What Lies Beneath

"HELP!" I heard a man scream. I knew that voice. "IS ANYONE UP THERE!?"

I was filled with so much happiness that I couldn't breathe. I grabbed Landon and pulled him in the direction of the voice. It was down a dark set of stairs that I would have tumbled down if Landon hadn't caught me.

"Easy," he snapped.

"I CANNOT BE EASY!"

"Mila!?" I heard in the darkness.

I got to the bottom and felt around the walls for a light that I couldn't find. Landon found it, and we could see into the room.

I saw my brother. He was chained to a wall again, legs and wrists. He looked awful, but he was alive, still in the clothes he'd died in. I ran to him.

"I thought you were dead," he said weakly, as he hugged me back the best he could.

"You too," I cried. "Landon saved me."

He grumbled, but when I let go, he looked at the man. "Thank you," he said grudgingly.

Landon started picking his locks with my knife. Jaxon looked better than before.

I still had to ask. "Do you know what you are?"

He sighed. "They told me. I woke up and didn't know what the fuck was going on. They loaded me up with blood, but it was different. It wasn't disgusting anymore. It was..." His face was a frown. "...good. They had me feed from people then. Like actual people, who were just cool with me eating them. It was fucked up. Who the hell just lets a vampire feed on 'em?"

I didn't say anything, but Landon did. "Hey, cool it. Some people are into it. It feels good if you let it."

Jax scoffed at Landon. "It's disgusting."

Landon smirked, and I knew I was in trouble. "Why don't you talk to your sister about that? She seems to like it when I eat her."

Dear God...

Jaxon growled. "What?"

I shook my hands. "Jax, it's not what it sounds like." Ignoring the fact that I actually let... never mind. "Landon needed someone to feed on. He doesn't hurt me at all. I promise."

Then his hands were free, and I thought he'd use them to choke Landon. He just rubbed his wrists. "You let a stranger feed on ya, La?"

"He's not a stranger. I..." love him. "I have to do it."

"Is that what he told you? He said he'd die without it or something."

"No," I said, snippier than before, "I offered. Every time."

That shut him up.

I went on. "Do you need blood?"

Landon's face was careful, but not careful enough. He wanted Jaxon to say no. And he got it.

"They've been giving it to me. I got some this morning."

"Then you're good for a week," Landon said as the last cuff fell off my brother. "If we hurry, we can get you out without another death. Unless you liked dying the first time." Jaxon glared. "I didn't, thank you."

We all stood, and Landon kept my knife. We managed to get back to the van without getting murdered, and Jaxon went for the driver's seat. "Keys?" He held his hand out. Landon arched an eyebrow as if he couldn't believe my brother would assume ownership of his own van. "I drive."

"No," Jaxon said sternly, "I drive. Hand over the keys."

I looked at Landon and mouthed the words so that Jaxon wouldn't hear. "Please, do it."

Landon rolled his eyes and did as I'd asked. He got in the back, and my instinct was to go with him, but I couldn't. So I sat beside my brother because I couldn't have the only two men I loved fighting over me. "Hotel?" Jaxon asked me. And I really didn't know. So I looked back to Landon.

It was over. I had my brother back, and Landon's job was finished. He could go off and kill those last few people before he killed himself. I wouldn't feel it in my bones like he would if I died, but there was no way I wouldn't know. It would reach me.

"Do you want us to drop you somewhere?" I forced myself to ask. "I know you have things to do."

He took too long to answer. "Well, I'm going to need to stay in the area. I still need to find Knox and kill him."

So I had to deal with him in the same city with me, not having him here. How am I going to drive away from him?

"What do you wanna do?" I asked quietly.

He scratched at his temple. "Maybe I should call it for the night. I can figure it out in the morning."

One more night. I had one more night with him. Better than nothing.

Jaxon got us to a hotel, and the only issue was that he had a bloody hole in his shirt, easily covered with his jacket that was in the van. The three of us went to the desk to get our rooms. Landon beat Jaxon to it. "Two rooms please," he told the man.

