Twisted Fate (The Series) E-Book

Linzy Salvini

• Herausgeber: BookRix
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

This is a collection of the Twisted Fate Series put into one book.

Book One: My Masked Lover

Book Two: The Devil's Side

Book Three: A Last Kiss

Enjoy. :)

Leseprobe

Linzy Salvini

Twisted Fate (The Series)

Nubian. BookRix GmbH & Co. KG81371 Munich

OTHER WORK BY AUTHOR

Twisted Fate (Series):

Book One: My Masked Lover

Book Two: The Devil's Side

Book Three: A Last Kiss 

Lost Hope (Series):

Book One: Will You Follow, Even If I'm Fallen?

Book Two: (In the works)

Screenplays (These are NOT books):

The Restless

Dusk

(Many more coming)

PART ONE:

 My Masked Lover

"I guess I should have specified exactly what I wanted

when I went out into the world with a death wish.

I never expected to meet my end in the sweet

angelic face of the one I loved."

~ Joshua Andrew Storm.

Prologue.

Mercy giggled as she ran passed the trees, keeping her footing. She was running from her best friend, Joshua. They always played this game (tag) exactly at this late of night - midnight. It was one of her favorites. 

Coming to a dead stop as she heard sticks breaking from all around her, she spun in a slight circle. Not sure if it was Joshua. In her gut it didn't feel like him. She's never felt this presence before and it was starting to scare her.

Spinning around again, Mercy sat off. Her heart was beating faster now and her breathing was getting short, this wasn't a game anymore. 

Hearing Joshua call her name in the distance, Mercy opened her mouth to call back only to be cut off by something. "This isn't funny now, Mer!" She heard Joshua shout in the distance. Mercy's eyes widen as a tall, black figure hung over her. His dark chuckle answering Joshua's call. Just as Mercy went to run from him, the evil man grabbed her arm. Feeling a pain shoot across her arm, Mercy did the only thing she knew was right. 

"Joshie!" She squealed loudly, running through the darkness. She tried her best not to run into any trees as she looked for the clearing that led to the waterfall. 

Knowing she was close, she heard Joshua say something. But she wasn't quite sure as panic took over her body. Forcing herself into the clearing, she was shaking. She wasn't too worried about the cut but about the figure that had done this to her. She wanted nothing more than to be within Joshua's arms, the only place she knew she'd be safe in. 

Before she could focus on what was going on, that's when she felt it. Lips pressing to the cut on her forearm, sucking roughly. Screaming, she pulled away. Her eyes widening as she realized that it was Joshua. And there, plastered on his blood-stained lips were two sharp things - fangs.

Backing away in fear, she wasn't sure what to do. That's when Joshua looked away from her and ran with no hesitation. 

"Jos-Josh.." Mercy lowly called out after she took everything in, moving her hand from her wound. It was still bleeding. She looked at the blood that was on her palm before returning her hand back. "Joshua!" She screamed louder, hoping he didn't leave her alone in the forest. 

There was no reply. 

Crying to herself from her open wound, Mercy made her way down the familiar path that led her back into town. She wanted to go home and stay there. But what she didn't know was that was going to be the last time she'd see Joshua Storm. 

1.

 Mercy frowned to herself as she made her way into the clearing. The same clearing everything went wrong from so long ago. And of course her walking through the clearing all the time, she was always reminded. It even haunted her dreams. The creepy figure and his dark chuckle, her bleeding and not to mention, Joshua.

She was much more different now. Her hair was longer, her body taller, she was older. She had a few tattoos that covered most of her upper left arm, and she had a couple on her lower right arm. Her mind lingered on her best friend as she walked, her frown deepening. "Seven years," she mumbled under her breath. Seven years she suffered without her best friend. She blamed him most of the time, hating him for just leaving her alone. But most of all, she hated the feelings she had towards him. She loved him and he just left.

Mercy bit roughly on her bottom lip as she entered the tree house Joshua showed her when they were younger. She spent most of her time here. One of the places that brought happy memories to her. Happy ones of her and Joshua.

Cuddling herself into one of Joshua's jackets that she had taken from him when she'd spend the night at his house all the time, Mercy sat on the floor. She was surprised that the small thing still fit around her figure. She tilted her head up as she leaned against the wall, looking out the window. It was dark and the stars were out.

