Free Darkness Falls by Mia James Page B

she asked. ‘Hiding behind a door?’
    ‘I haven’t found a decent hiding place yet,’ said April, stepping out of the room. She didn’t want Layla to spot Caro too.
    ‘Well you’d better hurry up,’ said Layla, her annoyance plain. ‘The rest of them will be here in a minute and Davina will hit the roof if he knows you were in here. Her dad is very protective of his books.’
    ‘I should think he’s pretty protective of his booze too,’ said April, nodding towards the glass in Layla’s hand. ‘Maybe we’d both better keep quiet about where we’ve been, eh?’
     
    April doubled back towards the lounge. She could hear the sound of trampling feet and laughter coming from the upstairs rooms and some shouting coming from the direction of the kitchen. She guessed they had already searched this part of the house. She turned into the entrance hall and pulled open a door; it was a small walk-in closet crammed with coats. Perfect. She pushed the jackets to one side and got inside, closing the door behind her. It was cosy enough in there, butApril couldn’t relax. She kept thinking of one thing: where was Gabriel right now? Was he looking for her, hoping to find her on her own, snatch a few words or kisses, as she was? Or was he looking under the bed with some slut, pretending she didn’t exist. April knew she had agreed to this and yes, it made sense they pretend to dislike one another. But did he have to pretend so well ?
    She froze as the door opened and a blond head ducked inside. It was Ben.
    ‘Aha! My superior detective skills pay off!’ he whispered. ‘So now I have to get inside too?’
    ‘Um, yes, I think so,’ said April as Ben closed the door, wriggled between the coats and sat down next to her, being careful not to spill the glass of red liquid he was carrying.
    ‘You okay?’ he said. ‘I did tell my idiot sister that you might not be too happy creeping around in the dark, but she insisted it would be “fun”.’
    ‘Oh, don’t worry, I’m fine,’ said April forcing a smile. ‘Just thinking about … you know.’
    In actual fact she was thinking about how she could feel his thigh pressed up against hers and how warm it felt. She knew she shouldn’t be thinking about anyone but Gabriel, but where was he?
    ‘Well, maybe this will help,’ he said, handing her the drink. April took a glug and grimaced.
    ‘Bit strong?’ he smiled. ‘I’m not that keen either. Actually, I think Caro might have hit on something with this party food. I think I actually prefer her cherryade to these cocktail things. And I never saw any of Davina’s fancy catered canapés disappear as fast as Caro’s sausage rolls.’
    ‘Maybe we’re not as old as we’d like to think,’ said April, immediately seeing the irony in what she had said. For all she knew, Ben could be two hundred years old. Still, he certainly looked good. Stop it, April , she scolded herself. Remember he’s a vampire .
    ‘One thing’s for sure,’ said Ben. ‘We’re all a lot better off since you came along, April Dunne.’
    April looked away.
    ‘I’m not sure everyone would agree.’
    Ben raised his eyebrows.
    ‘You mean Gabe?’
    ‘I was thinking about Layla, actually. We just had another run-in. In fact none of that crowd have ever really warmed to me. You must have noticed.’
    He shrugged. ‘I don’t think the likes of Layla and Chessy warm up at all. But some of us are glad you’re here, me especially.’
    April looked at him. He was cute, but was this all an act? Was he really saying he liked her, or was this all part of the vampire honey trap?
    ‘Well, thanks,’ she said lamely.
    ‘Listen, can we talk?’ said Ben. ‘Seriously, I mean?’
    ‘I … I suppose,’ said April warily.
    ‘Not here, I don’t want any other sardines coming in and interrupting us.’
    He pushed open the closet door and, checking the coast was clear, led April towards the front of the house.
    ‘Well, I’m not sure I should leave the party