Autumn knew Nathaniel had a valid point. They made it out alive once, and tempting fate twice was like playing Russian Roulette. What exactly was she proposing? That they fight the monsters? That they become high-school students who moonlighted as vigilantes? As ridiculous and terrifying as the thought was, it was also exhilarating.
She couldn’t deny it. Last night, her heart was racing and her blood was pumping through her veins at full speed.
It was a rush. Of course, she was terrified but underneath the surface, there was a thrill.
“I just think we saw that thing last night for a reason,” Autumn explained. “It was like we lifted the veil, and now it would be wrong to look the other way.”
“Ugh. Doing the right thing,” Nathaniel said, crossing his arms defensively. “It always gets me into trouble.”
Autumn looked at Rick. She could practically see the excitement in his blue eyes frothing and ready to bubble over. He felt the adrenaline too. They all had.
“I get what you are saying Aut,” Rick said. “Instead of hiding, we could fight back.”
“Exactly,” Autumn said, straightening in her chair. She looked at Mandy and Nathaniel.
“What do you guys think?”
“Usually, I’m up for anything,” Nathaniel said. “But we are teenagers and they are monsters. Freaky lizard monsters who spit venom! We don’t stand a freaking chance!”
“Well, we would need to train dude,” Rick said. “But it would be sweet. We would be like, vigilantes.”
“Like superheroes,” Nathaniel’s eyes widened. “Known and feared by villains everywhere. We could rescue beautiful chicks, and they would reward us.” He winked.
“Yeah dude! Exactly!” Rick replied.
“Or we could end up dead,” Nathaniel said, his face suddenly going ashen.
Autumn shook her head. “No one will die. I would need the most training. Rick knows martial arts already.”
“But you were a cheerleader back home, so you are probably quite fit and flexible,” Nathaniel said gazing at Autumn longingly. “I mean, that’s how I imagine you would be.”
“Would get your mind out of the gutter?” Autumn gave Nathaniel a cautionary look then turned to Mandy.
“You know martial arts Mand.”
“Yep. And I also have a secret skill,” Mandy said proudly.
“Being able to hide in most cupboards?” Nathaniel offered. “Baking cookies with the other elves?”
“I am amazing with nunchucks,” Mandy said, grinning wickedly.
“Really?” Nathaniel said, shifting uncomfortably.
“Yep,” Mandy said. “I can pack quite a punch with them. It’s how I kept my older brothers in line growing up.”
“Man. I feel sorry for them,” Nathaniel muttered.
“So that leaves you Nate,” Autumn went on. “You can be our firearm’s aficionado.”
“Aficionado?” Nathaniel repeated. “That’s good right? Should I be outraged?”
“It’s good. It means you are our firearm’s expert,” Autumn said reassuringly.
“Oh yeah. I like busting caps,” Nathaniel said throwing his shoulders back. “I’m like a regular cowboy with a gun. Just get me the hat and the chaps.”
“And that is an image I will never forget,” Mandy griped.
Autumn realized she was the weakest link when it came to fighting. She didn’t want to be the damsel in distress. She wanted to fight alongside the others and be an asset, not a liability.
“I can’t really fight,” Autumn admitted.
Nathaniel rubbed his arm where she had punched him earlier. “I beg to differ.”
“Well, anyone can use brute force,” Autumn went on. “But to fight, you need more than that. You need technique, precision, timing and coordination.”
“Not to worry Aut,” Rick assured her. “I will teach you to fight. Think of me as your very own coach. Before you know it, you will be roundhousing monsters like a pro.”
The four of them sat in the kitchen, continuing to hash out ideas about training, weapons and armor. Everyone knew this wasn’t a decision to be taken lightly. They realized what they were undertaking was risky.
“Don’t get me wrong. I love a good fight more than anyone,” Mandy said. “But for once, Nathaniel has a point. Why are we going to fight these things? Why risk our hides when no one else will?”
