Chapter 3

Red glowing eyes and pointy teeth. Screams echoing through the dense forest and evil vampires cackling into the night.

I woke up with a racing heart and in a cold sweat remembering everything. My hand went to the side of my neck and I felt a plaster over it. The sound of those fangs ripping through my flesh would forever be embedded in my memories.

My eyes slowly adjusted to the light and I squinted as I looked around the room. I was in a bedroom. The walls were black and the interior of the room was grey and white.

I sat up in the bed clutching my head. At least I wasn't locked in a cell in the dungeon again. A door from the side opened and Creed walked in with a towel wrapped around his waist and his hair wet. "Oh," I exclaimed and looked away. My voice sounded thick and terrible as if I'd been drinking the previous night.

"You're awake," Creed said and I heard his feet slap the floor as he walked over to me. He sat down on the bed in front of me. "How do you feel Elea?" He asked and I looked down at my hands.

Did he not realize he wasn't wearing any clothes.

Warmth radiated off him and he smelled fresh like soap and lemon, it was an intoxicating smell. He reached out to touch my head with the back of his hand and I stopped him. "I'm fine." I lied. I felt like hell. "I should probably go home." I  moved to stand but my neck stung and my head spun causing the room to look like it was tilting. I stumbled back and I felt two arms wrap around my shoulders.

Creed moved me to sit back on the bed and I didn't bother to fight him. I had no energy for it. "Why don't you stay awhile," he suggested and this time when I looked at him, he looked anxious. "Drink this," he offered me a glass of orange juice that was on the nightstand and two white pills.

I eyed the juice. "It's just juice and pain killers," he said. I took them from him and popped the pills in my mouth before draining the entire glass of juice. He took the glass from me and left it back on the nightstand before standing up and walking to one of his drawers. I looked away immediately afraid he was going to drop his towel.

"What was that thing that attacked me? Was it a vampire?" I asked trying to distract myself.

"Yes," he answered firmly and I heard some shuffling coming from him.

"Does that mean I'm going to become one now?" I was unnerved by the idea. Sure it seemed cool when it was just a fantasy but I didn't know if I would have the restraint to resist human blood and the thought of drinking blood made my stomach flip into my back. He walked into my line of vision and he was fully dressed in black track pants and a black shirt.

"No you fine just try not to die in the next twenty-four hours to avoid that or else I would have to kill you," he smiled darkly and a shiver stung my spine. "It's going to be okay."

"None of this is okay," I said looking at my hands and then I realized I was dressed differently. "You took off my clothes!" I shrieked gripping the material of the grey sweatshirt that didn't belong to me.

He cleared his throat. "Your clothes were messed with blood and dirt. I couldn't let you sleep in my bed like that." My mouth fell open as I gaped at him. "That is inappropriate."

"Come on I didn't look or touch anything," he cleared his throat awkwardly. "What do you think I am?"

"You are unbelievable. What is wrong with you and if this is your bed where did you sleep?" I asked.

"In my bed."

"You what!" I shrieked.

"You seem upset," he deduced, "and hungry as well," he stood. "You should probably eat something. I'll go see what I can find in the kitchen." I felt so violated and before I could go full-on beast mode on him I heard a knock on the door.

"Hey, you up?" Liam called.

Creed wasted no time in using this as his escape route. He walked over to the door and pulled it open. He pulled Liam into the room. "Woah good morning to you too."

"Liam is here," Creed said looking at me, "to keep you company for a few minutes while I go see about that breakfast." He left the room and Liam looked between me and the door. He seemed confused.

"How are you feeling Elea?" He inquired taking a few steps towards me.

"Physically drained and mentally ill," I summed it up for him.

"That's always the case after a vampire sucks your blood," he chuckled and I couldn't believe this was an actual conversation I was having. What had my life become?

"This is all just so..." I trailed unable to find the right words.

"Overwhelming," he completed the sentence for me and I nodded. "I was six years old when Dallas adopted me and introduced me to this world of demons and I'm still not used to how messed up this all is."

"Why am I here. What do I have to do with the world of myth and legend?" I asked.

Liam looked conflicted. "Nothing at all," he said softly and looked away from me.

"Then why did Creed bring me here. Why is he telling me all of this and keeping me here?"

"He still hasn't told you," Liam shook his head in disbelief and took a seat next to me. "He can be so thick-headed sometimes he knows he's running out of time." Liam rambled and I just wished he would tell me what he was talking about.

