Familiar Souls

by Dawn Gray

  “I did too, but then it happened to us.”

  “After we touched him though.” Michael shook his head, “Maybe that was a mistake.”

  “Why are you always so skeptical about Justin?”

  “There’s just something in his eyes.”

  “Darkness?”

  “Yes, you see it too?”

  “Only when he looks at me when I say something stupid.” Cristian replied. “He’s not all bad. He saved a girl from a fire once.”

  “When was this?”

  “Just before he came to live with us. Charles thought he was courageous. I think he was robbing the place and set the fire himself.”

  “You’ve got an overactive imagination.” Michael smiled and then looked out at the night. “I think he’s just a loner.”

  “Yeah, that could be it to. Do you think he felt the pulse?”

  “He must have, unless he was the one doing it.”

  “Michael.” Cristian smiled and patted him on the shoulder with his clean hand. “Grow up. You can’t fight demons your whole life, now can you?”

  “I guess you’re right.” Michael said and jumped down. The two of them walked away from that spot and went down the ladder, off the roof.

  Michael opened his eyes and looked over at Ashley, who was standing up watching Jack. He closed his eyes and went back to the darkness behind his eyelids, except that there was no darkness at all, but a sudden flash of bright light. When the light cleared, he saw himself standing there, looking back at him.

  “It’s only a mirror, Michael, don’t look so baffled.” Justin’s voice laughed at him. Michael looked away from his reflection, over at his blood brothers, and then walked towards them. “What happened? You were standing there admiring yourself for almost five minutes.”

  “I was just thinking.” he replied as the three of them walked away from the mirrors. “Do you think we should be here, you know how Charles feels about these gypsy fairs.”

  “Who cares what Charles thinks? He’s out of town.” Cristian laughed Michael nodded and watched as Justin disappeared into the crowd. “Now, where do you think he’s going?”

  “Probably saw some girl and decided to get acquainted.” Michael said and walked beside Cristian.

  “Do you think girls really go for that dark and mysterious act that he puts on?” Cristian asked. Michael stopped him and pointed to a spot between the tents. They both looked at Justin, who was kissing some gypsy girl.

  “I guess that would be your answer.” Michael replied.

  “How does he do that?” Cristian smiled and the two of them walked away.

  There was a knock on the door later that evening. Michael sat up and put down the book, then looked at Cristian, who did the same. Joseph, the butler stepped in the room and looked at them.

  “What is it?” Michael asked.

  “There’s a gentleman here who says he’s the Sheriff and would like to speak with you two.” Joseph replied.

  “Well, show him in.” Cristian replied. The two of them stood up as the Sheriff and two of his deputies walked in. Michael looked quickly at Cristian, then back at them. “Can we help you?”

  “You boys home alone, tonight?” Sheriff William Brody asked.

  “Yes, sir.” Michael replied. “Charles, urn, Mr. Creekson is out of town until tomorrow. Is there a problem?’

  “Actually, yes.” He replied and Michael watched as one of the deputies handed the sheriff a piece of paper. Sheriff Brody handed it to Michael who looked at the sketch of the girl. “This young woman disappeared from the fair earlier today and we were told that the last person she was seen with was Justin Tudorian. Is he home?”

  Michael scanned the house, searching for Justin’s presence. He found him, up on the second floor, in his bedroom, sleeping. Michael looked quickly at Cristian, who gave a quick glance to him, and then both of them looked at the sheriff.

  “He’s upstairs, sir. Sleeping.” Michael replied.

  “Did he come home with you?”

  “No, but he came home about twenty minutes after we arrived.” Cristian replied and shrugged.

  “Was there anything odd about him?” Michael connected with his eyes and his watched Cristian’s turn red.

  “Nothing. He ate dinner, with us, like he always does, then took a book and went to his room.” Michael said. “It’s the same thing he does every night.”

  “Well, then we’ll come back in the morning, when he’s up, just to ask some questions.” Sheriff Brody said and then turned to leave. “Good night boys.”

