A Dark Desire

Written by Megan Bacchus

Edited by Lynn Campbell
Cover design by Megan Bacchus
Dedicated to my furry friend, Chester Stewart. Who was always there to offer helper paws.
A Dark Desire
Book 1
 Prologue
TRISTAN
In his home in Montreal, Tristan Delacroix couldnt imagine how a woman could scrub
at a pot so furiously or how she could be so upset that they were getting new neighbors but his
mom was. He was surprised that she hadnt scrubbed a hole right through the bottom of the
pot. She was glaring out the window and through the rain as she scrubbed away. Every now
and then she would murmur under her breath, something that he couldnt discern. He was in
the living room, drawing with his Crayons, while his brother, Lucas was playing with Lego and
watching TV.
Suddenly his mom threw down the dish cloth and shouted, Ugh Im going to go fold
laundry downstairs. Watch your brother, Tristan, causing him to jump. He was afraid that any
noise that he made would set her off so he nodded quickly and watched her walk down the
stairs, basket at her hip. He didnt get why his mom was acting that way. Sure, the old
neighbors were nice; an elderly couple that always brought extra food over and would offer to
babysit, playing board games with them and telling cool stories, whenever his mom had to go
out, but how his mom could judge the new neighbors so quick he couldnt understand. She was
acting like a caged animal with all the pacing she had been doing that day.
Tristan walked over to the glass doors and watched the movers move furniture in the
rain. At this point the rain was coming down lightly and he could see that the sun was trying to
peak its way through the gray clouds. Every couple of seconds his breath would fog up the glass
and he would wipe it away with his sleeve to get a better view. There was a man at the front
door of the house across the street directing the movers as to where things went. The man was
probably around the same age as his mom, with graying dark hair and steel blue eyes. He was
tall, dressed casually and he seemed friendly enough. He continued to watch the movers and
he noticed a pink bicycle.
Oh, the new neighbors have a girl, he told Lucas. Lucas barely glanced from the
television, apparently not interested enough in the prospect of a new friend. Eventually the
man from the front door went to a parked SUV and opened the door. Out came a girl about five
years old, the same age as Lucas, and two years younger than he was. She had long chocolate
brown hair peeking out of the hood of her red raincoat and she was wearing matching red
boots. She glanced around the neighborhood shyly and her gaze caught hold of his. She had
beautiful evergreen eyes; it was like all the greens of a forest were captured in one place. He
didnt even realize he had been staring until he heard a crack. He had unconsciously turned the
water on the glass door to ice, the sudden freezing causing the ice to crack. Finally, Lucas took
notice and walked over to him.
 Moms going to kill you for doing that, Lucas said as he touched the crack. He batted
his brothers hand out of the way. He didnt want Lucas to get cut, which would no doubt get
him into even more trouble.
I didnt mean to, he replied as he continued to stare at the girl. She was no longer
staring back but was helping her father move some small boxes. Her tiny body looked small
compared to the box.
Lucas said, Shes pretty cute.
Tristan noticed Lucas was staring at her just as intensely as he was. Maybe Lucas wasnt
so oblivious to girls as he had previously thought. He began to feel nervous but couldnt figure
out why. It was as if he just got something special and was about to lose it.
You think she will want to play with us? Lucas asked.
He thought about it, and based on his moms earlier attitude, he doubted she would let
them play with the new girl. The girl was going inside and she took one last glance at the two,
side by side watching her and she gave them a smile. Shyly he gave a small wave and the girl
went inside.
Well I hope we can become friends, said Lucas as he walked back to the couch to
watch his show. He stared at the crack that he had made and thought to himself that he
doubted they would ever be friends.

ASH
Ashlinn Fairweather had thought that the two boys across the street were cute. The one
boy was older with raven dark hair but the one with the hair that looked like sunshine was
about her age. It would be nice to have some friends for once, if her dad let them stick around.
She moved around a lot with her dad and her dad had promised that they finally would be able
to stay in one place. She turned towards her dad and asked, When it stops raining, do you
think I can go play with the boys across the street?
Her dad turned towards her with sad eyes and said, Im sorry sweetie but you must
stay away from those boys; it isnt safe, her dad ruffled her hair and then turned and went to
unpack. She went upstairs to her new bedroom and stared out into the rain, pondering the
warning her father just said.

Chapter 1
LUCAS
Twelve years later Lucas Delacroix was in the change-room after practice. Football
practice had gone well; coach was really pushing him hard as the teams ace wide receiver and
the results were really starting to pay off. He had just finished changing when he noticed Dylan
was waving his hand in front of his face.
 Oh, sorry Dyl, I wasnt paying attention, he gave an apologetic shrug. His parents
considered football a hobby for him but he was hoping if he worked hard they would notice and
take his interest seriously.
Dylan gave him a light punch on his shoulder, Ya I noticed. So, what time do you want
me to come over tonight?
He checked the time on his cell phone and said, Mom is leaving at six so you can come
over around nine for rehearsals.
