AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When I dreamed, it was of people, creatures, and the Devil in the night sky. All in the dark. The places blurred—the ranch, places I’d never seen.
And after arrived in the Ozarks I dreamed of different places.
The pond by the school.
The pool out on Highway 38.
And the Archer house.
I dreamt of a glowing red circle. Sometimes in my dream I stepped through. And I would often wake then, never knowing what was on another side.
When I had visited the pond, the pool, and the Archer house, I’d never seen a red circle glowing in front of me.
But I’d heard a strange hum. I’d felt an unmistakable dread, as if there were a key I’d left behind to open the doors. When I visited the Archer house alone, I thought I imagined the glow inside. Red inside the house, seeping out of the windows. But there was never anything inside. Sorina looked afraid when I told her what I saw. She told me it was nothing but a dream. But I knew that was a lie. I’d heard her pulse. But convinced myself I’d imagined it. Diana said she was alive, a living thing.
And I’d felt, touched, and sucked at that pulse as I took her throat in.
I hadn’t known what she was, but now I had a word for it. The word she chose.
Moroi.
Horror stories soared in my head. Reality and fiction blurred at the edges. What was a myth and what was magic remained to be seen.
I was tired of some mysteries.
I looked into Diana’s eyes, pleading with her to tell me something real. I remembered Sorina’s words.
He’s full. There’s a beast in this town.
“Whatis the Deacon?” I asked, leaning forward.
Diana opened her mouth, a look of resignation on her face, but our conversation was cut short when someone knocked on the door.
Standing on the other side was Sheriff Childress.
* * *
Sheriff Childress stood all of five foot nine and had an unfortunate mustache. I’d never spoken to the man, but I’d been playing a game of cat and mouse with him for weeks, though he was none the wiser.
I stepped out of Diana’s house as the Sheriff stepped back. “Sheriff Childress,” I said in way of greeting, my mocking getting the best of me.
The lawman stared past my shoulder into the house.
“Miss Rollin, I’m going to assume you know this boy who was justinyour home.”
Diana walked past me, her height startling when she looked at the man before her. “Yes. Nicholas was just leaving. I was going to drive him home.”
“Is there a reasonyou, a bar owner, have a minor in your house?”
I looked at Diana. There was no reason for me to be in this woman’s home that didn’t sound completely ridiculous.Oh, sorry, sir, we were discussing vampires.
I smirked, and the Sheriff looked at me.
“After school tutoring,” Diana mocked, crossing her arms.
The Sheriff glared at her, then looked at me. “You, I need you to come with me. There’ve been reports of vandalism at a house in city limits. An anonymous tip said they saw you leaving the premises.”
“What premises?” I demanded, walking past Diana.
