Chapter 2

The vehicle was dark and quiet as it rolled over the dirt roads of the country side, I stared out the window into nothingness. Stars covering the sky were like tiny reminders of the way the house had looked as we drove away, and single spot of light in all too much darkness. It felt kind of wrong that something so terrible happened in such a brightly lit room. I shuddered the thought away, deciding for the most part not to linger on the night events and focus on moving forward. And we were, moving forward, the dirt roads stretched on till finally dirt gave way to pavement as we neared the city.

It was almost a relief to be surrounded by all the light and life of the city night life, I peaked at the time on the dash and noted it was barley midnight, still plenty of fun to be had in the city. I wondered distantly where exactly we were going.   

"It Maloney, right?" He turned his chin ever so slightly to his shoulder, talking to me from the front seat. I nodded at first, realize he couldn't see the response and cleared my throat.

"Yeah, you?"

"Zarek."

"Zarek," I whispered softly to myself, trying it out for the first time, then more loudly, "What's going on?" The question had a hint of desperation to it compared to the last time I had asked. 

His didn't respond, but I saw him glance at me in the rear view mirror and I could almost see him debating on what to say, or how exactly to say it.

"Chay was worried about you, he got some information that lead him to believe you were in danger, he was right." He focused on the drive, passing by all the main streets and towards the edge of the city.

"Why would I be in danger, what information did he get?" I pressed, not satisfied with his answer.

"Would you believe me if I said I wasn't sure?" His eyes caught mine for a moment in the mirror and I could see a faint smile in them, felt it in his words, it made me frown.

"Even if that were true, you know more than your saying." I didn't try to hide the accusation in my voice.

He mumbled back a, "Yeah." but didn't speak on it more. I was getting the impression that Zarek didn't want to be the barer of band news.  I turned my head and watched the city fade away bit by bit, till we were on the road officially out of town. 

"Where are we going?" My question held a note of annoyance, wondering if he was going to avoid that one too. 

"Next town over, there's a place there that's safe. Chay is going to meet you there tomorrow. Its a little over an hours dive from here."  I wasn't sure if it annoyed me more that he would answer some questions but not all. 

"You know you said you'd explain everything as soon as we were on the road." More annoyance and accusations. 

Another glance in the mirror, holding my gaze a little longer this time, "I didn't think id actually have to tell you everything. I thought telling you your sent me would be enough and then he could explain the rest when you saw him." An admission, he really didn't want to be the messenger. 

"What's the big deal with telling me yourself?" My voice sounded a little too loud in the quiet hush of the vehicle. 

"Its complicated, Maloney." Matter of fact, as if that excused it. 

"More complicated than killing someone?" I hadn't meant to day it like that, I hadn't meant to bring it up at all actually, because I had been trying to avoid it. But the words hung in the air with tension, Zareks eyes snapped to mine through the mirror.

"I was protecting you." He hadn't raised his voice like I had, but his words were chastising and I couldn't hold his stare. 

"I know." I all but whispered, "thanks."

It was lame as far as gratitude went, and I was grateful, but I couldn't bring myself to say anything else on the subject. Silence stretched for a long while where he drove and I stared out the window, neither of us willing to speak but it seemed like the interior was filled with tension.

"I know my Uncle isn't exactly an upstanding citizen, to be honest, I don't exactly know what it is that he does for work, but I know its not exactly good." I raised my eyes then, seeing he had been watching me as I spoke.

"Oh?" He prompted me to continue.

"So, is that it? Hes got himself wrapped in something bad and now it has something to do with me?" I pried.

"What exactly do you know about what he does?" Zareks eyes slid back to the road as he waited for my reply.

"Virtually nothing," I laughed with annoyance, "To be fair, once I got old enough to realize that I didn't know what he did I could have asked, but Id learned enough to know that I didn't really want to know."

"Like?" He pressed, and it felt like he was fishing for something.