Alright man, Dylan said, as he pulled his hair back into a ponytail. Dylan was his best
friend at school and was the one that suggested that they form a band. He played the guitar,
along with his brother Tristan, who played the keyboard. Siobhan played violin and did backup
vocals, and her brother Will played Bass. Dylan was the lead singer, and with his long hair, he
looked like a cleaner version of Kurt Cobain.
Ill bring the beers and vodka for Siobhan. You get the snacks, Dylan reminded him.
The two finished packing their football equipment away and parted ways in the school
parking lot. Lucas got in the car and drove to the grocery store. He was in his final year of high
school and it was supposed to be all about going out with girls, breaking up, trying new things,
and having fun. But the one person he wanted to be with, he wasnt with. Ashlinn was the girl
across the street, and despite being the same age and living on the same street, they didnt go
to the same school. Ashlinn went to a private school, the kind that wore sexy school uniforms;
the kind that got boys in trouble. He never talked with Ashlinn because his mom had told him
she was trouble and his mom was always keeping an eye on him when Ashlinn was outside.
How his mom could possibly know that Ashlinn was trouble was a mystery to him. His mom
never spoke with Ashlinn or her dad, yet from the moment they moved in, his mom disliked
them.
However, this didnt stop Lucas from trying to get to know her. He tried on several
occasions to catch her going to and from school to talk to her but her school started earlier and
by the time he finished football practice she was already home. He knew she had friends
because he always saw her going out dressed up and had friends over at her place often, not
that he was stalking her; he was merely drawn to her like a moth to a flame. That was how he
learned her name. He used to only know her last name from their mailbox and from his moms
comments, but after one of Ashlinns friends left her house she accidently dropped her bus
pass. He had been outside at the time and went to return it to the girl. He chatted with the girl,
maybe even flirted a bit to get the information he wanted and found out that his neighbors
name was Ashlinn.
He was stopped at a red light when he smelled smoke. When he looked down, his hands
were glowing, and the steering wheel had started to get soft. Marde he thought. He was really
going to have to keep practicing control. If anyone ever saw him start a fire with nothing but
his hands they would say he was a freak for sure or lock him up. Not to mention he would have
broken hundreds of laws revealing his gift to regular humans.
Lucas finally made his way to the grocery store. He grabbed a basket and immediately
headed to the snack aisle. He picked up Oreos for Will, jalapeo Doritos for himself, Cheetos
for Siobhan and Dylan, and animal crackers for Tristan. Tristan would probably punch him for
sure for buying them but he loved to tease his big brother. Not that he would do anything to
seriously piss Tristan off. Tristan was a nice guy but he could literally bite your head off if you
upset him.
His mom was going to a conference this weekend which is why they were having their
little party/band practice, so he headed to the frozen food section knowing that she would
forget to leave dinner for them so he figured he would pick up a frozen pizza for himself,
Tristan, and Max, his six-year-old brother. As he turned into the frozen food aisle, that is when
he saw her, and he couldnt believe it. After all the times of purposely trying to talk to her, he
accidentally ran into her at the grocery store. Ashlinn was wearing skinny black jeans with
black knee high boots, and a navy-blue bomber jacket. Her long brown hair was up in a high
ponytail. He started towards her, unaware that he had started moving at all, and she turned
towards him. Their eyes met and like the first time he saw her, he was captivated by her
evergreen eyes. She smiled at him with beautiful full pink lips and he had to be very careful he
didnt burn the whole store down.
Hey, its Lucas, right? she asked. She was holding a basket in one hand and had a
piece of paper with a list of things to buy in the other hand.
Ahh ya. Marde he felt pathetic. He finally got to talk to her and he could only mumble
out incoherent filler words. He had no idea what to say and at this rate he was going to waste
this opportunity.
Im Ashlinn but people usually call me Ash. I live across the street from you. He
noticed that she seemed nervous talking to him. She kept looking around as if she was unsure
if she should be talking to him.
Ya I noticed you. How did you know my name? He tried not to come off as rude. He
was generally curious at how she knew his name. So that he didnt seem weird, he tried to act
casual as he asked the question, and shifted his weight.
Oh, my schools football team hates yours. So, everyone knows youre the ace wide
receiver and Ive seen you play so you sort of live up to your reputation, she smiled again and
he laughed. He was impressed that she liked football and he felt his ego grow.
He didnt know when he would get another chance to talk to her. With his inflated ego,
he asked without any hesitation or fear, What are you doing tonight?
She hesitated and said, Well my dads visiting family and he wont be home until
tomorrow, so I was thinking of making fajitas and having a Resident Evil marathon. She
looked a little embarrassed as she said it- as if he would think that she was a loser. But it was
the opposite: A girl who liked sports and zombie films was awesome.
Would you like to come over to hear my band play? I know that sounded like a cheesy
pick up line from a movie but it wasnt. Were planning on practicing, then hanging out, he
told her.
She looked surprised by how forward he was and he had to admit he was a little
surprised as well. She told him, I figured you had a band or you liked to listen to music really
loudly. I can hear you guys play from across the street. What instrument do you play?
