Dark Curse (Darkhaven Saga #5) - Danielle Rose Page 0,26

know I have nothing to fear. No one could enter this house and bypass the flock of vampires downstairs without alerting them to an intruder’s presence. I am safe here. The vampires will protect me. Still, I cannot calm my racing heart. Every sudden change leaves me with one staggering impulse: run.

I stand so quickly, I become dizzy. Blood rushes to my head, blurring my vision. I wobble, waiting until the feeling subsides. Sometimes it feels like that wave of uneasiness never goes away. It is always there, haunting me, reminding me of how things used to be, of how I will never again walk this earth. Even in times of clarity, that sensation is still there. The only difference is I have gotten used to living with that sickness.

“Come in,” I shout as I use the footboard to steady myself. I blink away my blurred vision, trying to focus on my visitor instead of the throbbing in my head.

Jasik enters, one hand grasping the doorknob, the other hiding something behind his back. The moment he sees me, he frowns. His brow furrows, his eyes grow heavy. I hate when he sees me in these moments of weakness, and I imagine he does not care for it either. Every day, he is reminded that I am not the girl he sired so many moons ago.

“I am fine,” I say, answering his silent question. I pray he will not push further. I am not in the mood to discuss my feelings. I came to my bedroom for peace, not torture.

I glance down, trying to sneak a peek. I can tell he is hiding something behind him by the way he awkwardly maneuvers through the doorway.

I squint, trying not to think about the fact that I have to squint to see him, even though he is only feet from me. I appreciate times like this, when I have something to focus on other than my doom.

“I have something for you,” Jasik says.

I smile widely, suddenly overjoyed. These moments, when I can forget about how the world is slowly crashing down all around me, are the ones I replay over and over again at night, when I am trying to sleep and only want to see the good parts from my life now. I fear closing my eyes, never knowing if I will be offered serenity or a nightmare, and I am hopeful tonight will bring me a cherished memory to loop.

I hold out my arms, pumping my hands into fists over and over again, silently telling Jasik to give me whatever it is. Like a child, I have no patience. I want my present now.

“Gimme,” I croon, smiling. “Gimme! Gimme!”

My reaction makes him smile, and I take in his appearance as he approaches me. Jasik is tall, leanly built, with boyish charms even though he is centuries older than I am. He died in his early twenties, so he will forever remain in that mid-stage appearance, when he can pass for a kid in his late teens but still might con his way into a bar.

Jasik ushers for me to meet him on the side of the bed, and I quickly prance over. I plop down, letting my legs dangle over the side. I sway side to side, bursting with energy as Jasik slowly approaches me, a sly grin across his face. He is enjoying this moment, taking his time as he strolls to my side.

As he motions to sit down beside me, he tells me to close my eyes. I obey. When I dare a peek, I find him sitting still, silently watching me with his mouth curved into a grin.

“I know you better than you know yourself,” Jasik jokes.

Rolling my eyes, I grumble and squeeze my eyes shut tightly so he knows I will not chance a peek again. Still, he makes me wait. The grandfather clock in the hallway ticks loudly, and I find myself swaying to its beat. Only when I feel Jasik place something on my lap do I open my eyes.

A large, rectangular, black box is resting against my lap. Jasik is holding the outer edge so that it remains upright and does not spill onto the floor. I grab on to the edges, prompting him to release it. I feel his gaze on me as I assess the box, trying to decipher the contents before opening it. This is the best part about receiving gifts. The guessing game, finding out if you were right—these are