Page 39 of Resurrection
“If I knew, I wouldn’t be shrieking, now would I?” Sitting up, I take one foot in my hands, lifting it closer to my face so I can look at it properly.
“She must’ve been pacing on the carpet barefooted.” Marcus chirps from the end of the hallway with his arms folded across his chest, looking too amused for his own good.
Sebastian and I both glare at him.
“I’ve seen her do it before, but I’ve usually been there to distract her enough so she stops.” Lifting his hands palms up, he shrugs unapologetically when Sebastian growls at him like a feral dog. Speaking of which…
“When will I see mutt?” My best friend Denial has my back, again. She is great like that. If I don’t like the situation, I’ll just ignore it like it’s not happening. “You promised I’d have him back.”
“You really want that dog around you before you learn to control your hunger?” Daring me to fight him on this, Marcus grins like an asshole when I pout.
I know he is right, and the last thing I want to do is hurt the only one that accepted me for me without wanting me to change. My dog. Well, he is not mine, but he refused to leave my side and has stuck with me through thick and thin, so I claimed him. God help whoever tries to take him from me now. I’ll never admit to these monsters that they are right. A change of subject is needed.
“I need to rip that carpet off the floor.” Since I have no control over my body, I’ll do the next best thing. I’ll change my surroundings. See? Smart.
“It won’t fix the problem.” Sebastian, the killjoy, pushes off the floor and looms like an angry god above me. “You need to start learning to control your new body and emotions.”
“Let me guess?” Blinking innocently, I fold my hands at my chest, looking adoringly at him. “You’ll take pity on this poor girl and teach her, right? Oh, wonderful master, please say you will spare your precious time and take me under your wing.”
Marcus chokes, coughing to cover the laughter that he barked out before Sebastian turned his murderous glare at him.
“This is unacceptable!” Looking down his nose at me, Sebastian straightens his shirt sleeves, a quirk I’m not sure he is aware of having. “Whether you like it or not, I made you, and you will do as you are told until you are in control of your actions.” When my eyebrows hit my hairline at the audacity he has, his face darkens with rage, sending an excited shiver up my spine. “I will have you obey!”
“You’ll have me obey?” Tears run down my face from laughter. “How about you tell me this after sunset, huh?” Finally lifting myself off the floor, I square off with him, all humor leaving my face. “Instead of them hiding you like a little bitch, how about you face me then and tell me to obey.”
“I do not hide from you, little girl.” Getting in my personal space, he cages me between the wall and his chest, his nose touching mine when he bends his head. “And to prove to youthat I have let you be for your sanity, as well as mine, I will meet you after sunset…today.” One side of his full lips lift slightly at the corner. “Let us see if you will or won’t obey me then.”
He storms off after those last words, leaving me with my shaking hands sliding down the wall until my butt hits the floor. My knees became too weak to hold me up, and I stare at the space where his broad shoulders disappeared a second ago.
“Damn, April.” Marcus shakes his head, chuckling. “You asked for this.” When I snarl at him, he laughs. “Hey, this is all on you. I’m going to enjoy the show tonight.” He follows Sebastian, leaving me alone in the dark hallway.
“You are an idiot, April.” Covering my face with my hands, I feel dread and excitement at the same time. Two deep voices chuckle from somewhere in the apartment at my muffled words. I groan, making them laugh out loud.
The jerks heard me, obviously.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Twirling my fingers, playing with the rays of sunshine between them, I press my cheek to my curled-up knees. The honking of cars and the hum of voices that I usually associate with this city is missing. Since the night I saved Sebastian from the Council, we have barricaded ourselves in the hotel. Crushed cars are piled up, one on top of another, creating a wall of metal around us. Guardians dressed all in black patrol the perimeter, always vigilant in case someone sneaks in. Humans replace the vampires during the daylight hours, armed to their teeth with guns, swords, and wooden stakes. Seeing them now prowling the streets doesn’t help my brewing torment. The sun usually helps. However, not even its warmth can calm down the thunderstorm of emotions inside me today. With each passing moment, I can feel the day coming closer to an end. It’s not confronting Sebastian that bothers me. It’s the anticipation I think that is bringing me to dread the coming night. I have no control over the monster I turn into, and that’s a big problem.
She has set her sights on Sebastian, like a cat ready to pounce on a mouse.
Only we are not talking about a mouse here, are we? It’s a hungry predator gearing up to meet me head to head. No amount of hyping myself up or pep talk can calm my nerves. Just like with everything else in my life, I brought this one on my head out of sheer stubbornness. With a sigh, I unfold my body from the windowsill where I’ve been sitting for over an hour. The height doesn’t bother me anymore. Go figure. Maybe the fact that I can’t die now if I go splat on the asphalt from eleven stories high has something to do with it.
“Suck it up, April.” Closing the window, I search for my shoes.
The colors are more vibrant now, my eyesight clearly seeing the microscopic flecks of dust dancing in the air like tiny little fairies. Even the small dents and dips on the polished wooden furniture pieces are visible when I glance around the room. It was making me dizzy the first couple of days until I got used to it. Like a crazy person, my eyes were darting around, trying to catch every movement around me until a splitting headache forced me to close them, tears streaking my cheeks.But that was then, and this is now. Whatever this is supposed to be.
“Life of a monster,” I mumble while crawling on my hands and knees to look under the king-size, four-poster bed.
Laughing humorlessly, I snatch the flats from under the bed and stuff my feet in them none too gently. Irritation is making me irrational, so I need to get out of this place to clear my head. Everywhere I turn in this damn apartment, I’m reminded of him. I can even smell him in the air, no matter where I try to hide.
Lifting my chin up, I stride through the hallway and head straight for the front door. Passing through the living room makes my heart jump and beat frenetically like a frightened bird. It shouldn’t have bothered me because the room is silent andempty as a tomb. The chandelier reflects the light of the candles that have been lit and placed strategically on every flat surface.
An orange glow bathes the expensive furnishings, giving everything a dream-like appearance. My feet move reluctantly towards the middle of the room. The sofas, coffee table, and side tables have been pushed to the walls, leaving the center clear of everything. Red, thick pillar candles stand in four corners, reaching my knees, their flames dancing and crackling like they are straining to touch the high ceiling. The silver champagne cooler sits inconspicuously on the floor with two flute glasses next to it. My belly tightens at the implications of what this set up means.
I almost jump out of my skin when movement catches my attention. Leaning on the doorframe to the guest room he is using, Sebastian rakes his gaze over me. I can feel it like phantom fingers gliding over my skin, even through the clothes that cover me. When I get control over my reaction to him, I notice the slight rosy glow on his handsome face telling me he has fed recently.
Jealousy rears its ugly head inside me, causing my body to quake in rage. Whirling around, I bolt out of the penthouse like the devil himself is right on my heels. Passing the elevator doors, I yank the entrance to the stairs open and race down so fast I’m practically flying out of the ground floor into the lobby in a blink of an eye. Colliding with a body, both of us topple over, hitting a few tables and chairs on our way down. I’m vibrating in anger, more at myself than Sebastian, while I stare at the high-vaulted ceiling after I end up sprawled on my back. The painted pictures above me that I usually find beautiful piss me off right now.
