{Chapter 15}
Marcus crept along the forest tracking a small deer. He was feeling a little peckish and this would do as a nice snack. Though he already was nearly six feet tall he was light on his feet and made little noise as he followed his prey. As the deer lowered its head to drink from a small pond he pounced, wrestling the creature to the ground. He could smell the fear dripping off of it and relished it. Holding the creature close to his body he sunk his fangs into the neck and drank deep. He could hear the heartbeat getting weaker and weaker as he drained it completely.
With a satisfied sigh he placed the dead animal aside and began to dig a hole with his hands. He always made sure to bury his prey when he was finished. Saying a prayer that Layla had taught him he placed the deer in the hole and covered it up. When he was done he dusted himself off and stood.
A wave of dizziness washed over him as he did so and he stumbled back, leaning on a tree for support. He knew all too well that he was having another vision of the girl named Rose, but this time it seemed to be much stronger. The forest began to spin around him and he dropped to his knees.
“I’m telling you, Rosie,” Melina giggled. “Those shoes are just to die for.”
“And the previous owner did,” Rose cackled as she admired the heels on her feet. “You can borrow them any time you want.”
“No,” Marcus groaned. “Not out here. Not where Mama won’t be able to find me.” His head was spinning and he couldn’t will his legs to move.
~~~~~
“And I think that dress is…” Rose stopped talking, sagging against the nearest chair.
“Rosie,” Melina asked. “What’s wrong?”
Rose didn’t respond. Her emerald orbs stared blankly. Melina grasped her shoulders and shook her gently. She didn’t respond, only stared off blankly.
Marcus looked around the forest, gasping. He had crept beyond the border that Layla had told him never to cross. “No,” he groaned, crawling to get within the border once again. “Mama will be so mad!”
“Who are you,” Rose demanded.
“Rosie, you know me,” Melina said, concern filling her brown orbs. “It’s Melina.”
“What’s going on,” Adam asked.
“Something’s wrong with Rosie,” Melina said wringing her hands.
“Go get Glen,” Adam said going to Rose. “Rosie? Rosie, it’s Adam. Come on, honey, snap out of it.”
“What’s going on,” Glen asked when Melina returned with him.
“I don’t know,” Adam replied. “She’s catatonic.”
Glen squatted down in front of her and grasped her shoulders gently. “Rosie,” he said. “Rose, sweetheart, come back to us.”
Hearing his voice Rose snapped out of her trance. She blinked at Glen, her head still foggy from the odd vision. “Uncle Glen,” she asked groggily.
“Come on,” Glen said scooping her up in his arms. “I’m putting you to bed.”
He knew all too well what had happened. He had spoken to Heath long ago about Marcus going through the same thing. He had agreed that it was twin telepathy. He had also agreed that Layla’s protection spells had kept the link from being a two way street. Glen knew that Marcus must have gone beyond the protective borders that Layla had set up for this to have happened.
“Should I contact David,” Adam asked following close behind Glen.
“No,” Glen replied. “She’ll be fine.”
“Has this happened before,” Adam demanded, not liking how secretive Glen was being.
“It’s nothing for you to be concerned about,” Glen replied glaring at him.
“Adam,” Rose said weakly. “I’m fine. Just tired. Please don’t worry and tell Melina not to worry either.”
“As you wish,” Adam replied with a sigh. He stopped following Glen and went to find Melina.
“There,” Glen said settling Rose in her bed.
“Uncle Glen, who’s Marcus,” she asked as he tucked her in.
“He was your brother,” Glen replied. “He died the night you two were born.”
Rose eyed him suspiciously. “He seemed quite alive when I saw him in my vision,” she said.
“That’s because you have a gift for connecting with the dead, honey,” Glen lied. “Remember you told me of the dream of your mother?” She nodded, seemingly pacified for the time being. “Get some rest and then we can go hunting later. All right?” She smiled and nodded, settling back on her pillows and closing her eyes.
Glen left the room and headed down the stairs. He was met by Thorn at the bottom. “Adam says that Rose went into some sort of trance,” he said softly. “Has she discovered that her twin lives?”
“No,” Glen replied. “I think she believed what I told her. I need to check on Marcus.”
“Go, everything will be fine here,” Thorn replied. Glen nodded and left the mansion.
