The Darkest Night

Chapter 6

A couple of hours passed before I started to grow nervous. No one had come knocking on the door. I hadn't even heard footsteps in the hallway this entire time. Only the low hum of my laptop and my sisters slight snoring. I glanced at my phone and there were no notifications or missed calls. I shot a text off to Michael again asking if we should make our way back downstairs or stay put. I got another thumbs up emoji and that solidified that something was wrong. I got to my feet closing and putting my laptop away as I did. I glanced over at my sister, trying to decide whether or not to wake her before going to see what was going on. Her deep heavy breathing decided it for me and I figured it would be better to let her sleep.

I opened the door as quietly as I could, trying hard not to make any noise. I peeked my head out the door and looked up and down the hallway hoping to see if anyone was around. I closed the door quietly and started walking towards where the stairs were. At least I thought I was going in the direction of the stairs. After a few minutes of walking and turning corner after corner, I realized I was completely lost. This didn't make sense at all. I should be coming to a dead end or a stair of some sort by now. I started knocking and opening doors as I went now. Every room I peeked into was either a spare bedroom or a storage room of some kind. I finally came to the end of one hall and opened one door only to see a staircase in what I thought would just be another storage room.

I looked at it until my curiosity got the better of me and I closed the door behind me as I started up the stairs. Motion sensor lights turned on as I climbed the stairs, illuminating each step as I went. At the top of the staircase was another door that I eased openly slowly. I don't know why, but I felt like I had to be as quiet as I could be. The door opened up into another hallway. This one was long and straight with a few doors on each side and seemed to stretch the entire width of the house. I think I found the fourth floor. I thought to myself as I started quietly walking down the hallway. A door near the end was slightly ajar, and I could hear voices murmuring from beyond the door. I crept closer, trying to hear what was being said. I couldn't figure out why I felt the need to be sneaky, but I didn't last this long in the health care industry without trusting my instincts.

"You two need to be on your best behavior around Michaels' fiancé and her sister. Do you understand me?" I recognized the voice as belonging to Mr. Jameson. "You, in particular Liliana, will watch your attitude. I do not want either of you to give the girls a reason to raise an alarm. They will be gone in just two weeks, so watch your mouths."

"Yes, father." A masculine voice, that must be Darius.

"Yes, Daddy." I recognized that voice right away as Liliana's. "We will watch our feeding habits so that none of the humans see." Humans? Why did she say humans like she was talking about a bug? Why would she say humans at all like she wasn't one as well? What was going on?

"Ah yes, feeding. That's the other thing I wanted to talk to you about. Make sure the blood fridges are kept locked tight. We don't want Michael or the girls to ask questions if they stumble on a bunch of blood bags." Victor Jameson's voice was stern as he spoke to his children. I was still standing near the door, completely stunned. Did I really hear him talk about blood bags and in relation to feeding? Do they think they have cutaneous porphyrias? That disease is so rare that it's unlikely they actually have it. Or do they actually think that they have vampireism? "Oh and if you are going to hunt, stay out of the local town, Liliana. I've heard a few rumors of animal attacks and if you need to just travel further out. Understood?"

"Yes, Daddy, I'll make sure to hunt further away from now on." Her tone was petulant and almost defiant. It seemed like she didn't like having to do what her father said. The more I listened to their conversation about hunting tactics, the more it felt real to me that they truly believed they were vampires. Either they were seriously mentally ill or...no, I wasn't going to follow that thought process.

"Now we should get downstairs before your stepmother starts looking for us," Victor said. A scraping sound indicated that he was standing up from a chair. I took a step back, but Darius' question rooted me back to my spot.

"Oh yeah, stepmom. When are you going to get rid of that vile woman, father?" I waited impatiently for Victor's answer. If they truly believed themselves as vampires, then Michael's mother, however horrid she was, might be in danger.

