In the Dark by Lila Rose

by Lila Rose

  “Thanks, uh, for the lift and everything. I guess I’ll see you around.”

  “Hmmm.”

  I got out and walked to the front door. Only to turn when I felt a presence at my back and found Caelen standing there grinning. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  He coughed to clear his throat. “Quote: ‘Caelen, you are to stay at Leila’s tonight. I have other matters to attend to, and if you lay one finger on her, expect to die painfully slow.’ Unquote. Looks like you’re stuck with me, love, unless you want me to die of course.”

  There was no use yelling at him. It wasn’t his fault Isaac had taken it upon himself to protect me like some sibling.

  Even though I thought I proved I could handle drastic matters. Damn him. Who did he think he was ordering people around? And he said he didn’t want to rule. I scoffed internally. If he thought he had some ruling over me, then he could think again.

  “Speak up, love. I can’t understand your grumbling.”

  God, I didn’t realise I was muttering aloud. “Nothing, it’s nothing. You can sleep here,” I said and opened the other spare bedroom door, only to then laugh when a thought hit me. “You don’t sleep, do you?” I asked.

  “No. Not at night anyway, and only a few hours during the day. It’s all right. There are a few shows on that’ll keep me occupied. You get some rest, love. You look beat.”

  He turned and walked back toward the lounge room.

  “Caelen,” I called. He stopped and faced me again. “Do you mind Isaac telling you what to do?”

  He studied me for a while and then shrugged. “No. There’s a lot out there who’ve been treated badly by Gerald. Then again, not only him. Unfortunately, there’s a great amount of evil among our kind. So a lot of us are hoping Isaac will be our saving grace. We believe in him, even if he doesn’t believe in himself.”

  “How old are you?” I whispered.

  “I’m only 160. Still young and handsome.”

  Forcing myself to laugh, I walked off to hide in my room. My mind felt full, stuffed to the brim with information, yet I found myself wanting to know more.

  Was Isaac older than Caelen? I had a feeling he was.

  So how old was he?

  If he was older, then what sort of a past had he had?

  An experienced one at that.

  Oh, God. I’d fallen for an old man.

  Chapter Eight

  Voices woke me from my sleep instead of my usual dream. I assumed it was the television again coming from the lounge room. Rolling over, I looked at the clock. Six in the Goddamn morning. I groaned. No wonder I felt cranky. It had taken me forever to get to sleep the night before. As well as the fact I’d yelled at Caelen twice to turn down the TV.

  Reluctantly, I climbed out of bed. I still had at least another hour and a half left of sleep before I decided if I was going to class. The way things were going, I was prepared to chuck a sick day and stay in bed, then later, meet Isaac for some questioning.

  I stomped down the hallway, knowing Caelen heard me coming, because the TV quickly turned down.

  “Caelen, what the…?” I rounded the corner to the living room before stopping dead.

  Shit a brick. It was full of people.

  Isaac—looking scrumptious, in black jeans and a tight black long-sleeved top—Jeremiah, Jezanna and two other guys I didn’t know, who seemed to be getting over the shock of seeing my eyes.

  “Told you that would get her up, mate,” Caelen said cheerfully. I scolded him, and then looked down at myself. Death would soon be on my hands. How dare he make me come out here in what I wore to bed, a slinky cami top and boxer shorts. By the look of it, I wasn’t the only one ready to commit murder. Isaac practically ran over to me, while pulling the blanket off the back of the couch along the way, to wrap it around me.

  He would do the same for Jezanna. Right? Yeah, he would.

  Glancing around at the others, Isaac tried to shuffle me out of the room. They all seemed very amused by his actions.

  “Whoa, hold up. What in the hell is going on here?” I grouched, stopping Isaac in the process of nearly dragging me down the hall to my room.

  “I like her already,” one of the new men said, the one who was the tallest and built like a body builder. He had a shaved head, green eyes and was dressed like an assassin, all in leather. The other was also tall, but slim, with long blond hair and pale blue eyes. I spotted his sword strapped to his back. He also had on a long leather jacket, but opted for dark blue jeans and a red Mambo T-shirt. Both of them were very good-looking men seeming to be around the age of twenty. And both were vampires.

