What Lies Beneath

Landon.

I'd done evil things in my life. Too many to count. But that last act was the one I hated the most. The look in her eyes was more heartbreak than I'd ever seen. And it was over me. What a waste.

How could she believe a word I said? I'd contradicted myself at every turn, and she was just so apt to believe me. Like she wanted to. She wanted to believe I was a bastard that just wanted blood and sex from her. The truth would probably upset her more. Frighten her, even. No one wants a monster to love her.

I wasn't sure I really did, or why, but when I looked at her, the most consuming thoughts took me. All of them said that she belonged to me. That I needed to keep her at my side because it was the only safe place. And I needed her safe. Even if I didn't love her, I wanted her to love me. And how fucked up is that?

I'd just been alone for too long. I wasn't capable of being what she needed.

Mila stepped out of the van with me, but her face was blank now. She wouldn't look at me, and all I wanted to do was fix this. Fix this thing I'd done. But it was better broken.

Mine. She was still mine, and I couldn't shake that. I wasn't sure I wanted to anymore. I wasn't even sure I would want it after I left. I think I wanted the pain she would leave me with. At least then I would feel something in my travels other than indignant rage. I could look back to the good parts. What she tasted like. Her lips, not her blood. What her skin felt like when it was rushing under my hands. The sounds she made when I was against her. The look in her eyes that I could trick myself into believing was something other than it was.

I didn't take her hand. I should state that. I didn't touch her at all, even though I knew how to fix this. This broken girl thought so little of herself that if I did something as simple as taking her hand or pressing my lips against hers, she would forgive me. The thought made me hate all those men in her future that would take advantage of that. She was smart, but she was broken, so she would let them hurt her. She'd let me hurt her.

We walked inside, and the only person there was a woman behind a desk. She looked up at us through plain glasses. "Do you have an appointment today?"

I spoke. “We're looking for Archie Adler. Tell him Landon Crane is here. He'll know who I am."

The woman rolled her eyes at me, but she picked up her phone and dialed. "You can have a seat," she sneered.

Mila followed me to the wall and sat down beside me. Her jaw was set, and she crossed her arms and legs, trying to scowl. Was she pouting over me? Was the prospect of sex that meaningful to her? No. It couldn't be that. The one thing I knew was that she hated me now. She didn't want me like I wanted her.

My hand twitched as I fought my urge to grab hers. Leave it alone. I needed to leave it alone. But she belonged to me. I took from her, but I was supposed to give as well. It was my job to protect her. My job to keep her safe in every way in my power. I was failing.

I listened to the clock ticking above us. This whole place was made to break spirits. The carpets and the walls were grey, not an ounce of color in this place. I wondered if it was a requirement.

When I couldn't stand the silence any longer, I leaned into Mila's ear. "Wanna fool around in the closet?"

She turned to glare at me. "Are you fucking kidding me? You say all that shit, and now you're making fun of me?"

"I'm not making fun. I'm trying to get you to loosen up."

She nodded and smiled angrily. "You think you can try and be all right with me? Don't worry. I'll stay quiet so I won't annoy you. How dare I try and be friendly with you in the first place."

I sighed. Yup, I really fucked this one up. I hated how much I cared about that. This was what I got for saying more than three sentences to a person. That had always been my cap. More than that, and you got to know someone. The world was a lot easier to live in if no one was real.

How many damn fights did we have to get into today? It was my fault to begin with. If I hadn't touched her this morning, then we could have gone a while longer being able to pretend that we didn't want to at least screw the hell out of each other. Now, too many things had been said. Things that couldn't be taken back. So now she thought I hated her, and I knew she hated me.

A throat cleared, and we turned our heads. I'd never seen this man, but I thought he'd seen me. The terror on Mila's face made it clear that she knew him. I wanted to kill him for putting that fear in her. For smiling so smugly about it. I could twist his neck around and end him right here. I could kill the girl behind the desk. No one would know we were here.

But Mila shouldn't see me like that. No. She should hate me for who I made her think I was, because I couldn't stand her hating me for all the reasons she should.

I stood up.

"Hold on," the man said calmly. "Let's not make this messy. Clearly you're here to talk, and I am absolutely fascinated to hear what you have to say. Both of you. Follow me." He turned and started walking. I made sure Mila was behind me before I went.

We were taken to an office, also plain as could be. We sat at the two chairs across from the desk. The man took his time sitting down. "So, what brings you kids by?"

I smiled. "We have a few questions for you."

"In reference to the boy, or you?"

Mila looked over at me, wanting an explanation she wouldn't ever get. Too much. She already knew too much. I couldn't give her this.

"We want Jaxon Moody."

The man laughed. "And you think I'll just hand him over to you? Why? You think I have a death wish?"

I sat straight. "I'm not looking for you to fetch him for me. All you have to do is tell me where to find him. I know you're only loyal as long as the paychecks go through. So I'll pay you, and I'll see to it that no one heard about who told me where to find him."

He looked as if he was considering it. Then he looked at Mila. "I told you that you should have let it go. I got you your life, and now you're trying to end it? Surely you know this is a suicide mission."

She wasn't afraid to talk. "He's family. What kind of person would I be if I abandoned the only person on this earth who cares if I live or die."

I felt that knife pointed right at my still heart.

The man shrugged. "I understand, I suppose. Genuine loyalty is rare in a girl your age. I hope you hold onto it."

Mila stared hard. "What do you want in exchange for his location?"

"Nothing you can give me. I suggest you leave and try to forget you ever had a brother."

My fuse was short on a good day. Today, a day where I went from the highest high to the lowest low in a couple hours, it was non-existent. I could kill any and everything that annoyed me today. I almost wanted it. This man would already be dead if I hadn't needed him.

And then what? I knew what. We find Jaxon, and I leave. It's over after that. I was pushing for something that would end this small reprieve from my death. I'd go back to my cold and almost-pointless life. What was I even fighting for anymore? Why did my mission matter? Those sins was long since committed. The truth was that I was only fighting to fight.

"Not happening," Mila said with bite. "Tell me where he is."

"No." He managed to make the one word as condescending as was possible. "You should go now."

I kept my voice steady, and even I didn't believe it. "How's this? You tell us what we want to know, or I kill you."

He wasn't afraid. He should have been.

"No thank you," he said.

Okay then.

I rose from my seat and moved with all of my speed. I grabbed a mug from his desk and bashed him in the head with it. Not to kill him, of course. Just enough to take away his powers for a little while. He couldn't hurt us if his head felt like a bomb went off.

My hand went around his neck, and I squeezed. "Where is he?"

Mila had jumped. Her eyes were frightened. Of me. And why shouldn't she be?

The man's eyes were defiant as he struggled. Vampire beats out demon on strength any day of the week. He didn't stand a chance.

I dropped him back in his chair. "You have one minute to tell us where he is."

The man tried to gather his breath. Once he did, the fear went away. Foolish, he was. He looked over at Mila and smiled. "How many holes is that in your neck? Is this your game? Screw a vampire and get him to do your dirty work. Clever. Very clever. I'm sorry that you whored yourself for no-"

He didn't finish the sentence before I broke his jaw.