I’m about to head toward the kitchen doors when I hear a sound and see lights blinking outside. A truck?
Voices come from the kitchen, a man and a woman. A delivery from what I can make out. I guess the kitchen is out. Although what was I going to do? Look for an unlocked back door? And go out into the night with those armed men walking the property? I get the feeling they’d shoot first and ask questions later.
I move back toward the stairs, listening for anyone else as I hurry up to the second floor. If someone is in the kitchen taking a delivery, then it may be later than I realize, and the staff will be up soon. I need to get back to my room before I run into anyone.
Making my way toward my darker corridors, I pass the one where I’d mistakenly run last night. Where Damian had caught me.
Something draws me toward it even as something else equally strong warns me to stay away. My feet move of their own accord, and as I get deeper, I hear a sound. It’s faint. I have to stop to be sure it’s real, but yes, there it is.
Piano music.
I stay still and listen to the eerie, haunting melody. My hand grows clammy around the knife handle. I take a step toward the sound, toward that darkest hall, but I trip over something I swear wasn’t there earlier. Whatever it is, it’s low to the ground and hard. It scrapes against the floor loudly, and the music stops immediately.
My heart is in my throat as I try to stay stock-still. I don’t even breathe sure I’ll be caught. But when all is quiet for the next minute and then another, I turn and quickly run away from that corridor, away from where the music came from and up to my own bedroom.
Once inside, I close the door behind me, leaning my back against it, exhaling in relief. Looking down at the knife in my hand, I smile. I’ll have something to protect myself with, at least. Because I’ve seen the other monster Damian warned me about. And I wonder if there aren’t more.19DamianCristina is a sneaky little thing.
From my place at the dining table I watch her as she cautiously enters the living room and I remember last night. Remember how she tasted.
I sip my coffee while she looks around her uncertainly, maybe searching for my father. I sent Elise upstairs to fetch her for breakfast, so she knows I’m waiting for her.
Today will be a big day for Cristina.
The instant she sees me, she stops short. Her expression changes, her guard going up. It’s as if she erects a wall to protect herself from me.
She doesn’t yet understand there is no protection from me.
“Good morning,” I say, watching a blush bloom on her cheeks. That and the way she looks just beyond me lets me know she’s remembering last night too.
“Morning,” she mutters.
I watch her cross the living room into the dining room and wonder if she’s stashed the knife she picked up on her nighttime stroll somewhere on her person.
When she reaches the table, I push her chair out with my foot. “Sit.”
She takes in the table set for just the two of us.
“Don’t worry. My father doesn’t leave his rooms during the day.” Like a vampire, he hunts at night.
“I’m not afraid of that old man.” She pulls the chair a little farther from me and sits, still avoiding my gaze.
“You should be.”
I notice the bruising along her jaw. The slightly darker spots where my fingers were last night. I need to take better care with her.
She eyes my plate, which has one lone strip of bacon left.
“Hungry?” I ask.
She nods.
“Look at me.”
Keeping her lashes lowered, she bites her lip, then finally drags her gaze to mine. There’s that blush again.
I call to the girl serving breakfast. “What would you like?” I ask Cristina.
“Um…just some toast is fine.”
“You need a protein.” I turn to the girl. “A plate like mine. And coffee?” I raise my eyebrows to Cristina who nods.
The girl disappears into the kitchen.
“Why bother to ask what I wanted if you were just going to order for me anyway?”
“Just curious what you’d choose. Your health is important to me.”
“Right.” Her gaze moves to my bandaged hand.
“It’s fine, thanks for asking,” I tell her. “Did you enjoy your walk last night?” Her mouth falls open, and before she can deny it, I continue. “I know everything that goes on in this house, Cristina. I have just one rule for you. No locked doors. Those, you leave alone.”
“Why? What are you hiding?”
“I’m not hiding anything. I just want to be sure you don’t walk into your enemy’s lair.”
“Aren’t I already in my enemy’s lair?”
I snort.