Dark Realms

by Kristen Middleton

  “Is there anything else, Dunc?”

  Duncan smiled but didn’t say anything.

  “Anyway, Susan was telling me that Amy believed her ex-boyfriend, Ethan, was a vampire.”

  Nathan snorted. “Yeah, I’d say Amy was a little messed up.”

  “I don’t know,” I said, staring at my pizza.

  His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, you don’t know?”

  I swallowed. “I met Ethan tonight and there was something really strange about him.”

  “He was dating Amy at one point, that tells you enough right there,” said Nathan.

  “No, he came over and sat by me at the restaurant. When he looked into my eyes, I almost felt like… I was under some kind of spell.”

  “How do you mean?” asked Nathan.

  “I can’t explain it,” I said, looking sideways at Duncan. There was no way I was going to explain my desire to jump Ethan’s bones, especially after what had happened between us, in the truck.

  Nathan sat back and groaned. “There is no such thing as vampires, period. Quit letting Abigail’s and Amy’s crazy notions play with your mind. I mean, come on, Nikki, you know better than that!”

  I shrank down in my seat. “I know. It’s just…I can’t explain it.”

  Nathan looked at Duncan. “What do you think about all of this?”

  Duncan shrugged. “I don’t know. I think something strange is going on and I’m not ruling anything out.”

  Nathan snorted. “Even vampires?”

  “Maybe this Ethan guy believes he’s a vampire and knows how to manipulate other people into believing it, too.”

  “That sounds more reasonable to me. Maybe he knows how to actually hypnotize people. That would explain how Nikki believed she was under some kind of spell.”

  “Maybe,” I answered.

  We sat in silence, as we finished the pizza and stared towards the woods. It was pretty silent except for the leaves rustling in the wind.

  “Anyone want something to drink?” asked Nathan, standing up.

  “I’ll take some water,” I said.

  “Me, too,” answered Duncan.

  When Nathan left us alone, I stole a glance towards Duncan, who I found was staring at me.

  “What?” I asked.

  He smiled. “I was just thinking how beautiful you looked in the moonlight. I know that sounds like a line, but it’s true.”

  I returned his smile. “Thanks, Duncan.”

  He clasped his fingers and rested his chin on them. “Did you leave a broken heart back in California?”

  I snorted. “No. In fact, I guess you could say I haven’t had many boyfriends.”

  “I find that hard to believe. The guys there must be blind and stupid.”

  I blushed. “It’s not like I didn’t get asked out. I just wasn’t interested, I guess.”

  “So, would you be interested now?”

  I nodded.

  He smiled.

  “Duncan,” said Nathan, as he stepped onto the balcony. “I almost forgot, could you take a look at my Mustang? I think it’s the battery I’m having problems with, but I want to make sure.”

  “Do you have a battery tester?” he asked.

  “Actually, there might be one in the garage, I never even looked.”

  Duncan got up. “Let’s go and check it out.”

  Nathan nodded. “Thanks. Nikki, you can keep watch from up here and let us know if you see anything. I brought you the BB gun,” he said, handing it to me. “You still know how to use it?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Okay. Holler if you see anything,” he said.

  They left me and I gripped the gun firmly in my hands, feeling uneasy because I was now alone and they were going to be in the garage.

  Nathan’s laughter echoed through the darkness. I watched as the guys stepped away from the cabin and headed over to the garage.

  “Nothing to be afraid of,” I murmured to myself, staring towards the dark woods.

  An owl hooted and I was reminded of some of the scary movies I’d watched with Nathan. An owl hoots and then something sinister usually happens in the next scene. I knew it was just cinema, but I felt a chill in my veins just the same.

  My eyes darted quickly from one side of the yard to the other, and my breath caught in my throat as I saw a shadow move across the grass. I looked up into the sky, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.

  “Nikki,” whispered a deep masculine voice behind me.

  I turned around, but found myself alone. I stood up and backed away from the table, frightened beyond belief. Hot breath brushed against the back of my neck and I whirled around again, this time seeing a blurry haze of movement.

