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CHAPTER 3

The old stone building, with its rounded façade and barred first floor windows, appeared desolate. A row home turned office building, closed for the evening with a brass plate fastened to the gray stone that read Bower, Reed & Associates.

Then the wooden door creaked open, releasing the sound of hissing demons. An arm reached through a crack in the door. Janie knocked the arm away, but another took its place. The hand grasped the front of her hoodie and banged her head roughly into the wooden door. The arm retracted again, smacking the side of her head into the unforgiving wooden frame. Janie stumbled to find her feet, but everything spun into blurred, dark shapes, and all she could taste was metal. She spit out blood, her tongue following the grove of her split top lip.

She collapsed. A strong arm wrapped around her waist and hoisted her onto a moving vehicle. Wind whisked through her hair. Her ponytail whipped around behind her head as the cold air froze her face. They moved at a brisk pace, snaking in and out, as if winding through an obstacle course. They lurched to one side and back in hard, jerky movements. She kept her eyes closed, too disoriented to open them. She was faintly aware of a pair of legs, and the scent of clean lavender and denim invaded her nose—Kai.

Slowly, she realized he had removed her from the Daychild’s lair. She hadn’t come prepared to take on an army of them. She realized that this time, Kai may have really saved her life. This didn’t change how she felt about him. He was one of them. He couldn’t be trusted.

The bike skidded to a stop. Janie opened her eyes, staring down at the asphalt and a black Sketcher. “You wear Sketchers?” she asked, still feeling a bit lightheaded. Kai lifted her upright so she straddled his lap.

“You’re asking me about my shoes?” He shook his head. “You’ve got serious issues. You almost got yourself killed, and you want to know what kind of shoes I wear.” He flipped her off him.

Janie stumbled to her feet, attempting to assess her surroundings. “I mean, thanks for getting me out of there. I didn’t realize—” Aww, her head hurt. She reached up to touch the searing pain. Her hair was wet, sticky and matted to her head. It felt as if there were an open gap in her head and her brains were sliding out. “Ouch.”

“You hit your head pretty hard. I’d watch those wooden door frames next time.”

It was too difficult to speak through the pain. “Where are we? Can you just take me home? I’ve had enough of you for one evening,” she managed to say.

“We’re at my place. I want to check out your head.” He booted the kick stand and dismounted from his bike. They stood in front of a red brick row home—concrete steps led to a house-length porch with green carpet resembling Astroturf. In front, the address was displayed in a multicolored stained glass window hanging directly above an oak front door. A three-window bay jutted out on the second level.

“I’m not going in there.” Janie crossed her arms stubbornly.

“Are you prejudiced?”

“Look, I don’t want to enter the home of a Daychild. One I should have killed days ago.” Janie turned her back to him, staring at a row of similar homes across the street. There were only slight differences. Some homes were missing the bay window and others were surrounded with chain-link fences. She winced, clenching her teeth too tightly; her head really hurt.

“Suit yourself. The bus stop’s down the block.” Kai started up the walk to his porch.

She spun back around. “You’re just going to leave me here, bleeding?”

“I told you to come in. What else do you want me to do? I don’t have to beg to get a girl.” He glanced down at his bare chest and smirked. “They come willingly.”

She ignored him. “Tell me one thing.”

“Go ahead.” He removed a key from his pocket and slid it into the deadbolt.

“How did you get that scar across you chest?”

 

Janie rested on one of two black leather couches. She scanned the stark white wall next to her for a mark or a ding, anything to indicate the house was inhabited. Not even one picture hung on the walls of the very simple room.

“You promised you’d tell me about your scar if I came in,” she said.

“I lied.” He disappeared up the steps and returned minutes later wearing a clean navy blue T-shirt.

“You can’t lie. It’s not right.”

“I’m undead, what do I care what’s right?” He sat down across from her on a dark rectangular coffee table. One lonely coaster sat upon it. I guess he doesn’t have many guests. Shocking!

Janie remembered the disk he had retrieved from his belt. Her eyes shot to his waistline. “Well, then, at least tell me how a small metal disk turned into a motorcycle.”

“I told you. I got it from a friend.”

“What kind of friend?” She leaned forward, somewhat interested.

“A witch,” he dismissed. Kai grasped her hand and guided her to the edge of the cushion. “Now, no more questions. Let me see your head.” He twisted her head to examine the injured area. He fumbled through her hair, tugging at her sore scalp.

“What do you mean no more questions—and, ouch—that hurt.” She drew back from him. “Can’t you be gentle?”

“You need stitches.” He reached for her head again.

She swatted him away. “If I didn’t before, I certainly do now.”

“Then have someone else look at it,” he said.

“I’m not going to the hospital, if that’s what you’re suggesting.”

Kai stood and walked toward what appeared to be the hallway entrance to the kitchen.

“Where are you going?” she said.

“To get a needle and thread.”

“You are not.” She shot to her feet and followed him down the hallway.

“Chill out. I’m just kidding. I’m calling my friend.”

“The witch,” she said.

He stopped and pivoted to face her. She ran right into his chest.

“I do have more than one friend, you know.” He reached around her and grabbed his cell off the circular kitchen table. The metal table only provided seating for two. Not that Janie knew anyone who would want to keep him company there.

“Then who are you calling?” she said.

“The witch.”

“I thought you said you have more than one friend.”

“I do.”

Janie shook her head. “Never mind. You’re so frustrating.”

“Right back at you. Why do you look so nervous? You’re supposed to be tough; thicken up.” He pinched her arm.

