TO LIE WITH MIDNIGHT ROSES

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We continued walking for what seemed like hours. 

Ryker had shown me around their house if you could even call it that. I was correct in my theory that they had built their home within a mountain. It was beautiful on the outside and hardly noticeable as well — secretive. A perfect place for Vampires if I could have ever imagined one, it was tucked within the mountain surrounded by tall and swaying pine trees and fog that hung low on days like today and clouds on others.

He took me down the side of the mountain, walking down a well-carved-out path, talking and laughing most of the way as he told me a bit about his childhood and how things were growing up with a brother like Jaxon. Each memory and each story Ryker told both he and Jaxon became more human in my mind, reminding me now that each of them was a person, a soul. 

Of course they were, it was stupid of me to even think otherwise. It was just their presence that had thrown me off. Their demeanours screamed of power, strength, and darkness. It loomed over each of them like a heavy veil, Rayya and Roman too. I could feel it around them, it was a sinking feeling like being pulled down into thick mud.

Ryker tugs on the sleeve of my jacket, one that Rayya had generously given to him for me to borrow. A simple black coat, wool in material with buttons that did up down the front. It stopped about mid-thigh and had a small belt to tie around my waist. It was warm enough for a day like today and comfortable too. I tuck a piece of stray hair behind my ear as Ryker tugged on my jacket once more.

"Follow me."

Down the side of the mountain, just a ways lower than the house there was an opening. He walks inside and I follow. Before me sits three vehicles. The first was a large black SUV. The second is a smaller car, which looks to be a vintage black Porsche and the third a shiny black Harley.

"And here I thought you didn't have vehicles." I tease, looking at Ryker who was now standing beside the motorcycle.

"Three hours walking in the woods, my ass."

"No, we do." He smiles, "We just cannot get to Xavier's cabin with one, Renessa. There are no roads there but there are roads leading into town so... we take these."

''Convenient."

"This one's mine," He says proudly, running his hand along the glossy exterior of the bike. "Not nearly as fast as I am but it makes up for it when I need to blend in."

"I've never ridden one before," I say, a sudden fascination overcoming me as I walk toward him, "It looks dangerous."

"It can be." His lips pull at the corners.

"Dangerous and fast," I glance up at him, standing now at the front as I rest my hands on the handles, "Like a Vampire."

His lips part, giving me a small smile as I walk around the bike standing now across from him. 

Swiftly I bring my leg up and place it over the seat, brushing the sole of my shoe against his leg as I lower myself onto the bike. Sliding my hands up the front I bring them gently up and wrap my fingers around the handles. I turn my head, tilting my chin up as I look at him. He smiles down at me, his hair slightly damp and brushing across his eyebrows as his smile widens, flashing me his fangs.

"You look good."

"I think I'd like fast and dangerous. Can I ride it sometime?"

"Me or the bike?" He hums.

My eyes roll as he chuckles and we both laugh. 

 We don't stay long looking at the cars but I make note of the dangling keys on the wall near the back corner. Heading now back down the mountain we weave beneath the wet branches of the trees and we finally stumble across a path.