She ran her index finger along the scar on her arm. She hated that. Apart from the forest, the scar also reminded her of what happened in her past. And every single time she wanted to leave Don Juan's, she knew she couldn't. She couldn't just leave Anastasia and Skylar like that. They've been apart of her for as long as she could remember.

Mercy's practically been on her own since she was three. With the death of her parents Elizabeth and Sean, she was raised by her mother's brother Anders and his wife Narsha, along with their son, Ryle - pronounced as Riley, but Narsha always believed in spelling the names differently to be more unique. They, the Daray's, were one of the main three families that Don Juan's was based on. She knew of the Scott's, but never interacted with any of them. They owned many of the chalets on the mountains. And then there were the Storm's. She knew a lot about them and why it was just Skylar, Anastasia and Joshua. But out of all the families, Mercy and Joshua were the closest to each other. They were pretty much side by side, it was hard separating the two. That's why after that day, Mercy stopped going around the Storm's as often as she used too. She couldn't be near them without breaking down. She still tries her best not to cry when she's around Anastasia because she sees Joshua in her, and that only hurt Mercy more.

Skylar's the only one that knows about Mercy's irregular sleeping pattern and her nightmares. And he also knew that every night, she sneaks out to spend the remaining night at the tree house. "One day," Mercy frowned. She hasn't given up hope that Joshua would one day return back to her. She prayed that he did. She'd give anything to be with him again.

Laying down on the blanket Mercy had left there from the night before, she stared up at the ceiling. Thoughts fluttering her mind about the figure that had brought such chaos and whatever happened to him. Why he didn't come after her when she was alone or why she hadn't seen him since Joshua had been gone.

Mercy let her eyes close, feeling sleep coming. It was something she didn't want but her body needed. Being weak from the lack of sleep was really affecting her. She stopped doing most of the things she used to. Like laughing or smiling. She'd laugh at little things with Anastasia but they were never real, not like the ones when she was with Joshua. Same goes with her smiles. She wasn't really herself anymore and she disliked it. She didn't like the fact that when Joshua left, a huge part of her went with him. She tried, though. She tried her best to be herself again, but she couldn't. She couldn't without Joshua. He was always there, everywhere she turned. And now that he wasn't, she felt weird.

Every place seemed off to her, except the tree house. That's the only place that felt right to her. That and Joshua's bedroom. She didn't let anyone go near his room. It's been the same as he left it. Passing his door when she spends time with Anastasia hurts her too. She also hasn't set a foot in his room but she wasn't exactly ready for more breakdowns.

That's when she felt it, a warm tear escaping from her eye. Hurt.

You shouldn't let this get to you, you're stronger than that. Mercy thought to herself as she wiped the single tear away.

"Who am I kidding?" She muttered aloud. "I'm not as strong as I once was."

Sighing loudly, Mercy pulled the hood of Joshua's hoodie up and over her face. Begging for the sleep to take over her now. She was ready for the night to end.

2.

Anastasia shuffled into her family's dining room as her older brother was having breakfast.  She was still dressed in her pajamas, her bright pink hair thrown up into a messy ponytail. "Oh, you're up." Skylar said, slumming his feet onto the kitchen table. And like the two, they both have blue eyes and Skylar's hair is brown.

"Gross." Anastasia made a face, snatching a sausage off of his plate.

"Very gentleman like, Skylar." Misery, Skylar's fiancee, grumbled, pushing her eggs around with a fork. She took a sigh in a she swung her white hair behind her shoulders, "The taste of food has gotten very.. unsatisfying lately.."  

"Oh hush." Skylar growled playfully, his eyes snapping at Misery. "Shouldn't you be at the store, since that's more important than me?"

Misery glared at Skylar. "Don't be rude."

"I wasn't. I was stating the obvious." Skylar's head turned towards Anastasia, a smirk forming on his lips. "My wife doesn't have time for me anymore."

"Not wife quite yet... But I think it's cute. Skylar's not getting all the attention for once." Anastasia said in total awe.

Misery pulled the hood of her jacket up, she was embarrassed. Standing, she kissed Skylar's cheek. "Don't wait up guys, I'll be in late." And with that, Misery left Skylar alone with Anastasia.

"So..." Skylar began to say.

Anastasia didn't listen and loudly climbed the stairs, slamming her door after yelling "Save it, Sky!"

Being Friday, Anastasia spent most of her day watching old classics. Tells you how much of a life she has outside of her bedroom walls. She was cut short when her phone rang. 

"Hello?" She answered.

