Free Emma (Dark Fire) by Jodie B. Cooper

mighty lucky. Millions of people are fleeing the sprawling Mexican metropolis as vampires and dragons continue attacking. The attacks are vicious and deadly in nature. Attempts to communicate with the vampires have been unsuccessful.”
    “Within southern Mexico and South America, estimates range as high as two million dead and millions more missing. US military units from five states are converging on the U.S. and Mexico border area. We have...”
    The words stopped mid-sentence.
    “I’ve heard more than enough,” Keith said after flipping the radio off.
    “Uncle Keith, we’ve got to do something! They’re trying to talk to vampires.” She shook her head in disbelief. “They think dragons are just mindless animals.”
    “I agree. While you were glued to the TV last night, I was making calls and sending out e-mails,” he said, tapping the steering wheel as the line of traffic slowed even more. She watched him frown. He tried to downplay it, but he had serious military connections. His career in the Special Forces had earned him lifelong friends.
    “Why do you think dragons are killing people in Mexico? I mean, I totally get why the vampires are killing people. Lester really wanted me or rather my blood. But neither Tyler nor Lydia seemed the type to kill without a good reason.”
    “I don’t know, but hopefully they can keep the fighting away from our area. I’m going to do a little recon in town and see who’s in charge of the local reserve units they’ve brought in. Last time I heard, Colonel Hank Murphy was stationed in this area. He’s the type who’ll listen to the facts and do the right thing every time.”
    “If Murphy isn’t in charge?”
    “Well, if it’s not him, hopefully, it’s someone who’ll listen to our story and be willing to meet with the dragons. We don’t need a repeat of Mexico City. I’ll do whatever it takes to get the two sides talking.”
    Emma hid another grin as Keith stifled several curse words. The winding two-lane highway finally came to a complete standstill. The small town of Cavern Springs had never seen so much traffic, not even during a holiday weekend. Still a mile outside of town, Keith pulled to the opposite side of the highway and backed-up under a grove of trees.
    At his continued grumble, she grinned and teasingly said, “Exercise is good for the heart.”
    He badgered her constantly, insisting she put her book down and go outside for a bit of exercise.
    He snorted and finally grinned. “Of course it is. I planned on parking here the entire time,” he said, giving her the lie with a straight face and a wink.
    On foot, they headed toward town. The walk to town didn’t take long, actually moving faster than the cars on the road did.
    It was wall-to-wall people as too many sightseers packed into the small picturesque town. People parked everywhere. Even the lawn, in front of city hall, lay covered with illegally parked cars. Entire families roamed the streets, posing in front of the unique stone houses with Spanish style roofs and archways. Everyone had a camera or phone, taking pictures. Unfortunately, they weren’t just taking pictures.
    “Those jerks,” she muttered through clenched teeth.
    People were helping themselves to anything that wasn’t latched down, carrying stuff out of the multi-story rock homes by the armload. Emma watched as one couple struggled to carry a large table out of one house, while another man carried a beautiful carved jewelry box.
    By the time they reached the school parking lot, she was fuming. The Tuathans wouldn’t have anything left, not with people acting like scavenging rats.
    The school and the athletic complex was the only place in the entire area that wasn’t overflowing with tourists. The large park was brand new, sporting a track, a football field, a multi-use gymnasium, and four baseball diamonds. It was the town’s pride and joy.
    A soldier and Rottweiler walked past the school’s front entrance. Huge tents,