Free Origins (A Demonkin Novel) by Sean Hayden Page B

day, Ester. You too, Agent Walker," he said and walked through the glass doors.
    So, he was Agent Walker? Hunky had a name, but I felt disappointed because of the word "agent". I guess I wouldn't be bunking with him. Damn it.
    "Excellent. Everything is complete. If you would follow Agent Walker, he'll help you secure your personal effects and get you suited up for your stay. Good luck," Ester said to me without offering a handshake. I looked up at Agent Walker and he pointed at the door to my right. I walked over to it and I heard an electric buzzing noise coming from the latch. I pulled and the door opened so I walked through.
    Agent Walker came from around the corner and led me down the hall to another large windowless steel door. He opened it and sunlight poured from the exterior of the building into the hallway. I gave a little scream and closed my eyes. I instinctively jumped back about ten feet putting my body well outside the range of the sunlit square. I blinked rapidly and remembered screeching a loud, "Shut the door!" Tears poured freely from my eyes and I couldn't see anything.
    I heard the door close and I felt Agent Walker's hands encircle my upper arms. "Are you okay? What happened?"
    I still couldn't see, but I managed to blurt out, "The fucking sun!"
    "Are you alright? What are you, a vampire?"
    "Yes!" Time stopped for a moment with the realization of what I had said pierced my heart. I had spent seventeen years denying what I truly was and in a moment of panic, I subconsciously came to the realization of my true heritage. I maybe a little different than a Nosferatu, a common vampire, or a master vampire, but aren’t they different from each other as well? I felt his hands involuntarily release their grip after my little revelation both to him and to myself. "I'm sorry, it caught me by surprise. My eyes are very sensitive and now I have a headache. I didn't know the sun had come up. Usually I can feel it, but it must have breached the horizon while I was getting my MRI."
    "I'm sorry too. Nobody told me about you. I thought vampires burst into flames when you got exposed to sunlight?"
    "I'm a little different. Trust me."
    "How am I supposed to get you to the dorms?"
    "Just get me a blanket, I'll be okay."
    "Wait here, I'll go get one," he said and stood up from my crouched position. I heard his footsteps as he retraced our previous path to retrieve a blanket.
    Moments later I heard two sets of running footsteps come racing down the hall. I opened my eyes and looked behind me to see the blurry forms of Agent Walker and Doctor Gibbs with his hands around a dark grey blanket. "Ashlyn, are you okay? I'm sorry. I didn't realize the sun had come up! Is there anything I can do?"
    "I'm fine! I just want to go to sleep. Can you guys guide me? I won't be able to open my eyes," I said and tried not to sound too pathetic.
    I felt their arms lift me to my feet and Doctor Gibbs handed me the blanket. I unfolded the scratchy wool blanket and threw it over my shoulders. I walked over to the door and pulled the cover up over my head. I wore jeans and tennis shoes so I didn't have to worry about getting sunburned there. I closed my eyes and gave my guides a muffled, "I'm ready.” I heard the door open and I felt the warmth wash over the blanket. I closed my eyes even tighter because I could feel the sunlight bouncing from the floor below me and up into the confines of my shroud.
    Verbal directions came from Agent Walker. He told me when to step down and up, walk forward, turn left until we reached another door. I heard someone open it and they instructed me to move forward. I kept walking, I heard the door close behind me, and the change in temperature told me I had moved out of the sunlight. I wasn't taking any chances by removing my blanket without verbal direction to do so. The guys pulled me along until we reached another set of stairs leading up. I hoped we had almost reached our destination. Holding on to my backpack and