Page 52 of The Vampire Curse

The demon lopes toward me, the foul breath churning my stomach as it gains.

Five shadowy figures stand at the front of the manor, unmoving.

I open my mouth to call out, but the world is ripped away. I can’t tell which way is up. The horse is gone without so much as a sound.

Searing pain lances through my leg. My body jerks, and I’m thrown through the air. I manage to suck in a breath right before it’s torn from my lungs as I collide with the ground.

Stars explode.

Pain. The pain is everywhere.

A loud crack. My leg is on fire.

So much pain.

I try to breathe, but I can’t. The movement of taking half a breath feels like a thousand knives through my ribs.

Voices.

Silence, then more talking.

I can’t think. I try to roll my head to see what’s happening, to see where the demon is before it delivers its killing strike. Black spots waver in and out, obscuring everything.

An eternity has passed, and I’m still alive. Otherworld take me, I want to die—the pain… the pain… the pain.It’s too much.

My body rapidly loses feeling, and that is more terrifying than the pain.

I can’t feel anything.

Silence—long and heavy.

A familiar voice.

Then nothing.

Chapter Nineteen

Alaric

This will bethe second hunt in as many nights. These are becoming far too regular for my tastes. And without my claimed human, I can offer nothing in the way of an excuse to reduce the frequency, let alone avoid them entirely.

I exhale, long and slow, not looking forward to this. I detest going into town for meals. There is too much unwanted attention—and with this lot—too many chances for things to go awry when it’s impossible to keep track of everyone.

I have offered to send for willing humans, but Cassius, Della, and Victor all want to hunt.

I have had my fill earlier in the evening from my reserves. I do not wish to partake in this ritual again. Not so soon. I will go and keep an eye on them to ensure nothing unfortunate happens.

Lawrence steps up behind me and places a hand on my shoulder.

“It is a nice night for a hunt,” he says. “Dark.” He motions to the sky, indicating that the moon isn’t out tonight.

I drag my gaze to his and take him in, unamused. He shrugs in response.

Victor and Della tail Cassius, moving beyond the gates, anxious to get this hunt started. A loud roar echoes from the west.

Lesser demons are never that loud.

The five of us stop in our tracks and look to the forest's edge. Darkness pulses between the trees, power rippling out in wave after wave. The world holds its breath.