As Zane sat back down, I found myself watching a movie with a monster.
EDEN WAS WAITING UP for me when I returned from my date with Zane.
I was never so happy to see her thin, pale face. As I entered our room, Eden was perched in our doorway, ready to ask me questions.
Zane leaned in and kissed me, promising to see me again tomorrow.
After I closed the door, I sighed and fell against the heavy wood.
“Oh my gosh, I don’t know how much longer I can fake liking him,” I whispered.
Pushing myself off the door, I dropped my phone on my bed and then walked into the bathroom and changed into my pajamas. When I emerged, Eden was still standing, waiting for me to dish out the gossip.
“Well, hopefully we can get rid of him soon. So, tell me what happened,” she asked.
We walked over to my bed and I sat down. Eden jumped on hers and sat crisscross facing me.
Grabbing my phone from where I left it on the bed and then opened my pictures app.
“First, I got some pictures,” I said, showing her my phone.
“So, that just looks like some text messages,” Eden said, rolling her eyes.
“Look harder,” I demanded, holding my phone out to her again.
Squinting her eyes, Eden leaned forward. Her eyes suddenly lit up and her mouth opened wide. “Oh my gosh, Audrey. That’s really good,” she exclaimed.
“I know, "I said, proud of my efforts.
“We need to call Donovan,” Eden said, taking out her own phone and dialing Donovan.
The phone only rang twice before Donovan’s deep voice answered.
Somehow hearing his voice sent butterflies into my belly.
Why was I allowing my emotions to get involved?
“Hey, what’s up?” Donovan asked.
“Hey, Audrey is back from her date with Zane,” Eden began.
I cringed at the word date.
Continuing, Eden became serious as she read off the texts from my phone.
Donovan listened carefully, not once interrupting her. When she was finished, I heard him take a deep breath on the other end of the phone.
“Sounds like we need to get into that computer system,” Donovan stated. “Professor Martin uses the computer in dad’s office. We need to get in there and get copies of the form.”
Eden and I both agreed. “How do you think we should do that?” I asked.
“I don’t want either of you coming up with any more schemes. Let me think of something and we will talk more about it tomorrow. Let’s meet for lunch,” Donovan said, and then hung up the phone.
With that, Eden and I decided to get some rest. Giving me a wary look, Eden rolled over on her side and pulled her covers up to her chest.
“Audrey, I am worried,” she said, worry lacing her voice.
I grabbed my blanket and snuggled underneath. “I know, I am too. If I get caught or Zane suspects something is up, he could kill me,” I said, my lips trembling.
I could feel my body shaking, but I was trying to hide some of my own growing fear. I didn’t want to have to run away. I had thought I had found a home here at the House of Shadows. But I had been wrong. Once I saved myself and the innocent Humans they were about to harm, I would find a way to leave here. It would devastate me to have to tell Eden and now Donovan, but a Human just didn’t belong here anymore.
CHAPTER 7
A STORM WAS BREWING.
Looking up, I saw the heavy gray clouds marching across the darkened sky. Silver bolts of lightning flashed across the angry sky as thunder boomed in the distance.
Shaking, I wrapped my arms around myself as I stood frozen in place. Looking around, I couldn’t figure out where I was. Tall grass almost drowned me in the large field I seemed to have stumbled upon. Everywhere I looked was sky or grass—nothing more.
“Hello,” I called out, but only my own echo was heard.
I began to walk and as fear began to fall upon me, my legs began to move faster, pushing harder as I moved to a sprint. I needed to find someone, anyone to help me get back to the House of Shadows.
Suddenly, large drops of rain began to pour from the sky. Drenched, I cried out for help, but to no avail.
“Help,” I cried again.
“They can’t help you now,” a voice yelled behind me.
But, when I turned around, there wasn’t anyone there. I was still alone.
“Who’s there?” I called.
“You already know who I am,” the voice teased.
The voice sounded familiar, but in my panic-stricken state, I couldn't decipher who it was.
