Surface Below: Dark Secrets (The Surface Below Book 1) Read Free

what he had to do to get there. The unpleasant physical affects and furthermore it was just another made-up world. It didn’t really exist and that bothered him. Here on the Surface it was real. The earth, the trees, the air. Raymont, Georgia was a real place. Even the Bottom World was a real anchored place. Hundreds and hundreds of miles beneath them was the best-kept secret in history.
    “The answer is no. I don’t want to see mom. And you are here so much of the time I’m surprised Miranda isn’t with you now. And tell Craeden to stop going gray over me…he isn’t my father.”
    Markus came back to sit next to him. He looked tired and worn down from partying and heavy blood dosing. No matter how many times he was there to stop William, he knew there were many more when he wasn’t there. What scared Markus the most was knowing William could lose control if he kept drinking it. Turn into something from a nightmare.
    “Come on William, how long are you going to stay mad at mom?”
    The bad blood between him and their mother ran deep. William hadn’t seen his mother in years, nor had he been to the Dimension in even longer. He could no longer entertain her lies about his father.
    William pushed away from the counter and crossed the room. “When she gives up Merrick then I’ll come home.”
    Markus gave his brother a long sad look and a heavy sigh. Shaking his head, he picked up his bag and headed for the door. So many times he tried to get William to look past the situation with their father. Their mother couldn’t change it, nor was she lying about it. Although Markus questioned it himself. He only wanted to bring his family back together.
    “How many times does she have to tell you that Merrick was set up? Hmm?”
    William didn’t say anything. Instead he leaned into the frame of the window. The town beneath them was coming to life. People heading out to start their day. Cars were backed up at the intersection. Businesses were just beginning to flip their closed signs to open. 
    “Fine, you’re stocked up on doses. Do yourself a favor and use them. I’ll come by in a couple of days. Maybe we can have a few beers and watch the game like normal brothers.”
    “Maybe,” William muttered, still watching the world go by, his arms crossed.
    Markus took a last look at his brother and then left.
    “In another life, Markus.” He sighed.
    He knew his brother meant well. There was a time when William was close with his family. Markus and he were even closer than that. But as William grew older he started to resent the absence of his father, Merrick. He had been accused of murder and treason before William and Markus were born. And that anger inside of him dwelled and festered, creating the dire thirst he had for human blood. It was the only thing that kept the Beast at bay and his emotions in check. And so he broke away from his family, from his brother and returned to the Surface to live in solitude.
    William headed for the bathroom and turned on the hot water in the shower. The room filled with thick, hot steam. Wiping the fog away, he looked into the mirror and stared at himself. He tried again to replay the night back into his mind but it just wasn't coming in clear. It was already locked away in his mind. He slammed his fist down on the bathroom sink. A clipper hit the floor. He bent down and picked it up. Looking back up into the mirror and then at the clipper, again he plugged it into the wall.
    Time for a change.
    Chunks of blond and brown hair filled the sink as the buzzing of the clipper filled the small space. Setting it down on the counter he stared at himself. His bright green eyes glared back at him. Anger was the only thing there. He rubbed his bare head. It almost made him look more like his brother.
    The shower was helpful for whatever lingered from his hangover. Stepping out, he wrapped a towel around his waist and returned to the kitchen. He went through the motions of preparing a fresh pot of