Things I Learned in the Dark

By Alice Sweet

Welcome to the school for the undead....

Awakening to the sounds of beautiful music, Anna is abducted from her life and thrust into another, where Vampires, Werewolves, and others await...in the dark.

Her kind is a special breed, hunted to near extinction, for their addictive blood. She is the only one left, hiding in plain sight, vulnerable and fearful of causing an outbreak of monstrous proportions. Since a single drop of her blood, turns the infected insane, with desire for more of her.

She soon discovers the true curse of the Charmling though, is her body begins working against her as well, burning with an unnatural hunger for the men in her life. Grimm the handsome professor cursed with blood like acid and the brooding Sabin who could kill her with a single bite, do nothing to deter her urges.

Once the blood hits the water, she finds herself running out of places to hide, from her unpredictably dangerous needs or those aimed at keeping her for their own nefarious purposes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alice Sweet
• Release date: Jan 21, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301508174

Alice Sweet

Alice began writing as a hobby, short stories and poetry mostly, inspired by reading a myriad of authors. Eventually she found her own niche and moved on to writing full length manuscripts. Currently, Alice writes and lives in Maryland with her three wonderful children, and her loving husband Jeffrey.

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Things I Learned in the Dark

By Alice Sweet

Copyright 2012Alice Schneider

Smashwords Edition

Discover other titles by Alice Sweet at www.Smashwords.com or www.alicesweet.com

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This e-Book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-Book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

The Table of Contents

Let it Rain

Twisted Roads

Three Brave Men

Awake my Sweet

Fall in Line

Secrets

Pain and Lights

Consequences

Heat

Mirror…Mirror

Visitors in the Night

Calls

Hunted

Clear Water

Walk Away

Ghost Walking

Meet the Family

Out Comes the Night

Turn the Tides

The Source

I would like to dedicate this book to my beautiful daughters, for inspiring me everyday.

Let it Rain

Most people’s childhood memories are cherished things, sparkling summers filled with splashing in the wonders of light, on sandy beaches or springtime watering holes. Not mine, my first notable memory took place only a year ago on a gloomy afternoon in the middle of a rainstorm on a nothing street…. when magic first touched my life. I remember it clearly, the rain soaked clothing that I wore, sticking to my skin as I waited at a bus stop in the dwindling light. The air was filled with the sounds of honking horns and spray tossed up by passing vehicles as they sped through the narrow streets in the older section of town.

I remember standing patiently a few feet from the corner in the cold, grasping my steaming cup of coffee, as if trying to take in some of its warmth. I could not seem to shake the chill that had settled in my bones that day, even though the showers were surprisingly warm. I stood watching taillights flicker to life, as they slowed rounding the bend up ahead, wishing that I was anywhere but where I was at the moment, but not quite miserable enough to do anything about it. When without realizing it, my wish was granted as the unusual chain of events which lead to my unlikely future began, when the most unusual thing caught my eye.

It was a pair of eyes blinking out of the storm drain across the street from me. Truthfully, I should have been alarmed, frightened in fact, but strange enough, I was not. I think it was perhaps because they had life to them, dark soulful life, blinking out into the fading light of the day, eyes filled with a look of amazement. They were curiously transfixed by the comings and goings on the sidewalks and various shops, which lined the main thoroughfare. The stirring gaze was offset by pale skin and thick dark eyebrows, which knitted questioningly at me as he caught my look of bewilderment. I tilted my head disbelievingly, while he seemed to shift a bit, as if pleasantly surprise by my scrutiny, watching me now with the same intensity that he had just given the passerby’s.

I straightened up for a moment feeling awkward, while trying to determine if anyone else saw what I did, before realizing I was alone in my discovery. Then I tilted my head to the other side, as if shifting my perspective would some how make sense of what my mind assured me was an impossible discovery. There was a great deal of rainwater flowing into that drain, surely no one would be sitting in such a space, especially at a time like this. Not to mention the conundrum of how one would get there in the first place, as he appeared to be the size of a full grown man.

