A/N: This is a story that I wrote a while ago and I thought I would post since people are liking my Enemy Desire's story. This one takes place more in Briar Creek than that one, but still no Mare. sorry. Yes, the character of the girl has the same name as the one in enemy desires. I need to change that. I decided to post this one because it's done, and I can update it more if people like it.
Disclaimer: nothing belongs to me, it all belongs to LJ smith :)
There was something fishy about my new neighbors. For one, they were awfully young to be living alone, two, they were just too perfect looking, and three, they acted weird. Weirder than the norm. There was three of them, all girls, all beautiful. Their names were Rowan, Kestrel, and Jade. I heard them talking about their so called brother, Ash, one day. From what I heard, they were runaways or whatever and they were worried about their brother finding out where they were. Odd. Why would they care about their brother finding them?
Me being the nosey person I am, and one for an adventure, I followed them one night through the woods when they went for a "nightly walk". I usually wasn't one to go out in the woods at night but this was for a good cause. These sisters could be serial killers or something!
It was almost pitch black out here. The only light was the light coming from the sisters' flashlight. I wasn't scared. Well, I was, but only when I heard something rustle behind me in the dark. I hoped they wouldn't look back and see me. I thought I was being pretty quiet though.
Well, until someone came up from behind me and grabbed me. I screamed, but a hand covered up my mouth before I could get even get a sound out, so it was muffled.
I struggled against the hold around my arms. Whoever it was, they were strong! We both ended up on the ground, wrestling each other.
"Ash! What are you doing?" came a high pitched girly voice that I knew as Jades. The wrestling stopped and all of a sudden, no one was on top of me. I breathed hard and stood up. I weighed my chances of escaping, but they could probably get me because they had a flashlight and I had my inability to see in the dark.
"I'm looking for you three and apparently, so was this girl right here," the person named Ash said.
"What were you following us for?" Jade asked, turning the flashlight on me.
"Um," was all I could say.
"Hey, you're our neighbor!" this was Rowan.
"I am," I said.
"Why were you following my sisters?" Ash said.
"Why were you following your sisters and why are they so afraid of you?" I challenged.
"I don't think that's any of your business."
"I'll make it my business."
"I don't think you will. You don't look like you have the guts," he said to me before addressing his sisters. "Now for you three, how much does this human know?"
"I don't know," Rowan said. "We didn't even know she was following us." They were saying this like I wasn't even there.
"Um, I'm right here you know." They ignored me.
"You know the rules if she knows anything," Ash said.
"Know anything about what?" I asked irritably.
"What we are," Jade said sweetly.
"What do you mean 'what we are'?" I asked.
"Never mind that. You need to go away and we need to talk," Ash said, interrupting whatever Jade was going to say next.
"I'm not going away. I refuse."
"Too bad."
"That's what you think."
"Oh really? And who do you thinks the stronger person here?" he said tauntingly.
"Certainly not you," I taunted back.
"We'll just see about that," he said and then very dramatically practically making a show of it, pinned me against a tree with my wrists above me head. A funny feeling was going through my wrists and down my arms and I blamed it on the fact that his hand was pinching a nerve in my wrist. I guess he was pretty strong. I tried to ignore it and concentrate on the face in front of me.
I couldn't really make out much of his face because it was dark and I wasn't a superhuman who had night version. I could tell his face was reallllly close to mine though. I glared at him and ignored the urge I had to spit in his face.
"Now who's stronger?" he teased.
"Let me go," I growled.
"And why should I? I have no reason to let you go. It's not like you can get away on your own."
"Oh yeah?" I said and since my leg was free, kneed him right in the balls. He made a really painful sounding noise and released my wrists and dropped to his knees, holding his gentlemen's area.
"Thought I couldn't get away on my own?" I said, taunting him while he was vulnerable.
"I think you should go now, Ashlie," Jade said, coming over to me.
"I can't see to get back," I said, giving up on finding out anything because I would try again later.
"Here," she handed me the flashlight. "Take this, we don't need it."
"Yes you do."
"No we don't. Trust me. Just go." I glared at her but turned around and made my way out of the woods. Even thought it was dark, the flashlight beam was enough for me to find my way back because I knew these woods like the back of my hand.
