Dark Secrets

by P. L. Midnight

  Eggs and toasted bread always worked for his sister. When she’d been little, it was her favorite comfort food, although back in the day it was toasted on a stick over the fire. That had been long ago before he’d become one of the creatures of the night that stalked and killed many from his own village in Romania.

  When he’d first become a vampire, the blood lust had been so strong he’d thought of little else and controlling it was almost impossible. He’d become a thoughtless killing machine, but even then, thoughts of his little sister had helped him control his inner beast.

  In truth, he’d become one of the creatures of the night to save his precious little sister.

  He used to sneak back occasionally just to watch the girl with the golden curls and bright smile, whom he’d watched grow from a babe into a young girl. Ana had been the love of his life. He’d died saving her and became a monster that could no longer even be in her presence. He’d watched her from afar until the bloodlust had become so strong that he’d been forced to leave.

  A few years later he’d learned that a pack of rogue vampires had destroyed the entire village cutting her life short anyway. He’d hunted down and killed every last one of them, ripping their throats out and dismembering their worthless corpses. It still hadn’t been enough for his loss. He’d gone rogue after that, killing anything that crossed his path until he’d met Miles.

  Miles had saved his life in more ways, than one. He’d never forget how the damn shapeshifter had stood up to him when they’d first met in the forest. Victor had given his best impression of a wild, rabid vampire, but Miles hadn’t been afraid. He changed into that humongous black panther and promptly kicked his ass.

  Miles had taught him to laugh and act like one of the living again. They’d had so many good times and challenging games of chess, among other things. It seemed they were always in some kind of a bet or challenge.

  They would sit around the fire replete after they’d hunted and fed. Miles had even taught him how to feed without feeling the need to kill his victim. He’d instilled in him a value of life and Victor finally embraced his new existence with his companion and only friend, Miles.

  He’d even learned to be around humans without killing them. The two of them had visited so many taverns and brothels that he’d become most fond of human females, and not just as a food supply. Sometimes he missed the comradery they’d shared, but alas the Order had come between them. He hadn’t seen his old friend for many years.

  Victor had purposely hidden away from society in an old castle in Romania after he’d failed to protect what was left of his family. That’s when he’d been recruited by the Order. In exchange, they’d promised to protect the only surviving member of Victor’s family: his brother, Mihal. The Order had managed to do a much better job than he had, and for that protection he’d become a cold-hearted killer again. The only difference was that he killed for the Order only. He was sent to kill the deadliest that Dark Hearts had to offer. He was sent when others had failed to eliminate the problem.

  He’d worked for them more years than he could remember, which had eventually landed him in the United States. Victor had become so withdrawn that he didn’t even realize that his dearest friend, Miles, was staying close to him. He’d lost so much working for the Order. It wasn’t that he regretted it, but he’d become a heartless killing machine. He’d killed so many Dark Hearts that he’d lost count of the trail of bodies he’d left behind.

  Now he was holed up in another old castle with a human woman that belonged to his only close friend, a woman that he couldn’t stop thinking about. Thinking of his sister and Miles had helped deter his thoughts from her, at least for a little while. However, his mind eventually drifted back to how soft her skin was when he’d undressed her. He hadn’t really ogled her, but he was still a man. Besides, it was hard not to look when he was removing her sodden clothes. She’d been so bruised from the many falls she must have taken from the thick layer of ice that covered everything. He wished he would’ve gotten to her sooner, but she’d somehow hidden herself in the bloody trees.

  He buttered the toast and looked at the clock for about the tenth time since he’d entered the kitchen. Victor was just finishing the food when the telephone rang. It was Dr. Sebastian Colyear. He hadn’t talked to Bastian in quite some time. They’d worked together several times and he’d found Sebastian to be a worthy comrade. While Victor remembered him being a calming factor in the Order, today his voice held a rather intense quality as he spoke.

