Toni's PoV:
I woke up the next morning warm and less tired than the day before, but still achy. It was the sound of Sophie's soft rapping on the door that had woken me up, and I was pleased to see her, carrying a breakfast tray.
She set the tray on my lap and stood back, tucking a stray lock of mousy brown hair behind her ear. She smiled happily.
"Good morning!" Sophie said.
I nodded at her, still only half awake, as I ate my food.
"What are your plans for today, miss -- I mean Toni?"
"I don't know."
I sipped at my orange juice, mulling it over. Now that I knew about the vampires, it was pointless to go home. I didn't want to spend any time with William, and I didn't have any friends except for Sophie, and maybe Mr. Gillespie, though I didn't think he was a friend. There was nothing for me to do.
"I guess I'll go research the vampire attacks," I said, eventually. "Maybe do some snooping, I want to see what's being hidden from me."
Sophie nodded. "You should probably start with the pack records, they're housed in the library."
I groaned. "I was in the library all day yesterday! Is there anywhere else I could go?"
Sophie hummed for a bit before answering. "You could ask people about it, but I don't think you'll find much -- most people know that there were attacks, but I didn't know anything about vampires before you told me."
Asking strangers about it sounded even worse -- there was no way I wanted to let anyone from William's pack know I was here. It was best just to fly under the radar.
"I guess I'll go to the library, then. Thanks for your help, Sophie."
Sophie smiled. "Always a pleasure, Toni!"
She picked up the tray and disappeared out the room, leaving me to get dressed. I chose a purple dress and a matching lilac headband and socks, and black Mary-Jane shoes to complete the look. Most of my clothes were neat, functional and a little bit preppy, because my father always wanted me to make a good impression. Anything I did reflected back on him, after all.
Once I was dressed, I headed out of the room. The library was easy to find, since I remembered the route from the day before, but I had to be quiet so as not to attract any attention. A few people passed me in the corridors and ignored me, instead choosing to focus on wherever they were heading.
I sped down the staircase, wanting to be in the privacy of the library as soon as possible, but I must have gone too fast, because as I was running I hit something hard. It was a person, their chest as hard as rock — and I was sent flying back. I fell towards the floor, only stopped by a sudden hand reaching down to grab me by the waist.
"Watch where you're going," said the man standing in front of me. He loosened his grip on my waist and set me upright.
"Sorry," I mumbled, deciding not to point out that he had been going at least as fast as I was.
The man — no, boy — was about the same age as me, with angular cheek bones and a mess of unruly black hair. His eyes were a dark brown, and they glinted in the dim staircase light. Something about him was familiar — the twist of his mouth, even in a sneer, reminded me of William. This had to be his brother.
"Who are you, anyway?" The boy demanded.
I glared at him defiantly. "Who are you?"
"I am Phillip, son of Eric, the Alpha! How dare you speak to me like that?" Phillip puffed out his chest, his eyes becoming darker. He was handsome, with his sharp features and ethereal good looks — he stood more than a head above me, and I could see through his shirt that he has some serious muscles going on.
Suddenly, Phillip's eyes shifted from angry to amused, his persona somehow becoming even more confident. "Wait," he said, leaning over me with a laugh. "You're not William's little pup, are you?"
I gulped, inwardly cursing. Of course Phillip, the one person I already knew I didn't want to talk to, would be the one to stop me in the corridor. I stepped sideways, hoping to walk past him.
"I'm Marie Webber, if that's what you mean," I said. I gave him the same lie I'd given Mr. Gillespie — I wanted as little fuss as possible, and I had a feeling that Phillip might want to cause a very big fuss. "Excuse me, I have to be somewhere."
Phillip put an arm out in front of me, blocking my path. "What's the rush, pup? Can't you stay and talk to me?"
I scowled. "No."
"Don't be like that, pup," he flung his other arm around my shoulder. "Come, have a coffee with me."
Phillip lead me back up the stairs and onto the same floor as my room. I tried to get loose, but his grip was iron tight, and he seemed to have an interest in me, despite my fake identity. Eventually, I resigned myself, hoping that whatever weird game he was playing wouldn't last long.
We came to a room much further down the corridor than mine, though it was just as luxurious, if not more. Phillip opened the door, revealing lush blue carpets, velvet curtains and deep indigo coloured bedsheets. The chairs in his room were silky and soft looking, matching the pillows and even a large tapestry hung up on the wall behind his bed. At the far end of the spacious, kind of decadent room, was an open doorway, which revealed a modern looking kitchen among the stone. Phillip gestured at the room, which was more like an apartment, really, with a pleased look on his face.
"Welcome, welcome," he said, unable to keep the smug tone out of his voice. "I'll make you some coffee."
He strode over to the kitchen and pulled out two cups. I followed anxiously behind, watching as he brewed and then poured the coffee.
"Tell me, Marie," Phillip said, his eyes glinting. "Why is it that I haven't seen you before?"
"I come from the Veriten pack."
"Oh?"
"I'm one of Antoinette Beaumont's friends, I decided to move here when she did."
He glanced over me, taking in my features. I had decided to go with the same story that I'd told the old man in the library, but I didn't know if Phillip would believe me — he was the son of the Alpha, after all, and William's little brother. It was possible that he already knew who I really was and that he knew I had come alone.
He seemed to buy it, though, because leaned back on the counter, coffee in hand, and continued to talk.
"You must be one dedicated friend, but I'm sure our next Luna appreciates it."
I hummed in response.
"Where were you going in such a rush this morning?"
"To the library, I wanted to see if there were any good books."
"Oh, everyone knows the best books are hidden away," Phillip said slyly. He nudged the other cup of coffee along the counter, nearer to where I was standing.
The kitchen was small and wooden, but because of the way it opened up to the rest of the room it still seemed spacious. I wondered why Phillip had a kitchen in his room, when I knew there was a full kitchen downstairs waiting to cater to his every need.
"Hidden away?" I asked.
"Yes, all the most valuable and interesting books are kept in my father's office, and hidden in some other places. Do you know we keep records of nearly everything that goes on in the pack?" His eyes slid over me, his mouth twisting up in a smile. "Well, maybe not everything."
I watched him, trying to understand the double meaning in his words.
"If you really want something more... interesting... to read, I'm sure I could get a hold of something."
Phillip reached out a hand and stroked his finger along the edge of my chin, his touch leaving a trial of fire in its wake. I shivered, confused, and took a step back.
"My, aren't you a pretty thing?" He breathed.
His hand fell slightly from my face, but he leaned in nearer to me, his eyes piercing into my soul. Phillip's smirk was out in full force now, and his confidence was almost disarming — I couldn't look away. But, just as suddenly as it had started, the spell was broken. Phillip turned to look at his watch and, seeing the time, threw back the last of his coffee.
"I'm afraid, Marie, I have to go — the next time I see you, though, I'll bring a gift." He winked at me, dark eyes glistening, and showed me the way out.
Whatever I'd thought about William, Phillip was something else entirely — and perhaps he would be even worse.