Dark Hearts

by P. L. Midnight

  “All I know is that I don’t want to lose her. I’ll do whatever I have to do to find and keep her safe. I believe that she already cares for us, and given time, I think she could learn to love and desire all of us,” Julian said.

  “None of us wants to lose her. However, our biggest problem right now is finding her and making sure she doesn’t hear our thoughts. I told you that we shouldn’t pursue her romantically until she was ready. Now, not only are we going to be looking for her, but so will Dark Hearts. We need a plan for finding her and soon, before they do. As for her desiring us all, I believe that she already does, which probably scares her more than anything. I think she feels the same bond that we do, which may hit her full force tomorrow on her birthday.”

  After a little more discussion, they all agreed that her eighteenth birthday could be extremely important, not only to the development of any psychic gifts she may have, but to her bond with them. Following the meeting, they headed out in different directions. Miles and Sebastian knew the area a little better than some of the others. Combined with their tracking skills, the two might be able to find her more quickly. Someone had to stay at the house in case she decided to return. Julian stayed behind since he wasn’t as familiar with the area.

  It was a good thing that Raven’s dad had been called away for a while. Raven hoped they’d find Emma before his father found out they’d lost her. He’d not only be disappointed, but any chance that Raven, Alex, and Vince had of being recruited by the Order would be lost. Mistakes of this magnitude were unacceptable. He was also concerned what Dark Hearts would do to her should they find her. They’d think nothing of torturing her to get what they wanted and the fuckers would broadcast it if it would flush out her father.

  Julian decided he’d look around Emma’s room just to see if there were any clues as to where she was headed. He could still smell her flowery scent as he entered the room. He missed her already and felt he was to blame for her absconding. Perhaps he shouldn’t have held her hand. He’d been so compelled to touch her, he was thankful that was all he’d done, but it still could’ve been too much since they’d all been making similar romantic gestures.

  He did notice one thing missing from her room that Sebastian hadn’t mentioned. He’d said a few of her clothes and personal effects were mostly missing. However, the little golden heart-shaped frame that contained a picture of all of them at Thanksgiving dinner was missing too. She really did care about them. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have taken a photograph of them with her, he surmised.

  Julian was worried about her, too. She was so small, well, compared to all of them and some of the ruthless Dark Hearts operatives he’d seen. She wouldn’t stand a chance against them.

  Julian knew that Sebastian was distressed because he hadn’t checked Emma’s eyes after he’d noticed a few things, which indicated her vision might be returning. If he’d verified she could see, he’d have made sure that she was never left alone until they found her mother and secured her position with them.

  They’d have been more careful not to let her go off on some dangerous, wild-goose-chase looking for her mother and they’d have started wooing her towards the idea of a relationship with all of them. Julian just hoped that one of the guys found her soon.

  Epilogue

  I couldn’t believe I’d avoided my guys and Dark Hearts for over a week. I’d seen a couple suspicious looking characters, but they hadn’t recognized me. I was getting proficient at guarding my thoughts, too. The barriers I’d built seemed to be holding when needed. Those walls helped me keep my sanity by blocking out all the random thoughts when the guys were around. They also kept my thoughts locked away. Strangely, I didn’t seem able to read anyone’s thoughts but my guys. Therefore, I knew when they were getting close.

  Padding the baggy clothes to make me look fat had been genius. I sat eating the sandwich I grabbed at the last gas station where I’d stopped for a bathroom break. The vehicle I’d gotten was running well and getting decent mileage, too, which would help since my funds weren’t limitless now that I’d had to get a second vehicle. It had cost me more than I’d wanted to spend to trade for another vehicle, but I didn’t want to shop around. I had to be rid of the car because Dark Hearts, or whoever those freaks were, would recognize it.