Victor sighed heavily. I could imagine him closing those moss-green eyes in irritation before answering. "Her time is almost up. In another few years we will have to move, anyway, to avoid suspicion. I will take care of her before that time comes. Now let's go." I scrambled away from the door as fast as I could and bolted into another room. Thankfully, this one was unoccupied, and I managed to close the door with a soft click before Darius, Victor, and Liliana walked out of the room they were in. I heard them walk down the long hallway until I heard the faint sound of the door at the end being opened and closed. I sighed with relief that they were gone. I pulled my phone out and sent a text to my sister that we needed to talk as soon as we were alone. I poked my head out into the hallway to check to see if it was clear. One thing I knew for sure is my sister and I absolutely had to get out of here. Maybe we can stay in a nearby hotel, but I for sure will not be staying in this house. I stepped out into the hall, pulling the door closed behind me.

I took two steps into the hallway before a deep, grave voice called out from behind me. "I thought I sensed someone listening earlier." I froze mid-step and spun around, coming face to face with Victor Jameson. His eyes bore into me, freezing me to my spot. Fear washed through me and my flight instinct kicked in, and I bolted for the door at the end of the hall trying to make my escape. Before I could make it five more steps before I stopped. Mr. Jameson was now standing in front of me. "There's no point in running, Elizabeth. It was Elizabeth, right?" I nodded mutely, too shocked to do much more than that.

"I go by Liz." I whispered quietly. I don't know what possessed me to even say that. My knees felt weak all of a sudden. Fear ripped through me. I recognized it as what prey feels when confronted by a predator. Any doubt that these people were just mentally ill fled my mind. There was no doubt anymore in my mind that the eyes staring at me were the eyes of a predator.

"Liz then. It seems I don't need to ask what you heard. You running answered that question. Now the only question is what to do with you." He started musing out loud about his various options. Each heartbeat seemed to drag on, and I recognized it as my adrenal spiking. "Besides your sister, who would notice if you went missing?" His question startled me and I almost answered honestly before the implications of his question kicked in.

"Umm my work. Plus, I have plans to meet up with several friends in two weeks when we are supposed to get back." I lied quickly trying to keep my voice from wavering. He stared at me with those penetrating eyes trying to determine if I was lying or not. I kept my chin up, willing him to believe what I said.

He sighed heavily, dragging one hand over his face. His eyes opened and seemed to look right through me. "OK, let's say you are telling the truth. In that case, it would be too annoying to have you disappear." My knees almost gave out in relief at his words, but I locked them into place. "So for now until I can make sure you won't blab to your sister or Michael, you'll be coming with me." He reached out at an impossible speed and grabbed my arm. The grip was vice-like and was impossible to escape. He started walking down the hall back to the room he had his children had been talking in earlier, dragging me along.

"Please let me go!" I begged, trying desperately to pull my arm out of his grip. His only response was to tighten his fingers slightly more. "Please, I promise I won’t say anything to anyone, I promise." I dug my heels into the thick, plush carpet, trying to slow our progress anyway I could. "Please just let me go. I'll get my sister, and we will leave this house." He stopped and turned his head towards me.

"And that little human is exactly what I can't allow." He pulled my arm up till my body was almost flushed against his. His breath played on my face and his scent, cedar and sandalwood, enveloped me. He opened the door with his other hand and dragged me inside. Once inside, he finally let me go, and I stumbled back trying to regain my balance now that he was no longer touching me. Inside the room was a desk, a couch that looked like it pulled out into a bed, a few chairs, and no windows. There was another door that led off to a dark room that I assumed was a bathroom off to the side. All these details registered quickly with me as I turned slowly to look at him. I could fee myself going pale as I watched him stalk towards me. I stumbled backwards, tripping over a chair and sprawling onto the floor. I flinched and closed my eyes as I saw his hand reach out towards me. He grasped my arm once more, hauling me to my feet. Standing, I opened my eyes to see him observing me. Once more, he reached out this time to my pocket where he deftly plucked my phone out of it.

"I don't think you'll be needing this anymore." I watched him store my phone in his jacket pocket and then walk out the door. "I'll make sure food is brought to you in a bit, so stay put." He paused again with his hand on the handle, look at me once more. "Oh and needless to say, but it is pointless to scream so don't even try." With that he closed the door and I heard the sound of a lock sliding into place. I collapsed into a heap and started crying as all the adrenaline rushed out of me and I started to process how screwed I really was.