When as if verifying my existence as well, a pale hand raised waving hesitantly, at me. I waved back hesitantly, suddenly fearful that I may have just had some kind of mental breakdown, one that I did not want to share with others. Then just as quickly, I looked down at the spiced coffee that I held in my hand, and reading the logo, muttering as I dropped it in the trash can next to me, Spiced with love my ass. The eyes in the gutter tilted as if they heard my comment, and without realizing it I announced to my visitor, a bit louder, insanely, as if he could hear me above the noise on the busy street, I am not crazy… Still he shook his head assuring me of my sanity.

However, before I could continue, I was forced to step back, as a couple came hurrying past. They were pressed together in the way that only lover’s can. Lost in their own tiny world of careless distraction, hands interlocked on the umbrella that provided them temporary shelter.

I pursed my lips together in annoyance, before stepping back to the edge of the sidewalk again. It was just long enough to see the eyes disappear. Then the familiar squeaking of the brakes as the bus slid to a stop in front of me, ending my momentary connection to the strangeness that I had seen.

As I boarded the bus, I took my seat quickly eyeing the opening again but found no sign of my wide-eyed imaginary friend, my heart sank, it must have been a hallucination. Or so I thought, my imagination must have been playing with me; no one would have been sitting there, what was I thinking, ridiculous really. Delusions like that did not exist; I was a rational mind in the real world, not one of those frail things that cracked under pressure. I was a stronger woman than that.

As I arrived at my stop the rain let up a bit and I walked the few blocks to my new place, in thoughtful reflection trying to understand what had actually occurred. Perhaps, the chef’s special mushroom from that sandwich at lunch, or the drink I had been holding, either way I was not loosing it. I was too stubborn for that, too determined to let a small thing like that change everything.

I stripped and showered putting on some comfortable clothes for the night, deciding on a romance marathon and a large sweet tooth fix to sooth my frazzled mind. A few movies later, I decided to pop some popcorn to offset the sugar rush and accidentally set off the smoke detector instead. After opening some windows, to alleviate the smell, I unhooked the shrill sounding smoke detector, and tossed it into the sink with a clunk. Then I wrapped myself into a warm fuzzy blanket and immersed myself in pure female derived, cinematic gold.

At some point, I must have drifted off, because when I awoke in the wee hours of the night, it was to the sound of the most beautiful music I had ever heard. It was playing somewhere in the room, or so I thought. I looked to the television suspiciously but quickly realized that the sounds were actually coming from outside. I stood up and flicked off the screen, groggily stumbling over to the window to see if I could identify the source of the enraptured melody and frowned.

I could hear it, practically radiating in my head now, its melodic rhythm begging me to come out to investigate, and as I could not see it from my window sill, I obliged. I looked down at my clothes, sweat pants and t-shirt that I had accidentally fallen asleep in. I decided that it was acceptable enough and without thinking I headed out, stopping only momentarily at the front door to slip on my shoes and grab my keys before going out.

I figured that I could collect my mail, while trying for a closer glimpse at the source of the wondrous sound. Just as I stepped out however, the melody ceased. The only thing outside was a woman, wearing a long flowing dress, heading in my direction. I frowned at my bad luck, before grabbing my mail and turning back toward the sidewalk leading to my place. When I turned around however, she suddenly appeared in front of me, her dark eyes blinking patiently at me, as if she had been waiting for me all the while, scaring the crap out of me.

Oh, I am sorry I did not see you there, are you alright? She asked politely her large brown eyes blinking vacantly.

Oh, no I am fine… I replied feeling the hair on my arms rise, as a sudden chill hit me.

Did you hear the music too? The beautiful woman asked, rudely cutting me off.

Yes it was quite lovely wasn’t it? I replied stepping backwards without really knowing why, as the lovely woman stepped in closer, compensating for her indiscretion by flashing her pearly whites, calculatingly.