She stepped back. Her back hit the wall. “I’ve never met a witch. Is she green with a pointed hat and—”

“…a broomstick?” he mocked and flashed an arrogant grin.

“Don’t make fun of me.” She put her hands on her hips. She wanted to pull out her dagger and end her misery. This was why she had only two friends. She didn’t get along with people, and she definitely did not get along with the undead.

Seconds later, Kai ended the phone call. “She’s on her way. Why don’t you go make yourself comfortable…if that’s possible?” He reached into a small stainless-steel mini-fridge. It rested on his black, polished-stone countertop. Like the rest of the first floor, the walls were hospital white, but everything else—the furniture, drapes and cabinets—were either metallic or dark and solid. She examined the hardwood floor, the mahogany-stained flooring so dark it blended with her black boots.

“Do you want some water?” He offered her a bottle of water from the fridge.

“No. I mean, yes.” She snatched it from his hand. In the open fridge, he had leftovers wrapped in foil. A clear bowl of washed red grapes sat in a pool of water on the top shelf. “So you don’t live off of human blood.”

“I kept my old demon diet of eating anything I want, which includes blood, if I choose.” He popped a grape in his mouth. She tried to picture demons eating grapes. Not likely.

“So you don’t want me?”

Kai’s face paled, like someone had punched him in the stomach. For the first time, he looked uncomfortable. She thought he might choke on his grape. This humored her.

“Hmmm, a Seeker’s blood is tempting,” he mused, becoming sardonic again.

“So why don’t you,” she hesitated, “try?” She brushed her hand over the dagger in her waistband.

 “You really do want to kill me. You’re a persistent little thing.” He smiled.

“I don’t understand you. I’ve been killing your kind for over seven years, and I’ve never met one like you.” She stared into his green eyes. Daychildren had soulless, hollow eyes—not green and full of life. “How long have you been a Daychild?” she said.

He eyed her waist. “I’ll answer you when you take your hand off your blade.”

Janie removed her hand from the hilt and placed it by her side. Feeling nauseous again from her head wound, she supported her weight against the bare kitchen wall.

“It’s been at least eighteen years. I was one of the first demons to be ‘Turned.’” He removed another grape from the bowl and threw it in the air, catching it in his mouth.

“But you killed humans. You still may, for all I know.” She wanted to reach for her dagger again. Her Seeker instinct screamed to take him out. She needed to look past his beautiful exterior at the monster inside. She’d learned how to see through a vampire’s glamour. She just wondered why it was so hard for her to do the same with him.

“Think what you want,” he dismissed. His features hardened, leaving him once again cold and unreadable.

A knock at the door broke their conversation. Instinctively, Janie tried to spread her feet apart in a protective stance, but she couldn’t find her equilibrium. She swayed back into the wall.

“It must be Albania.” Kai slung Janie’s arm over his shoulder and slid her across the floor. “I’ll help you to the couch.”

“Is that what you’re doing?” she said. “It feels more like you’re dragging me.”

They reached the sofa. Janie unhitched her arm from his broad shoulders. “I can do it, thanks.” She shook herself free of him. “You’ll probably just drop me anyway.”

“It’s your call.” He let her go. She collapsed on the leather cushion.

Albania stepped into the house, lighting up the entrance. Bright red, green, blue and yellow jewels sparkled from her ears and neck. They trickled down to her wrists and snaked around her ankles and toes. Her fire-red hair spiraled clear down her back. She was dressed in a knee-length body-conforming black dress. It dipped in the front, exposing her cleavage.

Janie checked out her own chest, covered by her T-shirt and zippered hoodie. Not that there was much to look at anyway.

Albania placed a kiss on Kai’s cheek. He held her hand gently, as if not to break her. A quiet intimacy lingered between them. They regarded each other in a different manner than Kai regarded her—not abrasive, direct and clumsy, but kind. Janie wondered if Kai and Albania were a couple.

“You must be Janie?” Albania left Kai’s gaze and extended her long thin arm. Gold bracelets jangled around her wrist. “Please don’t stand. You’re injured. I will come to you.” Her light green eyes smiled.

“You’re so young and pretty.” Janie sucked in a breath, realizing the words had left her mouth involuntarily.

“She was expecting green skin, warts and a pointed hat—” Kai broke off with a laugh.

“You forgot the broom,” Janie jeered. She looked past Kai, too irritated to meet his sarcastic expression.

“She’s feisty. I like her,” Albania said. “And my broom’s outside. How else would I have gotten here?”

Janie laughed, not sure if Albania was joking. Vampires and Daychildren, she could do. Witches were a whole new territory.

“Now let me see your head.” Albania skirted the table and gently placed herself next to Janie on the couch. She smelled of citrus, as if she’d just rolled around in a barrel of oranges. “This might hurt a bit.”

Albania gently separated the hair along her scalp. Janie winced.

“Sorry, dear,” Albania said.

“What do you think?” Kai peered over Albania.

“I can get that out,” Albania assured him.

Janie moved from Albania’s grasp and glared at Kai. “Get what out? I thought you said I needed stitches.”

“You will, as soon as she gets the demon splint out of your skull,” he said.

“The what?” Janie’s eyes rolled into the back of her head. She imagined a stake sticking out of her skull. I surely would feel that. “I have wood sticking out of my head?” she said, on the cusp of passing out.

“It’s worse than that,” Kai said. “I would have just taken you to the hospital for a stake in your head.” He winked at Albania. “And let Albania sleep.”

“Worse?” Janie swallowed repeatedly to moisten her dry throat. “My fingers feel numb.”