  “Hello, Victor, it’s Sebastian. It’s good to talk to you. Thanks for saving our Emma. I have some news that you’re not going to like. There’s been a complication with our getting Emma. The local police have arrested Alexander Sandoval and Raven Tafini as suspects in the alleged murder of Emma Stephens.”

  “What the hell? That’s the young woman that’s here with me isn’t it.” He said it as more of a statement than a question and continued, “She’s as alive as anyone I’ve ever seen. She’s talking. Soon she’ll be eating, if I ever get the toast to stop falling apart. What’s going on?”

  “The Police don’t know that she’s alive. We’ve been hiding her to protect her from Dark Hearts. There’s been a body found, which they believe is her. I’m not sure how they pinned it on those two, but we’ll be finding out soon, I hope.”

  “Why would they assume that it was her?”

  “They received some kind of an anonymous tip, which was likely from a Dark Hearts operative. A body was planted that looked like Emma. It was then made to look like a murder had taken place near the ashes of her house.”

  “Look, I’m sorry about the guys. It’s probably those Dark Heart bastards, but you have to get Emma out of here. How the hell could they even arrest Raven? Doesn’t his father own half the damn town?”

  “Yes, he does own a large part of St. Paris. However, murder is taken quite seriously in this little town. We believe Dark Hearts suspected that Emma was here and planted some damning evidence to flush her out. There was also a witness that placed Alex at the scene of the fire, making him an arson suspect as well. I really don’t know much more than that, but the Order is working on it.”

  “Obviously, it must have been substantial evidence to arrest both of them. When are you picking up Emma?”

  Sebastian avoided answering the question about picking up Emma, which didn’t bode well. Victor knew he was in trouble. Hell, they’d both be in trouble if he got her body beneath his, before this nightmare was over.

  “As I said we don’t know the whole story yet, but they took Raven and Alex away in handcuffs. The Order should have the guys released within a few hours.”

  “Okay, so what does this have to do with me? I’m retired, you know.”

  Then he said something Victor had hoped not to hear, “We need you to keep Emma for a while longer.”

  “Not possible, she can’t stay here. Can’t one of the other guys pick her up? When I spoke to Raven, he said there were six of you there. Just send one of the others over to get her.”

  “Look, Victor, we’ve worked together and have been friends for a long time. From one friend to another, I need a favor. I know it’s an imposition to have a human female staying with you.”

  “You’re damn straight it is.”

  “Look, Victor, she’s safer there than she would be here. Dark Hearts thinks she’s here in St. Paris and have infiltrated the whole mucking area. We cannot move her with just one or two guys to protect her, because of this new development. She’s in even more danger now. Raven indicated that she was well hidden at the castle. You’ve even hidden her car inside your garage, haven’t you?”

  “Yes, her car is stashed in one of my garages, but that’s not the point. I know we’re more than mere acquaintances, but I can’t do this for you. She can’t stay here.”

  “Don’t be unreasonable, Victor. I know humans are little more than sustenance to you, but I love that girl and so does your best friend, Miles.” Did he just hear
that Sebastian and Miles both loved her? What the hell, did they all love her? As if in answer to Victor’s unasked question, Sebastian continued, “All six of us love her. Please, Victor, we need your help to protect our future mate. How hard can it be to let her stay a few more hours? You know we’ll cover any costs you incur.”

  “Do you honestly think this is about money? Bullshit, Bastian, you know I have enough to buy half of this damn state. Raven already knows why she isn’t welcomed here. I can’t believe you don’t. It’s her blood. As I recall you’re one of the most skilled doctors in the Order. Didn’t you notice anything unusual about Emma’s blood? Don’t tell me her blood didn’t call to you.”

  “It did. Raven and I discussed your concerns about her blood before he was arrested. It calls to all of us. I don’t understand it. It’s as if we were all bound to her or something. We are almost obsessed with the woman.”

  “I’m not concerned about her blasted blood. I’m concerned I won’t be able to resist sinking my fangs into her. Is that plain enough English for you, doctor?”

