CHAPTER 1
NIA
Nia ran across the yard, ignoring the chaos that began around her and stretched her mind to her house. Every room was empty, except one. They were in her brother's room. The brain activity in that room hit her like a wall and as she reached the front porch she fell to her knees. The scene took her over and she was left watching it unfold, unable to react or pull herself from the nightmare.
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A man Nia did not recognize stood over her mother. Nia fought to keep her attention on her mother but it was pulled back to the man as he spoke.
“Where is she?” He asked through clenched teeth. “He promised me she would be here!”
“What makes you think I would tell you anything?!” Her mother yelled back. Nia had never heard her mother yell until that moment.
He was much angrier now. Nia pulled at the walls of his mind. It was heavily guarded, but she continued to try. “This will not end well for you…” he started but stopped as he turned to the boy who woke up suddenly.
“What's going on, Mom? What-Who is he?” the boy asked as he sat up his dark hair ruffled with sleep.
“This does not concern you.” He put his hand up toward the boy and whispered something under his breath. Seconds later the boy slammed against the wall and fell to the floor unconscious.
“Leave him alone!” her mother yelled.
Nia cringed in pain at the sound her younger brother's bones made as he hit the wall, but at that moment the man's mental shield was distracted, he dropped his guard but for only a few seconds. It was long enough. Nia pushed through the mental wall and was flooded with the inner workings of this man. She saw in those few seconds’ mostly dark anger, but a few emotions lingered behind it, hatred, revenge, and desire. She fought to pull herself from his mind, she didn't want to see anymore, but pulling herself from him pulled her own mind out of room.
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She found herself back on the porch. She jumped up and ran to the door only to find it, and every first floor window, locked. She ran around the house to where her brother's window was. She searched for anyway to climb up the wall but there was nothing. She wanted to scream out in frustration. She slid down the wall into the grass, she placed her head in her hands completely helpless, but even then she had to see what was happening, she hated being left in the dark. She closed her eyes and focused on the room again.
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It came back to her quickly. Her mother was scared but stubborn, she stood tall and tense glaring the man in the eyes. Nia could feel her mother’s will power growing with the man’s anger. No matter what this man threatened, she would not budge. “You will not get my daughter.” She said defiantly. “I spent a lot of my time keeping you from her. I won’t just hand her over.”
“DO YOU SEE THIS??” He pointed out the window “This is my doing!” The night was cool and dark, but the streets were unusually full of people, people that were running from the monsters that once lurked only in the shadows but now they moved through the streets killing everything they touched.
“I am not afraid of you.” she said stubbornly standing her ground.
“Then you have made your choice.”
“Wait!” She glanced back at the boy, “will you let him live?”
“You have my word.”
Nia's mother said nothing back to him; she only walked over to the unconscious thirteen year old, leaving the man staring angrily at her back. She placed a gentle hand on the boy’s cheek, and then leaned down to kiss him lightly on the forehead.
“My dear boy,” she whispered, “I love you so very much, and I hope you forgive me someday. I pray you live long and become exactly what you were born to be.” Then she stood again, stepping away from him and closed her eyes.
Nia’s heart pounded. She reached for her mother’s mind. . She had an idea of what her mother’s plan was but she prayed it wasn't true. It worked, she tapped into her mother's mind, but she didn't like what she found. Her mother was surrendering to this man. Nia tried to figure out a way to stop her mother, but suddenly the connection pulled her in deeper. Nia had never been this connected to anyone. She didn't know what to do when suddenly she felt everything her mother felt. Nia couldn’t move or fight her way from this connection. This made it that much worse when the man struck her, knocking both her mother and Nia to their knees. He pulled her mother back up by the arm and lay her head back exposing her bare neck. Nia felt the man’s sharp teeth pierce through her mother’s skin. She began to scream she knew this was it and there was nothing Nia could do as she lay paralyzed on the ground outside her house. All she could do was scream so she did, for her mother, for her city, for her life. He was going to kill her mother and she was forced to let him. It was the first time Nia had ever been truly afraid, she screamed louder as she felt her mother’s life drain away and for a moment Nia thought he might be killing her too, until her mother’s final ounce of life was taken and the pain was gone.
