Surface Below: Dark Secrets (The Surface Below Book 1) (7 page)

He slowed and pulled down a dirt road. Becca’s brow creased as she looked to the surroundings. She knew this area well and recognized it even better.

“This is the old Marks farm,” she said, eyeing the house.

He parked up close to the farm house. “Excuse me?”

He had never heard it referred to like that. The farm had been a family property, but he had never thought anyone knew about it.

“The old Marks farm.” A smile touched the corners of her lips. “Ha, I have a picture of this exact farm house hanging on my wall at home.”

“Wait…what?” William let that sink in. He didn’t understand why she would have such a thing.

“Yeah, my uncle gave it to me as a gift. I kinda have a thing for landscape pictures. But he told me that he used to know the family that lived here. He grew up with them, I guess.” The look on his face was off-putting to Becca. “What?”

“Never thought about it, I guess. That it was possible our families had crossed paths at some point. Further back that is,” he said, jumping out of the truck. “Well, come on in.”

He rounded the truck to the passenger side, thinking how it was all so coincident. Her last name, Lorde, and how she knew who the Marks family was. Or at least knew of them. But he pushed the thought back as they entered the house. It looked run down some on the outside, and on the inside construction was untouched by modern style.

When she walked in behind him the view of the entrance overwhelmed her. Like she had been there before. The stairs that led up to the second floor, she could almost see them opening up to a large hallway. Doors lining the walls. Five to be exact. Four bedrooms and one bathroom.

She followed him into the kitchen and was overcome by its familiarity too. Her fingers glided across the wooden counter.

“Did you grow up here?” Becca asked, looking out the windows lining the wall in front of her. It gave way to the beauty of the land. Trees lining the property on all sides. The old red barn sitting off to the side of the house. She was sure she had been there before.

“Sometimes. When not here, at my uncle’s.” Several memories flooded his mind of them splitting their time between the Surface and the Dimension. “My mom gave it to me a few years ago.”

“It’s funny, I feel like I’ve been here before,” she admitted.

“Like déjà vu?” asked William, grabbing two mugs from the cupboard.

Becca looked around again. There was something so familiar about this place. From the hard wood floors just under her feet to the sweet musty smell that lingered in the house.

“No, not like that. It’s just something I know. I can feel it, ya know?”

He switched on the coffee pot and turned to lean on the island.

“It’s probably the same feeling I get when I see you.” Her head shot up and she stared at him. “Maybe your uncle used to bring you here as a child? Never know.”

“No, he says the house was abandoned long before I was born. The family had to leave or something.” Becca came around the counter and leaned against it across from him. William thought about it for a minute. Something wasn’t adding up.

William had spent his childhood here and they were the same age. Why would her uncle lie to her? It only added to the weirdness surrounding his feelings for her.

“Hmm, maybe in another life then,” he said with a shrug. Their eyes met and she pushed forward, her hands lightly touching him on either side.

“Well it’s good we found each other then,” she whispered, looking up at him sweetly before grabbing his shirt and pulling him towards her.

Becca pushed herself up on her toes and kissed him. Her hands slid under his shirt and a warmth filled her core as she felt her way up his chest. Feeling every perfection and imperfection.

He tangled his hands in her hair and pulled her even closer. The feel of her body pressing against his excited him. William lifted her up to the counter and kissed from her neck to her ear. Stopping just at the pulse beneath her skin. He silently commanded the Beast to stay put, down deep in its imaginary cage. Becca let out a pleasurable moan as he tickled her collarbone. Her fingers traveled down to his jeans and began unbuttoning them. His hands covered hers and he shook his head.

“No, not down here.” He lifted her into his arms and took her to his bedroom.

She nibbled his ear, his neck and kissed him hard before he had a chance to lower her to the bed.  

Pulling his shirt off, he leaned down, kissed her belly, and listened to her moans. She arched into him as he neared her neck again, throwing her head back to expose her neck to him. If she only knew the danger she was playing with. He took her in deeply and his fangs threatened to betray him. The feel of them pushing down and out was strong. But he forced them back and silently growled at the relentless Beast. It recoiled some, easing up on the urge to take her.

She closed her eyes, lost in the moment as his tongue glided against her already hot skin, making its way down south.