He typed on his computer and didn't look up. "Single beds?" "Yes."

Jaxon was thrown off. "Um, no. We need two beds in my and La's room."

Uh-oh. How the hell will I explain why I was sleeping with Landon? That wouldn't go down very well. But the look on Landon's face made it clear that it wouldn't be an issue.

"He's right," Landon said to the man. "One room with two please."

My chest literally hurt at the idea of never sleeping beside Landon again. More than that, that he wouldn't ever sleep beside anyone ever again.

We got our stuff and all ended up in my and Jaxon's room. My brother sighed at himself. "I haven't showered in weeks."

"I can tell," Landon said oh-so-helpfully.

On his way to the bathroom, Jaxon said, "Just when are you buggering off again?"

When Jaxon was gone, I sat down on the bed. I couldn't look at Landon, but I had to talk to him. I wished my voice didn't shake. "You're leaving tomorrow?"

"Maybe."

I lost it, and tears fell steadily. I kept quiet, but barely. Then Landon was on his knees in front of me; my hands were in his. "You knew it was coming." His thumb rubbed the top of my hand. "That doesn't make it better. I don't want you to go away."

His hand found my face, and I rested my cheek on his palm. "I'm sorry. I know you don't believe this, but I just want you to have the best shot at a good life as you can get."

He was right before. I couldn't know what I would want in ten years, but right now, all I wanted was him. "Stay anyway."

He looked like he was in pain. "You know I can't."

My lip quivered, and I bit it to make it stop. "You won't leave without saying goodbye, will you?"

He shook his head. "I'd never do that to you."

"I love you," I cried. As pathetic as it was, I felt utterly helpless. My brother taught me to never get like this over a man. To be independent and strong. I was too far out to see the shore.

Landon kissed me, and then I couldn't let him go. He started slowly, chaste and soft. I couldn't do soft. My arms went around his neck. He was kind enough to let me do what I would, even keeping up with me. He put my legs around his waist and stood us up. We went to his room, and he laid me on the bed.

I felt his heart beating against me, and my legs tightened around him. His body warmed up as his hand went under my shirt. It moved up and down my ribs.

I sighed softly as my hips worked with Landon's in gentle waves. His hand was warm against my side. It went under my back, and he pulled me up and against him. Our lips parted when I made a sound. He was smiling and, for a few seconds, I forgot he was leaving in a few hours.

Then it was over, and he was lying with his head on my stomach. My shirt was up, just a little, and he was tracing my skin with his fingertips. I stayed mostly unmoving, just running my fingers through his hair. "I wanna make sure you get more blood before you leave," I told him. "Okay?"

He nodded against me, not speaking at all.

"Mila?" I heard my brother from the other side of the door. Then I was in pain again.

Landon sat up, and I went with him. I turned his face to me, and I softly pressed my lips against his. "I'll see you in the morning. I love you," I whispered.

He didn't say anything. He just kissed me again before I left.

I opened the door and forced a smile. "Sorry, I just needed to talk to him about something." I turned to close the door and get a last look at Landon. He was still on the bed. His head was hung, and I had to close the door on him. Jaxon was all cleaned up and in his sleeping clothes. "I don't like that guy."

I sighed angrily. "He saved the both of us, Jax. Be nice to him."

He held his hands up defensively. "Strike a nerve?"

I glared. "Yeah."

"Sorry, honey. I guess he kinda took care of ya, huh?"

I nodded as I looked through my bag for clothes. I dug out my shorts and a tank top. "He was really good to me." Mostly. "And it sucks that he's taking off."

Jaxon sat on his bed, going through stuff on his phone. "Why is he leaving? Better things to do than get mixed up in our trouble?"

"Something like that."

I left him to change, and when I got back, Jax was already in his bed, still screwing with his phone.

"Look," I said, leaning against the wall. "I don't know how to begin to apologize for what happened to you. I screwed with some guy, and then he had you taken. And you died... and I just..."