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Nia gasped as she snapped back into her own mind, she sat physically unharmed in the cold grass and looked around at her once peaceful neighborhood. She fought back tears as the night came crashing down on her. Only moments ago there were hundreds of people running and screaming from the monsters that chased them through the streets, but now the streets were deserted and everyone around her was dead. Bodies were thrown around the streets, every one of them completely drained of blood. Almost every house was destroyed most on fire others torn apart.
Why would she do that, Nia thought. How could she just give herself up? She pulled herself up from the ground and looked up at her own home. It was the only one on the block that stood just as it would on any other night. She threw her mind into the house one last time, maybe by chance her brother was still alive in there, she never saw the man kill him but still she found nothing and held back more tears that fought their way to the surface. She walked toward the trees behind her house she knew that she still had to get out of there, but she was so stunned she found it hard to move. She couldn't believe what just happened. Her mother and her brother, gone in a matter of minutes. She walked with such a daze that she didn't feel him behind her.
“Nia.” He said.
She knew she shouldn’t but she turned when he called her name, but didn’t even have time to react before she felt one of his huge hands press into her back, the other holding her head and exposing her neck. He lowered his lips to her neck, just lightly touching her skin as if he was savoring the moment. His hands were cold against her fiery hot skin. He began to press his mouth harder onto her neck. She felt his porcelain fangs lingering over the thick vein that ran down her throat.
Everything her mother gave her life up for was slipping through her fingers. His fangs pressed into her skin. This wasn’t how he had killed her mother. He killed her out of anger or spite, but this seemed almost sensual. He slowly slid his teeth into her skin. She wanted to fight him. She wanted to kill the man that killed her mother and her brother, the man who was killing her, but she let him sink his sharp, porcelain teeth into her skin. Mostly because she knew she was completely powerless against him.
She felt her blood being forced through her veins like liquid fire. Everything in her told her to fight this pain and run. Half her family was dead and her father was too preoccupied with his precious work to even realize what was going on around him. He probably wouldn’t notice they were gone. Nia wanted to fight for her what her mother gave up and what her brother never had a chance to fight for. More then anything she wanted to, but if you struggle, it hurts.
He tightened his grip on her and she cried out as he forced his teeth in farther. She stopped fighting the tears and let them pour down her face until finally out of both fear and lack of blood she began to lose consciousness. Then her heart beat slowed. As she drifted into the darkness she counted each beat as they became slower, then even slower until they weren’t there at all.
CHAPTER 2
Braxley
The cities of Brighton are perfect. There are a total of twenty-five cities across the nation and every one of them are exactly the same. Each city was identical, in a creepy Step-ford Wives kind of way. The world around the citizens that lived in them was white. Plain and cold yet no one seemed to notice. Every house, store, or building of any kind was all made of the same white brick. The only color other than white was the almost “too green”, perfectly trimmed plants, trees, and lawns. There was nothing wrong in these cities, no crime, no fear, and no problem.
There is only one city that stands out from the rest and even then it is only the size. The rest of the city is exactly the same as the others. However, that city belonged the warden. It was home to Barlow Brighton who was founder and creator of the cities. The story was that He created the cities over 30 years ago for emergency purposes, though he hoped he would never have to use them. Ten years later he was forced to open every one of them, filling them to a sad capacity leaving only a few thousand humans left after the devastation of the uprising.
The world outside the cities was dead now. There was nothing beyond the limits of the city except dense woods and the burnt and destroyed remains of what were once houses and cities. There were rumors that some people lived outside the cities but it was hard to believe. Life outside was said to be hard and scary. Vampires no longer hid from the humans and only the cities could protect them. Inside the city there was nothing to be afraid of.