  At this rate, I’d have to find some kind of job, but a social security number would be a problem if I wanted to keep my identity a secret. I’d gotten a good little, non-descript mini-van which I could sleep in if necessary. It looked like the typical kind of family vehicle you’d find parked in any grocery store parking lot. Of course, I’d thought that about the other car, however, now I looked different, too. I hoped that would help. So far, it seemed to be working.

  I watched traffic pass me as I sat pondering my next move. I couldn’t give up, but I still had no clue where my mother had gone. Perhaps Dark Hearts had kidnapped her the night of the fire, but her car was missing. If they hadn’t taken it, maybe Mom had escaped in it.

  I did know Mom’s car was around, because I’d just gotten my first clue about it. The man at the gas station, where I’d gotten my cardboard tasting sandwich, said a woman that looked a lot like her had been in a few days ago. He remembered her because at first, she’d had a problem with her credit card.

  A check of the local hospitals proved that she’d never been a patient, as I’d been led to believe. I took the little golden frame from my purse and traced my finger along the outline of their faces. They were so handsome. They’d taken such good care of me, too. They’d been my friends, my protectors, my healers, and my world. I missed them horribly. I’d be eighteen tomorrow. I wondered what they’d planned for my birthday. It would’ve been nice to find out.

  I finished my sandwich and chugged a few swallows of water to wash it down as I started the car. It was time to head out of the area. I’d stayed long enough in West Liberty. I was going to head towards Columbus, hoping to stay in the area and find an obscure motel where I could stay awhile. I hoped Mom was still in the area and planned to look for her as much as possible without raising suspicions. I’d leave my few possessions in the van from now on in the event I had to make a quick departure like I had last night when I’d heard some strange voices outside the hotel.

  I headed East. A loud clap of thunder caught me unaware and I almost ran off the road. I’d heard there were storms in the area, but thought they weren’t expected until after midnight. The windshield wipers ran on high speed as the sudden downpour quickly reduced visibility. Looking at the clock on the dashboard, I realized it was already ten-thirty. I hadn’t realized it was so late.

  I’d stayed at a little motel in West Liberty for a few days doing most of my investigative work and planning after dark. I’d tried to remain as inconspicuous as possible and draw little attention to myself as I’d made my way through the local grocery earlier tonight, getting a few needed supplies for my next move. I guess it had taken longer than I thought, but I’d found a sleeping bag and even a little camper heater that plugged into the cigarette lighter. I hadn’t forgotten almost freezing in the car.

  I fervently wished I’d started earlier as my wipers whipped back and forth barely cleaning the windshield before it was again covered with large drops of rain. The blinding flashes of lightning were the only light as the darkness settled in upon me. I turned onto another back road. I only hoped I was still heading east as the car had no directional indicator or GPS. I knew the area, but in the darkness of the storm, it would be easy to get lost.

  The last flash of brilliant lightning illuminated something I hadn’t seen for years. It was the outline of Mac-O-Chee Castle. The intimidating structure was one of the old limestone castles that comprised the Piatt Castle, which had been an Ohio historical site for years. I had no time to wonder how I’d even gotten there, when a sudden streak of lightning crashed into the tree beside me as I inched my way down the sodden, dark road. The sound of splitting wood resounded in my ears. Without warning, a large branch landed o
n the hood of my minivan shattering the windshield. I slammed on the brakes, causing me to jerk forward enough that my head hit the steering wheel.

  I didn’t black out, but I definitely had a problem. I was seeing double for a short while. I shut off the van and just sat there for a moment leaning against the steering wheel. I was trying to focus on my options. I was in the middle of nowhere in a torrential downpour in a car with no windshield. The last I’d heard, the Piatt Castles were museums, but were still lived in by members of the Piatt family. I could only hope that someone was home tonight.

  It was so damn late, at almost eleven o’clock, I wondered if they’d still be awake. I knew I could either stay in the already chilling car or risk the ire of the family inside by waking them. It seemed I had little choice as I sat pondering the situation. A light came on in one of the upper rooms. They must have heard the crashing tree as it had smashed my van.

