The first mistake I made was leaving my friend, Jane Gardner, by herself at the table where we were having lunch together.
And the second was like it: Sensing a magical presence in the restaurant, but not bothering to investigate it or even just flat out grabbing Jane’s hand and pulling her out of there by force. I could have made up an excuse if Jane asked questions, because I had gotten pretty good at making up excuses for having to leave places since I became a half-vampire about three months ago.
But even though Dad had taught me how to be aware of the presence of a sorcerer in my general vicinity, I had been in such a hurry to use the bathroom that I didn’t pay as much attention to it as I should have. Magical auras felt kind of like the wind, ranging in strength from light, gentle
