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

Chapter Seven

I went to bed in tears wishing that I could go back to forgive Liam and Jacob about everything I thought they'd screwed up.

I looked at the shadow necklace and gripped it hard. With a mighty tug, I tore it loose, but I found that the necklace chain hadn't broken.

The chain must've been made out of iron because there was no way I could've broken it. With an exasperated sigh, I let my hand fall back to my side. When I did decide to go asleep, I cried till I just wore myself out and fell asleep.

The next morning I awoke feeling tired and dead. I groaned and sat up. I squinted in the light of the window and when my eyes adjusted, I saw that it was raining outside.

"What a dreary day," I said to myself.

"Yes indeed," came Erebus's voice to my right. I ran a hand over my eyes.

"Can't you just leave me alone?" I begged.

"Then I'd be alone," he said, watching me.

"Pfft. Who cares if you're alone. You hurt everyone you love," I said.

"Most, but not all. You're the first to ever be tied to me," he said. I brought my eyes up to his.

"I don't believe it," I said.

"Well, you should. You know I wouldn't do anything to hurt you," he said with a smile. I rolled my eyes and sighed.

"Ok, what if I said that I wanted to go back to Liam and Jacob? I said.

"For what reason?" he asked.

"Because we're done! I don't want to be tied to you or your darkness. I just want to go home," I said my voice cracking and tears welling up in my eyes. He looked like he was about to say something, but kept his mouth shut. "What? No smart comment to shoot back at me?" I asked angrily. He shook his head.

"Never mind," he said before he left me alone once more.

I was growing tired of Erebus trying to make his puppet. I needed to go back to Liam. He was my home, my sanctuary. I then remembered Erebus's words he'd said a while ago.

'I will strip away all that you know, all that you love until you have no shelter but me.'

My eyes widened in fear as I thought and knew what this meant. He'd stripped away my powers and replaced them with his. He claimed me and he'd do anything to keep me. He was going after Liam and Jacob next.

Anger and fear pulsed through me. I began pacing trying to figure out how I was going to warn them about Erebus. My door opened and Erebus stepped in, his face darkened.

"So you've figured it out have you?" he asked purring, his grey eyes flashing.

"If you hurt them I swear-," I threatened, feeling my fangs grow.

"Ah, my little slave wants to save her lovers from my evil clutches. How sweet" he crooned circling me.

His hand stroked my arm, and then my hair. I could feel the temperature in the room begin to drop.

"You can't stop me, Anna. I'm stronger than you, more experienced. You'll be mine one way or another," he whispered in my ear.

"Not if I can help it," I growled spinning on him, ready to rip his throat out, but he was faster. He had me by the throat against the wall.

"Wanna keep talking?" he said roughly his nostrils flaring. I struggled beneath his hold.

"You won't get away with this" I snarled. He cocked his head to the side and gave a small smile.

"Oh, I already have," he said. I had enough, rearing back my head, I sank my deadly fangs into his wrist. He howled releasing me.

The taste of his blood was sickening. I went to run but he grabbed me from behind and threw me to the ground pinning down my arm. He lowered his head so his face was mere inches from mine.

"You are so going to pay for that!" he said tensely. My eyes flared red in hatred and anger. "Try to bite me again, one more time and those fangs of yours will be gone before you can say vampire," Erebus hissed. I kept my mouth shut after that. "I have so many plans for you, and I know I'm going to enjoy every minute of it," he said emphasizing each word.

"You're so sadistic!" I said through clenched teeth. He threw back his head and laughed.

"You're wasting my time and I'm getting impatient with you, so I'm going to tie you up and you're going to stay like the good little vampire that you are, understand?'' he said. I nodded blinking back a few tears.

He hauled me to my feet, then he took me over to the bed.

He brought out the chains and tied my hands to the bedposts. He then did the same to my feet before looking at his work. "That'll do," he said. He stood over me, smirking as I felt a sharp pain in my side before I went out cold.

I could hear Liam's panicked cries for help calling for me. I wanted him to know where I was, I wanted to feel his arms around me again, his lips against mine.

I called to him crying out, but there was like an invisible wall keeping us apart. The scene began to change, thick black trees surrounded me and fog hung around.

Liam looked just as frightened as I was about this. It became worse when Erebus appeared. He smiled and rushed toward Liam causing the vision to go black in shadows.

My eyes opened and I found myself wanting to scream and call Erebus every name under the sun.

Yet, I remained calm and focused on the task at hand. Focusing on my powers, I reached out so they would melt the chains. I waited, nothing. I swore and flopped back against the pillows. I began to tremble.

"I just want you back Liam," I whispered into nothingness feeling tears run down my cheeks.

The door opened again and this time Liam poked his head in. I brought my head up and sobbed happily. He quickly came over and untied me.

"I....I'm so sorry," I said as he held me in the safety of his arms.

"No, shh. It was all my fault that I got mad at you. I just wanted to keep him away from you," he said.

"What he did to me Liam, was...horrible," I said looking at him.

"You're ok now, I promise," he soothed.

"Well, well, well. Look who came to the rescue," Erebus sneered from the doorway. Liam pulled me behind him.

"Touch her again and I rip you apart!" Liam threatened, tense and ready.

"Anna already tried that and failed miserably. I just came back to collect something of mine," he said approaching us. Liam growled and bared his fangs.

He lunged at Erebus, who was prepared and swiftly knocked him aside. I screamed and fell to his side knowing he wasn't dead, but soon could be.

Erebus picked me up causing me to thrash, kick and claw, but he simply ignored me. He gruffly held me and took me out of the room.

I looked back at Liam lying motionless on the ground. I was beginning to wonder where Jacob was in the midst of all of this.

With a heavy heart, I tore my gaze away from Liam and let Erebus take me away from him once more.