“What happened?!” I demanded to know.
Before Tristan answered me I noticed blood on her neck. I moved her hair only to find two puncture wounds hiding underneath. I was instantly filled with rage.
“Jackson, now look...” Tristan began.
I jumped off the bed and punched him, sending him crashing into the wardrobe. “You fucking bastard!!”
“JACKSON!” Nancy screamed.
“Look at her, look what he’s done to her!”
She walked over to look at Leticia. “Oh my god,” she gasped.
“Look she will be fine...” Tristan told us.
“Get out, don’t you dare come anywhere near her,” I threatened.
“She told me to do it, you have no idea what happened, she knew I wouldn’t kill her. If she hadn’t have helped me I’d be dead by now.”
“Then why is she like this?”
“She told me if I took her blood I would heal twice as fast, and she was right. She just told me not to kill her or she would come and haunt me. She will be perfectly fine. The blood loss has made her collapse, but she heals Jackson, she’s a werewolf. Give her a few hours, she’ll be awake, a little tired, but awake.”
“She better be or you’ll wish she hadn’t found you!”
“You might not be saying that when you find out what all this is actually about,” he shot.
“What?” Nancy interrupted.
“There’s more to it than she let on, a lot more. I didn’t get in the state I was in because some idiot staked me through my ribs. They didn't even get within an inch of my heart...”
“So what then?”
“Do you remember they suddenly got sick?” he asked Nancy.
“Yeah.”
“They injected themselves with something; I couldn’t see what at the time. Their strength returned and I couldn’t fight all of them alone. They took me to a barn just off the Moors. They drained me almost dry.”
“They were vamps?” I asked rather confused.
“No, they used needles Jackson, big ones, dozens of them, then left quickly with it all.”
“Why?”
“Ask her,” he said pointing to Leticia. “She hasn’t exactly been honest with us. She could even be in on this.”
“What!” I seethed.
“Jackson, she’s not who you think she is, or who you want her to be.”
Nancy had heard enough and stormed out of the room, Tristan followed behind her. My mind was working overtime. I thought I knew her, I’d watched her almost every day and night since I knew she lived here and what she was. I’d never seen her doing anything remotely strange or stupid. He had to be wrong. She looked peaceful still, and I could hear her breathing. That provided me with some form of comfort. I lay beside her, just stroking her face and holding her hand, praying it wouldn’t be long until she opened her eyes.
Chapter 28
I could feel someone’s hand on mine, squeezing it slightly. I tried to open my eyes, but they felt so heavy.
“Leticia,” I heard Jackson say. “Come on baby-girl open your eyes.”
“Oh god,” I croaked. “Where am I?”
“You’re home, safe.”
“Where’s Tristan?”
“He’s downstairs with Nancy. He’s OK.”
“Good.” I breathed a sigh of relief, and then managed to open my eyes fully. “What a cute face to wake up to,” I smiled at him.
“Thanks,” he laughed. “Do you remember what happened?”
“Yeah, I told him to take my blood, I didn't expect this though.”
“He knew he wouldn’t kill you, you’ll be OK.”
“How’s Nancy?”
“You should have seen her face when Tristan got out of your car.”
“What?”
“He drove you both back and carried you up here. I was panicking like mad, I didn’t know what had happened to you,” he said before kissing me for a moment. “Don’t scare me like that again.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I have a confession to make too. I kinda punched Tristan for biting you, and swore at him. I don’t normally use the ‘F’ word, but it just came out. I didn’t know what had happened though, I just hit first...”
“Thought later?”
“Yeah,” he sighed. “Leticia, Tristan said we all need to talk, there’s more to this trouble than we thought, and if I’m honest... he thinks you knew.”
“What!”
“Let me call them up here.”
He shouted down to them and they made their way upstairs. I thought Jackson would have sat with me again, but instead he leaned against the wall facing me, his arms folded across his chest. You could see he was uncomfortable. Nancy didn't look happy at all and Tristan looked genuinely concerned.
“Leticia, do you feel up to an important talk?” Tristan asked.
“Yeah I think so,” I was starting to get concerned now. “What’s wrong?”
“Now be honest. Is there anything else you need to tell us about what happened when you were with Luke?”
“Erm... I told Jackson what happened the night I went into isolation.”
“Yeah, he relayed the story to us, that’s not what I meant. I mean... did anything else happen before you left?”
“Like what?”
“Anything,” Nancy shot.
“I told him what I was; he hit the roof and left me. I was taunted, attacked, stalked, and I fled. That’s everything. You know this, so why are you asking me?” I shot back.
“And you haven’t left anything out?” Tristan asked.
“Like what!” I was getting annoyed now. “You obviously think I have, so why not just tell me what I’m supposed to be hiding or lying about.”
“Leticia calm down,” Jackson finally spoke.
“No! What exactly am I being accused of here?”
