Dark Secrets

by P. L. Midnight

  Didn’t know you heard that ice ass thing.

  I can hear all your thoughts now. Goodbye Victor

  As promised…

  Actually, Victor was quite polite all evening, which gave me some quality time with Vincent. We both needed it. I heard all the latest gossip, too. Brittany was pregnant and trying to blame Raven, who hadn’t even seen her for the last few months.

  Vincent followed me into the more formal living room, which was an enormous room with high ceilings just like the other rooms I’d seen in the castle. Victor had said this room was for entertaining guests. We’d hung out in the other living room or the Rec room as he’d called it.

  Everything was dark in this room, too, as I’d come to expect in Victor’s castle. The room consisted of deep coffee colored paneling, several pieces of brown furniture, a huge fireplace with a dark mantel, and thick burgundy velvet draperies. As soon as we were seated on the oversized plush burgundy sofa, Vincent resumed the conversation, “then I take it that you realize that Victor is a vampire. Are you seriously interested in him?”

  “I’ve missed you, Vincent, but I have something more important to talk to you about than my relationship with Victor. For your information, I am well aware that he is a vampire. When you read this letter, I think you’ll agree this is more important than Victor being a vampire. This letter was slipped into my coat pocket while I was hiding out at one of the motels. Besides, you might not want to forget that Victor saved my life or we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.”

  I handed him the letter and he made no further comment. I watched the expression in his stimulating, icy blue eyes as he read it. “This explains a lot.”

  “Is that all you’re going to say?”

  “What do you want me to say?”

  “Doesn’t this make you mad?” I said as I took the letter out of his hand and shook it. “My Dad took away your freedom to choose a girlfriend, mate or whatever you wendigoes call it.”

  “Does it make you mad that I’m not human and you’re stuck with me? I kissed you, remember?”

  “I don’t care what you are and I’m not stuck with you or any of the guys. I’m the lucky one. I get all of you amazing guys. Besides, you’ve always been there for me, Vincent, except that time you were sulking, because I told you about my crush on Raven.”

  “I loved you then just as I love you now. Nothing has changed. I was jealous, which is why I have been so crabby lately, as you put it. Hell, moppet, even my own brother loves you and my best friend, not to mention the others.”

  “How can you even say that after what you just read? Do you trust that what we feel towards each other is real? Is what any of them feel for me real?”

  “How does anyone ever know if love is real or not? You just have to go with your gut feeling about that other person. Anyway, I’m kind of honored that he chose me to be one of your Shields.”

  “I’m glad he chose you, too. I’m just sorry the he took away any chance you had for a normal life.”

  “How long have you known me?”

  “I’ve known you for, well, since we were kids, why?”

  “In all those years, has my life ever been normal? I’m cold as hell all the time. I can’t eat ice cream, which by the way looks amazing. Any frozen drinks are taboo. I have white hair, pale skin and I couldn’t tan if I used a gallon of tanning lotion. Hell, I’m a damn wendigo. That very thing makes my life bizarre. You should be complaining about being mated with me. Besides I’ve been a real Richard lately.”

  “Do you mean a dick?”

  “That’s about it.” His ears turned pink. Vincent seldom said anything like that around me. He’d always been a little shy about certain things. I think he was just shy around girls in general, but it was sweet that he was so respectful most of the time, unless he was being jealous.

  I chuckled. He apologized.

  “No apology needed. We are besties and always will be.”

  “No, Emma, that’s changed now. I’m more than just a best friend. I’m one of your Shields. I want this and I want you. We can go slowly. I’ll give you all the time you need to adjust to being together. I’ll wait until you’re ready, moppet. As I said, I’m glad your Father chose me. I just hope you aren’t too disappointed about having me as one of your Shields, and more someday.”

