The Choices That are Made (Book Three of Hidden Secret Trilogy)

Chapter Three

I gulped and backed up as Marcus came in through the doorway.

"Anna, Anna, Anna... what such trouble you're in right now," Marcus chasted. He took a stake out of his jacket and twirled it in between his fingers. "How'd I'd love to see Jacob's face when he sees this rammed through your heart," Marcus said dazily.

"W...why? Jacob is or was your friend...why would you want to hurt him through me?" I asked, trying to make him stop.

"I was born to kill the killers. Jacob was a friend of my past, he means nothing to me anymore," he answered. I backed into a wall and Marcus approached me with the stake.

"Marcus...please don't do this...for Jacobs sake," I pleaded.

"I don't care about Jacob anymore, I just care about killing you right now," he purred. I narrowed my eyes and let my fangs retract.

"Jacob thought of you as a friend, not as an enemy!" I growled.

"Not anymore," Marcus said softly, looking me over. I bared my fangs and shoved Marcus away before he shoved me back up against the wall and pointed the stake at my heart. "Wanna try that again?" he hissed. I stiffened, nostrils flaring angrily. A slow smile curved his lips as he took the stake away just a bit. "Oh dear, looks like someone needs a chill pill," he said wanting to make me angrier. I clenched my jaw as Marcus stepped away turning his back to me.

"When did you say Jacob was coming back?" he asked swiveling back to me, cocking his head to the side.

"I...I don't know," I mumbled.

"Oh don't you?" he said almost in surprise. "Well then.." he continued, starting toward me again when a loud familiar voice called out.

"Marcus leave her alone!"

Me and Marcus looked to the front door and saw Jacob standing in the entryway.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't my old friend, Jacob," Marcus drawled.

"Why did you come back?" Jacob asked in a hard tone.

"Oh, I had some hunting business to take care of," Marcus answered, leaving me to go to Jacob. As Marcus got closer to Jacob, Liam stepped in and stood next to Jacob causing Marcus to stop and take a small step back.

"Liam what a surprise," Marcus said amused and tried to keep the fear out of his voice.

"Same to you Marcus," Liam said flatly.

"I was just asking your girl here, when you'd both be coming back," Marcus said. With Marcus's attention toward Liam and Jacob, I went to their sides when Marcus pulled me back causing Liam and Jacob to come forward growling.

"Oh, no you don't, you're coming with me," Marcus hissed, holding me tightly against him.

"Marcus let go of her!" Jacob roared.

"Oh, I think not, I'm going to take your little girl and torture her till she begs for me to kill her," Marcus said tightly, while I struggled under his hold.

"Marcus you're outnumbered three to one, all you have to protect yourself is a few stakes," Liam growled, his eyes glowing red.

"So, stakes can kill you or hurt you depending on where they make their mark. I do believe I have one in my coat with Anna's name on it," Marcus taunted. Jacob made a move for me, but Liam grasped his jacket and pulled him back.

"What's it going to be boys? Me...or her?" Marcus said running a finger down my cheek. "You're time is running out..." he went on making Liam and Jacob more uneasy about the situation. After a moment of silence, Liam spoke up.

"Take her. I don't need someone that I have to depend on my life on for," he said and let go of Jacob. Horror and disbelief hit me in my gut hard enough to where I collapsed just the slightest. Jacob was in just as much shock as I was and stared after Liam as he went back out the door.

Jacob turned back to us.

"Marcus, please just give her back to me. She's been through a lot in these two years of her new vampire life and I think she needs a break," Jacob said, holding out his hand for Marcus to hand me over.

"Huh, Jacob I really thought you, Liam and Anna would be more interesting to play with. Guess I was wrong," he said, almost disappointed.

At that moment Marcus whipped out a stake from his jacket and plunged it through my stomach. I went into shock, every cell in my body screaming in pain.

I uttered a pained gasp as Marcus let me crumple to the floor. I watched as he walked off and Jacob dove to my side, panic filled him. My eyes closed and my vision went black.

My surroundings were quiet from sounds as well as myself. Slowly everything around me was coming into focus. I heard someone talking, but their voice was muffled and far away.

I groaned in pain as I forced myself to open my eyes and when I could see, my surroundings seemed off. I realized I was staring at the ceiling of my room at Liam and Jacob's home.

My eyes rolled over to Jacob who looked almost scared. His eyes brimmed in red as well as being bloodshot. His hair was a frizzy mess and no expression could mask the fear on his face.

"Jacob?" I asked. The sound of my own voice in my ears seemed far away and distant. Jacob looked at me and sobbed with relief. I hurried out of the bed to him, tripping over my own two feet and collapsed into his arms. He held me against him and sobbed against my hair.

"Shh shh Jacob, it's ok," I said softly, nestling myself closer into the safety of his arms.

"You...n..never should've..opened that d...door," Jacob said shaking.

"I know, I know, it was a bad move," I said against his chest. My thoughts went to Liam. "Oh my god...Liam. We have to go get him. We have to bring him back or he's going to hurt more people!" I exclaimed, scrambling to get out of Jacob's arms, but he held me tight against him.

"Anna...Anna! Liams gone. We can't bring him back," Jacob said sternly. I raised my eyes to Jacob's.

"We have to try," I said quietly, but Jacob answered with a shake of his head.

"Anna, Liam has no sympathy in his heart to care for you anymore. I hate to say it, but it's true. You saw him when he walked out of here," Jacob said.

"I don't care if Liam is acting like this! I'm going after him and set things straight with him!" I growled, stomping toward the door, only to have Jacob pull me back.

"Anna.. you're not going after Liam for two reasons. One, Liam will kill you if you try and go after him and two, Marcus is after you. This isn't The Darkling situation anymore," Jacob growled in my face. I yanked my arm from his grip.

"You can't stop me," I hissed and then I turned and flitted off to go knock some sense into Liam's head.