Barlow was a very good leader and his people loved him, and for that reason no one argued his rules. Everyone lived in the cities without question as to what was to happen next, everyone except Braxley. Braxley was the commander of the army for the cities and was well known throughout all of them for many things. For his strength and speed that seemed close to in-human and for his love of the people in the city but mostly, he was known as Braxley Brighton, the only son of Barlow Brighton and the next in line for warden of the “Perfect Brighton Cities.” Of course the problem with this was that Braxley hated his father’s cities. It was not a well known, infact no one knew, for Braxley knew that if word ever got back to his father that he did not want to take over the cities it would not be good. As for now he focused on figuring out the secret of the cities and one day he hoped to lead humanity out of these cities and into nature where humans were meant to be. The perfection of his father’s cities scared him. Braxley remembered very little of the world outside, but he knew that these cities were wrong in a way he couldn’t explain. Everything was clean and healthy. Almost as if it were a factory. Braxley knew that nothing was perfect and something had to be very wrong with the cities for them to be this way.
Braxley glanced up at the clock while waiting for the weekly city meeting to end. The leaders in charge of each city join together on screens around a table at the meeting room in the warden’s city. Braxley hated these meetings and usually by the middle of them he was ready to stab his own eyes out. It wasn’t until Alexander, the leader of Brighton 6, spoke that he was actually interested in what was being said for the first time since he started joining his father in these meetings two years ago on his sixteenth birthday.
“Sir, I know your cities can not be penetrated by the vampires, but I fear they may have figured out a way.” Alexander’s voice was cautious, even approaching nervous.
Barlow immediately denied the possibility saying again how much science and work was put into the creation and safety of the cities and how ridiculous even the thought of the mindless monsters getting through it was. Braxley however was not so quick to dismiss it.
“Why?” Braxley stood, drawing all the room’s attention to him. “What makes you think they got in?” Braxley had never said a word in a meeting before. He worked hard to blend in until finally they were over. The room’s whispers and murmurs came to a dead halt. All eyes and ears were on Braxley. Suddenly he realized he had to do something, and make sure it was good.
“They keep coming back, commander.” Alexander began his story of why he thought the vampires have broken through the shield of the cities. By the end of it, Braxley had to see it as possibility. “At least five people have gone missing, maybe more.” he finished.
“Absurd!” Barlow yelled.
Braxley turned to his father in complete disbelief. “Dad, you have to at least entertain the idea that it could happen.”
“No! My cities cannot be broken! Nothing like this could happen in my cities!” Barlow was angry and stubborn. There was no point in arguing but Braxley couldn’t let this go. He turned back to Alexander.
“Alexander.” He began, “Keep your eyes out, and I’ll do the same around here. Contact me if anyone else goes missing.”
Barlow shoved Braxley against the wall. Although Braxley was much bigger than his father the blow was sudden and unexpected and it knocked Braxley off his feet.
“You DO NOT take lead of my people. I am not dead yet, son. You will take no precautions against this impossible story!”
Braxley shook his father off of him and straightened himself up.
“What if they did?” he growled out.” What if you are sentencing us all to death by not letting us prepare?”
Barlow’s face was stern and empty of emotion. “That will not happen.” his voice was cold.
“You cannot possibly know that.” Braxley turned and walked away from his father toward the door. He turned back as he reached his hand to the door knob. Every eye in the room was on him. “Whatever happens now, is on you.” then he turned again and walked out the door, shutting it firmly behind
Chapter 3
Nia
Nia gasped awake from the nightmare that was her past. Five years had gone by but that memory was as clear to her as it had been the night it happened. She hated the reoccurring nightmare of her past. She turned on her back reaching for the only comfort she had, even if it was not much. He wasn’t there, of course, because he never seemed to be the few times she’d ever wanted him near her. She sighed at the thought that the man who took everything from her was a comfort to her. Nia rolled out of her bed and brushed the knots from her tangled hair.
