangs to her pulse point and grazed it. “He loves to play.”

  “Ok, but only if he promises to play nice this time.”

  Caleb shifted himself down to her tummy, licking and nipping at it. “Like right here?” He teased her skin.

  “Mhmm,” she managed, arching her back, encouraging him.

  He licked, nipped and kissed her skin before finally releasing his fangs, allowing them to sink deep into her tummy. Constance cried out against the pain. Caleb drank from her but only to satisfy her. To give her a taste of pain and pleasure, though her taste did nothing for him.

  He plunged his fingers deeper inside of her, bringing it so close to spilling over. In and out he teased her insides. Releasing her flesh now, he came up to meet her moaning lips. Blood tinging the corners of his, he kissed her and with the flick of his well-trained fingers sent her body into a wave of convulsions. Hot breath prickled her ear as she moaned.

  “That’s right, my goddess. I may come home to you but just remember who you come for,” he whispered to her. It drove her crazy. Constance panted hard, craving more of him. “Go on, Constance, tell me who you come for?”

  She breathed hard, her hands gripping tightly to his arms as she shook. “Fuck me Caleb.”

  “Tell me Constance.” He wanted to hear her say it. Needed to hear her say it. Caleb got off on how she crumbled before him. She’d do anything to have him inside her. And he knew that. Just like she would do anything to stand by his side when he took the kingdom for his own.

  Constance was not a woman to be crossed. Not once and never twice. Caleb however, he was her drug. She couldn’t resist him. The next King in her eyes. A force to reckon with.

  Her chest heaved and she writhed against his touch. “Three little words, Constance. Say them. Who do you come for?” he elicited the words from her. His fingers still playing in her sex, flicking just right to send another thrill to her.

  “For you, Caleb. Now fuck me,” she begged, knowing that no matter how much she wanted to think so, he was the one in control.

  Now content, he pushed up from her and undid his belt, unzipped his pants. Kicking them off, he climbed back on top of her. Caleb lowered down, kissing her neck and her breasts. With her now compliant to him, he relaxed, letting himself in slowly. This was as close to love as he would ever know.

  Constance though, she had fallen in love with him a very long time ago. Pushing up to him, her arms pulling her close to his godlike body. His chest hard against her plush breasts. She nibbled at his ear. “Love me like you always do.”

  He smiled and kissed her neck. “Till the sun kisses the sky again, my love.”

  Chapter 23

  The six of them stood there, staring down at the counter in front of them. Six glasses before them, each filled with the same crimson liquid. They all looked to each other, nervous and unsure.

  An impossible decision to be made, but one they all knew had to be made. Blood, the one and only true source of vampire sustenance. Becca had known it the moment her virgin fangs broke the skin. Images had flooded her vision. Yet none included the consumption of Hybrid. Vampires followed their urges and thrived. Their superiority linked to their Beast and its thirst for the life force.

  Hybrid was still relatively new. Created in the last 250 years. Compared to the 1200 years of vampire history, it was barely a blip. Yet, there was no real reasonable explanation for the creation of the faux substance.

  It was as if the Heiress was sending her a warning. Trying to make her see what their species had become. Their own superiority deteriorating.

  “You sure about this, William?” Markus searched him for something. Anything that could make him feel better about what they were all about to do. He tilted the glass towards him, the thick contents moving freely with the movement.

  “There’s a lot I’m not sure about but this I just know,” William assured him, grabbing at his glass. For him it would be nothing. Just another day. His system still numbed by excessive use. And Becca, he wasn’t entirely sure she would be affected the same as the others either. Her introduction still so fresh.

  “Will we? You know, react like Becca did?” Nikki asked. Markus and William exchanged a concerned lo
ok.

  “I don’t know.” William shrugged. “But there are two options here. Either you all drink this.” He held up the glass. “Or you wait until the thirst I know that you all feel, overcomes you and you….”

  “It’s okay, William.” Becca’s hand covered his. He didn’t want to drive the knife any deeper.

  “You don’t want to kill a human. The remorse and the guilt…” He stole another look at Becca and she just nodded, encouraging him. “It will eat at you. Consume you.”

  He knew because he had taken a life. Once, very early on. Before he knew when to stop or how to stop. The memory stuck with him vividly. The guilt he felt still as fresh as the moment it happened.

  College had come and gone. In the blink of an eye. His relationship with his family more strained than it ever had been. He took a route with an endless winding path, never straightening to give him some breathing room.

  William’s thirst then was much like Caleb’s. Raw, unhindered and unchecked. The difference between them though, as that William had learned to master his thirst. Still he hunted and drank but after his first innocent life, he had forced himself to better hone in on it. Over the years he had learned how to seduce them. Humans. Pull them into him. Much like Vampires, humans fed on energy and feelings as well.

  He capitalized on that and it played right into his hands every time.

  “So bottoms up, I guess.” Z held his cup up. William came back to reality and nodded, pushing his cup towards the center. The rest followed.

  “To?” Miranda shrugged.

  “To family,” William said.

  It came so naturally to him. It was in that moment that family meant more to him than anything. The anger, distrust and betrayal dissipated. If they were going to fight this, take their kingdom back, then their family would have to be strong and unified.

  Not divided.

  The glasses touched their lips, the velvety sweet substance coating their tongues, sliding down their throats and set free into their depths.