by Riley, Alexa
I stand there motionless as I watch him leave. Then when he’s gone, I still don't move. I look down at the book in my hands and once again I’m eager to read it, but now I’m afraid of what it might hold. Who was he and why did he want me to have this information? I close the book and run my finger along the binding.
It’s been almost a week since I sought out Ezra and Erik. I can still see the anger on their faces when they caught that man all over Ravana. It confirmed exactly what I’d already been thinking. They were in love with her and they flew into a jealous rage and dragged him off her. I should have been disgusted by the act of violence. I couldn't fight the feeling of jealousy—they were so angry about another man touching her; they flew into such a rage over her and their possession was clear. They were always so laidback when I watched them before, but not when it came to her.
More than anything, seeing how fast they moved and how their eyes changed was the proof I needed, but all I could focus on was jealousy.
I still don’t get why she let another man kiss her when she had Ezra and Erik making her laugh and smile the whole night at the theatre. They looked happy together, and I knew I had to leave them be, even if it felt like my heart was breaking. But a week later I’m still not over it.
I slipped up the first night after I vowed I wouldn’t follow them anymore. The same man they dragged off of Ravana at the theater found me lurking outside of her house. He was angry and had gone through my stuff, saying he was a cop. I didn’t believe him, but he was twice my size and clearly on a mission. I’d hauled ass out of there thinking that was my sign to really keep away. I was in over my head, at least physically, when it came to watching them, but I could still do all the research I wanted. Normally digging for information is what I’m best at, but I’ve been hitting nothing but brick walls in my efforts to know more. I know they had to have a past like Bishop had, but there’s nothing to track. Maybe they’re young vampires, but I didn’t even know how all that works. Do you get turned or are you born a vampire?
Right now I might have everything I’ve been looking for at my fingertips. I open the book and the first thing I see is a wanted picture of Ezra and Erik. The date at the bottom is from over a hundred years ago, but I know it’s them even if their names are different. The picture is in black and white and the paper is worn and old, but there’s no mistaking those eyes.
I stare at it in disbelief because the list of crimes against them can’t possibly be real. They’d been accused of murdering their own father then burning the house down with him inside it. That still isn't the worst. It was believed they killed their father because he discovered they’d been responsible for the disappearance of ten women in their town—women that were later discovered in a grave on the land their family owned. The paper states the reward at the bottom and indicates the police had no leads on their whereabouts at that time.
I can’t stop myself from looking at the pages of newspapers that feature each missing girl. As I read, it seems they were all beautiful and young and around my age. They all looked similar, too: tall and thin with short red hair. I read the words but still find it hard to believe that Ezra and Erik are capable of anything like this.
My hands shake as I shut the book, unable to keep reading. I don’t know if the rest is about the twins or the other vampires. From what I’ve pieced together, all five of them move together, but with the addition of Juliet, it’s now six. We weren't super close, but I never wanted something to happen to her. I can’t see Kane harming a hair on her or letting anyone else either. The nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I can’t seem to shake is that Ravana is so similar to the description of all the women who went missing. They say serial killers have a type, and she fits it perfectly.
I grab my stuff in a rush and go upstairs. When I get there, I power up one of the computers and begin searching for missing people over the last year. There were a handful of women who disappeared: all tall, thin, and around the same age with red hair. It’s all the same as before. I should really watch the news more. I had no idea this was even going on because I always pick books over the television.
I turn off the computer and pick up my bag. Should I have not stopped following them? My brain tells me to stay away because they could be killing these women, but my heart tells me it can’t be true. Either way it gives me a reason to go back, but it’s not like I needed much of a shove to begin with.
I should have planned all of this out better, but before I know it I’m tripping over rocks in the woods behind their house.
“A flashlight might have been a good idea,” I mutter to myself as I stand up and brush the dirt off my jeans.
I should have known this was a bad idea when I almost broke my leg climbing the wall that surrounds their property. Why did their home have to be so far back from the road, and why did I get the bright idea to come from the point that was the farthest from their house? I’m trying to sneak in, but as much as I keep falling and tripping over crap, someone is bound to hear me soon enough. I’m sure vampires have super hearing like in all the books I’ve read. I dust my hands off, happy I didn’t bring my bag with me. Normally I take it everywhere, but I knew I’d have a hard enough time getting myself over that wall.
I stand there debating what I should do. I keep telling myself I came here because they could have a woman locked away in their home. I have to make sure they haven’t done this to someone else, and if I called the cops they would think I was crazy. Not that I wouldn’t agree with them in this moment.
I already know Ravana is fine because that’s the first place I drove by. She was leaving the house with the same man I saw the twins attack at the play. The same guy who told me he was a cop and asked me all kinds of questions.
Maybe he is a cop and wants to help Ravana. If I would have kept watching the houses like I was before the theater, then maybe I would know a little more and not be so confused.
