Fifteen year-old Adley Lange has yet to learn that something sinister haunts her grandmother's old mansion and hides in a dark portal beneath her bed. And the demonic being born of a generational curse does more than put Adley in a continual bad mood. It kills the first born child in each succeeding family by their 16th birthday--and Adley's birthday is just around the corner! She meets seventeen year-old Victor Trumillo, a descendant of the original victim, and only he can destroy the hideous creature. Victor and Adley want to end the curse and save future lives, but will they succumb to fear just as they may have discovered true love?
Chapter Two EXCERPT
The idea of being in a newly decorated room wasn’t what made it Adley’s choice. It was the farthest one from the master suite. Since her parents constantly nagged and treated her like she was a burden, Adley wanted to be as far away from them as possible.
“I’m not sure about you having that room,” Caroline said, and she looked at Roger for support.
“I’d feel better with you closer to us, too,” her dad said.
Adley argued her point. “I’m being forced to live in the middle of the high desert during my school vacation in a place someone died in. I should be able to pick the room I want.”
“This is a big house, honey,” her mother said. “I bet you’ll feel more comfortable sleeping near Dad and me.”
“That room is all the way on the other side of the house, Dee—I mean, Adley,” Roger promptly corrected himself. “If there was a fire or worse—”
His daughter rudely interrupted. “If someone breaks in or if my room catches fire, I’ll scream my lungs out.”
Her father smiled. “Believe me, we’re well aware of your lung capacity, but—”
Adley’s volume increased with her next interruption. “I deserve to have that room in exchange for all the sacrifices I have to make by being here!”
“Now listen, Deedee,” Roger said in his soft voice, but Adley screeched in reply.
“My name is Adley! Why can’t anyone respect what I want, like being called by my real name? It’s Adley!” she shouted again.
“You need to watch your tone, young lady,” her father said.
Caroline closed her eyes for a brief moment. “Grandma Aggie didn’t get around to buying a new bed for that room. And although she had the rest of the rooms refurnished, I don’t think she wanted anyone to use it.”
Adley’s anger boiled within. It shot into her balled up fists and tightened her facial muscles, a convincing sign of an impending outburst. Every word screeched out.
“I’m not a little girl. I’m a teenager! And Grandma’s not here anymore, so it’s not like she’d care! There’s no reason why I shouldn’t sleep where I want!”
“All right! All right!” Her mother raised her hands and relented. “Go ahead and take it!”
Roger shook his head and started to unpack a bag.
Adley lifted her nose above her haughty smile. It didn’t feel good to shout at her parents, but she won a victory and pranced along the carpet toward the other end of the hall, resembling a grade-schooler more than the teen she claimed to be.
She reached her new bedroom and noticed that, unlike all the other doors in the house fitted with elaborate crystal knobs, a piece of old silver hardware embellished the door. Adley took a firm hold of the ornate L-shaped handle, and it chilled her fingers. She yanked back her hand.
Every part of her skin that touched the ice-cold metal looked practically frozen. No wonder the knobs on all the other doors were different. Grandma Aggie must have forgotten to replace this one. It didn’t matter why the fixture was freezing to the touch. If Adley complained about it, her parents were sure to make a stink and use it as an excuse to keep her from taking the room. She tucked her hand into the cuff of her long-sleeved T-shirt and pulled down on the handle. She heard a click, and the door slowly opened.
It seemed as if she stood before a freezer door. The burst of arctic air felt like the same icy breath as when her father first entered the front door. Adley shivered, chilled from head to toe, and hesitated. The room had been closed off for a long time, and that had to be why she felt a sudden chill when the door opened.
Adley looked back down the hall. Her parents stood at their bedroom door watching her, as if ready to change their minds about letting her have a room so far from theirs.
Maybe they also thought like she did in that moment, as if it were a big mistake for her to take a single step into the room.