the first one, except this time I noticed what I hadn’t before. The hand striking out defensively was not mine. The skin was a tanned brown color, not my freckled white. The nails were longer, painted a bright bubblegum pink.
Whoever it was, I needed to save them. I’d wasted so much time, thinking the vision was of events that would happen to me, and I knew there was not another minute to waste.
I burst from the woods and darted up the path toward the main office, Levi’s footfalls pounding against the dirt behind me. I loped up the steps and swung open the screen door, skidding to a halt as I came face to face with a very somber-looking Dean Purty.
True stood just behind him, a devastated look on her face as she watched me with sad eyes.
“What?” I demanded, my breath whooshing in and out of my lungs as panic creeped up my spine. “What’s happened?”
The dean looked at me, sadness and compassion lacing his deep voice.
“I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, Piper, but your friend, Coco Morales, is dead.”
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Keep scrolling for a sneak peek at Book Two: The Count…
Shadow Lake Vampire Society Book Two: The Count
The only thing anchoring me to the Earth was Levi’s hand in mine as we stepped toward Coco’s casket.
I floated toward the oak box, or, at least that’s what it felt like. My mouth was dry. My hands shook. I could barely keep my feet moving in the right direction. I’d had a few out-of-body experiences in my short life, and this felt like an awful rerun.
Everything in me wanted to turn and bolt in the opposite direction. The person in that box was my best friend. My Coco. I’d seen her only a month ago, and she’d been filled with joy. With life. Coco with her glossy lipstick and her bright hats. Her jokes. Her bad taste in music. Her thousands of Instagram followers.
Her love for me.
How could this be happening? How could she be dead?
I hadn’t talked to her once after leaving for my job at Camp Shadow Lake. Sure, I’d tried once or twice, but I’d been so caught up in Levi and the vampires that I hadn’t made a real effort. I’d heard from a number of people that Coco had been aloof and acting strange before her death. Her social media feeds dwindled to nothing, and she stopped answering texts. They said it in passing, not really taking much stock in it, but to me, it felt like a stab to my heart. Maybe my lack of communication had sent her into a downward emotional spiral. Maybe if I had tried harder, I could have somehow prevented this from happening.
Part of me knew the thought was irrational. That there was nothing I could’ve done and no way to get her back.
She was gone.
Quiet organ music played while hushed voices whispered to one another and the smell of cut roses floated on the cold air piped in through the vents. The funeral home was packed wall-to-wall with people. Coco was well-loved, and she had a big family, so this had to be one of the most well-attended funerals this place had ever seen. A few people I knew from high school were there, but I didn’t want to talk to them. What would I say?
So, how’s things? And isn’t it crazy that Coco’s dead?
I couldn’t begin to stomach it.
“Are you okay?” Levi whispered in my ear as we waited in the processional that meandered up to the casket.
I bit my lip, and he squeezed my hand.
“Of course you’re not okay.” His brow creased with concern. “Can I get you something? Water? More tissues?”
“Just stay beside me.” With my free hand, I gripped his arm so I could keep from dropping to the floor. Levi felt solid, sturdy. I didn’t know what I’d do without him.
Mom was here, of course. I could hang by her, but she’d taken a seat behind Coco’s wailing mother. Mom had the quiet presence of someone who’d been through the worst thing imaginable and knew what this felt like. I drew my eyes away from her. Just the sight of Mom in the black dress she wore at Dad’s funeral was turning the water works on again. This was the same