The Ties of Darkness (Book Two of the Hidden Secrets Trilogy)

Chapter One

I tossed and turned in bed next to Liam. Horrible memories and visions came flooding back into my head. I felt someone shake me awake, wanting me to come back, but I couldn't escape the dream as it kept me trapped. Familiar faces floated in the darkness calling my name in eerie voices. Terrible scenes of what had happened over a year ago repeated over and over, each in vivid detail.

I saw Anya again rushing toward me and my stake, the one to kill an Original vampire in my hand, shot forward burying itself in her heart. All I saw was Anya's shocked expression before someone roughly yanked me out of the dream and held me in their arms.

"Shhh, it's ok. It was only a nightmare," Liam soothed in a hushed tone. Locks of hair clung to my sweaty face, and I felt myself tremble. I forced myself to calm down and think happy thoughts as I inhaled Liam's familiar scent and I felt a small smile touch my lips. He tilted my chin up with his finger shifting my gaze up to his.

"I had that dream again," I said quietly.

"I know, it wasn't real, you're safe" he whispered, resting his chin on my head. I felt his hand snake onto the small of my back as he took me down against him and his lips met mine.

A soft sigh escaped me as I felt his lips trail across my jaw and down my throat giving me a playful nip here and there, murmuring gentle words to help keep me from falling apart.

It's been over a year, I'm seventeen and a vampire. I'd been hunted as a human by an Original vampire named Anya and her demon lover Sebastian. Liam and Jacob were supposed to protect me but had failed numerous times with me ending back into one of the hunter's hands. My life is now secret free, but many of the memories still haunt me.

I pulled up and gazed down at Liam, "So am I still spared from being hunted?" I asked Liam.

"Yes, and I know of no one that is hunting you down at the moment," he answered. I nodded and glanced over to find Jacob standing in the doorway.

"Hey Jacob," I greeted. He came to us.

"More nightmares?" he asked arching an eyebrow at me.

"Yes, they aren't going away, and I wish they would," I said almost in a desperate tone shifting my gaze down to my lapis lazuli daylight ring. Jacob sat down beside us and took hold of my hand.

"It'll pass. The memories are still fresh in your mind, but after a while, they should fade away," he said to me reassuringly.

"But what if they don't?!" I said, my voice began to rise.

"They will, I swear on my life," he answered in a calm tone before nodding to Liam and getting to his feet he left the room. I leaned back against Liam's chest as he toyed with my hair.

"You know, I have to get ready for school," I said getting up. Liam nodded and left the room so I could change. I put on some shorts, a pretty creamy pink top with off the shoulder sleeves and some white wedge high heeled shoes. I fixed up my hair and did my makeup and I was ready to go.

"You look alluring and lovely," Liam complimented.

"Thank you very much," I said sweetly and stood up on tiptoe and kissed him goodbye. I then headed off to school grabbing my backpack and rubbed my ring.

Once I arrived I went inside feeling more confident than I had than ever before. I met stares left and right and I did my best to either ignore them or throw in a few flirty glances. I headed to our normal sitting spot by the library when someone stopped me.

"Hey," they said from behind me. The voice was all too familiar and I turned to face Connor.

"Oh great!" Here we go again," I groaned.