  “I’m not dissatisfied at all, you’ll make a great protector and I’m not opposed to the rest either. It’s just going to be an adjustment having seven guys in my life.” Not to mention my bed, but I left that part out. It felt weird talking to Vincent like that. Although looking at him, he certainly looked the part of a warrior. He was hot now, too. His short spikey white hair with the blue streaks and even bulker body did things to my insides. I’d always liked him as a friend, but this was different. I’d really never felt that way about him until recently.

  “Yeah, sometimes we can be a pain in the butt.”

  “I think it’s a testosterone thing, but I can be a pain in the butt, too. I’m a woman, I’m allowed.”

  “You’re only a pain in the butt when you run away. Promise me you’ll never do that again. I was out of my mind with worry, so were the others. Those Dark Hearts bastards are everywhere and they’re really bad news.”

  “I promise. I was scared and worried about my Mom. Then when I realized you were all lying to me that was it. My feelings for all of you were scaring me, too. It didn’t feel right falling for all six of you so fast.”

  He wrapped his strong arms around me. Vincent pulled me to him for an innocent kiss. It was a sweet, I-love-you kind of kiss that caused the butterflies in my stomach to take flight.

  When he pulled away from me, “It’s going to be ok, moppet. We’ll get though the adjustment period. We’ve both been through worse and this time something wonderful will be waiting for us.”

  “If you don’t kill Alexander for touching me, it might work.”

  “I’m cool with Alex. He’s an annoyance sometimes, but I know he’ll protect you when I’m not around. It sounds like you’re going to need some protection. I don’t suppose that you have any idea who you really are.”

  “No, I don’t and it’s kind of scary. I don’t understand why my father thought I needed seven supernatural guards. I don’t feel any different, but things are getting strange. The whole telepathic thing is weird. I keep wondering if I’ll wake up some morning and sprout horns or something.”

  “I think it might be a halo for putting up with all of us, but I understand. Yeah, to be able to read our thought projections without any training is weird.”

  I didn’t tell him that I was starting to be able to read the thoughts of Victor and Miles even when they hadn’t been projecting them. I had a feeling that I’d soon be able to read every thought that any of them had, which was going to make it very crowded in my head. I wondered if they’d be able to read my thoughts, too. That could be embarrassing. I knew Victor could read human thoughts, because of this vampire thing he had going on. I hoped the others wouldn’t be able to do the same. I was looking at Vincent in his dark framed glasses. He looked so hot in a nerdy-sexy way, I was glad he wasn’t able to read my thoughts.

  “Let’s have some fun tonight, moppet. I smuggled in some cards and a DVD.”

  “We can have some fun, but only if you stop calling me that. I know my hair could pass for a mop.”

  He reddened as he reached over to touch one of my curls allowing it to fall through his big fingers, “I’ve called you that since we were children. It has nothing to do with your hair. I love your hair. It’s so soft and silky.” He brought the lock of hair to his nose and snuggled against the softness. It was an intimate gesture for him. He looked at me and dropped the curl. “Mhmm, it smells amazing, too, like honey and wildflowers on a sunny day. Moppet is just my pet name for you.”

  “I’m not your pet, but I’d hate to make you stop calling me that after your sweet comments about my hair.” I smiled at him and he reached over and took my hand in his large
one. He interlaced our fingers and pulled me up from the couch.

  “I’ve missed you so much. Let’s take a walk. It’s beautiful tonight, just like you are.” With that said, he took the hand he held and brought it to his lips. I’d never seen Vincent like this. It was as if he couldn’t keep from touching me. If only it was real, I thought, again as those niggling doubts remained. Then he continued and I forgot everything as he looked into my eyes with his almost innocent blue ones, “I only get to spend tonight and tomorrow with you. We’ll have to get some sleep sometime, so let’s not waste a minute. I have to leave tomorrow night as soon as the sun sets. Raven thinks it’s better if Sebastian transports us only after dark. I don’t know how anyone could see us as powerful as Sebastian’s magic is, but he said he isn’t taking any chances with your safety. I’m not going to argue with that logic. We also think it’s better if you stay inside during the daylight hours. Don’t look at me like that, moppet, it’s only for your safety. Please, would you do it for me?”