It took her only a matter of moments to locate Darian. She pushed her mind through the hallways of the over the top, medieval castle they lived in. It was like something out of a fairy tale. But not the prince’s castle, more like the villain’s. It was dark and cold. The house itself is huge. Walking in you would think an entire kingdom lived here, and maybe at one point, it did. However, now it was only home to four people. Darian and Nia lived in one half of the house. While Branch and Sophie, who were friends of Darian’s, lived in the other half. Nia rarely saw the other two and was glad of that. Neither of them seemed very fond of her. She left Darians room and walked down the hall to her own. Nia quickly changed and went to find Darian. She found him in one of the sitting rooms nearest to the kitchen. He was with Branch, they were fighting like they always did. Nia didn’t know why they were even friends[ACSL1] .
“It has been five years, Branch.” His voice was triumphant and taunting. “I win.”
Nia hadn’t a clue why the guys fought all the time. She just knew that it always seemed end up as the same argument no matter how it started. She wasn’t about to try and get in the middle of it. Instead she stood outside the room hoping it was almost over, when she realized it wasn't ten minutes later she pushed her mind into the room and within seconds she had a clear picture of the men.
“You are the devil. You don’t need to do this.” Branch spat, his face hard as always.
Darian stood. He was a much taller than Branch who was almost six feet tall. Both men were strong; you could see it in the way they’re built, broad shoulders and thick arms. Still, they were polar opposites. Darian had bright blond hair and brown eyes while Branch had dark brown hair and light blue eyes. Almost everything about the way they acted was different too other then the bitterness and anger between them.
“You would be wise,” Darian said “to remember who you are speaking to.”
“I know exactly who I am speaking to.” Branch said back, clearly asking for trouble.
“I am,” Darian walked closer to Branch like a predator to prey, “the reason you are alive.”
“No, Darian.” He said, “You are the reason I am dead.”
Nia had lived with them for twenty years and still didn’t understand anything about them. She turned to walk back to the room and enjoy a rare “Darian free” moment, until she heard Branch say her name.
“If it wasn’t for Nia, you would have nothing.” he said defiantly.
“I will always have everything, and you will always be the one with nothing.” Darian’s voice was calm, and untouchable, which seemed to make Branch angrier.
“You evil son of a -!” He was cut off the Sophie who bounced into the room seemingly clueless to the fight that was escalating around in the room, her short blonde curls moving around her perfect face.
“Branchie,” she whined in her annoyingly high, child like voice. “Branchie[ACSL2] come help me.” She looked up at him with her lower lip folded down in a pout and began pulling on his arm.
Nia watched Branch’s face go from fury to calm in a matter of seconds; the work it took to get there hidden by is emotional wall. The fights between them usually ended like this and nothing ever got resolved, if that was even possible. Nia decided she should come out of hiding before someone caught her lurking.
“Darian,” she said mustering up her best innocent voice as she walked in to join the three of them, “There you are.”
“Ah, Nia.” He said, turning his attention from the others, but not before shooting Branch one last triumphant glance. “You do look lovely today.”
Sophie had taken to whining and Branch looked more annoyed than angry now as she pulled on his arm. Darian smiled then looked to Nia.
“Nia dear, let us leave these two.”
He took Nia by the hand and they started out of the room. Branch turned his attention to Darian as they crossed the room. His eyes narrowed with anger once again, staring down Darian’s every step.
“You are my greatest tool.” he whispered. His hand just a little too tight on her arm.
Nia didn’t know what he meant, she ignored it hoping it was nothing to worry about. He pulled her close and hugged her before he took her from the room while Branch stared angrily at them. Once out of the room he shoved her back down the hall that she came and into her room.
“I’ll get you later, don’t leave until then.”
Chapter 4
Braxley
Braxley paced around his office for hours until a knock on the door distracted him momentarily from his anger.
“Come in.” He called. The door slowly creaked open. “Marcus.” Braxley said turning to his visitor. “What can I do for you?”
