B00528UTDS EBOK (4 page)

“There’s a carnival in Sutter Point. Wouldn’t that be fun? There will be plenty of people there,” Jeanie pointed out. “As long as you stay with the crowd, you should be fine.”

Sarah shook her head. “I don’t want to go alone.”

“Well of course! What fun would that be?” Jeanie patted her niece’s back. “That’s why I’ve made arrangements for Taylor to go with you.”

“Good, that’s my girl. He’ll be here in an hour to pick you up, so you’ll probably want to start getting ready,” Jeanie informed her.

It wasn’t that she didn’t like Taylor. It was just that he was always trying to show off what he could do, and it never failed, something would go wrong with one of his spells. Last time their families had gone on a camping trip together, Taylor did a spell to keep the mosquitoes away. Instead of keeping the mosquitoes away, their campsite had been bombarded by sparrows.

Sarah loved Aunt Jeanie dearly. She just wished that her aunt would stop trying to get her hooked up with Taylor. She was only 21 years old, and still had plenty of time to think about finding a guy.

Sarah was ready and waiting for him by the front gate when he drove up, his old truck choking and coughing. He still looked exactly the same as he did the last time she’d seen him. His sandy blond hair appeared as if he’d forgotten to comb it when he got up in the morning, but his blue eyes had a good-natured twinkle, and Sarah liked that.

There wasn’t anything wrong with Taylor. He was handsome enough, in a boy next-door sort of way. He just didn’t make her heart do flip-flops when she saw him. Besides, she had practically grown up with him so it would be like dating a brother.

“Thanks, I’m happy I could come and spend some time with everyone this summer,” Sarah told him, realizing that it was true. She loved Sutter Point. It was only the people that bothered her. The constant staring of the townspeople could be intolerable. Before she’d gone away to school, it got to the point that when she went out in public, her stomach would get tied up in knots. The townspeople in Sutter Point had a way of stirring Sarah’s anger and bringing out the worst in her.

Taylor pulled onto the road. “Your aunt thought you could use some time away from the house.”

Sarah nodded. “Yes, my auntie is always thinking of others.”

Through most of the trip into town, Sarah stared silently out the window, lost in her own little world. She had so many questions, and too few answers. What had happened to her mother? Where had she gone after leaving her with Aunt Jeanie? Why wouldn’t Jeanie tell her anything about her mom?

Taylor, bless his heart, seemed to sense her mood and didn’t push for conversation. He wasn’t her knight in shining armor, but he was a good friend.

The sun was already down. She could barely make out the thick pines to the sides of the road as they sped by them. Sarah could not help but wonder what was lurking in the dark forest. Now that she knew there really were vampires that roamed the night, undercover of darkness, she could not help but wonder what other secrets lurked within the shadows? She could almost hear her Aunt Jeanie scolding her for being so fanciful.

One moment she was staring out at the shadowy trees of the forest, and the next she was looking at his face. His eyes were there in the glass, glowing with the need to feed.

Sarah screamed. The instant she’d opened her mouth to scream, he began to fade away like mist beneath the heat of the sun. Then he was gone. There was nothing there but the woods and the darkness.

Startled, Taylor swerved. Sarah felt the truck tip to the passenger side, and she instinctively lifted her hands, pressing them against the top of the cab to brace herself. The truck rode on two tires for what seemed like an eternity, before the other side hit the road with a thud, jarring her teeth. Her heart was beating so wildly that she was sure it would burst at any moment. She held a hand against her chest, as if the gesture would somehow calm her heart.

A little smile touched her lips. “Aren’t you the most powerful warlock in Sutter Point?” she asked, unable to resist the urge to tease him.

Taylor rolled his eyes. “Well why were you screaming your head off?”

Sarah opened her mouth to tell a little white lie, but then closed it again. Why did she feel the need to cover it up? It wasn’t like they both hadn’t experienced stranger things.

Taylor motioned with his hand for her to stop. “I know what I’m doing Sarah. You may want to get back inside. It’s probably not safe out here.”

The truth was that she really had no idea if he had done the spell right or not. She didn’t know any vampire banishing spells, which was puzzling. If these creatures actually existed, why hadn’t her aunt taught her any protection spells against them?

“No, I’m sure that’s the one.”

Sarah shrugged her shoulders and got back in the truck. Taylor did the same, sticking the salt beneath his seat. “Just in case we need it quickly,” he explained.

“You know Sarah, if you took a little more interest in the craft, you’d know just how dangerous these things can be,” he chastised her.

“Taylor … what do you know?” she asked again.