"I've seen the amount of money that get deposited into his account after he comes and goes. I head enough snippets of secret phone calls, seen texts. Hes taken I don't know how many classes, boxing, marital arts, fencing!" I let a soft laugh out at that, "On paper he seems like some kind of thug."

"He is not a thug." His soft reassurance sounded more like chiding. 

"I know,' I shot back quickly, "I know he could be dangerous, deadly," my thought flashed to Zarek so effortlessly snaping the other mans neck, "Hes all I have, maybe I don't really want to know what he does when hes away, but I'm not sure if I really care. As long as he keeps me out of it anyway." The last was a grumble as I contemplated my reality.

"None of this is Chays mess leaking all over you."

"Then what is it?" We were back to looking at each other through the mirror before his gaze slid away look I couldn't decipher.

"Its not a conversation I thought id ever be the one making." He gave weakly as an excuse.

"What does that even mean?" I sat back exasperated.

"Do you trust me?" He asked but wouldn't meet my eyes. I stared at him for a minuet before he asked again, with a little more emphasis his eye flicking to mine for only a  moment. 

"Sure."

He shook his head, "No Mel, this is important, do you trust me."

Now it was me avoiding his gaze, I was busy inspecting my nails and I let the question roll around in my head. "Yes." I clipped out, not sure why it made my uncomfortable to say out loud. 

"Who do you think that was back there at your house." The question felt stupid considering that was exactly the kind of information I had been pressing him for. 

"I dont know, a bad guy, a very bad man." I answered with sarcasm. 

"He definitely wasn't a man," I could feel my face twist with confusion but he didn't let me get another smart retort in, "He kicked in that door like it was made of paper, and you saw how fast he was, a normal person that big wouldn't move half that speed."

"Okay, so what then, what are you saying?" I was leaning forward now settling between the front seat and I urged him to continue. I could see his gaze slide sideways as he noticed me there, his hands ever so slightly gripped the steering wheel a little harder.

"He was a werewolf." Eyes stayed glued to the road, so much so that I found myself watching through the windshield too, his knuckles weren't quite white with the strain of his hold. 

I almost laughed at how ridiculous he sounded, what could be so bad that he felt like he had to make up something like that? My humor faded as the car slowed to a stop and he turned slightly in his seat, I caught myself leaning farther forward to face him. We were closer than id though, maybe a foot of empty space between us as he looked down at me. From here I could see his eyes clearer than before, there was a depth to his gaze and I wasn't sure what it was filled with. Black brown and thick lashed framed his eyes like a painting, and the irises were a rich golden brown that seeped into a darker outer ring, and in the center near the pupil was almost gold. Like someone had taken honey and sunshine, caramelized it and forged it into some kind of gemstone. 

For a moment I almost forgot what he had just said, hell I almost forgot where I was staring into eyes like that so close to mine. I could smell him, almost like vanilla mixed with something darker, like some sweet spice that had been roasting out in the hot sun all day. I felt myself getting a little lost in his eyes, which made me blush, but just as I was about to pull away and try to remember what it was we had been talking about, something changed. I wasn't quite sure what it was at first, where exactly did I see things start to shift, but after a moment I noticed the gold in his eyes darkening. I thought it was a trick of the light at first, some glint that had disappeared and turned the glow to a more muddled brown. But they continued to shift ever so slightly till I realized I was seeing flecks of red starting to rise to the surface. I gasped and pulled myself back an inch or two till I bumped the other seat, his head tilting slightly to the side as he watched my reaction.

I could see more of the change now, not just the red fleck but an over all darkness in his eyes altogether, it was hard to say which parts were different, they just were. The pupil was larger maybe, or the veins in his white more pronounced maybe? Were his cheeks flushed, or was it the darkened skin under his eyes? I wasn't sure, but it was there all the same, there was something other than Zarek staring back at me, and there was something close to alarm bells going off in my head. Turn away, run. They were saying, but I couldn't seem to move. 