Crying and racing through the tall grass, I could barely see through the heavy downpour.
“Audrey, you won’t make it out of this alive,” the voice laughed.
MY EYES SHOT OPEN AND I jumped out of bed. My body was covered in sweat as I struggled to catch my breath.
Rushing to my side, Eden grabbed me. “Audrey, what’s wrong?” she asked frantically.
“What?” I asked.
I was dazed and confused as I realized I had been dreaming and was now standing in the middle of our bedroom screaming.
A loud knock was heard at our bedroom door and then the sounds of the bolt unlocking. Zane and Jordan ran into the room.
“What now?” Jordan asked.
It was clear he wasn’t happy about my nightly fears. This was the second time they had been summoned to my room with me in a panic state.
Holding my hands up, I took a deep breath. “I’m fine. I had a nightmare. It just scared me is all,” I assured everyone.
Jordan rolled his eyes and retreated from the room. Zane pulled me in for a hug and Eden scowled at him. I swear, if looks could kill, Zane would be sizzling in a pile of ashes right about now.
Before I could say anything else, Donovan ran into the room. With one look, he, too, looked like he wanted to go on a murderous rampage as I stood there in Zane’s arms.
“What did you do now?” Donovan asked, pointing a finger at Zane.
Turning to Donovan, Zane wasn’t amused by his presence. “Donovan, why don’t you just leave now. Everything is taken care of. Audrey just had a nightmare. Maybe I need to stay here when she sleeps,” Zane suggested.
“No way!” Eden screamed.
Realizing this was a horrible idea and probably part of his plan to harm me, I had to think of a way to diffuse the situation.
“No, that isn’t necessary. I appreciate it so much,” I said, batting my eyes at him. “I just had a bad dream, it happens to most Humans,” I finished.
Nodding, Zane kissed the top of my head and I heard Donovan growl. “Well, I will make sure to come by here more often at night. I wouldn’t know what to do if anything happened to you,” Zane said, looking deep into my eyes.
Man, he was good. I could totally see how all of the girls would be so smitten by him. But, I knew he was a true monster. Under his sugar-coated words were sour lies.
“I’m sure you would just be so upset,” Donovan said sarcastically.
Both Eden and I glared at Donovan. Now wasn’t the time for him to upset Zane.
Yawning, I hugged Zane and then slipped out of his hold. “I appreciate everyone getting up and making sure I am ok, but I am so tired. I need to get back to sleep.”
After Zane helped me back to bed, he finally left the room.
Tears sprang to my eyes as I struggled to relax again.
“You really aren’t ok, are you?” Eden asked me.
“No, not at all,” I admitted.
“Are you going to leave us once this is all over?” she asked, almost like she had been reading my mind.
Wiping the tears away, I stared up at my ceiling and watched as the moonlight cast eerie shadows across it. I wasn’t ready to have this conversation yet with Eden. But, I also couldn't lie to her either.
“I honestly don’t know. It’s clear I have no business being here,” I said. “You have become my best friend and I would neve
r want to hurt you,” I sighed.
At that moment, a flash of a painful memory attacked me. I was suddenly brought back to the night of the dance when I heard Zane admit his feelings for me were fake:
“No problem. Audrey is falling for me fast. I just need to keep her thinking that I truly care and then we can take her to the rest of them. Your plan to sneak Humans into the school was genius. So, do you think your plan to bring more Humans to the House of Shadows will work?” Zane asked, his devilish smile now making me sick.
It was only moments ago that seeing that smile would send my heart into overdrive. Now, it just fueled my anger.
“Of course, it will. The Dean still has no idea what I have done. He still believes it was all a system error. Now, though, he is opening up to the idea of allowing Humans to come to the House of Shadows. Once we can get them here, we can begin using them. No more animal blood for us. We will finally get a taste of what a Vampire truly deserves—Human blood,” Professor Martin stated firmly. “But, you need to get a better handle on your minions,” he seethed. “Marcus and Alex have been sneaking out to the town and they snuck into Audrey’s room. You need to keep a better handle on them,” he finished.
