Free The Awakening by Mary Abshire Page A

mist!
    “Move around,” Jonas said.
    His voice sounded garbled, yet I understood him. My body buzzed more as I moved down the hall. I stopped at the front door, turned and saw Jonas following with the camera still pointed at me. Tabby stood behind him. I passed through the dining room, back into the kitchen, and stopped at the closed door leading to the basement. My body heat rose as I pictured myself on the other side of the door. Slowly, I moved forward.
    “Did you see that?” Tabby asked, her words distant and muddled.
    I had made it to the other side of the door, and proceeded down the dark steps. I followed the path Boss had taken me before, rounding the corner and going down another hall. The first bedroom door was open with a glow inside. I floated in and found Boss without a shirt, staring at a computer monitor.
    My temperature shot up as I crept closer to him. He continued typing without a pause. His pale skin shimmered from the little bit of light. He was average in build with a fine set of biceps and broad shoulders. I moved closer until I was within an arm’s reach.
    Boss stopped typing, and tilted his head to the side. My body tingled while I waited to see what he would do. He swiveled around in his chair, and looked cautiously in my direction. He looked around the room, no doubt sensing me, yet not seeing me.
    “She’s right in front of you Boss,” Jonas said.
    He shot up from his chair so fast I gasped and stepped back. I lost my concentration and rush of coldness swept through me. I knew I'd taken human form.
    Boss grabbed hold of my neck and slammed me into a bookshelf. I struggled to breathe. Black eyes full of rage pierced me. Two sharp canines peeked from his lip.
    “Boss!” Jonas yelled.
    Boss let go of my neck. I dropped like a boulder and landed with a hard thud on the carpeted floor. I gasped for air. Note to self, not a good idea to sneak up on a vampire.
    Tabby ran to me and wrapped her arm around my back. “Are you all right?”
    “Get away from her!” Boss snapped.
    I looked up and his cold eyes bore down on me.
    He pointed toward the door. “Get out.” Fear mixed with anger poured out from his vampire body. “You are an abomination.”
    I stared up at him in disbelief. Panic fueled my fast-beating heart. Did he just disgrace me and tell me to leave?
     

 
    Chapter 9
     
    I sat on the sofa in the living room of the dark basement, leaning forward with my elbows digging into my knees and my hands on the sides of my face. A few feet away, Boss and Jonas argued. Tabby sat next to me, keeping her arm on my back. Her compassion was the only thing keeping me from breaking down. I hated myself. Not only was I part vampire, I was also part demon. My stomach churned and I wanted to puke.
    “She has to leave,” Boss said for the umpteenth time. He paced the room, barefoot and shirtless. His body was stiff and he reeked of hostility.
    “You can’t throw her out because she’s different,” Jonas argued.
    “You don’t understand. She’s dangerous.”
    Jonas stepped closer to Boss. “Dangerous to herself. She has no memories. She didn’t know what she was. She didn’t even know how to feed.”
    “Thirty-one people have died around her Jonas.” Boss said, his voice elevated.
    Thirty-one? There were thirty at the dump. Oh, the man behind the counter at the pawnshop he killed. Guess that counted against me too, though none of them were my fault. At least, I didn’t think so.
    “She didn’t kill any of them,” Jonas said.
    “We don’t know if she did or not. And you’re missing my point. She puts our lives at risk. I will not have her hurt you or Tabby in my fucking house.”
    I shot up from the sofa. “I wouldn’t hurt them. I’m not a killer!”
    They both turned to face me.
    “Boss,” Jonas said, calmer. “I sincerely doubt she would hurt us. Besides, we are more than capable of defending ourselves.”
    A beeping sound interrupted the argument. Boss lifted his hand to