Yes it was so beautiful. I could hardly believe it myself. Do you know where it came from? She asked peering down the street in a practiced fashion, which struck me as odd. She acted like a salesman, appearing suspiciously helpful but ultimately just after the bottom line.

I shook my head as a feeling of uneasiness struck me and I began watching the woman carefully, No, I thought it was right outside but when I got out here… nothing, I shrugged letting my words drop trying to feign disinterest.

The woman pouted as if trying to decide something, and then shook her head deciding better, Would you like to come with me to find it?

I hesitated, uneasily back peddling verbally at her ridiculous suggestion, I don’t know it woke me up and it’s like three in the morning, I should really be getting back to bed...

It woke you up? She asked seemed pleasantly surprised, as she reached for her purse, as if this news had somehow settled well with her.

Well, yeah, actually it did. I replied truthfully, a tightness beginning in my chest making it suddenly difficult to breath, and I chuckled nervously, That’s kind of weird though…isn’t it.

No, not at all, we like weird, she replied still rummaging in her bag, with a bit more urgency.

We…? I caught hesitantly, watching the woman who seemed to be searching for something in her bag with unnatural jerky movements now. I stepped back for a second time, and started looking around at the deserted streets for any unseen danger; as my inner alarm began pounding in my chest. I gave her a worried smile as if waiting for her to explain, while gripping my mail tighter, psyching myself up for a retreat. Before I could step around her though, she slammed a needle into my arm with such speed and force that I barely realized what had happened.

I reacted instinctively, slamming my palm into the bridge of her nose, using the only self defense move that I knew, to send her head whipping backwards, but sadly it did not produce the desired effect. I mean, she should have fallen flat on her backside with the force that I struck her, instead she shook it off, as if it were nothing, her feet still firmly planted on the ground. In fact, the only sign that I had even struck her, was a small trickle of blood that ran out of the left nostril, which she wiped away with a carelessness that I found…disturbing.

Before I could even fathom what to do next, a shooting pain shot up my arm from where she had stabbed me, and I gasped dropping my mail. I watched as it suddenly slowed, floating to the ground and reading my name as it fell, Anna Cordelia Bellus. I looked down at where the pain was radiating, and watched in amazement as the glowing liquid from the needle infused itself through my arm. I could actually see it through my skin as a glow shot up through my veins illuminating them. It was searing its way through me, destroying my blood and replacing it by the feeling of it and I froze for fear of spreading the toxin further.

It was for naught however, as I dropped to my knees within seconds; when what I feared worst, occurred as the substance hit my heart and lungs at the same moment, knocking the wind straight out of me. I fell to the ground with a thud then, gasping for breath as the poison ate through my most vital organs. Meanwhile, a male voice materialized out of the darkness behind her, asking the beautiful attacker, What happened to you lovely?

Oh, don’t be such a twat. She snapped back irritated.

You are bleeding… he observed, and she slapped his hand away in mid air, replying, The little tart hit me.

He let out a small gasp and stepped back, That is why I don’t like picking up stays; they should just leave it to the blood families.

She snapped back, You are such an elitist, Evart; there is always a need for new blood. They keep the lines strong.

He huffed defiantly, changing subjects, Shall I put her in with the second lot then?

She nodded, Yeah, Naris must have been wrong about this one, sending us this far out of the way just for her, but at least we were able to collect nine good ones tonight.

He leaned down picking me up by the shirt easily, as my body had become rigid. It was as if rigor mortis had set in, even though I knew I was not dead, the pain I felt assured me of it. He carried me to the second of two tractor trailers which appeared as we reached the edge of the pavement.

It is a pity; there are nearly three times as many mongrels tonight as there are good ones. It seems as if they are trying to make up for their losses. Evart replied, dropping me on top of the pile next to a male bleeding profusely from his nose and mouth. He pushed his fingers through his hair as he stood staring at me for a long moment, as if waiting for me to expire. His watchful gaze remained, unfaltering, as the woman joined him at the open door tucking a syringe back into her purse.

