Free The Chosen Sin by Anya Bast

of them ordered. “Make any move besides raising your arms toward the sky and we’ll fire.”
    Oh, good. The games have begun. She eyed the line of muzzles uneasily. If the pulsers were on the highest setting, she was probably the only vamp weak enough to be killed by the blast. Alejandro would likely only be knocked out, since the guards were a good distance away from them.
    â€œWhat business do you have here?” the one in front of them asked.
    â€œMy name is Alejandro Martinez. Christopher Sante and I go way back. He’s expecting Valerie”—he motioned to her with his elbow—“and I to arrive this morning. We should be on a list somewhere, guys. Watch those pulsers, okay? We’re all friends here.”
    The guards’ expressions didn’t change as far as Daria could see. Not one of them cracked a smile. Apparently, they didn’t think they were friends.
    All the guards remained silent. Daria assumed they were communicating mentally with someone at the compound on some vampiric wavelength she wasn’t on.
    Finally, the first one spoke. “Both of you, lower your arms, take off your gloves, and hold your hands toward me, palms out.”
    They both did as requested.
    The guard came closer and held up a small black box she recognized as a standard issue identification kit, an Identi Box. He pulled the long sensor free from the kit. He aimed it first at the pads of Alejandro’s fingers, then at hers. The sensor emitted no light, nor any visible stream. It slowly scanned her fingerprints from a good five feet away. She felt a faint pressure on her skin.
    Daria’s fingerprints had been altered during her surgery. Valerie Hollan, her alias, would come up as an out of work waitress living in a community hostel in downtown New Chicago on Angel One. “Valerie” had been born in the Angel System and had lived there her whole life in relative poverty. Her blood father, Alejandro Martinez, had recently Chosen her and she was registered as a newly made vampire with the GBC.
    The little light on top of the Identi Box blinked green. “All right. We have confirmation,” said the guard. “Follow us.” The black-swathed sentries put their weapons away.
    The guards powered up their bikes and sped off toward the horizon. Alejandro and Daria did the same. These guys have lots of personality, Alejandro said to Daria telepathically on their own private communication wavelength.
    Yeah, I noticed, she thought back at him.
    Telepathy was nifty, but she’d have to be careful she didn’t broadcast thoughts she didn’t want Alejandro to hear.
    She’d have to be even more careful that she didn’t broadcast her thoughts to any of the vamps inside the compound. That could be disastrous. She’d been instructed in how to shield her mind and she felt locked down tight, but sending thoughts still made her nervous. There had been no way to practice before she’d been Chosen and there’d been no time afterward.
    Soon the dome of the compound came into view, glowing blue black in the moonlight. It was enormous, much larger than Daria had expected. The guards flew into a tiny opening at the base of the dome and Alejandro and Daria followed them.
    Daria choked back a gasp when the dune bike cleared the doorway. It was daylight here.
    Beside her, Alejandro visibly jerked in surprise. A Chosen’s pupils never dilated, so she knew his reaction wasn’t from the sudden influx of sunlight. Likely it was because he hadn’t seen a day—even a vamp-safe simulated one—in nearly seven years.
    Lush green grass spread across the ground, dotted through with many different colorful flowers. Stone walkways and streets dotted the thriving greenery. The walkways led to a series of white buildings with high, arched windows and tall doorways. She looked up and the sight stole her breath. Blue sky with soft, scudding white clouds spread across