Haeven Read Free Page A

emphasis.
    "Hmm," she bit her lip, "Well if you're sure
you're just tired maybe you should get ready for bed and try to get
some rest." She braced herself and looked as though she expected me
to argue against it.
    "I think I will," I yawned.
    She looked suspicious when I readily agreed
but said goodnight anyway and kissed my cheek before heading back
downstairs. I went to my room and changed into my pajamas. Once I
was ready for bed I pulled the covers back and tucked myself
in.
    I really thought I was tired and would fall
asleep quickly but every time I closed my eyes they popped right
back open. Eventually I gave up and for a while I just lay there in
the dark staring at the ceiling and picturing everything that had
happened that day.
    "He could have killed me!" I suddenly
realized. "What if I had died? What would he have done? Would he
have left me there? Would they have found me? What would they think
had happened to me?"
    Absently, I reached for Daemon's amulet and
studied it as I held it up to a sliver of light that was shining
from outside. Thinking about him brought tears to my eyes.
    "It was my fault. I made him...I begged him
to let me help him...and I...I...I liked it. I loved the way it
felt; being swept away from myself and into Daemon. Then...oh, then
his blood was racing through me and electrifying me from the inside
out. It was...it was...incredible," I closed my eyes and felt all
over again the strange ecstasy of hearing our heartbeats crying out
for one another.
    By then I knew it would be impossible to fall
asleep if my thoughts kept running in the same direction.  I
anxiously tried to think of something else but everything I tried
to distract myself with made me realize that he was not the only
thing that was bothering me as I lay there wide awake with his
charm in my palm and my fingers running over its smooth surface. It
was too bright, or at least it seemed too bright to sleep. And the
noises! It sounded like the crickets were right outside my window
even though my bedroom was on the second floor. Then there was the
air rushing from the vents and the hum from the air conditioner
every time it kicked on.
    "Ugh," I moaned and buried my face in my
pillow.
    When I turned the chain Daemon's amulet was
on got caught on one of the sheets and gave me a bit of a choke. I
decided I had better not fall asleep with it around my neck so I
sadly slipped it off and hung it on my bedpost. It must have been
after midnight by then and after arranging myself and forcing my
eyes shut one last time I finally began to drift off.
    Hours later I was awakened suddenly.
    "I know you're here Daemon," a woman's voice
grumbled. "I can feel you! I can smell you!" she moved from the
shadows and picked her way across my room.
    "Who are you?!" I demanded.
    I surprised her and she swiftly turned
towards me, "Better yet," and the next thing I knew she was beside
my bed and had me by the throat, "who are you?" she lifted me up as
I struggled against her. She turned me towards the window so she
could get a better look at me.
    Choking and sputtering, "I'm...I'm..." and as
I tried to say my name she gave me a little toss and I landed
roughly back on my bed, "Emily."
    "Where's Daemon? I know he's...here...," her
voice changed suddenly sounding full of disbelief. Then she frowned
and looked me over again. She bent in close and clutched my chin
forcing my mouth open. She sniffed my breath and turned her head in
derision. "What did he do to you?!" she demanded.
    I scowled at her challengingly and refused to
answer.
    "Oh, is that how we will play this game? Very
well," she seized my hand and brought my wrist to her lips. She
took a violent pull from my veins then tossed my hand back towards
me. She took a step away, "Ah, I was so close...so close to killing
him," she smiled a sinister little grin, "but you...I see...and
he...and so..." her eyes had a faraway look as she considered what
had happened.
    "And now he's long gone, isn't he?"
    "I don't