Dark Curse (Darkhaven Saga #5) - Danielle Rose Page 0,19

witches will still suffer those consequences.”

“I—but…” I stutter, losing my train of thought as I consider what he is telling me.

“Black magic is a powerful, evil entity, Ava,” Holland says. “The witches harnessed it, and someone must pay that cost. But it should not be you.”

I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry. I glance at Jasik, who looks happier than I have seen him in weeks. Only moments ago, he looked betrayed, almost jealous of my relationship with Will, but now, that emotion is gone, masked by his outright glee in Will’s discovery.

How can everyone be so sure this is serious?

My chest hurts, and my mind is spinning. So many thoughts are swarming in my head. It feels dizzying when I try to settle on just one.

“Ava, this is good news,” Holland says. He reaches for me, grabbing my hands between his own, but I jerk away. He frowns and sits back, as if I physically lashed him. That is twice now that I have pulled away from him, and though I do not mean to target him, I can’t bear to be touched. I need space.

“I—I don’t know,” I whisper.

“What do you mean?” Will asks.

“Is it a good idea to risk using more magic?” I ask. “I mean, we do not even understand the spell they cast to begin with.”

“But we can still break it,” Will counters.

“What are you afraid of, Ava?” Jasik asks as he crosses his arms over his chest. He eyes me curiously, trying to read my emotions, which unfortunately, is a lot easier to do now that I am human.

“I just… I am scared of the consequences,” I admit.

“I think the consequences of not even trying are far greater,” Will says pointedly.

“Are they?” I ask. “How can you be so sure?”

“Ava, the consequence you are faced with right now is death,” Holland says. “What can possibly be worse than that?”

I break his gaze, looking down at my hands. I play with a hangnail on my finger, flicking the dead skin with my other fingernail. The vampires do not understand the evil inside me. They see glimpses of it, but they do not truly comprehend what it is or what it is capable of.

The evil inside me moves. It grows stronger as it feeds on my very essence to strengthen itself. It wants to live. It wants to take control of my body and never let me go.

Relinquishing my body to a supreme evil force seems like a far worse fate than death.

Chapter Four

The house is noisy with vampires. While the others welcome Will’s return and celebrate his hopeful news, I sit alone in the solarium.

The large, expansive sun-room wraps around the right side of the manor, from the front parlor, past the adjacent sitting room, and all the way to the dining room at the back of the house. There is a corner doorway to the parlor, which is almost always shut, and two massive double doorways to both the sitting room and dining room.

From where I sit, directly in front of the walkway to the sitting room, I can peer into the other rooms, where groups of vampires are congregating. I never let my gaze settle on one vampire for too long, because I dread the inevitable connection and thumbs-up that will soon follow.

They are happy for me, for the news we just received, and I am grateful to be loved and accepted as a member of a vampire nest meant for Amicia’s vampires, not Jasik’s. I also appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm, but I can’t help wondering why they care so much. Is it truly because they were fretting over my doom? Or is it because Will brings hope—hope that I might not go insane and murder everyone in their sleep?

I have a feeling the latter rings true for them.

Sure, they are happy for me, but they are still vampires. No one understands the fear of death better than creatures who were supposed to be promised eternal life. Their number-one priority is their own survival, their own safety. My weakening mind and loose grasp over reality poses a great threat to their happy existence. I try not to think about that right now. Instead, I focus on my surroundings, letting the many distractions the manor offers clutter my mind.

I used to be able to sit in this very spot, open both doors, close my eyes, and hear the waves crashing in the distance. I could smell the salty air, feel the tingle of mist against my