Download - Cursed Secrets- Chapter 1 Preview!
Lisa Logue
Cursed Secrets
Publisher:
BookRix GmbH & Co. KG
Einsteinstra§e 28
81675 Munich
Germany
Text: © 2012, Lisa Logue
All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 17.02.2012
http://www.bookrix.com/_title-en-lisa-logue-cursed-secrets
ISBN: 978-3-86479-283-0
Chapter 1
I woke up sweating bullets and panting. I was shaking
so hard my teeth were chattering; my throat was hot
and sore. Most nights I could feel the dream coming,
but it scared the hell out of me every time.
I wiped the sweat from my forehead and looked at the
clock; five a.m. Sleeping a full eight hours was rare and
usually I wasn't tired. The exception, of course, was
when I had the dream. Those days I wanted to stay in
bed, but I was too terrified of it happening again.
"It's bad enough I was there," I said, getting out of bed.
For ten years I was plagued by the constant reminder
of how my parents died. I was forced to relive that
pain. I shuddered and hopped in the shower, washing
away the remnants of my curse.
Well, one of my curses. My emotions poured from me
like a leaky faucet, affecting anyone in my path. On
days that were particularly sad, I elected to stay home.
The last time I attended classes on such a day, the en-
tire room burst into tears out of nowhere. I freaked and
went home, but that didn't stop them from talking.
College isn't that different from high school. Aside
from there being many more people, word still travels
just as fast. The only real differences are the papers
and final exams that cover material the professors
pulled out of thin air. Still, I could handle what was
thrown at me. What I couldn't handle were the fake
ones; those who tried to see if the rumors were true.
I'd more or less shut myself off from the rest of the
world. After the first few liars tried to fake friendship, I
learned to lock it all away. A normal social life just
wasn't in the cards for me. Most of my relationships
were long distance, only existing in cyber space.
The shadows became my friends, providing shelter
when I needed it most. I was a fly on the wall, nothing
more. After all that I'd seen in my life, as short as it
was, the last thing I needed was attention. Knowing
something was wrong with me helped lessen the suf-
focating feelings. All I needed were Nana and Pops;
4/383
they were all I had left.
I dressed in my usual faded jeans, lace cami, bomber
jacket, boots, and scarf. Living in Colorado meant it
never got incredibly warm so a jacket was a usual ac-
cessory. It was one of my favorites, mainly for the in-
side pockets for my cell and MP3 player. I'd hide the
ear buds in my hair while pretending to pay attention
during lectures. It was easier to avoid everyone else
when I couldn't hear what they were saying.
The smell of breakfast wafted up from the kitchen. In-
haling deeply, I followed the path to deliciousness. I
was convinced that my grandmother was born with a
spatula in her hand. Unfortunately that gene bypassed
my DNA. I could burn water.
"Good morning, Nana. Mmmm it all smells so good," I
mused. She chuckled.
"You'd think after all these years I'd get tired of hear-
ing that, but honestly, I don't! Sit, sit. You need your
strength. Rough night again?" she asked with her back
5/383
to me. Nana and Pops knew of the dream; even put me
in therapy that didn't work. Eventually they let it go.
"Unfortunately, but it is what it is. Where's Pops?" I sat
down and shoveled a large portion of cheesy
scrambled eggs and bacon onto my plate.
"Oh, he's around here somewhere. He's terribly bored
these days what with the retirement and all. Between
you and me, he's driving me bananas! He never stops
puttering with things. He needs a hobby, I tell you. Do
you want orange juice?"
"Sure. Well, we can think of something for him to do.
Maybe he can work part time somewhere. Better yet,
just start making up things for him to do. That's what
husbands are for, right?" I smirked.
"Only partly. I married him for more than just his
handiwork, dear. You'll see one day. The right man will
sweep you off your feet and you'll never look back,"
she said smiling wistfully. I grunted.
6/383
"I doubt that. I'm not exactly what men are looking for
these days, Nana. I have baggage," I grimaced. I soun-
ded middle aged and I wasn't even twenty-five.
"Men are funny like that. They don't know what they
need until they find it. Now hurry, you don't want to be
late."
I finished the rest of my breakfast thinking about what
men wanted. It went something like: sex, money,
sports, and more sex. It was a rarity to find one who
was in it for love. I sighed, kissed Nana goodbye, and
headed to campus.
Dallas was waiting for me when I pulled in and a shud-
der ran through me. Dallas Holcomb was the first per-
son I met in Colorado and my only friend. We also be-
came involved in high school, but kept things quiet. I
don't know if it was for his sake or mine, but either way
I couldn't complain. He was nice when he wanted to be
and very generous in the giving department. I called
things off when he started seeing Leslie Bingham; the
biggest bitch I'd ever met.
7/383
"Dallas..." I said brushing past him.