“It’s an effect of the poison,” Albania said. She rolled a leaf into a ball and dipped it into some kind of citrus-scented oil. “This may sting for a second, but this should soak up the poison after I’ve removed the splint.”

Janie bit down and tasted the blood from her split lip. Kai held her head tightly while Albania dug around in her skull. Janie’s dinner rose into her throat. She was a Seeker—tough. But this was different. The poison burned, and her insides felt as if they were on fire. She heard a rip and a tug, and then everything went black.

 

Janie woke in a strange bed. She lay under black satin sheets on top of fluffy pillows. The sheets were warm and soft. Her legs slid across them, as slick as an ice-skating rink. Legs! She sprung upright and immediately remembered the splint. She grabbed her head, spreading her fingers out in her hairline, but there was nothing there, not even a bump to indicate a scar. And the searing pain was gone. Her nausea and numbness had also dissipated.

Remembering her bare legs, she lifted the sheet and peered down. Where are my jeans? She felt slightly panicked. She was clothed in a deep maroon tee. The color of dried human blood. It smelled like clean lavender.

“You’re up.” Kai poked his head in the door of the white bedroom with bare walls. There was a black dresser across the room. A flat screen hung on the wall over a stack of DVDs. “I thought I heard you.”

“Where am I?” She gripped the satin in her fists. “And where are my clothes?”

“Let’s start with question number one.” He strode over to the closet wearing only a towel. “You’re in my room.” He put his hand in the air. “Before you get your panties in a bunch, I didn’t undress you. Albania did. She thought you’d be more comfortable that way.”

“That was nice of her. Please thank her for healing me.” Janie flipped her legs over the side of the bed, so they dangled in the air. “Where did you sleep?” His eyes stayed on her bare legs longer than she would have liked. She felt uncomfortable.

“Downstairs, on the couch.” He retrieved a fresh T-shirt from his closet and slid it over his head. “I’ll put my jeans on in the bathroom.”

“Thanks.” She tried to look away, but his towel dipped below his abs, exposing the V-shape swimmers have. She redirected her attention. “S—so what’s a demon splint, other than a thin piece of wood?”

“It’s something demons use to inject poison into their victims.” He placed a black leather band around his wrist.

“Humans?”

“Usually.”

“Why do Daychildren have them? I’ve never seen one. They usually just fight me with their speed, strength, and in some cases, abilities. I rarely see them with tangible weapons,” she said.

“A demon brought them up from the demon community. They’re made of wood. Since Daychildren can’t touch silver without getting burned, they took a liking to this kind of weapon. Unfortunately, now the Daychildren know how to make their own poison. It’s lethal to humans. You would have been dead within hours.”

Janie straightened her spine, wide-eyed and outraged. “And you were just going to let me ride the bus home with a poisonous demon splint in my head?”

“You came in, so I didn’t have to consider it,” he said.

Janie sank into thought. “What is your last name?”

“Why?” He stood in front of the mirrored closet doors and ran his hands through his wet, highlighted hair, placing each platinum strip in its proper location.

“I’m just curious.”

“Sterdam.”

“Kai Sterdam,” she repeated.

Janie checked her watch. “Crap—it’s three—in the afternoon.” She jumped to the floor.

“You were tired, effects of the poison.”

“I missed a whole day of school, and my mom, she’s got to be worried sick.” She fumbled around, looking for her things.

“Just think about how she’s going to feel when you tell her you stayed with a Daychild,” he said.

She rolled her eyes. “Where are my clothes? Can you drive me home?”

He pointed. “Albania folded them on the dresser.” Kai removed a pair of jeans from a drawer and exited the room. “I’ll meet you downstairs.”

Janie retrieved her phone from the nightstand and called her mom.

 

When she opened the front door, the sun battered her in the face. It felt as if she’d been asleep for days. It was chilly, but the blue sky helped soften the bite. In the daylight, Kai’s neighborhood seemed friendly enough. Kids rode their bikes up and down the sidewalks, and teenagers and adults sat on their porches and lined the entrance steps to their homes.

“Are you ready?” Kai appeared at the base of the staircase.

“Where’s your bike?” she said.

“Out back.” He waved for her to follow.

They exited through an unfinished basement. Nothing but concrete, wooden beams and exposed wires. She did notice a washing machine and dryer. Kai opened the sliding glass door for her. She stepped onto a compact paver patio. It extended into a small patch of grass. A tall wooden privacy fence outlined the small yard.

Not even a bush or a potted plant surrounded the patio.  “I still don’t see your bike.”

Kai removed the metal disk from his pocket and threw it back into the air. Like before, a motorcycle formed and glided toward the ground. The rubber tires bounced onto the stone pavers.

“Why didn’t you just leave it parked on the street like everyone else?”

“Not in this neighborhood.” He lifted the kickstand and hopped on.

“If I didn’t need to get home, I would ask you again how a thin metal disk turns into a Harley.”

“I’ll be anticipating that question, then.” He threw her a helmet.

She caught it and held it between her palms. “Pink? This helmet’s different from last night’s.”

“I had to get another. You dropped the other one in the city.” He didn’t seem as annoyed as she had expected.

“Why pink?”

“Don’t human girls like pink?” Janie stared at him. “Okay, next time, I’ll go with black.”

She nodded. There won’t be a next time.

She placed the helmet on her head and threw a leg over the side of the bike. She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned forward, hugging his back and interlocking her fingers. “Ready,” she said. “One question—how are we going to get out of your yard with the fence?”