"Hey... Ana?" A male voice spoke from the other side of the line.

"No, she's dead," Anastasia sighed.

"Oh... Um..."

"I'm only kidding. What do you need?" She giggled.

"Oh... Uh... It's Ryle... You know... that one boy you turned down years ago for helping you out." 

Then She felt them, the butterflies in her stomach. She was nervous. She never thought she'd speak to Ryle again after what had happened years ago. "Ry-Ryle... How'd you get my-my--" 

"Number? Mercy gave it to me." 

Anastasia pouted. "Of course Meerkat did." 

"Anyways... Do you want to hang out?" 

"Loved too." Anastasia felt a smile form on her lips. She was sure a blush was coming with it. 

"I'll be seeing you shortly."

"Oh... Ry--" all she heard was the dial tone.

Anastasia frowned at her phone and shook her head. Getting over her nervousness, She dressed in a pair of shorts and a white tank top. While she was applying her eyeliner there was a knock on the door.

"Hey, Ana..." Skylar opened the door, "Whoa. Are you going out?"

"Yeah..." Anastasia looked at him through the mirror.

"How long?"

"Long enough to be home before Misery," She smiled as she was applying the last of her makeup.

Anastasia looked at her brother and couldn't help but smile bigger. "What are you thinking of? You make me nervous when you grin like that," Skylar leaned against the door frame.

"That I must be adopted," Anastasia returned to her makeup.

"How do you figure?" he asked.

"You and Joshua are likable... and well... I'm just me." She shrugged, "Being a twin and baby sister aren't exactly a good mix..."

"You know that's not true, Ana."

"Meh..."

"Ana..." 

Anastasia knew Skylar was going to go on about Joshua, and she didn't want to hear it. "I should go," Anastasia nodded and left the room.

"Have fun with your boyfriend," Skylar shouted after her.

"Not my boyfriend," Anastasia shouted back. She ran down the steps and jumped the last few hitting the floor with a thump. She ran out of the house and leapt into Ryle's car after he leaned over to open the door for her.

"I'll have her home by eight, Skylar." Ryle smiled at Skylar, who was standing at the front door.

Anastasia smiled at Ryle and laughed. "Back by eight?" She asked him.

"I'll tell him I sent you home at eight. If you didn't go home then, it's not my fault."

The wind in her face and a pounding beat in her chest that she knew she couldn't feel made her feel free. What was the point of going to heaven if she had to forget nights like this? Anastasia glanced over at Ryle, who was smiling to himself. He was nodding his head to the beat of his stereo, his dark brown hair fluttering around his face and into his chocolate eyes.

Ryle...

Anastasia quickly turned her head and stared out the window to her right. She was afraid that Ryle would see what she'd managed to hide from everyone.

I'm in love with you...

She knew it was in her eyes, screaming to be noticed and to be taken seriously and to have her feelings returned. Anastasia tried to hide her smile and pulled her knees up to her chest and hugged them tightly as warm waves of giddyness spread through her

"So, Ana... What are we up to tonight?" Ryle asked.

"I don't really know, I'd hoped you'd have that planned," she shrugged.

"How about the skate park?" Ryle asked her and she rolled her eyes.

"So you can stare at all the sexy female skaters?" Anastasia giggled.

"No..."

"Do your parents know you're out with me tonight?" She asked him.

"No, I don't let them know all of my business," Ryle lowered the volume so the two of them could talk in normal tone.

"Really?" 

"What's the worst they could do? Kill me?" 

"Possibly," Anastasia smiled slightly at his joke.

"And yet a smile of pure satisfaction crosses her face," Ryle laughed out loud.

"I don't know what you mean?" Anastasia stared straight ahead and tried to keep her face devoid of any emotion.

"I need to stop at my place first," she gave Ryle a blank look, "before we go to the skate park," he clarified.

"You were serious?" She groaned.

"You need to appreciate skate," he turned the volume up again and turned up the street to the well known hill of the rich and well off of the city.

Anastasia rolled her eyes and stared out the window wondering what it'd be like to have her own balcony. She slowly climbed out of Ryle's car, and by the time she was fully standing with the door closed Ryle had entered his house and as usual, left the door open assuming Anastasia was right behind him.

Anastasia stared up at the huge mansion and noted all the lights were off, Ryle's mother clearly wasn't home. 

Or was... 