"Lia, why haven't you stopped by after running?" he
fidgeted, talking in a whisper.
"Because I don't want to cause trouble for either of us
and being faithful to Leslie is good for you. What kind
of friend would I be if I messed that up for you?" I
asked, raising my eyebrows.
"Just because I'm seeing someone doesn't mean we
can't still be friends. Isn't that what we are?"
"Dallas, I can't trust myself with you. It may start out
innocently enough, but eventually we'd end up in bed
together. If you want to talk then you can text or
something, but I'm not coming over," I sighed.
"I guess I never realized I have that affect on you," he
smirked. I punched him in the arm and laughed.
"Aren't we full of ourselves? Come on, we need to get
8/383
to class," I started walking, but he stopped me.
"Hey, look, um...I might have said something to Leslie
that I shouldn't have. Before anyone else said anything
I wanted to talk to you," he backed up a step.
"Wha...what did you say?" I put my hand to my temple
and closed my eyes, forcing the anxiety away.
"She asked if I ever noticed anything weird about you.
I told her you'd been through a lot, but she kept asking
questions. I might've told her some of what happened
in Pennsylvania," he said in a rush.
"Why? Why would you tell her?" I squeaked as the
tears began to well up. I felt paralyzed.
"I don't know! I didn't mean to. We were talking and I
just blurted it out. I'm really sorry, Lia. You know I
wouldn't have said anything on purpose," he a step to-
ward me but I held up my hand.
"Don't. I can't believe you would do that! You were the
9/383
only one who knew. How can I go in there and face
those people when you've given them the perfect
ammo?!" the air started pulsing.
"Lia, please, I didn't even realize what I said until after
I'd said it. I made her promise not to tell anyone, but
I'm not sure she won't. I just wanted to be the one to
tell you," he glanced behind me and I knew she was
there. Her eyes were boring holes in the back of my
head.
"Well, well, isn't this nice? Feel like having a chat, did
you? I'm sure he's told you by now that I know
everything. So I'm going to tell you this once. Stay.
Away. From. Him. If you so much as breathe in his gen-
eral direction, I will make sure that everyone finds out
about where you spent your time after your parents
died. Or is it after you killed them? I still haven't
figured that one out. Run along, freak," she spat. Red
began to fill my vision, the anger threatening to spill
over. I took several steps backward trying to compose
myself.
10/383
"Leslie, stop," Dallas pleaded.
"No, she needs to know her place. If she won't leave
you alone I have to do something about it, since you
obviously won't. Don't underestimate me, sweetie. I
can be just as crazy as you," she glared at me with
such intensity my resolve began to waver. She doesn't
know nearly as much as she thinks she does.
Dallas stepped between us, sensing the anger and hurt
swirling around me. My energy was no stranger to him.
Sparks danced behind my eyes, willing me to attack,
but I wouldn't. I spat, turned on my heel, and got in the
car. Swallowing the surge of emotions, I peeled out of
the parking lot and drove to the far end of campus.
I sat there for a while, thinking and stewing. I hated it
in Colorado. I hated every part of it. But I just couldn't
bring myself to leave Nana and Pops. They saved me. I
couldn't just walk away without repaying the favor. I
hated myself. I hated how I couldn't control my emo-
tions. I hated how I had no idea what it was or how to
stop it or whether it even could be stopped. I just
11/383
wanted to crawl into a ball and disappear.
I got out of the car and stomped my way into the quad.
I lay down under the trees and stared up at the clouds.
It was nice, imagining myself in a different place
where people didn't care, where I didn't have to hurt so
much. I closed my eyes and listened to the earth; the
wind in the trees, the birds singing, and the pitter pat-
ters of the different critters running around. Tension
loosened the deeper I fell, my breathing finally return-
ing to normal.
I sat up and watched the passersby hurrying along in
different directions. People I knew, some I didn't, but
no one saw me. I'd retreated back into the shadows.
My heart almost stopped when I saw Christian Mason
leaning in one of the doorways. We had a Biology Lab
together, but he was among those who didn't know I
existed. If there was ever a man to be called beautiful
it was him.
His skin was slightly tanned, like he'd come back from
a vacation at the beach. Muscles he tried (and failed)
12/383
to hide were evident under his fitted shirts. Slightly
buzzed, dark hair blended into a constant five o'clock
shadow. He was tall, maybe a bit over six feet, and
wore it exceptionally well. I couldn't see his eyes from
the distance, but I vaguely remembered them being
green. Something about him screamed trouble, but I
couldn't find the heart to look away.
A different type of anxiety thrust itself upon me; a
smoldering heat from somewhere I hadn't known exis-
ted. Ripping my eyes away from him was difficult, but
too many people were around. Warmth spread from my
middle, flushing my cheeks. At that moment I realized
how lonely I really was. I sighed loudly and lay back,
returning to the fantasy world among clouds.
13/383