Darkness Rising (fanfic) (4th book in Destiny series)

Chapter 2: Exposed

"How do you know that it's the Darkness?" Ericka asked.

"Well," Atom started and before he could lay out any reasons Drac jumped into the conversation, "He cAn ShApEsHiFt aNd He FraMeD mE!"

"That doesn't mean it's the Darkness necessarily." Ericka pointed out.

"I do remember that the Darkness could shape shift into anything or anyone." Atom said.

"And it happened to choose me." Drac said.

"Yes." Atom said.

"But that means that they are going to think it was me that killed that man and they are going to come to the door-" Drac stopped talking when somebody knocked on the door. they looked over and saw it was a news crew.

"I'll talk to them." Ericka said, walking over to the door.

"Wait!" Drac said hurriedly, "the public doesn't know that you're a vampire yettttt..." He trailed off when she opened the door and said,

"What?"

"We're here to-" The news reporter stopped talking when he spotted her bite scar. He gestured slightly to the camera man to zoom in on it.

"W-what are you looking at?" She asked, almost embarrassed in how they would answer. She then realized they were staring at the two scarlet dots on her neck and quickly covered them up with her hands. "This is nothing!" She said anxiously, avoiding eye contact. The news man told the camera man to stop streaming and said,

"Then why do you have pointed ears and fangs?"

"Ummmm..." She stalled for as long as she could then said, "i gotta go." and tried to slip inside, but somebody grabbed her wrist. She turned back to see who grabbed her and a bright light flashed in her face temporarily blinding her. She didn't pass out because she felt hands gripping her sleeves. She fought them off not knowing what part of them she was punching and stumbled backwards inside. "I can't see!" She cried, groping around like a zombie. She ran into somebody and froze. At first she thought it was one of the news people but she knew exactly who it was when he caressed one of her cheeks with his hand. She saw a dark shape and blinked a few times. She finally saw Drac's concerned face looking down at her. before he could ask what happened the news crew burst through the door.

"What do you people want?!"Drac asked, hugging Ericka closer.

"We just want to ask a few questions." The news man said.

"You blinded my wife," Drac said, "i don't think your just here to ask questions." The news man looked like he was trying to search for a good comeback. Then he said,

"How did you survive the bite?" He was clearly asking Ericka but she wasn't making a peep. "She was talking earlier." The news man said. She still didn't say a word.

"Your making her uncomfortable." Drac said, taking a step forwards. The news crew took a step back to keep space. "Are...are you scared of me?" He asked. The news crew was as silent as the grave. "You think i'm a cold-blooded murderer don't you?" He asked. They still didn't make a sound. He pretended to lunge at them and bared his fangs slightly making them jump backwards and one of them reached into their pocket, probably getting a weapon. He backed up until he was next to Ericka again. "I didn't kill that man." He said, he turned away and stomped up the staircase. Ericka followed shortly after to see if she could calm him down.

"I'd go if i were you." Atom said. The news crew turned to look at him.

"Who are you?" The news reporter asked.

"My name is Atom," Atom said, holding his hand out for the man to shake it, "formerly known as Brightblaze."

"Like as a Phoenix?" The news reporter asked, shaking his hand.

"I used to be," Atom said, "now you should probably get out out here."

"With pleasure,"The man said, taking the rest of the news crew outside, but he peaked back into the door, "can i ask you something?"

"Sure." Atom said, turning off the TV.

"Do you know who or what killed that man?" The man asked. He left right after Atom answered with,

"It wasn't Dracula," Atom's voice got serious, " it was something much worse..."