Free Welcome to the Darkness (Darkness Trilogy) by L. M. Justus Page B

whispered, a lump forming in my throat.
    After a pause, Sarah nodded. “All right, but I think you should consider the consequences.”
    We continued driving, the quiet broken only by the sound of cars whipping by. Low mountains were to our left and the barren autumn landscape rushed past the car wi ndows.  It was a brilliantly sunny day with a few white clouds dotting the sky. How could it be so beautiful and bright out when inside I was storming?
    “I’m sorry my plan backfired,” Sarah said. “Some idiot must have set off the hairspray.”
    “Is that what happened? I thought it was an earthquake.”
    “Didn’t you notice none of the other houses around the vampire lair were affected?”
    “No.”
    She sighed. “Reed, they already wanted us for our sp ecial abilities, and now they might want revenge. Either way, they’re going to come after us.”
    “I already told you, they’re all dead. It doesn’t matter. Let me concentrate on driving.”
    “Fine.” She crossed her arms over her chest and turned away.
    It took just over an hour and a half to reach King City, and I followed the familiar main street to the local church. The parking lot and surrounding streets were packed, so I pulled into the closest spot I could find, three blocks away.
    I climbed out of the car and shut the door. Sarah’s eyelids drooped with exhaustion, but she still managed a half smile of sympathy.
    “Hurry back,” she said. I nodded.
    She didn’t join me, as if she understood this was something I needed to do on my own. I glanced at the trunk of the car, feeling guilty about poor Nathaniel crammed inside. We hadn’t heard a peep from him during the entire drive.
    I jogged down the tree-lined streets to the church, cu tting across the lawn toward the gray stone building. The church was as old as the town itself, but it had been well maintained. The stonework was in perfect condition, the hedges surrounding the building were neatly trimmed, and the stained glass windows gleamed in the sunlight.
    I paused outside the large wooden doors at the front of the church . I thought about what Sarah had said in terms of revealing myself to everyone. As much as I wanted to deny it, I realized she was right. There was no way I could go inside. I would have to keep my presence a secret for now.
    Suddenly, someone ’s singing voice flowed over me like a cold river, and shivers ran up my spine. I crept around the side of the church and peered over the bushes into a window.
    My mouth fell open. My friend Julia was singing Ave Maria with her eyes closed and tears flowing. How could someone so petite create such a big, incredible singing voice? I didn’t even know she could sing.
    Three caskets stood lined up side-by-side at the front of the church, and the pews were jammed full. It looked like all my friends and family had come to pay their respects, along with the entire school. I pictured the remains of my parents and sister nestled inside the coffins.
    My throat was parched, and I could hardly breathe. My eyes burned, and a tear escaped, tracing a hot trail down my cheek. I swiped the tear away with my fist.
    “Reed?”
    I whirled around and stumbled, almost falling backwards into the hedge.
    “Nana?”
    I ran to embrace my beloved grandmother. I wrapped my arms around her slender body and leaned in, breathing the comforting scent of her perfume. I’d never been so relieved to see a familiar face in my entire life.
    “Reed, you’re squashing me,” my nana grunted.
    I released her and jumped back in alarm. Dammit, I’d forgotten about my strength. I could have squished my nana to death.
    “I’m sorry. Nana, are you . . . okay?” I searched her eyes.
    She looked at me from head to toe and frowned. “Oh, honey . . . no. No, I’m not all right. My son–” she choked, her eyes filling with tears. “My son is dead! My daughter-in-law, my granddaughter too. I thought you were dead. Sweetheart, where have you been? I’ve been trying so