Page 19 of Deadly Cravings
I was shit out of luck.
“Hey babe, I’ll call you later, I’m dealing with an interview emergency.” The line went dead, and I drooped, the lip of the counter digging into my side as I lowered to the floor. I’d spenthours cleaning yesterday, so the floor sparkled. I dazed on the linoleum flooring and it blurred in my sight.
What do you want, money?
That vampire mentioned he’d pay me if I helped them, but with what?
I scoffed and shook my head, blinking the tears away... I couldn’t believe I considered this.
“They would have already killed me if they wanted,” I mumbled. “I mean, they know where I live, so they could have snapped my neck last night, right, kitty?”
The cat meowed like he was agreeing.
It was a bad idea to get tangled up with the soulless creatures. Being near them would only serve to remind me of the torment the red-eyed Pale One put me through. Although . . . I didn’t think they would just let me go now that they found out I couldn’t fall under their weird mind control. I shivered, rubbing my arms.
“Do I even have a choice?” The cat tilted his head and pressed his front paws into my thigh, sinking his claws into my skin. I winced, and avoided the claws. “I’m gonna do it.” I couldn’t believe I was pumping myself up to a cat. “Ihaveto do it.”
I didn’t even know what ‘it’ was, but I didn’t think I had the option to be selective.
Nervous energy pricked my skin and I rubbed my arms.
“Why haven’t they come to drag me out of my house yet?” I sucked on my lower lip.
The cat rubbed against my calf.
Earlier, I’d said it couldn’t be worse, and now I reaped the consequences. I’d successfully jinxed myself. I had no choice but to turn to the vampires.
EIGHT
catalina
No other choice.The phrase repeated like a mantra with every step I took toward their home.
The knot in my throat had expanded by a ton, weighing each step down. The structure of the house blocked the moon from shining over me and no matter how far I tipped my head back, I couldn’t see the roof. Even the cat must have been intimidated because he’d disappeared as soon as I headed this way.
The gate creaked from a gust of wind, and I took it as my cue to nudge the latch open. The hem of my shirt snagged on a thorny vine wrapped around the bars.Shit. I fiddled with the cloth, unhooked it from the sharp greenery, and brushed the pad of my thumb over the tear, then smoothed it down.
I didn’t know if the inhabitants would be awake, but I’d knock once and if there was no answer, I’d leave and return later. Simple as that.
After two flights of about fifteen stairs each, I halted with one heel on the step before ascending the last couple that led to the dark slabbed door. The ornate wood on each side bulged out to a tip at the top.
Without a doubt in my mind, I knew there was no turning back after I walked through there. I exhaled sharply and myteeth clicked together. Everything would be fine. Even if this got me killed, it wouldn’t be the worst. I was paying out the ass for life insurance and Peter’s name was on the document. I pressed my lips together.
It was wrong of me to think that way, but I was just so fucking tired of being positive.
Squeezing my hands into fists, I exhaled sharply, nose flaring.
I shook my head.
There was a way out of my financial issues, and I was taking it by the horns.
The knocker was a bat hanging upside down, its ominous black eyes staring back at me from the stone. I reached for it and held it distended.
No choice.
Then freaking knock!
“Are you just going to hang around out here, Pet?”