Kai removed a small knife from a hidden compartment on the bike. He raised his arm and flung the knife forward with full force in the direction of a double gate. It lodged in the lock, flipping the metal latch open. The double doors swung out. The engine roared to life and the bike lurched forward. They slipped out of the gate, veering left into an alley, and exited on to the street.

Janie’s house was located in a quiet suburban neighborhood in Towson, only a few streets away from school. They drove down her cul-de-sac. She pointed to her driveway. A white two-story Colonial with black shutters and a red door sat squarely on about a quarter acre. Its wraparound porch made the three-bedroom home appear larger. She smiled. Her dark blue Honda Civic waited for her in the driveway.

“Who’s that?” Kai said.

“That’s my car. The one I tried to hit you with. It had to be fixed.” A familiar silver Acura sat across the street, parked in front of Ava’s car.

“No, not what’s that, who’s that?” Kai said, louder this time.

Janie’s eyes slid over to her porch. Then she realized. It was his Acura across the street. “Oh—that’s Matt,” she said. What’s he doing here?

“Is he your boyfriend?”

“No!”

“Then why is he holding that?”

She had no idea why he’d shown up at her house, and certainly couldn’t imagine why he’d be holding a rose. Janie dipped her head into Kai’s back. “I don’t know.”

 

CHAPTER 4

The motorcycle’s engine roared to life. Kai sped down her street and disappeared around a turn. Janie breathed in a sigh of relief. She wondered if Matt would disappear too if she walked slowly enough up her front walk. Nope, still there. Damn!

She searched the porch for Ava, but didn’t see her. Did she really have to be alone with him?

“Hey, Janie.” Matt greeted her a few feet from the steps, wearing his varsity wrestling jacket, a lightweight sweater and jeans.

“What is that?”

“A rose.” He smiled.

“I mean, why?” She focused on the single yellow rose; the petals had just started to unfold. From what she remembered, yellow only meant friendship. It was red she had to fear.

“You saved my life. It’s the least I can do. Besides, I was worried about you when you didn’t show up at school today.” He handed her the rose.

“Thanks.” She half-smiled. “I was sick today.”

“Who was that guy on the bike? Your boyfriend?” he said.

She blinked and replayed his question in her mind. It sounded ridiculous.

Janie coughed, stifling a laugh. “Who, Kai? Hardly.”

“Yeah, who was that?” Ava appeared in her doorway. Luke followed behind her, wearing plaid pants and a solid gray sweater. A white scarf hung meticulously around his neck.

“When did you two get here?” Janie said.

“A few minutes ago,” Ava said. “We stopped by to check on you. Your mom let us in. I noticed your Honda in the driveway this morning. When you didn’t answer the door, I figured you got to school some other way.”

“Where were you, and who was the hottie on the Harley?” Luke added. He gazed off into the distance, no doubt picturing Kai riding off into the sunset.

“Nowhere, and nobody important.” She brushed by Matt and climbed the porch steps.

“So, Janie, there’s this bonfire tonight, at Pete’s. His parents own like acres of land. Are you interested in going?” Matt said.

Janie swung back around. “Um, what?”

Luke hung over the porch rail, entranced by every word that rolled off of Matt’s tongue. “Sounds fun.” His scarf acted as a good bib to catch his drool.

“Um—” Janie glared at Luke. “I’m busy.”

“Come on, Janie, it does sound fun.” Ava shot her an are-you-crazy look. “Live a little.”

She didn’t participate in lame school activities, but Janie knew she wasn’t going to win this argument. Anyway, Luke had probably already mentally picked out his outfit. “Fine, I’ll think about it,” she said.

    

Isabelle rested the phone between her ear and her shoulder. She waved her hand for Janie to sit. Janie plopped down into the leather armchair and propped her feet up on the ottoman. She massaged her calves. It was nice to finally take her boots off. Her dagger had been digging into her leg half the night, well before she ended up in a T-shirt asleep in a very odd Daychild’s bed.

Her living room was large enough for a sofa, chair and ottoman. A flat screen hung above the brick fireplace. The walls were still a light sage green from when they moved in. Isabelle never put any effort into painting since they moved every four years. One large scenic picture of a barn blanketed in snow hung above the sofa. A picture of Janie’s dad perched on the side table next to a bulbous lamp. Janie sighed. The ache in her heart twitched. Dad, I miss you.

“Sorry, that was Abram.” Isabelle entered the living room, her dark brown eyes serious under knitted brows. “Did you come home last night?”

Isabelle had seemed too preoccupied with her conversation with Abram to be that angry. “The city was crazy last night. You know how it is. Some nights are worse than others.”

From Isabelle’s blank expression, Janie wondered if she’d even heard her explanation. “Is everything okay, Mom?”

Isabelle sighed. “The Apotheosis had a meeting last night, over at the old Baptist church on Dulaney Valley Road.” Pieces of her straight black hair had fallen out of her loose bun. They wisped around her forehead as she spoke.

“What did Abram say?” Janie knew whatever it was, it wasn’t good. The Baltimore-based Apotheosis Chapter only met under troublesome circumstances. The Chapter consisted of three men—all former Seekers, Abram included. He’d been her mentor for as long as she could remember. Janie regarded him as a second father.

“Apparently there’s been some sort of uprising in the city. It seems as though the Daychildren have upset the vampire community.”

“But why would they do that? Vampires created them,” Janie said.

“Somehow, Daychildren have figured out how to ‘Turn’ humans. They no longer need vampires or demons to create more of their kind.” Isabelle paced the floor, mulling over the ramifications of the new information. “Fortunately, humans who are Turned are not as powerful as demons that are Turned, since they don’t possess a demonic ability, but we still need to consider them a threat.” She turned to Janie. “They are still Daychildren, ability or no ability. You will have to treat them the same.”