  “Good night.” They chorused. When the three older men had left, Cristian and Michael walked up to Justin’s room. Michael shook him and woke him quickly.

  “What the hell did you do?” He questioned as soon as Justin opened his eyes.

  “First off,” Justin said as he straightened himself. “What are you doing in my room, secondly, what are you talking about?”

  “The girl.”

  “Be more specific.”

  “The girl from the fair.” Cristian added. “The sheriff was just here, he said she was missing.”

  “So?” Justin questioned.

  “So, what did you do to her?” Michael asked.

  “I did nothing.” Justin replied. The two of them looked at him. “Look, I didn’t harm her. I just took a little, and then I walked her home and left her sitting on her porch.”

  “Why didn’t you walk her in?” Michael asked. He looked at Justin, suddenly feeling an odd danger around him. “Justin, where is she?”

  Justin sighed and looked away from his two brothers, got up from the bed and walked over to the window. “There.” He said and gestured with a nod. Michael and Cristian walked over and looked out the window; the only thing out there was an old well.

  “You didn’t.” Cristian asked.

  “That thing's about forty feet deep, they won’t find her.” Justin said and walked away.

  “What did you do?” Michael asked again.

  “You’re getting quite repetitive in your old age, Michael.” Justin smiled.

  “It’s a simple question, just answer it.” Cristian said sternly.

  “All right!” He snapped. “We went into the woods and I started to take from her. She was fine with it, but something happened. I couldn’t control it and I must have started to hurt her. She finally got away, but I grabbed her and held her by the neck. I was trying to get to her neck, trying to move her head to the side and I think I broke it. I heard a snap, and then she just went limp.”

  “So, you put her in the well?” Michael questioned.

  “I had no choice; there was nothing else to do.” Justin said sternly.

  “You’re going to have to get your story straight; the sheriff’s coming back in the morning to ask questions.” Cristian said.

  “And, Charles will be back tomorrow afternoon.” Michael said and shook his head. “We’ll have to think of something.”

  “No, I don’t want the two of you involved.” Justin said sternly, the two looked at him as he crossed his arms. “This is my problem.”

  “It’s our problem, Justin. You brought it home with you.” Michael replied. “Our blood is your blood, and vice versa.”

  “Don’t give me that crap, Michael.” Justin snapped, his face getting angry. “I don’t need your help; I’ll take care of it on my own.”

  “Fine, see that you do, then.” Michael said and turned, then left the room.

  His eyes slowly opened once again and looked at the passing clouds. He rubbed his eyes and then looked to his left. There stood Cristian and Justin, dressed all in black, looking at him as he lay on the ground.

  “Are you done now?” Cristian asked. Michael looked at him. “Get up, before you make us look like fools.”

  “What’s going on here?” Charles asked. He looked at Michael who sat up. “Are you quite finished fooling around.”

  “Yes, Sir.” Michael said and stood up. He looked at Justin, who looked away, then walk
ed over to them. “Why did you do that?”

  “You should keep your thoughts to yourself.” Justin said in an angry tone.

  “If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t be out here in the middle of the night, trying to fish a body out of the well.” Michael replied.

  “Boys! Now!” Charles ordered and the three of them walked over to the well. Charles looked at them and stopped at Michael. “You’re the smallest, put this on.” He handed Michael the rope to tie around him. “Well, let’s go.”

  “This is his mess, let him go down.” Michael said and tossed the rope at Justin.

  “Do what I tell you, now.” Charles replied and gave the rope back to Michael. He tied it around his waist, and then climbed up onto the wall of the well.

  “Just don’t let go.” He told them and began to lower himself into the darkness. He was quite far down, almost thirty feet when he caught the smell of a decaying body. He covered his nose. “God, what a stench!”

  “Do you see it?” Cristian yelled.

  “I can’t see my own freaking hand, how am I supposed to see a...” Michael turned himself around and looked into the dead eyes of the young woman. Her face was drained of all color and she stank of death.

  Her eyes were wide and her mouth hung open, with her tongue hanging out. Michael quickly tried to control the urge to scream, and he reached out and wrapped the rope around the girl. Her scarf seemed a bit tight as it held her from falling even further. Michael looked at the scratches on her neck, then up at her face once again. He shivered and tugged on the rope.

