Aurora Sky Vampire Hunter - By Nikki Jefford Page 0,19

table on either side of his plate.

"Don't you like it?"

"Why do you have it on inside the house?"

"'Cause I feel like it."

Dad's eyes narrowed a fraction, probably at the snide pitch in my voice. He turned to Mom. "So are you coming to the party tomorrow or not?"

Mom chewed on her lip before answering. "I don't know if I should leave Aurora alone..."

I stabbed a piece of broccoli. "I'm eighteen. Of course you can leave me alone."

"With everything that's happened - " Mom said to Dad as though I'd never spoken.

"It's not like I'm going anywhere. Don't drive anymore, remember? Don't have friends, either. You two should go enjoy yourselves. I promise not to burn down the house."

"That's enough!" Dad said. "I'm not sure I like this new attitude of yours."

I turned to my mom. "Maybe the agents replaced my brain as well and I've inherited someone else's attitude."

"What are you talking about?" Dad asked.

"I'm staying home," Mom said.

"Fine, do whatever you want." The legs on Dad's chair scraped against the floor as he pushed back. He went into the living room, where he turned on the news.

"Aurora," Mom said.

I folded my arms over my chest and waited for the rest, but that was it. Just my name. Mom started down at her plate, tears glazing her eyes.

Aw, hell.

I slipped into the chair beside her. "Look, I know I've been a pain in the neck lately..." I stopped and laughed.

Mom didn't so much as crack a smile.

"Anyway, you should go to the party with Dad. I'll be fine. Promise. I could use a little time to myself."

"I don't think I'll go."

"Why not?"

Mom shook her head. "I don't know anyone at those parties."

"You know Dad."

"Everyone knows your father, and they'll all want to talk to him."

"So go for the free food and drinks."

"I don't know."

"Go."

"I guess I could go. I do every year."

"Right. They'll be expecting you."

As far as attending Dad's holiday function, Mom dragged her heels, literally, right up to the last minute when she shuffled across the carpet in her black pumps. She ended up taking a separate vehicle. Fine, whatever made her more comfortable.

As soon as the garage door closed, I headed down to the wine cellar.

Time to start on the list of resolutions and numero uno was: Get Drunk. It was New Year's Eve, after all. After years of disuse, Dad had converted part of the downstairs into his beloved wine cellar; a walk-in oak enclosure much like a sauna, only this one was cool with long bottles laid across wood planks, mostly reds. At the far corner was a small selection of champagne. I grabbed a bottle of Moet - what the celebs drank during the Oscars.

I set the bottle on the kitchen table and removed the foil around the cork. After the first attempt to twist the metal cap off failed, I studied the cork. How did I get this thing off? Weren't they supposed to pop off on their own? I grabbed the bottle by the neck and pointed it at the wall. I'd already lost a heart, kidney, and lung - I didn't want to add an eye to the list. I pushed my thumb against the cork. It didn't budge. I pushed harder and the cork shot out, hit the wall, and thunked to the floor.

I giggled. "Whoo-ee!"

Foam bubbled up the bottle's neck and spilled over the edges like one of those erupting volcanoes kids made with baking soda and vinegar for the fourth grade science fair. I leaned forward and sucked in a mouthful of foam.

I lifted the bottle in the air. "Happy New Year!"

So I was early. It was midnight somewhere in the world. It was nearly midnight in Massachusetts.

I walked around from room to room drinking straight from the bottle. I paused in front of the framed photos in the family room. I took another swig. "Happy New Year, Dad. Happy New Year, Mom."

I walked upstairs, turned my stereo on, and danced, bottle in hand. I bowed to my dresser. "So this is where the hottest party of the year is being held. Who knew?"

I drank and danced. I used the bottle as a microphone and discarded it when it was empty. There was more downstairs, but the cellar was a long way down, and I was feeling lightheaded. Bed was looking good, but it wasn't even midnight yet.

Finally I collapsed on top of the blankets. I hadn't fallen asleep so heavily since the accident. The moment my head