“Well I know how to banish them. I know that much.” He tossed her a look of reproach.

Giving up, Sarah grew quiet again. How could she find out what was going on? She didn’t think that Taylor knew as much as he let on, and Sarah had the distinct feeling that Aunt Jeanie was keeping some very important information from her. Maybe she felt that until she was brought into the coven, she would not have the strength to protect herself from whatever was out there.

When they drove into the outskirts of town, Sarah felt her spirits lift at the sight of the colorful carnival lights and all the people on the streets. She’d always loved carnivals. Every summer since she’d come to live in Sutter Point, Aunt Jeanie had taken her to the carnival. Jeanie would brush off the stares as easily as she waved her hand.

She could almost hear Jeanie’s voice in her head. “It doesn’t matter one bit what others think of you. What matters is what you think of yourself.”

As part of their yearly trip to the carnival, they’d end the day with an ice cream. By that time Sarah had already forgotten the ugly looks of the townspeople. Jeanie had a way of making the stormiest days feel like they were full of sunshine.

The carnival was being held in a large - empty lot on the edge of town. The parking lot was really a weed-choked pasture, but walking through the weeds was no big deal. At least she was getting out for a few hours.

Her aunt had been right, she really needed to see some bright lights and just have fun. The walk to the ticket booth only took a few minutes, and with so many people standing in line, Sarah didn’t think anyone even noticed her.

Once inside, Taylor grabbed her hand. “Let’s go on a ride.”

“Okay.” Sarah let him lead her toward the Asteroid Scrambler. Though this ride always gave her whiplash, she loved it. It was one of those rides that would give you an adrenaline rush that you just couldn’t get enough of.

The line was short. Before long they were on the ride, and securing the safety belt around them. As the ride started moving, a lively tune began to play. Sarah grasped the bar, bracing herself so that she wouldn’t be flung against Taylor. He was kicked back like he didn’t have a care in the world.

Though the ride started slow enough, within seconds they were moving at a breakneck speed. Everything was a blur. The lights and the people passed by so quickly, it was almost dreamlike.

Looking over at Taylor, Sarah couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of his windblown hair sticking straight up. He had lost his relaxed posture and was now holding on tightly. It felt good to laugh. She hadn’t done enough of it the past few days.

Too soon the ride slowed and was over. The world was still spinning when Sarah stepped out of the little cart that they had been sitting in. She tried to focus on a large tree near the fence that surrounded the Asteroid Scrambler. As her eyes focused, she saw him leaning against the tree, staring at her.

Sarah quickly glanced at Taylor, and when she directed her eyes back to the tree, he was gone.

Had she imagined him?

“I’m hungry, let’s go get some dinner.” Taylor rubbed his stomach with one hand.

“Are you crazy? I’ll vomit if I eat anything right now.” Sarah shook her head. “I think I’ll just go sit down and wait for you.” She pointed to the bench by the tree.”

Taylor shrugged his shoulders and headed off to find him something to eat. Sarah walked slowly over to the bench and sat down. She hoped that a little rest would help her to get her bearings and stop the churning in her stomach. Leaning forward, she closed her eyes and rested her face in her hands.

“Why are you still here?”

The voice came from behind her. Sarah sat up straight and swung around to face him. He was kneeling behind the bench with his arms resting on the back of it.

“We should ride it then.” He stepped around the bench and held out his hand to her. There was something about him that just seemed to scream at her senses, warning her off, but she wanted to talk to him, she wanted to be near him. He wore black clothing and boots, and although the night was warm, he also wore a long black coat.

His eyes locked with hers, and he seemed to be staring right into her soul, peeling back the layers of who she was, until the person that was Sarah Fabre was naked and vulnerable. She blinked rapidly, trying to direct her gaze somewhere else, but she couldn’t.

Sarah opened her mouth to insist that it was him that she’d seen, but she was starting to doubt it herself. It had not actually been a full-bodied person, but more of an apparition that had appeared outside of the truck’s window.

“So will you ride with me?” he asked again.

Sarah took the hand that he held out to her. His touch was cool, and somehow familiar.

Holding her hand, Darrien led her to the large Ferris wheel. It was not one of the most popular rides, so they did not have to wait long before it was their turn. Soon they were in their seat and rising above the lights.

“Why did you want me to ride with you?” she asked.

He smiled. “I wanted to talk with you without being overheard, but in a place that you would feel safe.”

“You could kill me up here and be gone before anyone even knew what had happened. I’m really not that dumb. I come from a family of very powerful witches,” she told him, hoping to deter any thoughts he might have of carrying out his earlier attempt on her life.