“Because we can,” Rick piped up. “Autumn is right Mandy. You and I can fight. Nate hunts and is a natural with guns. I can teach Autumn how to kick ass. Already, we are stronger than most people. Right?” Rick grinned. “I mean, can you picture Ben Mills out there fighting? Begging the monsters to let him live because he’s a quarterback?”
“And don’t forget, with my contacts we’re going to be armed and dangerous,” Nathaniel added in. “My brother Conrad can get his hands on some serious contraband.”
Mandy, who was fiddling with the salt and pepper shakers on the table, frowned.
“So we are somewhat tougher than the average person, but that doesn’t mean we’re tough enough to contest hell beasts. Aren’t we being a tad overconfident?”
“We just need to train more and learn to work together as a team,” Rick replied. “I mean, I kicked a monsters ass, and I wasn’t even trying.” He puffed out his chest proudly.
Autumn raised her hand in the air.
“What’s up Aut?” Rick asked her.
“Let’s make a pact. We won’t go back to the caves until everyone is in tiptop, fighting shape.”
“I’m in,” Nathaniel said, finally sounding keen about the idea. “As long as I’m packing heat, I’m happy to help.”
“Count me in too,” Mandy said.
Rick’s blue eyes lit up. “Awesome! Now all I need is a cool nickname to go by, like Rick the Ripper.”
Mandy chortled. “That just sounds like you fart a lot.”
“You can be Miniature Mandy,” Nathaniel interjected as Autumn went to get drinks from the fridge.
As she began searching for bottles of water, she heard the familiar jingle of her cellphone. She recognized the ring tone as Eric’s.
She pulled her phone out of her pocket.
“Eric. How are you?”
On the other end, Eric was rambling, his words melting together, not making sense. He wasn’t his cool and collected self. Feeling her stomach tie into knots, she asked him to repeat himself.
Autumn felt her heart drop when he spoke again, this time clearer and slower.
“Oh my God,” she murmured.
Rick looked up and saw the expression of terror on her face.
“Autumn? What is it?” he stood up from his chair.
“We will be right there. Sit tight,” Autumn said before hanging up.
“Autumn?” Mandy said, her brow furrowed. “What’s wrong? Who was that?”
She looked at her friends worried faces and forced the words out.
“It was Eric. Renee and Caleb have gone missing.”
13
As Nathaniel drove, the sound of Eric’s rattled voice played over and over in Autumn’s mind without refrain. She had never heard him so distraught.
“Poor Eric,” Autumn murmured. “He is so worried.”
“Eric tried to warn them,” Mandy said flippantly. “But Caleb was so adamant about going to those wretched caves.”
“Eric made a body disappear like voodoo,” Nathaniel said. “Even I would think twice about crossing him.”
“Like you know what voodoo looks like Nate,” Mandy grumbled. “Either way he is obviously on our side,” she went on. “He saved our hides, which you didn’t have a chance in hell of doing.” Mandy looked at Nathaniel, a smirk on her face.
Autumn was starting to realize squabbling was actually flirting for Mandy and Nathaniel. Still, she couldn’t tak
e any bickering now. She was relieved when Nathaniel rose above the bait to play verbal jujitsu with Mandy.
“I’m just saying, it’s obvious that wasn’t the first time he’s gotten rid of a body,” Nathaniel pointed out. “And that isn’t normal.”
“This from the guy who has a wall full of artillery in his basement,” Autumn muttered as they turned down the long, tree-lined road that led to Eric’s house.
“Nathaniel is just jealous because Eric is loaded, and he is broke ass,” Mandy said, obviously trying to prod him further.
“I am not and never will be jealous of Eric King small fry,” Nathaniel snapped back.
Mandy shrugged, ignoring his jab.
“It would be nice to have a guy who could afford to pay for my meals once and awhile. Take me out for steak instead of hot dogs and hamburgers.”
Nathaniel snorted as he pulled in through the wide-open gates of Eric’s home.
“If a guy had to pay for your meals Mandy, he’d go broke. You are a freaking bottomless pit.”