Janie thought back to the Daychildren she’d fought over the last week. Mr. Muscles didn’t appear to have an ability, but Mr. Telekinesis with the mullet did. Even though only one of them possessed an ability, they were both equally as dangerous to human society. “Mom, not all Daychildren have abilities. In fact, more and more I come across don’t possess an ability, but that’s not the issue right now. . .we can’t allow humans to be Turned. We’ve got to put a stop to this. It’s hard enough to keep humans from dying, but now I have to keep humans from Turning?” Janie exhaled in frustration. “It’s going to be twice as much work.”

“According to Abram, they are forming gangs to support their cause,” Isabelle said.

“That explains why there was a gang of them in a law office downtown. I ran into them last night.” Janie touched her head, remembering the demon splint.

“Were you prepared?” Isabelle examined Janie for cuts or bruises.

Janie brushed it off. “It was fine. I got away. But at least I know where they are now.” She sank back into the chair and clutched a green throw pillow to her chest. She wasn’t ready to tell her mother about Kai. Isabelle would be furious to hear she’d spent the night with a Daychild, even if he had saved her life. “So what’s the plan? How do we stop them?”

“The Chapter is meeting again tonight to discuss action. Abram will come by tomorrow morning. Hopefully they’ll have a plan by then.” Isabelle aligned the magazines on the coffee table into a fan pattern. “I wouldn’t confront them again until we hear from Abram. Maybe you should lay low tonight.”

“You mean take a night off?” Janie leaned forward and rested her palm on her mother’s forehead. “Are you feeling okay?”

In the background, she heard a news anchor reporting on a high school kid’s disappearance. Janie and her mother turned their attention to the TV. “. . .his parents reported the Towson High School student missing after he went out to play basketball and never returned home. If you know anything about the student’s disappearance, please call the Baltimore County Police Department.”

Isabelle shut off the TV. “I hope they find him. I can’t begin to imagine what his parents are going through right now.” She placed the remote in line with the magazines. “What are your plans for this evening? I noticed you had quite the entourage on the front porch.”

“It was just Ava and Luke.”

Isabelle directed her attention to the rose Janie had placed on the side table. “Who gave you the rose? I doubt it was Luke. You don’t seem like his type,” she said, smiling despite herself.

“Matt Baker. Now can we drop it?” Janie escaped her mother’s stare.

“This is the first boy you’ve spoken about, and you want me to drop it.” Isabelle slid Janie’s feet over to sit on the ottoman.

“How many more years do I have to repeat high school? I’m feeling intellectually stunted. Normal humans don’t have to repeat their teenage years over and over again. When do I actually get to turn eighteen?”

Isabelle smiled. “I did, and I turned out okay. I even got to go to nursing school and become a nurse.” She settled in, ready to gossip about a subject Janie knew little about—boys. “Does he go to Loch Raven?”

“He’s the wrestling captain,” Janie said.

“Is there a problem with a jock taking an interest in you? I don’t understand your reluctance.” She traced the imprint of the dagger on Janie’s calf. “Ouch, how long did you wear that thing in your boot?”

“Practically all night.” Janie shook her head, indicating she didn’t want to discuss it.

Isabelle thankfully took the hint. “So, are you seeing Matt tonight? What’s he like?”   

“Uh, Mom, slow down.” Janie bit her lip and winced, remembering she had a split lip. She didn’t taste any blood. It had already started to heal. “Matt should have no interest in me. He’s only speaking to me because I saved his life.”

“You did what?” Isabelle’s interested gaze flipped to a disappointed frown. “Janie, that’s dangerous. You could have been exposed, and Matt—” Isabelle rose to her feet. “What were you thinking?”

“What was I supposed to do—let the Daychild kill him?”

Isabelle began to pace again. “I’ll have to speak to Abram about this. This is not good.”

“Matt said he wouldn’t say anything.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about. The Chapter can deal with the secrecy issue. Your father—” her words broke off. “Never mind.”

“Why, what’s wrong?” Janie stood to confront her mother. “What does this have to do with Dad?”

“Just trust me.” Isabelle turned and left the room. “I’ve got to call Abram back.”

 

Luke picked Ava and Janie up in his classic red Mustang. Ava arranged her cotton turtleneck collar, while Luke patted his well-fitted, and even tighter, cashmere turtleneck. He’d paired it with straight-legged dress pants. They wound around one of the only roads still considered “country” in Towson.

“Aren’t dice rear-view mirror decorations from the fifties?” Janie said, playing with the stuffed cubes dangling from the mirror.

Luke rolled his eyes. “The fifties was a classic era. You gals don’t appreciate the quintessential.”

“What does that even mean?” Ava said. “For being such a hick, you sure do sound a lot like Webster’s dictionary.”

“I’m a refined, well-dressed hick,” he said, straightening his spine.

“Is that the house?” Janie pointed to a large country home. It reminded her of Tara, the mansion in Gone with the Wind.

“Either that, or there’s another party we didn’t know about. Check out all the cars,” Luke said. “I think the whole senior class is here.”

“I recognize Pete’s red pick-up. We’re at the right house.” Janie buttoned the last two buttons of her black, fitted waist-length Pea coat. She’d donned her usual skinny jeans and black boots. The boots hid her dagger, and the jeans made the dagger more readily accessible, not that she expected any action tonight. But she couldn’t be too careful after she’d caught a Daychild on school grounds.

