Scarlet’s sobs tore through her. She clutched Sage tightly to her chest as she flew through the air. His eyes were closed and she could only just feel his soft heartbeat where he was pressed into her.Her arms ached but there was no way she was stopping. Something was pushing her onwards, as though some force were drawing her toward the tower she’d seen in her locket.She didn’t know how long she’d been flying. It felt like forever. Time had become a blur of fear, grief, and pain. And worse than everything was the deep gnawing sensation in her stomach, the sensation that told her she needed to feed. She was craving blood and it was agonizing. She didn’t want to be a soulless demon, feasting on raw flesh like a cannibal, but the need inside of her was one she knew she couldn’t ignore. She would have to feed, and soon.Desperately she looked around her, trying to see whether there was anywhere to land and hunt. She felt guilty at the thought of setting Sage down just so she could eat,

Vivian twirled the broken shard of wood in her hands. Jojo’s blood stained the jagged tip. On the floor before her lay a pile of dust; all that was left of her former friend.She was furious. How dare Jojo think she could kick Vivian out of the gang? Vivian had been the undisputed queen of the cheerleaders when she was alive and she sure as hell intended to be queen of them now she was a vampire! She’d kill every last one of them before she got demoted from the cool gang.Vivian shoved the makeshift weapon into her back pocket. If there were as many vampires out there as her friends seemed to think there were, she’d need a way to give herself the upper hand. That was something vampire Vivian shared in common with her former human self—the constant need to win.There was one thing she hadn’t won in her previous life and now, as a vampire, the thought of it was driving her crazy. Blake.She had to find him. She had to turn him and make him hers forever.As Vivian bolted down the hig

Scarlet didn’t know how long she’d been ascending the stone staircase. Shadows ebbed and swelled around her as she took one careful step after the other, her hand running along the rough stone wall to help keep her balance. After having followed the tendril of light inside the tower, she’d found herself in an empty, chamber-like room, with nothing but a zig-zagging staircase before her. With no other options, she’d begun to climb.As she went, it occurred to her that the tower shape and strange, winding staircase design made it impossible for her to fly. She wondered whether it had been designed that way specifically; a vampire-proof structure, built to ensure that whatever—or whomever—was residing at the top would have plenty of time to prepare for the approaching intruder.The further up Scarlet went, the darker her surroundings became, until it was so black she couldn’t even see her hand in front of her face. The only sounds she could hear were the soles of her sneakers scuffing a

The biplane landed roughly in a field near Caitlin’s grandmother’s house, Caitlin spending the whole two-hour flight gazing anxiously out the window. At one point, she thought she had seen shapes on the horizon—Immortalists chasing them—but these had just turned out to be the silhouettes of birds on the horizon. There had also been a fierce storm raging in the distance behind them, and a strange glowing light that had made Caitlin’s stomach twist and turn. She had ignored all her worries and tried to focus on what was to come.As the wheels of the plane touched down and it taxied to a halt, Caleb looked over at his wife.“What are you thinking?” he said.“Nothing,” Caitlin said distantly. “I’m just thinking.”“About Scarlet?”Caitlin nodded and chewed her lip.“I feel terrible for having left her behind,” she said.Caleb reached out and stroked his wife’s hand.“I know,” he replied. “I do too. But if you think you can save her, can cure her, then we will be helping her in the l

Sam felt something rough, warm, and wet against his cheek. He groaned. There was a splitting pain in his head. His eyes fluttered open and he realized he was staring up at Ruth. She barked, making him wince.He pulled himself to sitting.“Okay, girl,” he said to the husky, who was licking his face all over. “I’m awake.”He pushed her down and looked around. He was alarmed to find himself in Caitlin’s dark kitchen, on the floor.Memories came back to him in fragments…. There had been a girl, worried about Scarlet. But what had happened next? He couldn’t quite remember. He must have fallen or blacked out or something.The pain in Sam’s head was unbearable. He finally got to his feet and poured himself a glass of water. Ruth fussed round his legs, almost tripping him over.“Will you give it a rest?” he said to the dog.He patted her thick fur and took a deep sip from the glass. Then his memory flooded back to him, so quickly and with such clarity he dropped the glass. It smashed in