Dark Curse by Danielle Rose

Author:Danielle Rose [Rose, Danielle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781642631746
Publisher: Waterhouse Press

Chapter Six

The rogue vampires are dead. I struggle to stand, hacking as I inhale ash. The air is hazy with particles that once formed our friends. We might have won this battle, but the cost leaves a heavy toll.

The vampires who survived are weak and wounded, bloody from waging a war they know nothing about. The hunters aid their nestmates, caring for the injured with bags of human blood.

I am still sitting on the final staircase landing. My bottom is planted firmly on the top step, and my feet dangle to the floor below. My elbows are resting against my thighs, and both my head and heart ache.

I replay the battle over and over again, and though I see it play out in my mind, all that remains is my fear. I am far too reckless for someone so weak. I realized this too late. The moment I nearly lost to the rogue vampire, I had a revelation.

I must complete the spell. I need my powers back. I am terrified of risking more magic, but I have no other choice. I am slowly losing my sanity, and as I slip further into the abyss, I will become more and more foolish with my actions. I may be only seventeen, but I must be wiser than this. The vampires deserve a champion, and lately, I am nothing more than a liability.

I scan the sitting room for Will, my only hope to become normal again, finding him in the solarium. He is aiding another vampire who is bleeding from a deep gash across his chest. His T-shirt is soaked through, the deep crimson stain penetrating the thin fabric and seeping down his torso. My stomach churns at the sight.

Will rips open a blood bag, spilling the precious healing elixir. He forces the opening into the vampire’s mouth. Our wounded comrade drinks greedily, and with each slurp, he begins to heal—slowly but surely. Eventually, he will be okay.

The vampires are badly wounded, but those who made it this long will survive. Already, they are healing, and with the promise of fresh blood, they will be well again within a few hours. Tomorrow, it will be as if tonight’s battle never happened. That is the beauty of being undead. Every new day practically erases the previous day’s pitfalls. Their scars will mend, leaving nothing but sadness in their hearts as we mourn our losses.

“Ava,” someone says, breaking my trance.

I tear my gaze from Will to see Malik standing beside me. His face is dusted in ash, and he is sweating. Dark streaks of cremains mixed with sweat drip down his forehead and cheeks. It looks like a bad makeup job, like Malik was taking lessons from me on how to conceal unwanted memories. I can even see where he wiped the film from his eyes.

My gaze trails his body. Malik is wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt. The rogue vampires caught us off guard. Most of the vampires were just waking, probably more slowly than usual thanks to last night’s gathering with Will.

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