So I was back home now, in the house, in my room, laying in my bed thinking about the nights events. The sisters were runaways, and they were scared of their brother who was now here to get them back but they obviously didn't want to go back. But why? And what's this big secret they all seem to have? Looked like some major detective work was in order, but for now, I was going to sleep because it was late and I was tired. It could wait until the morning.
The next morning was dull. The normal happened. I ate breakfast, got dressed and sat around planning some scheme. Well, really I thought about what I was going to do about finding this big secret. But first, I needed to walk around town and get supplies.
I was walking around town, minding my own business when I heard a familiar voice. Ash's voice. The brother. I didn't know what he looked like so I couldn't tell who he was even if I looked around. Plus there was too many people standing around talking. But I didn't have to look for him because he found me. Somehow.
"I hope you're not sneaking around spying on my sisters again," he hissed into my ear when he walked up to me.
"Hm, nope, that's my night job." He rolled his eyes and jerked me into an abandoned ally. I knew this ally and knew the history. Creepy guys brought girls here in the middle of the night and raped them. Everyone who had brains stayed away from it and now here I was in it with a guy.
"What do you think you're doing?" I asked. I finally got a good look at his face and body for that matter. All I can say is daaaaaaaaaaamn.
His hair was longish and was ash blonde in color. Ironic since his name was Ash. He was tall, lanky (with some amazing long legs) and elegant. Gorgeous body. He had clean cut features. He was wearing a rocker t-shirt and a pair of nice fitting jeans. His shoes? They were a pair of black chucks. I bet if I could see his butt, it would be a nice butt.
I noticed his eyes. His eyes were dark, not quite black, but dark. And he had a strange look on his face, it almost like he was….tempted. Tempted about what?
"What do you think I'm doing?" he said.
"Being creepy? Because if that's what you're doing, you're doing a pretty good job of it." He came closer to me and put both hands on either side of my head, keeping me stuck against him and the wall. His face was blank now. God this guy was moody! And sexy.
"I can do a pretty good job of a lot of things. I'm a man of many talents."
"Doubt it. I bet you're IQ's not even big enough to warm a couch seat." Ash smirked at me.
"What's your name anyway?"
"Like I'm really going to tell you my name."
"You are going to tell me," he said as he grabbed my wrists and again for the second time in a day, pinned my wrists above my head. The same feeling that I felt yesterday went through my wrists and down my arms but it wasn't because of a pinched nerve or anything because his hold on me wasn't that tight. Ash winced but his face quickly went blank again.
"Do you remember what happened the last time you did that?"
"Like I could forget. What is your name?"
"My name is Ashlie but most people tend to call me Ash. I have a funny feeling that's going to change now."
"You have a little attitude don't you?" he smirked.
"I can have. You never did tell me what you were doing. I answered your question now you have to answer mine."
"I'd like to tell you but I think you're going to find out," he said sweetly, which was a change because he was sounded cocky before.
"I don't think I am." And as if he could read my mind, he moved out of the way just as I went to bring my knee up. The grip on my wrists never faltered. Ash smiled at me and it was the most dazling smile I've ever seen in my life. It made him even more sexy. "We could keep doing this all day and we're never going to get anywhere so how about you tell me you and your sister's little secret?"
He laughed. "Like I'm going to tell you!"
"Why not? Oh, is it one of them cases of 'I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you' things? Because that's pretty grade school."
"Funny how accurate you are," he said, coming closer to me. "But I'm not going to tell you, you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because I'd much rather enjoy playing with you." What. The. Hell. Now that was seriously creepy. Why did all the hot guys with a hot attitude have to be creepy? Not like I wanted him or anything, but he was hot.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Oh you'll see," he said, his face literally only inches from my face, our noses almost touching. There was something about this guy, something you couldn't really see, but you could sense it, I was sensing it. I was sensing he was dangerous but that was a load of crock.
One of his hands released my wrists and I could see it hovering by my face out of the corner of my eye. I eyed it carefully. "What? Are you scared?"
"No, more like cautious because you're really creepy."
