"Sera, you're my best friend, but if you lie to me one more time I'll never talk to you again."
Sera winced. "I can't say anything," she finally said.
Kathleen looked back at the fire. "Yes, you can. I don't care what they say, or what you may say, but there was something wrong with that girl. Something's not right. She's dangerous Sera. I could sense that, and she puts us in danger somehow. And so does Liam. There's something not right with either of them." Her gaze darted nervously toward the door. When she spoke again her voice was so low that Sera had to strain to hear her. "Maybe there's something wrong with all of them. I think that we deserve to know what."
Sera stared down at her mug as steam rose up in waves. She desperately wished that Liam were here to help, that any of them would show back up and help. Her glance fell on the clock. Where was he? He had been gone for so long. Way too long. Uneasiness had officially turned into full-fledged panic three hours ago. There was so much snow out there, it was cold, and Beth had said that she was stronger than he was. Was he laying out there somewhere injured, maybe dying? He wasn't completely immortal. Vampires could still be killed somehow, couldn't they?
"Sera," Kathleen said. "Answer me."
She took a deep breath as she tried to ease the growing knot of anxiety in her chest. "I can't say anything Kathleen," she said again.
"If your life was in danger, I would tell you why."
"It isn't my secret to tell Kathleen." She wasn't going to tell her that her life wasn't in danger, it was, and Kathleen knew it. To lie to her now would only cost Sera her best friend.
"It is your secret, if you know what it is, Sera."
She looked over at Kathleen, who was staring at her with tear-filled eyes. "I promise that you will have answers soon enough."
"We'd better. I'm serious Sera, no more lies."
"No more lie's Kathleen," she promised. The fact that she may have just lied to her was something that she didn't want to contemplate now.
"Good."
"But some things are better off not knowing."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Sera took a sip of her hot chocolate and pulled her blanket more firmly around her. "Just what I said. Sometimes it's better not to know. The truth isn't always the answer, but just the beginning."
Kathleen didn't speak as she turned to stare at the flames again. A loud knock on the door startled them all. Sera's hot chocolate spilled onto her blanket as she jumped up. Liam and Jack wouldn't knock, but maybe, just maybe, it was them. "I got it!" Mike yelled as he ran into the foyer. He pointed sharply at Sera. "You three stay in there."
Doug came into the hall as Mike flung the door open. Cold air, and snow, blasted into the house. "Jesus! You made it! Come in." Sera watched as a tall figure stepped into the flickering candlelight. "How you doing man?" Mike asked as he embraced the figure.
"Been better. Sure as hell been warmer. Help me get these freaking skis off. They're killing my feet!"
Sera moved toward the foyer as Mike shut out the blasting wind. Doug turned to look at her, but didn't stop her. "Come on in."
Mike frowned at her. "I told you to stay in the living room."
"Don't start Mike," she muttered.
He shook his head as he grabbed hold of her shoulders, turned her around, and gave her a nudge forward. "Come on, let's get David warm."
She scowled over Mike's highhanded manner and shot him a look over her shoulder. She would have argued with him, but the pleading look in his eyes froze her words. He was just trying to make sure that she was safe. She glanced over her shoulder as Doug clasped hands with David and slapped him on the shoulder.
"Where are Liam and Jack?" David inquired.
"They went to look for Beth. They've been gone all day."
Sera settled back onto the couch as Doug came into the room, followed by a very wet, very unhappy looking David. The skis on his feet clumped loudly over the hardwood floor as he settled into the recliner.
David was tall, and athletically built. His light blond hair was wet, and windblown. It added a boyish charm to his angled face. His eyes were a brilliant electric blue. His lips were thick, and a deep ruby red that were now chapped and sore looking. His nose was elegantly carved, but it was the only thing about him that wasn't perfect. It had been broken at one point, and was a little crooked, but it only seemed to add to his appeal.
He was almost as good looking as Liam, and Sera found herself staring at him in astonishment. She looked over at Kathleen and Danielle, who were both gaping at him. "This is Kathleen, Danielle, and Sera," Mike introduced as he gestured at them. "This is David."
"Well now," David said as he glanced at them. "Don't we all look cozy."