"I'm not going to hurt you." He spoke quietly, and I managed to nod my head minutely in response. "I'm going to let Chay explain the more intimate details to you, but I can tell you a few things. Chay didn't drag you into his mess, there are some bad people out there who want you, Maloney. Your important, and life is probably going to get pretty dangerous for you, and very complicated."

He pulled back a bit then, seeming to let break the little spell of fear that had come over me with his movement. He relaxed a bit as he spoke, still serious but less hesitant, like my reaction had eased some anxiety he had. Maybe he expected me to run away screaming, I still wasn't sure if I would. 

"There's a whole world out there that's been hidden from your view for a very long time, and I'm part of it. Back at your house, that was a werewolf," His eyes locked on mine as he spoke, "I'm a vampire." his eyes searched mine but he kept talking before I could say anything. "The place I'm taking you? Full of creatures you didn't even know existed, and somehow your pretty little life is wrapped up in it all."

He pulled away completely then, and I barley noticed his eyes fading back to normal, he didn't turn back in his seat and start driving again right away. He spared a few more moments on me before he did though, I think to make sure I was handling the new okay, whatever he saw in me must have satisfied him enough though. I was sure exactly I was feeling if I were being honest, I didn't think my brain was even forming coherent thoughts at the moment. 

"Its safe there, you'll be safe there." He was trying to reassure me, I guess some of the monsters were bad guy, but apparently not all of them. I hadn't realized how lost in thought I had been till I jumped when he spoke next. 

"Are you afraid of me." I looked up and he was back to avoiding my eyes. I shook my head as I sunk back to my place in the back seat. "Maloney." He pressed the question when I continued my silence. I slid down on the back seat, laying on my side staring out the front of the vehicle, not really focusing on anything.

"I already said I trusted you." I shot back quietly.

A pause and then, "That was before..." He trailed off, I guess we weren't going to talk about his little show of vampire eyes.

"It feels prejudice if I were to change my mind after finding out your a vampire. "I said dryly, I think he might have smiled at that comment, but I was busy disassociating to really notice.

He left me alone after that, and I felt myself fade away from reality as I lay in the back seat. I could feel the little bumps here and there as the car shifted as we soared down the unoccupied backroad. Vampires, werewolf's, was this a bad movie or something? Did I believe it? It was hard to argue when Zarek had shoved his little bit of evidence in my face, which I suppose was his goal. Still though, there was a part of me that was waiting for someone to jump out and say Gottchya. Or maybe this was just some crazy dream. Until I could talk to Chay face to face I just wasn't sure what I believed. Was I scared of Zarek? I was terrified of what he was telling me and showing me, but why protect me if he really meant me harm. I guess for the time being yeah, I trusted him, enough that I could feel myself drifting off to sleep while he drove. Vampire chauffer. I almost giggled. 

I don't know how long I rested before I hear Zarek calling to me, pulling me from my dreamless sleep. I sat up rubbing eyes and looked to him as he nodded towards the road. To our left bright lights shone as far as the eye could see, and I could even make out people still out and about on some of the roads further in. There was more traffic, even on the side road we traveled, the bustling of the city people not deterred by the late hour. It made me smile, and I enjoyed the glow of neon signs and watched the people as we drove. Zarek said wed be there soon and I was anxious to arrive at this mysterious safe house. Zarek said I would see Chay till tomorrow, so I knew much wouldn't happen tonight, still I wondered where he was now. Was he on a plane right now, racing towards this city to meet us? 

Zarek slowed the vehicle and I head the blinker, but to my dismay he turned away from the city, and onto another road that lead through a heavily forested stretch. Even the moonlight didn't penetrate through the tall branches. It was a short drive through the tree and eventually the canopy opened back up to the night sky, but it felt like we were in a different world. Gone was the buzzing metropolis, and with it the glow signs, streetlights, civilization. My head fell back against the seat in defeat, of course this refuge would be in the middle of a secluded forest. I could almost cry. 

