Chapter 1

It was unusually quiet at the diner due to the relentless storm that raged on outside. Heavy rain pelted hard against the street making it hard to hear the sound of a car engine and the wind whistled pushing over the dirt bins, strewing the streets with filth.

It was Saturday and as a college student, I told myself I had better things to do than to stay and clean the filthy health violation of a restaurant I worked in. I wouldn't eat a morsel from the diner it was as good as eating straight out of a bin. The owner's freshness policy on food was questionable.

All my friends were gone on a trip to New Orleans. A trip I couldn't afford to go on. But I didn't moan I didn't cry I sucked it up and reminded myself that one day after a lot of work I'd be able to go on such trips with them.

The bell on the door of the diner went off and a tall man dressed in a black raggedy trench coat walked in. There was something about the way the floor quivered with each step he took. The man was tall. Not your normal six-foot height but his head almost touched the ceiling. He was broad and his large mass obstructed my vision from seeing anything past him.

I gulped."Good morning sir-" my voice strained. I was alone in the diner since everyone clocked out to go drinking at the bar down the street. The man walked over to me and stopped in front of me. I couldn't see his face. I reached for my bag that was under the counter to get my bottle of pepper spray in case he tried anything. "Can I get you something, sir?" I asked trying to keep my voice even and he grunted. I slipped my hand into my bag and I clutched onto the bottle of pepper spray. "Coffee, bagel, toast, eggs," I rambled in a feeble attempt to show I was calm.

The man picked up his large head and I got a look at his burned yellowing skin and the scars that covered his eye and mouth." I want you," he growled and reached out his hand to grab me. I shrieked, panicking and falling to the floor. Things from the counter ended up spilling to the floor as crawled under it to hide.

With a loud swooshing sound the display of cakes on the counter fell to the ground as well and glass and cake splattered everywhere in a disastrously deadly and creamy array.

A shard of glass pierced the flesh on my arm and drew fresh blood. I yelped and pulled out the bloody piece before dropping it to the floor.

"Come out. Come out now!" The thing roared banging its fists hard on the counter causing the counter to stutter and splinter under the immense pressure.

Hot tears rolled down my cheeks as I let out strangled sobs. "Please just leave me alone. I promise I won't tell anyone." 

I heard the bell on the front door go off again and it sounded like the large man trying to attack me took a few steps back. A strangled shrill of a scream ripped through the air causing me to cover my ears. "Hunter," the man growled. I peeped my head up to see the large man staring in the direction of the door.

"Cannibalism is taboo," I heard another man's voice and then I heard a gun go off.

Suddenly the humongous man stumbled backward taking a few tables down with him before he crashed to the ground creating a mini earthquake and completely wrecking the quaint diner.

Thick white smoke began to emit from the large man's body before he burst into a puff of putrid smoke. I covered my mouth and nose not allowing the horrendous smell of egg salad and garbage into my oxygen stream. When the smoke cleared the large man was gone leaving behind his awful stench as the only proof of his existence.

I turned to look at the man standing at the entrance of the diner. He was dressed in a black trench coat, his mouth and nose were covered by a black mask. He eyed me carefully with his big green eyes. "What was that?" I asked and he removed his mask. He had a strong jawline that looked like it could cut diamonds. He ran a hand through his thick dark locks.

"Brunette. Well, there's a first for everything." He smirked and pulled out a gun. He aimed the gun at me and like a deer in headlights I froze and he pulled the trigger.

The dart pierced my shoulder and the diner around me began to float as I stumbled around. "You asshole!" Was the last thing I said before everything went dark.

◇◇◇

I woke up on something soft groaning and moaning out swear words as the vivid memories of what happened came back. I sat up on the small mattress that was on the floor and looked around. Silver bars crowded my vision and I shot up from the mattress and looked around frantically.

I was in some sort of prison cell.

I immediately began to panic and from the corner of my eye, I caught movement in a dark cell next to mine. Something with red glowing eyes watched me and purred. All the hair on my body stood and I let out a shrilling scream. "Hey lady what are you a banshee?" A man in another cell asked and I placed a hand on my chest trying to calm my erratic heart.

Soon the sound of locks and chains being opened got me to turn my head. "I'd swear Creed was raised by wolves if I didn't raise him myself." A woman said and I could hear more than one set of footsteps coming my way.

"He is unsure of himself," another man said. "He's having doubts."

"If he is having doubts then he is doubting me. I've been doing this for a very long time and one creature thinks they going to get the best of me and my family."

"The changes in him have already started."

"That's why we need her," the woman argued.

Me? I couldn't help but wonder if they were talking about me.

A woman and a man appeared in front of my cell. The woman looked extremely intimidating with her long silver hair and red lips. She was wearing a black bodysuit and though wrinkles lined the corner of her mouth and eyes evident of her aging she still looked gorgeous.

"You awake," she smiled. "I'm so sorry there must have been some misunderstanding."

"Who are you, people?" I asked and the woman pulled open my cell gate and reached out a hand for me. "You are safer here than anywhere else in the world. We are all on the same side."