A hard cold steel pressed against the back of William’s head and he froze.
Shit!

Becca let out a scream when she saw the man standing there.

“Stop,” Caleb warned calmly, pointing a second gun at her. She was quick to obey, yanking her shirt back down her exposed tummy.

William cursed himself for not having sensed him. His emotions had been too tied up in Becca. He let out an exasperated sigh and squeezed his eyes shut.

“Come on, William, stand up.”

William eyed Becca. “Everything is under control,” he promised, pushing up and putting his hands up.

Becca sat up slowly and looked up at the stranger.

“What are you doing here, Caleb?” William asked as his eyes locked with the man’s.

Her eyes widened when he said the man’s name.

“You.” Caleb pointed at Becca. “Get up.”

William put himself between them.

“Move, William.”

“You want me. I broke the law, not her,” William said.

“Ha, you broke laws a long time ago, William. The only reason I haven’t come for you is because I’m just as guilty as you,” Caleb retorted. William narrowed his eyes at him.

Becca looked at him quizzically, not understanding his words.
What law,
she thought to herself.

“You still want me,” he insisted.

“Are you not hearing me? I’m not here for that, William. Viktor wants to question her about the whereabouts of her father,” Caleb told him.

That grabbed her attention even more and slowly she got up from the bed. Feeling a bit more confident at the mention of her father.

“My father is dead,” she said, gripping to the back of William. His arms came up behind and shielded her from Caleb.

Caleb wavered for a moment, but raised the gun up at her again. It was inches from her and she dared to challenge it.

“You are not taking her to Viktor. Do you understand me, Caleb? Not a chance.” William stepped towards him and the muzzle of the other gun pressed into his chest.

“Your father is Tobias Lorde, correct?” Caleb didn’t even acknowledge William’s protest. Becca didn’t say anything.

“Let’s go, now!”

“No,” she replied.

He holstered his secondary gun and went for her, but William clipped him in the jaw.

“Go, Becca!” William demanded. Her feet took off towards the door and she made it to the top of the stairs before a force collided into her. The two nearly hit the ground. But Caleb recovered and restrained her around the waist.

“No, let go of me!” she screamed, kicking and scratching what skin she could get to.

William came at them. 

Caleb brought the gun up to her head and she stopped fighting him. And William froze.

“It’s nothing personal, William,” he started to say. But then chuckled and shrugged. “Actually I take that back – it’s a little personal.”

Caleb pulled her closer to him. He breathed her scent in deeply and a devilish grin formed on his lips. His brown eyes turned black. Caleb’s stare met with William’s and he clicked his tongue.

“I can see the appeal. She’s quite savory. Maybe I’ll have a little taste test of my own,” he said against Becca’s face, his hot breath prickling her skin. She jerked away. “Uh uh, where do you think you’re going?”

William balled his fist and dared to take a step. But Caleb raised the gun at him again. “No, no, no, you just stay right there, William. You’ll get her back…eventually.” William didn’t realize that he was biting at his lower lip to contain the anger that brewed inside him. But when he tasted his own blood it only made the Beast within him flare. “Ta ta for now, William.”

Caleb pulled her closer to him and the two disappeared.

Becca felt a slurred physical reaction when they seemed to vanish into darkness. A blanket of nothingness pulled at her, threatening to rip her to pieces. She held tightly to Caleb, despite her hatred. Out of nowhere they hit hard ground and she collapsed.

She coughed and held to her stomach, the feeling of being ripped apart still strong. Her eyes darted in every direction. Nothing looked the same. They weren’t in the farmhouse anymore.

“Where the hell are we?” She coughed hard, looking around her.

Caleb grabbed her by the arm and twisted up and to the wall, bringing them nose to nose. Again he inhaled deeply, finding her unbearably intoxicating. She stiffened as she felt him at her neck.

Stone walls and hard floors surrounded them. Nothing else on the walls to give her a clue. No windows to give way to the outside world.

“You are intoxicating,” he growled against her ear. “Must drive William’s Beast absolutely wild.”

“Beast?” Her eyes widened.

A searing pain cut into her shoulder, and her mind went foggy. She no longer had control over her body as the toxins coursed through it, and she fell limp into his arms.

