Dark Curse (Darkhaven Saga #5) - Danielle Rose Page 0,50

sizzle.

Next, after I feel the heat, I hear them.

Something crashes in the distance, alerting me to a foreign, unwanted presence. The manor awakens, floors creaking as the intruders enter our domain. The walls whisper as the vampires awaken. The air shifts as bodies sit upright, rising from beds to investigate the commotion.

Jasik shifts; the bed moves. I open my eyes.

No longer am I on the beach, playing in the water. No longer am I free from the burden of life.

I am in the manor, lying beside Jasik. The room is dark, but my vision adjusts quickly. No longer am I plagued with inferior senses. I sit up abruptly, and Jasik rushes to the bedroom door. He turns, facing me, his eyes are alight with fear.

“Someone is here,” he warns.

“Maybe it is Holland or Will,” I suggest. Both are day-walkers now.

But deep down, I know I am wrong. The sound comes from neither friend. Our enemies are near, attacking during our weakest moment.

Sunlight.

I glance at my bedroom window. The drapes are thick and unyielding. Beyond the shades, the sun is warming Darkhaven, welcoming the living to another blessed day of life.

I am shaking, but I stand and dress quickly. As I pull on my jacket and secure my stake—just in case I am wrong and our attackers really do have fangs—I am buzzing with energy. My skin, my bones, my very core, feels alive with excitement. And I hate myself for it. It has been far too long since I have participated in a hunt, and I am eager to return to normal.

I brush my hair back with my hands, my fingers tangling in my long tresses. I tie a holder, looping it around three times to keep my thick locks in place. I nod to Jasik, letting him know I am ready.

In the seconds it took me to get dressed, Jasik got ready too. He matches me in my attire, wearing dark jeans and a T-shirt. But he has no weapon. After all, this is my room, not his.

I unzip my jacket’s inner pocket and toss Jasik my stake.

“Here,” I whisper.

He catches it midair but frowns when he looks at me. His gaze flutters from me to the stake and back again. I realize he has made the same assumption I have: rogue vampires can’t possibly be behind this.

“I can rely on magic. You cannot,” I explain.

It is better than nothing.

He nods sharply, as if he understands my silent meaning, and with his hand grasping the doorknob, I take one, final breath.

We emerge into the hallway, the smoky air thick. I breathe in a lungful and hack, leaning against the wall for support. I smelled the fire, felt its heat, but I was not prepared for just how overpowering it would be.

How did we sleep through this?

How did the fire get this bad without anyone noticing?

Jasik grabs hold of my hand, guiding me through the haze. I see nothing but endless streams of thick, smoky air before me, so I rely on my sire, knowing Jasik can walk these halls with his eyes closed and never trip or fall down the stairs—two things I am an expert at accomplishing.

We stop abruptly at a doorway, and I collide with Jasik. My softer frame squishes against his solid body, and I stumble backward, grunting under my breath, offering a vague apology. He does not respond. I am not even sure he noticed I ran into him. Focused on the room before us, Jasik pushes open the door, not bothering to knock. I peer inside with him, watching as Malik dresses. The two brothers say nothing when they look at each other. Jasik turns away and leaves his brother behind.

I catch Malik’s eye before Jasik pulls me down the hallway. For once, he seems scared. If a fire is destroying the manor, the vampires will need to seek shelter elsewhere. But where? Where can they go when the sun is high in the sky? Where can they hide? These questions—and more—are likely looping through Malik’s mind too.

We reach Jeremiah’s room, again finding him dressing, preparing for battle. Holland is also dressing, his hands shaking as he pulls on a T-shirt. His gaze meets mine, and he tries to smile, but it falls flat, never reaching his eyes. Does he worry for his safety? Or is he also wondering how a house full of vampires are going to survive a daylight fire?

I pull my hand free from Jasik’s grasp, and he shouts at me.

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