Bright red and orange flames illuminated the forest backdrop. Piles of wood, rubble, even an old La-Z-Boy lay in a heap in the middle of the field. Hot embers crackled off the gigantic fire, whistling around in the dry air and flickering out. Seniors encircled the blaze—laughing, dancing and hanging out.

“Janie—” Matt directed her over. He stood with two other wrestlers, Billy Reynolds and Chandler Baime. Matt still wore his varsity jacket, but he’d changed into a navy and white striped sweater. Partial horizontal lines were exposed under his open jacket. “You made it. Come join us.” Matt closed the distance between them.

“Go ahead,” Luke said. “We’re going to find something to drink.”

“Do you think they have Sprite?” Ava said.

“Doubtful.” Luke shook his head, wrapped his arm around her waist and shuffled her forward.

“Did you find the place okay?” Matt said. The fire’s refection flickered in his hazel irises, making them eerily pretty, like cat’s eyes.

“There aren’t many other houses around, so we figured Pete’s was the house with all the cars.” Janie scanned the area. “Are Pete’s parents home? That’s pretty cool of them to let him set fire to their La-Z-Boy.”

“His parents went away for the weekend. They have no idea.” He smiled.

“Who invited you?” Molly appeared around a group of cheerleaders, her angry gaze set on Janie. She strode over to Matt and looped her arm through his. She’d cut her Loch Raven Wrestling sweatshirt around the neck so it slid off one shoulder. She eyed Janie’s footwear, raising one perfectly waxed brow. “Nice boots.”

Janie threw her palms out. “Look, I’m outta here. Matt, have a good night.” She whirled around and set off to find Ava and Luke. Molly was right. They should’ve never been at the party in the first place.

“Janie, wait!” Matt shook Molly off his arm and headed after her.

“Matt, it’s no big deal.” Janie waved him away. “Go be with your friends.” This was why she didn’t want a boyfriend. Things got too complicated, and she didn’t need any more tricky situations in her life.

He reached for her arm. “Will you at least stay? Don’t let Molly dictate whether you have a good time or not.”

Good time—huh. “I’ll think about it.” She removed her arm from his grasp and strode away.

Janie searched through the smoke for Ava and Luke. Seniors threw beer cans into the fire and girls danced to music flowing from an iPod plugged into someone’s car stereo. Teenagers lay across the hoods of cars, laughing and talking. A couple made out on the grass next to the fire. A twinge of envy ran through her. She forced her thoughts back to her friends. Where are they?

Her skin started to prickle and a tingle inched up her spine. They are getting bold. Why are they suddenly leaving the city? Janie focused on the woods. A subtle movement behind a tree caught her eye. Instinctively, she touched her boot, but she wouldn’t remove her dagger until she got closer to the woods.

The canopy of dormant branches muffled the sound of teenagers yelling and laughing, and lessoned the thudding vibration of the car stereo’s bass. She listened for any crackle of a tree branch or the crunch of dead leaves. Footfalls gave way to someone’s approach.

“What are you doing in the woods?” Matt appeared next to a tree.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Matt. You need to get out of here. It’s not safe.”

He puffed up, aligning his shoulders to make his six-foot stature appear even taller. He was a wrestler; he didn’t need to appear any more muscular. “Is it a vampire?” he said.

“You need to leave.”

“I’m not leaving you alone in the woods.” He stepped closer to her. “You saved my life, remember. I owe you.”

“Is that why you’re talking to me, because you owe me?” She’d figured it out. The yellow rose, his interest in her, was all out of obligation.

“Don’t be ridiculous.” His jaw tightened. He broke a thin branch off a nearby tree.

“Get down!” Janie suddenly threw Matt to the ground and spun into a roundhouse kick, planting the bridge of her foot into a Daychild’s side.

The redhead lunged at Janie. She slid to the right, spun around and slammed him into a tree trunk. Janie reached into her boot and brandished her dagger.

“Watch out!” someone said.

The newly Turned demon, otherwise known as a newbie, stared at Janie with bloodshot, wild black eyes; he kicked her in the stomach, knocking her to the ground. Matt jumped on the newbie’s back. He threw him off with one shake and Matt landed at the base of a tree.

“Matt, are you okay?” She scrambled across the forest floor.

“I don’t think my arm’s broken, but my shoulder’s definitely dislocated,” he said, holding his arm tightly against his chest.

Janie flipped onto both feet and drove her fist into the stomach of the approaching newbie. He doubled over. The redhead went for Matt. Janie sliced the dagger through the air. It pierced through the redhead’s skull, spraying green goo like an April shower. Oh no! Matt, the demon’s blood! Janie hurdled the newbie. When she landed, Matt was gone.

She followed a dirt trail and discovered Kai crouched over Matt, gripping the collar of his varsity jacket. She sighed in relief. With his extraordinary speed, Kai had dragged Matt to safety.

“Are you trying to burn a hole in your boyfriend?” Kai said. “You can thank me later for saving him from a fountain of acidic blood.”

Kai let go of Matt’s jacket. Matt fell forward, catching himself with his hands.

Kai retrieved his scythe from its holster. With his arms above his head, Kai lunged forward and spun in a circle, in the direction of the newbie.

Janie extended her arm, looking past the dead eyes at his curly mop-top hair. . .she knew him. “Wait, Kai, no—”

Kai finished his swing, beheading the newbie.

Janie stared in horror.

Matt appeared just as shocked. “Was that Billy Reynolds?” He scrambled backward in a crabwalk until his back hit a tree.

“Who the hell’s Billy Reynolds?” Kai wiped his blade with a pile of dead leaves and reholstered it.