~~~~~
Glen entered the cottage without knocking. “Where is he,” he demanded of Layla. His tone startled her and she pointed into the living room. Glen saw his nephew sitting on the couch and picked him up off of it by the shirt collar. “Are you insane? Do you have a death wish, boy,” he growled.
“Uncle Glen,” Marcus cried out, terrified by this side of his uncle. “Please.”
“Glen! What’s going on,” Layla demanded.
“Do you realize what you’ve done? She knows about you now, Marcus. How could you be so careless?”
Layla gasped realizing what Glen was saying. “Marcus, please tell me you didn’t go beyond the border,” she said, dread filling her.
“It was an accident,” Marcus wailed. “I was following a deer. I didn’t know how far I had gone until it was too late!”
Glen growled something under his breath and dropped Marcus back onto the couch. “I think I’ve convinced Rose that you were a vision of her dead brother,” Glen said perching on the back of the couch with a sigh. “You better pray that Mark doesn’t find out about this.”
“I’m sorry,” Marcus said hanging his head. “I promise it won’t happen again.”
Glen placed a hand on his nephew’s shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Be more careful next time,” he said softly. He then turned his attention to Layla. “You need to keep track of him better.”
“I’m only one person, Glen,” Layla replied crossing her arms across her chest. “He’s a growing boy, a curious boy. Short of tying him to a tree how do you propose I keep track of him?”
“From now on,” Glen said. “He hunts at night. When I can come and keep an eye on him.” He looked pointedly at Marcus. “Understood?”
“Yes, Uncle Glen,” Marcus replied somberly.
~~~~~
Later that night after she had come back from hunting with Glen Rose feigned sleepiness and retired to her room. Once inside she slipped out of her jeans and T-shirt and pulled on a pair of black leather pants that fit her like a second skin and a crimson tank top. She had already inherited her mother’s curvaceous figure making her appear much older than she truly was. She finger combed her hair out of it’s braid letting it cascade down her back. Satisfied with her appearance she grabbed her jacket and opened her window.
She had just gotten her leg out when Adam entered her room. “What are you doing,” he demanded.
“Still a little hungry,” she replied with a smirk. “Don’t wait up, Adam.”
With that she jumped out, landing soundlessly on the ground. She looked up at her window and smiled, waving. Adam was now peering out the window at her as she headed away from the mansion.
“Damn it,” Adam growled, slamming his fist on the windowsill. She had snuck off before, but never after a hunt. He sighed exiting the room before he drew Glen's attention. The last thing Rose needed was her uncle angry with her.
~~~~~
Happily Rose wandered the streets taking in the sights and smells. Everything seemed so much sweeter with her forbidden independence. She debated whether she wanted to go to a club to dance a bit or just continue to enjoy the cool night air as it danced across her skin.
She caught scent of someone following her and smirked. Speeding up her steps to a brisk stroll she rounded a corner and waited in the shadows. She soon saw the man come into view. He was tall and she could smell he was also intoxicated.
“You gonna follow me all night or are you gonna introduce yourself, honey,” she said coming out of the shadows.
“My name’s Randy, baby,” he replied smiling, his blue eyes twinkling with mischief in the streetlight. “What’s yours?”
“Rose,” she said approaching him. She pressed her body up against his, smiling at the sharp intake of breath from him. “Mmmm, so sexy, you wanna come home with me?” She had fully intended to feed on him, but felt a sudden urge she had never felt before.
“What are we waiting for,” Randy asked leading her to his car. She took the keys from him and pushed him into the passenger seat. She didn’t fancy getting into a wreck tonight. “I like a woman who takes charge,” he smirked, placing as hand on her knee as she threw the car into gear and tore out of the parking spot.
It didn’t take long for her to make it home. She parked outside the gates to the mansion and led Randy up the long walk. “You live here,” he asked amazed at the sheer size of the place.
“Quiet,” she hissed as she opened the door and found the house quiet and dark. “I don’t want my uncle to hear you. He’ll kill me if I bring home one more guy,” she lied. Randy nodded and mimed zipping his lip and locking them.
She led him up the stairs and into her room, locking the door behind her. “Now,” she said smiling and shoving him back onto the bed. “Let’s see about relieving you of these pants.”
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