“Commander,” he began, “I fear saying this, however, I know more then anything that I need to come to you with this.” Marcus looked nervous but he continued, “I believe your reaction to Alexander’s problem was a correct one. Your father might mean well, I am almost sure he does, but he believes his cities to be invincible.”
Braxley couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Marcus was father’s best and most trusted friend. Marcus had been friends with Barlow long before the cities were built and has been the right hand man to Barlow for the last five years. But here he stood in front of Braxley, against Barlow and his cities, which brought up many questions for Braxley.
“What do you mean by coming to me?” Braxley asked.
“I only wish to give you more information and if with that information you see fit to take action, I hope you do.” He said. Braxley nodded and Marcus continued. “Your father thinks his cities are fool proof but I do not, in fact, I know they are not.. Alexander tells his stories and Barlow pushes them aside. He does not know that those things are happening in this city too, in all the cities. The leaders know he will not listen so they tell me, and I do what I can but it is never enough.” Braxley was shocked. He had no idea that any of this was going on. He wanted to ask questions but Marcus continued before he could.
“We cant know for sure. I have known something was off for a long time. I keep a watch on things and everything is going as planned, the occasional deaths took our people from us but never like this.”
“Why hasn’t anyone told me? I could have done something a long time ago. I mean the entire reason for my army is to--”
“The reason for your army is a pointless masquerade in order to give the people a false sense of stability and power.” Marcus interrupted, “I am sorry but your father never intended to use it, and never will. He is certain of the cities safety and refuses to accept anything that would change that. If that means five or six people go missing a year, he still will not acknowledge it. I am afraid there is much more to his denial then I could know.”
“Marcus, you were my father’s friend before the uprising, you knew my mother and my sister, and you have been a part of his family long before I was born. You have supported my father in everything. So how can you come to me against him and his wishes?”
Marcus looked at Braxley. “Your father and I are brothers in a way that I may never be able to share with you. I tell you these things for a selfish reason really for I need something in return. . But before I ask what I need to ask I feel there are some things that you must know.”
“Okay?” Braxley asked immediately curious.
“You say that I am your father’s friend and because of that I knew your mother. In truth it is the opposite. I am your father’s friend because I Knew your mother.”
“Really? But what does that have to do with this?”
“I not only knew your mother,” Marcus took a deep breath. “but Katherine was my sister.”
“So. You’re my uncle?” Braxley was afraid to believe it, though it would make almost too much sense. Braxley had always noticed small things that would hint at their relation. He usually brushed off the similarities in their looks and actions, until now.
“Commander.” Marcus started.
“Marcus, the formalities are no longer needed, or wanted. If we are family than let us act as such.” Braxley interrupted. “If this is true then I am happy to know that I have more family than just my father.”
“Well,” Marcus smiled, “Braxley it is then. There are many reasons you were not told. Your father thought it best to keep it from you. However, I never understood why and I always wanted to let you know who I was. Now, due to my recent findings I feel it has become necessary to tell you at least this much. Now, I want more than anything for you to believe me when I tell you this. I know this is going to be hard for you to understand and believe, but I need you to hear me out. Your mother and I were very close; we traveled all over the world tracking down the rumors of an uprising. Together we worked for years before the uprising actually happened, trying to prevent it. We traced the rumors here to Chicago.” Marcus moved to the couch facing Braxley. His voice as he spoke was distant as he relived his past.
Braxley was thirteen the night they were both killed and no matter how hard he tried he couldn't remember anything about that night or even anything before it. His father never spoke a world about them, so much so that before today he did not even know their names. Now, Braxley had an uncle who seemed willing to share exactly what Braxley had dreamed of knowing. Braxley listened intently, hanging on Marcus’s every word.
