Dark Hunger

Nessa trembled, feeling as if she would get choked. Sweat trickled down from the side of her temple when she looked at the certificate that was lying on the table. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. Where the hell did this marriage certificate come from? From what she remembered, Elize never got married to Caleb because she was terminally ill. Moreover, she couldn't understand when the hell did Neal come. They had left him in the hotel suite and he was supposed to have dinner with the owner of the company. How did he find time and most of all how did he find them? The man was too quick. Her gaze darted to Owen who looked just as perplexed as she was. Panic surged through her when she turned back to look at him. He seemed to radiate darkness. She quickly turned her head back to the police officer. 

"Th— this is a fake certificate," said Owen with a stammer. "This can't be true." 

"Yes, as far as I know Elize never married Caleb Silver. This certificate is fake," Nessa supported him. "It is all a connivance of the Silvers to corner Elize. She really needs your help, officer!" She said with panic, that was more about the fact that they would not be able to press charges against Caleb Silver, and nothing to do with Elize's benefit. Everything was slipping from their hands like wet sand on a beach that was carried back as the waves crashed. She picked up the certificate to examine its veracity and tear it down.

Connor, the lawyer snarled, "If this document as much as gets a single tear, you will be liable for a heavy penalty. So you can examine it all you like, but be careful in handling it." 

"Heavy penalty for tearing a fake certificate?" Nessa retorted. "How much? Huh? How much?

"A thousand pounds, if I am generous," Connor replied coldly as he stared at her with his pale blue eyes. 

Instantly, Nessa threw the certificate on the table. She crossed her hands across her chest and then rubbed her neck with one. "We don't care whether she is married or not, because their relationship is not normal," she said in an angry voice.

"That is right," Owen added. "Elize is a victim of an abused relationship with her husband. I am her guardian in Yorkshire and I will make decisions for her." 

James raised his eyebrow and leaned back in his chair as if doubting them. "What kind of decisions?" he asked. "Can you produce a doctor's prescription in which she is diagnosed with having a mental illness?" 

Neal, who was standing at the back, looked at his lawyer and then nodded. After that he sat on a chair and crossed his foot over his knee. 

The lawyer took out another document from the folder and produced it before the officers. "Elize was suffering from terminal illness because of a brain tumor. She was about to die and the doctors had given up all hope. It was at that time that my client, Caleb Silver, took her to Bainsburgh with him. Over there, she survived miraculously with the right treatment." He pointed at the papers. "These papers prove the same. They are attested by the doctors. If you like I can give you numbers and you may call them." He looked at his watch. "They would be running about their clinics." 

"Is that correct, Mr. Owen Walsh?" asked James as he inspected the papers. 

"Sh— she was very ill. But—" Owen blabbered.

"And you allowed her to go to Bainsburgh with Caleb? Why would you do that when you thought that he abused her?" asked James as he read the papers. 

Owen was trapped. If he said that she survived only when they turned her into a vampire, his stance that she was mentally deranged into thinking it would crack. And if he said that he allowed her, that would mean that he was in conjunction with what Caleb did to Elize, which would go against them. 

"Owen didn't allow it!" Nessa blurted. "Elize went on her own."

"Really?" James said with mirth in his eyes. "That means that Elize is doing what she wants to do and Caleb Silver isn't forcing her." 

"No!" Nessa jabbered. "She— she didn't want to go this time. He forced her. She told us about it. If— if you don't believe me, why don't you call her. Caleb picks up the phone. She is not allowed to talk also." 

James said, "Though it seems like you two are bothering about absolutely nothing because first Caleb is married to Elize." He picked up the certificate and showed it to them. "And second, since he is married, he happens to be her guardian at all times." He picked up the doctor's papers and dangled them in front of the two. "She is in perfect mental health because she is treated fully, so when you say that she is mentally ill, you will have to give me solid proof that she is. Otherwise, whatever gibberish you blabbered doesn't hold value." 

Owen's knees wobbled. All his plans came crashing down and he could hear his heart pounding in his ears. A vein in his temple throbbed. "If you don't believe me, then call her." 

Looking absolutely tired with this, James pursed his lips and then said, "Ok, pass the number. But this is the last I am taking this shit. After that you two can get out!" 

With shaking hands, Nessa took her phone out and then wrote the number for him to dial. James exhaled heavily and shook his head. He took his phone out and dialed the number. On the first ring, Caleb picked up the phone, "Yes?" he said, his voice shallow as if he was panting and straining to even talk. 

"Keep the phone down, Caldy," came a female's seductive voice. 

"Ahhhh!" Caleb rumbled. "Elize, I am going to— Ah! The way you lick—" 

James became red till his neck. The conversation that was taking place between Elize and Caleb indicated that they were having… sex. 

"Lick me down— Ah!" Caleb's voice was strained. "Fuck!" 

Everyone out there froze in their place, except Neal. Neal chuffed. "Bloody horny as hell, these Silver brothers!" he said and then let out a low throaty laughter. 

James disconnected the call immediately. He gulped. He couldn't look at anyone. He exhaled heavily as awkward silence hung in the air. The other two police officers got up and went back to their stations. Finally, when James looked up, he deleted all that he had filled in the computer. 

Connor picked up the documents from the table and asked, "Do I have to give duplicate copies of these?" 

James shook his head. "No." 

As for Owen and Nessa, they froze and were speechless for a long time. Not knowing what to do, Nessa leaned against the chair for support to sit down. Her body seized with dread. Panic exploded and she felt she would puke. She got the taste of her own ugly emotions when the bile rose in her throat and she puked all over. 

"Ugh!" James retorted.. "Clean that mess and both of you get out of here before I lock you in jail for falsely accusing a man like Caleb Silver."