  He watched her being lifted out of the well, with himself already standing on solid ground. Charles dragged the girl away from the well and looked at her.

  “I don’t think Justin killed her.” Michael said and looked quickly at the shocked face of his blood brother. Justin couldn’t believe that Michael was defending him. “I think she hung herself by that scarf around her neck.”

  “Your right,” Charles replied and looked at him. “You can see where she was trying to rip at it.”

  “So, what now?” Cristian asked.

  “Don’t you boys worry about it,” Charles said softly. The three of them looked quickly at him. “Go inside and I’ll take care of it.”

  Michael stood by the fireplace as Cristian sat in the chair by him and Justin watched out the window. “What do you think he’s doing?” Michael asked. “He’s been gone almost three hours.’

  “Probably made up some story to tell Brody and he’s there spinning it now.” Justin replied. The door opened and Charles walked in. He nodded to the boys, and then walked away.

  Michael sat up and looked around. Ashley sat by him and touched his cheek.

  “Are you okay?” She asked him. Michael nodded, and then shrugged sighed and looked out at the ocean. Ashley hugged him, and kissed him on the forehead. “She’ll be here soon. Mike, don’t worry about her. I’m sure she’s on her way right now.”

  The door swung open up at the house and they both turned when someone called his name. They stared at Julian who was looking at the two of them.

  “Quinn says that the guard house just called.” Michael looked at her quickly. Ashley looked down at him, from her standing position. “They’re sending a car down. The driver said that you invited them.”

  “Them?” Michael asked. “They’re both here?”

  “Well, let’s go find out.” Ashley said and took his hand. The two of them walked over to Jack, who took his mother’s hand, then made for the house.

  Michael stood by the front door and looked at the black car as it approached them. He couldn’t control his breathing or the rapid pulse of his heart as he waited for them to stop. The car came to a halt and Michael watched as the door opened slowly.

  Chapter 6

  February 14

  The only thing I seemed to be able to hear was the beat of a heart, a deep, slow, swooshing beat. Just above that noise seemed to be the rapid sound of breathing, as lungs filled with air, then released it quickly. My skin seemed to be crawling; goose bumps rose and fell all over my body. The pressure of two tiny needles pressed against my neck, right over the rhythmic thumping of the vein there. I drew in a quick breath and all the noises stopped upon that instance.

  My eyes flew open and I looked at the sideways room, and then lifted my head to look at it straight. I thought that it was odd that I didn’t remember lying down, but when I looked at the pillow all I saw was a body. I looked over this bare piece of skin, then up and my eyes connected with Justin’s face. His eyes were closed, his mouth opened just enough to let the airflow in, and he seemed at peace. I noticed his hand on my waist, and realized that I had been using his chest for a pillow.

  What had happened here? I thought to myself. The last thing I recalled was Justin coming at me with his teeth. I shook my head and rested it back on Justin’s chest. Again, I heard the slow beat of a heart and realized that had been hearing it in my dreams. The hand moved from my waist and touched my hair, gently, then moved it out of the way of my eyes.

  “I’m sorry, Sage.” Justin’s voice whispered. I looked up at him, resting my chin on his skin, and watched his eyes open. He looked at the ceiling then down at me. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  “What happened?” I questioned. He sighed and closed his eyes once again.

  “You fainted.” He said softly. “I grabbed your arm and turned you around and when you looked at me, you fainted.”

  “I thought you were going to kill me.” I whispered back at him, and then put my head down against his chest. “All I saw was fangs and red eyes and it scared me.”

  “I should take you home, now.” He said and started to slide out from under the covers. I watched him walk over to the chair and take his shirt, and then watched every muscle in his back move as he slipped the shirt over his head. He turned and looked at me, pulling that shirt down over his stomach, “The others might be back by now.”

  “Well, what time is it?” I questioned and sat up, swinging my legs over the end of the bed. I breathed in deeply, and then closed my eyes and bent head down. I didn’t care about the time; I just wanted to sleep. I wanted to have Justin back on the bed so I could feel him next to me.

