Dark Secrets (Dark Heritage #1)

  *****

  Andrew came back for me a few hours later. When he saw the untouched food on the tray outside my cell, he frowned, but didn’t say anything about it. He just looked from the food to me, and plastered a completely fake smile on his face that sent shivers down my spine. “How about a tour of the place?”

  I forced myself to steadily meet his eyes, refusing to show how scared of him I was. “You thought I’d be out like a light when you came back down, didn’t you? I’m not going to eat anything else you give me, Andrew. I’m not going to make this easy on you.”

  His smile widened into something creepy and sinister. “You’ll wish you had.”

  He unlocked the cell door and slid it open while I resisted the urge to bolt for the nearest exit. I wouldn’t beat him up the stairs, and even if I somehow miraculously did, I wouldn’t know how to leave this place. I’d just get lost and end up going around in circles until Andrew caught and caged me again.

  He motioned for me to join him, and I stepped up meekly beside him. My best chance for getting out in one piece would be to act as humble and un-confrontational as possible. If he thought I was bowing to his will, he’d be more likely to make a mistake with me, allowing me a chance for freedom.

  Can I really pretend to be ok with this? Andrew’s not stupid. Crazy, but definitely smart. He’ll see through any form of flattery for manipulation. What can I do to help him lower his guard with me?

  When Andrew took the steps two at a time until he reached the top, he opened the door and held it open for me. As I passed him, I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and call him a gentleman. Somehow, I didn’t think my sarcasm would be appreciated. In a way, it was almost funny how my sarcastic nature only seemed to come out at the worst possible moments, like when I was being held against my will by a man that planned to use me like a pawn.

  Keep it together…you’ll get out of here eventually. Just keep your head down, your manners up, and your wits about you. Even if you can’t save yourself, someone else will save you. It’s not like the Council will just leave me–an incredibly powerful weapon–with Andrew. They’ll come for you eventually; just hang in there.

  Andrew put his hand on my lower back, banishing every thought from my mind, except for how gross his hand felt. It was large and clammy, and I could practically feel the sweat from his palm drenching the back of my shirt and dampening my skin. I had to repress another shudder, and I forced my head higher, trying to pretend it didn’t bother me as much as it really did.

  Andrew led me through his home, bypassing the parlor room where he’d taken me last time. I was glad not to have to stop in there, but I was more worried about where he was taking me. He refused to tell me, and he just shook his head every time I asked him.

  Finally, when we’d gone up another flight of stairs and down two hallways, he stopped us at an open door. He shoved me inside first, and followed closely behind. Cautiously, I took in the entire room quickly, noting the rows upon rows of bookshelves, the ancient furniture that resembled the parlor room, and the grand stone fireplace before me.

  How many fireplaces does one home need?

  “What is this place?” I asked quietly.

  “This is my library. It’s also where your training will begin. While you’re here, I will teach you what it truly means to be a necromancer. I will teach you to raise an army, and to command power wherever you go. I will even teach you how to survive your death, by allowing you to possess another’s body with your spirit. Can you imagine having such a power? With it, you can never truly die; you can just move from one body to the next as they age and die, while your spirit remains immortal. Together, the two of us will be invincible!”

  With it, you can never truly die…

  Not if I banish your spirit, I thought to myself. An idea was forming in my mind. If I could convince Andrew that banishing a soul would be a useful thing to know, I might be able to get him to finish teaching me. Then, all I had to do was find a way to overpower Andrew, and I could banish his soul for good. Would he fall for it though? Could I really pretend to be interested in learning something that could be hazardous to him, or will he see right through it?

  Only time would tell.