“I am. They have been warned. If they can’t follow my orders, I will just destroy them,” Zane remarked.
Eden’s voice broke through my turmoil as she began to speak. “Audrey, I know how upset you are. I also know how much you have connected as friends. Please don’t let this thing with Zane make you leave. You can still get a good education here and plus, it would really upset me and Donovan to see you go,” she added.
Her words were like a punch to the gut. I didn't know what I was going to do. My dad barely answered my calls anymore and even if I asked to leave, I wasn’t sure if I could.
“We don’t have to think about any of that right now. I am just upset. Let’s get some rest,” I stated, ending the conversation.
I fell asleep crying.
THE NEXT MORNING, I woke early and snuck out of my room while Eden was in the bathroom getting ready for class.
Quietly opening my bedroom door, I stuck my tongue out at Jordan as he stood against the wall just outside our room. He didn’t even flinch at my nasty welcoming.
As I began to walk down the long hallway, Donovan met me at the stairs.
“Hey,” he said, looking a bit awkward.
“Hey,” I said, waving.
“I wanted to talk with you this morning, without Eden. I was just on my way to your room,” he added.
“Oh. I got up early and thought I would get to class early and review my lines for my play, but we can talk,” I said.
Awkwardly, we walked down the stairs and toward the classrooms. Passing by the cafeteria, the delicious aroma of pancakes and muffins made my stomach growl.
“Hey, let’s go to the cafeteria and we can talk there,” I asked.
Donovan nodded and followed my lead. There were hardly any students in the large room so the buffet was completely stocked with every breakfast food you could imagine.
“I drank my breakfast earlier, but I will grab a muffin while you eat,” Donovan said, and then found us a seat in the back.
After piling my plate filled with pancakes, blueberry muffins, and fresh fruit, I made my way to where Donovan was sitting alone.
We were all alone now.
“So, what did you want to talk about?” I asked.
“I wanted to talk to you about that kiss,” he said, his eyes searching mine.
My heart began to race, and those pesky butterflies began to flutter again in my stomach. This was going to be uncomfortable.
“I don’t really know what to say,” I began.
Holding up his hands, Donovan shook his head. “I don’t want to upset you. Look, I know I was a complete jerk to you when you first arrived here. To be honest, you terrified me. I hadn’t been around too many Humans since my own transition. You are so beautiful and funny and smart, and I just thought it would be easier to pretend I hated you rather than admit that I wanted you,” he admitted.
His words were so sweet and truly struck me. If this were any other time and any other place, I would be flattered and jump at the chance to be with someone like Donovan.
“Donovan, when you kissed me, I felt something, too. It was wrong because I was still dating Zane and felt horrible, but now knowing what I know, it wasn’t such a bad thing. I would be lying if I said I didn't’ have feelings for you, but right now, it is dangerous for us to try and see what is between us.”
It made me sad that Zane and his horrible crew of misfit Vampires had this much control over my life.
“It’s not just happenstance that we met,” he said. “I mean, I believe in fate. Even though I know Professor Martin had a role in your ending up at the House of Shadows, I still believe you of all people were meant to be here. I mean, it could have been any girl. But it wasn’t. It was you.”
I thought about this for a minute. He had a point, but there was still so much danger involved.
“I totally get what you are saying and, believe me, this isn’t easy for me either. But if I break up with Zane now, he could move forward with his plan and hurt innocent Humans or worse—kill me,” I cried out.
I quickly looked around and made sure we were still alone. Jordan was busy at the buffet and not paying us any attention.
Nodding, Donovan understood. Sighing, he reached across the table and took my hand. “I’ve had to watch you with him, and it broke my heart. Zane never deserved you. I know I ruined my chances back then: but now, when this is all over, I want a chance,” he breathed.