  “I agree. This is going to be fun.” The long-haired one chuckled and then smiled at me. I couldn’t help but smile back.

  “Enough,” Isaac bit out. “Leila, if you would go and get changed, then I will formally introduce you to these two.” He winced upon seeing the look on my face.

  “Are you seriously telling me what to do? If I wanted to parade around my house naked, you’d have no say in it.”

  “Please do.” Caelen laughed, receiving a glare from Jezanna, Isaac and myself.

  I sighed. “All I’m saying is that just because we’re friends doesn’t mean you have the right to boss me around.” Looking around the room, I added, “And that goes for the rest of you.”

  “Oh, I do like this one, Master,” Baldy said.

  Master?

  Seriously?

  Were we on some type of sitcom for old vampire shows?

  “Leila, please.”

  “Isaac, I’m sorry, okay. I’m just overtired and overreacting. I was unprepared for a houseful this early. It’s all Caelen’s fault. He kept me up all night.”

  Caelen gasped. “Are you trying to get me killed, love? I had the telly on too loud and that’s all, lad.”

  “Look, I’ll go and get changed. Then I hope we can start over. Let’s pretend you haven’t met me yet. Jeremiah, do not say anything to that.” I glared, turned and walked down the hall into my room, closing the door behind me. Only to open it back up when an attentive knock came. Thankfully, it was only Jezanna.

  “He doesn’t mean to be like that, Leila. He can’t help it sometimes. Not only because he’s possessive of you, but even though he wants nothing to do with ruling, it’s still in him. He has all the potential to do it. We all know this, even Isaac. Our people would be better off if he were on the throne.” She grimaced. “He can’t handle others wanting to swear their allegiance to him. It scares him that they see more in him than what he does himself. What also scares him more than anything else is losing more loved ones.”

  Sitting down on my bed, I said, “I understand that, I really do.” Especially after losing so many from my own life. “But Isaac is the bigger picture for his people. He can’t keep worrying about me when he has so much to deal with himself. What he really needs is to make a choice on what he’s going to do, because by the looks of it, everyone else sees him as their king. All but him.”

  “One day, he will, and all we can do is help him through it. So, for now, please just put up with what he wants.”

  Rolling my eyes, I snorted before saying, “I’ll try, but it’s not in my nature to be bossed around. He wants those new guys to guard me, doesn’t he?” Jezanna nodded. “But can’t he understand I can take care of myself?”

  “I’m sure he does, but since the day you two met, things changed. Not only for him, but for you as well. You now have to deal with his overbearing ways. Let’s say, it’s one of his quirks.” She smiled.

  “I’ll bite my tongue for now. That’s all I can promise. I’ve been alone for so long, Jezanna. So sometimes I don’t know how to act around people and I can become a little tense.”

  “Really? I would never have guessed.” She smirked. “Now hurry up and get dressed before he sends someone down here to make sure all is right.”

  I threw my pillow at her as she left. Why, oh why, was it that once I did find a friend, I had to find the one w
ho wanted to run my life?

  As I said, I would play along with it for now. However, some fun along the way was called for. I couldn’t help but grin as a thought popped into my head. I walked over to my closet and moved aside all the dark, baggy clothes I had in the front to find the ones I thought I would never wear at the back. I picked out the shortest shorts I’d ever purchased. A tight, black leather pair. God only knew what was going through my mind when I bought them. To go along with them, I grabbed a red, form-fitting, low V-neck T-shirt.

  Was I mean by doing what I was about to do? Yes, maybe, then again, it could help Isaac to see me as the girl I was, instead of the sisterly figure he had in his mind. With that thought, it made it all so much easier to do.

  Leaving my hair down, I even applied a little eyeliner and red lipstick. To top it all off, I slipped on my knee-high, black, leather boots.

  Making sure I had the smile wiped off my face, I stepped out into the living room and received the effect I thought I would. The conversation stopped. Jezanna hid her gasp with her hand. She shook her head at me. Still, I caught the lift of her lips as she tried not to smile.