“He’s a wrestler.” Janie stared at the empty spot where Billy’s body had just lain. She could hardly process what had happened. How could she expect Matt to understand?

“You were talking to Billy when I arrived tonight. Did he seem alright to you?” Janie asked Matt.

Matt gripped his shoulder. Sweat trickled down his forehead. “He wasn’t scary and psycho like he was just now.” Matt’s eyes were wide and his chest rose and fell in rapid, shallow spasms.

“Are you saying the newbie was alive earlier this evening?” Kai asked Janie.

“Less than an hour ago.” Janie leaned down and placed her palm on Matt’s forehead. “You’re burning up.” Although breathing, air didn’t appear to be reaching his lungs.

“They’re making their own now. Vampires are no longer needed,” Kai said, ignoring Matt’s condition.

“I know. The Chapter is aware of this. They’re meeting tonight to discuss options.” Janie knelt down next to Matt. “Are you sure it’s just your shoulder? Your forehead’s really hot.”

“The Chapter, as in former Seekers?” Kai’s harsh tone redirected her attention.

“Is that a problem?” she said. Kai ignored her. She glared at him. “Help me relocate Matt’s shoulder.”

“What’s he to me?” Kai plucked a fresh leaf blade off of a branch just above him and cleaned it off on a tree trunk.

“Then I’ll do it.” Janie placed one hand around Matt’s bicep and one around his forearm. “This is going to hurt.”

“I know. Just do it.” Matt flashed Janie a pain-filled smile. “Thanks.”

“Don’t thank me yet. On the count of three—”

Janie’s boots slipped. She did her best to find her footing on the dry leaves. “One—two—” She jerked his arm forward on three. With a load crack, she snapped his shoulder back into its socket. He collapsed, writhing in pain on the forest floor.

“Sorry,” she whispered.

“I—I’m o—okay.” Matt rolled over, doing his best to mask the pain. His facial muscles constricted and he appeared to be holding his breath. “What happened to Billy? He tried to kill you,” Matt said through a strained voice.

“That’s what newbies do, they’re babies,” Kai interjected, as if Matt should already know the answer.

Janie glared at Kai. “Stop being a jerk.” She helped Matt to a seated position. “A newbie is a newly created Daychild.” she answered. “They’re part vampire and part demon.” Confusion danced across Matt’s face.

“Does he have to know the details?” Kai said. “You’ve already disclosed too much.”

She stood to confront Kai. “His friend was just beheaded in front of him. I think he deserves some answers.”

Kai didn’t back down. “Your boyfriend’s friend was dead when he was Turned.” He squinted his green eyes and his jaw tightened. His hair appeared darker in the forest, with no light to accentuate his highlights.

“Stop calling him my boyfriend. And anyway, where did you come from? Did you follow me?” Janie remembered her dagger. She left Kai’s angry stance to retrieve it.

“Why would I follow you? I couldn’t care less what you do on a Friday night.”

“Then why are you here?” She searched the dead leaves. “Where’s my dagger?”

“Looking for this?” Kai flipped her dagger up so the hilt faced out.

She snatched it back, noticing it had already been cleaned. “Thanks.”

A commotion of angry voices echoed from across the lawn, just outside the trees. Janie ducked, spotting the uninvited guests. There were two groups, but they weren’t seniors, and the dark made it hard to see them clearly. Her heart rate accelerated, heightening her Seeker sense—her skin crawled. Oh, no. Not again!

Someone grabbed her arm. She spun around and slammed him to the ground, pinning him to the forest floor.

“It’s only me,” Kai said, his palms raised. Blond waves of hair fell into his eyes. She exhaled in relief and released him. Her hand slid across his chest. She gasped.

“What’s wrong?” he said.

“Your heart. It’s beating. How is that possible?”

He sloughed her off him and rose to a seated position. “Now’s not the time.”

Her mouth hung open. He’s undead, so how does he have a beating heart?

“Janie—drop it!”

She did her best to hide her shock. “How’s Matt?”

“He’s safe, for the moment. Did you see them?” He used his chin to signal in the direction of the visitors.

“Are they Daychildren?”

“One group. The other is made up of vamps.” He brushed the dead leaves off his jeans. “You sure can pack a punch.”

“Let’s get a better look.” Janie pushed off the ground. Her hand crossed over his. His skin felt oddly neutral in temperature.

Kai focused on his hand under hers. He didn’t attempt to remove it. Instead, he followed the curves of her arm with his eyes.

Janie cleared her throat. “What are we going to do?”

“About?” His green eyes stayed on hers.

She shuddered at his touch, and removed her hand. “Them. We can’t just leave them here with the seniors.”

Kai blinked and glanced back at the circus of wild teenagers. “Some of the seniors need to be put out of their misery.”

Janie thought of a few cheerleaders who could certainly use a good scare. “Seriously, what’s the plan?”

“You’re the Seeker.” He crouched closer to the forest’s edge for a better look.

“We need to get Matt out of here. But we also need to do something about the ‘undead,’ no offense.”

“None taken.”

“I’ll confront them while you get Matt to safety,” she suggested.

“That’s suicide. Forget it.” The muscle in his jaw tightened.

She stood. “I’m a Seeker. It’s my job.” He caught her leg. “Let me go.”

He administered a light karate chop to the back of the knee. She collapsed and landed in his lap, her face only inches from his. He grasped her arm, holding her in place. “You have only two daggers, and there are about ten of them.”

She caught his breath and shivered. Being so close to Kai scared her. She shrugged him off and squatted next to him. “Yeah, but five are vamps. They’re easy to kill. It’s the ones with demonic abilities that are sometimes a challenge.”

