Aurora Sky Vampire Hunter - By Nikki Jefford Page 0,7

of gym.

As I walked past Fane I felt a twitch. Not my own. I felt the twitch of his hand wanting to stop me.

"Hey, you. Are you okay?"

If I had my full range of emotions left I'd laugh. He didn't even know my name - that or it wasn't worth saying.

He studied me carefully. "I've seen that look before."

Now I was curious.

Valerie jumped down from the bleachers. "Fane!"

He didn't pay attention to her. I held my breath waiting for him to tell me what he saw.

Valerie sashayed her way over to Fane. She held out his jacket. "I'm ready to blow this joint. Let's get a bite."

Her last words grabbed his attention, and he forgot me completely. Valerie looped her arm around Fane's and they walked toward the double doors. I was right behind them, silent as a ghost. When I reached the hall entrance leading to the locker rooms I stopped. I saw his head start to turn. I knew he was going to look back, but by the time he did I'd be gone.

I heard the Christmas music and smelled molasses before I walked through the door. "Jingle Bells" jangled inside my ears the moment I crossed the threshold. Mom was in the kitchen amidst trays of cut-out cookies. She bit into a gingerbread man as I walked in. She turned, crumbs falling from her mouth, swallowed, and smiled.

"I was feeling festive today," she said.

I glanced at the dining room table, where she'd set out plates of sugar cookies shaped like angels and stars; bowls of colored frosting and bottles of sprinkles.

I knew why. Tomorrow Dad returned.

Mom asked me not to say anything about the agents. Not that I had much information to relay since she'd managed to avoid the topic since bringing me home. Dad only knew about the accident, that I was fine, and the car totaled.

I understood Mom's concern. After their last argument we were lucky to have him home for the holidays at all.

Mom grinned. "That's not all. Look what we've got in the living room."

I followed her into the adjoining room. The branches of a fir tree nearly touched the ceiling. I could barely pick up its scent through the sugared cloud wafting from room to room.

"Do you like the tree?" Mom asked. "It was the best one on the lot."

Meaning most symmetrical, I supposed. There were plastic totes lined beside the tree, lids pulled off and stacked against the sofa.

"Go on," Mom coaxed. "Why don't you put up the first ornament?"

I looked inside the tote. Because my mom was waiting, I grabbed the first decoration that touched my fingers.

The phone rang. While my mom answered I dangled a glittery star from my finger.

She returned to the living room with the phone pressed against her chest. "Aurora, it's Agent Melcher calling to see how you're doing."

I continued staring at the star. "I don't want to talk to him."

Mom hesitated before returning the phone to her ear. "She's doing better. Yes, school's going fine. Her friends are, of course, happy to have her back - as are her teachers."

Mom circled the living room.

"Martial arts?" she asked. "If you say so. We'll get her enrolled in some after-school classes. Right after Christmas? Yes, I understand. Thank you. You, too."

I hung the star from a branch at eye level and looked at it on the tree.

"That was Agent Melcher," she repeated.

A sudden flash of irritation burned through me. Yes, she mentioned that already.

"He would like you to start informal training. He said it will help you during orientation."

I folded my arms over my chest. "I already told you I'm not going back to that place."

Mom gasped. "Aurora, you have to."

"Why?"

"The agents...they said if we don't comply...you'll die."

Her voice quivered and broke on a sob.

I took a step forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Mom, it's okay. I just want to know what they want from me. How did the agents even find me to begin with?"

She sniffed and sucked in a breath. "I don't know. When I received the call about your accident they already had you on base."

Sounded more like a kidnapping than a rescue mission if you asked me.

"And what did they tell you?"

"I can't remember," Mom said a little too quickly. "I was in a state of panic. It's hard to remember much. I was in shock."

"Try to remember - they must've said something."

Mom stared beyond me. "They said there was internal bleeding and that your heart was giving out. They mentioned