“You wouldn’t have the money or the manners to pay on a date Abrams!” Mandy barked, her face reddening with anger.
“I would pay for a lady, something you certainly are not,” Nathaniel shot back.
Mandy opened her mouth to retort, but Autumn cut her off.
“Can you two please stop?” she implored as she took off her seatbelt. “Usually, your sparring is endearing, but we need to focus on helping Eric. He needs us.”
Autumn opened the van door and instantly felt the sun beating down on her. She looked up at the sky, admiring the crystal blueness of it, and when she looked back down, she saw Eric approaching.
He was wearing dark jeans and a black button-down dress shirt. His dark hair was messy like the wind had attacked it. He looked pale, and his brown eyes were ringed with darkness.
Everyone greeted Eric and Autumn couldn’t help herself. She reached out and grabbed Eric, pulling him close. Eric hugged her back, squeezing her tightly.
“Oh come on,” Nathaniel grumbled.
“They are freaking adorable,” Mandy swooned, her cheeks pink.
“I’m so sorry about Caleb and Renee,” Autumn whispered into Eric’s ear.
“Thank you Autumn,” he said gently. “You’re truly a loyal friend.”
Eric didn’t let her go. He held her for a while longer, before finally pulling away.
“Let’s go inside where we can talk more privately,” he suggested to everyone. “It may not seem appropriate, considering the timing, but I want to give you all the grand tour.”
Everyone delighted at the idea of snooping around the grand King mansion, so they all followed Eric inside.
Eric went on to tell them the house had ten bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a kitchen, a library, a study, a ballroom, three great rooms, a pool, a gym and a hot tub.
“My parents ensured the backyard is very private. There are tons of different trees and shrubs, which shroud the property. Almost like our own private little forest,” he said wistfully. “It is my absolute favorite part of the house.”
Eric continued leading them down another long, ivory carpeted, hall. Finally, they arrived in front of two giant mahogany doors which he pulled open without effort.
“This is the library,” he said, gesturing for everyone to follow him inside. “I spend the vast majority of my time here.”
Every part of the house Autumn had seen so far was astounding, but the library surpassed her expectations. The first thing she noticed when Eric opened the double doors, were the bookshelves. They were made of shiny cherry wood and were so tall they nearly touched the cathedral ceiling.
As Autumn got closer, she saw the array of books, all different sizes, styles and colors. Their bindings faced out, boasting so many titles. Autumn’s head was spinning. Eric had every base covered, from classic literature to current bestsellers and beyond.
Mandy glanced at Autumn, a grin spreading across her heart-shaped face.
“Eyes glazed over, drool pooling around her lips. I think she’s in heaven,” she said to Eric, who chuckled lightly.
Nathaniel shuddered as his eyes passed over the rows of books. “Heaven? Try hell.”
In the centre of the room, on a burgundy area rug, were three large recliners and two suede couches. Against the far wall, was an old-fashioned stone fireplace and a wet bar. Autumn saw a fire was already crackling, the orange flames dancing around wildly along the wood.
“You have quite the collection of books,” Autumn said as she browsed quickly through the titles. Eric had every genre of literature. He had romance, history, fantasy and biographies. She really was in heaven.
Ever since she could read, it was Autumn’s favorite pastime. Her mother taught her early on. She said that knowledge was power and reading gave you knowledge, in turn making you stronger. That and she loved getting lost in a story.
Her father always bought her a new book when he got paid every other week. Her sister Audrina didn’t see the benefits of literature.
“Autumn can’t be smart and beautiful,” she had grumbled. “She is so greedy!”
“I’m an avid reader,” Eric admitted as he pulled a tome off the shelf and ran his hand across its cover. “I actually collect antique books.”
“I love to read. There is nothing like getting lost in a book,” Autumn said. She continued to gaze longingly at the rows of books as Eric placed a hand softly on her shoulder.
“What is your favorite book?”