“Your mother was an amazing woman, Braxley. “And your sister. Oh if only you could have met them. It was my job that night to protect your sister and get her to the city. Believe Braxley I tried, but your sister was strong and she knew something was wrong. I got caught up with one of the vampires and a young girl. I couldn't just leave the child there to die, when I turned my back Nabelle ran. I didn’t even know she was gone at first, but everyday I regret leaving her.” Marcus sighed, “I cannot change what happened then, but I can help what happens now. These cities were not meant to last forever. I am not even sure what their purposes are anymore. We have to do something. Which brings me to the task I ask of you, Commander Braxley.”
“Yes?”
“Will you help me, and are you willing to do whatever it takes to make things right?”
The question wasn’t a hard one, but it took Braxley by surprise. He hated these cities and would do anything to find a way to get the people out of them. He looked Marcus in the eyes. This man believed the same things he did, this man was his uncle and Braxley believed in him.
“Yes.” He said with confidence. “I will help you in every way I can.” The second he spoke the words Marcus was out of the room. Braxley stood and stared at the door for a long time until he finally left the office and made his way to his own bed room. Everything about that night was strange and he was exhausted. He pulled off his shirt and fell into his bed, half asleep before he hit the pillow.
Chapter 5
NIA
(Five Years Ago)
Nia woke aching and sore but she couldn’t remember why. She heard a soft rustle in the bed beside her and looked down at the scariest man she had ever seen. Even in his sleep the sight of him frightened her to her very core. The night before slowly crept back to her. This man next to her murdered her family. The realization hit her hard, She couldn’t remember anything. Nia slid from the bed, and glanced around at the large dark room searching for a way out. She looked down and realized that she was no longer wearing her own clothes but instead she was wearing a silk night gown that was much nicer than anything she would have owned. She made her way towards the door praying it was her way out, but as she walked closer to she began to feel a sting around her waist. The closer to the door she got the stronger the pain. She looked down and saw nothing there. She needed to get out, no matter what, she took a few more steps and when the pain continued she turned, She turned at the sound of his voice.
“It will tie you to me.” the deep voice frightened her, but she refused to show it.” You will only be able to go as far from me as I let you.” His voice was cold and unfeeling. She kept her eyes on him, even though she felt herself shaking, she refused to let it show. She had to get away from him.
“You killed my mother,” she said even though the pain seared through her, taking her breath away., “and my brother…” She thought for a moment then realized what was so wrong with what was happening here. “You killed me.” The pain made Nia want do whatever it took to make it stop, but she could not give in. He took everything from her. So instead, she fought the pain and stood her ground, ignoring the feel of fire around her waist.
“Yes,” he said casually rising from the bed.
Nia, determined to distract herself from the burn, examined the man in front of her. He was wearing only boxers that hung low on his hips. Had she felt anything for this man but hate she may have been embarrassed at the display. He was a very handsome man, Nia could not deny that. He walked to her and as he walked closer the pain faded, until it was almost gone, but not quite. There was just enough pain to make her feel dizzy.
“I can make it stop.” He said only a foot away from her.
Still, Nia refused to give this man what he wanted. She took a step away from him. He laughed to himself and closed the distance between them in one step. He slipped his hands around her waist the burn around her stopped abruptly.
“Why did you do this to me?” Nia asked. Proud her voice did not betray her pain or fear. “What do you want with me?”
“You’re part of my plan..” He began casually. Darian walked away from her and she braced herself for the pain to return. It didn’t and he continued his speech. “You see, I really wanted someone to have around when I needed. If you like you can think of yourself as a trophy wife, in a way . Now you want to know why, am I correct? Well, you just worked out so well for my purposes and Since it wasn’t what you would call a mutual agreement, I needed a way to make sure you could not get away..” He stopped and turned back to face her “Step one step back.” He said.
“No.” She said stubbornly.
“Do it!” he yelled.
“No!” she yelled back. He glared at her and without movement from either of them pain shot through her again. Nia doubled over in pain.
“You see?” he asked with mild amusement. “I can change the distance you are allowed to go however I want, whenever I want. As much as your adorable defiance amuses me, you cannot win.” Darian walked into a closet without saying another word and came out moments later wearing a pair of fitted jeans and tight green shirt. He lounged in a recliner across the room from Nia.