"Why was I kidnapped?" I asked and then she laughed. The blonde younger man standing next to her joined in her laughter.

"This is all but a misunderstanding like I said," she explained in a sickly sweet voice."This is Liam my son," she introduced the man next to her and they didn't resemble each other in the slightest. "I'm Dallas. I believe you met my other son earlier." So the man that shot me and brought me here was her son.

"Met!" I said in outrage. "He kidnapped me!"

"My brother is new to this. We all..." Liam tried to fight his brother's case and I grew frustrated just listening to the sound of his voice.

"Shut up!" I growled at him and the woman smirked. She almost looked impressed by my lack of manners. Why should I of had manners when I was shot and kept in a cell?

"Liam take her to Creed. She probably wants to talk to him," Dallas ordered and Liam gave her a curt nod.

Liam reached out his hand for me and I folded my arms and glared at him. "No, what I want is an explanation on why he took me in the first place, and then I want to go home." I listed my demands first.

"Listen little girl you can either go with my son willingly-"

"Dallas no," Liam interjected, "that won't make things any better."

Dallas stormed out of my cell. Her heels clicking loudly as she walked away. Liam turned to me. "I promise Creed will explain everything to you and I promise no one here will harm you."

I was desperate for answers and desperate to get the shit show of a day over with. "Fine take me to him."

"Please you have to help me," the man in the other cell called. "I'm innocent!" He shrieked and Liam grabbed onto my hand and began pulling me to a winding staircase.

"Why is he here?" I asked, "And what's that other thing next to my cell." Liam began pulling me up the stairs.

"Creed will explain everything," he said again only fueling my annoyance.

We walked out of the dimly lit room and into a bright hallway. I began to believe that they locked me in a dungeon with how I had to squint so that my eyes could adjust to the light.

The hallways were painted a light yellow and had paintings of different men and women with silver hair dressed in full black with a strange-looking emblem on their top pockets.

"He should be in the training room," Liam said bringing me out of my thoughts and pushing a door open. I followed him into the room and the man that kidnapped me was shirtless and doing push-ups in front of me. His back muscles rippled with each push-up he did. "Brother," Liam called and the man stopped and stood up. His body was ripped. Each one of his abs looked like they were perfectly sculptured out of stone and his sweatpants hung low around his waist. He ran a hand through his disheveled midnight black hair and then his forest eyes landed on me causing my heart to beat in my ears.

Who was he and why did he make me feel like I had electricity running through my veins.

If it wasn't for the fact that the sicko kidnapped me I'd probably be a blushing hot mess. But he did kidnap me and I wanted to know why. "You sick son of a bitch," I walked over to him and shoved him and he barely moved.

"Oh no," I heard Liam sigh but I couldn't care less.

I swung at him and he caught my fist mid-air before it connected with his jaw. He looked at me in amusement and I tried to use my free hand to hit him and he caught it easily.

He flipped me around so that my back was against his hard body and my hands were behind me. "I'll just give you two some privacy then," Liam coughed awkwardly and left.

My chest was heaving and I tramped his foot causing him to let go of me. "Ow, that wasn't very nice of you princess."

"Shut up," I demanded and he smirked. "You kidnapped me," I pointed an accusatory finger in his face. "Where am I? what is this place?" I asked looking around. He remained silent and bit his bottom lip while he watched me. "You know what screw it I'm leaving anyway."

He laughed. "Fine go," he said and there was something about the way he said it that made me feel like he was tricking me.

What did he kidnap me for in the first place if he was just going to let me go? Was it a hobby of his to kidnap women and let them go? Something didn't sit right with me about this but I wasn't about to question it. I would come back with the police.

I ran to the doors and when I looked back at him he smiled and waved before turning his back and walking further into the room.

He wasn't going to follow me that much was clear so I ran for it. I ran down the long hallways and found a large Arch-shaped door. I tried the handle and it opened.

I was immediately hit with the crisp cool wind. Outside was pitch black and I realized why the ass let me go. I pulled out my phone and tried calling the police but there was no signal.

I had no idea where I was and I couldn't even use my phone to figure it out."Your phone won't work here," I heard him say and I turned to see him wearing a black T-shirt. He was leaning against a wall watching me again. "Elea that's a pretty name," he said pointing at my name tag on my waitress uniform.

"What do you want from me?" I asked in a sound of desperation. "You took me as a hostage? Do you want money or something," I asked and he laughed.

"I drive an Ashton Martin princess. Money isn't the problem."

"Then what is?" I asked and he kicked off from leaning against the wall. "Do you trust me?"

I couldn't believe the gaul with him asking if I trusted him after he just shot me and took me against my will. "You kidnapped me and locked me in a prison cell!"

He sighed. "Good point. Come with me and I'll explain everything but if you rather go out there and contend with whatever's lurking in the shadows then, by all means, princess I won't stop you." He grinned and turned on his heel to walk away.

I looked between his receding figure and my sweet uncharted freedom. Sometimes I couldn't even believe my stupidity. I was probably walking right back into a trap but I shut the door anyway and followed after him.