He pulled her up and bit down hard, his fangs easily melting into her skin. The thick substance exploded into his mouth and he was overcome with euphoria. It was like no human he had tried before. Coating his mouth and throat it came to life inside of him, coursing into his body like an electric fire ball. Like it was somehow its own being with its own life. Caleb became so engulfed in her that he didn’t hear when the massive door behind them opened. And he didn’t notice that his father was standing there.

“Caleb!” It made him jump and release her. He stood rigid with her in his arms and gave his father a sideways glance. “If you’re quite done sampling, then take her to my bedroom.”

He cleared his throat and lifted her up and over his shoulder. “Yes, father.”

Pushing past his father, he turned and made his way down the corridor. He wasn’t so much embarrassed by his actions as he was upset he got caught. Drinking from humans was just another law in place that drove Caleb mad. There were many things that he didn’t see eye to eye on with his father.

Slowly Becca started to come out of her groggy haze. The corridor going by upside down. She noticed walls donning renaissance era paintings, open air windows covered with red velvet drapery. She couldn’t help but think she was in some kind of castle.

Caleb stopped and pushed the door open. He set her down on two feet and shoved her in. She stumbled some, still not quite herself.  There was a dull pulse in her head and a tingle resonating throughout her whole body.

It wasn’t until she heard the door close and the sound of a lock clicking into place that she snapped back to reality. She screamed and pulled the handle hard, but there was no one who helped her. No sound came back. And that door wasn’t budging.

She turned, and assessed the room.  As she realized that she was in a bedroom, her stomach dropped and the air suddenly left her lungs. Like she had been kicked hard in the stomach. Her heart pounded against her chest. A four post bed sat in the center of the room. Velvet covers draped across it. Books lined the far wall, filling every bit of space on the shelves that housed them.

A large, beautiful mahogany desk was placed just across from the bed. Just beyond the desk were several terrace doors. Only one set was open, a light breeze pushing the long red curtains into the room. She took a few steps and stopped, still feeling woozy, and held tightly to one of the posts of the bed.

Once the wooziness passed, she walked over to the open door, hoping that she could find some kind of escape. But as she stepped out onto the terrace her eyes widened and her hand cupped around her mouth. A small gasp escaped.

Skyscrapers filled the skyline. The hustle of the city night carried its sound up to her. She could hear cars whizzing past the castle just below her. Off to the left, ocean waves crashed against a short shoreline. In the sky, the most beautiful, fullest moon she had ever seen.

“Oh my god, how is this possible?” Her hand cupped over her mouth. “They were just dreams. This can’t be real.”

Becca walked back inside and into the closest corner she could seek solace in. Wrapping her arms around her legs, she brought them to her chest and closed her eyes.

“Please, William, I hope you’re coming for me,” she whispered.

“Shit,” he cursed, pulling his shirt back on. “Shit!”

William hurried down the stairs. “I’ll fucking kill him. I swear to god. I’ll kill him.”

William knew exactly where to go. To the person who had told her lies. Because if he was telling lies that meant he had answers. William got in his truck and threw it in reverse. The tires dug deeply into the grass as he took off down the driveway.

He had suspected that there was a connection between Becca and Tobias Lorde. Although he wasn’t sure if he was her father. But now, now he was sure. It meant Becca was in grave danger. Whatever her parents had done to her, she had no idea what she was. Or even who she was.

It occurred to him then what Benton had meant when he said that William’s mother knew. Caroline was keeping her own secrets. It was the only thing that could explain all the oddities.

He pushed his truck to the limits as he sped down the country roads. It whined and protested as it kicked up dirt and dust. Nothing made sense to him. His mother had lied to him and his brother about her true relationship with Tobias Lorde. For a moment it made him wonder if the stories she had told them about Merrick were true. Had he been set up? But he thought not.

“Fuck!” William brought his fist down on the steering wheel. “How could I be so stupid?

His truck shot into the cul de sac and came to a screeching, crooked halt on the asphalt. Jumping from the truck, his door left wide open, he raced up to the front door. William banged hard on it.

“Danny!! Open the door!!” he yelled. “Open the damn door now.”

When it opened it was to meet the muzzle of a shotgun. Danny had a disgruntled look on his face, searching for any threat or danger.

“What in the hell is the matter with you?” Danny asked.

