Hidden Truth

Chapter 2

Blake

An annoying ringing started going off behind me. I groaned as I flipped over in bed to shut off my alarm. Squinting open my eyes, a small ray of light was beaming in from the slit of my blackening curtains. I grabbed my phone to dismiss my alarm and noticed a text from my father. Opening it up it read, 'Blake, come see me in my office.'

Putting my phone back on my night stand I rolled out of bed. I headed for my en-suite to take a quick shower. I stood under the shower head as the warm water ran down my back. My muscles started to relax as I let out a deep breath. I knew what my father wanted to talk about, it was about that damn girl. A knock on my bedroom door broke me from my relaxed state, and I knew I couldn't hide out here for long. Stepping out, I wrapped my towel around my waist and went to answer my door.

I opened the door to see my younger brother Anthony, "afternoon Blake."

"Hey Tony, what's up," I asked as I leaned against the door frame.

"Mom wanted me to see if you were awake yet."

"I'll be down in a bit," I said as I got off the frame and stepped in my room.

"Okay, see you downstairs." Anthony called out as he walked towards the stairs.

I closed my bedroom door and went to my closet to throw on some jeans and a black shirt. I fixed my hair, getting it out of my eyes, before leaving my room. The halls were quiet as I made my way downstairs to the kitchen. Pushing open the swinging door I walked in to see my mom sitting at the island with my little sister Katrina.

"Look who finally crawled in," Kat announced as she flipped through a magazine. Her long, black hair covered her face.

"Honey, you shouldn't waste your days sleeping in so late." My mom turned to me and scolded, "you will have a huge responsibility soon and need to be helping your father."

"I know mom," I sighed and leaned against the wall. My brothers weren't here, so I asked, "Anthony and Luke in the office?" My mom nodded, not even glancing at me. I knew she was mad about my behavior and there is no worse feeling than your mom disapproving of you. "I'll try to do better mom, I promise." I walked over and kissed her head before heading to my dad's office.

I turned right after leaving the kitchen and followed the long hallway to the end and knocked on the last door to the right. "Come in," my father called out. Slowly opening the door, I went in, and he looked up from his desk. "Ah, Blake you're finally here."

"Sorry I'm late, I had trouble sleeping last night." I took a seat on the armchair in front of his desk. Anthony and Luke were sitting on the couch on the opposite side.

"It's okay son, I know what you are going through." My father was a very understanding man, full of wisdom. Out of the corner of my eye I saw my brothers give me a pitiful look. "Back to what I was telling your brothers", my father spoke after a minute of silence. "There have been sightings of ferals coming into the area. I think it's best we bring her here. Her father trusted us to protect her, and it's not safe anymore out there."

"So, you want us to go out and kidnap a girl," I slowly asked.

"Yes," my father bluntly answered. "She will soon learn who she is, and dead is not what the council wants."

"And how do you think we get her to agree to coming with three strange men?" Luke asked.

"I'm sure you can think of something boys. Now you better head out," my father dismissed us and turned back to his papers on the desk. My brothers and I stood and headed out of the office.

"We head out at nine," I told my brothers and walked off down the hall. I made a right at the end of the corridor and went into the library. I had a couple hours to kill so I tried to get some studying done to appease my mother. I grabbed a book dating back to the early history of vampires, and the first makers, which happened to be my great-great-grandparents.

A soft knock sounded at the door, and I heard it open. "I'm sorry Blake," I heard behind me. Kat walked around the table I sat at and took a seat across from me.

"It's okay Kat," I spoke softly, and I tried to focus on the book in front of me.

"I know you, Blake. You try to act all tough, but I know you are still hurt by what Leslie did to you. She was a b***h," Kat spoke with anger, as I know she trusted Leslie. "I'm here for you, just know that bro." She stood from the table and headed for the door.

"Thank you, Kat," I said before she left the room.

"No problem," she said before closing the door behind her. After she left, I tried to focus on the book in front of me, but I found it hard. I couldn't stop thinking about Leslie now, and it put me in a dark place. Shaking my head, I turned back to my reading, and drowned out the thoughts of that traitor.

***

I looked down at my phone to see it read 9:10. f**k I cursed in my head before closing the book in my lap and placing it on the table. Rubbing my eyes, I stood up from the recliner I was sitting in. I left the library and rushed to the front doors where my brothers were waiting for me. "I know I'm late, sorry."

"It's cool, ready to go now," Anthony asked. I nodded and we headed out the door. I walked to the back-passenger seat of the car while Anthony went to the passenger side and Luke got in the driver seat. He slowly backed out and we headed down the long gravel driveway. As we drove down the winding road forest trees surrounded us. The full moon shone brightly up above, and you could hear the wolves howling.

We lived about thirty minutes from town, deep in the forest where people weren't around to bother us while we hunted. We fed mostly on animals, but occasionally we fed on humans that were willing. Sometimes we paid to feed on humans, but we never killed them like ferals do.

I could see the faint lights of the town up ahead and the gravel road turned into pavement. We drove past a few rundown houses that seemed to be vacant as we neared the restaurant. The sign stood tall and cast a dim red light as it read 'Woody's Round-Up.' Luke pulled into a spot closer to the back of the building. "Let's go and see if she's in," Luke mumbled as he turned off the car.

We all got out and slowly made our way towards the entrance. Stepping through the doors I noticed two waitresses running around with orders and an old man behind the bar. There was country music playing from one corner of the bar by some pool tables and the other side had a bunch of tables. My brothers and I sat in a dimly light booth in the corner by the back of the building and watched our girl.