Tristan stepped forward and started explaining. “Obviously you know we were taken, Nancy has told you what happened. Well, after they staked me, they drove to the entrance of the Moors and to that little barn where we were before. They carried me inside and one of the men brought a rucksack in; Leticia it was full of needles. I heard them talking, they said... they couldn’t wait to see what effect the blood would have on them... that if a werewolf’s blood could make them so strong, my blood should be able to do the same, and possibly more. Another guy said since they couldn’t catch the were-bitch my blood would have to do, no matter whether it was as good or not.”
“I don’t... I don’t understand...”
“The guy who had the rucksack said he believed my blood would be better for them and last longer. He said since the werewolf’s blood was so many years old, it would have probably lost some of its power. He believed that was why the effect wore off so quickly.”
“And you think this man meant my blood?” I gasped.
“Yes I do, who else would he be talking about?”
“So... hang on, you think I gave these people my blood?”
“Yes, back when you were with Luke.”
“Oh my God! You’re... you actually believe that I would do something like that?”
“How else would they get it?” Nancy joined in.
“I don’t believe this! I can’t believe you actually think I would do that. I’m not standing for this.” I jumped up of the bed, which wasn’t a very clever thing to do when you were recovering from extreme blood loss. The room started spinning and I had to grab the bed post to steady myself.
“Where are you going?” Jackson asked, grabbing my arm to help support me.
“Get off me, don’t you touch me!” I yelled.
“You can’t leave in this state.”
“Watch me.”
I shrugged him off, grabbed my bag with all my money and cards, then staggered down the hallway towards the stairs using the walls to steady myself. Jackson was following behind me, telling me how stupid I was and asking me where I was going, but I didn't acknowledge him at all. I don’t know how,
but I managed to get down the stairs in one piece. I picked my car keys up off the stand by the door and made my way outside. Jackson steadied me several times while I got to my car. Honestly I was grateful, but there was no way on earth I was going to tell him that. He watched me throw my bag in the car then gripped me and turned me to face him.
“Leticia please, please don’t go,” he begged.
“Piss off.”
“Leticia,” I heard Nancy shout. “Where are you going to go? You have nowhere to turn.”
“You’re wrong!” I shouted back at her.
“Please, don’t leave me,” Jackson choked.
“Leave me alone! You think I’m one of them! You’re as bad as them two in there. I’m in the state I’m in now through saving his life and this is the thanks I get. Well you can all go to Hell!” I pushed him away from me and more or less fell into the car, slamming and locking the door behind me. It took me a few attempts to get the key in the ignition, but eventually I was able to drive away. I confess I nearly drove straight into Nancy’s car, my vision was so blurry, but I didn't care. I just wanted to get away from all of them.
Chapter 29
I stayed on the back country lanes; the last thing I wanted was to get pulled over by the police on the main roads. I nearly had a few accidents, but eventually I got to Huddersfield. I checked into the same hotel I’d brought Adam to, and went straight to my room. I ordered room service, hoping the food would help me feel better. I was right, only half an hour or so after I’d eaten I felt great again, well, my body did, but my head was really messed up. I was so upset at my supposed friends’ accusations and Jackson, I was absolutely fuming with him, he knew me better than the others, I’d spent a lot more time with him. So for him to think I could do that, mixed with the fact I was falling for him, caused me a great deal of heartache.
I was sitting on the bed, tears running down my cheeks, wondering where I should go and what to do. There was a knock on my door; I wiped my eyes before opening it. It was the guy who had brought my food. He came in the room and stood by the bed, I was about to ask him what he was doing, when he morphed into Jackson.
“Get out!” I seethed.
“No, if you want me out you will have to throw me out.”
“Don’t tempt me...”
“Why are you being like this with me? I didn't accuse you of anything.”
“You stood there with them, you believed them.”
“No I didn’t, I admit when Tristan first told me I wondered if it was possible, then I knew it couldn’t have been. Tish, I’ve watched you for months, I knew you existed weeks before we met in the parking lot. I’d never seen you doing anything dodgy; when you weren’t working you always seemed to be on your own. So I know its complete rubbish!”
“Why did you watch me for so long?”
“You fascinated me, and on top of that... I thought you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.”
“Oh...” I paused. “Jackson I swear, I didn’t know about the blood.”
“I know,” he said coming closer to me. “I believe you and I trust you.”
I didn't respond. I had a frog in my throat. A single tear fell down my cheek. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close to him. We stood there for a few minutes before his phone started to ring. I sat on the bed while he answered it.
“Nancy calm down,” he began. “Take a bloody breath I can’t understand a word you’re saying... where are you? Why are you at the summit? Well you can stop looking, I’m with her now. Yes... I’m not telling you where we are... because you don’t believe her... since when... WHAT! don’t you dare, that’s MY house!... I don’t care where you take him... them then... oh for gods sake fine we’ll be there when and if we can,” he hung up.
“What’s the matter now?”
“They’ve caught two of them and they’re locking them down in my basement.”
“Why?”
“To question them. They want us there.”
