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Chapter 40
Rain fell that night, a slow, soundless rain, and Leesa loved it. But even if she hadn't, it would not have mattered—not with the memory of that amazing kiss still lingering in her brain and warming her heart.
She was sitting on the lawn in front of her dorm, her back propped comfortably against the smooth trunk of a stout maple, protected from the wet grass by a black plastic trash bag. Rave had dropped her off a few hours earlier, following another dreamlike journey cradled in his arms. After eating a tasteless dinner of mac and cheese—in her euphoric mood, it could have been cardboard and she wouldn't have minded—she had tried to study, but found herself too restless and excited to stay cooped up in her room. Every time she thought about that wonderful kiss—which was anytime she didn't force her thoughts elsewhere—her pulse quickened, her skin grew flush, and she couldn't keep from smiling.
So she had donned her bright blue waterproof W
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Leesa's Advent Chapter 41
There was nothing threatening in his voice, nothing to hint he was doing anything more than making conversation, but Leesa was suddenly aware of her vulnerability. She felt her heartbeat quicken, and hoped her alarm didn't show on her face.“So, what brings you out on a night like this?” she asked. The question seemed stupid the moment she asked it—he had just said how much he liked the rain—but Stefan didn't seem to notice.“I like walking in the rain. It's so quiet and peaceful, especially at night.” Stefan looked at the building behind her, as if noticing it for the first time. “Is that your dorm?”His question seemed genuine. Leesa was glad to know he hadn't been stalking her, and she hoped he'd come this way purely by chance. “Yeah. I thought I was gonna take a walk, but this spot seemed so inviting, I just plopped down here.”Stefan glanced at the ground beside her. “Mind if I join yo
Leesa's Advent Chapter 42
“If I am out of my mind, so be it,” Leesa said, struggling to keep the fear out of her voice as she stood between Rave and Stefan. “But I'm not going to let you two hurt each other.” Her eyes shifted back and forth from one to the other, trying to perform the impossible task of watching both at once. Rave and Stefan cocked their heads to the side, unwilling to break eye contact, even with her in the way. She knew if she moved back a step or two she would be better able to see them both, but then she wouldn't be between them, and it was only her presence there that was keeping them apart. Now, if she could just figure out a way to keep them that way. In the blink of an eye, Rave flashed to his left, trying to create an opening, but she countered by quickly moving closer to Stefan. With the tree behind Stefan, Rave couldn't get to him without endangering her, and she knew he'd never risk that. And Stefan had sworn he would never hurt her, and somehow she believed him,
Leesa's Advent Chapter 43
Mother died today—she just didn't know it yet. Leesa hoped she would soon be reborn into an easier, happier, more normal life. At least that was the plan. If Professor Clerval's manuscript was correct about the grafhym blood's reversing the effects of the one-fang's bite. And if Rave could find the grafhym again and capture it alive. And if the injection did not produce any unexpected side effects. Then everything would be perfect. If…Getting her mom to Connecticut had been easier than Leesa expected. Not easy, mind you, not by a long shot, but easier nonetheless. It started with a two-hour phone call, followed by an early-morning cross-country flight with Aunt Janet, then a red-eye return flight to New York City the same night. Uncle Roger picked them up at the airport and drove them back to Meriden, where they arrived well before dawn. It had been an exhausting twenty-four hours, but at least her mom was he
Leesa's Advent Chapter 44
Ignoring the pelting rain, he leaped easily across a rushing creek swollen by the storm to a width of nearly ten feet. The darkness didn't bother him—you could not hunt vampires without the keenest of night vision. His pace hardly slowed as he raced up a steep ridge on the opposite side of the stream, zigzagging between the trees. His speed actually helped him climb the slippery slope, for his feet did not stay in contact with the wet leaves and grass long enough to slip. At the top of the ridge, he turned west, finally slowing when he reached a gigantic granite outcrop he had marked on his earlier trip here.He moved more stealthily now, easing his way down the far side of the ridge. He wasn't worried the grafhym would hear his approach—no creature moved as silently as a volkaane—but he was unsure how sharp the grafhym’s vision might be, or how keenly it might sense motion in the darkness. He hoped it was asleep in the rocky den wher
Leesa's Advent Chapter 45
“My memories, like some people's dreams, are mostly without color,” Judy said quietly, absently stirring her bowl of homemade oatmeal. “More like snapshots than videos, too.”Leesa had been watching her mom closely since she sat down at the table, looking for any sign the grafhym blood was having the effect they all hoped for. Mom was talking a little strangely—as usual—but Leesa thought she detected something different from what she was used to in the strangeness. And it was wonderful Mom was talking at all, with the scare she'd given them last night, collapsing and passing out after being injected with the blood. She had remained unconscious all the way home and after Leesa and Aunt Janet tucked her into bed. But her pulse seemed strong and her breathing even, so they had let her sleep, hoping she would be better in the morning.Leesa had never been happier than when she peeked in on her mom this morning and was greeted by
Leesa's Advent Chapter 46
Just a walk? Sure, Leesa thought. And Harry Potter was just some wizard, Frodo Baggins just another hobbit, Moby Dick just another whale. Heck, by that notion, even Rave was just another guy. This was so not just a walk. This was the answer to a young girl's ceaseless prayers, the realization of years of hopes and dreams, the start of a whole new and better life.Leesa forced her excitement down, in no way wanting to put any pressure on her mom. “I know, Mom. But I really like to walk.”Leesa was in heaven.Earlier, she and her mom had enjoyed an hour-long walk, strolling leisurely with Max padding beside them, not talking much, content to take in the lovely foliage and breathe the crisp, cool air. The colors were a bit past their peak, but beautiful nonetheless. What Leesa liked best was that they simply walked, not worrying at all about shadows and sunlight. Sure, it had been a mostly gray morning and the tall trees had provided l
Leesa's Advent Chapter 47
Though brilliantly sunny, Saturday morning was overcoat weather in Connecticut. As soon as Leesa stepped outside, her cheeks began to tingle from the cold and her breath floated from her mouth in a small misty cloud. She quickly pulled her hands up into her sleeves and pressed her arms against her body.Such a strange word to pop into her head, she thought. “Overcoat”—a word she would never have used in a million years if her mom hadn't spent the last three days telling everyone how much she liked her new overcoat. But Leesa didn't mind it in the least. Wearing the coat meant her mom was venturing outside, and that was all that mattered. So overcoat weather it was, and overcoat weather it would remain, no matter how unhip it might sound. Besides, her friends were used to her being a little less hip than everyone else, and Rave was a Maston, so he was even less hip than she was, if that were possible. What the weather really was, though, was sweatshirt and an
Leesa's Advent Chapter 48
She let go of his left hand and began walking again, keeping hold of his right. “How's the kissing thing coming? Have you been practicing with Balin?”He laughed, and she realized how her question sounded. “Practicing the breathing stuff, I mean. Not kissing him.”“I know. And yes, I've been practicing.”“I hope you'll do some practicing with me later,” Leesa said, trying to run her tongue provocatively over her lips like she had seen nasty women do in the movies.Rave grinned. “I have every intention of doing just that.”Leesa stepped up her pace, tugging on his hand. “Let's get this walk going, then,” she laughed. “Time's a wasting.”They strode rapidly down the hill, turning south onto Main Street into a bustle of people making their way to brunch at a couple of popular eateries. Leesa and Rave were forced to slow as they threaded their way along the crowd
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