A bright smile was always on her face as she ran around placing food orders and grabbing drinks at the bar. She had a way with the customers, the people seemed to really like her company as they shared some laughs. I felt bad ripping her away from all this, but I couldn't let the ferals get her.

After a few minutes she walked over. The same smile was on her face as she stopped in front of us. I glanced at Luke and saw the look he gave her; he wanted her. Her voice was soft and sweet when she spoke, "hello, what can I get you guys tonight?"

Her eyes darted between us until Luke spoke. He leaned forward onto the table, locking eyes with her. "Well, I would love to have you." I could see him trying to use his charm on her, and she seemed to falter a little under the spell.

We all watched as she leaned onto the table, my eyes went to her chest which the shirt did nothing to hide. "Oh really," her voice was soft, and it started to affect us. She was using her own charms, and I don't think she even knew she was doing it. I zoned out of the conversation as I just watched her.

The way she stood with her arms over her chest and played into the little game Luke was trying to pull. He was used to getting his way with women, but she wasn't like other women. She was more than that. The way she fought herself over his charms, that no ordinary girl could say no to. We weren't going to have it easy getting her to come with us. I zoned back in when she said, "because I wouldn't go anywhere with you."

Tony and I let out a laugh seeing the defeated look from Luke. I decided to end his little game by telling her my order. "Can I get a beer," I asked. "Bud light, from the bottle." Her eyes looked at me and I almost lost my train of thought. They were such a light grey and you could see specks of blue. Our gazes locked, and held for what seemed like forever, until Anthony broke it.

"Same for everyone." She nodded and turned on her heels to walk to the bar. "Damn Luke, you couldn't charm her." Tony laughed and hit his twin on the shoulder.

"Shut up man," Luke grumbled and sunk further into his seat.

After she brought the drinks, she stayed away for the rest of the night. Our new waitress was a small girl named Dana. I wasn't sure if it had to do with us that made Claire want to stay way, but I caught her glancing our way every once in a while. The place seemed really busy for a small town, as Claire ran from table to table.

"Luke is that you," a voice brought me back to the table. A skinny brunette girl stood at the front of the booth eyeing Luke.

"Hey Whit, what are you doing around here," Luke asked as he smiled at her.

"Just left a lame party and decided to get a few drinks here. Never thought I'd see you around this place." Whit smiled and tried to hint that she wanted to join us.

"Why don't you join us," Luke said and moved over in the booth. "Your friends can join too." He nodded to the other girls standing a bit further back from Whit.

"Sure," she smiled and sat next to Tony, motioning to her friends to join. One blonde girl sat next to me and the other squeezed next to Whit. "Haven't seen you in a long time Luke. You still feeding on animals?" It hit me then that this was Whitney, the girl Luke would pay to feed on from time to time if he went into town.

"Yeah, but hey maybe I could pay you tonight for a quick feeding."

"Yeah, that sounds nice," Whit nodded excitedly. "And my friends wouldn't mind helping out too." The other girls nodded happily, and Tony agreed to a feeding. I stayed out of the conversation and just sat in silence.

***

I watched as the place slowly died down and Claire was cleaning up. Luke hit my shoulder bringing me back, "We are going to have a quick feed, you in?" I nodded and we stood. I threw down some cash and watched as Claire glanced over at us. I wanted to go talk to her, but my head wasn't in the right place to try and pick up a girl. I followed my brothers outside and we went around back where no one would be to disturb us.

Whitney was with Luke off to the side and Gina was with Tony. I looked over at the other girl, I think her name was Tanya. "Hey, you okay with this," I asked her.

"Yeah, it's okay." she spoke and lifted her shirt over her head. She leaned back against the building for support. I placed soft kisses along her neck to the top of her breasts, trying to keep her calm before I bit down.

The first bite can be painful, but it eventually puts the host into a form of ecstasy. My fangs elongate and I softly run them over her smooth skin before biting down. I could feel her tense for a second before relaxing into me. Closing my eyes, her sweet blood hit my lips. Slowly sucking on her I licked up the warm liquid before sucking out more. Soft moans escaped her mouth as I was lost in the taste. It has been months since I fed on a human. I almost forgot the taste.

I was so lost in it that I never heard the person walk around the corner of the building. A scream pierced the air as my brothers and I all stopped. Claire stood in front of us, her hand over her mouth. Her eyes were wide as she looked from the girls to our mouths. Slowly I stepped towards her, and she stepped back. Any second now and I knew she was going to run. And just like that she turned and bolted.

I ran after her, but she didn't get far before she tripped on a huge rock on the ground. I watched as her head smacked onto the ground, but she didn't move. I ran to her side to check her pulse and she was alive, just knocked out. Tony was by my side as I lifted her off the ground. "Get the car," I told him, and I held Claire in my arms. I watched Luke walk around the corner with the girls following behind him.

"She okay," Luke asked.

"Yeah, just unconscious. Tony is getting the car," I called out. "Are they okay?" I nodded towards the girls.

"Yeah, they are fine. I paid them." Luke turned to them, "thank you guys. Get home safely." He kissed Whitney on the cheek and the girls walked to the parking lot. Tony pulled up to the back and Luke got into the passenger seat.

I placed Claire on the back seat and got in next to her. "Not how I expected to bring her home, but whatever," I mumbled as Tony drove off towards the forest entrance to our cabin house.