Tangled

120 Ava: Vampire’s Call

120 Ava: Vampire’s Call

“If you ever need me, child, simply light a candle and call my name. I’ll find you.”

My eyes snap open in the middle of a deep sleep, and my heart races, a thunderous pounding in my chest that shakes my entire body.

The dream was too real, too close to memory. Selene’s ears perk up as she lifts her head from the foot of the bed. What’s wrong, Ava?

I shake my head, eyes darting to the door. Kellan’s somewhere in the apartment, ever present, always listening. I think I know how to contact Sister Miriam. The maybe–vampire lady.

Selene’s blue eyes widen. How? She sits up, her full

attention on me.

When she visited me before the ceremony, she said if I needed her, I should light a candle and call her name.

That she’d find me.

1

Tell me everything, Selene says, her voice gentle in my mind. Every detail.

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120 Ava: Vampire’s Call

I recount the memory, the cloying scent of incense, the invasive way she touched me, her cryptic words. The dread and intrigue she instilled in my mother.

Your mother fears her, Selene muses. As she should. Vampires are not to be trifled with.

But she might have answers. About what I am. What’s happening to me. She seemed to know.

Selene is quiet for a long moment. Vampires are ancient, powerful creatures with their own agendas. She may help you, but there will be a price. There always is, with their kind.

I swallow hard, a shiver running through me. I’ll be careful. I promise.

Try to sleep, Selene says, curling back up. We’ll talk

more tomorrow.

I nod, sinking back against the pillows. But sleep is elusive, my mind spinning with possibilities and fears.

Sister Miriam’s red eyes follow me into my dreams, her silken voice a whispered promise. “I’ll find you.”

I toss and turn, the sheets twisting around my legs. Power pulses under my skin, a restless itch I can’t

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120 Ava: Vampire’s Call

scratch.

What if she’s the key? What if she can unlock the

mystery inside me, teach me to wield the elements like weapons?

Selene’s warning lingers, a

will be a price.

Outside, the moon is bright, almost full. Its call sings in my blood.

* * *

in

comes and goes between Blackwood

details, but I do know

my parents–and Alpha

what I’m told, they’re no closer to finding them.

that they’ve been so

everyone nervous.

still runs me and Lisa ra

have changed. I’m

ery day, but

and he’s

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Ava: Vampire’s Call

self–defense. Mainly,

no–fucking–where, popping into my field of vision like one of those winding pop–up toys. I manage to keep my

from the scare.

“Fall?”

the gym, bouncing back and smacking me in the face. It’s raining outside, and he’s decided to show us a little

scarred lip curls. “Yes, Ava.

I thought we were going to learn

to learn

point, I think. No, I know he has a point. But I

want to admit he does, so I cross my arms and

scowl at him.

know how to

you

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Vampire’s

than I can track, from weathered and

the mat.

the air rushes out of my lungs in the space

millisecond.

of a

to re–learn how

shock.

up,” he barks.

feet is an effort,

“You hit the ground like a sack of potatoes. Bend your knees, tuck your chin, slap the mat

before throwing me down. He’d just laugh. So I grit my teeth and nod, determined to

again, and I try to remember what he said. Bend the

hits the mat, and I wheeze.

“Again,” Jericho orders.

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Vampire’s Call

my feet. Each time, he barks out a correction. It’s always something. How I hit the ground. How I get up.

my body is connected into one giant bruise, and the mat becomes a nightmare I’m never going to forget. For being something foam and giving, it

of Lisa. She’s with Kellan, who’s putting her through some kind of calisthenics routine. Pushups, sit–ups,

wouldn’t give to trade places right now and free myself

me again, and I have to

focus.

my best to anticipate the fall, determined to do it

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Ava: Vampire’s

out of my lungs once again as I groan in very,

not concentrating,” Jericho growls. “Get your head in the

my hands and knees, panting. My arms tremble with the effort, and I can feel the sweat dripping down my

I grumble through clenched teeth.