Read Online Dark Sacrifice by Angie Sandro - Free Book Online

have a family to go back to anymore.” He pauses. “Guess you don’t either. I’m being…insensitive.”
    The words sting with bitterness. Is he thinking about what happened to Mama? Or his parents? I sit on the edge of the bed and lay our clasped hands on my lap. “Yeah, you are a little. At least your parents are still alive.”
    â€œTrue…” The distance widens between us. He’s lying right next to me, but our emotional connection has been severed, like he’s built a wall blocking me from getting too close. I don’t like it. I won’t let him cut me off.
    I squeeze his hand. “Actually, this once-upon-a-time orphan has gotten more offers than she can use.”
    Curiosity reestablishes our connection. “What does that mean?”
    I lower my voice so it doesn’t carry into the hallway. “I’ll tell you the whole story later, but mostly it means I’m gonna be selfish. I had about enough of being ordered around while in the mental ward. Mama never paid too much attention to me, and I’m used to taking care of myself. I don’t need a babysitter.”
    â€œThen you’re going home?” His hand tightens.
    â€œYeah.” I ignore the obvious question. How will I handle living in the house where Mama was murdered? Well, seeing as how the spirits of Mama and Uncle Gaston are waiting for me to return, I’ll do just fine. My family’s untraditional but still intact. “I’ll stay with Bessie for a day or two. I need to go to the college to talk about my financial aid. Oh, no. With your parents out of the picture, how will you pay for school?”
    â€œI think I’ll skip out on this semester. I won’t be welcomed on campus after what happened. People will blame me like they did in jail. Besides, my football scholarship’s gone with my depth perception.”
    My stomach clenches as my gaze immediately goes to his damaged eye. I’ve avoided looking at it, but without the eye patch, the damage is clearly visible. I stomp hard on the guilt. Sympathy won’t do him any good. “Poor baby, welcome to Mala’s world. I’ve dealt with people spreading rumors about me my whole life. I’m sure there will be even more now. I’ve survived. So will you.”
    â€œI a-a-almost didn’t. I would’ve died if not for you.” He squeezes my hand.
    Is he talking about — “Oh, my God. You remember?”
    â€œYeah, getting stabbed and smothered leaves a lasting impression.” Sweat breaks out across his forehead, and a moan rips through him. His grip tightens. “I’ll never forget dying and seeing you screaming for me to come back. The burning cloud. The pain…” His body convulses. The hand holding mine jerks upward, and I fall across his chest.
    â€œLandry? Landry, what’s wrong?” I lay my palm across his forehead. “You’re burning with fever.”
    â€œI’m cold.” His teeth chatter. The spasm turns into a full-body shiver.
    â€œHang on. I’ll call the nurse to come give you some meds.” I push up, but he won’t let me go. He’s panting, unable to slow his breathing. A blood circle encases the dilated pupil of his swollen eye. “Let me go, Landry.” I press my hand against his chest. The flesh beneath my palm ripples like millions of worms are wiggling beneath his skin.
    â€œIt won’t stop.”
    â€œWhat won’t stop, Landry?”
    â€œThe snake in the darkness crawled inside me. It’s burrowing deeper.” The handcuff around his right wrist keeps him bound despite his struggle to break free. “Get it out of me, Mala. Please.”
    â€œCalm down. You’re gonna hurt yourself.” He’s totally lost it. Nothing I say stops him from trying to get out of bed. Blood runs down his wrist from where the metal cuts into his skin.
    I run to the door and throw it open.