I play guitar and my older brother Tristan plays the keyboard. Were not that bad. We
play mostly punk Qubcois. Do you like music? If she didnt like music then all he had to
offer was booze. If she didnt drink and didnt want to come over then he was going to be
disappointed fast and he would have lost out on his opportunity to get to know Ash. Plus, he
would have made a huge fool out of himself.
Ya, I dont really have a preference. I usually like anything I can dance to. You guys
going to have drinks? she asked.
Phew he thought, this was going well, Ya, our lead singer Dylan is bringing some.
Well, Ill make you a deal, she smiled coyly at him. Since I plan on drinking your
beer, Ill come over early and cook dinner, or are you planning on eating that for dinner? she
gestured to his basket full of junk food.
Ha-ha, these are snacks for after we practice and you really dont have to cook
anything. Mon Dieu, she could cook! Could she get any more awesome?
I insist. Plus, it will give me a chance to get to know you guys better. Weve lived across
the street from each other for what, like twelve years, and know nothing about each other, she
said shyly.
Okay deal. He hoped he wasnt making her feel too self-conscious, because he was
starting to feel self-conscious himself.
Will your mom mind? I dont think she likes me very much. She didnt seem upset,
but just said it as casually as if she was mentioning the weather. He felt kind of bad that she
had picked up on his moms attitude. He knew his mom wasnt subtle but he had hoped she
wasnt blaringly obvious with her disapproval.
Its not that she doesnt like you, its just that she doesnt know you. In truth, his mom
really didnt like Ash. Mom is leaving at six for a conference so you can come over at seven.
Awesome. Do you guys even like fajitas? she asked him, gesturing to the food in her
basket.
Ya, Tristan and Max will eat anything and I love spicy food. I guess both Tristan and I
are what we eat, he thought, thinking back to the animal crackers in his basket.
Great, Ill see you guys at seven. She waved goodbye and went to continue shopping.
He couldnt believe it. Not only had he finally talked to Ash but she also agreed to come over
and hang out. It wasnt an exact date but it was close enough. Tonight was going to be the best
night ever. He paid for the snacks and drove home in a daze, smiling the whole way home.
When he got home, he was greeted by Max. Max was six years old and looked like a mix
between both his parents. He had curly brown hair and brown eyes. Max was the type of kid
who was very much into the fantasy world and could always be found reading a book or playing
video games. Right now, Max was wearing a Link costume complete with shield.
Hey Lucas, did you buy me anything? Max asked.
Sorry little bro. These are for the band but you can have all the snacks we dont eat
tomorrow. Im sure Tristan wont want his animal crackers anyways. Max snickered at his last
comment.
He could tell Max was disappointed, but he nodded and went off to watch TV. He
started to unload the snacks when his mom walked into the kitchen.
You seem to be in a good mood. Are you guys that happy to get the whole house to
yourselves?
He went over to his mom and kissed her on the cheek. Of course not mom, Im just
looking forward to band practice.
Well you make sure everyone gets home safe and dont let anyone drive home drunk.
Thats what he loved about his mom. Even though it bothered her that they drank
underage, although only by one year, she didnt mind as much if they were safe and
responsible. There were plenty of times she let Dylan crash for the night because he was too
drunk to drive.
He left the kitchen and joined Max on the couch in the living room. The room still
smelled like paint since their mom recently painted it a pale blue color. According to her, the
color matched the couch best. Personally, he thought anything matched white. There were
several school photos of himself and his brothers and even one of Tristans paintings.
Hopefully he wouldnt be too embarrassed when Ash saw them he thought. Tristan came down
the stairs and stood in the living room doorway, leaning against the door frame when he said,
Really? Youre just excited for practice? Youre not a very good liar.
Im sorry. I didnt realize you were eavesdropping. Not everyone has super hearing.
He glanced around to make sure his mom wasnt nearby.
Youll be happy too. You know that girl from across the street?
This got Tristans interest and Tristan pushed himself off the wall, Ashlinn?
Ya, he said a bit confused. He wasnt sure how his brother knew her name since
Tristan was also told to stay away from her. He kind of felt a little jealous that he wasnt the
first one to know it.
Well, I ran into her at the grocery store. Her dads gone for the night and she agreed to
come over tonight to hang out.
Really? Im surprised you were brave enough to talk to her. Youre not the smoothest
with girls. Tristan was trying to come off as not too jealous that he wasnt the one to talk to
Ash but Tristan really wasnt fooling anyone. He could tell Tristan was also interested in Ash.
 He was feeling a little annoyed by Tristans comment, so he said, a bit too snarky, Ya
well I did. Shes coming at seven and she offered to make dinner in exchange for some beers.
Ha-ha, I like a girl who knows what she wants. Then Tristan left and went into the
kitchen to talk to their mom. Tristan wouldnt tell their mom about Ash coming over. Tristan
was just as curious about her as he was and he suspected Tristan had some level of interest in
her too. The real challenge was making sure Max didnt accidentally tell mom. He turned to
Max and began to explain how it was okay to keep secrets from mom.