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

Chapter Twelve

I forced my eyes to open feeling aroused. My vision was blurry, and I blinked a few times to clear it.

The room was dark and silent. I sat up with a strange refreshed feeling that I'd never felt before and it scared me just the slightest. My eyes adjusted and I saw that I was in Erebus's bedroom, not mine.

"How was your sleep love?" Erebus's voice came next to me. I looked over and found Erebus propped up on his elbow gazing up at me.

"I slept fine, thank you," I answered in a voice that wasn't my own and my hand instantly went to my neck. He laughed softly and stroked my arm gently, making me shiver from his cool touch.

"What did you do to me?" I asked, frightened.

"I changed you. I'm surprised to see the transition worked," he answered, curious. I looked away from him, my hair falling to the side of my face, creating a curtain to separate him from me.

I felt his cool fingers pull the hair back and turn my chin toward him. My blue eyes met his grey ones and I tried to stay as calm as I could as he leaned in cautiously, before his lips met mine.

The kiss was quick and light, and he pulled back enough to look at me in the face, his eyes trailing over me, right before he kissed me again, longer this time. He took me down and came over me as his lips trailed over my jawline and down my throat. Someone knocked at the door interrupting "Our moment".

Erebus got up to get the door and opened the door, stepping out to talk to whoever shutting the door behind him.

I slipped out of the bed and crept over to the door listening and hearing nothing. I tentatively opened the door and peeked out, finding the hall deserted.

I went from the room to the only place I knew where Liam was. I got down to the dungeon without coming into contact with anyone and went to Liam's cell.

He was laying on his cot and he looked awful. His cheeks had sunken in and his hair had a few grey streaks in it and his face was very very pale. I went up to the bars trying to break them in any way to get Liam out, but it was impossible.

"Liam?" I called out softly, hoping that he'd answer.

"Yes, Anna?" he asked in a croaky voice. I sighed with relief.

"Are you ok?" I asked, worried for his life. He barked out a scratchy laugh.

"Do I look okay?" he said.

"He's gotten to you too, hasn't he," I said beginning to become frightened.

"Oh, so now you worry about me," he said chuckling.

"Liam, I've been worried about you for several days now, and I'm going to get us out of this, I promise you," I whispered resting my head against the cool metal of the bars of his cell.

"And just how are you going to do that?" a cruel familiar voice asked. I spun around to see Erebus, Jacob, and his two men approach me.

"Guess I won our little game," Erebus said triumphantly.

"Now I have no shelter but you," I whispered hoarsely. Liam let out a ragged screech and convulsed on the floor.

"He's transforming," Erebus said, smiling. When Liam looked at me, his eyes flared orange and his fangs grew. Erebus made him a demon.

I stared in horror, seeing Liam change into something evil. Erebus turned to me.

"Now who will stand by your side?" he asked cruelly. I cried aloud, screaming and wanting to tear myself apart. I felt arms take me and lead me from the room, leaving me to watch Liam stare after me in savage hunger.