  “Fuck…”

  “Yes, there’s that, too. I want to sink more than my fangs in her.”

  “Hell, Victor, our hormones are raging over her, too, but we’ve been able to control our baser urges. You’re supposed to be a hell of a lot stronger than any of us, except maybe Miles. You’re an ancient, man. Start acting like one, resist her like you do the other human women that appeal to you.”

  “None of them have ever appealed to me like that freckled faced innocent does. Besides, I don’t want to find out if I can resist her or not. You need to get your asses over here and get her out of my house. I’ve already given her my blood to save her life, which makes me closer to her, something I didn’t want or need.”

  “I didn’t know that, but it changes nothing on this end. Our hands are tied. You have to keep her there, man, whether she’s got your blood in her or not.”

  “You know damn good and well that I had no choice, but to give her my blood. She was dying when I found her, which I’m sure Raven mentioned. She’d been foolish enough to get herself hidden in the trees. Even with my night vision it took me a while to find her with the damn freezing rain and wind. When I got to her, her lips were already blue. She was damn near frozen, not to mention beat to hell from falling on the ice multiple times.”

  “I can never tell you how much I appreciate you saving her, but as I said we can’t get her right now.”

  “Can’t or won’t is the question, Sebastian.”

  “I don’t want to argue about this any longer. We aren’t coming for a while. What does giving her an infusion of your blood do to her, anyway?”

  “It healed her, but it also ties us in a way that I’ll always be able to sense her presence. I’m not sure yet how it will affect her, because I’m not sure what she is yet.”

  “Mm, there’s that, too, I suppose. Is she affecting you as much as I get the feeling she is?”

  “What the fuck do you think I just said? I feel the same way you do and she’s only been here a little over a damn week. I’ve never felt this way about any woman or her blood. As I keep saying, it’s all I can do to keep my fangs out of her throat. I don’t just want her blood though, which is the problem. I feel as if I’ve found my immortal half that would make me whole. Do you have any idea what that means to a vampire who has been alone most of his unnatural life?”

  “Unfortunately, I think we all feel the same about her. I don’t understand this any more than you do. Aren’t you strong enough to resist her for a few more hours for all of us and for her. If you feel so strongly about her, how could you turn her out knowing Dark Hearts has saturated the area?”

  “You know I won’t turn her out, but I won’t promise not to make love to her. You realize that when a vampire makes love to a potential mate there is a blood exchange. I don’t need to be reminded of what I am. Have you been able to resist her? It sounded to me like you said Miles and you both love her. I believe you also indicated that the others love her, too. Miles is ancient, just like me. It seems he couldn’t resist her damn blood either. What do you expect from me? Hell, yes, I’m every bit as strong as you, antediluvian warlock but you fell for her, too, just as I’ve done. As far as resisting the call of her blood, I’ve kept my fangs to myself so far. However, if she’s here much longer I’m not sure what will happen to either of us as I said earlier. You know if I bite her, I won’t be able to let her go. She won’t want to leave me either.”

  “Then don’t bite her, man! We have no choice; the Order has commanded that we leave her where she is for the time being until they learn how much Dark Hearts is involved in the trumped-up murder charges and how much they know about Emma’s mother. You don’t want Dark Hearts getting a hold of her, do you?”

  “Hell, no, I don’t want those bastards anywhere near her, but this is going to be more than a little difficult. I really don’t need this bullshit. I don’t work for the Order anymore, remember?”

  “I know you don’t work for them and no one is asking you to come back to work. I’m asking you to do this for Miles and me. We have been damn good friends over the years and we need your help with the woman we love. I can ask the Order to send some assistance if you don’t think you can resist Emma.”

  “W.T.F., I don’t want any of those assholes in my house.”

  “You know I still work for them as do most of us here at Raven’s, including Miles.”

  “You’re different, Sebastian, and I owe you. You saved my life over five hundred years ago in New Orleans.”

