Darkness Falls (Darkness Series Book 3) by J.L. Drake Read Free Book Online Page A

peered over the rim of my mug.
    “Because I like watching you squirm about your costume.” She laughed and headed upstairs, leaving me to watch Travis disappear into the tree line. I wondered if he watched her like Lasko used to.
    “Seth?” I looked behind me at Emily, who held up my handcuffs. “We should really use these more often.” I grinned. “Maybe I’ll use them on you?”
    “Not on your life.”
    She tossed them on the couch with a shrug. “Maybe I’ll find someone else to use them on then.”
    I lunged forward, only to have her yelp. “Yeah, you better run.”
     
    ***
     
    Avery
     
    I jolted awake from the sound of Emily’s scream. At first it was terror, but when I heard Seth’s voice call after her, I knew they were playing.
    I moved undetected from the guest room closet where I had fallen asleep waiting for them to return, and slipped into Emily’s room. There was a spot behind her shoe rack that hid my bottom half perfectly, and her dresses hid everything but my eyes. The great part was she had these shutter-style doors so I could watch without having to move from my spot. This was good because a few times she opened the closet unexpectedly. I quickly moved her father’s memory box over so I could get a full view of the room.
    Emily suddenly laughed and ran into the room. She raced around, then grinned when she looked at the closet. She flung open the doors and moved inside, clicking the door closed just as Seth came in.
    “You think you’re safe, baby?” He laughed as he scanned the room.
    Emily was so close, and if she were to look back to her left, she’d see my face. She panted, out of breath as she grinned at him. Her skin was flushed and her hair was messy.
    Slowly, I moved my hand up. It ached to wrap around her vocal cords. The need to steal her life made my mind spin with consuming thoughts. I blinked and swallowed as my hand grazed her hair. She shifted but was too wrapped up in Seth to notice me. My other hand went into my pocket and pulled out a long, skinny wire. In a flash, I saw myself wrap it around her neck and tighten it so it ripped through her flesh. Her eyes locked onto mine with such shock it made me smile with delight. Blood poured down her front and dripped at her feet. The tin smell of human blood heightened my excitement.
    Just as the urge became overpowering, just as I prepared to make my move in my crazed state, Seth opened the door and hauled her free.
    Fuck! I pressed myself flat against the wall and waited. Now wasn’t the time. But it was coming, and when it did, it would be my most passionate kill yet.
     
    ***
     
    Emily
     
    “Wow.” Vanessa gawked at my costume as I fastened the red ribbon around my ankle just above the black high heel. “What an elegant, sexy looking dress.” I winked as I stood in front of the mirror and fixed the leather overlay on top of the puffy tulle. I was in a black and red corset, with black lace sleeves and a rather stylish popped collar, a leather skirt with red tulle underneath, fishnet stockings, and black high heels.
    “I hope I can do my master proud.” I grinned and thought about Seth, who was off helping his family prep for the Halloween party they held every year. I told him not to worry, that Garrett and I would meet him there.
    “Do you think your master will be all right going as Dracula?” she asked as her fingertips grasped the zipper on her dress, then slipped on a pair of glasses.
    I removed the contact from the solution and replaced my bright blues with a deep yellow. I laughed at the thought of Seth’s face. “Something tells me when he sees his bad-ass cane, he’ll be fine with it.” Vanessa’s costume looked perfect. “And Campbell?”
    She shifted her wig in place. “Well, he owes me one, so…” I looked over to find her chuckling. “This should be fun.”
    “You know what the difference is between you and me?” Garrett stood in the doorway and pulled on a pair of sunglasses. “I make