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

Chapter Two

"Come on, we're leaving," he said, finally answering me as he tensely grabbed my arm and pulled me up to Jacob's room. Liam pushed the door open. "We're going" was all Liam had to say for Jacob to get the message.

"Liam, what is it this time?" I asked impatiently.

"No questions, we need to leave," Liam said in a harsh tone. Then we went back downstairs and to the front door. Liam opened it, but our way out was blocked, by him.

His dark gaze settled on us. "And where would we all be going on such short notice?" the man purred.

Up close the man was even more handsome than from a distance. Liam pulled me back and the man came through the doorway unharmed. Liam and Jacob swore aloud and caused the intruder to laugh. "Oh you thought I was a vampire did you?" he asked.

"Anna get upstairs now!" Jacob shouted at me. I took off when I was suddenly stopped by some invisible force that kept me from moving.

Liam and Jacob started to rush to my aid but the man, with the wave of his hand, knocked them away from me where they both slammed into the wall and crumpled to the ground unconscious. The man then turned to me swiveling on his heels.

"Now love, you're going to come with me without fighting, or else you can kiss your guys over there goodbye," he hissed.

"I can't go anywhere.... So you have me anyway," I said trying not to be afraid.

"Good girl," he purred. His grey eyes flashed a steel grey and they were the last thing I saw before my world dissolved into shadows.

I awoke only hearing the sound of my heartbeat.

"You're awake," a soft and gentle voice greeted me, and I looked around and found the man sitting near me in a black leather chair. A fireplace blazed to the left of me. I sat up and found that I was laying on a plush black couch with a black silk cover over me.

"W..who- are you and what do you want?" I managed to ask.

"I'm Erek Belecove, many call me, The Dark One, Dark Master, or Erebus," he answered. I looked him over as he approached me.

"So why do you want me?" I asked. His fingers caressed my cheek lightly and I shivered from their cool touch, nonetheless, I didn't flinch away, I held still for him, looking into his gradient grey eyes.

"I've been looking for you for so long," he said in a whisper. Great, guess all the hunting for me wasn't over yet.

"Ok look, I don't know if you've heard, but I'm done being hunted like some wild animal. I have nothing for you, so I should go," I said pulling away from him.

"Maybe you do," he said softly, his eyes glowing grey in the firelight. I felt his thumb press into the delicate skin of my wrist where I felt a searing pain and it grew stronger until I felt like passing out. Finally, Erebus pulled away and whispered in my ear.

"That's just a taste of things to come," Then he left me in tears. I collected myself later getting off the couch. My wrist burnt like crazy and little black specks invaded my vision. I tried rubbing my ring, only to find that nothing was happening.

"N...no no no, please work, please," I pleaded quietly rubbing the ring harder until I was sure the stone would break.

"The ring won't work here," Erebus said behind me. I spun to face him.

"Why?" I asked feeling a shiver crawl through me. He approached me again.

"I've enslaved you. You can't leave unless I let you go," he answered. Enslaved... he'd branded me as his slave and his dark mark was upon me. There was nothing I could do about it now. I watched as he let out a few wisps of darkness from his hands, and I felt them stroke my throat. "Rumor goes around that you have very unique blood coursing through you. So much vampire and magic," he said.

"There's nothing unique about me" I grated.

"Anna, you know you should never underestimate the allure of darkness because it can always find a way to take hold of you," Erebus said.

He stroked my cheek once before letting his hand fall back to his side. He turned on his heel and left me staring after him.