Jaxon looked up. "Please, don't cry. There's no undoing what happened to me. But hey, at least I'm strong enough to keep you safe. I might need blood once in a while..." He half shrugged. "...but that's nothing."

"And you can't be out in the sun too long, and you're immortal, and you're not a human anymore. That's a huge deal, and you're allowed to be pissed with me."

"I can't ever be pissed at you, kiddo. I bet I'll like this whole vamp-thing. Just give me a minute to get used to it."

I forced a little smile. "The living-forever thing might be a little cool."

His face darkened without warning. "But you won't live forever."

Ah. "Well, no, I guess I won't."

"What do we do about that?"

I blinked. "Are you asking me if I wanna be a vampire too?"

He swallowed. "I might be."

Living forever with my brother... it didn't sound so bad. But that was an eternity of having to remember the broken man I'd fallen in love with and lost. Or worse, having to forget him over time. How long would it be before I couldn't remember his face?

"Whoa..." Jax shook his hands. "...we don't have to figure it out now. Please, calm down."

I didn't realize I was so worked up. Then I felt my heart racing and my breathing quicken. I shut that down just as quickly as I could. If he knew what had happened between Landon and me... it wouldn't go well.

I got into bed and pulled the blankets up. "So, what did they do to you these last few days?"

My brother sighed. "No more torture, so there's that. They were mostly pumping me with blood. They were talking to each other about moving me again tomorrow. Something about an auction."

I took a deep breath and explained to him what that meant. I told him what Landon and I did while we were looking for him, the demons we'd saved. I left out Landon's history.

"Jesus..." Jaxon sighed. "...that's horrible. How can you do that to a person?"

"Yeah, it's disgusting. Landon's been spending his life killing the people who do it."

My brother looked thoughtful. "Not a bad way to spend a life."

"No, it's not."

We decided it was time for bed. The lights went out, and I just lay there, staring at darkness. I prayed for sleep.

****

I don't know how many hours passed, but it was miserable lying there. I knew why I wasn't sleeping. The dozen reasons. My mind was a heavy place, and I wished I could escape the pictures in my head.

I had my family back, and I was so happy about that. But I couldn't be completely happy, not with a looming death coming. One awesome loss for an awesome gain. My soul wouldn't settle.

There was one thing I could do. Dangerous and stupid, but I knew I'd sleep if I did it. So I threw my blankets off me. I went to the little clock on the nightstand and shut off the alarm. It would buy me a few hours. Then I rose and went to the door that adjoined the two rooms.

Quietly, I opened the door, letting myself in. I closed it, and the room was black. The only light was from the moon. It poured through the open curtain, the shaft of light hitting the bed as the AC blew the curtains apart. The sound was a low hum.

I could see Landon, awake and looking at me. I walked over, and he pulled the blanket back. I crawled in, getting as close to him as I could. He draped the blanket over me, and I cuddled up to his chest. I was asleep in a minute.

****

When I woke up, my cheek was against Landon's chest. He didn't wake up until I moved. He blinked and rubbed my back; then he sat up.

"How'd you sleep?" I asked.

He glanced at the clock. "Well, I actually got some sleep once you came in."

"Me too."

"How much time do you have?"

"Enough."

"Good." He lifted me up so I was straddling his lap. His hand went to the back of my neck, and I leaned in to kiss him.

I was breathless instantly. Our mouths worked quickly and franticly against each other, the hourglass haunting us the whole time. Landon felt cool against me as his hands went up my back and under my shirt.

His hands moved again, untying my drawstrings. He broke our lips apart. "Do you want more?"

It would be the very last time he touched me like this, so I nodded and put my lips back to his.

After it was over, I laid my head back on his chest. It was the only way I wouldn't shake. I listened to his heartbeat and smiled at the thought of how many times I'd made it do so. I'd never forget the sound. Even when I was old and grey, I'd remember.

"He's waking up," Landon said.

I whimpered, not able to stop it. My nails dug into Landon's skin. "I don't want to leave."

"I'd never make you, but I know you don't want him seeing this."

I sat up and cleared my face of tears. "Please don't leave yet."

