"Shawn?" Mom said softly. Her hand was pressed against the side of my face. "Are you alright?"Remnants of my nightmare echoed around me. The scream had been so real that my ears rang from it. But looking into mom's tired face I couldn't bring myself to tell her about it. She would worry about me and I don't want that, especially when she had the candlelight service to think about. Logan who had rushed in with her when they heard my scream moved away from the door and went to open my windows. For the first time since I moved here sunlight flooded into the room. It wasn't overly bright like a hot summer day at San Frease but it was bright enough that I could see the clear clouds.The irony of it all. On a day when the dead was to be mourned, the sun shined the brightest."Did you have a nightmare?"I shook my head and attempted a smile. Her lids were puffy, her eyes were rimmed red, and the green irises didn't sparkle like they used to. "I'm fine.""If it's a nightmare...""I'm just

“Hey.”I could see the curiosity in Cara's eyes as she moved closer to me. It was late afternoon and the sun was still out, the sky was free of clouds, the air was still drafty but the sun provided enough warmth that we took off our sweaters to avoid sweating. We were in front of Tessa’s home where the procession was supposed to start. A couple of cars lined the streets, friends and neighbors came out in numbers to support the grieving family. There were boxes of candles and Tessa’s personal items that her mom had placed out on the drive. People picked candles and lit them, awaiting the start of the procession.I glanced at her as I picked a candle for myself. Since we left Choc-It all she wanted to know was what Charlie called me out for. Even Jeff was curious although he wasn’t as obvious as Cara. “Yes?” I answered vaguely.She nudged my rib with her elbow. “You know what I want to ask. Spit it out.”“It was nothing.” That was the same answer I told her throughout the drive from th

A loud cry rent the air, piercing the veil of darkness and silence. It took me a while to figure out the scream was coming from my burning throat. My assailant drank from my neck, his clawed hands dug into my shoulders, holding me in place while he fee from me. I lay motionless on the ground, unable to fight, unable to kick back at him.Suddenly his weight lifted off me. A dark shadow flew over us both, the silver ray of the moon beamed on a dark coat that flew with great speed to my right side. A heavy thud resounded causing the rock beneath me to tremble. My arms hung loosely by my side, my body motionless on the ground. A burning sensation started in my neck, like the sizzling of fire that was somehow growing hotter. I wanted to put my hands up to quench the fire but my hands would not move. They were heavy. I stared at the dancing moon, my vision drifted in and out of focus. One minute the moon was a blur of molten silver, the next minute it was sharp and bright, burning my eyes.

What a night.My dream was partially right. Vampires and werewolves live among us and I am possibly the only true human who knows about it. Among the threat of vampires we also have Daemons? Was that what Kayla called it?My laptop was in my bed, I sat and opened it and keyed that word. Multiple results came up on my screen and like Kayla said Daemons are godlike. Minor gods or smaller spirits. Well that doesn’t explain anything! It doesn’t explain the source of those daemons who nearly ripped my heart out or the origin of vampires and werewolves in WhiSare. Who would have thought that such a small town had a dark interesting secret?How long have the Storms lived in WhiSare and avoid suspicion?Logan was still downstairs with mom. No doubt he is trying to put her mind at ease. I know mom is worried, coupled with the grief of mourning Tessa she must be worried about me too. Guilt filled me. With the eminent danger of WhiSare’s secret dark side the last thing I want is mom’s heartbreak

The weather wasn’t the only difference between WhiSare and Down Hills. Where WhiSare was quiet and peaceful with friendly neighbors waving out windows, Down Hills was an edgy town with pubs at almost every corner. The road Kayla drove on led to the heart of town. The curbs were parked with people, trucks lined the streets and the front of every club. Leather jackets, fish nets, buckled boots, and skin-tight leather skirts made the outfits of the many party-goers that hung outside of open club doors. I recognized some people from school hanging around streetlights with flickering bulbs sharing liquor bottles and cigarettes. The town reeked of booze.“Down Hills is where people from school come to hang out. It’s a free town.”Free town was putting it mildly. Music blasted from the club while people danced carelessly close to the road.Kayla swerved the car multiple times to avoid drunken teenagers and adults who stumbled across the road without looking. She guided the car to another str