Evelyn
Waking up, I feel fingers run down my spine, making me shiver, and my eyes fly open. Sitting up, I find I am in a room, and the person touching me is Thaddeus. He watches me as I look around at the unfamiliar surroundings.
The room I am in is huge and has arched windows looking out into the darkness. Shaking my head, I try to remember the last thing that happened. All I remember is Miranda getting shot and the sensation of moving fast. I feel a draft brush across my skin from the open window, making me look down to see I only have my jeans and a bra on.
“Where is my shirt?” I ask, my voice trembling as confusion sets in.
“You threw up at the apartment,” Thaddeus tells me, and I vaguely remember. I tug the surrounding blanket, covering myself from his watchful eyes.
“How did you get the burn on your back?” he asks, looking at my exposed shoulder.
I often forget it is there, and looking down, I can make out the charred edges of flesh that wrap over my shoulder to the back of my neck. “Where am I?” I ask, ignoring his question.
Thaddeus doesn’t answer, and when the door suddenly opens, Ryland and Orion walk in.
“Sleeping beauty awakes,” Ryland mocks. I roll my eyes at him as I tug the blanket over my shoulder, covering myself completely. Their eyes watch every move I make.
Orion sits on the end of the bed, kicks off his shoes, and lies down. As I get out of bed, I scoot to the edge of it and look around. I can see a bathroom through the door near the windows. Ryland and Orion stepped in through this door, so I guess that leads to the rest of the place. There are antique-looking wardrobes along one wall and a huge four-poster bed that can easily fit five or six people.
“Can I borrow a shirt, please?” I ask, looking at them.
Ryland pulls his off, handing it to me. I scrunch my nose up but take it from him.
“Now you will have my scent all over you,” he states as he leans against Thaddeus.
My eyes trail down his bare chest. His abs look like an artist sculpted them, his tanned skin glows under the lights. Turning my gaze away when I realize I am gawking, I pull the shirt over my head and remove the sheet I wrapped myself in. It is very warm here. Even the draft doesn’t have the frosty bite I am so used to, making me wonder where we are.
I walk to the window and look out; it is dark, but the moon is full and the sky so clear I can see stars instead of smog. All I can make out are trees, hills and more hills and nothing, just darkness. I feel my heart rate pick up. I know instantly we have to be hundreds of miles from home.
Turning around, I look at them. All three of them watch me, and I break out in a cold sweat as fear consumes me. My mind goes to a crime show I watched once. The narrator said never let your killers take you to a second destination because that means they will kill you. Well, technically, this is the third destination, but that doesn’t make me any less uneasy.
“Where are we?” I ask, looking back out the window.
“At our home,” Thaddeus answers.
“And where is that?” I ask.
“Where you don’t need to know, but I can tell you it’s in the middle of nowhere,” Thaddeus answers vaguely.
“Why won’t you tell me?” I ask.
“Because you don’t need to know. We won’t be leaving. At least, not until the heat dies down,” Ryland tells me.
“Heat?”
“Yes. Because of your little runaway attempt, hunters have found us and tracked us, and frankly, I am tired of running, so we will remain here.”
“The people with the guns, were they hunters?” I ask.
“Precisely. And because of you, Thaddeus had to kill them, and God knows how many other people were caught in the crossfire,” Ryland says.
“I never asked you to follow me, and I certainly didn’t ask you to kill anyone,” I snap back at him.
Ryland’s eyes turn dark, and he growls a deep throaty growl that spreads goosebumps over my body.
“Watch your tone, little one. I would hate to see it get you in trouble,” Thaddeus warns. Orion glares at him, and I wonder what sort of trouble he means from the look Orion gives him.
“Whatever,” I tell him, turning away and walking to the window, sitting on the ledge. I can’t imagine being in any more trouble than I am in already. Orion gets up and walks over, brushing my hair over my shoulder. “Don’t touch me,” I tell him, swatting his hand away. I get up and walk out of the room, Thaddeus’ voice calling after me.
“Where are you going?”
“Away from you,” I call back as I walk down the hall.
I come to some landing. Looking over the side, I can see another floor below. The house seems to be some sort of log home. Exposed beams run across the roof, which I notice is an A-frame house by its high pointed ceiling. Skylights run down the sides of the roof.
It feels smooth, running my hand along the wooden banister, and I follow it downstairs, which has an onyx stone floor. They look glittery under the lights that hang randomly from the beams. It is a pleasant house and has a modern country feel to it.
Once on the bottom floor, I see a fireplace that I can easily fit inside. I wouldn’t be surprised if the four of us could stand in it; it seems to take up most of the wall. Underneath the stairs is another door. I walk through it and find a kitchen with stainless steel appliances, marble countertops, and a matching backsplash. There is also a huge island set in the middle with stools along one side. Walking out of the kitchen through another door, I find a laundry and another door with a window beside it.
Peering out the window, I can see outside. I twist the handle intending to open the door, when a hand falls on my shoulder, tugging me backward. “You aren’t leaving, Evelyn,” Ryland says, yanking me against him.
His chest presses into my back, and I feel the heat radiating off his body, seeping into me. I can feel his chest move with each breath he takes, his nose running from my ear, down my neck and shoulder, making me shiver.
Everywhere he touches, delightful sparks move over my skin. My body reacts to his touch as his arms wrap around my waist, and I feel his hand travel up my side until he squeezes my breast. My body reacts to him, and I don’t like it. How can he have this effect on me?
I force myself away from him, only for him to pull me back against him. When I turn around, I am about to shove him, but the look on his face makes me gasp. His eyes are pitch black orbs. The eyes of a demon, staring back at me, and I gulp.