Page 14 of The Vampire Curse

My breathing comes faster as I wait for the demon to rip me apart and consume me.

Then points of light, like distant stars form, dim at first then brightening until I can see again. Tallow candles in sconces along the walls, though only a few are lit. I don’t stop to look around, running as fast as my shaking legs will carry me.

My feet pad down the hall, muffled by the thick runner. I don’t know where I’m going, but I know I can’t stop.

A man ascends the top of the stairs at the end of the hall. The upper half of his body is shrouded in shadow.

I reach out a hand.

“A—” I start, but nothing more than a strangled sound makes it past my lips.

The icy cold has traveled up my body, numbing my muscles. I fall but don’t feel the ground as I hit. The dark mass stalking me rushes over me and swallows up my consciousness.

* * *

Warm fingers brush the side of my face. It feels good. I try to say as much but all that comes out is a groan.

After a few tries, I manage to open my eyes. A face hovers before me, surrounded by night.

I blink as the face comes into focus. The white-haired vampire crouches before me with pale brows raised and lips quirked to the side.

“It is not safe for a human to be wandering the halls at night in a house full of vampires.” There is too much humor in his voice for his words to be a threat.

I try to recall the details of the last few hours—the last few minutes—but everything is muddled. My head pounds the harder I try to remember.

“I… You—” I try to scramble away, but he places his hands on my shoulders.

“Be still,” he says quietly.

“Who…” I begin.

He smiles and presses his palm over my forehead as if I have a fever.

Without the look of contempt on his face, he is quite handsome. The way the corners of his lips tilt up in a secretive smile. His green eyes glitter, even in the dim light.

“That’s right, we were never formally introduced.” He speaks softly. “Forgive my rudeness, mylady. I am Cassius Wellington.”

“Oh,” I say. I’ve never before been introduced to anyone while lying on the floor.

“I’m—”

“You are the Lady Clara Valmont,” he says. “We all know whoyouare.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Wellington.”

“Please, call me Cassius.”

I press my elbows into the floor, lifting myself up a fraction. “What am I doing out here?”

Cassius hums, nodding as if such a thing were an everyday occurrence. “It seems you were having a night terror, Lady Valmont.”

“That’s never happened before.” I press a clammy hand to my forehead. Could the stress of meeting the vampires and all the wine have gone to my head?

“Being in the presence of so many demons can do that to a human.”

I snap my gaze to his. The details of my dream come back in a wave at hearing the worddemons.I lick my suddenly dry lips. How could he know what my dream was about?

“Demons?” My question comes out half-formed. He must be referring to himself and the others.