Ancient Darkness (On HOLD)

Chapter Twenty - Hunger

"You must go, Sean," Owen murmured to his friend as they watched Sang and their brothers. Each of them had taken the time to introduce themselves while Sang tried to process all that they had told her.

Her eyes were glazed as she looked back at them and hesitantly relaxed into the warmth of the room.

Sean turned to his oldest friend, "I am not the only one that needs to feed this night." His eyes blatantly called on Owen to lie to him.

Each of them was in a similar state - their cells crying out for sustenance and their teeth fighting to sharpen as they breathed in the clean scent of Sang. She had an alluring perfume which called to them on the deepest of levels, compelling them to dip their nose into the crook of her neck where her pulse beat just below the surface of her skin.

"She cannot be left alone," Owen snapped, regretting it instantly as Sean inclined his head.

"I wasn't going to suggest that she be left without company. Perhaps one or two of us could stay behind whilst everyone else hunts."

"It will have to be done quickly to ensure that everyone feeds tonight," Owen looked at each of his brothers, silently asking them how desperate their hunger had become.

He trusted that each of them had enough control to last in close proximity to their human guest while the others travelled but he also wanted to give them the choice to be amongst the first to hunt.

Not all of them were comfortable in the presence of the girl it seemed and Owen could only blame himself for that.

The way that he had been acting since first meeting her had been allowed the others to witness a side to him that no one had ever known existed.

Normally he was the cool detached leader that they needed for him to be but with Sang's influence, pieces of the monster within him had broken through.

"I wish to stay with her while you venture out if that is allowed," Gabriel's answer came through clearly to those who could hear it while Sang showed no sign that she had overheard them this time.

It amazed Owen that she could intercept what should be private conversations but it also confused him that it happened randomly. The question that he most wanted answered about her was what exactly made her special?

And would that answer lead to her eventual death by his hand, because he knew within himself that for him to cause her pain would destroy the little pieces of his soul he had managed to actually save over the centuries.

Sang drew back in surprise as those that had been seated rose while the others stepped towards the door.

"What is it?" She asked, lifting a hand to press against her heart. Their faces were drawn and blank, scaring her.

The one who had introduced himself as Gabriel moved so that he was seated close beside her. His electric blue eyes sparked as he lifted a finger to run it cautiously across her cheek.

Her breath caught as she felt herself begin to drown in his gaze. Knowing what she did about them, she couldn't understand why she found them all to be so beautiful except to wonder if their genes were programmed to make them attractive enough to court attention and lure their prey without any overt suspicion.

A throat cleared and she jerked her eyes so that she was looking over Gabriel's shoulder - she wasn't sure how long she had been sitting there gazing at him, hypnotised, but some instinct warned her that she was treading on extremely dangerous ground.

Some predators found attacking irresistible when their prey easily offered themselves up like she seemed to be doing.

She had to remember that although they hated the term vampire, it was essentially what they were and she was a food source for them.

"Gabriel will keep you company while my brothers and I depart for a time," Owen answered, his eyes seeming to flicker red as he stared at her from across the room.

"Where are you going?" Sang tried to ask around the sudden dryness in her mouth. They were the epitome of dangerous creatures but in the time that North had returned her from her second failed escape attempt that danger had thickened into something almost tangible.

North took a step forward, his face revealing that he hadn't meant for it to come across as aggressive even though he couldn't help it. "There are things that we must take care of before the night has ended," He held a hand up as though he thought that she was going to interrupt him. "And no, they have nothing to do with you."

She bit at her bottom lip as they all turned in silence and headed toward the large glass doors, "What are you going to do about the people who know you've taken me? All of my belongings are at the bed and breakfast and everyone in that dining room saw you walk out with me, Owen."

"She has a point," The one who had introduced himself as Dakota murmured. "She has already been missing for 24 hours. We will need to ensure that no one is searching for her."

Sang gasped and jumped to her feet, "You can't just kill all the people staying there!"

The Greek giant, Silas, rumbled with laughter, shocking himself as well as his brothers, "It's worked in the past." He answered, deadpan.

Tears prickled her eyes as she absorbed their ruthless expressions, "You told me that you weren't monsters!" The accusation was thrown at North as he watched her closely. "Please, don't." She felt as though the air was burning in her lungs as she fought down her need to grab hold of them and refuse to allow them to leave.

"Silas!" Owen snapped, his patience at an end as he felt fangs beginning to decend. "Sang, you will calm yourself. We will not harm any resident of the town this night but we will ensure that your belongings are collected and that no one will worry or think to search for you."

He pointed a severe finger at Gabriel, "Be alert and inform us should there be a need to."

Gabriel didn't protest as he inclined his head and watched silently with the now quivering girl as his brothers blurred through the doors and out into the howling darkness.