  Unfortunately, Isaac wasn’t in the room. I could hear a conversation coming from the kitchen and guessed he was in there with Jeremiah.

  Baldy cleared his throat. “Uh, Master,” he called.

  Moving over to the couch, I leaned my hip against it and waited. Jeremiah walked in first and paused, his eyes nearly bulging out of his head.

  “What the hell are you playing at?” he snarled.

  His harsh words had me rethinking.

  What was I playing at? Nothing really, I was being immature. All I really wanted out of it was for Isaac to find me attractive, and not treat me like a sister. However, I knew I shouldn’t want that. I should be happy with what we had now. I was being selfish with wanting more. Regardless, I did want more. Why else would the stupid plan form in my head in the first place?

  Jezanna must have seen the change in me. She took matters into her own hands and whispered something to the long-haired vampire. He nodded and walked over to Jeremiah. Jeremiah followed him back into the kitchen just as Isaac was about to walk out.

  “Master, I have a question.”

  “In a moment, Xavier. Adan called for me.”

  Adan, aka Baldy, quickly moved over to the doorway, blocking the view. I took my chance and ran for my bedroom.

  “It was nothing, Master. Sorry for calling to you.”

  Slamming my door, I quickly locked it. I didn’t want anyone coming in here to see the stupid, foolish tears that broke through my willpower. I didn’t have time to waste on crying. In a rush, I got out of the outfit and threw it against my wall. It slid down, disappearing somewhere on the other side of my bed. I grabbed out the first thing I touched and, with frustrated moves, I was dressed in black tracksuit pants and a dark green hooded jumper. Rushing over to my desk, I sat down and looked into the mirror. A sad, pathetic girl stared back. I splashed some liquid from a bottle I had sitting there onto some tissues and wiped all traces of makeup away.

  On finishing and before I could steep lower into a pity party, I got up and unlocked my door, opening it. I was all prepared to stomp down into the living room. Instead, I found Jeremiah leaning on the wall opposite my door.

  Guilt had me looking to the ground as I said, “I’m not in the mood, Jeremiah. I already know I am a complete idiot. I don’t need anyone reminding me. Can we just leave it? Later, you can grill me all you want.” I went to walk off, but he reached out and grabbed my arm, turning me back towards him. I sighed loudly and looked up to his solemn face.

  “I don’t know what’s going on in that thick head of yours, but right now, before you do anything else stupid,”—I flinched at his words—“you have to know Isaac wouldn’t do any of this for Jezanna. The main thing being that Jezza already lives with us. If he saw you as a sister, you would already be living with us without any argument. He understands and respects that you want your independence. He likes that in you, and he likes you just the way you are. Please, for the sake of others, do not push him to murder. If he saw you dressed the way you were, and if the guys were looking at you the way they were,”—he shook his head—“I’d be dealing with three dead bodies out there. Now me, I see you as a sister, and God help me, but I think it would be best if you moved in with us.”

  Glancing away, I quickly wiped the tears that had fallen. Jeremiah was the last person I would’ve expected to be sincere and caring. I looked back up at him and smiled. “Not a chance, J Man.”

  He smirked. “That’s what I thought you would say. It’s going to be hell having you around, but right now, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  “Why, J,”—I clutched my chest—“I didn’t know you had a heart. Did the Wizard of Oz come and see you last night?”

  He let out a bark of laughter and ruffled my hair. “There’s the smart-arse girl I know. Come on, before he thinks I’m killing you.” He gently pushed me forward.

  With blossoming emotions, I walked down the hall, flying high.

  Never had I felt so happy, and it all happened in such a short amount of time. One minute, I was on my own, and the next, I had a friend that led me to more friends, and a true family that I wanted to be a part of.

  It didn’t surprise me that Isaac had turned my heart into something warm and fuzzy. No longer was it the cold stone that had been living inside of my chest.

  Isaac really cared about me. He liked me for who I was already. As strange as that was, I loved it… him.

  When you sink, you sink hard. And I had. Even if it scared the life out of me, I wasn’t going to give any of it up for anything.

