DAUGHTER OF DARKNESS

36

I chuckled. I had always loved dancing—classical ballet and contemporary the most—but I hadn’t danced in years. I thought I had forgotten how. Apparently, all I need was a little nudge.

Kevin was the first out of the game, right after the second song started. Carol lost the game in the middle of the third song. They both cheered as Sabrina and I went on, dancing our hearts out.

I didn’t think I had ever had this much fun before.

Sabrina and I went on for another six songs. She was kicked out of the game fifteen seconds before the tenth song ended. I finished it and won the game.

When I turned back, I was taken aback by the crowd that had gathered, watching us dance.

The man managing the booth walked up to me and brought me a small, white teddy bear. “You broke our record. Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” I whispered, taking the teddy bear from him. I walked down the platform and people patted my shoulders, congratulating me.

Kevin high-fived me. “That was awesome!”

“Yup.” Carol nodded. “You’re a pretty good dancer.”

“Sabrina is too,” I said, smiling at the young girl. She shrugged. “Here. I want you to have it.”

Her blue eyes shone. She hesitated for a moment, as if unsure she should take it or not. But I pushed the bear into her chest. She wrapped her arms around it and smiled at me. “Thanks.”

I glanced around. “What now?”

I shouldn’t have said that. Sabrina, Kevin, and Carol meandered through the booths of the festival. We played dozens of games, ate cotton candy and hot dogs, watched musicians play and several dance groups perform, and walked and walked and walked.

I paused at a jewelry stand. My hands hovered over the simple, handcrafted necklaces and earrings, but there was one ring that called to me. It looked odd, with a silver band and a blue center. That ring seemed familiar, but not quite, and I couldn’t explain it.

“The sun is going down,” Carol said, tugging me forward. “It’s almost time for the parade.”

Around us, everyone talked about the parade, and most of them already walked toward main street, trying to get a good spot.

Kevin and Sabrina ran ahead of us, to save us a place, while Carol and I strolled up the street, arms hooked. At first, having Carol this close and always holding on to me had been awkward. But now, I was getting used to it, and to be honest, I kind of liked it.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

She narrowed her eyes at me. “For?”

“For the tickets. For making me come.”

Her mouth stretched into a knowing grin. “You had fun, didn’t you?”

I nodded. “Like never before.”

She squeezed my arm. “I’m glad.”

It came out of nowhere, but with a force I hadn’t felt in a long while. The darkness barreled into me like a crazed bull. Gasping, I skidded to a stop and pressed a hand to my chest.

“What happened?” Carol turned to me. “Are you okay?”

My senses weren’t perfect, but I had honed them over the years, and from what I could tell, the darkness was outside of town, but advancing fast.

Coming this way.

Coming for me.

And Carol, Sabrina, and Kevin were with me.

I couldn’t let them get hurt. I just couldn’t.

I disentangled myself from Carol’s hold. “I’m fine. I just … I think I need to go to the restroom.” I pushed her toward the main street. “You go ahead with Sabrina and Kevin. I’ll meet you guys in a few.”

She frowned. “You sound odd. Are you sure you’re okay?”

I rested a hand over my stomach and grimaced. “Yeah, I think all the food didn’t sit well with me,” I lied. “I’ll be right there.” I waved her off.

Carol hesitated but walked on. I watched as she weaved through the crowd, heading to where Sabrina and Kevin had gone.

A desperate feeling filled my veins. The darkness was here. Because of me. It had found me. If it caught me, my life here would be over. My friends could get hurt because of me.

I had to protect them. I had to save them.

Channeling my power, I spun on my heels and sprinted to the edge of the festival, where it was deserted as everyone was gathering around main street.

I halted in the middle of the parking lot and opened my senses. The darkness was closer, stronger. I could wait for it here, or I could go toward it, keep the danger far from the others.

From my friends.

No doubt in my mind, I raced toward the darkness. Past the parking lot, across another road, into a lot with an abandoned building.

I untied my jacket and put it on to protect my skin. Then, I inhaled deeply and called my powers. It filled my veins, pushed against my skin, asked for release.

A moment later, the demons stepped out of the shadows.

I froze.

These weren’t Slater’s demons or lackeys. I had never seen these demons before. Half their bodies were lizard-like, the other half catlike, with dark scales. Their eyes were a mix of red and yellow, like a river of lava, and their wide mouths were filled with hundreds of small, but sharp teeth.

A chill ran down my spine.

It didn’t matter. They had come because of me. They had sensed me. I was a beacon to them.

And now, I had to kill them all.

Devon

My mind had been too full of nonsense lately—and my body full of human emotions. Because of that, I had been going out for runs more than once a day.

I was getting ready for my third run of the day, when I looked out the window. By now, I didn’t even need to check the clock. I knew that every weekday at this time Sabrina and Kevin arrived at Kenna’s house. In about half an hour, Carol would join them.