It wasn't more than a 10 minuet drive before Zarek turned onto a smaller road that lead up and over the hills till we couldn't see back the way we came, twisting around a bend till we straighten out and our view was unobstructed. Sitting within a backdrop of forest and rolling hills was a mansion, the small road we occupied spilled into a gravel drive that circled the front entrance. The image was like something from a dream, the a clear night sky with the moon shinning down on the thick forest, and nestled there was this giant looming estate in the darkness. I t was probably my mood, or maybe the idea that it was filled with 'creatures', as Zarek had said, but the place looked down right haunted and a picture of my worst night mare. 

Zarek pulled to the side where a garage was hidden and parked in the driveway. The interior felt eerily quiet when he cut the engine and climbed out of the car. I saw his shadow lingering at the back door before he opened the door next me to and peaked inside at me, he leaded in and grabbed my bag and stepped away, holding the door open waiting for me to exit.  I slid along the seat till I could swing my legs over the edge and step out next to him, I looked up at him for a moment, noting the height difference once again. I was average height for a woman at 5'5" and he seemed to have about 5 inches on me, maybe 6 with the boots, but those few inches made it seem like he towered over me. He moved past me towards the garage and I spotted a side entrance as we walked.

"What happens now?" I asked, walking a step behind him as I took in the large fortress before us. It was all stacked brick and wooden beams, I couldn't tell the color or tones much with the lack of light but it was impressive even still. 

I crossed my arms over myself as my eyes continued to wander. The landscaping was simple, pretty and trimmed bushes lined on each side of the building giving way to the steps to the front door, blossoms of some type sprouting artfully in front of the bushes. The trees from the surrounding forest seems to fade into the space, creating a natural clearing for the building to occupy.  The architecture seemed somewhat modern, but standing there in the dark the whole place seemed old. I stared longer, taking in the whole image and puzzling over it, the place felt old, and something about that didn't sit right in my head. A soft click brough my attention back to Zarek where he stood about ten feet away and I realized I had stopped walking to take in the sight. I followed him inside and forced myself to keep pace with him, exploring the sights inside as he talked.

"The place is mostly empty right now, everyone's either away or asleep. Chay wont be here till late morning, so ill take you to your room and let you get some rest." 

He lead me down one hall and another, the place was all dark cream wall and even darker wooden trim and beams. The fanciful windows I hadn't noticed from the outside gave way to tall ceilings that fell from one arch way to another as we passed through the halls and looked into rooms as we passed. The floors were more of the same dark wood in intricate patters that were blanketed by ornate carpet runners  that stretched on and on. The further in we walked the more I clutched at myself, my skin tingling, my bones aching from the sheer feel of the place. 

"I don't know how much ill be able to sleep," I said as I shook, trying to rid myself of the sensations.  

The flowing halls broke into a great opening the ceiling opening even higher above our head and the walls pushing back to give room to the large staircase that twisted up for multiple floors. There were painting and plants hanging on every inch of the walls, giving the space a moody and intimate vibe while still feeling very articulated. Zarek stopped just before the steps and turned to look at me. I felt him eyes dragging over my body as he took in my figure, I straightened a bit when I noticed how hunched in on myself I was as I still clutching myself, his head tilted to the side as he watched me. 

"Are you okay?" It was a simple question but it had me shaking my head in confusion

"Don't you feel it?"

"What do you feel?" He asked as if my answer might be different from him, which only puzzled me more.

"I don't know, I can just feel....something, its all around me, sinking into me," I couldn't help looking around, the ceiling the stairs, the doors on the other side of the room, as if I could find the source if I just looked. "Its like feathers brushing over my skin, or spiderwebs, or butterflies batting their wings just under my skin. The moment I stepped out of the car it felt like it was reaching for me." I suddenly felt like a crazy person, because I realized not only did I not know how to explain what I was feeling, none of it made sense or sounded rational either.

Zarek moved in closer to me his hand reaching out but not touching me, he seemed intrigued  but not concerned. 

