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

Chapter Eight

He took me into the hall and led me into a different room, which I was guessing was his. He shut the door and locked it behind him before turning to me.

"Sit," he commanded and I obeyed, afraid to get myself into more trouble than I was in. He walked over to me and sat beside me.

A playful smirk touched his lips before he leaned in a kissed me. His hands wrapped in my hair and my arms wrapped around his neck. His lips trailed down my neck and stopped at my collarbone.

I could hear my heartbeat pounding in my ears. He pulled back and I saw something in his face, want. His mouth claimed mine as he took me back where I felt the back of my legs hit the bed before I toppled onto it with Erebus on top of me.

His hand slid down my side and grasped my leg where he pulled it up against his side.

His kisses burned my lips in a weird, unpleasant way that made me want more of him. I felt his lips travel back down my neck again and they went lower this time. I grasped his hair with my free hand and pulled his head up.

His eyes weren't their grey color anymore, they were a fiery orange. A scream escaped me before I could stop it. Erebus's hand was on my mouth the minute it left me.

Tears ran down my cheeks as I fought to get him off of me. Memories of what Sebastian had tried to do in the past came flooding back like a tidal wave. Erebus was here to finish the job.

"Yes, my brother told me all about this. How he was going to savor your warm blood as he drained you. But he couldn't because your lover killed him!" Erebus growled, his orange eyes flaring angrily. I whimpered against his hand, shaking terribly. "You may not be seeing your boyfriend much longer, because he'll be done by the time I'm done with him," he hissed nearing my face.

A sudden impact of someone threw Erebus off of me. I rolled away and off the bed, looking up to see who'd saved me. Liam stood circling Erebus.

"You think it's funny to just manipulate my girl like that?" Liam roared in outrage and grasped Erebus by his collar with both hands.

"Yes, she seemed perfectly fine with what I was doing," Erebus said glancing at me. I glared at Erebus from a distance when I convulsed and doubled over in pain. Liam let go of Erebus and slid to my side.

"Anna? Anna are you ok? What is it?" Liam asked his voice full of worry and concern. The burning of darkness in me hurt. I winced in pain as Liam scooped me up in his arms. "You did this you monster," Liam snarled before taking us back home.

Liam got us back as soon as he could. He brought me inside and set me down on the couch searching my face.

"You so pale, you're not looking great," he said seriously. I moaned in pain feeling the darkness in me strike again.

"T...the necklace," I murmured dropping my gaze to it. Instantly Liam's eyes went to the necklace as well.

"Anna, this necklace, we can't-" he stopped. My eyes pleaded for him to do something. "Jacob!" Liam called. Within a few seconds, Jacob entered. He saw me and his face went stone cold. He stalked over to us clenching and unclenching his hands. "Can you help us with this?" Liam asked gesturing to the necklace. Jacob stared and horror flickered over his features.

"She only has a matter of time before-," he stopped and began throwing things across the room and yelling in rage.

Liam left me and took Jacob from the room to calm him down. I felt sick to my stomach getting hot and cold chills all over and falling in and out of conscience.

"I swear the next time I see that bastard it'll be his last!" Jacob howled in rage.

"Jacob she'll be fine, we'll figure something out," Liam said calmly.

"How can you be so calm about this! She is falling into Erebus's hands, why aren't you concerned about this?" Jacob said from the other room.

"Well, where were you the entire time I was fighting him off to save her life?" Liam shot back. There was silence for a moment before Jacob answered him.

"That shouldn't have to concern you," Jacob growled.

"What if it does? Anna has been through too much and I figure it's about time that we start protecting her," Liam said stiffly.

"Well, it's too late to save her now Liam, you saw what condition she is in!" Jacob yelled. I had somehow managed to get off the couch oddly feeling a lot better. I called upon the darkness inside of me and let it out.

It clawed the walls and seeped across the floors. Having this much power was intoxicating! I could hear Liam and Jacob curse from the other room as they ran into the living room. Jacob was the first one to reach me.

"Anna, what are you doing?" he asked as he started toward me.

"I'll show you," I said smiling evilly. With the turn of my hand and the flick of my wrist, the shadows fell upon Jacob. He was stronger than I thought so I joined when I was side tackled by Liam roughly slammed me against the wall. A sly smirk played across my lips.

"This isn't the time for games! You are going to suffer under my hands for what you've done to Anna!" he yelled in my face. I laughed.

"Oh Liam, this is the real me, and I want you to join me," I said.

"Never," he growled.

"Fine. I'll just let Erebus have you. Ohh that'll be lots of fun! I said giggling madly.

"Shut up!" he roared. Jacob had managed to get the shadows away and approached us. He pushed Liam aside and looked me in the eye.

"Anna, wherever you are in there, fight this unholy demon!" he pleaded. The real me was fighting to get the evil me out of my head. I finally gave a mighty push before I destroyed it and I collapsed in Jacob's arms.