I meanwhile, continued to gasp, spasm after spasm, the pain only increasing more with each breath, and soon I was unable to stop it from consuming my every thought, nearly blacking out with the pain of it. Immediately, I began praying with every fiber of my being, to be granted some kind of reprieve from the excruciating pain. Even passing out seemed preferable to this; the others seemed to have done it, god anything to stop it. Even the male under me slept like the dead, deep peacefully breaths, despite the weight of my body. His face full of various injuries from when he fought his attackers violently, but apparently, no better off than me either, it appeared they were well trained kidnapers.

The woman huffed watching me impatiently, It is getting late, and she’ll be out soon enough, let’s get moving.

He nodded absentmindedly, looking conflicted as if he might argue, when a voice called out from the driver’s seat snapping him out of it, What’s the hold up?

He shook his head reluctantly and closed the door as the engines started up again. Finally in the dark, and away from prying eyes, I began to cry, silent tears, which flowed from my eyes, apparently the only thing yet to be affected by the glowing toxin. The pain continued tirelessly, radiating throughout my body, when as if by some miracle, it seemed to ease it a bit. The teardrops, it seemed, magically released some of the poison from my body, and I began to breathe a bit easier as my mind became my own once more.

It was then, that I noticed through my lifting haze of pain, that the man under me, twitched as one of the drops hit his skin, seeming to finally notice me. Encouraged by his response, I tried to call out to him then, kick, scream anything to gain his attention, but to no avail. I still could not move or speak, even when I tried with all of my might, I was utterly helpless.

Then it struck me, no one knew I was in the truck. Heck no one would even know I was missing. By that time anyone noticed, I would be, at the speeds they seemed to be traveling at, two or three states away by then, maybe even far enough to hit Canada.

All of these poor people, I saw piles of bodies when Evart dropped me. Who were these people, maybe some kind of messed up experiment set up by some crazed fanatics or something. Whatever it was, I had no choice at this point, they had me drugged and defenseless, and they could do what ever they wanted with me now. God whatever they wanted, my mind reveled in the terrifying possibilities. It was mind-blowing and for the first time sitting in the darkness surrounded by unconscious strangers, I was truly mortified.

As the vehicle pulled off, a few of the men in the back of the truck began to growl; it was a strange guttural sound, which seemed to shake the piles of bodies around me. One which apparently alarmed the drivers as well as they began accelerating at increasingly dangerous speeds, screeching as they made sharp turns hell bent on reaching their final destination, where I had no doubt that they would kill me.

Then when they rounded a particularly sharp turn, the male under me rolled out away and my head hit the floor. I lay there for a little while, feeling the vibrations of the tires on the pavement underneath me. When the truck hit a bump, and they turned sharply again, the man came rolling back to me wedging the two of us tightly together, his head just slightly on top of mine.

With the impact of our colliding bodies, his mouth began bleeding anew, spilling out over the side of my face. It was heavier than it should have been, worrying me as to the state of his injuries. Perhaps he was closer to death than I had originally thought and he would in fact die…next to me. Eventually, the blood began to run over my nose and mouth, quickly lowering my ability to breathe even further sending me into a panic. The sensation was excruciating, as thoughts of drowning in this poor man’s blood began swimming in my brain.

I tried to move once more, to push, or wiggle, anything but be frozen in this place drowning in this poor man’s life force. Then as if by a miracle, another autonomic response flicked to life and I swallowed. It was disgusting, and empowering, all at once but I could still postpone my own death…for a while longer anyhow. It was a surprising discovery, which gave me a tiny glimmer of hope given the circumstances, one which provided me with the tiniest bit of comfort.

I swallowed again; gulping down the thick metallic tasting liquid, a second time, trying not to think about its origins, just survive, my mind told me, as my esophagus slowly moved the fluid down into my stomach. From there, I could feel it filtering through my system much like the glowing liquid had, except this was surprisingly… gentler.