Anastasia sighed when Narsha walked up to the door, rolling her eyes as she went to close the door, Ryle grabbed her arm to stop her. "Could you at least be nice?" 

Narsha yanked free from Ryle's grip, rolling her eyes. "Whatever. I have business to take care of." 

Anastasia frowned as Ryle joined her side. "I'm so sorry..." 

"No. She doesn't like me. I'm used to it." She shrugged. 

"Ready to go?" Anastasia could hear the frustration in Ryle's voice as he sighed. 

"Yeah." she nodded.

3.

He stepped foot onto the pavement of the road, looking at the welcome sign of Don Juan's. He couldn't believe he was standing just miles away from the place he'd always call home.

"Seven years..." Joshua muttered as he fixed the strap of his duffle bag over his shoulder. 

Joshua closed his soft blue hues as the soft breeze hit his face, swaying his dark hair slightly. He missed the smell of the fresh air and how rich it was. The only thing he didn't miss was the reason he left in the first place.

Why did he really come back?

Was it for his family?

Was it to put his past at rest?

Or was it for the love of his life?

Mercy...

"I hope she'll forgive me..." Joshua sighed as his thoughts lingered on Mercy. She was always on his mind. There was never a day he didn't feel to be near her again. He slipped a small silver locket from his pocket, watching it twirl in his hand before placing it back. "Here I go..." He grumbled as he sluggishly made his way into the one place he thought he forgotten.

What he didn't know was that someone was watching him.

4.

Mercy woke up in bed at exactly 10 AM, to the sound of her bedroom window closing. With a groan she rolled out of bed only to whine when her feet hit the floor. Leave it to her to be clumsy.

"Get out of bed," Joshua whispered to her.

"But I'm so tired, Joshie." Mercy pouted, "I think I'll just stay home today."

"Not on my life, come on."

Mercy smiled faintly at the fact that Joshua was with her again, helping her to her feet.

"Okay, okay. How long do I have?"

"Half an hour, Mer."

After Mercy's shower, she walked  into her room, dressed in nothing but a towel and began digging through her closet for an outfit. Joshua's attention was outside as he stared out the window. "Haven't you heard of being dressed before walking into a room with someone in it?" 

Mercy rolled her eyes as her hands ran along her jeans. "You're not just someone, Joshua. And besides, it's not like you haven't seen my body before." Joshua smirked lightly, shaking his head.

"Get dressed, Merbear. The forest is calling our names." 

Mercy giggled as she ran passed trees, watching her steps so she didn't fall. Out of breath, she came to a stop. She looked around for Joshua as she took in slow and long breaths. He was in the forest with her, just not on the ground or in sight. Pouting lightly, Mercy called out for him. "Joshie, come on! I'm not gonna come searching for you again!" 

A branch snapped above her head. As Mercy looked up to see, her slender and small figure was pinned to the ground. Joshua smirked down at her as he straddled her hips. "Pinned ya." 

Mercy pouted up at him. "Cheat." 

Joshua gasped playfully, "I am not." 

"You are." 

Joshua rolled his eyes playfully. "Oh hush up." 

Mercy glared up at Joshua as he stayed on her. "Mind letting me go?" 

Joshua smirked, running his fingers down Mercy's neck. "I don't know. I think I might not." Mercy closed her eyes at Joshua's touch.

"You're such a tease," she mumbled. 

"Me a tease? I think you've mistaken me for you." And with that, Joshua got off Mercy and stood to his feet. 

Mercy opened her eyes and stared up at Joshua for a moment. "Josh..?" 

Joshua didn't look down at Mercy, his eyes were on the clearing. He's caught scent of something. "Mm?" 

Mercy sat up, turning her head to look to where Joshua was staring. "What are you starin-" 

"Nothing." Joshua said, cutting Mercy off. "Come on. Let's go to the tree house. I have a surprise  for you." 

Mercy stood up, nipping on her lip. "You do?" 

Nodding, Joshua took Mercy's hand in his. "I do." 

Mercy blushed, following Joshua as he led her to the tree house. "Oh-Okay.." 

Could Joshua feel the same way as she did for him?

Did Mercy have to continue to hide her feelings towards him when everyone clearly knew she was in love with Joshua?

Could they be together like she wished for?  

Joshua helped Mercy into the tree house him and Skylar built a long time ago. Still amazed that the old building hasn't caved in. "Close your eyes," He whispered. 

Doing as told, Mercy closed her eyes. "What's the surprise, Joshieboo?" 