"Creepy? I must disagree with you," he said calmly. Then his eyes changed color and he seemed to change his mind about whatever he was about to do because he let go of my wrists and my arms fell down to my sides. I slid slowly away from him. The expression on his face was puzzled and almost….shocked. I took the time to split and run back home.
I really wish I had got to figure the secret out, but I still had all day.
I came home and found a good male friend of mine talking it up to one of the secret sisters, Jade. The pretty blonde. They were awfully close and touchy feely with each other I noticed. So I walked over.
"Hey, Todd! I didn't know you and Jade talked to each other."
"Hey, Ashlie! Guess what? Me and Jade are going out now!" he said as he looked lovingly at Jade who looked at him the same way, only with a little bit more love. Out of all the sisters (excluding the brother) I think Jade was the weirdest. "Hey, Ash, can I talk to you for a minute, I have to tell you something."
"Um, sure." I took his arm and pulled him over somewhere away from Jade. "What is it?"
"So, Jade told me something but I'm not supposed to tell anyone but I can't keep a secret from you because you're my best friend," he said in a hushed voice.
"Ok what is it?" I said, getting excited. This was probably the big secret!
"I know this is going to sound insane but I'm serious this is what she told me and I know it's true because she proved it."
"Todd, just tell me what it is. It can't be that crazy."
"It is believe me, but ok," his voice dropped down to a really low whisper so that I had to lean in closer to hear him. "Jade and her sisters? They're vampires! No lie! She proved it to me! Showed me her fangs and everything. It's true, Ash! There's this thing called Night World and that's what they all belong to."
"Nu uh, you're yanking my chain." There was no way they were vampires. Vampires weren't real. But it would explain how they could see in the dark, and how crazy pretty they were….and how weird they acted…Holy crap…maybe they were vampires!
"Like I said, I wasn't supposed to say anything but it's true!"
"Well, it does explain a lot of things…."
"So you believe me?"
"Yes." Todd grinned at me.
"Ok, but don't say anything to Jade."
"I.. won't. But I have to go do something, I'll talk to you later."
"Ok, see ya!"
"Be careful," I said as I walked inside the house. Wow. Vampires were real. Who would of thought a mythical creature would be real! Well well well. At least I knew their big secret now. I grinned triumphantly to myself. I walked up the stairs to my bedroom.
As I walked into my bedroom, I jumped and screamed. Kestrel was in my room. One of the vampires. She quickly, inhumanly quickly might I add, came over and clamped her hand over my mouth.
"You know."
"Know what?!" I asked when she took her hand off my mouth.
"What we are."
"How do you know that?!"
"I'm a vampire, I also have vampire hearing. I heard Todd tell you."
"How?!" Kestrel sighed.
"We've already broken so many rules, might as well break more. It's not like it matters anyway."
"What are you talking about?!"
"In our world, night world, it's illegal to fall in love with a human, and Jade's fallen in love with Todd. He's her soul mate and vise versa."
"Wait, what? Soul mates? You're kidding right?"
"No but anyway, if you break that law, you die. Both human and vampire. It's also illegal to tell a human the secret. Which Jade has done by telling Todd and then Todd told you. So if anyone from night world authority finds out, we're all dead."
"That's the stupidest thing I've heard in my life. And this is all crazy! It can't be real!"
"Want me to prove it?" she said savagely.
"No," I said quickly.
"I can read your mind, I know you believe it's true."
"So? How's your little night world authority going to find out we know clear out here? We live in the middle of nowhere."
"Our brother. Ash. He's here to take us back home and we're not going. He's practically night world authority and he can and will tell someone without a second glance. He's just that self centered. And if he don't tell someone, he'll take care of it himself. Anything to protect the family honor and keep law with night world. He's that self centered."
"And how's he going to find out?"
"He has his ways. I'm just saying, watch your back. When push comes to shove, it's every man, or human for that matter, for themselves if they know."
"I can take care of myself." Kestrel looked me over for a minute.
"I don't doubt that. I'll see you around. Be careful out there," she said before gracefully walking out the door. I began to wonder what I was going to do now that I didn't have to spy on the secret sisters.