“I have too many to choose just one,” Autumn said. “You?”
“The same,” Eric said. “Well, if you would like to borrow anything, let me know.”
“Thanks Eric. I will definitely take you up on that.”
Eric was so mysterious and yet they had so much in common. This drew Autumn to him like a magnet. It didn’t hurt that he had a gorgeous smile and dark eyes she could get lost in.
“Please everyone, make yourselves at home,” Eric said, gesturing to the assortment of sofas and chairs. He took a seat in one of the recliners, while Nathaniel rushed beside Autumn on one couch and Mandy and Rick took the other.
The five friends sat in the library, glancing back and forth at one another. The air in the room was heavy with anticipation, as everyone waited for Eric to begin.
He took a deep breath, running a hand apprehensively though his dark hair, before he started.
“Would anyone like anything to drink or eat before we begin?”
“No thanks we just ate,” Autumn began.
“Food?” Rick piped in, his blue eyes keen. “What do you have King?”
Autumn narrowed her eyes at her friend. Was he really delaying Eric’s tale for another meal?
Eric couldn’t help it. A small smirk came across his tan face. “I can have the cook whip us up sandwiches if you would like Rick,” he offered.
“You have a cook?” Rick’s eyes went wide.
Eric nodded. “I do.”
“In your house?”
“Yes, in my house.” Eric smirked again.
“You are so lucky,” Rick said, scowling.
“Why are you so uppity?” Autumn asked, unable to hide her annoyance. “Your mother waits on you hand and foot Rick.”
Eric pulled out his top-of-the-line cell phone. “Rick, I’ll go ahead and text the cook.”
“Your own servants,” Nathaniel said, looking impressed. “You really are loaded dude.”
“Actually, I call them my staff,” Eric said as he began typing a text message. “And the huge house didn’t give it away?”
After Eric sent the message, he shifted in his recliner, clearly trying to get comfortable.
“I don’t see the point in wasting any more time,” he said. “I’m sure you all want to know what happened last night. And what probably happened to Renee
and Caleb.”
Mandy, who was sitting, legs tucked up to her chin spoke bluntly, as usual.
“You saved our asses last night. If you don’t want to explain yourself, we can’t say boo about it.”
Eric smiled indulgently. “As much as I appreciate the sentiment Mandy, I would like to explain but the words aren’t coming as easily as I would’ve hoped.”
Eric sat in the recliner, not saying anything more and for a split-second, Autumn thought he looked much older than his seventeen years. It was like he had aged before her very eyes.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he spoke again.
“The truth is, I am not exactly as normal as I look.”
“You don’t look normal,” Nathaniel piped in sarcastically. “Hence all the rumors at school.”
Autumn nudged him sharply in the ribs.
“Ow!” Nathaniel winced.
“Fair enough,” Eric smirked. “I guess the only way to do this, is to start at the very beginning.”
“My parents moved to Whitan from Madrid when I was very young. I have basically lived in this little town my whole life. When we first arrived here, I couldn’t even talk. Whitan has always seemed pretty normal, at least on the surface. Like most places, anything dark or abnormal is kept buried. The tales of the caves have been around for centuries that I know of.
However, through my extensive research, I have come to conclude that the caves aren’t always brimming with evil activity. Nothing happens for years at a time and then suddenly the strange occurrences start again.”
“And how do you know so much about the caves?” Rick asked, almost accusingly. “Most of the people in town don’t believe the scary stories, but you obviously know they’re true.”
Eric put his hands together. “Well, to explain that I need to tell you all who I am.”
“Uh Eric King,” Nathaniel said flatly. “We already know that dude.”
“Maybe I didn’t phrase that properly,” Eric said patiently. “I need to tell you what I am.”
Nothing good could ever follow that sentence, Autumn thought as a chill tapped her spine.
“Are you an iguana in disguise?” Nathaniel asked warily.
“It wasn’t an iguana!” Mandy snapped. “It was a snake man!”
A Night without Stars Page 15