Terryn slid back suddenly, “So your going to keep me here? What are you doing to-” Her hands flew to her throat, a million nightmare scenarios flashing through her mind. She took a deep breath. “Look you psycho-”

Jules let out a clear crisp laugh that startled her. For the first time, Terryn searched his face. For a kidnapper, he was very handsome with fine features, a long nose and shapely eyes fringed with long, pale lashes. His blonde hair fell around high cheekbones. His looks were lost on her, however, as she searched for some sign of what horrors he had planned for her behind the sweep of blonde fringe.

“Okay, you are right. I am a psycho, doing it this way, was not a good idea. ...I’m sorry.”

Terryn’s internal dialogue was scattered, what was the kidnapper trying to say? Was he playing with her? She took a deep breath. She needed to stall for time, to rebuild her strength. Maybe he was getting tired.

She searched for something to say.

“Wh- What are you going to do to me?”

Jules looked earnestly into her eyes, “Nothing. I’m going to feed you and bring you books if you’d like, whatever you need to feel comfortable.”

“Why can’t I go home? Why did you take me?”

Jules breathed out heavily, “That’s--complicated.”

Terryn’s eyes flashed viciously, “well it seems like we have the time.”

He opened his mouth to speak and then looked at her and smiled.

“Okay...I don’t know if this is going to make any sense coming from me, but your, uh, let’s say your grandfather asked me to bring you here to keep you safe.”

“What? My grandfather?”

Terryn rubbed her cheeks, sniffing loudly.

“What?” she repeated.

“Ok, look, maybe you should let him explain this to you. I just...want you to stay calm, ok?”

Terryn’s frustration was bubbling over. She felt her strength returning and her body tensed in response.

“So you...you...took me from my home, in the middle of the night...because my 'grandfather' her fingers flew up into air quotes beside her head, “wants to keep me safe?”

He clapped his hands together, “exactly.”

Terryn rose and Jules was suddenly standing next to her.

“Take me to him then!” Terryn’s eyes were again filling with tears.

Jules nodded, “ok, ok that I can do. Just...promise you won’t run, I promise I won’t grab you again, just-- don’t run.” Terryn nodded stiffly and followed Jules out of the room into the dark hallway.

As she wound through a series of black hallways, Terryn’s mind raced. Grandfather? The word kept rolling through her mind. Is this a joke? Or what? Maybe “grandfather” is like the cult leader? After, what seemed like a long time Jules stopped suddenly, causing Terryn to slam into him. She heard three raps on a what sounded like a wooden door and then a slice of light fell into the hallway as it opened.

“Uh my lord? Sorry, but she wanted to see you.” Jules slid his hand gingerly behind Terryn’s back urging her into the room. It was a large, warmly lit library with floor to ceiling book cases. Soft, leather chairs and sofas were scattered throughout. A broadly shouldered man stood, looking quite startled in the center. His face was a deep olive, the same shade as Terryn’s, with cropped dark hair neatly styled. Tight curls glittered in the lights. His features were broad and handsome, and his eyes turned up into a soft smile.

“Well hello there,” His voice was smooth and quiet, but deep. Terryn’s anxiety strangely dissipated at his words. She was vaguely aware that Jules had moved into the room beside her, he cleared his throat.

“Uh, I didn’t...well I wasn’t really able to tell her anything, I thought maybe it would be better received from you.”

The man gave Jules a knowing glance and smiled again, sitting down on one of the near couches.

“Come here Terryn.” He motioned for a seat across from his and she felt compelled to comply.

She moved shakily over to the couch, suddenly aware of her bare feet on the wood floor, it was warm.

“Who are you?” she offered.

“I know you have many questions, and I will answer all of them. I’m just wondering would you like something to drink? Are you hungry?”

She shook her head, unable to look away from the man’s kind eyes. They looked familiar somehow, deep brown with a soft reddish hue. She slowly felt herself calming, her breathing slowing.

“Well where should we start? This is kind of awkward isn’t it? First I have to apologize. Jules can be a bit of a bull in a china shop.” Terryn glanced over to where Jules was standing, looking uncomfortable in the door. He raked his fingers through his blonde hair.

“You kidnapped me, I want to go home.” she stated coolly.

“Yes...well...my name is Zane, you can call me that if you like.”

“Why am I here?” She challenged.

“Well the simplest answer, is that we are related in so many words, and I was concerned for your safety, so I had you brought to my house, where I can keep an eye on you.”