"I don't feel what your feeling," He spoke without looking at me, still passing his hand over me, "There is a lot of magic here, both in the land and the people that reside here, its possible your feeling that essence that lingers in the air." His hand passed over my chest to my right shoulder, he let his fingers graze over my bare arm before dropping his hand. I shivered  with the small touch and looked up at him.

"Well its awful whatever it is."

He nodded, stepping away and turned back to the stairs not waiting for me to follow.

"Lets get upstairs, I might have something to help."

We climbed 2 floors before Zarek led us off and down yet another hall, the design was more of the same as before. Doors lined the walls of the rather large hall all of them closed, about half way down the right side of the wall opened up to a small sitting area. There was a couple leather chairs, to one side and shelfs stacked with books on the other, and covering on the back wall were floor to ceiling windows that were filled with the outdoor darkness. Zarek stopped us there, instructing me to wait there for a moment before vanishing. He didn't really disappear, but he was gone with such speed that I hadn't seen him go, a soft push of air breathed a cross my skin as he went. 

Moments passed, long enough for me to question what had happened, but by the time I was coming to my conclusion he had back standing in front of me again. A handful of seconds maybe, and if it were not for the item he held I would have questioned if I had imagined it. He held his hand out for mine and I put my hand in his without saying anything but I couldn't keep the surprise from my face. 

"Someone gave this to me a long time ago, it helped me in a way I hope will help you now."

I watched as he gently slid a dainty bracelet over my hand and onto my wrist. It was made from some kind of stone that looked like it had been carved into small beads, the colors were dark and muted greens, blues and browns. They were smooth and cold against my skin, but as they slid and settled over my skin it was like a gentle breeze passing through me, pushing the oppressive magic out and away. I could still feel it around me, but more like I was settled inside a bubble and the power breath across the barrier now rather than my skin. 

"That's so weird." I held my wrist up to inspect the bracelet closer for a moment before taking a deep breath of relief and smiling up at him, "thanks." He smiled back a small flash of teeth before turning back down the hall.

"Its not a permanent fix, but it will help for now till we figure it out. This is your room here."

He stopped at one of the many identical doors and let me go first into the large room. The floors were covered in plush charcoal carpet, there were 2 doors off to the left and a set of glass French doors to the far right of the bed that was centered between the door and the other wall. The bed was large with a carved wooden frame and a velvet looking lounge couch in emerald green set at the end and a matching set of nightstands on either side. Zarek moved across the room gracefully and set my bag on the couch.

"There's a dresser in the closet and you have your own bathroom there, "He motioned towards the two doors to the left then turned to the other door, "Those lead to a small balcony overlooking to court yard. Ill text Chay and let him know what room you'll be in, his plane lands around eight and its a thirty minuet drive if you want to set an alarm."

I was nodding along with what he was saying but I felt a sudden flutter of anxiety in mu chest as he talked while moving towards the door to leave. I wanted to ask why he was leaving but it sounded inappropriate and childish, of course he would leave, what else was he supposed to do.  I moved with I'm till I was standing just inside the door and him just outside, he seemed to notice my unease.

"I'm not going anywhere, ill be right outside, if you need anything all you have to do is call out for me." He leaned on the door frame, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared down at me. "I can only stay till sunrise in a few hours, but someone else will be keeping watch, Okay?"

I nodded, feeling a little better knowing I wouldn't be completely alone, but as he pushed away from the door and I closed myself in the room I realized it wasn't being alone I was afraid of. I didn't move away from the door but moved to rest my forehead against the cool wood as I started down at my feet. My shoes were sunk deep into the soft carpet,  a soft pink in color that always made me happy to see. Something about the pink sneakers put an extra bounce in my step, I had loved them since I first saw them in the store. They were well worn now because they were my favorite, but from the laces to the soles and pink was still vibrant enough to make my day. 

