In the Dark by Lila Rose (17 page)

Placing my hands on my hips, I glared at him. "Do you know why, Xavier?"

He looked everywhere but at me. "No," he lied.

"Well, that's all right." I shrugged. "I'll find out for the both of us." I started to walk off, until he grabbed my arm.

"Please, don't go."

Sighing, I said, "I can't do that, Xavier."

"If I have to tie you down, I will, to prevent what will happen."

Spinning quickly, so my face was inches from his, I snapped, "You can try, but it won't happen. Xavier, you can either come with me or stay. But no matter what, I'm going." I knew what I was about to say was pretty low, but the way Xavier wanted me to stay here told me—and had me more worried—that I needed to find out what was going on. "Or I'll tell Isaac you hit on me."

"I would never hit a woman. My master knows this." He looked perplexed.

God, were all vampire so dense? "No, Xavier, it means you tried to kiss me, bed me." I totally regretted it as soon as it was out of my mouth, because Xavier looked flabbergasted and hurt. "I'm sorry, Xavier, but I have to do this."

"You're a cunning piece of work." He sighed. "Just don't curse me when I've warned you to not go."

"I won't. Promise." I crossed my finger over my heart. "Thanks. You ready?" He gave me a grim nod and we left.

It took us longer than usual, because I stayed in human form, but eventually we got to Isaac's just as he climbed out of the car with Darik. They both looked sick with concern. Had they taken the longest route home for us to arrive at the same time? Why
did
they take so long? I also noticed two new cars in the driveway. Great, they had company and I looked like crap after sweating to get there. Didn't matter. I could still manage a short stop over, and if no one saw me or heard me or even scented me, then it wasn't my fault, was it?

I waited a moment after Isaac and Darik went inside. Then I turned to Xavier's still grim expression.

"Wait here for me," I said. He nodded. My head jutted back as I studied him. He'd agreed too quickly for my liking.

Ignoring the foreboding lurking in the air, I crept over to the door. With senses attuned to my surroundings and my power hiding my own presence from those within the house, I stopped just outside. When I felt no one on the other side of the door, I quietly opened it and sneaked down the hallway towards the kitchen, where I heard the voices coming from.

"I told her to leave, but she won't," Jeremiah growled.

"What could she want?" Isaac asked.

"She won't say. She's waiting in the parlour for you."

Stuff it, the parlour was at the front of the house. The part I'd just sneaked by, but I hadn't sensed anything. Before I was caught, I quickly bolted silently down to the front of the house and hid in Gregory's bedroom, which was opposite the parlour. I waited and heard three sets of heavy footsteps coming my way, and then the parlour door was opened.

"Isaac, darling. It's been too long." As soon as I heard the high-pitched voice, I wanted to rip the head off whoever it belonged to.

"MaryJane, how did you find me?"

"Aren't you happy to see me?" Her voice was closer to the door now, which meant she was walking towards Isaac.

"Of course, I just didn't expect you."

"Yes, well, you should have known I would have been able to follow you anywhere. As I am sure you had sensed I was here. These things happen after sharing blood with one another."

Isaac, Isaac, Isaac, does your taste in blood donors come from your arse?
First, the two bimbos at Boozers, and now, this piece of…

It took all my strength not to run into that room and beat her to a pulp. I clenched my fists and bit my tongue in case my body decided to listen to my brain.

"Still, that doesn't answer why you've come."

"I wish to speak with you alone."

Don't you dare leave him, boys.
If you do, there's no telling how long she'll keep her dirty claws off him, and then if that happens, there's no telling what I may do
.

"We'll not leave if you have your people still in the room," Darik barked at her. I smiled.

"Very well. Leave us." I heard shuffling. It sounded as if at least five others had been in there with them, not including Darik and Jeremiah.

"Isaac?" Jeremiah asked.

"It's fine." He sighed.

"Let's go to the kitchen," Darik ordered, more footfalls moving towards the back of the house. Still, I could feel two more presences other than Isaac's and crap-head's just on the other side of the door.

"Leave," Jeremiah said.

"Not unless you do as well. I'm paid to guard her," a new voice said.

"Fine." They stayed in the hallway.