Terryn wrinkled her nose and then took a deep breath.

“Is this a cult?”

Zane and Jules both let out light laughs, before Zane cleared his throat.

“Ah no...we are a family, here.”

Terryn raised an eyebrow.

“Not a cult...A family?”

“Well more like a clan...or a pack is what we generally say.”

There was a long silence, where Terryn let her eyes travel around the room. The books on the shelves looked old, but there were some glossy contemporary covers, as well. Shining brightly down on them was a crystal chandelier with black iron molded into ivy vines. This must be a cult, she thought, how in the hell…

Zane interrupted her thoughts.

“Look I think it is best if I’m just frank with you. You are of great value to this family for a number of reasons and it is no longer safe for you to live on your own. I am the leader of this clan and you are its heir, my only granddaughter.”

Terryn’s patience was again cut short, “Look Zane,” she hissed, “I don’t know who you are, but I’m sure you are not related to me and I want to go home.”

“Are you sure?” he looked at her expectantly with his soft brown eyes. “You never knew your father or his family and your mother never told her anything about him, did she?”

Terryn’s mouth clapped shut. How did he know that?

“I know it’s hard to believe, but there is a very good reason for that. We ARE related and all that I have is yours. This will all make more sense with time.”

“I don’t understand” Terryn sputtered. It was true, Terryn knew very little about her extended family, certainly nothing about her father’s side of the family, it had always been a taboo subject in her home and by the time Terryn had gotten out on her own she’d lost interest in any curiosity she may have had, focusing on her own life, making friends, going to college, getting a job and boyfriends. Her family history never came up and she rarely thought about it. Her family was small and close, but provided all the warmth a family should.

“Terryn, this may sound...unbelievable... to you right now, but you and I and,” he gestured at Jules, still lurking to her side, “come from a very long line of vampires.”

Terryn laughed out loud.

“What? Are you insane?” She searched Zane’s eyes deeply for some fleck of humor or mockery, but they were steady and even. He IS insane, she thought.

“You are playing mind games with me and I don’t think it’s funny. I want to go home. NOW.”

Zane smiled regretfully.

“I know you do, but that won’t be possible.”

“So you are going to hold me captive…here? To be your...what? Blood sacrifice?”  Terryn’s voice rose.

“Eh, no, I hope you will come to think of it as your home and not feel like...a captive, but to be blunt. It is not safe for you to leave.”

Terryn crossed her arms defensively across her chest, frowning deeply. These two men were clearly unwell, for some reason, however, she did not feel fear in Zane’s presence. She felt angry, yes, but oddly safe. She glanced down at her feet and wiggled her toes, at a loss. It was no use trying to negotiate with them, their cool faces gave up no hint of regret or uncertainty.

I guess I’ll have to figure out how to get out of here on my own, she thought.

Zane scratched his head, “I want to tell you everything, but maybe that’s enough for tonight. Are you sure we can’t get you anything to eat?”

She looked up quickly and shook her head before pausing, “well if I’m trapped here, can I at least have a tour?” 

Zane looked at Jules and then back to Terryn and smiled.

“That’s actually a great idea! Jules, I will leave it up to you.” Terryn frowned, while she wanted to scope her potential exits, part of her dreaded leaving the warmth of the library. It seemed welcoming and safe, at least. Terryn reluctantly followed Jules out of the room and back down the hallway, through another doorway into a large foyer.

“Uh, I guess this is the main entrance,” said Jules waving his hand around at the curving staircase, “the house has three floors and 37 rooms.” She looked back at the large front doors, that appeared heavy, but tauntingly close. Jules followed her eyes before motioning her on. 

“You were just in the library, but the house has a few parlors and meeting rooms you can hang out in, too.” Terryn scanned the room, desperately hoping her eyes would land on a phone or computer, but Jules led her on up the sweeping staircase.

“I’ve prepared a room for you, the one you were in was just temporary until you woke up, it’s this way.” He led her down a long corridor lined with finely detailed watercolor paintings of pretty scenery. She recognized a few of the signatures and even stopped for a second to examine one, it looked like a north african miniature painting she’d seen at the college once, depicting a colorful street scene, framed in an ornate print.

“Do you like art?” Jules asked.

She looked at him, “Yes.” she said simply, declining to elaborate.

