Page 26 of Crown of Death

So I close my eyes and just focus on the black of the back of myeyelids.

* * *

The water islukewarm when my head nods and I jerk awake, splashing water all over the floor. I look around, taken over by confusion for a moment. Trying to figure out where the hell Iam.

And it all comes crashingback.

Right.

Pulling the drain, I slip out, grabbing a towel hanging on the hook. I marvel at how the entire house was furnished with absolutely everything, just ready for Cyrus and his crew—and me—to walk right in and set uplife.

I can only imagine how much it must have costhim.

Going to the closet that Fredrick has already organized, I pull out a pair of shorts and a tank top. Twisting my hair up into a knot at the top of my head, I decide this is as good as it needs to be fornow.

I’m not trying to impressanyone.

I stand in front of the bedroom door for a full two minutes. Which is bullshit. Absolutebull.

This is my life. Cyrus, the crazy psycho just stormed into it, making demands, flashing his fangs. Telling me he won’t release Eli until I’mdead.

Okay. I may be his prisoner here. That doesn’t mean I have to be pleasant company in the meantime. That doesn’t mean I can’t take full advantage of my time living in this beautiful house when I was just about to becomehomeless.

Give himhell.

Yanking the door open, I step out into thehall.

The upstairs sounds quiet as I walk down the hall. My ears strain for sounds, and I hear somethingdownstairs.

The house has transformed since I went into my room. Now, as I walk down the grand stairs, I see that heavy wood shutters have been pulled closed over the windows. They block out nearly all of the late afternoon light outside. The house is nearlydark.

“Hello?” I call, rounding the entryway, being careful to navigate through the darkhouse.

The sound of a knife cutting stops. “We’re in here.” Fredrick’s choppy English cuts through thedark.

I step into the living area and find Fredrick in the kitchen, working at a rapid pace. The room smells divine. Something with garlic and maybe cilantro. And the smell of flour andeggs.

“I hope you were able to get somerest.”

Cyrus’ voice pulls my eyes to the right. I see him and Mina sitting on the couches, tablets in their hands, numbers and information sprawled across thescreens.

“As good as can be expected when you’re a prisoner to a crazy man who says he’s a vampire,” I say. I walk right in and flop down on the couch opposite of where hesits.

Mina mutters something to Cyrus in German and then leaves, Fredrick following after her without a word. Leaving me alone withCyrus.

I watch them leave. I can’t decide if I feel better or worse with themgone.

“Is that where you’re from?” I ask, folding my legs up under me. “Germany?”

Those dark eyes bore into me. My eyes slowly adjust, dilating so that I can see better in the dim light that creeps in around the shutters. Cyrus’ lips are pressed together in a thin line. He sits with his legs crossed, one arm stretched out across the back of thecouch.

He’s been in this house for all of a few hours, yet he seems perfectly athome.

Cyrus seems ratheradaptable.

“Austria has been my home for a very long time,” he says. “Though you could say I am rather well traveled. I’ve seen all of the world. Though I will say I’ve been to the States more than I’d prefer in the last littlewhile.”

My throat tightens at that, cracking the hard façade I’m building. I don’t want to think about it, because for my entire life, I’ve trained myself not to wonder, not to worry aboutit.

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