  “You have saved my life, too, countless times.”

  “Regardless, you’re always welcome here as are Miles and Raven. It’s just that the Order has a few mothers that I don’t even want to acknowledge much less have as guests in my home.”

  “I understand. They do hire some bloody bastards that I wouldn’t want as houseguests either. However, Emma does have to stay there. I regret that we can’t risk moving her right now. We can’t even risk coming near your place to get her until this blows over. It may be more than a few hours unfortunately. Dark Hearts are swarming all over the damned area by now. Did Raven explain anything about why we’re protecting Emma?”

  “He did. I’m sure I won’t have much of a choice in the matter anyway. I expect a call from the Order as soon as they realize I have Emma. They’ll call in another favor or some shit so I’ll have no choice.”

  “They do make it hard to say no, don’t they?”

  “You think, sometimes I wonder who is worse, the Order or Dark Hearts.”

  “You already know the answer to that, my friend. Anyway the Order protects your food supply or have you forgotten.”

  “I know only too well. We’ve both protected the human race for so many years that I’ve lost track of how long. I haven’t bitten anyone in forever, either. I’m living on the lousy blood bags from local hospitals. I’ve moved away from the big hospitals and clinics and now travel by thought teleportation just to get sustenance. I take what I need and return home, but I’m not a fool. I’m aware that humans supply me blood by one means or another.”

  “Yes, they do. It’s handy to be able to move somewhere without having to actually travel. I taught a convenient trick you. So, getting back to our original discussion, Emma can stay then, right?”

  “I know it will be for more than a few hours as well as you do. However, we both know I don’t really have a fucking choice. If I put her out and Dark Hearts gets her, we’re all screwed. She’ll be dead or worse. I can’t do that to her or any of us. Besides, if I try to move her in her weakened condition, it could hurt her. So what the fuck choice is there? Y.E.S. she can stay, but I don’t want her here any longer than necessary. I mean it, Sebastian.”

  “I understand and I do appreciate it, so will Miles and the rest of the guys. We owe you, Victor. I’m working on an antidote for the effects of Emma’s blood. I’ve not had much luck yet, but I’ll keep trying. If you need something
just call Miles or me.”

  “Nice offer, but exactly what the hell can you do over the telephone for me? If I can’t control my urges, will you sing me a calming lullaby. Be realistic, my friend. Like usual I’m on my own with your sweet alluring Emma and I don’t want to be.”

  “The strange thing is that I trust you more with Emma than a few of the guys here. Be safe, old friend, and thanks. I owe you.”

  “Don’t you always.”

  “This is one debt that I won’t mind repaying. I really do love her, just as you are already starting to do. She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, blood or no blood. I’ll keep you updated on Dark Hearts and the situation here. You know we’ll get Emma out of there as soon as we can.”

  “I know. I just hope I can let her go by the time you get here,” Victor said, but he thought, it’s too late for both of us already, as her blood called, again, more strongly, to his senses reminding him he needed to get back to her.

  “You will. She belongs to all of us now. Goodbye Victor. Exercise restraint, my friend.”

  “Goodbye, Sebastian. Be safe. Let me know if you find out any more about combating the effects of her blood.”

  Victor paced the floor a few minutes before taking the food upstairs to Emma. He walked up the old-fashioned way. Teleporting directly into her room would probably cause her to be more alarmed than she already was whenever he was nearby. He knew it was the dark looks he’d been giving her, but he didn’t care. He had to keep her at a distance.

  As he looked at the little human in his bed, well, she was little compared to him, he knew he’d likely lose more than his heart before she left.

  Chapter Three

  I might have been attracted to Victor, but I was glad when he’d left the room. He was about as friendly as a chapped ass. I know that he’d saved me. However, it was as if he regretted my very existence.

  He might be intimidating, but I was definitely biting my tongue around him to keep from asking what his problem was. I was just thinking about how to approach him when he came into the room, interrupting my thoughts.