As soon as Mercy asked, something slipped into the palm of her hand. The soft fabric of the object sending chills up her arms as she studied it. "I love you, Mercy." Joshua whispered in her ear before planting a soft kiss on the corner of her lips.

Blushing brightly, Mercy opened her eyes and looked down at the object she held close. It was a small rectangular, black box. Mercy bit her lip as she looked up at Joshua before speaking. "I love you too, Joshie..." 

Joshua smiled at her. "Open it..." 

Mercy smiled as she slowly opened the lid, a personalized white rose laid underneath with a small script engraved into the petals. "Joshua, it's-" 

"It's a poem that I know.. The writing.." Joshua smiled, looking away. "Mercy, if I had to live my life over again, I'd find you sooner so that I could love you longer."

"It's beautiful."  

"Like you."

Mercy's blush deepened. Moving, she wrapped her arms around Joshua's neck and pulled him into a hug. Joshua pressed his lips to Mercy's forehead as his arms slipped around her waist, squeezing her gently. Mercy smiled to herself and closed her eyes, leaning into Joshua's kiss. "It's you and me, right? Forever?" Mercy whispered. 

"Forever," Joshua returned to her in a quiet whisper. "That, I promise." 

Mercy smiled and nuzzled her face against the crease in Joshua's neck, keeping him close to her. She didn't want this day to end. It was nothing but perfect to her. Perfect like any other day it was when she was with Joshua.

5.

Mercy jolted up from the spot she fell asleep at, her heart pounding against her chest. Looking around, she tried to focus on her surroundings.

The blanket.

The tree house.

The reality.

Yup, she was right where she started.

Mercy sighed as she rubbed her face with her hands, frustrated that she had, yet another, dream of Joshua. He was gone and he wasn't going to come back. Mercy was trying to realize that, but she held on more to dreams than reality.

The pretend world always seemed better than real life.

Frowning, Mercy picked up her mess; cleaning up the tree house like she always did everytime she was out there.

"Why can't you just move on?" Mercy whispered to herself.

"Because he's the love of your life..." A male voice responded back to her from behind.

Mercy gasped at the male voice that came from behind her. Jumping, she instantly put her hand up to her chest. Controlling her breath as her eyes come in contact with Crispen's.

"How long have you been there?" Mercy asked.

Crispen leaned against one of the wall structures, his arms crossed over his chest. "Enough to know that you're still hooked on, what's his name?"

Mercy rolled her eyes as she placed the blanket on the window seat. "His name is Joshua. And why are you even here? This belongs to the Storm's. Shouldn't you be at your chalets, Scott?" Mercy almost hissed the name out. She was taught never to associate with the Scotts, that they were nothing but bad people.

Crispen's gray eyes flickered in the last bit of pain, moving away from the wall. "You should watch your tone with me, Vanti. I could get you in trouble real quick."

"I think you'd be the one more in trouble here then me."

"Awe, boo-hoo." Crispen spit out. "I only came here to tell you something important, mouth."

"What? More of your threatening? You're not scary."

The corners of Crispen's mouth picked up in a light smirk, half his face shining in the little bit of light in the tree house. "Your precious Joshua is back in town..."

Mercy's heart dropped when she focused on what she just heard. Completely lost for words. "You're lying." She muttered.

"No, I am not." Crispen shook his head in protest. "I saw him walking into Don Juan's not too long ago. Looks like he was heading home." With that, Mercy pushed passed Crispen to make her way out of the tree house, being careful to land on her feet after practically jumping off the ladder. Crispen followed right behind her. He watched Mercy run along the footpath. "Where do you think you're going?" He yelled after her.

"To understand why he did it!" Mercy shouted in response, not once turning her head back.

6.

 Ryle winced at the pain in his elbow as Anastasia placed a bandaid on his wound for the finishing touches. "Can't you be more gentle?"

"I'm just trying to help, Ry." Anastasia frowned. "Maybe you should give skateboarding a rest for today?"

Ryle shook his head as he gripped his skateboard in his hands, thinking to himself about how he needed to get new grip tape when he had the chance. "This is my living. I think I'll continue to do it."

"What are you going to do when you break something?"

"I've had worse." Ryle spoke out quickly, as if he had this conversation before.

"You're lucky you're cute." Anastasia pouted playfully and pressed a kiss to Ryle's cheek, causing him to chuckle.

"Anastasia, what the hell are you doing?" Joshua's voice was stern.

