After Daybreak Read Online Free

“Yeah, I guess it is.”
    Settling back in her chair, she studies me intently. “You’re a little young to be a delegate.”
    At seventeen, I’m the youngest ever. Victor’s father, overlord at the time, personally requested me. The Agency, charged with protecting the citizens, had no say in the decision. The vampire hold over humans is that strong. What vampires demand, they get.
    “My parents were delegates,” I explain. “They were killed one night on their way back from Valentine Manor.” I didn’t know at the time that Sin killed them on Lord Valentine’s orders. Valentine wanted me as delegate so he could keep a closer watch on me. He knew what I was. He wanted to use me, just like Sin wants to now. But I’m only going to share with Dr. Jameson the surface of my life, because I still have a hard time swimming through its depths.
    “Valentine,” she mutters. “The most ruthless of all the vampires from what I understand.”
    “He’s dead now. His—”
    I cut myself short as the door opens and the guard who first welcomed us strolls in. With his wide-brimmed hat and bandolier of stakes, George looks like a cowboy gunslinger stepping out of the pages of a bizarre western story that foresaw the rise of vampires.
    “I hope you’re enjoying your stay,” he says, taking off his hat and wiping his sweaty brow with the sleeve of his blue-checkered shirt. His beard glistens with the day’s hard work.
    “Your hospitality has been amazing,” I say.
    He rests his rifle against the wall and sits down, exhaling heavily. I study him as he stretches out his legs and crosses them.
    “A rifle and stakes?” I ask.
    “We get vampires wanting our blood and bandits wanting to steal our water. Need to be prepared for both.”
    “Do you suffer many attacks?”
    “We did at first. But I think everyone knows to leave us alone now.”
    “I didn’t realize so many humans were roaming the countryside.”
    “More than you’d think. People get tired of being walled in and under the thumb of Old Family vampires.”
    Dr. Jameson stands up, goes over to a small pot, and pours coffee into three mugs, bringing them back to us.
    “Thank you kindly,” George says with a deep, slow drawl.
    The coffee is strong and tastes rich; it provides the energy boost I need.
    “Are you on guard duty tonight?” I ask.
    “Every night.”
    “And every morning. You were the first one to greet us.”
    “That’s right,” he says. “Never was one to sleep much.”
    He takes another big gulp, then looks at the mug as if trying to decode its delicious secrets. He’s probably been drinking this coffee every night, but I can tell Dr. Jameson appreciates his wonder.
    “You always did make a good cup, Marjorie,” he says.
    She’s about to reply when the door opens again.
    “Someone coming down the road, George,” the man announces. “In a car.”
    My heart jumps. Victor!
    “A car?” George asks. “Must be one of those freelance vampire hunters. Not many people can afford a car these days.”
    “It’s not a vampire hunter,” I assure them, my joy evident. “It’s my friends.”
    The man at the door studies me, then turns to George.
    “Well,” George says, “roll out the red carpet for ’em. This little lady here says they’re her friends, so we’ll treat them as such until they prove otherwise.”
    The man nods and leaves.
    “Thank you so much,” I say, not completely sure what I’m thanking them for. But before the door even shuts, I’m outside, George and the doctor right behind me.
    In the distance, the dust is kicked up, flying into the night sky. The door behind me squeaks open one more time and Michael emerges.
    “Who is it?” he asks, groggily rubbing his head.
    “Victor and Jeff.”
    The car fishtails to a stop in front of us, the dust catching up to it and swirling around the headlights, creating mystic shadow puppets that stretch across the town square. Jeff steps out of the passenger’s side, and Victor