“Why should I go?”
“Nancy said she believes you.”
“She should never have doubted me in the first place. She should have just told me what was going on and then asked if I knew anything about it. Not just instantly assume I was part of it. She’s seen what’s happened to me, to my house and she still had the nerve to accuse me. Some friend!”
“I know and I completely agree with you, but staying away won’t solve anything Leticia.”
“I know,” I sighed.
“Have you paid for the room already?” he asked, taking my hands in his.
“Yes why?”
“Cancel it, come back.”
“Jackson I can’t.”
“At least come back with me now... we could get some answers.”
“OK,” I agreed. “But if they say anything nasty to me... they’ll get it good.”
“That’s fine, I agree completely.”
We went separate ways when we got to the cars. Jackson wanted me to ride with him, but I knew he wouldn’t bring me back to the hotel later, also, if things got out of hand between me, Nancy and Tristan, I could just jump in the car and leave.
When we arrived at the house, they were at the front door waiting for us. Nancy looked over at me rather sheepishly, whereas Tristan walked over to me as soon as I got out of the car. I think Jackson expected him to be nasty because he was by my side within seconds.
“Relax mate, I’m not going to start with her,” Tristan told him. “I was actually going to apologize; I handled the situation very badly. I should have spoken to you instead of verbally attacking you,” he told me sincerely. “I can’t take back what I’ve done, so all I can do is ask for your forgiveness.”
“It’s not that easy to forgive. You obviously don’t trust me.”
“I do, I...”
“Stop lying to me, if you trusted me you wouldn’t have accused me. If I was one of them do you think I would have offered you my blood to get you back to full health. Notice how I trusted you then? I know vampires can lose control, you could have killed me but I trusted you not to.”
“I know, Leticia I know, I messed up and I am truly sorry.”
“I don’t trust you now and when you break someone’s trust it takes a long time to regain it.”
“Well I’m willing... more than willing to do whatever it takes to rebuild it... if you’ll let me.”
“I don’t know. Can we change the subject?” I sighed.
“Where are these two guys then?” Jackson asked him.
“In the Basement.”
“Then what are we waiting for?”
Jackson took my hand and led me inside, then down the steps to the Basement. When I passed Nancy, she looked at me and tried to smile, but I turned away from her. At this moment in time I was disgusted with her. So much for wanting a friend she could keep.
The men were tied to two chairs in the center of the room. Both were gagged. Nancy turned the light on; both of them started to panic.
“OK,” Tristan started. “This is how it is. You talk, we listen, and you live. Nothing more and nothing less. Or, you stay silent, we push for answers, you remain silent, then you die... your decision. Oh yeah, and you can scream and shout as much as you like, you’re in the middle of nowhere, only God himself would hear you and I doubt he’d help. Do you understand?”
The men looked at each other then turned to Tristan and nodded.
“Good, I’m going to remove the gags,” he said as he untied the old pieces of material.
Neither of them spoke, they just stared at the floor.
“Now,” he began. “Who is your boss?”
“We don’t know,” the blonde haired one replied. “We only speak to him over the phone.”
“What’s his number?”
“He calls us, we don’t call him. It’s always withheld. There‘s only a few of us who have actually met up with him. But the ones that have don’t get to see his face.”
“He wears a balaclava,?
?? the brunette added.
“Hmm, so you can’t help us at all then can you,” Jackson joined in, walking close to them both. “I don’t see much point in carrying this on.”
“Neither do I,” Tristan agreed.
“Wait!” the blonde shouted in desperation. “Look, I know we can’t tell you much, but I swear to you it’s only because we genuinely don’t know. But I can tell you this. The boss, he’s crazy, man. I mean, stark raving mad. Apparently he used to have his own law firm or something, then something happened with her there,” he said pointing to me. “It sent him overboard. He lost it. He couldn’t work, sleep, eat... his firm was run into the ground... he secured a loan on the business to be able to fund this operation. That put with the money he made while he was working pays for all this... and...” he looked at the brunette for a moment.
“Spill it, or die,” Nancy threatened.
“He’s been selling... blood... we’ve sold it for him... of course people who buy it don’t know it’s blood but... it is.”
“I don’t understand,” I finally spoke.
“It’s like a drug, but man, when you stop taking it you feel like you’re going to die. I only did it once; I swore I wouldn’t touch it again.”
“The blood of what?” Tristan asked.
“All you lot, you freaks of nature,” The blonde shot.
Tristan charged at him. He fell backwards on the chair, still bound with Tristan over him gripping his throat, his fangs now showing.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please...” the blonde cried.
Tristan snarled at him, but eventually got off him and pulled the chair back into position.
“How is he getting the blood?” I asked.
“He’s had yours for years,” the brunette answered. “He’s told us all different bits of the story, we just have to try and put it all together; some of it doesn’t make sense and he contradicts himself. Something about some guys attacking you and collecting it. Apparently he wanted to have tests run on it, initially to try and find a cure or something.”