It pushed and pulled looking for openings where it could settle and spread, intergrading itself into my body more naturally. Then as a lover would, it slowly caressed my skin from the inside, heating me up and relaxing my muscles, easing me into a peaceful calmness. Which eventually numbed me for the next few hours, draining away all of my fears and anxieties, until I could no longer remember why I was so upset to begin with. Then sitting in the pitch-black container, covered in blood, the vibrations of the tires on a gravel road and piles of bodies surrounding me, I was finally able to let go, exhausted from my ordeal, passing out.

Those are the daunting circumstances which led to my improbable future here, in the darkness, and I will remember them for as long as I live, however long that is…thump, thump, thump….

Twisted Roads

When Anna awoke, it was to blinding light unlike any she had ever seen before, it radiated shifting, swaying and flowing together making it impossible for her to make any sense of it. Then an unexpected growling, snarling and snapping began, with distinctive stops and starts as if a language could be pulled out from those jumbled syllables. The sounds were followed by more sounds of shifting bodies, rocking the back of the trailer as a mass exodus occurred around her.

She did not move though, fearful of the end result, trying to move while still blinded, instead choosing to remain still, wiping her eyes hoping to restore her sight. Before she could explain however, rough hands gripped her ankle and drug her out of the back end, letting her drop to the ground with a thud. She slowly rose to her feet trembling uncontrollably, as the smell of blood and burning oil filled the air.

Instinctually, she crossed her arms to keep the cold off, although even in the crisp night, all her focus was on the smell of those burning oils. Their distinctive smoky aroma hung in the air, signaling deaths door was near and that was where the fear centered for her. That heat was too close, and it could kill. Strange that her mind focused upon such frivolous details, with all of the creatures growling and snapping, they were inches from her. Yelling now, in fact, at her, so close that she could feel the exhalation of breath as the angry male voice unexpectedly, gave her a shove, trying to get her to focus. Still she could not bring herself to move.

She was frozen in a trance like state, the danger of those unseen flames somewhere nearby. Here mind began to race then, they were close, awfully close to her; it could catch something in the wind, a leaf perhaps and begin a blaze. She could not see, how would she escape, she could fall and it could catch her, then….Whack, another blow from the angry male in front of her and she hissed this time gripping her injured arm. He did not understand, and neither did she. They were at an impasse of sorts, one which would most definitely not end well for her this night.

Then out of the gloom, a warm arm slid around her waist, pulling her out of harms way, She can’t see.

The growling man snapped back, shoving the male who had pulled her to safety and then it was done. She was standing with the group now, reassured by the warm arm which remained around her. A few more growls and snaps later and they set off. She took her first step cautiously but the arm around her assured her of his ability to carry her if need be and he was not letting her go. So she tried her best to keep her feet moving without tripping. Then there was nothing but the leaves crunching under their feet as they made their way across the hilly landscape. Not that she could see a thing still, the sensation was familiar enough.

The flames which frightened her so, surrounded them all the while, however, the group was so large that the flames were far, far enough away to provide zero heat anyhow. The only warmth that remained felt natural and less menacing, coming from him. He comforted her somehow, his unbelievable strength encircling her waist, enticing her to trust him, practically pulsing through him as they walked. Not to mention his protective manner which she found surprisingly reassuring given the circumstances, silly really.

They were marching, to their deaths most likely; nevertheless she did not feel the mind numbing fear as she should have at the moment. Instead, she felt warm and safe, disconnected, as if she were floating, already dead, and without thinking she asked him quietly, just that, Are we dead?

He shook his head, replying with a deep voice, No, we are still alive, then she felt him quake next to her before he tightened his grip, forced his body to stop its natural progression, willing it to cease its tremors.

Anna whispered then, I am frightened.

He replied confidently, as the sound of another vehicle started in the distance drawing his attention, as the direction of his voice changed, Just stay close to me.

She nodded wishing she could see, as he continued leading her through the woods. The sounds of leaves rustling in the wind and in the trees, she noticed a creaking, which eerily sounded as they passed and a thought struck her. Is there something in the trees?