  “Oh, my God… Nathan!” I screamed, running into my bedroom. I ran downstairs and threw the front door open. “Nathan!” I yelled, again.

  Nathan and Duncan rushed out of the garage towards me.

  “What’s wrong?” called Nathan.

  “Someone… was… on the balcony,” I gasped, out of breath.

  He looked behind me. “Who?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t know. I heard my name and then I felt someone breathing against the back of my neck.”

  “Someone’s in the cabin?” Nathan swore, and then rushed past me and towards the house.

  Duncan could tell I was pretty shook up and put his arms around me. He stared down into my eyes. “Are you okay?”

  I nodded and leaned into him, closing my eyes.

  Suddenly, he was ripped from my arms and thrown backwards.

  “Duncan!” I screamed as he landed on the ground.

  “I’m fine,” he answered with an incredulous look on his face. He got up and began walking back towards me.

  There was a flash of movement and he went flying through the air again, much farther this time. As I rushed towards him, I felt something pick me up, and then we were moving like the wind.

  “Help!” I screamed in terror. We were going so fast that my head was spinning. The next thing I knew I was lying on the ground and a pair of steely blue eyes held mine.

  “We meet again,” whispered Ethan, trailing a cool finger down my cheek.

  I was paralyzed as his eyes burned into mine. A familiar yearning spread through my veins and suddenly I wanted him fiercely.

  “Sweet Nikki,” he whispered with a small smile. He then licked his lips and lowered them to mine. Suddenly, we were kissing and I felt an urgent need to wrap my legs around him; to surrender myself to whatever he demanded.

  “Oh,” I breathed when he removed his mouth and began a hot trail down my neck with his tongue. My entire body was trembling with desire. “Oh, God.”

  He chuckled softly against my skin. “Not quite.”

  Someone shouted my name, startling me back to my senses and I tensed up.

  Duncan!

  Ethan raised his head and I could see the rage burning in his eyes. “Fuck,” he growled.

  Duncan crashed through the bushes right as Ethan took off and I was left staring up at the stars in confusion.

  “Are you okay?” asked Duncan, now at my side, looking down at me.

  “I think so,” I replied, as he helped me up.

  “What in the hell just happened!” hollered Nathan, stumbling through the woods, out of breath.

  My lips began to tremble. “I really don’t know.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Nathan and Duncan were full of questions as we walked back to the house. I was still in a state of confusion and had a difficult time answering them.

  “Who was it?” asked Duncan.

  “Where’d they go?” asked Nathan.

  I shook my head. “I…I just can’t remember.”

  It wasn’t exactly true, but my thoughts were so muddled because of my overwhelming attraction towards Ethan. Part of me understood that it wasn’t natural; it was some power he was using to control me. Another part of me didn’t care; I just wanted him to have his way with me, whatever it was.


  Nathan scratched his head. “Did you see who it was, Duncan?”

  He shook his head. “I was thrown backwards and then she was gone in a flash. It was crazy.”

  Nathan scowled. “I don’t even know how to call this one in to nine-one-one. Attempted kidnapping by the invisible man?”

  I cleared my throat. “Um, don’t worry about it, Nathan. I’m fine.”

  “No, we have to call the police. You could have been murdered or raped.”

  It certainly wouldn’t have been rape, I thought. Although, if he was using mind control to make me desire him so much, then it was as bad as a date rape drug.

  “I didn’t see anything. I don’t even know who it was,” I protested. “The cops are going to think we’re all crazy.”

  Nathan stared at me for a minute. “Okay, I’d better ask – was it human?”

  “To be honest, I don’t know,” I muttered.

  Duncan grabbed my hand. “I’m calling my dad to let him know I’m staying over tonight. I’m not letting you out of my sight again.”

  Nathan looked at both of us. “Wait a second, did I miss something?”

  I could feel my cheeks turn pink.

  “I guess you could say that I’m kind of falling for your sister,” said Duncan with a sheepish grin. “I hope you’re okay with it.”