  Another flash of lightning foretold the walk I’d have to the castle. Not only was it a long walk, but the rain now thumping against the car had begun to freeze, as rain in Ohio in early December was prone to do. I hesitated only a moment more before I grabbed my wallet. I shoved it in my coat pocket and climbed out of the car.

  I moved as agilely as possible around the large portion of the tree that now lay atop my hood. Walking to the castle was a more difficult feat than I’d imagined with the slippery, icy coating already covering the ground. The pain in my head from my near crash was intensifying with each step I took, promising a long night to come.

  Narrowly missing another branch that lay across the treacherous terrain, I twisted my ankle causing me to tumble to the hard, slippery ground. I lay on my side, groaning, the minute I tried to put weight on my injured ankle. I struggled several times in the icy sludge, trying to get to my feet.

  I was drenched from the cold, icy mixture that continued to pelt down upon me. Cold, sore and almost ready to give up, I finally got to my feet only to fall again after only a few more steps. Limping badly and shivering cold, I managed to make it through the grove of trees that surrounded the castle. The branches seemed to sag from beneath the weight of the ice as they reached for me. My hair was caught a few times by invading icy fingers that seem to impede my progress even more than my limping stride.

  I looked up to see the castle looming several more feet from me. Its eerie shadow against the darkness was more than a little unwelcoming. However, I had no choice. I couldn’t make it back to the car at that point. I trudged forward hoping I wouldn’t fall again.

  The heavy rain didn’t let up at all, as I slowly progressed toward the castle. I was within a few feet of the castle when I fell yet again. This time there was no getting up. I was getting too tired to try. The pain in my head had intensified to almost unbearable. My ankle was throbbing. I wondered if I was going to perish just a few feet from possible assistance.

  I swore I’d seen a light, but as I looked up there was none. I was certain I was going to die. I was so cold that my teeth had even stopped chattering. My bones ached as the relentless rain pounded my skin. The hood that I’d pulled over my head had become dislodged when I fell, leaving my face and head at the mercy of the elements.

  I lay there for what seemed like an eternity. I was too miserable to contemplate moving as my body began to shut down. I knew I was dying. I wasn’t even cold anymore. I felt numb all over. I’d closed my eyes against the onslaught of freezing rain that continued to assault my face. I tried to stay awake, but I felt myself slipping into blissful oblivion, as I could no longer fight the elements that sought to destroy me. I could feel my heartbeat slowing as my body lingered minutes from death on the cold, inhospitable ground.

  When I thought I could fight my impending death no longer, I felt myself being lifted into strong arms. Had God sent an angel to take me to the afterlife? I didn’t think so when I heard the deep voice speak in a tone that was dark and almost foreboding, “I thought I’d seen someone out here, but when I came looking for you, I couldn’t find you. You could’ve died out here, young woman. Why the hell would you wander off the walkway? No matter, we’ll discuss it later after I get you warm.” I wasn’t sure I’d ever be warm again, but I was too tired and sore to disagree.

  Too tired to handle anything else, I managed one small peek at the dark stranger whose strong arms held me tight against him. I remembered the most beautiful sapphire eyes looking at me with an expression of both concern and irritation before my world went dark…

  For a sneak peek at the next book in the series, Dark Secrets read on…

  Dark Secrets

  Chapter One-Dark Secrets-The Guys

  “You’re sure it’s our girl? Well, certainly, and thanks again, Victor. We'll get there as soon as possible.”

  Raven disconnected the call and immediately called the rest of the group back to the house. He’d stopped at his house for a few minutes, hoping to check out a few possible leads about Emma’s whereabouts that he’d received when he got the call from Victor.

  He still couldn’t believe that he’d found her in his front yard, damn near froze to death over a week ago, during that hellacious storm. It was all he could do to stay and not rush over to get her. He felt an almost physical need to make sure she was okay. However, he knew it wouldn’t be a good idea for any of them to storm Mac-o-Chee Castle and frighten Emma more than she probably was already.