Leaning against the bedroom door, I was able to hear what was being said with my heightened sense. "Isaac, why are you standing so far away? Come sit by me."
Don't you dare, punk
. "That's better."
I am going to stake you myself, Isaac
.

"I've missed you, Isaac. That's why I'm here."

"I'd asked you to accompany me, but you refused."

What?
He'd asked her to move with him?

"I was silly to think I could live without you. It near killed me to do so."

"And now?"

"Now, I'm hoping you will welcome me back into your arms… and bed."

What the hell? Who does she think she is? That stupid, naïve slut!

"Isaac, why are you delaying to answer me? Is there someone else?" She sounded crazed. I could hear her sniffing at Isaac.

Yeah, sniff that, witch. I'm all over him.

"Why can I smell another, a human girl? Why, Isaac?" She screamed. "Who is she to you? Tell me now," she ordered.

Yeah, tell her, Isaac. Don't take her crap. Set her straight, or I will run in there and do it for you. Does it matter if I use my fists? Or murder her in the process? No, I don't think it would.

The silence was crushing me.

"It's nothing. She means nothing to me. She's someone who has a crush and refuses to leave me alone. A plaything, really. But now you're here, I have no need of her."

Every word tore me deep inside.

A plaything? Was he that bored with life he thought he'
d play with mine?

Did I mean nothing to him?

I mustn't if it was that easy to brush me aside for that bitch.

Oh, God.

No!

Clenching my teeth, I threw the door wide, ready to stride into that room and tell him where he could stick his thoughts.

Jeremiah and his friend's eyes widened. "Oh, shit." Jeremiah gasped.

"Jeremiah?" Isaac called from the parlour. Jeremiah quickly pushed me back into Greg's room, shutting the door in my face, and held the handle so I couldn't get back out.

"Don't do this," he whispered through the door. "Now is not the time."

Fuck it! It was the perfect time… before my emotions and mind caught up with what my heart was already feeling.

Dammit… too late
. I tumbled to the floor on my hands and knees. I couldn't seem to get in enough breath. My forehead touched the carpet. Why couldn't I breathe?

"Is everything all right, Jensen?" MaryJane called.

"Yes, mistress, everything's fine."

No. Everything wasn't fine. He couldn't have meant those words. He wouldn't, would he? I didn't know. I didn't know… how could I not know? I thought I knew him, but maybe I didn't. Maybe it'd just been a front all along.

"Who is she? I didn't feel or smell her? How is that possible?" Jensen asked.

"None of your business," Jeremiah quietly scolded.

The door opened. I looked up from the floor to his eyes as tears slid down my cheeks.

Another crack fractured my heart when I saw pity in Jeremiah's eyes.

No.

It hurts, it hurts too much.

"What are you doing here? He doesn't mean anything he says. He doesn't," he whispered in my ear.

Scoffing, I scrubbed at my eyes, but they wouldn't stop leaking. "Really, Jeremiah? Can you be 100 percent sure? Because right now, all I have is doubt, like you do. I can see it. I can
taste
it on you. Oh, God, J, why? Why has he done this to me?" I couldn't stop my voice rising at the end. Only Jeremiah didn't want me to be overheard. He picked me up in his arms and carried me outside through his patio door.

Did he also know I didn't think my legs would work? He placed me down gently and I managed to stand.
Well, good on me.
Even though I wanted to crumble to the ground, I stood tall. The rage and anger had arrived.

"Do you feel the same?" I snarled at Jeremiah. "Is your whole family in on it?" I yelled, knowing we were far enough away from the house without anyone inside hearing. Not that I cared. Hell, I didn't even care we had an audience with Jensen, who stood near.

I snorted and shook my head, glaring at Jeremiah. "Yeah, I can picture it now. Isaac saying, 'Let's have some fun with this girl. She has no one. She'll enjoy it while it lasts.'"

"Leila, stop," Jeremiah growled low. "We've never been like that. We care for you; you should know that."

"Should I? Right now I don't." I pointed toward the house. "You tell the idiot in there that unless he comes and tells me any different, it's over."

He nodded. I felt movement behind me and knew from the familiar scent it was Xavier.

"You'll see, Leila. He will come," Jeremiah uttered.

"We'll see. I'll be at Boozers
.
"

"Don't go there, please."