"Please Liam," I said placing my hand over his and he looked at me. "I'm scared. Please tell me why I'm here." For the first time since I was brought here, I admitted the truth that I was scared.

Liam sighed he looked at the door and then he looked at me running a hand through his hair. "He needs to fall in love with you so that the curse will be broken," he blurted the words out and my jaw fell open.

"He what?" I questioned in disbelief.

I heard a growl coming from the doorway and when I looked I saw Creed holding a plate. His eyes flashed from green to black and he broke the plate in half. "What the fuck Liam!" He barked. "You couldn't have waited for me to tell her!" He yelled.

"You were taking forever. The next full moon is in fifteen days brother." Liam stood.

Creed dropped the broken pieces to the floor and took a deadly step forward. "Just put a bullet in my skull and we can be done with this."

"No," Liam refused, "I will not kill you. There is still hope."

"There is no hope Liam. She doesn't trust me. How can I love her when she won't let me? I'm out of time brother. Rather kill me now than let me shift." Creed said and turned on his heel to leave the room.

"Creed," Liam called and then ran a hand through his hair. He turned to look at me and I had no words for what I just witnessed. "Look I know you think our methods of doing things are wrong. Dallas told me what you said to Creed before you left but please Elea he's the only one that feels like family to me." Liam got down on his knees in front of me. He took both my hands in his. "Please help my brother and I promise to be in your debt for as long as I live."

"Liam-" the words got stuck in my throat.

"Please," he begged. "If you don't help him and he shifts. Dallas is going to make us kill him." My blood ran cold and my body stilled.

The sadness pain and desperation in Liam's eyes were evident. He loved Creed and I knew what losing someone you loved did all too well. I lost my mother four years ago to cancer. Four years is not enough time to heal a wound like that. No amount of time will be enough to heal a wound like that.

So I couldn't even begin to imagine the kind of wound that would form from watching your brother get murdered by your family. That would be a wound to haunt you for the rest of your life. "I'll help you," the words came out as a whisper.

Liam stood. "Thank you," he said and his eyes looked glassy. He left the room quickly and I fell back against the headboard.

How was I even going to begin to make Creed fall in love with me?

I've only ever been in two relationships and none lasted over a year. I wouldn't know where to begin but I couldn't force him to love me that didn't make sense. He had to do it on his own.

But could someone that killed innocent creatures ever love anything and was becoming a monster his karma and if I left and his family killed him would I be a monster for not at least trying to help him.

What I had to ask myself was that could I leave and go on with my life knowing that I could have done something to save Creed and the answer was simple. I couldn't. I didn't know why but I couldn't live my life and forget this world with Creed existed. I would feel guilty if I left and didn't know what happened to Creed and I wasn't going to live with that guilt.

I got out of bed. I needed to find Creed and talk to him. As I stood I noticed a little girl was standing by the doorway watching me. Her hair was in two pigtails and she was dressed in full black just like how Liam and Creed were. "Hello," I said in surprise.

"I'm sorry I just wanted to see if you were okay. Dallas said you were attacked by a vampire." The little girl shuddered and hugged her arms around her body.

"That's so thoughtful of you." I smiled and walked over to her. She was adorable. "What's your name Sweetheart?"

"May," she said. "My brothers said I could meet you once you woke up."

I didn't know Dallas had any children in the house. This house had a dungeon with creatures in it. It surely wasn't a home for a child."How many siblings do you have?" I voiced my curiosity and she held up six fingers.

"The others left on missions yesterday. They should be back soon," she explained.

"Are your siblings around your age?"

She shook her head and I let out a breath of relief. "They big like Creed and Liam. I'm the newest. Dallas adopted me at the beginning of the year. My family was killed by vampires." The little girl craned her neck to show me a silver scar on her pale skin. "Creed, Liam, and Jordan came and killed them before they could finish killing me." Tears welled up in her eyes and I couldn't help it anymore I pulled the little girl into a hug.

"That's awful," I said and she wrapped her little arms around my torso. She sniffled and I pulled back. "Do you like living here?" I asked.

"Yes." She smiled and I wiped away her fallen tears.

"You a brave little girl May."

"You not leaving, are you? You going  to stay and help my big brother?" She asked and my heart quivered at the love May and Liam had for Creed. "He reminds me of my other big brother that was killed by the vampires. Whenever I have nightmares I always come to Creed and he lets me sleep next to him and tells me stories. None of my other brothers and sister here do that for me."