  How could I refuse his sweet request? I nodded my agreement as he smiled at me with that hopeful grin of his.

  We went outside after a slightly blushing Vincent helped me with my coat. It was cold, but beneath the shelter of the large pine trees, it wasn’t frigid and the ever-persistent winter winds sailed around the copse where we stood. We walked over to the base of one of the large trees and he pulled me beside the tree. “I want to show you something. I’ve wanted to show you this for a long time. Since you know what I am, now I can show you. I promise. You’ll love it.”

  He was smiling as he did when we were kids. Vincent hid behind the base of an enormous oak tree. I could tell he was removing something from his pocket. The next thing I saw was the most beautiful luminous bubble floating through the air. It was one of those kinds made from a jar of children’s bubble soap but it had frozen from Vincent’s cold breath and the outside air. It was filled with intricate formations that the moonlight captured for a short time as it gently drifted to the ground.

  In a few minutes, the entire copse of trees was filled with frozen bubbles illuminated with various colorful formations. It was like a fairyland. He was right; I’d never seen anything like those snow-globe-like frozen bubbles. I loved them and I loved him for sharing this with me.

  I was laughing and giggling as I tried to capture one of the vibrant masterpieces in my fingers only to have them elude me or break upon contact with my warm skin.

  “Do you like them?”

  In my excitement, I’d forgotten that he held a bottle of bubble fluid. As I grabbed him around the waist, pulling him into a big hug, the little jar tumbled to the ground. It was too late to retrieve it as the precious liquid spilled onto the frozen ground.

  “I love it! I’ve never seen anything like them before. I’m sorry for spilling the bubble stuff. Now you can’t make any more.”

  “I’m not sorry. Slopping a little bubble liquid is a small price to pay for a hug like that. I’ll bring some more my next visit.”

  We were laughing and talking about the incredible frozen bubbles as he followed me around while I tried to look at each one. He’d thoughtfully brought a flashlight that made them look even more beautiful in its beam of light.

  One minute I was running around chasing bubbles, and then we were kissing. It wasn’t a chaste kiss like before. His kiss wasn’t dominating like Victor’s had been, it was an initial discovery of each other. His tongue slid inside my mouth exploring and gently stroking against the inside of my mouth sending shivers throughout my body.

  Vincent deepened the kiss just slightly so that it still felt like the first kiss of love. When we finally moved away from each other, we were both trying to catch our breath. Vincent’s eyes were almost glowing with that clear turquoise color of a tropical ocean. Neither of us said much on the walk back to the house. It was getting late and starting to get colder. Our heated breath danced before us as we walked.

  I hadn’t realized how far away from the house we’d walked, because we reminisced about all the crazy things we used to do growing up. They were memories as innocent and sweet as the man walking beside me. The name Vince just didn’t fit the brawny man beside me anymore. He was a man and a deadly warrior, now, and Vincent seemed a better name for him. When I told him, he seemed pleased with his new shield name. However, a part of me would always remember the sweet innocence of that night and our first real kiss.

  He noticed I was tiring. Guess I needed to start working out or stop walking all over the property. Vincent immediately picked me up and cradled me in his arms as if I weighed nothing. I was seeing a side of Vincent that truly was different. He was still the same straight-laced, shy guy I’d known for years, but he was far more romantic than he’d ever been. I guess we were all growing up and changing. I just hoped Vincent could get over his jealous tendencies or this would never work for us.

  He carried me over the thrush hold of the door and said, “Maybe someday we’ll do this for real just after we’re all married.”

  “You know it’s not even legal.”

  “No, but I think it’s going to happen somehow. I can’t understand all of this, but I know the feelings we all seem to have for you are real. I think that you are feeling the same way about us, too. Listen, Emma, I know I don’t want my life without you in it. If that means sharing you with the others, then I’ll learn to adjust to it. Just don’t ever leave again. I don’t think I could stand it, moppet.”