He began again; “before I died I was only part human. I was what some would call a wizard. The woman that changed me into a vampire didn’t actually mean to do it. It is very dangerous and rare for a wizard to become a vampire. Dangerous for others, I mean.” he stopped and smiled slightly. Then continued his story. Nia watched as he spoke, so casual and free, like nothing was wrong with what was going on in that room. When In reality there could not have been more wrong with what this man was saying.
“Lucky for me, unlike those before me, I kept all of my wizard abilities and conveniently gained the ageless strength and eternal life of the vampire. So that, my dear Nia is how I have the power to create such a neat device, the answer to a question I know you wanted to ask.”
Nia’s mind raced, “How long?” Her voice sounded weak now and she cursed herself for it. “How long will I have to stay here, with you?”
The smile that spread across Darian’s face said it all. She would never leave this man. He got up from his chair and walked over to her.
“You are mine.” he said sweetly, “We will be together forever, because the chain that binds us together can only be broken by death, either mine or yours.” Darian’s hand was placed softly against hers cheek. “And now you wonder why I would share that detail because it gives you a way out. I share it simply because, in the instance of my death, the chain will be broken, yes, however, the instant the chain is broken, you die. I added this, of course, to prevent my untimely death.. However, until that happens you will do as I say. I will show you to your room and you will stay there unless I come get you. When we are around anyone you will act as if you love me and I will pretend that I love you. You will do what I say, when I say it. And you will not tell anyone.”
Nia couldn’t image forever with this man, but she saw in his face that he was not lying. She would have to find a way to live.
Chapter 6
Braxley
Two weeks had gone by since that night. He had only seen Marcus once since then and even that was only in passing. Braxley spent his time trying to find more information on his mother or his sister. He finally had their names but still he usually came up with nothing. He had to talk to Marcus again, but Marcus seemed to be avoiding him. Braxley wondered if he would see Marcus again anytime soon. But as of now, his days consisted mostly of fighting with his father attempting to figure out what Marcus wanted him to do. Today he was in another one of his arguments with his father. He couldn’t honestly say what it was about this time. He yawned and walked to the window.
“Dad, I just think you should--.”
“No, we do not have a problem.” His father’s yelling turned to noise as Braxley looked down in the courtyard below the window and saw her standing there. He walked away from his father without saying a word. His mind raced as he raced down the stairs and wound through the halls, he felt his pulse speed up to an unnatural rate. The second he saw her standing there everything else seemed to disappear. .
“Caitlynn,” He said as he stopped several feet from her. She turned to him. Her hair, so blond it was almost white was longer now, her bright blue, glass like eyes shone back as him. She was beautiful in every way.
“Brax!” Her face lit up and she threw her arms around him. “I have missed you so much!” her voice made his heart stop. The feel of her arms around him made him forget every trouble he had, he smiled and returned her hug.
“You can’t imagine how I missed you.” She said releasing his neck but keeping her arm laced through his.
“I think I can.” he said, “I missed you too.”.” as they walked arm in arm towards their favorite restaurant on the other side of town.
When Caitlynn left two years ago Braxley had a now irrational fear that everything would change between them. Walking with her now it was as if nothing had changed. For a split second he forgot about the night with Marcus and the trouble of his father’s cities They walked through the doors of their favorite diner and sat at the same table they did for years before she left.
Two years ago Caitlynn’s family took her out of the city. Caitlynn and Braxley had fought it every second but in the end the two of them were pulled apart indefinitely. At one point he was afraid he would never see her again. Now, he sat with her, here again in such a familiar place and everything seemed right again for the first time since she left.
“I thought of you every day.” She said. “I worried at times that I would come back find you with someone else. I was afraid I’d lost you.”
The sudden admittance took Braxley off guard. “You what?” he asked Caitlynn had never been one to just say what she was thinking.