So what did I do? I kept spying on them. Why? Because the lack of life I had. Nothing really interesting happened, except well, Ash kept popping up at their house. Eventually my curiosity got the best of me and I went on over to the secret sisters house convientley while Ash was over there.
I didn't even bother knocking when I went in because I knew Todd was over there because I saw him go in not to long ago. Ash's back was to me when I walked in and my earlier speculations about him having a nice butt was confirmed. No, nice isn't the word for it. He had a sexy butt. I cleared my throat to hold off a laugh the was bubbling up. He turned around.
"Do you always show up uninvited?"
"Yep. It's a past time of mine. Do you always try to get people to do what you want?" I countered.
"I don't have to try. People offer to do things for me."
"Couldn't imagine why." Ash gave me a look.
"Oh please, don't act like you'd be any different."
"How do you know?"
"Because I do know."
"You wouldn't know smart if you had it."
"Can't argue with that logic."
"Ha. I win." I looked at his eyes and they were golden hazel, not dark like they were the first time I saw him. He turned back to his sisters.
"Why does she know?"
"Know what? I don't know what you're talking about?" Kestrel said calmly.
"You know what I'm talking about. All three of you do. Why does she know?"
"Todd here told her," Jade said, sitting in Todd's lap.
"Because you're soul mates, yeah I get that, but why did he tell her?" he asked again, jerking his head back towards me.
"Because she's my best friend and we have no secrets," Todd said.
"That's the dumbest thing I've heard all day. You all know what can and will happen."
"It'll only happen if they find out or if you do something about it yourself, which, now I doubt you will take care of it yourself." Kestrel said, smiling at Ash.
"And why do you say that? You know me and you know I will."
"No you won't," Kestrel said matter of factly.
"Why?"
"Because that would mean killing your soul mate," she said softly.
"Like I care about her," he said and I could almost hear him rolling his eyes. "Besides the soul mate principals a load of horse crap anyway. That's just in peoples' head. Besides there's still the matter of you three coming home."
"We already told you, Ash, we're not coming home!" Kestrel said.
"Quinn's going to be here in a week to make sure I took care of it and that means you three going home. If you don't go, we're all in trouble and that means your little human toys too!" He turned around and stormed out the door. Me being stupid and nosey and quite possibly an instigator, I turned and followed him.
"You really need to get over yourself, you know that right?" I said when I saw him leaning against a tree in the yard.
"And you really need to keep your nose in your own business."
"That's just the problem, I can't. Not when there's interesting business to be poking around in. And can anyone resist poking around in vampire business?"
"They can if they don't know," he growled. I rolled my eyes, not intimidated at all.
"Is it my fault that I know?"
"Yes."
"No it's not. It's Todd's," I smirked. Ash looked over at me and rolled his eyes. His eyes were the color of ambers now. From what I could tell, he had them eyes that changed colors. Hmm. Cool.
"You humans don't know what you got yourself into."
"You know, you're a strange one, Ash. You're so stuck up all you can think about is yourself and what's good for you and you don't care about anyone else because you only care about you."
"It's a tough life, you have to care about yourself."
"You care about yourself too much," I said calmly but my anger was rising because even though I barely knew this guy I could tell he was one of them guys that were stuck on themselves. "You don't even care that your sisters don't want to go home! I'm sure they had a good reason for leaving and you don't care when you should."
Ash never said anything and starred at me. I kept going.
"You have to be the center of everything don't you? No don't answer that, I already know you do. Why can't you just think of someone else for once? And you hate humans for what reason? What have they ever done to you? I bet they ain't done nothing. You're such a ladies man that you use that to your advantage when you want to seduce and play with human girls, doing god knows what to them. You have a problem and you need help."
"Someone's got nerve saying that to someone who can kill them in a heartbeat."
"But you wont, like your sister said. You don't have the nerve to."
"Do you have any idea what I'm capable of?"
"You're a vampire, you're capable of a lot of things. But that don't scare me."
"You really are crazy."
"How can anyone be scared of a ladies man like you?"
"Anyone who knows me." I rolled my eyes. Oh please. I started to walk off. "Wait."
"What?" I kept walking.
"You got guts."
"I know." I walked inside my house and laughed. I just told off a vampire and lived. Go me!