Now though, there was another color decorating the toe of my right shoe, the pink a muted canvas to the small splash of red. A rouge drop of blood from the werewolf when Zarek had smashed his knee against the other mans face. The nights events came crashing back as images and emotions flooded me. My vision blurred as tears welled and fell from my eyes, the fluid falling to mingle with the blood on my shoe. I didn't want to think about it, I didn't  want to hear the terrible sound as his neck twisted echoing in my head, didn't want to remember the way his body crumpled underneath him as he fell. A breath hitched from my lips as I slowly dropped to the ground with the though that not only was there still a dead man in my house, but the door was busted down and I hadn't even been able to close the door when we left. I felt silly that that was the thought my mind landed on, my house being open and exposed in my absence. 

My thoughts circled as I knelt there, what would happened when someone found a dead man just inside our door? How was I going to go home to that, how would I clean it up....was I going home after this? What was I doing here? Over and over the tears fell and my thoughts assaulted me with questions after impossible question. 

"Maloney." I heard Zarek voice call out to me quietly through the door. I didn't answer, not sure what to say or if I could even speak. 

"I can hear you crying." His voice sounded closer, more level with me and I imagined him kneeling on the other side of the door, mirroring like he had earlier. 

I rested my forehead against the door again at a loss for words. I thought I could feel him there, his hand pressed to the door opposite of me, his presence leaking through the door into me. I opened my mouth to reply but nothing came out, he could hear me crying he had said knowingly, I had barley made a sound. Was the door that thin or was it some supernatural hearing? Could he hear my tears hit the carpet, or my heart pounding, or my shallow breath as I fought for air. 

"I'm okay," I breathed out and sniffled unconvincingly.

 

"Liar." His voice called out to me in a low note that made me sigh.

I didn't say anything else because what else was I going to say? All I had was traumatic images and unanswered questions running through my head. I didn't want to talk, let alone think, but sitting there for a moment feeling him on the other side of the door helped ground me. I focused on breathing and sensing him through the door, he was close enough that he sat inside that bubble of air the bracelet spun around me. He was invading that safe space and I could feel his energy tangling with mine the longer we sat there.

His smoke vanilla scent seems to seep through the door and helped center me further, I breathed him in and could almost feel the heat of his skin warming the door. I imagined wrapping that heat around me and letting it sooth the ache that was growing in my chest. He felt so close I thought I could feel his breath on my skin, I could almost see him there in my head on the other side of the door. Knelt low on one knee with his hand pressed over the spot where I was leaning, eyes lowered to the floor as he listened to me breathing from the other side. I could see his hair swept over one shoulder to hang at the side of his face.

 

"What are you doing?" It was a low whisper and I thought I heard his breath catch at the end.

"Nothing." I breathed back, aware that something was happening. 

"I can feel you." His head was raised now, his fingers flexing against the wood as if to explore the sensation. 

With a start I realized I could actually see him in my minds eye. My eyes snapped open and I pulled away falling backwards onto the carpet. The connections broke like a cord being pulled, it was just me in the room now, no lingering tendrils of his essence swimming through me. I sat there a little dumbfounded, staring up at the door that was not solid and fully separating us once again. My lungs shook with each breath and I barley head him speak.

"Get some sleep, Maloney." He didn't exactly sound happy but the tone was still gentle, "Ill be out here."

I wasn't exactly sure what had happened, but I got the sense it was somehow my doing, or at least he thought it was. Even still that last but of reassurance that he would still be near by helped settle the last bit of dying nerves. I sat there on the floor for a while longer, afraid that if I moved something else would go wrong. 

Eventually though I got up and moved to the bed, removing my shoes, short and bra before crawling into the bed. I slid myself between fluffy great comforter and sage green sheets that were cool against my flushed skin. I buried myself there and closed my eyes, not caring that I had left the overhead light on. I though again of the image of my home shrinking in the night as we drive away, the bright spot from the open door screaming back at us with its gaping mouth. Then I fell into darkness.