  My smile broadened when I thought of what Uncle Jack would think if he came home. He would never believe I had a house full of vampires. Even if I didn’t tell him what they were, he would still freak, because he’d warned me away from them. However, I could only hope if he saw how happy I was, then he’d be happy for me. Moreover, I hoped he’d want to be a part of this new family also.

  Chapter Nine

  As soon as I entered, I sat on the couch beside Isaac. His gaze roamed over me before he gave me a smile, which told me he approved of my attire. Huh, go figure. I turned my attention to the two newbies standing in front of the television. Jeremiah joined them. Jezanna and Caelen sat on the floor by the wall. I hoped the look on my face expressed what I wanted it to—an apology for my crazy behaviour.

  “So,” I drew out. “What’s up? And why here so early?”

  “Yes, sorry for the intrusion,” Isaac offered. “I wanted you to meet some of my people before we went to school.”

  “Not sure I’m going today, but I’d be happy to meet your guys.”

  He looked at me cautiously. “All right.” He waved his hand in the bald guy’s direction. “This is Adan Kenna, and that is Xavier Trengrove. They have come here today to help, ah, me, what I’m saying is I would like for them to be your…”

  Placing my hand on his arm, I smiled at him reassuringly. Him being tongue-tied told me he was worried about how I would react with the information of having guards.

  Throwing Isaac a bone, I answered for him, “They’re here to help keep me safe. It’s all right, Isaac, I get it.”

  He looked at me as if I’d grown an extra boob.

  He raised a brow. “Aren’t you going to rant and rave at me?”

  “Not today.” I smiled.

  He sighed and said, “Thank the gods for small favours.” His smile went wide after I pushed him.

  Waving to Adan and Xavier, I said, “So nice to meet you both and I apologize in advance for all I do. What can I say? Some people get me and some don’t. We’ll just have to see what category you guys fall under.”

  “We look forward to getting to know you.” Xavier grinned.

  Catching Isaac’s gaze, I asked, “How did you guys meet?”

  Only he didn’t answer, Jezanna did with, “They’re some of Isaac’s peop
le. They came, like many who follow my brother, to us under different circumstances. All would be willing to sacrifice themselves to keep him safe.”

  My eyes flicked to Isaac to see he wasn’t too happy about it. I couldn’t say I blamed him. It was strange how people were willing to throw their lives down for Isaac.

  However, having not lived as they had, I was sure there were still things I didn’t understand.

  Then again, Isaac would be easy to follow. He had no intention of killing in cold blood to get what he wanted, like Gerald did. People saw Isaac for who he was. Caring, honourable and courageous.

  “Right now, we seem to have a fairly easy job.” Adan smiled.

  Laughter fell from my lips. Jeremiah mimicked my laughter and then stated, “I give you three days tops. By then, you will want to shoot yourselves to get away from her.”

  “Hey,” I snapped, pretending to be offended. “Anyway, now that I have you all here. I have some questions if you don’t mind.”

  Isaac nodded. “Ask away.”

  “I’m assuming not all myths about vampires are true. Like not being able to eat real food, being affected by sunlight, sleeping through the whole day and being dead, because I’ve heard some heartbeats.”

  He gave me that half smile, sending my heart on high alert.

  Calm thoughts, Leila. Super-hearing vampires are about.

  “That’s correct. We can eat, but it’s not necessary. It’s more of a show we put on in front of humans. We can sleep and do. Though, we only need a few hours at the most. We’re able to go out in the sun. However, in doing so, we need to consume more blood, and yes, we have a heartbeat and a soul. We’re very much alive.”

  “What about, um, feeding?”

  “We feed off humans, love. There’re places to go where humans are willing to feed us. They even enjoy the act. But if it were in an emergency situation, we’d have to feed from who was around. In the end though, they won’t remember what happened. All vampires are able to wipe the minds of humans.”

  Nothing else crossed my mind, except who Isaac fed from. Just thinking of it sent my stomach in a downward spiral. Whoever it was, I wanted to find them and claw their eyes out. I wanted to… Wait.