Squeezing his hand, I smiled. “If you can get me out of this alive, I promise I will give us a chance,” I said.
“You are an angel on earth, and he is the devil in disguise, he snarled. “I will get you out of this and, I swear, you will never have to see Zane again.”
“I don’t know about being an angel, but Zane sure is the devil,” I agreed.
“I want to kiss you again,” Donovan sighed heavily.
“Hopefully soon,” I winked.
We heard voices echoing from down the hall and Donovan quickly released my hand. It was strange, when the feel of his hand was gone, it was almost like I was missing something. I felt sad suddenly and it struck me as odd.
Soon, Eden and the rest of the group joined us at the table that Donovan had secured, and we found ourselves sneaking glances while everyone talked and went about their morning.
Once everyone was finished eating, Donovan leaned across the table and looked at me and Eden. “Alright girls, we will meet in the athletic center at two this afternoon,” Donovan stated, and then left the table.
Well, I guess for show he was back to being his grumpy and elusive self. That made me smile as I realized only I got to see the kinder and softer side of Donovan.
CHAPTER 8
SOMETIMES, WHEN WE look around at the people who we surround ourselves with, we discover we are actually looking at strangers. Those who we thought were friends quickly become enemies and, in the darkest of times, we find those who we once considered to be foes really become allies.
That is exactly what I was discovering as Donovan became more than just my best friend's brother, but a friend and co-conspirator in my plan to ruin Zane.
Donovan’s hatred for Zane ran deeper than imaginable and he was more than willing to help us out.
As I walked into the athletic center later that day, I hoped that I didn’t look as suspicious as I felt. Dressed in my uniform of black shorts, dark blue shirt, and hair in a high ponytail, I sashayed over to the track. Lain was my bodyguard right now and he seemed engrossed in social media on his phone. I liked it when my bodyguards lacked on the job. It meant I could focus more on what I needed to do and not have to worry about what they were doing.
I began stretching and looking around. It was almost two and Eden and Donovan should be here any minute.
“Students, today, we are focu
sing on gaining speed on the track,” Mr. Masen, our gym teacher announced.
Brie glared at me as she stretched. Then with a nasty smile, she began to run so fast, only a blur was seen of her form.
Turning to me, Mr. Masen offered a sympathetic smile. “Audrey, just continue working on your own fitness plan,” he stated.
EVER SINCE I ARRIVED, Mr. Masen had been very accommodating with me. He allowed me to work out at my own pace and, sometimes, he would allow Eden to walk with me. I think he was just afraid to scold the Dean’s kids. I had noticed most professors here allowed Donovan and Eden to get away with practically anything they wanted.
As I began walking around the track, I heard my phone chime in my pocket and as I pulled it out of my pocket, my stomach dropped.
Zane: Hey beautiful. Let’s meet tonight after dinner. I have a surprise for you.
As my eyes scanned the text, I wanted to scream. I am sure he had a surprise for me. Probably a deadly one.
Me: Sounds amazing. Meet me in my room, miss you!
I typed out the reply and almost gagged. It was disgusting offering him such sweet sentiments.
Just as I finished typing, Eden and Donovan appeared at my side. Their Vampire speed still shocked me.
“Hey,” I said, putting my phone back in my pocket.
“I’m so ready to start planning,” Eden said, a wicked grin gleaming on her face.
Donovan rolled his eyes at his sister and became serious. “Girls, we have to take this seriously. Zane has high standing at this school. And, my dad will never take us seriously if we don’t have solid proof to show him. Let’s start walking so we don’t look like we are up to something,” Donovan stated, beginning to walk.
He looked adorable in his black basketball shorts and tight white t-shirt. His uniform was a little more relaxed than mine and Eden’s, but he was adorable all the same.
As we walked, we tried to keep an appropriate distance between the three of us.
“Ok, so what’s the plan?” I asked.
Unleashed: Book 2 in the House of Shadows Series Page 5