She looked down at the table. “Two years is a long time, Brax. I wasn’t sure when I was going to come home or what I was going to come home to.” He could only stare for a moment, he had no idea what to say at first. He had loved her since he was fourteen and she was the one telling him she was afraid that he wouldn’t wait for her.
“Caitlynn.” He said. “I have never felt anything for any one like I feel about you. And I never will. I would have waited forever for you. I will never love another woman , like I love you.”
“I love you, Braxley,” she said as she took his hands from across the table “I love you so much. I am sorry I had to leave.”
“You're back now and that is all that matters.” he said pulling her to him and kissing her lightly on the lips. “From here on out nothing else matters.”
For weeks the two of them spent every possible minute together. It wasn’t long until they were almost back to the way they had been before. However, as much as he tried to ignore it, Braxley noticed small differences in Caitlynn. The way she spoke and moved was stiff and tense around him at times. Sometimes he would simply sit back and watch her talk. Her voice would waiver at points and she wouldn't always sound sure of what she was saying. Braxley did not think she had ever lied to him before. He wanted to ask but hopped it was all in his head. People change over time but that does not mean that something is wrong. All he really knew was that he loved her and after two years apart he did not want to lose her again. And today he intended to let her know exactly that. He reached in his pocket to retrieve a small black box and moved closer to her. Caitlynn and Braxley stood under the night sky on the edge of the city. The night was warm and beautiful, and the stars danced around the tops of the trees. Braxley took her hand and dropped to one knee.
“Braxley.” She breathed out as she looked down at him, surprise and joy shone through her.
“Caitlynn, I love you.” He said, “I have been in love with you since the day I met you. I know I could never love another woman the way I feel about you and I never want to. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?” His voice wavered slightly as he asked the question he had practiced over and over. Caitlynn’s face lit up. The look in her glass like eyes said yes and Braxley’s heart skipped a beat. He knew that he would soon have everything.
Then, Caitlynn closed her eyes and the night turned cold. When she opened them it was as if she was a completely different person. Her eyes were dull and her face was hard. She looked him straight in the eyes.
“No, Braxley. I can't.”
Every bit of hope Braxley had, lost in an instant. He shut the ring box and slipped it silently back into his pocket, then stood and took a step away from her.
“Brax, I am so sorry, I-I just--” Braxley just shook his head as she tried to explain herself. He turned away from her. He couldn't hear her excuses or her reasons. He blocked her voice out as he walked away completely heartbroken.
Braxley did not want to see or talk to anybody. He had dropped everything for her. He walked in the other direction from the city, away from his house and into shadows of the woods that surround the city. He walked for hours through the darkness. Until he couldn’t see a way out of the trees, “This is new.” He said out loud. Trying to hide his fear. Braxley continued walking trying to find an out but only found himself lost deeper into the trees, and soon he knew that he had to have crossed the line of the city. He hadn't been outside the city since the night his father brought him here. He wanted to not be afraid but as he heard a noise behind him he couldn’t hide it. he kept walking trying hard to ignore it, but the noise kept getting closer and all he could think were the stories he was told of the horrors of the world outside the city. he had been always been strong and fast, but at that moment, heartbroken and alone, he did not see himself able to fight for his life and survive. He turned, The first thing he saw was the glowing eyes of a beast, a monster growling angrily at him in the shadows. He backed away from it slowly praying to just get away, to just make it home. He was angry and upset but not ready to die.. The beast moved out of the shadows and revealed itself as a large black wolf. Fear shot through Braxley, a vampire would have made more sense. He had no Idea what to do in this situation, he was fast but not faster than a wolf, but he ran even though he knew he couldn’t beat the wolf that was now hard on his heals but he had to at least try. The wolf caught him and pulled him to the ground, then the animal sank its teeth into his leg and Braxley screamed in pain as he felt his leg tear open around the wolf’s teeth sending a searing pain through his entire body.
CHAPTERS 1-6
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