Mrs. Hammond seemed very disappointed when I left. I took a few cookies out of pity and thanked her. That made her feel a little better, I think.Now if only I could find a way to cheer myself up.I'd screwed up. Now not only did Mia know there would be no reconciling between me and Benjamin, she also understood there was something about me that called to her. Unlike Brad, the latent talent, hers had been active once. And now it was breaking free, it would do anything it could to finish the job.Mom was going to kill me.The sun felt very warm as I plodded down the front steps on my way home. It was so cheery and bright I almost snarled at the sky. It was like my own little cloud of gray followed me everywhere and the sun was intruding on that.Not in the best of moods to have a conversation with anyone.Naturally, Brad chose that moment to approach."Hi, Syd." His smile was like the sun. Offensive somehow.I grunted back."I was thinking, since we're going to prom together, w
There was only so much crying into my pillow I could take. Mom took one look at me and let me retreat to my room, joining me later with a tray of snacks, but leaving me in peace. Even Sassy didn't say a word and he usually gave me a hard time for being such a whiner.I joined Mom and Meira for dinner, but the conversation was pretty much just the two of them. Even my little sister seemed quiet though, so it was a depressing twenty minutes.I was about to retreat back to my room to sulk when Uncle Frank arrived. His appearance instantly jerked me out of my own worries, remembering his concerns about Sunny, but that faded as she walked through the door behind him.I loved Sunny. Even though she was this really old vampire with enough power to probably tear me apart, she was the sweetest person I knew. I lined up for a Sunny hug when I caught the look Uncle Frank gave Mom.Something wasn't right.When Meira backed away from the undead bombshell and I took my turn, Sunny barely embrac
There was glass everywhere, crunching under my slippers, sparkling on Meira's bed in the dim glow of her nightlight. A breeze blew in the wide open window, her gauze curtains swaying in the wind. I ran to the gap, looked out, but knew it was foolish. If I couldn't feel her anymore, there was no way I'd be able to spot her.Unless she was... I flinched from that train of thought. No, she was still alive. Our connection remained. But she wasn't able to contact me any longer. Which meant she was either being warded or she was unconscious.My fear for her was so strong I just stood there, locked in place, not knowing what to do."Syd..." his voice came very soft, low and full of hurt. I spun and went for the bed, falling to my knees next to Sassy. His fur was matted with blood, amber eyes barely glowing."Sassy." I sobbed even as I reached for my demon. She didn't fight or hesitate, offering me everything she had. As Sassy spoke, I did my best to heal him of multiple injuries."A vamp
"Miriam," Uncle Frank said, voice full of tension but calm at least, "we have no idea what you're talking about. What happened to Meira?" His concern was real enough and managed to reach Mom.Mom's magic flickered white. Then red. Green. Back to blue. I could tell an imminent explosion when I saw one. Anastasia didn't struggle but her white vampire magic rippled and dimmed the longer Mom held her.I was inclined to believe Uncle Frank. Still, if he was innocent, where was Sebastian?I didn't think, just stepped between them. The hum of Mom's power buffered me as I inserted my energy between her and the vampire and eased her hold. Anastasia recovered quickly, jerking herself free of my mother's grip. I gave her credit for staying put. Trouble was, neither backed down, but I did feel a slight easing of the pressure so I was grateful.That proved they were willing to listen at least.I turned to the second of the DeWinter blood clan. Anastasia might have been a major bitch but Sebast
Mom drove home. I almost didn't give her the keys. But even worried about my sister to the point of distraction, my mother was a better driver than me.We were all quiet on the way, piling out of the car in silence. Gram followed Mom into the house, presumably to her room. It wasn't often my grandmother went willingly into her four-poster prison.I carried Sassy inside and set him down on a kitchen chair. I needed something normal to do. The drive to be ordinary was very strong right then."Hungry?" I went for his bowl, measured out an extra large portion of his favorite wet food, set it in front of him. But Sassy just turned away from it, ears hanging low, whiskers almost touching in the front. His pushed in little nose nearly brushed the chair as his tail sagged off the side.I crouched next to him and offered him a pet. "It's not your fault. Sassy, it's not."If a cat could cry, Sassy was doing it. "You can say it all you want." His voice hung in the air, thick with emotion. "I
Sunny hovered at the edge of the light. She was her usual stunning self, but there was something so vulnerable about her I just wanted to hug her. I didn't stop to think about it, just rushed forward and wrapped my arms around her.It took her a moment to hug me back, but when she did it was with the same old enthusiasm and adoration she always showed me."I love you, Syd," she whispered. "Thank you for the hug."I pulled away, startled to hear her so choked up. She was actually crying, crystal tears on her perfect face. She lifted her gaze and met Mom's eyes. "Miriam," she said, "I'm so sorry."Mom's face crumpled a little when she stepped forward to embrace the blonde vampire. "Thank you," she said.Sunny let her go before looking back and for between us. "There are things you need to know," she said. "Things Anastasia won't tell you. I couldn't stand it any longer. I had to come."Mom grabbed her hand, fierce and eager. "Who took Meira, Sunny?"She held onto my mother as she
Why did I bother going to school that Monday morning? Call it habit, sucker for punishment, whatever you want, but up I was, showered even, and off I went.Yeah, probably one of the dumbest moves I've ever made. Ever.No one waited for me in the nook by the front door. Big surprise. And not a soul stood by my locker to say they were sorry, either. Still not a shocker. What was the worst? How they hovered in their new favorite spot, my former friends, Benjamin lording over them with that sickening smile of his.I had to walk past them to go to Chemistry. Someone snickered. My memories of bullying at pretty much every school I'd ever attended came rushing back and, like the coward I hadn't been in a long time, I ran.Slumped in my seat, I struggled with tears. I'd only imagined that snicker. I was sure of it. They knew how much it hurt, would never, ever bully me. They just wouldn't.Right. Like I knew them at all anymore.My test was a total fail. I think Mr. Prusse actually hande
Sassy immediately flipped out."You are not going out there," he said, leaping to his feet, fur standing on end, ears laid back so flat they were practically lost from sight. "Absolutely not, under no circumstances."I scowled at him as I shoved my chair out of the way. I didn't really want to go, but his overbearing bossiness made it easier to push past my fear."You're right," I said as I turned to go to the door. "I'm not going outside. But I am going to find out who he is and what he wants."I was pretty sure I already knew who he was. But I had to see for myself. It was safe enough to at least go to the door. Mom reinforced all of the wards, severing Meira's welcome, so I knew the vampire wouldn't be able to enter. Not to mention he'd be fried by Mom's power the moment he tried. It also helped vampire magic was keyed to places and their occupants, only allowing them to pass if they had permission.Sucked to be them.I heard a heavy thump behind me and felt Sassy press agains