  I looked up when he stepped closer to me, opening my eyes as he did, and he touched my cheek with his fingers. I stood and put my hands against his chest, rubbing the muscles there with my fingers, feeling them under my touch. I smiled at the reaction that I was getting as he shivered, and then took my hand. I glanced up at his face, innocent and young at that moment, and then moved closer to him and he leaned down to me.

  “What are you going to tell your friends?” He asked.

  “They don’t have to know anything.” I replied as his lips touched mine softly. “Besides, what do I care what they think now, I’m not stopping this.”

  “Good.” He whispered and kissed my lips again, pulling me to him tenderly.

  I walked into the house a little after six a.m., removed my coat and hung it in the closet, and then walked towards the living room, where I spotted several sleeping people all bunked out on the couch. I shrugged and walked away, down the hallway to my room, where I kicked off my shoes and climbed under the covers. I felt there was no need to wake any of them, for I was only going to go to sleep myself anyway.

  My slumber didn’t seem to last long, to me anyway, even though it was close to one in the afternoon when I was woken up by the sounds of people arguing. I sighed, threw the covers off and walked out of the room, stretching as I walked down the hallway. I stood in the kitchen doorway as I watched the four people in the room, either eating or talking, but never noticing me. I smiled and walked over to the fridge where I opened the door, and that’s when all the noise stopped.

  I backed out of the refrigerator, a boxed juice in hand and turned to look at the four faces that stared at me. I smiled, oddly, and looked at them as if they were all nuts, while I walked over to the extra chair at the table and sat down. They had follow
ed me with their eyes as I did this.

  “Yes? Can I help you?” I questioned, but they all just continued to stare. “God, I know I’m probably the most gorgeous thing any you have ever seen, but, now you’re just giving me a complex.”

  “Where the hell were you all night?” Bobbie asked. I looked at her quickly, knowing this would be the obvious first question out of anyone’s mouth and I had the perfect answer.

  “I got lost in the woods.” I replied, popping the straw into the juice box. “Everything looks the same at night when it’s covered with snow. Some kids who were going to school this morning helped me find my way out.”

  “You really expect us to believe that?” Tanner asked, making me look at him.

  “I don’t expect YOU to believe anything because, personally, your opinion doesn’t count to me. Therefore, I would appreciate it if you kept your nose out of my business. Thank you very much.” I said, smiled at him, and then turned to look at Bobbie, Taryn and Cristian. “In fact, whether any of you believe me or not doesn’t really matter.”

  “What’s with you today?” Taryn asked.

  “Well, let’s see. I got a call last night from someone named, oh my God, Taryn, just like your name, saying that the battery was dead on the car and could I come and help. So, me being the nice person I am, got off my lazy butt and went out to help, just to find that no one was really there. I got stuck in a snow bank, lost in the woods, nearly froze off my toes, haven’t slept all night and now I have an attitude problem.” I got up and looked at them. “Oh, yeah, and the fact that I don’t have a life, and need to get out more might have something to do with what’s with me today.”

  I walked out of the kitchen, into my bedroom and closed the door. I sighed and smiled to myself. What was really with me was that I spent the evening, free of any friend’s disapprovals with a man that seemed to set me on fire and I missed him terribly. We didn’t have sex, but kissed and caressed each other, so gently at times, that it almost sent me over the edge of want. He had controlled himself quite well, despite my touch on his skin, and appreciated it. I had never been attracted to a man like I was with Justin, but I wasn’t sure how far wanted I to go with him yet. I was thinking about him, as I sat on bed, when there was a knock at the door. I got up, rubbed my head and dragged my sleeping body over to unhook the lock. When I opened the door, I looked at Bobbie, who was standing there patiently, and walked back to the bed. Bobbie walked in and closed the door. She made her way to the bed, while kicking shoes out of the way, and sat on the bed beside me. Bobbie looked at me, as I glanced up at her, then closed my eyes as I lay back and covered up.