  How could I tell him how I felt? It was so strange to be in love with seven different men. I used to be nervous when faced with just one of them. I used my body to tell him how I felt. I wrapped around his neck squeezed him as he kissed my forehead. When we stepped inside, he put me down and we walked hand in hand up to the bedroom.

  Victor was nowhere to be found, so we decided to share my bed. It was decided that I’d sleep under the comforter and Vincent would sleep on top of it.

  “Are you sure you’re ok with this, Emma?”

  “It’ll be like when we were children, sleeping over at my house.” We’d never stayed at his house. His father had had issues and Victor seemed to be his target. I had a feeling Vincent had done it to protect Julian from his father’s brutality. My parents had insisted we stay at my house and Vincent’s mother seemed to encourage that situation. Therefore, we had a lot of fun times and noisy sleepovers, until my dad would remind us it was time to tone down the giggling and go to sleep.

  “We aren’t children anymore, moppet.”

  “I trust you. Besides, I don’t think it’s a good idea to try to find Victor in this maze of a castle, just so you can ask him where he’d like you to sleep.”

  “Yeah, I have a feeling waking a vampire might not be too cool either. I’m not wild about coffins anyway.”

  “Me neither, but he doesn’t sleep in a coffin.”

  “You know that for a fact do you?” There was the slightest sting in his tone, which I ignored.

  “He told me that it was an ugly rumor about vampires sleeping in coffins. He doesn’t sparkle either.”

  He raised his eyebrow, but made no further comment. Instead, he began to turn down the bed and the subject of our host was dropped.

  “You want the shower first?” I asked.

  “Go ahead, but be quick, ok. It’s almost dawn and you need to get some sleep.”

  “Well that, too, but I want to spend some time with you tomorrow before I have to leave.”

  We both got our showers and slipped into bed. Vincent was sleeping in his clothes, which still held that wintery fresh smell of his. I opted for some sweats I found in the closet. They were too big on me, but they would have to do. They were probably an old set of Victor’s, but they were warm. I knew I wouldn’t be getting any body heat from my cold-blooded friend lying atop the comforter.

  My own clothes had been unpacked and were inside the room, but the sweats were more modest since I was sharing the bed with a man. I was still a little shy at times around the guys, confu
sed about my feelings, and just wondering how long it would be before they got tired of all my baggage. Would they leave me, just as Dad had done? Whatever his reason, he’d left us there alone to face whatever life brought us, good or bad.

  I’m not leaving you ever, Emma. Now come over here and let me hold you for a while.

  Did you just talk in my mind? Yes, I can hear all your thoughts, too. You might want to block them, unless of course they are about how cool I am.

  It seems like all of you can read my thoughts now, just as I can yours. I’ll find out for sure about the others when they visit, but it won’t surprise me since I read that letter. Oh, don’t tell the rest of them about the letter. I’d like to tell them in person and let them read it. I hope they take it as well as Miles, Victor and you have.

  If they don’t, they’re fools. I’m looking forward to being one of the masses as long as I get you at least one day a week to myself. Let’s see there are seven shields and seven days a week. I think that could work for the masses.

  Really, the masses, there are only seven of you. After I said it aloud into Vincent’s mind, it did seem like an impossible number, not quite masses but a lot to manage for a young woman who still blushed at the thought of touching a man.

  It’ll be all right. I promise. No more lies, no more half-truths between us. Stop worrying and try to get some to sleep. Victor and I will be here when you wake.

  Goodnight Vincent, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve had a wonderful time with you tonight.

  It’s been great being alone with you for a change, without the other guys around. I’ll always be here for you, no matter what. Goodnight and sweet dreams, my dear moppet.

  I drifted off to sleep with the feel of Vincent’s fingers gently stroking my hair. I felt protected and loved. The years had dropped away that day and he was again the person I’d spent years loving as one of my BFFs.