"I promise I'll try," I said and her eyes lit up with hope and she smiled from ear to ear deep dimples forming on her cheeks. "But I'd like to take a shower first if that's possible. Do you think your brother would mind if I stole some of his clothes?" I asked and she giggled.

"Nope," she said. I ruffled her hair and went over to Creed's drawers. I pulled open one drawer that had piles of black and grey pants and shirts only. I helped myself to his black shirt and pants.

"Be back in a jiffy," I told her and she sat on the bed, making herself comfortable.

I walked into the bathroom and it was fairly clean. Creed's room was cleaner than my dorm room. I looked at my hellish state in the mirror and removed the plaster from my neck. The bleeding had stopped and the blood was dried.

I looked and felt disgusting so I wasted no time stripping and getting into the shower. I stole Creeds body wash and washed my hair. Once I was clean and ensured I no longer smelled like blood I stopped the water and dried myself off.

I changed into the clothes. I had no underwear so the only thing I could do was go commando because I was not using Creeds. I walked out of the bathroom and May was waiting for me.

"Sweetheart do you know where Creed might be?" I asked and tossed the towel into the hamper.

"If Creeds not here he will be in the training room. Come on I'll show you," she said hopping off the bed and I followed her out of the room.

She ran down the hallways and I struggled to keep up with her pace. "May wait up," I called and she stopped at a door. She opened it and peeped her head inside and then gestured with her hand for me to hurry up.

I walked up to the door and peeked my head into the room. Creed was in the training room but he wasn't alone. He was twirling a silver sword and standing face to face with another man who was about his height.

The man had dirty blonde hair and he was broader than Ceed. The two got in a sword fight and then Creed kneed the man in the gut earning a winded grunt from him.

Creed knocked the sword out of the man's hand and the man held up his hands in surrender. Creed dropped his sword and the man swung at him. Creed dodged and the man tackled him to the ground. "Dallas's mother can hit harder than you," Creed laughed. "And she's seventy-six."

"Shut up," the man laughed as they took turns dropping each other to the mat. "That's Jared, my other brother," May said.

The two men looked up at us and let go of each other. They stood and Jared shoved Creed and grinned. "This must be Elea." Jared smiled and walked up to me. "Jared," he said sticking his hand out to shake mine.

"Elea," I returned his smile and shook his hand.

"I must say you are beautiful. My brother will be putty in your hands sooner enough," he winked.

"Go fuck yourself, Jared," Creed growled and Jared laughed.

"Hey language," May said and Creed's eyes widened.

"Sorry May," he said.

"Little nut what are you doing?" Jared asked looking at May. "Getting in trouble so early in the morning. Come on it's time for your lessons." He said and began walking out of the room with May. "Oh, and it was a pleasure meeting you Elea." He called as he walked off.

"You need to eat," Creed told me. "You haven't eaten anything since you got here yesterday. After you eat I'll take you back."

"I wanted to talk to you about that," I told him and began to play with my fingers nervously.

"What is it?" He asked.

"Now that I know about this world I just can't unknow it you know," I cleared my throat. I tended to ramble when I felt nervous. "I can't go back to going to college and working in a diner getting less than minimum wage... so I want to help you but I have a condition," I said.

"What is it?" He asked.

It was the only way I would have had peace of mind and wouldn't feel like I cohorting with a family of heartless killers. "You and your family must stop killing innocent creatures."

"You serious?" He laughed and I nodded. "Even if I did agree to stop killing monsters what makes you think the others would?"

"Because it will be the only way to save you."

He smiled. "That's cute princess. I'm an asset to Dallas and the rest of them and when I become a monster they won't hesitate to put a silver bullet in my head."

"You not an asset. You're a person and believe it or not Liam and May care about you. Your death would destroy them."

He paused considering my words. "You can tell my family your condition after you eat," he said and gestured for me to walk out of the room. "Wait are you wearing my clothes?" He asked with a quirked eyebrow and my cheeks turned red.

"You shot me and kidnapped me," I reminded him.

"How long are you going to hold that over my head?"

"You still haven't apologized for that you know."

"Apologize," he repeated the word like he had never heard it before.

"Yes apologize." He stopped walking and caught me by my elbow. He turned me to face him and he looked deep into my eyes.

"I am truly sorry for pulling you into my mess and I am also sorry you almost died." His lips quirked up in a small smile and I couldn't believe he apologized.

I smiled back at him. "You are forgiven."