If I’m honest with myself and face reality, the real reason I came here was to see them and maybe even get caught by them. I still can’t believe they harmed those women, but a month ago I wouldn’t have believed vampires were real. I’m starting to think I can’t believe anything anymore, which is a sad thought.
The pull I have to the twins makes my feet start moving again. The closer I get to their home, the stronger it feels, but maybe they aren’t even there. They could have gone out to one of the bars I always see them at, and then I think about what a masochist I am. I’m always bringing these things to the forefront of my mind, but maybe it’s self-preservation. It’s my brain’s way of telling me to turn around and go back to the world I belong in, because this one isn’t mine.
I freeze when I hear what sounds like a scream, and my ears strain for any sound. Then a second later, another sounds and I’m torn between running towards it or away from it.
I step back as the light over the front door turns on and a woman comes walking out.
“I’m serious, you two! You can’t just call a girl over in the middle of the night and except her to show up!” the woman yells at them. I think she might be wrong because it looks like she did indeed show up. I can’t tell from her tone if she’s really mad at them or more scolding them. She looks older and her blonde hair is pulled up in a ponytail so tight it looks painful.
“Sometimes a man just needs a little help,” Erik says in a teasing tone.
I stay hidden in the shadows, unsure if they can still see me even if they look this way.
“You both scared the shit out of me! You got what you wanted, so don’t call me in the middle of the night again,” she huffs, getting into her car and speeding off.
Erik only laughs. “She’s always a drama queen.” He shakes his head. “We should look into replacing her,” he adds.
That probably wouldn’t sound so creepy if I hadn’t just read that they enjoy killing women.
“Come on, we’ve got to handle this. We’ll worry about her later,” Ezra says, slapping his brother on
the back. “We have a woman in our sights and I don’t plan on losing her this time,” he adds as they go back into the house.
Erik stands there for a moment, glancing around before following his brother back into the house. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. I try and decipher what they could have possibly meant, but I come up short.
It isn’t until a loud bang cracks through the silent night that I’m shocked back to reality. I swear the ground shakes beneath my feet, then the sky lights up with bright colors. The sight of the fireworks has me in a panic and I turn and run. As they keep going off, they light up the night and I can see where I’m going. It isn’t until I reach the stone wall that I stop and rest my hands against it. My breathing is heavy and I can’t hear anything with the pounding in my ears. How the fuck am I getting back over this wall?
With everything I have in me, I start to climb and almost slip when I’m halfway up. I can’t get good footing, so it takes me forever, but finally I reach the top. When I look down I can’t help but think that it looks so much worse going back over now than it did before.
A noise in the woods causes me to jerk my head back and scan the darkness. I stay frozen as both Ezra and Erik step out from the shadows, but I still can’t see them very well. The moon isn’t bright enough to show me more of them, and whatever it was that was lighting up the sky has stopped.
“Please,” I whisper, unsure why I’m saying it. Please let me go? Please don’t let me go?
They both stand there as if they’re in just as much shock as I am. Ezra takes another step towards the wall and Erik reaches out to stop him.
“Don’t. You’ll scare her and she’ll fall,” Erik tells his brother. “I can smell her fear.”
“Ezra, please let me go.” I tell him, but the glint in his eyes is intense and scary.
“You know he’s Ezra?” Erik asks me, and I nod.
“I know who you both are,” I say, but he shakes his head.
“That’s not what I meant. I meant you can tell us apart.”
“Well, yeah.” I don’t really understand the question.
Of course I can tell them apart. Sure, they look a lot alike, but you’d have to be crazy to not be able to see the difference. I see the corner of Erik’s mouth twitch and I wonder if he’s fighting a smile.
But before I can enjoy the moment or ask any more questions, Ezra suddenly breaks free of his brother’s hold and lunges for me. I let out a small scream as he comes up the wall and Erik shouts in the distance. Everything in my vision tips upside down as I feel myself begin to fall.
Chapter 3
Ezra
“What have you done?” Erik shouts at me as I carry the girl into the house.
“I didn’t mean it,” I say in a panic.
“Thank god you caught her in time,” he says as I run to the couch and he pushes all the pillows out of the way.
“I think she must have hit her head. I don’t know why she won’t wake up.” It’s then that I finally take a breath as I lay her on the cushions. That’s when I catch the sweet scent. “Oh god.”
I take a step back as the smell of her blood surrounds me and my mouth begins to water.
“Shit,” Erik hisses as he comes up beside me.
I turn to him and see the recognition in his eyes. This is what we’ve been after for the past week. Ever since the theater and we caught the sugary scent of cotton candy mixed with something unexplainable.
“Does that mean…” I swallow then try to think through all of the things running through my mind. “Is she the one?”
“But for which one of us?” Erik says, and my eyes narrow.
Does he mean to say that we’ve both mated to her?
“Maybe we should call Bishop,” I say, clenching my fists at my side.
“Maybe we should,” he agrees but plants his feet in front of me.