  Nathan smiled. “I’m fine with it. Now I won’t be the only guy who has to suffer her P.M.S.”

  I slugged him in the shoulder. “Very funny, booger.”

  “See,” he said, moving away from my fist, which was cocked again.

  “Heads-up, your mom’s home,” said Duncan.

  She was just getting out of the sheriff’s car and he was helping her up the stairs.

  “Sheriff, what’s wrong with her?” asked Nathan.

  Caleb smiled. “She enjoyed one too many glasses of wine again. I brought her home so she could sleep.”

  Mom gave us a lopsided grin. “Hi, my babies…”

  I groaned.

  She was totally hammered and stumbled towards me. “Nikki, I love you.”

  Nathan and I put our arms around her and held her up. “Wow, mom,” I grunted, trying to hold her up. “I think it’s time you start laying off the vino.”

  Her smile fell. “I didn’t have anything to drink.”

  “Sure you did,” interrupted the sheriff. “Don’t you remember the Cabernet you picked out yourself from the wine cellar? We had it with dinner.”

  Mom looked confused but then when her eyes met Caleb’s, she smiled wickedly and licked her lips. “All, I remember is dessert.”

  “Okay, T.M.I.,” I replied as Nathan and I swung her away from Caleb and into the house. The idea of her and Caleb getting it on was enough to make me want to be celibate for life.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow night!” called Caleb from the porch.

  “Nikki, can you take care of mom? I’m going to talk to the sheriff,” said Nathan.

  I nodded and then proceeded to help her upstairs, which wasn’t an easy task. When we finally made it to her bedroom, she passed out the moment her head hit the pillow. I removed her shoes and covered her up with a sheet as she began to snore.

  “Nikki, the sheriff wants to talk to you,” said Duncan, as I closed mom’s bedroom door.

  I nodded and took his hand while he led me back downstairs. Both Nathan and Caleb were sitting on the couch.

  “So, I heard there was a little excitement here earlier?” asked Caleb.

  I sighed. “I guess you could say that. It was really… bizarre.”

  He nodded and took out a notepad. “Could you tell me in your words what happened?”

  I gave him my version but left off the part of knowing who the person was that carried me off.

  Caleb’s eyes narrowed. “So, you didn’t get a good look at the person at all? Didn’t notice what he was wearing or what he even smelled like?”

  Come to think of it, Ethan had smelled like butterscotch.

  I rubbed my arm. “To tell you the truth, I was so scared that I didn’t notice much of anything. I do know that he was as fast as the wind.”

  Duncan nodded. “He was quick. He shoved me to the ground, twice, and I didn’t see him either; just a blur of movement.”

  Sheriff Caleb put away the notes he was taking and smiled wryly. “You realize how this sounds, don’t you?”

  Nathan nodded. “Crazy, I know.”

  “I know, show him the video,” said Duncan.

  “Oh, yeah,” replied Nathan, grabbing the tape from the fireplace mantel. “We taped this yesterday after someone destroyed all the video surveillance equipment. They apparently missed this one.”

  We all watched the video in silence, and when it was over, Caleb let out a long sigh.

  Nathan folded his arms across his chest. “Even crazier, huh?”

  He nodded. “I don’t really know what to say about it, actually. It doesn’t really make a lot of sense.”

  I cleared my throat. “What should we do?”

  Caleb ran a hand over his face. “Let me take this tape and I’ll show some friends who specialize in paranormal research.”

  Nathan’s jaw dropped. “So you think it might be a poltergeist, too?”

  He shrugged. “Even I have to admit; it’s some kind of strange phenomenon. I just have no experience with this type of thing.”

  “Okay, yeah take it. Let us know what you find out,” said Nathan, giving him the tape.

  Caleb stood up and started walking towards the door.

  “What about Nikki?” asked Duncan. “How are we supposed to protect her against whatever this thing is?”