His eyes tightened. “We’ll both get rid of them; then we’ll get Matt out of here.”

“Does he have the time?” she argued.

“He’ll have to.”

“Why do you suppose they’re here, in the suburbs, at a bonfire for high school kids? This isn’t the first time I’ve caught them in Towson. One attacked Matt at school the other night.”

“Who gets attacked that many times?”

“I do.”

“You go out looking for it.” Kai shook his head. “I’m pretty sure it has something to do with the shift of power. The vamps have it and the Daychildren want it.” He glanced back at a group of jocks chugging beer and pounding their chests like gorillas. “As for why they’re targeting Loch Raven Raiders, you’ve got me, other than they’re annoying and the world would be better without a few of them.” Kai flipped a stake out of his belt and handed it to her. “You’ll need this for the vamps.”

“It’s like the Bloods and the Crips, demon-style.” Janie cocked her head and contorted her fingers into gang signs.

“You’re a mess. I don’t know why I hang out with you.”

“You call this hanging out?”

“Whatever.” He shot to his feet and held his hand out for her. “Can we kick some vampire ass already?”

“I’m right with you.” She ignored his gesture and jumped to his side.

Janie and Kai approached the rival gangs. Her hand rested on her dagger. She eyed Kai. He appeared confident with a cool, tough-guy arrogance. The kind of tenacity someone developed when they’d persevered. Kai signaled for her to move ahead of him. Janie guessed it had to do with the element of surprise or something. Whatever. These vamps were hers.

A vampire caught a whiff of Janie and cleared his throat. “Mmm, I smell Seeker blood.” The vamp was tall and skinny, dark-skinned and in his early twenties. He wore a red bandana around his head. Janie chuckled, recalling her Bloods and Crips joke.

Gold chains hung from the vamp’s neck, layered over a white tank. His jeans hung off his butt, exposing a pair of striped boxer shorts. Janie wondered what Luke would think about the vamp’s choice of attire—Ghetto style.

“Fresh Seeker meat. This one’s all mine,” the vampire said. He turned into the faint light of the distant bonfire, exposing an arm-length tattoo of a dagger entangled in vines.

“I suggest you and your boys return to the city. I’ll only warn you once,” Janie said. She removed the dagger from her waist, ready to remove the stake just as quickly. She bore into the vampire, refusing to show an ounce of weakness.

“There’s one of you and ten of us.” He laughed, his teeth sparkling gold. Janie wondered whether his fangs were gold-plated. She’d stake him before she’d have to find out.

“I thought the vamps where changing. Why are you hanging out with filthy Daychildren?” Janie said.

“Who are you calling filthy?” A Daychild shot to the front of the pack, a white boy with tanned skin. He reminded her of a mobster from The Sopranos.

“Step off,” the vampire said. He stuck his tattooed arm out and held the mobster back.

“You’re not the boss of me.” The Daychild pushed up on the vamp, his face in his. The vamp may have been slightly taller, but the mobster was definitely chubbier. Four more vamps surrounded the feuding leaders. Getting the hint, the Daychild took a step back. “You’ll see. The vamps aren’t in charge anymore. There’s a new leader in town. We don’t need you anymore.”

The vampire pounded his chest with his fist. “I am the den leader—Jerome. You got that, half-breed?” He beat his chest again and pointed. “Jerome—the den leader. Either get down or lay down, Antony.”

Jerome addressed Janie. “Seeker—I’m out, for now.” He kissed two fingers and spread them in the air. He switched his focus to Antony and the Daychild gangsters who’d taken a protective stance around their leader. “You won’t be getting what you came for tonight. So roll.”

Antony nodded. His face became twisted with anger; lines sliced across his bad skin. He ran his hand through his wiry short brown hair and glared at Janie. “Antony will be back.” He referred to himself in third person, which she recognized as a common theme within this group of undead. Antony placed his hand on his chest. “This isn’t the last you’ve seen of me, Seeker.”

The gangs dispersed. Neither turned their backs on the other. Jerome snapped his fingers and they took off in the direction of the city.

“Well played.” Kai appeared at her side.

“I told you to go. I can handle them.” She let out a relieved laugh.

“You did,” Kai agreed. “You knew I was here if you needed me.”

“Huh—thanks.” She placed her weapon in her waistband. An image of Matt, sweaty and lethargic, flashed before her eyes.

 “Uh—guys,” Matt said from just a short distance, where Kai had secured him, behind the base of a huge tree. “There’s something sticking out of my shoulder, a stick or something. It’s wedged in my bone.”

Janie and Kai shot each other the same look. “Demon splint,” Janie said.

“Sounds like it,” Kai agreed, the urgency less apparent in his tone.

“A what splint?” Matt said. “I’m feeling a little weak.”

Janie hurried to Matt’s side. “Let me see.” A thin piece of wood resembling a long needle stuck out of his varsity jacket. She spoke to Kai. “Is that what the splint looks like?”

Kai hovered over them. “I can smell the poison. He’s not as strong as you. He doesn’t have much time.”

“We can’t just let him die. Can’t we take him to Albania?”

“My bike only holds two.”

She glared at Kai. “Then you take him. I’ll stay here.”

“I have my car,” Matt said, falling in and out of consciousness.

“Check his jacket pocket for the keys,” Kai ordered.

Janie slipped her hand into his pocket. “Found them.” She jingled them in the air.

Kai bent over and hoisted Matt over his shoulder.

“Meet me around the front of the house,” Janie said. “I need to talk to my friends. Matt drives a silver Acura. It’s—”

Kai nodded and disappeared.