“What in the hell are you?” William demanded, pushing the gun out of his face. This caught the man off guard and he lowered the weapon.

“Where’s Becca?” Danny asked, realizing she wasn’t there. “William? Where is my niece?”

“Stop with the façade.” William stopped and a feeling built up in his chest. He narrowed his eyes at him now. “A Conjurer?”

“Yes.” Danny nodded. “Where is she? What’s happened?”

“Viktor has her.”

“Viktor Burm has my niece?” Danny turned away and his free hand balled up into a fist. Then he turned on William and grabbed hold of his shirt. Pushing the boy into the door, he glared at him. “Why the hell would you let that happen? You know what that man is capable of?”

William pushed him off. “Do you? What the hell is going on?”

“Get in here.” Danny forced him inside. The man went through the house and into the kitchen.

William could hear him mumbling curses. His stare stayed intent on Danny but wavered slightly when he passed a wall of family photos. A picture of Becca, Z and Nikki caught his eye. Something about Z rattled his core.

“Shit.” Danny brought his fists down hard on the table. “I knew this day would come. I told them it was a bad idea. That we should have just told you all a long time ago.”

“Us who? And told us what exactly?” William demanded. “Is Tobias Lorde her father?”

“So many mistakes we all made.” Danny lowered into a chair, resting his forehead against the palm of his hand. “Tobias Lorde had not one but three daughters.”

William narrowed his eyes at him and he twitched slightly.

“Who?”

Danny sighed and his eyes came up to meet William’s. “Becca, Nikki and Miranda.”

“Wait a minute? That’s impossible. Craeden is Miranda’s.” William paused though. The look in Danny’s eye told nothing but the truth. “What did you guys do to us?”

“Look, William, I know there are a lot of things you don’t understand right now. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. But there are only two people that can get Becca out of the castle,” the man said calmly, putting the phone to his ear. “And that’s what is important right now.”

“And that is?”

“Merrick Marks and Tobias Lorde.” Danny revealed. “I’m calling your mother.”

William stared off. He never thought that the secrets his own mother was keeping ran this deep. He couldn’t figure out why it was so important that Becca and Nikki be separated from Miranda. Or why they didn’t know what they were, or why they didn’t even know that they were sisters. But then something odd hit him and he turned to look at the wall of pictures again. The ones he had passed on the way in. Facing the wall of pictures, he once again looked at the one of Nikki, Z and Becca. If the girls were triplets, where did that leave Z? 

He lifted it from its place on the wall and stared down at it. Studying Nikki and Becca closely, he could see it now. The similarities, the subtle physical likenesses. He then thought of Miranda, who although a blonde, had the same traits. Their big, inviting beautiful eyes. The way their hair framed their faces just right and in the same way. Their smiles; so bright, welcoming and happy.

When you stopped to look at them, it was impossible to deny.

Then he looked to Z and he saw something there too. He’d seen the eyes before, the crooked smile, the dark brown hair. In his brother Markus. Slowly the pieces started to fall into place in his mind. Putting together an impossible puzzle.

“Oh my god,” he whispered.

Danny walked slowly into the room and saw William staring at the picture. Nothing was going the way it should. All the secrets were spilling out in front of them and they weren’t the least bit prepared.

“William?” It was his fatherly tone; gentle and knowing.

“He’s my brother?” He looked over at him. Danny pursed his lips and said nothing. “Danny? Is Z my brother?”

“Yes, William. You are brothers. Three sisters and three brothers, destined to be together.”

His eyes widened at the last part and he looked back down at the picture again. If they were destined to be together, it could only mean one thing.

“Impossible.” He said out loud to himself. “Are you saying that…it can’t be…”

“It can and it is. You are all the last first born of the Royal Vampyr lineage. Deep inside all of you, bound years before you even had your first budding fangs is the Heir and Heiress.”

“What have you all done?” William whispered, still looking at the picture. “Danny? What have you and our parents done?”

Danny looked down at the floor and shook his head, now seeing the ramifications of their wrongly kept secrets. He had been against it from the start but was left with no choice but to agree. If it meant keeping this child safe, these children safe, he would do what he had to. But he wasn’t proud of it.

Placing the picture back in its place on the wall, William turned to the man. “What now?”

“Now we wait for your mother,” Danny told him.