Aurora Sky Vampire Hunter - By Nikki Jefford Page 0,37

was a secret assassin for the government, engineered to hunt down and kill the reanimated dead. He might even be the type who would feel sorry for vampires. I doubted he had much respect for authority or the government. And somehow, I doubted he would take too kindly to the idea of guys sinking their teeth into me - undead or otherwise.

Luckily, he'd never know that side of me. Superheroes got to have their own separate lives, and my alter ego was no longer all doom and gloom. Who would have guessed that a boy named Fane would have made it feel right again?

When I thought about it more, I was struck by something even more unimaginable.

If I hadn't gotten into the accident, I never would have gotten to know Fane the way I knew him now. I never would have felt his touch or kissed his lips or seen his smile. And that would have been the real tragedy.

On the way home from school, I stared out the bus window dreamily. The world outside no longer existed. I lived in my own world and I liked it there.

I took great big steps up the hill leading home, skipped up to the front door, and leapt inside. The smile on my lips died when I looked over and saw Mom waiting for me in the front parlor, with Agent Melcher sitting beside her.
Chapter 14 Mission North

Melcher must have parked across the street or next door because there'd been no ominous black sedan in the driveway to warn me of his presence. He sat in our armchair in his gray suit. It was the first time I'd seen Melcher without Crist hovering nearby.

I stormed into the center of the room and glared at my mom. "What the hell is he doing here?"

Mom frowned. "Aurora, don't - "

Melcher interrupted with a smile. "Your mother tells me you've been getting into fights and missing class, Aurora."

"So?" I plopped down on the couch and slung one leg over the other.

"I understand transition period is confusing. You're not like the other kids at school anymore. You're special."

Great, just what I needed, Melcher going all student counselor on me. I didn't need a pep talk. I didn't plan on fighting any time soon. I was happy now.

"Do you mind if I have a moment with your daughter, Mrs. Sky?"

Mom stood up immediately. "Of course not. I'll be in the other room if you need me."

I folded my arms over my chest and glared at Melcher.

He sighed and spoke in a low, articulate voice. "You've been called to serve a greater purpose, Aurora. It's frightening at first, I know. We put you face-to-face with evil and you won. You have a gift. A vampire is like any other terrorist target, and we've never been better equipped to win the war on terror. The important thing to remember is they're not human. They're pure evil. I think you're ready for training, Aurora."

"I'm not ready. I have senior year to finish." And a boyfriend who deserved all my free time.

"This won't get in the way of school. I was just explaining to your mother that we've assigned you a mentor. I've chosen Dante for you. I think the two of you will find you have a lot in common."

"So he's a vampire hunter?"

"That's right."

"Fine. Whatever." I stood up. "Thanks for stopping by."

Agent Melcher got up. "Don't mention it. You can expect Dante tomorrow afternoon."

Maybe if Melcher had given us a time to expect Dante, we wouldn't have wasted the better part of Saturday afternoon peering out the window any time we heard a car on the road. Regardless of the wait, it would be nice to meet someone like me.

Finally, shortly after four thirty, the doorbell rang. When Mom opened the door, one of the cutest guys I'd ever seen stood outside. He grinned from ear to ear, his thick brown hair framing a tanned face. His muscular build was tight in all the right places. It didn't matter that his veins were filled with toxic blood - he had a smile that could kill.

"Sky residence, I presume? I'm Dante."

"Come in. Come in," Mom gushed. "Please, have a seat."

My mom wiggled her brows at me the moment Dante's back was turned. He looked around the parlor and settled in the armchair Melcher had occupied the day before, but unlike Melcher, Dante slouched all the way back into the cushions.

"I made cookies. Would you like one?" Mom asked him.

Dante's eyes