Felix shook his head. He moved as if to get up, and then sat back down. “No. The windows don’t move, and they don’t break even if you smash them with a hammer. It’s cooler in the basement, if you want to try there though.”

“Yes, please.” I got up off the wall, wiping my hand on my T-shirt. A cool basement where I could be by myself and cry sounded perfect. Maybe I could scope out the place for Felix’s coffin while I was there. Jesus. I wasn’t sure reality had sunk in yet. “Where is it?”

“The door is in the kitchen, opposite the sink.” He cocked his head to one side, appraising me. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“No!” I shook my head, my bun swaying from side to side. Then I realized I might have sounded a bit aggressive, and Felix may or may not have been a vampire, and I really didn’t want to get on his bad side. But all I wanted was to be alone, process whatever the hell was happening, and mourn. I should’ve been afraid about going down into a basement by myself, but as weird as Felix was, I didn’t get any serial killer vibes from him. Besides, if I couldn’t find his coffin, I could dig my way out through the dirt walls. Bet he hadn’t tried that before. “No. I’ll be fine. Thanks though.”

Felix nodded, propping his ankle across one knee. “I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have when you’re ready.”

Somehow, he didn’t exactly sound happy. Of course it would be just my luck, to piss off my new vampire roommate on day one in a cursed house. Next he’d tell me the neighbor was a werewolf. I left Felix in the dining room, following the simple directions to a door I had missed on my earlier search for an exit.

Felix’s voice followed me into the kitchen. “Washroom is at the back if you think you’re going to be sick.” I rolled my eyes. Ass.

The basement door was open a crack, with dim light spilling out, but it was also at least ten degrees colder than the rest of the house. I swung the door open wider and took the rickety steps as quickly as I could into the chilly basement.