And what was more scary about this is the fact that she knew that voice perfectly well.

Even though it's been years.

Even though it's much deeper.

Anastasia turned to stand to her feet with a surprise expression on her face when she saw her brother standing right in front of her. "Josh..."

"Save it. Where's Skylar? He wasn't at the house."

"Hi to you too, Joshua." Anastasia sighed. "Probably at the store with Misery. You should know your brother by now."

"Thanks." Joshua turned away from the skate park.

"Wha-What? Wait!" Anastasia called after him, but it was no use. Joshua was gone.

Ryle gave her a confused look as he stood to his feet. "That was Josh? As in the brother who's been missing for five years now?" Anastasia nodded. "And all he cares about is Skylar?"

Anastasia's lips curved into a frown, "Don't remind me." 

Ryle scoffs, slipping his skateboard perfectly underneath his feet and took a step forward, guiding his skateboard along the ramp in front of him. Anastasia stared down the path she watched her twin brother disappear before looking back to Ryle, watching him continue on his tricks. She wasn't sure how she felt about any of this.

7.

 Misery walked up to one of the clothing racks and looked at the clothes. She moved the bathing suits around so that they were in rows of smallest to largest, dull colors to pretty colors. She had high OCD. But who could blame her? It was much easier for the customers. She hummed softly to herself as she danced across the store that Skylar and she opened up together, nearly four years ago. She never thought that the Three Highlands would be as successful as it is today. The obvious name coming from the three main families of Don Juan's.

Misery heard footsteps approaching her from behind as she pulled out a maroon top from one of the skirt racks, immediately rejecting it and placing it back on the rack. Making a side note in her head that she had to get rid of it as soon as possible. "Missy?"

"Yeah?" Misery asked, her eyes gazing over the dresses. 

"Don't you think it's time to close the store?" Skylar asked.

"What do you think about this?" Misery held up a short navy blue dress, ignoring Skylar's question.

"Well, what exactly are you looking for?" He sighed.

"I'm not looking for anything, Sky. I'm looking for clothing that needs to go." Misery nodded.

"Aren't you tired of this?" Skylar asked, stepping away from Misery to push a clearance rack behind the front counter. "Being away from me for so many hours?"

"What are you saying?" Misery questioned, her eyes leaving the dresses. "Are you breaking up with me?"

"No!" Skylar shouted out the response, feeling bad that he rose his voice to Misery, but that wasn't what he was doing. He wasn't leaving her. "I just miss you, is all." Misery frowned as she listened to Skylar, moving to make her way to him as the doors of the store swung open, nearly knocking the decor off the walls. Misery gasped at the sudden fright attack and spun around, Skylar instantly hiding her behind him. Something he seemed to do when he thought she was in danger. Nearly growling, Skylar hissed out under his breath. "Who are you and what do you want?"

Joshua looked up from his hood, slowly placing it down as he breathed heavy. His eyes now a lemon green. "Help me." He muttered out weakly.

8.

Joshua woke just before dawn and jerked up in bed, his heart thudding against his chest. He didn't know where he was. And the dream still hovered, shadowy, and threatening - the old night - more of running and not getting anywhere, driven by a terrible formless urgency, seeing his own breath clouding the air out in front of him.

That was all, but it had never failed to scare him. And this time was no exception.

Joshua sat, clutching a handful of sheets in his hands, blinking frantically against the unknown half dark surrounding him.

Silence.

Silence and dim, unfamiliar space, the shapes of the window defined by a grey glimmer too faint to be called light. 

At last, little by little, the dream began to loosen it's hold and Joshua remembered where he was.

He was home.

He was in his room at the family victorian lake house.

Joshua took a deep breath and released it. The world was utterly quiet. In the silence, sleep seemed to be gone for good.

Slipping out of bed, Joshua went to the window. His fingers moving to rub over the fine lettering along his collarbone. The print revealing Mercy's full name - Mercy Ray Vanti - against his skin in a tattoo. He got this a little bit after he left, to remind himself that he wasn't a monster.

Joshua caught his breath as he opened the shutters. Moving away, he stumbled back to bed, sleep rising to equip him like a wave.

When he woke again, the room was filled with sunlight - splashed across the white walls. White coverlet rumpled around him on the bed, glowing in the cinder-colored depths of the floorboards. To his left, outside the window that took up most of the room's wall, the town was awake. To his right, his door was tightly closed. Only being closed like that when one person was around...