"Don't, just… don't." I looked over Jeremiah's shoulder to Jensen. "And what the hell are you looking at, hey? Havin' fun watching me lose it? If you say anything, I'll beat the living crap out of you." I turned and stomped away.

"Watch her, take care of her," Jeremiah said to Xavier.

"I will and I'm sorry, sir."

"It's all right. I know how it happened. She's a stubborn twit."

"That stupid, cold-hearted leech. How dare he make me feel this way. Why would he do this? Crap on toast, this sucks, like he does." A laugh escaped me. "No, I can't break. I have to wait, and by God, he'd better show up and tell me he was just conning her. Yeah, and then… then I'll rip him a new arsehole. After that, I'll enjoy shredding her to pieces with my claws for ever thinking she could have him and for being a part of his past. Why in the hell did he ever get with her in the first place? She's nothing but a ho-bag hooker. Ordering him around, she's crazy." I shrugged. "I could offer to beat the craziness out of her. Yeah, that would be nice of me, and I'd get to enjoy it at the same time."

"Leila, you need to calm down. Beating MaryJane will get you nowhere. She's strong, very strong."

Hell,
had I said all of that aloud? Oh, well.

"Thanks for the advice, Xavier, but I can handle myself. Wait." I stopped and turned to face him. "You know her?"

"I've been with Isaac for a very long time."

"How long were they together? What does he see in her? Why the fuck is she here?"

"I don't think I should speak of it behind my master's back."

"Xavier, please. Please try and help me understand it."

He shook his head, his eyes to the ground. "I'm sorry, but I can't."

I harrumphed, stomped my foot, threw my hands up in the air, before turning back around and continuing. I wanted to push him, to threaten him, but really, I didn't want to get him in trouble. Besides, if I hadn't threatened him in the first place, I wouldn't have heard what I did and I wouldn't have been feeling like I was slowly dying on the inside.

Once we made it to Boozers
,
I went straight in, ignoring the strong, disgusting smells wafting up my nose. I strode straight up to the bar and sat down. The place was quiet, roughly around a dozen vampires. They looked at me hungrily, until Xavier stood in front of my view.

Banging my head on the bar sounded appealing. I wanted to stop my mind from overreacting, stop the spinning of my stomach as I fought to keep dinner down.

Most of all, I wanted to stop the darkness from seeping its way into my soul once again.

Just when Isaac had lit it.

He'd shattered it even more than it had been.

"Want anything there, miss?" I turned from Xavier's back to see a vampire bartender. His deep, dark blue eyes twinkled while he gazed at me. Then I felt like laughing when he tossed his silky, long red hair over his shoulder.

Shaking my head, I said, "Yeah, give me some shots and keep them coming."

Xavier spoke over his shoulder, his body and eyes still on everyone. "I don't think—"

"That's right, Xavier. I don't want to think," I said and looked to the vamp behind the bar. He hadn't moved. "Come on, I don't have all night."

"Feisty one, aren't you? I like that. First one's on the house."

Tapping my foot against the stool, I waited for my first shot. He brought it, sat it down in front of me and it looked a lot like a small cup of blood. Shrugging, I picked it up and went to drink it down, until Xavier's hand came down on mine.

"No blood, Irele." Xavier snarled. "You know better than that. You can smell she's not one of us."

Irele laughed and took the shot back from my grip. "Worth a try. She might've enjoyed the buzz from my blood."

"Yeah, and make her yours for the night. It's not going to happen," Xavier said.

My guess, Irele's blood wasn't toxic, but did something else to you entirely.

"All right, boys, settle down," I cut in. "Listen here, Irele, if you try that crap on me again, I'll go outside, carve myself a nice, long, pointy stake, bring it back in here and shove it in up your arse, then heart. You understand?"

"And she means it, mate." I turned my deathly glare to find Caelen making his way up to the bar. "Up a little late, aren't you, love?"

Scoffing, I muttered, "Yeah."

Irele came back and put the shot of some concoction in front of me. It had a light creamy brown colour on the top and a darker clear brown underneath. As Caelen sat next to me, I gulped it down and then coughed my lungs up.

"I'm guessing it's your first time drinking." Caelen smiled.