  He knew Victor would take good care of her. He just hoped he wouldn’t take too good care of her. Victor, too, had been an operative of the Order at one time, but had retired when one of the Piatt Castles had come up for sale. He’d decided to take it easy for a while and enjoy his peaceful new residence. At least it had been peaceful before Emma had arrived.

  Raven knew that his hunch had been right about Emma. It seems that she wasn’t exactly a normal human. Victor had confirmed this when he treated her cuts from the accident. He said that her blood had some kind of strange, almost aphrodisiac-like quality to it, which he didn’t understand. Raven was certain that if anyone would know about blood anomalies it would be Victor. After all, he was one of the oldest vampires in the United States.

  Victor was old enough that he no longer had a problem with the sun, although he frequently wore dark sunglasses on sunny days. He said it was just a habit. He’d gotten used to wearing them while he was living in Hollywood, because the movie stars wore them. He wanted to look as normal as possible so as not to attract too much attention. Normal for Hollywood was dark glasses and strange fashion, which Victor still adhered to.

  Raven still found it strange that with all the attention vampires had received after the Twilight frenzy, no one ever discovered that a real-life one lived right under their noses. Well, perhaps more appropriate would be a real-dead one, whatever, it was still weird. Then again, Victor didn’t sparkle to his knowledge and was quite skilled at remaining incognito. One didn’t survive the Great War and the Dark Ages without being clever.

  Victor had relocated to Ohio after he’d purchased the castle. He’d quickly set up his home in the rather obscure part of Ohio far away from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood. He no longer allowed tours through the castle and avoided most human contact. Raven was surprised that Victor had even bothered to bring Emma inside his home, but he was certainly glad he did. Victor didn’t have much use for people anymore other than for an occasional private snack when he ran short of blood bags or wanted something warm from the vein.

  Victor had made quite a few changes to the exterior of the place to discourage visitors. Raven had seen the place a few times, but had almost missed it at first with the addition of all the large trees and full evergreens which now surrounded the place. Many of the trees that Victor had had planted were almost full size. The trees had given the place an almost sinister feeling with their thick foliage or bare spindly winter branches.

  In the summer, with the leaves on the trees, it might not look so unwelcoming, but now he couldn’t even image how creepy the place had become. It was like
ly about as welcoming as Raven’s own home had become with all its towering gargoyle inhabitants.

  With all the trees surrounding Victor’s place, it was no wonder a branch had fallen on Emma’s car with the violent winds last week. He still couldn’t believe she’d been driving on deserted back roads in that kind of inclement weather. He wondered again what she’d been thinking. Obviously, she hadn’t been thinking at all, so great was her need to get away from the area. He wondered if she’d had another encounter with Dark Hearts. He’d heard about her first one. He was thankful she’d escaped their demented clutches, but feared she wouldn’t be so lucky the next time.

  He’d have to convince her that they needed her and would make things work between them. That was if he wanted her to come back willingly. He may have dismissed it rather lightly, but she’d be coming back willingly or by force. Raven hoped it wouldn’t be the latter. However, he had no choice. Emma was not safe with Dark Hearts overrunning the area.

  As to why she’d left, he believed that she was afraid of them for some reason. Had she found out that they weren’t human? Perhaps she’d figured out by their subtle actions that they all wanted her and meant to share her. Maybe she was telepathic after all and had heard their thoughts.

  Her blood was the real puzzle though. If what Victor said was true, that her blood acted like some kind of aphrodisiac, then why hadn’t the humans been affected, too? It seemed that the guys at school had all been more interested in her looks and their raging teenage hormones than anything else. Sebastian, Vince, Alex, Julian, Miles, and himself had wanted much more than a tumble or two from Emma. All of them had become enthralled with her in a relatively short period. They’d all become like lovesick puppies around her.