  Caleb turned back and looked at us. “Don’t go anywhere alone, keep your doors locked, and don’t invite any strangers in.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Nathan and Duncan slept on my bedroom floor that night, just in case the “specter” came back to harass me. When I woke up, it was just after nine the next morning and I was alone. I went down to the kitchen.

  “Where’s Duncan?” I asked.

  As usual, Nathan was stuffing his face with food. “He had to work. He’s going to pick you up after your shift again tonight. I’ll get mom’s keys and drop you off at four.”

  “Did you guys ever figure out what’s wrong with the Mustang?”

  He nodded. “It’s the battery. I’m picking up a new one today.”

  I yawned. “Where’s mom? Still sleeping?”

  He nodded. “Yeah, she’s been doing a lot of that lately. I think she should quit drinking, she just can’t handle it.”

  “I agree.”

  Plus, she was our mom and really not making a good impression by getting so hammered.

  Two hours later, mom was still sleeping so I decided to check up on her.

  “Mom?” I called, knocking softly on her door.

  “Yeah,” she mumbled. “Come in.”

  She had the blinds pulled shut so I turned on the light.

  “You, okay?” I asked her.

  She smiled, lazily. “Yeah, just tired.”

  I sat down next to her on the bed. “You know, you really need to cool it on the wine, mom. The sheriff is going to think you’re some kind of lush. You never usually drink like this.”

  “I didn’t drink anything last night. At least, I don’t remember,” she said with a confused look.

  “Oh, come on… mom, you were trashed. I had to help you to bed last night. You had to have been drinking.”

  She rubbed a hand over her forehead. “I don’t even remember.”

  I sighed and changed the subject. “So, did his daughter make dinner for you?”

  “I… think so.”

  My eyes widened. “You don’t sound so sure.”

  She rubbed her forehead. “To tell you the truth, last night was a bit of a blur.”

  “I know the feeling,” I said, staring towards her bedroom window. Last night almost felt like a dream. I couldn’t explain my reaction to Ethan or the way he’d w
hisked me through the darkness the way he did. It didn’t make a whole lot of sense.

  “What?” she asked.

  I turned back to her and smiled. “Nothing.”

  She stood up. “I’ve got so much to do today. I start work on Monday and have more errands than I have hours to complete them.”

  “Ahem, thanks for asking… my first day went pretty good, by the way.”

  “I’m sorry, honey,” she replied, grabbing a robe from the closet. “I totally forgot. So, your first day at the diner went pretty smooth?”

  “Yeah. I’m working again tonight. In fact, Nathan has to use your car to drop me off at the diner around four. His Mustang needs a new battery.”

  She groaned and then nodded reluctantly. “Okay. I’ll just have to take care of some things tomorrow, I guess.”

  I motioned towards her neck. “So, how’s your skin?” I asked.

  She touched it and winced. “Still tender.”

  I got off the bed and walked over to her. “Did you put anything on it?”

  “No. I probably should. How does it look?”

  I examined her skin and frowned. It looked much worse. “You should really see a doctor.”

  She waved her hand and shook her head. “No, you know me. I’m just allergic to mosquito bites. It usually takes a while for them to heal.”

  “At least put something on it, so it doesn’t get infected.”

  “Fine, Nurse Nikki,” she said with a wry smile.

  I walked over to the window and opened the blinds. “It’s a beautiful day, mom, you could use some vitamin D on that lily-white skin of yours.”

  “Oh, hey… close the blinds,” she gasped holding her hand up to shield her face. “The sun hurts my eyes!”

  I quickly closed them. “Wow, you seriously need to lay off the alcohol, mom. Hangovers are a bitch.”

  She grabbed her sunglasses from the nightstand and put them on. “Actually, I think I have an eye infection or something,” she said. “They’ve been bothering me the last couple of days.”

  “Maybe you’re allergic to Caleb. Ever since you’ve been seeing him, you’ve been acting weird.”

  She smiled. “It’s definitely not him. He is such a wonderful man. I’m so happy we met. It’s only been a few hours since we we’ve been together, but… I have to admit, I miss him already.”