Dangerous Secrets *ON HOLD...FOR NOW*

Chapter one

"Come on Ann!" Joseph Dawnstider crosses his skinny arms across his chest, planting his feet onto the ground. "Can't I come with you guys?" Anastasia stares down at her younger brother with pure exasperation written in her eyes. Joseph counters her stare with one of his own, his dark eyes sparkling with hope. Releasing a defeated sigh, Anastasia relaxes her tense muscles,

"Next time." Jospeh's figure languishes.

"You promise?" Anastasia dips her head in a single nod, her eyes not leaving the small boy stading before her.

"Promise." Staring at her through half-cosed eyes, Joseph moves away from the door cautiously.

"You better be telling the truth..."

"I am." Anastasia reaches past Joseph, pulling the door open. A blast of autumn air shoots through the doorway and Joseph scrambles into the living room. Shivering, Anastasia steps outside, sliding the door shut behind her.

Lowering herself onto the porch steps, Anastasia leans her head against the banister. She can already feel the cold seeping through her sweater and into her bones. She watched lazily as geese fly overhead; black specks in the stormy sky.

"Hey." Anastasia whips her head around, her green eyes meeting sapphire ones. She dramatically places a hand over her heart, laughing at the boy sitting behind her.

"Good Lord Alec, you scared me! How did you even get here without me seeing-no wait." Anastasia drops her hand, her features becoming solemn, "Of course I'm not going to ask you. You'll just look at me all mysterious and say, 'I have my ways.'" Alec grins and the sun breaks free from the clouds.

"You got that right." Alec says. With a grunt, he brings himself to his feet, wincing when his joints pop into place. Still grinning, he offers Anastasia his hand and she takes it without hestitation. Their fingers lock and Anastasia feels goosebumps race over her arms.

"God Alec. You're hands are cold." Anastaisa exclaims. Alec gives her a side long glance and shrugs.

"So are we going to meet Jake at Pete's Coffee Cafè or what?" He inquires, pulling Anastasia down the driveway. Leaves crunch under their feet, scattering in the wind.

"Or what." Anastasia says, watching the leaves swirl in the air, "It's too early."

"It's never to early." Alec leads her through the strangely empty streets. Anastasia pulls a frown, scanning the neighborhood. Usually there would be kids running around and screaming, teenages hanging in small groups, and grandparents sitting on lawn chairs. She had never seen the place look so desolate.

"Where is everyone?" She turns to Alec but he is focused on a point in the distance. His lips are moving; forming unfamiliar words. "Alec?" She shoves him with her shoulder and he tenses. Anastasia studies him from narrowing eyes. "What's wrong Alec? You seemed...distracted." Alec raises an eyebrow teasingly, his form becoming laguish.

"Oh do I now?" Anastasia nods and Alec lifts his eyes to the sky, "Well that's great. My best friend for goodness knows how long thinks I'm distracted!" He comes to a stop and Anastasia realizes that they are at Pete's Coffee Cafè. Smiling, Alec guides Anastasia to a nearby table with a flowered umbrella. They sit down facing eachother and Anastasia can see Alec fidgiting; his eyes are darting around the cafè frantically. With an exasperated sigh, Anastasia reaches across the table, her fingers grazing his arm. He leaps back in surprise, nearly falling off his chair.

"Okay."Anastasia says impatiently. "I want to know what's wrong." Alec stares at her with his mezmerizing eyes. In the dim light, instead of shining like sapphires, they gleam like purple amethysts.

"Do you ever feel like something bad is going to happen?" He asks quietly.

"Yeah, why?"

Alec slides his gaze to his feet, staring at them angrily, "I doesn't matter why. It has nothing to do with you," he says. Anastasia gapes at him.

"Alec, we're best friends. We tell eachother everything. If there's something going on at home-"

"Nothing's going on at home." Alec lifts his gaze and he scans the cafè a second time, "Is Jake here yet?"

"Don't change the subject Alecsander. Why won't you tell me what's wrong?" Anastasia slams her hand against the table causing the skin on her palm to sting.

"I'm sorry." Alec says, raising his hands in defeat, "I can't tell you."

"W-what?" Anastasia feels herself go slack, her heart hammering against her ribs, "Why not?" Alec sighs and runs a hand through his black hair.

"Becau-"

"Hey! Highblood!" A voice rings through the cafè. Alec pales, looking as if the blood is being drained from him slowly and painfully, his eyes focused on something in the distance. Anastasia peers over her shoulder and sees a man in a grey coat shove his chair back. His eyes are piercing, and they are staring right at her.

"We have to go." Alec says as he takes Anastasia's hand with his own, "Now."

"But why?" Anastasia asks and Alec galres at her.

"No time for questions." Alec replies, before leaping to his feet. Without warning, he takes Anastasia's hand in his and pulls her away from the table.

Heeeeeey. This is actually a story a wrote a year ago and I found it the other day and I thought I should share it with you. So what do you guys think????????

Dw. I WILL continue Dark Angel and eventually Masquerade. I just have sooooooooo many ideas!!!!!

THANK YOU for your support. You guys ROCK!!!! Once school is over, I'll be updating 24/7. Current mood=stressed because of exams.

I loooooooove you all

TheAngelOfMusic27