shadows - lashton

Chapter 23

*Ashton's P.O.V*

I felt Luke grab my hand and start to lead me somewhere, but by that point I had zoned out completely. Everything was just so - overwhelming. I couldn't believe any of it was real, everyone knows that vampires don't exist, yet they actually do? It made no sense.

So I was dragged, emotionless and numb, to wherever the vampires were taking me.

It was dark, and walking in the dark was something I had always been rather afraid of, but for some reason I felt safe. My mind was telling me that the vampires were more dangerous than anything the darkness could bring, however my heart was screaming at me that Luke would protect me at all costs. He had until now, hadn't he?

"Ashton, we're here," said Luke, snapping me away from my thoughts, "just hold on really tightly to my arm and don't let go okay?"

I nodded and did what he said, walking towards a brightly lit building with a bouncer on the door. A night club? Why were they bringing me here?

"Wrists," the man on the door said grumpily, and Calum and Luke both showed them the underside of their arms. I just managed to see a black cross inked on the skin on their wrists, and I froze as he turned to me.

"I-I don't-"

But Calum hushed me, before smirking at Luke, and turning back to the bouncer on the door. "You're gonna let us in."

"Not unless he can prove he's a vampire," the man stated plainly, motioning his head towards me, so I buried it into the back of Luke's shoulder while still gripping his arm as tightly as possible.

"I said, you're gonna let us in."

The man crossed his arms, growling. "No."

Calum smiled, looking back at us briefly as his eyes turned a dark red. "I won't tell you again, you're gonna let us in."

This time he nodded, pushing us forwards. "In you go, have a fun night."

Hypnosis. That's what Calum had done, he'd hypnotised the poor guy into letting us in. If anything it scared me more, if you had to prove that you were a vampire to get into the place, then what horrors would lie inside?

Well, certainly not what did.

I unburied my head from Luke's shoulder to look around, and I found myself staring at the inside of the place. All of the tables and chairs were overturned or in pieces, there was glasses smashed everywhere and all of their the contents had spilled onto the floor.

The place was empty besides the three of us, and a few motionless bodies that lay amongst the mess.

"What happened here?" Luke asked, walking over and crouching down next to one of the girls.

Calum copied Luke and did the same, "they're all dead. Looks like there was some kind of fight in here. I think we've already missed the council."

"Can you guys please explain to me what the hell is going on?" I suddenly blurted out, unable to contain my curiosity for any longer. "Why is Luke special, who are the council, and why are there dead people in here?"

"Not dead people, dead vampires," Calum corrected. "That means they were murdered."

"Still doesn't explain why."

Luke added on, "nobody knows. All we do know is that I'm supposedly the 'chosen one' and I'm supposed to stop the council from destroying us."

I was confused. "And by 'us' you mean-"

"Everyone. Human or vampire. If you walk this earth, they want you dead." Calum interrupted, and for the first time I swear I saw a glint of fear in his eyes. All I could do was nod sadly in response.

Suddenly there was a loud crash from behind the bar, and Luke immediately pushed me behind him and Calum.

"We need to get out of here. Now," he hissed, shooing me silently towards the door. The three of us backed away carefully, and in the direction of the exit, before running back outside into the cold night air and barring the door closed.

I jumped back as someone - or something - pounded repeatedly on the other side, the horrible echoing sound filling my ears. Before I knew it, things were circling around, brushing up against me and chuckling loudly.

Vampires. Lots and lots of vampires.

Then I heard the one thing I certainly did not want to hear.

"He's human."

Suddenly I was being pulled in every direction, and I screamed for Luke as loud as my lungs would let me.

Everything was black, so very black.

"Ashton!" I heard Luke yell, I tried turning frantically but there was no one there. It was just a voice. I felt like I was going insane. "Keep screaming!"

I had no idea why but I had no objection to what he had said, so I kept screaming until my throat felt raw. Just as I started to feel nauseous, everything cleared around me and I stumbled to the floor. Luke was there immediately, trying to steady my breathing and calm me down, whispering soothing things like 'you're okay, you're safe now' in my ear.

"H-how did s-screaming make them g-go away?" I asked as soon as I felt able to talk, and Calum smiled - genuinely smiled - at Luke.

"Must have been the food," Luke shrugged, "it gave you garlic breath. Vampires aren't a massive fan of garlic."

"But, you had the same foo-"

"Yeah, but I never finished it. I just made you think I did."

I sighed. "I'm starting not to like these powers of yours."

But Luke ignored me, turning back to Calum. "So what do we do now? The only people that could help us are most likely scattered across the city right now, and we can't face them just the three of us. A good vampire, a bad vampire and a human."

He looked puzzled. I hated this, I was placing my life in the hands of two undead vampires who don't seem to have a clue what they're doing. Great, good choice Ashton.

Maybe we should just all go home.

"No," said Calum suddenly, and only then did I remember that he could read my thoughts. "It's not that simple Ashton. You know about us, and they know you're human. There's only one way this could end. And that's badly."

I just wanted to go home. See Michael. Carry on with the way things were before. I thought I had it bad, but maybe not as bad as I have it now.

"Although," continued Calum, "seeing this friend Michael of yours might be an intelligent move."

"So we can go and see him?"

He nodded. "I want to meet this Michael."

~~~~~~~

A/n: merry very late Christmas! (I'm sorry if you don't celebrate it)

What'd you all get?

I got a guitar :) I have no idea how to play it though so at the moment I'm just making really loud screechy sounds and annoying my family yay

I hope this was okay, byeeee xx