...Mercy.

Joshua sat up instantly. "Please don't be here."

Joshua didn't want Mercy to see him. Not like this.

If she was even still in this town.

He was still unsure that he'd be able to come home to her still being stuck around Don Juan's. Not after what happened.

Maybe this wasn't going to work after all.

Joshua shrugged and let his thoughts return. He swung his legs down from the bed and went to the window. The spread of the lake visible below, the forest not too far away.

A glance at the face of the clock on Joshua's dresser told him it was ten minutes to 8 AM. He would have discouraged this sort of thing, but for now he threw on a pair of jeans and a shirt, then ran down the stairs to the kitchen.

"Good morning." Misery sat at the table, eating a bowl of cereal. "How did you sleep last night?"

"Great." Joshua sat next to Misery. "Skylar wasn't in bed this morning. Where is he?"

"I don't know. I just got up five minutes ago," Misery replied.

All Joshua did was nod at Misery's response. Not quite sure what to think of her. But there was something about her that attracted his brother. If Skylar was happy, he had to be too.

A cup of some type of dark substance - blood - slid over in front of Joshua. "Eat," Skylar muttered. Joshua looked up to see Skylar standing there, looking at him sternly.

Mercy's here. You need to look... human.

Joshua gripped at his head as it started to ache, hissing at Skylar. He forgot how easily Skylar was able to read minds and get inside. "Can you please not start with me?"

"Try living with him." Misery teased.

"I have." Joshua looked at Misery. "He's not all that special."

Skylar scoffed, shoving the cup more at Joshua. "Eat. Now."

Joshua gave Skylar a look as he took a drink from the cup, making a face to the tingling feeling at the back of his throat.

He knew this taste? 

He's had it once before.

Joshua pushed the cup away, speaking in a growl. "What is this?!"

"It's human blood." Skylar nodded, resting his arm on Misery's shoulder. "Don't be the pathetic vampire we know, Joshua. You need to get better, you're weak."

"Who's blood is this?!" Joshua growled again, completely ignoring the fact that the whole Storm family were vampires. And not just that, Misery was a wolf. But they were nothing close to Twilight. That's for sure. 

Skylar looked down at Misery, "Um..."

"Don't you dare tell me it's Mercy's."

"Not exactly..."

"Don't play around the bush, Skylar. Tell me."

"Joshua... it's bad." Misery muttered out.

"Hush!" Skylar replied, placing his hand over Misery's mouth.

"What's bad? Is she dead? Did you kill her?!" Joshua stood from his seat.

"Are you serious right now? You really think I'd hurt Mercy in any way? You have to be kidding me. You out of all people know we hold Mercy close to this family. Don't you ever say something so foolish like that again." Skylar said, holding his ground.

"Where is she?"

"She's sleeping. She's okay for now." Misery nodded, trying her best to reassure Joshua.

"Then how is it bad?" Joshua asked questionly.

"If you're a vampire, you should be able to feel what's going on with the human you drank from. I didn't know how to put any of this into words correctly. I thought you'd like to witness for yourself what's happened over the last five years." Joshua rolled his hands up into fists and shakes his head, turning away to leave the scene. "We did it for the best!" Skylar called out after.

9.

Joshua fell to the ground, landing hard on his ass as the feelings started to hit him. The impact stunned him. Mercy's face appearing above him, a worried scowl, half obscured by the white hair hanging in her eyes, while the pain stabbed his leg and he was forced to smile; determined not to be a sissy. He was staring into the eyes of the creature that he encountered years ago. The same one that haunted him this very day. 

In the silence of his room, where he was, Mercy's voice said clearly, "Please! Help me!"

The words sounded right in Joshua's ear. His sense of actually having heard them was so strong that his head turned involuntary towards the sound.

What the hell?

Joshua was alone. Alone in his room, the surrounding silence intensified now by the spinning of the dust mores and by a faint prickling over the entire surface of his skin. 

Joshua blinked against the surrounding dazzle of patterned light, trying to orient himself into the present. There had been no voice, except inside his head. Regardless of how audible, how real they had seem, the words had been nothing more than an echo from the past, jarred free - literally this time - from it's hidden niche in his head.

Joshua shook off the lingering memory and began to take cautious inventory over his body.

Am I hurt? Don't think so.

Joshua picked himself up and dusted the dirt from his legs and the seat of his pants. No major harm done.