Is he challenging me? Suddenly I’m looking at my brother in a whole new light and I can’t help but think that this is the mate bond coming into play. I’ve never so much as spoken a harsh word to him.
All our lives we’ve only ever had each other. When Bishop created us, we were given a new family, but deep down we had a connection above all others. This isn’t something I can sweep away because a woman falls off our wall, but something inside of me has been on edge for weeks and it feels like it’s coming to a head.
Just then I hear footsteps coming up the backstairs and I turn in time to see Bishop and Kane coming through the door.
“What’s going on?” Bishop says as he looks between us then looks at the couch. “I got a call from your housekeeper that you were going to shoot off some fireworks. She said she ran out of here angry and you both just laughed. Could you two possibly attract any more attention to us?” He stops once he gets to the couch and sees the young woman there. “Who is this?”
“That’s my Juliet's old roommate, Dove,” Kane says simply and all eyes go to him. “I met her when she came to the house. Juliet says she was kind to her.”
Kane crosses his arms over his chest and that’s all he has to say. He’s a man of few words, but right now I could use more than that.
“Okay, but why is she here?” Bishops looks around before he goes over to the couch and sits down on the edge next to her.
“Don’t touch her,” I say in a low voice that’s far deadlier than I expected it to be.
It surprises Bishop and he leans back, holding his hands up where I can see them. “Ezra?” he asks as he slowly stands up. “What is this woman to you?”
Erik steps between Bishop and me so quickly I don’t see it coming. “She belongs to me,” he says, and anger rises inside me.
“She’s mine!” I shout, and Erik turns around to face me. “I scented her first in the theater.”
Heat rises inside me and I’m not prepared for it.
“Don’t do this,” Kane says, breaking his silence and stepping forward. “I think you both should calm down.”
“If Kane is the voice of reason, I think you both should reconsider your position,” Bishop says, but Erik and I don’t budge.
“Is this possible?” Kane asks Bishop under his breath, but we all hear him perfectly. “Can two vampires share a mate? I’ve never heard of this.”
“I don’t know,” Bishop admits, and he moves in front of Dove as he comes over to where we are. “We need to talk about this. There will be a way to work this out. You two are closer than any vampires I’ve seen, and that includes mated couples.”
That gives me a moment of pause as my eyes move from Dove to Erik.
“In my almost two hundred years I’ve never met twin vampires. All of our senses are heightened when we are turned, and I don’t see why your connection would be an exception. You two shared something that most people never gain with another person, so it would make sense that the one true mate you both would need would be shared between you.” He sighs as he begins to pace. “I have to be honest with you two,” he says as he stops in his tracks to face us. “I don’t know if this will work. This could be the one thing that could rip you apart. But I know that if you don’t give this a chance then you’ll regret what comes next.”
“What’s that?” Erik asks, and I’m afraid of the answer.
“From what I’ve read about jealousy with mates, you could end up killing one another if you felt like she was being threatened. But I don’t know from experience what it means to have one, so I can only guess as to the lengths you would go for your other half.”
“There is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect my Juliet,” Kane says simply, but the words are laced with deadly intent.
Just then Dove makes a sound from the couch and Erik and I rush past Bishop to her side.
“Don’t sit up,” Erik says softly as she tries to move. “We think you hit your head.”
He reaches out, taking one hand while I grab the other in mine. “How do you feel? Are you dizzy?”
“I’ll go get some ice,” Erik says
, and he’s gone before I can offer to do the same.
“What happened?” she asks, her voice as soft as kitten paws. “Where’s Erik?” My heart sinks when she looks for him, but to my surprise she pulls my hand closer to her. “Ezra, did you catch me?”
“Yes, of course I did.” I brush my lips across her knuckles, needing to get closer, and just then Erik is back with the ice.
Dove reaches for him as he places the ice on the side of her head and examines her.
“Should I call for a doctor?” Bishop asks, still hovering close by.
“No, it looks like just a small scratch,” Erik says as he brushes the hair away from her face. “I think she passed out because of her fear. Are you still afraid of us?” he asks Dove, and we both wait for her answer.
“I think I’m okay now. I was more afraid of falling to my death than of you two. Right now I think I’m just going to die from embarrassment.” Her cheeks blossom with pink and I ache to rub my lips there, too. “Maybe I should go.”
“No!” Erik and I both shout at the same time.
“I mean, we want to make sure you’re alright,” Erik rushes to say, and I nod.
“We should take care of you. It’s the least we can do.” I don’t let go of her hand as she sits up and looks around the room. “Careful, don’t move too fast.”
“Thank you,” she says and looks down at our joined hands but doesn’t make a move to separate us.
“Hey, Kane. Nice to see you again,” Dove says as she looks up him. “Seems like we’re always meeting this way.”
“I’ll tell Juliet you’re here,” he says and turns around and walks right out of the room without another word. I’m surprised she wasn’t with him to begin with. He never lets her far from his side.