He kissed me quickly. "Don't worry. I'll make a show of it when I go."

I hugged him and told him I loved him about half-a-dozen times. He still didn't say it back.

I got back into my own bed just before my brother woke up. He was too out of it to notice I was crying. He just stumbled off to the bathroom. I sat in bed until I was done.

Jaxon didn't notice a thing after he got out of the shower. I knew how to lie, but this was the first time I used that skill on my brother. It wasn't because I was ashamed of Landon, or because I thought he wouldn't approve. It was because if I told Jaxon everything, that I loved the vampire in the other room and he was planning to leave me, I was pretty sure Jaxon would try to kill him. He'd blame my heartbreak on him, and he'd want revenge. I didn't want to put Landon through that. Or Jaxon. I didn't want him to hurt because I was hurting.

I put on a dress. It was deep red and flowy. Something I'd wear for a special occasion. The loss of my boyfriend is special enough, I guess.

"Hungry?" my brother smiled.

"Sure," I lied. "What do you want?"

He shrugged. "We can get room service." He picked up the phone and started dialing downstairs. He ordered a ton of stuff, so I guessed he was making up for lost time.

The food arrived, and Landon knocked on our door. Jaxon let him in and, to my relief, he sat beside me. I handed him some of my food, and he thanked me.

"You taking off soon?" Jaxon asked casually.

"Yeah," Landon responded. "I just wanted to make sure you knew all you needed to know. You should have the basics of being a vampire down, since there's almost no possibility of you meeting another in your life. At least not for a while." He proceeded to tell my brother how to be a vampire. The best way to get blood without being caught, how to survive. Stay hidden.

"Got it." Jax nodded, leaning against the wall.

I gathered the will to speak. "Do you know where you're going?"

"Knox's place. Then I'll be staking out that auction. Maybe I can get him and his mother. Two birds with one stone."

And then only one more person to kill before he did himself in. Then I remembered the rest.

Landon reminded me. "Jaxon, I'll need some names from you by the way. Those men that hurt Mila. I need you to tell me where to find them."

I watched an old wound rip open though Jaxon's eyes. "She told you about that?"

"She did. I'm going to kill those men, no matter what, but I'd appreciate your help."

My brother rubbed his jaw and went to his bag. Without a word, he took out paper and a pen. I watched him scribble before ripping the paper out and handing it to Landon. There were names and addresses on it as well as the names of a couple businesses.

"Thank you," Landon said as he tucked the paper away. "Where are you two going?"

Jaxon answered for me. "As far away from here as we can. We need to make sure that guy doesn't try lookin' for us. He has too many resources for me to be able to keep her safe if we're too close."

So we're running. That was what I had ahead of me. No home, no making my own family. I got to run. And the day I was able to stop would be the day Landon was finished with his work. I would have no peace.

"Do you want us to drop you somewhere?" Jaxon offered. "I was gonna take the kid to the beach before we figured out what we were doing. They got beaches this close to the Mexico border, right?" Landon sighed. "Yeah... the entire edge of this state is up against the ocean." He looked back at me. "Do they not teach you this in school?"

I shrugged at him. "I don't think I'm the right person to ask questions about school."

He shook his head, as if clearing the thoughts about how dumb Jaxon was. "You should be careful of the sun," Landon said. "You'll have a few hours before it starts killing you. Less till it starts to hurt." My brother was sullen. "Oh, yeah. Maybe we can end the day with that, huh, honey?" He was looking at me.

"Sure."

He didn't buy it. "Look, don't be worried about this Knox-dude. Your buddy over here is gonna kill him, and we're all good. We can go back to business as usual."

My arms crossed. "But it's not business as usual. You're dead, Jaxon. You're a vampire, and we'll never be normal ever again."

He didn't seem to know what to say. Landon covered for him.

"Mila," he said quietly. "Would you mind if I went with you today? I'll leave tonight."

I kept my face carefully calm. "You're staying?"

"Just for the day. Then I'll go."

I let myself smile. "Yeah, I'd like that."