Jules nodded and smiled, “There are lots of paintings here, Zane knows all about them, I wish I could tell you more, but I do have my favorites, too.”

Terryn looked at Jules’ back while he walked, he was dressed quite normally, in slim fitted jeans, a grey fleece that was a similar color to his eyes, and simple leather shoes with scuff marks. She didn’t see a bulge in his pocket that would indicate a cell phone or wallet. 

The hallway was long and lined with rooms.

“Do people stay in all these rooms?” she questioned.

“Oh, yeah, most are out and about this time of night, but lots of our pack live here to run the house and support the king.”

“Your...pack?” she asked.

Jules stopped and gave her a sideways glance, “Yeah...I guess that sounds pretty strange, huh? It will make more sense.”

“Anyway,” he gestured at a room at the end of the hall, “this is your suite,” he pointed at one door “and I’m right next to you, in case you need me,” he pointed further back down the hall.

“Want to check it out?”

Terryn shrugged and Jules opened the door.

The suite, was just that, two large beautiful rooms, one with a television, couch, writing desk and ottoman and through the a set of white trimmed french doors a bedroom where she could just see a king sized bed. This room was much more inviting than the one she had woken up in, with robin’s egg blue wallpaper and soft pink velvet curtains framing the windows. The far wall featured a grand bookcase, filled with books. Scanning it briefly, they looked like contemporary titles, fantasy novels and the like. The other walls were neatly decorated with more watercolor paintings. There were flowers arranged and placed in a vase on an end table, pink roses that matched the curtains.

“I had the girls pick some clothes for you, for now, they’re in the dresser, but we can get whatever you like, just let me know…” Jules trailed off and Terryn was moved to offer a quiet,

“This is very nice.”

She was suddenly aware that she wasn’t wearing the clothes she had been wearing the night before, but instead some sort of cotton night gown. She frowned, wondering who had done that, but shook off the thought, moving slowly to inspect the room. She let her fingers fall along the back of the pink couch. It was an old style, with carvings of flowers erupting from the neck.

There was an entrance to a bathroom, with a modern jetted tub, contemporary fixtures and another door that opened to a closet.

Jules marched through the french doors to show her another set that led out onto a balcony. That’s interesting, she thought, making a note of it for later.

He gestured for her to follow him out and she had to say she was struck with how beautiful the view was, even at night. The moon was full and lit up a sprawling garden, that backed up to a smooth lake, fringed with woods. She looked as far as she could, but couldn’t see any city lights.

“Where are we?” she probed.

“King Zane’s property is several hundred acres,” Jules responded evasively, “there’s lots of trails to walk if you’d like that.” The night was humid and cool, but not cold, the air drenched in jasmine. We must not be far from home, she thought.

Terryn bit her lip, before returning her gaze to the room.

“So what is your...pack,” she murmured slowly, “about?”

One elegant eyebrow on Jules face shot up and he arched his long neck up to take in the sky. He forced his hands into his pockets and leaned back on his heels.

“Well, we take care of one another and...we hunt. There is strength in numbers, but we aren’t actually very large compared to others.”

“Others?”

“Yes, there are lots of other packs, much larger families than ours.”

Terryn’s head was swimming. Packs of...vampires? Impossible.

She took a deep breath, fuck it.

“Show me your teeth,” she demanded, thankful it came out as an order and not a whisper. Her heart was pounding in her chest.

Jules looked down at her and smiled, revealing two long straight canines on either side of his mouth.

Terryn jumped back and gasped.

“Those are fake!” Spurred on by curiosity or stupidity, or both, she lunged at Jules, taking his face in her hands, prodding the sharp teeth with her fingertips.

“Hey!” He sputtered, pushing her down, “that’s rude.”

Terryn recoiled like a cat, her shoulders arched.

“You are not a vampire. This is all just pretend!”

“Yes, I am and so are you.” he spat, obviously offended.

“You’re nuts!” she hurled back.

“Maybe,” he relented, shrugging, “but that doesn’t change anything. In a few days you will start to feel the change and then it will make more sense.”

“The change? What are you going to do to me?” she demanded.

“Nothing,” he said coolly, “it will happen on its own, I can tell you’re close.”

He looked down at her, assessing her with a slightly crooked smile. Terryn shuddered, her blood starting to pump faster. His gaze was predatory.

“How can you tell?” She whispered.

He folded his long body down to hers, “you smell sweet, like magnolias.”