He nodded, Yes, then he placed his warm finger over her mouth to quiet her, and she nodded back understanding the silence. Whatever it was, it could hear her, and it was probably not pleased by her observations. The group continued on for some time, until they finally reached the vehicles, which she had heard earlier, confirmed by the same rumbling from before. They had however been marching such a long distance that she assumed they must have been walking them in circles in hopes of disorient the group.

Unexpectedly then, a sorting began, and she listened intently as groups were formed along with the strange snapping language which began again issuing orders. She suspected this time from several different voices at once. That paired with a great deal of sniffing, as if their scents were somehow a deciding factor in the process. She felt a breeze barely pass in front of her, when the male next to her tightened pulling her backwards swiftly. Protecting her once more from something that she could not see, she guessed. It was an alarming feeling, as she did not feel any additional danger, yet she figured it must be, by his precipitous reaction to it.

When just as suddenly, she felt him being jerked away, and heard a slamming sound just before a torch was shoved into her face, releasing her from her blindness at last. It was an excruciatingly painful, stinging sensation, which sent her flying backwards, and she covered her eyes instinctively. She stumbled hitting something hard, solid, and completely immobile, which reached out and snatched her up with a speed that she never could have predicted.

To her surprise it was not the warm comforting arms of the male who had protected her, but cold, strong steely ones. These lifted her up, in a blur of unexpected speed, placing her into the back of a transport truck, before she could even get a look at him, placing her hands out to steady her self as she landed. Dizzied she tried to focus as she stumbled backwards; looking up to see tall dark trees which loomed overhead, not aiding in her ability to focus. Then still disoriented, her eyes flickered about the vehicle as they began to process the newest images, and then out to the woods surrounding them. She could not be certain but it appeared that there were white faces darting about the trees around them, in a way that instantly made her cringe. Where in the hell was she? She glanced about the truck, an old relic from a forgotten war, its bed lined with two long rusted benches, and a metal frame which could support a tent cover, if it still had it. Tonight they were exposed to the light of the full moon, and the watchful gazes of whoever circled them.

She looked back and saw that more people were being sorted after a quick sniff from a large male, who pointed, before they were placed onto the two trucks. He was large to the point of intimidating viewers, almost beastly if she had to pinpoint it. This observation was only strengthened, by the fact that, he had a massive white stone hanging from a thick silver chain, about the size of her fist, and still it appeared tiny compared to him. As he spoke, in that same garbled tongue she had been listening to all night, he rubbed it between his forefingers as if it aided him in his ability to choose their groups.

Without realizing that she was staring at him, the large male looked up at her curious gaze and she turned away. Not before catching sight of his eyes. They were dark and reminded her of something familiar, but she could not quite put her finger on what it was at the moment. Distracted by shifting sounds around her, she glanced over at the others sitting on the benches, all men shaking and twitching, much as the male who had been protecting her had earlier.

Without thinking she sniffed the air, as if it would help her in some way, and thought, what luck, as she located him immediately. He was unconscious and bleeding from his nose again, in the back corner, but apparently still breathing. It was a surprising discovery, and she almost could not believe it, this had been the male who had bled into her mouth in the trailer earlier, and she found herself smiling ridiculously. She hurried to his side, kneeling at his feet examining him at once, her own anxiety over his appearance bubbling to the surface swiftly.

He had a bump on the side of his head where he had hit it, when he was tossed, by the looks of it. Although his pulse was racing, when she checked it, his chest rose and fell with ease. She began to wonder if the repeated head injuries were going to cause any permanent damage to the man. When suddenly he shifted, the same look of blissful unconsciousness that he had in the truck reappearing to reassure her and another tinge of hope surfaced.

Distractedly, she admired the man who had helped her, handsome, he was, she had to admit, quite handsome in fact. She could not quite make it out in the limited light, the true color of his short cropped hair, but paired with his high cheek bones, he